Leng Leng and Zhui Feng! The Civil Officials’ Counterattack!

Having absorbed the Wedding Dress Divine Skill, Li Gexiao’s strength had recovered to around seventy or eighty percent. The reason he had not returned to his peak was that the Wedding Dress Divine Skill had greatly weakened after being transferred.

At the same time, Li Gexiao could clearly feel that his martial path had improved. Once he returned to his peak, he would be even stronger than before.

"Lord Li, aside from the Wedding Dress Divine Skill, I have also passed my self-created God Sword Style on to you. If you sense it carefully, you should be able to find the seed of sword qi deep within your sea of qi."

"That is the essence of my lifelong swordsmanship. I hope it will help you take revenge in the future."

Li Gexiao rose to his feet and said emotionally, "Hero Yan, I will never forget the grace of your gift!"

Yan Nantian smiled. "I was going to lose my power anyway. Wouldn’t it have been a waste not to pass it on to you? Besides, my sworn brother and I are now helpless men. We will have to trouble you to look after us."

"We would not dare delay Your Highness’s sightseeing. Just drop us off when you pass through Jinling City."

The corners of Li Gexiao’s lips rose. "What a coincidence. We are heading to Jinling City ourselves."

Jiang Feng was instantly overjoyed. "We truly are fated!"

He had thought this chance encounter would end here, but their fate continued. Chu Yang shook his head, walked out of the courtyard, mounted his horse, and rode farther and farther into the distance.

"Hurry up and pack. Remember to keep up. If His Highness rides too fast, we will have a hard time catching him."

After reminding them, Li Gexiao sat directly atop the great wolfhound and had it quickly follow after Chu Yang.

The caravan followed behind the two as before, except there was now the greatest swordsman in the world riding in one of the carriages.

As the group headed for Jinling City, news of the Twelve Zodiacs’ complete destruction spread without anyone needing to promote it, swiftly sweeping through the Jianghu.

Rumors also circulated through the Imperial Court, though they never reached the Emperor’s ears and stopped at the Six Doors and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The two sides seemed to have reached some sort of understanding and were doing their utmost to conceal Chu Yang’s every move, lest unnecessary trouble arise and affect the stability of the Imperial Court.

The Six Doors handled the cleanup. They were responsible for wiping out the complicated underworld forces under the Twelve Zodiacs, and anyone who had seen Chu Yang was executed on the spot.

Leading them was Leng Feng, whose name Chu Yang had mocked as being her specialty, and whom Li Gexiao called Leng Leng.

No one in the Six Doors dared mention the name Leng Feng directly in front of her.

They would most likely be beaten into cripples.

Because she had been given a man’s name, Leng Leng had been estranged from her father for many years.

"So the news is true. That man surnamed Li really recovered. He even managed to kill Black Dog Star of the Twelve Zodiacs. That stinking drunkard has recovered quite well…"

Leng Leng had just tortured information about Li Gexiao out of several prisoners and could not wait to share it with her senior brother, Zhui Feng.

"Lord Li is our senior. Watch your mouth. If Master hears you, you will get scolded again."

Zhui Feng helplessly cautioned the loose-tongued Leng Leng, though his mind was on something else.

"Got it, Senior Brother. Why do you always look so gloomy? It is because you always keep such a stern face that you scared Ninth Junior Sister away. She would rather roam the Jianghu than marry you."

"How many times have I told you? There is no romantic affection between me and Dog Junior Sister. I have always treated her like a younger sister!"

"Can you fix your accent first?"

"My Mandarin is perfectly standard. What is there to fix?"

"Sigh… forget it. What good is it if only we know what you think? You have to tell Master what you think!"

"I cannot. Master has shown me immense kindness. I cannot betray his wishes."

"Then marry Ninth Junior Sister!"

"I cannot. I have always treated her as a younger sister. How can I marry her without romantic feelings? Free love is advocated now!"

"This will not do, and that will not do. Are you just jerking me around? Get out of my sight already. Scram!"

"The Six Doors are on edge right now. These truly are troubled times."

Thinking of the Six Doors’ recent circumstances, Leng Leng could not help showing a worried expression, identical to Zhui Feng’s earlier look.

"Master was dismissed for no reason at all. What did we do wrong to displease the Emperor?"

"I have been thinking about that too. I had no clue before, but the matter of the Twelve Zodiacs has given me an idea."

"What?"

"It most likely has something to do with Prince Xian…"

"The one who roamed the Jianghu with Ninth Junior Sister and is now being protected by that stinking drunkard?"

"That is him."

"You mean Prince Xian threatens…"

"Junior Sister, mind your words!"

Leng Leng fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Senior Brother, I understand what you mean. But Master has served so diligently for so many years. Has he still not earned the Emperor’s trust?"

Zhui Feng said meaningfully, "Once one sits on the Dragon Throne, suspicion becomes second nature…"

Leng Leng suddenly found the vast Imperial Court unbearably dull. That included the so-called Six Doors Four Divine Arresters. Everything they did seemed to have little meaning. The one on the Dragon Throne needed only a single thought to turn all their efforts into a joke.

"Senior Brother, help me finish handling the Twelve Zodiacs’ aftermath."

"Where are you going?"

"Out for a walk. This place is so stifling that I can barely breathe. I think I understand why that prince left with Ninth Junior Sister. He probably found it suffocating here too."

Northern Garrison Office.

Zheng Dongliu sat upright in the main hall, listening to Left Commander’s report. His fingers kept rubbing against the armrest, unable to conceal the excitement in his heart.

"That brat really has a chance to recover!"

"Such wonderful news, yet he did not come back to tell me himself!"

"Destroying the Twelve Zodiacs is a great merit. I can plead with the Emperor to restore his post."

"Why will he not come back…"

As Zheng Dongliu spoke, he began to sigh repeatedly.

Left Commander said softly, "My lord, there is something I do not know whether I should say."

Zheng Dongliu frowned. "Say it! It is just the two of us. What is there that cannot be said?"

Left Commander explained, "The reason Lord Li has not returned is likely because he does not want to implicate us. He fears that you will be suspected by the Emperor, just like Guo Juxia."

Zheng Dongliu said, "His Majesty is merely concerned about Lord Guo’s health. Do not speak nonsense!"

"Whether I am speaking nonsense or not, it is an indisputable fact that Lord Li is traveling with Prince Xian. Add to that his grudge against Grand Secretary Yan, and if he returns, not only will he become a thorn in the Emperor’s side, but the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be affected as well."

"Our flying fish uniforms depend entirely on the Emperor’s support. If we fall out of favor with him, we will basically be courting death."

Left Commander had spoken very bluntly, and Zheng Dongliu understood what he meant.

Li Gexiao would return one day, but it would be for Yan Song’s head. From the moment he chose to travel with Chu Yang, he had stood against the Emperor.

As the Emperor’s hunting hounds, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would likely stand against Li Gexiao someday. And Zheng Dongliu, as their Commander, might even have to cross blades with Li Gexiao.

That was the cruelest part.

Compared to an idle prince leaving the capital to roam the Jianghu, Guo Bu Jing’s dismissal was the true earthquake in the Imperial Court.

Most officials believed the Emperor’s explanation and understood the burden Guo Bu Jing bore in holding two posts. Yet a very small number of high-ranking officials still detected something amiss.

Grand Secretary Yan Song held a modest tea gathering at his residence, inviting numerous powerful figures of the Imperial Court. The main hall was filled with officials of the third rank and above.

Vice Grand Secretary Xu Jie, Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng, the six Ministers—such a lineup resembled a small Imperial Court. Here, Yan Song was no different from the Emperor.

The vacant position of Imperial Guards instructor was simply too tempting. Even the Civil Official Group had begun to covet it.

If the Civil Official Group possessed powerful martial support, it could shake off its decline, stand above the other factions, and reclaim its former voice.

Since ancient times, civil and military officials had never coexisted peacefully.

The mutual suppression of civil and military officials had long been commonplace.

Although the two marquises, one sect, Two Bureaus, and one guard also fought among themselves, they still stood on the same side when facing the Civil Official Group.

Ever since the structure of the six major factions in the Imperial Court had formed, the Civil Official Group’s days had worsened by the day. It was as though dark clouds hung overhead, suffocating them.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was still tolerable. Under Zheng Dongliu’s control, it merely supervised the officials and occasionally dealt with those guilty of improper conduct.

But the Eastern and Western Bureaus had never ceased striking at civil officials. Any transgression could mean confiscation of one’s household at best and extermination of one’s entire clan at worst.

The feeling of always having a blade at one’s throat was not pleasant.

Scholars could not compare to martial men. Moving their lips would not kill anyone.

Sometimes, they envied the Buddhist and Daoist sects next door. Ever since the great upheaval of heaven and earth several decades ago, monks and Daoists really could kill with their words.

"When it comes to sages, how many sages has Confucianism produced over thousands of years? Why have we never produced a Confucian Sage whose words carry the force of law?"

"We have let those ox-nosed Daoists and bald monk fools gain all the prestige. Now, there are more people reading Buddhist scriptures and Dao Scriptures than books of the sages. What kind of nonsense is that?"

Whenever Yan Song thought of this, rage would surge within him. Before everyone, he fiercely smashed the teacup in his hand.

"Prime Minister Yan, do not be angered. Everyone is still waiting for you to take charge. The urgent matter is to find a way to make the Imperial Guards instructor one of our own."

Vice Grand Secretary Xu Jie slowly spoke, his tone as gentle as that of a young wife.

Yan Song nodded, then asked, "Does anyone among your clans possess sufficient martial skill to serve as Imperial Guards instructor?"

Everyone looked at one another, then lowered their heads in silence. The prolonged silence answered Yan Song’s question.

How could scholarly families produce martial men?

Would someone abandon proper study to practice martial arts without fearing that their ancestors would break their legs?

"This subordinate has two men to recommend, though both come from military backgrounds. I do not know whether Prime Minister Yan…"

"Tell me about them first."

"One is Li Chengliang, deputy commander-in-chief of Liaodong, a general defending the north against the Jiannu. The other is Qi Jiguang, who fights the Wokou and guards Jinling City."

"Both are highly skilled martial men with outstanding command ability. Either is fully qualified for the position of Imperial Guards instructor."

Yan Song knew of both men’s reputations, but he still shook his head. "They both come from military families…"

Zhang Juzheng said in a low voice, "Prime Minister Yan, we have not been the only ones suffering these years. Those generals guarding the borders of the Ming Dynasty also have many grievances against those people."

"The responsibilities of the two marquises and one sect have grown too great. They have already encroached upon the military’s authority."

"Which side the military families stand on remains to be seen!"

At these words, Vice Grand Secretary Xu Jie nodded as well. "Shuda is right. The enemy of our enemy is our friend. Before these six major factions existed, we truly were irreconcilable with those coarse men, but that is old history."

"If we wish to reclaim the civil officials’ authority now, we must cooperate with them once."

The others all chimed in agreement.

After hesitating for a moment, Yan Song accepted Zhang Juzheng and Xu Jie’s proposal. He nodded and said, "In that case, which of the two would be more suitable?"

Zhang Juzheng already had an answer in mind, but he did not say it directly. Instead, he looked toward Xu Jie.

Xu Jie smiled. "The situation in the south is complicated. Not only do Wokou frequently harass the people, but demons and Great Demons also run rampant. As the man in charge, Qi Jiguang should not be moved lightly. Conditions in the north are better. Those Jiannu have not shown themselves for several years."

Having heard this, Yan Song immediately made the decision. "Then we shall recommend Li Chengliang’s return to the capital as Imperial Guards instructor. This hard-won opportunity must be firmly held in our hands!"

Their purpose achieved, everyone exchanged pleasantries for a while before departing.

The moment they left Yan Manor, Zhang Juzheng hurriedly found Xu Jie. "Teacher, I had intended to recommend Qi Jiguang. Li Chengliang is quite ambitious. I fear he will be difficult to control after becoming Imperial Guards instructor."

Xu Jie nodded. "I understand your thinking, but Qi Jiguang truly cannot be moved. I received an urgent report this morning. The Wokou in the south have been acting strangely, and demon people seem to be involved this time."

"It would be detrimental to the overall situation if Qi Jiguang left now!"

Zhang Juzheng was startled. "How could the Wokou be connected to demon people? Is not the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom busy dealing with demons? Where would they find the time to provoke us?"

Xu Jie sighed. "I have an ominous feeling. Demonic activity has become increasingly rampant in recent years. I fear the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom can no longer hold on and has resolved to make a desperate gamble!"

"Chaos will soon engulf the world!"

After leaving the deserted village, Chu Yang and the others traveled for half a month before finally seeing the prosperous Jinling City.

Compared to the capital’s majesty and grandeur, Jinling City leaned more toward splendor and elegance. It was filled with magnificent opulence everywhere. If the capital were a mighty general, then Jinling City would be a peerless beauty.

Because its land and water transportation was exceptionally convenient, Jinling City had virtually everything. Every curious item found across the Ming Empire could be seen here, along with quite a few foreign goods.

In short, if you could not find it in Jinling City, you would not find it anywhere else either.

Li Gexiao had spent several years in the Southern Garrison Office of Jinling City and was fairly familiar with the place, so he took the initiative to serve as their guide.

Yan Nantian had a humble residence in the city that could serve as a temporary shelter. He had originally planned to rest briefly before taking Jiang Feng’s family far overseas.

When he was young, he had participated in campaigns against the Wokou and accidentally discovered an island filled with birdsong and flowers. He had even settled there. That was where Jiang Feng and his wife were ultimately meant to live.

But now that he needed to rebuild his strength, he had no choice but to change his plans. He might have to stay in Jinling City for some time.

For Jiang Feng, living in Jinling City was no problem. He was so poor that all he had left was money. Buying a large estate was hardly an issue.

After bidding farewell to Jiang Feng and the others, Li Gexiao led Chu Yang to the largest brothel in Jinling City—Xianyu Tower.

It was not that the two were lustful, but that they had come to find someone.

A man known throughout the Jianghu as Four Eyebrows.

Lu Xiaofeng.