[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Chapter 36

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter Three: Royal Affection - The Crown Prince Escorts the Coffin.

A once quiet and peaceful village, hidden deep in the mountains, almost completely isolated from human habitation, was home to people who lived a simple life, resting at sunset and working at sunrise. Though simple, they were content with their lot. The village's remote location meant it was largely untouched by war, a rare haven of peace amidst the chaos of conflict. Everything here was so warm and touching.

However, the rapid sound of hooves shattered this tranquility.

Zhu Yuanzhang's successful uprising and the subsequent battle to expel the Yuan army saw the Po Jun Camp, which had been fighting in the northwest, suddenly advance westward, overwhelming the Yuan forces. The formidable reputation of General Ji Zhengang, the Golden Guard General, terrified the Yuan soldiers. Ji Zhengang swept through city after city, and the ferocious Po Jun Camp relentlessly pursued the Yuan army westward.

A group of Yuan soldiers, pursued for two days and three nights, hid in the dense forest, evading the pursuit of the Broken Army Camp, driven by hunger and panic. The days of travel had exhausted even their strong steeds, leaving them too weak to run. Fortunately, they escaped the blades of these killing gods and successfully fled.

At that time, Lü Zhenfeng had already established his reputation as a Heavenly Rank official, renowned throughout the land and a figure of great renown. However, he was not greedy for fame or fortune and had long since begun his journey to find the four maps of the Grass Book.

Just when the Yuan soldiers were about to give up, on a desolate mountain where birds had vanished, almost to the point of slaughtering their horses, they were suddenly greeted by a breathtaking sight after crossing a mountain peak. In the depths of the almost deserted mountains, they discovered a prosperous little village.

The village, nestled against the mountains and beside a stream, was peaceful and serene, with fertile fields of ripening earth. The villagers playing in the fields and the leisurely oxen in the fields gave these starving, defeated soldiers hope of escaping back to the grasslands.

The two hundred-plus Yuan soldiers immediately rallied, their eyes red with fury as they drew their broadswords and charged along the narrow path, barely wide enough for two people to pass. A horrific massacre ensued, and they managed to sustain themselves with food until they escaped back to the grasslands.

Normally, Lü Zhenfeng wouldn't concern himself with such worldly affairs, but he had been busy traveling and hadn't received a single piece of news about Shu Tu. The Blood Hand Demon Lord was so frustrated he wanted to kill a few people to vent his anger. Now that these soldiers had come to his doorstep, he couldn't let them get away. His face hardened, and he immediately followed

. However, as he watched the Yuan soldiers cross the small wooden bridge, Lü Zhenfeng suddenly sensed a pervasive danger. Even though the scenery before him remained peaceful and pleasant, a fear prevented him from advancing; it seemed that one more step would mean certain death.

Even more bizarrely, the villagers chatted in the fields, and the children played and chased each other as usual.

"Ah!"

Just as Lü Zhenfeng was completely baffled, a mournful scream suddenly pierced the sky. The Yuan soldier at the forefront had inexplicably vanished before everyone's eyes, almost without warning. This extremely eerie scene terrified everyone. Meanwhile

, the villagers seemed oblivious to the scream, continuing their peaceful and leisurely farming. Even those who occasionally turned around seemed to see no such ferocious wolves, continuing to discuss their lives.

"Ah, a ghost!"

The Yuan soldiers were dumbfounded. This scene was completely beyond their imagination; a living person had vanished into thin air along with their horse—it was utterly unbelievable.

Suddenly, a Yuan soldier, his face contorted with terror, gaped, trembling violently. His hand trembled, and his knife fell to the ground with a clang, startling everyone. Before they could even reprimand him, they noticed his abnormality. His face was deathly pale, his lips rapidly turning blue, his wide eyes filled with terror, and his lips quivered, yet he couldn't utter a word, as if he had seen something horrifying.

"Help! Don't kill me!"

Before anyone could ask him, he suddenly screamed, turning and fleeing for his life, glancing back in terror as he ran, as if something truly was chasing him.

This sudden change terrified the Yuan soldiers even more. They looked around, their faces filled with vigilance and unease. Suddenly, they saw the man disappear again at the edge of the woods, and the chilling scream vanished instantly. This time, they lost their composure, their faces drained of color, screaming shrilly as they fled in utter panic.

Lu Zhenfeng was also stunned. Having roamed the world for so many years, even with his reverence for ghosts and gods, he had never encountered anything so bizarre. Could there truly be such a thing as a ghostly, inescapable place? If not, then what about these mysteriously vanished Yuan soldiers?

The Yuan soldiers scattered in all directions, but one by one they disappeared before Lu Zhenfeng's eyes, vanishing into thin air. Upon closer inspection, the surrounding scenery shook violently, extremely eerie, like a calm lake being disturbed, creating ripples. After the tremors subsided, Lu Zhenfeng could see them again.

Now, all the Yuan soldiers dismounted and ran, abandoning their armor and weapons in a desperate flight. Some seemed to be chased by something, looking back as they ran, their faces contorted with fear. Even stranger, the horses remained motionless, seemingly oblivious to their masters' cries of agony.

The Yuan soldiers were terrified, yet they all ran towards the waterfall. Even though they were only a few feet apart, they seemed unable to see each other, sometimes bumping into each other and screaming as if they had seen a ghost.

Lü Zhenfeng couldn't understand what was happening, and his scalp tingled. The only thing he knew was that the mastermind behind this didn't seem to be hostile towards him; in fact, it seemed to have intended for him to witness this scene.

Chasing after the fleeing Yuan soldiers, Lü Zhenfeng became even more alarmed. Had these people gone mad? More than two hundred Yuan soldiers were huddled together, running in circles on an open grassland, barely getting anywhere. They seemed unable to see their comrades beside them, screaming hysterically, some appearing to have suffered a mental breakdown.

Lu Zhenfeng stopped on a tree, staring in shock at this incomprehensible scene. Suddenly, the air rippled, as if tearing through the void, and a dog skull appeared in the center of the clearing. Blood and tears flowed continuously from its pale eye sockets. What was even more terrifying was that although the skull was inanimate, it now looked like it was laughing, and the laugh was full of evil.

"Ah... don't chase me..."

"Help... I don't want to die!"

"I, I'll fight you... to the death."

As soon as the dog skull appeared, the Yuan soldiers suddenly went mad, as if they were in the underworld, with vengeful spirits everywhere, demanding their lives. Terrified, they could no longer bear this terrible pressure. They drew their swords and swung them wildly. Some mistook their comrades for ghosts, slashing without mercy, while others had completely broken down and even drew their swords to commit suicide, a relieved smile on their faces as they fell.

Watching their frenzied, mindless slaughter, Lü Zhenfeng felt a chill run down his spine. He touched himself and found himself drenched in cold sweat. Meanwhile, the Yuan soldiers continued their battle, but more and more were committing suicide to escape their torment. The skull in the center grinned even more eerily.

When the last surviving Yuan soldier stood in the center, he had no idea that he, a valiant warrior, had taken the lives of at least twenty of his comrades. In his eyes, the dismembered corpses continued to surge towards him. He continued to swing his broadsword, hacking at the air, his mouth still emitting hysterical screams. Finally, unable to bear the terror any longer, he let out a bloodcurdling scream and plunged the sword into his heart.

The corpse slowly fell, a horrifying sight of blood pooling on the ground. Most of the Yuan soldiers smiled, as if they had escaped some terrible torment. Lü Zhenfeng looked closely and saw that the dog's skull was slowly weathering away, turning into fine dust and disappearing into the air.

"Sigh..."

Even though he commanded countless innocent souls, Lü Zhenfeng was still terrified by this unbelievable scene. If he hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he couldn't have imagined such a bizarre thing could happen. Before he could recover, a deep sigh suddenly rang out, making this arrogant demon lord tremble.

Lü Zhenfeng instinctively looked towards the riverbank. In the previously empty spot sat an old man with white hair and beard. His somewhat tattered white robe was stained with black dust. Although he was thin and small, his venerable appearance still inspired awe in those who beheld him.

The old man slowly stood up, walked around the altar where the ritual was being performed, brushed the dust off his clothes, and sighed, "Since you already have a chance to live, why bother to ruin this pure land? It's not that I'm heartless, but that you're all unlucky!"

It was obvious that the instigator of all this was the old man with the air of a hermit. Although Lü Zhenfeng couldn't see any trace of internal energy in him, he didn't dare to be negligent. He quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Immortal, you are truly powerful. You can decide life and death with a wave of your hand; it's truly admirable."

This man was naturally Chen Daozi, a disciple of Guigu, who practiced a series of unorthodox and strange methods. He chuckled, looked at the now renowned Lü Zhenfeng, and bowed deeply: "Greetings, Senior Brother."

"What?"

Lü Zhenfeng was somewhat bewildered by his sudden action.

Chen Daozi smiled gently, but his words struck Lü Zhenfeng like a thunderbolt, leaving him speechless with shock: "Blood Hand Demon Lord, although you appear to be in your prime, judging from your birth time, you are nearly two hundred years old. Born into a farming family in Shanxi, your original name was Lü Ansheng. You lost both your parents at a young age and lived by begging. Later, a kind-hearted fisherwoman took you in, and you became her mother, changing your name to Lü Zhenfeng, intending to live a life free from want."

This long-buried past was something even Lü Zhenfeng himself couldn't recall after so many years, yet the immortal Taoist before him knew it all, leaving the once-powerful Blood Hand Demon Lord both astonished and terrified.

Chen Daozi continued slowly, "After the fisherwoman fell seriously ill and passed away, you began to wander again. While lying in a dilapidated temple, suffering from hunger and illness, you stumbled upon a strange book, the *Battle Dragon Technique*, passed down by Guiguzi. It is an extremely masculine method, and from then on, you embarked on the path of a powerful figure who would stand above all others. Because the *Battle Dragon Technique* includes a method of secluded cultivation, you are still as vigorous as ever, nearly two hundred years old, and still maintain the physique of a young man. Is that right, Demon Lord?"

Lü Zhenfeng's shock was no less than when Xu Ping first met Chen Daozi. He was stunned, cold sweat pouring down his face, not understanding why his secret had been known so clearly.

"You...who exactly are you?"

For the first time in his life, Lü Zhenfeng felt fear. His hand trembled as he pointed at Chen Daozi. At this moment, he almost forgot his Heavenly Rank power; his martial arts seemed weak and powerless.

Chen Daozi chuckled, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said solemnly, "Chen Daozi, a disciple of Guigu, is skilled in the arts of Yin and Yang. Although I am old and frail, I am nearly two cycles of sixty years younger than my senior brother. I pay my respects to my senior brother."

"What?!"

Lü Zhenfeng looked at him in surprise, "You said you are also a disciple of Guigu?"

"Indeed."

Chen Daozi nodded and smiled, "The teachings of Guigu require a certain destiny. Although I am of humble origin, I am fortunate to have received them, and I have a responsibility to carry them forward."

This was the first encounter between Chen Daozi and Lü Zhenfeng. The small mountain village was where Chen Daozi's descendants lived. Originally, a strange array was set up to prevent outsiders from entering, but somehow, that group of Yuan soldiers bypassed the array's key points and broke in. Some were unjustly trapped and killed by Chen Daozi's mind-controlling evil array.

However, because Chen Daozi was considered a jinx, he couldn't be with his family and enjoy family life, nor could he spend long periods with Lü Zhenfeng. Therefore, the two went their separate ways to search for the location of the Grass Book Map, and for thirty years they had seen each other less and less. After saying this, Lü Zhenfeng seemed to lament the passage of time, his face full of wasted years and memories. Xu Ping stared wide-eyed, listening to Lü Zhenfeng finish his story; a whole night had passed. He never expected that beneath Chen Daozi's shameless exterior lay such a terrifying side; his array of evil formations was truly impossible to defend against.

Lü Zhenfeng smiled and said magnanimously, "Second Junior Brother's magic is so powerful that probably no one can surpass him today. Even I, if trapped by him, would likely perish. The power of the Ghost Valley teachings is truly enviable!"

"Master, we've arrived!"

By this time, it was already broad daylight, and the coachman called out cautiously.

The Demon Camp had arrived at the gates of the capital in a grand procession. At this point, Lü Zhenfeng, having regained face, smiled and said, "Alright, Junior Brother, I consider my mission complete once you've been safely brought back. I still need to retrieve the other three maps of the Grass Book. This place is safe now, so I'll take my leave first. Give the one you have to Miaoyin."

"Mm."

Xu Ping nodded solemnly, watching him disappear into the air before turning back to order the Demon Camp to set up camp outside the city. He then led the Demonic Sect members and Zhao Meng into the city.

What a close call! Xu Ping sighed deeply, wondering how worried his beauties at home must be. Leng Yue, fearing further mistreatment if she went back with Xu Ping, immediately made an excuse to return and fled with the people of Shuntian Prefecture.

Damn little girl! Xu Ping watched her retreating figure, his eyes fixed on her high, shapely buttocks, thinking: When I have some free time, I'll make sure you can't get out of bed.

Although his mind was filled with lewd thoughts, Xu Ping had already noticed something amiss along the way. The once bustling capital was now much quieter due to the riots, with dilapidated houses and broken tiles scattered everywhere. When he reached the gates of the Crown Prince's residence, Xu Ping was so frightened that he couldn't speak.

White cloths and lanterns were hung everywhere at the entrance, and the servants and guards at the gate were all dressed in mourning clothes. The only person who could be so solemn and have the Crown Prince's residence wearing mourning clothes for him must be someone very close to him. Xu Ping's heart skipped a beat: Something bad had happened!

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness..."

Before the servants at the gate could even call out, Xu Ping had already rushed inside like the wind. He rushed anxiously to the main hall,

where white cloths and white flowers were hung everywhere, and the corridors were almost deserted. Many of the familiar servants and guards were nowhere to be seen. This was completely out of character for the usual bustling atmosphere of the place.

White banners fluttered in the main hall, which had been transformed into a mourning hall, a scene of utter desolation. The sounds of weeping emanating from it terrified Xu Ping, making him lose his mind.

"What happened?"

Xu Ping rushed inside like a madman.

The hall was filled with white flowers, and a black coffin stood in the center, surrounded by wreaths. When he saw the name "Liu Tiangu" on the memorial tablet, Xu Ping felt his vision blur.

"Master!"

Qiao'er sobbed loudly beside him, her usual mischievousness and cuteness gone, replaced only by sorrow and grief. As soon as Xu Ping returned, she knelt and hugged his legs, pleading tearfully, "Master, you must avenge Uncle Liu! He died so tragically... Waaah... Waaah..."

Only Qiao'er was in the main hall; everyone else was a stranger from the Demonic Sect. Xu Ping was immediately frantic, like an ant on a hot pan, shouting, "Where are the others? Where did they all go? What happened?"

Qiao'er choked out, "They're alright. The Empress took them to the palace. Uncle Liu was killed while protecting you masters. It was all Ji Long's doing! Master, you must avenge him!"

Xu Ping instantly turned pale, his face deathly ashen, his teeth clenched so tightly his fists cracked! Somewhat incredulously, Xu Ping stepped forward, gazing upon Uncle Liu's peaceful face after his death. He reached out and touched it; the familiar, loving face was already cold. Xu Ping's eyes immediately reddened, and he said, word by word, "Ji Long, I swear to tear you to pieces!"

"Master."

Liu Ziyi, who had also changed into mourning clothes at some point, handed over three sticks of incense with a sorrowful expression.

Xu Ping, his face grim, accepted the incense and respectfully bowed to Uncle Liu before offering it. Then, to their astonishment, he knelt before the memorial tablet, his face filled with sorrow, and said, "Uncle Liu, you watched me grow up, always saying there's a distinction between superiors and inferiors, and we mustn't violate propriety. I feel ashamed seeing you kneel before me time and time again. Today, I'm not some prince, I'm your beloved Ping'er. Let me kneel before you once more!"

"Your Highness, you mustn't!"

Everyone immediately turned pale with fright. A prince kneeling before a commoner steward—such an overstepping of bounds would be unacceptable if word got out! They all tried to dissuade him, but they were also moved by Xu Ping's actions.

"Bring mourning clothes. I want to wear mourning clothes for Uncle Liu," Xu Ping commanded, his resolute expression leaving no

room for disobedience. But these words still terrified everyone. The Emperor and Empress were both alive, yet the prince was wearing mourning clothes for a commoner, someone of a different surname. While such sentiment was touching, their traditional values made it impossible for them to comply.

"Master!"

"Master..."

Everyone knelt down around Xu Ping, kowtowing repeatedly, not daring to take the mourning clothes. But Xu Ping was in a fit of rage, and no one dared to stop him. They could only hope that Xu Ping would change his mind about this unacceptable idea.

"Go and get it!"

Xu Ping was so angry that he had lost his mind. His face was full of rage, and the veins on his forehead were bulging. He kicked Liu Ziyi in a fit of rage and roared, "Even you dare to disobey my orders? Are you trying to rebel?"

Although Liu Ziyi was kicked and fell to the ground, her shoulder aching slightly, she felt no displeasure at Xu Ping's deep affection. In fact, she was glad that her beloved was such a loving and righteous person. She hurriedly knelt back down and pleaded tearfully, "Master, if you wear mourning clothes for Uncle Liu, he will not approve if he knows in the afterlife. Please reconsider!" After saying that, she kowtowed again, tears streaming down her face, trying to change Xu Ping's mind.

"Master,"

Qiao'er cried and kowtowed, "Please stop! If Uncle Liu knew you were going to wear mourning clothes for him, he would die with his eyes wide open in disbelief. Please..."

"Please reconsider!"

The crowd pleaded in unison, their voices choked with emotion, yet they were also relieved for Uncle Liu. After all, the Crown Prince was going to wear mourning clothes for him; such deep affection was worthwhile after serving the royal family diligently for over twenty years.

"Reconsider my ass!"

Xu Ping roared like a madman, "You all want me to reconsider? Reconsider what? Will reconsidering bring Uncle Liu back to life? I won't be able to see him one last time before I die. I just want to send him off peacefully. Why are you stopping me?"

The crowd was too frightened to utter a sound. It was almost the first time they had seen Xu Ping so angry. Even Liu Ziyi, his wife, could feel the boundless rage in her beloved's heart. She silently shed tears, not daring to speak.

"Ping'er!"

A powerful and authoritative shout suddenly rang out, and a middle-aged man in magnificent robes walked in. Although his face was somewhat haggard and he had heavy dark circles under his eyes, his regal aura and imposing presence terrified everyone, preventing them from moving.

"Father!"

Xu Ping rushed over, but before he could speak, he received a solid slap across the face. Xu Ping fell to the ground, clutching the burning handprint on his face, feeling slightly dizzy. He immediately roared in fury, "What are you doing?"

"Shut up!"

Zhu Yunwen glared at him, his face full of anger. "If you hadn't run away without permission and disappeared for so long, causing Ji Long to rebel prematurely, would Uncle Liu have died? Now you're disturbing his funeral. Do you really want him to die in unease?"

"Ping'er, are you alright?"

Women are generally soft-hearted. Seeing this, Ji Xinyue, who arrived shortly after, knelt down to support Xu Ping, offering comfort without a hint of blame: "Uncle Liu is dead. I know you're sad, but sadness won't help. You, the Crown Prince, are wearing mourning clothes for someone else. Wouldn't that make the world laugh at your father and grandfather? Listen to me, stop making a scene."

Xu Ping's anger was immediately melted away by Ji Xinyue's gentle gaze. His hateful roars were stuck in his throat, unable to be uttered. Calming down slightly, he looked at his father's swollen eyes and understood that he had shed tears for the loyal old man, Uncle Liu. A wave of helplessness washed over him.

Zhu Yunwen snorted coldly, walking out with his hands behind his back, saying, "You can keep crying all you want. Come back to me when you've calmed down!"

"Respectfully bidding farewell to His Majesty!"

The women knelt down in unison.

Zhu Yunwen was also suppressing his anger and grief. Although he was the emperor, capable of beheading thousands with a wave of his hand, the death of Uncle Liu was a heavy blow to him. Everyone else could be angry, everyone else could be chaotic, but he couldn't. Only he could understand the tears of sorrow and hatred that

flowed in the dead of night. Xu Ping understood his father's grief and the helplessness of suppressing his anger. Looking at Uncle Liu's memorial tablet, he could no longer hold back his tears, sobbing through gritted teeth, vowing to capture Ji Long and bring him to Uncle Liu's grave, torturing him to death as a sacrifice to Uncle Liu's spirit.

"Ping'er, cry, it'll make you feel better."

Ji Xinyue looked at her son's distraught state, her heart aching. She hugged Xu Ping in her arms like she had when he was a child, choking back sobs, "Uncle Liu has loved you since you were little, you should be sad, that's right."

"Ah!"

Xu Ping roared, his voice like a tiger's howl, startling everyone. He threw himself into Ji Xinyue's arms and burst into tears.

Ji Xinyue held this loyal old man in the same esteem as anyone else. Seeing her son cry so bitterly for the first time, her beautiful eyes reddened, and she sobbed as she comforted Xu Ping, tears streaming down her face.

Finally, mother and son sat on the ground before Uncle Liu's coffin, embracing and weeping uncontrollably. Their heart-wrenching cries moved Qiao'er and the others deeply. A mere servant, yet the Crown Prince and Empress mourned for him—his life had not been in vain.

Xu Ping cried until he fainted several times, and Ji Xinyue was also suffering. Already delicate, she was soaked with tears and fainted several times as well.

Finally, Zhu Yunwen couldn't bear it any longer and sent Ji Jingyue to take her away. When Ji Jingyue arrived and saw Xu Ping's heartbroken state, her pain was no less than Ji Xinyue's. She offered a few words of gentle comfort and quickly took the already exhausted Ji Xinyue back to the palace.

Xu Ping wouldn't listen to anyone's advice. After crying his eyes out, his swollen eyes seemed to be deep in thought. He slumped to the ground, staring blankly at Uncle Liu's memorial tablet, and asked in a hoarse voice, "When will the funeral procession begin?"

Liu Ziyi, hearing Xu Ping speak for the first time in a long silence, quickly handed him a cup of tea to moisten his throat and said sadly, "Tomorrow. His Majesty had someone calculate it, and tomorrow is the best auspicious time for burial this year."

"I understand."

Xu Ping downed his tea in one gulp, then asked coldly, "How exactly did this happen? Did you already know? Why did you keep it from me all along the way?"

Liu Ziyi trembled. From the moment she met Xu Ping until now, this was the first time she had seen her beloved so cold-hearted. She hurriedly knelt down, trembling as she said, "This servant didn't dare to say anything because you weren't feeling well at the time."

Qiao'er also knelt down and pleaded, "Master, please don't blame Master, okay? She didn't mean to hide it."

Xu Ping sighed deeply, blaming himself, "Get up, all of you. What's done is done, and I can't blame anyone but myself for being careless and implicating Uncle Liu. I deserve to die."

"Your Highness."

The members of the Demonic Sect all knelt down, tears streaming down their faces. Most of them were orphans and prodigals who had survived only because Uncle Liu had taken them in when they were desperate. Even a single meal was an unforgettable kindness to them, and they would repay Uncle Liu's kindness tenfold. How many people in the world, even those who are commoners, can command such attention from the imperial court?

“Tell me what happened,”

Xu Ping said, propping himself up in his chair, his eyes still filled with emptiness and sorrow. Liu Ziyi dismissed the crowd and recounted the entire incident, including the powerful attack on the Crown Prince's residence by Ji Long's experts, their desperate attempts to intercept him that caused chaos in the capital, Miao Yin's overwhelming presence when the gates were breached, Lü Zhenfeng's bloody escape, and Chen Qi and Lou Jiu's rescue efforts—she described everything clearly, leaving no detail out.

After listening, Xu Ping closed his eyes and said nothing. After a long while, he sighed deeply, “I understand. You can all leave.”

Knowing that Xu Ping wanted to keep vigil for Uncle Liu that night, and considering it wasn't inappropriate, the crowd quietly withdrew and closed the door tightly, some of them anxiously standing guard outside.

That night, all the palace beauties rushed over. Lou Jiu and the others also stood guard at the door with concern. Zhao Meng and Zhao Ling, the brother and sister, did not have time to express their longing for each other. They also stood guard outside the mourning hall with solemn expressions. Although they were all worried about Xu Ping, no one dared to knock on the door.

Finally, unable to bear the worry any longer, they had no choice but to go to the palace to ask for instructions. Zhu Yunwen simply sighed and said , "Let it be."

The moon hung high, and besides those present, there were also feng shui masters from the palace calculating the time. After midnight, when the time was almost right, Zhao Ling mustered her courage and gently knocked on the door, whispering, "Brother Ping, the auspicious time for Uncle Liu's burial is almost here."

The mourning hall remained silent. After a long while, Xu Ping opened the door, his eyes bloodshot and looking extremely weak. He said wearily to Zhao Ling, "Ling'er, Uncle Liu loved you the most when he was alive. All of you, put on your mourning clothes and send Uncle Liu off on his final journey."

After saying this, Xu Ping ignored the concerned looks of everyone and walked out along the corridor, almost disregarding the worried crowd, and went straight to the door.

"Master, look,"

Qiao'er whispered, pointing to the mourning hall.

Following her gaze, everyone saw a set of mourning clothes, still warm from body heat, neatly folded beside the mourning hall. There were also two deep kneeling marks in front of Uncle Liu's coffin. Looking at Xu Ping's trembling knees as he walked, everyone understood that he had knelt all night in mourning for Uncle Liu. But at this moment, no one would say anything, and no one would dare to ask further. No one would investigate who had secretly sent the mourning clothes in.

The mourning hall immediately sprang into action, everyone carefully preparing Uncle Liu's body. Xu Ping stepped outside and sighed weakly, saying, "Senior Sister, thank you."

Outside the courtyard, Miao Yin leaned against a tree, calmly watching Xu Ping. Her petite and adorable figure, her flowing skirt fluttering in the wind, made her even more endearing. However, she too remained composed. After a moment's thought, she asked, somewhat puzzled, "Was it necessary? He was just a roughneck in the martial world."

Xu Ping smiled and shook his head, saying nothing. His eyes were bloodshot, his face filled with sorrow, yet a hidden, chilling hatred flickered within his melancholy.

Miaoyin hadn't expected Uncle Liu's death to have such a devastating impact on Xu Ping. She sighed softly and said, "Second Senior Brother has also calculated the auspicious time. The palace has arranged it for an auspicious burial. He's also inspected the location, saying it's an excellent feng shui site. He'll perform a ritual to ensure his next life of peace and health."

"Thank him for me,"

Xu Ping said, tossing her an ancient scroll. "The fourth map is here. I hope you can find the tomb soon."

Miaoyin took the scroll, her face showing no joy. Seeing Xu Ping's distraught state, she felt a pang of sadness and comforted him, "Junior Brother, death is like a lamp going out. No one can escape the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. He was loyal enough to die, so he should be at peace. You don't need to blame yourself too much."

"I know,"

Xu Ping said, turning and walking away without looking back.

Miaoyin sighed deeply. From Xu Ping's cold attitude, it was easy to see his deep resentment and guilt. She knew that further words of comfort would be useless; he needed to figure things out for himself.

A small figure suddenly flashed by, as if no one knew how she had arrived or how she had left.

Silently, the crowd carried Uncle Liu's coffin out of the mansion. As soon as they stepped outside, Xu Ping was astonished. The torchlight illuminated half the darkness of the capital. A dense crowd of people, dressed in mourning clothes, stood outside the gate. Even the civil and military officials of the court had come to pay their respects. Looking at the Ministry of Rites, despite the complicated rules, they were handling Uncle Liu's funeral with the standards befitting a prince. Knowing that his father had tacitly approved of all this, Xu Ping felt a surge of relief.

"Master,"

a timid voice called softly. Guo Wenwen and Guo Xiang'er, dressed in white mourning clothes, approached. Seeing Xu Ping's haggard appearance, they were too frightened to speak.

"Crown Prince."

Guo Jinghao, baring his menacing fangs and busy brandishing his sword against Ji Long's remaining followers, looked somewhat haggard. However, with Ji Long gone, he was now second only to the emperor, naturally standing at the forefront of the officials. He gently comforted them, saying, "The deceased has passed away. Please accept our condolences. Since you cannot observe the proper mourning rites, we, your subjects, will take your place. For his peace in the afterlife, you must pull yourself together."

Xu Ping glanced at him, understanding that he had brought his two daughters here before marriage to flaunt his position as the Grand Secretary and future imperial relative before the officials. He didn't say much, glared at him, and silently stepped forward to help support Uncle Liu's coffin.

Guo Jinghao understood Xu Ping's dissatisfaction, but being an experienced and shrewd man, he had weighed the pros and cons before daring to act. Furthermore, during the chaos in the capital, Xu Ping's forces, almost unknown to anyone, had greatly surprised him. He estimated that this crown prince was undoubtedly a powerful and ruthless figure, so he resolutely sided with the royal family despite his initial hesitation.

A group of beautiful young women silently followed behind, representing Xu Ping in a solemn farewell to Uncle Liu with the respect due to filial daughters. The procession was illuminated by lanterns resembling a long, coiled dragon, a grand and dignified send-off for the highly respected elder. The grand ceremony led the people of the capital to speculate about the identity of the deceased high-ranking official. Among

the officials, some, inevitably, were oblivious, muttering about the need for such a grand display over the death of a mere steward. Xu Ping's face turned cold. If it weren't for the need to properly send Uncle Liu off and prevent trouble, he would have already killed them. Guo Jinghao took in Xu Ping's expression, inwardly scoffing. Those who dared to whisper would naturally not escape his blade.

Uncle Liu's tomb was chosen in the southern suburbs of the capital, next to the mausoleum of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. This honor was to recognize his lifelong loyalty. With Zhu Yunwen's approval, the Ministry of Rites dared not cause any further trouble and reluctantly agreed to bury this unsuccessful commoner next to the emperor.

The wise understood that disagreement would mean certain death, as many royal matters were beyond their comprehension.

The three-day, three-night ritual, presided over by the Ministry of Rites, was solemn and dignified. The burning of paper money and candles nearly illuminated half the sky. After the officials returned to court, Xu Ping remained by his side, and the girls, though some delicate, silently burned paper money for Uncle Liu.

For three days and three nights without a drop of water, the usually frail Guo Wenwen and Zhao Ling collapsed, unable to endure it any longer. They were quickly carried back to the palace to recuperate. By the time the third night's ritual was completed, Xu Ping, already injured, also succumbed. Pale-faced and trembling, covered in cold sweat, he stared at Uncle Liu's grave. Suddenly, his vision went black, and he fainted amidst the screams of the crowd.

The Crown Prince, leading his family, personally carried the coffin, while civil and military officials saw him off in the middle of the night, performing the rites of a prince just to send off a wandering swordsman. The Crown Prince himself had fainted at Uncle Liu's grave without a drop of water. This news spread like wildfire, causing a great uproar among the people, who were baffled by what had happened.

Those who understood the reason were all moved to tears, including the members of the Demonic Sect who had begun gathering intelligence since Ji Long had fled to Tianjin, and naturally, Liu Ruxue, the current leader of the Demonic Sect, who had been orphaned since childhood and could not attend the funeral due to the greater good, and who regarded Uncle Liu as her grandfather.

Chapter Four: Tense Situation, Strategic Planning

In October, the capital city barely recovered its prosperity after about half a month. News of the internal strife could no longer be concealed; the entire nation knew that the current Prime Minister, Ji Long, had rebelled. After his defeat, he and his family fled to Tianjin, where, with the help of his brother-in-law, he seized control of the city and began contacting other forces across the country to plot a major rebellion. His rebellious intentions were common knowledge.

A founding general, the only prince of a different surname, and the ruthless Wolf Camp of the Northeast—all of this gave Ji Long great confidence. He even openly sent people to contact local officials, attempting to incite more people to oppose the court.

Zhu Yunwen didn't care about any of this. Even if the local officials agreed, what difference would it make? His biggest concern was Ji Zhongyun's attitude. After all, the garrisons in various regions were intricately intertwined, and even if Ji Long had the ability to mobilize half of them, he couldn't easily threaten the safety of the capital.

Compared to his large-scale recruitment, the Hungry Wolf Camp in the Northeast was the real threat to the court. Although there had been no war for twenty years, no one dared to underestimate Ji Zhongyun's formidable power and the Hungry Wolf Camp's fighting strength. This iron-blooded prince, though loyal, had a son who had rebelled, and might be forced to raise an army

himself. Therefore, Zhu Yunwen specially mobilized the Broken Army Camp, which had never moved an inch, to the north, stationing it in Zhili to keep a close watch on the Hungry Wolf Camp's movements. Indeed, the only force capable of fighting them was the Broken Army Camp under Ji Zhengang's command. Although Jiangnan might be unstable, this was a necessary measure. Uncle

Liu's funeral was still underway, and the national turmoil was unrelated to the Ministry of Rites, so the officials there were happy to ignore the chaos. After a period of purging Ji Long's remaining followers, and with Guo Jinghao having sided with Xu Ping, there was no longer any opposition within the court. Guo Jinghao ,

true to his cunning nature, purged so many political enemies but didn't covet the vacated power space. Instead, he vigorously promoted the talents selected by the imperial examination, clearly currying favor with Xu Ping.

During this time, Xu Ping had thought a lot and had mostly emerged from the shadow of Uncle Liu's murder. Looking back, it might not have been a bad thing. His disappearance had forced even the usually composed Ji Long to rebel prematurely, and Ji Long's preparations were insufficient. It was better to start now than to wait until Ji Long was fully prepared. However,

thinking of Uncle Liu's kindness and compassion, Xu Ping couldn't help but sigh.

In the Imperial Garden, all the servants were dismissed. Zhu Yunwen sipped his tea, his face full of worry, and said, "Ping'er, tell me honestly, how are your troops doing? Your Evil Ghost Battalion seems pretty good, but it hasn't seen battle yet. Staying in the capital might not be very useful. It would be better to return to Hebei, which could also contain any potential harassment from other places."

Xu Ping's expression remained calm, but the frightening gloom of the past few days had disappeared. He casually took out a secret letter: "Father, don't worry about my men for now. What do you plan to do with this?"

Zhu Yunwen took it with a puzzled look and smiled bitterly: "You're getting more and more audacious. You're even spying on me now. When did you plant so many people in the Six Ministries?"

This intelligence report had just been submitted by Liu Ziyi. It stated that in the recent purge of Ji Long's cronies, the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review had squeezed as much as eight million taels of silver from them, which had now all gone into the national treasury.

Xu Ping glared at him, annoyed, and said, "How can I not care? The world is on edge right now. You're secretly lining your own pockets while simultaneously sending people to ask Zhang Qinghe for more money. Isn't that going a bit too far?"

Zhu Yunwen waved his hand dismissively, chuckling, "After all, every military operation costs money. I'm keeping some in the national treasury to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. What's wrong with that?"

"Damn it, are you kidding me?!"

Xu Ping slammed his hand on the table and stood up, fuming, "If war really breaks out here, my Ministry of Commerce won't be able to operate. I don't believe you haven't received any intelligence. The Shanxi garrison is Ji Long's men, all trade along the Northwest front has stopped, Ji Zhongyun is stationed in the Northeast, and Liu Dong's side is also immobilized. If this drags on, I won't even be able to support my own army, let alone have money for you."

"Indeed!"

Zhu Yunwen slapped his forehead and smiled awkwardly, as if to say, "I knew that before you told me," which made Xu Ping grit his teeth in anger.

Damn it, he's clearly an old fox, why are you pretending to be innocent and cute? Just last night, Liu Dong was still brazenly pleading poverty with Xu Ping. Now that trade has finally reached a certain scale, they've increased their investment in caravans. This sudden halt puts a huge strain on their labor costs, and people in other places aren't having an easy time either. It looks like chaos is brewing, and they're transporting goods with trepidation. The more timid ones have already stopped doing business, which almost paralyzed the Ministry of Commerce.

"I don't care anymore." Xu Ping waved his hand. "I'm not counting on the Northeast front, but we can't drag this out on Shanxi. If we cut off the Northwest front, I won't be able to support my family. If you won't fight, I will. Taking out the Shanxi garrison will be a warning to others." "

Ping'er!"

Zhu Yunwen shouted, his face hardening. "What are you doing? Haven't you caused enough trouble during your disappearance? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. There's no way you're going to lead troops to the front yourself!"

Xu Ping glared at him and said disdainfully, "Who told you I was going to lead troops myself? I'm enjoying my retirement at home. The Shanxi garrison only has a little over ten thousand men, and most of them are useless idiots. Do you think I'm worth it? You're giving them too much credit."

Zhu Yunwen thought about it helplessly for a long time, and finally nodded, saying, "Fine, if you insist on fighting, so be it. But don't ask me for military pay or supplies. You'll have to figure that out yourself."

"Damn it! You talk like you've never given me any money." Xu Ping laughed and cursed, then turned and left.

After leaving the palace, Xu Ping didn't return directly to his residence. Instead, he rushed to the Ministry of Commerce. In just ten days, trade routes across the country had been completely disrupted. Yu Qing, who was in Guangdong doing the best trade with foreign countries, had virtually no contact with the inland regions, except for importing some goods. He was the least affected, but he was still worried that the silver would be robbed en route. Therefore, the Ministry of Commerce's operations had also come to a standstill.

"Master,"

Zhang Qinghe was already waiting at the door, pacing anxiously and looking around.

"No need for formalities."

Xu Ping waved his hand after getting off the carriage and quickly went inside. Guided by Zhang Qinghe, he entered a secret room and anxiously asked, "How is it? Has the silver been collected?"

Zhang Qinghe smiled confidently, "My son has lived up to your expectations. He transported the collected silver back the other day. Please wait a moment; it should arrive soon."

It turned out that with the Ministry of Commerce's operations blocked, Xu Ping had left himself an escape route: the Jiaosi Fang, which had been frantically amassing wealth across the country recently. Although the two young masters, Ouyang Tai and Zhang Qihua, were unrestrained and dissolute, they were adept at these kinds of things, managing to squeeze over four million taels of silver from the entire country in a short period of time—far exceeding Xu Ping's expectations.

Of course, the efforts of the two old foxes, Zhang Qinghe and Ouyang Xun, were also indispensable! In any case, getting the silver to the capital was the most important thing. Seeing Zhang Qinghe's confident demeanor, Xu Ping immediately breathed a sigh of relief. "Your Highness, I pay my respects."

At this moment, a tall, thin, ruddy-faced old man with a long beard entered. After bowing, he said with a radiant smile, "The tax money for Jiaosifang has arrived."

This man was none other than Ouyang Xun. Although he was unremarkable in appearance, and wouldn't even attract much attention on the street, his talent was so outstanding that even Zhang Qinghe deeply admired him. Jiaosifang, this money-making tool, had risen rapidly thanks to the connections and well-organized operations of his Sihai Trading Company.

However, no matter how capable Ouyang Xun was, he was still a commoner. Meeting Xu Ping for the first time, he was so excited that his old face turned red, his lips trembled slightly, and he was restless, looking very nervous.

"Go and see."

Xu Ping, beaming with joy, excitedly ran to the front courtyard of the Ministry of Commerce, only to be immediately puzzled. Instead of the expected large boxes, he saw a group of workers unloading lightly floating cotton from over a dozen carriages.

"This?"

Xu Ping was immediately confused. It was all cotton; where was the silver?

"Master, please calm down,"

Ouyang Xun smiled smugly, waving his hand, and his men began dismantling the carriages. The carriages were slowly broken into pieces. Some pieces of wood were casually tossed aside, but some planks, hidden inside, lost their support and fell, smashing large holes in the ground, wearing away the outer lacquer to reveal a silver glint, some even a gleaming gold. Xu Ping immediately understood.

It turned out that Ouyang Xun was also worried about something going wrong with the silver, which would mean the complete ruin of the Ouyang family. So he devised a clever plan: he staggered the wooden planks of the carriage, melted all the silver and gold into pieces the same length, height, and width as the planks, painted them, and hid them in the middle of the planks. This way, even if thieves encountered them, no one would suspect that, besides the goods, the most valuable item was actually the most inconspicuous wooden planks.

Seeing Xu Ping's beaming face, Ouyang Xun immediately breathed a sigh of relief, wiped his sweat, and respectfully said, "This humble subject, Ouyang Xun, has successfully completed his mission. All the tax silver has been safely delivered. Please check it, Your Highness." This old fox, how come he spoke with such a strong voice when he said "humble subject"!

"Good!"

Xu Ping naturally understood his meaning, chuckled, and immediately gave the order with a wave of his hand: "Issue the decree: Ouyang Tai and Zhang Qihua are granted the rank of Eighth-Rank Attendant; Ouyang Xun, the commoner manager, is granted the rank of Sixth-Rank Peacock Feather and appointed as the head of the Sifang (a type of workshop),

and is rewarded with ten catties of tea and one hundred bolts of silk." Ouyang Xun was overjoyed and hurriedly knelt down to express his gratitude. After all, although he had been busy in the Ministry of Commerce, he was not actually part of the official staff. To be granted an official rank was a great honor for a merchant. Although the rewards were just a drop in the ocean for them, they were given by the imperial family and were of extraordinary significance. For example, the silk, when made into clothing, would be a symbol of status.

Zhang Qinghe couldn't help but feel a little envious, but thinking back to when he received the Emperor's Fan from Xu Ping, the difference between the two was obvious, so he didn't pay it any mind.

With this money, internal stability could be maintained for a period of time. Although the Ministry of Commerce also had a large amount of silver in reserve, Xu Ping knew that this battle with Ji Long would definitely be a protracted war, a contest of who could afford to wear it down. More money meant a stronger weapon.

Alas, Ji Zhongyun's attitude was unclear. If he didn't act, who would dare to? Without the 100,000-strong Hungry Wolf Camp, the imperial court would probably have already sent troops to attack Tianjin.

After listening to Zhang Qinghe's report on the situation, which was full of bad news, merchants from all over the country were worried about the current situation. Zhang Qinghe could only try to calm them down.

"Tell them," Xu Ping frowned and gritted his teeth, "that Ji Long is just an outsider. If he had any ability, he wouldn't have fled to Tianjin. Ji Zhongyun has the Hungry Wolf Camp, but the imperial court has hundreds of thousands of troops. Tell them to focus on their business and not worry about anything."

"Yes!"

Zhang Qinghe nodded in reply and immediately went back to work.

Xu Ping rushed back to the Crown Prince's residence. Although Zhu Yunwen had repeatedly said he didn't know if Ji Long had left any backup plans in the capital, and for safety reasons wanted Xu Ping to return to the palace, the palace was the most unsafe place with so many eyes and ears. Xu Ping insisted on staying at the Crown Prince's residence, which also made it easier to contact people about his affairs.

Upon returning, he found people waiting in the main hall. Xu Ping hurried in, sat down in the main seat, and habitually called out, "Uncle Liu..."

Everyone was taken aback. Those who knew him understood that Uncle Liu usually organized useful intelligence first and then reported useful clues to Xu Ping. Xu Ping had long developed the habit of calling him first, but this time, there was no warm response from Uncle Liu, only silence in the room. Xu Ping

was also stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter smile and said, "It's nothing, I'm just used to it."

"Your Highness, please accept our condolences," everyone said, deeply moved, and hurriedly offered their condolences.

"I'm fine."

Xu Ping waved his hand, composed himself, and asked, "Zhao Meng, how's the situation with Liu Hong?" Zhao Meng quickly stood up, clasped his hands, and said, "Your Highness, Liu Hong has begun assembling the garrison in Hebei. It's estimated that by then, after removing the remnants and veterans, there will be about eight thousand men."

"Good." Xu Ping shouted, took out a sealed imperial edict, and threw it at him. His face turned cold, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Regardless of his intentions, proceed according to my plan."

Zhao Meng's face also hardened, and he shouted, "Understood!"

After saying that, he turned and left, leading five hundred soldiers, rushing back to Hebei without stopping. Two days ago, Liu Ruxue secretly sent intelligence that Ji Long had sent people to win over Liu Hong. This immediately made Xu Ping uneasy. Putting aside the five thousand soldiers he had secretly trained, the garrison in Hebei alone, even with its mixed quality, numbered over ten thousand. If Liu Hong truly harbored rebellious intentions, then things would be terrible.

Even though it was cruel, Xu Ping immediately made a decision, ordering Liu Ruxue to secretly kill Liu Hong. Although Liu Hong showed no signs of betrayal, there couldn't be any unstable factors at this time. The imperial edict given to Zhao Meng also ordered him to take over the position of commander of the Hebei garrison.

Between the two, Xu Ping trusted Zhao Meng more.

Xu Ping was now used to communicating through single-line contact, so almost no one knew the purpose of Zhao Meng's trip, and no one dared to ask.

"Guan Daming," Xu Ping called out one by one.

"Your subordinate is here."

Guan Daming stood up with a serious expression. After being released from prison for some time, the terrifying aura of killing intent on his body had returned, making this veteran general, who had been through many battles, appear spirited.

"Four thousand against ten thousand, are you confident?" Xu Ping asked without looking up.

"Yes!" Guan Daming patted his chest and assured him, "As long as we're not facing the four major military camps, I won't take anyone else seriously."

No wonder he was so confident. After the Demon Camp was fully equipped, the Ministry of Works and the Armory worked day and night to produce high-quality weapons and armor for the three schools of the Fierce Tiger Camp. Just the day before yesterday, all four thousand soldiers had been equipped with uniform iron broadswords and iron-ringed armor. They had

also plundered horses from other abandoned military camps, transforming these battle-hardened veterans into a fierce cavalry force. "Go back and see." Xu Ping tossed him one imperial edict and another to Zhang Hu.

"Yes!" Guan Daming replied solemnly and turned to leave.

Zhang Hu looked slightly haggard. After all, Xu Ping's disappearance was his fault, and Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but want to take his head. This time, back in the capital, Xu Ping had managed to protect his life. Although his position as a palace guard had been revoked, at least he had survived, which was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune!

Zhang Hu didn't say much. He always proved himself through actions, and even without reading the imperial edict, he understood its meaning: in case of unforeseen circumstances, he could act first and report later, including killing Guan Daming.

After issuing the orders and sending everyone away, Xu Ping sighed deeply. Being an emperor was truly difficult; everything had to be meticulously planned, and any mistake could have unimaginable consequences. Even if he wanted to quickly quell the situation, he was already stretched thin.

Xu Ping didn't want to deal with the Evil Ghost Camp; they were left in the capital to deter Ji Long. He could only send the Third Division of the Fierce Tiger Camp to attack Shanxi. Even if they couldn't conquer it, given Guan Daming's abilities, they could at least achieve a draw.

As soon as the important matters were arranged, two delicate and timid beauties rushed in. The girls' rounded curves were very attractive. The two girls stepped forward and softly called out, "Brother Ping."

Just by hearing their voices, Xu Ping knew without even raising his head that they were Cheng Ningxue and Zhao Ling. The two beauties had become more mature after the chaos in the capital, especially Cheng Ningxue. Perhaps the few days she spent in the palace had a great influence on her. After returning this time, she had lost her usual willful air and had become very gentle, lovely and considerate.

Zhao Ling, dressed in a long pink dress, looked incredibly charming. She gracefully walked behind Xu Ping, massaging his head as she softly asked, "You've been busy all day, would you like some food?"

Perhaps because of her recent loss of virginity, Cheng Ningxue's already impressive breasts seemed to have become even fuller, her deep cleavage even more breathtaking. A far cry from her usual spoiled attitude, the busty beauty obediently knelt beside Xu Ping's legs, kneading his thighs as she said, "Yes, you didn't eat much this morning before going out. No matter how busy you are, you shouldn't overwork yourself."

"I'm fine," Xu Ping replied, closing his eyes and enjoying the attention of the two beauties. His mind, however, was still racing, unable to find peace. He had been feeling down lately and hadn't paid attention to them. He didn't know why

the two women on Xiao Mi's side exchanged a glance, sighed helplessly, and continued massaging Xu Ping.

"Master!"

Just then, Qiao'er rushed in, followed by two servants supporting a man covered in blood and gore. The man was covered in knife wounds, and blood dripped to the ground with every step he took. His body was convulsing.

"What happened?"

Xu Ping frowned slightly. Although Qiao'er was mischievous, she was also sensible. For her to be so panicked, it couldn't be anything good. The injured man looked like he was on the verge of death. Had something else happened?

Qiao'er patted her small chest and said breathlessly, "There's a traitor in our sect! Many of our contact points in the north have been attacked by Ji Long's men."

"What?"

Xu Ping slammed his hand on the table in shock. The Demonic Sect's intelligence was extremely important. If this intelligence network was torn apart by Ji Long, it would be like having a hand chopped off.

"Master!"

The blood-soaked man knelt down, gritted his teeth, tore open his blood-soaked clothes, and suddenly picked up a knife and slashed at his chest. "Ah!"

Both women screamed at the same time.

Xu Ping's face darkened as he watched the man slowly cut open his own flesh, extracting a wax pellet that emitted body heat. Outside, the army was locked in a standoff, but other forces were already intersecting. The fact that Ji Long could force the Demonic Sect to use such self-mutilation to deliver intelligence proved that he still had a large number of江湖草寇 (jianghu bandits) under his control after the chaos in the capital. These people were truly well-hidden.

"This servant takes her leave."

Zhao Ling and Cheng Ningxue exchanged glances, understanding that Xu Ping had important business, and quickly curtsied before retreating.

"Go down."

Xu Ping took the wax pellet, looking at the bloodied man who was on the verge of death, and said with concern, "Don't take on any missions for now. Stay in the capital and recover properly!"

"Thank you, Master."

The bloodied man spoke with barely a whisper; if someone hadn't supported him, he probably would have collapsed. Two servants immediately helped him away.

Qiao'er stood obediently to the side, watching him leave. Although Xu Ping had told her to recuperate, with injuries like this, survival seemed unlikely. She couldn't help but worry about this fellow disciple who had avoided the dangers along the way, delivering intelligence through self-harm.

Xu Ping opened the wax pill and frowned immediately. It seemed the Demonic Sect's intelligence network had been severely damaged. The secret letter was from Liu Ruxue, stating that the Right Saintess, Lady Huarui's, identity had been exposed. Her people, who had been hiding in Hunan, had been ambushed by Ji Long's men, and the entire branch had been wiped out. Lady Huarui was being relentlessly pursued and was currently hiding in Zhili, unable to break through Ji Long's blockade to escape to the capital. She hoped he would send someone to bring her over.

"Damn it!"

Xu Ping slammed his fist on the table, shattering it into pieces. He gritted his teeth and said, "Which bastard betrayed us? Haven't we found out yet?"

After shouting, his anger aggravated his old injuries, and Xu Ping couldn't help but cough. "Master, are you alright?"

Qiao'er was startled and quickly stepped forward, gently stroking Xu Ping's chest with her small hand. She said timidly, "Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, so please don't be angry."

"It's nothing."

Xu Ping coughed twice, suddenly feeling a burning sensation in his throat. He knew this aggravated his internal injuries and caused bleeding, but to avoid worrying others, he quickly swallowed it back. After taking a long breath, he said with a worried expression, "Sigh, where can we find a team now? We only have this many people available. We can't possibly mobilize a large army to rescue someone!"

Qiao'er had roughly read the contents of the note and understood the current situation in the capital. Her master wouldn't possibly spare so many people to rescue someone from the Demonic Sect. But after thinking for a moment, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she excitedly said, "Master, how can you be so confused? You don't have anyone, but Guo Jinghao does! He's practically your father-in-law now! We can go find him!"

Xu Ping looked at Qiao'er with some surprise. She was still so petite and cute, but after what happened with Uncle Liu, she seemed to have matured considerably. She understood the reason in an instant. Guo Jinghao had been eerily silent lately. He probably wanted to consolidate his forces and see how the situation developed. That damned old fox—if Qiao'er hadn't mentioned him, he would have completely forgotten about him.

"Yes, prepare the carriage, I'll go to the Prime Minister's residence right away." Xu Ping immediately set off, taking Qiao'er with him towards the Guo residence.

However, Xu Ping was the kind of person who didn't usually attend court, and when he arrived, Guo Jinghao was still busy with court affairs and hadn't returned yet. Xu Ping thought for a moment, then asked someone from his residence to inform the palace, and decided to wait at his house. He

secretly made a calculation in his mind. This time, Guo Jinghao sent someone to test how deep his power really was. Rescuing someone wouldn't be difficult for him, but this old fox had been keeping a low profile lately, so low that it was suspicious. After all, he had once thought of rebelling, and Xu Ping couldn't afford to be careless.

The steward obsequiously led Xu Ping to the main hall, served him tea, and then quickly went to inform the others in the residence to come and entertain him.

Xu Ping waited leisurely for a while, humming a little tune as he looked around. At this moment, a lightly dressed figure slowly walked in. She was dressed like a typical young mother, with sparkling, beautiful eyes. She looked somewhat embarrassed and unwilling. Her stunningly beautiful face was free of makeup, and even without makeup, her simple beauty was breathtaking.

"This concubine greets the Crown Prince,"

Liu Qingyun said somewhat reluctantly, bowing.

Xu Ping's eyes gleamed with lust. He chuckled and asked, "What? When did you become a concubine? I think it's more appropriate for a disciple to pay respects to his master. That would make us seem closer."

Liu Qingyun rolled her eyes at Xu Ping, then gracefully sat down and said softly, "I don't have time for this nonsense. Just say what you want to say."

"Don't be like that!"

The beauty scolded him, her alluring eye roll instantly rekindling Xu Ping's lust. He leaned closer to her, teasingly saying, "I'm here to deepen our relationship. As an elder, can't I be a little concerned about your life?"

Xu Ping thought to himself: What I'm most concerned about is your sex life. "No need for you to worry about that."

Liu Qingyun glared at Xu Ping and said coquettishly, "Who is whose junior is still uncertain. If it weren't for the chaos in the capital, my two daughters would have already married into your family by now, and I would be your mother-in-law!"

There was a hint of resentment in her tone. After all, she was willing to stay in the capital for so long for the sake of her two lovely daughters. Xu Ping understood her feelings of being unemployed at home. After all, he had raised them as their mother since they were little, and now that they were about to get married, how could he not be heartbroken? But thinking about having a virgin fake mother-in-law who was as beautiful as an angel, he felt a surge of desire.

"When they marry into the family, you can move in with them too!" Xu Ping looked at her meaningfully. Liu Qingyun wasn't one of those naive girls; she naturally saw the naked desire in Xu Ping's eyes. She blushed slightly, but shook her head firmly: "No, what would it mean if I went with my daughter to get married?" She paused, then added, "However, my master left you a message. If you want to know, give me a royal warrant from the palace."

After Chen Daozi performed the ritual for Uncle Liu, the three from Guigu went to find Lü Zhenfeng with Miaoyin. They left in such a hurry that they didn't even see them off. She wondered what message Miaoyin would leave for her. But that wretched little girl, she wouldn't speak unless he came to her door. He wouldn't be satisfied until he raped her.

Xu Ping knew that the two young beauties were still learning those tedious and complicated etiquettes at Chuxiu Palace, so it was no wonder that Liu Qingyun missed them so much. After a moment's consideration, he was more interested in Miaoyin's instructions and nodded, saying, "Okay, go ahead and tell me."

Liu Qingyun sighed, suddenly becoming a little shy, and timidly said, "Grandmaster said that she heard from Grandmaster Uncle that the martial arts you practice have a miraculous effect, a method for rapid healing."

"Really?"

Xu Ping's face immediately lit up with joy, and he grabbed her hand, asking, "Don't be coy, tell me clearly."

Although he was no longer in pain, his damaged meridians were healing very slowly. If Xu Ping were to force himself to fight now, he couldn't even move half of his true energy. Hearing about a method for rapid healing made him even more eager.

Liu Qingyun tried to pull her smooth little hand away, but suddenly felt a tingling sensation. It turned out that Xu Ping had taken advantage of the moment he grabbed her hand to brush it. Liu Qingyun trembled, glaring at Xu Ping resentfully, thinking: "He still has time to take liberties with me at

a time like this, what a scoundrel." Liu Qingyun blushed and said, "The Battle Dragon Technique is an extremely yang martial art. You only need to release your true energy at the moment of yin-yang fusion when you are intimate with a woman, circulate it once in her body and then return, absorbing the woman's yin essence to have a healing effect. Although it cannot improve your cultivation, it can speed up the healing of injuries."

"What is yin-yang fusion?"

Xu Ping looked at her with an innocent look of not knowing anything. Seeing Liu Qingyun's shy and charming expression, his lecherous mind began to hesitate about whether to rape her. The problem was, could he beat her if he raped her at this time?

After weighing the pros and cons, Xu Ping gave up the idea. It would be even more humiliating if he failed to rape her and was beaten up instead. Liu Qingyun broke free from Xu Ping's grasp, glaring at him with her almond-shaped eyes, and said, "Don't give me this useless talk. I've already said what Master said. Where's the travel permit?"

"Hehe, here you go!"

Xu Ping chuckled, handing her a travel permit.

Liu Qingyun happily accepted it. Since her two adopted daughters entered the palace, she had been incredibly bored staying at the Guo residence, and she missed her two obedient daughters terribly. Unfortunately, the palace gates were heavily guarded, making it impossible even for Guo Jinghao to visit them, let alone for her. Therefore, she had no choice but to ask Xu Ping for help.

Being able to enter the palace to visit, Liu Qingyun was naturally eager. She quickly curtsied to Xu Ping and immediately went to dress up,

already thinking about what snacks her daughters would like to bring. Her speed as she left surprised Xu Ping.

Not seeing Guo Jinghao return, Xu Ping thought for a moment, then left the contact information of Lady Huarui on the wax pill at his residence, specifying the task he needed to complete. As for what Guo Jinghao would do, that depended on his attitude.

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