The Power of the Hundred Flowers Sect

Yu Yuhan's complexion was pale, without a trace of color. Bloodshot veins had appeared in her once-clear eyes, and her gaunt cheeks were etched with exhaustion, as though even a gust of wind could blow her frail body over.

"Jiang Shuo?" Yu Yuhan parted her chapped, peeling lips and called out in surprise.

"Miss Yu!" Jiang Shuo wanted to step forward and check on Yu Yuhan's condition, but a restraining force suddenly came from his limbs. Only then did he remember that the soldiers had seized him.

At the sight of the soldiers beside Jiang Shuo, Yu Yuhan immediately understood what was happening and shouted furiously, "Release him!"

"Hehe, truly, one may search everywhere in worn-out iron shoes and find nothing, only to obtain it without the slightest effort! Just now, I was wondering where to find you, yet you delivered yourself right to my door!" Chen Zhiqing laughed happily and signaled for the soldiers to seize her.

"Chen Zhiqing, didn't you promise that if I let you capture me, you would spare them?" Seeing this, Jiang Shuo flew into a rage, struggling with all his might as he shouted.

"I did promise you that, but her current identity is still that of a wanted criminal. Now that we've run into each other face-to-face, surely you can't expect me to pretend I saw nothing?" Chen Zhiqing said with a light laugh. "Don't worry. Once we bring you back to the County Office and investigate everything clearly, if she is innocent, I will naturally release her."

"You..." Jiang Shuo was furious. Given Yu Yuhan's identity, Chen Zhiqing might indeed release her, but before then, she would inevitably suffer quite a bit.

They had already fallen into his hands. Whether they were innocent or not was nothing more than a matter of Chen Zhiqing's word.

No matter how formidable Jiang Shuo was, trapped in a cage with his hands and feet restrained, there was nothing he could do to Chen Zhiqing. Chen Zhiqing snorted coldly, then waved a hand. A group of soldiers split from the ranks and headed toward Yu Yuhan. At that moment, a figure stepped out and stood before her.

"Wait." Feng En gently extended his right palm downward.

He was tall and slender, dressed in pure white robes. His thin lips were pressed lightly together, and his sword-like brows slanted upward with heroic sharpness, making him appear all the more imposing.

It was merely a quiet sentence, yet it seemed to contain an inexplicable power that shook the soldiers to their cores, bringing them all to a halt in unison.

"Master Feng, although you are the Eldest Senior Brother of the Hundred Flowers Sect, this matter concerns the Imperial Court's pursuit of a wanted criminal. This disciple advises you not to interfere." First Elder Bian, and now Feng En—Chen Zhiqing thought to himself that the people of the Hundred Flowers Sect were truly stubborn beyond all reason.

Feng En's deep black eyes swept indifferently over Chen Zhiqing. He tilted his head slightly to one side, making the sharply defined contours of his profile stand out even more. "Yuhan, is this the Jiang Shuo you spoke of?"

"Yes." Yu Yuhan nodded.

Feng En turned to Jiang Shuo and examined him carefully. A faint smile curved across his calm face, revealing an expression of approval.

Jiang Shuo froze for a moment. Feng En's gaze felt exceptionally warm, and a surge of warmth rose within his heart.

"Master Feng, this disciple is speaking to you." Chen Zhiqing raised his voice slightly. Being ignored made his brow lift in displeasure.

Feng En's line of sight slowly moved away from Jiang Shuo, lightly passing over Chen Zhiqing before settling on a figure beside him. "Constable Yan."

"Yes." Constable Yan was taken aback. He had accompanied Chen Zhiqing here, and ordinarily it was not his place to speak.

"Take them back first. If there is anything, Magistrate Chen may come find me. Jiang Shuo and Chen Zhiqing will remain in our Hundred Flowers Sect for now." Feng En spoke lightly, as though he were discussing some commonplace matter.

That simple sentence caused a tremendous uproar.

It was not merely because of Feng En's status, but because of what those words revealed.

"Master Feng, this... this would not be appropriate, would it?" Constable Yan was startled and did not know how to decide.

"What is inappropriate about it?"

"This... Jiang Shuo is a wanted criminal whom Lord Chen intends to arrest, and Young Master Chen's status is even more unusual..." Constable Yan could be considered half a man of the Martial World. He knew Feng En's strength, yet even as he explained, he lacked conviction.

"A wanted criminal? As far as I know, Jiang Shuo merely held Chen Zhiqing hostage. Chen Zhiqing is now safe and sound. If I, Feng En, wish to protect someone, I believe Magistrate Chen will still do me the favor of showing some respect. As for Chen Zhiqing himself..." Feng En said evenly, "Since he has entered under my junior brother Zhao Zhi's tutelage, he is a disciple of our Hundred Flowers Sect. His character is vile, and he framed a fellow disciple. As the Eldest Senior Brother of the Hundred Flowers Sect, it is only right that I keep him here to receive punishment."

Feng En openly declared that he would punish Chen Zhiqing, greatly shocking Constable Yan.

Before Constable Yan could decide on his words, another voice came from beside them. It was Zhao Zhi. "Eldest Senior Brother, Chen Zhiqing has been under my guidance these days and has not done anything improper. As for vile character and framing a fellow disciple, I have never heard of such a thing."

"Zhao Zhi, are you trying to shield him?" Feng En asked bluntly, having already reached a conclusion on the matter.

Zhao Zhi frowned and glanced at Chen Zhiqing, a trace of hesitation flashing across his face.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Zhi turned around and faced Feng En, lowering his head slightly. "Eldest Senior Brother, every word I just spoke was true. How can you speak of shielding him? No matter what, it is true that Jiang Shuo held Chen Zhiqing hostage, and true that he offended Magistrate Chen. It is perfectly justified for Chen Zhiqing to lead soldiers to arrest Jiang Shuo."

"Then was it also perfectly justified for Chen Zhiqing to drive away the Disaster Victims and leave them to fend for themselves?" Feng En's words made Zhao Zhi's expression stiffen slightly, but he quickly spoke again. "That was an order from the Imperial Court. Chen Zhiqing was merely carrying out orders."