Chapter 245 : Chapter 245

Chapter 245: Bestowed a Great Qian Marquis Title -- Marquis of Qinghe!

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍that round of farce, the ministers no longer dared raise reckless objections, lest they provoke His Majesty's wrath and be dragged out for a beating with the rod.

Xiao ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Wuji's confidence surged. "Since that is the case, it is only fitting to reward those of merit, so as not to dishearten the worthy and loyal throughout our Great Qian!"

"Old ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Lord Liu Shijie, who by the Late Emperor's commission has rendered great service in assisting Our reign, is hereby named Marquis of Tingyuan and granted a thousand taels of gold..."

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍first to receive honors were precisely that group of aging pillars from the previous reign--the Regency Ministers.

Every ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍one of them was all creaking bones, yet still craned their necks day after day to argue with Qi Han's people.

They ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍absolutely deserved recognition!

The recipients knelt in fervent gratitude. "We old ministers thank Your Majesty for this grace!"

Once these few ministers closest to the Emperor had been rewarded, the rest of the court bristled with anticipation.

Would they be next?

But to everyone's surprise, Xiao Wuji swept his gaze across the assembly, looking distinctly unsatisfied, and said nothing further.

A crowd that hadn't lifted a finger, with more than a few suspected of playing both sides--and they had the gall to expect rewards?

The ministers, whose hearts had been brimming with expectation, felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over them.

They were getting nothing!

"Noble titles and rewards are His Majesty's recognition of and trust in those of merit. I encourage all of you to redouble your efforts!"

Zhao Yi looked upon them with open mockery, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

He, after all, had no need of a reward--he already had one!

Duke Jingguo!

The appellation "Lord Zhao" was not for nothing.

Already holding the rank of Duke, there was nowhere higher for him to go--the next tier was reserved for the imperial family.

All that remained was to sit back and enjoy the show as Qi Han and the others squirmed.

Qi Han felt a flicker of displeasure, but didn't dwell on it.

If the Emperor was only honoring those few aging ministers, then in the end, it made no real difference to anyone else.

But what no one expected was this:

After a brief pause, Xiao Wuji opened his mouth once more.

"Furthermore, the Jinyiwei's Cheng Yu has performed admirably of late and has pleased Us greatly. He is hereby named Marquis of Qinghe and granted an imperially bestowed Gold-Patterned Xiuchun Saber, a Gold-Patterned Flying Fish Uniform..."

The moment this recipient was announced, the entire court erupted in shock.

Xiao Wuji was rewarding Cheng Yu?

A Jinyiwei who had risen to prominence less than half a year ago and was barely past twenty was to be made a Great Qian Marquis?!

In their hearts, calling it envy or jealousy would be a lie.

But upon reflection, they found there was truly nothing they could argue against. The merits Cheng Yu had amassed more than warranted such a reward.

"Assistant Commissioner Cheng has rendered many great services. This old minister agrees."

Zhao Yi stroked his white beard and nodded continuously.

He was delighted for the revival of his once-thwarted grand ambition of Trampling the Jianghu Under Hooves, and even more so, gratified on behalf of his grandson.

"My own Eldest Grandson has suffered so much--as his grandfather, I cannot let that suffering go uncompensated."

Zhao Yi could tell that Cheng Yu harbored great aspirations. The young man could clearly have reached for far broader horizons, yet still took his identity as a Jinyiwei member with utmost seriousness.

He didn't understand what drove his grandson, nor did he intend to ask.

As a grandfather, whatever Cheng Yu wanted, he was prepared to fight for it on his behalf.

His Eldest Grandson Cheng Yu had been cast adrift since childhood, forced to claw his way forward through one harrowing ordeal after another.

When reunification with his family finally came, his parents turned out to be sanctimonious, heartless hypocrites.

They failed to recognize Cheng Yu's talent and tenacity, refused to understand how grueling it was to fight alone with no backing whatsoever.

They shirked all responsibility and instead scorned Cheng Yu for his so-called disgraceful status and unrefined temperament.

In the end, their blatant favoritism and double standards drove Cheng Yu to sever ties entirely.

He had never received a family's love.

Then Zhao Yi, as his grandfather, would make up for it!

Today, his suggestion that Xiao Wuji reward meritorious officials was nothing more than wrapping dumplings for the sake of the vinegar dipping sauce that was his grandson.

After all, in the Emperor's eyes, could there be anyone of greater merit than Cheng Yu?

"Once Yu'er has a noble title, many things within the Jinyiwei will become far easier to accomplish. Even if he wants to topple the Lu Family and claim the position of Jinyiwei leader someday, at least this is a start..."

All the better for Zhao Yi to throw his full support behind him.

Meanwhile, when Qi Han and the others heard that Cheng Yu had been bestowed a noble title--and a highly prestigious Marquis title at that--their composure finally cracked.

Beyond envy and resentment, their greater concern was for the bigger picture.

Qi Han furrowed his brow and glanced at Qian Sunbao beside him, whose expression was equally strange.

Cheng Yu was an absolute enemy of the Jianghu!

By rewarding him with a Great Qian Marquis title, Xiao Wuji was sending a clear and unmistakable signal to the Jianghu!

The Great Qian Emperor was getting serious--this was a declaration of intent!

The next step could well be action.

As men who profited by brokering between both sides, they absolutely could not stand by and watch!

"Old Qian, what do we do? How are things on your end?"

"Don't worry. The higher His Majesty lifts him now, the harder the fall will be!"

Qian Sunbao shook his head, a vicious glint flashing in his slit-narrow eyes.

No rush!

No matter how much trust and support Xiao Wuji invested in Cheng Yu now, before long, it would all be transformed into crushing disappointment and fury!

When that moment arrived, the Army-Breaking Sect would strike like thunder, seizing the perfect opportunity to bring Cheng Yu down.

That bastard couldn't keep jumping for much longer!

His end was near!

......

Up in the court, Qi Han and Qian Sunbao were scheming for the long game, biding their time for the right moment to bring Cheng Yu down in a single blow.

Yet they could never have imagined that events had already spiraled far beyond their predictions.

Inside the Jinyiwei Command Office.

As the highest-ranking person present, Ai Peng had easily reassigned the Lu Family members and the Zhang Brothers' people elsewhere.

He left the premises to Cheng Yu's old and new subordinates, who had cast a net from which nothing could escape, and waited for the fish to swim in.

"Everything's in place. We're just waiting for those Army-Breaking Sect people to show up."

"Thank you for the trouble, Lord Ai."

Compared to Ai Peng, who was still somewhat tense and uneasy, Cheng Yu appeared thoroughly relaxed, sipping tea as he awaited his guests. The System reward from the earlier ennoblement--he hadn't given it much thought.

It was a benefit, so he'd take it!

His exploration of the Fate Dao could finally begin.

Though Cheng Yu looked perfectly at ease, in truth he was eagerly poring over the "Defying Fate and Altering the Origin Chapter."

"Fate, is it? Marvelous..."

Beside the two men, Jiang Feng was trussed up hand and foot, his body covered head to toe in bloody welts.

He was already here, after all.

How could he not be given a taste of the Jinyiwei's signature program?

The Grand Memory Recovery Procedure!

Song Nian, the new subordinate Cheng Yu had personally groomed, was making rapid progress in this particular discipline.

When had Jiang Feng ever experienced anything like this?

After barely escaping that agonizing cycle of torment, he'd confessed every evil deed he'd ever committed.

Bullying and trampling gifted disciples from humble backgrounds. Using his status to coerce and cajole beautiful senior and junior sisters. Slaughtering an entire roadside village in a drunken rampage.

His mouth was forever spouting "Jianghu chivalry," styling himself a righteous hero.

Yet not a single one of those beastly acts had been left undone.

It fit perfectly with Cheng Yu's assessment of Jianghu martial artists--a pack of people wielding power that transcended ordinary limits, whom the court was powerless to govern.

How could anyone expect them to treat the weak as human beings?

Fortunately, once someone like this fell into Cheng Yu's hands, their days of strutting about were well and truly over.