Chapter 26: Undercurrents Surge

  (Second update, seeking recommendations and collections, thank you)

  In the distance, the sound of a large troop of soldiers running footsteps came over.

  The remaining seven men in black came out of their shock and flew over the crowd of onlookers, disappearing into the night.

  Liu Yun and three others also fell to the ground after they left.

  "This is a clever trick, and it's been sung with great difficulty." said Liu Yun murmuringly.

  "Damn it, in what world do you guys finish fighting before arriving?" The large group of officers and soldiers who arrived later let Liú Yún scold them quietly before she fainted.

  When she woke up, Liuyun found that the sword wound on her body was still not healed, and other external injuries had almost recovered. While A Lei and Jing Lei were whispering and arguing in front of the bed.

  "Third brother, why did you mention only the sons of the Cai family at that time? You didn't show any respect to girls!"

  "How dare you say that, look at how flustered you got when we actually fought, it's not the kind of performance a genius should have."

  "You're no better than me, yet you're criticizing me. You're usually so fierce when fighting, but just now you almost got beaten to the ground."

  "You two heartless guys, Second Brother is injured so badly and you're not in a hurry?" Upon hearing this, Liú Yún couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Actually, Liuyun was wrong to blame the two of them. When he fell down, Are had already cried out in fright, and later, at Sheng Lei's reminder, she threw healing spells one after another onto the three people. It wasn't until later, when Yantian told them that none of their injuries were serious, that they began to relish the thrill of that battle and started teasing each other.

  "Haha, I knew you were fine, second brother, so I wasn't worried. Besides, your body has been tempered through a thousand hardships and a hundred refinements."

  Are looked at Liuxing woke up, walked over and leaned on the bedhead, holding his hand and smiling. A sticky appearance made Liuxing's heart sweet.

  "How are the two of them injured?" Liú Yún was somewhat worried about Iverson and Walker's injuries.

  "It's not a serious injury, just rest for a few days and you'll be fine." Are replied.

  "Oh, then I'm relieved."

  "Second brother, I think you're too powerful and violent." Jing Lei recalled that bloody scene again, and put on a frightened expression.

  "Actually, I'm a very elegant person. If it wasn't for saving your lives, would I have to kill people like that?" Liú Yún felt that the bloodshed was nothing much, but since he himself had also been hit by a sword, it didn't seem worth it.

  Are and Jingle simultaneously made a "believe it or not" expression, as if they had already determined that this brother was a bloodthirsty person at heart.

  "However, the two of you are quite interesting. One can't even use basic healing magic and is intentionally letting our blood flow dry up, while the other is holding onto the enemy but can't bring themselves to finish them off and ends up getting hurt instead. It seems that we need to strengthen you both."

  After this bloody battle, Liú Yún felt that their pre-battle experience was too little, and their weakness in the face of the enemy was a fatal flaw for both of them. He had already decided that when he left the Imperial Capital, he would take the two to the Fledgling Eagle Academy to give them some extra lessons.

  In the days when Liuyun was injured and resting, the imperial capital had become a mess.

  The children of the Minister of War of the Empire were stabbed on the streets of the Imperial Capital and nearly lost their lives, which made the entire military feel utterly humiliated. Enraged, George IX ordered a thorough investigation into the matter and a massive manhunt for the culprits. As a result, officials responsible for the capital's security were purged, directly triggering an earthquake in the imperial officialdom.

  The scene of the bloody battle on Caiyun Street has been spread by onlookers and has become a classic passage in the mouths of storytellers in the imperial capital.

  "I wonder which part you gentlemen would like to hear next?" asked Storyteller A.

  "Awesome! Of course, it's 'Blood War Color Cloud Street'! When did you start talking about books?" The audience shouted in unison.

  "I've already said it three times, and you've all heard it three times too." said the storyteller A with a tone of grievance.

  "We love that tone! 'If you want to fight, then fight!' 'Who's next?' The audience shouted in unison."

  "...", said the storyteller A.

  It is said that the impact of this matter was so great that even the street thugs in the imperial capital would throw down a phrase before fighting: "If you want to fight, then fight!"

  And on the streets, those who offer porridge to beggars, when one beggar finishes his porridge and leaves, will coolly say: "Next one, whose turn is it?"

  Moreover, a certain imperial poet wrote a popular song "Brothers" based on this war: "The wind of colorful clouds takes away the shadow of old dreams... The awakened cloud leaves behind the heroic passion... Do not abandon, do not give up, be brothers for life. Do not abandon, do not give up, still want to be brothers in the next life."

  Imperial Capital, Imperial Palace.

  George IX walked into Naya's room with a hint of lingering anger. The surprise attack on the Flow Cloud group made him feel unexpected, and he also realized that things were not simple.

  The officer investigating the matter reported to him that among the people who attacked Liú Yún, there was a mid-level sword master, four low-level sword masters, three high-level magicians and seven high-level warriors. Such a powerful lineup, how can an ordinary person command it? The force behind it must be very strong.

  "Nah, Liu Yun, Jing Lei and Ah Lei were ambushed on Caiyun Avenue. Liu Yun was seriously injured."

  "What happened to them?" Naya asked in surprise.

  "He's fine, just more seriously injured. He was accompanied by two junior swordsmen, Shingeki and Are, who also have some battle strength." George said in a low voice.

  "There were two swordsmen accompanying him, how could he still be seriously injured?"

  Naya asked in puzzlement.

  "The ones who attacked him were five swordsmen, three high-ranking mages and seven senior warriors." George IX said in a low voice.

  "Ah!" Naya exclaimed, hardly daring to believe it, "Such great power, just to kill him?"

  "No, it's going towards the two swordsmen beside him." George shook his head.

  According to the onlookers, Liú Yún and his younger sister could have escaped safely, but he didn't. Later, he even used his body to block a sword from the opposing leader for two of his fellow swordsmen, and was killed by the mid-level swordsman who led the group.

  "The three senior wizards who attacked them mysteriously died, with only a trace of blood in their eyes. It seems they were injured by a powerful dark weapon, possibly with the help of an expert in secret. Later, our soldiers arrived and the remaining attackers escaped, just in time to save them."

  "How is this possible?" Naya's face changed color in shock.

  "What a terrible battle it was." George sighed softly.

  Naya didn't say another word, she suddenly wanted to go see the injured Liuyun, but reason told her that was impossible. From the day of their broken engagement, an insurmountable chasm had formed between them.

  "The circumstances of this matter are quite complicated, I have sent someone to investigate in detail." The incident on New Year's Eve in the capital made George IX extremely angry, and he was determined to find out who was responsible.

  "Flowing Cloud Cait, for two followers, you can risk your life?" Naya suddenly felt that her sympathy for him was ridiculous.

  Imperial Capital, Chancellor's Residence.

  In a dimly lit room, Siduo stood respectfully behind a man, reporting to him the situation of Liuxing and others being ambushed.

  "Liúyún this kid, really helped us out big time this time." Stru's mood seemed pretty good.

  "Are all personnel in the Security Bureau and City Garrison arranged?" the man asked calmly.

  "It's all arranged. The Commissioner of Police, two deputy commanders of the City Guard - they're all our people." Strelkov replied respectfully.

  "Hmm. In a while, I'll also have my two legions take advantage of the preparations to reorganize." Joseph said.

  "Your Highness, are you ready to take action?"

  "So many years have passed, why rush for a moment? He is in one day, I will be unable to move for one day."

  The man let out a soft sigh and turned around, revealing his true identity - Prince Joseph.

  He remembered when his father passed away, his older brother George dominated the court, and he was still young and far from matching George's power, so he could only watch as George took the emperor's position. Afterwards, he had to bury his desire for the throne deep in his heart, where it stayed for over twenty years. Although George treated him with great kindness, to him it was just some pitiful charity, not comparable to the feeling of having everything under heaven.

  "I know my brother all too well; he's a very astute person. Although on the surface, he seems to trust me more and more, do you think he really won't guard against me?"

  "He's a sly old fox." Strider shook his head, "What does that mean, Your Highness?"

  "You're still so impatient." Joseph seemed somewhat displeased with Stradler's impatience.

  "We've waited far too long for this day, Your Highness!" Strel exclaimed with some emotion.

  Moreover, some of his recent actions have touched the interests of many nobles. These people have privately expressed to me their willingness to stand by Your Excellency's side and jointly defend the dignity of the nobility.

  "These people are unreliable. They're just wall grass, blowing with the wind, falling with the people." Joseph shook his head, "In their eyes, there's only self-interest."

  "What's next? What should we do?"

  "The empire cannot be in chaos, Osman and Xixi are eyeing each other. Although I have a strong army, I will not be able to defeat the invading enemy again after the great chaos."

  Joseph was not a short-sighted man, he knew war was near.

  "We still have to wait. Contact Blood Kill and make sure to kill him before Prince Shiyan returns to the Imperial Capital!" As soon as he finished speaking, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in Joseph's eyes.

  "Your Highness can rest assured, I will make arrangements accordingly."

  "Now that he's dead, who can rival me? After all, the Emperor is already old."

  Joseph smiled faintly, as if he had already seen a bright future.

  "What conditions did Blood Kill propose?" Strath asked again.

  "Providing 5 million gold coins to support their development in the Western Kingdom, I agree. But tell them, it's better for them to be honest and not think about stretching their hands into the Huoyun Empire!"

  Thinking of Blood Kill and that distant legend, Joseph said in a low voice.

  "The woman of the Osman Empire may also be making a move soon." Stru said, who had been in charge of the empire's war preparations, couldn't help but remind.

  "What about that woman?" Joseph asked with a smile.

  "Let him come, the fiery day is waiting for her. I'm still worried about what to do with this old guy!"