Bodies began dropping down like flies in a matter of minutes as Hua Ren navigated his way to every guard using the flash step technique, stabbing them right in the heart before they had the chance to make a move.
Everyone in the hall began to scream and run, shouting; "Ghost! Ghost! It’s a ghost!"
They screamed so because they could not clearly see who was killing their guards. Whatever it was moved like a ghost, appearing, killing, and disappearing just as fast. Wherever it went, blood was spilled and a dead body was seen.
Sheng Fei felt a headache coming on. He barely turned away for a moment, but Hua Ren had already disappeared. Next time, he would either tie him to the chair or tie their hands together so that Hua Ren can’t leave without him. What a stubborn mate.
He gave the signal to begin and the rest of the rebels, hidden in the shadows, commenced the rescue mission.
He rose quickly, following the commotion and trusting his people to handle the rescue. Apart from rescuing the kidnapped people, he also had another mission and that was to capture the auctioneer who was their ticket to finding out where the rest of the auction houses were.
Meanwhile, Hua Ren had already dealt with the guards and moved swiftly toward the secluded upper tier. His heart pounded as he caught sight of a figure that looked exactly like the Emperor being led through a side door by a small group.
He hurried after them, however, seven Alpha guards blocked his path. Hua Ren gripped his dagger, his eyes narrowing as he assessed his opponents.
They were members of the Night Dragon Troupe. An elite set of bodyguards trained specifically to protect the Emperor of the Celestial Kingdom. His heart sunk in disappointment. It turned out that Sheng Fei was saying the truth.
The first guard lunged, but Hua Ren shifted his weight with a move, vanishing from view before reappearing beside his opponent, stabbing him in the neck in a swift arc. Blood gushed out of his throat as the man groaned in pain, crumbling to the floor.
The martial arts he used were basic fighting styles. Something the guards could defend against but his attackers had no chance at all because although they were basic skills, Hua Ren had honed them to the extreme and his moves were executed perfectly. He would have used his true moves but he didn’t want anyone knowing he was the Ivory Warlord.
Another guard attacked from behind and Hua Ren spun on his heel, delivering a powerful blow that sent the opponent sprawling across the floor.
Two more guards came at him simultaneously, but he sidestepped smoothly, stabbing through one guard’s armor and grazing the other. The remaining guards hesitated, seeing as some of their comrades were already dead and others injured but Hua Ren didn’t waste a single second. He pressed forward, delivering a sweeping kick which sent one man crashing into his comrades.
In a matter of moments, the seven guards laid incapacitated on the ground. Hua Ren looked up just in time to see the Emperor being hurried through a narrow corridor. Without a second thought, he took off after them, determined to uncover the truth.
The night air was sharp, and the narrow alley echoed with the sounds of hurried footsteps and muffled voices. Hua Ren pushed forward, leaping over rooftops and using the walls to propel himself forward. In moments, he spotted the figures ahead, moving toward a waiting carriage at the back of the inn. They were fast, but Hua Ren was faster.
With a powerful leap, he landed gracefully between them and the carriage, blocking their path. The man before him wore a mask, but his tall, regal build, the familiar silks of his robes, and the unmistakable golden ring on his thumb left Hua Ren with no doubt.
Despite the breathing evidence right before his eyes, Hua Ren could not believe it. How could it be? His Emperor, the man he’d devoted his life to serving, the man he had had in his heart since he was young, was connected to something so inhumane.
Tears welled in his eyes as his chest tightened with a swirl of fury. He was so angry and also disappointed that he didn’t even know what to do.
“Step away,” the Emperor commanded, his voice calm but cold.
Hua Ren raised his dagger, holding it steady. He wanted to demand answers, to ask why the Emperor would allow such cruelty, but he knew that speaking would risk revealing his identity so he remained silent but took on a fighting stance. He could not let the Emperor leave. He had to think of something.
The guard beside the Emperor stepped forward, sneering. “Didn’t you hear His Majesty? Get out of his way, you stupid rebel!”
Hua Ren stood his ground. He could not allow them to leave but he also couldn’t bring himself to harm the Emperor. What was he supposed to do? He looked around, wondering, where was Sheng Fei?
“Bastard! I’ll kill you!” The guard lunged toward Hua Ren, a hidden knife flashing in his hand.
Hua Ren sidestepped, then struck his fist into the man’s upper stomach—right below the ribcage, where the blow knocked the air from his lungs. As the guard staggered, Hua Ren spun and delivered a powerful kick to his jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground, unconscious.
The Emperor chuckled, watching with a hint of amusement. “Quite skilled, for a lowly rebel,” he said with a surprising cheerfulness in his tone. “You incapacitated an elite guard in two moves. It’s a shame to kill someone with such talent so I’ll give you a chance.” He tilted his head, regarding Hua Ren with faint curiosity. “Leave the resistance. Come work for me.”
Hua Ren’s grip tightened on his dagger as he glared at the Emperor. How could this be the same man he loved secretly for years?
After some seconds, the Emperor regarded Hua Ren’s silence as rejection. "I take it that’s a no," he sighed, cracking his neck and flexing his hands as though preparing for a hunt. "What a waste."
Then, without warning, he vanished.
Hua Ren’s pulse spiked, and he instinctively tightened his grip on his dagger, glancing sharply around.
This was the Emperor’s famed technique. Veil of Shadows. It was a skill that cloaked everything about the user: their breathing, footsteps, even the rustle of their clothing. It was said to make the practitioner one with their surroundings, allowing them to strike unseen. And in the cover of night, the effect was nearly impossible to counter.
Taking a steadying breath, Hua Ren tried to calm himself, scanning for even the slightest shift in the darkness. The Veil of Shadows was one of the techniques of the Emperor he was never able overcome so his senses were on full alert.
A soft chuckle echoed around him, seeming to come from every direction at once. "Such intense focus," the Emperor’s voice taunted. "You’re truly talented. It’s a shame that you’ve chosen the wrong side."
Hua Ren felt a sudden, sharp pain in his shoulder. He gritted his teeth, wincing in pain as he staggered back, pressing his hand over the wound. Despite the pain, he didn’t lose concentration. One mistake and he would lose his life.