“You’re wronged? You dared to slander Elder Tongyun by overstepping your bounds, and you still have the audacity to claim you’re wronged?!”
Gumu kicked the guard, sending him sprawling to the ground, where he landed in a row with Fenyao and the others who had been knocked down earlier.
Clutching the spot where he’d been kicked, the guard looked up at Gumu with a pitiful expression, only to meet his unrelenting, murderous glare.
“Hmm?”
Gumu’s fierce gaze suddenly shifted, as if he’d just noticed the three “female assassins” he’d heroically subdued. Pointing at them, he asked the surrounding guards, “Why do these three look familiar to me?!”
The kicked guard nearly burst into tears at Gumu’s words. Ignoring the pain, he quickly spoke up, “These three are Elder Tongyun’s—”
*Thud!*
With a heavy impact, the guard who tried to clear things up was kicked again—this time with even greater force, sending him flying backward.
“You still dare to slander Elder Tongyun, you worthless scum!”
After kicking the guard away, Gumu pointed at him angrily, his words sharp and filled with righteous fury.
The unfortunate guard rolled his eyes at Gumu, looking as if he might pass out from sheer frustration.
“My lord!”
At that moment, another guard cautiously stepped forward.
Gumu’s piercing gaze immediately locked onto him, his anger still evident.
Learning from the previous guard’s mistake, the second one wisely avoided mentioning Elder Tongyun and instead asked, “My lord, do these three women look familiar to you?”
“Hmph.” Gumu gave a haughty grunt.
The guard continued, “I know their names—*Ah!*”
Before he could finish, the second guard let out a scream, suffering an even worse fate than the first. A flash of green light shot from Gumu’s hand, striking him down and leaving him as motionless as Fenyao and the others.
“You’re in league with the assassins?!”
Gumu pointed accusingly at the second guard, angrily branding him as a conspirator.
With two guards already punished for trying to defend Fenyao and her companions, the rest dared not speak up, allowing Gumu to continue treating the three as assassins.
“Tie them all up and hand them over to Elder Tongyun for judgment!”
Gumu issued the command with full authority.
“Yes,” the guards responded reluctantly, beginning to bind the five unfortunate souls on the ground.
“What are you doing?!”
Qiandai stepped into the hall carrying a tray of food, only to witness the chaotic scene. Instinctively assuming these people had taken advantage of her absence to bully Yun Qingxue, her brows furrowed in anger. Without a second glance, she hurled the tray of food at the crowd in the room.
*Crash!*
*Thud!*
“Ah—!”
“Ouch—!”
In an instant, the already “lively” Flower King’s palace became even more chaotic. The sounds of shattering plates, bowls, and cries of pain from those hit by the hot food filled the air.
Yun Qingxue, who had just watched the spectacle, now looked at Qiandai with a pitiful expression—her meal was gone.
She was hungry!
…
Gumu’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He put on a stern face as Qiandai rushed to Yun Qingxue’s side, glaring at the guards as if ready for a fight.
“I am here to apprehend assassins and traitors,” Gumu said solemnly. “I advise you not to interfere with official business, Qiandai.”
Qiandai gave a guarded bow. “Qiandai greets Lord Gumu.”
“No need for formalities,” Gumu replied, his expression softening slightly.
Qiandai straightened but kept her gaze firm. “May I ask why Lord Gumu has barged into the Flower King’s chambers with so many guards?”
Gumu rubbed his temples, speaking in an official tone. “As I said, I’m here to capture assassins and traitors!”
“Assassins?” Qiandai eyed him suspiciously.
“Why are you looking at me? I’m not an assassin!” Gumu glared, offended by her doubt. He then pointed behind him. “The assassins and traitors are right there! I’m taking them to Elder Tongyun for judgment!”
Qiandai followed his gesture. At the guards’ feet lay several figures, their faces smeared with the food she’d thrown, making them unrecognizable.
But…
Her eyes locked onto the one in pink. Even without seeing her face, Qiandai knew—it was Fenyao!
Recognizing one, the other two were easy to guess.
No wonder!
Her gaze turned icy as she recalled the delays she’d faced while fetching Yun Qingxue’s meal. Now it made sense—these women had orchestrated it all to keep her away while they bullied the Flower King!
Fury burned in Qiandai’s chest. These vile women, emboldened by Elder Tongyun’s backing, dared to take advantage of her absence to torment her mistress!
“Lord Gumu.”
Qiandai gave another graceful bow. “If these individuals have already been confirmed as assassins plotting against the Flower King, why trouble Elder Tongyun with their judgment? The penalty for attempting to harm the monarch is death!”
“In my humble opinion, you should execute them here and now. Spare Elder Tongyun the trouble.”
“This…” Gumu hesitated. “That might not be appropriate…”
“If you insist on handing them over to Elder Tongyun,” Qiandai suggested coolly, “I recommend stripping them of their spiritual power first. Otherwise, even with your suppression, desperate dogs may still leap over walls…”
“A sound suggestion!” Gumu nodded in agreement—not to killing them, but to crippling their cultivation.
The moment he agreed, three beams of light shot from Qiandai’s hands, striking Fenyao, Liangyue, and Yexiang on the ground.
*Hmph—!*
A few faint groans later, the three women lay completely unconscious.
“Impressive speed, Qiandai!” Gumu remarked dryly, glancing at the now-powerless trio.
Qiandai smiled faintly, her tone righteous. “As the Flower King’s personal attendant, I loathe those who dare harm Her Majesty. The only reason I didn’t kill them outright was out of respect for your need to present them to Elder Tongyun for credit!”
“Then I must thank you for your *generosity*,” Gumu said sarcastically.
“You’re welcome. Now, if you’ll excuse us—” Qiandai made the dismissal clear.
Without lingering, Gumu ordered the five bound captives to be hauled away, personally escorting them to Elder Tongyun’s palace.
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