The Art of Chaotic Divinity

Iron Wolf City, city lord's mansion.

At the break of dawn, City Lord Long Xiao had already gotten up. Just like always, he was preparing to inspect the training of the city guards.

But today, the City Lord's mansion received two very special guests.

One of them was none other than Jingwang.

Back when the Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Army had ordered the construction of Jingwang Mansion, Long Xiao had heard the news as well. He even went to pay a visit, but unfortunately, did not get the chance to meet Jingwang in person.

He never expected that Prince Jingwang would show up at his own doorstep today.

"My lord, Jingwang is here to visit. Should we perhaps..."

The old butler's words trailed off. He seemed hesitant, unsure if he should continue.

"What are you trying to say? Just spit it out."

Long Xiao frowned slightly as he glanced at the old butler.

This old butler had served under the previous city lord and had his own understanding of the situation in the southern border.

"In my humble opinion, my lord, it might be best not to receive any visitors today," the old butler said slowly.

"Oh?" Long Xiao stared at him. "And why should I avoid meeting Jingwang?"

"Surely my lord understands the principle of staying out of trouble."

The old butler gave a faint smile. "I've said all I should. Of course, the decision is yours. I will follow your orders no matter what."

"Stay out of trouble?"

Long Xiao gave a short snort. When he first arrived in Iron Wolf City, the former city lord had already briefed him on a number of things. The military in Iron Wolf City was not entirely a local force. In fact, many of the troops were closely tied to the Southern Army in more ways than one.

Even though Long Xiao had brought with him a detachment of Black-Armored Cavalry, that did not mean he held full control over this territory.

"We are all servants of His Majesty. Jingwang is a royal prince. He is our superior. Since he came to visit, how could I possibly turn him away?"

Long Xiao ignored the old butler's advice. He casually returned the training spear to the weapons rack, wiped the sweat from his brow, and headed straight to the main hall.

The old butler let out a quiet sigh and shook his head with a smile.

"Still too young!"

...

"Your humble servant greets His Highness Jingwang!"

Before Long Xiao even entered the main hall, his voice had already rung out.

A moment later, he stepped inside and stood tall with perfect posture. His years in the Black-Armored Cavalry had instilled this military bearing in him, and it was something that would never fade.

Seated at the head of the hall, Mo Feng quickly rose and laughed.

"City Lord Long Xiao, I'm sorry for disturbing you so early in the morning."

Long Xiao finally looked up. This prince looked far more delicate than he had imagined. It was hard to understand why His Majesty would send someone like him to Nanjiang[1].

How was he supposed to stand up to an old fox like Yuan Tiangang?

But the moment Long Xiao saw the young man standing beside Jingwang, his eyelid twitched, and he cried out in surprise.

"L-Little Brother Ling?"

"Hahaha!"

Ling Feng laughed brightly.

"General Long, it's been a while. Wait, no, you're City Lord Long now, aren't you?"

"General, city lord, it's all the same," Long Xiao said with a hearty laugh. "No need to be so formal, Little Brother Ling."

Back when Ling Feng first arrived in Iron Wolf City, Long Xiao had urged him repeatedly to join the military and serve the empire. Who would've thought they'd meet again just half a year later?

"Brother too has not changed one bit, still the same as always," Ling Feng said with a smile.

Mo Feng, standing off to the side, was momentarily stunned.Ling Feng knew who City Lord Long Xiao was?

Long Xiao gave a slight smile.

"No wonder you didn't want to join the Black-Armored Cavalry back then. Turns out you were already working alongside Jingwang."

"You misunderstood, brother. Back then, I hadn't even met Jingwang yet."

Ling Feng shook his head, still smiling.

"Actually, we got to know each other at Tianwei Academy."

Mo Feng quickly waved his hand.

"Brother Feng, no need to be so formal now that we're in private. If City Lord Long is your older brother, then he's mine as well. I should be calling him Big Brother Long!"

"I wouldn't dare accept that title," Long Xiao said, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "That won't do. Your Highness is a prince. I'm just a subject."

"No need to treat me like royalty when we're not in public," Mo Feng said with a gentle smile and offered a slight bow.

Ling Feng squinted and smiled. Mo Feng was learning fast. He knew how to work the room, starting by building a friendly connection with Long Xiao.

As the three of them exchanged pleasantries, Long Xiao eventually accepted Mo Feng calling him Big Brother. However, he never once dared to call Mo Feng his little brother. There were still clear lines between ruler and subject.

After some small talk, Ling Feng got down to business.

"Brother Long, you must've heard that His Majesty appointed Jingwang as the southern military overseer, right?"

"I've heard some things," Long Xiao replied. He glanced at Mo Feng, then forced himself to continue. "But with His Highness stationed in Iron Wolf City rather than the fortress, it does seem a bit inappropriate."

Long Xiao had always been straightforward. If he were a seasoned official used to playing politics, he would never have said something like this out loud.

"And that is exactly the problem."

Ling Feng's tone grew serious.

"Brother Long, do you really think Jingwang chose to abandon Tianmang Fortress and hide away here in this mansion like a coward?"

"What are you trying to say, Little Brother Ling?" Long Xiao frowned. After so many years as a soldier, he could already sense where this was going.

"That old fox Yuan Tiangang holds too much power. He never saw the Ninth Prince as someone worth taking seriously. He practically placed him under house arrest in Jingwang Mansion. Tell me, what do you think he's trying to do?"

Ling Feng slammed the table, anger rising in his voice.

"I'm telling you, that old fox is planning to rebel!"

"Re... rebel?"

Long Xiao's eyes twitched. Ling Feng was really daring to say things like that out loud. That kind of talk could get him killed.

He swallowed hard and gave an awkward laugh.

"Little Brother Ling, that's not something you should say lightly."

Even Mo Feng was startled by Ling Feng's bold statement.

In the entire empire, Ling Feng might be the only one crazy enough to claim that Yuan Tiangang was plotting rebellion!

But in truth, Yuan Tiangang had no such ambition. He had not yet become so arrogant as to think of seizing the throne.

"Defying His Majesty's decree. What else would you call that if not rebellion?"

Ling Feng gave a cold snort and said sternly, "That man treats Jingwang like nothing. He plays him like a toy in the palm of his hand. If even a royal prince can be humiliated like this, then who in Nanjiang can possibly stand up to him?"

"Uh..." Long Xiao frowned and looked at Mo Feng. Sure enough, the prince's brow was tightly furrowed. It seemed Ling Feng's words were not just wild exaggerations.

"Brother Long, you should know that the Black-Armored Cavalry answers directly to the royal family. But the Ninth Prince holds no real authority within the Southern Army. He is not even allowed near Tianmang Fortress. Think about your own position. What happens when Yuan Tiangang finally has time to deal with you?"

"Right now, the Demon Race is invading. Yuan Tiangang is too busy to bother with you. But once the fighting settles down, I guarantee he won't let a force loyal to the royal family remain under his nose."

Every word Ling Feng spoke cut deep. Long Xiao's brows tightened. He remembered what the previous city lord and the old butler had told him. Yuan Tiangang's influence in Nanjiang had become far too great.

The name of the imperial family meant little down here. Yuan Tiangang's name carried far more weight.

For the imperial family and for the empire, this was a dangerous problem!

1. A quick refresher, 南疆(Nán jiāng)= Southern border. ☜