Chapter 48: Pioneers Who Overthrew the Feudal System?

Xiao Rui and Jia Xu picked up the Braised Chicken and left the shop. They did not talk much, fearing they would alert the enemy.

Once in the carriage, Xiao Rui asked, “Sir, did you notice the Black Lotus Buddha enshrined in that Braised Chicken shop?”

Jia Xu nodded and said, “I did. It seems Night King Xiao Heding is indeed connected to the Black Lotus Sect.”

“What should we do next? Should I go to the Imperial Guards for help and detain that couple first?” Xiao Rui asked.

Jia Xu said, “No! We haven’t investigated their identities yet. We must not act rashly. It’s better to have someone keep an eye on them first. If they truly have ties to the Black Lotus Sect, the other Imperial Princes who are investigating the sect will surely stir up trouble. They will take action on their own. We’ll observe quietly for now.”

“Good!” Xiao Rui agreed.

When Xiao Rui and Jia Xu returned home, they didn’t expect someone to be waiting at the gate.

The person waiting was a surprise to Xiao Rui—it was the bearded man he had once bought at the Slave Market.

Seeing Xiao Rui step down from the carriage, the big man immediately knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and said, “Young Master!”

Xiao Rui quickly went to help him up, but the man’s body was as sturdy as a rock, unmovable.

“What do you mean by this?” Xiao Rui could only stand up and ask.

The big man said solemnly, “Young Master, I have settled all my affairs and have no more attachments. I have come to pledge myself to you. From now on, I, Wu Zhanfa, will be your man in life and your ghost in death. If I break this vow, may both man and god abandon me!”

Xiao Rui scratched his head. He hadn’t expected his casual act to gain a loyal subordinate. Judging by the man’s strong build, he must be skilled in martial arts.

“Congratulations, Your Highness, on gaining a loyal subordinate,” Jia Xu said with a smile.

Xiao Rui nodded and said to Wu Zhanfa, “Since you insist, from now on, you may follow me. Do you know my identity?”

“I do. Your Highness is the Seventh Prince of the Great Xia Kingdom!” Wu Zhanfa replied respectfully.

“I’ve agreed. Can you get up now?” Xiao Rui joked.

Only then did Wu Zhanfa stand up.

Entering the residence, Xiao Rui instructed Gao Quan to find a room and settle Wu Zhanfa first. Meanwhile, Xiao Rui and Jia Xu went into the hall.

“Your Highness, this man is over nine feet tall, sturdy and strong. One look tells you he is highly skilled in martial arts,” Jia Xu said, stroking his beard. “How did Your Highness win him over?”

Xiao Rui told him about what happened at the Slave Market. After hearing the story, Jia Xu suddenly smiled and said, “Your Highness, we are short on manpower right now. Wu Zhanfa arrived just in time. Why not send him to investigate that Braised Chicken shop tonight and learn more about that couple?”

“That’s a good idea, but isn’t it too rash to assign him such an important task right after meeting him?” Xiao Rui hesitated.

Jia Xu smiled and said, “I pride myself on my ability to judge people. This man is not evil; his face shows loyalty, bravery, and righteousness. Since he made a solemn vow and pledged himself to Your Highness, he is sincere in his allegiance. If you use someone, don’t doubt them; if you doubt someone, don’t use them. However, to be cautious, I will ask him a few questions later to learn more about his background. Also… judging by his accent, he seems to be from Ludong.”

Xiao Rui had already noticed the man’s northern accent. Now, upon closer thought, it did sound like a Ludong accent.

Ludong, Ludong…

Huh, he was now clashing with Ludong again.

“Could he be a spy sent by our enemies?” Xiao Rui asked casually.

Jia Xu shook his head. “It’s probably a coincidence. Let me question him first before deciding.”

With Jia Xu around, Xiao Rui felt much more at ease.

Honestly, if it weren’t for the System pushing him, Xiao Rui would have kept his personality in check and never stood out. He knew that, with his connections and abilities, aspiring to the Heir Apparent Position was wishful thinking. In his past life, he had watched many palace dramas, and the struggles for the Eastern Palace were full of undercurrents. As for the fight for the Imperial Throne, it was even more perilous.

Only after being reborn did he realize how good it was to be alive.

But now, with the System, he had no choice.

Now, Jia Xu had appeared, with his Loyalty Level at max. There was no need to worry about betrayal. He could strategize for him. So, who would come next?

Also, was this so-called summoning limited to characters?

Xiao Rui hadn’t figured it out yet, but it filled him with hope for the future.

During lunch, at Xiao Rui’s insistence, Jia Xu and Wu Zhanfa shared the table. On the table was the bought five-spice boneless Braised Chicken. It had to be said, it tasted really good. Watching Wu Zhanfa eat two buns in a few bites—probably capable of devouring a small roasted pig in three mouthfuls—Xiao Rui found his own appetite improved, and he ate more than usual.

“Your Highness must be laughing at me,” Wu Zhanfa said awkwardly after eating ten buns.

“The more you eat, the more capable you must be. Are you full?” Xiao Rui asked.

Wu Zhanfa said sheepishly, “About half-full.”

Xiao Rui blinked, wanting to give him a thumbs-up and say, “Dude, ever thought about livestreaming? You’d definitely go viral.”

“Eat! From now on, if you follow me, you must eat your fill,” Xiao Rui declared boldly. If even his subordinates couldn’t eat their fill, how could he talk about royal ambitions and grand achievements? But he also needed to think about how to make money.

Jia Xu took a sip of tea and asked, “Wu Zhanfa, your accent sounds like you’re from Ludong?”

“Yes, from Qinghe County in Ludong,” Wu Zhanfa volunteered. “My father was a yamen runner, so I’ve liked brandishing swords and spears since I was a kid. When I was young and reckless, I offended a certain Sir Ximen in the county and injured some of his yamen runners. After that, I went to Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts. Later, when I returned to my hometown, that scoundrel found out and caused trouble for me. In a fit of anger, I punched him and broke his leg, which landed me in jail.”

At this point, Wu Zhanfa took a fierce bite of his bun and said, “That scoundrel colluded with the County Magistrate, revoked my household registration, and sentenced me to exile. Later, my father exhausted all our family’s wealth to keep me from being sent to the border, but I was reduced to slave status and sold into the Slave Market. After many twists and turns, I arrived in the Capital City. Last time, I had the honor of meeting Your Highness. After Your Highness gave me my freedom, I returned home to see my mother and father. My father told me that a man should know to repay kindness. So, I hurried back.”

“Are there any brothers named Wu Dalang or Wu Erlang in your Qinghe County?” Xiao Rui really didn’t want to ask such a dampening question, but he couldn’t help it.

Wu Zhanfa thought for a moment and said, “No, there aren’t. Does Your Highness know someone from Qinghe County?”

“Just asking casually, hehe…” Xiao Rui chuckled.

Jia Xu asked again, “Then, when you came to the Capital City, how did you find His Highness?”

Wu Zhanfa said, “I asked the seller at the Slave Market and learned that Your Highness had bought a maid there who was trained at Chunfeng Pavilion. So, I asked the manager at Chunfeng Pavilion. Hehe, with a bit of coercion and persuasion, I learned Your Highness’s identity.”

It seemed this man wasn’t just a brute; he had some brains too.

“Then, have you heard of the Black Lotus Sect?” Jia Xu fixed his eyes on him, getting to the main topic.

Wu Zhanfa frowned and said, “I have! The Black Lotus Sect actually originated in Ludong. Later, for some reason, it moved to the capital region. When I was in the Slave Market, many slaves worshipped the Sage of Black Lotus and prayed to him, hoping that after death they wouldn’t enter the cycle of reincarnation and suffer in the human world again. But as far as I know, there’s something off about this Black Lotus Sect.”

“What’s the problem?” This time, it was Xiao Rui’s turn to ask.

Wu Zhanfa said, “On the surface, the Black Lotus Sect is no different from other religions—blessings, prayers, that’s for ordinary believers. But I’ve seen fanatical believers who firmly believe that the Sage of Black Lotus will descend to the mortal world, purge the sins of humanity, help the destined escape suffering, and let the faithful coexist with Buddha.”

At this point, Wu Zhanfa hesitated.

“There are no outsiders here. Speak freely,” Xiao Rui said.

Wu Zhanfa nodded and continued, “When I was in the Slave Market, I saw fanatical believers. They firmly believe that the Sage of Black Lotus will descend to purge the sins of humanity. And in their hearts, the root of all sin in this mortal world is…”

“Emperor Xia!”

Jia Xu said the final target for Wu Zhanfa.

Damn!

Xiao Rui was a bit stunned. Could this be a group of pioneers seeking fairness and aiming to overthrow the feudal system?