Prison Manor Will Enforce the Law Impartially

"No need to panic. This is because he was poisoned with Star Fiend Corpse Poison."

Lu Feng explained the properties of the corpse poison, and only then did Xing Qi relax.

"Luckily, Zhang A'niu wasn't very strong. If a Five Elements Realm Soul Master had died, I wouldn't have been able to handle his corpse transformation," Xing Qi said with a self-mocking smile. He was also deeply amazed that Star Fiend Corpse Poison could control a corpse through its residual spiritual energy.

The sun was setting, and it was time for Prison Manor to rest. Yet only some of the people outside its gates had left. As though they were taking shifts, many still remained waiting.

Wang Wei began to grow anxious. If this matter blew up and reached Spirit Prison, the repercussions would be no small matter. In serious cases, they might even send a new prison official.

Outside Prison Manor, a fresh wave of clamor rose. "We beg the prison official to be fair and upright, and enforce the law impartially!"

"We beg the prison official to rid the people of this scourge!"

"We beg the prison official to severely punish the murderous villain!"

The voices were thunderous. Even from the inner hall of Prison Manor, Lu Feng could hear them clearly, and he could not help feeling an invisible pressure settle over him.

If this public outrage was not quelled, trouble would surely arise.

Lu Feng looked toward Wang Wei and the others. "It isn't a solution to let them keep surrounding the place like this. Do you have any way to resolve it?"

Wang Wei had in fact been pondering this all day, waiting for this very moment. He immediately replied, "This subordinate has considered countless methods, but in the end, only one can truly calm those people's resentment."

"Let's hear it," Lu Feng prompted.

"At its root, this matter began because of Su Mo, and the anger of those ordinary people was also stirred by Zhang A'niu's death. Rather than saying they are enraged at an injustice, it would be more accurate to say they are worried and afraid. They fear that cultivators harming ordinary people without cause will happen again, and they want to use Spirit Prison's power to restrain such acts and protect them."

"As things stand, the only option is to act according to prison regulations: detain Su Mo, then send him to Spirit Prison for execution after his trial."

Wang Wei knew Su Mo's condition. Though he could not bear it somewhat, after a day of deliberation, this was the fastest way he could think of to settle the matter.

Lu Feng hesitated. Though he knew Zhang A'niu's death was not so simple, before they found the poisoner, detaining Su Mo first was indeed the best course of action.

Zheng Ba interjected, "Sir, Su Mo is currently unconscious from the poison. If we forcibly arrest him according to prison law, I fear we may provoke Su Estate."

Lu Feng paced back and forth in thought. After a long while, he took out and changed into his Prison Robe, then said, "Wang Wei, come with me to Su Estate once more."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Ba hurriedly said, "Sir, if you insist on taking Su Mo into custody, there may be danger. Please allow this subordinate to accompany you."

Lu Feng gave a faint smile at Zheng Ba's loyalty. "Don't worry. The people of Su Estate will not make a move. Stay at Prison Manor and keep watch over Wang Cuihua and Zhang A'niu's corpse until we return."

Seeing Lu Feng's confident bearing, Zheng Ba immediately agreed. A trace more trust and reverence rose in his heart.

"Everyone, look! The prison official has come out!"

Outside Prison Manor, someone shouted first. Then the countless people erupted into commotion, repeating over and over the condemnations they had made earlier.

"Rest assured, Prison Manor will enforce the law impartially!" Wang Wei took the lead while Lu Feng strode forward calmly, heading toward Su Estate.

The crowd's clamor gradually quieted. Seeing Lu Feng walking toward Su Estate, expectation filled everyone's faces. Yet many still did not leave, remaining outside Prison Manor to await the final result.

When the crowd gathered outside Su Estate saw Lu Feng arrive and recognized him as the prison official, they initially showed no reaction. But after someone shouted, "The prison official may be here to arrest Su Mo," they immediately made way for him. Cheers rang out one after another, praising the prison official for enforcing the law impartially and arresting a murderous villain.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Lu Feng and Wang Wei knocked on Su Estate's gates.

After the servants announced them, Su Xiu was once again the one who came out to receive them.

Though Su Xiu's expression was amiable, a trace of vigilance and hostility showed deep in her eyes. She had heard some of the uproar spreading outside. The prison official's late-night visit could not possibly be good news. Inwardly, she prayed that he was not here to arrest Su Mo, just as those people outside had been shouting.

"Lord Lu, you have come at a most unfortunate time. After Qing'er returned at noon and examined Xiao Mo's condition, she hurried back to Spirit Prison to seek help from many alchemists. Why don't you return first? If there is anything you need, when Qing'er returns tomorrow, I will have her visit you personally," Su Xiu said kindly as she looked at Lu Feng. Yet inwardly, her Calculations revolved around whether Lu Feng might spare Su Mo tonight for the sake of his friendship with Su Qing'er.

"My apologies, Madam Su." Lu Feng clasped his hands slightly. "Public outrage is difficult to suppress now. The only option is to take Su Mo back to Prison Manor first..."

Before Lu Feng could finish, Su Xiu's face instantly turned cold. She stepped forward and blocked the middle of the passage. "Su Mo is still unconscious. Forgive Su Estate for being unable to comply. I ask that you not bully Su Estate's mother and orphaned son. If it truly comes to blows, everyone in Su Estate will fight to the death."

The Maid standing at Su Xiu's side had even drawn her longsword, ready to act at any moment.

Wang Wei's expression turned grave, and his official saber appeared in his hand as well.

Seeing the atmosphere deadlocked, Lu Feng raised a hand, signaling Wang Wei to put away his blade first. Then he smiled at Su Xiu. "Madam Su, Prison Manor naturally will not take away an unconscious Su Mo."

"Then what did you mean by what you said earlier?" Su Xiu's expression eased slightly.

Lu Feng said, "Madam Su, may we speak privately?"

Upon hearing this, Su Xiu instructed the servants to continue watching over Su Mo. Then she led Lu Feng into a side chamber. "What is it that you wish to tell me, sir?"

Lu Feng said, "I have confirmed the poison affecting Su Mo."

Su Xiu's face changed in shock. She listened gravely as Lu Feng described Star Fiend Corpse Poison. By the time he had explained its properties and terrifying toxicity, her face had turned deathly pale. She asked anxiously in a strained voice, "Does sir have any method to cure the poison?"

Lu Feng shook his head. "I fear only the poisoner possesses the antidote to Star Fiend Corpse Poison."

Su Xiu frowned in thought for a while. "Does sir have any good plan? If you can save Mo'er, everyone in Su Estate will be endlessly grateful."

Lu Feng took out the pill Ye Fan had given him. "Madam Su, this medicine may temporarily suppress the poison within Su Mo's body, but it treats the symptoms, not the root cause. Once he awakens, I must take him back to Prison Manor."

Lu Feng had already explained the properties of Star Fiend Corpse Poison to Su Xiu, informing her that Su Mo might kill indiscriminately when the poison flared up. Thus, when he again proposed taking Su Mo away, Su Xiu no longer resisted.

"Thank you for your trouble, sir." Su Xiu bowed slightly. "You have only recently taken office, and Prison Manor is likely short-handed. Su Estate is willing to send several people to assist, so that Mo'er may be watched over more effectively."

Lu Feng hesitated slightly at her words, then agreed. Otherwise, Su Xiu would likely be unable to rest assured about entrusting Su Mo completely to Prison Manor.

"How does sir intend to find the poisoner?" Su Xiu asked.

Lu Feng's expression stiffened slightly.

Su Xiu realized her words were inappropriate. Inquiring into Prison Manor's investigation was a great taboo, so she immediately changed her wording. "If you need assistance at any point during your investigation, Su Estate will certainly offer its full support."

Lu Feng nodded. "Do not tell anyone what I just told you about Star Fiend Corpse Poison, lest we alert the snake in the grass."

Su Xiu bowed slightly in acknowledgment. Even if Lu Feng had not said so, she would not spread the news carelessly. After all, it concerned Su Mo's ultimate safety.

After leaving the side chamber, Lu Feng gave Su Mo the Star Kill Pill. Not long afterward, Su Mo regained a little awareness, and after one hour, he began to recover his ability to move.

"Repeat the exact details of your fight with Zhang A'niu that day," Lu Feng asked Su Mo.

Supported by a maid, Su Mo leaned against the edge of the bed. Seeing Lu Feng clad in a Prison Robe, his heart trembled. As he listened to Lu Feng's question, the scene from that day resurfaced in his mind. He asked bitterly, "Zhang A'niu was the one I beat at the entrance to Li Family Alley, right? What happened to him? Why has even the prison official been alerted?"

Su Mo addressed the latter half of his question to his mother. Having been unconscious all this time, he still did not know what had happened outside.

"He died," Wang Wei said coldly.

"No way, right?" Su Mo's pale face was filled with shock. Seeing everyone's eyes fixed on him, he snapped in displeasure, "You don't suspect that I killed him, do you?"

Seeing that everyone was still staring at him, Su Mo began to panic. Tugging at Su Xiu's hem, he explained, "I didn't kill anyone! He suddenly jumped out and blocked my path. He was the one who attacked first. At most, I only beat him badly enough to seriously injure him. There was absolutely no danger to his life."

Wang Wei did not quite believe Su Mo's words. He questioned, "Why would Zhang A'niu, for no reason at all, block your path? What grudge did the two of you have?"

Su Mo's face darkened in displeasure. "I had never even seen him before. What grudge could there be? Who knows what madness possessed him? At first, I thought he was a drunkard, but after we fought, I didn't smell even a trace of alcohol on him. Running into such a lunatic, I could only count myself unlucky."

"What exactly was unusual about Zhang A'niu?" Lu Feng pressed further. "Did he merely block the passage at the alley entrance and refuse to let anyone pass?"

Su Mo recalled, "That alley is extremely secluded. Normally, hardly anyone passes through it. If I hadn't been rushing home for dinner that day, I wouldn't have taken that shortcut."

A trace of self-reproach flashed across Su Xiu's face at this. If she had not reminded Su Mo that morning to return home on time that evening, this would never have happened.

"Oh, right. That man was definitely not just blocking the road. It felt like he was coming specifically for me," Su Mo said, still shaken with lingering fear. "When I first entered the alley, I didn't see anyone at all. He suddenly jumped out from a pile of clutter to one side and chased after me, attacking me. And he fought without caring about defense at all, as if he could not feel pain. Strangest of all, I struck his acupoints to stop him, but there was no reaction whatsoever. It was as though I had struck a piece of wood."

"He chased after you and attacked you?" Wang Wei asked suspiciously. "Zhang A'niu did not even have the strength of the Seven Souls Realm. How could he possibly chase after you and fight you?"