Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkeys

"We're only servants of the Zhao Family. We have nothing to do with them. Why can't we leave just because Zhao Fang colluded with demons and evil spirits?"

"That's right! What right do you have to stop us from leaving?"

More than a dozen people faced the constables who had drawn their weapons. Though fear showed on their faces, there was even more madness in their eyes.

None of them were fools. Zhao Fang had colluded with demons and evil spirits; the Zhao Family was doomed.

If they did not leave now, they would not be able to leave later.

They were not members of the Zhao Family, so why should they die alongside them?

Hong Cheng, who had been speaking with Shen Changqing not far away, saw this scene and his expression changed.

"Excuse me, Lord Shen!"

After hastily saying that, he immediately headed over.

"Quiet!"

With an angry roar, the scene instantly fell silent.

The constables lowered their heads. "Chief Constable Hong!"

Hong Cheng nodded slightly, then turned his cold gaze on the dozen or so people. "The lord from the Demon Suppression Bureau has given his orders. Not a single person in the Zhao Family residence may leave. I do not care whether you are direct members of the Zhao Family or not. Until a verdict is handed down for the Zhao Family, you will all stay put.

"Anyone who dares cause trouble on their own will have only one road to take: death!"

His words fell.

Among the dozen or so people, a sturdy-looking middle-aged man at the front spoke up. "Chief Constable Hong, let's not beat around the bush. Everyone knows perfectly well what crime colluding with demons and evil spirits is.

"We have nothing to do with the Zhao Family. If you want to kill the Zhao Family, that is your business, but we are leaving today no matter what."

"That's right, we're leaving today!"

"Staying here means waiting to die. Leaving means death, staying means death—might as well fight him!"

"Yes, yes—"

The others shouted loudly, clearly prepared to charge forward.

Hong Cheng's expression immediately darkened.

The Lin'an City yamen did not have much manpower. At most, there were only a dozen or twenty constables in total.

Aside from the people guarding the Zhao Family's entrance, other parts of the compound wall also needed guards to prevent anyone from climbing over and escaping.

These dozen or so people—

If they truly charged with all their strength, the current manpower might not be enough to stop them.

Just as Hong Cheng was in a difficult position, Shen Changqing walked over.

"Lord Shen!"

"Greetings, Lord Shen!"

How could those constables not recognize Shen Changqing? They hurriedly bowed in greeting.

Shen Changqing gave a slight wave of his hand. "All of you, stand back."

"Uh, yes!"

The constables froze for a moment, but obediently stepped back.

After the constables had withdrawn.

Shen Changqing drew the long saber at his waist. Its tip pointed at the ground as pure yang true energy clung to the blade, immediately sending saber energy bursting forth.

With a forceful sweep.

A saber mark appeared before everyone.

After doing all that, he sheathed the saber again.

"I gave the order to seal off the Zhao Family. Before a verdict is handed down, no one may leave the Zhao Family. I do not care whether you are servants of the Zhao Family or have no connection to them at all.

"Anyone who has entered the Zhao Family gates cannot leave now. Whoever dares step even half a pace across this line will be killed without mercy!"

Shen Changqing's tone was icy.

Those words sent a chill through everyone's hearts.

"Isn't this lord being far too overbearing?" After a long silence, the leader's expression turned ugly.

Shen Changqing said nothing.

The situation immediately reached a deadlock.

That simple saber mark seemed, in the eyes of the dozen or so people, to be the dividing line between life and death.

After a long while.

Someone finally could not hold back any longer.

"Don't listen to his nonsense! I refuse to believe he really dares to act. If we don't leave now, we'll be walking a dead end sooner or later!" someone in the crowd shouted.

The instant his words fell.

Shen Changqing took a swift step forward, drawing the long saber at his waist.

Swish—

A head the size of a bucket flew into the air. Blood gushed out in torrents, and everyone's faces changed dramatically.

Hadn't he said they would only be killed if they crossed the saber mark?

That man had not even moved. He had merely shouted a few reckless words and was beheaded in the street.

Such ruthless action.

Made the remaining people's hearts and livers split with terror.

Shen Changqing gripped the long saber, blood still dripping from its blade. His cold gaze swept across them. "Whoever dares say another word will meet the same end. I have changed my mind. All of you, get back into the Zhao Family.

"Whoever dares step out of the Zhao Family gates will die."

At those words.

The remaining people turned pale. Under Shen Changqing's piercing gaze, they retreated in disarray.

Unlike Hong Cheng and the other constables, who only issued verbal threats, this man would truly kill.

They might have seemed imposing just now, but when it truly came to a choice between life and death, anyone would be afraid.

Retreating meant they might die.

Not retreating now meant they would definitely die.

Very quickly.

The dozen or so people obediently withdrew. Only a headless corpse lay sprawled on the ground, blood flowing everywhere.

Shen Changqing sheathed his saber and looked at the stunned Hong Cheng. "Chief Constable Hong, clean up the body. From this moment on, if anyone opens the Zhao Family gates and walks out, there is no need for further nonsense. Kill them directly.

"If anything goes wrong, I, Shen Changqing, will bear it alone.

"But there is one thing you must remember. If no one from the Zhao Family tries to escape on their own, you must not barge in at will and break the rules!"

Zhao Fang had indeed colluded with demons and evil spirits.

But before the verdict was completely handed down, the Zhao Family was still protected by the laws of Great Qin.

At this time.

If anyone entered the Zhao Family without authorization, they would be violating Great Qin law.

Great Qin did not have many laws.

But every single one was a grave offense.

Hearing Shen Changqing's words, everyone, including Hong Cheng, became solemn.

"Rest assured, Lord Shen. This subordinate and the others know what to do!"

"That is for the best."

Shen Changqing turned his head toward Hong Cheng. "If anything happens at the Zhao Family, you may come find me at any time. Also, if anyone causes trouble in Lin'an City and the yamen cannot handle it, you may come find me as well.

"I will be staying at the inn for the time being. I will not be going anywhere else."

"Yes!"

Hong Cheng inwardly relaxed.

Shen Changqing's words were no different from a dose of heart-strengthening medicine.

Watching him leave, Hong Cheng cupped his hands again. "Take care, Lord Shen!"

After Shen Changqing had disappeared from sight, Hong Cheng spoke to the remaining men. "You all heard Lord Shen's words. Clean up the corpse immediately. Also, if anyone else from the Zhao Family comes out, make them go back at once.

"If they refuse to listen, kill them!"

As he spoke the words "kill them," killing intent flashed in Hong Cheng's eyes as well.

He might not be as decisive and clean-handed as Shen Changqing when it came to killing, but he was by no means someone afraid of trouble.

Especially after Zhao Fang's death, undercurrents had begun to stir in Lin'an City.

Although the signs were not obvious, Hong Cheng had lived in Lin'an City for so many years. How could he fail to notice the changes?

The matter of the Zhao Family.

Could not be allowed to produce any further complications.

Upon hearing this, the few men respectfully accepted their orders and began clearing away the corpse on the ground.

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