On the street across from the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion, the crowd bustled and jostled, their noise rising and falling like a chaotic torrent.
Yet, whenever pedestrians drew near the boundary of the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion, their clamor would abruptly drop by several notches, as if some invisible force were holding them in check.
It made every passerby tread more cautiously, and even their breathing seemed to become careful and restrained.
Within Mingxin Mansion, no one dared to act presumptuously on the grounds of the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion, as if an insurmountable authority loomed over the place.
For outside the pavilion’s main entrance, dozens of brawny men stood like cast-iron statues on either side of the gate, their postures straight and imposing, their gazes sharp as blades.
The muscles on these burly men’s arms were knotted and thick, their bearing steady as a mountain.
Their eyes looked anything but friendly—cold and hostile, carrying a suffocating pressure that made one’s heart palpitate.
Clearly, these gatekeepers were no ordinary folk, but martial artists who had trained in the ways of combat.
Passersby occasionally cast a reverent glance their way, yet they dared not linger and hurried past instead.
The Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion—this seemingly glamorous tower of pleasure and romance—was in truth concealing unfathomable power, making it an object of fear and awe for most of Mingxin Mansion’s inhabitants.
Rumors even claimed that the pavilion’s secret owner was none other than the younger brother of Mingxin Mansion’s prefect.
With that connection, the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion enjoyed an even more privileged standing, and no one dared to lightly challenge its authority.
Those who had once lost their composure after drinking, acted rashly, and tried to stir up trouble here had, more often than not, been silently taken away by the prefectural authorities before they could cause any real waves, and escorted straight to the yamen.
What awaited those troublemakers was not only a cold prison cell, but also endless suffering and torment.
This rumor circulated widely among the populace, and though no one dared to discuss it openly, it was enough to instill deep reverence for the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion in most people.
Just then, five figures appeared abruptly on the street opposite the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion.
The two at the front were powerfully built, their eyes sharp and fierce, as they unceremoniously shoved aside the people blocking their path.
Their movements were crisp and decisive, carrying an air of unquestionable dominance that drew sidelong glances from the surrounding pedestrians, though none dared to voice a word of protest.
The crowd instinctively parted to make way, their gazes filled with a mixture of curiosity and fear, whispering among themselves as they speculated on the strangers’ identities.
And so, this group forcibly carved a wide passage through the bustling street.
Then, with swift steps and a clear objective, they headed straight for the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion.
Outside the pavilion, the brawny men stationed at the gates seemed to sense something amiss, and their gazes snapped in unison toward those five figures.
In the next instant, the imposing aura radiating from these burly men began to condense, as if they were ready to strike at any moment.
Instantly, a tense atmosphere began to creep through the invisible air.
“Sheng-ge, wait!” Among those brawny men, a low, urgent voice cut through the surroundings.
The speaker was a rather ordinary-looking man, but his eyes held a trace of vigilance.
He quickly grabbed the arm of another man beside him and lowered his voice. “Take a look at the clothes those people are wearing… they look like they’re from that organization!”
The man he had grabbed furrowed his brows slightly after hearing this, his gaze sweeping like a hawk’s toward the five approaching figures.
His eyes fell on their attire, and his pupils suddenly contracted, his expression turning grave.
“Indeed…” he murmured under his breath, a note of apprehension in his voice. “I never expected them to show up here.”
The robes of those five individuals were strikingly conspicuous, and the most eye-catching feature was the black bird emblem embroidered on their garments.
That jet-black bird motif was so lifelike—its feathers delicate and true to form, its gaze sharp as an arrow—that it seemed as though it might take flight from the robes at any moment, radiating a sacred and majestic aura.
The man addressed as Sheng-ge immediately grew even more somber, a hint of wariness flickering across his face.
Clearly, he understood all too well the meaning behind that jet-black bird emblem.
Without a doubt, within Mingxin Mansion’s capital, the only people qualified to wear robes embroidered with that black Xuan Bird motif were the Xuan Bird Guards—those lofty, mysterious martial artists.
The Xuan Bird Guards were the most exceptional presence in Mingxin Mansion, wielding authority that even outranked the prefect himself.
However, these enigmatic Xuan Bird Guards rarely showed themselves in daily life, and they seldom concerned themselves with mundane worldly disputes.
But whenever they did appear before the eyes of the public, it meant that something of great importance had occurred.
At this moment, several more of the burly men sensed that something was off.
Their gazes met swiftly, exchanging a knowing look.
Then, the aura they had been projecting abruptly receded, as if it had never existed.
The previously tense atmosphere outside the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion eased somewhat, and everything seemed to return to normal.
Yet the continuous advance of those five figures made that calm seem all the more fragile.
The man called Sheng-ge, who was the head enforcer at the entrance of the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion, had cultivated his martial arts to the perfected Marrow Refinement realm, and his strength was unfathomably profound.
His gaze was keen and penetrating, his demeanor steady. He raised his hand to signal the others behind him to remain calm, and said in a low voice, “All of you, hold your horses for now. Let me ask them a few questions first.”
Though his voice was not loud, it carried an undeniable authority, and the brawny men around him, without a moment’s hesitation, stood still in place.
As Sheng-ge spoke, his peripheral vision remained fixed on those five figures.
The next moment, without any deliberation, Sheng-ge stepped forward with a steady gait, his aura restrained yet still exuding an underlying pressure.
Standing on the steps of the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion, he fixed his gaze on the five men, who were still a dozen paces away.
Then, Sheng-ge gave a slight bow toward them, a carefully measured smile appearing on his face as he called out.
“Honored guests, gracing the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion today—might I ask if you have any familiar ladies in mind?”
“If not, this humble one would be happy to guide you and make some introductions.”
Sheng-ge’s tone sounded warm and attentive, but in truth, he was merely playing dumb.
These Xuan Bird Guards were clearly here for the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion.
Sheng-ge was trying to probe their intentions so that he could report back to the pavilion’s owner.
However, Sheng-ge’s subtle probing proved utterly futile before these five Xuan Bird Guards—like a punch landing on cotton.
In the very next instant, a devastating heavy kick, wrapped in lightning speed, tore through the air, churning the invisible space into a turbulent storm that sent shockwaves rippling outward.
The man known as Sheng-ge had absolutely no time to mount any defense.
Like a cannonball, he was sent flying by that fearsome strike.
His massive frame tumbled and rolled across the ground in a sorry state, sliding all the way into the distance.
After skidding for a full several dozen meters, Sheng-ge’s body continued to grind violently against the solid stone pavement.
The friction produced a harsh, grating screech, leaving deep gouges etched into the stone slabs.
Only after several breaths did Sheng-ge’s body finally come to a halt.
“Aaagh!”
The next second, Sheng-ge let out a miserable howl, but there was no anger on his face—only bone-deep terror.
It was as if what he had just experienced in that split second had shown him a force he could never resist.
The brawny men nearby, seeing this, turned pale and rushed forward to help Sheng-ge up.
Several of them, their faces urgent, hastily asked, “Sheng-ge, are you alright?!”
Of course, there were also a few burly men whose eyes were locked venomously on the backs of the five Xuan Bird Guards, their faces simmering with rage, fists clenched as if ready to charge forward and block their way.
Yet, just as they were about to move, Sheng-ge, enduring the searing pain, gritted his teeth and shouted, “Stop!”
Though Sheng-ge’s voice was weak, it carried undeniable authority, instantly freezing everyone in their tracks.
Sheng-ge struggled to lift his head, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone brooking no argument: “No one makes a move!”
“Let these lords enter!”
“Mm, some of you, go notify the pavilion owner—tell him that several lords from the Xuan Bird Guards have graced us with their presence!”
As Sheng-ge’s words fell, the brawny men around him, even if they were reluctant, dared not defy his orders.
Those who felt resentful could only watch helplessly as the five Xuan Bird Guards stepped through the gates of the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion.
Sheng-ge, propping himself up with great effort, cast a complicated look toward the backs of those five men, a vague unease gnawing at his heart.
Despite having been severely injured, Sheng-ge felt not a shred of resentment—because he simply did not dare.
The Xuan Bird Guards were not people that small fry like him could afford to provoke.
Not only himself—even someone as powerful as the pavilion owner would likely not dare to offend the Xuan Bird Guards.
And Sheng-ge’s guess turned out to be perfectly correct.
After those five Xuan Bird Guards had stepped through the gates of the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion, the middle-aged man who had just struck Sheng-ge revealed an imposing presence that set him apart.
He appeared to be around forty or fifty years old, with a stern countenance and eyes as sharp as a hawk’s, radiating a pressure that made one’s heart tremble.
This middle-aged man was none other than the sole surviving Deputy Xuan Envoy of Mingxin Mansion, Zhou Yue.
However, at this moment, Zhou Yue, the Deputy Xuan Envoy of Mingxin Mansion, was not the core of this group.
Standing at the very center of the five was an elderly man with a head of snow-white hair.
He was lean and gaunt, his face haggard, dressed in a red Xuan Bird brocade robe.
Though this elder appeared ordinary at first glance, his deep-set eyes seemed to harbor endless coldness and killing intent.
It was he who, just a quarter-hour ago, had personally executed the Xuan Envoy of the Mingxin Mansion Xuan Bird Guards, as well as another Deputy Xuan Envoy.
If news of this were to spread, it would shake Mingxin Mansion to its very core.
The Xuan Envoy and Deputy Xuan Envoy of the Xuan Bird Guards were both supremely powerful figures in the capital—untouchable beings who stood above the common fray.
They had always been high and mighty, and no one would dare to offend them lightly.
Yet, within just a quarter-hour, they had been swept aside like ants by this old man, without even a chance to fight back.
That old man was none other than Mu Yun, who had raced over from Haoran Mansion.
The reason Mu Yun had acted without hesitation to eliminate those two Xuan Bird Guards was that they had long since secretly defected to the Wen Family, and had even tried to tip them off, betraying the Xuan Bird Guards.
This discovery ignited a furious blaze in Mu Yun’s heart, and also made him realize that the Wen Family’s influence had already penetrated deep into the core ranks of the Xuan Bird Guards across the various major cities of the Eastern Domain.
Hmph. After Her Majesty’s decree, when it comes to matters involving the Wen Family, the order was clear: kill them all—no mercy.
That was no joke.
Thus, Mu Yun’s purpose in coming to Mingxin Mansion this time was to uproot every last branch of the Wen Family’s bloodline, wiping them out completely!
To achieve this goal, he had to proceed with the utmost caution and avoid alerting the enemy.
Mu Yun planned to act quietly first, eliminating the Wen Family descendants who were outside the main compound, one by one, to permanently remove any future threats.
After dealing with the Wen Family members outside the main residence, they would then concentrate all their forces and strike the Wen Family compound with the speed of thunder.
At that point, all the Xuan Bird Guards would completely erase every trace of the Wen Family, letting the world witness the inviolable majesty of Her Majesty!
Though Zhou Yue was a Deputy Xuan Envoy of the Xuan Bird Guards, at this moment he was utterly deferential to Mu Yun, even carrying a barely concealed fear.
Zhou Yue could not help but be afraid. No matter how imposing he appeared now, the truth was that just a quarter-hour ago, he had been one step away from the gates of hell himself.
Zhou Yue had also been a Xuan Bird Guard who had thrown in his lot with the Wen Family. He had simply been lucky enough not to have had the chance to send word to them yet.
Those two old fellows he had worked alongside for decades—in their eagerness to win the Wen Family’s favor, they had acted so recklessly.
They had scrambled into action in such a panicked frenzy, completely lacking their usual composure, and had been caught red-handed by Mu Yun in an instant.
That heart-pounding brush with death still lingered in Zhou Yue’s bones, filling him with lingering dread.
At this point, Zhou Yue had completely forgotten all his past dealings with the Wen Family and was wholly dedicated to cooperating with this Deputy Commander.
Zhou Yue leaned in slightly and said to the old man in a low voice.
“Deputy Commander, Wen Mochen is here in the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion. This subordinate will take you to him right away.”
“Unless something unexpected happens, Wen Mochen should be on the tenth floor.”
Inside the Floating Life Drunken Dream Pavilion, the formerly boisterous atmosphere had frozen solid the moment Mu Yun and his group arrived.
Though the guests and serving girls inside did not know the identities of these five men, they could all feel that suffocating pressure emanating from them, and they stepped aside, not daring to approach.
“Mm.”
Mu Yun’s expression was calm as he swept a casual glance at Zhou Yue. “If we do find this Wen Mochen, I will count it as a great merit for you, and all past transgressions will be forgiven.”
To Zhou Yue, Mu Yun’s words were nothing less than heavenly music.
Though there was still no hard evidence to prove Zhou Yue’s betrayal of the Xuan Bird Guards, Mu Yun was no fool.
When the Xuan Envoy and one Deputy Xuan Envoy of a city’s Xuan Bird Guards had both defected to the Wen Family, how could the remaining Zhou Yue possibly be free of all suspicion?
“Yes, Deputy Commander!” Zhou Yue knelt on one knee, his voice resolute and firm. “Your subordinate swears—even if it costs me this old life—I will find Wen Mochen!”
The moment Zhou Yue finished speaking, a chilling, murderous aura burst forth from his body, sweeping through the entire hall.
Then, Zhou Yue sprang up, his figure moving like a ghost as he shot toward the central staircase and sped upward.
Mu Yun watched Zhou Yue’s retreating figure, his eyes narrowing slightly as he murmured to himself.
“Once this Wen Mochen is dealt with, I can head back and rendezvous with Commander Lu.”
