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

Upon hearing this, Qin Hui's domineering and cold smile froze instantly, and his pupils suddenly contracted!

he……

What did he mean by that?

To take control of the situation?

Outside are my hundreds of elite armored soldiers, and inside the palace are all my men. He is all alone here, unarmed, with only a female official who is powerless to kill a chicken by his side!

What gives him the right to say such a thing?

Is it just a bluff?

still is……

Does he really have something I don't know about?

After a moment of bewilderment and disbelief, came a deeper anger and a sense of humiliation at being belittled.

Even now, does Zhao Gou still dare to be stubborn?!

However, before Qin Hui could figure out where Lu Zuo's confidence came from, and before he could even open his mouth to rebuke him...

A sudden change has occurred!

Lu Zuo, who had been sitting quietly behind the imperial desk, moved!

This movement was as swift as lightning, like a thunderbolt!

Qin Hui felt a blur before his eyes, as if a blurry green shadow had swept past, faster than his eyes could catch!

He didn't even see how Lu Zuo got up or how he moved!

"Well!"

"what!"

"Thump!"

"Snap!"

A series of short, muffled groans, gasps, the sound of heavy objects falling to the ground, and the cracking of bones breaking erupted almost simultaneously!

The four Imperial Guards soldiers who had followed Qin Hui in, standing with their hands on their swords and exuding a powerful aura, were struck as if by an invisible giant hammer before they could even fully draw their swords!

Some had their chests caved in, spitting out blood as they flew backward and crashed into the wall.

Some wrists were twisted at bizarre angles, and the swords fell to the ground with a clatter.

Some had their knees bend backwards, screaming as they collapsed to their knees.

One person was even struck on a pressure point, frozen in place, unable to move!

The whole process took less than two breaths!

The four elite imperial guards had all lost their fighting ability, collapsing to the ground, some unconscious, some groaning, and some stiff!

Qin Hui's expression froze completely, his eyes widened like copper bells, his mouth slightly open, his mind blank, as if he had seen the most unbelievable sight in the world!

How is that possible?

What... what is this?

Sorcery? Martial arts?

When did Zhao Gou acquire such skills?

Before he could recover from this sudden change, a seemingly fair and slender hand, yet containing terrifying power, had already landed on his shoulder like a ghost!

A scorching and domineering aura instantly penetrated his body. Qin Hui felt a numbness all over his body, as if countless steel needles had pierced his acupoints and meridians, and his limbs and bones instantly lost control.

He could only stand there stiffly like a puppet, his face showing extreme shock and bewilderment.

As Lu Zuo's face drew closer, he said, "Qin Huizhi, today I will teach you a lesson..."

"In this world, what are schemes and plots, what are factions and power? Before absolute strength..."

"They're all just clay chickens and earthen dogs, utterly vulnerable!"

A palace coup?

Force the palace?

Oh……

The storms I experienced in the Tang Dynasty were far more dangerous than you can imagine in your lifetime!

Trying to play these tricks on me? You're still too green!

Just then.

"Bang!"

The door to the Imperial Study was suddenly kicked open from the outside!

Clearly having heard the unusual commotion inside, the Imperial Guards guarding outside, led by Shen Gang, rushed in all at once!

They were stunned by what they saw inside: the Prime Minister Qin stood frozen, four of his comrades lay on the ground, and the Emperor stood proudly, holding a long sword he had drawn from the waist of one of the fallen soldiers.

Shen Gang was at the forefront, and when he saw this scene, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets!

Has the Prime Minister of Qin been subdued?

Those four experts have all fallen?

Was it... was it His Majesty who did it?

How is that possible?

His Majesty... he is not a weak man... even if he has been practicing martial arts recently, it's only been a few days?

How could someone possess such skill?!

His mind was in turmoil, and he couldn't understand what was happening before his eyes.

Although Qin Hui could neither speak nor move, he could still see.

Upon seeing Shen Gang lead his men in, a strong will to survive and a sense of command instantly flashed in his eyes as he stared intently at Shen Gang!

Shen Gang instantly understood. Though terrified, he knew there was no turning back. He steeled himself and roared, "His Majesty has lost his mind!"

"Protect the Emperor! Quickly!"

"Please take Your Majesty back to rest!"

He ultimately didn't dare to say "take down" or "tie up" directly, but the meaning couldn't be clearer.

"superior!"

The dozens of armored soldiers who rushed in were also intimidated by the scene before them, but military orders were paramount, and with their superior numbers, they let out a shout, each brandishing their weapons, and pounced on Lu Zuo like wolves and tigers! The flashing blades and the murderous aura were palpable!

"Your Majesty, be careful!"

Li Qingzhao was so frightened that her face turned pale and she cried out in alarm.

Her mind was in complete chaos. Your Majesty…

How come Your Majesty knows martial arts?

Is it really that powerful?

But right now the enemy outnumbers you, and no matter how powerful Your Majesty is, you can't fight against so many opponents.

Faced with the surging armored soldiers, a cold glint flashed in Lu Zuo's eyes. Instead of retreating, he took a step forward!

The ordinary standard-issue longsword in his hand seemed to come alive at that moment!

There are no complicated or fancy moves, only speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness!

Swish!

The blade flashed like a bolt of lightning!

The two armored soldiers at the forefront felt a sharp pain in their wrists before they could even thrust their halberds forward, and their weapons flew from their hands! Lu Zuo's blade struck their joints with pinpoint accuracy, and the sound of bones cracking was clearly audible!

sideways!

Dodged a shot that came from the side!

A backhand slash!

The blade slid in along the gun barrel and struck the armored soldier directly in the face. His nose collapsed, blood spurted out, and he fell to the ground screaming in agony!

Step forward!

Chop!

The simple movement contained an irresistible force and an exquisitely precise angle!

A soldier raised his shield to block, but he and his shield were sent flying backward by a brutal force, knocking down several people behind him!

Another armored soldier swung his sword, but Lu Zuo parried and deflected it with his longsword, pulling the soldier forward unsteadily. Lu Zuo then kicked him in the lower back. Get down!

His figure moved swiftly amidst the flashing swords, like a ghost. With each step he took, one or more armored soldiers would fall to the ground!

Joints may be shattered, acupoints may be pressed, or the person may be knocked unconscious by a tremendous force!

The ruthlessness and precision of his attacks were chilling!

In his hands, the long sword sometimes felt like Mount Tai pressing down, unstoppable.

Sometimes they are like a cunning snake emerging from its hole, cunning and ruthless.

More often than not, it's just the simplest parry, block, strike, and sweep, but combined with his terrifying strength and speed, as well as his terrifying eyesight to predict the enemy's movements, no one can withstand a single blow from him!

In an instant, most of the dozens of elite imperial guards who rushed into the imperial study had fallen!

The survivors, armed with weapons, surrounded the area, their faces filled with terror, and none of them dared to step forward!

The floor was littered with the groans and screams of his companions, and a faint smell of blood permeated the imperial study.

Lu Zuo stood holding his knife, his clothes fluttering, yet not a speck of blood stained them.

His gaze was icy as he swept over the remaining armored soldiers outside the door who hesitated and dared not enter, finally landing on Shen Gang's face, which was as pale as paper and trembling slightly.

The entire imperial study fell into a deathly silence. Only heavy breathing and suppressed groans of pain could be heard.

Li Qingzhao covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide open, staring at Lu Zuo's back as if she were seeing this young emperor for the first time.

This...this is His Majesty's hidden strength?

When did he acquire such extraordinary martial arts skills?

No wonder...no wonder he remained so calm throughout!

After the initial shock, an indescribable excitement and hope quietly rose in her heart.

Shen Gang's teeth were chattering, and his palms, gripping the knife handle, were covered in cold sweat.

monster……

This is a monster!

This is no ordinary martial art!

Your Majesty, he...

Just as Shen Gang was utterly stunned and his mind went blank by Lu Zuo's inhuman strength...

A cold glint flashed in Lu Zuo's eyes, and a murderous intent burst forth!

He gave Shen Gang no chance to react or beg for mercy. His figure flashed forward like a ghost, and the long knife in his hand, still dripping blood, cut through the air with a shrill whistling sound!

"No……!"

Shen Gang only had time to let out a short, almost inaudible scream of horror, his pupils reflecting the cold glint of the blade, before he felt a chill on his neck and his vision spun around!

puff!

A head the size of a bucket shot into the sky, and blood gushed out like a fountain!

Shen Gang's headless corpse swayed and fell heavily to the ground, his face still frozen with extreme fear and disbelief.

hiss!

Inside and outside the Imperial Study, the remaining soldiers, who were already terrified, were so frightened by the sight of their commander being beheaded in an instant that they gasped in shock. Many of them were so weak in the knees that they could barely hold their weapons!

Lu Zuo didn't even glance at Shen Gang's corpse. He took a step forward and arrived at the door of the Imperial Study. His gaze, like two cold bolts of lightning, swept over the hundreds of armored soldiers in the courtyard who were still watching but whose morale had already collapsed!

These people were all Qin Hui's confidants. They dared to join Shen Gang in besieging the Imperial Study, which showed their unwavering loyalty!

If we don't slaughter them until rivers of blood flow today, how can we deter the villains?

How can we let those two-faced people know the consequences of betraying me?

Only by using swift and decisive measures can we carve out a bright and clear world!

Once the mind is made up, the killing intent surges like a tide!

"die!"

Lu Zuo's cold shout, like a thunderclap from the heavens, resounded in the ears of every Imperial Guard!

He leaped up like a tiger among sheep, charging directly into the densest military formation in the center of the courtyard!

Swish!Swish!Swish!

The blade flashed again, even sharper and more domineering than before! This time, he held nothing back!

As a team was trying to organize a resistance, a spear thrust forward. Lu Zuo neither dodged nor avoided it, but instead delivered a simple straight slash with his longsword.

Wherever the blade struck, the iron spearhead was cleaved in two, and then cleaved the entire group, armor and all, in two, sending blood and flesh flying everywhere!

puff!

Three swordsmen and shieldmen surrounded him with their shields raised. Lu Zuo flicked his wrist, and his sword swept across like a wheel.

Click!Click!

The wooden shields, made of iron, shattered like paper. The arms holding the shields behind them snapped off with a crash. Before their screams could even finish, the blades had already grazed their throats!

Several more halberds came thrusting from different angles, sealing off all room for evasion.

Lu Zuo stomped his toes on the ground, shattering the bluestone tiles. He used the force to spin rapidly like a top, his long sword dancing around him, drawing a perfect circular arc!

Ding ding ding!

Click!

Sparks flew everywhere!

The thrusting halberds were either deflected or cut in half!

The soldiers holding halberds felt an irresistible force coming at them. Their hands were split open, their weapons were thrown from their grasp, and then they were caught in the spinning blade light. Their armor shattered, their bones broke, and they fell down in droves!

With every step he takes, many people will die!

Knives, spears, swords, and halberds break upon contact; people and armor crumble upon contact!

There are no fancy moves, only the most basic chopping, slashing, sweeping, and thrusting techniques!

But with his terrifying strength, speed, and millimeter-precise control, it transformed into the most efficient art of killing!

kill!kill!kill!

The courtyard was instantly transformed into a slaughterhouse of carnage!

Limbs and torsos flew everywhere, blood stained the bluestone slabs, and screams, the clash of weapons, and the wails of the dying were incessant!

Lu Zuo, alone with his sword, slaughtered hundreds of elite Imperial Guards, leaving their bodies strewn across the ground!

Wherever he went, no one could stop him even for a moment!

……

In the distance, the leaders of several imperial guards responsible for perimeter security and blocking other passages of the palace, including Wang Yuan, the Right Commander of the Palace Guard, Li Xianzong, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard Cavalry, and Liu Guangshi, the Commander of the Imperial Guard Infantry, had already been alarmed by the earth-shattering shouts of battle coming from the direction of the Imperial Study and had all led their men to the vicinity.

When they saw the demon-like figure in the courtyard, unilaterally slaughtering Shen Gang's troops, they were all stunned and their bodies went cold!

"That...that is...His Majesty?!" Wang Yuan's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, his voice trembling.

"My God... His Majesty... how could he..." Li Xianzong gasped, barely able to utter a complete sentence.

"Is this...is this even human? Shen Gang commands the most elite battalion of the Palace Guard!"

"To be...to be by His Majesty alone..." Liu Guangshi's face turned ashen, and his hand gripping the hilt of his sword trembled.

They had either been courted or hinted at by Qin Hui's faction, or had adopted a wait-and-see attitude, and were ordered to "guard" the perimeter. They thought that the situation inside was just a coup attempt and pressure, at most a standoff.

I never imagined I would witness such a bloody and horrific scene! (Emperor)

The emperor actually possesses unparalleled martial arts skills and is currently wreaking havoc!

Qin Hui ruined me!

How could this be a puppet emperor who could be manipulated at will?

That's clearly a tiger coming down from the mountain!

Finished!

You've chosen the wrong side!

If His Majesty were to settle accounts for what happened today…

The group was instantly overwhelmed by immense fear and regret.

Just then, Li Xianzong suddenly drew his sword, pointed it towards the imperial study, and with a powerful roar, unleashed a thunderous roar:

"That old traitor Qin Hui!"

"How dare you deceive the emperor and commit such a treasonous act of forcing the emperor to abdicate!!"

"All soldiers, listen to my command!"

"Slay the traitors and protect the emperor!!"

After roaring, he didn't wait for anyone else to react. He took the lead and led his trusted troops like tigers descending a mountain, charging towards the remnants of Shen Gang's troops in the courtyard who had been terrified and were scattering in all directions!

Every strike draws blood; there's no mercy!

Wang Yuan and Liu Guangshi were startled by Li Xianzong's shout, but then they suddenly realized what was happening!

Yup!

Qin Hui forced the emperor to abdicate!

We're here to protect you!

fast!

The time to show your loyalty has come!

It will be too late if we go any later!

"Your Majesty, do not panic! Your subject, Wang Yuan, has arrived too late to rescue you! Execute the traitor!"

"Liu Guangshi is here! Anyone who dares to alarm the emperor will be killed without mercy!"

Almost simultaneously, the two drew their weapons, shouting "Protect the Emperor!" at the top of their lungs. They led their troops and rushed into the battle, hacking and slashing at their "comrades" who had already lost their will to fight!

They were terrified that if they acted too slowly, the emperor would purge them as part of Qin Hui's faction!

In an instant, the situation in the courtyard was completely reversed.

Originally, it was Qin Hui's soldiers who besieged the imperial study, but in the blink of an eye, they became loyal ministers, vying to "protect the emperor and punish the traitor."

Shen Gang's men, already terrified by Lu Zuo's killings, were now besieged by their former colleagues, and their defeat was swift and devastating. They either knelt down and begged for mercy or scattered and fled, but most of them were mercilessly killed.

A moment later, the sounds of fighting in the courtyard gradually subsided.

Corpses littered the ground, and blood flowed like a river.

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