As for the generals…
The Dongyuan Prefecture city guard boasted seven Tribulation Realm cultivators (including Wu Tong) and 103 Mahayana Realm cultivators—its backbone forces. Of these, seventy percent were Dongguo Party members.
Now, with Lin Yun, Huo Zhen, and Liang Yuan added, the total number of Tribulation Realm cultivators reached ten.
…
The next day arrived.
In the morning, Liang Yuan entered the study.
“Lord Lin, I worked through the night to compile a list of unaffiliated powerhouses in Dongyuan Prefecture worth recruiting,” Liang Yuan said, handing Lin Yun a document.
Lin Yun took it with a smile. “Brother Liang, in private, just call me your brother like before—no need for ‘Lord Lin.’”
“Alright, I’ll stick with Brother Lin Yun then,” Liang Yuan nodded with a grin.
Lin Yun glanced at the list—about几十 (dozens) of names, mostly Mahayana Realm cultivators.
“Why aren’t there any Tribulation Realm cultivators on here?” Lin Yun asked, puzzled.
“Brother Lin Yun, Tribulation Realm cultivators almost always belong to some faction. Finding one who’s both in the Tribulation Realm and a lone wolf is incredibly rare,” Liang Yuan explained.
Lin Yun nodded in understanding.
“Hmm, Wei Qi?” After scanning just a few lines, Lin Yun spotted a familiar name.
Wei Qi, the divine archer. The Mo family had once hired him to kill Lin Yun, but he’d failed.
Lin Yun had spared him back then, recognizing his talent.
“Brother Lin Yun, this Wei Qi is a prime candidate for recruitment. But he’s always been a lone wolf, refusing to join any faction. Recruiting him will be tough,” Liang Yuan sighed.
“Get me his personal file. I’ll find time to meet him,” Lin Yun said.
“Sure.” Liang Yuan handed over a file.
Lin Yun skimmed it and tucked it away.
“Brother Lin Yun, I’ll be busy recruiting and setting up the personal guard today, so I’ll take my leave,” Liang Yuan said.
“Go ahead,” Lin Yun nodded.
Lin Yun had entrusted Liang Yuan with recruitment because he was smoother and more diplomatic than Huo Zhen.
Once the guard was formed, Lin Yun planned to let Liang Yuan manage and train it.
Shortly after Liang Yuan left, Huo Zhen arrived at the prefect’s palace to see Lin Yun.
In the study…
“Huo Zhen, how’s your first day taking over the Commandery Office?” Lin Yun asked.
“Big Brother, it’s a headache. That bunch of bastards won’t listen to me. They pay lip service but don’t cooperate. You sacked Wu Tong, but he’s still calling the shots from his house,” Huo Zhen said, exasperated.
“That’s not unexpected. You need to establish your authority there. For the troublemakers, sack them if need be—kill the chicken to scare the monkeys,” Lin Yun advised.
“Big Brother, I thought the same, but almost all the key positions in the Commandery Office and city guard are held by Dongguo Party loyalists—Wu Tong’s cronies. If I sack them all, the whole operation might collapse,” Huo Zhen said helplessly.
“We’ll address that at tonight’s banquet. I’ve got a plan. For now, come with me to patrol the prefecture,” Lin Yun said.
This had been decided yesterday—Huo Zhen would accompany Lin Yun to inspect various parts of Dongyuan Prefecture.
“Alright, Big Brother,” Huo Zhen agreed.
They left the prefect’s palace together, heading out of the city.
Besides Huo Zhen, Lin Yun brought no one else.
But as he left, word of his departure was quietly leaked…
Outside the city, Lin Yun piloted a flying vessel, intending to patrol within a ten-thousand-mile radius of the prefecture capital to ensure the nearby counties were secure.
After several hours of high-speed flight…
“That should be where Wei Qi lives,” Lin Yun said, consulting a map.
“Big Brother, who’s Wei Qi?” Huo Zhen asked.
“A talented guy. Let’s pay him a visit and see if we can recruit him,” Lin Yun replied.
Lin Yun knew he needed to bolster his forces—relying solely on himself wouldn’t cut it.
Soon, the vessel descended beside a small lake.
Next to the lake stood a simple thatched hut.
“Wei Qi lives *here*?” Lin Yun said, stepping off the vessel and staring in surprise.
The man wasn’t picky about his living conditions—a hut sufficed.
Truth be told, Lin Yun didn’t care much for lavish accommodations either; such things were superficial.
By the lake, Wei Qi stood with bow in hand, warily eyeing the vessel. Its noisy descent had caught his attention.
Under Wei Qi’s gaze, Lin Yun stepped down from the vessel.
“Lin Yun?” Wei Qi’s eyes widened in shock upon recognizing him.
His memory of Lin Yun was vivid!
Wei Qi had always considered himself a genius—touted as the top cultivator below Tribulation Realm in Dongyuan Prefecture—until he met Lin Yun and realized what true genius looked like…
“Wei Qi, we meet again,” Lin Yun said, walking toward him with a smile.
“Lin Yun, I heard you were taken as a disciple by His Majesty in the Divine Capital. Why are you back in Dongyuan Prefecture—and at my place?” Wei Qi asked.
“Seems like your news is outdated. I’m the new Prefect of Dongyuan Prefecture—took office yesterday,” Lin Yun said with a grin.
“The new Prefect? You… you’re the new Prefect?” Wei Qi stared at Lin Yun in disbelief.
Back then, they’d both been Third-Stage Mahayana Realm cultivators. Now, Lin Yun was the prefect?
“That’s right. I came today to recruit you. Want to join me and build something big?” Lin Yun asked, smiling.
“I’m a lone wolf—I don’t like the infighting in official circles. The previous prefect tried recruiting me countless times, and I turned him down every time,” Wei Qi said.
“Fair enough, let’s set that aside. After our battle at the ancient tower, you said you’d train hard and challenge me again if we got the chance. How about a rematch?” Lin Yun suggested with a grin.
“Alright! I’ve made some serious progress these years!”
“Here I come!”
As Wei Qi spoke, he drew his bow.
Buzz!
A terrifying force gathered around the bow as he pulled it taut, the surrounding air crackling!
In an instant, a red arrow shot forth, vanishing into the void before reappearing right in front of Lin Yun.
Lin Yun swiftly drew his sword and slashed.
Boom!
The fearsome arrow was obliterated in a single strike!
Lin Yun stood unmoved, the arrow posing no threat to him whatsoever.
