Free Web NovelChapter 241: Ximen Hao, To War!
— Ximen Clan —
Ximen Hao was usually busy working and learning the ropes of the heir position as usual. On the desk in his study, there were many petitions from various parts of the territories under the Ximen Clan’s management.
"Ugh... what kind of petition is this?" Ximen Hao muttered after reading a certain petition on his desk.
"What’s the matter, Young Master? Is there something wrong with the petition?" Ma Zhong, who stood beside him, asked curiously.
"Look at it yourself."
Ximen Hao handed the petition to his personal butler.
Ma Zhong received it and began reading. A moment later, his eyes turned cold.
"Preposterous!"
In anger, Ma Zhong was about to tear the petition apart, but a hand stopped him.
It was Ximen Hao, holding out his hand to signal Ma Zhong to stop before gesturing for the document to be returned.
"Don’t be angry. Who knows? Maybe this can be useful later," Ximen Hao said with a smile.
[To: Patriarch Ximen Hong
Subject: Petition to Denounce Ximen Hao and Alter the Order of Heirship for Acts of Treason and Endangering the Realm]
The petition had been sent by the governor of the province affected by the granary arson. He had used all of his influence to deliver it to Ximen Hong, denouncing Ximen Hao for endangering the realm and its people because of petty jealousy over Ximen Ren’s reputation.
Ximen Hao chuckled as he read the accusations all the way to the final line. He signed his name on the petition, then added another note and attached the investigation report.
Ma Zhong watched the young master he served. In his heart, he silently praised Wei Chen for the positive influence he had brought to Ximen Hao.
If this had happened before Young Master Wei entered his life, the old Ximen Hao would have flown into a rage, tracked down the person who submitted the petition, and sent someone to eliminate them.
"What are you planning to do, Young Master?" Ma Zhong asked.
"I’ll allow it. But if someone wants to denounce another person, they should be prepared to undergo strict investigation themselves, right? So..." Ximen Hao smiled. "I think I’ll give them the opportunity to be scrutinized by the Dawn’s Sentinel."
"The Dawn’s Sentinel? The Patriarch’s personal force?" Ma Zhong uttered in surprise.
"Yes." Ximen Hao’s smile grew cunning. "I should thank this fellow for giving me a solid excuse to mobilize my father’s personal force. Of course, I will also be subjected to their scrutiny. But since you know I didn’t do it, and since no one can buy the Dawn’s Sentinel’s loyalty, not even the Emperor, they will be the ones panicking this time."
Hearing Ximen Hao’s explanation, Ma Zhong could not help but feel a sense of awe. In the past, his young master used all of his cunning to chase women and bully others. Now that he had finally learned how politics and governance truly worked, he had completely transformed.
At this point, Ma Zhong could not thank Young Master Wei enough for bringing about this change.
While Ximen Hao was finalizing the documents and placing them on top of the pending pile, a commotion suddenly broke out outside his study.
In the sky above the Ximen Clan’s central square, a massive screen suddenly appeared, displaying the situation at the Emerald River near the border.
"Huh? What’s that?" Ximen Hao looked out the window toward the screen hanging in the sky.
"Wait..."
He then took out his U-Phone and opened the broadcast.
"Oh? A new public broadcast? What a surprise."
He turned toward Ma Zhong.
"Butler Ma! Tell the kitchen to make me a bowl of popcorn! I need it!"
"Yes, Young Master." Butler Ma bowed before leaving the room to instruct a servant to prepare the popcorn.
"Hmmm?"
Ximen Hao narrowed his eyes as he watched the broadcast.
The screen showed the army of the alliance formed by the three Hidden Ancient Forces. The camera then shifted toward Wei Chen and the forces of the Underworld Palace.
"Was that... the Underworld Palace’s force?" he muttered as he focused on the screen.
Then a certain person entered the frame.
"Lady... Lady Youqi?"
Ximen Hao stared at the woman dressed in office attire.
Then he remembered her legs. Those long, slender legs paired with those strange yet enticing red shoes.
The high heels.
....
At the raging battlefield, Wei Chen and Lady Youqi fought against the enemy army. Flames and the wreckage of battleships littered the area. Whether in the river, the forest, or along the riverbank, corpses were a common sight on this brutal battlefield.
The forces of the Underworld Palace fought bravely, and each of their skills was unmatched. But as the saying goes, a cup of water cannot put out a cartload of burning firewood. Their numbers were far too few to secure victory.
In the midst of the raging battlefield, screams and roaring battle cries reverberated through the air as spiritual qi, sword qi, and combat techniques flew everywhere. Rivers changed course, and sword arts ravaged the forest.
Wei Chen, wielding his signature White Bone Claw, killed until the river ran red. His peak Void Refining Realm cultivation churned out an endless supply of spiritual qi. His eyes were red from all the killing and bloodshed.
Lady Youqi also used her powerful cultivation to draw as many assailants toward herself as possible, hoping to lighten the burden on her warriors.
They fought. They killed. They covered each other’s openings. But although their bravery seemed endless, the same could not be said for their stamina, which was rapidly being depleted.
With each corpse that fell and with each enemy they cut down, fatigue continued to mount in their bodies.
The Underworld Palace gradually began to lose ground.
At this moment, the bald, ugly villain revealed his true intentions. He looked at Lady Youqi with eyes full of unconcealed lust.
The villain nodded toward his confidant, signaling him to activate the hidden formation.
"Hahahaha! I knew you would cause trouble for me, but I’ve come prepared, woman!" the ugly bald villain said with a malicious smile before channeling his power into the formation plate to activate the hidden formation.
"Arrrghhhhh!"
Lady Youqi screamed as her power was reduced to nothing. The formation was the Earth Binding and Heaven Forbidden Grand Formation. It could suppress even Immortal Realm experts and render their strength useless.
Lady Youqi fell to her knees, clutching her side, her eyes still blazing with defiance.
"Hahahaha! Woman, you can’t escape from me! Tonight I’ll properly take care of you in my bed!" the ugly villain declared as he strutted toward Lady Youqi with the smile of a victor.
"Lady Youqi!"
Wei Chen shouted in alarm as he rushed forward with his signature White Bone Claw combat technique.
But...
He was intercepted midway by a group of experts.
"You! You won’t win!" Lady Youqi declared defiantly.
"But I already have! Hahahahaha!" the bald, ugly villain laughed loudly as he reached his filthy hand toward Youqi, wanting to touch her jade-white skin.
"Stop this instant!"
A brave shout interrupted the villain just as he was about to act.
It was the voice of Young Master Ximen Hao.
Behind him, the vast army of the Ximen Clan and all of its hidden forces marched forward. Flying arks and battleships covered the sky as countless warriors descended to reinforce the Underworld Palace.
"Finally! Brother Ximen!"
Wei Chen smiled with hope as he looked at his good brother.
Young Master Ximen Hao, the most handsome and wealthiest young master, clad in powerful artifact armor, charged toward the bald, ugly villain.
"Ximen Hao!? Shit!"
The ugly villain cursed and immediately tried to seize Lady Youqi as a hostage.
But...
Slash! Slash! Slash!
With three strikes from the manifested sword energy of his artifact armor, the bald, ugly villain died without even leaving behind a complete corpse.
The most handsome and wealthiest Young Master Ximen Hao caught Lady Youqi in his arms. Her beautiful eyes looked at him with love and admiration.
"Young... Young Master Ximen..."
Lady Youqi spoke softly, her voice filled with shyness and gentleness.
"Are you alright, Lady Youqi?" the most handsome Young Master Ximen asked.
"I’m... I’m fine, Young Master Ximen... but... may I... may I stay like this with you for a little longer?" Lady Youqi asked. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
"Of course, Lady Youqi. You can stay with me for the rest of our lives," said the wealthiest Young Master Ximen Hao.
Lady Youqi, the most powerful woman of the Underworld Palace, looked at Young Master Ximen with trembling eyes. What she saw before her was a man she could fully accept, a man to whom she could devote her entire being and faithfully serve as her husband.
"Ah! Young Master Ximen!"
Lady Youqi cried out as she threw her arms around him and kissed him.
...
"Hahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHA! Butler Ma! Call everyone! We will go to war and help the Underworld Palace!" Ximen Hao shouted excitedly.
Ma Zhong: Huh?
