Chapter 679: Heaven Shifts!

Hand over the Governor of Tianzhou?

Du Jianchuan knelt there, the cold sweat on his forehead already running down his nose to drip onto the floor, spreading a small dark stain.

When he heard those four words, his body jolted, and he instinctively lifted his head, his mouth opening as if to protest.

The Governor of Tianzhou is a frontier official personally appointed by the Emperor; his post cannot be stripped away by anyone's word, even a Lord Martial Saint cannot bypass the Emperor's decree, right?

His lips trembled, and he was about to say something, but his gaze collided in the air with Jiang Feng's.

It was a gaze so utterly calm that all of Du Jianchuan's courage collapsed in an instant.

It was a decision made by a Lord Martial Saint, and his decision required no one's consent.

Du Jianchuan closed his mouth.

He lowered his head, looking at his hands still pressed against the floor, at his ink‑green official robe soaked with cold sweat, and at the cold Green Stone Slab beneath his knees.

He is indeed the Governor of Tianzhou, and the Du Family has indeed run affairs in this Tianzhou for nearly a hundred years; since Tianzhou opened its port, the Du Family has been a top aristocratic house.

So what of it?

Before a Lord Martial Saint, any power, wealth, or so‑called voice is merely empty talk.

At this moment, since Jiang Feng has spoken, no one can keep his position.

Even the Emperor would not offend a Lord Martial Saint over a mere Governor.

Moreover, he knows well that he just grovelingly knelt before Zhongcun Jiben, publicly offering to hand over Tianzhou's hero, and has already lost the people's hearts.

If Zhongcun Jiben wins, he could still boast of bearing humiliation, claiming he sacrificed the Governor's dignity to save ten thousand lives.

But the reality is that Zhongcun Jiben lost disastrously, and everything he just did was laid bare before everyone.

His pompous excuses now sound more ridiculous than a street vendor's hawking, truly like a leaping clown; calling him a traitor would not be an exaggeration.

A thought even flashed through his mind.

Not to mention that even if Jiang Feng merely took his governorship, even if this Jiang, a Lord Martial Saint, were to crush him here, those present would probably exclaim inwardly with satisfaction.

No one will speak for him, no one will think him wronged.

Du Jianchuan knelt there, silent for a long while. Then he slowly lifted his hand and took off the ink‑green official hat from his head.

He placed the hat on the Green Stone Slab before him, moving lightly as if afraid of hurting something.

Then, bracing the ground, he rose slowly, his knees creaking, like a rusted machine finally forced into motion.

He stood there, looking at no one.

The officials knelt on the ground; some looked at him with mocking eyes, some pressed their heads lower, pretending not to see anything…

He turned and walked toward the doorway.

He just walked away.

No defense, no pleading, no words left behind.

The main hall fell silent for a few breaths.

Then, whoever spoke first, a voice rose from the crowd, carrying an excitement as if long‑suppressed emotions finally found release.

"Commander Qiao, temporarily assume the Governor's seat, and raise our Tianzhou Martial Might!"

After that voice fell, as if ignited by a fuse, more people shouted along.

The officials kneeling on the ground lifted their heads, their gazes blazing at Qiao Zhenyu standing in the center of the main hall, their voices rising wave after wave.

"Commander Qiao, temporarily assume the Governor's seat, and raise our Tianzhou Martial Might!"

Qiao Zhenyu stood there, opening his mouth as if to refuse.

He had never considered becoming Governor; his heart held only the martial path and military affairs, and he shunned court matters. Yet his gaze subconsciously swept to Jiang Feng seated on the side chair.

Jiang Feng still sat there, watching Qiao Zhenyu, his mouth curving slightly into a faint smile.

"Take the position if you will. But I hope the spine of Tianzhou Martial Arts won't break on your side."

Qiao Zhenyu's body quivered slightly. He stared at Jiang Feng's calm eyes, fell silent for a moment, then turned to face the still‑cheering crowd.

His back straightened, his gaze becoming firm and sharp.

"Uncle, rest assured. Zhenyu will not die; the Tianzhou Martial Path Heroic Soul remains unscattered."

"Excellent! We now pay our respects to the Governor!"

The main hall erupted in an even more enthusiastic cheer.

Jiang Feng stood, walked to Zhongcun Jiben. The Ying Kingdom elder still kept his bent posture, motionless like a stone statue.

Jiang Feng glanced at him and said casually.

"Since I have already given you an answer regarding your grandson, why keep it any longer?"

Zhongcun Jiben's body shifted slightly, slowly straightening.

His complexion remained pale, those cloudy eyes daring not to look straight at Jiang Feng, only slightly lowered, his voice bearing an unprecedented deference.

"I shall depart now, lest I disturb the venerable one."

He finished speaking, turned to head toward the doorway. Yet before his foot could step, Jiang Feng's hand lightly patted his shoulder.

The tap was light, like a casual pat between friends, but Zhongcun Jiben's steps abruptly halted, his whole body as if nailed to the spot, frozen there.

Jiang Feng's voice drifted from behind him.

"By the way, go back and tell the Lord Martial Saints of your Ying Kingdom. If your Ying Kingdom has any, tell those old dogs not to plot against the foundation of my Xia Kingdom's martial path. Otherwise…"

He paused, his tone still even.

"I wouldn't mind leveling your Ying Kingdom."

Zhongcun Jiben's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

He did not turn, his voice forced from deep in his throat, dry as if his throat had been clenched.

"I… will certainly deliver the message."

He finished speaking and hurried out of the main hall.

His steps were several times faster than when he arrived, as if something terrifying were chasing him from behind.

The main hall fell silent again.

Jiang Feng Standing at the doorway, watching the empty stretch of light, his gaze calm.

The afternoon wind blew in from outside the door, lifting a corner of his gray robe, then gently laying it down again.

He turned around and cast a glance toward Lu Zhanlian.

The white‑haired, aged old man still stood in place, now looking at him with a pair of eyes that were somewhat clouded yet unusually bright.

The two locked eyes for a moment; Jiang Feng said nothing, only gave a slight nod, then walked toward the Governor-General's Mansion outside the door.

Lu Zhanlian Standing in the center of the main hall, watching the gray silhouette vanish into the sunlight, his lips moved, intending to say thank you, but his throat felt as if blocked by something, and no sound could emerge.

He merely watched the silhouette recede, then raised his hand and bowed deeply toward that direction.

The officials behind him also bent their waists, silently staring at the sun‑filled open space at the doorway.

The sky of Tianzhou truly changed.