An unexpected encounter with the sleeping Little Dragon Girl leads to the annihilation of the Quanzh

He picked up the blunt knife he had just rejected and weighed it in his hand.

The next second, his hand became a blur.

A series of rapid, pattering sounds, like raindrops hitting banana leaves, echoed in the courtyard.

When the noise stopped, everyone looked again and saw a huge winter melon on the cutting board, which had been cut into countless slices as thin as cicada wings, all of the same size, thickness and shape, and neatly arranged there.

Lin Ye's hand remained in the position of holding the knife, as if it had never moved.

Everyone present, including Emperor Zhao Yun who hadn't run far outside the door, was stunned.

This...this is swordsmanship?

This is fucking magic!

Lin Ye looked at his work with satisfaction and nodded.

"Well, the knife is a bit cheap, but it's still usable."

"Alright, let's get started. Long'er, today we're having Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."

He turned to Little Dragon Girl and smiled.

At this moment, the vast imperial kitchen became his personal stage.

What would it be like if a god decided to cook seriously?

The three remaining people in the imperial kitchen were fortunate enough to witness it today.

Lin Ye didn't use the imperial chefs; he thought they were too slow and would bother him.

He stood there, his mind suddenly stirred.

Inside the warehouse, a well-prepared, plump chicken, several pieces of fine ham, and dozens of top-quality ingredients such as abalone, sea cucumber, and shark fin seemed to have eyes, automatically flying out and lining up in an orderly fashion to the well in the yard.

Well water gushed out automatically, washing every ingredient clean.

Then, the ingredients flew to the cutting board.

The cleaver in Lin Ye's hand once again became a phantom, slicing, chopping, slicing, and chopping... In his hands, various knife techniques were no longer skills, but an art.

Whether it's tough ham or soft tofu, under his knife, they obediently transform into whatever shape he desires.

Zhang Junbao was assigned to peel potatoes, but after peeling for a long time, the potato in his hand was still bumpy and uneven. When he looked up, he saw dozens of potatoes in front of Lin Ye that had been automatically peeled and were floating in mid-air, their surfaces as smooth as mirrors.

He silently put down the paring knife, feeling as if he had suffered a ton of damage.

The apprentice who was left behind, named Liu San, was completely dumbfounded.

He saw that Lin Ye didn't need to light a fire at all. He just glanced at the firewood under the stove, and the firewood started to burn automatically. Moreover, the size of the flames was always kept at an extremely precise height, without the slightest error.

He watched as Lin Ye meticulously placed dozens of ingredients into a huge soup pot in different orders, the whole process flowing smoothly without the slightest pause.

This doesn't look like cooking.

This is clearly a sacred and solemn ceremony!

Little Dragon Girl moved a small stool, sat obediently beside him, rested her chin on her hand, and watched Lin Ye's busy figure with a happy expression.

She loved watching Brother Lin cook.

He is meticulous, focused, and the food he makes is the best-tasting in the world.

……

Meanwhile, outside the imperial kitchen.

Emperor Zhao Yun, along with a group of ministers and the imperial chefs who had been driven out, remained gathered there, not daring to leave.

Listening to the sounds of chopping vegetables coming from inside, and smelling the strange aroma that they had never smelled before, they were all itching to get in.

"Jia... Minister Jia," Zhao Yun couldn't help but ask Jia Sidao beside him, "what do you think this Marshal Lin... what exactly is he planning to do?"

Jia Sidao shook his head with a bitter face: "Your Majesty... I am too dull to see through it."

"Can't see through him?" Zhao Yun sighed, a bitter self-mockery on his face. "Even I can't see through him. I used to think that people in this world only seek fame, fortune, and power. But he... he seems to want nothing at all."

An old imperial chef, who had been kicked out and was the head of the imperial kitchen, sniffed the aroma in the air, a look of rapture on his face, and muttered to himself, "No... he doesn't want nothing."

"What he wants is perfection!"

"It's about an ultimate understanding of ingredients, an ultimate control over cooking time and temperature, and an ultimate pursuit of flavor!"

"This...this is not ordinary food, this is...this is the manifestation of the Tao!"

As the old imperial chef spoke, he became so excited that he knelt down and kowtowed three times in the direction of the imperial kitchen.

"To smell this fragrance, I could die without regret! I could die without regret!"

Zhao Yun and his ministers were completely bewildered, but they could also smell the fragrance.

The aroma was incredibly overpowering, as if it had its own life, penetrating everyone's nostrils and arousing their most primal appetite.

Glug... Glug...

A series of swallowing sounds and rumbling stomachs echoed through the crowd.

Even Emperor Zhao Yun, a man who had tasted all the delicacies in the world, felt so hungry that his stomach was sticking to his back, and he wished he could rush in immediately, even if it was just to have a sip of soup.

He suddenly understood.

Perhaps, for this deity, nothing is more important than making his beloved girl enjoy a happy meal.

This realization terrified him even more than Lin Ye's desire to seize his throne.

Because this means that, in other people's eyes, he, the emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, is not even a worthy opponent.

How do you please someone whose needs you don't even know?

Just then, the aroma became even stronger.

It felt as if countless tiny hands were scratching at everyone's heart.

Zhao Yun could no longer contain himself. He said to the eunuch beside him, "Go...go ask the Marshal...has he finished cooking? Ask me...if I may have the honor of...taking a bite?"

He had barely finished speaking.

The door to the imperial kitchen creaked open.

Zhang Junbao, covered in flour, walked out carrying a huge tray.

On the tray was a crystal-clear jade bowl.

The bowl contained a clear, watery soup.

But this seemingly ordinary bowl of clear soup exuded an unparalleled aroma that made the souls of everyone present tremble.

Zhang Junbao walked up to Zhao Yun and said somewhat nervously, "Brother Lin... Brother Lin said this bowl is for you."

Zhao Yun stared wide-eyed at the bowl of soup, rubbing his hands excitedly as he reached out to take it.

Zhang Junbao then added a sentence.

"Brother Lin also said that after eating this bowl of soup, we shouldn't bother him anymore. He doesn't like anyone watching him when he's cooking."

As Zhang Junbao finished speaking, Zhao Yun's outstretched hand, which was about to take the bowl, froze in mid-air.

After you finish this soup, don't bother him anymore.

He doesn't like anyone watching him when he's cooking.

These two sentences, though spoken lightly, were like two invisible slaps delivered hard to Zhao Yun's face. The expressions of the surrounding civil and military officials turned into a colorful and varied spectacle.

What a humiliation this is!

The Song emperor led his officials out of the city for thirty miles to welcome him, but what he received in return was not courtesy or gratitude, but a bowl of soup and the words, "Don't bother me."

Zhao Yun felt a surge of blood rush to his head. His dignity as an emperor was trampled into the ground and shattered at that moment. He almost lost control, smashing the bowl of soup on the ground and ordering the imperial guards to tear that arrogant cook to pieces.

But he dared not.

Reason tightly gripped his anger. He looked at the crystal-clear jade bowl in Zhang Junbao's hand, the clear soup inside exuding an alluring aroma. That fragrance was like an invisible hand, soothing his rage and leaving only the most primal desire.

His body is more honest than his brain.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire court and the people of the city, Zhao Yun slowly and solemnly, with an almost reverent gesture, extended his hands and accepted the bowl of soup.

"Thank you... Immortal for bestowing the soup." His voice was dry, yet it carried a hint of piety that even he himself was unaware of.

Instead of using a spoon, he brought the jade bowl directly to his lips and carefully took a small sip.

The soup, upon tasting, lacked the intense richness of delicacies I had imagined; instead, it was as light and refreshing as a mountain spring. Yet, within this lightness, it seemed to contain the essence of heaven and earth.

In an instant, Zhao Yun felt as if his soul had been ripped from his aging body. He saw towering mountains, rushing rivers, blooming flowers, and the turning of the stars. The essence of dozens of top-quality ingredients was perfectly fused together by an incomprehensible power, transforming into a warm and powerful torrent of life that washed over every corner of his body.

The exhaustion from years of handling state affairs, the body hollowed out by wine and women, the nerves taut with fear... all of it vanished under the sweep of this torrent.

He felt more awake and more energetic than ever before. His aging eyes, which had been somewhat dim, now saw the world with incredible clarity. Beneath the dragon robe, his nearly fifty-year-old body, long since exhausted, seemed to have returned to its peak state of twenty, brimming with inexhaustible energy.

Zhao Yun stood there, bowl in hand, stunned, two streams of turbid tears uncontrollably sliding down her cheeks.

The surrounding ministers were dumbfounded.

What's wrong with the Emperor? Is he crying from anger? Or is he moved to tears by a bowl of soup?

But as they smelled the increasingly overpowering aroma, their Adam's apples bobbed, and their mouths nearly watered. Jia Sidao, standing at the very front, was the closest and smelled it most clearly. He felt as if every pore on his body was opening up, and he felt like he was about to float away.

The head steward of the imperial kitchen, who had been kicked out, was trembling with excitement. He stared intently at the jade bowl in Zhao Yun's hand, his eyes burning with the fervor of a devout believer witnessing a miracle.

"The Dao! This is the Dao!" he shouted hysterically. "Perfectly blending dozens of mutually reinforcing and mutually restraining ingredients, simplifying complexity, returning to the essence! This isn't culinary skill, this is divine magic! This is the Dao of Creation!"

Zhao Yun ignored the noise outside. He closed his eyes and drank the rest of the soup in the bowl in one gulp.

As the last drop of soup slid down his throat, his entire demeanor changed.

The former imperial majesty was replaced by something deeper. It was reverence, enlightenment, and an unprecedented resolve.

He finally understood.

I was wrong, terribly wrong.

He had always tried to understand the actions of a god using mortal logic. He thought Lin Ye ignoring him was an insult, a show of force. Now he realized it wasn't an insult, but the truth.

An ant flaunts its magnificent anthill in front of a dragon. What will the dragon think? The dragon will only find it noisy and then stomp on it.

Lin Ye didn't stomp him to death; instead, he tossed him a bowl of soup. This wasn't just kindness; it was an immense blessing!

What imperial dignity, what national dignity—all are jokes in the face of an absolute difference in the level of life.

Having figured this out, Zhao Yun felt a wave of relief wash over him. He opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. The sharpness and clarity in his eyes sent a chill down the spines of every minister who met his gaze.

They felt that their emperor seemed different.

Zhao Yun handed the jade bowl back to Zhang Junbao and said solemnly, "Please thank Immortal Lin for me. Tell him that I... understand."

Having said that, he turned and strode back to the imperial carriage, his voice booming like a bell: "Back to the palace!"

The massive honor guard started up again, but this time, the atmosphere was no longer eerie, but rather solemn and dignified.

Upon returning to the palace, Zhao Yun did not rest for a moment and immediately summoned all the core ministers to the Zichen Hall.

"Issue my decree!" Zhao Yun sat on the dragon throne, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"Firstly, from this day forward, the entire area encompassing the Imperial Kitchen, extending east to Chang Le Palace, west to Weiyang Palace, south to Taiye Pond, and north to Xuanwu Gate, is designated as 'Shangxianju' (Immortal Abode), the place where the Immortal Lin cultivates in seclusion. All concubines, imperial relatives, and palace servants residing within this area must immediately vacate, without fail!"

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall. This practically excluded half of the palace! Those were the residences of the most favored concubines and the most powerful imperial relatives!

"Secondly!" Zhao Yun ignored their shock and continued, "The area around the Immortal's Residence is guarded day and night by the Imperial Guards, with sentries every three steps and patrols every five. Without the Immortal's summons, anyone, regardless of status, who dares to trespass even a step will be killed without mercy!"

"Thirdly, within Lin'an City and in the imperial court, if anyone dares to criticize, spy on, or speculate on the words and actions of the Immortal, upon discovery, commoners will have their tongues cut out, officials will be dismissed, and their entire clan will be exiled!"

The three decrees were all more ruthless and unreasonable than the last.

A deathly silence fell over the entire Zichen Palace. The ministers stared at the emperor on the dragon throne, a figure both familiar and unfamiliar, their hearts filled with turmoil.

They've gone mad! The officials must have gone mad!

Jia Sidao stood at the head of the assembled officials, head bowed, eyes downcast, silent. He knew better than anyone that the Emperor was not mad. On the contrary, he had never been so lucid.

This emperor was prepared to use the most extreme and clever method to completely bind the fate of the entire Song Dynasty to that deity.

It's a big gamble.

If they win the gamble, the Song Dynasty will usher in an unprecedented golden age.

I lost the bet...

Jia Sidao dared not think any further. He only knew that from this day forward, the fate of the Great Song Dynasty was truly about to change.

And at the heart of this storm, in the imperial kitchen.

Lin Ye was placing the last piece of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup into Xiaolongnu's bowl.

"Long'er, eat more, this is good for your health."

"Mmm!" Little Dragon Girl squinted her eyes happily, taking small bites of her food, as if the huge storm outside that was about to sweep through the entire court had nothing to do with her.

For her, anywhere is paradise as long as Brother Lin is by her side.

The imperial palace has never been a peaceful place.

Zhao Yun's three imperial edicts were like three giant stones thrown into the seemingly calm but deep pool of the inner palace, stirring up a monstrous wave.

Countless concubines, princes, princesses, and even some imperial concubines who had lived there for decades were forced to move out of their magnificent palaces and squeeze into the remaining half of the palace, a cramped corner. Complaints and cries filled the air, and the entire harem descended into chaos.

Among them, the one with the greatest resentment was none other than the most favored concubine of the time, Consort Yan.

Consort Yan, only twenty years old, was incredibly beautiful and charming, and extremely adept at flattery, keeping Zhao Yun completely infatuated. Her brother, Yan Shicheng, held the high-ranking position of Prefect of Lin'an, controlling the defense of the capital and making him a powerful figure among the imperial relatives. The two siblings, one inside and one outside the capital, wielded immense power.

But now, she had been driven out of Chang Le Palace, where she had lived for many years, and moved into a remote and cramped courtyard. What she found even more unbearable was that the emperor had not set foot in the inner palace for half a month. Every day after court, he would go to the entrance of "Shang Xian Ju" and stand like a gatekeeper for several hours before returning to his own palace to rest.

"A sorcerer! It must be that sorcerer surnamed Lin who has bewitched the emperor!"

Inside the palace, Consort Yan smashed a fine porcelain vase to the ground, her chest heaving violently.

Before her sat Yan Shicheng, his face grim, his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

"Sister, please calm down," Yan Shicheng said in a deep voice. "I've sent people to inquire. That Lin Ye hasn't come out since he moved into the Imperial Kitchen. He just cooks every day and keeps that white-clad enchantress company. All the gold, silver, jewels, and beautiful women sent by the Emperor have been returned untouched by him."

"He wants nothing, that's the scariest part!" Consort Yan gritted her teeth. "Brother, we can't wait any longer! If this continues, where will we, his sister and I, have a place in this palace?"

"I understand." Yan Shicheng nodded. "A direct confrontation is definitely not going to work. The Emperor is protecting him like he's possessed. We need to think of a way to test this sorcerer's background and also test the Emperor's bottom line."

His gaze fell on a roster of Imperial Guard rotations, and a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"I heard that besides the white-clad demoness, that sorcerer also had two handymen by his side. A young Taoist priest named Zhang Junbao, and a kitchen apprentice named Liu San..."

The brother and sister exchanged a glance, both seeing a sinister plot in each other's eyes.

……

At the same time, Zhao Yun was also worried about how to "please" Lin Ye.

Money? No. Beautiful women? No. Promotions? They wouldn't even bother with the emperor, let alone a throne.

He thought about it all night, and finally, the next day at court, in front of all the civil and military officials, he announced a startling decision.

He ordered the best craftsmen of the time to forge a golden mace using the purest gold from the national treasury, working tirelessly for seven days and seven nights.

On this day, Zhao Yun personally carried a tray covered with yellow silk and came to the entrance of "Shangxianju" again.

Instead of having the eunuch announce his arrival, he bowed personally and proclaimed loudly, "Emperor Zhao Yun of the Great Song Dynasty, deeply grateful for the Immortal's grace in restoring the universe, has no way to repay this debt. Therefore, he has specially cast the 'Golden Mace of Heavenly Surveillance' and presents it to the Immortal!"

"This mace can strike down a tyrannical emperor above and slay a treacherous minister below! Seeing this mace is like seeing the Emperor himself! Within the borders of the Great Song Dynasty, wherever there is injustice, the Immortal can wield this mace, execute first and report later, acting as he sees fit!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Sidao and the others following behind him were all horrified and their expressions changed.

This is no longer a mere authorization; it's handing over the highest judicial and supervisory power of the entire Song Dynasty! It's tantamount to creating a "retired emperor" above the emperor!

However, the imperial kitchen remained quiet, with only the aroma of food wafting out.

Zhao Yun held the tray, sweat gradually beading on his forehead. He didn't know if Lin Ye would accept it.

Just as he was feeling uneasy, the heavy golden mace suddenly floated up from the tray, passed through the yellow silk, and slowly flew into the gate of the imperial kitchen.

Zhao Yun was overjoyed!

But before he could finish celebrating, the golden mace flew out again.

However, the once majestic and imposing golden mace now had an ordinary-looking leather cord attached to it. Like a large pendant, it swayed and flew to the courtyard of the imperial kitchen, where it hung around the neck of Little Dragon Girl, who was chasing butterflies.

The golden mace was quite heavy, hanging on Xiaolongnu's slender neck, causing her body to sink slightly.

Lin Ye's voice drifted out from the kitchen, neither warm nor cold.

"It's a bit heavy, but it looks shiny, so Long'er should like it."

"I'll use it to crack walnuts from now on, so you won't always complain that the shells are too hard."

Crack...crack walnuts?

Zhao Yun and the ministers behind him were all petrified.

That golden mace, symbolizing the highest power of the Song Dynasty and capable of "striking down tyrannical emperors and beheading treacherous officials," was, in other people's eyes, just a... nutcracker.

This absurd and bizarre scene left everyone feeling like their brains couldn't keep up.

However, after a brief moment of astonishment, Zhao Yun's face lit up with ecstasy.

He accepted!

Regardless of what he intended to do with it, he ultimately accepted it!

This shows that he has no intention of overthrowing the throne or the world. He simply wants to stay here quietly with his girl and live his life!

"Great! Great!" Zhao Yun nodded excitedly. "Imperial Immortal, I'm so glad you like it! I'm so glad you like it!"

He felt he had finally found the way to get along with this deity. That was, not to try to guess what he was thinking, but to give him what he wanted and not to bother him with what he didn't want.

As long as we keep him happy, the Song Dynasty's rule will be as stable as Mount Tai!

Zhao Yun turned around with satisfaction, ready to leave. He felt that today was the most comfortable day he had had since becoming emperor.

He didn't see that in the instant he turned around, Yan Shicheng exchanged a sinister glance with several familiar military officers.

The golden mace has already been sent out.

Now, it's time to see if this "nutcracker" can actually be used to "slay the treacherous minister."

That afternoon, Liu San, an apprentice in the imperial kitchen, was diligently washing a basket of vegetables in a corner of the courtyard. He loved his life. Although he was just a handyman, he could smell the aroma of Lin Shangxian's cooking every day and occasionally get to eat some leftover scraps, which tasted better than anything he had ever eaten before. Moreover, Shangxian never scolded or beat him, and the young Taoist priest named Junbao treated him like a brother.

He felt that this was the happiest day of his life.

Suddenly, the courtyard gate was kicked open.

A squad of heavily armored Imperial Guards, led by a captain, charged in menacingly.

"You audacious thief Liu San, how dare you steal the Empress Dowager's 'Night-Shining Pearl'! The evidence is irrefutable, come with us to the imperial prison!"

The leading captain was none other than Yan Shicheng's confidant. He gave Liu San no chance to explain, waving his hand dismissively, "Take him down!"

Liu San was terrified, dropping the vegetables he was holding. He stammered, "I didn't! I didn't steal anything! I've been in the yard the whole time, I haven't gone anywhere!"

Two fierce-looking soldiers stepped forward and were about to lift him up.

"stop!"

With a shout, Zhang Junbao, who was practicing boxing in the courtyard, stepped in front of Liu San.

After being exposed to the world for some time, and with Lin Ye occasionally "guiding" him on how to exert force to peel potatoes faster, his internal strength was now completely different from before. Standing there now, he was as imposing as a mountain, and he even had the air of a grandmaster.

"In broad daylight, what right do you have to arrest people without cause?" Zhang Junbao glared at the captain.

The captain sneered, "On what grounds? On the grounds of the law in my hands! Kid, I advise you not to meddle in other people's business. Offending the Heavenly Army is a capital offense! Get out of my way!"

As he spoke, he threw a punch straight at Zhang Jun-bao's face!

This punch was powerful and heavy, with a sharp gust of wind; it was clearly meant to kill.

A conflict has broken out.

Faced with the captain's powerful punch, Zhang Junbao's eyes narrowed. Instead of dodging, he took a deep breath and planted his feet firmly on the ground like the roots of an old tree.

He remembered a casual remark Lin Ye made when teaching him how to peel potatoes.

"Power originates from the ground, and strength flows from the spine. The calmer your mind, the steadyer your hands will be."

He didn't understand any profound martial arts principles; he simply calmed his mind subconsciously and then, in the face of the opponent's fist, casually pushed out a palm strike.

"Bang!"

The fist and palm collided, producing a muffled thud.

To everyone's surprise, the burly captain was so shocked that he staggered back three steps, feeling his entire arm go numb and sore, as if he had struck a tough piece of cowhide.

He stared in astonishment at the handsome young Taoist priest before him, his mind reeling. This boy looked so young, where did he get such profound inner strength?

Zhang Junbao himself was stunned. He hadn't expected that his impulsive strike would possess such power. An unprecedented sense of confidence welled up from the bottom of his heart.

"I told you, you can't take him away!" He shielded Liu San behind him, his eyes resolute.

"Rebellion! Rebellion! How dare they openly resist arrest and assault an official!" The captain was both shocked and furious. He knew that if he couldn't subdue this little apprentice today, he would definitely suffer a terrible fate in front of Lord Yan.

"Charge! Take them down! No matter their lives!" he roared as he gave the order.

A dozen Imperial Guard soldiers shouted and charged at Zhang Junbao and Liu San, brandishing their swords and spears.

In an instant, swords clashed and the air was thick with murderous intent.

Although Zhang Junbao's internal strength had greatly improved, he still had zero practical combat experience. Faced with the attack of more than a dozen well-trained soldiers, he was immediately flustered and could only rely on his superhuman strength and reflexes to dodge and parry in a sorry state, constantly in danger.

"clang!"

A soldier's longsword grazed his shoulder, tearing a large gash in his Taoist robe, sending a searing pain through him.

"Brother Junbao!" Liu San screamed in fright.

"Don't be afraid!" Zhang Junbao gritted his teeth and kicked a soldier away, but he was caught off guard by a spear thrusting from behind. He hurriedly turned to the side, but the spear tip still cut a bloody gash under his ribs.

Seeing that Zhang Junbao was about to give up, a sinister smile flashed in the captain's eyes. He seized an opening and pounced like a tiger descending a mountain, striking Zhang Junbao's chest heavily with both palms.

"puff!"

Zhang Junbao was struck dumb, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground. He struggled for a few moments but was unable to get up.

"Take him down!" The captain was overjoyed at the sight and immediately gave the order.

Two soldiers stepped forward, lifted the limp Liu San up, and were about to drag him out.

"No! Let me go! Brother Junbao!" Liu San cried out in despair.

……

In the kitchen, Lin Ye was carving a new set of tableware for Xiaolongnu using a whole piece of mutton-fat jade.

He could hear the fighting and crying outside clearly, but he seemed to be detached from it all, not even lifting his eyelids, and his carving knife remained steady without trembling.

Little Dragon Girl sat on a small stool next to it, holding the heavy golden mace and smashing a pile of iron walnuts on the table one by one.

"Slap... slap..."

She smashed them with great force, but the shells of those iron walnuts were incredibly hard. After smashing them for a long time, she only managed to leave a few white spots on them.

She pouted, looking a little unhappy.

Just then, she heard Zhang Junbao's painful groan and Liu San's desperate cries.

She stopped moving.

She looked up at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye continued to carve the jade bowl with focused concentration, seemingly oblivious to the sound. However, the carving knife in his hand left a barely perceptible scratch on the rim of the bowl.

"Brother Lin," Little Dragon Girl asked softly, "It's so noisy outside."

Lin Ye finally stopped what he was doing. He didn't turn around, but simply said, "Then tell them to be quiet."

"Um."

Little Dragon Girl nodded and jumped off the bench.

She carried the golden mace, which was larger than her fist, and walked out of the kitchen step by step.

When she appeared in the courtyard, the captain had one foot on Zhang Junbao's back, a triumphant smile on his face.

"Little Taoist priest, remember not to meddle in other people's business in your next life!"

He was about to order the man to be dragged away when he suddenly saw a little girl in a white dress, with a delicate and exquisite appearance, carrying a large golden mace that was completely disproportionate to her size, walking out of the house.

"Where did this wild girl come from? Get out of here, this is not a place for you to play!" the captain shouted impatiently, not even bothering to look at her.

Little Dragon Girl did not speak.

She simply walked up to the captain and raised the golden mace in her hand.

Her movements were slow and gentle, like a little girl who couldn't lift anything heavy, struggling to wave a toy that didn't belong to her.

The captain even scoffed, thinking the little girl was joking with him.

However, the next second, his smile froze on his face.

The seemingly heavy golden mace landed lightly on his head.

There was no loud noise, no blood splattering.

There was a soft "plop" sound, like a ripe tomato being crushed.

The captain's head, along with his helmet, instantly collapsed, turning into an indescribable pool of red and white matter. Before the savage grin on his face had faded, his tall body slumped softly to the ground, lifeless.

The entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence in an instant.

Everyone was stunned by the bloody and bizarre scene. The dozen or so Imperial Guard soldiers lost all color in their faces, and their hands, gripping their swords and spears, trembled like leaves in the wind.

Little Dragon Girl didn't even glance at the corpse on the ground.

She walked to the corner of the wall and picked up an iron walnut that she had been trying to crack for a long time without success.

She placed the walnut on a bluestone slab, and then gently tapped it with the golden mace in her hand.

"Click."

A crisp sound.

The walnut shell, as hard as iron, cracked open with a sound, breaking into perfect pieces to reveal the whole, plump kernel inside.

Little Dragon Girl picked up a nut, put it in her mouth, and chewed it with satisfaction.

Then, she turned around and looked at the group of soldiers who were almost driven mad with fear, her voice as cold as ice.

"You guys are too noisy."

"Brother Lin is cooking, he doesn't like noise."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of loud thumping sounds rang out.

The remaining dozen or so soldiers could no longer bear the fear that came from the depths of their souls. They dropped their weapons, knelt down, and began to kowtow frantically to Xiaolongnu and to the golden mace that had just crushed someone's head.

"Please spare me, immortal! Please spare me, fairy!"

"We were wrong! We'll never do it again!"

Cries, pleas for mercy, and the sound of kowtowing filled the air.

Behind a nearby artificial hill, Yan Shicheng, who had witnessed everything, felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. His eyes rolled back, and he was so frightened that he fainted.

Meanwhile, Emperor Zhao Yun, who had just arrived after hearing the news, also witnessed the entire scene.

He looked at the stunningly beautiful girl holding a golden mace, her expression indifferent, then at the headless corpse on the ground, and finally at the Imperial Guards kneeling and begging for mercy.

After a brief moment of shock, his face showed no fear or anger, but instead a near-fanatical, morbid smile.

He got it.

He understood completely!

This golden mace, it's not for cracking walnuts!

This golden mace is not only a get-out-of-jail-free card, but also a license to kill!

Lin Ye wasn't indifferent; he was just too lazy to bother. But he delegated that power to his beloved girl. Anyone who dared to upset her, anyone who dared to interrupt him while he was cooking, would die!

From then on, the Great Song Dynasty had the most willful, the most terrifying, and also the most reliable regent!

A sense of security and excitement, unlike anything he had ever felt before, welled up inside Zhao Yun. He strode forward and bowed deeply to Xiaolongnu at a ninety-degree angle.

"Please calm your anger, Immortal."

His voice was filled with heartfelt reverence and joy.

"It is my fault for failing to properly govern my subordinates, thus disturbing the immortal's peaceful cultivation. Such treacherous officials and villains deserve to die!"

"The methods of the immortals are the methods of the Great Song Dynasty. I obey the decree!"