Returning to the Imperial City

"But how am I supposed to gather this Blushing Affection? Do I have to follow the Founder of this martial art and become a scumbag? Forget it. I'll leave it to fate."

Ye Kang didn't insist. After all, the Hundred Flowers Sword Finger was already more than enough for him at this stage.

The next thing he needed to improve was the Imperial Heaven-Reaching Skill.

He had already witnessed its power. It was absolutely top-tier—so formidable it could even suppress the inherited martial arts of those so-called great sects of the martial world.

As expected of a secret art passed down exclusively within the Previous Dynasty's Imperial Family. He'd only reached the first level, and it was already this powerful. What would it be like at Great Perfection?

Ye Kang opened the Imperial Heaven-Reaching Skill's upgrade panel. To go from the first level to the second, he needed a full 10,000 Comprehension.

The road ahead was long.

Ye Kang drew in his aura and left the room again. The moment he stepped outside, Jin Baobei hurried over, looking flustered.

"Senior, I can't go back to the God of Wealth Inn, and I don't dare stay in Mengzhou either. Please take me back to the Imperial City. I have some skill in gathering intelligence, and I'm sure I can be of help to you!"

Jin Baobei had thought it through. Rather than stay in Mengzhou and wait for those sects to take revenge, she might as well leave.

Ye Kang considered it. Princess Jinxi had already promised that she would have him promoted to Deputy Commander as soon as he returned. He really did need a few trusted experts under his command.

Jin Baobei was both an intelligence talent and a Super-class expert, no weaker than Zhu Cong or Zhang Gong. She was just the person to lend his team some weight.

He nodded. "That works. Come back to the Imperial City Department with me and serve as my personal aide."

"Huh? I'm joining the Imperial City Department?" Jin Baobei was taken aback. She'd only wanted to attach herself to a powerful patron. She hadn't meant to become a dog of the Imperial Court.

Seeing what she was thinking, Ye Kang said earnestly, "You'll understand soon enough. All those heroic experts are just hot air. A steady position, a government salary, and a pension—that's the most secure future you could ask for."

Jin Baobei blinked, her heart filling with bewilderment.

Could an expert really have so little ambition?

The business in Mengzhou was settled.

Ye Kang and Jin Baobei joined Princess Jinxi's entourage, and the great procession set off for the Imperial City.

Before they departed,

Lin Hanzhi changed into a clean, blue-green dress and stood atop the city wall, gazing after the Princess's procession.

Among the crowd, a tall figure sat astride a red-maned steed. With his black hair tied up and dressed in a black robe and riding boots, he gave her a gentle smile.

At that smile, Lin Hanzhi's heart raced, and her fingers clenched tight.

This was the man who had saved her—and Mengzhou.

If she could, she would have gone with him to the Imperial City.

But as the daughter of the local governor, she couldn't be so willful. All she could do was watch his figure gradually recede, until it melted into the horizon.

She didn't know that within her heart, a wisp of faint pink had begun to take shape.

Half a month later, the procession finally returned to the Imperial City.

With the Princess traveling alongside a large retinue, they could only move as slowly as ordinary people, by carriage and horse. Had Ye Kang traveled alone, he could have made the trip back from Mengzhou in just a few days.

The procession also had so many experts that they encountered no danger along the way. The journey went smoothly.

As soon as they entered the Imperial City, gongs and drums rang out. A group of palace eunuchs promptly shouted at the top of their lungs, "The Ninth Princess has returned!"

Surrounded by the crowd, the procession entered the Imperial Palace. Ye Kang's assignment ended there. Since Consort Jing had sent him out, he didn't need to attend an audience with His Majesty, so he took Jin Baobei straight back to the Imperial City Department.

The moment he saw Leng Ruyi, Ye Kang clasped his hands and smiled. "I've completed the mission without fail, Lord Leng. How did I do?"

Leng Ruyi remained as cool as ever, but when she sensed Ye Kang's aura, she still started in surprise.

He'd advanced so quickly. Was he a genius among geniuses?

No wonder those Old Monsters had taken him as a disciple. He really was extraordinary.

She nodded. "Well done. You helped the Ninth Princess suppress the martial world of Mengzhou and wipe out the White Lotus Sect's Rebel Faction. You've earned great merit. Consort Jing has already petitioned His Majesty to promote you to the Imperial City Department's third Deputy Commander and appoint you Tongzhi Lang of the sixth rank."

"Thank you, my lord!"

"Don't thank me. If nothing unexpected happens, His Majesty will summon you to the palace in the next few days. For now, carry out your duties as Warden and go check on the Death Prison."

Ye Kang felt a little embarrassed. Ever since his promotion, he'd barely visited the Death Prison. He'd been slacking off a bit.

He nodded, then gestured to Jin Baobei. "Lord Leng, this is someone I met in Mengzhou..."

"No need to explain. I already know. Since you recommended her, she can join the Imperial City Department as your personal aide. You can decide how to arrange things."

With a wave of her hand, Leng Ruyi gave Jin Baobei a position, though the latter wasn't exactly pleased about it.

Ye Kang, however, was delighted. His obsession with a secure government position even made him a little envious of Jin Baobei.

Wonderful! He'd failed the civil service exam eleven times in his previous life and never landed a stable position. This woman had done nothing and got one the moment she joined. She could go straight to coasting.

Wait!

Ye Kang suddenly came to his senses.

I can coast too!

"Lord Ye, several prisoners in the Death Prison are causing trouble, and there's a pile of other assignments waiting for you. Don't just stand around here."

Leng Ruyi spoke coolly.

Ye Kang snapped out of his daydream. Right, he couldn't coast just yet.

He took Jin Baobei to collect their Waist Tokens and sabers, changed into their uniforms, and headed to the Death Prison.

The jailers guarding the Death Prison saw Ye Kang and hurriedly saluted.

Ye Kang gave a slight nod and headed straight to the Warden's office.

"Jin Baobei, this office is yours from now on. I'm no good at managing the Death Prison, so I'm handing it all over to you."

Ye Kang flashed a sly smile. He was certainly good at finding ways to save himself trouble.

Jin Baobei looked speechless. "My lord, I'd much rather work in intelligence..."

"That's a strange thing to say. You can gather intelligence while guarding the Death Prison. You're my personal aide, after all. With my Waist Token, you can go wherever you like in the Imperial City Department's intelligence division."

Jin Baobei couldn't say much after that, so she had no choice but to agree.

Ye Kang didn't concern himself with her. Since he was at the Death Prison, he might as well visit an old friend.

Profound Tier Cell 007.

Dai Huanhuan had been staying there for some time.

There had been no torture, as she'd imagined, nor any threats or enticements. Aside from bringing her meals each day, the jailers didn't speak to her at all.

This left the righteous Female Thief deeply troubled.

Were they trying to bore her to death?

What corrupt officials! They were vicious to the core!

As she sat there stewing, Ye Kang came strolling over with his hands behind his back.

"Well, if it isn't Miss Dai. Long time no see. How have you been these past few days?"

The moment Dai Huanhuan saw Ye Kang, her anger flared. She gave a cold snort and ignored him.

Ye Kang smiled and spoke softly. "There's no need to be so distant. I'm not a bad person. You committed a crime, Miss Dai. You can't blame me for locking you up."

"Bullshit!" Dai Huanhuan roared.

"I didn't commit a crime! I was upholding justice! My Master said the Imperial Court is full of dogs. Stealing from it isn't against the law—it's acting on Heaven's behalf!"

Ye Kang shook his head helplessly.

"Hopeless. The Imperial Court hasn't even done anything to you. Where does all that resentment come from?"

At those words, Dai Huanhuan's eyes instantly turned cold.

"An Imperial Court's Dog would naturally speak up for the Imperial Court. How could you know what I've been through?"

Looking into Dai Huanhuan's eyes, brimming with murderous intent, Ye Kang grew serious as well.

There was a story there.

Good, good. A story meant a way in, and a way in meant he could get his hands on her peerless Lightness Skill.

Ye Kang cleared his throat and lowered his voice, speaking with utmost righteousness. "Miss Dai, perhaps I can help you."