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"Bastard!"

In the Golden Palace Hall, the Son of Heaven hurled his cup, his imperial visage thunderous with rage.

An official had been murdered—and a commandery governor of an entire city at that. He governed over a hundred counties, towns, and villages, directly affecting several million commoners. In the thousand-plus years of Great Zhou's imperial history, this could be counted among the most serious cases.

No such thing had happened in who knew how many years. If it was not handled properly, villains would soon follow suit in droves, perhaps even raising the banner of rebellion and further shaking Great Zhou's foundations. By then, who knew how many would die.

If it truly came to that, he would have to issue a Self-Culpability Edict. He would be nailed to the pillar of shame of the imperial family, displayed for the descendants of later generations to behold.

"Your Majesty, quell your anger and preserve your dragon body."

"Such a heinous evil must be apprehended as soon as possible to suppress the unrest, lest more commoners be dragged into it."

"This humble minister suggests sealing Luofeng City on all sides, dispatching troops from the commandery city, and releasing funds from the storehouse. Guide the scattered citizens back to their homes and provide some compensation and reassurance. Calming the people's hearts must come first, lest the chaos spread and give the villains an opening to sweep up the displaced refugees and stir up wind and waves."

The many ministers spoke up in remonstrance one after another, orderly and unchaotic, laying every possible measure before the Son of Heaven.

The Son of Heaven quickly regained his calm. After pondering for a moment, he issued his command:

"Dispatch five hundred Vermillion Bird Guards to station themselves in Luofeng City, led by the Commander-in-Chief. Within one month... no, within half a month, uncover the entire truth and escort the ringleader to the Imperial Capital. Any who obstruct the investigation shall be punished as accomplices!"

"Your Majesty is wise."

Once the Son of Heaven had spoken, not a single minister who had previously offered suggestions opened his mouth again. All praised the wisdom of his imperial judgment.

"Furthermore, summon Prince Guangyun to the capital. Order him to come at once!"

Wuyang Commandery, Prince Guangyun's Mansion, study.

Only Prince Guangyun and his son were in the room. Zhao Yunheng, clad in a python robe, sat behind the desk with a slight furrow between his brows. His fingertips tapped against the tabletop as he muttered to himself:

"Song Tonghai is no ordinary man. I had underestimated him."

Hearing this, Zhao Jichang beside him could not help but be startled.

"Father, you mean... Song Tonghai killed Yuan Xingcai and Luo Wang?"

Song Tonghai had seemed exceedingly mild and amiable to him that day, nothing like a bloodthirsty man, much less someone capable of committing the treasonous crime of murdering an official.

"Not so."

Zhao Yunheng waved a hand. "Before there is any evidence, such words must not be spoken carelessly."

"Please enlighten me, Father." Zhao Jichang was somewhat confused. "If you suspect him, why not simply arrest him? Once he is investigated, the truth will reveal itself."

"This is not as simple as you think. This matter may even alarm the Immortal Sect."

Zhao Yunheng shook his head faintly and sighed. "Whether Song Tonghai did this or not, he has brought great trouble upon himself."

At this point, it was no longer something he could suppress.

Even a Great Grandmaster would not dare kill a court official. That was defying those above.

Who had died did not matter. How many had died did not matter. The words 'defying those above' were what the court could least tolerate.

It was like ordinary people: if they were injured by a vicious thug, most would choose to swallow their anger, believing it better to have one less problem. But if bitten by an insect, most would fly into a rage and crush it beneath their foot without hesitation.

Fearing the strong while bullying the weak, using power to oppress others—such had always been the way since ancient times.

Class was the iron law of this world. Defying those above was the most intolerable of sins. Even after entering an Immortal Sect, this iron law remained just as effective.

Seeing that Zhao Jichang seemed to understand yet not understand, Zhao Yunheng was about to explain when a long shout suddenly rang out from beyond the mansion:

"An Imperial Decree has arrived!"

The voice was shrill, its lingering echoes shaking the street for ten li. It was enough to show the depth of the speaker's Internal Arts.

Zhao Yunheng narrowed his eyes and rose. "Pack up. Prepare to enter the capital with me and meet His Majesty."

Luofeng City, Song Manor.

Yesterday, Song Lingxue had already distributed all the gold and silver from the storehouse. Anything of value had been exchanged for hard silver.

Most of the surviving escorts chose to take their money and leave. Only two or three remained, while eight or nine out of ten servants had dispersed as well.

In a single night, the household had withered away. The vast Song Manor was filled with broken walls and crumbling ruins, with scarcely a living soul in sight.

Now was the best time to leave.

The impact of murdering an official was immense. Luofeng City currently had no ruler, and countless citizens were leaving the city. Mixed among them, they could leave without the slightest danger.

Faced with such chaos, Chu Zheng's heart instead grew much calmer. He no longer agonized over things, cultivating methodically each day, circulating Qi through the heavenly cycle in hopes of reaching the Spiritual Transformation realm as soon as possible.

The city's local official had died. Though he did not know who had done it, it had indeed bought Song Manor a considerable stretch of time.

He had already made his plans. Nothing had happened for now, and by the time the court uncovered the truth of the case, a long time should have passed. He was now only seventy-three days away from Hundred-Day Qi Refinement—merely two and a half months.

If they were careful and dragged things out through this period, there should still be some chance.

Once he entered Spiritual Transformation, many of his methods would change. He could attempt to master the true Divine Abilities of a Qi Cultivator.

The Qi Refining Lineage possessed an immense and diverse range of methods, impossible to explain clearly in just a few words. There were more than ten Divine Abilities related to the five senses alone.

Heavenly Eye alone possessed such methods as Qi Observation, Yin-Yang Discernment, Meridian Recognition, Mind Reading, and more. At greater depths, there were all manner of wonders like Soaring Cloud Riding Mist.

Though he craved these Divine Ability arts, Chu Zheng could only take things one step at a time for now.

Song Lingxue followed him every day without leaving his side. With clothes brought to his hands and meals brought to his mouth, she attended to him in every possible way.

Chu Zheng did not suggest leaving, and Song Lingxue did not bring it up either, as though an unspoken understanding had formed between them.

Ever since learning that Chu Zheng had undergone such astonishing changes because he cultivated the Dragon Tiger Body, Song Yun had begun to entertain some thoughts.

The moment his injuries stabilized, he began trying to practice External martial arts, hoping to unearth some talent he had yet to discover and astonish everyone in a single stroke.

The result was naturally a crushing disappointment. His talent for External martial arts was as plain and unremarkable as his appearance.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

Chu Zheng's steady state of mind did not last long.

After Song Tonghai finished treating his own injuries, he came to find him.

Inside the study, the two sat facing one another. This was their first direct face-to-face exchange.

"Family Head..."

After a long silence, Chu Zheng coughed lightly.

"Chu Zheng, you saved me from fire and water. No words can repay such a great kindness. I do not wish to hide anything from you, so I may as well lay it all bare."

Before he could finish, Song Tonghai raised a hand and interrupted him.

"The Song Family is now facing a great calamity. I have already transferred most of the family's wealth away in batches. Ling Xue knows where it is. I intend to entrust her to you. The two of you should flee far away at once. I will remain behind and buy you both a little time."

Chu Zheng waved a hand and said slowly, "Family Head, there is no need to rush. The commandery governor of Luofeng City has now been assassinated. That is the true major matter. Before the court uncovers the truth, we may still have some time."

At this, Song Tonghai fell silent for a moment, staring at Chu Zheng.

"Who do you think killed those two men?"

Chu Zheng: "..."

Looking at Song Tonghai's placid expression, Chu Zheng nearly could not hold himself together. Judging from the man's reaction, the murderer of those two needed no further explanation.

In an instant, Chu Zheng raised a hand and rubbed his brow, feeling an immense headache coming on.

Murdering an official... was this a rebellion?