Paving the Way with Slaughter, Slaying Them All!

Chapter 2: Paving the Way with Slaughter, Slaying Them All!

Hearing the system's prompt, Bai Yan narrowed his eyes. A decision immediately formed in his heart.

The system was right. If the grass was not cut down by the roots, there would never be peace.

Bai Yan kowtowed three times before the grave and said in a low voice:

"Son is leaving. Once I've avenged you, Father, I'll come back and tell you all about it."

After saying this, Bai Yan turned and left, the confusion gone from his eyes.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Bai Yan rose early. After a simple wash, he hurried to the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau.

The two vermilion gates of the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau stood wide open. Standing before them, Bai Yan seemed to see a fierce tiger choosing someone to devour.

He stepped forward and handed his father's Imperial Guard token to the gate guards. After they inspected it and found no issue, they gave him a few stern instructions. Bai Yan answered each one, then smoothly entered the Pacification Bureau.

Just after passing through the screen wall in the front courtyard, he ran into a tall, burly man head-on.

"Yan'er, you're here."

The man spoke first and walked toward Bai Yan with a smile. Once he saw who it was, Bai Yan hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting.

"Uncle Zhao!"

The man's name was Zhao Guangli. Like Bai Yan's father, Bai Lizheng, he was a Brigade Leader in the Imperial Guard. The two had worked together for many years and shared a deep friendship.

Zhao Guangli patted Bai Yan on the shoulder and sighed.

"The dead cannot return to life. You must live well. That way, your father can rest in peace knowing this from beneath the Yellow Springs."

Bai Yan lowered his eyes and nodded.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Zhao. Your nephew understands."

"Good that you understand. Come with me. I'll take you to see the Thousand-Household Commander."

Zhao Guangli took two steps, then turned around to remind him.

"Remember this above all: show respect before the commander. If he doesn't ask, don't speak out of turn. Got it?"

"Understood, Uncle Zhao."

Following behind Zhao Guangli, the two arrived at the Thousand-Household Office.

From far away, Bai Yan saw someone sitting before a desk in the central hall of the Thousand-Household Office, reviewing documents.

Information about this person surfaced in Bai Yan's mind.

Zheng Haihan, a Thousand-Household Commander of the Imperial Guard, was Bai Lizheng and Zhao Guangli's immediate superior.

His martial prowess was extraordinary. Among the sixteen Thousand-Household Commanders of the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau, he was the foremost.

From his appearance, he looked to be around forty. He wore a scarlet, cloud-patterned, four-clawed Flying Fish Robe. His beard and hair were pitch-black, and he possessed an imposing presence even when he was not angry.

In truth, Zheng Haihan was already fifty-three that year. His youthful appearance was due not only to his skill at maintaining his health, but also to his unfathomably deep inner strength.

Bai Yan secretly sized him up while wondering whether the person behind everything might be Zheng Haihan.

The thought had barely arisen when Bai Yan rejected it himself. A Thousand-Household Commander's authority was enormous, and he even had the power to dismiss a Hundred-Household Commander. The small position of Brigade Leader could not possibly catch his eye.

At that moment, Zhao Guangli stepped forward and cupped his fists.

"This subordinate, Zhao Guangli, pays his respects to the commander."

Bai Yan followed suit and saluted.

Seeing the commander raise his head, Zhao Guangli hurriedly said:

"Bai Yan, son of Brigade Leader Bai Lizheng, has come to report for duty and fill the vacancy."

"Bai Lizheng's son..."

Zheng Haihan murmured, seeming to recall the past.

"Bai Lizheng followed me for many years. He worked diligently for over a decade. I had originally planned to promote him to Hundred-Household Commander, but who could have expected him to die while suppressing bandits..."

"Your father died suppressing bandits and performed a service protecting the people. You shall take over his position as Brigade Leader."

"Zhao Guangli, take him to register, and have him collect his official robe and weapon."

Bai Yan clasped his hands in salute.

"Thank you, Commander!"

Zheng Haihan waved his hand and bent over the desk to resume reviewing documents.

"This subordinate takes his leave."

Bai Yan and Zhao Guangli saluted again before leaving the Thousand-Household central hall.

Zhao Guangli took Bai Yan to register. There, Bai Yan received an Imperial Guard token of his own.

Using the token, he also received a Flying Fish Robe and a Spring Embroidered Saber. Only then did he officially join the Imperial Guard.

After changing into the Flying Fish Robe and hanging the Spring Embroidered Saber at his waist, Bai Yan already had a strikingly heroic air atop his naturally slender frame.

Zhao Guangli could not help sighing.

"In the blink of an eye, Yan'er has grown into a man."

Bai Yan merely smiled without speaking.

"I'll familiarize you with the facilities inside the Pacification Bureau first, so you won't be flustered when you're on duty later."

Zhao Guangli led the way and took Bai Yan on a tour.

As they walked, Zhao Guangli carefully explained everything to Bai Yan, telling him where he could go, where he could not, whom he must not offend, which departments he should avoid, and which ones he should curry favor with...

The Imperial Guard's internal relationships were intricate and tangled. The slightest carelessness could offend someone. If he happened to provoke someone he should not, it could easily bring disaster and death.

Bai Yan silently committed Zhao Guangli's words to memory.

After making a circuit, Bai Yan gained a general understanding of the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau.

The Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau had sixteen Thousand-Household Offices, an Imperial Prison, a Scripture Pavilion, and numerous storehouses and logistical facilities.

Each Thousand-Household Office had four Hundred-Household Offices beneath it, and each Hundred-Household Office managed four Brigade Leaders.

Each Brigade Leader commanded four Squad Leaders and forty strongmen.

As a thought struck him, Bai Yan suddenly asked:

"Uncle Zhao, who is the Hundred-Household Commander in charge of us?"

Zhao Guangli shook his head and sighed.

"Commander Zhang, who originally commanded your father and me, died in the last battle to suppress bandits. The new Hundred-Household Commander has not yet been decided."

"They may promote one of our Brigade Leaders, or they may transfer someone over from elsewhere."

Bai Yan narrowed his eyes, his thoughts roiling.

"Come on. I'll take you to the eastern courtyard to meet your subordinates."

As a Brigade Leader, Bai Yan did not need to recognize every strongman, but he should at least meet the Squad Leaders, lest it affect the handover of work later.

When they arrived at the eastern courtyard, the Imperial Guards inside noticed Bai Yan at once. Their expressions varied.

"Let me introduce this brother to everyone. This is Bai Yan, son of the former Brigade Leader Bai Lizheng and our new Brigade Leader."

Zhao Guangli introduced him to the others.

Bai Yan also clasped his hands in salute.

"I am Bai Yan. I hope everyone will look after me in the days to come."

Seeing Bai Yan's neither arrogant nor impatient attitude, Zhao Guangli praised him inwardly. An eighteen-year-old facing more than forty Imperial Guards without changing expression—such composure was already exceptionally rare.

"Greetings, Commander."

The more than forty men cupped their fists and responded together, but their voices were scattered and listless, lacking all spirit.

Of the four Squad Leaders, only one had a proper attitude. The other three wore looks of undisguised disdain, and one of them even had open hostility in his eyes.

Zhao Guangli pointed to the properly behaved Squad Leader and said in a low voice:

"That man is Wang Daqiang. He used to serve under your father, and he was also the only Squad Leader to survive the suppression of the bandits."

"The other three were transferred here a few days ago. They have already been Imperial Guards for several years."

Bai Yan immediately understood. Then he turned aside and whispered:

"Uncle Zhao, who is that man?"

Bai Yan was asking about the Squad Leader with the hostile gaze.

"Ye Zhiji. He relies on having a maternal uncle who is a Hundred-Household Commander, and he usually acts very domineeringly. Don't bother with him."

"Hundred-Household Commander..."

Bai Yan muttered to himself.

"You're young, after all. It's normal that they don't accept you. Don't think too much about it."

"Uncle Zhao, what is that Hundred-Household Commander's name?"

"Why are you asking?"

"It'll be easier to deal with him later if I ask in advance."

"That man's name is Ye Baili..."

Zhao Guangli told Bai Yan some information about Ye Baili, then reminded him to build good relationships with the others, endure whatever he could, and wait a few years for things to improve.

Bai Yan merely nodded silently as he listened, offering no opinion of his own.

He had his own principles for doing things.

After awakening the system, Bai Yan's state of mind had changed completely.

The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art circulated steadily through his meridians. The power capable of shattering mountains and rending stone constantly reminded him that this world ultimately revered strength above all. Swallowing his anger would not earn respect; it would only make jackals think him weak and easy to bully.

The two assassination attempts had made Bai Yan understand even more clearly that some dangers could not be avoided simply because he wished to evade them.

Since those people had been ruthless enough to strike before he took over as Brigade Leader, they would never stop merely because he endured.

To them, his very survival was an obstacle. As long as he remained in this position, the threat would exist forever!

Therefore, Bai Yan had to climb upward, all the way to the very summit, carving a path with slaughter until everyone trembled in fear!

So that no one would ever dare covet what belonged to him again!

Those who blocked his path would all be slain!

The next day.

After washing up, Bai Yan left for the Pacification Bureau. The moment he entered, he ran into Zhao Guangli.

"Uncle Zhao, have you eaten breakfast?"

Bai Yan greeted him with a smile and handed over a sesame flatbread he had bought from a stall.

Zhao Guangli waved the flatbread away, his tone solemn.

"There is an important mission today. Keep out of the way later. Don't force yourself to take the lead."

After saying only that, Zhao Guangli fell silent.

Bai Yan's expression hardened. He finished the flatbread in two or three bites, and a faint unease stirred in his heart.

He had already vaguely guessed what today's mission was.

Ding! The host has triggered a mission: Avenge Your Father!

Avenging one's father is only right and proper!

The host is requested to personally kill the enemy who murdered his father, Liu Hu, the Grand Chief of Black Wind Stronghold.

Mission reward: One max-level Lightness Skill

By the time they arrived at the Hundred-Household Office, more than a hundred people had already gathered there.

A middle-aged man sat in a reclining chair before the central hall, holding a teacup in his hand.

"This is the Hundred-Household Commander Ye Baili I mentioned earlier."

"I heard he has been working to make Ye Zhiji a Brigade Leader, but the Thousand-Household Commander gave the position to you."

"Be careful later. He may target you."

Zhao Guangli quietly warned him from the side.

Hearing this, Bai Yan secretly shook his head.

It was not that Ye Baili might target him.

Targeting him had been on the agenda for a long time.

Two groups of assassins had already been sent after him.

This man was locked in a life-and-death vendetta with him.

Bai Yan was furious inside, but on the surface, he remained utterly impassive, revealing not the slightest abnormality.

When Ye Baili saw Bai Yan arrive, his expression did not change. He merely swept Bai Yan with a faint glance before looking away.

As if the person who had sent assassins to kill Bai Yan had not been him at all.

"All right, everyone is here."

Ye Baili set down his teacup and rose. Looking at the crowd before him, he said:

"Liu Hu's whereabouts have been confirmed. The Thousand-Household Commander has ordered us to eradicate him completely and prevent Black Wind Stronghold from rising again from the ashes."

"This operation must be foolproof. What happened last time must never happen again!"

"Is that clear?"

"Yes, Commander!"

More than a hundred Imperial Guards answered in unison.

"Good. Move out!"

At Ye Baili's command, more than a hundred Imperial Guards immediately set off.

After leaving the city, Bai Yan rode one position behind Ye Baili, with the four Squad Leaders following behind him.

Bai Yan already knew the four Squad Leaders. They were Wang Daqiang, Ye Zhiji, Ren Hong, and Li Kaiyao.

Of the four Squad Leaders, only Wang Daqiang was close to Bai Yan. The other three refused to accept him.

Ren Hong and Li Kaiyao were relatively harmless. They were merely unconvinced and had no other designs against Bai Yan.

Ye Zhiji, however, was different. At that moment, his eyes were filled with hatred as he stared at Bai Yan.

Just wait, Bai Yan. You won't be pleased with yourself for much longer!

'This Brigade Leader position was mine! It wasn't a seat you could take!'

'You dared to snatch what belonged to me. I'll make sure you die without a burial place!'

Ye Zhiji rode on horseback, venomously staring at Bai Yan's back, gnashing his teeth inwardly.

But when he thought of Bai Yan's imminent death and his own chance to become Brigade Leader, Ye Zhiji felt an incomparable thrill.

Just then, Bai Yan suddenly turned and glanced at him.

The instant their eyes met, Ye Zhiji felt his heart stop. It was as if a massive mountain had been placed on his chest, leaving him barely able to breathe. Every hair on his body stood on end.

Those eyes were terrifyingly cold, like a block of ice, without the slightest warmth.

Bai Yan looked at him as though he were looking at a corpse.

Ye Zhiji had never seen such a frightening gaze.

It was the gaze of someone who regarded human life as mere weeds. Even his uncle, Ye Baili, had never been so cold and indifferent.

When Ye Zhiji came back to his senses, he found that Bai Yan had already turned his head away.

The scene just now seemed like an illusion, as if it had never happened.

The procession continued until it reached a village. The moment they entered, a thick stench of blood rushed toward them.

It was obvious that this small village had already been slaughtered by Liu Hu and his men.

Bai Yan opened all six senses, and his ears twitched slightly.

Through his perception, he detected many faint breaths within the village. There were roughly forty people, fewer than half the number of the Imperial Guard.

"Kill!!"

Before he could investigate further, a furious roar suddenly rang out, and several people burst through the windows.

Caught off guard, several Imperial Guard warriors were cut down on the spot.