Martial King's Retired Life

The duo could reach the capital around noon the next day given they had come so far in just one day.

Ming Feizhen touched his chin. “Let me guess: Fang Xiaoyu and Guan Ning… and maybe Miss Wen?”

Shen Yiren smiled. “Correct. Your second brother is much better than you in this respect. Take a page out of his book. Not only did he take out enemies, but he even befriended a number of talented people.”

Ming Feizhen whined, “I just haven’t tried. If I tried, I’d be able to recruit no less than seventy people for you.”

“Pfft, says the one who was kidnapped and locked up for a month in a cave.”

Ming Feizhen had vaguely recounted his experiences over the last two days. Shen Yiren initially glared at him plenty of times, but she spared him the inkstone on account of his scar. Instead, she pinched his cheeks as punishment.

“I was just careless. I’m an a-class recruiter. I swear, Boss. I’ll recruit a few elites for you. You have no idea how respected I am in the pugilistic world. Come on now. Don’t look at me like that. I’m serious!”

“Yes, yes, you’re the best with people, okay?” Shen Yiren scrubbed Ming Feizhen’s head the way an adult would scrub a kid’s head.

Worried she might not be able to reach, Ming Feizhen had to lower his head to make it easy for Shen Yiren to reach.

I’m going to give Boss a big surprise later.

“Fang Xiaoyu was planning to join Liu Shan Men. Although he’s still young, the Shaolin disciple certainly is a capable investigator. With the right training, he has all it takes to become a competent official.

“Guan Ning and Miss Wen are children of reputable families, so we can be confident in their martial prowess. The young individuals from Nanjiang all have the potential to become skilled constables we can’t be without. There’s just one thing they need.”

Ming Feizhen bobbed his head. “Time.”

Shen Yiren sighed. “Yeah.”

“At the moment, we have a plethora of things going on. Fiends’ Genesis isn’t done. The three offices will likely be dispatched more and more, so they won’t have time to train or get used to the job.”

“There’s nothing we can do about it. The friction between the three of us is only ever increasing, and it’s no longer a conflict we’re waging under the table anymore. They’re going to have to learn on the go.”

“Boss, there’s someone up ahead.”

Shen Yiren peered into the distance and waited for a while. “It’s okay. He’s a messenger from the palace.”

The two columns of people geared up in the palace guards’ uniforms added up to around two hundred. The man between the two columns beamed upon spotting Ming Feizhen and Shen Yiren.

“It has been a long time,” expressed Wang Tushui, stepping forward to speak.

“This one apologises for making you come all this way.”

“His Majesty was worried the journey back would be tiring, so he sent this old one to pick you two up.”

The duo originally planned to check in at Liu Shan Men first, but they were now forced to change their priorities, not that it was a huge deal since Emperor Yuansheng was probably dying to see them.

“His Majesty always comes first. Please lead the way, Eunuch Wang.”

The journey back was a lot less tiring thanks to the carriage that Eunuch Wang brought along.

His Majesty was already seated with Emperor’s Entourage, Qilin Guards and even Song Ou in Wutui Palace by the time they arrived. Representing the White Princes was Xun Feng, Ling Shaoxuan and Bai Yumo. Secretary Leng was summoned, as well.

When greeted, Emperor Yuansheng lazily responded, “Rise.”

Shen Yiren rose, but not without feeling something was odd. Yes, Eunuch Wang was all smiles on the way; however, he didn’t speak, which was very contrary to his usual character. Emperor Yuansheng looked indifferent to her and Ming Feizhen’s greeting. Instead, his gaze was locked on some letter in his hand.

A while later, His Majesty folded up the letter and smiled for the first time. “It has been a long time, Duke Ming. It has been hard on you.”

Ming Feizhen was so surprised he was spoken to first that he looked to Shen Yiren before clumsily saluting His Majesty. “It is all because of your subject’s own incompetence that he was captured. His fault is only compounded by the fact that he made you worry. Please do not be too harsh with his punishment.”

Emperor Yuansheng wagged his hand. “You accomplished a mighty feat for the country in Nanjiang; you are a pillar of the country. It is understandable for you to not be a superb fighter when I conferred you the title of Hanlin Academician. The fact that you were kidnapped in the capital goes to show that someone failed to fulfil their duty. What wrong have you committed?”

Though Ming Feizhen expected some sort of rebuttal to spare him, he never expected Emperor Yuansheng to use the opportunity to find fault with someone.

“Your subject is grateful for your pardon. Fiends’ Genesis is a slippery group with a broad network. It would be unjust to say someone failed in their duty. We were only able to bring down Fiends’ Genesis this time thanks to…”

“A lucky man has the support of heaven.” Emperor Yuansheng chuckled in an un-Emperor-Yuansheng manner. “Duke Ming is a civil servant, yet he was able to escape the jaws of Fiends’ Genesis. Is this not a feat that displays our competence? Is it not a feat deserving of reward?”

Everyone voiced agreement and even showered Ming Feizhen with adulation. Despite how shameless he was, even Duke Ming felt it was overkill for the group.

“Uh, your subject was only able to survive the month thanks to your blessings. What did he ever accomplish? How about we do not spread the word?”

“You make it sound too light. You were kidnapped. There’s no way you didn’t suffer while held captive. I can’t let you suffer for nothing. Tianhu reported that you had a hand in driving off Jiang Chen. You fearlessly faced Jiang Chen despite the discrepancy in your strength. How can I withhold the story of your courage and intellect?”

Ming Feizhen might not have been the best person at reading another, but even he could pick up on how bizarre the atmosphere felt. Emperor Yuansheng had yet to spare Shen Yiren a single glance since their entrance, and he positioned Ming Feizhen’s accomplishment as something that Shen Yiren’s merits couldn’t hold a candle to.

Tianhu defeated Jiang Chen. Hong Jiu found the way into the underground palace. Tang Ye rescued the hostages, but his success came from operating with Shen Yiren, not to mention she was the one who located Jiang Chen’s team in the capital. Yet, she wasn’t spared a glance or word of praise when Emperor Yuansheng was a pathological daughter-con. Who’d think that was normal?

Shen Yiren remained collected, scanning everyone to figure out what happened.

Ming Feizhen was going to divert the conversation to Shen Yiren when Emperor Yuansheng said, “I am very pleased with your performance, Duke Ming. You will be rewarded generously, but perhaps it is best for you to rest now. You may leave.”

“Huh?” Ming Feizhen genuinely didn’t expect a reward for being detained for a month. Additionally, it was clear that he was no longer needed in the palace. Knowing who the target was, he looked to Shen Yiren with his nose wrinkled.

Shen Yiren shook her head, instructing Ming Feizhen to return to Liu Shan Men first. He thought it through, then performed the hand salute. “Your subject is grateful. Howbeit, there is something he would like to mention.”

“… Go ahead.”

“Mount Daluo is Mount Daluo. Your subject is your subject.”

Nobody budged a muscle or uttered a word.

Emperor Yuansheng narrowed his eyes. In order to maximise Mount Daluo’s powers in his hands, he needed to build them up. Ming Feizhen practically just said, “Even if you build me up, Mount Daluo won’t just start waiting on you hand and foot.”

“Your subject is a free spirit. Although his mentor has blessed him with the chance to be senior disciple, your subject does not plan to inherit the leadership mantle. Should you wish to employ Mount Daluo, you will need to seek out your subject’s juniors.”

Emperor Yuansheng smiled with a well-thought-out plan in mind. “I understand.”

Ming Feizhen blinked several times as he tried wrapping his head around the reply, then said, “Your subject would also like to mention that Vice-Captain Sh-”

“You won’t need to trouble yourself with that, Duke Ming.” Emperor Yuansheng emotionlessly signalled with his hands. “Wang Tushui, see Duke Ming out.”

Why is Boss getting the cold shoulder when she contributed the most? Why didn’t he ask for any details when he wanted to see us? Why were the other members of the three offices, ambassadors of the White Princes and even Secretary Lie there? Who wrote the letter His Majesty was reading when we arrived?

Though he had plenty of questions going through his mind, the one thing that eased Ming Feizhen’s mind was that Emperor Yuansheng wouldn’t make things hard for Shen Yiren.

Upon returning to Liu Shan Men, it felt as bizarre as the ambience in Wutui Palace. People he knew didn’t greet him. Instead, they whispered about things that made zero sense to him. Deeper inside, he saw signs of repairs and damage to the property.

“What is going on here? A makeover? This is a shoddy job. Why are there holes everywhere?” muttered Ming Feizhen. A few steps later, he ran into the chef blocking his way. “Ol’ Cai, you’re in. What’s the deal here?”

The two were close, so Ol’ Cai didn’t hide the events from Ming Feizhen.

Ming Feizhen crossed his arms. “Huh, what a bunch of thugs. We’ll gather a team and go play with them tomorrow, too. You didn’t stop me to tell me this, though, did you?”

“There is… something I should tell you first so that you can mentally prepare yourself, Head Constable.”

“I’m listening.”

Ol’ Cai cracked a weird smile and whispered what happened.

“What?! Th-th-th-the wall in my room collapsed?!”