Chen Yu's eyes brimmed with venomous hatred. He wished he could swallow the breathtakingly beautiful girl before him alive and flay her whole.
"What a venom-hearted woman! For the sake of a single pill, you want to wipe out our entire Chen family! A person like you deserves to descend to the eighteen levels of hell!"
Before Xiao Minghuang could speak in the face of such curses, Ye Ruoshui and Lin Wanqiu were the first to lose patience.
They flashed forward from left and right in perfect unspoken accord. Their dainty feet kicked out like afterimages, sending Chen Yu flying more than ten zhang away.
Even after delivering that kick, Ye Ruoshui still did not feel satisfied. Her little face was filled with fury as she charged after him, planted one foot on Chen Yu's chest, and was just about to stomp down with all her strength and kill him on the spot...
"Wait. Don't kill him."
Xiao Minghuang's voice sounded from behind her.
Ye Ruoshui turned back, displeasure written across her little face.
"Big Sister, why won't you let me stomp this bug to death?!"
Xiao Minghuang walked over and gently squeezed Ye Ruoshui's small hand, signaling her not to act rashly.
Then she looked down at Chen Yu, who was barely clinging to life, and said:
"Hand over the Essence Replenishing Pill, and your Chen family's merits will offset its crimes. What happened to the Chen Family Head will not implicate the lineage."
Though Chen Yu lay on the ground with a foot upon him, he still glared furiously and cursed aloud:
"You venom-hearted woman, may you die a miserable death! Even if I become a ghost, I won't let any of you go!"
At those words, Xiao Minghuang finally lost her patience. Her original purpose had only been that Essence Replenishing Pill. As for clearing out the Chen family's evil cultivators, that had merely been a convenient side matter.
But Chen Yu had provoked her again and again. There was no longer any need for the Chen family to continue existing.
If the roots were not cut, they would sprout anew when the spring breeze blew.
"Ruoshui, I'll leave him to you."
Xiao Minghuang tossed out those words indifferently and turned away.
Having received her instructions, Ye Ruoshui's lovely little face showed a trace of disgust. Ignoring the filthy words spilling from Chen Yu's mouth, she stomped fiercely on his heart.
The evidence was conclusive; a hundred mouths could not clear the charge.
A muffled sound came from within Chen Yu's body. His face turned pale, his pupils scattered, and blood spilled from the corners of his mouth. Then crimson fluid seeped out, staining the ground red.
In the blink of an eye, Chen Yu's aura vanished. He was dead beyond all doubt.
Ye Ruoshui crouched down, took the Brocade Box containing the Essence Replenishing Pill from Chen Yu's corpse, and handed it to Xiao Minghuang.
"Well done!"
Xiao Minghuang patted Ye Ruoshui's soft hair in encouragement.
Ye Ruoshui, who had not even blinked while killing someone moments ago, now had rosy cheeks and a bashful little face, like a sheltered young woman who had come to know the stirrings of love.
Lin Wanqiu stood to the side, having witnessed everything, and a trace of complicated emotion appeared in her eyes.
"Miss Ye really is... adorable..."
She turned her gaze toward Chen Yu, now nothing more than a corpse, and sighed softly.
"His Highness had already intended to spare you. Why did you have to be so stubborn?"
She was perceptive and quick-witted. She had realized that Xiao Minghuang's purpose had merely been the Essence Replenishing Pill.
Objectively speaking, the Chen family's crime did not warrant extermination.
Although the Chen Family Head's identity as an evil cultivator had been exposed, it was impossible for every member of such a large Chen family to be an evil cultivator.
Had Chen Yu not kept cursing Xiao Minghuang, he would not have ended up dead with his lineage exterminated.
No matter what, the Chen family and the Lin family were both part of Beiyang City and had been friends for generations. Seeing the Chen family destroyed now, she could not help feeling some pity.
Yet she would not plead for them. She naturally understood the principle of cutting the grass and pulling out the roots.
After Chen Yu was stomped to death, everyone present revealed expressions of shock or complicated emotion.
"Even a maid beside the Ninth Princess possesses such strength. The imperial descendants truly are unfathomable!"
"The Ninth Princess kills decisively. It seems the Chen family will find it hard to escape this calamity."
"The Chen Family Head's crimes are backed by conclusive evidence, leaving him unable to deny them even with a hundred mouths. But did the entire Chen family truly collude with evil cultivators and betray the country to the enemy? Or was this merely an excuse the Ninth Princess used to seize the Essence Replenishing Pill?"
It was not only the people present. Even Lin Wanqiu harbored doubts in her heart.
Just then.
Xiao Minghuang stepped onto a raised platform. At the sight, everyone's attention was drawn toward her.
She took a stack of papers from her sleeve—the letters she had found in the evil cultivator leader's storage pouch.
Xiao Minghuang swept her gaze over the crowd and announced loudly:
"What I hold in my hand is evidence that the Chen family colluded with evil cultivators and betrayed the country to the enemy. If any of you have doubts, come forward and see for yourselves!"
After a while, three white-haired elders emerged from the crowd.
These three were the heads of the other three of Beiyang City's four great families. They had always shared weal and woe with the Chen family, their branches joined and their breath connected. If the Chen family had colluded with evil cultivators and betrayed the country, they likely could not escape implication either. Thus, they urgently wanted to learn the truth and clear themselves of suspicion.
The three family heads examined the letters one by one, then revealed expressions of shock and rage.
"This Chen family actually committed such monstrous, heaven-offending acts!"
"The Chen Family Head secretly ordered evil cultivators to abduct commoners and sacrifice them in blood to cultivate evil arts. His crimes are monstrous, intolerable to heaven's law!"
"Not only that, the Chen Family Head colluded with the Golden Elephant Kingdom and attempted to hand over a newly discovered spirit vein on a silver platter. Had Ninth Highness not discovered it in time, this spirit vein would have had nothing to do with our Beiyang City!"
When they spoke that final sentence, the three family heads lowered their voices, as though they did not wish others to hear.
After reading the letters, the three family heads respectfully bowed to Xiao Minghuang. "The Chen family's crimes are monstrous. We request that their lineage be exterminated, to serve as a warning to others!"
But Xiao Minghuang shook her head and said calmly:
"Go to City Lord Lin to deal with Beiyang City's affairs."
"As you command!"
Naturally, the three family heads understood Xiao Minghuang's unspoken meaning.
The three immediately joined the siege against the Chen Family Head. With three Spring Gushing Realm fighters joining in, the Chen Family Head soon ran short of spiritual power. In despair, he used evil arts, but he was still no match for them. In the end, Lin Zhengquan pierced him to death with his spear.
After the Chen Family Head died, Lin Zhengquan collected his storage pouch and magical long saber, then presented them both to Xiao Minghuang.
"These are the remnants left behind by an evil cultivator. Please inspect them, Your Highness."
Though he called it an inspection, he was really offering all of the Chen Family Head's inheritance to Xiao Minghuang, borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha.
One of Beiyang City's four great family heads had turned out to be an evil cultivator. If news of such a major matter reached the capital, the imperial court would certainly send people to investigate thoroughly. The Lin family and the other three great families would inevitably be unable to escape involvement. It was better to turn a major matter into a minor one, and a minor one into nothing at all.
Those present were all officials of the City Lord's Manor or members of the three great families. They would not leak the news. Therefore, the only person who needed to be appeased was Xiao Minghuang.
Xiao Minghuang had come from afar and did not understand the intentions of the three great families. Just as she hesitated over whether to accept the offerings—
Lin Wanqiu stepped forward and quietly explained matters by her ear.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang showed a look of understanding. Looking toward Lin Zhengquan and the heads of the three great families, she said solemnly:
"The Chen family harbored evil cultivators and betrayed the country to the enemy. Their crimes are unforgivable. City Lord Lin and the three great families have rendered meritorious service in eliminating these traitors."
As she spoke, Xiao Minghuang accepted the storage pouch and magical long saber.
"These items are evidence of the Chen family's crimes. This princess will take them back to the capital and hand them over to the Three Judicial Offices for handling."
"Your Highness is heaven-blessed in intelligence, sees through the smallest detail, and calculates without omission. We obey your command!"
Xiao Minghuang claimed she would hand the items over to the Three Judicial Offices, but everyone knew that the spirit stones and pills in the storage pouch, as well as that precious Mid-grade Yellow Tier Long Saber, would inevitably end up in her own pocket.
Before dawn arrived, the City Lord's Manor guards mobilized overnight. While the Chen family members were still asleep, they seized them all and threw them into prison.
Because of the Chen family incident, the banquet was interrupted halfway through.
Xiao Minghuang had lost all interest as well and intended to return to her room to rest.
Although she had already reached the Qi Refining Realm, she had not yet reached the point of needing no food, fearing neither heat nor cold, and knowing no fatigue.
After several consecutive days of travel, a fierce battle in the Savage Forest, and the nerve-racking events at the banquet just now, Xiao Minghuang had long been exhausted. She only wanted a good night's sleep.
"City Lord Lin, I'll leave the Chen family matter entirely to you. I will not ask further questions."
City Lord Lin understood. He was immensely grateful to Xiao Minghuang, for her unspoken meaning was that he could distribute the Chen family's assets.
The Chen family had resided in Beiyang City for nearly a hundred generations, accumulating countless assets. It was difficult to imagine just how enormous that fortune was.
"This time, I'm really going to strike it rich!"
However, he could not possibly keep such a massive fortune all to himself. After sharing it with all the interested parties, what remained in his hands...
Would still be an extremely considerable sum.
At that thought, Lin Zhengquan could not help beaming with joy.
He looked at Lin Wanqiu, who stood obediently beside Xiao Minghuang, and felt deeply gratified in his old age.
If not for his daughter, how could he have formed ties with the Ninth Princess? How could he have had the chance to carve up such a vast Chen family and profit from it?
"Wanqiu, quickly escort Ninth Highness back to rest."
Lin Zhengquan gave the instruction brightly.
Lin Wanqiu naturally nodded and led Xiao Minghuang back to the courtyard where she was staying.
After they left, everyone present could not help letting out a long breath.
"City Lord Lin, for your daughter to win the Ninth Princess's favor is truly a great stroke of fortune. With the Ninth Princess as Beiyang City's backer, we'll no longer need to worry about the imperial court withholding our spirit stones!"
"Could City Lord Lin reveal a little about your daughter's relationship with the Ninth Princess? It would put everyone's minds at ease."
Hearing this, Lin Zhengquan frowned. The matter of the Ninth Princess's marriage agreement with Lin Wanqiu was known only within their lineage and had never been shared outside.
The Ninth Princess had not publicly announced it at today's banquet either.
If he revealed it now, it would seem rather like overstepping his authority.
That made him hesitate, and he did not dare speak plainly.
After pondering for a moment, Lin Zhengquan smiled and answered:
"The Ninth Princess and Wanqiu hit it off at first sight and are as close as sisters. You may all rest assured!"
But at this point, his tone shifted. His gaze turned stern as it swept over everyone present.
"Although Beiyang City has the Ninth Princess to rely upon, we must still act with caution from now on. Especially within each family—matters like what happened with the Chen family must never occur a second time!"
Everyone present stiffened, then said solemnly:
"Rest assured, City Lord. We will return home at once and investigate our own lineage members. Matters like those of the Chen family will never happen again!"
Seeing this, Lin Zhengquan's expression eased as he said:
"It is good that you understand. From now on, Beiyang City is under the Ninth Princess's command. We cannot smear His Highness's face. It is late. Everyone, return and rest."
"We take our leave."
After everyone departed, joy appeared on Lin Zhengquan's face once more.
"From this day onward, Beiyang City's position should finally be secure."
Sir Yi, run!
"An interview question, Miss Yilv. Why did you say you didn't want to date?" The reporter held out a microphone toward the Sarkaz.
The latter froze for a moment. After a long while, she said, "Because I'm not a Perro."
"?"
The reporter looked puzzled and asked, awkward yet politely, "Sorry, could you explain that a little more clearly?" Yilv fell silent for a moment before speaking again:
"I don't like eating bones."
Before you continue