Chapter Twenty-Eight: Countdown

March 15.

Two days remained before the martial competition.

“Have you all heard the news?”

Within the Detective Division of the Dali Court, everyone was engaged in lively discussion.

“In the contest two days from now, Lord Chen intends to challenge Lord Li!”

“In the past, Vice Minister Chen rarely participated. Why is he so eager this year?”

“I suppose he wants to teach our newly arrived Vice Minister Li a lesson.”

“Is Lord Li going to accept the challenge?”

“They say Lord Li is only of the eighth rank. Isn’t this like throwing an egg against a rock?”

...

The hall was filled with debate.

There were two main camps: the radicals believed Yunji Li would at least lose both arms, while the conservatives thought even the radicals were being too optimistic.

“What are you all talking about?” Jiang Kui entered, putting an end to the commotion. “No cases today?”

“Chief.” Qin Fang feigned studiousness, holding a dossier as he followed behind Jiang Kui. “Tell me, why has Lord Li, having just arrived at our Dali Court, immediately come into conflict with Lord Chen?”

Jiang Kui recalled leaving Li Yunji alone in the archives the previous day and sighed softly. “This is all my fault...”

“That Chen Jingshan really has too much time on his hands, making trouble at a time like this,” Qin Fang complained. “Lord Chen has always been proud and ambitious. Clearly, he wants to raise the prestige of the Pure and Simple Pavilion and dampen our Detective Division’s spirit!”

“I’m afraid Lord Li won’t be able to withstand it...”

“Whose spirit is he going to dampen?!”

Before Qin Fang could finish, Li Yunji’s bright and cheerful voice rang out from behind them.

The two turned to see Li Yunji approaching with a confident smile, his steps steady and assured.

“Lord Li.” Jiang Kui bowed. “May I have a word?”

They moved to a quiet corner. Once Jiang Kui was certain no one was near, he whispered, “Lord Chen is formidable with his fists and feet. Does Lord Li have a strategy?”

Li Yunji smiled serenely. “When the enemy comes, I’ll meet him; when the water rises, I’ll build a dam.”

Jiang Kui couldn’t help but feel uneasy at Li Yunji’s inexplicable confidence.

Brother, there’s a three-rank gap between you. Why are you so calm?

“Why do you seem more anxious than I am?” Li Yunji patted Jiang Kui’s shoulder.

“I’m concerned for your safety, my lord,” Jiang Kui replied, bowing.

“Surely Old Chen won’t beat me to death, will he?”

“Certainly not!” Jiang Kui answered gravely.

“Don’t worry,” Li Yunji said, his gaze resolute. “I know my limits.”

Then, as if remembering something, Li Yunji’s tone grew mysterious. “Jiang Kui, let me ask you something.”

“How strong is the defense of a fifth-rank master?”

Jiang Kui pondered for a moment before answering, “It is naturally outstanding.”

“Oh?” Li Yunji mused. “If we were to compare it to bluestone slabs, how many layers would that be?”

Jiang Kui frowned, quickly calculating. “By common reckoning, a fifth-rank master’s defense is roughly equivalent to withstanding ten layers of bluestone. As for Lord Chen, he could manage fifteen.”

Li Yunji nodded, a glint in his eye. “I understand. Thank you, Brother Jiang.”

With that, he turned and left, leaving Jiang Kui full of questions.

Elsewhere, in the Pure and Simple Pavilion—

“Knowing that Lord Chen has issued a challenge, Lord Li still dares to show up for duty?”

“Not only that, but I saw him chatting and laughing with the Detectives earlier.”

“Hmph, looks to me like he’s given up all hope!”

Two armed guards whispered, their eyes full of disdain.

Inside the pavilion, Chen Jingshan stood with his hands behind his back, clearing his throat and admonishing, “No idle gossip!”

...

March 16.

One day remained.

Li Yunji carried on as usual, showing no sign of concern as he reported for duty.

“Chief,” Qin Fang muttered, watching Li Yunji hum a tune as he strolled past, “do you think our lord will run off before the match?”

Jiang Kui, unable to guess Li Yunji’s intentions, simply remained silent.

“Did Lord Li confide in you about his plan?”

Jiang Kui shook his head and sighed. “Yesterday, Lord Li asked me how strong Lord Chen’s defense was.”

Qin Fang scratched his head. “Could it be that Lord Li plans to forge some armor to withstand the beating?”

It was the only answer he could come up with. Given the disparity in strength, it was only natural to try to minimize the damage one would suffer when facing a certain defeat.

“It’s possible,” Jiang Kui agreed.

“Chief,” interrupted a round-faced, bearded man, casually throwing his arm around their shoulders, “I heard Lord Li had dozens of bluestone slabs delivered to the Prime Minister’s residence last night.”

“What’s that about?”

The two pondered, but in the end, could only shake their heads helplessly.

Whatever Li Yunji had up his sleeve, they couldn’t guess.

Their thoughts were interrupted by Xu Changfeng’s sudden entrance as he strode straight into the inner room.

“Lord Xu?” the three exchanged puzzled glances. “Why is Lord Xu here?”

“Could he be here to assign Lord Li an urgent task?” Qin Fang speculated. “That way, Lord Li could avoid a beating and save face!”

The other two’s eyes brightened instantly. “That makes sense!”

Inside the room—

“Lord Xu.” Li Yunji rose to his feet as soon as he saw Xu Changfeng.

Xu Changfeng approached, getting straight to the point. “Vice Minister Li, are you prepared for tomorrow’s contest?”

A smile played at Li Yunji’s lips. “I have my own plan.”

Xu Changfeng paused, a trace of confusion crossing his face. “You do realize your opponent, Vice Minister Chen, is a fifth-rank master?”

“I do,” Li Yunji replied calmly.

Xu Changfeng’s expression stiffened as he looked at Li Yunji’s confident face, curiosity stirring in his heart.

“And how do you intend to respond?” he pressed.

Li Yunji offered a cryptic smile. “Lord Xu, you’ll see for yourself tomorrow.”

It wasn’t that Li Yunji was unwilling to explain; he just thought it would be too much trouble to lay it all out.

Xu Changfeng frowned and, after a moment’s thought, sighed. “Very well, I won’t ask further.”

He withdrew a document from his sleeve. “If you wish to avoid the contest, you may use this order to excuse yourself.”

Li Yunji glanced at the document and smiled lightly. “Lord Xu, if I refuse to fight, how could I ever hold my head up in the Dali Court again?”

As a vice minister, he could not afford to lose face or authority by shrinking from battle.

If he fought tomorrow, at worst he would take a beating.

If he refused, he would lose not only his dignity but the respect of his rank.

How could he command others in the future?

Xu Changfeng understood this well.

After a long silence, he patted Li Yunji’s shoulder earnestly. “Vice Minister Li, be sure to take care of yourself.”

“Rest assured, Lord Xu,” Li Yunji replied, his gaze unwavering.

...

Night fell.

At the Prime Minister’s residence.

In the west wing, Li Yunji’s desk was set with two roast geese and a basket of osmanthus cakes.

Su Xiyan sat across from him, swallowing her saliva from time to time.

“Sister,” Li Yunji smiled, “you’re so skilled, I imagine you can control the power of the Thunder Talisman with ease?”

Su Xiyan nodded shyly, her eyes darting between the roast goose and the cakes.

Li Yunji chuckled, producing two Thunder Talismans from his sleeve.

“I have a favor to ask, sister-in-law.”

“In a moment, use your power to channel lightning into this bamboo tube—but keep the current gentle, no stronger than a strand of hair.”

“The key is a steady flow.”

“It must last!”

Su Qingmeng took the Thunder Talismans, pressing her fingers together.

A faint crackling sound filled the air—