Chapter 126: It Is I Who Wishes to See You

"I understand. Have the Shadow Guard keep a close watch, and report back immediately if anything happens!"

He sighed softly; some matters forced Shen Yu to be cautious. Thinking about it from beginning to end, it seemed as if they were truly being led along step by step, the purpose likely being to make the various families in Songnan Prefecture feel panicked, ideally to the point of being at daggers drawn with them.

Regardless of what the other party's goal was, they had already succeeded; now, the various families in Songnan Prefecture were likely more than just wary of him, the Prefect. If someone were to stir the pot at a time like this, tsk tsk...

Since they wanted to play, then he would simply play along with them slowly. They thought he dared not make a move, so he would deliberately make a move for them to see. If he couldn't finish them off with one blow, then he would boil the frog in warm water and take his time.

Uprooting these people who had committed so many evils would inevitably cause some growing pains for Songnan Prefecture, but it would be extremely beneficial for the future development of Songnan Prefecture. Therefore, Shen Yu had made up his mind not to let these people who oppressed the commoners off the hook.

When he first arrived, he had witnessed the state to which the commoners were oppressed; if things continued like this, the commoners would eventually reach their breaking point. If these people were not dealt with, it would only lead to greater turmoil.

"System, sign in!"

"Sign-in successful, obtained the twelfth layer of the Golden Bell Shield!"

A sharp light suddenly shot from his eyes—it was actually the twelfth layer of the Golden Bell Shield. One had to know that the further one went in the Golden Bell Shield, the greater the difference between each realm; every improvement was an unimaginably huge leap.

The twelfth layer was already the highest realm of the Golden Bell Shield; although it was only one realm away from the eleventh, it was a chasm of difference and could by no means be mentioned in the same breath.

Shen Yu had not expected that just by eliminating one Gu Family, the reward would be so generous. As for the rest of those people, he wondered how many sign-in rewards he would get after eliminating them.

As a hazy glow poured in, Shen Yu felt as if his entire body was being soaked in a hot spring; his flesh was constantly being washed by waves of heat, and a large amount of impurities flowed out through his pores.

The strength of his physical body improved rapidly without him even realizing it, and his entire aura underwent a earth-shaking change. If he had previously been like a peerless divine weapon with a piercing edge, he was now more like an immovable copper wall and iron bastion.

Upon reaching the twelfth layer of the Golden Bell Shield, the vital spots all over his body had completely disappeared, and he had almost attained an indestructible body.

Now, not only was he impervious to swords and spears, water and fire, he could even go without sleep or food for a short time, and even if he consumed lethal poison, he would remain safe and sound. It could be said that he was basically omnidirectional with no blind spots. The terror of the Golden Bell Shield once perfected was evident.

Now, Shen Yu had absolute confidence that, based on this defensive power alone, he had no equal below the level of Grandmaster. For those above the level of Grandmaster, breaking his defense would be no easy task. Moreover, he wasn't just standing there letting people hit him.

Having obtained such an improvement, Shen Yu's confidence grew, and his determination to uproot these malignant tumors in Songnan Prefecture became even firmer. As for whether these people would retaliate, he was not worried at all.

As long as one's own strength was solid enough, no matter what was in front of them, it would be vulnerable in the face of absolute power. He just didn't believe he couldn't flatten them!

"Prefect Shen! Prefect Shen?" From just a moment ago, this Prefect had been stunned there, followed by an aura that made one shudder.

Although this aura was only leaking out a tiny bit, it had already made him tremble with fear.

This Prefect Shen was definitely more terrifying than imagined; his trump cards were definitely not just the "Dual Mastery of Zither and Sword" rumored in the Jianghu!

"Apologies, I was thinking about some things just now!" Shen Yu, having come back to his senses, smiled lightly. When he raised his head again, his face was full of confidence. Yet, it was precisely this confidence that made Gao Cheng's heart skip a beat, feeling that this was a posture of someone about to stir up trouble.

"Gao Cheng, you are to immediately order the Shadow Guard to collect evidence of the crimes of each family. Do not let a single one of those who oppress the commoners and commit many evils go!"

"Prefect Shen!" Upon hearing this, Gao Cheng became a bit anxious. Why did this Prefect not play by the rules?

"My Lord, this matter still requires careful consideration!"

"Rest assured, I have a sense of proportion. Since the Governor has let you all listen to my command, then you Shadow Guards should just follow orders!"

"This... Yes!" Looking at the resolute Shen Yu, Gao Cheng moved his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he didn't say it out loud, though he couldn't help but feel uneasy in his heart.

Thinking of this Prefect Shen's reputation, he was famously known for liking to push through everything by force; he really couldn't rest easy with him like this!

"My Lord, an invitation from the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion. They want to invite you to go over immediately!"

"Weiyuan Marquis Mansion?" At this moment, the voice coming from outside startled Shen Yu slightly. The Weiyuan Marquis Mansion was perhaps the highest-status existence in the entire Songnan Prefecture; he hadn't expected that just as he made a small move, they would be alarmed.

Hearing this news, Gao Cheng, who was beside him, was also shocked. He immediately spoke up, "Prefect Shen, the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion has sent someone to invite you; I fear the matter is not that simple. Moreover, there is no Bliss Flower in the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion!"

"None?"

"None! Not only is there no Bliss Flower, but the Wei Wu Hou Mansion seems to have been deliberately keeping a low profile all these years, and there are very few instances of them oppressing the commoners. Moreover, even if there are those who oppress the commoners, they are basically people who have done so secretly by borrowing the prestige of the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion."

Frowning slightly, Gao Cheng said in a low voice, "It is precisely because there is none that it is suspicious!"

"My Lord, be careful. The old Marquis of the Wei Wu Hou Mansion was a veteran who fought on the battlefield in his day; the Dongning Army was originally brought up by the old Marquis himself. It was only later that it was handed over to General Ye Jing!"

"Is that so?" He nodded; he had already learned this information before. However, the time when the old Marquis of the Wei Wu Hou Mansion was in charge of the Dongning Army was over twenty years ago. This old Marquis himself was also at the advanced age of seventy or eighty.

Now that so many years had passed, the world had long since changed; his words didn't carry much weight, not to mention that Ye Jing was the one who called the shots in the Dongning Army now. It was said that this Ye Jing had built the Dongning Army into an iron barrel.

Moreover, the old Marquis of the Wei Wu Hou Mansion had been bedridden for many years, and even after inviting famous doctors everywhere, there had been no improvement. It was rumored that this old Marquis was only hanging on by a thread thanks to precious medicinal herbs; he was nothing more than a frail old man at death's door.

And the heir to the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion was far away in the Northern Frontier; now, all the affairs of the mansion, big and small, were managed by the Second Young Master of the Marquis Mansion. In other words, the one inviting him was the Second Young Master of the Wei Wu Hou Mansion!

"Prefect Shen, I fear they are coming with ill intent!"

"No matter, what of the Wei Wu Hou Mansion? This official is not yet so afraid of them!"

"Prefect Shen, do not be impulsive!" Seeing the other party's eager-to-try appearance, Gao Cheng couldn't help but sigh.

The Governor letting their Shadow Guard follow this Prefect Shen's command was truly making things difficult for him; this Prefect was not easy to lead!

"Rest assured, I know my limits!"

Putting down the invitation, Shen Yu set off immediately. However, when he arrived at the Wei Wu Hou Mansion, there was no one to receive him as he had imagined. A servant simply led him in through a side door—was this meant to be a show of force?

"Young Master, the person has been brought!"

"Alright, I know, you may go!"

The servant led Shen Yu into a parlor, where Shen Yu saw a middle-aged man of about forty, possessing an air of natural authority; he must be the Second Young Master of the Wei Wu Hou Mansion.

"This official, the Prefect of Songnan Prefecture, greets the Young Master. I wonder for what reason you have summoned this official?"

"It is not I who wishes to see you!"

"It is not the Young Master who wishes to see me? Then who is it?"

"It is I!" A resonant voice came to his ears, followed immediately by the sound of a Mechanism activating within the parlor. A secret door then appeared, from which walked out an old man with white hair and beard but a ruddy complexion, walking with the vigor of a tiger.

"It is this Marquis who wishes to see Prefect Shen!"

"You are the old Marquis of the Wei Wu Hou Mansion? You are fine?"