Chapter 1 The Burnt Remains

At dawn, a thin mist lingered, and the once fragrant Xianghe Inn had been reduced to ruins.

A mighty procession of Bloodrain Guard experts protected a seemingly ordinary carriage as it set off for the imperial capital.

Inside the carriage were only Old Man Fei, Fei Xinlan, and Fei Qing.

"Father, have some tea."

Fei Qing personally offered the tea.

Old Man Fei took the tea, took a sip, and sighed, "After hearing all you've said, I realize how many dangers you've faced over the years. My vision is far inferior to yours, but I still want to remind you...the higher you climb, the colder it gets. Be careful and prepare a way out for yourself."

"I've reached a point where there is no turning back. Only by moving forward can I deter the villains." Fei Qing said calmly, "Father, you don't need to worry. I'm on His Majesty's side. In this entire world...His Majesty is the supreme being."

Old Man Fei sighed inwardly.

If His Majesty were truly supreme, the previous emperor would not have died young, and the current emperor would not have risen from prince to emperor.

"Father, I have followed His Majesty for many years, ever since I was in the Prince's estate. Everything I have was bestowed upon me by His Majesty. I have no retreat." Fei Qing looked at his father, "The reason I asked you to come in my letter is because I fear some opponents might resort to unscrupulous means to control you secretly. That's why, sensing a change in the situation, I immediately summoned you to the imperial capital. In the imperial capital...with His Majesty's protection and the deterrence of the Martial Arts Academy Dean, even if I fall, you will still be safe, and the Fei family will continue."

"The Martial Arts Academy's Dean Ming?" Old Man Fei was surprised.

"Yes, I asked His Majesty to intervene, and Dean Ming agreed...to accept Xinlan as his disciple," Fei Qing said.

"Accept me as his disciple? Who is Dean Ming?" Fei Xinlan asked, puzzled.

Fei Qing said, "The number one expert in the imperial capital!"

"The number one expert in the imperial capital? How good is he?" Fei Xinlan asked curiously.

"Do you see them?"

Fei Qing looked out the window. "All these Bloodrain Guard experts surrounding us, even the Southern Protectorate Envoy Wang Jiuyan...if all these experts cooperated, Dean Ming could slaughter them all with a single sword, even if they charged forward fearlessly."

Fei Xinlan was dumbfounded. "That strong?"

"The number one in the imperial capital...even looking at the whole world, even if there are unfathomable experts hidden, Dean Ming is estimated to rank among the top three in the world." Fei Qing said, "At least I don't know anyone who is stronger than him. He has carried two swords for so many years, but no one has ever forced him to draw the second one!"

"To be able to become his disciple! Your big brother has paid a great price. You must cherish this opportunity." Fei Qing looked at his sister. This was also a powerful backer he had found for his family.

Fei Xinlan nodded.

"Oh, right." Fei Qing suddenly smiled. "Xinlan, you're all grown up now. After arriving in the imperial capital, you should also prepare to settle your life's大事(dàshì, important event, referring to marriage). If you see someone you like, be sure to tell your big brother."

"I'm not in a hurry." Fei Xinlan blushed slightly. "Don't talk about that."

"I heard from Father that when you summoned the guards, you specifically chose three, and two of them are men?" Fei Qing teased, looking at his sister. After so many years, that little girl had grown into a woman, but from her features, from her eyes, he could still see the shadow of her childhood. Fei Qing wanted to make up for the years of neglect.

"Yes."

Fei Xinlan said, "The journey to the imperial capital this time was too dangerous. Many people died. Senior Sister Qiu lost an arm, Big Brother Luo narrowly escaped death, and Big Brother Jing was very strong, but still barely escaped from the Black Lotus Sect Dharma King."

"These guards, those who died will be taken care of, and those who survived will be well compensated," Fei Qing nodded. Having great power, he was used to the deaths of his subordinates.

"I heard from Old Lu that the guard named 'Jing Ming' is also from Lanyue City? Only thirty years old this year?" Fei Qing said. Of the three chosen by his sister, only Xu Jingming caught Fei Qing's attention. As for Qiu Tong and Luo Baichuan... they were still too weak.

Old Man Fei said, "That's right, this Guard Jing has been very attentive along the way."

"He's a promising talent." Fei Qing nodded slightly.

"Big brother, if you mistreat them, I will be very angry." Fei Xinlan stared at her big brother. "They all risked their lives to protect me and Father."

"Don't worry, little sister." Fei Qing smiled and ruffled his sister's hair.

...

After chatting with his family in the carriage for a long time, Fei Qing left the carriage and rode alongside Wang Jiuyan.

"Brother Jiuyan, forgive me for neglecting you," Fei Qing said.

"You haven't seen your family for many years. Naturally, you have a lot to talk about," Wang Jiuyan smiled.

Fei Qing said, "To thank you, Brother Jiuyan, I'll recommend a talented individual to you."

Wang Jiuyan was taken aback. "A talented individual?"

With his status, there were very few people who qualified to be called talented.

"A martial arts prodigy." Fei Qing said, "Three months ago, he was only a second-rate expert. In these three months, he has improved by leaps and bounds... Last night, he even escaped from the Black Lotus Sect's Night Dharma King."

"What?" Wang Jiuyan was shocked. "Escaped from the Night Dharma King?"

"You can investigate if you don't believe me. At that time, three first-rate experts joined forces! The other two were instantly killed by the Night Dharma King, but this martial arts prodigy, with a single spear, managed to survive, and even wasn't injured much," Fei Qing said, "With his growth rate, do you think... he might become a newly promoted 'super-first-rate expert'?"

"What's his name?" Wang Jiuyan immediately asked.

First-rate experts were nothing in the imperial capital.

After all, many talented people flocked to the imperial capital, and many cosmic citizen players also came to the imperial capital. There were indeed quite a few who reached the first-rate realm.

But the 'super-first-rate realm' was very rare.

"His name is Jing Ming, from Lanyue City," Fei Qing said.

Wang Jiuyan nodded. "I understand."

******

In the afternoon, the massive Bloodrain Guard team arrived in the imperial capital.

"This is the imperial capital?" Xu Jingming, Qiu Tong, and the others exclaimed in amazement as they looked at the magnificent and enormous city. The city walls were twenty zhang high! Looking up at them was like looking at a mountain! The city walls stretched to the end of their vision.

This was the imperial capital, the most enormous city in the Bloodrain world! A place where countless gold and silver gathered, a place where experts gathered.

"Imperial capital, I'm here." Xu Jingming's blood was boiling.

The hope of earning 'ten thousand gold' was even greater in the imperial capital! He was lucky. He successfully protected the Fei family to the imperial capital, and successfully latched onto Commander Fei's coattails.

If...

He, Xu Jingming, died in battle as a guard! Then this identity would be gone.

If the Fei family were killed, or kidnapped and looted, not only would there be no merit, but there would also be a crime!

So, being able to safely bring the Fei family to the imperial capital, Xu Jingming had to sigh and say that his luck was not bad.

"Make way, make way."

"Quickly make way."

The guards at the south gate of the imperial capital immediately cleared the crowded city gate to allow the mighty Bloodrain Guard team to enter the city.

"Lord."

When the city gate guards saw Wang Jiuyan, they all knelt on one knee, extremely respectful.

Although in terms of official rank, Fei Qing was one level higher than Wang Jiuyan! But Fei Qing was the General Commander of the Eastern Region of the Empire, an official from another place! And Wang Jiuyan was one of the four Protectorate Envoys of the imperial capital, the 'Southern Protectorate Envoy' who directly governed countless people in the southern city. How dare the guards at the south gate be negligent?

"I heard that the imperial capital is a mixed bag, with experts everywhere." Qiu Tong said as she rode her horse, looking around and speaking to Xu Jingming beside her, "And the Bloodrain Guards of the four Protectorates of the imperial capital suppress all sides and maintain order in the imperial capital, with very great power. Because the power is too great, it is divided into four Protectorates. That Lord Wang...is the Protectorate Envoy of the Southern Protectorate of the imperial capital! He is definitely a big figure in the imperial capital."

Xu Jingming nodded.

Fei Qing was riding his horse alongside Wang Jiuyan, showing that their positions were close.

"There are experts everywhere in the imperial capital. We are nothing here." Xu Jingming scanned his surroundings and felt the terrifying aura hidden within this enormous city.

It was the aura formed by the convergence of the mental strength of a large number of top experts! In this city, even first-rate experts had to be careful.

"After all, it's the imperial capital!" Qiu Tong's eyes burned with passion. "The place with the most experts in the world. One should come to this place where wind and clouds gather to experience it! If one dies, it can be considered that one has not lived in vain!"

Xu Jingming glanced at Qiu Tong.

That's right.

For the natives, the significance of the imperial capital was even more special. Although most natives had heard legends about the 'imperial capital,' very few could come to the imperial capital in their lifetime.

...

"Hmm?"

Inside a large mansion in the imperial capital, there was a pavilion on a rockery, from which one could see far into the distance. At this moment, a beautiful woman in purple was sitting in the pavilion, reading a book. Suddenly, she sensed something and looked up, gazing into the distance.

With cellular-level control, her eyesight was also excellent, and she could clearly see the Bloodrain Guard team on the distant street.

At a glance, her gaze locked onto Wang Jiuyan.

Sensing something, Wang Jiuyan turned his head and looked over.

The two people's gazes collided across two li of distance.

"Lord Wang." The beautiful woman in purple smiled slightly.

Wang Jiuyan looked at her calmly, ignored her, and continued to ride forward.

Whoosh!

A figure appeared out of nowhere in the pavilion, an old woman.

"Investigate what our Lord Wang and Commander Fei went to do outside the city," the beautiful woman in purple instructed.

"Yes, mistress." The old woman obeyed and disappeared quietly.

The beautiful woman in purple looked at the book in her hand, frowned slightly, yet possessed a breathtaking charm. She whispered, "Wang Jiuyan, oh Wang Jiuyan, you are such a blockhead. If you married me, I would help you with all my might, and you would have soared long ago. Why do you dislike me so much?"

With her discerning eye, she had only taken a liking to Wang Jiuyan in all these years.

******

Prince Qi's Mansion.

"Wang Jiuyan led the Bloodrain Guard experts, with one person and three horses, traveling light and at full speed, finally arriving at the most critical moment, startling the Black Lotus Sect's Night Dharma King and driving him away. The Fei family survived," a subordinate reported respectfully.

Prince Qi sat there, feeding his beloved concubine wine with a smile.

"Yes, drink it." Prince Qi looked at everything with a smile, and some of the wine spilled, flowing onto the concubine's chest.

Prince Qi lowered his head and licked it clean, then looked up at his subordinate. "It's Wang Jiuyan again? This Wang Jiuyan has ruined so many good things for me! I see him as a talented person, and I have treated him kindly and tried to befriend him time and time again, but he doesn't give me face and ruins my affairs!"

"Your Highness, do you want to make him suffer a little?" The subordinate's eyes flashed with a fierce light.

"Tell me about it."

Prince Qi asked curiously, "How will you make Wang Jiuyan suffer? I'm very curious. When did you have such ability?"

The subordinate smiled awkwardly and said, "Of course, I don't have the ability, but as long as Your Highness wants him to suffer, you will definitely be able to make him suffer."

"I don't have that ability."

Prince Qi shook his head. "This Wang Jiuyan is different from Fei Qing! Wang Jiuyan is deeply rooted in the imperial capital. The fact that he has reached the super-first-rate realm himself is not the most important thing. The most important thing is... the hidden power he possesses is very strong. Whether it's the Flower Courtesan Palace or the Bloodcloth Tower, some hidden forces in the imperial capital seem to be crazy, and they all stand on Wang Jiuyan's side. Of the four Protectorate Envoys of the imperial capital, he is the most difficult to deal with."

"On the surface, he has the Bloodrain Guards of the Southern Protectorate under his command, and in the shadows, there are also forces. Why doesn't this Wang Jiuyan give me face? Wouldn't it be great if we were friends?" Prince Qi had been coveting Wang Jiuyan for a long time.

The subordinate didn't dare to say anything.

"It's fine that the Fei family survived. Anyway, those who died were from Fei Qing and the Black Lotus Sect. I didn't lose anything." Prince Qi waved his hand with a smile and continued to coax his beloved concubine, "My beauty, let's continue drinking."

The subordinate immediately retreated obediently.

...

Fei Mansion.

In the imperial capital, Fei Mansion was considered a relatively ordinary official residence, but it was easy to accommodate over a hundred guards and dozens of maids and servants. Xu Jingming, Qiu Tong, and Luo Baichuan were also temporarily staying in Fei Mansion.

"Thank you, Lord." Qiu Tong said gratefully.

"You are Xinlan's senior sister, and Xinlan has repeatedly asked me to take care of you. If you want to thank someone, thank Xinlan," Fei Qing nodded with a smile.

Qiu Tong nodded, clearly excited.

"Go, prepare well. Get ready to take office in three days," Fei Qing said.

"This subordinate takes his leave." Qiu Tong already referred to herself as a subordinate as she walked out of the pavilion.

At this time, Xu Jingming also walked over from a distance. Qiu Tong winked at him, with a smile she couldn't hide, making Xu Jingming understand, "Looks like it's good news."

In the pavilion,

Fei Qing sat there, observing Xu Jingming as he walked over.

"This person's strength is improving rapidly, but his past experience is very vague. A village outside the city...can it nurture a second-rate expert?" Fei Qing thought, "If I wasn't sure that my sister summoned him as a guard, I would suspect...that he was planted by the enemy."

As a cosmic citizen player, the world's targeting of Xu Jingming would increase as his status increased.

Of course, his current status was still very ordinary, just a guard.

"Jing Ming pays his respects to Lord Fei," Xu Jingming bowed.

"I already know about the merits you have achieved along the way," Fei Qing looked at Xu Jingming and nodded. "My sister has repeatedly instructed me not to mistreat you. I'll give you two choices. One is to send you to be a royal guard! The royal guards are responsible for protecting His Majesty and the princes and princesses in the long term, and have great prospects. If His Majesty takes a liking to you one day, you will soar. Of course, you can only start as the most ordinary guard."

"The other path is to go to the Bloodrain Guard! I have a wide network of connections in the Bloodrain Guard. When you first enter, you can take the position of captain." Fei Qing said, "I promise you that as long as you make enough contributions, you can be promoted to the position of centurion, which is the limit of what I can do."

"The Bloodrain Guard of the imperial capital is different from those in other places. The recruitment threshold is very harsh! The position of centurion is already very rare, higher than the rank of a Bloodrain Guard commander in a city in other regions. The position of chiliarch...requires His Majesty's imperial approval," Fei Qing said. "Choose one of these two paths."

As a cosmic citizen player, Xu Jingming had already collected information about the Bloodrain world and had a general understanding of the situation in the imperial capital.

His choice...

Of course, it was to earn 'ten thousand gold' faster.

"Thank you, Lord," Xu Jingming said respectfully. "I am willing to serve as a Bloodrain Guard captain."