Chapter 212: Dragon Protection Squad (1/2)
Chapter 212: Dragon Protection Squad
Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations
…
Within the Yan Capital, the torrential rain remained.
Ninth Prince Lin Yun stood under the downpour with an expression of anxious worry. The torrential raindrops splattered on his face, however, he remained completely still.
In front of him was the Advanced Academy. Eunuch Pan, wearing an official robe, waited outside the door of the Advanced Academy, signifying that Emperor Lin Mubai was inside.
The World of the Sage had gone out of control.
This was a very urgent matter. Because, nobody knew what was happening within the World of the Sage. Not only did this concern the conducting of the imperial examination, more importantly, it concerned the safety of the creme of the Great Xia Dynasty.
Most importantly, Ping Yang was also trapped inside.
Princess Ping Yang, one who was favored most by the Emperor. More importantly, one who could not afford to suffer the slightest bit of mishap.
Even the current crown prince's importance couldn't compare to that of Ping Yang in the Great Xia Dynasty. Because, Ping Yang represented protection. A protection that concerned the entire Great Xia Dynasty.
If it was any other time, Ninth Prince Lin Yun would definitely rush into the Advanced Academy without the slightest bit of hesitation, even if he were to meet with a raging temper of a dragon.
But now…
He stopped.
The reason was that other than Eunuch Pan, there was a team of soldiers in brightly-coloured armour standing outside the door of the Advanced Academy.. No matter how much the torrential rain battered them, the armour on their bodies remained clean.
Their territory could be exposed to the outside world. Furthermore, it could be maintained indefinitely. This only meant that every single one of them had a power above the Heavenly Reflection Intermediate State.
An army composed completely of people above the Heavenly Reflection Intermediate State.
There was only one in the entire Great Xia Dynasty.
That was the Dragon Protection Squad.
A soaring golden dragon was etched on the chest of each soldier, representing their grand status. They do not have to greet princes, nor do they have to dismount when they enter the imperial capital. That was the privilege of the Dragon Protection Squad.
The background of every single member of the Dragon Protection Squad was extremely noble. They came from the thirteen constabularies and were the direct descendants of noble families. However, they only obey the orders of the present Emperor.
They represented the Emperor. At the same time, they were the link that connected the Emperor to the thirteen constabularies and all the noble families.
The Dragon Protection Squad appearing in the imperial capital wasn't something very out of the ordinary.
However, dozens of Dragon Protection Squad members appearing at the imperial capital at the same time represented only one possibility. Something big had happened. Something big that concerned the entire Great Xia Dynasty.
Ninth Prince Lin Yun stopped. He hesitated. However, he didn't hesitate for much longer.
Very quickly, Ninth Prince Lin Yun moved.
Step by step, he walked towards the door of the Advanced Academy.
Standing guard at the door, Eunuch Pan moved his lips, but didn't speak. The dozens of Dragon Protection Squad members also looked at Ninth Prince Lin Yun.
A person walked out from the group, blocking in front of Ninth Prince Lin Yun.
His expression was as cold as ice.
He held a sword in his hand. That was a sword that was already unsheathed. The blade of the sword was polished until it was sparkling bright, glowing with a silver light under the battering of the torrential rain.
”Ninth prince, you seem to have an urgent matter?” The person who spoke wasn't the one holding the sword. Instead, it was a person standing beside Eunuch Wei. He was over thirty years of age, and his expression was just as cold.
”Yes!” Ninth Prince Lin Yun nodded with a determined expression.
”How urgent?”
”Very urgent!”
”What has ninth prince been governing recently?”
”The imperial examination.”
By right, the imperial examination concerns the future of the Great Xia Dynasty and is extremely urgent. However, I believe you can still wait for a while.”
”What if in addition to that, it also concerns Ping Yang's safety?”
”Ninth prince, please enter!”
The Dragon Protection Squad member blocking Ninth Prince Lin Yun's path kept his sword and made way.
Without another word, and without any form of apology, he left quietly and returned to where he initially stood. It was just as if he had never moved before.
Eunuch Pan's expression contained some shock. However, he still quietly pushed open the door of the Advanced Academy.
Ninth Prince Lin Yun walked in. The moment he crossed the main door that led into the Advanced Academy, the raindrops that stuck to his body seemed to have been fixed in place, hanging in mid-air. Then, after Ninth Prince Lin Yun crossed the door completely.
Those raindrops fell onto the ground and returned back to the storm.
…
Within the Advanced Academy, a faint aroma hung in the air. However, the aroma was mixed with a trace of blood scent.
Two members of the Dragon Protection Squad stood on the left and right sides of the academy respectively. A flag stood in the dead center of the academy. A flag stained with blood.
A person was covered under the flag.
This was a form of etiquette, an etiquette that belonged to the Dragon Protection Squad. There was only one circumstance under which such an etiquette would appear. The meant that there was someone among the Dragon Protection Squad who died.
And now, this dead person was carried into the Advanced Academy.
Then...
Things weren't as simple as somebody dying.
The Dragon Protection Squad comprised five hundred people. This was something that remained constant ever since the Great Xia Dynasty was founded. Fifty people formed one group. Every group was appointed a Dragon Envoy.
”A Dragon Envoy died?!” Ninth Prince Lin Yun finally understood why the Dragon Protection Squad member at the door would claim that even the imperial examination could wait.
Because, it had been ten years ever since a Dragon Envoy had to be replaced.
What exactly happened?
Ninth Prince Lin Yun didn't ask. Because, this wasn't something he should ask. What he needed to do now was to answer, answer properly when inquired by Emperor Lin Mubai.
”Hail Emperor!”
”Speak.” Emperor Lin Mubai's voice came from behind the table. However, it didn't seem to carry any intention of asking the Ninth Prince to rise.
”Report! The World of the Sage had gone out of control. Everyone who entered the third round of combat examination have been trapped in the World of the Sage. May Emperor spare my uselessness!”
”Have you investigated the reason behind this?”
”Replying Emperor, I didn't dare to jump to a conclusion for the definite reason behind this, however, I guess that it might be related to the sword in the World of the Sage.”
”Guess? As the invigilator of the imperial examination, you dare to tell me that you are guessing? Furthermore, you are guessing about the sword that doesn't exist? Do you know the incident about Ping Yang entering this combat examination?”
”I know.”
”With her abilities, even if she uses the Blazing Qilin Spear, the time would definitely come when she exhausted her strength. She… didn't enter the third round, right?”
”Ping Yang didn't use the Blazing Qilin Spear. She followed Fang Zhengzhi, passed the Broken Bridge, the Twin Stone Tablets and entered the third round…”
”Broken Bridge, Twin Stone Tablets? You mean Fang Zhengzhi was able to solve the Broken Bridge and Twin Stone Tablets?”
”He even solved the stone house.”
”So, Ping Yang is now trapped in the World of the Sage as well?”
”Yes.”
”What are you still kneeling for?! Follow me to the Imperial Academy!” After Emperor Lin Mubai finished speaking, he stood up from the chair and charged out directly, completely ignoring the ninth prince.
When the two members of the Dragon Protection Squad witnessed this, they didn't speak a single word. Instead, they continued to stand quietly on the spot. Their expression was as calm as before, just like two carved statues.
Ninth Prince Lin Yun took once glance at the two members of the Dragon Protection Squad, looked at the Dragon Envoy on the ground covered by a flag, then turned around and left. He didn't say a single word. However, he seemed to be pondering something.
…
Within the World of the Sage.
The crisp cry of the sword resonated in the sky. The golden sword rose from Ying Shan's side and turned into a streak of light, landing in Fang Zhengzhi's hand.