Time was passing quickly,
Everyone was starting to get anxious from waiting,
Suddenly,
A signal flare shot up from within Changning Fang into the night sky, exploding instantly, and then seven or eight more flares soared up, coming together to form the image of a flying fish.
"Brothers, something's wrong! Hurry, go support Lord Gu!"
Chen Fei, who had been on high alert, immediately drew his saber.
"Clang!" "Clang, clang!" "Clang, clang, clang!"
In an instant, a series of metallic clashes sounded as dozens of Embroidered Uniform Guards rushed toward Changning Fang.
However, just at that moment,
From the alleyways at both ends of the street, two teams suddenly appeared, together numbering about thirty men, blocking the center of the street directly.
The cold wind was piercing, and under the faint moonlight,
that group, shockingly, were also all dressed in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's attire.
"Brothers, which battalion are you from? Why are you blocking our way?" Chen Fei shouted.
Just then,
Behind those Embroidered Uniform Guards, an old man emerged slowly, gripping two iron courage balls as he strode forward. In the moonlight, his black robe billowed in the cold wind, imposing and majestic.
When they saw the old man,
The look on Chen Fei's group changed instantly, and they shouted in shock:
"Chief Banner Lei!"
On the chilly, deserted street, dry leaves fluttered in the wind,
The gleaming knife edges made the night feel all the colder.
Lei Yun stepped forward slowly, looking over at Chen Fei and the other Embroidered Uniform Guards, then said in a low voice, "Everyone, return to the Hundred Households Office immediately, do not make any mistakes."
As Gu Zhan's acknowledged right-hand man, Chen Fei absolutely could not allow any mishaps at a time like this. He said in a low voice, "Chief Banner Lei, what is the meaning of this? We're acting under Lord Hundred Households' orders—are you defying command?"
Lei Yun eyed Chen Fei with contempt and said, "A loyal dog, truly, but too bad you've picked the wrong master. Don't think you can use Lord Hundred Households to pressure me. Now, my orders are clear: all of you, return to the Hundred Households Office at once. As for Lord Hundred Households, I'll explain myself. It's none of your concern!"
Chen Fei's face turned grim as he replied, "Chief Banner Lei, do you know how grave the crime of framing your colleagues is? Right now, Lord Gu and our fellow Embroidered Uniform Guards are under attack by criminals. By stopping us, you're sentencing Lord Gu to death—this is a crime that will doom your entire clan."
Lei Yun shot Chen Fei a glance and said, "You're going to defy orders, then?"
Chen Fei gritted his teeth hard,
He was now sure that tonight's plan had been leaked. Lei Yun was just waiting for this opportunity, borrowing another's blade to kill, planning to use the Celestial Water Gang to kill Gu Zhan.
"Brothers!"
Chen Fei roared, "Lei Yun has colluded with criminals, betrayed the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and harmed his colleagues. His heart deserves death—his crime demands execution! Follow me and cut a path through to rescue Lord Gu—who is carrying out Lord Hundred Households' command!"
Chen Fei invoked the authority of Gu Chuan, the Hundred Households,
Instantly, the Embroidered Uniform Guards behind him who had been uncertain were swayed—compared to offending Gu Chuan, they'd rather cross Lei Yun.
However, at that moment,
From Chen Fei's group, a dozen or so Embroidered Uniform Guards stepped out and moved toward Lei Yun.
"We respectfully obey the Chief Banner's orders!" That group bowed with cupped fists: "We will return to the Hundred Households Office at once."
Seeing this, Chen Fei's face darkened,
These must all be Lei Yun's plants: some to act as informants and spies, and now, to cripple the morale of his own side at this critical moment.
Lei Yun snorted coldly and said in a low voice: "Embroidered Uniform Guards, hear my order! Chen Fei has defied command for personal gain—arrest him!"
Chen Fei gripped his saber tightly, ready to fight.
Just then,
From deep in the night, a calm voice rang out: "Chief Banner Lei, what an impressive show of authority! Even daring to disobey Lord Hundred Households' orders—are you getting ready to rebel?"
Hearing that, Lei Yun's whole body shook; he spun around in panic, his face full of shock, and exclaimed, "Gu Zhan, how could you be here? You weren't—"
Gu Zhan dragged Horizontal Saber behind him, the tip scratching a long line on the stone slabs of the street. Slowly, he said, "Old bastard, did you really think I wouldn't know about the spies you've planted by my side?"
Lei Yun's brows furrowed, and he said, "If you knew there was someone sending me messages, you still came—"
Halfway through, Lei Yun cried out in shock, "You set a trap for me on purpose! Your real target tonight was never Changning Fang—it was me! You never even went to Changning Fang?"
Gu Zhan's voice turned cold: "Since I've already severed all ties with you, how could I not be on guard!"
Gu Zhan tilted his head slightly and spoke out loud: "Embroidered Uniform Guards, hear my order! Lei Yun has colluded with criminals and plotted to harm his colleagues—his crime warrants death! Arrest him at once. Anyone who dares to stand in the way will be executed as an accomplice. If you resist, you'll be killed without mercy!"
"Yes, sir!" Chen Fei responded loudly on the spot.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards, whose minds had been wavering, all steadied as soon as Gu Zhan appeared, and began to surround Lei Yun.
Gu Zhan then looked at the forty or so Embroidered Uniform Guards beside Lei Yun and said coldly, "Do you still dare to aid evil? If you wake up now and turn back before it's too late, I will personally beg Lord Hundred Households on your behalf. But if you blindly persist, then your entire clans will be implicated!"
Lei Yun grew anxious and shouted, "Don't listen to his nonsense—"
Gu Zhan directly took out Gu Chuan's writ of command and said, "Here is Lord Hundred Households' writ. Anyone who dares act rashly, stand down! Defy this order, and your whole clan is doomed!"
The moment the writ appeared,
The already hesitant Embroidered Uniform Guards beside Lei Yun started to back away, and in an instant, only about twenty diehard loyalists remained by Lei Yun's side.
In the blink of an eye, seventy or eighty Embroidered Uniform Guards began closing in on Lei Yun's group.
"Gu Zhan!"
At that moment, seeing the situation lost, Lei Yun hurriedly shouted: "I admit defeat! I surrender willingly!"
In a flash, everyone halted, and the long street grew silent.
"Gu Zhan," Lei Yun said in a low voice, "I lost. After I return, I'll resign of my own accord and recommend you to take my position to Lord Hundred Households. There's no need to finish this—you're still young and full of potential. If you kill me and the superiors over a moment's rage, it'll stain your reputation for life. It's not worth it. I've already lost, and I'm no threat to you anymore!"
Dragging his saber, Gu Zhan slowly walked toward Lei Yun, nodded, and said, "You make a good point. Killing a superior officer, no matter what the reason, is a stain on one's name. It jeopardizes your career. So..."
Before Gu Zhan finished speaking, his Horizontal Saber flashed through the air with a chilling swish. He powered his waist and abdomen, twisted his body, and poured all his inner strength into the long blade, slashing at Lei Yun with overwhelming force!
"You should just go die!"
With Gu Zhan's furious shout,
The completely unprepared Lei Yun could only retreat fast to dodge,
But Gu Zhan's slash was too fast—too sudden,
And although Lei Yun was a Third Grade Martial Artist, he was too old; his blood had thinned, and years of comfort had sapped his strength. He couldn't match even an average Fourth Grade Martial Artist in battle, much less react at his peak.
The saber came down,
Lei Yun's chest erupted in a spray of blood.