Several days later, screams and pleas for mercy echoed from the residence of Yin Tong, the governor of Kuaiji Commandery. However, the sounds soon ceased abruptly.
Inside Yin Tong's residence, Roy stood with one hand behind his back. At his feet lay corpses—servants, guards, and members of the Yin family, young and old—sprawled across the ground in a river of blood.
Each corpse bore a single fatal wound, with no signs of struggle or suffering. This was the only mercy Roy could grant them.
"Better a dog in times of peace than a man in times of chaos... This is war. There is no room for compassion. I know you were merely unarmed members of the Yin family, but in these turbulent times, the patriarch's mistake in choosing rebellion brings death to the entire household. Those who seek to rebel should be prepared for the extermination of their nine clans."
He sighed, brushing off his robes. His hands remained immaculate, slender and jade-like, without a single drop of blood. No one would believe that these very hands had slaughtered every last member of the Yin household.
If anyone dared confront him, he could simply say, "I, Roy, know no martial arts!"
Before long, Xiang Liang and Fan Zeng, who had been guarding the gates, entered. Seeing over a hundred lifeless bodies strewn across the ground, they swallowed hard. Roy's speed in killing defied all reason.
However, Xiang Liang quickly beamed with joy. "...Ji'er, wait a moment!"
He hurried into the Yin residence and soon returned with the seal of the governor of Kuaiji Commandery, fastening it at his waist. Addressing Roy, he said, "...Now I am the governor of Kuaiji. Ji'er, you shall serve as my general. Kuaiji Commandery has eight thousand soldiers. Take the two thousand trained troops and tour the surrounding counties. Inform them that the governor of Kuaiji has changed. If they submit peacefully, let them continue governing their counties. As for those who resist..."
Xiang Liang made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Understood."
Roy nodded. "...I'll return to prepare."
Since they were rebelling in the name of Chu, these actions were necessary. Besides, Xiang Liang was still useful—now was not the time to replace him.
With that, Roy strode away without so much as a glance at the sea of corpses behind him.
"Truly bold and domineering! With Ji'er by my side, how could our great cause fail?"
Xiang Liang rubbed the governor's seal in his hand, watching Roy's retreating figure with admiration.
The first step of the Xiang clan's grand ambition had been accomplished.
...
"Has Lady Yu given you any instructions these past few days?"
Arriving at his courtyard, Roy stopped a thirteen-year-old maidservant and asked.
The little maid quickly bowed upon seeing Roy, speaking in a childish voice, "…Lady Yuji hasn't given us any instructions these past few days. She's just been reading books in your room, General."
"Has she been eating?"
"Yes, yes, but Lady Yuji eats very little—only some light food each time."
The little maid nodded repeatedly.
Her assigned task from Roy was to attend to Yuji's daily needs. If Yuji had any requests, she was to fulfill them; if not, she didn't have to do anything.
The little maid thought taking care of Lady Yuji was quite nice. That beautiful sister never asked her to do anything. In this era, though thirteen-year-old girls were considered mature enough to marry and bear children, they still retained childish thoughts. Seeing that she didn't have to rush around like other servants, working herself to exhaustion, of course, she was happy.
Roy nodded to show he understood.
It seemed Yuji understood human nature. She knew that if she didn't eat at all, it would raise suspicions and might even bring trouble to the maids taking care of her. So, she had learned to eat a little like humans.
Though, thinking of her ample bosom, Roy felt she truly did understand human nature.
Roy pushed the door open and entered the room. There, on the bed, Yuji sat leaning against the wall, her slender, snow-white legs peeking out from beneath her black robe, her skin as smooth as jade, captivating to behold.
She sat there quietly like a refined lady, holding a bamboo scroll, resembling a literary girl sitting in a high school classroom two thousand years later. But whether she was actually reading the scroll, Roy couldn't say.
Earlier, she hadn't been paying attention to the scroll at all. Instead, her delicate face had been hidden behind it as she secretly watched and listened to the sounds outside. Only when Roy pushed open the door did she quickly raise the scroll in front of her face—just like students pretending to be engrossed in their books when the homeroom teacher suddenly walks into the classroom.
Roy found it amusing but didn't call her out on it.
"Has Lady Yuji been settling in well here?"
Roy walked over to the table and sat down, locking eyes with the beautiful girl before him as he asked with a smile.
"It's very nice here. Quiet, and no one disturbs me."
Yuji let out a soft "Mmm," shifting slightly like a cat stretching lazily, utterly adorable.
Yuji realized Roy hadn't lied when he spoke of "hiding in plain sight." She lived comfortably in this courtyard, undisturbed. The servants and maids never spoke to her unless she addressed them first, never asked her any questions. She didn't have to worry about anything—just sitting or lying here quietly allowed her to live the peaceful life she had always longed for.
This man before her had indeed provided her with a haven of tranquility, a place of absolute peace amidst the clamor of human society. The only slight annoyance was that he dropped by every few days to chat.
But she had grown used to it. He didn't bother her all day, after all. Spending just a little time each day talking with him in exchange for such a quiet place to rest wasn't so bad.
Yuji's delicate nose twitched, and her brows furrowed slightly as she said, "…You… Your Majesty, you smell of blood."
No sooner had she spoken than she changed her address—this was something Roy had been insisting on over the past few days. Yu Ji didn't particularly care about titles, and gradually, this form of address had become a habit.
"I just killed people. Over a hundred innocent people."
Roy said it calmly.
"Oh."
Yu Ji's tone was equally indifferent. So what if he had killed over a hundred innocent people? There was really nothing surprising about it. She was an immortal fairy—human concerns meant nothing to her, nor did she understand concepts like innocence.
"As long as you weren't hurt."
Yu Ji withdrew her gaze and turned her attention back to the bamboo scroll in her hands. She had been holding it for three days now, yet she felt as though she hadn't read a single word.
"Are you worried about me?"
Roy perked up and asked.
"The environment you've provided for me is quite satisfactory, my lord. It would be troublesome if something happened to you."
Yu Ji covered her delicate lips with the bamboo scroll, half of her beautiful face as radiant as a flower, her voice soft as she spoke.
"With your beauty, countless powerful men in this world would be willing to give you anything you desire."
Just like King Zhou of Shang when he met Daji.
"It's not the same, my lord. You are different from those humans."
Yu Ji lowered her enchanting eyes, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's song.
You are different from the others. Just those words alone made Roy's spirits lift.
"How am I different from them?"
"My lord… you ask nothing of me. You truly care for me… and you even try… to understand me."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, as though embarrassed by her own words. Though she disliked interacting with humans, Yu Ji was self-aware enough to know that she was, in fact, very much like them—she shared their emotions and sentiments.
Though Roy often acted fervently around her, Yu Ji, with her clear perception, knew that the man before her had always been composed and detached. He genuinely cared for her, not because he was ensnared by her beauty, nor did he covet her body or the secret of her immortality.
She even felt that Roy was like her—though he lived among humans, he had always been an outsider.
A baffling yet extraordinary man—that was Yu Ji's impression of Roy.
"I'm glad you like it here, but I came to apologize. I'm afraid this peaceful life can't continue. War is upon us, and I'll have to travel constantly. I won't be able to provide you with a tranquil environment anymore. If you grow weary of it, you may return to the mountains where you came from."
Roy spoke sincerely.
"You're letting me leave?"
Yu Ji asked curiously.
"I've never imprisoned you—how could I 'let' you leave? Besides, with your power, you could have left anytime when I wasn't at the estate, couldn't you? Whether you choose to return to the mountains or go elsewhere afterward, I'll support you. As long as you're happy."
Roy suddenly felt like one of those hopeless admirers who fawned over goddesses, spouting lines like, "As long as you're willing, as long as you're happy, that's enough for me."
But those admirers spoke empty words born of unrequited longing. Roy was different. If he wanted to, he had countless ways to bind Yu Ji to his side. Yet he still respected her choice—that was true sincerity.
Yu Ji pressed the bamboo slip against her lips and sighed, "All these years, humans still kill each other like this. It's so vexing."
...
"Subordinates Xiao He and Cao Shen pay respects to our lord!"
"Please rise quickly, both of you!"
Liu Ji helped the two men before her to their feet, her face beaming with triumph.
Her plan had succeeded. While escorting the prisoners to Mount Li, she had employed a simple trick to make them believe she was the Red Emperor's descendant. After casually speaking a few words, she seemed to genuinely possess some regal aura—the hundreds of prisoners immediately pledged their unwavering loyalty to her.
Coincidentally, the magistrate of her hometown Pei County had responded to the uprising and wished to recall Liu Ji, sending Fan Kuai to fetch her. Seeing this as an opportunity to strengthen the rebellion with hometown support, Liu Ji led her loyal followers back to Pei County. However, the magistrate reneged on his promise, refusing to let her enter the city, deeming her hundreds of followers too dangerous. Worse still, he foolishly sought to kill Xiao He and Cao Shen, who had previously advised him.
To save their lives, Xiao He and Cao Shen fled overnight and defected to Liu Ji. After conversing with them, Liu Ji realized they were truly talented individuals. The magistrate of Pei had not only gifted her military officers but also strategists—truly delivering a pillow when one was sleepy.
Originally, Liu Ji had no grand ambitions, content to idle away her days. Yet now, with so many flocking to her side, she gradually began to entertain other ideas. Though her personality was carefree, one might also call it unconstrained by trivialities.