Volume One, Chapter 15: The Power of the Thousand-Leaf Sunlight
Everyone in the capital of Daxia said that Zhao Wujiang was licentious and lecherous.
Therefore, Chiba Rizhao was certain that with just a slight move and her own beauty, Zhao Wujiang would be unable to resist.
“Young Master, if we keep talking like this, it’s such a waste of a fine moment…”
“What fine moment? Where is there any?”
“How annoying! Isn’t it a fine moment to have a man and woman alone in a room?”
As she spoke, Chiba Rizhao deliberately struggled, causing the white silk and iron chains to sway together, tightening even more around her already voluptuous figure, making her look all the more enticing.
Her red lips pursed slightly, tinged with a hint of shyness. “There’s no one else here now. Why do you still pretend to be a gentleman, Young Master?”
A seasoned hunter often appears in the form of prey.
She was confident in her beauty.
Although she was high-born in Hansang, she knew many men had fantasized about her, though none of those worthless men had succeeded.
But at the next moment—
“Get lost!”
Zhao Wujiang spat out the word coldly.
“Young Master… what do you mean by this?”
“Don’t play games with me. You think I don’t know about your Jiyang Ninja Technique, specially designed to restrain men?”
Chiba Rizhao was suddenly exposed, her mind buzzing.
This ninja technique was secretly taught by her mother from childhood, fearing she would be harassed by men.
How did Zhao Wujiang know?
This stinking island woman—luckily, I remember the book mentioning her background, or else I’d have been trapped by her.
Zhao Wujiang’s inner voice made Chiba Rizhao’s breath quicken.
A book?
Could it be that Daxia had intelligence records on her Hansang secrets?
Once she truly submits to me, it won’t be too late to take advantage of her. There’s no reason to refuse such a prize.
Chiba Rizhao’s face darkened.
You want me to submit to you?
You don’t even know my true identity, yet you want my submission?
How typical and confident Daxia men are… Hmph.
While she looked down on him internally, Zhao Wujiang’s thoughts continued:
For now, it’s best to use her identity for leverage. According to the original story, she is the only daughter of the Hansang Emperor. This time, she came secretly to Daxia as an envoy and talented woman to negotiate peace, but it’s all a facade to gain prestige and rightfully become the emperor’s heir.
Upon hearing this inner voice, Chiba Rizhao’s gaze toward Zhao Wujiang suddenly changed!
She was shocked!
She was afraid!
How did Zhao Wujiang know my identity?
She had come to Daxia only as a secret envoy and a talented woman.
Even in Hansang, only the emperor and empress knew.
It was impossible—Zhao Wujiang could not know!
If this man used my identity to threaten Hansang and demand conditions, it would be disastrous for Hansang!
“Young Master, let’s talk this through…”
She tried to plead, but Zhao Wujiang didn’t bother to listen.
“Talk nonsense all you want, don’t think you can trick me. Just behave.”
She didn’t know that Zhao Wujiang had no intention of revealing her identity.
If others found out Chiba Rizhao was the Hansang princess, she would only die faster here!
He and Chiba Rizhao were already tied together by the emperor’s schemes.
If she died here, and the Hansang Emperor went mad attacking Daxia, Zhao Wujiang would take the blame.
“Guards!”
Zhao Wujiang stepped outside and said sternly:
“Watch her closely! No one but me is allowed near her, not even a fly!”
“Yes!”
The elite palace guards responded respectfully.
Zhao Wujiang returned to his room.
Now that training had begun, he would not be lazy.
Only by constantly growing stronger could he better face danger. After all, there was still the destined child who regarded him as an enemy.
The martial realm, from weak to strong, ranged from ninth grade to first grade warrior, with master and grandmaster levels above first grade.
According to the original records, Daxia had three masters, one of whom was his stepfather, the Northern King.
As for grandmaster, there was only one—the one sitting on the dragon throne.
In the original story’s ending, Long Zhan reached grandmaster level and, with the help of the princess, led 100,000 elite soldiers to besiege the city, killing Li Zaiyuan and taking his place.
Moreover, this was during Li Zaiyuan’s old age, since even a grandmaster could not live forever.
“I don’t know if I can reach grandmaster, but I can’t be slower than Long Zhan. If he becomes grandmaster first… he could kill me with ease.”
Zhao Wujiang felt immense pressure.
After benefiting from Liu Ruyan’s Dragon Nurturing Sacred Body and aided by the True Yang Heart Technique, he had reached ninth-grade warrior.
Long Zhan was currently seventh-grade, and with the profound martial arts manual from the Dao Sect behind him, he had the strength to fight a sixth-grade.
But that was common knowledge—what protagonist in a novel couldn’t challenge beyond their level?
Zhao Wujiang trained tirelessly through the night.
The True Yang Heart Technique vaguely showed signs of advancing to the second layer, but he was just short.
The technique greatly enhanced his power; if he could break through, he sensed he could reach eighth-grade!
“I still feel a bit short. Maybe I should seek Liu Ruyan again?”
Zhao Wujiang thought this, but after trying with Liu Ruyan last time, he found that while the Dragon Nurturing Sacred Body could enhance power, there were limits.
He couldn’t keep using it continuously; his dantian needed rest.
“Your Highness! Bad news!”
At dawn, the old steward Zhao Manfu knocked on the door.
“What is it?”
Zhao Wujiang heard the noise outside growing louder. After stepping into ninth-grade warrior, his hearing became sharper; he even heard the clashing of armor.
The old steward’s tone was anxious:
“Your Highness, the Cavalry Regiment is here again... and this time the Capital Magistrate has come too!”
Why would the Capital Magistrate come?
The Capital Magistrate’s office oversaw security and law enforcement in the capital, equivalent to a modern police department.
The police chief coming so early definitely spelled trouble.
Zhao Wujiang frowned and ended his training.
He walked out alongside the steward.
As they walked, the steward explained:
At dusk yesterday, in the eastern part of the capital city, Tienshui Ward, in the small residence of a seventh-grade official, a major murder occurred. Everyone inside was killed except for one survivor!
That survivor, a seventh-grade official named Cao, was actually Cao Xiaolan, who had returned home from a visit yesterday!
“Cao Xiaolan?”
Zhao Wujiang raised an eyebrow. “The close confidante of Princess Li Yunrui?”
The steward nodded repeatedly.
Zhao Wujiang understood immediately.
The Capital Magistrate and Cavalry Regiment appearing together at his manor meant one thing—the culprit was connected to him!
At least on the surface!
Sure enough, when the steward opened the door with head bowed, outside the manor stood a large group of armed Cavalry Guards and Capital Magistrate’s officers wielding staffs!
Their imposing presence surged forward toward Zhao Wujiang!
“Greetings, Young Master…”
The Capital Magistrate was a gray-haired elder, his large hand resting on his belt, speaking coldly.
Though he greeted, he neither bowed nor nodded.
As the capital’s chief official, he had enough confidence to confront even powerful nobles—especially one who had already lost power.
“You seem to have slept well, unaware of your own foolishness.”
Long Zhan glanced at Zhao Wujiang, snorted coldly, and flicked out a portrait:
“Zhao Wujiang, you let this person loose to commit murder and disrupt the capital. What crime do you deserve?”
Zhao Wujiang looked closely.
The person in the portrait was none other than Chiba Rizhao!
“Last night, Lord Cao’s entire family was slaughtered…”
The Capital Magistrate raised his hand, and officers stepped forward. Someone produced chains intending to restrain Zhao Wujiang.
His dry voice brimmed with anger:
“The sole survivor Cao Xiaolan eyewitnessed the murderer’s appearance—it was the Hansang envoy under your charge, Chiba Rizhao!
“Your negligence, Young Master, caused the death of a Daxia official’s entire family!
“Guards, detain him!”
The steward stepped forward, blocking Zhao Wujiang.
“This is slander! Whoever dares harm our Young Master, I’ll fight to the death!”
Palace guards quickly arrived, tension rising on both sides.
“Chiba Rizhao slaughtered the family of a seventh-grade official. Zhao Wujiang, you cannot escape responsibility!”
Long Zhan drew his long sword, pointing it at the steward.
Fearing Long Zhan might kill the steward and replay the scene from a few days ago, Zhao Wujiang pushed the steward aside coldly:
“Where is Cao Xiaolan?”
“Zhao Wujiang, are you trying to kill a witness?”
“Commander Long, why rush? If you want to accuse me of negligence, at least let me confront the witness and explain, right?” Zhao Wujiang raised his brow toward the Capital Magistrate. “What do you say?”
The Capital Magistrate raised his hand, and the crowd parted, revealing Cao Xiaolan.
Her eyes were swollen and red, cheeks still stained with tears.
She wiped her tears and hurried forward, face full of anger and crying:
“Your Highness, it was indeed Chiba Rizhao who slaughtered my family!”
“Zhao Wujiang, what do you have to say now?”
Long Zhan was filled with righteous indignation, commanding the magistrate’s officers:
“Everyone, alongside my Cavalry Regiment, arrest Zhao Wujiang!”