The Empress's No.1 Lackey

The rosy clouds flowing on the surface of the arm forged the flesh into gold, indestructible.

"Sealing Demon Spell!"

Zhao Douan whispered low, forming a seal with his right hand. A "卍" character spread out into strands like ropes, entangling and pursuing Xiao Ran.

"Are you a Royal Family inheritance or a Martial Monk from the Divine Dragon Temple? What kind of nonsense is this?" The Lady of Qingshan frowned deeply, cursing inwardly while decisively discarding the longsword and retreating. A dagger slipped from her sleeve, slicing through the ropes one by one.

The remaining soft sword, however, clung like a maggot, firmly binding half of Zhao Douan's arm. He raised an eyebrow, and a Golden Crow Flying Dagger slid down from his right sleeve.

His wrist twisted, hitting with invariable accuracy!

"Go!"

The early spring air shrieked sharply. The Golden Crow Flying Dagger, within a hundred steps, was no less than a Daoist flying sword, nearly pulling out afterimages, reflecting only a line of ripples in the sunset light.

However, the unstoppable flying dagger, as it closed in on Xiao Ran, was struck on its side by her dagger.

If the scene were slowed at this moment, one could clearly see a lock of disheveled hair at Xiao Ran's temple slowly brushing past her eye corner, her elegant nose.

This woman, who for unknown reasons was sent to the East Sea to study from a young age, only able to return home a few times a year, captured the trajectory of the flying dagger at this moment with an incomprehensible speed, gently striking the dagger at its weakest point with her own.

"Ding!"

The scene abruptly resumed normal speed, and the flying dagger, like a fly, had its trajectory twisted by Xiao Ran, narrowly missing her by an inch, swirling towards the ancient palace wall, and with a "poof," buried itself between the wall's cracks.

Zhao Douan tried to recall it, only to find the Qi Mechanism inside the flying dagger scattered by the impact.

The sunset slowly dipped below the horizon, shadows about to envelop the alley where the two confronted each other.

At this point, Zhao Douan had nearly exhausted his methods except for those hidden, inconvenient cards to reveal, while Xiao Ran from start to finish resolved them with exquisite martial arts.

"Slightly stronger than the rumors, but still not worth a mention." Xiao Ran, holding a silver dagger, her beautiful face beneath the hat filled with disdain:

"If you could strike out like that one strike during the day, I would surrender voluntarily."

Qingshan is worthy of being the Holy Land of martial arts at the summit of the Martial World, with a disciple at the Divine Chapter Realm having such deep and solid martial arts. What kind of expert would the Wu Xiankui be? Surely even one or two styles would suffice for martial artists' lifelong study.

Zhao Douan was secretly astonished and gained a clear understanding of this descendant of the Xiao family's martial prowess.

Strong.

Very strong.

Compared to Tang Zhao, another female martial artist at the Divine Chapter Realm, she was stronger by more than just one level.

Of course, this does not mean Duke Tang's daughter was inferior, but rather they excelled in different directions. Tang Zhao's strength lay in battle formations and military talents, excelling in horseback skills amidst large armies with her great lance.

While this Xiao family woman excelled in martial arts, like that Qi Ye, having honed a certain martial skill to the extremity of her current realm.

"Ha, you want me to strike you, so I shall? Wouldn't that be losing face?" Zhao Douan held a stiff upper lip.

Xiao Ran's eyes were condescending, stepping towards him with the dagger: "If you stop me again, it won't be just your flying dagger being removed."

"You dare touch me?" Zhao Douan feigned bravery.

Xiao Ran's lips slowly curled, saying: "Starting today, for fifteen days, it's the time for the palace Tributors to spar with my Qingshan lineage. During sparring, injuries aren't considered against the rules."

Zhao Douan's lips also curled, retreating leisurely a few steps, said calmly: "Quite right, since that's the case, let's all come out."

Xiao Ran was stunned, then her pupils trembled, seeing numerous Tributor Eunuchs leaping from the high palace walls on both sides of the narrow alley.

At a glance, there were dozens.

They leaped into the alley simultaneously, in an instant encircling Zhao Douan protectively behind them and surrounding Xiao Ran with dozens of Inner Palace Experts.

Leading were two eunuchs, surprisingly the Worldly Realm's Tang Jinzhong and the monkey-faced Song Jinxi.

"Sir, shall we apprehend this thief immediately?" Song Jinxi put on a fawning smile, asking for instructions.

Zhao Douan maintained his composure, nodding gently, locking eyes with Xiao Ran from across the crowd. Her eyes full of shock, her gaze written with "How can people be so shameless."

He smiled: "Miss Xiao mentioned, that the current fifteen days are sparring time, so this official leads the Martial Arts Hall to spar with Miss Xiao, quite reasonable, isn't it?"

"You... you..." Xiao Ran was livid.

Facing the closing circle of eunuchs, suddenly felt powerless.

After a moment of silence.

With a "clang," she threw the dagger to the ground, surrendering calmly.

Since there was no guarantee of winning, it was better than being beaten by these castrated men under the guise of sparring.

Very smart... Zhao Douan looked disappointed, removing the soft sword wrapped around his arm, waving: "Take her back to the Martial Arts Hall, imprison her, huh, trespassing into the inner palace, did you really think our Imperial Guards are good-for-nothing?"

Several eunuchs sneered as they approached, taking Xiao Ran away.

Taciturn, the man quietly ranked as the first under Eunuch Hai in the Martial Arts Hall, Tang Jinzhong, whispered: "Sir, that palace maid we knocked unconscious, left her nearby, what do you intend..."

Zhao Douan, hands behind his back, spoke coldly in the gradually darkening sky: "Imprison her, leave her to her own fate. Hmph, if I hadn't arranged for people to watch over Noble Princess Consort Xiao's side, I wouldn't have imagined these inconspicuous palace maids committed so many rule-breaking acts. Noble Princess Consort Xiao isn't the first, nor will she be the last. Fully inform Mo Zhaorong, Six Palaces is her jurisdiction, it's not our place to overstep, let her worry about the specifics."

"Yes." Tang Jinzhong nodded.

This Worldly Realm Inner Palace Expert, facing Zhao Douan, was as deferential as a minion.

"By the way, send someone to the Imperial City, tell Chai Keqiao, her senior sister was captured by this official, if she wants her back, come redeem her in person, otherwise... let Xiao Ran spend the night in the Martial Arts Hall."

"As you command."

——

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