Madam, please listen to my explanation.

Chapter 118 How many bowls of noodles were there exactly?
Shen Lian leaped down from the branch, came before Zhang Longxing, and cupped his hands in greeting:
"My lord, there are twelve thieves in total, all of whom are at least of the fourth rank. Eight of them went towards the East City Market, while the other four went to the West City, Zhuque Alley, Xinghua Alley, and other places, their purpose unknown."

Zhang Longxing pinched his chin, remaining silent.

The pawnshop diagonally opposite remained closed.

He had already laid a net around this place.

"How accurate is your assessment of the thief's cultivation level?"

Shen Lian: "Reporting to my lord, these twelve people are as light as swallows, landing without a sound."

To achieve this, one not only needs perfect control over power, but also at least a basic grasp of the use of divine sense to avert the sound of one's feet the moment they touch the ground. While their exact cultivation level is difficult to determine, it would be at least at the fourth rank.

Zhang Longxing nodded. "Keep track of the four people's location at all times, and summon experts of the fifth rank or above from the Blood-Clad Guards and the Imperial Guards to provide support."

Shen Lian was suspicious.

This superior, who came from a civil service background, seemed to have no concept of the difference between martial artists.

After a moment's thought, he spoke:

"Sir, if these people's target is indeed Mr. Xu, there is really no need to be so cautious."

"I'm not trying to flatter you, but even if they all attacked together, they wouldn't be a match for you in a single blow."

Zhang Longxing's gaze was sharp as lightning as he said coldly, "Just do as I say, why are you making so many excuses!"

"Yes!" Shen Lian's flattery backfired, and he dared not say another word. He hurriedly ordered his men to go to the palace to seek help.

Zhang Longxing got up and led the group toward the East City Market.

He looked at Shen Lian, who was no longer speaking, and chuckled, "Commander Shen, I ask you, what is the basis for your judgment of Mr. Xu's cultivation level?"

Shen Lian: "Reporting to my lord, I personally witnessed your actions at the Qiyun Altar yesterday, and based on this, I can deduce..."

Seeing that the other party still didn't understand, Zhang Longxing patiently continued, "So if it were you, and you wanted to harm you, would you send out these low-level spies to confront them head-on?"

Shen Lian was instantly enlightened.

Yes, now that the Blood-Clad Guards have identified the spies, Zhou Guo naturally knows what he knows as well!
Each outstanding spy requires a great deal of effort to cultivate.

Why would the other side risk losing so many spies of the fourth rank or above, and even someone who has been a member of the Blood Guard for many years?
"Although I don't understand your martial arts, I do know a little bit."

Zhang Longxing stroked his beard and said leisurely, "Anyone of the third rank or above is enough to influence the capital's grand formation."

Shen Lian opened his mouth wide, unsure of what to say.

Indeed, I am far inferior to these scholars!
He wanted to ask, since it was so dangerous, why not take advantage of the fact that these people were scattered and wiped out in one fell swoop?
Having just been reprimanded, he dared not utter another word.
"Xu Jinhuan, when are we going to eat candied hawthorns?"

"Didn't I already say that it's only early autumn, there won't be any candied hawthorns to eat yet!"

Xu Jinhuan looked helpless.

He carried Gu Xiaoxiao on his back, practically fighting his way in and out of the market seven times over, while the other person's mouth never stopped moving along the way.
I've been eating constantly!
He simply couldn't understand how such a small body could hold so many things!
Why are there no candied hawthorns in early autumn?

Gu Niaoniao pouted, and unconsciously increased the strength of her grip on Xu Jinhuan's hair.

"Ouch! Ouch! Stop scratching!"

"Grandma, the sun's so bright overhead, and the candied hawthorns have melted before I've even sold a few!"

"That's it"

Gu Niaoniao suddenly felt a sense of loss.

How annoying, do we have to wait until it snows to eat this?
Is it going to snow soon?

"I've got it!"

Xu Jinhuan: “???”

"Go and find Xiao Si, and ask him to make it snow. Then it will become winter!"

Xu Jinhuan stumbled and nearly fell on the spot.

With the largest intelligence network in the entire Yan Kingdom at his disposal, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the remarkable achievements his brother-in-law had recently made.

That said, recently in the Youzhou area, due to the arrival of the enemy, the snow accumulation is almost up to the calves, and if it continues to develop, it will spread into a disaster.
It is true that a powerful individual of the eighth rank or above can alter the celestial phenomena within a small area on their own.

The problem is, the opponent is only a seventh-rank official.
"Hurry, hurry! This Imperial Preceptor is about to get angry!"

As the two were talking, a dispute suddenly broke out not far ahead, immediately attracting a crowd of onlookers.

Xu Jinhuan didn't want to get involved in such matters, but he couldn't resist the urging of the little figure on his shoulder, so he had no choice but to go over.

"Sir, you can't leave!"

Why can't we leave?

Inside the inn, the waiter, a rag draped over his shoulder, looked timidly at the gleaming long sword at the waist of the man with the character '捕' (capture) printed on his chest, and whispered:

"Never mind, sir, you should leave."

boom!
The constable slammed his hand on the table and roared:

"Waiter! What do you mean? There are so many people watching, explain yourself clearly!"

The waiter straightened his neck and said righteously:

"You ate two bowls of noodles, but only paid for one!"

"Bullshit! I only ate one bowl of noodles, where did the two bowls come from?"

"Little Six, don't be rude! The official says it's one bowl, so it's one bowl!" "I *&*%￥*!"

The two voices grew louder and louder. Xu Jinhuan wanted to leave, but a crowd had already gathered behind him.

Gu Niaoniao's eyes sparkled as she excitedly asked, "Xu Jinhuan, guess how many bowls of noodles he ate?"

"unimportant."

"Yeah, that's true. If I were him, I'd just pay for two bowls of noodles and leave."

Xu Jinhuan shook his head. "It's useless. If he really paid for two bowls, people will say, 'See? He ate two bowls. He was just trying to renege on his debt!'"

"Huh?" Gu Niaoniao looked puzzled.

"That's true. Then let's just pay for one bowl."

Xu Jinhuan gave a bitter smile: "If he insists on paying for only one bowl, everyone will say that this person is bullying the people because he is a constable. Someone just saw him eat two bowls!"

As for how many bowls... it doesn't matter anymore, you wouldn't understand even if I told you.

Xu Jinhuan turned around, about to use his physical advantage to squeeze out of the crowd, when suddenly his brow twitched!

He turned around and saw the man in the constable's uniform suddenly overturn the table with one foot, and his aura continued to rise!
Second, third, and fourth rank!

Boom——

The sea of ​​clouds surged, and in an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared!

For someone who dares to openly display power above the third rank in broad daylight, the Kyoto Grand Formation immediately activated itself, and a bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl struck down instantly!
Xu Jinhuan stomped heavily on his foot, and the hidden force surged into the inn's lobby from the ground, causing the people closest to him to stagger.

Boom!

As the lightning bolt pierced through the roof of the inn, the surrounding shouts and curses instantly ceased.

Those who were knocked down stared in disbelief as the constable, charred black and dead on the spot, could only marvel at how lucky they were to have survived, before scattering in all directions in a panic.

Everyone knows that there is a great formation above Kyoto.
But the actual number that actually fell down was extremely small!

Xu Jinhuan silently spread his divine sense and forcibly pushed the person next to him far away.

Something is wrong!
He faced the panicked crowd, his gaze sweeping across their faces, and quickly walked towards the city gate.

When did it become possible for any random constable in Kyoto to possess the strength of a fourth-rank official or higher?
If nothing unexpected happens, they're after me!

Where's the waiter?!

Just as he was thinking this, the ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked open, and an arm gripped his leg tightly!

Xiao Er's half body emerged from the ground, his lips curled up in a wide smile, and his aura surged!
"Oh shit."

Without time to think, Xu Jinhuan kicked the other man's head, shattering it, and red and white matter splattered everywhere.

Boom!

As the second bolt of lightning struck, Xu Jinhuan had already leaped away from his original spot.

As a result of this delay, several people in the crowd rushed towards where they were.

A rough count revealed that all six individuals held ranks of four or higher.
At this moment, even he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine!
Gu Niaoniao has become an idiot, and Ruoxi has just gained power. I wonder if she can control her!
Dark clouds filled the sky, with streaks of silver snakes slithering through them, seemingly brewing a massive thunderbolt that would splatter the land below!
Xu Jinhuan cursed under his breath and ran quickly towards the city gates.

Only then did he realize that 'Xiao Er's' arm was still hanging on his leg!
"Damn it!"

The thick thunderclouds suddenly stopped churning and even began to dissipate.

Xu Jinhuan felt somewhat relieved; it seemed that Her Majesty the Empress was indeed somewhat reliable.
Just as the calamity clouds were about to dissipate, another calamity cloud rose in the west, south, and north of Kyoto!
"I'm crazy"

Freed from the constraints of the great formation, those rushing towards them from all directions no longer hesitated, unleashing their full movement techniques and suddenly increasing their speed!

To avoid harming innocent people, Xu Jinhuan didn't stop for a moment, transforming into a streak of light and rushing outside the city gate.

Not far away, Shen Lian watched as the thunderclouds gradually dissipated from all directions, and bowed deeply to Zhang Longxing:
"Your wisdom and strategy are truly remarkable! I am in awe!"

It wasn't just flattery; he now genuinely admired this man from the bottom of his heart.

If the other side hadn't mobilized palace experts in advance to follow the four scattered individuals from afar and subdue them the moment they launched their attack...

In Kyoto today, countless innocent people are still dying tragically.

Zhang Longxing shook his head again and sighed:
"There's nothing to admire. With an enemy like that, I'm unlikely to sleep soundly any longer."

"Why do you say this, sir?"

Shen Lian looked completely bewildered.

It is clear that our side is in complete control of the situation and the enemy's every move is under our command. Why then does Your Excellency appear to be on high alert?

Zhang Longxing smiled bitterly and said, "Let me ask you, everyone knows the effectiveness of the Kyoto Grand Array. If it's so easy to exploit, why not just send a group of fourth-rank experts in to wreak havoc? Anyway, when the tribulation lightning strikes, it doesn't distinguish between friend and foe. It's like injuring a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own."

Shen Lian paused upon hearing this, vaguely understanding what was going on.
Yes, the Kyoto Grand Array has been in operation for almost a thousand years.

The reason no one does this is because, apart from operating on its own, someone is always stationed in the Tian Shu Pavilion, maintaining absolute control over the great formation!
Zhang Longxing looked westward, a deep worry between his brows: "Do you understand now? Ever since we sent people to capture those thieves, the enemy has already obtained the information they want to know."

"We can't hide it anymore. Let's go and see who the mastermind is outside the city."

Shen Lian hurriedly followed behind, his heart already churning with turmoil.

madman
The person who secretly devised this plan in Zhou was simply a complete madman!
He originally thought that the other side had sent out more than a dozen spies of the fourth rank or above to trap Mr. Xu and kill him by drawing on the power of the formation.

Little did they know, the other party had secretly hidden this trick up their sleeve!
For no apparent reason, a name that had recently become famous suddenly popped into my mind—

Chu Yunlu!
(End of this chapter)