Behind him, Li Qiushui’s heart jumped into her throat the moment she saw the scene unfold. She was terrified that Lin Ming would rebel on the spot.
But to everyone’s surprise, Lin Ming didn’t say a word and obediently handed over the Sword of Imperial Authority, “This minister, Lin Ming, accepts the decree!”
“So straightforward?” Li Qiushui and the eunuch were both stunned.
This was completely unlike how the Duke Commander usually acted.
Still, since he handed over the Sword of Imperial Authority, it seemed there wouldn’t be any waves this time.
The eunuch immediately smiled with joy, “It’s rare for the Duke Commander to show such righteousness. Once I return to the palace, I will truthfully report your loyalty to Her Majesty!”
“Then I’ll trouble you, Lord Eunuch,” Lin Ming said with a half-smile.
For some reason, that smile felt… odd.
The eunuch didn’t dare linger. Fearing complications, he took the sword and left hastily with his men, heading back to the capital.
Normally, with a royal eunuch, thirty imperial guards, and fifty Embroidered Uniform Guards escorting him, even in the countryside, no one would dare block their path.
But something went wrong…
On a mountain road, a large group of black-clad men suddenly appeared—hats on their heads, red demon masks covering their faces, and blades at their waists.
“Who are you? Do you know this is a royal envoy carrying out Her Majesty’s orders? What kind of fool dares to block the imperial procession?” the eunuch shouted angrily, trying to intimidate them.
But the masked men remained unfazed. They slowly drew their blades and said, “The people can go. But the Sword of Imperial Authority stays.”
“If you insist on taking the sword… you die.”
Suddenly, one of the Embroidered Guards cried out in terror, “It’s the top organization in the martial world—the Unseen Ones!”
Whoosh!
Chang’an, Daming Palace.
Staring at a blood-stained memorial, Ye Qinghuan flew into a rage, “The Unseen Ones?!”
“The squad escorting the Sword of Imperial Authority was slaughtered! Only two severely injured imperial guards escaped back to Huazhou in the night!”
“Even a martial world faction dares to interfere in imperial affairs now?!”
Ye Qinghuan couldn’t believe it.
The Unseen Ones were said to have disappeared for years. Why had they reappeared now—and so boldly—to attack her people?
“And why would they target the Sword of Imperial Authority? And… if they truly wanted it, they wouldn’t have left two survivors!”
Her mind raced, murmuring, “Could this be connected to Lin Ming? But he’s never even left Chang’an before. How could he possibly control the Unseen Ones, the top faction in the martial world?”
Left with no choice, Ye Qinghuan dispatched several more units to retrieve the sword.
But each time, the Unseen Ones ambushed them mid-route.
They appeared out of nowhere and could strike at any place the sword might pass—imperial troops couldn’t catch them at all! This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Each time, they left a few survivors alive—but never touched the Sword of Imperial Authority.
“Argh! My sword! That damned Lin Ming—it must be your doing! You just don’t want me to get it back!”
The mighty ruler of the Great Duan Empire—Ye Qinghuan—was going mad.
“Your Majesty, news from Heyu. The Duke Commander today… used the Sword of Imperial Authority again. He killed five major grain merchants and wiped out the entire family of the local grain commissioner.”
Hearing this, Ye Qinghuan almost laughed in despair. If she died right now, her temple name could just be “Empress of Madness”!
“What is Lin Ming even trying to do? Does he really want to uproot every local power in Heyu and kill them all?”
…
Heyu’s center, Eastern Capital—Luoyang City.
“Deputy Envoy, Her Majesty sent me on an urgent mission to ask you one thing—what exactly are you doing? Killing grain officials, killing governors, killing aristocrats, killing military commanders… You’ve slaughtered every local elite! Are you trying to make it so the Great Duan has no one left to use?”
“And what’s with the Unseen Ones? They’ve been ambushing royal envoys nonstop these past days. Are you secretly behind them?”
Li Qiushui stared at him with deep frustration.
But Lin Ming had no time for her. He silently opened his system interface.
These past few days, Ye Qinghuan had been furious nonstop. That only meant he had been raking in the rewards!
Even the sailor outfit he’d been dreaming about was finally delivered!
“But the most valuable thing,” Lin Ming grinned, “is definitely this ancient forbidden technique (random).”
He opened the page with excitement.
[Ding! Begin random draw!]
[Ding! Congratulations, host has acquired the Charm Demon Technique!]
[Charm Demon Technique: Can control another’s mind. Weak-willed targets are easier to manipulate, but duration is short. Effectiveness increases by 20% when used on females.]
[Side effect: Lifespan reduction… and… shrinkage.]
“Lin Ming! I’m talking to you! Are you even listening?!” Li Qiushui snapped when she saw him zoning out. She stood up angrily, “Don’t forget, I may be the Deputy Envoy, but I represent Her Majesty! You’re abusing your power, waving around the Sword of Imperial Authority, and leaving Her Majesty to clean up your mess! You… you’re shameless!”
Before her voice even faded, Lin Ming suddenly raised his head and stared straight into her eyes.
Activate—Charm Demon Technique!
[Ding!]
Li Qiushui’s furious expression froze in an instant. Her cheeks flushed red, and in a soft, sweet voice she said, “Lin Ming, are you hungry? Want me to peel an apple for you? I can feed you with my mouth!”
“It really works that well?”
She immediately plopped down—right onto his lap—twisting her slender waist with a mischievous smile, “You’re so naughty. You like playing games like this…”
But in the very next second, Li Qiushui regained her senses. She sprang up in a panic, face pale with horror, “Ah?! Why… why did I do that?!”
She almost fell headfirst, but Lin Ming caught her in time, holding her soft, milk-white arms. He smirked, “Lady Li, please mind yourself. You are a married woman, after all.”
Li Qiushui’s face turned bright pink. She broke free with messy hair and stammered, “Forgive my rudeness! I’m feeling unwell today. I’ll be heading back now. Please take charge for the next few days.”
Then, stumbling, she fled in panic.
Lin Ming couldn’t stop grinning, “Damn, this Charm Demon Technique is too good! That walking red flag won’t dare show her face for at least two days. That means one less obstacle for me!”
However…
He glanced down and gasped, “Damn! The side effect is real! I better use this skill less often!”
The next day, he convened a meeting in Luoyang.
He summoned all the officials of Heyu.
Rather than giving them fish, he intended to teach them to fish.
Though the disaster situation in Heyu had stabilized after days of effort, the livelihood of millions of refugees remained a major problem.
And the most urgent issue—money!
Over the past few days, Lin Ming had squeezed every copper out of the big tycoons. If he pushed further, they’d probably rebel.
So Lin Ming decided—it was time to squeeze a new group.
“Gentlemen, I’ve gathered you here today to announce one thing. The court has issued a decree. I am to implement a new policy in Heyu—”
“All officials and scholars shall pay grain tax equally!”
“In simple terms—until now, anyone with the title of xiucai or higher was exempt from taxes. Starting now, that rule is abolished! No matter who you are—scholar or noble—you pay taxes like everyone else!”
The officials instantly lost their composure.
“Duke Commander, the exemption for scholars has been a tradition for a thousand years!”
“Yes! Our Empire reveres Confucianism and governs by Confucian values. Scholars have always been exempted from tax. To abolish it now is to break ancestral law!”
“We beg you to reconsider! Otherwise, we will jointly submit a memorial opposing this!”
Most of them had earned their positions through imperial exams, so they held scholarly titles—and thus had enjoyed tax exemptions.
Now the court wanted them to pay? Of course they were furious.
Lin Ming scanned them with a wicked smile and said, “I didn’t call you here to negotiate. I called you to notify.”
“This isn’t a suggestion. It’s an order.”
“If you won’t give it up—then I’ll take it by force!”