Chapter Ninety: I Thought the City of Beiling Had Changed Hands

But then again," Eleven went on, "Young Master, in truth, you are stronger than I am."

"Me?" Li Yunji lifted his brows. "You flatter me."

What right did a small fry in the sixth rank have to compare himself with a supreme expert who could tear a third-rank powerhouse apart with his bare hands?

"It's the truth." Eleven nodded solemnly. "When ordinary people cultivate, they are constrained by many things."

"For example, comprehension, fortune, the body, and so on."

"But Young Master has none of those limits." Eleven paused, then continued, "Have you not noticed that whether you are cultivating or breaking through a realm, everything goes extraordinarily smoothly for you, with no obstacles at all?"

"Now that you mention it, it does seem that way." Li Yunji nodded, then asked, "And the body? What good does a strong body do?"

Eleven pondered for a long while, and suddenly a spark of wisdom flashed in his eyes:

"Good for taking a beating!"

He said it with utter certainty, his expression equally serious.

Li Yunji went dark at the edges. "That's it?"

"That's it."

So that was all it amounted to: a living target.

Li Yunji sighed inwardly.

Well, fine. Better than nothing.

He plucked a foxtail grass stem at random and bit it between his teeth, then folded his hands behind his head and slowly closed his eyes.

...

Within the lands of Western River Province.

A ruined temple outside a city.

Murong Lanyue helped the injured man in black robes inside to rest.

"Master, how are you?!" Murong Lanyue asked, her brows tightly furrowed.

The man in black robes sat cross-legged on the ground, breathing steadily to calm his spirit, and said indifferently, "I am unharmed."

"It's just a pity we lost such a perfect opportunity."

As he spoke, he let out a long sigh.

"But why did Zhao Zhuo suddenly appear?"

The man in black robes considered for a moment, then gave a cold snort. "I'm afraid Su Ming was stirring things from behind the scenes."

"Looking at it now, he had been plotting and laying his schemes step by step, all to elevate Zhao Zhuo into power."

Murong Lanyue's expression faltered slightly as she said in a low voice, "Now that we can no longer stop Li Yunji from heading north, what should we do next?"

The man in black robes narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Then let him go."

"Li Yi is ruthless and merciless, no less so than Su Ming."

"Once he reaches North Ridge, he will naturally taste his comeuppance."

...

With the escort of the Crimson Armored Guard, Li Yunji traveled unimpeded all the way.

Five days later, they reached the border of North Ridge.

"Royal Brother Li." Zhao Zhuo rode alongside Li Yunji's carriage on horseback. "Now that you have safely arrived in North Ridge, it is time for me to return to the capital."

"When you come back to the capital, we will catch up properly!"

Li Yunji nodded and cupped his hands in salute. "Many thanks to Your Highness for seeing me off."

Zhao Zhuo gave a slight nod, reined in his horse, and galloped away in the opposite direction.

"Young Master." Eleven looked toward the city gate looming faintly in the distance and said with some concern, "The North Ridge City gate is just ahead."

Li Yunji stretched. "At last, we are here."

"Young Master isn't worried?"

"What is there to worry about?" Li Yunji said placidly. "When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will cover it."

With that, he raised his whip. The horse sped over the gravel road, the carriage behind it creaking and rattling.

Before long, the carriage arrived beneath the city gate.

Suddenly, a change erupted!

A glint of cold light flashed, and in front of the carriage, three sharp arrows stabbed straight into the ground!

"Who goes there?!"

From atop the wall, a city guard officer shouted.

"What is the meaning of this?" Su Qingmeng asked, parting the curtain.

"Can't you tell?" Li Yunji replied, "They're trying to throw their weight around."

Seeing the tightly shut gate and the soldiers arrayed sternly atop the wall, Su Qingmeng immediately understood. "Looks like you, the Prince of North Ridge, aren't very welcome."

Li Yunji sighed. "Must you always twist the knife?"

As he spoke, he took out the emperor's written decree from his robes and handed it to Su Qingmeng. "Shoot."

Su Qingmeng frowned, bewildered.

Li Yunji clicked his tongue. "I mean, use your sword to pin this decree to the city wall."

Though still at a loss, Su Qingmeng did as told.

With a sharp ring, the sword left its scabbard, and Li Yunji also sprang up, landing firmly atop the carriage roof.

"The Grand Court Office is here on imperial orders to investigate a case!"

"Anyone who dares obstruct us will be killed without mercy!"

His words rang out with force, neither servile nor overbearing.

At the very least, his bearing did not fall short in the slightest.

The moment Li Yunji finished speaking, Su Qingmeng's sword also drove straight into the wall.

The city guard officer cast a casual glance at the decree and said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "So it is His Highness the Prince honoring us with his presence."

"This subordinate failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me, Your Highness!"

With that, he gave the soldiers beside him a look.

The soldier took the order, turned, and went down the stairs.

Soon after, the city gate slowly opened.

"Young Master, this man is terribly arrogant," Eleven said aggrievedly. "How dare he be so rude to you!"

Li Yunji seemed to have expected it all along and merely smiled faintly.

Once inside the gate, the city guard officer rode out to meet them on horseback, while more than a dozen soldiers with spears stood on either side.

"What is your name?" Li Yunji asked, giving him a once-over.

"This subordinate is the commander of the city guard, Yang Xun."

Li Yunji gave an "oh" and said, "Come here."

Yang Xun was taken aback, then urged his horse forward slowly.

"Stop." Li Yunji suddenly barked again, motioning with his eyes for him to dismount. "Walk over."

By now, Yang Xun already felt something was wrong, the flesh on his face twitching faintly.

After a moment's thought, he still leaped down from his horse and walked to the front of Li Yunji's carriage.

"You are Commander Yang, yes?" Li Yunji said with a smile.

"Indeed." Yang Xun looked up at Li Yunji, his gaze sharp as fire. "I wonder what Your Highness means by..."

Slap—

Before he could finish, a resounding blow landed across his face.

The echo lingered inside the gate tunnel, long and clear.

The soldiers all wore looks of terror, and unconsciously stood straighter, not daring to breathe.

Su Qingmeng: I know this move. Back then, he slapped Bai Xue just like this, without the slightest warning!

"What does Your Highness mean by this?!" Yang Xun glared, enunciating each word as though he wanted to grind his teeth to dust!

He had been slapped in front of so many of his men; how was he supposed to hold his head up afterward?

"You still dare ask?" Li Yunji gave a cold snort. "A mere city guard commander, a nobody in a post no bigger than a sesame seed."

"Yet you dared not kneel when you saw me!"

After hurling a few crude curses, he went on, "You even dared order someone to shoot at me just now!"

"Tell me, should you be slapped or not?"

A trace of panic flashed across Yang Xun's face. This was not what he had heard!

Wasn't the Prince of North Ridge supposed to be thoroughly ruined after fooling around in the capital?

Thud.

Suppressing his rage, Yang Xun dropped to one knee. "This subordinate greets Your Highness the Prince!"

The surrounding soldiers saw this and all knelt as well. "Greetings, Your Highness the Prince!"

Seeing this, Li Yunji nodded in satisfaction. "Where is my second uncle?"

"Replying to Your Highness." Yang Xun said angrily, "This subordinate has already sent word to General Li!"

"Very well." Li Yunji pouted. "Then remain kneeling for now. When my second uncle arrives, you may rise."

With that, he instructed the other soldiers to get up.

The soldiers looked at one another. Since Yang Xun had not risen, they did not dare to rise either.

"Commander Yang, do the soldiers under you only obey your orders?" Li Yunji said coldly, then his tone suddenly rose. "Have they even stopped taking my word as the prince seriously?!"

The soldiers were startled by Li Yunji's authority. Their bodies trembled, and for a moment they did not know what to do.

"When His Highness tells you to rise, then rise!" Yang Xun roared with his head lowered, killing intent surging through every word.

The soldiers all turned pale. After much struggle, they finally rose one after another, anxious and uneasy.

"That's more like it." Li Yunji suddenly burst into laughter. "I was wondering whether North Ridge City had already changed hands after I was gone for more than ten years..."