Inside Baiyue City.
A stout man with an unremarkable appearance suddenly walked out of a humble inn. The gleam in his eyes, however, made it clear he was no ordinary man.
This person, disguised as a short, middle-aged man, was naturally Yun Xiao. It had been a whole half-month since the chaotic event on the King’s birthday-night.
Throughout this half-month, the inn had been searched countlessly by Royal Guards, yet not once had they discovered Yun Xiao’s whereabouts, thanks to his miraculous Disguise and Shrinkage Technique inherited from Nine-layered Dragon Cloud.
After such a long period of convalescence, Yun Xiao’s body, which had been ravaged by the Golden Snake Worm that day, had almost fully recovered. Although he had great confidence in his Disguise Technique, he knew he could not stay in Baiyue City for long, as soone might notice sothing off at any given mont.
No matter how strong the Disguise Technique is, it cannot evade the Power of Soul. If one day a ridian Refining expert familiar with Yun Xiao’s Soul aura were to appear, he couldn’t assure his identity would remain concealed.
Yun Xiao believed that after half a month of fruitless searching, the people of the Royal Family must have relaxed their vigilance sowhat, and perhaps this could be an opportunity to slip out of the city.
Baiyue City was still bustling with noise. Just as Yun Xiao expected, compared to half a month ago, the street guards were not scrutinizing passersby as strictly.
But Yun Xiao knew that this was a relaxed exterior masking strict control within; if his trace as the Great Thief of the treasure was truly discovered, it’s likely that ridian Union Realm or even Spirit Vein Realm warriors from the Xuantie Army would spring from sowhere.
All the way through, Yun Xiao trod carefully. No one paid any attention to this inconspicuous short man. However, when he reached the vicinity of the South City Gate, he found a large crowd gathered, pointing and discussing sothing.
"Eh? What’s going on?"
With so many eyes and ears in a crowd, Yun Xiao did not deliberately avoid the commotion. He weaved through the crowd and, upon seeing an Imperial List posted on the wall inside the city gate, felt a stirring in his heart.
"Xuan Jing fell ill?"
Yun Xiao read through the information on the Imperial List in an instant, but his expression turned exceedingly grim because he had an inkling of the revelation within the announcent.
This was naturally the sa Imperial List unveiled by the Sect Master of Jade Pot Sect. It stated that the Second Prince Xuan Jing of the Xuanyue Empire had fallen into a coma due to so special reason. The list was a plea to all the skilled physicians across the Empire, hoping soone could awaken him. There would be a generous reward for success.
If this had been about an unrelated person within the Royal Family, Yun Xiao would have simply walked past without a second thought. But Xuan Jing was different. The Second Prince had saved his life more than once. Yun Xiao was soone who paid back both grudges and favors.
Moreover, the current Yun Xiao was at odds with Xuan Jiuding, the Crown Prince. The latter had frad and plotted against him so viciously that he had nearly been forced into a desperate situation, unable to even show his face in Baiyue City. They had long since ford a deadly enmity.
From his previous interactions with Xuan Jing, Yun Xiao was clever enough to guess that the Second Prince’s current predicant was probably orchestrated by Xuan Jiuding.
Within the entire Royal Family, if anyone could pose a threat to Xuan Jiuding’s position as Crown Prince, it would likely only be the Second Prince Xuan Jing. How could a man like Xuan Jiuding not think of ways to extinguish such a threat?
The enemy of an enemy is a friend, and moreover, Yun Xiao and Xuan Jing shared a bond that had been forged in life-threatening circumstances. Therefore, both emotionally and logically, he could not simply walk away.
Besides, staring at the Imperial List, a daring plan suddenly ford in Yun Xiao’s mind. He stroked his short beard, then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he stepped forward to take the list down.
"Wait a mont!"
Seeing Yun Xiao’s actions, a Royal Guard moved to block him, and the guard’s icy tone left Yun Xiao sowhat puzzled.
"Hey, have you clearly seen the contents of the Imperial List? An Empire’s Imperial List is not sothing just anyone can take down!"
The guard’s face was stern, and his words resonated with the onlooking crowd. After all, Yun Xiao looked too plain; soone who could blend into a crowd without being noticed.
Just as the guard said, once an Imperial List was issued, only truly capable individuals could accept the challenge. If soone removed the list and was later discovered to be rely seeking attention, those guards would also be implicated.
"Eh? Isn’t the Imperial List posted here to be accepted? Why are you now making excuses when I co to accept it?"
Yun Xiao did not argue with the guard, simply expressing a look of surprise, which led the two guards and the surrounding crowd to ponder—perhaps this man was a hidden expert?
"I can vouch for him on behalf of the Luoyi Sect. There shouldn’t be any issue now, right?"
As the guard was ntally conflicted, a cool female voice suddenly erged from the crowd. A graceful woman in green clothes stepped forward, causing everyone to brighten up at the sight.
"Liu Hanyi?"
Seeing this girl, the onlooking crowd all pondered, for they were not too unfamiliar with this prodigious young lady from one of the three great sects of the empire.
Especially Yun Xiao. When he saw this girl with whom he had once crossed paths, a chill went through him, completely unaware of why Liu Hanyi would suddenly co out to vouch for him. Could it be that she had seen through him?
Yun Xiao considered his Disguise Technique flawless. Even if the Sect Master of the Jade Pot Sect stood before him, he might not recognize him imdiately, let alone those unrelated people.
"Ha ha, with Miss Han Yi’s guarantee, there surely won’t be any problems!"
The guard’s expression changed imdiately upon seeing Liu Hanyi. Although they served the Royal Guards, how could they dare to offend Liu Hanyi, a favored daughter of the heavens?
The Luoyi Sect was one of the three great sects of the empire, and Liu Hanyi’s status within the Luoyi Sect was akin to Xuan Jiuding’s status within the Royal Family; although their affiliations differ, at least these guards at the city gate dared not offend her.
"Well, aren’t you going to lead the way?"
Liu Hanyi’s gaze swept over Yun Xiao, and with a sudden cold shout, the guard did not dare to delay and led the way. Yun Xiao followed behind without a sound, holding the Imperial List in his hand, and quickly caught up.
Yun Xiao remained silent. He couldn’t be sure whether Liu Hanyi had uncovered his true identity or not. If she had, why hadn’t she exposed him? It would be a perfect bargaining chip for building a good relationship with the Crown Prince.
As ti passed, the majestic Imperial Palace lood closer, and Yun Xiao’s heart suddenly braced for caution. Suddenly quickening his pace, he quietly asked, "Why do you want to help ?"
This was the first ti Yun Xiao had spoken; after glancing at the guard not far ahead, Liu Hanyi, without turning her head, responded, "I’m still waiting for you to nurse back to health. Isn’t this favor enough?"
With these words, Liu Hanyi acknowledged that she had seen through Yun Xiao’s disguise. At this point, Yun Xiao had no inclination to ponder how she had done it. From Liu Hanyi’s tone, he did not sense too much hostility and thus let out a sigh of relief.
However, Yun Xiao felt sowhat uneasy about this, hearing himself say with a grave tone, "Even without you, I could have entered the Imperial Palace. So this favor, isn’t really that significant!"
At this, Liu Hanyi finally turned her head, with a smile that was not quite a smile, and said, "What do you think would happen if I were to shout out loud right now that you are the Great Thief Yun Xiao, the one who stole the royal Xuantian Treasure Scroll?"
While speaking, Liu Hanyi’s eyes glanced at the entrance of the Imperial Palace where the guards in Xuan Armor were heavily stationed, glowing with flashing brilliance.
"You’re relentless!"
Under such circumstances, even Yun Xiao had to bow his head. Now, without the Golden Snake Worm to rely on, if he were truly cornered here, escape would indeed be as hard as flying with clipped wings.
"Don’t worry, I still need you; I won’t reveal your identity!"
Liu Hanyi did not go too far in her words. Imdiately after, her tone changed and with an intrigued expression, she continued, "However, I really do admire you for daring to enter the Imperial Palace alone. Who exactly gave you such courage?"
"That’s none of your business. You’d better take care of yourself!"
Yun Xiao replied irritably to Liu Hanyi, whom he didn’t know well, his mind now full of wariness. She was like a ticking ti bomb, which could explode quietly at any mont.
"Gentlen, this is Lord Xuan Tong. Follow him inside!"
While Yun Xiao and Liu Hanyi were conversing in low voices, the leading guard suddenly spoke up, and a middle-aged man with a touch of arrogance directed his gaze toward them.
This person called Xuan Tong didn’t notice Yun Xiao in disguise at first glance, but looked sowhat curiously at Liu Hanyi.
"So it’s Miss Han Yi! I didn’t expect to see you again so soon!"
Xuan Tong’s initial remark took Yun Xiao by surprise. Could it be that Liu Hanyi and Xuan Tong knew each other? However, he next heard him say, "Didn’t Sect Leader Jia Yi co to see the Second Prince’s illness last ti? Even he was at a loss, so you..."
Not until this mont did Xuan Tong’s eyes fall on Yun Xiao for the first ti, but as he continued to speak, he shook his head sowhat disappointedly, clearly not optimistic about Yun Xiao.
"Ha, Lord Xuan Tong, he is he, and perhaps this man I’ve found can truly cure the Second Prince’s illness," Liu Hanyi seed not to take Xuan Tong’s implicit aning, and chuckled lightly, noncommittal.
"Then please, both of you, follow !"
Seeing Liu Hanyi’s deanor, Xuan Tong found it inappropriate to say more. After all, the King of the Xuanyue Empire was very concerned about the illness of the Second Prince, and no opportunity should be missed. If this guy could really cure Xuan Jing’s illness, it would surely be a great rit for himself, Xuan Tong.
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