bayedsolid Chapter 76, 9th Lifetime: The Madman Smashes All Sides, Revenge Ignites the Entire Journey
Chapter 76, 9th Lifetime: The Madman Smashes All Sides, Revenge Ignites the Entire Journey
Chapter 76 The Madman Slaughters All Around: The Revenge Plan Ignites the Entire Process
The night was as black as ink, so dark that one could not see their own hand in front of their face. The mysterious figure was like a ghost slowly emerging from the abyss of darkness, exuding an eerie aura that sent chills down one's spine.
A wicked smile curled at the corner of his mouth, a smile like that of a cat that had just stolen some fish, with a hint of cunning, as he slowly pulled a token from his pocket.
The patterns on the token were crooked and grotesque, like a group of drunken, dizzy snakes crawling around, and it also exuded a mysterious aura, as if it contained a shocking secret that could turn the entire dynasty upside down.
"If you want to know the rest of the truth, take this token and come to the Yuelai Inn in the west of the city in three days." After the mysterious man finished speaking, he casually flicked his wrist, and the token flew towards Luo Qingci like a dart. It was so fast that it brought with it a sharp gust of wind, making the hair at Luo Qingci's temples dance wildly, like a black elf under a spell.
Luo Qingci's eyes widened like copper bells, her gaze seemingly capable of shooting out two sharp arrows as she locked onto the token's trajectory. In her heart, she screamed wildly, "This token is crucial! It absolutely cannot be lost! If it flies away, I'll find a crack in the ground to crawl into!"
She reached out and caught the token with lightning speed, her dashing appearance making her look exactly like a peerless master from a martial arts novel.
Immediately afterward, she stared intently at the mysterious man, her eyes blazing with fury that seemed capable of burning him to ashes in an instant. She roared inwardly, "What on earth is this guy up to? If he doesn't explain himself clearly today, don't blame me for being ruthless and letting him experience the power of my dual cultivation of medicine and poison! Then you'll be crying for your parents!"
While thinking, he secretly gave a wink to the members of the Dark Pavilion hidden in the shadows, a wink that was like launching a powerful signal flare. In an instant, several burly men, like hungry wolves descending from the mountain, aggressively surrounded the mysterious man, blocking him completely, not even allowing a mosquito to escape.
The mysterious man, however, remained as calm as if he were leisurely strolling in his own backyard, arms crossed, with that same smug, mocking smile still on his face.
He said, "If I wanted to leave, you few lackeys wouldn't be able to stop me. But don't worry, I have no ill intentions towards you. On the contrary, I'm here to help you get revenge. Besides the Prince's Mansion, the General's Mansion and the Minister's Mansion were also involved in what happened back then. They're all in cahoots, and their influence is deeply entrenched. You're not easy to deal with all by yourself."
Upon hearing this, Luo Qingci's brows furrowed instantly, and she pondered to herself, "This guy's words are half true and half false; I can't believe him completely. But since he dared to come here alone, he must have some ability. Besides, the General's Mansion and the Minister's Mansion he mentioned do have close ties with the Prince's Mansion, so there might really be something fishy going on. Hmph, whatever you do, let's hear what he has to say first. If he dares to play me, he'll be sorry! I'll make him understand why flowers are so red!"
"Fine, I'll trust you this time. But if you dare to play any tricks, I'll make you regret ever being born! I'll show you that offending me is worse than being stung by a hundred bees! You'll be crying then!" Luo Qingci said through gritted teeth. Although she still had doubts, she was fearless in the face of revenge and decided to take the gamble.
Three days later, Yuelai Inn was bustling like a crowded market, with people coming and going and a constant cacophony of noise. Luo Qingci was disguised as an ordinary innkeeper, wearing a tattered felt hat that looked like it had been chewed by a dog, and her face was smeared with soot, making her look exactly like a weathered waiter.
She stood behind the counter, holding a tattered rag, wiping the table haphazardly, but her eyes were like two searchlights, not missing a single customer coming or going.
He appeared relaxed and carefree, but inside he was incredibly tense, his nerves taut like a string about to snap. He secretly watched every corner, thinking, "I wonder what kind of monsters I'll run into today. I mustn't mess things up. If I mess this up, my revenge plan will be in jeopardy!"
At this moment, a young master dressed in a magnificent brocade robe swaggered into the inn. The gold thread embroidered on the robe shimmered dazzlingly in the sunlight, as if showing off his wealth to the whole world. Behind him were two burly bodyguards. Their posture was like a crab walking sideways—incredibly arrogant.
As soon as the young master entered, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Innkeeper, give me a superior room, and bring me all your signature dishes! Hurry up, don't waste my time! If you're slow, believe me, I'll tear this place down! I'm not someone to mess with!" His voice was so loud that it almost deafened everyone in the inn, and the bowls and chopsticks on the table seemed to be dancing a "trembling dance."
Luo Qingci felt a chill run down her spine; her intuition told her that this person was no ordinary individual. She immediately plastered a smile on her face, greeting him like a flower in overly radiant bloom.
Her smile was so sweet it could kill, and she said, "Young master, please come in! May I ask your surname?" But in her heart she was thinking, "Hmph, let's see how long you can keep up this act! Once I find out your background, you'll be in for a world of hurt! I'll make you cry your eyes out! I'm going to dig up your whole secret!"
The young master glanced at her sideways, his nostrils practically pointing to the sky, and said with a look of disdain, "My surname is Zhao. You just need to serve me well, and you'll get your share of the rewards! If you dare to make the slightest mistake, watch out for your head! Believe me or not, I'll make sure you're starving by tomorrow! You better watch out!"
His arrogant demeanor made it seem as if he were the ruler of the world, with no regard for anyone else.
Luo Qingci sneered inwardly, but remained respectful on the surface, thinking to herself, "With your character, you think you can act tough in front of me? Just you wait! Once I find out who's behind you, you'll be crying! Then I'll let you taste what true despair is! I'll make you pay a heavy price for your arrogance today!"
He replied, "Alright, Young Master Zhao, please wait a moment, I'll arrange it for you right away."
As she spoke, she turned to prepare a room for Young Master Zhao, while secretly instructing the members of the Dark Pavilion to keep an eye on the actions of these people, like a cheetah lurking in the shadows, keeping a close eye on its prey.
He thought to himself, "Let's see what tricks you guys can pull. I won't let any clue slip by. If I find anything amiss, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
After a while, the mysterious man arrived. He was dressed the same as before, in a black robe and with a half-mask on his face, looking like a mysterious and unpredictable knight-errant.
He entered the inn, his eyes darting around as he looked at everyone with the sharpness of a hawk hunting. Then he walked straight to Luo Qingci and said in a low voice, "Come with me."
The voice was so deep it seemed to come from underground, carrying a chilling quality.
Luo Qingci followed the mysterious man to the backyard of the inn. The courtyard was empty, with only a few large trees swaying gently in the breeze. The shadows of the swaying branches were cast on the ground, like several ghosts dancing a strange dance.
The mysterious man stopped and turned around, saying in a serious tone, "I've found out that the General's Mansion and the Minister's Mansion are plotting something big. They plan to join forces and launch a coup at the Emperor's birthday banquet to seize the throne. We can use this opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop."
Luo Qingci's eyes lit up, as if she had seen a brilliant ray of dawn in the darkness. She secretly admired the mysterious person's intelligence capabilities; no wonder he was the one who could find her.
But she was still a little confused, and asked with a frown, "Why are you helping me? What is your purpose?"
Her eyes were fixed on the mysterious man, scrutinizing every expression on his face, trying to find answers in the subtle changes. She thought to herself, "I can't trust him easily. If it's a trap, I need to have a plan in mind. If he dares to lie to me, I'll show him what I'm capable of!"
The mysterious man remained silent for a moment, then slowly removed his mask. Beneath the mask was a handsome face, yet etched with a sense of vicissitude, its features hardened as if time had carved countless stories into it.
He said with a bitter smile, "Because back then, my family was also killed by them. Like you, I am also seeking revenge. Over the years, I have been traveling around trying to find evidence against them and seek justice for my family."
That smile revealed deep pain and helplessness, as if past hurts were suddenly flooding back to his heart.
Looking into his eyes, Luo Qingci saw deep hatred and pain, just like seeing her former self reflected in them. Her heart softened, and she decided to believe him this time. After all, they were both wanderers in the same boat, and both had carried too much burden for revenge.
She patted the mysterious man on the shoulder and said, "Alright, in that case, let's do it together! Let those bad guys get what they deserve! Beat them to a pulp and show them we're not to be trifled with!"
The two began to discuss their specific plan. They intended to first infiltrate the General's Mansion and the Minister's Mansion to collect evidence of their treason, and then expose their crimes in front of everyone at the Emperor's birthday banquet.
During the discussion, Luo Qingci fully demonstrated her resourcefulness and came up with many ingenious ideas, which impressed the mysterious man.
He secretly admired her, thinking, "No wonder she's the woman who could single-handedly confront the Prince's mansion; she's truly remarkable. Her mind works even faster than mine. With her around, we're bound to succeed! Cooperating with her will definitely wipe out those villains in one fell swoop!"
On the night of the operation, Luo Qingci changed into a night outfit. Her movements were as agile as a nimble black cat. With a "whoosh," she leaped over the high wall of the general's mansion. Her movements were so light that she made no sound, as if she had become one with the darkness.
She moved through the darkness, silently avoiding the patrolling guards, her movements as light as a leaf falling in the wind, each action perfectly timed.
Upon arriving at the general's study, she began searching for evidence. Just as she was about to find the crucial piece of evidence, she suddenly heard footsteps outside.
"Oh no, we've been discovered!" Luo Qingci was startled, her heart pounding in her throat. She quickly hid under the table, barely daring to breathe.
He silently prayed, "Please don't let me get caught, please don't let me get caught... If I get caught, my revenge plan will be ruined! I can't let it all go to waste!"
At this moment, she was so nervous that her palms were sweating. Her eyes were fixed on the door, ready to deal with any emergencies. Her mind was racing, thinking of all sorts of ways to escape. If she was discovered, should she use poison to knock them out, or should she break through by force?
The door opened, and the general and several staff members walked in.
The general said with a look of irritation, "Things are getting too tense lately. We must speed up our plans. The birthday banquet must be absolutely flawless! If anything goes wrong, we're all finished! Anyone who messes it up will be punished severely!"
The voice carried a ruthless edge that sent chills down one's spine.
A staff member whispered, "General, I heard there's a mysterious person investigating us lately. Should we...?"
The general snorted coldly: "What's there to be afraid of! They can't cause any trouble. But we still need to be careful and increase our vigilance. Starting tomorrow, double the number of guards on patrol. Don't let those fools ruin our plans! If I find out that anyone has leaked information, I'll make sure their whole family suffers! I mean what I say!"
After they left, Luo Qingci finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself, "That was close! I almost got caught! But your good days are over! Once I present the evidence, let's see how arrogant you can be! I'll make you pay a heavy price for what you've done!"
She found the evidence and quickly left the general's mansion to meet up with the mysterious man. Looking at the evidence in their hands, the two were filled with the joy of revenge, as if victory was imminent. They high-fived each other and excitedly said, "Now, those villains won't get away! They'll be dealt with!"
Finally, the day of the Emperor's birthday banquet arrived. The palace was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. People from the General's Mansion and the Minister's Mansion arrived at the palace with gifts and fawning expressions. Their smiles were so fake, like wearing a stiff mask, that they were disgusting to look at.
Luo Qingci and the mysterious man also mingled in the crowd, waiting for the best opportunity.
Halfway through the birthday banquet, Luo Qingci suddenly stood up and said loudly, "Your Majesty, I have important matters to report!"
All eyes were fixed on her like spotlights. The emperor frowned and asked with a stern expression, "Who are you? What do you have to say?"
Luo Qingci calmly took out the evidence from her bosom and recounted the rebellion plotted by the General's Mansion and the Minister's Mansion in detail.
Upon hearing this, the general and the minister turned deathly pale, as if they had seen a ghost. They never expected that their plan would be seen through by a woman.
The general's hands trembled uncontrollably, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He was filled with regret: "How could this happen? Where did this woman come from! I should have sent more people to keep an eye on her! Now it's all over, why am I so unlucky!"
The emperor was furious and ordered the arrest of the minister, the general, and all the others. In an instant, the entire palace was in chaos as guards rushed forward and surrounded the minister, the general, and the others.
Luo Qingci looked at the people being taken away, feeling a mix of emotions, including the pleasure of revenge and a sense of relief.
She finally avenged her family, but she knew that this was only one stage in her life, and many more challenges awaited her in the future.
After the birthday banquet, the mysterious man walked up to Luo Qingci and said with a smile, "Congratulations, you have avenged your great enemy." His smile carried a sincere blessing and a hint of relief.
Luo Qingci looked at him and smiled, "Thank you. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to succeed so smoothly. What are your plans for the future?"
The mysterious man looked up at the sky and said nonchalantly, "The world is so vast, where can't we go? Maybe we'll meet again in the future."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving behind only a dashing figure, like a chivalrous knight who had completed his mission and disappeared into the world of martial arts.
Luo Qingci gazed in the direction he had left, silently vowing that no matter what the future held, she would respond with the same calm and rationality as before, becoming the master of her own destiny, and continuing to write her own legend in this ever-changing world of martial arts and the imperial court. She knew that her story had only just begun, and countless wonderful chapters awaited her in the future.