The Heir? He's Exactly Who I'm Killing!

Brocade drapes and gauze curtains hung among beaded blinds and silver screens.

The once-luxurious private hall was in some disarray.

Curled up in a corner of a soft, gold-embroidered couch, a young girl clutched desperately at her last remaining undergarment. Tear tracks covered her captivating face, and glistening tears filled her almond-shaped eyes, where only helplessness and fear remained.

Before her, a drunken man wore a lecherous expression as he kept tearing at the clothes in his hands.

Two other men stood to either side, their arms spread wide to block every path by which she might escape.

"Hey!"

"Let her go!"

The deafening shout made all three men freeze.

Gu Yuan swept his gaze over the room, his expression gradually turning cold.

He knew that Meixiang had an heirloom treasure and had come specifically for it.

He was hardly a purely altruistic person, and he had no reason to be angry.

But the moment he got a clear look at Meixiang, his body jolted violently, and the fury in his heart burst forth beyond his control.

Meixiang looked

no more than thirteen or fourteen years old!

Those beasts!

How could they bring themselves to do it?!

"Where the fuck did you come from, you piece of shit? How dare you spoil His Highness's fun? Get lost!"

Gu Yuan took a deep breath.

"I told you to get lost. Didn't you hear me?"

"Fuck, he still isn't moving."

"Goddamn it, you're asking for death!"

The man on the left charged forward and punched at Gu Yuan's forehead!

Smack!

Gu Yuan raised a hand and slapped him across the face.

The man flew backward, plummeting from the third floor and slamming heavily into the ground. He foamed at the mouth and twitched a few times before going still.

"Ahhh!"

"Young... Young Master Liu...!"

"Ah! He... he's not breathing..."

The crowd was horrified.

He was the son of an official from the Capital Prefecture!

Had someone really thrown him down to his death just like that?

The entire Bureau of Music immediately descended into chaos.

Ciyue stared fixedly at Gu Yuan's back, her face full of astonishment. No one knew what she was thinking.

The pupils of the Heir of Prince Duan and the Minister of Revenue's son contracted sharply, their faces full of disbelief.

"Where did this piece of shit come from? How dare you!"

"Men, seize him!"

The next moment, several martial artists surrounded Gu Yuan.

"Get lost!"

With that cold shout, his true qi erupted.

The martial artists were all sent flying, their meridians shattered. They lay on the ground, unable to resist.

"Ah!"

Gu Yuan raised a hand and pulled the Minister of Revenue's son toward him with a suction force. He snapped the man's neck and tossed him straight out the window.

"Young... Young Master Zhang is dead too..."

Everyone stared at Gu Yuan in horror.

He had killed the sons of an official from the Capital Prefecture and the Minister of Revenue in broad daylight. Just what kind of background did he have?

Inside the room,

the Heir of Prince Duan, the only one left, felt his legs give way and slumped to the floor.

The area beneath him was already wet.

He had pissed himself in terror.

Gu Yuan sneered. "You're not so brave yourself."

"Who... who are you? I'm Prince Duan's only son. You can't kill me."

"Gu Yuan."

The Heir of Prince Duan didn't understand at first.

"It's him! Gu Yuan, the Heir of the Marquis of Pingxiang, personally appointed a sixth-rank imperial guard by the empress."

The crowd exclaimed in astonishment.

"He's just a marquis's heir with no real power, yet he dared to kill the sons of important court officials in public. His whole family could be convicted for this! What on earth is he doing?"

"Gu... Gu Yuan... your family only has a marquis, but my father was made a prince by the late emperor himself. You can't kill me. If you kill me, your whole family will die with me!

"As long as you spare me, I'll give you anything you want."

Cold sweat covered the Heir of Prince Duan's forehead.

There was no way someone who spent his days indulging in wine and women could resist that terrifying aura of true essence.

Gu Yuan smiled.

"My whole family dying with you? You're overthinking it."

"You could even bring yourself to lay hands on a child this young. Scum like you don't deserve to live."

Bang!

A blade of true qi slashed at the Heir of Prince Duan's lower body.

"Aaaargh!!"

His piercing screams echoed throughout the Bureau of Music.

Everyone went deathly pale.

That was the Heir of Prince Duan screaming... Gu Yuan had really attacked him.

Just how much nerve did he have!?

The Heir of Prince Duan's lower body was a bloody mess.

The excruciating pain sent his whole body into spasms, twisting his face.

He pointed at Gu Yuan, wanting to say something, but couldn't get the words out.

In the end, the pain was so intense that it killed him...

"That takes care of it."

Gu Yuan clapped his hands.

System, I've landed myself in serious trouble this time. You'd better keep my father, mother, and older sister safe, or your host will explode on the spot.

[Ding! Rest assured, host. This system will take care of everything.]

Having a cheat feels great.

Gu Yuan relaxed a little.

I killed a prince's heir and the sons of two important court officials. Surely that's enough for an immediate execution?

I can finally go level up in the newbie village...

On the couch, Meixiang opened her eyes tremblingly and saw a gentle smile.

That face was etched firmly into her mind, impossible to forget for the rest of her life.

"Little sister, it's all right now."

"Get dressed. I'll take you outside."

Meixiang could no longer hold back. Tears poured from her eyes.

"Thank you..."

"Thank you, young master..."

"I'll never forget your kindness..."

Gu Yuan thought for a moment, then said slowly, "Remember, no matter who comes to question you over the next few days, stick to your story that you were scared witless and don't know anything. They won't give you any trouble."

"Mm..." Meixiang felt warm inside.

She didn't even know Gu Yuan.

Yet Gu Yuan had done all this for her.

She could never repay such kindness, not even if she served him as a slave for the rest of her life...

Gu Yuan left.

With the three corpses in tow, he walked openly out of the Bureau of Music.

That day, everyone in the city learned that Gu Yuan had killed people for the sake of a woman of lowly status...

"Commander Shangguan, I've come to turn myself in."

Before the imperial palace gates,

Shangguan Weiming stared in astonishment at Gu Yuan and the three corpses, remaining silent for a long time.

"Was it worth it?"

Gu Yuan smiled.

"My conscience is clear."

Shangguan Weiming sighed heavily. "If you have anything to say, I can pass it on to Her Majesty."

"Nothing, except, sorry for the trouble, Commander, but please send word to the Gu residence. Tell them to stay home without worrying and not go running around."

"...All right."

"Men, take Gu Yuan to the imperial prison to await sentencing."

Zhao Sheng and Lin Yu stepped forward and took Gu Yuan back to the familiar cell...

Meanwhile, Shangguan Weiming rushed into the imperial palace without stopping for a moment.

[I killed people.]

[This feeling really is awful...]

[Originally, I only planned to beat those three up and cause some trouble so the empress would strip me of my post. I could have taken the opportunity to get Miss Meixiang's family heirloom too... Unfortunately, I couldn't hold myself back...]

[They deserved to die for laying hands on a girl that young. I regret it a little-I should have castrated all three of them before killing them...]

[I killed the sons of three important figures in the capital. No matter how talented I am, the empress can't protect me. I'll most likely be executed immediately, so I should find a chance to break out of prison.]

[Prince Duan and the others must have their sights set on me and the Marquis of Pingxiang's residence now, so Miss Meixiang is safe for the time being. But once I slip away, they'll surely turn their anger on her. Maybe I should take her with me. Having a cute little sister wouldn't be bad...]

[Senior Sister should have heard the news. I hope she'll come see me. With her around, I won't have to worry about Father, Mother, my older sister, or Miss Meixiang. Unless the empress acts personally, no one can take down a first-rank expert...]

[Now that things have come to this, I'll eat first.]

Qi Yueli quietly closed the diary.