Sword Among Us

Night had just arrived.

The mansion belonging to Prince Ruyang was decorated with lanterns on that day because he decided to set up a feast before the Eighth Prince to discuss the matters of marrying Prince Ruyang’s youngest daughter Zhao Min to the Eighth Prince’s eldest son. One of Xuanming Elders, Lu Zhangke, personally went to the door to receive the valuable guest and an important Yuan Dynasty official who came down from a carriage. It was incredibly lively.

Many players heard of it and came over.

But with one of Xuanming Elders serving as a garrison and with the area entirely surrounded by Yuan Dynasty Soldiers, the defense was as tight as an iron bucket. The players could only stay outside and look from afar to satisfy their urges.

“Zhao Min is childhood friends with the Eighth Prince’s son, but it’s clear that they don’t find their personalities a good match. What exactly is the system intending to do by organizing such a thing?”

“That’s right, Zhou Zhiruo has already obtained Book of Wumu and Nine Yin Manual from Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber, while Zhao Min has also returned with Zhang Wuji to China. It’s impossible for them to appear here, but they did something so grand anyway. Could it be that Zhao Min will appear in the royal mansion tonight?”

“That’s not entirely true.”

The restaurant not too far away across the street from the royal mansion was filled with people. Many people stared at the lively mansion from a distance with craned heads. Their faces were filled with anticipation.

“I heard that Prince Ruyang came to Beijing to report to work because Ruyang Mansion’s plan against Ming Cult failed, and they also failed in defeating the six great sects, so there’s war all over China.

“The emperor was enraged, and he gave a special order for Prince Ruyang to return to Beijing to report for work. The Eighth Prince has decided to use this chance to coerce Prince Ruyang into handing over his daughter’s hand in marriage. If Zhao Min doesn’t appear, Prince Ruyang’s death will be right around the corner!”

“If Zhao Min shows up, Zhang Wuji will definitely come over as well.”

“That’s right! Perhaps a main quest will appear in the city. That would be awesome.”

“Xuanming Elders fighting against Zhang Wuji, huh? Heh, I’m looking forward to it.”

There was a table in the restaurant with two people. When they heard the rampant discussions of the players in the restaurant, they looked at each other and frowned. Then, they quietly released a messenger pigeon.

Soon, another one returned.

They looked at the contents of the letter and relaxed. They picked up their cups and began to drink their wine quietly.

*****

At that moment, Happy and Wandering Know-it-all were sitting calmly on the fishing platform in the best room of Heaven Fragrant Tower while admiring the talents of the two matchless beauties as they continued passing the time by burning away their money. The room cost two thousand taels of gold per hour, and if the two matchless beauties personally served them while they also ordered various dishes and wine, it would not be a lie to say that they were burning their money.

“A small accident happened.”

Wandering Know-it-all had a slightly solemn look on his face after he released the messenger pigeon. He brought out a silver object and cast a glance at it before he tossed a pair of oracle bones. Then, he looked toward Happy, who was looking at him with an attentive expression.

“A main quest has appeared, and it’s conflicting with our rescue mission.”

“Hmm?”

Happy stopped in his movement of bringing the cup of wine to his lips.

Wandering Know-it-all slowly put away his divination tools and calmly said, “Prince Ruyang set up a feast to serve the Eighth Prince today, and the Eighth Prince is prepared to force Prince Ruyang to hand over his daughter’s hand in marriage during the feast. Zhao Min is currently in Beijing, and Zhang Wuji is with her.”

Since Wandering Know-it-all was a diviner, it was very easy for him to predict some of the critical aspects of the quests.

“Zhao Min will want to protect her father.” Happy pointed out the main point of the quest with one sentence. “This won’t clash with our quest at all. Let them create their ruckus while we save our people.”

Wandering Know-it-all smiled wanly. “Some changes have appeared in our quest too. Zhao Min’s three servants have just appeared in Ruyang Mansion. This should be what the system set up to prevent us from having an easy time in saving our people once the clashing quests appeared. This means that an Inaction Realm A’san has now appeared in the dungeon…”

When Little Moon Immortal and Delicate Servant noticed the increasingly solemn atmosphere between the two, they sensibly chose not to interrupt the duo.

“It’s fine. Since there is a quest, it means that there will definitely be players who will get involved. There will also be time limits. We can take action after that side has started fighting.

“As long as they attract the attention of the Yuan Dynasty soldiers, it’ll be very easy for us to get into the dungeon. Have one of the helpers you prepared to join me and pick the lock, while the other will be in charge of being a rearguard.”

Happy’s understanding of the game’s rules was far greater than that of Wandering Know-it-all. He quickly found the balance in the upcoming clash.

Wandering Know-it-all thought about it for a while before he nodded.

“If that’s the case, we’ll go according to your plan. I’ll have them wait for you at a spot near the dungeon. Once you go over, give them the secret codes so that you can command them according to those codes.”

“Alright.”

Happy nodded.

But he did not manage to calm his thoughts.

Zhao Min and Zhang Wuji had appeared together in the quest in the form of a feast. What sort of quest would it be?

Prince Ruyang would not have his own people attack Zhao Min, and the Eighth Prince did not have enough guards to stop Zhang Wuji, so a lot of careful thought needed to be given to the critical person who could fight against Zhang Wuji.

“Big Brother Wanderer, could you please make a prediction and see whether Zhou Zhiruo is here in Beijing?” Happy suddenly said, which was something that Wandering Know-it-all had not taken into consideration.

Little Moon Immortal and Delicate Servant were both taken aback, and stunned expressions appeared on their faces once they exchanged looks with each other.

‘Zhou Zhiruo will appear in Beijing?’

Wandering Know-it-all frowned and pondered it for a few seconds before he quickly understood what Happy meant.

“It’s possible!” he cried out in surprise and made another reading. Then, an expression that said “I knew it” appeared on his face, and he nodded somberly.

Once Happy gained an affirmative answer, a heavy feeling settled in his heart.

Zhou Zhiruo had come to Beijing…

In his previous life, Zhao Min was the one who caused a ruckus during Zhou Zhiruo’s wedding in the main quest, but now, Zhou Zhiruo was the one who decided to lay in wait and take action when the Eighth Prince wanted to force Zhao Min to get married?

‘Really, karma’s a bitch!’

Once Happy drained his wine, he resolutely left Heaven Fragrant Tower with a fling of his sleeves under Little Moon Immortal and Delicate Servant’s reluctant gazes.

*****

Half an hour into the feast in Ruyang Mansion, a rather unhappy atmosphere finally descended on the royal mansion, because Zhao Min refused to appear even after a long time had passed.

Smack!

The Eighth Prince finally flew into a rage, and he flung his wine cup furiously, left behind some harsh words, and stormed out of the royal mansion through the main door.

“Assassins!”

Lu Zhangke’s cry of surprise rang through Ruyang Mansion at the moment the Eighth Prince was about to get into his carriage.

A figure shot out in front of the Eighth Prince, and the elites around him were flung away by a violent palm-generated wind like completely useless people. Lu Zhangke went forward to stop the attack, but he was also swiftly pushed into a disadvantage.

At that moment, a petite figure shot in front of the Eighth Prince like a flash of lighting.

“Zhao Min…”

She tapped the acupressure points on the Eighth Prince’s son, and his cries were swiftly stuck in his throat. With a whoosh, Zhao Min positioned her longsword horizontally across the Eighth Prince’s shoulders.

“Minmin! Stop!” Prince Ruyang had chosen that moment to come out of the mansion, and when he saw what was going on, he felt so scared that his soul almost left his body. “Release the Eighth Prince!”

“No!” Zhao Min was dressed in brocade robes, and she looked like an elegant pretty boy, but her gaze was resolute when she looked into the Eighth Prince’s eyes. “I only want a promise from the Eighth Prince! Swear before everyone that you will not attack my parents. If you don’t agree to it, then on the same day next year, you will be welcoming the anniversary of your precious son’s death!”

“You—” The Eighth Prince was a sly and ruthless person, but when he faced Zhao Min, who was a girl even more brutal and ruthless than him, he could not help but panic a little.

Right when he was about to speak, a cold sword force that was sharper than anything charged down like a waterfall. It went straight for Zhao Min and the Eighth Prince at the speed of lightning.

“Lapdogs of the imperial court, die!”