Chapter 196
Chapter 196: Steward
Upon hearing these words, Mu Qing Xia’s eyes widened in shock, but her body was immobilized, leaving her unable to see Li Mu Sheng clearly; she could only hear his voice. Still, judging by the tone, she could tell he was astonishingly young.
Yet someone so young had silently sealed her acupoints from afar without her noticing even the slightest trace.
[How is this possible?]
Mu Qing Xia couldn’t believe it. She had traveled extensively through the Martial World in her youth, and her alertness had always been keen, eyes ever vigilant, ears sharply attentive.
Yet earlier, she had been completely powerless against this secret Realm Sealing technique. This alone proved that her opponent’s martial dao cultivation and acupoint-sealing skill were both extraordinarily powerful.
In Mu Qing Xia’s view, someone possessing such strength simply couldn’t be so young.
However, Hu Rui An cared nothing for her confusion. Since Li Mu Sheng had given the command, he would immediately carry it out without question. He reached out decisively, Qi gathering in his palm, grasping Mu Qing Xia tightly and lifting her effortlessly. Turning back towards the Mei Residence, he addressed Li Mu Sheng respectfully: “Your Highness, let us go.”
Initially, Hu Rui An had intended to take command of Sheng Province’s Heavenly Brocade Guard, though he knew the obstacles were great—particularly the Mei Family, a formidable stone in his path.
Truthfully, he had felt little confidence earlier. Neither his social status nor his martial cultivation was sufficient to suppress the Mei Family. Instead, he risked being dominated himself.
Yet, everything had changed. With Li Mu Sheng, the Eighth Highness himself, intervening personally, they now utterly overwhelmed the Mei Family in both status and strength.
In Hu Rui An’s mind, tonight’s forced reassignment was already a foregone conclusion.
Now that he had Li Mu Sheng’s backing, Hu Rui An’s burdens had eased significantly. His role reduced merely to errands and chores, he naturally grew more diligent.
Li Mu Sheng slightly inclined his head, leading Wu Shang and the others to follow closely behind Hu Rui An.
Mu Qing Xia, dangling in Hu Rui An’s grasp, felt a tumultuous surge of anger and shock. She opened her mouth to voice her fury but suddenly found herself unable to utter even a single word.
This was naturally Hu Rui An’s doing—he feared her angry words might disturb Li Mu Sheng’s mood, so he’d promptly sealed her speech with Qi.
The big black cat also trailed behind them, trotting with curiosity. Its glowing green eyes frequently glanced at Mu Qing Xia as she dangled helplessly.
Mu Qing Xia’s expression changed rapidly—anger, resentment, worry, and anxiety all mixed upon her face—but her body remained utterly immobilized. Despite desperately trying to speak, no one paid her any attention.
The big black cat gave a few cheerful meows, appearing gleeful at her misfortune.
Mu Qing Xia clearly recognized this large cat. During the “haunting” incident at the Heavenly Brocade Guard’s Sheng Province branch, she had glimpsed this very cat. She had even suspected it was linked to the ghostly events and had attempted to capture it for investigation, though the creature had swiftly escaped. To her surprise, it now appeared alongside Hu Rui An’s group.
At this time, Hu Rui An strode boldly into Mei Residence, still carrying Mu Qing Xia. Seeing this shocking sight, the household servants panicked, hastily running to the rear courtyard to report.
Soon after, a group of guards appeared, swords and blades at the ready, cautiously surrounding Hu Rui An’s group—but none dared to attack.
They weren’t fools, after all. Even their madam, a powerful martial artist, had been easily subdued. For them to fight would merely be courting death.
Just then, a steward hurriedly supported a figure emerging swiftly from the rear courtyard.
“Release the madam! Everything can be discussed!” Mei Yan, pale-faced and dressed thinly as if he’d rushed straight from his bed, anxiously shouted as he approached.
Hu Rui An stopped, turning to look at Sheng Province’s Deputy Commander Mei Yan. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he spoke calmly: “With Lord Mei’s words, I’m relieved.”
After glancing briefly toward Li Mu Sheng, who waved his hand slightly, Hu Rui An straightforwardly addressed Mei Yan: “Then, Lord Mei, issue the order. Have Sheng Province’s Heavenly Brocade Guard set off immediately for Lan Province.”
Hearing this, Mei Yan’s brows furrowed deeply before realization flickered in his gaze. “So, you’re the group from Imperial Capital.” His previously weak expression hardened instantly, and he continued icily, “Then you should know who I am. Threatening an imperial official like this—have you no respect for Great Li’s laws? Is this how Fu Qi Wen taught you to behave?”
At this, Mei Yan exuded an aura of authority, accompanied by a trace of Heavenly Union martial power. Clearly, he intended to leverage his status and strength to intimidate Hu Rui An.
However, Hu Rui An merely cast him a mocking glance: “Lord Mei, spare me the nonsense. Do you really think we’d come without knowing your identity? Of course, if Lord Mei doesn’t actually care whether your madam lives or dies, you might as well say so openly.”
At this, Mu Qing Xia’s expression turned icy as she glared fiercely at Mei Yan.
Mei Yan hastily waved his hand at his wife, his expression shifting rapidly. Finally, he turned back to Hu Rui An: “Release the madam first. Only then will I consider your demand.”
Hu Rui An was about to respond when suddenly Mei Yan found himself uncontrollably rising into the air.
Li Mu Sheng’s voice then resonated clearly: “I’ve heard your Mei Family has committed quite a few misdeeds. Although I don’t have the time to handle those affairs right now, if you keep stalling like this, I’ll be forced to step in.”
As he spoke, a streak of talismanic light silently entered Mei Yan’s body.
“Lord Hu, I leave the rest to you. Whatever needs to be asked or done, just direct it to him,” Li Mu Sheng calmly instructed Hu Rui An.
In the next moment, Mei Yan felt as though thousands of ants were gnawing at his bones. An uncontrollable scream of agony erupted from his lips, making all who heard it shiver.
The big black cat initially puffed its fur at the sight but soon began to happily rub itself against Li Mu Sheng’s robes, purring contentedly at Mei Yan’s suffering.
Hu Rui An and his companions visibly shuddered, momentarily stunned by Li Mu Sheng’s frightening method of torment. However, Hu Rui An quickly regained composure, answering resolutely, “Your Highness, rest assured, I shall handle everything perfectly.”
Li Mu Sheng nodded slightly, then led the black cat away, leisurely sitting in a brightly-lit pavilion, no longer concerned with Mei Residence’s matters.
Shen An Ran and Wu Shang exchanged brief glances and quickly moved to assist Hu Rui An, joining him in resolving the remaining affairs.