Chapter 878: Encounter

Chen Ling and the others wore incredibly expressive expressions. After an unknown amount of time, Jian Changsheng finally spoke with uncertainty:

"The Saint of Thieves was here... Is this the Saint of Thieves we know?"

"Most likely," Chen Ling nodded. "There's still wine residue in the cup, so whoever stole the sword probably left recently. They likely entered with the other candidates... In this era, only the Arsonist's Saint of Thieves would be capable of entering the Imperial Mausoleum to steal."

"How did they get in too?"

"The Imperial Mausoleum's appearance caused such a stir, it's normal for them to be drawn here... We just don't know which of the Red, Yellow, Blue, White, or Black Saints of Thieves, or how many, have come."

"It couldn't be White..."

Chen Ling, Jian Changsheng, and Sun Bumian exchanged glances. After spotting Jiang Xiaohua secretly peeking at them from a distance, they decided to keep silent.

When the Saint of Thieves was mentioned, their first thought was naturally Bai Ye. If Bai Ye were also in this ancient tomb, the situation would be quite advantageous for them.

"It's hard to say, there are five Saints of Thieves after all."

"I've heard that each of the five Saints of Thieves has their own specialty. Some can steal memories, some skills, some identities... Their methods are increasingly mysterious. If they're also in these imperial palaces, we'd best be careful," Sun Bumian warned.

Jian Changsheng looked at the empty sword scabbard in his hand, then tossed it onto the ground in annoyance. He clutched the pendant around his neck and muttered softly:

"I finally found a treasure, only for someone else to get to it first... Why isn't this thing working?"

"It's already working. At least you found the scabbard on your own," Sun Bumian shrugged. "You have too much 'bad luck' on you; human fate can only counteract a portion of it. Compared to constantly facing imminent death, merely missing out on a sword is quite gentle."

Jian Changsheng thought about it and realized it was true. At least since entering the Imperial Mausoleum, he hadn't been ambushed, harmed, framed, or tortured. He was still alive and kicking... For him, this was already a stroke of luck.

"It seems there's nothing of value left in this palace."

"The Saint of Thieves has probably cleared out all the surrounding palaces... Where do we go next?"

"Besides this sword, there's another good item at the edge of this level," Chen Ling said, sensing the Imperial Mausoleum. "We can transfer directly there and should be able to get ahead of them."

"Let's go!"

As Jian Changsheng and Sun Bumian pulled Jiang Xiaohua along, Chen Ling once again activated the Imperial Fate. The four figures instantly vanished from their spot.

***

At the edge of the second level, bustling ancient streets were laid out like constellations within the city-state. Armored figures moved swiftly through them, while pedestrians and vendors on the roadside, as if startled, quickly darted into their homes.

A large number of soldiers gathered before the gate of an imperial palace, countless vibrant banners fluttering wildly in the wind!

"Li Shimin!! Are you truly going to rebel?!" someone on the palace wall demanded loudly, their eyes practically splitting with rage.

From among the attacking forces, a figure slowly stepped forward, looked at the person on the palace wall, and spoke calmly:

"You forced my hand... I am merely protecting myself."

"Protecting yourself? Protecting yourself all the way to the palace gate? Li Shimin! Do you even know who the Crown Prince is right now?!"

"The Crown Prince?" The man smiled faintly, took a bow and arrow from a nearby soldier, and said, "Kill you... and I'll be the Crown Prince."

Tensions were high, and a storm was brewing. The fate of the dynasty unfolded outside the palace gate, an old era on the brink of collapse, as the sun of a new age slowly rose behind that figure...

Meanwhile, two figures calmly moved through this past event.

"On the fourth day of the sixth month of Wude Year Nine, Emperor Gaozu of Tang's second son, Li Shimin, the Prince of Qin, launched a coup outside Xuanwu Gate, killing Crown Prince Li Jiancheng with an arrow. Two months later, he ascended the throne..."

A silver, snake-shaped earring swayed gently in the air as Bai Ye spoke softly, his eyes filled with emotion.

"I never thought I'd witness history here."

Mo Lian held his cane, his other hand pressing down the brim of his black bowler hat. He glanced at Bai Ye beside him and drawled, "...You certainly know a lot."

"Just read a few extra books when I had nothing else to do."

"A thief is a thief. Why bother being so knowledgeable? Are you planning to take a civil service exam?"

"Profession is one thing, learning is another. You can actually learn a lot from history... Besides, I have a criminal record, so I can't take the civil service exam," Bai Ye said, spreading his hands helplessly.

"So you're saying that when you're nowhere to be found, you're off reading books?" Mo Lian scoffed.

"What I do doesn't seem to require reporting to you, Mo Lian. You're too nosy."

"Heh."

With a casual step, the two bypassed the chaotic Xuanwu Gate, crossed the palace wall, and entered the imperial palace directly.

"Speaking of which, our luck this time is quite good," Mo Lian said, strolling leisurely as if in his own backyard. "If these lingering emperor spirits were guarding their respective palaces, it would probably be very difficult for us to take anything. I wonder what possessed them all to go down below..."

"Something must have happened below, but it doesn't concern us," Bai Ye said, completely unconcerned.

"Thanks to their departure, we've been able to gather so many good things..."

Mo Lian casually took a bag from his waist, a smile playing on his lips. "The current owner of this palace is Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the founder of the Tang Dynasty... He must have incredible treasures."

Having ransacked so many places, the two were already very familiar with the palace layout and knew where treasures were most likely to be found. After circling above, they descended towards the imperial study.

There was no one around the imperial study, and its doors were tightly shut.

Mo Lian calmly walked to the door with his cane. Just as he was about to knock, he heard a conversation from inside:

"Tsk, how come there isn't even a fruit platter in this imperial study?"

"Red... Lin Yan, are you sure that thing is here? I've searched everywhere, inside and out, but it's not!"

"I can only say it's most likely in the imperial study. If it's not here, we'll have to look in the imperial harem..."

"Could that Saint of Thieves have gotten here first again?"

"...I don't know."

"Damn it, is that Saint of Thieves completely broke?! What's wrong with leaving one for us?"

Mo Lian's hand, halfway raised, suddenly froze in mid-air.

Hearing the familiar voices from inside, Bai Ye first froze, then his mouth twitched uncontrollably, his expression as if he'd seen a ghost!

Bai Ye's mind raced. He glanced at Mo Lian, whose eyes flickered with murderous intent, then steeled himself and flicked his finger in the air beside him...

A flash of white light instantly shot over Mo Lian's head.