Dragon Slaying!

"Many thanks to you two benefactors for saving my life!"

As he spoke, Su Lie was about to kneel and perform a grand salute.

He understood clearly that if these two Heavenly Realm Division officials had not stepped in today, forget buying a coffin for his father—even he himself would not have escaped the Xia Family's eldest daughter's poisonous hand.

"Get up!" Jun Wushang grabbed his arm and pulled him upright. "A true man has gold beneath his knees. Don't go kneeling at every turn."

"Please wait half a day, my benefactors." With reddened eyes, Su Lie bowed deeply. "Once I have buried my father, I will leave with you both."

With that, he turned and ran toward the largest coffin shop in Ping'an County.

"Let's go."

Without waiting for Su Lie to return, Wei Qing swung himself onto his horse.

Jun Wushang and Zhang Xue exchanged a glance, then mounted as well. The three cracked their whips and rode away, their horses' hooves kicking up clouds of dust.

Only then did the watching townsfolk dare to speak loudly again.

"The Heavenly Realm Division is truly imposing! Even the Xia Family has to lower its head!"

"Didn't you hear that official mention the Founding Progenitor? Forget the Xia Family—whoever came would be useless."

"That Lord Wei just now—I heard he single-handedly slaughtered a Sixth Rank great demon a few days ago!"

"Not only does he carry justice in his heart, he is kindhearted too. That boy Su Lie is blessed. Now not only does Old Su have enough money for a coffin, Su Lie can use what remains to head to the Imperial City for next year's Spring Imperial Examination. He will surely earn an official post instead of becoming a servant or slave."

"That's right. Then Old Su can finally rest in peace."

Inside the carriage returning to the Imperial City, Xia Yiran's face was so dark it seemed ready to drip water.

"Wei Qing... Jun Wushang..."

She ground out the two names through clenched teeth, her nails digging deep into her palms. Blood dripped through her fingers onto the hem of her luxurious brocade skirt.

"Today's humiliation—I will make you repay it tenfold!"

Watching this, Wen Liang secretly shook his head and sighed.

Ever since Consort Xia had risen to power in the inner palace and the Third Prince had won the Emperor's deep favor, the entire Xia Family had long since become unrecognizable.

The older generation squandered without restraint.

The younger generation was even more lawless and unbridled.

If not for the old family head's life-saving grace and his dying entrustment, Wen Liang would have left this smoke-filled, miasma-choked Xia Family long ago.

"Young Miss..."

Just as Wen Liang was about to offer some advice, Xia Yiran shot him a glare sharp as a blade.

"Uncle Wen, there is no need to say more!"

Xia Yiran took out a handkerchief and viciously wiped the blood from her palm. "Once we return, investigate these two people immediately—especially that Wei Qing!"

Wen Liang looked at the scenery flashing past outside the carriage window.

He sighed inwardly. The skies over the Imperial City were likely about to change...

Half a day later, the eastern gate of the Imperial City.

"Freshly baked guokui—"

"Two for you, customer? Coming right up!"

"Ice-chilled osmanthus fermented rice wine—"

"Three-delicacy wontons, five coins for a big bowl!"

Amid the overlapping cries of vendors, Zhang Xue could scarcely take everything in. "This Imperial City is even livelier than I imagined!"

"Miss, would you like some rouge?" A young stall owner by the roadside brightened and warmly handed her a carved wooden box.

The moment the lid opened, a unique fragrance blending roses, jasmine, and orchids washed over them.

Zhang Xue's eyes lit up at the scent. "Shopkeeper, how much is this rouge?"

"Since you favor it, ten taels of silver."

"Old Li, say that again?" Jun Wushang narrowed his eyes.

Old Li readily replied, "Nine taels."

"Think again!"

Old Li shut his eyes in pain and raised eight fingers. "Eight taels. That's the lowest price. Any lower, and I won't sell it."

"One more—"

"One more my ass. Stop putting on an act, you old bastard."

Wei Qing could no longer stand watching. "She is Wushang's fiancée!"

"Oh, heavens!" Old Li slapped his thigh. "So she is my sister-in-law!"

"Sister-in-law, consider this box of Three Star Begonia a gift from your elder brother!" He turned and glared at Jun Wushang. "You damned stuffy gourd, getting married without making a sound! Tonight at Tianxiang Tower, I'm treating!"

Li Wen, the son of Great Zhou's Minister of Personnel, was neither accomplished in letters nor skilled in martial arts. He was interested only in business.

In just a few short years, his businesses had spread across restaurants, silk shops, bookshops, porcelain workshops, rouge stores, and more.

Among the rouge stores, the Three Star Begonia he had personally developed was especially beloved by the noblewomen and young ladies of prominent families throughout the Imperial City.

Back then, the three boys had met after fighting by the roadside.

Later, when Li Wen's father locked him up to stop him from doing business, Wei Qing and Jun Wushang had "stolen" him out.

With their help, he began by setting up a roadside stall and gradually became the famed Business Genius—Li Wen—of the Imperial City.

Even now, he still maintained the habit of going out regularly to run a stall himself.

By coincidence, Wei Qing and the other two had returned to the Imperial City today.

He had thought they were customers.

Who would have expected them to be his own people?

"This..."

Zhang Xue's cheeks flushed crimson at being called "sister-in-law" again and again, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes.

"It's fine. What's his is mine, and what's mine is still mine. It's all family property anyway."

Jun Wushang said smugly.

Li Wen pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. "That skin of yours..."

"Isn't it true?"

Jun Wushang raised his brows, his eyes widening round.

"Yes, yes, yes..." Li Wen raised his hands in helpless surrender.

After knowing him for so many years, he knew this single-minded temperament all too well—arguing seriously with Jun Wushang would only make himself die of anger.

Wei Qing smiled and shook his head. "We'll meet again tonight. We need to report back to the Heavenly Realm Division first."

"Got it!" Li Wen swiftly packed up his stall. "I'll head to Tianxiang Tower and make the arrangements."

After bidding Li Wen farewell, Wei Qing and the other two continued toward the Heavenly Realm Division.

Inside the main hall of the Wei residence.

Liu Ru was sipping tea with a face full of delight. "Lin'er, you handled this assignment beautifully. The Third Prince thinks very highly of you."

Wei Lin smiled. "It was all thanks to Mother's guidance that your son was able to enter the Third Prince's sight."

After hesitating for a moment, he lowered his voice. "It's just... if the Heavenly Realm Division finds out..."

"I am very pleased that you thought of that..."

Before Liu Ru could finish, a household servant rushed in in a panic.

"Outrageous!"

Liu Ru slapped the table and rose to her feet.

"Who allowed you to barge in? Have the rules all been fed to the dogs?"

The servant dropped to his knees with a thud, stammering, "M-Madam... Wei Qing... Wei Qing has returned to the Imperial City!"

"What?!"

Wei Lin shot to his feet, his sleeve knocking over a tea cup.

The celadon cup shattered on the floor, and he did not even notice the scalding tea splashing over his boots.

"What are you panicking for?"

Liu Ru snorted coldly and slowly smoothed her sleeves. "Now that we have the Third Prince backing us, are we supposed to fear a mere green boy?"

"R-Right, right... We have the Third Prince..."

Wei Lin nodded repeatedly as though clutching a lifeline.

Liu Ru cast a sidelong glance at the kneeling servant. "Go tell the master that his 'good nephew' has returned."

She deliberately stressed the word "good," a cold smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

"I'll go at once!"

The servant scrambled out of the main hall and ran like smoke toward the Ministry of Personnel offices.

Inside the dark secret chamber.

The lamplight flickered, casting the shadows of two black-robed figures long, then short.

A chessboard sat between them.

The black and white pieces upon it were locked in an inseparable battle.

Then the black-robed figure seated on the left placed a black piece with a crisp clack.

"Dragon slaying!"