After everything that happened today, everyone was certain of one thing—

No matter your status, rank, or background, so long as you earned Su Yi’s approval, he would rescue you from danger. 

To the point that he didn’t mind going to war against a faction as vast and powerful as the Jade Capital’s Su Family in the least! That alone was enough that Shen Jiusong, Chen Zheng, and the others didn’t regret standing alongside Su Yi at all.

Admittedly, the threat of the Su Family put them all at enormous risk, and there was even a chance it would implicate their friends and family.

But so long as Su Yi remained standing, he’d cut right through the danger!

“Why do you think Young Lord Su decided to wait until the fourth day of the fourth lunar month to begin his journey to the Jade Capital?” pondered Jiang Tanyun. “Why give the Su Family an additional month to prepare?”

Chen Zheng flashed him a meaningful smile. “The Jade Capital’s Su Family is vast and powerful, and their subordinate clans are dispersed throughout the empire. If I’m not mistaken, Young Lord Su has chosen this approach to gather all of the Su Family’s forces in the Jade Capital. That way, he can deal with all of them at once and end this all in one fell swoop.”

Jiang Tanyun’s heart shook, and he gasped as he instantly realized the implications. “But won’t that make this even more dangerous? This is the Jade Capital we’re talking about, the Great Zhou’s imperial city! With the power and prestige of the Su Family, even if Su Hongli doesn’t make a personal appearance, he has numerous powers he can call upon to counter Young Lord Su.”

“If you want to achieve greatness, you must first do the extraordinary.” Mu Xi’s eyes shone with longing. “I’m rather eager to see what waves Young Lord Su stirs up upon reaching the Jade Capital.”

The entire group then got to work helping Su Yi clean up the mess.

…….

Heaven’s Origin Academy, Pine Gully Palace.

Ning Sihua sat there as if everything were perfectly normal, sipping on tea and staring dazedly into the sea of clouds outside.

She wore a simple, cloud-patterned dress, her features youthful and clear. Her hair was tied up, and as she sat there, she seemed as tranquil as bamboo and elegant as an orchid. 

She wasn’t alone. Vice Palace Master Tao Zheng of Jixia Academy and Vice Palace Master Mo Huaque of Watermoon Academy were there too.

A long time passed in silence, but Ning Sihua said nothing. Finally, Tao Zheng couldn’t help but say, “Palace Master Ning, don’t tell me you invited us here first thing in the morning simply to drink tea?”

Tao Zheng wore a scholarly high-brimmed hat and wide robes, and he looked kindly and benevolent. Despite his obvious age, he was hearty and hale.

Ning Sihua retracted her gaze and said, “If I didn’t stay here, I’m afraid you wouldn’t rest at ease.”

Tao Zheng and Mo Huaque glanced at each other. Both of them were silent.

After a while, Tao Zheng asked tentatively, “This morning at dawn, the Su Family’s third young master, Su Yi, will proceed to the seat of the provincial government, but it seems you aren’t the least bit worried?”

“What is there to worry about?” asked Ning Sihua. 

Tao Zheng was at a loss for words. For a while, he didn’t quite know what to say.

But Mo Huaque merely laughed. “Brother Tao, can’t you tell? Palace Master Ning is undoubtedly doing this to make it clear that she has no intentions of getting mixed up with the Su Family. That is unquestionably the wisest course of action. In her shoes, I would have long since distanced myself from Su Yi as well.”

He wore a jade-decorated hat and ornate silver robes, which made him look distinguished and elegant.

The vice palace master of Watermoon Academy looked rather young, but he was a mighty fourth-level Grandmaster. Neither his status nor his authority were one whit inferior to Tao Zheng’s. 

When she heard that, Ning Sihua glanced at him. “Who says I plan to distance myself from Su Yi?”

Mo Huaque was stunned. “Don’t tell me you don’t?”

Ning Sihua’s response was far too strange; Tao Zheng was starting to sense that something was amiss.

But Ning Sihua only smiled. “Of course I don’t. Please, drink up. I’m afraid that if you wait too long, you’ll never get to experience this tea’s flavor.”

“Palace Master Ning, what’s that supposed to mean?” Tao Zheng’s eyebrows knit together.

Ning Sihua set down her cup and said flatly, “All of us are well aware of your reasons for coming here, but the way I see it, the forces the Su Family sent here are sure to crumble.”

Tao Zhang and Mo Huaque glanced at each other. They couldn’t help but laugh dryly; it was obvious neither of them believed a word.

“Palace Master Ning, don’t tell me you think a kid like Su Yi can resist the Su Family’s suppression?” laughed Tao Zheng.

“It’s not a question of whether or not he can resist them,” said Ning Sihua. “Dragons have reverse scales, and touching them means death. This time, the Su Family has committed a grave taboo. If I’m not mistaken, all of their forces will be slaughtered. As for you two, I’m afraid you’ll pay for this as well.”

Both of them burst into laughter. They didn’t take her words to heart at all. 

When the Jade Capital’s Su Family took action, how many people within the Great Zhou could stop them, much less slaughter the Su Family’s forces? That was nothing but the ravings of a madman!

Ning Sihua glanced at the two of them but said nothing.

Before long, the grand elder of Heaven’s Origin Academy, Shang Zhen, reported in. “Palace Master, a subordinate of the Heavenbrave Marquis is here with an urgent message. He’s asked for Tao Zheng and Mo Huaque by name.”

“I’m sure it’s good news.” Mo Huaque smiled, but Tao Zheng hesitated. He sensed that something strange was afoot.

“Let him in,” said Ning Sihua.

Before long, a competent-looking man rushed into the hall, his expression frantic. He faced Mo Huaque and Tao Zheng, clasped his fist, and said, “Your Excellencies, please take your people and leave Heaven’s Origin Academy as soon as possible!”

Mo Huaque’s smile froze in place, and he furrowed his brow. “What for?”

The messenger grimaced. “Just now, Su Yi finished a massacre at the seat of the provincial government….”

His words carried lingering shock and terror as he recounted how Su Yi slew Xia Houlin, Yue Qing, and Pei Wenshan in full detail.

Bang!

After hearing the full story, Mo Huaque’s fist clenched, shattering his teacup. He was rooted to the spot, as if his soul had left his body.

But Tao Zheng’s expression shifted dramatically. He shot frantically to his feet and said in a low voice, “Let’s go! Hurry!”

He was now fully aware that they were in trouble.

But it was then that Ning Sihua rose and said indifferently, “I only just said that you would pay for what you’ve done, but you didn’t seem to believe me. But then, that’s no longer important.”

Tao Zheng quivered and said in alarm, “Palace Master Ning, what do you plan to do?”

“Borrow your heads,” whispered Ning Sihua with a faint smile. “I’ve got use for them.”

Both men’s expressions changed dramatically.

Not long after.

Ning Sihua emerged from the Pine Gully Palace. Grand Elder Shang Zhen followed her, carrying a wooden platter. On it were two still-bleeding heads, their eyes wide with fury and their expressions contorted in terror.

Shang Zhen couldn’t help but say, “Palace Master, I’m afraid that you’ve already irrevocably offended both Jixia and Watermoon Academies.”

“Fellow Daoist Su dares wage war with the Jade Capital’s Su Family.Why, then, should I fear a feud with two of the great academies?” said Ning Sihua without so much as bothering to look at him. “At the end of the day, they shouldn’t have gotten involved, and they certainly shouldn’t have come to my Heaven’s Origin Academy to threaten me. They made a mistake. It’s only natural that they had to pay for it, don’t you think?”

Shang Zheng glanced down at the two heads on the wooden platter and instantly fell silent. 

……

The Imperial Provincial Capital, the Zheng Family dungeons.

Zheng Tianhe sat in his cell, his hair disheveled, his face withered and wan.

After being stripped of his position, he was imprisoned in the cold, damp dungeons. Zheng Tianhe’s initial rage, bitterness, and uncertainty had already gradually given way to calmness and clarity.

He’d gone from being the lofty head of a prominent clan to a mere prisoner awaiting sentencing. This was, of course, a heavy blow.

But this had given Zheng Tianhe time to think, and he’d understood a lot.

Did he regret what he’d done?

This was the question he pondered the longest.

He recalled every detail of his acquaintanceship with Su Yi, one at a time, even as he considered his current plight.

In the end, he reached a conclusion: given the chance to do it all over again, he would make the same choice.

This wasn’t because he was particularly spirited or brave. He just knew that, as a member of the sixth prince’s camp, so long as Zhou Zhili and Su Yi were allies, he had no choice but to befriend Su Yi.

The will of an individual bore little weight in conflicts between factions. 

Besides, at the Western Mountain’s Tea Party, it was entirely thanks to Su Yi’s intervention that the sixth prince had achieved victory. Without Su Yi, the Zheng Family would have suffered the aftermath of Zhou Zhili’s loss too.

“It’s just a pity that those relatives of mine are short-sighted and gutless!” Zheng Tianhe sighed.

Suddenly, the door to the dungeons opened, letting in a sliver of light and dispelling the sheer darkness. 

“Family Head, this old man has come here to repent!” A gaunt old man scurried in and flung himself to his knees, kneeling before Zheng Tianhe, his expression filled with shame and unease.

“Third Uncle?” Zheng Tianhe was stunned, but then, he seemed to understand. His eyes lit up, and his accumulated despondency vanished without a trace. “Does that mean Young Lord Su has won?”

“He won! He won!” The old man nodded as if his head were a pestle and he was trying to crush garlic with it. 

“Family Head,” he said, his voice pleading, “The current situation needs you at the helm. I’m willing to acknowledge my mistakes and accept punishment, but if we let the Zheng Family descend into chaos, the consequences will be severe.”

Zheng Tianhe said flatly, “How could the Zheng Family possibly descend into chaos under your leadership? Besides, you were the one who led a group to strip me of my position and imprison me here. Why is it that now, you’re the one kneeling before me?”

This blatant mockery made the old man’s face flush red, and he said bitterly, “I will naturally take full responsibility for my mistakes. All I ask is that for the sake of the family as a whole, you consider the bigger picture.”

Zheng Tianhe was utterly expressionless as he said, “You want me back at the helm? Fine, but I want those scoundrels’ heads.”

The old man was instantly alarmed. He stammered, “Isn’t that a bit… a bit heartless?”

“Without their heads, how can I account to Young Lord Su? Don’t forget: you announced to the outside world that the Zheng Family was no longer affiliated with him in any way. Now that he’s won, you’re worried he’ll get revenge, so you want to push me back out into the open and have me smooth things over. How could anything in this world possibly be so easy and convenient?”

Zheng Tianhe snorted, “Of course, you’re welcome to refuse.”

The elder fell silent for a while. In the end, he nodded bitterly. “Alright.”

That very day.

A bloody scene unfolded in the Zheng Family as the higher-ups who’d attempted to seize power were each decapitated, one by one.

And the formerly imprisoned Zheng Tianhe left the dungeons, reclaimed his former position, and left the estate, taking the severed heads with them.

He’d decided to pay Su Yi a visit.

….

 Within a day, news of the bloody battle at the seat of the provincial government took the provincial capital by storm, stirring up another massive uproar.