Chapter Eighty-Two: The Royal Guard

Terrifying weight.

Ji Hao retreated twenty-some steps before he managed to steady himself. On the bronze-cast floor, twenty-seven footprints, each three inches deep, were clearly imprinted, still steaming with heat.

Clutching the long handle of the wolf-tooth club with both hands, Ji Hao’s whole body bulged with veins. His internal organs burned hotly, a mouthful of blood stuck in his throat, almost ready to burst out. A wisp of white vapor rose from the crown of his head, and the sweat that just appeared was instantly evaporated by the high temperature.

With a rush of breath, flames surged behind Ji Hao, his body nearly translucent in the firelight. Faintly visible within him were over two hundred fiery meridians, outlining the totem of a three-legged golden crow.

Ying Yan watched Ji Hao with a hint of surprise, glancing meaningfully at the burning network of meridians inside Ji Hao.

Man Man, who had casually tossed away the wolf-tooth club, stared wide-eyed in panic at Ji Hao, not blinking. “Is he dead? Hey, Old Yan, is he dead? Look, he’s still standing! He hasn’t spit blood or turned into a mess, so he must be alive, right?”

With a heavy thud, Ji Hao planted the wolf-tooth club on the ground, making half the palace tremble.

He forced a laugh, a strong taste of blood rising in his throat. Smiling bitterly at Man Man, he said, “I’m fine. I still have some strength left, didn’t get smashed to death. This club is really heavy!”

Man Man let out a big breath, slapped her chest hard, and turned to scold Ying Yan with a beaming smile: “Old Yan, you always say it’s my carelessness that killed or injured so many servants. Look, look, I didn’t kill anyone this time. It’s your previous picks that were useless, not my fault!”

Ying Yan smiled wryly, saying nothing.

Man Man, hands behind her back, hopped to Ji Hao and sized him up, frowning as she compared their heights. Then, standing on tiptoe, she patted Ji Hao's shoulder with force.

“Hmph, what’s your name? You don’t look much older than me, and you managed to catch my club—so you must have some skill. From now on, follow me and carry my club.”

Ji Hao’s face fell. To spend every day following this little lass, carrying her club?

Ying Yan hurriedly interjected with a laugh, “Ji Hao, what’s there to hesitate about? Hurry and thank the young mistress! To serve at her side is a blessing countless people in the Southern Wilderness could only dream of.”

Ji Hao was speechless. Ying Yan squinted, speaking softly, “Ji Hao, following the young mistress isn’t just a great benefit for you—it’s good for your tribe, your father and mother as well!”

Ji Hao recalled the instructions from Ji Xia, Ji Zhuo, and Ji Fang before he came. He understood well that behind Man Man must be a power even more terrifying than the Bi Fang Clan, one that the Fire Crow Clan could never provoke. Ying Yan’s words were clear: follow Man Man, and his tribe, father, and mother would benefit. The implication was even clearer—if Ji Hao refused her, the Fire Crow Clan and Ji Xia, Qing Fu, would surely suffer.

With a calm smile, Ji Hao cradled the wolf-tooth club in his arms, clasped his fists, and bowed to Man Man: “Since you, Man Man, are willing to accept one such as myself—a rough country lad, unskilled in words and deeds—then I shall obey.”

Man Man blinked rapidly, laughed aloud, and slapped Ji Hao’s chest hard.

What seemed an easy pat was as heavy as a mountain. Ji Hao, club and all, flew backward; his beast-hide vest exploded apart, but thankfully the armor made by A Bao shone with a faint light, blocking Man Man’s blow.

With a crash, Ji Hao and the club slammed into the wall, embedding a bronze candlestick deep within it. The fierce impact made stars dance before his eyes, nearly knocking the breath from his lungs.

Ying Yan opened her mouth, almost shouting again. Man Man herself gaped in alarm, staring at Ji Hao.

Ji Hao coughed lightly, climbed up awkwardly, and Man Man finally let out a sigh of relief, laughing boisterously: “Well, Ji Hao, right? You look so skinny, hardly any meat on your bones, but you take a beating surprisingly well. That’s good, that’s good. Now I don’t have to worry about accidentally killing you—you’re much more useful than those useless ones.”

Ying Yan raised a sleeve to wipe her brow, laughing dryly: “Young mistress, the old master said...”

Man Man turned and glared fiercely at Ying Yan: “Enough! Don’t keep repeating what father said—my ears are getting calloused. Oh, is this the Jade String Flower that big brother talked about? Hee hee, so interesting!”

With a leap, Man Man, like a flea, bounced from the center of the terrace to the edge near the lake. She pushed a bit too hard, and crashed headfirst into the bronze-and-jade railing. With a tremendous noise, a section over ten yards long shattered, fragments shooting out like cannonballs, whistling as they scattered across the lake.

Waves surged on the lake, fragments pelting the water, smashing swathes of Jade String Flowers into pulp.

Once the lake calmed, the surface was littered with broken branches and leaves, and a gaping, ugly hole marred the once starry sea of flowers.

Soon, blood-red water rolled up from below, hundreds of fish with smashed bodies floated belly-up.

Dead fish drifting among the exquisite flowers—how strange the sight was.

Ying Yan covered his face, unable to bear it, moaning like a wounded pup.

Man Man nearly crashed through the railing and fell into the lake; she slapped the ground in panic, sinking a large patch before finally steadying herself. She peered over the edge, dumbfounded at the bloody lake and ruined flower sea, then burst into awkward laughter: “Ying Yan, this is your job now. Clean it up, or I’ll go home and beat up every one of your grandsons!”

Ying Yan looked at Man Man with tears in his eyes, agreeing endlessly.

Man Man, face stern, hands behind her back, kept glancing at the lake as more dead fish floated up, dryly chuckling as she walked off the terrace.

After a few steps, she remembered Ji Hao, turned and beckoned: “Ji Hao, right? Carry my club and follow.”

Ji Hao, helpless, summoned all his strength to lift the astonishingly heavy wolf-tooth club, trudging behind Man Man.

“Hey, Ji Hao, did Ying Yan grab you to clean the palace? I knew it, Old Yan and the others love bossing people around.”

“So, your home must be nearby, right? Do you know any fun places around here? Take me for a stroll!”

“Heh, heh, I finally got out for some fun while father’s away—I must enjoy myself thoroughly before going back.”

In the dimly lit corridor, Man Man rambled on, while Ji Hao grimaced, carrying the club and shaking his head.

***

Suddenly, a very important question comes to mind!

In that era, could such magical, dreadful, and powerful beings as eunuchs exist?

Probably not, so Ji Hao can rest easy!

For Ji Hao’s happiness, please vote for recommendations! Or else he’ll...he’ll...he’ll have nothing left below!