Take Them All Away

At his words.

Quite a few people's expressions turned grave.

Break out!

That would mean completely cutting off the Zhao Family's retreat.

The verdict had not yet been fully handed down. Not everyone was willing to gamble on such a thing.

Though leaving Lin'an City was still somewhat different from truly rebelling, it would nevertheless mean completely tearing their faces apart with the imperial court. If they were not caught, fine—but if they were caught, execution was beyond negotiation.

Zhao Mingye's expression was composed. "Father, it is no problem for us to leave, but that man from the Demon Suppression Bureau will not be easy to deal with.

Once we come into conflict with the yamen, he is very likely to intervene.

Without an expert to cooperate with us, even if we break through the yamen's blockade, it will be difficult for us to leave Lin'an City intact."

"And—"

"After leaving Lin'an City, where should we go? The imperial court's power is formidable—"

By the end, Zhao Mingye trailed off.

"Back when I traveled through Great Qin, I came to know some people. That man from the Demon Suppression Bureau may be strong, but he is not among the foremost in the martial world. There are plenty who can deal with him.

As for where the Zhao Family should go after leaving Lin'an City, I have some ideas as well."

Zhao Li pondered for a moment.

"Ever since something happened to Eldest Brother, I secretly sent people to pass the news along. Judging by the time, they should be arriving soon enough. Pass the word down. Have every branch make preparations!"

Hearing this, the others relaxed slightly.

Just as they were preparing to leave and make their own arrangements.

Suddenly.

A manor guard hurried inside.

"Second Master, the yamen's men have forced their way in!"

"What!"

Zhao Li's expression changed.

The Zhao Family's gates had already been forcibly breached. More than a dozen yamen runners had drawn their blades and were confronting the Zhao Family's guards.

At their head stood Shen Changqing.

Hong Cheng stood at his side. His longsword was likewise drawn, its gleaming blade carrying a chilling cold beneath the sunlight.

"What, are the Zhao Family's people refusing arrest?"

Shen Changqing looked calmly at the guards standing ready for battle.

No one answered.

When those guards looked at Shen Changqing, there was a trace of fear in their eyes.

Some of them had been among those who had tried to rush out of the Zhao Family earlier. They had personally witnessed him kill a man. That overwhelming strength and decisive ruthlessness were enough to make ordinary people afraid.

At this moment.

The Zhao Family members led by Zhao Li finally arrived as well.

The guards parted to open a path.

Zhao Li looked at the many yamen runners with drawn blades, his brows knitting slightly. When he saw Shen Changqing at their head, his heart sank.

Even so.

His expression showed no abnormality as he cupped his hands toward Shen Changqing.

"Sir of the Demon Suppression Bureau, why have you suddenly broken into my Zhao Family?"

Shen Changqing did not answer.

Hong Cheng, standing to one side, spoke first. "By imperial order, Lord Shen is now temporarily serving as the magistrate of Lin'an City!"

"Magistrate of Lin'an City!"

Zhao Li's pupils contracted.

Although he had heard the words "temporarily serving," he understood that Shen Changqing's identity was now no longer as simple as merely being someone from the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Some of the words he had prepared to say could no longer leave his mouth.

Shen Changqing took out the judgment document, unfolded it, and read it aloud before everyone.

"Following an investigation by the Demon Suppression Bureau, the evidence that Zhao Fang colluded with demons and evils is conclusive. His crime is unforgivable. Under the laws of Great Qin, all who collude with the Demon Race and betray humanity shall be treated as rebels and traitors to the nation, and sentenced to the ultimate penalty!

"Though the chief culprit Zhao Fang has already committed suicide out of fear of punishment, traitors to the race cannot be shown leniency.

"Therefore, the Zhao Family shall have nine degrees of kinship executed, as a warning to others!"

After speaking.

Shen Changqing put away the judgment document, his expression stern. "Arrest them!"

As soon as the words fell.

All the yamen runners were about to rush forward.

At the same time.

Every Zhao Family clansman, servant, and manor guard underwent a drastic change in expression.

Nine degrees of kinship executed!

Those words still echoed beside their ears.

There were no few who were frightened into tears.

Some timid people even fainted directly to the ground.

Zhao Li's expression changed violently. "Lord Shen, colluding with demons and evils was Zhao Fang's crime alone. Is it not too excessive to implicate nine degrees of kinship?"

"This is the imperial court's judgment. If you have objections, you may take them to the imperial court."

As Shen Changqing spoke coldly, he directly waved his hand. "Arrest every member of the Zhao Family and throw them into prison. Anyone who resists shall be killed on the spot!"

"Yes!"

Having received the order, the many yamen runners immediately advanced toward the Zhao Family.

The hands of the guards holding their weapons trembled slightly. Watching the yamen runners close in step by step, they did not know whether to resist or surrender without a fight.

Zhao Li stood where he was, his expression shifting between light and dark.

He had not expected the imperial court's judgment to arrive so quickly.

It had only been a few days.

Yet the verdict had already been fully handed down.

What he had expected even less was that after Zhao Fang's death, the imperial court would actually have a man from the Demon Suppression Bureau temporarily take over the position of magistrate.

According to Zhao Li's calculations.

When the imperial court's judgment arrived, it should have come together with the new magistrate. Appointing a new magistrate was not something that could be done in just a few days. Going back and forth, coupled with the delays of travel, it would take at least ten days to half a month before any news could arrive.

However—

As Zhao Li watched the approaching yamen runners, he understood that everything had exceeded his estimates.

If they were thrown into prison.

There would never again be any chance for them to turn things around.

"Kill!"

With a fierce order, the manor guards and some martial artists from the Zhao Family's main line immediately launched their attacks against them.

As a great clan of Lin'an City, the Zhao Family naturally could not be without a single expert.

In truth.

Though the Zhao Family had no Meridian Unblocking martial artists, they had quite a few Body Tempering martial artists.

"You dare resist? You are courting death!"

Qin Shujian's face turned cold. With a single stride, he surged forward and struck out with his palm.

Boom—

The force of the palm swept out like a heat wave, forcibly driving many people back. At the same time, one manor guard had already been struck by the palm.

His body merely shook where he stood, and in the next instant, he collapsed to the ground like a lump of rotten mud, without even having time to cry out.

In the flash between lightning and flint.

One man died.

With Shen Changqing's current strength, ordinary martial artists were simply unqualified to withstand a single palm strike from him.

After killing one man with his palm.

He did not stop moving, instead continuing toward another manor guard.

A Connate martial artist charging into a group of martial artists no stronger than the Body Tempering Realm was like a fierce tiger entering a flock of sheep—nothing but unrestrained slaughter.

Within only a few breaths.

The manor guards and Zhao Family clansmen who had fallen dead numbered seven or eight already.

As for Shen Changqing himself, he had not suffered the slightest injury.

This scene.

Thoroughly shocked everyone.

Those who had originally intended to attack were all intimidated by Shen Changqing's ferocity.

Another palm strike crashed down.

A manor guard's head was driven straight into his neck. Blood burst forth and sprayed across many people, setting off terrified screams.

Shen Changqing's eyes were icy as he looked at everyone.

"From this moment onward, if one person makes a move, I will kill one. If two make a move, I will kill a pair. I want to see just how many people the Zhao Family has for me to kill!"

The icy voice made everyone in the Zhao Family tremble.

Shen Changqing glanced at them, then looked toward Hong Cheng.

"Take them all away!"

"Yes!"