Chapter 116: The Black Lotus

According to the intelligence Li Ju had gathered from the officials in the prefecture city during this time, even when King Qing had launched his rebellion in the North, he had been so wary of the strength of Yuan Wuer and the Black Armored Army that he dared not invade the border prefectures held by them in Caizhou. He had even frequently sent supplies to the Black Armored Army, treating them with the finest food and drink.

Perhaps King Qing’s sycophancy had worked, or perhaps there were reasons unknown to Li Ju, but the Black Armored Army remained completely indifferent to the rebellion. Even though the Dayong imperial court had issued several urgent decrees ordering them to suppress the rebels, the Black Armored Army had made no move at all.

When Li Ju first learned that such a formidable figure was stationed in Shimen Prefecture, he had specifically questioned his subordinates—men who had previously been horse bandits—about how they had managed to survive under Yuan Wuer’s nose.

The bandits had replied that their survival was not due to their own strength or their ability to withstand the pressure of Yuan Wuer, but purely because they had certain unspoken connections with the powerful elites within Shimen Prefecture.

"Yuan Wuer..."

Li Ju shook his head as he looked at the name, shifting his gaze downward. He only wanted to test his own strength, not challenge the pinnacle of power in this world.

The list his subordinates had provided contained over a dozen names, and if one were to include those suspected of being at the True Qi Realm, the number would be even higher. It had to be said that because of Yuan Wuer’s presence, the number of experts in Shimen Prefecture was unusually high, far exceeding that of other prefectures of the same rank.

"Yang Ming, Sect Master of the Scattering Wind Sect. You shall be the one."

After pondering the list for a long time, Li Ju finally settled on a name. Yang Ming, the Sect Master of the Scattering Wind Sect, had broken through to the True Qi Realm only a few years prior. He was relatively junior among the True Qi experts in Shimen Prefecture and lacked any powerful backing, making him the perfect target.

...

Yangyuan County.

On this day, the Black Lotus Sect’s Branch Leader Ye and Zhao Bao, the eldest son of the Zhao family of Yangyuan, stood solemnly with their men at the gates of the county, as if awaiting someone of great importance.

Strangely, even though the members of the Black Lotus Sect had effectively taken control of the county gates, the local yamen and the garrison remained completely unresponsive.

Clatter, clatter, clatter...

The sound of hooves approached from afar. A caravan of black horses and black carriages, bearing the insignia of the Black Lotus, was racing toward the county.

Whoa.

The carriages came to a halt before the city gates, with the side door of the main carriage facing the entrance.

Branch Leader Ye and Zhao Bao hurried forward to greet the arrival.

A pair of fair, slender hands emerged first from the carriage, followed by a pair of shapely, long legs. As the figure stepped fully out, a woman appeared before them—her face veiled in black, dressed in a black gown, with a voluptuous and enchanting physique.

"We pay our respects to the Inspector!"

Branch Leader Ye and his men knelt on one knee, speaking with reverence. None of them dared to cast a glance at the Inspector’s face.

"Rise."

The woman’s voice was languid. She folded her hands over her abdomen, swept her shimmering, beautiful eyes across the crowd, and began to walk into the city.

"Where is Branch Leader Ye?"

"I am here, Inspector."

Hearing her call, Branch Leader Ye hurriedly followed behind her, keeping exactly one step back.

"The person you mentioned in your letter—have there been any updates?"

As they walked through the empty main street of the county, the woman questioned him.

"Reporting to the Inspector, according to the intelligence, that brat has fled into Shimen Prefecture..." Branch Leader Ye replied, hesitating slightly.

"Why didn't you kill him before he entered the prefecture? He is merely an external-style expert; do you mean to say you lack the ability to handle that?"

The woman turned her head slightly to glance at him.

"Reporting to the Inspector, I was merely acting out of caution, and so..."

Under her gaze, Branch Leader Ye felt as if he had been plunged into an ice cellar, and he scrambled to explain.

"You were afraid of dying."

The woman’s single statement sealed his lips.

"I... I, Inspector, I..."

Cold sweat beaded on Branch Leader Ye’s forehead.

"Forget it. Since he has already reached Shimen Prefecture, there is no need to pursue him. Assign some people to keep an eye on him; the moment he leaves the city, have him killed."

Hearing that she no longer intended to pursue the matter, Branch Leader Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

"But Inspector, what if that brat leaks our sect’s grand plan to the authorities in Shimen Prefecture?"

After a moment of hesitation, he could not help but ask.

"Hmph, do you truly believe that everything our sect does is flawless and remains undiscovered?"

"Do you think the powers in Shimen Prefecture and the Caizhou provincial capital are unaware of the reckless, lawless things you and the Zhao family have been doing here?"

The woman let out a cold, disdainful scoff at his question.

"Then, Inspector, your meaning is..."

A bold guess began to form in Branch Leader Ye’s mind.

"Just do your own job. If that person truly dares to leak our sect’s information to Shimen, there will be no need for us to act—others will handle him."

By now, the woman and Branch Leader Ye had reached the county yamen, which was completely deserted.

"If not for that person, then what brings the Inspector here?"

Branch Leader Ye asked, puzzled. In his view, aside from that target, a backwater place like Yangyuan County had nothing worthy of the Inspector’s attention.

"Long time no see, Soul Maiden!"

Suddenly, a shrill, rooster-like voice echoed throughout the yamen.

"You need not concern yourself with what follows."

The woman glanced at Branch Leader Ye, who immediately understood and withdrew.

"Soul Maiden, I’ve heard all about your subordinate’s failures. He’s nothing but trash—why do you keep him around?"

A hulking figure emerged from the shadows. He stood three meters tall, his massive, muscular frame covered in black lotus-shaped tattoos.

"Soul Maiden, just say the word, and I will send my own elite branch leaders to serve under you. They are guaranteed to be far more capable than that piece of trash!"

"As long as you agree to be my wife, everything I have will be yours!"

The man stared at her with naked, burning desire—a gaze so intense it was deeply unsettling.

"I wouldn't mind gouging out your eyes."

The woman’s voice was icy.

"Soul Maiden, if you wish, you can even rip out my heart."

He clutched his chest, his tongue darting out to lick his lips repeatedly.

"For example..."

*Splat!*

He thrust his hand into his own chest.

"Like this!"

He pulled out a still-pulsing, steaming, and vein-covered organ, offering it to the woman with a crazed, doting smile.