Chapter 178: Leng Leng and Zhui Feng! The Civil Officials' Counterattack!
After absorbing the Martial Garment Divine Art, Li Gexiao's strength had recovered to about seventy to eighty percent. The reason he hadn't fully returned to his peak was because the transferred Martial Garment Divine Art had greatly diminished in power.
On the other hand, Li Gexiao could clearly feel that his martial path had advanced. Once he returned to his peak, he would be even stronger than before.
"Lord Li, in addition to the Martial Garment Divine Art, I've also passed on my self-created Divine Sword Technique to you. If you concentrate, you should be able to sense the sword qi seed deep within your qi sea."
"That seed contains the essence of my life's swordsmanship. I hope it will help you in seeking revenge."
Li Gexiao rose to his feet, visibly moved. "Hero Yan, I'm eternally grateful for your generous gift of martial knowledge."
Yan Nantian smiled. "I was going to disperse my cultivation anyway. If I didn't pass it on to you, wouldn't it have been wasted? Besides, my sworn brother and I are now powerless—we'll have to rely on you to look after us."
"No need to delay the prince's travels. Just drop us off when you pass through Jinling City."
Li Gexiao smirked. "What a coincidence. We're heading to Jinling City to find someone."
Jiang Feng was overjoyed. "Fate really brought us together!"
Thinking the chance encounter had come to an end, Chu Yang was surprised that their paths continued to cross. Shaking his head, he quietly mounted his horse and rode off into the distance.
"Pack your things and keep up. If the prince moves too quickly, we'll have a hard time catching up."
Li Gexiao gave a reminder, then mounted his wolfdog, urging it to follow after Chu Yang.
The caravan followed behind as before, only this time there was an extra passenger—the world's greatest swordsman.
As they made their way to Jinling City, news of the complete annihilation of the Twelve Zodiac Stars spread like wildfire across the martial world.
There were also murmurs within the imperial court, though they never reached the emperor's ears, having been contained by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Six Gates.
It was as if both sides had reached a tacit agreement, doing everything they could to suppress information about Chu Yang to avoid unnecessary trouble and maintain stability in the court.
The Six Gates took charge of the cleanup. All the criminal forces under the Twelve Zodiac Stars were swept away by them. Anyone who had seen Chu Yang was executed on the spot.
The one leading the operation was Leng Feng—better known as Leng Leng, whom Li Gexiao had once mentioned.
No one in the Six Gates dared call her by her full name to her face.
They'd likely be crippled for it.
Just because her father had given her a man's name, Leng Leng had been estranged from him for many years.
"So the rumors are true. That drunkard actually recovered enough to kill the Black Dog Star from the Zodiac. Looks like he's doing better than expected…"
Leng Leng had just tortured the truth about Li Gexiao out of some prisoners and couldn't wait to share it with her senior brother Zhui Feng.
"Lord Li is our senior. Mind your words. If Master hears you, you'll get scolded again."
Zhui Feng helplessly chided her, though his thoughts were elsewhere.
"I get it, Senior Brother. But why are you always frowning like that? You scared off Ninth Junior Sister because of your constant brooding. She'd rather wander the martial world than marry you."
"I've told you a thousand times—there's nothing romantic between me and Dog Junior Sister. I've always seen her as a younger sister!"
"Then fix your accent first."
"My accent is perfectly clear and standard. What's there to fix?"
"Sigh… What's the point of only us knowing how you feel? You need to tell Master yourself!"
"I can't. Master has treated me like his own son. I can't betray his wishes."
"Then just marry Ninth Junior Sister already!"
"No way. I don't love her. How can I marry someone without romantic feelings? We support free love nowadays!"
"Not this, not that—are you messing with me? Get lost!"
"The Six Gates is in utter chaos lately. Truly a turbulent time."
Thinking about the current state of the organization, Leng Leng couldn't help but frown, her expression matching Zhui Feng's.
"Why was Master suddenly dismissed? Where did we go wrong to displease His Majesty?"
"I've been thinking about that too. I had no clue before, but with the Zodiac business, I'm starting to suspect something."
"What do you mean?"
"It likely has to do with the Prince of Virtue…"
"You mean the one traveling with Ninth Junior Sister and being protected by that drunkard?"
"That's him."
"So you're saying the Prince of Virtue poses a threat to—"
"Junior Sister, watch your words!"
Leng Leng fell silent for a moment before quietly saying, "I understand what you mean, Senior Brother. But Master has served loyally all these years. Doesn't the emperor trust him by now?"
Zhui Feng replied meaningfully, "Once you sit on the dragon throne, suspicion becomes second nature…"
Leng Leng suddenly felt that the grand imperial court was incredibly stifling. Even the famed Four Divine Constables of the Six Gates were nothing more than pawns, their hard work turned into a joke with a mere thought from the man on the throne.
"You take care of the aftermath with the Twelve Zodiac Stars."
"Where are you going?"
"Out for some air. This place is suffocating. I finally understand why that prince left with Ninth Junior Sister—he probably felt the same way."
…
Northern Town Patrol Division.
Zheng Dongliu sat upright in the main hall, listening to a report from the Left Commandant, his fingers tapping the chair in unconcealed excitement.
"That brat really has a chance to fully recover!"
"Such great news, and he didn't even come tell me in person!"
"Taking down the Twelve Zodiac Stars is a huge achievement. I can petition His Majesty to reinstate him."
"So why hasn't he come back…"
As Zheng Dongliu spoke, he let out a long sigh.
The Left Commandant hesitantly said, "My lord, I don't know if I should say this…"
Zheng Dongliu frowned. "Say it! It's just us two—nothing's off-limits."
The Commandant explained, "Lord Li probably isn't coming back because he doesn't want to involve us. He's afraid you'll be subjected to imperial suspicion like Sir Guo."
Zheng Dongliu retorted, "His Majesty only dismissed Lord Guo due to concerns about his health. Don't talk nonsense!"
"Whether it's nonsense or not, the fact remains—Lord Li is traveling with the Prince of Virtue. Coupled with his grudge against Grand Secretary Yan, if he returns, he won't just become a thorn in the emperor's side—he'll drag the Embroidered Uniform Guard down with him."
"Our flying fish robes are backed solely by the emperor. If we fall out of favor, it's basically a death sentence."
Zheng Dongliu understood.
Li Gexiao would return one day, but it would be for Yan Song's head. The moment he chose to travel with Chu Yang, he stood in opposition to the current emperor.
As the emperor's hound, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would likely face off against Li Gexiao in the future, and as the commander, Zheng Dongliu might have to draw blades against him.
That was the harshest truth of all.
Compared to a wandering prince leaving the capital, the dismissal of Guo Bujing was the real earthquake at court.
Most officials accepted the emperor's explanation that it was due to overwork, but a handful of high-ranking ministers saw through the facade.
Grand Secretary Yan Song hosted a modest tea gathering at his home, inviting many court heavyweights. The main hall was filled with officials of third rank and above.
Vice Grand Secretary Xu Jie, Grand Academician Zhang Juzheng, and all six ministers were present. The assembly resembled a miniature imperial court, and Yan Song held sway like an emperor himself.
The vacant position of Imperial Guards Commander was too tempting. Even the civil officials were tempted.
If they could secure powerful military support, the civil faction could once again rise above other forces and reclaim their former influence.
Since ancient times, civil and military officials had been at odds.
Though internal rivalries existed among the Two Marquises and One House, Two Bureaus and One Guard, they still stood united against the civil faction.
Ever since the court's six great factions emerged, the civil faction had been declining—like dark clouds pressing down on them.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard, under Zheng Dongliu, mainly supervised officials and occasionally punished those with moral failings.
But the Eastern and Western Bureaus never stopped attacking the civil officials. Any overstep led to ruin—at best, a confiscated household; at worst, total extermination.
That constant sense of having a blade at their throat was unbearable.
Scholars weren't like warriors—they couldn't kill with words alone.
Sometimes they envied the monks and Daoists. Ever since the world-shaking transformation decades ago, those priests and monks really could kill with their words.
"We Confucians have produced countless sages over thousands of years. Why can't one of them be a Heaven-ordained saint?"
"Those damned Daoists and bald monks are hogging the spotlight. More people read their scriptures than ours—it's a disgrace!"
Every time he thought about it, Yan Song was furious. He flung his teacup across the room in front of everyone.
"Lord Yan, don't be upset. We're counting on you to lead us. Right now, we need to find a way to make the Imperial Guard Commander one of our own."
Vice Grand Secretary Xu Jie gently interjected, his tone as soft as a daughter-in-law's.
Yan Song nodded, then asked, "Do any of you have capable warriors in your families who could fill the role?"
Everyone looked at each other, heads down, silent.
Scholarly families rarely produced warriors.
Skipping books to practice martial arts? Their ancestors would rise from their graves to break their legs.
"I have two recommendations, though they're both career soldiers. I'm not sure if you'd…"
"Go on, let's hear it."
"One is Li Chengliang, Deputy General of Liaodong, who guards the north against the Jurchens. The other is Qi Jiguang, who defends Jinling City and fights off the Wokou pirates."
"Both are highly skilled and capable leaders, more than fit for the role."
Yan Song knew their reputations, but still shook his head. "They're from military families…"
Zhang Juzheng said softly, "Lord Yan, we're not the only ones who've suffered. The generals guarding our borders also hold deep grudges against the major factions."
"Their power has encroached too far into the military's domain."
"We still don't know which side the generals will take!"
Xu Jie nodded. "Uncle's right. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. We may have clashed before, but that's history."
"To reclaim our influence, we must ally with them—just this once."
The others chimed in agreement.
After some hesitation, Yan Song agreed with their plan. "Then which of the two should we pick?"
Zhang Juzheng had an answer in mind but looked to Xu Jie.
Xu Jie smiled. "The south is unstable. Not only are the Wokou pirates harassing civilians, but powerful demons roam freely. Qi Jiguang should stay put. The north is relatively calm—no major Jurchen activity in recent years."
Yan Song nodded decisively. "Then we'll recommend Li Chengliang for the post. We must seize this rare opportunity!"
With their objective achieved, the meeting dispersed.
Outside Yan's estate, Zhang Juzheng quickly pulled Xu Jie aside. "Master, I meant to recommend Qi Jiguang. Li Chengliang is too ambitious—he might become hard to control."
Xu Jie nodded. "I understand. But Qi Jiguang cannot leave. I received urgent news this morning—there's unusual Wokou activity in the south, possibly involving sorcerers."
"Removing Qi now would be disastrous."
Zhang Juzheng was alarmed. "How are the Wokou involved with sorcerers? Isn't the Demon Kingdom busy fighting demons? How do they have time for us?"
Xu Jie sighed. "I have a bad feeling. The demons grow more rampant each year. The Demon Kingdom may be nearing collapse… and desperate."
"A great upheaval is near!"
…
After half a month of travel since leaving the desolate village, Chu Yang and his companions finally reached the bustling city of Jinling.
Compared to the capital's grandeur, Jinling exuded elegance and splendor. If the capital was a mighty general, then Jinling was a peerless beauty.
Thanks to convenient water and land transportation, Jinling offered everything imaginable. Rare treasures from across the Ming Empire could be found here—even exotic foreign goods.
If you couldn't find it in Jinling, you likely wouldn't find it anywhere else.
Li Gexiao had once worked in Jinling's Southern Town Patrol Division for a few years, so he was familiar with the city and took on the role of guide.
Yan Nantian owned a humble house in the city as a temporary base. He originally planned to rest briefly, then take Jiang Feng's family overseas.
In his youth, he had fought Wokou pirates and stumbled upon a tranquil island, where he built a home. That was supposed to be the couple's final haven.
But now, needing to rebuild his cultivation, he had to stay in Jinling longer.
For Jiang Feng, it wasn't a problem. He was dirt poor—except for having loads of money. Buying a mansion was easy.
After bidding farewell to the family, Li Gexiao took Chu Yang to the largest brothel in Jinling—Xianyu Pavilion.
Not because they were lustful, but because they were looking for someone.
A man known throughout the martial world for his "four eyebrows."
Lu Xiaofeng.