Chapter 515 - Task

Dong Zhongshou's crimson blood and organs flew into the air. However, his heart was still beating as if Dong Zhongshou was still alive despite being torn into two halves.

The headless Peng Longteng leaned back and used her heavy armor to catch what was falling from the sky. Then, she clenched Dong Zhongshou's lower jaw until it was reduced to powder.

Peng Longteng trembled uncontrollably. She craved slaughter, and she yearned to kill one living person after another.

It had been a while since she wanted to kill, and she finally got to kill today.

Bang!

A spiked meteor hammer slammed heavily against Peng Longteng’s heavy armor, eliciting a dull thump. Peng Longteng was thrilled, and she wasted no time, rushing toward those trying to kill her.

They seemed to be the servants of the Dong family, but to Peng Longteng, they were just food to satisfy her craving for slaughter.

The outcome seemed predetermined. A warrior with no fatal weaknesses was impossible to defeat.

Initially, it seemed that the others wanted to send their own vassals to help. However, all fell silent when Li Huowang joined the fray, and they got to witness his strength.

After some time, the bustling courtyard was silent.

Li Huowang walked up to Peng Longteng's towering figure. He looked down at the people below, who were supposed to be related to Ji Lin.

They were all huddled behind their guards, and they were staring at the red-robed Daoist with fear and confusion in their eyes.

Some had chosen to stay, while some quietly slipped away.

“Someone tried to kill me on my way here, and I managed to pry open some information through their mouths using some of my 'tools.'” Li Huowang said, patting his bag of torture tools. “Guess what I discovered? Those who had perished all this while were nothing but pawns. None of the nine vying for the throne had perished, and I realized that you guys and them have gotten it wrong—very wrong! The changes this time aren't just political changes. Set aside the methods that you know are working, as vested interests and political exchanges are unnecessary here! There's also no need for schemes!

"What’s needed is killing! We need to raise Gus! Except for the one on the throne, everyone must die! They must be annihilated !”

There was one more thing Li Huowang didn’t say aloud, which was the late emperor's iron-clad law in the imperial temple. it was a law that could not be modified.

“When someone threatens His Majesty’s life, what do you think His Majesty wants us to do? It’s not to think about who his allies are or whether they have any connections. Our goal is to kill them all!”

Li Huowang lifted one foot and stomped on a corpse's head on the ground.

After a brief moment of silence, the beardless person from Zong Heng Jia stood up with a pale face. He pointed a trembling finger at Li Huowang and roared, “My senior has made great contributions to His Majesty! He was an indispensable subject to His Majesty. How dare you kill him! His Majesty won’t let you off!”

“No, His Majesty won’t bother me with such a small matter. What His Majesty wants is someone who can eliminate the obstacles to his ascension. Since your senior couldn’t even deal with one opponent, he is of no value to His Majesty.”

Just then, Peng Longteng vanished behind Li Huowang.

Li Huowang walked forward and grabbed a roasted goose from the table. Then, he muttered, “Your Majesty, at this rate, you would waste that spiritual sin. You can't keep on hesitating. It's time to make a move.

“I am your sword—a very sharp sword. Don’t let your sword go to waste.”

Li Huowang left the mansion under everyone's gaze. Li Huowang didn’t know whether there were spies in the courtyard, but he was sure that his words would reach Ji Lin’s ears.

Sure enough, the next morning, Li Huowang received an imperial edict brought by an old eunuch.

The Empress Dowager was about to leave the city to worship the Bodhisattva at the Putan Temple, and Princess Chang Ning was going to accompany her.

“His Majesty wants me to kill Princess Chang Ning under the gaze of the Empress Dowager. Is that it?” Li Huowang asked the old eunuch.

The old eunuch shook his head indifferently. Then, he began to tell a short story. “Even children born in an ordinary family aren't equal to each other, much less children in the imperial family. The Empress Dowager gave birth to three sons and a daughter, but she favored the fourth prince. She has always been much less affectionate toward His Majesty since His Majesty was young. Before the late emperor ascended the throne, His Majesty was still young and was still living in Prince Heng's mansion. Every winter, he'd receive less money for charcoal than the other children, and His Majesty grew to hate winter thanks to that.”

Li Huowang nodded. He immediately understood what the other party was trying to say. It seemed that Ji Lin hadn't eaten the spiritual sin in vain, and he wanted Li Huowang to "handle" his elder sister and mother.

The Empress Dowager couldn’t vie for the throne. She believed her son, Ji Lin, had no chance to become emperor, so she pinned her hopes on another son.

The old eunuch smiled meaningfully at Li Huowang. Then, he tapped Li Huowang with the golden whisk in his hand.

“Princess Chang has excellent bodyguards. You've declared that you're a sharp sword, but I want to know whether you're fast as well."

“Sir, a sharp sword is naturally fast. I don’t like fame nor fortune, as it invites many troubles. I only hope that my friends who owe me favors will help me when I encounter trouble in the future.”

“

Ah,

you’re already talking about conditions when the deed has yet to be carried out? Finish this first, and then we can talk.”

Li Huowang stared at the old eunuch as the latter walked out of the courtyard before vanishing into thin air.

Looks like Ji Lin's side isn't filled with just a ragtag bunch of garbage.

There a few powerful eunuchs in the palace. Li Huowang couldn't help but wonder about how he could make use of them against Shai Zi.

“Dad, why can’t I understand what you’re saying?” Li Sui asked while gnawing on a roasted goose.

“You don’t need to understand. Anyway, how is the food? Does it taste good?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. Once you're done eating, pour out the water in the jar, fill it with soil, and move it to the bedroom for me.”

Li Huowang rummaged through the carriage for a while before taking out an iron box. The box was sealed tightly, and even the tiny gaps were sealed with wax as if the one who had sealed the box was afraid that what was inside the box might escape to the outside world.