Chapter 99: The Decline of the Vajra Gate

Inside the Dashun Zhai.

A slightly gaunt figure, wrapped in bloodstained Bai Bu, blasted out in an instant!

The disciples of the various noble houses all rose to dodge, then stared in horror at Yuan Gang on the ground—his eyes bulged, blood seeped from his nose and mouth, and his chestbone had caved in beyond recognition. Clearly, only half a breath kept him alive.

Just one palm strike—not even a martial art used, purely the force of his fleshly body—had nearly killed a Jade Liquid Realm body-tempering martial artist.

Looking at that person again, it seemed he hadn't even exerted his full strength.

The crowd barely collected themselves and hurriedly turned their gazes toward Zhao Kangyun.

"..."

Zhao Kangyun had just stood up, not even having time to wave his fan, when he suddenly became the center of everyone's attention.

Yet his heart held not the slightest joy; he felt his mouth dry and tongue parched.

After a moment's hesitation, he slowly spoke: "This brother, the laws of our Great Qian Dynasty don't seem to be so strict as to forbid others from laughing, do they? The Vajra Gate is also a reputable major sect—your acting like this, isn't it a bit overbearing?"

Every word was watertight.

"Gurgle..." Yuan Gang's face was covered in blood, his ears buzzing, his mind blank. By instinct, he glared at Shen Yi with venomous hatred.

Seeing the others refocus their attention on the youth, Zhao Kangyun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Though his talent was excellent and he was a few years older, he was only at late-stage Jade Liquid cultivation.

If he really faced Yuan Gang, the outcome was uncertain—let alone this terrifying youth.

He could only regret that he'd gone out for a stroll today and forgotten to bring a messenger, and that no elder was around to shield him.

Zhang the Butcher stared blankly at Shen Yi, his foul-smelling pig snout twitching slightly.

His feelings were too complicated to describe—so much so that he didn't dare meet the youth's direct gaze. What a humiliating scene, yet the other stood before him as if it were the most ordinary thing.

"..."

Fortunately, Shen Yi turned slightly to the side, his deep gaze sweeping slowly across the crowd before finally settling on Zhao Kangyun.

He stared at him quietly: "Go on, laugh."

The words, devoid of any discernible emotion, rang out inside the Dashun Zhai.

The crowd that had been roaring with laughter moments ago now fell silent and uneasy. Zhao Kangyun tried to force a smile, finally gave up, and sat back down in his chair: "The Vajra Gate will naturally seek justice from you, sir."

For a moment, the entire hall was devoid of the earlier laughter and merriment.

Seeing this, even Tian Zhiwen found it hard to believe.

This was Qingzhou City—that was the Zhao family's eldest young master... he... he chickened out?

Yet having offended most of the young talents of Qingzhou's powers in an instant, just what was the identity of this black-robed youth?

Don't be fooled by everyone behaving meekly now—that was fear of his ferocious strikes. The hostility hidden in their eyes had not diminished in the slightest. Once they stepped out of this Dashun Zhai, it would no longer be a matter just between the young.

Before Tian Zhiwen could figure it out, two whooshing gusts of wind came from behind. Li Mujin flipped down from the second floor, and Li Xinhan, gritting his teeth against the pain, tore his wounded body and jumped down as well.

The two flanked him, one on each side.

Li Xinhan stomped on Yuan Gang's lower abdomen and reached for his blade, then suddenly remembered none of the three had brought blades today. With no choice, he grabbed a nearby bench and pressed it against Yuan Gang's throat: "What are you glaring at? Behave yourself."

Seeing the brother and sister, the crowd was startled once more.

So today's grudge also involved the Li family?

"Li Xinhan, I recall your father has always been on good terms with the Vajra Gate's abbot."

Zhao Kangyun had just spoken and been slapped in the face, so he could only frown and offer a reminder.

"What damn Li family or Wang family—today this young master arrests him in the name of a Third-Stripe Captain."

Li Xinhan swept a cold gaze around and barked: "Zhen Mo Si on official business—everyone squat down!"

Li Mujin's purple skirt swayed slightly as she, too, stared coldly at those around her.

Once the Zhen Mo Si's name was invoked, today's matter was no longer a private grudge. They had to crush their arrogance in one go, or else who knew how much trouble would follow.

Under the siblings' gaze, these well-known children of the jianghu all froze, then squatted on the ground unwillingly.

Zhao Kangyun gripped his fan tightly, face dark, and sat in his chair.

Seeing this, Li Xinhan hurled the bench in his hand at him: "Playing deaf and dumb? I told you to squat down for me!"

Bang!

Zhao Kangyun waved his hand and shattered the bench, so angry he nearly ground his teeth to dust, then slowly squatted on the ground: "Flaunting a tiger's skin, are you? Right now none of the Twelve Generals are in Qingzhou City—who gave the order? Acting recklessly; let's see how you explain yourselves when you get back!"

"Uh."

Li Xinhan had just finished feeling smug, but hearing those words, he couldn't help but cast his gaze toward the youth in the crowd.

Damn... had they gone too far?

Seeing his expression, not only did Zhao Kangyun's face show a cold smile, but the other noble house disciples also grew several degrees more arrogant.

Li Mujin rubbed her temple with a slight headache. The matter hadn't been big to begin with, but letting this stupid little brother make such a mess of it—it would've been better not to come down at all, and just let Lord Shen handle it quietly.

"..."

Shen Yi casually took an iron token from his waist and tossed it to Li Xinhan with a flick of his wrist.

He strode toward the door, leaving behind only a few calm words.

"Surround the Vajra Gate. Let no one escape."

Before the words had faded, the entire hall had fallen so silent one could hear a pin drop.

Zhao Kangyun looked up in shock; Li Mujin's figure trembled slightly.

Li Xinhan blinked, clutching the iron token in his hand. After a brief daze, he grew so excited his hands were shaking. Though he was usually unflappable, now he couldn't help but whisper: "Holy sh*t..."

He was indeed a young master of the Li family, but due to his age and strict family discipline, when had he ever experienced anything this thrilling?

"Follow me."

Shen Yi glanced at Zhang the Butcher, then strode out of the Dashun Zhai.

A hot-tempered, blunt middle-aged man—how could he be willing to suffer humiliation? Someone must have gotten a hold on him.

To hire a tutor for the cap children, one still has to carry heavy sacks to scrape together the tuition fees. What leverage could there possibly be? Nothing more than the whole family, that's all.

If he wants to keep this "leverage," he naturally has to put in some serious effort, not allowing the slightest mishap.

As for the cause and effect in all this, he'll ask about it slowly once they're back at the residence. Lingering here any longer would only make the other party more uncomfortable.

The big man stared at the ground, his mind already completely sunk into chaos… and involuntarily followed the other party as they walked outside.

……

Outside Qingzhou, the night sky was deep and vast.

Order after order was passed down.

Apart from those holding down the city, the remaining thousand-plus Captains of the inner camp who were on rest leave gradually began to move. Those unaware whispered: "Whose order is this?"

"Under General Chen Qiankun, personally issued by Adjutant General Shen, my lord."

"Surround the Vajra Gate."

The Captains returning from Qingfeng Mountain showed no change in expression. One by one, Demon-Suppressing Chains slithered out from their sleeves, the clattering sounds enveloping the entire street.

The black robes with golden eagle cloud patterns surged forward, like death's messengers come to collect a life.

"Exterminate the Vajra Gate!"

Inside the Zhen Mo Si government office, countless Captains of the outer camp all stopped what they were doing.

Several dozen Adjutant Generals threw on their great cloaks and rose from the crowd.

The nearly three thousand outer-camp Captains still within Outside Qingzhou at this moment slowly poured out of the Zhen Mo Si government office, heading toward the western part of the city.

Within the vast city, a darkness thicker than the curtain of night suddenly descended.

Torches linked into a single line, like a prairie fire spreading in every direction.

The various noble families and sects tightly shut their doors. Every passerby on the street retreated home, peeking out quietly through the crack of the door.

Neat black robes swept past before their eyes, a chilling aura engulfing the entire street.

"Are you sure that is what Captain Shen, my lord, meant?"

Li Mujin clenched her teeth tightly, wishing she could strangle this younger brother of hers.

"It wasn't me who did it."

Li Xinhan squeezed into the crowd, looking rather bewildered: "I didn't want to make too big a fuss, so I just found Adjutant General Hong Lei who leads his horse for him, and the few golden eagle Captains who had cleared the way for him at the time. I just said Captain Shen, my lord, had run into trouble, and that we had to first keep an eye on the people of Vajra Gate…"

In the western outskirts, a towering pagoda structure was surrounded by grey-white courtyard walls.

Several dozen martial men of the jianghu rushed up the long flight of steps toward the main gate. Before they could even shut the door, their gazes froze as they took in the ranks of black-clad men surging toward this place.

Under the glow of the firelight, the golden eagles and fierce wolves seized the heart and startled the soul!

(End of this chapter)