Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Holy Shit, a Living Brocade Guard! (Four Updates)
「At the foot of the Profound Yellow Sect mountain.」
The Brocade Guard Thousand Household, Zhou Yuntong, donned in Silver Feiyu Clothing, wore a complex expression. Following him was Old Man Wang, his white-bearded face impassive, eyelids drooping as if a small sect like this couldn’t pique his interest. However, since it was arranged by Consort Shen, he had to make a move. I hope this Seventh Prince knows what’s good for him. Once in Jianghu, the Seventh Prince would no longer be the so-called Seventh Prince. Jianghu has its own rules!
"Don’t forget what I warned you—if the Seventh Prince takes action, not even Consort Shen can protect you!" Zhou Yuntong glanced at Old Man Wang behind him.
Old Man Wang chuckled, HEH HEH, his laugh dripping with sarcasm.
The Construction Team members were at the foot of the mountain, guarding and maintaining the buildings there. Recently, they had gathered Contribution Points to buy quite a few tools. They planned to renovate these structures, preferably by reinforcing them with molten iron.
Noticing people approaching the mountain, the Construction Team Players also stopped their work.
Daytime Alms stepped forward, sizing up the newcomers and inquiring, "Who are you? What brings you to our Profound Yellow Sect?"
"Please announce our arrival. Just say Brocade Guard Thousand Household Zhou Yuntong from Fengxiang Prefecture requests an audience!" Zhou Yuntong cupped his fists.
Behind him, Old Man Wang snorted disdainfully, his gaze sweeping over Daytime Alms and the others. Fourth-Grade Martial Artist? Fifth-Grade Martial Artist? Unexpectedly, this small Profound Yellow Sect has disciples with such talent. It wouldn’t be impossible for them to reach the Grandmaster Realm in the future.
"Brocade Guard? You’re from the Brocade Guard?" Daytime Alms asked excitedly. "Are you really from the Brocade Guard? Does your Commander possess the Fourteen Powers of Great Ming? Do you know the Brocade Guard Grand Formation?"
Zhou Yuntong was utterly baffled. The Fourteen Powers of Great Ming? And what in the world is the Brocade Guard Grand Formation?
"Daytime, are you nuts? Do you think movies and games are the same?"
"I knew he wasn’t all there, and none of you believed me."
"Still, the Brocade Guard uniforms don’t seem to have changed much. Looks like the Game Designers actually did some historical research."
"Alright, Daytime, lead them up. Don’t waste time here."
"..."
Daytime Alms, snapping back to reality, hurriedly said, "You two, follow me. Don’t wander around when we get up the mountain. Some folks up there have bad tempers and might blacklist you!"
After this warning, he led the way.
Zhou Yuntong and Old Man Wang followed closely.
As they ascended, more and more Players appeared. Some were tending vegetable patches on the mountainside, while others swung axes chopping wood. There were even a few who had dropped their pants to compete in a urination distance contest. In any case, not a single one was practicing Martial Arts. However, most of these Disciples were either Fourth-Grade or Fifth-Grade Martial Artists.
By the time they reached the Great Hall on the mountain, even more Players had gathered. Many Ninth-Grade and Eighth-Grade Disciples watched them curiously.
"Holy shit! Feiyu Clothing and Xiu Chun Sabers? Are these guys Brocade Guards?"
"Talk about the importance of a uniform! Damn, they look so imposing."
"What’s with that old man in the back? He doesn’t look like a Brocade Guard. Is he here to fish in troubled waters?"
"Who cares? I want a uniform like that too!"
"..."
The Players sized up Zhou Yuntong and Old Man Wang. It was their first time seeing Brocade Guards, so they were naturally curious.
「Inside the Great Hall.」
The Blood Demoness had already relayed the news to Xu Nian. Understanding that trouble had come knocking, Xu Nian helplessly rose from his cushion and stepped out of the Great Hall.
"This humble servant, Brocade Guard Thousand Household Zhou Yuntong, pays respects to Your Highness, the Seventh Prince!" Upon seeing Xu Nian emerge, Zhou Yuntong quickly cupped his fists and knelt on one knee.
Behind him, Old Man Wang hesitated for a moment before merely raising his hands in a cupped-fist salute.
The Players stared at this scene in utter shock.
"What’s going on? What’s this about the Seventh Prince?"
"Holy crap! Brother Nian actually has a hidden identity? Were the First Test Players completely useless? How did they not figure this out?"
"A prince! Good heavens, Brother Nian is that amazing?"
"Do you guys think we’ll get to follow Brother Nian to the Imperial Palace someday? I’ve never seen what it looks like."
"..."
Listening to the Players’ chatter, Zhou Yuntong felt his eyelid twitch uncontrollably. These Disciples truly have no sense of decorum! It was one thing not to know before, but now that they do, they still don’t show proper respect! If this were in the Capital City, they would have been dragged off and beheaded long ago!
Xu Nian’s gaze swept past Zhou Yuntong and settled on Old Man Wang. This old man must be the one Shen Rongyin sent, right?
"A First-Grade Martial Artist!" the Blood Demoness whispered from behind Xu Nian, informing him of Old Man Wang’s cultivation Realm.
Xu Nian frowned. Hmm? A First-Grade Martial Artist? Is Shen Rongyin out of her mind? Sending just a First-Grade Martial Artist... just how much does she underestimate me?
"Rise," Xu Nian said calmly. "Thousand Household Zhou, what brings you here today?"
Zhou Yuntong sighed. "Consort Shen is passing through Fengxiang Prefecture. Upon learning of Your Highness the Seventh Prince’s presence here, she instructed me to invite you to come and pay your respects."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them. I should have let Old Man Wang do the talking. A careless mistake!
Old Man Wang stood behind, scrutinizing this Seventh Prince whom he had never met. Perceiving the other’s First-Grade Martial Artist Realm, a flicker of astonishment crossed his usually impassive eyes. Strange! Didn’t Her Ladyship say the Seventh Prince’s Martial Arts were crippled? How can he still be a First-Grade Martial Artist now? Could the intelligence be flawed?!
"Pay respects? Shen Rongyin certainly has some nerve." Xu Nian scoffed. "This isn’t the Imperial Palace. Even if she were to die out here, no one would ever know. Isn’t that right, Thousand Household Zhou?"
What a firebrand! The corner of Zhou Yuntong’s mouth twitched. These two are truly in a fight to the death. Shen Rongyin wants to cripple Xu Nian. And Xu Nian? He bluntly tells her to drop dead. How did I get caught in the middle of such a clash between powerful figures?
"How audacious! Does the Seventh Prince realize such words are treasonous?" Old Man Wang suddenly interjected, his tone cold and threatening.
Xu Nian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "And you are?"
"I am Wang Jianghai!" Old Man Wang declared arrogantly, as if his name carried great weight in the Jianghu.
"Wang Jianghai? Never heard of you!" Xu Nian said, looking entirely disinterested. Who bothers remembering a mere First-Grade Martial Artist? If you were a Grandmaster, perhaps I’d show you some courtesy.
Upon hearing Old Man Wang’s name, the Blood Demoness frowned and whispered a warning, "Wang Jianghai is a renowned expert from Jiangnan, best known for his Sound Wave Skill. Rumor has it his Sound Wave Skill once forced three Grandmasters to retreat!"
Hmm? He’s that impressive? Xu Nian’s eyebrows rose slightly.
Old Man Wang’s eyelids twitched furiously. He was clearly infuriated by Xu Nian’s words.
"Her Ladyship was right, you truly are an untamable rogue! It seems I must personally escort you down the mountain!" Old Man Wang declared, pulling a palm-sized, miniature pipa from his sleeve.
Seeing this, Zhou Yuntong’s expression changed drastically. "Old Man Wang, you dare!" he roared.