Chapter 140: Pointed at by a Thousand Fingers

Last night on the street, Zhang Ning, a disciple from Star Observation Academy, was cut down by Ironclad Department constables.

After fermenting overnight, this matter had already spread far and wide.

Seeing the Sixth-Rank expert leading the Star Observation Academy delegation demanding accountability from the Ironclad Department.

The martial artists from various sects all focused their attention, watching intently.

“Gu Weizhou, I am already aware of this matter and have reviewed the case file. Our Ironclad Department handled it properly, in full compliance with the law.”

Lu Yunchen looked at the other party, his tone casual:

“Your sect’s disciple Zhang Ning assaulted someone in the street, then attacked and attempted to kill an Ironclad Department constable. He deserved to die ten thousand times over.”

“Nonsense! At most, it was a minor conflict of tempers. How could it warrant death?”

Gu Weizhou sneered coldly: “I know Zhang Ning’s character better than anyone.

At Star Observation Academy, he respected his teachers and valued the Dao, and he was extremely courteous to his senior brothers and senior sisters.

Yet in your mouth, he has become an utterly evil, unforgivable scoundrel?”

Jiehai from Arhat Temple, Yang Hong from Nine Immortals Dao Palace, Li Ruhai from Divine Sect, Pei Ran from Extreme Flame Sword Manor, along with the other Sixth-Rank experts, all watched the development with half-smiling expressions.

“Last night, we had both witnesses and physical evidence.”

Lu Yunchen said: “The entire process was completely lawful and proper. Don’t cause a fuss over nothing anymore.”

“I’m causing a fuss over nothing?”

Gu Weizhou laughed in bitter anger: “Our Star Observation Academy has just arrived. We haven’t even gone to Water Qilin Cave yet, and already one of our disciples is dead.

And you say I’m causing a fuss over nothing?”

Just then, another group slowly entered the harbor.

The martial artists present stirred, turning their gazes toward the newcomers.

It was the Fourth Prince and his attendants!

“Fourth Prince, I am Gu Weizhou of Star Observation Academy. I beg the Fourth Prince to uphold justice and deal with those villainous dogs of the Ironclad Department!”

Gu Weizhou strode forward quickly, clasping his fists and bowing.

Seeing this, the Star Observation Academy disciples also followed, respectfully paying their respects.

The Fourth Prince looked bewildered: “What happened?”

Gu Weizhou immediately recounted the entire sequence of events.

The Fourth Prince appeared thoughtful and looked toward Lu Yunchen:

“Director Lu, can the witnesses you mentioned be brought here to the scene?”

Lu Yunchen looked toward the formation:

“Qin Mo.”

“Ninth-Rank Ironclad Qin Mo, pays respects to the Fourth Prince!”

Qin Mo immediately strode forward, cupping his hands and bowing.

Then several more Ironclad Constables stepped out from the ranks.

They were precisely the ones who had acted last night.

“Your Highness, last night I was eating a late-night snack with a friend nearby and personally witnessed Zhang Ning disregarding Zhao State law by attacking and attempting to kill one of my fellow constables!”

Qin Mo said in a deep voice.

Gu Weizhou laughed: “You’re bringing Ironclad Department constables as witnesses? What about those three men Zhang Ning injured last night?”

“They have naturally been sent to the provincial capital. Should we keep them here for Star Observation Academy to settle scores later?”

Lu Yunchen smiled.

“Which friend were you eating a late-night snack with?”

The Fourth Prince’s expression shifted.

Seeing this, Yang Ling stepped out from the formation as well:

“Your Highness, Qin Mo was eating a late-night snack with me.”

Li Huaiyi and the others were somewhat stunned.

How did this guy know a Ninth-Rank Ironclad Constable?

If they were eating a late-night snack together, there must be some genuine friendship between them.

“I can also testify. That Zhang Ning deserved to die.”

Yang Ling spoke again.

Gu Weizhou’s gaze turned icy as he swept his eyes over Yang Ling several times:

“Yang Ling of the Ironclad Department, right? You certainly stole the spotlight yesterday.

I had praised you as an exceptional talent, but now it seems you’re nothing more than ordinary.”

With that, he looked toward the Fourth Prince:

“Your Highness, Director Lu cannot produce valid witnesses. My Star Observation Academy’s disciple cannot have died in vain.

If you cannot give us an explanation today, then in the days ahead, our Academy Head will surely travel to the Capital to seek clarification from the various ministry officials!”

The Fourth Prince’s expression changed slightly.

Just then, Li Shou suddenly stepped out from the Arhat Temple formation and smiled:

“Amitabha. This humble monk was also eating a late-night snack with Chief Constable Yang and Constable Qin last night. I saw it with my own eyes—that layman Zhang Ning indeed deserved to die.”

Jiehai, who had been watching the show, was startled upon hearing this. He frowned and looked at Li Shou.

Huikong and Huishi exchanged bewildered glances. How did Huishu end up connected with Yang Ling?

“Your Highness, I am Zhang Shendao, a disciple of Divine Sect. I was also eating a late-night snack with Chief Constable Yang and the others last night. I saw with my own eyes that Zhang Ning indeed had a death-deserving path.”

Zhang Shendao stepped forward.

“Hey, how do you know Yang Ling?!”

Dongfang Haojie, who happened to be standing right beside him, couldn’t help but ask.

Just then, Lin Caiyi also stepped forward:

“I was also eating a late-night snack with Chief Constable Yang and the others last night. That Zhang Ning acted erratically and unreasonably. His death was fitting.”

Chi Qingyao was momentarily stunned and couldn’t help but glance at her junior sister.

Li Ruhai and Yang Hong both had strange expressions in their eyes.

Instinctively, they looked toward the Extreme Flame Sword Manor side.

Jiang Tian’ai said sheepishly, “I was there last night too. I don’t think the Ironclad Department did anything wrong. That Zhang Ning was like a mad dog...”

Chen Zuo looked at Jiang Tian’ai, then exchanged a glance with Pei Ran.

The vast harbor fell into a strange silence.

This Zhang Ning was practically being pointed at by a thousand fingers.

None of the martial artists present had expected that Yang Ling’s late-night snack last night would encompass all four first-rate sects and the Ironclad Department!

Gu Weizhou’s face had turned dark green as he found himself completely speechless.

Meanwhile, there were quite a few players in the harbor today. Most had been brought by third-rate sects and had no qualifications to enter the Water Qilin Cave—they were purely there as background decoration.

In the past few days, they had already gathered intel on the movements of ranking experts like Lin Caiyi, Jiang Tian’ai, Li Shou, and Zhang Shendao.

But they never expected that today, they would hear a name they’d been familiar with for a long time!

“Yang Ling!? Is that our number one!?”

“Ironclad Department, Yang Ling—that matches up! It’s him!”

“He ate a late-night snack with Lin Caiyi and the others last night?! Damn it! I wandered around for so long last night and never ran into them!”

“That Qin Mo... he’s also one of the ranking experts. And the Zhang Ning they mentioned... Zhang Ning from Star Observation Academy... I didn’t expect this guy to die so casually...”

Combining the actual information with the fact that Zhang Ning had already vanished from the Divine Realm Level Ranking and a new face had replaced him at tenth place...

These players had already confirmed that the Zhang Ning who died was that very Zhang Ning!

The Fourth Prince’s expression had originally been somewhat unpleasant, after all, Gu Weizhou had threatened to send someone to the Capital to file a complaint.

But now, seeing Lin Caiyi and the others stepping forward one by one to testify, an imperceptible smile crept onto his face.

The Fourth Prince looked at the dark-faced, silent Gu Weizhou:

“Gu Weizhou, the disciples of the four first-rate sects couldn’t all be colluding with the Ironclad Department to twist right and wrong, could they?”

Gu Weizhou wanted to say something, but when he saw Jiehai and the others also looking at him, he swallowed his words.

After a full few breaths, he finally clasped his hands:

“It seems that this matter was indeed Zhang Ning’s fault.”

The Fourth Prince nodded lightly and swept his gaze over the crowd:

“Everyone, the Water Qilin Cave is the real business today. I ask you all to board your ships. Let us set sail!”

The harbor then became very lively.

Disciples from various sects boarded the giant vessels one after another.

Half an hour later, more than a dozen giant ships slowly departed from the harbor and disappeared over the horizon.

Yang Ling’s vessel was the same one the Fourth Prince was on.

After boarding the ship, he tentatively sought out Yun Ruo and asked:

“Director Yun, do you want that Seven-Inch Sword martial technique or not?”