A Scroll of Infinite Glory

Arhat and Goddess of Lightning, Swift Blade and Dragon Tiger, Black Hawk, Bear and Leopard, with a flick of the spear, even ghosts cannot escape.

Although these people all worked in the Imperial Household Department, each of them was actually a capable individual who could handle things independently. They often went their separate ways to carry out tasks assigned by the palace across the country and rarely gathered together.

Previously, the Qing government learned about the list of members of the Qingtian Alliance from a traitor. Although it attached great importance to it, due to time constraints, it could only dispatch Yuan Hai, the Big Leopard, and Yuan Jiang, the Little Leopard, to lead a team of assassins and local soldiers to carry out the operation.

It wasn't until the instructor suddenly rose up, killed the traitor, and stabbed Little Leopard Yuan Jiang to death with a single blow, escaping from the encirclement of nearly two hundred people, that a larger subsequent operation was triggered.

Black Hawk Hu Dali and Bear Xiong Li joined the pursuit team one after another.

After the instructor disappeared again near Diancheng, even Quick-Knife Xiang Fang had arrived.

They analyzed the bodies in the woods, starting with Wang Xiongjie and tracing back to the large house on Diancheng East Street, but found no further clues about the instructor.

This group of people had no choice but to travel day and night to reach Guangzhou.

Luohan, Dianmu, and Long Spear Xiao Yang also joined them outside the North Gate.

"Judging from your description, those people should be well-known boxers in Guangzhou, especially the bald one, who is probably Zhu Changshou, who was with us in Tianjin to suppress the remnants of the Boxer Rebellion."

The speaker was an Arhat, dressed in a yellow monk's robe, with a monastic scar on his head, thin cheeks, and a slight beard.

Back then, the Boxers were divided into official groups and civilian groups. The official groups had closer ties with the Qing government and were the first to raise the banner of "Support the Qing and Destroy the Foreigners".

Luohan and Dianmu received orders from the Imperial Household Department to conceal their identities and become the two chief altar leaders of the Boxer Rebellion.

Later, when the imperial court ordered the suppression of the Boxers, the two of them immediately rebelled and were the most ruthless.

Luo Han continued, "I know the instructor's abilities. He's injured and exhausted, so I'm afraid he might not be able to kill Zhu Changshou. We haven't informed Guangzhou yet, so there's no reason for us to send these people to ambush the instructor in the city."

Not long after Yuan Hai's twin brother died, he said with a face full of hatred, "I asked the local government and they said there was a traitor in the vicinity nicknamed 'Blue-faced Ghost'."

The gunmen and boxers in the city were definitely meant to ambush the Blue-Faced Demon, but he turned the tables and killed them. He then chased the last boxer, who was skilled in leg techniques, into the woods, where he ran into our men who had been sent out to search for the instructor.

Luo Han frowned: "This Blue-Faced Ghost is quite capable, having managed to kill Zhu Changshou. If he joins forces with the Instructor, things will become even more difficult."

Yuan Hai said sternly, "We haven't acted together for so many years since the Boxer Rebellion. There are only two of them on the other side, what's the big deal?!"

Quick-Knife Xiang Fang coldly said, "Back then, the enemy was in the open while we were in the dark; now, the enemy is in the dark while we are in the open."

Luo Han nodded: "That's right. Although we have the advantage in total numbers, we will definitely have to split up to search for the instructors. If one of our groups encounters the other side, the balance of power will be hard to predict."

Quick-Knife Xiang Fang further reminded, "More importantly, the city wall south of Guangzhou was demolished two years ago to facilitate waterway trade. The south side of Guangzhou is bordered by the Pearl River, which is wide and teems with hundreds of large and small ships, including many foreign merchant ships. It's a mixed bag. If they are willing to go to great lengths to detour into Guangzhou from there, even if we bring all of them over, we will absolutely not be able to defend against them."

Luo Han continued, "Fortunately, given the instructor's injury, he can't possibly be faster than us, and the instructor would never easily hand over the responsibility to someone else, leaving them to set off alone. We still have some time to prepare."

"Well, the only way to get to the south is to go find the General of Guangzhou."

Luo Han pondered for a moment, "The current General of Guangzhou is Nalando, who has a powerful background and is particular about appearances. Even if we are carrying out an imperial decree, we cannot neglect him. How about this, I will go with Dianmu and Xiao Yang to give him face."

You don't need to worry about Guangzhou city and the Pearl River area. Discuss it and divide the manpower equally to guard the key transportation routes from the three cities and seven villages to Guangzhou.

Quick-Knife Xiang Fang and the others nodded in agreement.

Luo Han and the other two immediately entered the city and headed to the general's mansion.

After showing their Imperial Household Department badges, they were quickly and respectfully invited inside.

The Guangzhou General's Mansion has a long history. In the mid-Ming Dynasty, it served as the administrative office of the Governor-General.

In the seventh year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, after Prince Pingnan Shang Kexi and Prince Jingnan Geng Jimao led Qing troops into Guangzhou, they embarked on a large-scale construction project, building their palaces in this area. After the twentieth year of the Kangxi reign, the palaces were converted into the General's Office, which remains to this day.

Because it was converted from a prince's mansion, this residence covers a large area and pays great attention to garden scenery. After entering the mansion, you only need to walk a few steps to be far away from the noise outside.

The smell of sweat and the smell of grass and trees wafting through the streets of Guangzhou as ordinary people made a living.

General Nalando of Guangzhou was overweight, dressed in a long red silk robe with a floral pattern, a mustache, a black melon-shaped hat, and a jade hat. He sat in a grand chair in the living room, receiving Luohan and the other two.

Only after Luohan retrieved the secret edict from the palace did the Guangzhou general rise and pay his respects.

This is not a formal imperial edict, so a high-ranking official like the General of Guangzhou doesn't need to kowtow to it.

Arhat gave him face, only reading the main points briefly before handing it directly to Nalando, not letting him maintain the bowing posture for too long.

But in just a short while, Nalando's forehead was already covered in sweat.

He took the secret edict, read it once, and ordered the people around him to take it away and enshrine it. Only then did he sit down and invite Luohan and the others to sit down as well. He laughed and said, "This group of rebels has been rising and falling in recent years. They are just like leeks, impossible to kill completely. After several riots, they have gradually become a major concern for the court."

However, now that all the officials from the Imperial Household Department are gathered here, we are sure we can seize the list and bring them all to justice.

Luo Han quickly replied modestly, "I dare not, I still need Lord Nalan's help."

"Haha, no problem, no problem."

Nalando took out a handkerchief to wipe the oil and sweat from his face, and with his other hand he repeatedly invited, "Since you have come from afar, please try the tea in my mansion. It is all my treasured Huangshan Maofeng."

Luo Han took a sip and exclaimed, "The aroma is rich and intoxicating; it is indeed a fine tea."

The tea used in this one cup is worth a year's worth of hard-earned money for the laborers outside the General's Mansion to support their families.

Nalando's smile widened: "You are a connoisseur of tea. West Lake Longjing and Dongting Biluochun are certainly good teas, but I love Huangshan Maofeng the most. Its tea buds are plump, its leaves are thick and can withstand multiple infusions, and its aroma is extremely rich. I have heard that people in the Tang Dynasty drank tea by boiling it, chewing the spices and leaves together. I often imitate this at home. When you all have time, I will let you all try it."

Luohan nodded in agreement, then said, "There's plenty of time for tea tasting later. The most urgent matter is for the general to quickly mobilize troops and deploy defenses and search various locations."

Nalando said, "I'll take care of it right away, but to be honest, I've been in Guangzhou for so many years, and I can see ten or eight lion dancers and stick dancers every time I go out. I've come to understand a principle: when it comes to truly skilled boxers, unless they are from the Beiyang Army, my ordinary soldiers really can't do anything against them."

Luo Han, quick-witted as ever, immediately said, "Does Lord Nalan perhaps intend to mobilize martial arts schools from all over Guangzhou to launch a joint attack?"

Nalando shook his head: "There are quite a few stubborn people in Guangzhou. Forcibly conscripting them would only result in them disobeying you, and they might even cause trouble for you. But the three I invited a while ago were all willing to help. They died under the Green-Faced Ghost Blade, so there's no reason for their disciples and old friends not to avenge them."

Among that group, there was naturally no one more capable than Zhu Changshou, but there were at least ten or so who were in their prime, and their insight and agility were unmatched by ordinary soldiers.

Moreover, as the saying goes, two fists can't beat four hands. The Blue-Faced Ghost could kill Zhu Changshou and the other two, but if he were surrounded by six slightly lower-level opponents at the same time, he might not fare so well.

Nalando appeared calm on the surface, but sweat poured down his forehead. He had already gone to great lengths, having invited Zhu Changshou, Li Piaoling, and Wang Xiongjie to join forces, and had also mobilized his own elite troops. He never expected that such a lineup would still be unable to kill the Green-Faced Ghost.

After receiving news of the failed ambush, he was already worried that the blue-faced ghost might come to assassinate him, but unexpectedly, that person actually got involved with the rebels.

This is a great opportunity. Without spending any of my own money, I have a suitable reason to mobilize the troops in Guangzhou, and I can also get those boxers and Arhats to cooperate.

Good! This time, we'll definitely cut off this traitor's path to survival.

Luo Han clasped his hands and said, "Lord Nalan's consideration is indeed thorough; I admire him."

Nalando chuckled: "Then please rest at my residence for a while. I will issue the order to mobilize troops later, and then invite those people to come to my residence so that you can work together."

Then the steward from the general's mansion led Luohan and the other two to rest.

Before they even stepped into the courtyard where the guest rooms were located, they could hear people talking inside.

Separated by a wall, one cannot see what the people inside the courtyard look like, but one can already tell that the chattering must be in the language of foreigners.

Xiao Yang's face suddenly darkened.

The Arhat, with his keen eyes and ears, immediately noticed this and turned around to ask, "What's wrong?"

Xiao Yang scoffed: "There are two Englishmen in the courtyard. One said that Guangzhou has beautiful scenery, convenient water transportation, and is well-connected in all directions. The other said that the Qing Dynasty is not worthy of such a treasure land."

Upon hearing this, both Luohan and Dianmu showed obvious displeasure.

The steward hurriedly said, "My lords, the people in the courtyard are also distinguished guests of the master. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding?"

Those inside the courtyard heard the conversation outside and a typical young British aristocrat came out.

He had slightly wavy blond hair, a high nose, and deep-set eyes. He wore a white shirt and a black tuxedo and looked to be only in his early twenties.

As soon as he stepped outside, he looked at Xiao Yang and surprisingly spoke in Chinese: "Oh, so the gentleman who understands English is someone like this. That's quite rare."

Xiao Yang, nicknamed Xiao Yang, is actually over forty years old. He has a pale complexion, a protruding chin, a thin body, a patch of stubble on his head, and a thin braid that can pass through the hole of a copper coin hanging down his back.

Some members of the Qing government knew English, but very few were so fluent in English that they dressed like that.

Xiao Yang said with a forced smile, "Foreign languages ​​aren't that difficult. Where is that person who said my Great Qing is unworthy?"

The Englishman said, "That was my guard making an opinion; he didn't notice you were here."

His tone seemed polite, but he didn't mean to apologize at all.

Another muscular, short-haired, bearded man walked out of the courtyard. He glanced at Xiao Yang with his blue eyes and deliberately raised his arms, bulging his muscles, clearly mocking Xiao Yang's physique.

Bah!

Suddenly a gunshot rang out, and the expressions of the people in the courtyard changed.

The young British man made the most obvious movements, moving ten steps away in a flash. He seemed to have the weakest composure, but his speed and agility were astonishing.

The blue-eyed foreign burly man touched a scar on his arm, looked back, and saw a bullet lodged on the courtyard wall, still emitting smoke.

Everyone's faces were somber, and the atmosphere was tense.

The two foreigners' gazes fell on Xiao Yang's waist, where there was a holster containing a revolver.

There was no doubt that Xiao Yang fired that shot, but no one saw clearly the process of him drawing, firing, and putting away his gun.

The burly blue-eyed man smeared his own blood on his finger, licked it with his tongue, stared intently at Xiao Yang, and said somewhat stiffly, "My name is Mapol. You, your marksmanship, is very fast."

Xiao Yang left his hand hanging loosely outside the holster, without answering.

"Hahaha, Mr. Maple also approves, truly a sharpshooter."

Nalando was drawn over by the gunshot. Before he even arrived, his laughter preceded his arrival. He clapped his hands and said, "As the saying goes, no fight, no friendship. Let me introduce you all. These three are experts from our Qing Dynasty's Imperial Household Department. These two are General Seymour's nephew, Dimon Seymour, and his bodyguard, Maple."

A single sentence clearly identified the identities of both parties, making them both somewhat wary of each other.

After the Eight-Nation Alliance broke into the Forbidden City, the general public was filled with grief, resentment, and righteous indignation, but the Qing government actually became more respectful and fearful of these foreigners.

Given Dimon Seymour's status, Rohan and his group really couldn't rashly do anything to him.

"Seymour has been in Guangzhou for over half a month now. He's obsessed with the ancient paintings of my Great Qing Dynasty. He came here to ask me to help him find a treasure. As for you guys, Lord Luohan, we're keeping to ourselves, haha."

Nalando offered a few more explanations, then his expression suddenly changed. He looked at the steward and said, "It's all this lousy servant's fault! He led us to the wrong courtyard, causing this misunderstanding. Why doesn't he apologize to everyone?"

The steward knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times, blood seeping from his head: "It's all my fault, sirs, please don't ruin the harmony."

Neither of them spoke. Nalando's expression grew increasingly stern, and the steward, drenched in sweat, had no choice but to continue kowtowing.

Luohan watched coldly, then suddenly smiled: "Get up, it's just a misunderstanding. If you knock your head out, who's going to take us to another courtyard?"

"Get out of here."

Nalando kicked the butler, then turned to Luohan and smiled, "I'll take you all to the guest rooms that have been prepared in advance. There won't be the slightest inconvenience."

He then said to the two Englishmen, "Sir Seymour, we have some clues about what you are looking for, but it is getting late. You should get some rest so you will have the energy to continue your search during the day."

Dimon Seymour smiled at Nalando and nodded slightly, watching as Nalando led the group away.

Behind him, Maipol, his gaze still following Xiao Yang's retreating figure, muttered, "That guy's gun's fast. I want to smash his nose."

Dimon Seymour maintained his smile and said in a low voice, "I've heard that in California, USA, there's a trend of draw-and-shoot duels, where someone can draw and fire a gun in 0.02 seconds."

Domestic scholars considered this ignorant talk, something that only circulated among poor cowboys, because it exceeded human reaction speed. Unexpectedly, in the backward land of the Far East, someone was able to do such a thing.

Your combat skills allow you to easily anticipate danger on the battlefield, escape the aim of any sharpshooter, and even avoid stray bullets. However, if you were facing his gun, you probably wouldn't have enough time to completely dodge it.

Maple looked back at the warhead embedded in the wall and said, "I admit, they do have some talented people."

"Moreover, the civilization on this land has continued uninterrupted for thousands of years. Their treasures far outweigh those of talented people. However, even the treasures of the gods have been missed by their foolish race."

Dimon Seymour looked down at his palms, a flicker of light seeming to flash in his emerald eyes, revealing a barely perceptible madness. His voice was so low that only he could hear it, "And those things, only our Great British Empire, only I! can possess..."