Chapter 16: Equality Means Looking Down on No One

Ye Liuyun remained completely unaffected. He ate when he was supposed to eat, drank when he was supposed to drink, and reported for roll call on time.

“Sigh.”

On days like this, having to start work before dawn, when would it ever end?

Inside the room, Ye Liuyun let his maid Xing’er dress him, his face filled with melancholy as he gazed out at the pitch-black sky.

“Master, there is no need to worry.”

Seeing Ye Liuyun sigh, Xing’er hung his sword at his waist and smiled brightly.

“When you go for roll call today, Master, there might just be a surprise waiting for you.”

Recalling the news she heard last night from Madam Sheng Lanzhi, Xing’er’s smile grew even more radiant.

“A surprise? What kind of surprise?”

Hearing this, Ye Liuyun was momentarily taken aback, looking at her with some curiosity.

“I won’t say. You’ll find out once you get to the Jinyiwei.”

“Playing mysterious with me, huh?”

Ye Liuyun flicked her forehead with a finger and chuckled as he stepped out, without pressing for more details.

Since he was about to leave soon, he might as well see what this surprise was all about.

Xing’er didn’t mind and happily followed behind him.

After breakfast, Ye Liuyun left the mansion alone.

...

“Sir!”

Si Nan had been a bit flustered before. After all, rank and authority mattered, and it was easy for a hundred-house official to deliberately cause trouble for a chief flag officer.

But seeing Ye Liuyun’s expression remain calm as he approached, completely unbothered, Si Nan’s worries eased considerably.

Had he not slept all night?

Noticing Si Nan’s tired demeanor, Ye Liuyun glanced at him twice.

This kind of mindset still needed some training.

“Relax. With me here, the sky won’t fall.”

If trouble came, he could always find a chance to eliminate it.

There was no way to act freely inside the Imperial City, but outside, opportunities would arise. He didn’t believe Lu Quan would never leave the city forever.

“Ha ha ha!”

At that moment, a familiar laugh echoed.

Turning, Ye Liuyun saw Shi Sheng and his group approaching. Shi Sheng, clearly in high spirits, was laughing triumphantly from a distance.

“Chief Flag Officer Shi seems to be in a good mood today!”

Ye Liuyun greeted casually as they drew near.

Sure enough.

At the sight of Ye Liuyun, Shi Sheng’s expression shifted abruptly, and his smile vanished instantly.

“Hmph!”

He snorted coldly and passed by without a word.

Though recent events had changed Shi Sheng’s view of Ye Liuyun, he still made no effort to hide his disdain.

“Ha!”

Ye Liuyun smiled indifferently, unruffled.

After all, after prolonged contact, he knew Shi Sheng treated everyone this way.

“Hey, Chief Flag Officer Shi, you’re in a good mood today.”

Another passing chief flag officer greeted Shi Sheng.

“Get lost!”

No wonder Shi Sheng had no friends within the Jinyiwei; he looked down on everyone equally, seeing them all as useless.

Watching Shi Sheng’s retreating figure, Ye Liuyun understood why he was so cheerful.

“Target: Shi Sheng. Level: First-rate martial artist. Talent attributes: Thick-skinned (blue), Brave (blue).”

He had broken through in cultivation—once a second-rate fighter, now first-rate. No wonder he was so pleased.

...

Ye Liuyun paid little mind to Shi Sheng’s affairs.

He planned to continue reviewing some case files before visiting the Zhaoyu Prison, hoping to gain a few more talent attributes.

Just then—

“Sir! Sir!”

Si Nan’s hurried figure rushed in suddenly.

“Trouble’s come?”

Seeing Si Nan’s anxious expression, Ye Liuyun could guess what was up.

“About that—Lu Quan, the hundred-house official, has arrived.”

The incident from yesterday had already escalated by this morning. Efficiency was impressive.

“If a hundred-house official has come, then bring him in.”

Ye Liuyun was unfazed. What was meant to come, would come.

He was curious to see how Lu Quan planned to cause trouble.

Soon, a man dressed in an official robe similar to Ye Liuyun’s but sturdier in build entered.

Jinyiwei robes for chief flag officers and hundred-house officials were nearly identical; only those above thousand-house officials wore distinct uniforms.

The newcomer was Lu Quan himself.

Ye Liuyun used his system ability to assess him: first-rate strength. No cause for worry.

“Hmph!”

Without waiting for Ye Liuyun to speak, Lu Quan launched his attack.

“So that’s it. Now I see why you dared provoke me—you’re just leeching off your wife.”

Lu Quan had originally intended to cause trouble, but was intercepted mid-way by a thousand-house official who gave him some instructions. Lu Quan realized he couldn’t truly confront Ye Liuyun but still seethed, speaking in veiled insults.

If this were the old Ye Liufeng, he might have taken such mockery to heart.

After all, he had been proud and arrogant, wanting dignity even while relying on his wife.

But Ye Liuyun need not worry about that.

“If I’m leeching off my wife, that’s thanks to my own abilities. Why don’t I see you doing the same, Hundred-house official Lu? Could it be that you know you’re ugly and have no chance?”

“You!”

Lu Quan, who came to mock, was now the one furious.

Ye Liuyun cut him off swiftly.

“Hundred-house official Lu, you didn’t come here just to utter a few empty words, did you?”

If he wanted to cause real trouble, he wouldn’t waste time talking—he’d act immediately.

Sure enough.

Despite his sour face, Lu Quan stopped talking and threw something at Ye Liuyun, channeling his inner strength with a wave of his hand.

Clearly intending to embarrass Ye Liuyun.

But—

“Bang!”

Faced with the swiftly flying black object, Ye Liuyun merely raised his hand and caught it steadily.

“Your strength!”

Lu Quan was stunned.

With his first-rate martial artist power, throwing that thing, how could the once third-rate Ye Liufeng possibly catch it?

“I’ve been training hard lately and made some breakthroughs.”

Ye Liuyun replied calmly to Lu Quan’s surprise.

Glancing at the object in his hand, he realized it wasn’t a hidden weapon as he’d thought, but a token.

“A hundred-house badge?”

Ye Liuyun was momentarily surprised.

Even Si Nan, who had been standing quietly nearby, leaned in at the mention.

The hundred-house badge? Was their master about to be promoted?

“Ah!”

That explained everything.

No wonder Ye Liuyun had been so nonchalant yesterday—it was because he knew he was about to rise in rank.

Luckily, they had stayed composed. Indeed, they had not misjudged him.

Si Nan already imagined that Ye Liuyun’s calm demeanor last night was because of his impending promotion.

...