Chapter 140: Acting According to Law

Li Rui walked along the road from the blacksmith's shop back to the camp.

The big man had already returned.

He always valued skilled trades.

This big man's weapon-casting craft was solid, and he looked young—perhaps he could become a Divine Weapon Artisan.

One hundred taels was an investment.

For him now, one hundred taels meant little.

But for the big man, it meant far more.

As for why he didn't give it in front of the squad leader:

Both had been through the bottom ranks; Li Rui knew too well that if he handed it over in front of the squad leader, the money wouldn't reach the big man—and would instead invite the leader's envy, bringing disaster.

When immortals bestow blessings upon mortals, they usually crush them.

Same principle.

Since he'd chosen to give it, he might as well do it carefully—spare the other man any trouble.

Otherwise, he wasn't giving a blessing—he was inviting calamity.

Li Rui wasn't some lofty immortal lord; if he could help more, he would.

Qinghe City.

Mingguang Sect.

In a small courtyard filled with flowers and plants, a dignified middle-aged man held a pair of small shears, pruning a red pine.

He cut with ruthless precision.

The red pine was nearly stripped bare.

At that moment,

Mingguang Sect Elder Qiu Pu entered: "Master Yang, nearly everyone in Qinghe City has gone to see Li Rui. Shouldn't we—"

Vice Master Yang Fusong paused his pruning.

Slowly stood up.

"Elder Qiu, why the hurry?"

Qiu Pu's face darkened.

He was indeed anxious.

If a major conflict erupted between the Anning Guard and Mingguang Sect, Vice Master Yang wouldn't suffer—but as an Elder, he wouldn't be so lucky.

"Master Yang, Li Rui has taken the Qingfeng Mountain Villa and several others to the Zui Xian Tavern. If we don't decide soon, we'll be too late."

Yang Fusong glanced sideways at Qiu Pu:

"Elder Qiu, when did it become your place to teach me how to act?"

Qiu Pu instantly flinched.

Only then did he realize his words had been improper: "Yes, Master Yang."

Yang Fusong snorted coldly and resumed pruning:

"Is our Mingguang Sect comparable to the likes of the Blood Tiger Gang?"

"Just one Ning Zhongtian—what can he do to us?"

"Surround us with troops?"

"Or have Jiang Lin use a flying sword to pierce us through?"

"Elder Qiu, at this moment, patience is key. Even Li Rui isn't rushing—why should we rush to his door?"

"We'd lose face."

Qiu Pu calmed down, thinking carefully.

Yang Fusong's words held some truth.

Li Rui was merely a seventh-rank Patrol Captain, above him stood Ning Zhongtian and Jiang Lin, even Cao Wei and the other four Garrison Commanders could pressure him.

Once pressured, Li Rui, to keep his position, would have no choice but to come to them.

The initiative would then be in Mingguang Sect's hands.

When negotiating then, it would be like fish in water.

And with Yang Fusong backing him, no one would dare pressure him.

The advantage was clear.

Qiu Pu bowed in sincere submission: "Master Yang, I was too hasty."

Yang Fusong turned his head, satisfied: "That's better. We cultivators must have this kind of composure."

"Let Li Rui come to us."

"Master Yang is wise."

Qiu Pu offered a timely compliment.

Since Yang Fusong had made the decision, the heavy stone in his chest lifted.

Qingfeng Mountain Villa forgave so quickly because they suffered little loss—but Mingguang Sect had one Elder castrated. If this isn't resolved, Mingguang Sect will never raise its head again in Qinghe.

It will be crushed under the Anning Guard's heel at every turn.

That wasn't why Mingguang Sect came here.

He resolved:

"Wait!"

Benhu Cavalry Camp.

Training ground.

Tan Hu was leading Liang He and others in practicing formation drills.

Daily training.

The goal was to make true qi flow as swiftly as possible through each man—fast enough, and all would grow stronger.

This method, in Li Rui's past life, was called a time-sharing operating system.

Li Rui watched intently.

But he had no intention of joining.

His true qi was extraordinary—Xuanqing Qi, of extremely high rank.

Ning Zhongtian couldn't tell—but Jiang Lin and Cao Wei certainly could. The less he used it, the lower the risk of exposure.

So Li Rui always adhered to one rule: never act.

At least, never in public.

An hour later,

Tan Hu finished training. He was still energetic, but the other dozen men lay sprawled on the ground, exhausted.

Even with the formation's support, bearing true qi was still grueling for these ranked warriors.

Among them, Liang He appeared to be in the best condition.

Of course,

Li Rui knew—it wasn't that the boy was stronger, but that he was faking it.

He was utterly drained, yet pretended indifference.

"Young men."

Li Rui shook his head with a smile.

At that moment, Tan Hu walked up to Li Rui: "Brother Li, there's still Mingguang Sect left—what should we do?"

Li Rui was surprised—Tan Hu had actually thought this far.

Then he felt a surge of satisfaction.

After his guidance, Tan Hu was finally using his mind—he'd even realized Mingguang Sect was the next focus for Benhu Cavalry.

Though he'd paid his respects, claimed his merit, and earned his achievement, Qinghe's affairs weren't over.

This time, the Blood Tiger Gang and its allies were mere distractions—the real issue lay with Qingfeng Mountain Villa and Mingguang Sect.

The stance of these two major sects would determine whether this matter could be fully settled.

At that moment,

Liang He and the others overheard Tan Hu and Li Rui's conversation and gathered around: "Chief Li, the Mingguang Sect's Master is formidable—they say a Vice Master has even come to Qinghe. He's a hard nut to crack."

Qingfeng Mountain Villa suffered little loss, so they took the easy way out and bowed.

But Mingguang Sect is different.

Tan Hu castrated one of their Elders—this incident caused a huge uproar.

Getting Mingguang Sect to bow willingly is clearly impossible—otherwise, they wouldn't have dragged this out so long.

=9+Book bar

But forcing them? Benhu Cavalry lacks the power.

Ning Zhongtian can't show his face himself—otherwise, the matter would explode further. Would we then need Grand Secretary Jiang to step in and clean it up?

Not only would the scene be disgraceful, but Benhu Cavalry would surely be punished.

Liang He and the others had no idea how Li Rui would handle Mingguang Sect.

Other Night Scouts were waiting to see Benhu Cavalry's failure.

After all, the trouble was Tan Hu's doing—and the other Night Scouts wouldn't lift a finger to help.

And they couldn't help even if they wanted to.

Are you really going to surround Mingguang Sect?

Li Rui merely smiled slightly: "I was just about to tell you this. Rest for now. At wei hour, come with me."

Tan Hu grew even more curious:

"Brother Li, where are we going?"

"Mingguang Sect."

Wei hour.

Qiu Pu had been sitting quietly in his room, closing his eyes to rest.

Suddenly, a rapid knock startled him awake.

A flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes as he slowly rose to open the door.

A Mingguang Sect disciple stood there, his face anxious: "Elder Qiu, something's happened—Li Rui has brought the Running Tiger Cavalry and blocked our main gate."

Qiu Pu was stunned, eyes widening:

What?

Leading men to block the gate?

Utterly audacious!

He immediately flew into a rage.

Before the disciple could say more, Qiu Pu leapt forward and rushed straight toward Mingguang Sect's main gate.

Moments later.

He arrived before the gate.

He saw a group of Mingguang Sect disciples, trembling, weapons in hand, facing off against more than ten men.

Qiu Pu instantly spotted the smiling old man in the crowd.

"Li Rui!"

Fire blazed instantly in his heart.

But he suppressed his anger and stepped forward: "Lord Li, what is the meaning of this?"

Li Rui bowed with a smile: "Elder Qiu, don't misunderstand. I've come today specifically to pay a visit. They're just passing by."

"Passing by?"

Qiu Pu sneered: "Do you think I'd believe that?"

Li Rui's smile didn't fade: "Guests are guests. At the very least, Elder Qiu should invite this old man inside for tea."

Then he added thoughtfully:

"Don't worry—they're truly just passing by. They won't enter."

As if given an order, Tan Hu immediately led Liang He and the others away.

Qiu Pu narrowed his eyes.

"Come in."

Since only this old man was coming, he had nothing to fear.

Still, Li Rui had guts.

Not long after.

The two arrived beneath a refined pavilion.

As Li Rui had just said, Mingguang Sect was a major sect—it must uphold proper hospitality, or else it would sink in standing and invite ridicule.

Qiu Pu sat down, then spoke coldly: "Lord Li, what is your purpose in coming to Mingguang Sect today?"

Li Rui still wore a smile:

"Drinking tea. Chatting."

Watching the old man's smile, Qiu Pu's irritation deepened.

He had long heard of Li Rui's tactics.

Previously, at Qingfeng Villa, he used the same approach.

He avoided mentioning Tan Hu's assault, instead steering the conversation elsewhere.

But Qingfeng Villa lost one deal with the Salt Guild. Mingguang Sect lost an Elder—castrated.

Could these be the same matter?

Could Li Rui's mere reputation settle this?

At least Qiu Pu thought it wasn't enough.

Seeing Qiu Pu refuse to respond, Li Rui continued on his own: "Elder Qiu, recently I heard a villain broke into a household in my Yu Kingdom, committing atrocities before the husband's eyes. This monster even claimed to be from Mingguang Sect."

"Less than an animal—can he even be called human?"

"If he's not even human, then surely he has nothing to do with your sect."

"Right?"

Qiu Pu's gaze turned icy.

He couldn't miss that Li Rui was indirectly insulting Mingguang Sect.

But so what?

He was just a lowly commoner—how could he compare to an Elder of Mingguang Sect?

Seeing Qiu Pu still silent, Li Rui stood up: "Elder Qiu, I heard that villain is hiding inside Mingguang Sect. Under Yu Kingdom law, he must be executed. Those who harbor him are equally guilty."

"Lord Li, are you threatening Mingguang Sect?"

Kill intent flickered in Qiu Pu's eyes.

One who became an Elder was no soft-hearted fool.

Yet just as tension reached its peak,

a young Mingguang Sect disciple ran over and whispered something in Qiu Pu's ear.

Qiu Pu's face turned ashen, his eyes locked on Li Rui.

Finally, he forced out each word through clenched teeth:

"Bring that villain here."

(End of Chapter)