Chapter 24: Corruption

Zu An had been observing the central carriage for some time; the moment he saw it, he was struck by its grandeur and luxurious feel. "A Rolls-Royce?" Even though its appearance bore no resemblance to one, the word still popped into Zu An's mind. Aesthetic sensibilities, it seemed, were universal across all worlds. Every inch of the carriage's paintwork resembled a work of art, and every line embodied the dedication of a master. Even the four magnificent steeds pulling it were identical in physique and coat color, appearing extraordinarily divine.

A faint blue light shimmered on the wheels, the carriage body, and even the horses' hooves, clearly indicating the presence of intricately carved magic arrays. These arrays allowed the carriage to glide over any surface as if it were perfectly flat, preventing even the slightest jolt for its occupants. Zu An had once ridden in the Chu family's carriage, but it paled in comparison to this one in every conceivable way.

Just then, a pleasant and melodious female voice drifted from within the carriage: "Go? Where can I go?" Her voice naturally carried a hint of lazy tenderness, so enchanting it felt as if one's very bones would melt upon hearing it. Yet, her tone at that moment seemed filled with bewilderment.

"Such a beautiful voice exists in the world?" Ji Xiaoxi, standing at a distance, was momentarily stunned, murmuring to herself. Zu An, on the other hand, was rather unimpressed. The highly developed internet of his previous world, particularly the booming voice acting industry, had exposed him to countless pleasant voices. However, a pleasant voice didn't always mean a beautiful face; he knew how many otaku had been tragically deceived by failing to understand this distinction.

The black-clad men below were also momentarily dazed, but they quickly erupted into wild laughter. "Lady Yu is indeed inside! Brothers, push harder! We'll get a chance to savor the beauty of the former capital's most exquisite woman!" At his words, the black-clad men began to howl, clearly growing more excited.

The eyes of the white-clad guards were all bloodshot, but being outnumbered, even a burst of newfound strength would not be enough to withstand the tide of attacks coming from all directions.

"Ah, so it's her!" Ji Xiaoxi gasped.

Zu An asked with surprise, "What? You know the person in the carriage?"

Ji Xiaoxi shook her head. "It's not that I 'know' her, but I know *of* her. The Yu family of Yunzhong deals in primal stones and is a world-renowned wealthy family. When Lady Yanluo Yu, the family's mistress, arrived in the capital back then, she was considered the most stunning beauty, famous across the land. Countless men still pine for her even now." Her face flushed as she spoke, recalling how her father proudly declared himself Lady Yanluo Yu's number one fan; she felt a bit embarrassed to even mention it.

After listening, Zu An became somewhat puzzled. "From what you've described, her family should be quite powerful. Why can't they even fend off these bandits?"

Ji Xiaoxi immediately corrected him. "Blackwind Stronghold isn't made up of ordinary bandits; they are incredibly formidable, so much so that even the Duke..."

Before she could finish, Zu An interrupted, "No matter how formidable, aren't they still just bandits? This Yu family is a nationally renowned wealthy household, and as you said, its mistress is stunningly beautiful. Logically, she should attract the covetous gaze of various powerful factions. Given the level of protection they're displaying now, how has she survived until now without being seized by a strong individual and made a plaything?"

"Uh..." Ji Xiaoxi was clearly a bit uncomfortable with his choice of words like "plaything." After a moment's thought, she replied, "Perhaps it's because her husband's family is that of the Duke of Yunzhong. But recently, the Duke of Yunzhong reportedly died in an accident, leading to some internal unrest within the family, which likely affected the strength of her personal guards."

"More internal squabbles among powerful families," Zu An said, nodding in agreement. He had only been with the Chu family for two days and had already encountered countless hidden dangers. Someone like Lady Yanluo Yu must have faced far more such challenges than he had.

"Is the one leading them the great bandit Chen Xuan you just mentioned?" Zu An asked, pointing at the black-clad leader.

Ji Xiaoxi shook her head. "It shouldn't be him. Chen Xuan is at least a sixth-rank expert, possibly even seventh-rank, but none of these individuals below are even fifth-rank."

"By the way," Zu An said, "I've always had a question for you: how do you usually determine an enemy's rank?" He mused that it wasn't like a game where everyone had a level indicator above their head; this was his biggest headache. He knew too little about the common knowledge of this world. Facing a crisis without even knowing the enemy's strength would put him at a severe disadvantage. After all, not everyone was like Plum Blossom Twelve, foolish enough to openly declare their rank.

"You don't even know that?" Ji Xiaoxi was a little surprised, but patiently explained, "First-rank practitioners can sense the world's primal energy. Second-rank individuals have tough skin, able to resist ordinary blade and sword attacks. Third-rank can project primal energy within three feet of their body to form protective shields or armor. Fourth-rank can release true qi from their body for long-range attacks. Fifth-rank awakens elemental abilities, imbuing each attack with special elemental power. Sixth-rank forms an elemental protective membrane, defending against and gaining immunity to elemental attacks. Seventh-rank automatically recovers from injuries; against lower-ranked enemies, the damage they inflict is less than the Seventh-rank's recovery rate. Eighth-rank can communicate with the forces of heaven and earth, wielding vastly different power compared to previous ranks. I'm not very clear about the ranks above that, only that they seem to be able to fly or something similar."

"None of these people below exhibit elemental attacks, so clearly, there are no individuals above fifth-rank. The leader should be Bao Gang, the Third Boss of Blackwind Stronghold."

"I see!" After her explanation, Zu An observed the battle below again. He was no longer bewildered as before and could now make a preliminary assessment of each side's strength. Most of the black-clad men were second-rank, a few were third-rank, and their leader was fourth-rank. Recalling what he had learned earlier, a fourth-rank individual could serve as a city lord in a small city, and a third-rank could be a county magistrate or marshal in a small town. Indeed, these were not ordinary bandits.

The leader of the Yu family's guards was also fourth-rank, and the rest were all third-rank; clearly, anyone of a lower rank wouldn't have survived this long. Unfortunately, they were severely outnumbered, and their defeat was inevitable.

"Who's there?" The black-clad leader suddenly turned his head. It turned out he had noticed them because their voices had been slightly too loud during their conversation.

"You should leave quickly," Ji Xiaoxi said, startled, urging Zu An. She had originally come here to rescue people, and since he had come with her, she didn't want him to be endangered on her account. Unfortunately, the medicinal powder she carried had mostly been used up in the mountains earlier, and she wasn't sure if she had enough left to deal with this group.

"What about you?" Zu An asked, a little surprised. Was this young girl planning to stay behind and hold off the enemies by herself?

"Don't worry, I can protect myself. Besides, my father is Ji Dengtu; they probably wouldn't dare touch me," Ji Xiaoxi quickly explained.

Zu An shook his head. "They dare to move against the world-renowned Yu family. What's the daughter of a local divine physician to them?"

Ji Xiaoxi hesitated, wanting to say, 'My father is actually very powerful,' but before she could, Zu An quickly told her, "Hide well, don't come out." With that, he leaped out directly. "Hey! In broad daylight, under the clear sky, you people dare to commit violence on the street!"

Ji Xiaoxi's mouth hung wide open. *Is he crazy?* she thought. *What's the difference between running out like this and courting death, especially while provoking them so openly?*

As expected, the black-clad men cursed him, "Where did this brat come from, daring to meddle in Blackwind Stronghold's affairs!"

Zu An paused, "You're from Blackwind Stronghold?"

"Of course. And you, sir?" Bao Gang, the black-clad leader, watched him with veiled caution. A sudden appearance made him unable to gauge the newcomer's background, so he decided to play for time. Due to the sudden appearance of an unknown individual, both the black-clad men and the Yu family guards temporarily halted their fighting.

Zu An cupped his hands. "It's nothing. I am Cheng Shoubing, known in the martial world as 'A Promise Worth a Thousand Gold, Keeping Secrets Like a Sealed Bottle.'"

Ji Xiaoxi, hidden in the bushes, blinked. *Cheng Shoubing? Who's that?*

The black-clad men also exchanged bewildered glances, apparently never having heard of such a figure. However, given the circumstances, the man's composure suggested he was no amateur.

Seeing the two sides engaging in conversation, the Yu family guards immediately grew anxious. Their leader shouted, "Hero, we are from the Yu family of Yunzhong! If you can lend us a hand, the Yu family will generously reward you afterward!"

Bao Gang's expression changed. He signaled his subordinates to circle around behind Cheng Shoubing, as the details of their ambush on the Yu family convoy couldn't be leaked in the slightest.

"Generous reward?" Zu An asked. "How generous?"

The Yu family guard was taken aback. This person wasn't playing by the usual rules; shouldn't he be talking about chivalry and not seeking rewards? However, since the question was posed, he immediately replied, "While our Yu family wouldn't dare claim to be as rich as a nation, we can provide gold, silver, treasures, divine weapons, primal stones, and even official titles and noble ranks. Whatever you desire, our Yu family can fulfill."

Zu An nodded. "That's all good, but I'm rather fond of beautiful women. I heard your family's mistress was once the most beautiful woman in the capital. Can I have her?"

Among the black-clad men, Bao Gang had initially worried that this unknown individual might intervene to help the Yu family. But upon hearing his words, he was utterly dumbfounded, almost cheering. Seeing the man walk towards them, he signaled his subordinates not to bother with the encirclement, just to remain vigilant.

The Yu family guard's face darkened. "Sir, please don't joke."

Zu An spread his hands. "I'm not joking. As long as your mistress is willing to spend one night with me, I'll help you deal with these Blackwind Stronghold members."

Ji Xiaoxi's face flushed. This guy was clearly... but he was feigning lechery. She knew Zu An's true nature, but the Yu family members did not. The guards all glared at him angrily.

Rage points from Yu Bin: +99!Rage points from Yu Jun: +99!Rage points from Yu Meng: +99!

Watching the rage points steadily accumulate in the system's background, Zu An felt this system was perfectly suited for him; earning rage points was simply effortless. His only regret was acquiring this 'keyboard' too late. If he had obtained it a few years earlier, with his forum-trolling prowess, he would likely have accumulated enough rage points to ascend. What surprised him, however, was that Lady Yu hadn't provided any rage points at all. Did she not care in the slightest?