Martial Cultivator
chapter-360-1

As the former commander of the Left Guard, Song Lian was urgently dispatched to the Northern Frontier battlefield a while ago due to the Great Liang Dynasty's war against the demons. As a result, the current Commander of the Left Guard became Chen Chao. While many in the Left Guard were eagerly awaiting Song Lian's return, no one knew that this former commander had already quietly returned to the Divine Capital.

The Lord Warden Commander looked at Song Lian and smiled, "Since you say that, how about I recruit you into the Warden's Office to be a low-ranking official?"

Hearing this, Song Lian immediately wore a wry face, "Lord Warden Commander, isn't that unreasonable? After you got a newcomer, are you going to forget about the old ones like me?"

The Lord Warden Commander looked ahead and just said to himself, "According to the intentions of that Northern Frontier Great General, he's quite satisfied with you, Song Lian. How about it? Why don't you just stay in the Northern Frontier? Take a few more steps forward, and once you step into that realm, you might directly assume that Great General's position. By then, we could be considered equals, don't you think?"

Listening to his superior teasing him like this, Song Lian laughed, "How could I dare? This lowly official will serve Your Excellency for my whole life."

The Lord Warden Commander smiled and remained silent. After all, this talk was not just empty words. Currently, that Northern Frontier Great General was indeed in the twilight of his life and would not live much longer. As for the entire deployment in the Northern Frontier, the entire Great Liang Dynasty currently lacked a suitable candidate. Song Lian did have the opportunity to shine brightly in the Northern Frontier Army. He had indeed experienced the ups and downs in the Northern Frontier Army in the past and was familiar with that area. Coupled with his talent that was not too poor, it was possible for him to enter that realm in ten or twenty years.

At that time, his future would indeed be unknown.

The Lord Warden Commander patted Song Lian's shoulder and said profoundly, "No matter how talented that kid is, he still needs time to grow. Maybe in a few years, you might be able to take my place."

Song Lian was taken aback but did not show much emotion on his face.

However, he quickly changed the subject and asked, "The Xia Family is a huge family. Is the Lord Warden Commander planning to uproot them completely today?"

The Lord Warden Commander glanced at Song Lian. "Do you think I can uproot such a large family however I want?"

Although he held great authority as the Lord Warden Commander of the Great Liang Dynasty, it was not easy to completely uproot such an influential family that had an extremely deep foundation in the Great Liang Dynasty.

These kinds of influential powers were deeply entrenched, and beneath the surface, who knew how many connections there were? If you uprooted them, who knew how much else would be implicated. Perhaps no official in the Great Liang Dynasty had the ability to do so.

Song Lian grinned and said, "Others may not have the ability, but I believe Your Excellency does."

The Lord Warden Commander turned to look at Song Lian, raising an eyebrow as he said. "If you don't have the skill to kiss people's ass, then don't randomly kiss."

Song Lian was taken aback by this retort and muttered, "Looks like I'm still not as good as that kid."

The Lord Warden Commander heard him but did not pay attention. He just said, "You heard the arrangements earlier. If there's a problem later, I'll cut your head off."

Song Lian replied solemnly, "Understood."

After saying these words, the Lord Warden Commander walked down the tall building and slowly walked towards the Xia Family's manor alone.

Before long, amidst the wind and snow, the Lord Warden Commander arrived alone at the entrance of the Xia Family's manor.

The main gates of influential families were not casually opened. In the entire Great Liang Dynasty, only a handful of people could make a family like the Xia Family open their main gates.

By the time the Lord Warden Commander arrived at the main gate, the Xia Family's people quickly noticed this Lord Warden Commander.

"This is the Xia Family's private residence. If you have no business here, please leave promptly."

A man emerged from a side door, looking at this seemingly unremarkable man before him and spoke calmly, without any hint of condescension. In such influential families, gatekeepers held considerable importance. In the Divine Capital, high-ranking officials and nobles were abundant. There was a saying that throwing a pile of stones on the street would likely hit several government officials.

As gatekeepers of great families, keen eyesight was paramount. The gatekeeper of the Xia Family, facing the Lord Warden Commander, did not speak out of turn, a testament to his perceptiveness.

The Lord Warden Commander glanced at him and said, "What conditions are needed to have the Xia Family open their main gates?"

Upon hearing the question, the gatekeeper was somewhat puzzled. Putting other things aside, few people would dare to demand the Xia Family to open their main gates. There were likely only a handful in the entire Divine Capital who could do so. Yet the man before him did not seem to belong to that select group. However, he did not sense any deliberate provocation from the man either.

For a moment, the gatekeeper did not know how to respond.

The Lord Warden Commander remained quiet, looking at the gatekeeper before him.

Finally, the gatekeeper asked, "May I ask if you have an invitation card?"

Shaking his head, the Lord Warden Commander replied softly, "I didn't bring one, but you can go back and say that Ning Ping came."

Ning Ping, an ordinary and unremarkable name.

The gatekeeper carefully pondered this name in his mind, only to realize that he had never heard of it. After hesitating for a moment, he did not rush to send the man away but instead asked him to wait for a minute.

The Lord Warden Commander was indifferent, simply standing quietly in front of the door.

After several minutes, there was a creak, and another person emerged from the side door. This time, it was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man with a dignified air. Upon arriving, he glanced at the Lord Warden Commander and said in disbelief, "Is it the Lord Warden Commander?"

In the Great Liang Dynasty, there was only one warden who could appear without any embellishments.

The middle-aged man also felt puzzled. Upon hearing the name "Ning Ping," he, like the gatekeeper who had come to report, pondered for a while but could not recall who this person was. Fortunately, he did not immediately make a decision but carefully examined the situation for a moment. It was then that he realized that the current Lord Warden Commander was indeed named Ning Ping.

Over the years, as the head of military officials and one of the top three martial artists of the Great Liang Dynasty, his identity was widely known. However, people usually addressed him as the Lord Warden Commander. How could anyone dare to directly call him by his real name? Over time, no one remembered the Lord Warden Commander's full name anymore.

This way, it almost caused trouble here.

The Lord Warden Commander said, "I've come today to visit the Xia Family Head."

The middle-aged man was taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "Open the main gate."

There were not many people who can convince the Xia Family to open their main gate, but since it was this person in front of them, there was no reason not to open it wide. Likewise, there was no reason to refuse entry to this Lord Warden Commander.

Even if the Xia Family had every right to do so.

With the main gate swung open, all of the Xia Family's servants and maids stood in two rows, waiting for the Lord Warden Commander of the Great Liang Dynasty to enter the Xia Family.

Soon, the Xia Family Head appeared as well.

Although this Xia Family Head held no official position in the court, many of the Xia Family's descendants held important positions in the imperial court. The Xia Family's disciples were also widespread, making the Xia Family Head a prominent figure who held great influence in the Great Liang Dynasty.

Following the Xia Family Head, the Lord Warden Commander entered the main hall, while the others withdrew.