Chapter 135: That is exactly why they say you are all chest and no brains!

“Sir, take care!”
“Young lord, may you achieve a swift and decisive victory!”

Early the next morning, Zhang Zhiji set off. Naturally, Li Yuanjing accompanied him all the way to the ten-mile pavilion north of Feng City.

However, just as Zhang Zhiji was about to leave, he suddenly spurred his horse and returned quickly. Dismounting, he embraced Li Yuanjing tightly, a farewell filled with reluctance.

Only after this heartfelt embrace did Zhang Zhiji finally depart. Nearby, Zhao Bingchun’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably. He immediately pulled Li Yuanjing aside and spoke in a low, sinister voice:
“Yuanjing, your tactics are truly clever, truly clever indeed. Now that the young lord has left, aren’t you afraid that I, an official, will go all out against you?”

Li Yuanjing pushed away Zhao Bingchun’s hand from his shoulder with a cheerful smile and said calmly:
“Old father, I’ve always thought you were a wise man, a rare talent among men. But now I see, how can you be even more foolish than a pig? Is your mind filled with mush?”

“You?!”

Zhao Bingchun was immediately furious and about to explode, but seeing Li Yuanjing’s composed and stern expression, he suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing something.

Hastily, he said:
“Yuanjing, are you saying…”

Li Yuanjing looked at Zhao Bingchun and unexpectedly laughed, giving his cheek a firm pat:
“Old father, you’re leaving after the new year. Stand your final post firmly and earn a good reputation, isn’t that better? But if you’re stubborn and insist on rushing to your doom, then I’m truly powerless!”

At this moment, Zhao Bingchun couldn’t misunderstand Li Yuanjing’s meaning any longer.

Zhang Zhiji this time…

Was bound to rise, never to fall!

Hurriedly grabbing Li Yuanjing as he was about to leave, he put on a forced smile and said:
“Yuanjing, Yuanjing, even if there’s a minor misunderstanding between brothers, it’s nothing we can’t resolve, right? Come, this noon, let me treat you to a drink. We’re brothers, after all.”

“Heh.”

“Old father, spare me the drinking. Just do your duties well. Also, be sure to stay safe.”

“Ah…”

…

Not far away, Zhao Bingchun chased after them persistently, but Li Yuanjing ignored him entirely and proceeded to mount his horse amidst the escort of dozens of elite soldiers.

Liu Haoran let out a long sigh and closed his eyes painfully.

Yet when he reopened them, all resentment had vanished from his being.

Upon seeing Li Yuanjing approach, he instinctively bowed his head in deep respect.

Such is the world of adults.

If you want to live, and live well, you have no choice but to adapt to these rules.

…

Zhang Zhiji’s departure was like a dark cloud lifting from above Feng City, and many could not help but silently thank heaven for its blessing.

Yet many common folk remained reluctant to see him go.

Even after Zhang Zhiji’s forces had marched several miles away, they lingered long after, unwilling to leave.

Li Yuanjing, however, did not stay long and returned directly to the inn.

Having been away for nearly a month, he deeply missed his young wife and the familiar Spring Village.

Several days prior, he had already sent messengers to Spring Village to summon many laborers and purchased large quantities of New Year goods, which had been transported back several times.

Now, with no more affairs in the county, it was time for him to return home in glory.

…

But just as Li Yuanjing arrived at his inn room and had yet to close the door, his body suddenly tensed!

Before him—

A sharp soft sword, cold to the touch, was suddenly pressed against his neck.

The icy sensation made Li Yuanjing wonder if the blade had already cut into the skin of his throat.

Yet as a familiar fragrance wafted from behind, his entire body quickly relaxed, and he smiled:
“Miss Caixue, this is hardly the way to treat someone who saved your life.”

“Look who’s talking!”

The slender figure behind him, clad in black and exquisitely beautiful, could only be Caixue.

But Caixue showed no patience for Li Yuanjing. She grabbed a handful of his hair, causing him pain and forcing him to tilt his head back.

“You, Li, if not for your despicable schemes, would the Holy Church be in such a state? Do you know how many of our disciples have been injured in these days?”

“Three hundred seventy or eighty, I suppose.”

Despite Caixue’s harsh treatment, Li Yuanjing remained unflustered, chuckling coldly.

“You!!!”

Caixue ground her teeth fiercely.

With a graceful turn, she moved swiftly before Li Yuanjing, the soft sword aimed directly at his throat, her voice full of hatred:
“Li Yuanjing, you certainly know everything too well!”

“Don’t think I’m grateful for you sparing my life at the end! I came today to make you pay for the lives of our Holy Church disciples!”

“Heh.”

Li Yuanjing couldn’t help but sneer at the furious Caixue:
“Miss Caixue, with a head like yours, I truly pity the Aroma Sect that you lead!”

“You, Li, what do you mean?”

Already enraged, Caixue was about to explode, wishing she could tear Li Yuanjing to pieces.

Yet her lingering rationality warned her:

Li Yuanjing was cunning and full of tricks; no one knew what else he might have up his sleeve. For the sake of the Holy Church’s foundation, she dared not act rashly.

Li Yuanjing eyed her full bosom and graceful waist with disdain and sneered:
“Miss Caixue, if you had any brains, you wouldn’t be so fierce upon seeing me!”

“If not for my mediation, do you think you’d still be alive to stand here and speak to me? Do you think the Aroma Sect still has any foothold in Feng City?”

“You… what do you mean?”

Caixue grew increasingly uncertain, instinctively stepping back, moving her sword further away.

Li Yuanjing’s presence grew more imposing.

He stepped forward and pressed his chest against the sword’s tip, bending it sharply.

This startled Caixue dumbfounded; she quickly withdrew her sword and cried out:
“Li, you’ve gone mad! Are you trying to get yourself killed? This sword cuts through iron like mud.”

“Cut the nonsense.”

Li Yuanjing laughed coldly:
“If this sword truly cut through iron like mud, why didn’t it kill me just now? Your Aroma Sect sure knows how to brag.”

“…”

Caixue was speechless, unsure how to respond.

…

Seeing the moment ripe, Li Yuanjing locked eyes with Caixue and said coldly:
“Miss Caixue, you asked what I meant? I’ll tell you one thing.”

“I, Li Yuanjing, am a native of Feng City and a disciple of Master Ouyang! Do you understand?”

“Uh…”

Caixue instinctively stepped back a few paces, completely overwhelmed by Li Yuanjing’s aura.

Though she had little formal education and wasn’t as sharp as her alluring figure might suggest, she was no fool.

When Li Yuanjing mentioned Ouyang Mubai, she immediately grasped his meaning.

Li Yuanjing was Ouyang Mubai’s man.

And Ouyang Mubai’s status within the Holy Church was like that of a celestial immortal—beyond her reckoning.

Moreover, Li Yuanjing’s words left her no room to refute.

After all, in this era, the shackles of etiquette were terrifying.

For example, as a native of Feng City, even if Li Yuanjing didn’t wish to align with Ouyang Mubai, he had no choice.

Once he declared his name and origin, others would naturally place him among Ouyang Mubai’s disciples.

Consequently, Li Yuanjing became a member of the so-called “Quasi-Qi faction.”

If he succeeded in the imperial examinations and entered officialdom, he would be a bona fide new Qi party member.

With such tightly bound stakes, how could Caixue doubt Li Yuanjing’s identity?

“But if you’re his man, why have you dealt such a deadly blow to the Holy Church?”

Caixue still glared at Li Yuanjing with fury.

Seeing the effect of mentioning Murong Mubai’s name, Li Yuanjing smirked and said:
“Miss Caixue, I’d say you’re all brains in your chest and none in your head!”

“If I hadn’t intervened, do you think young lord Zhang Zhiji would have left as he did, giving you a chance to catch your breath?”

“After his victory, would he have spared you? He would have wiped out you rats without hesitation!”

“Think back—why did you attack the Liu family mansion? Who gave you that advice, that intelligence?”

“This…”

Caixue was thoroughly confused and after a moment, widened her beautiful eyes at Li Yuanjing:
“You mean, Xue Mang, that so-called great benefactor, he’s misleading the Holy Church?”

Hmm?

A sudden spark lit in Li Yuanjing’s heart, surprised by this unexpected gain…

But on the surface, he continued to sneer coldly:
“Looks like, Miss Caixue, you’re not so foolish after all. I had thought to ask my master to bestow you upon me, to bear sons for me. But seeing your brain—”

Li Yuanjing clicked his tongue and shook his head:
“I fear your sons would be as dumb as you. How would I face my ancestors then?”

“Li Yuanjing, you bastard! What nonsense are you spouting? You’re the fool! Your whole family is fools! I’ll gut you!”