On the journey toward Tianxiang City, Jun Moxie had, intentionally or not, absorbed seven or eight different versions of the tale, each one full of devoted beauties, jade-like women, heroic bravery, and a righteous fury worth a thousand lives...

Listening, and then hearing a completely different account as he neared the city, even Young Master Jun couldn't help but curse with righteous indignation: "The leaders of these Three Great Holy Lands are too shameless! It’s one thing to covet beautiful women, but to fight over mere tens of taels of silver! It actually sparked a war that shook the world..."

In short, in all these legends, one point was consistent, starkly clear: the sovereign known as the Lord of Evil was definitively not Jun Moxie, the Third Young Master of the Jun family. Anyone who suggested otherwise was immediately drowned in a flood of spitting condemnation, and that was the mild consequence; if luck ran out, one might face a physical surrounding...

Finally arriving at the southern gate of Tianxiang City, a sudden surge of human traffic parted before him, clearing a path as a troop of soldiers, gleaming in their armor, marched with measured, proud steps. Emerging from the city gate, they arrayed themselves in a perfect V-formation, and with a roar, various banners were erected, snapping crisply in the wind, creating a momentary sensation that the very heavens and earth were trembling!

Behind the main contingent, two formations broke away, their golden banners soaring high overhead, a golden dragon unfurling its claws against the wind, signifying absolute dominion! It was His Majesty the Emperor, gracing them with his personal presence!

Everyone else scrambled far to the side, watching from a distance. Only Jun Moxie stood alone in the middle of the wide road, utterly bewildered, not knowing what was transpiring.

Nine cannon shots ripped the sky apart, and a magnificent, opulent dragon carriage slowly approached. Surrounded by his civil and military officials, the former Prince Regent, now His Majesty Emperor Yang Huainong of the Tianxiang Empire, descended from the carriage alongside the Crown Prince, a broad smile on his face, hurrying forward to meet him.

"Ten Thousand Blessings!"

Everyone by the city gate instantly stooped lower, sinking to their knees.

This grand welcoming ceremony... was for him?

Jun Moxie scratched his head, genuinely unaccustomed to such a formal reception.

Seeing the current Emperor of Tianxiang greet him with such heartfelt enthusiasm, Jun Moxie could only manage a forced smile and step forward. If others showed him an inch of respect, he was obliged to return a foot. When the supreme ruler of a nation personally welcomed him outside the city gate, he, the "unworthy" Lord of Evil, had to play the part.

Furthermore, his return was fundamentally intended to bolster the prestige of these two—father and son—who had only just ascended the throne. If news spread that the renowned and formidable Lord of Evil entered Tianxiang City with such high visibility, personally welcomed by the Emperor, it would serve as an indelible, monumental deterrent to other nations! This deterrent, as long as the Lord of Evil stood firm, would last until Yang Huainong secured his reign completely! For the Tianxiang Kingdom, which had just undergone a transfer of imperial power, this was a windfall sent from the heavens. If Yang Huainong couldn't seize this immense opportunity, he surely wouldn't deserve the throne...

After a brief exchange of courtesies, they proceeded into the city, as the gate was hardly a suitable place for reminiscing. Through their quick conversation, Jun Moxie sensed that Yang Huainong and the Crown Prince, Yang Mo, were grateful to him from the bottom of their hearts; after all, without Jun Moxie, neither father nor son would have reached their current position.

"How have these past days been? Surely no one dares bully you now, do you?" (Xie Jun Ba Wei Wu)

Jun Moxie gently patted the head of Yang Mo, who was leaning close beside him, and asked with a smile.

Little Yang Mo laughed, his bright eyes blinking rapidly. "Of course, no one dares bully me now. With Brother Moxie backing me up, who would dare touch a single hair on my head?" Jun Moxie roared with laughter. Just then, Li Youran, standing nearby, stepped forward with a slight smile and inquired, "Third Young Master, the Lord of Evil whose name rings across the world—that's you, our 'old sir,' isn't it?"

Though phrased as a question, it carried a tone of certainty, even a hint of teasing.

"Oh?"

Jun Moxie regarded him with interest. "Everyone in the world believes it isn't me. Why are you so certain? Do I truly look like an old man?"

Li Youran smiled slowly. "The world merely echoes what it hears; how many of them truly know the Third Young Master? Only those who have truly dealt with you know... what a terrifying, unfathomable entity Jun San Shao is! I believe, besides you, no other person in this world would act with such madness!"

"Am I truly that mad? Crazier than the Fourteenth Young Master of Jiuyou? Or perhaps... crazier than you?" Jun Moxie raised an eyebrow, teasing his former nemesis with a lighthearted jab.

Li Youran smiled and shook his head faintly. "My madness... differs greatly from yours, Third Young Master. Our goals were inherently different."

"That makes a certain kind of sense," Jun Moxie nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "How is Fatty doing?"

"Young Master Tang is truly enjoying the fruits of his labor now!" Li Youran’s voice was thick with envy. "That fellow is practically the uncrowned king of the Tianxiang Kingdom now. Although he harbors no ambition, even His Majesty dares not offend him... He lives a life of pure satisfaction..."

Li Youran spoke with a tone of having endured hardship. "But putting other things aside, that Fatty pesters me every other day, claiming I tormented him for over a decade, and now he must collect payment with interest. He makes his arguments so self-righteously... Third Young Master, don't you think Fatty is being a bit heartless?"

Jun Moxie laughed heartily. "Heartless? I’d say he deserves every bit of it! Why did you constantly task people with making trouble for us back then? You even caused Fatty to lose his wife once! For him to seek revenge now is only natural!"

Li Youran managed a wry smile. "He was supposed to be here to greet you at the gate as well, but His Majesty personally asked him to yield the honor to the royal family... Fatty reluctantly agreed, but only after shaking the Emperor down for a scroll painting and ten jars of fine wine..."

Jun Moxie was momentarily speechless. That Fatty really dared to extort the Emperor himself... Truly audacious...

After forcing down a 'grand' lunch at the palace, Jun Moxie, accompanied by Li Youran, headed for the Noble Hall. Old friends were catching up, but without little Yang Mo, who nearly shed tears over being left behind...

However, the impact Jun Moxie brought to the Tianxiang Kingdom this time required the father and son to digest it thoroughly, especially for those old officials still harboring resentment. It was like a sharp sword hanging perpetually over their necks.

Once Jun Moxie clearly signaled his stance, those aware of his methods would absolutely not dare make a rash move! At least, not until Young Master Jun fell from grace—and that was crucial for the father and son to solidify their imperial power, perhaps even decisive! Thus, every moment during Jun Moxie's first few days was precious to them!

As Jun Moxie approached the entrance of the Noble Hall, from a distance he saw a mountain of flesh undulating before the doors, a thick, short neck straining to crane forward and see him. Beside this figure stood a graceful, slender silhouette. Hidden in the shadows, however, several others lay in close watch. Jun Moxie could sense the respect directed toward him from those lurking figures—even before meeting them, he knew: it was Hai Chenfeng and his old apprentice, Song Shang.

Seeing so many familiar faces from the past, Young Master Jun suddenly felt a subtle, almost other-worldly detachment. Although his family hadn't been gone long, the feeling of familiarity struck his heart with a sudden warmth. Spotting Jun Moxie approaching from afar, Tang Yuan suddenly shrieked, burst forth, and his body of rolling fat surged toward Jun Moxie. Jun Moxie groaned, looking at him with helpless exasperation. "My heavens... Fatty, you've gotten even fatter... I put so much effort into slimming you down once; I didn't expect you to bounce back this severely. You truly leave me speechless..." (Xie Jun Ba Wei Wu)

Tang Yuan’s round face beamed with genuine emotion as he rushed forward like the wind, throwing himself into a bear hug. He slapped Jun Moxie’s back with force, attempting to speak, but the words failed him, and his eyes reddened...

Embraced by his colossal bulk, Jun Moxie felt like a foam particle submerged in the ocean. After struggling for a moment, he broke free and laughed, scolding, "Fatty, I come back for a rare visit, and you try to smother me with your sheer mass."

Tang Yuan smiled sheepishly, rubbing his hands, taking a long moment before saying, "Third Young Master... I was desperately worried about you during this time... It wasn't until the news arrived a few days ago that you fought the Holy Lands and won that I drank all night in celebration!"

A wave of warmth washed over Jun Moxie’s heart as he patted his shoulder. "Fatty... you are excellent!"

Tang Yuan chuckled, suddenly animated, throwing his arms wide and spinning around before roaring, "Tell the kitchen, I’m drinking tonight! I need to get drunk! Wahahahaha..."

Bie Xiao Mei stood by, smiling, watching the two men vent their joy of reunion in such an unconventional manner. She felt a pang of bittersweet emotion: so this was how men's friendship could be—so sincere, so deeply layered, yet filled with an inexplicable emotion that could move one to tears...

A complaint drifted from the shadows, Hai Chenfeng's voice: "Third Young Master, since you left, we've been suffering. This Fatty sends the two of us out daily to gather news about you... And if we don't return with information one day, he dares to curse us... That Fatty is truly growing bold! Tell me, where is he getting all this information to satisfy his curiosity... It’s truly unbearable!"