Dragon Gate Swordsman

That’s right, the person who is honored as Lady Han by the boss is Qing, who ranks fifth among the twelve fragments.

She had silver-white hair hanging down behind her, dragon horns on both sides of her head standing upwards, and a mark in the center of her forehead that looked like a lotus flame. Her arms were the same flowered arms as Linghe Nian, but the main color was a mysterious and elegant lavender... She was wearing a martial arts robe commonly worn by people in the martial arts world, and seemed to be taller than Linghe. She really had the demeanor of a martial arts heroine.

But what attracted the most attention was her eyes covered with white cloth... Ling was not surprised by this, which proved that Qing had always been like this.

"Your sister was also invited by Simuitai, right?"

"That's true, but my sister Nian also sent me a letter, asking me to meet someone."

"Nian Mei? Who is she planning to attack now?"

Just a few words are enough to prove what kind of image Nian holds in the hearts of the sisters...

Ling did not try to hide anything and directly told Qing about Chongxiao.

This included the fact that he could actually sense himself sneaking into his dreams, his martial arts and swordsmanship that were almost comparable to his eldest brother's, and the mysterious power that he had never seen before.

"Chongxiao...Xel'naga..."

Qing tilted his head slightly, obviously thinking seriously, "I have never heard of such a race, Sister... could he be an alien?"

"It's been so many years, are you still thinking about aliens?"

"That's natural. The world is much bigger than we can imagine, so it's not surprising to have visitors from outer space."

Hearing Qing's words, Ling couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly.

If what he pursued in his life was freedom and what Nian Mei pursued was creation, then what Qing pursued in his life was fantasy and justice.

For the latter, she did not hesitate to destroy her own eyes, so as not to be deceived by appearances, but to use her heart's eyes to see the sin and evil buried beneath the surface.

For hundreds of years, he has been a hero, slaying demons and eliminating evil. He has never bullied the weak and never pursued pleasure. He has refused the rewards from the True Dragon Emperor countless times, but has always adhered to his own beliefs and walked around in various places in Dayan, even if he had to sleep in the open air in the mountains and rivers.

Even the eldest brother stationed at the frontier has admiration for this sister... No wonder she is considered by Simui Tai to be the most trustworthy of the Twelve Fragments.

But Qing also has a side that makes people laugh and cry, and that is his imagination.

One of her biggest hobbies is reading unofficial history, folk science, and novels, so much so that she often comes up with a lot of... To put it nicely, they are fantastic ideas, but to put it bluntly, they are just blind guesses, which makes people wonder who she learned the ideas for writing scripts from.

For example, the Terra continent is actually being monitored all the time, today's humans are all created as experimental subjects, there are green immortal goblins on this land... In short, these are all nonsense.

"Let's not talk about Chongxiao for now. What do you think of this generation's True Dragon Emperor?"

"Just as a friend."

Qing smiled cheerfully, not caring. "Since he doesn't mind our identities, I naturally won't mind that he is just a human. To be honest, sister, among all the true dragon emperors you have seen, are there any who are as courageous and broad-minded as this generation?"

“…Really not.”

"So, times are changing, Sister Ling."

Chapter 54: As the ceremony progresses, the conspiracy finally comes to an end

The coronation ceremony of the 37th True Dragon Emperor of Dayan is finally about to begin.

As if to celebrate this grand event, the cloudy sky for several days suddenly cleared up today, ushering in a rare cloudless day in the midwinter season.

Starting at five in the morning, the residents of Shendu rushed to the high ground where the Yanhuang Palace was located, ready to witness the ascension of the new generation of the emperor... The Silijian, which was responsible for maintaining order, had to initiate emergency procedures in advance and guide the people to different viewing areas.

Diplomatic delegations from various countries also changed into specially prepared distinctive costumes and treated the ceremony with the highest courtesy of their countries.

Casimir's knight's ceremonial attire, the Eastern Kingdom's hatamoto guzoku, Leitania's magical white robe, Lateran's glowing vestments... In contrast to these costumes, the members of the Columbia and Syracuse delegations almost wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

Because their suits and trousers were really not very presentable, and were not even as distinctive as Sargon's tribal costumes.

"I'm considered smart just because I'm wearing Rhine Life's work clothes!"

A member of the Colombian mission said so.

In ancient Yan State, the coronation ceremony would rarely be delayed until such a long time after the previous emperor's death, because the country implemented a centralized system at that time and the country could not be without a monarch for a day... But in modern times, even if the throne is always vacant, the six ministries and major institutions that have already assigned their functions can operate normally, so the holding of the coronation ceremony is not so urgent.

For example, this time, it was more than half a year ago...

As the full-time guard of the Kazdel delegation, Chongxiao will watch the coronation ceremony with Kal'tsit and others according to regulations.

Perhaps taking into account the relationship with oripathy, the Imperial Household Department specially planned an open space for the Kazdel delegation, which was separated from other areas by flowers, plants and trees, and also arranged an imperceptible formation.

This move was indeed a matter of both face and scheming, but it was already a unique magnanimity on the Terra continent... If it were another country, it would be a loss if it dealt with the Kazdel delegation.

The first procedure of the coronation ceremony: offering sacrifices to the heaven with a hundred animals will be held at 8 o'clock sharp. In ancient times, one hundred animals had to be prepared, but nowadays it is basically a symbolic process. Afterwards, the true dragon emperor himself reads the oath of accession to the throne to all those attending the ceremony, which is considered to be an announcement to the world.

The next procedure was for all officials to come to the emperor for an audience, led by the left and right prime ministers, the grand marshal, the grand tutor, the grand guardian, and the six ministers, which was equivalent to the entire court institution recognizing the true dragon emperor.

However, the Left Prime Minister Di Qixi is too old and ill, and is unlikely to attend the ceremony.

As for the envoys… since this was the first time in the history of Great Yan that the country officially opened its doors, they did not have any “roles” in the coronation ceremony; they simply came to watch the ceremony.

Perhaps only after the ceremony is over will the True Dragon Emperor consider meeting with them to discuss some diplomatic matters.

These are the general procedures that Chongxiao knows.

What did Song Zimu mean by exposing the murderer? Was there such a part in the coronation ceremony?

Ren Zhongxiao racked his brains but still had no idea what the Junior Official of the Dali Temple meant.

But there is nothing I can do now, I can only wait patiently...

The only people who came with Kal'tsit were Ines and W. Hedley was said to have a mild internet addiction, so he stayed at his residence, but Chongxiao personally felt that since he was not even interested in participating in the coronation ceremony that only happens once in decades, he must be a very severe internet addict.

"You are very talented, Chongxiao... The difficulty of the Sarkaz language is among the highest in this land, but you have only learned it for a few days and you are already..."

"Thank you so much, but this is still far from normal communication."

Chongxiao was not being modest. The Sakaz language he knew now was basically learned by rote. It was very mechanical and rigid. If the other party concentrated and tried hard to understand, they might be able to sort out the general meaning, but it would be far from possible to have a fluent conversation.

"You have an old saying in Yan Country: underestimate yourself. You should understand what it means."

"That's natural..."

Chongxiao was a little flattered by Kal'tsit's high evaluation, but compared to Ines's eyes that looked as if she was looking at a monster, it seemed nothing.

Could it be that I really have a talent for learning languages?

Just as Chongxiao was daydreaming, the time came to exactly eight o'clock.

The cannons that had once lined up at Xixuan Gate to welcome diplomatic envoys from various countries roared again, the sound shaking the sky, and it seemed that even the ground beneath their feet was shaking slightly.

For some reason, a sentence suddenly flashed through Chongxiao's mind: Salute the birth of the king...

Led by the palace maids carrying sacrificial offerings, the 37th True Dragon Emperor, dressed in a ceremonial imperial robe, followed closely behind, slowly advancing on the ladder leading to the True Dragon Hall in the main square of the Yan Palace.

The flag bearers of the Dragon Army's guard of honor stood on both sides of the ladder to heaven, followed by the scholars representing the civilian posts. Every time they stepped over a fixed step, they would shout in unison the words praising the emperor from "Flame Wind", and the sound was so loud that it was even louder than the roar of the cannon salutes.

These scenes of splendor inherited from the ancient times by Dayan amazed the envoys from various countries, and their evaluation of the mysterious ancient oriental country also increased again and again.

There were only two exceptions, one was from the East Country, which had long been familiar with Dayan, and the other was Kal'tsit who was beside Chongxiao.

Unlike Ines and W, whose attention was drawn involuntarily, Kal'tsit, who was staring at the Stairway to Heaven, had no changing expression at all, as if everything was within her expectations.

"Have you ever seen the coronation ceremony of the True Dragon Emperor?"

"...No, why do you ask?"

"Then you must have lived in Yan Country for quite some time."

Although Kal'tsit appears to be just a slightly weak girl, all other aspects, including her vision, knowledge, style, and even her calm and relaxed temperament, are obviously not something a young girl can possess.

There are two other things that show that she is not simple. One is that she can survive in a place like Kazdel, and the other is that she actually studies oripathy.

"Same here, Chongxiao, you're not surprised either."

"I didn't say it was my first time seeing you, although... I don't remember much about the past."

"Amnesia?"

"That's it."

Seeing that Chongxiao didn't want to discuss this topic in detail, Kal'tsit didn't ask any further questions.

Soon, the True Dragon Emperor who was constantly moving upwards came into the sight of the two. When they saw his appearance, Chongxiao was slightly startled, and an expression of "as expected" appeared on his face.

Zhao Zhen... No, according to the surname of the True Dragon Emperor, I should call you Ying Zhen.

On the first day of arriving in the capital, I unexpectedly made friends with the emperor. This was... simply the treatment of a protagonist.

"You seem to know this emperor."

"Heh...from today on, everyone in the entire Divine Capital will know him."

"No, that's not what I meant. I think you should understand."

Chongxiao glanced at Kal'tsit and thought to himself, how do you know I should understand?

"When I knew him, he wasn't this...imposing."

After laughing bitterly twice, Chongxiao said with some self-mockery: "I have no idea what kind of person he is, but he is very kind to me and is a very...good friend."

That brief hesitation was because he thought of Jing Ke and the Huang family that was wiped out.

At the same time, Chongxiao also felt that Kal'tsit's attitude towards him seemed to have changed a little bit... very slightly, but it was true, because the telepathic effect of psychic energy could read certain emotions.

Simply put, he has become a little closer to me, which can be seen from the fact that he is no longer so cold during the conversation.

Chongxiao was somewhat puzzled by this… He didn’t remember doing anything to make Kal’tsit happy. Even when the Sarkaz bodyguards’ attitude towards him changed because of his proposal to renovate the old building, Kal’tsit didn’t change much. So why now…

It can't be because of the blood he drew from me, right?

"By the way, what are the blood test results?"

"…You are in very good health. To be honest, a little too healthy."

“Shouldn’t this be a good thing?”

Kal'tsit glanced at him and didn't answer.

At this time, the True Dragon Emperor Zhao Zhen...or should we call him Ying Zhen, had already walked up the ladder to heaven and arrived at the True Dragon Hall.

The Yanhuang Palace originally had four halls. The Zhenlong Hall in front of the square was where the royal majesty was displayed, the Zhenwu Hall on the left of the square was where military affairs were discussed, the Zhenxuan Hall on the right of the square was used to handle government affairs, and the Zhencang Hall behind the square was originally a venue for ceremonies, enshrining tablets of emperors of all dynasties and stone statues of guardian gods.

But as the country gradually entered the modern era, the emperor's tablet was moved to the imperial mausoleum, the guardian spirit no longer had such a high status, and with the increasing number of new institutions, the Zhencang Hall was converted into the emperor's residence.

As for the emperor's bedroom, which originally occupied an astonishing area, it became the residence of many new institutions.

The royal family... Well, according to the current tradition of Dayan, the real royal family actually only has five people: Queen Mother Yin, the wife of the previous emperor, Ying Zhen's half-brother Prince Cheng, Wei Yanwu and Wen Yue who are far away in Longmen, and an old prince of the previous generation.

The only ones present were Queen Mother Yin and Prince Cheng. The mother and son, along with all the civil and military officials, arrived at the True Dragon Hall in advance, waiting for Ying Zhen to finish reading his oath of accession before stepping forward to perform their salute as witnesses.

From this stage on, ordinary people could no longer see the live event and could only watch it through the projection screen outside the Yanhuang Palace, which broadcast live. The treatment of the envoys from various countries was much better, as they were arranged to stay right next to the True Dragon Hall.

If nothing else, an accident should happen.

Chongxiao suddenly sensed an extremely weak, yet extremely resolute will... Weak in that it was extremely difficult to sense him in such a large crowd, and resolute in that...

"Something's going to happen!"

"……what?"

Before Kal'tsit could finish her question, something unexpected happened in the True Dragon Hall.

Suddenly, a figure rushed out from the ranks of civil and military officials. He pulled off his black gauze hat with force, his hair was disheveled, and he was very emotional. He rushed towards Ying Town like a devil.

At the same time, he was still shouting: "Calamity, calamity! The stars in the North Palace are dark, and the dark light in the middle of the sky is strong. This is a sign of a great calamity! The sky is going to destroy my Great Yan!!!"

The imperial guards in the hall subdued him almost instantly, but for some reason they neither shot him dead outright nor knocked him out or covered his mouth.

Ying Zhen, who was about to accept the oath of accession, was silent for two seconds, then stood up and looked over.

This sudden change not only silenced the common people outside the Yanhuang Palace, but also stunned all the civil and military officials and envoys from various countries.

"Right Prime Minister."

"Chen is here!"

The mighty and upright Kou Laigong took two steps forward and returned with full momentum.

"You are also a Star Officer, so explain what he said."

"Yes!"

The star officials of Dayan are professional astrologists. Combined with modern astronomy, they analyze the truth of things based on the changes in the stars. Although it is impressive, it is not that important... The right prime minister Kou Laigong actually only worked in this position for a few months before applying to be transferred to the army for training.

But even so, he completely refuted the Star Officer's arguments.

Of course, in most people’s perception, it’s like “I don’t understand but I’m deeply shocked.”

"…This is nonsense, it's misleading, what else do you have to say!"