Chapter 9: The Iron-Blooded Sovereign

Ji Ruxue shares her name with the most beautiful woman under heaven. Though she has yet to appear on the Beauty List, it is only because she spent much time cultivating at the Illusion Sound Pavilion and has only recently debuted. She herself is a quintessential icy beauty.

Li Xingyun turned to see Ji Ruxue dressed in blue, exuding purity and grace. Though a fine veil concealed her face, her figure was both elegant and powerful, her aura cold and proud.

Gao Wu pressed a hand to his forehead, bewildered. What day was this, that all these people had gathered in his room? Moreover, it seemed this was their first meeting.

Ji Ruxue spoke, directing her words toward Li Xingyun, but her gaze flickered toward Liu Yifei seated at the back of the room.

The two were evenly matched in appearance and even shared a similar aura. Yet Liu Yifei, hailing from the modern world, was more worldly and carried a certain intellectual air, evidently superior in that regard.

It seemed the next Beauty List would not only feature an additional name but the question remained where these two would rank.

“May I ask, young lady, who you are?” Li Xingyun inquired.

“Haha, Young Master Li, this is Ji Ruxue of the Illusion Sound Pavilion, maid to the Empress!” Zhang Zifan introduced, emphasizing the word “Empress” with a teasing tone.

The Illusion Sound Pavilion was a notorious assassin organization in the martial world, long led by a figure known only as the “Empress.” However, two years ago, after the first true empress of the Great Zhou ascended the throne, the leader of the pavilion ceased using the title “Empress” out of respect and was henceforth called the Pavilion Master.

Zhang Zifan’s deliberate mention of “Empress” was clearly meant to needle Ji Ruxue.

Sure enough, Ji Ruxue’s expression grew colder, a murderous gleam flashing in her eyes. “Young Master of the Tongwen Institute! Our Pavilion Master sends her regards!”

As the saying goes, it’s not thieves you fear, but those who covet what you have.

The greeting from the Pavilion Master was not to be taken lightly.

“Illusion Sound Pavilion? Tongwen Institute?” Li Xingyun studied both parties with a peculiar expression. “Interesting. Truly interesting.”

No sooner had he spoken than a group of ruffians burst into the inn, led by the two who had just searched the premises.

“Captain, it’s them! It’s them—” one stammered, his voice trailing off in disbelief as he stared at Shangguan Yunque.

“Hm?” The captain was taken aback. Why was Lord Shangguan here?

“Greetings, Lord Shangguan!” the ruffians saluted.

“This is the heir apparent; don’t you know how to show respect?” The ruffians, shocked, dropped to their knees and bowed.

“You! Finish what you were saying!” Li Xingyun’s folding fan pointed at the ruffian who had spoken, desperation clear despite the mask covering his face.

“Y-Your Highness...” he faltered.

“We were informed that traces of the Netherworld Sect were found in this inn and were sent to capture them,” the captain reported without hesitation, for once on a righteous path, no one dared conceal the truth.

“Hah! Where are the Netherworld Sect members?”

Gao Wu wiped the sweat from his brow. This was a stroke of luck—the two leaders of the Netherworld Sect were right before Li Xingyun’s eyes.

“Falsely reporting military intelligence to settle personal scores. Take them away and execute them!” The two ruffians collapsed, too frightened even to plead.

“These are my friends, no Netherworld Sect members here. You may all leave!” Tongwen Institute and the Illusion Sound Pavilion were the top forces within Bianzhou. Their arrival in Kaifeng was merely a bid to profit from the Duke’s mansion theft.

Duke Tang and the Ruffian Marshal had long seen through this and thus entrusted Young Master Li Xingyun with the matter, a trial for him.

“Since fate has brought us together in Kaifeng, let me take the east seat and invite you all to a gathering,” Li Xingyun proposed.

Thus, in the Qingfeng Inn, Li Xingyun, Gao Wu, Liu Yifei, Zhang Zifan, Ji Ruxue, and Shangguan Yunque convened.

“Sigh, if no two fairies appear on the next Beauty List, I shall send a letter to Baixiao Tower and scold Baixiao Sheng for being blind!” Li Xingyun declared earnestly upon sitting.

“Baixiao Tower is said to be incredibly mysterious; no one knows its location. The Young Master can even communicate with them?” someone remarked.

Baixiao Tower was the publisher of various lists throughout the Great Zhou martial world—beyond the three great mastery rankings of Heaven, Earth, and Man, there were weapon lists, beauty lists, and minor ones such as talent, charm, young heroes, and wealth.

Because of the enemies made by issuing these lists, Baixiao Tower remained hidden; most martial folks knew only of its existence, not its whereabouts.

“Haha...” Li Xingyun chuckled, “It was merely a fleeting acquaintance. Better not to speak of it, better not to speak of it.”

Li Xingyun had not appeared on the list reserved for those under thirty but ranked fourth on the Talent List, indicating his strength was average among prodigies but his reputation was bolstered by his lineage.

By contrast, Zhang Zifan barely made the Human List at number ninety-five, trailing at the end.

“Did you all come to Kaifeng because of the Duke’s mansion theft?” Li Xingyun asked.

None replied readily, for all were seeking the stolen treasures.

Li Xingyun waved them off. “The Duke’s mansion has announced in Bianzhou that all sects and forces shall assist in recovering the Dragon Abyss Map. As for the other treasures, whoever finds them claims them, provided they do not fall to the Netherworld Sect...”

At these words, their eyes brightened, save for Shangguan Yunque, who curled his lips in disdain.

Li Xingyun continued, “Ah, well, you’re not strangers. You must know that after the Netherworld Sect was wiped out, the mysterious Xuanming Sect has been acting under its name.”

“This time, the Xuanming Sect dispatched the Five Lords of the Underworld and the Black and White Impermanence, with aid from the traitor Wen Tao of the Ruffians, to steal the Dragon Abyss Map.”

“The Dragon Abyss Map is a national treasure. Its loss places great responsibility on the Duke’s mansion. If it cannot be recovered, even the Duke may be in peril...” Li Xingyun trailed off, troubled.

Gao Wu observed Li Xingyun quietly, pondering how much was truth and how much deception.

Ji Ruxue, more concerned with her master’s orders, asked, “Young Master Li, do you know where the Xuanming Sect is now?”

“Hm... in the Ghost Market!”

“Then why don’t the Ruffians just go capture them directly?”

“Miss Ji, new to the martial world, you may not know—the Ghost Market has an agreement with the authorities; government officials may not enter!”

Gao Wu inhaled sharply, thinking, “Such a powerful force, able to strike such a pact with the government!”

This world was far more complex than Gao Wu had imagined; even his inherited memories contained no mention of the Ghost Market.

Yet this was not his chief concern. Instead, he asked, “Young Master, why does the Xuanming Sect masquerade as the Netherworld Sect? What is their relationship?”

“Heh, Emperor Ming Zhu Yougui’s father, Zhu Wen, was originally one of the Three Kings of the Netherworld Sect—the Iron-Blooded Heavenly King!”