Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 617 The Fate of a Mad Dog
Inside the pavilion, the beaded curtains had been lowered again, isolating the outside noise.

Wang Jin remained seated on the golden nanmu throne, his gaze fixed on the rippling surface of Taiye Pond, yet unfocused.

On that pale, ashen face, with its powdered brows and bluish-gray tinge, his brows were sometimes furrowed as if carved by a knife, and at other times his eyes were deep and shimmering, as if he were pondering and struggling with something.

The entire pavilion was as silent as a tomb.

Only the faint chirping of cicadas and the sound of wind outside the window made the place seem so quiet you could hear a pin drop, creating a suffocating atmosphere of oppression.

Sudden.

Wang Jin's index finger, adorned with a jade finger guard, curled upwards very slightly.

Almost at the same moment.

A figure emerged from the shadows of the floor, or seemed to be drawn there by invisible threads, and silently knelt down beside Wang Jin.

His movements were as swift as a ghost, yet his posture was extremely respectful and submissive, his head bowed deeply, revealing a deep-seated awe for the person seated above him.

This was an extremely ordinary-looking man, the kind who would be instantly forgotten even if he mingled in the crowd.

But the fact that he could appear so abruptly beside the head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau is itself proof of his extraordinary nature.

"Your Majesty, how was your meal today?"

Wang Jin's voice was calm and even, as if he were asking about an ordinary official matter.

"Reporting to the factory manager, not a single grain of rice has been eaten."

The man answered concisely in a low voice.

However, deep within those drooping eyelids, a trace of undisguised sorrow and worry flashed by.

The emperor's body is already like a candle flickering in the wind; it seems... his time is up in the next few days.

It just so happens at this critical juncture, amidst all the turmoil!
If this news were to leak out, it would be enough to turn the world upside down!

Upon hearing this, Wang Jin remained completely calm, as if he had expected it all along.

He lightly tapped his fingertip on the smooth rosewood table, producing a barely perceptible sound, and continued:
"Send more people to keep a close eye on that Great Teacher of the Way of Peace."

"He abducted Princess Kangning and headed straight for the capital; his intentions were far from small."

His voice carried a chilling, all-knowing quality:

"Once the emperor passes away, those restless figures in the court might very well set their sights on the princess... and use her as a pretext for their schemes."

The man immediately understood the deeper meaning and said in a deep voice:

"Don't worry, factory manager!"

"No matter who it is in the court, if they dare to secretly contact that evil Taoist, I will dig them out by the roots and leave them nowhere to hide!"

He paused, a chilling glint suddenly forming in his eyes, his tone hardening with a steely killing intent:
"However... this fiend's martial arts are profound; keeping him alive could become a great threat!"

"Should we... take this opportunity to..."

He made a silent cutting motion at his neck.

Wang Jin's lips curved slightly, the curve so cold it was devoid of any warmth, like a knife mark on snow.

His fingertips, adorned with jade finger guards, tapped on the table.

A light tap was delivered.

The man understood immediately and replied:
"The Great Master's martial arts skills are unfathomable. If we want to eliminate him, we'll probably need to ask for help—"

Three names flashed through his mind.

However, Wang Jin had already made up his mind.

He abruptly cut the man off, his voice as cold as ice hitting the ground:
"Qingyi Tower, Meng Xinghun."

It was as if the name had already been settled on his chessboard.

Upon hearing this, the man's eyes flashed with a sharp light, followed by a genuine expression of admiration:

"Yes! The eunuch is wise!"

Brilliant! Absolutely a stroke of genius!
Instead of spending huge sums to hire those entrenched and uncontrollable so-called "experts," why not use this sharp and swift knife from the Western Regions!

Meng Xinghun's rapid rise, high level of martial arts, and ruthless methods are truly extraordinary!
Even renowned figures like the Demon Slayer King and the Master of Sorrow and Joy fell to his hand.

Such a fierce and powerful figure is precisely the peerless sharp blade to cut off the chaos of the Taiping Dao.
What's even more interesting is that the Qingyi Tower and the Jishi Factory have already had two "pleasant" collaborations and are quite familiar with each other.

Moreover... Meng Xinghun's hands are stained with the blood of military generals and eminent monks of Wanfo Temple, and he has long since severed himself from the imperial court and the orthodox martial arts world.

What other place could they go but to wholeheartedly cling to the police station that could provide them with shelter?
The more cooperation they have, the deeper their bond becomes, and ultimately, they will become the most handy hidden blade in the hands of the eunuch!
Wang Jin nodded slightly and continued to give instructions, each word carrying unquestionable weight:
"This matter is entrusted to Huai Shuang."

"Tell her that there is no one in the world who cannot be bribed; the key is to cater to their preferences."

"Whatever Meng Xinghun needs, she can have it. As her father, I will give her all the authority and support she needs."

Wang Huaishuang, his adopted daughter, is the chief executioner of the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

It is also the secret agent of the Criminal Investigation Bureau who is most adept at manipulating people's hearts and understanding desires.

"Yes! I will take care of it immediately!"

The man bowed and accepted the order, then shifted slightly to disappear back into the shadows.

However, a hint of hesitation crept into my mind.

That immense doubt finally broke through the subordinate's sense of propriety, causing him to grit his teeth and speak again:
"Master Eunuch... that little eunuch Zhao Bao... he... is acting very strangely!"

He has thoroughly investigated Zhao Bao's background.

An ordinary, struggling eunuch rises to prominence like a monster in a short period of time!

He could barely understand things before he reached the sixth rank.

But when Zhao Bao returned from a mission, he had transformed into a third-rank martial artist?!

This is absolutely beyond human capability!
There must be a shocking secret hidden within!

Wang Jin's face remained unchanged amidst the flickering light and shadow; instead, a subtle, enigmatic sneer played at the corners of her lips, as if she were completely indifferent to the matter.

"Aren't there enough 'abnormal' people in this world? One more won't make a difference."

His gaze was fixed on the distant ripples, as if piercing through time and space:

"The Dragon Burial Ridge, such a perilous place, has produced far more monsters than just him."

"If it works, why worry about so much?"

Upon hearing this, the figure felt a sudden jolt of understanding.

Yes, these days, aren't there plenty of "abnormal" people?

A force called Qingyi Tower came from the Western Regions. Its leader, Meng Xinghun, was young but his martial arts skills were terrifying. Not long after he arrived in Daqian, he was able to kill Tu Xiewang and severely injure Master Beihuan.

Although the news was strictly controlled by the police, it has already shocked many high-ranking officials, and many are already eager to win over this fierce and monstrous talent.

Meanwhile, the newly emerging power in the south, Taiping Dao, has a leader, the Great Master of Virtue, whose abilities are equally astonishing.

This great and virtuous teacher was not valued by the world; he was merely regarded as a sorcerer who used the guise of healing with talismanic water to expand his power.

But who would have thought that in the battle of Burial Dragon Ridge, the Great Teacher of Virtue defeated many experts from the imperial court, and even an abnormal monster like Zhao Bao was like a clay chicken or a clay dog ​​in his hands!

Especially today, the police station just received an urgent report from 800 li away that something had happened in Changzhou as well.

The police, the Six Doors, and the Changzhou government joined forces to assemble a large army to suppress the mountain bandits, but the entire army was wiped out, with many experts killed or captured.

It is said that the attack was carried out by a notorious bandit named Song Jiang, who rose to fame in a short period of time. Song Jiang's origins are mysterious, and his martial arts skills are unfathomable.

Furthermore, Marquis Shi Danqin of the Silver Wings recently lamented in the imperial court that a mysterious master had appeared on the eastern coast, suspected to be the mysterious swordsman who defeated the second-in-command of the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Meanwhile, the seas were also in turmoil, with pirates taking advantage of the chaos to plunder, and the mysterious force "Hualongmen" beginning to show its power.

In these turbulent times, all sorts of evil spirits and monsters have emerged.

Nothing strange or bizarre things or unbelievable people are surprising anymore.

However, just when the internal and external forces were in dire straits and people were restless, the police station itself was also facing an unprecedented shortage of officers!
Among the four leaders of the Criminal Investigation Depot, the second leader, Jin Jinliang, was inexplicably and severely injured by a mysterious expert. Although he survived, he was rendered useless.

Gu Jinfu, the third-ranking officer, ventured deep into the enemy's lair to save Princess Kangning, but lost his life in the process, leaving no trace of his remains.

Yan Zi'an, the fourth-ranking bandit leader, was captured after a failed attempt to suppress bandits in Changzhou. His fate remains unknown, but the prognosis is grim.

The last remaining chief steward also went to Yongzhou to deal with an even more critical situation.

There was no one available to serve the eunuch!
In this critical situation, wouldn't it be logical to promote Zhao Bao, who is "abnormal" but sharp enough, out of turn?

only……

The person in question still felt uneasy.

Zhao Bao is too young, his rise to power is too strange, and his experience is as shallow as paper.

How could those old foxes and arrogant lackeys below him be convinced if he were suddenly promoted to such a high position as the third-ranking official?
This could lead to trouble from within our own ranks!
He sighed inwardly, feeling that the eunuch's move was... too risky.

Now that the Emperor is critically ill, various factions are like sharks smelling blood, stirring up undercurrents.

What the eunuch needs is a butcher's knife that can cut through all obstacles and intimidate all disloyal subjects!

A mad dog that bites anyone it sees and strikes fear into the hearts of its enemies!
A mad dog?!
The thought struck my mind like a bolt of lightning!
The man trembled violently, and in an instant, all the confusion cleared up!
Chaotic times call for harsh measures, and perilous situations warrant cruel punishments!

When order collapses and wolves surround you, what the master needs most is a mad dog that can tear everything apart and establish absolute authority with blood and fear!

It has to be crazy enough, ruthless enough, and reckless enough!

But once the dust settles and the world returns to "peace," it is time to win over people's hearts and rebuild "benevolence and virtue."

At that time, this mad dog, which had cleared obstacles for its owner but also stained itself with endless bloodshed, will become the best scapegoat!
All the killing, all the cruelty, all the resentment were attributed to it.

Simply punishing him publicly would appease public anger and earn the master a reputation for "restoring order" and "showing compassion for his subjects"!

Zhao Bao...

He possessed the strength to crush bones, yet lacked the maturity and foundation to control that strength; he had a predatory ambition, yet lacked the deep background and entrenched followers to support it.

He was simply born to be a "mad dog"!

...Deep within the palace.

A corner forgotten by the sun.

The small courtyard where the cleaning was done was filled with a musty smell of dust and a lazy, down-to-earth atmosphere.

The head eunuch, Ma Shenggui, was comfortably sprawled on a creaky, old rattan chair.

He toyed with a shiny purple clay teapot in his hand, occasionally taking a sip with relish and letting out a satisfied sigh.

Several emaciated eunuchs squatted beside him, vigorously pounding his thin, bony legs, showering him with flattering words as if they were free:
"Master, you look better and better! You look much more energetic than a few days ago!"

"Absolutely! I see that you have so few gray hairs, Master! You've become young again!"

"Being able to serve you, Master, is truly a blessing we've accumulated over several lifetimes! Our ancestors' graves must be emitting auspicious smoke!"

……

Ma Shenggui squinted, enjoying the cheap flattery and massage, feeling as comfortable as an old cat that had basked in the sun.

He exhaled a breath of stale air through his nose, his throat bobbed, and he swallowed the tea soup containing coarse tea stems.

When people get old, they like to "impart knowledge, teach skills, and resolve doubts" to young people, showing off their "wisdom for survival".

He took a sip of tea, spoke slowly, with a condescending sense of superiority:
"My boys, your master is going to test you today."

"What is most important to us, these rootless slaves who beg for food in the palace?"

As soon as the question was raised, the young eunuchs immediately started chattering, vying to show off their abilities:
"Of course, we need to climb up the social ladder and find a good backer!"

"No, no! You have to be good at handling things and understand social etiquette!"

"If you ask me, you have to be strong yourself to succeed! You have to have the skills!"

"Power and influence are the only true principles!"

"To be noticed by some noble master, that's what you call a meteoric rise to the top!"

……

It was a chaotic and noisy mess.

As Ma Shenggui listened to these varied answers, his cloudy old eyes were filled with disdain, and he shook his head like a rattle drum.

Only when the eunuchs' voices gradually subsided did he grin, revealing a mouthful of sparse, yellowed teeth. With a cynical, world-weary tone, he decisively uttered the answer:

"Bullshit! It's all bullshit!"

"The most important thing is—to live a long, peaceful, and trouble-free life!"

This shocking answer left the eunuchs speechless, exchanging bewildered glances.

Ma Shenggui smugly shook his head, spitting as he spoke:
"Back then, there were plenty of 'talented people' who took that knife wound with our family!"

"There are those who are shrewd and resourceful, those with deep backgrounds and solid backing, and those who are both literate and skilled in martial arts, with extraordinary abilities... Heh!"

He let out a cold laugh, tinged with a sense of relief at surviving a disaster:

"And what happened? They're all dead! Some were silenced for getting involved in this empress's scandals, some were beheaded for interfering in that prince's struggle for the throne, and some chose the wrong side and were made scapegoats to fill the hole!"

"No matter how glorious you were in the past, in the end, the grass on your grave will be several feet tall!"

He patted his sunken chest, his voice suddenly rising, filled with self-satisfaction:

"Look at your master! I can't read a single word, I have no powerful backers, and I don't know how to use knives or sticks. But I... I've lived a peaceful life to this age! I drink tea every day and wait to die, and there are even people massaging my legs and feet!"

"From now on, I can continue to live such a peaceful and stable life!"

"People like us are the ones who have the last laugh! We are the ones who are the winners!"

The eunuchs suddenly realized what was going on, and immediately another wave of even more nauseating flattery surged forth.

Ma Shenggui felt extremely comfortable from being flattered, and his enthusiasm for conversation grew even stronger.

He took a sip of tea and continued to give his opinion on the country:

"If we're talking about the twenty-four offices in the palace, which one is the most peaceful and stable? It has to be our Palace Attendant's Office!"

He was spitting as he spoke, and he was very excited:

"Other government offices? Humph! They're always fighting like antagonists! Today you scheme against me, tomorrow I'll frame you, we'll all be risking our lives!"

"Only our people from the Palace Guard are honest, upright, and incorruptible! They are a breath of fresh air in this palace!"

He counted them off on his withered fingers, as if reciting a familiar story:
"When the founding emperor renovated the imperial city, we swept through the weeds! When Grand Secretary Li fell from power and his property was confiscated, the smell of blood from the imperial prison hadn't even dissipated yet, and we were already sweeping the floor! These past years, His Majesty hasn't held court, and the dragon throne in the Golden Palace has been covered in dust, and we were the ones who polished it!"

"So many storms and turmoil have passed in this palace, and we just stand by, silently watching and silently sweeping through!"

He seemed amused by his own "great achievements" and burst into loud, hoarse laughter:
"Tell me, if it weren't for us, the Palace Attendants, the Golden Palace would have been buried under fallen leaves long ago! Ministers would have to step on sunflower seed shells and fruit peels to get to court! Hahaha..."

The young eunuchs quickly joined in the laughter, filling the courtyard with a joyful atmosphere.

Ma Shenggui laughed for a while before stopping. He pointed at several eunuchs, his face hardening, and reprimanded them:
"Listen up, all of you! Not a single penny less in this month's tribute! Don't cause any trouble for our family!"

Seeing the reluctance on the faces of the young eunuchs, he immediately glared at them and reprimanded them with righteous indignation:

"What? You think we're after your pittance?"

"Bullshit! I'm just giving you a heads-up! Teaching you the rules for surviving in this cannibalistic place!"

He spoke with great enthusiasm and spittle flying, arguing vehemently:

"Once you enter this palace, you must learn to be a servant! Serving your master is a tremendous skill! A single wrong word or a single wrong action can result in a beating at best, and... a fatal blow at worst!"

He made a throat-slitting gesture, which startled the eunuchs.

"Our family has taken you in as apprentices, taught you the rules, and shown you how to live a peaceful old age. This is an immense favor! It's more valuable than mountains of gold and silver!"

"Isn't it right to take some of your tribute money to buy you peace and a better future? Huh?"

The volume was turned up really high at the end.

The young eunuchs were so frightened that they hurriedly echoed:

"Should! Should!"

Then came another round of flattery.

Ma Shenggui gave a satisfied hum and picked up the teapot again.

When I brought the spout to my lips, I realized that the bottom of the pot was already empty.

Just as he was about to order someone to add water, a name suddenly crawled into his mind like a maggot clinging to his bone, instantly shattering his good mood of the whole day!

That wrinkled old face darkened visibly, as if covered with a layer of frost:
"Zhao Bao... that little bastard, is there any news that he's not quite dead yet?"

His voice suddenly became sharp and shrill:
"Little Yunzi! Our family has given your cousin, who works at the police station, a lot of money!"

"How long has it been? We haven't been able to get any reliable information?! Useless!"

Xiao Yunzi, who was called out, trembled in fright and hurriedly replied:

"Reporting to Master! I've checked! It's absolutely true!"

"That kid Zhao Bao was assigned a job outside the palace, a job known in the Criminal Investigation Bureau as a 'decapitation officer'!"

"Nobody else wanted to take it, but they forced it on this newcomer!"

"They should have returned to report by now, but they're nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead! Not even a messenger has come to report the death!"

He leaned closer to Ma Shenggui, lowered his voice, and spoke with a secret sense of pleasure:

"My cousin said that nine out of ten people who go on these kinds of jobs never come back! Most likely... they've already been fed to wild dogs in some desolate wilderness and rotted into mush!"

As Ma Shenggui listened, the huge weight that had been pressing on his heart for so long finally loosened considerably.

Zhao Bao!

This poisonous thorn has always been stuck in his heart!
He will not be able to eat or sleep in peace until this is eliminated!
The moment Zhao Bao dared to refuse to pay tribute and openly challenged his authority, Ma Shenggui harbored murderous intent.

He originally intended to torture Zhao Bao to death using the most vicious methods, just like he crushed the other disobedient eunuchs.

But who would have thought that just when Zhao Bao was driven to the brink of despair and was about to collapse and commit suicide, for some reason, a will-o'-the-wisp-like light rekindled in his desperate eyes!

What terrified him even more was that this little brat had actually gotten incredibly lucky, becoming a martial artist and being transferred to the Zongwu Academy!

At that moment, Ma Shenggui's murderous intent reached its peak.

He absolutely cannot let this wolf cub have a chance to turn the tables!
He immediately gave the order to beat Zhao Bao to death with sticks while Zhao Bao was still weak and vulnerable!
But damn it!
This little bastard actually managed to climb up to that old bastard Li Dafu and become Li Dafu's godson!

Now, no matter how much Ma Shenggui hated Zhao Bao, he could only suppress his murderous intent and live in constant fear, lest he open his eyes one day to find Zhao Bao standing in front of his bed with a knife!
He would never forget the look Zhao Bao gave him when he left the cleaning area that day—a look that was cold and venomous, like a poisoned dagger.

Those were not human eyes, they were wolf eyes!
They are vicious wolves waiting for an opportunity to retaliate!

In the days that followed, Ma Shenggui was like a frightened bird, constantly trying to find out about Zhao Bao.

I heard that he went to Consort Han's palace and became a favorite. Ma Shenggui was so worried that he couldn't sleep at night and ended up getting seriously ill.

Thankfully... God had mercy!
The emperor moved to a new residence, Consort Han fell out of favor, and Zhao Bao, that jinx, was kicked into the ruthless and bloodthirsty police station and sent on a perilous mission!

He has not returned by the due date and has disappeared without a trace!
"Hmph! That little beast Zhao Bao is a born ingrate who doesn't know how to behave and is ungrateful!"

Ma Shenggui spat, as if trying to expel bad luck, his voice carrying a mixture of relief at surviving a disaster and deep-seated contempt:
"This kind of person, no matter where he climbs, is destined to offend people and be tormented to death! That's his fate!"

He glanced around at the several trembling eunuchs and earnestly summarized his philosophy of survival:
"You guys better keep your eyes open and don't follow his example!"

"Remember this well! No matter how capable we servants are, it's not as good as living a long and peaceful life!"

After he finished speaking, he closed his eyes contentedly and slumped into the wicker chair, feeling completely relaxed.

I felt a gentle breeze, and the air was filled with the smells of dust, tea leaves, and... an intoxicating sense of relaxation after being freed from all burdens.

He reached out his withered hand and groped around, wanting to hand the empty teapot to the nearest eunuch to refill it, enjoying the soon-to-be-sounding, tidal wave of flattery.

However, just as this languid and comfortable atmosphere reached its peak—

A cold, sinister voice, like the flicking of a venomous snake, rang out without warning at the courtyard gate, instantly freezing all warmth and noise:
"It's a pity, Master... I'm afraid you won't have the good fortune to live to be a hundred years old."

(End of this chapter)