The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Hou Renmeng spat on his hand, and the Sword Energy blasted out like a raging fire, with a "boom" sound, smashing the heavy door to pieces.

Other Jinyi, unwilling to be outdone, drew their swords and hacked at the central door of the Shen family, in the blink of an eye, nearly dismantling the entire door.

Watching this, the inner court Tributors marveled, thinking how you guys get the fun roles outside these days.

"Bodhisattva, would you like to get off the carriage with me?" Zhao Douan asked with a smile.

The Bodhi Bodhisattva replied seriously, "My Buddha is compassionate, Mr. Zhao, heedlessly committing murder, I'm afraid..."

Zhao Douan curled his lips and stepped off the carriage first, "Do you think I haven't done my research? There are more innocent lives taken by this Grand Steward than by me, this is called ridding evil for the people, better than building a seven-level pagoda."

"It's called 'saving a life is better than building...'" The Bodhisattva wanted to correct him but recalled how Zhao Douan's scripture debating surpassed the East and West Buddhism, feeling helpless.

...

...

Rolling the timeline back.

Earlier, at the Cao Transport Office.

Governor Ning woke up late after spending a passionate night with his wife.

He wore informal attire, entered the study within the office, eating the somewhat cold breakfast brought by the kitchen while waiting for Mr. Wen to arrive.

"Governor, you summoned me." Wen Liang, dressed as a strategist and staff, entered, bowing with hands clasped.

Ning Zechen was in a good mood, his face beaming, eating a meat bun while laughing, "I returned in a hurry last night, didn't have time to talk with you, were those documents I asked you to prepare for Lord Zhao ready?"

Mr. Wen nodded, "Already prepared."

Ning Zechen nodded satisfactorily, his ten-year-old steward and friend always handled tasks flawlessly, rarely making mistakes in assigned tasks.

"Very well, please make another trip to Mr. Zhao's inn and invite him over. The confidential documents in the office are indeed inconvenient to send over for him to review..."

As he spoke, Governor Ning paused and changed his mind, "In that case, I will personally go over later."

In terms of rank, he, a Second Rank official, was higher than Junior Guardian Zhao's "Standard Third-Rank."

Moreover, he was an actual powerful official, unlike the honorary nature of a Junior Guardian.

But first, Zhao Douan saved his wife and daughter, and second, the man was, after all, an envoy on behalf of His Majesty, so Governor Ning felt he should be courteous.

However, Mr. Wen shook his head, "No need, I already went to invite him. Lord Zhao is not there, says he went out of town."

"Out of town?" Governor Ning was stunned, a bad premonition growing in his heart, "Where did he go?"

"Said he was going to the Shen family, to mourn Mr. Shen." Wen Liang replied in a particularly gentle tone.

!!!

Governor Ning suddenly remembered something and asked with a tremor in his voice, "By the way, did anyone from the Shen family...?"

"The Shen family did not meet with Lord Zhao."

"Damn!" Governor Ning dropped the meat bun in his hand, his face drastically changing, he immediately changed clothes, "Prepare the horses!"

Rationality told him Zhao Douan wouldn't do anything drastic.

But for some reason, he suddenly felt a bit panicked.

...

...

Zhao Douan and the Bodhisattva got off the carriage, accompanied by Eunuch Hai, Lang Shiba, Ji Yue, and other guards heading inside.

Members of Lihua Hall and the Martial Arts Hall opened the way, and the Shen family Protectors that came to resist couldn't withstand even one clash, each being knocked to the ground.

The antique garden was filled with green ancient willows planted everywhere, the pond full of lotus leaves, the paths paved with bluestone slabs and cobblestones leading to a pavilion with flying cornices, rooms with hollow doors and windows, rockery, and flower ponds... altogether forming an elegant southern garden.

Zhao Douan walked ahead for a while, then suddenly noticed that the subordinates leading the way had stopped.

He proceeded in confusion, the crowd dispersed, revealing a person blocking the way, several Jinyi clutching their chests, retreating step by step, saying, "Sir, it's a master!"

Zhao Douan looked up, seeing a man about thirty, dressed in a light blue Martial Artist training suit, with a white band wrapped around his head.

His build was vigorous, appearance remarkable, the dark stubble added a touch of ruggedness to an otherwise slightly handsome and delicate face.

He stood there, holding a Yanyue Blade taller than himself in his right hand!

The golden handle's end stood on the ground silently, its heavy blade pulling out a sharp arc.

"The strongest martial artist of this generation in the Shen family, Worldly Realm martial artist, Shen Wuji." Zhao Douan recognized the posture of the Yanyue Blade in his hand, and related information surfaced in his mind.

Jianning's Shen family, with hundreds of years of heritage, apart from each generation having many clansmen hold various positions in the court, was naturally also rich in cultivation heritage, allowing them to stand firm.

Shen Wuji was the strongman nurtured by this generation of the family, arrogant and flamboyant in temperament, yet his pride was well-founded, showing outstanding talent from a young age. The Shen family spent heavily to hire various Martial World experts to teach him, at least five masters from Qingshan were invited.

As a family-raised martial artist, Shen Wuji stubbornly preferred the Yanyue Blade, a heavy weapon more suited for military generals.

Whenever he fought, he seldom held back, with countless cultivators falling under his strikes.

In the Martial World, he was one of the martial arts experts distinct from the Qingshan lineage.

"With martial force, trespassing into my Zhao family household, even showing no mercy, what is your intent, Lord Zhao?" Shen Wuji furrowed his brows and coldly asked.

Zhao Douan coolly replied, "You're not worthy to speak with me, go fetch someone who can make decisions."

Fire of anger flickered in Shen Wuji's eyes, he sneered, "I heard that you defeated Xiao Ran of Qingshan in the palace. However, you can't block my single strike."

No, has the news spread this fast? Could it be that I'm now famous in the Martial Arts world? Zhao Douan was greatly surprised.

And a little pleased...