The old man shook his head. "I wasn't present when the Qi Kingdom was destroyed, but among the prisoners of war, none were your family, Grand General."
"That's good." Ian Song nodded, then after a brief silence asked, "What is your position in Qin?"
"Royal enshrined master."
"Then how much do you know about Mountain-Sea Divine Palace and Sunrise Divine Temple?"
Hearing those two names, the old man's face grew solemn. "Qin could never have unified the world without those two great immortal sects. Every year, Qin sends countless treasures to both sects as tribute!"
"Alright, you may go now. But there are things you shouldn't speak of—make sure you keep silent. It's best if you leave Sunvale altogether!" Ian said with meaning.
"Then... then I'll take my leave!"
The old man straightened, then soared into the air. With a few flickers, he vanished from sight.
"Heh, Vivian Gee, Mountain-Sea Divine Palace, Sunrise Divine Temple... I'll settle accounts with you all, one by one!" Ian muttered to himself, then walked back inside.
Inside the palace, it was already deep into the night. Lanterns hung everywhere, making Heavenly Purity Palace as bright as day.
Emperor Aiden Qin paced anxiously back and forth inside the palace.
Finally, unable to contain himself, he led his attendants straight to the western corner of the palace.
He knocked on the door but received no answer; growing impatient, he ordered his men to break it down.
The enshrined master was gone, but had left behind a note.
"This old man has gone to roam the world. Your Majesty, do not worry!"
"That old codger actually dared to trick me!"
Aiden Qin shredded the note to pieces. The man had clearly promised to help him capture the doctor, yet had simply left.
Even after venting his anger, Aiden Qin still could not calm the rage in his heart.
The next morning.
Dong Cheng, commander of the Tiger Guard Regiment responsible for defending the imperial capital, was summoned to the palace.
Two hours later.
The Tiger Guard Regiment, stationed on the western outskirts, under Dong Cheng’s command, marched grandly toward the Song Family Clinic. At the same time, Emperor Aiden Qin, escorted by a thousand Imperial Guards, rode his warhorse straight to the clinic.
With both the Tiger Guard Regiment and Imperial Guards mobilized, the entire city of Sunvale was shaken.
Soon, the entire street where the Song Family Clinic was located was sealed off by the Tiger Guard Regiment. Residents hid inside their homes, not daring to step outside.
Your Majesty, the entire street is sealed. Please give your next command!
Dong Cheng, clad in bright armor, knelt on one knee and reported to Aiden Qin.
Aiden Qin’s eyes flashed with killing intent. He said coldly, "Order everyone inside the Song Family Clinic to come out and kneel before me. If they do not come out within ten breaths, kill them all!"
No need for ten breaths. I’ll come out and meet you now!
A voice suddenly rang in the ears of Aiden Qin, Dong Cheng, and the others. Then, the doors of the Song Family Clinic opened and a middle-aged man walked out slowly.
"Protect His Majesty!" Dong Cheng shouted loudly.
No need!
Aiden Qin waved his hand, glaring coldly at Ian Song and demanded angrily, "Are you the doctor who has repeatedly refused my summons?"
"Yes, that's me!" Ian Song nodded.
Hearing Ian Song admit it, Aiden Qin grew even angrier. "Do you not know that defying me is defying the whole world?"
"Is that so? And what exactly can you do to me?" Ian Song said calmly.
"Ha!" Aiden Qin laughed loudly. "I have five thousand Tiger Guard soldiers and one thousand Imperial Guards. Do you think I can't deal with you?"
"A bunch of mud dogs and tile chickens—not worth mentioning!" Ian Song scoffed.
"Outrageous! Seize this madman!"
Dong Cheng, enraged, gave the order. Over a hundred elite Tiger Guard soldiers, clad in armor and wielding long spears, advanced on Ian Song from all directions.
Ian Song shook his head and stepped forward.
Instantly, over a hundred spears stabbed toward him at once.
But in the next moment, Aiden Qin and Dong Cheng both widened their eyes in shock as a visible ripple spread outward from Ian Song’s body.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Spears snapped, bodies were flung backward—in the blink of an eye, all one hundred elite Tiger Guard soldiers had their spears broken and were sent flying.
Not good! Your Majesty, retreat into the ranks!
Dong Cheng shouted in panic. With a wave of his hand, two archers rushed forward, bows drawn, taking aim at Ian Song.
Fire!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Arrows rained down densely toward Ian Song.
But in the next instant, everyone was stunned—all two hundred arrows halted thirty centimeters in front of Ian Song.
Go!
With a casual wave of his hand, all two hundred arrows suddenly reversed direction.
Screams rang out one after another. In the blink of an eye, all two hundred archers were struck down by their own arrows.
All of you, attack together!
Dong Cheng shouted again.
At once, the remaining Tiger Guard soldiers charged at Ian Song, weapons raised.
"I told you, you're nothing but mud dogs and tile chickens!" Ian Song said.
Puff, puff, puff, puff!
Suddenly, Ian Song opened his arms, and hundreds of transparent miniature swords condensed around him.
In the next moment, hundreds of transparent swords shot out.
More screams rang out as each sword pierced a Tiger Guard soldier.
Again!
Again, hundreds of transparent swords condensed around Ian Song and then shot out.
After several waves, not one of the five thousand Tiger Guard soldiers or one thousand Imperial Guards remained standing. Only three people were left: Ian Song, and the two still on horseback—Aiden Qin and Dong Cheng.
It was shocking—truly unbelievable. Five thousand Tiger Guard soldiers and one thousand Imperial Guards had been wiped out in less than half an hour. Was the man before them even human?
"You... are you human or ghost?" Aiden Qin stammered.
"Who exactly are you?" Dong Cheng asked, voice trembling.
"My name is Ian Song. If you'd been born a few decades earlier, you might have heard of me." Ian Song said softly, then turned and walked back into the clinic.
Half an hour later, inside the palace.
Aiden Qin slumped on the dragon throne, still in shock, unable to recover from what had just happened.
In the great hall, dozens of eunuchs searched through records, looking for Ian Song’s name.
Your Majesty, I found it!
Suddenly, a young eunuch excitedly presented a royal chronicle.
Quick, give it to me!
Aiden Qin couldn’t wait. He rose from the throne and snatched the chronicle from the eunuch’s hands.
Ian Song: Grand General of Qi Kingdom, birth unknown, origins mysterious... Once led fifty thousand Qi soldiers to defeat a two hundred thousand Yan-Zhao coalition at the Burial Ground... Invented strong liquor, paper, glass, and more.
The further he read, the more shocked Aiden Qin became.
When he finished reading the chronicle’s account of Ian Song, his expression grew extremely complicated. If Ian hadn’t vanished over sixty years ago, it would have been Qi Kingdom, not Qin, that unified the world. In just a few years, he had devoured Yan and Zhao and crippled Qin.
Since you disappeared, why did you come back? Are you planning to overthrow Great Qin?' Aiden Qin shouted, throwing the chronicle aside in a frenzy, but inside he was filled with fear.
Defeated five thousand Tiger Guard soldiers and one thousand Imperial Guards single-handedly.
Within half an hour, Ian Song’s name spread throughout Sunvale and began sweeping outward like a whirlwind. In a few days, it would be known across the world.