“No worries, Brother Liang. This matter involves me too—it’s my fault you got dragged into this. Leave it to me to handle from here,” Lin Yun said, patting Liang Yuan’s shoulder.
Lin Yun knew that Shi Wen’s timing in targeting Liang Yuan today stemmed from resentment toward him. Unable to confront Lin Yun directly, Shi Wen had chosen to go after Liang Yuan instead.
Turning to face Shi Wen and the Judicial Office commander, Lin Yun’s expression hardened.
“All of you, get out now!” Lin Yun barked, his voice like thunder echoing through the courtyard.
His words stunned everyone present.
Lin Yun dared to berate Shi Wen and the Judicial Office commander like this?
Even Liang Yuan and Liang Qing were startled.
The Liang family guards were dumbfounded. In their eyes, the Judicial Office was an untouchable force—especially the commander, who wielded immense authority!
Who wasn’t afraid of the Judicial Office? Who would dare treat them this way?
“Lord Lin, you’ve got some nerve! The Judicial Office is handling a case, and you dare obstruct us and tell us to get out?” Commander He Changya’s face darkened with fury.
“That’s right—I’m telling you to get out. Are you deaf?” Lin Yun shot back, his gaze icy.
“Lin Yun, don’t think being His Majesty’s disciple makes you untouchable. If you obstruct the Judicial Office, I’ll have you arrested too!” He Changya pointed at Lin Yun, his voice thick with menace.
“Arrest me? Go ahead, try it! Do you really think the Dongguo Party can do whatever it wants? If this blows up, we can take it to His Majesty and let him judge!”
Lin Yun stepped forward, holding out his hands as if daring them to seize him, his tone unrelenting.
Lin Yun was furious too. After all, their real target in going after Liang Yuan was him.
“You… you…” He Changya’s face turned green at Lin Yun’s defiance.
The Judicial Office had never been so humiliated in its investigations.
But actually arresting Lin Yun? He Changya hesitated. Lin Yun had just been appointed prefect of Dongyuan Prefecture today—a clear sign of how much Emperor Huoyun valued him.
“Lord He, ignore him. Just take Liang Yuan. If he tries to interfere, I’ll stop him!” Shi Wen snarled viciously.
“What? You, Shi Wen, want to fight me?” Lin Yun’s eyes narrowed as he stared at him.
“Why not? Stopping a mere Third-Turn Tribulation Realm like you is child’s play! I’ve said it before—your strength and experience don’t match the role of prefect of Dongyuan Prefecture!” Shi Wen sneered.
As tensions escalated and the situation teetered on the edge, a commotion arose at the entrance.
Everyone looked up to see a squad of Forbidden Guards approaching.
“His Majesty’s decree has arrived!” the lead guard captain announced loudly.
Everyone immediately dropped to their knees.
But they were all bewildered—why a decree now? What could it be about?
“By His Majesty’s command: Effective immediately, Lord Liang Yuan is promoted to third rank and assigned to serve under Lord Lin Yun. Tomorrow, he will accompany Lord Lin Yun to Dongyuan Prefecture!” the captain proclaimed.
“What?!”
Shi Wen and He Changya’s faces paled at the announcement.
According to Judicial Office rules, they could detain anyone below third rank without prior approval. But now that Liang Yuan had suddenly been elevated to third rank, the situation had changed drastically!
And with His Majesty issuing this appointment just moments ago, arresting Liang Yuan now would be highly inappropriate.
Liang Yuan stood frozen, stunned by the decree.
Having never joined the Dongguo Party, he’d long abandoned hope of reaching third rank.
Yet now, he’d been promoted—by His Majesty’s direct order!
He knew this had to be Lin Yun’s doing. Among the empire’s countless officials, how else would His Majesty notice an obscure figure like him?
“Lord Liang, don’t just stand there—accept the decree!” the guard captain urged.
“Your humble servant accepts the decree!” Liang Yuan stepped forward eagerly, taking the scroll with trembling hands.
Once the decree was delivered, the Forbidden Guards departed.
The courtyard fell silent.
“Lin Yun, no wonder you were so arrogant just now—you already knew about this appointment!” Shi Wen’s voice dripped with venom.
He too realised that Liang Yuan’s promotion must be thanks to Lin Yun.
“So, can you get out now?” Lin Yun asked, staring at him.
Shi Wen’s chest heaved with rage at Lin Yun’s repeated demands to “get out.”
“Lord He, forget the rest—just take Liang Yuan!” Shi Wen growled.
“Lord Shi, don’t drag me into a mess! Taking him now would be asking for trouble!” He Changya retorted, clearly unwilling.
“Withdraw!”
He Changya gave the order and led his men out.
“Lord He, you… you…” Shi Wen fumed as the Judicial Office commander left, powerless to stop him.
Turning to Liang Yuan, he spat, “Liang Yuan, you got lucky today with this kid protecting you!”
Then he fixed Lin Yun with a venomous glare. “Lin Yun, we’ll see about this. Liang Yuan may have escaped today, but your days ahead won’t be pleasant!”
With that, Shi Wen stormed off.
After Shi Wen’s departure, Liang Yuan’s family breathed a collective sigh of relief—the crisis had been averted.
“Lin Yun, thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, the consequences today would’ve been unthinkable!” Liang Yuan said gratefully.
“Brother Liang, no need to thank me. This matter’s tied to me—I couldn’t just stand by,” Lin Yun replied.
Narrowing his eyes, he added, “Today, I got a real taste of just how powerful the Dongguo Party is.”
Lin Yun knew that without him, Liang Yuan would’ve been utterly crushed by the Dongguo Party, with no means to resist.
Lin Yun had managed to resolve this because of his status as Emperor Huoyun’s disciple and the emperor’s clear favour. An ordinary official like Liang Yuan would’ve been helpless against such an ordeal.
“Yeah, I nearly lost everything today,” Liang Yuan said, still shaken.
“Brother Liang, that’s all in the past now. Starting tomorrow, you’ll come with me to Dongyuan Prefecture—away from the Divine Capital. As the new prefect there, I call the shots,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Lin Yun, I underestimated you back then. You’ve only been in the empire a few years, and now you’re a second-rank prefect? Your rise is like a rocket soaring nine thousand miles!” Liang Yuan marvelled.
He chuckled, “I’ve benefited from your success. Otherwise, I’d never have had a chance to rise in rank in my lifetime!”
Liang Yuan felt fortunate that he’d humbled himself to befriend Lin Yun back then. Now, he was reaping the rewards.
“Forget the past. How about we head to Dongyuan Prefecture together and make something big happen?” Lin Yun asked with a grin.
“Absolutely!” Liang Yuan’s face lit up with anticipation.
The thought of leaving the Divine Capital—escaping the dead-end Martial Examination Hall—and joining Lin Yun in Dongyuan Prefecture to achieve something great thrilled him!
Finally, he had a stage to prove himself!
