Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 16 Hou Sizhi
Lu Chenyuan landed, looked ahead, and followed the figure of the golden lion, ignoring everyone else on the street.

The Kite Guard and the Golden Guard are not under each other's command, and these people have no authority over him.

Lu Chenyuan called out, "The matter is settled, let's go."

Wang Yizhi had already noticed the golden light and stood up abruptly, both surprised and delighted. The Golden Lion had been dispatched, and it seemed that things were going well. He sincerely said, "I admire your methods, my lord!" This time, the Golden Lion had been shirking its duties and hadn't even listened to the princess, yet Lu Chenyuan had managed to bring it out. Its methods were truly unpredictable.

Lu Chenyuan laughed and said, "It's just about catering to their preferences, and I even sold myself for it. I hope it wasn't a wasted trip."

Wang Yizhi nodded repeatedly, and just as the two were about to take a step, a loud crash suddenly broke out.

Hou Sizhi flew into a rage, grabbed the bowl of mutton soup and smashed it on the ground. The shards of the earthenware bowl mixed with the soup splashed everywhere, and the true energy, carried by him, shot towards Lu Chenyuan like sharp arrows!

The other Imperial Guards immediately surrounded them, forming layers upon layers, completely encircling the two.

Lu Chenyuan flicked his sleeve, deflecting the hidden arrow from a distance. He discovered that this person's realm was unstable, his true energy was mixed, and he only had the inner strength of the third realm but not the actual strength of the third realm. He was like a fat man who looked strong but was actually panting heavily when he threw a punch.

Lu Chenyuan frowned, turned around, looked at the fifth-rank official in front of him, and asked Wang Yizhi, "Who?"

Wang Yizhi's face darkened: "Hou Sizhi."

"Where did this bodyguard come from who doesn't know the rules!"

Hou Sizhi dared not press Wang Yizhi any further. He glared at Lu Chenyuan, venting all his anger on him. He pointed at him and shouted, "A mere sixth-rank Imperial Guard, you dare not bow or give way to me! Your behavior is improper, disrespectful to your superiors, and contemptuous of the laws of the court! I think you want to go to Lijing Prison!"

"Yo?"

Lu Chenyuan was a little surprised and tilted his head to ask, "Is this really Hou Sizhi? Doesn't he know a few idioms? His rules are correct too, he speaks very fluently."

Seeing that he didn't care at all, Wang Yizhi was happy to play along and smiled, "This is the kind of story he can tell anyone. Whether it's respectful or not is up to him. I guess he's memorized it."

"..."

Hou Sizhi's face instantly turned ashen, and the Imperial Guards immediately drew their swords!

Lu Chenyuan remained oblivious, nodding and saying, "No wonder... why does this scene feel a little familiar?"

Wang Yizhi genuinely laughed this time, reminding him, "My lord, your timing is unfortunate. Wasn't it this morning?"

Lu Chenyuan remembered.

This morning, when he arrived at the princess's residence, Wu Youji was trying to scare away the students, but they didn't listen. In their embarrassment, they saw Lu Chenyuan and turned on him. Now, Hou Sizhi can sit at the same table as Wang Yizhi, but she doesn't like him and immediately starts to label him and try to destroy him!
Lu Chenyuan muttered to himself, "What day is it today? Is it against me?"

Wang Yizhi said apologetically, "I have implicated you, sir. This matter is on my shoulders. You may go ahead."

Having said that, he was about to stand in front of Lu Chenyuan to quell the matter.

Lu Chenyuan waved his hand and laughed, "If you're obsequious before becoming a male concubine and still obsequious after becoming one, then what's the point of being a male concubine? If I have to be subservient to someone like that, then there's really no point in me going through all this trouble."

Wang Yizhi said no more. Seeing that Lu Chenyuan was blocking his way and moving forward, he took a deep breath, took off his zither case, and revealed the Wang family's treasured zither, "Green Ripples"—he absolutely could not let Lu Chenyuan fall into Lijing Prison. He would rather do it! The Wang family could not bear the crime of killing an official, and there was no reason to back down from the crime of disrespect!
A concubine?

Hou Sizhi was taken aback, then looked him over carefully: "Imperial Guard... Male Concubine... You are Lu Chenyuan?!"

Lu Chenyuan sneered: "The laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Law on Apprehending Fugitives: If one is unable to subdue a criminal while pursuing him, and his servants are able to assist but do not, or even obstruct him, he shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane! The Law on Official Duties: If official business requires speed, this does not apply, especially to routine matters... Hou Sizhi, I am currently apprehending a criminal, and in the face of apprehending a criminal, there is no need to be bound by etiquette! Yet you are obstructing me in every way, what a great official arrogance!"

This isn't actually the Zhou Code, it's the Tang Code, but there's not much difference.

Lu Chenyuan had done special research in order to accompany the rich woman in writing her thesis.

Hou Sizhi was stunned.

Not only Hou Sizhi, but also the Imperial Guards who accompanied him on the case, and the pedestrians on both sides of the street were stunned.

What's going on? Someone's actually trying to reason with a cruel official? Using his own weapon against him?
That being said, what difference is there between reasoning with a cruel official and someone suing me in court? Isn't that just being an idiot?
Wang Yizhi relaxed. He might seem like an idiot to others, but to the emperor, as long as he was in the right and the princess had a reason to protect him, even if the matter went to the emperor, the emperor would not say anything.

Hou Sizhi didn't know if she was having a bad day with Lu Chenyuan, but she was definitely having a bad day with him!
The Lijing Prison doesn't even care about the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital, including prime ministers, generals, and members of the Li Tang royal family. However, there are a few people who are absolutely untouchable! Those are people related to Xue Huaiyi, Princess Taiping, and others. Lai Junchen and Zhou Xing can falsely accuse anyone of treason and imprison anyone to extract a confession through torture, but these few people are the only ones who cannot be touched!

A few days ago, there were only a few people on this list, but now, it seems there is one more.

That was Lu Chenyuan, Princess Taiping's male favorite.

Hou Sizhi's face grew increasingly grim. He saw that the fire was about to reach someone he couldn't possibly harm. In the past, he would have definitely taken the initiative to avoid the situation and apologize, but this Lu Chenyuan was a bit special.

He was like a gigolo but not quite, and the princess's attitude was ambiguous. Hou Sizhi was furious. In this situation, it would be bad to bow down to someone who looked down on him. It would also embolden Lu Chenyuan. He himself was unwilling to accept it.

I'm struggling.

Lu Chenyuan had no intention of letting him off the hook. His voice grew even colder as he spoke, each word distinct and deliberate: "Will you give way or not?"

To deal with this kind of petty person, you have to give him a good beating, otherwise he'll keep jumping up and down every now and then, which is disgusting!

Upon hearing this, Hou Sizhi became even more resolute in his stance, saying in a sinister tone, "Lord Lu's official arrogance is not insignificant either. Arresting a criminal? What criminal? You disrespected your superior first, then made arbitrary accusations, showing no regard for the law. I, Hou, would really like to ask Her Highness the Princess for an explanation: should an Imperial Guard follow the court's etiquette?"

It's all just labeling. I don't believe what you're saying, so I'll just say I have a moral high ground.

As Lu Chenyuan watched the golden lion walk away, he became completely impatient. His true energy erupted—you bastard, I'm in the right now. If I don't beat you to a pulp today, you'll never leave me alone again. I'll change my surname to yours!

The military system wasn't particularly advanced, but it was still elite, similar to the configuration of the Xuanjia cavalry back in the day.

Besides the "Gengjin Secret Technique," there is another spear technique called "Moment Spear." The key to this spear technique lies in the word "moment." The spear strike is incredibly swift. Standing on horseback, one must mobilize all the strength of the body to thrust out during a charge.

The spear flashes like a dragon, annihilating all in a single move; none dare disobey the charge of ten thousand men!

"The Momentary Gun" is simple and unadorned. Most importantly, it can be used as a finger instead of a gun, allowing you to instantly kill your opponent when you don't have a gun.

Lu Chenyuan raised his right hand with two fingers, and poured in the energy of Geng metal, instantly creating a magnificent aura.

Hou Sizhi suddenly felt troubled, but at this point he had no choice but to tough it out. He was about to make a move—

Suddenly, a golden light struck from behind.

"Lord be careful!"

The captain leading the Imperial Guards was the first to notice something was wrong and hurriedly shouted. Hou Sizhi's neck hairs suddenly stood on end. Before he could turn around, he felt a strong wind pressing down on him. A golden beast pounced down from the eaves. Wherever its claws passed, the eaves of the restaurant were reduced to dust!

The beast's golden eyes flashed with blood-red light, and its sharp claws tore through the air with the sound of wind and thunder. Before the claws even arrived, the shop signs within ten feet were all torn apart!
"Keng!"

Hou Sizhi was terrified and caught off guard, he parried with his sword, but the sixth-grade spiritual sword snapped in two like a tender bamboo shoot! The beast's front paws continued to strike with undiminished force, plowing right through his chest!
Three streaks of blood shot out, and Hou Sizhi was struck as if by a battering ram. He flew backward, crashing through three layers of rammed earth brick walls, collapsing pawnshop facades and crushing bluestone hitching posts along the way, before finally smashing into the screen wall. The thick glutinous rice mortar wall collapsed in half with a bang.

Amidst the rubble, Hou Sizhi's right chest and groin were covered in rolled-up flesh, his stark white ribs were like interlocking canine teeth, and his left arm was twisted at an eerie angle, with broken bones piercing his sleeve and dripping blood.

The strange beast strode through the market, its imposing presence as sharp as swords. The beams and pillars of the teahouses and restaurants on both sides collapsed one after another with its steps. The people on the street stood frozen like puppets. Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream rang out, and the entire street was instantly deserted.

"Quickly save the adults! Kill the monster..."

One of the Imperial Guards was about to act hastily when the captain, looking terrified, slapped him away with such force that half his face immediately swelled up, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The man clutched his face, bewildered and terrified. The captain, his face pale and his voice trembling, gritted his teeth and said, "Shut up! Do you want to die? This is the Lion King!"

Not everyone has seen the Golden Lion's true form, but everyone in the capital has heard of its name.

The moment those two words were uttered, all the Imperial Guards froze in place in shock.

Don't even mention that we can't beat them. Even if we could, we shouldn't fight them. If even a single hair on the Golden Lion were to fall, it would anger the princess. No one, not even the Grand General of the Golden Guard Qiu Shenji or the Director of the Lijing Prison Lai Junchen, could withstand it!
Not only were they stunned, but Lu Chenyuan, who was poised to strike, was also taken aback, and Wang Yizhi looked even more surprised.

This seems to be more than just inviting them...

This clearly shows they have a close relationship; Jin Ni actually stood up for Lu Chenyuan!

This is the first time it has helped someone other than the princess!

Wang Yizhi blinked and looked at Lu Chenyuan: What exactly did you do?
As Lu Chenyuan watched the large cat strolling towards him, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. Interactions between people are often fraught with intrigue and scheming, and their actions are often driven by impure motives. But while strange beasts possess intelligence, they are straightforward and act only according to their likes and dislikes, which makes them all the more precious.

"Ow."

The golden lion approached Lu Chenyuan, its long tail swaying, and looked up at him with a smug expression.

—I'm helping you again, remember to add the time!
"..."

Lu Chenyuan suddenly understood, and cursed under his breath, "Damn it, this cat's motives aren't pure either!"

"I know. I've noticed you're also quite calculating, always looking out for something. You need to learn to give back, you know? We're friends, and friends should be loyal and devoted to each other. Why are you calculating so much? Confucius said: 'The superior man understands righteousness, the inferior man understands profit.' Look at you, aren't you ashamed?"

"Pooh!"

"You're still not convinced? Haven't you heard the saying, 'When a bird is cornered, it pecks; when a beast is cornered, it attacks; when a person is cornered, he cheats'? I think you're becoming more and more like a human. When you write your reflections tomorrow, you can add a line: 'When the golden lion is cornered, it settles its accounts'!"

"Ow!"

The golden lion refused to accept this, let out a loud cry, straightened its upper body, and placed its two front paws heavily on his shoulders, delivering a crushing blow.

Having mastered the Golden Palace Scripture, Lu Chenyuan's strength and physique far surpassed what they used to be, allowing him to support this massive object without even breaking a sweat.

He turned to look at Wang Yizhi, and the big cat Jinni gently rested its head on his head. Then it turned its head, and the two of them moved in unison, which was quite comical and very affectionate. Wang Yizhi was stunned.

The Imperial Guards stared blankly at the scene before them, their hearts sinking into a chill. They were doomed; they had tried to catch a little devil but had ended up catching the King of Hell himself!
"Brother Wang should have some spare money on him."

Lu Chenyuan smiled helplessly and said, "Please help Jin Ni clean up the mess first. Consider this money a loan from me; I don't have that much on me."

Its claw pierced through three streets.

Without saying a word, Wang Yizhi took out a bag of gold from his waist and placed it in front of the stall.

Lu Chenyuan nodded: "Let's go, let's not waste any more time."

The golden lion once again transformed into golden light and rushed into Congshanfang.

The two followed closely behind.

Only after the two men and the beast had gone far away did the Imperial Guard Captain dare to move, rushing into the ruins to check on Hou Sizhi's injuries.

Fortunately, Jin Ni did not kill him. Hou Sizhi was still alive, but he was seriously injured. His left arm was broken, eight ribs were broken in his chest, and his flesh was torn open and covered in blood.

The captain quickly took out some medicine and fed it to Hou Sizhi. He then pressed a major acupoint on Hou Sizhi's chest to stop the bleeding and used his internal energy to heal his injuries. Hou Sizhi slowly woke up, his face changing drastically. He kicked his legs in panic, crying out, "Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer... cough cough!"

Hou Sizhi screamed repeatedly, wincing in pain, her face turning pale, and coughing painfully.

The captain infused him with his inner energy while reassuring him, "Don't worry, sir, 'Lion Lord' has already left."

He emphasized the keywords very heavily.

Hou Sizhi understood, and in her shock and bewilderment, she exclaimed, "How... how could this be? Wasn't it said that even Her Highness the Princess had difficulty commanding the Lion King? The other day, the General personally went to invite it, but it still didn't leave the Princess's residence. How could this be..."

The captain didn't know why, but this was not a matter he could discuss.

Hou Sizhi said, "Quickly, quickly inform the General..."

The captain's expression changed slightly: "Sir, it was the Lion King who made the move. Even the Great General might..."

"What do you know!"

Hou Sizhi panicked, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. Enduring the excruciating pain, he said, "Lu Chenyuan said they're hunting down the culprit, and the Lion King has already been dispatched. Don't you understand? They're going to find Ashina Yan! Quick! Notify the General, or the credit will be theirs!"

If I don't atone for my crimes and perform good deeds, I'm finished!

The captain then realized that the general had recently become somewhat obsessed with gaining merit. He had spent ten days and ten nights in Lijing Prison, rigorously interrogating Ashina Bolu, the great shaman of the Witch God Cult, and subjecting him to various torture instruments, all in an effort to gain merit by catching the thief.

They have already angered that male favorite and the Lion King. It turns out that they really are after the murderer. Hou Sizhi blocking the road is a big deal. If Ashina Yan escapes because of the time wasted, they will be finished!
Whether it's to curry favor with the general or to remedy the situation after the fact, we must notify them as soon as possible and work together to capture Ashina Yan first.

Only by achieving merit can one be exonerated...

The captain hurriedly summoned his deputy and ordered him to ride Hou Sizhi's horse to Lijing Prison to inform Qiu Shenji and Lai Junchen. At the same time, he sent someone to Jinwu Camp to inform Right General Yao Yi that Lijing Prison and Jinwu Guard should work together to lay a tight net and not let the bandits escape!

"Here!"

The deputy solemnly clasped his hands in a salute, rose, mounted his horse, and galloped toward Lijing Gate.

Such a large-scale operation naturally attracted the attention of others, and undercurrents began to stir.

At the beginning of Xiyun, the pavilion was sinking, and the rain was about to come and the wind filled the building.

(End of this chapter)