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

Chapter 624 Bullshit

The next morning.

As dawn broke and a thin mist still shrouded the capital, Liang Jin quietly left the Imperial Guard camp.

The streets and alleys today are much more desolate than in the past.

The usual hawking cries and hurried footsteps that would have filled this time of year have vanished, replaced by a suffocating silence.

The stone path was wet, reflecting the cool sunlight.

Squads of heavily armed soldiers, their expressions grim, were checking houses one by one. The heavy footsteps and rough knocking echoed through the empty streets, startling the sparrows hiding under the eaves into a flurry of flight.

A sense of tension and unease filled the air.

Liang Jin understood that this display of force was undoubtedly related to Zhao Bao's actions the previous night.

Whether Zhao Bao succeeded or not, Liang Jin did not know, but he could at least confirm that the others were still alive.

Through the interface of [Thousand Mile Tracking], he could clearly see the light spot representing Zhao Bao, which had now safely returned to the depths of the police station.

With the waist tag of the Imperial Guard Flag Commander, Liang Jin passed through several checkpoints of soldiers without incident and finally arrived at the familiar wooden door of Zhao Yiyi's house.

"Dong dong!"

He had just raised his hand and knocked lightly twice when the door silently opened a crack.

A beautiful and delicate face peeked out; it was Zhao Yiyi.

She put her index finger to her lips as a shushing gesture, her eyes showing a hint of nervousness and joy at seeing Liang Jin.

Then, like a nimble cat, she slipped out of the door and carefully closed it gently, afraid of making even the slightest noise.

"My dad is still sleeping, don't wake him."

Zhao Yiyi explained in a low voice, leading Liang Jin away from the doorway quickly, her footsteps extremely light.

Liang Jin frowned slightly:

"Uncle Zhao is always an early riser, why is he up so early today...?"

As a private tutor, Zhao Xingzhi had a decades-long, unwavering habit of getting up at the crack of dawn to practice martial arts. It was quite unusual that he hadn't gotten up even as the sun was rising higher.

Zhao Yiyi sighed softly, a look of sorrow creeping onto her brow:
"The imperial court has been at war with the Black Dragon Kingdom, and taxes have been levied three times in just two months."

"Most of my father's students come from impoverished families, and many can't even afford the tuition... With fewer and fewer students, the school is deserted, and my father is feeling distressed. Lately, he often drowns his sorrows in alcohol."

"He drank too much again last night, and it'll probably be long before he wakes up."

Her tone was full of heartache and helplessness.

Liang Jin remained silent.

The shadow of war not only loomed over the border, but the heavy taxes were like an invisible whip, lashing at every ordinary citizen.

The recent desolation in the capital is the most direct testament to this suffering.

The trigger for this war was the death of the Demon King.

Although he did it himself, Liang Jin felt no remorse whatsoever.

Even without Liang Jin, the Demon Slayer King was destined to die.

The two arrived at the market, found a reasonably clean breakfast stall, sat down, and ordered two bowls of vegetarian noodles.

The noodle soup was bland, with only a few scallions floating on top.

Liang swallowed it whole in a few gulps, and his stomach felt a little better.

He turned his gaze to a deep alleyway on the side of the street and said to Zhao Yiyi:

"You eat first and wait for me. I'm going inside to take care of something."

As he spoke, he stood up.

Zhao Yiyi suddenly raised her head, a hint of understanding in her clear eyes:
"Brother Liang, are you also going to see that young master inside?"

Liang Jin paused, looking at her in surprise.

He was indeed going to find the heir apparent and deliver a message, following the address given by Prince Zhao Yu of Huaiyang.

How did Zhao Yiyi find out?
"Is the prince you met with your mother-in-law last time also in this alley?"

Liang Jin couldn't help but ask.

Zhao Yiyi once told him about some of her experiences, including her meeting with a prince in a small courtyard.

Zhao Yiyi nodded and affirmed:
"Yes, it's right at the deepest part."

"So when you said you were going inside to take care of something, I guessed you were probably going to see him."

Liang Jin's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed for an answer:
"Your mother-in-law works for the prince? Where is she now?"

Zhao Yiyi shook his head:

"My mother-in-law was only entrusted by her master to hand over something to the young master; she is not one of the young master's people."

"As for my mother-in-law now..."

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and genuine worry appeared on her face:

"I haven't seen her in a long time either."

“She used to come and urge me to practice every day, but for the past two weeks, I haven’t heard from her at all… She has poor eyesight, I’m really scared…”

She paused, suppressing her worries, and then said with a renewed spirit:

“Brother Liang, I’ve been there once and I know the way. Let me take you in.”

Liang Jin did not refuse, and the two stepped into the narrow, dark alleyway side by side.

Moss spread along the damp base of the wall, and the air carried a musty smell.

After walking for a while, Zhao Yiyi stopped in front of a small courtyard with its gate tightly closed and looking particularly deserted.

"Brother Liang, this is it."

Zhao Yiyi confirmed softly.

Liang Jin looked up and saw that the address on the doorplate was exactly the same as the one Zhao Yu had given him.

He stepped forward and knocked three times on the heavy door.

"Dong dong dong."

The knocking was unusually clear in the quiet alley.

Almost the instant the voice fell, several cold and wary auras, like invisible chains, instantly emerged from the courtyard, locking onto Liang Jin and Zhao Yiyi with scrutiny and pressure.

After a while.

The door hinges creaked slightly, opening only a crack.

A servant's expressionless face peeked out from behind the crack in the door, his sharp eyes scanning the two of them, his tone curt:
"What's the matter?"

Liang Jin remained calm:

"I have come at the request of the Prince to convey a few words to the Heir Apparent."

A barely perceptible flicker of emotion flashed in the servant's eyes. He gave a slight bow and softened his tone:
"May I ask your name?"

Liang Jin replied:

"Liang Jin."

The servant immediately replied:

"Mr. Liang, please wait a moment."

After he finished speaking, the door closed quickly, and footsteps disappeared inside.

The several menacing presences in the courtyard did not relax; they remained a constant source of unease.

A short while later, the door opened again.

The servant bowed slightly to Liang Jin:

"Commander Liang, the Crown Prince requests your presence."

Then, he turned his gaze to Zhao Yiyi, his tone returning to its coldness:
“Unrelated persons, please wait outside.”

Liang Jin was about to step over the threshold when he heard this, he paused, and without turning his head, he said to the servant in a deep voice:

"She's one of my people, so treat her well."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable weight.

To everyone's surprise, the servant remained expressionless and coldly repeated:

"Unrelated persons will not be entertained."

Liang Jin slowly retracted the foot that was dangling over the threshold.

He turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, piercing directly at the servant, a cold smile curving his lips:

"Is it so difficult to entertain my companion?"

"Treat her like a guest, invite her into the living room, offer her a seat, and serve her a cup of tea, instead of leaving her standing outside waiting."

"Is this...difficult?"

He deliberately slowed his speech, each word carrying a heavy questioning tone.

The servant remained unmoved, his chin slightly raised, conveying a deliberate air of contempt:

"Commander Liang, this is the Crown Prince's residence, not an ordinary place. Do not enter without permission."

“Especially… a mere commoner woman.”

He emphasized the words "commoner's daughter" very much, clearly indicating that he already knew Zhao Yiyi's background very well.

Zhao Yiyi's identity had already been thoroughly investigated when she last came.

Now everyone in this courtyard knows that Zhao Yiyi is just an ordinary woman from the common people.

Although the Flying-Haired Witch had said she had taken her as her successor, the Crown Prince was already displeased when the Flying-Haired Witch visited last time.

If the Flying Hair Demoness herself were to come, that would be one thing, but a mere successor is not qualified to step into this gate.

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin chuckled softly, a laugh devoid of any warmth.
"Oh? It seems the threshold of this prince's residence is higher than I, Liang, thought."

"Okay, then I won't go in."

After saying that, he made a move to turn around.

Zhao Yiyi panicked and quickly grabbed Liang Jin's sleeve, whispering:
"Brother Liang, I'm fine, really fine!"

"Please don't let me delay your important business. I'll wait here, it's okay."

Her eyes showed genuine anxiety; she didn't want to put Liang Jin in a difficult position because of her.

Liang Jin gently patted the back of her hand, but his gaze sharpened as he stared intently into the room.

"He's not only disrespecting you, he's also disrespecting me."

He raised his voice, as if announcing:
"It seems Your Highness isn't particularly interested in the Prince's explanation. Very well, Your Highness can come find me whenever you're ready to hear it." "However, I must remind you—"

He paused, then spoke clearly, word by word:
“My threshold for entry is not low either.”

"Unrelated persons will also not be entertained!"

After saying that, he took Zhao Yiyi's hand, turned around and left without the slightest hesitation.

As Zhao Yiyi was pulled along by him, she turned her head to look at Liang Jin's resolute profile, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

His willingness to stand up for her, even at the cost of defying the dignity of the crown prince, sent shivers down her spine.

The slight feeling of being slighted was instantly replaced by an immense sense of security, transforming into undisguised admiration and emotion in her eyes.

"General Liang!"

When the servant saw that Liang Jin was really about to leave, his expression changed, and his tone suddenly became sharp:

"What do you mean by that? Stop being so unreasonable!"

"His Highness is still waiting for you inside!"

He clearly hadn't expected Liang Jin to be so assertive, daring to actually walk away.

Liang Jin shook his head helplessly. Was he the one who was being unreasonable?

He kept walking, no longer wanting to waste words, only letting out a mocking laugh, too lazy to even turn his head.

Seeing this, the servant became enraged and shouted angrily:

"Liang Jin! You stop right there!"

"The Crown Prince's residence is not a place you can come and go as you please!!"

The sound was particularly jarring in the alley.

Liang Jin finally stopped in his tracks.

He slowly turned around, his face devoid of any smile, his eyes as cold as knives, fixed directly on the servant's face, yet a dangerously curved smile played at the corners of his lips.

"Ha, they say even a seventh-rank official can get by at the prime minister's gate, but it seems even a dog at the heir's gate is quite powerful."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was like an icicle:

"My legs are my own, of course I can walk whenever I want. Or perhaps—"

He pointed a finger at the servant, his voice suddenly turning cold:

"You want to stop me?"

"Do you—have that ability?"

The servant was intimidated by Liang Jin's imposing manner, and knowing full well that Liang Jin's strength was far beyond his ability to defeat, he was speechless for a moment, his face turning pale and then red.

He knew, of course, that Liang Jin, as the commander of the Imperial Guard, had even defeated the bank manager, Fang Qianfeng.

A master of this caliber was naturally beyond the power of a mere servant to stop him.

"He doesn't have that ability."

A cold snort suddenly erupted from the courtyard, filled with intense anger:

"what about me?!"

Before the words were finished, a figure soared down from the high wall of the courtyard like a roc spreading its wings, landing heavily in the middle of the alley with a "bang".

It just happens to block Liang's way in!

The newcomer was a middle-aged man who looked like a steward. He was wiry and had a sinister look in his eyes. He was Tang Zhongyuan, the chief guard of this courtyard.

His aura suddenly erupted, and an invisible gust of wind rose from the ground, causing fallen leaves and dust to swirl and fly around, while his robes fluttered without any wind.

His hawk-like gaze was fixed on Liang Jin, his voice low and rumbling:
"Want to leave? Fine! But first, leave behind what the Prince instructed!"

"If it weren't for the fact that you work for the Prince, based solely on your rudeness and arrogance just now, you wouldn't be leaving this place standing today!"

Zhao Yiyi was so startled by this sudden and domineering aura that she gasped for breath and instinctively wanted to speak up in rebuttal.

Liang Jin had already raised his hand to protect her behind him, and at the same time took a step forward to face Tang Zhongyuan directly.

His face showed no fear, but rather a calm smile that was almost defiant:

"Oh? It's clearly you who don't know how to treat guests, yet you've turned it into me being rude and arrogant?"

He shook his head, as if he were watching a joke:
"You people are really arrogant and disdainful of everyone."

"Fine, I'll see today whether your abilities match your arrogance."

Before he finished speaking, he actually beckoned to Tang Zhongyuan with an extremely contemptuous gesture!

This blatant provocation instantly ignited Tang Zhongyuan's anger!

"You ignorant fool! How dare a mere banner commander act so arrogantly in front of the Crown Prince's gate?"

Tang Zhongyuan laughed in extreme anger, his eyes revealing murderous intent:
"It seems that unless I break a few of your bones, you won't know what rules are, or what the difference between superior and inferior is!"

Without further hesitation, he shot out like an arrow, his five fingers spread wide like hooks, aiming straight for Liang Jin's shoulder blade with a sharp whooshing sound!
Liang Jin simply stood there casually, as if he didn't take Tang Zhongyuan seriously at all.

This contemptuous attitude fueled Tang Zhongyuan's anger.

He had already found out that Liang Jin was only a sixth-rank cultivator.

With such limited skills, what right do you have to be arrogant in front of him?
"court death!"

Tang Zhongyuan grinned maliciously to himself.

Judging from that fierce momentum, it was no longer just a lesson; it was clearly meant to cripple Liang Jin's arm!
Just as his fingertips were about to touch Liang Jin's clothes—

A sudden change occurred!

A dark shadow exuding a strong stench of decay appeared out of nowhere, like a demon that had escaped from the deepest hell, in the shadows less than three feet away from Tang Zhongyuan!

The speed is so fast that it exceeds the limits of visual perception!

A withered, shriveled hand with nails as black as ink, exuding a chilling aura, silently pressed against Tang Zhongyuan's back!

Tang Zhongyuan's hair stood on end instantly under the threat of death!

He felt a chilling, bone-chilling wind sweep over him, and in a panic, he tried to turn around and dodge, but it was too late.

"puff--!"

A dull, heart-stopping sound of flesh colliding rang out!

That black hand was firmly imprinted on Tang Zhongyuan's back, in a vital spot!

An overwhelming, cold, and domineering force suddenly erupted!
"Ugh—!"

Tang Zhongyuan let out a short, shrill scream.

His whole body was like a tattered rag bag with its strings cut, and he was sent flying into the air by this palm strike, crashing into the hard blue brick wall like a cannonball!

"Boom!"

The walls shook violently, and dust fell in a flurry.

Tang Zhongyuan slid off the wall and onto the ground like a rag doll, spitting out a mouthful of foul blood mixed with pieces of internal organs. His face turned ashen, and his breath became extremely weak.

He endured the excruciating pain and churning blood, struggling to lift his head. His bloodshot eyes scanned his surroundings in terror, trying to find traces of the attacker.

however--

The alley was deserted and quiet.

Apart from Liang Jin, who was watching coldly, and Zhao Yiyi, who looked astonished, there was no one else around.

The terrifying black shadow vanished into thin air as if it had never existed, leaving behind only a strong stench of decay and a bone-chilling cold.

"Who...who exactly is this person?!"

Tang Zhongyuan's voice trembled violently with fear and excruciating pain, filled with disbelief and horror.

To be able to get close so silently, to severely injure him with a single blow, and then to disappear without a trace in the blink of an eye...

This is no ordinary expert!
It might even be... a third-rank martial artist!
Such an existence is a nightmare he absolutely cannot contend with!
Liang Jin dusted off non-existent dust from his sleeves, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing a trivial matter:

“Don’t think you’re the only ones who know how to call for help. I, Liang Jin, have my own helpers too.”

He had merely released the Yin Bone Puppet in the blink of an eye and then instantly put it back into his inventory.

The whole process was incredibly fast, a masterful deception.

Upon hearing this, Tang Zhongyuan suddenly looked up and stared intently at Liang Jin, his eyes filled with extreme shock and a sense of absurdity!
How could a mere flag commander possibly command such an unpredictable third-rank expert?!

This was completely beyond his knowledge!

Liang Jin stopped looking at him, took Zhao Yiyi's hand (who had calmed down a bit), and spoke in a calm tone:

"let's go."

"This 'capable person' is probably too weak to even get up now, and can't stop us anymore."

Tang Zhongyuan, filled with shame and anger, struggled to stand up, still roaring to himself:
"Insubordination... and you want to leave?"

"Stand...stand..."

However, due to his severe injuries, even the slightest exertion aggravated his internal organs, causing him to spit out another mouthful of blood and collapse to the ground, only able to gasp for breath in pain.

Just then, Liang Jin turned around resolutely with Zhao Yiyi, their figures about to disappear at the alley entrance.

"Ugh……"

From the depths of the courtyard, a faint sigh, tinged with complex emotions, finally drifted out. The sound was not loud, but it clearly echoed throughout the alley.

"Liang Jin, come in."

The voice paused, seemingly carrying a hint of resigned displeasure:

"Fine... bring your companions in as well."

These words were tantamount to a pardon.

The servant at the door turned deathly pale instantly, all arrogance vanished, and he hurriedly stepped aside, bowing deeply to Liang Jin and Zhao Yiyi in an extremely humble manner, making a gesture of respectful invitation.

Tang Zhongyuan, who was lying on the ground, immediately fell silent, his eyes darting around, and he dared not make the slightest move.

Zhao Yiyi gently tugged at Liang Jin's sleeve and whispered:
"Brother Liang, it's the young master speaking."

She has a vivid memory of that voice.

Upon hearing this, Liang Jin finally stopped in his tracks.

He slowly turned around, his gaze like cold stars, piercing through the open courtyard gate, as if he could look directly into the high and mighty prince deep inside.

Instead of being flattered, a smile full of sarcasm appeared on his face.

After all this trouble, we've been harassed, had physical altercations, and even shed blood.

At this point, seeing his strongest guard crippled by the other man's "helper," he casually said, "Bring him in," in a condescending manner.
Does he really think Liang Jin is someone he can summon and dismiss at will?

Were they servants from his palace?
Liang Jin slightly raised his chin, facing the deep courtyard, and uttered five words with crystal clarity. His voice was not loud, but each word was like iron, striking the silent alley:
"Fuck your mother's fart."

(End of this chapter)