Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 562: Chapter 558: Taking Initiative

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”Returned to Yujing?” Li Hongzhao furrowed her brows, ”Quite a coincidence!”

She immediately understood; this was Chu Zhiyuan anticipating her decision and acting first.

What is he trying to do?

To posture? Or is there another reason?

...There will be retaliation from the Evil Sect in Yujing City!

She immediately thought of this.

Then she realized that if she could think of this, Chu Zhiyuan would definitely also think of it.

He was planning to preemptively eliminate the Evil Sect’s cultists.

Between Yujing City and Tianjing City, he would naturally choose to protect the people of Yujing City.

Thinking of this, her expression turned solemn, and she slowly said, ”It seems I must take action myself.”

”Your Majesty!” The middle-aged man with a square face said in a deep voice, ”Isn’t it overkill to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Let the two Great Grandmasters handle it.”

Li Hongzhao shook her head, ”These guys now practice Miracle Techniques that can evade the Grandmasters’ senses. We need the Emperor’s Sword.”

”But...” The square-faced middle-aged man hesitated.

The Emperor’s Sword should not be used lightly.

Each time the Emperor’s Sword is used, it consumes the public’s trust in the Da Meng Dynasty.

If the Emperor’s Sword is weakened, its deterrence on the Great Grandmasters will diminish, which may cause some forces to stir.

It’s important to know that Your Majesty’s current position is unstable, with many dissenters lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity.

Among them are military men or some from the royal family.

If they collude with each other, the consequences will be more severe.

Li Hongzhao said softly, ”I will be extremely cautious.”

”Your Majesty,” Su Qiuyan said softly, ”The Princely Heir left instructions when he departed, saying he would try to return by tonight.”

”He can return tonight?” Li Hongzhao’s spirits lifted.

Su Qiuyan replied, ”With the Heavenly Dragon Divine Horse, it’s likely.”

Li Hongzhao breathed a sigh of relief, ”Then he can make it back.”

She smiled, ”So I won’t need to use the Emperor’s Sword.”

She did not wish to use the Emperor’s Sword unless necessary; the more it was used, the weaker its deterrence.

When wielded, it easily revealed its strengths and weaknesses, its limits.

The unknown is what truly inspires fear; not using it is the greatest deterrent.

The high-ranking officials below weren’t feeling good about this.

This made them seem useless, the Great Grandmasters of Da Meng useless.

”Your Majesty, why not let the Great Grandmasters attempt to search for the Evil Sect?”

”Exactly, exactly, we’ll first look around, check the situation.”

This is to understand the Evil Sect’s details, and also to understand the abilities of the Grandmasters.

”...Alright then.” Li Hongzhao thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

——

”Your Majesty has arrived—”

With the gentle and soft voice, Li Hongzhao finished her lunch and came to the Chengtian Hall.

In a bright yellow robe, accompanied by the Grand Eunuch Wen Huai’en, she briskly walked behind the Dragon Desk and sat down.

She waved her sleeve dismissively at the two middle-aged men who respectfully saluted her, ”Commander Zhao, Commander Zhang, you may rise.”

She leaned slightly forward to look at them, her phoenix eyes shining, ”Well, what were the results? Have you discovered the number of the Evil Sect cultists?”

The two middle-aged men were both dressed in red robes, one robust, the other refined.

”Commander Zhao, how many did your Imperial Guard find?”

The robust man saluted, ”Your Majesty, two battalions of Imperial Guards carefully searched and found thirteen Evil Sect cultists.”

”Thirteen...” Li Hongzhao turned her head to the other middle-aged man, ”Commander Zhang, what about your City Guard?”

”To report to Your Majesty,” the refined man said slowly, ”The City Guard found a total of twenty-one Evil Sect cultists!”

”Twenty-one?” Li Hongzhao asked, ”Did you each search part or did you search the entire city?”

”The entire city was searched,” the refined man replied, ”All eighteen wards and thirty-six alleys were thoroughly searched, no public areas were missed.”

Li Hongzhao looked at the robust middle-aged man.

The robust middle-aged man nodded helplessly, ”We also searched the entire city.”

”Did you deploy the Great Grandmasters?”

”We deployed two Great Grandmasters.”

”...Also two.”

”Do you think you found them all?” Li Hongzhao asked.

The two men showed a look of shame.

They already understood that these Evil Sect cultists were adept at hiding and certainly hadn’t all been found.

Possibly most of them had not been discovered.

It was due to both the cunning of the Evil Sect cultists and the incompetence of the Imperial Guard and City Guard.

Li Hongzhao gazed thoughtfully towards the outside of the hall.

Her phoenix eyes were dazzlingly bright, filled with contemplation.

The grand hall fell silent.

The two middle-aged men stood solemn, feeling a growing intense pressure, making it hard to breathe.

Li Hongzhao shook her head, ”Then we’ll use the clumsy way; increase manpower and deploy forces at important locations, ready at any time to suppress the Evil Sect cultists.”

”Yes!” The two men saluted.

Li Hongzhao said, ”Select the personnel carefully, avoid those who are cowardly and afraid of death, especially in your Imperial Guard, Commander Zhao!”

”Yes!” The robust middle-aged man saluted.

Li Hongzhao waved her jade hand, ”Go.”

”Your servant takes his leave!”

The two men exited the Chengtian Hall.

Li Hongzhao waved her hand.

Wen Huai’en hurriedly waved his hand, and the eunuchs and maids serving in the hall all exited hurriedly.

Li Hongzhao sighed, ”Mr. Su.”

Su Qiuyan appeared in the hall in a flash.

Li Hongzhao asked, ”He hasn’t returned yet?”

”I estimate he will return around midnight.”

”He really is busy.” Li Hongzhao shook her head, ”Mr. Su, do you think the Evil Sect should be eradicated?”

”Yes, extermination is good,” Su Qiuyan said, ”These cultists are inhuman, slaughtering countless people, countless innocents have died at their hands.”

Li Hongzhao sighed, ”They are all old stubborn ones, hard to persuade.”

Su Qiuyan smiled without saying anything.

These high officials were steadfast in their beliefs, difficult to persuade.

They were all hardened and ruthless from political struggles.

The Evil Sect cultists slaughter innocents, but they haven’t harmed these officials directly, so they lack empathy for the victims and don’t harbor as much hatred towards the Evil Sect.

Just at this moment, the Grand Eunuch Wen Huai’en entered quietly.

Li Hongzhao looked over.

Wen Huai’en softly said, ”Your Majesty, news from the South Gate, the Fourth Prince of Da Jing has returned.”

”Oh—?” Li Hongzhao exclaimed in surprise, ”He really returned?”

Wen Huai’en smiled, ”He just entered the city, hasn’t reached the Four Directions Pavilion yet.”

Li Hongzhao looked towards Su Qiuyan.

Su Qiuyan was surprised, ”So fast? Normally, he should return by evening.”

This was the speed and timing she had personally calculated.

How did Chu Zhiyuan manage the travel? Or did he turn back halfway to Yujing?

Wen Huai’en saw another small eunuch peeking, and he quickly fluttered over.

A moment later, Wen Huai’en returned to Li Hongzhao’s side, ”Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince is currently wreaking havoc in Tianjing City, having already killed over a hundred Evil Sect experts.”

Li Hongzhao laughed, ”Haven’t even asked him for help, and he’s already taken action, that’s enthusiastic.”

She turned to Su Qiuyan, ”Mr. Su, find someone to clean up the aftermath for him.”

She could imagine how Chu Zhiyuan was doing it, only killing but not dealing with the bodies.

The Flying Knives wreaked havoc, leaving no Evil Sect cultist alive wherever he went.

”Yes.” Su Qiuyan solemnly folded his fists, and left in a flash.

Li Hongzhao went to the entrance of Chengtian Hall, stepped over the threshold, and stood at the top of the steps with hands behind her back, looking at the sky, then in the direction of the palace gates, as if she could see Chu Zhiyuan.

At this moment, Chu Zhiyuan was walking leisurely on the streets of Tianjing City, without a horse by his side; the two Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses had already wandered into the woods outside the city to move freely.

He simultaneously urged the Flying Knives, eight clear shadows darted lightly into the crowd, claiming one life after another.

Meanwhile, he was talking to Wan Bicheng and Zhao Rongfei, who had arrived upon hearing the commotion.

Beside Wan Bicheng and Zhao Rongfei were several men and women, looking at Chu Zhiyuan with excited expressions.

Watching Chu Zhiyuan, wherever he went, the Flying Knives flashed like phantoms, people constantly falling, they were all exceedingly excited.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Young Master Zhao, Young Master Wan, thank you for your Venerable Statues, they’ve been a great help.”

The smile on his face was heartfelt, as he felt his Sealing God Realm gradually reaching Perfection.

This time, the return strike yielded huge rewards from another purge in Yujing City.

Among the Evil Sect experts rushing to Yujing City, there were many Grandmasters.

There were even two Great Grandmasters.

He couldn’t help but shake his head, these people never learn from their mistakes; even after one strike, they hadn’t learned their lesson.

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