Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 77 The Ancestor of the Mu Family (Seeking Subscriptions)
The Battle of Shuozhou shattered the hopes of Cao Xun and his court officials.

People then realized with shock that Chen Ye was no longer the martial artist they could manipulate at will.

He was a tiger with its fangs bared, ready to devour anyone at any moment.

Cao Xun suddenly remembered something and immediately ordered someone to go to the Meng family to invite Meng Yi to come out of seclusion.

But soon, a eunuch rushed in tremblingly, knelt down with a thud, and cried.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Meng family just sent word that General Meng suddenly fell seriously ill last night and is now bedridden. It seems his days are numbered!"

sick?

What a coincidence that I fell ill?
Why did I fall ill right when I needed it?

Cao Xun wasn't stupid; he instantly understood that this was the Meng family making a statement.

They didn't want to get involved.

A tremendous sense of panic and anger at being abandoned and betrayed gripped Cao Xun's heart.

He looked around at the ministers whose expressions varied, and felt that none of them could be trusted and that they all wanted to betray him.

In contrast to the gloomy atmosphere in Kyoto, the prefectures and counties newly occupied by Chen Ye were thriving.

He implemented all the policies he brought from Daliang, reduced taxes and levies, and redistributed land equally. At the same time, he ruthlessly purged the old officials and local tyrants who had exploited the people, and promoted a large number of talented people from among the commoners and poor families to govern the local areas.

These measures earned him the support of the people in the newly occupied territories in a very short time.

At the same time, secret letters from top families in Kyoto arrived at Chen Ye's desk one after another.

These powerful figures who once impeached him most fiercely in the court have now put on the most humble and obsequious faces, their words filled with the intention of surrender.

"Your Majesty, these people are really shameless!" Wang Xing said with a look of disdain.

Chen Ye simply smiled at this; it was perfectly normal for these aristocratic families to express their goodwill and loyalty to him.

It would be strange if they didn't do that.

Chen Ye looked up in the direction of Kyoto and silently recited in his heart.

Cao Xun, you must be running out of cards soon!
Inside the Zichen Palace, candlelight flickered.

Cao Xun dismissed all the palace servants and sat alone on the cold dragon throne.

He regretted it.

If I hadn't been so eager to achieve quick results and insisted on taking action against Chen Ye, I wouldn't be in this predicament today.

But it's too late to say anything now.

Just as he was in utter despair, a sinister voice sounded behind him.

"Your Majesty, since the conventional methods are not working, why not try an unconventional approach?"

Cao Xun turned around and saw that the speaker was one of the most trusted old eunuchs beside him.

"An extraordinary method?"

The old eunuch leaned close to his ear and whispered, "On the battlefield, we may not be a match for Chen Ye. But what if... we send someone to take his head?"

Assassination!

A terrifying glint flashed in Cao Xun's eyes.

"There are countless extraordinary individuals in the martial world. Some are even more powerful and revered as 'land immortals,' killing as easily as taking candy from a bag. So, as long as the price is right, let alone Chen Ye, even a thousand troops wouldn't be able to stop them!"

"Alright, that's settled!" Cao Xun stood up abruptly. "Go and contact me immediately. Whatever they want—gold, silver, official titles, fiefdoms—I will grant them all!"

Three days later, late at night.

A figure in white and a figure in green appeared silently deep within the palace.

Cao Xun dismissed his attendants and faced the newcomer alone.

The man in white had white hair and beard, and his eyes were as still as a deep well. Just by standing there quietly, he exuded an invisible pressure that enveloped the entire hall, making even Emperor Cao Xun feel breathless.

The man in blue beside him had a cold and stern face, with eyes as sharp as an eagle's. If Chen Ye were present, he would definitely recognize him; this man was none other than Mu Jianqing, the one who single-handedly wiped out Green Bamboo Mountain.

Now, however, he has shed his youthful naiveté and become calm and reserved, standing behind the man in white with a respectful expression.

"You are the patriarch of the Mu family?" Cao Xun's voice was somewhat hoarse.

The man in white did not answer, but merely glanced at him indifferently.

With just one glance, Cao Xun felt as if a sharp sword had been drawn and was pressed against his throat, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

"Conditions," the man in white finally spoke, his voice cold and devoid of any warmth.

"As long as the old immortal can kill Chen Ye, I... I am willing to give the entire prefecture to the Mu family, to be inherited forever!" Cao Xun said through gritted teeth.

Upon hearing this, the man in white finally managed a barely perceptible smile.

"can."

Half a day later.

On a mountaintop outside Chen Ye's camp.

The patriarch of the Mu family stood with his hands behind his back, his robes fluttering in the night wind, like an immortal about to ride the wind and return home.

He gazed at the brightly lit military camp in the distance.

Even from such a great distance, he could still feel the oppressive aura formed by countless wills and killing intent.

"His military bearing is impeccable, and his killing intent is restrained. This young man is indeed extraordinary." A hint of approval appeared in the eyes of the Mu family patriarch.

"If this child hadn't died, he would surely have become a human emperor in the future. What a pity..."

He slowly turned his head and looked at Mu Jianqing beside him.

"He met me."

The Mu family patriarch spoke in a calm tone, yet it contained an absolute confidence that regarded all living beings as ants.

He slowly drew the long sword from his waist.

It was an ancient-style longsword. The blade did not reflect any light under the moonlight; instead, it seemed to be devouring the surrounding light, so profound that it was unsettling.

"Qing'er, I brought you here today so that you could see what a real killing sword looks like."

A look of fervor appeared on Mu Jianqing's face as well, "Grandson understands!"

The night wind howled, stirring up dust from the mountaintop.

The moment the Mu family patriarch finished speaking, he had already vanished from the spot.

The next moment, a chilling sword intent swept through Chen Ye's camp like an invisible storm!

This sword intent was extremely domineering, and it actually cleaved through the iron-blooded killing intent that the army had gathered, as unstoppable as a hot knife cutting through butter.

The patrolling sentries along the way didn't even have time to react before their armor was torn apart and their throats slit by the invisible sword intent, and they fell down silently.

Wherever the sword intent passed, all was silent, forming a death tunnel that led straight to the central command tent!
"Enemy attack!"

A piercing roar finally rang out, waking the entire camp. Countless soldiers rushed out of their tents, and torches lit up the entire night sky.

But all they saw was a white-clad figure strolling leisurely through the camp. Anyone who came within three zhang of him, no matter who they were, would instantly be beheaded and their blood splattered on the spot.

He walked very slowly, but no one could stop him in the slightest.

This is a power that no mortal can withstand!
"Protect Your Majesty!"

Wang Xing and his men, their eyes blazing with fury, led their personal guards to form a human wall, blocking the entrance to the commander's tent.

Just then, the curtain of the commander's tent was lifted.

Chen Ye came out.

(End of this chapter)