Chapter Ten: Another Wanted Notice-Conquistas superiores ao soberano e alvo de suspeitas? Eu me juntei ao campo inimigo(Comer vorazmente oito grandes tigelas)

"Who?"

Cao Ding had heard clearly enough, but as the name echoed in his ears, his body betrayed him with an involuntary, visceral reaction. He sank back into his grand armchair, a cold sweat instantly drenching his forehead. He reached for his handkerchief, wiping it away frantically. At this moment, maintaining the dignity of his position before the assembled ministers was the last thing on his mind; survival through composure was the only priority!

Who was Yang Chuan? A citizen of the Great Qi knew far better than any from the Great Kang! After all, years ago, it was Yang Chuan who had spent years in seclusion with the Great Kang Empress, Yan Wugou, at the Chengen Temple within the borders of Qi. Later, it was this same man who, single-handedly, slew two Grandmaster-level warriors of the Great Qi and fought his way out of a desperate encirclement to bring Yan Wugou back to the Great Kang.

Ever since that day, the national fortune of the Great Qi had withered. Even the current Empress of Qi had abandoned the affairs of state, obsessed only with chasing legends of immortality. In the three years that followed, it was as if Yang Chuan had siphoned all the vitality of the world into the Great Kang, causing the Great Qi—once a small southern state—to shrink further while the Great Kang expanded into a behemoth spanning a million square miles.

Initially, Cao Ding had relied on the fact that Yang Chuan was preoccupied with state affairs and had no time to spare for minor rival nations. He had hoped to remain in his corner of the world, a local warlord playing emperor. But who could have foreseen this...

Wiping his brow once more, he forced himself to lower his voice and ask, "Pray tell, honored guest from the Great Kang, is Yang Chuan not serving as the Grand Minister in your land? Why would his presence pose a threat to my safety?"

"That scoundrel has defied the authority of the Great Kang Empress, Yan Wugou. He has discarded his own martial arts and publicly begged to resign his post in the imperial court. He is currently fleeing north by carriage, intent on rebuilding his power and legacy within the Great Qi." The envoy paused, then added, "By now, the knave has likely already reached the borders of your land."

The envoy stroked his beard and smiled. "However, our Empress has issued a decree: since the criminal has fled our borders, we need only inform the Great Qi of the facts. As for whether to kill him or not, that is entirely up to you, Grand Marshal!"

With that, he ordered his soldiers to present several loads of gold and led his retinue out of the hall with a swaggering air. Once the envoy had departed, Cao Ding collapsed into his chair, a chill creeping into his bones. What was he to do?

The once-dreaded Yang Chuan, a man like the Grim Reaper himself, had abandoned his high office to defect to the Great Qi! This was a nightmare he had never dared to imagine. Back then, after Yang Chuan had fought his way out of the Great Qi with Yan Wugou, Cao Ding had used the excuse of "rescuing the monarch" to march heavy troops into the capital, effectively holding the current Empress, Tian Yueying, captive. It was through this that he was able to mimic those before him, ruling from behind the curtain and usurping imperial power.

But if Yang Chuan—that peerless figure of both civil and military genius—were to arrive and challenge his authority, purging the corrupt officials, his days of luxury would be over within a month!

"No, this cannot be!" he muttered. He had to have the man killed at the border before he could reach the capital!

That very day, Cao Ding drafted a decree in the name of the Qi Empress: "The Great Kang traitor Yang Chuan has illegally entered the borders of the Great Qi. His crimes are unforgivable. Whoever slays this scoundrel shall be rewarded with a thousand gold pieces and granted the title of Marquis!"

The notice reached the borderlands in short order. By then, Yang Chuan, utilizing the power granted by his system, had recovered much of his internal energy. Ever since the assassination attempt by the Shadow Organization, he had come to understand exactly what a venomous, snake-hearted woman Yan Wugou truly was.

"I spent ten years pouring my blood and sweat into the Great Kang, helping Yan Wugou ascend the throne, purging her enemies, and establishing order. I never expected her to seek my life in return."

"Master Yang, you possess unparalleled talent and martial arts. I trust that in a few years, you will establish equally magnificent achievements in the Great Qi!"

Tian Yueying’s smile was warm and sincere. Having suffered a betrayal, Yang Chuan felt her smile like a gentle spring breeze, a healing balm to his spirit. As the sun set, he stood within the borders of the Great Qi, watching the last of the twilight, and whispered to himself:

"Yan Wugou, I have done enough for you in these ten years. Since you insist on being so ruthless, then let us sever all ties today. If I one day lead the armies of Qi against the Great Kang, it will be but the justice you deserve!"

Just as he finished speaking, he noticed a group of officers in the small border town, holding wanted posters and hanging them along the streets. Having been away for three years, even Tian Yueying found this strange. Could it be that Cao Ding was actually governing the country, to the point of posting wanted notices all the way at the border?

The borders of the Great Qi were not vast; even from the capital, one could reach the frontier in under four hours. The two approached out of curiosity, only to see an old man holding his grandson while reading the notice. Suddenly, the man turned, locked eyes with Yang Chuan, and shouted, "You! You are Yang Chuan!"

Before he could react, the officers who had not yet traveled far turned back, spears leveled. They had not expected their quarry to appear so quickly on the very day the notice was posted! It was said that although Yang Chuan had betrayed the Great Kang, he had crippled his own martial arts before leaving. To capture him now would be a simple task for a few soldiers!

Of course, that was merely the story the Great Kang envoy had fed to Cao Ding. Even without his peak Grandmaster cultivation, Yang Chuan’s strength was still at the seventh level, more than enough to crush a hundred soldiers and carve his way out unscathed.

At this critical moment, the system’s notification pinged once more.

【Ding! Detecting that the host is in trouble. The host’s seventh-level martial arts cultivation has been upgraded, and the "Wan Yuan Gui Zhen" technique has been mastered to its peak level!】

"You old bastard," Yang Chuan cursed internally. "When I was facing the assassins from the Great Kang, you didn't offer to max out my cultivation! Now that I’m facing a dozen low-level guards, you decide to upgrade me?"

Despite his internal grumbling, he had no choice but to use his power to suppress the soldiers. With a single palm strike, an invisible wave of energy erupted, slamming into the vital organs of the guards. The immense pressure instantly ruptured their lungs; they didn't even have time to let out a final cry before they collapsed.

"Murder! The wanted criminal is killing people! Report this to the magistrate!"

Someone in the crowd shrieked. The previously orderly street descended into chaos, and the townsfolk fled in a panic. When Yang Chuan regained his composure and looked back at the notice board, the old man who had identified him was already gone.

"Heh."

Faced with this scene, he simply crossed his hands behind his back and stood in place, waiting quietly. This reaction left Tian Yueying somewhat bewildered.

"Master, are you sure we shouldn't find a place to hide?"