Chapter 118: Taking Over Qingliang Prefecture

The central hall of the prefectural yamen.

Ren Ye shattered the door with a single sword strike. Instantly, soldiers hidden around the courtyard surged forward like a tide, wielding spears, steel blades, and shields as they swarmed in.

These troops first glanced at Deputy Commander Zhang Wu, who lay on the ground. His chest armor was shattered, his entire body soaked in blood—clearly gravely wounded and on the brink of death.

At the same time, the three Daoists from the Tianjian Division inside the house hadn’t even managed to react before their bodies were sliced into several pieces by a single sword strike. Blood and viscera splattered across the floor—they couldn’t have died a more miserable death…

This… This spoiled brat, wasn’t he only capable of some soul-gathering techniques?

When did he become so fearsome in combat?

For a moment, fear crept into the hearts of the soldiers.

How does the saying go? Battles fought without conviction are usually driven by profit. But pure greed alone can never forge the will to fight to the death.

This applied equally to both the imperial faction and Prince Huai’s faction.

That was why Li Yan had said—if their plan succeeded, they could trample Qingliang Prefecture underfoot. But if it failed, they would all die beneath chaotic blades.

Aside from the older loyalists to the Prince, the common soldiers who had defected had done so for personal gain—some to get rich, others to save their own skins. It was an act of necessity. If the tide turned against them, they would scatter like birds and beasts.

At the courtyard gate, Feng Xing, who had been laughing just moments ago, now stood frozen in shock, his face filled with disbelief.

A smart man trusts his own judgment. He had been extremely cautious—knowing that Prince Huai could use soul-gathering techniques, he deliberately stalled for time and secretly summoned Daoists from the Tianjian Division while setting up an ambush with so many soldiers…

But who could have imagined that Ren Ye would also wield such overwhelming swordsmanship, as if he were some divine warrior?

Could it be that his previous persona as an idle, useless scion was all an act? That he had, in reality, been biding his time, hiding his true strength all along?!

“Tap, tap!”

Before Feng Xing could figure it out, Ren Ye stepped forward, executing the first move of his sword technique as he glided toward him.

“Protect… Protect me!” Feng Xing shouted in panic, his aged body staggering backward in fear.

On the ground, the gravely wounded Zhang Wu clutched his broken blade, trying to rise.

“Whoosh!”

Ren Ye dashed past him, his right foot lightly stepping on Zhang Wu’s abdomen. Still maintaining his sword technique’s first step, he pointed the Human Emperor Sword downward.

“Puff!”

With a swift, unhesitating slash, he severed Zhang Wu’s throat.

Zhang Wu’s eyes bulged as blood spurted from his body.

By the time Ren Ye passed him, he was already dead.

The surrounding soldiers rushed in, raising their shields to protect themselves and Feng Xing. Spear tips thrust forward, dozens of men advancing as one—a mass like a swarm of ants.

“Slash! Boom, boom, boom…!”

Ren Ye’s sword swept sideways, shattering every shield within three steps.

The sword aura surged forward, spraying blood mist into the air. Severed limbs flew, and in an instant, the courtyard became a hellscape.

Ren Ye had only replicated the first move of the sword style, his execution stiff and repetitive.

However, this sword technique carried intent—domineering and absolute. Paired with the Human Emperor Sword, capable of subduing fate itself, it was more than enough to deal with these mere mortals.

“Boom!”

Seeing Ren Ye striding through the blood mist, Feng Xing’s face turned deathly pale. As he instinctively retreated, his back slammed into the high wall.

“Clang!”

The sword edge pressed against Feng Xing’s throat. Ren Ye, drenched in blood and gore, held his sword in his right hand and said, “Lord Feng, this yamen is teeming with ambushers. I’ll need to borrow something from you.”

Feng Xing’s face turned ashen. “Alone… you think you can kill…?”

Ren Ye swung his sword.

“Slash!”

A leg was severed at the root. Blood sprayed across the wall, painting it crimson.

Feng Xing collapsed sideways like a toppled stack of bricks—his right leg still standing, while the rest of him hit the ground.

Ren Ye grabbed his limp body and turned to the soldiers, shouting: “I am borrowing Lord Feng’s leg to negotiate—step back thirty paces, will you?”

The soldiers hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances.

Ren Ye stood there, blood-drenched and disheveled, pressed against the high wall. He looked like a cornered beast, yet his expression remained defiantly arrogant.

This sight stirred something in the hearts of the veteran soldiers inside the yamen, reminding them of Prince Huai of Great Qian, Zhu Kai…

That year, on his triumphant return home, the aging general who had safeguarded the nation was ambushed by Emperor Jing. In the end, he fought to his last breath—dying while standing, his sword planted atop a mound of corpses. A thousand armored troops had trembled, unable to take another step forward.

By the wall, Ren Ye ignored the encroaching soldiers. He simply raised his sword—

“Slash!”

The blade flashed again, severing Feng Xing’s right hand.

His fingers twitched as the severed hand hit the ground.

“Aaaaagh!”

Feng Xing’s wails of agony echoed through the courtyard.

“Are you leaving or not?!”

Ren Ye chuckled coldly, his voice ringing out.

No matter how strong the sword technique, no matter how profound its intent, there was always a limit to one’s strength.

Ren Ye had killed so many that exhaustion was already setting in. That was why he had to capture the leader first.

…

At Qingliang Prefecture’s city gate, the massive doors were tightly shut. A hundred hastily assembled armored soldiers stood ready, fully alert.

They were unaware that members of the Secret Intelligence Division and Qingzhou Guard had already rebelled. They only knew that Lord Feng intended to imprison Prince Huai, and they had been summoned to prevent any unexpected incidents.

Atop the city walls, a commander gazed into the distance, speaking sternly: “Stay sharp. Once Lord Feng succeeds, we will all be rewarded…”

“That Prince Huai is truly useless—he walked into the city of his own accord, straight into our trap…” said a nearby Flag Officer, his words full of flattery.

“Tap, tap!”

Just then, smoke and dust surged along the official road.

“Quiet…”

The commander abruptly raised his hand.

“Open the gates and welcome Prince Huai!”

“Open the city gates! Welcome Prince Huai!”

Suddenly, a thunderous shout erupted along the official road.

The commander was momentarily stunned but quickly waved his hand and shouted, “Enemy attack! Ready the bows, crossbows, and cannons! Reinforce the gates—!”

At that moment, a strikingly elegant woman, sitting sideways on a warhorse with one arm wrapped around Imperial Inspector Liu’s waist, softly urged, “Faster, go faster…”

“I’m charging at full speed!” Imperial Inspector Liu, riding his horse, lashed his whip furiously.

Leading the charge, he broke away from the formation.

“Spring Breeze Delight!”

The Tang Feng holding onto Imperial Inspector Liu raised his arm, summoning his unique entry token.

A brilliant light shimmered at the top of the city walls, instantly spreading out.

Dozens of soldiers, including the commander who had been preparing for battle, first showed signs of confusion before being swept up in an obsession.

The token floated midair as a wave of soldiers fell into an Obsession Illusion.

Like an unstoppable iron tide, a thousand cavalrymen surged through the city gates without hesitation.

Within mere breaths, Imperial Inspector Liu raised his right arm and summoned a dust-covered jade seal from the previous dynasty, offering it forward.

“Boom!”

With a deafening crash, the jade seal forcefully slammed into the gate. A few heavy thuds later, the city gate was shattered open.

A thousand riders stormed through, breaking apart the damaged gates as they surged into the city like a tide.

Hooves thundered against the ground as Zhang Gui and three hundred veteran soldiers rode with Prince Huai’s banner held high, shouting from horseback:

“Open the gates! Welcome Prince Huai! We only kill corrupt officials—civilians, do not panic!”

Their voices roared like waves, spreading in an instant.

Two hundred men stayed behind to swiftly secure the city gate, cutting down the Great Qian banners from the ramparts and replacing them with those of Prince Huai.

Like a tidal wave, the thousand-strong cavalry swept through the central streets, shouting as they advanced towards the Qingliang Prefecture yamen.

At first, the city’s soldiers attempted to resist and regroup, but once they saw the broken gates and the changed banners, they immediately understood.

The guards who had been preparing to reclaim the city gate shockingly switched sides and joined Prince Huai’s iron cavalry, fiercely demonstrating their loyalty.

The darkness of human nature was laid bare.

Many of the captured defenders on the walls were actually slain by their own comrades.

…

Prefectural Yamen.

The cavalry arrived at the yamen. Imperial Inspector Liu, Li Yan, Tang Feng, and Second Fool dismounted and quickly cleared out the ambushes on the perimeter before storming into the central hall.

There, they saw Ren Ye standing inside, pressing a sword against Feng Xing, who lay in a pool of blood, barely clinging to life.

The floor around them was littered with the corpses of slain soldiers.

Everyone was stunned by the sight.

Second Fool was the first to rush inside, anxiously asking, “Your Highness, are you alright?”

Ren Ye, pale and breathing heavily, arrogantly declared, “With my sword drawn, I shall reign supreme!”

Seeing that he still had the energy to boast, Second Fool immediately relaxed.

“Swish—!”

Li Yan, covered in ink from head to toe, entered the hall and spoke rapidly, “Stop Old Feng’s bleeding first! As long as he’s alive, we can take over all the administrative offices in Qingliang Prefecture.”

Seeing that everyone had arrived, and many Prince loyalist brothers were outside, Ren Ye forced himself to step forward despite his weakness.

He walked out of the central hall, planting his blood-stained sword into the steps.

“Whoosh!”

A thousand men knelt in unison, loudly proclaiming,

“Prince Huai, please take back control of Qingliang Prefecture and save the people from suffering!”

Their cries spread like crashing waves, sweeping through the surroundings.

Ren Ye’s gaze swept over the crowd, and he shouted,

“The imperial court is corrupt! Emperor Jing is unjust! I won’t sugarcoat it—he wants me dead, and I won’t just sit and wait for it to happen! You have risen with me, and for that, I am grateful! I have nothing else to offer—so all government assets in Qingliang Prefecture, the Secret Intelligence Division, and the Qingzhou Guard shall be divided among you! But remember, do not disturb the civilians!”

“Understood!”

“…!” After finishing his speech, Ren Ye turned to Li Yan and said, “Get some scholars to draft a formal proclamation on the righteous takeover of Qingliang Prefecture. Make sure to mention my father—he had the people’s hearts, while I only have the favor of courtesans from the pleasure houses.”

Li Yan nodded.

…

One hour later.

[Congratulations! Prince Huai has reclaimed the three Qingzhou Guards, earning the trust of his soldiers. They now vow to follow you.]

[Congratulations! Prince Huai has taken control of the Qingliang Prefecture yamen. The remaining officials are now willing to obey your rule.]

[Congratulations! Prince Huai has regained control of the Secret Intelligence Division. Its spies have sworn loyalty to you.]

[Congratulations! Prince Huai has completed the main quest: Take Over Qingliang Prefecture.]

[Special Reward: Prince Huai’s faction has successfully captured a city. You may now recruit 500 supernatural beings to aid you in the final battle for the mysterious inheritance.]

“What the hell?!”

Upon hearing the last notification, Ren Ye suddenly recalled something:

“Five hundred supernatural beings? The Great Qian Dynasty did this before too! That was the group of tomb raiders… so the Star Gate means… we can recruit?!”