Zhao Hong caught a glimpse of Nangong Feiying; his hand movements suddenly became much more hurried.
"Huff..."
Having practiced a simple yet deeply nuanced "Five Tigers Soul-Severing Saber" technique, Zhao Hong leaned on his wooden saber and slowly exhaled a misty breath, as a faint heat emanated from the pores all over his body with his breath.
"You’ve arrived at the perfect time!"
After balancing his energy, Zhao Hong picked up the wooden saber, full of enthusiasm, and asked, "You’re a martial artist, how do you think I’ve done with this Five Tigers Soul-Severing Saber technique?"
Nangong Feiying forced a smile and flattered, "Your Majesty is a talent bestowed by heaven. Even such a simple saber technique becomes so powerful in Your Majesty’s hands—this slave..."
Zhao Hong frowned and interrupted him, "Tell the truth, and I’ll forgive you of any offense!"
"Then please excuse my impertinence!"
Bowing his head slightly, with an honest and straightforward face, Nangong Feiying replied, "Observing Your Majesty’s practice, the upper limbs are soft, the stance is unstable, the movement technique is chaotic, the advancing and retreating lack foundation, the energy doesn’t hold, and distracting thoughts abound..."
Zhao Hong’s face collapsed, "Huh?"
You actually told the truth?
Nangong Feiying wore an innocent face, "Your Majesty commanded this slave to tell the truth; this slave wouldn’t dare deceive you!"
Irritated, Zhao Hong casually tossed the wooden saber to him, "Fine, you try it!"
Nangong Feiying caught the wooden saber, apologizing with a bow before quickly turning and launching a strike toward a rockery twenty steps away without a glance back.
"Boom."
A flash of purple saber energy was seen and the man-high rockery exploded into a cloud of debris amid a deafening roar, dust rising two to three zhang high.
Zhao Hong: (⊙ˍ⊙)
The next moment, Tang Xiong silently appeared on the shore of Lotus Pond Lake.
After sweeping a glance over the scene, his gaze shifted toward Nangong Feiying as he coldly said, "Ridiculous!"
Putting down the wooden saber, Nangong Feiying made a very respectful gesture, "This slave has been disrespectful before His Majesty, please punish me, great ancestor."
"No punishment, no punishment..."
Zhao Hong stepped in between the two, laughing and waving his hands to smooth things over, "It was I who ordered Nangong to demonstrate martial skills at court. Nangong was simply following orders, no blame, no blame..."
As he spoke, he looked Nangong Feiying up and down as if examining a rare treasure, "Nangong, could your martial skills be comparable to the Seven Champions and the Twelve Titans of the martial world?"
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With utmost respect, Nangong Feiying replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this slave is slow-witted and lacking in talent, my insignificant skill has not yet reached a professional level, and is still quite a few mountains away from the summit of the martial world’s Seven Champions and Twelve Titans."
"Is that so..."
Zhao Hong was quite disappointed.
Unable to watch any longer, Tang Xiong interrupted to offer some advice, "Emperor, do not listen to this youngster’s nonsense. With his skills, placed among the distinguished fighters at the level of the Twelve Titans, he could vie for a lead position. Among the hundred thousand in the internal bureaus, the one with the best chance to reach the Grandmaster Realm is this little trickster before you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, both Zhao Hong and Nangong Feiying let out a surprised and uncertain "ah" sound.
Zhao Hong, with an unfavorable expression, stared at Nangong Feiying, "Old man, do you know the crime for deceiving one’s sovereign?"
Nangong Feiying couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "This... to report back to Your Majesty, this servant had no intention of deceiving the emperor, indeed this servant was also kept in the dark!"
Zhao Hong looked at him suspiciously, "Didn’t you follow Marquis Luting to Dongying? Haven’t you ever encountered any of the top martial artists from the twelve heroes of the martial world?"
Nangong Feiying nodded, "I have, back then Xiang Wudi of Jiangdong the Xiang Family, he was the spear hero among the twelve heroes of the martial world, but this servant’s current level of martial arts is still far behind Xiang Wudi at that time!"
Both men turned toward Tang Xiong.
Tang Xiong said with a speechless look, "You’re comparing yourself to several little whelps? Are any of those four youngsters simple characters?"
Upon hearing this, both men’s gazes suddenly became strange, seemingly mocking in unison, ’Oh, so you’re calling Marquis Luting a little whelp!’
Tang Xiong suddenly came back to his senses and thought, ’How did I end up saying what I was thinking aloud?’
He wanted to explain, but it was difficult to do so.
Yet not to explain, would be to lose face, so he could only snort coldly, flick his sleeves, turn around, and walk away, accelerating as he went.
After watching him leave as if fleeing, Zhao Hong turned back and asked in a low voice, "You have seen Marquis Luting take action, if he were to swing this blade..."
Without hesitation, Nangong Feiying replied, "If Marquis Luting were to swing this blade, he would split the entire Ziwei Palace in two with a single stroke!"
Hearing this, Zhao Hong subconsciously turned his head to glance at the remains of the faux mountain, then looked at his own hands.
He silently moved his hands behind his back and asked as if it was nothing, "Do you have important matters to report to the court upon your arrival?"
Nangong Feiying pretended not to notice his small action and said in a low voice, "To report to Your Majesty, this servant indeed has two important matters to report."
Zhao Hong turned and strolled toward the waterside pavilion by the lake, "Speak."
Nangong Feiying, "The first matter this servant wishes to report concerns Marquis Luting."
With a look of pleasant surprise, Zhao Hong turned his head back, "Is there news of Marquis Luting?"
Nangong Feiying nodded repeatedly, "This servant has received news, eight days ago, Marquis Luting appeared in the rebel Yang Zaixian’s camp, scolded Yang Zaixian severely, and ordered him to head to the northwest after concluding matters in the southwest, and never to step out of the northwest ever again..."
"Eight days ago?"
Zhao Hong counted the days, "Was it after Xiahou Xiong’s offensive suffered a setback?"
Nangong Feiying bowed, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Zhao Hong bellowed lowly with indignation, "It’s humiliating, I gave him three hundred thousand troops, and in the end, Marquis Luting himself had to clean up the mess for him..."
Nangong Feiying bowed, keeping silent.
Zhao Hong, "Has it been ascertained where Marquis Luting is currently residing?"
Nangong Feiying bowed, "This servant is incapable, I have not yet been able to find out where Marquis Luting is staying..."