Imperial Wanted Order and Jianghu Bounty

"Tut, tut, tut. Zhou Manor's second young master, Zhou Chen, actually had an affair with his own concubine-aunt, Madam Liu. What a scandal."

"In great wealthy clans, such things aren't unusual."

"What I'm curious about is this man's identity. He actually overturned the case of an ordinary physician with neither power nor influence, publicly tried Zhou Chen, and wasn't afraid of offending Zhou Manor."

"He didn't just offend Zhou Manor—he slapped the government in the face as well."

"Exactly. Once a case has been judged, especially when it carries the death penalty, overturning it is harder than scaling the heavens. Because overturning it means the County Magistrate judged the case wrongly. Even if he truly judged it wrongly, it was still right."

"In Black Stone County, the County Magistrate is heaven."

"..."

The commoners who had heard Zhou Chen's confession, along with several wealthy young masters in Spring Breeze Tower, immediately broke into discussion.

Some were guessing at Zhou Qing's identity.

Others merely watched the show with relish.

They did not know.

Zhou Qing had already successfully broken out of prison and escaped the dungeon. The man standing before them was Zhou Qing himself.

As he listened to the discussions around him, Zhou Chen's face turned deathly pale, and his body trembled slightly. He knew he had completely lost any chance of making a comeback.

Even if Zhou Qing did not kill him, once he returned to Zhou Manor, none of the manor's inheritance would have anything to do with him. His elder brother and several younger brothers would never let such a perfect opportunity to attack slip by; they would crush him completely.

One less rival meant one less person to divide the inheritance with.

"Everyone heard it. Zhou Chen not only had an affair with his own concubine-aunt, but poisoned her to death. Such conduct is worse than that of beasts. Afterwards, he framed Zhou Qing, the physician of Zhou's Medical Hall. He has now confessed his guilt!"

"Be on your way!"

Zhou Qing's tone was icy. With a sweep of the long blade in his hand across Zhou Chen's throat, he ended the man's life.

"You..."

Zhou Chen clutched his throat with one hand, his eyes fixed wide on Zhou Qing.

"Don't look at me like that. I never said I would spare you. Letting you die without pain is already letting you off easy."

Zhou Qing sheathed his long blade and spoke indifferently.

The guests in Spring Breeze Tower and the nearby commoners all fell silent at the sight, not daring to make another sound.

They had not expected Zhou Qing to truly dare kill Zhou Chen.

Though Zhou Manor was not among the foremost powers in Black Stone County, it was still one of the great wealthy clans. Since Zhou Qing had beheaded Zhou Chen in the street, Zhou Manor would certainly not let the matter rest.

Whether for the sake of its reputation or to avenge Zhou Chen.

Zhou Manor would not let Zhou Qing go.

"Quick, capture the prison-breaker Zhou Qing!"

"Fugitive Zhou Qing committed violence in the street! If he dares resist, kill him without mercy!"

At that moment, the constables and jailers from the county yamen received word and hurried over to capture Zhou Qing.

"Go!"

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Qing swiftly searched Zhou Chen's corpse, took the valuables from his body, and then quickly departed.

With the support of his lightness skill, he soon evaded the pursuit of the county yamen constables. However, the county soldiers guarding the city seemed to have received word and shut the gates.

"Prisoner Zhou Qing, surrender at once!"

The county soldiers at the city gate immediately surrounded Zhou Qing.

Whoosh!

Facing the soldiers closing in on him, Zhou Qing leaped into the air. Light as a swallow, he rose more than a zhang off the ground in one bound and vaulted over their heads.

Midair Force Borrowing!

Zhou Qing unleashed the ultimate move of Swallow Dips Water.

Internal force gathered beneath his feet. Circulating it in a peculiar manner, he lightly stepped on the empty air, and his body rose another zhang higher.

Zhou Qing had cultivated the lightness skill Swallow Dips Water to the perfected realm and could borrow force in midair three times.

Thus, the city wall posed no obstacle to Zhou Qing. In an instant, he cleared it and vanished from everyone's sight.

"What exquisite lightness skill."

"To borrow force in midair three times—few in Black Stone County can match such a technique."

"Return to the county yamen and report to the County Magistrate. Let him decide what to do."

"..."

The city guards were all stunned. They had not expected Zhou Qing to possess such superb lightness skill, allowing him to escape their encirclement so easily.

By then, Zhou Qing had already escaped the city.

Even if they left the city to pursue him, they could not possibly catch up.

"This Zhou Qing not only committed violence in the street, but even held a public trial. This is blatant contempt for the laws of the court. Such a trend must never be encouraged. Otherwise, if every jianghu man follows his example, would everything not fall into chaos? He must be captured and brought to justice as soon as possible!"

Inside the county yamen, after hearing the report from the constables under him, an elderly man dressed in official robes spoke in a deep voice.

He was Lin Yue, the County Magistrate of Black Stone County and the most powerful man in the entire county. Lin Yue himself was also a martial artist of the Acquired Realm.

The Great Xuan Dynasty had been founded through martial might.

Therefore, to serve as an official in the Great Xuan Dynasty—especially as the chief official of a region—one had to possess considerable martial cultivation. Otherwise, one could hardly command respect.

"My lord, Zhou Qing possesses an exceptionally profound lightness skill. With only the constables within the county yamen, I fear it will be difficult to capture him. We must report this to the prefectural yamen and request the Eagle Wolf Guard to act."

A constable dressed in a black official robe replied.

The Eagle Wolf Guard was the Great Xuan Dynasty's strongest martial institution, tasked specifically with handling difficult major cases. Its members were all martial artists of formidable strength.

The Eagle Wolf Guard was further divided into Eagle Guards and Wolf Guards.

The Eagle Guards protected the capital, patrolled the realm on the Emperor's behalf, and monitored the officials. The Wolf Guards, meanwhile, were stationed across the four directions to suppress lawlessness. They acted decisively and ruthlessly, the sharpest blade in the court's hand. Countless people had died at the hands of the Eagle Wolf Guard.

In the eyes of the jianghu, the Eagle Wolf Guard were also known as the court's hunting hounds.

At the mention of the Eagle Wolf Guard, a trace of apprehension flashed through Lin Yue's eyes. But he swiftly regained his composure and said solemnly, "Report to the prefectural yamen immediately and request the Eagle Wolf Guard to act. Then post Wanted Posters and issue a wanted order. Whoever captures Zhou Qing and brings him to justice will be rewarded one hundred taels of silver and may enter the county yamen's martial arts repository to select one internal art manual free of charge."

"Yes, my lord!"

The constable answered, then turned and withdrew.

Lin Yue rose to his feet, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth through the room. His expression shifted between light and dark.

Zhou Qing had publicly tried Zhou Chen, Zhou Manor's second young master. Before long, word of it would spread throughout the city and cause a great uproar. If Zhou Qing could not be captured swiftly, where would that leave his dignity as County Magistrate?

Therefore, no matter what, Zhou Qing had to be captured and brought to justice.

Elsewhere.

After Master Zhou of Zhou Manor learned of this matter, he too was utterly furious.

"Idiot. A pig-brained idiot. Staying alive would only waste grain." After venting his anger, Master Zhou summoned the steward and said, "Go to the county yamen. Have them issue a notice declaring that everything Zhou Chen said was entirely fabricated—nonsense he spouted under coercion from that fugitive Zhou Qing in order to save his own life. The concubine Madam Liu died suddenly after taking medicine prescribed by Zhou Qing. The matter has already been settled. Whoever dares spread rumors will be dealt with according to the law.

"Also, issue a bounty to the jianghu.

"Whoever can kill Zhou Qing will be rewarded three thousand taels of silver."

"Yes, Master!"

The steward of Zhou Manor answered and immediately withdrew for the county yamen.