Chapter 499: Bandits Arrive

Chapter 499: The Arrival of the Bandits

Luo Siyi’s expression brightened as he declared, “Nowadays, there are numerous forces within the Empire that resent them, yet due to various reasons, they have not acted. But if Li Jun were to kill my Luo family’s in-laws, we could then legitimately clear them away.”

“This way, we could gain considerable reputation, at least securing the mountain heads of the Confucian hierarchy and the Jun Group, who would certainly remember our kindness. How does this look? It’s a deal with no risk of loss.”

Before these spirited remarks had even concluded, footsteps echoed outside the courtyard.

Luo Siyi, puzzled, turned back to see a figure cloaked in crimson blood. His gaze lifted to the pale-faced Liu Yuzhang, who held two severed heads in his hands—one of them his personal attendant, Zhu Yue—and the other, his father-in-law, Liu Hupeng.

“Senior, everything has been dealt with.”

Liu Yuzhang knelt low, his head bowed deeply, nestled among the two lifeless faces, making Luo Siyi feel as though he could not tell who was alive or dead.

“You…”

Luo Siyi opened his mouth to curse in anger and fury, but his eyes fell upon the two bloodstained corpses, and his heart clenched suddenly, causing him to shut his mouth tight.

“Siyi, you go first. I have some matters to discuss with Yuzhang.”

“Father.”

Luo Siyi mechanically turned aside, bowing deeply before passing by the kneeling Liu Yuzhang.

“Siyi.”

Luo Siyi paused at the sound, only to find Luo Ning standing with his arms crossed, his eyes deep and frigid, like a vast abyss swallowing him whole.

“In the future, remember to treat the qin and sheng well. Using women to vent your anger is not something a Luo family member should do. If you can’t remember, wander the eighth floor and tell yourself there are many brothers waiting to inherit your position.”

Luo Siyi’s hair stood on end, nearly collapsing to the ground.

The Imperial Depot, the Liu family’s residence on the long street.

Zou Siji stretched his arms into his sleeves, wearing a greasy smile as he muttered to the air before him, “The Emperor is here! I haven’t asked you yet—what’s your connection with those rough men and the Black Whale?”

“What’s a fuck?”

“What’s the problem?!”

“No problem, but…”

“I like women.”

“Know that, but can you not be so rigid about gender? Then maybe…”

“No possibility.” The cold female voice answered decisively.

Zou Siji’s steps halted abruptly, and he stood frozen, head in his hands, long sighing.

After a long while, he lifted his hands to scratch his temples, then raised his head toward the end of the street.

In the distant shadowy night, the Liu family’s mansion blazed with lamps and lanterns, resembling a divine tower that had fallen from the heavens into the mortal realm.

Over a hundred fully armed gatekeepers and private soldiers had already awaited there, their spear barrels and cold gazes fixed on Zou Siji.

Before the enemy forces, Zou Siji still wore his greasy smile, unfastening his collar as he said, “The Emperor and I once saw old Li get into a fight, and old Ma made all sorts of clanking noises, creating a lively commotion. Every time that happened, old Li would charge in like he’d guzzled grog, roaring and rushing to his heart’s content. I’ve envied him for a long time—if not, you can try it too!”

“Liar.”

Once again rejected mercilessly, Zou Siji’s face flushed with deep, bitter resentment.

Just as he was about to continue pleading, the light sound of heels striking the ground echoed—*click, click*.

A pair of slender, long legs in high wooden clogs stood beside Zou Siji.

“Why did you run so fast? Turns out you wanted to have a private world with the Emperor’s sister, huh?”

Hearing Yuan Mingfu’s teasing words, Zou Siji’s mind instantly conjured a bitter, cold snort.

He quickly raised a finger to his mouth, whispering, “Sister Yuan, let’s not help, can you keep from undermining the stage?”

Yuan Mingfu smiled, but before she could finish, a piercing howl erupted above their heads.

“Attack.”

The black-robed faction, perched atop a flying sword, bristled with ferocious energy, their icy gazes fixed on the depths of the private soldiers.

Zou Siji and Yuan Mingfu glanced at each other, both seeing the helplessness in the other’s eyes.

After the battle in Edo, Chen Qisheng seemed like a different person, speaking even less, yet his killing intent was heavier. The reason the two knew, but they didn’t know how to console him.

Chen Qisheng’s figure materialized before them, his four-rank ink armor forming a sword shape as he hovered beside their side.

Beneath him, shadows spread like waves, countless shapes flickering within—bent Buddhist fingers, snarling beast claws, butterfly wings—overlapping and indistinct, countless unknown entities struggling within the ink-black waves, surging toward the gatekeepers.

At the same time, a rain of gunfire thundered across the sky!

“Yuzhang, you’ve truly found a jewel.”

Luo Ning gestured for Liu Yuzhang to rise, smiling, “You knew the Japanese Imperial Guards were a nest not to be trifled with, yet you still dared to use them to build your family’s future. In terms of courage alone, many later generations in the Confucian order pale in comparison, including your father Liu Hupeng as well. It’s a shame he thought the Liu family’s rise was due to him, foolishly scheming to sell you, his young crane, to save himself. Truly clueless.”

Luo Ning’s words paused. “But this time, there’s a move you’ve made wrongly.”

The blood-soaked Liu Yuzhang respectfully asked, “Sir, is this move not to pull the Luo family into the fray?”

“Of course not. Pulling the Luo family into the fray was an unexpected occurrence—you had only one chance to survive. Were I you, I’d do the same.”

Luo Ning shook his head. “Your mistake was not being impatient to kill after Liu Chenjiang’s incident, but rather to seize the Imperial Guards’ families or implant their consciousness into the Dream of Yellow Grain. If you had done so, you’d now possess a talisman that would make the Imperial Guards hesitate to act. The current situation would not be so passive, forcing Luo Quan and Zhu Yue, such minor figures, to help you turn the tide. Do you know, Su Ce’s subordinates can only be pacified with lives and fresh blood? There’s no other way.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Yuzhang has learned.” Liu Yuzhang said. “Then, Senior, how do you plan to deal with those bandits? If you wish to negotiate with Li Jun, I can go speak to him. If he wants my life, Yuzhang offers it willingly.”

“You’re still too impulsive to declare your loyalty so hastily before me.”

Luo Ning, seeing through Liu Yuzhang’s thoughts, smiled softly, “Since I haven’t killed you, I won’t push you to sacrifice yourself. Luo Siyi may be immature, but he’s right on one point. Now, looking at Li Jun, many forces resent him; killing him would secure many a faction’s favor.”

Liu Yuzhang hesitated, then forced a brave voice, “But those factions’ loyalty, perhaps isn’t worth as much as you imagine.”

“What if his life is tied to the New Policy?”

Liu Yuzhang furrowed his brows, confused by Luo Ning’s words.

“In the Chancellor’s plan, the first phase of the New Policy was meant to end with Su Ce’s death. But wisdom is never without flaws; no one anticipated a small deviation at the end, letting Li Jun and his Imperial Guards survive.”

Luo Ning smiled. “Though this deviation doesn’t affect the big picture, it’s still caused the Chancellor to lose some face. The lingering aftermath of the first phase now rests on Li Jun’s shoulders. If we can help the Chancellor seal this final period, it’s not exactly a favor, but at least securing the Chancellor’s goodwill toward the Luo family is a great benefit for us.”

“Do you know, the former Great Ming had no Liaoning Province, only a Liaoning Directorate. Though the reform to province status has long passed, those old guard families still insist on ‘Beijing, Shanghai, and thirteen provinces’ as the orthodoxy, looking down on us.”

“This time, the Chancellor is pushing the New Policy, with many within the Confucian order sitting on the fence, and worse, secretly harboring rebellious hearts, plotting to eat and drink. But in my view, they’re just seeking death. The New Policy will surely succeed, and the Chancellor will surely ascend to the top seat, governing the realm.”

A fierce, substantive glow flickered across Luo Ning’s face, making the kneeling Liu Yuzhang dare not lift his head.

“This time, the Luo family will lead the New Policy as its vanguard, clearing all obstacles that dare to block the way!”

Luo Ning’s eyes lowered, his voice resounding, “So, Yuzhang, do you dare to take your father Liu Hupeng’s position as Governor of Liaoning, becoming my spear-carrier in the charge, betting your fate for a brilliant future?”

Without a shred of hesitation, Lu Yuzhang’s body crashed violently to the ground, his forehead striking the floor with a heavy thud.

"Lu Yuzhang is willing to hold the stirrups and lead the horse for Your Excellency, to spill his brains upon the earth, and to repay you with his life!"

"Magnificent!"

Lu Ning laughed aloud, his voice ringing clear: "From this day forth, you shall change your surname from Lu to Lu, becoming the adopted son of me, Lu Ning. Henceforth, we father and son shall hack through the wind and cleave through the rain, advancing hand in hand."

"Thank you, Father."

"There is no need for such formalities between father and son."

Lu Ning helped Lu Yuzhang up, his expression radiating benevolence: "As a welcoming gift for the bond we forge today, in a short while this father of yours will present you with the heads of that pack of bandit chiefs, letting the name of Lu Yuzhang echo across the entire Ming Empire!"

Lu Yuzhang was visibly moved; in those eyes that had not shown the slightest ripple even when he personally severed his own biological father's head, there was now a brilliant, blood-red gleam, shimmering with tears.

Just as Lu Yuzhang was ransacking his mind, calculating how best to express his gratitude for this monumental paternal grace, an inexplicable tremor of dread surged straight to the crown of his head, clamping firmly over his lips just as they were about to part.

Boom!

Amidst the startled and furious gazes of the newly made father and son, a figure burst through the shattered crater of the ceiling, crashing into the room.

The smoke and dust gradually dissipated, revealing a pair of eyes enwreathed in flame.

Li Jun stood clad in armor, spear in hand, bathed in moonlight.

His bandit aura blazed to the heavens!