582 Suppressing the Rio (2/2)
The struggle with the Royal Court was much more complicated than that of Golden Roc Castle and no one would take their stand until the last moment when things became more obvious.
Most of the onlookers were martial arts practitioners. Although they were alarmed, they were not at a loss. Seeing the end of the fight, they slowly drew closer.
”Excellent sabersmanship, Dragon King,” someone suddenly shouted. Although the young boy's sword techniques were remarkable, it was a little dull and profound and was, therefore, not as interesting as the Dragon King's swordsmanship that only killed.
The crowd kept silent for a moment as if a voice of assent would offend someone, and then cried out in unison.
”Dragon King, are you taking new disciples? I've been practicing my saber techniques ever since I was five …”
”Dragon King, do you need any more people? I don't care about the pay …”
This was not the effect Gu Shenwei had wanted to achieve tonight. He put away his Five Peaks Saber and beckoned to Chu Nanping that the competition was over and that it was time to leave.
A thunderous sound of horse hooves came, and those who had experienced the riots and encirclement in the slums a few days ago immediately changed their faces, while those who wanted to work for the Dragon King also ran away in a blink of an eye.
Liman said in a panic, ”Dragon King, I can't be seen …”
He and Wild Horse hadn't revealed their names during the fight so they were at best suspects. But if faced with the formal Norland Cavalry, he would have to reveal his identity.
Gu Shenwei nodded understandingly. Liman and Wild Horse immediately blended into the fleeing crowd.
Before long, there were only two people left in the vacant field.
Large numbers of Norland Cavalry had arrived, but they did not directly rush to the front of the two but instead surrounded them from dozens of steps away to form a dense encirclement like a thick wall with legs.
Hundreds of arrows were aimed at the Dragon King and Chu Nanping, and with just a single order, even an immortal could not escape.
The cavalry automatically opened a narrow passage, and more than a dozen generals filed in and lined up seven or eight steps in front of Gu Shenwei. Amongst them was a stocky old general.
”Dragon King, you really know how to cause me trouble.”
Gu Shenwei knew him. It was King Shengri, who was ranked second amongst all the kings of Norland. The two had once met at the banquet of King Kuari. At that time, King Shengri looked like a typical drunkard who was only interested in the Dragon King's roc. After hearing that the roc had not come, he never looked him in the eye since then.
Today, dressed in his armor and towering headdress, he actually gave off an air of awe and even a sense of being above everyone else.
”I thought that King Shengri had come here to help me solve the trouble.”
”Haha.” King Shengri let out the characteristic chipper laughter of all men of the Norland before he frowned, ”Who are these corpses?”
”I'm also waiting for that answer.”
”Did you kill them all?”
”Yes.”
”Well, I seem to remember Dragon King promising not to kill anyone in Norland at will.”
”Right, as long as I am not attacked. I can find a lot of witnesses to prove that these people started the fight.”
”No need.” King Shengri suddenly became angry, shouting, ”I don't get it, as an honored guest of the Norland, why would the Dragon King come to a place like this? Do you need someone to practice saber techniques with? I can find you an opponent. Are the women serving you not good enough? I can help with that too. Why would you come here and fight a bunch of rabble?
”Don't you, King Shengri, also come to this place personally with a band of horsemen?”
”That's different, I've been ordered to straighten out the slums to make sure there won't be another riot. And the Dragon King almost started a riot just now.”
Gu Shenwei took a turn and looked at the heavily armed cavalry, ”It's strange that we went through the slums and didn't bump into King Shengri. It's really unpredictable, that is the fate of our lives.”
King Shengri's face darkened, ”Cut the crap. You two have to come with me. I don't care what kind of king you are, or what those foolish officials have promised you, but you'll be dealt with by me as long as you make trouble on my territory.”
”I can accept the invitation of King Shengri, but my follower can't.”
King Shengri snorted coldly. ”Invitation? Nobody can refuse my 'invitation,' including your flowery follower. We men of Norland are not interested in men, but it isn't a problem to try something new sometimes.”
The cavalry laughed out loud. Many of them had actually never seen such a pretty-looking young man before. They looked at Chu Nanping without any scruples, suspecting that he might be a girl dressed in a man's attire.
They shouldn't laugh, because it not only spoiled the seriousness of the situation but also weakened the strength of their arm and relaxed the bowstring.
The two that were deeply encircled acted at the same time. Chu Nanping waved his dual swords to ward off any possible rescue attempts, while Gu Shenwei sat behind King Shengri and drew aside the troublesome headdress, whispering, ”Take me to honestly meet the people of Essence Pavilion, and it'll make life easier for both of us.”
Chu Nanping was able to use two different sets of swordsmanship alone. Gu Shenwei believed that those who were most interested in the matter in the Royal Court would be the eleven disciples of the Essence Pavilion.
He wanted all of his hidden enemies to show up.