Chapter 124: The Outburst of Magistrate Li

"There is no need for Young Master Jiu to see me off. Should any complications arise regarding the immigration process, please notify the Empire at your convenience."

Lin Shu turned and gestured for Han Fei to stop; he had little patience for excessive formalities.

"Very well! I shall take my leave here," Han Fei replied. He did not press further, having already sensed that this Young Master Lin was a man of direct action who despised flowery etiquette.

...

When Han Fei returned to the music room, Zi Nü seemed lost in thought, still reeling from the encounter.

"He is truly formidable," Wei Zhuang sighed, standing up to take his leave.

Earlier, the moment his sword intent had stirred, it was instantly snuffed out, as if severed by a celestial blade. That single clash had left his spirit wounded.

"Nong Yu, you need not worry. Young Master Lin is overbearing, but he will not make things difficult for you," Han Fei said, attempting to offer comfort.

Nong Yu nodded faintly. It was not worry she felt, but a stirring of her heart—though she dared not show it.

"Young Master Jiu, I must attend to some matters." Zi Nü held a letter that seemed to have appeared in her hand out of nowhere. She scanned it quickly; it was written in two scripts, one of which was Han, detailing a trade agreement with the Northern Kingdom.

Knowing Zi Nü had much to manage, Han Fei did not detain her. He was well aware that she harbored many secrets, but he trusted that she would never do him harm, and that was enough.

After ensuring she was not followed, Zi Nü arrived at a modest, nondescript courtyard. Despite its ordinary appearance, it was a vital stronghold of her family. Although the State of Han had conquered the State of Zheng, the secrets of the Zheng royal lineage had not been easily erased.

Passing through several subterranean checkpoints, she finally reached the place of her birth: a vast, gloomy underground palace that felt like the burial ground of a fallen nation.

"What is the meaning of this?" the old man frowned. He did not welcome the return of those who had been sent away.

Though this man was her father, she had never once felt a flicker of paternal warmth from him.

"My Lord, from this day forth, Nong Yu no longer belongs to the Zi Lan Xuan."

The old man shook his head immediately. "Bring Nong Yu back, and stay out of it from now on! Do not harbor thoughts you should not have. Let there not be a next time!"

Zi Nü lowered her head and let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Young Master Lin of the Northern Kingdom is willing to trade ten thousand gold and the northern trade routes for Nong Yu. If the Zi Lan Xuan refuses, the Northern Kingdom will take action against our family."

Ten thousand gold! The Northern Kingdom!

The old man stood up, agitated. "How could he possibly know about us?"

Zi Nü shook her head. "You may inquire with the Yin-Yang School. Young Master Lin is associated with them and commands the loyalty of two grandmaster-level experts."

"Enough! Let it be! Even if he had not paid the ten thousand gold, you may manage the trade route for now!" Remembering the decree of the Eastern Emperor, the old man dared not test the Northern Kingdom. Two grandmasters were not foes they could afford to provoke.

"Understood!" Zi Nü turned and left at once. For the past two years, one of her uncles had been coveting Nong Yu, and she had exhausted herself trying to shield her.

After she left, the old man let out a long sigh. They had no path of retreat, nor could they afford the luxury of family affection, for such ties were the greatest weakness for the survival of their descendants.

...

Emerging from the courtyard, Zi Nü felt a sense of relief. "Perhaps Nong Yu leaving is for the best."

"But where can I go from here?"

Zi Nü suddenly thought of Han Fei, yet the grievances between their houses made it impossible for them to ever be together.

That afternoon, the Zi Lan Xuan officially opened its doors, though the daytime remained reserved for normal business.

"Where is Lady Nong Yu?"

"Hmph! Do you look down on me, the Sima?"

With a loud crash, the table shattered into pieces.

This month, Nong Yu had already rejected him twice. Li Kai was done waiting. He did not know why, but every time he saw Nong Yu, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, and an intense desire to claim her. He had a great beauty at home, but she was a sterile companion who had failed to bear him a single child after all these years of toil.

"Sister, let me play for him one last time," Nong Yu said with a bitter expression. This Sima was the person she detested most in the world.

Meanwhile, Lin Shu was taking an afternoon nap, while little Yan’er was busy livestreaming her master, Nong Yu.

"Hmph! Sister Xinying, let’s go teach him a lesson."

[Commander, your daughter is running away from home!]

With no other choice, Xinying had to wake Lin Shu.

"Heh, so it’s Li Kai! Perfect. Xinying, full speed ahead."

*Roar—!*

Two thunderous roars echoed as the excited little dragon-horse pulled the carriage onto the tiled roof.

"What... what is that sound?" Even King An of Han heard the roar.

"I will go investigate at once!" the commander of the King’s guard replied, equally bewildered.

The irritated Li Kai heard the roar and grew even more incensed. "Bring Nong Yu out here at once, or I will tear down this Zi Lan Xuan today!"

With Han Fei out of the city, there was no one left to keep him in check.

"Shall I make him shut up?" Wei Zhuang appeared behind Zi Nü.

Zi Nü shook her head. "It’s fine. The Sima must be drunk. He’ll stop after a while."

"Nong Yu, you don't need to come out." Zi Nü was terrified that Young Master Lin might lose his temper, especially since Nong Yu was no longer a part of the Zi Lan Xuan.

*Crash—!* Dust and tiles rained down from the ceiling as if something heavy were pressing down from above.

"It’s him! Zi Nü, you don't need to go over there!" It was that razor-sharp intent. Wei Zhuang would not forget it.

Zi Nü nodded with a bitter smile.

"Bah! What a pathetic excuse for a brothel!" Covered in dust, Sima Li could barely open his eyes.

The women nearby covered their mouths to hide their laughter; the great Lord Li was now a disheveled mess.

...

"So this is Young Master Lin’s method!" Nong Yu murmured, covering her mouth.

Spitting out dust and wiping his eyes, Li Kai looked up. A hole over a meter wide had been punched through the roof.

"Oh! Could you not have used the front door?" Zi Nü felt a pang of heartache.

As for such trifles, Concubine Yan and Shao Shao remained in the carriage, continuing the broadcast.

"Hmph, look at your muddy face. Master Nong Yu is my teacher!" Little Yan’er despised the man below her feet.

Li Kai initially thought it was a structural failure, but as he saw the man and the girl on the roof, he understood.

"Ha! Good! You dare to mock a general?" Li Kai slowly drew his sword. It had been years since he had personally engaged in combat.

*Pfft—* Little Yan’er spat down at him.

Li Kai didn't care; he simply stepped back slightly.

"Heh, you couldn't even dodge that," little Yan’er giggled.

"You—!" Hearing the surrounding laughter, Li Kai’s face turned bright red. He had clearly dodged, yet the spit had still landed right on his forehead.

Lin Shu laughed and spoke up.

"Hey, move aside down there! Don't blame us if we jump down and trample you."

Li Kai stepped back a few paces, welcoming their descent. "If you have the guts, come down!"

"Easy, baby, don't rush!" Lin Shu pulled back the leaping little Yan’er.

"Okay, I'll jump with Daddy," little Yan’er agreed with a smile.

Watching the father and daughter, even Zi Nü felt a twinge of envy. "He truly dotes on his daughter."

"He doesn't act like a Young Master at all!" Nong Yu exclaimed.

Holding his child securely, Lin Shu leaped down, not forgetting to shout, "Watch out, move aside!"

"Hmph! Nonsense!" Li Kai sneered, believing his rank as a general was earned through merit, not connections.

The drop from the roof was several meters, and Lin Shu was not falling particularly fast, yet instead of dodging, Li Kai stepped forward.

"Ah! What—!"

With a sharp pain in his scalp, Li Kai was slammed face-first into the ground.

"Oh, Daddy! Why is this man so silly? We told him to move!"

Lin Shu walked from the back of Li Kai’s head all the way to his waist before hopping to the side.

"I don't know, baby! Perhaps he enjoys being stepped on!"