[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Part 1

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

Synopsis of Episode 1

: Xu Ping, a carefree and idle scoundrel. Abandoned by his parents at a young age, he survives by stealing chickens and dogs. While squatting in the toilet, he inexplicably transmigrates to ancient times, a different world similar to but also different from the Ming Dynasty. He's even lucky enough to become the only grandson of the current emperor.

Ancient women are wonderful, virtuous and gentle.

Watch as a modern-day lecher roams the world, slaughtering enemies and making beauties moan with desire.

Full-figured and sexy beauties. Mischievous and cute little girls. A clever and alluring female master from a demonic sect. Budding young girls. A docile and obedient maidservant, almost submissive.

Xu Ping collects one beauty after another, embarking on a sensual and decadent imperial path.

PS: This book is a time-travel story and has nothing to do with official history. Please do not take it personally. Thank you!

Chapter 1: Transmigrating into an Imperial Family

. Xu Ping, orphaned at a young age, wanders the city aimlessly. He managed to survive by stealing and using various petty money-making schemes, even managing to afford a third-rate university. However, after graduation, he discovered that his education was completely useless for making a living, leaving him in a very bleak situation!

One day, while fantasizing about the beautiful woman living next door, Chen Ping was squatting in the public toilet expelling toxins from the day when suddenly he felt as if he'd been struck by lightning, the surroundings shook violently, and then everything went black; he lost consciousness.

He vaguely felt himself in a dark, very warm place, surrounded by what seemed to be flesh. He was filled with fear; could he have encountered a ghost? He was clearly in the toilet just a moment ago, how did he end up here? Meanwhile, in

the Prince Yan's mansion in Kyoto, a group of people were bustling about anxiously. Prince Yan, Zhu Yunwen, paced back and forth, his face filled with worry. His wife, Ji Xinyue, had given birth prematurely that day. He had never had an heir, and now, after finally receiving a child, heaven had granted him one, only to have him suffer a difficult birth. It seemed his first child's birth was far from smooth, and the anxiety of becoming a father for the first time only added to his irritation. He felt an urge to burst into the room and drag the troublesome little one out.

Another dignified old man sat in a chair. Although he appeared calm, the sweat on his forehead betrayed his nervousness. This man was none other than the current emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yunwen's father, Emperor Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang. He had spent twenty years conquering the land, establishing a peaceful and prosperous era. He had two sons, but one was injured in the genitals during an assassination attempt and could no longer conceive. His eldest son, Prince Ping, Zhu Xiaowang, was frail and sickly from childhood, passing away at the age of twenty, leaving behind only a daughter. His second son, Zhu Yunwen, had never had an heir, and now, after finally welcoming his first child, he was suffering a difficult birth. What was the point of all the empire he had built if he couldn't have a grandson?

With a loud cry from the delivery room, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. In ancient times, no man, including her husband, was allowed to enter a woman's delivery room. Father and son paced anxiously in the courtyard, the atmosphere heavy with tension. A moment later, a maidservant ran in, beaming with joy, kneeling and shouting, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Majesty! Consort Ji has given birth smoothly! It's a little prince!"

Zhu Yunwen jumped up in surprise, while Zhu Yuanzhang nervously crushed his teacup. Father and son were overjoyed; the Zhu family finally had an heir, finally they could face their ancestors and this beautiful land with honor. They quickly had the maidservant bring their grandson over.

Xu Ping finally saw a sliver of light. Once his eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, he opened them and was stunned. His body was shrunk to a tiny speck, held in the arms of a beautiful woman covered in sweat. She seemed dozens of times larger than him. He tried to speak, but only the cries of a baby escaped his lips.

At this moment, the woman hugged him tighter, her maternal love so intense it was dazzling. She gently smoothed her sweat-soaked, disheveled hair and said in a weak yet happy voice, "My dear son, you're finally alright. These past two days have been exhausting for your mother."

Xu Ping was completely dumbfounded. Had he been reincarnated? No, that couldn't be! Judging from the situation, it seemed like he had traveled through time, but why was he now a child?

Just as the woman was immersed in the happiness of becoming a mother for the first time, a maidservant came in and softly said to Ji Xinyue, "Your Majesty, the Emperor wishes to see the young prince and has sent me to fetch him."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xinyue gently touched Xu Ping's little face and said happily, "Baby, your grandfather wants to see you. Be good in a little while."

After saying this, she handed Xu Ping to the maidservant. The people in the delivery room quickly washed him clean, wrapped him up tightly, and carried him out.

Before Xu Ping could recover from his shock, he was taken by a dignified old man. The old man looked him over with doting eyes for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Good, a full forehead. Although premature, he's not light either. He has the heroic spirit of a man of the Zhu family, and his features are as delicate as his mother's. He'll surely grow up to be a handsome man."

Xu Ping was about to speak when his voice broke into a standard baby cry, prompting Zhu Yunwen to say with concern, "Father, your voice is too loud! You've scared my son to tears."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't care. The emperor waved his hand and laughed, "It's alright, my grandson has a loud voice. A loud voice in a child means he's healthy and will surely amount to something great."

Zhu Yunwen just wanted to hold his own flesh and blood in his arms and shower him with love, but he still respectfully said to his father, "This is the first male heir of the Zhu family. Please bestow a name upon him, Father."

The old emperor thought for a moment and then said, "This is my first grandson. I bestow upon him the name Zhu Yuanping, with the honorific title of Prince Ding. I will return shortly to announce this to the world."

Zhu Yunwen thanked the emperor and respectfully escorted his father back to the palace. Only then did he eagerly turn to his frail wife to cherish her and playfully tease his beloved son.

Time flies like a rocket (I can't think of a better word). Xu Ping (I will continue to use this name from now on) sat on the steps in front of the palace gate, lost in thought. Five years had passed in the blink of an eye. Since his birth, his father had not had any more children. For the past five years, he had been the apple of everyone's eye, showered with love and affection. His parents' doting and his grandfather's imperial favor rekindled his sense of family and gradually helped him adapt to life in ancient society. He unconsciously grew accustomed to the mindset of a child and the pampering of his family. From the age of three, he had to spend six months each year in the palace studying literature and martial arts. In fact, from Zhu Yuanzhang's increasingly weathered face, he could see the old man's longing for family happiness.

For the past two years, under constant supervision, he had been studying literature and martial arts. His advanced knowledge left his teachers speechless. Aside from being with his family, he spent most of his time daydreaming. He was organizing his knowledge of this world and its historical development, as well as the chemistry he had learned. Now he needed to accumulate this knowledge properly so that when he was old enough, he could sneak out and travel, indulging in the pleasures of life. In his previous life, poverty had forced him to live a repressed life, keeping only his hands for company. In this life, it would be a shame not to enjoy life to the fullest.

Just as he was lost in thought, he was interrupted by a humble-looking eunuch who ran over and said, "My dear Your Highness, I've been looking for you everywhere! The Emperor is looking for you to dine with him!" "

Let's go..."

Xu Ping was thinking about countless beauties when he was suddenly interrupted. He felt a surge of anger, but he nodded and followed the old eunuch.

As soon as he entered, Xu Ping was embraced by the old emperor. Zhu Yuanzhang was now over fifty years old. Standing at the pinnacle of power, he felt increasingly empty. As people age, they always crave family affection. Two years ago, he had argued with his son for a while in order to have his grandson come to the palace to keep him company. Zhu Yunwen only had this one son, so naturally he couldn't bear to let him leave his side. In the end, the two of them decided that Xu Ping would live in the palace for half a year and in the prince's residence for half a year.

Zhu Yuanzhang held his beloved grandson on his lap with a loving smile and asked, "Ping'er, how are your studies going lately? I heard you drove all your teachers away? Have you been naughty again?"

Xu Ping, now used to speaking in a childish voice, immediately put on an innocent look and said, "Grandpa, it wasn't Ping'er who drove them away. Ping'er just gave them a question, and they felt ashamed."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed even harder. This grandson of his had always been clever and mischievous. He wondered what kind of strange problem he had come up with this time. He teased, "My good grandson can even come up with problems now. Tell Grandpa what kind of problem you came up with?"

Xu Ping gestured like a child, "It's a math problem. If one equals five, two equals twenty-five, three equals one hundred and twenty-five, and four equals nine hundred and twenty-five, then what is five equal to?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned upon hearing this. This change clearly involved multiplying by five. If one hundred and twenty-five were multiplied by five, then four would be six hundred and twenty-five, not nine hundred and twenty-five. So what is five? Xu Ping watched as this emperor, who had risen from the ashes of countless deaths, was stumped by a modern math problem and couldn't help but laugh.

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a while but still couldn't figure it out, so he asked, "My dear grandson, Grandpa's a bit slow, I can't understand. What does five equal?"

Xu Ping innocently tugged at Zhu Yuanzhang's beard a few times and said, "Actually, it's not that complicated, this question is very simple. Didn't we say at the beginning that one equals five, so five also equals one?"

Zhu Yuanzhang, seeing that he was being tricked by his grandson at his age, wasn't angry at all. On the contrary, he was very happy with his grandson's cleverness and doted on him even more. The grandfather and grandson played for a while, and then Xu Ping's stomach growled. Zhu Yuanzhang was afraid that his grandson was starving, so he quickly ordered the servants to bring out some food.

Xu Ping was extremely hungry and ate without any regard for his image, sometimes even choking and coughing. Zhu Yuanzhang, feeling sorry for him, handed him water and rubbed his back, showing no trace of imperial dignity, but just like an ordinary grandfather who loved his grandson.

After Xu Ping finished eating, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said with a serious expression, "Ping'er, your imperial grandfather spent his life on the battlefield, and the Ming Dynasty was won through swords and spears. You are five years old this year, and it's time for you to start learning martial arts. When I was conquering the world, I collected all kinds of martial arts manuals from all over the country and stored them in a library in the back garden. Grandpa will take you there in a while. You can choose the martial arts you like to practice. The men of the Zhu family have always been good at both literature and martial arts, and you are no exception."

Xu Ping said with a childish face, "Don't worry, imperial grandfather, I will definitely learn well. If anyone dares to bully you, I will beat them to death."

After saying that, he waved his little fist, which made Zhu Yuanzhang laugh heartily.

Martial arts? Could such things really exist? Xu Ping thought for a moment, could it be some old-fashioned thing like the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms? That would be better than a military tally; if he was unhappy, he could just send an army to crush any damn sect.

Zhu Yuanzhang led Xu Ping to an ancient yet towering pavilion. The three-story pavilion, its exterior simple yet imposing, sat in the garden, exuding a subtle sense of authority. Above the main gate were three large characters: Wanbao Pavilion.

Zhu Yuanzhang said to Xu Ping with a smug look, "This contains all sorts of rare treasures, books, and historical anecdotes collected by my grandfather during his conquests. Some are unique items that cannot be found anywhere else in the world today. Unfortunately, I've been too busy with worldly affairs to study them properly, so this place has been neglected."

He then pulled Xu Ping towards the entrance.

Two men emerged from the gate. Upon seeing Zhu Yuanzhang, they did not kneel, but merely bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Their voices were deep and powerful, and their steps carried a subtle air of authority.

Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly, "Rise!"

He then turned to Xu Ping and said, "Ping'er, these two are our imperial retainers, top-tier martial arts masters in the Jianghu. The one on the left is Shi Tianfeng, known in the Jianghu as the Judge of the Mortal World, and the one on the right is a former elder of Wudang, known as the Fiery Taoist. These two followed our imperial grandfather in his early years, fighting for the world. After the pacification, they disliked fame and fortune, so they have lived in seclusion and never interfered in court affairs."

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

Both men bowed, but it was merely a polite gesture.

Xu Ping curiously sized up the two men. The middle-aged man on the left looked to be in his forties, with bulging temples, well-developed muscles (though not exaggerated), sword-like eyebrows, and eagle eyes. His square face exuded masculinity, and his eyes gave off a fierce, tiger-like feeling. The man on the right was an old man wearing a tattered Taoist robe. He was rather thin and unkempt, with a frivolous and seemingly harmless demeanor, yet his instincts told him that this man was extremely dangerous.

They were both shrewd people, and Xu Ping certainly wouldn't believe any nonsense about disliking fame and fortune. In this situation, it could only mean they had wisely chosen to retire; otherwise, the new emperor would have surely purged a group of old officials upon ascending the throne. Or, another possibility was that during the war, these two had done things that wouldn't advance their careers, so they couldn't be given official positions.

Xu Ping immediately adopted a well-behaved demeanor, bowing his small body in a respectful greeting, and said in a childish voice, "Ping'er greets the two old grandfathers."

The innocence in his words made Xu Ping feel like vomiting.

Seeing Xu Ping's obedient appearance, the two couldn't help but like the child. The Fiery Taoist happily pulled Xu Ping aside, examined him closely for a while, and said, "The imperial grandson has extraordinary physique and appears intelligent and clever; he is certainly a good candidate for both martial arts and literature."

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang was about to catch up with them, a eunuch rushed over and said, "Your Majesty, the envoys from the foreign lands have arrived and are waiting in the main hall."

Zhu Yuanzhang instructed Xu Ping to obediently listen to his two masters, and then said to them, "My grandson is temporarily entrusted to you; you must not hold anything back. If you don't teach him well, I will hold you accountable."

Seeing the two nod solemnly, Zhu Yuanzhang gave Xu Ping a few more instructions before turning and leaving. As soon as

the emperor left, Xu Ping began to look around restlessly. He remembered that there weren't many martial arts stories during the Ming Dynasty; the most famous were probably "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber." But this era seemed to have passed, and the place he had come to was definitely not the historical Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, the Prince of Yan should be Zhu Di, and Zhu Yunwen seemed to be a grandson's name. So it shouldn't be a normal time travel.

The first floor was filled with all sorts of books. It reminded him of the university library, but this place had a much larger collection, a diverse array of titles. All the books were antique and had a distinctly scholarly feel.

Just as he was about to look for any good finds, he was suddenly lifted up. Tianfeng grabbed Xu Ping by the back of his shirt and asked softly, "Little guy, what's your name?"

"Grandpa calls me Ping'er!"

Xu Ping replied obediently.

At this moment, the Fiery Daoist also came over with a grin and asked, "Why are you learning martial arts? To fight for justice? Or to help the weak and oppressed?"

Seeing their teasing smiles, Xu Ping immediately said with a hint of disdain, "That's too tiring. Living a good life is what really matters. As long as I can beat someone to a pulp in a fight and don't suffer any losses myself, that's enough."

The two suddenly exchanged a glance and laughed, shouting that finally, there was a successor! Just as he had predicted, they weren't exactly good people.

After laughing for a while, the Fiery Daoist said, "Ping'er, according to the rules, we won't accept you as a disciple. However, if you encounter any problems, you can come to us. This floor is full of ordinary things, used to deceive people. The truly good martial arts manuals are all on the second floor, where we usually guard. The third floor is where your grandfather keeps his rare treasures; no one can go up there without his permission. Now, I'll take you to the second floor."

Following the two to the second floor, it was obvious that the space wasn't as large as the lower floor, and there were only a hundred or so books scattered around, but they were arranged in a very impressive manner. Shi Tianfeng said smugly, "Go and see if you can find anything you like. These are all peerless martial arts manuals. If we weren't too old to study them, we would really like to give up our skills and start over."

Damn it, there wasn't a single one of those Nine Yin or Nine Yang manuals that I remembered. They were all about this palm and that fist techniques, looking like low-grade street vendor goods, and each one looked like it had just been printed. Definitely not anything good.

Looking at the stairs leading to the third floor, Xu Ping quickly thought things through. The second floor, where these two old men could freely come and go, couldn't possibly hold anything of high quality; it might be enough to fool ordinary people. The best stuff must be on the third floor; there would definitely be something eye-catching up there, otherwise, they wouldn't have sent two immortals to guard it.

Having made up his mind, Xu Ping immediately suggested going to the third floor to take a look.

Shi Tianfeng and Liehuo Daoren exchanged glances, their faces showing some difficulty: "Ping'er, your grandfather ordered that we can't go up to the third floor."

Xu Ping smiled slyly and said resolutely, "I'll go up myself, won't I? I want to learn martial arts, not you two. As long as you don't go up, that's fine."

The two thought it made sense and could only nod helplessly. Before they could change their minds, Xu Ping quickly climbed the stairs to the third floor.

The third floor had even fewer items, mostly strange things like coral and pearls, making it look more like a traditional Chinese medicine shop. Xu Ping tripped over a wooden statue and fell to the ground, enduring the pain as he examined the thing that had caused him trouble.

It was a wooden sculpture lying on the ground, depicting a person wearing a long crown in the style of the Spring and Autumn Period, with a radiant face and an expression of a superior being, seemingly arrogant yet detached from worldly desires. A long robe draped over the figure, giving off an aura of absolute authority and mastery over all things.

"The carving is truly exquisite!"

Xu Ping exclaimed, then angrily kicked it. Suddenly, a small door appeared on the statue's chest, revealing a thick book and several small booklets inside.

The person who made this sculpture was truly skilled; if he hadn't kicked it in anger, he wouldn't have noticed such a mechanism. Xu Ping clicked his tongue in admiration at the ingenuity of the design.

He muttered something, took out the book, and casually flipped through a few pages, his heart involuntarily racing. The statue depicts Guiguzi, a legendary figure from the Warring States period. It was sculpted by his prized disciple Zhang Yi to pass on Guiguzi's lifelong expertise.

The book records his military strategies, battle formations, unparalleled martial arts skills, and the extraordinary arts he learned throughout his life. When Guiguzi is mentioned, the first things that come to mind are his masterful military tactics and the Eight Trigrams, but he was also a peerless master who, after retiring, devoted his later years to both literary and martial arts, attaining enlightenment and becoming a legendary and formidable figure.

(Guiguzi, whose surname was Wang and given name was Xu, was a native of the State of Wei during the Warring States period [present-day Qi County

, Hebi City, Henan Province]. He excelled in self-cultivation, diplomacy, military strategy, martial arts, and the Eight Trigrams. Xu Ping couldn't contain his excitement. The book recorded that Guiguzi's training method was called "Battle Dragon Technique," which had nine levels. Legend has it that it was passed down from the dragon race in the celestial realm, and was no longer a martial art but a celestial technique. He attained immortality when he reached the fifth level. Each level, in addition to accumulating internal energy, also allowed one to quickly learn other esoteric arts.

According to the book, if one could reach the ninth level, one could live as long as heaven and earth, becoming immortal and indestructible. It was definitely a method that surpassed ordinary martial arts.

Xu Ping sat calmly on the fog-shrouded cliff, silently feeling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth cleansing him. After ten years of hardship...) He had mastered the Battle Dragon Technique to the third level, and even now, he could hold his own against the two elders. Ten years had passed, and Xu Ping had become obsessed with martial arts. Each improvement in his abilities brought him an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Over these ten years, he had come to respectfully call Guiguzi his teacher, but he had only grasped the basics of the various extraordinary techniques recorded in the book. His Battle Dragon Technique hadn't progressed since breaking through to the third level two years ago. In those ten years, Xu Ping had grown into a tall and handsome young man, about 175 centimeters tall. His long hair wasn't styled in a bun like others, but simply tied in a braid at the back. His muscles were well-defined and not exaggerated, yet they contained explosive power.

His complexion was gentle, but his eyes were sharp and bright; he was undeniably a handsome young man.

Now he had completely adapted to this... Everything in this world, including male chauvinism and various cumbersome etiquettes, was part of his world. Although he now possessed the ability to seduce beautiful women, Xu Ping had never been interested in the plain-looking palace maids. To seduce them would be no different from visiting prostitutes—utterly devoid of difficulty and excitement—so he remained a virgin.

After finishing his day's training and returning to the palace, he went straight to the Imperial Study. Zhu Yuanzhang was discussing border affairs with his ministers. Recently, the Hu people had been frequently harassing the border, causing him considerable headaches. Small groups of soldiers were sent into battle to their deaths; once the main army arrived, they would vanish without a trace. This back and forth several times was unsustainable in terms of military expenditure.

Upon entering, Xu Ping saw his grandfather's melancholy face, his increasingly aged face now covered in wrinkles. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy and stepped forward to pat his shoulder... He began massaging Xu Ping's shoulders. The other ministers, seeing their future master arrive, discreetly withdrew.

Zhu Yuanzhang's brow finally relaxed, and he happily enjoyed his grandson's massage, inquiring about his recent academic progress.

After answering for a while, Xu Ping asked, "Grandpa, what's troubling you so much?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and slowly said, "It's still about the border. Winter is almost here, and the Hu people or Khitans are starting to run out of food. They've started eyeing the Ming again, sending cavalry squads here and there to harass and plunder. We want to teach them a lesson, but the armies in various regions are currently unable to move."

Xu Ping looked puzzled and asked, "Why? Our Ming has so many troops, surely we can handle these guys? There aren't many wolves on the grasslands."

"You don't understand, do you? You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household! An army marches on its stomach. This year, the silver being handed over from various regions is decreasing, and some places have even suffered disasters, crying out for poverty. It's good enough that they don't ask the court for more. On the surface, it's a peaceful and prosperous era, but the national treasury simply doesn't have any money left for war. I'm probably the poorest emperor in history."

Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, giving a self-deprecating yet helpless bitter smile.

Xu Ping pondered for a moment and then said, "Grandpa, I have an idea, but I don't know if I should say it."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his clever grandson with interest and said with a smile, "It's alright, go ahead." "Speak,"

Xu Ping said after organizing his thoughts. "The national treasury is empty, and the people are empty too. So where is the money? It's either corrupt officials or some rich but heartless scoundrels. Your Majesty, just let me go out and make a name for myself, and I guarantee I can raise all the military funds for next year. We can tolerate these bandits for one winter, and deal with them when our army is strong and well-equipped next year. The nomadic tribes on the grasslands are only interested in resources; even if they conquer territory, they can't hold it. So they'll just plunder and then retreat back beyond the pass. It'll just be a temporary hardship for the people on the border."

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat tempted, but hesitated. "But Ping'er, you're the only son in the Zhu family now. Even if I trust you, your father won't. You're only fifteen, isn't it a bit too early to go out and make your way in the world? Besides, even if you investigate and confiscate the wealth of those corrupt officials, how much military pay can you raise? You need to know that if we really go to war with the barbarians, it won't be cheap without several million taels of silver."

Xu Ping patted his chest, full of confidence, and said, "Grandpa, when have I ever boasted about anything? You can talk to my father. As for the military pay, don't worry about it at all. I have a clever plan to raise it."

Seeing his grandson's resolute expression, Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to agree, but he required him to bring... Dozens of top imperial guards were to be sent out together to ensure safety.

Xu Ping immediately shook his head and said, "How can I manage if I take so many people? Just two people will suffice. Also, please ask Your Majesty to issue me an imperial edict that allows me to execute first and report later."

Zhu Yuanzhang obediently wrote an imperial edict and then took out a pure white jade fan: "Ping'er, this is the fan I offered during the Heaven-worshiping ceremony when I ascended the throne. It bears my founding seal and jade seal, so seeing the fan is like seeing the emperor. Now I bestow it upon you as well! If you encounter any difficulties in the provinces, just take out this fan, and you won't hesitate to kill those who deserve it."

Xu Ping respectfully accepted the fan and the imperial edict. It seemed Zhu Yuanzhang truly doted on him; a little coaxing was all it took. His father, on the other hand, would have certainly given him a beating.

Zhu Yuanzhang summoned two men to accompany his grandson. One was Zhang Hu, a second-rank imperial guard captain, whose external martial arts skills were unparalleled, and who possessed an honest and simple demeanor. The other was a man with a lewd appearance, skilled in poison and light-footed techniques, named Lin Wei.

Both were considered top-tier martial artists in the martial arts world, but Xu Ping thought they were nothing special. However, having two errand boys along the way was a good thing; his grandfather wouldn't feel at ease without them. After thanking the emperor, he led the two men out of the palace.

"Beautiful women of the world, spread your legs and await my arrival!"

Xu Ping shouted impatiently as soon as they stepped out of the capital's gates. This startled Zhang Hu and Lin Wei, who were stunned. The usually clever and obedient Crown Prince had revealed his beastly side.

Chapter Two: First Steps into the Martial World

Sitting in the spacious and luxurious carriage, Xu Ping realized it wasn't as comfortable as depicted on television. Ancient transportation was underdeveloped; aside from official roads, most routes were dirt tracks. The carriage lacked shock absorption, making the journey feel like a boat ride, constantly bouncing and lurching over even the smallest pebble. A train ride to Hebei would take four or five hours, but now it would take three days – it was too damn grueling.

Zhang Hu and Lin Wei, who frequently went out of the palace for secret missions, seemed quite used to this lifestyle and showed little discomfort, even leisurely chatting at the front of the carriage. Unable to bear the tedious journey, Xu Ping lifted the curtain and sat down at the front.

The two men became somewhat reserved upon seeing Xu Ping; Lin Wei, who had been lewdly grinning moments before, fell silent, adopting a respectful demeanor. The strict class system was a characteristic of the feudal era.

Seeing their expressions, Xu Ping grew bored again and asked in a dull tone, "Zhang Hu, where are we now?"

"Reporting to Prince Ding, we'll be in Fengkou Town in another hour. We can stay there tonight before continuing our journey."

Zhang Hu's respectful tone was as serious as a commander reporting to his superior.

Xu Ping waved his hand impatiently and said, "From now on, don't call me Prince Ding outside. I'm called Xu Ping, from the capital, my family is in business, understand? Zhang Hu will be my bodyguard from now on, and Lin Wei will play the role of attendant."

Prince Ding? Damn it, what was he thinking with that title? It sounds like "Prince of the Ass," a prince of the ass? This is really a pain in the ass.

After the two responded, Lin Wei quickly changed his form of address, saying, "Young Master, it's dusty and sandy outside. Wouldn't it be better if you went inside to rest?"

Xu Ping stretched lazily, looking sore all over, and said with a pained expression, "Young Master, I'm almost suffocating in the carriage. If I don't get some fresh air, I'm afraid I'll be a corpse by the time we reach Hebei. You might as well just drag me into the imperial mausoleum then. Zhang Hu, tell me about the martial arts world. When we travel, if we don't know anything, we'll easily be seen as idiots."

Zhang Hu bowed respectfully and handed over the reins. Lin Wei slowly said, "Young Master, I don't know much about the martial arts world now. After all, I'm often in the palace and don't go out much, so my information is a bit outdated. People in the martial arts world generally categorize martial arts strength into third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, earth-grade, heaven-grade, and saintly level. The grade is further divided into upper, middle, and lower ranks. There aren't many first-rate masters left in the martial arts world. As far as I know, the highest-ranking martial artists are all at the lower heaven-grade, and there are three of them: the founder of Shaolin, the Mad Monk Yuanzhu; the great demon known as the Blood Hand Demon Lord, Li Zhenfeng; and the leader of the Green Robe Sect, Lin Yuan. All three are currently the most powerful martial arts masters in the world." "These are the three most powerful masters I recognize."

Xu Ping seemed somewhat refreshed after hearing this and asked curiously, "Aren't there also Heavenly Rank and Saintly Lord? Why aren't they ranked?"

Lin Wei immediately chimed in, "Everyone knows about the Saintly Lord level, but no one has been able to break through to that level in the past hundred years. Only some legendary figures have reached that level. For example, there were a few Heavenly Rank masters during the Song Dynasty, and Zhang Zhenren, the founder of Wudang at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, is said to have reached the Saintly Lord level and ascended to heaven in broad daylight. The extraordinary Master Guigu of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods was also among the Saintly Lords." Actually, there's another level above the Saintly Ruler, but it's never appeared and has been forgotten—that's the Earthly Immortal. It's said that reaching this level grants immortality and makes one the supreme being of the mortal realm.”

Zhang Hu immediately added, “However, these are just folk tales. These days, reaching the Earthly Immortal level is practically enough to rule the world. Even top-tier masters rarely venture out; everyone wants to delve into that elusive

, unattainable Dao.” Hearing that his teacher possessed such abilities, and considering the promising future of his cultivation method, Xu Ping couldn't help but feel secretly delighted. It seemed the martial world wasn't as difficult as he'd imagined.

Along the way, the three chatted enthusiastically about various anecdotes from the martial world. Soon, Xu Ping had dispelled their awkwardness, and they could even tell some risqué jokes without restraint, making time fly by. After settling into an inn in a small town that evening, despite his martial arts skills, Xu Ping was already aching all over. He thought that he must get a carriage with shock-absorbing springs when he had time, otherwise, he'd be completely worn out by the end of the year.

Although it was a very ordinary bed, Xu Ping slept soundly because he was exhausted after a long day. The next day was another tedious journey, and after a day's travel, they finally reached the border between Hebei and the capital. The three of them found a small shop and ate some roast chicken, side dishes, and rice. Zhang Hu and the other man were initially worried that their master wouldn't be used to such simple food, but Xu Ping had been poor in his previous life and didn't care about such things at all, eating with great relish.

Just after finishing his meal, Xu Ping had only taken a sip of tea when he overheard people at the next table whispering, "Did you know? Our Magistrate Li really lost face last night."

"What happened? Wasn't he supposed to be marrying his fourth concubine yesterday? What could have happened?"

A man who looked like a constable looked around mysteriously and said, "The trouble started with this fourth concubine. We thought she was just an ordinary girl and didn't pay much attention. She was snatched away by the clerk on the street. But who knew this girl was actually the sister of Zhao Meng, the leader of Black Tiger Stronghold. A dark-faced leader with such a beautiful sister, I wonder if they even share the same mother."

The people around him immediately became gossipy and asked with interest, "So what happened?"

The constable took a sip of tea, and after whetting everyone's appetite, he said with a smug look, "Last night, Zhao Meng took advantage of the soldiers' lack of reaction and snatched his sister away with dozens of men. He even slapped the magistrate in public. All the important people in the county were there that night. You can imagine how much face he lost. So, today the magistrate is leading the militia to attack Black Tiger Stronghold."

"Black Tiger Stronghold has over a hundred strongmen, all of them formidable, and I've heard that many of them know martial arts. The militia is just a bunch of guys who only know how to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. Going there would be like sending them to their deaths, wouldn't it?"

another person asked doubtfully.

The man who looked like a constable lowered his voice, his tone somewhat sinister, and said, "Actually, sending those militiamen is just sending them to their deaths. If Zhao Meng kills them all, the county magistrate can accuse them of rebellion, and then he'll have a reason to ask the garrison to suppress the bandits. Think about it, even though King Zhao is powerful, how could he be a match for the garrison?"

The others shook their heads and sighed, "Alas! Our Magistrate Li is truly ruthless. May Heaven protect the heroes of Black Tiger Stronghold from this calamity. These officials are even worse than these bandits; all they know is how to exploit us common people. At least Chief Zhao helped us poor folks during the famine years. It's truly unjust!"

The three of them calmly listened to the surrounding conversation. After Xu Ping paid the bill, he didn't say anything and continued on his way to Tongyang County, inquiring about this popular bandit along the way.

Finally, they arrived in Tongyang County that evening, found an inn to stay in, and ordered food to be delivered to their room. The waiter could tell from their attire that the three were wealthy prey, so he eagerly brought in the wine and dishes.

Xu Ping called out to the waiter, "Brother waiter, I have something to ask you, and I'll reward you if you tell me the truth!"

Zhang Hu immediately slammed a ten-tael silver coin on the table.

The waiter's eyes lit up; ten taels of silver was a year's wages! He immediately put on a smiling face and said, "Sir, ask me anything you want to know. I'll tell you everything I know. I grew up here and know a lot."

Xu Ping took a sip of his wine and slowly asked, "I heard there's a Black Tiger Stronghold around here, and the leader is called Zhao Meng, a bandit who dominates the area. Is there such a person?"

The waiter's expression suddenly became hesitant, and he seemed a little embarrassed. After a while, he lowered his voice and said, "Sir! You're right, there is indeed such a person. But you mustn't speak ill of him outside. This Master Zhao has a very high reputation here."

A bandit with a high reputation? Xu Ping asked with interest, "Oh! A mountain bandit king is so popular, what kind of person is he? Tell me about him."

The waiter looked outside carefully, put away the silver, and whispered, "Our county magistrate is called Li Dong, everyone calls him the Man-Eating Demon. In the few years since he took office, he's been protecting a bunch of thugs who extort money and kidnap women, making life unbearable for the people. Zhao Meng was originally a butcher in Li Family Village who killed dogs. Later, his father was beaten to death for offending a local ruffian. Unexpectedly, Magistrate Li said it was Zhao Meng's own fault, so in a fit of rage, Zhao Meng killed the ruffians who killed his father and fled to the mountains to become an outlaw. Later, many people persecuted by the government went to him for refuge, which led to the powerful Black Tiger Stronghold we have today."

The waiter paused and continued, "In recent years, King Zhao hasn't harassed our people, only robbing some passing merchants, trying to avoid bloodshed as much as possible." Occasionally, he would even provide relief to some poor families in the surrounding area. Last year, Hebei suffered a severe drought, and the imperial court allocated 200,000 taels of silver for disaster relief, but the money was confiscated by the county government. Li Dong also colluded with those unscrupulous grain merchants to inflate rice prices, causing many poor families to starve to death. Later, Zhao Dawang and his brothers robbed the silver and distributed it to the people of Tongyang County, but the grain prices were too high, and even those with money couldn't afford rice. The Black Tiger Stronghold returned to the county and massacred all thirty-two people in the largest grain merchant's household, except for the children. They distributed the stolen grain to the people, which frightened the other grain merchants into lowering their prices to save their lives, allowing everyone to survive. "Sir, don't you think such a person is much better than those officials in the government?"

Xu Ping secretly admired him after listening. For a bandit to have such awareness was indeed worthy of the people's support. He guessed that the resentment between Li Dong and Zhao Meng ran deep. He nodded and gestured for the waiter to leave.

Zhang Hu thought for a while, then said with a troubled expression, "Young Master, this is the most difficult thing for us to handle. No matter how wrong Li Dong is, he is still an official of the imperial court and should be punished

by law. But these people are breaking the law with force, yet they have the support of the people. Killing them is not an option, and not killing them is also not an option." Lin Wei agreed from the side, saying, "Young Master, what do you think we should do? To be honest, I want to help Zhao Meng. That county magistrate is a real scoundrel. Keeping such a person around is a disgrace to our imperial court. We can't leave him unpunished, but we can't afford to make a fool of ourselves at this critical juncture." Xu

Ping thought for a moment, then made a decision: "Yes, the court needs to save face. It's best to get this done before we set off. Tomorrow, Lin Wei will go and collect evidence of this magistrate's crimes. Zhang Hu, you go to the garrison camp and give them a heads-up, make sure the news doesn't leak out beforehand."

Lin Wei said somewhat awkwardly, "Young Master, isn't one day a bit too short to find enough evidence to convict him?"

Xu Ping smiled sinisterly, his eyes flashing coldly, and said, "Not much, even just a little bit, and it doesn't need to be true or false. If I say he deserves to die, then he deserves to die, understand?"

"And what about you, Young Master?"

Lin Wei nodded knowingly and asked.

"Hehe, I'll go to Black Tiger Stronghold tomorrow to meet this King Zhao."

Xu Ping said with a smile, finally having something interesting to do was really good.

"Master..."

The two were about to persuade him when Xu Ping waved his hand impatiently and said, "Don't say any more nonsense."

Zhang Hu and Lin Wei could only exchange helpless glances before agreeing. The three of them discussed it carefully for a while before returning to their rooms to rest.

The next morning, Xu Ping bypassed several sentry posts and went straight to the gate of Black Tiger Stronghold. As expected of bandits who had survived for so long, this stronghold, with its hundred or so men, was easily defended and difficult to attack, except for a gate on a narrow path. A tall wooden stake gate blocked the entrance, guarded by small-time bandits with excellent visibility; the slightest movement would be immediately detected.

Outside the stronghold lay a mess of corpses, which Xu Ping glanced at before leaving. These militiamen were said to have gotten their positions through connections to officials, or were just a motley crew of thugs and ruffians, used as scapegoats by Li Dong to contribute to the treasury.

Xu Ping assessed the situation; sneaking in seemed unlikely, so he simply took a step forward and landed directly in front of the gate. The guards at the gate were startled to see a man standing there without alerting their comrades at the front. They immediately became alert and shouted from afar, "Who's down there? What business do you have at Black Tiger Stronghold?"

Xu Ping, dressed in a dashing trench coat with long hair flowing in the wind, held a jade fan in his hand. His face was smooth as jade, with a slight smile. He was handsome and dashing, with the air of a chivalrous scholar. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "Brother, my surname is Xu. I'm just an unknown figure in the martial world. I heard that your stronghold is in trouble, so I've come to lend a hand. Please inform them."

The guard told Xu Ping to wait a moment and then ran to the back to inform them. He returned shortly and said, "Young Master Xu, our chieftain invites you. Please wait a moment, and I will open the gate to welcome you into the mountain."

Xu Ping smiled gently, "No need to trouble you, brother. I'll go in myself."

With that, he channeled his inner energy and leaped over the gate, which was more than ten feet high, into the stronghold. The guards at the gate were stunned. The newcomer's martial arts were so high; even without prior notice, entering would have been effortless.

Xu Ping followed the guard into the hall, which was noisy and chaotic. He immediately saw a dozen or so strangely dressed martial artists gathered together, discussing something, each looking indignant and resentful. They stopped when they saw Xu Ping enter, scrutinizing the handsome young man before them.

A tall, robust, dark-faced man stepped out from the crowd, clasped his hands in a hearty gesture, and asked, "I am Zhao Meng of Black Tiger Stronghold. I am preoccupied with other matters and unable to greet you; please forgive me."

Seeing the dark-faced man's straightforwardness and lack of affectation, Xu Ping, though slightly wary, inwardly admired him. He immediately returned the greeting and smiled, saying, "I am Xu Ping, from the capital! I happened to be passing through this place and heard of your chivalrous deeds. Hearing that Your Majesty's fierce battle is imminent, I have come to lend my assistance."

The dark-faced man, however, remained humble . The man waved his hand and said, "I'm no king, just a bandit leader! I'm not good at fancy words, but brother, you and my Black Tiger Stronghold have no connection, so it's best not to get involved. It's not worth it. This time, the force coming to besiege us is a regular garrison, and I'm not confident I can hold them off."

Xu Ping liked the man more and more as he looked at him, and remembered two lines of poetry that would later become very popular, which were perfect for Zhao Meng. He couldn't help but recite them: "The righteous are often the lowly butchers, the ungrateful are always the scholars."

Flattery never fails. As soon as Xu Ping finished reciting, he heard a chorus of cheers from the people around him.

Zhao Meng smiled in agreement, but then said somewhat forlornly, "Brother Xu, let's not waste time with these formalities. Judging from your attire, you're clearly wealthy and powerful; there's really no need for you to risk your life alongside us desperate fugitives."

Xu Ping quickly stepped aside, then said with a smile, "This time, your stronghold is probably doomed. You must know you're facing a regular Ming army; how can a mere mountain stronghold possibly withstand them? This Li Dong is truly ruthless, sending over a hundred militiamen to their deaths to provoke the anger of the local wealthy merchants, and then using them as pawns to kill. He's ruthless, but also quite shrewd."

Everyone nodded in agreement after hearing this, and began cursing Li Dong's entire family.

Zhao Meng, however, knew he couldn't possibly defeat the regular imperial army, and his face was filled with worry.

At this moment, a beautiful young woman walked out from behind. Judging from her delicate and pretty appearance, she was at the most beautiful age of sixteen. She wore a simple, plain long cotton dress, and her fair face was as white as jade, without any makeup. Her large, bright eyes were filled with unease and fear. Her cherry-like mouth and delicate nose formed a pretty face that, though simple, was captivating. She looked so pitiful that one wanted to hold her in their arms and cherish her. She was

about 160 centimeters tall. Although her figure was slightly slender, her youthful body was still shapely and graceful. She didn't have a seductive or alluring look; instead, she gave off a delicate and frail impression.

Having lived in the palace, Xu Ping immediately judged that this girl would be an absolute beauty if she dressed up; it was a pity that her coarse linen clothes ruined her good figure. Looking at Zhao Meng's burly appearance, it was truly baffling how siblings from the same parents could be so different. No wonder genetics has always been one of humanity's greatest mysteries. The girl

gracefully walked up to Zhao Meng, her face filled with melancholy, and said, "Brother, are they about to attack? It's all because of me that the brothers here have been implicated."

Her voice was clear and melodious, like a lark's, delicate and gentle, particularly soothing to the ear.

Zhao Meng immediately said with heartache, "My silly sister, you're my only family after Mother left. How can I watch you be harmed by that cannibalistic demon? Don't worry, I'll protect you even if it kills me. This time, I'm afraid I'll have to die here. Find a chance to sneak down the mountain later and find a good family somewhere no one knows you!"

Tears streamed down the girl's face as she sobbed softly, her voice trembling as she said, "No, brother, let's take the brothers with us and run away! Let's find another place to settle down and do some small business to make a living. What will I do if you leave?"

One of the siblings looked worried, while the other was covered in tears. After a while, Zhao Meng pulled Xu Ping aside and said, "Sister, come and greet Young Hero Xu. Our mountain stronghold is in dire straits this time, and he, a complete stranger, still came to help. He's a man of great character."

The girl gave a slight bow, but her eyes were filled with sorrow as she didn't say anything more. Zhao Meng suddenly turned to Xu Ping with a serious expression and said, "Young Master Xu, I suspect I'm doomed this time. This is my younger sister, Zhao Ling. I hope you can take her with you when the soldiers arrive. She's quite pretty; if you don't mind, I entrust her to you. I hope you can take good care of her."

Xu Ping was puzzled. Such a good thing! Zhao Qian was indeed clever and charming; taking her in wouldn't be bad. However, given their impending separation, he couldn't show any lecherousness. He immediately adopted a serious tone and said, "Brother Zhao, rest assured, I will not fail you. Marriage requires mutual consent. If my sister is willing to go with me, I will certainly not betray her. However, there might still be room for negotiation, so Brother Zhao, don't be too pessimistic."

After speaking, he carefully looked at Zhao Ling, who was crying her eyes out, and found her increasingly captivating.

Upon hearing her brother's offer to marry her off, Zhao Ling's pretty face immediately flushed red. Grabbing Zhao Meng's hand, she said resolutely, "Brother! I can't leave you."

Zhao Meng said helplessly, "Little sister, your brother has taken too many lives. This is retribution. Li Dong and I have a long-standing grudge, and I suspect he's determined to wipe us out completely this time. Li Dong will definitely not let me off the hook. I promised Father I'd raise you and find you a good family, but it seems I can't do that now. You must live well from now on."

"Brother…"

Zhao Ling cried out softly, her voice heartbreaking, and she could no longer hold back, throwing herself into Zhao Meng's arms and sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhao Meng patted her shoulder in comfort, the seven-foot-tall man also shedding tears of helplessness.

While everyone was still grieving, a soldier rushed in, anxiously saying, "It's terrible! Boss, the government troops have surrounded us!"

Zhao Meng wiped away his tears, his face resolute as he bowed to Xu Ping, and slowly said, "Young Master Xu, I'm sorry to have troubled you on our first meeting. I'm not one to preach. I only hope you can treat my sister well. If you don't like her plain appearance, please send her away safely to a good family! I will repay your kindness even in my next life."

With that, he pushed Zhao Ling aside without looking back, picked up his broadsword, and led the others to the front of the stronghold to prepare for battle.

Zhao Ling tried to pull him away but was shoved aside. Xu Ping quickly stepped forward to support her. For some reason, seeing Zhao Ling cry now, Xu Ping felt a pang in his heart, as if he didn't want to see her so heartbroken. In the blink of an eye, the bandits in the hall walked out with resolute expressions and gritted teeth, displaying an air of ready to fight to the death.

Before the mountain stronghold, a force of about four or five thousand soldiers surrounded it, all highly disciplined troops, standing guard all around. A deathly silence hung in the air, as if awaiting a single command to unleash a tidal wave of attack from all directions.

Seeing this menacing aura, Zhao Meng and his men grew serious, considering almost impossible countermeasures.

Xu Ping, seemingly unconcerned, took Zhao Ling's hand and led her to the front of the stronghold while she was still crying. The girl, her face flushed, followed him, her tears and sorrow still visible, but tinged with a delicate girlish shyness. Xu Ping wasn't particularly worried. He saw Zhang Hu and a man who appeared to be an officer, dressed in armor, riding side-by-side on a large horse, indicating that the garrison was under control. The rest was just a matter of watching the show.

"Young Master Xu, why aren't you leaving!"

Zhao Meng turned and, seeing the two approaching, asked with a mixture of reproach and concern.

"Brother, if you die, I'll die with you."

Zhao Ling wiped away her tears and said resolutely.

"We're surrounded. How can we get out?"

Xu Ping said helplessly.

Zhao Meng sighed and said quietly, "It seems we're really in deep trouble this time."

Seeing Zhao Meng and the others appear at the gate, a fat man in official robes stepped out from the crowd and shouted loudly, "Listen up, people of Black Tiger Stronghold! You have cruelly murdered two hundred militiamen from Tongyang County. Your crimes are heinous. I cannot let you live. I have invited the garrison to help. We must get rid of you bandits who are harming this area and restore peace to the local people." Zhao Meng

looked at the man and immediately gritted his teeth and said, "Li Dong, you dog of an official, you've done just as many bad things as I have. You still dare to come here pretending to be a good person. Have you become numb to the hypocrisy of pretending to be virtuous? Today, even if I die, I will cut off your dog's head."

After saying that, he picked up a bow and arrow and pretended to shoot.

Xu Ping sized up the Tongyang County magistrate. He was bloated and weak, his eyes lifeless; clearly, he'd been drained of his health by wine and women. It would be strange if such a person were a good man. Li Dong was startled by this sight, which only deepened Xu Ping's contempt for him. Zhao Meng was just a bandit; where would he get such skill? It would be a miracle if he could shoot past him at that distance. Did he think he was carrying an AK-47?

Li Dong hurriedly ran to the garrison commander, fawningly saying to the general on horseback, "General Liu, look how arrogant these bandits are! Not only have they committed the heinous crime of rebellion, but they also dared to spout nonsense upon seeing your army arrive. None of them know the law; they even dared to boast in front of you that they would kill an official of the court! These bastards must be killed!"

The commander, surnamed Liu, didn't even glance at him. At this moment, Xu Ping gave Zhang Hu a wink, and Zhang Hu immediately understood, shouting at Li Dong, "Men, seize Li Dong!"

Commander Liu responded, then suddenly dismounted and swiftly subdued the cannibal, wrapping him up like a dumpling in a few quick movements. The sudden turn of events stunned everyone.

Zhang Hu immediately shouted towards Black Tiger Stronghold, "Listen up, people on the mountain! We won't attack the stronghold for now. I'll have the garrison retreat three li. Open the gate and let the three of us in!" As

soon as he finished speaking, Commander Liu signaled his soldiers to retreat three li as a sign of sincerity.

The people in the stronghold were also somewhat bewildered by this turn of events. Zhao Meng hesitated for a moment, then, seeing that the garrison had indeed retreated three li, leaving only Zhang Hu, Commander Liu, and the still-shouting Li Dong, he waved for the gate to be opened, welcoming the three in. The others, however, remained wary, watching the army three li away.

After the three entered the mountain stronghold, they were led to the main hall. Although Zhao Meng hated Li Dong to the core, he didn't disrespect the other two. Instead, he was somewhat bewildered by this sudden turn of events, but still treated them with courtesy.

While they weren't paying attention, Xu Ping shamelessly pulled Zhao Ling's hand and began whispering sweet nothings, seemingly unconcerned

about such matters. His nonchalant attitude displeased Zhao Ling, but his tender words made the young girl, in the throes of first love, blush and feel flustered. Zhao Meng was also puzzled by this turn of events. Seeing the martial arts aura emanating from Zhang Hu, he wondered about his background and intentions. He clasped his hands and asked, "Gentlemen, what brings you here?"

Zhang Hu and Commander Liu didn't even glance at him, strode straight to Xu Ping, knelt down, and respectfully greeted, "Your subordinate Zhang Hu! Your humble general Liu Hong! Greetings, Your Highness."

Their voices were strong and clear, and their words immediately reached everyone's ears.

Zhao Ling was a little confused by what she was seeing, her lovely face blank with disbelief. Seeing her surprised expression, Xu Ping immediately took the opportunity to wrap his large hand around her slender waist, chuckling, "Little Ling'er? What's wrong? Don't you recognize me? Just now, I was the husband your brother had chosen for you."

Zhao Meng was also startled by their intimate behavior, as men and women shouldn't touch each other. Xu Ping pulled the still-dazed Zhao Ling to the high seat that had originally been Zhao Meng's. After they sat down solemnly, Zhang Hu and Liu Hong stood to one side. Zhang Hu even shouted, "You audacious commoners, the Prince of Ding is here! Why don't you pay your respects?"

Although the crowd was still somewhat bewildered, they figured that since the garrison leader had said so, it couldn't be false. One by one, they hurriedly knelt down. Xu Ping caught Zhao Ling, who was about to kneel down, and pulled her to his side. He inhaled her faint fragrance and breathed hot air into her ear, saying, "Good Ling'er, why are you kneeling like them? I can't bear to."

Zhao Ling felt a slight tickle on her ear, blushed, and asked blankly, "Young Master Xu, are you really a prince?"

Xu Ping chuckled smugly and said gently, "Absolutely. From now on, you'll be my princess. Ling'er, be good. I'll finish this matter first, then I'll take you sightseeing. Then we can have some real lovemaking."

Zhao Ling blushed and hummed in agreement, then stood to the side, her eyes shining with passion as she secretly observed Xu Ping.

Xu Ping's gentle expression vanished. He turned and sneered, then slowly barked at Li Dong, "Li Dong, how can I praise you enough! It's quite an achievement that a mere local official like you from Tongyang could cause such a commotion! I've heard you're incredibly wealthy, with many wives and concubines. You must be living a good life, exploiting the people quite a bit, haven't you?"

Li Dong immediately turned pale with fright, kowtowing and crying out his innocence, "Your Highness, I have always been honest and upright, serving the people wholeheartedly. I came here to suppress the bandits for the safety of the people. I beg Your Highness to investigate!" He

then burst into tears, displaying an expression of extreme grievance, and kowtowed repeatedly.

Seeing his affected manner, Zhang Hu stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, Lin Wei began collecting evidence of this corrupt official's crimes yesterday. Because there's so much, the investigation is still ongoing. However, the evidence he just submitted is enough to kill this guy ten times over."

Xu Ping, looking confident, glanced at Li Dong, who was still protesting his innocence, and coldly said, "Read it!"

Zhang Hu turned around and unfolded a piece of paper, reading aloud one item after another, from embezzling disaster relief funds to bullying the market. This was all submitted by Lin Wei; he had no idea which were true and which were false.

Li Dong initially tried to argue, but as one scandal after another was unearthed, he became so frightened that he lost control of his bladder and collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud. Actually, Lin Wei had only written down hearsay; no one expected him to have actually done all of it. No wonder he was framed.

As Zhang Hu finished reading his incoherent rant, everyone looked at Li Dong, who couldn't get up from the ground, with amusement. The people of Black Tiger Stronghold were especially excited; eight out of ten of them had a grudge against him. So many crimes are enough to make this guy suffer; at the very least, he'll face confiscation of his

property and execution. Xu Ping, however, wasn't as relaxed as they were. His mind raced. He needed to handle this matter perfectly without leaving any loose ends or giving anyone ammunition to spread rumors. After thinking for a moment, he ordered: "Li Dong, as the magistrate of Tongyang County, has not served the people or the court during his tenure. Instead, he has been corrupt and oppressive, exploiting the populace. The evidence is conclusive. He is hereby stripped of his official hat and executed immediately."

Zhang Hu, upon receiving the order, didn't look at Li Dong but silently handed the knife to Zhao Meng. Zhao Meng, seeing his terrified enemy right before him, beheaded Li Dong in one swift stroke. Tears of emotion streamed down his face.

The crowd gasped, seeing this prince wielding the power of life and death, watching someone's head fall without batting an eye.

Seeing that he had achieved his deterrent effect, Xu Ping smiled with satisfaction. After a pause, he continued, "Today, Liu Hong led his troops in a fierce attack on Black Tiger Stronghold, routing Zhao Meng and his band of bandits. Stronghold leader Zhao Meng was killed on the spot for resisting the imperial court. From now on, Black Tiger Stronghold will no longer be a menace to the region."

The clever ones among them already understood what he meant, and Zhao Meng was filled with gratitude.

Seeing that everyone understood, Xu Ping gently took Zhao Ling's small hand and said softly, "My dear, from now on, your brother is no longer a bandit. He won't have to live such a life of danger anymore."

Zhao Ling, tears streaming down her face, leaned on Xu Ping's shoulder and said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your great kindness to my brother and me. I could never repay your kindness even if I were

to serve you like a cow or a horse for the rest of my life..." Xu Ping immediately grinned lewdly, secretly pinching her soft, round buttocks before saying, "No need to serve you like a cow or a horse. Just be my concubine and give me a few more babies."

Zhao Ling immediately blushed and lowered her head, looking charmingly shy and alluring.

Seeing everyone lower their heads, not daring to watch the two flirting, Xu Ping also felt a little embarrassed, as being affectionate in front of so many people didn't create a good atmosphere. He coughed and ordered, "Liu Hong, arrange for some people to handle this matter properly. Zhang Hu, Zhao Meng, you two come with me to raid Li Dong's house."

The men got to work after receiving the order. The bandits, somewhat disappointed but also relieved, packed their belongings and went down the mountain, finally able to return to their families openly and live a good life. As a large fire illuminated the entire mountain, Black Tiger Stronghold was completely wiped out.

Xu Ping continued to tease Zhao Ling along the way, and the group marched towards the county.

Sitting in the magistrate's living room, leisurely drinking tea and enjoying Zhao Ling's gentle massage, Xu Ping was overjoyed, finding even her occasional shy smiles particularly charming.

The garrison surrounded Li Dong's house and other places connected to him, searching every inch of the place. Thirty-six members of Li Dong's family knelt on the ground, weeping and wailing as if the world were ending. The entire ransacking operation lasted for most of the day before it ended, and Lin Wei finally returned, exhausted, as night fell.

Lin Wei went straight to Xu Ping, knelt down, and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

"Rise, Li Dong has already been executed on the spot. What else did you gain?"

Xu Ping said slowly, his hand already wandering over Zhao Ling's delicate hand.

Although Zhao Ling was shy, she didn't dare to refuse.

Lin Wei, with a straight face, ignored everything in front of him and stood up to answer, "Your Highness, I have discovered that in addition to Li Dong's corruption and exploitation of the people, his family members are also of questionable character. Some run brothels and force women into prostitution, while others run gambling dens and lend money at exorbitant interest rates. It can be said that when one person attains power, even his chickens and dogs rise to heaven. Excluding the confiscated silver, his other assets alone amount to 100,000 to 100,000 taels of silver. Truly, a clean magistrate for three years

can amass 100,000 taels of silver!" Just as he finished speaking, Zhang Hu entered, holding an account book, and said, "Your Highness, this raid yielded 110,000 taels of silver, 5,000 taels of gold, and other jewelry and antiques, totaling 260,000 taels of silver. While in office, Li Dong, in addition to corruption, also smuggled salt. His crimes are numerous. Please make a decision, Your Highness."

A mere county magistrate could actually squeeze out a fortune of 460,000 taels of silver. He was truly rolling in money. The first harvest was quite substantial. Now it seems that killing a few more of these guys would definitely bring in a lot of profit. Before he gains power, he must desperately accumulate wealth so that his future life can be easier.

Xu Ping thought silently for a while and then said, "Kill those who should be killed, and deal with those who should be dealt with. As for those women who were forcibly taken by Li Dong, give them some money and let them go home! Keep 100,000 taels of silver for local bridge and road repairs and relief for the people. Hand over 300,000 taels to the Prince of Yan's mansion. After this trip, we'll settle the accounts with the Ministry of Revenue. You can exchange the remaining 60,000 taels for banknotes and keep them with you as our travel expenses."

Lin Wei felt something was amiss. According to custom, all this money should be handed over to the Ministry of Revenue. But seeing Xu Ping's expression, he immediately agreed and said nothing more. Of course, handing over this money to the Prince of Yan's mansion wasn't for Zhu Yunwen, but for Xu Ping's own private coffers.

After leaving the rest of the matters to them, Xu Ping found the crying and wailing at Li Dong's house too noisy, so he stayed at an inn that night. As for the environment, it was completely different from the first night; even the bed had been changed to a large frost-branch bed, a gift from who-knows-who.

After a sumptuous meal was served, Xu Ping dismissed everyone. During the meal, he would ask Ling'er to feed him, and then he would hold her close and grope her, making the little beauty blush and giggle. The dinner, in this erotic atmosphere, lasted for more than an hour.

After dinner, Xu Ping had made up his mind to kill the virgin, his eyes fixed on her beautiful curves. Her full and perky breasts and round and pretty buttocks displayed the most charming feminine allure. Zhao Ling seemed to know what was going to happen tonight, standing somewhat uneasily, her lovely face flushed with happiness.

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[Fantasy] The Rogue Landlord (Complete) - Part 1

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