《The Greatest Secret Agent of All Time》


 Chapter 1

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    His name was Yun Zhonghe, and it didn¡¯t sound like a good guy¡¯s name. The name was used by villains in a few different novels, and they were all godd*mn sexual predators.


    5


    Nevertheless, he was a top student: the kind of child that parents always compared their children to. From primary school to university, he was the target of his classmates¡¯ jealousy and envy.


    When he was 24 years old, he already had his doctoral degree from Princeton University. He became the head of a department in a well-known hospital when he was 28 years old, and the deputy director of that hospital by the time he was 31. He was an influential man no matter where he went.


    However, everything changed a year ago when he received a mysterious phone call.


    After that, he was appointed as the director of a hospital. Technically speaking, he was kidnapped and forced to take the job.


    1The hospital had about a hundred doctors and more than two hundred nurses and caretakers, but there were only twenty-nine patients. On average, ten medical staff took care of one patient.


    The name of the hospital was composed of only one letter: X.


    It was an extremely unusual psychiatric hospital. It was located deep in the mountains, completely separated from the outside world. It didn¡¯t exist on any map or any internet webpage, no one could tell which country it belonged to, but it was definitely not in China.


    4The area within a 50-kilometer radius of the hospital was guarded by armed troops. The soldiers were all mercenaries, and more than half of them were Caucasians. They were equipped with all sorts of radar devices and sophisticated technology. They even had a huge radio telescope in their possession. The facility seemed less like a psychiatric hospital and more like a top-secret base instead.


    Yet it was very much a mental hospital. The twenty-nine patients in it were very real.


    1There was one other trait that all twenty-nine shared in addition to being patients at the hospital: they were all super-geniuses.


    There was a saying that described them pretty well, ¡°There is only a thin line between a genius and a mad man.¡± The twenty-nine patients were all exceptionally bizarre lunatics, and also the most horrifying prodigies.


    Yun Zhonghe had been a top student since he was young, but after he was appointed the director of the hospital, he was tormented by a particular pair of emotions: the sense of inferiority and the shame of being ignorant.


    Yun Zhonghe thought that, in some respects, he was a fool compared to the twenty-nine patients.


    Patient Nineteen, who was also known as ¡°¦Ð.¡± He had been calculating pi since his admittance into the psychiatric hospital. He was calculating, not reciting. He was mumbling the digits in pi constantly without repeating at all.


    2¦Ð had been living in the hospital for fifteen years. He mumbled two digits per second, which meant his calculation had already reached the 9.04 billion digits after the decimal point. It was the exact answer, and he did it all in his mind, entirely without any equipment. He was virtually comparable to a supercomputer.


    He rambled on when he ate, when he slept, and when he went to the toilet. Two decimal places a second, meaning 7200 decimal places an hour, and 172800 decimal places a day.


    The most terrifying part was that he could multitask and compute other mathematical problems at the same time that he was constantly calculating pi.


    What was even more terrifying was that he had never learned linear algebra or any advanced mathematics, yet he could give the answer to even the hardest mathematical problems after casting a glance at them. He didn¡¯t even need a second.


    6He had figured out countless of the world¡¯s toughest math problems in the past fifteen years. It was a shame that his work couldn¡¯t be made public, or the Fields Medal (mathematicians¡¯ Nobel Prize) would be awarded to a mental health patient.


    ***


    Patient Twenty-Three, a.k.a. Da Vinci. He was probably the most talented painter in the world.


    How awesome was he? If someone could get him some suitable paper and ink, he could create fake banknotes that could be used to buy things immediately.


    3After the aging process, the masterpieces that he forged were identified as the real artworks, while the real ones were thought to be counterfeits.


    He could easily reproduce the masterpieces of any famous artist, no matter if they were from modern or ancient times, no matter if they were from the east or the west. His products were even more remarkable than the real masterpieces.


    From Wu Daozi to Monet, from Zhang Daqian to Van Gogh, he had learned from them and become better than them.


    He made most of his artistic achievements when he was young. He was nicknamed Da Vinci not only because he was gifted in painting, but because he was even more exceptional at dissecting corpses and sketching them exactly as they were with only a pen.


    He was arrested and jailed for stealing corpses. When his extraordinary talent was discovered, he was sent to this psychiatric hospital.


    After being admitted seventeen years ago, he had dissected hundreds of dead bodies, all sorts of them, and drawn tens of thousands of anatomical sketches.


    Now that there were high-resolution computers, why would hand-drawn anatomical drawings still be needed?


    They were, in fact, of utmost significance. Although the modern medical and biological fields were very well developed, the medical community¡¯s understanding of human organs was still far from complete. For instance, the extremely enigmatic pineal gland and the vestibule of the ear were still surrounded by many unsolved mysteries.


    On the other hand, Patient Twenty-Three could magnify the pineal gland and the vestibule of the ear up to a thousand times in his mind and sketch them out completely with their exact structures and forms.


    7Moreover, he claimed that humans being currently made minimal use of their pineal glands, and that the potential of the organs had barely been tapped. If the human race could fully exploit and utilize the pineal gland, they would be able to receive extraterrestrial signals directly from lightyears away.


    Furthermore, if slight modifications could be made to the pineal gland, humans would be able to absorb the essence of the sun and the moon, undergo a metamorphosis, and become transcendent.


    It was simply stunning to watch him magnify the pineal gland hundreds of times and sketch out its complete form.


    ***


    Patient Nine, a.k.a. Quantum.


    He claimed that his brain was like a quantum computer. He could use it to decipher the unknown past based on current events and predict what would happen in the future. He insisted that it was not fortune-telling, but calculation according to the causal chain.


    When he was first admitted into the hospital, it seemed like a time of miracles. He successfully predicted countless events that would happen in the near future, and he was deemed a demigod.


    However, the world was full of variables. When a variable surfaced, his prediction would become incorrect, and that would open up a parallel universe in his mind which was diverted from reality.


    1As the number of false predictions climbed, so did the number of parallel universes that were accumulating in his mind. There were continuous explosions of thoughts in his brain, and eventually, it became too much. His mind buckled.


    Patient Nine was now like a zombie. He still went through basic daily routines like eating, drinking, and using the toilet, but he was completely unresponsive to the outside world. His brain was constantly deducing the potentials of countless parallel universes, and that took up all of his energy.


    6He had been in the hospital for seventeen years. The first year was full of wonders, but there had been fewer and fewer miracles ever since. He spent the last fifteen years as a living corpse. For the last ten years, he kept his eyes shut all the time. He ate, slept, and went to the toilet with his eyes closed. He had lost his marvelous ability.


    ***


    Patient Seven, a.k.a. Chameleon.


    This psycho claimed that he could transform into another person. It didn¡¯t sound too impressive, but it was actually very creepy. Everyone had an independent existence, one and only. What¡¯s more, the so-called world was just one¡¯s perception.


    Eyesight, hearing, touch, emotions, memories, and the like constituted a person¡¯s perception of the world.


    To a certain extent, when a person closed his eyes, he was his own world. Therefore, he could never become another person.


    However, Patient Seven alleged that he could turn into another person.


    He would choose a target, get to know all about their past, feel every emotion they felt, and think in their way of thinking.


    At first, he would speak in the same tone and accent as his target. Then, he would move in the same manner. Next came the scarier part; Patient Seven¡¯s facial features would start to change and gradually became more similar to those of his target.


    3Eventually, he would become a dead ringer for his target. Every single characteristic, from facial features to body form, would be identical.


    They would say the same words, behave in the same way, and even think about the same things, even though their true natures were very far from one another.


    Creepy, isn¡¯t it?


    This had already gone way beyond reality.


    ***


    Patient Sixteen, a.k.a. Ghost.


    He didn¡¯t get his nickname because he looked like a ghost, but because he could practically read minds.


    As long as he looked at your eyes, felt your breath, and saw your microexpressions, he knew what was on your mind. People were virtually transparent before him, and it was frightening.


    1

 Chapter 2

    1


    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    The twenty-nine patients in X Psychiatric Hospital were all weirdos, each more peculiar and brilliant than the last.


    Of all the patients, Patients One, Two, and Three were probably the most bizarre and frightening.


    What kind of special abilities did those three possess, then?


    No one knew!


    From Yun Zhonghe¡¯s point of view, they were the three most normal patients in the whole psychiatric hospital.


    The only defect in Patient Three was that he incessantly claimed, ¡°I am an alien.¡± Other than that, there was nothing unusual in his behavior.


    Over time, Patient Three became generally known as Alien.


    On the other hand, Patient One and Two were mysteries through and through. They didn¡¯t even have nicknames. They were locked up deep underground all year long, and Yun Zhonghe had never met them, even though he was the director of the hospital.


    After working as the hospital¡¯s director for three years, Yun Zhonghe still hadn¡¯t found out what these three patients were capable of or what superpowers they possessed. No one in the whole psychiatric hospital knew.


    Perhaps the previous director of the hospital had known, but he¡­ had already passed away.


    One thing was for sure: Patient One must have been the most powerful and extraordinary patient, or else, he wouldn¡¯t have been given the first number.


    Besides that, Patients Two and Three must have possessed some extremely incredible abilities. They just hadn¡¯t had the chance to unleash their unique powers in front of Yun Zhonghe.


    Or perhaps Yun Zhonghe simply didn¡¯t have what it took to comprehend their unique abilities.


    1***


    At that moment, Director Yun Zhonghe was doing his ward rounds.


    ¡°You can¡¯t stop taking the medicines!¡±


    ¡°Patient Twenty-Three, Da Vinci, what are you doing? What are you doing?¡± Yun Zhonghe rushed toward the patient immediately after he heard the nurse¡¯s squeal, only to find that Patient Twenty-Three had just castrated himself.


    2Patient Twenty-Three was very calm, he said, ¡°I was studying life, and then I decided to try to produce life.¡±


    1¡°You can study life all you want, but do you need to be so cruel to yourself? Are you trying to cultivate the Exorcism Sword Style?¡±


    1¡°Every single one of us originates from such a tiny little thing. I would like to dissect it and unlock the secrets of life once and for all.¡±


    ¡°You can use a completely different method to do that! Do you really need to mutilate yourself in the process?¡±


    ¡°Would Patient Twenty-Four be willing to sacrifice herself for my research? It is a shame that she is a woman, so I don¡¯t have any other choice but to do it myself.¡±


    Even though Yun Zhonghe had already seen quite a lot in the past three years, the view still sent chills up his spine.


    ¡°You¡­ Don¡¯t you feel the pain?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do!¡±


    ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you cried out?¡±


    ¡°Why would I cry out? Director, when you were with Colonel Li, you were also acting sneakily¡­¡±


    1When he finished his sentence, everyone in the room was startled.


    Colonel Li was the commander of the armed forces who were guarding the psychiatric hospital, and she was from Singapore. She was the captain of the troop of mercenaries, and what¡¯s more¡­ she was married. Her husband was the chief researcher in the secret research institute under the hospital, and he was doing experiments in the laboratory at that very moment.


    Yun Zhonghe was having an affair with the researcher¡¯s wife. If this got out, it would be a disaster!


    At the same time, strange and heart-rending cries were heard in the psychiatric hospital. They were followed by an even stranger but more beautiful melody. People became intoxicated by the music and seemed to fall into a trance.


    Yun Zhonghe immediately ordered, ¡°Stop him! Stop him now! Activate the audio jammer, lock him up on the thirteenth floor underground. He is grounded for half a year! Grounded for half a year!¡±


    1A short while after, a mental health patient, whose entire body was tied up, was taken to the thirteenth floor underground.


    Half an hour later, Yun Zhonghe showed up before him. The man was Patient Eight, also known as Beethoven. He was a musical prodigy; he could play all kinds of musical instruments very well, his performance skills were unconquerable, and his talent in composing was unprecedented.


    He was deaf and blind.


    He blinded himself because he claimed that having eyesight would reduce his sensitivity to musical notes. Blind people had more acute hearing.


    A few years after blinding himself, he felt that auditory sense was an obstacle that stopped him from reaching a deeper understanding of music, so he deafened himself. He did that to fully engage himself in pursuing a deeper understanding of music.


    1He did, in fact, compose epic pieces of music that were not second to the masterpieces that had remained well-known for centuries. Many people thought that another legendary master of music, like Beethoven or Mozart, was about to slowly rise to fame.


    He would become a world-class musical master and have a niche in the temple of fame.


    However, his music gradually grew stranger and more frightening.


    Some of his work could hypnotize, and some could make people lose their minds.


    Some of his music, although you could not hear it, could give his audience nightmares and make them kill themselves in their sleep.


    In short, Patient Eight had become an extremely dangerous being.


    Yun Zhonghe was currently sitting in front of Patient Eight.


    ¡°Studying music is fine, but why should people have to die because of your music? The nurse was such a pretty girl. She smacked her head into the wall after listening to your music. She struck hard enough to crack her own skull.¡±


    Patient Eight was deaf, but he was so sensitive that he could feel the sound waves emitted by the others and identify what they were saying.


    2Patient Eight explained, ¡°I have not had such an urge to compose in a long time, but I received a very special sound wave from the depths of the universe. I was very excited, and I began my newest work.¡±


    1Sh*t. This ¡°newest work¡± had led a nurse and a caretaker to beat their heads into a wall right after hearing it, leaving one dead and the other injured.


    ¡°Director, death is eternity, and I was searching for a musical note of eternity. I hope that this note can manipulate people¡¯s spirits, make them as happy as if they were in heaven, or make them suffer as if they were in hell. The note can bestow upon mankind dreams as tasty as wine, nightmares as scary as ghosts. It can drive men crazy, lead them to their deaths¡­¡±


    1Yun Zhonghe remained silent for a while and replied to him with the words, ¡°F*ck you, you heartless piece of sh*t!¡±


    1***


    In the secret laboratory¡­


    The chief researcher of the research institute was doing an experiment with the help of his assistant.


    The assistant said hesitantly, ¡°Professor Wu, I have a friend in a very sad situation. His wife is having an affair with another man. Lots of people know about it, and he is the only one who hasn¡¯t realized what¡¯s going on.¡±


    ¡°You should tell your friend about it quickly.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the heart to do it,¡± the assistant said. ¡°This sort of matter is too embarrassing.¡±


    ¡°Then maybe you should find a way to give him a hint?¡± Professor Wu replied.


    1The assistant thought for a moment and picked up a green test tube. ¡°Professor Wu, look, how nice is the color of this test tube! It is the color of spring, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The chief researcher was stunned. He then burst into tears.


    ¡°Oh¡­ Who is it, who is it? Is the b*stard Yun Zhonghe? Is it him?¡±


    The assistant was surprised. ¡°Professor Wu, how did you know it was him? Do you have the sixth sense?¡±


    ¡°He is the best-looking guy in the whole psychiatric hospital. Who else would it be if it wasn¡¯t him? Argh¡­ argh¡­ argh¡­¡±


    ¡°Professor Wu, what are you gonna do?¡±


    ¡°What can I do? As long as A Li does not divorce me, I¡­ I will pretend like I know nothing!¡± The chief researcher choked with sobs.


    The assistant sighed. The honest men in this world had to put up with the chagrin of being betrayed by their partners to be able to brave through life.


    5***


    Something peculiar happened in the special psychiatric hospital: Patient Nine, Quantum, was awake!


    This was the man who said he could predict the future and explain the past.


    The predictive feats he claimed to be capable of were very complex, but his mind hadn¡¯t responded in ten years. He had been like a living corpse for the past decade.


    When he suddenly opened his eyes after being only partially conscious for ten years, it caught everyone off guard.


    The director, Yun Zhonghe, quickly went to meet the man who was considered a demigod. What had happened that could miraculously wake him up?


    ¡°Director, Colonel Li¡¯s husband knows about your affair with her.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was shocked. ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°Professor Wu confronted Colonel Li an hour ago,¡± Quantum said. ¡°Colonel Li admitted the affair and was determined to divorce her husband so that she could be with you.¡±


    Director Yun Zhonghe was even more perplexed. ¡°How, how is that possible? I have already discarded the vexation of worldly affairs and sworn to become an ascetic monk. Why would she take it so seriously? I didn¡¯t want to ruin what they have at all! The husband and wife are meant for each other; they are a perfect match!¡±


    3Quantum reacted with disgust. ¡°F*ck, you are shameless!¡±


    ¡°Quantum, how¡­ How do you know about all this? Did you predict this?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Quantum answered, ¡°Even though I didn¡¯t see any of this, I could infer what happened based on the quantum energy in the vicinity and predict what will happen next according to all the causal chains.¡±


    2Yun Zhonghe then said, ¡°So, can you predict what will happen in the future?¡±


    ¡°Captain Li is resolved to get a divorce to be with you,¡± Quantum replied, ¡°and Professor Wu is enraged and seeking revenge. He is going to detonate a bomb, which he created in secret, to destroy the whole psychiatric hospital. He wants the two of you, the paramour and the Jezebel, to be smashed to pieces.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe looked at the other man, horrified. He asked with a tremble in his voice, ¡°When will he detonate the bomb? When? I need to stop him.¡±


    Quantum closed his eyes and said, ¡°Five!¡±


    ¡°Five days? Five hours?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked fearfully.


    Quantum continued, ¡°Four, three, two, one¡­¡±


    7

 Chapter 3

    1


    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Boom boom boom!


    As Quantum finished counting down, sky-rocking and earth-shattering explosions were heard, and a mushroom cloud rose into the atmosphere.


    The whole psychiatric hospital was razed to the ground.


    A second before the explosion, Yun Zhonghe glared furiously at Patient Nine. Although he did not say a word, the look in his eyes had already spoken for him.


    ¡°Quantum, are you crazy? If you knew beforehand that this catastrophe was coming, why didn¡¯t you try to stop it?¡±


    ¡°Director? What is the most important principle a man should hold onto?¡±


    ¡°Happiness?¡±


    1¡°No! It is that we should never interfere with the causal chain! What is meant to happen should happen, or else, there will be a butterfly effect.¡±


    2¡°I¨C¡±


    The handsome and fit Director Yun Zhonghe, together with every soul in the mental hospital, was crushed to pieces and died.


    ¡°And the blurry image of that future that I saw was way too beautiful¡­¡± Patient Nine whispered to himself.


    The moment when the earth-shaking explosion happened, twenty-nine spirits suddenly entered Yun Zhonghe¡¯s body before they turned into ashes.


    2***


    An unknown amount of time passed. It felt like a split second, but it also felt like countless dimensions and ages had passed. Yun Zhonghe slowly regained consciousness.


    He didn¡¯t open his eyes, but all his senses had come back to him.


    He was dead and smashed to pieces, wasn¡¯t he? How was he still alive?


    Where¡­ where was this place? The atmosphere was kind of depressing, and a sinister sensation seemed to hang over Yun Zhonghe.


    There were many people present in the vicinity, but Yun Zhonghe¡¯s surroundings were dead silent. Despite that, a sense of restlessness and anticipation seemed to weigh across him.


    Yun Zhonghe used all of his energy to open his eyes. He was greeted by an unbelievable sight.


    Whoosh!


    Arms were raised and a blade was dropped. Blood splashed in all directions. A head was separated from the neck and rolled onto the floor.


    The brutal and bloody scene occurred less than three meters in front of Yun Zhonghe. The warm blood even splashed right onto his face.


    There wasn¡¯t enough time for Yun Zhonghe to react.


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    Whoosh!


    The executioners raised their hands and then lowered their blades. They had already chopped off three heads, one head per second on average.


    This was a strange ancient world, and, to his surprise, he found himself in¡­ an execution ground. They were performing beheadings?!


    As the director of the special psychiatric hospital, Yun Zhonghe had seen a great deal. He reached the conclusion, almost instantly, that he had traveled through time.


    3But where had he traveled to? Which dynasty? Who was he? Why would he travel through time?


    He did not have the answers to any of those questions.


    The special psychiatric hospital had exploded, and he had time-traveled, but what about all the others in the hospital? What happened to the twenty-nine nutjobs?


    Dozens of questions and hundreds of ideas appeared in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mind in a flash.


    However, he set aside those distracting thoughts.


    It would soon be his turn to be decapitated. He had somehow traveled through time to become a prisoner on death row.


    Scores of prisoners were kneeling on the execution ground. A new person was beheaded every second.


    There were only thirteen prisoners before Yun Zhonghe, which meant he had thirteen seconds before it was his turn to be beheaded.


    He had to save himself. He had to save himself.


    He had to find a way to save his own *ss in thirteen seconds, or his head and body would soon be parted.


    The situation made Yun Zhonghe¡¯s hair stand on end like the fur of a frightened cat.


    The prospect of imminent death had put him in a very strange mental state. One part of his mind was freaking out, while another part of his brain was playing a comic dialogue, ¡°I Want to Time-Travel¡± by Guo Degang.


    In the comic dialogue, Old Guo was the most hapless time traveler. His spirit entered the body of Li Lianying who was about to die; the body of He Shen who was about to be executed; the body of one of the six generals who was to be killed by Guan Yu after overcoming five obstacles; and the body of Zhang Zuolin who was on board the Huanggutun train.


    How similar were those experiences to Yun Zhonghe¡¯s current situation!


    Another five seconds had passed while he was lost in his silly thoughts. Yun Zhonghe almost burst into laughter when he recalled that comic dialogue of Old Guo¡¯s.


    Hahaha, that was an interesting one, so hilarious!


    Nevertheless, he quickly turned his thoughts away from the comic dialogue. ¡°Pay attention to what¡¯s going on right now. I¡¯m about to die, and I¡¯m thinking about a comic dialogue? It is indeed what someone from a psychiatric hospital would do. But I, the hospital director, am not that crazy, am I? What is happening to me?¡± he thought.


    ¡°Is it because of the time-traveling that I, Yun Zhonghe, have become a nutjob?¡±


    2Yun Zhonghe was trying very hard to think.


    He had to save himself, he had to, he had to ¡­


    Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡­


    The beheading went on, one head per second on average. There were still five seconds before Yun Zhonghe¡¯s decapitation.


    ¡°What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do?¡± he thought with panic.


    ¡°I, Yun Zhonghe, am a genius. A top student. A wife-seducer. I have had affairs with many men¡¯s wives, and yet I have no way to save myself?¡±


    3¡°What crimes did the owner of this body commit? Something bad enough to be sentenced to death by beheading?!¡±


    Soon enough, Yun Zhonghe concluded that saving himself would be difficult as hell.


    First of all, there was a rag in his mouth, so he couldn¡¯t talk his way out. He had a sack over his head, so he couldn¡¯t show off his one and only handsome face. Finally, his hands were tied, so he couldn¡¯t use any gestures to express himself.¡±


    3Four more seconds¡­ Three more seconds before his beheading.


    Even if he was a genius, he had no hope of saving himself from that kind of situation.


    He was doomed!


    Totally doomed!


    Yun Zhonghe was about to become the most miserable time-traveler ever. He only had thirteen seconds to live after traveling through time.


    He couldn¡¯t speak or move. Saving himself in three seconds given the circumstances would be harder than going to heaven!


    Three, two, one!


    Whoosh!


    As the arms were raised and the blade fell, the prisoner on his left, who was only a half-meter away from him, was beheaded.


    Yun Zhonghe could feel the warmth of the blood spraying over his face. He was covered in the rain of red.


    1It was finally Yun Zhonghe¡¯s turn!


    The executioner was standing behind him. The man raised the blade of death and aimed it at Yun Zhonghe¡¯s neck.


    He was on the verge of having his head chopped off and becoming the shortest-lived time-traveler in history.


    However, right at that moment, surprise crept onto Yun Zhonghe¡¯s face, then turned into a smile.


    He discovered that he didn¡¯t have to save himself anymore.


    He heard the executioner¡¯s internal monologue: ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to kill this Adonis!¡±


    2The executioner was standing behind him, and Yun Zhonghe could not see him. The man was only thinking to himself without making any sound, but his internal monologue still appeared in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mind. ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to kill this Adonis!¡±


    Mind-reading!


    He had Patient Sixteen¡¯s mind-reading skills?! How did that special ability get into Yun


    Zhonghe? Had he been possessed by the mental health patient after time-traveling?


    Whoosh!


    At that moment, the executioner¡¯s blade of death suddenly fell on him.


    Yun Zhonghe blacked out, and his whole body collapsed and sprawled across the floor. He lost consciousness right away.


    ***


    Another unknown amount of time passed, and Yun Zhonghe woke up slowly.


    He was currently in a prison cell, tied on a torture rack. Three guillotine blades, each weighing more than a hundred catty,* were hanging above him.


    Once the order was given, the three guillotines would slam into his flesh and hack him into four pieces.


    A pair of eyes like those of an eagle were fixed on him now.


    The eyes were so scary and sharp that the face of the owner was completely ignored.


    Yun Zhonghe instinctively tried to read the man¡¯s mind, only to find out that his eyes were as quiet as the water in an old well, as if he had neither any emotion nor any expression. He must have been some ancient master.


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, all the others were decapitated, and you are the only one who survived. Do you know why?¡± asked the owner of the eyes.


    Yun Zhonghe shook his head.


    ¡°Once I give the order, you will be chopped into four pieces. Do you want to live?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe nodded.


    The man said in a level voice, ¡°You do want to live? That¡¯s great. Tell me why I should spare your life.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was developing sentimental emotions. His face was stern, and he cried out as tears welled up in his eyes, ¡°Father!¡±


    The man¡¯s jaw dropped.


    Yun Zhonghe then said solemnly, ¡°How about that? I take you, the bad guy, as my father, and you spare my life.¡±


    1


    *About 130 pounds.

 Chapter 4

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    The man with the hawk-like eyes was startled when he heard what Yun Zhonghe said. His gaze sharpened as he asked, ¡°Are you not afraid of death?¡±


    ¡°The thought of death terrifies me,¡± Yun Zhonghe answered.


    The man then said, ¡°Then why are you so keenly looking for trouble?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe froze for a moment. He found it rather strange too. He wanted to live very much, but he had taunted the man who would determine his fate.


    It was crystal clear that the hawk-eyed man in front of him could kill a man without blinking an eye. His hands must have been stained by the blood of countless people. Killing Yun Zhonghe right now would be as easy as crushing an ant.


    He should have been trembling with fear at such a juncture of life and death, yet he could not help but try to be funny. Yun Zhonghe had never acted like this before. He had been the director of a psychiatric hospital, but now he was acting insane, like one of his own patients.


    Yun Zhonghe immediately shrugged and said, ¡°Well, I¡¯m a funny guy.¡±


    The man ignored that and continued. ¡°Thirty-nine people were decapitated today, and you should have been one of them. Instead, you were spared. Do you know why?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe thought for a moment and answered, ¡°Because I am good-looking?¡±


    The man took a mirror and put it on the table so that Yun Zhonghe could see his own face clearly.


    He was right; he was indeed good-looking. The face that looked back at him in the mirror¡¯s reflection was almost identical to what he had looked like on earth. He looked even more gorgeous with long hair and clothing of an ancient style.


    There were still some differences. The color of his eyes had changed, and his face was a slightly different shape than it had been.


    1It was hard to describe the Yun Zhonghe in this world. How should he put it? His handsomeness was unparalleled, but he didn¡¯t give off the vibe of a good person. He looked like a pervert from every angle. His face would be perfectly suited for the antagonist in a movie or TV series; his features were way too lascivious and wicked.


    2What was the logic behind all of this? Why would the Yun Zhonghe in this world have the same name and appearance as the one on earth?


    The man asked again, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°Embroidered Uniform Guard? Eastern Depot?¡±


    ¡°The Order of the Black Dragon!¡± the man revealed.


    Yun Zhonghe realized that he didn¡¯t have many memories about this world. He didn¡¯t know anything about the original owner of this body, including the man¡¯s name, his past, or why he was on death row.


    The Order of the Black Dragon served the Great Ying Empire as the most powerful intelligence agency ever recorded in history. They were the emperor¡¯s loftiest hawks and hounds. Once the Order of the Black Dragon sprang into action, the whole world was put on edge.


    Rumor had it that once, a government official grumbled to his wife in bed. Within an hour, his complaint had been noted in a confidential report and submitted to the palace.


    In this world, there was no task that the Order of the Black Dragon could not complete, no man whom they could not kill. Once you became the target of the order, even if you ran off to the world¡¯s end, you were doomed.


    ¡°We are His Imperial Majesty¡¯s hawks and hounds, the world¡¯s most powerful organization,¡± the man explained. ¡°When the order¡¯s chief moves his finger, someone tens of thousands of miles away will lose his head. When he moves his hand, a monarchy on the other side of the world is overthrown.¡±


    At this point, Yun Zhonghe concluded that the Order of the Black Dragon was far more powerful than the Embroidered Uniform Guards and the Eastern Depot had ever been. From the way the hawk-like man described it, the order was more professional and skilled than the CIA and KGB put together.


    Speaking slowly and methodically, the man said, ¡°You were supposed to be beheaded. You only live now because I have chosen you. I want you to join the Order of the Black Dragon, and become a secret agent who serves the empire.¡±


    A secret agent of the Order of the Black Dragon? Like some Imperial Agent 007, who had a license to kill? Or perhaps, the Imperial Stool Pigeon 008?


    ¡°Yes, you are right, I chose you because of your good looks. You have a face so pretty that it makes people jealous enough to want to destroy it,¡± said the Black Dragon officer. ¡°And currently, there is an undercover mission that requires an exceptionally good-looking guy.¡±


    ¡°No problem, I¡¯ll go!¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Who am I gonna seduce?¡±


    1The officer answered grimly, ¡°A She-Devil who slaughters without batting an eyelid. She is intangibly beautiful, skilled at kungfu, and very powerful. She is so influential in her domain that her words are treated as the law.¡±


    4Yun Zhonghe grew curious. ¡°As the greatest intelligence agency in the empire, the Order of the Black Dragon should possess many masters of death and subterfuge. It wouldn¡¯t be too hard for you to kill the She-Devil directly, would it?¡±


    ¡°We do not want to kill her,¡± the officer corrected him. ¡°We want to conquer her, and subsequently conquer her organization. Then, we will integrate it into the empire.¡±


    ¡°What is her organization, exactly?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°The City of Torn Gust!¡± said the officer of the Order of the Black Dragon.


    The City of Torn Gust?! Where was that? What power did it possess?


    Poor Yun Zhonghe had none of the memories of the body he inhabited, so this world was unknown to him.


    1Naturally, he didn¡¯t know what kind of place the City of Torn Gust was.


    ¡°The Valley of Torn Gust covers an area of 13,000 square kilometers. It has a population of 400,000 people, and it is divided into nine territories and a capital city. The influence of the valley is of great importance to the empire.¡± The officer continued, ¡°It is an important strategic location for the empire in the Land of No King. It directly affects the future Battle of the South and the North and, thus, the conquest of the vast terrain to the South of the River Tian.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe racked his brain, trying very hard to find the memories of his body¡¯s original owner. Finally, bits and pieces began to rise to the surface of his mind.


    1As the saying went, ¡°Fragments are bound to unite after a long time; a unity is bound to break up after a long time.¡± This world was right in the middle of the most chaotic and turbulent epoch of a great struggle.


    Six kingdoms were striving for supremacy, rivaling each other to become the Lord Paramount of the world. Whatever ruler could conquer and unite the other kingdoms would put an end to the thousands of years of chaos, become the Lord Paramount, and be crowned with eternal glory. He would be the True Dragon and the Son of Heaven who was sovereign in the vast territory.


    Yun Zhonghe was currently in the Great Ying Empire, which was expanding its forces rapidly. It rose from a third-class nation to a first-class empire in just a hundred years, like a rising sun shining forth with all its strength.


    The Land of No King, as its name implied, did not fall under any country¡¯s control. It was located at the juncture of three powerful kingdoms, and it had been used as a strategic buffer zone for hundreds of years.


    Many military strategists had said, ¡°Whoever conquers the Land of No King will take an important step toward winning the great war to conquer the world.¡±


    Therefore, the three most powerful kingdoms, the Great Ying Empire, the Southern Zhou Empire, and the Great Liang Kingdom, were all slavering after the Land of No King. However, they held back from taking action for fear of the power behind the Land of No King. They did not dare to simply dispatch an army to seize it.


    That was why they needed the skills of secret agents who could infiltrate the Land of No King and make subtle preparations for the wars to come.


    The Land of No King stretched for over 1000 kilometers and covered an area of 500,000 square kilometers. It had a population of ten million and more than ten barons, big and small.


    The City of Torn Gust was controlled by one of the biggest and most influential barons.


    The Jing Clan had ruled the Valley of Torn Gust for over two hundred years, although they did lose their sovereignty for some time. The family had reclaimed their rights a few decades back.


    The current castellan of the City of Torn Gust was Jing Zhongyue, the only baroness in the Land of No King. She was nicknamed the She-Devil, and she was commonly said to be the most beautiful woman in the Land of No King.


    The Great Ying Empire¡¯s Order of the Black Dragon planned to subjugate the baroness and then gain control of the City of Torn Gust. Yun Zhonghe, due to his one of a kind gorgeous appearance, was chosen by the Order of the Black Dragon to carry out that extremely arduous mission.


    The officer of the order asked, ¡°Yun Zhonghe, what is your dream?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe froze at the question. He was also called Yun Zhonghe in this world? What kind of coincidence was that?


    ¡°I don¡¯t have dreams; I only have goals,¡± said Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°Tell me about them,¡± the officer commanded.


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°Power, money, and beautiful women.¡±


    2The officer sneered. ¡°That¡¯s low and unbearably vulgar. But¡­ I like it. Under the reign of our wise and mighty emperor, the Great Ying Empire is now expanding expeditiously. His Majesty will become the overlord of this continent within twenty years, and the Order of the Black Dragon will be the most powerful force in the world. When the time comes, vast territories will fall into our hands, and people will bow before us wherever we go. Power, money, and women will be within easy reach.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the future later,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°All I want now is to stay alive. If I understand correctly, the undercover mission in the City of Torn Gust is going to be a close shave, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± the officer said, ¡°that is an understatement! But, Yun Zhonghe, you are a scumbag. You have been an orphan since you were a kid, and you were raised by a ruffian-beggar in the beggars¡¯ sect. You became a sex worker in a brothel when you grew up. You served rich women specifically, and then seduced innocent girls on the street to have sex with you before you swindled them out of their money. You are more contemptible than the bugs in the sewer.¡±


    2

 Chapter 5

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    When Yun Zhonghe heard what the man from the Order of the Black Dragon said, memories swarmed into his mind.


    The man was right. The Yun Zhonghe in this world had been an orphan. An orphan who was raised by a beggars¡¯ sect.


    Needless to say, the ¡°beggars¡¯ sect¡± here was merely a common name, not a powerful clan of beggars like the ones that sometimes appear in kung fu novels. It was a cartel made up of a bunch of beggars who were partners in crime. There were three beggars¡¯ sects in this city.


    Wanna know where the darkest and ugliest place in this world was? It was in the beggars¡¯ sect.


    After Yun Zhonghe was taken in by a beggar, his limbs were supposed to be amputated so he could begin begging on the street. However, he was way too pretty for that. The beggar thought that the boy was a rare commodity and worth hoarding, so Yun Zhonghe escaped the fate of having his hands and legs cut off and his eyes blinded.


    On the other hand, the children who were taken in by the beggar along with Yun Zhonghe were extremely miserable. They were disabled and forced to beg on the street.


    1After about a decade, only five out of the thirty-three children who were abducted along with Yun Zhonghe survived. All the others had died. Some died of illnesses, some starved to death, and some were beaten to death.


    Even though Yun Zhonghe escaped the fate of becoming a cripple, he didn¡¯t have a good life. He had been beaten on a regular basis, and, according to his memory, he seldom had enough food. The deprivation had left him lanky and weak.


    When he was fifteen or sixteen years old, those around him noticed that he was extremely handsome. Therefore, as far as the beggars were concerned, he became a goose that laid golden eggs. He started work as a gigolo who catered to rich women.


    After that, using his gorgeous appearance, he seduced innocent women and stole from them. Countless virtuous and kind girls had fallen victim to his romance scams.


    In a nutshell, the Yun Zhonghe in this world was a total scumbag, an out and out scoundrel.


    The officer from the Order of the Black Dragon was right; the Yun Zhonghe in this world was indeed more sordid than the bugs in the sewers.


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, even though you weren¡¯t beheaded today, you will not live for long.¡± The officer from the order continued, ¡°You are in the black books of many of the city¡¯s most powerful men. You slept with one of your sect leader¡¯s wives, and you have swindled seventeen girls from rich families in the city out of almost 10,000 silver sycees. There are at least a thousand people in this city who want you dead. You would probably be turned into a pile of meat paste as soon as you walked out of this prison.¡±


    His words sent chills up Yun Zhonghe¡¯s spine. How had the owner of this body managed to survive this long after having committed so many crimes? If a scumbag like that had made it to nineteen years old, then there really wasn¡¯t any divine justice in this world.


    ¡°Previously, Mister Li had your back, but you got in trouble with someone who was simply too powerful. No one in this city can save you anymore. That¡¯s why you were dragged out of your bed in the middle of the night and sentenced to death by beheading only three days after your arrest.¡±


    Who was Mister Li? And the original Yun Zhonghe had gotten in trouble with some VIP in this city? Who was this VIP?


    ¡°The man you angered is awfully powerful. For someone like him, killing you is as easy as crushing an ant.¡± The officer from the Order of the Black Dragon then said, ¡°Not a single person within a 500-kilometer radius can save you if he wants you dead. No one except the Order of the Black Dragon.¡±


    ¡°Actually, even the order was reluctant to make an enemy out of this man. That is why you have to prove your value to us; only then will we be willing to save you. The Order of the Black Dragon will have to pay a high price for coming in conflict with this man, and you will seize the City of Torn Gust for us as compensation.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe finally got the idea of his current situation. He would be dead if he stepped out of this prison. He would be crushed to pieces even if he ran off to the world¡¯s end. On the other side of the prison gate, he had at least a thousand enemies.


    ¡°To be honest,¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I¡¯m a douchebag. Other than seducing women, I know nothing. Do you think you can trust me with such an important mission? It isn¡¯t really your style. If the Order of the Black Dragon is such a powerful intelligence agency, you guys should be more meticulous. I can¡¯t believe that the Order of the Black Dragon hasn¡¯t already trained any good-looking secret agents.¡±


    ¡°Of course we have,¡± said the man from the Order of the Black Dragon. ¡°The City of Torn Gust and the castellan, Jing Zhongyue, were under the close scrutiny of countless parties from all over the world. Batches of elite agents of the Order of the Black Dragon have been dispatched to the City of Torn Gust to execute missions, but all have failed. All the agents have all died.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°They were professionals, and they have failed. Such a mission would be suicide for me, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    The officer replied, ¡°You aren¡¯t professional; you are a scumbag, a bug in the sewer. But all of this is to your advantage, isn¡¯t it? You don¡¯t have the vibe of the Order of the Black Dragon. We believe in leaving the specialized work for the specialists, and you are like the founder of the art of seduction.¡±


    ¡°The baroness of the City of Torn Gust, what is she like?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Very powerful, very malicious, and very beautiful,¡± the officer answered. ¡°She has murdered hundreds of secret agents in recent years, some from our empire, and some from our enemies. They were all tasked to approach her. Some were cut apart piece by piece, some were boiled to death, and some were fed to the dogs. Every single one of them died a tragic death.¡±


    ¡°Were they all handsome men?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    The officer answered, ¡°Not all. There were also women, and a child who was seemingly eight or nine years old, but they were all killed.¡±


    She was indeed immensely ruthless.


    Yun Zhonghe then said, ¡°You¡¯re saying that all these years, she was almost constantly approached and seduced by people with hidden agendas? She remains the target of the intelligence agencies from several countries, all of which plan to gain control of the City of Torn Gust by subjugating her?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± said the officer of the Order of the Black Dragon. ¡°That means she has seen all sorts of tricks and experienced all sorts of techniques. She has a pair of gimlet eyes.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe asked, ¡°So the mission you¡¯re assigning to me will be difficult as hell? There is a high probability of me being fed to the dogs?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± the officer said. ¡°According to your previous work, you are very skilled at picking up women, but you would be as childish and clumsy as a three-year-old to her.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe raised his voice, ¡°Then why would you send me? I am just a pickup artist and a scumbag!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just recycling,¡± the officer explained. ¡°I would still give it a try even if the probability of success was in the ten thousandths.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Yun Zhonghe sighed.


    The agent of the order said, ¡°If you succeed, you will officially become a member of the Order of the Black Dragon. You may not know what this means, but one day you will understand. Those who looked down upon you, walked over you, and wanted to tear you into pieces will all seek your favor. You will make their hair curl, and they will fear that you might take revenge on them.¡±


    All of a sudden, a person entered quickly and whispered something into the officer¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Noted.¡± The man nodded. ¡°You may leave now.¡±


    The man ran out of the cell without making any noise.


    ¡°The man who wants you dead has learned that you weren¡¯t beheaded, and he sent someone to ask about it,¡± the officer explained. ¡°I¡¯m under pressure already. Now, I could either hand your head over to him, or I could refuse his demand. But once I refuse, there will be a high price to pay, and it will not be something I can pay with money.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe repeated, ¡°I could give it a go.¡±


    The Black Dragon officer clapped his hands, and two men entered the cell. Surprisingly, both of them were also incredibly handsome men. However, their styles were entirely different from that of Yun Zhonghe; one was pretty masculine, while the other one was more scholar-like.


    The officer said, ¡°All three of you are good-looking, good at picking up women, and have made poor choices that have put you in a dangerous situation. Only one of you can take the mission in the City of Torn Gust, and that means only one of you here can live. The other two men¡¯s heads will be chopped off and sent out.¡±


    When Yun Zhonghe heard that, his heart skipped a beat. For some strange reason, excitement rushed through him. This was a competition, and the losers would die. How exhilarating!


    This reaction wasn¡¯t like Yun Zhonghe at all! He used to fear death very much, and he cherished his life. Although he still feared death, his excitement grew along with the danger he faced. Wasn¡¯t that rather odd?


    The agent of the Order of the Black Dragon said, ¡°I will ask three questions to test your intelligence and capabilities. If you answer all of them correctly, you may live and execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust. On the other hand, if you answer even one of the questions wrongly, you die.¡±

 Chapter 6

    3


    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    ¡°My Lord, what if none of us answer all three questions correctly?¡± asked the masculine and handsome man.


    ¡°Humph¡­¡± The scholarly-looking man sneered, radiating pride in his own intelligence.


    The officer of the Order of the Black Dragon said, ¡°If none of you can answer all the questions correctly, I will kill all of you and then look for another batch of potential candidates. There are plenty of good-looking men out there. This world has no shortage of men who look like Adonis. Besides, if more than two of you answer all the questions correctly, we will still choose only one. To put it simply, one of you surviving is your best-case scenario.¡±


    The handsome, scholarly-looking guy bowed and said, ¡°My Lord, I became a Xiucai, a Distinguished Talent, when I was sixteen years old. If I hadn¡¯t broken the law, I would have become a Juren, a Recommended Man, this year. So, whatever questions you have, ask away.¡±


    ¡°Alright, the first question¨C¡± the officer of the Order of the Black Dragon was about to ask the first question.


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, he was interrupted as Yun Zhonghe turned to the masculine man. ¡°Brother, may I know your name? And what crime did you commit?¡±


    They were all startled and looked at Yun Zhonghe like he was crazy. ¡°Don¡¯t you understand the situation that you¡¯re in? This is a matter of life and death, and you interrupted an officer of the Order of the Black Dragon just to make friends? You are truly skilled at getting yourself into trouble.¡±


    ¡°I am Lin Bao. I ruined my general¡¯s daughter, and that is why I got arrested,¡± the masculine man responded.


    Yun Zhonghe then turned to the handsome scholar and asked, ¡°Brother, what about you?¡±


    ¡°I am Yan Liang,¡± the handsome scholar said. ¡°I fell in love with someone that I¡¯m not supposed to be with.¡±


    The officer of the Order of the Black Dragon sneered. ¡°You secretly promised the daughter of Satrap Ning that you would marry her, and then you seduced his concubine. Was that love?¡±


    ¡°Of course it is,¡± the handsome scholar answered. ¡°Xiao Die looks almost identical to her mother, so is it really strange that I fell for both of them?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe looked at the handsome scholar admiringly and said, ¡°Brother Yan is the role model of our people. I am very pleased to meet you!¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡± Yan Liang asked. ¡°What is your name, and what have you done?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°We are men of the same line, which must be why we hit it off. My name is Yun Zhonghe. I¡¯m afraid that I fell in love with more than a hundred women whom I wasn¡¯t supposed to love, and they were all rich.¡±


    1When Lin Bao and Yan Liang heard what he said, anger flashed in their eyes. They exchanged a look and decided to destroy Yun Zhonghe.


    In truth, Lin Bao and Yan Liang looked down upon Yun Zhonghe. One was a Martial Juren, a hero in the army who was a powerful fighter; the other one was a child prodigy who became a Xiucai when he was only sixteen years old. Yun Zhonghe was a beggar, a cockroach in the sewer; how could he compare himself to them?


    The Black Dragon officer raised his hand. ¡°First question. What quality do you think you have that would attract the attention of the baroness of the City of Torn Gust, Jing Zhongyue?¡±


    The masculine man declared proudly, ¡°My kung fu! I could conquer the South and the North for her and defend her properties.¡±


    The officer nodded and admitted, ¡°You are indeed good at kung fu. Dozens of knights perished in the City of Chill Water to capture you. That is why we have had no choice but to seal your strength and blood flow with a silver needle.¡±


    Next, the officer turned to the scholar and asked, ¡°Yan Liang, what about you?¡±


    The good-looking scholar answered, ¡°I would resort to my wisdom. The Land of No King is a savage and chaotic place. The She-Devil in the City of Order would definitely need a strategist like me.¡±


    ¡°You are indeed clever,¡± the officer said. ¡°If not for your misconduct, you would still be the chief advisor in the residence of the satrap.¡±


    Then, the officer shifted his gaze toward Yun Zhonghe. ¡°And you? What would it take for you to attract and subjugate the She-Devil?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe thought for a while and replied seriously, ¡°I would use the unparalleled beauty of my face, and some secret and despicable methods, of course.¡±


    When he said that, silence fell upon the cell. All eyes were on him, while he didn¡¯t even blink. They looked at him like he was an idiot.


    Was this guy¡¯s brain working? Was he tired of living? Or was his insanity simply driving him to annoy his executioner in every way possible?


    The Black Dragon officer continued. ¡°Second question. Who are the people you care for and worry about the most?¡±


    The light in Lin Bao¡¯s and Yan Liang¡¯s eyes extinguished as soon as they heard the question, they understood the hidden meaning of the question instantly.


    If they infiltrated the City of Torn Gust successfully, what would it take to ensure their loyalty? Their families would definitely be held hostage. The more they cared about their families, the more confidence the Order of the Black Dragon would have in them. Revealing who they cared about would give them a better chance of surviving this selection process.


    Tears welled up in Lin Bao¡¯s eyes instantly. His lips trembled as he said, ¡°My Lord, it doesn¡¯t matter if I die, but my parents back home have worked their hearts out to raise me. Nothing came to them easily. I miss them every day. I don¡¯t care if I die, but there¡¯s no way I could bury my parents when they die and listen to their last words. I would regret everything at that moment! I would rather they totally forget me, their unfilial son, than have them shed tears from dusk until dawn. My father, my mother, I am sorry!¡±


    When he finished talking, he knelt on the ground, facing the direction of his hometown. He burst into loud sobs and bowed his head so quickly that his forehead smacked against the ground.


    Yan Liang was cursing in his heart, ¡°Lin Bao, you look honest and brave. I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a good actor. You¡¯ve already talked about parents, so who am I gonna talk about?¡±


    The Black Dragon officer asked again, ¡°Yan Liang, what about you? Who is the person you care about and worry about the most?¡±


    Yan Liang shuddered like he was struck by lightning. His face went blank, and tears started to roll down his cheeks. After a few seconds, he suddenly knelt on the ground and started to speak in a trembling voice, ¡°My Lord, I deserve to die, I deserve to die. Although I have secretly promised to marry Satrap Ning¡¯s daughter, I have an illegitimate child out there, and he is only two years old. Mingming¡­ Mingming, I¡¯m so sorry, I¡¯m so sorry. Daddy won¡¯t be able to be by your side as you grow up, won¡¯t be able to hear your cute peals of laughter anymore. You always kick off the blanket in your sleep, and no one will cover you with a blanket from now on. Will you catch a cold? Will you starve? Will you be bullied and mocked for not having a father?¡±


    Then, Yan Liang collapsed on the floor, crying silently.


    The acting of the two men took Yun Zhonghe¡¯s breath away. Each was more brilliant than the last.


    One was wailing, so the other chose to cry without making a sound.


    The officer then looked at Yun Zhonghe and asked, ¡°And you, Yun Zhonghe? Who do you care for the most?¡±


    Sorrow covered Yun Zhonghe¡¯s face, and tears threatened to roll down his cheeks.


    Lin Bao and Yan Liang sneered in their hearts. ¡°It is impossible that a low-born beggar like you would be better at acting than us.¡±


    ¡°My Lord, how could you not know that you are the one I care the most?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked plaintively. ¡°You have forgotten that I have just taken you as my father.¡±


    2F*ck, this shameless piece of sh*t!


    The officer¡¯s face was twitching. He couldn¡¯t help but reach for the handle of his knife. He wished he could just pull his blade out and slice Yun Zhonghe into pieces.


    It was already bad enough that Yun Zhonghe was kissing the officer¡¯s *ss, but the worst part was that everything he said dripped with sarcasm. It was astounding that a person could have so little sense of self-preservation.


    The Black Dragon officer then said, ¡°There is a troop of elite secret agents who are undercover in the City of Torn Gust. If you are selected to execute the mission in the city, those elite agents will be at your service. The Imperial Order of the Black Dragon has spent fifteen years and put in an immense amount of effort for the elite troop to successfully infiltrate the City of Torn Gust. This is my third question: imagine that you are at a critical point where you need to sacrifice the whole troop of agents and betray both the Order of the Black Dragon and the empire to stay alive. What would you do?¡±


    ¡°I would rather be chopped into pieces than betray the empire or the Order of the Black Dragon!¡± Lin Bao roared immediately. ¡°My death matters little! The troop of agents from the Order of the Black Dragon who have infiltrated the City of Torn Gust must survive.¡±


    Yan Liang was again cursing in his heart. ¡°F*ck you, Lin Bao! Do you have to be the first to answer every time? Don¡¯t you know that your fervent righteousness just made this more difficult for me?¡±


    After a moment of reasoning, Yan Liang answered in a level voice, ¡°A good secret agent would never let a situation like that happen. He wouldn¡¯t expose his brothers to danger. I would kill myself in advance and not risk blowing the covers of any of my brothers from the Order of the Black Dragon.¡±


    Lin Bao was shouting furiously in his heart, ¡°Enough, Yan Liang! Do you have to be so outstanding every time? You scholars are cunning.¡±


    The Black Dragon officer turned and asked, ¡°Yun Zhonghe, what about you? What would you choose?¡±


    ¡°Do I even need to answer?¡± Yun Zhonghe replied. ¡°I would, of course, sacrifice the whole troop of undercover agents from the Order of the Black Dragon in order to survive.¡±


    1The officer was enraged. ¡°That is a troop of agents whom the empire spent fifteen years and put in a substantial amount of effort to cultivate!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe shrugged. ¡°So what? I¡¯m not close to them.¡±


    The snarling officer¡¯s fist tightened on the grip of his saber, and he pulled the blade halfway out of its scabbard. ¡°You are saying that you would betray the Order of the Black Dragon and the Great Ying Empire in order to survive?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but every man for himself, and the devil take the hindmost,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    1

 Chapter 7

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    When Yan Liang and Lin Bao heard what Yun Zhonghe said, they stared at him as if they were looking at a dead man. They thought to themselves, ¡°Nowadays, many people take the road to ruin, but this is my first time seeing a man so determined to run headlong into trouble. Why don¡¯t you just bang your head against the wall? It would be a faster and easier way to die.¡±


    The Black Dragon officer was shaking like a leaf. He fixed his angry gaze Yun Zhonghe, almost bursting with the desire to tear him into a thousand pieces.


    After a few seconds, he calmed down and said in a level voice, ¡°The test has come to an end. Congratulations to one of you who answered everything correctly. He will live and execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust, while the other two have to die.¡±


    Pride crept into Yan Liang¡¯s scholarly face instantly. He bent his knee and said, ¡°Thank you, My Lord, for your grace.¡±


    The Black Dragon officer asked, ¡°Yan Liang, how can you be so sure that you won?¡±


    ¡°Because of my wisdom, of course,¡± Yan Liang said. ¡°The teacher and the student think alike. My Lord, you must be lonely¡­ There are too few who could keep pace with your wisdom. It is very hard to find someone who really understands you.¡±


    The officer sighed. ¡°Yes, it is difficult.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe, who was standing at the side, recited a phrase as an accompaniment. ¡°A song that wrenches the heart, where do I find a knowing ear?¡±


    Three pairs of eyes were immediately on Yun Zhonghe again. Was Yun Zhonghe mentally ill?


    ¡°My Lord,¡± Yan Liang said, ¡°even though I won, I am also lonely. My rivals were too weak, and competition without comparable opponents is mundane.¡±


    It had to be said that Yan Liang was getting better at gloating.


    ¡°I have one request,¡± Yan Liang said.


    ¡°Do tell,¡± the officer responded.


    Yan Liang announced, ¡°I would like to kill the two of them with my own hands to signify that I am ready for the mission from this moment on. After taking this first step, I will be a member of the Order of the Black Dragon. My life is going to be a trail of blood and a pile of corpses.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s easy.¡± The officer handed him a saber.


    Yan Liang lifted the saber as he stalked toward Lin Bao.


    The soldier, Lin Bao, looked in the direction of the officer and hissed, ¡°My Lord, do I really have to die?¡±


    The officer didn¡¯t move a muscle.


    Lin Bao¡¯s eyes turned red, and he said, ¡°Pardon me. I just want to live, so I have no other choice.¡±


    Then, he raised his fist out of the blue and sent a savage strike toward Yan Liang, not wanting to wait helplessly for the end.


    Whoosh!


    Yan Liang, however, was as fast as lightning. Lin Bao¡¯s head flew off.


    As a scholar, Yan Liang had learned kung fu and was actually quite good at it. He was even better than Lin Bao had been before his strength and blood flow were sealed. He hid it well.


    ¡°My Lord, pardon me.¡± Yan Liang bowed and said, ¡°I have actually been practicing kung fu, but sometimes, one must¡­ not reveal too much.¡±


    The officer of the Order of the Black Dragon said, ¡°Well, that was pretty good.¡±


    ¡°Liu Jifen is a good person,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Why would you want to destroy her?¡±


    The Black Dragon officer and Yan Liang exchanged a look. They didn¡¯t understand what Yun Zhonghe had just said.


    Next, Yan Liang lifted the saber and languidly approached Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, you are nothing more than an insect. You don¡¯t even deserve to die by my hands, but since fate has brought us here today, what are your last words?¡± asked Yan Liang.


    Yun Zhonghe thought for a moment and said solemnly, ¡°Brother Yan Liang, you can rest in peace. From now on, I will treat your son like my own, and your woman will be mine. As long as I am still breathing, I will not let her sleep alone.¡±


    Yan Liang was furious. He sneered, ¡°Still showing off your eloquence in your last hour, huh? Go to hell!¡±


    Then, he swung the trenchant blade at Yun Zhonghe, wanting nothing more than to cut him open.


    Whoosh!


    However, before his blade landed, Yan Liang felt a piercing coldness in his chest. He lowered his head to discover a length of metal protruding from his chest.


    The officer¡¯s blade had pierced through Yan Liang¡¯s heart in utter silence.


    ¡°Oh, why¡­?¡± Yan Liang collapsed to the ground and died before he could finish his sentence. He died with everlasting regret.


    At that moment, a cold chill washed over Yun Zhonghe. Yan Liang¡¯s saber had been half an inch from slicing into him.


    A few seconds later, he couldn¡¯t contain his laughter any longer.


    ¡°Is it that funny?¡± asked the officer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but it reminds me of something that happened when I was a kid,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°What happened?¡± the officer said.


    ¡°You won¡¯t get it even if I tell you.¡± Despite what he said, Yun Zhonghe still answered the man¡¯s question. ¡°A tiny little circumcision.¡±


    The officer¡¯s face twitched, and he said coldly, ¡°Yun Zhonghe, are you afraid of death?¡±


    He was trying very hard to suppress his desire to kill Yun Zhonghe as he said that.


    ¡°Of course I am. I¡¯m extremely scared.¡± Yun Zhonghe sighed. ¡°But for some reason, the more I fear, the more I wanted to challenge the god of death. I don¡¯t know why. When I see a sharp blade, I want to run my finger over the edge to find out how sharp it is; when I stand on the edge of a cliff, I want to throw myself off; when I see a chunk of metal in the snow, I can¡¯t help but want to stick my tongue out and lick it.¡±


    ¡°You are indeed a madman.¡± The officer of the Order of the Black Dragon took a breath. ¡°You won. You answered all three of the questions correctly, and you may go to the City of Torn Gust to execute the mission.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± said Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem surprised at all,¡± the officer said. ¡°Do you know why you won?¡±


    ¡°Dozens of agents were dispatched by the Order to execute this mission, but they are all dead,¡± Yun Zhonghe replied. ¡°Based on that, I know that executing this mission will be like dancing on the Grim Reaper¡¯s scythe. Only two types of people could survive in that kind of place: a madman or a psychopath. I am the most suitable candidate.¡±


    The officer continued, ¡°But you aren¡¯t loyal to the Order or the empire. You could betray us anytime, so why would we employ you?¡±


    ¡°The Order of the Black Dragon hasn¡¯t given me anything,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Would you believe me if I told you that I am loyal to the Order? In terms of loyalty, I am like a blank canvas; you are free to paint whatever you want on it. I¡¯m also a mirror. If you give me flowers, you will have the reflection of flowers, but if you act like the devil, then you will have the reflection of a devil.¡±


    There was not a hint of humor in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s tone when he spoke about loyalty. He was taking this very seriously.


    What he said made perfect sense; the agents who were undercover in the City of Torn Gust were constantly dancing with the devil. Only a lunatic or a psychopath would enjoy such a mission. Yun Zhonghe seemed to enjoy the adrenaline rush of dancing with the devil, so he would probably be able to accomplish the mission with ease.


    The other two potential candidates, Lin Bao and Yan Liang, each appeared to be outstanding in military and civil matters, respectively, but they were actually unprepared for what was to come. They wouldn¡¯t last even a fortnight going undercover in the City of Torn Gust.


    Yun Zhonghe wasn¡¯t loyal at all, but the Order of the Black Dragon was unequaled when it came to earning loyalty. They offered neither money nor fear, but sacrifice in exchange for your loyalty.


    One sacrifice after another!


    After hearing Yun Zhonghe¡¯s argument, the Black Dragon officer was quiet for a moment. Then he waved his hand.


    The whole prison cell was lit up, revealing his face for the first time. It was a very handsome face, but there were two scars across it. He appeared to be in his forties.


    ¡°Well said.¡± The officer continued, ¡°I am Feng Xingmie. You are a very clever man, evilly clever. I¡¯m not even sure if engaging you was the right thing to do.¡±


    Feng Xingmie was a very cool name, but it wasn¡¯t very suitable for a member of the Order of the Black Dragon. Besides, his face was also too unfriendly.


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, you have no parents,¡± Feng Xingmie said. ¡°It was like you were birthed by a stone. You have seen too much darkness since you were young, and also too much deception. I will not tell you how loyal I am to the empire, or how loyal the Order of the Black Dragon is to the emperor, let alone how many people in the Order would be willing to sacrifice themselves for the great cause of the empire. You should observe and experience that on your own.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe didn¡¯t react, and neither did he crack any jokes.


    Feng Xingmie carried on. ¡°I am the chief officer of the City of Torn Gust mission in the Order of the Black Dragon. The first goal for the two of us is to try to get along with each other. From now on, you are one of my men and a member of the Order of the Black Dragon. Let¡¯s hope both of us will get the chance to manifest the weight of that sentence.¡±


    He then put his palm on Yun Zhonghe¡¯s shoulder and gave it a rather strong pat.


    Feng Xingmie¡¯s tone was very calm, but there seemed to be a ball of fire burning inside him. The ball of fire erupted from time to time, especially when he mentioned the words ¡°Order of the Black Dragon,¡± as if he was ready to give everything for those five words, including his life.


    ¡°When do I leave for the City of Torn Gust?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Three days from now,¡± Feng Xingmie answered.


    Yun Zhonghe asked again, ¡°That urgent?¡±


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°Yes, that urgent.¡±


    Time flowed away like a river and flew like an arrow. Days passed in the blink of an eye when one didn¡¯t have a chance to show off, and the three days soon ticked away.

 Chapter 8

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Three days later, outside the City of Chill Water.


    2Yun Zhonghe stood on the top of a hill, overlooking a city that seemed both familiar and brand new.


    It had already been three days since he time-traveled here, but he knew very little about this world. How should he describe his feelings?


    Since he was already there, maybe he should relax and make the best of it?


    No, that phrasing wasn¡¯t quite right, because he wasn¡¯t sentimentally attached to his former life. He did have a family. He had mistresses, but he didn¡¯t love them. If he had, he wouldn¡¯t have quit his job at a renowned tertiary grade-A hospital and gone to the X Psychiatric Hospital located in God-knows-where.


    1Even though he had been kidnapped and brought there in the first place, he knew that deep down, he had always longed for adventure and the unknown.


    Furthermore, he couldn¡¯t stay in the tertiary grade-A hospital any longer because three beautiful doctors were already going to divorce their husbands. Don¡¯t ask why. A nurse had prepared a solution of potassium cyanide, and she planned to use it to force Yun Zhonghe to marry her. If he refused, she would kill both Yun Zhonghe and herself.


    ¡°Each of the women agreed that we were only going to have a casual relationship, but all of them ended up wanting to marry me and stay together forever. They were all liars, totally insincere.¡±


    4Yun Zhonghe might have been astonished and apprehensive after he first time-traveled to this world, but excitement soon overwhelmed all other emotions.


    He didn¡¯t deliberately dig up the memories of the body¡¯s original owner. He only felt a little nostalgia stir deep in his soul when he saw the city.


    His body¡¯s original owner had lived in this city for fifteen years, and Yun Zhonghe could feel both the other man¡¯s hatred toward this city and his reluctance to leave.


    ¡°You are about to leave this city. Is there anything you still wish to do here? Unfinished business? Or anyone that you would like to see?¡± Feng Xingmie asked. ¡°There is still time if you say it now.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe thought for a while. ¡°It would be nice to say goodbye to someone, but I can¡¯t think of anyone.¡±


    ¡°You are such a heartless person,¡± Feng Xingmie said. ¡°Trouble, or perhaps even catastrophe, has befallen Mister Li because of you. You would have been torn to pieces long ago without his protection all these years.¡±


    ¡°If I asked the Order of the Black Dragon to help him, to rescue him, would you say yes?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°Then there you go,¡± Yun Zhonghe said simply.


    A carriage appeared on the trail running through the pine forest in front of them, and Feng Xingmie said, ¡°The carriage is here, time to take off.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe didn¡¯t say anything. He boarded the carriage right away, took off the sack that was covering his head, and let out a long exhale. He hadn¡¯t dared to take the sack off during the whole journey through the City of Chill Water. Too many people in the city wanted him dead, especially some pretty ladies.


    He remembered vaguely that there was a girl from a super-rich family who was good at kung fu. She had tried repeatedly to disfigure Yun Zhonghe so he would be forced to stay with her.


    ¡°What sort of joke am I as a sugar baby? Our profession requires very sophisticated techniques; I would rather be a con artist than someone¡¯s dependent.¡±


    As Yun Zhonghe was whispering to himself, he suddenly saw a fiery and curvy figure standing in the middle of the crowd that had gathered by the gate of the city. He found the person to be somewhat familiar, and memories began to rise in his mind.


    At that very moment, as the woman¡¯s piercing gaze shifted toward Yun Zhonghe, he remembered that she was the rich girl who wanted to disfigure him and drag him home to marry her.


    ¡°Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t!¡± he thought. ¡°Go, go, go!¡±


    The sight of that woman was too scary. Yun Zhonghe quickly shut the window of the carriage.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, drive!¡± Yun Zhonghe called impatiently.


    ¡°Farewell, City of Chill Water. I¡¯m only leaving behind what I want to.¡±


    His heart was already flying toward the City of Torn Gust, longing for a beautiful yet tragic spy romance between two enemies who loved each other.


    The driver of the carriage was a mute, and they left the City of Chill Water and moved south-westward in silence.


    ¡°Should I say that the wheel of history has begun to turn?¡±


    ¡°With some background music perhaps?¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe, like a conductor of an orchestra, moved his arms and a low-pitched melody like that of a cello came from the bottom of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s throat.


    ¡°If there is no background music, I will do it myself.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Hmm, hmm hmm hmm¡­ Hmm, hmm (Do) hmm hmm.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Hmm, hmm hmm hmm¡­ Hmm, hmm (Fa) hmm hmm.¡±


    1***


    Feng Xingmie still stood atop the hill, watching the back of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s carriage as it disappeared into the horizon.


    ¡°My Lord, why didn¡¯t you tell him the truth?¡± A commander of the Order of the Black Dragon walked out of the dark.


    ¡°What should I tell him?¡± Feng Xingmie asked casually.


    ¡°It was not a coincidence that you rescued him,¡± the commander said. ¡°Mister Li gave up almost everything, and the Order of the Black Dragon paid a very high price to save his life. He wasn¡¯t the original candidate chosen to execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust; you let Yun Zhonghe take on the mission in order to help Mister Li save the young man. You not only risked your career, but also your life for Yun Zhonghe. If he fails to accomplish the mission, you will be punished by the order.¡±


    ¡°All those things are meaningless. The price we paid to gain his loyalty was actually an incredibly good deal,¡± said Feng Xingmie.


    ¡°Then at least give him some training,¡± the commander responded. ¡°I¡¯m really worried that he won¡¯t last three days after entering the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    ¡°What kind of training? He is in a pretty good condition,¡± Feng Xingmie said.


    ¡°But you have already failed once,¡± the commander said in a trembling voice. ¡°Lord Xu had to sign a military order to give you another chance. If this mission fails, you aren¡¯t the only one who will be punished by the order; Lord Xu will also have to step down.¡±


    Feng Xingmie didn¡¯t say another word, and his gaze remained fixed on Yun Zhonghe¡¯s carriage until it disappeared completely.


    He had far more secrets bottled up than the commander knew. Some things were more important: for example, the truths about Yun Zhonghe.


    The kid had bathed in the filthiness of the world for far too long. If he wasn¡¯t given a chance to turn over a new leaf, Feng Xingmie wouldn¡¯t have any peace of mind for the rest of his life.


    ¡°Rascal, don¡¯t let me down, and don¡¯t let the spirit of your parents down!¡±


    ¡°Do something wondrous in the City of Torn Gust and clear their names. Once and for all, wash away the humiliation they have born for their whole lives!¡±


    1***


    The Land of No King occupied an area of 500,000 square kilometers. It was located in the middle of three powerful kingdoms: the Great Liang Kingdom, the Southern Zhou Empire, and the Great Ying Empire.


    The Great Liang Kingdom was located on a freezing highland. Its cavalry was tough and strong; its soldiers were fearless. Although its population was small, it occupied vast lands. The kingdom¡¯s rugged environment was a nightmare to almost all of its enemies. However, the kingdom had always been better at plundering than conquering.


    The Southern Zhou Empire had existed for hundreds of years; it was an old and powerful kingdom. It was originally on the wane, but the Resurgence of Tianyan a few decades ago had revived the old kingdom. It conquered the southern barbarians within only twenty years. As a result, its population grew by ten million, and its territory expanded by 1.5 million square kilometers.


    Five years ago, Emperor Tianyan, a legendary hero, handed his sovereign authority to the crown prince and became the Emperor Emeritus. As the new emperor ascended to the throne, the designation of the imperial reign was changed to Wanyun.


    Everyone thought that Emperor Tianyan¡¯s abdication was just an act, since he had been ruling for fifty years and did not want to exceed the regime of the founder of the dynasty. Despite ¡°stepping down,¡± people believed that he would maintain absolute control over the kingdom. Until the old man actually died, the new Emperor Wanyun would not be allowed to rule the empire independently.


    However, everyone was wrong. After Emperor Tianyan¡¯s abdication, he stopped managing almost all the affairs of the nation and didn¡¯t summon any ministers. He handed the political power to Emperor Wanyun fully.


    1After his coronation, the young and strong Emperor Wanyun, like a sword drawn from its sheath, showed his ability to the full extent by completely changing the strategies that the Southern Zhou Empire used to conquer the south. He wanted his forces to march north instead. He wanted a part in the game of conquering the world.


    On the other hand, the Great Ying Empire that Yun Zhonghe had time-traveled to had only risen to power about a century before. The empire might be young, but it was like a rising sun, full of vigor and vitality. Within only a few dozen years, the Great Ying Empire had already expanded its territory more than tenfold, wiped out about a dozen countries, and subsequently turned from a third-class nation to one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world.


    Their rapid expansion had slowed after the coronation of the Emperor Yongzuo twenty years ago. The Great Ying Empire altered its aggressive military strategies to focus on building up their defenses, accumulating national resources, and assimilating the gains from their previous conquests.


    After twenty years of recuperation and revitalization, the Great Ying Empire had entered its most splendid and powerful years.


    The world was now divided into north and south: everything north of the River Tian was known as the Northern Zone, and everything south was called the Southern Zone.


    The whole Southern Zone consisted of seven countries of varying sizes, but only three of them were powerful kingdoms. The Great Liang Kingdom, due to its special location, could hardly participate in the world-conquering game. The only qualified participants of the game were the Southern Zhou Empire and the Great Ying Empire.


    In the past decade, the Great Ying Empire focused on its defense strategies, while the military strategies of the Southern Zhou Empire focused on marching south. Although there were conflicts between the two kingdoms, they generally got along well.


    As the new emperor of the Southern Zhou Empire ascended to the throne and changed its strategies to marching north, the two kingdoms were suddenly in opposition.


    A few years went by, and the hostility between the kingdoms grew. Everyone in the world could tell that there would be a war between the two kingdoms eventually. Whoever won the war would become the only overlord in the south, and he would then compete with the northern overlord for the sovereign position of the Lord Paramount.


    In the past several decades, the three nations had been relatively peaceful. The Land of No King, which acted as a buffer between them, was also rather harmonious.


    However, following the growing hostility between the Southern Zhou Empire and the Great Ying Empire, the Land of No King was thrown into ever-worsening turmoil as the conflict between the empires heated up.


    As the saying went, ¡°Whoever conquers the Land of No King conquers the future.¡±


    Therefore, chaos was now raging like a storm in the City of Torn Gust, and knives and swords were flashing and rattling. No one knew what would happen next.


    Feng Xingmie didn¡¯t tell Yun Zhonghe that the Order of the Black Dragon had once experienced a gigantic failure in the City of Torn Gust. The undercover operations in the Land of No King had fallen under a catastrophic attack, and half of the planned strategies directed against the Land of No King had to be aborted. It had become a black mark on the glorious history of the Imperial Order of the Black Dragon.


    Yun Zhonghe didn¡¯t know anything at the moment; he was like a uniquely beautiful venomous snake, gliding into the City of Torn Gust, a cave full of dangers and temptations.

 Chapter 9

    2


    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    The journey to the City of Torn Gust was a trip that was thousands of miles long. The carriage did not stop on the way.


    Yah, yah, yah, yah, yah¡­


    There were no robberies or damsels in need of saving along the way. The journey was so smooth that it was boring and dull.


    In the carriage, Yun Zhonghe had only one thought on his mind: mind-reading skills.


    It was probably the first superpower he had obtained since he time-traveled to this strange world.


    Yun Zhonghe had been studying his mind-reading skills for a few days.


    He discovered that his mind-reading abilities had nothing to do with reading the brain waves of others. Rather, the abilities he had mastered allowed him to analyze and make inferences from the micro-expressions, eye movements, and behaviors of others.


    Regardless, it was an extremely awesome ability. He could magnify and slow down a person¡¯s faintest eye movements and micro-expressions. Then, based on the person¡¯s personality, background, and similar information, he would perform a very complicated set of calculations and eventually obtain a very accurate conclusion.


    On the other hand, he was able to pry into the thoughts of weak-willed people directly through their inner monologues. Even if they didn¡¯t make any sound, he would still be able to know what they were whispering to themselves, like when he had been on the execution ground.


    When he started to apply his mind-reading skills, it was as if he had entered the mind and the spiritual world of Patient Sixteen.


    However, his mind-reading proficiency right now was a far cry from what Patient Sixteen had possessed. Patient Sixteen was a real nutjob who had devoted his soul and spirit to the development of his mind-reading skills. That man might even have been able to read the brain waves of others directly. If that was true, he was out of this world.


    Anyhow, the mind-reading skills were already an extremely useful ability for Yun Zhonghe.


    Once he mastered the whole set of Patient Sixteen¡¯s mind-reading skills, he would enter a whole new world.


    Furthermore, there had been twenty-nine patients in X Psychiatric Hospital. Did that mean that the superpowers of the other twenty-eight patients had also entered and integrated into his body as a result of the explosion?


    Thus far, Yun Zhonghe was only aware of Patient Sixteen¡¯s ability. The superpowers of the other patients had not yet activated.


    ***


    Five days later, Yun Zhonghe left the realm of the Great Ying Empire and entered the territory of the Land of No King.


    The Land of No King occupied a vast swath of land, covering an area of 500,000 square kilometers, equivalent to two provinces, with a population of ten million. It was the same size as a small country.


    In this area, there were more than ten barons. The most powerful baron possessed a territory of more than 100,000 square kilometers, while the smallest territory covered an area of less than 1,000 square kilometers.


    The Valley of Torn Gust covered an area of 13,000 square kilometers, with a population of 400,000 people. It was only the sixth-largest territory in the Land of No King. However, its location was very strategic. It was located in a huge valley which was easy to hold but hard to attack. It wasn¡¯t only a vital military base but also a trade center of the Land of No King.


    The City of Torn Gust was its capital city. It was built in the valley and formed a huge natural military stronghold.


    The land in the City of Torn Gust was barren, and a very small percentage of the land was suitable for agriculture. That was why the crop yield was very poor and insufficient to provide for the people in the city. However, the City of Torn Gust was blessed with a treasure: salt mines. Innumerable salt mines.


    Salt mines were a dime a dozen, but the majority of salt mines produced inedible or even poisonous salt. The salt from the City of Torn Gust was of top quality, and it could be eaten with little to no processing. The fine, mildly processed salt was as white as snow, and it was the best product for teeth brushing.


    The amount of salt produced in the City of Torn Gust wasn¡¯t only enough to fulfill the demands of half of the Land of No King, but it was also sufficient to be traded to the surrounding kingdoms.


    Therefore, although the City of Torn Gust was, size-wise and population-wise, only the sixth-largest territory in the Land of No King, it was one of the two wealthiest territories.


    ***


    The carriage had been traveling for three days.


    Yun Zhonghe stopped right outside the City of Torn Gust.


    It was different than he had imagined. According to his original judgment, the Land of No King was uncivilized. He thought that the city would be in poor shape, like a fortified mountain village or a cave.


    That wasn¡¯t the case at all. The City of Torn Gust was a city in its literal meaning, and it actually looked rather prosperous.


    The city was located in a valley, so there were only two city walls; one in the front and one in the back. The two gigantic mountains on either side of the city formed a natural barrier.


    The Valley of Torn Gust was then subdivided into nineteen smaller territories, each under the governance of a chieftain. The City of Torn Gust was the federal administrative center.


    One hundred thousand out of the 400,000 people in the Valley of Torn Gust were living in the City of Torn Gust. The city formed a bar shape since it was built along the valley. The distance between the city¡¯s northern and southern ends was more than five kilometers, while the distance between the eastern and western ends was only 1.5 kilometers.


    Traveling ten thousand miles was better than reading ten thousand books. Yun Zhonghe realized at first sight why the Great Ying Empire would focus its strategies for conquering the Land of No King on the City of Torn Gust.


    Conquering the City of Torn Gust was like driving a stake through the heart of the Land of


    No King. One could easily attack from within the city and retreat to it.


    This city in front of his eyes had a very high strategic value to the Great Ying Empire.


    The most eye-catching feature of the city was the residence of the castellan, which was on top of a mountain, overlooking the whole City of Torn Gust. It was an extremely sturdy castle, and one man could hold out against ten thousand from within. It covered an area of almost a thousand acres.


    Jing Zhongyue, the She-Devil, lived in that magnificent castle. Wicked intentions in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mind were itching for action.


    He had ruined many women, but he had never picked up such a bad*ss woman of high standing.


    Looking at the luxurious castle, Yun Zhonghe started to worry.


    ¡°God, such a huge castle¡­ Which room should Jing Zhongyue and I sleep in?¡±


    ¡°The rooms on the left side have a nice view, but those on the right have good Feng Shui.¡±


    ¡°Alas, this is so hard!¡±


    The mute who drove Yun Zhonghe to his destination had never said a word nor showed any expression, but he was very good at kung fu.


    When he saw the City of Torn Gust, emotion finally crossed his face. His expression twitched slightly, and pain filled his eyes.


    The city must have brought back tragic memories, since countless elite agents from the Great Ying Empire¡¯s Order of the Black Dragon had perished here.


    The missions of the Order of the Black Dragon usually succeeded, but the City of Torn Gust was definitely the order¡¯s Waterloo, the land of failure.


    Yun Zhonghe stared at the beautiful castle and said, ¡°I have heard that Jing Zhongyue hasn¡¯t had any boyfriends or husbands. It¡¯s a shame that I can¡¯t do what I do best; there is no man to humiliate by sleeping with his wife. What a pity!¡±


    1¡°Alas, things don¡¯t always turn out the way we want them to!¡± he sighed.


    The mute beside him shuddered again.


    Yun Zhonghe quickly shut his mouth because he could read the mute¡¯s mind. The mute wanted to smack him to death.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s enter the city!¡±


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe and the driver entered the bustling City of Torn Gust successfully. The security of the city seemed rather relaxed because it was a trading center.


    However, Yun Zhonghe knew that the lax security was only an illusion. He could feel that there were dozens of pairs of eyes on him the moment he entered the city.


    The Great Ying Empire realized the strategic value of the City of Torn Gust, and so did the Southern Zhou Empire and the other powerful kingdoms. Therefore, there were countless spies from the other kingdoms in this city. There might also be spies dispatched by the other barons of the Land of No King.


    It wasn¡¯t only a haven for traders, but also an ocean for spies, or perhaps a hell for spies, considering that hundreds of secret agents from the Order of the Black Dragon had died here.


    Yun Zhonghe didn¡¯t garner too much attention when he entered the city because he was inconspicuous. His cover was an old man.


    The mute drove the carriage, sending Yun Zhonghe into the city. It was backbreaking to move on the crowded street.


    The city was too busy, filled with people, horses, and carriages. It was surprising to experience traffic congestion in this world.


    However, only the two sides of the street were congested; the bluestone main road in the middle was completely empty, and only one or two luxurious carriages passed by occasionally. Although the two sides of the street were congested, no one dared to walk on the road in the middle because it was reserved for the privileged. Only the carriages and horses that had the castellan¡¯s banner with the heraldry of a dragon and a snake could use the main road.


    It was an honor, of course. Less than a hundred banners with the heraldry of a dragon and a snake were issued by the castellan.


    At first, Yun Zhonghe thought that the Land of No King must be an uncivilized place. He did not expect the city to be so similar to the cities in other empires, equipped with social classes and a hierarchy of political power.


    Yun Zhonghe was sitting in the carriage, observing the city quietly.


    Because it was the center of the storm, the Land of No King might be more sensitive than any other place to the coming war between the two great empires.


    Within a two and a half kilometer distance, Yun Zhonghe had seen seven conscription stations.


    The owner of the Valley of Torn Gust, the Jing Clan, must have noticed the precursors of a coming war, and they were racing against time to expand their military force to strengthen their


    power.


    Yun Zhonghe laid back in his seat slightly and sighed in his heart. ¡°This city is flourishing, but it won¡¯t be for too long.¡±


    Once the war began, the prosperity would turn into ashes and be gone with the wind.


    The Southern Zhou Empire and the Great Ying Empire had already been preparing for the great war for decades.


    The Great Ying Empire focused on defensive strategies and recuperation from the previous battles, waiting for this day to come.


    The Southern Zhou Empire had marched south and conquered the southern barbarians to strengthen its power for this war.


    The vast terrain of the Southern Zone could only have one overlord.


    Once the war began, millions of soldiers would march into the Land of No King and battle each other mercilessly.


    Yun Zhonghe was now one of the pawns that were secretly cast in preparation for the fate-deciding war. The cold war that would precede it had already begun.


    ***


    The Order of the Black Dragon had set up a few rendezvous points in the City of Torn Gust, and Anting Tavern was one of them. It was not only a tavern but also a restaurant, and their deep-fried chicken was very delicious and well-known in the City of Torn Gust.


    A few days ago, it was officially activated.


    In other words, the whole Anting Tavern was at Yun Zhonghe¡¯s service.


    The first thing Yun Zhonghe did after entering the City of Torn Gust was to visit Anting Tavern to get in touch with Xu Anting of the Order of the Black Dragon.


    From now on, Xu Anting would be Yun Zhonghe¡¯s only handler and his first comrade-in-arms.


    ***


    After passing by half of the City of Torn Gust, Yun Zhonghe finally arrived at Anting Tavern.


    It was in a flourishing part of the city, and there was a brothel opposite to the tavern called the Sleepy Spring Brothel.


    ¡°Sir, come on in!¡± A pretty girl cast sheep¡¯s eyes and waved at Yun Zhonghe from the second floor.


    For a moment, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s legs couldn¡¯t move. He felt an irresistible impulse to walk toward the brothel. What was absurd was that he had a feeling of homecoming when he saw the brothel.


    Sh*t, that must have been the body¡¯s muscle memory!


    1Well, if the cover of the rendezvous point, Anting Tavern, was blown, he would not starve at least. The brothel would be a good place to go. ¡°The most important factor for surviving in this world is to be skilled in one field.¡± That ancient saying actually made sense.


    Yun Zhonghe continued moving forward, then walked into Anting Tavern.


    The tavern was quite big, and there were quite a few courtyards in the compound. The restaurant was in the front part of the building, and there were rooms for rent in the back. It was probably a very profitable business.


    ¡°Sir, are you here to dine or to stay?¡± asked a waiter.


    ¡°To dine. Do you have deep-fried chicken?¡± Yun Zhonghe replied to him.


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes, our deep-fried chicken is our most famous dish. How much would you like?¡± asked the waiter.


    ¡°Five catty, seven taels, three and two-fifths mace, cooked to medium-well,¡± said Yun Zhonghe. That was the code.


    ¡°Alright, follow me please,¡± said the waiter as he led the way.


    Yun Zhonghe followed him to the backyard. No one was there.


    The waiter lifted the cover on a dried well, then knocked on the well, three long knocks and two short.


    A door instantly appeared in the corner of the yard.


    ¡°Please! Boss An has been waiting for a long time,¡± said the waiter.


    Yun Zhonghe walked through the door and down the stairs. There was a basement at the bottom of the stairs which was quite dark.


    When he was halfway down the stairs, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s face changed abruptly, and he quickly doubled back, trying to get away.


    But a sharp knife was pressed against his throat in the next second.


    Then he heard a cold voice saying, ¡°Welcome, agent from the Order of the Black Dragon. You¡¯ve walked right into the trap, seeking your doom.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯ve got it all wrong,¡± Yun Zhonghe stammered. ¡°I¡¯m here for the chicken, the deep-fried chicken here is really traditional!¡±


    ¡°Hush¡­ I¡¯m traditional too!¡± He could smell a mesmerizing fragrance as a woman talked right next to his ear. She blew air into his ear and said, ¡°I am the Lady of the Well, and I have been waiting for you for a long time. Wanna taste me?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Oh¡­ okay, sure!¡±


    1

 Chapter 10

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    A short while later, Yun Zhonghe was tied to a pillar.


    He was surrounded by five people, four of whom were wearing black clothes and black masks.


    Their leader was a woman who had her back turned to Yun Zhonghe.


    Her figure was distorted in the glow of the fire, but it still took Yun Zhonghe by surprise.


    She had such a curvy figure? It was enough to make a man¡¯s mouth water.


    This scumbag had been with countless women, and he knew everything about women¡¯s figures. Some women were very naughty, and they would wear a corset when they went out to make their bodies look more attractive, but when they took off their clothes¡­


    ¡°Clothing can be very tricky, and innocent boys like us must protect ourselves carefully to keep from being deceived!¡± he thought.


    However, the body of the woman in front of him could not be more real.


    She had a full figure that was one in a million.


    She must be the Lady of the Well who said that she had been waiting for him for a long time.


    A heavy silence filled the basement, and the only sounds came from the crackling of the fire and the snapping wood. The fire was heating a branding iron.


    A minute went by.


    Two minutes went by.


    Yun Zhonghe couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, and he broke the awkward silence and said, ¡°Miss, your branding iron has turned red.¡±


    The extremely curvy woman was taken aback. Yun Zhonghe was so impatient? So unyielding? He¡¯d actually chastise his torturer?


    One of the guards immediately took the red branding iron and walked toward Yun Zhonghe, lifting the iron toward his face.


    If the red hot iron was pressed against his face, half of his face would be charred to an unrecognizable mess.


    The woman said in a level voice, ¡°We are from the Black Blood Hall of the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    The Black Blood Hall was the City of Torn Gust¡¯s counterintelligence agency.


    It was founded by the last castellan, Jing E. It consisted of the most loyal elite knights of the Jing Clan. They had only one mission, which was to find the spies from other nations in the City of Torn Gust and destroy every single one of them.


    Normally, a baron as powerful as the one in the Valley of Torn Gust wouldn¡¯t need an outstanding intelligence agency, but since the City of Torn Gust was right in the center of the storm, spies from countless nations and forces were undercover in the city.


    After years of counterintelligence work, the members of the Black Blood Hall were very good at their jobs, and they had many ruthless tricks.


    Once the spies from the other nations were captured by the Black Blood Hall, death was considered the best way out.


    ¡°You must have heard about our style and techniques. All of our prisoners beg for death so that they won¡¯t have to go through the endless cycle of torture,¡± the woman said, her voice hoarse. ¡°I have dealt with spies from all three kingdoms in the Southern Zone, and the agents from the Order of the Black Dragon were the most unyielding. Plenty of spies from the Order of the Black Dragon have died by my hands, and none of them betrayed the order and confessed.¡±


    The red hot iron gradually approached Yun Zhonghe.


    The female leader said in a gravelly voice, ¡°Personally, I respect you because you are an honorable man, but if you don¡¯t confess today, forget leaving this place alive. No part of your body will be left intact, and you will eventually be fed to the wolfdogs.¡±


    She made a gesture with her hand, drawing his attention to ten pairs of green eyes that lurked in the dark. They were dogs, but they moved like wolves. The smell of blood filled the whole basement.


    Once they were given the command, the ten wolfdogs would pounce on Yun Zhonghe and tear him into pieces.


    ¡°I know that agents from the Order of the Black Dragon look upon death as going home. I have never gotten anything out of them before, but I will give it another try today. I have prepared almost a hundred instruments of torture. I can spend days in here, and I have a hundred interrogation methods at hand!¡± The female leader turned and ordered, ¡°Hound, let¡¯s get started¡­¡±


    Another guard took out a barbed whip and was about to swing it at Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Yun Zhonghe yelled. ¡°I¡¯ll confess, I¡¯ll confess¡­¡±


    ¡°My name is Yun Zhonghe. I am a secret agent from the Order of the Black Dragon of the Great Ying Empire.¡±


    1¡°I came to Anting Tavern to get in touch with my handler, Xu Anting. He is also a secret agent from the Order of the Black Dragon.¡±


    ¡°My superior is Feng Xingmie. He is the chief officer of the City of Torn Gust mission.¡±


    ¡°My task is to come to the City of Torn Gust to seduce the baroness, Jing Zhongyue, to make her the representative of the Great Ying Empire in the Land of No King.¡±


    ¡°I came here with another guy. He is mute, and he is right outside. He is also an agent of the Order of the Black Dragon. You should go and capture him now, don¡¯t let him get away¡­¡±


    Everyone was dumbfounded at that moment.


    A more awkward silence fell upon the room.


    ¡°I¡­ I haven¡¯t even started the interrogation and torture, and you¡­ you have already told us everything.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t the agents from the Order of the Black Dragon men of iron?¡±


    ¡°There are more, there are more, but I can¡¯t think of them all of a sudden,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Maybe you can remind me if I have left anything out? I will become a traitor, and you can tell me if anything is missing. I will fill in the blanks. Whatever needs to be done, we will do perfectly, what do you say? Dear sister¡­¡±


    The room remained silent.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The Order of the Black Dragon had prepared two plans for me to use in subjugating Jing Zhongyue, but they were with Xu Anting. Have you guys caught him yet? You should torture him, use the cruelest interrogation techniques you have, but I don¡¯t believe that he will confess. If he really won¡¯t confess, I can help persuade him.¡±


    Still no reaction.


    Yun Zhonghe continued, ¡°Sister, I may look like a weak old man right now, but I am actually a super handsome man, so handsome that I am one in a million. The Black Blood Hall must need talented people like me the most; I am very skilled at seducing women. It is a very useful counterintelligence technique. Besides, you will be proud to have a handsome man like me by your side when you go out.¡±


    ¡°Dear sister, don¡¯t kill me and don¡¯t hurt my uniquely pretty face. From now on, I will be your pet wolfdog. Awoo¡­¡±


    ¡°Or maybe you¡¯d prefer a puppy to a wolfdog? No problem. Woof, woof, woof, woof¡­¡±


    1The other five people looked at one another. They didn¡¯t know what to say, and they could only exchange surprised looks.


    ¡°F¡­ F*ck!¡±


    ¡°He violated the three principles a man should hold on to, and he subverted a man¡¯s philosophy of life.¡±


    ¡°I have been working as a secret agent for more than a decade, and I have never seen a secret agent who is so timid and shameless.¡±


    ¡°How¡­ How did you become a member of the Order of the Black Dragon?¡±


    ¡°Sister, what is your name? A woman with a sexy body like yours must have a name so beautiful that one would lose his soul when he hears it, am I right?¡± Yun Zhonghe went on, ¡°Please turn around, I really want to know what kind of beautiful face would be a good match for that exquisite body of yours. You¡¯re too stunning. I don¡¯t think I will be able to fall asleep ever again because once I close my eyes, you will be all I can think of.¡±


    She remained silent, her back still turned to Yun Zhonghe, but she started to tremble.


    ¡°Dear sister, what is your name? Turn around please!¡± Yun Zhonghe continued.


    All of a sudden, the woman turned around, finally showing her face.


    So¡­ scary!


    Her face was covered in warping scars like the face of a ferocious ghost.


    She had the body of Medusa¡­ and the face of a monster.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mouth was wide open, and he couldn¡¯t close it.


    Then, the woman said calmly, ¡°I am Xu Antiing¡­¡±


    Yun Zhonghe opened his mouth wider instantly, and his eyes were as big as the lanterns. After a good long while, he said in a gruff voice, ¡°The¡­ the name sounds quite familiar. I have heard it somewhere before.¡±


    The woman with a monster¡¯s face said, ¡°My brother is called Xu Anting. He is the owner of this tavern, and we are all agents from the Order of the Black Dragon.


    Uh¡­ uh¡­


    A moment later, a lard bucket walked languidly out of the shadows. His face was fat, and his attire seemed costly. He looked like a rich but cruel man.


    ¡°I am Xu Anting, a secret agent from the Order of the Black Dragon and also your handler,¡± Xu Anting said indifferently. ¡°Everything that happened just now was part of a test, Mr. Yun. Your reaction¡­ It took our breath away. I have lived for almost forty years, and I have never seen such an impudent and shameless person in my whole life.¡±


    Xu Anting sighed. ¡°It was really mind-boggling! How could such a shameless person survive in this world? I don¡¯t have the right to kill you, but I need to teach you a lesson; I will brand you with the iron to leave a permanent mark on you. Then, you will be escorted back to the empire and receive punishment from the order.¡±


    The woman who had a sexy body but a monster¡¯s face, Xu Antiing, said in a gruff voice, ¡°By the way, the order¡¯s punishment for traitors is¡­ death by boiling.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get to work!¡± Xu Anting ordered.


    The iron held by a knight was about to be pressed against Yun Zhonghe¡¯s chest.


    Yun Zhonghe suddenly burst into a fit of laughter. ¡°Hahahaha, that¡¯s interesting, interesting! Xu Anting, from the moment I entered your tavern, I knew that you were testing me. I have passed the test with flying colors, but I am very unsatisfied with your reactions. As agents from the Order of the Black Dragon, you guys are way too unprofessional.¡±

 Chapter 11

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    After hearing what Yun Zhonghe said, instead of blowing his top, Xu Anting laughed and sneered. ¡°You are still being stubborn when you are about to meet your maker. You already confessed even before we started to use those interrogation techniques on you. I have never seen anyone who would betray our order so readily.¡±


    The sexy lady, Xu Antiing, said coldly, ¡°Yun Zhonghe, there is no use in quibbling anymore. What you have confessed just now was hard evidence, evidence that you have betrayed the Order of the Black Dragon and the empire.¡±


    ¡°So, you are saying that there is no way I could clear my name, not even if I jump into the River Tian?¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Xu Anting said, ¡°Every part of you is filthy; there is no way for you to wash away your sin.¡±


    Xu Antiing said, ¡°Turn over a new leaf in your next life.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s do it¡­¡± said the brother and the sister simultaneously.


    The red hot iron was pressed mercilessly against Yun Zhonghe¡¯s chest.


    Sizzle¡­ The smell of something burning immediately filled the room, and dense smoke rolled out.


    ¡°Argh! Arghh! Arghh! Arghhh!¡± Yun Zhonghe was screaming with all his might, and his whole body was shivering.


    The guards around him were watching as they gritted their teeth. It felt so good to vent their anger this way.


    However, Xu Anting soon noticed that something wasn¡¯t right.


    Yun Zhonghe wasn¡¯t crying out in pain but in pleasure.


    There was such a freak in this world who enjoyed being branded?


    Very soon, he noticed something else. The smell of burned cloth hung in the air, but there was no smell of burning skin.


    He immediately walked forward and pulled open Yun Zhonghe¡¯s clothes. There was a bronze mirror under his shirt, and the searing iron was pressed onto the bronze mirror while Yun Zhonghe was not hurt at all.


    ¡°Ah, you found out my secret,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°People as handsome as me are usually somewhat obsessed with ourselves; we carry a mirror with us all the time. Occasionally we feel hungry, and we have to look at our reflections to sate that hunger.¡±


    No one reacted to him.


    Right then, there should have been a person like the supporting actor in a comic dialogue asking, ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Handsomeness is everything,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°It can even cure hunger. When you are as handsome as me, you feel like you are eating the choicest delicacies just by looking at your own reflection. Have you seen the dark circles under my eyes? Do you know why I can¡¯t sleep well? It is because I am often awakened by my handsomeness before six o¡¯clock in the morning. It is very annoying, really.¡±


    1The people around him shuddered.


    ¡°Shopkeeper, can I beat him to death?¡± one of the guards asked in a trembling voice. He couldn¡¯t stand it anymore.


    Xu Anting¡¯s fat face gave a slight twitch, and he put the already cooled branding iron back into the charcoal brazier.


    A few minutes later, the branding iron was heated until it was red hot again.


    Xu Anting took it out and walked toward Yun Zhonghe. He said, ¡°Since you are awakened by your handsomeness, I shall disfigure you, and then you can sleep well every day.¡±


    After that, he moved the branding iron slowly in the direction of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s face.


    ¡°I would like to see if the skin on your face is as tough as your bronze mirror.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe laughed. ¡°Shopkeeper Xu, Shopkeeper Xu, hold on!¡±


    Then, he suddenly became serious and said, ¡°I told you, everything I did just now was just an act. I knew that you were testing me from the beginning. I was also testing you guys, but you let me down.¡±


    ¡°You can talk your head off, but you still aren¡¯t getting out of this,¡± Xu Anting growled.


    In the current situation, there was nothing Yun Zhonghe could do to clear his name. It seemed like he was destined to be disfigured.


    ¡°Sister, look inside your belt. Is there a note?¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Xu Antiing was stunned. Her fingers dug into her belt, but there was nothing.


    ¡°On your back, right above your buttocks,¡± said Yun Zhonghe.


    Xu Antiing reached for the part of the belt on her back, and she found a piece of paper. When she opened it, she saw a sentence. ¡°Xu Anting, do you really think it¡¯s interesting to pretend to be a member of the Black Blood Hall? What the f*ck are you testing me for? I have already seen through your trick.¡±


    The eyes of the brother and the sister opened wide, and they couldn¡¯t believe what was written on the note. Xu Anting quickly rushed to his sister, grabbed the paper, and carefully read through it a few times.


    After Yun Zhonghe had entered the basement, he had been tied up the whole time. Besides, he was very weak. His only chance to put the paper inside Xu Antiing¡¯s belt had been the second he entered the basement.


    At that moment, the interrogation hadn¡¯t even started.


    The most astonishing part was that Yun Zhonghe had already been put under surveillance when he was still a kilometer away from Anting Tavern, and no one had seen him write anything at all.


    What did that mean? It meant that he had written the note way before he came to Anting Tavern.


    In other words, Yun Zhonghe had already deduced a few days ago that Xu Anting would pull this sort of trick on him.


    His shrewdness was jaw-dropping!


    Xu Anting shot his sister a black look, and he thought to himself, ¡°You are very good at kung fu while Yun Zhonghe is very weak physically, but he managed to put the note on the inside of your belt without you noticing. What the hell were you doing?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe then said, ¡°Shopkeeper Xu, don¡¯t blame your sister. Although I am physically weak, I do know a few tricks. People often think that I can only steal hearts because I am good-looking. They don¡¯t know that I steal other stuff too. After all, before I turned ten, I made a living by stealing. If I didn¡¯t hit my daily quota, ten silver sycees, I wasn¡¯t allowed to eat. If I stole less than five silver sycees, I was beaten. Less than three, and my hands would have been chopped off.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was telling the truth; the Yun Zhonghe in this world had never missed a target after he turned six. Those were bitter memories.


    On the other hand, although Xu Antiing had pretended to be bold and worldly-wise, she was very innocent and shy. When Yun Zhonghe put his hand on her waist, her whole body down to the roots of her hair had shivered. How would she have noticed when Yun Zhonghe slipped the note inside of her belt?


    After looking over the note a few times, Xu Anting threw it into the charcoal brazier to burn it.


    He looked at Yun Zhonghe again, and deep down, he was very surprised.


    He wanted to deal a head-on blow to Yun Zhonghe during their first meeting, but he ended up¡­ getting a slap in the face.


    ¡°He already knew that you would make this move a few days ago, and you were just a supporting actor who made his show complete. F*cking embarrassing!¡± the man thought.


    Yun Zhonghe was as cunning as the devil. He hadn¡¯t encountered a person so clever for a long time. This round, Xu Anting knew that he had lost. The whole Anting Tavern had lost to Yun Zhonghe, a gigolo.


    ¡°What now? Shopkeeper Xu, can we start discussing the mission?¡± asked Yun Zhonghe.


    Xu Anting walked up to him and freed him. He made obeisance and said, ¡°Xu Anting, a centurion in the No-King Division of the Imperial Order of the Black Dragon.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Yun Zhonghe, the Imperial Order of the Black Dragon.¡±


    When he got up, he said, ¡°Can you get me a pot of water?¡±


    A short while later, someone brought him a pot of water.


    As Yun Zhonghe washed his face to remove his makeup, his young and handsome facial features finally resurfaced.


    ¡°Can I have my mirror back?¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Xu Anting returned his mirror to him.


    Yun Zhonghe held his mirror, walked to a brighter spot, and looked at his reflection.


    After eight days, he was finally looking at his extremely gorgeous face again.


    ¡°Days without seeing you creep like years. I have missed you so much. How are you, handsome guy?¡± Yun Zhonghe said to the mirror in a cordial tone.


    2At that moment, Xu Anting couldn¡¯t help but shudder. The urge to disfigure Yun Zhonghe had become stronger.


    After looking at the mirror for three whole minutes, Yun Zhonghe was satisfied. He put the mirror carefully under his clothes against his chest. He then sat on a chair and said pompously, ¡°Come on, Xu, you can start reporting now.¡±


    ¡°Mister Yun, I am your superior,¡± Xu Anting said with a poker face.


    ¡°Oh, you are?¡± Yun Zhonghe got up immediately from the chair, bowed, and said, ¡°Go ahead, Sir Xu, please give your commands.¡±


    Xu Anting felt like there was a cloud hanging over him. Was this guy really going to be his partner from now on?


    The atmosphere in the Order of the Black Dragon was very solemn, and all the members were reserved. They rarely smiled because their job involved plenty of danger. They danced with the devil every day, and a tiny mistake could cost dozens or hundreds of lives.


    Therefore, everyone in the Order of the Black Dragon was poker-faced.


    They wouldn¡¯t use a word more than what was necessary, not even extra punctuation.


    ¡°Mr. Yun, I suppose you already know that the chief officer of the mission in the City of Torn Gust is Sir Feng Xingmie,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°Two years ago, he faced an unprecedented failure, causing a fatal blow to the empire¡¯s undercover forces in the City of Torn Gust. Almost all the strategies failed.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe shook his head and said, ¡°I did not know that.¡±


    ¡°He should have been punished by our order for a failure like that,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°However, there were special circumstances, and Lord Xu vouched for him with his life and career. That was why he was given a chance to start over.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe didn¡¯t even know who this Lord Xu was, but he was obviously somebody important in the Order of the Black Dragon.


    Xu Anting continued, ¡°Although he kept his official position, everything regarding the mission in the City of Torn Gust since then has fallen under the supervision of the No-King Division.¡±


    The Order of the Black Dragon was an enormous organization. It was divided into nine divisions, and new divisions were added or eliminated according to the circumstances. For instance, a division called the Nanzhao Division was added specifically to tackle an enemy in the south-west. When the enemy was defeated and became an inextricable part of the Great Ying Empire, the Nanzhao Division was dissolved.


    Five years ago, the Southern Zhou Empire changed its strategy from marching south to marching north. The Land of No King became the target of the two kingdoms¡¯ military strategies. In the same year, the No-King Division of the Order of the Black Dragon was established. The division¡¯s activity focused entirely on the Land of No King.


    ¡°A few days ago, we received news that Sir Feng Xingmie had picked you to execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust, Mr. Yun. That news wreaked havoc in the No-King Division, and some of the officers were strongly against that decision. It was very intense,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°If Sir Feng Xingmie hadn¡¯t staked his life and slammed his Inspector¡¯s Golden Token on the table, the Dark Cavalry of the No-King Division would already be on their way to stop or even arrest you.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe hadn¡¯t known about all this, but he had guessed that Feng Xingmie¡¯s decision to engage him to execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust would invite a great deal of criticism and pressure.


    ¡°Sir Feng Xingmie was appointed directly by the empire to manage the affairs in the City of Torn Gust, and although he ranks lower than the Admiral of the No-King Division, he has autonomy. He was very determined to employ you, so the Dark Cavalry of the No-King Division could only retreat. However, a few officers in the Admiralty House wrote a letter of condemnation and sent it to the Imperial City to condemn Sir Feng Xingmie¡¯s incompetence and arrogance. They appealed to the empire to dismiss him from his position, escort him to the Imperial City, and denounce him.¡±


    ¡°I am merely a centurion, so I was originally of little importance. The failure two years ago was a catastrophic disaster to the undercover forces of the Order of the Black Dragon in the City of Torn Gust, and to my surprise, I became an important asset in this branch of the order. My words matter.¡±


    ¡°Sir Xu, you may as well come clean with me,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°I received two orders, one from Feng Xingmie, and one from the Admiralty House of the No-King Division,¡± Xu Anting responded flatly.


    ¡°Sir Feng Xingmie¡¯s order was that you, Yun Zhonghe, would execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust, and I should support you in all respects.¡±


    ¡°The order from the Admiral of the No-King Division was to engage Viper to execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust, and I should support him in all respects. In addition, to maintain secrecy, I should arrest you immediately and escort you to the order¡¯s secret prison in the empire¡¯s territory. There, you would be imprisoned for life.¡±


    Viper? Who was he?


    Xu Anting explained, ¡°Viper is an elite secret agent. He has never failed to accomplish a mission in the past ten years. He has made countless imperative contributions to the empire, and he is the best of the best. Originally, he was assigned to execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust, and you took his place.¡±


    ¡°Moreover, I¡¯m not afraid to tell you that I am an admirer of Viper. All of us are.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yun, you haven¡¯t gone through any training at all. You are just a hooligan from the lower class, and the high-ranking officers thought that Sir Feng Xingmie was out of his mind to assign such an important task to you.¡±


    Even Yun Zhonghe thought that Feng Xingmie was crazy, let alone the high-ranking officers of the Order of the Black Dragon. It was too out of place.


    Xu Anting asked solemnly, ¡°Mr. Yun, tell me, who should I choose? Should I pick you or Viper to execute the mission of the City of Torn Gust? Which order should I obey?¡±


    The situation was getting more interesting. Two Black Dragon agents were going to compete for Jing Zhongyue?


    Yun Zhonghe asked, ¡°So where is this proud Mister Viper of the Order of the Black Dragon?¡±


    ¡°He is here already,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°He arrived a few hours earlier than you.¡±


    That made Yun Zhonghe¡¯s hair stand on end. He wasn¡¯t nervous but bellicose, like a gamecock which was about to enter the ring.


    His heart was swelling with excitement.


    He felt as high as a kite at that moment. It was time for him to show off and perform again!

 Chapter 12

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Everybody thought that Feng Xingmie was out of his mind.


    The mission in the City of Torn Gust would impact far more than just Feng Xingmie¡¯s life and possessions: it would also blowback on Lord Xu. That powerful man had assigned such an important task to a hooligan who was a con artist.


    Did he know Yun Zhonghe well?


    As a matter of fact, because of Mister Li, he knew Yun Zhonghe way better than anyone could have imagined. Mr. Li had lost everything to save Yun Zhonghe¡¯s life.


    However, he had already failed once. He would be doomed if he failed once more.


    The Order of the Black Dragon showed no mercy!


    ¡°Mr. Yun, do you know what is going to happen next?¡± asked Xu Anting.


    ¡°The Imperial City could give a secret order at any moment,¡± Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°at which point Sir Feng Xingmie would be arrested immediately, escorted to the Imperial City, incarcerated, and punished by the order.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°So what would happen to me if I followed Sir Feng Xingmie¡¯s order and supported you, a hooligan, in executing the mission in the City of Torn Gust?¡±


    ¡°You would also be incarcerated and punished by the order,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Correct.¡± Xu Anting nodded. ¡°I would be held responsible because I¡¯m not Sir Feng Xingmie¡¯s subordinate; I am under the No-King Division.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°So, you will choose Viper, arrest me, and escort me to the Order of the Black Dragon¡¯s prison in the empire¡¯s territory. I will be imprisoned for the rest of my life. That is the wisest choice to make.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± Xu Anting said.


    Yun Zhonghe then said, ¡°Do you want to do it now? I won¡¯t struggle, I promise. I have one request though: you can let your sister arrest me, but cover my eyes or her face.¡±


    Xu Antiing was standing to the side, and her bust increased suddenly by five centimeters, as if by magic. Her whole body made crackling sounds.


    Xu Anting sighed again. ¡°An hour ago, I would have chosen Viper without hesitation, arrested you, and sent you back to the empire. But your performance just now was very intriguing, and I am rethinking my decision.¡±


    Judging solely from this point, Yun Zhonghe could tell that Xu Anting was very dedicated to his job. The man wasn¡¯t going to make his decision based on his anger at being humiliated by Yun Zhonghe¡¯s trick.


    ¡°I am just an unimportant centurion in the No-King Division,¡± Xu Anting continued. ¡°I was originally a backup of a backup. The tragic failure a year ago resulted in total destruction of the undercover forces that were planted by the Order of the Black Dragon in the City of Torn Gust. Since then, our Anting Tavern has played a more important role.¡±


    ¡°Even so, we have been undercover in the City of Torn Gust for eleven years, and we have handled plenty of manpower and resources. We have also formed a thorough game plan for the upcoming mission. Almost a hundred undercover agents are working together for this mission. All of them are to provide their services to the mission executor. We are all bound together for good or ill.¡±


    ¡°One in a humble position dares not be ungrateful to his country. I am just a tiny centurion, but for the sake of the survival of my brothers and the prosperity of the empire, I will be bold enough to choose one of the two of you to execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Viper, please present yourself.¡±


    A stream of air blew through the dark room, and a figure appeared. He stood in the intersection of light and darkness. The shape of his face could be seen, but his facial features were not clear at all.


    Yun Zhonghe gave him a fist and palm salute and said, ¡°Brother Viper, a pleasure to meet you.¡±


    Viper snorted, cold and arrogant.


    Yun Zhonghe was out in the cold. He turned around and pretended to be Viper to return a salute to himself. ¡°The pleasure is mine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡±


    ¡°The honor is mine.¡±


    Xu Anting¡¯s face was twitching.


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, that¡¯s enough! Can¡¯t you see that now is not the time for your insanity?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Viper, you are my idol, and I admire you very much. We have all heard about your legendary achievements. Your kung fu and your wisdom are unparalleled. You have a perfect memory and thousands of faces, and you are the pride of every member in the south-western part of the Order of the Black Dragon,¡± Xu Anting said ingratiatingly. ¡°However, today, I must be so bold as to ask you to take part in a competition with Mr. Yun.¡±


    ¡°Hum!¡± Viper snorted again.


    ¡°My own limited talents constrain me as an examiner, so this competition will be fundamental in nature.¡±


    ¡°There is a Taoran Bookstore half a kilometer from Anting Tavern. After you enter the bookstore, locate the fifth book on the third row of the fourth rack.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what book it is. Buy it and bring it back to Anting Tavern.¡±


    What was more fundamental than the faculty of memory?


    Whoever could memorize more from the book within a half-hour would be the winner?


    It was rather easy and direct, but it was also the most hardcore activity.


    ¡°Gentlemen, do you think this will work? Are you willing to take part in this competition?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°Hum,¡± said Viper.


    However, this was Viper¡¯s strength. He had perfect memory, after all.


    ¡°Sis, bring some brothers, and escort the two gentlemen to Taoran Bookstore.¡± Xu Anting then said, ¡°Mr. Yun, put on your disguise from before. Do not show your real appearance.¡±


    ***


    Half an hour later.


    Sister Xu Antiing took five men who were disguised as Anting Tavern¡¯s hired roughnecks and escorted Yun Zhonghe and Viper out of the tavern.


    Well?


    Where was Viper?


    It was very strange. He was walking not far from Yun Zhonghe, but no one knew where he was because he had completely blended into the crowd on the street.


    He had thousands of faces, and he was very skilled at the transfiguration.


    Yun Zhonghe sighed. How nice it would have been if he had possessed that skill in the past.


    He could have used disguises to seduce the women he had already seduced, since the women he stole from normally became his enemies. Once he showed up, they would try to force him to marry them, or chop him into pieces, or die with him.


    The route from Anting Tavern to Taoran Bookstore was very straight, and it was 500 meters long in total.


    There were lots of people on the way. The city was definitely bustling.


    ¡°My Lord, come and have some fun.¡±


    ¡°The old gentleman with a grey beard who is wearing a bedsheet, come and have fun! You will get a 20 percent discount if you are 50 years old and above.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe looked up and said, ¡°Miss, are you calling out for me?¡±


    ¡°Yes, come and have some fun. Be brave!¡±


    ¡°Next time, next time,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Then, he murmured to Xu Antiing, ¡°She was so hospitable! That makes the guests feel like they¡¯re at home.¡±


    Xu Antiing was poker-faced, and she clenched her fist.


    Yun Zhong hurried on with his journey.


    As they made the 500-meter journey through the jostling crowd, Yun Zhonghe took his own sweet time, looking here and there. He was completely distracted.


    He took more than half an hour to reach Taoran Bookstore.


    ¡°Which rack, which row, and which book again?¡± Yun Zhonghe whispered.


    Xu Antiing¡¯s face twitched. ¡°You knew it was a matter of life and death when my brother told you. Your performance will not only affect your own life, but also Sir Feng Xingmie¡¯s. If you don¡¯t even know which book to take, you are dead meat.¡±


    He was too unprofessional.


    However, she absolutely wouldn¡¯t remind him.


    Yun Zhonghe thought for a while and took the fifth book on the third row of the fourth rack.


    ¡°¡®Butterfly¡¯s Dream.¡¯ What kind of book is this? I¡¯ve never seen it before.¡±


    Indeed, no one had heard of the book because the rack held books that no one read. They were all very obscure and badly written, and very few people had ever picked one of them up.


    The book was thick enough, though. It had more than 600 pages and 20,000 characters in total.


    After Yun Zhonghe paid for the book, he left Taoran Bookstore and returned to Anting Tavern.


    Yun Zhonghe hadn¡¯t seen Viper from the beginning to the end of the journey, although the man had been there the whole time. He hid in the crowd, and no one could tell who he was.


    ***


    Fifteen minutes later, they were back in the basement under the Anting Tavern.


    Yun Zhonghe saw Viper again. The man was still standing in the intersection of light and darkness, and only the shape of his face could be seen.


    The competition was about to start, and the one who won would stay and execute the mission of the City of Torn Gust.


    The stakes of this competition were far higher for Yun Zhonghe, because if he lost, the Order of the Black Dragon would incarcerate him for life.


    Sir Feng Xingmie would probably be escorted to the Imperial City and meet his end in the south-western region of the empire.


    The worst part was that he wouldn¡¯t be the only one; a whole bunch of people would face the same fate.


    ¡°Now, the competition between the two of you is about to start,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°I know that it is unfair. Mr. Yun was still a mere con artist a few days ago, while Mr. Viper was already an elite agent who had partaken in many missions.¡±


    ¡°I am flattered.¡± Yun Zhonghe gave him a fist and palm salute.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t complimenting you.¡±


    This was indeed an unfair competition, like one between a primary school student and a Ph.D. graduate.


    Yun Zhonghe had never had any training, while Viper was a one-in-a-million elite agent.


    ¡°Whoever wins this competition will have my full support in executing the mission in the City of Torn Gust. Let¡¯s start from here,¡± Xu Anting announced.


    ¡°Okay,¡± said Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°Hum,¡± Viper responded.


    Then, they would probably be given half an hour to read the book and memorize as much as possible from the book.


    Xu Anting instructed, ¡°Please flip open the book you bought.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe and Viper did as he said, flipped open their books, and started reading swiftly.


    ¡°You have half an hour,¡± said Xu Anting.


    Yun Zhonghe could barely believe how quickly Viper could read. The man could read ten lines at a glance.


    He must have been a genius, one with perfect memory.


    ¡°What should I, Yun Zhonghe, do then? Was there a genius in X Psychiatric Hospital with perfect memory?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there was. Patient Twenty-Three, Da Vinci.¡±


    Patient Twenty-Three had been an amazing artist. He was also the one who had castrated himself to study the origin of life.


    His main ability was drawing, but he had been able to draw the complete structure of the pineal gland. Hyperthymesia was just a supplementary ability.


    However, the spirit in his body was that of Patient Six. He could read minds, but he didn¡¯t have perfect memory.


    ¡°Patient Twenty-Three, possess me, possess me.¡±


    At that instant, Xu Anting said, ¡°Now, the first round of the competition consists of only one question. The distance between Taoran Bookstore and Anting Tavern was 500 meters. On the way, how many women did you encounter? How many of them had single-fold eyelids, and how many had double eyelids?¡±


    F¡­ F*ck!


    ¡°Weren¡¯t we going to compare who could memorize more of the book?¡±


    ¡°You, Xu Anting, were too cunning!¡±


    Answering this question would be as hard as nailing jelly to a tree! There had been at least a few thousand people on the way!

 Chapter 13

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    The person who had come up with the question must know the answer.


    Five people had obviously been brought along to escort Yun Zhonghe and Viper to Taoran Bookstore, but in reality, another dozen people had followed along secretly behind them. They had only one task, which was to take note of the number of women they encountered. They noted how many of those women had single eyelids and how many had double eyelids.


    This test was designed to evaluate the basic quality of a secret agent, but the difficulty level was insane.


    Viper was even more incredible. Without saying a word, he immediately wrote his answers on the paper, then submitted it.


    He was very confident and, obviously, well prepared.


    Xu Anting took the paper that Viper had submitted.


    He passed by 1953 people on their way, and there were 327 women among them.


    One hundred and twenty-three of them had single eyelids.


    One hundred and ninety-nine women had double eyelids, seven of which had inner double eyelids.


    Furthermore, five women had both single and double eyelids. Three of those had a crease on their right eyelid and none on their left eyelid, while the other two women were the other way around.


    Xu Anting silently took out the answer key that his subordinates had created.


    He discovered that¡­ there were a few discrepancies in their answers.


    However¡­ Viper¡¯s answer was more accurate because he even recorded the number of women who had inner double eyelids and the number of women who had both single and double eyelids.


    He was indeed the best of the best. He was beyond human.


    Viper reacted like he had done something so trivial that it was hardly worth mentioning. He was very calm as he continued to quickly browse through the book, reading ten lines at a glance.


    On the other hand, Yun Zhonghe hadn¡¯t started writing. He had closed his eyes.


    ¡°Patient Twenty-Three, Da Vinci, possess me, possess me.¡±


    All of a sudden, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s body jerked vigorously, and a shiver ran down his spine.


    Then, he entered a very strange spiritual state. He glanced instinctively at his lower abdomen.


    ¡°Uh? Feels like there¡¯s something more down there than I used to have?¡±


    Then, he looked at sister Xu Antiing, and there was a twinkle in his eyes.


    ¡°What a beautiful body with toned muscles! I wish I could cut it open and sketch out every single detail of it.¡±


    Then, his gaze shifted to the fat Xu Anting. He was picturing in his mind the fatty layer under the skin. If he could cut the man open, the factice-like material would look very interesting on a paper.


    Uh, uh, uh! Yun Zhonghe quickly shook off those distracting thoughts and closed his eyes to recall how many women he had encountered on his way from Anting Tavern to Taoran Bookstore. How many had double eyelids, and how many had single eyelids?


    At that instant, it felt like a movie playing back in his mind, and every single frame was crystal clear.


    It was way too awesome.


    So this was Da Vinci¡¯s field of vision.


    This wasn¡¯t just a perfect memory, was it?


    He was practically a human video camera.


    That was why the man had become a legendary painter and easily sketched out the detailed internal structures of the pineal gland and pituitary glands. In his mind, they were clear images.


    Soon, Yun Zhonghe wrote his answer down on the paper.


    He encountered 1959 people, 329 of them were women.


    One hundred and twenty-four of them had single eyelids. Two hundred women had double eyelids, and seven of them had inner double eyelids.


    Furthermore, five women had both single and double eyelids, three of them had a crease on their right eyelid and none on their left eyelid, while the other two women were the other way around.


    After he finished writing, a guard of the Order of the Black Dragon took his answer sheet and gave it to Xu Anting.


    Xu Anting took the paper, and he was completely dumbfounded at that instant. He looked at Yun Zhonghe, his eyes wide open.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s answers varied slightly from Viper¡¯s, but they were both correct because there was some difference in time, after all.


    It was very creepy, wasn¡¯t it?


    There was no doubt that Viper could complete this challenge because he was a very talented secret agent who had an astonishing memory. He had been through countless training sessions.


    But Yun Zhonghe, who had never been trained before?


    He had answered this insanely difficult question accurately.


    It was unimaginably queer.


    Maybe Sir Feng Xingmie wasn¡¯t crazy, but had a sharp eye for discovering capable people after all?


    However, Xu Anting still had to choose one of the two people to execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust.


    He suppressed his consternation and carried on with the competition.


    ¡°Let¡¯s proceed to the second task. Each of you has bought a book, ¡®Butterfly¡¯s Dream¡¯ and ¡®The Li Clan¡¯s Family Tree,¡¯ respectively. The second question is, what is the 9527th word of your book?¡±


    What¡­ What kind of psycho question was that?


    That question wasn¡¯t meant for humans.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine if you ask the participants to recite the paragraphs from the book. Although normal people couldn¡¯t memorize that much in a half-hour, a person with perfect memory could memorize a lot in that time,¡± Yun Zhonghe thought.


    ¡°But now you are asking about the 9527th word? Are you a monster?¡±


    ¡°Are you insane? Or am I the insane one?¡±


    ¡°Who the f*ck would remember that?¡±


    ¡°It was already very intense to memorize the book and answer the first question at the same time, okay?¡±


    However, thankfully for Yun Zhonghe, Patient Twenty-Three wasn¡¯t normal. He figured out the answer easily.


    ¡°I will count down from nine,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°You have to answer before I finish counting down, or you lose this round.¡±


    ¡°Nine, eight, seven, six, five¡­¡±


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°Four.¡±


    Viper answered, ¡°Kindness.¡±


    Xu Anting said, ¡°Mr. Yun, I did not ask you to count down for me.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The 9527th word in ¡®Butterfly¡¯s Dream¡¯ is ¡®four.''¡±


    No sh*t! That was coincidental¡­


    Xu Anting didn¡¯t know the answers, so he took the books out. There was an annotation stating the number of words on each page.


    Soon, he found out the 9527th word in each book.


    The answer from ¡°The Li Clan¡¯s Family Tree¡± was indeed ¡°kindness.¡± Viper¡¯s answer was accurate.


    When he then flipped through ¡°Butterfly¡¯s Dream¡± to look for the 9527th word, he found that it really was ¡°four.¡±


    ¡°What is wrong with this world?¡± Xu Anting thought in consternation. ¡°Are you guys humans? Psychopaths? Maniacs?¡±


    ¡°You can answer a question as difficult as that one accurately?¡±


    ¡°What kind of world is this? What kind of families were you raised in?¡±


    The people in the basement felt that their worlds were again overturned.


    The geniuses in this world could do whatever they wanted, it seemed.


    But the competition had to go on.


    ***


    The first two rounds had led the competition to a draw, so winning the third round would be the key to victory.


    Whoever won the competition would stay in the City of Torn Gust to execute the mission.


    If Yun Zhonghe lost, he would be arrested immediately and imprisoned.


    However, Xu Anting would submit a report stating that Yun Zhonghe was a very talented man. He shouldn¡¯t go to waste in a prison cell.


    The third round wouldn¡¯t decide Viper¡¯s fate, but for Yun Zhonghe, it was of crucial importance.


    The third round was indeed a rivalry between the best.


    What would be the question? Everyone in the basement was looking forward to it.


    Xu Anting was quiet for a moment, then he tore the paper with the third question written on it into pieces.


    ¡°The two of you are way more excellent than I imagined, so I think the third question can be canceled because it would still end in a draw,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°But the two of you


    have to battle it out today, so I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to change the question.¡±


    ¡°Like Shennong from ancient times, I am an expert poisoner who has tasted hundreds of herbs to test their toxicity. Since I know a lot about poisons, I, Xu Anting, became an excellent chef and opened Anting Tavern. The dishes in this tavern are very delicious, which is why business has been good all these years.¡±


    An expert in poison became a topnotch chef?


    Were there any connections between the two fields?


    There were. Lots of poisonous things could be prepared as the finest delicacies.


    For example, pufferfish and poisonous snakes.


    And women¡­ Ahem, that probably wasn¡¯t what Xu Anting was thinking.


    ¡°So, I will apply my expertise in the third round and ensure that there will be a winner. Excuse me for a moment.¡±


    ***


    Xu Anting left for half an hour.


    Half an hour later, there were five bottles on the table in front of Yun Zhonghe.


    The bottles were identical, and so were the liquids in them.


    They even tasted the same because they were all colorless and odorless.


    ¡°Four out of the five bottles contain poisonous liquids, and only one of the bottles has a non-poisonous liquid,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°Among the four poisonous liquids, two are lethal. You will die if you drink those. Two are moderate, but you will be in a lot of pain if you drink one of them.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Viper, Mr. Yun, please come forward to the table.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe and Viper stepped forward and stood in front of the table, staring at the five bottles.


    ¡°I will count down from nine to zero,¡± Xu Anting instructed. ¡°Within this timeframe, you are allowed to observe these five bottles, but you may not touch them. After I finish counting down, you need to choose a bottle and drink the liquid in the shortest time possible. If you choose the non-poisonous one, you are considered the winner.¡±


    After hearing what he said, the twinkle in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s eyes vanished.


    The third round was very inhumane. This was definitely something the Order of the Black Dragon would do.


    Only one of the five bottles contained non-poisonous liquid, which meant this test wouldn¡¯t end up in a tie.


    ¡°I know that the third task was very unfair,¡± Xu Anting said, ¡°but nothing is easy in our line of work. We dance with the devil every day, and any moment could bring us to the edge of a cliff. Once you go undercover in the residence of the castellan, you may lose your life anytime. Dangers will be everywhere, and there will only be a slim chance of survival. You will encounter situations that are ten times more dangerous than the one you are facing now, so you can consider this as a rehearsal.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to start counting down, and you may observe the five bottles of liquid. Only one of them is harmless; the others are poisonous.¡±


    ¡°Once you choose the one that isn¡¯t poisonous and drink it, you will be the winner.¡±


    ¡°Nine, eight, seven¡­¡±


    Xu Anting began counting down, which meant that Yun Zhonghe had only nine seconds.


    The five bottles of liquid looked exactly the same. They even smelled exactly the same.


    Choosing the bottle without poison was purely a matter of luck.


    Viper glanced at the five bottles, and his eyes were calm.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s eyes were wide open, and he had almost pressed his face to the bottles.


    ¡°Three, two, one, time¡¯s up!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe and Viper stretched their hands out at the same time, trying to grab the bottle with harmless liquid in the shortest time possible.


    However, Viper¡¯s kung fu made him a thousand times better than Yun Zhonghe.


    He was as fast as lightning, and he grabbed the fourth bottle and chugged it.


    Yun Zhonghe was already moving as fast as he could, but he was 0.1 seconds slower and only managed to grab the air.


    Then, he looked at Xu Anting.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes were on Xu Anting, waiting for him to unveil the answer.


    Which of the five bottles contained the non-poisonous liquid?


    ¡°Mr. Yun, you have lost. Mr. Viper has already taken the only harmless liquid,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°I know this isn¡¯t fair, but¡­ Nothing in this world is fair.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yun, to maintain the secrecy of this mission, we will need to arrest you immediately and escort you to the prison that the Order of the Black Dragon keeps in the empire¡¯s territory. However, I will tell my superiors that you are a very talented man, and you can be assigned to another mission after you have been trained.¡±


    ¡°Take Mr. Yun away,¡± Xu Anting ordered. As he spoke, his sister stepped forward with a special pair of handcuffs and a rope.


    ¡°I am sorry,¡± said Xu Antiing.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Give me some more time! I just need the amount of time it would take to burn a joss stick.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yun,¡± Xu Anting said, ¡°I know you are dissatisfied, but you have lost. There is no way you can turn the tables.¡±


    What Xu Anting said appeared to be true. The only bottle with harmless liquid had already been consumed by Viper. There were four bottles left, and all of them contained poisonous liquids. No matter which liquid Yun Zhonghe drank, he would lose; if he didn¡¯t drink anything, he would lose too.


    No matter what Yun Zhonghe did, it would be in vain.


    He had lost.


    He had lost his opportunity to execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust.


    However, he didn¡¯t want to accept that. He believed that there must be a way out of this impasse.


    There must be, there must be.


    He wouldn¡¯t accept his defeat just like that.


    But where was the way out? Where?


    All four bottles contained poisonous liquid. Two of them were lethal, and he would die if he drank one of them. Although the other two liquids were moderately poisonous, they would put him in so much pain that he would rather die.


    The joss stick would soon burn to an end.


    Yun Zhonghe hadn¡¯t figured out a solution. He hadn¡¯t found the way out.


    His eyes remained closed, and he didn¡¯t move at all.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Yun, I need to send you back to the empire,¡± Xu Anting repeated.


    Yun Zhonghe opened his eyes out of the blue, his face beaming with excitement. He laughed and said, ¡°I have found the only way out. I¡¯m going to win the competition.¡±

 Chapter 14

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Yun Zhonghe stepped forward and chugged the four poisons in sequence: bottle one, bottle two, bottle three, and bottle four.


    A few seconds later, blood came out of every orifice in his head.


    He was dead!


    At the age of nineteen.


    This was his way out?


    ¡°Patient Nine, Quantum, was this how you predicted the future?


    ¡°You ran the calculations and simulations in your head again and again.


    ¡°No wonder you could make accurate predictions in the first and last years of your stay in the hospital. How many simulations did you have to create for that many variables?


    ¡°It¡¯s a miracle that your brain didn¡¯t explode.¡±


    He only had the time of a burning incense stick left when he had closed his eyes. He had shuddered as he felt chills run down his spine.


    The once amazing Patient Nine, Quantum, possessed him.


    Then, he started running simulations of the current situation in his mind.


    The experience was very real, as if he was the most advanced tactical simulation system.


    ***


    The second simulation was done.


    He drank the poisons in a different sequence: bottle number one, two, four, and three.


    He died!


    In the third simulation, he drank the poisons in the sequence: one, three, two, and four.


    He died!


    The fourth simulation.


    He died!


    The fifth simulation.


    He died!


    What the hell.


    Enough!


    He only had a little time left.


    Soon, the incense stick would burn to its end.


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe kept wanting to read Xu Anting¡¯s mind, but he failed because Xu Anting was a very strong-willed person. There was no emotion in his eyes or on his face, and he wouldn¡¯t whisper anything to himself.


    However, when Viper took the only bottle with non-poisonous liquid, and Yun Zhonghe had certainly lost, Xu Anting finally experienced a fluctuation in the emotions deep inside him. At that instant, Xu Anting whispered in his mind, ¡°Drink all.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe could finally read one of his thoughts.


    From there, Yun Zhonghe inferred that although all four bottles left contained poisonous liquids, they would become harmless when they were mixed together. The various toxicities would cancel each other out.


    Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t rush to drink all the liquids together. He asked for Quantum¡¯s help to do a tactical simulation of consuming the four liquids in different orders.


    Let the ¡°professional¡± nutcase do his job.


    That was why the above scenes appeared in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mind.


    But the result wasn¡¯t too encouraging.


    The incense stick had burned to an end, but Yun Zhonghe had only done twenty-three simulations in Quantum¡¯s spiritual world.


    They all gave the same result; Yun Zhonghe died with blood coming out of every orifice.


    There were 24 different potential orders in which Yun Zhonghe could drink the four bottles. However, he had only tested 23 of them. Only the last permutation, four, three, one, and two, was left behind.


    After eliminating the 23 wrong answers, the last one had to be correct.


    But who knew? Who could be sure?


    Who could know for sure what Xu Anting¡¯s monologue meant? He hadn¡¯t clearly stated that mixing all four liquids would make them harmless.


    On top of that, only three or four of all Quantum¡¯s predictions throughout his sixteen years of calculating and forecasting were accurate.


    Yun Zhonghe was betting his life on this.


    ¡°Mr. Yun, time¡¯s up,¡± Xu Anting said.


    Yun Zhonghe opened his eyes, stepped forward, and mixed the four liquids in the sequence of bottle number four, three, one, and two.


    At that moment, everyone¡¯s expressions changed.


    Yun Zhonghe lifted the glass. Although the liquid was poisonous, he acted like he was holding a glass of Lafite 1982. (Why was it not a Roman¨¦e-Conti?)


    He swirled the glass and smelled it.


    Ugh!


    ¡°Under the circumstances, I would like to compose a poem.¡± Yun Zhonghe held the glass with only two fingers and stuck his pinky out, looking graceful and elegant. The people in the room were suddenly greatly anticipating hearing the poem. How legendary would his poem be?


    Even Sister Xu Antiing and Viper pricked up their ears, awaiting Yun Zhonghe¡¯s poem.


    Yun Zhonghe got emotionally ready, and a mightily remarkable poem came pouring out of his mouth.


    ¡°I am drinking in this lonesomeness


    I am drunk and I see two beautiful you


    Each of you is in each of my eyes


    I only wish that we could be together someday


    She tenderly plays her zither


    Swallows were frolicking in my black bamboo forest


    I am in love so deep with a beautiful woman


    With all my heart and soul


    I would travel a thousand miles to look for you¡­¡±


    Goosebumps suddenly rose on the skin of everyone in the basement. They were electrified by the poem.


    Yun Zhonghe stopped reciting out of the blue. He held the glass, looked at the poison inside, and said to Viper, ¡°I bet my life on this! I¡¯ll chug, and you drink as much as you please!¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe drank all the liquid in the glass.


    A heavy silence fell upon the room. All eyes were on Yun Zhonghe.


    Drinking a combination of four poisons could kill someone in a split second. Yun Zhonghe was indeed a wack job.


    But after drinking the liquid, Yun Zhonghe did not move a muscle. It was as if he was immobilized.


    ***


    After a while, two minutes had passed.


    Yun Zhonghe opened his mouth and said, ¡°Shopkeeper Xu, a refill, please!¡±


    Nothing happened to him. The toxicities canceled each other out and became harmless after the four poisons were mixed in the order four, three, one, and two.


    Yun Zhonghe had won the bet.


    Everyone remained silent.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Xu Anting, Viper, I won the competition, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    According to the rules, the third round technically ended with a tie because both of them drank the poison and hadn¡¯t died.


    But everyone knew that Yun Zhonghe had won.


    Perhaps it might have been hard to choose the bottle with the harmless liquid right away, but it was even harder to mix the liquids and make them harmless.


    Doing so required courage, wisdom, steadiness, and calmness.


    Xu Anting was stupefied. He still couldn¡¯t believe what he had seen.


    He had applied what he had been studying for his whole life on toxicology in the third round. There was seemingly only one bottle that contained harmless liquid. It looked like a dead-end, but there was a hidden solution, a potential for a losing player to be reborn.


    Deep down, he hadn¡¯t expected that to happen because it was too hard.


    Who would have figured out that once all four poisons were consumed, the toxicity was annihilated?


    And who would have known that the four liquids had to be consumed in the correct order? Even a tiny mistake would turn the mixture into a lethal poison.


    Only one out of the 24 arrangements was correct.


    Yun Zhonghe had found the solution that was hidden in the blind alley.


    If he hadn¡¯t won, who had?


    It was utterly breathtaking.


    Other than the poem, Yun Zhonghe was awesome.


    ***


    Xu Anting looked at Viper and said, ¡°Sir, you rank way higher than me, and you are my idol. How would you judge the current situation? Who won the competition? I will leave it up to you.¡±


    According to people¡¯s opinions, Yun Zhonghe had won.


    However, according to the rules, the third round ended up in a draw, or Viper could even be considered as the winner since he had drunk the harmless liquid in the shortest time.


    Everyone was staring at Viper, waiting for his decision.


    Viper was like a wooden doll. He didn¡¯t move at all, nor did he react to what Xu Anting had said.


    Xu Anting asked again, ¡°Mr. Viper, who do you think is the winner?¡±


    Viper opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. He stared at Yun Zhonghe and said, ¡°The poem was nice.¡±


    ¡°See? He is a man of taste. Only such a man would appreciate the poem that I, Yun Zhonghe, wrote.¡±


    ¡°A song that wrenches the heart, where do I find a knowing ear? But, Mr. Viper, your reaction was rather slow.¡±


    Xu Anting said, ¡°So, Mr. Viper, who do you think won?¡±


    Viper still didn¡¯t say anything about the winner. Instead, he gave Yun Zhonghe a fist and palm salute and said, ¡°Farewell.¡±


    Then, he walked toward the door. Needless to say, he had decided that Yun Zhonghe had won.


    However, when he reached the door, he stopped, gave Yun Zhonghe a fist and palm salute again, and said, ¡°It was an honor to meet you.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe returned the salute. ¡°The honor is mine.¡±


    Viper said, ¡°It was a pleasure to meet you.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The pleasure is mine.¡±


    Then, Viper was gone.


    What he didn¡¯t say was that he would put in a good word for Yun Zhonghe and Feng Xingmie when he went back and ask the No-King Division to fully support Yun Zhonghe¡¯s undercover operations.


    From the beginning to the end, Yun Zhonghe hadn¡¯t clearly seen what Viper really looked like, but he could be certain that he was a wonderful man.


    When he could no longer see Viper¡¯s figure, Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°He is a pro.¡±


    Xu Anting nodded in agreement. Then he sighed. ¡°I will regret for the rest of my life that I wasn¡¯t able to work with Mr. Viper.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe frowned immediately. He looked at Xu Anting and whispered to himself, ¡°I don¡¯t like what I just heard.¡±


    ¡°Shopkeeper Xu, you are blowing hot and cold like a fickle lover.¡±


    Xu Anting looked at Yun Zhonghe, and a chill went down his spine.


    There was a certain kind of person that you would do anything to help when he was in danger, but once he was safe, you would feel like killing him.


    Yun Zhonghe was that kind of person.


    From now on, he, Xu Anting, would be working with Yun Zhonghe to execute the mission in the City of Torn Gust.


    Xu Anting didn¡¯t know why he suddenly had an urge to run out and stop Mr. Viper from leaving.


    However, there was no use crying over spilled milk at the moment.


    ¡°Mr. Yun, welcome aboard,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°The mission in the City of Torn Gust is now yours, and all of us will give you our full support. Time is of the essence. Let¡¯s get started.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was startled, and he whispered to himself, ¡°Start now? It¡¯s that urgent? You aren¡¯t going to throw me a welcoming party? No team-building?¡±


    ¡°I have a location in mind: the Sleepy Spring Brothel would be just right. Those girls are so warm and lovely.¡±

 Chapter 15

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    ¡°Mr. Yun, from now on, if you have collected any information or if you need anything, come to me and only me,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°My place here is not only a tavern, but also a nice restaurant, so it won¡¯t stir up suspicion if you dine here. If I need to get in touch with you, I will hang nine slabs of cured meat outside the tavern. There will be a string of garlic between the third and the fourth slabs.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. Then he asked, ¡°Has this rendezvous point ever been activated previously?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s never been used.¡± Xu Anting continued, ¡°About three months ago, I had to watch some of the brothers of the Order of the Black Dragon be killed in front of me. It happened within 300 feet of the tavern, and I had the chance to save them. But I couldn¡¯t do anything because I hadn¡¯t received any orders. I could only watch as their corpses were chopped into pieces. I could only watch as the mission of the Order of the Black Dragon failed.¡±


    Xu Anting¡¯s light eyes were set deep in his fat face, and when he talked about this, pain flashed across his expression.


    Yun Zhonghe didn¡¯t answer immediately but asked, ¡°Xu Anting, how long have you been here?¡±


    ¡°Nine years,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°Started when I was 27 years old, and now I am 36 years old.¡±


    He had been here for nine years, but he had never been activated. Thousands of people from the Order of the Black Dragon had sacrificed their youth and lives in the City of Torn Gust for an unknown cause.


    ¡°Are there any agents from the Order of the Black Dragon among the high-ranking officers in the City of Torn Gust?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    This question had been lingering in his mind for a long time. Why would the powerful Great Ying Empire¡¯s Order of the Black Dragon end up in such a tragic situation?


    Also, what exactly happened when Feng Xingmie¡¯s plans failed two years ago?


    ¡°Five out of the nineteen chieftains in the Valley of Torn Gust were once undercover agents of the Order of the Black Dragon,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°Besides, there were five chiliarchs in the garrison of the City of Torn Gust, and two of them were once agents of the order.¡±


    The Order of the Black Dragon was indeed very powerful, and it had infiltrated half of the military forces of the City of Torn Gust.


    ¡°It was Sir Feng Xingmie¡¯s work,¡± Xu Anting continued. ¡°He spent five years to firmly embed the Order of the Black Dragon¡¯s forces in the City of Torn Gust. In fact, Sir Feng Xingmie¡¯s strategies to tackle the City of Torn Gust were one step away from victory two years ago.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe didn¡¯t know that Feng Xingmie had such a glorious past.


    ¡°What happened?¡± asked Yun Zhonghe.


    Anguished, Xu Anting closed his eyes and said in a trembling voice, ¡°It was all because of a traitor. All the agents in the upper class of the City of Torn Gust were killed, each one of them. Only the undercover agents in the lower class like us were left.¡±


    ¡°They killed 1400 people in total. It cost the Order of the Black Dragon unimaginable manpower and resources to let those elite agents infiltrate the City of Torn Gust. And they had put in a lot of effort and made innumerable sacrifices to obtain those high-ranking positions. However, within only a few days, they were all uprooted and slaughtered.¡± Xu Anting gritted his teeth so hard that his gums started to bleed. He slammed his fist down onto the table suddenly and said in a gruff voice, ¡°When Sir Feng Xingmie heard about the grievous news, he vomited three big bowls of blood, passed out, and lay in a coma for a few days.¡±


    1¡°It happened on the third of March, so the Order of the Black Dragon calls it the Third of March Shame, or the Third of March Incident,¡± Xu Anting went on. ¡°The Imperial Order of the Black Dragon¡¯s military strategies for the City of Torn Gust took a fatal blow. It also had a huge impact on the undercover forces across the Land of No King, delaying the empire¡¯s plan to march south by at least two years.¡±


    This kind of failure was heart-breaking.


    The loss was too substantial. Xu Anting was amazing. In nine years, he had expanded Anting Tavern into a business so large-scale that it stood firmly in the City of Torn Gust.


    However, Anting Tavern was in the lowest class compared to the other undercover forces of the Order of the Black Dragon. It was a backup rendezvous point.


    In the Third of March Incident, all the forces in the upper class were uprooted. Only after that was Anting Tavern called into action.


    This showed how powerful the undercover forces of the Order of the Black Dragon had once been in the City of Torn Gust.


    ¡°When the chief of the Order of the Black Dragon begged His Majesty¡¯s pardon, His Majesty grieved deeply and said that it was not only the shame of the Order of the Black Dragon but also the shame of the whole Great Ying Empire.¡±


    ¡°Who was the traitor?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked. ¡°He must have been a high-ranking officer.¡±


    ¡°Yan Pianxian,¡± said Xu Anting.


    The name didn¡¯t sound like that of a good man, but it implied that its owner was a handsome man. (I used to use it as my QQ nickname, haha.)


    ¡°Is he still alive?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Yes, and he has become a high-ranking officer of the Southern Zhou Empire¡¯s Order of Black Ice,¡± Xu Anting told him. ¡°Emperor Wanyun has a very high opinion of him.¡±


    ¡°Was Yan Pianxian¡¯s betrayal instigated by the Southern Zhou Empire, or was he a spy from the Southern Zhou Empire who was undercover in the Great Ying Empire?¡± Yun Zhonghe inquired.


    Xu Anting said, ¡°That may remain secret forever.¡±


    ¡°After that incident, the Southern Zhou Empire¡¯s Order of Black Ice must have become very famous,¡± Yun Zhonghe murmured thoughtfully.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°The two empires¡¯ intelligence agencies have been competing with each other for almost a hundred years. The Order of the Black Dragon used to always have the upper hand. After Yan Pianxian¡¯s Third of March Incident, however, the Order of Black Ice rose to power instantly and captured the world¡¯s attention. The reputation of the Order of the Black Dragon hit rock bottom.¡±


    The more Yun Zhonghe learned, the more he thought that Feng Xingmie was out of his mind. The mission in the City of Torn Gust would not only affect the strategies of the empire, but it would also be a chance for the Order of the Black Dragon to avenge the insult.


    ¡°And he assigned such an important task to me, a hooligan? He has got balls,¡± Yun Zhonghe thought. Then he said, ¡°Before Yan Pianxian¡¯s betrayal, what was his role in the Order of the Black Dragon?¡±


    ¡°He was like a prince in the Order of the Black Dragon, a future star. He was a candidate to become the future chief of the order,¡± Xu Anting answered.


    Sh*t!


    That man had been like an heir to the chief of the Great Ying Empire¡¯s Order of the Black Dragon?


    A man with that kind of power had betrayed the order? Why?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°So, you are saying that the castellan, Jing Zhongyue, is not the only enemy of the order that we¡¯re going to face? There are also the secret agents from the Order of Black Ice of the Southern Zhou Empire?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Anting replied firmly.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The undercover forces from the Order of Black Ice in the City of Torn Gust are now way more influential than us. Any of the high-ranking officers in this city that we encounter could be secret agents from the Order of Black Ice.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°We, the Order of the Black Dragon, are now weak and alone in the City of Torn Gust, as if we are surrounded by a wolf pack. An extremely intense spy game awaits us, and we will be dancing on the edge of a knife.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe had another question. ¡°Who ordered the execution of the secret agents from the Order of the Black Dragon two years ago?¡±


    ¡°The previous castellan, Jing E, Jing Zhongyue¡¯s father,¡± Xu Anting answered.


    Yun Zhonghe had read about Jing E. The man was fierce and ambitious.


    Dozens of years ago, when the Jing Clan lost the rulership of the Valley of Torn Gust, the whole family was almost completely wiped out.


    All by himself, Jing E took back the rulership which had been passed down by his ancestors and doubled the territory.


    He fought in countless battles throughout his life and killed innumerable men. He always won, no matter if it was a civil war or a war on a battlefield.


    However, Castellan Jing E had a stroke the previous January. He had been in a coma since then.


    Jing Zhongyue became the new castellan after the fall of the titan.


    No one had expected that after Jing Zhongyue became the castellan, she would become even more ruthless than her father. People now trembled with fear at the mention of her name.


    Within a year, she earned the nickname ¡°She-Devil.¡±


    A wise man once said, ¡°There are only wrong names, but never a wrong nickname.¡±


    ¡°Previously, I wasn¡¯t confident about the mission at all,¡± Xu Anting confessed. ¡°I could only imagine a bleak and hopeless future. But here you are with your outstanding performance just now. You gave us a ray of hope. The situation is going to be extremely dangerous, but at least there is some possibility of success.¡±


    ¡°After Jing Zhongyue became the castellan, did the City of Torn Gust continue hunting down the secret agents from the Order of the Black Dragon?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°They are still doing that, but with less force,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°I told you just now, the soldiers of the Black Blood Hall were pursuing a few secret agents from the Order of the Black Dragon three months ago. They caught them less than 100 meters from Anting Tavern¡¯s front door. I couldn¡¯t do anything but watch our agents kill themselves in front of me. I will never forget the looks in their eyes, the loyalty, the determination. They¡¯d rather kill themselves than be taken prisoner.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe did not say anything. He only poured Xu Anting a cup of tea.


    ¡°May the dead rest in peace. The living should let bygones be bygones, and we should fight till our last breath for the brothers who have perished. Even though it might be as hard as reaching for the sky.¡± Xu Anting took a deep breath to suppress his grief and indignation.


    After a long while, Xu Anting finally calmed down.


    ¡°Mr. Yun, soon, we will carry out the first step of the mission in the City of Torn Gust: infiltrating the residence of the castellan.¡±


    ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®A waterfront pavilion gets the moonlight first.¡¯ You can only approach Jing Zhongyue by infiltrating the residence of the castellan. Only then will you be able to use your skills to attract her attention.¡±


    ¡°We have planned two routes for you to infiltrate the residence of the castellan.¡±


    ¡°The first one is tailor-made for you; you will resume your old profession,¡± Xu Anting said.


    Yun Zhonghe asked, ¡°A gigolo?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Xu Anting said.


    ¡°Sh*t, that was this Yun Zhonghe¡¯s old profession, not mine,¡± he thought to himself. ¡°That scumbag picked up women and took money from them. I, the Yun Zhonghe from Earth, would never take money from women. Of course, I¡­ didn¡¯t spend money on them, either.¡±


    1Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°According to her files, Jing Zhongyue never takes a gigolo. She only has murderous intentions toward men.¡±


    Xu Anting said, ¡°She might not, but one woman definitely will.¡±


    ¡°Who is that?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Castellan Jing E¡¯s youngest sister, Jing Zhongyue¡¯s aunt,¡± Xu Anting answered seriously. ¡°She married a lord of the cave barbarians, but she lives in the City of Torn Gust all year long because she couldn¡¯t stand the lifestyle there. People called her ¡®Lady Musk.¡¯ This woman is extremely beautiful, bold, and generous. Your gorgeous appearance will easily attract Lady Musk, and you will become her lover. This is the shortest route to infiltrate the residence of the castellan, and it will immediately place you in a good position.¡±


    This route was indeed a shortcut.


    ¡°However, such a profession is way too shameful. It would be difficult for a serious person like me,¡± Yun Zhonghe thought. Out loud, he asked, ¡°What is the other route?¡±


    ¡°In the second route, we will arrange for you to become a servant in the residence of the castellan,¡± Xu Anting explained. ¡°We have also drawn up a plan for you to rise to power in the castellan¡¯s residence, so you will be the center of attention.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yun, out of the two routes, which one will you choose?¡±

 Chapter 16

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Yun Zhonghe shifted his gaze and said languidly, ¡°Is the first route reliable? I¡¯m not implying anything, just asking.¡±


    When he finished saying that, he could feel Sister Xu Antiing looking at him with scorn.


    He whispered in his heart, ¡°Hey, why are you looking at me like that? I was just simply asking out of curiosity.¡±


    ¡°You can ask any handsome man. If they could make money lying down and avoid 30 years of actual work, wouldn¡¯t any of them be tempted by that idea, deep down?¡±


    ¡°But, of course, this is just a daydream; if a man truly wants to be happy, he needs to work for it.¡±


    Xu Anting asked carefully, ¡°Mr. Yun, what do you mean by ¡®reliable¡¯?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°What is the modus operandi, exactly?¡±


    ¡°There is a brothel under our control,¡± Xu Anting explained. ¡°It is a very high-class one, top-notch. It is called Tianyu Pavillion. Lady Musk is a frequent customer.¡±


    ¡°So, you are saying that you are going to arrange for me to work in Tianyu Pavilion, and once I¡¯m chosen by Lady Musk, I will be brought to the residence of the castellan?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Yes, although ¡®work¡¯ might be too strong of a word to describe your duties,¡± Xu Anting answered.


    Yun Zhonghe then said, ¡°Would I need to serve some ugly women before I was chosen by Lady Musk? Would I have to do weird stuff?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the character we arrange for you is a guqin player,¡± Xu Anting assured him. ¡°I saw in your file that you can play guqin, and although your skill isn¡¯t remarkable, your handsome face should compensate for that. Lady Musk is a woman of great taste, and she especially likes men who are gifted in chess, calligraphy, painting, or playing the lyre. So, if you chose the first route, we won¡¯t let you serve customers.¡±


    ¡°Is Tianyu Pavilion a property of the Order of the Black Dragon?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°No, but we have someone on the inside whose words carry great weight,¡± Xu Anting said.


    Yun Zhonghe had another question. ¡°And, if I take the second route, who will you go through to arrange for me to become a servant in the residence of the castellan?¡±


    ¡°The chamberlain of the castellan¡¯s residence is a henchman of Jing Zhongyue¡¯s mother. His name is Li Tang. He is a powerful man within the castellan¡¯s residence,¡± Xu Anting told him.


    ¡°Is he an agent of the Order of the Black Dragon?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°No, he just loves money,¡± Xu Anting said with a shrug. ¡°And I have something on him. We do have agents in the residence of the castellan, and they will be activated after your arrival to support you. However, in order to keep the risk of blowing your cover as low as possible, the way we send you into the residence of the castellan cannot directly involve the Order of the Black Dragon.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense. You guys are definitely pros at this,¡± Yun Zhonghe complimented.


    ¡°So, which route are you gonna take?¡± Xu Anting asked. ¡°I would advise you to take the second one. Although you won¡¯t start in an important position, you will have more freedom to operate. The first route will place you close to an important member of the household, but being a gigolo is rather embarrassing, and you will be looked down upon. It will therefore be much harder for you to approach Jing Zhongyue. Once you are tainted with the name ¡®gigolo,¡¯ you will never be respected.¡±


    ¡°I agree with you: being a servant is more dignified,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°So, you choose the second route?¡± Xu Anting nodded his agreement with the decision. ¡°I will begin the preparations immediately. You will be sent into the castellan¡¯s residence to be a servant three days from now.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I choose the first route. I don¡¯t have any intentions on the side, but I just can¡¯t resist the challenge.¡±


    What?!


    Yun Zhonghe asked again, ¡°Is this Lady Musk really pretty?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she is. She is radiant,¡± Xu Anting replied.


    ¡°Shopkeeper Xu, I¡¯m really not doing this for my own benefit. We, who work in the service sector, can¡¯t choose our clients, right?¡± Yun Zhonghe continued, ¡°How old is this Lady Musk? Is her skin still firm?¡±


    ¡°She is in her thirties, but she looks younger,¡± Xu Anting said.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, that¡¯s great,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°I don¡¯t have any other intentions, I really don¡¯t. Working in the service sector, we can¡¯t pick our clients. Clients are God, after all.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yun, you have made up your mind? This route is much harder. As a gigolo, you will be despised to the bone by Jing Zhongyue,¡± Xu Anting warned.


    ¡°Anting, the way you think is old-fashioned,¡± Yun Zhonghe countered. ¡°We can totally interpret this in another way. Because of a misfortune that happened to his family, a very talented, extremely gorgeous, innocent, and pure man had no choice but to escape to the Land of No King and end up in a brothel. Although he has a very pretty face, he keeps his integrity and refuses to soil his hands. He only sells his skills, but he adamantly refuses to sell his body. However, he is too handsome and too talented, so he is chosen by a female gangster, Lady Musk. She forces him to follow her home. This domineering woman uses him every day, and he always sheds tears till dawn. Nevertheless, despite being in such a dark place, he still has a kind heart and looks forward to a beautiful life. Can you call a handsome and noble guy like that mean and low? Can you say that he is filthy? You can¡¯t!¡±


    2A heavy silence fell upon the room.


    Xu Antiing decided to cling tighter to her resolution to never marry.


    Men in this world were too despicable.


    ¡°What? What I said does make sense, right?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Not deigning to respond to that, Xu Anting said, ¡°Lady Musk has refined tastes. It isn¡¯t enough to only have a handsome appearance; you need to be talented as well. She likes guqin music in particular. I have read your file, and your guqin skill is mediocre. It may be sufficient to fool innocent girls, but for this job, we will need a professional guqin player to coach you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need it!¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°My guqin skill is the world¡¯s best.¡±


    Xu Anting gave him a wry smile. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that your opinion on this will matter little until we get a professional guqin player to judge your skills. If you are certain that you want to take the first route, your guqin proficiency must be confirmed before the mission begins. We will give you an assessment.¡±


    Xu Anting had received a very detailed file on Yun Zhonghe, including a 1000-word description on his guqin playing skills. Yun Zhonghe was only an intermediate guqin player, and his style was quite pretentious and meretricious. Such skills would only work on the naive and innocent.


    On the other hand, Lady Musk was quite the musician. While she couldn¡¯t play the guqin at a master level herself, she had an expert ear.


    Therefore, according to Xu Anting¡¯s plan, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s skills would be at an upper-intermediate level after he was trained by a professional guqin player. What he lacked in skill could be made up for by choosing exactly the right pieces of music. The music pieces were already prepared, having been composed by a guqin expert in the Order of the Black Dragon. They were absolutely stunning, and they had never been used in any performance.


    After Lady Musk¡¯s arrival, Yun Zhonghe would play one of the pieces. Even though he wasn¡¯t the best player, people would still be fascinated because the piece was way too outstanding. Plus, with Yun Zhonghe¡¯s gorgeous appearance, snagging Lady Musk¡¯s attention shouldn¡¯t be too hard.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°In that case, let¡¯s start the process now. You can assess my guqin playing skills all you want.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Xu Anting asked.


    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Yun Zhonghe confirmed.


    Xu Anting ordered, ¡°Go, bring a guqin over here.¡±


    A moment later, two guards moved a guqin into the room. Yun Zhonghe knew, at first sight, that it was at least 100 years old. It was one in a million, and it must have cost a fortune.


    The Order of the Black Dragon was fantastic.


    ¡°Mr. Yun, you may start now.¡±


    ¡°Who is the guqin expert who is going to assess me?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Xu Anting looked at his sister, Xu Antiing.


    Yun Zhonghe was startled. ¡°Sister, you¡­ you are the professional guqin player?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Tiing has been playing guqin for 21 years,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°She was acknowledged as a string instruments prodigy when she was five years old. She was supposed to be a great master of music, and the order would make her world-famous.¡±


    She would have been a celebrity on the world stage, the most popular courtesan in the world, celebrated by tens of thousands of gifted scholars.


    ¡°She was disfigured in an accident, so she couldn¡¯t continue on that path. That¡¯s why she came to Anting Tavern. She is still the guqin teacher of all the high-class brothels in the City of Torn Gust, and seven out of the ten most popular courtesans were her students. Tell me now, is she qualified to assess your guqin skills?¡±


    Xu Anting looked heart-broken as he told the story.


    Yun Zhonghe couldn¡¯t help but gaze at Sister Xu Antiing, but he didn¡¯t ask what accident had disfigured her.


    One thing was for sure; she would have been extremely beautiful if she wasn¡¯t disfigured. Besides, with her sexy, lush figure, she would definitely have been world-famous.


    Although Yun Zhonghe had never heard her play, he knew somehow that she was a great master musician.


    Xu Antiing said calmly, ¡°There is something you need to know beforehand; you will only have one chance to perform, and I will assess your skills. If you fail the assessment, we won¡¯t be able to improve your skills in the time we have. So, in case of failure, the first route will no longer be an option. You will follow orders and go to the residence of the castellan as a servant. Don¡¯t dream of attaining success in one leap. If you pass the assessment, I will spend another two weeks helping you polish your skills. Whenever you are good enough, you will go to Tianyu Pavilion to entice Lady Musk.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°If I pass the assessment with flying colors, does that mean I can enter Tianyu Pavilion to execute the plan tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± Xu Antiing said flatly. ¡°I¡¯ve seen your file. You were too eager for quick success, and your music was pretentious and overblown. In my opinion, the first route is not for you. Lady Musk is a connoisseur.¡±


    Instead of arguing with her, Yun Zhonghe just sat in front of the guqin and said, ¡°I will just play two bars, 14 notes in total.¡±


    Everybody was startled. They thought that they had heard him wrong.


    Yun Zhonghe emphasized, ¡°Yes, I will only play two bars, 14 notes. If it isn¡¯t good enough, I will give up my hands. I¡¯ll chop them off and hand them to you on a platter. If my music can¡¯t give you goosebumps, make your hair stand on end, and make you shudder, I will never touch a guqin again for the rest of my life.¡±


    When Xu Antiing heard this, she was startled, but that emotion quickly gave way to derision.


    She had been playing guqin for 20 years, and she knew how hard it was.


    She had heard all kinds of pieces of music. As a student of the empire¡¯s greatest guqin teacher, she had seen lots of high-quality performances.


    He wanted to make her hair stand on end? His music would need to touch her soul.


    Even her teacher couldn¡¯t do that, let alone Yun Zhonghe, who was a mere pickup artist.


    Besides, good skills weren¡¯t the only thing that he¡¯d need; a good music piece was crucial.


    The song they had prepared had never been performed. It was a masterpiece that one would only encounter once in a century.


    It was already hard enough for a low, pretentious player like Yun Zhonghe to pass the test, and yet he wanted to move her soul with only two bars?


    That would be harder than touching the sky.


    Yun Zhonghe closed his eyes and chanted quietly, ¡°Patient Eight, Beethoven, Patient Eight, Beethoven, possess me, possess me.¡±


    Patient Eight, Beethoven.


    The greatest musician in the universe. His music could drive people to bash their heads into a wall until they killed themselves. Yun Zhonghe had been forced to tie the man up because of that. Beethoven was commonly considered the most dangerous patient in X Psychiatric Hospital.


    How incredible was he?


    Suddenly, Yun Zhonghe shuddered, and a chill went down his spine.


    Yun Zhonghe discovered that he was in total darkness. He couldn¡¯t see or hear anything.


    Gosh!


    Beethoven had possessed him.

 Chapter 17

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    The feeling was so strange.


    However, Yun Zhonghe kind of understood why Patient Eight had tried to mute his senses.


    A person¡¯s world was made up of his vision, hearing, olfaction, touch, et cetera.


    But Patient Eight, a.k.a. Beethoven, thought that being distracted by the outside world interfered with his connection to his own spiritual world. To rectify that, he first blinded himself, then deafened himself.


    After that, he was almost completely isolated from the outside world, and he therefore became more connected with his spiritual world.


    Yun Zhonghe now knew how the man had sensed the outside world. He was using¡­ the pineal gland. For real.


    ¡°Sh*t, you really are crazy,¡± Yun Zhonghe thought.


    Patient Nineteen, Da Vinci, had dissected the pineal gland and sketched out the details of its structure. He came to the conclusion that a person¡¯s pineal gland would become more functional once the other senses were weakened. One could, therefore, improve his mental strength and even receive extraterrestrial signals.


    Naturally, no one took his words seriously. He was a nutjob!


    Besides, he mentioned that one must first blind and deafen himself to unleash the power of the pineal gland. Who would want to do that?


    Normal people wouldn¡¯t, but a madman would.


    Beethoven had done it, and godd*mnit, his musical skills had improved a lot after that.


    He was already a great musician, but he became the devil of music, the Grim Reaper of music. His music could kill people.


    On top of that, he claimed that he received extraterrestrial signals.


    Everyone thought that he was just bullsh*tting them, but absurdly, Yun Zhonghe could now feel his pineal gland heating up. But the sensation was very blurry right now, and he couldn¡¯t sense anything with the organ.


    He set those distracting thoughts aside.


    ¡°The goals of those nutjobs were way too far-reaching. Normal people like me should just go after down-to-earth things like money, power, and beautiful women,¡± Yun Zhonghe whispered to himself.


    ¡°So, what song should I choose?¡±


    There were very few songs that would impress people with only two bars.


    However, that wasn¡¯t a problem at all to Beethoven. He was like an all-encompassing music library, and he could play almost all music pieces in the world.


    He knew quite a few songs that would mesmerize the audience and make their hair stand on end with only two bars.


    For example, ¡°Ambush from All Sides¡± and ¡°Moonlight over the Spring River.¡±


    Especially ¡°Moonlight over the Spring River.¡± The first two bars were euphemistic and moving. They were extremely beautiful.


    Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be performed during the opening ceremony of the Olympics.


    On the other hand, ¡°Ambush from All Sides¡± was stunning from the beginning to the end.


    There were also famous music pieces which were passed down from ancient times like ¡°Guangling Verse¡± and ¡°High Mountains and Flowing Water,¡± but Yun Zhonghe thought that they were too angelic, not electrifying enough.


    Therefore, either ¡°Ambush from All Sides¡± or ¡°Moonlight over the Spring River¡± would be a great choice.


    But Yun Zhonghe didn¡¯t choose either of those.


    He decided to play a piece that was rather out of time. ¡°Flight of the Bumblebee¡± had been known as one of the most frenzied music pieces in the world!


    2This piece was very popular, and it had been composed by a Russian composer, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. It was used in Pushkin¡¯s opera, ¡°The Tale of Tsar Saltan.¡±


    But Maksim, a Croatian musical prodigy, was the one who made it well-known.


    It was also used as the last piece of the piano battle in the movie, ¡°The Legend of 1900.¡± (The last piece of the piano battle in ¡°The Legend of 1900¡± was actually ¡°Enduring Movement,¡± but we¡¯ll let it be.)


    The rhythm of this piece was extremely fast. It required the finger speed and coordination of a spammer, and it made the listener feel like countless bumble-bees were dancing around him.


    In the movie ¡°The Legend of 1900,¡± after the main character finished performing this piece, the audience was astounded. The rhythm was so fast that it caused the piano strings to become so hot that he even lit his cigarette off of them.


    Guqin pieces usually had a slow rhythm, depicting the beauty of the mountains and rivers.


    Guqin wasn¡¯t a suitable instrument for the ¡°Flight of the Bumblebee.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that the song itself wasn¡¯t good; the piece was a classic, both wild and extremely cool.


    But the instrument was unsuitable for the song, and modifying a song like that to be fit for the guqin would be as hard as hell. Even though the guqin in front of Yun Zhonghe had seven strings, and it was equipped with the art string and martial string, modifying the song would still be very difficult.


    But who was Patient Eight?


    He was a musical prodigy, the greatest musician of his time, the Grim Reaper of music.


    It was a piece of cake for him to perform the ¡°Flight of the Bumblebee¡± with a guqin. He had already played and fine-tuned that piece a dozen years ago, and he had perfected the guqin version of the song in the process.


    He took a deep breath and was ready to perform.


    Xu Anting was anticipating Yun Zhonghe¡¯s music, his eyes wide and attentive.


    A pained expression spread across Sister Xu Antiing¡¯s face. Seeing a guqin always reminded her of her disfigured face.


    Then, she closed her eyes.


    She would judge Yun Zhonghe¡¯s skills justly, but she wasn¡¯t expecting much.


    She had seen far too many mediocre guqin players like Yun Zhonghe. They didn¡¯t appreciate art; they only played guqin to pick up women.


    That kind of performance was shallow and lousy.


    He claimed that the two bars with only 14 notes that he was going to perform would be so good that they would give her chills? How could it be possible? He was just daydreaming.


    Then, Yun Zhonghe started to play.


    The madness of the ¡°Flight of the Bumblebee¡± and the super-fast rhythm came pouring out of the guqin.


    So swift.


    So mad.


    So invigorating.


    So mind-boggling?


    If it was played by any other player, it would have been completely chaotic and lacked the power it needed.


    But this was Beethoven who was performing. His music could drive people to do insane and deadly things.


    At that moment, the power of his music could not be put into words.


    Whether the piece was nice to listen to was another issue.


    But the power and the force of the music were unparalleled.


    The musical notes were like bullets shooting out of the guqin. The piece, which was originally written for the piano, was more sharp and crisp, more heart-piercing when played with a guqin.


    In a split second, everyone in the room was dumbfounded.


    Almost all of them shuddered abruptly like they had been shot after hearing the two bars of the piece.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s performance was too bizarre, and it felt like the musical notes had entered their brains and hearts directly instead of going through their ears.


    After that, chills swept through their bodies.


    The music made their hair stand on end.


    The music still wasn¡¯t pleasant to the ears, but it was extremely exciting.


    If it had been performed by another person, even if that person was a great musician, the effect wouldn¡¯t have been as explosive.


    Patient Eight had completely incorporated his unfathomable skills into his performance, and the sound waves he generated were very unique.


    It was like being attacked by magical powers.


    However, Yun Zhonghe, who was possessed by Patient Eight, kept playing faster and faster as if he had gone mad.


    At last, his music felt like a violent storm.


    The people were listening to his music, their hearts racing faster and faster, and they began to feel as though they could no longer breathe. Their hearts were beating so fast that they felt pain in their chests.


    Yun Zhonghe played faster and faster.


    ¡°Argh, I can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± One of the guards covered his ears with all his might, but he found that he couldn¡¯t stop the musical notes from entering his body.


    He couldn¡¯t suppress the urge to smash his forehead against the wall.


    Yun Zhonghe played faster and faster.


    Suddenly, the music stopped.


    Boom! The sound of something exploding rocked the room.


    A string on the guqin couldn¡¯t withstand the force and had snapped.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s frantic performance ended.


    A heavy silence fell upon the room.


    Yun Zhonghe was panting as Beethoven¡¯s spirit left his body.


    Yun Zhonghe felt empty, like a tide had receded. He was immensely exhausted, and he felt that his brain was about to explode.


    He had summoned the spirits of three nutjobs to possess him in quick succession. They had each been in his body for more than a half-hour, and they had used up all his energy and vitality.


    He didn¡¯t even have the energy to think at that moment, let alone summon another patient¡¯s spirit.


    He opened his eyes slowly and asked, ¡°So, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°It was very bad, so bad that I want to smash my head against the wall,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°But¡­ I think that you have gone beyond the limit of human ability. I have never seen nor heard anything like that before.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe then asked Xu Antiing, ¡°Sister, what do you think? Did I pass?¡±


    Xu Antiing was still in a daze, lost in her own thoughts.


    After a while, she looked at Yun Zhonghe like it was the first time they had met. She couldn¡¯t believe what she saw.


    ¡°I have never seen a style like that. It is an unprecedented overturning of humans¡¯ perception of music, and I find it completely unacceptable.¡± Xu Anting continued, ¡°But if we are talking about guqin skills, you are way better than me, so much better that your music is utterly beyond my comprehension. Anyone who could play that piece must be a prodigy, but he is most definitely also a madman.¡±


    ¡°So if 100 is the full score, how many points do I get?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Sister Xu Antiing said, ¡°I¡¯m not qualified to judge you, as you are way out of my league. But if I really have to give you a score, I think I¡¯ll give you 250.¡±


    ¡°One hundred is the full score, and you¡¯re giving me 250? What are you talking about?¡± Yun Zhonghe thought to himself.


    ¡°Where did that crap in your file come from?¡± Xu Antiing asked. ¡°There are people from all kinds of backgrounds in the Order of the Black Dragon, including quite a few great guqin masters. Your guqin skills are awe-inspiring. One can easily tell that, even if you are playing like a madman. Why would they say that your music was flat and uninspired?¡±


    ¡°Sis, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s guqin skill is that amazing?¡± Xu Anting asked.


    ¡°He is a genius, one in a million.¡±


    ¡°While Yun Zhonghe seemed to perform that insane piece of music with ease, Tianyu Pavilion won¡¯t accept that kind of music,¡± Xu Anting mused. ¡°But if he can play someting like that, he should be able to play normal pieces easily. Anything he plays would beat the performance of the most popular courtesan in Tianyu Pavilion, which would be good enough to capture Lady Musk¡¯s attention and mesmerize her.¡±


    ¡°In which case, that¡¯s fine, that¡¯s fine.¡±


    ¡°So, when can I go to Tianyu Pavilion to seduce Lady Musk¡­ No, I mean, when can I go on the mission?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked. ¡°The earlier I enter the residence of the castellan, the earlier I can complete the task.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, please prepare a normal and pleasing musical piece,¡± said Xu Antiing.


    ¡°No problem!¡±


    ***


    The very next day, Yun Zhonghe took off to Tianyu Pavilion in a carriage to attend an interview.


    He had an entirely different appearance now. He was dressed as a gorgeous gentleman, a talented man in a chaotic world.


    In contrast to the hustle and bustle outside the carriage, Xu Antiing was very quiet, and she was wearing a veil.


    After traveling for a few kilometers, the carriage gradually slowed down.


    ¡°We are almost at the Tianyu Pavilion,¡± Xu Antiing said. ¡°Have you decided which piece you are going to play?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was ready. Well, he didn¡¯t even need to prepare as long as Patient Eight would enter his body to play a masterpiece. Once he performed ¡°Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank,¡± the audience wouldn¡¯t be able to get his music out of their heads for at least three months.


    He would become the greatest guqin player in Tianyu Pavilion within ten days.


    Within a fortnight, he would be known to the whole City of Torn Gust.


    By that time, Lady Musk, who loved guqin music with all her heart and soul, would definitely come to Tianyu Pavilion.


    And when she saw the extremely good-looking Yun Zhonghe, who had awesome guqin playing skills, how would she be able to resist the urge to leap onto him like a tiger pouncing on a tender deer?


    Then, Yun Zhonghe would be brought back to the residence of the castellan by the female gangster and used a hundred times, a hundred times.


    By then, the first part of his mission in the City of Torn Gust would be a success.


    ***


    At that moment, the carriage stopped.


    Yun Zhonghe opened his eyes and whispered to himself, ¡°I am ready. Ladies and gentlemen, here I come. Be ready to witness the marvel.¡±


    ¡°I promise to make every one of you lose your minds, and every woman in the Tianyu Pavilion will be crazy about me.¡±


    ¡°I will be known to everyone in the City of Torn Gust in a fortnight, and women will come after me in swarms.¡±


    He took a deep breath. Then, the most handsome man, Yun Zhonghe, stepped out of the carriage.


    His clothes were as white as snow, and he was as poised as a Greek God.


    ¡°Tianyu Pavilion, here I come. I see you, and I will conquer you!¡±


    ¡°Lady Musk, here I come. You see me, and you will conquer me.¡±


    Just like that, Yun Zhonghe walked gracefully away from the carriage.


    This¡­ this was Tianyu Pavilion.


    It was indeed splendid and luxurious, a high-class, five-star place.


    It was prosperous and glorious. It lived up to its reputation as the best brothel in the City of Torn Gust. It was a top-notch place for a lascivious and an extravagant enjoyment.


    But what had happened?


    Almost a thousand soldiers had surrounded the Tianyu Pavilion, all of them showing official city seals.


    Many beautiful girls, the procuress, and the servants had their hands on their heads. They were being walked out of Tianyu Pavilion in lines under the supervision of the soldiers.


    ¡°Why does this look so familiar?¡±


    ¡°F¡­ F*ck!¡±


    ¡°What¡­ What the hell does this mean?¡±


    ¡°I, Yun Zhonghe, am just about to show off my great talent in the Tianyu Pavilion, and it is already shut down?¡±


    ¡°Has the City of Torn Gust started an anti-vice operation?¡±

 Chapter 18

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Yun Zhonghe was stupefied.


    The City of Torn Gust was a place with people from all walks of life, but they were starting an anti-vice operation?


    And if they wanted to shut down vice activities, they should go after lower-class places like the Sleepy Spring Brothel first. A top-notch brothel like Tianyu Pavilion was also their target?


    ¡°What am I gonna do with the ¡®Wild Geese Descending on the Sandbank¡¯ that I have prepared?¡±


    ¡°I was going to show off my guqin skills and take the audience¡¯s breath away.¡±


    ¡°I, Yun Zhonghe, was going to be so popular in the City of Torn Gust and become the most celebrated male prostitute, no¡­ the most celebrated musician.¡±


    His dream of becoming an artist had been nipped in the bud.


    When the girls being arrested saw the extremely handsome Yun Zhonghe, their eyes twinkled, and they cast sheep¡¯s eyes at him.


    When the most beautiful girl among them looked at him, it felt like her big, watery eyes could speak.


    And Yun Zhonghe started to exchange messages of love with her through amorous glances.


    ¡°Handsome little brother, this must be your first time here?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, sister.¡±


    ¡°Today is not a good time. The place is being shut down, but if you come again in two days, I¡¯ll serve you, free of charge.¡±


    ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m here to be your colleague. I wanted to work here.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s better! I¡¯ll play with you every day.¡±


    They didn¡¯t speak a word, but they were able to communicate with their eyes without any obstruction.


    A poem suited that very moment well.


    ¡°They have no wings to fly side by side, yet their minds think alike.¡±


    Everybody knew that it was hard to find a soul mate, but after Yun Zhonghe came to this world, he had been finding soul mates everywhere.


    ¡°I don¡¯t expect much from a soul mate; they just need to be pretty enough and have sexy figures.¡±


    When a man and a woman were good-looking enough, there would naturally be a connection between them when they were face to face with each other.


    Good looks could overcome any obstacle. Only those who weren¡¯t good-looking enough needed spiritual connection. There was a great saying, ¡°Nothing counts but good looks.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe watched the girls, the one who had a deep connection with him in particular, as they were arrested.


    The whole Tianyu Pavilion was closed down.


    ¡°Come, let¡¯s go,¡± Xu Antiing said indifferently.


    She didn¡¯t leave when they first found out that the place was sealed because that would raise suspicion. On the other hand, standing with the crowd that had gathered to watch the arrests was a normal reaction.


    ***


    ¡°Tianyu Pavilion being shut down is totally unexpected. I smell a rat,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°I didn¡¯t get wind of it from the garrison of the city.¡±


    ¡°Did we get a report about it from our undercover agents in the residence of the castellan and the garrison?¡± Xu Antiing asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve gotten in touch with them,¡± Xu Anting replied, ¡°but none of the undercover agents know the reason for the operation. Since the Third of March Incident two years ago, we haven¡¯t placed any agents in the upper class, so the Order of the Black Dragon is now like a blind and deaf man in this city. We don¡¯t get any confidential information. We have to turn the tables as soon as possible.¡±


    Then, he looked at Yun Zhonghe and said, ¡°Mr. Yun, this is where we need you. At this critical moment, we need you more than ever to infiltrate the upper class of the City of Torn Gust in the shortest time possible. On one side, you need to subjugate Jing Zhongyue; on the other side, you need to stay informed about the movements of the city¡¯s upper crust. If we wait too long, the City of Torn Gust might pledge allegiance to the Southern Zhou Empire before we even hear about it.¡±


    The Great Ying Empire, the Southern Zhou Empire, and the Great Liang Kingdom were all trying desperately to subjugate the barons in the Land of No King.


    The City of Torn Gust was very important. If it pledged allegiance to the Southern Zhou Empire, the military strategy of the Great Ying Empire would suffer a major blow.


    If they wanted to make up for the loss, they would have to sacrifice 100,000 to 200,000 lives.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°There must be more high-end brothels other than Tianyu Pavilion in the City of Torn Gust. I could just go to Tianfeng Pavilion or Tianmao Pavilion.¡±


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, are you really that eager to work in such places?¡± Xu Antiing asked skeptically.


    Yun Zhonghe replied to her in a solemn tone, ¡°Sister, I have to criticize you for saying that. The careers we take on are neither shameful nor noble. How could you have a prejudice against sex workers? I¡¯m doing it for the empire¡¯s great cause.¡±


    Xu Anting said, ¡°You can¡¯t go to the other brothels because they aren¡¯t under our control. They could be under the thumb of the Southern Zhou Empire. Letting you work there would be sending you on a suicide mission, you understand?¡±


    ¡°So, you are saying that the first route is already gone?¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Yes, gone,¡± Xu Anting confirmed.


    Right after that, a man rushed into the room out of the blue and gave Xu Anting a note, then quickly left.


    Xu Anting opened and read the note. He then said, ¡°The first route is now completely sealed off. I¡¯ve just gotten news that Lady Musk has left the City of Torn Gust and taken off to the City of Heavenly Wind. She is representing Castellan Jing Zhongyue as she attends the 50th birthday party of the City of Heavenly Wind¡¯s castellan.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s heart was filled with boundless regret.


    To be honest, he hadn¡¯t given Lady Musk much thought previously, but now that he knew he couldn¡¯t have her, he suddenly became obsessed with her.


    He felt a little empty knowing that nothing could happen between them.


    Xu Anting said, ¡°Now, the situation in the City of Torn Gust is slipping farther out of our control with each passing day, it is becoming more favorable to the Southern Zhou Empire. We have to infiltrate the residence of the castellan as soon as possible, and get close to the city¡¯s power center in the shortest time possible so that we can regain control of the situation.¡±


    ¡°Has the Great Ying Empire started military buildup?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°That kind of information is above my paygrade. But one thing is for sure; the empire is preparing for the coming war every day. If we complete the mission sooner, hundreds of thousands of soldiers will not have to die on the battlefield.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Yun, get ready for the second route. You will become a servant in the castellan¡¯s residence.¡± Xu Anting continued, ¡°I will introduce you to the chamberlain of the castellan¡¯s residence, Li Tang, tomorrow. He is a henchman of the former castellan¡¯s wife, and Castellan Jing Zhongyue grew up under his care. His words carry great weight in the castellan¡¯s residence, so the plan should still be sound. Moreover, you will need his support for some time in the castellan¡¯s residence.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°No problem, I am ready.¡±


    Xu Anting said, ¡°So you know how to carry yourself when you meet the chamberlain, Li Tang, tomorrow?


    ¡°Listen more, speak less. And with those limited number of words, I will need to kiss his *ss, and I will do it in a very sophisticated manner,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°At first, I will pay allegiance to him and follow his lead. I will beat up whomever Chamberlain Li asks me to. Chamberlain Li¡¯s vision is my mission.¡±


    ¡°Secondly, I will show that I¡¯m a capable man, a man with both intelligence and martial skills. He will know that I¡¯m very useful, and I will be the sharp sword in his hand that helps him get rid of those who defy him.¡±


    Xu Anting said, ¡°Great, that¡¯s right. But you are way too handsome. A servant cannot be this handsome, so you have to hide it a little.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe took his mirror out and sighed. ¡°Handsome guy, we will be parted for some time. But don¡¯t be sad, as the separation now is for the sake of our reunion in the future. One day, I will let your unparalleled handsome face be shown in front of everyone above board.¡±


    Chills swept through Xu Anting and his sister once again.


    Yun Zhonghe wasn¡¯t just narcissistic; he was completely insane.


    ¡°Our undercover agents in the residence of the castellan are ready,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°Once you are there, they will work closely with you. You will rise to power in the shortest time possible, become the best servant, and capture Jing Zhongyue¡¯s attention.¡±


    ***


    On the next day, Yun Zhonghe disguised himself, reducing his attractiveness from 120% to 70%.


    But even after he had reduced his handsomeness by 50%, he was still very handsome. It was barely imaginable how handsome he used to be.


    After that, Xu Anting brought him to a restaurant next to the castellan¡¯s residence to meet with the chamberlain, Li Tang.


    The Order of the Black Dragon had prepared an elaborate gift for Li Tang. It wasn¡¯t very expensive, but it was very rare, and it was Li Tang¡¯s favorite.


    Yun Zhonghe was also ready. He would lavish compliments on Chamberlain Li Tang until the man was so pleased that he took Yun Zhonghe as his bosom friend.


    He knew that although Li Tang was greedy, he was also very artistic and loved painting and calligraphy.


    He had already studied the style of Li Tang¡¯s calligraphy, and he would wax lyrical about his work and make Li Tang so happy that every inch of him was soaked in joy.


    *ss-kissing wasn¡¯t an easy job. It could be very tricky to do it right. He needed to have extensive knowledge about calligraphy and painting, because only then would his flattery be trustworthy and capable of pulling at Li Tang¡¯s heartstrings.


    Yun Zhonghe was very confident that he would become Chamberlain Li Tang¡¯s henchman within ten days.


    On top of that, he could imitate Li Tang¡¯s painting, making identical copies of the man¡¯s work that were even more vivid.


    He would ask Li Tang to be his teacher and make him think that his student had learned from him and outdone him.


    That would give Li Tang the impression that he had invested a lot of effort in Yun Zhonghe.


    People only truly cared about others after investing a lot of effort into them.


    A man, more often than not, valued his own effort the most.


    ***


    Xu Anting and Yun Zhonghe were sitting in a high-class private room of a restaurant, waiting for the arrival of Chamberlain Li Tang.


    Everything was in place.


    Everyone was looking forward to Yun Zhonghe¡¯s performance. From today onwards, he would be a proud servant in the residence of the castellan.


    But after 15 minutes¡­


    Half an hour later.


    An hour later.


    Chamberlain Li Tang did not turn up.


    After two whole hours, a man showed up in front of Xu Anting.


    ¡°Shopkeeper Xu, you don¡¯t need to wait anymore!¡±


    Xu Anting asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Chamberlain Li Tang has been locked up. He¡¯s being investigated.¡±


    Xu Anting was shocked. ¡°What? What the hell happened?¡±


    ¡°Someone exposed the fact that Chamberlain Li Tang was embezzling public funds. He was arrested an hour ago.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe and Xu Anting were stupefied.


    ¡°What the f*ck!¡±


    ¡°I wanted to start my career in the high-end brothel, Tianyu Pavilion, but it was shut down by anti-vice operations.¡±


    ¡°Now, just as I¡¯m about to bribe Chamberlain Li Tang for a job in the castellan¡¯s residence, someone starts an anti-corruption movement?¡±


    ¡°Am I a jinx?¡±


    ¡°God, is it because I am too handsome that you are giving me a hard time?¡±


    Xu Anting was also staring at Yun Zhonghe. He obviously thought the same thing.


    ¡°Shopkeeper Xu, the castellan has just announced that to rectify the moral climate in her residence, she will not take in any new employees for some time. It doesn¡¯t matter if someone is a servant, a doctor, or a teacher. No one goes in.¡±


    After saying that, the Black Dragon agent who was undercover in the grass-roots unit of the castellan¡¯s residence left.


    ***


    So, what now?


    Both the first and second routes had been blocked.


    Even infiltrating the residence of the castellan was no longer an option.


    If he couldn¡¯t infiltrate the residence of the castellan, how would he be able to approach Jing Zhongyue? How would he be able to infiltrate the upper class of the City of Torn Gust?


    How would he subjugate Jing Zhongyue?


    How would he conquer the City of Torn Gust?


    Yun Zhonghe sighed lightly and said, ¡°Shopkeeper Xu, none of your plans are working. There is no way I can infiltrate the castellan¡¯s residence. So, from now on, we¡¯ll do it my way.¡±


    Xu Anting said, ¡°Mr. Yun, you also have plans to infiltrate the castellan¡¯s residence and approach Castellan Jing Zhongyue?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Oh yeah. It is an ingenious plan, way better than the two you prepared. You guys are the experts in undercover operations and gathering information. But I¡¯m an expert in seducing women.¡±

 Chapter 19

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    ¡°How many people have racked their brains trying to approach Jing Zhongyue all these years?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked rhetorically.


    ¡°Countless,¡± Xu Anting said.


    ¡°Were they all spies from the Southern Zhou Empire or the Great Ying Empire?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Not all of them,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°The majority of them were after Jing Zhongyue¡¯s power. They just wanted to curry favor with those in power and use her to raise their social status.¡±


    Now that was a normal thing to do. Jing Zhongyue was the only baroness in the Land of No King, and she was single. Hundreds of thousands of people were under her rule, and almost 10,000 soldiers were under her command. Her wealth was unparalleled, and she was the most beautiful woman in the Land of No King. The man who married her would immediately possess wealth that a normal person would need to work for ages to accumulate.


    ¡°Which means she thinks everyone who approaches her harbors evil intentions?¡± Yun Zhonghe suggested.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, lots of those who have tried to approach her all these years have ended up dead.¡±


    ¡°So, approaching her using the normal methods isn¡¯t going to work,¡± Yun Zhonghe said flatly. ¡°If I want to go near her, I need to find another way. Do you know the fastest way to make a woman remember you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m all ears,¡± Xu Anting said.


    ¡°Become her enemy.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was speaking from experience. The more dominating a woman was, the more she would look down on you if you submitted to her. If you gave her a hard time, she would remember you instead.


    It was the foul nature of humans. Although it might sound a little too harsh, to a certain extent, it was true for both men and women.


    Naturally, Yun Zhonghe would have to be talented enough, as well. He had to be able to churn her up when he went against her. If he was a worthless piece of garbage, she would only think he was an idiot and destroy him without hesitation.


    The captain of the mercenaries in X Psychiatric Hospital, Colonel Li, had once been extremely cold and arrogant. Plus, she was married, and she led an honest and unsullied life like a swan. Yun Zhonghe figured out ways to cause her trouble and give her a hard time until she couldn¡¯t take it anymore. That made her hate him to the core, and hence, she remembered him.


    Then, Yun Zhonghe designed one or two accidents that brought Colonel Li huge problems, and he came forward to help her solve those issues.


    Once he saved Colonel Li, Yun Zhonghe became gentle to her all of a sudden. The nature of their relationship abruptly changed, and Colonel L, who had once hated Yun Zhonghe, soon fell in love with him.


    The stronger the initial hatred, the more powerful the eventual love.


    3To some women, only the tenderness of strong men counted. The tenderness of weak men was despised.


    Within a month, Li Li, who was cold and proud like a rose covered in thorns, had fallen victim to the pickup artist, Yun Zhonghe, and slept with him.


    But, of course, Yun Zhonghe had also gone overboard. He hadn¡¯t expected that a beauty like Colonel Li would divorce her husband right away to be with him.


    Her husband ended up detonating a bomb that turned the scumbag, Yun Zhonghe, into ashes.


    ¡°Xu Anting, does Jing Zhongyue have any enemy in the City of Torn Gust?¡± asked Yun Zhonghe. ¡°Furthermore, we need someone that she can¡¯t do anything about. I need to strike a delicate balance between becoming her enemy, impressing her, and protecting myself from being killed by her too easily.¡±


    ¡°Her brother, Jing Wubian, fits that description.¡±


    Jing Wubian. Yun Zhonghe had read about him in the files.


    The former castellan of the City of Torn Gust was called Jing E. He was Jing Zhongyue¡¯s father, a hero in his time. Forty years ago, the leader of the Jing Clan was useless, and he lost his family¡¯s properties that had been passed down by their ancestors for hundreds of years. The Valley of Torn Gust fell into the hands of the An Clan.


    The An Clan had been Jing Clan¡¯s servants for hundreds of years. The loss of the city was a tragedy in which the servants overpowered the lords.


    After seizing the castellan¡¯s position in the City of Torn Gust, the An Clan wiped out the members of the Jing Clan, and only Jing E and his sister managed to escape.


    Thirty years ago, the young Jing E changed his looks and came back. He sneaked into the City of Torn Gust and became a servant in the castellan¡¯s residence.


    From a servant¡¯s position, Jing E rose to power swiftly. He was glorious. Besides, he was very clever and cunning, and he became Castellan An Daotian¡¯s adopted son and most trusted subordinate.


    After that, Jing E created wonders upon wonders, and he became the most outstanding general under An Daotian¡¯s command. Finally, he married the man¡¯s daughter.


    If he followed the ordinary path, after marrying Castellan An Daotian¡¯s daughter, he would have slowly taken over the city and seized the castellan¡¯s position once the old man passed away.


    However, he didn¡¯t do that. Jing E chose to launch a rebellion the night of his wedding, and he slaughtered all of the members of the An Clan, including his newly-married wife. Then he revealed his true identity and seized the position of the castellan back.


    Within a few years, after he became the castellan, he almost doubled the territory of the Valley of Torn Gust, expanding it from 7000 square kilometers to 13,000 square kilometers.


    And within those few years, he eliminated all of his competitors, monopolized the market of table salt in the Land of No King, and made the City of Torn Gust a trade center.


    However, the universe was fair and just. After Jing E murdered his first wife during the wedding, three of his wives thereafter died for no apparent reason. It was as if he was cursed.


    The story gave rise to much discussion during that time, and no more barons in the Land of No King dared to allow Jing E to marry their daughters. Only the lord of the cave barbarians didn¡¯t care about that and let his daughter marry Jing E. She was Jing Zhongyue¡¯s mother, who was given the title ¡°Lady Torn Gust.¡±


    Perhaps this woman was just hard to kill. She was healthy and happy after marrying Jing E, but she bore only daughters, three of them.


    A baron in the Land of No King couldn¡¯t be without a son; girls weren¡¯t allowed to inherit properties. If Jing E had no heir, all of his properties would go to outsiders.


    Jing E then took a few mistresses, who gave birth to three sons. All those sons died at a young age.


    Then, a wizard visited Jing E and told him that he had too much blood on his hands. He had defied the laws of nature, and that was why he was being punished.


    Then, after Jing E stopped expanding his territory, his wife finally gave birth to a very healthy son.


    Jing E was in his thirties, but he had a son, and he was over the moon. He held a celebration that lasted weeks, and gave away countless gold coins to his people. Hundreds of thousands of people shared his happiness.


    That baby boy was Jing Wubian.


    In everyone¡¯s opinion, he was a nobleman who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He would one day inherit the City of Torn Gust, a 13,000 square kilometer territory.


    However, Jing E¡¯s happiness didn¡¯t last too long because his son was¡­ a scumbag, an *sshole, a wastrel, and the black sheep of the family. He was a good-for-nothing.


    Jing E put in a gallant effort to train his son, but his son only indulged himself in frivolous pastimes and engaged in lawlessness.


    He bullied innocent girls, harassed widows, raided tombs, et cetera. There wasn¡¯t a single evil deed he hadn¡¯t committed.


    As time went by, he became a scourge to the City of Torn Gust, and even to the whole Land of No King. If he walked down the street, every household would shut their door.


    Jing E had tried everything. He grounded his son, he even broke his son¡¯s legs, but nothing worked. He could only give up at last.


    But when God closed a door, he would open a window.


    Jing E¡¯s son was a good-for-nothing, but his daughter, Jing Zhongyue, was very outstanding. She excelled in both martial arts and intellectual pursuits.


    Castellan Jing E had to defy the universal will of the people once again to appoint his daughter, Jing Zhongyue, to take over his position as the next castellan.


    Last spring, Castellan Jing E suddenly had a stroke, and he had fallen into a coma. Jing Zhongyue became the new castellan of the City of Torn Gust.


    Everyone thought that the City of Torn Gust was going to fall because there had never been a female castellan.


    Chaos ensued once Jing Zhongyue took over the position of castellan, but that only lasted for half a year. After that, everything was in perfect order. Moreover, under Jing Zhongyue¡¯s command, the City of Torn Gust started expanding its territory once again, and they won every battle.


    Although Jing Zhongyue was a woman, she was more capable than the other castellans. In comparison to her, Jing Wubian seemed even more useless.


    After his father had a stroke, Jing Wubian was like a horse that had broken free of its bridle. He committed even more atrocities.


    Jing Zhongyue could be ruthless to everyone except for her little brother; regrettably, she couldn¡¯t do anything about him.


    To show that he was important, Jing Wubian announced wherever he went that he wanted to overthrow his sister, Jing Zhongyue, and take back the position of the castellan of the City of Torn Gust that was supposed to be his.


    But no one took him seriously. They thought he was just a dog barking at the moon.


    One was like a glorious phoenix, and the other one was like a rabid dog. The people thought that even if everyone in the city died, a scumbag like Jing Wubian still wouldn¡¯t be allowed to take the castellan¡¯s position.


    However, to a certain extent, Jing Zhongyue¡¯s scumbag brother was still her only nemesis.


    Plus, there was nothing she could do to him.


    ¡°My plan is very simple,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°I¡¯m going to pledge my allegiance to that scumbag so that I can set foot in the castellan¡¯s residence. Then, I will take advantage of Jing Wubian¡¯s power and identity to give Jing Zhongyue a hard time, make her almost despair of living, and hurt her so badly that I¡¯m engraved on her heart. Then, I will turn her hatred into love, conquer her body and her heart, and take her down once and for all.¡±


    Xu Anting was astonished. They could complete the mission that way?


    ¡°Did you just come up with this plan, or did you already have it in mind earlier?¡± asked Xu Anting.


    ¡°I had it in mind earlier,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe shrugged. ¡°I thought that your plans were also pretty good, especially the one that involved seducing Lady Musk. That one was really clever. Life is like a chunk of brownish stuff; if you don¡¯t taste it, how will you know if it is chocolate or sh*t?¡±


    1Xu Anting didn¡¯t know what chocolate was, but according to his knowledge of Yun Zhonghe, he thought that it would be better if he remained ignorant on the subject.


    ¡°Mr. Yun, I have to tell you, Jing Wubian is very temperamental, volatile, and crazy. If you pledge allegiance to him, you could be in grave danger at any time. He is foppish and vain, but he isn¡¯t friendly at all. He is extremely arrogant. He even treats a chiliarch of the City of Torn Gust¡¯s garrison like an animal.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe laughed. ¡°He¡¯s crazy? This couldn¡¯t get any better. I¡¯m an expert in taming nutjobs.¡±


    ¡°If so, then please tell me what your first move will be,¡± said Xu Anting.


    ¡°I have no interest in currying favor with anyone or begging anyone to let me into the castellan¡¯s residence,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°I only need three days¡¯ time, and Jing Wubian will welcome me into the castellan¡¯s residence with eight palanquins. He will pay homage to me and regard me as a demigod. So, my first step is to make Jing Wubian fall into the snare willingly!¡±

 Chapter 20

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Since the scumbag Jing Wubian was announcing every day that he was going to get rid of Jing Zhongyue and take the position of the castellan, he naturally needed to expand his force. His recruitment offer was still standing.


    He was a douchebag, of course, so he wasn¡¯t able to recruit truly gifted men. Those who followed Jing Wubian were scumbags who were just taking advantage of his power and using him to get free food.


    What kind of people did Jing Wubian like the most? The people who had weird and special skills. If you could break rocks with your chest, or put your hand into a pot with boiling oil without getting hurt, you could live off of Jing Wubian.


    The people who gained the most from man, though, were complete charlatans. He had high regard for those who could give flamboyant and pleasant sounding speeches, and claimed that they knew everything in the past and could predict the future.


    Therefore, at that moment, Jing Wubian was surrounded by a bunch of quacks that pretended to practice divination and witchcraft every day.


    However, that scumbag was indeed very volatile, so he would treat someone as a guest of honor one day and feed them to the hounds the next.


    Perhaps he was born with some defects in his brain. He was rather psycho.


    Naturally, Yun Zhonghe wouldn¡¯t go to the man¡¯s front door to seek refuge. That would be too obvious. Liu Bei needed to visit Zhuge Liang¡¯s thatched cottage thrice in succession to recruit him.


    He needed to come to light as an eccentric being in the shortest time possible. He would become famous and make people think that he had divine powers. Then, Jing Wubian would invite him to the residence of the castellan with eight palanquins.


    ¡°Shopkeeper Xu, I need your support for the first step of my plan,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Normally, if we want to make changes to our plans, we need to report it to our superior and get his approval,¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°However, due to the current special circumstances, we will skip that step to expedite the process.¡±


    For some time to come, don¡¯t get in touch with me while I¡¯m carrying out my plans,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Remember, do not contact me under any circumstances. I have to be all alone in the world, and I can¡¯t be connected to anyone, not even your Anting Tavern that sells chicken.¡±


    Xu Anting thought for a moment and nodded.


    ¡°Keep in mind, even if I¡¯m about to starve or freeze to death, do not show up or help me. Not even if I¡¯m about to be beaten to death,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Well, your request is very weird, but you have my word,¡± Xu Anting promised.


    ***


    On the very next day, Yun Zhonghe officially activated the first step of his plan. He was now waiting for the willing victim to fall into his snare!


    A fortune teller booth appeared in the most far-off corner on a narrow street in the City of Torn Gust.


    The booth was very simple; there was only a straw mat and a banner made of a piece of white cloth. Written on the banner was: ¡°World¡¯s Best Fortune-Teller, One Prophecy per Day, Ten Silver Sycees for a Prophecy. If it isn¡¯t accurate, you get a refund and another ten silver sycees.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe dressed up as a fortune teller, settled himself in repose on the straw mat with his legs crossed, and closed his eyes.


    He didn¡¯t choose a crowded spot, but a far-off corner. More than half a day passed, and only a few people walked by his booth.


    Besides, his appearance was not attractive. The other fortune-tellers had an elegant bearing, and he was the only one who was unkempt. Nothing about him implied that he was a man who had divine powers. His hair and beard were messy, his sackcloth clothes were in shreds and patches, and his handsome face was totally covered. He looked like a beggar.


    Only five people in total walked past his booth in two whole hours.


    ¡°This beggar must be crazy. A prophecy costs ten silver sycees? He will starve to death sooner or later.¡±


    ¡°A fortune-teller who sets up his booth in such an extremely isolated place instead of on a busy street must be out of his mind.¡±


    ¡°I bet the beggar will starve to death here within ten days.¡±


    A whole day passed, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s fortune teller booth had no customers at all.


    Xu Anting secretly went out and checked on him once, then he left quietly.


    Yun Zhonghe had already said that for a very long time to come, he could get in touch with Xu Anting, but not the other way around.


    Yun Zhonghe was very resolute. Even if he looked like he was about to starve to death on the street, they should not step in.


    ***


    The first day had passed.


    Only about ten people passed by Yun Zhonghe¡¯s fortune teller booth, and all of them predicted that he would starve to death within ten days.


    When the day was getting dark, a man showed up at Yun Zhonghe¡¯s booth and gave Yun Zhonghe a bun.


    What was the most important value that a man should hold on to? Integrity. One shouldn¡¯t eat food handed out in contempt.


    Yun Zhonghe immediately took it and gobbled it up, every last bit of it. He wasn¡¯t acting; he was really hungry.


    The fortune-telling business today had been bad. He hadn¡¯t even earned a copper coin, so of course he was starving.


    ¡°Brother, you can¡¯t do it this way,¡± said the beggar who had given him the bun. ¡°Fortune-telling only works in a place where there are many people. Moreover, one prophecy shouldn¡¯t cost more than ten copper coins, but you set the price at ten silver sycees for one prophecy. Are you out of your mind?¡±


    Once Yun Zhonghe finished eating the bun the beggar had given him, he closed his eyes and went back to resting. He didn¡¯t react to what the beggar had said, behaving like he was a high and mighty divine being.


    The beggar continued, ¡°Do you not know how to carry on your fortune-telling business? You should tell your client¡¯s fortune for free, and mention that something bad will happen to him in a few days. Then, he will ask you how to prevent it, that is when you can charge him money.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe cast a glance at the beggar. This world was filled with clever people. In his time, game companies had used the same ruse; you could play the game for free, but in order to win, you had to buy items for the game. This beggar was pouring out the progressive business philosophy of modern times.


    ¡°If you know the trick, why would you beg for a living instead of becoming a fortune-teller?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Fuck that,¡± said the beggar. ¡°There are hundreds of fortune-tellers under Phoenix Bridge, and the competition is too intense. Besides, being a fortune-teller, you have to put on airs, and that¡¯s way too tiring. Being a beggar is better.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe glanced at the beggar, his face still smeared with the oil from the bun he had eatenl.


    The beggar went on, ¡°Something big is about to happen. The Southern Zhou Empire and the Great Ying Empire are fighting for the Land of No King. The turbulent situation gives us beggars a great opportunity to broaden our career horizons.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was surprised. He hadn¡¯t seen that coming. Who would have thought that this beggar would be so ambitious? He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How are you going to broaden your horizons?¡±


    The beggar said, ¡°The more chaotic the world becomes, the more weddings and funerals there are. When there are weddings, we will go and celebrate with them; when there are funerals, we will be their professional mourners. I promise you, we will have good food and booze every day. Brother, throw away your fortune-teller booth. There¡¯s no future in fortune-telling. Come and beg with me, wouldn¡¯t that be nicer?¡±


    Huh?! That was the career horizon the man was talking about?


    ¡°No,¡± Yun Zhonghe said loftily. ¡°A sparrow would never understand a swan¡¯s ambition!¡±


    The beggar sneered. ¡°If you starve to death one day, don¡¯t blame me for not giving you the opportunity.¡±


    That day, Yun Zhonghe slept on the straw mat at his booth and spent the night on the street. Luckily, the weather wasn¡¯t cold.


    ***


    The next day, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s fortune-teller booth still had no customers. Again, there were less than ten passersby all day long.


    Cold, lonely, and desolate.


    Another day without food.


    In the evening, the beggar showed up again and gave Yun Zhonghe a large piece of flatbread.


    ¡°Brother, there is really no future in fortune-telling. Come and beg with me,¡± the beggar invited him again.


    Once more, Yun Zhonghe was cold and arrogant. He closed his eyes and ignored the man.


    The beggar sneered. ¡°Then you will starve to death here. I got half a silver sycee today, so I¡¯m going to get myself a woman.¡±


    Then, he took a small piece of silver out of his clothes, repeatedly throwing it into the air and catching it with his hand as he walked toward a brothel.


    Yun Zhonghe spent the night on the street again.


    Sh*t, the weather was getting colder. He was a little chilled as he slept on the straw mat.


    The first step of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s plan wasn¡¯t going smoothly, and it seemed likely to fail.


    On top of that, Xu Anting really did follow Yun Zhonghe¡¯s instructions. He didn¡¯t come and check on Yun Zhonghe, nor did he bring food for him.


    ¡°F*ck, is he going starve to death?¡± Xu Anting wondered.


    ***


    On the third day, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s fortune-telling booth still had no customers. Hunger was making his head swim.


    Moreover, the beggar didn¡¯t show up that day, so no one brought him food.


    It was getting harder and harder to maintain his image as an erudite man from another world. The willing victim would fall into his snare, but his snare wasn¡¯t good enough.


    Yun Zhonghe could read minds. He only needed one customer to show off his amazing skills that would rock his customer¡¯s world.


    Then, the news would spread, and his reputation as an exceptional fortune-teller would become known across the whole City of Torn Gust.


    Jing Wubian loved this sort of magical stuff, and when he met this gifted charlatan, he would definitely recruit him. Jing Wubian would take Yun Zhonghe home with a palanquin to help him seize the position of the castellan from his sister.


    However, there were no customers, and one couldn¡¯t make bricks without straw. Yun Zhonghe couldn¡¯t just force a person to stop by so he could read their fortune. That would be too low, not at all suitable for his identity as a man who had divine powers,


    The sun was setting, and another day was about to go by. The night was getting colder and colder, and it was getting harder and harder to endure.


    ¡°God, send me one customer. Please. Anyone would be fine.¡±


    As if heaven had heard Yun Zhonghe¡¯s plea, a customer showed up at his fortune-teller booth at sunset.


    The man looked pugnacious and ferocious, cruel and domineering. He was followed by seven or eight men who were holding knives. At first sight, Yun Zhonghe knew that those people were local gangsters. The man at the front must be their leader.


    The head of the gangsters looked at the banner and sneered. ¡°A prophecy costs ten silver sycees? Have you lost your mind?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said calmly, ¡°I have the third eye. Every prophecy is a revelation of God¡¯s will. I can only make one prediction a day, so of course, it will be expensive.¡±


    The thug said, ¡°This street is under my protection. Did you pay the protection fee before setting up your booth here?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°No, and I¡¯m not going to pay.¡±


    The thug asked, ¡°Do you know what happens to those who don¡¯t pay their protection fees?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°No.¡±


    The thug smiled widely. ¡°Their arms and legs are broken, and they are left at a landfill to die. I see that you are penniless, so you must not be able to pay the protection fee, but the rules can¡¯t be broken. Guys, tear his booth apart and break both his legs.¡±


    Instantly, a few thugs rushed forward and were about to destroy Yun Zhonghe¡¯s booth and start breaking limbs.


    ¡°Good sir, how much is the protection fee?¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Ten silver sycees per month,¡± the thug replied.


    What an exorbitant amount! Those who owned small businesses earned less than ten silver sycees a month.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°How about this? If I tell you your fortune, which normally costs ten silver sycees, can you take that as the protection fee?¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha!¡± The thug burst into laughter and said, ¡°I have seen at least 800, if not 8000 charlatans like you, and I have broken dozens of those people¡¯s legs with my own hands. There are no tricks that I don¡¯t know. You can deceive others, but if you think you can fool me, you must be blind.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was very happy. His first business was finally here.


    Besides, the thug in front of him was the best customer he could have, because this piece of sh*t could help make Yun Zhonghe famous. Moreover, all the gangs in the City of Torn Gust were practically Jing Wubian¡¯s stooges.


    Now, it was time for the world¡¯s most accurate fortune-teller to work his magic. He promised himself that these thugs would admire him so much that they would grovel at his feet and worship him. Then, they would help make him famous.


    Yun Zhonghe touched his beard and said, ¡°If my fortune-telling turns out to be true, you just need to bow down before me and say out loud, ¡®Sir, I was wrong!¡¯ But if my fortune-telling isn¡¯t accurate, or even if it diverts from the truth only slightly, you can not only break both my legs, but both my hands as well. What do you think?¡±


    The thug squinted at Yun Zhonghe and said, ¡°Interesting. I want to see what kind of tricks a charlatan like you has up his sleeves. Brothers, hold him down on the ground and be ready to break his legs and arms at any time.¡±


    A few other thugs came forward immediately, pinning Yun Zhonghe to the ground and spreading his limbs. As soon as their leader ordered, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s limbs would be broken with an iron bar.

 Chapter 21

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    The leader of the thugs said, ¡°What¡¯s the normal procedure for fortune-telling? Right, literomancy! I just have to write a word. Then you will analyze it, right?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°That¡¯s right!¡±


    Most of today¡¯s fortune-telling was more advanced and followed such a routine.


    The thug said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you call yourself a divine psychic? Didn¡¯t you claim to have opened your third eye? Then I¡¯m not going to write out the word. I¡¯ll just think of it in my mind. If you want to read my fortune, first you have to figure out what word I have on my mind!¡±


    The moment he finished speaking, several thugs standing around were instantly shocked.


    Boss, you are obviously intent on breaking the hands and legs of this charlatan. He¡¯s not even worth as much as a ringworm in your stomach, how could he possibly know what word is on your mind? How could he possibly know what you are thinking of unless he is an immortal?


    The head thug said, ¡°Can¡¯t think of it? Aren¡¯t you a divine being? Then read my fortune.¡±


    What was the word on his mind?


    In order to prevent others from guessing correctly, he had thought of a very unusual word, Qi!


    As literomancy had a method of its own, it was always the same few characters that these charlatans used. This thug knew these drills and routines very well, so he completely avoided all the words that were commonly used for fortune-telling.


    And what was the origin of this character, Qi?


    It was the name he had chosen for his baby that was on the way, but he had not told anyone about it. So, it was impossible for anyone to figure it out unless they were an immortal.


    Not only that, because the pregnant woman was his secret lover, his little minions were totally unaware.


    He had come specifically to make trouble for Yun Zhonghe, but was it really just to extort some protection fee?


    No, it was not. It was because there was someone who did not like the sight of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s existence and had given him a sum of money to break Yun Zhonghe¡¯s hands and legs.


    ¡°Can¡¯t figure it out, right? Do it, break his hands and legs,¡± the leader of the thugs suddenly said as he waved his hand.


    The iron rods that the several of the other thugs held in their hands were about to come smashing down with mighty force. If one were hit by those rods, it would definitely result in the shattering of bones.


    ¡°Qi!¡± Yu Zhonghe shouted.


    The leader of the thugs froze in shock. Then he immediately shouted, ¡°Hold it!¡±


    The other thugs quickly stopped.


    The leader of the thugs said, ¡°You tell me clearly, what exactly is the word I am thinking of?¡±


    ¡°The word in your mind is Qi. This is the name of your unborn child. It should already be eight months along, and her stomach takes on a sharper shape, so it should be a boy,¡± Yun Zhonghe said with indifference.


    The moment he spoke those words, the leader of the thugs went into a complete state of shock. He looked at Yun Zhonghe with disbelief.


    The mind-reading skills of Patient Sixteen from the mental hospital were that remarkable!


    Though the leader of the thugs did not say it aloud, he had been reciting this word silently in his mind. He was also silently reciting, ¡°Dear son, Father is going to see you in another month¡¯s time.¡±


    With Patient Sixteen took possession of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s body, he had read the mind of the other party, who was silently mouthing that sentence. Then he had concluded that this thug¡¯s woman should have been in her eighth month of pregnancy, and it was most likely a son.


    But how would this thug know these things? He was instantly in complete shock.


    This¡­ How was this possible? He really had not told anyone at all. He had not even talked to his woman about it.


    Could it be that the person in front of him really had a third eye? It was so amazing!


    ¡°Boss, is he spewing bullsh*t? We will break his arms and legs right away and feed them to the hounds,¡± cried another thug who was standing nearby.


    At that moment, the leader immediately snapped back to reality. His palm suddenly flew over to the other man in a tight slap. ¡°Shut up. Quickly help him up. No, no, no, I will do it myself,¡± he snapped angrily.


    Then, the leader of the thugs went up and helped Yun Zhonghe get back up on his feet. ¡°Please take a seat, sir. Please sit down,¡± he said.


    Yun Zhonghe sat down on the mat and looked at the leader of the thugs with a smile.


    By then, the leader of the thugs had regained some clarity and his senses. He looked at Yun Zhonghe carefully and was still feeling moments of absurdity.


    Could it be that this old man really had a third eye? How could he actually know what I am thinking of in my mind? This was simply too inconceivable, right? the leader thought.


    Yun Zhonghe said lightly, ¡°The character is known, so with just this ¡®Qi¡¯ character, what would you like to find out?¡±


    The leader of the thugs had not really thought much about what he wanted to know because he had considered Yun Zhonghe to be a mentally challenged beggar and had only come there to break his arms and legs after somebody paid him. How could he be having his fortune read here?


    But now, this old man in front of him was not a mentally challenged beggar, so the opportunity to have his fortune read was definitely not one to be missed.


    So, he had to carefully think about precisely what he wanted to know about himself. Did he want to know about marriage, future prospects, or how long he would live?


    Marriage? He was already of the right age, with a wife at home and a lover on the side. What more would he possibly ask for?


    Life? This was something that could frighten anyone to death, so it was better left unasked. I have no wish to know how it came about, nor do I have any want to know when it will end.


    This left him with future prospects.


    If an ordinary man were to come and ask, he would undoubtedly ask, ¡°Sir, what¡¯s my future going to be like, or how is my luck for this year?¡±


    But the leader of the thugs was practical, so he opened his mouth and asked, ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll just ask, in time to come, will I be able to fulfill my wish of attaining an iron rice bowl for stable income?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe snapped his fingers like a prophet predicting someone¡¯s fortune. Then suddenly, he lifted his head and looked up. Without another word, he rolled up his mat, picked up his signboard, and prepared to take off.


    The leader of the thugs cried out in shock, ¡°Sir, this¡­ What¡¯s the meaning of this? Why are you leaving all of a sudden?¡±


    The thug standing next to him said, ¡°Boss, he must be unable to come up with anything and is scared that we will break both his arms and legs, so he¡¯s just going to run away now.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°This fine gentleman here, you just spent over a hundred sycees when you approached the garrison of the City of Torn Gust in your bid to seek a post as captain of the patrol troop. This matter has since been confirmed. Your patrol troop is specifically tasked with the responsibility of sweeping out fortune-telling booths like ours. If I don¡¯t make a run for it now, what else would I be waiting for?¡±


    What was a patrol troop? It was the urban management unit of a different world that was specially set up to apprehend people like stall owners and vendors. Fortune-telling stalls were also included in their list of spots to be swept out.


    The leader of the thugs was totally shocked. This¡­ This was simply too amazing.


    He had paid a hundred sycees to bribe Centurion Li and bought himself a post as captain of the patrol troop in charge of these streets. That was how he could perfectly justify his collection of protection fees in the future.


    But this was something he had secretly done by himself. No one else knew about it. How could the fortune-teller standing before him know?


    It was so¡­ too unbelievable.


    And right at that very moment, something even more inconceivable happened.


    A man came running from a distance. He first sucked in a mouthful of air to catch his breath, then said to the leader of the thugs in a hoarse voice, ¡°Boss. Congratulations, congratulations. The bureau of city guards has already issued the official document. From today on, you are the captain of the patrol troop of these three streets.¡±


    This time around, it wasn¡¯t only the leader of the thugs who was stunned. The few other thugs standing around all seemed to have been struck by lightning. They could not believe their ears at all. They all stared hard at Yun Zhonghe.


    This¡­ This was simply too amazing.


    Seeing how these people were all dazed, the young fellow who came running over to report the good news could not help but feel surprised. What was going on? This was clearly great news that they should be celebrating. Why was his boss not rejoicing with happiness? Could it be that he was putting on airs even before actually donning his official clothes?


    After a long pause, the leader of the thugs knelt, bowing down to Yun Zhonghe and said, Sir, you are indeed a divine being. Please accept a bow of worship from me, Zhang Dahu.¡±


    With that said, the leader of the thugs went into a 90-degree bow before Yun Zhonghe. He stayed in that bow for a few full seconds.


    After that, when he saw that his minions were still standing there in upright positions, he instantly flew into a rage. ¡°What are you all doing just standing there like that? Still not kowtowing to this sir here? You guys should know that you are lucky. You are merely lowly beings, and yet you are able to meet with this divine sir,¡± he growled.


    Suddenly, the dozen thugs were all scurrying to get down on their knees and kowtow to Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°Our respects to you, ancient immortal. Our respects to you, ancient immortal¡­¡± they said.


    The leader of the thugs, Zhang Dahu, said, Sir, how did you manage to figure that out? This is just too amazing. How did you know that I bribed someone with one hundred sycees, and how did you know that this matter had successfully come to fruition?¡±


    How had Yun Zhonghe known that Zhang Dahu¡¯s plan to buy the post of captain of the patrol troop had been successfully achieved?


    Very simple. When that minion of his came running from a distance, his mouth was instinctively wide open as he had wanted to shout, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s done. You have become the captain of the patrol troop.¡±


    It was just then that the thug¡¯s little minion realized that the distance was still too far, so he did not shout to them. He waited until he had run closer before he congratulated his boss.


    Also, Zhang Dahu and his gang had their backs facing the little guy. So, of course, they could not see him.


    But Yun Zhonghe was facing him, so he could see him clearly. With Patient Sixteen from the mental hospital possessing his body, he could easily read the lips of the thug¡¯s little minion.


    So, of course he knew in advance.


    As for the bribery of one hundred sycees? He knew that because this position was worth one hundred-odd sycees at most.


    But how could he possibly tell them these things? It would be against his prophet¡¯s demeanor. In truth, the next thing that he had to do, which was the interpretation of the word, was the most important thing of all.


    Therefore, Yun Zhonghe stroke his beard lightly and said indifferently, ¡°This Qi word that you have written could be broken up into mountain and support, right?¡±


    Zhang Dahu might not have been very well-read or highly literate, but he at least knew that much. So, he nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°What does mountain represent? It represents your backing. With a backer, this matter would, of course, come to fruition.¡±


    Zhang Dahu said, ¡°Then how did you know about me offering a bribe of one hundred sycees?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The other character that meant support could be interpreted as financial support in the form of disbursement, which refers to the bribery. Putting the two characters ¡®ten¡¯ and ¡®again¡¯ together, they form the word ¡®support.¡¯ And what does ¡®ten again¡¯ mean? It means ten and another ten, so multiplying two tens together. Wouldn¡¯t that be one hundred? So, you offered a bribe of one hundred sycees!¡±


    Hearing Yun Zhonghe¡¯s interpretation, the newly appointed captain of the patrol troop, Zhang Dahu, was utterly stunned.


    Oh my god!


    This¡­ This man was truly unbelievably divine.


    Simply brilliant!

 Chapter 22

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    With his extremely acute eyesight, Yun Zhonghe noticed that, when the other thugs addressed him as an ancient immortal, their leader¡¯s eyes wavered briefly, followed by a flash of fear.


    What did this mean?


    The thug had been wholly convinced and brought into submission, so he did not bear any hostility toward Yun Zhonghe. But when he heard the words ¡®ancient immortal¡¯, a fearful look appeared on his face, making it very obvious that the term was already taboo in the City of Torn Gust.


    Why was it a taboo? There was only one explanation. There was already someone in the City of Torn Gust who was known as an immortal, and this person had the intention of monopolizing the word. This person even had a sizable amount of power, which was why the leader of the thugs would show a kind of fear akin to a human¡¯s natural fear of snakes.


    ¡°Sir, this is my fee for divination.¡± The leader of the thugs handed over two silver ingots, which added up to around twenty sycees. It was definitely a generous payment.


    Even with how prosperous the City of Torn Gust was, twenty sycees was enough for a family of four for four months.


    Yun Zhonghe closed his eyes and said nonchalantly, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, reading your fortune was going to be my payment for your protection fee, so you don¡¯t have to pay me anything.¡±


    ¡°How can I do that? How can I?¡± The thug bowed respectfully and said, ¡°Sir, I hope you don¡¯t find this too little. This is all the silver that I¡¯ve brought with me today. Everything is here.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°If I say that I don¡¯t want it, then I don¡¯t want it. What¡¯s there to argue about?¡±


    The thug looked at Yun Zhonghe earnestly for a while and realized that he was not just being polite or standing on ceremony. Instantly, he was filled with admiration and said, ¡°Sir, you are truly a divine being. Since you are not accepting my money, I will ultimately repay you in some way or another. So long as it is something within my means, I will oblige without hesitation.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°If you really want to put your heart into this, then go buy me some wine and food.¡±


    The thug said, ¡°Just this simple task?¡±


    ¡°Quickly, go get it. I¡¯m famished!¡± Yun Zhonghe said impatiently.


    After a while, a sumptuous spread of wine and food was placed before Yun Zhonghe. There were soft, comfortable carpets and blankets along with it.


    Yun Zhonghe hurriedly gorged himself. After eating only steamed buns for two days, he was already starving.


    ¡°Sir, you have such an amazing ability. I will definitely make a name for you and see to it that your business prospers.¡± The thug fawned over Yun Zhonghe.


    Yun Zhonghe retorted, ¡°Are you kidding me? Do you take me as someone who sells cabbage? I only do one divination reading a day.¡±


    The thug was embarrassed and said in an even more flattering manner, ¡°Sir, you are truly a divine being. Uncouth people like us don¡¯t know anything at all about the realm you are in.¡±


    Then he bowed respectfully and said, ¡°Sir, then I will take my leave. I will definitely come back again to visit and pay my respects to you.¡±


    Then the leader of the thugs quickly left.


    That was a little strange. By right, this Zhang Dahu should go on currying favor with Yun Zhonghe. Why did it seem a little like he was avoiding the latter the same way he would avoid snakes?


    Of course, he still bore no hostility towards Yun Zhonghe. It was just that he did not dare get close to Yun Zhonghe at all. It was very obvious that after he went back and cleared his head, he would no longer dare to approach Yun Zhonghe because of a certain person.


    Yun Zhonghe ate his fill and drank to his heart¡¯s content, then he went straight to bed and fell asleep.


    ***


    The next day, Yun Zhonghe still did not have any business. It was still very deserted and lonely for him.


    With yesterday¡¯s fantastic performance, Yun Zhonghe should have made a reputation for himself. And with those thugs and ruffians¡¯ extreme fondness for exaggerating and boasting, they would definitely have praised Yu Zhonghe up to the skies. By right, his stall should have been very popular today.


    Not to mention the celebrities of the City of Torn Gust who should have come to him in a flurry to get their fortunes read. Even the leaders of gangsters and thugs should have been coming to him.


    There seemed to be something a little wrong with this situation, right?


    What was Yun Zhonghe¡¯s goal in setting up a fortune-telling stall? It was to get famous, and to attract the attention Jing Wubian, the degenerate son of a wealthy family, and become his foremost confidant. Being in that position would be the most convenient way to conquer Jing Zhongyue.


    So, the first step of his plan, where he had to wait for the willing victim to fall into his snare, was crucial!


    Yesterday, the leader of those thugs had said that he was going to make a name for Yun Zhonghe. At that time, Yun Zhonghe had turned him down, but that was totally not what he had really wanted. He was just putting on airs when he said that. That thug wouldn¡¯t have taken him seriously, right?


    And even if that thug had taken his words seriously, those minions of his should still have been unable to keep quiet about it. They would have gone about making a big fuss, giving him publicity.


    Why was today still such a lonely and quiet day, without any business at all?


    One day passed, two days passed, three days passed¡­


    Yun Zhonghe still did not have any business. But the inexplicable thing was that, previously, there would usually be a dozen or so people passing by. But now, there were only around seven to eight people every day.


    For the last two days, Yun Zhonghe had only been drinking water. He had not eaten a single grain of rice and was so hungry that he was having dizzy spells.


    The leader of those thugs had said he would come back to visit Yun Zhonghe, but in the end, he did not turn up at all.


    The beggar who had previously given Yun Zhonghe steamed buns also did not appear again, and no one knew where he had gone to have fun. Just half a sycee or two was enough for him to hire women in the City of Torn Gust for long enough to result in this disappearing act?


    Xu Anting, on the other hand, wanted to send food to Yun Zhonghe, but he thought of the latter¡¯s instructions to him. Even if he, Yun Zhonghe, were to die of hunger, Xu Anting should never, ever take the initiative to contact him.


    That was to say, only Sister Xu Antiing could not bear the sight of him in this situation, and she sent him a meal once. That had been two days ago. At that time, Yun Zhonghe warned her against coming in a low voice, so for these last two days, she had not come by to deliver any meals to him.


    So, Yun Zhonghe went hungry for another two days and three nights.


    And now things were getting awkward for him. Could it be that I, Yun Zhonghe, will starve to death before I even accomplish my goal?


    Will the first step of my plan still fall through before I can see it to fruition? he wondered.


    Of course, at this point in time, Yun Zhonghe could still leave this remote and ghostly place and head downtown to the city center.


    But if he did that, his level of sophistication would drop by degrees, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Clenching his teeth and stomping his foot, Yun Zhonghe laid down.


    That way, his metabolism would slow down, and he would not feel so hungry.


    The owner of this body was so accustomed to enduring hunger since childhood that he knew what to do to fight it. For example, it was best that he held his urine because if he went to the bathroom, it would take away his body heat.


    In the middle of the night, while Yun Zhonghe was asleep, in the midst of a state of oblivion, he suddenly awoke with a start.


    Someone was coming.


    But he did not open his eyes right away and pretended to still be asleep.


    ¡°Hey, hey¡­¡± a voice said.


    The visitor tapped Yun Zhonghe lightly on the shoulder.


    Without opening his eyes, Yun Zhonghe said in an indifferent tone, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to have my fortune read,¡± the person whispered.


    Yun Zhonghe did not see the person behind him, but his mind was racing in a mad whirl, and he immediately guessed who the visitor was.


    ¡°You are the centurion of the city guards, Li Tian,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Sir, you did not even see me, and yet, you actually knew it was me?¡± the person exclaimed in surprise.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You are afraid of offending the Blue Immortal of the City of Torn Gust. So, you do not dare to come to me during the day to get your fortune read. You only dare to come in the middle of the night.¡±


    That person replied with some embarrassment, ¡°I am also in quite a helpless position myself. There aren¡¯t many people in the City of Torn Gust who could afford to offend the Blue Immortal. He¡¯s the foremost confidant of Master Jing Wubian, who usually calls him godfather.¡±


    Now the situation was evident. Even though Zhang Dahu, who was a leader of a gang of thugs, also thought that Yun Zhonghe was a divine psychic, he did not dare to publicize it. In doing that, he would have offended the Blue Immortal.


    But this Centurion Li was his benefactor. Li Tian was also the one who had gotten him his post as captain of the patrol troop.


    And Li Tian had met with some significant trouble. So, after much deliberation, Zhang Dahu decided to tell Centurion Li about Yun Zhonghe for two reasons. The first reason was to repay the kindness Li Tian had shown him; the second was for himself.


    Because Centurion Li Tian was Zhang Dahu¡¯s backer, if Centurion Li were to fall, then he would not be able to keep his position as captain of the patrol troop for long.


    If Centurion Li Tian was willing to risk his life to come to Yun Zhonghe in the middle of the night, it was apparent that he had encountered quite a bit of trouble and was feeling very worried and scared.


    Centurion Li said, ¡°Sir, I heard you have a third eye and are peerlessly accurate in your divinations. If you are able to read my fortune accurately right now and help me resolve this massive trouble, I¡¯ll give you a hundred sycees.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I don¡¯t want money. If I have given you an accurate reading and help you tide through your difficulties, you only need to do one thing for me.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Centurion Li asked.


    Yun Zhonghe pulled a small envelope out from his bosom and said, ¡°This is a silk pouch that you must never open or look inside, or else there will be bloodshed. You must hand this over to Master Jing Wubian, who lives at the residence of the castellan. Remember, remember. You must personally hand this over to Master Jing Wubian, who lives at the residence of the castellan. This silk pouch is of utmost importance to him, so important that it concerns his life.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Centurion Li was instantly shocked. This was a very tricky matter.


    Why did Yun Zhonghe not continue to put up his mystifying act and wait for Jing Wubian to take the initiative to come visit him with due respect and sincerity instead?


    Because he had figured it out. Who were the ones who had made three visits to the thatched hut? Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.


    Just me and Jing Wubian. Do we also deserve this kind of treatment? What was the point of playing around with such an old routine?


    At best, Jing Wubian and I are villain versus douchebag; client versus wh*re.


    Bah! Bah! Bah! I, Yun Zhonghe, am no wh*re.


    In any case, it was better for everyone to be straightforward and frank with one another.


    The most crucial thing was that Yun Zhonghe was really hungry and could not hold it any longer.


    Centurion Li held the silk pouch in his hand, which felt like a burning hot piece of yam. He would willingly pay a hundred sycees rather than do something like this.


    It was best to never go near that temperamental scum of society, Jing Wubian. Who could tell if he would draw a blade and hack him, Li Tian, to death after laying eyes on this silk pouch?


    That was one psychopath that could not be reasoned with using common sense.


    However, he should just give Yun Zhonghe his word first, since the most important thing was to get through his own difficulties.


    If he could not overcome this difficulty, Li Tian would not see tomorrow. His head would roll, his wife would become someone else¡¯s, and his children would go to someone else as well.


    With his wife¡¯s character, if Li Tian were to be sent to prison that day, his wife might be sleeping in someone¡¯s bed already within the next three days.


    Aye! Who could know his wife better than he himself?


    Centurion Li said, ¡°Right now, I¡¯m facing a big problem. How should I put it? It¡¯s really quite a long story¡­¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me. I know what kind of trouble you¡¯re in. I¡¯ve got the third eye, so I have the ability to predict the future without having to seek divination.¡±


    Centurion Li was startled and instantly found himself somewhat in disbelief.


    Zhang Dahu might have lauded Yun Zhonghe to the skies, but Centurion Li was someone who had traveled far and wide, and thus, he had a wide variety of experience and extensive knowledge. To him, this was merely a trick that was commonly used.


    It was just that he had encountered a major problem and was in a desperate and urgent need for help, regardless of who he had to turn to. This was why he came looking to try his luck with Yun Zhonghe.


    In fact, he did not hold much hope in his heart.


    ¡°Oh? Tell me about this, sir.¡± Centurion Li had come to a decision. If Yun Zhonghe was right, then he would continue.


    But if Yun Zhonghe was wrong, it would prove that he was just a quack. In that case, Yun Zhonghe could not blame him for his change in attitude. Also, Li Tian would not show Yun Zhonghe any mercy. At the very least, he would slice off Yun Zhonghe¡¯s tongue because he had taken such a huge risk in coming there to look for him.


    If the Blue Immortal knew that Li Tian had not gone to him to get his fortune read, but instead had come to look for Yun Zhonghe, then the Blue Immortal would rip his skin off.


    But the Blue Immortal was ruthless when it came to his charges. One divination would cost three thousand sycees.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The same old drill. You write the word in your mind. Remember, you have to write it in your mind. With my third eye, I¡¯ll naturally know what you have written. Then, with this word, I will read your fortune.¡±


    Centurion Li said, ¡°Okay, then I shall start to write it in my heart.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe silently meditated in his mind. Patient Sixteen, possess me.


    In the end, there was no response.


    Number Sixteen, you psychopath, possess me!


    Still, no response!


    I¡­ I¡­ Holy sh*t!


    What¡¯s the meaning of this? You¡¯ve been at my beck and call this whole time!


    Number Twenty-Three, Da Vinci, possess me.


    Still no response.


    Number Eight, Beethoven, you psychopath, possess me.


    Still no response.


    Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t! Dear Psychopaths, please don¡¯t mess with me.


    This was an actual emergency. It was a matter of life and death.


    In short, no matter how Yun Zhonghe summoned them, none of these psychopaths appeared in his body.


    Could this be them being affected by their male hormone cycle? So, every month, would there be a few days where they did not feel like turning up for work?


    At that time, Centurion Li Tian said, ¡°Sir, I have finished writing the word in my mind. You can read my fortune now!¡±


    Shucks. Without the mind-reading skills of Patient Sixteen, how was he going to figure out a fortune?


    Err, Centurion Li, if I say it is my time of the month and that I¡¯m feeling a little unwell and do not want to go to work, you¡­ Would you accept this explanation?


    Probably not, I would guess.


    After watching Yun Zhonghe remain unresponsive for a long time, Centurion Li frowned and said, ¡°Sir, I have finished writing the word in my mind. So, tell me, what is the word that I have written? Then you can start reading my fortune for me.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe still did not respond. Instead, he closed his eyes, pinched his fingers, and pretended to do his job as a fortune-teller.


    What was that line? Calm on the outside but panicking on the inside.


    You d*mn psychopaths, are you all trying to get back at me? Are you all jealous of my good looks?


    After a dozen or more attempts, Patient Sixteen, who was capable of reading minds, still had not possessed him.


    Centurion Li¡¯s voice had changed, and the look in his eyes became gloomy and cold. ¡°Sir, I have finished writing my word. Start reading the divination for me,¡± he said.


    His hands then instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword.


    If Yun Zhonghe could not come up with an accurate reading of the word he had in mind, it would prove that he was a liar. Then he couldn¡¯t blame Centurion Li for becoming hostile.


    I am a stately official centurion. Killing a charlatan like you would be even easier than killing a dog.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s eyes were still shut, and his fingers were pinched.


    Li Tian secretly began counting down in his heart. ¡°Ten, nine, eight¡­¡±


    When he had finished counting down, if Yun Zhonghe still did not open his mouth to say something, he would make his move and kill him.


    How could a charlatan like him actually dare to mess around with a centurion of the city guards?


    Those psychotic patients still had not come to possess him. And it was not only Number Sixteen, the Ghost who could read minds. Not a single one of those psychotic patients had come to possess him.


    Yun Zhonghe opened his eyes and took a deep breath.


    Now he would have to rely on his own wisdom and luck.


    ¡°Three, two, one!¡±


    Centurion Li¡¯s countdown ended. He discretely drew his sword by half an inch and said coldly, ¡°Mr. Yun, I am done writing that word in my mind. Haven¡¯t you opened your third eye? Let¡¯s start the fortune-telling. What is that word? And what kind of trouble am I facing? How should I resolve it?¡±


    ¡°If you give a correct fortune, I will send this silk pouch over to the residence of the castellan and personally hand it to Master Jing Wubian. If you go wrong in your reading, then I¡¯m sorry. Fighting against corruption and superstition is a compelling responsibility of the bureau of city guards, so don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless and cruel!¡±

 Chapter 23

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mind was racing. The moment had arrived where his wisdom would be put to the test.


    At this very critical moment, all he could do was make his boldest guesses ever.


    What fatal crisis had this centurion of the city guards, Li Tian, who was standing right before him, encountered?


    What events might have happened recently? And it had to be something significant.


    Thankfully, there was one such event, and it had happened right next to Yun Zhonghe. The chamberlain of the residence of the castellan, Li Tang, had been arrested and imprisoned for embezzlement of public funds.


    Li Tang¡¯s surname was Li. This Li Tian standing before him also shared the same surname, so was there any relationship between the two?


    An even bolder guess would be that Li Tang was Li Tian¡¯s backer. Of course, Li Tian would be on tenterhooks and perpetually in a state of anxiety after his backing fell. He did not know what he should do, and so, he had come to get his fortune told.


    Yes, yes!


    The possibility was very high.


    But now the primary question was, what exactly was the word that Li Tian had written in his mind?


    It could be said that Yun Zhonghe knew nothing about the man that stood before him. There was simply no way he could make a guess.


    But he did memorize information on Li Tang before this. Initially, his grandfather¡¯s surname was Lv. But later on, because his family was too poor to raise him, he was adopted by a family named Li. After that, his surname was changed to Li.


    Li Tang had always held a grudge over this. The thought of being unable to identify himself as a descendent of his family¡¯s ancestors always filled his heart with immense regret.


    As mentioned before, Li Tang was someone who liked to mingle with men of knowledge and pretended to be an avid lover of culture. He liked calligraphy and painting. Back then, Yun Zhonghe had studied his calligraphy work so that he could curry favor with Li Tang in the future.


    This Lv character was the one that Li Tang had written the most. It was also the character that he wrote best. Obviously, it had long become a devil within his heart.


    If Li Tian was Li Tang¡¯s nephew, then it was obvious his original surname was also Lv. Then would he also be influenced by Li Tang, and had the Lv character also become a devil within his heart?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Centurion Li, the word that you have written in your mind is one that is related to family heritage.¡±


    There was no doubt he had made this remark just to feel out the other party. It was possible that any word could be related to family heritage, so it could not be said that Yun Zhonghe was wrong. But if Li Tian directly admitted the connection, it would be very likely that this word was his original surname, Lv.


    Chinese characters were extensive and profound, and they could really allow for extremely far-fetched associations.


    After hearing what Yun Zhonghe said, Li Tian was stunned. Then, he nodded.


    His reaction was very interesting because of the fact that he had very obviously nodded.


    If it had been another vague word, Li Tian would have thought for a while about whether the word had any relation to family heritage.


    Since he had nodded so directly, it was highly possible that the word was Lv.


    If Li Tian shared the same sentiments as Li Tang, and if he also held a grudge over the fact that he could not identify himself as a descendant of his family¡¯s ancestors, then this would have become a devil within his heart as well. So, if he were to think of a word in his heart, he would probably think of the character Lv.


    ¡°Lv!¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°The word you have secretly written in your mind is Lv.¡±


    At that same moment, hidden in the shadows not far from them, Xu Antiing was aiming a crossbow at Li Tian. The moment Yun Zhonghe said something wrong and Li Tian made a move, she would immediately shoot him.


    Upon hearing Yun Zhonghe say the word, Li Tian was instantly shocked and could not believe his ears.


    After a long time, he suddenly thrust his sword back into its sheath, bowed respectfully and said, ¡°Sir, you have a great talent. Sir, you have great talent. You actually read the word that I¡¯ve secretly written in my mind.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe let out a long sigh of relief. He actually got it right.


    It had really been thirty percent wisdom and seventy percent luck.


    Seeing how Li Tian¡¯s attitude had gone from snobby to deferential, Yun Zhonghe sneered coldly and said, ¡°Did Centurion Li intend for me to draw my sword just now?¡±


    ¡°I have eyes, but I fail to see. I must be blind not to have recognized this. Please forgive me, sir.¡± Li Tian said, ¡°Mr. Yun, I¡¯ve encountered a huge problem and have to make a decision that could mean life or death. I¡¯m of two minds, so¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°It¡¯s all in this word. I just need to look at the word.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe wrote the character Lv on the ground.


    ¡°The Lv character is made up of two openings. In ancient times, the meaning of this word was very simple. It referred to a house, a house that is used for sacrifice. The opening on top refers to the window in the roof, meaning the skylight. The opening at the bottom is the door on the wall. And now, thousands of years have passed. For what kind of house now has windows in its rooftop? That¡¯s a prison. Windows are installed in the ceiling where they¡¯re high up to prevent prisoners from breaking out of jail. Prisoners can¡¯t reach up there.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe looked at Li Tian and said, ¡°Centurion Li, someone who is very important to you is serving a prison sentence.¡±


    The moment Yun Zhonghe spoke, Li Tian was rendered wholly shocked. He bowed deferentially and said, ¡°Sir, you¡¯re truly a divine being. Sir, you¡¯re truly a divine being. Li Tian is totally convinced of it. The one who has been sentenced to prison is my uncle. He is the chamberlain of the residence of the castellan, and also my backer. Now that they have found me, they are asking me to confess to the crime that my uncle has committed, or else they will find me guilty of collective punishment. What should I do? Should I betray my uncle or continue bearing this with clenched teeth? The question is, can my uncle get through this?¡±


    The meaning was very clear now. Centurion Li Tian did not know whether or not Li Tang could pull though this crisis safely, so he did not know whether he should betray his uncle or not.


    What if he chose betrayal, but Li Tang eventually got out of this seemingly dangerous situation unscathed? Then would Li Tian not face a shameful death without a family burial?


    But if he chose not to betray his uncle, if Li Tang was then truly finished, wouldn¡¯t Li Tian end up buried with him?


    Centurion Li Tian said, ¡°Mr. Yun, you have opened your third eye. You have such remarkable abilities. Please, help me with divination to determine whether my uncle will be released this time. Should I betray him, or should I confess to his crime?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe closed his eyes and momentarily bent his fingers gracefully into a shape that resembled an orchid.


    Then, he opened his eyes and said with indifference, ¡°This uncle of yours, his original surname was Lv, right? He only changed it to Li later on.¡±


    Li Tian instantly grew even more shocked. This Mr. Yun really was a divine being. He actually rendered accurate predictions for everything. He really did have a third eye.


    Yun Zhonghe pointed to the Lv character on the ground and said, ¡°Your uncle¡¯s fate is clearly written in this word. A hundred years ago, it was already preordained that he would relinquish Lv for Li. It can also be interpreted as giving up the Lv surname and changing it to Li. And just now, we¡¯ve also said that the opening on the top is a skylight while the one at the bottom is a door, which looks just like a prison. The relinquishing of Lv for Li can also be interpreted as someone with the surname Li being freed from prison.¡±


    ¡°So, your uncle will make it out of this seemingly dangerous situation, safe and sound. There¡¯s no need for you to betray him. Instead, you should stand firmly on his side. This way, even if you suffer some grievances for the time being, in the future, these may turn out to be blessings in disguise.¡±


    Centurion Li was repeatedly saying, ¡°Relinquish Lv for Li, relinquish Lv for Li, that¡¯s right, that¡¯s right! Didn¡¯t God tell me very clearly that my uncle will be safe this time? Thank you for your guidance, ancient immortal. Li Tian will never forget it!¡±


    Then, Centurion Li presented a box to Yun Zhonghe with both hands. Inside the box, there were precisely one hundred sycees. This was the number of sycees that Zhang Dahu had given Li Tian as a bribe.


    Yun Zhonghe said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. I won¡¯t take your silver. When the matter is finished, you have to personally take this silk pouch and hand it to Master Jing Wubian at the residence of the castellan. That will be considered your payment.¡±


    Li Tian said, ¡°If the situation really turns out to be what Sir has foretold, then I, of the surname Li, will deliver your silk pouch to Master Jing Wubian, even if I have to risk losing my head.¡±


    Then, Centurion Li left after expressing his profuse gratitude.


    Yun Zhonghe breathed a sigh of relief. Whether or not he could successfully enter the residence of the castellan and obtain a high post within a short period of time depended entirely on this silk pouch.


    ***


    After returning home, Centurion Li first hid the silk pouch from Yun Zhonghe well.


    Then he laid on the bed and went to sleep, letting out loud snores.


    The next day, when Li Tian had just returned to work at the bureau of the city guards, he was arrested immediately.


    To make him identify Li Tang as the one who had embezzled the public¡¯s money, Black Blood Hall began torturing him right from the start.


    Black Blood Hall was comprised of the Embroidered Uniform Guards of Jing Zhongyue, which not only apprehended spies from other countries but also arrested locals who were involved in corruption.


    If this had happened earlier, Centurion Li would have already confessed and betrayed Li Tang.


    But he had received an immortal¡¯s guidance the night before, how could he possibly betray Li Tang now? So, he clenched his teeth tight and remained steadfast.


    ¡°Hahaha. It¡¯s totally a fool¡¯s dream to want me to betray my uncle.


    ¡°Uncle has been very kind to me. Could I, Li Tian, be someone so ungrateful and heartless?


    ¡°Forget about the torture; even if you kill me, I will never betray my uncle.¡±


    Li Tian originally wanted to say that his uncle was innocent, but he simply could not speak those words aloud. Li Tang¡¯s greed was infamous. How could he possibly be close to innocent?


    The person executing the torture broke a total of three whips. Li Tian was adamant and did not let out a single word of confession, nor did he say anything to betray Li Tang.


    ***


    ¡°Has Li Tian confessed?¡± A woman asked.


    She was the head of Black Blood Hall, Lady Cold Jade. This woman was Jing Zhongyue¡¯s foremost confidant, and she was extremely powerful. Having been in control of Black Blood Hall for so many years, just her name alone would make the spies of many countries tremble with fear.


    The number of spies from the Order of Black Dragons of the Great Ying Empire who had died by her hands could not even be determined.


    ¡°No confession. Li Tian is very adamant and said that even if we were to beat him to death, he would never betray his uncle.¡±


    ¡°Oh? I really can¡¯t see how this man could actually be so loyal.¡± Cold Jade was surprised.


    ¡°My Lady, do you want to torture him? Or throw this Li Tian into prison, strip him of his official title, and sentence him to death?¡±


    The woman said, ¡°No, this is exactly what the City of Torn Gust lacks, loyal men. Stop the torture and interrogation.¡±


    ¡°Then what about Li Tang¡¯s crime?¡±


    ¡°Old Madam has intervened. Li Tang is Old Madam¡¯s confidant, so it is impossible for the castellan to really kill him,¡± the woman said.


    ¡°Then are we going to just let it go? Let Li Tang, this huge scumbag, off the hook just like that? Throughout these years as a chamberlain of the residence of the castellan, how much public money has he embezzled?¡±


    The woman said, ¡°His Lord, the castellan, has already made a decision.¡±


    Half a day later, Li Tang, the chamberlain of the residence of the castellan, was released. In private, he handed over all the money that he had embezzled, which was as much as thirty thousand sycees. He was also stripped of his duties as chamberlain and returned to his hometown for retirement.


    The centurion of the city guards, Li Tian, was acquitted of all charges and also received a summon from His Lord, the castellan.


    Of course, Li Tian was not actually summoned by His Lord. Rather, Lady Cold Jade of Black Blood Hall had summoned him in place of the castellan.


    Not only that, but she also gave Centurion Li Tian a hearty scolding that lasted a full ten minutes.


    After coming out of the residence of the castellan, Li Tian felt as though he was about to explode with joy.


    He did not even dare to lift his gaze up to look at Lady Cold Jade, but he was no fool. Although she was scolding him, she was actually appreciating his loyalty and how he would rather be killed than betray his benefactor.


    If he had not betrayed Li Tang that day, he would definitely not betray anyone by the name of Jing in the future.


    So, Jing Zhongyue had allowed Lady Cold Jade to summon Centurion Li Tian on her behalf and used such scolding as a form of encouragement.


    Li Tian was just a mere centurion, while Jing Zhongyue was the queen of this land. With only the motion of a single finger on her hand, she could either send Li Tian up to heaven or down to hell.


    Previously, Li Tian had never been noticed by His Lord, the castellan. If this summon had taught him one thing it was that he, Li Tian, was going to become famous.


    At this time, there was only one thought in Li Tian¡¯s mind. Mr. Yun was divine!


    He really had been so accurate.


    Li Tang had made it through safe and sound to where he was able to walk out of prison alive.


    He, Li Tian, had encountered a troublesome situation that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Yun Zhonghe was actually a hundred percent accurate.


    It was simply divine, simply remarkable.


    As for the errand that Mr. Yun had sent him on, he had to hurry and get it done now. No delay was permissible.


    So, paying no regard to the fact that his body was covered in a mass of bruises and wounds, Li Tian ran home and carefully found the silk pouch that he had hidden earlier on.


    It was not that he hadn¡¯t thought of opening it to steal a peek at what was inside; he was just not that foolish. This silk pouch concerned Master Jing Wubian, so it was best that he, Li Tian, steered clear of any implications.


    With the silk pouch in his arms, Li Tian ran at lightning speed to the residence of the castellan.


    ***


    ¡°Please inform Master Jing Wubian that his humble subject, Li Tian, seeks an audience with him.¡±


    Centurion Li might have been quite a figure in the bureau of city guards, but when it came to the residence of the castellan, none of Jing Wubian¡¯s lackeys took him seriously, especially when Li Tang had lost his power.


    A lackey of Jing Wubian, who was also the latter¡¯s confidant, said coldly, ¡°No audience.¡±


    He was just a mere centurion, and yet he dared to request an audience with Master Jing Wubian? Who did he think he was?


    ¡°I have a silk pouch here and it concerns Master Jing Wubian¡¯s life. I must hand it over to him personally,¡± Li Tian said.


    The lackey was immediately a little scared. He rushed into the west courtyard of the residence of the castellan and reported the matter to His Lord.


    A moment later, that lackey came out with eyes that were filled with profound anger and hatred. There were clear slap marks on his face and a few whip marks on his body.


    Obviously, he had been beaten.


    ¡°Master grants your request and allows you in,¡± the lackey said.


    With a heart filled with unease, Centurion Li Tian walked in, feeling as though he was entering an extremely dangerous place, like a dragon¡¯s cave or a tiger¡¯s den.


    But he did still bear traces of confidence and courage, as he felt that he had Immortal Yun standing behind him.


    Upon entering the west courtyard, Li Tian felt as though his two eyes were not enough to capture the full view. This place was simply too splendid and imposing.


    But he did not even dare to look. He lowered his eyes and looked at his toes.


    Walking into a pavilion, the air was instantly filled with an enchanting fragrance. This was the residence of Master Jing Wubian. It was extremely luxurious.


    ¡°Kneel down,¡± a servant stepped forward and ordered coldly.


    Li Tian knelt down in front of a screen.


    A moment later, the lazy voice of a young man came from inside, saying, ¡°You say you have a silk pouch that you must give to me and that it concerns my life?¡±


    Li Tian said, ¡°Yes. A very powerful and resourceful Mr. Yun has asked me to give it to you personally.¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Then take it out.¡±


    Li Tian took out the silk pouch that he held in his arms and presented it with both hands.


    A pair of hands appeared to receive the silk pouch, then entered the room and handed it to Jing Wubian.


    Jing Wubian opened the silk pouch. There was an envelope inside that was sealed with wax.


    He casually removed the seal and pulled out a piece of paper from inside.


    There were just two sentences found on the paper inside the silk pouch.


    But¡­ Just one look at those sentences and Jing Wubian¡¯s entire being looked as though he was about to explode.


    He looked that way because the two lines in the silk pouch were written as such:


    The first sentence stated: I am a rare talent that you might only see once in every thousand years, and within one year, I can help you destroy Jing Zhongyue and allow you to ascend to the position of castellan.


    This sentence was still nothing much on its own. After all, every year many people boasted and bragged as such to Jing Wubian.


    The key was the second sentence, which was utterly shocking.


    The second sentence read: I, someone with the surname of Yun, have read a divination lot with pinched fingers that says you, Master Jing Wubian, are infertile and sterile.


    Jing Wubian immediately roared angrily, ¡°Men, kill this Centurion Li.


    ¡°Men, send out warriors to catch this nonsensical Mr. Yun, whoever he is. If he resists, then just kill him on sight. Just kill him if he resists.


    ¡°Hurry up. Quickly, get him arrested and brought to my residence!¡±


    1

 Chapter 24

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    ¡°Hurry up. Quickly get that nonsensical Mr. Yun, arrest him, and bring him to my residence!¡±


    It was no wonder Jing Wubian had such an extreme reaction. The matter of his infertility was top secret. No more than four people knew about it besides himself.


    The people that knew were his mother, Lady Torn Gust, his sister, Jing Zhongyue, the Blue Immortal of the residence of the castellan, and the head of Black Blood Hall, Lady Cold Jade.


    If this matter was exposed, how would he, Jing Wubian, be able to go on living with the dignity of a man?


    So, when he saw the words written in this silk pouch from Yun Zhonghe, Jing Wubian flew into a rage out of humiliation. He immediately felt the urge to beat on and kill people.


    On Jing Wubian¡¯s order, several warriors immediately lunged forward and arrested Li Tian, who was on the ground.


    ¡°Kill, kill¡­¡± Jing Wubian yelled loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t kill him in my room, kill him outside, in the courtyard.¡±


    Without a word, the warriors dragged Li Tian out.


    Centurion Li Tian was appalled and asked in great horror, ¡°This, what is this for? You can¡¯t kill me. I was even summoned by Her Lady, the castellan earlier in the afternoon.¡±


    Although Lady Cold Jade of Black Blood Hall was the one who had actually summoned him, she represented the castellan, Jing Zhongyue.


    But no one paid any heed to Li Tian¡¯s miserable cries, and they dragged him outside like a dog.


    Actually, Li Tian was quite well-versed in martial arts, but he did not dare to resist.


    After being dragged out of the room, Li Tian shouted again, ¡°Immortal Yun. Help me! Save me!¡±


    As soon as he shouted these words, the eyes of an old man in the house, with white hair and a beard, narrowed slightly, revealing a murderous aura.


    ¡°Young Master, where are the people we are supposed to arrest?¡± the leader of the warriors asked.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°How would I know? You guys go ask that bullsh*t Centurion Li.¡±


    The leader of the warriors said, ¡°After we have captured that Mr. Yun, do we immediately kill him?¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Don¡¯t kill him. Be sure not to kill him. Bring him here. I want to tear him to pieces with my own hands. Tear him to pieces.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Where is this Mr. Yun?¡± the leader of the warriors asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s at Yang Shu Hutong on the west side of the city. There are not many people there, and he¡¯s the only one who has set up a stall to read fortunes, so he¡¯s easily seen,¡± Centurion Li said with a trembling voice.


    The leader of the warriors said, ¡°Alright, then put your heart at ease and go on your way.¡±


    Another warrior stepped forward, took out a rope, and formed a noose around Li Tian¡¯s neck. He was just about to hang Li Tian.


    The killing of an official holding the post of a centurion by such a simple command, one given as easily as an order to kill a dog, would be simply unimaginable if it was placed in the context of the Southern Zhou Empire or the Great Ying Empire.


    But this was the case in the Land of No King. The baronage here were all local despots who wielded absolute power over the people¡¯s lives and property.


    Just a moment later, Centurion Li Tian had been choked to the point where his tongue was hanging out of his mouth, and he was exhaling more than inhaling. He looked as though he was going to die at any moment.


    He was really very puzzled. He had been implicated by Li Tang in such a major scandal. That was such a major case, and he had not died. On the contrary, he had been blessed with fortune.


    But just by delivering a silk pouch, he had enraged Jing Wubian and was going to be killed.


    Could it be that offending this foppish, spoilt brat Jing Wubian was much more serious than a major embezzlement case that involved tens of thousands of sycees?


    At that time, a woman who was as cold as frost walked in.


    She did not even say anything to stop them, but simply shot them a single, sweeping glance.


    The several warriors who were strangling Li Tian immediately let go.


    Centurion Li Tian collapsed on the ground. It was quite some time later before he said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Lady Cold, help me, help me¡­¡±


    Lady Cold Jade still did not say anything. She briefly glanced at Li Tian with indifference, then headed towards Jing Wubian¡¯s room.


    ***


    ¡°Wubian, what¡¯s going on? Just this afternoon, I summoned and met with Li Tian on behalf of the castellan, and you are going to kill him the same night? Does this make sense?¡± Lady Cold Jade shouted.


    She held a very high position in the residence of the castellan. She could shout at and berate anyone, even if it was Jing Wubian.


    Lady Cold Jade was Castellan Jing E¡¯s hand-picked disciple. She was his foster daughter, a martial arts genius, and in a sense, another older sister to Jing Wubian.


    Jiang Wubian¡¯s face twitched for a moment. Then instinctively, he cast a look at Lady Cold Jade¡¯s voluptuous and attractive figure. He could feel his heart beat faster.


    Since his childhood time, Sister Cold, who stood right in front of him, had throttled him a fair bit¡­


    ¡°Sister Cold, take a look.¡± After hesitating for a moment, Jing Wubian handed over the silk pouch that Yun Zhonghe had sent him.


    It didn¡¯t matter as Lady Cold Jade also knew about him being infertile.


    Lady Cold Jade took the silk pouch from him and took a look. Her cold, beautiful face suddenly changed.


    The second sentence in there that mentioned Jing Wubian¡¯s infertility was not a big deal. He was already a good-for-nothing in that respect anyway, whether he could have his own children or not did not really matter.


    The key was the first sentence that said that within one year, Jing Zhongyue would be destroyed, and Jing Wubian would receive help in assuming the place of castellan.


    It might have seemed like pure boasting, but it was enough to infuriate Lady Cold Jade.


    Jing Zhongyue was her monarch, the person whom she was most loyal to and would most willingly die for in her lifetime.


    Now, there was actually someone who claimed that he wanted to destroy her?


    Lady Cold Jade¡¯s face looked as though it was covered by a layer of frost. She looked at Jing Wubian coldly and said, ¡°This person really is courting his own doom.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to catch him. Shortly, I will be ripping off his skin and pulling out his tendons. Then I will feed them to the hounds,¡± Jing Wubian said.


    At that time, the Blue Immortal with white hair and a beard said, ¡°Lady Cold, may I speak with you for a moment?¡±


    ¡°Please speak your mind, Mr. Blue,¡± Lady Cold Jade said.


    The Blue Immortal continued, saying, ¡°With the impending war between the Southern Zhou Empire and the Great Ying Empire, the struggle in the City of Torn Gust has become even more complicated. It¡¯s precisely for this reason that her Lady, the Castellan, has ordered to keep the gates of the residence of the castellan closed and to not allow any entry. So, any person who tries to get close to Master Jing Wubian at this point in time should also be seriously suspected.¡±


    ¡°You suspect that this person may possibly be a spy from either the Great Ying Empire or the Southern Zhou Empire?¡± Lady Cold Jade asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s imperative to be on guard,¡± Blue Immortal responded.


    ¡°I get what you mean,¡± Lady Cold Jade said.


    Then, she walked out and casually waved her hand.


    Suddenly, two warriors of the Black Blood Hall swiftly sprang out, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. There was no knowing where they had been hiding prior to making their appearance.


    Lady Cold Jade ordered, ¡°The two of you will go with them to catch this person.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± The two warriors of the Black Blood Hall both knelt on one knee.


    Then, a group of eight warriors rushed out of the residence of the castellan at lightning speed without making a single sound. In the dark of the night, they sprinted toward Yang Shu Hutong, where Yun Zhonghe was. They had come to catch Yun Zhonghe!


    Lady Cold Jade took the silk pouch that Yun Zhonghe had sent and headed to the middle mansion of the residence of the castellan. She wanted to show it to her Lady, Jing Zhongyue.


    She wanted to show it to her not only because there were words that would offend Jing Zhongyue, but also because there were words that told of the unknown secret of Jing Wubian¡¯s infertility.


    So, this matter appeared to be out of control.


    What would be the reaction of the She-Devil, Jing Zhongyue, the castellan, if she saw that someone was claiming they could destroy her within one year?


    ***


    It was still the middle of the night, so silence prevailed along Yang Shu Hutong.


    Yun Zhonghe lay motionless on the ground, looking just like a dead dog.


    I¡­ I¡¯m going to starve to death. I¡¯m going to freeze to death.


    By right, the residence of the castellan should have sent someone over by now. Someone should have come.


    Then about the matter involving Li Tian, was Yun Zhonghe really so omnipotent and resourceful that he was able to divine the fates of Li Tang and Li Tian?


    It was actually not difficult at all. As the chamberlain of the residence of the castellan, Li Tang¡¯s eating habits were really an unbearable sight to behold. He had embezzled much too many sycees.


    Before, Jing Zhongyue had just succeeded to the throne, so of course she could not take any actions against him. Now that she had stabilized her foothold, however, how could she accommodate such a pest?


    So, Li Tang was arrested.


    But Li Tang was an old man after all, and he had been her mother¡¯s confidant at that. He had even watched Jing Zhongyue grow up, so she couldn¡¯t really kill him.


    Just pay him a sum of money, then strip him of his post and expel him back to his hometown. That would do.


    And Li Tian was originally supposed to be unlucky. After all, he had risen to his post with Li Tang¡¯s help, so he was not very clean himself.


    But no one had expected him to stay so steadfast and loyal, or that he would rather die than be willing to betray his uncle.


    Someone possessing that quality was hard to come by. So, of course misfortune came to him as a blessing in disguise.


    This was something that Yun Zhonghe, who was positioned on the sidelines, could see clearly. So, he could easily make a judgment. It was just that Li Tian was in the midst of the mountains and was facing a matter of life and death, so he had long fallen into a state of panic.


    But now, none of that mattered. The critical thing was¡­ that Yun Zhonghe was really going to collapse from hunger.


    He had not eaten anything for four days and four nights straight. He had only been drinking water, and he was so hungry that he was having dizzy spells.


    After Centurion Li had left, he had not had a single customer for two whole days.


    The strangest thing was that, initially, there were still a dozen or so people who would pass by this road. But now, there was not even a single person to be seen. It was as though this place had become a dead zone.


    Yun Zhonghe was so hungry that he was finding it somewhat unbearable. Of course, he could leave this place anytime to find food.


    But if he did that, it would mean that all of his previous efforts would go to waste.


    According to his prediction, the residence of the castellan should be sending someone to him soon. And it should be around the next one or two days.


    So, he absolutely could not leave.


    Now he did not dare to move at all, even if it would only require a little bit of strength. He just laid there motionless and drank a little water when he felt hungry.


    Xu Anting and his sister, who maintained a good distance but kept a close eye on Yun Zhonghe to protect him, had completely changed their opinion of him. Previously, they had felt that this man was a lunatic and that he shunned labor but indulged in ease. They thought he was lustful and boastful. They did not expect him to actually be resilient enough to starve himself for several days and nights without moving as far as a single step, all for the sake of his plan to ensnare someone in his trap.


    This little fair-faced man was really quite ruthless to himself.


    And it seemed his plan had not worked.


    He had successfully received two customers, but still, he had not made a name for himself. He was still completely unknown to the public there.


    And the two people who had their fortunes told by him and received guidance from his divinatory advice seemed to have vanished into thin air. They did not even send him a single meal, let alone help him make a name for himself. So were they going to let him, Yun Zhonghe, die of starvation here?


    ¡°Brother, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s plan has failed. He has been without food for five days and four nights. If he goes on starving, he will die. Let¡¯s quickly abort the plan. We¡¯ll work out another way to send him into the residence of the castellan,¡± Xu Antiing said.


    ¡°Wait a little while more, wait a little while more,¡± Xu Anting replied.


    Sister Xu Antiing said, ¡°If we wait any longer, he¡¯s going to die. No way. Abort the plan immediately. I¡¯m going to go and take him away.¡±


    Sister Xu Antiing was going to rush out immediately. She was overly concerned about Yun Zhonghe¡¯s safety.


    However, at that moment, several figures appeared and surrounded Yun Zhonghe.


    Xu Antiing hurriedly stopped moving and quietly hid herself.


    Were things finally going to take a turn for the better?


    The people who had come this time were all elite warriors, so they were most likely from the residence of the castellan.


    Was Yun Zhonghe¡¯s plan finally going to work?


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe opened his eyes slightly and found himself completely surrounded.


    One of the tall, cold warriors was standing directly in front of him.


    ¡°You¡¯re that fortune teller? The fortune-teller who gave some advice to Centurion Li?¡± the warrior asked.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡±


    The warrior said, ¡°We¡¯re from the residence of the castellan.¡±


    Here you are, dear ones. You are here at last

 Chapter 25

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°May I ask you, gentlemen? How can I help you?¡±


    A warrior said, ¡°Listen carefully. There can only be one immortal in the City of Torn Gust, and that is the Blue Immortal. We can only assume that any charlatan with ulterior motives is seeking death.¡±


    Having said that, he suddenly pulled out his sword, aimed it right at Yun Zhonghe¡¯s chest, and said coldly, ¡°Remember to look more clearly when you are reincarnated to your next lifetime. Make sure you don¡¯t offend someone you shouldn¡¯t, even if by accident. Now, die!¡±


    Then the warrior forcefully pierced the sword right through Yun Zhonghe¡¯s chest.


    Xu Anting and his sister, as well as the few warriors of the Order of Black Dragons, could no longer hold back and rushed out to his rescue.


    ***


    Meanwhile!


    Behind a window that was not too far away, a pair of eyes watched out over all that was happening. The eyes belonged to the leader of the warriors of Black Blood Hall, those whom Lady Cold Jade had sent over.


    They wanted to determine if Yun Zhonghe was a secret spy sent by another country, and whether or not he was part of a larger gang or group.


    ¡°It¡¯s very easy to determine whether this fortune-teller is a spy from another country. Just make a move to kill him. If someone comes to his rescue, it will prove that he is part of a gang, and so, the possibility of him being a spy is much greater,¡± Lady Cold Jade had said.


    ¡°If he places his life at our mercy, it goes to show that he may not necessarily be a spy from another country.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait. Let¡¯s have a good look and see if there¡¯s anyone who comes to his rescue! It¡¯s best if someone does come to rescue him. That way, not only would we uncover one spy, we could even apprehend a whole bunch of them and uncover another country¡¯s entire hidden spy network.¡±


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe saw the sharp blade of that warrior¡¯s sword move toward him and he suddenly felt very anxious.


    It was not death that he was afraid of.


    Though he had currently lost the efficacy of his mind-reading skills, Yun Zhonghe could still see that the other party had no murderous intent.


    After all, Patient Sixteen had already possessed him several times, so Yun Zhonghe himself had also picked up a smattering of mind-reading skills.


    From the depths of their eyes, he could see that the other party exuded absolutely no murderous aura.


    This¡­ was definitely just them sounding him out.


    But this was, on the contrary, more dangerous for him. Xu Anting and his sister, Xu Antiing, were concerned about his safety. So, they would surely be somewhere near him right then. If they were to see that his life was in danger, they might make a move to save him.


    And the moment they made a move, almost half of their group would be exposed.


    Though there was no way to prove that they were secret spies from another country, why else would they be hiding here in the middle of the night? And why would they come out to save a fortune-teller who was nothing more than a charlatan?


    There was no need for evidence when the City of Torn Gust captured undercover spies from other countries. As long as they had any doubts or suspicion, they would quickly make their move.


    Under Jing Zhongyue¡¯s absolute will, how vicious and decisive the means deployed by those of the Black Blood Hall could be, was simply unimaginable.


    As long as there was suspicion, Black Blood Hall would capture all the people of Anting Tavern. Black Blood Hall would first torture them using cruel methods, then kill them all.


    There was a need to stop them from coming forward. They had to be stopped.


    How to stop them?


    All of a sudden, Yun Zhonghe burst out laughing. He did not beg for mercy while facing the sharp sword that was about to pierce through him. Instead, he opened his mouth and began to sing aloud.


    It was a song of intense fervor, as though he did not fear death at all.


    And this song, entitled ¡®Ambush from All Sides¡¯, was a song that did not exist in this world. Yun Zhonghe had only played it in front of the siblings, Xu Anting and Xu Antiing.


    So, they were quickly able to recognize the song when they heard it.


    Ambush from all sides. This was Yun Zhonghe telling them that there was an ambush here. It was dangerous!


    Don¡¯t show yourself, and don¡¯t do anything at all.


    Therefore, both brother, Xu Anting, and sister, Xu Antiing, immediately halted in their tracks and remained hidden in the house. They did not move an inch.


    ¡°Pllkkkcchhhh¡­¡± The warrior¡¯s sword suddenly stabbed right into Yun Zhonghe¡¯s chest.


    But there was only a momentary coldness, and there was no pain.


    That was because this was a retractable sword, a prop for performing tricks.


    It seemed like the tip of the sword had pierced into his chest, but actually, it was being retracted into the body of the sword.


    There was absolute silence in their surroundings.


    The warrior was quiet and unmoving, still pretending to have stabbed Yun Zhonghe.


    Behind the windows of the house at the original location, a pair of eyes watched everything in the surroundings intensely with a sharp gaze. Still, no movement was detected, nor did he see anyone else making an appearance.


    ¡°It seems like we have been oversensitive,¡± the leader of the warriors of Black Blood Hall said.


    Then, he opened his mouth to let out the cry of a nightingale.


    Upon hearing the nightingale¡¯s cry, the warrior who was jabbing Yun Zhonghe with the sword immediately retracted his prop.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s test was considered over.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mr. Yun. Do follow us where we are headed!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe lowered his head to take a look at his chest. There was still a small wound, after all.


    ¡°Where to?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°You will know when you get there,¡± the warrior said. ¡°Come, carry Mr. Yun up to the carriage. We are going to take him away.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe gave a cold sneer and said, ¡°Without eight palanquins, I¡¯m not going, I¡¯m not going¡­¡±


    But without saying another word, the warrior of the residence of the castellan lifted him up and threw him into the carriage. The carriage then drove toward the residence of the castellan.


    Yun Zhonghe laid in the carriage and let out a long breath as he lightly felt his armpits.


    That special mudpill was still in there. However, to enter the residence of the castellan, he would still have to undergo a full-body search, so it was not safe for him to hide it in his armpit. He needed to hide it somewhere else.


    His mind was continuously racing with thoughts along the way, as he wanted to recall the strong characteristics of this person, Jing Wubian.


    Firstly, Jing Wubian really was a psychotic character. Typical reasoning would not work with him, and it was impossible to use common sense with him.


    Secondly, he had two favorite methods of killing people. If he were just feeling an ordinary level of anger, then everyone would be treated similarly, then chopped into pieces.


    As for those who he hated the most, he used another method of killing them, which was to feed them to the tigers.


    ***


    When Yun Zhonghe opened his eyes again, he found himself already seated in a splendid and magnificent room.


    Looking up, the first thing he saw was an extremely handsome young man dressed in exquisitely embroidered clothes, lying lazily on a large, elegant chair with legs set widely apart.


    Upon first sight, only one thought appeared in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mind.


    This was a man who had no regard for kinship.


    It was not literally a total disregard for kinship, but rather something similar to the excitement felt from scoring a 60% on a test and it being the first time he passed in his life. And so, on the way home, he walked like a crab with lateral vision, which caused him to totally disregard anyone along the way.


    When he was on Earth, Yun Zhonghe had seen many super-rich second generations, but none could possibly be richer than the one right in front of him.


    He had land that stretched across 13,000 square kilometers as his territory, hundreds of thousands of people as his subjects, and even his house was piled with mountains of gold and a sea of silver.


    His domineering, arrogant, frivolous, dunderheaded, and vicious character was wholly written on that face of his, which seemed to suggest a failing kidney [1].


    Undoubtedly, this had to be Jing Wubian.


    And this person seemed to be more seriously ill than Yun Zhonghe had imagined. Both his eyes were red, and he even showed symptoms of running a fever. His face would twitch occasionally, and he seemed to be suffering from unimaginable pain.


    For a long time to come in the future, Yun Zhonghe would probably have to follow this good-for-nothing son around.


    This will be my future sovereign, really¡­? This is just so interesting, simply exciting.


    This Jing Wubian was a lunatic. Ordinary reasoning would not work on him; remember this well. Remember this well.


    And at that moment, Jing Wubian was also looking at Yun Zhonghe. In his mind, there was only one question: This person in front of him, should he first be strangled and then chopped into pieces? Or should he simply be thrown to the tiger and mauled to death?


    It was only when Jing Wubian¡¯s anger had reached a certain level that he fed people to the tiger. That scene was simply too cruel. The tiger would open its bloody mouth wide and then land a ferocious bite. At that time, the person would not die immediately, and would thus be watching themselves be devoured by the tiger.


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s gaze stopped to inspect Jing Wubian¡¯s face for less than three seconds, as it was immediately attracted by another person.


    It was a woman, a cold and sharp woman.


    WOW!


    She was so beautiful. The main reason was that she had such a hot figure. Her long legs would beat those of any supermodel¡¯s hands down, and she was filled with an absolute sense of strength.


    The only thing was that her eyes were so fierce that it would make people afraid of her.


    Who was this?


    Judging from the way she dressed, she was not Jing Zhongyue. But she did hold a high position because she was standing in front of Jing Wubian and looking at him with eyes filled with disdain.


    If his guess was right, this was Lady Cold Jade.


    This woman was the head of Black Blood Hall, a martial arts genius in the City of Torn Gust. Many country¡¯s spies had died in her hands. The number was at least in the hundreds of thousands. That was to say, this lady was explicitly dedicated to killing people like Yun Zhonghe.


    The bane of all secret spies.


    It was no wonder she was promoted to the top of the City of Torn Gust¡¯s management despite her being in her twenties. Just looking at her career path, it was really astonishing.


    Yun Zhonghe looked at her waist first. He lowered his gaze, then looked up higher for his third peek. His fourth look was at her face.


    Finally, his entire vision focused on the vantage point.


    Was his look really completely void of any guise?


    My dear sister, I made up my mind the moment I laid my eyes on you.


    From today onwards, you will be my second concubine in the City of Torn Gust.


    Several people who were there were also completely dumbstruck.


    D*mn!


    Horny men were no new sight, but this was the first time she came across one who was not afraid to die.


    All the men who dared to stare at Lady Cold Jade with such lecherous eyes were dead, all of them having had their eyes gouged out.


    You wretched man, your eyes are about to pop out of your head and fall onto Lady Cold Jade¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Miss, how old are you? Where would the hometown of a fairy like you be? Are you married? Please, with due courtesy, let me, Yun AoTian, extend my greeting to you.¡± Yun Zhonghe was very refined and polite as he bowed to Lady Cold Jade.


    Then he pulled out an old, tattered paper fan from his arms and flicked it open. He spread his legs slightly apart and fanned himself in an unrestrained manner.


    Of course, this scene should present a dashing and charming view.


    But it was a pity, for Yun Zhonghe was currently wearing the guise of a forty or fifty-year-old man with hair like weeds, clothes like rags, and no shoe on one foot. Furthermore, the cloth shoe that he wore on the other had two gaping holes, exposing two stubborn toes to the outside.


    A living example of a slovenly beggar.


    And his old, tattered paper fan had four words written on it: Venereal Disease, Worry Not.


    There was also a small line of text below: Worry-free Medical Hall, specializes in the treatment of venereal diseases, bringing happiness back to you.


    It was a medical clinic in the City of Torn Gust that specialized in treatment for some unspeakably nasty diseases. This fan was specifically used for advertising, just like those advertisements of old herbalist doctors hanging on the electrical poles that were seen in later generations.


    Seeing the fan that Yun Zhonghe was holding could easily raise questions on whether or not he had visited this clinic for treatment.


    And this opening act of his, really¡­ startled the crowd right to their very core.


    Jing Wubian and Cold Jade had thought about this many times, but they really had not expected Mr. Yun to be someone who was such a¡­ person who hunted for a sense of novelty.


    ¡°You¡¯re that Immortal Yun who claims to be a divine psychic and have a third eye?¡± Jing Wubian asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. That would be me,¡± Yun Zhonghe replied. But his eyes were still staring at Lady Cold Jade. He was even flirting with his eyes.


    It was just that, at that time, that dirty, old look, and that beaming countenance that showed how enraptured he was, were simply too¡­ cheap.


    ¡°Young lady, I am good at physiognomy reading. You have a face that speaks of your compatibility with men. In the future, you will have three sons and two daughters. Of course, out of the five elements, you are short of water, so you must find a husband with the water element. The cloud is the mother of all waters and will be the best match for you. In the future, your son can take after your surname and be given the name Lengyun. This is a name that can be used for both males and females, isn¡¯t it wonderful?¡±


    The people around were all grinning from ear to ear as they looked at this old beggar in front of them with disbelief.


    This is the very first time you have met Lady Cold Jade and you have already come up with names for her future children?


    Lady Cold Jade¡¯s eyes were filled with coldness as she said, ¡°Yun AoTian, are you not afraid of death at all?¡±


    ¡°I am scared, scared to death,¡± he said.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Then why are you still courting death so desperately?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but from the very first time I laid eyes on you, I got this strong impulse that almost made me lose all control and go berserk,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    At that time, there was still no one stepping forward to offer him support. There should have been someone taking the initiative to ask, what impulse?


    No one has stepped forward to help? Then I shall do it myself.


    Yun Zhonghe pinched his throat to transform himself as he mimicked Lady Cold Jade¡¯s voice and said, ¡°What impulse?¡±


    Then he, Yun Zhonghe, looked at Lady Cold Jade with blazing eyes and said, ¡°It¡¯s either I die under your sword, my lady, or you, my lady, shall die under my sword.¡±


    The crowd was stunned.


    Someone who sought death so desperately, really¡­ It was the first time they had seen someone like this.


    Even Jing Wubian was utterly shocked. Everyone knew that he regarded Lady Cold Jade as his exclusive property. And this beggar right in front of him was actually crazy enough to be flirting with her. He was flirting with the head of Black Blood Hall, the one person whose name could make people tremble with fear, and the one person who had killed countless people.


    Could this man actually be¡­ tired of living?


    [1] The symptoms of this are low energy, a pale face, and sweating, suggesting that is how he looks.

 Chapter 26

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Lady Cold Jade, who was assailed by Yun Zhonghe¡¯s flirtatious behavior, had remained unresponsive the entire time. But the look she gave Yun Zhonghe was the same she would give a dead man.


    ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± Jing Wubian burst out laughing. He leaned back to lie down on the big chair and clapped loudly as he said, ¡°Interesting. Interesting. I thought I was already crazy enough. I didn¡¯t expect someone even crazier to turn up.¡±


    Jing Wubian was exceptionally angry, for Lady Cold Jade had been his fantasy since he was a teenager.


    But at the same time, he also felt his spirits soaring.


    For he had detected a familiar scent on Yun Zhonghe. That was an aura of a psychopath, and it was much to his liking.


    Especially with that peculiar look of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s, it was just so bizarre. He twisted in his position a little and instantly winced from a twinge of pain. Instinctively, he wanted to lift his glass, but instead put it down with too much lingering fear in his heart. He did not dare to drink water, nor did he dare to drink wine.


    Then he yelled, ¡°Come on, my men, the show has begun.¡±


    A moment later, several bulky men who were more than two meters tall came in with an extremely large cage.


    This cage was so big that metal could not be used for its construction. It was only able to be made out of wood.


    ¡°Howl¡­¡±


    Even from a distance away, roars could be heard coming from the cage, which housed a tiger.


    The cage was carried to the middle of the hall and the cover was suddenly pulled aside. Indeed, there was a big tiger inside. It was much bigger than the tigers found on Earth and would definitely weigh more than a thousand pounds.


    With this one roar, it felt like the whole hall was shaking, and even the glasses on the table were jumping.


    ¡°This tiger of mine has gone hungry for several days. Today, it can finally break its fast and eat some meat,¡± Jing Wubian said. Then he clapped again.


    Suddenly, a small, thin man was dragged in. He seemed to weigh only about 70 to 80 pounds. The moment he laid eyes on the big tiger, he was so frightened that he peed in his pants.


    ¡°This wretched punk said something bad about me in the streets. By the way, what kind of bad things did he say about me?¡± Jing Wubian began to scratch his head as he tried to recall.


    ¡°Right. He said that I was quite handsome¡­ Oh my god, he actually said I was quite handsome?¡± Jing Wubian roared in anger, saying, ¡°How can someone say something like this? I¡¯m clearly a man of unmatched beauty. For him to say that I¡¯m quite handsome, is it even right for him to insult me like this? Look into your heart. Doesn¡¯t it hurt your conscience for you to say something like this?¡±


    ¡°Throw him in. Throw him in¡­¡±


    At Jing Wubian¡¯s command, the scrawny rascal was thrown into the cage.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Ah¡­ Ah¡­¡±


    Blood splattered, and repeated miserable cries were heard. This man was being eaten alive by the tiger, and it was a horrible sight to behold.


    But the tiger, on the contrary, was not full enough, and this pushed it to display a greater degree of ferocity.


    ¡°A man must live to be sincere, not tell lies, and treat people with honesty.¡± Jing Wubian cast his gaze at Yun Zhonghe and said, ¡°My tiger has eaten one person and is just about half-full. After adding you, it will be almost completely full. Now, let me ask you, am I handsome?¡±


    ¡°Very handsome, extremely handsome. If being handsome is a sin, then you would have to be banished to the eighteenth level of hell,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°See, see? This is what I call a sincere person, a person with a conscience.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°But it¡¯s a pity that you still lose to me by a little. I¡¯m the one who is so handsome that my looks are a cruelty to the humans on Earth. I¡¯m the one who¡¯s so handsome that my looks could overthrow states and cities, turn everything topsy turvy, and bring about changes to this world.¡±


    Screw you, that was really shameless.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Then do you still think that you are very compatible with Sister Cold?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Out of the five elements she is short on water, and my name has it. And she also happens to have what I lack. We are a match made in heaven.¡±


    While speaking, Yun Zhonghe quietly stepped out his right leg. The hem of his tattered robe, full of holes, fluttered in the wind, half exposing his long, dirty leg and messy leg hair.


    This beggar was actually teasing her, flirting with her by showing his long legs, all in front of the public? And as he was teasing, he was also casting amorous glances at Lady Cold Jade with a look of delight on his face.


    Suddenly, Jing Wubian felt even more excited. He felt everything was becoming more interesting. But he was also much closer to bursting into a rage.


    ¡°There are a lot of people feigning madness and acting like idiots these days, but there aren¡¯t many who are really as crazy as you.¡±


    ¡°Throw him in, feed the tiger,¡± Jing Wubian ordered.


    A sturdy man stepped forward. Then, as though handling a chicken, he threw Yun Zhonghe into the cage that contained the big tiger.


    This Jing Wubian really was worthy of being called a lunatic. He was seriously temperamental. At any point, he could turn on a person and feed him to his tiger.


    Such a person should be locked up in a mental hospital.


    Everyone instinctively turned their heads away. The sight of a tiger eating a person alive was too cruel, after all. And Yun Zhonghe, who weighed more than a hundred pounds, happened to be just the right size for this thousand-pound tiger to fill itself on.


    Sure enough, after Yun Zhonghe had just been thrown into the cage, the tiger froze for a while. Then suddenly, it bowed down sharply and began to poise itself for action. It was going to pounce at any second.


    This was a huge tiger that weighed a thousand pounds. That big, bloody mouth could easily chew Yun Zhonghe into pieces and swallow him.


    Even if it was just its huge claws suddenly grabbing onto Yun Zhonghe, the tiger could tear his small body into pieces, not to mention the damage its bite could do.


    At this moment of extreme urgency, Yun Zhonghe actually seemed very excited and felt an adrenaline rush.


    This man was absolutely neurotic. What he said previously was undoubtedly right. The spies in the City of Torn Gust were definitely dancing with swords at all times.


    And it seemed as though this psychopath was enjoying this particular moment.


    ¡°Come on, come on¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe hooked his fingers and said, ¡°Master Tiger, come and play, come and play¡­¡±


    All of a sudden, the people around the hall were dumbstruck again.


    I¡­ Holy sh*t.


    What rock had such a flirtatious person, who courted death so fervently, burst out of?


    Initially, the tiger intended to pounce, but when it saw his attitude, it began to waver instead.


    This was what beasts were originally like, inherently very suspicious. If you turned your back on it, it was bound to pounce on you right away and bite you to death.


    So never, ever turn your back on such fierce tigers and wild beasts.


    But if you were to stand eye to eye with a tiger and take on an aggressive stance, it would instead become cautious.


    ¡°Howl¡­¡± The tiger let out another startling roar all of a sudden. This was its usual trick. First, it would intimidate you, and then it would scare the wits out of you.


    The average person would have been paralyzed with fear after being roared at by a tiger like that.


    ¡°Sonic spa by a fierce beast, so exciting, so comfortable, do it again. Do it again¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe said, completely entranced.


    The tiger felt that it had been fiercely challenged, so it opened its bloody mouth wide and suddenly wanted to pounce.


    It was also at that time that something happened.


    ¡°Boom-boom-boom¡­¡± Both of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s hands were suddenly ablaze, illuminating the whole hall.


    Wild beasts were naturally afraid of fire, and tigers were no exception.


    Seeing Yun Zhonghe¡¯s two blazing arms, it suddenly froze and put a halt to the momentum of its frontal attack. But it had still not reacted in time to shut its bloody mouth.


    At that time, Yun Zhonghe tossed a small object that he held in his hand. It suddenly flew right into the tiger¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Bang!¡± A slight explosive sound was heard, then a big pill exploded.


    The strong anesthetic inside exploded and rapidly surged into the tiger¡¯s blood vessels exposed by the wound.


    This was a recipe provided by Yun Zhonghe, and the pair of siblings, Xu Anting and Xu Antiing, had spent several days refining the anesthetic with their own hands. They had used hundreds of pounds of Cyclea polypetala Dunn to refine a whole dozen grams of super-strong anesthetic. It was enough to knock out an elephant, let alone a tiger.


    It exploded inside the tiger¡¯s mouth, traveled along the blood vessels, and within seconds it entered the brain.


    What could be seen, then, was the big tiger in a wobbly and shaky stance. It took a few more steps towards Yun Zhonghe.


    Its eyes were looking more and more disoriented, while its body was becoming limper and limper.


    One step, two steps, three steps, four steps, five steps¡­


    Just then, Yun Zhonghe struck the pose of an immortal and chanted indifferently, ¡°Fall, fall, fall¡­¡±


    Then, the tiger fell down directly in front of Yun Zhonghe. It could no longer close its widely-opened mouth, and saliva flowed all over the ground.


    The entire hall was in complete shock.


    This beggar in front of them had subdued a tiger?


    2A 1,000-pound tiger?


    This was just too unbelievable.


    What the hell was going on here? It was just too amazing, was it not?


    Yun Zhonghe patted out the flames on his arms. This was, of course, also a small little trick used by charlatans, which was almost the same as reaching one¡¯s bare hands into a pan of hot oil.


    ¡°Clap, clap, clap, clap¡­¡± Jing Wubian did not get angry. On the contrary, his eyes were shining brightly, and he clapped his hands vigorously.


    Jing Wubian was most fond of such tricks. Thus, in his residence, there were as many as a hundred of such charlatans.


    Now that he was in solitary confinement, he was unable to go out every day, so he could only watch the tricks that these charlatans performed.


    And this show that had just happened was too exciting.


    A mere beggar had actually exterminated a giant, thousand-pound tiger so effortlessly.


    ¡°Good show, good show, that was so exciting. This was a pretty good trick you had. Really, it was pretty good¡­¡± Jing Wubian said, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve had so much fun. In that case, let¡¯s have some more fun. Men, lift it up!¡±


    A moment later, several burly men brought up a huge cauldron. And beneath it, there was still a flame blazing away.


    The huge cauldron was filled with oil, which was now tumbling about at its boiling point.


    The entire hall suddenly felt hot.


    It was a scalding cauldron of oil.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Yun AoTian, now you have two choices. Choice number one, you can immediately kneel before Lady Cold Jade and lick the soles of her shoes like a dog, saying you¡¯ve done wrong and that you should not have behaved like a toad lusting after a swan. This way, I will spare your life and take you under my wing as my patron. After all, you did put on a great show just now.¡±


    ¡°For choice number two, you like courting your own death, don¡¯t you? So just jump into that cauldron of oil and fry yourself alive. Fry yourself thoroughly, fry yourself to death. In this case, I will write off the matters of you teasing Lady Cold Jade and offending me.¡±


    ¡°Quickly think about it. Ten, nine, eight, seven¡­¡±


    It ended up with Jing Wubian not finishing the countdown at all.


    Without another word, Yun Zhonghe first did some warm-ups. Then, starting off with a short run, he sprinted towards the boiling oil that was tumbling about in the hot cauldron.


    He shouted as he ran and also made a deathbed confession along the way.


    ¡°Miss Cold Jade, even if I have to throw myself into this cauldron of hot oil, I will never change my mind. A true warrior is one who dares to face his feelings.¡±


    ¡°Before I die, I have only one thing to say to you.¡±


    ¡°Miss Cold Jade, I would love to sleep with you.¡±


    That said, with a graceful diving posture, he suddenly plunged into the flaming cauldron that was filled with tumbling hot oil. The pressure he exerted created a perfect splash of oil.


    Across the room, there was dead silence!


    ***

 Chapter 27

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    How scary could a cauldron of boiling hot oil be?


    The people of this world did not know what the temperature of boiling oil was? But everyone had seen fried chicken, popcorn, and deep-fried dough sticks.


    You put white meat down to be fried, and if you paid no heed to it, it could quickly become charred to a crisp.


    Usually, when boiling hot oil splattered onto one¡¯s body, it would hurt so much that one would almost jump in pain.


    This act of directly jumping into the cauldron of hot oil should cause such an unbearable pain that one would rather die than live through it.


    If that wasn¡¯t the case, why would the Cauldron of Boiling Oil be one of the punishments of the 18 levels of hell?


    Everyone in the audience waited for the gruesome scene to happen. They were all waiting for Yun Zhonghe to let out some unprecedented cries and screams of misery, and subsequently, to detect the smell of fried meat.


    Yun Zhonghe did indeed let out some cries.


    No¡­ This¡­ This cry was a little¡­ bizarre.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡±


    ¡°Feels so good, simply too good¡­¡±


    ¡°It so happens that I¡¯ve not taken a bath for the past ten or more days. This is a good time for me to get clean. Wash till I¡¯m white. Scrub till I¡¯m white,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    In the cauldron of hot oil, Yun Zhonghe was actually taking a bath in a leisurely and easy-going manner.


    This was, of course, a fake cauldron of hot oil. There was a heat-insulating layer right below the huge cauldron, and it was filled with acetic acid and borax, with a layer of oil floating on the very top. This was just a prop that Jing Wubian used to test how much guts Yun Zhonghe had.


    Based on the visual effects, it looked like there were waves of smoke tumbling about in the air and hot oil boiling in the cauldron. In truth, the temperature was only around 60 degrees.


    Not only did Yun Zhonghe begin to bathe, he even took off his shirt and pants while in the cauldron and threw them out one by one.


    ¡°Excuse me? Do you have any soap? Where¡¯s the soap?¡±


    ¡°None at all. Then I¡¯ll just dry-rub myself,¡± he continued.


    ¡°Sister Cold Jade, do you want to come in here and join me in taking a bath together? We can take a mandarin duck bath together, how about that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Given this scene, I¡¯m going to recite a poem: Duck, duck, duck, quacking to the sky with neck un-curved. Your sweat and hair float on the yellow waters, and your magical palm stirs golden waves on the lake surface.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe raised his long neck as he was reciting the poem, and flung his unkempt, dirty hair that looked just like weeds.


    This scene was really one akin to the rolling thunder in a thunderstorm.


    The entire hall was still in dead silence.


    Did we not come today to watch someone¡¯s execution? How had it become a beggar putting up a ridiculous comedy routine?


    ¡°Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap¡­¡± Jing Wubian raised both hands high and clapped.


    ¡°Interesting, interesting¡­ You¡¯re so freaking not afraid of death,¡± Jing Wubian said.


    ¡°There are many people who feign madness and act like idiots in this world, and basically, I kill every one of them that I see.¡±


    ¡°There are also many people who are genuinely lunatics in this world. They are really no different from the walking dead.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s only one kind of person who is truly a rare existence in this world. They are half crazy and half sober, but they are also the ones with the greatest agony,¡± Jing Wubian continued.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, to hell with you. Couldn¡¯t you have come up with a more decent fake name? Who would give their child such a name? What a feud those parents must have had with their child in their previous life.¡±


    Jing Wubian raised his hand slightly and said, ¡°Yun AoTian, we¡¯ll just write off the matter of you having offended me once and for all. You¡¯re an interesting person and also a real lunatic who put on such an amazing show at the cost of your life. Tonight, I¡¯m delighted. You may live; there¡¯s no need for you to die!¡±


    Then Jing Wubian turned to Lady Cold Jade and said, ¡°Sister, as you know too, my brain doesn¡¯t function normally. It¡¯s hard to come by a lunatic who also doesn¡¯t have a normal brain. I would like to spare his life, may I?¡±


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°I¡¯ve killed countless people. They are either spies from the surrounding powers or traitors in the City of Torn Gust. All of them are elite and strong men. When I see a rat, I can stomp on it to kill it, but I can also choose not to stomp on it and let it go.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sister,¡± Jing Wubian said.


    ¡°Wubian, are you going to adopt this rat as a pet?¡± Lady Cold Jade asked.


    Of course, ¡®this rat¡¯ referred to Yun Zhonghe.


    Jing Wubian looked at Yun Zhonghe, who was still in the cauldron of hot oil, and said indifferently, ¡°You¡¯ve racked your brains and sought the means to do all of this just to get me to take you in, right? You just want to get into the residence of the castellan, right?¡±


    Yun AoTian, oh, no, Yun Zhonghe, did not say anything. (Holy crap, even I, myself, am getting carried away)*


    Jing Wubian went on to say, ¡°Sorry¡­ No way! Yun AoTian, you¡¯re very interesting. Much more interesting that anyone around me, but you are not lowly enough. You are not going to be a good dog, and you will not be a good pet.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°That¡¯s also a coincidence. I was trying to enter the residence of the castellan, and I did want Master Jing Wubian to take me in. But I requested that you invite me here with eight big palanquins. Today, I¡¯m caught here instead. This sincerity of yours is not enough, so I¡¯m also not willing to be taken under your wing just like that.¡±


    ¡°Eight palanquins? Are you expecting me to marry you into my residence?¡± Jing Wubian asked. ¡°Men, send this Mr. Yun AoTian out. Throw him back wherever he came from and from now on, ignore him. No matter how exciting his performance is, no matter how hard he tries, it¡¯s useless.¡±


    Jing Wubian¡¯s words would mean that the doors of the residence of the castellan would be closed entirely to Yun Zhonghe and that he would not be accepted there for life.


    If that was the case, would it not be that all his previous efforts would come to naught?


    ¡°Take him away. Take him away. Give him a hundred sycees and take it as payment for tonight¡¯s performance.¡± Jing Wubian waved his hand and could not help but start scratching again. His face was twitching again. He was clearly feeling another attack of throbbing pain.


    A few warriors stepped forward and wanted to fish Yun Zhonghe out of the cauldron of hot oil so that they could throw him back to Yan Shu Hutong and let him go on with his fortune-telling.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Master Jing, you have a problem that ails your mind, but you¡¯re unable to disclose it. Usually, you don¡¯t dare to drink water, right? Because every time you pee, it hurts like a knife cutting you. But the more it feels like that, the more urgent the need to pee. The more you pee, the more painful it gets. It is simply to the point where you hurt like hell. You often see blood in your pee, and it¡¯s even starting to rot and form pus, right?¡±


    ¡°Ah? How did you know?¡± Jing Wubian suddenly shuddered.


    ¡°Shh, shh, shh, shh¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe started to mouth shushing sounds.


    D*mn, d*mn, d*mn!


    Hearing this sound, Jing Wubian¡¯s entire body shivered and convulsed in severe pain.


    ¡°You, you freaking want to die, courting your own doom¡­.¡± Jing Wubian screamed in a frenzied manner as he desperately clamped his legs together as tight as he could.


    It was not that he didn¡¯t want to go to the bathroom, but that the thought of the severe pain he had to go through whenever he peed really made him feel like killing himself. So now, he did not dare to drink water, nor did he dare to drink wine.


    And that was the reason why he was so grumpy and hot-tempered lately, as well as why he always wanted to feed people to the tiger without much cause.


    The key reason was that this was something embarrassing to talk to outsiders about. He had sought help from all the doctors, but still, he found no cure.


    Even if he would occasionally feel well for a day or two, his condition would soon relapse.


    So, his maniacal manner got even more serious.


    How could this be? How could this be?


    I am so handsome, but I have to pee so frequently and painfully?


    You are not handsome at all, but you do not have to pee so frequently and painfully?


    Is there any justice in this world?


    Yun Zhonghe could tell that Jing Wubian¡¯s condition was already very, very serious.


    Prostatitis was followed by urethritis, which then even led to other kinds of inflammatory conditions. Was it not visible how his face was unusually red, and that he was already starting to become feverish? And his lymph nodes should have swollen up badly. Could it not be seen how he remained seated in his chair without daring to move at all?


    And his infertility should also be due to prostatitis, which was the number one cause of infertility in men.


    Because of this condition, Jing Wubian had not touched a woman for a very long time. What was the fun in such a life?


    In modern society, these two conditions, though not fatal, also made life unbearably painful. Every visit to the toilet was like being executed by a blade or burnt by fire, and one would really be eager enough to trade death for just one pleasurable visit to the toilet.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Master Jing Wubian, I can cure this disease of yours and guarantee that you can have back your carefree and happy life.¡±


    ¡°You must be dreaming!¡± Jing Wubian said. ¡°More than a dozen imperial physicians from the Southern Zhou Empire and the Great Ying Empire, as well as doctors who specialized in treating intractable and complicated diseases from all over the world, have come to see me, but none could cure me of this disease. You¡¯re just a half-crazy, half-witted charlatan from what I can see, and you¡¯re thinking of curing me of this disease? Dream on!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a piece of cake. I just have to refine a few pills, and then, I can assure you that once the medicine takes effect, the symptoms of your condition will vanish.¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I, Yun AoTian, am highly knowledgeable and know a lot about many things, like astronomy and geography, yin and yang, and the Eight Trigrams. My literary ability allows me to administer state affairs well and ensure national security, while my martial arts ability enables me to treat venereal diseases. I¡¯m really the number one talent in this world.¡±


    ¡°You really can cure me?¡± Jing Wubian asked. His face was already becoming a bit more serious.


    If not for the performance that Yun Zhonghe had put on just now, he would not have believed the latter at all. But now, he felt that, to a certain extent, Yun Zhonghe really did carry the style of a highly-skilled master.


    And this disease had indeed tortured Jing Wubian to the point where his life felt like a living hell. And so, he did not want to miss this opportunity, even if it was just a one in a million chance.


    Yun Zhonghe said nonchalantly, ¡°If I can¡¯t alleviate the symptoms of your disease, you can kill me with the most ruthless method available. Send a few men to torment me, Yun AoTian, to death!¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Yun AoTian, you¡¯re quite an interesting character. I don¡¯t really want to kill you anymore. And with this disease of mine, I¡¯m already somewhat desperate. If you reignite my hopes but eventually end up failing to cure me, the consequences are going to be extremely horrifying.¡±


    At that point in time, Jing Wubian was speaking in a solemn voice.


    ¡°Let¡¯s establish a warrant of military order!¡± Yun Zhonghe pulled a pen out from inside his dirty clothes and said, ¡°Can I have a piece of paper, please?¡±


    Someone quickly passed him a snow-white piece of paper that was embossed with cloud patterns.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not used to this kind of paper. Do you have that kind of coarse straw paper? The kind that you use when you go to the restroom,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Seeing this snow-white and smooth piece of rice paper, I will think that it can¡¯t wipe my buttocks clean, and its level of friction is not high enough.¡±


    Holy crap, what the hell is wrong with you?


    Soon, someone found him a large piece of straw paper.


    Yun Zhonghe was greatly delighted. He licked the brush to wet the ink on it. He then wrote a warrant of military order on the piece of coarse straw paper.


    The content read as follows:


    ¡°If he can¡¯t cure Master Jing Wubian of his terminal illness, Yun AoTian will be tormented to death.¡±


    Gosh, when had prostatitis and urethritis become terminal illnesses?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°If I really cure you of this unbearably painful disease, then you will need eight palanquins to take me back into the residence of the castellan!¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡± Jing Wubian said, ¡°If you really cure me of my illness, you will be my benefactor. From then on, the residence of the castellan will be your home. I will be your backer. You will be able to walk horizontally, with the power to do whatever you please in the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    ¡°Walk horizontally?¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Taking the steps of an overlord who disdains to recognize his kinsmen, not even his closest kin?¡±


    Eh? Why are you placing your focus on this? You are getting off-topic.


    Jing Wubian replied, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Master Jing Wubian, can you perform the steps of an overlord for me? How about a demonstration?¡±


    Jing Wubian was startled for a moment. This¡­ What was the meaning of this? Asking me to put on a show for you? Do you want to die?


    ¡°If you are sick, take two steps. Take two steps!¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Everyone was greatly shocked. You, Yun AoTian, were just normal for not more than a quarter of an hour, and you are already going crazy again?


    You went through great difficulty to walk out of the gates of hell alive, and you simply can¡¯t wait to court your doom?


    Master Jing is very temperamental. In provoking him like that, you will die!


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Master Jing Wubian, I see that you¡¯re a little depressed. You need to let off some steam, come down and take two steps.¡±


    ¡°If you are not sick, take two steps. Even if you are sick, take two steps. Take two steps!¡±


    ¡°Ha, hahaha¡­¡± Jing Wubian narrowed his eyes. He went from feeling angry to busting out in laughter.


    Then he actually got off his chair and stepped down. With both arms wide open, both legs spread wide apart, he took arrogant, crab-like steps.


    He was really still a psychopath, so temperamental.


    But that walk was his masterpiece. It was the thing he was most satisfied with and proud of. And because he was the originator of this crab walk, he used to walk like that all day long.


    It was just that since he had fallen sick, he did not dare to walk anymore. He had to walk with his buttocks clenched tightly together, and he felt as though he was walking without a soul.


    Now, once again, he was taking the steps of an overlord. Though it was still excruciating, he did feel happy.


    Yun Zhonghe said contemptuously, ¡°Master Jing. These steps of an overlord of yours are not authentic; they are not imposing and majestic enough!¡±


    ¡°Bullsh*t, I came up with this crab-like walk of an overlord, and you are saying that I¡¯m not authentic?¡± Jing Wubian was furious and said, ¡°Be careful, I¡¯ll cut out your tongue and chop off your feet.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe defiantly said, ¡°Just let me show you what an authentic crab-like step of an overlord that disregards all kinsmen looks like.¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe flung off the tattered and torn, long beggar robe and made the hall into a fashion runway.


    ¡°This is the soul captivating and soul seducing Beauty Step.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe positioned his palms at his waist, swaying gracefully, and walking the way a flirtatious model would.


    This was known as the catwalk. It was also the model walk specifically for women. He simply walked on tiptoes since he did not have high heels.


    He walked with such grace and elegance that it was really as though he was at the Milan Fashion Week.


    Suddenly, everyone was dumbstruck.


    This¡­ This beggar, was he really that coquettish?


    After reaching the end of the hall using a flamboyant model catwalk, he suddenly turned back sharply.


    ¡°Coming up next, I¡¯ll start walking the true steps of an overlord. Music, please.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe began to sing a cheerful song to provide his steps of an overlord with some background music.


    ¡°If I want to be willful, I¡¯ll be willful.


    I can also be headstrong if I want to be.


    Let¡¯s see what any of you can do to me.


    If I don¡¯t want to hesitate, I won¡¯t hesitate.


    If I don¡¯t want to feel lost, I won¡¯t feel lost.


    What else could be more distending that this?¡±


    And so, Yun Zhonghe strutted and swaggered as he sang. He performed the most authentic crab-like steps of an overlord who had no regard for their kinsmen.


    The effect was really much cheaper than Shen Teng in the movie ¡°Hello Mr. Billionaire.¡±


    After he was done, Yun Zhonghe even tossed his long, weed-like hair and threw a flirtatious wink at Lady Cold Jade.


    I¡­ Holy sh*t!


    Once again, everyone in the hall seemed to be struck by thunder and fell dead silent, as though they were watching a clown.


    Only Jing Wubian was laughing so hard that he could hardly catch his breath. Only the two psychopaths were having fun on their own.


    It was really like how psychotic children were so full of joy. The more he looked at Yun Zhonghe, the more interesting the latter felt to him, and then more he found Yun Zhonghe to his liking.


    At that time, he really was a happy Wubian. He raised both hands high and clapped, exposing the wounds on his wrist. There were several wounds, and the latest one was still quite fresh.


    The wounds that he had made slitting his wrist to attempt suicide were bone-deep.


    1***


    *A note left by the author.

 Chapter 28

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Jing Wubian was astonished as he watched the performance put on by Yun Zhonghe.


    His steps of an overlord were truly overwhelming, filled with talent and brilliance. It made people want to kill him after watching it.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Do you want to learn it? I can teach you!¡± (Extracted from the film ¡°Kung Fu¡±)*


    ¡°The trick to it is very simple. You just have to pretend that you weigh a pound and a half, so heavy that you have to spread both legs wide apart to walk, or else you will be squeezing your balls. And because you are so full of heroic and majestic power, you will not be able to suppress that sense of pride that is rising from deep within your heart. Then, your steps of an overlord will be considered a success,¡± Yung Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Just like this?¡± Jing Wubian asked.


    Following Yun Zhonghe¡¯s guidance, Jing Wubian re-traced his steps of an overlord with Yun Zhonghe singing at the side to provide some musical accompaniment.


    After the walk, Jing Wubian did feel as though his steps were much more impressive.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Yes, yes, yes. You¡¯ve mastered the divine rhythm.¡±


    Jing Wubian laughed heartily and said, ¡°Hahaha, listening to the words of a gentleman really beats a decade spent on reading books.¡±


    ¡°What you said is not impressive enough. You should say, listening to the obscenities of a gentleman really beats a decade spent on pretending to be awesome,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    But at that point in time, Jing Wubian really could not hold back any longer and headed to the bathroom at the back of the hall.


    ¡°Are you going to the restroom? Shall we go together?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Jing Wubian said in a cold voice, ¡°You¡¯re really sticking your nose up in the air. I have only just shown you a bit of kindness, and yet you are getting insolent and overstepping that boundary? What status do I hold? I¡¯m the son of a lord. What status do you hold? The son of a beggar, a person like a nasty bug. And you think are worthy enough of going to the restroom with me?¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Jing Wubian said, ¡°Because you made me laugh half the night tonight, let¡¯s go together.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s simply great.¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid to tell you that honestly, the moment the tiger pounced on me just now, I was already halfway done. So now, we¡¯re going to go finish up by relieving ourselves of the other half to clear our kidneys.¡±


    Then, the two men walked towards the bathroom, one after the other.


    All the people around them were dumbstruck.


    I¡­ Holy sh*t!


    Where was this?


    What just happened?


    Hadn¡¯t Master brought that beggar there to chop him up into pieces and feed him to the tiger?


    How could they actually be going to the bathroom together now?


    What would mere mortals like you all know? This was a world of mental illness where only those that are psychopaths would understand.


    As for worrying about Jing Wubian¡¯s safety?


    Why with Yun Zhonghe¡¯s feeble strength?


    ***


    The bathroom of the residence of the castellan was also just as splendid and majestic. And it was even more conducive for one to achieve self-release there.


    Jing Wubian suddenly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but the first time I saw you, I found that you felt a little familiar.¡±


    How could he not be familiar? This was one psychopath meeting with another psychopath.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The feeling is mutual for me, too. This line of yours sounds a little familiar, but it¡¯s not classy enough.¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Then how should I put it?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Use a more literary and elegant version. This one, your little brother, I have seen before.¡± (Adapted from the novel ¡°Dream of the Red Chamber¡±)*


    ¡°This one is not good, it¡¯s too ambiguous,¡± Jing Wubian responded.


    ¡°There is another version that is more coquettish,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    ¡°A heart-wrenching song I sing, to the ends of the vast world, I¡¯m in search of a place where I find my soulmate,¡± Yun Zhonghe replied. (For the third time)*


    Jing Wubian cast a glance toward him and said, ¡°Speaking with such nice words, are you a man of culture? What¡¯s your level of education?¡±


    1Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I¡¯ve had initiation in early childhood but dropped out after three months.¡±


    If translated into Earthling lingo, it was like dropping out of kindergarten.


    Jing Wubian said contemptuously, ¡°Only a toddler, but a dropout just after initiation into school? That¡¯s too low, simply lacking in both learning and practical ability.¡±


    Then Yun Zhonghe went on to say, ¡°What about you? What credentials do you have?¡±


    Jing Wubian said expressionlessly, ¡°You win.¡±


    Crap, it so happened that I have not even attended Childhood Initiation, Jing Wubian thought.


    Immediately after that, Yun Zhonghe suddenly shifted his gaze to Jing Wubian.


    Jing Wubian turned sideways and said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in men.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was looking at his wrist, which had several wounds that were very deep. The latest of which was not even healed yet.


    He had attempted suicide more than once, but why? It was just urethritis and prostatitis. It was not that bad.


    Jing Wubian pulled down his sleeve to hide the wounds and said with an apathetic tone, ¡°Yun AoTian, don¡¯t ever give me hope and then throw me into despair. If you really cure me, then you are my benefactor. We make such an insanely good match for each other, so I really, really don¡¯t want to kill you.¡±


    However, Yun Zhonghe was sighing in his heart.


    He sighed because Jing Wubian was excreting dark brown bloody urine. It was also noticeable that he had puffy eyelids, and even his hands were a little swollen.


    A relatively bad situation had occurred. He had already contracted acute nephritis, and he could only hope that there would not be any other complications that arose from it.


    Otherwise, he would die.


    ***


    After returning to the hall!


    A handsome little Taoist priest suddenly said, ¡°Beggar, there is no deadline written on this warrant of military order. How long do you think you will need to cure Master of the disease?¡±


    This was the disciple of Blue Immortal. Blue Immortal had kept silent until just then.


    Now he had seen that Jing Wubian and Yun Zhonghe had actually hit it off, so he just had to step forward.


    Of course, Blue Immortal was a big shot, so he couldn¡¯t step forward personally. Thus, his disciple had stepped forward on his behalf.


    Hearing his disciple¡¯s words, Blue Immortal and Lady Cold Jade looked at each other.


    They had not been bothered when Jing Wubian had wanted to kill Yun Zhonghe.


    Now, there was no way they could turn a blind eye anymore. One lunatic in the residence of the castellan was enough. They could not allow another lunatic in.


    If Jing Wubian did not kill him, then it was up to them to find a way to kill him.


    No one in the entire residence of the castellan could get close to Jing Wubian. He, the Blue Immortal, was going to monopolize all of Master Jing Wubian¡¯s good humor.


    Whoever tried to snatch an intimate relationship with Jing Wubian from him would have to die!


    Blue Immortal¡¯s disciple said, ¡°Beggar, do state a deadline. Once a deadline is up, and you are still unable to cure Master, you will be executed.¡±


    ¡°Half a month,¡± Lady Cold Jade said. ¡°Half a month should be enough for you to refine the pill. Within this half month, you can ask us for any ingredients that you need.¡±


    ¡°But, if you are unable to cure our Master within half a month, I¡¯ll kill you myself!¡±


    That said, Lady Cold Jade left.


    D*mn, women were always saying one thing but doing another. Just earlier, she had said she was not angry, but now, even her tights were close to ripping.


    ***


    And just like that, Yun Zhonghe settled down in the residence of the castellan and began his career in the refinement of pills.


    In the beginning, Jing Wubian had put on airs and did not come to look for Yun Zhonghe. But gradually, he became unable to help himself and came to look for the latter every day.


    How should one describe the relationship between Jing Wubian and Yun Zhonghe?


    Was it really a fact that a chance meeting between the autumn wind and the dewdrops beat the countless lasting affections between mortal couples who had been in love for a long time?


    Wrong, wrong!


    This was not Brokeback Mountain.


    The had become as firmly attached to each other as glue and lacquer, and were now an inseparable pair?


    Not right, either!


    Still, it could only be described with that phrase: xxxx, xxxxxxx. (For the fourth time)*


    In short, after Yun Zhonghe came, Jing Wubian was much, much happier, and laughed much more often. Also, he rarely chastised or killed people anymore.


    The two of them were becoming more and more attuned to each other. In the beginning, Jing Wubian was still putting on the airs of a young master of the residence of the castellan. But as the time they spent having fun together increased, he gradually forgot about it.


    For some reason, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s words could always make him happy.


    It was really like how psychotic children were so full of joy. Even if it was a brainless and dumb game, the two of them could play it with great interest and relish.


    What was for sure was that Jing Wubian¡¯s Intelligence Quotient (also known as IQ) was quite high. He could even be considered intelligent.


    However, he did have a mental illness, manic condition, and a certain degree of depression and schizophrenia.


    Because when he was enjoying himself during play and was laughing heartily, he might then suddenly start to cry aloud.


    When he was in the midst of a conversation and was bubbling over with enthusiasm, he would suddenly not say a word and then sit there stunned and motionless.


    Because he was so neurotic that no one could possibly know what he was thinking about and what he really wanted.


    But Yun Zhonghe could tell what he was thinking and what he wanted with just one glance.


    In this world, it was true that it took one psychopath to understand another.


    But after spending a few days in the residence of the castellan, Yun Zhonghe discovered that Jing Wubian¡¯s status was not high at all. It was actually very low.


    All the servants were scared of him, but they also looked down on him and completely shunned him as if he was a snake or scorpion.


    Though incomparably overbearing and arrogant, Jing Wubian was someone who had been completely abandoned.


    He could not have his own children, but¡­ Actually, there were not even many who cared.


    Because he was a neurotic lunatic. What if he gave birth to another lunatic?


    Other than his mother, Madam Torn Gust, whose yearning for a grandson was really beyond compare.


    As for the castellan, Jing Zhongyue, she hadn¡¯t shown her face.


    He had openly professed that he wanted to seize back the position of the castellan, so everyone in the entire residence of the castellan did not dare to get close to him out of the fear that Jing Zhongyue might misunderstand them.


    Therefore, the ones surrounding Jing Wubian were just some scumbags and liars.


    Just as he himself had said, these people were out to cheat him of his money and wealth, and in their hearts, they called him an idiot.


    Because he often chastised people in the City of Torn Gust, he had been placed in solitary confinement and could not take a single step out of the residence of the castellan or half a step out of his western courtyard.


    Jing Zhongyue¡¯s orders were very clear. Chastise people as you please in the west courtyard, but you are absolutely not allowed to get involved in any matters outside.


    In a way, the west courtyard was also considered a magnificent prison for Jing Wubian.


    As the two of them became closer and closer, Jing Wubian practically spent every single day in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s little courtyard, meant for refining pills.


    Because Jing Wubian was extremely curious.


    Yun Zhonghe was actually using rotten watermelon to refine pills. It was simply too bizarre.


    Everyone was astonished. When refining pills, the other charlatans used lead, mercury, and all kinds of strange and weird materials.


    But this beggar, Yun AoTian, was actually going to use rotten watermelons. It was a few tens of thousands of pounds of rotten watermelons, at that. This was really strange. It was merely a great big joke.


    The rotten watermelons in the residence of the castellan were piled up like mountains, and the stench they gave off was overwhelmingly awful.


    Yun AoTian, this lunatic, had become the laughingstock of everyone.


    The entire residence of the castellan did not hold much hope for Yun AoTian. They were just waiting for the half-month deadline to arrive, and then, Lady Cold Jade would kill him.


    Even Jing Wubian himself did not hold any hope anymore. He just felt that it was fun, and he was very curious as to what kind of bullsh*t pill Yun Zhonghe would end up refining.


    That was why, these days, Yun Zhonghe had been staying in his little courtyard to refine the pills. And as for the supplies he requested, the residence of the castellan did not refuse anything. They provided all he asked for.


    But no one was willing to help. Because in their eyes, Yun Zhonghe was a man doomed to die.


    Jing Wubian, on the other hand, came every day. However, he was always creating trouble with his clumsy nature rather than providing any help.


    But he did feel very at ease there. He was carefree, and no one took him for a lunatic.


    The small courtyard became a playground for those two lunatics. All the smart people were outside, and smart people would never hang out with lunatics.


    These two psychotic children were getting more jovial and cheerful and growing closer to each other.


    The Blue Immortal¡¯s eyes grew colder and colder, but he did not make any move to attack.


    Because when the half month deadline was up, if Yun Zhonghe failed to cure Jing Wubian, it would be perfectly justifiable for him to get rid of Yun Zhonghe.


    As for whether this Yun AoTian could cure Jing Wubian or not?


    Wasn¡¯t this all a joke?


    Refining a pill with rotten watermelon?


    Even though a handful of imperial physicians from several empires could not cure Jing Wubian, would the beggar, Yun AoTian¡¯s, rotten watermelon pills cure him?


    That wasn¡¯t possible, even if the sun were to rise in the west.


    ***


    Crazy busy yet happy times passed, day by day.


    Surprisingly, Jing Wubian and Yun Zhonghe were like brothers. And at that point in time, this psychopath had lost all the airs of a young master of the residence of a castellan.


    But¡­


    Suddenly, there was one day when Jing Wubian never came again.


    Because his condition suddenly, and drastically, got more serious.


    Severe urethritis, prostatitis, and acute nephritis.


    Not only did he have frequent urination and dysuria, but he also had blood in his urine often, which then became pus-filled, and his lymph nodes were extremely swollen.


    A pain that was truly unbearable.


    His infertility was also caused by severe prostatitis, which directly led to massive necrosis of his sperm, so how could he have any children?


    ¡°Ah¡­ Ah¡­ Ah¡­¡±


    In the middle of the night, Jing Wubian was heard screaming frantically.


    For he was bleeding pus again.


    Then, he picked up his sword and hacked and slashed at everything he saw in a frenzied manner.


    At that time, the people in the residence would treat him like an angry ghost and desperately flee to hide from him.


    Though this Jing Wubian was the original young master of the City of Torn Gust, he was like a plague in the eyes of the people.


    Soon he would not be able to hack at people anymore as complications from acute nephritis had appeared. It had spread to his brain, as well as his respiratory system.


    These complications were all fatal.


    All he could do was lie in bed without moving a single muscle.


    Acute nephritis and its complications. No one in this world knew what kind of sickness it was.


    His body was deteriorating with each passing day.


    Jing Wubian¡¯s immune system was just too weak, so it was completely vulnerable. Ordinarily, it should not have been as bad.


    Over the last few days, there was an increasing number of doctors entering the residence of the castellan, but every single one of them was at their wits¡¯ end.


    The atmosphere was getting more and more oppressive and bizarre.


    Lady Cold Jade¡¯s expression was getting colder and colder, even to the point of looking ruthless and tyrannical.


    Jing Wubian¡­ was dying.


    1His mother, Lady Torn Gust, had fainted from crying.


    *Author¡¯s notes.

 Chapter 29

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Yun Zhonghe intended to heal Jing Wubian. What pill was he going to refine?


    Penicillin, packaged to look like an elixir.


    In truth, the best drug for urinary tract infections and prostatitis was norfloxacin. Cephalosporin worked just as well.


    But the process of making these drugs was so tricky that it was utterly impossible.


    Yun Zhonghe did understand the manufacturing principle, that using trichlorodifluoroaniline in a complicated procedure, he could produce norfloxacin.


    But given today¡¯s technology, wanting to synthesize trichlorodifluoroaniline was completely fool¡¯s talk.


    Although the use of penicillin was not as effective as norfloxacin in treating urethritis and prostatitis, it was still the most widely used antibiotic, especially as this world had not used antibiotics in the past. So, using these to fight inflammations should work wonders.


    The most crucial thing was that now it was no longer prostatitis and urethritis that endangered Jing Wubian¡¯s life, but rather the complications of acute nephritis.


    That was what was fatal.


    Jing Wubian¡¯s fever was getting increasingly high, and his mental state was declining.


    More than one doctor had diagnosed him as having less than ten days to live.


    However, at this time, penicillin was a life-saving miracle drug. As long as the inflammation was reduced, and his body temperature was lowered, his life would be saved.


    Therefore, administering penicillin to reduce the inflammation could definitely produce an immediate effect that would save Jing Wubian¡¯s life.


    And even when used to treat urethritis and prostatitis, penicillin was quite effective. When combined with traditional Chinese medicine, it should be able to completely cure the disease, albeit temporarily. Though it was possible that a relapse might still occur, at least the treatment was still very effective.


    No matter what angle you looked at it from, penicillin was definitely an elixir for Jing Wubian at that time.


    When compared to any other antibiotics, penicillin was much easier to extract. By finding enough rotten watermelons, scraping the green mold off the top, cultivating it in a corn solution, and then carrying out another round of extraction, penicillin could be obtained.


    For every rotten watermelon with green mold, one could extract 200 units of penicillin per square centimeter.


    Howard Walter Florey, an Australian pathologist, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this development.


    Even though he knew the method, Yun Zhonghe had no problem performing it as well.


    But if they wanted to cure the disease, hundreds of thousands of units of penicillin would have to be used a day.


    With respect to the extraction of penicillin, Yun Zhonghe was running a one-man show. Even if he were to work twenty-four hours a day, he still would not be able to extract much.


    In the beginning, he still slept for two to three hours a day. But as time went on, he went entirely without sleep. He was working all the time and was simply going crazy from work.


    Ever since Jing Wubian fell ill, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s little courtyard, which emitted such an overwhelming stench, was quickly forgotten by everyone.


    The crowd was just waiting for the time to come, where Lady Cold Jade would destroy Yun Zhonghe with one slash.


    Or maybe time would not be up, but Jing Wubian would die. Then Lady Cold Jade would still hack Yun Zhonghe to death with one strike.


    ***


    It was the last three days before the deadline when Yun Zhonghe¡¯s warrant of military order was due.


    On this night, Jing Wubian was experiencing a particularly severe attack of the symptoms of his disease.


    He was feeling dizzy and was even exhibiting epileptic fits.


    And he was waging a desperate struggle against the urge to go on urinating blood. Once again, he was convulsing in pain and breaking out in cold sweat.


    The high fever persisted for days on end.


    More than a dozen doctors came, but none were able to bring his temperature down. They were all completely at their wits¡¯ end.


    ¡°Someone come quickly! Young Master has attempted suicide again, attempted suicide again¡­¡±


    As soon as they heard, Lady Torn Gust, Lady Cold Jade, and Blue Immortal rushed to Jing Wubian¡¯s room. They found that his wrist was indeed bleeding profusely, and the wound was bone-deep.


    Blue Immortal hurriedly took out the best medicine for knife wounds and immediately stopped Jing Wubian¡¯s bleeding. Then he bandaged the wound.


    ¡°What are you guys saving me for? Let me die, let me die¡­¡± Jing Wubian was screaming at the top of his lungs hysterically, ¡°I¡¯m in so much pain, it hurts so much. Godfather, you have to save me, please save me¡­¡±


    1Jing Wubian looked at Blue Immortal with pleading eyes.


    Lady Torn Gust said with a trembling voice, ¡°Blue Immortal, please, you have to save him, save him. Back then, this child was born into this world because of your teacher. The two of you are destined for each other.¡±


    Back then, Jing E could not give birth to a son, so he went around asking for a prescription. In the end, a necromancer came along and said that he had killed too many people and impaired the Heavenly Harmony, so he would not have a son.


    Therefore, Jing E stopped his expansion for the time being, and as a result, he eventually did become the father of a son.


    The necromancer was none other than the teacher of Blue Immortal, who was standing before him.


    It was precisely this destiny that allowed the Blue Immortal to stay in the residence of the castellan and be entitled to a transcendental position.


    Jing Wubian had also been calling him godfather. He was not only the Jing Wubian¡¯s foremost confidant but also his spiritual sustenance.


    Hearing Jing Wubian¡¯s plea, Blue Immortal took out a bottle of potion that seemed to be incredibly precious and gently poured it into Jing Wubian¡¯s mouth.


    Then, something miraculous happened. Jing Wubian actually gradually stopped hurting. Instead, a sense of fatigue had set in, and he was feeling very comfortable.


    Lady Torn Gust and Jing Wubian¡¯s eyes both filled with admiration and gratitude as they looked towards Blue Immortal.


    He was indeed the great Blue Immortal, and still so out of this world. The divine medicine that he refined actually had such a miraculous effect.


    ¡°Godfather, thank you for saving me again.¡± Jing Wubian was in a dazed state as he spoke, but his eyes were full of admiration.


    ¡°Silly boy, go to sleep, go to sleep!¡± Blue Immortal said gently.


    Jing Wubian closed his eyes prettily and fell sweetly asleep.


    But if Yun Zhonghe were there, he would definitely have recognized that what Blue Immortal made Jing Wubian drink was poppy juice and anesthetics.


    This stuff could only relieve pain, and it did not have the slightest therapeutic effect. On the contrary, it would produce terrifying side effects that would bring about massive destruction to the human brain.


    Why was Jing Wubian getting crazier and crazier?


    Blue Immortal¡¯s divine medicine was pretty much the chief culprit.


    And Jing Wubian¡¯s immune system was at the height of its vulnerability. The biggest cause was also Blue Immortal¡¯s so-called divine medicine, which had destroyed Jing Wubian¡¯s immune system so drastically.


    ***


    Inside a small courtyard that was filled with an immortal aura.


    ¡°Master, that Yun AoTian is still using rotten watermelon to refine his pills. He has already become the laughing stock of the entire residence of the castellan, and that courtyard of his reeks with the overpowering stench,¡± a small Taoist priest said.


    Blue Immortal said indifferently, ¡°Just a buffoon performing his antics.¡±


    The little priest said, ¡°But Jing Wubian seems to be very close to him, doesn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re both lunatics, of course they would hit it off. But don¡¯t worry, there are only four more days left for this lunatic, Yun AoTian, before he dies,¡± Blue Immortal said.


    The warrant of military order that Yun Zhonghe had personally signed stated that he had to cure Jing Wubian of his terminal illness within half a month, or he would be tormented to death.


    ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that Jing Wubian is getting so attached and close to him that he¡¯ll be unwilling to kill him,¡± the small priest said.


    ¡°If Jing Wubian doesn¡¯t kill him, I will kill him. Lady Cold Jade will kill him,¡± Blue Immortal replied.


    The little priest said, ¡°Teacher, will Jing Wubian pull through this time?¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t make it through, I suppose. The high fever is not subsiding, and he is bleeding from head to toe. It¡¯s death for sure,¡± Blue Immortal said.


    The little priest asked, ¡°Then what should we do? He honors you as his godfather. If he dies, your status in this residence is going to drop.¡±


    Blue Immortal said with indifference, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal if he dies. I have already hooked up with a more prominent and influential figure.¡±


    The little priest said, ¡°Teacher, you¡¯re really old, but still full of vigor. Your charm remains unabated.¡±


    Blue Immortal closed his eyes and said nothing more.


    Jing Wubian, I really didn¡¯t intend to have you killed, it¡¯s just that only that divine medicine could make you obedient. And as for killing you, that¡¯s also something that can¡¯t be avoided. It¡¯s a good thing that I¡¯ve gotten my foothold, and your death won¡¯t hurt our grand undertaking.


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe was still scrambling for every minute and every second he could get.


    Now, he did not even have time to eat or visit the bathroom.


    He could not help wishing that he could break apart every second of every minute for more time. To produce millions of units of penicillin with just him alone was enough to make anyone collapse.


    He was also in a race against time, a race against death. Every day, he worked tirelessly without rest.


    Jing Wubian absolutely could not die. The moment he died, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s plan would be foiled, and his previous efforts would ultimately be for naught.


    Now, the light of dawn was emerging.


    The very last process was going to be completed soon, and it would probably take a few more hours for the first batch of penicillin to be successfully produced.


    So long as the first batch was out, there would be a steady stream of production for the following ones.


    He was only a step away from success.


    Jing Wubian, don¡¯t you die, don¡¯t you ever die.


    Yun Zhonghe made sure that he did not waste a second, and frantically raced against death.


    However¡­


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    His courtyard door slammed open all of a sudden.


    A few warriors suddenly rushed in and arrested him without saying a word.


    ¡°What are you doing? I am in the midst of completing the final step of this great cause and refining this pill, the elixir for saving Master Jing Wubian,¡± Yun Zhonghe shouted angrily.


    The leader of the warriors sneered disdainfully for a moment, then said indifferently, ¡°You still think you can save Master Jing Wubian simply using a pill refined with these rotten watermelons? What fool¡¯s talk!¡±


    They completely ignored Yun Zhonghe struggling against them and dragged him out.


    Yun Zhonghe shouted with great anger, ¡°My elixir is only two hours away from completion. Just two more hours and it will be completed. Then Master Jing Wubian will be saved. You are all murderers.¡±


    The leader of the warriors paid no heed to him at all. He lifted Yun Zhonghe up and headed somewhere else.


    ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re sending you for your final journey,¡± the warrior replied.


    ***


    A quarter of an hour later, Yun Zhonghe found himself in a magnificent and splendid ward.


    It turned out that the warriors who had kidnapped Yun Zhonghe and brought him there were Jing Wubian¡¯s trusted warriors. They had brought him there to send Jing Wubian on his final journey.


    It had only been a few days since Yun Zhonghe had last seen Jing Wubian, and yet he actually has fallen into such a miserable state.


    He was puffy and swollen all over, with multiple festering wounds, swollen lymph nodes, and bloodshot eyes, and he was practically heaving more than breathing.


    Because of the high fever, his entire being seemed as though he was a red-hot prawn.


    By now, the total amount of time that he was lucid and awake in a day did not amount to more than an hour.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, I¡¯m about to die.¡± Jing Wubian said weakly, ¡°I can feel it. I¡¯m dying soon. But I¡¯m not that sad about it. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s a weird feeling. It¡¯s a feeling like I can¡¯t completely clear my bowels after visiting the toilet, empty yet clogged, and it makes me get all panicky.¡±


    There was really no need to make such a disgusting metaphor at your deathbed.


    ¡°Before I die, I have a very, very important question to ask you,¡± Jing Wubian said.


    ¡°Please go ahead,¡± Yun Zhonghe responded.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Previously, you boasted that your literary ability allows you to administer state affairs well and ensure national security, while your martial arts ability enables you to treat venereal diseases. At that time, I was very curious, but found it a little awkward to ask.¡±


    ¡°Could it be that you have contracted a venereal disease?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°No. I¡¯m just curious, how could martial arts ability allow you to treat venereal disease? What was the relationship between venereal diseases and martial arts ability? I won¡¯t be able to die a peaceful death if I can¡¯t figure this out.¡±


    I, holy crap!


    You¡¯re really a psychopath! Even at your deathbed, you still care about such a brainless question.


    Yun Zhonghe explained it to Jing Wubian in a somber tone, saying, ¡°Before this, venereal diseases were incurable. And what I mean by healing, is the cut to eternal cure. Matters that involve the use of a knife, aren¡¯t they related to the martial arts?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ I see, I see¡­¡± Jing Wubian burst out laughing, but that again brought about a crazy coughing fit, and streaks of blood were forming at the corners of his mouth.


    His lungs had actually become so severely infected in as little as a few days? How could his immune system be this bad? It shouldn¡¯t be like that, right?


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Cutting it off, could it mean that the disease is curable?¡±


    ¡°Impossible, but it would at least prevent anyone else from being implicated,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°I see, I see,¡± Jing Wubian said. ¡°AoTian, you are still so interesting, and you have such a nice way of speaking. I really hate the fact that we did not meet each other earlier.¡±


    1With that said, Jing Wubian began to gasp painfully, as though every word said was draining him of his vitality.


    ¡°I¡¯m dying, but I don¡¯t have many regrets. After all, I¡¯ve sought death more than once myself. But the person that I really can¡¯t bear to let go of is you¡­¡± Jing Wubian said.


    D*mn it, even if you¡¯re dying, could you not make things sound so ambiguous?


    Yun Zhonghe felt bouts of shuddering. He felt half touched and half awkward. His body felt like it was heating up, and even his eyes felt a little hot.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°The others, whether my mother, my sister, or Lady Cold Jade, or even godfather, they are all very powerful people. It will never be my turn to worry for them.¡±


    ¡°Only you, Yun AoTian, someone who has no parents, and a lunatic at that. The only person that a useless man like me can protect is you, this poor, lonely, and helpless lunatic.¡±


    ¡°After I die, godfather will kill you. Sister Cold Jade will kill you too. So, now that I am still alive, breathing my last, I must give you this final bit of protection. Go, leave!¡± Jing Wubian said.


    Then, Jing Wubian began coughing very vigorously again. With a trembling voice, he ordered, ¡°Men, take Yun AoTian Away. Out of the residence of the castellan, out of the City of Torn Gust. As far as possible. Go, go, go! You must live, you must live¡­¡±


    1

 Chapter 30

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Now, Yun Zhonghe was touched and speechless.


    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for that. I can heal you; I can save you,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    But Jing Wubian could no longer hear him speaking.


    Saying so many words in one breath had exhausted the last of his strength, and he fainted right after finishing what he had to say.


    Then, a few warriors came up and put Yun Zhonghe into a big sack.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°D*mn, what are you guys doing? I will be done refining my elixir soon. I will be able to save Jing Wubian right away. I guarantee the drug will be able to rid him of the disease completely. What are you guys doing? What are you guys doing?¡±


    ¡°Someone, quick! Blue Immortal, you old, scraggly man, quick come and kill me!¡±


    ¡°Lady Cold Jade, quick, come and kill me. Come and kill me¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe called.


    ¡°What¡¯s all this bragging about? At his deathbed, Master has used his last breath to save you. You better know what¡¯s good for you and not be so ungrateful,¡± the warrior said.


    Then without another word, he stuffed a ball of cloth right into Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mouth and tied him up with a rope.


    D*mn, d*mn, d*mn.


    Now Yun Zhonghe was really unable to move or make a single cry aloud at all.


    A few men carried the sack out and tossed it into a carriage.


    Then, the warrior drove the carriage out of the residence of the castellan and far into the distance.


    This was not merely sending Yun Zhonghe out of the residence of the castellan. They were sending him directly out of the Land of No King.


    There was even a sum of 500 sycees prepared for Yun Zhonghe.


    Deep in his heart, Yun Zhonghe was very touched. But there was only one thought in his mind after feeling touched, which was, ¡°I¡­ D*mn it.¡±


    No matter how cunning or sly he could be, before these reckless warriors, he had no room to show these abilities of his.


    It was just like when a scholar met soldiers, he should not argue with them, for no amount of reasoning would work, and he was bound to lose.


    When a lunatic met with soldiers, it was probably pretty much the same.


    So just like that, the carriage, with Yun Zhonghe in it, rushed all the way out in the middle of the night.


    These few warriors even felt that they had done something great in saving Yun Zhonghe¡¯s life.


    Just like that, the carriage that contained Yun Zhonghe made a smooth exit out of the residence of the castellan without encountering any hindrances.


    D*mn, d*mn, d*mn¡­


    Yun Zhonghe was putting up a desperate struggle as he kicked the panel walls of the carriage with his feet. But it was completely useless.


    At that point, it would be great if there was someone random that could stop them.


    Anyone would do.


    As though having heard Yun Zhonghe¡¯s inner screams, the clattering of hasty hoofbeats was suddenly heard in front of them. Then a cold voice was heard.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± The voice was none other than Lady Cold Jade¡¯s.


    Yun Zhonghe was greatly delighted and desperately kicked the panel walls of the carriage.


    ¡°Our respects to Your Lady.¡± The few warriors immediately dropped to one knee.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°I am asking you, what is inside this carriage?¡±


    The leader of the warriors said, ¡°Lady Cold Jade, this¡­ This is Master¡¯s final wish.¡±


    ¡°That lunatic?¡± Lady Cold Jade asked.


    The leader of the warriors remained silent.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Since he has signed the warrant of military order, he has to face this. Bring him out.¡±


    However, without another word, she drew her sword, wanting to behead Yun Zhonghe at the main gate straight away so that he could be buried with Jing Wubian.


    The leader of the warriors said in his hoarse voice, ¡°Master said that he was a useless man, and the only person in this world that he was able to protect was this mad beggar here. Saving this beggar¡¯s life would at least mean that his entire life has not been utterly meaningless.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade¡¯s beautiful face trembled slightly. Then she waved her hand and said, ¡°Go, the farther, the better. Throw him far out from the Land of No King.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you for your kind approval, Lady Cold,¡± the warrior said.


    Then, he drove the carriage and continued to move far off into the distance. Lady Cold Jade urged her horse to move and entered the residence of the castellan.


    Yun Zhonghe was burning with anxiety. My ability to speak eloquently is the only thing the original owner of this body was gifted with.


    Top, top, top!


    Yun Zhonghe tore through and got rid of the cloth in his mouth, then shouted loudly to Lady Cold Jade¡¯s retreating back, ¡°Cold Jade, I¡¯m not leaving! I want to sleep with you. I want to sleep with you!¡±


    Suddenly, there was a gust of cold air.


    Within an instant, Lady Cold Jade had fiercely turned around, drew her sword, and rushed over like a flash of lightning.


    Without saying a word, she sent her sword stabbing towards Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°Swish¡­¡±


    The rope around Yun Zhonghe¡¯s body snapped apart straightaway.


    ¡°Hi, we meet again, goddess!¡± Yun Zhonghe waved.


    Lady Cold Jade fixed her gaze at Yun Zhonghe and asked, ¡°So eager to die? What for? I¡¯ve already spared this lowly life of yours, so why are you still courting death so eagerly? What ulterior motive are you hiding? Who the hell do you work for?¡±


    This woman was terrifying.


    After her outburst of rage, instead of killing Yun Zhonghe, she immediately suspected him of being someone else¡¯s man.


    ¡°In two hours¡¯ time, the refinement of my elixir will be completed, and Jing Wubian will be saved.¡± At this point, Yun Zhonghe was no longer in a jocular mood. He was instead completely serious.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°If you leave now, not only will you live, you can even live quite well. If you go back to the residence of the castellan, you only have a slim chance of survival. Are you sure you want to take a gamble on this chance? Jing Wubian doesn¡¯t have much time left. Once he dies, you die too.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe did not reply. He walked straight out of the carriage and right back into the residence of the castellan again.


    ***


    Back in the small courtyard of the residence of the castellan, Yun Zhonghe worked like he was crazy.


    To finish the last production process of the penicillin.


    He was really gambling with his life. Jing Wubian was in such a terrible condition that it looked as if he could die at any time.


    At this time, it was also unknown whether the penicillin could save him or not.


    It really was a gamble.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come back in two hours to get the medicine. By then, if you are unable to produce the medicine, you die. If your medicine can¡¯t save Jing Wubian, you also have to die!¡± Lady Cold Jade said.


    Lady Cold Jade placed a giant hourglass in front of Yun Zhonghe. It would take exactly two hours for all of the sand to fall through.


    An absolute scramble for time.


    ***


    Inside the ward, more than a dozen physicians, including Blue Immortal, were making last-ditch efforts.


    Lady Torn Gust was crying so hard that she was gasping for breath as she implored Blue Immortal.


    ¡°Blue Immortal, Blue Immortal, you¡¯re so infinitely resourceful and powerful, save my son. Save my son,¡± Lady Torn Gust said.


    ¡°Although he is useless and a good for nothing, he is also my only son, my flesh and blood.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s your teacher? He is a man of great wit and ability; you must get him here to save my son.¡±


    Lady Torn Gust went straight down on her knees.


    Blue Immortal hurried forward to help her up and said in a sorrowful voice, ¡°You must never, ever do that. You must never, ever do that. Madame, please, this is too much for me to bear, don¡¯t make me lose any more years of my life.¡±


    ¡°Madame, to be honest with you, Master Wubian¡¯s birth was originally an accident. For him to be able to live up until this day, it has already cost me the greatest amount of effort and virtue. I have taken back many years of my predestined life span from the heavens. Now, Master Wubian¡¯s impending doom has been predestined by the heavens, so this old man here is really helpless, as there is really nothing I can do.¡±


    Lady Torn Gust asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Could it be that my son is really hopeless?¡±


    Blue Immortal said tearfully, ¡°It¡¯s hopeless. The two of us are like father and son. If there were a way for me to save him, even if I had to give up my life, I would be willing to do so.¡±


    Lady Torn Gust directed her gaze at Jing Wubian, who was lying on the bed. She gently wiped her tears and slowly said, ¡°My son, you¡¯ve led a wretched life. It¡¯s a good thing for you to leave. Where is Jing Zhongyue? Her little brother is dying, why isn¡¯t she back yet?¡±


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°My Lady, the castellan has gone to attend the Baronage Assembly of the Land of No King. It¡¯s going to take ten days for her to return home. And it¡¯s at a critical moment.¡±


    The Baronage Assembly of the Land of No King was indeed a great matter. It concerned the future strategic plans for the entire Land of No King, and the fate of the City of Torn Gust as well.


    ¡°Good, good, it¡¯s also good to keep busy¡­¡± Lady Torn Gust¡¯s tears were gushing out. Then she closed her eyes and fainted within an instant.


    ¡°Madame, Madame¡­¡± A group of physicians standing around flocked to her at once.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Someone, help Madame back to her room to rest.¡±


    A few female warriors came forward. They carefully lifted Lady Torn Gust and walked towards the inner room.


    Lady Cold Jade sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Jing Wubian¡¯s face. Instinctively, she looked at the hourglass at the head of the bed.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Blue Immortal, physicians, are you all sure that there¡¯s really no hope for Jing Wubian?¡±


    Blue Immortal shook his head. All the physicians shook their heads. They were wholly convinced that Jing Wubian was facing a death sentence.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Very well. Then let¡¯s send him on his final journey here.¡±


    Right at that moment, everyone outside knelt down in a concerted manner.


    There was a sudden chill that filled the entire atmosphere.


    Then, a light fragrance filled the air.


    Instinctively, everyone stood up straight. Even the hairs on their bodies were on end.


    Everyone stooped low, and their waists seemed to become noodles that softened as they bent their upper torso. They gazed down at the ground.


    This feeling was as if they were inside the forest and the king of the beasts was coming. All the animals, upon sensing its aura, immediately curled up.


    The door opened, and a figure entered.


    Instantly, the entire area lightened up, as though a bright, round moon had appeared within the room.


    A beauty, a stunning beauty, an unrivaled beauty.


    Like the moon in the sky, bright, clean, and perfect.


    The snow-white embroidered robe of the castellan that she wore looked travel-worn, yet it was spotlessly clean.


    This was a very strange situation.


    Everyone in the room held their breath.


    One of the physicians originally wanted to fart but had to force the wind back into his stomach to hold it in.


    ¡°Our respects to you, Castellan!¡±


    Everyone in the room knelt down in a concerted manner.


    This was the only female baronage in the Land of No King. She was the supreme queen of 13,000 square kilometers of territorial land of the Valley of Torn Gust, as well as hundreds of thousands of people.


    The She-Devil who wielded absolute power over the people¡¯s lives and properties, and who had killed innumerable people.


    When she appeared, everyone could feel the chill at the back of the necks.


    There was also an allusion made regarding her that amazed Yun Zhonghe.


    I kill people in my dreams!


    But she really had killed someone in her dream. And this person happened to be¡­ a spy sent by another country.


    But she was really beautiful, and it was a very classical kind of beauty at that.


    Her body was like a willow, so graceful and elegant.


    Her brows were like distant mountains, her pretty nose was fair as snow, her cherry lips were like flowers, and her face was so beautiful that it could sway anyone¡¯s heart.


    Because she was relatively tall, so she still appeared to be a little more on the slender and frail side. But her figure was still curvy and alluring.


    She seldom spoke, but she was not the kind who was cold as ice. She was just quiet and had little to say.


    If flowers were used to describe women, there would not be one that would suit Jing Zhongyue.


    She was just too different.


    ***


    ¡°Castellan, why are you back? This is a critical moment for the Baronage Assembly.¡± Cold Jade was shocked as she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t allow Madame to send you any letters.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I left the Assembly earlier.¡±


    She did not explain any further. But something was tugging at Lady Cold Jade¡¯s heart.


    This round of Baronage Assembly was of the utmost importance. How serious would the consequences be for leaving earlier? This was totally inconceivable.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Is Jing Wubian really in such a hopeless condition?¡±


    A dozen or more physicians went down on their knees. They all said while kowtowing, ¡°Your lowly subject is guilty.¡±


    Earlier on, when Lady Torn Gust had asked them the same question, these physicians all stood tall and firm. But now, when they saw Jing Zhongyue, they fell to their knees straightaway, trembling with fear. At this time, all of them were kneeling on the ground, afraid that the slightest disagreement would cause her to start a killing spree again.


    Then once again, Jing Zhongyue shifted her eyes to cast an indifferent look at Blue Immortal.


    Blue Immortal bowed down respectfully and said, ¡°May I report to you, My Lady, it¡¯s hopeless. Even an immortal would be hard-pressed to save him!¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Jing Zhongyue sat down on the edge of the bed.


    Then, she waved her hand.


    Instantly, everyone bent over and bowed their way out of the room.


    It was not until they had completely exited the room that they dared to breathe in big mouthfuls of air.


    This was the might of Jing Zhongyue, the queen of Torn Gust Valley.


    After everyone had backed out of the room, Jing Zhongyue held on tightly to her brother¡¯s hand.


    She realized that her hands were a little cold, so she took a candle that was lit and placed her hands directly over the flame to warm them.


    When she felt the burning pain, her brows quivered a little, as though it was a somewhat addictive and soothing kind of sensation.


    When she felt that her hands were warm enough, she grabbed her brother¡¯s hand again and used it to cup her peerlessly beautiful face. It was as though she wanted to feel the last warmth of her brother.


    And just like that, without saying a word, she sat there as she quietly waited for Jing Wubian to die.


    The air was filled with grief and sadness.

 Chapter 31

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Outside the ward, silence prevailed.


    Blue Immortal, Lady Cold Jade, and the dozen or so physicians were all waiting outside.


    All the white cloths had been prepared.


    The keeners were ready.


    Just waiting for Jing Wubian to breathe his last.


    Of course, almost everyone was not sad. Inwardly, they might have even felt like laughing.


    The scourge of them all, Jing Wubian, had finally died. The heavens had pitied them and given them protection.


    Indeed, Heaven had eyes.


    Suddenly, Blue Immortal¡¯s disciple said, ¡°Almost time to kill that beggar, right? Let him be buried together with Master Wubian.¡±


    As soon as this was said, everyone was slightly shocked for a moment. They had almost forgotten about the beggar who was nothing more than a buffoon performing his tricks.


    What was he called? Right, Yun AoTian.


    Without saying a word, Lady Cold Jade headed directly to Yun Zhonghe¡¯s malodorous little courtyard.


    Two hours had passed since Yun Zhonghe had last spoken.


    However, at that time, Yun Zhonghe ran wildly towards them.


    He was holding a box with both hands as he said, ¡°The elixir is here. My elixir has been refined. I am here to save Master Jing Wubian.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Blue Immortal and all the physicians were first startled, then inwardly, they burst out in wild laughter.


    Lunatic, a lunatic indeed.


    Everyone had come to the verdict that Jing Wubian would surely die, and even an immortal would hardly be able to save him.


    A beggar like you, deemed a lunatic, are you actually saying you can save him?


    With just the elixir you refined from rotten watermelons? This was really absurdity on a heroic scale.


    If you can save Master Jing Wubian, we would decapitate ourselves for you.


    At that point, Blue Immortal¡¯s disciples were about to walk out again, but Blue Immortal shot them a warning glance. The castellan, Jing Zhongyue, was inside. They should not act too frivolously. Then, he cast his gaze at another physician.


    In the residence of the castellan, a single call from Blue Immortal could rally a hundred responses. The number of people who were his lackeys was really unknown.


    And his most loyal lackey was the physician named Lu Zhanyuan.


    At the sight of Blue Immortal¡¯s warning look, this handsome middle-aged physician, Lu Zhanyuan, stepped forward and asked in a cold voice, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Of course I am here to deliver the elixir to cure Master Jing Wubian.¡±


    Physician Lu Zhanyuan said, ¡°Now, any Tom, Dick, or Harry can cure illnesses, can¡¯t they? With the elixir that you refined from those rotten watermelons? Do you intend to treat illnesses, or kill people?¡±


    Then he went on to say, ¡°Though Master Jing Wubian was already ill before, it was not life-threatening. But since you¡¯ve come, his sickness suddenly became so serious that now, he is critically ill with only a faint breath of life left. This probably has something to do with you.¡±


    Blue Immortal¡¯s number one lackey was vicious enough to actually say that Jing Wubian¡¯s death was caused by Yun Zhonghe.


    At this time, a physician beside him said, ¡°What Physician Lu said is not without reason. Master Jing Wubian was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, with a clean and noble background, while this beggar has been fooling around outside. Who knows what dirty things he carries with him on his body? Day after day, he hangs out with Master Jing Wubian and spreads these unclean things to Master Jing Wubian. It is also normal for this to cause his sickness to become more serious.¡±


    Physician Lu Zhanyuan said, ¡°Lady Cold Jade, we have to immediately arrest this beggar, kill him, and make him a sacrificial object for Master Jing Wubian¡¯s burial.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade had no faith in this lunatic, Yun Zhonghe, at all. She also felt that there would be no justice if Yun Zhonghe could bring the dying Jing Wubian back to life.


    But judging from the way Jing Wubian looked, he was on the verge of death. This was really a final resort to try and remedy a hopeless situation.


    She was just about to step inside to give Jing Zhongyue a report to clarify the situation.


    ¡°Come in!¡± Jing Zhongyue said.


    This female castellan was, on the other hand, resolute and decisive.


    Lady Cold Jade brought Yun Zhonghe with her and walked in.


    Upon entering the ward, Yun Zhonghe wanted to explain the situation. After all, his method of treatment was relatively special.


    ¡°Do it,¡± Jing Zhongyue said, stopping Yun Zhonghe from offering any explanation at all.


    She was not holding on to any hope either, but even if the outcome was not ideal, how bad could it be? By the look of it, Jing Wubian was already on the verge of death.


    Why did her voice sound so lovely? Like jade breaking, like ice cracking, it was simply wonderful.


    Yun Zhonghe raised his head to take a look, and instantly, he felt a bout of dizziness.


    No, going to faint, going to faint!


    This woman was so beautiful.


    So beautiful that it was beyond imagination.


    She was so soul-stirring and captivating that it made people dizzy.


    Can¡¯t be tempted, can¡¯t be tempted.


    No matter how beautiful a woman was, she was nothing more than a piece of skin, that was all.


    Fantasize about how she would look when squatting in a pit.


    Fantasize about how she would look when picking her teeth.


    Fantasize about how she would look when picking her nose.


    1The experienced Yun Zhonghe, who had encountered countless battles of men and women, knew that the party whose heart was tempted first would lose.


    In order to not be tempted, he would conjure an image of this woman in a terrible position in his mind.


    But the ruinous thing was that even when Yun Zhonghe fantasized her squatting in a pit, she was still so breathtakingly beautiful.


    Such a wonderful figure, let alone squatting in a pit. Even if she were to pee in her pants, it would still be a most romantic sight, right?


    Such a beautiful woman could be deadly.


    Lady Cold Jade was not the least surprised to see Yun Zhonghe go into a state of shock.


    ¡°Do it! Regardless of whether it¡¯s an immortal medicine or poison, just do it. If you can¡¯t save him, then you will be buried with Jing Wubian. This is the road you chose,¡± she said.


    Form is indeed emptiness; emptiness is indeed form.


    Yun Zhonghe calmed his heartbeat.


    Inhale, exhale.


    Inhale, exhale.


    After calming his heart, Yun Zhonghe took out the penicillin that he had just finished refining, dissolved it in saltwater, then poured it into a bottle.


    He was going to make a drip bottle for Jing Wubian. He did this because he was unable to make the oral penicillin, and intestinal absorption was much too slow. It would be way faster if it were directly injected into the blood vessels.


    He did not have a soft, flexible tube, so he would use an animal¡¯s blood vessel. There was no pinhole, so he used a kind of hollow, thin rod that had been sharpened, and then, he sterilized everything repeatedly.


    ¡°Lady Cold Jade, you will pierce this sharpened thin rod into a blood vessel on Jing Wubian¡¯s arm. Just this one blood vessel,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Lady Cold Jade picked it up, and without saying anything, she pierced the sharp, thin, hollow rod directly into Jing Wubian¡¯s vein.


    Yun Zhonghe loosened the animal¡¯s blood vessel to allow the liquid penicillin to flow down and slowly be injected into Jing Wubian¡¯s veins.


    There was no time for things like skin tests or the likes of that. If Jing Wubian was allergic to penicillin, all Yun Zhonghe could do was lament his unlucky life.


    ¡°What do we need to do next?¡± Lady Cold Jade asked.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Just wait for all the medicine in this bottle to disappear, that will do.¡±


    ¡°So, in other words, there is nothing that requires your presence here for now, right?¡± Lady Cold Jade said.


    ¡°Nothing more,¡± Yun Zhonghe replied.


    Without saying a word, Lady Cold Jade lifted Yun Zhonghe by his collar, headed outside, and threw him onto the ground.


    He was just too smelly and looked so dirty and messy. For him to stay in the same room as Jing Zhongyue would be blasphemous.


    ¡°Wait outside!¡± Lady Cold Jade said. She did not say anything to threaten him. Anyway, if Jing Zhongyue died, she would immediately kill the beggar.


    Yun Zhonghe sat on the ground outside. He felt a little tired, so he simply laid himself down.


    A moment later, he actually fell asleep.


    He had done everything that could be done.


    What would happen next, whether Jing Wubian could be saved or not, was really at the mercy of God¡¯s will.


    Seeing the beggar-like Yun Zhonghe lying on the ground, every single one of the dozen or so doctors who were present covered their mouths. Their eyes were filled with disgust and hatred.


    Blue Immortal closed his eyes and put his mind to rest.


    The only thing to do was to wait.


    Wait for Jing Wubian, who was inside the room, to breathe his last, then the drama that had been in play for the past few days would be over.


    As for the beggar on the ground, Yun AoTian, who was like a roach or rat, at that point in time, even Blue Immortal could not be bothered to kill someone like that with his own hands.


    As for his so-called elixir that could treat Jing Wubian?


    That was simply a great big joke.


    The castellan and Lady Cold Jade were just trying everything they could out of desperation. Allowing this crazy beggar to save someone in his way, would this be any different from murder?


    Originally, Jing Wubian would have still been able to hold out for two or three more days. After being treated by this crazy beggar, he probably would not live for more than an hour or two.


    ***


    A few hours passed.


    It was still very silent inside the ward.


    Despite the fact that Yun Zhonghe had already administered treatment for Jing Wubian, the penicillin was still entering his body in a continuous, steady flow.


    But Lady Cold Jade and Jing Zhongyue clearly did not hold any hope.


    It would simply be the world¡¯s greatest joke if the dirty stuff extracted and refined from rotten watermelons could heal illnesses and save lives.


    If it were not for the fact that more than a dozen doctors, as well as Blue Immortal, had unanimously concluded that Jing Wubian was surely going to die, they would definitely not have allowed something that was boiled and cooked out of rotten watermelons to be infused into Jing Wubian¡¯s body.


    At that moment, another person walked in.


    It was none other than the beautiful Lady Torn Gust. She had calmed down, but her eyes were filled with sorrow.


    She had even prepared her black cloth.


    As soon as Jing Wubian breathed his last, she would immediately put it on.


    Walking up to Jing Wubian¡¯s side, she could not help but let tears fall once more.


    She had led a bitter life filled with misfortunate events. Her husband had suffered a stroke and lost consciousness. Now, even her son was dying.


    She really wished she could die with her son.


    Right then, Jing Wubian had still been groaning in pain while in a comatose state. But now, he was simply soundless.


    Earlier on, his skin had still been tinted red. But now, the redness had actually faded to ashen white.


    And his body had actually become cold.


    This¡­ he was going to die!


    Lady Torn Gust was grieving as if her heart had died as she said, ¡°Let the people of the residence prepare for the funeral.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± Lady Cold Jade said.


    Just then, the sound of the night watchman on his beat outside the residence rang aloud.


    A new day was approaching!


    Blue Immortal¡¯s disciple, the little priest, said, ¡°Lady Cold Jade, the deadline of the warrant of military order of that beggar is up.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade replied, ¡°I know. Do it.¡±


    A warrior drew out his sword and moved to stand before Yun Zhonghe, who was snoring away in his sleep.


    It¡¯s better for you to die in your sleep like this, so I shall not wake you up.


    Then, the warrior drove his sword toward Yun Zhonghe¡¯s chest to stab him.


    ¡°Brother, what are you doing?¡± Yun Zhonghe suddenly opened his eyes and asked.


    Physician Lu Zhanyuan said, ¡°Yun AoTian, the deadline for your warrant of military order is up. Your hour of doom has arrived.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°But I have already cured Master Jing Wubian.¡±


    Blue Immortal¡¯s lackey, Lu Zhanyuan, gave a cold sneer and said, ¡°Up to this point in time, you are still trying to feign ignorance and act like a fool? When did you cure Master Jing Wubian?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°In my dreams. Just now, I clearly dreamt that Master Jing Wubian was saved by me.¡±


    The moment this was said, the crowd could not help but burst out laughing.


    Indeed, this was utter madness.


    You saved Master Jing Wubian in your dreams; then, you should be allowed to sleep for a little longer. You can have everything, or even more, in your dreams. Who knows, you may even be able to marry Castellan Jing?


    ¡°Cut the crap. Just do it and kill him,¡± the little priest said.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, why don¡¯t you go see for yourselves? I am someone who never lies in my dreams.¡±


    ¡°This talk is really madness piled upon madness,¡± the warrior said coldly. ¡°Go to hell and continue with your acts of madness there.¡±


    However, just then!


    Inside the ward, Jing Wubian suddenly sat up and shouted loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t kill AoTian. Don¡¯t kill my AoTian!¡±


    He actually sat up, alive and well.


    As if he was a dying corpse who had been revived.


    Instantly, everyone was stunned and could not believe their ears.


    This¡­ What was going on here?


    A few hours ago, Jing Wubian was critically ill, practically at death¡¯s door with only a faint breath of life left.


    Now, he had actually been brought back to life?


    The medicine that this beggar made out of rotten watermelon, was it really so magical?

 Chapter 32

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Hearing Jing Wubian¡¯s voice come from inside the ward, the dozen or so physicians present were utterly shocked.


    In particular, Blue Immortal, who no longer wore a peaceful and carefree look. There was a drastic change in his expression.


    Don¡¯t panic. Don¡¯t panic. The strategy just needs to be adjusted; the strategy just needs to be adjusted.


    Oh, wrong. It was a digressive allusion.


    This was merely a momentary recovery of consciousness just before death; this was merely a momentary recovery of consciousness just before death.


    Right after that, Lady Torn Gust shouted from inside, ¡°Blue Immortal, come in quickly! You have to come in quickly! Come in quickly!¡±


    All of a sudden, Blue Immortal and the dozen or so physicians all flocked into the ward.


    Lady Torn Gust said, ¡°All of you, quickly take a look at my son. He¡­ Has he been saved?¡±


    Blue Immortal stepped forward for a look and immediately felt his insides shuddering without warning.


    D*mn it!


    What¡­ What the hell was going on here?


    Jing Wubian¡¯s fever had actually subsided. This was the most important indicator.


    He was still in poor condition, with redness and swelling all over his body, and festering spots to be found.


    But, so long as the fever had subsided, it would mean that he would not be dying, which was the same as him being rescued from the jaws of death.


    Everyone had concluded that he was undoubtedly facing a death sentence and were all saying that even an immortal couldn¡¯t save him. Yet now, he had actually come back to life, and it did not seem as though his life was in danger.


    A few other physicians stepped forward with great anticipation, examining Jing Wubian¡¯s body.


    ¡°This¡­ this is truly too amazing. Master Jing Wubian has been running a high fever for a few consecutive days, and it really looked like he was not going to make it through, but now, his fever is actually completely gone.¡±


    ¡°Also, his pulse is much stronger, and his breathing is not as pained as before.¡±


    ¡°This, this is simply unbelievable. What the hell is happening?¡±


    Could it be that the beggar¡¯s medicine had really cured him?


    The elixir that had been refined and made from rotten watermelons? Was there actually such a divine medicine in the world?


    If that was the case, then it was simply too amazing.


    It was not apparent that this beggar, Yun AoTian, could actually possess such extraordinary skill. This was really, really the same as the sun rising in the west.


    Too, too unbelievable. Simply remarkable.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Yun AoTian, you come in.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe walked in.


    Jing Wubian took a look at him, and in a dazed state, he said, ¡°AoTian, just now, I dreamt of you pricking me.¡±


    I was not the one who pricked you with a needle. It was your dream lover, Lady Cold Jade.


    After saying that, Jing Wubian laid back down and fell asleep.


    This time, he had fallen asleep and not lost consciousness.


    After coming in, Yun Zhonghe found that there was another beauty inside the ward. This was a beauty of higher seniority, and she was brimming with mature charm.


    This, who is this? Could it be my mother-in-law?


    ¡°To my mother-in-law, who I hold in high regard, please allow your son-in-law to pay his respect.¡±


    Of course, Yun Zhonghe only dared to say such things in his heart. If he were to really shout this aloud, he would be courting his own doom.


    ¡°Fortunately, this young man here did not let you down and accomplished the task that I was assigned.¡± Yun Zhonghe bowed to Lady Torn Gust with a dashing and graceful bearing.


    D*mn this old beggar, you are already forty to fifty years old, so please don¡¯t call yourself a young man. And still, saluting in such a dashing and graceful manner?


    A dung beetle would never become a cricket, even if it wore a dress.


    ¡°This is really beyond my expectations. The elixir that this beggar refined out of rotten watermelons could actually have such a miraculous effect? It¡¯s really unconventional.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes. Take a look at his beggar style with his unruly hair, he¡¯s clearly an otherworldly expert, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Seeing that Yun Zhonghe had made an exemplary contribution, a group of physicians immediately sucked up to him and showered him with praise.


    All of a sudden, a streak of coldness flashed in Blue Immortal¡¯s eyes.


    His foremost lackey, Lu Zhanyuan, stepped forward once again and said in a loud, clear voice, ¡°This may not necessarily be the beggar¡¯s credit to claim. Maybe it¡¯s because Master Jing Wubian is extremely well-blessed, or maybe it is Blue Immortal¡¯s teacher wielding his powers from afar that saved Master Jing Wubian¡¯s life. This beggar is only fishing for fame, don¡¯t ever think of laying claim to what he has done nothing to deserve.¡±


    Physician Lu Zhanyuan knelt down and said, ¡°Madame, now Master has woken up, and his fever has gone down. But at a time like this, it is all the more reason for us not to take things lightly, all the more reason we should make use of the momentum and completely cure him, once and for all. I suggest letting Blue Immortal, and the dozen other physicians take over the treatment of Master.¡±


    Shucks!


    This world was simply too realistic. This was outrightly robbing someone of his credits.


    But Lady Torn Gust really did fall in deep thought. Earlier on, it seemed inevitable that Jing Wubian was going to die. That was why she had taken the risk and allowed Yun AoTian, this beggar, to try and save him.


    Now, Jing Wubian¡¯s fever had really subsided, albeit inexplicably, and his condition seemed to be improving. Then, all the more reason there was to be cautious.


    After all, this Yun AoTian was a beggar, as well as a lunatic. Blue Immortal and the dozen or so physicians were a much safer bet.


    ¡°Master Jing is someone of noble birth, so we must not take any more risks,¡± Lu Zhanyuan said. ¡°And there¡¯s no evidence to prove that this beggar¡¯s medicine is related to Master¡¯s fever subsiding and his condition turning for the better. Maybe it¡¯s God blessing Master? Or maybe it¡¯s the Jing¡¯s family ancestors watching over Master? But just in case, we need to take over that beggar¡¯s courtyard and take over the so-called elixir that he has refined because we need to make a thorough check on this medicine refined out of rotten watermelons to see if it is poisonous or not.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was even more amazed.


    This was not only taking away his credit, but it was snatching away Yun Zhonghe¡¯s penicillin, his divine medicine, as well.


    But his words sounded so reasonable, too.


    After all, Yun Zhonghe was just beggar deemed a lunatic. It was simply too risky to hand over Jing Wubian¡¯s treatment to him completely.


    Blue Immortal and the dozen or so physicians were all highly skilled in medicine. And having them take over the divine medicine that Yun Zhonghe refined was probably the safest and most stable way to go.


    As soon as Lu Zhanyuan made this suggestion, the crowd was quick to concur with him, and once again, display their ability to go with the flow.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°This suggestion Physician Lu made is very appropriate.¡±


    ¡°Mater Jing is of such nobility. It¡¯s safer to leave the treatment to us.¡±


    ¡°This beggar¡¯s rotten watermelon medicine should indeed be handed over to us. We must be responsible for the residence of the castellan and the safety of the people of the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    They did this, first of all, to snatch away another man¡¯s credit. Second of all, it was to get their hands on Yun Zhonghe¡¯s divine medicine.


    If it was proven that it was this medicine made from rotten watermelons that pulled Jing Wubian away from the jaws of death, then this was a true divine medicine that was worth a fortune.


    Jing Zhongyue looked over to Yun Zhonghe and said, ¡°Is there any more medicine?¡±


    His entire heart convulsed under one sweeping glance from her.


    This lady was simply too beautiful. Just one look with those eyes of hers, and it was as though a piece of flesh from his heart was cut away with a ladle.


    Moreover, her status was so high, her martial arts skills were strong, and she was a queen. She was simply a goddess that the entire world dreamed of, right?


    The moment he saw her, he actually felt the urge to want to transform into a dog where licking was a natural way of life.


    No, I can¡¯t be tempted. I can¡¯t grovel to her and lick her feet just to satisfy her authoritative needs. Sister Feng, save me. Ruhua, save me.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°There is!¡±


    Then, without any expression on his face, he handed over a bottle.


    ¡°This is extracted and refined from the rotten watermelons?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Yun Zhonghe replied.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°How do you prove that your medicine is the reason Jing Wubian¡¯s fever subsided?¡±


    Physician Lu Zhanyuan heard Jing Zhongyue sounding out the latter. He was instantly delighted and said, ¡°Lady Castellan is right. Clearly, Master Jing Wubian is exceptionally gifted and managed to survive this calamity by relying on the protection of his ancestors. Yun AoTian, this beggar, actually tried to claim this credit for himself. He is really the most shameless one of all.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Lu Zhanyuan was so excited that he was shivering all over. He said, ¡°Your humble subject, Lu Zhanyuan, has been in the residence of the castellan for eight years. I feel that this beggar must hand over this medicine made from rotten watermelons immediately. Then, we will take over Master Wubian¡¯s treatment. We must not put Master Wubian¡¯s life at risk by entrusting it to the hands of this beggar.¡±


    ¡°What you said does make some sense,¡± Jing Zhongyue said.


    Lu Zhanyuan was even more delighted. He headed toward Yun Zhonghe and said, ¡°Beggar, hand over the formula for your rotten watermelon medicine right now. Lady Cold Jade, send someone to lock down his little courtyard immediately.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, hand over the formula.¡± The physician next to him also joined in on the instigation.


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes. How can this dirty medicinal extracted and refined out of rotten watermelons be used on Master Jing Wubian? What if there¡¯s poison inside?¡± Lu Zhanyuan said, ¡°We can totally formulate a divine medicine that is nobler and much purer.¡±


    Initially, they did not dare to be so bold. But when they saw that Castellan Jing Zhongyue seemed to take an attitude that was quite indulgent toward them, as if she was also unwilling to give credit for saving Jing Wubian to Yun Zhonghe, it prompted them to become bold.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°What Physician Lu said makes sense. This medicine of mine, that¡¯s made of rotten watermelons, does indeed carry some risk. There is a possibility of an allergic reaction that could directly lead to death. The most crucial thing is that this medicine has not been tested in vivo experiments, so there is no way to prove that it is harmless to the human body. Besides, it is also true that I have no way of proving that Master Jing Wubian¡¯s fever has gone down because of my rotten watermelon medicine.¡±


    Hearing this, the crowd of physicians secretly sneered.


    Are you conceding defeat now? It¡¯s too late, we¡¯re going to rob you of your meritorious contribution, your divine medicine, and we will definitely show no mercy. We will ensure you meet your doom.


    Yun Zhonghe bowed toward Jing Zhongyue and said, ¡°Castellan (My wife), it was out of necessity that I administered the medicine to Master Wubian just now. But now, Master¡¯s condition has taken a turn for the better, so we must not take any further risks. This medicine of mine, which I refined from rotten watermelons, must first be tested on living subjects to prove that it is harmless to the human body. Secondly, we must thoroughly verify that it has divine efficacy on all kinds of serious illnesses and verify that Master Jing Wubian¡¯s fever subsided because of this medicine¡¯s efficacy. Then, we can use it on Master Jing Wubian.¡±


    ¡°So, I need to carry out an experiment,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°What experiment?¡± Lady Cold Jade asked.


    Yun Zhonghe laughed and said, ¡°This experiment is straightforward. Find a man, cut a dozen or more wounds on his body with a knife, and then pour boiling dung water on his wounds. This way, he will definitely get infected and fester very quickly. Then, he will run a high fever. I will then use this medicine made from rotten watermelons on him. If we successfully manage to bring his fever down, and not poison him at all, wouldn¡¯t this prove the effectiveness of my divine medicine? Then we can rest assured and use it on Master Jing Wubian.¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe gazed towards Lu Zhanyuan and said, ¡°Physician Lu, I see that you are very loyal and very dedicated to saving Master Jing Wubian. A healer houses the hearts of parents. For Master Jing Wubian, for the good of mankind, let¡¯s have you to be this living body.¡±


    The moment Yun Zhonghe spoke, everyone shuddered in fear. The entire place was silent.


    This beggar was really too vicious.


    Lu Zhanyuan was just about to step forward to steal his credit, and this beggar simply put him to death by using this vicious method.


    Lu Zhanyuan sneered and said, ¡°Yun AoTian, this medicine is your creation. You should be doing this vivo experiment on yourself. Moreover, your life is not worth much, is it?¡±


    Then Lu Zhanyuan knelt down and said, ¡°Madame, Castellan, to ensure that nothing goes wrong at all, I implore you to get this beggar to hand over the formula and medicine made of rotten watermelons. And also, to use his body for the vivo experiment. This can be considered his way of making the greatest contribution to the residence of the castellan.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. You may go ahead.¡± Castellan Jing Zhongyue said.


    Lu Zhanyuan was greatly delighted and said, ¡°Someone, go raid Yun AoTian¡¯s little courtyard. Arrest him and wash him clean. Prepare the knives and boiling dung water. We are going to carry out a vivo experiment.¡±


    Cruelty flashed in his eyes as Lu Zhanyuan said these words.


    Using knives to cut flesh and blood, then smearing the body with boiling dung water. To think you, Yun AoTian, could think of something like that. This probably surpassed any other form of torture, and now, it was going to be used on Yun AoTian¡¯s body. This was going to be so exhilarating.


    Suddenly, a few doctors present who found this quite unbearable revealed their looks of unwillingness. Humans were a compassionate lot, after all.


    Lu Zhanyuan was simply too vicious. Not only was he intent on snatching away Yun AoTian¡¯s credit and robbing him of his divine medicine, but now, he was also going to kill him in the cruelest way possible.


    But there is no other way out for you. Who are you, Yun AoTian, but a beggar without backing?


    Unlike Lu Zhanyuan, who had Blue Immortal backing him up.


    However, Jing Zhongyue turned around, and her beautiful eyes looked at Yun Zhonghe. She repeated herself, ¡°I feel as though what you say makes sense. So, let¡¯s move on with the experiment.¡±


    Suddenly, the air felt frigid, as though a gust of cold wind was blowing.


    Everyone cowered violently as their necks shrank inward. Even their insides seemed to contract.


    It took a full moment for Lu Zhanyuan to understand that he was going to become the living body.


    Instantly, he was frightened out of his wits and fell to his knees. Amidst cries, he said, ¡°Madame, Castellan, I¡¯ve served the residence of the castellan for eight years. Even if I have made no meritorious contributions, I did labor with due diligence. Spare my life, spare my life!¡±


    Jing Zhongyue ignored him and to Yun Zhonghe, she asked, ¡°Are you confident, can you cure Jing Wubian?¡±


    My wife, my goddess, why do you like to break your sentences so much when you speak?


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yun Zhonghe replied.


    Jing Zhongyue then said, ¡°Then hurry up. Cure him. This is one great contribution. When you return, I¡¯ll reward you, and it will far exceed what you can ever imagine.¡±


    With that said, Jing Zhongyue gathered her cloak around her again and walked straight out.


    Outside, as many as a hundred elite cavalrymen were mounted as they waited in a neat formation. The moment she appeared, they dismounted their horses in unison and knelt on the ground.


    Jing Zhongyue mounted her horse and galloped off.


    After exiting the residence of the castellan.


    A thousand elite cavalrymen immediately dismounted and knelt down neatly in unison.


    Jing Zhongyue did not say anything. She merely covered her face with a golden visor.


    Instantly, a thousand or more cavalrymen mounted their horses. Keeping her surrounded in the middle to protect her, the troop rode out of the City of Torn Gust in a mighty manner to rejoin the Baronage Assembly.


    The coldness of an elite!


    Truly worthy of being the queen of the City of Torn Gust. This forbidding appearance, this imposing bearing.


    A truly great man should marry this woman!

 Chapter 33

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    After Jing Zhongyue left, Yun Zhonghe turned his gaze toward Physician Lu Zhanyuan.


    Petty guy, weren¡¯t you so remarkable just now? Weren¡¯t you trying to snatch my credit? Didn¡¯t you want to rob me of my divine medicine?


    ¡°Physician Lu, come, come. For Master Wubian, for the good of mankind, there¡¯s no time to lose,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Lu Zhanyuan was trembling all over as he screamed, ¡°How dare you? How dare you? What do you think you¡¯re doing? I¡¯ve served the residence of the castellan faithfully for eight years. Even if I made no meritorious contribution, I did my work laboriously. You, a mere beggar, actually dare to cause me harm? This is just you taking personal revenge on me in the name of the public interest!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Congratulations, you got it right. I am just taking personal revenge. What¡¯s wrong with that? I¡¯m so narrow-minded, what¡¯s wrong with that? I have such unrivaled good looks, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡±


    D*mn you¡­


    Lu Zhanyuan said, ¡°Lady Cold Jade, you heard him too. This beggar, Yun AoTian, is taking personal revenge; it¡¯s personal revenge!¡±


    Lady Cold Jade acted as if she had not heard anything, because Jing Zhongyue¡¯s orders were imperial decrees in Torn Gust Valley. Unless she withdrew her orders, no one would be able to save Lu Zhanyuan.


    Lu Zhanyuan turned toward Lady Torn Gust, knelt down, and kowtowed to her as he said, ¡°Madame, spare my life. Save me! I¡¯ve faithfully served the residence of the castellan for eight years. Even if I¡¯ve not made any great contributions, I¡¯ve put in a lot of hard work. Madame, help!¡±


    Lady Cold Jade directly tore off Lu Zhanyuan¡¯s lower jaw without saying a word.


    1She did so because she was worried that Lady Torn Gust would really spare Lu Zhanyuan¡¯s life, and that would be going against Jing Zhongyue¡¯s orders.


    This would affect the unity of the residence of the castellan, and very soon, word would spread that Jing Zhongyue and her mother did not get along with each other.


    Lady Cold Jade waved her hand, and Lu Zhanyuan was dragged away as though he was a dead dog.


    Blue Immortal was still resting his mind with eyes closed, as though nothing had happened. On the contrary, that disciple of his, Xiao Yu, looked at Yun Zhonghe with a gaze that was filled with resentment.


    ***


    In a certain secret room, Lu Zhanyuan¡¯s body was stark naked and tied to a pig slaughtering board.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, you will not die a good death. You will not die a good death. Blue Immortal will definitely not let you off the hook,¡± Lu Zhanyuan said in a serious voice.


    Yun Zhonghe went up to him, took out a knife, and sighed as he said, ¡°Lu Zhanyuan, you are making things very difficult for me. I have the heart to let you go, but you¡¯ve got such grit and tenacity that you are not begging for mercy, nor are you willing to yield under a soft approach. Even if I have wanted to let you go, I can¡¯t find a way for you to step down.¡±


    Lu Zhanyuan asked, ¡°I, if I beg for mercy, will you let me go?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I have nothing against you. So long as you admit your mistake, we can still remain good comrades,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Lu Zhanyuan hurried shouted, ¡°Yun AoTian, I was wrong. I am as blind as a bat. I failed to recognize you for who you are and actually went against you. Please let me go, please spare this lowly life of mine.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You know you¡¯ve done wrong.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Shout father.¡±


    Lu Zhanyuan shouted in utter humiliation, ¡°Father.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Shout grandfather.¡±


    Lu Zhanyuan was so overwhelmed with agony that he would rather die, but he shouted, ¡°Grandfather, your grandson has done wrong. Please forgive me.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Since you know that you are wrong, then don¡¯t blame Grandfather for punishing you. After all, I am not exactly punishing you without any prior teaching.¡±


    Then, deceptively, he took a sharp knife out and cut into Lu Zhanyuan¡¯s glistening, fair body a few times.


    Lu Zhanyuan let out a miserable howl all of a sudden.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, I¡¯ll kill your whole family, I¡¯ll kill your whole family¡­¡±


    Yun Zhonghe smiled and said, ¡°Grandson, bear with me a little while more. Grandfather is going to spread dung on your wounds.¡±


    Then, he took the boiling dung water and applied it to Lu Zhanyuan¡¯s wounds.


    ¡°Good grandson, I know it hurts, but you have to bear with it. We are doing this for the good of mankind.¡±


    Sure enough, just a few hours later, Lu Zhanyuan¡¯s wounds became infected and inflamed. He started running a high fever.


    Yun Zhonghe gave him penicillin.


    And once again, something miraculous happened. Lu Zhanyuan¡¯s fever subsided very quickly.


    After stopping the medication, his temperature went back up. Yun Zhonghe administered the medicine for the second time, and Lu Zhanyuan¡¯s fever subsided again.


    Although much of this was already expected, Lady Cold Jade still found it amazing.


    This was truly a divine medicine. It was a divine medicine that could produce an immediate effect. Not only could it save Jing Wubian, but there was also no telling how many more people it could save on the battlefield in the future. It might even hold an epoch-making significance.


    If this medicine could be mass-produced, it could change the entire battlefield landscape.


    The contribution that Yun Zhonghe made this time was much too significant.


    ¡°Lady Cold Jade, we don¡¯t have much of the divine medicine left now. It¡¯s barely enough to treat Master Jing Wubian. Are we still going to waste it on some Tom, Dick, and Harry? Besides, Physician Lu Zhanyuan is also dying for the future of mankind. It is a glorious death. Don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Lady Cold Jade left without saying a word.


    The next thing that happened was that the Physician Lu Zhanyuan howled miserably for an entire day and night.


    Then, he died!


    Yun Zhonghe felt a twinge of pity for him. After all, this was the first time someone had ever called him grandfather. He had felt a little emotionally attached.


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe took over all of Jing Wubian¡¯s treatment.


    It was a combination of Chinese and Western medicines, with penicillin to combat inflammation and traditional Chinese medicine as its supporting treatment.


    It was truly a miracle when a dying person was brought back to life. Jing Wubian got better with each passing day.


    First, his fever was gone entirely. Then he stopped coughing up blood, and his breathing also gradually became smoother.


    After that, the swelling of the lymph nodes also subsided.


    The festering wounds all over his body were also beginning to form scabs.


    The rate of which he was recovering was so fast that it was astonishing, and all the physicians were simply amazed.


    It was really beyond anyone¡¯s expectations that this dirty, messy, and unsightly beggar, Yun AoTian, even possessed such miraculous healing skills. It was really a situation where one should never judge a book by its cover.


    And what really made Jing Wubian ecstatic was that one fine morning, after waking up from his sleep, he could not hold his bladder and so, having mentally prepared himself to face hell, he went to pee.


    It was a nightmare for him every time he had to pee. That fiery, burning, knife-cutting pain simply agonized him to the point where he felt like dying.


    Honestly speaking, he was still not very happy, even if Yun Zhonghe had saved his life.


    Because it really was better to die than to live in such pain.


    However¡­


    This time, when he peed, it was as though something was different.


    It was actually¡­ not as painful.


    This¡­ This¡­ Was this an illusion?


    And what he did pee was no longer blood.


    Jing Wubian still did not dare to take it lightly, for his only fear was that this might just be a momentary relief.


    But after that, every time he peed, he could feel some difference.


    The fiery, burning pain grew lighter and milder.


    Also, he had completely recovered from the horrible festering and discharge.


    Until one fine day, when he peed, he no longer felt the slightest twinge of pain.


    God!


    I, Jing Wubian, am saved.


    How many years has it been?


    Finally, boundlessly, I can feel carefree without inhibitions again.


    ***


    More than half a month passed.


    When Jing Wubian got up from his bed and made his way to Yun Zhonghe¡¯s little courtyard, everyone knew that Master Jing Wubian was mostly healed.


    This beggar, Yun AoTian, had really saved Master Jing Wubian¡¯s life.


    And he also cured him of a terminal sickness that had tormented him with such unbearable pain that he would rather die. He had given a new life to this son of a lord.


    At this time, Yun Zhonghe was refining a new batch of penicillin.


    Suddenly, the door slammed open, and Jing Wubian rushed in.


    His eyes looked straight at Yun Zhonghe.


    He had just recovered. Of course, acute nephritis was not that easily cured. But, so long as anti-inflammatory measures were in place to prevent any complications, and Jing Wubian strictly abstained from certain foods, this sickness would heal itself within a few months.


    The only trouble was his prostatitis, which was really difficult to effect a permanent cure for. And also, there was still a chance of relapse.


    But so long as medication was properly administered and the condition was brought under control, it would not cause Jing Wubian much pain.


    At least the most painful urethritis was considered completely cured.


    ¡°Master Jing Wubian, what are you doing? I know that I¡¯m very handsome and filled with infinite charm, but¡­ certain taboos are better left unbroken,¡± Yun Zhonghe said timidly as he instinctively took a few steps back while covering his buttocks.


    ¡°Kneel down.¡± Jing Wubian said with an unprecedented austerity.


    Yun Zhonghe hesitated for a moment, then knelt down.


    Jing Wubian suddenly went down on one knee as well.


    ¡°Heavens above and Earth below, from this day on, I, Jing Wubian, and Yun AoTian, will be brothers, albeit with different surnames. We don¡¯t seek to be born on the very same day, but may we die on the very same day,¡± Jing Wubian said.


    This¡­ This was just too sudden, was it not?


    Then, Jing Wubian¡¯s gaze moved toward him.


    Yun Zhonghe hurriedly recited the oath, saying, ¡°Heavens above and Earth below, from this day on, I, Yun AoTian, and Jing Wubian, will be brothers, albeit with different surnames. We don¡¯t seek to be born on the very same day, but may we die on the very same day.¡±


    At that time, it was as if the song that his teacher, Mr. Liu, was familiar with, was playing in his ears:


    With this bow, I met my soulmate with the spring breeze blowing, and even the peach blossoms are smiling at the altar;


    With this bow, I aspire with an unselfish willingness, to seek to protect my country and safeguard my nation. I will show my great ambition through building my country and establishing its industries.


    ***


    The background music supplemented by his mind ended, and the ceremony where the two of them took the oath of brotherhood ended as well.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°AoTian, how old are you?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe asked, ¡°Then how old are you?¡±


    ¡°Twenty-one,¡± Jing Wubian said.


    ¡°Brother!¡± Yun Zhonghe replied.


    Jing Wubian was startled. He looked at Yun AoTian, who looked like a forty to fifty-year-old beggar, and could not help grimacing.


    Then he looked at Yun Zhonghe with an incomparably serious gaze and said, ¡°AoTian, I¡¯m a lunatic, but I¡¯m not a fool.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe nodded in agreement.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. I also don¡¯t care what your real name is. But you are my one, true brother, and I can give you anything you want. If someone wants to harm you, I will risk my life to protect you. Throughout the entire City of Torn Gust, I¡¯ve got your back.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ AoTian, tell me honestly, what exactly did you want to do when you came into the residence of the castellan? If you want to be rich, just with this divine medicine of yours, that you made out of rotten watermelons, you can enjoy a lifetime of richness. What exactly do you want?¡± Jing Wubian said, ¡°No matter how terrible it is, you can tell me about it. I am never going to tell anyone else.¡±


    Jing Wubian looked at Yun Zhonghe seriously and said word by word, ¡°I can even swear that if I leak out as much as half a sentence of it, my ancestral graves would be dug up and their bones and remains would be chewed to pieces by wild hounds. I will die a terrible death, and even after death, my body will be fed to the hounds.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was shocked.


    Brother Wubian, you¡­ Are you having fun? Cursing your ancestors, cursing yourself, and yet you do it with such extremity. This is really my first time seeing something like this.


    ¡°AoTian, you are my brother, so no matter what your purpose is for finding your way into the residence of the castellan, I can understand, and I will definitely help you if it¡¯s within my means.¡± Jing Wubian was still very serious.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°This is really a difficult subject to talk about.¡±


    ¡°What could be so difficult to talk about? You¡¯re crazy, and I¡¯m also a lunatic. Both of us are out of our minds. What else can we not say to each other?¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Speak up. If you really see me as your brother, you can just tell me about it.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°My goal is very simple. It is money, power, and beauty. Now that the Land of No King is in chaos, it is the right time for me to make contributions and establish my career. It is the moment where I can realize my noble life ambition.¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Don¡¯t beat about the bush. Be more direct.¡±


    More direct, was it? Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°A straightforward person does not resort to insinuations. I have set my sights on your sister, your blood sister!¡±


    At that very moment, a peerlessly beautiful figure appeared outside and glided in!

 Chapter 34

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Instantly, Jing Wubian felt as though he was struck by lightning as he looked at the beggar-like Yun Zhonghe in complete disbelief.


    I¡­ I¡­ I¡­


    Were beggars nowadays all so ambitious? Look at your weed-like hair, your entire set of beggar clothes that are full of holes, and also, your dirty, unruly face.


    Going down the street to find some courtesan who was worth a few copper coins should be your greatest pursuit. Yet you actually have your sights set on my sister? You even want to devour her?


    My sister, Jing Zhongyue, is the most beautiful woman in the Land of No King. And she is also the only female governor. It is the dream of the sons of barons in the entire Land of No King to marry Jing Zhongyue.


    Especially at that particular moment in time. As long as the City of Torn Gust was willing to reach out for help and protection, both the Southern Zhou Kingdom and the Great Ying Empire would be willing to send a man from their royal families to marry Jing Zhongyue.


    And the queue of those who wanted to marry Jing Zhongyue, from royalty to baronage, would start in the City of Torn Gust and not end until it reached the edge of the world.


    Therefore, the lunatic Jing Wubian¡¯s world outlook, values, and outlook on life were overturned.


    It took a full moment before he asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°AoTian, what¡¯s your family background like? What do your parents do?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I have no parents, I am an orphan. My origins are those of beggars and thugs.¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Then what scholarly honors and merits do you have?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you before? I dropped out of school after my first year of initiation.¡±


    Jing Wubian asked, ¡°Then, then what talents do you have?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Cheating and swindling, kidnapping and abducting, a gold-digger and love swindler.¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°And with these, you still¡­ still think you can have Jing Zhongyue?¡±


    In an intense and enthusiastic tone, Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Brother, you are wrong in saying this. I¡¯m penniless, but your sister is rich, easily the richest in the world; I have no scholarly merits and did not receive an education, but your sister is a woman of great scholarship and wealthy in knowledge. Physically, I am feeble and weak, but your sister¡¯s martial arts ability is remarkable. Once the two of us get together, won¡¯t we have everything we need? We are clearly a match made in heaven.¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°If my sister provides everything, then what are you going to contribute?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I have an incomparably handsome face, isn¡¯t that enough?¡±


    Jing Wubian thought for a moment and drew his dagger.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? Could it be that you are going to kill me? Clearly, you forced me to speak what¡¯s on my mind, and I¡¯ve taken into account that we are brothers sworn by an oath, which is why I am willing to empty the secrets in my heart without reservations.¡±


    D*mn, this secret in your heart is really hair-raising.


    Jing Wubian passed the dagger to Yun Zhonghe and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s better if you just kill me. Even though I¡¯ve sworn to take you as my brother, and even though you¡¯re my benefactor who pulled me back from the jaws of death; even though Jing Zhongyue and I may be irreconcilable with each other, always at the point where we have daggers drawn, I still can¡¯t help you ruin her. Would that not be like throwing a white swan into a cesspit?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Jing Wubian, you¡¯re really too much. That¡¯s right, I am a toad. But who sets such a rule that forbids a toad from lusting after a white swan? I want to have this white swan, your sister. Is this goal a mistake? Is it wrong? Don¡¯t worry, even if there comes a day where your sister is so blind that she marries me, we¡¯ll still keep the records straight. You will call me brother-in-law, while I will call you brother.¡±


    ¡°Brother, your sister is the Number One beauty in the Land of No King. She is just like a big chunk of fat meat that countless flies in the world are coveting. Instead of giving her to outsiders, isn¡¯t it better to just let me have her? After all, we are sworn to each other by oath, and we are brothers. We should keep the goodies within the family!¡±


    ¡°I, Yun AoTian, have been honest and aboveboard all my life. And I am a man of my words, so I strictly adhere to what I say. If I say I want to sleep with your sister, then I really mean that I want to sleep with her. If I say I want to cheat her of body and money, then I really intend to cheat her both of body and money. What¡¯s wrong with me being a beggar? Is there any rule that states a beggar can¡¯t marry a goddess? My big brother, Duan Yanqing, is a crippled beggar, but still, he slept with the princess consort, Dao Baifeng.¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe toned down and whispered, ¡°Of course, it will be good if you, my brother, are the only one who knows of this obscene and daring goal of mine. Never, ever let another person know about it. Whether it¡¯s your mother or Lady Cold Jade, so long as anyone finds out about it, I¡¯m nothing more than a goner. If your sister finds out, I¡¯ll probably be shredded into pieces and fed to the hounds.¡±


    However, at that moment, Yun Zhonghe suddenly felt a chill coming from behind him.


    Jing Wubian¡¯s expression also became strange. His body began to tremble, and he was having trouble breathing properly.


    A trembling Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Jing Wubian, cut the pretense. I know there¡¯s no one behind me. Don¡¯t you dare to try and scare me.¡±


    For some reason, every single hair on Yun Zhonghe¡¯s back stood on end. His long, weed-like hair that had not been washed for days also seemed ready to do the same.


    And there was the vague urge to pee in his pants.


    A full moment later, Jing Wubian said, ¡°AoTian, why don¡¯t you turn around to take a look?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe turned around with exceptional difficulty. It was as if his neck had turned rusty.


    Then, he saw a pair of eyes that were exceptionally gorgeous and a face so beautiful that it was heart-stopping.


    It was none other than the She-Devil who had taken countless lives, the queen of 13,000 square kilometers of land and hundreds of thousands of people, Jing Zhongyue.


    It was the Jing Zhongyue who could kill Yun Zhonghe as if she were crushing an ant.


    Yun Zhonghe felt as though he could not breathe, and with great difficulty, he turned around and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°I¡­ Is it too late for me to kneel now?¡±


    Jing Wubian shook his head.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°How much do you think the wise and great, benevolent and munificent Queen Castellan has heard?¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Should be all of it.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe asked, ¡°Then do you think I will die?¡±


    Jing Wubian replied, ¡°Yes, I think you will.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Then what do you think would be the better thing for me to do?¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Commit suicide.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°And you are not going to save me at all?¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°I will burn some incense paper for you.¡±


    D*mn you, so heartless!


    He did not know how much time had passed, but the next time Yun Zhonghe turned around with great difficulty, he found that the She-Devil, Jing Zhongyue, had already left.


    Jing Wubian went up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and said, ¡°My condolences to you.¡±


    D*mn, do you know how to use your vocabulary well?


    Then, Jing Wubian immediately left.


    Only Yun Zhonghe was left alone in this little courtyard that reeked beyond compare.


    His head full of long, withered, grass-like hair was swaying in the wind.


    ***


    Half an hour later!


    A few elite warriors kicked the door open and entered Yun Zhonghe¡¯s little courtyard.


    Without saying a word, they put the shackles on Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, come with us.¡±


    ¡°Where to?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°A place where you belong,¡± said the leader of the warriors.


    Then, several warriors immediately escorted Yun Zhonghe out of his little courtyard and headed outside.


    Along the way, Blue Immortal and his disciple, Lan Yu, saw the scene unfolding and were instantly startled.


    This, what was going on?


    Yun Zhonghe had just made a meritorious achievement by saving Jing Wubian¡¯s life. And, he had offered such a valuable divine medicine. He was just about to make it big and achieve a successful life.


    This was why, for the past few days, Blue Immortal had been racking his brains and gone to great lengths to find ways to kill Yun Zhonghe.


    It could be said that he had conjured countless murderous plots to kill Yun Zhonghe.


    But it was beyond his expectation that Yun Zhonghe would be finished even before he could start executing his deadly plots.


    You¡­ you¡¯re such a suicidal one, you lunatic.


    Even before I can bring harm to you, you have already sent yourself right to the jaws of death, haven¡¯t you?


    This, this is probably the same as you dying before I can shoot my arrow, right? My arrows are really just too accurate.


    Lan Yu asked, ¡°Centurion Lin, what crime has this Yun AoTian committed?¡±


    ¡°My apologies, your humble subject doesn¡¯t know,¡± the leader of these warriors said respectfully. He really had no idea.


    Lan Yu¡¯s handsome face revealed a dark coldness as he said, ¡°Yun AoTian, you¡¯re really so good at getting yourself into trouble, so good at courting your own doom. It¡¯s such a pity that I can¡¯t kill you with my own hands.¡±


    ***


    Half an hour later!


    Yun Zhonghe eventually knew where this troop of warriors was escorting him. It was an underground death row that was not far from the residence of the castellan.


    It was definitely a real death row, for all who were imprisoned there were convicts awaiting death sentences.


    The struggle for hegemony between the Southern Zhou Empire and the Great Ying Empire had brought about unrest and turbulence in the Land of No King. There was a need to mete out heavy punishment in such chaotic and rough times.


    Initially, Jing E was considered to be a decisive character when it came to killing, but Jing Zhongyue was even more ruthless.


    At its most peaceful times, the Great Ying Empire had executed no more than one thousand death-row convicts in a year.


    Yet in just the City of Torn Gust alone, in the mere one year or so following her ascension to the throne, Jing Zhongyue had already killed over a thousand people.


    She would kill a batch of prisoners almost every three months.


    And the current batch of death-row convicts would be facing execution a few days later.


    After entering death row, Yun Zhonghe discovered that there were as many as a few hundred people in there. Every cell was packed with a few dozen people, and there was not even space for them to turn around.


    Yun Zhonghe was thrown into an ordinary cell or something like that, where there were more than twenty people, and where the stench in the air was truly overwhelming.


    Some of the prisoners were sick, some were injured, some had broken legs, and some were entirely covered in blood that also had pus mixed in.


    Flies were flying around in a frenzied manner. The smell was practically nauseating. It was truly suffocating.


    Once inside, finding a place to sit was a luxury, let alone attempting to lay down. Also, there was urine and feces everywhere, along with dead bodies and blood that had changed and turned putrid.


    If hell really existed, then this was definitely it.


    Although there were a few hundred people in the entire underground prison, it was not too noisy, other than the moans of pain. And there was no one crying out calls of injustice.


    This was one death row with a truly deathly atmosphere.


    Beside Yun Zhonghe was a warrior who was bleeding all over. He was strong and imposing, like a tiger. It seemed as though his entire body was inscribed with only four words: fugitive from the law.


    ¡°What crime have you committed?¡± he asked Yun Zhonghe.


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°Flirting with and teasing the Lady Castellan.¡±


    All eyes looked his way. Instinctively, they all retreated half a foot back and left a space.


    Brother, you¡¯re remarkable. You can have a seat here.


    1The extent to how keen you are in courting death is, with due honesty, unprecedented.


    Castellan Jing Zhongyue, the She-Devil who killed people like others slaughtered chickens. You dared to flirt with her?


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe stayed like that on death row for three days and three nights.


    Other than the water sent to him, there was no food whatsoever.


    Inside the cells, people were constantly dying, but no one cared. The dead bodies were not even taken away.


    For three days and three nights, almost no one spoke at all. They were all just waiting quietly for death to come.


    On the fourth day, all the cell doors opened.


    A group of warriors walked in and linked all the convicts up with shackles and chains. Then they were escorted out of death row and brought to a schoolyard.


    There was already a troop of new recruits lined up in a neat formation as they waited there.


    All the death row convicts knelt.


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    ¡°Kill!¡±


    With this order, the new recruits raised their hands and then lowered their blades.


    One by one, the death row convicts fell to the ground and died.


    These were not professional executioners. They were just new recruits. Getting them to carry out the beheading was just a way of training their fortitude.


    Because of this, some of the inmates did not die with a single blow. They had to endure several strikes or even put up with the knives being stuck in their necks with no one able to pull them out.


    That was indeed a pain worse than death itself.


    Yun Zhonghe was last in the line of all the death row convicts.


    It was a full half an hour.


    He watched the beheading process for a full half an hour.


    A whole two hundred or more people were beheaded right before his eyes.


    When it was his turn, a leading warrior from the residence of the castellan stepped forward, and with a sudden slash, he hacked Yun Zhonghe¡¯s shackles in two.


    ¡°You come with me.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe followed him and entered the residence of the castellan once more.


    ***


    This was Yun Zhonghe¡¯s first time stepping into the central mansion of the residence of the castellan. This was the place where Jing Zhongyue lived.


    This place was completely different from the west mansion. It was neither splendid nor magnificent. It appeared to be extremely solemn and dignified.


    Outside the main gate, Yun Zhonghe saw Jing Wubian, who was kneeling on the ground without making a single movement.


    He was bound up, and there were many wounds all over his body. It was very obvious that he had just finished a round of self-mutilation to convince Jing Zhongyue.


    Seeing Yun Zhonghe enter, Jing Wubian shouted, ¡°It¡¯s okay, AoTian. I¡¯ve got you covered. I said that you¡¯re my brother. So, even if you are intent on courting death, as your brother, I will protect you with my life.¡±


    In his heart, Yun Zhonghe was touched. Are you a fool? Isn¡¯t it painful to inflict such injuries on yourself? It¡¯s really not necessary at all. I¡¯m doing this on purpose.


    ¡°Go in!¡± the leader of warriors said.


    Yun Zhonghe walked in.


    The slender and proud figure of the charming Jing Zhongyue was quietly standing on the top of the stairs, motionless.


    She was just so graceful, so exquisite.


    As white as snow, an unrivaled beauty.


    Such a quiet and beautiful woman. No one could tell that she was the She-Devil who had killed countless people.


    Just a moment ago, she had killed a few hundred people.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, you saved Jing Wubian and even offered a divine medicine. You¡¯ve made a worthy contribution. What reward do you want?¡±


    ¡°As I¡¯ve said, I am someone far more generous than you can ever imagine.¡±


    ¡°Name any reward you want. You can just name it, any reward!¡±

 Chapter 35

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    This woman really doesn¡¯t seem like a good person. (In a Dutch accent)*


    This was what Yun Zhonghe cried in his heart after seeing Jing Zhongyue once again.


    These four days and four nights, Jing Zhongyue had tormented him to the point of misery.


    At that point, Jing Zhongyue had not even mentioned a single word of the embarrassing moment from a few days ago. It was as if she had not heard anything about Yun Zhonghe wanting to sleep with her.


    Now, she was actually saying that any reward was possible.


    Was it really anything he wanted?


    I know, what are you all thinking of? Trying to get Yun Zhonghe to say something like I want to sleep with you.


    But I¡¯m so sorry. Yun Zhonghe was only a crazy lunatic; he was not a fool.


    For the last few days, Jing Zhongyue had him thrown onto death row, and compelled him into watching a grand scene of people being beheaded. That was just to warn him not to talk nonsense. If he were to talk about sleeping with her and things like that again, then he might find it a challenge to keep his head from rolling off his neck. And even if he managed to keep his head on, he might not be able to ensure that his manhood remained intact.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°If it¡¯s money that you want, just name your price. So long as you open your mouth to ask for it, I¡¯ll give it all.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s a beautiful woman that you want, I can give you ten in one go.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s a house that you want, I can give you a mansion with a courtyard that spans an area of eight acres.¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s a field that you want, I can give you 80 acres worth of land.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you can have all of the above.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Yun Zhonghe was instantly dumbfounded.


    This¡­ This woman was really a generous one, yeah. Jing Wubian was a money-losing proposition, so Yun Zhonghe was definitely not worth so much money.


    This would be the reward for his invention of penicillin.


    If Yun Zhonghe accepted all these things, it would be equivalent to becoming a billionaire overnight.


    To be honest, Yun Zhonghe really did wish he could just agree to it. Then he would not need to do anything at all. Every day, he could just idle his time away while waiting for death to come knocking at his door.


    But Yun Zhonghe had a motto: I¡¯m not interested in money.


    This was true. He also had done the same when he was on Earth.


    He was already earning an extremely high income, but he spent way much more than what he brought in. Whenever he ran short of cash, he would flip open his phone and tap on a V-message sent by an ex-girlfriend and make a single complaint about how poor he was lately.


    If nothing unexpected happened, the ex-girlfriend would soon send over a big red envelope, which usually contained at least a five-digit sum or more. It was practically without exception. Even if this ex-girlfriend had enlisted someone to hack him up a few days prior, she would still give him the money without a word.


    But what they hated about him was that after Yun Zhonghe was done asking for money from them, he would put them on his blacklist by blocking them.


    This is really too much. I can forget about how a b*stard like you cheated me of my money and body, but why would you only cheat me once?


    Of course, there was one kind of ex-girlfriend whose red packet he would never accept. Those were the beautiful female patients who he had once treated. If he eventually developed their relationship to that of a couple, then even if they were to break up after that, he would still absolutely not accept any red envelopes from them.


    For fear of being unable to make things clear!


    A jerk could accept an ex-girlfriend¡¯s red envelope, but a doctor should never accept a red envelope from his patient. This was a reflection of good professional ethics.


    Back to the topic at hand!


    What did Yun Zhonghe want as his reward?


    ¡°I want to be an official, and my official position must not be lower than Li Tian¡¯s.¡± Yun Zhonghe was very straightforward and frank.


    This was why Yun Zhonghe would be so daring as to court his own doom by saying he wanted to sleep with Jing Zhongyue.


    Jing Zhongyue was very generous. She would give houses, money, women, industries, and fertile land. And, these were all worth a great fortune. If it were someone average, anyone would have been tempted, especially when Yun Zhonghe was a beggar who hobnobbed with people at the bottommost level of society.


    You don¡¯t want any of these riches and possessions, but you want to be an official? That¡¯s very suspicious. No matter what, you still seem like a spy from a hostile nation who has infiltrated into our palace. That¡¯s very ambitious of you.


    But now, everything made sense.


    I, Yun AoTian, only have one purpose in healing Jing Wubian and offering divine medicine. That is, to rise to the top overnight, conquer the Lady Castellan, and become the man behind you, Jing Zhongyue.


    A fly like him, a toad like him, was nothing new to Jing Zhongyue. She had seen such people thousands of times. But Yun Zhonghe was simply the most shameless toad of them all.


    I want to be an official. Then, step by step, I will climb up the ladder as I continue to display my talents and to sparkle and shine, just to prove one thing. To prove that I, Yun AoTian, am worthy of you, Queen Jing Zhongyue.


    Of course, impressing Jing Zhongyue and getting her to see him in a completely different light was only the first step.


    This woman, Jing Zhongyue, was simply too remarkable. She was too arrogant, and she was also extremely ruthless.


    So, just a show of talent was never going to be enough, not at all.


    After making her impressed, it was time to move on to step two, which was to give her a most unforgettable experience of being hurt.


    ***


    Then, the next would be the third step, and that was to transform from a demon to an angel. He would do his utmost best to turn the tide and save her from her desperation. To save her from her fate.


    ¡°I want to be an official, and my official position must not be lower than Li Tian¡¯s,¡± Yun Zhonghe repeated once more.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I must tell you if you accept these possessions, then you are still a friend of the residence of the castellan. Even if you occasionally do something akin to courting death, I won¡¯t really do anything to you. But the moment you become an official of the City of Torn Gust, then the requirements are completely different. Once you make a mistake, you will not be spared from the rod, you will not be spared from demotion, you will not be spared from imprisonment, and you may even face death.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I understand. When working as an official, I have to adhere to the rules of the officials.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°You and Jing Wubian are brothers sworn by oath. If you are just a common civilian without any title, he can certainly back you up and allow you to go rampant in any way you please in the City of Torn Gust. Even if you go around bullying people, you will still be fine. But if you become an official, then he is not your backer. On the contrary, he becomes the bane of your life.¡±


    This was also something that Yun Zhonghe himself knew all too well.


    What was Jing Wubian? He was a malignant tumor in the City of Torn Gust. Someone who almost everyone wanted to wallop.


    And this fool who thought so highly of himself even proclaimed, on a daily basis, that he was going to dethrone Jing Zhongyue and take back his rightful place as Castellan of the city. In this way, who else would dare to get close to him? The officials of the entire City of Torn Gust avoided him as though he was a venomous snake or scorpion.


    Also, Yun Zhonghe and Jing Wubian had taken an oath to be bonded and were already labeled as each other¡¯s brother, so it was definitely going to be difficult for him to move as much as an inch as an official.


    ¡°I understand, but I still want to be an official,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°I want to prove to some people how excellent, outstanding, and amorous, that I, Yun AoTian, can be.¡±


    D*mn, if you are so ignorant and never did excel in school, please refrain from such indiscriminate use of proverbs.


    Jing Zhongyue squinted her pretty eyes.


    She was someone with a unique character. She carried herself with the demeanor of a monarch, meaning whatever she said and never failing to put her words into action.


    Since she said that she was going to reward Yun Zhonghe, then so long as Yun Zhonghe named what he wanted, she would absolutely keep her word to fulfill her promise to him.


    But what kind of a character was this Yun Zhonghe? A gangster, a beggar, a scumbag, a lunatic.


    When it came to academic ability, he had no scholarly merit to speak of. He dropped out of school after a year of initiation during his early childhood.


    In terms of martial arts ability, this man was physically weak and feeble. A strong ten-year-old child could easily pin him to the ground and give him a violent bashing.


    Could such a man also be an official in the City of Torn Gust?


    Though the City of Torn Gust was situated within the Land of No King, it had also inherited the few hundred years of the baronage. It was, nonetheless, very formal and serious.


    And the City of Torn Gust was a prosperous city, after all. Basically, all the officials there were elites. Every official to assume a position would essentially be someone who had made great achievements or came from an influential family.


    There were even local scholars in the highest level of the imperial examinations, not to mention the successful candidates that came from different provinces. And they were all candidates and scholars who emerged admirably from the imperial examinations.


    Would it not be the world¡¯s greatest joke to allow such a human scum like Yun Zhonghe to become an official of the City of Torn Gust, and furthermore, an official of quite a high level?


    Li Tian was already an unqualified military officer, but he was, nonetheless, a graduate from the Heavenly Academy of Martial Arts. And he did have good grades.


    If someone like Yun Zhonghe were to become an official? Then where would the solemnity of the City of Torn Gust¡¯s officials be? Where would its authoritativeness be?


    But he had made a significant contribution after all, especially with respect to the offering of his divine medicine.


    And this castellan, Jing Zhongyue, took her words seriously, and never failed to stay true to her word.


    ¡°Alright, you have my word.¡± Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I will pick an official position for you, and it will definitely not be lower than Li Tian¡¯s.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°It better not be some idle position that is insignificant and inconspicuous. It must be one with real power. It must be impressive.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°A key official position with real power? Then let me tell you this. The more vital the position, the greater the responsibility, the likelier it is to make a mistake, and the easier it is to get yourself beheaded.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Getting beheaded is the thing that I¡¯m least afraid of.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Then, before this, have you ever assumed any official position?¡±


    The way this goddess speaks, she really likes to break her sentences up.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Of course I have.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°What kind of official position?¡±


    ¡°Head of the begging group of the Beggar¡¯s Sect. I have three little beggars under me, and they range from three to eight years of age,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. And he was not lying about this.


    Such a resume, and you¡¯re still speaking of it so proudly. How did you manage to do this?


    Who gave you the courage to want to be a high-ranking official with real power when you are nothing more than a scumbag who managed a team comprised of only three little beggars?


    ¡°Very well, I will give you an official position with real power. And this authority is not small, at that,¡± Jing Zhongyue said.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°By the way, it has to be within the City of Torn Gust, close to the residence of the castellan. Because I still have to come home to the residence of the castellan.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I will be hacked to death if I live outside.¡±


    You do have self-awareness and know your place.


    ¡°That will do,¡± Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°But I must tell you that I am extremely stringent with the officers under me. If you do not perform to my expectations, it will take me less than three days to strip you of your post and throw you straight out of the City of Torn Gust. All those possessions that I have promised you earlier would cease to be yours. All your previous contributions would be written off as well.¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°I¡¯m not only going to hold on to this post firmly; I¡¯m going to make it a great success and do so well that my brilliance will blind everyone. I am going to surpass all the previous officials. I am going to make the entire City of Torn Gust see how a beggar can be a rising star. I, Yun AoTian, am destined to be a brilliant star that lasts for eternity. I am definitely not just a flashing meteor that lasts only for a moment.¡±


    At this point in time, Jing Zhongyue simply felt that it would be pure torture for her to speak even one more word to the lunatic in front of her.


    She waved her hand right away and said, ¡°Go out and get ready. Someone will bring you on board tomorrow.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Remember, I must hold real power. The position must be something great.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This position is definitely not going to disappoint you,¡± Jing Zhongyue said indifferently.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Then I will be waiting. Thank you, Lady Castellan, for your patronage.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue waved her hand.


    Two warriors came in without warning and pulled him up, lifting him off the ground and out of the hall. They headed outside and threw him out the door.


    Outside the door, Yun Zhonghe crashed to the ground with a ¡®pia¡¯ sound.


    And so, he simply went along with the flow of the situation he was in and laid down on the ground. Then, he gracefully fell into a world of fantasies.


    Lord Feng Xingmie, Boss Xu, I have officially entered our enemy¡¯s inner circle. I have become an honorable key official of the City of Torn Gust.


    But what kind of official position will Queen Jing Zhongyue assign me?


    Being high ranking and having actual great power sounds like a lot of fun.


    Tomorrow, please come quickly. I, Yun Zhonghe, am going to take up a new official position in a most majestic and awe-inspiring way.

 Chapter 36

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    ¡°AoTian, are you alright?¡± Jing Wubian asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got your back. No one will dare to touch you.


    ¡°If anyone dares to kill you, I¡¯ll fight them to death.¡±


    Jing Wubian walked over, waving both hands in a dignified and stately manner. There were more than a dozen wounds all over his body.


    ¡°Look at me, am I tough or not? Vicious or not? Jing Zhongyue was intimidated then and there, so she did not dare to do anything to you. When it comes to being vicious, I have never been afraid of losing to anyone.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe looked at the wounds all over him and also at the traces of blood on his forehead.


    He could imagine the scene at that time. Jing Wubian holding a knife and raging at Jing Zhongyue, saying, ¡°You better release my brother, AoTian. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for being rude.¡±


    Then, without warning, he slashed himself with the knife again and again.


    Later on, when the knife was taken away and he was being tied up, he banged his forehead against the ground.


    You are indeed tough enough to mutilate yourself as if your body was not yours.


    ¡°AoTian, let me tell you. The moment I toughen up, even I¡¯m afraid of myself.¡± Jing Wubian was unrivaled in his vigor.


    Yes, that¡¯s right!


    You¡¯re afraid, but your sister is even more afraid. It has not been an easy feat, saving your life. Don¡¯t get yourself killed again because of your carelessness.


    In his heart, Yun Zhonghe was deeply touched. However, he could not help but taunt Jing Wubian as he carefully examined the wounds on Jing Wubian¡¯s body.


    ¡°AoTian, Jing Zhongyue didn¡¯t do anything to you, right?¡± Jing Wubian asked again out of concern.


    ¡°Nothing. With you looking out for me, what can she do to me?¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Then did she give you any reward?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°She did! A massive sea of silver, a mansion that spans over eight acres, ten beautiful women, and a few dozen acres of fertile fields.¡±


    Jing Wubian was astonished and said, ¡°That generous? Am I actually that important?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true, of course,¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°but I didn¡¯t want any of that.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t want them? Is there something wrong with your head? You found your way into my house. Was it not for all the glory and wealth?¡± Jing Wubian asked.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I asked her for an official position with great authoritative power, not of a low rank, and I assume office for this new position tomorrow.¡±


    Jing Wubian was shocked and looked at Yun Zhonghe with disbelief.


    You¡­ you are going to take on an official position? And Jing Zhongyue has agreed to it?


    If it¡¯s just me, Jing Wubian, with a screw loose in my brain, so be it. But how could it be that there¡¯s also a problem with Jing Zhongyue¡¯s brain?


    A crazy human scumbag like you can also be an official? How many years of schooling have you gone through? Can you even shoot an arrow?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Brother, I became an official for you. Do you still remember what I told you before?¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°That line about you wanting to sleep with Jing Zhongyue?¡±


    ¡°No. Before that,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Jing Wubian replied, ¡°That the time of unrest and turbulence in the Land of No King is precisely the right time for you to realize your noble life ambition.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was taken aback. Jing Wubian¡¯s memory was really quite impressive. Even I have forgotten what I said, but Jing Wubian still remembers it. And it was also in a situation when his head was hit so badly that it was splitting apart.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°No, go further back. The line that I said at the very beginning.¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°That within a year, you will oust Jing Zhongyue so that I can ascend to the position of castellan?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°And now, my plan has begun. I will first assume a position and mingle with the others. When I have made it big in the official circle of the City of Torn Gust, I will immediately turn against her, Jing Zhongyue, and help you in claiming your throne.¡±


    What?!


    Jing Wubian was taken aback.


    Though I, Jing Wubian, have a brain that is quite unsound, such events that involve conspiracies and revolts should be said in private, shouldn¡¯t they?


    It was probably no more than twenty steps from there to the hall in the middle mansion belonging to Jing Zhongyue. It was not nice to be talking about conspiracies and revolt, or about staging a rebellion to overthrow someone, at the doorstep of someone else¡¯s place, was it?


    It was said that the walls had ears, but he didn¡¯t even have a wall in between the two.


    The warrior at the door was also startled. You, beggar, can¡¯t you show me some respect? I¡¯m the loyal guard of the castellan, and right in my face, you are talking about conspiring and revolting, and you want to overthrow Castellan Jing Zhongyue?


    Should I take you down without further delay?


    The two warriors guarding the door looked at each other with their blades in their hands. They were hesitating over whether they should arrest this rebel who was speaking of staging the most absurd rebellion of all time.


    But in the end, they lowered their blades, but it was not because they could not bear to do so.


    It was because, inside the main hall, one of the leaders of the lady warriors was reporting to Jing Zhongyue. ¡°Castellan, the beggar Yun AoTian is having a discussion right at your doorstep, and it¡¯s about wanting to stage a conspiracy and revolt to overthrow you, dethrone you, and support Master Jing Wubian in his ascension to take over your place,¡± she said.


    1The She-Devil, Jing Zhongyue, was considered to be quite knowledgeable and had seen all kinds of ridiculous scenes before.


    But this very scene unfolding right before her eyes was really something she had never seen before.


    Could a human possibly be that crazy? And so intent on courting his own doom?


    If he was going to conspire and plot a rebellion, could he at least do it in his own courtyard?


    ¡°Why are you all discussing your conspiracy at my doorstep? Have you considered how I, the target of your conspiracy, would feel?¡± she thought.


    Such a big thing like a rebellion, could they take it more seriously?


    But it was also fine like this, as it would take a lunatic like him less than three days to be completely stripped of his official position and driven out of the City of Torn Gust.


    No, it would only take one day to drive him out.


    Otherwise, he would be a worthless person donning an imposing attire, and he would become the biggest laughingstock ever.


    With a wave of her hands, Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Close the door.¡±


    ¡°If the two of you, Yun AoTian and Jing Wubian, are plotting to usurp the throne, at least don¡¯t let me, your monarch, hear about it, alright?¡± she thought.


    Outside, Yun AoTian was sitting on the ground with a leisurely and serene state of mind. He was listing the steps of how the rebellion would be staged, one by one. ¡°For this rebellion that we are staging, I have divided it into a total of three steps,¡± he said.


    ¡°The first step, I call it ¡®soaring up the ladder of success.¡¯


    ¡°I call the second step, ¡®the shameless betrayal.¡¯


    ¡°And the third step, I call ¡®angels and demons.''¡±


    The warrior who was standing guard at Jing Zhongyue¡¯s door could not bear to hear any more of this. He pulled out a ball of cloth and stuffed it into his ears.


    ¡°This is simply too thunderous; I really can¡¯t take it anymore,¡± he said to himself.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The first step is especially important. I must do well for this first official position of mine. I must do so well that I shine radiantly. Not only must I hold firm to my authority and power, but I must also ensure that this incomparably handsome face of mine is deeply rooted in Jing Zhongyue¡¯s heart. They are the foundations of our great conspiracy. Only when this first step is well taken can we proceed to the next step with more ease.¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Then this second step of yours, what exactly does it mean? The shameless betrayal.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°After the first step has been taken, I would have made a name for myself. I would have shone so brightly that I blinded Jing Zhongyue¡¯s alluring eyes. I would have shown my unmatched, peerless wisdom. So, for my second step, I will push you up there, forcing her to put you solely in charge so you can take on an important official position in the City of Torn Gust. You will have your own territory, you will be rich, you will wield military power, and this way, our great plan to usurp the throne will be more secure.


    ¡°For the third step, we will have to wait for the City of Torn Gust to meet with a catastrophe. Then, we will stage a show of the return of the king, put in our utmost efforts to salvage this desperate situation, and save the centuries-old foundation of the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    Hearing the explanation up until that point, Jing Wubian felt as though something was not right. Because it all sounded so earnest, so serious, it all seemed so real.


    Straight away, Jing Wubian said, ¡°You, you¡¯re dead serious about this, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course. Do you think that plotting to usurp the throne is playing house? Just child¡¯s play? Are you kidding me?¡± Yun Zhonghe cried out in anger.


    Jing Wubian looked around his surroundings, then at the loyal guards standing by Jing Zhongyue¡¯s side.


    Was this not enough to be considered freaking child¡¯s play?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t you want to usurp the throne? Don¡¯t you want to reclaim the seat of the castellan that should be rightfully yours?¡±


    Jing Wubian roared, ¡°Of course I want to. Not a day goes by without me wanting to usurp the throne and take back what belongs to me.¡±


    Then, Jing Wubian whispered, ¡°AoTian, to be honest with you, I¡­ I¡¯m just shouting out for fun, just to let others know of my existence, that¡¯s all. But for you to want to push me up to claim the throne of castellan, it¡¯s probably more difficult than pushing a pig up to take the throne. That¡¯s hellishly difficult.¡±


    ¡°Crap. As a lunatic, is it really good to be as self-aware as you? I think you may not be crazy enough!¡± Yun Zhonghe thought.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°And AoTian, I think that when you assume your new official post tomorrow, it will take you less than a day to be ousted and then expelled from the City of Torn Gust. Jing Zhongyue feels that having just one lunatic like me is enough.¡±


    Then, Jing Wubian suddenly thought of something fun and said in high spirits, ¡°Why don¡¯t we make a bet? In less than a day, you¡¯ll be stripped of this official position of yours, and then you¡¯ll be driven out of the City of Torn Gust, crestfallen and dejected. If I win, you¡¯ll run one round about the residence of the castellan with your buttocks bared. If within a day, you are still not ousted, then we¡¯ll take it as you winning the bet. I will give you five thousand sycees.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was angry but did not bother arguing over the indisputable. So, in a stern voice, he said, ¡°My lord, can you be a little more serious? I¡¯m plotting this great conspiracy for you to usurp the throne.¡±


    Then he said, ¡°I¡¯m fine with betting, but let¡¯s change the stakes. If I win, and if I am not only not ousted within a day, but instead, I make a big kill, then you have to find a way to make Lady Cold Jade faint so that I can kiss her.¡±


    Jing Wubian was furious and said, ¡°Sister Cold Jade is my dream girl. Moreover, haven¡¯t you always wanted to conquer my blood sister?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe flashed a wicked smile and said, ¡°Men, aren¡¯t we all fickle in our affections? Which man wouldn¡¯t fancy the thought of having a houseful of wives and concubines? Hahahaha, heeheeheehee! Are you afraid to take up the bet?¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Deal.¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    Suddenly, Jing Zhongyue, who was inside the main hall, could not take it anymore. Her exquisite, snow-white hands had gripped the hilt of her sword multiple times, where she had wanted to shred Yun Zhonghe into bits and pieces.


    ¡°Throw him out. Throw him far, far away. Throw Jing Wubian out as well.¡±


    Without warning, several warriors stepped forward. Lifting both Jing Wubian and Yun Zhonghe as though they were grabbing little chicks, they threw the former into the west courtyard and the latter into Yun Zhonghe¡¯s ultra-stinky little courtyard.


    Then Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Get the other side ready. From tomorrow on, I don¡¯t ever want to see this person, Yun AoTian, again.¡±


    ¡°Yes, your humble servant will go about it right away,¡± said the leader of the lady warriors. ¡°I will get the other side to prepare an extremely difficult problem and see to it that Yun AoTian is taught a good lesson and makes a grave mistake. After he has assumed office for his new position, I will make him scram within the first half an hour. First, I will give him a good beating until he is half-dead, then he will be stripped of his title and be thrown out of the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    Her monarch was no doubt murderous in nature and had killed countless people, and was thus nicknamed the She-Devil. But she was also someone with superb martial arts skills and was very knowledgeable, quiet, and elegant. She was never one to forget herself or lose her composure.


    But now, her chest was actually heaving up and down, so it was evident that she was angered beyond her limit.


    ***


    The war between men and women had begun.


    This was a battle of extreme disparity. Yun Zhonghe, a mere myna [1] that ran its mouth saying unpleasant words, was going to challenge Jing Zhongyue, this mighty and magnificent phoenix.


    Today, Yun Zhonghe had, once again, angered this phoenix.


    As conceivable as could be, when he was to report for his new official position on the morrow, he was bound to encounter a tremendous problem.


    This way, Jing Zhongyue could dismiss him from his post and then drive him out of the City of Torn Gust. Or she might even beat him until he was half-dead.


    And this tremendous problem was definitely going to be far beyond what Yun Zhonghe was capable of handling.


    ¡°On the morrow, when I officially report for duty, it will be the first war between men and women for me, Yun Zhonghe, and Jing Zhongyue.


    ¡°I have to win, and I have to do it beautifully,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Where is my golden finger?


    ¡°Where are my ingenious psychotic patients? It has been more than 20 days; it¡¯s time for you all to show up.


    ¡°Even if you have been going through your times of the month, they should be over by now.


    ¡°Possess me, you psychopath!¡± Yun Zhonghe shouted in his heart.


    But still, not a single psychotic patient came to possess him.


    ¡°Number Nine? Number Twenty-Three? Number Sixteen?¡±


    Without being psychotic, Yun Zhonghe was afraid that he would not be able to defeat Jing Zhongyue, the phoenix that was so perversely beautiful.


    No doubt, he was very confident in his intelligence, but there would be even greater certainty with the aid of a psychotic golden finger. He would be bound to succeed in everything he did.


    And this was how he could fight more brilliantly for this battle the next day; this was how he could shock Jing Zhongyue.


    But no matter how many times he summoned them, there still was not a single psychopath that would possess him.


    So, he simply closed his eyes and went straight to sleep.


    In his dreams, Yun Zhonghe seemed to have returned to X Psychiatric Hospital, and 26 mental patients were sitting in front of him.


    ¡°It¡¯s been almost a month, and you guys have finally shown up. I¡¯ve really missed you all,¡± he said in his head.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Brothers, the war between Jing Zhongyue and me has begun, and tomorrow is the first battle. You guys have to help me win and utterly destroy them all.¡±


    ***


    [1] One of several Asian birds of the starling family.

 Chapter 37

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    This was also Yun AoTian¡¯s first time seeing twenty-six mental patients sitting together.


    What? You¡¯re asking where Patients One, Two, and Three went?


    How would I know? I have not seen any of them yet. (Not only has Yun Zhonghe not seen them, the author, Cake, has not either)*


    In his dream, Yun Zhonghe went to a chair and sat down. Then, he leaned back tactically and slowly said, ¡°What¡¯s going on? You all disappeared for almost a month, have you grown wings and decided you¡¯re too good? And no longer need to respond to me whenever I, the director of this hospital, summon you?¡±


    ¡°Director, I need to make this clear to you. We are not bathrooms, where you can go to whichever stall you choose, get it?¡± one of the patients said.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You all better get the facts straight. It is you possessing my body, and not me, possessing yours.¡±


    ¡°Director, we feel that you are disrespecting us. You should try to recall what you did earlier, summoning us to possess you as and when you please, and for just any trivial matter at that. Maybe you don¡¯t know this, but every time you summon us to possess you, there is a price to pay.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was startled and asked, ¡°Is that so? There is even a price to pay for summoning you psychopaths to possess me? What price?¡±


    The mental patients did not reply to this question. Instead, they said, ¡°Director, after discussing this and consulting with one another, we¡¯ve decided on one thing.¡±


    ¡°What? You all have decided on one thing? This is really a joke. I am the director, which makes me the one with the final say,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Director, previously, when we were still alive, living under your control was fine. But now that we are dead do we still have to be under your control? If you continue to be so autocratic, then we assure you that in the future, we are never going to show up again. We are never going to possess you again.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was quick to concede defeat as he said, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that. I was just saying this very casually, that¡¯s all. How could I bear to see you all getting upset?¡±


    ¡°This decision that we¡¯ve come to is, from now on, you can only summon one of us to possess your body at any one time per month. Which means to say, you can only possess one unique ability at any one time per month. Within this month, you can summon this psychopath to possess you anytime and anyplace, but you cannot summon anyone else.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Then can I specify a certain person?¡±


    ¡°No, you cannot. This is completely a random selection, five, four, three¡­¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was now extremely sensitive to the countdown and was instantaneously horrified upon hearing it. With a trembling voice, he said, ¡°What do you mean? Are we going to go through another explosion?¡±


    ¡°Three, two, one. The countdown has ended.¡±


    ¡°First month, mental patient on the director¡¯s indicator, random selection begins!¡±


    A streak of light appeared amidst the darkness and randomly shone on the faces of the mental patients.


    Then it began to change randomly.


    The so-called random draw was happening now?


    Yun Zhonghe suddenly began to feel nervous. Because the mental patient chosen would be the only one who could possess him for the whole of the following month.


    Please never, ever draw some garbage talent.


    Also, there was a mental patient who claimed that he could steal other people¡¯s dreams, and that he could even change and manipulate them. Do you think you are staging a show by stealing dreams?


    Also, there was another mental patient who could understand the language of rats. That¡¯s right, rats. Not cats, not dogs, but rats.


    There was another example where some mental patient said he could transform into a woman. Who the hell would want such an ability?


    ¡°Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh¡­¡±


    The shadow of the light went on changing; the draw was still in progress. It was completely random, without any regular pattern at all.


    Please select a mental patient with an exceptional talent!


    Patient Nine, Quantum. Patient Nine, Quantum.


    Or, if not, Patient Twenty-three, Da Vinci, would do as well.


    Suddenly, the pillar of light stopped moving and was fixed on an individual.


    The result of the random draw was out.


    ¡°Director, for the rest of the month, I will be the one serving your needs,¡± the chosen psychotic patient said while laughing sheepishly.


    Yun Zhonghe was shocked. In a trembling voice, he said, ¡°Hey, Auntie, who are you?¡±


    ¡°Director, I am Patient Twenty-seven,¡± the patient replied.


    Twenty-seven?


    What was she? What kind of unique ability did she have?


    In truth, no one could blame Yun Zhonghe for being snobbish. When he was managing X Psychiatric Hospital, his attention was focused on the psychotic patients who had awe-inspiring talents. He would automatically forget about those who did not seem to be remarkable. And when he made his rounds, naturally, he would also neglect them.


    ¡°What abilities do you have?¡± What¡¯s your nickname?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Patient Twenty-seven said, ¡°My nickname is Ghost Bride.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was able to remember now.


    Patient Twenty-seven was the psychopath who claimed that she was psychic.


    Frankly speaking, Patient Twenty-seven was also considered to be very special. For someone to claim that she was psychic, to be able to see ghosts and even communicate with them, was that not impressive enough?


    But¡­


    Ghosts did not exist, be it the modern Earth, or this world. There were simply no ghosts at all.


    In that case, so what if she was a psychic?


    She said she could converse with the dead, but¡­ If the person was already dead, who could prove that what she said was true?


    This was why this Patient Twenty-seven never had the chance to prove her ability.


    ¡°Director, to be honest with you, you¡¯re very handsome, and I¡¯ve been carrying a torch for you for a long time,¡± said Patient Twenty-seven, Ghost Bride, who was salivating at the sight of him. She revealed her eerie face, and while clicking her tongue, she said, ¡°In the following month to come, I will treat you well.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe felt his hair standing on end.


    He just remembered why he had ignored Patient Twenty-seven every time he made his rounds.


    Not only did she seem so creepy that it was almost like she was a Demon-Hag, but there was also one other thing. Every time she saw Yun Zhonghe, she simply could not keep her hands to herself and would get very touchy-feely with him.


    Yun Zhonghe shouted wildly, ¡°No, no¡­¡±


    Then, he woke up with a start.


    After waking up, Yun Zhonghe shook his head.


    It had just been a dream. It was not real, absolutely not real.


    Then, Yun Zhonghe began to try summoning her by saying, ¡°Patient Twenty-seven? Patient Twenty-seven¡­¡±


    The scene that appeared next was horrifying.


    ¡°Director, your slave has arrived!¡±


    ¡°Wow, Director. Your body is so slender; you¡¯re so skinny.¡±


    The words came to him all at once.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s hair stood on end as he cried out to the heavens, yelling, ¡°Oh great heavens, oh great Earth, why are you doing this to me?¡±


    ***


    The next day, he woke up!


    Yun Zhonghe was still shuddering in fear.


    My¡­ Oh my god!


    This Ghost Bride was simply too terrifying. But her face could not be seen clearly. It was as though she was merely someone in a dream. She did not seem to be a soul, but instead, seemed like a character dreamt up by someone with schizophrenia.


    Did it mean that he was going to spend the whole following month with the psychopathic Patient Twenty-seven?


    No. I don¡¯t want this.


    Can I change this?


    Take a deep breath.


    Breathe in and fart!


    He had to calm himself down within the shortest possible timeframe.


    Because there would be a battle today.


    It was the first battle between him and Jing Zhongyue.


    He could not lose!


    The moment he lost this battle, it would mean that he had failed his mission in the City of Torn Gust, and would be declared a failure straightaway.


    What official position would Jing Zhongyue give him?


    What kind of a problem would he be given?


    He had no idea!


    But what was certain was that the other party would absolutely not let him assume this official position without a hitch.


    They would definitely find a way to get him dismissed from office and drive him out of the City of Torn Gust.


    In the face of a fierce battle ahead, will that golden finger of mine really work? Is that Ghost Bride, who is so eager to possess me all the time, really going to be useful to me?


    And at that moment, the door of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s courtyard was suddenly pushed open. Then, a group of warriors came in.


    ¡°Mr. Yun AoTian, come with us. We will take you to the Bureau to take up your new official post,¡± said the leader of the warriors.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°But, I haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡±


    The leader of the warriors paid no heed to what Yun Zhonghe said. With a wave of his hand, two warriors came forward, lifted Yun Zhonghe, and carried him out.


    After they were out of the courtyard, Yun Zhonghe saw Jing Wubian.


    ¡°AoTian, I¡¯ve come to send you off,¡± Jing Wubian said. ¡°And on top of that, your brother has prepared for you, five hundred sycees, some medication for wounds caused by metallic weapons, ointments for broken bones, and other things like that.¡±


    Can¡¯t you wish me well, even if it¡¯s just a little?


    You are simply so sure that I am going to lose today, that I am going to be dismissed from my position, have both my legs broken, and then be driven out of the City of Torn Gust?


    ¡°This rod, what is it used for?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°When you are beaten, put this in your mouth and bite down.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°In doing so, I won¡¯t feel any pain?¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°No, it will still be very painful. But at least it won¡¯t make you bawl your eyes out. You¡¯re my brother, and I can¡¯t afford to lose a person like you.¡±


    Heck!


    Then, Jing Wubian went on to say, ¡°AoTian, you were the one who chose this path. And¡­ I also hope that you will lose. If you lose today, you can still live. If you lose tomorrow, then you will die, for sure.¡±


    As he was saying this, Jing Wubian appeared to be deadly serious.


    Yun Zhonghe was silent for a moment, then he said, ¡°Brother, if anyone says you¡¯re a fool again, I will hack him to death.¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe went on to say, ¡°But this path is the choice I made. And today, I¡¯m going to win. You should prepare to knock Lady Cold Jade unconscious. That little mouth of hers is mine to kiss, that¡¯s for sure.¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe was carried out of the residence of the castellan by two warriors, who headed toward an unknown place.


    ***


    On the bustling streets of the City of Torn Gust.


    ¡°My brothers, I¡¯m apparently going to take up an official post, so why am I being escorted away like this? It¡¯s as if I¡¯m a prisoner,¡± Yun Zhonghe asked. ¡°Look at the way people are looking at me, they all think I¡¯m some death row convict.¡±


    The warriors did not say a word.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°My brothers, where are we going?¡±


    The warriors still did not answer him.


    ¡°What official position am I going to hold?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    The warriors acted as though they were dumb and completely ignored him.


    Almost a quarter of an hour later, the leader of the warriors said, ¡°We have arrived!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe looked up and found that they were in front of a magnificent looking large and solemn building.


    The steps looked so high and mighty. The doors looked cold, and on a gigantic plaque, three large words were written: Torn Gust Bureau.


    Outside the main gate, there was also a huge drum.


    It was really imposing and extremely solemn.


    Those seeing it for the first time would surely have doubts.


    Could it be that this was also the residence of the castellan? Apparently, the residence of the castellan was that massive castle complex on the top of the mountain, was it not?


    Then what was this place in front of them?


    This was the Bureau of the City of Torn Gust.


    The Valley of Torn Gust, under the jurisdiction of one main city and nineteen territories.


    Jing Zhongyue was the master of the entire Valley of Torn Gust; she was a major governor.


    And the City of Torn Gust also had its own chief official, which was called Torn Gust Decree!


    And the Torn Gust Bureau right before them was the organization that held the highest authority managing the City of Torn Gust.


    In terms of the level of power, the Torn Gust Bureau¡¯s authority exceeded that of Black Blood Hall. It was second only to the residence of the castellan. It was this bureau that managed the entire city¡¯s population of more than a hundred thousand people.


    Yun Zhonghe had thought about it many times. Exactly what kind of official post would Jing Zhongyue give him?


    The Protector of the Horses? Chief astronomer? Or any other idle positions that were merely nominal?


    He had even wondered if Jing Zhongyue would create an official position specifically for him, for instance, the Management Committee of Brothels?


    He had not expected that the place where he was going to work would actually be such an excellent place as the Torn Gust Bureau.


    ¡°Go in!¡± the leader of the warriors said. Then, still as if he was escorting a prisoner, he walked Yun Zhonghe into the imposing and magnificent bureau.


    ¡°My brothers, exactly what kind of official position is Castellan Jing Zhongyue giving me?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked with incomparable curiosity and excitement.


    By the looks of it, this rank truly was not small. It also seemed to be very powerful, as well.


    The few warriors still paid him no heed. They brought Yun Zhonghe right into the hall of a courtyard and pressed him into a chair.


    Then, a dozen officers walked in in a dark mass of figures. Lining up neatly before him, they bowed towards Yun Zhonghe and saluted him, ¡°Greetings, my lord!¡±


    ¡°Greetings, my lord!¡±


    Crap, such pomp and circumstance, exactly what kind of an official am I?

 Chapter 38

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Looking at the officers kneeling in a neat formation before him, Yun Zhonghe felt somewhat confused.


    I¡­ Just what kind of an official position was I given?


    Am I this powerful? That I can manage so many people?


    Immediately after, several middle-aged female servants stepped forward and stripped Yun Zhonghe of his shirt.


    ¡°My dear sisters, don¡¯t do this, don¡¯t do this!¡± Yun Zhonghe said in a bashful manner. ¡°I have not bathed in days.¡±


    It was far more than not bathing. His hair was still like weeds, and he had maintained his look of a beggar.


    There there, we are good-looking men all the same, but look at how fine and exquisite that Shen Lang¡¯s life is.


    Luckily, the few female servants did not strip Yun Zhonghe completely naked. This had to be because he had not revealed his incomparably handsome face. Otherwise, he would have lost his chastity by now! Being beautiful men, we must know how to protect ourselves.


    Then, the middle-aged ladies used their rough and strong hands to put Yun Zhonghe¡¯s official uniform and hat on him.


    Somehow or another, this scene felt familiar to Yun Zhonghe.


    Was this a copycat version of the Chen Qiao Mutiny, where he had a green robe draped over him?


    Immediately after that, Yun Zhonghe found that his official uniform was actually green in color, and what about his hat? It wouldn¡¯t be green as well, right?


    But he still did not recognize this official uniform and hat that he had donned. He still had no idea what official position he was assigned.


    But everyone present only had one feeling when they saw Yun Zhonghe in this outfit. They thought he was only going to be an official in name.


    ¡°My Lord, please,¡± a chubby, middle-aged aide said as he came forward and saluted with a bow.


    ¡°Where to?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Lord Wen of Torn Gust Decree has been waiting for a long time,¡± the middle-aged scribe said.


    Lord Wen? Wen Daofu?


    This man was truly a big shot. He was an absolute direct descendant of the former castellan, Jing E, and had made many meritorious contributions to the expansion of the City of Torn Gust. Furthermore, he was also Jing Zhongyue¡¯s teacher.


    This person was such a venerable character that even Jing Zhongyue had to treat him with reverence.


    As for Jing Wubian?


    Sorry, if he were to see this great old lord, he would be like a meek mouse running into a cat. Jing Wubian had been consistently subjected to beatings by Wen Daofu since starting his childhood studies.


    Yun Zhonghe followed the scribe and headed towards the main court of the bureau, with dozens of officials following behind him.


    ¡°My lord, Yun AoTian is here,¡± the middle-aged man said.


    ¡°Come in!¡± A cold voice was heard coming from inside.


    Just by listening to his voice, Yun Zhonghe knew that this was someone who would be very difficult to get along with. This was the stereotypical kind of person who was harsh on himself and even harsher on others.


    The door was pushed open, and Yun Zhonghe walked in.


    Everyone else stood outside the door in a bowing position, not even daring to straighten their backs.


    After entering, Yun Zhonghe saw a thin and gaunt figure donning a vermillion red official uniform. This person was none other than Wen Daofu.


    His official uniform was old and worn out. His skin was old and wrinkled, and he had a face that looked severely sharp as if it had been carved by a knife or tapered by an axe.


    This was an honest and upright official, one who made his subordinates go terror-stricken at the mere sound of him.


    When he saw Yun Zhonghe enter, the other party did not turn around.


    ¡°You are Yun AoTian?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What scholarly merits do you have?¡±


    ¡°Initiation to schooling during early childhood but dropped out after a year,¡± Yun Zhonghe answered.


    ¡°Nonsense¡­¡± Wen Daofu said in a stern voice. ¡°The castellan is really messing around. What does she take my Bureau of Torn Gust for? What does she make out of the position of adviser of the judicial department?¡±


    Hearing this, Yun Zhonghe finally understood what official position he had been given.


    It was, in fact, lord of the judicial department.


    What kind of an official position was this? It was the equivalent of combining a police chief, warden, judge, and prosecutor of the City of Torn Gust, all into one body.


    The chief officer in charge of law and order, punishment and imprisonment, as well as criminal investigation.


    It was an absolute powerhouse of a position. It was a very, very important official position.


    How could Jing Zhongyue actually be so generous as to give this beggar, Yun Zhonghe, such a powerful and significant official position?


    That was simply outrageous.


    Yun Zhonghe merely demanded an official position that was no lower than Li Tian¡¯s. But Li Tian was only a centurion, and not even a centurion of the regular army.


    ¡°What¡¯s your background like? Have you ever assumed the office of any kind of official position?¡± Wen Daofu asked.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I was born into the life of a beggar and a ruffian and have never held any official position.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, nonsense¡­¡± Wen Daofu said in a stern voice. ¡°What do you take my office of the City of Torn Gust for? Do you think any random Tom, Dick, or Harry can also become an official, is that it? Where¡¯s the dignity? Where¡¯s the stateliness?¡±


    ¡°Your name is Yun AoTian, right? Go back to wherever you come from. Scram! Run as far away as you can!¡±


    This old man really had a fiery temper, and it also seemed like he was in a bad mood.


    ¡°Men, throw this beggar out and strip him of his official uniform,¡± Wen Daofu thundered.


    ¡°Hold it!¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lord Wen, the one who sent me here to be an official is Jing Zhongyue, and she is the monarch of the Valley of Torn Gust. Could it be that you are bent on defying her orders? Are you bullying the young ruler just because you think you are qualified and senior enough?¡±


    Wen Daofu¡¯s sharp gaze swept over Yun Zhonghe like electricity. With a sneer, he said, ¡°Little one, the monarch is my student. We are like father and daughter, so it¡¯s not like you can drive a wedge between us.¡±


    This old thing¡¯s eyes were really sharp. Yun Zhonghe apparently appeared to be a forty to fifty-year-old man, yet the old man saw through his guise right away.


    ¡°You come with me,¡± said Wen Daofu of Torn Gust Decree in a cold voice. Then, he walked towards the backyard with a few cold and ruthless warriors following behind him.


    Arriving at the backyard, he opened a secret door and entered a secret underground chamber.


    This secret room was more than ten meters below the surface, and it seemed to be particularly gloomy and scary.


    By right, such an underground basement should be warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but at that point in time, the place was as cold as an ice cellar.


    ¡°The judicial official is the chief officer of matters of punishment and imprisonment. It is of utmost importance. The most important ability of this official position lies in criminal investigation. Do you know how to investigate cases?¡± Wen Daofu asked.


    ¡°I have not tried before. But how do we know if we don¡¯t try?¡± Yun Zhonghe answered.


    The crowd sneered.


    Something like criminal investigation required at least a dozen years of studying and a dozen years of practice.


    You¡¯re just a beggar and a ruffian, what could you know?


    ¡°Have you ever read the book ¡®Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified¡¯? Or ¡®Words of the Dead¡¯?¡± Wen Daofu asked.


    In this world, these were the most fundamental books to introduce one to criminal investigation.


    ¡°No,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    The crowd was even more disdainful of him. There were as many as a few hundred books about criminal investigation. A wall could actually be built by piling all these books up. Any judicial official would have to read all of those books. ¡®Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified¡¯ and ¡®Words of the Dead¡¯ were comprehensively the most enlightening books for initiation.


    You have not even read these two books, and yet, you are talking about solving crimes?


    This had to be the most absurd mistake in the world.


    The long flight of stairs finally came to an end, and they entered the underground chamber.


    It was really frigid in there. Yun Zhonghe was almost shivering from the cold, and it was very obvious that there was a lot of ice hidden there.


    There was a bed set up there and it was covered with a white cloth.


    Lord Wen Daofu stepped forward, and without warning, he lifted the white cloth to reveal a completely naked¡­ corpse.


    It was a middle-aged man, slightly fat.


    There was a wound on his chest where his heart was, and that had led directly to his death.


    ¡°This was the former adviser of the judicial department,¡± Lord Wen Daofu said.


    Yun Zhonghe suddenly shuddered. This meant that this was his predecessor?? He had died on the stage, and was killed by a sword through his heart?


    No wonder?


    A judicial official was the chief officer of punishment and imprisonment, and he had power and influence. It was really one carrot, one pit, where everyone would have a role of his own. How could it possibly be his, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s, turn to take this position?


    It turned out that the former adviser of the judicial department was dead, murdered by someone.


    Then for me to be the new adviser of the judicial department, am I not in a very dangerous situation?


    ¡°Bring them here!¡± Wen Daofu ordered.


    Suddenly, several warriors brought in another three people.


    A scribe, a servant, and a warrior.


    ¡°On your knees!¡±


    The three people knelt on the ground in a straight and stiff stance.


    Lord Wen Daofu said, ¡°Yun AoTian, as an adviser of the judicial department, your utmost priority is to solve cases. I have already solved the murder case of the former adviser of the judicial department and found the murderer, who is one of these few people in front of us.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe immediately looked towards the three people kneeling on the ground.


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°This is a very simple case. I will give you one incense stick¡¯s worth of time, and you need to find the murderer of the former adviser without delay. If you are able to do so, I will allow you to stay on as an official in my Bureau of Torn Gust. But if you find the wrong murderer, then it will be a case of wrongful conviction. You will receive fifty heavy strokes and after that be expelled from the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    With that, Lord Wen Daofu waved his hand.


    Without further ado, someone lit an incense stick, and at that instant, the countdown began.


    Then, four more warriors flocked in. Two of them were holding thick water-fire sticks and looked murderous.


    One could only fear the shattering of his pelvic bones if he had to undergo fifty strikes from those sticks.


    Crap!


    This was definitely a conspiracy between Jing Zhongyue and Wen Daofu.


    The chief officer of the judicial department, in charge of punishment and imprisonment cases, was dead, so there was a vacancy. But Jing Zhongyue had no intention of getting Yun Zhonghe to take up this position at all. Would that not be a joke? This official position was also one of the few principal officials in the Bureau of Torn Gust, and it should be taken up by a scholar at the very least.


    You, Yun Zhonghe, are merely a beggar. A ruffian. Just who do you think you are, and in what capacity do you think you qualify to be a judicial official?


    So, it was all just a show that they staged for Yun Zhonghe earlier, just to let him have a little fun in donning an official uniform. In truth, this would not even be announced to the public, so there would not be any damage to the city¡¯s dignity.


    This was simply taking Yun Zhonghe as a fool as they messed around with him.


    This was too much!


    Lord Wen Daofu said, ¡°Yun AoTian, don¡¯t you dare say I didn¡¯t give you a chance. If you are able to, find the murderer. If you do, I will let you stay here and take up an official position without saying another word. But if you come up with a wrong verdict, then don¡¯t blame me for being merciless.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue, you¡¯re such a vicious woman.


    How was this even an hour? A single incense stick would take at most fifteen minutes.


    Not only was she intent on driving Yun Zhonghe out of the City of Torn Gust, but she also wanted him beaten until he was half dead. It was really obvious that Yun Zhonghe had offended her badly.


    ¡°Stop wasting time, get going!¡± Lord Wen Daofu said. Then he sat down on a chair and closed his eyes for a break.


    Yun Zhonghe came to realize that the incense stick burned exceptionally fast. It would barely last five minutes, let alone a whole fifteen, right?


    Lord Wen Daofu closed his eyes and sneered.


    Yueyue, you are really being nonsensical. Your teacher is so busy, where can I find the time to waste on this stinky bug of a beggar?


    This beggar before me wants to break this case within a quarter of an hour and find the murderer? Simply fool¡¯s gibberish!


    Just wait until the time is up, I will beat the hell out of this little punk and then drive him out of the City of Torn Gust.


    If such a person can become a judicial official, where is the prestige of the City of Torn Gust? Where does that leave my, Wen Daofu¡¯s, dignity?


    Everyone present in the room was also celebrating.


    This trap laid by Lord Wen Daofu was so unfathomably deep that Yun AoTian was surely a goner.


    ***


    Solving a case within five minutes and finding the right murderer was indeed a feat that was tougher than ascending to heaven.


    Yun Zhonghe gazed at the three men kneeling on the ground.


    The middle-aged scribe should be the aide of the former adviser of the judicial department.


    The warrior should be his bodyguard.


    The servant should be a house slave at his residence.


    Which of these three people was the murderer?


    Five minutes was totally not enough for any interrogation at all.


    Yun Zhonghe closed his eyes. Could it be that everything was predestined by God?


    Today, he had a case to solve. And last night, a psychotic patient, numbered as Twenty-seven, who claimed to be a psychic, had possessed him.


    Ghost Bride, now it¡¯s the time to see what you are capable of.


    Yun Zhonghe went to stand before the corpse. Once again, he closed his eyes and said, ¡°Twenty-seven, Twenty-seven, possess me now.¡±


    ¡°Director, your slave is here. Your slave has come¡­¡±


    Yun Zhonghe suddenly shivered, and Number Twenty-seven was done possessing him.


    Then he bent down and leaned forward so that his face was right in front of the corpse of the former advisor of the judicial department. In his heart, he said, ¡°Oh dead one, what was the last thing you said right before your moment of death?¡±


    Suddenly, a strange voice rang inside Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mind.


    ¡°So long as I die, my family will be safe. Hahahaha! Ah¡­.¡±


    These, these were the last words the former adviser of the judicial department said before dying?


    This was the so-called ability of a psychic? To be able to hear the last words of the dead?


    That was simply weird! But this ability was indeed quite scary.


    Yet this made things quite interesting.


    This former adviser of the judicial department committed suicide, and that meant that he himself was the murderer.


    Hahaha!


    Lord Wen Daofu, how very sinister of you. This is a dark and bottomless trap that you set up for me.


    But such a shrewd and crafty man like you would also have to fall into my, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s, trap.


    1

 Chapter 39

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    This Lord Wen Daofu of Torn Gust Decree was really a very sinister man.


    He had actually deliberately brought in three men to mislead Yun Zhonghe and make people think that the murderer was among those three men.


    But then, he also said that the murderer was right inside that secret chamber, and he was not lying at all.


    But no matter which one of these three men Yun Zhonghe singled out as the murderer, he would be wrong.


    And at that very moment, the incense stick had completely burned out.


    ¡°Time¡¯s up!¡± Lord Wen Daofu said. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it from you. Which one of them is the murderer?¡±


    As soon as this was said, every single person present looked over at Yun Zhonghe with eyes filled with ill intentions. Even the two warriors who were holding on to the water-fire sticks in their hands were eager to take action as soon as they could.


    They were all just waiting for Yun Zhonghe to say something, and then they would beat him up so viciously that he would no longer be able to take care of himself.


    And Lord Wen Daofu was already on his feet, ready to leave.


    His time was simply too precious. It was already a great honor for him to find time in the midst of other pressing affairs to play a role in this show. As for what kind of beating Yun Zhonghe should be subjected to and the matter of expelling him from the City of Torn Gust, he was totally not interested at all.


    ¡°The murderer is none other than this adviser of the judicial department himself. He committed suicide,¡± Yun Zhonghe said indifferently.


    The moment this was said, Lord Wen Daofu suddenly froze in the midst of movement. He was not completely standing up, nor was he seated on the chair.


    After a moment of slight hesitation, he sat back down.


    And the other people in the room could not help but be stunned. Yun Zhonghe was this clever and treacherous?


    Even this was not enough to fool him?


    How could he possibly know that the former adviser of the judicial department had committed suicide? Did he really possess such a godlike ability when it came to making judgments or was he just making a completely wild guess?


    Because Lord Wen Daofu had indeed just solved this case and said that the former adviser committed suicide out of fear of punishment.


    Lord Wen Daofu said, ¡°Yun AoTian, so how did you come to a verdict that this former adviser committed suicide?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°This is very simple. Something pierced through his heart, and that was the cause of his death. And this wound he had was slanted downwards. However, it is not a very big angle of inclination, so the possibility of suicide is the highest.¡±


    The former adviser of the judicial department right in front of them was relatively tall. If the average person were to attempt to kill him with a knife held in their forehand, then they would most likely stab him in an upward angle. Whereas, if the killer were holding the knife in a backhand manner, then he would be stabbing downwards, at an angle as well, but this would be a very steep one.


    But the wound found in the heart of the advisor lying in front of them was caused by a horizontal insertion of the knife along the skin, albeit slightly slanted upwards. This very much conformed to the angle of a wound caused by suicide.


    ¡°You do have a little knowledge, but that¡¯s all.¡± Wen Daofu gave a cold sneer and said, ¡°With this smattering of knowledge of yours, you ended up being taken advantage of the murderer instead. Eventually, this became a case of wrongful conviction. Don¡¯t you agree with me, Wenshan?¡±


    Who was Wenshan?


    It turned out to be that middle-aged scribe, that man who had brought Yun Zhonghe to meet Wen Daofu. He was Wen Daofu¡¯s trusted aide.


    His given name was Wenshan, and his courtesy name was Biren!


    Today, after Yun Zhonghe had stepped into the bureau, the one who had received him was none other than this Mr. Wenshan.


    After hearing Wen Daofu¡¯s question, that middle-aged scribe by the name of Wenshan said, ¡°What you said made perfect sense, my lord. But being able to see this, Mr. Yun AoTian here is already doing quite well.¡±


    This Mr. Wenshan was, unexpectedly, kind to other people.


    Lord Wen Daofu said in a stern voice, ¡°Men, strip Yun AoTian of his pants and give him 50 heavy strokes of the rod.¡±


    The crowd could not help but feel stunned.


    What was going on? The beggar standing before them, by the name of Yun AoTian, clearly got the right answer, and the former adviser of the judicial department had obviously committed suicide. About half an hour or so ago, Lord Wen Daofu had already come to a conclusion on the verdict of this case.


    Could it be that Lord Wen Daofu was actually turning the facts upside down in order to suppress the beggar, Yun AoTian? This was not befitting of Lord Wen¡¯s character. He had always been an upright character with high moral integrity.


    Mr. Wenshan stepped forth and said, ¡°Lord Wen, it seems like this Mr. Yun AoTian has not made a wrong conclusion for this case, you¡­¡±


    Yun Zhonghe could not help but cast a glance over at the other party. This Mr. Wenshan was really very morally upright. Even at a time like this, he was still willing to speak up for a beggar like himself.


    ¡°What are you still standing there for?¡± Wen Daofu fumed.


    Two warriors stepped forward and swiftly pressed Yun Zhonghe to the ground, intent on ripping off his pants to give him a good flogging.


    At that point in time, Yun Zhonghe was also startled. I obviously made a right guess about the murderer, why do I still have to be beaten up? And why do I have to be expelled from the City of Torn Gust?


    Could it be that this old man, Wen Daofu, was trying to turn the facts upside down?


    But Wen Daofu had a very good reputation. He was dauntless and unyielding, had a terrible temper, and was proud beyond compare. He would not bother himself with resorting to deception or employing trickery. Even during the reign of the former castellan, Jing E, he would still speak out whenever he felt he should.


    It was also because he had such backbone and integrity that the old castellan, Jing E, made him the teacher of the two siblings, Jing Zhongyue and Jing Wubian. He also made Wen Daofu the most important Torn Gust Decree, where he was made to take charge of this big city comprising more than a hundred thousand people.


    It was absolutely impossible for such a person to turn facts upside down just because he wanted to suppress a small fry like Yun Zhonghe.


    Could it be that what he had concluded about the case was wrong?


    Had this former adviser of the judicial department not actually committed suicide?


    But whether it was from the looks of his wounds, or from his last words before he died, it was evident that he had committed suicide.


    ¡°Hurry up and get on with the beating. When you are done, throw him out of the City of Torn Gust,¡± ordered Wen Daofu. He was ready to walk straight out of the room.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Hold it, Lord Wen.¡±


    Wen Daofu asked, ¡°What is it?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°May I examine the corpse again?¡±


    Wen Daofu frowned and said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe went forward to examine the corpse once again. Instinctively, he wanted to summon Patient Twenty-seven to possess him again.


    But suddenly, he seemed to be struck by some sort of inspiration.


    He could not always rely on this golden finger. He also needed to rely on his own intelligence. This was really of the utmost importance.


    And, he had really captured an incredibly profound inspiration. But he could not pinpoint it all at once.


    What inspiration?


    What inspiration?


    Yun Zhonghe had to rack his brain, concentrating hard.


    Right, he figured out what this inspiration was.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Do we still have the murder weapon?¡±


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°Bring it here.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe padded his hand with a white cloth and held up a dagger. This was an extremely sharp, yet very narrow dagger.


    Strange!


    The dagger was so narrow, how could a stab wound caused by it be so wide?


    Upon further careful investigation, he discovered that only the outermost wound was wide. The one inside the heart was still relatively narrow.


    What did this prove? When the dead man was committing suicide, he had exerted more force in driving the dagger down further to create a deeper wound.


    This¡­ Why did he do that?


    He was not a masochist, and this was not a Japanese Seppuku ceremony of suicide by disembowelment. Piercing one¡¯s heart would definitely kill anyone; there was no need to stab any further down. How painful would this have been?


    This was a sign that the dead man wanted to send out.


    That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, that¡¯s right!


    The character, heart, plus a vicious stroke of a knife across it, what character would that be?


    Bi, which translates to must!


    Just now, Lord Wen Daofu had said that the murderer was amongst the people right in front of him.


    Other than the three suspects used as a smokescreen, Lord Wen Daofu, Yun Zhonghe, and the four warriors, there was still one other person there!


    That was the middle-aged scribe who had led Yun Zhonghe all the way here, who was also Wen Daofu¡¯s trusted aide. That was Wenshan, Wen Biren.


    There was also the Bi character in his name!


    Yes, yes, yes!


    It had to be this man!


    Immediately, Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Patient Twenty-seven, possess me, possess me!¡±


    ¡°My dear Director, your slave is here!¡±


    Patient Twenty-seven, Ghost Bride, possessed Yun Zhonghe, who went about examining the corpse all over again while attempting to make use of her psychic powers.


    Other than being able to hear the last words of the deceased before he died, was there anything more to it?


    Yun Zhonghe went up to the corpse and pried open the eyes of the deceased.


    Instantly!


    A bizarre image suddenly imprinted into his brain.


    This¡­ this was the last scene the former adviser of the judicial department saw before he died?


    A middle-aged scribed was laughing hideously, and in his arms, there was a sleeping child. His dagger was positioned horizontally across the child¡¯s neck, where he could claim the little life at any moment. This child was most likely the son of the former adviser of the judicial department.


    And this middle-aged man was none other than this seemingly harmless man in front of him, Wenshan, Wen Biren.


    Today, he had been following Yun Zhonghe around the whole time, but it felt as though he was completely non-existent.


    Moreover, he was also Lord Wen Daofu¡¯s trusted aide.


    And this scene was the scene where Wenshan had forced the former adviser of the judicial department to commit suicide.


    ***


    Now, the truth was out in the open!


    The former adviser of the judicial department did not commit suicide. Instead, he was forced to take his own life.


    So, the real murderer was Lord Wen Daofu¡¯s trusted aide, Wenshan!


    Yun Zhonghe was truly awestruck.


    This Lord Wen Daofu truly lived up to his name. He was truly impressive, remarkable!


    It was a trap within a trap, a pit within a pit.


    At that point in time, not only did he want to drive Yun Zhonghe out, he also wanted to put a bizarre murder case to trial in a most incidental manner.


    ¡°Are you done with the investigation?¡± Lord Wen Daofu said, ¡°Don¡¯t you even think of stalling for time. I am a very busy officer.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe closed his eyes, and Patient Twenty-seven, Ghost Bride, completely faded away.


    He opened his eyes once more.


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°Yun AoTian, you still have one more chance. Only one more chance. If you name the right murderer, you will stay here and be an official. But the moment you get it wrong, you will be given an additional ten strokes for a total of sixty strokes, and then you will be expelled from the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    Then, Lord Wen began to count down. ¡°Three, two, one!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lord Wen, the former adviser of the judicial department, had indeed committed suicide, but it was not really a suicide out of willingness. And the real murderer is none other than this trusted aide standing by your side, Wenshan!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe suddenly pointed towards Wenshan.


    As soon as this was said, the entire audience was shocked.


    Was he out of his mind? This beggar in front of them, had he lost his mind?


    This Wenshan was Lord Wen Daofu¡¯s most trusted aide and had handled many official duties in his place. Many people had taken him as the shadow of Torn Gust Decree.


    Moreover, Mr. Wenshan was very knowledgeable and refined. How could he possibly be a murderer? He would not even dare to kill a chicken.


    However, after hearing what Yun Zhonghe said, Lord Wen Daofu¡¯s face completely changed.


    ¡°What did you say?¡± Wen Daofu cried out involuntarily.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The person who forced the former adviser of the judicial department to commit suicide is Mr. Wenshan, who is standing beside you.¡±


    Wen Daofu asked, ¡°And the reason? For what reason?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°When the former adviser of the judicial department committed suicide by stabbing himself in the chest with a dagger, he drove the blade further down towards the lower-left corner. If it were a normal case of suicide, this would be completely unreasonable. A stroke of the blade across the heart, this leaves us precisely with one character, Bi. Before he committed suicide, he wanted to remind you, my lord, that the one who forced him into committing suicide was Wen Biren.¡±


    Suddenly, Lord Wen Daofu was utterly dumbfounded. He looked at Yun Zhonghe in complete disbelief.


    Yun AoTian was just a young beggar who was not educated in any criminal investigation methods.


    Could it be that he really was a genius?

 Chapter 40

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Lord Wen Daofu was truly astonished.


    He really, thoroughly despised Yun Zhonghe, regardless of the rumors stating that he was the one who cured Jing Wubian.


    Such a charlatan like him would only be capable of swindling and abducting. He could only be ignorant and incompetent, as he lacked both learning and practical abilities. His idle lifestyle deemed him incapable of producing anything of worth.


    As for Wen Daofu, he was of a Jinshi background in the Great Northern Kingdom and was most traditional in his line of thoughts. He abhorred such charlatans the most.


    In the years where he had assumed office as the Torn Gust Decree, he had never gone soft on any of these charlatans during the various crackdowns on them.


    And now, Yun AoTian, this charlatan, actually wanted to be an official? What fool¡¯s talk! Today, he had fallen into Wen Daofu¡¯s hands, who would definitely see to it that he had a layer of skin ripped off of him before he was expelled from the City of Torn Gust.


    But he had not expected this Yun AoTian to be capable of putting on such an excellent performance.


    Just now, he had deduced that the former adviser of the judicial department had committed suicide. That was already no simple feat.


    And now, just by the unusual appearance of the wound, he had actually deduced that the real murderer was Mr. Wenshan. Though it was only speculation, it was already impressive enough to make everyone see him in a different light.


    This child before him was truly a diamond in the rough, a genius as precious as jade.


    Wen Daofu could not help but feel love for Yun Zhonghe¡¯s talents rising within him.


    Yun Zhonghe then added, ¡°There¡¯s still one more thing. This Mr. Wenshan is Lord Wen¡¯s trusted aide. His status is very high, far beyond me. And Lord Wen, you simply dislike me with all your heart, so there was no need for him to personally receive me at all. This was, in fact, a kind of hint. This was why, from deep within your heart, you are also most eager for a beggar like me to create a miracle and crack this case.¡±


    At that point, Wen Daofu had looked towards Mr. Wenshan and asked, ¡°What do you think, Biren?¡±


    After hearing Yun Zhonghe¡¯s words, Mr. Wenshan first fell into a momentary daze, where he was unable even to react.


    It was only after a long moment that he broke into a bitter smile, and with a self-deprecating expression, he bowed towards Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°A stoke across the heart makes the Bi character. And it so happens that my name carries a Bi character. How coincidental.¡± Mr. Wenshan sighed and said, ¡°Such meticulous judgment. Even I myself am in awe.¡±


    This was a real master!


    He did not retort nor disapprove using any arguments. He merely gave a bitter smile and even complimented Yun Zhonghe.


    It was really a good show of politeness and courtesy. Just now, he had been speaking up for Yun Zhonghe, and now, even after Yun Zhonghe turned against him with such an accusation. It really seemed like the latter was a dog that bit the hand that fed it, where he was mistaking a good man for a bad one.


    A few warriors suddenly could not hold back any longer. They bowed and said, ¡°Lord Wen, this is just a coincidence. How can Mr. Wenshan possibly be the murderer? The former adviser of the judicial department had clearly committed suicide out of fear of facing punishment for his crime.¡±


    Mr. Wenshan was extremely popular and well-liked in the bureau. He would help his brothers whenever he could, and he was never one to put on airs. Everyone was incredibly supportive and protective of him.


    That was why, at that point, the warriors were glowering at Yun Zhonghe, as though they could not wait to slay him in a frenzied knife attack.


    Mr. Wenshan made no rebuttal, nor did he say anything in his defense. Instead, to Yun Zhonghe, he said, ¡°Mr. Yun AoTian, you were born into the life of a beggar and a ruffian, right?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Mr. Wenshan said, ¡°You have never learned any criminal investigation skills?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Not at all.¡±


    Mr. Wenshan said, ¡°Then that¡¯s strange. You have an extremely keen observation. Not only have you spotted how the wound in the heart of the former adviser of the judicial department was slanted upwards, but you also saw how he had exerted more force on the dagger when he stabbed himself in the heart. And then, you deduced the character, Bi, from these observations. Such acuity, such associative strength, these are really far beyond that of the average person. I guess the spies of both the Order of Black Dragons and the Order of Black Ice were really not much of an eye-opener, then.¡±


    This person was so cunning and evil.


    He had not said anything that worked to his defense. Instead, he alluded to Yun Zhonghe as a secret spy agent of an enemy country.


    This was him turning the tables on Yun Zhonghe.


    The City of Torn Gust had zero tolerance for spies of enemy countries. Once discovered, they would be tortured straightaway. Then, they would be punished with the agony of a thousand cuts, which eventually led to them being brutally killed.


    Sometimes, it was better to kill someone by mistake than let anyone off the hook.


    He was trying to sentence Yun Zhonghe to death.


    Lord Wen Daofu said, ¡°Yun AoTian, Mr. Wenshan is my trusted aide. He has always been loyal and sincere, benevolent and just. And he was always kind to others. Now you are actually saying that he is a murderer and has forced the former adviser of the judicial department to commit suicide. You better show us some evidence. If not, I will have to charge you with the crime of falsely accusing an official of wrongdoing.¡±


    As soon as this was said, several warriors were delighted and said, ¡°Lord Wen, this beggar is just wagging his tongue too freely without careful thoughts. We will commence with the punishment right away. We have to interrogate him to find out who the hell sent him here to frame Mr. Wenshan and undermine the unity of our Bureau of Torn Gust.¡±


    With that said, a few warriors were already eager for action and were just about to close in on Yun Zhonghe to arrest him.


    And at that moment, Yun Zhonghe only had one thing on his mind, and that was, ¡®This nasty old man is really evil.¡¯ He clearly had the answer in his heart and had even obtained relevant evidence ages ago. But he pretended not to know anything at all. This was him taking things a step further to put Yun Zhonghe to the test.


    Originally, Wen Daofu had indeed thought of wrapping things up when he saw enough of what he wanted to see. But it was really like a hunter¡¯s instinct upon seeing its prey, and he could not help feeling this interest in him being awakened. He could not help himself from wanting to further pressure and squeeze something out of Yun Zhonghe.


    He wanted to see what other skills Yun Zhonghe had, or what different kinds of genius abilities he possessed.


    So, he had actually pushed the latter out onto the ring and pitted him against Mr. Wenshan, the crafty old fox.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, you said a stroke across the heart gives us the character, Bi! This was the hint that the former adviser of the judicial department was giving me, to tell me that the murderer is Wen Biren. This speculation is extremely amazing, but it is, nonetheless, only speculation. When we solve cases, we need concrete evidence,¡± Wen Daofu said. ¡°This is why you need to produce some evidence that will directly prove that it was Mr. Wenshan who murdered the former adviser of the judicial department.¡±


    Crap!


    This was really a tall order to fill, wasn¡¯t it?


    This was not a direct murder, but rather, an indirect one.


    And Yun Zhonghe had zero understanding of the former advisor of the judicial department or of this Mr. Wenshan standing in front of him, so where could he find evidence?


    ¡°Yun AoTian, whether or not you can prove that you are qualified enough to be an officer of the judicial department, the moment¡¯s now. Evidence! It¡¯s the evidence that matters!¡± Wen Daofu said. ¡°If you can find evidence to show that Mr. Wenshan is the murderer, I will go straight to the residence of the castellan without further ado to claim credit for your meritorious deed, and let the Lady Castellan know how outstanding you really are.¡±


    Slapping Jing Zhongyue in the face by proving her wrong?


    This felt really good.


    If you went easy on women, they would get out of hand. This was akin to sparing the rod and spoiling the child.


    She had initially wanted to make Yun Zhonghe face a significant problem, beat half the life out of him, and then expel him from the City of Torn Gust.


    But now, this man, he had actually solved this great big problem with such ease? Her teacher had even personally come to claim credit for Yun Zhonghe. This was really going to be a great big slap in the face, was it not?


    Just thinking about it made him feel good.


    But, how should he go about finding the evidence?


    Yun Zhonghe closed his eyes and racked his brain!


    That scene from earlier on replayed in his mind, over and over again.


    That was the scene that the former adviser of the judicial department saw right before his death. The entire process was extremely brief and only lasted a few seconds.


    If Yun Zhonghe wanted to find evidence to show that Mr. Wenshan had committed a murder, he could only gather it from this scene that lasted just a few seconds.


    Soon, he found two points that could possibly be used as evidence.


    Firstly, when the former adviser of the judicial department committed suicide, his blood splattered onto Mr. Wenshan¡¯s face.


    Of course, by now, he would definitely have washed off all traces of bloodstains. But shining ultraviolet rays (also known as UV rays), those traces could still be revealed.


    But where could Yun Zhonghe find UV rays in this world?


    Secondly, at that time, Mr. Wenshan was wielding a knife as he held the son of the former adviser of the judicial department hostage to coerce the former adviser into submission. His expression was hideous, and he was repeating the same thing over and over again.


    Yun Zhonghe slowed down the scene playing in his mind, and then, he read the words off Mr. Wenshan¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Where is the name list? If not, I will kill your son!¡±


    This¡­ This case was getting complicated.


    He had actually said, ¡®where was the name list?¡¯ instead of a ledger. Then this did not fall within the scope of a simple case of corruption. This could possibly involve a case of espionage.


    It was entirely possible that this Mr. Wenshan standing in front of him was a spy sent by another country.


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°Yun AoTian, you will need to have evidence before you can arrest people. You can¡¯t do so just based on speculations. Otherwise, that will constitute a false accusation, and I will have to charge you with the crime of making a false accusation.¡±


    ¡°Someone, light an incense stick.¡±


    This time, it was a standard incense stick, one that could burn for half an hour.


    ¡°Because you said that my trusted aide is a murderer, before this incense stick burns out completely, you must find the evidence of his crime, or else I will send you to prison,¡± Wen Daofu said in a cold voice.


    This was really a huge problem presented to Yun Zhonghe.


    Suddenly, Yun Zhonghe laughed and said, ¡°This is easy. To be honest with you, my lord, your humble subject here still has one very remarkable skill. That is, I am psychic!¡±


    Instantly, Lord Wen Daofu¡¯s face quivered.


    Psychic?!


    That¡¯s bullsh*t!


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I can talk to the dead, and then have the dead possess my body to tell me what¡¯s on their mind and identify the murderer.¡±


    This¡­ This was seriously childish and simply absurd.


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°Then you should show us.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe got down to the side of the corpse and whispered, ¡°My lord, who killed you? Tell me, and I will seek justice for you.¡±


    Seeing this scene, the crowd grew even more disdainful of him. He could not find any evidence, so here he was, putting up a show, pretending to be something he was not?


    Then, Yun Zhonghe¡¯s body shook violently.


    As though a ghost had really possessed him, the first thing he said made everyone around him shudder in fear.


    ¡°So long as I die, my family will be safe. Hahahaha! Ah¡­¡±


    This voice actually sounded exactly the same as that of the former adviser of the judicial department.


    Mr. Wenshan, in particular, was scared to the point of allowing his facial expression to change drastically.


    He was never one to believe in the tricks of charlatans. Be it being possessed by ghosts, or possessed by ancestors, these were all nonsensical talk.


    But now, this was simply too frightening.


    Mimicking the voice of the former adviser of the judicial department was not a big deal itself. The key lay with the words that were said, which were the final words the former adviser of the judicial department spoke before he died. And these words were directed at him, Wenshan.


    At that time, only the two of them heard it, so there was absolutely no one who could possibly tell this beggar, Yun AoTian, anything about it. And there was absolutely no second person who knew about it. Could it be that he was really possessed by a ghost?


    Then, Yun Zhonghe, who was being possessed by a ghost, said something that was even more frightening.


    ¡°Name list. The name list that you want¡­ Hahaha, it¡¯s in a place where no one can find it!¡±


    Name list?


    Wenshan felt a sudden shudder.


    Because this list held the names of dozens of sleeper agents, the moment they were exposed, the consequences would be dire.


    It was because of this name list that Wenshan had resorted to using the life of the former adviser of the judicial department¡¯s son to convince him to hand over the list.


    Even though he knew that in doing so, he might be at risk of being exposed.


    But the moment that name list was exposed, not only would dozens of sleeper agents have to die, the forces that had remained dormant for more than a decade¡¯s worth of time, waiting to ambush, would all be destroyed within a day.


    ¡°This list is at¡­ the list is at¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe, who was being possessed by a ghost, trembled for a split second. Then he let out a piercing scream as he cried out, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt my son. The lot of you, you shall all die terrible deaths, you shall all die terrible deaths¡­¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe opened his eyes as if the ghost had already left his body.


    Everyone stared at him in astonishment.


    They did not believe that someone could be possessed by a ghost, for those charlatans simply had too many tricks up their sleeves.


    However, the voice that Yun Zhonghe had spoken in just now sounded way too similar to that of the former adviser of the judicial department.


    And the most crucial thing was that the words he said were the final words that the former adviser of the judicial department had spoken before he died. This was really bizarre. He, Wenshan, was the only person who had heard those words.


    Could it be¡­ really the possession of one¡¯s body by a ghost?


    And right at that moment, Yun Zhonghe suddenly picked up a dagger and rushed towards the corpse.


    Several warriors rushed forward as well, at an even faster pace, to stop Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°Hold it, let him be,¡± Wen Daofu said.


    Yun Zhonghe rushed forward, and without warning, he sliced open the stomach of the former adviser of the judicial department and began rummaging through his stomach.


    Everyone was watching all of this happen with ashen faces.


    Wen Daofu was no exception. His beard was also trembling slightly as he held his breath.


    Yun AoTian really seemed like he was psychic. Could it be that the dead adviser of the judicial department has already told him that the name list was inside his stomach?


    If that was the case, then it was just as horrifying. For the sake of secrecy, he had actually sealed the name list in a wax pill and swallowed it into his stomach.


    This Yun AoTian was also ruthless enough to disembowel the dead so directly!


    ¡°Found it, found it¡­¡±


    Yun Zhonghe cried out in alarm, and then inside the stomach of the former adviser of the judicial department, he found a wax pill, which was as big as the size of a thumb.


    Pinching open the wax pill, a piece of paper was found inside.


    This¡­ This was the name list.


    This was the wax pill that the adviser of the judicial department had protected at the cost of his life.


    This was the wax pill that Lord Wenshan had tried several ways and methods to get his hands on.


    For the name list inside this pill implicated dozens of sleeper agents. It involved a secret spy network.


    If that was the case, then Yun Zhonghe had really made an immense, meritorious contribution.


    Yun Zhonghe unfolded the piece of paper and was about to read out the names on the list.


    Yet, at that very moment!


    Mr. Wenshan suddenly leaped to his feet, and then, as fast as a bolt of lightning, he pounced on Yun Zhonghe. He wanted to kill him without further delay.


    Yun Zhonghe was alarmed and instinctively tossed out the wax pill that he was holding in his hand.


    Mr. Wenshan immediately did a twist in the air to face the opposite direction, fast and swift like a sparrow hawk, and caught hold of the wax pill.


    Mr. Wenshan was unversed in martial arts, was he not? At that point, he was actually so powerful?


    ¡°Catch him, catch him!¡± Lord Wen Daofu ordered in a stern voice.


    Suddenly, four warriors rushed towards Mr. Wenshan at top speed.


    Without warning, Mr. Wenshan crushed the wax pill. He also crumpled the slip of paper inside until it was nothing but shreds. Then in one handful, he tossed everything into his mouth.


    Very quickly, the four warriors pressed Mr. Wenshan to the ground.


    Wen Daofu looked at Mr. Wenshan with falcon-like eyes and said, ¡°I never thought that it would really be you, my most trusted aide. You¡¯ve been by my side for more than ten years, right? And which country are you a spy for?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Mr. Wenshan let out a shrill laugh.


    ¡°My loyalty is to His Majesty, to the Empire. You want to betray them, that¡¯s impossible!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather be torn to pieces and die, for I absolutely have no wish of exposing my fellow officers to danger.¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Suddenly, Mr. Wenshan bellowed without warning.


    ¡°He¡¯s going to kill himself, stop him, stop him¡­¡±


    But it was too late.


    Horrifying dark blood gushed out quickly from every orifice in his head. Mr. Wenshan had committed suicide.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°That wax pill was not a genuine one. I shaped one out on the spot. And that slip of paper inside did not contain any name list. It was fake. I was just cheating you. I really have no idea where that name list is.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know¡­¡± Mr. Wenshan said, ¡°But even if it¡¯s just the slightest possibility, I¡¯ll destroy anyone, even if it meant that I would be fighting to my death. I am more than willing to be smashed to bits and pieces, so long as I could protect my brothers and sisters from harm.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe felt his heart shake violently.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, you have become an enemy of the Empire. Soon, someone will come for you, hahaha¡­¡± As these words had been mouthed silently, no one, other than Yun Zhonghe, could hear them.


    Then, Mr. Wenshan twisted his head and died.


    He passed content that he had died for a worthy cause. He died in a most courageous manner.


    Just then, Wen Daofu, who was standing nearby, began to clap.


    Then, everyone in the room began to clap.


    ¡°Mr. Yun AoTian, you have performed so well that it far exceeded our expectations. I¡¯ll bring you into the residence of the castellan to claim credit now!¡± Wen Daofu said.


    And at that moment, a voice was heard from outside.


    ¡°The Lady Castellan has arrived!¡±


    Jing Zhongyue had arrived?


    Wen Daofu took Yun Zhonghe¡¯s hand and said, ¡°AoTian, you are simply so outstanding, I¡¯m going to take you to ask for credit for your meritorious work, haha!¡±

 Chapter 41

    Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio


    Yun Zhonghe realized that, though Wen Daofu¡¯s voice sounded cheerful, his eyes flickered with a hint of despair.


    ¡°My lord, Lady Castellan has arrived.¡± The voice outside sounded once more.


    Wen Daofu looked at Wenshan¡¯s dead body lying on the ground for a long time before walking out.


    ¡°Your humble subject pays his respect to you, Lady Castellan.¡± Wen Daofu knelt scrupulously.


    ¡°Teacher, please rise,¡± Jing Zhongyue said. ¡°What¡¯s the outcome?¡±


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°The fish has taken the bait, and that¡¯s Wenshan. This person has stayed dormant while lurking by my side for ten years. And he has not revealed his true identity until today, which was really admirable and awe-inspiring. But it was very unfortunate, for we did not manage to catch him alive. He committed suicide.¡±


    ¡°It would be useless even if we did catch him. See, he won¡¯t open his mouth to say anything. Besides, their entire intelligence network has already fallen into our hands. It no longer matters whether he¡¯s alive or not,¡± said Jing Zhongyue as she sat down on a chair in a graceful manner.


    ¡°Teacher, this intelligence network of the enemy has remained hidden for close to ten years. And now, it has been busted in one fell swoop. This is all thanks to my senior brother. Upon returning after three years of mourning, he achieved such a tremendous coup. He¡¯s just so amazing and admirable.¡±


    And just who was this senior brother that she was talking about?


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°My Lady, the surprise this time does not only lie with Chu Zhaoran, who has returned, but also with Yun AoTian.¡±


    Then, Wen Daofu clapped.


    Yun Zhonghe walked out.


    Jing Zhongyue could not help feeling startled when she saw Yun Zhonghe. Why was he still here?


    She had handed this person over to her teacher, trusting that the latter would send him away. This Yun AoTian was such an ignorant and incompetent character who had neither knowledge nor practical skills. And on the other hand, her teacher, Wen Daofu, how high was he in terms of rank and expertise?


    It should not have even taken more than half an hour for Yun Zhonghe to suffer a crushing defeat, then receive dozens of heavy strokes from the rod and be driven out of the City of Torn Gust, right?


    Why was he still there at that time?


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°This Yun AoTian is the second surprise I gained today. Though he has never learned any criminal investigation skills, he shows an extraordinary talent in this respect.¡±


    Then, Wen Daofu gave Jing Zhongyue a detailed account of the entire process.


    There was no exaggeration, nor was there anything hidden.


    Jing Zhongyue suddenly felt somewhat skeptical as she looked at Yun Zhonghe. She was filled with disbelief.


    It was difficult enough to be able to tell that the former adviser of the judicial department had committed suicide, and yet, it was even more difficult to be able to guess that the murderer was Mr. Wenshan.


    And what was even more rare was that he had actually thought of using the fraud technique to make Wenshan reveal his true identity at the very last minute.


    This Yun AoTian actually still had such a talent? Even Teacher Wen Daofu was convinced by him? He had personally spoken up to recommend him.


    In this sense, it was indeed kind of a slap in the face for her, Jing Zhongyue!


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°Though Wenshan has been exposed, his downfall had nothing to do with Yun AoTian. On the contrary, the talent that he showed was simply amazing. I hope to keep him here at the Bureau of Torn Gust.¡±


    Suddenly, Jing Zhongyue was placed in an awkward position.


    This official position of the adviser of the judicial department held great importance and the one assuming this post would at least have to be of a scholarly background. How could it be entrusted to Yun Zhonghe?


    Even if she did not conform to the conventional practice of selecting talents, there was already someone assigned to this position of the adviser of the judicial department. That was her senior brother, Chu Zhaoran, who had returned from three years of mourning. He had just made a tremendously meritorious contribution by wiping out the considerable intelligence network of the enemy. Not only was he going to take up the post of the adviser of the judicial department, but he was also going to highly ranked with the deputy position to the main head of the department.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°In truth, this position of the adviser of the judicial department is assigned to someone else, so you can¡¯t possibly give it to me, right?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue was silent. Then she looked up at Yun Zhonghe for a while.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Then I don¡¯t care. Since you have already promised me, you must keep your word. I can give up this position of adviser of the judicial department. I even find the name of this official position pretty unpleasant. You can do a swap and give me another official position, but it must absolutely not be lower than this position of the adviser of the judicial department. And most importantly, the name must be prestigious.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Then what official position do you want? You might as well just tell me about it.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Grand Commander-in-chief of the Embroidered Uniform Guards. This name sounds quite prestigious to me.¡±


    The moment this was said, the crowd laughed.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°For your new position, I will officially announce it at the Great Council of the Residence of the Castellan on the morrow. I will not disappoint you. You should leave for now.¡±


    This was a true statement. If it were an official inauguration made public, then Yun Zhonghe¡¯s official position would really be implemented and not just a sweeping comment to hoodwink him.


    Yun Zhonghe left.


    But as soon as he walked out of the door, he was immediately stopped by several warriors. ¡°Mr. Yun, you can¡¯t leave for now. Please go to your room to take a rest first.¡±


    Though they were very polite, they took a firm stance.


    Then, Yun Zhonghe was confined to a small room.


    In the room, there were tea and pastries. Yun Zhonghe could eat, and he could also sleep. But he was not allowed to take even a single step out of the room.


    This was not house arrest, but rather, for the big operation that was coming up next.


    For the sake of absolute secrecy, all related personnel was not allowed to leave.


    ***


    There was only Jing Zhongyue and Wen Daofu left in the room. A moment later, Lady Cold Jade came in.


    ¡°Teacher, can we make a move now?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked.


    Wen Daofu said, ¡°Yes. After Wenshan was exposed, he was bent on getting that name list so that he could destroy it. And we have been keeping an eye on him the entire time, so there was simply no way he had the time to contact anyone on the outside. The enemy has yet to notice anything, so we are just in time to wipe out the enemy¡¯s intelligence network in its entirety.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade asked, ¡°The name list is confirmed to be the right one?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Chu Zhaoran has spent half a year¡¯s time to seek out these clues and name list. And he has secretly screened a few people to confirm the fidelity of the list. It is a spy network lying dormant in an ambush in my City of Torn Gust. And it¡¯s also one that¡¯s of a very high level.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade hesitated for a moment, then knelt down on one knee as she said, ¡°My Lady, capturing and arresting spies are matters that our Black Blood Hall oversees, so why did you leave it to Chu Zhaoran?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Because you are a woman. There are certain things that must be left to the men to handle.¡±


    Left to the men to handle? Making use of handsome men?


    Lady Cold Jade hung her head low and remained in silence.


    ¡°Now go, arrest people according to this list,¡± Jing Zhongyue said. ¡°Other than this list of thirty people, there is also another massive name list. Arrest them all. Not a single one must be left out. I¡¯d rather you capture the wrong person than let anyone find the chance to give us the slip.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Lady Cold Jade said.


    Then Jing Zhongyue said loudly, ¡°Chiliarch Lin!¡±


    ¡°Your humble subordinate is here!¡± a general outside shouted loudly in reply.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Seal off the City of Torn Gust. Take a thousand warriors with you and obey all of Lady Cold Jade¡¯s commands with due respect. Assist Black Blood Hall in carrying out this arrest operation.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Set out!¡± Jing Zhongyue ordered.


    Suddenly, the few gates around the entire City of Torn Gust were all closed tightly.


    Then, two thousand warriors surged out of the residence of the castellan like tidal waves and walked out of the Torn Gust Bureau.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang, bang¡­¡±


    The warriors were all clad in suits of armor, and as they walked across the ground, their footsteps sounded so full of power and menace.


    Yun Zhonghe could also hear it clearly from inside the room. As he looked out through the window, all that he could see were Black Blood Hall warriors in neat formations, walking past him line after line.


    Troop after troop of cavalry was galloping all over the place.


    It was a major operation, and something big was happening.


    There was no telling how many people would be captured and killed today.


    Now, Yun Zhonghe was certain.


    A name list of that spy network truly existed, and it had already fallen into the hands of the City of Torn Gust.


    That former adviser of the judicial department was merely a prelude, simply cannon fodder, to bait Mr. Wenshan into exposing himself.


    Wenshan should supposedly be a leader of the spies. Now that he was dead, a massive arrest operation would thus commence.


    At that point, Yun Zhonghe truly felt the glint of cold steel of this city from all that flashing of knives and swords.


    After a moment, it was as if inside his ears, he could hear the screams, shrieks, and sounds of people being murdered outside.


    Just like how the wind sweeping through the tower would herald a rising storm in the mountain!


    The muscles in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s face twitched intermittently as he ate the pastries.


    ***


    At the stronghold of the Order of Black Dragons of the Great Ying Empire, Anting Tavern!


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang, bang¡­¡±


    Troop after troop of warriors rushed in and completely surrounded the entire Anting Tavern, making it utterly impossible for anyone to get out.


    ¡°Crack, crack¡­¡±


    Hundreds of warriors prepared their bows and arrows and took aim at every corner of Anting Tavern.


    The pair of siblings, Xu Anting and Xu Antiing, felt inwardly horrified.


    This¡­ What was going on?


    Could it be that they were exposed?


    Absolutely impossible!


    ¡°What should we do? Should we fight it out with them?¡±


    ¡°Chief, you run first. We¡¯ll keep you covered,¡± shouted a few warriors of the Order of Black Dragons.


    ¡°Brother, should we burn all the data?¡± Sister Xu Antiing asked.


    ¡°No, give me some peace, give me some peace!¡± Xu Anting said. ¡°The latent force sent from our side has not established any contact at all with the outside world, meaning to say that the other latent organizations of the Empire are completely unaware of our existence. If we have been exposed, then there is only one possibility. Yun AoTian betrayed us. But¡­ that is absolutely, unquestionably impossible.¡±


    ¡°Impossible. There is no way he would betray us,¡± Xu Antiing said firmly. ¡°He is a lunatic, an artistic genius. There¡¯s no way someone like that could possibly betray us.¡±


    Xu Anting said, ¡°Then let¡¯s not make any move at all. There¡¯s no need to burn the materials. We¡¯ll just pretend that nothing has happened.¡±


    Just then, an intense knocking of the door sounded from the outside.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang, bang¡­¡±


    Xu Anting let out a long breath and said, ¡°Go and open the door.¡±


    A waiter walked over and opened the door.


    Instantly, dozens of warriors swarmed in.


    A centurion of Black Blood Hall said in a cold voice, ¡°Which of you is called Xu Antiing? A woman!¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I am¡­¡± Sister Xu Antiing stepped out.


    That warrior of Black Blood Hall pulled out a painting and carefully matched it with her.


    In fact, there was no need to make the comparison at all, for Xu Antiing¡¯s facial features were simply too obvious. That stunningly beautiful and flawless face had two knife wounds, which destroyed the kind of beauty she originally was.


    ¡°Have you ever taught the guqin at Tianyu Pavilion?¡± the centurion of Black Blood Hall asked. ¡°You frequent that place?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± said Xu Antiing.


    With a wave of his hand, the centurion of Black Blood Hall ordered, ¡°Arrest her!¡±


    Without warning, several warriors of Black Blood Hall stepped forward and put on the shackles on Sister Xu Antiing.


    Xu Anting stepped forward and said, ¡°My lord, my lord. There must be some misunderstanding somewhere. Please show mercy with your generosity and make an exception for us this time!¡±


    Then he secretly slipped a handful of sycees over to the warrior.


    That warrior of Black Blood Hall looked at the stash of sycees in his hand and found that there was actually a hundred sycees. That was a very generous amount.


    ¡°Boss Xu, you¡¯re so thoughtful. But this case has been raised before the highest authorities, there is nothing I can do,¡± said the centurion of Black Blood Hall. ¡°Before this case comes to an end, no one is allowed to leave Anting Tavern. The moment one person goes missing, the rest of you will be arrested.¡±


    ¡°Take her!¡± ordered the centurion of Black Blood Hall.


    Sister Xu Antiing was taken away and locked up inside the horse carriage.


    ¡°Off to arrest the next target,¡± said the centurion of Black Blood Hall. Then in a mighty and stately manner, he rushed off to the next destination.


    Only after all the warriors of Black Blood Hall had left did Xu Anting slowly sit down. He wanted to pour himself a cup of tea, but his hands could not stop trembling.


    Just as expected. This was related to the previous seizure of Tianyu Pavilion.


    Back then, Xu Anting was about to take Yun AoTian to Tianyu Pavilion to try his luck. He would make use of his manly charms to seduce Lady Musk and, after that, enter the residence of the castellan.


    But the resulting situation was that the moment they arrived there, Tianyu Pavilion was seized.


    Then news came that because there was a horrifying murder case, and five sons of influential officials had died in there.


    The castellan, Jing Zhongyue, flew into a rage and ordered the adviser of the judicial department to solve the case within a month or be punished with the charge of committing a capital felony.


    About half a month after that, Tianyu Pavilion was reopened.


    After weighing the situation over and over again, Xu Anting felt that this place was not very much at risk, so there was no need to evacuate and retreat.


    If he left, Yun Zhonghe would really be left all alone.


    ¡°Boss, what should we do?¡± a warrior of the Order of Black Dragons asked. ¡°The moment one is captured and sent to Black Blood Hall, even if he is cleared of suspicions, it will still result in death for sure. Out of those who have gone in, none has ever made it out alive.¡±


    Another warrior of Order of Black Dragons said, ¡°Go find Lord Yun Zhonghe. He has managed to enter the residence of the castellan and has already become Jing Wubian¡¯s confidante. So long as he extends a helping hand, he will definitely be able to save Xiaotiing.¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Xu Anting said in a stern voice. ¡°At this time, we must absolutely not go looking for Yun Zhonghe. Do not even mention a word about him. At this sensitive and crucial moment, the moment you make a move to approach him first, you will put him at great risk.¡±


    The warrior of the Order of Black Dragons said, ¡°But in this case, Xiaotiing will die.¡±


    Xu Anting said, ¡°We will devise a way to save her in the most conventional methods. We will do our best.¡±


    The warrior of the Order of Black Dragons asked, ¡°What if we can¡¯t rescue her?¡±


    Xu Anting felt heat surging up to his eyes as he said, ¡°If we can¡¯t save her, then we¡¯ll have to leave it to fate. If the brothers and sisters of other people can die for the Empire, then how could it be that my sister can¡¯t? Not to mention little sister, even if I were to be caught in there, all of you are not allowed to save me either.¡±


    ¡°All of you keep this in mind, the interests of the Empire are paramount. The interests of the Order of Black Dragons are above everything else!¡±


    ¡°Everything that we do is for the strategy of the City of Torn Gust, and Lord Yun Zhonghe is the core of this strategy. So long as we keep him safe, anyone else can be sacrificed.¡±


    ***

 Chapter 42

    At nightfall!


    In the City of Torn Gust, where the pot was kept boiling and thus the day had been extremely eventful, things finally quieted down.


    It was unknown how many people had been arrested and how many had been killed.


    But eventually, it quieted down. The bloodstains on the streets were the only indications that something extraordinary had happened earlier in the day.


    The moon high up in the sky also seemed to be glowing red.


    Yun Zhonghe had already downed several pots of tea and ate many pastries.


    Just then, the door opened and the warrior who had walked in said, ¡°Lord Yun, you may leave now.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe burped and said with great disdain, ¡°So much bullsh*t. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Zhang Zhuo.¡± The leader of the warriors said, ¡°City guard of the garrison of the Bureau of Torn Gust, deputy centurion.¡±


    ¡°I remember you.¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Today, when I wanted to go to the bathroom, you stopped me three times. We share a major hostility between us. I remember you. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll officially become an official. I will take my revenge, so you better remember me.¡±


    The face of that deputy centurion by the name of Zhang Zhuo remained indifferent, yet his eyes flashed a trace of disdain.


    The beggar standing before Zhang Zhuo did not even know his own heft and status. Yes, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s about to become an official. But within the slightest bit of foundation, what can you possibly do to me?


    What a joke.


    Yun Zhonghe swaggered out of the Bureau of Torn Gust and headed towards the residence of the castellan.


    There was no one to escort him out, nor was there any horse-drawn carriage. With only his own legs, he walked out and away.


    There was no change to his swaggering crab steps. But he was walking faster and faster, and his hands that were hidden within his sleeves were shaking more vigorously.


    Something had happened. Something had definitely happened. Something big had happened.


    Just as he was walking, a dark shadow suddenly flashed across in front of him, and it was running for dear life in a frenzied manner.


    This was a woman who was quite highly skilled in martial arts and was also very good in light body skills.


    She was weaving swiftly across the alley with dozens of warriors chasing after her.


    This woman moved like a swallow, gently and lightly. She brushed past Yun Zhonghe.


    Yun Zhonghe steadied himself and cast a glance at her.


    The woman also cast a quick look at him. He recognized this woman. She was that lady from Tianyu Pavilion. She was that pretty lady he saw back at the time when Xu Anting brought Yun Zhonghe to work. She and Xu Anting flirted with each other through an exchange of amorous glances. Though she did not speak, she used her eyes to invite him to have some fun. Yun Zhonghe had then said, ¡°I¡¯m here for work. Since Sister here says so, that¡¯s even better. Let¡¯s all have some fun for free.¡±


    Such smart eyes that seemed as though they could talk, such a beautiful lady. Up until now, Yun Zhonghe could still remember.


    Just at that moment that they exchanged a glance.


    About less than half of a second.


    Then, her exquisitely graceful figure swiftly flew past him and found its way into the next alley.


    Just like a young swallow returning home to the forest.


    However, at the very next second.


    ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡­¡±


    A few secret weapons that were fired in the midst of the darkness flew towards her at lightning speed.


    That beautiful lady from Tianyu Pavilion immediately fell from mid-air, like a swan hit by an arrow.


    More than a dozen Black Blood Warriors pounced over at lightning speed and captured the lady without further ado. They shoved her into the carriage, and then, within the blink of an eye, everything disappeared without a trace. And whether that lady was alive or dead became an unknown.


    After they were done with their task of arresting her, one of the warriors of Black Blood Hall even half-bowed at Yun Zhonghe as they were passing by him.


    Yun Zhonghe nodded, then continued walking forward.


    He passed another alley.


    And found that in a dark corner, a dozen or so warriors had rounded up five people, who were all kneeling down in that corner.


    ¡°Swish, swish, swish¡­¡±


    Hands were raised while blades fell in place. Those five people, three men, and two women, were directly beheaded. Without a single utterance, they died. Blood was splattered all over the ground.


    Seeing Yun Zhonghe¡¯s gaze directed at them, one of the warriors of Black Blood Hall immediately took his crossbow and aimed it at Yun Zhonghe, while another one drew his sword and walked towards Yun Zhonghe.


    But a warrior close by whispered something to them.


    Immediately, the crossbow was retracted, and the blade was returned back to its sheath.


    The warrior of Black Blood Hall, who was killing the people in the alley, also secretly gave a half-salute to Yun Zhonghe.


    Not a single word was said.


    Yun Zhonghe nodded again and continue walking towards the residence of the castellan.


    His hands and legs were getting colder and colder, and it was getting increasingly difficult to breathe. It was almost to the point where he was suffocating, and he really felt like vomiting.


    He walked faster and faster, and his mind was racing faster and faster.


    Something had happened. Something big had happened.


    The source of this all was the seizure of Tianyu Pavilion, which happened more than a month ago.


    At that time, Yun Zhonghe had even joked about it being a crackdown on pornography. Yet, in the end, it had turned out to be a murder case that claimed the lives of five sons from highly influential families.


    After that, this matter was forgotten.


    No one would have expected this matter to bring about such drastic changes in the current day.


    It was as if a mass of dark clouds that was a thousand miles away had brewed a flash of lightning there from off in the distance.


    Before that, everyone said that Lady Cold Jade was ruthless and unfeeling, for she had killed countless people.


    Yun Zhonghe did not feel deeply of their perception, for he had teased Lady Cold Jade more than once or twice. He had the feeling of being somewhat close to her instead.


    However, at that very moment¡­


    Lady Cold Jade¡¯s men were bloodying the entire City of Torn Gust by massacring people.


    This mass arrest operation had to be due to the intelligence network of the Great Ying¡¯s Order of Black Dragons.


    It had to be!


    Because the source of it all originated from Tianyu Pavilion.


    Would Sister Xu Antiing be safe?


    It was unquestionable that she would be in danger as well. Because whenever Black Blood Hall arrested people, they would rather kill the wrong person than spare any life at all.


    Besides, Xu Antiing was very closely related to Tianyu Pavilion. She had been teaching the guqin there for the past couple of years.


    Although Tianyu Pavilion was not a stronghold of the Order of Black Dragons, it was seen as a place that the Order of Black Dragons could rely on. This was why the pair of siblings, Xu Anting and Xu Antiing, had once wanted to arrange for Yun Zhonghe to get into Tianyu Pavilion to seduce Lady Musk.


    Now it seemed that it was simply not a coincidence at all that Lady Musk had left the City of Torn Gust to attend the wedding of some other lord.


    It was highly likely that Mr. Wenshan was someone from the Great Ying¡¯s Order of Black Dragons, and he was even one of the leading figures in this intelligence network.


    Once again, Yun Zhonghe recalled those resolute final words that he had shouted loudly before his moment of death.


    When he found out that he was exposed, he had immediately chosen to commit suicide. He would never allow himself to fall into the hands of his enemy.


    Suddenly, Yun Zhonghe felt his knees buckling, and he crouched on the ground.


    ¡°Blech¡­¡±


    ¡°Phew¡­¡±


    He gasped for air.


    This Mr. Wenshan, who was considered to be his colleague, had simply died right in front of his eyes.


    Of course, Mr. Wenshan had actually been exposed long ago. Yun Zhonghe had not caused his death, but rather, the enemy had long seen through him.


    Even if it had not been for Yun Zhonghe, Mr. Wenshan was bound to meet his doom.


    Before this, Yun Zhonghe had not held a trace of emotion or loyalty toward the Order of Black Dragons, as well as the Great Ying Empire, much less a sense of belonging. He even felt as though he was not someone from the Great Ying Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragon.


    Everything he did was just to seek challenges. Life was nothing more than a game to him.


    But now, he felt as though he was trembling from deep within him.


    One after another, spies of the Order of Black Dragons were dying right before him. They were falling to the ground right in front of his eyes.


    The lady from Tianyu Pavilion, whom he had happened to meet once, was captured.


    And there was also the lovely Sister Xu Antiing. She had definitely been captured as well.


    He had to rescue her from them. He had to hurry up and think of a way to save her.


    Yun Zhonghe got back up on his feet and quickly walked towards the residence of the castellan. His mind was racing, trying to think of a way to save her.


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, you must get stronger and more powerful. Many times, battles are sudden. They will not give you any time to prepare yourself before they happen again.¡± Yun Zhonghe picked up his pace, and he felt the burning sensation within his chest intensifying.


    Who is my enemy?


    Who is the one who had taken down the entire intelligence network this time?


    That senior brother that Jing Zhongyue spoke about, it had to be him. His name seemed to be Chu Zhaoran.


    Yun Zhonghe walked faster and faster, faster and faster!


    Suddenly, he came to a halt mid-step!


    Next, he felt a slight numbness in the back of his head, and his entire person fainted right away.


    Then, he was put into a sack and carried away. In the blink of an eye, he had disappeared into the depths of the night.


    ***


    After some time, Yun Zhonghe groggily woke up.


    This was an underground chamber that was most likely a secret stronghold.


    His entire body was tied up.


    There were four warriors in front of him. Their eyes were red, and they were all filled with grief and rage.


    ¡°Your name is Yun AoTian, right? You¡¯re the one who caused Mr. Wenshan¡¯s death.¡± One of the scar-faced warriors slowly said, ¡°Do you still remember what Mr. Wenshan said before he died? We will come for you.¡±


    At that time, Mr. Wenshan had mouthed those words to Yun Zhonghe. He had not made any sound at all.


    ¡°Now, we¡¯ve come to seek revenge.¡± The scar-faced leader of the warriors said, ¡°Right here, I formally introduce you to who we are. We are the warriors of the Great Ying Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragons!¡±


    Then, each of the five warriors poured a cup of wine, drank half of it and spilled the other half on the ground.


    ¡°Mr. Wenshan, your humble subordinates have avenged your death!¡±


    ¡°Brothers and sisters of the Order of Black Dragons who died tonight, we have avenged your deaths.¡±


    ¡°Rest in peace; this Yun AoTian is only the first one. We will be sending more and more enemies to be buried with you all soon.¡±


    The five warriors knelt down and kowtowed until there was blood. Then they wailed and bawled.


    For as long as a quarter of an hour, they cried with such overwhelming sorrow, almost as if they were cuckoos crying tears of blood.


    Finally, the massive wailing came to a stop. When the five warriors looked up again, their foreheads were all dripping with blood.


    The scar-faced leader of the warriors came over with a sharp dagger in his hand. He then ripped off Yun Zhonghe¡¯s shirt to expose his chest.


    ¡°Traitor. I am going to dig out your heart as an offering to pay my respects to Mr. Wenshan and the victims of the Order of Black Dragons. Do you have anything else to say before you die?¡± The scar-faced warrior pressed the sharp and cold dagger against Yun Zhonghe¡¯s chest.


    It would just take a little more force exerted to cut open his chest and gouge out his heart. It seemed like a tragic scene of fratricide was about to unfold soon.


    ¡°Say it, this is going to be the last thing you say in this world,¡± said the scar-faced warrior in a cold voice.


    Yun Zhonghe remained silent.


    ¡°Since you have no wish to say your last words, then don¡¯t blame us for not giving you a chance.¡± The scar-faced warrior said in a cold voice, ¡°Kill the traitor, the royal furnace of the Great Ying Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragons!¡±


    Then, the dagger of the scar-faced warrior pierced right into Yun Zhonghe¡¯s heart with great ferocity.


    Yun Zhonghe merely felt a chill in his chest.


    Then¡­ Nothing happened.


    He did not die, and the dagger bounced back again.


    Yun Zhonghe sneered disdainfully and said, ¡°Are you done with the show? The man behind you can come out now!¡±


    ¡°Please come out, whichever lord you are!¡± Yun Zhonghe shouted.


    A moment later, a figure walked out.


    With a graceful bearing and dressed in clothes white as snow, this was an utterly beautiful scholar with a handsome look and elegant demeanor.


    ¡°I am Chu Zhaoran, hereby paying my respects to Brother Yun.¡±


    This man was none other than Jing Zhongyue¡¯s senior brother.


    He was the big shot who had ended three years of mourning and had immediately made a meritorious achievement upon his return, where he had directly brought down the entire intelligence network of the Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragon.

 Chapter 43

    All good-looking men simply deserve to die!


    So long as anyone was eighty percent as good-looking as me, Yun Zhonghe, that hatred would be an irreconcilable and universal one.


    ¡°Brother Yun, please take no offense.¡± Whenever Chu Zhaoran spoke, he always gave his audience the feeling of basking in a spring breeze.


    Yun Zhonghe sneered and said, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡±


    Chu Zhaoran said, ¡°Brother Yun, after all, you are going to enter the City of Torn Gust as an official very soon. This is a very normal identification procedure. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡±


    This man was truly sinister. He made his men pretend to be warriors of the Order of Black Dragons just to trick Yun Zhonghe into revealing his true identity.


    If Yun Zhonghe had not been scheming enough just now, he would have admitted his identity. If he had, he would have been a dead man by now.


    This man, Chu Zhaoran, standing in front of him, would have severed his head and then reported back to Jing Zhongyue.


    Jing Zhongyue already had Lady Cold Jade working for her, why would she still need Chu Zhaoran? What had changed in the midst of everything else happening?


    Or perhaps this was a typical mind trick used by kings and emperors. The job of a secret agent should never be handed over to someone else, and there had to be mutual checks and balances of power.


    This was why after the Ming Dynasty set up its army of Embroidered Uniform Guards, it also had to establish an East Branch, and after that, even a West Branch, and eventually, an internal Branch.


    But undoubtedly, at this point in time, Chu Zhaoran and Lady Cold Jade were the right-hand man and right-hand woman of Jing Zhongyue.


    This man was simply remarkable. He had just returned and had already pulled off a great coup. He had truly pulled off such an astonishingly brilliant feat that it caused even Lady Cold Jade to pale in comparison.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Are we done with the identification?¡±


    ¡°It has already ended,¡± said Chu Zhaoran with a smile. His smile really was very warm and sunny.


    Yun Zhonghe asked, ¡°Can I go back now?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Chu Zhaoran said, ¡°Please.¡±


    Then the door of the secret chamber opened.


    Yun Zhonghe walked out and discovered that this secret chamber was actually located within a small house that was not too far away from the residence of the castellan.


    He looked back and saw Chu Zhaoran mounting his horse. The man even waved at Yun Zhonghe with great enthusiasm.


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe walked back to the residence of the Castellan.


    At the main entrance of the residence of the castellan, he saw Jing Wubian, who was crouching on the ground like a dog. He paid no heed to this image at all.


    At that time¡­ it was already late at night. Jing Wubian was actually still waiting there.


    ¡°AoTian, are you alright?¡± Jing Wubian said, ¡°You don¡¯t look too good.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Since you¡¯re fine, then I¡¯m going to rest.¡±


    Then, he walked away.


    After taking a few steps, he turned back again and said, ¡°Right, AoTian. You won today, and I will honor our bet. I will find an opportunity to knock Sister Cold Jade unconscious so that you can kiss her on her lips. I¡¯m someone who keeps my word, so I will see to it that I fulfill whatever promise I¡¯ve made. Hmph!¡±


    Then, he left in a huff.


    Because Sister Cold Jade was still his dream lover.


    Yun Zhonghe looked at his receding back, and his cold heart felt an extra trace of warmth.


    However, Yun Zhonghe suddenly asked, ¡°Brother, where¡¯s Lady Musk? Is she back? When will she be back?¡±


    Suddenly, Jing Wubian trembled and said, ¡°AoTian, you¡¯re too much!


    The three great beauties of my house, a beggar like you actually wants to mess around with them all?


    Because of her love for the art of the guqin, Lady Musk was the best person to step forward and intervene to save Sister Xu Antiing.


    ***


    Back inside his disgusting smelling little courtyard, Yun Zhonghe headed straight for his bed and lay down, as though he wanted to sink himself into the soft cotton blanket and empty out all the jumbled thoughts gathered in his mind for the day.


    Then he suddenly sat up again.


    Because there was someone else in the room.


    ¡°Don¡¯t light the lamp. It¡¯s me,¡± the voice said.


    Yun Zhonghe was instantly shocked. It was actually¡­ Lord Feng Xingmie.


    Previously, Yun Zhonghe did not really know much of anything about Lord Feng Xingmie.


    But now, he knew that this man was a big shot, an extremely important personage.


    This man was the special envoy of the Imperial Capital¡¯s Order of Black Dragons, and he was in charge of the entire City of Torn Gust¡¯s strategic plans.


    This person was related to the entire City of Torn Gust, and even to the strategic plans of the Order of Black Dragons of the entire Land of No King.


    And such a big shot had, at that point in time, actually snuck into Yun Zhonghe¡¯s little courtyard. This¡­ what kind of risk was this supposed to be?


    ¡°Lord Feng, you should not have come,¡± Yun Zhonghe said in a trembling voice.


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°I¡¯m worried that if I didn¡¯t come, you would get impulsive and do something silly.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lord Feng, Mr. Wenshan is one of us from the Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragons. He was one of us, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Feng Xingmie replied.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s body trembled slightly.


    Then, Yun Zhonghe asked again, ¡°Today, one of our intelligence networks was busted, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Feng Xingmie said, ¡°This is the only larger intelligence network that we have left in the City of Torn Gust. It has laid dormant for sixteen whole years. Originally, we had intended to wait until you stabilized your foothold, then we would have given you the entire intelligence network to use at your disposal.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe asked, ¡°How many people died? How many have been arrested?¡±


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°Over a hundred people died, and over a hundred arrested. Of course, the majority were peripheral members. The number of true core secret agents total to thirty-two.¡±


    Such a heartbreaking and devastating loss.


    ¡°But all of this has nothing to do with you,¡± Feng Xingmie said. ¡°Wenshan¡¯s death has nothing to do with you. The entire intelligence network being wiped out also has absolutely nothing to do with you. You must never, ever be burdened by any such thoughts. Wenshan has long been exposed. Even without you, he would have died.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Why didn¡¯t they retreat, then? Back when Tianyu Pavilion was seized, they should have evacuated right away.¡±


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°Tianyu Pavilion is not within our sphere of influence. It¡¯s just that there are some of our people in there, that¡¯s all. Back then, there was a murder case in Tianyu Pavilion where several sons of highly influential people died in there, and it has caused a huge uproar. So, it was also normal for the place to be seized.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Then you should also have spotted some traces of it.¡±


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°Yes, I should have seen something. But¡­ I¡­ At that time, I was also imprisoned and was being investigated by the Imperial Capital¡¯s envoys.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe remembered. At that time, a few lords of the No-King Division had lodged a complaint to the Imperial Capital, all because of Feng Xingmie¡¯s decision to mobilize a beggar like Yun Zhonghe in the operation.


    This was why Feng Xingmie was imprisoned for more than half a month¡¯s time.


    ¡°After the investigation of my case ended, I immediately sensed that something was not right. Without further delay, I infiltrated the City of Torn Gust as fast as I could. But¡­ it was already too late. The people of this intelligence network were all exposed. The enemy has already laid an escape-proof trap.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Exactly which part of the entire situation has gone awry?¡±


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°Someone has defected.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said hoarsely, ¡°How could someone be defecting again?¡±


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°Something like mutiny is very common in the intelligence community. Secret agents of our Order of Black Dragons are certainly loyal, but there will still be occasions where we find some defectors among us. Moreover, we are facing an exceptionally powerful opponent this time. Especially for the women, he is simply too attractive for them to resist.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Who is the defector?¡±


    ¡°Ji Yan, she fell for Chu Zhaoran¡¯s seduction ruse,¡± Feng Xingmie said.


    Chu Zhaoran again?


    Yet, it was also not something worth wondering about. He was definitely a man of first-class beauty, and he had a warm and elegant demeanor that caused people to trust and grow close to him by instinct.


    It was very normal for women to fall for men like him.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lord Feng Xingmie, how many more of our latent forces do we still have in the City of Torn Gust? Who are the other important members still around? I don¡¯t want anything like today to happen again.¡±


    ¡°They are scattered and dispersed all over. There are still a few latent forces, but they are all small forces. Adding them all up, the number is no more than thirty,¡± said Feng Xingmie.


    Only less than thirty people?


    That was truly a major decline.


    The loss of the Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragons this time was really far too great.


    ¡°Those brothers and sisters who were captured, aren¡¯t we going to rescue them? How are we going to rescue them? How should I coordinate my help?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Rescuing people has nothing to do with you,¡± Lord Feng Xingmie whispered. ¡°Child, remember this. You are the core of the entire mission in the City of Torn Gust. Everyone else can die, and that even includes me, if necessary. You¡¯re the only one who can¡¯t die. Do you understand?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re not going to save them at all?¡±


    ¡°Save, of course we are going to save them,¡± Feng Xingmie said. ¡°Our next step is the Empire officially sending an envoy to negotiate directly with Jing Zhongyue. We will use an astronomical amount of money, exchange it for the survivors, and bring them back.¡±


    ¡°We are not going to rescue them by force?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°Of course not. The entire City of Torn Gust has more than ten thousand troops. Unless the army presses forward, what force can we rely on? It¡¯s all through the means of trading where we exchange for captives.¡±


    The City of Torn Gust had a population of four hundred thousand people, and yet, it had to provide for more than ten thousand troops. This was, indeed, a high ratio. But it was really no one¡¯s fault that the Jing Family was so wealthy.


    When it came to the manner in which spies were rescued, it was not just the Great Ying Empire that did it that way. The Southern Zhou Empire did likewise. There was also that superpower in the north.


    Usually, it was not a rescue by force, but rather via the means of trading.


    In this regard, the Great Ying Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragons was the most generous. It was willing to pay astronomical amounts of money in return for their agents. They did the same for spies who had been crippled.


    That was why the spies of the Order of Black Dragons were extremely loyal.


    He would not dare say the same for anyone else, but when it came to Xu Antiing, Yun Zhonghe would definitely find a way to save her.


    Otherwise, by the time the Empire¡¯s envoy arrived to strike a deal, she would have long been tortured to a state of bruises and wounds.


    And, Xu Antiing was not really exposed. It was highly likely that the trading list of the Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragons did not have Xu Antiing¡¯s name.


    ¡°Child, bear this in mind. Your only mission is to conquer Jing Zhongyue. Everything else is of secondary importance,¡± Feng Xingmie said. ¡°After conquering Jing Zhongyue, you have to marry her. This is the only way for you to gain true power in the City of Torn Gust. And only then will you be able to influence and dictate the policies of the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    ¡°You have to be mindful of Chu Zhaoran. That man is very powerful.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I have already experienced it.¡±


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°Apart from Chu Zhaoran, the other people that you have to be careful of are the spies of the Southern Zhou Empire.¡±


    ¡°Are there many spies from the Southern Zhou Empire in the City of Torn Gust?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°Many,¡± said Feng Xingmie.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Then why is it that the spy forces of the Great Ying Empire have to suffer heavy losses time and again, but the spy network of the Southern Zhou Empire is not subjected to the same?¡±


    Feng Xingmie replied, ¡°The City of Torn Gust also fights against the spy network of the Southern Zhou Empire. But we suspect that during the reign of Jing E, the City of Torn Gust and the Southern Zhou Empire¡¯s Order of Black Ice had established a secret contract and that a secret partnership exists between the two.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Who is the highest commanding officer in charge of executing the City of Torn Gust¡¯s strategy from the Southern Zhou Empire¡¯s Order of Black Ice?¡±


    ¡°It may be the greatest defector of ours, Yan Pianxian,¡± Feng Xingmie said. ¡°If nothing goes wrong, he is in charge of the secret strategies of the Land of No King.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Then the Southern Zhou Empire will definitely have a powerful spy network in the City of Torn Gust. Does anyone in the Order of Black Dragons¡¯ intelligence network have any information about the core figures of this spy network? That is, the most prominent sleeper agent of the Southern Zhou Empire?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there is!¡± Feng Xingmie said, ¡°There is one such person who has been lurking among the top management of the City of Torn Gust. But this is kept so confidential that almost no one knows who he or she is. We suspect that only a handful of people in the Southern Zhou Empire knows this person¡¯s identity as well. In the data obtained by our Order of Black Dragons, the code name given to this person is ¡®The Swindler!''¡±


    The Swindler?!


    This person was the most prominent sleeper agent that the Southern Zhou Empire had planted in the City of Torn Gust?


    Who could this person be?


    The faces of several people flashed across Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Child, do you still remember why I wanted you to execute this mission in the City of Torn Gust back then?¡± Feng Xingmie asked.


    ¡°Because I like getting myself into deep trouble that might send me to meet my doom, and I fancy the idea of wandering along the edge of death,¡± said Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Feng Xingmie said. ¡°Because you are so unrestrained, so crazy and wild. But¡­ Now, I feel that you¡¯re so sad. You are no longer as unrestrained, and this is something I don¡¯t wish to see. You have said so yourself, that only a lunatic can survive in the City of Torn Gust. Now that our Order of Black Dragons is getting weaker in the City of Torn Gust, there will be constant occurrences of dangerous events appearing everywhere around you. There are enemies and evil demons everywhere.¡±


    ¡°So, my child, you have to continue being who you were before this. Someone who sees life as nothing but a game, with your carefree, calm, unhurried, absurd, and unrestrained attitude as you wander along the edge of death.¡±


    ¡°You can feel sad, but you have to get over it very quickly. When you wake up tomorrow morning, you must become your previous self, become that adorable boy you have been once more.¡±


    ¡°Also, don¡¯t ever hate Jing Zhongyue. Or even Lady Cold Jade. They are not your enemies, got it? Although Jing Zhongyue killed many of our people from the Order of Black Dragon, she is not your enemy. She is the target of your conquest. And if the plan succeeds, she will be your wife.¡±


    ¡°Wife?¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Feng Xingmie said, ¡°We have always had one goal in mind, and that is to make her the spokesperson for the interests of the Empire. And the moment your plan succeeds, the two of you will be married. Could we possibly separate the both of you then? No way! You two will become husband and wife joined in an everlasting marriage.¡±


    ¡°Remember, she is not your enemy. She is your future wife. All that you¡¯ve got to do is to conquer her. Make her fall hopelessly in love with you. I believe you can do it, for you possess such incomparable charm.¡±


    ¡°This time, at the Grand Assembly of the Baronage Alliance of the Land of No King, the City of Torn Gust has suffered a great loss. With such a strong personality, Jing Zhongyue will definitely not let things go so easily. She might even face a deadly crisis, and this crisis directly impacts the rise and fall of the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Yun Zhonghe could not help pricking up his ears.


    Feng Xingmie went on to say, ¡°So next up, you will find yourself with a great opportunity to thoroughly show your talent and establish a truly tremendous contribution. And you will attract her complete undivided attention. Or even, the moment you succeed, your plan to conquer her will be half completed.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°What crisis will the City of Torn Gust face? What opportunity will I find myself with?¡±


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°Our information is not complete at the moment. When we have a clearer picture, I will have someone send it to you.¡±


    Then, Lord Feng Xingmie got to his feet and said, ¡°I can¡¯t stay for long. I will get going now.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Need me to help you out?¡±


    Feng Xingmie said, ¡°No need.¡±


    ¡°How are you going to get out?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°As the man with the fragrance of the night, who is otherwise known as the dung-hauler,¡± Feng Xingmie replied.


    Yun Zhonghe was shocked. Such a big shot like Feng Xingmie actually had to disguise himself as a dung-hauler to get in and out of a place?


    When they reached the door, Feng Xingmie suddenly turned back and asked, ¡°Child, can I give you a hug?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was startled at first, then he nodded.


    Feng Xingmie turned around and gave Yun Zhonghe a forceful hug. With a trembling voice, he said, ¡°Child, the last time I carried you, you were just a baby. In the blink of an eye, you have grown up.¡±


    Feng Xingmie sniffed deeply then released Yun Zhonghe. Then, he headed straight out and immediately disappeared into the darkness of the backyard.


    A quarter of an hour later!


    A rickety old man, seated on a wagon full of dung, left the residence of the castellan.


    ***

 Chapter 44

    After Feng Xingmie left, Yun Zhonghe did not go to bed right away. He boiled himself a large bucket of hot water and was prepared to take a nice bath.


    Previously when there was no opponent, Yun Zhonghe could go around with filthy hair and a dirty face, getting by with the appearance of a beggar.


    But now that Chu Zhaoran had appeared, I, Yun Zhonghe, must regain my peerlessly handsome looks.


    This was just like a peacock spreading its tail feathers. Without the presence of an opponent, the peacock would be lazy. But once an opponent appeared, the peacock would spread out its entire tail so that every single feather would be completely on display, as though it could not help but wish that even it¡¯s a** could bloom.


    And just then.


    A figure suddenly walked into Yun Zhonghe¡¯s courtyard.


    ¡°AoTian, come here,¡± said Jing Wubian sneakily.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Brother, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Just come over when I ask you to. Is there a need for all that nonsense?¡±


    Then he grabbed Yun Zhonghe¡¯s wrist and began to pull him out.


    ¡°Brother, I¡¯ve not even put on my shirt,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Put on what shirt? Dilly-dallying away.¡±


    Then, just like that, Yun Zhonghe, naked to the waist, was pulled into a corner of the West Courtyard.


    Quite a few people around saw this and instantly cast strange looks their way.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. It¡¯s not what you all think it is.¡±


    But for some reason, the looks of these bystanders became even more bizarre.


    Yun Zhonghe was pulled into a small room deep within the courtyard.


    ¡°Bang!¡± The door to the room was shut.


    Such an isolated corner, such a secluded courtyard, just what do you, Jing Wubian, want to do?


    ¡°Look.¡± Jing Wubian pointed towards the bed.


    Yun Zhonghe was considerably taken aback, for there was a great beauty lying on the bed now with her eyes closed.


    Black Blood Hall¡¯s Lady Cold Jade.


    It was the head of Black Blood Hall, the ruthless and merciless female slayer who had killed hundreds of people that very day.


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°AoTian, the words that come out of my mouth are just like the sh*t¡¯s I take. They are always as solid as the real sh*t, absolutely not bullsh*t like mere farts. You won the bet today, so I have knocked Sister Cold Jade unconscious to let you kiss her.¡±


    Suddenly, Yun Zhonghe was dumbstruck.


    I¡­ Holy crap!


    Jing Wubian, you¡¯re really quite seriously sick for a psychopath. How did you survive until now?


    And this is the woman of your teenage fantasies, but you are just going to put her out for your brother to kiss?


    Aren¡¯t you a little too big-hearted?


    Jing Wubian said, ¡°Hurry up. Sister Cold Jade will wake up soon. By then, we¡¯ll both be finished.¡±


    At that moment, Yun Zhonghe was about to be put through a test of the soul.


    Should I kiss her or not?


    Jing Wubian, who was standing beside him, said disdainfully, ¡°AoTian, it seems like, with that mouth of yours, you are also just a braggart. At the most critical moment, you are still just a wimp.¡±


    All of a sudden, Yun Zhonghe could not hold himself back anymore.


    Quickly moving forward, he held Lady Cold Jade¡¯s cold, compelling face and drew nearer to her.


    However¡­


    When he was still an inch away.


    Lady Cold Jade¡¯s eyes suddenly opened.


    There was a momentary glow that was simply indescribable.


    It was the kind of look that a child received when he used boiling hot water to douse the ants¡¯ homes. And it was also the same kind of glow seen when an old eunuch castrated a young man to make him a eunuch as well.


    Cold and cruel with a tinge of sarcasm.


    Yun Zhonghe was raving on the inside. I¡­ At this point in time, should I advance, or should I retreat? Waiting on the line, feeling quite urgent.


    At this critical moment, I cannot be a wimp. I must advance.


    Yun Zhonghe quickly moved over to plant a kiss.


    But¡­ before he could even touch her, he was held to the ground by Lady Cold Jade.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Pain, pain, pain, pain¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe howled miserably.


    Jing Wubian was dumbfounded. He first took a look at Yun Zhonghe, then glanced at Lady Cold Jade.


    It was as though he was making a choice between life and death.


    At this time, should I run away? Or should I be a righteous man and save my little brother, Yun AoTian?


    Suddenly, he gritted his teeth and stomped his feet.


    Jing Wubian¡¯s eyes fell into a dazed state as he said to himself, ¡°Aye, where is this? Why am I here?¡±


    Then he walked away as though he was sleepwalking and left Yun Zhonghe at Lady Cold Jade¡¯s disposal.


    D*mn, at this critical moment, a psychopath like you is suddenly back to being a reasonable person?


    ¡°Sister Cold Jade. I was wrong. I was really wrong.¡±


    ¡°But you can¡¯t blame me. Any man would go crazy in the face of such a stunning beauty like you, let alone a mere mortal like me who has such a peerlessly handsome face?¡±


    ¡°Will you let go of me first?¡±


    And just then, there was a sudden cracking sound.


    Yun Zhonghe shuddered and asked, ¡°I, is my arm broken?¡±


    Lady Cold Jade replied, ¡°Not broken, I simply dislocated it.¡±


    Then, Lady Cold Jade released Yun Zhonghe and said in a cold voice, ¡°Our monarch wants to see you.¡±


    Just as expected. I was just wondering how a useless man like Jing Wubian could possibly knock Lady Cold Jade unconscious. This was just Lady Cold Jade putting up a pretense.


    But, Lady Cold Jade, in pretending to faint, could it be that within your heart, you have some ulterior impulse that cannot bear to see the light of the day? On the outside, you¡¯re cold as ice, yet you secretly crave to seek excitement.


    Then, Lady Cold Jade headed outside.


    With one dislocated arm, Yun Zhonghe got back up on his feet with great difficulty as he followed behind Lady Cold Jade.


    ¡°Sister Cold Jade, the way the monarch is treating you, I really can¡¯t bear to take it lying down.¡±


    ¡°You are the monarch¡¯s foremost confidante. Chu Zhaoran, who does he think he is?¡±


    ¡°Sister Cold Jade, rest assured that I will definitely take your side. The two of us will join hands and destroy that little gigolo.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was trying his best to drive a wedge between her and Chu Zhaoran, but Lady Cold Jade showed no discernible reaction.


    They passed by another spot where it was dark and sparse of people. The servant on night watch duty saw the half-naked Yun Zhonghe again. In front of him, there was Lady Cold Jade, and Yun Zhonghe was even sporting a dislocated arm.


    God! Are you really that crazy when having fun?


    Yun AoTian and Master Jing Wubian were not enough; now even Lady Cold Jade was involved?


    Was his personal life that big of a mess?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Please, you all must not misunderstand me. Things are really not what you all make them out to be.¡±


    ¡°We understand, we understand. Your humble subjects will not go around shooting our mouths off,¡± the servants hurriedly said.


    Lady Cold Jade was still expressionless when they arrived at the hall in the central courtyard.


    ¡°Go in, Her Lady is waiting for you,¡± Lady Cold Jade said.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to give me a shirt? I¡¯m going in like this, naked to the waist? It¡¯s not a very good idea for me to do so when there¡¯s only Her Lady and me alone in the room, is it?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Lady Cold Jade stepped forward, grabbed Yun Zhonghe by the neck, and threw him into the room.


    ***


    Bia-ish!


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s body slammed onto the cold hard ground.


    Jing Zhongyue was dressed in a white embroidered robe with black patterned lines stitched into it.


    Upon further scrutiny, these embroideries were actually stitched using metallic gold silk. This was just so rich, so luxurious.


    Jing Zhongyue was very beauty-conscious and enjoyed showing off. She changed her clothes daily, and every piece of clothing she owned was outright expensive.


    ¡°How should I address you? Master Yun of the Great Ying Empire?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked in an indifferent manner. But every word that came out of her mouth sounded as cold and sharp as the blade of a knife.


    Yun Zhonghe originally wanted to get to his feet, but at that moment, he immediately fell back down again.


    ¡°I confess. I will confess all of it.¡±


    ¡°My name is Yun Zhonghe. I live by the gate of the City of Chill Water, without a house, without any land. My life is filled with boundless joy.¡±


    ¡°I have no father, no mother. I grew up amidst a gang of beggars. Since I was young, I have been swindling and cheating. I picked and stole.¡±


    ¡°After I grew up, I went around cheating people of money and heart with this peerlessly handsome face of mine.¡±


    ¡°Being out frequently at night, it¡¯s inevitable running into ghosts. Women spell trouble, so it¡¯s inevitable that I will cross paths with their men.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I seemed to have gotten involved with a woman that I should not have been messing around with. Her man is some big shot who has cast this gigantic, escape-proof net to capture me, and he is dead set on destroying me. So, I could only flee far away, and that¡¯s when I came to the Land of No King.¡±


    ¡°I heard that the castellan of the City of Torn Gust was a beauty and that she had no husband, so I felt that my chance had come. Since I am gifted with the talent of being a gold-digger, I feel that I will be able to marry a fair-skinned, rich and beautiful lady, and make my way up to the peak of life.¡±


    ¡°Everything I¡¯ve said is the truth. Castellan, if there is even one word that is a lie, then just let drown me alive in this life full of sh*t and piss.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue asked him heedlessly, ¡°Do you know which big shot you¡¯ve offended?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea. I got out of that woman¡¯s bed and had just returned to our beggars¡¯ base camp. Yet I found a few dozen people dead. I was scared out of my wits and ran away,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°You have been fooling around with the second wife of the Baron Zhennan of the Great Ying Empire,¡± Jing Zhongyue said.


    Baron Zhennan? That, that was some major big shot! Yun Zhonghe felt his hair rising on end as he said in a stern voice, ¡°How could she do that? She lied to me and said that she was just the concubine of an ordinary official. If I had known that she was a lawfully wedded wife, would I possibly have touched her? We have very clear rules set within our industry. Unless absolutely necessary, never ever touch a lawfully wedded wife. She¡¯s got me into trouble big time, how could she tell such a lie? How could someone be so dishonest?¡±


    Suddenly, the sound of teeth grinding was heard in the surroundings.


    It was a lady warrior hiding in the dark.


    Jing Zhongyue asked, ¡°Why do you say that lawfully wedded wives are out of bounds to you?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°There are two reasons for this. Firstly, a man marries a wife for her virtuousness but takes a concubine for his lust. This is why lawfully wedded wives are usually not pretty, whereas concubines are beautiful. Secondly, a man can have many concubines, but he will always have only one official wife. This concerns the dignity of a man, so getting involved with a lawfully wedded wife can cause a man to kill.¡±


    Speechless!


    This was just too ridiculous.


    What kind of bullsh*t theory was this?


    ¡°Everyone close to you in the City of Chill Water was killed,¡± Jing Zhongyue said. ¡°These are the people you have offended. They all want to tear you up limb from limb and cut you into pieces.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue took out a list of names. No, five lists.


    These were all densely populated with names, and every single one of them wanted to kill Yun Zhonghe.


    ¡°It¡¯s truly not easy for you to have survived up until now.¡± Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°So who is this Mr. Lee? Why is he risking his life to protect you? He has since been imprisoned and taken to the Great Ying¡¯s Imperial Capital; did you know about this?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Honestly speaking, I¡­ I myself don¡¯t know who he is, yeah? I wanted to hook up with his daughter, but I failed.¡±


    He was telling the truth. He really had no idea why this Mr. Lee was so good to him, or why he was so desperate to keep Yun Zhonghe safe.


    But Jing Zhongyue did not seem to be bothered by this. Instead, she went on reading the information on Yun Zhonghe, which was so detailed that it was simply frightening. It seemed like practically every woman that he had fooled around with, as well as every major disaster that he had ever caused, were all clearly kept on record.


    ¡°Who was the one who found all this information?¡± Yun Zhonghe could not help but ask.


    Jing Zhongyue ignored him.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Is it Chu Zhaoran? What does he want? What¡¯s the meaning of this, checking on me like that?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue continued to read, ¡°This man, Yun Zhonghe, is na?ve and childish, treacherous and cunning, unlearned and unskilled, but he is intelligent, insane, and unrestrained, especially his looks. He is so peerlessly handsome that it makes him a unique one-in-a-thousand type of person.¡±


    Then Jing Zhongyue looked toward Yun Zhonghe and said, ¡°In terms of looks, are you really considered a unique one-in-a-thousand type of person?¡±


    At that moment, the Yun Zhonghe in front of Jing Zhongyue could be said to be ugly and wretched with a beggar¡¯s appearance.


    ¡°How could I possibly be just one out of a thousand people?¡± Yun Zhonghe sneered and said, ¡°I¡¯m clearly one in a million.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯d like to see for myself exactly what kind of a one in a million you are.¡± Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Someone, take him away and scrub him clean. Change him into a clean embroidered suit.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Two lady servants stepped forward. First, they fixed his dislocated shoulder joint. Then, they brought him for a bath to restore his true appearance.


    If Yun Zhonghe was really that peerlessly handsome and so unique that he was one in a million, as what the intelligence had said he was, then Jing Zhongyue really had to make good use of him.


    ***

 Chapter 45

    A moment later, a piercing scream was heard from not far away, and it sounded like pigs being slaughtered.


    ¡°Dear two sisters, please be a little gentler. Be a little gentler.¡±


    ¡°Pain, pain, pain. My skin is peeling off, peeling off.¡±


    ¡°Hot, hot, hot. I¡¯m going to be cooked soon! Going to be cooked soon!¡±


    Jing Zhongyue turned a deaf ear to Yun Zhonghe¡¯s miserable cries and simply said, ¡°Lady Cold Jade, come in!¡±


    Lady Cold Jade walked in and got down on one knee.


    Jing Zhongyue continued to stare at the map in a dazed state.


    This was the map of the entire Land of No King, and there was a certain patch on this map that had been painted red. It was a relatively large patch that spanned over nearly a hundred miles.


    This was the pain of the Jing Clan!


    Once upon a time, the master of the Jing Clan was too negligent and lost a vast majority of his territory. Even his ancestral family estate was seized from him. As a result, the family serving the Jing Clan, which was the An Clan, became the masters of the Valley of Torn Gust.


    Then, Jing E, an extremely outstanding character, appeared to make a very commendable contribution. Not only did he reclaim the position of castellan of the city, he even repossessed the majority of the Jing Clan¡¯s territory and expanded this territorial land to span over an area of 13,000 square kilometers.


    But this was the only part of the entire territory that was never reclaimed.


    The Fallen Leaves Territory!


    A few decades ago, the Jing Clan fell while the An Clan rebelled.


    At that time, in order to quell the rebellion staged by the An Clan, the then castellan, Lord Jing Yan, who had no soldiers for military support, had borrowed an army from his in-laws, the Mo Clan, as a force for his counter-insurgency efforts.


    There was no knowing whether it was due to a concussion he had after being kicked in the head, or if someone had coaxed and fooled him into it, but he actually signed a contract.


    And so, the Fallen Leaves Territory was leased to the Mo Clan for fifty years in exchange for a loan of an army of five-thousand soldiers from the Mo Clan.


    After he had the Mo Clan¡¯s army of five thousand soldiers, Castellan Jing Yan launched a decisive battle to counter the An Clan¡¯s rebellion.


    In the end, he suffered a crushing defeat. His family estate at the Valley of Torn Gust was seized, and practically the entire Jing Clan was killed. The An Clan became the new masters of the Valley of Torn Gust.


    Later on, with the rise of Jing E, the Jing Clan continued to expand and gain power in an awe-inspiring manner.


    But this Fallen Leaves Territory that had been ceded was always a pain that Jing E could not forget. It was the same for the Jing Clan.


    In order to reclaim the Fallen Leaves Territory, Jing E had made use of both soft and hard approaches. He had also waged at least three wars.


    But the Mo Clan¡¯s City of Washed Jade was simply too strong. The three wars were all inconclusive towards the end.


    There was a loss of soldiers, and the army suffered heavy casualties, but he had not managed to reclaim the Fallen Leaves Territory.


    In the Land of No King, in terms of territory, food provisions, and weapons, the Mo Clan¡¯s City of Washed Jade was well above that of the Jing Clan.


    Of course, in terms of money, the Jing Clan was still richer. This was because the Jing Clan monopolized the salt trade.


    But what use was great wealth alone? The Jing Clan did not have the two most important things. One was iron ore, and the other was food provisions, both of which needed to be bought with money.


    And the Mo Clan¡¯s City of Washed Jade, though not as rich as the Jing Clan, had an immeasurable supply of food.


    There were dozens of clans in the entire baronage of the Land of No King. The Mo Clan¡¯s City of Washed Jade was also ranked above that of the Jing Clan¡¯s.


    And what was even more ridiculous was that this Fallen Leaves Territory was itself a large granary.


    The strategic location of the Jing Clan¡¯s Valley of Torn Gust was extremely crucial, but it was situated in treacherous terrains, and land cultivation was extremely sparse. The amount of grain produced in a year was not even enough to supply food for half a year, with most of the remaining supply relying on trade.


    However, just one Fallen Leaves Territory alone spanned over near to 132,000 acres of fertile farmland, and it was still in the midst of being cultivated. Every year, the amount of grain produced was enough to feed millions of people.


    This was why the greatest pain in Jing E¡¯s life was that he had never been able to reclaim this large granary, the Fallen Leaves Territory.


    This also became a pain in Jing Zhongyue¡¯s heart.


    Now, the lease contract between the Jing Clan and the Mo Clan was about to expire.


    Fifty years of time was soon coming to an end.


    But the Mo Clan had no intention of returning it at all.


    Both sides had gone through dozens of rounds, but still, nothing came out of their negotiations.


    What was certain was that, once the fifty-year period was up, if Jing Zhongyue still did not manage to reclaim this Fallen Leaves Territory, it would cause fatal harm to the City of Torn Gust.


    The lease is coming to an end, and you are still unable to reclaim the land. Is that not incompetence? How can you still have the face to be the Castellan of the City of Torn Gust?


    The other lords would also be able to see the weakness of the City of Torn Gust. By that time, a pack of wolves would pounce and bite, splitting up and devouring the entire City of Torn Gust.


    In particular, a very frightening signal had appeared in the recent Baronage Assembly of the Land of No King.


    The Mo Clan was in the midst of forming allies with the other lords, where it had plans to impose trade sanctions against the City of Torn Gust, which meant stopping all sales of grains and iron ores to them.


    The reason was that the Jing Clan had waged an unjust war against the City of Autumn Waters, which was under the jurisdiction of forces comprising the southern lords.


    However, that was a war that had to be fought.


    Because after Jing E lost consciousness and collapsed, the City of Autumn Waters in the South had taken advantage of the situation to make its move and instigated the Wild Boar Territory, which was located at the southernmost end of the Valley of Torn Gust, into staging a rebellion.


    If Jing Zhongyue had not done anything to quell the rebellion and put the City of Autumn Waters through a complete round of pain, the entire Valley of Torn Gust would most likely have become a land beset by war.


    In less than a month, the war was over.


    Not only did Jing Zhongyue stamp out the rebellion, but she also destroyed five thousand troops of the City of Autumn Waters and seized one of its territories that was close to a thousand square kilometers. She had then integrated this territory into the Wild Boar Territory.


    At that point, though the Wild Boar Territory was still the most impoverished territory of the City of Torn Gust, it was, nonetheless, one of the biggest, with a land area reaching two thousand square kilometers.


    And that was also the battle that gave full play to Jing Zhongyue¡¯s prowess and might.


    At present day, a considerable mound formed by piling up several thousands of heads still remained at the southernmost end of the Wild Boar Territory. Internally, it was a deterrence directed at the lords who owned territories; and externally, it was a deterrence directed at lords who were busy sharpening their knives and readying themselves with the threat of waging war.


    ***


    ¡°Lady Cold Jade, you have indignation in your heart,¡± Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°because I¡¯ve been focusing a lot on Chu Zhaoran, putting him in a very important position.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade knelt down and said, ¡°Your humble subject dared not think as such.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Everyone says that I¡¯m playing some mind trick of kings and emperors, and don¡¯t want to leave all the intelligence forces in your good hands, so I have brought Chu Zhaoran into the picture and split the power between the two of you to serve as a check and balance system for each other. Then I can also gain a firm foothold and watch the subjects under my command fight each other.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade still repeated the same thing, saying, ¡°Your humble subject dared not think as such.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°You¡¯ve done an excellent job. You¡¯re extremely outstanding in your position countering espionage activities in the City of Torn Gust. Even your existence alone can make the spies of the Great Ying Empire and Southern Zhou Empire shudder in fear. Over the past few years, you¡¯ve killed no less than a thousand people. That can be said to be a meritorious contribution.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade continued to kneel without moving.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°But you¡¯re too focused on the intelligence forces of the Great Ying Empire and Southern Zhou Empire. And at present, the most dangerous situation that we are facing is that the lords and barons of the Land of No King have the intention of making our Valley of Torn Gust the first sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°Do you know what the discussion topics of the Baronage Assembly are at this time?¡±


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Your humble subject doesn¡¯t know.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°The first is unity. In the face of the aggressiveness of the Southern Zhou Empire and the Great Ying Empire, all thirty-seven lords of the Land of No King have to stay even more united. Someone proposed putting together an allied army, or even to establish a united kingdom in the future.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Is this the will of the most prominent lord in the Land of No King, the Tantai Clan?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Of course it is the Tantai, but the thing is, Tantai definitely won¡¯t say it out explicitly. It was proposed by Li of the Wandering City.¡±


    It was known by all that Li was just a lackey of the Tantai Clan.


    To unify the entire Land of No King.


    This was a very tempting ideal, indeed.


    The Land of No King spanned over 500,000 square kilometers of land and was home to tens of millions of people. It was definitely more than enough to build a kingdom out of it.


    The head of the Tantai Clan, being the most prominent lord in the Land of No King, had been holding the position of the head of the alliance for three consecutive terms.


    According to the rules set by the Assembly of Alliance of the Land of No King, any one lord could only serve a maximum of three terms as head of the alliance.


    Now, the deadline of twenty-one years was almost coming to an end.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°There¡¯s also another topic of discussion. Our arch-enemy from the south, the City of Autumn Waters, has proposed imposing sanctions on our Valley of Torn Gust, cutting off all trading of our food and mineral products and completely shutting us out. And now, there are already a few lords responding to its call. Even the head of the alliance, the Tantai Clan, seems to be warming up to it.¡±


    ¡°Our City of Torn Gust may seem to be so rich and prosperous, so influential and powerful, yet in fact, danger is lurking all around us.¡±


    ¡°If we are unable to reclaim this great granary, the Fallen Leaves Territory, this time, and even have to face a joint blockade by all the other lords of the Land of No King, then we will be facing a calamity that threatens us with a total wipeout of our City of Torn Gust.¡±


    ¡°And this crisis cannot be resolved by war. It requires the use of diplomacy and intelligence.¡±


    ¡°This is why I am entrusting Chu Zhaoran with such heavy responsibilities. Next up, your job is still with the countering of espionage, and your targets are still the spies of the Southern Zhou Empire and the Great Ying Empire, while Chu Zhaoran¡¯s attention will be more focused on the other lords of the Land of No King. Your duty is to defend our home while his duty is to explore and develop.¡±


    ¡°We have to reclaim the strategic key location, the Fallen Leaves Territory. We have to crush the enemies¡¯ conspiracy to blockade the Valley of Torn Gust. This is the foremost strategic step we have to take next. Do you understand?¡±


    Lady Cold Jade kowtowed and said, ¡°Yes, your humble subject understands.¡±


    ¡°Jing Wubian is indifferent. You are my sworn sister, and Chu Zhaoran is my senior brother. Both of you are my right-hand man and woman, the people closest to me. We must all be united as one and not be suspicious of one another. The hundreds of years of foundation of the Valley of Torn Gust still depends on the both of you.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade maintained her kowtow and said, ¡°Your humble subject will not hesitate, even if my limbs are torn apart, and my bones are crushed into bits.¡±


    Then Lady Cold Jade asked, ¡°Then what about this man, Yun Zhonghe?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I would like to see for myself. Is he really as handsome as the legends said? If he is, then I also have to make great use of him.¡±


    And just then, the lady servant outside said in a slightly trembling voice, ¡°My Lady, Master Yun AoTian is here.¡±


    Eh? That¡¯s not right.


    Just now, you didn¡¯t call him Master Yun AoTian. Rather, your attitude was so cold and violent. Now, your voice is actually trembling with a hint of bashfulness.


    Yun Zhonghe said to that lady servant, ¡°Auntie, after you saw my true appearance, your face is flushed, your ears are red, and your legs have gone soft. For this, I am very grateful to you. Because this is a full acknowledgment of my beauty. But¡­ I have to tell you that it is impossible between us. I, Yun Zhonghe, already have someone in my heart. I¡¯ve fallen in love with that bright moon in the sky.¡±


    Was this a confession to Jing Zhongyue?


    Lady Cold Jade cast a glance towards Jing Zhongyue, wanting to ask if she should break both of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s legs.


    Jing Zhongyue paid no heed to her and was instead looking at the screen with great anticipation. She was waiting for Yun Zhonghe to appear, as she wanted to see exactly what that man, who was described as a peerlessly handsome man in the intelligence report, really looked like.


    A gust of wind blew, and the hem of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s robe fluttered.


    Aye! I have been waiting for this gust of wind for such a long time!


    Then, he slowly walked out from behind the screen.


    Suddenly¡­


    Both Jing Zhongyue and Lady Cold Jade¡¯s beautiful eyes widened.


    The intelligence report was not exaggerating. This Yun Zhonghe was really so handsome that he was one in a million. His beauty was really peerless, and it simply made everyone else in this world seem like a tragedy.


    Really, truly so handsome that his looks were blinding.


    Especially when he had always been displaying that ugly appearance of a beggar, to suddenly become this handsome man with unrivaled good looks now, the contrast was just too great.


    After a moment of silence, Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°You¡¯re more beautiful than a woman, and your looks themself are indeed a sharp weapon. I will make good use of you.¡±


    ***

 Chapter 46

    The key thing here was that Yun Zhonghe was not only handsome; he was also devilish!


    There was a kind of man where one look was all it took to see that he was no good.


    With a second look, one would know that this man was an absolute scumbag, a plague, a thief, and that there was nothing pure and kind in his looks at all.


    And Yun Zhonghe was this kind of man.


    ¡°You¡¯re handsome, so why have you been pretending to be an old beggar for the past month or so?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I have hidden my exquisitely magnificent beauty to allow you all to get used to my old beggar¡¯s guise. And then, one fine day when I finally reveal my true appearance, my face will be like a sharp blade that pierces through your heart. And then suddenly, your heart will explode. That¡¯s the way to achieve a more shocking effect. Take now, for instance. All of you are shocked, aren¡¯t you? In fact, I should have held it in for a while longer. That way, the effect would have been even better.¡±


    The moment this was said, Jing Zhongyue and Lady Cold Jade exchanged glances.


    It was a mutual exchange of the mockery and ridicule they felt inwardly!


    At least this exchange of looks felt very much like they were besties.


    Really, the heavens had to be blind.


    Such a handsome face was actually matched with such a frivolous and lowly soul.


    What a pity!


    Jing Zhongyue looked Yun Zhonghe up and down for a while, then said, ¡°Lady Cold Jade, check his body.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade was taken aback. This Yun Zhonghe was a man after all. Was it appropriate for her to check his body?


    But her hesitation only lasted for a moment. Then, she walked up to Yun Zhonghe and examined every part of his body with both hands.


    ¡°Still considered healthy, but on the thin side and very weak.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You can¡¯t blame me for this. I was already overwhelmingly handsome by the time I was fourteen years old and was often cheated by beautiful women who lured me back home with them using silver, so it¡¯s only normal for me to be weak.¡±


    Suddenly¡­ the few people standing around were, once again, rendered dumbfounded.


    Didn¡¯t men have a lot of pride and dignity? It was fine for someone to call them bad, but one could not say that they were impotent. They would fight that person to the death.


    But Yun Zhonghe standing before them had actually directly admitted that he was weak?


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Should we send someone to train him to become stronger?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°No need. It¡¯s even better for him to be weak like this.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe heard what she said and could not help but feel his heart lurch. What did Jing Zhongyue¡¯s words mean?


    Such beautiful men, being frail and delicate, were more capable of arousing people into taking pity on them and protecting them. Of course, there was also the desire to ravage them.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Yun Zhonghe, you go back first. But continue to maintain your previous appearance.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Hide my exquisitely magnificent beauty again? And wait until the next time you need it to bloom again?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue did not say anything. Instead, she picked up her book again. This was her way of telling Yun Zhonghe that he could take his leave.


    Yun Zhonghe picked up a mirror and sighed, then he said, ¡°Goodbye, beautiful man. Your handsomeness is just too powerful. It¡¯s such overkill that it¡¯s like a nuclear weapon. One look at it will cause the fall of a city, and a second look at it will cause the fall of a nation. This is why, the vast majority of the time, you have to stay hidden during the day. And when the time of need arrives, you can appear and wield your sword!¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe simply went on to hold the mirror and walked out while staring at it.


    And just then, Jing Wubian walked in and saw Yun Zhonghe.


    Without a moment of delay, a murderous intent popped up in his mind.


    ¡°Sister Cold Jade, who is this man? Kill him. In this residence of the castellan, all men more handsome than me should die!¡±


    Alas, it was no wonder Yun Zhonghe and Jing Wubian had clicked with each other. They were, without a doubt, soulmates of the same mind.


    ¡°Brother, I am AoTian,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Jing Wubian stared at Yun Zhonghe for a long time, and then, it was as though he was significantly hurt.


    ¡°From now on, I no longer see you as a brother. I¡¯m going to break off ties with you.¡± Jing Wubian forcefully tore off his sleeve and left in a huff.


    This was really too much. He clearly knew that Jing Wubian abhorred handsome men the most. How dare he actually be so handsome?


    ***


    Upon returning to his own courtyard, Yun Zhonghe once again changed his look and made himself take on the appearance of that wild and unrestrained beggar. His head of fine hair was once again messed up to look like weeds.


    Then, he retracted his smile, shut his eyes, and began to think.


    Although Lord Feng Xingmie had not explicitly said anything earlier, Yun Zhonghe was almost certain that Sister Xu Antiing had definitely been arrested. But Anting Tavern should have been safe.


    So how was he going to rescue her?


    Definitely not by directly making an appearance to save her, as that would be dragging himself into hot water as well.


    A newly appointed official from the residence of the castellan saving a young lady who played the guqin, and for no apparent reason. Was that not strange?


    Moreover, this lady had contact with the secret agents of the Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragons.


    While it might seem like Lady Cold Jade and Yun Zhonghe were on pretty good terms, the moment she suspected that Yun Zhonghe could be a member of the Great Ying Empire¡¯s Order of Black Dragons, she would, without a doubt, arrest and send him to prison within the next minute. She would rather kill someone by mistake than ever let any suspect go.


    Furthermore, there was still Chu Zhaoran keeping a close eye on him as well.


    Chu Zhaoran had even had his suspicions that Yun Zhonghe was related to the Order of Black Dragons. Otherwise, he would not have sent his warriors to pretend to be warriors of the Order of Black Dragons and put on a show of wanting to kill Yun Zhonghe. That was just to test if Yun Zhonghe was there to blackmail them.


    At that point, Yun Zhonghe carried far too light a weight in the residence of the castellan.


    Once he was suspected of being a secret agent of the Order of Black Dragons, even Jing Wubian would not be able to protect him.


    He would be formally sealed as an official that day. With an officially appointed title, it would be easier for him to do many things.


    As for what official position Jing Zhongyue would bestow upon Yun Zhonghe?


    He had a pretty good idea of what it was.


    ¡°Calm down, just wait quietly for dawn,¡± he thought. That would do!


    ***


    Two hours later, it was dawn!


    Without even knocking, two warriors directly barged their way into Yun Zhonghe¡¯s little courtyard and said, ¡°Come with us!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe followed them.


    This time, they did not bring him to some messy and unkempt place. Instead, they immediately brought him to the noblest place in the entire City of Torn Gust.


    The true townhall for discussing official businesses, the center of the Valley of Torn Gust¡¯s power.


    This great hall was within the residence of the castellan, but Yun Zhonghe had never stepped foot there before. He had not even made it to the main entrance.


    There were dozens of warriors standing guard there all the time. And, as if it was written on their faces, they gave off a warning that forbade idle people and dogs from entering. And before then, Yun Zhonghe was probably that dog.


    ¡°Wait outside,¡± said the warrior.


    Yun Zhonghe simply stood outside quietly as he waited.


    There was a meeting going on inside. Though it was not the daily court meeting, from the looks of it, it was something similar to that.


    Jing Zhongyue was seated high up in the monarch¡¯s throne. There were two rows of people standing in the middle of the hall. One row was comprised of civil officials, while the other consisted of military officials.


    The ongoing discussion in the hall was very intense.


    But it all revolved around one main topic, and that was the Fallen Leaves Territory!


    Yun Zhonghe had been listening outside all this while, so he largely understood what was going on.


    A few decades ago, in order to quell a rebellion, the Jing Clan had leased this big granary, the Fallen Leaves Territory, to a powerful lord next door, the Mo Clan of the City of Washed Jade.


    Since then, the Valley of Torn Gust was no longer complete. There was never enough food to go around, and a considerable flaw had appeared in its strategic layout.


    In short, losing the Fallen Leaves Territory meant that the Valley of Torn Gust had no future.


    This was not just the loss of territory. Without the Fallen Leaves Territory, there would be no food. The livelihood of the Valley of Torn Gust was at the mercy of someone else.


    The moment the Baronage Alliance picked up its weapons by forming a trade blockade, then it would be able to do whatever it wanted to with the Valley of Torn Gust.


    At this point, if the Valley of Torn Gust were to show any intention of joining hands with the Great Ying Empire or the Southern Zhou Empire, then it would, without fail, become a public target for all and be besieged by the dozen or so lords of the Land of No King.


    So even if it had to pay a great price or even cause the breakout of another war, the need to reclaim this huge granary, the Fallen Leaves Territory, was still huge.


    But it was also not an easy feat to start a war, for their opponent was the Mo Clan of the City of Washed Jade. The Mo Clan had established deep relations in the Land of No King. If anyone wanted to start a war, then intelligence was required first. Diplomatic ties would come first.


    The Fallen Leaves Territory spanned over an area of 1,500 square kilometers and had around 132,000 acres of fertile farmland. By doing some rough calculations, Yun Zhonghe could also estimate how much food could be produced each year.


    All of a sudden, he, too, came to a conclusion. Even if 10,000 people had to die in the course of a war, so long as they could reclaim this Fallen Leaves Territory, then everything would be worthwhile.


    In the previous years, even when the Valley of Torn Gust had lost the Fallen Leaves Territory, it could actually survive up until then. And even more, it was still expanding. Jing E was truly an outstanding man of his time, a hero of his generation.


    And now, the fifty-year period was coming to an end. The lease was coming to an end soon.


    The next thing to be done would be to invest all strategic resources of the Valley of Torn Gust into just one goal, reclaiming the Fallen Leaves Territory.


    Once the Fallen Leaves Territory was recovered, the trade blockade that the Baronage Alliance imposed on the Valley of Torn Gust would fall apart.


    ***


    An extremely intense discussion was going on in the hall.


    The civil and military officials could not reach a common consensus.


    The civil officials felt that political and diplomatic means should be used, or to put it even more bluntly, they meant to use means like money and joint marriages.


    And the military officials also had very a very straightforward take, which was to fight it out!


    If the Mo Clan were not willing to return the Fallen Leaves Territory, then they would launch an army to attack the City of Washed Jade and reclaim the Fallen Leaves Territory by force.


    The atmosphere inside was also becoming more and more intense. Towards the end, both civil and military officials were pointing fingers and cursing at one another.


    Yun Zhonghe waited outside for one hour, then two hours, then three hours!


    He waited without moving at all. Even if he needed to take a leak, he had to hold it in.


    Was this not particularly miserable? Not even qualified enough to enter the hall for a meeting?


    What nonsense!


    Inside the building, they were all big shots. Lady Cold Jade, who was in the hall, could only stand there without moving an inch. She did not even have the authority to speak her mind.


    Jing Wubian was the young master of the residence of the castellan, but he did not even have the right to stand outside the hall.


    After a full four hours passed, the argument inside finally ceased. It was already noon.


    A scribe walked out and said to Yun Zhonghe, ¡°Follow me in.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe walked in, and suddenly, all eyes were directed towards him.


    Then, he realized that Chu Zhaoran was already in the hall and stood in place like a very attractive star.


    Upon seeing Yun Zhonghe enter, Chu Zhaoran politely cupped one hand in the other as a gesture of greeting and also nodded in acknowledgment of his presence.


    Yun Zhonghe went to stand beside him.


    The two men stood there¡ªChu Zhaoran, dressed in white, glowing with energy and vitality, bright and handsome.


    The other was Yun AoTian, with hair like weeds and wearing a sack as clothing. His eyes were dull, and his expression was hideous. He was a living example of what a beggar looked like.


    It felt like watching a wild balding pheasant standing next to a divine crane.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°To better execute the following strategies, I have decided to establish an Embroidered Guard Division. This division will be solely responsible for all intelligence and diplomatic matters related to the reclamation of the Fallen Leaves Territory!¡±


    ¡°Was it actually going to be called the Embroidered Guard Division? Was this name too beautiful? Or was it that you, Jing Zhongyue, were too lazy? Can I, Yun Zhonghe, request for some overnight fees? No, wrong, it should be a naming fee!¡± Yun Zhonghe wondered.


    But it could be seen from the discussion from earlier on.


    The weight of this Embroidered Guard Division would surpass that of Black Blood Hall in the time to come, and it would become the most powerful armed intelligence force in the Valley of Torn Gust.


    Its strategic priority was very high, and it would be fully responsible for the most important affairs of the Valley of Torn Gust.


    ¡°Chu Zhaoran!¡±


    Chu Zhaoran bowed and said, ¡°Your subordinate is here.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I appoint you as commanding general of the Embroidered Guard Division. You will fully command the entire Embroidered Guard Division.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Chu Zhaoran knelt down.


    Jing Zhongyue went on to say, ¡°Li Ruojun!¡±


    Another middle-aged man stepped out, bowed, and said, ¡°Your subordinate is here.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I appoint you as left chiliarch of the Embroidered Guard Division.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± The middle-aged man knelt down and bowed.


    Jing Zhongyue then said, ¡°Li Ba!¡±


    A warrior stepped out, bowed, and said, ¡°Your subordinate is here.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I appoint you as right chiliarch of the Embroidered Guard Division.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Li Ba, who was bursting with valiance, knelt down.


    ¡°Wu Zheng!¡±


    Another young male scribe knelt to pay his respects, and said, ¡°Your student is here.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I hereby appoint you as first official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± The young scribe, Wu Zheng, scrambled to his knees.


    ¡°Zhu Yiming!¡±


    Another scribe stepped forward, bowed to salute, and said, ¡°Your student is here.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I hereby appoint you as second official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Zhu, the scribe, went down on his knees with a single cry as a reply.


    ¡°Yun AoTian!¡± Jing Zhongyue said.


    Yun Zhonghe stepped forward, knelt, and said, ¡°That young man is here.¡±


    Suddenly, all eyes fell on him.


    Him, still a young man?


    Where had this person come from? The beggar gang?


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I hereby appoint you as third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division.¡±


    ***

 Chapter 47

    This time, the dust had settled, and things really came to a close.


    The female castellan, Jing Zhongyue, really did not limit herself to the conventional way of using talents. Third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division. Was she really willing to give him that position?


    Anyone could tell that, in the near future, the Embroidered Guard Division was going to be a heavyweight, and that it was going to hold an even more important position that of Black Blood Hall.


    The weight of a third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division was already way beyond that of an adviser of the judicial department of the Bureau of Torn Gust.


    When Jing Zhongyue announced the appointment of the first five people, there was not much of a reaction from everyone.


    Everyone felt that those appointments were well-deserved and justifiable. Over the last three years, Chu Zhaoran had already been performing exceptionally well. He was originally a young man of outstanding talent that Lord Jing E had thought very highly of. He had been serving as the adviser of the judicial department and official registrar of the Bureau of Torn Gust for three years now.


    If he had not had to return home to observe a mourning period, he would have risen higher up the ranks by then.


    Furthermore, upon his return from mourning this time, he had immediately made such a meritorious achievement by completely wiping out one of the largest spy organizations that the Great Ying Empire had planted in the City of Torn Gust.


    Of course, even if that was so, Jing Zhongyue¡¯s decision with respect to Chu Zhaoran¡¯s preferment was still very sudden.


    Everyone believed that a more senior official should be appointed nominally to the position of the commanding general of the Embroidered Guard Division and that Chu Zhaoran would hold the real power and authority in his capacity as deputy commanding general. The senior official would first act as an escort for a few years, and after that, he would formally let Chu Zhaoran take over as the main commanding general.


    No one had thought that Chu Zhaoran would be directly appointed to serve as the chief officer of the Embroidered Guard Division.


    As for the other four people, there was simply nothing much that needed to be said.


    Whether it was the left chiliarch or the right chiliarch, they were originally chiliarchs of the city guards. This time, it was not a promotion for them. They were only taking on more important responsibilities. That was all.


    There was also nothing much to say for the first and second official registrars. These two men had been long-time subjects of Lord Jing E, and they both were Jurens of meritorious achievements. Between the two, one was transferred over from his position as the official registrar of the Bureau of Torn Gust while the other was transferred over from his position as the official registrar of Silver Territory.


    Only, the moment when Yun AoTian¡¯s appointment was announced, there was a sudden uproar!


    All eyes were focused on Yun Zhonghe.


    Simply outrageous!


    Simply too much!


    This Yun AoTian, where had he come from? What were his contributions? What were his achievements?


    Who was he to skyrocket to the top overnight and directly become the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division?


    Everyone had toiled hard and had spent more than a decade climbing up the career ladder just to get to their current position. Why was this beggar, Yun AoTian, so special?


    If that was the case, then where was the credibility of the official system of the City of Torn Gust?


    Just because he had cured Jing Wubian of his illness? But Jing Wubian, that profligate lunatic, was originally a piece of trash. Even he was not qualified to take up this position of official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division.


    ¡°My Lady, your humble subordinate feels that your appointment for the other five chief officers of the Embroidered Guard Division is still relatively appropriate. Only Yun AoTian remains to be discussed.¡± One of the older officials directly broke ranks with Jing Zhongyue and spoke his mind.


    ¡°Your subordinate seconds that!¡±


    ¡°Your subordinate seconds that!¡±


    ¡°Your subordinate seconds that!¡±


    Suddenly, the dozen or so people present were all following suit in breaking ranks to object to Yun Zhonghe¡¯s appointment as the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division.


    There was a total of twenty old veteran officials. Only Wen Daofu of the Torn Gust Decree did not break ranks with Jing Zhongyue.


    Jing Zhongyue cast a look of indifference at all the people present. She had expected that she would face this outcome.


    After all, allowing a beggar to rise to the top overnight and become the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division, was really quite damaging to the entire system. It would make the other officials feel that what they had striven so hard for had become meaningless.


    One would need to be a sycophant to be able to rise up the ranks by a fluke in just one day. And those who appoint important positions to such sycophants were all just stupid and self-indulgent rulers.


    ¡°Your subordinate beseeches My Lady to retract your order!¡±


    ¡°Your subordinate beseeches My Lady to retract your order!¡±


    Suddenly, over a dozen old veteran officials were kneeling all over the ground.


    ¡°My Lady, this person, Yun AoTian, has been wandering all over the place. He¡¯s unlearned and unskilled and looks just like a beggar. If someone like him, who has not even achieved a single bit of accomplishment, is directly promoted to the top level, where is the regard for the law governing lords such as ourselves?¡±


    ¡°My Lady, don¡¯t ever abolish the rules of the entire City of Torn Gust just because of one person. Don¡¯t disappoint the hundreds of officials of the entire City of Torn Gust.¡±


    Then, more than a dozen old veteran officials began kowtowing in a frenzy.


    The crowd was raging.


    The kind of reaction they displayed was very intense.


    Jing Zhongyue simply sat there, allowing the dozen or so old veteran officials, who were kneeling on the floor, to mourn and grieve about their bitter hatred as much as they wished.


    ¡°My Lady, you¡¯ve always been so wise and intelligent. Even for Blue Immortal, who you favored enough to even address him as an elder, you have not appointed him any official position at all. Yet now, you are appointing this absurd and unruly beggar as a third official registrar. What will the people of the entire Land of No King think of you as the monarch, my Lady?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue still did not say anything. She only listened quietly.


    It was only when everyone had grown tired of howling and were left with no more energy that she said with indifference, ¡°This matter will be settled as such. Let¡¯s end and disperse!¡±


    Then, Jing Zhongyue left right away.


    Once again, everyone present in the hall began to howl and mourn incessantly.


    This was just what Jing Zhongyue¡¯s character was like. She was extremely stubborn.


    Before she issued an order, it would still be useful for someone to admonish her.


    But the moment she gave the order, even if it was a most absurd order, it had to be executed to the end.


    She was willing to bear any consequences, no matter what they were.


    In short, she was a very difficult monarch to serve.


    Her personality was very similar to Jing E. The only difference was that she was a woman, and therefore, she was slightly more intense.


    After Jing Zhongyue left, the many officials cast their eyes at Yun Zhonghe, and the look in their eyes was as though they were about to shoot flames at him.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, such a filthy and lowly man like you, you dare to stand up above us all in court?¡±


    ¡°Just a beggar, so arrogant but with no true capability, so brazen with no sense of shame!¡±


    As the crowd passed by Yun Zhonghe, they all covered their mouths and noses to express their disgust, or even worse; some spat directly at him.


    As for several of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s colleagues, they were quick to draw the line and express their unwillingness to be on the same team as him.


    On the contrary, it was Chu Zhaoran who walked over and bow with hands clasped in front of him as he said, ¡°Congratulations, Brother Yun. From now on, we will all be eating from the same pot. We are counting on you to take good care of us in the future.¡±


    Then, without waiting for Yun Zhonghe to respond, he went off right away.


    The few remaining officers of the Embroidered Guard Division also followed behind Chu Zhaoran and left.


    Only Yun Zhonghe was left standing within that empty hall. His head of weed-like hair was swaying in the wind.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Rising up to the top overnight is traditionally a path to disaster. As for you, now you can only depend on the protection that our monarch can offer you. If you are unable to deliver any contributive results in a short time, the moment you lose the protection of your monarch, you will die without a proper burial ground. Jing Wubian will not be able to protect you either.¡±


    Of course, Yun Zhonghe knew that the very day he lost Jing Zhongyue¡¯s protection, there was no need for anyone else to do anything, as Chu Zhaoran would be first in line to kill him.


    The key was that now, how much grace was Jing Zhongyue showering him with?


    Very little, very little!


    The reasons why she had appointed Yun Zhonghe as the third official registrar were because one, she had given her word to Yun Zhonghe that she would give him an official position that was not low.


    And two, she did have some hopes for that certain talent in him, and she was going to use his talent by deviating from the conventional means of engaging them.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, do you know what a meritorious contribution is?¡± Lady Cold Jade asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yun Zhonghe replied.


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°Tell me about it.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Contributions that truly work to the benefits of Castellan Jing Zhongyue and the Valley of Torn Gust.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°The case-solving ability that you showed in the Bureau of Torn Gust might have eventually allowed you to win yourself an official position, but that is not a worthy contribution. That is just you showing people your cleverness. If you truly want to gain our Lady¡¯s favor, you must become someone indispensable in the Valley of Torn Gust.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Sister Cold Jade, for you to give me advice like this, could it be that you are falling in love with me? That moment when I revealed my true face last night, the handsome face that was simply peerless and magnificent. Has it instantly penetrated your soul?¡±


    Lady Cold Jade did not reply.


    The next second!


    Yun Zhonghe was lying on the ground with both arms dislocated. He was in such great pain all over that he was convulsing and breaking out in a sweat.


    Who asked you to shoot your mouth off so carelessly? Who asked you to shoot your mouth off so carelessly?


    ***


    When he just returned to his little courtyard in the residence of the castellan.


    Yun Zhonghe saw Jing Wubian squatting at the doorstep like a little dog again.


    Aye? Why are you here again? Haven¡¯t you broken off ties with me?


    ¡°AoTian, you¡¯re finally back. I heard you¡¯ve become the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division. Congratulations, congratulations,¡± Jing Wubian said. ¡°You have to hear this. Last night, in the middle of the night, I was sleepwalking, and I actually saw a gigolo appearing in the hall of my sister¡¯s residence. Without another word, I was going to hack him to death.¡±


    And then? Yun Zhonghe waited for him to finish.


    ¡°So, AoTian, this image of yours is just fine. It¡¯s very endearing. Don¡¯t be superficial. Don¡¯t be overly ambitious and be a gigolo like the others. You will only be inviting others to hack you up.¡±


    ¡°AoTian, do you recognize that gigolo from last night? If you do, please make sure that you remember, don¡¯t ever allow him to appear again. Otherwise, I will beat him up every time I see him. In short, within the residence of the castellan, there is absolutely no one who can be more handsome than me, Jing Wubian!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe looked at Jing Wubian, who was in front of him, and suddenly, he felt amazed.


    Whoever said my brother was silly? Don¡¯t think you¡¯re so smart, alright?


    At that critical moment, he was still able to act dumb and find such a well-carved stage for both of them to step out of an awkward situation.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°No problem.¡±


    Jing Wubian pounded his chest and said, ¡°AoTian, it¡¯s still the same line for me. You¡¯re my brother. In the Valley of Torn Gust, I¡¯ve got you covered! Even if you are so crazy and seek death so eagerly, I will still protect you with my life.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, brother, I will bear this in mind,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Is Lady Musk back yet?¡±


    Jing Wubian was instantly angry and said, ¡°AoTian, don¡¯t go overboard. You¡¯re human, after all. You want me to help you steal a moment with Sister Cold Jade, no problem. I did as you wished. Now you are lusting after my aunt as well. What do you want me to do? Should I knock her unconscious and tie her to your bed? Can you just stop thinking of harming the women of my family all day long? One should not be doing bad things in his own house.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Just tell me if she¡¯s back or not.¡±


    ¡°Back, back, you¡¯re so annoying.¡± Jing Wubian said, ¡°I wanted to find you so that we can have a drink to celebrate. But now, I¡¯m no longer in the mood to do so.¡±


    Then Jing Wubian left in a huff.


    But Yun Zhonghe did not have the slightest intention of coaxing him at all. In less than half a day, he would be coming back here out of anxiety.


    Because a lunatic like him was just too lonely, and he only had one playmate, Yun Zhonghe.


    Lady Musk had returned, and this was good news.


    ***


    Next, Yun Zhonghe had to determine the exact place where Sister Xu Antiing was locked up.


    Was she in the prison of Black Blood Hall? Was it going to be very difficult to rescue her from there?


    So once again, Yun Zhonghe went to fawn over Lady Cold Jade as obsequiously as he could possibly get.


    ¡°Sister Cold Jade, from now on, I am the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division. But don¡¯t worry, I will definitely play my role well as the black sheep of the Embroidered Guard Hall. No matter what move they intend to make, I will always come and report to you. I, Yun Zhonghe, am Lady Cold Jade¡¯s man.¡±


    ¡°Sister, don¡¯t worry. I will definitely help you deal with Chu Zhaoran. We shall join hands and destroy him. This way, you, Sister Cold Jade, you can become the monarch¡¯s foremost confidante again.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe followed behind Lady Cold Jade in a little jog.


    No matter how Yun Zhonghe chattered on incessantly, Lady Cold Jade completely ignored him and went on walking while picking up pace.


    ¡°Sister Cold Jade, wait for me. Wait for me¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe sped up into a run.


    ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Lady Cold Jade asked coldly.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°To suck up to you, to lick your boots. Sister Cold Jade, are you going to run some official errands now? Now I¡¯m also a spy of the City of Torn Gust. Teach me, let me follow in your stead and learn from you.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°I¡¯m now going to the underground prison of Black Blood Hall.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Are you going to interrogate the prisoners? I can help. I¡¯m most experienced. I am capable of using any kind of despicable and underhanded means.¡±


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°No need. You¡¯re from the Embroidered Guard Division. I¡¯m from Black Blood Hall. Without the monarch¡¯s orders, it¡¯s best for the two of us not to cross paths with each other. If not, we might be committing a cardinal sin.¡±


    And it was also at that very moment!


    A prison carriage, under the escort of five warriors, was seen making an exit from Black Blood Hall¡¯s prison, and the person in the prison carriage was none other than Sister Xu Antiing. With the shackles on her and few spots of bruising on her body, she seemed so haggard and worn.


    What kind of situation was this?


    Where were they escorting Sister Xu Antiing?


    Wait!


    Lan Yu was actually sitting in front of the prison carriage. That was Blue Immortal¡¯s disciple.


    And he was wearing the official uniform of the Embroidered Guard Division.


    Of course, his official position would not be as high as Yun Zhonghe¡¯s. He was merely a centurion, but he actually wielded real power.


    Unlike Yun Zhonghe, who was still a phony official registrar up until the present day.


    Lan Yu was Yun Zhonghe¡¯s arch-enemy and had wanted to inflict death on Yun Zhonghe on several occasions.


    When had he become a centurion of the Embroidered Guard Division? Was he not just a little Taoist priest?


    Had he pledged allegiance to Chu Zhaoran? Or was there some kind of collusion between Blue Immortal and Chu Zhaoran?


    Lan Yu was taking Sister Xu Antiing away? Why?


    Was it his own intention? Or was it under Chu Zhaoran¡¯s command?


    Seeing Yun Zhonghe, Lan Yu gave a cold sneer. His eyes were filled with disdain and provocation.


    With regard to Yun Zhonghe being appointed to an official position, he did not make anything out of it at all. Instead, he thought that Yun Zhonghe was just like a clown. What bullsh*t official registrar, nothing more than humiliation.


    Yun Zhonghe instinctively felt that he should intercept and stop the carriage immediately. There was absolutely no way he could let Sister Xu Antiing fall into Lan Yu¡¯s, or Chu Zhaoran¡¯s, hands.


    Right at once, he fiercely lashed out his whip and pointed at Lan Yu. He said, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Lan Yu said disdainfully, ¡°Looking at what you¡¯re doing.¡±


    ¡°Pa¡­ Pa!¡± Without another word, Yu Zhonghe lashed the whip viciously towards the centurion Lan Yu¡¯s face.

 Chapter 48

    After all, Lan Yu possessed martial arts skills. It was impossible for Yun Zhonghe to succeed in lashing him. It was a piece of cake for him to grab hold of the whip.


    ¡°Trash¡­¡± Lan Yu sneered.


    Then his eyes fell on the bead that was at the tip of the whip. What was that?


    Why set a bead on the whip?


    However, at that very moment, the bead suddenly exploded.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    It exploded like a firecracker.


    The gunpowder inside, along with the iron filings, shot towards Lan Yu¡¯s head and face.


    Not good! That stuff is lethal.


    Lan Yu retreated at the speed of lightning. Then he used his sleeve to shield his face.


    But the iron filings that were blasted out were simply much too fast. Their speed practically surpassed all other kinds of secret weapons.


    Even though Lan Yu had dodged at lightning speed, his arm was still directly hit by dozens of iron filings from the spray of explosives.


    Then, he soon felt half his arm going numb.


    ¡°You¡¯re courting death¡­¡± Lan Yu flew into a rage. With his other hand, he swiftly drew his sword and rushed towards Yun Zhonghe.


    Yun Zhonghe immediately darted over to hide behind Lady Cold Jade¡¯s back.


    ¡°Sister Cold Jade, save me. A centurion of the Embroidered Guard Division is openly trying to murder his superior in the street.¡± Yun Zhonghe let out a scream that sounded like a pig being slaughtered.


    Lan Yu was intent on charging over to beat up Yun Zhonghe until he was half dead. But that treacherous thief saw to it that he was always circling around Lady Cold Jade, and very shamelessly, he squatted behind Lady Cold Jade¡¯s bottom. It seemed the only thing he was short of doing was hugging her legs tightly.


    Lan Yu dared to beat Yun Zhonghe, who held a more superior rank than him, but he did not dare lay a finger on Lady Cold Jade.


    Of course, even so, he alone was more than enough to finish off Yun Zhonghe.


    After all, Yun Zhonghe was a useless piece of trash who was no match for even a ten-year-old child.


    But his mind was getting increasingly groggy, and his vision was becoming more and more blurry.


    It was very obvious that he had been hit by Yun Zhonghe¡¯s anesthetic poison.


    This was a kind of anesthetic that was extracted from a unique species of vine. It could even put down a tiger, let alone a man.


    ¡°You moron. Hurry up, come and hit me, come and hit me¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe was encircling Lady Cold Jade as he provoked the other party.


    During the course of events, Lady Cold Jade stood motionless the entire time. She just wanted to see how far those two b*stards could go.


    After giving chase for a few rounds, Lan Yu suddenly felt as though the world was spinning around him.


    ¡°Swish¡­¡±


    He eventually missed his target and, on the spur of the moment, slashed his sword at Lady Cold Jade¡¯s armor.


    Then, as though he was struck by lightning, he went motionless.


    Yun Zhonghe suddenly shouted loudly, ¡°Someone help. Someone help. There is an assassin who wants to kill Lady Cold Jade. Someone is staging a rebellion!¡±


    Lady Cold Jade said coldly, ¡°Someone, arrest these two evil creatures.¡±


    At her command, several warriors of Black Blood Hall rushed over like packs of wolves and tigers, and directly arrested both Yun Zhonghe and Lan Yu.


    ¡°Take them into the residence of the castellan and get the lords to mete out punishments,¡± Lady Cold Jade ordered.


    Yun Zhonghe and Lan Yu were both brought to the residence of the castellan together.


    ¡°Lady Cold Jade, then what about this convict?¡± a warrior asked.


    ¡°Take everyone to the residence of the castellan,¡± Lady Cold Jade said in a cold voice.


    Men of the Embroidered Guard Division came with official documents and wanted to take Xu Antiing away. Lady Cold Jade made no refusal, but in her heart, she was still very unhappy.


    It¡¯s fine for me to cooperate with your Embroidered Guard Division. But shouldn¡¯t you, Chu Zhaoran, come in person? You actually sent a mere centurion here to take a convict away? Aren¡¯t you thinking a little too highly of yourself?


    ***


    Inside the residence of the castellan!


    Jing Zhongyue was in a horrible mood because she had just received a confidential letter, and in it was a piece of extremely bad news.


    The person that she had sent to get close to Ning Qing had actually been sent back with two broken legs.


    Who was Ning Qing?


    First of all, she was a widow, and the most well-known widow in the entire Land of No King. She was the highest-ranking widow and the most powerful one of them all.


    Secondly, she was the younger sister of Lord Ning Chengzhu, the second most powerful lord in the Land of No King.


    And finally, she also had one other identity that was of even greater importance. She was the head of the investigation group sent by the Baronage Alliance.


    What had she come to investigate? That would be the truth as to why war broke out between the Valley of Torn Gust and the City of Autumn Waters.


    Was it the Valley of Torn Gust that had initiated the invasion of the City of Autumn Waters?


    At that point in time, what fatal crisis was the Valley of Torn Gust facing?


    It was unable to reclaim the Fallen Leaves Territory and might possibly also face the trade sanctions imposed by the Baronage Alliance.


    As everyone knew, the only product that the Valley of Torn Gust manufactured was salt, and that was why it was incredibly wealthy.


    But the Valley of Torn Gust did not produce iron ores, nor did it produce food grains.


    Without iron ores, they could not forge and make weapons, and in turn, it could not expand its army. And in the wars to come, they might possibly end up being defeated.


    It was even deadlier to be without food. There were 400,000 hungry mouths to feed in the entire Valley of Torn Gust. If they did not have food to eat, it would not be long before the governing body of the entire Valley of Torn Gust would fall apart.


    What was the reason for the Baronage Alliance wanting to impose trade sanctions against the Valley of Torn Gust?


    It was because of the illegal invasion of the City of Autumn Waters.


    And the Valley of Torn Gust had firmly asserted that the City of Autumn Waters was the first to cross the borders and invade the Valley of Torn Gust.


    Therefore, it was the City of Autumn Waters that first made the move to illegally invade the Valley of Torn Gust, while the latter was just counterattacking passively.


    So, the report of this investigation group was of utmost importance.


    Once it was determined that this was an illegal invasion initiated by the Valley of Torn Gust, it would be extremely disadvantageous to Jing Zhongyue.


    The next thing that she might have to face was possibly a punitive expedition and a sanction imposed by the Baronage Assembly.


    At that time, the Mo Clan of the City of Washed Jade would have ample reason not to return the Fallen Leaves Territory.


    Once the sanctions against the Valley of Torn Gust were officially in place, the Jing Clan would be said to have lost half its ardor.


    An absolutely fatal crisis!


    That was why the report of the investigation group was of the utmost importance.


    To be more precise, Ning Qing¡¯s report was of the utmost importance.


    Because this was not just a report, it also represented the attitude of the Ning Clan. They were the second most powerful family of lords, and they carried a lot of weight in the Land of No King.


    In a way, part of the fate of the Valley of Torn Gust, at that point, lay in the hands of this woman, Ning Qing.


    That was why when Ning Qing arrived with the investigation group under her lead, Jing Zhongyue consistently sent people over to convey warm greetings, as well as to shower Ning Qing with gifts.


    This time, she even sent a great talented scholar to deliver gifts comprising precious calligraphy treasures and scroll paintings from a thousand years ago, which were all Ning Qing¡¯s favorite things. Every single piece was an invaluable treasure.


    But now, everything was returned, and the talented scholar even had both legs broken and thrown onto the streets with only a last breath of life left in him. He had also become a eunuch.


    This was an extremely bad sign.


    Could it be that the Ning Clan was also going to take the side of the Mo Clan of the City of Washed Jade? And were they also going to sentence the Valley of Torn Gust to death?


    And at that moment, Lady Cold Jade¡¯s voice sounded outside.


    ¡°My Lady, your subordinate has something to report.¡±


    ***


    A moment later!


    Jing Zhongyue¡¯s eyes were filled with murderous intent as she looked at Yun Zhonghe and Lan Yu.


    She was originally in a terrible mood, having just received a huge piece of bad news.


    Now, the Valley of Torn Gust was in an extremely precarious situation, where it was facing an imminent and highly destructive catastrophe.


    In order to deal with this crisis, she had specially established the Embroidered Guard Division.


    Especially to Yun Zhonghe, she was literally fighting against tremendous pressure by directly promoting him from a beggar to the position of the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division.


    Now, there were already people cursing her in their hearts, making her out to be a stupid and decadent ruler.


    And there was also Lan Yu!


    You are Blue Immortal¡¯s disciple, so I have also indulged you a little.


    Yet this is how you all are going to repay my trust?


    The Embroidered Guard Division has just been established. Even before its bureau can be officially set up, you two officials of the Embroidered Guard Division are already fighting each other in the street?


    ¡°Reporting to my Lady. I have received the order to go to Black Blood Hall to escort a convict. When this guy, Yun AoTian, saw me, he actually lashed his whip at me right away.¡± There was a bewildered look in Lan Yu¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°My Lady, I suspect he is doing this on purpose. He wants to cover up for and rescue the convict. Please investigate this thoroughly, my Lady. This Yun AoTian and the convict definitely share some kind of secret relationship that cannot see the light of the day.¡±


    This Lan Yu was really a vicious one.


    In truth, this was not really what he had in mind. He felt that this was purely because of a personal grudge with Yun Zhonghe.


    Because, from start to finish, Yun Zhonghe had not even glanced at the prison carriage.


    Lan Yu went on to say, ¡°My Lady, though I am merely a subordinate, I am still on official business. And yet Yun AoTian, as the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division, not only obstructed me from doing my job, he even beat up a fellow officer in the street. How can scum like him have the face to take up a position as an official of the Embroidered Guard Division? Won¡¯t he simply become a great big laughingstock? I implore you to punish him, my Lady.¡±


    And just then.


    A gentle voice sounded outside.


    ¡°Yue¡¯er.¡±


    Momentary helplessness flashed in Jing Zhongyue¡¯s eyes, and she said, ¡°Auntie, what is it?¡±


    The woman outside said, ¡°I heard you all had arrested Xu Antiing and everyone else with her?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue was taken aback and said, ¡°Xu Antiing? Who?¡±


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°It¡¯s the convict that Lan Yu was trying to escort away just now.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with her?¡±


    Lady Cold Jade said, ¡°She is an excellent guqin player. Almost all the popular courtesans in the entirety of the City of Torn Gust are her students, and one of them turned out to be a spy of the Order of Black Dragons of the Great Ying Empire. As she has contact with this spy, we have arrested her.¡±


    The woman outside said, ¡°Yue¡¯er, I greatly admire Xu Antiing¡¯s skills in playing the guqin. Can you give your Auntie face and release her?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Auntie, go back first. I will talk to you tonight.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± The woman walked away.


    Was that Lady Musk? What a beautiful voice, so pleasing to the ears, simply so soft.


    ***


    Next, Jing Zhongyue looked at Yun Zhonghe with eyes that flashed like lightning.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, is this how you repay me for trusting you?¡± Jing Zhongyue said in a cold voice.


    Yun Zhonghe did not say anything to argue back or defend himself. Instead, he directly admitted his mistake and said, ¡°I am in the wrong; it¡¯s all my fault. Please reprimand and punish me, my Lady. Don¡¯t get so angry that your health is affected. Then your subordinate here really deserves to die. Hit me, punish me!¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Fine. Then I shall satisfy you.¡±


    Then she gave her orders, saying, ¡°Men, take him to the backyard and give him fifty lashes of the whip. Life or death doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    A few lady warriors, who resembled packs of wolves and tigers, immediately picked Yun Zhonghe up like they were wringing a little chicken and brought him to the backyard.


    A moment later, his extremely miserable screams were heard.


    Lan Yu found the cries very pleasurable to listen to.


    Yun AoTian, you had this day coming.


    Want to fight with me, you¡¯re still a little wet behind the ears.


    In Her Lady¡¯s heart, you¡¯re nothing more than a dog. Or maybe not even comparable to a dog.


    ***


    Half an hour later!


    Jing Zhongyue met with Yun Zhonghe in private.


    He had cried out so miserably just then, so by that time, he should have already been half dead.


    It was fifty lashes of the whip. With that weak physique of his, it was highly possible that he could be killed.


    But he was completely safe and sound, without even the slightest trace of a bruise.


    ¡°Do you know why you were not really whipped?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked coldly.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Because this body of mind is very valuable and cannot be damaged.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said coldly, ¡°You¡­ have disappointed me greatly.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was silent.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Do you know how much pressure I have endured just to promote you? Do you know how many of those old veteran officials have been criticizing me?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe continued to remain silent.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Do you know what kind of crisis the Valley of Torn Gust is facing right now? If we make the slightest mistake, it will spell doomsday for us. With this absurd incompetence of yours, how do you expect me to use you or keep you?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was still silent.


    Jing Zhongyue said again, ¡°Yun Zhonghe, can I trust you?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Of course!¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°There¡¯s a critical mission that concerns the fate of my Valley of Torn Gust. It¡¯s very tough, very dangerous. But once it¡¯s accomplished, you will have made a meritorious contribution. But you only have five days. Do you dare to take it on?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Yun Zhonghe answered.


    ¡°Good, now come with me!¡± Jing Zhongyue said.


    A moment later, Yun Zhonghe and Jing Zhongyue were sitting in a carriage that drove off to the southeast.


    Two days later, Yun Zhonghe arrived at some unknown place.


    ***

 Chapter 49

    At that moment, the carriage was at the top of a mountain. The warriors following behind were also dismounting their horses.


    This place was really desolate. There were barren mountains everywhere, and the ground was rugged and uneven.


    Everywhere one looked, there were only barren mountains without any signs of human life.


    ¡°Is this the Wild Boar Territory?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Jing Zhongyue stepped out from inside the carriage and nodded.


    At the same time, several figures stepped out from the darkness to stand guard at every corner.


    No matter where this lady monarch, Jing Zhongyue, went, she would always be accompanied by dozens if not hundreds of warriors.


    These hundreds of warriors immediately made use of the existing terrain to construct a small defensive position.


    By that time, the day was beginning to dawn.


    Yun Zhonghe discovered that there was actually a small castle in a valley that was not too far below the mountain. Stuck in the middle of the passageway, it could really be said to be in a situation where one man had to hold out against ten thousand others.


    At a distance of a few hundred meters away from this place, there was something that could cause anyone¡¯s hair to stand on end.


    It was a huge mound formed by someone having piled up human heads.


    This was left behind from the last battle between the Valley of Torn Gust and the City of Autumn Waters, where Jing Zhongyue had killed three thousand people from the City of Autumn Waters and piled up their heads to form this huge mound. It was not only used to deter the City of Autumn Waters, but also to deter the other lords from outside, and even the various lords within the Valley of Torn Gust.


    However, it was precisely this huge mound that had gotten the Grand Assembly of the Baronage Alliance so utterly riled up. It became the evidence proving that Jing Zhongyue was cruel and fond of killing and that she had taken the liberty of starting a war.


    At that time, it had been fun killing people, but now, it became the reason as to why a sanction had to be imposed on the Valley of Torn Gust.


    A few warriors brought over a chair that was made of soft brocade and inlaid with gold; it was extremely luxurious.


    Yun Zhonghe was astonished. Coming to a place like this amidst the wilderness, she had actually brought such a luxurious chair? The wealth and power of this female governor, Jing Zhongyue, was really overwhelming.


    ¡°My Lady, now may I ask what the mission is?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    ¡°See that castle?¡± Jing Zhongyue said.


    ¡°I see it.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°That castle is the boundary that sets the City of Autumn Waters apart from the Valley of Torn Gust. The investigation group sent by the Grand Assembly of the Baronage Alliance is residing in this castle.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°They have come to investigate the truth behind the war between the Valley of Torn Gust and the City of Autumn Waters?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°That¡¯s right!¡±


    Once the investigation group submitted a report declaring that it was the Valley of Torn Gust that had invaded the City of Autumn Waters, then the Grand Assembly of the Baronage Alliance would come to a verdict that the Valley of Torn Gust was evil. It would then have a valid reason to impose sanctions, and the Mo Clan of the City of Washed Jade would have a reason not to return the Fallen Leaves Territory.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Is the situation now very disadvantageous for us?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue nodded and replied, ¡°Yes!¡±


    In fact, Yun Zhonghe could also tell that the castle where the investigation group was residing belonged to the City of Autumn Waters. This already represented their attitude.


    To a certain extent, this report decided what the fate of the Valley of Torn Gust would be in time to come.


    At that time, a magnificent tent had already been set up.


    Jing Zhongyue slowly stepped into the tent.


    ¡°You come with me.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe followed her.


    Inside the tent, two graceful ladies were boiling tea.


    They were actually using water that was melted from snow.


    Although it was now autumn and the weather had become very cooling, it had not snowed yet this year.


    Where did you get the snow from? Did you save it from last year? Or did you go up the peak of some snowy mountain that is thousands of miles away to collect this snow?


    Jing Zhongyue, you are really living such a lavish life.


    ¡°The head of this investigation group is Ning Qing. She is a widow, the most well-known widow in the Land of No King. She is the most influential and powerful widow, and she is the younger sister of Ning Chengzhu.¡±


    Now, Yun Zhonghe knew. Ning Chengzhu was the second most powerful lord in the Land of No King, second only to that heroic figure of the Tantai Family.


    ¡°The widow, Ning Qing, lives within this castle. Yun Zhonghe, you have five days to make her succumb to you!¡± Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°This is your mission.¡±


    Then, she handed over a book-like item and said, ¡°This is all the information about Ning Qing, including her recent movements.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe took it and looked it over. This was a thick book of information, containing about 10,000 words.


    Why didn¡¯t you take it out for me to have a look on the way here? The thing that Yun Zhonghe was unaware of was that this book of information also contained the latest news about Ning Qing, which even Jing Zhongyue herself had just gotten hold of.


    Yun Zhonghe flipped through the information.


    ¡°Can you read all these characters?¡± Jing Zhongyue suddenly said.


    Hearing what she said, Yun Zhonghe really wished he could simply crash into something and die. This was outright belittling to him.


    But if he were to think about it carefully, it was normal for Jing Zhongyue to have such a suspicion. That was because Yun Zhonghe had said himself that he had dropped out after merely one year of initiation school as a toddler. It totally reflected the position an illiterate person would find himself in.


    In less than an hour¡¯s time, Yun Zhonghe had finished reading the book of information.


    Then, Yun Zhonghe sighed in awe.


    This Ning Qing could really be considered a legend.


    She was a calligrapher, a poet, and her reputation as a talented woman had spread across thousands of miles.


    She even had a story that made her truly legendary. When she was eighteen, she had once disguised herself as a man and assumed someone else¡¯s identity to participate in the Southern Zhou Empire¡¯s imperial examinations.


    She started with the county exams, to the government exams, college examinations, and finally, made it all the way to the provincial examinations. And she came out on top of every single examination!


    Truly the top scorer for three examinations straight, she had created a miracle in the imperial examination.


    At that time, it completely stirred up the Tianshui Xing Province of the Southern Zhou Empire.


    It had felt as though there was going to be another Star of Wisdom appearing.


    Of course, it was because she had gained publicity with such intense fervor that her true identity was ultimately exposed. It turned out she was an imposter who had taken the place of a scholar of the Southern Zhou Empire.


    This incident became strange news in the Southern Zhou Empire.


    And because of this incident, the Southern Zhou Empire dismissed nineteen officials and had even wanted to make all results of that particular provincial examination obsolete.


    From then on, the Southern Zhou Empire was extremely stringent in verifying the identity of candidates in the annual examinations, almost to the extent of wanting to investigate their entire ancestral history. They also grouped five candidates together, whereby they had to act as one another¡¯s guarantor. If any one of the candidates got into trouble, all five would be subjected to collective punishment for being directly related to the person at fault.


    But it was precisely this legendary story that earned Ning Qing her reputation as a talented lady.


    Moreover, she had an affluent background, so at that time, there was an endless stream of marriage proposals.


    At that time, she had chosen the most beautiful man in the Land of No King, Yun Wanli, as her husband.


    And at that time, the Yun Clan was ranked third among the lords of the Land of No King.


    Yun Wanli had an unparalleled handsome appearance and was talented in both literature and martial arts. He and Ning Qing were a complete match made in heaven.


    The union of those two really shone with such brilliance that it became the envy of countless watchful eyes in the Land of No King.


    But in the end, not even two months after their marriage, Yun Wanli suddenly died, and Ning Qing became a widow.


    Of course, even though she was a widow, she was still a target that countless people wanted to pursue.


    Three years later, she married the oldest son of the Luo Clan, Luo Qin, and became the future mistress of the seventh lord in line.


    But¡­ it had only been two months after this marriage that Luo Qin suddenly passed on in a violent manner.


    Ning Qing had once again become a widow.


    This time, it really got everyone frightened.


    Everyone felt that this woman was just too outstanding, and her talent was so eye-catching that men simply could not restrain themselves. So, the men who married her were all jinxed to death.


    Of course, there were even nastier things said. For instance, things like she was fated to lead a hard life, or maybe she was born to be a Heavenly Lone Star doomed to a life of loneliness.


    From then on, Ning Qing also gave up on marriages. She placed all her focus on studying and acquiring knowledge and became a master in poetry, calligraphy, and painting.


    Her fame was massive.


    Because she was worried that she would jinx her family, Ning Qing rarely returned to the house of the Ning Clan. She simply took up a position of related official duties in the Grand Assembly of the Baronage Alliance.


    And it so happened that the Grand Assembly of the Baronage Alliance needed someone like her the most. That was, someone of great fame, talent, and who was absolutely fair and just.


    All those years, Ning Qing was only responsible for two things in the Grand Assembly of the Baronage Alliance.


    Firstly, helping the homeless.


    Secondly, running schools.


    In the past ten years or so, she had rescued so many people that it was impossible to put an exact figure to it, and she had also managed hundreds of schools and kept them running.


    Despite still being tagged with the nickname of a Heavenly Lone Star, her fame was increasingly gaining ground, and her reputation was also getting better and better.


    Especially among the lower-class people of the Land of No King, she was simply like a fallen angel from Heaven.


    It was also because of her upright and holy reputation that she had earned herself enough prestige. So, this time around, the Grand Assembly of the Baronage Alliance had sent her to investigate the truth about the war between the City of Autumn Waters and the Valley of Torn Gust.


    Despite the fact that she was a member of the Ning Clan, everyone felt that she was the only one who could truly represent the Grand Assembly of the Baronage Alliance, for she was the only one who could truly uphold justice and equity.


    Therefore, the report submitted by this widow, Ning Qing, wielded absolute authority.


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, although you are very handsome, you are born into the lower-class society after all. The grassroots feel you emanate is much too strong, which was why I did not intend to use you so early,¡± Jing Zhongyue said. ¡°I have hired a few teachers for you. They are going to give you an entire face-lift in terms of poetry and literature, mannerism and etiquette, and so on. After at least two years, you will be given an unprecedented transformation, and then, I will let you carry out your mission.¡±


    So, this was her way of condemning Yun Zhonghe for being too big of a loser, so much so that he was not presentable enough to be out in public view.


    Jing Zhongyue felt that it was not enough for a man to be just a handsome face. The key lay with his inner wisdom and demeanor. What was even more important was found on the inside. Otherwise, this man would just appear to be exceptionally shallow and despicable.


    But she had already sent five people over to meet with Ning Qing, and without exception, they had all failed.


    These five people included a great scholar, a highly-skilled guqin artist, an outstanding master of calligraphy, and even a beautiful and talented man.


    But not a single one of them managed to take a step past the castle door. They did not even catch a glimpse of Ning Qing¡¯s race. Even the last one that she had sent over that beautiful and talented man had both his legs maimed right away, followed by being castrated.


    This meant that Ning Qing was enraged.


    Was Ning Qing the one who had castrated that beautiful and talented man?


    Of course!


    Don¡¯t ever think she¡¯s gentle and cultivated just because she¡¯s talented. This was also one very remarkable woman.


    Generally, she was demure and charming. But the moment she went cold with hostility, she could absolutely be vicious and ruthless.


    Jing Zhongyue no longer had any suitable candidate from her pool of men. This was why Yun Zhonghe came to mind.


    He had quite an outstanding track record in the City of Chill Water, and it was nothing short of brilliant.


    The key was that he was not someone who carried much weight, so even if he were to be destroyed by Ning Qing, it would not be any significant loss.


    Then she might as well take this as her final attempt to salvage a hopeless situation and let Yun Zhonghe give it a shot.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked.


    Yun Zhonghe nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Initially, Yun Zhonghe himself did not have much confidence, but now, he was filled with confidence.


    Because he had seen a few very, very interesting details in the file containing information about Ning Qing.


    It seemed, in the investigation group, there was an undercover spy planted by Jing Zhongyue. It was just that this spy was of relatively low rank and was unable to establish direct contact with Ning Qing.


    However, others might not take notice of the related details on the records of this person. Only Yun Zhonghe found it extremely eye-catching.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°If you¡¯re ready, then get changed into your embroidered robe, show your true self, and go complete your mission.¡±


    ¡°My Lady, you must never allow this.¡± At this time, two figures rushed in, and they actually turned out to be Blue Immortal and Chu Zhaoran.


    What was going on? Why were these two people here?


    Jing Zhongyue instantly frowned.


    Chu Zhaoran bowed and said, ¡°My Lady, there has been a turn of events regarding Lady Ning Qing. Your subordinate dared not delay, so I came here right away.¡±


    Blue Immortal immediately stepped forward and said, ¡°Yun AoTian certainly has his charms, but his level of madness is not to be underestimated as well. It is highly likely for him to go against Lady Ning Qing and anger her. That kind of situation would just be worsening matters for us.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°What turn of events?¡±


    Blue Immortal said, ¡°I have obtained a famous poem that is hard to come by. It is a treasured piece of the calligraphy of Mister Taia. If we use this poem as a stepping stone, we can definitely get Lady Ning Qing to open her doors to us.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue¡¯s pretty eyes lit up, and she said, ¡°Is it that Mister Taia?¡±


    Mister Taia!


    Traversing all nationalities, the great master who had gained world renown, the true heavenly Star of Wisdom.


    He was called Half the Sky.


    What did that mean? It meant that if the world¡¯s literary talent were rated a total of ten points, then this Mister Taia alone would have accounted for half the score.


    And he had an extremely high status. He was once the imperial tutor of the Crown Prince of the Northern Great Xia Empire.


    The Great Xia Empire was a top power in this world. It was even reputed as the most orthodox empire in the world and the most promising one to unify the world.


    However, the rebellion of the Crown Prince of the Great Xia Empire twenty years ago had left the Great Xia Empire bruised and battered, where all its vitality was sapped out of it.


    And this Crown Prince also lost his life in this military defeat and became an utterly tragic figure.


    As the imperial tutor of the Crown Prince, this Mister Taia should have been sentenced to death as a form of collective punishment. But his reputation was simply too far-reaching and great. So, not only had the Great Xia Emperor, His Majesty, not killed him, he had not even imprisoned him and merely exiled him.


    This story filled Mister Taia¡¯s life with such a tragic touch that it made people from all over the world sympathize with him.


    In the past ten years or so, Mister Taia had traveled all around the world. Occasionally, he would get poetic and leave a poem wherever he was.


    And the poems he left behind had all become immortal masterpieces that were worth a fortune.


    Most importantly, what Ning Qing liked the most in her life, would be Mister Taia¡¯s poems.


    She had even openly made it known that so long as it was a piece of Mister Taia¡¯s works, it had to be sent to her. Regardless of how high the price was, she would buy it.


    This was probably two literary talents resonating with each other.


    No one would have expected Blue Immortal to actually come up with such a trump card.


    Everyone knew that with any treasured piece of calligraphy by Mister Taia in hand, there was no way one could ever fail to achieve success before Lady Ning Qing.


    Blue Immortal was really generous. He was actually willing to take out such a treasure just to stop Yun Zhonghe.


    He was trying to beat Yun Zhonghe by taking pre-emptive measures ahead of time.


    The audacity to seize food from the jaws of the tiger was really all for the sake of preventing Yun Zhonghe from making any commendable contribution. In this way, this credit was definitely going to be taken away by Blue Immortal.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Chu Zhaoran, what do you think?¡±


    Chu Zhaoran said, ¡°My Lady, Yun AoTian may be my subordinate, but when it comes to Lady Ning Qing, it concerns the fate of the Valley of Torn Gust. So, it¡¯s still better to exercise caution. I also feel that Blue Immortal should be the one to meet with Lady Ning Qing.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue cast her gaze towards Yun Zhonghe, then nodded and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it in your good hands, Teacher.¡±


    Blue Immortal bowed and said, ¡°I will do my best. Come to think of it, we really share an affinity for each other. Lady Ning Qing and I can be looked upon as old friends.¡±


    Then, Blue Immortal took Mister Taia¡¯s piece of work and headed towards the castle at the bottom of the mountain.


    The few people who were present looked at Yun Zhonghe as they gloated over his unfortunate loss.


    A beggar like you no longer has the chance to show off. But you, Yun AoTian, did not have any chance in the first place.


    Cutting off someone else¡¯s source of income was just as unconscionable as killing one¡¯s parents!


    And now, this was exactly what Blue Immortal and Chu Zhaoran were doing.


    This would completely cut off Yun Zhonghe¡¯s path to future advancements and meritorious contributions.


    And yet, Yun Zhonghe merely looked on with indifference. He even felt a slight urge to laugh. This matter was getting more and more interesting.


    ***

 Chapter 50

    hapter 50: AoTian in Action! Simply Outrageous


    Not a single person present wanted to voice a word about the injustice for Yun Zhonghe.


    Because, the way everyone saw it, this meritorious contribution had nothing to do with Yun Zhonghe in the first place.


    And Blue Immortal was definitely a much better candidate than the crazy beggar, Yun AoTian, who had just arrived, to claim the credit for this.


    Strolling in an idle manner, as though walking through a courtyard, Blue Immortal arrived at the front of the castle that was situated in the valley.


    At that time, the entire castle was heavily fortified. More than a few hundred elite soldiers kept the entire castle so tightly guarded that it was impossible for anyone to break through their defense.


    Upon arriving at the main gate of the castle, Blue Immortal saluted dashingly and said, ¡°I am Blue Immortal, and I have come to seek an audience with Lady Ning Qing.¡±


    The one guarding the gate was a middle-aged woman, Ning Que. She was Ning Qing¡¯s confidante, and she was extremely highly skilled in martial arts.


    Ning Que said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lady Ning has stated that she will not be meeting anyone at this time.¡±


    Blue Immortal said, ¡°Please take my name card and this item to Lady Ning Qing. She will see me.¡±


    Ning Que said, ¡°I need to check it first. May I?¡±


    Blue Immortal said, ¡°Of course.¡±


    Ning Que took the calligraphy painting and opened it a little. Instantly, there was a slight change in her expression.


    It was very clear that she knew her master the best. Mister Taia¡¯s works were simply her master¡¯s weak spot.


    These days, there was no telling how many waves of people had come to visit her master.


    There was the Mo Clan of the City of Washed Jade, and the Qiu Clan of the City of Autumn Waters. There was even an envoy sent by the Tantai Clan, the family of the First Lord.


    And the one with the greatest urgency was undoubtedly the Jing Clan of the Valley of Torn Gust, for this investigation report would directly affect the fate of the Jing Clan.


    But regardless of which powerful clan the visitor represented, Lady Ning Qing had not seen a single one of them.


    Now it definitely seemed like an exception was going to be made.


    Because these treasured pieces of Mister Taia¡¯s, the calligraphy paintings and poetry, were simply irresistible.


    Who was this old man standing in front of her? He could be said to have found the right trump card against her master.


    ¡°Dear distinguished guest, please wait for a moment while I go in to make a report,¡± Ning Que said. ¡°Someone, bring a chair here for this old gentleman. Serve him some fine tea and see to it that he doesn¡¯t feel the least bit neglected.¡±


    That was really the first time someone had enjoyed such treatment.


    A moment later, someone brought over a chair as well as a tea table where there was not only fine tea but also several kinds of exquisite cakes.


    Blue Immortal leisurely sat down to enjoy the tea and cakes.


    Even if it were a difficult mission, he, Blue Immortal, would still be able to complete it confidently and effortlessly.


    Once he had accomplished a meritorious achievement, how should the monarch, Jing Zhongyue, repay him? He, Blue Immortal, did not have anything for himself. But he had to seek justice for his disciple, Lan Yu.


    Lan Yu was appointed as the centurion of the Embroidered Guard Division, and yet, he had been openly beaten up by Yun AoTian in the street. That matter could not be left unresolved and needed to be concluded.


    At the very least, Yun AoTian should be stripped of his title. That guy absolutely could not be allowed to rise. He had to be nipped in the bud.


    Blue Immortal did not wait long.


    He had not even finished his cup of tea when Ning Que came out.


    Blue Immortal rose up in a reserved manner, waiting for the other party to invite him in.


    However, Ning Que directly handed the name card and Mister Taia¡¯s works back to him and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the master cannot see you.¡±


    Blue Immortal was taken aback.


    Why?


    Was it not the case that Ning Qing was completely defenseless against any of Mister Taia¡¯s calligraphy paintings and poetry?


    Now she was actually refusing him with such a firm and impervious attitude?


    Ning Que went on to say, ¡°Please don¡¯t send any more people here to seek an audience, and don¡¯t even send any more gifts. Be mindful that in doing so, the outcome may turn out to be just the opposite of what you wish to accomplish.¡±


    ¡°Understood!¡± Blue Immortal said with a gloomy expression.


    ***


    More than half an hour later, Blue Immortal appeared inside Jing Zhongyue¡¯s magnificent tent.


    It was truly a disgraceful return after that failure. But his expression did not seem all that awful.


    The entire inside of the tent was enshrouded in a layer of haze.


    Blue Immortal said, ¡°Lady Ning Qing wants me to relay this. We should stop sending people to seek an audience with her, and we should not send any more gifts. We have to be mindful that in doing so, the outcome may turn out to be just the opposite of what we wish to accomplish.¡±


    As he said those words, Blue Immortal shifted his gaze towards Yun Zhonghe.


    He was clearly telling Jing Zhongyue not to send Yun Zhonghe to seek an audience with Ning Qing.


    With Ning Qing¡¯s aloof and proud character, if they were to send a lunatic like Yun Zhonghe over, he was truly afraid that doing so would bring misfortune to the Valley of Torn Gust.


    ¡°The widow, Ning Qing, has already given a very serious warning. I implore my Lady to please think twice about it!¡±


    ¡°My Lady, let¡¯s return to the City of Torn Gust first, and then we can make plans.¡±


    ¡°My Lady, we must never allow Yun AoTian to take any more risks. It will really bring us great calamity.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue closed her eyes. She had already heard about it.


    There was no knowing how many envoys had gone to seek an audience with Ning Qing, but all had been rejected. Whether it was the City of Washed Jade, the City of Autumn Waters, or even the envoys sent by the First Lord¡¯s Tantai Clan, none had been able to see Ning Qing.


    It could be seen that Ning Qing¡¯s attitude was really resolute to the extreme.


    And who was Yun Zhonghe?


    A gangster, a beggar of a humble and lowly background. Also, he was one who had never received any education, had attained nothing in life, and was only capable of crazy talk.


    Whereas Ning Qing was born a noblewoman, a legendary woman of great talent. She was a strong contrast to Yun Zhonghe. The two of them were completely like heaven and earth, with simply nothing in common to speak about at all.


    Letting Yun Zhonghe execute this mission to strike a successful deal with this woman? That was just too crazy, was it not?


    It might really be like what everyone said, that it would completely anger Ning Qing and bring a great calamity to the Valley of Torn Gust.


    But to return like this, with nothing accomplished?


    It was less than five days away from the deadline for Ning Qing to submit her report.


    Jing Zhongyue opened her stunningly beautiful eyes and said, ¡°Yun Zhonghe, are you confident?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said nonchalantly, ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Yun AoTian, don¡¯t you make such irresponsible remarks. Your death will not be anything worth lamenting. But, if you anger Lady Ning Qing and bring calamity to the Valley of Torn Gust, then even if we sentence you to death by a thousand cuts, there would still be no way to salvage the situation.¡±


    ¡°My Lady, don¡¯t ever allow this to happen.¡±


    ¡°My Lady, this Yun AoTian is a lunatic through and through. What if, the moment he sees Lady Ning Qing, he says things about wanting to sleep with her? Then it really would be game over for us. There is no turning back for us!¡±


    Several of Jing Zhongyue¡¯s aides, who were also her confidantes, hurriedly knelt down and implored her.


    She continued to look at Yun Zhonghe and asked, ¡°Are you sure? Are you confident?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    The moment he said yes, the crowd became utterly disdainful.


    You¡¯re just boasting carelessly, right?


    How many people have sought audiences with Lady Ning Qing these days?


    There were great scholars, benefactors, students, talented people, and even her own people from the Ning Clan.


    But not a single one had succeeded in seeing Ning Qing.


    Just now, Blue Immortal had failed as well, even though he had gone with Mister Taia¡¯s calligraphy painting.


    You, a mere beggar, want to change the will of Lady Ning Qing? This is absolutely fool¡¯s talk.


    Jing Zhongyue said with an apathetic tone, ¡°Then go get yourself prepared. Once you are ready, get going with your mission immediately.¡±


    The moment that was said, everyone¡¯s expression changed drastically.


    The several aides, Blue Immortal, and the others present hurried to speak up and admonish her.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Jing Zhongyue¡¯s expression was cold as she pointed outside. Then she said, ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡±


    All of a sudden, there was a murderous aura that filled the entire inside of the tent.


    At times like that, when Jing Zhongyue exploded in rage, no one would dare to continue with their admonishment. Otherwise, she would really start killing people.


    Over the past year since her ascension, how many people had she killed?


    It was uncountable.


    Instantly, everyone made their way out of the tent, albeit with great reluctance, as they looked at Yun Zhonghe with eyes that spoke of their extreme eagerness to tear him to bits and pieces.


    And every single one of them was criticizing what had happened in their hearts.


    It would not do for a woman to take up the role of a monarch. At the most critical moments, she would just be too stubborn and foolish.


    The foundations of the Jing Clan would most likely be destroyed in the hands of this castellan.


    Old castellan, why did you lose consciousness so suddenly? Our Valley of Torn Gust is in danger.


    ***


    Inside the tent, only Yun Zhonghe and Jing Zhongyue were left.


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, you saw the situation just now, right?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°You should be able to imagine what will happen to you if you fail, right?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t kill me, the others in the Valley of Torn Gust will still tear me apart.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Then, are you sure you still want to go? Are you still able to say that you are confident?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Yes!¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Here is a wooden barrel already filled with boiling hot water. Take a bath and change your clothes. Regain your handsome appearance, then go meet this widow, Ning Qing.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°No need. I will go see her looking like this.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue¡¯s beautiful eyes narrowed.


    With the way he looked right now? He had the look of a destitute beggar, with tattered and worn-out clothes, and weed-like hair that caused anyone that saw him to suspect that a flea might pop out of it at any moment.


    To go meet the widow, Ning Qing, with such an appearance?


    Are you courting death?


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Yun Zhonghe replied.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Then go. I will wait to hear from you. If you fail, you will probably never get to see me again anyway.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°My moon, please wait for my triumphant return.¡±


    Then, with a wave of his weed-like hair, Yun Zhonghe swaggered out of the tent and headed towards the castle in the valley below.


    Watching the scene unfold, practically everyone around him was shocked, and their attention and eyes were fixated on him.


    Was Yun AoTian really so crazy?


    Without even bothering to clean himself up a little, he simply intended to pay Lady Ning Qing a visit with this beggarly appearance?


    Was this not testing the patience of other people? Was he really that eager to court his doom?


    ¡°Go get prepared. If he doesn¡¯t die in the castle, when he comes back, feeling all dejected and crestfallen, we will behead him and never let him meet with the castellan again. That man is the bane of our Valley of Torn Gust.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe, dressed in his beggar¡¯s outfit and sporting a head full of weedy hair, walked towards the castle.


    When he was still a few dozen meters away, he was immediately made the target of dozens of crossbows.


    ¡°Where did this beggar come from? Scram!¡±


    ¡°If you still don¡¯t leave, I¡¯m going to shoot. I¡¯ll shoot anything in sight.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe raised both hands high up in the air and said, ¡°I¡¯ll just say one thing, just one thing.¡±


    Ning Que¡¯s expression changed, and she said in a cold voice, ¡°You people of the Valley of Torn Gust, are you all really this stubborn? So eager to die?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe raised both hands high and walked towards the main gate.


    ¡°Sister, I heard that Lady Ning Qing has a certain rule. Because she is extremely fond and prizes underachieving students, so long as anyone can write a poem that is impressive enough to touch her, that person can be granted an audience with her. Is that right?¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± answered Ning Que, ¡°but that is only for special occasions. Master will not be receiving any guests.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Then I shall also try my hand at writing a poem. When Lady Ning Qing sees this poem I¡¯ve written, she will definitely meet me.¡±


    ¡°Impossible,¡± said Ning Que.


    ¡°If I never try, I¡¯ll never know,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Can I have a piece of paper?¡±


    Ning Que cast one look at the beggar and had only one thought on her mind. That was, to quickly send him away. But she did not want to ruin her master¡¯s reputation by giving others a chance to say that her master had ridden roughshod over a mere beggar.


    So, she went to take a piece of paper, handed it to Yun Zhonghe, and asked, ¡°Do you need a pen?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°No need. I brought mine.¡±


    He took out a worn-out writing brush tucked within his arms. The ink on it had long since dried, so he licked it with his tongue to wet it again.


    Seeing this scene made Ning Que¡¯s hair stand on ends as she broke out into a cold sweat.


    Then, Yun Zhonghe turned his back to her and said, ¡°The poem I write is only meant for the eyes of Lady Ning Qing. No one else can read it.¡±


    Ning Que was even more convinced that this beggar in front of her was a nutcase.


    Yun Zhonghe seemed to have a copious amount of thoughts flowing ceaselessly in his mind. Very quickly, he composed a poem. After carefully folding it, he handed it to Ning Que and said, ¡°You must personally hand it to Lady Ning Qing. Don¡¯t ever sneak a look at it yourself.¡±


    Ning Que was filled with antipathy as she took the poem and walked into the castle.


    Her master had made it very clear that if anyone had come with a poem, no matter how ludicrously or poorly written it was, it had to be delivered right to her hands.


    ***


    On a couch inside the castle.


    A mature and stunningly beautiful woman was lying on her side. Her body¡¯s curves were just like undulating rivers and mountains.


    What a beautiful woman.


    The key was the mature charm that she exuded, which was coupled with the aura of an intelligent and talented woman.


    She was simply too charming.


    And she was much older than Jing Zhongyue, so she also had a much fuller figure with curves that were incomparably alluring.


    But for some reason, she kept her hair wrapped up in a silk scarf. This, in truth, kind of ruined her stunning beauty.


    And there was also the smell of blood within the room.


    The woman was Ning Qing, the most powerful and influential widow in the Land of No King, and a legendary talent.


    The head of the investigation group of the Baronage Alliance.


    At that time, there were thick piles of information by the side of the bed. Those were all detailed records about the war between the City of Autumn Waters and the Valley of Torn Gust.


    There were also catalogs of geographical features of the two places, as well as battleground marks.


    ¡°Master, someone has come to deliver a poem. He said that, after reading this poem, you would definitely meet him,¡± Ning Que said.


    Ning Qing replied, ¡°Oh, bring me the poem. As for the man, I¡¯m definitely not going to meet him.¡±


    Ning Que handed over a piece of paper and said, ¡°Master, this is written by a beggar. He turned up with an image that was really an unbearable sight to behold. I¡¯m afraid this paper is not clean. Please be careful.¡±


    Ning Qing took the piece of paper and unfolded it with a slight sense of anticipation.


    She wanted to see it. Exactly what kind of poem was it?


    And it turned out, after just one look, she was completely dumbstruck.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s poem was as follows:


    Every month, a few days of intense abdominal pain.


    Blood, an unending flow that dyed the dress red. You cannot meet anyone for half a month.


    A head of hair, shedding every day, too embarrassed to see anyone.


    Difficult troubles that you cannot voice, don¡¯t worry, the holy hand of gynecology is here to help.


    Then, the poem ended.


    However, there was a small line of words underneath the poem that read, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, you¡¯re not sick, you¡¯ve been poisoned!¡±


    ***

 Chapter 51

    Ning Qing was momentarily dumbfounded when she read the inelegant poem. She then read through the poem again repeatedly.


    She paid the most attention to the last line. The words were very faint at first, but the color of the words grew deeper as time passed.


    ¡°Mistress, I¡¯ll go and send him away. Do you have any words that you want to relay?¡± Ning Que asked.


    Ning Qing had never been friendly to people of noble status. However, she always looked sweet and friendly toward the commoners.


    She would always give her comments whenever a student handed her their poem, no matter how badly it had been written.


    ¡°Mistress?¡± Ning Que reminded her once again.


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Go and get him to come in.¡±


    Ning Que could not help but be alarmed. Why¡­ Why would she want to do that?


    Ning Que had never met anyone in the past, no matter how influential they were. She even declined to meet the person who sent over Mister Taia¡¯s treasured calligraphy just now.


    Now she wanted to meet a beggar?


    Could that beggar have written a poem that would shock the world?


    Should she do this even if that was the case?


    This was a unique time. The mistress should not be receiving the beggar no matter how good the poem he wrote was.


    She had to avoid doing things that would arouse suspicion.


    ¡°Mistress, are you sure?¡± Ning Que asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure. Let him come in,¡± Ning Qing replied.


    ¡°Alright!¡± Ning Que said.


    ***


    At that moment, at the peak of a mountain not far away, a group of people was waiting for a result.


    They were waiting for the beggar, Yun AoTian, to be immediately thrown out from the castle.


    An aide from the Valley of Torn Gust said, ¡°All of you, get ready. Do not let the beggar, Yun AoTian, return to the peak of the mountain when he gets thrown out. Do not let him meet the lord again. Execute him immediately. A person like this will definitely become a disaster for the Valley of Torn Gust. For the foundation of our lord, we have to kill this lunatic for the Jing Clan.¡±


    ¡°But what about the situation on the side of the lord?¡± a warrior asked uneasily.


    The aide replied, ¡°Whatever we are doing now is for the ambition of our lord. The lord would never forgive Yun AoTian if he were to fail now and incite the wrath of Lady Ning Qing. It would instead sully the virtuous name of our master if we weren¡¯t the ones to kill him.¡±


    The warrior was shocked momentarily. Their lord was as beautiful as a fairy, but he did not have a virtuous reputation. He was notorious for killing others.


    ¡°Do you understand?¡± the aide said.


    ¡°Yes!¡± The warrior said, ¡°As long as Yun AoTian fails to ascend the mountain, we¡¯ll immediately kill that wicked man for the lord.¡±


    The aide said, ¡°Send someone to have a look. Has he been kicked out? Did he infuriate an investigation team? Do not let him escape. He might not rush back here.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± The warrior descended the mountain to observe the situation.


    He sprinted back a moment later and said in shock, ¡°Mister, mister, our brothers who were monitoring the situation under the mountain saw this. The beggar, Yun AoTian, has entered the castle. Lady Ning Qing has received him.¡±


    ¡°Impossible¡­¡± the aide said in a raspy voice.


    ¡°Impossible!¡± The Blue Immortal and Chu Zhaoran involuntarily exchanged shocked gazes.


    How was that possible?


    Ning Qing had refused everyone else. She would not open her door even for the treasured calligraphy of Mister Taia.


    Yet Yun Zhonghe was received even though he had entered the castle with nothing in hand?


    Why, why had this happened?


    What exactly happened? Had the sun risen in the west?


    ***


    A moment later!


    Yun Zhonghe appeared in the study of the widow, Ning Qing. He did not see Ning Qing, the woman who held the most authority and was hailed as the Legendary Talented Lady, through the screen.


    However, he detected the unique stench of blood when he entered the room. He was now even more clear of her judgment.


    ¡°I pay my respects to Lady Ning.¡± Yun Zhonghe bowed and paid his respects. He then said, ¡°Lady Ning must be very curious as to why I know all of this. It is actually very simple¡ª¡±


    However, Yun Zhonghe had not finished his sentence when he was immediately stopped by Ning Qing. This woman was also very forceful.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the widow, Ning Qing, asked.


    Her voice was melodious. There was determination mixed in with the softness.


    Yun Zhonghe replied in shock, ¡°My name is Yun AoTian.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°What¡¯s your identity?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°Valley of Torn Gust, an officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, third official registrar.¡±


    Ning Qing continued, ¡°What¡¯s your background?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°Beggar. I was born a hooligan.¡±


    Ning Qing asked, ¡°Have you received an education?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°I studied for a few months when I was five. I dropped out during my first year of kindergarten.¡±


    ¡°Then how did you enter the third official registrar of the Embroidered Uniform Guards at the Valley of Torn Gust? Has Jing Zhongyue taken a liking to you?¡± Ning Qing asked.


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°That¡¯s because I have a special talent. I achieve results every time.¡±


    ¡°What talent?¡± Ning Qing asked.


    ¡°Coaxing and lying to girls, cheating them out of their fortunes and bodies. Guaranteed results,¡± Yun Zhonghe answered.


    Ning Que, who was by the side, swallowed when she heard those words. She wanted to vomit.


    A ploy of seduction?


    Jing Zhongyue had sent such an old, ugly beggar to seduce the mistress?


    How long had it been since he last washed his hair? Even the fleas were about to jump out, weren¡¯t they?


    How unique of a taste did she imagine the mistress to have?


    However, Ning Qing was not angered. Instead, she said, ¡°Do you know what happened to the handsome, talented man Jing Zhongyue sent the other time?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I do. He became a eunuch.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Then does she feel that I would not bear to take action if she sends an old beggar this time? Furthermore, you might not be that old. You speak so bluntly. Are you not afraid that I would turn you into a eunuch?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°My parents have told me since I was young that I should be honest and that I must not lie.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°What are your parents working as? Are they also beggars?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°I lost my parents at a young age.¡±


    The joke was lame to the point that Ning Qing could not help but shrug.


    ¡°At this point, should I laugh a little to complement your joke?¡± Ning Qing asked.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°It¡¯d be best if you could.¡±


    Ning Qing opened her petite mouth and let out two very official-sounding laughs.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, do you know why I received you?¡± Ning Qing asked, ¡°Other than the fact that you said that I have been poisoned by someone.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You must feel indignant.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, indignant. It might even be fury,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many students, as well as many people, who never received much of an education. Over the years, there have been at least a thousand people who have submitted their poems to me. Honestly, many people wrote poems that were worse than yours, but every one of them had presented their best works. Some of these poems were extremely bad, some coquettish, others incredibly hypocritical. However, at the very least, they made use of all of their talent. No matter how pretentious their poems were, I could see their respect and passion for poetry. However, I could not see any respect in your poem. You are mocking literature. You are taking the poetic verses lightly. That made me very angry.¡±


    ¡°I can apologize. I was wrong. I was truly wrong.¡± Yun Zhonghe apologized immediately.


    ¡°Your apology is the same as your attitude toward poems. Frivolous, without an ounce of respect,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°I am even angrier now.¡±


    The mature yet beautiful lady in front of him was very interesting. She was still extremely calm, even when she said that she was very angry.


    Her elegance and cultivation seemed to be etched into her soul and bones.


    At that moment, Yun Zhonghe noticed that the lady¡¯s lips seemed to be growing increasingly purple. Then, a streak of blood flowed down from her nostril.


    ¡°Lady Ning Qing, you must receive treatment as soon as possible,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°What did you eat just now?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not important,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°I only care about two things in my life. First, my image. Second, literature and poetry. Your guess was right. I am not willing to see anyone because I am in an inelegant state. That¡¯s why I am unwilling to see anyone.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, your condition is extremely critical. You have to be treated immediately.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Ning Qing said, ¡°I do not care whether I die or not. But you mocked poetry and took literature lightly. I am very dissatisfied with your disrespectful attitude. I am very angry. I am furious.¡±


    ¡°Yun AoTian, I am angry. Attitude is very important,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°I might be a talented lady, as well as an elegant lady, but more so, I am an extreme lady. So¡­ You have to pay the price for your frivolity! Ning Que, prepare¡­¡±


    The female warrior standing to the side, Ning Que, fiercely pulled out her sword when Ning Qing said those words.


    ¡°The handsome man sent by Jing Zhongyue previously flirted with me with flippant words. That, to me, was a great humiliation,¡± Ning Qing said, ¡°So I turned him into a eunuch. However, your frivolous attitude toward literature and poetry is an even greater humiliation. For that, I am going to neuter you and send you back to Jing Zhongyue.¡±


    The female warrior, Ning Que, immediately placed her blade under Yun Zhonghe¡¯s abdomen without saying a word.


    There would be another eunuch by Jing Zhongyue¡¯s side if the blade were to move downward.


    Yun Zhonghe felt his scalp turn numb.


    He realized that the woman before him, Ning Qing, was frighteningly stubborn. She was also a little mentally unsound.


    What was going on?


    Were all of the top-notch beauties of this world a little mentally unstable?


    Jing Zhongyue was like this. Ning Qing was like this. Even I, Yun Zhonghe, am like this.


    Did a person become crazier the more attractive they were?


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Yun AoTian, I do not care how you are going to convince me, nor do I care about what you wish to obtain from me. I don¡¯t even care if you are trying to save my life. We will speak after you pass the hurdle before you. You have to compensate for the poetry that you mocked with your frivolous attitude. Do you know the only one who can truly mock poetry?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°The Poetry Genius!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Ning Qing said, ¡°Only a rare Poetry Genius can mock poetry as he would have possessed poetry. It is the same as how you can freely mock a woman when you are in a relationship with her, while mocking a woman you do not know will get you neutered.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe confirmed it. The widow in front of him was definitely insane.


    Ning Qing continued, saying, ¡°The inelegant poem you wrote just now was unfit to be read. It was flippant and disgusting to the extreme.¡±


    ¡°Every month, a few days of intense abdominal pain.


    Blood, an unending flow that dyed the dress red. You cannot meet anyone for half a month.


    A head of hair, shedding every day, too embarrassed to see anyone.


    Difficult troubles that you cannot voice, don¡¯t worry, the holy hand of gynecology is here to help.¡±


    Ning Qing finished reciting the vulgar sentences, not even fit to be called a poem.


    ¡°This poem has four lines. The words that start every line are ¡®every,¡±blood,¡±a,¡¯ and ¡®difficult¡¯!¡±


    ¡°Use these words as your opener and make another poem that consists of four lines. You can use words that sound the same. However, you have to impress me completely. You have to surpass all of the poems that I have received in the past.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe froze at that moment.


    The widow, Ning Qing, continued, saying, ¡°That will prove that you are a one-in-a-million Poetry Genius. It will prove that you have the right to mock poetry and literature. That way, I will be able to forgive you, and we can continue. Otherwise, I am going to neuter you.


    ¡°You only have a limited amount of time. You have to complete your poem by the time I finish my countdown. Otherwise, you can peacefully become Jing Zhongyue¡¯s eunuch.


    ¡°Ten¡­ Nine¡­ Eight¡­¡±


    Ning Qing started her countdown. She took an average of five seconds between every number.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s scalp truly began to turn numb.


    F¡­ F¡­ F*ck!


    Ning Qing was truly a devil. Was she really insane?


    ¡°I already told you that I was an uneducated hooligan. I dropped out of school in the first year of kindergarten, and you expect me to compose a poem?¡± he thought.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving me with no choice?


    ¡°Furthermore, you expect me to start with the words ¡®every,¡±blood,¡±a,¡¯ and ¡®difficult.¡¯ Even though I could use similar-sounding words, the poem has to be one-in-a-million. Isn¡¯t this harder than reaching the sky?


    ¡°I don¡¯t even have a place to copy the poem from, do I?¡±


    Also, blood was continuously flowing out of her beautiful nose.


    Her breathing was getting more and more rapid, her lips more and more purple. Her condition was becoming more and more serious.


    Ning Que¡¯s blade below Yun Zhonghe¡¯s abdomen was raring to go. It was ready to strike at any time. Ning Que was going to turn Yun Zhonghe into a eunuch before immediately turning to save her mistress.


    ¡°Seven, six, five, four¡­¡±


    Ning Qing¡¯s countdown was about to end. Yun Zhonghe was about to become a eunuch.


    Yun Zhonghe trembled. All of the hairs on his body stood up.


    He closed his eyes and racked his brain.


    ¡°Three, two, one¡­¡±


    The countdown was about to end.


    Yun Zhonghe opened his eyes fiercely and said, ¡°Got it. I got it.¡±


    He then recited a poem with the required word at the start of every sentence. The poem read:


    ¡°There are goodbyes as the blossoms move west. There is sorrow as the snow travels up north.


    I will always be a man of the mountains. Unable to obtain a comforting hug from my descendants.¡±[1]


    (Adapted and modified from the famous work of a Tang Dynasty poet, Zhang Nanshi)*


    ***


    [1] The words used at the start of the sentences of the second poem are similar sounding words to those of the first poem in Chinese.


    *Author¡¯s note.

 Chapter 52

    ¡°Zero!¡±


    The widow, Ning Qing, finished her countdown.


    Then, she slipped into a daze!


    Ning Que turned her gaze toward her mistress. Should she slice her blade downward?


    Ning Qing sat up with a little difficulty. She stared at Yun Zhonghe with her red eyes.


    This¡­ This was a beggar, a hooligan?


    This was an illiterate man who dropped out of school in his first year of kindergarten?


    He was able to produce a poem like that?


    ¡°What¡¯s that poem called?¡± Ning Qing asked.


    Yun Zhonghe thought for a moment before he replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t thought of a good name for it. However, if you want me to forcefully give it a name, then let¡¯s call it ¡®Mister Taia¡¯.¡±


    ¡®Mister Taia¡¯?


    That¡¯s right, Taia. That¡¯s too fitting.


    The first line, ¡®There are goodbyes as the blossoms move west.¡¯


    In this world, goodbyes were always accompanied by folded willows or blossoms. People folded willows during summer and spring and folded blossoms during the harsh winter.


    This was especially so for a person who had been demoted from an official position. They would have to move from the prosperous east to the barren west.


    The further west they headed, the drier the climate became, and the more pitiful they were. Willow trees could not survive in the west; neither could cherry blossoms.


    Thus, while there are many cherry blossoms in the east, their numbers grow fewer the further west a person travels.


    Twenty years ago, the Crown Prince of the Great Xia Empire failed in his revolt. As the mentor of the Crown Prince, Li Taia was demoted and sent to the barren lands in the extreme west. Many people from the world of literature folded willows as they sent him off.


    The second line, ¡®There is sorrow as the snow travels down south.¡¯


    Snow usually falls from the north toward the south. The more south a place was, the hotter the climate, and thus there would be no snow.


    Furthermore, every time there was a tragedy, the sky always seemed as though it was about to snow heavily.


    That would also happen if there were a grave injustice or a grave vengeance.


    Twenty years ago, when many soldiers died during the revolt of the Crown Prince of the Great Xia Empire, massive snow fell for several consecutive nights. It was as if the snow was trying to cover up the endless sea of blood.


    The snow spanned tens of thousands of miles as it fell from the north to the south. The damaged land was dyed a pitiful white.


    There had been no one in the world who dared to mourn, but the heavy snow dyed the world white as if it mourned in the place of humanity.


    The third and fourth lines, ¡®I will always be a man of the mountains. Unable to obtain a comforting hug from my descendants¡¯.


    These two lines emphasized Mister Taia¡¯s humble background. He had studied bitterly in the mountains. He radiated loneliness and pride. However, he was not treated kindly despite his talents and was always discriminated against and looked down upon by the nobles.


    If not for the repeated humble visits by the Crown Prince, there would not have been such an affinity between him and the Crown Prince.


    ***


    The original poem was already exceptional. However, after explaining the poem to herself, Ning Qing felt as though the poem was the best in the world.


    It was a complete summary of Mister Taia¡¯s life.


    Mister Taia was the master that the Legendary Talented Lady, Ning Qing, admired most in her life.


    In that instant, the poem had pierced through her soul.


    Furthermore, what was more difficult was that the topic of this poem had been chosen very randomly.


    Yun AoTian was absurd. The four lines of the doggerel he wrote at first were completely random.


    That was why Ning Qing had asked him to start his new poem with the words ¡®every,¡±blood,¡±a,¡¯ and ¡®difficult.¡¯ She wanted to surprise him and catch him off guard.


    In such a short amount of time, with barely enough time to catch a few breaths, what he had done did not pale in comparison to composing a poem in seven steps.


    It was difficult enough to compose a poem with the four words, but it was even more difficult to come up with an excellent piece. To compose such a piece in less than a minute was difficult beyond imagination. The poem that he composed was still related to a central theme and touched Ning Qing¡¯s soul. That was as difficult as touching the sky.


    The gaze Ning Qing shot Yun Zhonghe was filled with disbelief.


    This was a poem composed by a beggar? This was a poem composed by an illiterate?


    How rare was such a talent?


    It was too shocking.


    Ning Qing only said a while later, ¡°It was a good poem, a good poem.¡±


    Ning Que immediately moved her blade away from Yun Zhonghe¡¯s crotch.


    Yun Zhonghe could not help but heave a long sigh of relief. He was covered in sweat. He even had the urge to wet himself just now.


    Ning Qing looked toward Yun Zhonghe¡¯s beggar-like face and said, ¡°You have the right to mock poetry now. We can continue our conversation. What do you wish to say? What do you wish to do?¡±


    At that moment, blood was continuously flowing out of her nostril. Blood even started to spurt out from the corner of her mouth.


    It was like a fountain.


    The situation felt wrong.


    According to the detailed information found in the spy¡¯s records, Ning Qing should have been poisoned with a slow-acting poison such as mercury or lead.


    Her symptoms should include shedding hair, urinating blood, irregular menstrual cycles, warts on her hands, insomnia, frequent dreams, etc.


    However, the severity of the situation before him indicated that she suffered from acute mercury poisoning. It might not solely be mercury poisoning anymore.


    Furthermore, judging from the symptoms, she should have just been poisoned.


    ¡°Mistress, I¡¯ll get the physician immediately.¡± Ning Que sprinted out of the room.


    ¡°I am a physician,¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Your mistress has been poisoned by someone. Furthermore, she had been poisoned not too long ago. We have to treat her immediately or her life will be in danger. What did she eat just now? The person who delivered the food, the people who made the food. Capture all of them.¡±


    Ning Qing looked at Yun Zhonghe for a moment, then trembled as she said, ¡°Go¡­ Go quickly.¡±


    Ning Qing immediately fainted after she finished her sentence.


    Ning Que ran toward the exit without saying another word.


    Yun Zhonghe shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t go. Only I can save your mistress now.¡±


    Ning Que turned around to look at Yun Zhonghe. She hesitated for a long while.


    Even though the beggar before her was acting strange, she still believed the physician she was familiar with.


    Thus, she still chose to run out and look for a physician. Furthermore, her mistress had many taboos. She would only let a female physician treat her.


    At that moment, Yun Zhonghe could not care about it too much. He took out a small gourd from his robes and immediately stepped forward to help Ning Qing up.


    ¡°Slap, slap, slap¡­¡± He slapped Ning Qing several times.


    He then pressed down hard on her philtrum.


    Ning Qing woke up groggily.


    Yun Zhonghe immediately poured the liquid within the gourd into her mouth.


    In just half a minute, Yu Zhonghe had emptied half of the liquid from the gourd into Ning Qing¡¯s stomach.


    Ning Qing panted as she said, ¡°You, what did you make me drink? Why did it taste so weird?¡±


    ¡°What else could it be?¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°That¡¯s my virgin pee.¡±


    What? That¡¯s not right, Yun Zhonghe would never bring along something like that everywhere he went.


    However, Ning Qing¡¯s expression changed drastically when she heard his words.


    ¡°Urgh¡­ Urgh¡­¡±


    The contents in her stomach instantly poured out like a fountain.


    She vomited without stopping to catch her breath.


    However, Yun Zhonghe was still not satisfied. She had not vomited everything out.


    She had not vomited all of the poison in her stomach.


    Thus, he pried Ning Qing¡¯s mouth open and poured in the other half of the liquid in the gourd.


    He then shoved a chopstick down Ning Qing¡¯s throat.


    Ning Qing vomited once again.


    At that moment, Yun Zhonghe pressed against Ning Qing¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, do not speak. Remember everything I am going to say. It is very important.¡±


    Ning Qing nodded as she vomited.


    Yun Zhonghe spoke quickly. He was fighting for time, yet it did not delay his rescue efforts.


    It was just that the image seemed a little gruesome.


    Ning Que happened to witness this scene when she charged into the room with four physicians.


    Yun Zhonghe was stuffing Ning Qing¡¯s mouth with something and then pushing a chopstick down her throat.


    This¡­ This was a scene of a murder.


    In that instant, Ning Que¡¯s expression changed drastically.


    She was incredibly remorseful. She had rushed out of the room to look for a physician just now but left her mistress alone in the study with the beggar.


    She had been too careless.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, what are you doing? Are you asking for death?¡± Ning Que shouted fiercely. ¡°Guards, break this beggar¡¯s limbs and toss him into the underground jail.¡±


    A few warriors charged into the room in an instant.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hit him, don¡¯t injure him,¡± Ning Qing said, incredibly weak.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Ning Que nodded as she said, ¡°Mistress, Physician Xu is here.¡±


    The four physicians who had come in were all women.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I¡¯m already finished with inducing vomiting. Go and get some milk and feed Lady Ning Qing. Feed her continuously, feed her continuously.¡±


    The female physician said, ¡°I know what to do. Get out. It¡¯s not convenient for a man to be here.¡±


    Then, a few warriors rushed over and escorted Yun Zhonghe out.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, remember what I said¡­ Doctor¡¯s instructions!¡±


    He was then led out of the room by the warriors as if he was a little chick.


    Ning Qing glanced at Yun Zhonghe with difficulty, then fainted.


    Lady Ning Qing¡¯s aide, Ning Que, said, ¡°Let Mister Yun rest, serve him well.¡±


    The warriors escorted Yun Zhonghe out of Ning Qing¡¯s study.


    Before he left, Yun Zhonghe turned to look at the comatose Ning Qing.


    ***


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    The warriors did not bring him to another room in the castle. Instead, they were escorting him toward the exit.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there,¡± one of the warriors said.


    They then entered an underground tunnel.


    They¡­ Are they going to hold me in an underground jail cell?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? I just saved Lady Ning Qing.¡±


    The warrior said, ¡°We¡¯ll speak after Lady Ning Qing wakes up. We are still not certain if you were saving her or murdering her.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was then thrown into an underground jail cell.


    Yun Zhonghe spent the next few hours in the underground jail of the castle. No one came to bother him.


    No one sent him food, nor did anyone come to tell him if Ning Qing was awake, or if she had been treated.


    Yun Zhonghe sat cross-legged. He closed his eyes and remained motionless.


    His expression was grave, but he felt excited.


    The situation had become very interesting.


    It had become abnormally interesting.


    At first, Yun Zhonghe had felt that it would be extremely difficult to complete the mission. However, currently, the enemy seemed to have given him a helping hand. It made everything much simpler.


    Interesting, interesting.


    Competing against a human brought immense joy.


    ***


    Half a day passed.


    A day passed.


    Suddenly, two warriors entered the underground jail and instantly placed their blades on Yun Zhonghe¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Do you want to die, or to live?¡± a warrior asked.


    ¡°I want to live, I want to live,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    The warrior asked again, ¡°How did you know that Lady Ning Qing had been poisoned?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°It¡¯s a long story. I mainly looked at her symptoms.¡±


    The warrior then said, ¡°Is there a spy from the City of Torn Gust in this castle?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe squinted and remained silent.


    Then, a fierce pressure was applied on the edge of the sharp blade. The warrior continued with a chilling voice, saying, ¡°Do you wish to die, or to live?¡±


    ¡°I want to live,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    The warrior continued, saying, ¡°Then speak.¡±


    He wanted Yun Zhonghe to speak, but he did not want Yun Zhonghe to speak the truth.


    Yun Zhonghe nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. There is a spy from the City of Torn Gust in this castle.¡±


    The warrior said, ¡°Was it your spy who poisoned Lady Ning Qing?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Sir, should I answer yes or no?¡±


    ¡°Do you wish to die?¡± the warrior asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yun Zhonghe said without hesitation. ¡°You are right. It is the spy from the City of Torn Gust that poisoned Lady Ning Qing.¡±


    The warrior continued, saying, ¡°You guys sent a spy to poison Lady Ning Qing, then sent you, Yun AoTian, to give her the antidote and save her life. This way, you would have the favor of saving Lady Ning Qing¡¯s life on your side. Then, Lady Ning Qing would naturally be biased toward you guys in the report to come, right?¡±


    Wow! What a genius. There were no faults to the enemy¡¯s false charges.


    ¡°This is all a part of your scheme, a despicable scheme. It was you guys who administered the poison, and it was you guys who saved her life. You sure used every despicable method at your disposal for that report. However, you are merely seeking your death!¡±


    ¡°Yun AoTian of the Valley of Torn Gust, we have concrete evidence that you attempted to murder Lady Ning Qing, and you have already confessed. You will be executed!¡±


    ***

 Chapter 53

    Executed immediately?


    You are going to execute me, Yun AoTian, in this jail cell?


    At that moment, Yu AoTian raised his arms high in a hurry and said, ¡°Benefactor, I am willing to atone for my sins with my contributions. I am willing to betray Jing Zhongyue. I am willing to confess everything in front of Lady Ning Qing. I¡¯ll pin all the blame on Jing Zhongyue. That way, the Valley of Torn Gust would be doomed. After all, I am the third official registrar of the Embroidered Uniform Guards in the City of Torn Gust. My words are more convincing.¡±


    The warrior let out a cold smile as she said, ¡°You really are a smart man.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I would be able to live if I betray Jing Zhongyue and plant the blame onto her, right?¡±


    The warrior said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Not only would you be able to live, but you would also get a sum of sycees. An alarming sum of sycees.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Can you give me a position as an official?¡±


    The warrior¡¯s gaze turned cold. He then smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s not out of the question, but you have to make a huge contribution. I¡¯ll take you to see Lady Ning Qing now, as well as the other lords of the Baronage Alliance. Do you know what you are supposed to say?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I do, I do.¡±


    The warrior said, ¡°You have to remember something. There¡¯s always an arrow aimed at your head. You will die instantly if you say the wrong thing. There would not be a chance for you to catch your breath, understand?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I understand, I understand! Furthermore, I am powerless. You can easily kill me if I say anything wrong.¡±


    Then, the warrior escorted Yun Zhonghe out of the jail cell.


    At that moment, the entire castle was heavily guarded. There were warriors everywhere. It was clear that the situation had changed. It had become even more urgent.


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe arrived at Ning Qing¡¯s study again. However, this time, it had been thoroughly cleaned up. There was even the fragrance of lavender.


    A few officials sat outside of the screen. They must be the other members of the Baronage Alliance.


    There were four elite warriors at the door. They stood ramrod straight like nails.


    Two women knelt in the study. They were covered in wounds. Were they the spies that had been captured?


    Ning Qing silently sat on her bed.


    Yun Zhonghe was escorted into the study.


    Ning Que tossed a book in front of Yun Zhonghe. The book was written in a unique letter code.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, the two women kneeling before you are the spies who have infiltrated the side of Lady Ning Qing. One is a helper in the kitchen, while the other is a maid who sweeps the floors. This is the information they recorded with a special code,¡± Ning Que said in a chilling voice. ¡°We fully suspect that it was these two spies that poisoned the mistress.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was silent.


    Ning Que continued, saying, ¡°You are the third official registrar of the Embroidered Uniform Guards in the City of Torn Gust. You should be able to read the special code in this book. Tell me, what this is?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°This, this is indeed the code of the City of Torn Gust¡¯s Black Blood Hall. What¡¯s recorded in this book are the details of Lady Ning Qing¡¯s life. For example, her complexion, the falling of her hair, her unending menstrual flow, etc.¡±


    Ning Que said, ¡°That means to say that these two people who poisoned Lady Ning Qing are indeed spies from the City of Torn Gust who have snuck into the mistress¡¯s trust?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°That¡¯s right; they are spies from the City of Torn Gust¡¯s Black Blood Hall.¡±


    Ning Que¡¯s expression changed drastically. She said with an icy tone, ¡°So that¡¯s the case. Yun AoTian, if you wish to live, you can only atone for your crimes with your contributions. Tell us the whole truth.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Yes! We first sent someone to poison Lady Ning Qing. Then they sent me to come to treat Lady Ning Qing. That way, Lady Ning Qing would owe us a huge favor. She would have to be biased toward us in the report. Furthermore, we would be able to plant the blame of poisoning Lady Ning Qing onto the Mo Clan from the City of Washed Jade.¡±


    Ning Que said with a sinister gaze, ¡°What a devious scheme. It is truly despicable to the extreme.¡±


    Then, Ning Que looked toward Yun Zhonghe and said, ¡°Also, you have long prepared the poem ¡®Mister Taia.¡¯ It is not a composition in the spur of the moment. In fact, it is not even you who created that poem. Correct?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe froze. Not only do I have to betray Jing Zhongyue and plant the blame on the City of Torn Gust, but I have to destroy my reputation as a genius?


    ¡°Yun AoTian, yes or no?¡± Ning Que said, ¡°Tell the truth if you wish to live, don¡¯t hide anything.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°That¡¯s right, that poem was not composed by me. In fact, the doggerel that mocked Lady Ning Qing¡¯s menstrual pains and shedding hair had also been designed long ago. ¡®Mister Taia¡¯ was also not composed by me. It was written by a talented individual by Jing Zhongyue¡¯s side long before this. It was custom-made for Lady Ning Qing. I am just an illiterate, ignorant, and incompetent beggar.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe had downplayed his achievements. That poem had been composed by Yun Zhonghe. Furthermore, it had been composed by his quick wit in less than a minute.


    Ning Que said, ¡°All of this is to make the mistress stand in awe of your talent and take a fancy to you as a person, is that right?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°Yes!¡±


    Ning Que bowed and said, ¡°Mistress, the truth is now out in the open. The castellan of the City of Torn Gust, Jing Zhongyue, is despicable and shameless. She has tried to harm you. Furthermore, she has taken advantage of your habit of cherishing talent and used a unique form of seduction to destroy your reputation.¡±


    At that moment, one could see Ning Qing¡¯s graceful figure through the mosquito net around her bed.


    Ning Qing remained silent for a long while. However, her breathing became more rapid. It was clear that she was incredibly angry.


    Ning Que bowed as she said, ¡°Mistress, how should we deal with this?¡±


    Ning Qing spoke a few seconds later, saying, ¡°Everyone, get out. Yun AoTian and Ning Que, both of you stay.¡±


    At that moment, everyone exited the study.


    Ning Qing said weakly, ¡°Yun AoTian, are you sure? The poem you composed just now was all designed beforehand. It was not made on the spot by you?¡±


    At that moment, tens of meters behind Yun Zhonghe, an archer placed his finger on the trigger.


    Yun AoTian said, ¡°That¡¯s right; it was all planned beforehand. It is all part of the Valley of Torn Gust¡¯s scheme.¡±


    ¡°Despicable, shameless,¡± the widow of unparalleled beauty, Ning Qing, trembled as she said.


    Ning Que said, ¡°Mistress, don¡¯t harm your liver for despicable and shameless people like that. How should we deal with this Yun AoTian?¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Let him eat his fill, then bring him to the firewood room at the northwestern corner of the castle and execute him. Do this personally. Don¡¯t let anyone know. After all, he is an official registrar of the City of Torn Gust¡¯s Embroidered Uniform Guards. He is an official of a decent status.¡±


    Ning Qing spoke, emphasizing her words once again. ¡°Remember to kill him in the firewood room. Don¡¯t be seen by anyone.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Ning Que said.


    Yun Zhonghe immediately shouted, ¡°I¡¯ve been wronged, I¡¯ve been wronged, Lady Ning Qing. Didn¡¯t you say that I would be spared if I confess¡­?¡±


    However, his mouth was immediately covered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it now!¡± Ning Que bowed as she spoke. She then dragged Yun Zhonghe away.


    ***


    Following that, Yun Zhonghe was once again locked in a small room within the castle.


    In front of him was a spread of chicken, duck, and fish. There was even a flask of wine.


    This was his last meal.


    ¡°Eat well. Go along on your journey after you have eaten. If you have to blame someone, blame it on the fact that you followed the wrong master.¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe was left alone in the small room.


    He picked up a glass of wine. His tears fell into the wine before he emptied the cup.


    This wine was spicy with a bitter aftertaste.


    Just like that, Yun Zhonghe emptied cup after cup.


    The wine entered his stomach. His tears fell like a fountain.


    He became incredibly drunk not long after. He howled as he cried.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been wronged, I¡¯ve been wronged!¡±


    ¡°I wish to see Lady Ning Qing, I¡¯ve been wronged.¡±


    ¡°Ning Que, get out here, get out here. Didn¡¯t you say that you would spare my life if I confessed?¡±


    ***


    A few warriors walked in an hour later. They searched Yun Zhonghe thoroughly, not leaving anything behind.


    They then brought him out of the room.


    Yun Zhonghe stumbled as he said, ¡°You, are you guys going to send me on my way?¡±


    No one answered him.


    When they arrived at an area outside the yard, the female leader of the warriors, Ning Que, was already waiting there.


    ¡°Hand him over to me,¡± Ning Que ordered.


    ¡°Yes!¡± the two warriors replied.


    Ning Que grabbed Yun Zhonghe¡¯s neck and dragged him away as if he was a little chick.


    They arrived at the western corner of the castle after walking tens of meters. There was a firewood room there. Within the room was a huge wok. It was heating water.


    As Ning Qing was fanatical about being clear, there had to be a constant supply of hot water. Thus, there was an unending stream of hot water in the castle.


    The stove was massive. The flames with the stove looked explosive.


    ¡°Do you know why the mistress chose to kill you here?¡± Ning Que asked with a cold laugh.


    Yun Zhonghe shook his head in his stupor.


    Ning Que said, ¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s convenient. I can toss your corpse into the flames after I kill you and burn you to ashes. You would evaporate from this world.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe wept as he said, ¡°You guys have promised me. You would let me off as long as I betrayed Jing Zhongyue, as long as I accused her. You guys would spare my life.¡±


    Ning Que said, ¡°Are you a child? You are so naive. You would believe someone else¡¯s promise?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You guys are shameless. You go against your morals.¡±


    Ning Que let out a cold smile and said, ¡°We¡¯ve already done all we could by letting you eat your fill before you go. Kneel, I will make this quick. I¡¯ll sever your head from your body with one stroke of my blade.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me, don¡¯t kill me, I am still useful, I am still useful. I can step forward and testify. I can point out Jing Zhongyue in front of the Baronage Alliance. I am willing to cooperate with you completely. As long as you do not kill me, I am willing to do anything,¡± Yun Zhonghe pleaded bitterly.


    Ning Que said coldly, ¡°That would achieve a better effect, indeed. But my mistress has ordered me to kill you. I naturally have to follow her orders. Furthermore, it is enough as long as we make the mistress feel as though this is Jing Zhongyue¡¯s scheme. There¡¯s no need to invite any more trouble.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe suddenly reached an epiphany, saying, ¡°I¡­ I know now. The person who poisoned Lady Ning Qing must not be the spies from the Valley of Torn Gust. It was you, wasn¡¯t it? It is you who poisoned Lady Ning Qing. It is most convenient for you to do it as you are the person Lady Ning Qing trusts the most.¡±


    Ning Que was shocked. She then whispered, ¡°You are not dumb. However, unfortunately for you, you will not have the chance to tell the mistress anymore. There is no one within a hundred-meter radius from here. Not a single soul would have heard what you just said.¡±


    Ning Que immediately placed her blade horizontally across Yun Zhonghe¡¯s neck after she finished speaking. She was going to sever his head the moment he shouted.


    Yun Zhonghe trembled as he whispered, ¡°Why? Why? You are the person Lady Ning Qing trusts the most. You are her closest aide. Why would you betray her?¡±


    Ning Que said, ¡°Why? Perhaps¡­ It is for love?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°People from the City of Autumn Waters? You are working for the people from the City of Autumn Waters?¡±


    ¡°Them? Are they worthy of that?¡± Ning Que asked.


    Yun Zhonghe continued, saying, ¡°Then is it for the Mo Clan from the City of Washed Jade?¡±


    Ning Que said, ¡°Why do you wish to know so much before you die?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°That¡¯s not right; you did not know that Lady Ning Qing would receive me. That was just a coincidence. Thus, you poisoned Lady Ning Qing for another reason. It is also true that you intended to pin the blame of poisoning Lady Ning Qing on the City of Torn Gust. One more thing. You wished to create a specific scenario. Lady Ning Qing was already severely poisoned and was about to die. No one would have been able to save her. When that time came, the Mo Clan from the City of Washed Jade would send over a talented man and save Lady Ning Qing. That way, she would owe the City of Washed Jade a huge favor. However, after a series of unexpected events, I became the one who saved Lady Ning Qing¡¯s life. So, you took advantage of the situation and set up this massive scheme to pin the blame on the heads of Lady Jing Zhongyue and me. This makes it so that the Valley of Torn Gust has completely offended Lady Ning Qing.¡±


    ¡°Impressive, impressive,¡± Ning Que said. ¡°Your guess is 80 percent correct. That¡¯s very intelligent. Are you really a beggar? However, I am very sorry. It is all too late. You can tell this to Yama when you arrive in Hell.¡±


    Then, Ning Que raised her blade high in the air and said coldly, ¡°Peacefully go on your way. Don¡¯t blame me.¡±


    She then cleaved her blade fiercely downward.


    Yun Zhonghe shouted, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, are you still not going to take action.¡±


    The next second!


    ¡°Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh¡­¡±


    Tempest Pear Blossom Needles shot out with explosive force.


    In an instant, most of the poisonous needles hit Ning Que head-on. A small portion of them even landed on Yun Zhonghe.


    Following that, a machine seemed to have sprung up from the ground. It threw Yun Zhonghe out of the firewood room.


    In the few seconds that they were hit by the poisonous needles, the two targets immediately became paralyzed. They fell straight to the ground.


    Then, a secret door opened in the corner of the firewood room. A few figures walked out slowly from the secret compartment, with the first being the widow, Ning Qing.


    Even though she had completely slumped to the ground, Ning Que was still overcome with shock. She could not believe the scene before her.


    Am¡­ Am I dreaming?


    Was this a nightmare?


    I have to wake up quickly, I have to wake up quickly.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, I¡¯ve accomplished my mission. The truth has been revealed. You heard it clearly with your own ears.¡±

 Chapter 54

    Two full hours later.


    The drug in the bodies of Yun Zhonghe and Ning Que slowly dissipated.


    It was a sight to behold.


    To think that there was such an overbearing drug in this world.


    It did not pale in comparison at all to the anesthetic he created. Who was the expert who created such a drug?


    This should not be a drug that was extracted from a plant. Perhaps this was a drug that had been refined from the venom of an animal?


    By this time, they had returned to the room.


    Yun Zhonghe and Ning Que were tied to chairs. Their bodies were still numb. The effects of the drug had not completely disappeared.


    The widow, Ning Qing, returned to her bed. She was too weak.


    On the other hand, to Ning Que, this felt like a terrifying nightmare.


    Ning Que became completely dazed the instant Ning Qing had appeared just then. It was as if her entire body had lost all responsiveness.


    She was now slowly recovering.


    ¡°What, what is going on?¡± Ning Que asked with a trembling voice.


    The widow, Ning Qing, said, ¡°When he was treating me, Yun AoTian had told me softly that you had betrayed me and that the person who poisoned me was you. I¡­ I did not believe him, and so, he said that he would prove it to me.¡±


    Ning Qing paused for a moment after she spoke.


    That was because this incident had hit her too hard.


    Ning Que was the person she trusted the most. Ning Que had been following her since she was in her teens. It had been 20 years.


    Even though their relationship was that of master and servant, it felt more like they were sisters.


    The widow, Ning Qing, continued, saying, ¡°I saw it in the end. This scene is too ugly.¡±


    Ning Que said with a raspy voice, ¡°But he did not discuss this with you along the way? How did you guys design this plan and make me fall into this trap on my own?¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Does this require a plan? It is too simple. The reason I told you to give him that last meal and ordered you to personally bring him to the firewood room to kill him and destroy his corpse is that there is a secret room under the firewood room. That gave me time to arrive at the secret underground room and hear the truth of your betrayal with my own ears.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe and Ning Qing had not communicated throughout the entire process. They had not even needed to communicate through eye contact.


    An exchange between intelligent people usually involved tacit understanding and was boring.


    Ning Que let out a cold laugh and said, ¡°I never expected that Miss Ning Qing would one day scheme against someone. That is why I fell into your trap.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°It is not that I did not know how to in the past. It is just that I did not care to do it.¡±


    Then, the widow, Ning Qing, propped herself up slightly. She asked, ¡°Who¡¯s the person instigating this? Who is the person you said you love? Why did you betray me?¡±


    Ning Que closed her mouth tight. She did not utter a single word.


    A middle-aged lady by the side said coldly, ¡°Ah Que, have you become dumb? Are you still trying to hide the truth for someone now that it has come to this? You are already over 30 years old. Do you think that that man truly loves you? He is merely using you.¡±


    Ning Qing slowly walked down the bed. Her face, one of unparalleled beauty, looked even more weak and pale.


    She squatted down in front of Ning Que and said with a gentle voice, ¡°Ah Que, we are like sisters. I can forgive your momentary foolishness. Tell me, who¡¯s the man instigating this behind the scenes?¡±


    Ning Que lowered her head. She did not speak for the longest time. She only raised her head a long while later and said, ¡°Mistress, kill me.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°That man you spoke of, is he from the Mo Clan from the City of Washed Jade, or the Tantai Family?¡±


    Ning Que remained silent.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll¡­ stop asking,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°I only have one final question. Why did you betray me? Did I not treat you well?¡±


    Ning Que was silent for a long while.


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Ah Que, this is your last chance to speak.¡±


    Tears fell down Ning Que¡¯s face. She said with a trembling voice, ¡°Mistress, you were born into royalty and have enjoyed everything. Glory and riches are but fleeting, worldly possessions to you. You have been prosperous and thus could naturally be calm and collected. You can refuse silk and satin. You can refuse money and treasures. You can even refuse men to preserve your reputation as a lone star. All you want to do is to give alms and save the suffering masses, as well as build schools.¡±


    Ning Qing said with a gentle tone, ¡°Was I wrong to do that?¡±


    Ning Que cried as she said, ¡°You can be a saint, but I do not wish to be. For your reputation as a saint, you can refuse sycees and live a bland, simple life. You have an influential family, yet you wish to draw a clear line with them. You have a large bunch of exceptional men looking up to you, yet you reject their advances. But¡­ I can¡¯t do it. All of us can¡¯t do it. We do not wish to live such bitter lives. I want to have riches. I want to have men. I want to have silk and satin. I want to have money and treasures. That¡¯s because not all of us have experienced that. But¡­ we cannot wish to have those as we have a proud, innocent master. A master who wishes to be a saint.¡±


    Ning Qing¡¯s face of unparalleled beauty turned even paler when she heard those words.


    She reached out to stroke Ning Que¡¯s rather pretty face.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ning Qing said gently. ¡°I was wrong in that regard. I did not have the right to strip all of you of the right to live a prosperous life.¡±


    ¡°Rubbish, what a load of nonsense,¡± the middle-aged lady by the side said. ¡°Ning Que, you were born a wretch, an orphan who did not have parents. If not for the mistress saving your life, you would have starved to death long ago. How could you talk about glory and riches?¡±


    Ning Qing continued, ¡°Que¡¯er, I have asked you in the past. Didn¡¯t I say that if you did not wish to live such a lonely life with me, I would give you a sum of money as your dowry for you to choose a good man and marry him?¡±


    Ning Que said, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that show that I am devoid of gratitude? Furthermore, I was too young and naive back then. I felt that a poor, honest, and lonely life was not difficult to accomplish. It was only later that I realized how difficult it was. Furthermore, my ¡®man¡¯ is too¡­ He made me sink into sin.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stop talking, let¡¯s stop talking.¡± Ning Qing slowly stood up. However, she suddenly felt dizzy. The middle-aged lady off to the side hurried to help her up.


    Ning Qing said with a gentle voice, ¡°Que¡¯er, letting you live such a poor, honest life is my fault. So, I am not going to blame you for betraying me for a man. However, poisoning me is not the right thing to do. I am your master, after all. Furthermore, I also saved your life in the past. Thus, I will grant you freedom, as long as you apologize to me.¡±


    ¡°Mistress.¡± The middle-aged lady by the side spoke to stop her.


    Ning Qing raised her hand and said, ¡°Nanny, I have already decided.¡±


    As it turned out, the middle-aged lady was Ning Qing¡¯s nanny.


    ¡°Que¡¯er, apologize to me, then leave. Seek refuge with the man you love. From this day on, we will no longer have anything to do with each other,¡± Ning Qing continued.


    Ning Que looked at Ning Qing for a long while, then shook her head and said, ¡°I am not going to apologize. You¡¯re free to kill or mutilate me.¡±


    Was this woman mad?


    You betrayed your mistress, Ning Qing, not only for your so-called love but also for glory and riches. Logically speaking, she should not have such a backbone.


    She would be able to live after a word of apology toward her mistress. Why was she not going to do it?


    What was she, if not insane?


    However, Yun Zhonghe understood women.


    Some people might seem like pushovers in public, but were very stubborn at home.


    Some children were bullied like dogs outside, yet would never obey their parents at home, much less apologize.


    Being forceful and cruel to the people that were closest to them was a characteristic some people had.


    Similarly, some people would rather engage in a divorce than to submit and obey their lover even just once.


    ¡°I understand.¡± Ning Qing slowly sat down on her bed. She then waved her hand and said, ¡°Take her away. To the firewood room, just like always.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± The middle-aged lady lifted Ning Que and walked outside.


    ***


    They returned to the firewood room. The giant furnace was still burning.


    ¡°Ah Que, are you mad? Was it that hard to submit and apologize to the mistress this once?¡± The middle-aged lady asked with a trembling voice, ¡°Isn¡¯t it good to live?


    ¡°One, I am not willing to apologize to her. Two, I did not accomplish my mission and am embarrassed to face him. I would think that I have lost all value to my love now that I have lost my status as Ning Qing¡¯s aide. I am already over thirty years old. Do you think that I can capture him with my beauty?¡± Ning Que let out a cold laugh.


    Sigh!


    Should this woman be described as naive? But she was very clear about the situation.


    Should this woman be described as rational? But she made such a ridiculous decision.


    Women will forever be a riddle.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the man? Tell me, tell me,¡± the middle-aged lady said.


    Ning Qing let out a pitiful smile and said, ¡°God-mum, don¡¯t ask anymore. I¡¯ll never tell you. I only wish to ask you one thing. Do you have no regrets in your life? You took meticulous care of the mistress, but what did you get in return? She obtained a legendary reputation, but what did we get in return?¡±


    The middle-aged lady froze, then said angrily, ¡°I am not like all of you. I am already advanced in age. I treat the mistress like my child. I will be happy if she is happy.¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­ What a hypocrite. I do not believe that you are close with a literature buff like the mistress.¡± Ning Que laughed loudly.


    The middle-aged lady pulled out her sword and said, ¡°I¡¯ll send you on your way.¡±


    ¡°No need, I¡¯ll do it myself,¡± Ning Que said. She then looked at the raging furnace and prepared to jump in.


    However, it looked as though she lost all courage, and she simply tiptoed.


    ¡°My legs are numb. I can¡¯t apply any force in them. You can help me,¡± Ning Qing said with a trembling voice.


    The middle-aged lady pierced through Ning Que¡¯s heart with a ruthless stroke.


    The woman who betrayed Ning Qing immediately died a pathetic death. She died indignantly.


    ***


    At that moment, in the study, Yun Zhonghe was examining Ning Qing¡¯s body.


    ¡°Your life is not in danger, but the remnants of the poison will stay in your body for some time. I can give you a few prescriptions. You will be able to fully recover after consuming the medicine for one or two months.¡±


    ¡°However, the intense pain you feel during your menstruation does not have much to do with you being poisoned. It is mainly due to hormonal imbalance and the lack of estrogen. I can give you a few prescriptions to nourish your body. Not only will it be able to cure your menstrual cramps after you consume it, but it can even make you more beautiful,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Also, your shedding hair. That¡¯s the most important. That¡¯s why you do not wish to meet anyone, am I right?¡±


    Ning Qing nodded.


    Yun Zhonghe examined her hair.


    ¡°That¡¯s alright. Even though some of it has fallen out, you have also grown new hair. Your hair looks a bit thin, but it does not affect your beauty for the time being,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°However, it would be dangerous if you continue to let it shed for a year or so.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll shave it all and become a nun.¡±


    This woman sure was sensitive. In reality, her hair was extremely lush. It was dark and shiny, like a cloud. It was obvious how beautiful it was.


    In reality, an ordinary person would not be able to discern how much hair she was shedding. It was just that she would see the amount of hair on her pillow every time she woke up in the morning, then become more frightened and unwilling to look into a mirror. She was sure that she had become ghastly.


    In actuality¡­ Her beauty was still unparalleled.


    She was probably a person who would rather die than be ugly.


    ¡°Your hair loss is related in part to your chronic poisoning, but the root cause is that your nutrition cannot keep up with your hair. The quality of your hair is great, but the life you lead is too clean and simple. That, coupled with the fact that you do not like to be in the sun, makes it so that you lack many things in your body.¡±


    He was not lying. The main reason for Ning Qing¡¯s hair loss was the lack of estrogen and her hormonal imbalance. That was exacerbated by her lack of calcium, iron, and zinc, amongst many others.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I would have to formulate a medicine for you specially. Your hair loss will stop after you consume the medicine for a few months. You need not shave your head, and even more importantly, you will not have to become a nun.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe nagged on without stopping.


    However, Ning Qing was unmoved. She sat without moving as if she was a beautiful jade sculpture.


    She was truly beautiful, exquisite to the extreme.


    However, it felt as though she was stopping herself from speaking.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You can speak your mind.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°I have a question to ask you.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Ning Qing continued, saying, ¡°The thing you let me drink, was it really¡­ what you said it was?¡±


    Virgin pee?


    It was quite normal to use that when trying to induce vomit. In ancient China, people even used water with feces in it to induce vomit.


    Yun Zhonghe fell silent. He did not answer at that moment.


    Ning Qing¡¯s graceful figure trembled. She then said, ¡°You can just tell me directly that it is not.¡±


    ¡°It is not,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    ¡°Alright, then I can rest assured,¡± Ning Qing said.


    Wow, who did she learn this art of deceiving herself from?


    ¡°Yun AoTian, not only did you save my life, but you also helped me discover a traitor. How should I reward you?¡± Ning Qing said, ¡°What do you want? You can tell me as long as I can give it to you.¡±


    She finally arrived at the main topic.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Have you finished your investigation report?¡±


    This report determined the fate of the City of Torn Gust. It was also the target of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s mission.


    ¡°It is finished,¡± Ning Qing said.


    ¡°Can I have a look?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Ning Qing replied, ¡°Of course.¡±


    ***

 Chapter 55

    The widow, Ning Qing, walked to the side of her bed. She gently bent over and opened a compartment in her pillow. She then took out a stack of paper.


    Her figure was too graceful. The scene of her bending her waist was too alluring.


    Yun Zhonghe¡¯s heart thumped wildly.


    Beast, you¡¯re a beast. She had just been poisoned not long ago and has not fully recovered yet.


    Ning Qing walked over and placed the stack of papers in front of Yun Zhonghe. She then said, ¡°This is my investigation report. I am going to hand this over to the Baronage Alliance and decide the fate of the City of Torn Gust. Have a look!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe fetched the papers and had a look only to realize that they were blank. There were no words on the paper?


    However, he was not surprised. Instead, he gently heated the paper over the flame of a candle. The words on the paper gradually appeared.


    This was but a minor trick in his eyes.


    Yun Zhonghe finished reading the report in a minute.


    Jing Zhongyue¡¯s intuition was right. This report was extremely unfavorable to the City of Torn Gust.


    Ning Qing¡¯s attitude was very clear.


    In the great battle between the City of Torn Gust and City of Autumn Waters, Jing Zhongyue, from the Valley of the Torn Gust, had to bear the greatest responsibility.


    Furthermore, that lady was cruel and loved to kill. It was recommended that the Baronage Alliance prosecute the Valley of Torn Gust sternly.


    Yun Zhonghe read the report over and over again.


    He then raised his head to look at the woman of unparalleled beauty.


    This woman looked gentle and elegant on the surface, but her personality was extremely clear.


    A report done up by an ordinary person would not display such a one-sided result. Instead, the report would be deliberately left unclear, and there would usually be a seventy-thirty split when it came to which party should be held responsible.


    However, Ning Qing¡¯s report only had negative things to say about the Valley of Torn Gust.


    The personality of this woman was too intense. Yun Zhonghe knew that just from looking at her nose. It was sleek and perky, with an extremely determined will.


    ¡°Lady Ning Qing, isn¡¯t this report extremely unfair to the Valley of Torn Gust?¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°There would have been no right for us to speak if there was no investigation. The reason as to why the City of Torn Gust attacked the City of Autumn Waters was that the City of Autumn Waters instigated and fueled the flames of a rebellion within the leader of the Wild Boar Territory. They attempted to create a chain effect and cause the leaders of the other territories in the Valley of Torn Gust to rebel and overthrow Jing Zhongyue¡¯s position as castellan. After all, it was unprecedented that a woman had inherited the position.¡±


    Ning Qing did not speak. Instead, she took out another document and handed it over to Yun Zhonghe.


    This time, he could read the document without heating the paper.


    This document was even more detailed. It narrated the cause and effect of the battle between the Valley of Torn Gust and the City of Autumn Waters in extreme detail. It was nearly ten thousand words long.


    Yun Zhonghe was slightly shocked when he read the document. He started to respect Jing Zhongyue.


    She was¡­ merciless.


    Many leaders under her had been unsatisfied and ready to take action when she inherited the position of castellan as a woman. They were either going to raise their flags in rebellion or join up with the other baronages to defy the orders of the City of Torn Gust.


    Furthermore, during that time, Jing Zhongyue had thought that her greatest concern was not the leader of the Wild Boar Territory, but the Orchid Field Territory and Silver Territory.


    Even though the Wild Boar Territory was vast, it was situated in the middle of nowhere and had no real strength. It was a border region.


    However, the Orchid Field Territory and Silver Territory were different. Half of the salt wells in the Valley of Torn Gust were situated in these two territories. They were the lifeblood of the Jing Clan.


    The outcome would be disastrous if these two territories were to stage a rebellion.


    However, the leaders from these two territories were not able to come to a decision. On the one hand, they were dissatisfied that a woman had sat in that position. On the other hand, they were extremely fearful of Jing E. Thus. They only dared to pretend to obey orders without actually executing them and did not openly defy the Jing Clan.


    At that time, the Mo Clan from the City of Washed Jade, as well as the Tantai Family, sent envoys to establish a relationship with the leaders of the Orchid Field Territory and Silver Territory. They wanted to get them to serve the An Clan.


    The Jing Clan had been unworthy back then. The An Clan, who used to be a minister under the Jing Clan, rebelled and snatched away the hundred-year-old family estate from the Valley of Torn Gust.


    Furthermore, Jing E had had a sudden stroke over a year ago, which suddenly pushed Jing Zhongyue, a woman, into the position of castellan. It was the best time for them to scheme and plot to usurp the position.


    While the two leaders were undecided on their stances, Jing Zhongyue had immediately put the spies from the Black Blood Hall to work.


    Rather than call the rebellion of the leader from the Wild Boar Territory an instigation by the City of Autumn Waters, it might as well have been the scheme of the spies from the Black Blood Hall.


    It was half seduction, half coercion. Anyway, under the schemes of the Black Blood Hall, the leader of the Wild Boar Territory rebelled directly. The City of Autumn Waters also immediately mobilized their troops.


    According to the agreement, the Silver Territory and Orchid Field Territory were also supposed to mobilize their troops and rebel.


    However, Jing Zhongyue had been waiting for this day for a long time. She had planned out the entire battle. The spies under her command had long infiltrated the rebel forces of the Wild Boar Territory.


    The leader of the Wild Boar Territory had just mobilized his troops for the rebellion when Jing Zhongyue immediately led an army of three thousand men to quell the uprising.


    They completely quelled the rebellion in half a month and killed off all of the rebel forces under the leader of the Wild Boar Territory. They also exterminated the family of the leader of the Wild Boar Territory.


    Her decisive, forceful actions thoroughly scared the Orchid Field Territory and Silver Territory.


    The two territories were supposed to mobilize their troops to rebel, but they immediately changed their stances when they saw how powerful Jing Zhongyue was. They turned from rebel forces to anti-rebel forces.


    Jing Zhongyue was relentless. She snatched the three-thousand-men army of the two leaders and led an army of six thousand down south to attack the City of Autumn Waters.


    She won every battle she was involved in and conquered over a thousand square kilometers of the City of Autumn Waters¡¯ territory. She also massacred five thousand enemy soldiers and created a mountain of corpses.


    After the battle, all of the leaders in the Valley of Torn Gust submitted to her. They were all scared out of their wits. No one dared to go against her in any way.


    The City of Autumn Waters and City of Washed Jade also immediately became dormant.


    Jing Zhongyue had directly extinguished every single spark of rebellion with the momentum of a raging wind. She had secured her position as castellan within the shortest amount of time and established an undeniable authority.


    This woman was truly insane, decisive, and merciless. She also had an adventurous spirit and was never sloppy.


    Not only did she not move to stop the rebellion when she found out that there was a bud of rebellion within her territory, she instead opted to lure the culprit out and actively helped the cavalries of the leader of the Wild Boar Territory plan out the uprising. She then quelled the rebellion as a warning to others and achieved complete peace.


    In this battle, Jing Zhongyue had killed more people than the rumors made it out to be. She also did not only destroy the enemy forces.


    What was even more merciless was that she had sent her forces to scatter large amounts of salt into the fields of the City of Autumn Waters when she invaded the city to render tens of thousands of acres of their land useless.


    The woman truly had the disposition of an overlord. She was cold and merciless toward her enemies.


    ¡°Do you now have a clear understanding of your master?¡± Ning Qing asked.


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°I have a clearer understanding.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°What do you feel?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°I am awed. I am filled with respect.¡±


    Ning Qing asked, ¡°What is your mission this time?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°To deal with you using seduction and make you change your mind so that the report would be more favorable for the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Are my tastes really that weird in Jing Zhongyue¡¯s eyes? I have been a widow for many years. Have I really become so perverted?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, are you insulting me?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ning Qing replied. ¡°What would be the outcome if you failed this mission?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°I am a hooligan, a beggar, an illiterate. I have never made any contributions, yet I undertake a high position in the City of Torn Gust. Castellan Jing Zhongyue has been under a huge amount of pressure because of this matter. She has been called an incompetent leader. If I fail this mission, I think she would not have to take any action. Other people from the City of Torn Gust would dismember me, peel my skin, and pull out my nerves.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°What you mean is that for you, I should at least edit this report. After all, I do owe you a favor for saving my life.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°That¡¯s right. Also, you, Lady Ning Qing, are from the Ning Clan. Modifying this report and helping the City of Torn Gust is also beneficial to the Ning Clan.¡±


    Ning Qing suddenly said, ¡°Yun AoTian, you confessed just now that the poem you composed has long been prepared. You also said that it is custom-made for me and even that the poem was not composed by you. Is that true?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You mean the poem ¡®Mister Taia¡¯ that started every sentence with the words ¡®every,¡±blood,¡±a,¡¯ and ¡®difficult¡¯?¡±


    Ning Qing replied, ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Do you care about this matter a lot?¡±


    ¡°Very much so,¡± Ning Qing answered. ¡°If it had been composed by you, then that feat would not pale in comparison to composing a poem in seven steps. That would prove that you are a genius. A Poetry Genius is a gift from the heavens and is very valuable. If the poem was not composed by you and everything had been planned beforehand with a person composing a poem specifically for me, then you are worthless.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°But it is a fact that I saved your life.¡±


    ¡°My life is also worthless,¡± Ning Qing said.


    F*ck!


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°There¡¯s already a thorn in your heart. You would feel like I am lying even if I said that the poem was composed by me. That¡¯s because I am a habitual liar and that 70% of everything I say is lies.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°Even if some of the things you say are lies, I am willing to take them as the truth. On the other hand, even if you are speaking the truth, I would feel as though they are lies.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°So in your heart, I am a fake genius. That means that it is not regrettable if I die.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°Either you compose another poem to prove that you are a genius, so that¡­¡±


    Ning Qing¡¯s gaze searched the study before landing on the guqin on the rack.


    It was not an ordinary guqin. It was a zither with fifty strings.


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Compose a poem using the zither as the central theme. You have the time it takes to burn one joss stick. It has to be more exceptional than ¡®Mister Taia¡¯ to prove that you are a genius, a genius whose death would be regrettable.¡±


    In an instant, a poem surfaced in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s brain.


    ¡°A Beautiful Zither¡± by the great deity Li Shangyin.


    It could be said that no one wrote about the zither ever again after this poem came out, as it was an exceptional, unprecedented, timeless piece of work.


    It was a truly classic poem that appeared once in a millennium. It was a nuclear bomb in the world of poetry, a weapon that could kill in seconds.


    It was able to blast a person to a pulp.


    However, Yun Zhonghe raised his chin and said slowly, ¡°I am not going to be belittled by you so much that I would compose a poem just because you told me to. I have a poem that would be unparalleled for centuries to come in my head, but¡­ I am not going to recite it. You felt that I was belittling poetry in the past, but I feel that you are belittling me.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°You not composing a poem will only prove that your so-called talent is fake. It proves that the poem, ¡®Mister Taia¡¯, that you recited just now was not composed by you, but was instead composed long ago by a talented man by Jing Zhongyue¡¯s side. Furthermore, the poem was custom-made for me. It proves that you are a true illiterate, a man pretending to have talent, a real beggar.¡±


    ¡°I am fine with that,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°Lady Ning Qing, you can think whatever you want.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Since you are not a literary genius, then you are worthless. It is not worth it for me to protect you. I do not have to care about whether you are dead or alive. At the very most, you can choose not to treat me. I am fine with that. It is just death.¡±


    ¡°Actually, you are not going to change the report even if I prove that I am a Poetry Genius. Am I right?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Of course, I no longer have anything to my name. All I have is my reputation. I will never destroy it. I would rather die.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Actually, you do not care about who the person who provoked Ning Que to harm you is. That¡¯s because she only poisoned you and threatened your life, while you do not care much about your life. You do not care because the other party did not damage your reputation, am I right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ning Qing said.


    Yun Zhonghe continued, saying, ¡°What a joke. My enemy planned every move and committed all these acts and even got Ning Que to poison you, all because he wanted you to write something unfavorable toward the City of Torn Gust in the report so the Baronage Alliance would prosecute the Valley of Torn Gust. However, in actuality, he did not have to do anything. Your report was already going to destroy the City of Torn Gust.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°I do not wish to target anyone. My report has to be absolutely fair and align with the truth. My reputation cannot be defiled.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, you would rather die than change your stance. I would not be able to get you to edit the report no matter what I do, am I right?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°When the time is up, I will submit this report and recommend that the Baronage Alliance severely prosecute the Valley of Torn Gust. As for who will be harmed and destroyed? I do not care!¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You said that you would reverse my fate. How are you going to reverse my fate if you do not edit this report?¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°I am willing to take you in if you are truly a talented individual. We are a group of clean, noble people.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°Which means to say, as long as I create an exceptional poem with the zither as the central theme, you are going to protect me and allow me to follow by your side?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ning Qing confirmed.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t need that. No way.¡±


    Ning Qing knitted her brows and asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I¡­ love Jing Zhongyue more.¡±


    Ning Qing asked again, ¡°Why?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°Because she¡¯s younger and more merciless. She frequently scolds me and abuses me. She beats me up without reason and often threatens to kill me.¡±


    Ning Qing froze in shock. She stared at Yun Zhonghe for a long time before she said, ¡°Actually, things like ravaging and beating you¡­ I can do that too.¡±

 Chapter 56

    It was Yun Zhonghe¡¯s turn to be dazed when he heard Ning Qing¡¯s words.


    This¡­ This¡­ This¡­


    Woman, was your name Wild?


    Was it suitable for such a cultured, talented lady like Ning Qing to utter such unconstrained words?


    ¡°Are you not going to consider it for a moment?¡± Ning Qing said, ¡°As long as you have the talent, you can continue staying by my side. You will become one of the clean and noble people within this land with no master. Everyone says that this place is a desert, devoid of culture. We can plant the seeds of civilization and allow literature and decency to flourish here.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I¡¯ll have to pass. I still prefer sensual pleasures, glory, and wealth. All I can obtain here is a reputation, while I will be able to obtain influence if I stay by Jing Zhongyue¡¯s side. Perhaps there will come a day where she¡¯ll wake up on the wrong side of the bed and appoint me as her husband. When that time comes, I¡¯ll have obtained both beauty and influence. I will have become the man behind a female castellan and truly stepped onto the peak of life.¡±


    Ning Qing said, disappointed, ¡°Alright then. We walk different paths. It is not suitable for us to work together.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, are you really not going to consider changing your report a little? Even if it is just slightly more advantageous toward the City of Torn Gust. It would be a catastrophic disaster if the Baronage Alliance were to prosecute us.¡±


    Ning Qing replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I would rather die than change the report.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe continued, ¡°Then may I ask, is your stubbornness and determination for the sake of fairness and justice, or is it for the sake of your reputation?¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°It is, of course, for my reputation. I already have nothing to my name. All I have is my reputation.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You¡¯re willing to allow the eruption of a great battle, you¡¯re willing to see every living thing in the Valley of Torn Gust get exterminated for your reputation?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°I was willing to protect you just now, but you rejected me.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe shrugged.


    Ning Qing said, ¡°The paths we walk are different, and it is unsuitable for us to work together. Since you wish to suck up to Jing Zhongyue that much, you can leave. I worry that you will have indecent thoughts if I continue allowing you to stay. I am afraid that you will think that you can change my stand and make me edit the report.¡±


    She chased Yun Zhonghe out.


    ¡°Of course, you need not care about my illness. After all, there¡¯s no use in your buttering me up,¡± Ning Qing said.


    Yun Zhonghe asked, ¡°Are you chasing me away?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ning Qing replied.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave. However, I¡¯ll come back another time to give you your medicine. That¡¯s because your body lacks many nutrients. That results in your anemia and hair loss. No one other than me can formulate the medicine you need.¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°I will not help you, nor will I change my stance and edit the report, even if you tend to me and fully treat my illness.¡±


    ¡°I understand!¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You regard your reputation more highly than your life. I¡¯ll come again in two days.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll not send you off!¡± Ning Qing said.


    ¡°Goodbye,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    Then, Yun Zhonghe left.


    No one sent him off. He left the castle, crestfallen.


    He could not bear to turn back and have a look, even after he walked out of the castle.


    Was his mission a failure?


    He had not managed to deal with the widow, Ning Qing, nor had he managed to get her to change her stance.


    However, that woman had an extraordinary allure.


    She was loving and gentle yet merciless.


    She held her reputation with the utmost regard, yet did not look at all hypocritical.


    She was proud yet humble. More importantly, she did not hide her humility.


    She was a clean, chaste woman, yet she had a bold, unconstrained heart.


    She was an enigma of a woman.


    More importantly, she was beautiful. She had a great figure.


    Her figure was too great.


    She had curves like a willow, yet was mixed with a certain maturity.


    Unfortunately, her will was too strong. It was unattainably hard for a person to change her mind.


    It was useless to kill her.


    She had been married twice, and both her husbands had passed on. People called her a nemesis, a lone star.


    She truly had nothing left aside from her reputation.


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe returned to the Wild Boar Territory. He had just entered the borders of the Valley of Torn Gust when he was immediately escorted away by two warriors.


    Of course, they did not kill him. Instead, they brought him directly into Jing Zhongyue¡¯s opulent, majestic tent.


    Jing Zhongyue had had another change of clothes.


    It was not obvious that she had changed her clothes. The clothes she had on looked like the ones she wore two days ago, but it was a completely different piece.


    Even though this was also a white robe embroidered with gold thread, the patterns embroidered on this robe were slightly different.


    This woman¡¯s life sure was luxurious. Furthermore, she pretended to be reserved even though she was secretly a coquettish lady.


    However, this woman was also very beautiful.


    Jing Zhongyue first pinched her nose when she saw Yun Zhonghe enter the tent, as Yun Zhonghe smelled rancid.


    He had not taken a shower in two days. Furthermore, he had been tortured on multiple occasions, been drenched in sweat several times, as well as nearly wetting himself a couple of times.


    Ning Qing was also immaculately clean, yet she did not give any looks of disdain when she was near Yun Zhonghe. She did not pinch her nose, nor did she deliberately use incense.


    That was because she was a person who truly cherished talented individuals, even if that individual had a subpar image.


    However, Jing Zhongyue did not hide her hatred toward the unkempt.


    Was there anything wrong?


    No!


    The two women were both filled with charm. They were both incredibly alluring.


    ¡°Get out!¡± Jing Zhongyue waved her hand.


    At that moment, everyone in the tent got out.


    Jing Zhongyue had been enjoying a delicious venison steak. However, she instantly lost her appetite when she saw how unruly Yun Zhonghe was.


    She had wanted to pretend to be a well-mannered person and continue eating as if nothing had happened.


    However¡­ She could not stomach another bite. Thus, she decided to give up and not keep up the pretense.


    ¡°Yun Zhonghe, no one had been able to enter the castle and meet Ning Qing for the past month, yet you managed to do it,¡± Jing Zhongyue said. ¡°Just on this point alone, you are more powerful than everyone before you.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yun Zhonghe answered.


    Jing Zhongyue hesitated for a moment, then said, ¡°I have a question that I wish to ask you.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°You¡¯re more beautiful. Compared to Ning Qing, you are more beautiful. Compared to anyone, you would be the most beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Jing Zhongyue said while she pinched her nose. ¡°Then, can you please take three steps back before you speak? The stench coming from you is very heavy.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Yun Zhonghe took three steps back.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Tell me about the process.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe narrated the incident. He did not leave any details out. However, he did not tell Jing Zhongyue about the poem, ¡®Mister Taia.¡¯


    He could not show that he was a cultured person at this moment. He still had to pretend to be illiterate. However, it was not for keeping a low profile. Instead, it was to facilitate him pretending to be even more remarkable in the future so that he could dazzle Jing Zhongyue¡¯s large, beautiful eyes.


    ¡°Have you seen the report?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked.


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How was it?¡± she asked.


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°Impressive. As it turns out, the leader of the Wild Boar Territory did not rebel under the instigation of the City of Autumn Waters. Instead, it was you who sent spies to force the rebellion. Your method was truly merciless. I also know that not only did you engage in a massacre after you invaded the City of Autumn Waters, killing upward of ten thousand people, but you also destroyed tens of thousands of acres of the City of Autumn Waters¡¯ fertile land. It was an absolutely devious plan.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°So what? Are you going to judge me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Yun Zhonghe replied. ¡°I wish to idolize you. Those actions are what makes you a passable leader.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Continue.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe continued, saying, ¡°Ning Qing has already finished her report and allowed me to see it. The contents of the report are extremely unfavorable to the Valley of Torn Gust. It pins all of the blame onto our heads and provides irrefutable evidence. Furthermore, you are described as a female demon in the report. She also strongly suggests that the Baronage Alliance prosecutes the Valley of Torn Gust with the severest of punishments.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue retracted her gaze as she said, ¡°She is not going to change her stance, even though you have saved her life and exposed a traitor by her side?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Yun Zhonghe said. ¡°The widow, Ning Qing, would rather die than change her stance. She is determined to get the Baronage Alliance to prosecute us. It is more difficult to get her to change her determination than to ascend the heavens.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°All in all, you still failed in your mission?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°That¡¯s right. I failed. However, at the final moment, she was willing to protect me and take me in. However, for you, I rejected her and chose to return to your side.¡±


    ¡°I am very touched,¡± Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°However, a failure is a failure. Of course, you managed to enter the castle and come into contact with Ning Qing. You even managed to read the entire report before it was submitted. Those are undeniable contributions. So, I can spare your life, but I will still have to punish you. I¡¯ll still have to rescind your position as the third official registrar of the Embroidered Uniform Guards.¡±


    F*ck, I love how merciless she is.


    ¡°Alright, you can go, Yun Zhonghe,¡± Jing Zhongyue said. ¡°I have to deliberate about what to do next.¡±


    At that moment, Jing Zhongyue instead seemed very calm. Her gaze seemed to contain a certain determination.


    Yun Zhonghe could not help but recall the contents he saw in the report. The crisis that the Valley of Torn Gust was facing was a catastrophic disaster.


    However, the situation Jing Zhongyue faced over a year ago was as dangerous as the current one. The situation back then might even be worse for her than the current crisis.


    The old castellan Jing E collapsing without warning was akin to the sky falling onto the territory. Jing Zhongyue had taken up the position as a woman and broke all of the traditions. The leaders of all of the territories under her were raring to take action and plotted to rebel. A group of barons from the outside world were also fanning the flames.


    However, Jing Zhongyue had managed to reverse such a terrifying situation.


    Since there was no way to prevent a war from happening, she brought the battle forward. She then took the initiative and turned a large-scale war to a small battle. It was just that the small battle was even more intense and merciless.


    The braver party always won in battle.


    Jing Zhongyue was definitely a merciless person, a passable leader.


    She was not depressed or lost when she faced a difficult situation. Instead, she met the challenge head-on with the gleaming eyes of a fierce beast.


    Furthermore, she did not overly blame Yun Zhonghe. Instead, she did not even say that she was going to attack Ning Qing. That was not because she was magnanimous, but she knew that it would not help the situation.


    Yun Zhonghe asked, ¡°Will the prosecution definitely happen if Ning Qing submits her report? Does it really mean a catastrophic disaster that cannot be avoided?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    She then suddenly stood up and said, ¡°Make the preparations. We return to the City of Torn Gust immediately. Prepare for the worst. Prepare for an intense retaliation.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Master, I can reverse the situation. I can resolve all of this. I can make Ning Qing change her stance and change the report.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that Ning Qing would rather die than change her stance? Didn¡¯t you say that it was more difficult than ascending the heavens?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°That¡¯s right, but it is effortless for me. I can resolve it in two days.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Tell me your plan.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said with a smile, ¡°It is very simple. My plan is called ¡®hooking up an illicit love affair.''¡±


    Jing Zhongyue asked, ¡°Between who and who?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°It will, of course, be between Ning Qing and me. I am going to sleep in the same bed as her in two days. Also, we will not be wearing any clothes.¡±


    ***

 Chapter 57

    Jing Zhongyue could not help but knit her brows. She could not believe Yun Zhonghe¡¯s words.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Also, I am not going to hide it from you. I might be the one who¡¯s forced to do that.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue became even more shocked. Ning Qing would force you into her bed?


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Master, do you think Ning Qing is a saint?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe continued, saying, ¡°It is very likely that the man who seduced Ning Que and got her to betray Ning Qing is from the Mo Clan from the City of Washed Jade. Wouldn¡¯t they be thoroughly offending Ning Qing if they did something like that?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe went on. ¡°Yet Ning Qing insists on her stance and continues to attack the Valley of Torn Gust in her report. However, what do you think the report looks like in the eyes of the City of Washed Jade and the City of Autumn Waters?¡± he asked.


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°The exact opposite.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe continued, saying, ¡°That¡¯s right, the exact opposite. They will feel that the report will be unfavorable to the City of Autumn Waters and be biased toward the City of Torn Gust. That is because they had offended Ning Qing. That is because the people from the City of Torn Gust had saved Ning Qing¡¯s life and helped her oust a traitor.¡±


    That was absolute.


    People in positions of power were always paranoid. This was especially so after they offended someone. They would think of that person as extremely vile and that the person would do anything to exact revenge on them.


    Thus, the City of Autumn Waters or the City of Washed Jade would definitely feel that the report would be unfavorable for them.


    Since that was the case, they would not be able to prosecute the Valley of Torn Gust just based on that report alone.


    Ning Qing was exceptional. She maintained her stance even after she encountered such a situation. She was determined to attack the Valley of Torn Gust in her report. She was determined to summon the members of the Baronage Alliance to prosecute the Valley of Torn Gust.


    However, the City of Autumn Waters and the City of Washed Jade did not know this. They had not seen the report.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Master, what do you think the City of Washed Jade and the City of Autumn Waters will do? Will they be willing to sit there and await death?¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°No, they will retaliate and destroy all of this.¡±


    ¡°Yes. If that¡¯s the case, we will have our chance,¡± Yun Zhongyue said. ¡°The widow, Ning Qing, would rather die than change her stance. Her being unwilling to edit the report is not for fairness or justice, but for her reputation. Her reputation is her weak point. If a person were to ruin her reputation, that person would become her true mortal enemy.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°I understand your plan now.¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe slowly explained his plan.


    Jing Zhongyue was momentarily dazed.


    The plan was too strange, too¡­ perverted.


    ¡°You, you truly can accomplish that?¡± Jing Zhongyue asked in disbelief.


    Yun Zhonghe replied, ¡°Of course, there¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t accomplish.¡±


    Jing Zhongyue said, ¡°Then you are truly perverted.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, as long as I enter the castle and meet Ning Qing once again, we will be able to succeed with our plan,¡± Yun Zhonghe said with a smile.


    Jing Zhongyue asked, ¡°How should we cooperate with your plan?¡±


    Yun Zhonghe answered, ¡°First, you have to be happy. You have to look extremely confident, as though you have the image of asparagus in your heart[1]. You have to make everyone feel as though Ning Qing¡¯s report is completely biased toward us.¡±


    ¡°Alright, no problem,¡± Jing Zhongyue said. She then waved her petite hand.


    Yun Zhonghe was sent flying. He flew a few inches backward before he fell to the ground. He nearly injured his butt.


    ¡°I¡¯ll pull out all your teeth if you use idioms wrong in the future,¡± Jing Zhongyue calmly threatened.


    Yun Zhonghe crawled up from the ground.


    The Goddess of the Moon sure was violent. She attacked people without warning.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Second, I need these herbs as well as a few delicate resources. You have to prepare them for me.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe then took out a piece of paper. He whipped out a brush from his robes and wrote a detailed list.


    Jing Zhongyue grabbed the piece of paper to have a look, then took a brush and crossed out five of the herbs and resources.


    That was because the first word of the name of every item made the sentence ¡®I love Jing Zhongyue.¡¯


    This woman sure was sharp. She managed to see through Yun Zhonghe¡¯s ulterior motive at a glance.


    ¡°Wait a while. I¡¯ll procure these items for you in a day,¡± Jing Zhongyue said. Then he immediately walked out of the tent.


    ***


    For the rest of the day, Yun Zhonghe examined the medicine. He was not creating the medicine but was instead analyzing them. He focused his attention on a psychedelic.


    This was the poison arrow that the widow, Ning Qing, had used to defeat Ning Que. The drug was overbearing. It was able to turn a person completely numb within a short amount of time.


    The next day, Yun Zhonghe quickly formulated a prescription for Ning Qing to replenish the iron, calcium, and zinc in her body.


    I usually skip through boring content like this.


    ***


    Due to the situation that happened two days ago, many forces moved in secret within Ning Qing¡¯s castle.


    A rumor arose within the investigation team that said that a person from the City of Autumn Waters had poisoned Lady Ning Qing and wanted to plant the blame on the Valley of Torn Gust. However, the ploy had been seen through by Yun AoTian from the Valley of Torn Gust.


    Furthermore, Yun AoTian had saved Lady Ning Qing¡¯s life.


    The rumor also said that Lady Ning Qing was furious and decided to edit the investigation report to be completely biased toward the Valley of Torn Gust to thank Yun AoTian for saving her life. She was going to claim that the City of Autumn Waters and the City of Washed Jade were the ones responsible for the war and suggest that the Baronage Alliance prosecute the two cities.


    For this reason, many officials from the investigation team went to question Ning Qing.


    Ning Qing¡¯s reaction was extremely prideful. She ignored all of the officials.


    Even though she knew that she had not changed the report, the report still suggested that the Baronage Alliance should go all out in their prosecution of the Valley of Torn Gust.


    However, a bold life required no explanations.


    The final deadline would be up in a day. Ning Qing would publicly release this report and hand it over to the Baronage Alliance.


    When that time came, all of the rumors would stop.


    The reputation of Ning Qing would not be damaged.


    ***


    Evening.


    Yun Zhonghe entered the castle and met Ning Qing again, as promised.


    Of course, he had taken a shower this time. However, his hair was still a mess, and he was still wearing his ragged clothes. He still looked old and ugly.


    Yun Zhonghe was slightly shocked when he saw Ning Qing once again.


    That was because¡­ She had not seemed to change at all.


    She was still wearing the same clothes, had the same hairstyle, and was sitting in the same position as when he had left two days ago. Everything in the room was the same.


    ¡°Did you not change your clothes?¡± Yun Zhonghe asked.


    Ning Qing said, ¡°I change my clothes twice a day. My clothes are all of the same design. I had 20 of them made.¡±


    She was too pretentious. She cared too much about her image.


    Then, Yun Zhonghe proceeded to check Ning Qing¡¯s body.


    She did look better today. There should not be too much of the poison left in her body.


    However, there was still the metallic stench of blood, although it had become faint.


    Your menstrual period was too long, wasn¡¯t it?


    Are you on your period for two weeks every month? That¡¯s too pitiful.


    ¡°Did you consume the prescription I gave you?¡± Yun Zhonghe questioned.


    ¡°Yes, it is very effective,¡± Ning Qing said.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°What about your sleep?¡±


    Ning Qing answered, ¡°I still sleep very poorly, but I am used to it.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°I concocted a new prescription for you. I guarantee that you will be sound asleep after you consume it.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s great,¡± Ning Qing said.


    Yun Zhonghe then continued, saying, ¡°This is another prescription I made for you. I can replenish the nutrients your body lacks and stop your hair loss.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ning Qing said.


    Yun Zhonghe placed a bottle in front of Ning Qing and said, ¡°This is a medicine specially formulated to aid your sleep. I can guarantee that it has good results. Do you want to try it?¡±


    What do you mean? Are you going to knock the widow, Ning Qing, out?


    ¡°Thank you, I will try it,¡± Ning Qing said.


    Ning Qing¡¯s attitude was very cold throughout the interaction. She was unapproachable.


    Yun Zhonghe wanted to speak but held his tongue. ¡°As for that report, is it possible¡­¡±


    Without waiting for Yun Zhonghe to finish, Ning Qing immediately said, ¡°Impossible.¡±


    She then immediately picked up her cup of tea and said, ¡°I¡¯m not going to hold you here any longer; please leave.¡±


    She forced Yun Zhonghe to leave. She did not give him any hope, nor did she give him any room to work with.


    Yun Zhonghe said, ¡°Lady Ning Qing, why do you still look so cold and merciless, even now?¡±


    Ning Qing said, ¡°Our paths are different, and it is not suitable for us to work together. Please leave. Let us not meet again in the future.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe was unwilling to stand up. He stubbornly remained in the room.


    Ning Qing¡¯s voice turned cold as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll only look down on you even more if you act like this. If you do not leave, someone will come and chase you away.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe raised both his arms as he said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave, I¡¯ll leave!¡±


    Then, Yun Zhonghe once again left the castle dejectedly. However, he stuffed a pill into his mouth before he left.


    He was worried and thus stuffed another pill deep into his nostril.


    ***


    Yun Zhonghe looked especially furtive when he was leaving the castle. He instinctively hugged his chest as if he was hiding something important.


    That fit with the rumors even more.


    Two days ago, Yun Zhonghe had saved Lady Ning Qing¡¯s life and exposed the City of Autumn Waters¡¯ scheme of harming Lady Ning Qing.


    Thus, Lady Ning Qing had edited the report. She had invited Yun Zhonghe over to get a copy of the new report for Jing Zhongyue to read, as well as to reward Yun Zhonghe¡¯s contributions.


    Thus¡­


    When Yun Zhonghe had stepped through the gates of the castle.


    ¡°Thud!¡±


    He was gently hit on the back of his head. His vision turned to black as he immediately fainted.


    A black figure immediately picked Yun Zhonghe up and vanished without a trace.


    This black figure was toned yet slender. It was a woman.


    ***


    In a secret room.


    The black figure searched Yun Zhonghe but did not find anything.


    Finally, she found a piece of paper within a slit in the sole of Yun Zhonghe¡¯s shoe.


    Something that was hidden that well must be extremely important.


    However, she saw that the paper was blank after she flipped it open to have a look. There was nothing written in the paper.


    However, this black-robed woman was very experienced. She gently heated the blank piece of paper over a flame, and words immediately appeared.


    It was indeed Lady Ning Qing¡¯s handwriting. They were identical.


    This was a copy of the report.


    This report pinned all of the responsibility of the battle on the heads of the City of Autumn Waters. It claimed that the City of Autumn Waters had invaded the Valley of Torn Gust.


    It also exposed the schemes of the City of Washed Jade¡¯s Mo Clan in the war.


    In this report, the Valley of Torn Gust was completely innocent.


    The report also strongly suggested that the Baronage Alliance strongly prosecute the City of Autumn Waters and the City of Washed Jade.


    The black-robed figure let out a sinister laugh after she read the report.


    ***


    ¡°Lord, the wretch Ning Qing has indeed edited her report to be completely biased toward the City of Torn Gust. What should we do?¡±


    The man said, ¡°Is there a way to make her change it again?¡±


    ¡°Impossible, she¡¯s extremely stubborn. She would rather die than to change her stance.¡±


    The man said, ¡°Then¡­ destroy her. Make the report worthless. Also, make the Valley of Torn Gust suffer a double loss after trying to trick us. Destroy them completely.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± The black-robed figure said, ¡°What should I do?¡±


    The man said, ¡°It is easy. Doesn¡¯t Ning Qing care most about her reputation? Isn¡¯t she a pure saint? Stuff a man in her bed, a naked man, a man from the Valley of Torn Gust. Then bring along the rest of the members of the investigation team and catch her in the act. Her reputation will be ruined when she¡¯s caught in the act. When that time comes, the report will naturally be destroyed. The Valley of Torn Gust will have committed an even more heinous crime for such a despicable action.¡±


    The black-robed figure said, ¡°This Yun AoTian is both old and ugly.¡±


    The man said, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t this make Ning Qing seem even more perverted? We¡¯ll use him. Strip off his clothes and stuff him into Ning Qing¡¯s bed. We¡¯ll catch her in the act an hour later. This way, she will not be able to clear her name even if she jumps into the River Tian. Then, neuter him and turn him into a eunuch before executing him in public.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± The black-robed figure said, ¡°I¡¯ll work on it now.¡±


    ***


    [1] There¡¯s a Chinese idiom that translates literally to having an image of bamboo in your heart to describe someone who is extremely confident. Yun Zhonghe uses the idiom incorrectly here.

 Chapter 58

    A moment later!


    In the room of the widow, Ning Qing.


    The middle-aged lady said, ¡°Miss, it is late. It is time to sleep.¡±


    Ning Qing sighed. She was a little afraid of sleeping as her insomnia was very serious. It felt like torture every time she slept.


    She was tired, yet she could not fall asleep.


    The feeling of having her eyes open until daybreak was too much to suffer.


    Ning Qing hesitated when she thought about the medicine that Yun AoTian had sent over that could help her sleep. Should I try it?


    But she did not try it in the end.


    She felt that Yun AoTian¡¯s character was unreliable.


    He was a very bad man.


    Even though he was ugly.


    Ning Qing let out a gentle sigh as she stepped in front of her mirror. She took off her robes and left the thinnest piece of fabric on her.


    Even she would be smitten by the body in her mirror.


    How unfortunate.


    A person who was as beautiful as she had become a lone star.


    She then put on her thinnest, most comfortable sleeping gown and dug into her bed.


    ¡°God-mum, don¡¯t let anyone make any noise,¡± Ning Qing said. ¡°Tomorrow is a very important day. I am about to make the report public. I require at least four hours of rest.¡±


    The middle-aged lady said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll not let anyone get close to your room. I should light the incense that helps with sleep.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Ning Qing said.


    The middle-aged lady took out the incense and lit it.


    Ning Qing closed her eyes and began to think.


    She would bring about a catastrophic disaster in the Valley of Torn Gust when she made the report public tomorrow.


    But Ning Qing did not care.


    She was not interested in the killings within the Land of No King. Furthermore, the woman Jing Zhongyue was merciless and overbearing. Her death would not be mourned.


    Even though it was unfortunate that she could not protect Yun AoTian, he had chosen the path himself. He could not blame anyone for his death.


    She did not care even if Yun AoTian had done her the favor of saving her life.


    The only thing she cherished was her reputation, not her life.


    There was only one thing she was obsessed with at this point. Had Yun AoTian composed ¡®Mister Taia¡¯?


    Was he a talented individual, or an unskilled, illiterate beggar?


    Ning Qing¡¯s eyelids started to flutter sometime later. She felt exhausted.


    She could not help but be happy.


    Her condition today was great. She, who always had difficulty falling asleep, was feeling tired.


    Thus, she quickly seized this tired state, determined not to let it slip away. She gathered more and more of this tired feeling.


    Then¡­ She fell asleep.


    She slept soundly.


    One would not be able to wake her up even if they wanted to.


    That was because there was an extra ingredient in the incense. It was enough to make a person faint immediately.


    A moment later.


    The door of the room quickly opened and closed.


    A black figure entered the room. She carried a burlap sack.


    In the burlap sack was a man. His hair was like weeds, his face old and creepy. Who was it, if not Yun AoTian?


    The black-robed figure pulled down her mask. She was an ordinary-looking woman.


    The middle-aged lady, Ning Qing¡¯s nanny, whispered, ¡°Alright, leave it to me.¡±


    The black-robed figure said, ¡°Madam Xu, our master will never forget your contributions.¡±


    Ning Qing¡¯s nanny said, ¡°Remember your promise. My son has to become an official after he graduates from the school of martial arts.¡±


    The black-robed figure said, ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. Act quickly. Someone will bring the rest of the officials of the investigation team to catch her in the act an hour from now.¡±


    Ning Qing¡¯s nanny said, ¡°I understand, go.¡±


    The black-robed figure said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    Then, the black-robed figure stripped Yun AoTian¡¯s clothes and was shocked.


    ¡°Yun AoTian, you are but a despicable beggar. Consider yourself lucky that you can sleep in the same bed as Lady Ning Qing today. It is the fortune that you have amassed over three lifetimes. It is worth it for you, even if you are going to be dismembered in the future,¡± the black-robed lady said.


    Ning Qing¡¯s nanny said coldly, her voice shaking slightly, ¡°Isn¡¯t that so. Lady Ning Qing has skin as fair as snow. She is like a fairy who has descended from the heavens. A despicable cad like Yun AoTian would not have been able to touch her in ten lifetimes.¡±


    Then, the black-robed figure stuffed Yun AoTian into Ning Qing¡¯s bed and positioned them within each other¡¯s embrace.


    Throughout the process, Yun AoTian and Ning Qing remained unconscious, allowing the two people to manipulate them however they wished.


    ¡°How is it?¡±


    ¡°They look like a wanton pair. They will never be able to clear their name, even if they jumped into the River Tian.¡±


    ¡°Then let us go out. Stand guard outside the room. Do not let anyone get close. Even more so, do not let anyone come out,¡± the black-robed woman said.


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no problem with the drug, is there? Will the two of them wake up midway?¡± she asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s no problem, of course,¡± the nanny replied. ¡°The two of them will not wake up even if lightning were to strike. The walls here are thick, and there is only one door. Even a mosquito will not be able to fly out with me guarding the door.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. We¡¯ll come to catch them in the act in an hour!¡±


    The two of them walked out of the room. The black-robed figure quickly vanished from the corridor while Ning Qing¡¯s nanny sat outside the door. She monitored the closed door closely without blinking.


    ***


    Time passed.


    Under the corrosion of his stomach acid, the outer shell of the pill in Yun Zhonghe¡¯s stomach started to dissolve.


    However, the medicine buried deep within his nostril took effect even faster. The outer shell of the pill cracked and released stimulating drugs deep into Yun Zhonghe¡¯s nose.


    These two forms of insurance guaranteed that Yun Zhonghe would wake up before the time was up.


    These were extremely potent drugs. It had a strong excitatory effect on the brain.


    Yun Zhonghe woke up immediately.


    He first detected a wave of fragrance. He could not help but take a look, only to see that he was in Ning Qing¡¯s embrace.


    Wow!


    This woman was beautiful.


    Her face was too exquisite.


    Her skin was as tender as suet.


    But¡­ This was not the time. He had to seize every second.


    He silently dug himself out of bed and took out a bag from underneath.


    He had brought this bag along with him just now. It contained all of the medicine he had to give Ning Qing.


    However, there were items other than the medicine in the bag.


    These included colored dyes, pollen, honey, red sand, as well as unique materials made from gelatin and the fattiest of porks. There were a few dozen unique items.


    He then moved quickly in front of the mirror.


    He cast an unprecedented form of ¡®magic.¡¯


    The things he did were comparable to the Three Great Evil Techniques of modern society.


    He moved quickly but did not make a sound. His body exuded a unique aura.


    He was too excited.


    He was too happy.


    He was too agitated!


    He was filled with anticipation.


    The investigation team would come to catch them in the act in just about 50 minutes.


    How exciting would the scene be?


    ***


    A dozen people were consumed with worry within the other rooms of the castle.


    They had heard the rumor that Lady Ning Qing was going to edit the contents of the report and blame the City of Autumn Waters for the war. She was going to get the Baronage Alliance to severely prosecute the City of Autumn Waters and even the City of Washed Jade.


    The investigation team was made up of 15 members. Ning Qing, being the most experienced out of them, was the absolute leader.


    ¡°What do we do? We¡¯re going to announce the contents of the report to the public and submit it to the Baronage Alliance tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Lady Ning Qing if she had edited the report or not. She looked extremely cold and prideful.¡±


    Many of the members of the investigation team had been bribed by the City of Autumn Waters or the City of Washed Jade. There was even one member who was working with the first baron, the Tantai Family.


    There were, of course, members of the City of Torn Gust within the team, but they made up the minority.


    ¡°I heard that Jing Zhongyue had sent over a beggar as a spy. He had saved Lady Ning Qing¡¯s life and exposed a traitor by her side. Lady Ning Qing changed the contents of the report because she was grateful for the contributions of the Valley of Torn Gust and hated the harm that the City of Autumn Waters brought upon her.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, Lady Ning Qing is fair and just. How is it possible that she would change her stand just for a personal feud?¡±


    ¡°I heard that there¡¯s an unclear relationship between Lady Ning Qing and the beggar, Yun AoTian.¡±


    A dozen people immediately stood up to express their fury when this sentence was uttered.


    Lady Ning Qing was their ideal lover, a goddess in their hearts. How could she have taken a fancy to an old, ugly beggar?


    This bunch of people wagged their tongues too freely. They were despicable to the extreme.


    At that moment, a black-robed female warrior sprinted into the room and whispered something into the ear of an official.


    ¡°What? Impossible, definitely impossible,¡± the official said with a raspy voice.


    ¡°What happened? What happened?¡± The rest of the officials stood up and crowded around.


    The official said, ¡°Xiaomin, tell the rest what you said.¡±


    The female warrior said, ¡°Yun AoTian had come again today, but he left in under an hour. However, he did not truly leave the castle. Instead, he made his way around the castle and pretended to leave, yet secretly turned back and snuck into Lady Ning Qing¡¯s room.¡±


    The group was dumbfounded when they heard this.


    The female warrior continued, saying, ¡°Not only that, but Lady Ning Qing¡¯s nanny also stood guard outside the door and allowed no one to get close not long after. She would immediately shout at a person to leave, even if they were a dozen feet away from the room.¡±


    This¡­ This was a problem.


    The female warrior continued. ¡°We can¡¯t get close, so I went to the room above Lady Ning Qing¡¯s room and listened in on the activity below me. I heard shady sounds. It sounded like a woman¡¯s laughter, as well as moans,¡± she said.


    ¡°It¡¯s been around an hour. Yun AoTian from the Valley of Torn Gust has not come out after he entered Lady Ning Qing¡¯s room.¡±


    The expressions of everyone present changed when they heard these words.


    This was too strange, too ridiculous.


    Lady Ning Qing was unbelievably pure. How could she hook up with another man?


    If all of this were true, then it would feel as though the sun had risen from the west.


    It had been over ten years. Lady Ning Qing had not even touched the finger of a man. She only talked to men through a screen.


    A pure saint like her hooking up with someone, especially if that someone was an old, ugly beggar, completely flipped the opinions of the people present.


    Many of the officials were admirers of Lady Ning Qing.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen it with my eyes. You can pierce me with a million blades if I am lying,¡± the female warrior said confidently. ¡°Furthermore, I am not the only one who saw it. You can get other people to come to verify it.¡±


    At this moment, the officials of the investigation team either felt that the situation was ridiculous, or was overcome with fury.


    ¡°If this is true, then we would have a big problem on our hands.¡±


    ¡°That would prove that Lady Ning Qing had indeed edited the report. It would prove that she had edited the report for an old and ugly beggar. She disregarded the authority of the Baronage Alliance. She disregarded the fairness of the Land of No King. She disregarded the innocent victims of that war. This is a crime.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. This is a crime, a heinous crime.¡±


    ¡°The City of Torn Gust, by engaging in the despicable action of bribing someone with sexual favors, has committed an even more atrocious crime.¡±


    ¡°We cannot let this matter slide. We have to seek justice for the Baronage Alliance. We have to seek justice for the innocent victims of the war. We have to seek justice for the order and fairness of the Land of No King.¡±


    ¡°Then we have to take action quickly. Perhaps that wanton pair are about to be done with their business. That Yun AoTian might be about to run away.¡±


    The female warrior said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This matter is of utmost importance. I have already sent a dozen men to surround Lady Ning Qing¡¯s room. I guarantee that even a fly would not be able to escape.¡±


    ¡°Go, go, go. Let¡¯s go catch them in the act.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go catch them in the act.¡±


    A man suddenly shouted, ¡°What are we going to do if we truly catch them in the act?¡±


    ¡°If we catch them in the act, even if that man, Yun AoTian, is still loitering around in Lady Ning Qing¡¯s room, it will prove that the two of them are not innocent, much less if they are still doing the deed in bed. After all, he had shown that he was about to leave the castle, yet secretly turned back. That means that there is an unusual relationship between them.¡±


    ¡°Right, right, right.¡±


    ¡°What I am asking is how we should deal with them if we catch them in the act?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that simple? If we catch them in the act, then Ning Qing would become a lady who knows no shame and could sleep with any man. If that is the case, she would not have the authority to be the leader of the investigation team, which means that the report she wrote would naturally be rendered useless. As for that man, Yun AoTian, we first neuter him and make him a eunuch, then beat him up in public and clobber him to death with bricks.¡±


    There was such a rule in the Land of No King. Once a person was caught in the act, they would first be neutered, then crushed to a pulp with rocks.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s catch them.¡±


    ¡°Go, for the future of the Land of No King, for the innocent victims of the war, for the authority of the Baronage Alliance, let¡¯s go catch them.¡±


    A dozen members of the investigation team were overcome with emotion as they charged toward Ning Qing¡¯s room.


    Catch them, catch them!


    ***

 Chapter 59

    The group of officials quickly arrived outside the room of Lady Ning Qing.


    They became even more suspicious of the situation when they saw that Ning Qing¡¯s nanny was there.


    Ning Qing¡¯s nanny suddenly stood up and screamed, ¡°What are all of you doing? The mistress is sleeping. She is a light sleeper and should not be woken up. You guys cannot enter.¡±


    She had a flustered expression. It made the situation even more suspicious.


    At that moment, a few of the members of the investigation team became elated. They fiercely pushed Ning Qing¡¯s nanny aside.


    They arrived at the front of Lady Ning Qing¡¯s door and gave it a fierce kick.


    ¡°Thump!¡± The door was easily kicked open.


    A dozen people swarmed into the room.


    There was an exotic fragrance in the room. Clothes were strewn lazily around the floor. It fit the scene of a crime.


    Out of the dozen people in the room, some were incredibly excited, some furious, while others were extremely agitated.


    All of their faces turned red. They found it hard to breathe.


    They looked toward the bed. They could see everything through the thin veil.


    There were clearly two people on the bed. They were entwined tightly with each other.


    Lady Ning Qing was having an affair with someone else. There was concrete evidence.


    Some of the people were heartbroken. They even felt that their senses had been destroyed.


    Oh, Lady Ning Qing. You were a goddess in our hearts.


    Didn¡¯t you cherish your body? Weren¡¯t you a saint?


    Not only did you hook up with someone else, but you chose to do it with an old and ugly beggar.


    ¡°Now we have concrete evidence. Ning Qing knows no shame and hooked up with someone. She is not fit to be the leader of the investigation team. Her report shall be deemed void.¡±


    ¡°Make the preparations. Ning Qing has committed the heinous crime of editing her report because of personal feelings and using her authority for personal benefit. Once we have concrete evidence, we¡¯ll capture Ning Qing and send her to jail. We¡¯ll bring her back to be tried by the Baronage Alliance.¡±


    ¡°As for Yun AoTian, get him to admit the schemes of the Valley of Torn Gust, then drag him along the streets with a piece of rope and parade him in public before stoning him to death.¡±


    ¡°Xiaomin, you can take action. Go flip over the blanket and show everyone Lady Ning Qing¡¯s unsightly state!¡±


    Two female warriors stepped forward and grabbed a corner of the blanket.


    Everyone present held their breath as they awaited the shocking scene.


    They were waiting to see the unsightly state of Ning Qing and Yun AoTian.


    This was a historic scene.


    The widow, Ning Qing, was finished.


    The Legendary Talented Lady of the Land of No King was finished.


    Her reputation was more important than her life. She had toiled for a dozen years without asking for any rewards to cultivate her reputation.


    Now, all of that was going to be destroyed.


    The insignificant beggar, Yun AoTian, was finished. He was destined to die without a place to be buried.


    Jing Zhongyue¡¯s City of Torn Gust was finished. They were destined to suffer the most severe of punishments.


    ¡°Open!¡± The two female warriors pulled off the blanket fiercely.


    ¡°Oh heavens, strike this shameless couple with your lightning.¡±


    ¡°Oh heavens, even you cannot cleanse the evil in this situation.¡±


    ¡°This is the ugliest scene in history!¡±


    Everyone opened their eyes wide. They did not let anything escape their eyes.


    But¡­


    They all became dazed.


    They could not believe their eyes.


    Heavens, heavens!


    Just what was going on?


    Am I hallucinating?


    First of all, the scene before them was truly shocking.


    There were indeed two people under the covers.


    However, the person hugging Ning Qing was a lady. It was not the old beggar, but a lady of unparalleled beauty.


    Where was the beggar, Yun AoTian?


    Where was he?!


    It was a lady of unbelievable beauty. She looked innocent yet flirtatious. Her beauty hooked every one of their souls.


    The two faces that were lined up on the pillow looked as alluring as a harmonious couple.


    Furthermore, their sleeping postures were innocent. They looked perfect. They looked like two close friends sleeping on the same bed. Where was the indecency in that?


    The young lady did not pale in comparison to Lady Ning Qing.


    Her face of unparalleled beauty was one-in-a-million. Furthermore, she was younger and more flirtatious.


    Many of the young men at the scene nearly succumbed to her beauty with just a glance.


    Only the black-robed lady at the scene felt as though her brain had been split in two by a bolt of lightning.


    This¡­ What was going on?


    Where had the old beggar, Yun AoTian, gone?


    She was the one who had personally knocked him out and stuffed him into Ning Qing¡¯s bed.


    Why was he gone? Why was a young, lively beauty in his place?


    What? What exactly was going on?


    Was this a magic trick?


    She could not help but look toward the middle-aged lady, Ning Qing¡¯s nanny.


    Weren¡¯t you guarding the door all this time and monitoring the movements in the room? Didn¡¯t you say that even a mosquito would not be able to fly into the room?


    Then where did Yun AoTian go?


    Where did the other beauty on the bed come from?


    Ning Qing¡¯s nanny was also shocked. It felt as though she had been struck by lightning.


    She could not believe the scene she saw before her.


    She had been monitoring the situation the whole time. How had the old beggar disappeared? And now there was a woman of unparalleled beauty there?


    ¡°Quick, search!¡± the black-robed lady said.


    ¡°Yun AoTian must be hiding somewhere in the room. We are going to find him, even if we have to dig three inches into the ground.¡±


    Then, a few people started to search the room.


    They searched every corner of the room.


    However, they could not find Yun AoTian no matter where they looked.


    The black-robed lady could not help but look toward the other woman on the bed.


    She had never heard the saying, but she knew that after eliminating all the wrong answers, the remaining option would be the truth no matter how ridiculous it was.


    This was what she was thinking now: Could that unbelievably beautiful woman be¡­ Yun AoTian?


    Thus, she took a step forward and was about to pull the woman out of bed.


    At that moment, that beautiful lady woke up, seemingly groggy.


    She looked at the people around her with her sleepy eyes.


    She then abruptly covered her body with the blanket and let out a cry of shock.


    ¡°Who¡­ Who are you people? Why did you barge into my sister¡¯s room?¡±


    This woman¡¯s voice was too melodious. It was flirtatious, elegant, and more feminine than an average woman.


    At that moment, even the black-robed lady became dazed. She tossed her ridiculous thoughts aside.


    Even if Yun AoTian had managed to dress himself up as a woman, the appearance of the two people was too different.


    The woman before them was more feminine than any woman in this world.


    She did not have an Adam¡¯s apple, and her skin was as clear as jade. More importantly, her voice was gentle and alluring. Even a normal woman would not be able to produce such a sound, much less a man.


    She was definitely a lady.


    ¡°I am Sister Ning Qing¡¯s god-sister. My father is a duke. Who are you people? Why did you barge into our room? I am going to be angry!¡± the woman said with a cold, arrogant tone. ¡°I am going to tell my father about this when I get back. I am also going to tell Castellan Ning about this.¡±


    F*ck!


    She called Castellan Ning by name and not his title, ¡®Lord Ning.¡¯ Castellan Ning was the second greatest baron in the Land of No King, yet she did not have any shred of respect for him.


    It was obvious that this lady was of an immensely influential background. She was most likely not only a noble from the Southern Zhou Empire, but also a duke there.


    ¡°Scram, scram¡­ All of you scram.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes¡­ We¡¯ll get out immediately. Don¡¯t be angry, don¡¯t be angry no matter what.¡±


    Who were the people who made up the investigation team?


    A third of them had been bribed by the City of Washed Jade and the City of Autumn Waters.


    A minority of them were bought over by the Valley of Torn Gust.


    Another portion of them was secretly working for the Tantai Family.


    There were also a few of them who were clean and innocent scholars. They were the kind of people who looked down on people, were incredibly stubborn, and held themselves in high regard.


    Most of these people had been drawn by Ning Qing¡¯s charm. They treated Ning Qing as their eternal goddess.


    They heard that Ning Qing had hooked up with someone just now and that the person was an old and ugly beggar.


    They had been dumbfounded. Some of them had been about to explode in a fury. They felt as though their view of the world had been flipped upside-down.


    That was why they were the angriest of the bunch. They were excited to catch Ning Qing in the act.


    However, they now realized that the person sleeping with Lady Ning Qing was a woman of unparalleled beauty. Not only that, but she was also the daughter of royalty.


    At that moment, they felt as though their hearts were about to explode with joy.


    It was fake. It was all fake.


    Lady Ning Qing was still clean and virtuous.


    She was still a saint without equal.


    Our admiration was not wrong.


    Our idol did not sink into depravity.


    It was great!


    However, just who was the woman sleeping by Lady Ning Qing¡¯s side?


    She was too¡­ beautiful.


    I feel as though I am about to fall in love.


    No, I have already fallen in love.


    Just as this group of people was about to walk out the door.


    The young, beautiful lady suddenly said, ¡°Wait a minute! I cannot let this matter slide like this. Why would someone be coming to catch an adulterous couple without reason? You people are trying to frame Sister Ning Qing and me. I have to get to the bottom of this matter.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes, we have to get to the bottom of this matter.¡± A good portion of the officials from the investigation team raised their hands in agreement.


    How detestable.


    They dared to slander our Ning Qing and say that she hooked up with someone. They almost caused our hearts to shatter.


    We are not going to spare them.


    ¡°It¡¯s her, it¡¯s her¡­¡± A young official pointed to the black-robed female warrior and said, ¡°It was this person who told us to come to catch Lady Ning Qing in the act.¡±


    ¡°Capture her, capture her¡­¡±


    A bunch of people swarmed forward and immediately grabbed the black-robed lady. This was the person who had knocked Yun AoTian out earlier.


    The young woman of unparalleled beauty said, ¡°Get out, all of you. Go find a place with more space. Sister Ning Qing will personally judge you later. I do wish to see what kind of schemes are behind this and what the motives are. I wish to see which faction is trying to incite trouble. Not only do they want to destroy Sister Ning Qing¡¯s reputation, but they also wished to ruin her life.¡±


    Each of this lady¡¯s sentence was like blades stabbing into the City of Autumn Waters and the City of Washed Jade.


    Was the absolute beauty before them Yun Zhonghe?


    Of course!


    He originally already looked incredibly dashing. He even looked very flirtatious.


    He would definitely be more feminine than an average woman when he dressed up as a lady.


    He had a slender figure, no Adam¡¯s apple, and had fair, delicate skin.


    However, there were two areas where he might easily slip up.


    The first was his demeanor, and the second was his voice.


    However, these flaws vanished when he was possessed by Patient Twenty-Seven, the Ghost Bride.


    Where could you find a more coquettish, alluring voice than the Ghost Bride¡¯s?


    Nowhere!


    Where could you find a more flirtatious demeanor?


    Nowhere!


    She was not only a woman, but she was a great, flirtatious beauty who was one-in-a-million.


    There were no flaws.


    This was Yun Zhonghe¡¯s plan. It was no wonder that Jing Zhongyue exclaimed that it was too perverted!


    There was one risk, though. What reaction would Ning Qing have when she woke up and realized that Yun AoTian had dressed up as a lady and slept in the same bed as her? What reaction would she have when she found out that Yun AoTian had hugged her?


    ¡°Yes, yes, we have to investigate the matter thoroughly.¡±


    ¡°We have to investigate the matter thoroughly. We have to see whether the City of Washed Jade and the City of Autumn Waters have any deep, dark schemes or not.¡± A few of the officials who idolized Ning Qing, as well as the officials who were bribed by the City of Torn Gust, agreed loudly.


    The counter-attack was officially underway under the guidance of the immaculate beauty, Yun AoTian.


    This was the time for a counter-attack. Just me, Yun AoTian, alone was enough to reverse the situation.


    Hahaha!


    Hehehehe!

 Chapter 60

    The black-robed female warrior who had knocked Yun Zhonghe out sensed that she was in deep trouble.


    She was not willing to sit around and await death.


    What was her name? Xiaomin.


    ¡°Wait!¡± The black-robed female warrior, Xiaomin, screamed, ¡°I suspect that this young, beautiful lady is Yun AoTian in disguise.¡±


    The crowd slipped into insanity when they heard this.


    F*ck!


    Beat her to death!


    To think that you would utter such ridiculous words, even at the brink of death.


    Not only did you wish to slander our goddess Ning Qing, but you also wanted to tarnish our other goddess.


    We¡¯ll beat you to death, we¡¯ll beat you to death.


    In that instant, the officials from the investigation team swarmed forward and rained their fists onto her.


    The black-robed lady, Xiaomin, shouted, ¡°Nanny of Lady Ning Qing, come and be my witness. Did you not personally see the beggar, Yun AoTian, enter Ning Qing¡¯s room and dig into Lady Ning Qing¡¯s bed?¡±


    Everyone could not help but look toward the middle-aged lady outside when they heard these words.


    This lady was Ning Qing¡¯s nanny. She was the person who was closest to Ning Qing. Whether or not there was an adulterous affair, she would not betray her master.


    The nanny, Li Shi, was faced with a difficult decision.


    On the one hand, she had to consider her son¡¯s future. Her son¡¯s talents in martial arts were only average.


    He had only managed to make it into the Great West Martial Arts Academy because he was looked after by an influential figure.


    Now that her son was about to graduate despite his failing grades, the other party promised that they would allow her son to become a minister with actual authority as long as she was willing to cooperate.


    However, with the situation before her, most of the people present had become infatuated by the mysterious beauty.


    If she dared to say that the unparalleled beauty before them was Yun AoTian, she was afraid that these manic men would beat her to death.


    Furthermore, she was also suffering from shock and confusion.


    Was she really seeing a ghost?


    The beggar, Yun AoTian, had clearly been in the room. Where could he have gone? Furthermore, she had guarded the door the whole time. She had not left.


    Could Yun AoTian move through heaven and earth?


    Thus, there was only one answer.


    The unparalleled beauty before them was the beggar, Yun AoTian.


    If that was the case, this world was too ridiculous. The sun would rise from the west. An unimportant male beggar had transformed into a woman of unparalleled beauty.


    At that moment, an official from within the group said in a chilling voice, ¡°Li Shi, this is a matter of utmost importance. Can you tell the truth? Did you see the beggar, Yun AoTian, enter Lady Ning Qing¡¯s room? Is the woman before their eyes Yun AoTian in disguise? You have to speak carefully, as every word you say implicates the lives of a few people.¡±


    The expression of the nanny, Li Shi, changed when she heard those words.


    That was because the other party had issued her a clear threat. They were threatening her with her son¡¯s life.


    The nanny, Li Shi, looked at the immensely beautiful Yun AoTian once again.


    She could not see any loopholes. Yun AoTian had to be in this room.


    Thus, she clenched her teeth and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. I personally witnessed the beggar, Yun AoTian, enter the mistress¡¯s room and dig into her bed. He did not come out after that. I guarded the room because I was afraid people would realize this. Thus, the woman in front of us must be Yun AoTian in disguise.¡±


    The expressions of everyone present changed drastically when they heard those words.


    Some due to anger.


    Some due to shock.


    The people who were angry were furious that she had slandered their goddess. Did she think that we had not seen how old, ugly, and despicable Yun AoTian was? How could he have transformed into the unparalleled beauty in front of them?


    Those who were shocked were surprised that the nanny, Li Shi, would take the side of the widow, Ning Qing. Her saying these words meant a despicable betrayal.


    ¡°This woman repays kindness by stabbing someone in the back. She worked together with outsiders to frame Lady Ning Qing. Beat her to death, beat her to death¡­¡± A bunch of white knights could not stand it any longer. They immediately charged to the front of Li Shi and were about to beat her to death.


    However, a few warriors from within the crowd charged out and protected the nanny, Li Shi.


    Clearly, these people were men from the Mo Clan of the City of Washed Jade and the City of Autumn Waters.


    ¡°It is actually very easy to determine if she is the beggar, Yun AoTian, in disguise. We will be able to find out the truth if we remove her dress.¡± The nanny, Li Shi pointed toward Yun Zhonghe and shouted, ¡°She is a fake. She must be Yun AoTian in disguise.¡±


    The group became even more furious when they heard those words.


    Even though the lady had not exposed her identity, it was obvious that she was the daughter of a royal family from the Southern Zhou Empire.


    You now wished to remove her dress to examine her identity. Were you asking for death?


    What would become of this royal daughter¡¯s dignity? What would become of her reputation?


    The black-robed lady, Xiaomin, said, ¡°After all, there are many ladies in the castle. What¡¯s wrong with getting some elderly grannies to have a look at her body? If she were a man in disguise, there would be no way she could hide it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right, let¡¯s get a few old grannies to ascertain her identity,¡± the nanny, Li Shi said. ¡°Yun AoTian is a man who has disguised himself with such a form. He wouldn¡¯t dare allow himself to be examined; he wouldn¡¯t dare to be determined.¡±


    A minister by the side bowed and said, ¡°Miss, forgive us for offending you, but this matter is too important. Not only does this matter involve the innocence of Lady Ning Qing, but it also implicates the lives of three barons. Thus, can you please give us your cooperation? Furthermore, the people examining your body are all old grannies above the age of 60. It wouldn¡¯t be too much of an offense.¡±


    ¡°The rumors will spread further in the future if you refuse. When that time comes, Lady Ning Qing would not be able to clear her name even if she jumped into the River Tian.¡±


    These were all officials who had been bribed by the City of Washed Jade and the City of Autumn Waters.


    Identity examination? That was terrifying!


    Even an expert crossdresser would be exposed, wouldn¡¯t he?


    After all, this was not something that could be hidden just by makeup, wearing a dress, and speaking with a feminine voice.


    Was he going to be exposed?


    Yun Zhonghe, who had taken the form of unparalleled beauty, was silent for a moment. He moved his eyes and finally planted his gaze on Ning Qing, who was asleep on the bed. He then said, ¡°Alright, for Sister Ning Qing¡¯s innocence, I can suffer a little indignance and allow a few old grannies to examine my body. However, if it is proven that I am a lady and not some Yun AoTian in disguise, let me deal with these two people. I am going to show them living hell.¡±


    He unexpectedly agreed.


    Everyone present was dumbfounded when they heard those words.


    These included the officials from the City of Washed Jade and the City of Autumn Waters hidden within the investigation team.


    If the woman before them were truly Yun AoTian in disguise, he would definitely be exposed if the old grannies thoroughly checked his body. That was because there was no way he could hide his genitals.


    Most of the younger officials in the investigation team almost cried out in their fury and agitation.


    The group was being too much of a bully.


    The plots at play were too deep.


    They could understand if it was to prosecute the Valley of Torn Gust, but the group should not frame and slander Lady Ning Qing like that.


    Now, they were even going to force a young goddess to undergo an identity-check.


    How¡­ How humiliating was this?


    No, no, no, we can¡¯t let our goddess be humiliated like this.


    ¡°Who dares, who dares.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll fight it out with whoever dares make this lady go through the identity check.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to step over our bodies if you wish to make this lady go through the identity check.¡±


    Many of the younger officials and warriors charged out and blocked the area in front of Yun Zhonghe. Their blood was boiling.


    Yun AoTian, who had taken the form of unparalleled beauty, said, ¡°I am willing to do that for the sake of Sister Ning Qing¡¯s innocence. However, I do not believe these despicable people. You guys go help me find three old grannies with clean characters.¡±


    ¡°Miss, do you need to do this? Is everyone blind? Can they not differentiate between men and women? We have seen the beggar, Yun AoTian. He is old, ugly, and frivolous. If you are truly him in disguise, then I¡¯ll dig my eyes out right now.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll slam my head onto the pillar and kill myself.¡±


    ***


    After a careful selection, three old grannies appeared in the room. They were all manual laborers and had no conflicts of interest.


    Under the teary gazes of several young officials, under their gazes of immense fury, the absolute beauty, Yun AoTian, entered a small room together with the three grannies.


    Then, the door was shut tight.


    The young officials tightly clenched their fists. They were too upset, too furious.


    This world was too dark.


    The City of Washed Jade was too shameless. The City of Autumn Waters was too despicable.


    They even made such a beautiful, noble daughter of royalty go through such an injustice.


    ***


    In the small room, the three old grannies surrounded Yun AoTian.


    Yun AoTian gently removed his dress and revealed his slender figure. He only had a layer of half-transparent clothing on him.


    Which part of him looked like a man? He still looked like a full-fledged woman?


    He could fool anyone.


    Who did they think I, Yun Zhonghe, am?


    A medical professor? A medical professor who understands neurology and cosmetology?


    When pretending to be a woman, one must do it to the extreme. There must not be any loopholes. Of course, what he did was nothing impressive. Many props like that could be purchased through Taobao in the future, even though they weren¡¯t too realistic.


    However, they would be considered groundbreaking in this world.


    ¡°Alright, maiden, that¡¯s enough¡­¡± an old granny took a glance before she said in a hurry.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s enough, it¡¯s enough,¡± another old granny said. ¡°We can tell in a glance whether you are a woman or not. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen such a beautiful maiden.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, maiden. It is going to be hard for you to maintain such a figure in the future. Childbirth will be your first hurdle.¡±


    ¡°Maiden, hurry up and get dressed. The weather is chilly.¡±


    ¡°Are the people outside blind? To think that they would call such a beautiful maiden a man.¡±


    ¡°Their eyes are not blind, but their hearts are.¡±


    ***


    A moment later!


    The door of the room was opened. The young princess of unparalleled beauty walked out with her face red.


    The three grannies also walked out.


    All of the gazes turned toward the old grannies as they awaited the results of the examination.


    ¡°Are all of you blind? Are your hearts blind? She is clearly a fair maiden, yet you slander her and claim that she is a man disguised as a woman?¡±


    ¡°I have never seen such a beautiful maiden,¡± another granny said.


    The nanny, Li Shi, said, doubting life, said, ¡°You guys, have you guys examined her thoroughly? Don¡¯t just examine the surface.¡±


    ¡°Do we need to be taught by you?¡± the third granny asked. ¡°We¡¯ve examined her thoroughly. Isn¡¯t a glance enough to differentiate between man and woman?¡±


    Then, the three grannies said, ¡°We can guarantee with our lives that this maiden is a woman. You can chop off our heads if she is a man in disguise.¡±


    At that moment, the nanny, Li Shi, and the black-robed lady, Xiaomin, wore an expression of mourning.


    They doubted life.


    Now, even they felt that the woman in front of them was not Yun AoTian in disguise. She was indeed a member of the Southern Zhou Empire¡¯s royal family.


    Then¡­ Then what exactly happened?


    Could I have been hallucinating back then?


    But it was I who personally stuffed Yun Zhonghe into Ning Qing¡¯s bed.


    At that moment, Yun AoTian paused in front of nanny Li Shi and said slowly, ¡°You promised me just now that, as long as I proved my identity, you were going to hand these two traitors over to me for me to deal with. Do your words count?¡±


    ¡°They count, they could¡­¡± a dozen members of the investigation team voiced out in agreement.


    They were filled with remorse. They did not stop the goddess from undergoing the examination just now. What kind of humiliation had she suffered?


    Now was the time to settle the score.


    ¡°Capture her, capture her.¡±


    Several warriors stepped forward and immediately captured nanny Li Shi. They tied her up.


    ¡°Fire up the furnace. Bring over the branding iron,¡± Yun Zhonghe said.


    A moment later, the furnace and branding iron was brought over.


    Nanny Li Shi trembled in fright.


    Yun Zhonghe picked the branding iron up without waiting for it to become red-hot and aimed it at Li Shi¡¯s face. He then fiercely pressed the metal into her face.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Ning Qing¡¯s nanny Li Shi let out a pathetic cry.


    The expressions of all of the members of the investigation team jumped when they witnessed such a scene.


    This immensely beautiful princess was too cruel, too overbearing.


    But¡­ she was too charming.


    ¡°Li Min, save me, save me¡­¡±


    ¡°Miss, save me¡­ save me¡­¡±


    The nanny, Li Shi, cried painfully for help.


    Yun Zhonghe continued heating the branding iron in the furnace without expression. He picked it out when the iron became fully red, then pointed the iron toward nanny Li Shi¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°You must be blind. To think that you would betray and frame your mistress. Tell me, who put you up to it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to speak? It¡¯s alright. After all, all I want is revenge and to vent my anger. I don¡¯t mind torturing you until you die.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll count down from five. I¡¯ll burn your eyes if you don¡¯t speak.¡±


    ¡°Five, four, one.¡±


    Yun Zhonghe casually finished the countdown. He fiercely pushed the red-hot iron directly toward nanny Li Shi¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Stop, no¡­¡± nanny Li Shi exclaimed loudly. ¡°I¡¯ll confess, I¡¯ll confess. It is the people from the Mo Clan of the City of Washed Jade. It was they who ordered me to betray and frame Lady Ning Qing. As long as I listened to them, my son would be able to become a minister. I was being forced, I was being forced¡­¡±


    ***