Chapter Nineteen: Whether He Survives Entirely Depends on the Third Young Master

Inside the carriage, the Martial Emperor cast a single glance at Tang Qi, who was kneeling upright.

Tang Qi then began confessing honestly, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This all happened because Li Wenxuan struck below the belt and kicked my third younger brother."

"My third younger brother came to me in desperation, and only then did I plan to teach that arrogant fellow a lesson!"

"Moreover, I specifically instructed the patrol officers on this street to wait until I finished disciplining that brat before coming over, so they could clear the area in advance..."

The Martial Emperor’s cold gaze swept over Tang Qi. "You speak well. But tell me, who disciplined whom just now?"

"Your servant..." Tang Qi recalled Li Wenxuan’s strange technique and instantly grew furious. "Your Majesty, it’s not that I’m inferior in skill; it’s just that this fellow’s moves are too unorthodox. If there’s a next time, I will certainly beat him until he’s toothless!"

"Good, I like your spirit," the Martial Emperor said with a pleased smile. "Then how about this: next time you challenge him to a duel, I shall watch from the sidelines, just as I do today."

Tang Qi hadn’t expected the emperor to say such a thing, but he quickly recovered and said resolutely, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will definitely defeat him and never disgrace you!"

The emperor gave him a slightly exasperated look. "The one who’s disgraced is your father, not me."

Chief Steward Li immediately ordered Tang Qi to get out of the carriage.

Once outside, Tang Qi was completely consumed by anger.

"Li Wenxuan, just you wait! Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. I will take back everything that belongs to me! Today’s humiliation, I will repay you tenfold!"

But Li Wenxuan couldn’t hear a word of Tang Qi’s grandiose threats.

Instead, the passersby nearby looked on as if watching a madman.

---

At the Western Commanding General’s residence, steward Li Hui was inspecting the day’s food supplies.

The man delivering the ingredients suddenly gave Li Hui a strange smile.

Li Hui immediately understood the meaning behind the smile and waved his hand to the others. "Alright, the ingredients are fine, move them out."

"Yes, steward!"

Everyone nodded in agreement and proceeded to move the supplies.

"Is there some new instruction from above?"

"They want you to thoroughly investigate whether Liu Wenxuan is secretly apprenticed to anyone. If you fail to clarify this matter, after all these years in your position, you should know what the punishment will be."

---

The vegetable vendor and steward Li Hui were both undercover agents for the Eastern Depot.

Li Hui clenched his back teeth. "Wasn’t it already confirmed last time that this little brat has no master?"

"Little brat?" The vendor smiled. "Old Li, just because we’re old friends doesn’t mean I won’t warn you."

"Mao Yue, we’ve been friends for over ten years. There shouldn’t be any trouble..."

"I’m just reminding you: back then, calling Li Wenxuan a little bastard or a mongrel was no big deal—no one challenged you."

"But now," Mao Yue smiled sinisterly, "the Director himself has taken a liking to this kid. If you still call him a little bastard, don’t you think you’re the one without reason?"

Li Hui’s eyes widened in disbelief.

But Mao Yue was precisely making that point.

Li Hui bit his lip and slapped himself hard twice across the face, the sharp sounds echoing.

"That’s better!" Mao Yue said, visibly relieved. "Don’t say I’m picking a fight. When you come to your senses, you’ll be inviting me for drinks to thank me."

"Well, thank you then. What exactly is going on?" Li Hui asked anxiously. Though the Eastern Depot agents joked around, no one joked about this.

"Your third young master will, as of tomorrow, transform into a high-ranking official of the Eastern Depot. You see, when I told you to slap yourself twice to remember, I was actually saving your skin."

"Mao Yue, you’re not joking, are you?"

Mao Yue’s expression turned grim. "Do you think I’m joking?"

"Not at all! Not at all!" Li Hui swallowed nervously. "So..."

"This morning, young master Li was asleep alone and managed to fend off a surprise attack by multiple assailants, not only escaping unscathed but capturing them all alive. When this was reported, it was clear that his apprenticeship needed thorough investigation."

"But you haven’t investigated."

Mao Yue’s face darkened, like an impending thunderstorm, casting a heavy shadow over the room.

"Just now, young master Li even knocked Tang Qi unconscious on the street."

Mao Yue’s face showed disbelief. "You know Tang Qi, right? The eldest son of the former general, who mastered the general’s own long fist style, renowned as the unbeatable fighter of the Northern Camp. Even if Tang Qi isn’t at his level, he’s still one of the best among the younger generation in our kingdom’s army. And yet..."

"How could that be? I’ve watched that kid grow up with my own eyes. If he had any master, could he have lived such a meek life until now?"

Li Hui felt his mind about to explode.

"Hmm?" Mao Yue raised an eyebrow at him.

Li Hui trembled. "I haven’t spoken disrespectfully to that gentleman..."

But seeing Mao Yue’s hostile gaze, Li Hui forced a bitter smile. "I will re-investigate everything from the start..."

"Here’s a tip: don’t forget, young master Li’s birth mother is from the grasslands. During the Battle of Shanhaiguan, the Western Commanding General abducted a woman from the grasslands. Maybe there’s something to uncover there."

Li Hui’s eyes widened. "Are you suggesting he might be a spy?"

Mao Yue looked at Li Hui speechlessly. "With your loose tongue, you might have survived in the general’s mansion, but if you ended up at the Eastern Depot office, you’d be dead eight times over in a single day!"

"Ah, no... I truly didn’t mean it... It was unintentional!" Li Hui turned pale with fear once more.

"Enough. Report any news immediately," Mao Yue narrowed his eyes. "As an old friend, here’s another piece of advice: the Western Commanding General’s residence might be falling. Someone above has noticed your past failures. You know what to do if you want to survive, no need for me to say more."

After hearing this, Li Hui immediately lifted his robe and knelt, performing a deep kowtow to Mao Yue.

When Li Hui stood up again, Mao Yue had already left.

Li Hui wiped the cold sweat off his face, brushed the dirt from his pants and robe, then raised his voice loudly:

"Someone! Keep an eye out! The third young master has returned—report to me at once!"

"Yes, steward... Wait, steward! The third young master is back!"

Hearing this, Li Hui strode out and saw Li Wenxuan riding a chestnut horse in the distance.

Li Wenxuan wore a black fur coat over his shoulders, a dark iron blade hung at his waist. His posture was upright, his expression proud and confident—a handsome young gentleman in every respect.

Yet, from Li Wenxuan’s perspective, things looked quite different.

Steward Li Hui and the usual servants were crowded near the back door, obviously scheming against him.

Just as Li Wenxuan prepared to spur his horse forward and charge at Li Hui, he heard a surprisingly flattering voice:

"Third Master, good day. Your humble servant will hold your horse for you!"