Commandery Princess's Reward: Kill Lei Chong, Replace Him, Scheme for the Lang General's Position!

The carriage sped through the streets, with Li Xian sitting at the front. A chill emanated from him, and frost formed on the carriage curtains and reins that were close to him. Li Xian set up his Heart Furnace, Heartfire his blood, which only provided a slight respite. Once the carriage stopped, he felt icy cold all over.

And this chill was entirely different. In freezing weather, with snow howling, the chill seeps in from the outside in. No matter how cold it is, you can always resist it to some extent by adding clothes, eating hot food, or warming your body and improving your Qi and Blood. But the icy coldness of this palm strike came from the inside out. Wearing thick clothes was useless; you could only endure it.

Li Xian thought to himself, "But that Commandery Princess is very shrewd, unlike Wei Chu and his ilk. How could she possibly put on the Heaven-and-Earth Garment herself? Besides, although the Heaven-and-Earth Garment has the word 'robe' in it, it's actually a strange artifact that's half a person's height."

Heartblessing Ward is a relatively quiet and peaceful neighborhood in the east of the city. The residents here are all of high status and come from distinguished families. At night, the lights are dim, and the atmosphere is peaceful but not cold. Li Xian spurred his horse to stop and came to the side of True-Yang Residence.

By this time He Miaoshou, Wang Zhiqiong, and the others had regained consciousness, but they were still bound and unable to move. Li Xian lifted the carriage curtain, took the five thieves out, and knocked on the gate of the mansion. After the maid opened the door, she threw the five thieves into the courtyard.

Li Xian summoned a maid and asked her to inform the Commandery Princess that the matter had been settled. The maid nodded and went to the east room. After a short while, the maid came out again and told Li Xian that the Commandery Princess had already gone to sleep and would not wake up until Chen Hour). She asked Li Xian to wait a moment.

Li Xian responded with a smile, thinking to herself, "While I'm facing imminent danger, she's sleeping soundly. Bai Qinghao and Iron Fu are quite drunk; they shouldn't wake up before dawn."

It was already late at night. After another half hour, the sky began to lighten, purple clouds gathered, and dawn gradually broke. After another half hour, past mid-morning, the streets were already filled with lively sounds.

Li Xian glimpsed the curtains of the east room being drawn back, a candle being lit, and a figure appearing on the window paper. It was a woman washing herself before a mirror, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall. Li Xian guessed it must be the Commandery Princess, and waited patiently, watching her comb her long hair, then slowly coil it up and insert a gold hairpin...

Li Xian thought to himself, "Women getting up is always so troublesome. Why didn't I see Sister Qingyao when the Commandery Princess came this time?" At three-quarters of the Chen Hour), footsteps approached. Wei Chu, drenched in sweat, walked quickly and stopped outside the east room, gently knocking. After a short while, he pushed open the door and entered to greet Commandery Princess Anyang. Around the end of the Chen Hour (7:45 AM), the door to the east room opened slightly, Commandery Princess Wei Qinghuang, dressed in luxurious clothes, walked out slowly. Wei Chu followed behind.

The aunt and niece arrived together. Wei Qinghuang sat down in the pavilion under the peach tree. Li Xian carried the five thieves closer and reported that the matter was settled. Wei Qinghuang nodded slightly and asked, "Chu'er, were these the five men who bullied you?"

Wei Chu said, "That's right."

He Miaoshou and the others had already woken up, but were heavily bound and unable to move. Seeing that they had escaped from prison, they still held onto the hope that their lives might be saved. However, upon seeing Wei Chu, they felt an endless sense of despair. Upon further reflection, they trembled with fear, knowing that not only could their lives not be saved, but they would also be tortured before they died.

Wei Qinghuang slapped Wei Chu across the face, leaving a burning handprint on his left cheek. She cursed, "You bastard! I thought you were some kind of powerful figure. These mere five nameless scoundrels have humiliated you, a member of the prestigious Wei Family, to the point of being unable to lift your head?!"

Wei Chu knelt down and said, "Aunt, I know I was wrong. Originally, even if these five thieves joined forces, they would not be a match for me. However, the five thieves are extremely cunning and familiar with the tomb's mechanisms. I acted rashly for a moment, and therefore... therefore..."

Wei Qinghuang said, "Now the five thieves are right before us. Chu'er, what do you intend to do?" Wei Chu said, "Nephew... nephew... I want to eat their hearts alive!" Wei Qinghuang said, "Go then. Shame will spur you on. Don't disappoint your aunt and lose your manly spirit." She took out a jade-handled short dagger from her sleeve and tossed it to Wei Chu.

Wei Chu drew his dagger, his Blood Qi boiling. He first punched and kicked, repaying all the humiliation. Then he stabbed several times with his dagger, blood splattering everywhere, a truly cruel act. The five thieves could hardly survive. Wei Chu, his murderous intent dissipated and covered in blood, retreated to the side.

Wei Qinghuang watched coldly, then nodded slightly. She called Li Xian to her side and struck him again. Li Xian Li Xian back several steps, the chill emanating from his body turning the surrounding area several feet into frozen ground. The chill subsided, and he recovered. However, the ravages of the cold for nearly three days had left him with serious injuries. Li Xian said, "Commandery Princess, if there's nothing else to instruct me, I will..."

Wei Qinghuang said, "Wait a moment." She stood up and walked over, her phoenix eyes fixed on Li Xian, scrutinizing him for a long time, before saying, "Now that we've discussed his crimes, it's time to discuss his merits. Although you were not thorough, complete, or effective, you did save my nephew's life, which is undeniable. Tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Li Xian pondered for a moment and said, "May I have some time to consider this before asking the Commandery Princess for instructions?" Wei Qinghuang refused indifferently, "No, don't say it now. I don't have time to waste with Commandery Princess later."

Li Xian thought to himself, "I'm already caught between Commandery Princess Jade City; I might as well take advantage of the situation." He said, "I want a promotion."

Wei Qinghuang sipped her tea calmly and said, "The Thirty-Two True Guards hold special positions that Non-Self control. If you wish to be promoted, I can intervene, but I cannot do so directly. However, aside from the Thirty-Two True Guards... I can arrange a position for you that requires you to be Clay-Bodied Clay-Faced Rank."

"For example, the ' Construction Commissioner ' and ' Geomancy Commissioner ' of the ' Construction Bureau) were all Clay-Bodied Clay-Faced Rank and had real power and responsibility. The Construction Commissioner was in charge of the construction of several workshops, and the construction of buildings, towers, and government offices all had to go through his hands. He received a lot of money in bribes every day. His treatment was far superior to that of the Jian Jin Wei (another Gold-Seeking Guard). The ' Geomancy Commissioner ' was responsible for surveying and mapping the land, which was also a very respectable position."

She looked quietly at Li Xian and said, "The position of Sea Affairs Officer in the East Sea Office is also vacant. With some effort, I can get you there. The Sea Affairs Officer is in charge of matters related to going to and from the sea. The prospects are better than those of the Construction Commissioner or the Geomancy Commissioner. It's a job that involves Clay-Bodied Clay-Faced Rank."

Wei Chu cried out, "Aunt, no... this Sea Affairs Officer..." and then fell silent. His interactions with Li Xian had left him with a mixture of jealousy, admiration, fear, and apprehension. Hearing that Wei Qinghuang intended to give the position of Sea Affairs Officer to Li Xian, and seeing Li Xian's youth and handsome appearance, he feared Li Xian would replace him. Wei Qinghuang gently pressed her hand down. Wei Chu dared not say more. Li Xian thought, "The Gold-Seeking Guard is fraught with danger for me. If I could retire gracefully and choose the more lucrative position at the Feng Shui Tower, that would be a good choice. But losing the daily ' Essence Soup ' and ' Essence Treasure ' would inevitably delay my martial arts progress. Moreover, such a position, at best, would only grant me Bronze Body Bronze Face; its authority is not as promising as that of the Gold-Seeking Guard. As for the Sea Affairs Officer in the East Sea Office, the prospects are broad, and the benefits are better—a truly rare opportunity. But Wei Chu doesn't want me to take it, and Wei Qinghuang may not really be willing to give it to me."

He thought to himself, "I am now Gold Steward (a high-ranking official), and if I rise further, I will become a Lang General (Lang General) at Tailstreet Marquis Wu Station. As a Langjiang, I will have considerable power. I can control the troops at Tailstreet Marquis Wu Station and have some authority over criminal matters. Moreover, I can build a private prison in my residence. If I kill Lei Chong, there is a chance I can take his place. Getting Commandery Princess Anyang's help will further demonstrate my loyalty and lull this woman into a false sense of security."

Composing himself, he said, "I would like to trouble the Commandery Princess to help me eliminate Lang General Lei Chong! So that I may take his place."

Wei Qinghuang was taken aback, a rare look of admiration appearing on her face. His sharp wit was truly impressive. Wei Qinghuang thought, "This boy's deviance from the right path gives me leverage. It seems he is indeed loyal to me." She said, "Lei Chong is a man of Copper Body, Mud Face, in charge of the criminal justice department. For ordinary people, he's a towering figure. Do you really dare to kill him?"

Li Xian said, "My feud with him is now irreconcilable!" Wei Qinghuang said, "Blood Qi!" She continued, "Chu'er, you need to learn this from him."

Wei Chu retorted, "Yes!"

Wei Qinghuang said, "I can help you, but... you need to kill Lei Chong yourself. After killing Lei Chong, I will help you with the arrangements. However, whether you can truly become the Heavenly Pivot depends on the Heavenly Pivot. If not, even if you kill Lei Chong, Fire Surge and Earth Surge will come along. You will still only be a minor Gold Steward, and in the end, you will have worked hard but gained nothing. You need to think carefully. If you leave Truth-Appraising Guard and become Geomancy Commissioner or Construction Commissioner... the promotion will be real."

Li Xian said, "My mind is made up. Please grant my request, Commandery Princess." Wei Qinghuang said, "Good! You have guts! You may leave now. I will send a message to inform you when the time comes. Just do as I say."

Li Xian took his leave and departed from True-Yang Residence. After traveling several miles, he finally exhaled softly. The Commandery Princess Anyang held immense power, with his influence extending throughout Jade City and commanding countless troops Jade City. His methods were swift and decisive, making him a formidable opponent. Li Xian reviewed the details of their conversation, confirming that there was no major problem and nothing amiss. He then observed the conversation between Wei Qinghuang and her niece Wei Chu through the hair in the courtyard of True-Yang Residence, finding nothing that could harm him, before finally feeling at ease.

Li Xian rushed back to "Drunken Night Tower," which was located in "Gold Ingot Ward; east of Fang," quite far from "Heartblessing Ward" in the east of the city. Riding "Binds the Wind," Li Xian didn't stop for a moment, scaling walls and buildings as he went, finally arriving back at "Drunken Night Tower" at noon.

Seeing that the situation inside was the same as before, with Bai Qinghao and Iron Fu snoring loudly, and the drunken waiter dressed in Li Xian's clothes and mask, also passed out at the table, Li Xian immediately changed back into his own clothes, quietly carried the waiter to the wine cellar, and pretended that he had secretly drunk and passed out there.

Li Xian thought to herself, "If he's discovered, this waiter will definitely get a beating. After all, he's in trouble because of me." She took out her valuables and hid them in the waiter's pocket. It was enough to buy medicine and food, with some left over.

After finishing his many tasks, Li Xian returned to his private room and drank several jars of wine. He absorbed the alcohol and became Inner Steam tipsy, then collapsed onto the table and fell asleep. He had endured numerous dangers at the Sea Tomb and faced further difficulties from Wei Qinghuang upon returning to Jade City. He had dealt with each challenge relentlessly for several days without rest. He was truly exhausted, and as soon as he closed his eyes, he fell into a deep sleep.

This "Drunken Night Tower" is surrounded by lakes on all sides. Legend has it that it was built by the owner of the Drunken Night Tower at great expense. The private room windows offer views of the lake, which at night reflects the stars in the sky. Looking out, the sky is filled with starlight, illuminating both heaven and earth. If one were to become intoxicated at this moment, wouldn't it be better to drift into the starry sky, losing all sense of direction? Hence the name "Drunken Night Tower".

Jade City is a place where extraordinary buildings gather, each with its own unique characteristics and ingenious design. With their Mechanism Path, Heavenly Crafted Wonders, and abundant wealth, they can often be built. There is a saying in Yunan Circuit that one of the greatest pleasures in life is to carry 100,000 taels of gold around one's waist and enter Jade City.

Heaven and earth revel in romance, while humankind knows no joy.

At noon, a commotion suddenly erupted in the hallway. Gold-Seeking Guard Gold Steward Su Kuo Deng Fan, fully armed and in armor, knocked on the door of the private room. Bai Qinghao and Iron Fu, slurring their drink, shouted, "Who is it!"

Su Kuo called out, "Brother Bai, Brother Tie, Brother Li, there's an urgent matter at the shop that requires our attention. All the Gold Steward and Cavalier have assembled. Only the three of you are missing. Hurry back!"

The three shouted, "Ah!" and immediately came to their senses. They checked their armor and swords, finding nothing amiss, and then hurried together towards Marquis Wu Station. Li Xian pretended not to know and asked, "Brother Su, what has happened? It's so important that such a large force has been mobilized."

Su Kuo said, "You don't know! To tell you the truth... to tell you the truth... it is truly a great disgrace to Gold-Seeking Guard!" Deng Fan said, "Our Gold-Seeking Guard's prison actually fell last night! The Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb that you three captured have vanished without a trace!"

Li Xian exclaimed in surprise, "How could this be?" He exchanged glances with Bai Qinghao and Iron Fu. Iron Fu cursed, "Damn it, are those guys in prison just sitting around doing nothing? They're huge men, how come they can't even keep an eye on them?"

Su Kuo said, "I don't know, but Xu Central Lang General was furious about this and ordered a thorough investigation! The disappearance from prison is a real slap in the face to our Gold-Seeking Guard. It's happened only once in all these years. If this matter is not handled properly, we will inevitably be ridiculed by others who are also among the Thirty-Two True Guards. That's why I called you three back in such a hurry, which has delayed your good intentions."

Bai Qinghao said, "It's alright. The three of us brothers have had enough of drinking for three days." Su Kuo and Deng Fan nodded and quickened their pace, returning to Tailstreet Marquis Wu Station Westwind Street.

Inside the shop, one could see the Cavalier, the commanders, and the Gold Steward all lined up. Lei Chong and Xu Shaoqian stood at the front, their expressions solemn. A group of clerks and servants also waited on either side. In general, there were already several thousand people.

The Tailstreet Marquis Wu Station is the "Grand Marquis Wu Station," Gold-Seeking Guard is in charge of governing "Westwind Avenue," ensuring the safety of all the neighborhoods along the street. There are three Grand Marquis Wu Station, located at the end, middle, and beginning of the street. The one at the end of the street holds the most power and authority, as it is close to the city gate and also oversees matters related to the gate. The one at the middle of the street is the most prosperous, with the best treatment and a relatively leisurely life. The one at the beginning of the street has the most elite troops and is close to the central government of Jade City, making it a very advantageous position.

Scattered throughout the neighborhoods and streets outside Grand Marquis Wu Station Mid-Marquis Wu Station and Small Marquis Wu Station. If needed, they can be quickly mobilized and assembled, creating a formidable force. Now, at dawn today, the Cavalier Yao Fan was on duty guarding the temporary prison according to the law. Upon entering the prison, he found all the prison guards unconscious.

Yao Fan was shocked and immediately searched all the cells. He found that all the prisoners were unconscious. Only the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb, who had been captured a few days ago, were missing. Yao Fan woke up the prison guards and asked them about yesterday's events.

But after questioning, they got nothing out of it. They only knew that before losing consciousness, their vision was blurry and they couldn't see anything clearly. When they woke up, this was the scene before them. Yao Fan knew that this was a serious matter, so he hurriedly reported it to his superiors, and it soon reached Lei Chong's ears.

Lei Chong cried out in alarm, but dared not make a decision on his own. He then informed Xu Shaoqian. Xu Shaoqian was practicing archery at his residence when Gong Kuai, Thirty-Two True Guards Divine Cavalry Guard, was a guest there. Upon hearing this, Xu Shaoqian felt greatly humiliated.

After a brief understanding of the situation, one can vaguely guess that the perpetrator is either an extremely skilled expert, a criminal gang that has been planning this for a long time, or a thief within Marquis Wu Station. Otherwise, how could they have taken away the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb so quietly, amidst so many eyes and ears?

Lei Chong proposed that the Gold-Seeking Guard be summoned immediately. Anyone who dared not come would undoubtedly be a traitor. Xu Shaoqian agreed and summoned all members of the Gold-Seeking Guard, including the Cavalier, Gold Steward, clerks, and servants.

Seeing that Li Xian, Bai Qinghao, and Iron Fu had not arrived, Xu Shaoqian knew that the three were playing around at the Drunken Star Pavilion, so he did not pursue the matter and sent someone to call them over. At this time, almost all the people from Marquis Wu Station were present, and they began to question them.

Although Lei Chong was prone to jealousy, he was also meticulous and indeed possessed exceptional strengths. In solving cases, he emphasized questioning over leaving traces, treating numerous clues as if they were nothing, yet his interrogation skills were superb.

He questioned each of the prison guards and then interrogated each of the Cavalier, asking what they had done the night before and whether there were any witnesses... Soon, he came to the attention of one of the prison guards, who said that he had been on duty guarding the gate the night before and had woken up with an itchy body, feeling very uncomfortable.

Lei Chong sensed something was amiss and immediately pressed for details about the "itching" sensation. The prison guard pondered the question carefully. It turned out that since childhood, whenever he touched fish or shrimp, red blisters would appear all over his body. This itchy sensation was similar to touching fish or shrimp.

Disappointed upon hearing this, Lei Chong paid no heed and continued questioning the others, vaguely deducing several methods of the crime, but none were supported by concrete evidence and offered no help in apprehending or identifying the culprit. Lei Chong harbored a deep-seated grudge against Li Xian, constantly plotting against him. This case implied involvement with an internal colleague, Lei Chong suddenly thought, "If I pin this on Li Xian, even if he doesn't die, he'll be in serious trouble." He immediately began to subtly steer the case towards Li Xian. However, Li Xian, Bai Qinghao, and Iron Fu had been drinking heavily for three days straight, with Bai Qinghao and Iron Fu corroborating each other's claims, and the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb were captured by the three of Li Xian. Although Lei Chong was Lang General with considerable power, making a false accusation would be unseemly. After much deliberation, he found himself at a loss. He cursed under his breath, "Damn it, if this kid doesn't drink this much, I'll drag him to jail!"

The investigation had reached a stalemate. Xu Shaoqian frowned; he disliked Li Xian intensely, but after some thought, he realized Li Xian was the most useful person. He said, "Li Xian, you've understood the case clearly. Do you have any thoughts?"

Li Xian said, "We can investigate the events of the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb throughout the day before the incident. Perhaps the key to solving the case lies here." Xu Shaoqian knew that this matter concerned the Gold-Seeking Guard and dared not be negligent. His colleagues had already been routinely questioned, and there was nowhere to investigate, so he followed Li Xian Li Xian's advice and went with him to summon the prison guards from the previous day. Li Xian then questioned the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb about their day: when they ate, when they were interrogated, when they were tortured, and when they were returned to their cells...

After some questioning, Li Xian said, "So... before the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb disappeared yesterday, it was Lei Lang General who last saw them." Xu Shaoqian frowned and said, "Lei Chong, why didn't you tell me about this beforehand?"

Lei Chong said, "This... this... Lei Chong believes that this matter is unrelated to the case and does not want to interfere with the investigation, so... so he didn't say anything." Li Xian said, "Whether it's because you don't want to interfere with the investigation or because you have something to hide, it's not easy to judge." Lei Chong angrily said, "What do you mean? You mere Gold Steward, how dare you slander this Lang General!" As he spoke, he fiercely struck out with his palm, aiming for Li Xian's chest.

Xu Shaoqian snorted coldly, his right hand forming a claw, gripping Lei Chong's wrist, and with a light flick, Lei Chong sent flying several feet, smashing tables and chairs. Li Xian asked, "According to the prison guards, Lang General Lei was supposed to interrogate the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb at 1:15 AM last night. It's already late at night, and the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb's crimes are undeniable, so why the need for interrogation? I wonder why Lang General Lei is conducting this interrogation in the middle of the night?"

Xu Shaoqian stared intently at him and shouted, "Speak quickly!" Lei Chong replied, "I... I was afraid that the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb might have told falsehoods. Therefore, I am interrogating them again, lest I wrongly kill an innocent person."

Li Xian said, "Lang General Lei's intentions were good! But why did he choose to interrogate me in the middle of the night? And why was there no clerk to take notes? Why didn't he remember this act of loyalty and goodwill?"

Lei Chong's face flushed crimson, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. A thunderous rage brewed within him; he wished he could devour Li Xian's flesh and blood, crushing his bones inch by inch, yet he was utterly unable to refute it. His midnight interrogation was to inquire about Li Xian's skills, martial arts techniques... intending to deal with Li Xian in the future. This was both an abuse of power and the persecution of a subordinate; how could he allow a clerk to record it? Yet, having committed such a wicked act, he could not possibly utter a word.

Li Xian said, "Xu Central Lang General Li Xian have a bold and reckless guess, even one that is unprecedented. I am just speaking casually, and I ask that Xu Central Lang General listen attentively. If there is anything inappropriate, I hope you will not take it to heart. I just heard about this case and found it strange."

"Although this prison has few guards, it is located deep within Marquis Wu Station. Ordinary thieves don't even know which way is east, west, south, or north. If it were a prison break, they would have to fight their way in from the west gate. That's no easy feat. But last night was calm and peaceful. Therefore, we know that this thief must be familiar with Marquis Wu Station. But even if he is very familiar with Marquis Wu Station, we can't allow him to sneak in."

"It would be extremely difficult to quietly remove five living people. But then again, if the person who committed this crime happened to have some power in Marquis Wu Station, then... it would be completely different, and everything would become clear."

Lei Chong's nostrils flared, and he understood the implication in Li Xian's words—that he was implying Lei Chong was the real culprit. He shouted, "You scoundrel! How dare you doubt me!" Li Xian said, "The key to solving cases is to make bold assumptions and carefully verify them. If Lang General Lei finds this offensive, please bear with it."

Lei Chong his hands and said, "Xu Central Lang General, this fellow has ulterior motives and intends to sow discord. I find him very suspicious!"

Xu Shaoqian sneered, "You still have the nerve to call others suspicious? Li Xian has Bai Qinghao and Iron Fu as witnesses; he drank fine wine for three days straight. He only sobered up today. Isn't he far more credible than you, Lang General?!"

Lei Chong knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice, "Xu Central Lang General, Lei Chong have followed you for many years. You should know that I would never do such a foolish thing! Central Lang General... you must not easily believe those Tom, Dick, and Harry who are sowing discord!"

Lei Chong Lei Chong continued, "Could it be that my years of loyalty are no match for this brat's few words? Lang General Xu, you should consider this: although this man is a brilliant judge, he dares to draw a conclusion based on just a few words. He must be using this opportunity to settle a personal score with me!"

Li Xian said, "Lang General Lei, don't be nervous. I was just raising a hypothetical question. I have no reason to frame you. Besides, settling personal scores is a matter of public duty... one must first have a personal score before one can use public power. When did I have a personal score with Lang General Lei?"

Lei Chong said in a deep voice, "Hmph, you brat, still pretending. I know you resent me." He wanted to bring up the personal grudge to prove his innocence. However, this matter involved the deaths of several Gold-Seeking Guard from "Evil-Quelling Island," which was even bigger than the case of the Five Heroes of the Ancient Tomb.

The two were locked in a fierce battle, their rivalry reaching a point of life or death. Xu Shaoqian, observing this, knew that Lei Chong, with their long-standing friendship, would not betray Gold-Seeking Guard. He saw the deep-seated hatred between Li Xian and Lei Chong, but deep down, he leaned more towards Lei Chong.