Chapter Ninety-One: Joining the Organization

Xiao Yaoguang returned to the city.

Ming Tian sensed that something was terribly wrong.

On that very day in Nanlanling County, Xiao Yaoguang had refused Wang Jingze’s invitation and even declared war against him, signaling a complete break between the two.

Wang Jingze had been an official for many years; he was no fool who would let threats slide. If he managed to capture Jiankang, Xiao Yaoguang’s death was certain.

Yet now, the scouts reported that Xiao Yaoguang had returned to Yangzhou.

What could this mean? Had Wang Jingze’s siege failed? Had he not poisoned the Eastern Foolish Marquis?

No.

Ming Tian dismissed that thought outright.

The Eastern Foolish Marquis was undoubtedly dead! The poison hidden in the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup had been tested by Yin Chan before serving—it was undoubtedly the Acacia poison.

Yin Chan had said that even in her own time, the year 2458, there was no antidote for this poison, let alone in ancient times.

There was no chance the Marquis had survived. So why was Xiao Yaoguang still alive? Wang Jingze’s military power was enough to challenge Jiankang. Could there be some powerful figure in Jiankang unknown to Ming Tian?

Shaking his head, Ming Tian refused to dwell on these tortuous thoughts.

No matter what, if Xiao Yaoguang had returned to the city, he would surely have learned about the massacre of the Jie tribe. Once the investigation began, even if Ming Tian killed Pang Chong now, it would be useless—because he had entrusted Pang Chong to handle the bodies, and his underworld connections must have known about the killings.

It had already been difficult to leave Yangzhou. Even if by some miracle he managed to escape, he would soon become the most wanted man in the Qi Kingdom.

The simple news that Xiao Yaoguang was alive and back in the city felt like a dead end to Ming Tian.

After a moment’s logical reflection, Ming Tian made a decision.

It seemed he had to settle matters right here in Yangzhou!

There was only one option left.

“Brother Ming Tian, if you don’t mind, let’s work together,” De Yiao Ao’s timely voice offered an opening.

De Yiao Ao’s face was solemn, his brows tightly furrowed. “If we can have your help, Brother Ming Tian, we can definitely eliminate Xiao Yaoguang. Once his power is broken, you’ll be able to escape safely and save the common people—a win-win situation.”

Hearing this, Ming Tian turned his head.

An Luo looked utterly bewildered, as if not understanding a word, while Yin Chan nodded, signaling that Ming Tian should agree.

It seemed there was no other choice.

Since I killed the emperor, what’s one more—killing a Yangzhou governor?

Originally, this bastard had been a nuisance at the imperial competition, almost causing me to die. If it weren’t for Xiao Baojuan’s stupidity, I’d have been six feet under long ago. But afterward, he didn’t interfere much, and I assumed Wang Jingze would get rid of him. So I didn’t bother with him.

But now, his return to the city spelled my doom, so—

If there’s no path, then I’ll just carve one myself!

“Alright, but let’s be clear—I’ll only help you eliminate Xiao Yaoguang. Nothing else—no leading troops or fighting wars. Once the job is done, you must help me and my friends leave Yangzhou.”

Ming Tian stated his terms.

They were not unreasonable.

Now, Ming Tian just wanted a peaceful life with the princess, not to accomplish grand feats. To be frank… the main arc of his life was nearing its end.

He wanted to avoid dealing with more complications.

De Yiao Ao’s handsome face broke into a smile that could tempt even the most steadfast man.

“Then Brother Ming Tian, I’ll take you to the training grounds. Let you understand our organization.”

“Lead the way!”

Without further ado, De Yiao Ao smiled gracefully and turned toward a hidden door in the wall.

Damn, buddy, stop smiling like that! Even though you have that smirking face, you’re way too damn handsome—I’m about to lose it! Oh, right! Smile at An Luo! That guy’s obviously gay! Smile at him! Quick!

Ming Tian instinctively cast a suggestive glance at An Luo behind him.

An Luo was unnerved, wearing a confused, ‘what the hell?’ expression.

Pressing the mechanism, what appeared to be an earthen wall was actually a wooden door. The secret door swung open.

Since arriving in ancient times, Ming Tian had grown to detest much of the old way of life—but he truly admired one thing: the intricate, ingenious mechanisms created by people in desperate times.

Sometimes, these secret passages were so well-designed, they wouldn’t be out of place in the modern world.

If that door hadn’t opened, even knowing it was a secret entrance, Ming Tian would have barely distinguished it from the surrounding earth wall.

And the mechanism’s working principle was beyond this modern outsider’s understanding. No electricity—yet pressing a switch opened the door?

They walked for a short distance before bright sunlight suddenly flooded in, nearly blinding Ming Tian.

The sight before him was awe-inspiring.

“Hey… ha… hey… ha…”

Over a hundred robust men shouted in unison, practicing coordinated strikes with wooden swords!

This training ground covered more than ten acres, not counting the surrounding living quarters.

Around these buildings was a thick half-meter earth wall. Beyond that lay the houses of civilians and merchants. Walking the streets, no one would suspect a training ground lay hidden here.

De Yiao Ao explained that if the outer dye works were breached, they could abandon the basement, destroy the secret door mechanism, and take refuge in this training ground.

Moreover, the training ground had a secret passage leading to the outer streets, though it was deliberately left unexcavated—half a day’s work to dig through. Once opened, it provided an escape route.

This design was thorough, covering every contingency.

It seemed this resistance group had truly thought everything through to oppose Xiao Yaoguang and the Chaos Rift.

But Ming Tian’s attention wasn’t on that. It was on the training ground itself.

My heavens, I’ve truly seen the entire lifetime of gay men here!

Over a hundred bare-chested muscle men, drenched in sweat, training with all their might! What a spectacular sight!

Their shouts almost sounded like “hee hee hee” to Ming Tian.

Why does my backside hurt so much? Why do I tremble at the sight of muscles? Why… why must I spend my days among these muscle-bound men?!

I get it now—even if I’m not a character in a novel, my life must be arranged by that damn second-rate god. This guy’s definitely trying to turn me gay!

Never! I’m straight! I’m so straight I’m about to get cancer! You won’t bend me, you damn god!

“Brother Ming Tian, come, let me introduce you to—”

“Watch out!!!”

Just as De Yiao Ao was about to speak, a youthful voice shouted at full volume, interrupting him.

Ming Tian was caught off guard, and in the next moment, a shadow flashed by.

A wooden sword flew straight toward him—no, it was shot at him!

“What the—”

Before he could finish his exclamation, there was a thud.

Before he even reacted, something slammed into him.

Looking down, the wooden sword’s handle had struck precisely—right on his groin.

Clang! The wooden sword fell to the ground.

Before the pain fully registered, Ming Tian thought he heard the sound of two eggs breaking.

“Ahhhhhhhhh!!! My boys!!!”