Chapter 109: Elegant Bamboo (2)

Silence—deathly silence—pervaded the scene. No one uttered a sound, be it those aligned with Zhao Yarou, the Ye family, or even the neutral parties. The words of Ye Lang cast a heavy stillness over everyone, plunging them into deep contemplation.

All could perceive the extraordinary nature of Ye Lang. If he fixed his gaze upon you, misfortune was inevitable. Should he desire your death, it was by no means beyond possibility.

As he had said, one might be able to fend him off momentarily, but what of a lifetime?

Throughout your life, you would be haunted by the unyielding shadow of death—the constant threat of assassination looming at every moment. Kill him? That would settle everything once and for all. But first, you must achieve it.

Now, a realization dawned upon all: this seemingly harmless, somewhat inept thirteenth young master was an unequivocally dangerous presence. This truth brought joy to some and despair to others.

Those who cared for Ye Lang rejoiced, knowing he was not someone who needed protection. At crucial moments, he could protect himself—no, more than that, he could protect others. But those who wished to oppose him were filled with dread.

“If you manage to escape this time, will you come to kill me?” Zhao Yazhu stared at Ye Lang.

“As long as those I care about remain alive, I have no time for you. The struggle for power and profit carries its price, and you will bear the burden of patricide for your entire life. Is it worth it?” Ye Lang replied.

“It is!” Zhao Yazhu retorted fiercely. “You wouldn’t understand. You are detached from fame and fortune—I sometimes envy that.”

“Release her and let her pass!” At this moment, Zhao Yazie unexpectedly made a decision—he freed the Seventh Princess without conditions.

“??” Everyone was puzzled, but Ye Lang seemed to understand.

“Seventh Princess, go wait there for me—I’ll break through and be with you soon!” Ye Lang pointed ahead.

“Understood!” The princess immediately summoned her magic and soared. On her side, there was no anti-magic formation.

“Ye Lang, I don’t understand why you chose to break through there. That area is heavily guarded,” Zhao Yazie seized a moment to question Ye Lang.

Ye Lang had deliberately chosen the spot with the greatest number of defenders to launch his breakthrough. Many found this strange but were temporarily silenced by the awe-inspiring phenomenon surrounding him.

“Your heaviest defense means that escaping from here is easiest. Weaker points would lead to another encirclement even if we escape. Why bother breaking through there?” Ye Lang smiled lightly.

“Why are you so certain? Perhaps I’m deliberately luring you!” Zhao Yazie continued.

“Tell me, where is this place?” Ye Lang countered.

“This is the front plaza of the palace, the necessary path to the palace…” Zhao Yarou began.

“Exactly! I’ve been to the palace countless times since childhood. Would I not know the surroundings?” Ye Lang chuckled. “So, do you think I wouldn’t know this is the easiest escape route?”

“Do you still intend to block our path?” Ye Lang asked, pointing forward.

“Yes. If you leave, it will be harder for me to control certain forces. I will pay any price to kill all of you. You are indeed formidable, but a sea of people tactics can overwhelm even the strongest,” Zhao Yarou said helplessly.

“You just ascended to power. Can you command the army? What justification do you have to oppose us?” Some began to doubt Zhao Yazie. People needed authority and reason to mobilize such tactics.

“You’re so naive! If she claims we are traitors, responsible for the deaths of the emperor and royal princes and princesses, she can achieve two goals at once!” Ye Lang sneered. Though he rarely delved into such intrigues, the logic was clear.

“Ye Lang, I wasn’t mistaken about you. When you look at something, you see it more clearly than others, but often you’re just too lazy to look,” Zhao Yazie said with a complex expression.

“You figured it out! Fine, I admit it—I am a wise man who feigns simplicity,” Ye Lang replied with a smirk.

Zhao Yazie grew silent, then ordered, “Kill them!”

Before the soldiers could react, Ye Lang fired a shot—a gunshot charged with fierce energy that blasted those nearby away, tearing a hole in the frontline. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Lang dashed through without hesitation, escaping beyond the anti-magic formation.

Meanwhile, others remained trapped in the plaza, surrounded and defending against the soldiers’ assault. Why didn’t Ye Lang break through to assist? The answer was simple—it was more convenient this way.

Ye Lang swiftly scooped out several small devices from his ring and hurled them into the midst of the soldiers.

Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions tore open a gap in the encirclement. The flying limbs and shattered bodies made it clear that Ye Lang’s explosives were powerful.

Yet, no one understood how Ye Lang’s explosives could function within an anti-magic formation. Normally, alchemical items would be ineffective inside, as such formations require magical elements to activate.

The answer was simple: Ye Lang’s explosives were purely chemical, containing no magical elements at all. They were byproducts from his potion-making, and while not numerous, they were potent.

Without pause, Ye Lang retrieved his alchemical cannon from before and aimed it at a corner of the anti-magic formation.

“Ye Lang! Don’t waste your effort! The anti-magic formation has defenses and can’t be destroyed!” Zhao Yazie warned, seemingly out of kindness.

The walls began to crumble.

Ye Lang ignored the warning and fired at maximum power, then said, “The anti-magic formation’s defenses can’t be broken, but I can destroy the foundation of the building, causing the formation’s core to shift!”

Zhao Yazie fell silent. He should have realized this earlier. How could he know as much about alchemical formations as Ye Lang? Of course, Ye Lang would have a way to overcome it.

Soon enough, reality confirmed the truth. With one formation core lost, the anti-magic formation’s area shrank, leaving a corner vulnerable—where the others stood. The confinement of the Ye family and their allies was broken; the experts could now act freely once more.