Chapter 278 - 141: Presiding Over the Daoist School, Becoming the Martial Arts Master! An Arrest Warrant? The New Prefecture Commander Taught Me Arrow Skill

Chapter 278: Chapter 141: Presiding Over the Daoist School, Becoming the Martial Arts Master! An Arrest Warrant? The New Prefecture Commander Taught Me Arrow Skill

"He fell and rose again twice, but he never let this plaque be disgraced. As his disciple... I just said I would shoulder my Master’s burdens. If I stay silent now, wouldn’t that be a slap in my own face?"

"I will take my seat at the Celestial Blade Daoist School, become the Martial Arts Leader, and carry this burden for my Master."

"If any of you wish to take my place..."

"I will accept any and all written challenges from those beneath the Power Barrier."

"Life or death—no questions asked!"

Ji Xiu smiled, calm and composed. He showed not the slightest hint of fear, his words ringing out clearly.

But the sheer weight behind them...

...caused the expressions of the few Grandmasters who had just spoken to change, and they all turned their heads at once.

Among them,

Chang Panshi’s eyes were cold and grim:

"Kid, are you sure?"

"I’m sure."

Ji Xiu met his gaze, his Divine Soul protecting his mind. He did not lose his composure under the pressure of Chang Panshi’s Martial Dao Qi.

"Young friend, once you accept some of these challenges, there’s no turning back," the Daoist School Master of the Quanshan Daoist School reminded him.

In response, Ji Xiu nodded his thanks, but the determination in his eyes didn’t waver in the slightest.

"This is how a true man should act!"

"Third Senior Brother, our Little Junior Brother is going to avenge you!"

Seeing this, Li Songxi and Yinn Hong were both overcome with excitement, pumping their fists fiercely.

It was as if all the resentment that had been building in their hearts for days was finally released in a great rush by Ji Xiu’s actions.

Meanwhile, the lips of the young man in the wheelchair trembled; it was as if he had seen a glimmer of light.

Only Chen Hex’s brow was tightly furrowed, his gaze filled with worry:

"Nonsense!"

"You..."

But before the words could leave his mouth...

CLATTER CLATTER CLATTER!

A series of footsteps was already ascending to the Celestial Blade Sect Mountain Gate.

"You won’t have time to be accepting those challenge letters."

A Hundred Households commander of the Prefecture, clad in a Flying Eagle Robe with a Brocade Spring Saber at his waist and the insignia of the ’Northern Garrison Command’ embroidered on his attire, arrived before the Ancestral Hall with several dozen Imperial Guard Cavalry.

His gaze fell upon Ji Xiu, and his expression turned grave:

"Acting on a report filed by the Lineage Masters of the Fishing and Medicine Guilds, Anning Ji Xiu, you are suspected of colluding with a ’Dharma Guardian General’ of the Central Yellow Sect and are believed to be one of their Commanders. The Prefecture Yamen has ordered your arrest pending investigation!"

"I am Li Lin, a Hundred Households of the Northern Garrison Command, in charge of this case. The Garrison Command is authorized with Patrolling Outer Dao and has oversight in all matters. I advise you Martial Artists not to interfere."

"Otherwise, you will be setting yourselves against the Prefecture Lord and the Prefecture Bureau!"

Seeing this group of arrivals...

The expressions of everyone present, whether from Daoist School Street or the Celestial Blade Style, shifted slightly.

The Northern Garrison Command!

Outside of the three heads of the One Mansion—the Prefecture Lord, the Dean, and the Garrison Commander—they were the most powerful authority, and joining them was next to impossible!

And as for those who could be promoted to Prefecture Commander...

...not a single one was a simple character!

Even a mere Hundred Households commander, if he was determined, could make life difficult for all of them!

’This kid...’

’The Fishing and Medicine guilds actually managed to get the Northern Garrison Command to come arrest him?’

’Then he really has no way to turn this around...’

’And he was going to defend the plaque? Utterly laughable!’

Chang Panshi sneered inwardly. He was about to turn and leave without a second glance when,

suddenly—

A piercing eagle’s cry, loud enough to resound through sea and sky, split the air!

Immediately after, an arrow seemed to fall from the heavens, embedding itself directly in the ground before the Hundred Households commander, Li Lin. His expression changed, and he flew into a rage. He looked up at the sky, about to shout a curse...

...but when he heard the words that followed, sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.

"A Hundred Households commander like you should be considered a veteran of the Northern Garrison Command..."

"Then as Commander-in-Chief, I’d like to ask,"

"...on what evidence, what proof, do you dare to brand a man with the crime of ’colluding with a Divine Fiend’?!"

A young man in black clothes, with a tall and straight posture and a greatbow on his back, swooped down from the sky, riding a giant eagle!

He came to a steady stop near the coffin, standing firm on the eagle’s back. He glanced at the now-pale Hundred Households commander Li Lin, let out a sneer, and then ignored him completely.

He then turned to the wide-eyed Ji Xiu, the corners of his lips hooking into a grin:

"Ji the kid, it’s been a while. You’ve really become something else."

"Do you still recognize your ’archery teacher’?"

Seeing Gu Baichuan in a new and imposing uniform, and realizing that since they had last parted, he had actually been promoted from ’Hundred Households’ to ’Prefecture Commander’—a position of great power and authority—Ji Xiu was stunned for a moment. Then, his mind cleared, and he broke into a wide grin:

"Of course I haven’t forgotten!"

"Brother Gu!"

’How could I have forgotten about this Great Buddha!’

Hearing him call out like that,

Li Lin froze for a moment, and his vision went black.

’Wait, that’s not what the people from the Fishing and Medicine guilds told me when they came to see me!’

’Didn’t they say this kid had no connections in the prefecture?!’

’How could Lord Gu Baichuan—the Mansion Chief’s new favorite, the recently promoted and red-hot Prefecture Commander—be so close with him?’

’This is his immediate superior!’

At that moment, a cold sweat streamed down Li Lin’s back as he lamented his bitter misfortune.