Everyone turned to look. Once they saw who had stopped Lin Xiao, they all dropped to one knee and said respectfully.
"Greetings, Lord Pacification Envoy."
The newcomer was none other than Pei Suifeng, the Pacification Envoy of the Stability Prefecture Jinyiwei.
Lin Xiao withdrew his arm, glanced at Pei Suifeng in slight surprise, and bowed with cupped hands. "This subordinate, Lin Xiao, greets Lord Pacification Envoy."
Yan Lifeng shot Lin Xiao a venomous glare. Today, he had lost all face; he would surely repay this grudge someday. Still, he bowed to Pei Suifeng as well.
"This subordinate, Yan Lifeng, greets Lord Pacification Envoy."
Pei Suifeng gave a slight nod and said calmly, "Enough. You are both Thousand-Household Commanders of our Ding Province Garrison Command. If this continues, would you not become a laughingstock once word gets out?"
"Let this matter end here."
"Squad Leader Yue Qi is indeed suspected of betraying those within for those without. It is fine to let Commander Lin investigate. If he is truly innocent, his name will naturally be cleared."
Yan Lifeng was somewhat displeased. Why was Pei Suifeng helping Lin Xiao instead?
However, he knew Pei Suifeng had his own intentions. He was not a mindless fool and did not flare up on the spot. He would ask Pei Suifeng what he was thinking in private later. With that, he said sullenly, "Understood, my lord. If there is nothing else, this subordinate will return to rest first."
After speaking, he turned and left with a dark expression.
"Rest assured, my lord. This subordinate will handle the matter impartially. If Squad Leader Yue Qi is truly innocent, I will certainly give him justice."
Lin Xiao said with cupped hands.
Pei Suifeng glanced at Lin Xiao and nodded. "Mm. Then I will have to trouble Commander Lin."
With that, the matter came to a temporary end, and everyone went their separate ways.
Yet the conflict between Lin Xiao and Yan Lifeng became a subject of discussion within the Jinyiwei.
No one knew how many people were privately talking about Lin Xiao and Yan Lifeng.
Crash! Bang!
After returning to his room, Yan Lifeng began smashing things.
Just then, a figure entered the room. A teacup shattered right before the person's feet.
Seeing who it was, Yan Lifeng's expression changed. He snorted coldly. "Lord Pacification Envoy, what exactly do you mean?"
"Why did you side with Lin Xiao?"
Pei Suifeng smiled. "Commander Yan, do not be angry. In today's matter, it was not that I wanted to favor Lin Xiao. I had no choice but to favor him."
"Before everyone's eyes, Yue Qi was caught by Lin Xiao with evidence against him, and it was even recorded in the Book of Impermanence. Even I must follow procedure and interrogate Yue Qi first."
"Since that was the case, I might as well go with the current and agree to Lin Xiao's request."
"Moreover, Commander Yan knows that Lin Xiao is currently in His Majesty's favor. If this becomes a major affair and Lin Xiao reports today's events, both you and I will face some trouble."
After hearing Pei Suifeng's explanation, Yan Lifeng calmed down somewhat.
"Lord Pei, I have already spoken to my uncle about you. He has agreed to recommend you before His Majesty."
"When the next reassignment comes, Lord Pei may choose whichever post you desire. This chance will only come once, so Lord Pei must seize it well."
"Oh? Grand Secretary Yan agreed?"
Joy rose in Pei Suifeng's heart.
He had been the Pacification Envoy of Stability Prefecture for so many years. He did not wish to remain like this forever; he wanted to climb higher as well.
Stability Prefecture was the most impoverished of the Wu Kingdom's nineteen prefectures. Though his rank was similar to that of the Pacification Envoys in other prefectures, the difference in actual authority was as vast as heaven and earth.
Take those prosperous places, for example—River Prefecture, Yun Province, Ning Province, and the like. The benefits they received and their future prospects far surpassed those of Stability Prefecture.
Now that he had a chance to make a move, he was naturally delighted.
"Haha, then I truly must thank Commander Yan. When I have the chance someday, I will certainly visit Grand Secretary Yan's residence and properly express my gratitude."
Yan Lifeng sneered. "There is no need to visit. But if Lord Pei truly wishes to thank me, how about doing something for me?"
"Commander Yan, please speak."
Pei Suifeng replied without even thinking.
"Find a way to get rid of Lin Xiao for me."
Yan Lifeng said each word distinctly.
Pei Suifeng froze for a moment, his eyes shifting as he said solemnly, "Commander Yan, killing Lin Xiao would not be too difficult. The difficulty lies in the fact that his identity is too sensitive."
"Lin Xiao is deeply favored by His Majesty now. If he dies here, I fear it will be difficult for us to wash our hands of it."
Yan Lifeng sneered. "Lord Pei need not worry about that. Once a person dies, he no longer has any value. As long as Lord Pei can kill Lin Xiao, I will settle the matters that follow."
In truth, Yan Lifeng's proposal was precisely what Pei Suifeng wanted.
He had long harbored thoughts of killing Lin Xiao, but he had always worried about the trouble that would come after Lin Xiao's death.
Now that Yan Lifeng would wipe his ass for him, he naturally did not mind.
"Good. Then Commander Yan, it is a deal."
Inside a dark, damp underground chamber.
Only the sound of flesh splitting and skin tearing could be heard.
Chang Le held a whip and lashed Yue Qi again and again.
"Act tough! Keep acting tough!"
"I'll tell you today: once you enter this place, don't even dream of leaving alive."
Yue Qi had long since passed out, with more than half his life already gone.
At that moment, Xue Shan strode over.
"Enough. Stop playing around and finish him quickly."
"Mm, then kill him."
Slash!
Blade light flashed, and Yue Qi's life slowly ebbed away.
After leaving the secret chamber, Chang Le said to the Jinyiwei prison guard at the door, "Squad Leader Yue Qi committed suicide out of fear of punishment. He has already confessed that he was a spy sent in by the Stability Prefecture martial world. Dispose of the corpse. I will return and report to my lord."
The Jinyiwei prison guard hurriedly replied, "Yes."
As they passed a cell, a person covered from head to toe in blood lay silently inside.
When Xue Shan saw that bloodied figure, he gave a cold smile.
That bloodied figure was Zhang Hua. After capturing him last night, Xue Shan had tormented Zhang Hua throughout the entire night.
Of the more than one hundred tortures, he had used over half on Zhang Hua.
At this moment, Zhang Hua was barely hanging on to a single breath.
Beside Zhang Hua's cell was the Flower Plucking Thief's cell.
At this moment, the Flower Plucking Thief did not dare act arrogant at all. When he saw Chang Le and Xue Shan, he actually shouted, "I can tell you a secret! Please spare me!"
Chang Le walked over and asked with interest, "What secret? If this secret carries enough weight, letting you go is not impossible."
"This secret will definitely satisfy you. I can find the place where the Erotic Sovereign passed away in meditation."
"The Erotic Sovereign?"
Chang Le and Xue Shan were startled when they heard that name.
One had to know that in this world, anyone who could be called a Sovereign was an existence in the Shattered Realm.
And they had heard of this Erotic Sovereign—a terrifyingly powerful expert. To kill him, five or six Shattered Realm experts had joined forces.
"Is what you're saying true?"
Chang Le lowered his voice and asked.
"At a time like this, how would I dare deceive you?"
Seeing the Flower Plucking Thief speak this way, Chang Le gave Xue Shan a meaningful look, telling him to remain and keep watch while Chang Le went to report to Lin Xiao.
At a corner in the distance.
A Jinyiwei prison guard quietly slipped away.
Before you continue