Chapter 26

Editor: Henyee Translations

Zhou Yi was reluctant to get involved in the power struggle of Fengyang Country but wanted to do something for Li Wu.

In the past, when watching martial arts dramas, there were always knights-errant who would voluntarily protect certain incorruptible officials, exhausting themselves in the process.

“This is just a pretext for the start of the drama, it’s best to act as if it doesn’t exist…”

Zhou Yi had initially thought this way, but after chatting with Li Wu over the past few days, he unexpectedly developed the desire to play the hero just this once.

This action did not align with his established principle of staying above worldly affairs!

“Mr. Zhou’s indifference towards the secular world, yet making such a promise, doesn’t it prove that my choice is not wrong?”

Li Wu caressed his palms and laughed, his face unknowingly marked with several black streaks, spreading from his neck towards his head.

An Innate Grandmaster tempers their skin and bones externally, while internally refining their viscera and marrow. Their whole body is united like the primordial chaos, nearly reaching a state immune to all poisons. However, this deadly poison targets the brain directly, and upon outbreak, one becomes akin to the living dead.

“I don’t think it’s much good!”

Zhou Yi’s gaze dropped, and he suddenly thought of several faces, his mind inexplicably agitated.

“Li has lived a life without regrets towards the Imperial Court, but I’ve been too harsh towards my clan members. Those petty enemies who dare not show their faces usually, after Li’s death, will certainly seek vengeance upon my family!”

Li Wu pondered for a moment and then said, “There are a few skilled soldiers in the residence, they should be able to prevent any mistakes…”

Zhou Yi promised, “As long as the Innate do not emerge, the Li family will be unharmed.”

Below an Innate Grandmaster, Zhou Yi could easily exterminate them all with a wave of his hand!

“Li expresses his gratitude!”

Li Wu tried to get up to show his respects but suddenly his vision blurred, and he fell back into his seat.

The undisputed Innate Grandmaster of a nation, reduced from the esteemed and powerful Duke, who held firm to his inexplicable perseverance, to a state where he could not even stand stable.

“How substantial is the Zhao Imperial Family’s accumulated virtue to endure such destruction?”

Zhou Yi sighed, “Even if there’s an extraordinary old monster, I guarantee the Li family will not be wiped out.”

Li Wu apologized, “In this way, Mr. Zhou won’t be able to remain in seclusion in the Sky Prison.”

Zhou Yi shrugged, “I’ve been in the Sky Prison for decades, changing places isn’t too bad.”

Li Wu asked, “Change to where?”

Zhou Yi pointed eastward, “The Imperial Prison!”

Li Wu fell silent, speechless: “…”

“General Li doesn’t understand humor. For now, I will go out to lay low, then change my identity and return to the Sky Prison…”

Zhou Yi’s expression stiffened suddenly, he reached out to test Li Wu’s nose, finding no breath left.

…

In the seventeenth year of Hongchang.

Duke Li Wu passed away in the Sky Prison.

He was posthumously awarded the title “Loyal and Martial”, signifying “loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country, powerful and wise in virtue.”

At the age of seventy-six, Emperor Hongchang, undeterred by the Officials’ opposition, insisted on mourning Duke Li Wu with the honor of an emperor.

The historians recorded the details, setting the example of the monarch and his subject to be passed down to future generations.

…

New Year’s Eve was approaching.

Thick clouds covered the sky, the piercing cold north wind howled, and heavy snow had been falling all day without pause.

At midnight.

The patrolling soldiers, deterred by the severe cold, hid in the barracks drinking.

The Divine Capital was utterly silent, save for the sound of snowflakes softly landing.

The Duke’s residence.

The night watchmen were dozing off when a shadow flitted past their hazy eyes, and as they were about to raise their hands to greet it.

A blade’s glint crossed their throats, hot blood spraying on the ground.

Silence, slaughter!

Assassins clad in black, like cold machines, killed as efficiently as mowing grass without needing a second strike, advanced from the outskirts of the Duke’s residence towards the inside, leaving no survivors.

“Assassins!”

A sudden scream pierced the air, followed by an unceasing clash of swords and blades.

The experts within the residence were startled awake, with some confronting the enemy at the main house, and others rushing towards the rear residence, their actions as coordinated as a military formation.

Inner Chamber.

Li Ye, the successor to the title of Duke Zhenguo, was protected by hundreds of martial arts experts.

Commander Li said, “The enemy has come prepared, perhaps the duke should change his clothes and leave through the secret passage first?”

“We can’t get away.”

Li Ye’s face showed no fear, and having once campaigned with his father, he pointed towards the eastern residence, “The thieves besiege the Duke’s mansion, while Prince Anhua’s mansion remains silent. Where do you think I can escape to?”

Commander Li said in a deep voice, “Your grace, in such circumstances, it’s even more imperative that you preserve your life for future planning!”

“Plan for what, to rebel?”

Li Ye’s words carried a hint of indignation, “My father has earned the right to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and to leave his name in history. How could his son rebel? Or do you think, with my father’s wisdom, he couldn’t foresee today’s disaster for our clan?”

“The old duke…”

Commander Li was Li Wu’s trusted and loyal follower, yet faced with Li Ye’s questioning, he didn’t know how to explain.

The women of the Li family hid in their rooms, their eyes filled with terror, and many clutched daggers, ready to take their own lives at any moment.

Li Wu had departed with a carefree and resolute air, leaving those behind to live in fear!

At this moment.

There were no more sounds of fighting coming from the outer chamber, as the number of enemies was too great, and even soldiers in formation could not stop them.

The men in black step by step surrounded the inner chamber, stepping on the white snowflakes, leaving a trail of fresh red footprints.

“Heh heh heh!”

The signature ghastly laughter echoed throughout the duke’s mansion, “Li Wu killed my disciple, today I shall blood-wash—”

The voice suddenly stopped.

“…”

The leader of the men in black frowned and gestured for his subordinates to investigate; Duke Zhenguo’s mansion had a few tough figures, and they had gone to great lengths to coax this old monster out of hiding.

A moment later.

Two subordinates dragged a body over; it was an old man with white hair.

His face bore seven large flesh bumps, engraved with words: Impermanence, Life-claiming, Death God, Debt Collector…

The leader examined the old man’s injuries, finding only one wound that had pierced directly through the heart.

Knowing the old man’s prowess as a rare master in the martial world, the subordinates could guess how formidable the person who acted was, yet they felt no fear and quietly awaited the leader’s next command.

“Kill!”

At that command, the men in black charged toward the rear residence.

“More suicide troops, just how many enemies did Li Wu have?”

An aged voice reached the ears of the leader, and before the leader could speak, a wave of Sword Qi pierced through his chest.

With their leader gone, the remaining men in black’s ability to fight dropped sharply.

Several volleys of arrows shot out from the inner chamber, and making use of well-prepared traps, they managed to halt the men in black’s assault. Commander Li, leading from the front, fought valiantly, and after half an hour, finally eradicated the invaders.

“Wu Yama!”

Commander Li recognized the identity of the old man, “The cluster of ghosts the old duke eradicated were this man’s disciples. Rumors in the martial world spoke of his early demise; it’s shocking that he’s still alive today.”

Li Ye showed no interest in Wu Yama and bowed in all directions.

“My gratitude to the elder for saving us time and again!”

“I owed Li Wu a favor in the past. Today, it’s repaid. If someone else comes to kill, the young boy will have to make his own luck.” Zhou Yi, concealed in the shadows, transmitted these words before using the Light Body Skill to disappear in a few flashes.

Upon hearing this, Li Ye’s complexion changed dramatically, and he whispered the matter to Commander Li.

The Duke Zhenguo’s mansion had suffered numerous nocturnal assaults. Initially, with many experts in the mansion, they effortlessly repelled the invaders. However, the relentless enemies continuously sapped the mansion’s strength, which now was a mere tenth or less of what it once was.

In the last three invasions, the enemies had grown more formidable. Their survival to this day depended entirely on the covert protection of a superior elder.

Commander Li suggested, “Your grace, why not leave the Divine Capital and live in anonymity?”

“In the Divine Capital, it’s just assassins that strike; out there, it will be bandit armies laying siege!”

Li Ye looked up at the imperial palace. Ever since Emperor Hongchang had sent Li Wu away, his health had declined day by day, and now the Regent Crown Prince was in charge of state affairs.

“After the former emperor fell ill, how many years did he spend in Shangyang Palace?”

Commander Li thought for a moment and replied, “Roughly seven or eight years!”

Li Ye was silent for a long time, his voice somber.

“A step back, and it’s death and the extinction of our clan… Take my calling card to the Eastern Palace, and ask for an audience with the Regent Crown Prince.”