Subduing Xue Shan

Having received the system task reminder, Lin Xiao was even more determined to capture the flower-picking thief.

He had just arrived in Ding Province, and his first step was to build his reputation.

Whether it was within the Jinyiwei Garrison Command, the officialdom of Ding Province, or the martial world, he wanted everyone to know the name of Lin Xiao.

With enough reputation, it would be of great help to him in seizing power or controlling Ding Province in the future.

"But there's no rush to catch that flower-picking thief now. I need to subdue my two subordinates first. After all, having people under me will make it much easier to handle things."

"Moreover, both of these people are locals of Ding Province. When doing things, they can both provide me with some advice."

Thinking of this, Lin Xiao stood up straight away, walked out of his office, and before he could ask anyone where his two subordinates were, he saw a slightly chubby, fair-skinned middle-aged man walking over.

"May I ask if you are Lord Lin Xiao?"

Seeing this fair-skinned middle-aged man, Lin Xiao vaguely had some guesses.

"That's right, I am Lin Xiao. Who are you?"

"Oh, it really is Lord Lin! I couldn't believe it when I saw you just now. I never thought Lord Lin would be so young. Truly a hero emerges in his youth!"

"With Lord Lin's current age, plus the Emperor's appreciation, a meteoric rise to prominence and boundless career prospects are just around the corner..."

Seeing this fair-skinned fat man still talking endlessly, with flattery after flattery, Lin Xiao directly stopped him.

"Alright, tell me who you are."

The fair-skinned fat man quickly clasped his fist and saluted, "Reporting to Lord Lin, this humble one is Chang Le. I received orders to report to the new Xiaoqi."

"Oh? You're Chang Le?"

Lin Xiao nodded slightly, "It just so happens that I was about to look for you and Xue Shan."

"Where is Xue Shan now?"

Hearing Lin Xiao's inquiry, Chang Le's expression was a little strange, "Lord, do you really want to find Xue Shan?"

Lin Xiao frowned, "You and Xue Shan are my subordinates, can't I look for him?"

Seeing Lin Xiao's displeased expression, Chang Le quickly explained, "Reporting to Lord, it's not that you can't find Xue Shan, alas, let me be frank with you, Lord. That Xue Shan entered the Ding Province Garrison Command ten years ago, but that person's personality is too straightforward, he doesn't know how to be flexible at all, and he's very strict when doing things. Many people who worked with him have actively applied for transfers."

"In the end, no one in the entire Garrison Command wanted to work with him anymore."

"Over time, Xue Shan became an unpopular person in the entire Garrison Command. Even if you find him, Lord, he won't give you a good look."

"I think it's better to just let him fend for himself, so as not to upset you, Lord."

"Heh, there's such an interesting person? Then I have to go see him."

Lin Xiao became somewhat interested in this Xue Shan.

Seeing that he had wasted so much breath, but Lin Xiao still wanted to find Xue Shan, Chang Le couldn't help but anxiously say, "Lor..."

"Alright, you should know where Xue Shan is now, take me there."

Knowing that Lin Xiao's intention to find Xue Shan was set, Chang Le didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore.

Although it was already evening, the capital of Ding Province was still very lively.

Especially with brothels and other entertainment venues open, there was laughter of women everywhere.

"Oh, sir, come and have some fun."

"Oh, this young master looks like a dragon among men. The Chun Li girl here is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and will definitely satisfy you, young master."

"Oh, Boss Yan doesn't seem to be busy today..."

Lin Xiao and Chang Le walked through the downtown area and arrived at the civilian area of Ding Province.

Here, the houses were of varying heights, with dim candles lit in the rooms, in stark contrast to the prosperity of the downtown area earlier.

In front of a somewhat dilapidated house, Chang Le said, "Lord, it's here."

Lin Xiao nodded.

Chang Le understood and quickly stepped forward to knock on the door.

As soon as the knocking sounded, a somewhat deep voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Creak.

The courtyard door was pushed open with a little force.

Standing in the courtyard was a man with his upper body naked, a face full of stubble, showing a look of decadence.

However, his eyes were unusually firm.

"Xue Shan, the Lord has arrived, aren't you going to greet him?"

Chang Le lowered his voice and said seriously.

Xue Shan was practicing at this time. Hearing Chang Le's words, he didn't react at all. He just stopped his moves, picked up a bucket of cold water beside his feet and poured it on his body, then came to the steps and sat down, glanced at Lin Xiao without saying a word.

Seeing Xue Shan like this, Chang Le's teeth itched with anger.

"Xue Shan, you're bold! The Lord came to see you in person, and you're so ignorant of etiquette, don't you even know how to pay your respects?"

Despite Chang Le's scolding, Xue Shan remained silent.

Seeing that Chang Le was about to continue his reprimand, Lin Xiao interrupted him.

"You must be Xue Shan?"

"Today, the Garrison Command issued an order that both you and Chang Le are to be my personal guards. From the looks of you, it seems you've encountered a lot of unfairness, and you feel like you have a lot of skill but nowhere to use it?"

"How about this, I'll give you a chance. You're proud of your martial arts, right? If you can beat me with just one hand, how about I give you my Xiaoqi position?"

"Hmm?"

Lin Xiao's words finally elicited a reaction from Xue Shan.

"Sir, you can't!"

Chang Le was taken aback.

Although Xue Shan was rigid, his strength was not bad.

Many Xiaoqi were not as skilled in martial arts as Xue Shan.

It was said that he had already reached the peak of the Acquired Realm and was only one step away from breaking through to the Innate Realm.

"Alright, you can go to the side and watch."

Waving Chang Le away, Lin Xiao stood casually in the courtyard, looking at Xue Shan with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"You... is this true?"

Xue Shan finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse and stiff, probably because he didn't speak much.

"Of course, would I lie to you?"

"Okay, I hope you don't go back on your word."

Xue Shan slowly stood up, his strength at the peak of the Acquired Realm erupting, blowing away the dust in the courtyard.

Xue Shan suddenly leaped up, bringing his blade down on Lin Xiao's head in a powerful downward chop.

"The momentum is not bad, but the power is a little lacking."

Lin Xiao didn't move, casually extending two fingers to clamp Xue Shan's long saber.

After landing on the ground, no matter how hard Xue Shan tried, he couldn't pull the saber from between Lin Xiao's fingers.

"I'll give you one more chance."

Lin Xiao released his fingers and gently flicked the blade, the enormous force directly causing Xue Shan to retreat more than ten steps.

"You..."

Xue Shan's face flushed red, and he looked at Lin Xiao in shock.

From the previous move, he had already seen that the difference between his strength and Lin Xiao's was simply too great.

If Lin Xiao wanted to kill him, he probably wouldn't even need a second move.

However, Xue Shan was stubborn, and even though he knew he couldn't beat Lin Xiao, he still charged forward again.

Nine Suns Saber Technique.

This was a saber technique passed down from Xue Shan's family.

There were a total of nine stances, and if one could master them, breaking through to the Innate Realm would be easy.

However, Xue Shan's martial arts talent was not very strong, and he was already in his thirties when he mastered the seventh stance of the family's saber technique.

Each stance of the Nine Suns Saber Technique had nine variations.

It could be said that it barely qualified as a third-grade martial arts technique.

Martial arts techniques were divided into nine grades.

First grade was the lowest, and ninth grade was the highest.

However, only super forces had eighth-grade techniques.

For example, the Sword Pavilion, the leader of the world's sword techniques, or the Imperial Dao True Qi of the imperial family.

As Xue Shan slashed down with his saber, an invisible wall of Qi appeared in front of Lin Xiao. No matter how hard Xue Shan tried, he could barely penetrate the Qi wall by a fraction.

Boom!!!

Lin Xiao's true Qi erupted, and the long saber in Xue Shan's hand was instantly blown away.

Finally, the long saber pierced into the courtyard wall in the distance, trembling incessantly.