The bright gold light had not only lit up the hidden enclosure. It also lit up the skies over the new Liu Residence. This caused a major commotion in the Imperial City amongst those that were still awake to witness the blinding gold bright light that lit up the skies over Liu Garden Residence.
Liu Tián Qǔ immediately began cursing up a blue streak inwardly as she covered her eyes to protect them from the blinding gold light. 'Aiya. This imperial family is determined to expose me! Ever since I got too close to them, they have been determined to snatch away my peaceful life. Why the hell do you guys have to run over to my residence where I am trying my best to keep my head down and set off fireworks over the skies of my residence. How the hell am I supposed to explain this, Ah?! Why the hell couldn't you all go to the Imperial Palace and do this? You guys won't even let me sit peacefully in my own residence! You have to run over and find trouble for me! Ah!?' Liu Tián Qǔ was so frustrated she felt like yanking every strand of hair from her head. She felt like getting a broom and chasing everyone except Wang Fèn Yǒng out of her residence.
Immediately hundreds of Shadow Dragoon Warriors appeared in the enclosure. Wang Fèn Yǒng snapped to attention and immediately began issuing commands to the Shadow Dragoon Warriors, who guarded the Emperor from the shadows.
The Emperor had left the Imperial Palace under disguise with no visible guards. However, teams of Shadow Dragoon Warriors guarded him from the shadows prepared to eliminate any threat to the Emperor at any given moment.
This was lost on Liu Tián Qǔ. In the middle of mentally cursing the powerful men who bought trouble to her doorstep. Liu Tián Qǔ began to notice the effect the strange energy that came with the bright gold light was having on her body. When Liu Tián Qǔ realized what was going on with her body, Liu Tián Qǔ forgot about everything else and immediately focused inwardly.
Liu Tián Qǔ's mind had flown away, using techniques taught to her as a child in her previous life Liu Tián Qǔ immediately focused on her breathing and quieting her mind. The effects the strange energy was having on Liu Tián Qǔ's body was something she experiences once before in her past life.
When Liu Tián Qǔ was learning how to develop Qi, allow for the natural flow of Qi in her body, and how to direct Qi in her past life. Liu Tián Qu experienced her channels and collaterals opening up. However, last time it was slower and more difficult.
This time things were different. What took her years to learn in her past life she accomplished in minutes this time. Liu Tián Qǔ understood it was due to the strange energy that came along with the blinding gold bright light.
First, there was a heaviness in her body and limbs. They were soon replaced by flashes of cold then flashed of heat. Gradually that turned into a tingling sensation. That tingling sensation then soon turned into an itchiness that bordered on pain and discomfort.
As those sensations riddled her body, Liu Tián Qǔ had immediately fallen into form and began performing the Shaolin Arhat Eighteen Skills. Liu Tián Qǔ didn't dwell on the sensations. She let them go. She was focused inwardly on her internal dimensions of mind and energy.
The blinding golden bright light lasted for several moments before fading. By the time the bright gold light faded, the Shadow Dragoon Warriors also disappeared back into the shadows after quickly verifying there was no threat to the Emperor. The Emperor, the Grand Prince, and Elder Wang was completely oblivious to everything other than the coffers.
Due to the high alert that the Imperial City has been under after the recent events. The Imperial City Patrol Guards that were on duty throughout the city all immediately begin swarming towards the new Liu Residence to investigate the disturbance. Nearby neighbors left their homes to go investigate as well.
When people realized the disturbance came from Liu Residence, crowds of people began to gather outside of Liu Residence. However, these people were very careful to maintain their distance. No one wanted to be accused of disturbing the newly returned four martial family members.
Most of the people who gathered wanted to watch the show and to see if they could finally get a glimpse of the Lord of the new Liu Residence. The rumors of the Lord of the new Liu Residence were rife and plentiful. Many saw this as a chance to finally learn the truth concerning the new Lord of Liu Residence.
Inside Liu Garden Residence; the training grounds
On the training grounds of Liu Residence, Commander Jiang was in the process of training the new Liu Residence House Guards when the blinding bright golden light lit up the skies over Liu Residence. The commander and all the newly hired warriors shielded their eyes and turned towards the rear of the Residence where the blinding gold light came from.
Several moments later, the bright gold light shining over the skies of Liu faded. However, it took a bit longer for the bewilderment and shock to fade from the eyes of Commander Jiang and the warriors. The shock and bewilderment was replaced by a deep curiosity.
Just as Commander Jiang began to issue orders for the house guards to investigate, the Emperors personal Shadow Warrior appeared. The Shadow Dragoon Warrior beckoned the Commander over to the side, and they had a brief conversation before the Shadow Dragoon Warrior once more disappeared into the shadows.
For one split second, the Commander stood undecided. The Emperor's personal Shadow Guard had informed Commander Jiang that he would handle the situation outside of the Residence. However, Liu's Residence was under Commander Jiang's command. He decided to be prepared for any event.
Commander Jiang turned around and looked at the warrior's he was training only moments ago. He began splitting the warriors into small teams and giving them orders. Leading the remaining one hundred and fifty warriors, the Commander hurried towards the front entrance of the residence as reinforcement.
Inside Liu Garden Residence; the hidden enclosure
As the golden light faded, the golden color leached out of the coffers returning the coffers to their original color, and an opening formed on the top on the coffers granting access to the enormous tome and the device sealed within the coffers.
However, the gold flecks did not reenter the Knell Stone. Instead, the gold flecks entered the ancient Chinese spoon compass looking device. Four gold characters formed on the device denoting the four directions of north, east, south, and west. Along with the four characters, a gold single directional needle also formed on the device, holding still and steady in the direction of the east.
By this time, Liu Tián Qǔ had finished performing the Shaolin Arhat Eighteen Skills twice. Liu Tián Qǔ felt a pleasant and profound calm. Standing with her feet shoulder-width apart, Liu Tián Qǔ brought her hands in front of her. She rested her left hand on top of her right hand and fell into a standing meditation. Liu Tián Qǔ didn't want to take a chance with meditating sitting down with all the Knell Stones all over the place. Even though her clothes would have presented itself as a barrier between any knell stones and her skin, she was too distracted at the moment and didn't want to take any chances.
Outside of Liu Garden Residence
While Liu Tián Qǔ was busy meditating, an enormous amount of Imperial City Patrol Guards had swarmed to her Residence. Several moments ago, the gates of Liu Residence stood open, and a team of six Liu Residence house guards was seen standing guard. Two of the guards had stood guard outside of the opened front entrance of Liu Residence. With the front gate opened, you could see the other four guards that stood at guard along the pathway of the front entrance, which was divided by gateways leading into the Residence.
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When the blinding bright golden light lit up the dark skies over Liu Residence, the guards had all momentarily froze in shock. Then moving as fast as they could, the guards all quickly worked fast, closing the front gates of the Residence and sealing it shut. Five guards had remained on the outside of the residence, and one of the guards bolted towards the training grounds in the residence garrison to seek further instructions from Commander Jiang.
The five guards that remained on guard outside of the Residence quickly descended the stairs of the residence. The five guards stationed themselves below the first step leading to the front entrance of the residence, and there they stood guard. Using their bodies, they blocked the stairs leading to the front entrance of the residence while they waited for Commander Jiang.
No one had to tell these guards that trouble was coming. Every one of the house guards that Commander Jiang hired were warriors of the Martial World. They didn't survive this long in the martial world for no reason. The five guards bought forth their resolve and steeled their hearts against the incoming trouble as they stood guard and waited.
As they waited, one of the guards had turned around to check the skies over Liu Residence for any more anomalies. However, all he saw was the many messenger birds that had taken to the skies of the Imperial City flying back and forth.
Inside of the Residence as the Commander and one hundred and fifty warriors hurried towards the front entrance, they ran into the house guard that had ran to seek further instructions from Commander Jiang. At Commander Jiang's command, the warrior fell in with the one hundred and fifty warriors, and everyone hastily continued towards the front gate of the Residence.
In no time at all, the swarm of Imperial City Patrol Guards descended on the Liu Residences. Leading the Imperial City Patrol Guards was the newly appointed Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards.
The Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards was meeting with the Imperial City's Magistrate when the disturbance occurred. Both men immediately bolted towards the disturbance to investigate. Due to the recent events, many officials were performing at their best. No one wanted to take a chance of provoking the Emperor in a time like now or be accused of dereliction of duty.
Inside Liu Garden Residence; the hidden enclosure
Meanwhile, Elder Wang had retrieved the enormous tome from the newly opened coffer, and the emperor had retrieved the ancient Chinese spoon compass looking device from the other coffer. As they reverently held the items, they retrieved from the coffers. The enormous Knell Stone that the coffers sat on began to crumble. It swiftly drew the attention of Elder Wang, the Emperor, and the Grand Prince. The Grand Prince hurried forward and quickly stored the coffers in his storage space before they could crash to the ground amongst the crumbling Knell Stone.
Everyone had immediately realized that the Knell Stone died because the gold essence that was in the Knell Stone went into the ancient Chinese spoon compass looking device and activated it. No one knew what the device was for yet. However, they all felt confident that they would find the answer somewhere in the tome that Elder Wang was now holding.
The Grand Prince had already investigated by questioning the small-time and lone smugglers that were imprisoned. It was how they discovered the location of the cave on Veil mountain where Prince Jing found the coffers.
The Grand Prince had brought in a specialized team of workers and razed the whole cave to see if they could find anything else. After several days of searching the cave on Veiled Mountain, they were not able to find anything else. So they were almost sure that the tome would reveal the mystery of the device.
The Elder was anxious to go back and began studying the tome. He had to forcefully stop himself from running out of Liu Residence and running back to immediately began studying the tome.
It was the emperor who first came out of the daze that the three powerful men were lost in when his gaze fell on the back of Liu Tián Qǔ. The emperor looked at his grandfather Elder Wang. Elder Wang was watching Wang Fèn Yǒng with an indescribable look on his face. It was only then Elder Wang realized that Wang Fèn Yǒng never approached the Knell Stone that held the coffers
Wang Fèn Yǒng was once more leaning against the tree that Liu Tián Qǔ stood next to with his arms folded across his chest watching his father, Uncle, and grandfather with a neutral, expressionless look on his face. Although there was an expressionless look on Wang Fèn Yǒng face, elder Wang drew his conclusions by examining the look in his great-grandson eyes and read his body language. Wang Fèn Yǒng eyes and body language told him all he needed to know.
Elder Wang then looked over to the Emperor. The Emperor and Grand Prince was in the process of exchanging looks. They were both of a like mind. It was clear that they both knew what needed to be done. Contradictorily although they both knew what needed to be done, there was a deep sadness in the eyes of the Grand Prince and the Emperor. They didn't want to kill the Young Lord. However, when an outsider knew a family's secret, then it was no longer a secret.
A sense of approaching danger pulled Liu Tián Qǔ from her meditation. As Liu Tián Qǔ came back to herself, she thought, 'Well, I guess it's now time to act.'
Liu Tián Qǔ quickly ended her meditation and turned around to face the powerful men. Her eyes quickly flickered over each of the men to gauge their moods.
Outside of Liu Garden Residence
Outside of Liu Garden Residence, the Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards, the Magistrate of the Imperial City, and a multitude of Imperial City Patrol Guards had approached the five calm unmoving Liu Residence House Guards and demanded entry to Liu Garden Residence to investigate the disturbance that originated from the Residence.
Wán Zuò Jiǎ was the Liu house guard that stood in the center of the five guards. He looked at the Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards with a calm look on his face and asked, "What disturbance would the Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards be referring to?"
Wán Zuò Jiǎ was a tall warrior who stood just under six and a half feet tall. Wán Zuò Jiǎ was a mischevious warrior who was passionate about two things. He was passionate about pranking his comrades, and he was passionate about fighting.
"A strange anomaly was spotted over the skies of Liu Residence." the Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards said as a multitude of Imperial City Patrol Guards continued to gather behind him. Crowds of people had followed the Imperial City Patrol Guards. This caused the large crowd of people that had gathered outside of Liu Residence to swell.
The tension in the air quickly began to grow as a multitude of Imperial City Patrol Guards faced off against the five Liu Residence house guards.
Wán Zuò Jiǎ took it upon himself to buy time, however, he wanted to avoid clashing with the Imperial City Patrol Guards if possible. Wán Zuò Jiǎ met the gaze of the Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards, ignoring the rising tension Wán Zuò Jiǎ nonchalantly asked, "Since when did it become illegal to test fireworks in your residence?"
"Fireworks?!" the Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards involuntary exclaim in a loud voice of astonishment and disbelief. He was started to get angry. 'Does this warrior think we are that stupid? Fireworks my ass!' the Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards thought.
The many people in the crowd began to comment, breaking the odd silence that blanketed the atmosphere.
"I didn't run all the way over here in the middle of the night for a random warrior to insult my intelligence."
"This warrior is too much! Does he think the citizens of the Imperial City are all mentally deficient?"
"Fireworks!? What fireworks!? If that were fireworks, I would gladly give all the gold that I hid away to my mother-in-law. Maybe that would finally make that old witch happy!"
"Aiya, is this warrior really thinking we are stupid enough to actually believe that?"
"If that was fireworks, then I have lived 82 years in vain."
A Deputy Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards stepped forward to stand next to the Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards. The Deputy Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards glared at Wán Zuò Jiǎ and said aggressively, "It's is the duty of the Imperial City Patrol Guards to keep the City safe. If the disturbance was really fireworks, then there should be no problem for the Imperial City Patrol Guards to come in and verified it. Are you going to allow us to come in? Or are we going to have to force our way in?"
A strong smell of gunpowder lit the atmosphere at the words of the Deputy Commander of the Imperial City Patrol Guards.
"Force your way in? If you dare, then try," a smile that wasn't quite a smile appeared on the face of Wán Zuò Jiǎ. However, his eyes were deadly and cold as he said in a cold hard voice.
"If you feel that you and all the Imperial City Patrol Guards gathered here are able to bear the charge of disturbing the four martial family members that are currently in residence, then come. Come and force your way in." The sounds of swords being unsheathed fill the air as all five warrior unsheathed their weapons and prepared for battle.