[Rouge Tiger, Standing Alone with a Saber Overlooking the Eight Desolations, Li Yuan]
[Realm: Sixth-rank Martial Artist]
[Cultivation Technique: Heavenly Gang Xuan Yang Technique]
[Martial Arts: Chaotic Slash Blade]
[Favorability Rating: 0/100 (Locked)]
Chen Mo observed the woman before him.
Her lips were red, her teeth white, and her features exquisite, with a face both elegant and beautiful.
But her brows and eyes were overly stern, with a hidden fierceness in her gaze, as if staring into the eyes of a fierce tiger!
The name "Rouge Tiger" was truly fitting!
"Her father was a military soldier, best with the Stray Blade, always at the forefront of battle. Amidst the howling wind of the blade, horse and rider were torn apart."
"He died on the battlefield during a battle at the Southern Border, leaving behind a Stray Blade and a Yellow-grade Saber Technique manual."
"With just this one move, 'Chaotic Slash Blade,' Li Yuan comprehended the tyrannical intent within the blade, ascended the Cloud Top Ranking, and later became terrifyingly powerful..."
Chen Mo recalled the plot in his mind.
If Shen Zhixia was an obsession with martial arts, then Li Yuan was a downright madwoman!
*"A Sixth-rank Transcend Mortality, with Sword Technique Mastery, though not listed, would indeed be a genius of the Ten Great Talents level."*
Li Yuan licked her lips, her eyes excitedly said, "From today onward, I will challenge you once a month until I defeat you. If you don't accept, I'll start with the small flag-bearers under your command."
Finishing her words, she turned and left without waiting for Chen Mo's response.
Truly domineering and tyrannical!
Just as Li Yuan reached the door, a lazy voice came from behind:
"A piece of advice for you."
"The Heavenly Gang Xuan Yang Technique isn't something women should practice; be careful of irregular menstruation."
"..."
Crack!
The green brick underfoot shattered, and she carried the Stray Blade on her shoulder as she walked away without turning back.
Chen Mo sighed; being watched by this madwoman meant it would probably be hard to find peace in the future.
"Sir..."
At this moment, a Colonel walked up quickly, whispering something in his ear.
Chen Mo's lips curled into an unintended smile.
"So soon to lose patience?"
...
Inside a luxurious mansion, in the hall, Yan Liang sat on a chair with his severed right hand on the table before him.
An elder with a long beard and wide-sleeved robe, hands forming a Dharma Seal, released a green light that wrapped around the severed hand.
Countless red fibers grew from the cross-section of the severed hand, writhing like tentacles.
The elder picked up the severed hand, brought it close to Yan Liang's wrist, and the red fibers bound the severed ends together, eventually merging completely.
Except for a circle of bloodstains around the wrist, it was nearly indistinguishable from the original.
"I am pleased to have fulfilled my duty."
The elder wiped the sweat from his forehead, appearing quite exhausted.
Yan Liang flexed his fingers, nodded in satisfaction, and placed a light blue crystal before the elder.
"Thank you for your hard work, sir."
"Many thanks, Young Master Yan."
The elder forced a smile, pocketed the crystal in his sleeve, stood, and took his leave, guided out of the hall by a servant.
After the elder left, Yan Liang's expression turned cold, and he slammed his palm onto the table, shattering it!
"Chen! Mo!!"
He gritted his teeth, his face twisting with rage.
The Saint in medical arts could restore life to the dead, and mend bones and flesh, yet what good was it?
In front of everyone, being humiliated by Chen Mo like this meant he could never hold his head high again within the Sky Scale Guard!
*The most painful thing was that he still had to temporarily swallow this anger!*
"Strange, how did Chen Mo know about the Barbarian Slaves?"
After calming down, Yan Liang frowned in thought.
The Yan Family owned several taverns in Tiandu City, and business seemed thriving, but this was merely a front. The real purpose was to conceal their true "business" behind the scenes:
Rearing Barbarian Slaves for people's pleasure.
For some dignitaries, ordinary women were long since boring, whereas the untamed wildness of the Barbarian Tribe was much more stimulating.
The Barbarian Tribe, though fierce by nature, would become especially compliant once tamed, exuding an exotic appeal, and their bodies were more resilient, able to endure all kinds of perverse games.
The Da Yuan Law strictly forbade illicit relations with the Barbarian Tribe, so this matter was kept strictly confidential, known only to a handful.
How then did Chen Mo come to know?
"Brother, we're usually so careful, and those clients couldn't possibly have leaked anything..."
"Could that guy be trying to trick you?"
Yan Xun spoke up.
Yan Liang shook his head, saying, "To accurately mention 'Yicui Square' and deliberately emphasize the character 'barbarian,' it's definitely not baseless."
Yan Xun's face changed, "What shall we do then? Should I go take care of those Barbarian Slaves now..."
Saying this, he made a cutting gesture at his neck.
"No."
"This batch is ordered by that prominent figure; if something goes wrong, neither of us can afford the consequences."
"Chen Mo doesn't have conclusive evidence; otherwise, he would have come directly to arrest people. By saying these things deliberately, he is merely waiting for us to reveal a flaw."
Yan Liang pondered for a moment, then said, "In that case, let's counter their scheme with our own..."
...
Frozen Sky Palace.
Yu Youhan reclined on the Consort's Seat, her graceful and voluptuous body wrapped in thin veils, skin texture delicate and balanced, neither too much nor too little.
Even with the pickiest eye, no flaw could be found.
Female Officer Xu Qingyi's eyes flashed with a hint of amazement.
Even after being with the Empress for so long, she was still astounded by such a perfect sight each time.
And it was uncertain whether it was an illusion, but compared to her previously distant and cold demeanor, the Empress's brows seemed to hold more charm, like a crabapple blossom soaked with dew.
"What kind of man could possibly be worthy of the Empress?"
"I'm afraid such a person simply doesn't exist in this world!"
As for the Emperor, whose life span was nearing its end and was bedridden, he had long been excluded from her considerations...
"The Ministry of Criminal Justice is still unwilling to release the people?"
At that moment, Consort Yu spoke up.
Xu Qingyi returned to her senses, nodded, and said, "Even Mr. Chen went personally to request their release and was turned away. Yan Peizhi's attitude was extremely tough, stating that they must thoroughly investigate this matter and not allow leniency."
"The chief officers of the Finance Department are not martial artists, likely unable to withstand the Ministry of Criminal Justice's methods. If this matter becomes a big issue..."
Yu Youhan's phoenix eyes turned dark, and she exclaimed,
"Fools!"
Last night, three chiefs of the Finance Department under the Ministry of Revenue were almost simultaneously taken away by government officers, and after being interrogated overnight, they were sent to the Ministry of Justice Prison early this morning!
The reason was embezzling court relief funds.
As they say, no official is without greed; as the Ministry of Revenue holds the treasury, such things were commonplace.
Normally, funds allocated down the line would be skimmed by everyone, from Chief of Staff to Assistant Minister to doctor, and chief officer, big officials taking big bribes, small officials taking small ones, an unspoken rule known to all.
But this time, only those three chiefs reached out their hands...
And these three were precisely the nails the Imperial Consort Faction had driven into the Ministry of Revenue!
This matter was evidently a carefully orchestrated scheme aimed at Consort Yu!
"Those three fools are not worth sparing, but if they spill other secrets or start accusing each other under torture, it could be problematic."
Yu Youhan rubbed her temples, her eyes deep.