Master of Strange Dao

Otherwise, I will assume none of you have any objections.

If I hear again that someone's been running their mouth behind my back, I will peel off his dragon skin, rip out his dragon tendons, and throw him onto the Peeling Beach.

Hmph...

The Old Dragon King snorted coldly, surveyed the surroundings, and then turned to step into the sea.

Those of the Dragon Clan, silent as cicadas in winter, dared not say another word.

If the Old Dragon King's own son had nearly been kicked to death by him, who else would dare speak?

Besides, in truth, the Dragon Clan's perception of the Evil Dragon wasn't favorable, but they had a very good impression of Ao Qing when he wasn't insane—courteous, warm and patient, better at conducting himself than most of the Dragon Clan. It was just a pity that he went mad not long after coming of age.

...

At the Jinyi Wei government office, the Commander sat in his chair, wearily massaging his brow.

Lately, many matters had not been going smoothly, Emperor Qian had retreated into closed-door cultivation, and the Crown Prince and the other princes fought a life-and-death struggle.

Even inside the Jinyi Wei government office, there was unrest.

Just last year, a Commander was killed, and these days another one had perished, and he was a direct subordinate.

The previous death was related to the Feng Family, and he knew all too well that it certainly wasn't the work of the Feng Family, yet an investigation was difficult to conduct. To go public with it, they'd be mocked for having nothing better to do than to follow the Feng Family Master around—what were they trying to accomplish?

This latest death was even harder to explain openly.

He died in the Evil Dragon Tomb in the East Sea.

The Evil Dragon was completely dead, and the Old Dragon King of the Dragon Clan had personally come over.

At this time, to admit that one of his direct subordinates died there, the Old Dragon King might suspect their involvement in the Evil Dragon's death.

The spies they sent to the East Sea this time, anyone who was still in that tens of thousands of miles of sea territory when the Evil Dragon died, who hadn't managed to flee back in time, were all dead without a trace, leaving no marks behind.

He knew that it was surely the work of the Dragon Clan, but he couldn't mention a word of it, only pinching his nose to endure the situation.

Even within the Jinyi Wei, he could only claim that those men had gone on other missions.

Then he would gradually release the news of their deaths spread across two or three years.

Now, vacancies for positions within had emerged, and there were far too many who desired to ascend.

With Emperor Qian absent, his role as Commander had become the primary target for currying favor.

Regardless of the Jinyi Wei's poor reputation and the particularly dangerous nature of their work, that was only true for those in the lower ranks.

For the empty positions of the two Commanders, the elites all lusted after them.

Even though the Princes and the Crown Prince didn't dare to openly meddle in Jinyi Wei affairs, their subordinates had already begun to volunteer themselves.

There were many factions on the court, and over time as they interacted and opposed each other, regardless of who it was, if they weren't connected to one elite, they would be related to another.

Even as a Commander, if he mingled with those individuals, he could forge some familial connections.

Therefore, the same applied even more so for those below him.

At the simplest level, one couldn't say that lower-ranking individuals weren't allowed to marry, or that they could only marry commoners.

Otherwise, upon marriage, they would become linked to their in-laws, who would inevitably have connections within those various factions.

After a long while, the Commander sighed.

He felt that he might not be able to hold onto his position for much longer.

But if I were to step down from this position, I am afraid that I wouldn't live much longer.

Those who serve as Minions, where is there a good end for them.

He had already given up hope, he only hoped that the family members he had quietly sent away over the years, a few more could live on.

So that the incense fire wouldn't be extinguished, lest in the days of Qing Ming and Cold Food Festival, he wouldn't have anyone to offer sacrifices to him.

Just as he began to ponder his next moves, a subordinate outside reported.

"Lord, a man from the Eastern Palace, Lord Liu, has come to visit..."

"What Lord Liu, what's he worth, don't see him, scram!"

The subordinate's face went stern, and he quickly retreated.

A moment later, the subordinate arrived at the entrance of the Jinyi Wei government office.

He glanced at the young man in a long robe and said slowly.

"Our lord says, what are you worth, don't see him, scram."

The young man's face turned iron blue, indignantly he said.

"I was sent by Crown Prince, to request an audience, such arrogance and presumptuousness, is truly... is truly..."

He spoke hesitantly, looking at the Jinyi Wei who watched him with cold eyes, he didn't dare to continue.

In the end, he could only stomp his foot in anger and turn to leave.

With his waist token in hand, the young man returned to the Eastern Palace, and with some embellishments, he said.

"Crown Prince, that Song is simply too arrogant and presumptuous. I had the Prince's command in hand, and before I could even state my purpose, not even entering the door, he dared to belittle me and told me to scram. He is clearly not putting you in his eyes, Your Highness."

On the short couch, Daqian Crown Prince lifted his eyelids slightly and, with a flick of his finger, a streak of light flew out, decapitating the young man on the spot.

Then the Crown Prince sat up and looked at his attendant with a puzzled face.

"The people we've recruited lately, why are they all of such poor quality? Whose are they? Send them back quickly, so they don't embarrass us here.

Could that Song actually dare to be polite and grovel to me?

If he dared to be polite, I wouldn't dare to accept."

Chang Sui immediately knelt on the ground.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger. It's a critical time, and we have lost many people one after another. Those we can trust are indeed varied in ability..."

"Enough, you all must know about the rumors outside. Now they are secretly spreading that my second brother's residence is untouched by filth, and all the filth around it automatically disburses. This is said to be a divine anomaly, that he has the demeanor of an Ancient Sage and the visage of a wise monarch.

Don't think I don't know that he's using a Magical Treasure from Dali to spread these deceitful words.

Don't just stand there dumbfounded. The newly recruited people, however you put it, come from no lowly background, surely they can manage this task.

Act under my name to provoke the Jinyi Wei; if you can kill them, kill them quickly.

Oh, and take that fellow to the Jinyi Wei office," he added.

Chang Sui quickly agreed, taking the headless corpse and personally delivering it to the doorstep of the Jinyi Wei office.

"Gentlemen, the Crown Prince has just become aware of this issue and has already ascertained that this man stole a waist token from somewhere, and used the name of the Crown Prince to swindle and deceive, even attempting to do so at the Jinyi Wei office, he certainly deserved death, and the Crown Prince has executed him on the spot."

Chang Sui dropped the body, offered a bow, and turned to leave.