Chapter 683 211: Decapitation, Visitors from the Great Yue Country

Ma Yuan quickly accepted the order. He then led Zhang Dao Ling away from the County Magistrate's Office.

A portion of the Observatory's members remained at the Government Office, standing guard in secret.

Shen Bai looked up at the pitch-black sky and yawned. 'That's enough for today,' he thought, and headed for the Observatory.

He had further plans, but they would take time. And if time was what he needed, then he would simply wait.

While he waited, Shen Bai planned to grind out some Skill Level.

Before long, the Government Office fell silent again.

The streets were empty, as if no one had ever been there at all.

...

「Lingyun Dao.」

In a bustling street.

The Marquis of Ren De sat in his study, a grave expression in his eyes as he stared at the secret report in his hands.

The report stated that the members of Xinhua Academy and the other Demonic Forces had all been killed in battle, while Shen Bai had emerged completely unscathed.

Furthermore, he had just received a secret message from a trusted aide: Zhang Dao Ling had been taken into custody by Shen Bai and was on his way to the Observatory.

Nearby, the old butler waited, trembling with apprehension.

Seeing the Marquis's grave expression, he poured a cup of tea and carefully placed it on the desk.

The Marquis of Ren De snapped back to his senses, slamming the secret letter onto the desk. A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. "This Shen Bai is a lucky bastard, but why didn't he make a move against me?"

The Marquis of Ren De knew that this incident had likely exposed him.

He had even been prepared to flee Marquis Rende's Mansion the moment he received the report.

But then, nothing unusual happened.

His men reported that after taking Zhang Dao Ling away, Shen Bai hadn't come for him. Instead, he had returned to the Observatory.

The Marquis of Ren De immediately suppressed his unease, but his mind flooded with countless questions.

Shen Bai's move was baffling. Even he couldn't understand why the man hadn't acted.

The old butler, standing to one side, said, "Marquis, I suspect Shen Bai may not have obtained any crucial evidence."

At these words, the Marquis of Ren De paused his train of thought and looked at the old butler. "What do you mean by that?"p>

The old butler gathered his thoughts before speaking. "According to the rumors in the Jianghu, the Ten Extremes Young Master is decisive and ruthless. He never gives his enemies a chance to rise from the ashes."

"The case of Zhang Dao Ling is a perfect example. It shows that Shen Bai had him dead to rights, so he left him no escape. If Shen Bai had that kind of evidence on us, he would absolutely do the same."

"The fact that Shen Bai hasn't done so means the evidence against us isn't solid enough."

This was the old butler's speculation. In truth, he was more than just the butler of Marquis Rende's Mansion; he was the Marquis of Ren De's trusted confidant and had helped him devise numerous strategies on many occasions.

This time, the old butler's analysis was based on Shen Bai's character. Though it incorporated some legends from the Jianghu, he felt his assessment was sound.

After listening to the old butler's analysis, the Marquis of Ren De gently tapped his fingers on the desk.

The old butler said no more, waiting for the Marquis of Ren De's decision.

As a subordinate, he knew to say what needed to be said and no more. To overstep that boundary would be a fatal mistake; otherwise, he wouldn't have lived this long.

After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, the Marquis of Ren De picked up the teacup from the desk, took a light sip, and spoke.

"Send a reliable man to Xinhua Academy. Inform them of Shen Bai's movements, and while you're at it, find out if they know whether Shen Bai has acquired decisive evidence."

The Marquis of Ren De had been mulling over what the old butler said. He felt the man's reasoning wasn't entirely wrong; in fact, it was very likely correct.

'Shen Bai is a man who values decisiveness. If he truly had conclusive evidence, he would never have allowed tonight to be so peaceful.'

'If I'd been afraid and fled Lingyun Dao with my men tonight, heading to the barracks to organize an immediate defection, *that* would be as good as admitting he had the evidence on me.'

'It seems he's bluffing.'

As the thought surfaced, the Marquis of Ren De felt it was a distinct possibility.

In any case, the Marquis of Ren De decided to gather information first to determine if Shen Bai was, in fact, bluffing.

'If he really does have decisive evidence but hasn't acted, he must be planning something big.'

'If he doesn't have the evidence, then I am still the Marquis of Ren De of Lingyun Dao.'

'I'll just have to be more careful in the future and plan more escape routes, so I won't have to flee in such a rush.'

"Yes, my lord. I will see to it."

The old butler immediately assented and slipped quietly out of the study.

Only the Marquis of Ren De remained in the study.

The Marquis of Ren De adjusted the wick of the oil lamp on his desk, making the flame burn brighter. He gazed out the window at the night sky and muttered to himself.

"Shen Bai, what are you planning? I must admit, I'm quite curious myself."

After a moment of thought, the Marquis of Ren De blew out the oil lamp, left the study, and headed toward his chambers.

The night was destined to be a calm one, but beneath the surface, the waters were stirring.

...

Time passed, and the night was soon over.

When the next day dawned, a terrifying shockwave rippled through all of Lingyun Dao.

Zhang Dao Ling had been taken into custody by the Observatory for violating the laws of the Great Zhou Country.

When this news spread, the Jianghu of Lingyun Dao was violently shaken. All eyes among the Jianghu People turned to the Observatory in Lingyun Dao—and to its director, Daoist Si Shen Bai.

A sliver of fear crept into the hearts of many Jianghu People.

Even they hadn't expected Shen Bai to make so many moves in such a short amount of time.