66: Chapter 66: The Great Yan Empire, Phoenix Pavilion

The next day, Qi Yin called Su Fan to him, gave him a few strings of cash and some name cards, and instructed, "Ugly Slave, I can't trust anyone else. There's something you must do for me. Some court officials were once my trusted subordinates. Take my name cards and test their loyalty for me, then report back."

Su Fan nodded, took the copper coins and name cards, and left the residence to handle the matter.

He also understood that Young Master Yin couldn't easily go out in person because he might be followed and watched. Even with his Grandmaster Realm cultivation, it wasn't convenient for him to act, so the task was given to him.

Su Fan was initially worried about being tailed, but surprisingly, no one paid him any attention. Relieved, he boldly visited Young Master Yin's former subordinates.

He hadn't expected Young Master Yin to have so many former subordinates—not only civil officials but also military officers, and even a deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. However, none of them had reached the Martial King Realm, so they were forced to submit to Qi Yuan's tyranny.

After returning, Su Fan relayed the responses of these former subordinates to Young Master Yin one by one.

Young Master Yin now had a clear picture. He patted Su Fan on the shoulder and said, "Ugly Slave, you've done well. From now on, you are a first-class servant in this residence and my trusted aide. Whenever you need money, go to the accounts office and draw it. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me."

It was only then that Su Fan made his request to go home and see his sister. Young Master Yin readily agreed and gave him a month's leave.

In addition, he rewarded him with a hundred strings of cash and arranged for a Great Martial Master Realm servant to escort him back.

When he saw that servant, Su Fan suddenly remembered—wasn't this the same man he had watched execute a criminal at the Donglin County office back then!

Staring at the black-clad servant, Su Fan clenched his small hands tightly, inexplicably nervous.

Unexpectedly, the black-clad servant bowed to him with great respect, clasping his fists: "I am Jing Ge."

Then this Great Martial Master Realm expert, named Jing Ge, personally drove the carriage for him.

Su Fan hadn't expected such respectful treatment and was momentarily stunned before climbing into the carriage.

Just as he was about to pull down the curtain, Jiang Ji appeared, leading Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai by the hand and catching up...

Jiang Ji gave him a set of girls' clothes and instructed, "These are for your little sister. Winter is coming, and it will get cold. Bring your sister to Zidu..."

Looking at this kind-hearted beautiful woman, Su Fan's worry for Yingzi deepened. His eyes grew hot, and he nearly cried, choking out, "Thank you, Mistress."

Qi Xiaobai called out from a distance, "Ugly Slave, remember to come back soon. I'll miss you..."

After saying this, as if embarrassed, he immediately turned and ran. Jiang Ji smiled at Su Fan and then went after Qi Xiaobai.

...

The wheels creaked, as if telling the passage of time, rolling over dust, over mountains and rivers...

Su Fan's mood was like those wheels—urgent yet heavy.

Like a wanderer returning home, he eagerly looked forward to reaching that small fishing village, where familiar scents and the people he cared about awaited.

"Yingzi, we have money now, we can eat our fill, and we have pretty clothes. Are you... okay?"

Clutching the clothes Jiang Ji had given him, his gaze fixed on the hundred strings of cash in the chest, Su Fan thought over and over of that little girl with a runny nose who used to follow him like a shadow...

...

[Finally back in Donglin County]

[Finally back in that small fishing village]

[You push open the door with a heavy heart]

[There's no sign of Yingzi in the house. You ask the neighbors, and they tell you that ever since you were taken away by the authorities, Yingzi disappeared and never returned.]

[You ask everyone in the village, then go to the town to ask, but they all say they haven't seen the little girl in a long time.]

[You even go to the county office and check the list of criminals and the list of deceased from the past six months, but you don't find the name 'Su Ying' anywhere.]

[Only after you have a portrait posted through the government office, offering a thousand cash reward, do you learn that she was taken away by a white-robed woman who could fly.]

[Based on bystanders' descriptions, you draw a rough likeness and attire of that flying white-robed woman, planning to ask Young Master Yin when you return to Zidu.]

[But failing to find your sister, you feel deeply disappointed.]

[Back home again, you pack some things Yingzi once used, and then set off with Jing Ge to return to Zidu.]

[Seeing your low spirits, Jing Ge offers a few words of comfort.]

[You are slightly surprised—can this seemingly cold-hearted Great Martial Master actually comfort people?]

[On the way back to Zidu, Jing Ge tells you some of his own story. He once had a younger sister, but she was kidnapped by bandits. When he led righteous men to burn down the bandits' lair and kill them all, he discovered that his sister had been tortured to death by the bandits...]

[From then on, he almost lost faith in people, believing that humans were the worst things in the world, especially those who did evil.]

[That's why he kills without blinking.]

[You tell him that there are also good people in the world, like the master and mistress.]

[Jing Ge deeply agrees, saying that to repay the master's kindness, he is ready to die for the master at any time...]

"A scholar dies for his bosom friend."

Su Fan said softly.

"What's that?"

Jing Ge's rough face showed a puzzled expression.

"I said... a scholar dies for his bosom friend."

Su Fan explained the meaning of the phrase to him.

After hearing it, Jing Ge gave Su Fan a thumbs-up: "Little scholar! I admire you. Besides the master, you're the one I admire most!"

...

[With Jing Ge's company along the way, your feelings of loss and melancholy lessen a bit.]

[After returning to Zidu, you present the portrait of the white-robed woman to Young Master Yin and ask him to identify her origin.]

[Young Master Yin looks carefully and tells you that it is the attire of a female warrior from the Fengqi Pavilion of the Great Yan Empire.]

[The Fengqi Pavilion is the main force of the Great Yan Empire. It only trains female warriors, who use despicable means like assassination, seduction, and poisoning against neighboring countries to eliminate key figures, gradually encroach on their territories, and even annex them, thereby expanding their own country.]

[Once, Great Yan was also a small country like the Shanhai Principality, but through the operations of the Fengqi Pavilion, it not only gradually grew into a super imperial kingdom twenty times the size of the Shanhai Principality but could even become a great Empire at any time.]

[After hearing this, you study the map of the Zhenwu Continent and realize that the Shanhai Principality is just a small patch on the map. The Martial King Realm is not the top tier; above it are Martial Venerable, Martial Emperor, Martial Saint, and Martial God. On this continent, Martial God is the highest Realm.]

[And the successive empresses of the Great Yan Empire have all fought their way out of the Fengqi Pavilion, reaching at least the Martial Emperor Realm...]

[But more than these, what you want to know is...]

[Why did they take Yingzi away?]