Chapter 2608 - 2606: A Life for a Life

Chapter 2608: Chapter 2606: A Life for a Life

The Yang Valley Prefecture Magistrate brought the government officials over at this moment, and upon seeing the bloody scene on the ground, he shouted in surprise and quickly ordered the officials to separate the crowd.

The citizens present were indiscriminately cursing Wu Song, "Wu Erlang, you’re nothing but a Demon Chief."

"Little Demon of the Wu Family, you’ve killed the benefactor of Yang Valley Pass!"

"Wu Erlang, what wrong did Master Ximen do to you that you had to strike so ruthlessly?"

"Prefectural Governor, you must seek justice for Master Ximen!"

"Everyone surround the Demon of the Wu Family, don’t let him escape!"

"..."

The crowd roared, their curses at Wu Song filled with bitterness.

Wu Song raised his knife, let out a long howl toward the sky, "I killed him, it has nothing to do with the Wu Family."

His eyes fixed on his brother Wu Zhi, to whom he gave a resolute smile, "Brother, take care of yourself and sister-in-law!"

Wu Zhi called out anxiously, "Erlang, don’t do anything foolish, there’s still hope!"

Wu Song ignored him, raised the long knife and slashed it across his neck.

With a sound of "puff," blood splattered everywhere.

"Erlang!"

Wu Zhi and Pan Jinlian turned ashen in fright and rushed over, holding Wu Song and yelling, "How could you be so foolish!"

He quickly reached out, took medicine powder from the Storage Ring, trying to staunch Wu Song’s wound.

But Wu Song’s slash had torn apart half of the flesh.

The vitality had already dissipated, and his pupils rapidly dilated.

The Magistrate stood to one side, exclaiming in shock, "This, how should I handle this?"

In this brief moment, two homicide cases had occurred.

Moreover, both deceased were prominent figures.

The Magistrate’s mind was in chaos, unsure of how to deal with the matter.

In the sky above Yang Valley Pass, a Daoist in a green robe passed by with a woman, pausing mid-air to take a look.

The woman raised her brow and cried out softly, "This child is truly fierce!"

"This is his fate!"

The green-robed Daoist raised his hand and caught a Blood Spirit from below, putting it into a porcelain bottle to nurture it.

He and the woman continued on their journey, descending Yangzhou together.

In the city below, Wu Zhi sent someone on horseback to catch up with the recently departed An Daoquan.

An Daoquan examined Wu Song, perplexed and asked, "General Wu, don’t cultivators possess a Primordial Spirit? Why has Erlang’s Primordial Spirit dispersed upon his death?"

Wu Zhi frowned and replied, "Our Wu Family only cultivates the physical body, not the Primordial Spirit, but merely nurtures a Primordial Dan in the Dantian."

An Daoquan sighed, "No wonder, cultivators have two lives, seeking transcendence through the ascension of the Primordial Spirit. Since Erlang did not cultivate the Primordial Spirit and his physical body has perished, naturally his soul has scattered too. I have no power to bring him back."

"My poor second brother!"

Tears suddenly welled up in Wu Zhi’s eyes, he trembled as he reached to grasp Wu Song’s hand, whispering with grief, "He died for me, I caused his harm! If I had fought for this position to prosecute Ximen Qing, he wouldn’t have acted so rashly."

An Daoquan patted his shoulder in comfort, "The dead have passed, General, mourn with dignity. For those alive, you must consider the living. Erlang killed Cai Jing’s adopted son, this matter will surely not end lightly."

"Thank you, Divine Doctor, for your guidance!"

Wu Zhi nodded and then went to the side hall to discuss the aftermath with the Magistrate who had come to investigate the case.

This Magistrate was under Cai Jing’s wing, who had formed cliques for personal gain over the years, and many of the civil officials in the court were his disciples.

Though the Yang Valley Prefecture Magistrate was affiliated with Cai Jing, he was no fool.

He knew that to stay in Yang Valley Pass, he must maintain good relations with the Wu Family.

Above the Wu Family, Minister Su protects them, even Cai Jing cannot move them.

If he were to offend the Wu Family this time, he would no longer be able to stay in Yang Valley Pass.

The Magistrate suggested to Wu Zhi that he publicly announce the severance of ties with Wu Song, expelling Wu Song from the Wu Family.

Thus, Wu Song’s actions would be considered individual.

Since Wu Song had already paid with his life, even if Cai Jing was angry, he wouldn’t be able to implicate the Wu Family.

Wu Zhi knew he meant well but couldn’t help feeling somewhat discontent, unable to agree readily.

He asked the Magistrate to leave and considered the matter overnight.

After the Magistrate left, he guarded Wu Song’s spirit alone, gazing at his shrine, his heart aching, "Erlang, don’t blame your brother. Your brother must secure his position to avenge you one day, to eradicate traitors for the Imperial Court."

His hand clenched tightly, the fist smashed the bricks on the ground into powder.

The next day, Wu Zhi released a statement, announcing Wu Song’s expulsion from the Wu Family genealogy.

The Magistrate breathed a sigh of relief, immediately writing a report to the Imperial Court to inquire about Cai Jing’s response.

After this upheaval, Wu Zhi was unharmed, but his wife Pan Jinlian collapsed.

Moreover, the illness progressed rapidly, she appeared about to perish.

Fortunately, An Daoquan hadn’t left, and Wu Zhi urgently invited him to diagnose his wife’s illness.

An Daoquan thoroughly examined, using the silver needle to direct Qi, unexpectedly forcing out a small blue bug from Pan Jinlian’s heart.

As soon as this bug was expelled, it immediately shriveled and died.

Wu Zhi was startled and asked, "What is this?"

An Daoquan glanced at it and said, "Gu poison, used by the people of Miaojiang. Someone has used Gu on the lady, damaging her heart, causing her to fall ill."

"Gu?"

Wu Zhi was stunned.

An Daoquan examined it and said, "Judging by its color, it doesn’t resemble toxic Gu, theoretically non-poisonous. The sudden outbreak must have been triggered by some stimulus."

He was also puzzled, unsure of what had happened.

Pan Jinlian gradually opened her eyes, her complexion visibly improved, she spoke to Wu Zhi and An Daoquan, "I know, it must be that Ximen Qing who placed the Gu on me!"

Wu Zhi raised his brows, "What’s going on?"

Pan Jinlian recounted the events that occurred while Wu Zhi was ill, involving Ximen Qing.

She thought, "That villain kept offering me tea, I unintentionally drank it. Ever since I drank that cup of tea, I felt uneasy. Especially when seeing that thief, I strangely felt enamored. After his death, this heart suddenly convulsed, likely due to him!"

An Daoquan slapped his thigh, saying, "I understand now, this is a type of Gu insect used by natives to enchant women to their lovers, causing distraction."

Wu Zhi cursed, "Scoundrel, this filthy thing, plotting against our Wu Family from the start."

He didn’t expect Ximen Qing had designs on his wife as well.

Had he known, he wouldn’t have yielded at all, resulting in his brother’s tragic death.

He felt a surge of guilt, remorse, cursing himself for his weakness, leading to his brother’s tragic death on the street.

An Daoquan comforted him and decided to stay at the Wu Family for a few more days, to avoid any more accidents.

This case reached the court, where members of Cai Jing’s faction and those of Minister Su debated.

Cai Jing’s faction proposed stripping Wu Zhi’s position, never to be reinstated.

Minister Su’s memorial argued that the offender Wu Song had paid with his life, and Wu Zhi had expelled Wu Song from the family tree.

The matter concerning Wu Song had no connection to Wu Zhi.

Moreover, investigation showed Ximen Qing was suspected of spreading plague in Yang Valley Pass.

Huizong ultimately adopted Minister Su’s proposal, not imposing heavy penalties on Wu Zhi, merely charging him with inadequate family governance.

He did not think Minister Su’s reasoning was valid but felt Ximen Qing was merely a merchant, unworthy of extensive court discussion.

What concerned him most was when King Li Yuanhao of Western Xia’s sister, the legendary Fairy, would be sent to the Capital City!