The First Lackey Under The Empress

A successful candidate in the civil examination was called a 'Wen Ju' (文举), while a successful candidate in the military examination was called a 'Wu Ju' (武举).

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Zhao Du'an didn't know the origin of the name 'Wu Ju, One Strike' (武举一斩), but that didn't stop him from witnessing this sword strike, its aura of slaughter vast across the river.

When Eunuch Hai drew the Frost Sword, a thin layer of frost already covered the blade.

When he flicked the sword's body, the cold air emanating from the tip of the sword was a full three feet long.

The temperature on the river surface plummeted, and the water droplets scattered by the coiling water snakes in the sky crystallized, shattered, and turned into snowflakes.

Lang Shishi, who was in the midst of a fierce battle and gradually running out of strength, heard the deliberately shouted name of the move behind him and suddenly gathered a mouthful of mellow energy from his dantian.

With a roar, he tore a crescent-shaped, brilliant blade of energy from his cracked tiger's mouth!

This sudden, all-out blade strike tore Duan Shuiliu's sleeves with a 'chi chi' sound, and also forced the rhythm of this Green Mountain senior disciple's attack to halt.

Lang Shishi seized the opportunity to tap his toes and retreat violently into the air, dodging to the side, his body slamming onto the water surface, his feet treading water, drawing a straight, thin line.

Taking the opportunity to escape the battlefield.

Ji Yue, underwater, also felt the awe-inspiring and majestic sword energy and the bone-piercing cold on the thick river surface, and with a sharp pull of both hands, the water snakes on the river surface collapsed and scattered in all directions.

Duan Shuiliu's pupils suddenly narrowed, and he felt the threat in an instant.

He stepped into the air, his gray robe lifted behind him, revealing a sturdy, rock-like body, and in his square face, gray pupils reflected a wisp of cold air spewing from the tip of the sword on the official ship.

That wisp of sword energy was very thin, but once it was released, it drew upon the condensation of water droplets in the sky.

In the sound of 'crack, crack', it froze into a hanging ice bridge.

One end stuck to the deck of the official ship, the sword in Eunuch Hai's hand raised towards the sky, the other end faintly condensed into a phantom dragon head, directly stabbing towards Duan Shuiliu.

Duan Shuiliu hovered in the air, still in the stance of walking the stakes, but he no longer dared to be careless in the slightest.

At this moment, there was no time for him to think, his body, tempered a thousand times, had already reacted one step ahead.

He joined his five fingers of his right hand to form a palm blade, and wisps of illusory 'qi' resembling flames burned on the outside of the palm blade, distorting the air beside his hand.

Duan Shuiliu slowly raised his hand blade, his movements were very slow, very clear, and the Huai'an King on the two large ships and even further away could clearly see his movements.

But it was precisely this slow speed that strangely kept up with the rhythm of that wisp of sword energy.

Duan Shuiliu's right hand became a blade, and he solemnly slashed straight down.

"Ding!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the palm blade collided with the thin line of sword energy, emitting a crisp and pleasant sound.

Silently, the space quieted down.

Then, Zhao Du'an and Xu Jinglong simultaneously saw that, centered on the point of contact between the two, the tumbling river surface below had been covered with a thin layer of ice at some point.

At this moment, with a 'bang' on the thin ice, cracks bloomed, spreading wildly to both sides.

In the blink of an eye, the thin ice layer was cut in half, and it still didn't end, then the unfrozen river water was also cleaved open.

Lang Shishi retreated in horror, unwilling to let the cracks under his feet approach.

From the perspective of the white-eyed, red-clothed female mage, who was looking up from underwater, the river water sprinkled with sky light was separated by invisible forces.

"Boom boom boom!!!"

The next moment, the separated river water re-healed, colliding with a series of rumbles, erupting into fountain-like waves in front of everyone.

Duan Shuiliu's palm was covered with frost again, his face changed drastically, his body shook, and he retreated rapidly, shattering the ice layer and retreating quickly.

Eunuch Hai remained expressionless, and twisted his wrist slightly.

"Ping pong pang…"

The thin line of sword energy, connecting the two sides like a hanging ice bridge, suddenly shattered into pieces.

Countless ice fragments, like bullets, bombarded the iron-clad warship on the opposite side.

A series of rumbles were emitted, and finally awakened the people who had been stunned and speechless by watching the battle.

"Ah—"

Exclamations broke the silence, the Jing Prince's private soldiers raised their shields, and Xu Jinglong also retreated hastily, dodging the stray sword energy.

Duan Shuiliu retreated to the deck, stepping back, retreating two steps and suddenly sinking his waist, guiding the rolling force into the deck below.

The huge warship actually retreated several feet under the aftermath of this sword strike.

It was shocking to hear.

"Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court, Hai Chunlin!" A look of shock appeared in Duan Shuiliu's gray eyes, and he blurted out the name of the unremarkable old man opposite him.

Eunuch Hai?

How could Xu Jinglong not know this eunuch who was hidden in the palace and had been in charge of the inner guard since the late emperor?

Immediately, his cheeks twitched, not expecting that when Zhao Du'an went south this time, the Empress would send such a legendary master to protect him.

Even if the current Eunuch Hai had long passed his peak and no longer had the full strength of his former years, he was definitely not comparable to ordinary worldly experts based on his thick foundation alone.

"Hehe, so you juniors can still recognize this old man?" Eunuch Hai smiled.

Duan Shuiliu's expression was heavy, mixed with a hint of excitement, and he said coldly:

"Although Eunuch Hai has retired from the martial world for sixty years, I don't know how many people still remember the story of when the senior swept the martial world after leaving the palace and broke into Green Mountain alone."

Eunuch Hai was quite pleased by the flattery, and said with a smile:

"How is Wu Xiankui these years?"

Duan Shuiliu said lightly:

"If the Eunuch wants to know, he will naturally know by taking a trip to Martial Emperor City."

Eunuch Hai looked melancholy, and reluctantly threw the sword in his hand, accurately returning it to its scabbard, and sighed:

"I'm old, not as good as I used to be, and no longer Wu Xiankui's match. But it's not difficult to teach his disciples a lesson."

Duan Shuiliu was silent.

In the previous exchange, although the two sides were far from being in a life-and-death struggle, they could also see some differences in strength.

Duan Shuiliu thought to himself that if it was a one-on-one fight, he would not be afraid of the old eunuch who was already on the decline with his current peak strength.

But if Lang Shishi and Ji Yue, who were eyeing him from the side, were added, he might really die here if he was not careful.

Naturally, retrieving the treasure armor had also become a pipe dream.

"Senior Duan…"

Xu Jinglong looked at him anxiously, his heart sinking slightly, and then he saw this martial arts expert, who had a close relationship with his father, shake his head, and then clasp his fists and cupped his hands, only leaving a sentence:

"I will visit again another day."

Then, this infamous and ruthless man actually sank his knees and fled away like a cannonball.

In mid-air, he casually pulled a hair stick from his hair crown and threw it into the water, stepping on the wooden stick like chopsticks with his cloth boots, using it as a boat to escape into the distance.

He ran away…

"Are the experts from Martial Emperor City so unburdened?" Zhao Du'an marveled.

First, there was Chai Keqiao, who was captured while challenging the martial arts gym, and hid in the imperial prison to avoid the enemy, refusing to come out.

Then, there was Duan Shuiliu, who turned around and ran away when he couldn't win, without saying a word of nonsense.

"Aren't they afraid of losing face if this gets out?" Zhao Du'an wondered.

Eunuch Hai glanced at him and said indifferently:

"Otherwise, how do you think this person has the legend of never being defeated since he came down the mountain? Stop listening to the storytellers in the teahouse making up stories. Real martial world people are very shrewd. Why would they be so stupid as to risk their lives for a few words of fame after decades of hard work and cultivation?"

"…Okay."

At this time, with Duan Shuiliu's retreat, the heavy atmosphere of confrontation between the two sides also eased.

Everyone understood that they could no longer fight.

"Your Highness…" The private army commander couldn't help but speak.

Xu Jinglong's face was ugly, but the scene before him was not completely unexpected. He said coldly:

"Order the ship to turn around and return."

"Yes!"

However, just as the warship was about to leave, Zhao Du'an's voice rolled over again. He said with a smile:

"Your Highness, the Prince, are you leaving so soon?"

The previous sentence was still smiling, but the latter sentence turned cold:

"Xu Jinglong, did this official let you leave?"

On the third floor of the warship, the Prince, who was about to turn around and return to the cabin, froze. He slowly turned around, his face slightly flushed on his fox-fur-clad neck, whether from anger or the cold wind:

"Zhao Du'an! Don't push your luck!"

Zhao Du'an said calmly:

"Xu Jinglong, this official has no intention of arguing with you. You can push this matter to Duan Shui Liu today. This official is too lazy to argue, but you come and go as you please, aren't you putting His Majesty in your eyes."

Xu Jinglong suppressed his anger and said stiffly, "What do you want to do?"

"Nothing," Zhao Du'an said quietly, "It is impolite not to reciprocate."

He suddenly opened his right hand and said, "Bring the bow."

Before everyone could react, the quick-witted Shen Juan had already stepped forward and presented the yellow pear wood bow in his hand.

This bow is a little lacking… Zhao Du'an took it with some regret, skillfully bent the bow and nocked an arrow, raised it, and aimed it at the third floor of the huge warship amidst exclamations.

Then, without giving the other party time to react, with a "whoosh" sound, the bowstring trembled!

At the very top of the warship, the yellow and black Jing Wang Mansion private army python dragon flag fluttering in the wind was broken in response!

The flag fell and landed in the river in full view, splashing a cluster of spray.

Zhao Du'an dropped the wooden bow, laughed loudly, and was full of vigor:

"Get out of here and say hello to the Prince for this official, saying that I will visit him in person later!"

Xu Jinglong's face was extremely ugly, and the Jing Wang Mansion's private army all changed color!

Beheading the general and breaking the flag, they lost all face in this show of force.

"Return!" Xu Jinglong bit out these two words from between his teeth, and immediately walked back to the cabin.

Soon, the huge ironclad warship broke through the waves and sailed away, majestic when it came, but fleeing in panic when it left.

… …

… …

Distant mountainside.

On that towering "viewing platform."

The Huai'an Prince, known as the "foodie prince" due to his plump figure, slowly took off the monocular in his hand and marveled:

"This time, the Lake Pavilion is going to be lively."

Xu Qian, who was also a "Prince" but had a very different personality from Xu Zudi and Xu Jinglong, frowned:

"Is this Zhao Du'an really so arrogant? Shooting the python dragon flag with an arrow is already an insult."

Xu Junling, with her graceful demeanor, walked to her father and brother's side, feeling a little secretly pleased in her heart:

"I said long ago that Xu Jinglong had to put on this show, and he would only bring shame on himself."

"Not necessarily," Huai'an Prince Xu An rubbed his face, which had been hardened by the river wind, with a look of contemplation in his eyes:

"Let's go, the first half of the show is over, it's time to go back and rest, wait for the second half."

Xu Junling looked at her father and asked tentatively:

"Are you referring to the Jing Wang's reaction?"

Xu Jinglong was defeated, this matter is not over, and when Zhao Du'an goes ashore, he will inevitably have a confrontation with the Jing Wang.

Well, today Xu Jinglong invited so many guests on this ship, all of whom are the children of local aristocratic families who stand on the side of the Jing Wang Mansion, or rather, stand on the opposite side of the imperial court…

He brought this boatload of people over, both to find an excuse for a chance encounter while traveling, and to show Zhao Du'an, and to show the various forces in Lake Pavilion City who have not yet expressed their stance and are hesitant…

Therefore, every move of Zhao Du'an and Jing Wang affects the success or failure of the imperial court's opening of the market."

Xu Qian looked blankly at his sister, who was talking eloquently, with a dazed expression:

"Ah? Is it that complicated?"

Xu Junling was too lazy to pay attention to him. The elegant princess quietly looked at her father and said:

"How should we express our stance?"

The pot-bellied Huai'an Prince put away the monocular, and his small eyes on his slightly fat face showed shrewdness:

"Do nothing. Outsiders say that my father is a fence-sitter, saying that people like my father are most likely to be unlucky, and that both sides will be liquidated if they win…"

"Hehe, these people who only read books with their mouths don't bother to use their brains to think about why in the nine provinces and eighteen prefectures of the Great Yu, either the local princely mansions overwhelm the aristocratic families, or the aristocratic families suppress the princely mansions without temper…"

"Only in the Huai Shui Dao area, my father is at peace with the major aristocratic families?"

Huai'an Prince dropped these words, but did not explain, but turned around with his hands behind his back and slowly went downstairs:

"Let's go, Junling, prepare a small gift and go see this Zhao Du'an in private later."

"Daughter understands." Xu Junling nodded lightly.

Next to him.

Xu Qian continued to be dazed, reached out and grabbed his sister's sleeve, and hesitated:

"What did you two just say? The wind was too strong, and I didn't hear clearly."

Hehe… Okay, the wind is too strong…

Xu Junling looked at her silly brother with a doting look:

"Go downstairs and go home to talk slowly."

"Oh."

… …

… …

On the official ship.

Zhao Du'an watched the warship leave, waved his hand, and ordered the ships to continue moving forward.

Turning around and walking back to the cabin, the many expressions he had pretended to show on his face disappeared the moment he entered the cabin, and he looked seriously at the old servant:

"Eunuch, I just noticed someone spying."

Haitang looked surprised: "Really?"

She didn't sense it at all.

Eunuch Hai nodded and said, "On the mountainside on the shore."

Zhao Du'an asked: "Do you know who it is?"

Eunuch Hai glared at him unhappily: "Do you think this old man is a clairvoyant? Or a warlock proficient in reconnaissance?"

I'm just asking… Why are you so anxious… Zhao Du'an slandered, and then asked:

"What is the strength of that Duan Shui Liu? Just now, did he not stay, or could he not stay?"

Eunuch Hai originally wanted to be brave and say it was the former, but in the end he sighed:

"I'm old. Warriors are different from warlocks. The older the warlock, the stronger they are. After a warrior passes their peak, they are all downhill."

His tone was full of disappointment.

Haitang was not surprised. It is the way of heaven and earth that people get old and their strength declines. Eunuch Hai has lived for more than a hundred years and still has the strength of the Great Perfection of the Mortal Realm, which is enough to be proud of.

She said seriously: "If you humiliate Xu Jinglong like this, I'm afraid the Jing Wang won't let it go easily after going ashore."

Zhao Du'an chuckled, his black-bellied nature fully exposed:

"Do you want to make a bet?"

"What to bet on?"

"I bet that the Jing Wang won't dare to do anything, well, at least not for the next few days. I can't guarantee more. I'll bet on washing the other party's underwear for a month."

"Okay… Eh, wait a minute,"

Haitang immediately realized something was wrong and said unhappily:

"Can't you be serious? Aren't you afraid that these words will reach His Majesty's ears?"

Zhao Du'an laughed, glanced at the old servant who was pretending to be deaf and was too lazy to pay attention to the squabbling of the younger generation, and smiled:

"Then it depends on whether Eunuch will snitch. But with Eunuch's love for you, he certainly doesn't want you to be remembered by His Majesty because of this kind of thing, right?"

The old eunuch in the python robe sat in the cabin, looking at the busy Lake Pavilion pier on the river outside, with a slight smile on his lips.

It's good to be young.

— —

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