Chapter 14: The Joy of Bullying Others Under Power Is Beyond Imagination (Request Follows)

The crowd exchanged uneasy glances.

In just a few days, Chen Mo had become an entirely different person… not only had his strength skyrocketed, but his methods were also ruthlessly brutal!

What stunned them even more was that Yan Liang, also a Company Commander and the nephew of the Vice Minister, had swallowed this humiliation without protest!

It was simply incomprehensible!

The few who had laughed loudest moments ago felt their scalps tighten, heads bowed low, terrified of drawing the attention of this demon.

The white-haired elder did not understand why Yan Liang had suddenly backed down, but he could see clearly that today's confrontation was over—Chen Mo could not be touched.

Yet he still refused to yield verbally.

"Boy, I advise you not to get too cocky!"

"You're wielding your father's power and influence to act without restraint, flouting the law, and boasting with such arrogance—do you truly believe no one can rein you in?"

"Time will tell—better not let me catch you with any evidence…"

Chen Mo scratched his ear, impatiently interrupting: "Commander Chu, how old are you?"

The white-haired elder froze, frowning: "I am sixty-five. What of it?"

"You're halfway to the grave and still just a Company Commander—how much room do you think you have left to rise?"

"Your path in martial arts and officialdom has reached its end. What right do you have to speak of 'time will tell'?"

"What did you say?!"

Chen Mo's relentless questions made the white-haired elder tremble violently, his beard bristling upward.

"I reached Rank 6 Guiyuan before I turned twenty—surpassing you is merely a matter of time."

"As for your mention of my father… I almost forgot—you're like a widow sleeping with no one above her, so you simply cannot imagine the joy of bullying others under the weight of power."

Chen Mo spoke with mocking tone.

"What? Did I hear that right?!"

"Chen Mo has broken through the Mortal Form and entered Rank 6?!"

"No wonder he could fight two Company Commanders of the Dinghuo Bureau and sever Yan Liang's hand!"

"With such strength, he may well rank among the Qingyun Ten Outstanding!"

The training ground erupted in chaos, voices rising in uproar!

After the shock, most faces turned wary.

Yet the members of the Gui Shui Bureau straightened their spines, faces flushed with pride.

Among the Ten Bureaus, the Imperial Concubine Faction holds only four—outnumbered, they've always been on the defensive, enduring hardship daily.

Chen Mo has truly avenged them all!

Fat A Shou shouted loudly from the side: "Commander Chen is mighty!"

Commander Chu's face turned crimson, his teeth grinding audibly, yet he had no way to retaliate against Chen Mo.

Finally, he let out a cold snort and swept his sleeve away.

Like a beaten dog.

Chen Mo looked down with disdain.

A mere Company Commander was not worth mentioning.

Within the Tianlin Guard, the ranks were muddy and mixed, with the two factions constantly undermining each other.

Rather than wait to be schemed against, it was better to strike first—and prove my worth to Her Majesty!

As for the old saying…

Today, I stand atop the branch—let's see who dares raise their spear?

"No roll call today. Return to your posts and resume duties. Dismissed."

Shen Shuqiu waved his hand, dispersing the crowd.

Seeing Chen Mo trying to slip into the crowd and make a quick escape, he said: "Come with me."

Then he turned, hands behind his back, and walked into the pavilion.

"If it's fortune, you can't avoid it; if it's disaster, you can't escape it…"

Chen Mo sighed and followed silently behind Shen Shuqiu.

The black-haired woman with the tail braid stood in the corner, watching Chen Mo's back, her eyes burning with martial zeal.

"We're both Rank 6, yet his strength surpasses mine—especially that domineering sword intent, which resonates with mine in subtle ways…"

"I never expected a rival of this caliber within Lin Siya—how delightful!"

…

Gui Shui Bureau.

Inside the room, Shen Shuqiu sat at the desk, head bent over case files, leaving Chen Mo standing aside without even offering him a seat.

Chen Mo pulled over a chair himself and sat directly across from Shen Shuqiu.

He picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup.

The moment it touched his lips, his expression changed slightly.

"Is this teapot filled with liquor?"

Shen Shuqiu didn't look up: "Drinking on duty incurs a one-month salary deduction."

Chen Mo: "¿"

Only after finishing all the case files did Shen Shuqiu finally look at him, bluntly asking: "Why?"

Chen Mo answered calmly: "I've long disliked Yan Liang. I seized the opportunity to act—but mainly because I discovered the Yan family has been secretly…"

"I mean—why did you tear up the engagement contract?"

"What's wrong with Shen Zhixia?"

Shen Shuchou said coldly.

「…」

Chen Mo's expression froze.

Shen Shuchou, Hundred-Commander of the Gui Water Bureau.

Also the second young master of the Shen family, Shen Zhixia's biological brother.

「Your own brother-in-law is your direct superior, yet you dare publicly tear up the marriage contract… are you a centipede, worried you won't have enough tiny shoes to wear? 」

「The real issue is falling in love with a 'paper doll'—your little head is controlling your big head. 」

「Who else should die but you? ！」

Chen Mo had long since lost the energy to criticize the former body's behavior.

In this perilous world, the former body was terrifyingly naive.

Like a clear-headed yet stupid college student sneaking into a palace intrigue drama—someone feeds him poison (Red-Crowned Crane's Blood), and he still thanks them.

「This was never my wish. 」

「The full situation can't be explained in a moment. 」

「In short, Hundred-Commander, you can understand that I am serving Her Majesty. 」

Chen Mo lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously.

Just blame everything on Her Majesty.

Shen Shuchou frowned deeply.

Shen's father had remained utterly silent on the matter, revealing little, but he could guess at least some of it.

That courtesan's identity must be suspicious—otherwise, why would they repeatedly raid the Teaching Bureau?

「So, you still have feelings for Zhixia? 」

「I heard that yesterday, you soaked her at the Chen residence. 」

Shen Shuchou raised an eyebrow.

Hey, you talk like that and people will misunderstand!

But it does seem…

「Cough, cough, well…」

Noticing the dangerous look in the other's eyes, Chen Mo nodded vigorously, 「Zhixia and I grew up together, childhood sweethearts—we naturally have emotional roots, so a marriage contract is meaningless anyway. 」

「You're right—the marriage contract really is meaningless. 」

Shen Shuchou pinched his chin, lost in thought.

Chen Mo was just about to relax when he heard him mutter to himself, 「Perhaps I should give up the chance to be promoted to Deputy Thousand-Commander and petition Her Majesty to arrange the marriage—this would be safer…」

Chen Mo: Σ(°△°|||)

「By the way, what did you just say about the Yan family? 」

Shen Shuchou asked, snapping back to attention.

Upon hearing what Chen Mo said next, his face turned icy cold, and deep as a pond, his eyes flooded with murderous intent!

…

「Boss! 」

Chen Mo had just stepped out of the Lin Siya, when Qin Shou, who had been waiting outside, hurried over.

「How was it? Did the Hundred-Commander give you trouble? 」

Chen Mo shook his head, 「Not bad—just docked one month's salary. 」

Qin Shou sighed in relief, then burst into excited delight, 「You were absolutely terrifying just now! One against two, overpowering two Chief Flags, and you chopped off Yan Liang's hand! From now on, the Ding Fire Bureau will all avoid us! 」

「And that bitch Li Yi— I've hated her for ages! She thinks her sword skills make her untouchable, and we've suffered her abuse more than once! 」

「Hmph, 'Number One Under the Hundred-Commander'? Still got crushed by you…」

Mid-sentence, Qin Shou's back suddenly chilled.

Following Chen Mo's gaze, he turned around—and froze.

There stood a tall figure behind him.

Long legs, slender waist, high ponytail, sharp eyes and brows, shouldering a Mo Blade over two meters long.

「L-Li Chief Flag…」

Qin Shou's lips trembled, words stumbling out.

In the Tianlin Guard, from Captains down to Chief Flags, nearly everyone had endured her 'special training'—thinking of past sufferings, his legs shook.

Yet Li Qingning didn't even glance at him—she walked straight to Chen Mo and said, 「You're strong. 」

Chen Mo nodded, 「I know. 」

「I admit, Qin Shou is right—but this is only temporary. 」

「Right now you're on top of me, but someday, I'll be on top of you. 」

Li Qingning spoke calmly and seriously, as if stating a simple fact.

Chen Mo was rendered utterly speechless.

After a long pause, he said:

「Sorry, but I still prefer being on top. 」

「As for you—you'll get used to it eventually, being pinned underneath… it's actually quite comfortable. 」

Li Qingning raised an eyebrow; for some reason, she felt this man spoke strangely.

But it didn't matter—she would prove herself with strength.

「In swordcraft, I will never lose to anyone! 」

"The sword is the way of the overlord—draw it, and defeat all under heaven; this is my Dao!"