【The Rogue Landlord】Episodes 1-5 Author: Laughter in the Coffin

This post was last edited by s175366 on 2015-11-10 20:29.

[The Rogue Landlord]

Author: Laughter in the Coffin
Publisher: Hetu Culture

[Volume 1] Chapter 1: Transmigrating into an Imperial Family

Xu Ping, orphaned at a young age, drifted aimlessly in the city. He survived by stealing and using various means to make small money, even managing to afford a third-rate university. However, after graduation, he discovered that his studies were completely useless for making a living, leaving him in a very miserable state!

One day, while fantasizing about the beautiful woman living next door, Chen Ping was squatting in a public toilet expelling toxins from the day when he suddenly felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Then everything went black, and he lost consciousness.

He vaguely felt himself in a dark place, very hot, and seemingly surrounded by flesh. He was filled with fear. Could he have encountered a ghost? He was clearly in the toilet just now, how did he end up here in the blink of an eye?

Inside the Prince Yan's residence in Kyoto, a group of people were bustling about. Prince Yan, Zhu Yunwen, paced anxiously back and forth. His wife, Ji Xinyue, had gone into premature labor. He had been childless for so long, and now, with Heaven finally granting him an heir, the birth of his first child was proving difficult. The anxiety of becoming a father for the first time only added to his unease; he felt an urge to rush into the room and drag the troublesome little one out.

Another dignified old man sat in a chair. Although he appeared calm, the sweat on his forehead betrayed his nervousness. This man was the current Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yunwen's father, the Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang. He had spent twenty years conquering the land, establishing a peaceful and prosperous era. He had two sons, but one was injured in the genitals by an assassin during an inspection tour, rendering him infertile. His eldest son, Prince Ping, Zhu Xiaowang, was frail and sickly from childhood, passing away at the age of twenty, leaving behind only a daughter. The second son, Zhu Yunwen, had never had an heir. He had finally welcomed his first child, but the birth was difficult. What was the point of the empire he had built if he couldn't have a grandson?

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

Zhu Yunwen jumped up in surprise, while Zhu Yuanzhang nervously crushed his teacup. Father and son were overjoyed. The Zhu family finally had an heir; they had finally done right by their ancestors and this great land. They quickly had the maid bring their grandson over.

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

The woman then tightened her embrace, her maternal love dazzlingly strong. She gently smoothed her sweat-soaked, disheveled hair and said in a weak yet happy voice, "My dear son, you're finally alright. These past two days have been exhausting for your mother."

Xu Ping was completely dumbfounded. Had he been reincarnated? No! Judging from the situation, it seemed like he had traveled through time, but why was he a small child?

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

Upon hearing this, Ji Xinyue gently touched Xu Ping's little face and said happily, "Baby, your grandfather wants to see you. Be good in a little while." After saying this, she handed Xu Ping to the maid, and the people in the delivery room quickly washed him clean, wrapped him up tightly, and carried him out.

Before Xu Ping could recover from his shock, he was taken by a dignified old man. The old man looked him over with doting eyes for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Good, a full forehead. Although premature, he's not light either. He has the heroic spirit of a man of the Zhu family, and his features are as delicate as his mother's. He'll surely grow up to be a handsome man." Xu Ping was about to speak when his voice turned into a standard baby cry, prompting Zhu Yunwen to say with concern, "Father, your voice is too loud! You've scared my son to tears."

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

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

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

Zhu Yunwen thanked the emperor and respectfully saw his father back to the palace. Only then did he eagerly turn to his frail wife to cherish his precious son.

Time flies like a rocket (I can't think of a better word).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed even harder. This grandson had always been clever and mischievous; he wondered what kind of strange question he had come up with this time. He teased, "My good grandson can even give questions now! Tell Grandpa what kind of question you gave him?"

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

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned upon hearing this. The change was clearly multiplied by five, but if 125 were multiplied by five, four would be 625, not 925. And what was five? Xu Ping, seeing this emperor, who had risen from the ashes of countless deaths, struggling with a modern math problem, couldn't help but laugh.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while but still couldn't figure it out, so he asked, "My dear grandson, Grandpa's stupid, I can't understand. What is five?"

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

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

Xu Ping was starving and ate voraciously, sometimes choking and coughing. Zhu Yuanzhang, watching from the side, tenderly offered him water and rubbed his back, showing none of the majesty of an emperor, acting more like an ordinary grandfather doting on his grandson.

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

Xu Ping said innocently, "Don't worry, Imperial Grandpa, I will definitely learn well. If anyone dares to bully you, I will beat them to death." He even waved his little fist, making Zhu Yuanzhang laugh heartily.

Martial arts? Could such things really exist? Xu Ping thought for a moment, "Could it be some old-fashioned thing like the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms? That's not as good as a military tally. If I'm unhappy, I can just send an army to crush any damn sect."

Zhu Yuanzhang led Xu Ping to an ancient yet towering pavilion. The pavilion was three stories high, its exterior decoration simple yet imposing, situated in a garden, exuding a subtle sense of power. Above the main gate were three large characters: Wanbao Pavilion.

Zhu Yuanzhang said to Xu Ping with a smug look, "This contains all sorts of rare treasures, books, and historical anecdotes collected by my grandfather during his conquests. Some of them are unique items that can't be found anywhere else in the world today. Unfortunately, I'm too busy with worldly affairs to study them properly, so they've been neglected here." After saying that, he pulled Xu Ping towards the entrance.

Two people came out after the gate opened. They didn't kneel when they saw Zhu Yuanzhang, but simply bowed and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty." Their voices were deep and powerful, and their steps carried a subtle air of authority.

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

"Greetings, Your Highness!" Both men bowed, but it was merely a polite gesture.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Grandpa calls me Ping'er!" Xu Ping replied obediently.

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

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

The two suddenly looked at each other and laughed, shouting that they finally had a successor. Just as he had predicted, they weren't exactly good people.

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

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

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

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

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

Shi Tianfeng and the Blazing Fire Daoist exchanged glances, their faces showing some difficulty: "Ping'er, your grandfather ordered that we are not allowed to go up to the third floor."

Xu Ping gave a lewd smile and said resolutely, "I can go up myself, can't I? I want to learn martial arts, not you two. As long as you don't go up, that's fine."

The two thought about it and agreed helplessly. Before they could back out, Xu Ping quickly climbed the stairs to the third floor.

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

It turned out to be a wooden sculpture lying on the ground, depicting a person wearing a long crown in the style of the Spring and Autumn Period, with a jade-like face, an expression of a superior person who looked down on the world but had no desires. He wore a long robe, giving off an aura of dominance over the world and control of Yin and Yang.

"The carving is really good!" Xu Ping exclaimed, then kicked it angrily. Suddenly, a small door appeared on the chest of the statue, revealing a thick book and several small booklets inside.

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

He muttered to himself as he took out the book, casually flipping through a few pages, and his heart began to race. It turned out that the statue depicted Gui Gu Zi, a legendary figure from the Warring States period. The statue was sculpted by his prized disciple Zhang Yi to pass on his life's unparalleled skills.

The book contained his military strategies, battle formations, and unparalleled martial arts prowess, as well as the extraordinary techniques he had learned throughout his life. When Gui Gu Zi was mentioned, the first thing that came to mind was his superb military strategy and mastery of the Eight Trigrams, but he was also a master of unparalleled skill. After retiring, he devoted his later years to both literary and martial arts, attaining enlightenment and becoming a legendary and formidable figure.

(Gui Gu Zi, whose surname was Wang and given name was Xu, was a native of the State of Wei during the Warring States period, now Qi County

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

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

Xu Ping sat calmly on the fog-shrouded cliff, silently feeling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth cleansing him. After ten years of hard training, he had reached the third level of the Battle Dragon Technique, and even when sparring with the two elders, he had the strength to fight them. Ten years have passed, and Xu Ping has become obsessed with martial arts. Each improvement in his abilities brings an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Over these ten years, he has come to respectfully call Gui Gu Zi his teacher, but he has only grasped the basics of the various magical techniques recorded in the book. His Battle Dragon Technique has remained stagnant since breaking through to the third level two years ago. In these ten years, Xu Ping has grown into a tall and handsome young man, approximately 175 centimeters tall. His long hair is not styled in a bun like others, but simply tied in a braid at the back. His muscles are well-defined and not exaggerated, yet they contain explosive power. His

complexion is gentle, but his eyes are sharp and bright; he is undeniably a handsome young man.

He has now completely adapted to everything in this world, including the male-dominated society and the various cumbersome etiquettes. Although he now possesses the ability to seduce beautiful women, Xu Ping has never been interested in the plain-looking palace maids. To seduce them would be no different from visiting prostitutes—lacking both difficulty and excitement—so he remains a virgin.

After finishing his day's training and returning to the palace, he went straight to the Imperial Study. Zhu Yuanzhang was discussing border affairs with his ministers. The frequent harassment of the border by the nomadic tribes was causing him considerable headaches. Small groups of soldiers were sent into battle only to die; as soon as the main army arrived, they vanished. This cycle repeated several times, straining the military budget.

Xu Ping entered and saw his grandfather's melancholy face, his increasingly aged face now etched with wrinkles. Feeling a pang of sympathy, he went over and began massaging his shoulders. The other ministers, seeing their future master arrive, discreetly withdrew.

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

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

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

Xu Ping looked puzzled and asked, "Why? Our Ming Dynasty has so many troops, can't we handle these guys? These wolves on the grasslands don't have many men."

"You don't understand, you don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge! An army cannot move without provisions. This year, the silver handed over from various places is getting less and less, and some places have even suffered disasters, crying out for poverty. It's good enough that they don't ask the court for more. On the surface, it's a peaceful and prosperous era, but there's simply no money in the national treasury to fight wars. I'm probably the poorest emperor in history." After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he gave a self-deprecating and helpless bitter smile.

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

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his clever grandson with great interest and said with a smile, "It's alright, speak freely."

After organizing his thoughts, Xu Ping proposed, "The national treasury is empty right now, and the people are also broke. So where is the money? It's either corrupt officials or some heartless rich fools. Grandpa, just let me go out and make some progress, and I guarantee I can raise all the military funds for next year. We can tolerate these bearded men for one winter, and deal with them when our army is strong and well-equipped next year. The nomadic tribes on the grasslands are only interested in resources; even if they conquer territory, they can't hold onto it. So they'll just plunder and then retreat to the border. We'll just have to temporarily put up with the situation on the border." "Those common people."

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat tempted upon hearing this, but hesitated. "But Ping'er, you're the only son in the Zhu family now. Even if I trust you, your father won't. You're only fifteen, isn't it a bit too early to go out and travel? Besides, even if you investigate and confiscate those corrupt officials, how much military pay can you raise? You need to know that if we really go to war with the barbarians, it won't be easy to raise less than several million taels of silver."

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

Seeing his grandson's resolute face, Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to agree, but he required him to take dozens of imperial guards with him to ensure safety. Xu

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

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

Xu Ping respectfully accepted the fan and the imperial edict. In the end, Zhu Yuanzhang doted on him more; a simple act of coaxing was enough. If it were his father, he would definitely have gotten a kick.

Zhu Yuanzhang called two people in to accompany his grandson. One was Zhang Hu, the captain of the second-rank imperial guards, whose external martial arts skills were unparalleled, and who had a loyal and honest face. The other one was a man with a lewd appearance who was skilled in using poison and light-footed kung fu; his name was Lin Wei.

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

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

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

[Episode 1] Chapter 2: First Steps in the Martial Arts World

Sitting in the spacious and luxurious carriage, Xu Ping found that it wasn't as comfortable as depicted on television. In ancient times, transportation was underdeveloped. Aside from official roads, most roads were dirt tracks. Horse-drawn carriages lacked shock absorption, making the journey feel like a boat ride, constantly bouncing and lurching. Even a small pebble could send them tumbling and staggering. A train ride to Hebei used to take four or five hours, but now it took three days – it was incredibly grueling.

Zhang Hu and Lin Wei, who frequently went out of the palace for secret missions, were quite used to this lifestyle and didn't seem to find it difficult. They even sat leisurely at the front of the carriage chatting. Xu Ping, unable to bear the tedious journey, lifted the curtain and sat down at the front.

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

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

"Reporting to Prince Ding, we'll be in Fengkou Town in another hour. We can stay there tonight before continuing our journey." Zhang Hu's respectful tone was as serious as a commander reporting to his superior.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just after finishing his meal, Xu Ping had only taken a sip of tea when he heard the people at the next table whispering:

"Do you know? Our Magistrate Li lost a lot of face last night."

"What happened? Didn't they say he was going to take his fourth concubine yesterday? What could have happened?"

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

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

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

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

The man who looked like a constable lowered his voice, his tone somewhat sinister, and said, "Sending those militiamen there is just suicide. If Zhao Meng kills them all, the county magistrate can accuse them of rebellion, giving him a reason to ask the garrison to suppress the bandits. Think about it, even though King Zhao is powerful, he's no match for the garrison!"

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

The three men calmly listened to the surrounding conversation. After settling the bill, Xu Ping said nothing and continued on his way to Tongyang County, inquiring about this popular bandit along the way.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The waiter paused and continued, "In recent years, King Zhao has not harassed our people, only robbing some passing merchants, trying to avoid killing people without bloodshed." Occasionally, he would even provide relief to some poor families in the surrounding area. Last year, Hebei suffered a severe drought, and the imperial court allocated 200,000 taels of silver for disaster relief, but the money was confiscated by the county government. Li Dong also colluded with those unscrupulous grain merchants to drive up rice prices, causing many poor families to starve to death. Later, Zhao Dawang and his brothers robbed the silver and distributed it to the people of Tongyang County, but the price of grain was too high, and even those with money couldn't afford rice. The Black Tiger Stronghold returned to the county and wiped out all thirty-two people in the largest grain merchant's household except for the children. They distributed the stolen grain to the people, which frightened the other grain merchants into lowering their prices to save their lives, allowing everyone to survive. "Sir, don't you think such a person is much better than those officials in the government?"

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

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

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

Ping thought for a moment, then slapped his hand and said, "Hmm, the court needs to save face. It's best to get this done before we set off. Tomorrow, Lin Wei will go and collect evidence of this magistrate's crimes. Zhang Hu, you go to the garrison camp and give them a heads-up, don't let the news leak out beforehand."

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

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

"And what about you, Young Master?" Lin Wei nodded knowingly and asked.

"Hehe, I'll go to Black Tiger Stronghold tomorrow to meet this King Zhao." Xu Ping said with a smile, finally having something interesting to do was really good.

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

Zhang Hu and Lin Wei could only look at each other helplessly and then agreed. The three of them discussed it carefully for a while before returning to their rooms to rest.

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

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

Xu Ping surveyed the surroundings; sneaking in seemed unlikely, so he simply took a step and landed directly in front of the gate. The soldier on the gate suddenly saw a person standing at the entrance. His companions at the front hadn't been alerted, and he was startled. He immediately went on alert, shouting from afar, "Who's down there? What business do you have at Black Tiger Stronghold?"

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

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

Xu Ping smiled gently, "No need to trouble you, brother. I'll go in myself." With that, he channeled his inner energy and leaped over the more than ten-foot-high gate into the stronghold. The guards at the gate were stunned. The newcomer's martial arts were so high; even without prior notice, entering would have been effortless.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everyone nodded in agreement, cursing Li Dong's entire family.

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

Just then, a beautiful young woman emerged from behind. Her delicate and pretty features suggested she was at the peak of her youth, around sixteen years old. She wore a simple, plain cotton dress, her fair face free of makeup. Her large, bright eyes held unease and fear, and her cherry-like lips and delicate nose created a charming, albeit simple, face. She looked so pitiful that one wanted to hold her close and cherish her. She

was estimated to be about 160 centimeters tall. Although slightly slender, her youthful figure was still shapely and graceful. She lacked the alluring, seductive beauty of some, instead exuding a delicate, refined charm.

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

The young girl walked gracefully to Zhao Meng, her face filled with melancholy, and said, "Brother, are they about to attack? It's all because of me that the brothers here have been implicated." Her voice was clear and melodious, like a lark, delicate and gentle, and particularly soothing to listen to.

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

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

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

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

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

After speaking, he looked carefully at Zhao Ling, who was crying her eyes out. The more he looked, the more captivating she became.

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

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

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

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

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

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

After saying this, he pushed Zhao Ling aside without looking back, picked up his broadsword, and called for everyone to prepare for battle at the front of the stronghold.

When Zhao Ling tried to pull him away, he was shoved away, and Xu Ping quickly stepped forward to support her. For some reason, when Zhao Ling cried at this moment, Xu Ping felt a stirring in his heart, as if he didn't want to see her so heartbroken. In the blink of an eye, the bandits in the hall walked out one by one with resolute expressions and gritted teeth, displaying an air of fighting to the death.

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

Seeing this chilling atmosphere, Zhao Meng and his men grew serious, considering almost impossible countermeasures.

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

"Young Master Xu, why aren't you leaving!" Zhao Meng turned around and saw the two approaching, immediately asking with a mixture of reproach and worry.

"Brother, if you're going to die, I'll die with you." Zhao Ling wiped away her tears and said resolutely.

"We're surrounded all around, how can we leave!" Xu Ping said helplessly.

Zhao Meng sighed and said quietly, "It seems we're truly facing a great calamity this time."

Seeing Zhao Meng and his men appear at the gate, a fat man in official robes stepped forward from the crowd and shouted, "Listen up, Black Tiger Stronghold! You have cruelly murdered two hundred militiamen of Tongyang County; your crimes are heinous. I cannot let you live. This time, I've brought the garrison to help, and we will surely eliminate you bandits who plague this region, restoring peace to the local people!"

Upon seeing the man, Zhao Meng gritted his teeth and said, "Li Dong, you dog of an official! When it comes to bad deeds, you've done no less than I have, yet you dare to pretend to be a good person here. Have you become numb to such hypocrisy? Today, even if I die, I will cut off your dog's head!" With that, he grabbed a bow and arrow, ready to shoot.

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

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

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

Commander Liu responded, suddenly dismounted, and in one swift move, subdued the cannibalistic monster, wrapping him up like a dumpling in a few quick motions. The sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded.

Zhang Hu immediately shouted to Black Tiger Stronghold: "Listen up, people on the mountain! We will not attack the stronghold for the time being. I will have the garrison retreat three miles. Open the gate and let the three of us in."

As soon as he finished speaking, Commander Liu signaled his soldiers to retreat three li (approximately 1.5 kilometers) as a sign of sincerity.

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

After the three entered the stronghold, they were led to the main hall. Although Zhao Meng hated Li Dong

to the core, he didn't disrespect the other two. Instead, he was somewhat confused by this sudden turn of events, but still treated them with courtesy. While they weren't paying attention, Xu Ping shamelessly pulled Zhao Ling's hand aside, engaging in flirtatious talk, seemingly unconcerned about such matters. His nonchalant attitude displeased Zhao Ling, but his tender words made the young girl, in the throes of first love, blush and feel flustered.

Zhao Meng was also puzzled by this turn of events. Zhang Hu exuded the aura of a martial arts practitioner, but he couldn't discern his origins or intentions. He clasped his hands in a fist and asked, "Gentlemen, what brings you here?"

Zhang Hu and Commander Liu didn't even glance at him, strode straight to Xu Ping, knelt down, and respectfully greeted,

"Your subordinate Zhang Hu! Your humble general Liu Hong! Greetings, Your Highness." Their voices were strong and clear, their words immediately reaching everyone's ears.

Zhao Ling was somewhat bewildered by the situation, her lovely face blank with surprise. Seeing her astonishment, Xu Ping immediately seized the opportunity to wrap his large hand around her slender waist, chuckling, "Little Ling? What's wrong? Don't you recognize me? Just now, I was the husband your brother had chosen for you."

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

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

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

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

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

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

Li Dong immediately turned pale with fright, kowtowing and crying out his innocence, "Your Highness, I have always been honest and upright, serving the people wholeheartedly. I came here to suppress the bandits for the safety of the people. I beg Your Highness to investigate!" He then burst into tears, displaying an expression of extreme grievance, and kowtowed repeatedly.

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

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

Zhang Hu turned around and unfolded a piece of paper, reading aloud one by one, from embezzling disaster relief funds to bullying the market. This was all submitted by Lin Wei, and it was unclear which were true and which were false.

Li Dong initially tried to argue, but as one scandal after another was dug up, he was so frightened that he lost control of his bladder and collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud. In fact, Lin Wei had only written down hearsay, but unexpectedly, he had actually done all of them, so it was no wonder that others framed him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lin Wei went straight to Xu Ping and knelt down: "Greetings

, Your Highness." "Rise. Li Dong has been executed on the spot. What else did you gain?" Xu Ping said slowly, his hand already groping Zhao Ling's delicate hand.

Although Zhao Ling was shy, she dared not refuse.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Episode 1] Chapter 3: The Girl's First Night

Zhao Qian felt a little embarrassed by her gaze and said softly, "Your Highness, please take a seat. This servant will fetch water for you to wash your feet."

"Hmm..." Xu Ping looked at her beautiful curves, licked his lips, and casually sat down on the edge of the bed, ready to enjoy the little beauty's service.

Zhao Qian fetched a basin of warm water and knelt down in front of Xu Ping. Somewhat clumsy and nervous, she removed the man's shoes and socks, gently holding Xu Ping's feet with her small hands, carefully washing them, and not forgetting to massage the soles of his feet. The temperature of the hot water and Ling'er's familiar technique made Xu Ping groan comfortably. He looked at the girl in front of him with tenderness in his eyes. Unlike those stiff or even flirtatious palace maids, she seemed so focused, as if every gentle touch of her small hands was meant to bring him extreme pleasure.

After washing her lover's feet, Zhao Ling blushed and dried them, but then didn't know what to do next.

Xu Ping lay on the bed, looking expectantly at Ling'er's bewildered expression. She stood there blankly like a child who had done something wrong. He chuckled softly and said, "My little darling, the moon is high in the sky. Shouldn't we consummate our marriage?" He patted the blankets beside him.

Ling'er hesitated for a moment, then glanced shyly at Xu Ping before getting up and blowing out the candles.

In the darkness, she could vaguely hear the rustling of clothes changing, and then a delicate body exuding a captivating fragrance approached her. Seeing the beauty approach, Xu Ping immediately pulled her into his arms. Unfortunately, Zhao Ling was still wearing her close-fitting underwear, so he couldn't feel her smooth skin, which was a little disappointing. However, just smelling her fragrance was enough to entice him.

It was the first time Zhao Ling had been held like this by a man, and she felt a surge of heat, her heart raced, her breathing became slightly rapid, and her delicate body began to stiffen with tension.

Xu Ping, having watched too many adult videos in his past life, was still a virgin. After a slight moment of surprise, he rolled over and pinned her beneath him, whispering, "Ling'er, let me take care of you from now on, okay?"

Zhao Ling felt her heart pounding so hard it was about to explode. Smelling the overwhelming scent of the man, she closed her eyes and whispered, her voice barely audible, "Brother Ping, you must cherish Ling'er."

Seeing her alluring, submissive appearance, Xu Ping knew he'd be a fool not to act. He gently removed his own clothes, his hands beginning to undress the beauty. With each clasp he unbuttoned, Ling'er trembled slightly, the atmosphere thick with intimacy as he stripped the beauty beneath him into a naked lamb.

Although it was darkness, Zhao Ling instinctively closed her eyes and covered her private parts with her small hands. Xu Ping gently removed her small hands that were covering her chest, his tongue skillfully licking her delicate earlobe as he breathed hot air into her ear: "Ling'er, be good, let your brother take good care of you."

Before he finished speaking, his hand had already grasped her firm, shapely breasts. They weren't large, but they were round and full, soft and incredibly elastic, just the right size to hold tightly in one hand.

Zhao Ling had never experienced such stimulation before; it was the first time her innocent body had been touched like this. A tingling sensation ran through her, and she couldn't help but moan softly, then shyly covered her mouth. Xu Ping chuckled mischievously as he removed her hands and lowered his head to kiss her two rosy lips. Seeing the beauty nervously keeping her mouth closed, he mischievously squeezed her breast with his large hand. Zhao Ling instinctively wanted to moan, but Xu Ping seized the opportunity to invade her mouth with his tongue, savoring her sweet taste and guiding her tongue to follow suit.

Gently licking the girl's smooth little tongue, Xu Ping had soon kissed her until her delicate body trembled. Zhao Ling gradually began to respond awkwardly, their tongues entwining fiercely in the air, greedily seeking each other's taste, making a series of wet, smacking sounds.

Xu Ping kissed her until she was breathless before reluctantly lifting his head. Zhao Ling's eyes were already glazed over, covered with a layer of alluring mist, her slightly open mouth breathing hot air.

While gently kissing her heaving breasts, Xu Ping took her small hand and guided it to his penis. The moment her hand touched the hot rod, Zhao Ling immediately tried to pull it back as if she had been electrocuted, but helplessly, her hand was held by her lover, so she had no choice but to obediently hold it gently.

After guiding her smooth little hands up and down, Xu Ping couldn't help but inhale a comfortable breath, saying with an ambiguous expression, "My darling Ling'er, look how beautiful you are, making your husband so excited."

Zhao Ling shyly felt her lover's large penis, which was too big to hold with one hand, hot and burning. Hearing the embarrassing words, she closed her eyes, looking completely at his mercy. Seeing the beauty so shy, Xu Ping, while enjoying the pleasure from her little hands, used both his hands and mouth to roam over her body. When his tongue lightly teased her tender nipples, Ling'er couldn't help but murmur.

Xu Ping's large hand reached down, touching the soft, short pubic hair, teasing her flower cave that had never been touched by a man before. After a gentle caress, Zhao Ling had never experienced such stimulation. After a soft moan, her private parts gradually became wet, and Xu Ping's fingers, taking advantage of this moisture, slowly inserted themselves.

Zhao Ling, a virgin, could hardly resist Xu Ping's teasing. Before long, her hand, which had been gripping his penis, loosened weakly, and soft, sinister moans began to escape her lips. Her smooth, beautiful legs opened limply, allowing Xu Ping to violate her most sensitive and shy triangle with his hands.

Seeing that the beauty was already so wet, Xu Ping prepared himself, hoisting her limp legs onto his shoulders. He grasped his penis and aimed it at her wet, love-soaked opening, struggling to penetrate her tight, alluring little place.

The intrusion of a foreign object into her small opening caused Zhao Ling to wince in pain, but she bit her lip and remained silent, her small hands trembling as she gripped the sheets tightly. Feeling a hot, hard iron rod being inserted into her lower body, its size far beyond her comfort level, a wave of fullness and throbbing pain washed over her.

Her tenseness caused her vagina to contract even more tightly. Xu Ping finally managed to slowly insert his penis, and when he felt Zhao Ling's small body begin to tremble violently, he stopped short at a barrier—the legendary hymen. The intense pleasure of feeling the tightness of her hymen and the friction of her tender flesh was truly exhilarating.

After a slight adjustment, Xu Ping gently lowered his head and began licking her fair neck. The beauty beneath him was still too tense; if he didn't let her relax, it would be difficult to break through.

Using all the methods he knew, Xu Ping would lick her nipples and suck on her earlobe, teasing her for a while before he felt Zhao Ling's lower body begin to moisten, and her tense clenching loosened a little. Seeing that the beauty was aroused, Xu Ping immediately whispered gently in her ear, "Baby, it might hurt a little later, but it'll be fine after the first time."

The beauty felt that she was getting used to the man's penis beneath her, but she didn't know that the biggest obstacle hadn't been cleared yet. She wrapped her arms around Xu Ping's neck, looked at her man with deep affection, and said, "Yes! Come in, Ling'er wants to be your woman."

Xu Ping saw that the time was right, and decided that a short pain was better than a long one. He thrust his lower body forward, and his entire penis went in. He felt his brother reach the very end, and it seemed to have reached an even narrower place. The entire shaft was tightly enveloped by a warm place, the tender flesh undulating rhythmically, like a group of children gently caressing it, instantly bringing a groan of pleasure.

Qian'er let out a piercing scream, feeling a tearing pain in her lower body; it felt as if the entire penis had penetrated her abdomen, splitting her in two. She gritted her teeth in pain, tears streaming down her face, but she only sobbed softly.

Feeling her body convulsing, Xu Ping quickly lowered his head and licked away Zhao Ling's tears with his tongue, softly comforting her while licking her nipples and whispering sweet nothings. One hand caressed her firm, fragrant buttocks, the other gently teasing her breasts, while his lower body remained firmly pressed deep inside her, enjoying the powerful clenching of her vagina.

"Baby, does it still hurt?" Xu Ping asked, lovingly licking her lips.

Zhao Ling was still sobbing softly, but the pain seemed to have lessened considerably. She said shyly but with a hint of anticipation, "Just... a little bit, it doesn't hurt much anymore."

Seeing that she had adapted much better, Xu Ping gently began to thrust, pumping in and out of her small flower-like opening. Each movement was exceptionally gentle, as if afraid of startling the beauty beneath him again.

Zhao Ling initially felt a little pain, but with her lover's gentle movements, she began to feel a surge of pleasure. Seeing that his beauty had adapted, Xu Ping slowly increased the intensity of his thrusts.

As the rhythm of his movements gradually quickened, Zhao Ling experienced unprecedented pleasure, involuntarily moaning. Although soft, to Xu Ping's ears, it was an aphrodisiac signal. His mind went blank, and he pulled her jade-like legs to his waist, lifting her pert buttocks with both hands and thrusting even harder, slamming into the beauty's tender flesh.

The room was filled with the scent of spring, the beauty's silvery moans and the sounds of their bodies colliding, accompanied by their heavy breathing, making the entire night erotic.

"Brother Ping... I can't take it anymore..."

"Ling... Ling'er is... is going to die... Ah..."

Zhao Ling had been suppressing her emotions, but finally, when a powerful current, unlike anything she had ever experienced before, surged up from her lower body, she felt every cell in her body go wild, and she couldn't help but moan and cry out.

Xu Ping also felt her little flower cave contract with unusual strength, squeezing so tightly that he couldn't bear the intense pleasure either. He couldn't help but roar, and with a muffled groan amidst the beauty's almost frantic movements, he powerfully ejaculated his first semen into her body. After she swayed weakly a few times, waves of heat gushed out, and he felt a gush of hot liquid also gushing from Zhao Ling's flower cave, knowing that they had both reached orgasm at the same time.

A perfect first time!

After the pleasure subsided, Xu Ping felt somewhat exhausted, took a deep breath, rolled over, and held the beauty, who seemed to have lost all her bones, in his arms. He thought smugly to himself that he was still amazing after all; he had managed to make a little beauty orgasm on his first time. His future was limitless!

Zhao Ling seemed exhausted, lying weakly on Xu Ping's chest with her eyes half-closed. Her full, soft breasts rose and fell with each deep breath, truly captivating.

"Qian'er, Ling'er."

After resting for a while, Xu Ping felt the beauty's breathing gradually stabilize and couldn't help but call out twice, only to find, to his amusement and dismay, that she had fallen asleep on him, while his limp member remained inside her.

Having just experienced lovemaking for the first time, Xu Ping felt himself hardening again soon as he held the soft, fragrant body in his arms. But hearing her sweet breathing, he couldn't bear to cherish her again. He gently stroked her hair, slightly shifted his hips, and withdrew his member from her.

"This girl..." Xu Ping smiled, holding her tightly, suppressing the intense urge in his lower body, embracing his first woman in this life, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

The morning sunlight slowly streamed into the room, waking the sleeping man. Xu Ping reluctantly opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Qian'er, who was holding him happily. Her beautiful face was full of sweet smiles, her long eyelashes fluttering alluringly. In the beautiful morning light, the girl's jade-like hands tightly embraced him, her soft, smooth skin pressed against his body, and his manhood immediately became erect again. He

didn't know whether to be happy or frustrated, his manhood remained throbbing. He knew that the little beauty's body must have been quite traumatized after he deflowered her last night, so he could only helplessly choose to endure it for the time being. How frustrating!

After gently setting her delicate body down, Xu Ping tiptoed to his feet and stretched. Things were finally over. Today, he needed to properly modify his carriage. If he continued to ride like this, he would probably die before becoming emperor. Besides, in the current state of the dilapidated carriage, if the two of them got excited and had sex in the carriage, it might shake the carriage apart.

Naked, Xu Ping glanced back at Zhao Ling's alluring curves on the bed, and almost wanted to lose all humanity and pounce on her again to enjoy her beautiful body, or even have her give him oral sex. But she was his first woman, and the tenderness in his heart prevented him from doing so.

Zhao Ling had a good dream all night. Feeling someone move, she woke up immediately, pulled the blanket to cover her body, and looked at the healthy male body in front of her with some confusion. She shyly turned her head away and said gently, "Brother Ping, why are you up so early? Let me help you change." Her face, now that she was a new wife, already exuded charm and allure. After last night's experience, she was already like a little wife.

Zhao Ling tried to sit up, but the slightest movement caused a pain in her lower body, and she couldn't help but frown.

Xu Ping looked at the flower that he had ravaged all night; the bright red flower on the bed sheet was proof of her purity. Seeing Zhao Ling's pained expression, he couldn't help but hug her tightly, saying with heartache, "Silly girl, you've just lost your virginity, so rest well today. I can do it myself. I have something to do in a little while, I'll have someone make you something nourishing. Just lie here quietly and don't move around, okay?"

Zhao Ling glanced at the plum blossom marks on the sheets that witnessed her becoming a woman, and the traditional virtues of obedience and chastity began to stir in her mind. She immediately shook her head, her face flushed with a mixture of shyness and joy, and said, "No, I have to serve you now, please let me get up."

Xu Ping pressed her shoulders somewhat domineeringly, looking at her chest covered with his kiss marks with a lewd smile, licking his lips as he said, "Alright, but I want to do it again, how about you put your clothes back on afterward?"

"No..." Upon hearing this, Zhao Ling immediately put on a pitiful look and pleaded, "I don't even hurt anymore!"

"If you know it hurts, lie down properly, or I'll do it to you again," Xu Ping threatened sternly, but his tone was full of affection, without a trace of blame.

Zhao Ling felt her lover's tenderness, a warm sense of happiness welling up inside her. She nodded shyly, leaning against Xu Ping, and said softly, "Brother Ping, I feel like I'm dreaming! Thank you for being so kind to Ling'er."

Class consciousness is still at play! Xu Ping sighed inwardly. Besides male superiority, there's also the difference in status. Will this deeply ingrained idea make her afraid to play the woman-on-top role with him in the future? Interesting!

Xu Ping stared lewdly at her breasts and said, "It's alright, I'm already very happy! There will be plenty of opportunities next time. We can try other things, and you'll have to serve me well then, understand? This is our bedroom pleasure."

He then began to fondle the girl's rounded breasts, skillfully teasing them. His large hands squeezed her full breasts, and soon Zhao Ling, who had just lost her virginity, was panting heavily. Seeing Zhao Ling's flushed face and faint moans, her beautiful eyes filled with a layer of mist, she looked particularly alluring and seductive. Afraid that he might lose control and become a beast, he quickly and gently put the girl down, pulled the blanket up, and after a moment of tenderness, left.

Xu Ping, humming a tune to celebrate his loss of virginity, sat down in the front hall when Lin Wei approached with a sly grin, bowing and saying, "Congratulations, Your Highness! You've eliminated a menace, reaped silver, and won the heart

of a beauty on your wedding night!" Xu Ping, though in a good mood, ignored him. He instructed Zhang Hu to find a group of carpenters and blacksmiths, pondering the simplest shock absorber design and other necessary components for the carriage. While thinking, he diligently drew blueprints. Seeing his master so focused, Lin Wei dared not frolic and busied himself serving tea and water.

Soon, Zhang Hu returned with several men. Xu Ping said little, leading them to the courtyard. Pointing to the carriage, he explained his ideas—how to build the components, how to make the new carriage—his advanced knowledge astonishing the veteran craftsmen. These ideas were utterly unbelievable to them.

Xu Ping had no choice. If it weren't for the fact that it would make him more comfortable, he wouldn't have bothered with this idea. You see, there's no such thing as spring steel these days; everything has to be achieved through substitutes, which makes things more difficult.

An old man who looked to be in his sixties excitedly held up the blueprints, his lips trembling as he said, "I've been a blacksmith all my life, and I've never seen such an ingenious structure. If it can really be made according to this design, I can die in peace."

Xu Ping didn't even bother to look at them. What were these old men getting so excited about? He had already guessed this outcome; otherwise, all those years of reading online novels would have been for nothing. He ordered them to get to work quickly. An older craftsman patted his chest and said, "Young master, don't worry. Although we don't have your exquisite skills, we've been craftsmen all our lives. We'll definitely have this car finished by tomorrow morning."

Seeing that Xu Ping had already gotten up and returned to the living room, Zhang Hu said to the group, "Do your work well. Money is not a problem. If the young master is satisfied, there will be a reward. But you all have to do your work beautifully, without the slightest mistake, understand?"

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly went back to work, holding the blueprints as if they were precious treasures.

Everyone was amazed by Xu Ping's design. Zhang Hu, though not understanding it, couldn't help but mutter, "Our Prince is truly amazing. He seems to be proficient in everything; there's nothing he doesn't know."

Lin Wei sighed, "Yes, although our master is only fifteen, his cultivation is unfathomable. We still don't know how high his martial arts level is. People in the palace say he can now fight the Wanbaoge's retainers one-on-one. I really don't know how he trained!"

Both of them unanimously concluded with two words: freak. If they had to add two more words, it would only be "abnormal."

Xu Ping sat on the Crown Prince's chair, closed his eyes, and pondered.

His mind was still on the issue of money. Three million taels of silver had to be handed over to his grandfather, the Emperor. According to the normal procedure, he would one day become Emperor himself, and before that, he had to accumulate enough wealth and cultivate his own power. Over the years, he had seen many pedantic scholars who would try to kill themselves in court, all threatening to die for their cause. Just hearing the rumors made him want to kill them on the spot.

If I were to ascend the throne, I wouldn't want any of these people. Besides their glib tongues, they have practically no other abilities; they're just asking for trouble. My greatest purpose in life is to have fun. If, after becoming emperor, the borders are unstable, the country is in turmoil, and the treasury is practically empty, where would I find the time for pleasure?

Simply killing these corrupt officials won't accumulate that much wealth, and it's not sustainable. Moreover, killing too many would definitely create panic. Those ministers have received plenty of tribute from the borders, and they'll surely fear being implicated and petition the court. So this method is only usable in the short term; it's unreliable in the long run. It seems doing business is a safer bet.

Thinking about my chemistry background, where can I find such precise instruments these days? A brilliant idea flashed into my mind. Even the wine he drank in the palace was a bit yellowish and bitter. People in the Ming Dynasty hadn't mastered fermentation and distillation techniques, but that was child's play for him. He'd already experimented with making strong-aroma baijiu before and succeeded.

Represented by brands like Luzhou Laojiao Tequ, Wuliangye, and Yanghe Daqu, it's characterized by its strong aroma and sweet taste. The main fermentation ingredient is sorghum, and it uses a mixed-steaming, continuous-fermentation process. It's made in aged cellars, and some are artificially cultivated. Among famous liquors, strong-aroma baijiu has the largest production volume. Wineries in Sichuan and Jiangsu produce this type of baijiu, and this brewing method is sure to be successful in this society.

And the key is that Xu Ping himself enjoys a few sips. Since coming to this world, drinking those bitter "fine wines," he's even considered giving them up. This way, he can satisfy his cravings—why not?

Having made up his mind, Xu Ping quickly drew up a set of design drawings for the brewing equipment and had Zhang Hu handle it immediately. Once the trial was successful, mass production could begin. He felt more comfortable having his own people manage the distillery, and with the prestigious "Ding Wang" brand, the wine would become a famous brand without even being tasted, ensuring a steady stream of business.

After considering his options, he sent Lin Wei to fetch Zhao Meng.

Zhao Meng rushed in, looking at his brother-in-law with utmost respect. Ever since learning that his sister had risen in status, Zhao Meng had walked with much more confidence. Especially after returning to the county yesterday, all the local gentry were craning their necks to invite him for drinks. He had never received such treatment before; truly, when one person achieves success, even their entire family benefits!

Xu Ping didn't say much, only casually telling him that he was going to set up a winery and asked him to gather the original Black Tiger Stronghold members back to work for him!

Zhao Meng, without even thinking, said happily, "Your Highness, with such an opportunity, the brothers are definitely willing to earn a decent living. If it weren't for Li Dong forcing us, we wouldn't have become outlaws. It's just that we don't know how to do it, and we're afraid we won't do a good job."

Xu Ping thought for a while. This wasn't a very complicated technique; one or two tries would be enough to get the hang of it. To prevent leaks, he still said with some unease, "This is very simple. I'll teach you, and you'll understand. Just manage this winery well for me, and make sure the method doesn't get out."

Seeing Xu Ping's trust in him, Zhao Meng immediately patted his chest and excitedly promised, "Your Highness, don't worry. The brothers are only able to live a peaceful life because of your great kindness. If anyone has any disloyal intentions and does anything to betray you, I'll cut them down and offer my own head along with them."

"Hmm." Xu Ping nodded in satisfaction. People in this era were still quite simple-minded. The best thing about him, however, is his trustworthiness. Zhao Meng had always been a good person, and now he's his brother-in-law; there shouldn't be any problems with him getting things done.

Zhang Hu returned with the supplies, and Xu Ping began teaching brewing and distillation techniques in the side hall. After a whole afternoon of work under their astonished, almost magician's gaze, the first strong-aroma baijiu of this era was produced.

When Xu Ping nervously opened the bottle, a sweet and mellow aroma immediately wafted out. It was finally a success! Xu Ping breathed a slight sigh of relief. It seemed the physical reactions in this world were still the same as before; at least there was no need to worry about things like rice fermenting into sulfuric acid.

Everyone was invigorated by the smell. Lin Wei, in particular, insisted on trying the liquor.

Zhao Meng poured a cup for each person, and the three of them gulped it down. Xu Ping watched their reactions nervously. This was a way to make money in the future; he couldn't afford to make a mistake and poison someone.

Lin Wei's eyes lit up as he said, "Young Master, I simply don't know how to describe you! Even the imperial chefs in the palace couldn't make this kind of divine wine. This is the first time in my life I've tasted such fine wine."

Zhang Hu, usually so composed, couldn't help but exclaim with delight, "Young Master, this wine has perfect color, aroma, and taste! What's even more remarkable is its clear, transparent color—something I've never heard of before. After tasting it, I realize I've been drinking the wrong wine all along!"

Zhao Meng, after a long while, finally savored the experience, his face beaming with excitement, "Your Highness, the brewing of this wine is truly ingenious, and its aroma is incredibly fragrant. If brewing this wine didn't make money, then I, Old Zhao, would be worse than a dog. The fragrance is so far-reaching and lingering, it's truly the best in the world!"

Xu Ping, seeing the successful brewing, breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing their excited expressions, he couldn't reveal that he had sent them to test for poison.

He instructed Lin Wei to prepare 50,000 taels of silver to set up a winery; if he was going to set one up, it had to be a large-scale operation to earn more money. Having given the second detailed instruction, he instructed that the first batch of brewed wine be divided in half according to quality, with one half sent to the Imperial Palace and the other half to the Prince of Yan's residence. After all, he had to be a dutiful son, and besides, if even the royal family drank this wine, its reputation would surely rise quickly.

Given the unreliable equipment and unstable technology, coupled with some inexperienced brewers, the quality of the wine produced in a single batch would inevitably vary, so he deliberately separated the wines by quality.

Zhao Meng meticulously noted everything down, then asked with unease, "Your Highness, how should the price be set?"

Xu Ping thought for a moment. High-end goods in any era always command high prices; people buy expensive, not cheap. This mentality has always been a hard truth. He immediately offered a hefty price: "Divide it into two types. When you get back, categorize them. One type is the best, packaged in exquisite porcelain, each bottle containing only one jin (500 grams), priced at twenty taels of silver. The other type is slightly inferior, in ordinary jars containing five jin, sold for fifty taels of silver. Both bottles and jars must be engraved with the words 'Ten Mile Fragrance.' Keep the best quality for yourself, don't sell it outside."

Zhao Meng was startled upon hearing this, listening to Xu Ping's... His tone wasn't joking; he tentatively asked, "Isn't this price too high? I just calculated the cost of brewing; one tael of silver can produce about ten catties. Besides, the best Daughter's Red wine outside only sells for one tael of silver for two catties. I'm afraid I won't be able to sell it!"

Xu Ping laughed loudly, slowly patting Zhao Meng's shoulder and saying, "Just rest assured and sell it at the price I set! It's a rare commodity; anyone who doesn't set a high price would be a fool. You'll definitely make a fortune every day; you don't need to worry about that. Remember, the unified name for the wine is 'Ten Mile Fragrance.'"

Zhao Meng still harbored doubts, but he could only agree. Perhaps it was out of a strange admiration for his brother-in-law or the royal family that he felt somewhat at ease. After bidding farewell to everyone, he hurried off to prepare for the winery's affairs.

[Episode 1] Chapter 4: The New Emperor's Ascension

Originally, according to the plan, Xu Ping should have continued south, but suddenly news arrived that the old emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was critically ill. Thinking of his grandfather's handsome face and smiling countenance, so stern yet filled with extraordinary love for him, Xu Ping felt as if his heart had been struck hard by a hammer, leaving him breathless with pain.

He rushed back to the capital, so worried that he couldn't eat, causing his new wife, Zhao Ling, to weep silently at times. When he saw the vast capital draped with white banners, Xu Ping felt dizzy and collapsed, his body giving way. Although he didn't faint, he terrified the three people traveling with him.

Returning to the palace with a heavy heart, Xu Ping saw the old emperor's majestic body. His head throbbed with pain, unable to believe the cold corpse before him. Just days before, his grandfather had been laughing and chatting with him. For the fifteen years since his time travel, this adoptive grandfather had never been stingy with his love for Xu Ping, and Xu Ping had completely embraced the role of grandson. But before he could even fulfill his filial duty, the emperor was gone. He found it hard to accept.

Although Zhu Yunwen was also deeply grieved, he suppressed his sorrow and led his officials in a month-long, elaborate, and solemn funeral for the late emperor. Only when the emperor was laid to rest in his mausoleum did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Xu Ping felt like a walking corpse during this time, fainting several times from grief before his grandfather's memorial service. The entire court was moved, proclaiming that the late emperor would surely be pleased if he knew. The pedantic scholars, waving the banner of "a country cannot be without a ruler for a day," held the enthronement ceremony after the old emperor's seven-day mourning period ended. Xu Ping, bearing the title of the new crown prince, was exhausted and nearly collapsed from the sheer number of rituals and regulations.

Although somewhat hasty, Zhu Yunwen officially sat on the dragon throne. Despite his lingering grief, he couldn't help but feel a secret joy at ruling the world. After ascending the throne, before the civil and military officials could even adjust, Zhu Yunwen suddenly launched a swift and decisive purge. Overt and covert forces gradually surfaced, employing a ruthless and insidious method that led to the downfall of officials caught completely off guard.

The turmoil in the court made Xu Ping look at his father, who had always feigned madness, with new respect. It seemed he had long been prepared for his own ascension, with someone quickly filling every vacant position. With the support of Xu Ping and another prince of a different surname, the turmoil that had lasted for over a month finally subsided. Although

only a small portion of the powerful ministers and their former subordinates were purged, it deterred others with ulterior motives. After all, a new emperor brings a new court; it's best to be obedient to ensure one's safety.

The three months of turmoil in the court had Xu Ping sweating profusely. These officials were all ruthless in their manipulations; if he didn't learn to be a little more cunning, he wouldn't be able to keep up. Their methods and intellect were simply too formidable. Compared to the shamelessness of those officials, I was really too naive.

It seems I need to make more preparations to avoid a situation where powerful ministers hold sway in the future. My father has been cultivating so much influence, both openly and secretly; this foresight is truly surprising! After pondering his plan for several days, Xu Ping decided to talk to his father.

Zhu Yunwen has lost a lot of weight recently. If it weren't for his thorough preparations, this turmoil might have lasted a long time. Although his methods are ruthless, some even involving framing, for the sake of the bigger picture, he has to appease some people. After all, this is a new dynasty, and there are still many old guard from the founding era. If they can't be controlled now, trouble is inevitable later.

In a rare moment of leisure, Zhu Yunwen sat in his study, his mind still preoccupied with the intricate relationships within the court. Seeing his only son, looking serious, approach him, Zhu Yunwen felt a surge of relief as he gazed at his growing son. Smiling, he said, "My good son, I heard that even after becoming Crown Prince, you haven't moved into the Eastern Palace. Those old fogies in court are very unhappy about it, saying it violates ancestral etiquette. Your old man is under a lot of pressure."

Xu Ping noticed that his father had indeed been quite tired since becoming emperor, especially with internal instability and border problems. In just three months, he seemed to have aged considerably. His once jet-black hair was now streaked with white. Bearing the pain of losing loved ones, accomplishing these tasks was indeed difficult for him.

Xu Ping waved for the palace maids to leave, then stood behind his father, massaging his shoulders. He said casually, "Father, don't you know my personality? If I live there, facing those old geezers and androgynous eunuchs all day long, aren't you afraid of making me impotent? I think you'd better act as a shield for me."

Zhu Yunwen was truly exasperated with his son. He was both useless and incredibly capable, having unknowingly gained the support of the palace's highly skilled retainers and guards, and even secretly won over some more radical minor officials. Yet, he was also capable, always getting into strange trouble, occasionally causing unexpected disturbances.

Zhu Yunwen smiled kindly and said, "I heard you found a girl from a bandit background. Although I have no objection to it, and your grandfather's original intention was for you to have more children, those stubborn old men will definitely cause trouble. Now is not the time to deal with them. After all, we've already dealt with a group of people, and people's hearts have just settled down. We can't make any big moves now, so you'd better not think about marriage for now. Wait a while!"

Xu Ping roughly understood how stubborn those old devils were. Thinking of those old faces that looked like innocent women who had been violated by hooligans, he felt a pain in his testicles and a chill run down his spine. He quickly nodded and continued, "Father, I know what I'm doing. I came to see you mainly because I have some things I want your support on."

Zhu Yunwen asked with interest, "Oh, my good son..." "What strange thing are you planning now!"

Xu Ping concealed part of his plan, only stating the key points: "The court's funds are running low. You know that when Grandfather was alive, he was so troubled by this problem that he almost fainted. I imagine you've had your share of worries about this, haven't you?"

Seeing the headache on his face, Xu Ping immediately pressed on, "Which of the six ministries in the court isn't a tightwad? As far as I know, the Ministry of Revenue just replaced its head with your confidant Liu Quan, and he's been complaining about being broke every day. Although he's gritting his teeth, he still can't come up with the silver to stabilize the borders. So I'm thinking of establishing two more ministries: one is the Ministry of Works, you'll find out what it does later, and I'll raise the funds for its operation myself; the other might be a bit tricky, and I'll need you to be able to withstand the pressure for a while."

Zhu Yunwen was already used to his son's strange ideas. He rubbed his temples and gestured for Xu Ping to continue.

Xu Ping paused, then said seriously, "The other is the Ministry of Commerce. Since the founding of the dynasty by my grandfather, all merchants have had a relatively low status. Although they have vast wealth, they can only wear coarse linen clothes. What I need is for you to completely give my two ministries free rein, allowing them to serve the court while remaining isolated, not having to attend court meetings. Moreover, I want complete control over them, so that no one can interfere." "

As for the Ministry of Works, although I don't know what you intend to do, the court already has a Ministry of Works. Since it doesn't need the court's funds, I think there shouldn't be any major problems. As for your proposal regarding the Ministry of Commerce, that's more difficult. Merchants have always had a relatively low status, and it will be hard to prevent those old fogies from opposing it. However, if you want to do it, your father supports you. You can start preparing secretly first. It will be at least a month before it's officially established." Zhu Yunwen's expression changed for a moment, but he still decided to continue supporting his son in cultivating his own power.

Xu Ping was overjoyed. Although the Ministry of Commerce wouldn't be officially established for more than a month, it didn't matter. There's enough time to make preparations, but thinking of those old fogies who're always threatening to bang their heads against the wall or hang themselves, he asked with a mixture of hatred and worry, "The Ministry of Commerce's affairs might encounter a lot of resistance. Those old fogies will definitely cause even more trouble. What will we do then?"

Zhu Yunwen's eyes turned vicious, and he sneered, "If it weren't for those old fogies' elaborate theories, your uncle would have already conquered the grasslands and marched directly to their royal court when the court was at its strongest. We wouldn't have left behind these troubles. Now, thirty years have passed since the founding of the dynasty, and internal inquiries..." "Now that things have stabilized, it's time to expand our territory."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Yunwen's eyes, and his voice suddenly became devoid of emotion, as if he were talking to himself: "Some people are getting old, and it's time for them to pass away. Even the healthiest person can't stop the wheel of time. After all, everyone is born, grows old, gets sick, and dies one day. It's not uncommon for someone to die in their bed at home after falling asleep."

Xu Ping knew immediately that his father planned to secretly eliminate some of the lazy and incompetent people. If he didn't do this, his Ministry of Commerce probably had no hope. Seeing his father's unwavering support without asking a single question, Xu Ping was filled with gratitude. He said, "Father, rest assured, within a year, I will have the imperial army march onto the grasslands."

Zhu Yunwen, seeing his son's rare filial piety, affectionately patted Xu Ping's head and smiled, saying, "Silly child, you're my only son now. If I don't stand by your side, who else can I help? Just do it with peace of mind! I believe your imperial grandfather in heaven will be pleased."

"Yes!" Xu Ping nodded earnestly, tears welling up in his eyes.

Zhu Yunwen paused, then suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "Look at my memory! Now that you're the Crown Prince, you should have your own Imperial Guard under your control. Although there won't be any more sibling rivalry, the other prince isn't exactly a staunch supporter of us. As your father, I will try my best to eliminate this threat while I'm still alive. If that's not possible, we must at least weaken them."

Speaking of the only prince of a different surname, Xu Ping recalled the image of the kind yet dignified old man who had fainted from crying at the state funeral. He had never really known this prince, who was like himself, but just looking at his face gave off a sense of oppression. It was definitely not an ordinary aura; only someone who had survived piles of corpses could give off such a feeling.

Xu Ping immediately asked curiously, "Father, given Grandfather's personality, why would he appoint someone who isn't from the Zhu family as a prince? What's the story behind this? I haven't really looked into it!"

Zhu Yunwen playfully punched his son, laughing and scolding, "You've always been messing around with all sorts of nonsense. Don't even mention these old almanacs; you don't even recognize many people in the Six Ministries right now. The other prince, whose surname isn't Zhu, is Ji, named Ji Zhongyun. The late emperor bestowed upon him the title of Prince Zhenbei. He followed your grandfather in his campaigns for over twenty years, and his body bears many scars..." All combined, he earned more than anyone else. During a war in the Yuan Dynasty, he saved your grandfather and uncle's lives. Even so, he only received a reward, not a royal title. Until the founding ceremony, the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty, unwilling to accept defeat, buried gunpowder to kill all these founding heroes and members of the royal family. Ji Zhongyun shielded them from the rockets with his body, preventing this disaster. Considering his life-saving grace and numerous merits, the late emperor bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Zhenbei. He can be considered another figure second only to the emperor in our Great Ming Dynasty.

Xu Ping listened with great interest, but then began to ponder. Logically speaking, the Prince of Zhenbei was an old man nearing his deathbed. Given his lifelong loyalty to the old emperor, he certainly wouldn't rebel. However, if an ambitious son inherited the throne, things would be different. He couldn't help but ask, "Father, are you worried that if his son inherits the title of Prince of Zhenbei, he might be unwilling to be subordinate to someone else?"

Zhu Yunwen, seeing that his son immediately understood his meaning, nodded approvingly and said, "That's right. Given Ji Zhongyun's temperament, he would absolutely never betray the court. Although he has high prestige in the army, he is a die-hard loyalist. However, he is already seven..." "He's already ten years old. Who knows when he'll follow your grandfather in death? Who knows which son will succeed him then? A person's ambition is never satisfied. When that successor stands at the level of a prince, all he can see is the emperor's throne. Therefore, we must be constantly on guard. You must know that the Zhenbei Prince's family has been cultivating the north for over thirty years since the founding of the dynasty; they are deeply entrenched. They also hold an army of 100,000 men. Regardless of whether they have any disloyal intentions, this instability must be completely eliminated."

Zhu Yunwen finished speaking, a ruthless glint in his eyes, as if some subtle movement had already made this newly enthroned emperor extremely sensitive.

Xu Ping had vaguely heard that Ji Zhongyun had never retired from his military post since the founding of the dynasty, always guarding the north against Goryeo and Japan, and also against the Khitan and Manchus. Small conflicts and battles were almost constant every year. Logically, that 100,000-strong army should be a formidable force, with combat power far exceeding that of ordinary garrisons.

Now, while his father is in power at court, he must cultivate his own power structure, otherwise things will become truly unstable. After all, he can't feel at ease unless he has complete control over an army.

Zhu Yunwen saw his son deep in thought and chuckled a few times: "Don't be too hasty. Don't put too much pressure on yourself right now. The original Prince Yan's residence has been converted into the Crown Prince's residence. You'll live there from now on! Visit your mother often; she's now the Empress, and the pressure is immense. Go now!"

Xu Ping took his leave and walked home, pondering his plan. He had to be completely discreet, whether it was money, intelligence, or the army, to at least give himself a period of respite. But most importantly, he needed a large sum of money and manpower as a backing.

After arriving home in a daze, the old steward, Uncle Liu, came over. Because men other than eunuchs were not allowed in the palace, this old man, who had served in the Prince Yan's residence for thirty years, stayed in the new Crown Prince's residence to continue serving his young master.

Uncle Liu said respectfully, "Your Highness, Lin Wei and the others have been waiting for you outside for quite some time. Would you like to see them now?"

Xu Ping looked at the old steward, dressed in a simple steward's uniform, walking with a stooped posture, as if he might be blown away by the wind. However, judging from his steady breathing and footsteps, he must possess considerable martial arts skills. Xu Ping had hardly paid attention to him when he was a child, probably because he was too playful.

If he hadn't cultivated the Battle Dragon Technique, he really wouldn't have realized that this elderly man was also a hidden master. Xu Ping snapped out of his daze, nodded, and said, "Uncle Liu, don't call me Your Highness at home, it's awkward! Just call me whatever you always have. Let them all come in!"

The old steward acknowledged and went out. A moment later, Lin Wei and the others entered. After kneeling and bowing, Lin Wei stood up, his face somewhat tentative, and said, "Master, as you instructed, we've acquired enough land for the Ministry of Works in the suburbs of the capital. The houses and courtyards are almost finished. As for the land for the Ministry of Commerce, Zhang Qinghe, a wealthy merchant in the capital, immediately donated a courtyard of over thirty acres upon hearing it was for you, and it's currently being redecorated."

Xu Ping gave a thumbs-up and gestured for him to continue. It seemed Zhang Qinghe knew Lin Wei; a courtyard was enough to curry favor with the Crown Prince—everyone would be scrambling to do something like that.

Holding the account book, Zhang Hu said with a delighted expression, "Master, this is the account book Zhao Meng presented. Three months ago, the distillery started selling wine. With your seal affixed and the mellow aroma of Shili Xiang, it's now known throughout the country and has become the imperial wine. Merchants are rushing to Tongyang County hoping to buy a batch, but production capacity is limited, so we can only satisfy a small group of people. It's said that the inns there are now full of people queuing to buy wine. Although we withheld some of the best quality wine over the past three months, the profit has still reached 400,000 taels."

This figure was somewhat different from his expectations, and Xu Ping asked listlessly, "With such high profits, this profit is 10% lower than originally expected. What happened?"

Zhang Hu noticed his master's slightly troubled expression... "Oh no!" he hurriedly explained, "It's like this, because the production over there simply can't meet the demand of those merchants. Generally, only one in ten people can buy a batch. In addition, there are still relatively few factories and workers, and you've been busy with palace affairs these past few months. So, after discussing it with Uncle Liu, the young mistress decided to only take half of the profits and continue to invest the rest to further increase production."

Xu Ping's expression softened slightly. During this time, the obedient Zhao Ling had already won the respect of these people. Besides comforting himself, he didn't expect that this delicate young girl was quite capable in doing business. Although women in this era couldn't show their faces in public, she still resolutely took over. It could be seen that although she was delicate, she was not the kind of weak woman.

Xu Ping felt a sense of relief. Looking back at Lin Wei's anxious expression, he immediately smiled and instructed, "Lin Wei, go tell Zhang Qinghe that the Crown Prince has accepted this gift, and he will have a place in the Ministry of Commerce in the future. You should hurry up and finish your work. Zhang Hu, go spread the word that the Ministry of Works is recruiting skilled craftsmen from all over the country, regardless of background, age, or gender. As long as you have the ability and skills, you can give it a try. After joining the ministry, you will enjoy the salary of an official."

Both of them nodded solemnly. Xu Ping then waved his hand and said, "You can go now. Call Uncle Liu and Zhao Ling here!"

The two responded and left. The old steward, Uncle Liu, came in with faltering steps, still looking half-dead. Xu Ping pretended not to know that the old steward possessed martial arts skills. After all, Uncle Liu had been in the manor since before he was born, and he genuinely respected this loyal old man. Moreover, his father had always treated him with great courtesy, so he couldn't put on airs.

Xu Ping said humbly, "Uncle Liu, I know you were originally a member of the martial arts world, and your skills are high. I hope you can help me organize a hidden intelligence network. I need to hear about the movements of all forces immediately."

The old steward's wrinkled face showed a relieved smile, and he said gently, "Young Prince, you've really grown up. Your father said the same thing to me back then. The Prince of Yan's power has been completely exposed to others, so your father began building a new intelligence network for you half a year ago."

His father's schemes were truly profound! Since his own power began to be exposed, he had already cultivated a new intelligence organization for him. It seemed that he had made such preparations because he was considering the instability in the court, and it seemed that he wanted to take care of everything for him first. Being an only child is so great!

Xu Ping felt a warmth in his heart and asked curiously, "Uncle Liu, how's the scale now? What are the actual results? And your background—with your mid-level Earth Rank strength, establishing your own sect wouldn't be a problem at all. Why are you content to be a steward in the Prince's mansion?"

Uncle Liu had never been able to see through the young master's cultivation level, and now, hearing Xu Ping reveal his cultivation realm in a single sentence, he was both curious and particularly shocked. Uncle Liu's

expression turned serious, and he slowly said, "Your Highness, my original name is Liu Tiangu. Back then, I was known in the martial arts world as 'Thunder Ghost,' and I was on par with the late Emperor's retainers. I was a powerful figure in my own right. In my youth, in pursuit of a higher realm, I challenged powerful figures everywhere. One day, when my name had spread throughout the land, I returned home to find my wife and children killed by Yuan soldiers, and my village trampled, littered with corpses and ruins."

At this point, Uncle Liu's face showed obvious sorrow. He paused and continued, "Back then, I had a fiery temper, and my mind was clouded by hatred. Without thinking, I charged straight into their camp. Unfortunately, I was no match for their numbers; even the best martial arts skills couldn't defeat so many people. In the end, if it weren't for the Prince leading his army to attack and pulling me out of the pile of corpses, I probably would have been reunited with my family long ago. The Prince not only avenged me but also saved my life. The deaths of my family have made me hate those empty names to the bone. I only hope to repay the Prince's great kindness for the rest of my life."

Thinking of his innocent and adorable son and the horrific scene of his wife's humiliation at the time of her death, Uncle Liu couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow, and two lines of tears streamed down his cloudy eyes.

Although Xu Ping had vaguely heard about this experience from his father, hearing it from Uncle Liu himself still carried a heavy sadness. Although he spoke of it casually, one could still imagine the hatred in his heart at that moment, a hatred so intense he wanted to tear the Yuan soldiers who had killed his family to pieces. Xu Ping felt a pang of empathy, and his heart ached slightly.

Seeing that he had affected his master's mood, the old steward wiped away his tears and chuckled, saying, "Young Prince, old people are always rambling, please don't take offense! These things happened a long time ago. I've been very happy in the Prince's mansion for the past thirty years, forgetting those empty titles and hatreds. The Prince also respects me like a brother and considers me a confidant. From your birth to now, you've grown into a handsome young man, this old servant is content with my life."

Xu Ping smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Uncle Liu, this is actually your home. Why be so sentimental!"

Uncle Liu smiled happily, and after a while, said seriously, "Young Prince, have you ever heard of the Demonic Sect?"

Xu Ping nodded. The Demonic Sect had begun to rise two years ago, occasionally clashing with the imperial court. They acted ruthlessly and viciously, but had many followers and their movements were mysterious. Even some people in the martial arts world felt that this sect was too mysterious. Although they called themselves the Demonic Sect, people in the martial arts world still held them in high regard because they often robbed the rich to help the poor.

"I've heard of it, but this demonic sect sometimes seems like a righteous sect, while at other times it does wicked and crooked things. I've heard they even dared to rob the imperial court of its money and grain. It's good that they've survived this long." Xu Ping said after thinking for a moment, his eyes looking thoughtfully at Uncle Liu.

Uncle Liu smiled slightly, a hint of pride in his eyes, and said, "The Demonic Sect was founded by this old servant. The current leader is my prized disciple, Liu Ruxue. I adopted her when she was a child, after she had wandered the streets. This old servant doesn't have that much time now, so she handles most of the affairs."

Xu Ping's eyes lit up, and he asked in surprise, "You mean the Demonic Sect is actually just a lower-level force within the Prince's Mansion?" Uncle Liu chuckled and nodded, saying, "Actually, it was created unintentionally by this old servant. After all, the martial arts world is full of diverse people, and one must have an informant to keep an eye on things. This old servant doesn't have enough time to assist the next young prince, so this is just my way of doing my part. As for some of the more extreme things, they were tacitly approved by the late emperor. Otherwise, given the Demonic Sect's style of doing things, the court would have already begun to suppress them."

Xu Ping couldn't help but admire him inwardly. In any dynasty, most martial arts practitioners would break the law with their martial arts. Often, those who rebelled would rally other sects to start an uprising, but the court couldn't possibly suppress each sect one by one, as that would only cause more trouble. But looking at these chaotic people was a headache; they couldn't be controlled, and they couldn't be killed off completely. They were always a very unstable factor.

The establishment of the Demonic Sect was undoubtedly a good method. It could help with some underhanded things when necessary, and it could also collect information and monitor the major sects in the martial arts world. Occasionally, letting them rob some things would give the impression that the Demonic Sect didn't care about anyone's authority, which could be considered a way of establishing authority! But in reality, this sect that opposed the imperial court was the biggest undercover agent, and its calculations were too shrewd.

[Episode 1] Chapter 5: The Demonic Sect's Little Demoness and the Busty Female Assassin

Xu Ping was particularly interested in the entanglements between the various forces and learned a lot of things he had never heard of before. Although he was in high spirits, his stomach started to rumble uncontrollably. Xu Ping looked at the sky and saw that it was already dark. He had unknowingly been chatting for an entire afternoon.

Uncle Liu, snapping out of his pleasant conversation, bowed and said, "Young Prince, it's getting late. This old servant will take his leave now. Please have your meal later!" He then respectfully left.

Xu Ping smiled and nodded. From their afternoon conversation, he sensed that Uncle Liu was a meticulous person. Although he looked old and frail, he was in excellent health. He could get many things done through him—a truly unexpected gain.

The Demonic Sect was an even more delightful gift. Xu Ping couldn't help but think of Zhu Yuanzhang's affection for him, and suddenly felt a pang of melancholy. He cleared his head slightly and began to consider other matters.

At this moment, Zhao Ling entered. Her light makeup made her already charming face even more beautiful, and her flowing red satin dress made her appear both dignified and delicate. Although she had lost the innocence and cuteness of a young girl, she had gained the maturity and charm of a woman. After being touched by Xu Ping, she seemed much more radiant and mature, a far cry from the timid little girl she had been a few months ago.

Behind her followed a petite, doll-like girl, about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a delicate, baby-faced appearance and bright, mischievous eyes that looked exceptionally adorable. Dressed in a childlike red dress, her face was full of tension and unease, making her look particularly endearing.

As for her figure, it was barely considered just developing. Xu Ping withdrew his gaze, no longer interested, and immediately stared lecherously at Zhao Ling's breasts, which had grown larger under his massage. They were firm and full; it had been a while since he had properly pampered his little wife. If it weren't for this inexplicable little girl, he would have loved to strip her naked and pamper her right now.

Seeing Xu Ping staring lecherously at her chest, Zhao Qian felt a mixture of shyness and delight. She curtsied gracefully and said sweetly, "Your Highness, this humble servant, Zhao Ling, greets you."

She then tugged at the seemingly nervous girl behind her, and the two bowed together.

Xu Ping pulled her into his arms, his hands roaming freely over her shapely body. He chuckled and scolded, "I say my little Ling'er has become naughty, daring to flirt with me. If I don't punish her properly tonight, she won't know how powerful her husband is."

Zhao Ling chuckled, enjoying her lover's strong embrace. She squirmed for a moment, feeling his erect penis pressing against her buttocks, hot and hard, bringing back memories of that ecstatic pleasure. A blush immediately spread across her face, and she gazed at Xu Ping with deep affection.

"Brother Ping, Qian'er missed you so much!" Zhao Ling said coquettishly, nestling greedily in Xu Ping's arms like a kitten seeking his affection.

"I missed you too, hehe!" As Xu Ping spoke, his hand couldn't resist moving downwards, kneading her firm, elastic buttocks through her thin dress.

Zhao Ling rolled her eyes in embarrassment, straightened her posture, and smiled at the little girl, saying, "Qiao'er, come here for a moment. Let the Crown Prince take a good look at you!"

The little girl stood shyly in front of the two, her head almost touching her chest, looking particularly endearing with her anxious expression. Xu Ping looked her up and down for a while, giving her an 80 out of 100. Although she was a bit thin, she was already beginning to resemble a beauty, and her features were very pretty. Even in the palace, girls like her were rare.

Xu Ping stopped his mischievous hand, put his arm around Zhao Ling's slender waist, and asked with a smile, "Qian'er, where did you find this little sister? She's so cute!"

Zhao Ling replied obediently, "Brother Ping, lately everyone's been busy with account books and Ministry of Commerce matters, and you haven't been back for a long time, so you haven't been home much. Just the other day, when I went to count the silver handed over from the winery, I saw Qiao'er crying by the roadside like a little kitten. Seeing how honest and clever she was, I brought her back. She and her family fled from Hebei to the capital. When they arrived, her parents fell ill and abandoned her. I noticed you need a bed warmer, so I decided to have her serve you."

A bed warmer? Xu Ping knew what that meant, but he'd never tried it. He preferred peace and quiet, so he didn't have many maids or servants in his household. It seemed he lacked the airs of a prince. Looking at the adorable little girl before him, Xu Ping smiled and said, "Qiao'er, is that right? Lift your head so I can see you."

The little girl timidly raised her head, not daring to look Xu Ping in the eye.

"Do you know what a bed warmer is supposed to do?" Xu Ping teased.

"Sister Ling told me everything. Serving the Crown Prince is the only thing Qiao'er needs to do, as long as you're happy. Sister Ling helped Qiao'er bury her father and mother, and Qiao'er will repay your great kindness." The little girl looked grateful and obedient, her voice low and soft.

Xu Ping suddenly stopped smiling, his face turning cold. After putting Zhao Ling down, he quickly jumped over and grabbed the little girl before she could react, locking her hands behind her back. Zhao Ling watched in stunned silence.

The little girl cried out in pain, her hands bound behind her back. Although Zhao Ling didn't know what was happening, seeing Qiao'er's face full of pain, her cute eyes almost brimming with tears, she quickly looked at Xu Ping pleadingly.

Xu Ping remained unmoved, tightening his grip on her hands. His expression was cold as he said, "Little girl, you've really gone to great lengths to infiltrate the Crown Prince's residence, putting on such a show! Sending a second-rate expert as an undercover agent is a huge waste of talent, isn't it? Speak! Who sent you?" Qiao'er was sweating profusely from the pain, opening her mouth but unable to utter a word.

Zhao Ling, realizing that her maid had deceived her and tried to sneak into the Prince's residence, although she didn't know her motives, felt responsible for what had happened. Seeing Xu Ping's icy expression, she was terrified and quickly knelt on the ground, afraid to speak.

"You're quite tight-lipped..." Xu Ping, seeing her silence, grew angry, clenching his fists, ready to teach her a lesson.

Uncle Liu returned and saw this scene. He rushed over anxiously and said, "Young Prince, please have mercy! This girl was sent by me to protect the young mistress. She's one of ours."

Xu Ping released his grip on Qiao'er, who was now pale with fright, and scolded, "Then why didn't you tell the truth when you saw me? If I had punched you, you would have been crippled, if not dead."

The little girl shook her hand a few times in pain, gave Uncle Liu a resentful look, and then knelt down respectfully, saying, "Ye Qiaoqiao, a disciple of the Demonic Sect, greets Your Highness."

Uncle Liu quickly chimed in, "Young Prince, Qiao'er was an orphan who wandered the streets. We adopted her and sent her to Liu Ruxue's place. This child is quite talented. She's only fifteen years old and already a second-rate expert. I saw the young mistress running around all day, so I sent this girl..." "Stay by my side to protect me. Please don't blame her!"

Seeing that they meant well, Xu Ping waved for them to stand up, then went back to hug Zhao Ling and said, "Ling'er, you can't be so careless in the future. But don't blame Qiao'er and Uncle Liu either, you know? They're just thinking about your safety."

Qiao'er quickly stepped forward and apologized like a child who had done something wrong, saying, "Young Madam, Qiao'er didn't really mean to lie to you. I was just afraid you wouldn't let me stay by your side, and it's better if you don't know some things."

Although Zhao Ling felt a little tricked, she felt relieved seeing Qiao'er's sincere apology and shook her head, saying, "It's okay, I know you're doing this for my own good."

Seeing that Zhao Ling seemed a little bothered, Xu Ping quickly ordered Uncle Liu to serve the dishes, and he held her as they ate a delicious dinner, with Qiao'er obediently serving them. After a hearty meal, he carried the still somewhat sullen Zhao Ling to the sauna he had designed, intending to pamper this little beauty and, incidentally, soothe his own groin.

The sauna was built with modern concepts and ancient design principles. Xu Ping had made it quite large, over ten square meters, anticipating more women in the future.

"Brother Ping, let Ling'er serve you!" Zhao Ling shyly stopped Xu Ping's hand from undressing, then obediently knelt down to help him undress. She then removed her outer garment, leaving only her close-fitting undergarment and underwear. "

Ah…" Sweating profusely, Xu Ping exclaimed in pleasure. It was Zhao Ling's first time taking a bath with him. He casually leaned back, spread his legs, and said lewdly to the somewhat hesitant beauty, "Ling'er, come help me wash!"

Zhao Ling nodded shyly, gently kneeling between Xu Ping's legs and washing him with tender movements. The woman's smooth little hands gently caressed her body, instantly making his large member incredibly hard. Zhao Ling shyly glanced at her lover's enormous member, still somewhat incredulous that her small lower body could accommodate such a frightening treasure, and embarrassed, she dared not touch it.

The steam had soaked her bodice, the small piece of fabric clinging to her exquisite breasts. Xu Ping looked down at the cleavage formed by her tender breasts, his throat involuntarily becoming dry and hot!

After swallowing, Xu Ping could no longer resist, pulling down her bodice in one swift motion. He fondled the beauty's full breasts with one hand, leering, "You dared to bypass me and not wash my dragon brother? Looks like I'll have to teach you a lesson today."

Zhao Ling let out a soft moan as her lover's large hands caressed her. She looked at Xu Ping, then shyly grasped his member with both hands and began to wash it carefully. The smooth feel of his small hands made Xu Ping gasp in pleasure. Zhao Ling, after all, still didn't know how to serve someone properly; she only did a simple wash. Xu Ping couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. Looking at her alluring rosy lips, he immediately remembered that he hadn't yet let this little beauty suck on his mouth.

He immediately tempted her, saying, "Ling'er, lick it with your little mouth, it will make your brother Ping feel even better."

Looking at the intimidating treasure in front of her, Zhao Ling hesitated a bit. This method of lovemaking was still quite unfamiliar to the relatively conservative women of this era. Seeing her lover's expectant gaze, Zhao Ling blushed and gritted her teeth before gently sticking out her fragrant tongue and tentatively touching the head of the dragon. Seeing that the dragon root in her hand trembled slightly, she looked up at Xu Ping questioningly.

The soft and hot feeling made Xu Ping's hair stand on end, and the beauty's innocent eyes were even more captivating. Xu Ping couldn't help but smile lewdly and praise, "Yes, do it like that, lick it with your tongue, be careful not to let your teeth touch it."

Encouraged, Zhao Ling immediately lowered her head and began to gently lick.

Although her oral skills were clumsy, just watching her earnestly perform oral services for him made Xu Ping feel incredibly comfortable. Having such a beauty serve him was something unthinkable in the 21st century. Xu Ping recalled the techniques he'd learned in adult films and praised her generously.

Although embarrassed by her explicit words, her lover's praise gradually made Zhao Ling shed her shyness and reserve, wanting only to make him more comfortable. Her little tongue worked harder, licking from his penis to his thighs without any hesitation, making Xu Ping almost ejaculate.

Zhao Ling noticed her lover's legs trembling slightly, and surprisingly, she opened her mouth and reluctantly took his large penis into her mouth, swallowing it up and down. Her once neat hair became disheveled, making her look even more alluring.

After a while, Zhao Ling looked up, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Brother Ping, I'm so tired, my mouth is so sore! Can you stop for a bit?"

Seeing her dazed and confused state, Xu Ping chuckled. Amidst her gasps, he removed the last piece of underwear, pulling the naked Zhao Ling into his arms. He kissed her soft, fragrant lips as he eagerly moved towards the bed, impatient to make love with the beauty and enjoy her tender, alluring body.

Zhao Ling's mind was starting to spin from the kisses; she closed her beautiful eyes, her face flushed with passion. Just as her lover gently placed her on the bed, she sensed someone under the covers and screamed in fright.

Xu Ping quickly shielded her behind him, shouting at the figure wriggling under the covers, "Who's there? Get out here!"

A small head slowly emerged from under the covers, its cute and pretty face looking innocently at the two who had been startled.

Qiao'er peeked out from under the covers, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Sister Xiaoling. You didn't say I couldn't come warm the bed, so I came by myself." She then looked curiously at Xu Ping's large member.

Xu Ping was trembling with rage. He grabbed her collar, flung open the door amidst Qiao'er's loud scream, and kicked her out onto her bottom. This girl not only ruined the atmosphere, but she should at least show some sincerity in warming the bed for him! Coming fully clothed? Wasn't that asking for a beating? If she were naked, he might have considered carving a space for her on the bed.

"Ouch..." Qiao'er lay pitifully on the floor, touching the large footprint on her bottom, murmuring aggrievedly. But the door behind her slammed shut.

After dealing with this ignorant girl, he turned around and saw Zhao Ling completely hidden under the covers, her delicate feet peeking out, making one want to reach out and caress them. Xu Ping rubbed his hands, swaying his erect penis, and walked over with a lewd grin. Just as he was about to start a hand-to-hand fight, the guards outside suddenly shouted anxiously, "Catch the assassin!"

Xu Ping was so angry he was almost impotent! Damn it, he'd never seen an assassin before, and just when he was about to get down to business, one popped up and gave him a taste of what it was like. The passion of their brief reunion was completely shattered. Zhao Ling also heard the shouts and crawled out of bed. Seeing Xu Ping's angry look, she quickly said softly, "Brother Ping, it's so chaotic outside, don't go out!"

"You go to sleep first!"

Xu Ping was so angry that he ran out of the room wearing only his shorts. If he caught this guy, he'd beat him half to death. All the atmosphere and emotions he'd cultivated all night were gone just like that, damn it!

As soon as he got to the courtyard, he saw the guards running around with torches, each one of them searching suspicious places with a serious expression. Uncle Liu and Qiao'er stood in the middle of the yard, observing everything. When they saw Xu Ping run out wearing only a pair of shorts, his strong thighs and upper body muscles exposed to the air, Qiao'er screamed and covered her eyes, but she mischievously peeked out curiously through her fingers.

Xu Ping was furious and had no time to pay attention to the little girl. He went up to Uncle Liu and asked, "What happened? Where did these assassins come from these days? Damn it, if I catch them, I'll cut their dicks off!"

Uncle Liu said with a serious expression, "I don't know what happened either. There was news from the palace that more than ten people had sneaked in to assassinate the Emperor. These people aren't very good at martial arts, but their lightness skills are all top-notch. They managed to escape from the Imperial Guards. They said one of them fled towards the Crown Prince's residence. Zhang Hu just saw a figure moving around in the front hall, which alerted everyone."

"Where is he? If I catch him, I'll break his bones!" Xu Ping asked through gritted teeth.

Before Uncle Liu could speak, he suddenly heard a faint sound of something cutting through the air and the rustling of clothes from the north. Just as he was about to give chase, Xu Ping also heard the commotion, leaped into the air, and scaled the wall to give chase. "Uncle Liu, you stay here and keep watch. I'll go deal with these guys."

Uncle Liu became anxious as he saw Xu Ping rush out. Although his master was highly skilled in martial arts, he had little experience in the ways of the world. If something happened to him, he would be beyond saving. Unfortunately, Xu Ping's figure had already disappeared into the night. Although he couldn't catch up, he still took a step forward and gave chase.

After chasing for a while, Xu Ping locked onto the man in black in the night. Like a cat playing with a mouse, he followed him at a leisurely pace. When they approached the city gate, a large number of soldiers were already guarding it. The man in black quickly changed direction and ran off in another direction. After weaving through the chaotic alleys for a while, seeing that his pursuers had disappeared, he pulled down his mask and leaned against the wall, panting.

Unexpectedly, Xu Ping was directly above the man in black, observing him. As the man pulled back his mask, Xu Ping's lower body instantly regained its fighting power, causing his shorts to bulge. Beneath the mask was a stunningly beautiful face: delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, large eyes, a small nose, and cherry-like lips that were panting softly. She was far more beautiful than any celebrity—a super beauty!

She looked to be only about 160 centimeters tall, and probably sixteen. She was indeed incredibly young and alluring. Why not be a beautiful woman and become an assassin? Wouldn't it be more promising for her to be my concubine?

Looking closer, Xu Ping wanted to slap himself. Her alluring figure was encased in tight-fitting night clothes, her exquisite curves particularly captivating. Her full breasts and pert buttocks clearly indicated she was a woman. How had he not noticed before? Luckily, he had been curious and wanted to tease her; if he had attacked her directly, he would have surely killed this delicate beauty.

The girl felt a drop of water on her head. Confused, she looked up and screamed in fright! A man wearing only shorts, his bulge prominently displayed, was staring at her lecherously, his lust undisguised. The water that had dripped on her head was his saliva. Enraged, she instinctively pulled out a throwing knife and threw it at him.

Xu Ping easily caught the sharp knife. Listening to the girl's melodious voice, he began to imagine what kind of sounds she would make in bed. Judging from the tone, just moaning would be arousing. Xu Ping continued to lecherously gaze at her shapely figure. Her large breasts swayed with her nervousness; he estimated them to be a 36D, round and incredibly alluring. Bearing such a heavy burden on such a petite body was truly difficult for this girl.

Xu Ping rubbed his hands, wanting to try out a rape in the wild, but seeing the beautiful woman in front of him glaring angrily, he immediately changed to an impatient tone and said, "What are you yelling about? Anyone who didn't know better would think I'm a womanizer! Get this straight, we're arresting you. If you attract the soldiers, see how you die."

The girl composed herself, not daring to look at the scantily clad man above her. She blushed, lowered her head, clasped her hands in a greeting, and said nervously, "Brother, I am Cheng Ningxue from the Cheng family of Yunnan. Judging from your attire, you don't seem to be from the government. May I ask why you've been following me?"

Xu Ping saw that the girl had the audacity to enter the palace to assassinate him, yet she didn't know who he was and didn't even bother to gather intelligence beforehand. Deciding to tease her a bit, he returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute: "My name is Gan Sini, a notorious womanizer in the capital. I happened to see you fleeing the palace in a panic, and out of curiosity, I followed you to find out what was going on."

Upon hearing that he was a womanizer, and had been following her for a long time, the girl immediately prepared to attack. However, she found the name rather strange and muttered to herself, "Gan Sini, Gan Sini..."

Xu Ping chuckled, almost bursting out laughing as he listened to her little mouth repeatedly saying "I'll kill you." He hadn't expected this girl to be so slow-witted, falling for such a simple trick. And she wanted to assassinate him? What if she failed and got raped instead? That would be terrible.

Suddenly, the girl understood the meaning of his words. Her face turned almost green with anger, her pretty face filled with rage. She drew a soft sword and charged at Xu Ping, shouting in a delicate voice, "You audacious lecher, I'll kill you!"

"What a beautiful horse!" Xu Ping chuckled, dodging the sword's edge with a leap, and then lightly evading several gleaming throwing knives. Looking at the furious Cheng Ningxue, whose angry expression only added to her alluring charm, he couldn't help but tease, "This has nothing to do with me; you've just misunderstood. But if you have such a request, this young master will grant it, but you'd better be gentle!"

Xu Ping chuckled as he leaped through the darkness, dodging the sharp, soft sword of the angry beauty before him, continuing his lewd teasing, "Hey, heroine, you wouldn't also..." "Are you one of my colleagues? You think you can take advantage of me because I'm dressed so scantily? I have principles, though. If you're gentle and don't just stab me randomly with your sword, maybe I can cooperate. Rape is so unromantic! How about we find a place to have some fun and commit adultery?"

When had Cheng Ningxue ever been teased like this? Her face flushed, and she wielded her sword even faster, cursing in a coquettish voice, "You lecherous scoundrel, I'll kill you!"

Perhaps she was so angry with Xu Ping that she forgot she was an assassin, and that the whole city was under martial law and trying to catch her. The two of them jumped around on the rooftops like they were playing hide-and-seek.

Xu Ping dodged another sword, feigning fear, "Heavens, you're far more immoral than me! You actually want to rape me first and then kill me, then cover your tracks. You can take my virginity, but can't you spare my life?"

"Go to hell..." Cheng Ningxue reached into her bosom, only to find to her dismay that she had lost all her throwing knives.

As soon as she stretched out her breasts, her large, intimidating breasts swayed up and down, the beautiful waves of her nipples almost making Xu Ping want to turn around and rape her.

"Girl, actually, raping a corpse is immoral. Male-to-female is more like it, female-to-male is difficult. Can you not use these advanced techniques?" Xu Ping suddenly put on a serious face, but chuckled as he spoke.

Faced with Xu Ping's shameless words, Cheng Ningxue decided to never speak again, forgetting her identity as an assassin. She quickened her pace to chase after Xu Ping, her mind filled with thoughts of giving this frivolous guy a good beating. After

running for several miles, Xu Ping realized that they had attracted the attention of many soldiers. If such a beauty fell into the hands of the Shuntian Prefecture, who knew how she would be tortured? If there was to be S&M, he would have to do it himself! Having made up his mind, he suddenly turned around and rushed towards her. Cheng Ningxue never expected Xu Ping to turn around so suddenly. Before she could react, her pressure points were immediately sealed, rendering her unable to move.

Xu Ping leered at Cheng Ningxue, his eyes lingering on her heaving breasts. He said with a lewd grin, "Little lady, if I hadn't been quick-witted, you would have really killed me. It's such a waste of such a pretty face to be wielding swords and spears at such a young age. How about you come back with me and become my concubine?"

Cheng Ningxue saw Xu Ping's gaze roaming over her body and asked in fear, "You lecherous thief, what are you going to do? Let me go!"

Only then did she secretly lament her fate. She had truly lost her mind in anger. Clearly, this rogue's martial arts skills were far superior to hers. What was the difference between chasing and beating him like this and offering herself up?

"Hehe, you call me a lecher and you still don't know what I'm up to? Since you don't know, then I'll teach you properly. We're practically in the same boat. Seeing you dressed like this in the middle of the night, you're not going to go and ruin some decent man, are you? For the sake of my fellow men, I'll sacrifice myself. Who told me to be so noble!" Xu Ping said shamelessly, blowing hot breath on her neck, his large hand encircling her slender waist from behind. What a great figure! Such a slender waist supporting two full mounds of flesh, it's quite a sight.

This was the first time Cheng Ningxue had been held so intimately by a man. How many times had she fantasized about being held in her lover's arms, whispering sweet nothings under the moon? She never expected that the man who touched her body for the first time would be a lecher. A sense of fear began to creep into her heart, and her girlish nature was revealed. Her beautiful eyes were filled with fear and unease, and tears began to stream down her fair face.

Seeing that he had frightened the little beauty to tears, Xu Ping gently walked around to the front, cupped her face, and kissed away her tears. He threatened in a harsh voice, "Don't cry, or I'll do it to you right here. It wouldn't be good if a heroine were lying naked in the street tomorrow."

Cheng Ningxue smelled the man's scent on her face, and the lecherous man's mouth was kissing her face. His tongue even licked her a few times, giving her a ticklish feeling. Her face immediately turned as red as fire, and her voice, like a nightingale's, trembled slightly as she said, "Stop, I won't cry."

"That's a good girl. But why are you dressed like this in the middle of the night?" Xu Ping asked after stopping his actions, seeing that her face was as red as Guan Yu's daughter.

Cheng Ningxue immediately shut her mouth, looking as if she would rather die than tell.

"It's fine if you don't tell me. I'm not an official, so I'm not that interested. But I am particularly interested in your big white breasts. What do you eat to grow them so big?" He finished speaking, his lecherous hands grabbing the pair of large, trembling breasts. Women in this era didn't wear bras, so you could feel their softness through their clothes. They were round and large, and remarkably, they weren't sagging at all, remaining very firm.

Cheng Ningxue was stunned, not expecting Xu Ping to be so indecent. Xu Ping gently pinched her small nipple, smaller than a peanut. A tingling sensation spread throughout her body, slightly clearing her mind. She was so ashamed and angry that she wanted to kill this shameless lecher, but her pressure points had been pressed, rendering her unable to move. Gone was her earlier ferocity; only silent tears remained.

As Xu Ping's hands became increasingly skilled at kneading, Cheng Ningxue felt a surge of heat throughout her body. Opening her eyes, she saw the thug in front of her looking at her with amusement. Gritting her teeth in anger, she said hatefully, "Just kill me."

Xu Ping continued to fondle her large breasts with undiminished pleasure, leeringly saying, "That's where you're wrong. How could someone as kind as me kill you at a time like this? Besides, you've already called me a flower thief; it's not good to destroy a flower before even taking it. I have my principles; I only rape, not kill. At most, I'll just finish with you..." "You'd throw me out into the street. Do you think I'm as ruthless as you? You're thinking of raping me first, then killing me."

He paused, then looked around at the rooftops and said, "I think the environment here is quite nice, perfect for a romantic wedding night. Why don't we enjoy some lovemaking here? Don't worry, I'll make you feel incredibly good

. Think about it, having sex in the wild is a pretty nice thing." Cheng Ningxue was already mentally devastated at the thought of her first time being taken in such a place by this lecherous thief. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded sadly, "Please kill me!"

"Little sister, I don't like raping corpses. I want you alive and kicking before I deflower you. Even if I kill you, it'll be after I've had my fun." Xu Ping said, kissing her ear, feeling the little beauty trembling in his arms, unsure if it was from fear, excitement, or his skillful caresses.

Cheng Ningxue glared hatefully at the man who had defiled her. Just as she was about to bite her tongue, Xu Ping struck another acupoint on her, rendering her limp and powerless to commit suicide.

Seeing her face was deathly pale, Xu Ping feigned indifference, smiling as he stroked her cheek, saying, "I'm more interested in your body now. What you do for a living is none of my business. Tonight, I'll give you a blast, and maybe the soldiers will even offer a reward tomorrow. Then you'll be rolling in money."

Cheng Ningxue saw lights coming on in the surrounding houses and soldiers beginning their searches with torches. She cried and pleaded, "Please, let me go! The soldiers are coming soon; I won't be able to escape!"

Xu Ping then pretended to be annoyed at being interrupted, glanced impatiently at the approaching torches, and lightly carried her away into the night. He thought to himself, "I've already frightened her this much; I should be able to get some information out of her with a little trickery."

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