Chapter 54: Law of Illegality

Blocking me outside the alley?

Xu Yuan secretly rejoiced; fortunately, he had decisively sought out the Purification Bureau.

The horses were suddenly startled; this must be the work of those two.

They are blocking me here, but cannot see inside the carriage, fearing I might hide within it and slip past.

Yan Lao's fingers twitched slightly a few times, having calculated a vague result; his graying eyebrows knitted slightly: "Not far now; let us proceed on foot."

Staying inside the carriage prevents seeing the outside situation and instead makes one vulnerable to ambush.

Fu Jingyu and Song Lu immediately understood; the two split to left and right, protecting Xu Yuan in the middle, while Yan Lao held the rear, and the four of them walked steadily toward River Work Alley.

Song Lu's jade hand remained pressed on the sword hilt.

After the four passed, the two figures before a small roadside stall changed expression: "That dog actually hooked up with the Purification Bureau; hurry and report to the big brother..."

"I saw it all." Xing Guolong's voice sounded from behind the two.

The two turned hastily: "Big brother."

Xing Guolong had been watching the four's backs; the muscles on his cheeks bulged repeatedly, his anger extreme.

What he truly feared was that old man.

If it were only those two young Captains, they would simply be killed together. So what if it is the Purification Bureau? Are there not many Captains of the Purification Bureau who die in the line of duty each year?

"Return first."

The group returned to the carriage inn dejectedly; Fourth Brother could not help but say: "Big brother, let me handle it!"

Xing Guolong was moved: "Are you truly resolved?"

Both Xing Guolong and Eighth Brother were Seventh Grade; the other Seventh Grade in the group was Fourth Brother.

Fourth Brother was a Law Cultivator, but he cultivated a very fierce and obscure "Law of Illegality"!

A "Law" that violates all common sense, rules, and cognition of the world.

Its power is extremely terrifying, yet the cost is equally staggering.

Every reversal of common sense during the casting process rebounds upon the Law Cultivator himself!

The last time Fourth Brother cast this spell, he lost his liver and both eyes! The opponent then was not yet at the level of Yan Xiuyong.

In the end, it was Master Chen who invited a Fourth Grade Rank Dan Xiu to act, allowing him to recover completely.

But at that time, Master Chen was still a powerful Fourth-Rank official in the Northern Capital, not yet demoted to the Southern Capital.

And now, Master Chen has retired and returned home, being even worse off than when he was in the Southern Capital.

"I am resolved." Since Fourth Brother had made his decision, he was instead very calm: "When I first cultivated this Law, was it not because I had only a rotten life to my name and wanted to gamble?"

Although Master Chen did not say it, having followed him for so long, we can roughly guess what great matter Master Chen and the others intend to do.

If we succeed, we will all rise to prosperity!

Big brother, if I cannot survive this time, I entrust my wife and one son and two daughters to the brothers! When we become wealthy in the future, do not forget Fourth Brother's efforts today."

Cultivating the "Law of Illegality" consumes little, but the process is exceptionally dangerous and painful.

Of those who attempt it, not one in a hundred succeeds.

The fate of the vast majority of attempters is to become members of the evil spirits.

Xing Guolong pressed his shoulder firmly, which counted as tacit approval, yet he still said: "We have not reached that step yet. That boy is mixing with people from the Purification Bureau, but that old man from the Purification Bureau cannot guard him forever; as long as he is alone, we still have a chance."

Fourth Brother merely said: "I will go prepare first."

Xu Yuan opened the door and entered the courtyard; his stepmother, hearing the noise, came out to check, and seeing Yan Lao and the other two, her eyes held a trace of puzzlement.

Xu Yuan introduced them enthusiastically: "These three are all my lords from the Purification Bureau."

He then introduced Lin Wanmo to the three: "This is my mother."

In front of outsiders, give Lin Wanmo some face!

Song Lu's eyes widened roundly: Your mother?! So young.

Xu Yuan explained briefly: "My father's second wife."

Song Lu then understood; Fu Jingyu asked: "Where are the items?"

"Follow me."

Xu Yuan was about to enter the room when his stepmother gently held him back. Xu Yuan gave her a reassuring look, smiled slightly, and entered the room.

Xu Yuan took out from under the bed all the items found in Qiao Zi'an's study: "They are all here."

Fu Jingyu took them first, checked them one by one, then handed them to Yan Lao: "Please take a look."

Yan Lao was carefully flipping through them on the table when suddenly a head poked over from the side...

Hm?!

Xu Yuan also wanted to take another careful look; among these items, had he overlooked something?

Yan Lao glanced at him; Xu Yuan, however, gave him a huge smile: "Grandpa, have you figured anything out?"

Yan Lao was quite speechless; was I here to discuss with you? I was telling you to withdraw! This boy is truly... He wanted to reprimand him a bit, but the boy looked so harmless, and Yan Xiuyong, the famous good-natured man of the Southern Jiaozhi Southern Office, found himself unable to speak.

Very well, look then; after all, these are items he turned over.

His stepmother, standing aside, felt deeply uneasy; like Aunt Wang, she did not quite approve of Xu Yuan contacting the Purification Bureau.

She thought silently: Once these people leave, I must have a good talk with Xu Yuan.

Yan Lao carefully re-examined these items; shortly thereafter, he truly spotted some anomalies. But Yan Lao said nothing, put all the items away, and said: "Let us return first."

Fu Jingyu and Song Lu rose and prepared to leave.

Xu Yuan felt restless; this old man must have seen something, yet refuses to tell me.

"Grandpa Yan, if I recall any further circumstances, should I come to the county yamen to find you?" Xu Yuan suddenly said a sentence.

Yan Lao had already reached the doorway; he stopped, thought for a moment, and said: "You come with us to the county yamen first; there may be some matters to ask you."

"A duty I cannot refuse!" Xu Yuan immediately followed.

The stepmother grew somewhat anxious: "Xu Yuan..."

Xu Yuan turned back and said seriously: "Wait for me at home."

The two words "at home" were spoken with added emphasis, implying the stepmother should not go out.

Chen Master's men might still be guarding outside; it was safest for the stepmother to remain in the alley.

When Xu Yuan emerged from the alley, he used "Gaze at Fate" to check; sure enough, an eighth-rate cultivator was sitting in a restaurant on the street outside.

After they left, the eighth-rate cultivator immediately rose and returned to the carriage station at top speed.

"That brat has come out, moving with the Purification Bureau people. It looks like he's heading back to the county yamen."

Old Four took a deep breath and said: "We can wait no longer. Once they return to the county yamen, they may not come out today; even if they do, given the Purification Bureau's demonstrated regard for him, they will likely escort him back."

Old Eight also spoke: "Big Brother, the stretch of road until they reach the county yamen might be our last chance!"

Xing Guolong gritted his teeth: "Very well, act! Old Four, rest assured; afterward, I will kneel and beg Chen Master, and I will do everything possible to save you."

Old Four merely looked at him but did not move.

Xing Guolong raised his hand and swore: "If you do not survive, I, Xing Guolong, will certainly care for your family. If I break this oath, may I be plagued by strange beings all my life and meet a violent death in the wilderness!"

Only then did Old Four slap his thigh, rise, and say: "Let's go."

Request monthly tickets!

Damn it, today is auspicious for: eating dumplings, dipping in vinegar.

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(End of this chapter)