Young and Arrogant

Liu Jiashan of the Shadow Pivot Court led ten Black-Clad Guards to the gates of the Armament Hall. "Shadow Pivot Court on official business! Open the gates at once!"

Seeing that no one answered, one of the Black-Clad Guards raised his voice. "Third Division, Seventh Squad of the Shadow Pivot Court's Black-Clad Guard, acting under the deputy director's orders, is conducting a thorough investigation into the attack on Dowager Consort Wang's coffin!"

"We have reliable intelligence that Xiao Wu, a survivor of the escort party, has returned to the Armament Hall. Open the gates immediately and cooperate with the investigation!"

The armored soldiers inside the compound changed expression, but did not back down. "The Armament Hall is a vital military site. Instructor Xiao is gravely wounded and is receiving treatment! Allow us to report this to Captain Duan."

Liu Jiashan pushed his subordinate aside and stepped forward himself. Beneath his bird's-nest hair, his deep-set eyes were calm, yet carried an unquestionable authority.

"Duty calls, and time is of the essence. This case is of grave importance. Do not bring ruin upon yourselves!"

Before long, the heavy courtyard gates were thrown fully open. More than ten burly armored soldiers rushed out at once, surrounding Liu Jiashan and his men.

"Pah! A pack of black-clad dogs! Do you even know where you are?"

Great Liang had built its nation on martial might. If there was any government office that dared stand up to the Shadow Pivot Court head-on, it could only be the Armament Hall.

Especially now, with the war in the north at a critical juncture, the Armament Hall's standing had only risen further!

At that moment, a towering, powerfully built giant nearly nine feet tall stepped out from among the Armament Hall's armored soldiers. It was none other than Duan Yifei.

His gaze was like a blade as it stabbed straight at Liu Jiashan. "Lord Liu, the Shadow Pivot Court certainly has a quick nose. My master is gravely wounded and unconscious, with his life hanging by a thread! This is the crucial moment for his treatment, yet you insist on taking him away now?"

To everyone's surprise, Liu Jiashan was not cowed by Duan Yifei's imposing presence. He remained remarkably composed. "Duty leaves me no choice. Tonight, the Shadow Pivot Court will take this man away, no matter what."

As he spoke, his tone shifted, and his gaze swept across the armored soldiers behind Duan Yifei, who faced the situation as if confronting a great enemy.

"Captain Duan's devotion to his master and desire to shield him are understandable. But if your obstruction delays the case, can you bear the responsibility? Can the Armament Hall bear it?"

Those words carried even more weight, their threat plain to hear. The Shadow Pivot Court was essentially the Emperor's shadow—it was no ordinary government office.

Duan Yifei rested one hand on his sword hilt. "You may take him away, but only after the wounded man's condition improves. Then you can come for him."

Behind him, a row of armored soldiers moved in perfect unison, each placing a hand on a sword hilt, ready to draw at any moment.

"If I'm not mistaken, Your Excellency seems to be an eighth-rank Iron Bone Realm martial artist?" Liu Jiashan unhurriedly walked up to Duan Yifei and looked up at the nine-foot "giant."

Duan Yifei looked down into his eyes. "Lord Liu is quite well informed."

"Mm... An eighth-rank Iron Bone Realm martial artist at such a young age, and one of the favorites to win this Nine Provinces Martial Tournament." Liu Jiashan spoke blandly.

"What are you trying to say?" Duan Yifei narrowed his eyes, studying the bird's-nest-haired man before him.

Liu Jiashan's face suddenly turned stern. His deep pupils resembled abysses, as though they could swallow a person whole...

"We all serve the court—we're on the same side. If we start fighting and killing, it'll inevitably hurt the harmony.

In my view, let's not make things difficult for the brothers under our command. Isn't the Armament Hall fond of bravery and martial prowess?

You and I can have a one-on-one exchange. If you win, we'll disappear at once. If I win, then do not obstruct us in carrying out our duties. How about it?"

The moment he said this, the armored soldiers burst into laughter...

"Hey! Did you hear that? This guy wants to trade blows with Brother Duan!"

"Look at that slovenly appearance of his. He doesn't have a shred of a martial artist's spirit."

"This fellow isn't some sorcerer, is he? Hahaha..."

"A sorcerer challenging a martial artist? Is this a joke?"

Liu Jiashan remained as composed as ever, utterly unconcerned by their mockery. He even added, "Oh, right. I'll only use one move. If you can take it, I lose."

To the coarse martial men of the Armament Hall, those words were simply arrogance without bounds!

"Brother Duan, this bastard is spouting wild nonsense. We need to teach him a proper lesson!"

"That's right! Why don't I do it? There's no need for Brother Duan to deal with a soft-legged shrimp like this!"

Duan Yifei raised a hand to silence them. "Enough. Since he has specifically called me out for a one-on-one exchange, I can only oblige him!"

As soon as the words fell, Duan Yifei let out a thunderous roar. His aura surged like a rainbow, and his clothes exploded off his body on the spot!

This nine-foot brute had arms as thick as pillars, veins coiling like horned dragons, and a chest like a copper furnace smelting gold. Flying dragons and fierce tigers were tattooed across the sharply defined muscles of his body!

His bronze-colored skin gleamed under the torchlight, as though a gilded bronze statue stood before them, radiating an overwhelming sense of oppression.

"Iron Bone Realm at great completion... a fine prospect for martial training." Liu Jiashan gave a faint nod of approval, the corner of his mouth curving upward. "But the young and reckless must always suffer a little before they can grow."

Inside the compound, Xiao Fan saw firelight flickering outside and heard the ceaseless clamor. A faint unease stirred in his heart, so he rose and went to the gates to see what was happening.

The moment he arrived, he saw blood spray across the sky!

The nine-foot giant was sent flying just like that, crashing to the ground as blood streamed continuously from his mouth...

Looking again at his chest, there was a fist-sized depression in muscles hard as steel plate!

Everyone present stood dumbstruck... speechless...

Liu Jiashan truly had used only one utterly ordinary inch punch, yet Duan Yifei, at the great completion of the eighth-rank Iron Bone Realm, could not rise again!

"Brother Duan!"

Xiao Fan hurried forward to examine the injuries... the breastbone was shattered... the heart meridians damaged. If the blow had been even slightly stronger, Duan Yifei would already be dead.

This Liu Jiashan was no simple man!

Only then did the armored soldiers around them come back to their senses. They drew their swords one after another. "Brother Duan! You bastard, you actually struck to kill!"

Liu Jiashan spread his hands and sighed. "Ah, hurry up and carry him inside for treatment. If I'd truly struck to kill, he'd have breathed his last already."

"Enough. We're all men here—wager accepted, loss conceded. Since I won, I'd trouble you all to clear the way."

As Liu Jiashan spoke, he led his men toward the Armament Hall courtyard. The armored soldiers around them stood with swords drawn, exchanging wary glances, yet none dared step forward to stop them.

Just as the group reached the entrance, Liu Jiashan caught sight of Xiao Fan. "Ah... now this is strange. How come you're everywhere?" he asked with a frown.

"We meet again, Lord Liu." Xiao Fan cupped his hands in greeting, then helped two armored soldiers carry Duan Yifei inside for treatment.

Liu Jiashan scratched at his bird's-nest hair. "What is Xiao Wu to you?"

"He is my father," Xiao Fan answered truthfully.

Liu Jiashan nodded lightly. "Mm... then come along too."

"What does Your Lordship mean by that?" Xiao Fan asked.

Liu Jiashan raised a hand and rested it on Xiao Fan's shoulder. "Naturally, you'll accompany your father on a trip to the Shadow Pivot Court offices."

Sure enough... wherever these black-clad bandits show up, nothing good ever follows! Xiao Fan grumbled inwardly.

"Can I refuse?" Xiao Fan asked tentatively.

Liu Jiashan smiled faintly and patted Xiao Fan's shoulder. "No."

"My father is seriously injured and unconscious. He shouldn't be moved. Could Your Lordship make an exception? Whatever you wish to ask, ask me instead."

Liu Jiashan slowly shook his head. "No. Even if we have to carry him, we'll carry him into the Shadow Pivot Court and attend to him there until he wakes."

Everyone knew that when the Shadow Pivot Court handled a case, there was never any bargaining. If they said they were arresting your whole family, then your whole family was getting arrested...

Xiao Fan gave up struggling... and could only watch as that gang of black-clad bandits carried his father out.