Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

Although they managed to shake off the officials, Shangguan Ling didn't dare to relax and continued driving the carriage at a furious speed.

"The path is getting more and more remote,"

Yu Zichuan said.

Shangguan Ling lashed the horse's flank with a whip. "The area is crawling with officials. Do you think breaking through their siege is that easy?"

Yu Zichuan replied, "It's precisely because it's not easy that we need you. Otherwise, what use are you, Commander of the Imperial Guard?"

Shangguan Ling was at a loss for words, completely dumbfounded.

Since when did this kid become so sharp-tongued? And where did he learn it from?

Inside the carriage, the eternally cold and expressionless Chen Long's face was filled with worry. It was hard to believe that someone like him—an unfeeling killing machine—could reveal such a soft side.

He extended his hand, intending to lift the bridal veil off his sister's head.

Lu Yuan stopped him. "What are you doing? The bride's veil can only be lifted by the groom, not by her brother."

Chen Long said, "Then you lift it."

With an air of formality, Lu Yuan said, "These things have rules. You can't just lift it willy-nilly. It has to be done with a Jade Ruyi, then followed by drinking wedding wine."

Chen Long's expression was impossible to describe. "Why do I feel like you just want to take advantage again?"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Not this time."

Before Chen Long could retort, Lu Yuan continued, "If you really want to lift a bride's veil, go marry one yourself. I think Mao Tu is a good match."

Chen Long replied coldly, "If you keep matchmaking nonsense, I'll kill you."

The carriage rolled onto a desolate official road, flanked by boundless wheat fields.

The further they went, the stranger Shangguan Ling felt. "Grand Commander,"

Lu Yuan responded with a quiet "Hmm" and lifted the curtain. "I feel it too."

A chillingly intense killing intent awaited them ahead.

Yu Zichuan tucked away the cloth he had been using to clean his bow, stood up, and gazed intently toward the end of the official road.

"There's someone there,"

he said.

Shangguan Ling cursed under his breath. "No kidding, huh? What, do you think it's a ghost? How many? Who?"

Yu Zichuan replied calmly, "Four. I don't recognize them."

Suddenly, the ground trembled as if shaking with an earthquake. Dust swirled upward as a massive, burly man with a beard like iron spikes appeared, wielding two enormous iron hammers. With terrifying momentum, he charged toward the carriage.

Shangguan Ling felt as though a mountain was crashing down on him. With a sharp turn, he managed to steer the carriage to the side.

The giant man's hammer smashed into the ground, leaving two three-foot-deep craters.

The thought of what would have happened if those hammers had struck the carriage was too horrifying to consider.

"Do you know him?"

Lu Yuan drew aside the curtain and asked Chen Long.

Chen Long frowned. "He looks somewhat familiar, but I can't quite recall."

The hammer-wielding giant sneered. "You may not remember me, but I certainly know you, Shang Xu."

Chen Long's eyes snapped open.

Lu Yuan rubbed his chin, eyeing the bronze tusked mask on Chen Long's face. "He can recognize you just from your voice? Seems like an old acquaintance."

Chen Long pronounced each word with icy precision: "Heaven-breaking Hammer, Shi Potian."

Lu Yuan mused, "Shi Potian, one of the Four Protectors of the Seven Stars Sect?"

Shangguan Ling suddenly understood and smacked his thigh. "Of course! He's one of Xiao Rong'er's family protectors!"

Xiao Rong'er hailed from a prominent Martial Arts Sect in West City. Back in the day, her family's power rivaled that of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion. Their marriage alliance was originally meant to establish dominance in West City.

Chen Long had visited the Xiao Family a few times during his childhood with his parents.

The memories of his brutally murdered parents caused a storm of murderous intent to rise in Chen Long's chest. "Since you're here, the other protectors must be nearby as well."

Shi Potian swung his massive hammer. "Hahaha! Come on out! The Shang Xu kid has recognized us!"

Three figures emerged in succession.

The first was a bald man dressed in monk's robes. Despite the attire, it was clear he was no monk.

To his left stood a stocky, bearded man with a fierce expression, wielding an enormous axe.

On his right was a young woman about the same age as Xiao Rong'er, the only one among them who wasn't armed.

Shangguan Ling stammered, "A monk? A woodcutter? A female Daoist?"

Chen Long's gaze turned icy cold. "Golden Bell Shield, Heavenly Thunder Axe, Cold Ice Palm."

Something clicked in Shangguan Ling's mind. "Ah, wasn't it Cold Ice Palm that hit Wuyou last time? Was this Sect behind it too?"

Chen Long replied, "It was the lady who was struck by Cold Ice Palm, and the one in the mountain stronghold that day wasn't her."

Shangguan Ling scratched his head awkwardly. "Got it mixed up..."

Lu Yuan smirked. "You've been in the Imperial City all along yet haven't shown yourselves, just to ambush us today and silence everyone. You don't want anyone suspecting you, is that it?"

Earlier, it was clear Shi Potian's hammer strikes showed no concern for anyone's survival inside the carriage.

This demonstrated that Xiao Rong'er's true intent today wasn't to replace the bride but to kill Meng Qianqian.

In fact, even Meng Qianqian being able to send word must have been secretly permitted by Xiao Rong'er.