Contact with the Palace of Halting Slaughter

"Fu Qingyang is here?" Deacon Pang's brows twitched, and he stood up abruptly. Xiahou Tianyuan pondered for a moment. "What kind of person is this Fu Qingyang?" The Fu family was a Spirit Realm clan, one of the leading factions of the White Tiger Battalion, and a venerable pillar throughout the entire Five Elements Alliance. The Fu family also controlled vast overseas assets—they were rampant, predatory capitalists. In terms of sheer clan influence and wealth, the Xiahou family fell quite a bit short compared to the Fu family. Deacon Pang mused, "The man is exceedingly arrogant, yet exceptionally gifted. I heard that back when he was at the Transcendent stage, he directly confronted an evil-profession walker at the Saint stage. Refusing to back down in a battle to the death, he managed to hold out under that Saint for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. It was hailed as a miracle. "Fu Qingyang was dispatched down to Songhai less than a year ago. My interactions with him haven't been deep, but from our few encounters, while he is arrogant, he isn't some reckless hothead." Xiahou Tianyuan's mind was put at ease. Smiling, he said, "As long as he isn't a hothead, that's fine. His Fu family and the White Tiger Battalion have plenty of business dealings with our Xiahou family. For the sake of a mere ordinary person, I doubt he'd turn against me." Deacon Pang said nothing. He could already hear a mess of footsteps closing in on the office, belonging to quite a few people. With a cold face, Xiahou Tianyuan looked toward the wide-open office doors. A group stepped into view. The leader wore a crisp, tailored white suit, strikingly handsome, his hair tied in a sharp, short ponytail. To his left was the squinty-eyed man with messy hair and casual clothes. To his right stood Yuanshi Tianzun, the very person who had ruined his plans and made an enemy of him. At this moment, Yuanshi Tianzun was trailing beside Fu Qingyang like a loyal lackey. *You won't be gloating for long,* Xiahou Tianyuan thought, his expression grim. "Centurion Fu!" Deacon Pang went over to greet him with a smile. "To what do I owe the honor of such a grand visit?" Fu Qingyang glanced at Xiahou Tianyuan. "To make an arrest!" Deacon Pang kept his smile intact. "Who?" Fu Qingyang disdained to say more, so his lackey Zhang Yuanqing spoke up at the right moment: "Xiahou Tianyuan is suspected of kidnapping and endangering social stability. The evidence is conclusive. We are taking him into custody in accordance with the law." Deacon Pang's face darkened, and he let out a cold snort. "Is this a place where you have a voice?" He turned back to Fu Qingyang and smiled again. "Centurion Fu, Xiahou Tianyuan committed assault within my jurisdiction and has already been arrested. As for the kidnapping, he has made a full confession. In accordance with the rules, this matter is already a Fenghua District case." Fu Qingyang said calmly, "You want to talk rules with me? Then let me tell you: the victim's family reported the crime to the Kangyang District Spirit Realm walker squad this morning. My men gunned down the kidnappers and rescued the hostage. If we're going by the rules, my claim outweighs yours." Deacon Pang shook his head. "The man has already been arrested by me. I cannot hand him over to you. Even if we take this to the Council of Elders, reason is on my side." He naturally knew Fu Qingyang had the stronger argument, which was why he had devised this method: using procedure to block procedure, dragging things into bureaucratic wrangling. When working in the official system, one had to know how to exploit the rules. Beside them, Xiahou Tianyuan chimed in, "Centurion Fu, I have already turned myself in and am willing to accept punishment. What is the meaning of this aggressive posture?" Seeing Fu Qingyang remain silent, he chuckled. "Speaking of which, the Fu and Xiahou families have business ties. Our families are longtime acquaintances; by rights, I should even address you as an elder brother." The meaning behind Xiahou Tianyuan's words was crystal clear: *Are you really going to fall out with my Xiahou family over an ordinary person?* Fu Qingyang did not spare him a glance. Staring straight at Deacon Pang, he said flatly, "I didn't come to negotiate with you." Deacon Pang frowned. "Then what did you come for?" Fu Qingyang opened his inventory and summoned a black command flag. With a flick of his wrist, it drove into the tabletop with a sharp *clink*, pinned right in front of Xiahou Tianyuan. Xiahou Tianyuan shuddered violently and slumped onto the sofa, his muscles spasming. His face flushed with fury, yet he found himself utterly unable to move. "Fu Qingyang!" Deacon Pang flew into a rage and demanded, "You dare raise a hand against me?" He pressed both hands against his chest. Ripples of emerald-green radiance spread outward, sweeping across the office. With continuous cracking sounds, the floor and walls split open, and thick vines sprouted forth, sealing off the windows and doors. In an instant, the office was transformed into a wooden cage. Deacon Pang sneered, "Nobody is leaving this place today—" Slender vines sprouted across his body, squirming and extending like tentacles before weaving together into a suit of vine armor. Fu Qingyang drew a bronze sword from his inventory. It was three chi and two cun long, with an octagonal blade covered in green patina. *Are they really going to fight? When walkers at the Saint stage fight in such an enclosed space, won't we get caught in the collateral damage?* Zhang Yuanqing's heart tightened. He immediately looked at Guan Ya, Ling Jun, Bailong, and the others, only to find these veteran walkers looking entirely at ease, remarkably calm. *Isn't that a bit too calm? Did I overestimate the combat prowess of the Saint stage?* Just as Zhang Yuanqing was feeling bewildered, a blinding streak of sword light flared before his eyes, forcing him to shut them by instinct. Immediately after, a muffled grunt reached his ears. Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes to look. Deacon Pang, clad in his vine armor, had collapsed to the floor, copious amounts of blood pouring from his lower abdomen. "You may report me to the Council of Elders for attempting to assassinate a colleague. Of course, I will also report you for harboring a criminal, corruption, and bribery." Fu Qingyang flicked the blood from his blade. "You're still not quite up to par." His voice was cool, his expression lacking even a hint of disdain. He was as calm as an imperious monarch punishing a lowly subject. *What just happened? Is this Deacon Pang really a Saint? I didn't overestimate Saints; I overestimated him?* Zhang Yuanqing was inwardly stunned. He had long heard Li Dongze and Guan Ya say that Fu Qingyang was exceptionally gifted, the one among the Five Elements Alliance's current generation with the highest hope of being promoted to Elder. However, hearing about it gave him no real concept of it. Now, Zhang Yuanqing had a crystal-clear understanding: a heaven-born genius indeed. No wonder Ling Jun, Guan Ya, and the rest had been so calm. Slumped on the sofa, Xiahou Tianyuan watched the scene unfold, his face turning pale. Without looking at Deacon Pang, Fu Qingyang walked over to the coffee table, pulled out the black command flag, and returned it to his inventory. Xiahou Tianyuan jumped up at once, putting on a fierce front to mask his fear. "Fu Qingyang, I'm of the Xiahou family's direct line! Do you truly intend to make an enemy of the Xiahou family—" Fu Qingyang raised the hilt of his sword and struck him on the head. Xiahou Tianyuan leaned his torso back, dodging the strike. *Thud!* A heavy blow struck his head all the same. Agonizing pain surged through him, and his consciousness shattered instantly. Before blacking out, only one thought echoed in his mind: *I clearly dodged it...* Fu Qingyang turned and walked away. "Take him!" *** Official Forum. Repost # [Shocking! Xiahou Tianyuan Arrested by Centurion Fu of Kangyang District on Suspicion of Kidnapping and Endangering Public Order] By evening, a post forwarded from the Taiyi Sect's official forum stirred up heated discussion among the walkers of the Five Elements Alliance. The contents of the post described the incident in meticulous detail: Yuanshi Tianzun, a walker of Kangyang District's Squad Two, had received a crime report from a victim's family alleging that Xiahou Tianyuan had abducted their relative through despicable and lawless means. The upright and righteous Yuanshi Tianzun stepped forward in indignation, enduring great hardship to gun down the kidnappers and rescue the hostage. Afterward, Fu Qingyang led a team to arrest Xiahou Tianyuan. It was worth mentioning that the poster went by the name Yuan Ting. "Kidnapping? Tsk, the Xiahou family is getting more and more lawless." "Aren't they always like that? Which Spirit Realm clan is ever gentle, respectful, or modest? Still, dare to stir up trouble in our Songhai this time, and they've bumped right into an unyielding wall." "Centurion Fu certainly won't indulge him. They should've been put in their place long ago. Relying on their business ties with the upper echelon, the Xiahou family hasn't cared about rules for years." "Careful with your words, upstairs neighbor, or a colleague might knock on your door to check your water meter tonight." "This Yuanshi Tianzun is interesting. I like him." "The youth are always full of fighting spirit, but I fear he'll face retaliation from the Xiahou family. Just kidnapping an ordinary person is enough to make a wild walker suffer, but it probably won't bring down Xiahou Tianyuan." "If the Xiahou family dares to retaliate against Yuanshi Tianzun, that would be an open declaration of war against us. What's worrisome is them playing dirty in the shadows. Wonder how this will play out." "The Xiahou family is already pulling strings. I heard several Deacons in Songhai have reported Centurion Fu, requesting that the Elders convene a meeting to put him on trial." "Put him on trial? On what grounds?" "I know this one! Deacon Pang from our district was stabbed and wounded by Centurion Fu." "This..." *** After finishing dinner, Zhang Yuanqing scrolled through the forum comments and quietly locked his screen. The dining table tonight had been unusually quiet. His young aunt was on the night shift, his cousin was also on night duty, leaving just his maternal grandparents and him at home. Before dinner, his uncle had come over to challenge his protégé to a dance battle, only to be chased away by his grandmother. Neither of the two dancers had felt embarrassed, but Grandma certainly had. *Wonder if Centurion Fu can handle it...* Zhang Yuanqing lay in bed, quietly awaiting the outcome of the meeting. Once Xiahou Tianyuan was arrested, the pressure immediately followed. Under Xiahou Xin's maneuvering, official personnel with business ties to the Xiahou family—Five Elements Alliance Deacons and Taiyi Sect Captains—had called Fu Qingyang one after another. Some tried persuasion; others pleaded for leniency. According to Guan Ya, people from the Fu family had also called Fu Qingyang demanding the captive's release, though the Fu Family Council of Elders had taken no stance. In truth, the person with the most at stake in this matter wasn't Fu Qingyang—it was him. Yet the Centurion had shouldered the entire burden himself. Guan Ya's explanation was: "You're his little brother; of course he'll cover for you!" Zhang Yuanqing had been deeply moved, asking, "Is Centurion Fu truly that loyal and righteous?" Guan Ya had replied, "No, he's just an arrogant show-off." *** High-end villa, second floor. Fu Qingyang sat on the balcony holding a wine glass, enjoying the cool, gentle breeze. Opposite the round table, Ling Jun squatted on an armchair. "Speaking of which, Deacon Pang is from Baihui. By doing this, you're not giving me much face." Fu Qingyang replied, "Oh? Are you saying you also took part in covering for Xiahou Tianyuan?" Ling Jun bristled in mock outrage. "Fine! Here I thought you were Yue Fei, but turns out you're Qin Hui." He speared a piece of cantaloupe with a toothpick, musing as he ate, "This method of winning people's hearts isn't bad. That kid Yuanshi will be your loyal lackey from now on." Fu Qingyang frowned slightly. "I call this winning people over with virtue." He disliked mercenary descriptions like 'winning people's hearts,' yet he disdained to offer an explanation. Squatting on the sofa, Ling Jun pinched his phone between two fingers and checked the time. "Five minutes until the meeting starts. Have you figured out how to deal with them? It's a good thing the Fu family elders aren't holding you accountable, but it's unlikely they'll back you up either. "Without the Fu family behind you, those guys won't be wary of you anymore. After all, you're just a Deacon." Ling Jun winked. "Want me to help you out? All you have to do is call me Big Brother." Fu Qingyang said coldly, "You have no intention of helping me." With his temperament, how could he ever call someone Big Brother? Ling Jun was well aware of this, which made the offer completely insincere. Ling Jun sighed. "A kidnapping charge won't kill Xiahou Tianyuan. Xiahou Chi is still in Songhai, after all—he's Xiahou Tianyuan's grandfather. As long as he doesn't fall, Xiahou Tianyuan will remain safe and sound." Xiahou Chi was the very person who had fought the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter. Fu Qingyang did not dispute it; it was the truth. Glancing at his wristwatch, he stood up and headed for the study. "I'm going to the meeting." In the study, a tall, slender bunny girl had already booted up the computer for him and logged into the conference software. The Five Elements Alliance had a rule: small meetings were held offline, while large meetings were held via computer. Large gatherings were easy to leak; if luck went against them, an evil profession might drop a 'nuclear bomb' on the assembly. Of course, events like the Taiyi Sect's annual debriefing conference or the Five Elements Alliance Leaders' meeting were exceptions. When the time came, the Deacons logged on one after another. The computer screen indicated twenty-two participants. Two-thirds of the Deacons from the Songhai Branch were present. This meeting had been jointly requested by several Deacons of the Songhai Branch to the Council of Elders. Similar meetings occurred several times a year in Songhai. Usually, they were initiated directly by an Elder. However, when an intractable issue arose, Deacons could also submit an application requesting a large-scale meeting. The topic of this meeting was the handling of a direct descendant of the Xiahou family, alongside Deacon Pang's accusation that Fu Qingyang had maliciously assaulted a colleague, and Fu Qingyang's counter-report accusing Deacon Pang of harboring a criminal, corruption, and dereliction of duty. Everyone's microphones were muted. Elder Teddy, who presided over the meeting, said in a deep voice, "I will give you fifteen minutes. In fifteen minutes, I want a resolution." The highest authority in the Songhai Branch consisted of five Elders. Beneath them were the district Deacons, followed by the Spirit Realm walker squads. As one of the five powerful Elders, Elder Teddy did not care about the life or death of a Spirit Realm clan's direct descendant and had no desire to waste too much time on this matter. "Pang Wudi, you speak first." Elder Teddy unmuted Deacon Pang's microphone. "Elder, Xiahou Tianyuan injured someone in my jurisdiction, and I arrested him completely by the book. Fu Qingyang led a squad to barge into my office and nearly killed me. According to the Five Elements Alliance's regulations, harming a colleague is punishable by death." A portion of the Deacons immediately typed in agreement, demanding severe punishment for Fu Qingyang. Elder Teddy then unmuted Fu Qingyang's microphone. "Fu Qingyang, what do you have to say?" "Everything I have to say is written in the report," Fu Qingyang replied calmly. Elder Teddy said in a grave voice, "You knew Xiahou Tianyuan had turned himself in, yet you still tried to snatch him away, showing complete disregard for the Five Elements Alliance's rules. This is a fact. Am I correct?" "You are not mistaken," Fu Qingyang said coolly. Elder Teddy muted his microphone, then turned back to Deacon Pang. "Pang Wudi, tell me this first: if Xiahou Tianyuan committed assault in your jurisdiction, why did he voluntarily confess to a kidnapping case? Was it because your towering image of righteousness brought him to his knees?" Deacon Pang replied, "Xiahou Tianyuan knew he was in the wrong, which was why he surrendered." Fu Qingyang sneered. Elder Teddy's tone grew cold. "This is an internal meeting, so I won't waste words with you. Before Xiahou Tianyuan turned himself in, the hostage had already been rescued. He turned himself in for self-preservation—that is my assessment. Fu Qingyang has reported you for accepting bribes, corruption, and harboring a criminal. Pang Wudi, you had better give me an explanation." "No such thing happened," Pang Wudi said grimly. "Can your record withstand an investigation?" Elder Teddy scoffed. Pang Wudi fell silent. The other Deacons typed much less frequently now. Elder Teddy continued, "Since both of you are at fault, I'll deal fifty lashes to each side. The Hei Wuchang case still needs investigating, so I'll settle accounts with both of you later. For now, this matter is closed. As for how to handle Xiahou Tianyuan, I want to hear your opinions." At once, seven or eight Deacons requested permission to speak. "Elder, the target of Xiahou Tianyuan's kidnapping was the family member of a Palace of Halting Slaughter member. While he was in the wrong, there was no intent to harm, merely to bait out the target. We can grant leniency as appropriate." "Elder, Xiahou Tianyuan is, after all, of the Xiahou family's direct line. Since no grave consequences resulted, a lighter punishment is necessary. Having him compensate the victim to obtain forgiveness and detaining him for ten days to half a month should suffice." "Kidnapping cannot be tolerated and must be punished. Detain him for half a month." Elder Teddy pondered. While Elders held decision-making authority, the ones doing the actual legwork were the Deacons; he had to take their demands into account. Furthermore, several members of the Fu family on the fringes of the core circle had privately contacted him, tactfully expressing their desire for a low-profile, lenient resolution. However, half a month was too brief to convince the public. Elder Teddy stated flatly, "Xiahou Tianyuan violated public order regulations and instigated a kidnapping. He shall be detained for two months." Two months... Led by Pang Wudi, the Deacons raised no further objections. While not their most ideal outcome, two months was of no great consequence; it could simply be treated as time spent cultivating self-discipline. "Elder, I have something to say!" Fu Qingyang typed a response. Elder Teddy unmuted him. "You have five minutes." *What else does he want to do?* Pang Wudi and the other Deacons frowned inwardly. Fu Qingyang's voice was steady and unhurried: "According to my investigation, I have gathered considerable criminal information regarding Xiahou Tianyuan. In February of this year, relying on his clan's power, he intimidated multiple local enterprises in the coastal province into forcibly selling shares at below-market prices. "Last November, he colluded with leaders of local state-owned enterprises to misappropriate state assets. Last August, he committed three counts of rape. Two cases were settled with money, while the victim of the third refused to settle, so he dispatched his kept Spirit Realm walkers to murder her and silence the witness. "Additionally, multiple parties have reported that he secretly enticed wild Spirit Realm walkers with money to act as his enforcers, carrying out illegal deeds on his behalf. He also kept underage girls for the amusement of his disreputable circle of friends... "I have detailed criminal files, evidence, and real-name reports from several victims right here." Silence fell over the conference room for a long time. A chill ran through Pang Wudi and the other Deacons, leaving them shocked and furious. How had Fu Qingyang managed to dig up so much information and gather evidence in such a short period? The next second, an answer surfaced in their minds: the Xiahou family! An inside traitor—it had to be an inside traitor. No outsider could possess such detailed criminal records on Xiahou Tianyuan. Had he planned to take down Xiahou Tianyuan from the start? Had he long since made secret contact with rival factions within the Xiahou family to gather evidence? It was over... "I will copy the files to you shortly," Fu Qingyang added. As soon as his words fell, the Deacons who had remained silent from beginning to end spoke up one after another, clamoring for severe punishment against Xiahou Tianyuan, as though it had been prearranged. Elder Teddy pondered for a few seconds before asking, "Does anyone else have anything to say?" *The only way now is for Xiahou Chi to step forward himself...* Pang Wudi and the others knew the tide had completely turned against them in this meeting, and chose to remain silent. "I will verify the evidence. Until then, Xiahou Tianyuan will remain under Fu Qingyang's custody. Meeting adjourned!" *** "The meeting's over?" Inside his bedroom, Zhang Yuanqing sat bolt upright upon receiving Fu Qingyang's message, reading through its contents attentively. Fu Qingyang stated in the text that Xiahou Tianyuan's criminal files had been submitted. While the sentencing was not yet finalized, he wouldn't be seeing the light of day for several years at the very least. However, the Centurion subtly mentioned that Xiahou Tianyuan's grandfather, Xiahou Chi, was currently in Songhai. Though he had been placed under Five Elements Alliance surveillance, he remained a ticking time bomb. He told Zhang Yuanqing to stay alert regarding his safety in the near future and to hold off on reporting for work at the Kangyang District Police Station until further notice. *Aside from Xiahou Chi, there's also Xiahou Xin. With his son sent to prison by my hands, if he gets desperate and retaliates like a cornered dog, I'll be in serious danger... I need to contact the Palace of Halting Slaughter to deliver a fatal blow to the Xiahou family.* With that in mind, Zhang Yuanqing dialed Wang Qian's number. The one who answered was Mad Love Great Sage, whose reply was: *Wait a little longer.* The Palace Master had yet to return from an instance, and they could not reach her. *If she ends up kicking the bucket inside the instance, that'd be quite the joke...* Zhang Yuanqing muttered to himself, buried his head under the covers, and went to sleep. At four in the morning, the ringing of his phone woke him up. The caller ID showed Wang Qian. Zhang Yuanqing jolted awake, all drowsiness vanishing as he answered the call immediately. In a rather cheerful tone, Mad Love Great Sage said, "Our Palace Master is out. She wants to see you."