Chapter 1: Rebellion of the Empire
The Longxiang Empire fell into chaos overnight. The rebels broke into the palace, the emperor was imprisoned, and court ministers fled in all directions.
As night fell, the imperial physician Chen Chen, wearing a black cloak, hurried through the darkness with his family.
"Madam, children, you must follow me closely and don't make any noise." Chen Chen whispered. Although he was terrified, he had to remain calm for the sake of the late emperor's instructions.
"Dad, will we get caught?" The youngest son Chen Junyu held Chen Chen's hand, his voice trembling.
"No, Junyu. Daddy will protect you and take you away safely." Chen Chen comforted his son, with a hint of determination in his eyes.
Just as they were about to reach the city gate, a group of rebels came towards them. Chen Chen immediately protected his family behind him. He held the jade pendant in his hand and prayed silently in his heart.
"Stop! Who are you? Why are you wandering here?" The leading rebel shouted coldly, the long sword in his hand shining coldly.
"I am a businessman. I am stranded in the imperial capital due to a mutiny. Now I am preparing to flee with my family."
"Merchant?" The rebels glanced sharply at Chen Chen and his family, obviously distrustful.
The leading rebel showed a greedy smile: "It seems that you have something good in your arms, take it out and let me see it."
Chen Chen's heart tightened, but he could not expose the "Netherworld Jade Pendant" at this moment.
He took out a few pieces of gold and silver jewelry from his bag and handed them to the rebels: "These are all my savings. Please be kind and let us leave."
The rebel snorted coldly, took the jewelry and waved: "Go away, don't let me see you again."
Chen Chen felt relieved and left quickly with his family. They passed through the dark alleys and finally arrived at the Yunyi Chamber of Commerce, which was managed by the Shangguan family outside the city.
Shangguan Yunyao is the president of Yunyi Chamber of Commerce and a close friend of Chen Chen. "Brother Shangguan, the imperial capital has fallen and the emperor is imprisoned. The late emperor asked me to take the token to find the mayor of Frostwolf City." Chen Chen's voice was filled with fatigue.
"Brother Chen, don't worry. The Shangguan family will definitely help you with all their strength." Shangguan Yunyao took Chen Chen into the study.
"Xiaoyun."
"Dad, the child is here."
"Immediately arrange for the Azure Dragon Guard to set off for Frostwolf City tomorrow morning. The rest of the Shangguan family members should immediately go to the ancestral land in Jiangbei to avoid disaster. No news should leak out."
"Yes, Dad. I'll arrange it right away."
"Oh, Xiaoyun, call Jiannan over."
"Yes, Dad."
Shangguan Yunyao frowned and said, "Brother Chen, my grandson is ten years old this year. I don't know what strange disease he has. Please take a look at him, Brother Chen."
Chen Chen nodded in agreement, and soon after, the pale-faced Shangguan Jiannan was brought to the study.
Chen Chen carefully examined Shangguan Jiannan, but found nothing unusual about him, and couldn't help but feel puzzled.
At this moment, he accidentally discovered that the Netherworld Jade Pendant in his arms was actually glowing faintly.
"This..." Chen Chen's heart was shocked. He slowly moved the Netherworld Jade Pendant closer to Shangguan Jiannan, and a magical scene happened.
The jade pendant was in front of Shangguan Jiannan, and the light became brighter and brighter, and Shangguan Jiannan's complexion improved a lot in an instant.
"Why does this jade pendant have such a reaction?" Shangguan Yunyao asked in surprise.
Chen Chen stared at the jade pendant and said slowly: "This jade pendant was given by the late emperor. It originated from the Shadow Pavilion, a secluded sect. Jiannan has a special affinity with this jade pendant and will be able to obtain the secrets in it."
Shangguan Yunyao nodded thoughtfully: "Does this mean that Jiannan has some special connection with this jade pendant?"
Chen Chen was silent for a moment, then said, "It is very likely. Before leaving, the late emperor instructed the Shadow Pavilion to come out, and there is hope for the restoration of the country."
"Brother Chen, maybe this is fate's arrangement."
"Jiannan's affinity with the jade pendant allows him to enter the Shadow Pavilion."
Chen Chen nodded: "Yes, in that case, Brother Shangguan, I hope Jiannan can come with us."
Shangguan Yunyao thought for a moment, and finally nodded in agreement: "Jiannan has been different from ordinary people since he was young. I hope his health will gradually get better."
In order to cover up his tracks, Shangguan Yunyao decided to arrange for the Qinglong Guard to escort Chen Chen and his family to Frostwolf City in the name of transporting goods for the Yunyi Chamber of Commerce.
"Xiaoyun." Shangguan Yunyao called his son again, "Make sure everything is arranged properly. There must not be any mistakes."
Shangguan Xiaoyun understood and nodded, "Dad, don't worry, the Azure Dragon Guards are ready and can set off tomorrow morning."
Chen Chen looked at Shangguan Yunyao gratefully: "Brother Shangguan, thank you very much."
Shangguan Yunyao waved his hand, his tone full of pride: "You and I are friends for life and death, why should Brother Chen thank you?"
……
A team of five carriages moved slowly forward in this windy and snowy environment. Each carriage was pulled by a BMW horse with great endurance. Even in the cold wind and heavy snow, these horses held their heads high and galloped forward tenaciously.
Suddenly, a whistling arrow cut through the north wind, and a sharp whistle echoed in the air. The whistling arrow carried an unknown message and fell on the snow in front of the first carriage.
The curtain of the first carriage was slowly lifted, and an old man with a long white beard appeared in front of everyone.
He said to the young man Shangguan Xiaoyun beside him in a steady and powerful voice: "Go and see which group the fallen arrow belongs to."
Shangguan Xiaoyun responded and dismounted. His movements were as light and agile as a cheetah.
"Master, this whistle arrow has no markings, I can't tell where it came from."
The curtain of the carriage opened, and a man in a green robe appeared in front of everyone. He held a whistling arrow in one hand and a "Bi Yan Zhu" dry pipe in the other.
After he glanced around, he ordered the young man Shangguan Xiaoyun beside him: "Xiaoyun, go to the jujube forest in front and ask what the leader of those people is called."
The forest was not far from where the caravan stopped. Dead branches were lying across the snow, and the scene looked grim. At this moment, a fast horse came running from the opposite direction, and both horses seemed to want to show off their riding skills.
Just when the two horses were about to collide, they tightened the reins at the same time. The horses neighed and stood up, stirring up a cloud of snow.
Shangguan Xiaoyun clasped his fists and saluted, his demeanor calm and confident: "I am Shangguan Xiaoyun from Yunyi Chamber of Commerce, nice to meet you all."
The man was no more than twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, wearing a sheepskin short coat, a gray wolf skin over the outside, and tight trousers, exuding an air of shrewdness.
He hummed softly, with a hint of surprise in his voice: "I've heard of your name for a long time! I've heard of your name for a long time! Could it be that you are the eldest disciple of the chief leader of the Azure Dragon Guard Corps of the Yunyi Chamber of Commerce, 'Hundred Steps to Shoot the Willow' Shangguan Xiaoyun?"
Shangguan Xiaoyun smiled slightly and responded, "Brother, you're welcome..." He coughed lightly and then asked, "May I know your name, brother?"
The man laughed loudly, his voice full of arrogance: "Don't worry, sir! Since we dare to take the goods of Yunyi Chamber of Commerce, we will naturally save our lives! Haha!"
Shangguan Xiaoyun has been following the Yunyi Chamber of Commerce's Qinglong Guard on the business road since he was a child. He has a wide range of knowledge and can be regarded as a warrior who has experienced many ups and downs.
He smiled and said, "What's your name, brother? I'm all ears!"
The man said coldly: "Brother, your surname is Tian, your name is Ziru, I am so sorry, so sorry!"
Tian Ziru clasped his fists and said, "Okay! Okay! Brothers are not good at speaking, let's be frank. We have no grudges against the Yunyi Chamber of Commerce. As long as you leave the goods, your people and carriages can leave!"
Shangguan Xiaoyun smiled faintly, with a firm tone: "What a joke! Taking money from others, but helping them to get rid of disasters, how can we, the Azure Dragon Guard Group, abandon our master's goods and run away? The Azure Dragon Guard Group of the Yunyi Chamber of Commerce will never do such a thing!"
Tian Ziru said: "We have long heard of the great reputation of the Yunyi Chamber of Commerce. We have also long admired your brother Shangguan's 'Hundred Steps Through the Willow' chain arrows. However, if we are not quite sure and can move forward and backward freely, we dare not wait here!"
Shangguan Xiaoyun thought to himself: "With his ability as Tian Ziru, can he advance and retreat freely? Even with his ability, he would never dare to make any move on Yunyi Chamber of Commerce. There must be another mastermind behind him!"
His mind raced, but he smiled and said, "Brother Tian, our Yunyi Chamber of Commerce is heading to the imperial capital. I am just a small leader, and the one in charge of the caravan is none other than my master Shangguan Yunyao!"
Shangguan Xiaoyun thought disdainfully: "Even if you, Tian Ziru, have some abilities, you can't move freely here?"
Tian Ziru sneered: "Brother Shangguan, are you asking about our legion commander?"
Shangguan Xiaoyun nodded and said loudly: "That's right, I hope Brother Tian can tell me, so that I can go back and report to the head of the family, and let him make a decision!"
Tian Ziru said: "Well, well, I'm... so sorry!"
Shangguan Xiaoyun's expression changed, he snorted coldly, and said loudly: "Since Brother Tian is unwilling to tell me, I have no choice but to break into the forest and take a look!"
Tian Ziru pulled the reins to stop Shangguan Xiaoyun, reached out and took out a green sealed scroll, and said, "Since the president of Yunyi Chamber of Commerce is here, I guess you, Brother Shangguan, can't make any decisions. This scroll is written by our legion commander. Brother Shangguan, take it back to show your president Shangguan Yunyao. I'll wait for your reply here!"
Shangguan Xiaoyun took the letter and read it. It read: "This letter is from Shangguan Yunyao, the president of Yunyi Chamber of Commerce."
He was stunned and thought to himself, "Who is the person behind Tian Ziru? How dare he call the head of the family by his name?"
He frowned slightly and had made up his mind. No matter who the other party was, he would protect the safety of the caravan until the last moment.
With a change of mind, Shangguan Xiaoyun clasped his fists and said, "Brother Ziru, please wait a moment!"