Battle Through the Heavens: Flame Emperor, Please Restrain Yourself—Your Brother Is Actually Quite Honest

On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong were revered. The victors became kings, the defeated bandits. He had nothing to say.

He was already old. Let him bear all the blame and buy the family a chance to catch its breath.

With that thought, Jia Lie Qing instead calmed down. He closed his eyes, assuming the bearing of one generously facing death.

But that mood did not last long. It shattered the moment the Black Armored Guards escorted him to the entrance.

That was because he saw every member of the Jia Lie family—young and old, direct-line and collateral descendants, even those stationed at their nearby businesses—all arrested outside the Jia Lie residence in shackles and chains.

The Black Armored Guards were actually going to purge their entire family!?

Jia Lie Qing's eyes nearly split with rage. He wanted to say something, only to find that he could not open his mouth.

He could only let the Black Armored Guards escort him to the plaza at Wutan City's western gate, where he watched Jia Lie family members being brought in one after another. Some were simply corpses.

It was not just him. The Jia Lie family's Second and Third Elders, along with several higher-ups, were in the same situation.

The one thing that "comforted" them was that the Jia Lie family was not alone. Every member of the Ao Ba Family had also been brought here, their circumstances exactly the same.

Several hours later, nearly a thousand people knelt in the plaza, all direct-line, core, and collateral members of the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families.

Such a commotion naturally drew countless onlookers. Anyone in Wutan City with strength, status, or courage had rushed over upon hearing the news, whispering among themselves without knowing what had happened.

"Commander, everyone within nine degrees of kinship to the Jia Lie family in Wutan City and its surroundings has been apprehended."

"Commander, everyone within nine degrees of kinship to the Ao Ba Family in Wutan City and its surroundings has been apprehended."

Before Mu Kun and Ao Benyu, personal guards in charge of the count made their reports.

The two nodded and cupped their fists toward one direction. "City Lord Lin, please assist in verifying the identities of these traitors."

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Zhengqing leaped down from the city wall. After landing, he had his officials verify the identities of those arrested.

This left even more people utterly confused. Only a handful of informed individuals, such as Master Gu Ni, Ya Fei, and Xiao Zhan, felt their hearts rise and fall.

During the verification, Lin Zhengqing ordered the restraints on the Jia Lie family's three elders and the Ao Ba Family's three higher-ups removed. He said coolly, "I have always considered my governance of Wutan City fair and upright. Why did you seek to frame me as unjust?"

The moment he said this, those who still did not know what had happened began discussing it in an uproar.

Once Jia Lie Qing could speak, he immediately said, "City Lord, the matter of contacting the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits to ambush the Black Armored Guards was done by this old man and the clan head, in collusion with Ao Ba Pa, clan head of the Ao Ba Family. It was all a personal grudge. Why implicate my entire family?"

Jia Lie Qing now only wanted to sacrifice himself and Jia Lie Bi to preserve the family.

The Second and Third Elders' eyes flickered. They instantly understood the Great Elder's intentions and immediately began cursing him viciously, separating themselves and the rest of the family from the matter.

Ao Ba Pa's expression turned cold. But if Jia Lie Qing could speak for his family's survival, then as clan head, so could he. He said, "City Lord, I saw that Zhang Yuan possessed exceptional talent and would threaten my family's position in the future. In a moment of madness, I cooperated with Jia Lie Bi to contact the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits. I alone was responsible for this matter. It has nothing to do with my family."

Ambush the Black Armored Guards? Zhang Yuan?

Putting the pieces together, the entire crowd erupted, but they also understood.

No wonder the Black Armored Guards had made such a massive move. The Jia Lie and Ao Ba families had actually colluded with the notorious Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits to deal with Zhang Yuan, that young relative of the Xiao Clan who served as a captain in the Black Armored Guards.

But even if Zhang Yuan had already been killed, the two families' crimes did not warrant the arrest of their entire nine clans, did they?

What no one noticed was the flash of admiration in Lin Zhengqing, Mu Kun, and Ao Benyu's eyes.

Zhang Yuan had really been right. There was no need to interrogate them or investigate anything. Arrest them, and someone would naturally step forward to confess.

And once you admitted to this crime, it became the crime of your entire family.

"So, you admit that you colluded with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits to assassinate Captain Zhang Yuan of the Black Armored Guards?" Lin Zhengqing asked, holding a Recording Stone.

"Yes!" Jia Lie Qing and Ao Ba Pa admitted.

Many members of the two families felt a glimmer of hope rise in their hearts, thinking they might survive.

The next moment, Lin Zhengqing's words plunged them into an abyss of eternal ice.

"Under Jia Ma Empire law, those who collude with bandits and thieves shall have the principal culprit executed. Punishment."

"Those who collude with enemy nations and betray their own nation's interests shall have three clans exterminated, while the rest within nine clans shall be exiled. Punishment."

"Those who collude with the Chuyun Empire commit an unforgivable crime. Nine clans shall be exterminated, as a warning to the entire nation."

Lin Zhengqing said coldly, "The Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits are all Dark Cloud Guards of the Chuyun Empire. Since you have admitted to colluding with them, your crime is unforgivable. Escort them to the capital for public execution."

Hiss—

The Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits were actually Dark Cloud Guards of the Chuyun Empire?

Jia Lie Qing and Ao Ba Pa went cold all over, their souls nearly leaving their bodies.

Their confession had not secured a way out for their families—it had sent them down a dead end!

Even if they had been unaware, collusion was still collusion, and supplying materials was an undeniable fact.

"It's over!"

Jia Lie Qing and Ao Ba Pa fainted on the spot.

Lin Zhengqing waved a hand, ordering their cultivation to be crippled and for them to be detained.

After the roster had been checked and confirmed, the Black Armored Guard escorted them away. They would first head to Fort City, the largest city in Northeast Province, where they would take military large flying mounts to the Imperial Capital.

"As for the details of how the Jia Lie and Ao Ba clans committed treason, this City Lord will have notices posted at all four city gates. Anyone with doubts may go and read them."

After leaving those words behind, Lin Zhengqing turned and departed.

The onlookers immediately scattered toward the four city gates. Naturally, most still gathered at the west gate, noisily crowding together to read.

It recorded in detail how Zhang Yuan had dealt with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, drawing countless exclamations of amazement.

"What a move—using himself as bait."

"Who would have thought that the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, whom even a Dou Wang leading men had failed to fully eradicate, would be wiped out by Zhang Yuan, a mere Great Dou Shi? This is the importance of strategy."

"Ultimately, those are only minor tricks. On the Dou Qi Continent, strength is what speaks."

"Strength speaks? A sixteen-year-old Five-Star Great Dou Shi understands that better than you do."

"The Jia Lie and Ao Ba clans actually dared to attack Zhang Yuan. They brought this upon themselves."

"With Zhang Yuan's talent, they had no choice but to act. They just never expected the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits to be the Chuyun Empire's Dark Cloud Guard, dragging down their entire clans."

"I always feel that something is off, but I can't put my finger on it."

"It is a fact that the two clans colluded with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, and it is a fact that the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits were the Chuyun Empire's Dark Cloud Guard. Nothing else matters. All I know is that from now on, Wutan City bears the Xiao surname."

"Hiss, the Xiao Clan will dominate alone!"

"."

Naturally, news of this matter also spread throughout the Xiao Clan.

Whether it was the younger members of the Xiao Clan who worshipped Zhang Yuan to the extreme, or the higher-ups who had placed great expectations on him, all of them were so excited that they could barely speak.

Seeing their reactions, Xiao Yan shook his head and said, "To Cousin, this was just routine. You're all making far too much of it."

Everyone:?

"."

Xun Er covered her mouth and chuckled. Calmly, she said, "I wonder who it was that, upon learning Brother Yuan had been ambushed, was the first to say he would wipe out the Jia Lie and Ao Ba clans."

"I wonder who it was that, upon learning Brother Yuan had destroyed the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, was the first to say, 'As expected of my cousin, he's amazing.'"

"I wonder who it was that, upon learning Brother Yuan had already become a Five-Star Great Dou Shi, kept saying, 'My cousin is invincible under heaven.'"

"Surely it wasn't Xun Er?"

Xiao Yan's expression froze.

Why was this woman taking shots at him again? Was she jealous because Cousin treated him so well?

That had to be it. She had not even become his cousin-in-law yet, and she was already this "jealous." What would happen later?

No, for my... cousin's good life, I had to find her a few rivals!

Ya Fei? Nalan Yanran? Xiao Yi Xian?

He wondered if they would do.

I've seen all your suggestions, everyone.

I didn't get the pacing right for the political intrigue sections, so I'll rein it in appropriately later on.

As a fanfiction, this book's main focus will still be leveling up, fighting monsters, and winning beauties.

Lastly, please send over some recommendation votes and monthly votes. Thank you, everyone!

(End of Chapter)