Martial Cultivator

After the matters were handled, Chen Chao saw Zheng Huacai to the gates of the Warden's Manor. Just before leaving, the old man took a few steps, then turned back. After a moment of silence, he said softly, "Lord Warden Commander, on the day of the court session, you likely won't be spared ridicule. When that time comes..."

Chen Chao raised a brow and smiled. "Does Elder think this official will beat people up in front of all the court officials?"

Zheng Huacai looked uneasy. "With Your Excellency's temper, it's not impossible..."

Chen Chao laughed despite himself. This old fellow was quite interesting.

"His Majesty allowed me to carry a saber into court. But this official can't actually use it to cut someone down, can I?"

Zheng Huacai let out a sigh of relief and whispered, "When the time comes, this old man will say a few words on Your Excellency's behalf."

Chen Chao asked curiously, "Elder isn't worried? Aren't you afraid that after one court session, you'll have no friends left?"

Zheng Huacai shook his head. "That's the one thing this old man has never feared in all my life."

Chen Chao smiled. "Then I thank you in advance, Elder."

This time, Chen Chao said nothing, he merely watched Zheng Huacai walk away.

After sending that old official away, before Chen Chao could even turn back, someone else had already arrived.

It was Song Lian, now serving as Right Guard Commander.

He came hurrying in, carrying a clay pot tied with hemp rope, complaining, "Lord Warden Commander, I really don't see what's so good about you that makes this lowly official's wife miss you so damn much."

Chen Chao sniffed and smiled. "Dried string beans with bamboo shoots?"

Song Lian snorted. "What else could it be?"

Chen Chao smiled slightly.

——

The grand court session arrived as scheduled.

Prior to today, the streets had already been cleared, making the already spacious avenues of the Divine Capital feel even broader. Officials who lived farther out had risen early, even before dawn, to make their way to the palace.

This grand court session held deep significance. It was the first since the Crown Prince had begun acting as regent, so every detail had been meticulously prepared. No one dared to be late, no one wanted to displease His Highness the Crown Prince at such a crucial time.

Though the Crown Prince was still young, everyone believed the Emperor would not return. The new sovereign was already as good as decided. Who would dare show negligence?

The time was not yet ripe, but once the Crown Prince fully grasped the reins of government, the day of his ascension likely would not be far off.

And by then, there would not be many in court or among the people with objections.

The Warden's Manor was not far from the imperial palace, so Chen Chao woke relatively late. He had had a good night's sleep. Upon waking, he let the servants dress him in the court robe delivered the previous day.

It was a black court robe, subtly embroidered with gold thread. At first glance, it looked entirely black, but upon closer inspection, one could see the refined details.

If Chen Chao had been granted a princely title, the court robe would have been replaced with a python robe.

Still, even this black court robe, worn on Chen Chao's tall and slender frame, stood out from the rest. Among all the attending officials, none could compare.

The servant fastened his jade belt and attached his pendants. But the most important thing was still the Cloud Mud hanging at his waist.

For this grand court session, he alone in the entire realm had the honor of carrying a saber into the palace.

Dressed and ready, Chen Chao stepped out of the Warden's Manor.

A modest but spacious carriage was already waiting. The driver was still an old acquaintance, Weng Quan.

Chen Chao boarded and closed his eyes to rest.

Weng Quan set the carriage in motion. Hooves and wheels began to roll.

As always, Weng Quan chatted nonstop along the way. But for once, Chen Chao was not annoyed. He even exchanged a few words, much to Weng Quan's delight. After Chen Wannian had arrived in the Divine Capital, he was persuaded by Chen Chao and had become the Left Guard Commander. Weng Quan, who had temporarily overseen the Left Guard, was not upset about being replaced. After all, Chen Wannian's cultivation was visible to all.

Weng Quan might be chatty, but he was not someone obsessed with rank. If not for his genuine admiration for Chen Chao, someone else could easily be driving this carriage.

"Your Excellency, this lowly official still remembers when you first arrived in the Divine Capital. You were riding in a prison cart. Now look at you, you're the highest-ranking martial official today! With the Great General absent, you're truly number one among the military officials!"

Weng Quan sighed, feeling moved. When he had first met Chen Chao, he never imagined that this young martial artist would achieve such success.

Chen Chao replied coolly, "Just luck."

"That's what this lowly official admires about Your Excellency most, even when you're high up, you're still willing to lie through your teeth when it counts. That's something that this lowly official can never master in this lifetime."

Weng Quan lamented.

Chen Chao remained expressionless. Sure enough, this guy never had anything nice to say.

"Your Excellency, why did you stop talking?"

Weng Quan had rambled on and noticed Chen Chao had not spoken in a while.

Chen Chao sighed. "Headache."

"Oh? Maybe Your Excellency's injuries haven't fully healed. Shall we skip the grand court session today? Even if Your Excellency doesn't go, it's no big deal... but this lowly official thinks you should at least show your face, if only to show face to the Crown Prince."

Weng Quan always had unexpected comments, Chen Chao had grown used to it.

"If this official doesn't go today, those civil officials will say that this official has no backbone left. You believe it?"

Chen Chao shook his head.

"True. Those bookworms are vicious with their words. If it were up to this lowly official, I'd round them all up and give them a beating, then they'd behave.

Weng Quan grinned as he said, "Just like when we went to the Shen Family, we tore the front gates right off!

Chen Chao was speechless.

After about half a stick of incense's time, Weng Quan suddenly shouted, "Your Excellency, not good, someone's blocking the road!"

Chen Chao raised an eyebrow, wondering who dared stop his carriage, when suddenly he heard the voices. It sounded like a group of women.

Chen Chao immediately barked, "Weng Quan, no matter what, break through!"

Weng Quan was outside the carriage at this moment, holding the reins with a grim face. Although he had seen similar incidents before, looking at the horde of countless women on the streets, he drew a cold breath too. Freaking hell, what kind of line-up was this?!

A horde of young women had completely blocked the street, eagerly watching the carriage. Countless of them were holding letters and handkerchiefs, eyes blazing as they looked at this horse carriage.

"How did they clean the streets?!"

Weng Quan was in a panic. He had barely moved the carriage a few paces when the crowd surged forward, tugging at him, stuffing letters into his hands.

Flustered and sweating, Weng Quan cried, "Your Excellency, I can't get through!"

Chen Chao's face darkened. He muttered, "Figure it out, for fuck's sake!"

Weng Quan gritted his teeth. He had to admire these Divine Capital women. somehow they had figured out which carriage was Chen Chao's and managed to camp here early, even bypassing the cleared streets.

Just as Weng Quan was stuck, a group of constables fortunately soon arrived. Under their efforts, they finally managed to force out a path.

Only then did Weng Quan urge the carriage forward in fear. He did not relax until he saw the gates of the palace.

The carriage stopped before the palace gates without difficulty. After all, those officials without sufficient rank did not dare to park their carriages here.

Chen Chao then stepped out from the carriage. The officials who had originally been preparing to enter the palace looked at him, and especially after seeing the saber at Chen Chao's waist, they all tacitly halted their steps, allowing Chen Chao to enter the palace first.

Regardless of what Chen Chao's reputation was now, he was indeed the number one military official of the Great Liang Dynasty. What ought to be done, had to be done.

When Chen Chao arrived before the palace gates, the guards' gazes toward this young Lord Warden Commander were somewhat fervent. In the end, they watched as this dynasty's only military official, honored with the privilege of entering the palace with a saber, stepped inside.

Chen Chao walked alone within the imperial city. The officials ahead of him would all turn their bodies to give way upon seeing him. As for the officials behind, upon seeing this figure, they would all voluntarily slow their steps.

For a time, this vast imperial city seemed to have only this one young man walking alone.

Chen Chao looked at the red walls and blue tiles and, for no reason, recalled that grand court session from that year. Back then, there had even been other foreign cultivators who trespassed into the imperial city.

Circumstances change with the passing of time. Chen Chao raised his head and looked at the sky, and suddenly a surge of heroic emotion welled up in him. With himself present here today, what cultivator would still dare to trespass into the imperial city?

Chen Chao shook his head and revealed a smile.

This young man, no longer a youth, as he walked, had never thought that one day, he would actually become the tallest mountain in the Great Liang Dynasty.