Nowadays, Qi is considered the number one power on the Shenzhou Continent, and Ian Song, as Grand General and Grand Tutor of Qi, holds such sway that, officially, he is second only to the king—but in reality, the King of Qi is nothing but his puppet.
So right now, Ian Song is absolutely the most powerful man on the continent.
Yet he personally goes out to welcome Lady Lila Pearce, which sends shockwaves through the entire Grand General’s Residence.
Seeing Ian Song personally go to greet Lady Lila Pearce, Lily—his close maid—can't help but feel jealous. She complains to Autumn, "Autumn, do you think the General is putting too much importance on that Lady Lila?"
Autumn’s delicate brows knit slightly as she looks at Lily and gently reminds her, "We're just the General’s personal maids. Everything we have now is thanks to him, so don’t act spoiled in front of the General."
She's a year older than Lily and much more steady—not impulsive and lively like Lily—so she's always worried Lily might get carried away and offend the Grand General. After all, the General still hasn’t married, and while the two of them are just personal maids, who in the whole residence really dares to treat them as mere servants?
More often, everyone treats them as the future Mrs. General.
Lily may be lively, but she’s not stupid. After thinking it over, she understands Autumn’s point. "Autumn, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not unhappy with the General at all—I'm just worried for him. I heard Lady Lila Pearce is unlucky; she supposedly brought down Qi before. If the General gets bewitched by her, wouldn’t our kingdom be doomed again?"
Autumn is stunned for a moment, then bursts out laughing. "You silly girl, what are you thinking? The General is brilliant and wise—how could he possibly be bewitched by someone like Lady Lila Pearce?"
Over the past year, Ian Song hasn’t just taught them martial arts—he’s also taught them to read and write, shared all sorts of knowledge, and sometimes, when in the mood, told them strange but fascinating stories.
Hearing Autumn say this, Lily nods in agreement: "You’re right, Autumn. How could a foxy seductress like her possibly charm the General? Besides, Princess Jade Fox already has that kind of relationship with the General, so how could he marry Lady Lila Pearce, who’s already been married twice?"
Seeing Lily calm down, Autumn feels relieved. "As long as you understand. When you meet Lady Lila Pearce later, don’t show any petty temper."
Don’t worry, Autumn, I get it.
......
Ian Song is unaware of his two maids’ conversation. At this moment, he has already arrived outside the Grand General’s Residence.
Outside the residence, a plain carriage is parked. The coachwoman is a woman, but she’s bigger and more muscular than most men, with a dark fuzz above her lips. At a glance, you might mistake her for a man.
And she’s not just any woman—she’s a Xiantian Fifth-Layer expert.
"The Grand General has arrived."
A servant following Ian Song calls out, and immediately, the soldiers guarding the gate bow in salute.
Ian Song waves his hand, signaling them not to stand on ceremony, and fixes his gaze on the coachwoman.
The coachwoman glances at Ian Song, then turns to the carriage and says, "Madam, that Ian Song has come out to greet you."
For a coachwoman to remain seated upon seeing Ian Song is already extremely rude. Then she even calls him by name with no respect in her tone—an even greater affront. Ian Song doesn’t get angry, but the soldiers outside the residence are furious.
After two great wars, Ian Song is seen as almost a god by Qi’s soldiers.
So.
The gate captain suddenly draws his sword, pointing it at the coachwoman: "How dare you show disrespect to the Grand General—seize her!"
Shing! Shing! Shing!
The sound of swords being drawn rings out again and again. The soldiers rush forward, their gleaming swords pointed at the coachwoman.
"Get down here!" the gate captain shouts, his eyes fierce as he glares at the coachwoman.
A bunch of ants dare to point swords at me? Courting death!
A cold light flashes in the coachwoman’s eyes. She grabs and draws a five-foot blade, its chill sweeping toward the surrounding soldiers.
The blade’s cold gleam carries a sense of intense chill and oppression. For a moment, the soldiers stand frozen, like puppets—unable to dodge or block.
The blade is about to claim the lives of more than ten soldiers.
A streak of blue light shoots over.
With a clang, the coachwoman’s blade is knocked from her hand.
The coachwoman freezes, then glares furiously at Ian Song: "You dare knock my weapon away? You’re dead!"
Whoosh!
The coachwoman leaps up from the carriage, instantly crossing several meters and descending on Ian Song, her face twisted in a savage grin.
"You dare kill my people in front of me? In that case, you die!"
Ian Song glances at the coachwoman and suddenly strikes.
Bang!
Ian Song’s palm strikes the coachwoman’s chest first, sending her massive body flying back even faster than she came, crashing beside the carriage and lying motionless.
Sister!
A cry comes from inside the carriage. A shadow leaps out, lands beside the coachwoman, checks her breathing, and her face changes dramatically. She glares at Ian Song, hatred in her voice: "You bastard, you killed my sister—I’ll make you pay with your life!"
She is about to leap forward when a soft, charming voice calls out: "Lingling, do not be rude to the Grand General."
The woman called Lingling is also extremely burly, almost manly, and looks very similar to the coachwoman.
Though Lingling is reluctant, she obeys the charming voice and steps back, her eyes still filled with intense hatred.
At that moment, a flawless, jade-white hand lifts the carriage curtain, and a veiled woman in ancient dress steps out.
Supported by Lingling, she steps down from the carriage, her gaze falling on the dead coachwoman, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
For some reason, seeing the woman’s sorrowful gaze makes all the soldiers regretful, especially the gate captain, who feels deeply guilty. If he hadn’t acted rashly, the coachwoman wouldn’t have died.
Ian Song witnesses this scene, his eyes narrowing as a faintly amused smile appears at his lips.