You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Qin Hui was certain that what he wanted was this direct and efficient "power".

He waved for the old butler to leave, leaving only the two of them in the study.

"There is indeed a matter that requires the help of Master Zhong and his many outstanding disciples."

Qin Hui leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice even further, carrying a chilling killing intent.

"This matter concerns the overall situation, and it also concerns whether important matters for both of us will proceed smoothly in the future."

He opened the desk drawer, took out a plain white slip of paper that had been prepared beforehand and had no signature, and pushed it in front of Urdo.

There were only a few names on the paper, but each name was enough to cause a stir in the Imperial Guards and even the imperial court.

Uldo took the note, glanced at it, and his brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

Although he was not familiar with the official titles of the Southern Dynasty, he could tell that the titles attached to these names were all military commanders.

"These people."

Qin Hui lightly tapped the names on the table with his fingertip, his tone calm but each word chilling: "Ignorant of the times, repeatedly obstructing peace talks, and even more so, His Majesty's... lackeys and henchmen who recklessly wage war."

"With them around, the North and South will be in turmoil, and peace negotiations will be difficult to achieve."

He raised his eyes and looked at them: "I hope they can... disappear quietly."

"Ideally, it should be an accident, or something that can't be traced."

"Master, is it possible?"

Uldo stared at the note for a moment, then looked up at Qin Hui.

From the calm and composed face of this prime minister of the Southern Dynasty, he saw only a ruthless determination to achieve his goals by any means necessary.

This is no different from how tribal leaders on the grasslands eliminate dissidents in their pursuit of power.

He slowly folded the paper and tucked it into his sleeve. His dark, iron-like hand seemed to carry a metallic quality even in the sound of the paper rubbing together.

"Amitabha."

Urdo chanted a Buddhist prayer once more, his face devoid of joy or sorrow, displaying only a detached indifference to life and death.

"Our Tantric school says that those who obstruct our path are all external demons."

"Slaying demons and eliminating evil is also a meritorious deed."

"Prime Minister Qin, rest assured, I will personally guide those on the list to the Western Paradise."

"Prime Minister Qin, when do you hope they will set off?"

Qin Hui: "Naturally... the sooner the better."

"The specific timing is up to the master to decide, but it must be done cleanly and decisively to avoid any future problems."

"I will have someone provide the master with the necessary cooperation or information."

"good."

Uldor replied briefly, "In that case, this humble monk will not disturb you any longer."

"After the matter is accomplished, we will contact Prime Minister Qin again."

After saying this, he performed another strange Buddhist salute, and without waiting for Qin Hui's response, he silently disappeared into the shadows of the side door of the study.

Silence returned to the study, leaving only Qin Hui alone.

He picked up the cup of tea, which had already cooled slightly, and slowly took a sip, his gaze falling on the deepening night outside the window.

The list has been submitted; the executioner's blade is about to fall.

Tantric masters, with their secretive ways of doing things and martial arts styles quite different from those in the Central Plains, are the perfect candidates for this kind of dirty and tiring work.

If they take action, even if they reveal some clues, it will only lead to江湖恩仇杀 (jianghu vendettas) or 金国 spies, and will not involve me.

Once these people are dead, those remaining in the Imperial Guard will either be my former students and acquaintances, or opportunists who know how to weigh the pros and cons.

Palace Guard Command, Cavalry Guard Command, Infantry Guard Command...

These key positions will inevitably become vacant.

At that time, even if His Majesty wanted to promote new people, how many choices would he have?

It's simply a matter of selecting the best from the remaining officers and soldiers, or urgently appointing some people who are not qualified enough.

And how many of these people can completely escape my notice?

How many people's future and wealth are in my hands?

How many people's secrets are hidden in my secret compartment?

He could almost see those key positions being filled by people who were openly or covertly subservient to him.

The Imperial Guard, the most direct force protecting the capital region, will gradually fall into his control.

It's not necessary to control all of them; just controlling most of the middle and upper management is enough to form an invisible network.

Once the Imperial Guard is in hand...

The eerie light in Qin Hui's eyes intensified.

In this city of Lin'an, within this imperial palace, whose orders do they ultimately obey?

At that time, whether to fight or make peace, to advance or retreat, will no longer be up to him alone.

emperor?

Hmph, sitting on that dragon throne, without a sword in hand, he's nothing more than a pretty clay or wooden sculpture.

At that time, even Zhao Gou... will have to be wary of me, Qin Hui, to some extent!

Only then can the court of the Great Song Dynasty truly operate according to my will.

……

Several days later, late at night.

Beyond the heavens, in a secluded mountain valley.

A waning moon hung high in the sky, its cool light spilling onto the open ground in front of the thatched hut.

Inside the hut, Huang Yaoshi slowly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance appearing briefly before returning to its deep gaze.

"call......"

He slowly exhaled a long, clear breath, the scent lingering and forming a straight white ribbon in the cold night sky, which lingered for a long time.

He then slowly rose to his feet, his bones emitting a series of soft popping sounds, and his aura was more harmonious and restrained than it had been a few days ago.

"Literature carries the Way, and the Way guides skill..."

Huang Yaoshi muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the quiet hut.

"Through these past few days of seclusion, I have not yet been able to truly glimpse the path to the 'Great Dao' that governs all laws."

"But stepping outside the confines of 'technique' and examining what I've learned from a higher perspective, I feel that the barriers have loosened, many previously stagnant aspects have become clear, and my internal energy circulation has become much more agile and refined."

He walked to the window, looked towards Lin'an City in the north, and a glint of eager anticipation flashed in his eyes.

"The old beggar must be recuperating in the city right now. I wonder how his recovery is going?"

"Perfect timing! I've just gained some new insights, so I'll go find him to spar and verify them, to see how this perspective, which transcends technique, differs in actual combat."

Having made up his mind, Huang Yaoshi did not delay any longer.

He did not go through the city gate, but instead, his figure flickered and drifted out of the thatched hut like a wisp of smoke. In a few leaps, he arrived at the foot of the tall city wall of Yingtian City.

It was late at night, and the guards were less vigilant.

He looked up at the city wall, which was several meters high, and with a light touch of his toes on the ground, he rose up gracefully, silently skimming over the wall like a bird and landing inside the city.

The streets of the city were quiet, with only the occasional distant sound of the night watchman striking his clapper.

Huang Yaoshi determined the direction and was about to head to the residence where Hong Qigong was recuperating when suddenly, he paused slightly and his ear twitched almost imperceptibly.

Ok?

How could there be so many subtle yet orderly footsteps in the dead of night?

The directions are chaotic and deliberately suppressed, definitely not those of a night watchman or a patrolling soldier...

It's more like...

Curious, he flashed and disappeared into the shadow of a nearby roof, perfectly concealing his presence as if he had become one with the darkness.

Not far ahead, at a fork in the alley, a dozen figures dressed in black night clothes and masked with black cloths moved swiftly, like ghosts, silently sweeping across the street and stealthily heading towards an area in the east of the city where officials' residences were concentrated.

Their steps were light and their landings silent, clearly indicating that each of them possessed considerable skill in light-footed martial arts, and their movements carried an undercurrent of well-trained coordination and...

A faint, almost imperceptible, air of ferocity emanated from him.

"A feud within the martial arts world?"

"Or... a thief?"

Huang Yaoshi was highly skilled and daring, and also curious about the group's purpose, so he immediately used his lightness skill to quietly follow them like a shadow.

With his cultivation level, tracking this group was a piece of cake, and they were completely unaware of it.

The group of men in black had a clear objective. After navigating the complex streets and alleys for a while, they quietly surrounded a courtyard that, while not particularly illustrious, was clearly the residence of a mid- to high-ranking military officer.

They did not rush in immediately, but like patient hunters, some lay prone on the surrounding rooftops, while others hid in the shadows, waiting quietly.

Huang Yaoshi hid in the canopy of a tall ancient tree not far away, using the branches and leaves as cover to take in the scene below, which made him even more suspicious.

Judging from this, it's definitely not an ordinary theft; it's more like...

A premeditated ambush!

Just then, steady footsteps came from the street corner.

A middle-aged man dressed in casual clothes, wearing a worn leather armor over it, and with a sword hanging at his waist, walked in under the moonlight, accompanied by two bodyguards.

The man was about forty years old, with a angular face and a steady gaze. He had the air of a soldier as he walked. He was the owner of this residence and a powerful commander in the Imperial Guard. His name was Liu Qi.

Liu Qi walked to his front door and waved to his personal guards: "Go back to camp. Be on duty tomorrow."

"Yes, General!" The guard saluted and left.

Liu Qi pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate, went inside, and bolted the gate shut behind him.

The lights were on in the main room of the courtyard. A woman in simple clothes and a gentle face heard the noise and hurried out to greet him with a concerned smile: "Master is back."

"Why is it later today than the past few days? There's food warming on the stove; I'll go and bring it to you right away."

A tired but gentle smile appeared on Liu Qi's face as he took the hot towel the woman offered and wiped his face: "I was held up by some trivial matters in the camp."

"Thank you for your trouble, Madam. Keep it simple."

Just as the couple was about to turn around and go inside, something unexpected happened!

"Move!" A low, short command came from somewhere.

In an instant, the dozen or so men in black who had been lying in ambush on the roof and in the corners of the walls sprang up like hungry wolves that had smelled blood!

They moved with incredible speed and had a clear division of labor. Some of them swooped down from mid-air, their weapons gleaming coldly, aiming straight for Liu Qi's vital points!

Another group of people split off and, grinning maliciously, pounced on the stunned Madam Liu, clearly intending to eliminate her completely and leave no survivors!

"Madam, be careful!"

Liu Qi, being a seasoned veteran of the battlefield, reacted extremely quickly. With a roar, he drew his sword and shoved his wife into the house behind him, while he himself swung his sword to meet the two dark figures that pounced on him first!

The sword wind howled, the moves were concise and ruthless, exactly the fighting techniques used in the military.

However, the attackers were quite skilled, and moreover, they outnumbered him and worked together seamlessly. Although Liu Qi managed to block the first few attacks, he was quickly surrounded and found himself in dire straits.

The two men in black who pounced on Madam Liu were about to touch the frail woman with their evil claws!

Outrageous!

They broke into civilian homes at night, assassinated government generals, and even killed their families, women, and children!

Who are these vile and despicable creatures to act so viciously and despicably?

Huang Yaoshi, perched atop the tree canopy, saw everything clearly, and a surge of anger welled up within him.

Although he was arrogant and aloof, and both righteous and wicked, what he could not stand most in his life was such despicable acts of bullying the weak and oppressing the few!

It's too late to say, then soon!

Just as Madam Liu closed her eyes to await death, and Liu Qi's eyes were bloodshot but he was too late to save her, at the critical moment...

laugh!laugh!

Two sharp, piercing sounds rang out almost simultaneously, subtle yet deadly! Under the moonlight, two almost imperceptible, cold stars flashed by!

puff puff!

The two men in black who were lunging at Madam Liu suddenly froze, a few drops of blood blooming on their foreheads at the same time. Without uttering a sound, they collapsed to the ground, lifeless!

The Finger Flicking Divine Skill!

At the same time, a green figure appeared out of nowhere, like a gust of wind and swirling snow, and suddenly entered the battle!

Huang Yaoshi's movements were swift and unpredictable, his attacks as fast as lightning!

He didn't use the jade flute, only his bare hands. His palm techniques seemed light and effortless, yet they were exquisitely precise, piercing through the gaps between flashing blades, striking, brushing, tapping, and seizing!

"what!"

"Well!"

Exclamations and muffled groans rang out in succession!

The men in black who were besieging Liu Qi seemed to have run into an invisible wall of energy, or as if they were being pulled by a strange and unpredictable force, and their attack was immediately thrown into chaos.

Huang Yaoshi's palms flashed, each strike landing precisely on the black-clad man's moves when they were fading, when his strength was shifting, or on his vital joints!

Click!

One man's wrist was broken, and his steel knife was knocked from his hand.

boom!

A seemingly gentle palm strike landed on a person's chest, yet it felt like a heavy blow, sending them flying backward, coughing up blood.

laugh!

As the wind passed, a person's throat was pierced.

Huang Yaoshi's martial arts skills have long transcended the scope of ordinary moves. In addition, he has gained new insights, and his moves are not only fast, accurate, and ruthless, but also carry a mysterious quality of understanding the opponent's attack patterns and striking first after being attacked later.

More than a dozen skilled men in black were like chickens and dogs in front of him. In just a few breaths, more than half of them had fallen, either dead or injured!

The remaining men in black were terrified at the sight and dared not fight any longer. They let out a shout and tried to scatter and flee.

"Trying to leave?"

Huang Yaoshi snorted coldly, and his figure flashed like a ghost, blocking the entrance to the hospital.

With a series of flicks of his hands, several invisible finger-forces shot through the air, accurately striking the fleeing man's vital acupoints on his back.

Those people were instantly frozen in place, as if their pressure points had been struck, unable to move.

From the moment Huang Yaoshi made his move to the moment it ended, it took only a dozen or so breaths.

The courtyard, which had been filled with murderous intent just moments before, was now littered with men in black lying on the ground, with only a few remaining, who were being held captive, standing there with eyes full of terror.

Liu Qi stood with his sword in hand, still catching his breath. Looking at the scholar in blue robes who had suddenly appeared before him like a divine warrior descending from the heavens, he was utterly shocked.

He prided himself on his martial arts skills, but even he could barely hold on against the group of men in black earlier. But this gentleman…

How could he have dealt with all of these thugs with such ease?

What terrifying martial arts skills!

He quickly sheathed his sword, stepped forward, and bowed deeply: "This humble general, Liu Qi, thanks you for saving my life, sir! May I ask your esteemed name?"

Huang Yaoshi did not answer immediately. He first glanced at the corpses and weapons of the men in black on the ground, his brows furrowing slightly. Then he walked up to one of the men in black who had been restrained and reached out to pull off his black mask.

In the moonlight, a dark face with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes was revealed; the top of the head was bald, but with clearly visible ordination scars...

He's clearly a monk!

Looking at the others, when they pulled off their masks, they were the same, and their facial features were all very different from those of people from the Central Plains.

"A Tantric lama from the Western Regions?"

A cold glint flashed in Huang Yaoshi's eyes as he looked at the still-shaken Liu Qi and asked in a deep voice, "General Liu, do you know why these esoteric Buddhist monks wanted to assassinate you?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qi gritted his teeth and said, "Replying to you, sir, this humble general truly does not know!"

"This humble general has no dealings with these heretical monks from the Western Regions, nor does he harbor any grudge against them!"

"them……"

"They must be spies sent by the Jurchens!"

"The Jurchen invaders have not given up their ambition to destroy us; they have sent skilled assassins to kill our generals and disrupt the situation!"

After listening, Huang Yaoshi slowly shook his head and said in a deep voice, "A spy from the Jin Kingdom?"

"If the Jin state intends to disrupt our court and sends skilled assassins, their primary targets will be the key ministers who advocate resistance against the Jin and hold important positions in the court."

"Assassinating them is the best way to damage the morale of our troops."

He then changed the subject, pointing to Liu Qi's attire: "Judging from the general's armor and uniform, he must be a commander of the Imperial Guard who guards the capital and protects the imperial city."

"What benefit would assassinating a commander of the Imperial Guards bring to the overall situation of the Jin Dynasty?"

Liu Qi subconsciously looked down at his leather armor, then remembered his duties and replied, "This humble general is Liu Qi, the commander of the Imperial Guards Cavalry of the Palace Guard. My duty is indeed to guard the palace."

"That's it."

Huang Yaoshi's eyes flashed even brighter: "The Commander of the Palace Guards, the Imperial Cavalry..."

"The Jin Kingdom's experts went to great lengths to infiltrate Yingtian, risking exposure, and chose not to assassinate the important ministers and generals who could influence the course of the war, but instead chose to assassinate you, a commander of the Imperial Guards primarily responsible for protecting the capital?"

"This doesn't make sense."

He paused, his tone growing increasingly serious, and posed a more crucial question: "Moreover, how did they pinpoint your residence with such precision?"

"And how did you so accurately predict the time of the general's return home?"

boom!

Huang Yaoshi's words exploded in Liu Qi's mind like a thunderclap!

He had previously assumed it was just the Jin thieves being rampant and committing murders in retaliation.

Awakened by Huang Yaoshi's series of calm yet sharp questions, he broke out in a cold sweat!

Yes!

If the Jurchen invaders wanted to disrupt my court, why would they kill a mere commander of the Imperial Guards and Cavalry?

What use is this to the overall war effort?

unless……

Unless their objective isn't the frontline fighting at all, but rather...

It's the imperial city!

It's Your Majesty!

They assassinated the Imperial Guard general in order to weaken and disrupt the defenses of the imperial city!

There's still this opportunity!

How do they know when I will return home tonight?

unless……

Unless there's a traitor within the Imperial Guard!

Moreover, this person holds a high position, is able to know my whereabouts, and even mobilize and arrange things to create opportunities for these assassins!

Yes!

That must be it!

Among the Imperial Guards, some high-ranking officers had already been bribed by the Jurchens…

God!

If that were the case, wouldn't His Majesty be surrounded by dangers?

The safety of the imperial city... the safety of His Majesty...

Upon thinking of this, Liu Qi felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, his face instantly turned deathly pale, and his hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

He abruptly looked up at Huang Yaoshi, his voice trembling with shock: "Sir, please see the truth!"

"If it is truly as you predict, then..."

"There must be a high-ranking traitor within the Imperial Guard, colluding with the Jurchens from within!"

"Their purpose is probably not as simple as assassinating this humble general, but rather..."

"But their intention is to harm His Majesty and disrupt the defenses of our imperial city!"

Liu Qi grew increasingly frightened and terrified. He could no longer care about anything else and bowed deeply to Huang Yaoshi: "Sir, your martial arts are divine, and your insight is unparalleled!"

"This matter concerns His Majesty's safety and the survival of the nation!"

"I beg you, sir, for my help!"