The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 634 - 440. Zhao Douan: Giving face but not appreciating it, huh?

The location to meet with the Qingshan disciples was a small martial arts arena within the Imperial City.

When Zhao Douan and the rest of the imperial family tributors arrived, they saw that a large number of the imperial guard had already gathered around the square. They were not just there to join in the fun but also to lend presence.

From a distance, they spotted Eunuch Hai in his striking red python robe. The white-haired old eunuch stood calmly with his hands behind his back, conversing with the three people beside him.

Seeing Zhao Douan and his group approaching, a smile appeared on the ruddy face: "You have arrived."

Upon seeing Mo Chou, who followed out of concern, he merely nodded and the latter bowed in return.

"Greetings to Eunuch." Zhao Douan looked straight ahead, stopping to pay his respects.

Behind him, a group led by Tang Jinzhong and Song Jinxi, all tributor eunuchs, bowed their heads solemnly. At that moment, this group of eunuchs seemed to abruptly transform into cold-blooded assassins.

Inspiring dread upon sight.

"Subordinates pay respect to Eunuch!"

Zhao Douan slightly raised an eyebrow, thinking, did you rehearse this? Why so serious and grave? As if facing a formidable enemy?

Indeed, with the "future emperor’s consort" buff, his status in the Martial Arts Hall was akin to a member of the imperial family, with nothing above him but the Empress. Not even elder figures like the old Emperor or Empress... so little psychological pressure... whereas for these eunuchs whose status was that of "servants," falling behind in the competition with Qingshan disciples would be a grave error...

Meanwhile, the three people in the arena also turned their attention towards them.

Their gaze swept over the many eunuchs, pausing briefly on Tang Jinzhong, who was at the Worldly Realm, before finally focusing entirely on the incongruous Zhao Douan.

Chai Keqiao, still dressed like a mountain woodsman, was speaking with a smile on his lips. Even an emperor couldn’t make him change into clothing more befitting the occasion:

"Junior Guardian Zhao, after not seeing you for three days, one must look at you with new eyes. It’s been several months since we last met; congratulations on your promotion."

Beside him, Xiao Ran, with an elegant yet cool demeanor and wearing simple attire, kept her expression indifferent and her eyes reflected only aloofness.

Qi Ye, blindfolded with a strip of black cloth, a pitch-black scabbard hanging from his waist, clothed in the same color, exuded a cold aura and also "looked" over.

What’s going on... how come there’s a blind person? Mo Chou, you didn’t mention this... Zhao Douan muttered to himself, mentally matching each person with the descriptions from the information he had, maintaining a composed expression as he smiled and said:

"Brother Chai is too kind, I also heard in the capital that Brother Chai had entered the Worldly Realm, congratulations are in order."

Judging by their conversation, the two seemed like friends, a peculiar sight to the palace’s imperial guard near the martial arts arena.

Last year’s Buddhist Tao competition, where Zhao Douan dispatched troops to suppress Chai Keqiao, was widely known among the Capital’s guard.

With white hair and dressed in a bright red python robe, Eunuch Hai warmly introduced the parties one by one.

Then he said: "His Majesty has said, following tradition, that the Qingshan disciples should stay for half a month at a villa in the Imperial City whenever they visit the capital. They are to discuss martial arts with the palace tributors. Today, it’s their first meeting, and physical combat is not suitable, so would a slight demonstration of skills suffice?"

"Since Mr. Hai puts it this way, this junior dares not refuse." Chai Keqiao, unexpectedly respectful towards the old tributor, turned to the blindfolded youth and said:

"Senior Brother Qi Ye is skilled in swordsmanship, and among the Divine Chapter Realm, he is considered top-grade. At Qingshan, he practices drawing his sword three thousand times a day without cease; his Sword Qi is sharp. Xiao Ran and I are not comparable, so let Qi Ye perform an armor-breaking display as a gesture."

In the six hundred years of the Yu Country, the challenge and sparring session had already had a set procedure.

The other party had clearly agreed upon this earlier.

"Armor-breaking?" Zhao Douan raised an eyebrow.

Beside him, Mo Chou explained softly: "This is also a tradition. When both parties meet for the first time, it’s unwise to have a full fight since that could cause discord. They usually showcase their skills by breaking armor."

Oh... kind of like a muscle-show off, maybe?

Zhao Douan stood with interest among the crowd, and considering Mo Chou’s earlier request, he deliberately stepped back two paces, preparing to keep a low profile and pass through this process.

After all, with so many tributors present, it wasn’t his turn as someone of "Middle Grade Divine Chapter" to showcase his skills.

At this point, the nearby guards brought out a series of half-body military armor pieces from the armory, all made of refined iron capable of withstanding arrows and blades.

The guards then erected a large row of wooden stakes in the martial arts arena, fixing the half-body armors onto them, and almost immediately, it seemed like there were mannequins in place.

He silently counted, and there were as many as sixty or seventy of these mannequins in a row. At a glance, these armored mannequins appeared quite formidable.

"Come." Zhao Douan gestured to Song Jinxi, curiously asking: "So many, are they all prepared for him?"

The tributor eunuch, who was obsequious and looked a lot like a monkey, forced a smile and replied: "Junior Guardian jests, these are finely crafted military armors, not just broken copper and rusty iron. Ordinary blades can’t break them; even at the peak of a mortal Martial Artist, infusing Qi mechanisms into weapons, breaking three armors in one go is the limit. After entering the Divine Chapter, generally speaking, a low grade could break six armors, a middle grade nine armors, and a top grade breaking thirteen armors would be considered an impressive feat. These are set up for multiple people to use on both sides. But usually, in this armor-breaking aspect, those at the Worldly Realm don’t take part; those at the Worldly Realm break dozens of armors at least... um, Junior Guardian, your nose is bleeding again."

"..." Zhao Douan hurriedly looked for a handkerchief, unable to find one, when suddenly Mo Chou handed over a handkerchief: "Here, use mine."

Tsk, impressive, you didn’t poison the handkerchief, right... Zhao Douan looked unexpectedly at the "female chancellor," cautiously taking it, while Mo Chou rolled her eyes in frustration: "If you don’t want it, give it back. Good intentions aren’t recognized."

Zhao Douan cheerfully wiped his nose. This time, the blindfolded young swordsman stepped forward, standing before the row of armors.

Everything around suddenly fell silent, everyone held their breath, and even the wind stopped howling.

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