Death of Yang Mingyuan

At the exact same time, in Lin'an City, the Yang Residence.

In the Main Hall, Yang Zhenshan was discussing matters regarding the mine with Yang Yuanshan.

"It's been three days, and there's still no movement from the Wang Family?" Yang Yuanshan asked with a frown.

Yang Zhenshan picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.

"Zhou Qi is going to collect today. There shouldn't be any problems."

Just as his voice fell.

A voice exploded with a boom, shaking the window paper of the entire Yang Residence.

"Yang Zhenshan! Why haven't you knelt down immediately to receive the Marquis's secret decree!"

Yang Zhenshan's expression shifted, and he abruptly stood up.

Yang Yuanshan was also panic-stricken, standing up right along with him.

The two of them exchanged a glance and strode outward.

Outside the main gates of the Yang Residence, a crowd was already gathered.

A squad of guards in black clothing was arrayed in two rows, each one possessing a formidable aura with a long saber slung across his waist.

In the middle of the procession stood several large black banners embroidered with the golden character for "Marquis".

A black carriage was parked at the entrance, pulled by two spirit beasts that were completely snow-white. The mount was identical to the one at the Blackstone Mine.

An old man stepped down from the carriage.

He was around sixty years of age with a lean build, a sinister expression, and a pair of eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

He wore a deep-purple brocade robe embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns along the hem. A golden token hung at his waist, and a terrifying coercion emanated from his entire body.

The coercion was so intense that it caused the entire Yang Residence to tremble slightly.

As soon as Yang Zhenshan walked to the entrance, his pupils abruptly constricted.

Foundation Establishment Realm!

An absolute Foundation Establishment Realm expert!

Yang Zhenshan's heart sank. He stepped forward quickly, cupped his fists, and said, "Yang Zhenshan of the Yang Family, pays respects to the Emissary."

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over Yang Zhenshan as he spoke coldly.

"This old man is Jin Tie, dispatched specifically to interrogate you by order of the Marquis."

"Yang Zhenshan, do you know your crimes?"

Yang Zhenshan took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. He cupped his fists and said, "With the Emissary above, Yang has no idea what crimes he has committed."

Jin Tie let out a cold laugh.

"You don't know?"

He retrieved a roll of golden silk from inside his robe and slowly unfurled it.

"The Champion Marquis's secret decree: Yang Zhenshan, head of the Lin'an City Yang Family, has committed two major crimes. First, embezzling mineral resources and deceiving the Marquis Residence. For years, he has underreported production to line his own pockets. Second..."

He paused, his gaze turning sharp.

"Refining Blood-and-Flesh Pills and harming cultivators—this is unforgivable by heaven and earth!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the Yang Residence shifted drastically.

Yang Zhenshan's heart sank, but on the surface, he remained steady.

"May the Emissary be clear-sighted. The matter of embezzling mineral resources is purely slander. My Yang Family has been utterly loyal to the Marquis, and every year the ore we hand over never dares to fall short by a single grain. As for the Blood-and-Flesh Pill..."

He looked at Jin Tie, pronouncing each word distinctly.

"That is even more preposterous. I, Yang Zhenshan, have never refined any such Blood-and-Flesh Pill, nor do I know where the Emissary heard such a rumor."

Jin Tie looked at him and suddenly smiled.

That smile carried a hint of mockery.

"Never refined it?"

He turned sideways to look behind him.

Out of the crowd, a person walked out.

Wang Tiannan.

With a smile on his face, he offered a cupped-fist salute to Jin Tie and then looked at Yang Zhenshan.

"Brother Yang, trust has been well since we last met?"

Yang Zhenshan's face turned livid, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

Wang Tiannan said with a beaming smile, "Brother Yang, as for the matter of that Blood-and-Flesh Pill, I witnessed it with my own eyes. Hidden in the underground secret chamber of your backyard are over a dozen medicine humans, all used by you to refine Blood-and-Flesh Pills.

"What, are you not going to confess now?"

Standing to the side, Yang Yuanshan trembled with rage. He pointed at Wang Tiannan and cursed, "Wang Tiannan! You are spouting sheer blood!"

Wang Tiannan didn't even glance at him, looking solely at Jin Tie instead as he offered a cupped-fist salute.

"If the Emissary does not believe me, you may accompany me to the backyard of the Yang Residence to take a look. That underground secret chamber is located right beneath the rockery."

Jin Tie nodded and looked at Yang Zhenshan.

"Lead the way."

Yang Zhenshan stood in place, unmoving.

He stared fixedly at Wang Tiannan, his gaze as chillingly cold as if he wanted to devour a person alive.

After a long while, he drew a deep breath, turned sideways, and said, "Please, Emissary."

The group passed through the Front Courtyard and arrived at the backyard.

The rockery had already been moved aside, revealing the downward-sloping entrance.

A trace of triumph flashed in Wang Tiannan's eyes as he walked down first.

Jin Tie followed behind, while Yang Zhenshan's expression was livid and he uttered not a single word.

The cave was very deep; the further down they went, the more humid the air became.

However, the smell was no longer the one Wang Tiannan had smelled when he had snuck down here before.

Wang Tiannan furrowed his brow, quickening his pace.

Reaching the door of the cellar, he abruptly shoved open the iron door.

The interior was completely empty.

The dozen or so stone beds were still there, but the people on the stone beds were gone.

Those inserted tubes and connected pottery jars were all gone.

The entire cellar had been cleaned meticulously, as though no one had ever stayed there.

Wang Tiannan stood frozen in place, the smile on his face stiffening.

"This... this is impossible!"

Jin Tie walked into the cellar, standing with his hands behind his back as his gaze swept across the surroundings.

He squatted down and reached out to touch a stone bed.

It was very clean, without a trace of dust.

He stood back up and looked at Wang Tiannan.

"Where are the medicine humans you spoke of?"

Wang Tiannan's face turned pale, and cold sweat seeped from his forehead.

"Emissary, I... I saw it with my own eyes. Just a few days ago, there were still over a dozen medicine humans here..."

Jin Tie said nothing, merely looking at him.

That gaze was as cold as a knife.

Wang Tiannan opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but nothing came out.

Walking out of the cellar, Jin Tie looked at Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan's expression was calm, betraying no emotion whatsoever.

Jin Tie was silent for a fleeting moment before speaking.

"The matter of the medicine humans will not be pursued for now, but the embezzlement of mineral resources..."

He paused, his gaze growing sharp.

"The evidence is conclusive."

Yang Zhenshan frowned.

Jin Tie retrieved a ledger from inside his robe and tossed it to his feet.

"This is your Yang Family's ore delivery record for the past three years. Compared against the accounts of the Marquis Residence, thirty percent is underreported every year. Yang Zhenshan, what else do you have to say for yourself?"

Yang Zhenshan lowered his gaze to look at that ledger, his pupils contracting slightly.

This was clearly intended to ruin the Yang Family.

That ledger was real, and he had no idea where Jin Tie had acquired it.

However, this kind of situation was tacitly permitted by the Upper City—or rather, it was fundamentally an unwritten rule.

The Marquis Residence handed the Blackstone Mine over to the four families, stipulating that seventy percent be handed over every month while the remaining thirty percent served as compensation. On the surface, private mining was explicitly forbidden, but digging a little extra and reporting a little less each month had always been the profit margin upon which the four families relied for survival.

Otherwise, relying solely on that thirty percent of ore as compensation would never be worth the four families fighting over it.

He raised his head and looked at Wang Tiannan.

Wang Tiannan had already regained his composure, the corners of his mouth carrying a faint, elusive smile.

Jin Tie stood with his hands behind his back, speaking indifferently.

"Yang Zhenshan, embezzling mineral resources and deceiving the Marquis Residence is a capital offense by law. But the Marquis is benevolent; considering your many years of service to the Marquis Residence, your punishment will be commuted."

His gaze swept over the members of the Yang Residence.

"Starting today, the mining rights for the Blackstone Mine will be entirely handed over to the Wang Family, the Zhao Family, and the Li Family. As for the Yang Family..."

He paused, his tone turning icy.

"The matter of embezzling mineral resources will be dealt with after it is fully investigated. If verified, your entire clan will be executed."

Yang Zhenshan's expression shifted drastically, and he understood Jin Tie's intent.

This Emissary appeared to be speaking of the Marquis's benevolence and a commuted sentence, but in reality, he was merely giving him time to deliver bribes! If the bribes were insufficient, then you could simply wait to be exterminated down to the last member of your household!

Yang Yuanshan anxiously chimed in from the side, "Emissary, this ledger is fake! It's a frame-up by the Wang Family!"

Jin Tie didn't even look at him.

At that moment, the crowd surged.

Yang Mingyuan rushed out from the throng of people, his face filled with indignation as he pointed at Jin Tie and shouted:

"What right do you have?! Where is the proof? Just because of some tattered ledger? You say we embezzled, so we embezzled?"

Yang Zhenshan's expression shifted, and he said in a deep voice, "Mingyuan! Step back!"

But it was too late.

Jin Tie looked at Yang Mingyuan, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes.

"Do you even know who you're talking to?"

Yang Mingyuan felt choked by that gaze, but being a hot-blooded youth, he stiffened his neck and retorted:

"I don't care who you are! You don't distinguish right from wrong, and you slap down a conviction right off the bat—is there still any—"

Before he could finish his sentence.

The Emissary raised his hand and struck out with a single palm.

"Bang!"

Yang Mingyuan's head burst open like a watermelon, red and white matter splashing all over the ground.

His headless corpse swayed for a moment before crashing heavily to the earth.