"Wei Qing passed the assessment. He must receive the formal treatment he deserves."
"Since we've decided to have him remain in Qingcheng, the Heavenly Mirror Division can't show no appreciation either."
"Gentlemen, what do you think?"
After saying this, Nangong Yu looked toward the others.
"Besides the formal treatment of a Garrison Commander, he may choose one Profound Tier martial art from the Library Pavilion. If he can use it to break through to the sixth rank within three years, that would be a good thing."
Xie Yun answered directly.
The other three said nothing.
Nangong Yu nodded and looked at Zhou Cang. "At tomorrow morning's court session, I'll report Qingcheng's situation to His Majesty."
"I imagine the new magistrate won't take office so quickly. Let Wei Qing serve as acting magistrate for now. As long as the people of Qingcheng remain safe, that will be enough."
"From this moment onward, Wei Qing will receive the formal treatment of a Garrison Commander. He may select one cultivation technique and one bottle of Qi Gathering Pills from the Library Pavilion. All the items will be sent to Qingcheng together."
"Secret order: The Heavenly Mirror Division of Jizhou is to send a sixth-rank Profound Tier Garrison Commander to Qingcheng."
A secret order was a non-official command issued by the Heavenly Mirror Division.
Apart from the person conveying it and the person carrying it out, there would be no record of it.
"This subordinate obeys!"
Zhou Cang respectfully accepted the order.
He was secretly delighted for Wei Qing.
Though it was called a secret order, it was actually the Heavenly Mirror Division sending Wei Qing a sixth-rank guardian.
Song Kai, the inspector responsible for assessing Wei Qing, was also a sixth-rank cultivator.
However, because he had been injured in his early years, he could only exert eighty to ninety percent of his strength.
Moreover, the message Zhou Kai had sent back mentioned the demon that had suddenly appeared and disappeared.
It might appear again.
To prevent any accidents,
he had been just about to report it.
But before he could speak, Nangong Yu had already made the arrangements!
This showed that Wei Qing had entered the sights of the Heavenly Mirror Division's upper echelons and was being examined as a reserve talent.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Wei Qing took a simple tour of Qingcheng.
The news that Fang Xiang had colluded with demons, that Fang Manor had been sealed, and that Fang Youting had been imprisoned spread like wildfire.
After all, many commoners had witnessed what happened at Fang Manor the previous day.
By the time they wanted to suppress the news, it was already too late.
By now, everyone in the city knew about it.
For a time,
Fang Manor became a rat crossing the street, cursed by everyone.
The victims' families, in particular, had thrown plenty of dead rats, excrement, and other things at Fang Manor.
They vented the fury in their hearts this way.
After facing a group of yamen runners who reeked to high heaven every day,
Zhu Huan had been forced to step forward and warn those families. Only then did the retaliation gradually die down.
In front of Fang Manor,
"My lord."
"Greetings, Lord Wei."
When Zhu Huan and the yamen runners guarding the place saw Wei Qing arrive, they bowed one after another.
"Mm." Wei Qing gave a slight nod. "Has anything happened these past few days?"
"Some of Fang Manor's servants tried to escape, but we drove them back."
"Before the Imperial Court's verdict is issued, we dare not kill them outright. As a result, more and more servants have been rushing the yamen runners, and we're a little short-handed."
As soon as he finished speaking, the tightly shut gates of Fang Manor suddenly opened.
More than twenty servants wielding wooden clubs charged out.
The guards on duty instinctively drew their sabers and shouted sternly,
"All of you, get back in there! Before the Imperial Court's decree arrives, no one is allowed to leave Fang Manor."
"Otherwise, don't blame the saber in my hand for not recognizing people..."
"We're not members of the Fang family. What right do you have to stop us from leaving?"
"Exactly! Why should we be buried with that devil Fang Xiang? Did we collude with demons?"
When the twenty-odd servants saw the guards blocking them with drawn sabers, there was not the slightest trace of fear in their eyes.
During their first assault, they had been outnumbered and frightened back.
The second time, they discovered that the guards only dared to make threats and truly did not dare kill them. Because they lacked numbers, they were violently driven back again.
This time, they had gathered all the servants and were prepared to fight once more.
No one was a fool. If they waited until the Imperial Court's decree arrived before trying to escape, it would be too late.
Zhu Huan glared coldly at the two martial artists leading the commotion and shouted, "All of you, shut your mouths! Until the Imperial Court's decree arrives, stay right where you are!"
The leader of the household guards spoke up. "Lord Zhu, let's not pretend we don't know what's going on. Everyone knows what happens to those who collude with demons, don't they?"
"That's right."
The other servants answered in unison.
"We're merely in an employer-employee relationship with the Fang family. We have no objection to you judging the Fang family, but today, we're leaving no matter what."
"That's right."
Seeing this, Wei Qing stepped forward. His icy gaze swept over the many servants before finally resting on the leader of the household guards. "I made myself perfectly clear yesterday. Until the Imperial Court's decree arrives, no one is to leave the manor."
"It seems you've taken my words for a fart!"
"My lor—"
Before the leader of the household guards could finish speaking, a cold gleam flashed. His head flew into the air, and a great fountain of blood erupted. Everyone stood stunned by Wei Qing's ruthlessness.
[Ding! You have slain a ninth-rank intermediate martial artist] [Spiritual Power +10, Strength +11, Constitution +13, Breath Concealing Pill ×1]
"Ki... killing someone..."
Someone shouted. When the servants came to their senses and looked at Wei Qing again, it was as though they were facing a demon. Their whole bodies trembled uncontrollably.
"I'll count to three..."
"Anyone still standing here will die!"
Wei Qing's voice, as if it had come from the depths of hell, exploded beside the servants' ears.
If they waited for the Imperial Court's decree, they might not necessarily die.
But if they delayed their departure by even one moment, they would die immediately!
The many servants no longer dared say another word. They fled into Fang Manor as though their lives depended on it, terrified that they would become souls beneath Wei Qing's blade the next second.
Wei Qing sheathed his saber and looked at Zhu Huan. "This is the first time. I don't want there to be a next time."
"Yes."
Cold sweat slid down Zhu Huan's cheeks from his forehead.
He understood the meaning hidden in Wei Qing's words. This was a warning.
As a servant, if he could not firmly carry out his master's orders, what use was he?
This was his first mistake.
It would also be his last!
Wei Qing raised his eyes and looked toward the other yamen runners. "I gave the order, and I killed the man. I'll take responsibility for anything that happens!"
"From now on, until the Imperial Court's decree arrives, even if a dog comes out of Fang Manor, kill it!"
"Yes."
The surrounding yamen runners shouted their response at the tops of their lungs.
At that moment, they genuinely admired Lord Wei, who had come from the Heavenly Realm Division.
Powerful strength, ruthless methods!
This was the Heavenly Realm Division!
Suddenly, a hurried series of footsteps came from behind.
Wei Qing turned around. A Fu ran up to him. "My lord, our shopkeeper says there's news about the matter you entrusted to us. Please come to the inn for a discussion."
"Let's go."
"Yes."