It had to be said that cultivators possessed truly formidable vitality.
Even with a gaping hole torn through his right chest and his dantian pierced by a blade, Qin Weishu still had not died. In fact, he still had a sliver of strength left to speak, though the smile in his voice trembled under the severity of his wounds:
“What a... pity.”
“...”
In response to those ambiguous words, Xu Yuan drove a kick into his back.
Qin Weishu instantly pitched forward in disgrace, skidding over a zhang across the crater he had carved out, smearing a long trail of bright crimson blood across the ground.
Glancing at the blood staining the Secret Investigation Bureau saber, Xu Yuan indifferently turned around and walked slowly toward Xu Mengxi.
*Tap.*
*Tap.*
Listening to the footsteps recede into the distance, Qin Weishu struggled to turn his face and spat out a mouthful of blood-soaked dirt.
He did not provoke the man further; taunting after a defeat only made one look pathetic.
Yet the moment he entered the capital, he had been beaten into this wretched state by a kid who had appeared out of nowhere, his life and death hanging on the other's whim.
Truly fucking ridiculous.
Watching the retreating figure fade into the black mist, Qin Weishu felt a daze wash over his eyes.
He should not have lost this battle.
Overreliance on the Spirit-Anchoring Anchor to lock qi; using the Empty Orchid Sword and the Spatial-Swapping Dao charm far too carelessly; and revealing a reserve of Source Qi that exceeded the Body Integration threshold, which had directly tipped the opponent off to his possessing a second Dao charm...
These details had accumulated into his undoing.
Yet even so, he had actually possessed a chance to turn the tables.
As long as he had broken through to Grandmaster the instant he realized the situation was turning sour, he would have stood undefeated.
But there were no "what-ifs" in this world.
Pondering these things, Qin Weishu suddenly let out a low, ambiguous chuckle.
What a pity.
If only he hadn't agreed to that old monster's request upon coming to Di'an City; if only they had crossed paths in a different place... Heh, whatever.
As the thought flashed by, Qin Weishu gritted his teeth, clutching fistfuls of dirt to force his battered body off the ground, and asked with a laugh:
“Hey, aren’t you going to kill me?”
“Whether I kill you or not depends on whether that female constable is willing to cooperate,” a casual reply came from the depths of the black mist. “As for right now, you had best stay still.”
The moment the words fell, four spirit swords whistled through the air, shooting out directly from the black mist!
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*
The four spirit swords pierced clean through Qin Weishu’s limbs, firmly pinning him to the ground.
Having done this, Xu Yuan carried the Secret Investigation Bureau saber to where Xu Mengxi lay unconscious.
Looking down at the female constable's sleeping face with her brows tightly knit, Xu Yuan bent over and slowly extended a hand...
*Smack, smack.*
*Smack, smack.*
A series of crisp sounds reached her ears. Xu Mengxi tried to open her eyes, but a splitting headache and dizzying vertigo made even that simple motion exceedingly difficult.
The chilly black mist churned endlessly all around. A blurry figure crouched before her, seemingly patting her cheeks.
Her blurred vision prevented her from seeing his face clearly, yet an instinctive sense of familiarity welled up within her.
As bodily sensation surged into her numb body like water flowing into a channel, the scene before her gradually grew clearer.
The figure before her waved a hand in front of her eyes, his voice drifting over gently:
“Hey.”
“Wake up...”
With those words came another round of light smacks.
As the sound met her ears, Xu Mengxi narrowed her unfocused eyes. The person seemed to be patting her cheeks again.
And that very gesture caused the silhouette before her to instantly overlap with a scoundrel in her memories.
In a flash, without any warning, Xu Mengxi reached out and seized the man's wrist.
She gripped it with tremendous force, to the point where the creaking of grinding bone could be heard, as though terrified he might flee.
“Commander Xu, this way of showing gratitude is rather unusual.”
The man’s voice drifted over faintly, though its timbre was entirely different from the one in her memories.
As the surrounding black mist churned, the memories from before she lost consciousness rapidly resurfaced.
No, she was still in the middle of a battle!
With that thought, Xu Mengxi flipped upright in an instant, her sharp, beautiful eyes sweeping across the surroundings. Yet aside from the black mist that roiled from time to time, everything nearby was dead silent.
Her gaze settled on the young man before her.
After a moment of eye contact, Xu Yuan chuckled and raised the wrist Xu Mengxi was still clutching for dear life, giving it a slight shake before her eyes:
“Although cultivators rarely fuss over physical boundaries between men and women, with your cultivation, Commander Xu, squeezing like this really hurts.”
“...”
A brief silence fell. Xu Mengxi let go with an air of embarrassment, an apologetic tone in her voice:
“Apologies... I mistook you for an old acquaintance, Young Master.”
*Just how obsessed is this woman with me? She's still dwelling on it even after he's supposedly dead.* Xu Yuan grumbled inwardly, then remarked half-jokingly:
“From your reaction, Commander Xu, you looked as though you were terrified he would run off.”
Xu Mengxi paid no heed to the tease and replied honestly:
“He was an evil man who defied the law by relying on his clan's power. I did indeed have an obsession with him, but unfortunately, I heard some time ago that he was assassinated and died.”
With that, Xu Mengxi steered the conversation straight back to the present situation:
“Young Master, time is pressing. Do you know where that Qin Weishu is now? Did he escape?”
Seeing this, Xu Yuan raised the saber held in a reverse grip and gestured slightly toward her:
“I actually wanted to speak with you about that as well, Commander Xu.”
Xu Mengxi’s gaze instantly locked onto the tip of her saber.
There, traces of fresh blood stained the edge.
After a brief hesitation, Xu Mengxi knitted her brows and probed cautiously:
“This should be my sidearm... but this blood...”
“Qin Weishu’s,” Xu Yuan answered crisply.
Xu Mengxi’s pupils contracted. The shock of the revelation sent countless thoughts surging through her mind, and her tone took on an edge of urgency:
“You killed him?!”
Xu Yuan’s expression froze for a moment, and he put on a bewildered face:
“That man brazenly attacked an official in broad daylight on the street. Can’t he be killed?”
“He can, but...”
Xu Mengxi’s pitch rose slightly, only to cut off abruptly.
Pressing her lips together, she looked at the brocade-robed young master's uncomprehending expression, her emotions growing complicated.
By law, assisting an official and causing the death of a criminal incurred no punishment, but standard procedure still required being remanded to prison to await trial and classification.
And that was where the problem lay.
Qin Weishu hailed from an influential sect and noble lineage. Cases involving the life and death of scions from great sects and clans could not be tried by the Court of Judicial Review, nor by the Ministry of Justice; they had to be transferred to the Immortal Chancellery for trial. Naturally, the prison where his killer would be held would also be the Immortal Chancellery’s dungeon.
Given the customary conduct of the officials at the Immortal Chancellery, even if one was innocent under the law, once inside, getting out was nearly impossible. It was all too easy for someone to “commit suicide out of fear of punishment” in their cells.
Yet according to legal protocol, she had no choice but to take this man back with her...
Biting her silver teeth firmly, Xu Mengxi glanced around at the surrounding black mist that blocked all divine sense and investigation. Clenching her fists, she looked up and said:
“Young Master, you were dragged into this only to save me. Please do not speak of this matter to anyone.”
Saying so, Xu Mengxi held out her fair palm, drawing the blade from Xu Yuan’s hand with her qi, and spoke rapidly in a solemn tone:
“Qin Weishu hails from an influential sect and noble lineage. If it is known that you killed him, you will be handed over to the Immortal Chancellery, and they will never let the matter rest. Therefore, the person who killed Qin Weishu today was me, not you. That way, you will only need to wait out the inquiry in the Secret Investigation Bureau’s prison.”
After delivering this lengthy explanation, Xu Mengxi blinked her serious eyes, then, under Xu Yuan’s gaze, slowly shifted her eyes down toward the blood-stained saber in her hand.
*Wait, that's not right!*
Why had this fellow used *her* blade to kill Qin Weishu?
Pursing her lips, Xu Mengxi looked back up, her eyes filled with confusion.
“Did you do that on purpose?”
“...”
“...”
“Heh.”
In the end, Xu Yuan broke the silence with a light chuckle. Straightening his robes, he said in a low voice:
“Since you are willing to take the blame, Commander Xu, then I won’t need to waste my breath.”
“Wait.”
Xu Mengxi grabbed Xu Yuan’s wrist once more, her gentle voice dropping slightly:
“Since you had the leeway to fetch my blade, Qin Weishu must have already been gravely wounded. Why did you have to kill him?”
Saying this, she glanced at the drifting black mist around them:
“Furthermore, the shockwave that struck me earlier... you did that intentionally, didn’t you, Young Master?”
The moment she finished speaking, Xu Yuan parted his lips, about to deliver his prepared excuse, when Xu Mengxi suddenly struck.
Without the slightest warning, Xu Mengxi lunged directly toward Xu Yuan’s face.
The sensation from when she had first awakened made her heart beat involuntarily faster.
Even though Xu Mengxi was considerably injured, her speed remained astonishingly swift as the qi dynamic of a Grandmaster erupted in an instant.
Though Xu Yuan could vaguely track her movement, it happened so abruptly that the gap in their cultivation left his body unable to react in time.
He could have dodged using Void-Treading Slash, but he could not use Void-Treading Slash in front of Xu Mengxi.
He had only managed to lean back slightly when Xu Mengxi’s slender fingers clamped firmly onto the side of his cheek.
Gritting her teeth, Xu Mengxi channeled her qi dynamic into her hand:
“Xu Changtian, I knew you wouldn’t die so easily—huh?”
“...” Xu Mengxi fell silent.
Xu Yuan knitted his brows, staring at the female constable who was pinching and tugging at his cheek, a thick note of displeasure seeping into his words:
“Commander Xu, what are you doing?”
“...” Xu Mengxi remained frozen.
“I... I... well...”
Xu Mengxi parted her red lips, her face rapidly flushing crimson, her sharp gaze suddenly darting about aimlessly. “You... I... was just...”
“Aren’t you going to let go? It hurts quite a bit.”
“...”
Hearing that, Xu Mengxi hurriedly let go and took two steps back, the ponytail tied behind her head tracing an arc in the air as she bent straight into a deep ninety-degree bow before Xu Yuan:
“I’m s-sorry! Young Master, I... I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Looking at the female constable’s lowered ponytail, Xu Yuan maintained a calm facade, but inwardly he was already cursing up a storm.
*Damn it, this woman nearly scared the life out of me.*
*Are a constable’s instincts really that sharp?*
*Thank goodness the family didn’t cut corners on the quality of this human-skin mask.*
Though such thoughts raced through his mind, he still had to keep up the act.
Xu Yuan reached up to rub his slightly reddened cheek and said casually:
“It seems the Prime Minister’s third son was the old acquaintance you’ve been dwelling on, Commander Xu. However, I recall he was assassinated not long ago. That Duke Xu slaughtered quite a few people before the new year on his account...”
“...”
Xu Mengxi kept her head lowered, not saying a word, the blush having already spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
Xu Yuan instinctively wanted to reach out and pat her shoulder to tell her not to mind, but he suppressed the habitual impulse, turned around, and said softly:
“There is no need for you to take it to heart, Commander Xu. I am not the petty sort. Come, I will take you to Qin Weishu.”
With that, Xu Yuan began walking toward Qin Weishu’s location.
Seeing this, Xu Mengxi sheathed her saber and hurried after him. After a brief hesitation, she offered another apology while asking:
“I am sorry... but may I ask, Young Master, since you had strength to spare, why did you have to kill Qin Weishu?”
“Who said I killed him?”
Xu Yuan did not look back, leading the way as he murmured:
“The Qin family of Jiangnan is not to be trifled with. The karmic entanglements of killing him are far too heavy. To end his life over a momentary dispute of pride would be somewhat excessive.”
“Then did you knock him unconscious, Young Master?”
“No, I crippled his dantian.”
“...” Xu Mengxi was struck dumb.
Noticing that Xu Mengxi had gone quiet, Xu Yuan glanced sideways and said in a low voice:
“I had no desire to show mercy and suffer a counter-defeat like you did, so I simply crippled him.
“As for the soul technique that struck you earlier, that was indeed my doing, but it was an unavoidable measure. His strength was formidable, and I had no leeway to attend to anything else. I already held back as much as I could.”
At this point, Xu Yuan paused slightly, then offered a faint smile:
“Commander Xu, I clashed with the second young master of the Qin family in order to save you. You will take responsibility for this, won’t you?”
“...”
Xu Mengxi felt that this brocade-robed young master had a rather contradictory temperament.
He was somewhat shameless, yet he acted as though everything was only natural.
Neither wholly righteous nor truly wicked.
Complaining faintly in her heart, Xu Mengxi nodded slightly and replied in a soft voice:
“Naturally. However, this Qin Weishu may not necessarily point the finger at me.”
Xu Yuan smiled faintly, turning his head to cast a deep glance at the woman behind him.
A flicker of murderous intent shone in his dark eyes.
Seeing that look, Xu Mengxi instantly grew vigilant and said:
“Young Master, although you saved me, since Qin Weishu is still alive, he must be judged by the law.”
“I haven’t said anything yet, have I? Why do you immediately assume I want to kill him?”
Xu Yuan shook his head and offered a deliberate reminder:
“I only wanted to ask if you had any ideas just now. I am not well-versed in the laws of Great Yan, and I don't know what loopholes can be exploited.”
Hearing this, Xu Mengxi’s tension eased. Following his line of thought for a moment, she suddenly spoke in a low voice:
“There is one way, but the certainty is not very high.”
“What is it?” Xu Yuan raised a brow.
Xu Mengxi instinctively reached up to touch the smooth ponytail behind her head, speaking somewhat reluctantly:
“The Chancellor's Manor.”
“Hm? What does this have to do with the Chancellor's Manor?”
“You may not know this, Young Master, but over two years ago around the Beginning of Autumn, a major case occurred in Jingjiang Prefecture.”
Xu Mengxi explained straightforwardly, “That incident forged no small grudge between the Chancellor's Manor and the Qin family.”
At this point, Xu Mengxi reflexively glanced up at his expression. Seeing that he looked completely normal, she continued:
“Our biggest problem right now is the possibility of Qin Weishu coming into contact with people from the Qin family and revealing what you did. As long as we stall until colleagues from the City Defense Bureau and my Secret Investigation Bureau arrive, and take him directly back to the Imperial Prison without giving him a chance to contact the outside world...
“Once the Chancellor's Manor learns of this, they will definitely find a way to intervene ruthlessly. When that time comes... Qin Weishu very likely will never walk out of the Imperial Prison alive.”
Hearing this, an imperceptible trace of astonishment flickered through Xu Yuan’s eyes.
The truth behind the incident at Jingjiang Prefecture was a classified secret even within the Prime Minister's Manor. Where had this woman obtained such information?
With that thought in mind, Xu Yuan fished for more details with a sigh:
“I have heard a little of the incident at Jingjiang Prefecture. Chancellor Xu’s entire manor in Jingjiang was destroyed, but I didn’t expect there would be such an inside secret behind it.”
“I only learned of this not long ago myself.”
Speaking of this, Xu Mengxi lowered her eyes slightly:
“Had I not known that the Chancellor's Manor shared an enmity with the Qin family, I would not have come here to arrest Qin Weishu.”
*Someone deliberately fed Xu Mengxi this information...*
Connecting this with the timing of Qin Weishu’s arrival in the capital, it looked as though someone had specifically set things up for Xu Mengxi to come and arrest him.
Moreover, today was quite a coincidence.
Qin Weishu had just happened to run into Mu Zhiyun, that massive recluse, when she stepped out to order custom pattern-inscribed robes in Huaijiu Lane.
Quietly committing this detail to memory, Xu Yuan followed up by asking:
“Why?”
After a moment of silence, Xu Mengxi tightened her grip slightly on the hilt at her waist. A smile formed on her fair, lovely face, but it carried a touch of bitterness:
“Young Master... without borrowing the power of the Prime Minister's Manor, even if I threw Qin Weishu into prison, he would simply be released a few days later.”
As her voice fell, Xu Yuan looked at her complicated expression and said nothing more.
It was only when they arrived before the pit where Qin Weishu lay that his voice drifted over faintly.
It sounded like a murmur, yet also like a piece of counsel:
“Commander Xu, knowing how to be flexible is nothing to be ashamed of.
“Justice served by borrowing a knife to kill is still justice.”
Chapter 558