Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio 

  Without a doubt, Chen Pingping was an ace, at least he was once an ace. Chen Wuchang, one of the eunuchs in the Palace back in the day, was one of the ranked few, even if he couldn’t compare to the incredibly talented Eunuch Hong Siyang. His own martial prowess could not be underestimated. 

  If he was not a powerful figure, how could he have challenged the powerful Xiao En when the world was in such an unstable circumstance? How could he have created such a sinister Overwatch Council under the eyes of a court full of enemy gazes? If Chen Pingping was not a powerful figure, how could he have led the Black Knights like a black storm across the land to carry out the astonishing thousand li attacks? 

  However, time and experience were the most effective tools of torment. Too much time had passed. Chen Pingping was already old. Unfortunately, during the attack to bring Xiao En back to the capital, Chen Pingping was heavily wounded. Half his body became crippled. He lost all feeling below his waist. His lifetime of cultivation also went with the wind, without a shred left behind. 

  This was history that all officials and people of the Qing Kingdom knew about. It was a truth that either made them feel great pity or great joy. When news came out of the Royal Palace to bring Chen Pingping back to the capital, no one, not even Ye Zhong, Gong Dian, Eunuch Yao, Commander Shi Fei, or He Zongwei focused their cautious gazes on Director Chen’s body or the black wheelchair he sat on. 

  They knew Chen Pingping was a cripple. It was impossible for him to have any personal strength. The rightful caution and fear in their hearts were not because of how strong Chen Pingping’s physical body was. Instead, it was a difficult-to-resist thought toward the sinister conspiracies in this old cripples head, as well as the incredible strength of the Overwatch Council that he could call on. 

  Chen Pingping entered the capital alone. With the Overwatch Council under strict surveillance and an important figure within cooperating fully, the major officials around the Emperor all let out a breath at the same time. As long as Chen Pingping was unable to use the dark force tied to his withered fingers, then the Royal Palace was safe. 

  Precisely because of this judgment, they were not worried that Chen Pingping would do any harm to the Emperor in the royal study. Even if Chen Pingping was still the powerful figure on the black warhorse, he would not have any ability to retaliate in front of the Emperor, the foremost ace in the world. And, as for that black wheelchair? The old Director had sat in this wheelchair for many years. Everyone was used to the existence of this wheelchair. Some even saw it as a part of Chen Pingping. 

  Habit was a powerful thing, enough so that people could completely disregard it. When Chen Pingping entered the royal study in his black wheelchair, no one, including Eunuch Yao, was alerted by it. This was their major mistake. 

  Just like them, the Emperor, after having talked for a long time in the dim morning rain, also made a mistake in the moment his state of mind recovered its indifference and calm. When the pale-faced Chen Pingping looked at the snow-white wall of the royal study behind him and quietly called out that woman’s name, his state of mind relaxed slightly. Following Chen Pingping’s gaze with his own eyes, he missed the movement of Chen Pingping’s arms resting on the arms of the black wheelchair. 

  Perhaps everyone had played a childish and cute game in their childhood. A friend would pretend to see a stern elder or harsh teacher approaching from behind and cry out. Once the friend turned their head, a punch would land on their body. 

  Such a childish trick was used on the Qing Emperor, the most powerful man in the world. It had to be said, Chen Pingping’s thoughts were marvelous, clever, and effective. Perhaps it was because the Emperor’s state of mind had been shaken in that moment or because the Emperor’s entire person had sunk into a realm of absolute confidence after Ku He and Sigu Jian died and Ye Liuyun went out to the ocean that he did not care about anything and turned his head. 

  Presently, there should be no one who would be able to hurt this powerful Emperor. Even if Fan Xian, Haitang, Thirteenth Wang, Yun Zhilan, Lang Tao, and the Shadow, all appeared in the royal study at the same time and aimed a fatal blow at the Emperor, the Emperor’s expression would probably not change in the slightest. 

  However, when he turned his head, he only saw a completely empty snow-white wall. His pupils shrank. He turned his gaze back to Chen Pingping in the wheelchair only to see that Chen Pingping’s hands, which had been lying on the arms of the wheelchair, were holding tightly to the inner side of the armrests while his forearm pulled back abruptly. 

  With a crack, the two smooth arms of the wheelchair suddenly split to the side and made a series of wondrous metallic sounds. Following the two simultaneous explosions, two powerful streams of air sprayed out of the two holes that suddenly appeared at the front of the armrests. 

  Thump! Thump! 

  Cleanly and crisply, without any hesitation, coolly and coldly, Chen Pingping gripped the arms of the wheelchair, which he had touched for years, and triggered the switch. Countless shards of metal and steel exploded toward the Qing Emperor’s body with great force, propelled by the powerful fire powder. The black wheelchair opened up two paths of brilliant and dazzling sparks. 

  In this world, there was no one who could hurt the Emperor. That did not mean there were no objects that could hurt him. At least, the Emperor and Chen Pingping knew that the long mysterious black chest was certainly a threat to the Emperor. The wheelchair that Chen Pingping had sat on for decades seemed to be demonstrating a similar effect. 

  This black wheelchair had been carefully crafted decades ago by the palace treasury and the Third Bureau of the Overwatch Council. The pair of firearms that contained countless years of anger had been personally created by the woman who had died long ago. 

  At that time, Chen Pingping was crippled. She was worried for his safety, so she had mobilized all of her abilities and secretly arranged for him to have the best life-saving treasure. Over these years, the wheels and backing of this wheelchair had been changed a number of times, but this pair of armrests had never been changed. 

  Many people knew that Chen Pingping had a habitual action of gently stroking the smooth armrests. People close to him, like Fan Xian, knew that when they were silent and alone, the Director liked to use his knuckles to gently knock against the armrests. Each time, the armrests made a hollow sound, like a hollow bamboo. Bamboos had joints, strength, and bones. Chen Pingping did too. 

  The two blossoms of sparks in front of the armrests exploded. After the two almost simultaneous explosions, the sound of countless shards of metal and fire powder flew toward the Emperor’s body rang out with a splatter, like rain hitting sand and hail hitting the ground, creating thousands of little pits and breaking countless Japanese banana leaves. 

  The royal study filled with smoke. It dissipated with unusual speed. Gradually, the figure of the Emperor on the low couch was revealed. 

  The Emperor was a Great Grandmaster. In the end, they were not gods. Their bodies were still that of mortal men. Although their minds were powerful, they could not react like a god. 

  When Chen Pingping activated the trigger on the wheelchair, he was very close to the Qing Emperor. The canister shot that fired from his armrests was unusually powerful and covered half the space. Even if the Emperor flashed away like an immortal, he still could not escape the boundaries of the weapon. 

  The Qing Emperor did not flash away. He remained sitting on the soft couch while the stone wall beside him was shredded into pieces and shattered bricks rustled down. A few pieces of broken wall hung in mid-air. The low couch beneath his body had already broken in half while the table in front of him had been shattered into wood shards. 

  Many fine holes and tears appeared in the dragon robe beneath the Emperor. With different shapes and different tracks, the holes appeared to be slightly burnt. 

  A pair of hands covered his face. The index finger of his left hand was slightly bent while the thumb quirked slightly. The blue porcelain teacup sat between his thumb and index finger without moving a tall. Even the teacup had not shattered, so the Emperor’s face was fine. 

  Everything happened in a brief moment. The qi all over the Emperor’s body was substantial. It whistled like the wind while the blue porcelain teacup between his fingers flew into the air with a puff. 

  With two gunshots, the black wheelchair was pushed back with enormous recoil and slid back at a remarkable speed. The wheelchair screeched against the floor of the royal study like it was going to produce sparks. It crashed hard against the wall of the royal study with a bang. 

  Chen Pingping’s expression was indifferent. His pupils slightly constricted. However, he didn’t have time to make any movement before he saw the jade green reflected in his eyes. 

  With a crack, the teacup flew out of the sky and crashed onto Chen Pingping’s frail chest, breaking a number of bones. 

  Countless pieces of porcelain that had shattered into powder plunged like countless thin needles into Chen Pingping’s body. It was painful and itchy, not something mortal men could endure. 

  A mouthful of black blood sprayed out from between Chen Pingping’s lips, wetting his chest. Immediately afterward, a boundless, shapeless, and intangible force of zhenqi surged forward and subdued the remaining meridians in his body in an instant. It controlled the movement of every single one of his muscles so that he could not speak, move, or end his own life. 

  This powerful Tyrannical zhenqi sank into his body across the air and through his clothes. It followed his meridians and slowly forced out the powerful poison the old Director had taken earlier. 

  In the air, there seemed to be a shapeless giant gripping Chen Pingping’s withered body tightly and picked him up from the black wheelchair. Hovering in the air, this scene appeared particularly strange. 

  Chen Pingping’s white hair had long become a mess and lay in disarray across his forehead, gently covering the deep lines on his face. His clothes were covered in tears. The life in his body had been suppressed to the edge of life and death in an instant. 

  However, the old man’s eyes were cold, without a glimmer of fear. They only carried a sliver of pity and disdain. Gradually, these emotions also disappeared leaving behind only calm. 

  Heavy footsteps rang out in the royal study. Slowly and heavily, the Emperor stepped across the debris on the ground and walked toward him. 

  The Emperor’s right hand opened slightly. Streams of powerful zhenqi shot through the air and held Chen Pingping’s thin body firmly in the air. 

  Other than coldness, the Emperor’s gaze was dyed a wild blood red. The Emperor’s hands trembled. They were covered with fresh blood and terrifying wounds. 

  The small tears on the Emperor’s dragon robe began to flow with blood, seeping out endlessly and washing away the metal debris and remaining burned fire powder. The dragon robe had already been burned black. 

  The Emperor was heavily injured. The metal shards that could travel through stone should still be stuck in his body, but he did not die. 

  The shards of the teacup were inside Chen Pingping’s body. He also began to bleed. Perhaps he didn’t have much blood to start with, but the speed of bleeding was not very fast. It still soaked through his tattered black Overwatch Council robes in an instant. 

  The Emperor approached Chen Pingping, his chest rising and falling. The Emperor and official were both covered with small but deep cuts. The pain went deep, and the blood flowed without stopping, making them look very similar. 

  He lowered his head and glanced at the terrible wound in his chest. The corners of his brows trembled slightly. It was as if he had not thought that there was still someone present in the world who could make him come so close to death. A wave of hate and anger began to ferment and rise in the Emperor’s body. 

  His hand closed around Chen Pingping’s throat as he stared into his eyes. A bone-chilling hatred flashed through his eyes. “If I don’t want you to die, you will not die.” 

  Gray shadows flashed by the windows of the royal study. A few people slammed into the wooden door of the royal study, charging in. By the door to the garden, Ye Zhong, Eunuch Yao, and a few major figures stood far away from the royal study. They still heard the two explosions clearly. They knew something was wrong. They rushed over to protect the Emperor but came late. 

  \r \r \r 

  Ye Zhong arrived the fastest. Eunuch Yao was close behind. After they entered the royal study and saw the blood scene in front of them, they fell silent because the scene burned their eyes too much. 

  They saw the blood-covered Emperor clutching the throat of the blood-covered Director Chen. They were stunned and did not know what to say. 

  The Emperor released his grip and allowed Chen Pingping’s body to slide out of his hand and fall to the ground with a dull thud. He looked at his old comrade, friend, and servant at his feet with a strange gaze. He said in a cold and angry voice, “Escort him to the prison in the Overwatch Council. The treasonous bastard is to die by a thousand cuts tomorrow. If he dies before 36,000 cuts, you and all the useless bastards in the Imperial Academy of Medicine will accompany him to the grave.” 

  Ye Zhong and Eunuch Yao felt like they had fallen into an icehouse. He Zongwei, who had just rushed into the royal study with a face full of fear, trembled in fright. It was not just because of the shocking sight in front of him, Chen Pingping’s crime, or the Emperor’s bone-chillingly angry order. No high-level official had died by a thousand cuts. This was the most humiliating and cruelest way to die. Furthermore, this order was directed at Chen Pingping. 

  The three people did not say anything. They immediately knelt down at the Emperor’s feet, not daring to offer any admonishment. 

  The Emperor glanced one last time the Chen Pingping looking at him with a kind of cynical gaze then suddenly felt a burning pain in his chest. 

  How many years had it been since he was injured? The Emperor wondered this as his body swayed. 

  “The Emperor was attacked, send for the imperial doctors!” ……

  The royal study rang out with Scholar He’s frightened and worried voice. Ye Zhong was holding the Emperor’s fallen body with fear in his heart. Unconsciously, he tilted his head slightly and slanted a glance at this scholar with vicious intentions. 

  The Royal Palace was in a state of chaos. Imperial doctors filed in and out of the palace. Periodically, pale-faced serving girls and eunuchs carried golden basins in and out. The water in the basin was already dyed a red color. 

  Eunuch Yao was serving the injured Emperor. Gong Dian, leading the Imperial Soldiers and aces of the internal court, had the Palace surrounded tightly. After Ye Zhong had given a few orders to the Bureau of Military Affairs, he stood guard outside. 

  The head doctor of the Imperial Academy had just walked out with his head covered in sweat. Ye Zhong looked at him coldly and asked, “How is the Emperor?” 

  The head doctor saw that it was him and replied in a trembling voice, “Commander Ye, although the Emperor was injured, his meridians are rick and strong. He should be fine, but……” 

  Ye Zhong’s brows furrowed and he asked harshly, “But what?” 

  “The metal shards in the Emperor’s body have been removed. But, looking at the Emperor’s injuries, there should be some pieces still in the Emperor’s body that have injured the internal organs. If these shards are not removed, I’m afraid……” 

  “Afraid of what? Is the Emperor in danger?” 

  “The Emperor is blessed and not of the mortal realm.” The head doctor’s voice trembled as he changed a way to describe the Emperor’s Great Grandmaster realm. “There shouldn’t be any major problems, but no one knows if it will have an effect in the future.” 

  “Then, why aren’t you thinking of a way to get them out?” Ye Zhong’s body was short and round. It always gave one a sense of warmth. Now, the anger on his face was terrifying. 

  “I truly do not have such skills.” The head doctor watched as Ye Zhong’s expression grew uglier and uglier. He quickly swallowed and said, “However, Sir Fan Junior has managed a similar case in the Palace before. I ask that you quickly summon Sir Fan junior back to the capital. With him handling this matter, no latent danger should remain.” 

  “The Duke of Danbo?” Ye Zhong’s heart thumped and became half cold. From this morning to now, too many things had happened inside and outside Jingdou and the royal study. He hadn’t been able to digest everything. Hearing Fan Xian’s name, only now did he think of what a blow Chen Pingping’s assassination of the Emperor was on the Qing Kingdom. 

  Ye Zhong’s lips were slightly dry. After a moment, he slowly said, “Sir Fan junior can’t get back immediately. Is there any other way?” 

  “The young lady of the Fan family. She works in the Danbo medical shop. She trained at Qing Mountain and was personally taught by Sir Fan junior……” 

  Coldness appeared in Ye Zhong’s eyes. He straightforwardly said, “Immediately summon her into the Palace!” 

  After the head doctor left with the guards, Ye Zhong suddenly felt that his back was covered in cold sweat. Only now did he have the time to analyze the situation in front of him. When the head doctor brought up Fan Xian’s name, he couldn’t help but remember that before long, this young and powerful official would return triumphantly to the capital with the achievement of having taken Dongyi. If, at that time, Fan Xian discovered that Chen Pingping had been killed by a thousand cuts on the Emperor’s orders, what reaction would he have? 

  Ye Zhong felt a chill envelop his body. The Emperor was heavily injured, and Director Chen’s life was hanging on by a thread. Another batch of imperial doctors were working to save his life. He would then immediately be transferred into the Overwatch Council’s prison. 

  He knew why the Emperor had ordered Chen Pingping to be escorted to the Overwatch Council. The scheming Emperor, even at this time, did not forget to demonstrate his coldness. 

  Presently, all the defensive power of Jingdou was in Ye Zhong’s hands. He had absolutely no intention of resisting the Emperor’s orders. However, he felt a weight that was difficult to shoulder. If the Overwatch Council actually rebelled, what should he do? Fortunately, the Emperor was only injured and did not actually faint. 

  There was no need to pay attention to what exactly happened between the Emperor and Director Chen. The assassination attempt in the royal study was something everyone saw. No one could, and no one dared, to ask for mercy on Director Chen’s behalf. Assassinating the Emperor was always a capital offense punished by death by a thousand cuts. 

  A chill rose in Ye Zhong’s heart. He understood the connection and friendship between the Emperor and Chen Pingping. The Emperor had probably been angry and disappointed to an extreme to grant Director Chen such a tragic end. 

  Except, ever since the inception of the Qing Kingdom, although imperial authority was as difficult to rock as the thousands of years of history of this land, each successive Emperor had always held a warm attitude toward the officials. Particularly during the last few decades, the Qing law has been revised and countless cruel punishments were gotten rid of. Even for those who committed treason, it was often just decapitation and wiping out the clan. 

  When it came to scholars and court officials, the Emperor had always been kind. Even during the Jingdou rebellion three years ago, in the end, he only sliced up the Commander of the 13 gate guards, Zhang Deqing. Compared to Director Chen of the Overwatch Council, what did Zhang Deqing count as? 

  Ye Zhong slowly closed his eyes. He involuntarily thought of the words Scholar He had cried out harshly when the Emperor had fallen into his arms earlier. He couldn’t help a coldness flashing across the corners of his lips. 

  With He Zongwei’s shout, the news of Chen Pingping assassinating the Emperor was immediately spread throughout the Royal Palace, alerting every single person in the palace. Then, it became something everyone in Jingdou knew. 

  Afterward, the Emperor might be mindful of the stability of the Qing court and attitudes of Fan Xian and all of the officials in the Overwatch Council. He might perhaps even be mindful of all the deeds the Director had performed for the Qing Kingdom. 

  Ye Zhong understood the Emperor’s character. Even if he was going to grant the Director a glorious death, it would not be because of the affection between him and the old Director. After the sound of the strange weapon in the royal study, the Emperor only had anger and hatred toward Chen Pingping. There was nothing else. 

  The only reason the Emperor would call back his order for death by a thousand cuts would be for the sake of the Qing Kingdom’s future, Fan Xian, the Great Prince, and territories of the kingdom. 

  There were many ways to die. Compared to a length of white silk and a cup of poisoned wine, the humiliating and cruel death by a thousand cuts would certainly make the Overwatch Council, Fan Xian, and the Great Prince feel a great deal more resentment. 

  All of this became impossible with Scholar He’s perfectly timed shout because the Emperor had an Emperor’s dignity and anger. 

  Ye Zhong sighed and gazed dazedly at the Royal Palace through the autumn rain, feeling hundreds of emotions mixing in his heart. He wondered how many stories would happen within the Overwatch Council’s square building tonight and if the 10,000 elite troops he and Shi Fei had stationed outside the Overwatch Council following orders would actually have to be involved in a battle. 

  The autumn rain fell slowly. He coughed a few times. He knew the order the Emperor had given in his anger would not change. He only hoped that by the time Fan Xian returned, everything was already set in stone. Otherwise, no one knew what kind of chaos the Qing Kingdom would fall into. ……

  Outside the square Overwatch Council building, the autumn rain fell. It grew colder and colder. Yan Bingyun stood coldly by the window. He had torn off the black cloth that had always covered the window and thrown it by his feet. 

  He looked in the direction of the Royal Palace and gave an order calmly and firmly. Thanks to Chen Pingping and Fan Xian’s trust, he already held a great deal of power in the Overwatch Council. Even with such power, he still could not suppress the fires of trouble glowering within the Overwatch Council—the black fires growing in the hearts of black-uniform wearing officials. 

  Fortunately, Yan Bingyun had prepared adequately. The old officials and those who were absolutely loyal to the old Director had been sent by him to Xiliang, Jiangnan, and Dongyi. They had left the Jingdou. Otherwise, the situation would even more difficult to control. 

  The news from the Palace had already reached the Council. The news of Director Chen assassinating the Emperor had already become fact. The Emperor was heavily injured? Yan Bingyun did not know if this was the Emperor’s excuse or if the old Director, who he had always worshipped, had actually done the thing that many people were unable to accomplish. 

  However, none of this was important. He coldly turned his gaze to look at the Qing elite troops in the streets and alleys outside the Overwatch Council and shook his head. He had to protect this Council, particularly under the circumstances of Chen Pingping’s certain death and before Fan Xian returned. 

  No one could stand against the Emperor and the powerful machinery of the Qing Kingdom, even if the Overwatch Council was the biggest cog in that machine. 

  Yan Bingyun turned his head and looked at the seven heads of bureaus in the room. Faintly, he said, “Prepare to take over……” His brows furrowed. After a pause, he completed his sentence with great difficulty. “Imperial criminal Chen Pingping.”


  Chapter 682: A Finger Pointed To The Overwatch Council’s Subjugation

  Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio 

  After the words “imperial prisoner Chen Pingping” fell from Yan Bingyun’s thin lips, all of the people in the secret room went crazy. Although their expressions remained calm, an iciness flashed through their eyes. They stared viciously at Yan Bingyun. It was as if they wanted to use their gazes to tear him into pieces. 

  The Overwatch Council had eight bureaus. Other than the head of the Sixth Bureau, who was temporary, and the head of the Fifth Bureau, Jing Ge, who was currently by the group of carriages heading slowly toward the east of the Qing Kingdom, all of the high-level officials were gathered here. They were the true power holders in the Overwatch Council. The head of the First Bureau Mu Tie, the head of the Second Bureau was that old man, the head of the Third Bureau was Fan Xian’s brother disciple, and the head of the Seventh and Eighth Bureaus were both members of the Qinian Unit. With the head of the Fourth Bureau Yan Bingyun, all of the people in this secret room were Fan Xian’s direct subordinates. 

  Of course, Fan Xian’s direct subordinates were Chen Pingping’s direct subordinates. Although they did not communicate much with old Director Chen, just like every other member and secret agent of the Overwatch Council, the old Director was their superior and held a lofty position in their hearts. 

  Other than Yin Bingyun, all six of the others suddenly stood up and stared at Yan Bingyun’s face. Mu Tie’s was ashen and filled with rage. In a raspy voice, he roared, “Sir Yan, what do you want to do?” 

  Yan Bingyun returned the gazes of the six people without shrinking back. After he had returned from Northern Qi, Chen Pingping and Fan Xian had both been too lazy to handle the large amount of Council affairs. During these few years, all of the affairs of the Overwatch Council had been managed by this icy young man. He was the son of Yan Ruohai and very experienced in the Council. When he was just a youth, he had been sent to the foreign and dangerous Northern Qi to carry out spy work. Afterward, he had been betrayed and sold out by the Eldest Princess. He had suffered cruel and unknown torments. Thus, his reputation was very good in the Council. 

  As Fan Xian’s companion and closest subordinate, he conducted himself well regardless of whether he was handling the Ming family’s affair in Jiangnan or the battle in the Royal Palace with the Eldest Princess during the Jingdou rebellion. He demonstrated powerful organization skills, great analysis of intelligence reports, and decisive decision-making ability. 

  With qualifications, experience, payout, sacrifice, and background, very smoothly, Sir Yan junior reached the third highest position in the Overwatch Council. All of the officials, even the nominal heads of the Bureaus, implicitly accepted his orders. They admired Sir Yan junior from the depths of their hearts. 

  The corners of Yan Bingyun’s eyes twitched slightly. He looked at the six people in front of him and did not back down in the slightest. “Chen Pingping attempted to assassinate the Emperor and will suffer death by a thousand cuts tomorrow. By imperial order, the Council is to take over this imperial prisoner. Do you…… want to rebel?” 

  The information in the palace concerning the Emperor’s assassination had long gotten out. These high-ranking Overwatch Council officials had gotten ahold of this intelligence instantly. Amidst their shock, it was only now that they knew the old Director had not gone with the 30 black carriages back home to retire. Instead, he had appeared unexpectedly inside the Royal Palace and tried to assassinate the Emperor. 

  None of the Overwatch Council officials believed this was the entire truth of the matter, let alone these six head of Bureaus. They looked coldly at Yan Bingyun. In the end, it was Mu Tie who angrily said, “The Director has retired home to rest. How could he appear in the Palace? And, assassinate the Emperor? Who made up this rumor? What exactly happened in the Palace?” 

  The always silent head of the Third Bureau lowered his head and slowly said, “I think what is most important right now is to investigate clearly……” 

  Yan Bingyun’s rage exploded. He slammed one palm down on the long table. With a buzzing sound, he said sternly, “The Emperor gave the order personally. Commander Ye, Eunuch Yao, Scholar He, and everyone else saw it for themselves. Investigate? Investigate what?” 

  The head of the Second Bureau, who had the longest experience and was the most senior, suddenly drooped his eyelids and said in a raspy and heavy voice, “So what if they saw personally? I think it is just that the Emperor wants to take action against this Council.” This old man coldly raised his face. “Charges can always be trumped up against someone. If the Emperor wants to kill someone, what excuse can he not use? However, this matter involved the old Director. Other than the crime of treason and assassination of the Emperor, what other crime would be able to stop him?” 

  The secret room was silent. The glass window usually covered by a black cloth appeared particularly translucent. It made everyone feel a glimmer of unease while the sun gradually moving east spilled light against the red brick of the palace walls and again into the secret room of the Overwatch Council. It enveloped the entire room in a blood-red light. 

  The head of the Second Bureau looked at Yan Bingyun with narrowed eyes and slowly said, “Sir Yan, the final confirmation for Commissioner has not gone through. You don’t have any right to order us to do anything. And, you also have no right to pull down this piece of black cloth.” 

  The silence in the secret room added to everyone’s fear. All of the high-level Overwatch Council officials were looking at Yan Bingyun. They wanted to see just how he would handle this shocking matter. After Mu Tie and the others heard the words of the Second Bureau senior, the suspicion in their eyes gradually thickened. They looked at Yan Bingyun with coldness. 

  “All of the Council intelligence reports go through me. A few days ago, the Jingdou Garrison mysteriously disappeared while the Imperial Army and palace defenses suddenly increased. The Bureau of Military Affairs secret mobilized troops…… I sent all of these reports to your desk,” the head of the Second Bureau said as he looked at Yan Bingyun coldly. “Looking at it now, these were the Emperor’s moves in dealing with the old Director. But, why didn’t you have any reaction?” 

  Yan Bingyun’s earlier anger disappeared in the blink of an eye. His face was cold, and his entire body emanated a sense of chill. It was as if he was a block of ice. 

  “During this past fortnight, you moved more than half of the people in my bureau to Xiliang and Dongyi. Most of them are probably still on the road,” the head of the Second Bureau said. “Presently, the strength of the Council is only a third of what is usually is. What exactly is it that you want to do? Did you know about what would happen today earlier and have been making preparations for the palace ahead of time?” 

  “A large portion of the Sixth Bureau’s swordsmen and assassins were also transferred out of Jingdou a few days ago.” The temporary head of the Sixth Bureau looked coldly at Yan Bingyun. After the Shadow, he was the Overwatch Council’s best assassin. His gaze was like a sword holding Yan Bingyun in place. It was as if he wanted to pin this block of ice under the dusky light to make him gradually melt. “You have to give us an explanation.” 

  The three most martially powerful bureaus of the Overwatch Council were the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth bureaus. The Black Knights of the Fifth Bureau were never allowed to stay around Jingdou. Furthermore, one part of the Black Knights was gone with the black carriages while another part was near Yanjing, waiting to welcome Fan Xian’s return. The Fourth Bureau was under Yan Bingyun’s control. They were scattered in various provinces and foreign countries. They also could not be gathered in Jingdou to lend their strength. 

  When Yan Bingyun gave the order to hollow out the swordsmen assassins of the Sixth Bureau, the strongest martial force of the entire Overwatch Council had already been weakened to its limit. 

  Mu Tie’s heart shook. He dealt with the affairs of the First Bureau in Jingdou, so the mobilization orders in the Overwatch Council had not involved him. It was only now that he realized Yan Bingyun had already taken out so much of the Council’s power. Connecting it to the shocking development in the Royal Palace and old Director, his heart chilled. 

  “I am a subject of the Qing Kingdom and of the Emperor, and an official of the Overwatch Council.” Yan Bingyun’s preparations had been straightforwardly exposed by these officials. But, there was not a glimmer of guilt on his face. Coldly, he looked at the people standing on either side of the long table and said, “Don’t forget the first sentence you learned when you first entered the Council!” 

  “Everything for the Qing Kingdom!” Yan Bingyun waved his hand coldly. “Being loyal to the Emperor is the only thing we have to consider. Your words earlier were already somewhat treasonous. I don’t want to hear them a second time.” 

  The high-level officials of the Overwatch Council had sufficiently demonstrated their resentment toward the Royal Palace. If this was known by people outside of the Council, it would be no different to the crime of deceiving the Emperor. 

  Yan Bingyun walked slowly to the window and narrowed his eyes against the blood-red light reflecting in from the outside. A cold voice seeped out between his teeth as he said, “Chen Pingping assassinating the Emperor and committing rebellion is a clear-cut matter. If you insist on being willful and want to collude with this treasonous renegade to do something, don’t blame me for being heartless……” 

  The secret room once again fell silent. 

  The temporary head of the Sixth Bureau slowly gripped the hilt of the metal rod at his side. Looking coldly at Yan Bingyun by the window, he said, “Although you’ve mobilized away a large number of my subordinates, I don’t think it will be a very difficult matter if the Sixth Bureau wanted to kill you.” 

  “So what if you kill me?” Yan Bingyun’s voice was cold and disdainful. “Do you want to rebel? Where can your family, the families of the swordsmen below you, escape to? There are 10,000 soldiers outside. Even if you could rescue the old Director, can you kill your way out?” 

  The dusky light struck Yan Bingyun’s austere face, creating a complicated blood color. He slowly turned his head and he looked at the head of the Sixth Bureau. “The Emperor’s orders arrived this morning. I have the Director’s token in my hands. From this moment, I am the third Commissioner of the Overwatch Council! You must follow my orders or you will be punished according to Council regulations.” 

  “Sir Yan, I understand what you are thinking.” Mu Tie, who had appeared rather gloomy and confused these few years suddenly said sincerely, “Yes, with the remaining swordsmen assassins of the Sixth Bureau, we can, at most, rescue the old Director from within the Council and would have no way to send him out of Jingdou.” 

  “But,” Mu Tie’s eyes lit up, appearing particularly bright in his dark face, “the First Bureau is still here! With the eight bureaus combined, it is possible to rescue anyone we want in Jingdou!” 

  “The First Bureau has people hidden in all important yamens. The Fourth Bureau must also have backup personnel. If you can’t, Sir Yan senior must have this capability,” the head of the Second Bureau said coldly. “The Eighth Bureau will immediately provoke the Imperial College into making a fuss, no what for what reason, as long as Jingdou descends into chaos. The Third Bureau will immediately take action to poison the water source within Jingdou, forcing Jingdou to open its gates tomorrow. With fires everywhere and our combined efforts, it will be simple to rescue the Director alone.” 

  No wonder he was of the oldest Overwatch Council people. Speaking casually, he had laid out clearly the few actions needed to rescue Chen Pingping and easily spoke of such an evil and ruthless plan. 

  “Poisoning the Jingdou water supply?” Yan Bingyun’s pupils shrank. “You want all of the officials of the Overwatch Council, their family members, and all the common people of Jingdou to die on his behalf?” 

  “The Overwatch Council has the power to turn Jingdou into a wasteland if we really wanted to.” The head of the Second Bureau’s face was cold. It was as if he was speaking of a normal thing. “As long as the old Director can live, what does it matter if a few hundred thousand people die?” 

  Yan Bingyun’s heart trembled. It was not until today that he realized the Overwatch Council he had given his entire life to had long forgotten the existence of the Emperor at its core. All of the officials were crazy. For Chen Pingping, they would actually pay any price and could do countless crazy things. 

  “I won’t give you this chance.” Yan Bingyun’s eyes narrowed. He gently rang a small bell on the table. 

  The sound of hurried footsteps rang out from outside the secret room. The faces of the eight heads suddenly changed. They knew something was wrong. Mu Tie’s fingers trembled as he looked at Yan Bingyun’s face with increasing agitation. In a loud voice, he said, “Do you want to watch as the old Director suffers the humiliation of death by a thousand cuts?” 

  Yan Bingyun’s face was cold. He didn’t say anything. The door to the secret room was pushed open as his trusted aides filed in. In a short amount of time, they controlled each corner of the room. 

  The temporary head of the Sixth Bureau’s hand remained tightly wrapped around the metal rod. He didn’t pay any attention to the people coming in behind him. He only looked coldly at Yan Bingyun. 

  The power of the Jingdou Overwatch Council was immense, but this square and sinister building only had one brain. The true strength lay hidden in each separate yamen and dark place. The heads in this secret room were essentially the brain of the Overwatch Council. As long as this brain was made obsolete, the officials of the Overwatch Council would be like a group of headless dragons. It would be difficult for them to form into a powerful force no matter how angry they were because of Chen Pingping’s matter. 

  It was clear Yan Bingyun had prepared for this situation a long time. After the situation in the secret room was minimally controlled, the elite Qing troops that had been standing guard outside broke off a 1,000-person branch and moved toward the Overwatch Council. 

  All around the square and sinister building, a series of dense footsteps and the metallic sound of light armor clinking together rang out. It made one feel oppressed and angry. A few shouts came faintly from the large hall below. Then, there seemed to be someone proclaiming an edict. 

  No one in the secret room cared about these noises. The head of the Sixth Bureau only stared at Yan Bingyun’s face with anger and hatred. 

  Yan Bingyun looked at Mu Tie, who wore an expression of disbelief, and calmly said, “In Jingdou, the First Bureau can get hold of the most people, so I cannot let you go. I’ll have to trouble you to stay in the prison for a while.” 

  It seemed that fire was about to spray out of Mu Tie’s eyes. He and Yan Bingyun were both Fan Xian’s trusted aides. They always got along well. Usually, he would not believe Yan Bingyun would choose to stab the old Director ruthlessly in the back for the sake of glory and wealth. 

  The head of the Second Bureau closed his eyes and listened carefully to the sounds around him. His mind spun quickly as he endlessly analyzed the comparative strengths of the two sides. After a long time, he opened his eyes and sighed sorrowfully. He knew there was no point in calculating. With the powerful support of the army, Yan Bingyun had successfully separated the Overwatch Council’s brain from its hands and feet. As long as Yan Bingyun controlled this square and sinister building, the Overwatch Council was, in effect, half useless. 

  “Don’t move.” He gently patted the shoulder of the temporary head of the Sixth Bureau and made him release the hand gripping the metal rod. The head of the Sixth Bureau wore a fierce expression but knew the situation was set in stone. Involuntarily, he huffed and relaxed his hand. 

  The head of the Second Bureau looked at Yan Bingyun coldly and said, “We are probably all going to die.” 

  Yan Bingyun’s eyelids drooped slightly and he slowly said, “You know nothing of Chen Pingping’s assassination of the Emperor. As long as you don’t step wrong, I can save your life.” 

  The head of the Second Bureau sighed and touched his already white hair. Suddenly remembering something, he smiled self-mockingly and said, “I wonder what Ruohai would think after today’s events? Sir Yan, I suggest that you best kill us old folk. Otherwise, as long as we are alive, you won’t be able to sleep easily.” 

  This was not a threat. It was a sincere and naked announcement. The details of what happened within the Overwatch Council would eventually leak out. If these heads of the eight bureaus were not silenced, Yan Bingyun would certainly be faced with the anger of Overwatch Council officials loyal to Chen Pingping and angry at his death. 

  How many of those officials were there? No one knew. How many times would Yan Bingyun have to die for their anger? No one knew that either. 

  After the head of the Second Bureau finished speaking, he was escorted outside by a few officials. His retreating figure appeared bent and dim. However, this was not because he was about to be put in prison. Rather, it was because he was thinking about Director Chen, who would die tomorrow. 

  \r \r \r 

  The metal rod, crossbow, dagger, internal armor, poison, and everything that could be used to kill people were removed from the body of the temporary head of the Sixth Bureau. He wore a cold expression and did not offer any resistance. As he was escorted passed Yan Bingyun’s figure, he spat onto his face. 

  Yan Bingyun gently wiped the spit off his face with a snow-white sleeve. Looking at him, he said, “Since you want to provoke me into killing you, why did you not resist earlier?” 

  “I don’t want to die yet.” This temporary head of the Sixth Bureau looked at him and laughed strangely. “I want to see how a traitor like you dies in the end.” 

  Mu Tie was also escorted out. He turned to glance at Yan Bingyun and helped the temporary head of the Sixth Bureau to explain, “We are very interested to know the manner of your death after Sir Fan junior gets back.” 

  Yan Bingyun’s expression shifted slightly but remained steady. ……

  The vanguard troops comprised of a mix of Dingzhou troops, imperial soldiers, and Jingdou Garrison soldiers were already stationed in the Overwatch Council’s square building under the leadership of a few eunuchs and important court officials. All of the officials of the Overwatch Council were gathered on the flat ground behind the building. It was not that no one wanted to resist. Rather, it was because many people did not know what had happened. With the Emperor’s edict before them and no orders from their superiors, these loyal and responsible Overwatch Council officials did not retaliate on their own accord. 

  This was the first time the Overwatch Council building that been taken over and done so with humiliation. Before now, neither the Bureau of Military Affairs nor the officials of the Hall of Governmental Affairs had any influence here, so no army had been able to enter. 

  Since this Council had an old cripple in a black wheelchair, as long as he was alive, no one dared to enter. 

  Dense footsteps rang out upstairs. A group of people came down. Walking through the doorway, they came to the silent courtyard behind the Overwatch Council. All of the Overwatch Council officials discovered that the heads of the eight bureaus had become prisoners. Even the strongest spirit could not help but be swayed at this moment. There was an unconscious surge forward. 

  Like what was said earlier, the Fifth Bureau was not in the capital and much of the Sixth Bureau had been moved far away by Yan Bingyun. The current martial power of the Overwatch Council had been hollowed out. Most of the officials in this square building were civil officials, such as the officials of the Second Bureau who spent long years leaning over tables and conducting intelligence work. Perhaps, all of their spines had some problems. There were also the skilled officials of the Third Bureau whose area of expertise was creating medicines and poisons. They had not seen the sunlight in a long time. With the dusky light on them now, they seemed somewhat dazed. The officials of the Seventh and Eighth Bureaus had even fewer claims to martial skill. 

  Yan Bingyun walked at the very back and looked around with narrowed eyes. Standing in front of his trusted aids, he headed toward the eunuchs and officials in front of the imperial soldiers. 

  It was He Zongwei who led the army into the Overwatch Council. He looked at the frosty faced Yan Bingyun and inclined his head slightly in greeting. A eunuch at his side bent his body and asked Yan Bingyun, “The edict can be announced?” 

  Yan Bingyun furrowed his brows and said, “Have these soldiers put down the weapons in their hands. Otherwise, I cannot promise they won’t all die of poison in a bit.” 

  The old eunuch used his eyes to ask for He Zongwei’s permission. He then made a signal to the commander of the squad. The commander’s heart chilled slightly, but he followed the order and had his mixed troops put down the weapons in their hands. 

  Immediately, the atmosphere present relaxed a little. However, Yan Bingyun did not give the subordinates of the Overwatch Council any opportunity to react. The group escorting the heads of the eight bureaus had already left the courtyard and were headed in the direction of the prison. Clamoring suddenly broke out. 

  Yan Bingyun nodded his greeting to the bent over eunuch. Shaking, the old eunuch stood in front of the 200 officials of the Overwatch Council. He cleared his throat and began to slowly announce the crimes of the previous Director of the Overwatch Council, which were treason and assassination attempt of the Emperor. 

  The atmosphere became increasingly oppressive. The faces of all of the Overwatch Council officials grew more and more shocked. Their gazes grew more and more complicated. The suspicion and anger that came from the depths of their hearts grew stronger and stronger. The old eunuch’s voice grew lower and more panicked until he almost could not go on. The heart of the commander of the mixed troop of elite soldiers also grew more tense. 

  Although none of the 200 Overwatch Council officials were skilled in martial arts, no one knew what incredible role they played before they became civil officials. One of the wings of the Overwatch Council, Wang Qinian, had hidden in this building and been a scribe for many years. If these people resisted in anger, what would be the conclusion? 

  Although the officials of the Third Bureau did not carry weapons, no one knew how the poison on their bodies would spread. 

  The atmosphere in the courtyard grew more tense and tightly wound. It was as if it could snap at any time. The old eunuch finally finished announcing the edict. He wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead and cheered his good fortune loudly in his heart. 

  Although deep suspicion, shock, and anger showed in the eyes of the Overwatch Council officials, no one made a move because this was a true iron army, a unified group. As long as their superiors did not give an order, they would wait until waiting was no longer possible. 

  Countless eyes watched Yan Bingyun standing at the front since he was presently the highest-ranking official in the Overwatch Council. Although these eyes were suspicious, they still waited for him to speak. 

  Yan Bingyun was silent for a moment but did not open his mouth to explain anything to these Overwatch Council officials. Instead, he looked directly at the passage by the courtyard. 

  A few imperial doctors, eunuchs, and a number of palace guards carrying a stretcher entered from the passageway. A withered old man with wild white hair was on the stretched. The bleeding on his body had stopped. It seemed that he had sunk into a deep coma. 

  The ancestor of the Overwatch Council, the Emperor of this patch of darkness, Chen Pingping once again returned to the Overwatch Council he single-handed created and courtyard that he liked the best. However, none of this was accompanied by the familiar squeaking of the wheelchair. He only laid alone on the stretcher. 

  In the courtyard at the beginning of spring, fish still swam in the white sand pond. However, Chen Pingping could not open his eyes and glance in that direction. 

  Yan Bingyun stood as straight as a javelin and looked at the approaching stretcher. His hands held behind his back trembled slightly and immediately recovered their calm. He knew that this moment was crucial. He knew why the Emperor was sending Chen Pingping back to the Overwatch Council to be watched. He wanted to use the Director that was going to die by a thousand cuts to provoke the hearts of all of the people of the Overwatch Council. 

  The Emperor wanted to know whether, in the end, this Overwatch Council was Chen Pingping’s or his own. If he confirmed that the Council was no longer his, the cold-blooded, heartless, and powerful Emperor would probably not mind using countless soldiers to charge into this dark courtyard and completely wipe this Council from the world without leaving behind a single trace. 

  He coldly observed the reactions of all the Council officials within the courtyard. He watched as the powerful and deep-reaching imperial power clash with Chen Pingping’s loft status and reputation in the Overwatch Council. 

  The stretcher moved slowly. Under the ministrations of the imperial doctors, Chen Pingping survived despite his massive loss of blood. Since the Emperor did not want him to die so easily, he would not be able to die. Following the movement of the stretcher, the eyes of the Overwatch Council officials in the courtyard moved as well. Their gazes were complicated, sorrowful, agitated, hopeless, angry…… 

  The old man lying on the stretcher was one they all loved. Yet, he could only lie silently on the stretcher and wait to welcome his wretched end. 

  Finally, someone could not resist anymore and gave a wretched cry as they knelt to the ground facing the stretcher. 

  “Director!” 

  “Old Director!” 

  All of the officials of the Overwatch Council knelt down. Although the edict had clearly stated that Director Chen was an unforgivable imperial criminal who had committed the evil crime of assassinating the Emperor, they still could not resist falling to their knees. 

  Finally, some people could endure it no longer. With a cry, a number of shadows swept through the crowd of Overwatch Council officials and headed straight for the stretcher. 

  A few streaks of icy light swiped through the air as a series of dull thuds rang out. Even the air seemed to warp because of these tremors. The autumn wind picked up and whistled loudly. 

  When the dust cleared, four officials of the Overwatch Council had fallen to the ground. 

  The military aces who had struck out at the same time and the internal court aces by Chen Pingping’s side drew back. 

  Yan Bingyun watched this scene coldly. The corners of his eyes twitched slightly. He said, “Take them away. If there are any other treasonous actions, punish them according to Council regulations.” 

  Countless hateful and angry gazes turned at the same time toward Yan Bingyun. If looks could kill, Yan Bingyun’s body would already be riddled with holes. However, his face only paled slightly. The embroidery on his sleeves did not tremble at all. Looking at his subordinates in the courtyard, he coldly said, “Remember your mission. You are subjects of the Qing Kingdom. Do you want to rebel?” 

  He Zongwei, standing at his side, suddenly said quietly, “Best to kill them now to intimidate people’s hearts.” 

  “When did I ask for your input in my decisions?” Yan Bingyun tossed these words out coldly. 

  While his words could make He Zongwei silent, he could not make these Overwatch Council officials fall silent. They slowly stood up and looked at Yan Bingyun with cold eyes like they were looking at a dead person. Perhaps in the next moment, they would move together and charge toward the stretcher. 

  The situation in the Overwatch Council had reached a dangerous juncture. Yan Bingyun narrowed his eyes and looked around. He knew clearly that he was not enough to suppress these officials love for Chen Pingping. 

  An old finger suddenly extended outward. 

  Everyone was silent. All of the eyes of the Overwatch Council officials were turned toward the old finger sticking out of the side of the stretched. The finger changed slightly and made a gesture that all officials of the Overwatch Council knew by heart. 

  “Ho!” A Second Bureau officer suddenly roared with sorrow in his heart and a wetness in his eyes. Then, he fell heavily to his knees on the ground. 

  “Ho!” 

  “Ho!” 

  The old finger seemed to have some kind of magic. It only extended out gently and shook from side to side. Yet, immediately, countless cries of “Ho!” rang out in the courtyard. “Ho!” was silence. “Ho!” was waiting. “Ho!” was bitter endurance. “Ho!” was an unwilling surrender. “Ho!” was to stay where they were. 

  All of the Overwatch Council officials stayed where they were. With a cry of “Ho!” two rows of tears fell. Although there was no heavy gold beneath their knees, they were as heavy as mountains as they fell to the ground. With their eyes, they followed the stretcher as it slowly passed in front of everyone. 

  All of the internal court aces, eunuchs, and military elites looked at this scene with emotion. He Zongwei’s face became pale. Yan Bingyun’s body swayed slightly. 

  The dark fire in the Overwatch Council officials that had been impossible to suppress was temporarily extinguished without any objection by that single old finger. What prestige, or rather, what belief this was. 

  Yan Bingyun’s face was frosty. He knew that although the battle between imperial power and the old Director had ended with the Overwatch Council’s forced subjugation, in reality, it was Director Chen who had won. 

  The stretcher passed slowly in front of everyone as it headed in the direction of the Overwatch Council’s prison. 

  He Zongwei watched this scene with a pale face. Suddenly, he saw the four captured Overwatch Council officials. For some reason, perhaps to relax his state of mind and convince himself that the Overwatch Council was not actually that terrifying, he unconsciously said quietly, “In the Overwatch Council an order is everything. However, these people were weaker than I had imagined.” 

  Yan Bingyun turned and glanced at him coldly. He paused for a moment and then said, “If it were not for the fact that I have become so shameless and that the old Director could still move a finger, I really cannot imagine that the two of us would be able to leave this courtyard alive today.” 

  Having said this, he paid no more attention to He Zongwei, who had his head bowed in thought. Following the stretcher and the guards sent by the Palace, he headed desolately toward the prison of the Overwatch Council.