Chapter 31: The Might of the Sage of War

Did you hear that right?
You heard it right.
Is this for real?
It is for real!
Is this not a dream?
It is not!
Yes, Elder Ji—one of the most esteemed, elderly, and highly respected figures in the Dragon Kingdom—had come specifically to find Guan Sheng.

Who is Elder Ji?
For the past century, aside from the founding titan of the nation, he has been the authority with the greatest prestige. Every young talent he mentored has become a leader in their respective field. The armies under his command have deterred enemies from all directions, embodying the spirit of the "unsheathed sword" and showcasing the might of the East. His influence is beyond words; even now, having retreated behind the scenes into retirement, he still wields immeasurable power over the nation's political landscape.

And Guan Sheng?
By the look of his age, he is only in his twenties, merely the head of the security department at the Li Family Charity Group. Furthermore, he killed Xu Tao and crippled Xu Tao’s subordinates. Yet, Elder Ji came looking for him? Even more shocking, Elder Ji asked him to show some respect and let Xu Hai go?

What was happening here?
It had always been others begging Elder Ji for a favor. Never before had there been anyone for whom Elder Ji himself had to beg for leniency. Who exactly is this young man named Guan Sheng?

Xu Hai’s heart pounded violently, and his face turned deathly pale. Wang Sihu, meanwhile, was trembling so hard his fat rippled; his body went limp, and he would have collapsed to the floor if he hadn’t been afraid of losing face.

So, this is Guan Sheng’s background?
Wang Sihu finally understood why his old commanding officer had given him those warnings: Do not provoke Guan Sheng, absolutely do not provoke him!

Because this man was someone for whom even the great Elder Ji—a figure who frequently appeared on the stage of international politics and global forums—had to beg for a favor. In other words, from Elder Ji’s perspective, if Guan Sheng chose not to, he didn't even have to grant the Elder’s request. What kind of background and strength did one need to possess such confidence?

No wonder!
No wonder Guan Sheng dared to kill Xu Tao.
No wonder!
From the moment they first met, his attitude had always been one of arrogance, as if he disregarded all living beings.
No wonder!
He could ignore all power and influence, speaking those words of extreme arrogance without a hint of concern.

What kind of terrifying person had he provoked? As this thought took hold, fear spread through Wang Sihu’s entire body. If Guan Sheng decided to target him, what would he do?

However, his worries were clearly unnecessary, as Guan Sheng didn't consider him worth the effort. Seeing that Guan Sheng made no move, Elder Ji sighed and walked over with his hands behind his back. The Qilin soldiers were tense, raising their weapons toward Guan Sheng, terrified that he might attack the Elder.

Elder Ji stopped, pressed down the barrel of a Qilin soldier’s rifle, and said to them, "Lower your weapons, all of you!"
"If this man wanted to kill me, even if you all fired at once, you wouldn't be able to stop him. Besides, he will not lay a hand on me. Lower them all."
Elder Ji’s tone deepened as he issued the command. Upon hearing this, the Qilin soldiers hesitated for a long while before slowly lowering their muzzles.

Guan Sheng smiled. "Old man, your prestige hasn't faded one bit."
Elder Ji gave a wry smile and walked up to Guan Sheng. He glanced at Xu Hai and said to Guan Sheng, "Kid, stop teasing me. Do me a favor and let him go!"
Guan Sheng released his grip on Xu Hai. "Fine, I’ll grant you that. Consider it repayment for the coffee you treated me to last time."

Once released, Xu Hai scrambled back several steps and bowed to Elder Ji. "Elder Ji, you..."
Before he could finish, Elder Ji raised a hand to cut him off. "Is the City Protection Bureau a territory for you to manage, Xu Hai?"
Hearing this, Xu Hai’s body jolted. "No... it is not," he stammered.
Elder Ji continued, "The organization put you in charge of military industry and granted you the authority to command ten thousand Qilin soldiers so that you could engage in corruption and act above the law?"
Sweat beaded on Xu Hai’s forehead as he realized the gravity of the situation. He lowered his head. "No... it is not!"
Elder Ji roared, "Then why are you here, and why did you order your men to open fire illegally? Tell me, is this City Protection Bureau run by your Xu family? Are the laws written by your Xu family? Do you want to sit in the highest chair of the nation as well?"

Each word was heavy, resounding like a bell. In an instant, Xu Hai lost his balance and collapsed to the ground, his lips white with terror.
"Elder Ji, please, let me explain, I..."
Elder Ji waved his hand dismissively. "I don’t want your explanation. I only believe what I see. By tomorrow, I expect to see your resignation letter on my desk in the capital. A person like you is not fit for that position. Your Xu family is not fit to be a top-tier influential family in Jiangcheng, either. You know perfectly well what you have to do regarding the illicit gains your family has accumulated through your influence over the years!"

At this point, Xu Hai knew his fate was sealed. Even if he were unwilling, he was powerless to turn things around. If Elder Ji hadn't appeared, with his power in Jiangcheng, he could have killed Guan Sheng and walked away unscathed. But as luck would have it... who could have known? Elder Ji had arrived. This terrifying old man, who could decide his life or death with a single word, had come. It was fate. His overstepping had been witnessed by this very man. Whether for public or private reasons, there would be no good outcome for him.

Having spent decades in the halls of power, Xu Hai knew there was no hope. He sighed and nodded. "I understand, Elder Ji. After tomorrow, there will be no more Xu family in Jiangcheng."

Elder Ji looked at Guan Sheng. "Kid, are you satisfied?"
Guan Sheng yawned. "Satisfied with what? I didn't ask you to deal with the Xu family for me."
Elder Ji shook his head. "You’ve gained everything and yet you still play the innocent. Let’s go! I’m taking you out to eat."
Guan Sheng pointed at the holding cell. "Don't bother. According to your Dragon Kingdom’s rules, I’m a murderer right now. I have to stay in jail. The head of the City Protection Bureau, Wang Sihu, said it himself—he wants me dead."

Elder Ji cast a sharp gaze toward Wang Sihu. Wang Sihu was so terrified he nearly wet himself. "No, no, no! Elder Ji, don't listen to his nonsense. I was just asking him to assist with an investigation, merely assisting with an investigation!"
Elder Ji chuckled. "And what were the results of the investigation?"
Wang Sihu hurriedly replied, "Though Mr. Guan... though he cut off Xu Tao’s head, but... but..." He stuttered, unable to find a reason to justify it.
Elder Ji looked utterly disappointed. "You should have held onto your principles. This man did kill someone."
"Huh?" Wang Sihu was bewildered.
Guan Sheng said with disdain, "Someone without principles has no right to be in charge of the City Protection Bureau, right?"

Elder Ji’s expression soured. He pointed at Wang Sihu. "You, hand in your resignation letter as well! I don't want to see you wearing that uniform again for the rest of your life, you disgraceful thing! In your eyes, does it not matter if someone commits murder as long as they have power? If you have no principles, you don't deserve the seat you currently occupy."
"What?" In an instant, Wang Sihu was completely confused. He had thought Elder Ji was trying to protect Guan Sheng, but who would have guessed this was actually a test to see if he was qualified for his job? No, to be precise, it was a trap dug by Guan Sheng.

Elder Ji realized he had been used as a tool by Guan Sheng, but he had no choice but to deal with Wang Sihu. He turned to Guan Sheng. "Is this enough?"
Guan Sheng nodded, appearing satisfied. "That will do. Let's go!"
With that, Guan Sheng strode forward.
Wang Sihu, still unwilling to let it go, asked Elder Ji, "Elder Ji, didn't you say he was a murderer? Can he just walk away?"
Elder Ji was rendered speechless. He pointed at Guan Sheng’s retreating back. "Can you stop him?"
"I..." Wang Sihu was left speechless.
"What about me?" asked a desperate Xu Hai. "He killed my son! What crime did my son commit?"
Elder Ji shouted toward Guan Sheng, "Answer him! He’s asking what crime his son committed!"

Guan Sheng stopped, his eyes turning cold. He turned back to stare at Xu Hai, his voice booming like a temple bell.
"The first crime: Slandering my wife, ruining her reputation, treating a woman’s dignity like dirt, and disrespecting her purity!"
"The second crime: Instigating his subordinates to break the legs and arms of my security man, Old Zhang, insulting him in his old age, and breaking his spirit—an act of unrighteousness and arrogance!"
"The third crime: He made me unhappy!"
"It’s as simple as that!"
"Do you still have any objections?"