Applying Eye Drops

Wei Wuji and the others came to their senses and immediately stepped in front of Li Chen Zhou.

"Heavenly Desire Palace actually dares interfere in the Earth Ranking trials. What do you take us for..."

Liu Xi of the Eastern Depot, Cao Shaoqing of the Western Depot, and the God Hunter of Six Doors all showed displeasure as well. As those responsible for maintaining order, they had failed to stop Yan Ruyu. It was a dereliction of duty.

Liu Xi was the first to press the issue. "The Heavenly Desire Palace Master holds us in such contempt. If you do not give us an explanation today, do not think of leaving."

"I had no intention of interfering in the Earth Ranking trials. It is merely that the outcome has already been decided, and I hope Lord Li will spare his life."

Li Chen Zhou was no more polite. "Whether he has lost is not for you to decide. The Ministry of Rites is here, and so is the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion. You barged in and now want to leave... What do you take these lords for?"

Seeing that words would get her nowhere, Yan Ruyu had no choice but to take out a token.

Clang—

The Nine Dragon Token gleamed with a cold light beneath the sun. Wei Wuji and the others' expressions shifted unpredictably. Liu Xi's nails dug deeply into his palms, while the muscles beneath Cao Shaoqing's Flying Fish Uniform tightened. Yet in the end, they all bowed together. "Greetings, Your Highness."

Li Chen Zhou lowered his gaze, concealing the cold gleam in his eyes. The dragon patterns on that token stabbed his eyes with pain—last night, the woman had still been pleasing the emperor upon the dragon bed; today, she could wield his token to save a man. Imperial power and the martial world were both nothing but filthy bargains.

"This palace shall take its leave." Yan Ruyu's broad sleeves swirled, wrapping around the barely breathing Jade Faced Fox. Before leaving, she gave Li Chen Zhou a deep look. Her crimson lips parted, and her voice entered his ears in secret. "The young master of Duke Zhen's Estate... We will meet again very soon."

The master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion promptly struck his abacus. "The top of the Rising Dragon Ranking has changed hands! The new number one—Li Chen Zhou!"

Ding—

"Congratulations to the host for achieving the Rising Dragon Ranking's number-one accomplishment."

"Reward obtained: Heavenly Frost Fist (one of the Three Absolutes)."

"Current fusion progress: 1%... 15%... 43%..."

Bone-piercing cold surged from his meridians into both fists, and frost flowers formed over Li Chen Zhou's knuckles. He stared at the distorted reflection within the ice crystals—Cloud Dispelling Palm, Wind God Kick, Heavenly Frost Fist. Three-Aspect Primordial Energy lacked only its final piece.

Before the words had even faded, the Vice Minister of Rites suddenly hurried forward. "Pavilion Master! The Heaven Ranking tournament..."

"I fear it must be postponed." The old pavilion master unfolded a carrier pigeon's letter, a meaningful smile curling at his lips. "The sword tomb of Famous Sword Manor has opened, and experts from every sect have already rushed there." He deliberately raised his voice. "It is said... even a heavenly-tier divine sword that has slept for three hundred years has awakened."

The entire venue erupted in an uproar.

The Ministry of Rites knew what the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion Master was thinking. He simply did not want the imperial court meddling too deeply in the martial world. They could only cup their hands and say, "No matter..."

A flush suddenly colored Jian Wu Dao's pale face. Staggering, he walked up to Li Chen Zhou. "Once I obtain that divine sword..."

"I will wait for you." Li Chen Zhou cut him off, flicking a frost flower from his fingertip onto the other man's battered sword sheath. "I hope that next time, you can catch one slash from me."

With the battle for the ranking over, Mad Daoist and the others also came to bid Li Chen Zhou farewell.

After saying goodbye to everyone, the matter of seizing the ranking came to an end. Yet through Li Chen Zhou's battle today, the imperial court had slapped the martial world hard across the face. From this day onward, martial artists no longer dared look down on the court.

That night, inside a warm chamber of the Forbidden City—

"Bastard!" The emperor smashed a teacup and pointed at the black-clad guard kneeling on the floor. "Yan Ruyu dared use the token I bestowed to save that eunuch?"

"Please quell your anger, Your Majesty." The old eunuch said softly, "Young Master Li defeated them in succession today..."

"Shut up!" The emperor suddenly narrowed his eyes. "I have yet to settle the score for that brat calling me stingy..." His fingers tapped lightly on the dragon desk, and a strange smile suddenly appeared on his face. "Issue a decree. Reward Li Chen Zhou... one thousand taels of gold."

As dusk descended, the glazed tiles of the Palace of Heavenly Purity reflected the blood-red clouds. The old eunuch's shrill voice echoed through the hall:

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees—

"Li Chen Zhou, Centurion of the Brocade Guard, has exalted our nation's prestige. He is hereby awarded one thousand taels of gold and ten hu of South Sea night-luminous pearls..."

The Son of Heaven on the dragon throne rubbed his thumb ring, his peripheral gaze sweeping over the line of civil officials. The Minister of Personnel was exchanging looks with his colleagues, while half a memorial protruded from the Vice Minister of Public Works' sleeve—its surface densely covered in accusations against Li Chen Zhou.

"Your Majesty!"

Wei Wuji suddenly stepped out from the ranks, his Embroidered Spring Blade striking the floor with a clang. "Li Chen Zhou defeated masters from twelve martial sects in succession. By law, he should be promoted to Thousand Household!"

"Absurd!" The Minister of Personnel leaped forward. "How can a mere yellow-mouthed child command a Thousand Household Office?"

"This minister concurs!" The Vice Minister of Public Works shook open his memorial. "This man holds the law in no regard. Just the other day, he forcibly entered..."

"Enough." The emperor waved a hand lightly, his gaze sweeping toward the silent Duke Zhen Guo. "What does Lord Li think?"

In the shadows at the corner of the hall, Li Qing Shan cupped his fists. "This old minister... must avoid suspicion."

When court was dismissed, the rain hung like a curtain.

Li Chen Zhou stood outside the palace gates, allowing the icy rain to soak his Flying Fish Uniform.

Wei Wuji stuffed five centurion waist tokens into his hand. "You brat brought honor to your old man this time. Do not rush... Before sitting in certain seats, blood must be shed first."

"You misunderstand, Commander." Li Chen Zhou clenched the waist tokens as frost spread through the rain in trails of ice. "What I want is not a position..."

Those above could wait, but Li Chen Zhou could not. His father was still waiting for him to save his life. Thus, his gaze fell upon the civil and military officials obstructing his promotion.

"They say I lack merit? Then I will clear some vermin out for the court."

The moment he stepped out of the palace gates, a young eunuch hurried over and lowered his voice. "Lord Li, Princess Xuan Yi summons you."

Li Chen Zhou looked around at the court officials who had yet to disperse and said quietly, "In such a setting... would that not be improper?"

The young eunuch revealed a meaningful smile. "My lord worries too much. Since that time at Nangong Manor when you and the princess rode in the same carriage, word has already spread everywhere. Now, there is no need to avoid suspicion."

Under countless watching eyes, Li Chen Zhou could only grit his teeth and head toward the princess's residence. Every time he flaunted himself through the streets like this, a trace of the shame of living off a woman rose in his heart.

Upon reaching the outside of Pingxuan Hall, the junior Eunuch Cao on duty exchanged a knowing glance with him. As the hall doors opened and closed, the young eunuch guiding him had already quietly withdrawn.

"Oh—" A coquettish voice came from within the hall. "If this palace did not send an eight-man sedan chair, I fear I could not invite Young Master Li, this great Buddha, here?"

Li Chen Zhou hurriedly apologized. "Your Highness, please see clearly. These days, official duties have truly kept me occupied..."

"Official duties?" Princess Xuan Yi snorted coldly. "Then this palace will petition Father Emperor to relieve you of your post. Let us see what excuse you use then!"

The words made Li Chen Zhou's heart skip a beat. The position of Thousand Household had not come easily, and his father's life was tied to it. His eyes shifted, and he suddenly put on a despondent expression. "In this Earth Ranking contest, I had thought that if I could claim first place and earn merit, I might ask His Majesty for a favor... so that everyone in the world would know that Princess Xuan Yi's consort was a man who stood tall between heaven and earth..."

Before he finished speaking, Princess Xuan Yi had already thrown herself into his drenched embrace, utterly disregarding the rainwater on his Brocade Guard uniform. "Who wants you caring about such empty fame!"

"You may not care." Li Chen Zhou gently stroked her dark hair, his voice low as water. "But how can I bear to hear others gossiping about the one I love? Whatever other noble ladies possess, my princess must have twice as much."

His words made Princess Xuan Yi's heart burn. When feelings ran deep, one sincere sentence outweighed ten thousand taels of gold; without love, even mountains of gold and silver were nothing but a joke.

After the maid brought a brocade handkerchief, Princess Xuan Yi personally wiped the rainwater from his face.

Ever since crossing into this world, Li Chen Zhou had always been like an unsheathed sword, his sharp edge impossible to conceal. The martial arts of various sects fused within his body added even more baleful air to him. Only within Pingxuan Hall could that restless heart find a moment of peace.

The two nestled together and spoke intimately for a long while. Li Chen Zhou recounted everything that had happened lately in vivid detail, all while quietly applying a few doses of eye drops to the emperor. Only when dusk had sunk low did he take his leave.

No sooner had he stepped out of the palace gates than Princess Xuan Yi hurriedly set out for the Palace of Heavenly Purity—she was determined to demand an explanation for why a meritorious minister had received no promotion.

And Li Chen Zhou had already made up his mind: starting tomorrow, it was time to thoroughly clean up the court vermin obstructing his advancement.