Rebirth of a Stunning Beauty (Complete) - 15

~Chapter Three: Bloodstained Heaven, Section Six~

In the capital city of the Great Qin, the former number one general under heaven, the "Dragon Roar Saint General," Duke Song Wu's residence was located on Zhuque Street, a street inhabited by princes and nobles.

If anyone were to venture into the backyard of the Song residence now, they would surely hear strange, unusual sounds, sometimes strong, sometimes weak, filling the space.

The sounds were like the roar of a ferocious beast, yet upon closer listening, one would discover that no other beast in the world could produce such a strange roar that could shake one's very soul.

The sound was like the clang of metal, long and majestic, interspersed with a hint of violent cruelty.

If one had to describe it, one could only use the legendary roar of a divine dragon, representing the majesty of heaven.

Only Song Wu and his companions in the Duke's mansion truly knew the source of this roar.

At this moment, Song Wuzheng and the Five Friends of Lingnan were in an armory in the backyard, forming a circle. Their six hands, twelve in total, were pressed tightly against a rectangular box of an antique shape, neither made of metal nor wood.

The box was shaking violently, its lid occasionally opening a crack, revealing beams of intensely bright golden light, as if something inside was eager to burst forth.

Song Wuzheng was drenched in sweat, the veins on his hands bulging, his powerful inner energy flowing continuously from his palms into the box.

Standing to his left, "Old Man Qingzhu" Qi Yunshan was also drenched in sweat, his snow-white hair and beard flying wildly without wind. He shouted, "Old Song, what's going on today? Why is Longyin so violent, trying to break through the Heavenly Seal and escape on its own?"

"Upright Lord" Di Wugong also said, "That's right, Old Song, doesn't Longyin only listen to you? Why don't you persuade it to calm down? It's been acting up for an hour already. If it keeps this up, these old bones of ours will be broken by Longyin!"

Song Wu shouted, "I can't do anything about it! I don't know what's wrong with Longyin, it won't even listen to my advice! It's been sealed for so many years, it has always stayed quietly inside the Heavenly Seal, it has never acted like this before! I don't know what happened that made it almost break through the Heavenly Seal! I asked it, but it won't tell me!"

"Old Man of the Cold Pine" Jin Guixian cursed, "Damn it, this Dragon's Roar is incredibly powerful! Even with the combined strength of the six of us, plus the Heavenly Seal, we can only barely restrain it! Old Song, I've only heard that this thing is a heavenly weapon, a weapon used by the previous dynasty to worship Taigong Wang, but what exactly is its origin, and why does it possess such immense power?"

Song Wudao replied, "I don't know either! The Dragon's Roar has never told me any of this. In my opinion, the Dragon's Roar is not of this mortal realm at all; like the Tiger's Roar, it must be a creation of the gods! How can we mere mortals possibly suppress a Dragon's Roar that has gone berserk?"

Jin Guixian shouted again: "Damn it, Old Song, I, Old Jin, have never seen a master like you! Isn't Longyin your pet? How come you can't even control it?"

Song Wu exclaimed in shock, "Old Jin, don't talk nonsense, Longyin has a terrible temper!"

Jin Guixian said disdainfully, "What can it do to me? Do you think I, Old Jin, am afraid of a weapon?"

As soon as he finished speaking, an angry roar came from inside the box, and a strange force as turbulent as the tide struck Jin Guixian's palms through the box. Jin Guixian screamed and flew backward, crashing heavily into the wall and embedding himself deeply in the bricks.

"Old Jin!" Song Wu and his four friends shouted in unison.

Jin Guixian exhaled a long breath and cried out, "Damn... what a temper!" Seeing that

Jin Guixian was alright, Song Wu and the others were immediately relieved.

While continuously channeling his inner energy into the Heavenly Seal to help suppress the Dragon's Roar, Song Wu anxiously said, "Dragon's Roar, what's wrong with you? Why are you so angry? This is the capital city! You absolutely cannot escape the Heavenly Seal. Otherwise, if you show yourself, the people of the capital will suffer innocently! Is it because Tiger's Roar is also in the capital, and you're in such a hurry to see him? If that's the case, you don't need to be in such a rush! Tiger's Roar is sealed inside the 'Tiger's Roar Hall' in the imperial palace. If the Holy Emperor doesn't unseal it, even if you can enter the palace, you won't be able to see Tiger's Roar!

"

"To catch the thief, first catch the king!" The Third Young Master's gaze pierced through the encirclement, locking onto Zhan Tianwang and Zhan Tianhu. "Sister Mei, hold on for a moment. I'll get the heads of two bandit leaders and then come to help you!"

Qiu Ruomei said, "Go ahead, don't worry about me. With my invisibility robe, the rebels can't hurt me!"

The Third Young Master nodded. At this moment, the rebel cavalry surrounding the two shouted simultaneously and charged towards the Third Young Master and Qiu Ruomei with their spears.

The Third Young Master quickly circled around Qiu Ruomei and the black horse, then swept his spear horizontally, the tip of which emitted a three-zhang-long spear light, cleaving the first rank of cavalry in two like a sharp sword.

Then, without touching the ground, the Third Young Master leaped into the air, throwing his spear, which transformed into a black lightning bolt that shot towards the Zhan brothers, Zhan Tianwang and Zhan Tianhu. It pierced through more than a dozen rebel cavalrymen like a string of candied hawthorns, finally stringing the bodies of three cavalrymen together, and carrying their corpses towards the Zhan brothers.

The Third Young Master, his feet seemingly stepping on thin air, followed closely behind the spearman like a celestial horse soaring through the sky, using the corpses of three cavalrymen as cover as he approached the Zhan brothers.

Zhan Tianwang had already drawn his bow and nocked an arrow, but the Third Young Master was blocked by the three corpses, making it impossible for his arrow to reach him. With a quick thought, Zhan Tianwang abruptly turned his iron arrow towards Qiu Ruomei, who was fiercely fighting with the cavalrymen, and released it at an opening. The iron arrow whistled through the air as it flew towards Qiu Ruomei.

Zhan Tianhu roared like a tiger, throwing his 750-pound iron hammer in his left hand, aiming it directly at the three corpses impaled by the spearman in mid-air.

Hearing the bowstring twang, the Third Young Master knew that Zhan Tianwang had released the arrow. Judging from the sound, he recognized that the arrow was aimed at Qiu Ruomei, so he quickly took out his folding fan, unfolded it, and casually threw it.

The folding fan was faster than the iron arrow, barely stopping it with a loud clang. The arrow was deflected, while the fan spun back into the Third Young Master's hand.

At the same time, Zhan Tianhu's iron hammer struck, smashing the three corpses into minced meat with a deafening roar.

The hammer's momentum continued, heading straight for the Third Young Master. The Third Young Master let out a clear whistle, slamming his palm down on the hammer. The massive hammer, the size of a water vat, shattered into countless iron fragments, which crashed into the infantry ranks, riddling them with holes like honeycomb.

Seeing the Third Young Master's incredible prowess, Zhan Tianhu was deeply shaken and, not daring to be careless, fired five arrows in quick succession at him.

The Third Young Master had now closed in on the two, less than ten feet away.

He casually tugged at his belt, grabbing the "Chaos Ribbon" in his hand. channeling his inner force, he bound the ribbon into a staff, the cloth into a sword. The two-zhang-long Chaos Ribbon straightened instantly, cleaving the five arrows in two like a sharp blade.

As he severed the five iron arrows, the Third Young Master closed the distance by five zhang. Zhan Tianhu roared and charged towards the Third Young Master, aiming a hammer blow at his chest.

The Third Young Master, gripping the Chaos Ribbon, thrust it straight at the massive hammer. With a soft hiss, the hammer was pierced through like tofu by the Chaos Ribbon. The Chaos Ribbon, still carrying momentum, pierced straight into Zhan Tianhu's chest, exiting through his body and leaving a trail of blood.

The Third Young Master swiftly withdrew the Chaos Ribbon, and Zhan Tianhu's massive body swayed twice before crashing to the ground. The cannibal had failed to devour its prey and lost its life instead.

Upon seeing his younger brother's death, Zhan Tianwang was consumed by rage, roaring, "Damn it, I'll take your life!"

He spurred his horse and charged towards the Third Young Master, his steel spear unleashing dozens of spear flowers the size of bowls, completely enveloping the Third Young Master's upper body.

The Third Young Master chuckled and said, "That's just battlefield skill. How can it compare to the second-best master in the world?"

With a casual flick of his wrist, Zhan Tianwang brandished the Hun Tian Ling (a magical ribbon), and the pure white ribbon unexpectedly unleashed a sword-like beam of light. After a smooth sweep, Zhan Tianwang's spear flourish vanished, and his warhorse passed by the Third Young Master.

Zhan Tianwang pulled on the reins, and with a whoosh, the horse's head was severed. The Third Young Master had already snapped the horse's neck with a single sword strike.

The horse crashed to the ground, and Zhan Tianwang, spear in hand, somersaulted off its back. Just as he landed, he felt a sudden sway, a loss of balance, and collapsed forward with a thud.

Zhan Tianwang cursed his bad luck, trying to push himself up, but he couldn't get to his feet. Looking back, he was terrified.

He hadn't actually fallen; his body, along with the horse's head, had been severed at the waist by the Third Young Master's sword. The Third Young Master's sword strike was so fast that he felt no pain whatsoever and was even able to use his movement technique. Only after landing did the force of the blow cause his upper body to detach from his lower body, causing him to collapse.

Blood instantly engulfed Zhan Tianwang, and endless pain surged from the severed body. Zhan Tianwang clutched his protruding intestines and howled wildly.

Without a word, the Third Young Master walked to Zhan Tianwang's severed body and severed his head with a single sword stroke, ending his suffering. Then he cut off Zhan Tianhu's head as well. Holding the two bloody heads, the Third Young Master leaped into the air, hovering in mid-air with a single breath of true energy, and roared, "The bandit leaders, the Zhan family brothers, have been beheaded! Their heads are here! Why don't you surrender immediately?"

The powerful roar almost swept through the entire Wuyun City. The rebel cavalry and infantry who were fiercely attacking Qiu Ruomei immediately stopped their attack and turned to look at the Third Young Master.

The Third Young Master hovered in the air, the blood-red sunset hanging above the city walls behind him. The crimson light of the sunset merged with the blood on the ground, making heaven and earth seem indistinguishable for a moment.

Within this blood-red world, on the dividing line, floated a demonic figure.

In one hand he held two glaring, grimacing heads, and in the other gripped a strange, two-zhang-long, hiltless sword.

He was covered in blood, his robes stained crimson, his face streaked with blood.

His long hair moved without wind, his graying temples the only contrast in this blood-red world.

His pupils were icy cold; though far away, almost everyone could see the reflection in them.

It was an endless blood-red plain, a thousand miles of frozen land where a raging sea of blood surged. In the gloomy, churning sky, blood-red lightning flashed. Atop the mountains, piled high with bones that pierced the clouds, a arrogant figure hovered in the air, his bloodied hands raised high, his long hair pointing skyward, laughing maniacally amidst the stench.

In that instant, the moment they saw his pupils clearly, all the rebels facing the Third Young Master lost their will to fight.

Infantry dropped their weapons, cavalrymen tumbled from their horses, and everyone trembled and knelt on the ground, kowtowing with utmost piety and humility, their heads pounding the earth with a resounding thud.

The Third Young Master, floating in the air, turned his head and slowly swept his gaze from left to right over the rebels still on the city wall, whose numbers had dwindled from 16,000 to only about 10,000.

Upon seeing this, the 10,000 rebels on the city wall also trembled and knelt down, desperately kowtowing to this godlike figure with fear.

Qiu Ruomei stared blankly at the Third Young Master in the air; in that instant, she felt that the Third Young Master was utterly unfamiliar.

She had never seen the Third Young Master like this before. She couldn't even be sure if the Third Young Master suspended in the air was truly her beloved.

She didn't notice that the baby in her arms had somehow removed the blindfold from its eyes and was now staring wide-eyed at its father in the air.

A sweet smile graced the baby's face, but a faint, mocking smile, like that of the Star River Sword Saint and the Third Young Master, bloomed at the corner of its mouth when murderous intent surged.

The tens of thousands on the city walls, the thousand-plus people on the streets where blood flowed like rivers and corpses piled up like mountains, and the commoners who, having heard the Third Young Master's roar, had mustered their courage to secretly open their doors to peek—nearly fifty thousand people simultaneously bowed in worship to the figure in the air…

We have waited for one hero after another,

to see who will ultimately succeed.

Whose sky has been stained red,

whose dream fulfilled,

all just to make millions bow?

※ ※ ※ ※

In Tianjing City, the dragon's roar, which had been raging for nearly an hour and a half, finally fell completely silent.

Completely baffled by the dragon's roar, Song Wu and the others breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from their brows and expressing their amazement.

"This world is finally quiet," Song Wu sighed, patting the Heavenly Seal that sealed the dragon's roar, and said, "Dragon's roar, you didn't want to see the tiger's roar, so why were you so agitated today? And why have you suddenly become quiet now? You, our old companion of decades, don't you trust me enough to tell me why?"

There was no movement within the Heavenly Seal, and the dragon's roar ceased, as quiet as if it had never been agitated at all.

"Phew..." Alone in her boudoir, Song Qing, who had been listening to the dragon's roar for half a day, patted her chest and finally let out a long sigh. "Sigh... that monster..." She shook her head, unwilling to recall anything about the dragon's roar. She changed her mind and muttered to herself, "That Qin San, I wonder when he will come to the capital to find me. Could it be that he is lying to me?"

~Chapter 4 A Dazzling Array of Flowers Section 1~

In a very secluded basement in the capital of the Great Qin Kingdom, Ximen Wudi, whose attire was always like a ghost, sat upright in a chair, listening attentively to the report from a demonic sect spy.

"Your Majesty, Qin Ren has returned to the martial world. In the battle of Wuyun City, he decisively defeated the 27,000-strong rebel army led by the former Black Wind Stronghold bandits Zhan Tianwang and Zhan Tianhu. Zhan Tianwang and Zhan Tianhu have been beheaded, and Wuyun City is now under the control of the Xiaoyao Manor. Furthermore, the entire Xiaoyao Manor has relocated. Apart from those remaining in Wuyun City, the rest have headed north. Their specific purpose is still under investigation!"

Maintaining his usual calm tone, Ximen Wudi spoke in his still ethereal voice, "Oh? Qin Ren isn't dead? You..." "Is it definitely Qin Ren who dismantled the rebel army?"

The spy, completely shrouded in black robes and his face covered with a black veil, as if afraid others wouldn't know he was a member of the Demonic Sect, knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice, "Yes, Your Majesty! Qin Ren's silhouette has spread throughout our sect's disciples. In the battle of Wuyun City, nearly half of our disciples who had infiltrated the rebel army were lost. The remaining disciples seized the opportunity to escape Wuyun City and brought back this news. Those disciples who returned from Wuyun City said that the person who dismantled the rebel army was definitely Qin Ren; his appearance hasn't changed at all, except for some white hair!"

"Many disciples saw Qin Ren with their own eyes? That must be Qin Ren!" Ximen Wudi's voice finally showed a hint of emotion, a mixture of excitement, joy, and relief, but he concealed it well, saying calmly, "How many helpers did Qin Ren bring? To disintegrate 27,000 men, Qin Ren must have brought at least a thousand experts, right?"

The scout hesitated for a moment, then said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, that Qin Ren... was alone."

"What?" Ximen Wudi's voice surged again, "Are you sure Qin Ren was alone? One person charging into an army of thousands and completely disintegrating them?"

The scout said, "I don't believe it either, but all the disciples who brought back news from Wuyun City said so. I suspect that only Your Majesty could single-handedly defeat an army of 27,000. Qin Ren is just a mere child, how could he possibly have such ability?"

Ximen Wudi pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "The 27,000 troops of the Great Qin, especially the Iron Army of the Northern Frontier who have fought against the barbarians for many years, I can only flee, not fight. I could use harassment tactics to annihilate them one by one, but that would take a very long time. As for the 27,000 rebels who are like chickens and dogs… I might be able to kill nearly half of them in one battle, but to completely annihilate them, I believe no one would be so foolish as to wait for me to kill them all. Halfway through the battle, most of them would surely flee. Therefore, even against the rebels, I can only disintegrate them, not annihilate them completely."

The scout said, "Your Majesty is humble, I admire you! According to the disciples who returned, Qin Ren did as Your Majesty said, first breaking their cavalry, then their archers, and then beheading the bandit leader, causing chaos in the bandit army's morale." The battle collapsed on its own. However, it is said that Qin Ren killed more than two thousand people in that battle.

Ximen Wudi nodded slightly: "Killing only more than two thousand people to disintegrate the rebel army, Qin Ren seems to be even more brilliant than I imagined! By the way, what martial arts is he using now? Is it still that Heaven-Covering Hand?"

The scout replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Qin Ren in this battle... seems not to have used any palm techniques. He first used a saber, which is said to have unleashed the same domineering saber technique that the Mad Thunder Saber God used at the martial arts tournament three years ago. Then he used a spear, and it is said that his spear technique is no less than any spear master of the world. Finally, he used a strange sword with a handle that is two zhang long, and that sword technique is extremely fierce. From beginning to end, Qin Ren did not use any palm techniques."

Ximen Wudi's voice was tinged with amusement as he said: "Oh? The Third Young Master of the Qin Family. " "Now you're proficient in all eighteen martial arts? You can even wield the Overlord Blade? Good, it's no wonder I valued him so highly! On the battlefield, especially in a battle involving thousands, long weapons with a wide killing range should be used more often. If I were to go into battle, I would choose a meteor hammer that's over ten zhang long. Hehe, if I swung it, no one within a radius of thirty zhang could get close. Good! Qin Ren, Qin Ren, you've finally returned alive! I thought you were dead, and I was heartbroken for a long time! Hmm, have you investigated Qin Ren's whereabouts?"

The scout said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Qin Ren also came heading north, and his specific purpose is unclear."

Ximen Wudi nodded, his fingers slowly tapping on the armrest of his chair, and slowly said, "The entire Xiaoyao Manor has relocated, and..." There are only two purposes. One is to go to Ironblood Howling Sky Fortress in Yan Province and join forces with Iron Sky Mountain to fight against our sect. The other is to come to the capital. Recently, Qin Feng bought a luxury mansion in the capital from a jewelry tycoon. Given Qin Feng's usual character, he shouldn't be so extravagant. Therefore, it's more likely that Xiaoyao Manor is coming to the capital. Now that Qin Feng and Qin Ni'er are both in the capital, Qin Ren should also be here. Since Xiaoyao Manor is in the capital, Ironblood Howling Sky Fortress won't remain silent. This is going to be interesting! Xiaoyao Manor, Ironblood Howling Sky Fortress, and even Dragon Roar Lord Song Wu have all come to the capital... It's truly a gathering of dragons and tigers! Good, I, Ximen Wudi, hate loneliness the most. Now, I'll take advantage of this excitement and have some fun! You may leave now and continue to investigate the news about Qin Ren and Xiaoyao Manor. Report back immediately if there's any information!

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The scout respectfully kowtowed three times to Ximen Wudi, his figure wriggled, and then disappeared into the darkness.

In the dimly lit chamber, Ximen Wudi sat quietly alone. He casually picked up a pot of fragrant tea from the table beside him, brought it to his lips, and gently sipped. The tea transformed into a shimmering stream, seeping into the True Strength Mask that concealed his true face and flowing into his mouth.

After drinking the tea, Ximen Wudi remained silent for a long while before suddenly saying, "Come in!"

A soft tinkling of hairpins and a fragrant breeze wafted into the chamber. A small doorway opened in the wall to Ximen Wudi's left, and an incomparably alluring woman gracefully entered.

She was dressed entirely in a dazzling crimson, her unadorned face like a mirage, impossible to discern clearly. Yet, despite this veil of mystery, the woman's beauty and allure reached an unbelievable level. The phrases "fish

sink and geese fall from the sky," "moon hides and flowers blush," were insufficient to describe her; "a beauty that could topple kingdoms" and "a femme fatale" might barely suffice.

The woman walked to Ximen Wudi's side, bowed gracefully to him, and spoke in a delicate, melodious voice, "Daughter greets Father."

Ximen Wudi's voice held a hint of amusement: "Why are you calling me Father again? Didn't I tell you not to call me Father when we're alone?"

The woman chuckled, "Your Majesty, it just comes naturally to me!"

Ximen Wudi laughed heartily, "I fear you call me Father for ulterior motives, don't you? Our sect's past Nine Yin Saintesses have all served as the sect leader's cultivation vessel, practicing supreme demonic arts. But you, the current Saintess, remain a virgin. You know I've never used force, nor do you willingly offer yourself to me. Having called me Father, even if I have feelings for you, I'm too embarrassed to lay a hand on you."

This woman was, of course, the Nine Yin Saintess of the Demonic Sect. She giggled and replied, "Father is a genius, a prodigy. He can master our sect's ultimate techniques without needing a furnace. What use is your daughter to you? Father will be the emperor in the future, able to take any woman in the world as he pleases. Why would you care about your daughter alone?"

Ximen Wudi laughed and said, "So many excuses. I'm afraid you still think about Qin Ren."

The Nine Yin Saintess's smile vanished, and she said with a hint of resentment, "Qin Ren has been dead for three years. What use is it for me to think about him? From childhood to adulthood, countless men have fallen at my feet. The only ones in the world who could remain unmoved in front of me are Father and Qin Ren." "My father is a remarkable man of great talent and ambition, but Qin Ren is nothing but a shameless lecherous scoundrel who doesn't even respect his daughter. Naturally, I hold a grudge… Unfortunately, I will never have the chance to conquer him in this lifetime."

Ximen Wudi smiled and said, "Does my daughter not know that Qin Ren is actually not dead?"

The Nine Yin Saintess gasped, her tone somewhat urgent, "Is this true?"

Ximen Wudi nodded, "My word is my bond. When have I ever lied? Qin Ren is not only not dead, but his power has greatly increased, reaching an unimaginable level in martial arts. Now Qin…" "Ren is on his way to the capital. You'll have a chance to see him soon. What, judging from your tone just now, you seemed overjoyed and impatient?"

The Nine Yin Saintess gave a coquettish reproach, saying, "Father, how can you tease your daughter like that? I'm just... I'm eager to conquer my greatest enemy in this life, you know that, Father."

Ximen Wudi laughed heartily, saying, "You're already nineteen this year, not too old, and you and Qin Ren are quite a match. But to conquer Qin Ren, body and soul, your virginity alone isn't enough!"

The Nine Yin Saintess said, "My daughter's..." "Your seductive arts have now reached a high level of mastery. I don't believe Qin Ren would be willing to leave me after he's had his way with me."

Ximen Wudi shook his head and said, "You underestimate a man with the Asura Demon Eye. He can simultaneously wield the Heavenly Dao and the Overlord Dao, walking precariously between the two without going astray. His heart must be as hard as steel. To put it bluntly, he's ruthless. A ruthless person's resistance to desire and temptation is also extremely astonishing. From what I've observed, Qin Ren has never loved a woman. It will be difficult for you to win Qin Ren's heart."

Ximen Wudi was unaware that the Third Young Master had indeed loved a woman. The scout's report was incomplete, not telling him why the Third Young Master clashed with the War King's rebel army. If Ximen Wudi knew that the Third Young Master drew his sword in anger for Qiu Ruomei and Qin Baobao, then Ximen Wudi might have changed his opinion of the Third Young Master.

Or to put it more bluntly, if Ximen Wudi knew that the Third Young Master had someone he loved, it would be easier for him to deal with him! Of course, whether Ximen Wudi would be willing to use the Third Young Master's woman to threaten him remains to be seen. Perhaps, to avoid loneliness, he deliberately complicates a simple matter?

After listening to Ximen Wudi's explanation, the Nine Yin Saintess remained silent for a long while before softly asking, "Then, in Father's opinion, what methods should I use?"

Ximen Wudi pondered, “You grew up in the Demonic Sect, accustomed to its dark tricks, and have never experienced true love in the world. If you want to win Qin Ren's heart, you must first give your own true heart. But how easy is it for you to give your true heart? Your love is lust, your desire is demonic lust. The means you use to make men submit are nothing more than your beauty and charm; you have never used a shred of true love. And those men who submit to you only think of your body, only of a night with you. How many of them will give you unwavering true love until death? Therefore, your first step is to understand what true love and true affection are, conquer your own heart, put down your arrogant and seductive attitude, and approach Qin Ren with the mindset of an ordinary woman. After a long time, perhaps you can make Qin Ren fall in love.”

The Nine Yin Saintess, confused and seemingly understanding, nodded. Nodding, she said, "How do you understand so many principles, Father? You once said that although you had countless women in your life, you had never had a lover. Why do you understand true love so well?"

Ximen Wudi chuckled, a hint of vicissitude in his voice, and said, "Masters are lonely... This principle applies to love as well."

The Nine Yin Saintess nodded as if suddenly enlightened, and said, "I understand. Father, your wisdom and martial arts are unparalleled in this world. No woman in the world is worthy of you. Is that why you have never had a lover?"

Ximen Wudi shook his head, not answering, and said, "Alright, let's leave it at that! Go and inform Gongzi Yu to prepare. Once Qin Ren arrives in the capital, we'll start cutting the deer of the Great Qin Empire from the head!"

The Nine Yin Saintess acknowledged and slowly withdrew from the secret chamber.

Only Ximen Wudi remained in the secret chamber. He sat silently for a long time, reached for the teapot to pour water, only to find it was already empty. Shaking his head somewhat helplessly, Ximen Wudi stood up, paced back and forth a few times with his hands behind his back, then walked to the wall, extended his index finger, and swiftly wrote on the granite wall.

Stone dust fell in a flurry. Ximen Wudi had just finished carving two characters when his hand suddenly trembled. He then sighed deeply, flicked his sleeve, and the two characters vanished without a trace.

The secret room fell silent again.

※ ※ ※ ※

“Sister Mei, don’t you think this horse is a little pitiful? It’s carried us for nearly a thousand miles.”

“Yes, it’s so pitiful. It’s carried you, me, and the baby, and we’ve traveled so far without us even realizing it. Look, it’s gotten so thin from exhaustion. What should we do?”

“Uh… I have a very good suggestion…”

The Third Young Master, holding the reins of the black horse, walked on foot with a sigh. Qiu Ruomei, holding the baby, sat on the horse’s back, both of them smiling at the Third Young Master.

“Sister Mei, what I mean is we can buy another horse. I have plenty of money on me anyway. Why did you have to kick me off? Look, I've already walked over two hundred li, and I've worn through two pairs of shoes. Please, have mercy and let me ride on for a while!”

Qiu Ruomei said with a smile, “Aren, didn't you say the horse was pitiful? If you buy a horse, you'll still have to ride on its back and travel under the sun; it will be just as tiring.”

“But Sister Mei, the horse you're riding now is also traveling under the sun; it's just as pitiful!”

"It's willing. She's a mare, you didn't realize? She might have been a mother herself, she knows the hardships of motherhood, so carrying me and the baby is her own choice. As for you, the father who hasn't fulfilled any responsibility since the baby was born, she won't pay any attention to you. Who told you to stay out of sight for three years?"

The Third Young Master muttered, "Who was it that refused to come back to Xiaoyao Manor with me back then, insisting on wandering the world alone?"

Qiu Ruomei smiled brightly, "Yes, some people were surrounded by beauties back then, too busy to keep up. I left voluntarily to create more time and space for them to be with the beauties. Now, look what's happened, someone's turning around and biting the hand that feeds them..."

The Third Young Master rolled his eyes completely: "Sister Mei... when did you become so talkative?"

Qiu Ruomei chuckled. “I learned it from you! I learned it when I was talking to you. When I was teaching the baby to speak, I unconsciously used your tone…”

Third Young Master immediately protested, “Sister Mei, how can you use my tone to teach the baby? Be careful not to corrupt the child!”

Qiu Ruomei smiled and said, “How could the baby be like you? The baby is the most obedient and well-behaved child in the world. When the baby grows up, he will be the number one hero in the world. He will never be like you, doing nothing but being a flower thief!”

The baby giggled and nodded vigorously: “The most handsome dad is a bad guy! The baby will be a hero and fight bad guys!”

Third Young Master looked up at the sky with a face full of grief and indignation and cried out, “Heavens! Please let me go! The baby did nothing but be a hero… Heavens, do I still want to live? Father and son killing each other…”

Qin Baobao… was Third Young Master’s most upright son.

※ ※ ※ ※

“Oh, we’ve arrived in the capital!” Third Young Master shaded his eyes with his hand and looked at the tall and solemn city walls of Tianjing City in front of him.

“You’ve never been to the capital before?” Qiu Ruomei asked.

The third young master said somewhat embarrassedly, "Uh, I don't have time, I'm busy..."

"Oh, so you're just an ignorant country bumpkin." Qiu Ruomei said proudly, "Sister Mei has been to the capital three times, I know the place very well. It's alright, if you don't know the way, I'll guide you, you won't get lost! Alright, stop looking, let's go into the city! Prepare some loose silver, the city gate tax in the capital is very high."

"By the way, Sister Mei, there's a question I've always wanted to ask you."

"What?"

"That scar on your stomach, did you sew it up yourself with the 'Flawless Needle Technique'?"

"Ah, you're asking for it! Take this!"

"I'm beating you, help! You're trying to murder your husband..."

~Chapter Four: A Dazzling Display of Talent, Section Two~

In the capital city of Tianjing, on Zhuque Street, while lunch was still being prepared at the Song residence, the gatekeeper Song Jiang shakily trotted into Song Wu's study and respectfully said, "Master, there's a young man outside who specifically requests to see you."

Song Wu put down his book and looked at Song Jiang, saying, "A young man? He wants to see me? Is he from some official family in the capital? Or some young official? Where's his visiting card?"

Song Jiang replied, "Master, I don't know that young man. I've been stationed in the capital for so many years and have seen many officials, but I've never seen this young man before. As for his visiting card, I don't have one."

Song Wu pondered, "Could he be a friend from the Jianghu? Did he give his name?"

Song Jiang said, "The young man only said that you'll know once you see him, Master. When I asked his name, he just smiled and didn't answer."

Song Wu shook his head, saying, "That's where you're wrong. Why did you come to inform me before even asking his name and background? Although my Duke's mansion doesn't discriminate between guests like some princes and nobles, it's still rather rash of me, Song Wu, to personally receive someone of unknown origin."

Song Jiang hurriedly said, "That's what I meant too, but the young man insisted that he was acquainted with you, sir, but the situation was delicate, and he didn't want to tell me. He also said that his visit was of great significance, and if I didn't inform him, I would be in a difficult position to bear the consequences."

Song Wu laughed and said, "Song Jiang, Song Jiang, you've been in the capital for so many years, and you actually believe these kinds of bluffing tricks?"

Song Jiang said somewhat embarrassedly, "I initially thought he was bluffing, but... but he only gave me a light push, his hand hadn't even touched me, and I was inexplicably taken from the gate to the courtyard..."

Song Wu's expression turned serious. "Oh? You know kung fu? So, he threatened you with force, forcing you to come and inform me?"

Song Jiang nodded in shame, not daring to reply.

Song Wu stood up and said, "Knowing my name, Song Wu, yet daring to display his kung fu in front of the Song residence, he must be quite arrogant. Very well, no need to invite him to the study. If he really is here to cause trouble, it wouldn't be worth damaging my study. I'll go out myself and see which martial arts family's scion is so bold!"

Song Wu went first, followed by Song Jiang, and the two left the study, heading straight for the front gate. As a Duke, Song Wu's residence was naturally very large. It took them about half a cup of tea's time to walk from the study to the front courtyard.

The front gate was ajar. Song Wu, with his exceptional eyesight, saw through the crack in the door that a figure was sitting casually on the steps outside, seemingly leisurely fanning himself with a folding fan.

"Sitting on the ground while waiting for his master? Absolutely no manners!" Even before meeting him, Song Wu already harbored a prejudice against the man.

Reaching the door, Song Jiang rushed forward, pushing open the door and standing respectfully to the side.

Song Wu strode across the threshold, coughed twice, and before he could speak, the young man, who had been sitting on the steps with his back to him, wearing a sapphire blue robe, turned around and smiled brightly at him, saying, "Lord Longyin, it's been two months. How have you been?"

Song Wu was taken aback. He saw that the young man was handsome and dashing, a classic example of a refined gentleman, but he couldn't recall his appearance anywhere in his memory. Yet, the young man's tone was incredibly warm and familiar, as if they were truly acquainted.

As Song Wu was pondering, the young man stood up, closed his folding fan, tucked it into his collar, straightened his clothes, winked at him, and smiled, "Has Lord Longyin forgotten me? Does Lord Longyin still remember that ten thousand taels of silver?"

Song Wu felt a vague familiarity with the young man's features, and the unusually graying temples seemed vaguely familiar. Hearing the young man's words, Song Wu suddenly remembered.

Damn it, two months! Wasn't I on my way from Lingnan to the capital two months ago?

This kid, isn't he the savage thief who pretended to be hit by a carriage and extorted ten thousand taels of silver from me?

Song Wu feigned surprise, "So it's you! Good, you've finally come to the capital!"

This young man was naturally the Third Young Master.

After the Third Young Master and Qiu Ruomei entered the capital and settled into an inn, the Third Young Master began inquiring about the residence of Lord Longyin, Song Wu.

Just how famous was Lord Longyin? Although he always kept a low profile, news of his return to the capital spread quickly.

The Third Young Master casually inquired with a few people and learned of Song Wu's residence. He had Qiu Ruomei help him dress up and then came to the Song residence alone.

Qiu Ruomei and Bao Bao naturally stayed at the inn; no one had ever heard of someone taking their wife and child out to pick up girls.

Seeing Song Wu's delighted expression, the Third Young Master chuckled and said, "Isn't it me? Lord Longyin has finally remembered me. I didn't expect you to be such a sentimental person. We've only met once, yet you're so overjoyed to see me. You must have missed me dearly these past few days."

If we're talking about shamelessness, the Third Young Master is second to none in the world.

Song Wu laughed heartily, patting the Third Young Master's shoulder forcefully, and exclaimed, "Well done! I never expected you to have a clean-shaven beard and a trimmed haircut. You look so dashing, quite like I was in my youth! Seeing you, I'm naturally overjoyed. I was just worried about being extorted for ten thousand taels of silver. Even if I reported it to the authorities, they couldn't catch a wild man with an unclear appearance! And now, you've delivered yourself to my doorstep! Come, come with me to the authorities. Honestly confess your actions, and perhaps your punishment will be reduced..." "Gently!"

The Third Young Master's smile froze instantly. "Lord Longyin, are you kidding me? A mere ten thousand taels of silver, and you're going to report me to the authorities?"

Lord Longyin's face darkened. "That day, I was in a hurry to get on my way and didn't have time to argue with you. Besides, I disdained to deal with petty thieves who extort money, so I let you go. Ten thousand taels of silver isn't much, but the fact that you successfully extorted it has always bothered me. Enough said, come with me to the government office to confess your crimes!"

Lord Longyin looked indignant and forcefully pushed the Third Young Master towards the door.

The Third Young Master shouted, "Wait, wait, wait! Lord Longyin, what do you mean by this? I've traveled all the way to the capital, not to be humiliated like this. It's just ten thousand taels of silver! I'll return it to you right now!"

Song Wu remained unmoved and said in a deep voice, "I'll cut off your head and then say I'll return it to you, is that acceptable?"

The Third Young Master shouted, "Beheading and extortion are completely different things! Don't try to argue! Oh, I understand! I understand!" As he spoke, the Third Young Master pointed his finger sharply at Song Wu: "You're afraid I'll take your daughter away! You just don't want your daughter to be with me! You..." "How insidious, how vicious your intentions!"

Song Wu chuckled and said, "I'm not afraid of being seen through! My Qing'er is a lady from a respectable family. Even if she has feelings for you, so what? What use is a blackmailer, no matter how handsome he is?"

The Third Young Master said seriously, "I'm warning you, don't talk about me like that again! I blackmailed you because I had no choice, it was for survival! I have a legitimate profession! I have status and background! We may be familiar, but if you talk nonsense again, I will sue you for defamation!"

Lord Longyin remained unmoved: "Although I have been away from the capital for a long time, I don't have many close relationships in the court and among the common people." "You are an official, but I am a lifelong friend of His Majesty, and all officials will give me some face! If it comes to suing an official, you will never win against me! Enough nonsense, if you don't want to spend a few days in jail, then leave now and never come to my Song residence again!"

The Third Young Master said angrily, "Old Song, can you make decisions for your daughter? She will marry no one but me in this life. If you drive me away and ruin Qing'er's life, I'd like to see how you, as her father, explain yourself!" A sharp glint flashed in Song Wu's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "I have my own way of handling my daughter's affairs, and you don't need to interfere!" The Third Young Master sneered, "Lord Longyin, I think you...

"

"You're a sensible man, aren't you? How much do you know about Qing'er's affairs?"

Song Wu sneered. "You little thief, I am Qing'er's biological father. I've watched her grow up since she was a child. If we're talking about understanding Qing'er, who in the world can compare to me?"

The Third Young Master shook his head and said, "You know everything?"

Song Wu said decisively, "Of course I know everything!"

The Third Young Master said, "Then let me ask you, are you clear about Qing'er's physical condition?"

Song Wu's face turned cold, his beard and hair stood on end, and he said in a deep voice, "Don't talk nonsense! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

The Third Young Master could tell from Song Wu's expression that he had a considerable understanding of Song Qing's situation.

The Third Young Master shook his head and smiled, saying, "Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, I think you know best, so I don't need to say more. Life should be like a summer flower, blooming brilliantly for a fleeting moment. The starry sky is infinite, and the ancient, unchanging stars, though ancient, are mundane. But the fleeting shooting star has its moment of brilliance. Everyone hopes to leave behind enough unforgettable memories when their life is about to end!"

Song Wu pondered carefully, feeling that every word the Third Young Master spoke contained profound philosophy. Song Wu was an exceptionally intelligent person, so he naturally understood the meaning. After hearing the Third Young Master's words, his opinion of him changed drastically.

With a long sigh, Song Wu said, "How do you know that Qing'er has little left in her life? Could it be that you also saw that she suffers from the Three Yin Meridians? But you don't seem to know martial arts, appearing no different from an ordinary person. Could it be that you are an expert in medicine?"

At this moment, the Third Young Master was in perfect harmony with nature, and even someone as powerful as Song Wu couldn't see through his disguise. After meeting the Third Young Master, and recalling Song Jiang's description of his skills, Song Wu naturally dismissed the Third Young Master's techniques as mere illusions.

The Third Young Master's mind raced; the Three Yin Meridians were severed? He'd never heard of such a thing before; it must be some kind of incurable disease, one that Song Wu had already discovered. Even with Song Wu's abilities, he was helpless against this ailment. It was estimated that the medical standards of the Qin Empire at that time were incurable for Song Qing. Thus, it seemed that Song Qing's major hurdle at twenty was indeed predetermined.

"Lord Longyin, please understand. I... well... I know nothing about medicine, but I do have some skill in martial arts. Using martial arts to understand medicine, with keen observation, I naturally discovered Qing'er's physical condition. If Qing'er weren't in this state, do you think I would have traveled all the way to the capital to walk into your trap after swindling ten thousand taels of silver?" The Third Young Master made up an excuse to evade the question. He couldn't very well tell Song Wu that Song Qing herself already knew she didn't have many years left to live, could he?

This father and daughter were both desperately hiding what they knew from each other, just to avoid hurting each other. Their deep affection even moved the heartless Third Young Master.

Song Wu circled the Third Young Master a few times, sizing him up, then shook his head and said, "You brat, you're spouting nonsense. You clearly know nothing of martial arts, at most a few illusions, yet you claim to have some expertise in martial arts. Are you trying to fool this old man with your failing eyesight?"

The Third Young Master chuckled and said, "Hasn't Lord Longyin heard of the concept of the unity of heaven and man?"

Lord Longyin's eyes lit up, "The unity of heaven and man? Impossible! Legend has it that since ancient times, only the former dynasty's priest Taigong Wang and the former dynasty's founding monarch, King Wu, Ji Xuanyuan, have reached the state of the unity of heaven and man. How could you, at such a young age, possibly possess such a level? Young man, one should be down-to-earth; boasting is not good."

The Third Young Master smiled without answering, palm facing down, back of hand facing up, and slowly raised his hand.

As the Third Young Master raised his hand, the surrounding air became chaotic, splitting into seven streams that surged wildly towards the Third Young Master's palm. Seven miniature whirlwinds formed around the Third Young Master, swirling and howling, enveloping him completely.

At that moment, Song Wu felt an utterly absurd sensation.

He felt that the Third Young Master's raised hand wasn't a hand at all, but a mountain. A mountain rising abruptly from the ground, possessing boundless majesty and an immeasurable height. The mountain exuded a heavy, oppressive aura, forcing him to look up in awe. The

raising of the hand was like the mountain rising from the ground itself.

The whirlwinds surrounding the Third Young Master were like a powerful wind completely encircling that mountain, seemingly sucking away all the air, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"Overpowering Heaven and Earth!" This thought suddenly occurred to Song Wu. "This little thief's martial arts are unfathomable; he has indeed reached the realm of oneness with Heaven and Man, his power enough to overpower Heaven and Earth! This… how is this possible? How old is he? How could he possess such cultivation?" Before

Song Wu's astonishment could subside, a high-pitched, resounding dragon's roar, like the clang of metal, suddenly rang out. The magnificent, yet somewhat cruel and violent dragon roar surged forth from the backyard like waves, shaking the entire Song mansion!

"Damn it!" Song Wu exclaimed in alarm, "The dragon roar is agitated again! We can't let it break free!"

Just as he was about to rush into the Song mansion, he turned to look at the Third Young Master, only to see him looking as if facing a formidable enemy, his expression extremely solemn, and his previously slightly raised "momentum" now increasing wildly!

~Chapter Four: A

Dazzling Display of Power, Sections Three and Four~ Another surging dragon roar resounded, this time shocking not only the Song mansion but the entire Vermilion Bird Street.

Many noble families' households rushed outside, eager to see what was happening.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Guards patrolling Vermilion Bird Street rushed towards the source of the roar. To them, the roar sounded like that of an extremely ferocious beast. If such a beast were to be unleashed and injure people in Vermilion Bird Street, the high-ranking officials and nobles residing there would be a responsibility they couldn't afford!

Song Wu, hearing the dragon's roar grow even more violent, no longer cared about the Third Young Master's alarmed state and swiftly fled towards the backyard.

To prevent the dragon's sudden agitation, the Five Friends of Lingnan resided in the backyard, ready to assist Tianyin in suppressing it at any time. However, Song Wu knew that the dragon was inherently arrogant, and without his intervention to appease it, the Five Friends of Lingnan's brute force would be utterly ineffective in subduing it!

But even with Song Wu's speed maximized, it was still too late. As Song Wuru swept into the backyard like a whirlwind, a golden light pierced through the roof of the armory, soaring into the sky and shooting towards the front yard like a meteor.

Only now did Song Wufang have the leisure to ponder: "Why is Longyin so violent? And why did it roar only after Qin San gathered his energy? Could it be that Longyin's actions were entirely aimed at Qin San? But who is Qin San? Why would he provoke Longyin like this?"

Thinking this, Song Wufang turned sharply and rushed towards the front courtyard. The Five Friends of Lingnan in the armory also rushed out. Qi Yunshan, carrying the "Heavenly Seal" sealing Longyin under his arm, shouted as he ran, "Old Song, Longyin seems to have gone mad today! The five of us can't subdue it at all!"

Song Wufang didn't turn back, shouting, "The situation is bad! We must hurry to where Longyin is and try to contain it, preventing it from harming innocents!" Meanwhile,

the Third Young Master, standing before the front gate, felt an aura containing boundless majesty, yet also carrying a hint of ferocity and violence, approaching him along with the roar, ever since he demonstrated his martial arts to Song Wu.

The Third Young Master was completely bewildered, having no idea who he had offended. But that aura was unlike anything the Third Young Master had ever seen before—so majestic, like a domineering overlord surveying all living beings, challenging him!

The Third Young Master, never one to submit to others, grew stronger with each challenge. Seeing that aura so openly challenging him, his innate arrogance and ferocity were instantly ignited. In a flash, he raised his power to twelve percent, then leaped into the air, clearing the Song family compound wall. Just as

the Third Young Master cleared the wall, he saw an incomparably brilliant golden light shoot down from the sky. In a daze, the Third Young Master felt that the golden light resembled a five-clawed golden dragon with sword-like whiskers, knife-like teeth, copper bell-like eyes, and strange spear-like horns, baring its fangs and claws as it pounced towards him.

"Damn it, I never thought there really were dragons in the world!" The Third Young Master, startled, suddenly felt invigorated and laughed loudly, "You are a dragon, then I will subdue you! Behold my 'Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms'!" He casually struck out with a palm, but it wasn't any of the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms."

Clearly, the Third Young Master didn't know the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms"!

The golden dragon suddenly let out a rather human-like cold snort, its large, copper-bell-sized eyes glaring at the Third Young Master. Two beams of golden light shot out from its eyes, piercing through the Third Young Master's body without any hindrance!

The Third Young Master was instantly struck as if by lightning, his body abruptly suspended in mid-air, his limbs numb and unable to control himself. He simply couldn't unleash that palm strike no matter what!

The five-clawed golden dragon swiftly flew to the Third Young Master's side, circling his body for a moment. Then, its massive dragon head approached the Third Young Master, its long, narrow, horse-like face facing him, its almost tangible gaze fixed on the Third Young Master's eyes.

The moment the Third Young Master met the golden dragon's gaze, a majestic voice suddenly slammed into his mind: "Boy, do you want to be king?"

The Third Young Master was startled, instinctively replying in his mind, "None of your business!"

The golden dragon roared, "Boy, show some respect! I am the Heavenly Soldier Dragon Roar!"

The Third Young Master rolled his eyes: "I don't care if you're a Heavenly Soldier Dragon Roar or a mere shrimp! What gives you the right to be so arrogant with me?"

The golden dragon laughed heartily, its laughter surprisingly human-like, though clearly carrying a metallic, scraping sound: "Boy, quite arrogant! Fine, I like it! I'll ask you one more time, do you want to be king?"

The Third Young Master chuckled, "Rebellion is a capital offense punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. Don't take me for being ignorant of the law. If I tell you, and you go and inform on me, wouldn't I become an enemy of the state? Let me tell you, even if I really wanted to rebel, I wouldn't openly shout it out in the capital!"

The Golden Dragon roared, "Stop making excuses! As a celestial soldier created by the gods, I have been subservient to Tiger Roar since the previous dynasty. He is the ruler, and I am the subject! It's not that I don't want to be the ruler, but that I have never met a wise one! And you possess the Asura Demon Eye, which is inherently fierce with me..." The nature of evil is extremely compatible. If I fight side by side with you, my strength can be maximized, and I can also help you to dominate the world!

The Third Young Master sighed helplessly: "I've never seen a guy like you before. The five-clawed golden dragon represents the king. I didn't expect you to force me to rebel!" "

The golden dragon said: "Don't talk nonsense, you are a superstar destined to be in troubled times. Although success or failure is not determined by fate, you still have a part in singing a swan song that shocks the troubled times! "

While speaking, the big head of the golden dragon suddenly opened its huge mouth and bit it towards the third young master. The third young master could not move at this time. He watched the golden dragon's huge mouth swallow it down and screamed in his heart: "I'm sorry, isn't this going back on your promise? Just now you were talking about helping me to rebel, now you are going to eat me, mother! I never imagined that there is a more despicable and shameless person in the world than this young master! "

But the reality was not as the Third Young Master expected. Although the golden dragon's huge mouth was aimed at the Third Young Master and swallowed it in one gulp, it passed through the Third Young Master's body like a non-existent phantom. As the massive body of the golden dragon passed through the Third Young Master, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. In a daze, the dragon's voice reverberated in his mind: "I have swallowed nine drops of your heart's blood. From this day forward, our hearts are linked. I will obey no one but you!"

The dragon's roar faded as the dragon completely pierced through the Third Young Master's body.

The dialogue between the Third Young Master and the dragon seemed long, but in reality, it lasted only a fleeting moment.

Song Wu and the Five Friends of Lingnan knew this best.

As the Third Young Master soared into the air, Song Wu and the Five Friends of Lingnan rushed to the front courtyard. They saw the Third Young Master strike down with his palm towards the golden light, pausing only briefly in mid-air before continuing.

The golden light, however, seemed to have no pause, piercing straight through the Third Young Master's chest. Then, another dragon's roar rang out, and the golden light hurtled towards the "Heavenly Seal" in Qi Yunshan's hand. The Third Young Master swayed twice in the air, as if suddenly losing all his strength, and plummeted straight down.

The five-clawed golden dragon never existed; it was all merely a hallucination of the Third Young Master. The dialogue between the golden dragon and the Third Young Master took place only within his consciousness, unknown to anyone else.

In fact, the image of the golden dragon, "Dragon's Roar," has only ever been seen by the Third Young Master throughout history. Its two previous owners, the former dynasty's priest Taigong Wang and the Dragon Roar Saint General Song Wu, never witnessed the complete form of "Dragon's Roar"!

This, of course, is because the Third Young Master possesses the Asura Demon Eye!

Meanwhile, the golden light rushed towards the Heavenly Seal. Qi Yunshan hurriedly opened the Heavenly Seal to welcome the golden light. After the golden light entered the Heavenly Seal, it closed on its own, and the Dragon's Roar ceased its agitation.

The Third Young Master, however, was ignored by everyone, left to fall to the ground with a loud thud.

Qi Yunshan returned the Dragon's Roar to Song Wu, who held the box, surrounded by the Five Friends of Lingnan, discussing amongst themselves. The discussion among Song Wu and the others was, of course, about why Long Yin had inexplicably become enraged and why he had now quieted down. Everyone, whether intentionally or unintentionally, seemed to have completely ignored the Third Young Master's presence.

At this moment, a squad of Imperial Guards rushed to the Song residence. A junior officer stood at the gate and shouted, "Duke Song, is the residence safe? We just heard a ferocious beast roaring in Zhuque Street. We don't know what kind of beast has entered Zhuque Street, but we have come specifically to capture it!"

Song Wu, too lazy to deal with the Imperial Guards who were always a step too late, gave Song Jiang a wink, signaling him to go out and handle the situation.

Song Jiang had been quite frightened by Long Yin's roar and was still trembling all over. Trembling, he walked to the door, forcing himself to calm down. He coughed and said to the junior officer of the Imperial Guard, "Sir, you are very kind. However, my master is the greatest general in the land, more ferocious than any beast. No matter what kind of beast it is, it will detour around our Duke's mansion. You should check with other nobles instead!"

The junior officer bowed and scraped, saying, "You are right. The Duke's reputation is unparalleled, and he is more ferocious than a tiger. I was overthinking it." After taking his leave, the junior officer led the Imperial Guard away in haste to search for the non-existent beast.

Meanwhile, Song Wu and the others, leaving the Third Young Master aside, discussed amongst themselves as they walked towards the backyard. As they were leaving the front yard, Song Wu finally remembered the Third Young Master and turned back to instruct Song Jiang, "Get a few men to dig a hole and bury this brat."

The Third Young Master, who had just woken up, jumped up as if nothing had happened upon hearing Song Wu's words, pointing at Song Wu and shouting, "Old man Song, you have no conscience! The monster you kept was running around everywhere, about to hurt someone! It was only thanks to my selfless act that I stopped it, saving you from disaster! And you, you ignore me completely, and even want to..." " Young Master, I'll bury you alive! I'll take this to the imperial court! The imperial court!"

Song Wu turned to look at the Third Young Master, whose face was patchy with gray and white, and whose hair was still covered with bits of grass. He chuckled and said, "So you're still alive! I thought Long Yin had already killed you! Alright, I, Song Wu, thank you for this. We have other matters to attend to, so we won't keep you any longer. Please make yourself at home!"

Song Wu had initially suspected that Long Yin's rage was related to the Third Young Master, but he was unaware of the communication between them. Moreover, he had personally witnessed Long Yin seemingly passing through the Third Young Master's body, yet the Third Young Master showed no signs of injury. This indicated that Long Yin hadn't broken the seal to kill the Third Young Master. In Song Wu's opinion, Long Yin's actions might truly be a coincidence, and it was thanks to the Third Young Master's interception that Long Yin was brought back.

Of course, there was no need to reward the Third Young Master with anything. Song Wu now only hoped that the Third Young Master would leave as soon as possible, to avoid causing trouble for his precious daughter.

However, Song Wu had clearly underestimated the Third Young Master's shamelessness.

Seeing that Song Wu had subtly dismissed him, the Third Young Master didn't reply. He wiped the dust and grass from his face, stretched his neck, and took a deep breath, exclaiming, "Wow, it smells so good!"

He looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was already high in the sky. He immediately smiled broadly and said, "It's lunchtime before I knew it. I suppose lunch at the Longyin Mansion is ready. I can tell what's going on just by the smell. The food at the Longyin Mansion is quite sumptuous! Could it be that the Longyin Lord has the ability to foresee the future and knew that I would be visiting, so he specially prepared a sumptuous lunch to entertain me? Why bother? There's no need to be so polite. Although I've been pampered and spoiled since childhood, I've still lived as a wild man for three years. Simple food is fine with me, hehehe..."

The Third Young Master laughed as he followed closely behind Song Wu and the others.

Song Wu whirled around, coldly saying, "Young Master Qin, a person should know their own limitations. I've already made myself very clear. Do you really want me to be even more blunt and ruin our harmony?"

The Third Young Master exclaimed in surprise, "Eh? What makes you say that, Lord Longyin? I've always been very self-aware! I knew Lord Longyin was going to host a banquet for me, so I came without being invited!"

Song Wu felt a sudden dizziness, gritted his teeth, and roared, "Longyin, release the seal!" He reached out and pressed the mechanism on the Heavenly Seal.

Qi Yunshan and the others hurriedly pulled Song Wu back, urging, "Old Song, that's enough! Is a mere child worth getting so angry about? Why use Longyin? You just want to drive him away, right? We brothers can handle it ourselves. Why make it a bloodbath?"

Song Wu struggled incessantly: "Let me go! Let me go! Ever since I first saw this kid, I've never had a moment's peace! Damn it, this kid is a thorn in my side, a nail in my eye! I'll kill him as soon as possible! Let me go!"

Seeing Song Wu and the Five Friends of Lingnan in a chaotic mess, the Third Young Master calmly straightened his clothes, took out a folding fan, and began fanning himself, kindly reminding them: "Gentlemen, please be gentle and careful. Master Longyin is old, don't let him hurt his back..."

Chapter Four: A Dazzling Display of Talents Section Four:

The Third Young Master was known for his sharp tongue, capable of infuriating people to death, and he was also highly skilled in the art of jinxing.

As soon as he finished speaking, a crisp "crack" was heard, Song Wu's face turned ashen, and the Five Friends of Lingnan released their grip.

Song Wu, his left hand on his waist and his right hand on Qi Yunshan's shoulder, gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his cheeks, and sweat pouring down his forehead. Long Yin Gong stared intently at the Third Young Master, his eyes seemingly spitting fire. The Five Friends of Lingnan also turned their heads, looking at the Third Young Master with faces full of grief and indignation.

The Third Young Master shook his head, sighed deeply, and said, "Why bother? Why suffer? I already told you, such strenuous exercise without practicing internal energy is easy to strain your back."

"You... fine..." Song Wu trembled, pointing his right hand fiercely at the Third Young Master, his expression suddenly changing again. He quickly put his outstretched hand back on Qi Yunshan's shoulder, "Quick... quick, help me to the pharmacy to apply liniment. Old Jin, Old Lian, you two, kick this kid out!"

Jin Guixian and Lian Xinyu responded with a "yes," rolled up their sleeves, and walked towards the Third Young Master.

The Third Young Master exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? We were talking so well just now, why are you trying to kick me out now? It's not my fault you hurt your back, it's not like I caused it, why are you kicking me out? You two elders, can't you be reasonable? Don't ruin the harmony! Hey, hey, I'm still your young lady's good friend, can't you give me some face?"

Ignoring the Third Young Master's shouts, Jin Guixian and Lian Xinyu each grabbed one of his arms and dragged him out.
The Third Young Master was unwilling to use force against Song Wu and his friend, so he had no choice but to let the two of them carry him out. Just as the Third Young Master was being carried out of the gate, a soft, melodious voice suddenly rang out, "Uncles, please hold on!"

Upon hearing this, the Third Young Master burst into laughter, "Hahaha... Heaven never closes all doors! Qing'er, you've finally appeared just in time!" As he spoke, he looked in the direction of Song Qing's voice and saw Song Qing, dressed simply and without makeup, standing gracefully by a corridor in the front courtyard, her hand resting on a pillar, her eyes, like autumn water, fixed intently on him.

Jin Guixian and Lian Xinyu exchanged a glance, then looked at Song Wu. Seeing that even his daughter had been disturbed, Song Wu knew he truly couldn't get rid of the Third Young Master today. He sighed and said, "Alright, Old Jin, Old Lian, put him down. Ah, Young Master Qin, lunch is ready at the pharmacy, please stay and eat!"

With that, Song Wu, supported by Qi Yunshan and the others, headed towards the pharmacy. Jin Guixian and Lian Xinyu reluctantly put the Third Young Master down and chased after Song Wu and the others.

Only then did Song Qing notice Song Wu's unusual gait and hurried over to him, saying, "Father, what's wrong? Why do you need your uncles' help to walk?"

Song Wu shook his head and said, "It's nothing, just a sprained back. Don't worry about me, you should go and attend to Qin San!"

Song Qing walked to Song Wu's side, grabbed his sleeve, and complained, "Father, why are you so careless with yourself? A sprained back isn't serious, but you probably won't be able to move freely for half a month. Why do this?"

Song Wu chuckled and said, "Why half a month? Your father is strong and healthy, with profound skills. He'll be fully recovered in three days at most." As he spoke, he glanced at the Third Young Master and said, "Qing'er, there are some things you must..." "I've got it figured out. Your father has spoiled you since you were little, indulging you in everything. He trusts your judgment and ability, and hopes you won't misjudge this time."

Song Qing blushed and said coquettishly, "Father, what are you saying? I'm not... I'm not... well, I'm just an ordinary friend of Young Master Qin."

Song Wu shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Would an ordinary friend travel all the way from the south to the capital just to find you? Qing'er, don't think your old man is senile!"

Song Qing persisted, grabbing Song Wu's sleeve and shaking it vigorously. Song Wu shouted, "Stop shaking me! If you keep shaking me, my old bones will fall apart! Old Qi, let's get out of here!"

Qi Yunshan and the others suppressed their laughter, quickened their pace, and dragged Song Wu away in a flash.

Song Qing watched her father and the others flee in disarray, and couldn't help but cover her mouth and smile. Then she looked at the Third Young Master, and two blushes appeared on her slightly pale face.

She walked gracefully towards the Third Young Master, her bright eyes gazing intently at him, a surge of emotion welling up within her.

Having been in the capital for so long, she had yet to receive any from him, and she had begun to lose faith in his promises. Now, however, he had reappeared before her, having indeed come all the way to the capital, filling her with a mixture of joy and surprise.

The Third Young Master's appearance had also undergone a dramatic transformation.

The last time they met, he was like a wild man, unkempt and with an unpleasant odor. But today, he was impeccably dressed, his long hair neatly combed, his graying temples adding a touch of mature wisdom.

His looks were undeniable; the phrase "handsome beyond compare" was no exaggeration. His eyes were as warm as the spring sunshine, and the lazy smile on his lips made one feel instantly at ease.

In terms of feelings, Song Qing couldn't say she had any deep connection with this man she had only met once; as she had said, they were merely ordinary friends.

Although Song Qing lived in the Qin Empire, her mindset was that of someone from the 21st century on Earth. She naturally knew that in her time, the world was too realistic, emotions too unreliable, and love at first sight was merely fiction.

The reason she missed the Third Young Master was because he shared similar experiences and a similar life with her. In this world, if we were to talk about true confidants, perhaps only the Third Young Master could truly be her confidant.

The Third Young Master looked at Song Qing and smiled, "I've come."

Song Qing nodded, smiling gently, "I knew you were here. I knew you were here as soon as I heard your voice. Although you look completely different from when we first met, I still recognized you."

The Third Young Master looked dejected, gazing at the sky, and said, "I didn't expect you to still remember my voice! Alas, I knew it. Every woman I've ever been with is unforgettable. This is the meaning of the saying 'Meeting Qin Ren once ruins your life'!"

Song Qing snorted and laughed, "How shameless! Do you think you're Yang Guo? Your voice is so awful, I'd remember it even if you were ashes!"

The Third Young Master exclaimed in horror, "Really? I'm known as the Triple Andy Lau, the best of men. My voice is awful?"

Song Qing burst into laughter, "You... I've never seen anyone like you before! You speak so recklessly, you're truly shameless!"

The Third Young Master said righteously, "I always speak the truth, I say what I mean. Lying is not my forte."

"Alright, stop covering up! Lunch is ready, let's go eat!" Song Qing said, grabbing the Third Young Master's hand and pulling him towards the dining room. The

Third Young Master's large hand was held in Song Qing's warm, delicate hand, and for a moment, his mind wandered, his thoughts racing. Yet, he said righteously, "Qing'er, there's a difference between men and women, please don't do this, okay? Be careful others see..."

As they walked, Song Qing glanced at the Third Young Master, noticing his strange expression, and knew what he was thinking. She immediately laughed, "You really don't mean what you say. Surely you wouldn't say 'there's a difference between men and women,' would you? I'm treating you like a modern person. Don't tell me you've actually adhered to the Qin Empire's etiquette here!"

The Third Young Master scratched his head and chuckled, "That's true, holding hands is very common in modern times. Of course, I'm not some old-fashioned person who's bound by etiquette..."

The two chatted and laughed all the way until they were almost in the dining hall, when Song Qing finally let go of the Third Young Master's hand.

Upon entering the dining hall, they found Song Wu, his five friends from Lingnan, and Song Wu's wife, Madam Song Zhang, already seated in a circle at the table, waiting for them.

In the Qin Empire, men were superior to women, and men and women were not allowed to sit together at the same table; women were only permitted to sit at a separate table. However, Lord Longyin, Song Wu, was somewhat disdainful of these customs; his wife and daughters were usually allowed to sit at the table.

Seeing Song Wu and the others sitting so formally, the Third Young Master exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, Lord Longyin, didn't you go to apply some liniment? How come you're done so quickly?"

Song Wu immediately looked displeased and glared angrily at the Third Young Master.

Song Qing quickly tugged at the Third Young Master's sleeve, and he immediately realized what was happening. He straightened his clothes, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed deeply, saying respectfully, "I am Qin San, paying my respects to Lord Longyin, my aunt, and all the seniors!"

The Third Young Master's greeting was very thorough, and Lord Longyin, out of consideration for his daughter and wife, could not afford to be rude to the Third Young Master any longer. He forced a kind smile and said, "Young Master Qin is too polite. Please take your seats with Qing'er. We've been waiting for you two."

The two walked to the table, and Song Qing sat next to her mother, while the Third Young Master sat between Lord Longyin and Qi Yunshan.

As soon as they sat down, Song Wu and Qi Yunshan looked at the Third Young Master with forced smiles. The Third Young Master felt extremely uncomfortable under the gazes of the two old men, and said in a low voice with a smile, "Lord Longyin, could I sit next to Qing'er?"

Song Wu smiled and whispered, "Trying to take advantage of my daughter? Dream on!"

The Third Young Master muttered under his breath, "What kind of person do you take me for? Would I be such a shameless scoundrel? My heart is pure and sincere, as clear as the sun and moon. I am upright and honest..."

Before the Third Young Master could finish his self-praise, Song Wu... Having already raised his wine cup, he loudly proclaimed, "Today, Young Master Qin has traveled a great distance to the capital to visit me, and I am deeply grateful. Although Young Master Qin's trip is to apologize for extorting ten thousand taels of silver from me last time, I consider that Young Master Qin has realized his mistake and sincerely admitted his wrongdoing, proving himself to be a responsible man. Therefore, I will let bygones be bygones. Young Master Qin, let me offer you a toast first."

While the Third Young Master was still pondering whether Long Yin Gong's tone and wording were somewhat off, Song Wu had already downed his wine in one gulp. Left with no other choice, the Third Young Master also drank a cup, then returned the toast.

Then, the Five Friends of Lingnan offered toasts one by one, and the Third Young Master drank every cup he could find, keeping him extremely busy.

After several rounds of drinks, the Third Young Master, with an empty stomach, had already drunk no less than two jin of wine. Seeing that everyone had put down their cups, he was just about to pick up his chopsticks to eat a couple of bites of food when Song Wu raised his cup again to toast him, saying, "Let's drink to another promising young man who has seen the light of day in our Great Qin Empire!" The Third Young Master had no choice but to immediately put down his chopsticks

, repeatedly saying thank you for the compliment, and clinking glasses with Lord Longyin.

Just as he finished drinking, the Five Friends from Lingnan came one by one, offering toasts with all sorts of strange and wonderful words: "Let's drink to the prosperity of our Great Qin Empire!"

"Let's drink to the nice weather today! " "Let's drink to the doorman of Lord Wang's house next door who has a son! " "Let's drink to the delicious steamed pork!" "For..." Poor Third Young Master hadn't eaten a single grain of rice or a single piece of vegetable, yet he had drunk cup after cup of wine. Meanwhile, while Song Wu and the Five Friends from Lingnan were toasting one person, the other five were frantically eating food and rice to fill their stomachs. As they went, the Third Young Master lost count of how many cups he had drunk, only vaguely remembering that twelve jars of the thirty-year-old aged wine had been opened, half of which had been consumed. Madam Song looked at Song Wuji and the others with a surprised expression, then whispered to Song Qing, "Qing'er, when did your father become so familiar with this Third Young Master Qin? Last time, when General Wang Ben deliberately came to our house for a free meal, your father didn't even give him a friendly look, only offering one cup before refusing to raise another. Why is he like this today?" Song Qing smiled and said, "Perhaps… Young Master Qin and Father get along very well!" Madam Song nodded as if suddenly understanding, "I see. That's good, having a few close friends despite the age difference might slow down your father's aging." Hearing Madam Song's earnest tone, Song Qing couldn't help but burst into laughter. How shrewd she was! She had already figured out that her father and five uncles had conspired to get the Third Young Master drunk. However, she wasn't in a hurry. Although the aged wine was extremely potent, its alcohol content was at most around ten degrees. She refused to believe that someone reincarnated from the 21st century on Earth could be drunk by a little bit of wine. But Song Qing had clearly forgotten that although the Third Young Master was reincarnated with his memories, he wasn't reincarnated with his body. Although his current body was incredibly strong, it wasn't completely immune to alcohol. As for using internal energy to sober up, what was the point of drinking if you had to use internal energy to sober up while drinking? The Third Young Master wasn't unaware of Song Wu and the others' intentions, but he was also influenced by his previous life's thinking. He thought, "Ten degrees of wine can get me drunk? When I was a student, I could drink a pound and a half of sixty-degree Erguotou!" Overconfident, the Third Young Master actually harbored the idea of getting the old men drunk. After a few more rounds, the Third Young Master felt himself in peak condition. He rolled up his sleeves, stood up, slammed his hand on the table, and roared, "Men drink from jars!" Ignoring everyone else's reactions, he grabbed a jar of wine and started chugging it down. Song Wu and the others stared at him, mouths agape, as if he were a fool. The Third Young Master finished the entire jar in one go, laughed three times, and declared, "I am invincible!" Then, with a thud, he collapsed cleanly to the ground. Song Wu immediately burst into laughter, "Even if you're as cunning as a devil, you still have to drink my foot-washing water! Guards, drag him out, dig a hole, and bury him!" Song Qing cried out in alarm, "Absolutely not! Father, how can you treat a life so lightly?" ~Chapter Five, Section One~ Song Wu immediately chuckled, "Qing'er, I was just joking, wasn't I? Young Master Qin is a guest, how could I bury him alive? Is your father that kind of person?" The Five Friends of Lingnan nodded in unison, "That's right, that's right, Qing'er, even if you don't trust your father, you have to trust us five old uncles!" Song Wu was taken aback, "Huh, how come you guys are more trustworthy than me?" Song Qing asked suspiciously, "Why do I feel like you guys are in cahoots?" Song Wu laughed, "How could that be? Others may not know your father, but don't you know him, Qing'er? I'll have someone send Young Master Qin back right away. Old Jin, Old Di, when Young Master Qin came, which inn did he say he was staying at?" As he spoke, he turned his head and winked at Jin Guixian and Di Wugong behind Song Qing's back. Jin Guixian pretended to think it over and hesitated before saying, "Old Song, it seems to be... 'Xinglong Inn'!" Di Guixian nodded and said, "That's right, it's the 'Xinglong Inn' on Xuanwu Street." Song Wu smiled kindly and said, "Then, please, brothers, take this Young Master Qin back! And remember, get a carriage to take him back." Jin Guixian and Di Wugong acted quickly, each grabbing one of the legs of the Third Young Master, who was drunk as a rag doll, and dragging him towards the door. Song Qing hurriedly said, "Uncle Jin, Uncle Di, are you just going to drag him out like this?" Jin Guixian slapped his forehead and said, "Oh dear, look at my brain, I've been drinking too much and I'm all confused. This Young Master Qin isn't a dog, how can we just drag him like this? Old Di, you too, we've dragged him the wrong way, why didn't you remind me?" Di Wugong chuckled and said, "I'm also drunk and confused." The two old men laughed as they turned the Third Young Master around, each grabbing one of his hands, and dragged him out the door like a tattered sack.

Song Qing sighed and said, "Uncles, let Qing'er help you send Young Master Qin back!"

Song Wu coughed and smiled, "Qing'er, Young Master Qin came specifically to pay his respects to his father this time. Theoretically speaking, he is my guest. Sending him off is naturally my responsibility. You can arrange to send him off when he visits you again; that's proper! Besides, this is the capital, not Lingnan. It wouldn't look good if word got out that you, a lady of high birth, were sending off a drunkard with no official rank or family background! Continue eating, ah, eat. Uncle Jin and Uncle Di will ensure Young Master Qin's safe arrival."

Song Qing knew her father was deliberately trying to embarrass the Third Young Master, but now that he had spoken and explained the situation, she couldn't disobey. She could only sit at the table and watch helplessly as Jin Guixian and Di Wugong dragged the Third Young Master out.

After leaving the dining hall, Jin Guixian glanced back to make sure they were out of Song Qing's sight. He then gave Di Wugong a wink, and the two old men quickly turned the Third Young Master around, continuing to drag him by his legs out of the Song residence.

Once outside Zhuque Street and at the market, the streets were bustling with people, all curiously watching Jin Guixian and Di Wugong. Several Imperial Guards soldiers, seeing the two men dragging someone, approached to inquire, but Jin Guixian simply produced a Duke's Mansion badge and dismissed them.

Jin Guixian looked at the bustling market, with its crowds and traffic, and stood in the middle of the street. He

said, "Let's just throw him here!" Di Wugong hesitated, "Is throwing him here really okay?"

Jin Guixian replied, "No problem, just throw him here."

Di Wugong said, "But with all the cars coming and going, what if he gets run over? Qing'er would be devastated!"

Jin Guixian nodded, "Hmm, that's a problem. If he gets run over, his intestines will be squeezed out; he won't look very good. Let's just put in the effort and dig a hole to bury him."

Di Wugong exclaimed, "Isn't that taking lives so lightly?"

Jin Guixian said helplessly, "But you should..." "It's clear that Old Song doesn't want Qing'er hanging out with this kid, so it's best to keep him away from Qing'er in the future,"

Di Wugong shook his head. "Qing'er is very stubborn; we can't offend her for Old Song's sake."

Jin Guixian thought for a moment and nodded. "That makes sense. Then we'll just have to avoid offending either side and dump him on the side of the road. Anyway, when we came out, Old Song winked at us but didn't explicitly say how he was going to deal with this kid."

Di Wugong said, "That makes sense! Let's dump him on the side of the road then!"

The two old men dragged the Third Young Master to the side of the street, threw him into a ditch, and then swaggered away.

The market was a mixed bag, the worst place for crime, and most of the petty thugs and hooligans in the capital hung out in this area. When Jin Guixian and Di Wugong dragged the Third Young Master there, a group of hooligans had already set their sights on him. After the two old men left, the group of thugs swarmed around and looted all the valuables, including silver notes and jewelry, from the Third Young Master's body.

Being under the emperor's nose, the people were generally well-mannered, and the thugs were kind enough not to strip him naked, leaving him his clothes behind.

The Third Young Master, however, was completely unaware of what was happening around him. Drunk, he slept soundly, a pure, childlike smile on his lips.

While the Third Young Master was fast asleep, oblivious to the world around him, a man and a woman passing by the market street inadvertently saw him sprawled out asleep by a ditch. They exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

Then, they strode towards the Third Young Master, and as the woman moved, a sheathless sword slowly slid out from her light green sleeves!

※ ※ ※ ※

The afternoon in Lingnan Prefecture was shrouded in the wild summer sun. The already oppressive climate of Lingnan was now unbearably hot.

The streets were nearly deserted, and even Xiang Qi's usually active rebel army was now huddled in their camps, taking their afternoon nap.

At the gates of Lingnan Prefecture, the rebel soldiers in the watchtowers and arrow towers lay sprawled on the cold floor, asleep. Only a few, still energetic, chatted listlessly and yawned in the shadows.

Xiang Qi's rebel army had practically conquered the entire Lingnan region, and the imperial court, for some reason, seemed to have made little forceful response to the uprising, only sending small-scale troops to quell it. The

largest pacification effort, with only three thousand men, was surrounded by thirty thousand rebels, and within half an hour, half were killed and the other half captured.

Xiang Qi's rebel army, known as the "Xiang King's Army," currently boasted eighty thousand well-organized, elite troops, plus as many as two hundred and fifty thousand militia under his command—a truly formidable force.

The vast majority of Xiang Yu's soldiers were strong and able-bodied farmers, tenant farmers, woodcutters, hunters, and other people from the lowest strata of society, as well as lower-ranking soldiers of the Qin Empire who were disillusioned with the court and sympathetic to the common people. They harbored an innate hatred for the wealthy, treating them all equally, regardless of their character—killing their entire families, confiscating their property, and seizing their rations.

Even a benevolent figure like Song Wu, who performed daily good deeds, monthly great acts of kindness, and quarterly massive acts of charity, was driven to a massacre by rebellious people who had benefited from his kindness and forced to flee Lingnan. This illustrates the dire fate of the other wealthy households.

The most oppressed classes, when driven to desperation, often unleash terrifying power, and their destructive force stemming from ignorance is equally horrific!

Xiang Yu's army was completely different from the "righteous army" led by the bandits Zhan Tianwang and Zhan Tianhu.

The people of Lingnan were known for their fierce and warlike nature, and small-scale uprisings had been a constant occurrence since the founding of the Qin Empire.

To prevent popular uprisings, the Lingnan Grand Camp was established in Lingnan, with a total of 50,000 troops.

After the outbreak of the rebellion, the Lingnan Grand Camp was captured by hundreds of thousands of rioters. Of the 50,000 Qin soldiers in the Lingnan Grand Camp, more than 37,000 were killed or wounded, and the rest all defected to the rebel army, becoming part of the rebellion themselves. The weapons and equipment in the Lingnan Grand Camp were looted, and Xiang Yu's army armed 60,000 men with the equipment in the Lingnan Grand Camp alone. In addition, with the equipment seized from the garrison troops in Lingnan Prefecture and other cities and towns, as well as from the Pingpai troops sent by the imperial court, Xiang Yu's army was armed to a total of 80,000 men!

Xiang Yu's army possessed more than 15,000 warhorses, 20,000 strong bows, 7,000 powerful crossbows, and countless swords, spears

, and armor. Xiang Yu's army had blacksmiths who could also manufacture weapons and armor, and Lingnan was rich in mineral resources. Therefore, in addition to the 80,000 regular troops, nearly 100,000 of the 250,000 militia were also equipped with sharp spears and broadswords.

The remaining militia, though armed with homemade weapons—sharpened bamboo, wooden sticks inlaid with sharpened iron bars, nail-studded stakes, sickles, hoes, rakes, etc.—combined with the raw strength of these impoverished people who had been working since birth, could even pierce the body of an unarmored soldier with a sharp bamboo pole. Judging

by the current strength of Xiang Yu's army, even in the Warring States period during the Rebellion of the Seven States, they could become a minor power.

Although Xiang Yu himself was a peasant, he was extremely skilled at employing people and manipulating hearts, thus attracting many talented individuals willing to follow him in rebellion. There were reclusive scholars skilled in military strategy, instructors adept at training troops, and even individuals knowledgeable in internal affairs and finance—it's unclear where Xiang Yu found them. In short, with the help of these talented individuals, Xiang Yu managed his army with great efficiency, its fighting strength steadily increasing, and it was beginning to show signs of becoming a match for the regular Qin army.

Of course, compared to the ironclad army of the northern frontier, which had fought against the barbarians for years, Xiang Yu's army was still just a child learning to wield a sword. However, within the Qin Empire, besides the ironclad army of the north, only the navy of the East Sea possessed the strongest fighting power. The armies in other regions, having not fought for many years since the Qin unified the world, had seen their discipline decline and their military preparedness weaken, their fighting strength no longer the invincible force it once was when it swept across the land and unified the world!

Therefore, after the Lingnan camp was breached, the Qin armies in the other cities, large and small, were utterly powerless to resist Xiang Yu's overwhelming numbers. Several small counties even surrendered before the fighting even began, overwhelmed by Xiang Yu's massive army

. As Xiang Yu's army grew stronger, the rebel soldiers gradually developed a sense of complacency and arrogance. This was especially true in Lingnan Prefecture, which had now become Xiang Yu's rear base.

The biggest limitation of peasant uprisings is their limited vision and thinking, making the rebel soldiers, many of whom came from impoverished backgrounds, easily misled by the immediate situation. After a series of victories, many rebel soldiers believed the Qin army was utterly ineffective, some even thinking they could reach Tianjing (the capital city) within a year, kill King Ying, and burn down the Tiansheng Palace.

Meanwhile, some of Xiang Yu's generals, after receiving official titles, began indulging in extravagance and pleasure, completely oblivious to the fact that just months earlier they had hated people like themselves.

Hatred of the rich, yet a desire to become rich themselves, believing that the wealthy might be even more despicable than those they had previously killed—this was a common mentality.

Robin Hood-like behavior was merely one manifestation of this mentality.

Currently, Xiang Yu's Grand Marshal, Xiang Qi, was leading 50,000 standard-equipped regular troops and 100,000 militia, totaling 150,000 troops, stationed at the border of Lingnan and Ji Province, preparing to conquer Ji Province in one fell swoop. The remaining small and medium-sized cities in Lingnan, not yet under Xiang Yu's control, were the responsibility of the rebel regular troops and militia stationed there.

Located in the rear, Lingnan Prefecture had no battles to fight. The three thousand regular soldiers and ten thousand militiamen left in the city had nothing to do all day. Besides sleeping, playing cards, patrolling the streets, and playing mahjong, all they did was steal chickens, dogs, patronize prostitutes, commit adultery, climb on roofs, remove tiles, urinate, and play in the mud.

Even the guards at the city gate were sleeping, which showed how lax their military discipline was.

Right now, two militia soldiers were sitting by the moat in front of Lingnan Prefecture, washing their feet and chatting.

The older soldier, spitting as he spoke, said, "You know what? The whore I slept with that night, it was absolutely amazing! Damn, that innocent, adorable look of hers, it was fucking amazing! Damn, she was crying while we were doing it, and those cries and screams made me angrier with each round. I ended up doing it seven times, until she passed out before I stopped. That's not all, do you know who that whore was?"

The younger soldier, who looked only thirteen or fourteen, asked blankly, "..." " Who is she?"

the older soldier exclaimed excitedly. "Damn it, that bitch is actually the youngest daughter of the former garrison commander of Lingnan Prefecture! Damn, a true heiress! We never dared to even look at her properly before! After we beheaded the former garrison commander, his entire family—all the men were beheaded, and all the women were sold into brothels. Who would have thought that now we can have her whenever we want! Damn, that's why rebellion is so great! We can have this heiress whenever we want, and after we take Tianjing, we can have all of the emperor's concubines!" "Five coins for one job?"

The young soldier swallowed hard, his voice hoarse. "But... the city lord's youngest daughter is a very kind person. When I was a beggar, she often gave me alms. On the first and fifteenth of each month, she would give me steamed buns and millet porridge..."

The older soldier scoffed, "That's called winning people's hearts, you know? Only ignorant children like you remember their kindness. Don't forget, if it weren't for those bloodsucking leeches, sucking the blood and flesh of us poor people, would you need to be a beggar? If they hadn't drained our blood and sweat, that city..." "Does Miss Shou have money to give you? Money to give you steamed buns and millet porridge?"

The young soldier nodded, seemingly understanding, but hesitated. "So, Miss Shou is sucking our blood and then using our blood to buy our hearts?"

The older soldier nodded firmly. "Yes, that's exactly it. The rich are all heartless bastards. If they didn't exploit our blood and sweat, how could they earn so much money? How could they have money to flaunt and give alms?"

The young soldier asked blankly, "Aren't there any good people among the rich?"

"No!" the older soldier said decisively. "If there were really good people, why would we rebel?"

The young soldier thought about it carefully, but his not-so-bright mind couldn't quite grasp the logic. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I've been a beggar since I was five. People have always given me money and food. I've never let anyone swindle anything from me. I rebelled because everyone else was rebelling, and I wanted to get a meal too. I didn't think too much about it. By the way, brother, why did you rebel?"

The older soldier thought for a moment and said, "The landlord seized my family's land, and my whole family starved to death. The most pitiful one was my fourteen-year-old daughter. Before she starved to death, she was even..." As he spoke, his voice choked up, and his eyes turned bloodshot, as if they were about to spit fire, "...and she was even defiled by the landlord's tyrannical son! Damn it, that's why I rebelled. I'll kill all those tyrants, rob them of all their money, seize all their land, eat all their grain, and kill all the women in their families!"

The young soldier nodded, seemingly with a hint of melancholy, and softly said "Oh," without saying anything more.

The older soldier quickly composed himself and began excitedly, "Alright, enough of that unpleasant stuff! Let me tell you about that city garrison commander. You wouldn't believe it..."

Neither of the two rebel soldiers knew that a man and a woman had been standing behind them for quite some time.

The man was carrying an enormous, unsheathed longsword, which he had initially raised but then silently lowered.

If the man had wanted to kill the two rebel soldiers, they wouldn't have known how they died. But now, the man and woman were clearly letting them go.

This man and woman appeared out of nowhere, and their arrival was unknown; they were like two ghosts, appearing and disappearing suddenly. After they silently left behind the two rebel soldiers and entered Lingnan Prefecture through the city gate, not a single guard on or below the city walls noticed them!

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