A chill ran through Lin Xiong. ’Could something have happened while I was away?’
In a panic, he shoved the door open. It wasn’t locked. The house was a mess, and some of the more valuable pieces of furniture were missing.
"You must be here for the debt. Whatever’s valuable is right here. Take what you want. There’s nothing else."
A weary voice drifted down from upstairs, sounding as if it were tired of the world, with nothing left to cling to.
Lin Xiong shuddered. That voice—it could only be his wife’s.
"Yin’Er." Lin Xiong charged up the stairs to find his wife sitting on the bed, clutching their few-year-old son. He had been gone only half a month, yet his wife looked as if she had aged a decade, her face etched with exhaustion. His son’s eyes held an unshakeable terror.
"My husband." Seeing Lin Xiong, the woman’s body trembled. Their eyes met, and she immediately burst into tears.
Lin Xiong held his wife, a furnace of rage igniting in his heart.
"Yin’Er, tell me what happened," he asked in a cold voice after comforting her for a moment.
"My husband, let it go. It’s over. Let’s not bring it up again. We should just pack our things and go back to the countryside," Lin Xiong’s wife whispered, wiping her tears.
A pang of anguish shot through Lin Xiong’s heart as he saw his wife’s gentle, loving, yet terrified expression. He hadn’t become a Vice Commander by being a fool; he had a good idea of what might have happened. "Yin’Er, rest easy," he said in a grave voice. "I’m back. Starting today, no one will ever bully you and our son again. As for those who did... I, Lin Xiong, will make them pay for it twice over."
"My husband, don’t be rash."
"Heh. Yin’Er, I know what you’re worried about. You’ve been living in fear for months because of my condition. But from now on, you have nothing to fear. Look..."
Lin Xiong suddenly stood. He unleashed his martial soul. A massive, black battle blade materialized above his head. Two rings of light pulsed rhythmically around the imposing blade-type martial soul. A terrifying pressure rolled out from him, as if a god had descended to suppress all creation.
"My husband, your martial soul..." Xiao Yin covered her mouth, her lovely eyes wide with disbelief.
"Heh. Yin’Er, I was away because I met a benefactor. With their help, my martial soul didn’t just recover—it broke through to a new level. Now, tell me. What happened?" Lin Xiong asked grimly.
A few moments later, he learned everything from his wife.
It turned out that while he was away, a rumor had started to spread. It claimed not only that there was no hope of his martial soul being healed, but also that he had offended the Soul Master Tower, which was now planning to sanction him. Panic ensued. Merchants who had once fawned over Lin Xiong began showing up at his door, one after another. They all came demanding repayment, claiming he had accepted favors from them in the past.
At first, Xiao Yin paid them off using their savings, but she gradually realized something was amiss. For instance, one merchant, who had once desperately tried to curry favor by gifting Lin Xiong a stone sculpture, now returned not only to take the sculpture back but also to demand an "appreciation fee" from Xiao Yin for the past two years. The sculpture itself was worth only 10,000 Profound Coins, yet the merchant had the audacity to demand 100,000 Profound Coins for the fee.
How could Xiao Yin not see they were simply looting a burning house? With her husband gone, she struggled to hold out against the horde of treacherous, profit-driven merchants. Thankfully, a few of Lin Xiong’s close subordinates heard what was happening and came to back her up, turning many of them away. Even so, her savings were extorted until almost nothing remained.
Today, those few subordinates of Lin Xiong’s had been summoned to the City Guard Office for some so-called "grand assembly," leaving her alone again. If Lin Xiong hadn’t come back when he did, Xiao Yin would have reached her breaking point.
"Bastards!" Lin Xiong roared after hearing the whole story, his eyes blazing with fury.
Though he came from humble beginnings, he had remained an honest and kind man even after becoming a Vice Commander. But now, that honest man was finally, truly enraged.
These so-called merchants... they usually fawned over him, saying such pleasant things. But the moment it looked like he was about to fall—before he had even truly fallen—they couldn’t wait to rush in, eager to drink his blood and devour his flesh. The thought made Lin Xiong’s blood boil. But he wasn’t blinded by rage; he knew these merchants wouldn’t dare be so brazen without someone pulling the strings. After all, several of his own subordinates held key posts in the City Guard.
After reassuring his wife, Lin Xiong settled her and their son in the most luxurious inn in Blue Moon City. Then, radiating palpable killing intent, he strode toward the City Guard Office.
He was going to see just who had dared to touch his family when they thought he was finished.
At that moment, in the City Guard Office, a midday banquet was underway.
In the City Guard Office’s most spacious hall, a dozen long tables were laid out. Over a hundred captains and officers of all ranks sat before them, their wine cups clinking in lively toasts.
At the head table at the far end of the hall, Jia Fang, a Vice Commander of the City Guard, was repeatedly toasting an elderly man. "Hahaha, Steward Gou," he said with a beaming smile, "from now on, you must put in a good word for me with the Young Lord."
"Commander Jia, you’re too kind, truly," Steward Gou replied. "It’s thanks to outstanding men like you that Blue Moon City can be so stable and prosperous. When the Young Lord inherits the City Lord’s position, and Commander Hei Zhuo steps down as Commander, we’ll need you, Commander Jia, to oversee the entire City Guard. At that time, I imagine I’ll be the one relying on you!"
"You flatter me, Steward Gou, you truly do." Jia Fang’s face was one big smile. "How could I, Jia Fang, ever compare to our number one expert, Commander Hei Zhuo? I’m afraid I’m not up to the task of being Commander."
"Nonsense, Commander Jia. You’re being too modest," Steward Gou said, his eyes crinkling into a sly smile. "Commander Hei Zhuo may be known as Blue Moon City’s greatest expert, but he’s stretched too thin, juggling three positions: Commander of the City Lord’s Mansion’s personal guard, Commander of the City Guard, and the kingdom’s regional military commander. He’s always willing, but he lacks the time. He’s just the Commander of the City Guard in name only—he never even shows up. Aren’t you, Commander Jia, the one handling all the practical matters? Besides, you’re the one everyone answers to in the City Guard now. In my view, the position of Commander is perfect for you. Think of it as easing Commander Hei Zhuo’s burden."
"Hahaha! Steward Gou, you certainly have a way with words. If you put it like that, then for Commander Hei Zhuo’s sake, I suppose I, Jia Fang, will have to redouble my efforts."
"Hahaha!" The two men drained their wine cups and roared with laughter.
At the long tables below, several young men with imposing bearings watched Jia Fang and Steward Gou conversing happily at the head table. Their minds were clearly elsewhere; the fine wine and rich food before them remained almost untouched.
After a few rounds of drinks, one of the young men suddenly stood up. He cupped his fist and said, "Vice Commander Jia, it’s midday, a crucial time for the city’s defense. I have other duties and must take my leave."
The others rose to their feet as well. "Vice Commander Jia, we have patrols to conduct and shouldn’t drink any more. We’ll be taking our leave."
The boisterous hall fell silent.
At the head table, Jia Fang’s expression darkened, and his eyes narrowed.
Seeing this, one of Jia Fang’s subordinates slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. "Insolence!" he roared. "Ji Ling! Wang Yun! Today, Steward Gou from the City Lord’s Mansion is here on inspection, and Commander Jia is hosting this banquet! For you to leave in the middle of it—what has become of your decorum? Do you not understand your station? Do you not know when to press forward and when to fall back?"
"That’s right! Blue Moon City is peaceful and prosperous, as everyone knows. What need is there for such diligent patrols? Or are you perhaps harboring ulterior motives?"
"Heh heh, I heard they’ve been spending all their time at Vice Commander Lin’s home lately. Now, Vice Commander Lin is nowhere to be found, leaving only his lovely wife and young son. Who knows what a group of grown men are getting up to in there?"
"Hahaha!"
The group of officers under Jia Fang’s command immediately erupted in laughter, a laughter thick with obscene implications.
Ji Ling and his men flushed crimson, their eyes nearly splitting with rage. One of them slammed his palm down, shattering the long table and sending cups of fine wine crashing to the floor. "Wang He," he roared, "what did you just say?!"
Wang He sneered, his eyes full of venom. "What? Did I strike a nerve? Can any of you deny you’ve been at Vice Commander Lin’s house? I hear Vice Commander Lin’s martial soul has collapsed and he’s lost all his power. On top of that, he’s offended the Soul Master Tower and no one knows if he’s alive or dead. You lot wouldn’t have given in to your beastly desires and made a move on his wife, would you? You’re worse than animals."
"Wang He, you’re spouting nonsense!"
Ji Ling and his men were utterly enraged. They respected Vice Commander Lin more than anyone. How could they stand by and listen to Wang He’s slander? A frightening aura began to emanate from each of them.
"What? You intend to start a fight in front of Commander Jia?" Wang He bellowed. With a *SHIING*, he drew the battle blade from his waist and slashed out.
With a CLANG, Ji Ling and his men drew their own blades and intercepted the attack.
"Aha! So you’ve drawn your weapons. Are you planning a rebellion?" Wang He snarled. As he spoke, the hall filled with the sound of steel being drawn—SHIING! SHIING! SHIING!—as numerous officers unsheathed their weapons and pointed them at Ji Ling and his men.
"Wang He, you’re making baseless accusations!"
The expressions on the faces of Ji Ling and his men changed. They finally realized something was very wrong.
"Outrageous!" Vice Commander Jia, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. He slammed his hand on the head table and shot to his feet. Anger flashed in his eyes, and his killing intent roiled. His piercing gaze swept over Ji Ling and his men. "Ji Ling!" he barked. "Steward Gou from the City Lord’s Mansion is here in person today, and you dare to leave in the middle of the banquet? Are you showing contempt for Steward Gou? And now you draw your weapons? Is this a rebellion?"
"Vice Commander Jia, your City Guard captains certainly have some nerve," Steward Gou said in a sinister voice. "This old man may only be a steward to the Young Lord, and my station may not be high, but I have attended my share of banquets. This, however, is the first time I’ve ever seen City Guard captains dare to draw their weapons."
Jia Fang said grimly, "Steward Gou, I apologize for the alarm. These men have always been under Vice Commander Lin’s authority. They have never held me in high regard. Please forgive the disturbance."