Chapter 478: Testing Courage

Chapter 478: Trial of Courage

Since his fallout with Wang Changting, Yang Bai Ze had, under the protection of Jing Yi Wei in Dog Mountain City, brought all his followers into the Western Municipal Office, making it clear that he aimed to undermine this newly appointed Governor-General of Dog Mountain City.

Wang Changting's retaliation was equally swift, announcing the dismissal of all low-ranking officials except Yang Bai Ze himself on the same day.

Strange as it may seem, after arranging his trusted subordinates to fill the vacancies, Wang Changting made no further concrete moves.

Even the Confucius Temple, the Enlightenment Academy, and the Labor Export Company, representatives of the new policies, fell into stagnation due to lack of management.

A large number of students with no classes and labors with no work lingered in the academy and docks, though chaos had not yet erupted, the people's hearts had become unsteady and unavoidable.

A strange panic began to spread throughout Dog Mountain City.

Such a start-and-finish operation was a far cry from Wang Changting's previous astute schemes, leaving Yang Bai Ze bewildered about his intentions.

More puzzling was that over the past month, Wang Changting had nearly vanished from Dog Mountain City, and even the second division under Xie Bi'an could not find his whereabouts.

Was Wang Changting giving up on seizing the new policies of Dog Mountain City to return to the imperial homeland?

This thought had just crossed Yang Bai Ze's mind when he decisively rejected it.

These Confucian sect members, nurtured by their illustrious family backgrounds, had developed an arrogant and disdainful nature, but would never stoop to stupidity.

The hereditary genes of the sect, though not determining their future limits, ensured they had a sufficiently high baseline.

Dragons breed dragons, and phoenixes breed phoenixes; the son of a mouse will dig holes.

A folk saying and self-mockery had become the true portrait of the Great Ming Empire's society.

Even if Wang Changting chose to abandon the merits of Dog Mountain City, he would at least put up a show of competing with Yang Bai Ze.

He would not, without a word, sneak away like a coward.

The first-rank sect members were already at the pinnacle of the Confucian hierarchy, making further progress as difficult as climbing to the sky, no less than thousands of armies crossing a bridge of planks.

If Wang Changting's performance was so lackluster, the accusations and doubts from the Wang family would be enough to drag him into the abyss.

Even his own genes, seen as trash, would be stripped of the right to inherit.

"Though we cannot determine the reason Wang Changting chose to lie low for now, as long as the right opportunity arises, he will surely reappear. It is unclear whether he will show up in front of us or hold a knife behind us."

Upon hearing Yang Bai Ze's words, Li Jun couldn't help but feel a headache.

He was not worried about Wang Changting and the Jin Yi Wei bumping into each other, but if the opponent dared to make a move, he could legitimately expel him from Dog Mountain City.

However, the current situation was that his side was ready to fight, while the enemy had quietly fled, giving them no chance to provoke.

"Shall we just hold out if he does not move?" Li Jun asked Yang Bai Ze, "If the new policies remain stagnant for too long, it will be hard to pick them up again. The Jin Yi Wei are of less concern, but the losses to you are significant."

"No major problems in the short term. Moreover, I have arranged people to impeach Wang Changting's inaction in the capital. Even if he doesn't care about the court's inquiry, the Langya Wang clan cannot afford to lose face, so they will force him to emerge."

Yang Bai Ze smiled confidently, "As long as he appears, he will find that he cannot reclaim even a single student from the Confucius Temple, nor send any labors out of the port. Moreover, in the Yellow Grain Dreams of the Ministry of Personnel, daily reports about the state of Dog Mountain City will be submitted, detailing every detail of his orders."

Li Jun frowned and asked, "In the court, you're not his match in a showdown?"

Yang Bai Ze's rear was flanked by Pei Xingjian, a fact Li Jun knew.

But the Ming court was dominated by the New Confucians, and even if Pei Xingjian had great power, he was a foreigner. No matter how much dirt he spread, it might not affect the Wang clan much.

"Using my short comings to attack his strengths. This foolish move I will not do. I only want him to feel the helplessness of being subject to ancestral favors, and even a fallen leaf would make him speechless."

Yang Bai Ze slowly said, "When he appears, if he wants to restore the reputation of the sect, he must make Dog Mountain City the model of the new policies in the Wei area. As for me, the one sabotaging him, I am a thorn in his eyes and a stink in his nose. The quickest way to remove a thorn is to strike."

"So when he appears, you'll see."

Yang Bai Ze smiled at Li Jun, pushing a prepared handcart to the table, "It's up to you, Jun-ge."

Li Jun asked with interest, "What if he withstands the pressure from the Wang clan, not choosing to jump at shadows, but slowly solves the obstacles you set? How would you handle it?"

"All the new policy landmarks, such as the Confucius Temple, the Enlightenment Academy, and the Labor Export Company, will disappear one by one before him."

Yang Bai Ze's face still wore a bright smile, but his words carried a chilling coldness, "See if the lord of the Langya Wang clan is as willing as I am to leave Wei area with empty hands."

Yang Bai Ze had set only one outcome for himself and Wang Changting: you die, I live.

Either monopolize the merit, or both perish. There was no room for compromise.

Without knowing Yang Bai Ze's past, Li Jun couldn't imagine such a decisive move from an unmarried youth.

A narrow path leads to a meeting; the loser yields the way.

Li Jun showed no objection, just a calm nod, when the meeting room door was suddenly pushed open.

"Baidu, the city of Ji is in trouble."

Xie Bi'an, seated in a wheelchair, looked extremely grave.

The news came from Xie Bi'an's agents embedded in Baidu's office.

When he said this, Li Jun's face showed surprise, clearly not expecting the second division under Xie Bi'an to infiltrate into the friendly army.

Xie Bi'an did not elaborate much on this point, directly saying, "Three hours is the silent time I set. If no signal is returned within three hours, it means Baidu's office is in trouble."

Xie Bi'an's words paused, "This method is to prevent the entire household from being raided, all people falling into the illusion of the upper realm, or being blocked by other means, making it impossible for messages to escape."

"It's Zhou Huyun."

Li Jun hadn't spoken when Yang Bai Ze's voice, certain, said, "It seems the Wei area's Governor's Office has decided to attack the Jin Yi Wei!"

Though it was an expected event, its sudden occurrence made Xie Bi'an's face show a faint sadness.

The weak deserve to be devoured.

"I have reported the news to Old Devil. I suggest this matter be handled by the Thousand House Office."

Xie Bi'an's voice carried an undeniable powerlessness, "Since the entire Ji city household couldn't even send a plea, whether it was intentional or not, their methods and strength are probably beyond our control."

Sitting beside Yang Bai Ze, he tightened his lips and had no right to speak.

The open door outside, Chen Qisheng, Yuan Mingfie, Zou Sijiu, Ma Wangye, and others appeared in full.

The total flag of the first house, Fan Wujiu, leaned against the door, holding his sword in readiness.

All eyes were on Li Jun.

From a rational perspective, this matter should indeed be handled by the Thousand House Office as Xie Bi'an suggested.

If it was Zhou Huyun's hand, there must be support from the Wei area's Governor's Office. Then, Dog Mountain City might face a similar attack.

At this moment, it was wiser to stay safe and avoid danger, which was the most correct decision.

If they rushed to rescue Ji city, not to mention whether Chou Long and others were still alive, they were completely unaware of the enemy's strength.

Darkness and danger loomed.

"What if we just wait if he does not move?"

Li Jun, who had been silent, finally spoke.

He said slowly, "Su Old Head once told me that after dividing the world of warriors, he grew accustomed to being a loner and didn't want his loyal followers to suffer exile because of him. So when the New Confucians pushed the new policies, he endured. When he decided to disband the Jin Yi Wei in the Wei area, he also endured. But now, his endurance brought not kindness, but a sword raised by others."

"The Jin Yi Wei had built eleven households to suppress this poor and rugged mountain area. Now, they should also lay out a broad way home with corpses. The old man had instructed me to help the Jin Yi Wei brothers onto the horse, one more step."

"So I will pave this road first!"

The handcart on the table was opened, Li Jun took out the injector inside, and without hesitation, inserted it into his neck.

[Learning of Tànfēng (5th grade body technique) completed, replacing the missing step (6th grade perfect completion)]

【Stepping Forward to the Mid-Level Five】

【Consolidated 200 Points in Mastery, Stepping Fully into the Five-Point Grand Finale】

【Remaining Mastery Points: 194】

【Sequence】: The Five Path of Martial Arts – The Root Cause

【Technique】: Fangguan Law (Five-Point Grand Finale), Dragon Release (Five-Point Grand Finale), Dragon Capture (Six-Point Grand Finale), Fractured Bone Hand (Seven-Point Grand Finale)

【Form】: Stepping Forward (Five-Point Grand Finale)

【Training】: Mountain Bone (Five-Point Grand Finale)

【Inner Energy】: Insight into the Five Gods (Five-Point Grand Finale)

The sharp cry of genes, boiling with vitality, scorches the very essence of combat.

“Chen Qian, Yuan Mingfeng, and Fan Wuxi, you stay behind to assist in securing the safety of the household.”

“Yes!”

No one dares to question—only a fist-driven resolve takes form.

“Huo Quan, Ma Wang, come with me to Jiyue City. I want to see firsthand this mighty man of the Hundred Households. Is he truly fearless?”

“Yes!”

The hundred households gathered around.

A chair once belonging to the mighty dragon-bearer now stands atop the steps of the household door.

Clouds descend from the great jade blade, casting shadows over the crowd, their eyes cold as ice.

“Fengshan, open your eyes and witness the bravery of these brothers who kneel before you! I know you are loyal, but now, for your own sake, let them serve as your burial companions!”

“Yes!”

The dragon-bearer crouches, his hand trembling as he lifts the bloodied body, his expression unreadable.

“Ha! I never expected you to come first! What a foolish act—you should have seen them torn apart by the jade blade, then forced to relive your dreams in the golden rice fields!”

“Ha!”

A single crimson tongue falls to the ground.

Fengshan’s voice rises, shaking with rage: “You dare challenge us?!”

Above the steps, Cloud stands unmoving, his gaze fierce as he watches the intruders emerge.

“Enough! The remnants of this gathering are doomed. This is enough.”

The ignored dragon-bearer, still whispering, is silenced by the thunderous roar of his own blood.

“Enough! You’ve all wasted your lives for nothing!”

With a thunderous crash, two guards burst forward, their heads shattered, their bodies bleeding profusely. The crimson pools on Fengshan’s face solidify.

“This is the first.”

Cloud leans forward, his voice trembling: “We still have 194 mastery points left.”

“Ah!!”

Fengshan’s mouth opens in a gasp, his resolve unshaken despite the pain.

“You think to mock our strength? You will pay for this!”

The two guards raise their weapons, the words ‘Neo’ and ‘Wang’ flashing like lightning in the dark.

“Neo! You’ve betrayed us!”

The crowd erupts in a storm of anger, their voices echoing through the night.

“You dare question our unity?!”

The air crackles with tension as the scene reaches its climax.

Among the scorpions included, the rebellion's Jinglu City Second Jiao Jian's black-clad servant, Chen, appeared abruptly amidst the tempestuous skies. With a single strike, he shattered the icy glow, casting light upon the cold visage. It was the hawk's black-clad servant, whose presence halted the storm's advance. 'You know someone follows you now—how?' he uttered, his fist a silent weapon. 'A man save me!' reverberated through the air, yet his resolve, veiled by pride, dissolved in an instant. He recognized rescue's impending arrival yet also the betrayal awaiting him. Yet he failed to foresee the fisherman whose depths he sought to exploit.