"Impossible!" Xu Huande continued, "I'm very familiar with the emperor's temper. If he's wrong, he'll remain wrong until the end, and will never change his mind halfway through. He'll never ruin his image, and would rather regret his decision even if it's wrong!"

"By the sound of that, he'll keep going?" Xiao Qi furrowed her brows as she asked.

Xu Huande answered, "Even if someone were to plead, based on the emperor's temper, I'm afraid that he won't change his mind at least for half a year to a year!"

"Luckily it's only half a year to a year." Chu Li chuckled. "If he's never going to change his mind, I'll have to stay here forever."

While he became more desperate to become an Enlightened Master, he was starting to get restrained in many ways that he could no longer do anything freely, resulting in pent-up frustration that could not be vented. He was conscience-stricken over his failure to accomplish this after given the fate of rebirth.

Xu Huande commented, "Of course! … Chu Li, I sense danger in your thoughts, you're being slightly disrespectful toward the emperor."

"If I were to be so respectful, it'll be hard for me to become an Enlightened Master." Chu Li shook his head.

"Chu Li, although you're an extraordinary talent, so much so that you're more superior than Fa Yuan from Tempest Temple, it's especially difficult to become an Enlightened Master. It's best that you give up on that thought, lest digging yourself into a hole." Xu Huande shook his head and stood up as he added, "Let's go, let's go somewhere quiet."

Chu Li nodded. "Come to my newly-bought residence."

"Come over to mine." Xu Huande disagreed.

Chu Li agreed with him and followed Xu Huande out of the restaurant with Xiao Qi. After making a few turns, they entered a narrow alley, then arrived at an ordinary place.

The residences here were poles apart from Chu Li's and were small and low.

"Commander Xu?" Chu Li looked around.

Xu Huande only sighed. "I can afford it, but there's really no need to. Besides, it's best that I don't draw attention."

"It's not hard to buy a slightly better residence, is it?"

"A good residence will be too showy, I won't be able to protect it since I'm not capable." Xu Huande was sullen. "Even if I were to buy one, it'll eventually be seized."

"Is the town security terrible?" Chu Li frowned.

Xu Huande replied, "It looks fine on the surface, but don't forget that there are people from the martial arts world here too. Even though the mayor's a master too, he can't manage every corner in town. Those in the dark or light have been the same since long ago!"

"Then who's in charge of the underground?" Chu Li asked.

Xu Huande entered through the door, whereby a parterre could be seen in the courtyard. Beside the parterre was a wooden table that looked mottled and worn due to the wind and rain.

Once the three of them sat around the wooden table, Xu Huande served them tea. He sighed. "Initially, the underground's owner was a chiliarch with the surname Xu, and the name Guangyang. He used to be a general from Nan Jiang and fought the war against the Zheng Dynasty all year long. Later, he was convicted of sin and was thrown here."

Chu Li frowned as he pondered.

Xu Huande continued, "Just like you, Xu Guangyang was also crippled of his martial arts before he was sent here, but his martial arts was crippled by the imperial court, then he was forced here. Who knew, he regained his martial arts very quickly so he gathered four of his subordinates, and became the boss in town. n.o.body dared to provoke him."

"Is the emperor aware of this?"

"Yes."

"This is quite interesting." Chu Li shook his head.

"Back then, he was pulled down by Secret Guardian Hall." Xu Huande shook his head, and continued, "He hates the people from Secret Guardian Hall to the bone!"

Xiao Qi became even more worried.

"Commander Xu, you can't defeat him?" Chu Li asked.

Xu Huande rejoined, "His cultivation level is extremely high, I'm not a match for him. Besides, his four subordinates are all top-notch masters!"

Chu Li commented, "Looks like the following days won't be quiet at all."

"The Triad Underworld is everywhere, this place is more dangerous than Fairy's Capital!" Xu Huande smiled bitterly. "At that time, we do everything our way because we're confident that the emperor will protect us, and we can't be bothered if we actually offended anyone. Who knew that we were going to end up like this?"

Once again, he sighed.

One's destiny was unpredictable, he never expected to end up in such a state, and was clearly dejected.

Initially, he thought that his loyalty and diligence would increase his value toward the emperor, and hoped that the emperor would not cast him out like a pair of worn-out shoes. Now that he ended up in such a terrible state, he was left alone, hence no matter how powerful his martial arts was, he was far from Xu Guangyang and his subordinates.

Chu Li smiled. "Commander Xu, from today onward, you don't have to worry anymore. Since my Lady's here, defeating those fellas will be a piece of cake!"

Upon hearing him, Xiao Qi glared at him.

Xu Huande gave a bitter smile. "As mighty as Lady Xiao is, she can only stay here for seven days. Besides, she might not be able to defeat Xu Guangyang."

"She can try." Chu Li asked, "Lady, what do you think?"

"Mm." Xiao Qi nodded.

Afterward, Chu Li and Xu Huande talked about the situation in the town, as well as Xu Huande's commission.

Xu Huande's commission was to be a patrol at the Outer Mausoleum, which was quite a casual commission. Nonetheless, since the people from Outer Mausoleum could not stay inside the mausoleum, they had to rotate s.h.i.+fts in the Imperial Mausoleum according to schedule, then return to the town.

Only those from the Inner Mausoleum could stay in the Imperial Mausoleum.

"The protectors from Inner Mausoleum can enter the town too." Xu Huande warned, "Those fellas are all top-notch master, you must not offend them. They've been here their whole life, and are totally unrestrained. Most of them have mental issues so they're like madmen."

Chu Li nodded slowly.

Xiao Qi only listened without saying a word

When the sky turned dark, Chu Li and Xiao Qi left Xu's Residence. Before that, they gave Xu Huande a spirit pill to aid him in recovering from his injury.

Later, the two of them strolled along the river.

The weeping willows swayed in the air as the wind breezed.

On both sides of the river, lanterns were hung, which lit up the river as well as the residences. As the river flowed gently, flickers of light could be seen.

On the river, a small boat moved along like a leaf sailing on the river. A few scholars recited poems on the boat, which was accompanied by bamboo music.

"A deputy commander from Secret Guardian Hall actually ended up in this state." Xiao Qi could not believe it.

Chu Li responded, "He was cast aside by the emperor."

Xiao Qi looked at him with glimmering eyes.

Chu Li laughed. "Lady, don't worry, that's not the case for me."

"When I leave, and you won't be able to use your martial arts, how are you going to escape if you're surrounded? G.o.d's Limb is an ultimate secret, you must not reveal it!"

"Getting beaten up once won't matter," Chu Li replied.

Xiao Qi shook her head softly, then bit her lower lip.

Small boats sailed along the river one after another, by which delicate music could be heard and was pleasing to the ear.

As the two of them walked side by side along the river, they could clearly hear each other's footsteps. Due to the lanterns, their faces were vaguely seen and Xiao Qi appeared to be sweet and attractive.

After some time, they returned to their residences and suddenly stopped.

The main door was shattered on the ground, which seemed to have been slashed into pieces with blades and was terribly ruined. When the two of them walked further, they saw that the front yard's parterre was in a hideous mess, where fallen leaves and petals filled the area. Everything was destroyed.

The stone table beside the parterre was smashed into pieces of stones that piled up and the stone piers had been toppled over with blade marks everywhere, and could no longer be used.

Chu Li took a deep breath, then scoffed. "Looks like we didn't even have to find them, they've paid us a visit!"

Xiao Qi's eyes were ice-cold as she said calmly, "Indeed, their skills aren't ordinary!"

Based on the blade marks and palm marks, she deduced that the people were all grandmasters, and had extremely profound cultivation levels too.

The two of them entered their houses to find that the pieces of furniture were left in ruins as well. Their beds were split up into several parts, and their blankets were cut, resulting in silk patches and cotton wool all over the floor.

"How ruthless!" Chu Li was furious.

Xiao Qi stated, "He's infuriating us on purpose, isn't he?"

Chu Li nodded.