Chapter 69: Capital City

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Capital City

(Author’s Note: The content of the previous two Chapters has been adjusted to make the clues clearer. Refresh the page to see the updated version.)

The young man in white stood atop the courtyard wall, looking down indifferently. He paid no mind to the dead Xu Tong on the ground. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Qin Shoucheng, whose face looked rather unpleasant. Whether it was an illusion or not, Zeng Anmin thought he saw a trace of schadenfreude on the young man in white’s face.

"Director Qin, how could a mere Seventh Grade ant make you so flustered?" His voice was leisurely.

Qin Shoucheng’s expression was already poor, and upon hearing the young man in white’s words, his gaze turned downright hostile. This was exactly why scholars of the Confucian Dao despised Martial Artists. He was just about to speak when a deep voice rang out from behind him.

"Bai Ziqing."

As soon as the voice sounded, everyone turned their eyes toward the house in unison. Dad walked slowly out of the room with one hand behind his back, staring expressionlessly at the young man in white.

"You are three days late."

At these words, Bai Ziqing’s originally indifferent expression froze slightly. Then, under everyone’s watchful eyes, he scratched his head in embarrassment.

"I ran into a bit of a situation on the way..." Saying this, he gave an awkward smile and pointed at Xu Tong on the ground. "Fortunately, it didn’t lead to a catastrophe."

"Hmph!" Dad snorted softly, casting a subtle glance at Zeng Anmin.

The look made Zeng Anmin’s scalp tingle. He read many implications in that single glance, including a warning not to expose his identity as the Black Cat Martial Artist.

Under everyone’s gaze, Dad first walked over to Qi Xiande. Since Xu Tong’s death, Qi Xiande had not said a word, just staring blankly at Zeng Shilin as he approached step by step.

SLAP!!!

An extremely crisp slap rang out. Qi Xiande was completely stunned by Dad’s strike. No one had expected Dad to act so decisively.

Dad then moved to another person. This was the official who had sycophantically suggested using "family members" as leverage to Qi Xiande.

SLAP!!

Another resounding slap. The vivid handprint left on the man’s face clearly articulated the fury in Dad’s heart.

"Throw them all into the Imperial Prison and interrogate them thoroughly!" Dad’s apathetic voice echoed in everyone’s ears.

Several sharp intakes of breath could be heard.

As soon as these words were spoken, the way everyone looked at Qi Xiande and that official completely changed. The Imperial Prison of the Observation Department, interrogation... These two definitely wouldn’t die for the time being. But they would surely be better off dead.

Having said his piece, Dad walked away with measured, square steps, heading deep into the Observation Department without looking back.

King Jiang’s rebellion case had finally come to a complete close.

The collusion between Qi Xiande, the Prefect of Liangjiang Commandery, King Jiang, and the Demon Race to plot a rebellion was now an ironclad case. In just three short days, at least a dozen officials in Liangjiang Commandery were ousted from power. Like pulling up a weed and dragging out all the dirt attached to its roots, a whole network of corruption was exposed!

For a time, the citizens of Liangjiang Commandery were incredibly enthusiastic, with everyone spreading the news of this event.

It was only later that Zeng Anmin learned that as early as when troops were dispatched to surround Prince Jiang’s Mansion, Dad had already submitted a memorial to the Court. He had requested that Bai Ziqing ride fast to their aid and had even given him a strict deadline. Yet, Bai Ziqing had somehow managed to arrive three days late—this was the one thing Dad hadn’t anticipated.

Meanwhile, at the Profound Array Department in the Capital City.

A dark-grey donkey ambled leisurely from outside the city all the way to this spot. A young girl sat backward on the donkey’s back. She wore a long black robe, with flowing golden ribbons draping from her shoulders to her waist. A reflective leather belt cinched her slender waist, which looked small enough to be grasped with a single hand. Her loose trousers were tucked into a pair of straight leather boots. The boots were imprinted with exceedingly profound patterns that flashed slightly, catching the eye.

She was none other than Sai Chuxue, who had been ordered by her master to travel to Liangjiang Commandery to apprehend an abandoned disciple.

"We’re here." Sai Chuxue looked up at the signboard of the Profound Array Department and let out a yawn from her cherry-like small mouth. She hopped off the dark-grey donkey.

TAP TAP TAP.

Her cute little leather boots made highly rhythmic sounds against the bluestone pavement.

"Master, I’m back!!" Looking at the tightly shut gates of the Profound Array Department, Sai Chuxue pouted in dissatisfaction and shouted at the entrance.

After waiting quietly for a moment, the vermilion gates let out a CREAK and slowly opened. Only then did Sai Chuxue put away the displeasure on her pretty face. She chuckled, took up the donkey’s reins, and walked into the department.

"Greetings, Senior Sister."

"Senior Sister Sai is back?"

"Was it fun outside?"

Sai Chuxue responded one by one to the disciples of the Profound Array Department who greeted her, eventually arriving before a courtyard. The signboard in front of the courtyard bore three large characters written in bold, flourishing calligraphy: Celestial Master’s Mansion.

She looped the dark-grey donkey’s reins around a tree stump, muttering under her breath, "Oh, Qingqing, Qingqing, you’ve been wronged. You followed me on a mission for so long, yet upon returning to the sect, they won’t even give you a single radish to eat..."

Still grumbling, she entered the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

"Master!"

It wasn’t long before Sai Chuxue reached the main hall of the mansion. Inside the main hall, an old man with completely white hair and beard sat on a meditation cushion, holding a snow-white Duster in his hand. Dressed in green robes, his face was serene as he sat there quietly with his eyes closed.

This man was none other than Celestial Master Xu, who was revered by the common people as an old Immortal!

Upon hearing Sai Chuxue’s voice, he slowly opened his eyes. His eyes seemed to radiate a wise light that had seen through the illusions of the mortal world. An otherworldly aura washed over the room.

"I’m back!!" Sai Chuxue giggled as she stepped into the main hall, standing gracefully before Celestial Master Xu.

"Have a seat." Celestial Master Xu wore an amiable expression. With a casual wave of his hand, a meditation cushion slowly floated over to Sai Chuxue.

"I’ve completed the task you assigned me!" Sai Chuxue showed off, lifting the travel sack in her hand.

"Hehe." Celestial Master Xu chuckled softly. With a gentle wave of his pale hand, the travel sack flew into his grasp. "Release!"

He barked out softly in his aged voice. Miraculously, the travel sack caught the wind and slowly began to expand.

THUD.

An unconscious figure tumbled out of the sack.

"Awaken, awaken..."

Following the intoxicating, murmur-like voice, Qi Linxian slowly opened his eyes from his stupor. When he saw the old man in front of him, his body trembled. He lowered his head and croaked out in a hoarse voice, "Master..."

Celestial Master Xu acted as if he hadn’t heard him. He simply looked at him with a half-smile and asked, "What have you gained from this escape of yours?"

Qi Linxian pursed his lips and, as if accepting his fate, slowly recounted everything he had experienced. "After escaping the Capital City, I headed south. Upon entering Liangjiang Commandery, I coincidentally met King Jiang..."

He spilled everything, bit by bit.

After a long while, a strange look flashed across Celestial Master Xu’s eyes. He interrupted Qi Linxian to ask, "Are you saying that after casting the Heaven-Questioning Array, the person you calculated was Zeng Shilin’s son, Zeng Anmin?"

Thinking of this made Qi Linxian grit his teeth involuntarily. He snapped his head up to glare at Celestial Master Xu. "The Array you taught me is completely flawed! That Heaven-Questioning Array is total bullshit! How could there possibly be someone in this world with both Confucian and Martial Cultivation?! Even if Confucian and Martial Cultivation was possible, how could a mere wet-behind-the-ears brat be a Seventh Grade Confucian Cultivator while simultaneously managing at least an Eighth Grade Body Cultivation?!"