Chapter 32

Lu Xingzhou fell into deep thought and didn't speak.

Under the feet of the Son of Heaven, the probability of the Emperor doing it himself is quite high.

If it were done by brothers, they probably wouldn't just target your legs... The Emperor, however, is very likely to do so.

No wonder Shen Tang felt such an indescribable touch when seeing his feelings for Anuo... It wasn't just the events of the previous night; it should have been something she felt in her heart long ago.

People's likes and dislikes always have their reasons.

Shen Tang continued: "In any case, whoever did it, this act of fratricide caused extreme dissatisfaction from the State Preceptor, so she sent Qingli to escort me away and protect me personally."

"So Qingli is a disciple of the State Preceptor, a direct descendant of the Holy Land?"

"Yes." Shen Tang said: "Qingli and I are somewhat similar. She has been cultivating hard in the Frozen Moon Cold River since she was a child and has rarely had contact with outsiders. However, it's because of the cultivation technique she practices... Originally, she should have cultivated to the Fourth Grade before coming out of the mountain to seek the path of the Upper Three Grades. It just so happened that my matter occurred, so the State Preceptor let her come out early."

Lu Xingzhou sighed: "The backgrounds of the two of you could flip the entire Xiazhou a hundred times and roll it into a ball. Xiazhou is a county town; how can it accommodate such big Buddhas as you, and two of them at that?"

Shen Tang laughed: "Actually, Xiazhou is a bit special. It's rare for a county town to be called a 'Zhou' (Prefecture). That's because the prefecture and county administration were both here in the early years. Later, the spiritual energy here became thin, the prefecture administration moved, and this place became a large county specification."

"I heard about this when I was a child. Is there a story behind it?"

"Whether there is a story or not, perhaps it's a topic we can explore." Shen Tang said: "The State Preceptor pointed out that the wind rises in Xiazhou. I think there must be a reason... The previous events are already considered turbulent for ordinary people, but for us, it seems they are not quite enough."

Lu Xingzhou nodded: "Continue with your story. The State Preceptor helped you, and then?"

"My matter, if it was done by my father himself, things would be simpler. He has already deposed me, which is enough. There is really no need to kill me all, ruining his reputation in vain and causing dissatisfaction in the Holy Land. For this reason, he will also restrain my younger brothers from acting recklessly."

"Does the Holy Land have such great restrictions on imperial power?"

"Interdependence, perhaps. The Holy Land cannot completely override the royal family... but the royal family will never want to fall out with the Holy Land. Being considered perverse by the Holy Land is not a good thing."

Lu Xingzhou interjected: "Then if it was done by your younger brothers, under the pressure of the Holy Land, he would probably have to give an account, at least push out a batch of scapegoats. After this case is over, you can actually openly show yourself as the Heaven Travel Sword Sect. On the premise that you safely act as a cripple, without threats, they won't come to openly move against you again. At most, there might be secret plots, or suppression under the name of gang struggles."

"Exactly, so even if I am cured, I will continue to pretend to be a cripple and show it to him."

Lu Xingzhou's heart moved slightly, and he felt that if he were cured, he wouldn't mind continuing to pretend to be a cripple either...

Shen Tang suddenly changed the subject: "Xingzhou, do you know that when we first met, you said something unintentional that touched me deeply?"

Lu Xingzhou was stunned: "Which sentence?"

"You said, making people feel regret for losing me is something we women like to use..." Shen Tang said in a low voice, as if talking to herself: "I originally just wanted to stay far away, watching them kill each other and father and son suspect each other, regretting it sooner or later. Heaven knows how much I thought about it when I heard such a sentence abruptly. The blood of my mother, my uncle, and countless innocent disciples of the Sword Sect was actually shed because of me. If I really just retreat and watch like this, who can I face..."

She paused and looked into Lu Xingzhou's eyes, her gaze shining: "In short, I just want them to be like Liu Qingcang... to feel pain and regret because of failure."

Lu Xingzhou laughed "Ha": "I didn't expect that my story with the Danxia Gang would have a different meaning under your observation..."

"So you and I are really destined." Shen Tang's eyes flowed: "Are you going to retreat from getting involved in such things?"

"I expected your business to be troublesome long ago." Lu Xingzhou smiled: "Since I dared to accept your jade talisman, I won't give up easily, Sect Master."

Shen Tang bit her lower lip: "Then... when can you take your hand off my leg?"

Lu Xingzhou moved his hand away as if struck by electricity.

This was being lost in thought while listening to the story, not on purpose, really!

Shen Tang looked at him with a half-smile for a while, but didn't say anything, just said: "Then what development advice do you have for me now?"

Lu Xingzhou touched his chin and thought for a while: "Wait for a change first, then make a decision."

"The conclusion of the case in the capital?"

"No, see who the new City Lord is. During this time, rest assured and treat your leg. This is more important than anything else."

…………

At this moment, the capital is boiling over two things.

One is the extermination case of the Heaven Travel Sword Sect a few days ago.

Most people don't know that the Heaven Travel Sword Sect is a royal merchant, nor do they know about the "princess missing" matter. Shen Tang was quite surprised that Lu Xingzhou knew about this before, but later she naturally guessed that Lu Xingzhou had been using the intelligence network of the Yama Hall behind the scenes.

However, the Heaven Travel Sword Sect is a righteous path, and Sect Master Shen Chaoqun was a Third Grade sword cultivator, considered quite strong among the Third Grade, ranking 103rd on the Great Gan "Group Heroes List," quite famous. The overall strength of the Heaven Travel Sword Sect is also considered upper-middle level, and its extermination overnight really shocked the world.

Especially since Shen Chaoqun was killed under the feet of the Son of Heaven and outside the capital, it is a major case.

The Emperor was furious and issued an imperial decree to investigate thoroughly.

After a month of chaos in the capital, a conclusion was finally reached recently.

The Third Prince, Qi Wang Gu Yiheng, was greedy for money, killed people, and intercepted goods, with conclusive evidence. He was demoted to a commoner and confined to his mansion, not allowed to go out. The subordinates of Qi Wang who participated in this case were killed, and the capital was terrified.

This is the Emperor's account to the Holy Land...

As for whether it was really done by Qi Wang, or if Qi Wang had an accident in other struggles and was used as a scapegoat in this way, no one knows.

At the same time, the Emperor also issued a decree to support the remnants of the Heaven Travel Sword Sect and not to bully them because of their defeat.

"Is the State Preceptor safe now?" Gu Zhanting walked slowly onto the Star Gazing Platform, looking at the figure under the swirling smoke in the center of the high platform.

His eyesight could penetrate the heavy mist and see the figure's grace, sitting cross-legged, calm and composed.

The Master of the Heavenly Jade Holy Land, concurrently serving as the State Preceptor of Great Gan, ranked first in the world on the Great Gan "Group Heroes List," True Person Tinglan.

It's a pity that she wears a veil, so her face cannot be seen.

But there is no need to look. When she was young, Gu Zhanting had seen her, and he also knew that she was not a "True Person" back then and was using her real name, Ye Tinglan... That was perhaps the most beautiful woman Gu Zhanting had ever seen in his life.

It's a pity that such a woman could never marry into the inner palace, and he couldn't covet her...

Hidden monsters cannot be counted. The royal family itself has a bunch of old monsters, and the Holy Land has even more, which the Group Heroes List cannot list. The two of them are the only two Super Grade experts active on the surface of Great Gan, seemingly matched in level. But he knows he can't beat Ye Tinglan, and after being injured in the battle with the Demon Emperor and not yet recovered, he is even less of a match.

After all, on the Group Heroes List, the dignified Emperor ranks second.

Ye Tinglan wouldn't take a fancy to a man with low strength, or simply put, there couldn't be any love between men and women in her eyes... There is only the Immortal Path in her eyes, and she is even more interested in the Yama King than in others.

Third in the world... Yama King of the Yama Hall, the first under Super Grade, invincible among the First Grade.

However, the reason why the Holy Land is the Holy Land is that it has not avoided the world. At least they talk about justice and also restrain the ship of Great Gan from easily deviating from its course.

"That is your own daughter, and you ask me if she is safe?" Ye Tinglan slowly opened her eyes, her beautiful eyes without sorrow or joy: "Why not ask yourself, is this heart at peace?"

The voice was calm and magnetic, just as pleasant as it was back then.

It seemed that time had never left any traces on her.

Gu Zhanting was silent for a moment: "Yitang's martial arts talent is high, and she has her own influence, but it's a pity she is a woman. For the sake of the country, I have no choice."

"You are not as enlightened as your ancestors."

"In fact, several previous empresses... did things very nonsensically. The historians just gave them some face when writing history."

"They really didn't do well." Ye Tinglan's voice was slightly mocking: "But you, a seven-foot man, did you do very well?"

Gu Zhanting said solemnly: "I resist demons from the outside and soothe the people's livelihood from the inside, without a day of slack, worthy of my ancestors."

Ye Tinglan said lightly: "What is the sin of the Heaven Travel Sword Sect to be slaughtered by the Son of Heaven for no reason, making the sects of the world feel panicked? Is this what you call 'not bad'? Those who know the inside story also know that a father killed his daughter and framed his own son. It is indeed 'not bad'."

Gu Zhanting was silent.

Ye Tinglan said again: "Yesterday, I heard someone send a message that the Xiazhou City Lord secretly raised demons and fed them with blood... If it hadn't been discovered in time, and the day of Xiazhou's devastation had really arrived, would that be what Your Majesty calls 'not bad'?"

Gu Zhanting had something to say about this: "That's just a local official breaking the law and forbidding it, which has existed since ancient times. How can it be blamed on me?"

"In recent years, similar cases have doubled compared to previous years. Involving officials, Your Majesty, as the Son of Heaven, is not responsible. Should the common people be responsible? Not to mention anything else, just why is a swordsman like Xu Bingkun, who only knows how to cultivate and break through, qualified to be a City Lord? It wasn't appointed by me."

Gu Zhanting was silent again.

Xu Bingkun was recommended by Grand Tutor Huo, and the Huo family is trusted by him.

As a result, Ye Tinglan seemed to know what he was thinking and added another sentence: "The Huo family exploits the township, and the grievances are boiling, but the Son of Heaven uses them as arms. If it's not the Son of Heaven's fault, is it mine?"

Gu Zhanting, a dignified Emperor, didn't come to be lectured, and finally, his face couldn't hold up, coldly saying: "Has the State Preceptor crossed the line?"

Ye Tinglan chuckled: "Xiazhou is considered good... In all parts of the country, sects, bureaucrats, families... the strong bully the weak, and the rate of beasts eating people is worse than demons. If the day of collapse really comes, I hope Your Majesty can say that sentence worthy of your ancestors."

Gu Zhanting snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves and left, and the conversation ended unhappily.

Ye Tinglan looked coldly at Gu Zhanting's departure, her slender fingers suddenly pinched a magic trick, and she made a simple calculation.

"Qian, Nine Two, see the dragon in the field, it is beneficial to see the great man." Ye Tinglan was slightly stunned: "How could it be this hexagram? The host and guest are wrong... I calculated for Yitang, who is the great man?"

(End of this chapter)