Chapter 88: Not Fighting, or On the Way to Fight!

Xu Zifeng deliberately avoided Officer Lin Yue’e’s patrol route when he left home in the morning.

His aunt had already told him last night to avoid trouble lately, and Xu Zifeng truly had no intention of causing trouble today—skipping two days of routine duties wouldn’t matter much.

For this reason, he didn’t even bring along his own Wang Fu’s lackeys.

But sometimes, things don’t stop just because you don’t want them to happen.

Xu Zifeng headed as usual to his intelligence-gathering spot in the capital, a wine shop.

He was very proud of this wine shop.

Since its opening, it had nearly been raided multiple times, but thanks to his skillful behind-the-scenes operations and his aunt’s covert assistance, it had always narrowly escaped.

Xu Zifeng felt he had a real talent for gathering intelligence.

In truth, the Ministry of Justice and the government office had long since thoroughly investigated this shop, but occasionally, some passing, unaware officials would find it suspicious and come in to check.

After they reported it, their superiors ordered them to mind their own business.

Because the superiors could use this wine shop to track many movements of the Prince of the South.

If the shop disappeared, it would indeed be harder for them to investigate.

Even Officer Lin Yue’e had to pretend not to notice anything unusual when passing by.

Only Xu Zifeng thought he had hidden it well.

After circling several large loops in the capital and confirming no one was following him, Xu Zifeng entered the shop.

The shop’s clerks had hung a sign outside reading “Closed for the Day.”

In fact, Xu Zifeng didn’t even need to take the detour—everyone knew he always ended up here; all they needed was to station a covert sentinel at the door, since no one in their right mind would follow him.

“Any news today?” Xu Zifeng was flipping through the shop’s ledgers.

He took a sip of his hometown’s fine wine—delicious!

The shop had two clerks and one shopkeeper—all under Xu Zifeng’s command.

“Your Highness, naturally there is.”

The shopkeeper, ever astute, immediately handed Xu Zifeng the intelligence.

Xu Zifeng thought it might be something important, but it turned out to be the updated roster of courtesans from the capital’s major entertainment houses.

He nearly choked, spitting out the wine.

“I didn’t ask for this—I want real intelligence!”

Xu Zifeng said irritably. He used to enjoy courtesans because they attracted the second-generation elites, who would fight over them, giving him a legitimate excuse to beat them up, snatch the courtesan away in front of them, and cultivate his reputation as a wicked playboy.

This was all old routine for Xu Zifeng.

But today he truly didn’t want trouble and had no intention of visiting the entertainment houses.

Hearing his master didn’t want that, the man handed over the other intelligence.

First, intelligence on the Third Prince: he had invited the Prince of the South to rebel together; the Prince of the South replied that they should wait until the north erupted—now was not the time to act against the Third Prince, as it would be unprofitable.

Xu Zifeng understood this well—though he spent his days loafing in the capital, he knew the general deployment of the Tian Ce Dynasty’s military.

Second, intelligence on the Second Prince: according to a message from their mole inside the Great Expansion Divine Sect, the Second Prince had left the sect.

Based on travel speed, he likely had already arrived in the capital, though his exact activities remained unclear.

But one thing was certain—he had not returned to his own mansion.

Because Xu Zifeng had planted agents inside the Second Prince’s mansion.

Also, the sect master of the Great Expansion Divine Sect, Supreme Elder Tian Shang, had entered seclusion and was not appearing.

Xu Zifeng analyzed: “If so, Li Xian will strike during the Spring Hunt. He came early to prepare, so his master’s disappearance from public view is likely just a ruse—his person has probably already arrived in the capital. This will be quite the show.”

Finally, the most crucial intelligence—he needed reinforcements.

After Xu Zifeng was released from the great jail last time, he sent a letter to his father, asking him to summon the Witch King from the Witch Cult Holy Land.

The Witch King was a Saint Realm powerhouse and his father’s strategic ally.

After the Prince of the South decided to rebel, he had been courting powerful southern factions, and the Witch Cult Holy Land was among them.

Of course, someone of the Witch King’s caliber would never come personally, and Xu Zifeng couldn’t summon him anyway—he sent his top disciple instead.

People from the Witch Cult Holy Land might be mediocre in direct combat, but they excelled at covert sabotage.

Xu Zifeng’s goal was to wait until the Spring Hunt, when Li Chen and Li Xian fought to the death, so he could reap the benefits as the bystander.

After reading the message, Xu Zifeng burned the letter.

Since the Spring Hunt was still some time off, he only needed to wait for his reinforcements to arrive.

In good spirits today, Xu Zifeng left the wine shop, planning to check on his other covert sentinels.

When he arrived at a bustling commercial street, he was surrounded by a crowd.

“Xu Zifeng, do you remember me?”

The lead man stared at Xu Zifeng with arrogance, his eyes filled with hatred.

“Sorry, I’m not sure—who are you?”

!

Xu Zifeng asked, baffled.

Judging by his attire, this man was clearly a second-generation elite of the capital—likely here for revenge.

But Xu Zifeng had fought too many people to recall them all at once.

“Then I’ll make sure you remember—six months ago, in the entertainment house, you kicked me down from the second floor. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.”

The lead man spoke with growing fury.

Back then, if Xu Zifeng hadn’t interfered, he would have already been with the courtesan.

Xu Zifeng replied, exasperated: “Who remembers something from six months ago? If that’s all, I’m leaving.”

“Hmph, think you can just walk away? Not a chance! Get him—reclaim our honor!” The second-generation elite had come alone last time; this time, after recovering, he had brought several skilled fighters.

Xu Zifeng had planned to leave, but this elite had somehow recruited a Liuhé Realm expert as backup.

Xu Zifeng couldn’t escape—he was forced into battle.

In equal-rank combat, Xu Zifeng wasn’t afraid—he could finish any opponent within three rounds.

But just as the second round began, Lin Yue’e arrived.

That was the full story of how he got caught.

Lin Yue’e didn’t need to deliberately harass Xu Zifeng to arrest him.

Since arriving in the capital, Xu Zifeng had constantly provoked trouble, and many wanted revenge.

Even if he didn’t seek trouble, trouble always found him.

In the Prince of the South’s territory, Xu Zifeng had never lacked conflicts with others.

If Xiao Ming’s Saint-level soul fragment were to analyze him, it would conclude this boy had a trouble-prone constitution—he was either fighting, or on his way to fight.

Most importantly, the cultivation technique he practiced grew stronger through combat.

So once his meridians recovered, he could just find someone to fight.

That’s why, despite his lazy demeanor, his cultivation base surpassed Xiao Ming’s.

“Auntie, that’s how it happened—I didn’t deliberately cause trouble.”

In the government office jail, Xu Zifeng told his aunt Ji Lianyu.

Next door, the very group he had just fought was imprisoned.

Lin Yue’e hadn’t spared a single one—she arrested them all.

Even though Xu Zifeng claimed self-defense, the capital had no surveillance.

Moreover, any fight could be ruled mutual assault.

And they had fought in a busy district, clearly causing public disturbance—Lin Yue’e could impose a heavier punishment.

So both Xu Zifeng and the second-generation elite next door were sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.

(End of Chapter)