Chapter 58

Yihuang Great Swordsman

The opponent had lost both his sword and his arm. It was when Zheng Yanshen was about to strike Xinsui Jian's neck.

"You wicked scoundrel!"

Ji Xian's body, which had been far behind, surged forward, creating a whirlwind.

His green official robe fluttered like a butterfly.

With the unique agility of the Ming Clan, he passed by Xinsui Jian and spread his arms wide to block her.

"How dare you harm the principal wife of this official? Yihuang City is the sword of the imperial family! How can a mere sword cut its own master?"

"Do you think the Huangbao Clan is on par with the imperial family?"

Zheng Yanshen asked with a look even more expressionless than when looking at trash on the street.

He never expected to feel such emotions from the Ming Clan. At least, it was something he couldn't imagine when he was in the Zheng Family Manor.

Ji Xian bit his lip.

"Without beheading this official, you can do nothing. Give up. How can you harm me, Ji Xian of Pingyin County? You're not even a Black Knight!"

Whoosh!

The wind blew again. Zheng Yanshen glanced sideways. Qing Ming was already standing beside him.

The usual smiling face was nowhere to be seen.

"Just follow the clan's laws."

Qing Ming said, and his expression changed. His eyes remained the same, but his lips curved into a smile.

"Empress Dowager Taizhuan said that the Yihuang Clan can execute officials of the sixth rank and below, regardless of their status. Ji Xian is a seventh-rank official, right? I thought it was an absurd privilege, but it seems there's a use for it on this mission."

"Are you really...!"

"If our clan mixes with the Han and becomes tainted by the secular world, no one will say anything about cutting off a head. At worst, we might be summoned to Beijing for a short while."

Ji Xian, who had been enjoying the music while appreciating the deaths of the swordsmen, lost his interest.

His handsome face turned completely pale.

This time, even Zheng Yanshen was surprised.

It was already a given that the Ming Clan had great influence in the Ming Dynasty, but he had just learned that they possessed the authority usually reserved for Black Knights.

Was it because of the deep mingling of the imperial bloodline with the Ming Clan?

"Hmm."

Suddenly, Ji Xian sighed. His face soon regained its composure, and he smiled slightly.

"I almost showed a vulgar side on my way. How can one discuss the elegance of wine and music without being graceful?"

"What's the point of talking more? Don't disgrace the face of the Ming Clan. Leave."

"Ah, of course."

The moment Qing Ming drew his sword, Ji Xian's smile deepened.

"I must be off. There's no one in the world who doesn't welcome me."

Zheng Yanshen turned his gaze. It was because of the aura emanating from the broken gate.

There had been a presence that had been stimulating his senses since the fight with Xinsui Jian, and it turned out not to be an ally.

"Yihuang City!"

He was very tall, a middle-aged man with a long scar on his cheek.

In one hand, he held the back of a girl's neck. She looked to be about Zheng Yanshen's age, and it seemed her acupoints had been pressed.

She couldn't speak and her body was stiff, hanging from the man's hand.

He roared.

"Heretics who discuss strange chivalry and disrupt the martial world!"

His shout was met with a response from Ji Xian, who now looked pleased.

"Now we should call you Huangbao Majun, not just Ma! What a crisis! With a martial expert from the main family here, this problem is greatly alleviated!"

Ji Xian shouted.

Although he seemed concerned about Xinsui Jian, Huangbao Mimi's right-hand woman, his face showed a sense of relief.

Huangbao Majun did not respond.

He completely ignored Ji Xian, who he seemed to dislike.

Lifting the girl high, he looked straight at Zheng Yanshen and spoke.

"Young swordsman! If you're a Yihuang City blue, there's no one in the world who can match you at your age! Your shoulder emblem confirms it! A direct disciple of the Yihuang City Lord? Your arrogance and status are clear to see!"

"......Isn't the one who can't see anything you? Just holding an innocent civilian in your hand."

Zheng Yanshen tilted his head slightly.

He had already gauged the distance.

It was too far. Even if Qing Ming, who was faster than him, rushed forward, he wouldn't be able to save the girl in time.

Huangbao Majun chuckled.

"The Huangbao Clan always has a righteous cause. What do half-baked martial artists who receive the state's salary know? You Yihuang City people are obsessed with cutting the heads of martial world figures."

"Did you just say 'righteous cause'?"

Zheng Yanshen looked back and forth between the girl, whose eyes were slightly raised, and Huangbao Majun.

His gaze conveyed the question: Can't you feel shame?

Huangbao Majun's chest puffed out even more.

"The righteousness of the martial world is a noble law. You are just ruffians who stir up mud in the martial world. Don't interfere in the world of those who cultivate martial arts."

"......"

He had heard of people like this.

It was a world where the exchange of culture and ideas was not active.

Especially in the martial world. There were many eccentric loners.

Cultivating martial arts was a single path of practice.

When hermits of the martial world occasionally emerged, they often caused storms in the world.

Holding hostages and discussing chivalry. It was a situation where the principles of Confucianism wouldn't work.

Of course, Yihuang City didn't discuss the classics with martial world people either. They just drew their swords.

'The Huangbao Clan is even more so. They talk about the Wang family of Jinan. They gathered and solidified their power among the bloodline members.'

Zheng Yanshen's thoughts didn't last long. Huangbao Majun shook the hand holding the girl's neck and spoke.

"Your chivalry is very alien. You rush in to cut heads for violating the imperial law. Were there no martial world heroes among the nobles? Let me tell you this girl's story."

"Go on."

While responding, he circulated his inner energy. Zheng Yanshen stood calmly, preparing the overlapping continuous techniques. He hoped the explosive force of the Shihuawujiguan would destabilize the man.

"The girl's grandfather was Duan Xiuxu, who was the magistrate of Pingyin County before Ji Xian took office."

The girl's jaw seemed to tense up, her eyes wide open. Huangbao Majun continued without regard.

"He was a man of principle. He fearlessly confronted a villainous martial artist who was bullying the people in the market. He shouted that he would lock him up in the government prison and investigate him according to the Great Ming Code."

He chuckled.

"The villain's belly burst and he flew away with a single palm strike. He was a man who didn't understand the world. He thought he could escape by using lightness skills, but he faced the wrath of the main family, who was trying to maintain order in Jinan with Ji Xian. That's how we avenged this girl's grandfather."

"Are you holding her hostage to play the hero?"

"She's a talented girl. She has cultivated a significant amount of energy with the Three Talents Heart Method. It's a waste for her to die, but I've always wanted to see the true face of Yihuang City. She's the granddaughter of a former magistrate who governed with high virtue. How will you treat her?"

"Ugh! Ugh!"

The girl groaned and twitched slightly. She seemed to have released her acupoints a little.

If she had talent in cultivation, she might indeed have a natural aptitude for controlling energy.

"Look at this."

Huangbao Majun raised his hand, his eyes gleaming with interest. The girl dangled.

"If you retreat now, the girl will live. You will also prove Yihuang City's chivalry of protecting the people from the martial world. But if not..."

His eyes swept the area. Was it a sign that he couldn't stand seeing Yihuang City's arrogance?

His face showed a sense of disgust. He continued briefly.

"Never mention the people again. The order of Jinan is maintained by the Huangbao Clan. You insignificant chivalrous fellows."

"Every word is true!"

Ji Xian, now smiling, responded.

"How much longer do we have to listen?"

Zheng Yanshen suddenly said.

At the same time, black smoke rose from behind Huangbao Majun's head.

"What...!"

Behind him, Bai Miyue stood with a cold expression.

She was surrounded by a black aura, like flames rising from the depths of a chasm.

Her eyes were as dark as the night sky.

Swish.

Bai Miyue's snow-white hand grabbed Huangbao Majun's neck from behind. He couldn't resist at all.

The blue sleeve of Yihuang City fluttered with the tangible black energy.

Though the same clothes, her martial uniform was different.

She approached like a black-clad fairy, as if reincarnated from a snow fairy in a legend.

Bai Miyue moved her lips.

"Are you not one of the Eight Great Clans? How tedious