【The Rogue Landlord】 Episodes 21-25 Author: Laughter in the Coffin

page views:1 Publication date:2023-06-11 20:13:03

【The Rogue Landlord】

Author: Laughter in the Coffin
Publisher: Hetu Culture

【Episode 21】Chapter 1: General Luo Yong!

A passionate night left behind continuous moans and fiery intertwined limbs. Leng Yue shed her icy indifference, completely letting go of all pretense in their private world, offering her most passionate side to her lover, her submissive attitude almost rivaling that of Xiaomi.

Watching the ice-cold beauty moan softly beneath him, fawning over him, Xu Ping was also extremely excited, the mental pleasure even surpassing the physical pleasure!

Leng Yue was always serious and rarely smiled, known for her aloofness and meticulousness when she worked in Shuntian Prefecture. Even those who knew her very well had never seen her smile; black clothes and a cold, icy sword were almost her trademarks. Some even suspected that this stunning beauty had no emotions at all, and that she wouldn't even feel fear in the face of death.

But her aloofness was actually to protect herself, perhaps also stemming from the deep resentment caused by the massacre of her family. However, all of this was slowly melted away by Xu Ping's tenderness. Even though she hadn't avenged the massacre of her family, Leng Yue's truest self gradually emerged; in front of her lover, she was just a girl yearning for affection.

Leng Yue had a tall and alluring figure, perfectly proportioned, especially her long, beautiful legs, which exuded a captivating feminine charm. Due to her martial arts training, her body was exceptionally flexible, so sexy that there was hardly any excess fat. While admiring her, Xu Ping was also overcome with lust, making her pose in various positions, from the bed, the table, even the doorway, relentlessly thrusting into her delicate body; her tall figure gave her an allure unlike any other beauty.

Leng Yue showed no sign of refusing, almost to the point of being completely obedient. She was immersed in desire, cooperating with any of Xu Ping's demands, even being pinned against the wall by him, his beautiful legs spread into a split, pressing against her shoulders; the powerful thrusts made her unable to even stand, screaming with excitement, experiencing two consecutive frenzied orgasms.

Xu Ping reached the peak of excitement amidst her moans, unable to resist ejaculating forcefully into her body. After their simultaneous convulsions, Leng Yue collapsed weakly to the ground. Xu Ping felt his legs tremble slightly, perhaps because her moans were too intense!

From their first meeting, her neither humble nor arrogant yet exceptionally cold demeanor, her stubborn refusal to accept help even when injured, to their life-or-death bond during the chaos at Tianfang Mountain, and her tearful outburst after failing to assassinate Guo Jinghao, Xu Ping knew he had entered her heart. This pleasure was even more intense than possessing her beautiful body!

Xu Ping was unprecedentedly satisfied spiritually. Seeing that Leng Yue was completely exhausted, he breathlessly carried her back to bed to rest. Looking at the satisfied cold beauty, he couldn't help but feel smug!

Her rosy lips opened and closed, revealing her sexy charm, and her hazy eyes held a subtle allure, further stimulating his unprecedented desire to conquer. Xu Ping couldn't resist kneeling directly in front of Leng Yue, pressing his penis, covered in semen and her love juices, to her lips, hoping her alluring mouth would abandon its reserve and serve him.

Leng Yue's face was flushed with desire as she alluringly examined the slightly limp penis before her. Without hesitation, she gently grasped it with her small hand, squeezing out the remaining semen from the urethral opening. Her soft tongue moved with the agility of her swordsmanship, touching the urethral opening and licking the glans, stimulating every sensitive spot and savoring every inch of masculine essence. When he took the glans into his mouth again, Xu Ping's legs trembled with pleasure, and his hands unconsciously reached up to caress her breasts.

Leng Yue savored her lover's penis, swallowing all the hot semen, until the large thing in her mouth hardened again. Her face was full of yearning, and she looked at her lover with a seductive and expectant gaze. Xu Ping couldn't resist pressing down on her. Amidst the cold beauty's satisfied sighs, he entered her tight, virgin-like body once more, listening to her alluring moans as he engaged in the most sensual piston-like movements.

A spring breeze filled the room overnight, and the beauty bloomed a second time. Even though Leng Yue was newly married after a short separation and her passion was fiery, she couldn't withstand Xu Ping's forceful demands. By her seventh climax, she had lost all ability to think, and finally, helplessly served him with her mouth. Although she complained sweetly that her lover was too rough, her tone was full of coquettishness.

For a man, making his woman so satisfied that she cried out that she couldn't take it anymore was the proudest thing. Seeing that she was a little dry down there, Xu Ping naturally didn't force her. He watched with pleasure as her beautiful face was buried between his legs, moving diligently, her rosy lips swallowing and releasing his glans with all her might, finally releasing his second wave of semen completely into her cherry-like mouth.

Leng Yue paused for a moment, her face flushed with desire, savoring the surge of semen in her mouth. After a few swallows, her small mouth was full of semen, with a few strands of milky white sticky clinging to her lips, making her look both lewd and alluring. She gave Xu Ping a soft, seductive smile, then deliberately swallowed the semen in front of her lover, even licking her lips in ecstasy, a look of pure enjoyment

on her face! The cold beauty had been transformed into a passionate woman. In public, Leng Yue maintained her icy, aloof demeanor, but her most sensual side was only revealed to him. Xu Ping couldn't help but laugh triumphantly, embracing her sweat-covered body, whispering sweet nothings while caressing her post-orgasmic form.

Every night's sweet dream eventually ends; after the passion, they spent the night in blissful dreams together. The warm morning sunlight streamed through the window, making one somewhat irritable, warm yet easily disturbing sweet dreams. The glaring light and the heat on the skin affected the mood for sleeping in. Xu Ping turned around impatiently, instinctively reaching out to embrace Leng Yue's sexy body, only to find he was holding nothing.

"So early!"

He yawned helplessly, sat up, rubbed his eyes, and saw that his beauty was nowhere to be seen. The large bed was left only with the lingering scent of passion and the fragrance of their second encounter last night!

"Someone come here!" Xu Ping called to the maid, scratching his head, and reluctantly got out of bed.

That Leng Yue, really! They rarely get to enjoy some alone time together, why didn't she sleep in a little longer? Why get up so early! Although he knew she always had a good habit of waking up early, Xu Ping sometimes felt that this habit wasn't conducive to a passionate morning workout, and that his burgeoning desires were difficult to satisfy.

Leng Yue wasn't a traditional demure young lady, nor was she a contented, sheltered noblewoman. While she didn't reject a life of dutifully serving her husband and raising children at home, she preferred to help her man in other ways, such as using her sword to eliminate any unfavorable factors.

Perhaps the tragedy of her family's downfall in her childhood made her somewhat cold-hearted, or perhaps the hatred of her family's massacre made her overly sensitive. Coupled with the many cruel experiences she had while working in the Shuntian Prefecture, which taught her the harsh realities and cruelty of life, all of this made her somewhat stubborn, even harboring a deeply hidden competitive spirit.

The discovery of an internal traitor was infuriating. Sending Lou Jiu and Liu Ziyi to investigate was indeed appropriate, but there were some concerns. They worried that their experience in the martial world might hinder their ability to navigate officialdom. After much deliberation, it was decided to send Leng Yue as well. Dividing the forces into three groups, each acting independently, was the best approach. These three had different methods, which might allow them to resolve this unstable factor in the shortest time.

Liu Ziyi maintained the Demonic Sect's consistent style, gathering intelligence silently from the shadows, sometimes blurring the lines between good and evil to achieve her goals. Lou Jiu, on the other hand, was ruthless and merciless, willing to extinguish any compassion to achieve his objectives, even to the point of being somewhat extreme. Leng Yue was intimately familiar with the officialdom, and coupled with her experience and status as an official in Shuntian Prefecture, she should be able to uncover every suspicious detail.

In comparison, while Liu Ziyi and Lou Jiu could approach the matter from the sidelines, Leng Yue could openly distract everyone, creating opportunities for them to make their move. This kind of cooperation, though not perfectly coordinated, was still the most effective after much thought!

Although he knew her personality was extreme and decisive, he wondered if she really needed to get up so early. Xu Ping pondered this as he got out of bed. Last night, when they were deeply in love, he had revealed the plan, and this beauty had immediately turned cold, listening to him with an icy expression.
It felt less like asking her to investigate and more like asking her to kill someone!

Xu Ping gave a wry smile, a mixture of relief and helplessness on his face, and yawned again. Just then, the door was carefully pushed open, and maids entered, carrying various utensils. They surrounded Xu Ping like stars around the moon, meticulously attending to his bathing and rinsing of his mouth; Xu Ping didn't even have to lift a finger.

A white scholar's robe was Xu Ping's favorite attire; his scholarly refinement perfectly matched the affected standards of the time. The saying goes, "Beautiful women love talented men," but to put it bluntly, talented men were the epitome of successful affectation. The light, flowing sash embodied "elegance," but Xu Ping sometimes wondered how those talented men washed such white clothes once they got dirty.

Even if he couldn't recite a few lines of nonsensical doggerel, just wearing the clothes gave him that air of sophistication! The biggest reason he liked wearing the white scholar's robe was that it was simple and easy to put on, even easier to take off, breathable and comfortable—a battle robe that combined the functions of field battles and flower picking. It was versatile enough for both picking up girls and getting into bed without being cumbersome; in this day and age, no other garment was as practical.

Xu Ping was very satisfied with his scholar's attire. He grinned at himself in the mirror and indeed had the air of a handsome scholar; even without a prominent position or power, he was so handsome he almost fell in love with himself. With this face, picking up girls would be a piece of cake! Looking at the extremely charming and wickedly handsome man in the mirror, Xu Ping was so jealous he almost wanted to kneel down and kowtow several times.

The maids also had stars in their eyes; although they didn't dare to speak, their eyes held a hint of flattery. Xu Ping tossed his head smugly, in a great mood, wanting to tease them a bit, to play with these cute girls, and perhaps, if he was in a good mood, they would have a morning battle—that would be to their liking. But turning around and seeing the huge pile of official documents covering the large table, he almost burst into tears.

He should get down to business first; with a stable empire, he'd have plenty of time to chase women later. Ignoring the flirtatious glances from the maids, Xu Ping glared fiercely at his desk, picked up his most hated writing brush, and continued his furious writing. While reviewing memorials, he thought: "Once the world is at peace, I'm definitely going to be a tyrant, a lecherous scoundrel to the extreme! I'll want to harm whichever girl I want, and forcibly take any beautiful woman I like back to the palace, impregnate her—only then will all my hard work have been worthwhile."

The maids, seeing their master return to work, all wore expressions of disappointment. In their eyes, the crown prince was undoubtedly high above them all; if they could gain his favor, they would be content for life. Moreover, the crown prince was a charming and handsome man; what young woman wouldn't be moved by such a man? But given the distinction between master and servant, they could only quickly serve him fragrant tea and then retreat, not daring to disturb Xu Ping's rare moment of seriousness.

The door remained tightly closed. He buried himself in piles of official documents for most of the day, until the sun was high in the afternoon, when Xu Ping finally let out a sigh of relief, finished reviewing the last document, and tossed it aside. He stretched, hearing his bones creak; after handling official business for so long, his buttocks were aching. "

Damn it," Xu Ping couldn't help but curse. This work was inhuman; it wasn't just physically exhausting, but also mentally and emotionally draining! He was, after all, a high-level Earth Rank cultivator, his body far superior to the average person, yet even he was exhausted and weak.

Sometimes Xu Ping wondered just how twisted those old men in the study were; didn't they get tired of working day after day? Facing such heavy official duties every day, and dealing with countless complaints and suspicions, seeing those old men all more energetic than himself, if it weren't for the overwhelming temptation of power, probably no one could endure this maddening torment!

"Damn..."

Xu Ping stretched his limbs again, perhaps from sitting for too long, his body suddenly moved, and a sharp pain shot through his waist. Since he started practicing martial arts, Xu Ping had never felt this tired, not even when he sat quietly under a waterfall for four or five days as a child.

"Master!"

Ouyang Tai walked in carrying a cup of ginseng tea, and was immediately shocked when he saw Xu Ping's appearance. His eyes were dark and yellowish, and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot, making him look extremely haggard. His originally clean clothes were wrinkled, and his face had a layer of grease that only appears when one is extremely tired. This was no longer the triumphant young man who had just spent a night with a stunning beauty, but rather a pitiful wretch who had been raped a hundred times by several ugly old women!

Ouyang Tai was a little stunned, but then he noticed the tall memorials beside Xu Ping and understood most of it. He quickly presented the ginseng tea and said with some admiration, "Master, you must take care of your health even with your busy schedule. This ginseng tea is steeped in dew and simmered over a low flame. Please relax and enjoy it!"

"Damn, you're quite thoughtful!"

Xu Ping took the tea without looking up, ignoring how exquisite it was, and drank it down in one gulp. The warm water relieved his fatigue and weakness, making him feel much better!

"Are you... are you alright?"

Ouyang Tai stepped forward and asked cautiously, having never seen his master so haggard. In his memory, Xu Ping was always full of energy, whether angry or happy, and his laughter and scolding were full of vitality. He had never seen him in such an extremely decadent state.

"What could I possibly need!" Xu Ping said softly, tidying his disheveled clothes and hair. "Has the imperial seal arrived yet? When will Luo Yong arrive?"

"Around evening!" Ouyang Tai replied promptly, as soon as he heard it was important.

Ouyang Tai had practically become Xu Ping's personal errand boy, almost like a secretary-general. He wasn't wrong to call himself a civil official, as he held several county magistrate titles; and as a military officer, he did lead two thousand imperial guards, making him a competent commander. But things were incredibly complicated now, requiring him to handle almost everything, leaving him somewhat dizzy.

Although he was exhausted from all the work, it also showed Xu Ping's trust in him, which was why he kept him by his side during this critical time. Ouyang Tai naturally dared not complain, and instead worked with even more energy! After all, he was still wary of his master, Ghost Yaksha, and Ouyang Xun's power in the Ministry of Commerce was entirely due to his master's favor, so Ouyang Tai naturally dared not be negligent in his duties.

Having delegated all civil affairs to Du Hong recently allowed Xu Ping some respite from his busy schedule, freeing him from the need to handle everything personally as he had in the previous two months. Initially, everyone suspected Xu Ping was stripping him of his power, but it turned out Du Hong had handled many matters more smoothly than Xu Ping had. Ouyang Tai also understood the principle of not being able to do two things at once, and readily transferred all power to the most outstanding of his second-generation disciples.

"So soon!" Xu Ping murmured hesitantly.

The journey from Jiangnan to the capital was so long; Luo Yong would have to go to the court to receive his command seal and imperial edict, and only after swearing an oath before assuming the position of Grand General of the Tianji Camp could he take on the duties. Receiving the command seal and then traveling from the capital to Zhili would take at least half a month.

The inconvenient transportation was indeed exhausting, but upon reflection, it meant that by the time the Tianji Camp army arrived in Zhili, Xu Ping's father had already gone to invite him to serve; otherwise, he couldn't have reached the front lines so quickly. It seemed Xu Ping had already decided on the Grand General's selection! The so-called "ten battalions without a general" was just a joke, perhaps intended to further demoralize the troops when they relaxed in Tianjin.

"Yes, faster than expected, but Master..." Ouyang Tai summoned a maid to help Xu Ping wash the grease from his face, his expression troubled. He softly inquired, "Last night I arranged for the Imperial Guards to split into two groups to go to the Imperial Army and the Tianji Camp for training. I instructed them to participate even in the most arduous night shift changes. The Imperial Army seemed to have no objections, but the Tianji Camp didn't seem to welcome our actions and appeared somewhat hesitant."

"That's normal. These veterans are all unruly and will definitely look down on these greenhorns!" After washing his face, Xu Ping walked straight out, sternly instructing them as he went, "Tell them that they are not allowed to have any friction with the Tianji Camp soldiers, and they are absolutely forbidden from showing the slightest disrespect to these veterans. Even if they slap you in the face, you are not allowed to retaliate, not even a single curse. A major battle is imminent; this is not the time for infighting. Besides, they are here to learn from others!"

"Understood!"

Ouyang Tai followed closely behind. Although he felt Xu Ping's respect for the Tianji Camp was a bit excessive—after all, the Imperial Guards were among the elite of the Imperial Army—he still asked, "The generals of the ten battalions of the Tianji Camp are already waiting for the General of the Valiant Cavalry on the official road. Should we go over there as well? After all, the General of the Valiant Cavalry is a founding minister and one of the Grand Generals. I think it would be more appropriate to go out of the city to greet him."

"Alright!"

Xu Ping agreed after a moment's thought. He also felt he had to give the founding general sufficient respect. Putting on airs and arguing about status was useless and could easily cause resentment. It was better to humble himself and learn from him the art of leading troops. After all, this was the era of cold weapons, and there was so much he needed to learn.

The official road from Zhili to the capital was heavily blocked. Passing by, one could see the Tianji Camp soldiers standing solemnly on both sides of the road, with guards every ten steps and sentries every five. Although the great battle had not yet begun, they all maintained a high level of vigilance, showing no sign of slackening or relaxing.

Even his own carriage was subject to rigorous checks, with no room for relaxation. Xu Ping, in the carriage, couldn't help but admire them. These veterans, having concealed themselves for so long, still exuded such a strong killing intent, maintaining such a rigorous, even somewhat obsessive, vigilance—it was truly astonishing!

Upon closer inspection, the soldiers on both sides stood ramrod straight; there wasn't a single lazy person among them, not even a single obese one. Each one maintained a watchful gaze, their caution unlike that of welcoming a founding general, but rather like welcoming the emperor himself—a vigilance that was somewhat chilling.

The generals of the Ten Heavenly Secrets Battalions were already waiting at the official road entrance thirty miles from the city. From afar, one could see both fierce and burly men and lean, handsome, refined scholars. Some looked like roughnecks at first glance, while others smiled silently yet remained calm and composed, showing no signs of being founding generals who had spent half their lives on the battlefield!

The ten generals each gave off a slightly different vibe, but generally they were all in their forties or fifties, their faces radiating a weathered look. Years of lying low hadn't dulled their spirit; instead, each of them gleamed with a fierce light in their eyes, like tigers about to be unleashed, seemingly suppressed for a long time, yearning for a bloody baptism!

What a suppressed killing intent! Xu Ping could sense the anticipation of war even before he approached. Every one of the ten battalion commanders was a valiant man, and although they commanded ten thousand men, their eyes still revealed resentment, even a hint of war mania.

At the beginning of the dynasty, the four major military camps were all granted official titles and ranks, officially receiving rewards from the court. The four generals even earned the prestigious title of founding general. But their Heavenly Mystery Camp, the founding camp no less powerful than the four major camps, received no substantial rewards. It felt as if they had been suppressed for years, seemingly wanting to prove the Heavenly Mystery Camp's strength through more killing; even though each one wore a smile, a chilling killing intent still emanated from them.

Interestingly, they were all like gunpowder when they were together, their faces flushed and arguing heatedly, seemingly on the verge of a fight. Although they were founding generals known for their fierce temper, they seemed full of energy at this moment, as if eager to release the pent-up emotions of the past twenty years!

Xu Ping, initially anxious at first glance, couldn't help but smile upon closer observation. They didn't seem truly angry; perhaps it was just their unique way of expressing brotherhood! They seemed to be discussing whose merits were greater, using the belittling of others to satisfy their own vanity.

No wonder their father didn't want to promote one of them to be a general; after all, they were brothers who knew each other inside and out, and there were bound to be times when he couldn't control the others. Judging from their behavior, it was probably just verbal competition; the bond forged through blood and sweat was something he could hardly comprehend!

Xu Ping secretly observed them as he quietly alighted from the carriage, and upon closer inspection, he was even more shocked.

Although these men were laughing and joking, when they turned around, their faces instantly turned icy, even contemptuous, with a murderous aura. It seemed they were ready to strike at any moment, and the enemies standing opposite them were no longer living people, but prey whose lives they could easily take.

Upon seeing their future master arrive, the ten battalion generals quickly suppressed their laughter and resentment, daring not to show the slightest negligence, and respectfully knelt down to pay their respects: "Greetings, Your Highness!"

Although their voices differed, they were all full of vigor, giving a very weighty impression. Logically, these men had been in seclusion for twenty years, enjoying the peace after the chaos of war, and should no longer crave war. But for some reason, they still reeked of blood, even giving the impression that they had just returned victorious from the battlefield!

"Generals, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise!"

Xu Ping waved for them to get up quickly. After all, they were one of the founding camps, and his father's first generation of Imperial Guard generals; a sense of kinship naturally arose in his heart.

Damn it! Although Xu Ping remained outwardly calm, the piercing killing intent they exuded the moment they turned around sent chills down his spine, making him feel cold sweat trickle down his back. None of the ten men before him were a match for him, but their ruthless indifference to life instilled an instinctive fear in him.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

The ten battalion generals straightened up, their faces showing respect, but their gazes swept over the Imperial Guards with a hint of ferocity, their eyes greedily fixed on their sophisticated equipment, as if they desperately desired it.

This invasiveness was unbearable not only for Xu Ping, but even for Ouyang Tai, who dared not look them in the eye. Xu Ping's gaze changed slightly, becoming terrifyingly unsettling. He quickly waved his hand and said, "Generals, you have worked hard. Please have seats and some tea."

The soldiers swiftly erected a bamboo pavilion by the roadside, bringing in chairs and tables, and set them up. After simply setting out some fruit, snacks, and tea, Xu Ping went straight to the head seat. As soon as he sat down, he joked, "A shady spot is indeed nice on a hot summer day. Generals, please sit down, no need to be so formal!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

The ten battalion generals sat down in turn, their eyes invariably lingering on the Imperial Guard. It was as if they were bachelors who hadn't touched a woman in over a decade, not just admiring the exquisite, sharp swords. Ouyang Tai felt they were even looking at his own steed with a burning "animalistic" urge!

"Generals, no need for formalities!"

Xu Ping coughed, reminding them: This is my army, don't even think about it. Honestly, if the Imperial Guard weren't known as the Crown Prince's personal guard, these guys might have actually tried to rob him.

In the old days, status and seating arrangements were matters of great importance; the rules from top to bottom, left to right, were extremely cumbersome. They glared at each other fiercely and jostled each other with their buttocks to grab a better spot, acting like children, which made Xu Ping chuckle.

These guys really have a childlike heart! Just now they were so murderous, but now they seem quite amused! Once they were all seated, Xu Ping couldn't help but glance around. He noticed that although they were all in their forties and fifties, none of them were overweight; instead, they maintained the imposing stature of battlefield generals. It seemed that although the Tianji Camp had disappeared for years, they hadn't relaxed their training for a moment, always ready to wield their swords and return to the battlefield.

"Generals, please have some tea!"

Seeing them sitting upright and unsmiling, Xu Ping immediately raised his teacup, gesturing for them to drink. In his heart, he thought: These guys are no good. If I weren't here, even a master like Ouyang Tai would probably have been captured and raped, horse and all!

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

The ten battalion generals quickly picked up their teacups, each drinking in their own way, each with their own interest. Some only took a small sip and put it down, while others gulped it down like cattle, still seemingly unsatisfied. These subtle actions revealed the differences in their personalities. Although they are all somewhat warlike at heart, they also have their own distinct personalities!

There was a certain awkwardness between master and servant, after all, the Tianji Battalion hadn't appeared in the Ming Dynasty's military system or integrated into the court for so many years! Although these ten generals were unruly, they knew the difference between master and servant deep down; even though they were used to a life of laughter and banter, they were all incredibly obedient in front of their future master, none of them daring to speak first, causing the guards nearby to chuckle, as if such a serious attitude wasn't appropriate for them.

Although Xu Ping was the emperor, possessing the nobility of a crown prince, he couldn't be too high-handed with these veteran generals, after all, they were formidable warriors who commanded respect. If they had continued their earlier banter, it would have been fine, but now that they were all serious, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward, and Xu Ping, after sipping his tea, didn't know what to say.

The atmosphere became tense for a moment. Xu Ping maintained a gentle smile, but inwardly he was cursing: "You bunch of bastards were all lewd just now, definitely telling dirty jokes or lusting after someone's wife. What are you pretending to be, acting all high and mighty with me now? Damn it, you're making me feel so uncomfortable. I don't believe your morals are really that high!"

The generals of the ten battalions also seemed a little uneasy, sitting there with great trepidation. Although they were all unruly, they respected imperial authority and understood the proper etiquette between ruler and subject. The person they respected most in the entire Ming Dynasty was the former Grand General, the current Emperor Zhu Yunwen. Now, sitting before the Crown Prince, not understanding his personality, they naturally dared not be arrogant.

No wonder Zhu Yunwen had to bring in the great Luo Yong to Tianjin. Looking across the Ming Dynasty, there were indeed very few strongmen who could keep this wolf-and-tiger army in check. Besides himself, the emperor, only two other founding generals were still alive: General Ji Zhengang of the Golden Guard and General Luo Yong of the Valiant Cavalry!

"When will General Luo arrive?" Xu Ping coughed helplessly, only able to ask a trivial question to break the awkward silence.

"About two hours later!"

Everyone habitually estimated the time by looking at the sky, and the result was fairly consistent. In ancient times, marching was extremely difficult, and judging the weather, time, and even direction largely relied on observing the heavens—a fundamental skill for any general.

Continuing their casual conversation, Xu Ping gradually became interested in where they had been hiding all these years. After all, hiding so many people was no easy task, and secretly supplying them with funds was also very troublesome. These weren't slowly cultivated confidants, but the 100,000-strong army of the founding dynasty. To disappear for twenty years and then suddenly regroup was a terrifying prospect for anyone!

The generals of the ten battalions were initially hesitant, as this was top secret to them. However, since the question was directed at their future master, they dared not conceal anything and answered in detail about their whereabouts over the years. Xu Ping was stunned after listening. His father was too ruthless! He now understood what "using any means necessary" meant. Leaving

aside those who ostensibly retired to their hometowns, and those who coasted along in local garrisons collecting pay, the Tianji Battalion's organization had expanded alarmingly. Some used the guise of escort agencies to evade responsibility, while others even became local tyrants! The most extreme were those who formed bandit groups and roamed the mountains. This wasn't the first generation of imperial guards; it was practically a mafia army!

Xu Ping couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. His father's brainwashing abilities were truly remarkable, managing to make these proud soldiers willingly become bandits and tyrants! Leaving aside their illustrious founding achievements, even ordinary soldiers—who among them didn't return home in glory? To ignore their numerous military achievements and remain hidden for so many years—that takes immense loyalty!

And they weren't idle for those twenty years. Scattered across the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty, they not only remained deeply hidden but also managed intelligence gathering—a win-win situation. His father, a stingy man, certainly wouldn't waste money supporting them for twenty years; but to expand a battle-hardened army into a massive intelligence network—that far-fetched idea was truly terrifying.

Xu Ping felt a chill run down his spine. To become a porter, a blacksmith, even a lowly servant or waiter—what mindset did these proud veterans have when they accepted these roles that didn't belong to them? Perhaps the most terrifying thing about the Tianji Battalion wasn't their fighting power, but their unwavering loyalty!

With Xu Ping's deliberate adjustment, the tense atmosphere gradually eased. Perhaps it was because this master lacked arrogance that he won the approval of these spirited men, and they became increasingly talkative, unlike their initial awkwardness. Their words still carried a degree of caution; though not intentionally concealing anything, it was clear how vigilant they had become over the past twenty years! As dusk approached, a soldier suddenly ran over, cautiously reporting, "Report! The brothers who came to greet us from ten miles away haven't seen General Luo, nor the imperial eight-embroidered sedan chair. The scheduled welcoming time has passed. Please decide, Master."

"Three hours!" Xu Ping pondered thoughtfully. It's been so long; could something have happened on the way? Impossible! Turning to look at the deserted official road, a sudden idea struck him, and he asked, "Have you blocked all the roads?"

"Yes!" The battalion general nodded without hesitation, his face grave. "Zhili is located near Tianjin, and it's a critical time with a major war imminent. The General of the Valiant Cavalry has once again come out of seclusion, so since this morning, all passable roads have been blocked. We all think it's best to wait until the General arrives before allowing the people to pass!"

"That's a good idea!" Xu Ping didn't say anything, but asked jokingly, "But are you sure General Luo will bring the Ministry of Rites' procession to clear the way? Or will he come here in a grand procession, banging drums and gongs, making a huge fuss?"

"This…" Xu Ping's words immediately stunned everyone.

It was common knowledge that Luo Yong always acted with a low profile; even if the court intended to send him here in the General's grand procession, he might not be willing! If he were fond of empty praise and fame, he wouldn't have abandoned his honor and chosen to retire to the countryside at the beginning of the dynasty.

"Where have the common people been stopped?"

Xu Ping shook his head and smiled. After thinking about it, he figured Luo Yong might have arrived in Zhili long ago, but he hadn't made a big show of it by riding in an eight-python sedan chair, so no one noticed!

"A small temple three miles away!"

The ten battalion generals were a little embarrassed. They weren't wrong in their thinking. Luo Yong absolutely deserved any ceremony and respect. The eight-python sedan chair was an affirmation and supreme praise of his achievements. But they forgot that Luo Yong disliked flattery and hated such unnecessary extravagance!

"Let's go!"

Xu Ping mounted his horse and galloped along the official road, followed by the Imperial Guard and the ten battalion generals who had come to their senses. A long line of horses galloped non-stop toward the small temple three miles away. Upon arriving at their destination, they found the slopes on both sides densely packed with people who had been blocked off. Some seemed anxious to return home, while others sat hunched over with resignation. There were approximately thirty to forty thousand people gathered together, a chaotic and disorganized scene.

The people watched the large contingent of soldiers with curiosity, even those harboring resentment dared not voice it. Everyone knew this was to welcome the founding general, Luo Yong, and everyone feared that a single wrong word would lead to being dragged away and beheaded by these soldiers, leaving them nowhere to seek justice, especially given the current tense situation at the court!

Furthermore, the four founding camps held a high position in the hearts of the people, and the four founding generals were revered as almost godlike figures. They had driven out the oppressive Yuan army, slaughtered countless enemies, and established the Ming Dynasty. Even if they harbored some discontent, upon reflection, seeing the imposing presence of the founding generals, they remained quiet, without a single complaint.

Xu Ping squinted, scanning the crowds on both sides of the official road before finally fixing his gaze on a carriage on the western side of the alley. Although the carriage wasn't the cheap kind used by ordinary people—at most, it was painted with several layers of original lacquer like those of wealthy families—it was inconspicuous and wouldn't attract any attention. However, upon closer inspection, the people surrounding it were quite different; their austere demeanor was completely out of place with the surrounding crowd!

Even though they were all dressed like ordinary commoners, in the coarse linen clothes of ordinary travelers, the aura they exuded was incredibly oppressive. A rough count suggested at least four or five hundred people, subtly protecting the carriage.

These men carried bundles on their backs, seemingly travelers, but each one was burly, with fierce eyes and a piercing gaze. Their expressionless faces were calm, yet they cautiously watched the movements of those around them.

Xu Ping was all too familiar with this highly vigilant demeanor!

The group scanned around and only recognized a few familiar faces. Xu Ping couldn't help but shake his head. Luo Yong was being a little too discreet! These imperial guards were so conspicuous; he, General of the Cavalry, didn't need to use any credentials. They could simply show their waist tokens and pass through the checkpoint without any trouble. Why wait here with the other commoners?

"Let them through!"

Xu Ping immediately waved for the Imperial Guards to open the checkpoint and let the commoners pass first. Although no one understood what was happening, they dared not object and released the checkpoint! As soon as the checkpoint opened, the people rushed through like refugees, seemingly afraid that a sudden large army would massacre them!

Xu Ping, mounted on his horse, watched the throng of people surge past with a calm expression. Tens of thousands of people dispersed after crossing the checkpoint, creating a dense mass of figures everywhere. Among them were merchants and people eager to return home. Seeing the massive army, they dared not utter a word, meekly making their way, a dark, silent mass, perhaps only hoping to return home by sunset and enjoy a rare moment of family time!

Only the carriage and the surrounding imperial guards remained motionless in the crowd. Only when the people had almost completely dispersed did they become particularly conspicuous on the open slope. The soldiers of the Heavenly Mystery Camp, seeing this, quickly surrounded them, warily encircling these strongmen who differed from the common people. The imperial guards remained calm, continuing their guard without moving despite the encirclement.

"This is...?" There was some confusion within the Tianji Camp, but the generals of the ten camps all wore smiles, seemingly guessing who was inside the carriage. Xu Ping expressionlessly rode his horse to the carriage. As soon as he dismounted, all the imperial guards immediately knelt and saluted, shouting "Long live Your Highness!" Having spent years in the palace, they naturally recognized this somewhat strange master, but at this moment, they all looked troubled, as if Luo Yong was restraining them from revealing their identities.

Xu Ping didn't dare to be too negligent. He smoothed his clothes, tidied his appearance, and walked to the carriage, bowing respectfully and saying loudly, "General of the Valiant Cavalry, please dismount!" As

soon as he finished speaking, Xu Ping felt a sudden lapse in judgment, so angry he wanted to curse himself to death. How could he forget that Luo Yong's legs were injured and he couldn't walk? Saying such a thing was practically mocking. He hurriedly straightened up and shouted at the imperial guards beside him, "General Luo has difficulty walking, hurry up and bring him down!"

"Your Highness! My legs are weak, please forgive me for not being able to perform the proper court etiquette!"

The carriage curtain slowly opened, revealing a thin old man sitting quietly inside; his face was weathered by time, but his complexion was ruddy and healthy. He wore a kind smile, not the imposing old man everyone expected, and there wasn't even a trace of murderous intent in him. Instead, he had a kind face, looking particularly approachable and benevolent, and didn't look like a general who had traversed a long and bloody road to achieve his merits.

Although thin, he looked particularly energetic; his simple gray clothes were no different from those of ordinary people, even less luxurious than those of wealthy families, and there were no extravagant items in the simple carriage. The only thing commendable was his gentle smile as he held a teapot, which had a leisurely and contented air about him, making it impossible to imagine that he had spent the first half of his life amidst corpses and bloodshed.

Xu Ping's first impression of him was that of a kind old man, showing no trace of the imposing presence he had displayed when leading his troops to sweep across the land, nor any of the oppressive, bloodthirsty aura he felt upon first meeting Ji Zhongyun. Nevertheless, he dared not be negligent, humbly bowing halfway and performing a junior's greeting before softly saying,

"Yuanping respectfully welcomes General Xiaoqi!"

"Welcome, Great General!"

A thunderous roar erupted simultaneously, and the Imperial Guards and Tianji Camp soldiers, stretching for over ten miles, all knelt with solemn expressions, performing the grandest salute! In an instant, a powerful voice resounded through the valley, everyone offering the most sincere respect to this founding general.

"Your Highness, you flatter this old minister!" Seeing that Xu Ping, though not kneeling, was bowing slightly, Luo Yong hurriedly waved his hand and said, "I am now just an old man enjoying my retirement; how can I accept such a grand gesture?"

"General Luo, as a founding general of our Great Ming Dynasty, has accumulated countless merits. Who else but you deserves such respect?" Xu Ping said humbly, his attitude towards Luo Yong unprecedentedly respectful.

There was no way around it; as fellow founding generals, Luo Yong gave off a more approachable and respectable vibe; facing his grandfather, that disrespectful old rogue, no one could be serious!

Back when Zhu Yuanzhang first rose up, these people all slept and ate together, without any barriers. Before the master-servant hierarchy was established, most addressed each other as brothers. Luo Yong was one of the earliest to follow him, and even Zhu Yuanzhang initially addressed Luo Yong as his elder brother, respecting his strategy and magnanimity. Xu Ping naturally dared not be negligent. If it came to seniority and prestige, Luo Yong was undoubtedly the foremost among the four founding generals, a fact even Ji Zhongyun praised highly!

"Alas!" Luo Yong sighed. He was indeed unable to move freely, and with a wave of his hand, several men helped him down from the carriage and seated him in a finely modified wooden chair. Xu Ping glanced at him discreetly and discovered that his lower limbs were completely immobile; it seemed he would have to rely on this wooden chair to get through his later years. Years of warfare had left him with a host of chronic ailments, a sight that commanded respect! Compared to those who coveted fame and fortune, his condition was even more heartbreaking.

"Your Highness, why go to such lengths for an old man like me?" Luo Yong looked at the soldiers and officers who stood guard for more than ten miles and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I am just a dying man. It is already good enough that I am not a burden to the court. How can I deserve such a grand ceremony! Besides, I am now unable to walk properly and I already feel guilty for not being able to perform the rites of a subject. Your Highness's kindness to me is truly unworthy!"

"Why do you say such things, Lord Luo?" Xu Ping walked slowly to him, pointed to the river bathed in the glow of the setting sun, bowed slightly, and said with utmost respect, "The Ming Dynasty's land and its people were won with your blood and lives. Countless soldiers sacrificed their lives to drive out the Yuan army, leaving no trace of their names. The mountains are filled with the bones of countless loyal soldiers during the founding war, and your meritorious service in quelling internal strife is immeasurable. Why are you so humble?"

Luo Yong looked at Xu Ping's neither arrogant nor humble attitude and smiled approvingly. Perhaps at first he had guessed that this crown prince, born in a peaceful era, would be arrogant and dissolute, but Xu Ping's humility and respect surprised him. Although his gaze wasn't exactly admiring, it didn't seem insincere like it had been at first.

The crown prince's address of "Lord Luo" was certainly worthy of Luo Yong's respect. Although he had retired to his hometown many years ago and held no military post, Zhu Yunwen would still address him respectfully as "Elder Uncle." To put it bluntly, this emperor's ability to lead troops in battle was entirely due to the training he received from Luo Yong and Zhuang Lianying. Even the ancestral emperor treated them with utmost respect, addressing them as elder brothers in his younger days. Xu Ping, as a junior, naturally dared not be presumptuous and always treated him with the respect due to a junior!

"Sir!" Xu Ping greeted him as he boarded his carriage, asking with a puzzled expression, "Since you've all arrived, why didn't you just show your military seals instead of waiting here with the common people? Even the imperial guards could pass by showing their tokens, and no one at the checkpoints would dare to stop you!"

"Your Highness, may I speak with you in private?" Luo Yong, sitting in the carriage, suddenly shook his head helplessly, his face showing some difficulty, but a hint of kind gentleness flashed across his eyes. No one could tell what this kind-faced old man was thinking, but no one dared to underestimate him in the slightest.

"Sir, please speak!" Xu Ping, not knowing what Luo Yong was up to, immediately dismissed the others and walked respectfully to him. Although the old man before him no longer possessed the valiant spirit of his youth, Xu Ping's respect was still heartfelt! Whether it was his numerous military achievements or his excessively humble personality!

"The military seal is lost!" Luo Yong lowered his voice, sounding somewhat helpless, but showing no sign of panic. Instead, he acted as if he had lost something ordinary!

"What!" Xu Ping was immediately shocked, his mouth agape, speechless. What a joke! With a major battle imminent, the seal of the Grand General, sealed away by the Tianji Camp for many years, was lost. Leaving aside the question of how to command the three armies and establish military prestige, losing the seal at this tense moment would severely damage morale. Superstitious people would also consider it an ominous sign, a bad omen for the court's campaign!

"Keep your voice down!" Luo Yong smiled wryly, somewhat apologetically saying, "Actually, it's not really lost. It's just that my playful great-granddaughter took it to play with without thinking, and I let her be! Then, when we were marching, she said she wanted to wander around by herself, but unexpectedly, when we were approaching Zhili, she suddenly disappeared without a trace, I don't know where she went off to."

Xu Ping's temples throbbed with pain, and his head was buzzing. That granddaughter of Luo Yong's is too ruthless! She actually dared to treat the military seal that commands 100,000 troops like a toy, messing around with it. Luo Yong really spoils her; he won't tolerate her losing the seal, or even just chipping a corner of it. This grandfather and granddaughter are truly a headache. To create such a farce at such a crucial moment—isn't that going too far?

You see, people these days are incredibly superstitious. Losing the commander's seal before the army has even moved is no ordinary disaster; it's even more serious than a defeat. Once this news gets out, not only will the soldiers' morale plummet, but even the common people will think it's divine intervention! In an instant, they'll believe the imperial court can't capture Tianjin! This kind of terrifying belief is even worse than any defeat, because it will lose the hearts of the people in the shortest amount of time and could even cause turmoil in the court.

"I don't think she's gone far,"

Luo Yong said apologetically. "The fact that the seal isn't with me can't be revealed. Even my closest confidants wouldn't know. You'd better send someone reliable to find her as soon as possible. This isn't a time for child's play, and it's my fault for being careless!"

He implied that he didn't trust the imperial guards, and the loss of the seal couldn't be known to them. Xu Ping was both amused and exasperated. He'd let his granddaughter play with the seal like a toy! Grandpa, you know this isn't a time for child's play? Was Luo Yong too relaxed, or was he overly nervous? Playing this game in such a tense situation could really kill someone!

"Since that's the case, I'll go myself!" Xu Ping felt helpless. After thinking for a moment, he realized the matter was of great importance and he had to keep it a secret. He quickly asked, "Could you briefly describe your great-granddaughter's clothing, appearance, and general features? I'll find her as soon as possible." "

She's eleven or twelve years old, wearing a long green silk dress, riding a small white horse." Luo Yong thought for a moment and continued to prompt, "Oh, and she has an ivory bow that she never lets go of. She also has two quivers of diamond-shaped arrows hanging on her horse, all with white fletching!"

"Sir, please rest at the temporary residence first!" Xu Ping noted everything down, mounted his horse, and shouted to the ten battalion generals who stood respectfully beside him, "Respectfully escort the General of the Valiant Cavalry back to camp. When I return, we'll hold a flag-raising ceremony and request the seal of office to confer upon the General his title."

"Yes!"

Although the generals had doubts, they still responded respectfully. Logically, welcoming Luo Yong back to camp now and immediately conferring his title would be the best way to boost morale. Why postpone it?

Xu Ping, of course, didn't explain to them. He sternly instructed them, shouting,

"Listen up, all of you! No slackening allowed! Make sure the General is safely escorted back. When I return, I'll announce to the entire army that the General has been officially appointed commander-in-chief!"

"Yes!"

the generals quickly replied in unison. After all, the imperial edict designated the Crown Prince as the supreme commander for the suppression of the rebellion. With Xu Ping absent, he couldn't be appointed commander-in-chief. Although they didn't know what important matter their master was planning, seeing the two whispering earlier, no one was foolish enough to pry.

The matter couldn't be publicized, so they couldn't bring too many men. Ignoring others' advice, Xu Ping insisted on having the Imperial Guard return to Zhili as well. He went alone with Kong Ming and Ouyang Tai, disguised in civilian clothes, to search for the whereabouts of this ancestor of the Luo family!

At this time, the importance of the military seal was self-evident. Losing the seal before even attacking Tianjin would cause unrest and panic among the people—something absolutely unacceptable!

Luo Yong, escorted by his army, returned to Zhili in a grand procession, looking completely at ease. Xu Ping, along with two of his most trusted men, followed the route they had taken to find the young ancestor of the Luo family, his heart seething with hatred. To cause such an absurd scene at this tense moment—for some, this was the work of the valiant general Luo Yong! If it were anyone else, Xu Ping would have chopped off their head long ago.

Even if Xu Ping hated him to the extreme, he couldn't actually kill them, but this kind of information absolutely couldn't be leaked. Who would have thought that even an old fox like Luo Yong would make such a mistake? It was truly heartbreaking.

[Episode 21] Chapter 2: The Farce of the Martial Arts Contest for Marriage

The three of them tirelessly inquired about Luo Ning'er's whereabouts along the official road. Although Ouyang Tai and Kong Ming didn't know the reason, seeing Xu Ping's frighteningly gloomy face, they tacitly refrained from asking further! Even the usually outspoken Kong Ming felt a sense of oppression, which showed just how grim Xu Ping's expression had been along the way!

The girl's name was so ethereal and enchanting, full of poetic charm, reminiscent of a landscape painting.

What did she look like? Judging from her behavior, she certainly wasn't the quiet and refined lady of a noble family!

Luo Yong doted on her so much; she might just be an arrogant and domineering young lady! Xu Ping gritted his teeth the whole way, bitterly pondering what kind of girl Luo Ning'er really was. He also considered what to do after finding her—should he tie her up and give her a good beating? Of course, the starting point was whether or not to give Luo Yong face!

Luo Yong had extremely high merits, and no one dared to say anything, but doting on his great-granddaughter didn't mean he should treat his newly acquired military seal like a toy! The more Xu Ping thought about it, the angrier he became, his brain feeling like it was boiling. His face was as black as ink the whole way, frightening the other two!

Two hours passed, and after rushing along the official road, they finally managed to learn her whereabouts from an old woodcutter. The green dress and white horse were indeed conspicuous. Zhili was so close to Tianjin; many people had long since fled to other places to escape the war. Those remaining were either impoverished or pitiful people without enough money to travel. Someone dressed so brightly wouldn't be hard to spot!

Moreover, horses weren't something ordinary people could own; even if they did, they were usually the kind with unkempt coats, purely for pulling carts. A young girl riding a white horse like her would attract even more attention. Although many people along the way praised the girl's beauty, Xu Ping automatically filtered out these compliments, only thinking about how he would beat her up when he caught her!

After constantly inquiring and confirming her whereabouts, the three arrived in Songhe County as night fell. Passersby said they had seen a girl in green riding a small white horse in the county town; both her clothes and appearance were memorable.

Xu Ping calculated the time and believed she should still be nearby, his heart filled with resentment. This woman has no sense of propriety, running around with the Heavenly Secrets Battalion commander's seal like a toy! She's ridiculously careless!

Songhe County is just a small county town; normally, it should be quiet at night, especially given the current tense situation with war looming. People should be staying home to avoid trouble. But upon entering the town, Xu Ping felt a sense of disorientation: the streets were bustling with people, even decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers—it was as lively as a New Year's celebration!

Itinerant vendors hawked their trinkets and snacks, earning a meager but crucial amount of money to survive; children ran happily through the streets, their laughter echoing continuously. This scene didn't resemble a city on the brink of war at all, but rather a peaceful place untouched by any disaster.

All three looked puzzled, even the slow-witted Kongming sensed something was amiss. Normally, a small county town like this wouldn't be so crowded. Thinking about it, today wasn't any important holiday, making this scene even more unusual!

Ouyang Tai quickly stopped a nearby villager to inquire, and learned that the commotion wasn't due to a festival, but rather a grand spectacle. The excitement was so great that people from surrounding villages had flocked to the town to witness this rare "major event."

It turned out that the Liu family of Songhe County was a renowned and prominent clan, one of the most prominent families in the area. An elder of the Liu family had served in the imperial kitchen, making them a family of chefs. Although not high-ranking officials, their service to the royal family made them a distinguished clan.

The Liu family was known for their kindness and high prestige in the region; they were certainly not arrogant or domineering. The current head of the family, Liu Ming, was a man of both fortune and longevity. Now over fifty, he had nine sons who inherited the family's culinary skills, each a remarkable individual. However, his only beloved daughter disliked music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and needlework, preferring instead martial arts and swordplay, completely lacking the demeanor of a well-bred lady.

Seeing his daughter had blossomed into a beautiful young woman of sixteen, suitors flocked to their door, and Liu Ming was determined to find her a suitable husband. Although the Liu family came from a family of cooks, they were, after all, a family of imperial chefs; to put it bluntly, all nine sons were highly skilled cooks, and it was only a matter of time before they entered the palace to prepare delicacies for

the emperor! Such a family naturally attracted many suitors, and Liu Ming had his eye on quite a few talented scholars. However, Miss Liu was quite different; she had no interest in these weak and powerless scholars. Instead, she challenged Liu Ming, wanting to find a man of exceptional talent and ability, ultimately forcing him to hold a martial arts contest to find her a husband.

Liu Ming reluctantly agreed to his daughter's somewhat unreasonable conditions. Perhaps it was because he doted on his daughter so much that he set up a martial arts contest in Songhe County today, hoping to find her a suitable husband. Miss Liu's reputation for beauty had always been widespread, attracting many young martial arts enthusiasts and making the once quiet Songhe County bustling with activity.

This evening happened to be the day the Liu family was setting up their martial arts arena, and with the addition of numerous opera troupes, the usually low-key family's grand display naturally drew enthusiastic responses, creating a festive atmosphere in Songhe County!

"Master," Ouyang Tai pondered for a moment, then murmured, "Young girls usually like to go to lively places. Perhaps Miss Luo will go there to watch the excitement? Should we go and check? Maybe we can find Miss Luo!"

"A martial arts contest!"

Kong Ming's eyes were somewhat vacant as he muttered the words "martial arts contest," seemingly eager and excited. He had long forgotten what the marriage proposal meant; this donkey seemed to only have a natural interest in muscular men!

"Let's go!"

Xu Ping considered Ouyang Tai's words to be reasonable. Luo Ning'er's sudden departure from the main group was perhaps because women in this era didn't have many opportunities to go out. Encountering such a lively event, she secretly ran off to watch!

Having made up their minds, the three rode towards the busiest area after the Liu family set up their martial arts arena, the South Gate. They kept their eyes wide open, trying to spot Luo Ning'er among the passersby, eager to find this troublesome girl as soon as possible. However, Xu Ping was also somewhat interested in the martial arts contest for marriage; he had only heard of it before, but had never seen it. Winning a fight and getting a wife? Where would all the bachelors in the world come from?

The South Gate area was not just bustling with carriages and horses, it was a sea of people, with not a single gap. The dense crowd kept pushing and turning; it was difficult to even squeeze in on foot, let alone ride a horse. Furthermore, the government, fearing the horses would trample the people, prohibited horseback riding, erecting a protective barrier around the perimeter. The three, though helpless, could only find a place to tie their horses.

The local officials were mostly arrogant and overbearing.许平恨不能将这群不长眼的奴才揍上一顿，但想想，丢了大印事关重大，也只能强迫自己忍着怒火，去他们所说的地方把马匹栓了！

「这妞真有那幺漂亮吗？」许平在人堆里挤着，一边朝欧阳泰开玩笑：「看这架势哪像是来招亲的，简直像是来扔钱。围观的人那幺多，一会你猜谁会上去打一架？」

「想必也是一代佳人吧！」欧阳泰一边在人群里寻找洛凝儿身影，一边点头笑道：「自古英雄爱美人，这位小姐想必要为自己寻觅一个侠者为郎！山山有龙地地有虎，没準这小小县城也会有不错的人才！」

「啊，谁推我！」

「妈的，别挤呀！操！推什幺推呀……」

凑在一起的百姓本就挤得满头大汗，彼此都不想被挤出人圈，为了看热闹，一个个都硬着身子不愿挪动半分。 Suddenly, they felt as if a wall was pressing down on them, its overwhelming force leaving them no chance to resist. They staggered, involuntarily backing away.

Confused, they looked around, but found nothing unusual.

Three Earth-Rank experts walked by, their deliberately released internal energy enough to clear a path. They didn't stop, and the surrounding people were inexplicably pushed back by the invisible wall of energy, seemingly deliberately making way for them. Puzzled, they couldn't find anything suspicious, scratching their heads, completely bewildered.

A tall wooden building stood, its three-story platform filled with people. Looking up, it was impossible to tell if they were men or women, young or old. Yet, they could clearly see the crowd below, the scene they hoped to witness. This unique design made them want to punch them.

The arena was decorated in auspicious red, exquisitely crafted, seemingly prepared for a wedding. However, the stage was still empty; everyone seemed to be gathered on Gao Jian's gatehouse, leisurely enjoying the view below. The bustling scene seemed to satisfy the vanity of some people, a feeling that evoked a sense of disgust!

When the three of them easily squeezed to the front, their faces remained calm, unlike the others who were sweating profusely and exhausted, their clothes spotless from the journey. They glanced briefly at the empty stage, their eyes scanning the crowd, each eager to find Luo Ning'er.

Perhaps because there had been no movement on the stage for so long, the crowded sea of people began to erupt in dissatisfied shouts. Everyone seemed eager to see the legendary beauty of Miss Liu, with a group of lecherous men shouting the loudest, wishing they could rush up and see how Miss Liu's stunning beauty had attracted so many onlookers.

"These kinds of people are putting on airs!" Xu Ping sneered.

These days, the emperor is indeed far away, and there's even a saying that officials from the capital rise three ranks when they leave the city; but I never imagined that a family of imperial chefs could wield such power in the local area. It seems their influence is far more terrifying than I ever imagined!

"Gentlemen!"

After a long clamor from the crowd, a burly middle-aged man finally stepped onto the stage. He bowed to the shouting crowd below and roared, "My Liu family has set up this arena today to find a suitable husband for my young lady, one who is both scholarly and martial. I, Li Bao, await the challenge of heroes from all walks of life. If you can defeat me, and then defeat my wife, you will become the son-in-law of the Liu family!"

Li Bao was extremely burly, with tight hands and muscles that were as ferocious as blocks of iron. He looked terrifyingly fierce, and his voice was deep and resonant, clearly indicating that he was not someone to be trifled with. His appearance immediately sparked murmurs among the crowd:

"Who's going up?"

"I don't know martial arts, don't even try!"

This guy has a good appearance, Xu Ping glanced at Kong Ming with a teasing look. The implication was, "You go up, you love these muscular men the most." Unexpectedly, Kong Ming just gave Li Bao a disdainful look and turned to continue searching for someone in the crowd! Although this guy looked intimidating, he didn't seem to meet Kong Ming's standards in terms of cultivation. This taciturn donkey, although a martial arts fanatic, wasn't someone who would be interested in just any cheap knock-off!

"I'll go!" Suddenly, a loud shout rang out from the ground, and a strong figure leaped onto the stage; his slightly pretentious appearance immediately drew cheers from the crowd.

Unfortunately, his third-rate skills were too embarrassing. He was beaten down by Li Bao before anyone could even remember his name. Not only was he unable to fight back, but no one even remembered what he looked like; he was beaten to a pulp, almost like a pig's head. Perhaps Li Bao found him so disgusting that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him!

Several more people went up hoping to win the girl's heart, but without exception, they were all beaten black and blue and thrown down. Li Bin, after fighting for a while, seemed to be handling it with ease, his face calm and steady, smiling at the crowd below, a hint of provocation in his eyes!

Just first-rate skills, that's all. Xu Ping glared at him fiercely, thinking: This is a small place indeed. This childish guy dares to be so complacent. If he ran into me, beating up his whole family wouldn't be a problem! If I didn't have important business to attend to, I would have already gone up and beaten him up!

"Impressive skills, I'll test them out."

After a pretentious young man was beaten and kicked off the stage, another person immediately rushed up. His skills were significantly better than the previous ones. Not only were his leaps powerful and swift, but even his landings on the stage were resounding, immediately eliciting cheers from the crowd.

"A monk is coming too!" When everyone saw who it was, they burst into laughter.

The one who went up was a monk in coarse linen clothes and plain robes, with a particularly noticeable incense scar on his head. Even a monk is trying to find a wife, it's practically mocking the Liu family for having no one to serve them!

"This humble monk's Dharma name is..."

The monk seemed to want to introduce himself, striking a handsome pose, but Li Bao was already red with anger. Before he could finish speaking, he shouted and launched a Black Tiger Heart-Piercing Attack.

Seeing Li Bao's intense fighting spirit, the monk didn't hesitate. He deflected the heavy attack with a reverse twist of his hands, and immediately followed up with a fierce eagle claw aimed straight for Li Bao's face. Li Bao nimbly dodged, then countered with a powerful and heavy strike, the Overlord Lifting the Cauldron.

The monk was no weakling; his power was at the first-rate level. He swung his fists, meeting the attack without fear! The two immediately became entangled, heavy punches and rapid kicks exchanging blows. Their skills seemed evenly matched, both employing the fierce power of external martial arts, resulting in a fierce and evenly matched contest!

The evenly matched battle was truly dazzling. Neither dared to let their guard down, and cheers erupted from the crowd. Xu Ping merely glanced back, spat, shook his head contemptuously, and continued searching for Luo Ning'er in the crowd. "Two guys who just broke through to the first-rate level, what's there to see? If I went up there, I could take them down one by one like killing chickens!"

The three had already dispersed into the crowd. Ouyang Tai, being the quick-witted one, ran back to where the officials had intercepted them earlier, slipped some silver to inquire, and confirmed that Luo Ning'er was indeed in the crowd.

Judging from the lewd smile of the official, she seemed to be a rare beauty; following his directions, they found Luo Ning'er's little white horse tied to a tree, along with its valuable ornaments, thus narrowing down their search area: she must be watching the martial arts contest for marriage in the crowd!

They guessed Luo Ning'er was petite and cute, but after searching high and low, they couldn't find her. Logically, a beauty like her was exceptionally pretty, and her clothes were bright—something ordinary people wouldn't often see! Asking around shouldn't be difficult, so why couldn't they find her?

Just as Xu Ping was getting annoyed, a scream suddenly rang out from above. Turning around, he saw a large, unidentified object flying towards him. He quickly channeled his inner strength, instinctively throwing a punch that violently struck the unidentified object.

"Damn it..."

Another, even more agonizing scream rang out as the unidentified object veered off course like a bullet, crashing more than ten meters away. The thing groaned in pain as it landed; Xu Ping's punch seemed to have hit its buttocks, and now it was convulsing on the ground, clutching its rear. "

Damn it, I can't hit a cow through a mountain, what are you pretending to be in pain for?" Xu Ping cursed under his breath as he withdrew his fist.

Had he cracked its balls through its buttocks? Did a grown man really need to scream so pitifully? Only then did he realize the unidentified object was the monk who had just come up on stage; his greasy bald head was so conspicuous that it was hard not to recognize him.

After a long struggle, the unfortunate monk was finally caught off guard by Li Bao, who kicked him hard off the stage. This minor injury would have been insignificant to him, but what sins had this guy committed in his past life to fall right in Xu Ping's direction? Xu Ping's punch, a high-level Earth-grade strike, was incredibly domineering. The instinctive impact shattered the monk's pelvis, even causing his testicles to crack slightly. No wonder he screamed in agony!

"Master, are you here to try and find a wife too?" Seeing everyone's attention on him, Xu Ping thought, "They didn't mean it." He immediately went over and squatted down, looking at the unfortunate monk with a teasing smile, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes.

"Damn it, I can't let worldly desires get the better of me!" The monk was pale, gritting his teeth, sweating profusely, his whole body convulsing in pain. He glared resentfully at Xu Ping before foaming at the mouth and fainting!

This wine-and-meat monk, with that fierce glare, his shamelessness made even Xu Ping blush. This monk had already resolved to return to secular life, and not only did he fail at this crucial moment, he was also stabbed in the back. How unwavering was this master's willpower! Even in the instant he fainted, his eyes gleamed with lust; his lecherous determination commanded Xu Ping's utmost respect!

"You're awesome!"

Xu Ping gave a thumbs-up in praise of the shameless face. After this little farce, his irritation seemed to have lessened considerably. The unconscious monk was immediately taken away by the officials. The Liu family was actually quite generous, hiring several doctors to treat the defeated challenger; they were certainly prioritizing good deeds!

At this moment, Ouyang Tai also came over, his dejected expression revealing his fruitless search. Xu Ping frowned, somewhat dissatisfied, and said,

"Still haven't found her? This girl must be in the crowd; it's impossible to have searched for so long without finding her!"

"Master, searching like this isn't working!" Ouyang Tai looked troubled, hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the higher platform and cautiously said, "The saying goes, 'A higher vantage point offers a wider view.' Although we try our best not to let the news slip, searching like looking for a needle in a haystack won't be very effective! Why not go up on the platform to search?"

"That's right!" Xu Ping's eyes turned cold; it seemed they had to go up to the platform to look down. At this point, there's no time to worry about the Liu family's martial arts contest for a husband; finding the commander's seal is more important! That so-called eldest daughter of the Liu family is negligible compared to the token of commanding an army of 100,000!

"Young brother, you have impressive skills!" While the two exchanged cold smiles and plotted their schemes, Li Bao stepped forward, cupped his hands, and smiled at Xu Ping, saying, "You have an exceptionally refined scholarly appearance, yet you possess excellent martial arts skills. If you are still unmarried, why not come and test your skills? My young lady seeks a man skilled in both literature and martial arts. If you were to become the son-in-law of the Liu family, it would be a great joy in life!"

"A good thing delivered to my doorstep?" Ouyang Tai was stunned. He had only intended to borrow your arena, and should have kept a low profile; now that you've delivered yourself to his doorstep, he can't blame anyone else! Although he wouldn't kill your entire family, at least his motives were impure!

Xu Ping thought for a moment. Anyway, there was another lady coming up to test the second round later. He'd beat Li Bao up first, find Luo Ning'er, and leave immediately! No publicity, no interruption to their good time—a win-win situation!

"I dare to give it a try!"

Xu Ping spoke modestly, but after lightly stepping onto the stage, he didn't even glance at his opponent, his eyes searching the throng of people. Could that brat Luo Ning'er possibly disappear underground? He couldn't find her anywhere.

"Handsome!" Exclamations arose from the crowd.

A handsome scholar with high martial arts skills, plus a decent appearance, Xu Ping's white-clad figure immediately drew shouts from the female beasts below. The male beasts, naturally, were unhappy. In their eyes, all creatures associated with handsomeness seemed to deserve death, and a deafening chorus of boos immediately drowned out the women's cries!

Li Bao'er glanced around absentmindedly, and Xu Ping felt a surge of anger at being slighted. He wanted nothing more than to punch the reckless young man before him. However, for the sake of the Liu family's reputation, he suppressed his displeasure and asked in a low voice, "May I ask who this young brother is?"

"I am Xu Ping!" Xu Ping replied perfunctorily, not even glancing at him, his gaze still scanning the crowd. But he still said, "My hand was a little sore just now. Please allow me a moment to rest before I challenge you to a duel!"

Li Bao'er shouted without hesitation, after all, he was also a little tired from fighting so many people. The young man before him looked quite refined, but the punch that sent the monk flying earlier had made him wary. Now was a good time to rest and test this handsome young man in his best condition!

Li Bao'er returned to the edge of the stage to rest, feeling somewhat unwilling to take advantage of the situation. The two agreed to fight again in half an hour. Taking advantage of this moment, Xu Ping called Ouyang Tai up as well. The two stood on the arena, facing the crowd, their eyes darting around.

The inexplicable situation stirred up the crowd, who thought a fierce battle was about to begin. The sudden halt naturally made them somewhat displeased.

Furthermore, Xu Ping, with his fair complexion and elegant demeanor, was undeniably a handsome young man. While Ouyang Tai wasn't a frivolous pretty boy, his dark skin and scars gave him a masculine air. The two standing on the arena naturally attracted the envy of a group of lecherous men, and soon bursts of dissatisfied shouts arose!

After all, these two were rare beauties, and their presence together made the pockmarked men and donkey-faced men in the audience particularly annoyed! Before long, their dissatisfied shouts turned into shameless insults; driven by jealousy, no one liked having such eye-catching figures in front of them!

Xu Ping's expression was cold, but he calmly continued searching for Luo Ning'er. Ouyang Tai's eyes already held a murderous glint. Hearing the increasingly vulgar insults from the crowd below—"pretty boy," "good-for-nothing"—he secretly memorized the names of those shouting the loudest, thinking: "Once I've finished my business, I'll definitely break their bones and pull out all their teeth!

" "Young hero!" Seeing that half an hour had passed without finding the person, Xu Ping was growing impatient. Li Bao, oblivious to the danger, approached, clasping his hands in a gesture of respect. The implication was clear: "I've given you enough rest; I'm a gentleman!

" "Damn it!" Xu Ping, extremely annoyed, couldn't help but curse, yelling at him without any politeness: "Aren't you annoying? I'm looking for someone. What the hell are you yelling about? Are you in heat? Looking for a beating?"

This outburst stunned Li Bao. No one expected the refined and polite Xu Ping to suddenly reveal his thuggish side, hurling such rude insults at him. When he came to his senses, he was furious, his face flushed red. He roared and charged at Xu Ping, "You rude brat, I'll teach you a lesson!"

"Get lost!" Xu Ping, too lazy to argue, spun around and kicked him squarely in the face. The speed was like teleportation; Li Bao didn't even have time to see clearly, only feeling a burning pain on his face!

Teeth, blood, and saliva flew through the air. Before Li Bao could even scream, his burly body was thrown into the air as if weightless; when he landed far off the stage, people could see the clear footprint on his face! It was a gruesome sight; the kick was so precise, it almost knocked out his teeth!

Li Bao was no longer the burly, fierce man he had been moments before. Now, his eyes were wide open, he convulsed a few times in disbelief before fainting. Not only could no one see how Xu Ping's kick had landed, but even he, who always considered himself a master, had no idea how he had been kicked!

Ouyang Tai was also a bit annoyed, but he knew that this messed-up Li Bao was a good-for-nothing under his master, so he didn't pay much attention. Suddenly, he caught sight of a small, bright green figure on the second floor of an inn on the street and immediately shouted excitedly, "Master, look over there!"

Xu Ping's eyes were almost sore from staring. He pulled his foot back, looked in the direction Ouyang Tai pointed, and immediately perked up. The green figure on the inn's second floor was very conspicuous. Although he couldn't see her face clearly, from her petite figure and flowing long dress, he could tell it was a little girl; the bright grass-green dress was definitely not something ordinary people could afford!

This girl certainly knows how to enjoy herself! Xu Ping was so angry that his nose was practically steaming. He immediately turned around and walked towards the bottom of the arena, ready to grab her and teach her a lesson. I'm working myself to death here, while this young lady is leisurely drinking tea and watching the show. Just thinking about it is infuriating! No wonder I couldn't find her in the crowd; this lady had already paid for a good spot!

As Xu Ping stepped down the stairs, he was suddenly surrounded by more than a dozen men with gloomy faces, blocking his way. They all wore expressions of indignation, and the leader roared furiously, "You rude brat! My Liu family has no grudge against you, yet you deliberately embarrass us during the young lady's marriage contest, trying to provoke us?"

Xu Ping frowned slightly and, without turning back, ordered Ouyang Tai, "This is your responsibility. You're such a troublemaker!"

"Where do you think you're going!" The Liu family members, seeing Xu Ping turn to leave, were furious and immediately tried to stop him. However, Ouyang Tai was faster than them. With a ghostly movement, he appeared in front of them, his handsome face still bearing the gloom left by the earlier insults! Almost no one saw how he moved; he instantly stunned everyone!

"I'll borrow your heads for a bit." Xu Ping didn't hesitate any longer, leaping lightly off the stage! As he leaped over the crowd, looking down at the lecherous wolves below, remembering their earlier taunts, anger welled up inside him. A surge of revenge welled up within him, and he quickly stomped on their heads as he ran towards the edge of the crowd, deliberately stomping harder with each step. He kicked a few of the most disliked faces directly in the face.

"Ah! Ouch... Don't step on me!"

A panic erupted from the crowd. This display of lightness skill was far from graceful; instead, it elicited screams of terror. Before they could react, Xu Ping had already leaped over the onlookers, landing on a nearby tree. Using the branches for leverage, he glided towards the second floor of the inn!

Behind him were only the lecherous wolves, clutching their heads in exasperation, gritting their teeth in anger, but powerless against Xu Ping. Some had blood streaming from their noses; the luckier ones only had a footprint on their heads. While it hadn't killed them, Xu Ping's kicks had been quite forceful!

"When did Master's lightness skill become so good?"

Kong Ming, standing in the crowd, stared at Xu Ping's graceful figure. It was vastly different from their encounter on Tianfang Mountain, and a look of doubt crossed his eyes. He vaguely felt he had seen this footwork somewhere before. Ouyang Tai was also curious. When did Master learn such superb lightness skill?

The tree was at least two hundred meters away from the inn, a distance difficult to cover with a normal leap. As he slowly descended, Xu Ping made an even more surprising move: he used both feet to propel himself forward, performing a nimble flip before his feet even touched the ground, leaping again towards the second floor of the inn! The fluid movements and incredible leaps elicited a gasp from the crowd: This lightness was beyond what a human could achieve!

"I understand!"

Ouyang Tai exclaimed in realization. No wonder this lightness skill looked so exquisite and terrifying. Wasn't this unbelievable speed Leng Yue's unique technique? The cloud ladder leap she used to propel herself through the air was incredibly powerful; even those at the Heavenly Rank would likely struggle to achieve such lightness skill!

He was right; Leng Yue's lightness skill was indeed unparalleled, so strong that even Zhang Congjia, who had already established himself at the Heavenly Rank, was inferior. Lightness, grace, and chilling speed were incredible qualities. Even facing a Heavenly Rank expert one-on-one, as long as she had no desire to fight, retreating unscathed using her unparalleled lightness skill would be no problem at all; her exquisite swordsmanship combined with her incredibly fast movements had almost become her defining characteristics.

Xu Ping loved nothing more than studying the mysteries of other people's martial arts. After their intimate encounter, he naturally became very interested and pressed her to reveal the intricacies of her superb lightness skill. Leng Yue didn't hide her skills from her lover, revealing her inner techniques and footwork in detail without any omissions.

Xu Ping thus learned her unique lightness skill. Relying solely on the mental techniques and footwork she remembered, and taking advantage of the all-encompassing nature of the Battle Dragon Technique, she quickly mastered the exquisite lightness skill at will. In a short time, she made the Cloud Ladder Leap, a profound footwork that required years of arduous practice to master, come alive with remarkable skill. Not only was Ouyang Tai speechless with astonishment, but Leng Yue herself was also dumbfounded and couldn't believe it.

The "Ethereal Ghost Steps" that Leng Yue practiced was a nearly lost lightness skill, a refined art that combined the strengths of various schools. Although it didn't allow one to fly through the clouds, its success depended on diligent daily practice. Once mastered, it was enough to surpass those of equal cultivation. Leng Yue's mastery of the Cloud Ladder Leap even put a group of top-tier experts to shame.

This exquisitely almost eerie technique, while superior to others, was not easy to cultivate. Leng Yue had forgotten how many years she had painstakingly practiced to reach her current level, but she hadn't expected Xu Ping to master it so easily. This unexpected turn of events left her somewhat disheartened. Reaching the Cloud Ladder Leap level was almost comparable to a Heavenly Rank expert; such a stark difference was undeniably moving.

His white robes fluttered gracefully, his terrifying lightness silencing the crowd. Under their stunned gazes, Xu Ping reached the second floor of the inn and stood before the equally surprised girl in green, his face darkening.

From afar, he didn't seem particularly striking, but up close, Xu Ping's eyes lit up. The little girl before him was incredibly charming, especially the look of terror on her face when he suddenly rushed over—it made him want to cherish her!

This girl was breathtakingly beautiful, something that couldn't possibly be shaped by the Luo Yong family's genes!

Her long, flowing hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders, so soft and delicate it seemed almost alive, almost unbelievable. The playful blue hairpin atop her head, though not extravagant, and the pale pink hair clip, quite ordinary, perfectly complemented her charming personality. Her long green silk dress was clearly beyond the reach of ordinary people; its soft, light, and delicate texture exuded innocence and youthful energy, giving her a touch of mischievousness. Her

long eyelashes fluttered playfully, radiating captivating charm. Her slightly chubby face looked especially delicate and pink; her rounded yet elegant oval face possessed an indescribable allure. Her flawless, delicate skin gave the illusion of being made of fine jade. Her refined nose was straight and delicate, her small, rosy lips revealing pearly white teeth that seemed to exude an indescribable fragrance.

Most captivating were her large, bright, star-like eyes, brimming with innocence. A mischievous wink, full of intelligence and childlike charm; a layer of misty tears welled up in her eyes, making her look especially innocent and pitiful, instantly extinguishing any anger one might have!

"Luo Ning'er..."

Xu Ping snapped out of his brief daze and, seeing this adorable little girl, his anger had long since dissipated.

However, his face still wore a gritted-teeth expression as he glared at her maliciously, actually still appraising this rare little cutie.

He hadn't expected the Luo Yong family to have such a lovely little one. Although she seemed startled, her eyes revealed a small stubbornness. Her large eyes seemed to speak volumes, and even at such a young age, she exuded a charm quite different from that of a mature woman!

"W-who are you?"

Luo Ning'er was somewhat dazed and hesitant, her bright, captivating eyes clearly showing a hint of wariness. Xu Ping's dashing appearance on stage had indeed captivated her; a young man in white fighting for love was a common fantasy for girls his age. She just hadn't expected this handsome young man to suddenly appear before her!

His voice was soft and tender, sounding incredibly innocent, instantly making her feel weak all over, even her bones softening! Xu Ping couldn't help but shiver. The little girl was so cute; no wonder she was hiding here watching. If she went downstairs with the other lecherous men to watch the spectacle, she'd be devoured, leaving not even bones behind!

[Episode 21] Chapter 3: The Sharpshooter Little Lolita

"Enough nonsense, your grandpa is looking for you!"

Although Xu Ping felt a lustful urge, wanting to touch her delicate, snow-white skin, he still put on a stern face and pretended to be displeased, even somewhat angry, and shouted, "Why did you, a girl, suddenly come here? Don't you know that Zhili is in chaos and dangerous right now?"

"What?"

Luo Ning'er looked completely innocent, her pitiful appearance making her even more endearing. She seemed somewhat at a loss for words in the face of Xu Ping's questioning, appearing confused!

"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and come with me!"

Xu Ping lowered his voice. Although he was initially furious and wanted to curse her out, facing a cute little girl with such pitiful eyes, he couldn't bring himself to utter the pent-up profanities. Instead, he simply said, "Your great-grandfather has arrived at the Zhili camp. He sent me to pick you up!"

"Wait!" Luo Ning'er suddenly shrank back cautiously, looking at Xu Ping with a wary expression. Her pretty face was full of confusion, her eyebrows slightly furrowed. "My great-grandfather sent me here to wait for someone, he didn't say anything about taking me back. Who are you?" "

What?" Hearing her words, Xu Ping was dumbfounded. Seeing the little girl looking at him warily, he felt a bit confused. How come what she said was completely different from what Luo Yong had said? He couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Your great-grandfather sent you here to wait for someone? Waiting for whom?"

"Yes, it was my great-grandfather who sent me!" As Luo Ning'er spoke, she suddenly took a few quick steps back. With her left hand, she picked up a snow-white ivory bow and held it before her, while her right hand, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a sharp arrow and nocked it! The gleaming arrowhead was aimed directly at Xu Ping, and she shouted in a sweet voice, "Who are you? Why did you lie to me?"

"I lied to you?"

Xu Ping felt an unprecedented sense of helplessness. What was going on?! But looking at the girl's posture as she drew the bow, he found her stubbornly adorable. The cute little bow paired with her extremely cute appearance was quite a perfect match! It didn't seem to have any lethality, and even had a hint of uniform allure!

Luo Ning'er narrowed her bright eyes slightly, tightened the bowstring a little, and pulled it back, clearly indicating that she wouldn't be polite if Xu Ping didn't explain properly. Although the silver arrowhead gleamed with a terrifyingly cold light, no matter how fierce her gaze was, it was useless. Her appearance was simply too childlike, and her pink and tender face made one feel no threat whatsoever.

"Who did your great-grandfather tell you to wait for?" Xu Ping suppressed the urge to laugh, adopting a gentler tone as he looked at the incredibly cute little girl before him with great interest. Seeing her eager to answer, he decided to use a guiding approach; no one could bear to argue with such an adorable little girl!

This girl wore a green dress, like a mountain fairy, her petite appearance utterly endearing. Looking at her face again, Xu Ping felt a sudden itch in his heart, quickly trying to recall where he had seen her before. Her

delicate features were sculpted with a dreamlike beauty, giving her a pure and serene elegance, like a poem or a painting. Her sparkling eyes, though full of spirit, revealed an innocent allure. After thinking for a while, Xu Ping suddenly slapped his forehead: Wasn't this the image of Xia Da, the beautiful young painter from his past life? Her pure temperament and rosy cheeks were practically identical!

"Waiting for whom?" Luo Ning'er suddenly muttered in confusion. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly panicked, opening her innocent eyes and saying, "I...I forgot!"

"No way!"

Xu Ping looked at her, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Just a moment ago she was all angry, nocking her small bow as if ready to fight to the death, but now she looked embarrassed. The difference was too great. After all, she was a young lady from a noble family. This childlike confusion was really amusing. Her innocent pitifulness couldn't be expressed by deliberate pretense!

"So, who did your great-grandfather tell you to wait for?" Xu Ping leaned closer, looking at the embarrassed little girl with interest. The more he looked, the more he felt she resembled Xia Da. A charming blush appeared on her delicate, pink face, making him want to give her a big kiss!

"Brother Guard!" Luo Ning'er thought for a while, but still couldn't figure it out. Suddenly, she turned her head and shouted at a table at the very back of the inn, sounding a little anxious and embarrassed. "Who did my great-grandfather tell me to wait for here? I forgot?"

Several men sat around the table at the very back of the inn. They were dressed in plain clothes and didn't look particularly remarkable, but their upright posture and straight backs made them different from ordinary people. Their hawk-like eyes alone were unlike those of ordinary martial artists, not to mention their constantly tense bodies, which made them stand out at a glance.

However, they all seemed to be afraid of some monster. They all lowered their heads and huddled together, exchanging glances frequently, each with a look of frustration on their face. They seemed to want to avoid Xu Ping's attention, like men who had just stolen someone's wife, keeping their heads down and not wanting anyone to see their faces. Some were even sweating profusely!

"Brother Guards?" Xu Ping's eyes suddenly turned cold, his face darkening as he looked at the dozen or so burly figures in the corner. After looking them over from head to toe, he snorted coldly and said, "Doesn't any of you want to explain anything to me?"

Xu Ping's gaze was so fierce it seemed like he wanted to devour them, and he had a strong urge to turn them from guards into eunuchs. These guys were unusually low-key, sitting silently in the corner; if Luo Ning'er hadn't reminded him, he wouldn't have even noticed them there.

Luo Ning'er looked at the usually burly, but now rather listless, imperial guards with a puzzled expression, feeling very strange. She asked, somewhat confused, "What's wrong with you? You're acting like you've encountered a tiger? Why aren't you saying anything?"

As she spoke, her bow was still aimed at Xu Ping. The meaning in her eyes seemed to be: What's there to be afraid of about this guy? Normally, every one of the imperial guards was a fierce warrior, capable of hunting tigers in the mountains and capturing dragons in the water! Why were they suddenly acting like they'd seen a ghost? It was just a handsome young man, why were they all so terrified? Not

a single imperial guard dared to answer her. They all thought: encountering ten or eight tigers would be fine, but encountering this master, more ruthless than a ghost, would be the greatest tragedy. If they encountered a tiger or a crocodile (in ancient times), they could fight it off, at most it would be death. But this ghostly and treacherous master, if they really offended him, they might wish they were dead. Who wouldn't be afraid!

"You worship Eunuch Hai?" Xu Ping's tone revealed a sinister chill, meaning: Do you dare to pretend anymore? If you keep pretending, I'll make you become eunuchs.

Seeing that Xu Ping had discovered them, they were afraid of displeasing this master, so they dared not hide anymore. They quickly walked to Xu Ping, knelt on one knee, and said somewhat nervously, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

That old fox, Luo Yong! Upon seeing these somewhat familiar faces, Xu Ping was filled with helplessness and gritted his teeth in hatred! These dozen or so men were no ordinary guards; they were all top-tier imperial bodyguards, the weakest being at least first-rate level, and the stronger ones having broken through to the Earth Rank. With these men protecting his granddaughter, they would be lucky if they didn't commit murder or arson, let alone encounter any danger!

"You old fox!" Xu Ping's glare sent shivers down their spines. With these ruthless killers protecting her, what danger could Luo Ning'er possibly face? Even with his own Earth Rank upper-level skills, Ouyang Tai wielding a double-headed spear wouldn't stand a chance against them; the old man was simply toying with him!

"What on earth is going on!" Xu Ping ignored Luo Ning'er's stunned and confused expression, sat down abruptly, slammed his fist on the table, and roared,

"You all better explain yourselves clearly, or I'll hand you all over to Hai Zi as his men! Are you tired of being guards and want to become eunuchs?"

The guards immediately felt a chill run down their spines; Xu Ping's gaze made them feel a sharp pain in certain areas. The head guard, his mind reeling, quickly said to the somewhat dazed Luo Ning'er, "Miss Luo, this is the Crown Prince! The General of the Valiant Cavalry sent us here to wait for him!"

As soon as he finished speaking, they all looked at Xu Ping with extremely pitiful eyes, their resentment enough to make any man instantly cramp up. Xu Ping felt a chill run down his spine, but after thinking about it carefully, he immediately understood. Luo Yong wanted to introduce his granddaughter to him as a wife; it was probably more likely a political marriage, otherwise he wouldn't have played such a big joke with the commander's seal!

It's certain that while Father felt Luo Yong had been loyal throughout his military career, the Ming Dynasty had unfairly rewarded him for his service. Even after so many years, who knows if Luo Yong harbored any resentment? Could this have caused him heartache? Perhaps Father wanted to compensate him with the most prestigious marriage in the Ming Dynasty, and also to further win over this founding general.

After all, entrusting him with command of 100,000 troops at a crucial moment, even with Luo Yong's past loyalty, still caused some concern. It wasn't excessive suspicion, but Zhu Yunwen, at the pinnacle of power, had to be cautious, and this suspicion couldn't be hidden from the shrewd Luo Yong. This marriage was practically a done deal; the only ones unaware were probably Xu Ping and Luo Ning'er!

They didn't even need to ask; they'd been tricked, and thoroughly at that. This girl's name was probably already on the Ministry of Rites' list of Crown Princesses. But what bastard was so romantic? Thinking the military camp wasn't suitable for romance, yet creating this opportunity for a chance encounter with such sophistication!

"Damn it! What kind of trick is this, throwing away the commander's seal? It scared me so much I almost became impotent!" Xu Ping gritted his teeth in anger after figuring it out. What kind of situation is this? His damned father still has the energy to think about his son's breeding!

Putting aside the fact that Xu Ping had no choice but to give in, couldn't he at least try a different approach? Losing the commander's seal before the big battle? Does he think scaring someone to death doesn't cost him anything these days?

"Crown Prince Brother!" Luo Ning'er suddenly walked up to Xu Ping, waving her soft little hand, and asked innocently, "What's wrong? Did Ning'er scare you?"

A fragrant scent wafted past, and Xu Ping looked at the toy-like bow and arrow in her hand, and couldn't help but chuckle. What's so scary about this thing? Seeing that the little girl didn't bow to him, and perhaps wanting to tease her, he immediately put on a fierce face and pretended to be angry, shouting, "How dare you, Luo Ning'er! You dare not show the proper etiquette to this Crown Prince? Don't you know this is a grave offense of disrespect?"

"No, no!" Luo Ning'er suddenly giggled, completely losing her previous serious and wary expression, and grabbed Xu Ping's arm, acting coquettishly. She pouted and said shyly, "You promised me I didn't need to bow, have you forgotten?"

Seeing the little girl acting coquettishly, the guards exchanged glances and wisely withdrew. Everyone knew this was the best time to slip away; if they didn't get away sooner, they'd be in trouble. A dozen or so people quietly went downstairs. Perhaps because they had booked the entire floor, the second floor was now empty, a perfect environment for doing something naughty!

"I promised you?" Xu Ping was a little confused, looking at the shy little girl with some doubt.

When did he meet this little beauty? Wait a minute, if she really knew him, she'd never forget him. Such a stunning beauty, no lecher could forget her!

Besides, even if they knew each other, they shouldn't be this familiar. She was acting like she was going to fight to the death just now, why is she acting all cute and charming now? Even if there was no deliberate seduction, a commoner woman shouldn't be this calm and collected when meeting the Crown Prince!

"When we were little!" Luo Ning'er saw Xu Ping's troubled expression and couldn't remember, and immediately became a little unhappy, pouting and throwing a tantrum: "Back in the main hall of the Prince of Yan's mansion, you said I could not kneel before you!" "

The Prince of Yan's mansion!"

Xu Ping was somewhat stunned. Such a distant term! Did this girl go to the capital when she was little, and even visit the mansion? Even if she did, what ordinary girl would dare to disregard the etiquette between ruler and subject? Thinking of this, a sudden jolt ran through his mind, and fragmented memories flashed through his mind!

When she was little, her father seemed to have taken her to the capital for a trip, mainly to express gratitude to the court for its years of bestowal upon Luoyong. Xu Ping was going through menopause after her transmigration at that time, feeling irritable and bewildered, so she was completely confused about her surroundings and had little recollection of those years. She was in a daze, unwilling to accept this reality, and had no motivation to enjoy the luxurious life she had hoped for.

Hearing her say this now, she suddenly remembered. This girl was strictly disciplined by her father back then, so strictly that it was somewhat pitiful. She cried all the time, but obediently performed the courtly salute to everyone she met. It seemed that her knees hurt a lot from kneeling during that period, and she looked like a little snotty-nosed child all day. Every time she finished kneeling and cried, she would get a severe scolding from her father, sometimes even being forced to kneel all night.

At that time, Xu Ping was only eight or nine years old, so of course she received the treatment of a child. Unaware of the secrets Zhu Yunwen and her father wanted to discuss, she casually sent Xu Ping to take her out to play. Xu Ping was extremely reluctant, but under Ji Xinyue's gentle instructions, he could only nod helplessly. After

spending so many days in the strictly disciplined Prince's mansion, Luo Ning'er immediately ran over to the older boy of her age as if seeing a relative. However, the boy's father glared at her, and seeing that his daughter didn't kneel and pay respects to the Crown Prince, he immediately launched into a severe scolding. Luo Ning'er bowed again while crying, and by the time Xu Ping led her away, she was crying loudly, clutching her knees and complaining of pain.

A woman's tears are frightening enough, but a child's cry is even more deafening, giving one's head a headache. Xu Ping had no choice but to coax her a few times, which calmed the little crybaby down a bit. He seemed to have told her that she didn't need to bow when they met, which finally turned the young Luo Ning'er's wailing into soft sobs.

But these impressions weren't the deepest. The most memorable was that after she cried herself to sleep, Xu Ping, too lazy to keep this little follower company, simply let her rest in his room. Not only did this little devil cry herself to sleep, but she also brazenly wet the bed on the dragon-carved bed bestowed upon her grandson by her grandfather, Zhu Yuanzhang.

"I remember now!" Thinking of this, Xu Ping let out a big "Oh!" Looking at the delicate and adorable little girl before him, he couldn't reconcile her with the snotty-nosed child he knew. Back then, he hadn't thought much of it; he just found her crying annoying, snot and tears streaming down her face like a little kitten. He never imagined she would grow up to be so delicate and alluring.

"You only remember now!" Luo Ning'er pouted, seemingly displeased, then suddenly smiled slyly. Pointing to the bustling arena, she said, "Crown Prince, your subordinate is fighting with someone!"

While Yan was reminiscing about the past, she had completely forgotten that Ouyang Tai was still fighting with someone! Xu Ping turned his head and saw that Ouyang Tai was really stealing the show! He'd taken down half of the dozen or so people in no time, his skillful moves and graceful figure drawing cheers! Some of the women, who looked like ugly ducklings, were practically drooling, seemingly imagining some truly horrifying things!

For Ouyang Tai, dealing with these small fry was incredibly easy; for him, avoiding any deaths was the biggest concern. Xu Ping had no interest in watching. He turned to Luo Ning'er and asked teasingly, "Ning'er, your great-grandfather asked you to wait for me here. What's the matter?" "

I won't tell you!"

Luo Ning'er laughed mischievously, her clear voice filled with childlike innocence, her tone as affectionate as if she were pleading with a familiar older brother. She then made a cute face at Xu Ping, sticking out her small, sweet, rosy tongue, instantly giving Xu Ping the urge to hug her and cherish her!

"Not going to tell?" Xu Ping grinned mischievously, teasingly saying, "The fearless Miss Luo, what a feat it was, what audacity to wet the bed on the Emperor's special bed back then! I'm sure it would be a legendary tale, unparalleled in history!"

"Who, who wet the bed..."

Luo Ning'er's face flushed crimson instantly, and she stubbornly shook her head in denial. For this, she was severely punished by her father in the capital, and her mother spanked her until her bottom turned red at home. Her great-grandfather often teased her about it. How could she forget such an embarrassing incident from her childhood?

"What do you think?"

Xu Ping seemed confident, though his smile had a slightly creepy, uncle-like quality. It felt great to see the little girl blush in front of him. Although he didn't have a deep impression of her, teasing her now felt natural and effortless!

"Hey, stop talking..."

Luo Ning'er stomped her feet angrily, her pouting cheeks making her even more adorable. She turned her head away playfully, then looked at the chaotic crowd fighting on the arena with some surprise, asking curiously, "Why is there a girl running up there? Oh, she's got a knife!"

Xu Ping turned his head and saw that it was true. The group of weaklings had all been beaten down by Ouyang Tai and were basically incapacitated; but now, a little girl in a red outfit had suddenly appeared and was attacking, wielding a pair of sharp double knives to entangle Ouyang Tai. Her skills weren't anything special, just a novice barely passing second-rate.

However, Ouyang Tai probably didn't want to attack a woman, only dodging without any intention of retaliating. The girl's gleaming blades posed no threat to him, and this dodging act even had a bit of a teasing feel to it! With

the business done, there was no point in continuing the entanglement. Under Luo Ning'er's questioning gaze, Xu Ping walked to the edge of the inn's terrace. After taking a deep breath, he shouted towards the arena, "Ouyang Tai! Stop playing around and come back here!"

Ouyang Tai easily dodged the girl's sharp blade, turned to look at Xu Ping, a sigh on his face, then looked at the exasperated girl before him and said with no small amount of pride, "Miss, my master has given orders that I cannot continue. I wish you find your ideal husband, but you'll have to work on your fiery temper first."

"Don't run!" It turned out that the girl before him was the eldest daughter of the Liu family, now panting heavily. She was clearly a fiery little firecracker; even though the blades had flashed and she hadn't even touched Ouyang Tai's clothes, she still relentlessly chased after him.

Unfortunately, the difference in their skills was too great. Ouyang Tai easily escaped her entanglement with a slight leap, almost ignoring her angry face, and jumped directly off the arena. Filled with the same hatred as Xu Ping, he trampled over heads to break through the crowd. After a series of screams, some of the foul-mouthed fellows had two different footprints on their faces. By the time they couldn't take it anymore and wanted to curse him out, Ouyang Tai had already leaped over the crowd!

Ouyang Tai also held grudges. Those who cursed the most were almost crippled by him. Even if they weren't disfigured, they would at least not look like normal people anymore! A graceful figure swept through the air, and when everyone turned around, he was already standing respectfully behind Xu Ping, with a nonchalant expression.

"Hello!" Ouyang Tai didn't dare to be too arrogant. When he arrived on the second floor of the inn, he first bowed to Luo Ning'er, his serious attitude clearly that of someone treating their mistress.

"You're so naughty..." Luo Ning'er looked at the guys below who were covering their faces and giggled. She playfully sized up Ouyang Tai, then turned to Xu Ping, coaxing him in an extremely sweet tone, "It's all your fault for corrupting me!"

"Did I?" Xu Ping innocently shrugged, but the little girl's sweet smile made him a little flustered. Especially the subtle allure in her eyes, which made him feel excited!

"Damn it, I make a living with my face, how am I supposed to live the rest of my life after this!"

"You two bastards, you must have done it on purpose..." Having their

faces stepped on twice in a row, some people were really furious, touching the excessively symmetrical footprints on their cheeks and couldn't help but curse. The more they cursed, the more people gathered, and they seemed to be rushing up to the inn! If it weren't for the fact that the two of them displayed high-level skills, they probably would have already rushed up and given them a good beating!

"Benefactor, please calm down!" Seeing that the important business had been completed, Kong Ming

, after watching the show for a while, wisely returned to the group. Seeing the group's foul language, he frowned slightly, and as his strong body squeezed through the crowd, he turned back and reminded them in a very friendly tone, "Your pants are down!"

"Haha..."

"Damn, this guy's dark-skinned, but his thing is pretty white!"

A burst of laughter that echoed through the night sky suddenly erupted from the crowd. It turned out that the group of people who were cursing at the front had somehow come loose, and none of them noticed that their pants had fallen to the ground. The disheveled group quickly bent down to pull up their pants, some of them tripping over their trouser legs and falling flat on their faces, exposing their white buttocks, which only made the already amused crowd laugh even harder!

"What a mess!" Xu Ping quickly reached out and blocked Luo Ning'er's view, afraid that the little girl would be hurt by such a slovenly scene, and couldn't help but smile mischievously at Ouyang Tai: "When did Kong Ming become so bad? Did you teach him?"

"I didn't!"

Ouyang Tai quickly waved his hand to indicate that it had nothing to do with him, but seeing that Kong Ming would also cause such a commotion, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Crown Prince, why are you covering my eyes?" Hearing the loud laughter, Luo Ning'er became anxious and tried to push Xu Ping's large hand away, but couldn't budge it. After all, the little girl was very curious, and she really wanted to see what fun thing was happening!

Her skin was tender, smooth, and warm. Xu Ping enjoyed the feel of her small hand and said in a lewd tone, "A bunch of naked men, you want to see that too?"

"I don't want to see!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Ning'er quickly blushed and turned away, her shy appearance was simply too adorable. Her rosy cheeks were like fragrant peaches, and Xu Ping almost wanted to take a bite! This kind of refined shyness couldn't be imitated; her embarrassed look only made her more endearing!

"Kongming's really something!" Ouyang Tai, after holding back for a moment, couldn't help but burst into laughter, chuckling, "He even pulled down their underpants! Doesn't he care about their self-esteem being hurt by being exposed? This kid's really improved!"

"Hehe!"

Xu Ping was somewhat surprised that Kongming had such a mischievous mind, but he genuinely found it amusing. These people had such foul mouths; exposing their white buttocks in front of so many people was more satisfying than a beating, and his earlier frustration vanished instantly.

Downstairs, the people whose pants had been pulled down hurriedly tied their belts, glaring at the others with hatred and pity. Kongming, on the other hand, acted like a "good guy," continuing to walk towards the inn, as if he hadn't pulled down their pants. His stubborn mind finally showed signs of changing!

Just as everyone was laughing, a furious shout suddenly rang out. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Miss Liu, who had relentlessly pursued them. She leaped onto the second floor of the inn, brandishing twin swords that flashed with a sharp, cold light, and charged at the two men: "Boy, where do you think you're going!"

She was reasonably beautiful, a first-rate beauty by common standards, but not exactly a stunningly beautiful woman capable of captivating a nation. Xu Ping glanced at her briefly, firmly stating that he had no lustful thoughts. Her demeanor paled in comparison to the shy Luo Ning'er beside her! At most, she was like an ordinary palace maid, utterly uninteresting to Xu Ping!

Miss Liu was ruthless, seemingly furious that her life's most important matter had been turned into a farce by these two, her dreams reduced to a joke. A flash of cold light, and her twin swords swung without any hesitation.

A girl's anger and embarrassment can sometimes be terrifying; judging by her desperate stance, she wouldn't stop until she had beaten these two scoundrels half to death!

Xu Ping didn't even glance at her furious expression, his lecherous gaze fixed on Luo Ning'er's pert buttocks, assessing the extent of the little girl's development. Ouyang Tai, on the other hand, displayed an even more nonchalant and roguish demeanor, both of them seemingly unfazed by her ruthlessness!

This arrogant attitude ignited the anger of Miss Liu, and her previously reserved blade suddenly shifted, aimed directly at their faces! Seeing the arrogance of the two men before her, and recalling their impressive skills earlier, she held back no longer, her twin blades flashing, their cold light aimed straight for their throats!

"What a ruthless little girl!" Ouyang Tai, watching the approaching fiery red figure, initially felt somewhat apologetic, but seeing her furious outburst and her deadly attack aimed directly at vital points, his fist clenched slightly, ready to teach her a lesson. "Crown Prince, be careful!"

Luo Ning'er snapped out of her embarrassment. She had been too embarrassed to look up from Xu Ping's lecherous gaze, and now, seeing the beautiful woman suddenly attack, she was startled. Surprisingly, she pushed Xu Ping aside and, without warning, drew back the string of her small ivory bow, nocking a gleaming arrow!

All three were taken aback by Luo Ning'er's sudden action. Miss Liu was also stunned when she saw her enemy suddenly transformed into a stunningly beautiful little girl, and her hand began to sheathe its blade. Xu Ping was extremely anxious; he hadn't expected Luo Ning'er to face Miss Liu's blade head-on at this moment! He blamed himself for being careless, letting her soft, weak hand push him away!

What was even more surprising was that Luo Ning'er, who had been blushing and shy, suddenly became calm. Her bright eyes were as serene as water, and her slender hands moved with the speed of a phantom, drawing her bow and arrows. So fast that even Xu Ping could barely see her movements. In an instant, dozens of chilling silver beams shot towards Miss Liu, accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound, catching everyone completely off guard!

Ouyang Tai and Xu Ping were both stunned. They hadn't expected the seemingly delicate Luo Ning'er to draw her bow so quickly, releasing so many arrows almost without warning. It was too late for them to stop her. Miss Liu was even more dumbfounded. Dozens of silver beams appeared before her eyes almost simultaneously, less than ten feet away, leaving her no time to react!

"Ning'er…" Xu Ping cried out in surprise. Even with his unparalleled lightness skill, he couldn't stop Luo Ning'er's sudden attack. Miss Liu's antics seemed trivial to the two men, but her reaction was too slow. Even Xu Ping found it difficult to dodge the barrage of arrows!

Miss Liu was stunned by the sudden turn of events, and it looked as if she was about to die. Xu Ping and Ouyang Tai were too far away to save her when suddenly a towering figure stepped in front of her, clasping his hands together and closing his eyes, using his strong body to block the volley of arrows!

There was no expected bloodshed, nor the unbearable pain. When the dozen or so arrows struck his flesh, they merely tore through his outer clothing, making a crisp metallic sound as they hit his skin before snapping and falling to the ground—no gruesome scene as expected. To have

mastered external martial arts to such a degree, to have reached such a rock-solid level of Iron Shirt, such incredible physical strength—who else could it be but a name without substance? Had he not been the closest and provided timely assistance, the incredible speed and sharp arrows would likely have claimed Miss Liu's life.

The sight of the fallen arrows left everyone speechless! The sharp arrowheads had been bent out of shape by the sheer strength of his body, demonstrating the incredible toughness of his Iron Shirt technique.

Miss Liu was terrified, sweating profusely and speechless. Kong Ming said nothing, lightly patting the holes in his clothes before walking directly behind Xu Ping and standing respectfully. The scene had been far too dangerous, leaving the young lady stunned and frozen in shock.

"Why did you do that?!" Xu Ping, regaining his senses, looked at the petite and adorable Luo Ning'er in astonishment, asking incredulously,

"Ning'er, why did you suddenly shoot so many arrows? Don't you know that could easily kill someone?"

Luo Ning'er stuck out her tongue sheepishly, saying somewhat aggrievedly, "I saw she was about to attack you, so I shot them out in a moment of panic!"

Damn, that wasn't the point. What did the death of a commoner woman matter? The point was that her sudden attack had caught even the mighty Xu Ping and Ouyang Tai off guard! Even though she couldn't sense any internal energy, why did her seemingly calm demeanor send chills down one's spine?

"I didn't mean to blame you!" Xu Ping's heart ached at her pitiful appearance, and he quickly shook his head. Seeing the little girl looking extremely aggrieved, he quickly comforted her, "It's just that it's dangerous for you to suddenly act like this, you know? Girls shouldn't resort to violence so easily!"

"I know!" Luo Ning'er nodded vigorously and explained softly, "I didn't shoot her in any vital areas. I only aimed at her clothes and the knife in her hand. It definitely wouldn't hurt her flesh."

This girl is too terrifying! Xu Ping, sweating profusely, re-examined the innocent and cute little girl in front of him. He still couldn't sense any internal strength in her. But her archery skills were simply too amazing. She shot so many arrows in the blink of an eye, and the frequency was probably no less than that of a machine gun! What's

even more terrifying is that she was almost undetectable beforehand! There's usually a bit of wind before it rains, but she didn't give any warning at all. Recalling his archery skills, even more humiliating than throwing stones, Xu Ping almost burst into tears. He decisively decided it was better not to linger any longer, lest he utterly lose face.

The crowd around the arena hadn't dispersed; this farce suited their voyeuristic instincts, and they all gathered to watch the spectacle and offer their opinions. Perhaps feeling utterly humiliated, Miss Liu, though frightened by the group of monsters before her, straightened up and still angrily brandished her sword, shouting, "Who are you people? Why are you interfering with my life's most important matter!"

As she spoke, she charged forward again, unwilling to give up, but tears of grievance welled up in her eyes. After all, it wasn't easy for a girl in ancient times to be as bold as her, but to have her life's most important matter, her happiness, turned into a joke—who wouldn't feel humiliated?

After all, she was in the wrong first, inexplicably disrupting someone else's marriage. Seeing her rush over, Xu Ping couldn't bring himself to do it. He shook his head and said to Ouyang Tai, "You handle her!"

"I can't bring myself to do it." Ouyang Tai had completely softened. After all, a girl's aggrieved tears always evoked a sense of unspeakable guilt. He immediately turned to the expressionless Kong Ming beside him and said, "You do it!"

Indeed, marriage is a sacred matter for a girl; a single choice is almost a lifelong decision. The martial arts contest for marriage had been inexplicably turned into a farcical spectacle, no wonder Miss Liu was so angry she cried. Luo Ning'er also felt heartbroken. Her small hand holding the ivory bow was about to rise, but Xu Ping pressed it back down before she could react!

"No problem!" Kong Ming was completely unmoved by her tears, seemingly indifferent to the powerfully penetrating tears of a beautiful woman. After saying this, he rolled up his sleeves and stood at the front, looking like he was about to punch someone. This heartless and carefree nature of his was on full display once again!

"I'll kill you!" Miss Liu was already in tears, sobbing as she swung her knife at Kong Ming. At this point, she had no regard for strategy; it was purely a pitiful outburst from a young girl.

"Crown Prince..." Luo Ning'er felt some sympathy, her eyes filled with deep shame as she looked at Xu Ping! Xu Ping also felt helpless, only able to sigh and shake his head, almost wanting to say: This whole farce is all because of you! But

Kong Ming didn't hesitate for a moment. When Miss Liu was right in front of him, he swiftly threw a punch. Everyone closed their eyes, unable to bear watching this cruel scene. Miss Liu felt no pain; his punch landed precisely on her temple, and she fainted, her vision going black! The two knives in her hands clattered to the ground, her frail appearance heartbreaking!

"Damn it, this guy actually did it!" Amidst the slightly angry shouts of the crowd, Kong Ming had indeed punched the beautiful Miss Liu to the ground, knocking her completely unconscious!

When Xu Ping opened his eyes, Kong Ming was grinning smugly. Looking at the motionless Miss Liu on the ground, he chuckled, brandishing his fist the size of a clay pot, "Master, wasn't my punch accurate enough? It wouldn't have killed her; she's unconscious now, so she's behaving herself."

"Yes, yes!" Xu Ping replied with a wry smile, while Luo Ning'er gave him a resolute look of disdain. Although this young lady seemed fierce, it didn't warrant such a heavy blow. Besides, this bald monk had disrupted someone's life's most important event without a shred of remorse, knocking her unconscious with a single punch—wasn't that necessary?

Ouyang Tai was also helpless. He hadn't used any harshness when facing Miss Liu, but this beast truly didn't know the meaning of chivalry. He didn't even blink when his fist struck, as if he were beating an animal, not a young woman.

Not only did the onlookers object, but Ouyang Tai himself found it unbearable to watch, and he wanted to crack open Kong Ming's head to see if there was any brain matter left. "This pig's brain must be completely blank! How could he be so stupid!

" "Hui'er..."

At this moment, the Liu family members couldn't sit still any longer. They rushed over from the stands, their faces filled with barely suppressed indignation, clearly having reached their breaking point! Although Miss Liu was a bit fiery, she was still their beloved darling, and they couldn't allow her marriage to become a laughingstock!

Besides, no matter what faults Miss Liu had, she was still a woman; you can't act like this in public! She was renowned for her beauty and had many admirers. Kong Ming's reckless punch immediately ignited the anger of many, who gritted their teeth and stepped forward!

Servants, guards, angry men, and even the constables and officials who couldn't stand it any longer—the crowd of onlookers, sleeves tugged, was enormous. A dark mass of at least eight hundred or a thousand, their anger directed at Kong Ming upstairs in the inn. Although many were there to watch the spectacle, they couldn't tolerate these arrogant strangers!

Kong Ming's punch had already ignited public anger, and the unconscious Miss Liu had only fueled it further! The dark mass of people roared, their teeth clenched, their fury reaching its peak, seemingly wanting to tear the man who insulted their "county beauty" to pieces!

"What kind of bastard is this? He's been causing trouble all night and he even dared to lay a hand on a woman!" "

He dared to hit our Miss Liu! No matter how high his martial arts skills are, we can't let him leave Songhe!"

"Master, what should we do!" Ouyang Tai said helplessly, secretly giving Xu Ping a wink. The meaning was: we have to get out of here. Seeing the current public outrage, if we don't leave soon, things will escalate!

Xu Ping frowned slightly, realizing the situation was difficult to quell. The current situation was indeed their fault, and Kong Ming had incited public anger. Although there were three highly skilled Earth-rank experts and more than ten imperial guards on this side, they were not afraid of these commoners, but letting things escalate was not a good idea!

"What's wrong with them?" Only Kong Ming remained innocent, seemingly not understanding why the people had suddenly become angry. Everyone couldn't help but despise him, and even the imperial guards behind him wished they could draw their swords and kill him to appease public anger!

"Get out of here!" After making up his mind, Xu Ping immediately snapped his fingers and solemnly instructed everyone: "Ouyang Tai and Kong Ming go one way, Ning'er and I go the other way, and the imperial guards go the other way and run out of the city! It's better to split up. Remember, don't hurt these people unless there is danger, and don't use weapons, understand?"

"Yes!" Everyone realized that the situation was out of control, so they quickly agreed and, before the people could rush up to the second floor, immediately used their lightness skills to jump down into the crowd. Ling Kong used the ground to scatter in all directions, finding their own horses, and after mounting their horses, they galloped off in different directions, instantly attracting the attention of many people.

The crowd was caught off guard by the number of highly skilled individuals on the second floor of the inn. They were momentarily stunned, unsure of who to chase, and immediately became flustered.

Xu Ping's final instruction was not without reason; the safety of these civilians was paramount! Kong Ming, that donkey, was inflexible; if he acted recklessly, he could easily cause death! As for the imperial guards, they were ruthless killers, murder easier than eating for them!

Ouyang Tai, despite his generally amiable demeanor, was a cold-blooded character who treated human life as worthless when his bloodlust flared. These people absolutely needed to be restrained; if they acted impulsively, dealing with these civilians would be a piece of cake for them, and taking their lives would be as easy as slaughtering pigs!

"He's the only one left! Don't let them get away!" Seeing the others successfully break through, some of the Liu family members anxiously tended to the unconscious Miss Liu, while the other strong men, led by Li Bao, rushed up the stairs, glaring at Xu Ping with eyes burning with a murderous rage!

"Ah..." With a scream from Luo Ning'er, Xu Ping stopped her slender hands from drawing back the bowstring, and with a swift sweep of his long arms, he scooped her petite, soft body into his embrace. He then leaped off the table and soared into the crowd!

"Crown Prince Brother..."

Luo Ning'er felt the cool breeze brushing past her ears, her soft black hair swaying gently in the wind. Her small hands unconsciously wrapped around Xu Ping's waist, her hazy heart trembling with a dreamlike flutter, and her large eyes sparkling with indescribable tenderness as she looked at Xu Ping!

"Hold on tighter..."

Xu Ping observed the angry crowd while tightening his grip on her delicate waist.低下头说话时，故意凑在她耳边，向小罗莉嫩嫩的小耳垂吹出一股股热气！

充满磁性的声音彷彿在一瞬间刺穿心灵，小巧耳朵被热热的温度包围，痒受，但更多的却是让尚显稚嫩的小芳心枰枰跳动。

洛凝儿小脸瞬间变得通红，娇羞得点头后，彻底把头靠在许平怀里，似乎被许平的怀抱弄得芳心大乱。

有戏，看来这小丫头有点情窦初开的味道。许平心里一阵窃喜，不过还是慎重地观察目前情况。脚下有一大堆等着要揍自己的人群，要是不小心点，容易惹出麻烦。自己一个人要逃还简单，但带着这个可爱的小罗莉仍然有点费劲。

两人宛如神仙侠侣般地的闪过人群，男的俊美异常，女的虽然娇小却十分可爱动人，飘渺的一幕像是话本里的场景。 Looking at the older brother who had been so close to her, Luo Ning'er's heart began to race without her realizing it!

With a slightly strenuous leap, she soared into the air again before even landing; Luo Ning'er's flowing skirt made her look like a shy fairy, her captivating appearance leaving some men speechless. Xu Ping glared at them fiercely, his anger rising as he watched them relentlessly pursue him from below!

The Liu family, in particular, were especially eager. Originally a prominent family, they had been humiliated by a few strangers; who could swallow such an insult? Now that Kong Ming had escaped, they could only vent their anger on Xu Ping, now all brandishing knives and clubs, ready to fight to the death!

Using his superior lightness skill, before they could even touch his clothes, Xu Ping had already carried the little girl out of the crowd; just as he reached the horses, more than a dozen strong young men wielding clubs suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking their path. They all wore expressions of intense anger. Some seemed to be admirers of Miss Liu, while others were leering at the petite and charming Luo Ning'er, their eyes gleaming with lust. This ignited Xu Ping's long-suppressed rage!

"Get out of my way!"

He had already left the pursuing crowd behind, and could easily escape on horseback. But some reckless fools dared to block his path. Xu Ping didn't slow down after landing; his figure leaped with ghostly speed, continuing his charge. The dozen or so men in front of him seemed oblivious to their own mortality, raising their clubs and charging forward without fear.

For the first time, a murderous glint flashed in Xu Ping's eyes, and a ferocious expression appeared on his face. He instantly channeled his inner energy, tightly holding Luo Ning'er in one arm, while clenching his fist with his other hand, ready to teach these arrogant fools a lesson.

"Kill him!" A group of youths rushed towards him, seemingly believing that Xu Ping, with Luo Ning'er in his arms and ready to fight, couldn't possibly defeat them with their clubs! Xu Ping frowned, seeing their recklessness, he quickly concentrated the remaining true energy in his fist, his taut arm radiating intense killing intent. When the two sides were only ten steps apart, several silver lights suddenly shot out from Xu Ping's arms, their lightning-fast attacks giving them almost no chance to react.

The group of youths didn't even have time to see the swift silver light before the arrows pierced their arms holding clubs, each one screaming in agony! Their clubs fell to the ground, as each arrow had almost perfectly pierced their wrist joints!

Xu Ping looked at the little girl in his arms in surprise. Luo Ning'er smiled shyly, looking at Xu Ping with a hint of pride; her small hands gripped the ivory bow, and the speed at which she released the arrows was almost chilling, so fast that even how she pulled them out was imperceptible, yet this girl had already taken down several men.

"Pretty accurate, right!"

Luo Ning'er giggled, proudly raising her small bow, displaying an air of "I'm so awesome!"

Even now, she was still in the mood to act cute, and Xu Ping felt her radiant smile instantly dispel his rage.

However, looking back at the menacing crowd, he shook his head and said, "Let's get out of here. Are you confident you can handle everyone behind us?"

Luo Ning'er looked back and was immediately terrified by the scene. She quickly shook her head pitifully and obediently said,

"I'll listen to you! You said girls shouldn't use force!"

The dark mass of people had already reached the street corner, with both angry civilians and members of the Liu family shouting loudly. In the darkness, torches were raised, revealing a dense crowd of figures wielding clubs, knives, and spears. Over a thousand people chasing after them—their momentum was quite frightening!

"Haha!" Xu Ping was amused by her childlike expression and chuckled. He hugged her slender waist tighter and continued charging forward!

"Get out!" Even though those in front were already powerless to resist, each clutching their bleeding hands and groaning in pain, Xu Ping still wanted to vent his anger. After roaring, his true energy surged forth like mercury spilling onto the ground. As his incredibly fast figure swept through them, it was like an explosion, the powerful true energy instantly scattering these ignorant fools like kites with broken strings! The moment

the powerful true energy of a high-grade Earth level was released, those in the pursuing crowd who practiced martial arts were instantly stunned. They never expected that the newcomer would have such high skill, so strong that he shouldn't be in their small county town.

Some people had already stopped hesitantly, their eyes filled with fear as they watched the dozen or so people who had been blasted away by the true energy fall to the ground and groan in pain. Taking advantage of this opening, Xu Ping quickly pulled on the reins, lifted Luo Ning'er onto the horse, threw off the reins, shouted, and charged towards the north gate of the county town.

"Don't let him get away!" The Liu family members were still relentlessly chasing after them. After all, this powerful clan had been thoroughly humiliated, and they were furious! Even if the other party was a high-level expert, Xu Ping couldn't stand being treated like ants trying to eat an elephant!

"Damn it!" Li Bao, who was in the lead, angrily threw his knife to the ground, watching helplessly as the two figures disappeared into the distance. Not only had they been humiliated all night, but the other party had also escaped unscathed; this would definitely make the Liu family the biggest laughingstock in Songhe County!

At this point, it was futile to mount their horses and continue the chase. As the horses galloped away, before the pursuers could catch up, the two had already rushed out of the county town. Only

when they stepped onto the official road did Xu Ping breathe a sigh of relief. Looking at the shy little girl in his arms, feeling the warmth of her body pressed tightly against his, he couldn't help but ask in a flirtatious tone, "Was it exciting?"

"Mmm..." Luo Ning'er leaned against Xu Ping, whose hands were still wrapped around her slender waist, unwilling to let go. A pleasant fragrance wafted out, accompanied by her rosy cheeks and soft, delicate voice. Her tender allure made Xu Ping's heart itch unbearably!

"Crown Prince Brother!" Luo Ning'er suddenly turned her head, glanced at Xu Ping shyly, and asked in an innocent voice, "Does this count as having physical intimacy?"

"Yes!" Xu Ping swallowed hard and nodded vigorously without hesitation.

These days, some things can be infuriating, but when it comes to educating young girls, they're a godsend for men. Holding hands or hugging even once or twice is considered physical intimacy, almost indistinguishable from sex to others; the little girl's shy question proves she understands this rudimentary concept.

A well-bred young lady naturally knows the implications—it's like saying she's one of her own!

"Oh…" Luo Ning'er said thoughtfully, then suddenly a playful, coquettish look appeared on her beautiful face. She glared at Xu Ping and said sweetly, "Crown Prince, you're not allowed to mention that again…"

"What is it?"

Xu Ping feigned confusion, secretly chuckling to himself. He knew she was referring to bedwetting, but he wanted to see the little girl's coquettish expression; her tender, red face was just too adorable, so he wanted to tease her.

"You know it yourself, how annoying!"

Luo Ning'er's eye roll was a bit fierce this time. She turned her head away, looking unhappy, her cheeks puffed out in anger.

However, when she lowered her head, a strange, faint smile appeared on her lips.

"My little Ning'er is so smart, if you don't want to talk, then don't!"

Xu Ping chuckled, finding her tantrum even more adorable. The jolting on horseback caused the little girl's soft body to rub against him from time to time, and her hair, fluttering and occasionally brushing against his skin, carried an indescribable fragrance—it was incredibly alluring!

His large hands encircled her slender waist. Although he wasn't directly touching her delicate skin, he could still feel the warmth through the thin fabric and the rise and fall of her lower abdomen with her breath. If he moved up a little, or even just slipped his hand inside her collar, he could freely play with her still-developing breasts and savor the pure body of this flower.

This kind of temptation is torture for any man, an unprecedented torment, especially when she occasionally turns her head, her shy face and slightly pursed cherry lips exuding a pure yet incredibly provocative charm. Her bright, sparkling eyes are full of spirit, and her innocent expression arouses an unprecedented protective instinct in men!

Damn it! Xu Ping cursed inwardly, feeling a burning desire, his brain churning. At this moment, he really wished he could just have sex with her in the open! If it were any other woman, Xu Ping wouldn't even need to think about it; he'd immediately tell her to lie down and doggy style, to properly release this intense urge!

But this little girl is Luo Yong's great-granddaughter; even if he didn't care about the man, he had to consider the man's feelings. Moreover, the old man's attitude clearly indicated that he wanted to marry his great-granddaughter to him, so there was no need to rush things. In addition, she seemed to have feelings for him, so he couldn't bring himself to rape her at this moment. Touching her a few times or giving her a little kiss might be okay, but that would only make him feel worse, so he decided against it!

Xu Ping resisted his primal lust with unprecedented willpower and a strength that astonished even himself. He gritted his teeth, enduring the intense temptation emanating from the little girl, and retreated with his rear end sticking out, lest his hardened member frighten the adorable little sprite and ruin the image he had just established in her mind!

The horses galloped swiftly along the official road, the two of them embracing like long-time lovers. In Xu Ping's arms, the little girl gradually became more natural, her initial shyness giving

way to a more relaxed demeanor. The bright moon and the starry sky made everything exceptionally romantic; the gentle breeze rustled through the trees, creating a serene and poetic atmosphere. Luo Ning'er was completely immersed in this poetic feeling, her innocent heart softening, her shy gaze towards Xu Ping filled with unspoken meaning, revealing her as a young girl in the throes of first love, her occasional sweet smile captivating!

However, she couldn't see the faint bloodshot in Xu Ping's eyes when he smiled gently at her. Beneath his gentlemanly exterior lay a burning desire, and a burning urge to penetrate her tender body! She was on the verge

of tears. Every time their eyes met, Xu Ping would force what he considered his most gentle and charming smile, causing the blushing little girl to shyly lower her head. Her appearance only made her more endearing, and for an extremely impulsive man, it was simply too irresistible!

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/37223.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=37223&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : 【The Rogue Landlord】 Episodes 16-20 Author: Laughter in the Coffin

Next Page : Paradox H - ☆, Increasing Temperature