Suppressing Them, I Alone Am Enough

Within the Ding Province Garrison Command, tensions were at a breaking point.

All because, early that morning, martial artists from the jianghu had gathered outside the Garrison Command, watching like tigers eyeing prey, looking ready to charge in at the slightest disagreement.

The Ding Province Pacification Envoy had also urgently recalled all Jinyiwei, city guards, and yamen constables, in case the Ding Province martial world launched an assault on the Garrison Command.

Just then, two figures slowly approached the main gate.

With the appearance of one of them, the jianghu folk of Ding Province outside the Garrison Command emerged one after another, their eyes gleaming with vicious intent.

Lin Xiao glanced at those jianghu folk from Ding Province and strode toward the Garrison Command's gates.

The Jinyiwei and soldiers at the entrance also looked upon Lin Xiao with unfriendly expressions.

After all, they had always lived fairly comfortable lives. Yet because of this Jinyiwei Squad Leader, they now had to face blades and weapons, with their lives quite possibly at risk.

Upon entering the Garrison Command, the Jinyiwei who had received benefits from Lin Xiao the night before remained relatively friendly. After taking his favors, they could hardly turn their backs on him.

But those who had received nothing began to needle him with their words.

"Well, well, isn't this our Squad Leader Lin, Lord Lin? You're certainly imposing now. But aren't you being too selfish? Because of your momentary satisfaction, all us brothers have been dragged into this. Let's see how you plan to account to us."

Lin Xiao stopped and looked toward the Jinyiwei Squad Leader who had spoken.

"Account?"

"To whom does this official need to give an account?"

"We all serve the imperial court. Those jianghu people refuse to submit to the court's authority and openly provoke its dignity. Shouldn't they be the ones giving an account?"

"Now they have even brazenly surrounded the Jinyiwei Garrison Command. This is tantamount to treason. This official will certainly report the truth to Your Majesty and wipe out this band of rebels."

"On the contrary, you are an official of the imperial court, yet when faced with rebels, you only think of protecting yourself rather than punishing them. This official has every reason to suspect that you are in league with these rebels."

Lin Xiao's words made the Jinyiwei Squad Leader's expression change drastically. He immediately roared in fury, "Lin Xiao, what nonsense are you spouting? Since when have I had anything to do with those rebels?"

"Heh. If you have nothing to do with them, why did you demand that this official give an account to rebels?"

"Whether you are connected to the rebels or not, I trust that once you enter the Imperial Prison, you'll speak the truth."

With a contemptuous expression, Lin Xiao gave the Squad Leader an indifferent glance.

"Lin Xiao, you? Are you worthy?"

"You and I are both Squad Leaders. What right do you have to throw me into the Imperial Prison?"

The Squad Leader spoke fiercely, though his heart was weak.

"Whether I have the right, you'll find out soon enough. This official will first meet the Pacification Envoy. As for your collusion with rebels, sooner or later this official will demand an account from you."

"Chang Le."

"I'm here, my lord," Chang Le promptly replied.

"Write down this lord's name. Once this official has dealt with those jianghu rebels, we'll have a word with this lord."

Lin Xiao spoke coldly, then strode toward the main hall of the Garrison Command.

"Lin Xiao, don't be so arrogant. This official wants to see just how you intend to resolve today's affair."

That Squad Leader was still shouting, while Chang Le had already taken out the Book of Impermanence and begun recording.

At the sight of Chang Le's Book of Impermanence, the Squad Leader panicked completely.

Once one's name entered the Book of Impermanence, the imperial court would certainly investigate the matter to the bitter end. Moreover, the things recorded in the Book of Impermanence were often taken by the court as fact.

"Jinyiwei Squad Leader Yue Qi of the Ding Province Garrison Command actually demanded that his colleague Lin Xiao give an account to martial world figures, showing suspicion of betraying those within to aid those without."

Hearing Chang Le mutter as he wrote in the Book of Impermanence, Yue Qi could no longer sit still.

"Chang Le, how dare you! Erase what you have recorded at once, or don't blame me for being discourteous."

Chang Le gave Yue Qi a smiling look. "Oh, my Lord Yue, if I don't destroy the Book of Impermanence's record, are you planning to lay hands on me?"

Chang Le then continued writing: Jinyiwei Squad Leader Yue Qi, while I was recording his words and deeds, openly threatened me and showed intent to use violence.

Yue Qi instantly bristled. These records could cast him straight into a bottomless abyss. At the thought of the horrors of the Imperial Prison, cold sweat streamed down his forehead and his legs went weak.

At that moment, everyone fell silent.

Many of them had originally wanted to join Yue Qi in rebuking Lin Xiao.

But who would dare now?

Simply being branded as suspected of colluding with rebels would be enough to leave them unable to bear the consequences.

Even if Lin Xiao had committed a thousand wrongs, his purpose had been to defend the imperial court's dignity.

If they sang a different tune, they would be betraying those within to aid those without, and that alone would leave them unable to bear the consequences.

Everyone looked at Yue Qi with sympathy.

Brother, sorry, but there's nothing we can do to help you.

Inside the Garrison Command's main hall sat officials of Hundred-Household rank and above.

The moment Lin Xiao entered, countless eyes turned toward him.

"Squad Leader Lin Xiao pays respects to all my lords."

Lin Xiao clasped his fists without being servile or overbearing.

"Lin Xiao, I believe you know why I summoned you here this time. Tell me—how do you intend to resolve this matter?"

The Ding Province Garrison Command's Pacification Envoy, seated high at the head of the hall, asked blandly.

"Reporting to you, my lord, those martial world people hold neither law nor discipline in their eyes. Relying on their status as martial artists, they refuse to submit to the court's control. This subordinate suggests arresting them all and throwing them into the Imperial Prison."

"Heh, Little Banner Lin makes it sound easy. Do you know just how powerful those martial world fighters are?"

"If this matter is not handled properly, our Jinyiwei Garrison Command will have to wage war against the entire Ding Province martial world. At present, including Lord Pacification Envoy, our Ding Province Garrison Command has no more than three Grandmasters."

"Of those, two Grandmaster-realm Commanders are carrying out missions elsewhere. The only Grandmaster left to guard the Garrison Command is Lord Pacification Envoy himself. How could we possibly contend with the entire Ding Province martial world?"

"Each of the One Sect, Four Gates has at least one Grandmaster expert, while the independent cultivators of Ding Province's martial world number no fewer than five Grandmasters. Even if the One Sect, Four Gates do not intervene, those independent cultivators alone are not something the Ding Province court can withstand."

"Moreover, Your Majesty has always wished to bring Ding Province's martial world under control. If such a conflict breaks out now, Your Majesty's grand plan may well go down the drain."

The speaker was a Commander at the Peak Innate Realm. It was said that he had a chance of breaking into the Grandmaster realm, and he possessed considerable prestige within the Ding Province Jinyiwei Garrison Command.

"Commander Wu has a point. Our Garrison Command alone truly cannot stand against the entire Ding Province martial world. Even with assistance from Ding Province's military commander and the government offices, both sides would only end up battered and bloodied. Besides, the Ding Province military commander bears the duty of defending against Northern Qi incursions and simply cannot commit all his strength."

"As things stand, the Ding Province court is indeed somewhat weaker than the Ding Province martial world."

Another Commander nodded in agreement.

After hearing the two men out, Lin Xiao swept his gaze across the others one by one.

Only after seeing that no one else intended to speak did Lin Xiao slowly say, "There is no need to make suppressing Ding Province's martial world so troublesome. So long as Lord Pacification Envoy gives the order, this subordinate alone will suffice."

"Arrogant."

"What shameless boasting."

"Young man, it is better not to be so wildly arrogant."

Hearing Lin Xiao claim that he alone could suppress the entire Ding Province martial world, everyone felt as though they had heard the greatest joke in the world.

Ding Province's martial world had stood opposed to the court for over a century. Countless ambitious men had come here to take office, yet none had managed to pacify it. And this young man, not even twenty years old, thought he could do it?

Would that not mean they were all useless?

Lin Xiao ignored their ridicule and stared straight at the Pacification Envoy.

"My lord, what do you think?"

At that moment, the Pacification Envoy's brows were tightly furrowed. In the span of merely one day, he could no longer discern Lin Xiao's realm.

Yesterday, he had still been able to see that Lin Xiao possessed Innate Seventh Stage cultivation. Today, however, he could not see through him at all.

He felt that this Lin Xiao was far too mysterious. This man was likely not so simple.

"Very well, Lin Xiao. You requested this assignment yourself, so I will trust you once. If you can handle those Ding Province martial world people properly, I will personally report your merits to Your Majesty."

"But if you fail to handle it properly, then I can only punish you according to the rules."

"Lord Pacification Envoy, rest assured. They are merely a rabble of martial world weeds. This subordinate can suppress them with a flip of his hand."