I Am the Official and You Are the Thieves, My Word Is the Law

Huo Zhen braced himself as if facing a mortal enemy upon seeing the figure suddenly burst in.

Although he did not know Lu Yuan, who in the Longevity Cult did not know of the Blood-Clad Yama?

A cold, stern face, a fierce and menacing aura, and an Ink-Black Thunder-Patterned Brocade Robe, with no blade hanging at his waist.

Everything matched, save for the spiritual energy manifesting into crystals.

But he did not want it to match any further.

Every member of the Longevity Cult who had seen that spiritual energy manifest into crystals was already dead.

Huo Zhen's throat moved with difficulty; he wondered if he could survive this calamity today.

"Lu Yuan, you have trespassed into my White Moon Villa—is there no law left in this world!"

Liao Shanhai also recognized Lu Yuan.

He spread his palms, spiritual energy surging, his white robes billowing without a breeze.

More than a dozen disciples from White Moon Villa quickly flooded into the inner hall; some had their hands on their hilts, while others had already drawn their weapons, glaring at him with predatory intent.

Lu Yuan turned his head to look at the figure hiding behind the screen.

Huo Zhen's body trembled, his eyes darting away, "My lord, I was just passing by—"

A Crystal Spike shot out, blowing his head apart instantly.

Passing by?

I might not recognize your face, but how could I not recognize your clothes?

Red Daoist robes, a Longevity Cult Protector; I just killed one last night.

The headless corpse collapsed to the ground, splashing red and white gore onto the faces of the men nearby.

Lu Yuan looked at Liao Shanhai, "You want to talk to me about the law? I am the official and you are the thief; what I say is the law!"

"Liao Shanhai! You have colluded with the monsters of the Longevity Cult to harm the people, refining Evil Pills with the essence and blood of the living, using human lives as medicinal ingredients—your crimes are unforgivable."

"As a Demon Suppression Captain appointed by the Prefecture Bureau, I am here today to bring you to justice. If you dare to resist, you shall be executed on the spot!"

Liao Shanhai's face turned livid, his Canglan Palm clenching until it cracked.

He had not expected this young Demon Suppression Captain to actually dare to break in, nor had he expected the man to kill Huo Zhen without a second word.

That was the Great Protector of the Linchuan Branch of the Longevity Cult, a man whose cultivation had reached the late stage of the Initial Realm, someone even White Moon Villa had to treat with courtesy.

He had just died, just like that?

Was Lu Yuan truly this formidable?

Why had no one told him beforehand?

Liao Shanhai's face was incredibly gloomy; things had reached a point where there was no turning back.

Surrender?

If he were the type to do that, he wouldn't be Liao Shanhai!

He waved his hand violently and barked at the disciples beside him, "Take him down! Kill him if you have to!"

More than a dozen White Moon Villa disciples moved in unison, blades and shadows raining down from all directions.

Lu Yuan raised his hand and fired a continuous stream of crystal light; flesh, blood, and bone were pierced and shredded, with screams erupting one after another.

Blood splattered through the air, and gore flew everywhere.

In less than two breaths, only Lu Yuan and Liao Shanhai remained standing in the inner hall.

Liao Shanhai's eyes were bloodshot, the veins on his palms bulging like earthworms.

He struck out with his Canglan Palm, a violent surge of spiritual energy roaring toward Lu Yuan's face.

He had used his full strength for this strike; the palm wind whistled, and the air was compressed until it emitted a sharp, explosive boom.

A full-force strike from the late stage of the Initial Realm was enough to shatter a thousand-pound boulder into dust.

Lu Yuan did not dodge or evade; he simply struck out with a palm of his own, meeting the force head-on.

With a muffled thud, the shockwave tore the landscape painting on the screen into shreds.

Liao Shanhai's expression stiffened, as if he had struck an iron mountain and could not advance an inch.

Lu Yuan tightened his five fingers like iron pincers, crushing the bones in Liao Shanhai's hand bit by bit.

Liao Shanhai's face twisted—not in anger, but in pain and sheer terror.

His hand bones emitted a cracking sound, his knuckles dislocated, and his entire hand was on the verge of being crushed to pieces.

"Canglan Palm? You could crush me with one hand? And you were going to make me leave horizontally?"

"You've done all this posturing, only to turn out to be nothing but trash?"

There was no mockery in Lu Yuan's tone, only utter and complete contempt.

He kicked out, and Liao Shanhai flew backward, crashing through the wall behind him and landing in the courtyard outside.

He struggled to stand, but with countless bones shattered throughout his body, he had completely lost the power to resist.

Lu Yuan walked into the courtyard, his stern face illuminated by the morning light.

Liao Shanhai was finally afraid.

He had dominated Linchuan County for many years, his pair of Canglan Palm techniques having defeated countless foes, and he had never looked down upon anyone.

But at this moment, for the first time, he felt what it meant to be in despair.

It wasn't just that he couldn't win; it was that he didn't even have the qualifications to fight back.

"What... what exactly do you want?"

His voice was hoarse, laced with a hint of trembling.

Lu Yuan suppressed his aura, his gaze like a blade, filled with chilling killing intent.

"That's three sentences."

Crystal light flickered.

Unprecedented terror welled up in the depths of Liao Shanhai's eyes.

The next instant, his head exploded, and his headless corpse fell straight into a pile of fallen leaves.

At the same time, White Moon Villa was surrounded by dozens of armed yamen runners.

Su Ding'an rode at the front with Wang Wende following closely behind, both of them having spent the journey thinking about how to negotiate with Liao Shanhai and how to strike a balance between the two sides.

As a result, upon arriving at the inner hall, they saw over a dozen corpses shredded by Crystal Spikes, with Liao Shanhai's head having been blown apart entirely.

Well, there was no need to negotiate anymore.

Whatever happens, happens.

Su Ding'an was slightly better off than him, having grown somewhat accustomed to this.

He pulled a cloth handkerchief from his robes and walked over to Lu Yuan, carrying a brand-new black robe.

"My lord, wipe your face and change into some new clothes first."

Lu Yuan took the handkerchief, wiped the blood from his face, and gave orders while putting on the robe:

"Control all the disciples of White Moon Villa. Take Liao Shanhai's direct subordinates away for interrogation. One of the corpses in the inner hall is a Longevity Cult Protector; examine it carefully."

Su Ding'an nodded as he listened, then proceeded to organize the yamen runners with Wang Wende.

Not long after, a yamen runner ran up to Lu Yuan, panting.

"Reporting to Lord Lu, someone has arrived below claiming to be the second master of White Moon Villa, requesting an audience."

Upon hearing this, Su Ding'an immediately explained from the side.

"My lord, this second master is named Han Qiubai. He is at the first level of the Initial Realm; his cultivation isn't high, but he is quite capable."

"The farmland, shops, and martial arts halls under White Moon Villa were all managed by him single-handedly."

"He usually keeps to himself, focusing on business and rarely involving himself in matters outside the estate, but I am not sure if he has any ties to the Longevity Cult."

Lu Yuan nodded and gestured, and soon, Han Qiubai walked into the courtyard.

His gaze swept over to this side, and his footsteps faltered noticeably.

Lu Yuan was just standing in the courtyard, not deliberately releasing any pressure or assuming any stance.

Yet, the fierce and vicious aura emanating from his body was like a sharp, exposed blade, chilling one to the bone.

Han Qiubai's legs went weak; his first thought was that such a person must never be made an enemy.

He instinctively looked toward Wang Wende, who was standing to the side. In the past, during festivals, he would always prepare a generous gift for this county magistrate.

But he saw Wang Wende shake his head slightly, his mouth twisting into a bitter smile.

The meaning was clear: he could not handle this matter.

Han Qiubai's heart sank. He took a deep breath and stopped about a dozen paces away from Lu Yuan.

Then, he knelt down.

"Commoner Han Qiubai pays his respects to Lord Lu!"

"Liao Shanhai colluded with the Longevity Cult and harmed the innocent; his crimes are unforgivable!"

"Although I was unaware of the situation, as the second master, I failed to detect the master's evil and failed to prevent the master's transgressions. I am also guilty of negligence and have come specifically to plead guilty and accept whatever punishment is deemed fit."

"I only ask that Lord Lu show mercy and spare the lives of the innocent disciples of White Moon Villa."