"Hmph. To be favored by this Buddha was their honor. Afterward, I even sent their whole families on to salvation. They should be thanking me—why did a dog official like you have to meddle?"
The Blood Demon Blade answered with a dragon's roar. Wherever its edge passed, the blue bricks cracked into spiderwebs, and the lanterns on both walls burst apart.
Eight-Faced Buddha's hooked chains wrapped around the blade, only to crack inch by inch the instant they touched the Killing Intent of the Avici Path.
"This strike is for the thirty-seven infants outside Jinling City." Li Chen Zhou's blade technique abruptly changed, and the wailing grief of countless wronged souls condensed into a blood-red crescent moon.
Eight-Faced Buddha's protective aura shattered like thin paper. His left arm was severed at the shoulder, and the spurting blood painted Manjusaka across the wall.
He crashed heavily to the ground and passed out.
Li Chen Zhou had deliberately held back. Some people did not deserve such an easy death.
Like dragging a dead dog, Li Chen Zhou hauled him toward the Northern Investigation Bureau, leaving a long trail of blood across the ground.
Upon returning to the Northern Investigation Bureau, Li Chen Zhou tossed him straight into the Imperial Prison.
"Whether he talks or not doesn't matter. Just don't let him die easily. Only his daily screams can answer to those wronged souls."
At those words, the man in charge of the Imperial Prison immediately grew excited. "Don't worry. I'll attend to him personally."
With that, he dragged Eight-Faced Buddha away like a dead dog and entered the Imperial Prison. The still-wet blood on the bronze door knocker splashed down the instant the prison gates shut.
"Ding... Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission: apprehend the murderer Eight-Faced Buddha. Reward obtained: 10 years of internal cultivation."
Just as Li Chen Zhou was considering whether to head to the Chen Residence, Prince Rong's shouts came from outside the Northern Investigation Bureau's gates.
"I am a prince of the imperial family! Who dares stop me?"
"I want to see Wei Wuji!"
"Wei Wuji, release my son at once! Otherwise, I'll report this to His Majesty and make you pay!" As Prince Rong made a great commotion outside, Wei Wuji sat in a chair inside the commander's quarters, his fingers continuously tapping the table.
"This kid's got nerve. He moved so fast—he'd barely taken office before taking a knife to Prince Rong?"
The Brocade Guard Commander's Assistant beside him looked equally helpless. "What should we do now? We can't just let him keep raising hell outside, can we?"
The commander took a sip of tea, a faint smile curling at his lips. "Let him make trouble. Give the order: everyone above the rank of Centurion is to disappear. Someone will deal with him. If things get too excessive, I'll go lodge a complaint against him before His Majesty." He wore the look of an old fox who had everything figured out.
The Commander's Assistant suddenly understood. He clapped his hands with a grin. "That's the way."
He turned and went to relay the order.
Prince Rong's python robe and jade belt glimmered dark blue in the morning light, while the Chilong jade pendant at his waist swayed with his fury.
Just as he was about to continue forcing his way forward, Li Chen Zhou blocked his path.
"Greetings, Prince Rong."
Prince Rong looked at Li Chen Zhou with arrogant disdain. "So it's that Li Family brat. Perfect—I have business with Wei Wuji. Lead the way."
Li Chen Zhou remained courteous. "What business does Prince Rong have? You may as well tell me."
Prince Rong waved a hand. "This is none of your concern. Some brainless fool arrested my Heir and threw him into the Brocade Guard. I'm going to demand an explanation from Wei Wuji."
Li Chen Zhou quickly played along. "I happen to know about this matter."
Prince Rong was half doubtful, half suspicious. "Oh? You know? Tell me."
Li Chen Zhou straightened his chest. "I arrested him."
"What? I was wondering who dared show such disregard for my Prince Rong Residence—so it was you, brat! Release him at once!" Prince Rong pointed at Li Chen Zhou, beside himself with rage.
"I can't release him." Li Chen Zhou was utterly fearless.
Prince Rong's confusion was laced with fury. "Why not?"
Li Chen Zhou said, "He committed a crime."
Prince Rong snorted. "What crime could he have committed? Even if he did, it would be the Imperial Clan Court's concern. You're just a lowly Brocade Guard—you have no right to interfere."
"That won't do," Li Chen Zhou said. "He beat up one of our Brocade Guards. Even if the Imperial Clan Court handles the matter, he should at least pay the medical expenses."
Prince Rong was unconcerned. "Name your price. I'm not short of your petty few coins."
"Of course, Your Highness is generous," Li Chen Zhou said. "Then thirty thousand taels in silver notes for the medical expenses."
"What? Thirty thousand taels? Are you robbing me?" Prince Rong said in shock.
"Your Highness, the Heir struck a Brocade Guard—His Majesty's personal troops. He also obstructed official duty. The crime warrants beheading and public display. Trading that for thirty thousand taels—even if we brought this before His Majesty, I'd still have justice on my side." Li Chen Zhou refused to yield an inch while holding the moral high ground.
"Thirty thousand taels is still impossible! This old man will go see His Majesty right now!" Prince Rong turned to leave.
Li Chen Zhou picked at his fingers. "Safe travels, Your Highness. I just wonder whether the Heir is used to staying in the Imperial Prison, and how long he can hold out."
Prince Rong froze mid-step, then turned back and roared, "You insolent brat, you've gone too far!"
Li Chen Zhou did not answer. He merely cupped his hands. "Farewell, Your Highness." With that, he turned to leave.
"Wait!" Prince Rong called out to stop him.
Li Chen Zhou turned around. "What else does Your Highness require?"
Prince Rong suppressed the rage in his heart. "Thirty thousand taels it is. Release the Heir first, and when I return, I'll send someone to deliver it."
Li Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is Your Highness joking? You want to take him away with nothing but empty words?"
Prince Rong forcibly held back his anger. "What do you want? Do you think I would default on the debt?"
"Verbal promises are no proof. It would be better to write an IOU, Bookworm."
Bookworm beside him promptly pulled out a prepared IOU and offered a brush. "Your Highness, just sign here."
Prince Rong angrily swept the brush across the paper. "Is that enough? Release him."
Bookworm took out an ink pad. "Your Highness, please leave a thumbprint as well."
This old fox, who had controlled the Imperial Clan Court for twenty years, now had even the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes twitching. "You..."
Left with no choice, he pressed his thumb down. "Release him."
Li Chen Zhou immediately shouted, "Many thanks for Prince Rong's reward! Bring the Heir out!"
Before long, Zhao Yun Chuan was carried out, the five finger marks on his face still starkly visible.
"Then we won't see Your Highness out." Li Chen Zhou turned to head back inside.
Prince Rong looked at his son, humiliation boiling in his heart. Seeing Li Chen Zhou about to leave, he hurriedly called out, "Wait! There's still another one!"
Li Chen Zhou looked back. "What does Your Highness mean? Another one? Don't tell me you have an illegitimate son?"
Prince Rong snarled, "Li Chen Zhou, stop playing dumb. Hand over Chen Chen too."
"Chen Chen is implicated in a murder case," Li Chen Zhou said. "And he isn't a member of the imperial family, so he is not under the Imperial Clan Court's jurisdiction."
Prince Rong could endure no more. "Li Chen Zhou, do you truly intend to make an enemy of my Prince Rong Residence?"
Li Chen Zhou's expression turned solemn, his voice low. "Your Highness, mind your words. I, Li, act according to the law. How does that make me your enemy? If there is nothing else, I will not see you out."
Prince Rong said nothing further. He had Zhao Yun Chuan taken away and turned to leave.
Li Chen Zhou added the final stab. "Bookworm, each of you three keep a thousand taels. Split the rest among the brothers in the office. Tell them it was Prince Rong's reward."
Prince Rong nearly coughed up blood from anger. The moment he left, he turned toward the imperial palace.
At that moment, the man in charge of the Imperial Prison came out holding a written confession, his hands still stained with wet blood. "These are the confessions of the procuress and that young master."
Li Chen Zhou took it and read it. "Oh? The owner behind the Hundred Flowers Brothel is the Prince Rong Residence."
Before you continue