The Imperial Princesses' Protectors was the second greatest honor bestowed upon any guard. It was tantamount to protecting the next empress! However, Chang knew that they were chosen for political reasons. As was stated before, the Imperial and Li Family were tightly bound by blood. Many empresses or emperors could have their lineages traced back to the Li Family, they were that prominent! People considered them the true Imperial Family! As for the Jian, Shui, and Jun Families, they were vastly beneath the Li Family, whether it be in economy, military, political, or social power. The Li Family was without equals! Naturally, how could those families stand it? The Four Great Nobility Families were so unbalanced! To quell their anger, Imperian Qiang willingly ceded from the Imperial Council, while Chang and Tai were instated as Protectors.
Chang Jian was the son of Lord Fuwu Jian, the Jian Family's patriarch, as well as the young brother of Prime Minister Pon-Wai. Tai Shui was the only son of Lord Daiyuu Shui, the Shui Family's patriarch. While these two lost their rights to succeed their fathers, they existed close to the core powers of their families. Having them grow up alongside the Imperial Princesses was a symbolic move! Of course, this was not to say that Emperor Lianghu was betrothing his beloved daughters away, but this served as a bridge to bring the Jian and Shui Families closer to the imperial throne. In other words, it was meant to decentralize the strong grip the Li Family had over the empire. That was why people who were stronger or more experienced than them were passed over and they were chosen. It was all a game! This made Chang lose confidence in his abilities.
Be that as it may, that did not mean Chang and Tai were pushovers. Emperor Lianghu would never endanger his daughters for the sake of political stability. They earned that title specifically because of their incredible aptitude, potential, and skill that stood above others. Granted, they might fall short when compared to the true apex figures such as the Four Cardinals, the Four Dragons of the Loon Family, or even the Alzar Kingdom's three strongest knights. But that was the difference between the second tallest mountain and the tallest. Chang and Tai were both young, in their early twenties, and they had broken into Perception Realm Adept recently. At this rate, they had the potential to reach Perception Realm Master, unrivaled throughout the empire! It was only a matter of time before they stood at the peak!
For now though, it was as Chang said. Their abilities simply were not at the level of the Loon Family's guards. On paper, it might be the difference between Perception Realm Expert or Master, but these were old monsters with over thirty or forty years of rich combat experience. The number of tricks or techniques they had kept secret were undoubtedly many. It was not something that greenhorns such as Chang or Tai could improvise on the fly!
"It's good to be confident, but at least have a plan, Sentinel Tai," as expected, Ming chastised him. "Although they might not harm you if you reveal your identity, that would be pointless. You would have to do this without showing yourselves, meaning you two would have to face the full power of the Loon Family. This will be difficult as well as dangerous. One wrong step and you could lose your lives. If you don't want to do this, I won't force you. We can consider alternatives."
"We're on a tight schedule, aren't we? Your Highness doesn't have to worry. We'll be there and back before you know it," Tai laughed. Both Ming and her Protector shared the same grimace. Would it kill him to take anything seriously?
Xiuying chuckled arrogantly. "What do you think I've been doing, sister? I wasn't staring out of the window these past few days doing nothing. I've been memorizing the guard routes and patterns. Don't forget that I'm a Half-Perception Realm too!" She inherited their father's mastery of the sabre and trained to become Half-Perception Realm. At nineteen years of age, that was an impressive feat matched only by her Protectors and other monstrous figures!
"We were also doing some light reconnaissance," Chang added. "With Her Highness's help, we should have a clearer picture of the Loon Family's defensive net and how to evade it."
"If things become too dangerous and without hope, you can reveal your identities," Ming concluded. "Destroy the letter and any evidence, while feigning ignorance. No matter what, deny any accusations and stay silent. We'll deal with the consequences if that comes to pass."
"As you wish, Your Highness," Chang kneeled.
Writing the letter took the rest of the day and the midnight air was settling in now. The moon was usually the brightest at this time of the year, but the sky was shrouded with clouds, painting a particularly grim and ominous scene. A cold air swept through the city and gave everyone the chills. Xiuying continued to look outside the window, wrapped in her thick fur coat. Her brows furrowed and her expression soured. This atmosphere… It felt foreboding and she hesitated. Ming felt the same infectious mood and she glanced outside too. They were not only betraying their uncle's trust, but also the empire! By taking this step forward, it was embarking on a journey into the unknown. Whether it be light or darkness, who knew what laid at the end of the tunnel?
"We're ready to depart, Your Highness," Chang reported.
Xiuying gripped her sister's hand tightly, as if to comfort Ming. The girl smiled wryly. She was supposed to be the older one, so why was Xiuying the one comforting her? At that thought, Ming steeled her resolve. Although her goals and morals were misguided before, just like Xiuying, they were determined to restore their parent's honor and legacy. They wanted to end the Second Great Kingdom War! So what if they became sinners, cursed throughout history, as the empire's traitorous Imperial Princesses? So what if they never became the empresses and lost their imperial status? It might hurt, but in Ming's mind, ending the war they caused was worth it!
"Good luck," she muttered softly.
"Take care, you two," Xiuying added.
Chang and Tai nodded then leapt out of the window and entered the darkness. Contrasting from before, their movements were much sharper, both in terms of fluidity and technique, showing how serious they were. Furthermore, they were dressed in a plain black cloak, which hid their features, and allowed them to blend into the night. They moved swiftly, landing on overhangs or rooftops, like a pair of monkeys. Moving at their maximum speed, they hoped to leave the city as fast as possible! That said, while their movements were indeed impressive and smooth, it was far from matching the level of perfection. And many of the guards were not ordinary either. They were Perception Realms, capable of transcending mortal limits! Instantly, countless eyes locked onto their presence. Barely lasting ten seconds, they were discovered!
Two people were wandering the night markets of Guanhuang relaxedly. Upon first glance, the two seemed like father and son, but the boy was actually an adult dwarf. People flashed him odd gazes as the 'son' wolfed down the stall foods with a smile on his face. He completely ignored the discrimination towards him. Meanwhile, the 'father' was strolling behind humming a mysterious tune. Every step he made seemed to resonate with his song, making everyone feel uncomfortable. No one came close to this odd pair. When Chang and Tai finally moved, their faces twitched as their senses detected them. Perception Realm!
"Heh, are they really trying?" the dwarf sneered with a dangerous glint.
"We half-expected this, so it isn't a surprise. Let's go." In a flash, the Humming Swordsmen nimbly scaled up to the rooftops by jumping from platform to platform. Before the pedestrians knew what happened, they were already gone!
Resting quietly on a rooftop and feeding their pet viper was a person dressed in a thick cloak. Aside from their height, no one could tell their gender, age, weight, or general appearance. They were almost indescribable! The single prevailing odd thing was the blindfold covering their eyes. The viper abruptly turned, rose, and hissed threateningly. As if understanding the message, the person locked onto Chang and Tai with their senses. Perception Realm! The viper slithered up its master's arm and the two melded into the shadows and disappeared. The Blind Snake was on the move!
Elsewhere, seven people were playing at a table in a gambling hall. The smell of alcohol, smoke, and debauchery filled the air. These seven were odd fellows: one was morbidly obese and sweating all over, another was a woman with a crooked smile with a few teeth missing. They were happily gambling large sums of money that attracted onlookers. In this world where poverty was rife and food was hard to come by, gambling was a luxury that only the wealthy could afford to do. And the sums they were betting were several months of a normal family's income at once! Thanks to their dangerous aura, no one dared to try anything, but they were still preyed on by covetous eyes. A few bold individuals plotted with their friends to start some trouble too.
"Hehe, you lose again, Old Three!"
"Ah, I can't believe you tricked me like that!"
The sounds of laughter and remorse mixed into a joyous occasion as they continued gambling to their heart's content. When Chang and Tai zipped by, they were almost a blur, but a few at the table noticed it. They frowned and extended their senses. Perception Realm! Seeing this new development, they smiled.
"Looks like we'll have action tonight," one of them said, standing up. The other six nodded in understanding and went to leave, when a group of bandits blocked them at the door.
"Oh? Where do you think you're going?" the ringleader sneered. "Give us all your money and this doesn't have to end badly." Pulling out a knife, he slid it across his tongue in a deranged manner. With a gang of twenty men against seven, his confidence was surging! He was beaming with smiles, having found such fat pigs to slaughter.
One of the seven held her head in annoyance. "Young Six, you handle this one, and be quick."
"Hmph. I'm putting this on your tab," a youth leapt out with a bloodthirsty aura and struck fast as lightning!
In less than three seconds, he landed twenty palm strikes on everyone! The twenty men flew back violently colliding with the walls or furniture and the gambling hall was destroyed beyond recognition. Vomiting blood and falling unconscious, their organs were internally ruptured. The youth killed twenty people without hesitation! Once the path was cleared, the seven shot off at monstrous speeds towards Chang and Tai, leaving the patrons quaking with fear. Surprisingly, the seven were all Perception Realms! They were the infamous Spider Seven!