Chapter 491: Duke leads the troops, iron hooves enter the capital!

It's the same starting from an individual, the same starting from a hero, the same targeting the dark side of people's hearts, the same ruining what was originally good.

Being able to list so many common points, Ji Ming now has over eighty percent confidence to investigate these events jointly, cross‑corroborate them, and drag out the mastermind for a harsh interrogation.

Moreover, upon careful thought one finds that, compared with the other four, the goal of the Holy Tree Restoration Organization possesses a natural superiority.

First, the era of the Sacred Tree where the Nine Sacred Clans resided is too distant; even its final collapse happened five hundred years ago, plus the several thousand years of change beforehand, making it nearly impossible to investigate what people and things were like back then.

In contrast, the Restoration Organization exists in the same era as us, differing only in distance; its core members are all long‑eared folk, each a longevity‑blessed elder who couldn't die even if hanged daily, so investigating the past poses no difficulty—this is one victory.

Second, investigating the mystery of Little Lion's sudden death is extremely narrow: the involved party survived but suffers amnesia, related figures are mostly deceased, leaving only a theoretic ally who actually had no part—Archbishop Tenisi—making the inquiry pure futility.

Conversely, the Restoration Organization's calamity has lingered for a millennium, its vitality extremely robust; not only General Aslan of the prison survived, even Priestess Su Laya of the prison lived, plus there is a complete knowledge‑library archive—enough evidence for Ji Ming to film at least three episodes—this is a second victory.

Next, although the lineage of successive Sun Kings is roughly clear, the concrete situation is incredibly tangled—every king had countless concubines and offspring, weaving a relationship network more complex than that of *Crusader Kings*, a veritable *Five Hundred Years of Solitude*; Ji Ming lacks the village‑old‑lady intelligence network, so who could sort this out?

In contrast, the Restoration Organization's long‑eared folk, though they lost their nation and were awakened from a gilded dream, bear an innate debuff that hinders reproduction; even the elf with the most offspring so far has only four children, and they are half‑elves—this is a third victory.

Then, acquaintances in the Royal Court of Shen Lin Wang Guo are scarce; Ji Ming currently knows only one war‑horse maiden, Ke Li Si Ting, who, though said to have earned genuine merit for the Third Prince, still has shallow roots, her standing in the jianghu likely inferior to that of the recent soft‑rice prince consort.

On the other hand, the Restoration Organization's irreplaceable sage is my mother, the priest enthusiastic about internal affairs is my aunt; they now seek me, wanting this round‑eared one to give a platform to those long‑eared folks who know nothing but extremes—this is a fourth victory.

Lastly, the Holy Tree Restoration Organization's scale is just right—not too big, not too small; given Ji Ming's current strength, he has full confidence and ability to grasp it completely, making it the ideal entry point for investigating the remnants of the Dark Flame—this is a fifth victory.

So even if Lao Nv Shi kept giving him looks, Ji Ming pretended not to notice, focusing single‑mindedly on pumping Su Laya for information, gaining much intel about Shen Lin.

Although the subjective component is surely large—for instance, Ke Li Si Ting is certainly not the "bloated, horse‑faced ugly thing" she described—it still gives Ji Ming a rough grasp of Shen Lin's internal reality, further confirming some of his conjectures about Shen Lin Wang Guo.

—Heh, though it looks fierce on the surface, its internal contradictions are quite sharp; no wonder even a few feather‑brained long‑eared elves can't straighten it out.

And Lao Nv Shi gradually realized Ji Ming was just pumping her for talk, saw he had bounds, and stopped obstructing him, letting him chat with the lunatic for a long time.

They talked until the sky turned fully bright, when shouts of large troops moving through the wilderness reached them, and only then did they barely stop.

"Oh dear, chatting with my beloved nephew is so delightful I lost track of time without noticing."

"It seems the matter at Fallen God Peak is settled, the radiant folk have freed up their hands and rushed over; it's not early, so I should take my leave."

She left Ji Ming a contact method, Su Laya cast a spell, and turned back into that imposing black matriarch whose stare makes it hard to muster courage.

Then, twisting her ball‑round body, she swung a few times on the branches like Tarzan, and vanished into the forest.

Ji Ming and Buluowa likewise lingered no longer in the woods, concealed their traces, and in one breath reached a small town outside the royal hunting grounds before stopping.

However, with such a big event having occurred in the mountains, this place is already in utter chaos— the timid flee outward, the bold rush inward, creating a tumultuous hubbub.

Thus only after they paid a high price to secure a room at an inn did they finally have a place to talk.

Waiting for the servant to bring hot soup and bread, Lao Nv Shi locked the door from inside and turned around.

"You speak first, I speak after?"

"Please, you go first."

"Alright, then I'll start."

From Yang Guang City to the royal hunting grounds one must cross half of Hui Guang, from spring to midsummer—a distance of tens of thousands of li—Lao Nv Shi's appearance here is certainly not a whim.

In fact she set out half a month ago, and what prompted this super‑sloth‑like elder to relocate was a letter from Archbishop Tenisi.

Indeed, she brought two important juniors along on a long journey; ever since leaving Yang Guang City, Tenisi has periodically sent letters to Buluowa.

Considering the relationship between the two elders is practically sister‑like, calling it a family letter is no exaggeration.

The most recent of these was written after Tenisi left Qixia City and arrived at the Black Water fief of Elinor's domain.

Although this fief's development potential is low, its advantage lies in being the southern part of the kingdom's eastern border, where controls are not so strict, allowing a bit of breathing room.

They have already taken root here, planning first to grant the populace a year's tax exemption to stabilize livelihood, then use savings to recruit a small knight squad for diligent training to improve local security, first figuring out the fields before moving on.

And after finishing her own account, she naturally did not forget to mention Ji Ming's side, saying he had recently been a lecturer at Saint Valentine's Magic Academy, teaching a course titled *Therapeutics* with vivid flair.

For Ji Ming this is quite normal—if you want to pursue scholarship, why not go to school? The Holy Light Church's sole medicinal concoction is holy water blessed by the deity in the chapel; you can't learn alchemy by secluding yourself on the holy mountain.

But for Buluowa this is nothing short of being assaulted by the memories of the dead; after all, when she was a sage years ago she also ran several teaching cohorts, never expecting Ji Ming to tread the same path as her.

Moreover, Lao Nv Shi could previously rest easy in Yang Guang City because she knew she was cursed by the True God, incurable, with death and dissolution merely a matter of time.

Thus having a suitable successor to inherit her mantle already satisfied her; in the final moments of her life she could finish what she could, then peacefully await death.

But now she has been granted an extra millennium of life at once; the Damocles' sword hanging over her head vanished instantly, and this change in circumstance inevitably brings a shift in mindset and thought.

Furthermore, with the city's clinics and hospitals proliferating like springs, we have entered a pattern of fishing three days and drying nets two; AdaiEr, who wholeheartedly aims to inherit her father's trade and build giant mechs, still occasionally shows up at the material shop to see her.

"Ah, the doctor's been gone from Yang Guang City for nearly half a year, huh, and you haven't even sent a reply letter?"

Ji Ming: "Er…"

"You wouldn't be wondering who AdaiEr is, would you?"

"No no no, I remember!"

Actually, this isn't entirely Ji Ming's fault; as a child his parents divorced, he was kicked around like a ball by both families, relying solely on hustling everywhere to work‑study, until he finally graduated college and became truly independent.

Although he moved around during that process, he never had any "family members" growing up, so how could he know that when parents travel far, one must write home to report safety?

Thus he simply forgot about it in splendid fashion; had Tenisi not mentioned Ji Ming in his family letter, Lao Nv Shi would likely have come after him, strung him up, and whipped him.

Nevertheless, even so, half a year has passed, and with her grand‑daughter AdaiEr's complaints, Lao Nv Shi still felt the urge to go out for a walk, at least to visit Qixia City.

Yet along the way she wasn't in a hurry, treating it like reviewing students' scores, she traveled north with a wanderer's mindset, retracing the path they had taken.

She spent a full half month, also having several encounters with the so‑called Pioneers, and only arrived at the southern Giant Gate Pass of Qixia City late last night.

Then, contrary to expectation that the city gate should stay open twenty‑four hours for merchants' business, processing passage nonstop, it was inexplicably shut tight and barred her way.

"The royal hunting grounds have changed; superior orders temporarily close the gate, permitting only designated personnel to pass—please wait outside for now!"

Several wagons loaded with fish were hauled forward by merchants begging the officials for leniency, even producing sacks of coin, yet the guards who kept spitting them out drove them back.

"No way! This is the king's command; I've heard dukes everywhere have already moved—if something goes wrong we couldn't bear the responsibility!"

But those stopped outside the gate weren't only merchants; under the emperor's feet nobles are as numerous as sand, plus many of their heirs and even marital ties.

They wouldn't care about the life or death of a lowly city guard, immediately began shouting and thrashing, using threats and bribes to try to force the gate open.

"I… you dare defy the king's order!"

These young soldiers are undoubtedly diligent; after issuing a warning once, they snatched up their implements and prepared to strike.

But before the stick could fall on the villain, the squad captain who had rushed over upon hearing the news slapped him across the face.

What are you doing? What are you doing! These dignitaries are not someone you can afford to offend!

After a head-to-toe dressing-down, he then put on a fawning face so over-the-top it could raise the dead, and ordered his men to quickly open the side gate.

Oh dear, please excuse them, these raw recruits have only just arrived and don't know the rules.

As for this royal command, heh heh, there's a period each year when it's just a formality, so please don't mind it, try to be understanding, hah...

But before his third chuckle could even escape, a deep, earth-shaking thunder rolled from the horizon, making the whole ground tremble violently.

The unaware populace panicked, faces full of alarm: 'An earthquake?!'

A few experienced caravan guards, however, turned pale: 'No, this is...'

In an instant, a large band of black-clad cavalry surged like a tide along the specially cleared rapid passage and raced to the front of Giant Gate Pass.

Their military bearing was neat, their advance and retreat orderly, their commands followed—so much so that, though they clearly numbered over a thousand strong, they moved as solidly as a single arm extended by a giant.

The magic lamps mounted on the gate tower also illuminated the two kinds of flags held aloft by the knights: one bearing a howling, vigorous tiger, and the other two battle-axes crossed.

—This is also the crest of the Duke of Xiguang and the Xiguang Knight Corps.

So the leading man clearly hadn't even removed his helmet, yet the complex aura intertwining bloodshed and nobility was already enough to reveal his identity.

«Du… Duke…»

The captain of the guard forced an ugly grin, about to order his men to ignore those useless little masters and quickly have the great master open the main gate—the regular army is coming!

Then he saw the duke raise the whip in his hand, signaling toward the side door not far off that had already been opened a crack.

«Who did this? »

The guard captain was instantly stunned into stupidity, and hurriedly explained.

«Sir… sir… I was only…»

But all he got in return was the duke raising his chin, calm and indifferent.

«Violating the royal decree—kill him. »

«Huh? »

The next second, a sharp sword was drawn with a clang by the duke's personal guard beside him.

By the time the blade was sheathed again, the guard captain lay on the ground, a headless corpse.

One must admit, using a fresh human head as a knock‑on‑stone to open the pass, the duke's clearance efficiency could well be the highest in Giant Gate Pass's history.

Likewise, having that head as leverage, the soldiers who had just made concessions slammed the side gate shut again, their words fierce.

«Enter? Nobody's getting in, you bastards! »

Although because of this, the crowd of civilians and transport teams piling up outside the pass keeps growing, Buluowa will certainly not be stopped by a mere gate.

However, a major noble of ducal rank with real power, swiftly bringing troops to the capital, is definitely a turning‑point‑level event in any world or country.

Moreover, after she crossed Giant Gate Pass, she found that the area around the royal city was teeming with troops everywhere.

Judging by the patterns on the banners, it seemed that every lord nearby who could be named had brought troops here to join the grand occasion.

«Huh? »

She hurriedly found an inn still open to ask for news, and only then learned that the trouble was in the royal hunting ground north of the royal city.

A million magic beasts descending from Divine Mountain—if they can't be stopped, perhaps tens of thousands of unlucky students will die, and it might even endanger the royal capital!

Lao Nv Shi felt nothing at all about this, after all, I'm a pointy‑ear—whose son lives or dies among humans is none of my business.

Anyway, Ji Ming is now teaching in the royal capital; he's probably resting peacefully in his dormitory, so he definitely won't……

«Done for! »