186: The good news spread far and wide, and the city of Nanjing was in an uproar!

Imperial Guards!

And they have come by imperial decree!

"Quick! Go and inform the City Lord!"

A Guard rushed toward the interior of the manor.

Meanwhile, inside the City Lord's Manor.

Zhuang Bai was sitting in his study, leisurely sipping tea.

Ever since Li Qing left for the Royal Capital, a weight had been lifted from his mind.

Although he still couldn't stop thinking about that mysterious Spirit Turtle at the bottom of the river,

he could only pin his hopes on Li Qing.

He only hoped that Li Qing would achieve good results in the Martial Selection and not disappoint him.

Right at that moment,

"Bang!"

The door to the study was suddenly slammed open!

A Guard rushed in, looking panicked and practically scrambling on all fours.

"Ci—City Lord! It's—it's bad! Som—something terrible has happened!"

"What's with all this panic? Where are your manners!"

Zhuang Bai frowned and slammed his teacup onto the table, scolding him in displeasure.

"What happened?"

"It's—it's someone from the Royal Capital!" the Guard said, out of breath.

"The—the Imperial Guards! They have an imperial edict and are right outside the manor, de—demanding you come out to receive it!"

"What?!"

Hearing this, Zhuang Bai abruptly stood up from his chair!

His heart leaped into his throat with a "thump"!

Imperial Guards?

An imperial edict?

Could it be that Li Qing caused some catastrophic disaster in the Royal Capital?!

It's over!

I knew that kid's temperament would lead to trouble sooner or later!

Zhuang Bai's face instantly turned pale!

He didn't dare delay for a moment, quickly adjusting his clothes and rushing out of the manor at top speed.

When he reached the front gate and saw the Imperial Guard in golden armor, exuding an overbearing Aura and holding high a bright yellow scroll,

his legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed into a kneel.

"Th—this humble official, Zhuang Bai, City Lord of Jinling, was unaware of Your Excellency's arrival and failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive me!"

He bowed deeply to the Imperial Guard, maintaining an extremely humble posture.

After all, even a lowly servant of the Prime Minister holds some authority, let alone the personal Imperial Guards of the Emperor of Great Xia!

The Imperial Guard Martial Artist merely gave him a cool glance without saying much.

He dismounted, unfurled the imperial edict in his hand, and read aloud in a solemn and majestic tone:

"By the Grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"Zhuang Bai, City Lord of Jinling, has shown great discernment in talent and has recommended a worthy individual to the state. In discovering such a Qilin-like talent as Marquis Wuan, his contribution to the nation is great, and We are deeply pleased!"

"Therefore, We hereby bestow two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones and one Tier 4 Precious Pill, the 'Realm-Breaking Pill'!"

"Furthermore, he is to be transferred to the Royal Capital, promoted three ranks, and appointed as the Vice Minister of the Imperial Clan Court!"

"By Imperial Command!"

"..."

Zhuang Bai was completely stunned.

He knelt dazed on the ground, looking up at the Imperial Guard, his mind a complete blank.

What did he just hear?

Marquis Wuan?

A Qilin-like talent?

Bestowed two thousand Spirit Stones?

A Tier 4 Precious Pill?

Transferred to the Royal Capital and promoted three ranks?!

A hallucination!

This must be a damn hallucination!

He pinched himself hard.

"Hiss—"

The sharp pain instantly brought him back to his senses!

It's not a hallucination!

All of this is real!

"Lord Zhuang?"

The Imperial Guard looked at Zhuang Bai, who was kneeling on the ground with a dazed expression, and smiled.

He could certainly understand the situation and was even quite envious.

Li Qing was bound to have a meteoric rise and a bright future.

Zhuang Bai has truly gotten lucky!

"Won't you accept the decree?"

"Ah? Oh! Yes! I accept the decree!"

Zhuang Bai snapped out of it and hurriedly reached out with trembling hands to respectfully take the heavy imperial edict from the Imperial Guard.

"This humble official, Zhuang Bai, thanks Your Majesty for your grand benevolence! Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live!"

He was so moved that tears streamed down his face as he kowtowed three times heavily toward the direction of the Royal Capital!

It happened!

He gambled correctly!

He really did win his bet!

Back then, he had given the only pre-selected spot to that unknown young man!

And then he provided some resources to support him.

Now, he had received a hundredfold, even a thousandfold return!

"Hahahaha!"

Holding the imperial edict, he leaped up from the ground and laughed wildly at the sky, tears streaming from his eyes!

"I bet right! I was right! Hahahaha!"

.

Inside an ordinary residence in the West District of Jinling City.

Chen Shui was sitting in the courtyard, sighing.

Ever since his daughter Chen Meng transferred from the Fierce Wind Martial Arts Hall to Lingxiu Hall, the weight in his heart had never been lifted.

Although Lingxiu Hall was also a top-tier martial arts hall in Jinling City, it still felt somewhat lacking.

He always felt as though he had made the wrong decision back then.

Especially after hearing that the young man Li Qing, whom he had personally fired, had actually been chosen by the City Lord's Manor and given a pre-selected spot for the Martial Selection.

His heart felt even more stifled.

Although he and his daughter had been comforting themselves that this Li Qing would only ever make it this far in life,

that inexplicable irritability and unease simply wouldn't go away.

Just then.

"Father! Father!"

Chen Meng rushed in from outside, looking panicked.

There were still traces of undried tears on her face, and her bright eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.

"Menger? What's wrong? What happened?"

Chen Shui was startled and quickly stood up.

"Was—was someone at the martial arts hall bullying you again?"

"No, it's not that."

Chen Meng shook her head. She was out of breath and pointed outside, her voice trembling.

"It's—it's someone from the Royal Capital!"

"The Royal Capital?" Chen Shui was stunned.

"What does someone from the Royal Capital have to do with you?"

"It's—it's the Martial Selection!"

Chen Meng's chest heaved violently. She looked at her father and said each word emphatically.

"The results of the Great Xia Martial Selection are out!"

"The champion—it's—it's Li Qing!"

"..."

The expression on Chen Shui's face froze.

He stared blankly at his daughter for a long while before letting out a forced laugh.

"Menger, you—you must be joking. Same—same name, it must be someone with the same name!"

"It's not!" Chen Meng's tears finally burst forth, uncontrollable!

She cried out in a tone bordering on a breakdown.

"It's not just the same name! It's him! It's that Li Qing!"

"The Imperial Guards announcing the good news have already made the announcement throughout the city!"

"Marquis Wuan of Jinling City, Li Qing!"

"His Majesty even bestowed the Seventh Princess's hand in marriage to him!"

"Boom—!!!"

Chen Meng's words were like a thunderbolt from the Nine Heavens, striking Chen Shui right on the top of his head!

He felt his vision go dark as the world spun around him!

His body stumbled back uncontrollably for two steps before he collapsed onto the ground with a "thud".

"Marquis Wuan?"

"The Imperial Son-in-Law?"

"The young man he had heartlessly fired?"

"The little runt who, in his eyes, would struggle in the Slums his whole life with no hope of ever getting ahead?"

"No, it's impossible..."

"This is absolutely impossible!"