Chapter 45: Slash!
“Bullying a fellow disciple, harming a subordinate — how is this handled under sect law?”
Lu Qingyang stood with his foot on Zijing, standing indifferently above Zhang Luanfeng’s head.
“Chaotian Sect Law, Article Sixteen: Those who disrespect fellow disciples and oppress and harm them shall be beheaded according to law.”
Lu Qingyang’s voice was utterly indifferent.
Zhang Luanfeng’s face turned ashen at these words.
Lu Qingyang had entered the Inner Gate and not shown his face for four years. And now he had come at such a coincidental time!
“You want to kill me?!”
Zhang Luanfeng’s eyes were icy.
“Don’t think that just because you’ve entered the Inner Gate, no one can deal with you.”
“I’ll tell you the truth — I am now a member of the Lin Clan. The Lin Clan Patriarch is a Golden Core…”
Before the words had fully left Zhang Luanfeng’s mouth, that azure-robed figure suddenly leaped.
At the same time, a streak of purple-red light flew up from beneath Lu Qingyang’s feet, transforming into a purple radiance that shot straight for Zhang Luanfeng’s throat.
The purple light flashed and was gone.
It crushed Zhang Luanfeng’s protective spiritual power in almost an instant, piercing through his throat.
“Pfft!”
Blood splattered.
Zhang Luanfeng’s eyes showed shock and disbelief. He slowly lowered his head.
He felt as though the world was spinning, the entire world seeming to turn into darkness…
“Thud!”
Zhang Luanfeng’s body went limp and collapsed to the ground, twitching unconsciously, and finally breathed his last…
Silence. Utter silence.
Old Huang and Ma Han stared dumbfounded at the corpse still twitching and radiating heat.
A dignified Foundation Establishment True Person of a generation, butchered like a chicken.
“Director Zhang is dead…”
Ma Han murmured to himself. Old Huang’s legs were shaking so badly he nearly collapsed to the ground.
“What, has it been so long that you don’t recognize me?”
Lu Qingyang landed lightly on the ground, stood with his hands behind his back, and smiled as he looked at the two.
As if he had just slaughtered nothing more than a chicken.
Ma Han and Old Huang hurriedly bowed in greeting.
“Greetings… greetings, True Person Martial-Uncle.”
Ma Han and Old Huang spoke in trembling voices, their words somewhat jumbled.
“No need for formalities.”
Lu Qingyang waved his hand.
He had come down the mountain today for two reasons. First, to see how much harvest the medicinal fields he had painstakingly tended years ago could now yield.
Second, after four years of silence, his cultivation having reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment, it was time for him to clean up the Nine Bureaus of the Outer Gate!
Though this was a job that made enemies, with his current foundations and Sun-Moon Peak behind him, Lu Qingyang did not feel he would be in any danger.
Even if a Golden Core True Monarch were here, he would not fear them!
As for this Zhang Luanfeng, he was simply extremely unlucky, running right into the muzzle of the gun.
“Go, call Director Sun for me. Have him measure my contribution.”
“And… hang this Zhang Luanfeng from the tallest tree outside the courtyard. Let all the disciples passing by admire him.”
“This… this isn’t really appropriate, Martial-Uncle.”
Old Huang seemed not to have recovered from his terror.
“Not appropriate?”
The corner of Lu Qingyang’s mouth lifted. “Nothing inappropriate about it. Consider it a calling card I’m delivering to the Lin Clan.”
…
Sun Shan arrived, rushing over urgently from the Spirit Field Bureau.
Accompanying him were a host of Foundation Establishment True Persons from the Spirit Field Bureau.
His urgency was naturally not for the sake of measuring Lu Qingyang’s contribution.
A Director of the Spirit Field Bureau had died in the Medicine Hall.
The one who had struck was the Vice Bureau Chief of the Sect Master Bureau. How could such a shocking piece of news not make him anxious?!
In truth, as Zhang Luanfeng’s corpse was hoisted high up, it wasn’t long before cultivators from the Law Enforcement Bureau arrived.
But after seeing Lu Qingyang standing to the side, the Squad Leader leading the Law Enforcement Bureau only asked a few simple questions.
Then he silently stood behind Lu Qingyang.
Until… several streaks of light from Sword Ridge Peak came speeding toward the Medicine Hall like long rainbows!
“It’s the Lin Clan!”
Sun Shan and the others’ expressions changed drastically.
“Senior Brother Sun, long time no see. What, now that the Lin Clan has arrived, you won’t measure my contribution anymore?”
Lu Qingyang was unhurried, as if he could not see those aggressive streaks of light, and simply turned to look at Sun Shan.
At these words, Sun Shan could only muster his courage and first take out his Dharma Artifact to measure Lu Qingyang’s contribution.
After all, neither the Lin Clan nor Lu Qingyang of Sun-Moon Peak were people he could afford to offend.
Though his Sun Clan had someone in the Inner Gate, at most it was an Inner Gate elder at late-stage Foundation Establishment.
Compared to these two, it was truly insignificant.
And while Sun Shan was measuring, those few sword lights in the blink of an eye stopped above the Medicine Hall.
Three Foundation Establishment True Persons in total, and among them was even a familiar face.
“Lu Qingyang, what audacity!”
Lin Xiong led his clan’s two elders, stepping down.
At Lin Xiong’s side, two mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators followed as well.
“Oh? The Lin Clan’s people are quite quick on their feet.”
Lu Qingyang’s expression was somewhere between a smile and not.
Seeing this, Lin Xiong’s scalp also went somewhat numb.
He had been cultivating peacefully within the clan, when he heard a message transmitted from the Lin Clan members in the Outer Gate.
It said Zhang Luanfeng had died in the Outer Gate, and the one who had struck was none other than Lu Qingyang!
As for Lu Qingyang, though Lin Xiong did not fear him, he was also unwilling to provoke him.
After all, people from Sun-Moon Peak were never easy to provoke.
Moreover, at the Peak Selection Gathering, Lu Qingyang had already left a deep impression on him.
If not for the Patriarch’s orders, he absolutely would not have waded into these muddy waters for a live-in servant!
“Lu Qingyang, our Lin Clan has no old grievances or recent grudges with you. Why did you kill our Lin Clan’s friend!”
Lin Xiong shouted angrily.
“Because he deserved to die.”
Lu Qingyang glanced faintly at Lin Xiong.
Lin Xiong: “…”
His lungs were about to explode with rage!
This was the first time he had met someone even more overbearing than himself!
“Good, good, good!”
Lin Xiong laughed in extreme anger.
“Then may I ask Director Lu, what law did this Zhang Luanfeng violate?”
“That Director Lu would mercilessly slaughter a fellow disciple!”
“Or is it that Director Lu, under the banner of the Nine Bureaus of Inspection, is deliberately settling a personal grudge?”
Lin Xiong snorted coldly.
“Settling a personal grudge? Heh heh, do you think I need to settle a personal grudge?”
Lu Qingyang shook his head with a laugh.
“Zhang Luanfeng of the Spirit Field Bureau oppressed and endangered fellow disciples. According to law, he should be beheaded. This is beyond any doubt.”
“Since I have accepted the post of the Nine Bureaus of Inspection, I naturally have the authority to judge today’s matter.”
“And there is one thing I do not understand… The Foundation Establishment Pill is considered a strictly controlled item within the sect.”
“So may I ask True Person Lin, how did this Zhang Luanfeng establish his foundation?”
Lu Qingyang’s gaze was like a torch as he looked at Lin Xiong.
“This…”
Lin Xiong’s heart skipped a beat, his face stiffening.
The Five Great Families’ control over True Person positions was hardly a secret within the Chaotian Sect’s Inner Gate.
Lu Qingyang could not possibly be unaware of it. His current posture was clearly deliberate.
And his aim was undoubtedly pointed straight at the Lin Clan!
Is this fellow planning to use my Lin Clan as a blade?
Four years of silence, and the moment he shows his face, he acts with such boldness.
Could it be that Sun-Moon Peak truly intends to make a move against my Lin Clan?
Lin Xiong’s heart was a mixture of uncertainty and turmoil.
As a direct descendant of the Lin Clan, he was not a brainless fool.
He was very clear about Lu Qingyang’s intention.
It was just that this matter was a bit thorny!
If handled poorly, perhaps his Lin Clan really would be treated like children…
“Hmph, if Deacon Lu has doubts, he should naturally go ask the Spirit Pill Bureau. What does it have to do with my Lin Clan?”
“But your excessive enforcement of the law, even abuse of private punishment — my Lin Clan will definitely report it to Sun-Moon Peak!”
With that, Lin Xiong did not wait for Lu Qingyang to speak.
He rolled up Zhang Luanfeng’s corpse and flew off on his sword.
As if staying even a second longer would invite Lu Qingyang to make his move…