Chapter Sixty-Seven: Utter Foolishness

“You’re absolutely right! The guards at the Hall of Righteousness are too strict—an assassin wouldn’t dare make a move!” Li Zhi seemed to have already formed a plan.

“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“We’ll leave the palace. If we go out, the assassin will be forced to act, won’t he?” Li Zhi smiled.

“What?” Luo Tong was at a loss for words.

Usually, assassins come to you; who goes looking for the assassin?

“Your Highness... are you alright? If the assassin doesn’t come, so be it. Why should we seek him out? That’s just foolish!” Luo Tong waved his hand. “I refuse to take part in such nonsense!”

“You know nothing! The assassin lurks in the shadows while we are exposed—how can I live forever on guard? If we go out and lure the assassin, we can catch them all in one sweep and live without fear!”

“Heh!” Luo Tong sneered, unconvinced.

The whole matter was merely Li Zhi’s speculation; whether or not an assassin actually existed was another question entirely. Luring an assassin outside the palace sounded clever at first, but on closer inspection, it was absurd.

“I won’t go!”

“You must!” Li Zhi pulled out an ancient book from his robe. “Look what this is!”

“A martial arts manual?”

“Exactly! Hehe... I intended to give it to you, but since you won’t go, I suppose I’ll just—”

“I’ll go, I’ll go!” Luo Tong lunged excitedly, trying to snatch the manual. Li Zhi tucked it back into his robe. “Once this matter is resolved, I’ll consider giving it to you.”

“Deal!” Luo Tong agreed without hesitation.

He pressed urgently, “Let’s go now!”

“Don’t be impatient. Wait for a dark, windy night. Tell the Golden Blade Guards to be ready for battle. There may be a fierce fight tonight.”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. With me here, I’d like to see which assassin dares to act!” Luo Tong’s eyes never left Li Zhi’s chest, where the martial arts manual was hidden.

That was the treasure he had longed for.

Martial arts in this world mostly came from noble families, passed down through generations. For example, his Luo family had the Luo Spear. Cheng Yaojin wielded the Thirty-six Heavenly Axe Techniques. Qin Qiong possessed the Swimming Dragon Halberd Method.

Everyone had their own secret skills.

Each unique technique granted its master formidable strength.

Luo Tong had already mastered the Luo Spear and the Nine Swords of Solitude, but that was far from enough. He wished he could learn every martial art known to man. Even if he couldn’t master them, he wanted to study them.

Only by knowing every move from all schools of martial arts could he be invincible in battle.

That night.

A bright moon hung high, illuminating the palace as if it were midday.

Li Zhi and Luo Tong, accompanied by eighteen Golden Blade Guards, slipped quietly out of the palace.

They wandered the streets, now under curfew.

---

“Your Highness, will this really draw out the assassin? The assassin doesn’t have supernatural hearing or vision—how would he know you’ve come out?”

“Why don’t you shout a few times and see?” Li Zhi struggled to hold back his laughter.

“In the dead of night? If I shout, I’ll be taken for a lunatic!”

“Then we have no choice but to wait.”

“Just wandering around the streets—I don’t believe the assassin won’t be tempted! Heh!” Li Zhi strode forward boldly, with Luo Tong and the Golden Blade Guards following.

Not far ahead—

They encountered a patrol from the Watchmen’s Bureau.

“Who goes there? It’s curfew. Arrest them all!” The Watchmen’s men rushed over.

Luo Tong didn’t hesitate and produced a token. “We are the Imperial Guards, on duty. Stand aside!”

The Imperial Guards held status far above the Watchmen’s Bureau.

Like heaven and earth.

Upon seeing the token, the Watchmen quickly stepped aside.

The leader of the Watchmen bowed slightly. “So it’s Young Lord Luo. May I ask what brings you out so late?”

“Nonsense! What else would I be doing, taking a stroll at this hour?”

“Is there something I can assist with?”

“No need!”

...

Luo Tong dismissed them quickly.

He continued on with Li Zhi and the Golden Blade Guards.

“The Watchmen’s men seem to be following us!” Li Zhi noticed several dark shadows behind them, sneaking about—he suspected they were from the Watchmen’s Bureau.

“I’ve noticed too... footfalls behind us!” Luo Tong’s hearing was exceptionally sharp. He abruptly halted and whispered, “Wait. Just now, the Watchmen’s group had thirteen men... but there are more than thirteen behind us now.”

“You can tell that?” Li Zhi had only suspected someone was following because he saw the shadows, but Luo Tong, without turning around, could accurately judge their number, proving his hearing was extraordinary.

“That’s basic skill for any martial artist. If you can’t do even that, why bother training?” Luo Tong gestured to those beside him. “You all protect His Highness and keep moving forward!”

“I want to see who’s behind us.”

“Yes, sir!”

The Golden Blade Guards shielded Li Zhi and moved forward steadily.

Li Zhi turned back. “Be careful!”

“Rest assured, Your Highness. No one born yet can kill Luo Tong!” He gripped his sword tightly and rushed toward the rear.

In just a few seconds,

Those shadows vanished.

---

Luo Tong returned the same way. “Your Highness, that group split into two, heading toward the East and West Markets. Some Watchmen were among them!”

Li Zhi found this odd.

The Watchmen had no reason to hide. Their job was to patrol the streets—why would they deliberately disperse when Luo Tong doubled back? And split into two groups?

Most importantly, their numbers had increased.

He couldn’t rest until he got to the bottom of it.

“Let’s go back and check!” Li Zhi turned and ran back.

Luo Tong and the Golden Blade Guards followed.

They turned into a narrow alley.

The deeper they went, the darker it became.

The Watchmen were nowhere to be seen.

Only the wind and the crisp sound of footsteps echoed.

Li Zhi shivered. “Does this alley lead to the West Market? It doesn’t seem possible. Isn’t this a dead end?”

Li Zhi recalled the map from the Imperial Study.

Many alleys like this were privately built. At the end was typically a courtyard or similar.

“Your Highness... this place feels eerie. Could there be ghosts? I fear nothing but ghosts. Perhaps we should go back!” Luo Tong hugged himself, trembling.

The Golden Blade Guards scanned their surroundings, extremely alert.

“There is a ghost, and its name is Coward—you!” Li Zhi mocked, grabbing Luo Tong. “Don’t even think about running. Come with me a bit further—who knows, the assassin might be inside!”

“How do you know?”

“Intuition.”

Luo Tong muttered, “Your intuition has never been right. You’d do better to trust mine... I’m sure there’s a ghost ahead. If we go on, we might never come back!”

“Your Highness, let’s go back!” Luo Tong made to flee.

But Li Zhi held him fast.

“I never imagined you, who fears neither heaven nor earth, would be afraid of ghosts! Let me tell you, there are no ghosts in this world!” Li Zhi turned, speaking solemnly.

Just then—

A green light flickered, slowly drifting toward Li Zhi’s back, eerily resembling the legendary ghost fire.