"Your subordinate hopes, my lord, that you can go there and take charge. It would be fine if the Fang family did not resist, but if they do, with their strength, they will not be able to stir up any trouble before you."
The County Lieutenant spoke as he quietly slipped in a flattering remark.
"Let's go. I happen to want to take a look at Fang Manor as well."
Wei Qing rose to his feet.
The County Lieutenant followed behind him, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
He was also afraid that the Fang family would resist. If even one person escaped, he would be punished as an accomplice.
Fang Manor.
Ever since Fang Xiang was killed and Fang Youting was imprisoned, the atmosphere in Fang Manor had grown heavier with each passing day.
Everyone understood.
They understood the fate of colluding with demons.
The key was—
they had no way to flee, either. The area around Fang Manor was under round-the-clock surveillance by constables,
and as for charging the constables, after seeing what had happened to the guards, they dared even less to act recklessly.
At that moment, all the direct descendants of the Fang family had gathered in the main hall.
"Although the Imperial Court's edict has yet to arrive, everyone present understands the fate of colluding with demons. Right now, a sharp blade hangs over our heads. We can only wait and see when it will fall."
The man who had originally occupied the family head's seat, a middle-aged man with a scar across his face, spoke softly.
The man's name was Fang Youren, Fang Youting's younger brother.
At present, he was the most senior member of the entire Fang family.
Upon hearing this, the women in the main hall were frightened into tears, and one by one they began to sob quietly.
A young man with two dark circles ringed around his eyes said viciously, "Isn't this all because that bastard Fang Xiang colluded with demons, bringing the Fang family to its current plight? If you ask me, as long as someone steps forward to take the blame, perhaps the Imperial Court might spare our Fang family."
"Fang Changshan, what do you mean?" a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old boy roared.
"Fang Changyou, my meaning is very clear. Your elder brother colluded with demons. A father's debts are paid by his son. We can't let the entire Fang family be buried with him just because of your elder brother."
"Besides, Uncle received invitations from His Majesty twice. That alone shows how highly Uncle was regarded."
Fang Changshan sneered. "If the Fang family is truly exterminated down to the ninth degree of kinship, how will you have the face to descend and meet our Fang family's ancestors?"
"Rather than that, your branch should shoulder this matter. Then the Fang family will still have a thread of life left."
As soon as he finished speaking,
someone immediately chimed in.
"That's right, Changyou. Your brother made the mistake, so why should we bear the consequences?"
"Exactly. For the sake of the Fang family, your branch should pay for your elder brother's mistake and take the blame upon yourselves."
"That's right. It should be that way."
As one Fang family member after another spoke up, Fang Changyou's expression grew uglier and uglier.
"When my father was County Magistrate, every one of you received plenty of his care. Now that the Fang family is in trouble, you actually want to push my father out."
"Are you even human?"
"All of you, shut up."
Fang Youren gave a cold shout, and the scene instantly fell silent.
Fang Youren swept his gaze around the room. His eyes lingered for a moment on his grandson, who had just turned three weeks old, before he looked back at Fang Changyou. "Changyou, what Changshan said may be unpleasant, but it is still a path forward. I imagine Big Brother would understand."
"Second Uncle... you..."
Fang Changyou looked at Fang Youren in disbelief, as if he were looking at a stranger.
Fang Youren continued, "If Big Brother is willing, this matter may not be beyond saving. Even if he is exiled or conscripted into the army, the bloodline of our Fang family can still be passed down."
"That is still better than the Fang family's bloodline being severed and the entire clan being wiped out."
Just as everyone was arguing,
suddenly,
a guard hurried into the main hall. "Second Master, people from the constable's office have charged in."
"What?"
Fang Youren's expression changed drastically.
Within the Fang family's courtyard.
The Fang family's guards held weapons in their hands and stared fearfully at Wei Qing, who stood at the head of more than a dozen constables.
Wei Qing's ruthlessness had left a deep impression on them before.
Zhu Huan stepped forward and shouted sternly, "What? Are you planning to resist arrest?"
The guard at the head swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. "My lord, we only..."
Wei Qing raised his eyes, which were utterly cold.
In an instant, the speaker felt as if he had fallen into an ice cavern. The words that followed were jammed tightly in his throat, and he could no longer utter a single syllable.
Just then,
the Fang family members arrived under Fang Youren's lead.
Seeing this, the guards automatically opened a passage.
When Fang Youren saw Wei Qing, his heart sank, but his face did not reveal the slightest abnormality. He stepped forward again, cupped his hands slightly, and asked, "I wonder what brings Lord Fang to my Fang Manor?"
Wei Qing directly drew out the verdict and read aloud, "After investigation and verification by the Heavenly Realm Division, it has been confirmed that Fang Xiang colluded with demons. According to the Great Zhou Law, anyone who colludes with demons shall be treated as committing treason, and their entire clan shall be exterminated down to the ninth degree of kinship."
"The Fang family's nine degrees of kinship, along with the Fang family's servants, are to be taken into custody immediately and executed in two days."
After saying this,
Wei Qing put away the verdict and ordered, "Arrest them."
"Yes."
All the constables immediately charged forward.
By contrast, the Fang family members and servants all turned deathly pale.
The words "exterminate the entire clan" exploded beside their ears like a thunderclap.
The timid ones were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground.
Some were even scared unconscious by the words "exterminate the entire clan."
Fang Youren hurried forward and stood in front of the constables. "Lord Wei, I still have something to say. We are willing to..."
"I don't have time to listen to your nonsense. Either surrender obediently, or die!"
Wei Qing forcefully cut off what he was saying and announced coldly.
"Take everyone from the Fang family into custody. Anyone who resists is to be executed without exception!"
"Yes."
Seeing this, Fang Youren immediately ordered, "If you don't want to die, kill them!"
At that moment, resisting might still give them a sliver of a chance to survive.
Once they were shackled and thrown into prison, all they could do was wait for death.
"Kill!"
Upon hearing this, the martial artists and guards of the Fang clan all raised their weapons and charged at the constables.
"They still dare resist? Add another charge to their crimes!"
Wei Qing's expression turned cold. His figure blurred, and he appeared in front of a Fang family martial artist. Before the man could react, a blade had already pierced through his heart.
[Ping! Killed a ninth-grade beginner martial artist] [Strength +8, Constitution +9]
Wei Qing twisted his wrist and drew out his long blade in one smooth motion, his figure flashing repeatedly.
[Ping! Killed a ninth-grade beginner martial artist] [Spirit +9, Strength +12, Constitution +13] [Ping! Killed a ninth-grade beginner martial artist] [Strength +8, Constitution +9]
[Ping! Killed an eighth-grade beginner martial artist] [Spirit +21, Strength 29+, Constitution +26, High-grade Profound Tier Cultivation Method Ephemeral Art]
By the time everyone could see Wei Qing's figure clearly again, he had already returned to the spot where he had been standing.
He flicked the blood from the blade with a swing, then sheathed it.