Li Mo had assumed that the residence of the renowned Southern Suppressing King would be a dazzling sight of splendor. To his surprise, aside from its vast size, the estate appeared utterly unremarkable.
The vermilion paint on the gate pillars had peeled off, the stone lion at the entrance was missing a tooth, and the courtyard walls clearly hadn’t been maintained in years.
Situated at the border between the imperial city and the inner city, the Southern Suppressing King’s estate stood in stark contrast to its surroundings. To its left, separated by just a wall, were the resplendent vermilion walls and glazed tiles of the palace. To its right, across the street, lay pavilions adorned with intricate carvings and painted beams.
Thus, the estate looked like nothing more than a boundary marker between the imperial and inner cities.
"We don’t live here often, so many things have long been sold off. Unfortunately, the land was bestowed by His Majesty and cannot be traded," Zhong Zhenyue sighed, patting the stone lion.
Clack—
The lion’s last remaining tooth fell to the ground.
After a moment of silence, Zhong Zhenyue pulled out half a rice ball from his pocket and stuck the tooth back onto the lion.
"...Old Zhong, where did you get that rice ball?"
"Oh, leftovers from breakfast. Thought I’d make do for lunch.""Things are this bad?"
Li Mo had recently noticed that Zhong Zhenyue wasn’t quite the same anymore.
Back in Yunzhou, Zhong Zhenyue had once splurged on a demon sect enchantress, tossing gold beans around as if they were worthless. Now, he was saving half-eaten rice balls...
Zhong Ling hopped off the carriage. "He only recently found out how poor our family is."
Well, if Li Mo hadn’t been to the southern borderlands, he wouldn’t have believed it either.
"Terror of the Southern Borderlands," "Third on the Earth Ranking," "Commander of hundreds of thousands of troops"—these phrases strung together would make anyone think of a mighty warlord.
But what if maintaining that army required digging into your own pockets, all while keeping them battle-ready?
"Then why not invest in the Southern Suppressing King?"
The thought came naturally to Li Mo.
Investing in the Southern Suppressing King would be akin to investing in the entire southern borderlands. By doing so, he’d no longer need to worry about martial insights...
But it might also drag him into certain whirlpools of trouble.
Best to meet the Southern Suppressing King first.
Zhong Zhenyue led Li Mo through a long corridor to the study, where several guards stood at the door alongside eunuchs in deep purple robes.
After one of the eunuchs announced their arrival, Li Mo and Zhong Zhenyue entered.
"Father."
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Li Mo clasped his hands in salute.
"Long heard of your fame, Little Overlord."
The Southern Suppressing King sat at his desk, a book in his left hand while his right moved chess pieces in a game against himself.
Dressed in casual attire, he looked more like an idle middle-aged man than a military commander.
What surprised Li Mo even more was that the Southern Suppressing King had addressed him by that ridiculous nickname—one only used by the jianghu’s free spirits.
Among the jianghu, a round of drinks and a few words could turn strangers into friends.
Instantly, Li Mo felt the Southern Suppressing King shed his imposing aura, becoming far more approachable.
Is this really the Southern Suppressing King?
[Name: Zhong Qin]
[Age: 47]
[Constitution: Pillar of Heaven]
[Cultivation: Peak of the Dharma Body]
[Fate: Gold tinged with gray]
[Evaluation: Ranked third on the Earth Ranking, the Pillar of the Southern Borderlands. Yet his greatest strength lies not in martial arts but in his peerless mastery of warfare and command.]
[Recent Events: Implementing land reforms in the southern borderlands, allowing soldiers and civilians to farm for themselves. Long viewed as a thorn in the court’s side, his prestige in the south now overshadows even that of the Great Yu imperial family...]
"Uncle Zhong, what brings you to summon me today?"
Little Li was ever the charmer with elders.
Zhong Qin poured him a cup of tea.
"In the southern borderlands, you risked life and limb without regard for personal gain. I’ve been thinking of how to repay you."
"After much deliberation, I figured you wouldn’t care much for fame or fortune."
Well, I do care a little about fame... Li Mo knew himself well.
"So, would you be interested in learning the art of commanding armies?"
......
Step Cloud Tower.
"It allows me to merge the Hundred Avians’ Phoenix Form with the Lunar Yin Form."
As dusk settled outside, Ying Bing withdrew her consciousness from the seed of the Bronze Divine Tree, concluding her daytime cultivation. Her gaze then fell upon the illustrated book left on the tea table.
Shang Qinqing had "accidentally forgotten it" when she left earlier.
"Why do so many people enjoy reading these?"
"And this is a special collector’s edition..."
Since night hadn’t fully fallen yet, Ying Bing picked up the latest chapter of The Tyrannical Empress Falls for Me. Before she could even flip a page, the wind blew it open for her.
If Li Mo were here, he’d surely mock Senior Brother Ouyang for being a natural at this craft.
With a title like that, no wonder the book sold all the way to the imperial capital...
The content was even more outrageous.
"..."
Ying Bing turned a page, her eyes glazing over slightly.
"If we marry, there will be a thousand pointing fingers, rumors that crush bones..."
......
"If a sincere love is placed before me, and I fail to cherish it... If I must set a time limit on this love..."
......
"First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to parents!"
"At a time like this, you’re still calling me ‘Master’?"
"...Husband."
Well then.
The Tyrannical Empress Falls for Me was updating at breakneck speed. Ouyang, working overtime, had already rushed the plot to the wedding. Unfortunately, the story stopped right after the bows, just before the bridal chamber.
"Why does it end here?"
"At least finish drawing it..."
At first, Ying Bing had been indifferent, but by the end, she was reluctant to put it down. Then, suddenly, her eyes widened in realization.
How had she unknowingly finished the entire book?
And... why had she found it so immersive?
Hmph, must be because the illustrations were too captivating...
She glanced at the darkening sky and stood to head downstairs.
"Huh? Where’s my book? I wasn’t done yet—who took it?"
In the main hall, Shang Qinqing cleared her throat loudly the moment Ying Bing approached.
"Little Bing, any idea where it went?"
"There’s one in my room. Not sure if it’s yours." Ying Bing replied impassively, avoiding eye contact.
"Ah, this volume was oddly engaging. I only got halfway—what happened next?"
"I didn’t read it."
Ying Bing’s jade-like face remained serene, completely unfazed by the trap.
Shang Qinqing rested her chin on one hand. "What a shame. I heard the plot was dreamed up by someone we know, then handed to a Qingyuan Sect disciple to illustrate."
"Really?"
"Hehe..."
Shang Qinqing’s narrowed eyes brimmed with mischief.
Whether Ying Bing had read it or not, she’d already decided to ship the pairing.
"?"
Ying Bing pressed her lips together, unsure if Shang Qinqing had seen through her. Then she lowered her gaze toward the outside.
It’s so late already.
Why hasn’t he come back?
Southern Suppressing King’s Estate.
"There’s no rush. You can learn military strategy at your own pace. As for funding, forget it—it won’t benefit you. Will you stay for dinner?"
Zhong Qin stood before a sand table, awaiting an answer.
"I won’t impose. I should head back to cook."
Li Mo clasped his hands respectfully, slightly disappointed the investment hadn’t panned out. Still, he understood the Southern Suppressing King’s goodwill—he didn’t want to drag Li Mo into danger.
Guess I’ll have to find another approach...
"By the way, Uncle Zhong, during my travels in the southern borderlands, I noticed many villages are no longer isolated. They frequently come to Greenwood City for trade, and their local specialties would likely sell very well in Great Yu."
After speaking, Li Mo glanced at the sky and quickly took his leave.