I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

The newcomer wore a spotless blue Taoist robe, his silver hair was as white as snow, and he held a whisk in his hand. He was none other than Master Xiaomeng, the Grand Preceptor of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Zhu Houcong saw this scene through the Vermilion Bird's vision and was immediately stunned.

what's the situation?

Why is she back?

Shouldn't they be presiding over the Taoist Tianzong Consecration Ceremony at Sanqing Mountain right now?

With this in mind, he immediately manipulated the Vermilion Bird and the Black Tortoise to block the city gate.

The two men simultaneously clasped their hands in a gesture of respect.

"The royal family worships the Vermilion Bird and the Black Tortoise. Greetings, Grand Preceptor."

Two Grandmasters?

Xiaomeng suddenly stopped, her brows furrowed, staring at the two of them.

"What proof do you have that you are indeed royal patrons?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuque smiled calmly and said, "Your Excellency, the Grand Preceptor, is wise."

"When you first arrived in Jinling, you discussed the state of the world and the struggle for power with His Majesty in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. We heard His Majesty say that your words were truly thought-provoking."

Xiaomeng nodded slightly upon hearing this.

That secret meeting was indeed known only to her and the emperor.

Such secrets could never have been known to anyone other than a close confidant of the emperor.

"it is good!"

Xiaomeng said directly, "Since you two are here, why don't you come with me to protect His Majesty?"

"I was just about to ask about this. Shouldn't the Imperial Preceptor be presiding over the consecration ceremony at Sanqing Mountain?"

Why did you suddenly turn back to Jinling?

“I received an urgent report from my Taoist disciple, saying that Sima Shang, a former general of the Zhao state, has infiltrated Jinling.”

"This man is a descendant of a military strategist, highly skilled in martial arts. I fear he harbors ill intentions and may pose a threat to His Majesty."

As she spoke, Xiaomeng glanced at the two of them.

"However, seeing you two here puts me at ease considerably."

It turned out to be the case.

After hearing this, Zhu Houcong wished he could give Xiaomeng a big hug right now.

They came back just in time.

He had been listening to Lin Chen's ramblings the whole time, and he was also thinking about how to break the deadlock.

Lin Chen's strength was simply too great; Bai Hu was easily killed by him with almost no chance to fight back.

Without Xiaomeng, even if a large army were to besiege him, it's doubtful they could defeat Lin Chen.

But now!

The balance of power has shifted from offense to defense.

Zhuque stepped forward and said, "Grand Preceptor, His Majesty has made arrangements, so you need not worry."

"Right now, outside the Royal Martial Arts Arena, there are enemies even more dangerous than Sima Shang. The situation is critical, and we need your full assistance, sir."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomeng's expression hardened, and she immediately made a decision.

"In that case, lead the way."

The three moved like lightning, darting across the rooftops of Jinling City, heading towards the place where the Azure Dragon and White Tiger were lying in ambush.

Meanwhile, inside the Prince Yu's residence.

Zhu Qi, who was meditating in the quiet room, suddenly opened his eyes.

He slowly got up, took out a bronze mask and put it on, then hurried over there.

The atmosphere inside the training ground had been tense for some time.

Everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of the four grandmasters, but they never appeared.

Just as Zhu Houcong was about to speak, Sima Shang couldn't hold back any longer.

He stood up abruptly and said disdainfully, "Your Majesty, I have been waiting here for a long time. Why have the four Grandmasters not arrived yet?"

"Could it be that you're scared? Hahaha!"

These arrogant words immediately ignited the anger in everyone's hearts.

With a clang, Zhuo Dingfeng drew his Tianquan sword, its cold light flashing.

"presumptuous!"

Zhuo Dingfeng shouted.

"Sima Shang! Stop your arrogance here!"

"Your Majesty, I request to fight this fiend once more."

Zhu Houcong rolled his eyes and ignored him.

Can you just shut up already?

They have no idea what their own abilities are.

I almost got killed just now, and I still stupidly charged forward.

No wonder you, a grandmaster, have been fooled by Xie Yu, that bastard, for so many years.

But then, something even more outrageous happened.

Suddenly, Mei Changsu stood up from his seat and bowed respectfully to Zhu Houcong.

"Your Majesty, this enemy is strong, but not invincible."

"In my humble opinion, this person is more fierce than flexible. He can be easily defeated by just three children practicing a formation."

Upon hearing this, the entire training ground fell into an eerie silence.

Everyone stared at Mei Changsu as if he were an idiot.

Three children can defeat a grandmaster? You're dreaming!

Sima Shang, however, seemed to have been insulted and flew into a rage.

"Where did this scoundrel come from? He's too weak to even kill a chicken, yet he dares to spout such nonsense!"

"Believe it or not, I'll chop you in half with one sword!"

Mei Changsu, however, remained calm and chuckled, "What, Mr. Sima, are you afraid? Worried that losing to three children would damage your prestige as a Grandmaster?"

"Hmph, what do I have to fear?"

Sima Shang, enraged, laughed and turned to bow to Zhu Houcong.

"Your Majesty, since this brat is spouting such nonsense, I am willing to wager with him."

"Let alone defeating me, even if those three brats manage to force me back a step, I, Sima Shang, would willingly admit defeat."

The two seemed to be at odds, but in reality, they worked together seamlessly.

Zhu Houcong's face grew increasingly gloomy as he looked at the two clowns.

A zebra!

You think I'm a fool?

He understood Mei Changsu's plan perfectly well.

In the drama, Mei Changsu used this tactic: first, he let Bailiqi show off, and then he said that he could defeat Bailiqi with just three children.

The key point is that Emperor Liang, that idiot, actually believed it and did exactly as he said.

So when Bailiqi held back, he actually lost to Xiao Tingsheng and his two companions.

Mei Changsu also successfully rescued Xiao Tingsheng.

But what is Bailiqi's strength, and what is Sima Shang's strength?

You can't just use the same trick again just because both of them have compound surnames!

They're treating me like a fool; they're not even bothering to put on an act anymore.

Zhu Houcong didn't have time to play along with Mei Changsu's act here.

After witnessing Lin Chen's actions, Zhu Houcong clearly saw the difference between a Grandmaster who cultivates a divine-level technique and an ordinary Grandmaster.

Now, a walking copy of "The Lost Tomb" is right in front of him, with Xiaomeng and a group of grandmasters to help him.

He wouldn't be satisfied until he got his hands on this technique.

So what he wants to do most now is to gather all his strength to take down Lin Chen.

If 10,000 people don't work, then we'll have 50,000, 100,000, or 200,000.

Even if it takes a lot of manpower, we will take him down.

Then turn him into a human pig and force him to reveal the contents of the "Dragon Seeking Technique".

Zhu Houcong then raised his hand to stop Mei Changsu.

"Alright, Su Zhe, you've had too much to drink and are talking nonsense. Go back and sit down."

Just as Mei Changsu was about to speak again, a rapid sound of horses' hooves suddenly approached from afar.

Then Cao Zhengchun, the director of the Eastern Depot, galloped in on horseback, his hooves kicking up a cloud of dust.

He leaped off his horse and rushed to the emperor's side in three quick steps.

He fell to his knees with a thud.

This errand boy reported loudly, just as Zhuque had instructed beforehand.

"Your Majesty, the Eastern Depot's spies have confirmed that the true culprit behind the assassination of Commander Meng Zhi is none other than Lin Chen, the head of the Langya Pavilion!"

Chapter 175 Bringing Strength from Heaven and Earth Upon Arrival

As soon as Cao Zhengchun finished speaking, the entire training ground erupted in chaos.

They all knew that Meng Zhi had always been a thorn in His Majesty's side.

Having guarded the palace for so many years, His Majesty has long regarded him as his own son.

How could His Majesty possibly accept the fact that a Grandmaster was killed so inexplicably?

He has said more than once in public that the murderer should be brought to justice.

Now that the Eastern Depot has stated that they have found the murderer, His Majesty is likely to take significant action.

Sure enough, Zhu Houcong stood up abruptly, staring at Cao Zhengchun with bloodshot eyes, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke.

Clearly, he was not at peace inside.

"What...what did you say?"

Cao Zhengchun kowtowed again and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the one who assassinated Commander Meng was none other than Lin Chen, the head of Langya Pavilion."

"How did you find it?"

“This servant has conclusive evidence that the villain Lin Chen is currently lying in ambush nearby, plotting to assassinate my Grandmaster of the Eastern Depot. His actions are remarkably similar to those he took when he assassinated Commander Meng.”

Cao Zhichun continued.

"This servant has also heard that while the Langya Pavilion ostensibly deals in intelligence, it secretly hunts down grandmasters from various countries."

"The reason why Grandmasters are so rare in our Great Liang and the surrounding countries is all because of the secret massacres perpetrated by the Langya Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.

"what?"

"Is there such a thing?"