Night fell, and a bright full moon hung high above the night sky over the imperial city.
Outside the Taiji Hall, hundreds of palace attendants bustled across the white jade plaza.
According to the customs of the Great Abyss Kingdom, whenever there was a major festival or a grand performance, a brand-new red carpet had to be laid across the plaza to signify the occasion’s importance.
Su Yaoyao slipped down from her little golden throne and swaggered toward the center of the plaza.
“Stop everything. You’re laying the carpet wrong.”
She waved her little hand, bringing the busy eunuchs to a halt.
“The Grand General said that the Hundred Lions’ Birthday Tribute concerns the fate of the Great Abyss Kingdom.”
“The direction and arrangement of the red carpet must conform to the principles of feng shui formations!”
Su Yaoyao delivered this utter nonsense with a perfectly serious expression. The eunuchs exchanged bewildered looks, but not one of them dared contradict the Crown Princess, who had just rendered a great service.
“Big Brother Crown Prince, bring our people over and have them relay it personally.”
Before long, Crown Prince Su Jin arrived with dozens of burly men dressed in the uniforms of palace guards.
A closer look revealed that these men were none other than the assassins Su Yaoyao had recruited with benefits packages the previous night.
“Boss, how exactly are we supposed to do this?”
The leader of the assassins leaned toward Su Yaoyao and lowered his voice, his tone professional and meticulous.
“See the route that leads to the main entrance of the Taiji Hall?”
Su Yaoyao pointed at the ground.
“Pry open all the gaps between the paving stones and lay these little things inside.”
From her portable space, Su Yaoyao produced a large pile of microcurrent electrostatic panels and ultra-thin conductive metal mesh.
Although the assassins had no idea what kind of hidden weapons these were, they were being paid to work, and they moved with impressive efficiency.
Under the cover of darkness, they swiftly laid down the conductive mesh. Then they carefully covered it with the thick red carpet, leaving not the slightest trace from the outside.
Su Yaoyao nodded in satisfaction before pulling out several oddly shaped spray cans.
“Brother, take these and spray the red carpet and the surrounding paving stones. Go wild.”
Su Jin accepted the cans and gave them a puzzled shake.
“Yaoyao, what new poison is this? It doesn’t smell like anything.”
“This is called ultra-high-performance nano lubricant.”
A wicked smile curled across Su Yaoyao’s lips.
“It’s colorless and odorless. Once it coats a surface, it eliminates ninety-nine point nine percent of the friction.”
“Forget people—even a fly landing on it would have to do the splits just to take off again.”
Su Jin’s eyes lit up. A bloodthirsty, excited grin spread across his pinkish face.
“Got it. I’ll make sure they’re coated evenly and thoroughly. Not a single drop will be wasted!”
The siblings and a group of assassins worked away across the plaza like industrious little bees.
Before long, an entire ice-skating rink leading to the Taiji Hall—complete with a barbecue rack—had been set up.
The trap was ready. All that remained was for the blind rats to jump in.
Having finished everything, Su Yaoyao dusted off her little hands and took all the credit in silence.
She led Su Jin quietly back into the Taiji Hall.
Inside, the banquet continued, with officials raising their cups and exchanging toasts.
No one noticed what kind of terrifying slaughterhouse the plaza outside had been transformed into.
As time passed, the Mid-Autumn Night Banquet reached its final climax.
“Boom. Boom. Boom.”
Outside the Taiji Hall, deep and solemn bells and drums rang out together, their thunderous echoes shaking the heavens.
“The auspicious hour has arrived! The Hundred Lions’ Birthday Tribute!”
As the master of ceremonies made the announcement in a long, sonorous cry, everyone turned their eyes toward the hall’s entrance.
The Grand General Lin Zhenxiong sat at the head of the assembled officials, the corners of his mouth twitching upward uncontrollably.
His eyes glittered with feverish bloodlust.
It had worked!
At last, the moment had arrived!
So what if the Black Wind Stronghold’s weapons had been seized?
So what if the assassins had vanished?
These five hundred heavily armored death soldiers were all killing machines that the Lin family had painstakingly cultivated over countless years!
Each man wore dozens of kilograms of pure steel armor, impervious to blades and spears.
As long as they charged into the hall, the entire Great Abyss Kingdom would belong to the Lin family!
Lin Zhenxiong stared fixedly outside, his breathing growing heavy and ragged.
Amid the deafening gongs and drums, five hundred elite death soldiers clad in heavy armor and disguised as lion dancers finally made their entrance!
“Roar!”
The enormous lion heads rolled through the night, emitting deep, imposing growls.
A festive folk performance?
No, no—this was an iron flood carrying enough killing intent to blot out the sky.
Their footsteps were heavy. The synchronized “boom, boom, boom” of their advance made the white jade plaza tremble faintly.
Underneath the thick lion-dance costumes, flashes of cold metal could be seen.
Their pure-steel heavy armor made them resemble moving iron pagodas—unyielding and indestructible.
The soldiers made no unnecessary movements. They were like a primordial beast, advancing menacingly toward the Taiji Hall.
The civil officials inside the hall all changed expression, sensing that something was wrong.
“Why… why is the killing intent of this lion-dance troupe so intense?”
“And why do their footsteps sound like an army marching in iron armor?”
The military officials all gripped the hilts of their swords, their nerves taut.
Lin Zhenxiong abruptly rose to his feet, his massive body blocking everyone’s view.
“Everyone, remain calm. This is the most authentic kind of folk war lion performance. Its entire purpose is to be mighty and imposing!”
Lin Zhenxiong turned toward Su Zhen, who sat upon the Dragon Throne, and smiled a savage, terrifying smile.
“Your Majesty, the Hundred Lions’ Birthday Tribute will surely ensure that the Great Abyss Kingdom’s rule stands firm forever!”
Su Zhen leaned back against the Dragon Throne, his expression tranquil. He looked at Lin Zhenxiong as though he were already a dead man.
Old fox. I’ll let you enjoy yourself for a few more moments.
The calm before the storm always made the anticipation even sweeter.
Beside the Dragon Throne, Su Yaoyao sat upright on her little golden throne.
She clutched a metal remote control in her hands, staring intently at the plaza outside.
Her bright, wide eyes sparkled with excitement at the prank that was about to succeed.
Come on, my little tin cans.
The red carpet to hell has already been rolled out for you. All that’s left is for you to step onto it.
Outside the hall, the five hundred heavily armored death soldiers completed their formation.
Through a gap in the lion’s head, the commander of the death soldiers fixed his gaze on the Tyrant atop the raised platform.
He had only one mission: charge into the hall and kill the Emperor at any cost!
“Beat the drums! Enter the hall!”
The war drums thundered, shaking the heavens and earth.
All five hundred death soldiers surged forward at once.
Like arrows loosed from their bows, they charged onto the red carpet with unstoppable resolve and overwhelming momentum!
Their heavy boots shattered the Mid-Autumn night breeze beneath their feet.
Ten steps!
Five steps!
Three steps!
Kill!
The heavily armored soldier at the front roared inwardly and suddenly took another step forward.
However, the instant his combat boot touched the red carpet, Newton’s mighty laws of physics suddenly ceased to apply!
