The Pacification Envoy Wants to Suppress Lin Xiao?

After defeating Qiu Li, the mission was already complete, and the system notification sounded right on cue.

However, Lin Xiao was in no hurry to claim the mission reward. Instead, his gaze swept over the jianghu martial artists who had survived by sheer luck.

"Everyone, return to the Pacification Office with me for interrogation. Of course, you may also choose to flee—but my blade will show absolutely no mercy."

"Whether you live or die, the choice is yours."

"Chang Le, Xue Shan—anyone who dares resist, kill without mercy."

"Yes, sir."

Chang Le and Xue Shan answered in ringing voices.

At that moment, the two of them finally understood what power truly meant.

That feeling of holding people in their hands, deciding life and death at will.

Since becoming Jinyiwei, this was the first time they had ever held their heads so high.

While Lin Xiao battled the Stability Prefecture martial artists and Qiu Li, a graceful figure stood silently atop a distant mountain peak.

The woman wore a light veil over her face. Her figure was peerless, like a white lotus in full bloom, untouched by the dust of the world.

She was the White Lotus Sect's Saintess.

The White Lotus Saintess's expression was exceptionally ugly at that moment. Watching Lin Xiao's retreating back, her jade-like hand clenched tightly within her sleeve.

Because she had recognized Lin Xiao.

After that battle in the capital, she had hated Lin Xiao to the bone.

Had Lin Xiao not entangled her and allowed the pursuers to catch up, she would not have been forced to use the trump card bestowed upon her by the Sect Leader.

That trump card had not been easy to obtain. She had only exchanged her merits for it after completing a mission that had left her nine deaths and one life.

It had originally been meant to save her life in a moment of mortal danger.

Yet the trump card she had only just obtained had been used up during her trip to the capital.

Although nothing had happened to her during that journey, she simply could not swallow it.

Thus, her hatred for Lin Xiao took root.

"This time, I will make sure you die."

Her voice drifted on the wind as the White Lotus Saintess floated away.

However, she knew that Lin Xiao's strength was no longer what it had once been. Relying on her own power, she simply could not contend with him. She could only make long-term plans and devise a foolproof strategy before killing Lin Xiao.

Elsewhere, the geniuses of One Sect, Four Gates who had followed the Stability Prefecture martial artists had also been frightened senseless.

Liu Yuyang, who had always thought highly of himself, swallowed slightly as cold sweat trickled down his cheeks.

"Th-this... what kind of monster is he? At such a young age, he has already broken through to the Grandmaster realm, and he even defeated veteran Grandmaster Qiu Li with ease."

"Even those geniuses in the top ten of the Hidden Dragon Rankings probably cannot compare to him, can they?"

After that battle, Lin Xiao's name spread throughout all of Stability Prefecture.

Everyone in the jianghu learned that a young expert had emerged from the Jinyiwei of Stability Prefecture.

His methods were ruthless, his temperament cold, and he killed without batting an eye.

The tale of Lin Xiao defeating Iron Palm Gang Leader Qiu Li also spread through Stability Prefecture's martial world, becoming a topic of conversation for many over tea and meals.

The Jinyiwei Pacification Office also received news that Lin Xiao had single-handedly subdued Stability Prefecture's martial world and forcefully defeated Qiu Li.

The Pacification Envoy, seated in the main hall of the Pacification Office, wore a grave expression.

He had never imagined that Lin Xiao would be so strong. His strength was likely not inferior to his own in the slightest, and it gave him a sense of crisis.

Though he had always projected an image of being as steady as Mount Tai, he could no longer sit still.

Lin Xiao was still young and was valued by the Emperor. Sooner or later, he would be promoted upward; when that time came, even his own position might have to be surrendered.

He would never agree to give up his position. He had to think of a way to keep it.

Just then, a Thousand-Household Officer hurried inside.

"Reporting, sir, Lin Xiao has returned."

"Mm. Let him enter."

The Pacification Envoy adjusted his bearing and waved a hand in instruction.

A series of footsteps sounded, and Lin Xiao strode into the main hall of the Pacification Office.

Including this time, they had met a total of three times.

Yet every meeting had given the Pacification Envoy a different feeling.

Although their previous meeting had only been a few hours ago, seeing him again made him feel that this young man was actually giving off an oppressive air.

"Your subordinate Lin Xiao greets Lord Pacification Envoy. I have not failed my mission—all the disorderly factions of the jianghu have been captured."

"Mm."

The Pacification Envoy nodded slightly. Then he said nothing further, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the armrest of his chair.

For a time, an unusual atmosphere rose throughout the Pacification Office's main hall.

No one knew how much time passed before the Pacification Envoy finally spoke.

"Lin Xiao, I greatly appreciate your abilities. I now have a task to assign you."

"Please give your orders, my lord."

Lin Xiao replied with an unchanged expression.

"Have you heard of the Ding Province Martial Meet?"

"In reply to my lord, I have."

"Then I'll leave the arrangements for the Ding Province Martial Meet to you."

"Rest assured, my lord. This subordinate will certainly do his utmost to see the Martial Meet through and satisfy you."

"Mm. You may leave."

After dismissing Lin Xiao with a wave of his hand, the Pacification Envoy could not help but reveal a cold sneer in his eyes.

Did he really think the Ding Province Martial Meet was so simple?

The reason the Ding Province Martial Meet had been entrusted to the imperial court was merely because they wanted the court to serve as a witness.

In truth, the imperial court had no right at all to set any of the rules for the Martial Meet.

The true controllers of the Martial Meet were still the martial world forces of Ding Province, led by One Sect, Four Gates.

As the organizer, no matter who handled this event for the imperial court, they would have to endure the attitude of One Sect, Four Gates.

If Lin Xiao could not swallow that indignation, there was a good chance he would clash with One Sect, Four Gates.

One Sect, Four Gates were no rabble like those Lin Xiao had dealt with before.

One wrong move, and he could even risk being killed.

Moreover, One Sect, Four Gates were brimming with experts. Every leader possessed the strength of a high-grade grandmaster; they were not figures like Qiu Li who could be compared to them.

After leaving the Pacification Office's main hall, Chang Le and Xue Shan came up to meet him.

"My lord, what reward did Lord Pacification Envoy give you?"

Lin Xiao let out a cold laugh. "He gave me no reward at all. Not only that, he assigned me a task."

"A task?"

"What task?"

When Chang Le heard that the Pacification Envoy had given Lin Xiao no reward whatsoever, a bad feeling rose in his heart.

"He's handed the organization of the Ding Province Martial Meet to me."

"What? This—"

Chang Le warily glanced around before lowering his voice. "My lord, the Pacification Envoy is trying to set you up."

"The Ding Province Martial Meet may look like a cushy assignment. Its organizer can gain prestige and have a chance to show their face, but it is also a hot potato."

"The Ding Province Martial Meet is actually where those martial world forces in Ding Province settle their grudges and divide up their interests."

"Our imperial court's involvement is nothing more than going through the motions, acting as their witness."

"In past years' Martial Meets, the Jinyiwei took on the job twice as well, but every organizer suffered no small amount of indignity from One Sect, Four Gates."

"Now that the Pacification Envoy has handed this task to you, my lord, he is clearly trying to suppress you."

Hearing Chang Le's words, Lin Xiao smiled disdainfully. "So what if he is trying to suppress me? Does he really think I'm so easy to suppress? I'll remember this grudge for now. Sooner or later, I will settle accounts with him."

"My lord is right. A gentleman takes revenge even if ten years pass; sooner or later, there will come a day when he gets what's coming to him."

Chang Le smoothly and naturally flattered him.

"Wrong. I am no gentleman. Ten years is far too long—I cannot wait."

"I will avenge this grudge within a year."