Defeating Li Yue

Hearing Li Yue's words, the Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Officer frowned slightly.

Although he wanted the Pacification Office to claim all the credit, if Li Yue used this excuse to make an issue of it, they truly would have no grounds to refute him.

After all, only Li Yue and Lin Xiao, the parties involved, knew Wu Zhengfeng's condition.

Even if Lin Xiao said Wu Zhengfeng and the other man had not been injured, it would merely be one side's word against the other.

The Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Officer shifted his gaze and slowly looked toward Lin Xiao.

He wanted to see whether Lin Xiao had any justification to offer.

Yet Lin Xiao did not defend himself. He merely stepped forward, looked down at Li Yue, and asked, "Are you saying that I'm too weak to have killed Wu Zhengfeng and the other man on my own?"

Seeing the contempt in Lin Xiao's eyes, Li Yue felt insulted. Gritting his teeth, he said, "That's right. I don't believe you had the strength to kill Wu Zhengfeng and the other man by yourself."

"I've fought those two before. Though they were only at the ninth level of the Acquired Realm, when they joined forces, even an Acquired Realm peak fighter would have to spend some effort to take them down."

"How could a nobody like you, some insignificant Jinyiwei, possibly be their match?"

Lin Xiao gave a cold laugh.

"You failed to take them down and let them escape, which is enough to prove what a useless fool you are. Yet now you still dare come looking to split the credit with such fanfare. Aren't you afraid people will laugh themselves to death when word gets out?"

"Fine. I'll give you a chance today. Tell me—how can I prove that I have the strength to take those two down?"

Lin Xiao's words made Li Yue's expression turn ugly, but before he could explode, he heard Lin Xiao tell him to name his conditions.

Li Yue was overjoyed. The opportunity had fallen into his lap so easily.

Lin Xiao was the foremost contributor in solving the Qing Royal Manor theft case.

If he could embarrass Lin Xiao in front of everyone, his own reputation would rise with the tide.

"Simple. If you can demonstrate strength enough to convince me, I'll believe that you took those two down alone."

"Otherwise, if your strength fails to convince me, then when the credit is reported, you must tell the truth."

Li Yue did not explicitly say that Lin Xiao had to include him in the report for credit, but anyone who was not an idiot could understand what Li Yue meant.

Lin Xiao nodded slightly. "Fine."

"Hm?"

"You agreed?"

Li Yue had thought Lin Xiao would find himself a way out, say a few polite words, then give him a share of the credit.

He had not expected Lin Xiao to truly intend to fight him.

"It's nothing more than a fight, yet you insisted on taking such a long detour. Fine, today I'll let you see what real strength is."

As his words fell, Lin Xiao took one step forward and arrived in the center of the courtyard in the blink of an eye.

This display of movement technique made everyone turn their heads.

Even the Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Officer, a Grandmaster Realm expert, nodded in approval.

Though Lin Xiao's lightness skill was not especially remarkable in his eyes, among Acquired Realm martial artists, it was unquestionably outstanding.

Moreover, Lin Xiao was merely an ordinary Jinyiwei with no background, not an heir of an aristocratic family or a great sect. Being fortunate enough to possess such a lightness skill was already no small thing.

As for why Lin Xiao possessed such an advanced movement technique, he would not ask in the slightest.

The imperial court was unlike aristocratic families and martial sects. It never questioned the origins or style of its subordinates' martial arts, so long as they loyally served the court.

The imperial court was more like an alliance bound by interests, with both sides united solely for profit.

The court distributed benefits to its subordinates, while its subordinates fought to secure benefits for the court. The two complemented one another.

Some might wonder, since they could obtain benefits themselves, why should they work so hard for the imperial court, hand over what they seized, and let the court distribute it back to them?

One had to understand that without the imperial court as a collective, how could one person contend with those aristocratic families, prestigious clans, and great sects?

One Innate Realm martial artist might not be able to seize something, but ten Innate Realm martial artists could.

And after seizing it, with the imperial court's protection, they would not need to fear others coming to cause trouble. They could enjoy the fruits of their labor in peace.

Furthermore, without the court's cohesion, would you dare trust anyone besides yourself?

Would you not fear being stabbed in the back after the deed was done?

With the imperial court, no one dared embezzle what was seized or stab others in the back. If they did, they would be hunted down by the entire court.

No one in this world could withstand pursuit by the entire imperial court.

Even the number one martial artist in this world would not dare claim he could contend against the entire imperial court.

That was where the imperial court's strength lay.

"You overestimate yourself."

Li Yue did not take Lin Xiao seriously at all.

Although Lin Xiao's movement technique had been impressive, Li Yue was also extremely confident in himself.

He had inherited the Divine Constable's true teachings, and the Pear Blossom Drizzle Steps were likewise a supreme lightness skill.

"Don't say I'm bullying you. You make the first move."

Clang!

The instant Li Yue finished speaking, Lin Xiao wasted no words. The long saber at his waist flashed from its sheath.

A streak of blood-red light burst forth, forcing everyone to take an involuntary step back.

By the time Li Yue recovered from the bloody radiance, a long saber had already reached him.

"What a fierce saber technique."

Li Yue was shocked inwardly, but his response was incredibly swift. The longsword at his waist was drawn as well.

Saber and sword collided, scattering a spray of sparks.

Lin Xiao's attacks did not cease. His Blood Knife was like relentless, terrifying waves, one after another crashing down upon Li Yue in murderous succession.

Li Yue truly deserved to be the Divine Constable's prized disciple. Facing Lin Xiao's ferocious assault, and having lost the initiative, his techniques still did not fall into disorder.

Whoosh!

After chopping down with a saber strike, Lin Xiao's figure suddenly vanished. When he appeared again, he was already at Li Yue's side, his saber sweeping sideways with ruthless viciousness.

Clang!

In his haste, Li Yue barely blocked the tricky strike. But because he had not been able to exert his full force, Lin Xiao's saber sent him flying. His feet scraped across the ground as he slid more than ten meters away.

At this moment, Li Yue's tiger's mouth had split open from the impact, leaving it numb and aching, unable to exert strength.

Only then did Li Yue realize just how terrifying Lin Xiao's strength was.

Lin Xiao gave Li Yue no chance to catch his breath.

He closed in and brought down a Mount Hua Cleaving strike.

Li Yue raised his sword horizontally to block. Everyone heard a ringing clash of metal, and the longsword was sent flying away.

After landing, Lin Xiao swung out a palm strike, aimed directly at Li Yue's wide-open chest.

Li Yue roared in fury and met it with his own palm.

Their palms collided, and they immediately began competing in internal energy.

Everyone had expected them to remain locked in a stalemate for some time, but in the span of a single breath, Li Yue coughed up blood and flew backward.

The Purple Mist Divine Skill cultivated by Lin Xiao was an orthodox Daoist art, and he had already mastered it. His internal energy was exceptionally deep and solid.

Among those of the same realm, the depth of Lin Xiao's internal energy was absolutely above average.

"You..."

Li Yue flipped to his feet, his throat working as he forcibly suppressed another mouthful of blood. He pointed at Lin Xiao, unable to say a word.

"Has my strength convinced you now? Do I have the strength to kill Wu Zhengfeng and the other man?"

Lin Xiao's mocking words left Li Yue speechless.

"Brother Li, are you all right?"

The constables hurried forward and asked anxiously.

Some glared furiously at Lin Xiao and wanted to say more, but the Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Officer cut them off.

"Enough. At this point, facts speak louder than words. No one has any objections to the credit Lin Xiao has earned now, correct?"

"As for your Six Doors coming to make trouble at our Jinyiwei Pacification Office today, I will report it truthfully to Lord Pacification Envoy. You may leave."

"If you cause trouble again, don't blame me for showing no courtesy."

The Six Doors constables also knew that continuing would only intensify the conflict, so they all slunk away in disgrace.

"Lin Xiao, go back and wait for word. I believe your reward will arrive soon enough."

Before leaving, the Jinyiwei Thousand-Household Officer did not forget to say this to Lin Xiao.

"You're very good."