The Future and Responsibility

Li Jiheng and the other Branch Family leaders were dragged away by the Hall of Law Enforcement disciples. Their shrill screams echoed through the hall.

The executioner's blade fell, and blood splashed three feet high.

Li Jiheng was cut in half at the waist. His two blood-soaked halves writhed on the ground, and he wailed for a long while before finally dying.

The other Yao County leaders were all executed as well.

When the executions were over, the Hall of Law Enforcement disciples dragged the bodies away without expression and washed the floor.

Li Xuanzhong put away the clan rules. He looked at Li Wu beside him. "Li Wu, I'll be going into seclusion for a while. While I'm gone, you'll take charge of the Hall of Law Enforcement in my place!"

Li Wu hurried to his feet and replied solemnly, "Yes, Chief."

Before long, every Branch Family received an official notice from the Hall of Law Enforcement at the Ancestral Land.

When they learned that the Li Family of Yao County had been punished by the Ancestral Land—its entire leadership wiped out—because its head, Li Jiheng, had acted out of greed and concealed the truth from the Ancestral Land, causing a great disaster that forced the Ancestral Land to pay an enormous price to eliminate the threat, every Branch Family was shaken with fear.

The Ancestral Land's authority and ruthlessness sent chills down the backs of all the Branch Families.

It had to be said: Li Xuanzhong's move had thoroughly cowed some Branch Family members with ulterior motives.

A young man walked expressionlessly along the bluestone path toward the Internal Affairs Hall.

When members of the Lineage saw him along the way, they instinctively kept their distance and began whispering among themselves.

"Is that Li Dazhong?"

"Yeah.