118: A friend is coming from afar...

After leaving the Zhou Residence, Zhao Jiguang got into his carriage and immediately headed toward the Pacification Bureau. This man was not without skill; on the contrary, Zhao Jiguang's martial arts were quite formidable.

The Pacification Bureau maintained strict discipline, obeying only the orders and instructions of The Emperor. However, there was also an unspoken rule—you could become a Centurion, a Commander of a Thousand, or even a Pacification Commissioner or Commander, provided you earned the respect of your subordinates.

They were originally a group of hand-picked Flying Fish Guards. Even if they privately respected Tang Jingzhong, although he came from a scholarly background, he still possessed formidable Palm Techniques.

Who can't just talk? You couldn't suppress these people unless you demonstrated true ability. Before Mo Yingqi became the Imperial Son-in-Law and Marquis Yongding, he was appointed by Fang Wenbo to temporarily act as Centurion, rising directly from Flying Fish Guard to Captain within a year. Aside from his ruthlessness and skill in interrogation, the most important factor was that when Mo Yingqi first entered the Pacification Bureau, everyone thought this man, as beautiful as a woman, was just a pretty boy.

A few Flying Fish Guards challenged him, and Mo Yingqi immediately proposed a match on the Training Ground. All of them attacking together couldn't defeat him. They even brought in Lu Qianyuan, who was unfamiliar with Mo Yingqi at the time, and after they fought, Old Lu was so thoroughly defeated by Mo Yingqi that he lost all temper.

These people weren't angry; instead, they deeply respected Mo Yingqi. Lu Qianyuan also became good friends with Mo Yingqi after this incident.

Things are often simple between men; even a fight can forge a relationship. Therefore, if Zhao Jiguang, who holds the position of Pacification Commissioner, were truly a powerless scholar, he would have been kicked out of the Pacification Bureau long ago.

Regarding Zhao Jiguang's character, Zhou Chutian once joked with a smile: "You are truly skilled in both the civil and martial arts. Although you are not as good as Shen Xian, you are certainly no ordinary person. I just don't know why you are so cautious, as if you fear you might die at any moment."

In response, Zhao Jiguang merely chuckled and did not answer directly. But that was just the kind of person he was—when he could sit, he sat, ensuring he had enough time to rest.

Riding a horse might expose him to assassination attempts, so he always traveled by carriage. Even though his horsemanship was excellent and he could even wield a spear in battle, he always took a carriage wherever he went on a daily basis.

Ever since Zhou Chutian selected him to enter the Pacification Bureau, Zhao Jiguang became extremely cautious. Firstly, due to his childhood experiences, and secondly, because he knew very well that the Pacification Bureau was a place that made enemies, and it was worse because he was also a Disciple of Grand Chancellor Zhou.

There were many people in the world who obeyed Zhou Chutian, but even more who hated him, envied him, and wished him dead. Zhao Jiguang knew that from the moment he was chosen, his official career was destined to be spent in the Pacification Bureau. Unless he resigned, he was bound to Zhou Chutian.

"My Lord, you haven't been to the Yamen for several days," the coachman driving the carriage suddenly spoke. "I'm afraid Commander Fang is running things alone there now..."

"Let him. What can I do?" Zhao Jiguang was inexplicably agitated at this moment. "Just focus on driving. I am still the Pacification Commissioner, and the Southern Division is still under my command. I don't believe Fang Wenbo can do anything to me!"

"My Lord, forgive my bluntness, he cannot, but... what about Marquis Mo?" the coachman said with lingering fear. "Everyone in the capital knows about Marquis Mo's actions today. He caused such a ruckus and The Emperor didn't react, and he even ran to the Hanlin Academy and slapped a few people. If he returns to the Yamen now..."

"Heh, so what?" Zhao Jiguang sneered. "Even if he is a Marquis, he is still only a Centurion. Furthermore, even if The Emperor promised him something, he would need evidence to arrest me, and the Southern Division would have to handle the process. I don't believe Mo Yingqi can easily break the rules established by Emperor Taizu!"

The coachman stopped talking. He drove Zhao Jiguang every day and was a guard brought from his hometown who knew some martial arts. Although he did the work of a coachman, he was still someone who could speak freely in front of Zhao Jiguang.

As things stood, Zhou Chutian looked like a trapped beast fighting back. Just because The Emperor was temporarily restrained didn't mean The Emperor would always be restrained. Although the coachman was barely literate, following Zhao Jiguang all these years had broadened his horizons considerably.

Even he felt this situation was likely a dead end, and he wondered what his master was thinking, failing to quickly withdraw and pledge allegiance to The Emperor.

Even if he couldn't remain the Pacification Commissioner, he could at least secure a peaceful end, which was better than ending up headless, wasn't it?

But at this moment, Zhao Jiguang found himself in an impossible situation. Not only might The Emperor not tolerate him, but Zhou Chutian appeared to be making a final stand. Having followed the old fox for so many years, Zhao Jiguang knew too well not to underestimate the old man's capabilities.

He feared he would end up pleasing neither side, leaving him with no retreat. He wouldn't fare much better than Zhang Jiawen, and might even end up worse.

Returning to his office, Zhao Jiguang immediately smelled a pungent scent of blood as soon as he stepped in. He reacted quickly, instantly drawing his Personal Saber.

Unexpectedly, the door behind him suddenly closed, and the previously bright room instantly darkened. From the shadows, Mo Yingqi stepped out, holding a blood-stained japanese sword.

"I've long heard that the Pacification Commissioner is highly skilled. Do you happen to have time to teach this subordinate a move or two?" Mo Yingqi looked at him with a half-smile. "I just happened to deal with a few colleagues from the Southern Division. Although it is distressing, it couldn't be helped."

"Heh, the Marquis is joking. Currently, the Marquis holds the most favor with The Emperor. Forget dealing with a few Flying Fish Guards; even killing me, the Pacification Commissioner, wouldn't be a big deal, would it?"

Although Zhao Jiguang's eyes were fixed on Mo Yingqi, his peripheral vision caught sight of several corpses lying on the ground.

How could he have dealt with his colleagues? The dead men were his confidants. But having served in the Pacification Bureau for many years, Zhao Jiguang had privately investigated the Marquis Yongding, who had become famous over the past year.

If Mo Yingqi hadn't found fault, he wouldn't dare to kill people so openly inside the Yamen. Instead of asking why he did this, it was more appropriate to figure out how he himself could escape.

"My Lord, you needn't worry. Although the way I handled the killing was somewhat inappropriate, it was for your own good," Mo Yingqi said, raising the japanese sword in his right hand, its cold, sinister glint particularly dazzling in the room. "These few brothers from the Southern Division committed crimes themselves, and then they recklessly implicated you, My Lord. They deserved death anyway, and they falsely accused an innocent person. Pacification Commissioner, wouldn't you say that by killing them, your subordinate was simply doing his duty and alleviating his superior's concerns?"

"Naturally, whatever the Marquis says goes now." Zhao Jiguang felt an inexplicable, instinctive fear toward the current Mo Yingqi. "But if that's the case, why doesn't the Marquis take me to the Imperial Prison for questioning? You are also a Flying Fish Guard; you should know our own rules."

"That's true, but I don't think it's necessary." Mo Yingqi walked to a chair and sat down as if nothing had happened. "My Lord, we both know what's going on, so there's no need for us to pretend we don't know and keep testing each other, is there? I'm in a hurry; I have to go home before dark, or else my two wives might come looking for me..."

Zhao Jiguang felt that inexplicable coldness and fear in his heart intensify. If Luo Yongan and Luo Yongning truly came here, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The entire capital now knew how much these two Legitimate Princesses cared for their precious Husband. If they were ordinary imperial daughters, it would be fine, but these two were the kind who ate people without spitting out the bones.

"However, My Lord, don't worry. I can actually guess what you're thinking," Mo Yingqi said, pulling out a handkerchief and wiping the blood from the blade. "My Lord, you are currently stuck between a rock and a hard place. It's inappropriate for you to side with either The Emperor or the Grand Chancellor."

"So, your subordinate came here to point you toward a clear path, allowing My Lord... at least a dignified return to the countryside, where you can find a good place to farm a couple of acres. That's better than ending up in the Imperial Prison or being pushed to the Vegetable Market Entrance, isn't it?"

Zhao Jiguang looked at Mo Yingqi. After sensing no killing intent, he finally sat across from him. But he kept his Personal Saber tightly gripped, maintaining full vigilance.

"Can the Marquis spare my life?"

"My Lord is mistaken. It's not me sparing you; it's you sparing yourself." Mo Yingqi smiled slightly. "My Lord, you are still the Pacification Commissioner, so you naturally know the methods of our own people best. Furthermore, given your identity and the person behind you... forgive my bluntness, My Lord, but you probably know far more than your subordinate does."

"Heh, perhaps." Zhao Jiguang gave a noncommittal answer. "Then the Marquis should know that, for The Emperor, I, the Pacification Commissioner, am just waiting for an excuse..."

"My Lord, you are wrong again. If The Emperor truly wanted to deal with you, would he need an excuse?" Mo Yingqi blinked, cutting him off. "It might be hard to grant a reward, but when it comes to punishing someone, even a tiny matter can serve as a reason, let alone the fact that you've followed the Grand Chancellor for so long—I doubt there are any 'tiny matters,' are there?"

"Then what more is there to say?" Zhao Jiguang was quite frank; he knew his fate better than anyone. "If the Marquis speaks like this, I, Zhao, might as well enter the palace to meet The Emperor, remove my Official Hat, hand over the Pacification Commissioner's Seal, and ask The Emperor to throw me directly into the Imperial Prison to await death."

"My Lord, why do you keep saying the wrong things today?" Mo Yingqi looked amused. "So, you didn't hear a single word of what your subordinate just said?"

"Mo Yingqi, stop playing word games with me. I am a member of the Pacification Bureau myself; this is a trick I have used and played before." Zhao Jiguang's voice deepened, carrying a trace of anger. "You killed my confidants in the Southern Division simply to give me a warning. Although the entire capital says you are arrogant, I know very well that you are not such a reckless person."

"At this point, even if I sincerely surrender, The Emperor probably won't spare my life once the dust settles. Even if The Emperor truly shows mercy, you should know how hated our Yamen is. There are at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, people who want to take my head, Zhao's."

"Returning to the countryside to farm? I'd barely step out of the capital before someone ambushed and killed me on the road. Heh, maybe I'd even run into a few colleagues, and who knows, the Marquis might even be among the assassins!"

Hearing this, Mo Yingqi showed a highly suspicious look of surprise, a surprise that even contained a hint of mockery.

Zhao Jiguang saw that Mo Yingqi was mocking him, but he didn't care. Instead, he continued coldly: "I know the Pacification Bureau's methods of dealing with people better than you do. Since I entered the Pacification Bureau during the reign of the Former Emperor, I have personally handled more than one or two officials who appeared to have been dismissed but were secretly executed by the Former Emperor's order. Compared to them, my crimes are only greater, not fewer. So, Marquis, stop this act. I, Zhao, reached this point entirely by my own choice—I bet on the wrong side and followed the wrong path. I accept the loss. Since I, Zhao, did it, I don't care about these things anymore!"

"My Lord speaks beautifully, but I fear your actions don't match your words, do they?" Mo Yingqi raised his left hand and snapped his fingers. "Perhaps it would be more effective to let him speak to you, My Lord? I think it might work better than my words."

The tightly shut door was suddenly pushed open. A Flying Fish Guard, holding a saber in one hand, held it against the neck of a boy who looked to be only seven or eight years old.

The boy's mouth was tightly gagged with cloth, and his body was trussed up, making him unable to speak or move at all. Seeing this, Zhao Jiguang's pupils contracted instantly.

"My Lord sent your family out of the capital long ago, even having them separate midway before finally gathering them in an extremely secret Estate." Mo Yingqi rested his head on his left hand, watching him with an amused expression. "That's right, My Lord, that's the expression you should have. You know the Pacification Bureau's capabilities best, and you understand how to avoid our own surveillance posts."

"But My Lord, did you forget that our Yamen isn't the only organization in the world capable of gathering information? Or are you going to tell me that you still don't know what other identity my wives possess?"

Meanwhile, at the Zhou Residence, in the small courtyard where the Taoist Priest lived. The Taoist Priest was sitting cross-legged on a Prayer Mat, meditating, when his eyes suddenly opened, and a smile slowly formed at the corner of his mouth: "Is it not a delight to have friends coming from afar?"

"Cut the crap. I don't like talking about this pretentious nonsense."

Xie Qingfeng sat down casually on a nearby stool, dusting himself off before speaking: "Want to spar?"

"Benefactor, are you here to kill this Poor Taoist?"

"What else? Keep you around to be dumplings for the New Year?"

"Is there no room for negotiation?"

"Tsk, stop pretending, Taoist Priest. I bet you're more excited than I am right now."

Xie Qingfeng's tone was full of disdain as he slowly drew the slender blade from his hand: "I bet you're about to crack a happy smile, aren't you? Don't worry, I understand you. After all these years of itching for a fight, you finally found a piece of fat meat. You have to toss it into the pot quickly before it gets away."

"Benefactor is truly straightforward..."

The Taoist Priest slowly stood up, his back to Xie Qingfeng. Killing intent erupted from his entire body, and a trace of excited yet cruel laughter slowly emerged on his face...