Fifty

Fifty

Though Zhao Rong was furious, he did not dare lead the True Martial Guard to arrest Lu Zhaojin.

Zhao Rong was also at the Seventh-Rank Realm, but he had been stuck at the late stage for years, unable to break through to the Sixth-Rank Realm.

It was a knot in his heart.

Since that youth had the means to kill General Banner An, he could kill him as well.

Zhao Rong cherished his life greatly.

Probationary Centurion Chai was even more prudent—one could even call him cowardly. He never fought anyone personally, preferring instead to lurk behind the scenes and toy with schemes and plots.

Thus, Zhao Rong had never truly trusted him. He did not even dare show him his back, afraid that a sharp blade might one day stab into it.

Zhao Rong did not dare touch that youth, but the True Martial Division had no shortage of people. Someone would surely be able to kill him.

Moreover, the Dragon Ranking specially established by the True Martial Division had been created precisely for these wandering martial artists who pursued fame.

They were all young, hot-blooded, and proud. They certainly would not be willing to bow their heads beneath another.

Zhao Rong intended to make some moves on the Dragon Ranking, turning that youth into a target for all, using the wandering martial artists as blades in his hand to rid himself of that little brat who had scorned the prestige of the True Martial Guard of Luoxia City.

Lu Zhaojin waited at the inn for two days.

There was still no news from the Brocade Merchant Guild. He did not know whether Lu Wenxiu had simply been too confident that night.

The Brocade Merchant Guild remained still.

Yet over the past two days, the True Martial Division had made one major move after another.

First.

The Dragon Ranking, which had seen no changes for years, released a new list yesterday. The rankings at the front had not changed much; only some martial cultivation levels and glorious battle records had been updated, drawing sighs of amazement and lamentations that comparing oneself to others could infuriate one to death.

But at the very last rank, a new name appeared. Everyone fixed their eyes upon it, and someone read aloud.

"Fiftieth place: Sword Demon Lu Zhaojin, mid-stage Seventh-Rank Realm, from the Sihai Escort Agency of Shiqiao Town, Qishan Commandery..."

The True Martial Division truly deserved to be the institution the dynasty had specially established for the wandering martial world. As long as it was willing to spend the effort and time, there was nothing it could not uncover.

This small ranking booklet had listed nearly everything Lu Zhaojin had done in Shiqiao Town, item by item. It was as though he had no secrets at all, as though he were walking naked down the street before the eyes of the public.

However, the True Martial Division had deliberately concealed the truth. The Sihai Escort Agency had originally been destroyed, and only then had Lu Zhaojin killed Zhang Heng and the others. Yet in the True Martial Division's account, the Sihai Escort Agency had been smeared as a gang that ran wild in Shiqiao Town, while Zhang Heng and the others had supposedly been forced to eliminate evil for the people.

The public consequently formed a poor impression of this youth newly added to the Dragon Ranking. At such a young age, his hands were already stained with the lives of who knew how many people—even imperial officials. Should they say that he was young and ignorant, and therefore recklessly bold, or simply bold to the point of looking down on everything?

Wandering martial artists who dared oppose the dynasty never came to a good end. Once captured, they were either beheaded at noon, torn apart by five horses, or dismembered by chariots—deaths beyond miserable.

The youth had gained fame by entering the Dragon Ranking, but most of it was infamy.

Some felt that he truly lived up to the name Sword Demon. Looking over the deeds recorded before and after his name on the list, he had slaughtered countless people and was steeped in demonic nature.

Others believed he was a killing god who disregarded life, and that the dynasty should send people to suppress and kill him before he became an even greater disaster.

Lu Zhaojin had known nothing of this at first.

It was not until Niu Hang came to find him today, carrying a Dragon Ranking booklet in his hand, that he learned of the Dragon Ranking.

Niu Hang explained, "The Dragon Ranking was established by the Great Ding Dynasty. It encompasses the most outstanding young talents from every commandery, as well as major sects and schools, and ranks the top fifty based on martial aptitude, battle records, and the like."

As Lu Zhaojin listened, he flipped through the pages and roughly skimmed the contents. Nothing particularly caught his attention until he saw the page introducing himself. His brows rose slightly, and he found it rather interesting. "Which force compiles this Dragon Ranking?"

Niu Hang saw Lu Zhaojin open the booklet to the page that recorded him. He had read it earlier that day as well, and he had been furious then. Why had they written about Lu Zhaojin like that?

He had interacted with Lu Zhaojin back at Mount Qi. Though the memory still seemed bloody when he recalled it, he understood Lu Zhaojin's character. He was not the sort of person who killed at the slightest provocation.

Thus, Niu Hang did not believe what the Dragon Ranking described. "The Dragon Ranking was established by the dynasty, but its contents are generally written by the True Martial Division. I heard that the ranking only came into being because of a proposal from that Commander of the True Martial Division."

Lu Zhaojin nodded and did not ask further about the True Martial Division. "What did you come to see me for today?"

Niu Hang scratched his head and smiled honestly. "I wonder whether you have any plans for your onward journey, young hero. If we happen to be headed the same way, we could travel together."

Lu Zhaojin shook his head. "I still have matters to handle in Luoxia City, so I will not be traveling with you."

Niu Hang was somewhat disappointed. "All right, then."

However, he quickly recovered and cupped his hands in salute. "I will be setting out for Luoshui City today. Since you still have matters in Luoxia City, young hero, I will not trouble you further."

Watching Niu Hang leave, Lu Zhaojin also began attending to his own affairs.

Since the Brocade Merchant Guild would not come looking for him, he would go find the Brocade Merchant Guild himself.

Lu Zhaojin left the inn and headed for the Brocade Merchant Guild.

Meanwhile.

At the city gates.

A group of people rode fine horses into the city, disregarding the crowds scrambling aside in panic. Even the garrison soldiers guarding the gates could not stop them.

The garrison soldiers sent word to the City Lord's Manor, but the reply they received was to leave them alone.

Since that was the case, they let the matter drop.

This group rode toward the True Martial Division.

True Martial Guards stood watch at the entrance to the True Martial Division. Seeing the group's imposing manner, as though they meant to force their way in, they hurriedly sounded the alarm, summoning more men from the True Martial Division. They drew their True Martial Sabers and leveled them at the group.

At the front of the group was a young master in brocade robes, wearing a jade-inlaid crown. He held the reins as the fierce horse beneath him paced before the entrance. His gaze roamed over the True Martial Guards, filled with disdain. "Tell Zhao Rong to come out."

The True Martial Guards exchanged glances. Before anyone could go seek Centurion Zhao, Centurion Zhao himself emerged from the True Martial Division at a jog. He had them put away their blades while greeting the young master with a smiling face.

Seeing their own centurion behaving this way, the True Martial Guards assumed that this young master's status was no ordinary one. They put away their weapons and withdrew to either side, allowing the young master and his followers to enter the True Martial Division.

Within the crowd, Wei Kailang's expression was rather unsightly, but he kept his head lowered so that no one could see it.

Though his heart harbored lofty ambitions, he knew his own strength was still lacking. It was not yet time to reveal his edge.

True Martial Division, council hall.

Zhao Rong invited the young master to sit. "I never expected Young Master Chen to personally honor us with his presence. I, Zhao Rong, failed to welcome you properly. To make amends, I have already sent someone to reserve the finest rooms at Spring Flower Pavilion. I only await a moment when Young Master Chen has time to sample their Spring Flower Brew."

Chen Jingchun looked at Zhao Rong with a smile that was not quite a smile. "I would not dare drink Centurion Zhao's wine. Otherwise, I might be sold off and still help count the silver."

Zhao Rong smiled. "What are you saying, Young Master Chen? How could I, Zhao Rong, be such a dark and sinister man?"

Chen Jingchun took out the Dragon Ranking booklet and tossed it to Zhao Rong without warning. "Then how do you explain this Dragon Ranking?"

Zhao Rong was not angered. He flipped through a few pages before closing it, explaining with difficulty, "This matter was not something I could decide. The changes came from above. There was nothing I could do."

Chen Jingchun had long guessed that this would be his explanation, so he did not press him further. He rose and left.

Zhao Rong saw him off. Once Chen Jingchun had vanished from sight, the smile on his face instantly disappeared. "Lu Zhaojin, I wonder whether you can withstand this strike of mine."

The former fiftieth-ranked young talent on the Dragon Ranking.

Chen Jingchun, of the Chen family in Jinshui City, Yanling Commandery, was twenty-three years old and at the late stage of the Seventh-Rank Realm. He excelled with the spear, and his family's inherited Universe Meteor Spear had reached the realm of great mastery...