Chapter 288: Chapter 284: Executing the Crown Prince Before the Imperial Palace

Lieu Nuoning’s face was pale and her eyes were squeezed shut, certain she was about to die. Yet, after a long moment, she realized she was still alive. Confused, she opened her eyes and immediately saw Mrs. Dong’s corpse on the ground.

"Sister! Sister, are you okay?" *Waaah.* "Why did you push me away? I don’t want anything to happen to you, Sister!"

The little boy in brocade scampered over, his big, dark eyes brimming with tears.

"Ahang, what just happened? How did Mrs. Dong die?" Lieu Nuoning asked, her face still pale with fright. She hadn’t yet recovered from the shock.

She had been too close to death—just a moment away. In that instant, Lieu Nuoning realized there was so much she wasn’t ready to leave behind.

"That big brother did it! That bad woman Mrs. Dong deserved to die! I’ll hit her!" The boy in brocade picked up a rock and threw it at Mrs. Dong’s corpse. "I was scared to death! It’s a good thing he was here, or I’d never see you again, Sister."

"There, there, Ahang, don’t cry. See? Sister is fine now." Lieu Nuoning comforted her brother, then quickly looked toward Ye Xing, who was completely surrounded by the Imperial Army. She turned anxiously to the elder. "Third Elder, why are so many soldiers still surrounding Brother Ye!"

"Hahaha, Ning’er, don’t you worry. Those Imperial Army soldiers are nothing more than paper tigers now. With your Brother Ye’s power, he can break through their lines and leave with ease." The Lieu Family’s Third Elder said, "He killed Dong Yuan with a single sword strike. The power of this Lord White Cloud is truly unfathomable."

Ahead, the Imperial Army soldiers regarded the green-robed youth as a formidable enemy. They surrounded him, sharp weapons in hand, yet none dared to advance.

’Hmph. A mere Crown Prince dares to provoke me. It looks like I need to teach the Southern Tang Royal Family a lesson they won’t forget. Otherwise, they’ll think White Cloud is an easy target!’ A cold light glinted in Ye Xing’s eyes. Killing intent surged around him as he executed Wind Shadow Step, transforming into a streak of green and shooting forward in pursuit.

"Quick, stop him!"

"Stop him!"

The faces of the surrounding Imperial Army soldiers contorted in terror. Gripping their weapons, they forced themselves to stand in his way, hoping to block his path.

"Overwhelming me with numbers is useless! Now, get out of my way!"

Ye Xing’s gaze was glacial. He reached into his Qiankun Bag, pulled out several grenades, and hurled them forward.

BOOM! RUMBLE!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! "ARGH!"

As the grenades detonated, the Imperial Guards shrieked in agony. They were sent flying by the violent blasts—some killed instantly, others grievously wounded. Blood sprayed through the air as steel helmets and armor clattered across the ground. Body after body collapsed into pools of blood.

Ye Xing had blasted a bloody path paved with corpses right through the Imperial Army’s ironclad encirclement.

Pushing off the ground, Ye Xing shot out of the encirclement. He activated his Lightweight Skill, becoming a blur of green as he chased after the fleeing Crown Prince Li Yu.

"That’s strange. The city gates aren’t in that direction. Why isn’t Lord White Cloud trying to escape the city? He’s heading toward the Imperial Palace instead. Wait, isn’t that the direction the Crown Prince fled? Don’t tell me Lord White Cloud intends to—" The Lieu Family Third Elder’s expression changed, his eyes wide with shock. "This... This is completely insane!"

The streets of Golden Scale Imperial City were bustling with an endless stream of people. As the capital of the nation, it was a picture of prosperity.

"Out of the way! Get out of my way! Don’t block my path, you worthless peasants! Move!"

Crown Prince Li Yu shrieked, his face a pale, twisted mask. His crown was askew, but he had no time to fix it as he galloped wildly. Many commoners along the road couldn’t get out of the way in time and were trampled to death by his horse. Street-side stalls were thrown into chaos, their wares scattered everywhere.

"What’s going on? That man is so audacious! Rampaging on horseback right here in public! This is the Imperial City, right under the Emperor’s nose!"

"That man looks like the Crown Prince! And look at all the Imperial Army soldiers behind him!"

"Hey, it really is Crown Prince Li Yu! How outrageous. To think the Crown Prince himself would show such a blatant disregard for human life."

"Heh, so what if he kills wantonly? The Emperor may have many princesses, but he only has one son. The throne will surely belong to Li Yu one day."

"Sigh. So vicious and arrogant... If a man like that takes the throne, it will be a disaster for us in Southern Tang."

"That’s odd. The way Crown Prince Li Yu looks... it’s almost as if he’s running for his life!"

"Haha, Brother Wang, you’re thinking too much. Who would dare try to kill the Crown Prince? Besides, this is the Imperial Capital! Is someone actually chasing him down in Golden Scale Imperial City? ...Wait, now that you say that, Brother Wang, he really does look terrified."

"Look over there!"

"Everyone, look! Someone’s trying to kill the Crown Prince!"

Everyone on the street turned to look, and what they saw left them utterly dumbfounded.

"My gods! Someone is actually hunting the Crown Prince! Here, in Golden Scale Imperial City, right under the Emperor’s nose!"

"Even the Imperial Guards at the Martial Arts Sixth Realm can’t last a single exchange against him. That young man is incredibly powerful!"

"Who is that guy? He’s a monster!"

"No idea. I’ve never seen him before. To be that strong at his age... he must be a prodigy from one of the great families."

"It’s Lord White Cloud! That young man in green robes... I think he’s Lord White Cloud! I just heard someone over there say so."

"It’s really Lord White Cloud?! This is insane!"

"Quick, let’s follow them! We’re in for a good show!"

Besides the ordinary citizens, the streets were also lined with numerous Martial Artists bearing swords and spears. They were all stunned by the scene, but after recovering their wits, they immediately rushed to follow. After all, someone hunting down the Crown Prince in Golden Scale Imperial City was an absolutely shocking spectacle. One could say that in the entire history of the Southern Tang Country, such an earth-shattering event had never happened before.

SCHLICK! SCHLICK! SCHLICK!

Blood dripped from the Cyan Blade Treasure Sword. Killing a man with every few steps, Ye Xing carved a path of slaughter. A storm of blood followed in his wake as heads flew into the air. Any Imperial Guard who dared to stand in his way died by his blade.

’After the battle on White Cloud Mountain, the Southern Tang Royal Family still dares to pull a stunt like this. If I don’t teach them a painful lesson, who’s to say they won’t try to move against White Cloud again?’

Ye Xing’s eyes blazed with murderous intent. Using his Lightweight Skill, he steadily closed the distance on the fleeing Crown Prince Li Yu.

"Lord White Cloud, what are you doing?! This Crown Prince promises not to harm you again! I... I’ll let you leave the city! Just go! Stop chasing me!" Crown Prince Li Yu’s forehead was beaded with cold sweat as he desperately spurred his Demon Beast Warhorse toward the Imperial Palace.

Crown Prince Li Yu’s mount was a Level 9 Demon Beast, and it was incredibly fast. However, Ye Xing’s Wind Shadow Step had long since reached the Great Success stage and was nearing the Perfection Realm, making him even faster. One pursued, one fled, and a great crowd of spectating Martial Artists tailed them from behind. As they raced on, they drew ever closer to the Imperial Palace, whose gates were now faintly visible in the distance.

At that moment, the majestic Imperial Palace with its red walls and jade-green tiles loomed ahead.

Squads of the Imperial Army stood guard around the palace. Some patrolled the walls while others guarded the gates. From a bird’s-eye view, one would estimate their numbers to be at least ten thousand strong.

"Hey, Commander, look! Isn’t that His Highness, the Crown Prince?"

"That’s right. It is His Highness."

"Someone dares to harm the Crown Prince?! The sheer audacity! Quick, protect His Highness!"

At the commander’s order, squad after squad of the Imperial Army charged out from the Imperial City, weapons in hand and reeking of killing intent.

"Hahaha! I’m almost at the Imperial Palace, and Commander Jiao is on his way!" Overjoyed, Crown Prince Li Yu turned his head and roared at Ye Xing, "Lord White Cloud, why don’t you scurry on home! There are tens of thousands of Imperial Guards in the Imperial City. Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Behind him, Ye Xing frowned, a cold light glinting in his eyes.

"Heh. Don’t think the Imperial City will save you. Even if you hide inside, I’ll still kill you all the same!" A cold sneer touched Ye Xing’s lips. He immediately channeled his Innate Skill at full power. With his cultivation at the Peak of the Martial Arts Ninth Realm, True Qi surged through him. He executed Wind Shadow Step, and his speed instantly increased by thirty or forty percent. The small gap between them vanished in a flash.

In less than two breaths, he had caught up to Crown Prince Li Yu.

"Audacious fiend! Stop at once! Stop!"

Commander Jiao’s face twisted in alarm as he roared. The Imperial Guards rushing from the palace city all turned pale with horror, their eyes fixed on the scene before them.

A flash of cyan sword light streaked through the air.

Crown Prince Li Yu’s eyes widened in terror.

The next moment—

SCHLICK! Crown Prince Li Yu’s head tumbled to the ground. An arrow of blood shot from the stump of his neck, blooming in the air like a ghastly, beautiful flower.

Everyone before the Imperial Palace gates was stunned into silence. The Imperial Guards, the spectating Martial Artists—all of them stared blankly, their mouths hanging agape.

"He... he actually killed the Crown Prince... The very heavens are about to fall on Golden Scale Imperial City!"

Shock was etched on every face, and a storm of disbelief raged in their hearts.

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