If they had faced an ordinary Dou Ling, the three early-stage Da Dou Shi might not have won, but they could at least have tried fleeing separately.
But Jia Lie Qing and the other two were facing Mu Kun, a Peak Dou Ling only one step away from Dou Wang. As a direct descendant of the Mu family and a high-ranking Black Armored Guard officer, his combat strength was exceptional.
Before him, Jia Lie Qing and the other two were no different from chicks. They were subdued without even withstanding a single move.
"Pfft!"
Jia Lie Qing and the other two spat blood and dropped to their knees.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
A large contingent of Black Armored Guards filed in, and several men broke off to restrain Jia Lie Qing and the others.
At that moment, their faces turned ashen, their bodies went limp as dead dogs, and a terrifying suspicion surfaced in their hearts.
Jia Lie Bi had joined forces with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, yet they had failed to capture Zhang Yuan and had even exposed their identities.
Zhang Yuan must have successfully escaped back to Qingyun Town and asked the Black Armored Guard to seek justice for him. Given the talent Zhang Yuan had displayed, the Black Armored Guard's higher-ups would certainly protect one of their own, which was why the commander had personally led troops here.
Since Jia Lie Bi had not returned, he had most likely foreseen this outcome and abandoned the family to flee alone.
Now, they high-ranking members of the Jia Lie Clan were probably going to be purged by the Black Armored Guard in Jia Lie Bi's place.
"Hehe..." Jia Lie Qing let out a laugh like an evil ghost.
On the Dou Qi Continent, the strong ruled. Winners became kings, losers were defeated. 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 and assumed the bearing of one calmly prepared to die.
But that resolve did not last long. By the time the Black Armored Guard escorted him to the entrance, his composure shattered.
That was because he saw every member of the Jia Lie Clan—young and old, direct and collateral descendants, even those stationed at the clan's nearby businesses—had all been captured and brought before the Jia Lie family residence in shackles and chains.
The Black Armored Guard was actually going to purge their entire clan!?
Jia Lie Qing's eyes nearly split with rage. He wanted to say something, only to discover that he could not open his mouth.
He could only allow the Black Armored Guard to escort him to the square by Wutan City's western gate, where he watched one Jia Lie family member after another being brought in. Some were simply corpses.
He was not alone. The Jia Lie family's Second Elder and Third Elder, along with several other high-ranking members, were in the same state.
The only thing that offered them any "comfort" was that the Jia Lie family was not alone. Every member of the Ao Ba Family had also been escorted over, in exactly the same situation as them.
Several hours later, nearly a thousand people knelt in the square. They were all direct descendants, core members, and collateral members of the Jia Lie Clan and Ao Ba Clan.
Naturally, such a commotion drew the attention of countless people. Anyone in Wutan City with strength, status, or courage hurried over after hearing the news, whispering among themselves without knowing what had happened.
"Commander, everyone within the Jia Lie family's nine clans in Wutan City and its surrounding areas has been captured."
"Commander, everyone within the Ao Ba family's nine clans in Wutan City and its surrounding areas has been captured."
Before Mu Kun and Ao Benyu, personal guards responsible for the count made their reports.
The two nodded, then cupped their fists toward a certain direction. "City Lord Lin, please cooperate in verifying the identities of these traitors."
Under everyone's gaze, Lin Zhengqing leaped down from the city wall. After landing, he ordered his officials to verify the identities of those who had been captured.
This only left more people confused. Only a few insiders, such as Master Gu Ni, Ya Fei, and Xiao Zhan, felt their hearts rise and fall.
During the verification, Lin Zhengqing had his men remove the restraints from the Jia Lie family's three elders and the Ao Ba family's three high-ranking members. He said coolly, "I believe I have governed Wutan City fairly and honestly. Why did you want to frame me for injustice?"
The moment those words were spoken, the many people who still had no idea what was happening began discussing it heatedly.
Seeing that he could speak, Jia Lie Qing immediately said, "City Lord, it was this old man, the clan head, and Ao Ba Pa, head of the Ao Ba Family, who colluded to contact the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits and ambush the Black Armored Guard. It was all a private grudge. Why must my entire clan be implicated?"
Jia Lie Qing now only wanted to sacrifice himself and Jia Lie Bi in order to preserve the clan.
The Second Elder and Third Elder's eyes flickered. They instantly understood the Great Elder's intentions and immediately began cursing him, clearing themselves and the clan members of blame.
Ao Ba Pa's expression darkened, but since Jia Lie Qing could speak for his clan's survival, he, as clan head, naturally could as well. He said, "City Lord, I saw that Zhang Yuan possessed outstanding talent and would threaten my clan's position in the future. In a moment of madness, I worked with Jia Lie Bi to contact the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits. This was entirely my doing and had nothing to do with the family."
Ambushing the Black Armored Guard? Zhang Yuan?
Putting the pieces together, the entire crowd erupted, but they also understood.
No wonder the Black Armored Guard had made such a massive move. The Jia Lie Clan and Ao Ba Clan had actually colluded with the infamous Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits to deal with Zhang Yuan, the Xiao Clan's young relative who served as a Black Armored Guard squad captain.
But even if Zhang Yuan had been killed, surely the two clans' crimes did not warrant the arrest of their nine clans?
What no one noticed was the flash of admiration in Lin Zhengqing, Mu Kun, and Ao Benyu's eyes.
Zhang Yuan had been right. There was no need to interrogate them or investigate anything. Once they were captured, someone would naturally step forward to convict themselves.
And once they admitted to that crime, it became the crime of their entire clan.
"So, you admit that you colluded with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits to assassinate Black Armored Guard Squad Captain Zhang Yuan?" Lin Zhengqing asked, holding a Recording Stone.
"Yes!" Jia Lie Qing and Ao Ba Pa admitted.
Hope rose in the hearts of many members of the two clans. They thought they might survive.
But Lin Zhengqing's next 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 offenders executed, and..."
"Those who collude with enemy states and betray the interests of the empire shall have three clans exterminated, while the remaining nine clans shall be exiled, and..."
"Those who collude with the Chuyun Empire shall receive no forgiveness. Their nine clans shall be exterminated, as an example to the entire nation."
Lin Zhengqing said coldly, "The Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits are all Dark Cloud Guards of the Chuyun Empire. Since you admit to colluding with them, your crimes are unforgivable. Escort them to the Imperial 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 ice-cold, their souls nearly leaving their bodies.
Their confession had not opened a path of survival for their clans. It had delivered them onto a dead end!
Even if they had not known, collusion was still collusion, and providing supplies was an undeniable fact.
"It's over!"
Jia Lie Qing and Ao Ba Pa fainted on the spot.
Lin Zhengqing waved a hand and had their cultivation crippled before they were detained.
Once the personnel list had been checked and confirmed, the Black Armored Guard took these people away. They would first head to Fort City, the largest city in Northeast Province, then take large military flying mounts to the Imperial Capital.
"This city lord will have notices posted at all four gates explaining how the Jia Lie and Ao Ba clans committed treason. Anyone with questions may go and read them."
After leaving those words behind, Lin Zhengqing turned and departed.
The onlookers immediately scattered toward the four city gates. Of course, most still gathered at the western gate, noisily reading the notice.
It recorded in detail how Zhang Yuan had dealt with the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits, drawing endless 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 could not completely eliminate, would be wiped out by Zhang Yuan, a mere Da Dou Shi? This is the importance of strategy."
"Such tricks are ultimately minor paths. On the Dou Qi Continent, strength still speaks for itself."
"Strength speaks for itself? A sixteen-year-old Five-Star Da Dou Shi understands that better than you do."
"The Jia Lie and Ao Ba clans actually dared to attack Zhang Yuan. They brought death 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 Dark Cloud Guards of the Chuyun Empire, dooming 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. It is also a fact that the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits are Dark Cloud Guards of the Chuyun Empire. Nothing else matters. All I know is that Wutan City belongs to the Xiao Clan from now on."
"Hiss, the Xiao Clan will dominate alone!"
Naturally, news of this also spread throughout the Xiao Clan.
Whether they were the younger members who worshipped Zhang Yuan or the higher-ups who held great hopes for him, all of them were too excited for words.
Seeing their reactions, Xiao Yan shook his head. "For Cousin, this was just routine. You really are making a fuss over nothing."
Everyone:?
Xun Er covered her mouth and chuckled. She said casually, "I wonder who was the first to say he would wipe out the Jia Lie and Ao Ba clans after learning that Brother Zhang Yuan had been ambushed."
"I wonder who was the first to say, 'As expected of my cousin, he's amazing,' after learning that Brother Zhang Yuan had destroyed the Illusionary Mist Nine Bandits."
"I wonder who was saying, 'My cousin is invincible under heaven,' after learning that Brother Zhang Yuan was already a Five-Star Da Dou Shi."
"Surely it wasn't Xun Er?"
Xiao Yan's expression stiffened.
Why was this woman mocking him again? Was she jealous because Cousin treated him well?
That had to be it. She had not even become his sister-in-law yet, and she was already so "jealous." What would happen in the future?
No, for cousin's happy life, he had to find her a few rivals!
Ya Fei? Nalan Yanran? Xiao Yi Xian?
He wondered whether they would be up to it.
The little author has seen all your suggestions.
The pacing of the political intrigue was not handled well, so it will be toned down appropriately later.
As a fanfic, this story's main tone will still be leveling up, fighting monsters, and winning beauties.
Finally, please send some recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Thank you, everyone!
(End of Chapter)
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