Chapter 20: Misunderstanding

Nanyang Prefecture has rebelled.

It happened in the final month of the first year of Jianwu.

Zhang Gui had also vanished without a trace, disappearing within the territory of the Xuanyang Sect, one of the three great sects of the martial world, located in Nanyang Prefecture.

"Master Su, could Godfather be..."

Xu Xiaohan was filled with trepidation.

Within the Imperial Palace, the eunuch factions were roughly divided into three groups: the faction of the First Inspector of the Purple Robes, the faction of the East Depot's Martial Bureau, and the faction of the various underlings serving the Red-Robed Managers.

In recent years, the Martial Bureau had flourished under Zhang Gui's influence, reaching the height of its power.

The backbone of this power was Zhang Gui, a second-rank official at only twenty-four years old.

If Zhang Gui were dead, the resulting factional infighting would surely claim countless lives. As Zhang Gui's godson, Xu Xiaohan would undoubtedly be unable to escape the fallout.

Over the years, the East Depot had offended far too many civil and military officials, as well as the Red-Robed Managers.

"He won't. He is second-rank; he cannot die easily."

Despite saying this, another week passed.

Someone in the palace began spreading rumors of Zhang Gui's death. Panic gripped the Martial Bureau, and the other Red-Robed Managers swarmed like hungry wolves, extending their reach into the Bureau's territory.

Nanyang Prefecture had rebelled!

Zhang Gui had gone missing in Nanyang.

It was impossible not to let one's imagination run wild.

"Several of Godfather's godsons have defected, turning to the command of other Red-Robed Managers."

"Master Su, what should I do!"

"Several brothers were killed under various pretexts. The others who refused to submit are living a life worse than death in the water dungeons. By this afternoon, it should be my turn."

Xu Xiaohan arrived, looking utterly soul-crushed.

Being only fourth-rank, he was no different from an ant in the eyes of the Grand Eunuchs; they could crush him whenever they pleased.

Then, the next day, Xu Xiaohan never appeared again.

The person who brought food to Su Chen became an ordinary, plain black-clad eunuch.

"Eunuch Su, time to eat."

This black-clad eunuch wore a smirk that didn't reach his eyes. He opened the food box to reveal a meal consisting of a bowl of white rice, a portion of pickles, and a bowl of porridge.

Everyone believed Zhang Gui had died in Nanyang Prefecture and was impatiently carving up the cake he had left behind in the palace while eliminating dissenters.

Su Chen, the "useless man" of the Library, being Zhang Gui's sworn brother, was naturally included in the list of those to be purged.

"Where is Xu Xiaohan?"

Su Chen set his book aside and stared coldly at the black-clad eunuch with indifferent eyes.

He did not wish to kill, but that did not mean he was incapable of it.

White rice, pickles, and a bowl of porridge—this was an insult!

"Heh!"

"The food has been delivered."

"This lowly one shall take his leave."

The black-clad eunuch showed no respect for Su Chen. After his cold sneer, he ignored Su Chen and prepared to leave.

"Stop!"

"I will ask one more time."

"Forget it."

"I won't ask. Just go die."

Su Chen stood up and snapped off a leaf.

"Ha, a useless man..."

The black-clad eunuch sneered, intending to say more.

In this palace, everyone knew that the Red-Robed Manager of the Library was a useless man who could not even clear his meridians to cultivate, even if the First Inspector of the Purple Robes were to intervene.

However.

That single leaf was like the sharpest blade, severing his head.

"I will find him myself!"

Two years later.

December 7th, the first year of Jianwu.

Snow fell heavily.

Just as the entire Imperial Palace was thrown into chaos due to the rebellion in Nanyang Prefecture, Su Chen stepped out of the Library. Filled with killing intent, he headed straight for the Martial Bureau.

The moon was bright and the sky was clear.

Under the brilliant moonlight, Su Chen donned the Red-Robed Manager's robes bestowed upon him by Emperor Jianwu and knocked on the door of a chamber within the Martial Bureau.

"Who is it!"

Inside, five Deputy Managers who were discussing how to divide the hundreds of cultivating eunuchs of the Martial Bureau all paled instantly.

They were all third-rank experts.

The fact that someone could approach them so silently that they only noticed upon the knocking was utterly inconceivable.

Could the visitor be second-rank?

"Where is Xu Xiaohan?"

Seeing no response to his knock, Su Chen pushed the door open and walked in.

"Greetings, Manager..."

Upon seeing the red robes, the five Deputy Managers instinctively moved to bow. After all, such red robes were fundamentally different from their own Deputy Manager uniforms; they were garments reserved solely for Red-Robed Managers.

However, when they saw the person, they stood up, their eyes filled with disdain.

They had almost forgotten that besides their respective five masters and the five Great Managers, there was a sixth Red-Robed presence in the palace...

"The useless man from the Library!"

One of them sneered coldly, his eyes mocking.

"What are you doing here?"

"This is no place for you."

"Since Zhang Gui is dead, you really shouldn't leave the Library. Otherwise, if a fist lands on those red robes of yours, it would be quite an unsightly sight."

The five Deputy Managers continued to sneer.

"Where is Xu Xiaohan?" Su Chen asked.

Xu Xiaohan? Who was that?

The five Deputy Managers frowned, not even bothering to respond to Su Chen.

If one had not entered the path of cultivation, what use were those red robes? No one would pay any mind to this Eunuch Su.

"Did you truly think people would still respect and fear you as they did when Zhang Gui was alive?"

"Today, I shall teach you a lesson."

"You cultivation failure!"

One Deputy Manager stepped forward, moving like lightning. He swung a palm intended to knock Su Chen to the ground, intending to stomp his filthy sole into the face of the "Sixth Red-Robe."

The Sixth Red-Robe was nothing but trash.

Just as the Deputy Manager's face twisted into a triumphant grin—

"Let us continue discussing the distribution of the Martial Bureau."

The other four Deputy Managers withdrew their gazes.

In the next instant.

Facing the attacking third-rank Marrow-Cleansing Realm expert, Su Chen flicked his finger.

*BOOM!*

A terrifying sonic boom exploded.

Blood splattered everywhere!

The remaining four Deputy Managers turned to look at the unbelievable scene as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

What was happening?

A third-rank Marrow-Cleansing Realm expert!

This was a third-rank Marrow-Cleansing Realm expert—a top-tier master who, outside the Imperial City, would be enough to stir up massive storms!

Dead?

He just died like that!

"First, I must correct one thing: I never relied on Zhang Gui to command respect. I am more than enough on my own."

"Second, where is Xu Xiaohan?"

Su Chen spoke calmly, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the remaining four Grand Eunuchs.

"You can actually cultivate, and so powerfully!"

"Damn it!"

"You dare kill a Deputy Grand Eunuch? Are you insane!"

The remaining four Deputy Managers felt their scalps go numb. They attacked simultaneously, attempting to suppress Su Chen.

However.

No matter how fast they moved, they returned just as quickly—one after another, they slammed into the walls, leaving bloody streaks across the surface.

"It's not as if I haven't killed Deputy Grand Eunuchs before."

In the blink of an eye.

Of the five Deputy Managers discussing business, only one remained—a somewhat familiar man with salt-and-pepper hair, cowering in the corner like a startled bird, his courage completely shattered.

"Where is Xu Xiaohan?"

Hearing Su Chen's question, the Deputy Manager from the Martial Pavilion felt like he wanted to cry.

Who on earth was Xu Xiaohan?

As Deputy Managers, they held great power; how could they possibly remember a mere fourth-rank Blue-Robed steward?

*Creak.*

The door opened.

Xu Xiaohan entered, looking travel-worn. He was not wearing eunuch attire but ordinary clothes, and he was carrying an exquisitely wrapped gift box. He pushed the door open, looking somewhat terrified.

"Master Su..."

"What is going on!"

"I... I went out of the palace these past few days to gather intelligence, and I even brought you a gift. I just got back..."

Su Chen's cold expression froze.

He had thought Xu Xiaohan had fallen victim to the factional purges. He had rushed out of the Library in a rage, intending to go on a killing spree to avenge him, but instead...

"Ah!"

"Su Chen!"

"You killed our four Deputy Grand Eunuchs just for this? Do you have no respect for His Majesty, or for the First Inspector? I will report you! I will make sure you suffer a fate worse than death!"

The last Deputy Manager from the Martial Pavilion roared with venomous madness.

In the next instant.

*Bang!*

His head exploded, and he slumped to the floor, lifeless.

"It wasn't four. It was five."

"Furthermore."

"My eyes have never held anyone."

Su Chen withdrew his hand.