# 1654
Chapter 1647: Backstab
The Imperial Palace.
Within the Imperial Garden.
A gentle breeze swept through the pavilion in the garden. Huo Qubing picked up a chess piece and slowly placed it on the board.
"I understand your meaning," the Martial Emperor of Han said as he placed his piece. "With evil spirits running rampant across the land, there truly is a need for a department that can suppress their chaos... I grant your request to establish the Bureau of Evil Suppression."
Hearing this answer, Huo Qubing relaxed slightly. After a moment of silence, he spoke again:
"Your Majesty, regarding the Bureau of Evil Suppression, there is another matter I implore you to grant."
"What is it?"
"I wish for the Bureau of Evil Suppression to be independent from court politics, ungovernable by anyone, answering only to its chief administrator."
The Martial Emperor's hand, mid-motion to place a piece, paused slightly. His brow furrowed:
"Not even me?"
"No." Huo Qubing replied without hesitation.
The Martial Emperor stared at him intently for a long while, then tossed the piece back into the chess cup and said coldly, "Marquis of Champion, do you understand what you're saying?"
"I do." Huo Qubing took a deep breath. "Your Majesty, the Bureau of Evil Suppression was born to suppress evil spirits. Its members are all Extraordinary Persons, and the power an Extraordinary Person can wield far exceeds what the secular world can imagine... A department composed of such Extraordinary Persons is destined to possess the energy to change the Great Han, even the entire world.
Your Majesty is wise and sagely. If the Bureau of Evil Suppression were placed under your command, I would naturally feel at ease... But what if, one day, Your Majesty is no longer here?"
Huo Qubing's voice was solemn and grave. He knew that what he was saying now was absolutely treasonous, and looking at the Martial Emperor's expression, it was indeed not favorable... But there were some things he absolutely had to say.
"Can Your Majesty guarantee that your descendants will all be as wise and upright as you? If Your Majesty creates the precedent that an emperor can command the Bureau of Evil Suppression at will, will future emperors not exploit such a force capable of changing the world?
Should the court one day fall into turmoil, with treacherous ministers colluding with princes to recreate the Nine Dragons' fight for the throne, the Bureau of Evil Suppression will inevitably be drawn into court politics, manipulated by those with malicious intent.
When that time comes, the world will surely fall into great chaos!"
The Martial Emperor's face darkened as he fell into deep thought...
In the end, a Bureau of Evil Suppression containing many Extraordinary Persons like Huo Qubing, Zhan Yuwu, and Yan Zhong was no different from nuclear weapons... And once nuclear weapons appeared in the process of regime succession, if grasped by one faction, it would be a catastrophe.
Huo Qubing would never allow the Bureau of Evil Suppression he had personally established to become a tool for power struggles in the future.
Yet the Martial Emperor was still frowning in contemplation, with no sign of granting his request.
He could allow Huo Qubing to establish the Bureau of Evil Suppression to eliminate evil spirits for the Great Han, but as an emperor, he did not want any force beyond his control to exist—especially one whose potential could threaten his throne.
"Your Majesty—"
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"
Before the Martial Emperor could finish, a figure rushed over from the distance. It was the eunuch Li who had previously led Huo Qubing in.
"What happened?" The Martial Emperor's expression showed displeasure.
"Outside the city... The expeditionary army left by the Marquis has broken into Chang'an City!"
"What?!"
Hearing these words, the Martial Emperor's face changed dramatically. He猛地 turned to look at Huo Qubing and said coldly, "Huo Qubing... are you trying to rebel?"
"I would never dare such a thing!" Huo Qubing immediately replied. There was also bewilderment in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, those rushing in... they don't look like people... After they die, they all turn into willow branches that can still move! They're shouting that there are monsters everywhere in Chang'an City. Currently, the Feathered Forest Army outside the city has been completely annihilated.
Your Majesty, what should we do?!"
"Willow branches?" The Martial Emperor's expression shifted rapidly. "Could this be some kind of evil spirit?"
"Your Majesty, I will handle this matter." Huo Qubing rose from his seat, his expression stern. "Please return to the palace, Your Majesty. Within half a day, I will surely quell the chaos in Chang'an."
The Martial Emperor glanced at him, his expression complex, then nodded:
"Very well."
Huo Qubing personally escorted the Martial Emperor to the palace. As he turned to leave, Zhan Yuwu and others waiting outside the Imperial Garden hurried forward, their faces grave.
"Marquis, we heard something happened outside the palace?" Zhan Yuwu asked in a low voice.
"Yes. It seems our returned personnel have suddenly attacked Chang'an City, turning into willow branches... It must be the doing of the mist we encountered at dawn." Huo Qubing walked as he contemplated. "The priority now is to..."
Pff—!!
Before Huo Qubing could finish, a sharp blade point pierced through his chest from behind!
His body froze in place.
Blood dyed the blade tip red, drops falling to the ground. Huo Qubing turned his head in shock, only to see Zhan Yuwu gripping the curved blade, cold and menacing light flickering in his eyes!
"Yu...wu... what are you—"
"Stop pretending." Zhan Yuwu's grip on the sword hilt tightened, a dark aura seeping into the blade. He said coldly, "Do you really think you can deceive us?"
"You monster! Where have you hidden the real Marquis?!"
Swish—!!
A crescent blade light slashed through Huo Qubing's body. Fresh blood sprayed profusely, instantly staining the stone path before the palace walls red. In the next moment, the tall palace wall was also shattered by the crescent strike and collapsed on one side.
Huo Qubing's figure shot out from the dust. A gash nearly splitting him in half, a sharp light flashing in his eyes. His left hand raised, and a black shadow drifted out from nothingness, like a black flag, tightly binding the torn flesh wound on his body.
[Dominion Emperor]'s true form was extremely fragile, and he had no guard whatsoever against Zhan Yuwu and the others. Zhan Yuwu's strike was too fast. At such close range, even he couldn't react in time.
He barely stabilized himself, looking at Zhan Yuwu before him and the four stern-faced generals behind him, his expression extremely grim!
If not for the [Dark Brocade Garment] he wore beneath his armor, Zhan Yuwu's previous strike, [Annihilation Crescent Moon], would have dealt him serious injury... He never imagined Zhan Yuwu would attack him.
"Yuwu, have you all gone mad?!"
"Mad?" Zhan Yuwu shook his head. "I know perfectly well what I'm doing... Only by killing this counterfeit can we save the real Marquis!"
As his voice fell, the curved blade in Zhan Yuwu's hand blazed with dark light once more. The four generals behind him moved simultaneously, attacking Huo Qubing from four different directions!
Seeing that the five before him had truly murderous intent, Huo Qubing's expression gradually turned sharp. His gaze swept across the five of them, contemplating something...