Ninglang Commandery had just weathered a massive conflict, resulting in the downfall of White Cloud Manor. Yet, as a lineage sect stretching back millennia, the remnants of that organization were countless. To thoroughly uproot the hidden influence of White Cloud Manor within Ninglang Commandery, the Sovereign, Luo Xiaofeng, though having recalled the main army, deliberately stationed an elite force of twenty thousand men to guard the area, aiming to completely eradicate the Manor's power and better consolidate control, preventing the region from descending further into chaos and warfare…
And in Ninglang County, the largest county in the Commandery, over five thousand troops were stationed. The cavalry contingent arriving now was a fully organized battalion of one thousand men, led by an officer ranked as Canjiang (Assistant General)… named Chen Qi…
A step above him would be a full General, though those under him usually addressed any senior officer respectfully as ‘General’…
Chen Qi, who had just been patrolling outside, immediately rushed over with his unit upon hearing the commotion of rebellion. When he saw the group of men bare-chested but clad in animal hides, a chill immediately swept through him. Where had so many savages from the Southern Wilderness appeared from? He hadn't received a single word of warning…
Without needing instruction from the leader of the official escort party, he ordered his cavalry to fan out to both flanks, completely encircling Ye Jingyu and his group, but he did not immediately order an attack…
As people of the Shu Yun Kingdom living near the edge of the Southern Wilderness Forest, they all knew that the Southern Wilderness was home to the Southern Barbarian Tribes. These tribes usually would not easily step out of their forest and posed little threat to the Shu Yun Kingdom. However, if any of their kin were harmed, those terrifying savages of the Southern Wilderness would emerge to avenge their people…
The Shu Yun Kingdom had always maintained a policy of appeasement towards the Southern Barbarian Tribes; no matter which Sovereign ruled, they were unwilling to offend the powerful tribes…
Therefore, upon seeing a group of men from the Southern Wilderness, Assistant General Chen Qi dared not act rashly, content only to surround them…
“What is going on here?” Chen Qi was encased in dark armor, his face obscured by his helmet, making his features unreadable, but judging by his voice, he sounded to be in his early twenties…
To hold the rank of Assistant General in his early twenties was sufficient proof of his capabilities…
Hearing Chen Qi’s inquiry, the leader of the escort party quickly recounted the events that had just transpired. Of course, he spoke only the truth, exaggerating nothing, as Ye Jingyu’s actions were already grounds enough for treason; he saw no need to invent other charges…
“Is what he says true…” Chen Qi said, sounding troubled after hearing the escort’s report… After all, if it were true, these men had indeed committed the crime of sedition. As an Assistant General of the Shu Yun Kingdom, he was duty-bound to fully suppress rebels…
But setting aside whether his one thousand men could handle these hundred individuals, even if they succeeded, what action might the barbarians from the Southern Wilderness take if they learned their kinsmen had been killed? The Shu Yun Kingdom had just endured one war; it could not afford another…
“What he says is true… but we have no intent of rebellion,” Ye Jingyu stepped out from the crowd, speaking with extreme casualness, completely ignoring the fully armed soldiers surrounding him…
“Hmph, assaulting an imperial official—and that isn't rebellion, what is?” Upon hearing Ye Jingyu attempt a defense, the escort leader scoffed coldly…
“Look at this…” Ye Jingyu, unwilling to waste breath on this lot, pulled out the token gifted to him by Luo Ruofeng and tossed it directly to Chen Qi…
In his estimation, this Assistant General commanding a thousand men should recognize the token of the Young Master…
Indeed, when Chen Qi caught the token and clearly saw what it was, his whole body shuddered. Disregarding the escort leader still chattering beside him, and ignoring the weight of his armor, he immediately vaulted off his horse and knelt before Ye Jingyu…
“Your subordinate, Chen Qi, pays his respects, my Lord…” Although he did not know Ye Jingyu’s exact official rank, a token personally bestowed by the Young Master meant this person was far beyond his station…
That token was a personal possession of the Third Young Master; how could he possibly entrust it to just anyone?
Seeing the commander of a thousand men kneeling before Ye Jingyu, the escort leader froze entirely…
What… what was going on here?
This fellow, he… he… could he be some high-ranking official traveling incognito? How could even Assistant General Chen be so deferential?
For a moment, the escort’s mind went completely blank…
“I am no official, merely an acquaintance of his. You need not bow to me; I only wish to know what transpired here,” Ye Jingyu waved his hand, speaking indifferently. The annihilation of Ye Family Estate had left him deeply displeased, intensely so…
Upon hearing that Ye Jingyu was not an official but merely an acquaintance, the reverence on Chen Qi’s face deepened. He naturally knew whom the so-called ‘he’ referred to and what that represented; having formed a connection with ‘him’ was a greater asset than any official title…
“Reporting, my Lord, the Ye Family Estate committed treason and has been sentenced to extermination of the nine familial relations…”
“Extermination of the nine familial relations…” Upon hearing this news, Ye Jingyu visibly swayed, and his face instantly paled to a stark white…
Noticing Ye Jingyu’s drastic change in complexion, and connecting it with the reason for his arrival, Chen Qi vaguely guessed that Ye Jingyu might be connected to the Ye Family Estate. Just as he was about to speak, a cold, sharp voice cut in…
“It was Qin Yan, wasn't it…”
“Yes, my Lord…” Surprise flickered in Chen Qi’s eyes. As an Assistant General, he occupied a middle-to-upper tier position and knew certain secrets not available to the common folk, such as the fact that the annihilation of the Ye Family Estate was proposed by Qin Yan, the greatest contributor to this punitive campaign. Yet, he had not expected the youth before him to guess it instantly. Did he truly possess some profound connection to the Ye family…
“Very good, very good, very good…” Ye Jingyu showed no anger and no smile, merely repeating ‘very good’ three times, yet anyone could detect the intense killing intent woven into his words…
“My Lord, actually, a portion of the Ye Family Estate has not yet been executed. If your Lordship wishes to understand the truth of this matter, perhaps you should personally interrogate them…” Sensing the deep wave of murderous intent from Ye Jingyu, Chen Qi was certain he had a significant tie to the Ye family, otherwise, such intense hatred could not manifest. As a mid-level officer with no powerful backing, he understood that advancing further was impossible without a strong patron. Now, this youth, who shared an intimate bond with the Young Master, presented a clear path. If he could foster a good relationship with him and attach himself to the powerful tree that was the Young Master, his future would surely be secure. Thus, he subtly conveyed his goodwill…
“Good…” Upon hearing this, Ye Jingyu’s eyes lit up, and his gaze toward Chen Qi was filled with gratitude…
And Chen Qi’s heart soared with anticipation…
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