Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 461 The world is shaken, hidden dragons and crouching tigers

The Eastern Depot, with over four hundred Finger Profound Masters, led by two Celestial Phenomenon Grandmasters, Yue Buqun and Cao Shaoqing, roamed the martial world. Meanwhile, the Western Depot, led by Tan Luzi, Ma Jinliang, and others, with over five hundred Finger Profound Masters and nearly ten Celestial Phenomenon Grandmasters, swept across both the righteous and the wicked.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Six Doors rigorously investigate illegal activities. There are at least eight hundred known martial arts masters with recorded exploits in the martial arts world. Anyone on the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Six Doors' death lists, even if they escape the Ming Dynasty using the "rat path," will be hunted down for thousands of miles.

No matter how powerful you are, you still can't escape.

With the personal intervention of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Qinglong, the head of a terrestrial immortal was severed and hung in front of the Northern Garrison Office to inform the world that Liu Dufeng, the God of Catching, had personally pursued the immoral Taoist from Jiangnan to the northern desert, hanging his body in the desert.

The martial arts world has fallen completely silent.

In Guanzhong, there was an inn with little reputation.

"Hey, have you heard? Shaolin Temple was wiped out. It was a terrible massacre. It's said that all the monks were either executed on the spot or taken to the Ministry of Justice for trial. The Liao generation, the Kong generation, and even the Fang generation were almost all killed."

"This matter has shocked the world and has already caused a great uproar. We have naturally heard about it long ago."

"If you ask me, Shaolin Temple deserved to die. It's one thing to betray the country and collude with the enemy, but it's said that on the day the Eastern Depot, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Dragon Guard Manor came to Shaoshi Mountain, they confiscated land deeds worth tens of millions of taels of silver from Shaolin Temple. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas enshrined in the temple, if converted into gold and silver, would also be worth tens of millions of taels."

"Inside the temple, there were no fewer than a hundred people whose identities were verified. They were either notorious bandits who had once wreaked havoc in the area, lecherous thieves, womanizers, or thieves who had committed the crime of wiping out entire families for money."

"The Ministry of Justice's official document clearly states that Shaolin Temple's land annexation has secretly put over 30% of the land in HEN Province under its control, making the common people the pitiful ones who have to support these parasites. Many other sordid and shameful things have also been exposed, and their crimes are simply too numerous to count."

"A once sacred Buddhist site has been turned into a den of iniquity, and yet many lay Shaolin disciples still complain on its behalf. If you ask me, the imperial court is too lenient; they dare to purge it all at once."

"Let's leave it at that; that's not something we can discuss right now."

"I heard that Guo Juxia, the chief advisor of the Six Doors, swept through the martial arts world with his 'Surging Wave Palm,' wiping out the three major underworld families, the Money Gang, the Blood-Clad Tower, and the Green-Clad Tower. Just the other day, I heard that Guo Juxia challenged the top ten underworld masters to a decisive battle at Taihu Lake and won a great victory."

"There are rumors circulating in the martial arts world that he has already reached the strength of a terrestrial immortal. Is that true?"

"I've also heard about this. It's not just Guo Juxia. I heard that the God of Catching personally chased a terrestrial immortal for two thousand miles into the desert and finally killed him."

"It's not just the God of Catching. There are also rumors that the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Qinglong, personally cut off the head of a terrestrial immortal using the Fourteen Styles of the Great Ming Dynasty, and hung it in front of the Northern Garrison Office."

"Our Emperor's achievements are unparalleled throughout history, and he has also been recognized by Heaven, which bestowed upon him the Investiture of the Gods. He also commands unparalleled armies such as Cangyun and Tiance to suppress the four directions. The strength of various departments and units has also been continuously growing due to our Emperor's rewards, which is why the court is now able to trample the Jianghu and clean up the scum of the Jianghu."

"That's absolutely right. Although the imperial court massacred the martial arts world, it posted notices every time, detailing the crimes of those killed. This included Shaolin, Songshan Sect, and all other sects, both the righteous and the evil, all of whom either secretly harbored bandits or even sent their masters to impersonate martial arts bandits and commit crimes everywhere."

"Or they take advantage of their strength to bully the weak, often wiping out entire families and plundering other people's treasures, or killing innocent passersby when they are unhappy. Their crimes are numerous and they deserve to die."

"If you ask me, it was well done! What are you talking about in the martial arts world, that such brutal killing would cause such panic among the people? It's laughable. In the past two days, I don't know how many people of the Ming Dynasty have been celebrating with lanterns and decorations, and even setting off firecrackers."

"That's right, this is a truly gratifying thing! What does this catastrophe in the martial arts world have to do with us ordinary people?"

Listening to the chatter around her, especially when they talked about Guo Juxia, Guo Furong quietly raised her finger, forgetting even to serve tea and water. She just listened to the guests' discussion with a silly smile on her lips.

"Hey, wake up, what are you grinning about? Get to work."

"Old Bai, Old Bai... can you hear me?"

Guo Furong seemed to wake from a dream, turning around in surprise to look at Bai Zhantang, and excitedly said, "The masters on the Black List, the top ten most vicious people in the underworld, even Xue Yiren, who was once known as the number one swordsman in the world and a sword god of the same generation as Yan Nantian, are no match for my father. My father, my father... he has become a terrestrial immortal!" As she spoke, Guo Furong raised her head like a proud white swan, her face beaming with pride.

The three major underworld families are nothing.

The Money Gang and the Blood-Clad Tower are infamous for their ruthlessness.

Now, however, they have all been wiped out by the imperial court, and her father has shone brightly in the process, making Guo Juxia's reputation even more renowned. How could Guo Furong not be happy?

"I heard it. Hero Guo is renowned throughout the Ming Dynasty. I've heard it so many times these past few days that my ears are practically calloused." Bai Zhantang rolled his eyes. In fact, he knew far more than Guo Furong and the people discussing it in the inn, but there were many things he didn't want to say, nor could he say.

Bai Zhantang was actually present during the Battle of Taihu Lake.

To prevent any from slipping through the net.

Having witnessed that battle firsthand, he naturally knew the current strength of Guo Juxia.

"Tch, I think you're just envious." Guo Furong chuckled as she carried the tea and jogged toward a customer who was being greeted, even though she had fallen from being the eldest daughter of the Guo family to a lowly servant at the inn.

But Guo Furong is very happy now, because her father is a terrestrial immortal, one of the very top people in the martial arts world.

She is proud of it!
"If she knew, you would be too..."

Upon hearing the noise, Bai Zhantang glanced at Guo Furong's figure and quickly turned around to cover Tong Xiangyu's mouth: "Keep your voice down, don't let Xiao Guo know, otherwise she'll probably cause a scene."

As a secret guard, and one of the earliest secret guards to join the Prince Su's mansion.

Bai Zhantang's status and achievements are considerable.

He had also made great contributions during Zhu Jinzhen's campaign to quell the rebellion, and naturally he would not be overlooked when it came to rewarding those who had rendered meritorious service.

Guo Furong only knew that her father, Guo Tao, had become a terrestrial immortal, but she never dreamed that the waiter in this small Tongfu Inn, who was ordered around by everyone and greeted with a smile every day, was also a genuine terrestrial immortal!

Tong Xiangyu looked at Bai Zhantang with a smile, her eyes revealing the same excitement and pride as Guo Furong's.

Her man is a celestial being.

Furthermore, he also holds the identity of a Xuanjia Secret Guard.

Yet he willingly gave up the hustle and bustle to accompany her in running this small inn in Qixia Town.

With a husband like this, what more could a woman ask for?

Little did they know, Bai Zhantang was also carrying out a secret guard mission.

Just as the two were enjoying their intimate moment, Bai Zhantang suddenly noticed an unusual "guest" outside the inn. He quickly greeted him with a beaming smile: "Oh, sir, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

(End of this chapter)