Journey to Jingzhou, Aided by Li Kangjia; Jiang City Seized, the True Dragon Raises Its Head for the First Time

After preparing the horses, Ji turned to Master Jia and the others. "Are you coming?"

"Young Master Ji, we have other matters to attend to, so we won’t be going," Master Jia said, holding Qi Jin close as he addressed Ji.

"Other matters? I think you’re off to meet Yuko Feihua under the moonlight!" Ji’s words stunned Master Jia, who quickly fell to his knees. "Young Master Ji, you’ve got it all wrong! We haven’t agreed to anything with Yuko Feihua! Please, let me explain!"

"I have treated you well, yet you plot betrayal! Explanation? Go explain to the King of Hell!" With a wave of his hand, two soldiers rushed over and dragged Master Jia away.

"Ji, if you expose these petty matters, I’ll deal with you!" Ji growled, exasperated. Drawing a soldier’s sword beside him, he swiftly beheaded Master Jia.

Qi Jin stood trembling nearby, head bowed. "Can you spare me? I’m of great use to you!" Anyone who bent down to look closely would be shocked—his eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted, lacking any trace of the innocence expected of a sixteen-year-old.

Ji regarded him with amusement. "What do you think?" He smirked. "Though you saved me, you have now betrayed me. Besides, I’ve secured all your medicines. You’re now dispensable. I had planned to spare your life, but you sided with that pig. So, to repay your saving grace, I’ll grant you a swift end!"

With that, Ji drew the Stir-Fried Noodle Sword. The blade rose, and the head fell.

At that moment, the Half-Moon Cat howled fiercely at Ji. "Haha, you little beast, noisy as ever. Go join your master—he must be waiting for you!" Another sword stroke silenced the meows.

甲亢 watched Ji silently. "Excuse the disturbance. Let’s go; Jingzhou will demand much effort yet," he said, waving his hand as two soldiers began clearing the scene.

---

Jingzhou.

The ancient city walls stood tall and majestic, their worn blue bricks whispering tales of a thousand years. The moat, like a shimmering emerald ribbon, wrapped around the city, reflecting the blossom-strewn banks. Inside, streets were lined with charming, traditional buildings, bustling shops, and lively crowds. Passersby paused to admire or browse, faces radiant with satisfaction and joy.

In the distance, an ancient bridge spanned the river, crowded with pedestrians above the flowing waters below—a harmonious, picturesque scene. A gentle breeze carried the scent of flowers, intoxicating the senses, as if one had stepped into a celestial paradise.

After a day’s gallop, Ji and his companion led their horses into Jingzhou.

Upon entering the city, they headed straight for the Li residence. Indeed, Ji’s mission was to ally with Li Kangjia and seize Jiangcheng, making it his stronghold for domination.

Yuko Feihua commanded sixty thousand troops; only with the help of Li Kangjia’s army of over one hundred thousand could she be defeated. Moreover, Li Kangjia revealed that the Southern Prince had a secret agent close to Yuko Feihua, ready to deliver a fatal blow at the right moment—a fact that bolstered Ji’s confidence.

"The Southern Prince grows ever more mysterious. Does he truly seek peace? I remain skeptical," Ji mused as they arrived at the Li estate.

"Please inform your master that Li Kangjia of Jiangcheng requests an audience!" Li said to the gate guard.

Moments later, the guard invited them inside.

---

They were greeted by Li Kangjia.

"General Jia, a pleasure to meet you! And this young man?"

"Oh, this is Young Master Ji, newly appointed general by the prince. I’m now his deputy," Kangjia explained.

"Young Master Ji, a pleasure indeed. If the Southern Prince values you, you must be a man of great talent. When you rise, don’t forget to help a humble man like me," Li Kangjia smiled warmly at Ji.

"Since the Prince of Jingzhou shares this sentiment, why not seize the day? Let’s discuss a business proposition right now."

"Please, do tell."

"Are you familiar with Yuko Feihua, the Prince of Jiangcheng?"

"Ah, she’s a formidable woman—saved her late husband’s cause and brought prosperity to Jiangcheng. Everyone knows her. But why do you ask?"

"That’s the deal I want to discuss—eliminate her, and I claim full control of Jiangcheng," Ji declared with commanding presence.

Li Kangjia was taken aback, sipping his tea before asking, "Admirable resolve, but what’s in it for me?"

"Isn’t it obvious? You said it yourself—a share of my future success! Don’t you believe in what I’ll achieve?" Ji smiled confidently, awaiting his answer.

Seeing Ji’s assured demeanor, Li Kangjia pondered deeply. He indeed had faith in Ji and hoped to leverage him to break free from royal control. Even the minor Prince of Ruzhou, Zhu Shengzhi, mocked him as a mere royal lackey. Change was imperative.

"How certain are you? Yuko Feihua’s backing is strong. Have you considered the consequences?" Li pressed urgently.

"You only need to know the Prince said he’ll bear all the consequences," Ji replied as if he had everything figured out.

Li glanced at Kangjia, seeking confirmation. Kangjia nodded understandingly.

Taking a deep breath, Li said, "Wait here." He stepped inside briefly, then returned, offering a talisman. "This grants you authority to summon fifty thousand Red Eyebrow troops from the eastern district. It’s my limit; if Jiangcheng were farther from Jingzhou, I couldn’t spare so many. The rest is up to you."

"The Prince of Jingzhou is truly a man of passion. I won’t forget this favor and will surely repay it in due time!" They clasped fists in mutual respect. Ji then invited Kangjia to leave the Li estate.

"May you both triumph! When you return, I, Li Kangjia, will welcome you with a toast!"

Upon exiting, they hurried to the eastern district, marshaled the fifty thousand troops, briefed the commanders, and without lingering in Jingzhou, replenished supplies and rode swiftly toward Jiangcheng.

---

February 1st, dusk.

Ji addressed his troops. "Soldiers, we move soon. Confidence?"

"Yes!"

"Is our insider ready?" Ji asked, studying the map.

"All set. At the crucial moment, a deadly strike will be launched," Kangjia said, admiring Ji’s ambition.

"At midnight, I’ll lead the Divine Strategy troops to assault the prince’s mansion. The Red Eyebrows will block reinforcements outside the city. You must hold them!" Ji looked at Deng Fu, the Red Eyebrow commander.

"Rest assured, General Ji, we will complete the mission!"

Ji then gazed calmly toward the prince’s mansion, lost in thought.

---

Meanwhile, inside the prince’s mansion, Yuko Feihua had no intention of sleeping. She knew Ji would strike tonight. "Without Jingzhou’s army, how can he be so sure inside the city? Only three thousand Divine Strategy troops?" Unease gnawed at her.

"Xiao Liuhua, send me two favorites. I doubt Ji will act so soon."

"Yes, my lady," came a soft voice. Xiao Liuhua, Yuko Feihua’s personal steward, was a eunuch.

"Also, have the eight thousand Tiger Might troops surrounding the mansion stay alert!" As a song of moans and sighs echoed, masking something sinister.

---

February 2nd, Dragon Raises Its Head day, midnight.

Ji looked skyward; the moon was veiled by clouds. "A dark, windy night perfect for killing!" With that, three thousand Divine Strategy troops, led by Ji and another captain, Huangfu Heng, advanced toward the mansion.

"Stop!" Ji ordered, halting the troops a street away from the mansion, awaiting his next command.

The moaning song continued for an hour, still unbroken.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Attack! Has Ji ordered the assault?" Yuko Feihua asked anxiously.

"No, it’s me, Xiao Liuhua, who will initiate the attack!" Before finishing, he rushed forward, covering Yuko Feihua’s face with a handkerchief. "Three hours should suffice," he whispered. She fainted, leaving only two favorites on the bed staring at each other.

Ignoring them, Xiao Liuhua carried Yuko Feihua outside, lit a “Cloud Piercing Arrow,” and fired.

"Attack!" Ji shouted.

The Divine Strategy troops, like blades in the night, charged the mansion but were ambushed by the eight thousand Tiger Might troops. The clash of iron and war cries rent the air. Moonlight occasionally pierced the clouds, illuminating the blood-soaked battlefield. Though valiant, the Divine Strategy troops were outnumbered and gradually pushed back, suffering over a thousand casualties.

At this critical moment, Ji, riding a swift steed, burst from the melee, holding the unconscious Yuko Feihua with a stern expression. He rode to the front line, raising her high before Tiger Might commander Nick. "General Ni, recognize her? Stop now, or the ruler of Jiangcheng dies tonight!"

A cold wind swept the battlefield, and the chaos seemed to freeze.

Nick looked at Yuko Feihua in Ji’s hands, not with anger but gratitude. "Thank you for freeing me. Yuko Feihua practiced a soul-sapping technique. As Tiger Might’s commander, I was her primary victim. Today, I am finally free!"

He turned to the Tiger Might soldiers. "Follow General Ji! Yuko Feihua is a hypocritical monster, a false strong woman who commits every evil and harms men. Were it not for her powerful family, we would have rebelled long ago. Now that Ji has rid us of this scourge, he is our leader!"

Ji had thought his words futile, but as soldiers laid down their weapons one by one, he realized just how formidable Yuko Feihua had been.

Thus, the battle inside the city ended dramatically. Outside, upon hearing of Yuko Feihua’s capture and Tiger Might’s surrender, enemy troops also lowered their weapons, shouting, "Long live General Ji! May his reign endure!"

On February 2nd, Ji—the true dragon—slowly lifted his head toward Star City.

---

In the early hours, Yuko Feihua, placed in Master Jia’s former bed, had vanished without a trace.

Meanwhile, on the official road from Jiangcheng to Ruzhou, a scholar with a complex expression drove a carriage. Inside lay a female beggar who had just awakened.

"Ji, I want you dead!" she hissed.