16: True Objective

In the following days, Yuan Xiu and Chang Yun took turns to go to Anpingfang.
He guards during the day, and Tang guards at night. Both of them feel that it is actually unnecessary, but they have no choice but to obey the captain's orders.
After "getting off work," Yuanxiu starts studying the three secret manuals of magic.
Zhuzi's Yun Ji didn't make a mess. Xu Lao, who claimed that he couldn't match the "Way Scripture," had already mastered and become proficient in the Piercing Fist.
At first, he could break a hard wooden stick with one punch. After becoming proficient, his punch could create a small hole in the middle of the wooden stick with his fist strength. Although it seemed like no progress or even regression, Yuan Xiu understood that his fist strength had become more concentrated.
Being able to penetrate wooden bars does not mean that it can only penetrate wooden bars.
In addition, I have also studied the Ben Thunder Force and the Divine Walking Technique, both of which can be considered as entry-level. Especially the Divine Walking Technique, which I have practiced countless times as a key learning subject.
Therefore, the team members often see vague black shadows running around in the peach forest in the late night, in a weird posture. When Lu Xiaoyou saw it for the first time, she even thought that an evil cultivator had invaded and was ready to attack with a knife. If it weren't for Yuan Xiu's timely discovery and intervention, it could have turned into the first tragic case of mutual killing among the guardians of Chang'an City.
"Huh!"
It was another night with a clear and bright moon. Yuan Xiu finished his practice of the Shadow Steps and walked back to his room feeling a bit tired.
Among all the skills, Yuan Xiu was the most diligent in practicing the Shadow Steps, and he also achieved the best results.
Although the execution of the steps looked quite peculiar...
Next is the poking fist, now a single punch can leave significant marks on a large grinding stone on the back, but the Thundering Force still lacks a bit, after all, the time is still too short.
But fortunately, his cultivation speed is fast, his true essence is abundant, even if there is no explosive Thundering Force, a punch is still not to be underestimated, coupled with the assistance of the Divine Steps, Yuan Xiu has gained some confidence.
The next morning, Yuan Xiu went to Anping Fang as usual to change shifts with Xiao Yun.
However, as soon as he stepped out of the gate, he was taken aback by the crowded streets, filled with men and women, gathered in small groups, discussing something with excitement evident on their faces.
Yuan Xiu casually stopped an old man and curiously asked, "Sir, is there anything important happening today?"
"What?! You don't know?"
The old man glanced at him, looked north, and clasped his hands, "Today, General Zhenyuan is returning to the capital to report his duty. The Emperor himself has come out of Chang'an City to greet him. Now go to Zhuque Street, maybe you can even catch a glimpse of the Emperor!"
After speaking, he walked quickly along with the crowd.
"Has Li Jingxing returned?"
Yuan Xiu glanced in the direction of the surging crowd.
It seems that this General Zhenyuan has a high reputation in the empire and truly enjoys the favor of the sovereign. Not only can he make the emperor personally come out to greet him, but even the common people act in such a manner, making it seem like a holiday.
"Do you know what he's doing?"
Yuan Xiu muttered and walked towards Anpingfang. Although he was also quite curious and admired Li Jingxing, he had a task at hand and it was impossible to go sightseeing.
Anping Fang is as usual, just with fewer people. Many people in this Fang make a living by theft. They love such a busy day and might have been waiting by the city gate a long time ago.
After a brief handover with Tang Yiyun, Yuan Xiu sat across from Ding Du in the courtyard and started drinking tea.
Since the last incident of Yu Yizheng turning into a demon, the Bad Guy remained surprisingly calm and did not show any further trace, but Yuan Xiu became increasingly uneasy.
"They are probably unlikely to give up... if they are going to take action, it is very possible it will be today."
Yuan Xiu held a coarse porcelain tea bowl, frowned as he looked at the calm courtyard in front of him.
Li Jingxing returned to Beijing. Tonight, the saint is sure to host a banquet to welcome him. Starting tomorrow, Li Jingxing will likely have to take responsibility for this matter. If it were Yuan Xiu, who is an evil practitioner, he wouldn't wait until tomorrow. That would mean confronting the renowned General Zhenyuan of the empire head-on. Not to mention whether the rogue has the courage to do so, even if he does, why would he unnecessarily expose himself to even greater risks?
"Unless..."
The tea bowl in Yuan Xiu's hands suddenly paused on the table. "Their target is Li Jingxing?!"
"Right, this explains everything!"
"Zhou Xun, Lin Youde, Yu Yizheng...they are nothing but bait. Their deaths are just to lure Li Jingxing back!"
"Li Jingxing has a high level of personal cultivation, and with his personal guards protecting him on the battlefield, these demonic cultivators dare not approach him."
"Only someone like Li Jingxing, who holds a high position, has the ability to attract an assassination attempt from a demonic cult. Otherwise, those eight hundred personal guards would all be old, weak, sick, and disabled. How could they be worth such a great effort?"
Yuan Xiuxi is full of thoughts.
With one thought flowing smoothly, more ideas come to mind, and the more he thinks, the more reasonable they seem.
"I should go and talk to the captain..."
he thought, looking at the dilapidated courtyard across from him, getting up and about to leave, when suddenly a calm and gentle voice came from behind:
"Where are you going?"
Yuan Xiu turned around in surprise and found Zhou Buhuo standing not far away with his hands on his hips.
"Captain, I was just about to find you," Zhou Buhuo said.
Yuan Xiu hurriedly said, "I suspect that the target of the Diang Du gang is not Ding Du and the others, but Li Jingxing!"
Zhou Buhuo smiled slightly.
"I also had this idea, so I came to find you."
Yuan Xiu was puzzled, "Find me?"
Zhou Buhuo nodded gently and walked over to the table and sat down, "I have withdrawn the surrounding Wu Hou. You should go back to the team first. If their target is really Li Jingxing, we would only hinder the situation here. It's better to show them an empty space and let them reveal themselves."
Yuan Xiu suddenly understood but still felt uneasy: "What if we guess wrong?"
Zhou Buhuo calmly took a sip of tea.
"I'm here."
……
Leaving Anping Alley, Yuan Xiu originally wanted to go to Zhuque Street to join in the fun, but then heard from a passerby that the Sage had already received a message from General Zhenyuan and had returned to the palace. He had no choice but to turn back to the squad.
"Huh? Were you also called back by the captain?"
Lu Xiaoyou sat beside a stone table in the peach forest, with a bulging bag on the table in front of her. Her cheeks were also swollen, and she mumbled unclearly.
Yuan Xiu walked over and glanced at it. The bag contained something like dried sweet potatoes, and it was roughly packed in a large bag.
"Go ahead and eat. My master had someone bring it over," Lu Xiaoyou pointed at the bag, with a bright smile on her face.
Yuan Xiu took a sweet potato stick and couldn't help but ask, "Do you have a master?"
Of course!" "
Upon mentioning this, Lu Xiao You seemed particularly happy, "My master is a Taoist priest. He found me and raised me from the foot of the mountain. When I was young, he taught me knife practice, so I call him master."
The taste is very good, and Yuan Xiu ate two more.
"So is your master also a cultivator?"
This time, Lu Xiaoyou shook her head, "No, he is just an ordinary Taoist priest."
"It seems like your master treats you well, huh."
Yuan Xiu chuckled and looked at the smile on Lu Xiaoyou's face, thinking to himself that it turns out they were both unfortunate people, just like his previous self. However, at least she had a master, while his previous self grew up relying on the generosity of others.
Two people were eating red sweet potato fries and chatting casually. After a while, the little monk Tangyun suddenly rushed in from outside, panting heavily.
"General Zhenyuan went to Anping Square!"
Yuan Xiu was immediately astonished, "So fast?"
"Hmm, the Wuhou came to report and said that he bid farewell to the sage outside the imperial city and went straight over."
Taste Yun nodded and added, "I heard that he didn't bring a single bodyguard."