Disposition

Wei Qing flicked the blood droplets from his blade and sheathed it.

He announced coldly:

"From today onward, everyone in Fang Manor is confined to the estate pending trial. Without orders from the Imperial Court, no one may leave." His gaze swept the crowd, and several restless martial artists froze in place: "Violators..."

"Lord Wei, have mercy!" The steward fell to his knees with a thud. "We are merely servants of Fang Manor. We truly knew nothing of Fang Xiang colluding with demons. Please, Lord, show leniency."

"Lord."

Zhu Huan happened to lead over a dozen yamen runners charging into the courtyard.

"Captain Zhu." Wei Qing gave a slight nod. "Assign all three shifts of runners to guard Fang Manor in rotation. If a single person leaves, you will answer for it."

"Yes, Lord."

Before entering the city, Wei Qing had instructed him.

To avoid suspicion, they would still address each other by their official titles in public.

"Lord, Lord Fang is kneeling at the gate of Fang Manor, waiting for you."

Outside Fang Manor's gate.

Fang Youting knelt on the ground, his back hunched.

He was not yet fifty, yet at this moment, he seemed like an old man of seventy or eighty, frail and fading.

Upon learning that his eldest son, on whom he had pinned all his hopes, had colluded with demons, his once jet-black hair now appeared frosted over, scattered wildly in the wind.

"Lord Fang, what's happened to you?"

"Lord, the ground is cold. Please get up first."

Nearby commoners quickly gathered around. Some asked with concern, others tugged at his arms.

Fang Youting was like an emotionless clay statue, kneeling motionless.

"What exactly happened?"

"I saw people from the Heavenly Realm Division enter Fang Manor. Could it be related to them?"

"Hmph, does the Heavenly Realm Division think they can run rampant? Lord Fang has led us in reclaiming wasteland, building bridges and roads, punishing corrupt merchants... Everyone knows he's our clear sky, a good official who truly treats us commoners like people."

The crowd stirred. Several men rolled up their sleeves, fire in their eyes, ready to charge into Fang Manor.

To seek justice for this parent-official who had poured his heart and soul into Qingcheng.

That was how commoners were.

Whoever treated them well, they would repay a hundredfold.

Old Sun, the charcoal seller, tremblingly raised his crutch: "This old man's life was saved by Lord Fang during the blizzard ten years ago. Today..."

"Everyone, do not act rashly. It is Fang's failure to teach his son properly. This has nothing to do with the Heavenly Realm Division."

Fang Youting hurriedly spoke up to stop them.

Just then.

The tightly shut gate of Fang Manor opened, and Wei Qing led his men filing out.

When he saw Fang Youting kneeling on the ground, his steps faltered, and his gaze lingered long on the glaring white hair.

"Lord Fang, why must you do this?" Wei Qing's voice was unusually gentle. "This matter has nothing to do with you..."

"Lord, it is all Fang's failure to teach his son properly." Fang Youting kowtowed heavily. When he raised his head, blood trickled down his forehead. "This humble official willingly accepts punishment. But for the innocent people in the manor, I beg Lord to put in a good word with the Imperial Court."

Great Zhou law: Those who collude with demons shall have their nine clans exterminated.

The Fang clan members within Fang Manor all fell within those nine clans.

The servants in the manor, barring unforeseen circumstances, would also be buried with their masters.

"Lord Fang, you know as well..."

"Fang understands."

Seeing that Wei Qing did not explicitly refuse, Fang Youting did not press further. He bent down and kowtowed again.

"Lord, may I ask what exactly happened?" Old Sun hobbled forward on his crutch, his eyes fixed on Wei Qing. "Will Lord Fang... be alright?"

"Fang Xiang of the Fang family colluded with demons and harmed the people of Qingcheng. The evidence is conclusive. Fang Xiang has already been executed."

Wei Qing's voice was not loud, but it struck like thunder in everyone's ears.

"What?"

Old Sun's crutch clattered to the ground with a clang, his withered frame swaying.

The area before Fang Manor's gate fell into utter silence. The gathered commoners all drew in a sharp breath.

"This... how is it possible?" The cleaver in Zhurou Rong's hand clattered to the ground.

That young master Fang, always in white robes, who helped the commoners at the market?

That eldest young master Fang, who gave out porridge at the City God Temple on the tenth of every month?

The gentle, refined gentleman who had paid for Scholar Chen's medicine two days prior, saying, "Study hard, and in the future, bring benefit to the people."

Could it be that, behind the scenes, he was a traitor to humanity, colluding with demons?

"Lord, could my son's disappearance be related to Fang Xiang?"

Zhurou Rong suddenly began to tremble violently, his eyes bloodshot. He recalled that half a month ago, when his son went missing, it was Fang Xiang who brought people to accompany him in searching the entire night.

Fang Xiang had even comforted him, saying his son would surely be found.

The way he had been burning with anxiety back then—in Fang Xiang's eyes, it must have been nothing but a joke...

Zhu Huan stepped forward, placed the bundle he carried on the ground, and gently opened it.

"These things were found in Fang Xiang's room. Take a look and see if any of you recognize them."

Clatter!

As the bundle opened, hairpins, handkerchiefs, longevity locks, jade pendants, and other items scattered across the ground.

Instantly, several people rushed out from the crowd.

"This is my daughter's hairpin."

"This is the jade pendant Xiao'er's grandfather gave him for his birthday last year."

"My son!"

Zhurou Rong's eyes were blood-red, the veins on his thick arms bulging as he gripped a snow-white boning knife tightly.

"Beast, I'll skin that hide of his alive."

He suddenly shoved through the crowd, walked to his stall, grabbed the gleaming cleaver from the chopping board, and charged toward Fang Manor.

"Right—death would be too merciful for that animal."

"Skin him alive."

"Tear out his sinews."

Several commoners who recognized their belongings could no longer suppress the rage burning in their hearts. With red eyes and heavy breaths, they followed Zhurou Rong, lunging toward Fang Manor.

"Stop them."

Wei Qing barked sharply. Several yamen runners rushed from behind and stood firm in front of Fang Manor.

Zhu Huan moved, raising his hand to clamp down on Zhurou Rong's wrist.

"Brother Rong, you still have Hai'er and your wife. Don't do anything foolish."

Zhurou Rong felt his wrist bone go numb. His hand uncontrollably loosened, and the knife, stained with pig's blood, flipped in the air before Zhu Huan caught it steadily.

"Hah... hah..."

A beast-like wheeze escaped Zhurou Rong's throat. He swung his right hand and slapped himself hard across the face with a sharp crack.

The right side of his face instantly swelled and reddened. With bloodshot eyes, he unwillingly stepped back.

The remaining commoners still charging at Fang Manor were temporarily subdued by the yamen runners.

Wei Qing stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Fang Xiang has colluded with demons. The Imperial Court will deliver its verdict. This commissioner has ordered Fang Manor temporarily sealed."

"During this time, no one is to cause trouble."

"Zhu Huan, temporarily detain Lord Fang!"

"Yes."

Zhu Huan waved his hand, and two yamen runners stepped forward.

Fang Youting rose shakily. He cast one last glance at Fang Manor, its gate now wide open, then turned and followed the yamen runners, walking slowly toward the yamen.

The long street fell into solemn silence.

The commoners parted to make way.

The gazes directed at Fang Youting held anger, resentment, but more than anything, a deep reluctance to see Qingcheng's paragon of justice fall.