Chapter 9, A Brief Demonstration of Skill

Long Ying exclaimed: "You have many fellow townsmen in the divine capital"

Long Ying had already roughly guessed the essence of the demon seed, but did not take it seriously. He was quite surprised that he also referred to himself as Eagle Master, and hurriedly inquired about the reason.

Long Ying let out a sigh of relief, knowing that he had temporarily avoided another assassination crisis, all thanks to the timely arrival of this group of law enforcement officials. Onlookers observed that this man was in his thirties, with a fierce appearance, a beard, and eyes like copper bells. He was two or three inches shorter than Long Ying, but had a thick neck, broad shoulders, and a sturdy back, giving his upper body a square shape. His steps were steady, clearly indicating that he had put in considerable effort into strengthening his lower body.

The dragon eagle leaned towards the left side of the boat, its upper body extending outwards. With its left hand submerged in the water, it exerted all its strength to activate its magical powers. With a forceful push, a water column as thick as an arm shot out of the water at an angle, transforming into a natural projectile aimed at the beautiful woman whose feet were only about three feet away from the boat.

One cannot rely on brute strength; only through wisdom can one achieve victory

The prowess of Long Yingxin is indeed formidable; my own magical abilities are at least two or three levels inferior to his. In the recent clash with the bamboo hat and the oar, everyone exerted their utmost effort. However, compared to my utter defeat that night, the current me is no longer the same as the Wu Xia A Meng of the past

All of this culminates in his unparalleled ability to understand his adversaries, enabling him to make the most precise judgments at any moment during battle and to delineate the optimal strategy

***

Ling Yudai replied: "His Majesty values titles greatly. Although he has announced Lord Ying as a state guest and designated him as a reclusive sage, he has not mentioned anything regarding his title or background, which has caused considerable headache for the Ministry of Rites. They had no choice but to consult the most knowledgeable about His Majesty's intentions, the Fat Eunuch, who made the final decision on Lord Ying's title. The time is almost up! I still need to escort Lord Ying to the Imperial Study."

The opponent is no longer the enchanting beauty among the flowers; such a decisive battle at this moment would be the magical catalyst he has longed for. Although his magical prowess may not match hers, he can fully utilize the characteristics of the demonic seed to contend with the enemy, employing a strategy of using the weak to confront the strong. If he does not perish, the benefits would be immense and truly difficult to estimate

Lu Shifu carefully wrapped the poisoned needle and placed it in his waist pouch, saying: "I once solved a similar poisoning case; this poison is called 'Man's Resentment.' It is not lethal, but it can cause a loss of appetite and, most severely, a loss of sexual desire for a period of time. The Zhang brothers are truly malicious, clearly targeting Master Ying."

The dragon eagle has seen through the situation and understands that most of the meritorious officials at the founding of the Tang Dynasty were from the old Sui ruling class, with the Li family being a prominent representative, characterized by strong aristocratic and regional traits. In order for Wu Zetian to establish her own faction, she must seek talent from outside, and it is under such circumstances that Lu Shifu and Ling Yu were appointed by Wu Zetian. Only this emerging ruling class would be loyal to her. There is suddenly a new understanding of Wu Zetian's governance skills. Wu Zetian must seek talent from outside to establish her own faction, and it is under such circumstances that Lu Shifu and Ling Yu were appointed by her. Only this emerging ruling class would be loyal to her. There is suddenly a new understanding of Wu Zetian's governance skills.

The events unfolded too quickly, in the blink of an eye. Ahead, Ling Yu and the guards from www.hetushucomcom on two boats shouted and sprang into action, brandishing their weapons. A graceful figure, moving so swiftly it resembled a shadow, shot from the edge of the cargo ship towards the Dragon Eagle like a powerful arrow. In that moment, everyone could only watch in astonishment as the Dragon Eagle faced off against the assassin in a one-on-one confrontation

The entire stretch of the Luo River is deeply etched in my heart

At this point, the warning signs finally appeared

Long Ying inquired: "This matter must be reported to the Emperor. Can the Zhang brothers handle it?"

Guests in the other rooms along the corridor began to notice the fierce battle outside, and many could not help but push open their doors to peek out. Naturally, no one dared to step outside, fearing to become collateral damage.

Only Princess Taiping is an exception, as there is no need to worry about her

At this moment, there is still a distance of over 1 li from the dock outside the Shangyang Palace. The boats on the Luo River come and go frequently; at first glance, with boats arriving and departing, one cannot detect any suspicious vessels. However, with the skill of the woman among the flowers, it is easy for a small boat to take cover behind other ships and switch to other people. It is likely that one would only realize something amiss when she strikes. Yet, how could this pose a challenge to the Dragon Eagle, who is steadily advancing towards becoming a demon and is well aware of the situation in his heart.

Ling Yu said softly: "The Zhang brothers will definitely be reprimanded, but since it involves the Sengwang Temple, the outcome is hard to determine"

In a state of constant motion, the thirteen enemies within the corridor, responding to the changes in the situation, sought opportunities to join the fray. However, due to the constraints of the corridor, they influenced and obstructed one another, making it impossible to grasp the situation regarding the Dragon Eagle, thus creating a threat

The battle has ended, and the enemies lie sprawled across the corridor, all wounded but not dead, yet no one can rise again.

At this moment, Ling Yu and the others rushed out of the room and joined the battle, simultaneously cutting the enemies attacking Long Ying in half. Seeing that Long Ying had already taken down nearly half of the enemies, their morale soared, and everyone became like fierce tigers out of their cages, turning the tide with their numbers against the few, causing the enemies to flee in all directions, crying out in despair

He grasped the angle and timing with precision to the minutest detail, just as the beautiful woman’s feet pressed against the side of the boat, the water column was about to strike her slender waist

Long Ying and others left the tavern in high spirits and arrived at the bustling street filled with crowds and vehicles

In the midst of a dramatic shift in circumstances, the once domineering young master suddenly found himself alone facing Long Ying. In a moment of fierce rage, he drew his dagger and launched a frenzied attack on Long Ying.

The Dragon Eagle took advantage of the enemy's chaos, ghosting in and out of the gaps on the left side, employing a demonic style of close-quarters combat tactics. With the enemies unable to touch him in the corners, they fell one after another, succumbing to his attacks.

Bang

While Ling Yu was still dealing with the aftermath, the personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department arrived. It turned out that Wu Zhao placed great importance on the public security of the Luoshui District, which is why the Criminal Investigation Department had numerous informants in this area. Any signs of disturbance would not escape their notice.

Ling Yu took out a poisoned needle wrapped in white cloth, which he had picked up from the scene of the fight, and handed it to Lu Shifu, saying: "This is the evidence found in the toe of the little Buddha's shoe"

The dragon eagle stood at the stern of the ship, rowing against the wind, with a multitude of emotions swirling within his heart

The dragon eagle further solidifies the thoughts in its heart

After circulating the internal demonic energy for a week, the insignificant internal injuries were immediately healed, a miraculous feat that was hard to believe. At the same time, the demonic force surged from the Yongquan acupoint at the soles of his feet directly into the bottom of the boat. Just half a zhang away from the beautiful woman among the flowers, the boat swiftly moved sideways over a zhang, stirring up splashes of water on the right side of the boat.

The crowd remained in a state of panic, and Ling Yu leaped onto the Dragon Eagle boat, anxiously asking: "Is Master Eagle alright?"

Lu Shifu politely offered his greetings

Suddenly, the Dragon Eagle lifted the oar from the clear waters of the Luo River, where fish were visible, raised it high above his head, and swung it in a circle. At the moment the oar left the water, a bamboo hat filled with an astonishing force came hurtling from a passing cargo ship, whistling sharply as it spun like a windmill, slashing diagonally towards the center of his boat. If struck, it would surely split the boat in two, and the impact could throw the Dragon Eagle into the river, where he would have to confront the beauty among the flowers at the bottom of the water.

The beautiful woman clearly did not anticipate that Long Ying would make such a move, and in her anger, she let out a soft shout, retracted her feet, and then swiftly extended one foot to step on the top of the water column, producing a loud explosive sound, causing the beautiful woman to be propelled diagonally backward.

The fragrance detected belongs to the beauty among the flowers. Just now, she must have attempted to assassinate herself, but her plan was thwarted by his hurried crossing of the thoroughfare, compounded by the arrival of a large number of law enforcement officers, forcing her to alter her plans. The best location for the assassination would be on the river route back to the Sun Palace. Long Ying finds himself in a dilemma, wanting to ensure her safe escape while also unwilling to see even a single imperial guard harmed.

The clash of energy produced a sound akin to muffled thunder, shattering the bamboo hat into countless fragments, while the oars splintered inch by inch. The dragon eagle felt a numbing sensation in both arms as the residual force penetrated along the meridians and attacked his hands, causing him to involuntarily stagger backward. He had no choice but to sit down at the stern of the boat, and with a "whoosh," he spat out a small mouthful of fresh blood

Ling Yu, being quite familiar with him, introduced: "This is my fellow townsman, the renowned Chief Constable Lu Shifu of the Criminal Investigation Division in the capital."

The officers dismounted swiftly outside the tavern, and someone led the horses to the stable behind the tavern. Everyone acted with speed, efficiency, and order, and one individual crossed the carriageway to approach.

Long Ying wanted to ask further, when Ling Bi caught a familiar scent from the mixed aromas wafting through the street, and was secretly taken aback. He hurriedly urged Ling Yu to quicken their pace across the long street, fearing that he might notice something unusual. He divided his attention and said: "Earlier, when we left Shangyang Palace, I noticed someone hanging back behind us. What did they look like?"

The sensory perception of the dragon eagle was comprehensively enhanced, with layers upon layers of scents entering his nostrils, forming a map of odors in his mind. What particularly caught his attention was a kick from the little Buddha, carrying the scent of herbs. He instinctively sensed that there was a hidden mystery within it, and at the same time, he became enlightened.

Ling Yudao: "If the person in charge of ceremonies sees you rowing the boat to send the young general back, he will definitely not spare the young general."

***

The beautiful women among the flowers are certainly not without threat to the young Buddha and others; they could easily kill him once more. This time, he will head straight to the underworld, with no way to turn back, as her killings include even the yet-to-be-fully-formed demonic seeds.

The attire of the beauty among the flowers was different from that day; she was dressed like an ordinary fisherman, her floral features concealed by intersecting shades of indigo. Her figure was so graceful that it surpassed the capacity of words to describe. If she were to take her current stance, she would plunge straight into the river.

Little did one know, the beautiful figure among the flowers contracted and expanded, like a nail being struck by an invisible giant hammer, slanting downwards, her feet pushing straight out, aiming for the port side of the dragon eagle boat, as Yu's long sword narrowly swept above her.

His sense of touch is extraordinary; it can be said that even if he were to lose the abilities of sight, hearing, and smell, he could still accurately perceive the weight and shape of pressure through his skin, precisely grasping the position, distance, and speed of an enemy's attack.

Long Ying had already prepared his speech and smiled, saying: "That makes it easier to resolve. Let me row a boat by myself; what more is there for the ceremonial officer to say?"

Long Ying stepped back slightly, allowing Xiao Fo Ye to launch his attack, laughing as he said, "There is no need to rush to make friends!" With a casual wave of his hand, he struck the dagger that was coming at him, unleashing a torrent of magical energy like a mountain flood. Xiao Fo Ye let out a pained grunt as the dagger flew from his hand, his tiger's mouth splitting open. Before he could react in shock, a kick delivered from Long Ying's side struck him in the abdomen, sending his entire body flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground with a loud "bang".

The abilities of the demon seed fill the meridians of the Qi and Zheng with a force that seems inexhaustible. When he has a thought, the Dao body naturally moves, perfectly aligning with his Dao heart, merging seamlessly like water and milk, achieving a state where the mind knows to stop while the spirit desires to act, reaching the ultimate realm of martial arts where intention and action are unified.

As the arriving ship no longer obstructs the view, the Luo River returns to calmness, leaving only her abandoned empty boat drifting eastward with the current, as if it were a spring dream that leaves no trace

Long Ying finally experienced the captivating world of the demon species in battle. Just as he stepped out of the room and onto the corridor, a small Buddha figure to his right kicked out, targeting his calf. Another person attacked from the left, feigning an attack with one hand while the other swung a fist to strike at his waist. One enemy darted forward, intending to intercept him head-on, but was still a little short of entering the attack position.

Suddenly, she let out a delicate shout, unexpectedly channeling her true energy in mid-air, forcefully halting her momentum, rising slightly, and performing a somersault.

Upon arriving at the dock, Long Ying faces another crisis

Other women may avoid it if possible, although it can be seen as a casual encounter, they are not prostitutes. They know their own circumstances, and once a physical relationship occurs, or if they become pregnant with his child, he cannot abandon them after having initiated the relationship.

Ling Yu reacted swiftly, flicking his wrist to hurl the long sword towards the beautiful woman who was still in motion, aiming for her slender waist that was no thicker than a grip.

Ling Yu revealed the identity of the Dragon Eagle State guest and his own status, prompting the personnel from the criminal apprehension office to act without delay. They quickly gathered their forces and apprehended the incapacitated young Buddha on the spot, arranging for his escort back to the imperial city.

It is regrettable that at this moment, the only option is to continue with clever strategies, as we cannot afford to engage in open conflict.

Due to the rapid unfolding of events and the varying levels of martial skills among the opponents, some individuals, lacking in coordination, collided with one another, unable to exert the power of many against the few in that fleeting moment, thus providing Long Ying with an opportunity to take advantage of the situation

The auditory perception is extraordinary; the strength and weakness of the enemy's vital energy, the operation of true energy within the meridians, and all changes within the body are all captured by his spiritual ears

The dragon eagle took a step forward, swiftly sweeping the oar, striking the bamboo hat just above the boat, less than five feet away.

Ling Yu lost the mood for laughter, his gaze directed towards the place where the beautiful woman among the flowers had vanished, murmuring: "Such terrifying martial arts actually exist in this world"

Ling Yu took the opportunity to say to Long Ying: "In the Divine Capital, no one dares to disrespect Brother Lu."

The Dragon Eagle swiftly retreated, causing the simultaneous attacks from both sides to miss. The Little Buddha and the enemy on the left nearly collided. As the great shock retreated, the Dragon Eagle first kicked towards the Little Buddha's retracting foot. With a "crack," the malicious poison needle concealed in the toe of the Little Buddha's shoe was immediately broken. The Dragon Eagle spun around, positioned himself in the center of the corridor, leaped into the air, and performed a somersault to the left. The two enemies, still unclear about what had just happened, were already struck by the Dragon Eagle's fingers aimed at their Tianling acupoints, swaying as if drunk, staggering and wobbling, further adding to the chaos among the already disordered enemies, leading to their complete rout.

Long Ying smiled and said: "With such a colorful and varied breakfast, how could anything be wrong? What I fear most is that the Deputy Commander will no longer dare to accompany me out of the palace in the future"

Lu Shifu smiled and said: "When His Majesty was still the Empress, not only did she single-handedly break the situation where the high-ranking families monopolized the key positions in the court, but she also greatly reformed the court's practice of favoring local talents. We, the humble scholars from the Northeast and Jiangzuo, were the first to benefit, with a large number entering the court. In gratitude for Her Majesty's grace, we are unable to repay even with our lives and brains."

In fact, he has never understood why the young Buddha, knowing that he is a state guest of Wu Zetian, still dares to come and cause trouble. He should have been given a courage that even the heavens would not allow him to harm himself. The key point is that they have no intention of killing him; they only want to poison him, and this poison will only damage certain aspects of his abilities, undermining his relationship with Wu Zetian

Ling Yu reluctantly agreed. If he were not fully aware of Long Ying's strength, he would not dare to move even half a step away from Long Ying, even if it meant death.

After recently facing challenges as if passing through a series of gates, coupled with the supernatural occurrences of the demon species, and with the ability to adapt and respond skillfully, I furrowed my brow, a plan forming in my mind. Seizing the opportunity while others went to fetch the boat, I said to Ling Yu: "Let me row the boat, I would like to experience the pleasure of rowing on the Luo River."

From being an insignificant pawn in the Demon Gate, and a living furnace for the Evil Emperor Du Ao's cultivation, to becoming a significant figure in the Divine Capital, I still feel an unreal sensation at this moment

Many matters feel confusing. However, one thing is clear and unequivocal: under no circumstances should one engage in a close relationship with Wu Zetian. This is not only due to concerns about her seductive powers but also a matter of dignity, as it would reduce him to being just another internal servant of Wu Zetian, becoming one among her many male consorts. One might ask, what would Xiang Yutian do in a similar situation?

***

Lu Shifu placed the needle under his nose, inhaled for a moment, and closed his eyes

Long Ying sensed that her true energy was not concentrated in her feet, but rather gathered in her dantian, poised to unleash its power. If she were to channel this energy through her feet, she could undoubtedly overturn the boat, and at that moment, he would have to settle matters privately with the beauty among the flowers.

Ling Yu was on the speedboat at the back, while the "brothers" on the two boats in front were completely unaware, oblivious to the fact that the most elite beautiful assassin of the present age was watching them closely, ready to strike at any moment

The beautiful woman's eyes shimmered with a unique brilliance, a striking light that revealed a deep-seated hatred within her heart. Yet, she found herself powerless to act. With a sudden somersault, she landed first on the tip of her long sword, using its force to leap over a departing cargo ship, casting her weapon twenty zhang away, where it plunged into the water.

He can live a life of ease and splendor, but he can also become a rat that everyone wants to hit. Such feelings can only be understood by oneself, and no explanation will ever be comprehended. The only object to vent his frustrations to is the fat grandfather

The Imperial Guards finally found another opportunity, and one after another, they threw their long swords and hidden weapons towards the beautiful woman

Even though the beautiful woman among the flowers possesses the unparalleled skills of the Undying Seal, enduring this water-based hidden weapon would certainly cause her to be thrown elsewhere by the force of the water column, disrupting her originally seamless assassination attempt.

Ling Yu's attention was drawn to the large number of cavalry rushing towards the arrest, and he replied nonchalantly: "I can't see clearly; he is sitting at the stern of the boat, rowing, with a bamboo hat pulled down to cover his face. However, his tracking skills are quite remarkable; he realized that we had noticed him and docked to the side to disembark."

In just two short days, crises emerged one after another, leaving him no time to settle his thoughts on his situation, and the future appeared even more uncertain