No Construction Without Destruction

Among the crowd, Xue Min bowed in respect the moment the five-colored smoke appeared out of thin air.

As the smoke dissipated, he straightened up first, glanced in the direction where the five-colored smoke had disappeared, and thought to himself: When he first began learning the Dao, his master warned him that it was better to be targeted by the Thunder Bureau than to offend the Jade Pure One Sect.

This group is notorious for being fiercely protective of their own; they will protect their own people even when they are in the wrong. They are also masters of underhanded tactics and bullying the weak, and they love to torture people to death.

If it weren't for the fact that the Taizu hadn't caught them off guard and severely weakened them when he attained enlightenment, they would probably have acted even more recklessly.

He pulled himself out of his thoughts, turned to the courtyard full of minor officials, and said calmly:

"Go back, all of you. Let's leave it at that for tonight."

The minor officials, as if waking from a dream, bowed deeply to Chaoxue Min, then bowed again in the direction where the smoke had disappeared, before staggering away.

Xuanping, Heyin, and Mujian also bowed to Chaoxue and Zheng Qingci without saying a word, and then turned into a streak of light and left.

However, as soon as the Method Formula was completed, the three of them froze, unable to move.

A storm raged within the hearts of all three.

They are Purple Mansion True Person, though only at the early stage. Even if a Purple Mansion True Person with three Divine Ability came at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage, as long as they didn't set up a killing formation beforehand, use Law Treasure, or encounter excessively murderous methods like Sword Intent, they could at least sacrifice their physical bodies and send out a bit of Rising Yang energy, and still have a chance to make a comeback.

But at this moment, they couldn't even muster a single ounce of Law Power.

Only then did the three belatedly realize that today's trip was probably more than just a formality, as the inspector had said, and that their fate might not be much better than Zheng Qingci's.

Xue Min took in the three people's surprised and uncertain expressions. A smile appeared on her previously tired face as she said sarcastically:

"Those who act as lackeys will eventually be cooked."

Upon hearing this, the three men's expressions grew even more grim.

Although Mujian was a woman, she had the most fiery temper and was the first to angrily retort:

"Mountain God, you are mistaken! The three of us merely came to observe; what have we done? If the Abbot of Qixia Temple wishes to punish us, then present the evidence. Why subject us to such humiliation!" She grew increasingly righteous as she spoke, then turned to Xuanping and said, "Brother Xuanping, you are the most eloquent; why don't you say a few words for us?"

Xuanping cursed the fool inwardly, but forced a bitter smile and cupped his hands Chaoxue Xuemin, saying:

"Mountain God, please bear witness! Although the three of us spoke disrespectfully to Qixia Temple in the Great Void, it was merely a verbal dispute; we never actually laid a hand on him. Our attendance at this banquet is also intended to resolve our old grudges. We hope that you, Mountain God, will put in a good word for us before Qixia Temple. I, Luoping Sect, am willing to offer a thousand acres of sacred fields as compensation." He paused, then added, "If Abbot Qixia is willing to show leniency, from now on, within the territory of Nanzhao, I, Luoping Sect, Qixia Temple without question."

Heyin remained silent throughout.

He lowered his eyes, as if he were calculating something, or perhaps waiting.

Now that things have come to this, he is no longer thinking about saving his own life, but rather about the affairs of his Lineage.

His only hope at this moment was the meager old relationship Pine Crane Song Household and Cang Mountain.

So he said in a deep voice:

"Mountain God, the Song Household has lived next to Cang Mountain for generations. Our ancestors once guarded the border with the Mountain God. Today, Heyin knows he is in the wrong and dares not ask the Mountain God to make an exception for me. He only begs the Mountain God to remember our ancestors and pass on a message to his clan, telling them to stay in the mountains for a hundred years and not to set foot in Nanzhao to cause trouble."

Xue Min glanced at him, neither responding nor refusing.

Instead, he turned to Zheng Qingci, snorted coldly, and said:

"The Kuaiji Zheng Household specially sent a magical object, asking me to give you some pointers. So I disguised myself as the instructor who was killed by the Demonic Dao and came to enlighten you, but I didn't expect you to be so stupid. I really don't know how you managed to pass the imperial examination and become a county magistrate back then." He paused, his tone turning cold. "No wonder the School of Names is the most neglected among the Hundred Schools of Thought. Sophistry is ultimately no match for practical action."

Having said that, he didn't even glance at the four people's embarrassed expressions. With a flicker, he transformed into a streak of gray light and disappeared into the night.

Only one lingering note echoed under the moon:

"Out of consideration for our shared Nanzhao heritage, let me offer this advice: three out of ten lives can be saved. Furthermore, considering the auspicious gifts sent by the Zheng Household, let me add: officials, think thrice before you act."

Zheng Qingci silent throughout.

From the moment the five-colored smoke appeared, he knew it was all over.

It wasn't just that his career was over; it was that his entire life was over.

He originally thought he was a loyal minister who fought for the country, and even if he died in battle, he would still be remembered in history; but in the end, the supervisor of education stayed at home studying, the court did not care, and even these three Purple Mansion True Person were now desperately trying to distance themselves from him.

From beginning to end, he was nothing more than a pawn that was used and then discarded.

But he couldn't back down.

If he retreats, it would be seen as cowardice and desertion, and he wouldn't even be able to preserve this last bit of his good reputation.

Only by dying standing could he earn a place in the annals of Confucian School as a "martyr for the cause," even if that title was false, it would still be enough for his great-grandson in Jiangnan to enjoy for a lifetime.

That child was exceptionally gifted and had already become a disciple of a Confucian School, and would later be born as a descendant of a "loyal and virtuous man".

His old bones are of little use now that he's alive, but his death will be a stepping stone for his children.

Zheng Qingci suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with a touch of desolate self-mockery, yet also with a sense of detached openness.

He straightened his clothes, bowed deeply towards Jiankang, and said loudly:

"Your humble servant, Langqiong Zhao, Zheng Qingci to impeach Qixia Temple for disobeying imperial orders and showing disrespect to the late Emperor. The matter has come to this point, and there is nothing more to say. However, all my actions stemmed from my own conscience; no one instructed or instigated me. I could not bear to see the immortal sects above the law of the land. Therefore, I have sacrificed myself for the law, not for fame, not to seek justice, but simply to fulfill the duty of a county magistrate."

Having said that, he stood with his hands behind his back and said no more.

In the Great Void, a figure looked at Zheng Qingci's words in the mortal world and laughed:

"Unfortunately, I was confused earlier."

Someone nearby shook their head:

"Ever since he refused the mountain god's offer last night, he was destined to please neither side. If he had yielded just now, Qixia Temple wouldn't have dared to kill an official appointed by the imperial court without authorization. It's a pity that some people always think they are exceptionally clever... but it was all in vain. After all, the supervisor's refusal to leave his residence was a warning, and the sending of these three True Person was to establish the authority of the Qixia Temple Master..."

Then someone else Human Dao:

"Is the imperial court truly abandoning the Nanzhao region? They're handing over even county magistrates, those who have pledged allegiance to the court, and Confucian School with their Purple Mansion just like that..."

The man who answered earlier replied:

"No destruction, no construction. What the imperial court wants is not a deeply entrenched Nanzhao, but a clean and honest Nanzhao... Even if many people die, even if these Daoist temples and sects run rampant here, it's not unacceptable!"