Chapter 169 – Surging Waves! A Toast to You!
"You might not believe me, but I really have no intention of rebelling."
Chu Yang felt gravely misunderstood—he genuinely had no interest in the throne.
"I'd believe it, but His Majesty won't. Your Highness should still be cautious."
Old Guo gave Chu Yang a long, searching look. After so many years together, his instincts told him Chu Yang wasn't lying.
However, one irrefutable fact loomed large: rebellion wasn't something Chu Yang could simply deny with words. The only person who could decide whether Chu Yang would rebel… was the Emperor.
If the Emperor suspected him of rebellion, then he would be a rebel—whether he liked it or not.
"He already sits at the pinnacle of power, wielding life and death across the land. Could he really be so lacking in tolerance…"
"If that's the case, then he's unworthy of the throne and ought to abdicate early for someone better."
A cold smile tugged at the corner of Chu Yang's lips.
Though there was some posturing from all sides, the Emperor had treated him reasonably well over the years. At the very least, he'd enjoyed every luxury and privilege. That counted as a show of goodwill. If Chu Yang failed to appreciate it—well, then he wouldn't need to hold back either.
As for the throne itself? In his eyes, it wasn't worth a dime.
A billionaire doesn't brawl with a beggar in the street over a hundred bucks, does he?
Old Guo had nothing to say to that—no, more accurately, he didn't dare say anything. The air was growing thick with tension.
Part of him even wished the Eastern Depot would hurry up and arrive—let them draw fire away from the prince. Better them than him, after all.
Seeing how awkward Old Guo looked sharing the room with him—and finding it a bit odd for two grown men to linger indoors together—Chu Yang took the initiative and stepped outside.
Only then did Old Guo feel like he could breathe again.
In the main hall, several people were seated and chatting. Guo Furong seemed to have calmed down as well—she'd decided to stay at Tongfu Inn for a while.
With a smile, Chu Yang asked, "Shopkeeper, could you make something to eat? I haven't eaten all day and I'm feeling a bit hungry."
Tong Xiangyu quickly got to her feet, fawning over him. "Just a moment, Hero Chu. I'll have Big Mouth whip something up right away."
Chu Yang nodded. "Make plenty, please. My master's staying for a meal too."
Tong Xiangyu readily agreed and called Li Dazui to the kitchen. She didn't notice Bai Zhantang standing to the side, sweating bullets and looking like he was sitting on needles.
The bounty decree might offer official pardon in theory, but just seeing Old Guo was enough to make Bai Zhantang's heart skip a beat.
To every criminal in the land, the Chief Constable of the Six Gates was a walking nightmare.
Guo Furong whispered, "Senior Brother, are you going back with my father?"
Chu Yang shook his head. "I'm planning to visit a few friends. But before I leave, there are still a couple of people I need to see and talk to."
Guo Furong's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Someone else is coming? Could it be Senior Brother Zhuifeng and the others?"
"Your senior brothers all have real responsibilities. Not like you—loafing around all day, good for nothing but making trouble!"
Old Guo's cold voice came from the stairs as he slowly descended from the second floor.
Guo Furong shrank like a mouse spotting a cat, trembling and too frightened to say a word.
Chu Yang, however, could see Old Guo's intentions clearly. If Guo Furong followed him back to the capital, she'd inevitably become a pawn for others. Punishment would be the least of it—what mattered more was the potential for someone to grab hold of her and never let go.
Rather than give others that kind of leverage, it was safer for Guo Furong to stay away. As long as she didn't return to the capital, no one would dare touch her.
The only question was whether her not-so-bright head would ever grasp Old Guo's well-meaning strategy.
A short while later—
Li Dazui brought out several hot dishes and set the table. Chu Yang and Old Guo sat down, drinking and eating while waiting for the Eastern Depot's people to show up.
Bai Zhantang, responsible for serving the guests, had no choice but to interact with Old Guo. Maybe it was sheer fear—within moments, he had already dropped seven or eight cups and dishes.
Tong Xiangyu looked like she was about to faint from heartbreak. She wailed with a teary voice, "My alabaster teacups! Zhantang, what's wrong with you today? You're like a ghost possessed!"
Bai Zhantang stood pale and stammering, unable to get a word out.
Seeing him in such a state, Tong Xiangyu quickly changed her tone, concern replacing her anger. "Zhantang, are you feeling unwell? Do you need to see a doctor?"
"I'm fine, Shopkeeper. Just need to rest a bit!" Bai Zhantang waved her off, desperate to get out of the main hall.
But just as he was about to leave, Old Guo—who had been watching him closely—suddenly barked, "Wait!"
Bai Zhantang flinched violently, turning around stiffly. "Y-yes, Hero Guo? Do you need something?"
Old Guo stared at him silently. The oppressive aura was so intense Bai Zhantang felt like he couldn't breathe. He didn't even dare look him in the eye.
Just from that one instinctive reaction, Old Guo was sure—this man had to be a criminal.
He was about to make a move when a hand pressed down on his shoulder.
"Master, have some mercy." Chu Yang smiled as he said, "The man just received a bounty pardon. Even if he's got a checkered past, it's all water under the bridge now, right?"
"Isn't that right, esteemed Elder Dao Saint?"
Dao Saint Bai Yutang had made a name for himself years ago—Chu Yang calling him "elder" wasn't meant to be sarcastic.
But that one phrase, Elder Dao Saint, was the final straw for Bai Zhantang's fraying nerves.
With a thud, he dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes, his limbs weak and trembling as he gasped for breath like a drowning man.
There were no other guests at the inn, so only Tong Xiangyu and the others heard the words. But when they saw Bai Zhantang's reaction, they had no choice but to believe Chu Yang.
Everyone stared at Bai Zhantang with strange expressions.
Dao Saint!
A thief rivaling even Chu Liuxiang had been living among them this whole time!
"Oh… so you're Dao Saint Bai Yutang."
"You're so young—why choose such a path…"
Old Guo's expression softened slightly.
Unlike other criminals, Bai Zhantang's background was unique. His mother, Bai Cuiping, was a famed thief in the martial world—but secretly, she'd also been an undercover agent for the Six Gates, passing on intelligence from the underworld.
It was classic double-agent stuff.
Strictly speaking, Bai Zhantang was one of their own. In Old Guo's eyes, he deserved special treatment.
"Please have mercy, Hero Guo! I've hardly stolen anything my entire life—most of it was people framing me!"
Bai Zhantang burst into tears, snot and all, terrified Old Guo would haul him off to the Heavenly Prison and cut him up like his mother had been.
Old Guo looked him over with amusement—this version of Bai Yutang was very different from the legend.
"I got it. Now get up. You've got a pardon in hand—what are you so scared of? That thing's more than enough to clear your record."
The meal had barely started, and Bai Zhantang's sobbing had already killed everyone's appetite. Chu Yang gave up and put down his chopsticks.
BOOM!!!
The main doors of the hall suddenly exploded open.
Two figures charged in from left and right, heading straight for Chu Yang as if fighting over a prized treasure.
"Impudent!"
Old Guo exploded in fury, leaping up to shield Chu Yang. He met the incoming attackers with two fierce palm strikes!
The air trembled violently, ringing with a deep hum!
Surging Waves!
Why was it called the Surging Wave Palm?
Because when fully unleashed, its power surged like a monstrous tidal wave!
In terms of raw force, the Surging Wave Palm was second to none in the world!
With a single blow, Old Guo forced both attackers out of the inn and followed after them.
Tong Xiangyu and Lu Xiucai dove behind the counter as fast as they could, shivering with fear.
"Dear heavens! Can we ever have a quiet day in this place?!"
"My golden-thread wood door~~~!"
Tong Xiangyu's wails were full of melodramatic anguish, carrying a surprising bit of musicality.
"Shopkeeper, didn't that door come from the scrap market over in Shibalipu?"
Li Dazui blinked in confusion.
"You shut up! I said it's golden-thread wood, so it's golden-thread wood! Keep talking and I'll dock your pay!"
Tong Xiangyu snapped, no longer the soft and gentle shopkeeper. She bared her teeth like she was ready to bite someone.
Bai Zhantang tried to shuffle over to the others, trembling. But Chu Yang blocked his path with a smile. "All the food and wine got knocked over. Elder Dao Saint, would you kindly fetch me another jug?"
Someone just attacked us, and you're still in the mood for wine?
Snark aside, Bai Zhantang knew better than to disobey. He scampered into the kitchen and came back with a fresh jug.
Chu Yang picked it up and drank leisurely, eyes twinkling as he watched Old Guo teach the intruders a lesson outside.
From Bai Zhantang's perspective, this confirmed that Chu Yang was no ordinary figure—he and Guo the Hero didn't look like master and disciple at all.
If anything, it felt more like a master and his hired enforcer.
The thought made Bai Zhantang shiver.
There weren't many people in the world who could treat the Chief Constable of the Six Gates like a bodyguard…
"Senior Brother, who are those two outside?"
Guo Furong didn't look worried at all about Old Guo—she had absolute faith in him. The greatest constable in the land wasn't going to be hurt by a couple of nobodies, was he?
"Judging by their outfits, they're from the Eastern and Western Depots. Things just got interesting—I thought only the Eastern Depot would show up…"
Chu Yang smacked his lips, watching the action with gleeful anticipation.
"Oh, those eunuchs. Used to throwing their weight around—now they've come to mess with us? Outrageous!"
Guo Furong fumed. Normally she'd have rushed out already, but she hadn't fully recovered from her encounter with the demons. Even using her internal energy was still a struggle.
From their movements just now, Bai Zhantang could clearly tell that the two guards were targeting Chu Yang specifically—it had nothing to do with bullying or harassing the common folk.
Completely at ease, Chu Yang continued drinking, acting as though he hadn't noticed what was happening outside at all, which only made Bai Zhantang more uneasy.
On the other side, Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang were both suffering in silence. They never imagined that Guo Bujing, the Head Constable of the Six Gates, would show up here of all places.
After just a few exchanges, Old Guo's powerful palms had already shattered their swords into pieces. These weren't ordinary blades either—the weakest material used to forge them was refined steel tempered a hundred times.
"Please calm your anger, Lord Guo. This official didn't know you were inside—there was no intention of offending you!"
Gritting his teeth, Cao Shaoqin met one of Guo's palms head-on. His internal organs churned from the impact, and he used the momentum from retreating to quickly explain.
Ma Jinliang was in much the same state. He held a bare hilt in his hand and kept trying to explain.
"You didn't know I was here? But surely you knew the Prince was inside. You old dogs from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot have some nerve, treating the Prince like this!"
"Two damn traitorous fools!"
Old Guo was so furious he let out a cold laugh, and his eyes began to gleam with killing intent.
He'd assumed that no matter how insolent the Embroidered Guard and the Eastern Depot could be, they would at least show basic respect to the Prince. Yet these two had dared to lay hands on him right in front of his eyes.
Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang were at a loss for words. They hadn't intended to target the Prince just now.
They had already fought several times on the road trying to out-compete each other, and in the heat of the moment, they had simply forgotten to hold back.
At this point, anything they said would just make things worse. The two exchanged a glance—and without needing to speak, they simultaneously dropped to their knees in the middle of the street, bowing toward the inn and crying out, "Your servant is guilty! We beg the Prince's forgiveness!"
Guo, still fuming, forgot all about Chu Yang's earlier order to keep his identity a secret. With Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang shouting so loudly, the entire street now knew who Chu Yang really was.
Chu Yang, seemingly unaffected, licked the mouth of his wine flask and swallowed the last drop. He smiled with satisfaction.
Sitting beside him, Guo Furong was completely dumbfounded. From childhood, she'd speculated that Chu Yang might be the son of some high-ranking official, but she'd never guessed he was actually that infamous Prince.
Her senior might be a little strange and live extravagantly, but surely he couldn't be the same Prince who was notorious throughout the capital for being a total disgrace.
How was she supposed to face him now?
Chu Yang glanced at her expression and could pretty much guess what she was thinking. He chuckled and said, "Is my reputation really that bad? Even you want to distance yourself from me?"
"No! That's not what I meant at all," Guo Furong's face turned bright red, and she denied it three times in a row.
Chu Yang didn't seem to mind. "What's so hard about admitting it? No one knows better than I do how disgraceful I can be."
Tong Xiangyu, looking nervous, walked over with the others. Without a word, she dropped to her knees and cried out in a drawn-out voice, "This humble woman pays her respects to Your Highness."
Bai Zhantang's knees gave out too, and he followed her to the floor.
As he looked around and saw everyone in the room kneeling, with two more bowing outside, Chu Yang felt no joy at all.
"Get up. I don't like people kneeling to me."
Upon hearing this, Tong Xiangyu quickly pulled the others to their feet, but none of them knew what to say.
Just as everyone was feeling awkward, Chu Yang suddenly looked out to the street and said coldly, "You two—stay kneeling."
Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang had already stood up, but froze in place before awkwardly kneeling again. As their heads lowered, a flicker of killing intent flashed in both of their eyes.
Just a useless prince, they thought. When you lose the Emperor's favor, I'll repay this humiliation a hundredfold.
They exchanged a subtle glance, already deciding to team up for revenge.
Cao Shaoqin cupped his fists. "Our Lord Superintendent ordered us to escort Your Highness back to the capital. We beg Your Highness not to make things difficult for us."
Ma Jinliang, voice hoarse, added, "This is also His Majesty's will. Please return with us, Your Highness."
This was a subtle warning to Guo not to interfere—openly defying the Emperor would not end well.
Guo frowned and looked to Chu Yang.
Chu Yang's gaze turned cold as he glanced at the two of them. With a flick of his finger, two formless waves of sword energy slashed through the air. In an instant, both Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang lost an arm, the sound of slicing flesh cutting through the crowd's shocked silence.
The two didn't even have time to cry out. Their eyes blazed with fury and disbelief.
"Tell the one in the capital—I don't feel like going back for now. I have no interest in his throne. Let him enjoy being Emperor. We'll stay out of each other's way."
Were Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang weak?
Not at all. As division heads of the two most feared secret organizations, and future superintendents themselves, their strength rivaled that of sect masters from the major martial arts schools.
In fact, aside from a few top-tier sect leaders, they could overpower most first-rate martial artists.
The same held true for the court.
Among the Two Marquises and One House, Two Bureaus and One Guard, aside from the top leaders, even the famed Four Secret Agents, Four Great Constables, or Four Divine Constables might only have a fifty-fifty chance against them.
And yet these two, nearly unmatched in all the land, had been maimed in an instant—without the slightest chance to resist.
Guo's eyes were filled with sheer shock.
If it had been him, he could've beaten Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang, sure. But crippling both so easily? Impossible.
Even those few with power equal to his couldn't have done it.
The gap between him and Chu Yang was now painfully clear.
"His Highness's strength is unfathomable…"
"If His Majesty hears about this, he won't sleep well again. The Ming Dynasty may be in for a storm of blood and fire…"
As the late emperor's most favored son, Chu Yang might live freely now, but he was not like the others.
Though he claimed to have no interest in the throne, his words were already laced with subtle defiance. And what frightened Guo even more was that someone so powerful had managed to hide it all this time…
A moment later, Chu Yang strolled out with his wine flask. The battle had left the street outside in ruins.
It wasn't that Guo hadn't held back—this was simply how destructive martial artists were these days. If they truly fought without restraint, he could probably level the entire town of Qixia.
Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang knelt in the rubble, clutching their severed arms. As Chu Yang approached, they quickly looked away, unable to meet his eyes, faces twisted in pain.
Chu Yang said lazily, "I actually liked that arrogant attitude you two had earlier."
At his words, they immediately began kowtowing again, slamming their heads into the ground hard enough to echo.
"Your servant deserves death for offending Your Highness! Please spare us!"
"Please show mercy, Your Highness!"
Chu Yang gave them a kindly smile. "You two are famous—from the court to the martial world, your names scare children into silence. That makes you someone, at least. So here's the deal—take one more strike from me. Whoever survives, this ends here."
"Consider it a bit of dignity I'm leaving you."
Cao Shaoqin said nothing, just kept kowtowing. Blood had already soaked into the stone beneath his knees.
Ma Jinliang did the same.
They hadn't even seen how their arms were cut off. All they remembered was an overwhelming wave of sword energy brushing past.
Against such a foe, the outcome wasn't in doubt.
Even when facing their own superintendents, they'd never known such fear.
"How disappointing," Chu Yang said. "How did you even rise to your positions?"
"Even those so-called nobodies from the martial underworld have more spine than you two."
With a wave of his hand, he said coldly, "Get lost."
The two fled as if granted amnesty, their figures disappearing in a flash.
Given their robust vitality, if they had their arms reattached within a day, they wouldn't suffer much long-term damage.
Just as Guo was about to speak, Chu Yang stopped him. He turned his gaze toward the shadows of a nearby alley and said flatly, "Keep hiding there, and you'll lose an arm too."
A moment later, two men stepped out.
One was disheveled and reeked of alcohol, looking like a beggar with a defeated air.
The other wore a flying fish uniform and sported two neatly trimmed mustaches. His face was square and resolute.
The contrast between them—one like shadow, the other like light—was striking.
Chu Yang looked them over with interest.
"Li Gexiao? Zuo Xiong?"
"What are you doing here?"
Guo seemed to recognize them. His tone softened, very different from how he'd spoken to Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang.
Zuo Xiong, the one with the mustache, cupped his fists. "Lord Guo, Lord Zheng sent us. He was worried those two eunuch dogs might show disrespect to the Prince."
Li Gexiao took a swig from the gourd at his waist, sat down on the ground, and stared off into space, looking indifferent to everything.
Seeing him so broken, Guo couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.
As Zheng Dongliu's personal disciple, Li Gexiao had once been the brightest star among the Embroidered Guard. In terms of strength, he had even surpassed Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang.
But a certain incident had destroyed him…
Years ago, during a disguised tour to observe the lives of the common people, the Emperor happened to pass by a tavern run by Li Gexiao's wife, Jing Ruyi.
The Emperor was taken by her beauty and, despite learning she was married, lingered long before leaving.
That trace of regret in his eyes did not escape the notice of the treacherous official Yan Song.
To curry favor, Yan later had Jing Ruyi kidnapped while Li Gexiao was away on assignment.
Before she could be delivered to the Emperor's bed, Jing Ruyi bit through her tongue and took her own life in Yan Song's residence to preserve her purity. Afterward, Yan Song discarded her corpse in the wilderness.
By the time Li Gexiao found her body, it had already been ravaged beyond recognition by wild animals in the mountains.
Driven nearly mad, Li Gexiao ignored Zheng Dongliu's attempts to stop him and stormed into the Golden Luan Hall, blade in hand, intending to kill Yan Song to avenge his wife. He was immediately apprehended by two Divine Marshals on the spot.
The Emperor flew into a rage. Even after learning the full story, he couldn't suppress the fury in his heart—because Li Gexiao had violated his imperial dignity, the one thing he valued above all.
As a result, not only was Yan Song left unpunished, but Li Gexiao was thrown into the imperial prison.
Were it not for Zheng Dongliu risking his life to protect him, and the Emperor showing mercy out of regard for Li Gexiao's years of loyal service, his head would've rolled long ago.
After suffering relentless torture in prison, Li Gexiao was left with chronic ailments and hidden injuries. His strength was all but destroyed, reduced to a mere tenth of his former power—making him a cripple in every sense of the word. He and Chu Yang came to be known as the two great "invalids" of the capital, the butt of every joke.
It was through this shared misfortune that the two struck up a bond, often loitering around taverns together, where they eventually met another scoundrel with four eyebrows.
Thanks to Li Gexiao, the Emperor's "concern" for Chu Yang waned sharply during that period, granting him a fair degree of freedom.
As for Zuo Xiong, Li Gexiao's companion, he was quite renowned among the common folk. Slaying demons and monsters was his life's passion, and his abilities were no less than those of the four famous constables under the Divine Constabulary.
"Zuo Commander" was both his official title and his nickname in the martial world. At the mere mention of his name, ordinary demons would flee like they'd seen the King of Hell himself.
Divine Marshal Zhuge had more than once requested Zuo Commander from Zheng Dongliu, hoping to expand the Four Great Constables into Five, but Zheng Dongliu always refused.
Without Li Gexiao, and with the potential loss of Zuo Commander as well, the Imperial Guards would be reduced to a house of cards. Out of deep respect for Zheng Dongliu's character, Zhuge Zhengwo never pushed the matter further, leaving it as a lingering regret in his heart.
Ignoring the curious stares of others, Chu Yang lifted his wine jug and sat beside Li Gexiao, raising a cup to him in toast.
Li Gexiao smiled knowingly and returned the gesture.
And so the two sat on the ground, drinking heartily and laughing toward the heavens.
A cripple toasting a cripple.
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