Chapter 240: Only Smooth Roads Underfoot

Chapter 240: Only Broad Roads Under the Zongheng's Feet

Hongya Mountain, Silver Building.

In the spacious and vast expanse, the solemn mansion lay in silence, like cold, lifeless behemoths, indifferent to the flowing crimson blood before them.

"Thanks to you, Qi Hua, otherwise these cliff guards and mechanical beasts would be hard to handle."

Ding Huan, in a Western suit, leaned on a civilization staff, his steps light as he crossed the scattered corpses of cliff guards, patting the majestic mechanical beast crouched before the mansion, its face like a roaring lion.

Its eyes no longer held the red glow of old, now barren and still, like a dead thing.

"Tsk, tsk, this must be a Zhenye Lion produced by the Bīngdào Liùtáo Company, I heard one of these is worth over a million precious banknotes?"

Ding Huan shook his head: "What extravagance. In the sinner's district, that much money could ripen three or four ninth-order ones."

Following him, Qi Hua seemed uninterested, muttering: "It may be expensive, but it's not as reliable as people."

"Not necessarily."

Ding Huan turned to look at him, smiling softly: "If it were truly reliable, it wouldn't have collapsed entirely due to these ethereal permissions. These flashy things are just toys for the rich."

"Never trust cold machinery; trust those with warmth."

Ding Huan patted Qi Hua's shoulder, "Just like I trust you now, right?"

"Your words are true, my lord."

Qi Hua's smile was strained, his downcast eyes hiding a heavy gloom.

When he chose to use his authority as the deputy steward of the Qinwang Mansion to forcibly destroy all the mechanical guard beasts in the Silver Building, there was no turning back.

From now on, he, Qi Hua, was no longer the general of the Sichuan-Yu gambling house, but a rebellious bird of prey.

From dining with the royal family to robbing their meals.

The gap brought by the reversal of identity left him overwhelmed, unable to speak.

"Relax, I told you, what you've lost now will be repaid tenfold in the future."

Ding Huan walked toward the elevator in the center of the cliff tower, asking casually: "Qi Hua, I've seen the Silver Building, what's in the Golden Building above?"

"There are a hundred Yaren Royal Guards, jointly manufactured by the Imperial Ministry of Works and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, exclusively for the royal family. All control permissions are in the hands of the King of Qin."

As he spoke, Qi Hua, as if possessed, glanced at Ding Huan, only to find the other's expression as calm as ever, not even a hint of surprise.

Qi Hua's heart chilled suddenly, cold sweat soaking his back.

This was a test of himself.

"These Yaren are precious treasures, it's a pity to leave them here on Hongya Mountain to tend the fields with that lord."

Ding Huan sighed with regret, his steps never halting, first stepping into the elevator.

Qi Hua dared not think further, hurrying after him, whispering: "My lord, I must have been discovered by Zhu Youhong for invading the Silver Building's permissions. Isn't it too dangerous to go upstairs now?"

"Don't worry, under the Zongheng sequence, there are no narrow paths, only broad roads."

Ding Huan's confident words had just fallen when, from behind the compartment door, Qi Hua heard a sudden chorus of beastly roars.

He turned sharply, peering through the narrowing gap of the closing door at countless flashing, massive black shadows.

"Prepare!"

The burly captain of the Royal Guard raised his right arm, his crimson eyes fixed on the dim elevator shaft ahead.

The steel cable hanging there was sliding, and the copper bell atop the well was ready to ring.

Behind him, over a hundred fully armed Yaren Royal Guards formed three lines front, middle, and back, their hands holding special rifles unseen in the market, their gun tips jabbing forward.

Ding-ling!

The copper bell swayed, signaling the elevator's imminent arrival.

The raised right arm suddenly tensed, the command to fire about to roar out.

But in that instant, the captain suddenly noticed the ground before him surging like waves.

Amid a harsh tearing sound, massive mechanical beast heads burst through the cliff tower, letting out deafening roars as they charged toward him.

His right arm dropped, gunfire erupted.

"Fire!"

At the same time, the elevator's compartment doors silently slid open to both sides.

Ding Huan stood in the elevator with his civilization staff, his gaze sweeping the battlefield, directly looking at the azure ceremonial robes seated high on the grand hall's throne.

There, a complex look was also gazing at him.

Ding Huan smiled lightly, placing his left hand on his chest and bowing slightly.

"Honghu Ding Huan, I greet Your Highness, the King."

Boom!

A shattered beast head, trailing explosive blue arcs, flew from afar, crashing to the ground, rolling forward until it stopped before a pair of gleaming black carved shoes.

The Silver Building's mechanical guard beasts were no match for the Yaren Royal Guards of the Golden Building.

"What a waste of a million precious banknotes."

Ding Huan sighed with regret, raising the civilization staff in his right hand, and struck downward heavily.

Dong.

Though it was just a muffled thud, the Yaren guards slaughtering the mechanical beasts suddenly froze as if struck by lightning, standing rigid.

Even the captain, whose strength rivaled the seventh order, was no exception.

"Nobles and generals."

Ding Huan's expression solemn, enunciating each word: "Would you rather die?"

In an instant, a sudden change occurred.

All the Yaren Royal Guards now stood like soulless husks, stiffly collapsing to the ground, their special rifles clattering to the floor.

Only the captain remained standing, his face a blank, his pupils in his eyes contracting and dilating alternately.

This appearance was as if another consciousness within his body was struggling to seize control of his form.

"These servants are too noisy, I made them quiet. Your Highness, you shouldn't object, should you?"

Ding Huan's voice echoed through the vast grand hall.

"One word awakens the residual original consciousness in these Yaren bodies, plunging them into mental chaos. Truly the Hidden King of the Zongheng."

Ding Huan smiled faintly upon hearing this, his tone humble: "I am but a hungry, cold wretch, how dare I claim kingship before you?"

"It seems this king has underestimated your Zongheng sequence."

Within the grand hall, upon the throne, Zhu Youhong in azure ceremonial robes gazed at the silent Qi Hua, "I didn't expect even you, Qi Hua, to be turned."

Qi Hua's lips moved, whispering: "A wise bird chooses its perch, Your Highness, do not blame me."

"A wise bird chooses its perch?"

Zhu Youhong's eyes held disdain, "You are but an evil bird, a vulture, and a rotten piece of wood."

The corner of Qi Hua’s eyes flickered with a sidelong glance at Ding Huan’s retreating figure, then he abruptly lifted his head, his voice rising in fury: “I am a bird not tamed by crumbs—what, then, are you?”

“A marquis of the empire, witnessing royal power crumble, dares not cleanse the court, yet pours all his efforts into fawning upon the New Donglin faction. Where in Yuohong’s bearing lies the dignity of a marquis?”

“Qi Hua, you dare speak thus to the Prince of Qin?”

Ding Huan seemed to find the sudden rift between master and servant amusing, his mouth curving into a sly smile as he mocked: “Rough words, but sincere intent—I too would ask the Prince of Qin.”

“I have no quarrel with you. Why spare the corrupt officials and instead scheme to slay me, a mere commoner?”