The good were blameless, the wicked deserved death

Zhiyuan made a joke, then went on to explain Zhang Zhian's situation to Zhou Wuji in detail.

Zhang Zhian was a collateral branch of the Zhang Household in Chunan. He had achieved success in cultivation and, through the efforts of the Zhang Household, managed to become an inspector of the Heavenly Master's Manor.

In fact, for the Zhang Household of Chunan, Zhang Zhian's status was still too low; he was far from being a true core member of the Zhang Household.

In terms of status and importance, they are even inferior to the Great River Gang. Zhiyuan remind Zhou Wuji that it is unnecessary to equate Zhang Zhian with the Zhang Household.

Zhou Wuji honestly replied that it was Zhang Dingyang who was behind this trouble. He had no grudge against the Zhang Household, and it was impossible for them to specifically target a nobody like him.

In less than an hour, True Person Zhihua returned.

With a flick of her long sleeves, she released Wuyun from the Five Spirit Pouch.

Wuyun, whose cultivation level was only Seventh Rank, was dizzy and disoriented in the dimly lit Five Spirit Pouch. When he was suddenly thrown into the main hall, although he could barely stand up, his mind was in complete chaos.

It was Zhou Wuji who noticed Wuyun's predicament and went to help Wuyun to a seat to rest.

Zhou Wuji said softly, "I'd like to trouble Fellow Wuyun to make this trip."

After sitting for a while, Wuyun's mind cleared up. He smiled wryly and said, "It's all what I should do. Fellow Daoist, you're being too polite."

As he spoke, he took out the account book and placed it in Zhou Wuji's hand. "Every penny spent has been signed and acknowledged, and the accounts are very clear."

Zhou Wuji picked up the ledger and flipped through it. It contained detailed records of how much compensation each family received and which family member signed for it.

Many villagers are illiterate, so they just use inkpads to press their fingerprints onto the paper.

Even those who can read write their names crookedly, clearly indicating they don't know how to write very well.

"Thank you for your hard work." Zhou Wuji was very satisfied with the account book; Wuyun was indeed meticulous.

Actually, it wouldn't matter Wuyun didn't keep the account book. After he returned, he told Yigeng about it, and the clerk recorded it all. There was a special file to keep all the records.

Moreover, he made other preparations.

Even in the worst-case scenario, it would be enough to prove one's innocence.

Therefore, Zhou Wuji asked Yang Tie Ying to invite Yigeng over as well, and he also brought the case files from Lin Household Gully.

Seeing so many people in the main hall, including two True Person Immortals, Yigeng, despite his rough nature, became very well-behaved.

Lu Zhijing was known for his strictness, True Person Zhihua, though seemingly carefree and uninhibited, was even more enigmatic.

The less you understand, the more you fear.

True Person Zhihua, however, was in a good mood. She called Zhou Wuji over and asked, "How did you manage to offend the Zhang Household?"

She understood perfectly well that 20,000 taels of silver was not a small amount, but it was nothing to the Great River Gang.

The fact that they came to Zhou Wuji money could only mean that the Zhou Wuji Great River Gang deliberately trying to bring him down.

That's why Zhang Zhian jumped so hard.

Zhou Wuji was also speechless. "A guy named Zhang Dingyang invited me to dinner, I didn't go, and this whole mess happened."

"Oh?"

True Person Zhihua raised her beautiful, sword-like eyebrows and said with a sneer, "The Great River Gang has become so arrogant?! Even a vice-leader dares to use tricks against our Northern Pole Sect."

Everyone in the hall was quite indignant upon hearing this, even an old man like Zhixing shook his head.

True Person Zhihua looked at Lu Zhijing, "Zhijing doesn't establish his authority now, any scoundrel will dare to run wild in the Upper Court!"

Lu Zhijing didn't want to get involved in this matter. In his mind, it would be best Zhian could deal with Zhou Wuji, so that he wouldn't have to play the villain.

With so many people watching in the main hall, if he didn't make a move, it would damage his dignity as the Lord of the Heavenly Pivot Hall.

He nodded and said, "If Zhou Wuji is innocent, the Great River Gang must give me an explanation!"

True Person Zhihua sneered, "Lu Zhijing is only good at bullying the younger generation. He's a useless, incompetent person who occupies a high position without doing any work!"

She didn't want to waste words with Lu Zhijing, so she turned to Zhou Wuji and said, "Don't worry, the sect will definitely give you justice!"

Zhiyuan Zhixing both expressed their opinions, saying, "The Great River Gang has gone too far; we absolutely cannot tolerate this!"

"It's pathetic and lamentable that even a gang of outlaws dares to bully us..."

"I have acted inappropriately and caused trouble for the sect. I am ashamed. I am Wuji grateful for the support of all my teachers and fellow disciples." Zhou Wuji bowed and clasped his hands in sincere thanks.

Everyone in the hall offered words of comfort or vehemently criticized the Great River Gang and Zhang Zhian.

Bullying Zhou Wuji is one thing, but to come to his door and bully Zhou Wuji is to slap the face of the Northern Pole Sect.

Regardless of their opinions on Zhou Wuji, the sect's reputation was a matter of common interest to everyone, and they were all in cahoots with each other. Naturally, they were united in their hatred of the enemy.

The Zhiyuan Daoist priest helped to curse a few times, but in his heart he was thinking that Zhou Wuji was still cunning. What was originally a personal matter was dragged into the honor and disgrace of the sect, and in an instant Zhang Zhian became everyone's enemy.

It was Zhang Zhian's stupidity and rudeness that caused him to act without thinking. He even came to arrest people, and after being mocked by Zhou Wuji, he lost his temper even more...

Zhang Zhian returned soon after, bringing Zhang Cheng and some of his followers. Zhang Dingyang also came along.

Zhang Dingyang was of medium height, wearing a gauze hat, with regular features, a long beard, and a blue robe with cloud patterns. He looked very respectable and dignified.

This man was much better at interpersonal relationships than Zhang Zhian. He immediately bowed deeply to the two True Person and greeted the many Daoists with clasped hands, displaying a very humble and polite demeanor.

"I'm truly sorry for being so presumptuous; it's really my subordinates who are incompetent. But now that things have come to this, I must get to the bottom of this."

Zhang Dingyang cupped his hands again. "Fortunately, there are two True Person here, Zhian Zhi'an is also impartial and incorruptible; they will surely be able to investigate this matter thoroughly."

Lu Zhijing nodded slightly, True Person Zhihua sneered, "Your Great River Gang is quite something, coming to our door to falsely accuse a cultivator from our sect."

Zhang Dingyang gave a helpless, wry smile, "You're exaggerating, True Person."

"Let me ask you, what if it's a false accusation?" True Person Zhihua pressed directly.

As the deputy leader of the Great River Gang, Zhang Dingyang wielded considerable influence and power in Jingyang City.

He had heard of True Person Zhihua, but had never actually dealt with him, and never expected him to be so powerful.

Faced with True Person Zhihua's chilling gaze, Zhang Dingyang also became somewhat angry. He said in a deep voice, "If we are truly in the wrong, I will not tolerate it."

Zhang Zhian declared loudly and proudly, "If this is a false accusation, I will give the True Person an explanation!"

Zhang Cheng, the leader of the Great River Gang who had come along, remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was even more panicked.

Zhou Wuji only asked for 10,000 taels of silver that day, which was a normal transaction and could not be considered extortion. In order to take advantage of him, he said that Zhou Wuji for 20,000 taels of silver.

Forced by Zhang Dingyang to sue Zhou Wuji, Zhang Cheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and come.

I never expected things to escalate so much; now it's too late for regrets.

Zhang Zhian pointed at Zhang Cheng: "Chief Zhang, tell us what happened that night."

"This Daoist priest, Zhou Wuji, came to my house that night and forced me to pay 20,000 taels of silver to buy two witnesses, saying that if I didn't, he would help the Blood Blade Gang sue us..."

Zhang Cheng was, after all, Fifth Rank martial artist. He quickly calmed down. Now that things had come to this, there was no other way but to go all the way down this path.

That night he saw it clearly: Zhou Wuji did not use the Water Mirror Technique while holding the jade.

As a result, both sides have their own version of events.

He insisted that Zhou Wuji had extorted 20,000 taels of silver, since Zhou Wuji couldn't produce any evidence.

Zhang Zhian looked at Zhou Wuji: "What do you say?"

Zhou Wuji ignored Zhang Zhian. He looked at Zhang Cheng with some amusement. This guy had been eating and drinking well in Jade River County. He was round and plump like a landlord and looked quite wealthy.

"Chief Zhang, what you did was extremely unethical."

Zhou Wuji said slowly, "First of all, I didn't extort you. Secondly, this is a voluntary transaction between us; I'll sell you the two of them for ten thousand taels."

"It's extortion, it's twenty thousand taels!" Zhang Cheng had already thought it through, and now he was unusually resolute.

"The Heavenly Pivot Star Lord is watching you right here, and you still dare to spout nonsense."

Zhou Wuji said calmly, "How about this, let Heavenly Pivot Star Lord be the witness, and whoever lies shall commit suicide on the spot, how about that?"

Seeing that things were going badly, Zhang Dingyang was about to speak to change the situation when the Sword Intent of the True Person Zhihua opposite him moved and suppressed Zhang Dingyang.

Zhang Dingyang, with his Fifth Rank cultivation, could not withstand such a powerful Sword Intent. His face turned pale, but he could not utter a single word.

Inspector Zhang Zhian, however, remained firm, declaring loudly, "The Star Lord bears witness: the virtuous are without blame, and the wicked shall die; this is how it should be."

Zhang Cheng was caught in the middle, unable to disagree even if he wanted to. But he didn't think he would lose; at most, both sides would stick to their own versions of events, muddying the waters, and neither would gain any advantage.

The matter concerned life and death, which put pressure on everyone in the hall, and the atmosphere became increasingly serious.

Zhang Zhian questioned Zhou Wuji: "You say Zhang Cheng is talking nonsense, but what evidence do you have?"

Zhou Wuji summoned Yigeng and handed the filed case files to Zhang Zhian.

Zhang Zhian was also surprised when he read the case file. This kid took 10,000 taels of silver and actually made a record of it!

No normal person would do that.

When the case file was handed to Zhang Dingyang, he immediately understood that Zhang Cheng had embezzled 10,000 taels of silver.

Embezzling money is normal, but now it's a big problem.

Because Zhang Cheng lied, his words are difficult for others to believe.

At this point, they had already lost half the battle.

The case file was circulated among the people in the main hall. Lu Zhijing, Lu Wuyuan, Zhixing, and others were all unfamiliar with Zhou Wuji and were greatly surprised by it!

Zhang Zhian refused to give up, saying, "It's all your side of the story! What's the use of recording it in the case file? Who knows what you did with the money?"

Zhou Wuji couldn't help but laugh; Zhang Zhian was truly a great straight man.

He then summoned Wuyun and brought out Wuyun's account book.

Everyone was even more surprised when they saw the account book. Zhou Wuji had actually given all 10,000 taels of silver to Wuyun so that he could compensate the dead and injured people.

Every expense item bears a signature and fingerprint, making it impossible to forge. Even if forged, it would be easy to verify.

have to

strange

Small

explain

net

d

e

q

i

x

s

o

r

g

Even Lu Zhijing, who disliked Zhou Wuji Zhou Wuji, looked at him with a strange gaze. This kid was practically a saint!

If Zhang Zhian hadn't been so aggressive, he might have even suspected that Zhang Zhian was hired by Zhou Wuji to put on an act!

Zhang Cheng suddenly shouted, "Zhou Wuji, you took 20,000 taels, pocketed 10,000 taels, and used the other 10,000 taels to pretend to be a saint!"

Zhang Zhian suddenly realized, and pointed at Zhou Wuji: "So that's how it is!"

Zhou Wuji didn't argue; he took out a white jade tablet and activated his Law Power.

The jade tablet shone with a spiritual light, projecting a giant water mirror in the center of the hall.

Zhang Cheng in the water mirror, is speaking, "I am willing to offer ten thousand taels of silver."

Generally speaking, the Water Mirror Technique can only capture light and shadow, not sound.

In the pavilion on the back mountain, Zhou Wuji raised the Water Mirror Technique to its perfect level.

He didn't use the Water Mirror Technique at the time, but by cultivating Water Mirror Technique to this level, he could extract memories at any time and imprint them onto the jade with his Divine Sense.

This will not only show the footage from that time, but also the audio.

The light and shadow flickered, and silver notes appeared on the water mirror. Zhou Wuji counted them, and everyone could see that it was ten thousand taels.

Everyone looked at Zhang Cheng. Seeing the irrefutable evidence, Zhang Cheng had no way to deny it anymore, and his face turned ashen.

Zhang Dingyang and Zhang Zhian were speechless. Zhou Wuji had actually used the Water Mirror Technique to preserve the transaction process, and Zhang Cheng was still unaware of it. Zhang Cheng was truly useless.

Zhou Wuji looked at Zhang Cheng: "You spoke clearly just now. Heavenly Pivot Star Lord is the witness; liars will die."

"I... I didn't say that!" Zhang Cheng shouted hurriedly.

Zhang Dingyang also shouted loudly, "Zhang Cheng is the leader of my Great River Gang, how can you treat him like this?"

True Person Zhihua ignored Zhang Dingyang and with a flick of her long sleeves, she unleashed the Tianji Profound Yin Sword Qi.

A sliver of starlight fell silently upon Zhang Cheng.

Sensing something was wrong, Zhang Cheng immediately circulated his middle and lower Dantian, unleashing his True Qi and Blood simultaneously. However, he still couldn't withstand the extremely yin and cold Sword Qi Tianji Profound Yin Sword, and his whole body stiffened involuntarily.

Just opposite Zhang Cheng, Zhou Wuji drew his sword. With a flash of brilliant light, Zhang Cheng's head flew off.

Zhou Wuji said, "As the Star Lord bears witness, the virtuous are without blame, and the wicked shall die."

Zhang Zhian and Zhang Dingyang were both shocked and furious, and most of the other people in the hall also looked surprised.

Lu Wuyuan was also shocked. He had only one thought in his mind: Zhou Wuji is really daring, really ruthless...