Liver into a martial arts legend: starting with Embroidered Spring Blade

Chapter 176 Powerful Suppression: Fist is Power!
As dusk fell, the atmosphere in the main hall of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters was extremely solemn.

Yu Huatian and Jiang Xuan stared at each other calmly, facing each other directly. Although his tone was calm, it revealed his inherent arrogance. He was unwilling to accept Jiang Xuan's arrangement to take a seat, thus falling behind the other person in the first step.

"presumptuous!"

Xu Longqing suddenly stood up and said coldly, "This is my Embroidered Uniform Guard's territory, not your Western Depot. The Commander is already giving you a lot of face by arranging a seat for you. What more do you want?!"

"My master's face is given by the Emperor, and he doesn't need anyone else to give it to him!" Ma Jinliang immediately stepped forward to confront Xu Longqing head-on, showing no fear whatsoever.

shhhhh--

An Jianqing, Lu Jianxing, Ding Xiu, and the others stood up one after another, without saying a word, but they all stared coldly at the two uninvited guests who were trying to climb on their heads and defecate.

They dare to be so arrogant in the territory of the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Do they really think they're pushovers?!

The atmosphere was tense for a moment.

Yu Huatian narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on Jiang Xuan, who was sitting in the upper seat. He said slowly, "Governor Jiang, are you sure you can bear the responsibility if the Emperor investigates after you've made such a big fuss?"

"Are you threatening me?"

Jiang Xuan spoke, his tone equally calm, but as soon as he finished speaking, a domineering and heavy aura was released, enveloping the entire yamen hall.

For a moment, everyone in the hall felt an invisible pressure.

Yu Huatian and Ma Jinliang were the first to be affected, and they felt incredibly heavy, as if they were carrying a towering mountain of knives, making it difficult for them to breathe and causing their bones to crack.

thump!
Finally, Ma Jinliang was the first to succumb to this domineering aura. His body went limp, and he immediately knelt down, his face flushed red, and his head drooped so low that he could not lift it.

Yu Huatian was speechless with shock. He hadn't expected that he couldn't withstand even a mere pressure. Was this the power of an intent?!
"While I am fortunate to have the Emperor's favor, I have earned my position through my own hard work, bit by bit. Solving cases, making meritorious contributions, executing Wei Zhongxian, fighting the White Lotus Sect... I have come this far without any family background or connections; I have relied solely on myself."

"As far as I am concerned, even if everything I have now is reduced to ashes in an instant, I can simply start over. You, a man who rose to power by relying on women, have just gained power and come here to show off your power? And you even use the Emperor to intimidate me?"

Jiang Xuan's voice was soft, but everyone could hear the overwhelming rage within it.

This move is tantamount to tearing off the mask of civility.

Everyone knew what Yu Huatian's purpose was in coming here, but no one expected that this guy would be so fierce and daring to directly confront Jiang Xuan, relying on the emperor's favor.

Didn't he know that Jiang Xuan was also known as the "Overlord Blade" in the martial arts world?
This wasn't something I declared myself; it was something I earned through hard work and experience.

How dare you display your arrogance and uniqueness in front of Jiang Xuan? Isn't that just courting death?
Do you really think everyone will indulge you?

A gloating smile flashed in Cao Zhengchun's eyes, and the members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard also showed a mocking expression.

"I... dare not!" Yu Huatian practically spat out these four words through gritted teeth. At this moment, he no longer cared about saving face. If he continued to stubbornly insist on it, he would have to kneel down, and then he would lose even more face.

He never expected that Jiang Xuan would be so domineering and fierce, showing no regard for his status and tearing off the mask of civility with a single sentence.

Most importantly, Jiang Xuan's strength far exceeded his expectations.

With just a single aura, he was overwhelmed and unable to breathe, making it difficult for him to resist. He dared not imagine how terrifying the strength would be if he went all out!
call!
As soon as he finished speaking, the oppressive aura gradually dissipated.

Yu Huatian breathed a sigh of relief. Before he knew it, his whole body was soaked in sweat, which showed how much pressure he had just been under.

Ma Jinliang also quickly got up, his face still flushed, his eyes filled with anger and humiliation.

Before he could even stand still, Jiang Xuan had already spoken: "Go outside and wait. You're just a mere seventh-rank guard; you have no right to speak here."

Ma Jinliang was furious: "You..."

"Jinliang!"

Yu Huatian quickly spoke up to stop him, looked up at Jiang Xuan with a gloomy face, suppressed his anger, and cupped his hands, saying, "Since Governor Jiang has no intention of talking, I will take my leave."

At this moment, he dared not utter any more harsh words, and for him, it would only bring him greater humiliation and have no other purpose.

Jiang Xuan's mere aura was enough to shatter his previous confidence completely!

After saying that, he turned around and left with Ma Jinliang.

But then, Jiang Xuan suddenly said, "If you walk out of this door, I will kill you tonight. Even if you hide in the palace, you will still die. If you don't believe me, you can try and see if Consort Wan can protect you."

Yu Huatian paused, his eyes finally filled with humiliation and anger. He gritted his teeth and looked at Jiang Xuan: "What exactly do you want?!"

Swish!
Jiang Xuan waved his hand, and the chair next to him moved to the center. Jiang Xuan pointed and said, "If you want to talk, sit down. If not, we'll start fighting tonight."

Yu Huatian almost couldn't help but leave in a huff, but when he thought of the terrifying aura that seemed capable of easily killing him, he ultimately dared not take the risk.

This madman, if pushed to the limit, might really be capable of anything!

As a fellow grandmaster, he never imagined that Jiang Xuan would be so terrifying!
He suppressed his humiliation and resentment, and slowly sat down.

Bang!
The gate closed, and Ma Jinliang was 'invited' out.

In an instant, the situation completely reversed.

Yu Huatian was no longer as composed and elegant as before. He sat in the middle of the hall with a gloomy face, facing everyone as if he were being interrogated by three judges. He was filled with anger and humiliation, but he could only suppress it and stare at Jiang Xuan with bloodshot eyes.

Jiang Xuan ignored him, calmly looking at him, and said indifferently, "Power is indeed a fascinating thing."

"You were able to stand out from the harem and catch the emperor's eye. Although you rose to power through women, you still have some ability."

"Since the Emperor values ​​you, I am willing to give you this opportunity as well."

"We are all serving the Emperor and protecting the palace. I do not wish to make things difficult for you. Just like Eunuch Cao, we should keep to ourselves and not interfere with each other. We don't necessarily have to be enemies. In fact, we can be friends."

"But you shouldn't have tried to use me to establish your authority, or to climb over me to the top. Do you think you have the ability to do that?"

"You are also a martial artist, you should understand that rules are only used to restrain the incompetent and weak. I have risen from a mere captain to where I am today, do you think I am a weakling in your eyes?"

"Or do you think you're stronger than Wei Zhongxian back then?"

"Even Wei Zhongxian died at my hands, so what are you?"

Yu Huatian remained silent with a sullen face; he had indeed underestimated Jiang Xuan.

Firstly, he believed that although Jiang Xuan's reputation had soared in recent years, all his power came from the emperor. Once he lost favor, all his power and prestige would vanish, and then he could gradually erode Jiang Xuan's power and take his place.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Xuan's personality was so strong and domineering that he didn't care about the matter at all and directly broke off relations with him, clearly disregarding the rules of the game.

If he were to truly confront Jiang Xuan head-on today, he dared not imagine what insane things Jiang Xuan might do.

This guy really doesn't intend to continue working in the imperial court.

In his view, if the roles were reversed and it were him, it would only mean temporarily losing favor. He could simply lie low for a while and there might be a chance to rise again in the future. Why be so ruthless and leave himself no way out?

But Jiang Xuan is just so stubborn and resolute, he's practically a madman!

Secondly, Jiang Xuan's martial arts skills far exceeded his expectations.

He originally thought that with his martial arts skills, even if he couldn't compare to Jiang Xuan, he shouldn't be too far behind. Just like when Zhu Youjian asked him, even if he couldn't defeat him, he would be more than capable of protecting himself. In that case, even if he really forced Jiang Xuan into a desperate situation in the future, he wouldn't have to worry about Jiang Xuan resorting to desperate measures.

But he didn't expect that Jiang Xuan's mere aura would make him feel what despair truly meant.

Now that we have such terrifying strength, why should we continue to abide by any so-called rules of the game?

Such a person, even amidst a vast army, could retreat with ease; worldly laws simply could not punish him. Yu Huatian sighed inwardly, experiencing the taste of defeat for the first time.

Jiang Xuan glanced at him and continued, "You're a smart man. You should understand that in this world, the strong are respected, and power is always matched with strength. Fist is power."

"Those who presume to seize greater power before they have sufficient strength always meet a tragic end, just like Wei Zhongxian before them."

“In this capital city, there may be someone who can kill me, but that person is definitely not you.”

"So, before you have enough strength to kill me, you'd better know your place and not try to challenge my bottom line."

"The reason I'm speaking to you behind closed doors today is because I still want to play this game within these rules. If one day I'm forced to stop playing in this game, then nobody can play anymore."

Yu Huatian remained silent, but he understood Jiang Xuan's meaning.

If he wants to secure his position as the head of the Western Depot, he should turn a blind eye to things and keep to himself.

Otherwise, if Jiang Xuan flips the table, none of them will have an easy time, and... he might even be in mortal danger.

"This is my reminder to you; you can also take it as a threat."

Jiang Xuan said no more, waved his hand, signaling Xu Longqing at the door to open it, and said, "Let's go. The people the Western Depot wants will be sent to you by the Governor tomorrow. But if any of my brothers in the Embroidered Uniform Guard get into trouble in the Western Depot, I will hold you responsible."

"Thank you... Lord Jiang!" Yu Huatian felt extremely aggrieved, but he still forced himself to bow and express his gratitude.

Having said that, he could no longer hold back, got up, and left with a flick of his sleeve.

They arrived in glory and with an air of elegance, but left in a disheveled and utterly dejected state.

"Master Supervisor!" Ma Jinliang, who had been driven to the door, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yu Huatian walk out safely. He quickly stepped forward and asked, "Master Supervisor, are you alright?"

"Let's go!" Yu Huatian said through gritted teeth, taking three steps at a time to quickly leave the Jinyiwei yamen. Only then did he feel safe, and the feeling of being pricked by thorns dissipated somewhat.

Ma Jinliang spoke indignantly: "Chief Supervisor, Jiang Xuan has openly defied the imperial decree and even dared to humiliate you. This is simply outrageous! We must immediately go to the palace to report this matter to the Emperor. We should take this opportunity to eliminate him and completely control the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Yu Huatian did not reply, but turned back to look at the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office, his expression extremely complicated.

Since he latched onto Consort Wan's coattails, everything went smoothly for him. Not only did he get to sleep with her, but he also accidentally obtained the Sunflower Manual, a secret technique circulating in the palace. In just over a year, his martial arts skills improved by leaps and bounds, and he even broke through the Heavenly Barrier and reached the Grandmaster realm.

This allowed his ambition to swell rapidly. He then whispered in Consort Wan's ear, persuading her to help him gain the Emperor's attention and take charge of the Western Depot.

He thought that from then on, he could rise to the top, replace the emperor's most trusted confidants Jiang Xuan and Cao Zhengchun, and become the second Wei Zhongxian, holding absolute power and second only to the emperor.

Unexpectedly, before he could even achieve his goal and enjoy his glory for a few days, he encountered the strongest opponent of his life and suffered such humiliation.

The reason for this was that he overestimated himself and underestimated his opponent.

"However... it's good to be warned in advance and understand all of this."

"Fist equals power? Jiang Xuan, I will remember this lesson you learned today! The humiliation I suffered today, I will personally repay you in the future!"

Yu Huatian glanced deeply at the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office, his eyes cold, and without saying a word, strode away.

Being born into poverty is not a disgrace; being able to bend and stretch is what makes a true man!

He understood this principle a long time ago; otherwise, he could not have stood out from tens of thousands of eunuchs and climbed to his current position.

Jiang Xuan's attitude today changed his previous thoughts.

Temporary honor or disgrace is nothing, but if it angers Jiang Xuan and makes him desperate to attack me, I will have to live in constant fear from now on.

Before you have enough strength, be patient.

When I have mastered my divine skills, I will repay today's humiliation a hundredfold!
……

The main hall of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters.

"Why bother!" Pei Lun shook his head as he watched Yu Huatian leave in a disheveled state, then looked at Jiang Xuan, feeling a pang of emotion.

The brother who once called him brother and struggled together at the bottom of society has grown to such an extent in just a few years, his prestige so profound that he can no longer even touch him.

"Lord Jiang is so powerful and domineering. He dealt a blow to Yu Huatian's arrogance with just a few words. I admire him the most!" Cao Zhengchun stood up, cupped his hands, and sighed with emotion.

"Why be so modest, Eunuch Cao? With your strength, it wouldn't be difficult for you to deal with him," Jiang Xuan said calmly.

“I’m getting old, and my spirit isn’t as strong as Lord Jiang’s. I wouldn’t dare to act like Lord Jiang.” Cao Zhengchun shook his head and smiled bitterly.

Jiang Xuan's words were simple, but Yu Huatian was, after all, the head of the Western Depot appointed by the Emperor himself, and he held the Emperor's Sword, wielding great power. If something really happened, the Emperor would definitely investigate thoroughly, and then it would be difficult to handle.

Jiang Xuan's actions today can be described as extremely risky. If Yu Huatian really chooses to fight to the end, and Jiang Xuan really does keep his word and takes action against Yu Huatian, then there will be absolutely no way to salvage the situation.

At that point, Jiang Xuan would only have two paths to choose from: either rebel and betray the court, or wait to die.

No one else would dare to act so rashly.

Jiang Xuan remained silent.

He had no way out in this situation.

Yu Huatian was clearly targeting him, wanting to make an example of him and establish his authority. How could he tolerate that?
If he were to withdraw today, all the hard work he has put in over the past two years would be for naught.

Moreover, as he told Yu Huatian, fist is power.

With his current strength, there are not many people in this world who can threaten him, and he no longer needs to be as cautious and tread on thin ice as before.

If you have the strength but still get ridden on and act like a coward, what's the point of practicing martial arts so hard?
"Governor, should we really send someone to him?" Xu Longqing asked, still somewhat indignant.

“Selecting people from the Embroidered Uniform Guard to expand the Western Depot is, after all, an order from the Emperor. We must give face to the Emperor.”

Jiang Xuan looked at everyone and said calmly, "I think you all understand the Emperor's intention in restarting the Western Depot. The Emperor no longer trusts our Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot. He has instructed his subordinates to be more careful in their work and try not to give the Western Depot any leverage over them."

"Of course, if the Western Depot deliberately causes trouble, there is no need to tolerate it. If anything happens, I will step in for you."

"As long as the Emperor does not abolish the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, we all have the responsibility to monitor the world and protect the Ming Dynasty."

"The only thing lacking is the power to act first and ask for permission later."

"But this power is nothing but a piece of waste paper in the hands of those who lack strength."

"Yes!" everyone replied solemnly.

Jiang Xuan nodded: "Disperse, I'm going to the palace."

After saying this, Jiang Xuan got up and prepared to go to the palace.

Yu Huatian's visit today is merely a test.

The key to resolving this matter lies in Zhu Youjian's attitude.

He wants to go and see for himself.

If this guy really intends to kick me while I'm at it, then I might as well quit being the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But your Ming dynasty ends here!
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Xuan's eyes.

(End of this chapter)