[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou":3,"chapter-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-109":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ink Saint of Great Zhou",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2292072,4481,"Chapter 109","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-109",109,"\u003Cp>“Remnants of the Demon Cult! Surrender at once!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Yu stormed into the hall, his sharp gaze sweeping over the Gao family members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Zheng Ci sneered continuously—he now wanted to see what the Gao family could do, and whether the hidden master would dare show himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each member of the Gao family turned ashen, completely losing any will to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, some still hoped the hidden master would appear and resolve the crisis, but after waiting a long while, the master did not show—instead, Lu Fang stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were you summoned by Zheng Ci?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked hesitantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Yu blinked, then laughed coldly. “Who is Zheng Ci? I came here in response to a letter from the Marquis of Wenguan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled a token from his sleeve—it bore the seal of Minister Xie Yifan of the Military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci stared blankly, mumbling, “My lord, what Marquis of Wenguan? Aren’t you under Xu Hao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Hao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Yu frowned at Zheng Ci. “What are you talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the hall exchanged bewildered glances—what was going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang chuckled lightly. “It’s just a misunderstanding. That’s easily resolved. I sent someone from the Shen family auction house to summon you. This Zheng family has flouted imperial law, arbitrarily murdering civilians and merchants—it must be thoroughly investigated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the entire hall was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao’s eyes lit up. “Is this… really true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Youyao frowned, then nodded in sudden understanding. “So that’s it—Fang Lu used the Marquis of Wenguan’s name to notify the Northern Camp, which is why they came.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly pulled out a recording talisman. “My lord, this talisman records evidence of the Zheng family’s attempt to destroy our family’s assets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Yu glanced at the token in his hand, then at Lu Fang—the token was genuine, but how did this man have it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Northern Camp does not interfere in local affairs unless under exceptional circumstances.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci hurriedly said, “My lord is right. According to Great Zhou law, local military commanders cannot intervene in civil matters without authorization. These people are truly unruly—daring to impersonate the Marquis of Wenguan to falsely accuse imperial officials.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, I beg you, as former County Magistrate of Beicheng, to aid the empire—exterminate these demon cult remnants.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Yu snorted. “Why the rush? Don’t interrupt me! Do you recognize this token? It belongs to the Minister of Military. To me, this is an exceptional circumstance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… this token is truly the Minister’s?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci looked utterly incredulous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Otherwise, how do you think we came here?” Captain Yu turned to Lu Fang. “Young master, how did you come to possess this token?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Fang smiled faintly. “It doesn’t matter. You know a token is as good as the Minister himself. I don’t ask you to do anything extraordinary—only to uphold justice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Captain Yu nodded, turning to Gao Youyao. “You said you had evidence. Show me. Tell me exactly what happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Youyao hesitated, glancing at Lu Fang. Seeing him nod, she clenched her teeth and handed the recording talisman to Captain Yu, then recounted the entire story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening and examining the talisman, Captain Yu waved his hand. “Seize the entire Zheng family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Ci turned pale as ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zheng Youqing was even more shaken. “My lord, that token must be fake! This Fang Lu person is surely a demon cult remnant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Captain Yu ignored him entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Zheng Bao returned. Seeing the Northern Camp soldiers in the courtyard, he entered the hall, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, why are there so many Northern Camp soldiers here? I went to the Northern Camp, and Sergeant Xu was arrested and thrown in jail.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking, Zheng Bao was already pinned from behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One day later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zheng family of Beicheng, convicted of multiple crimes, was imprisoned pending review by the Ministry of Justice. Without doubt, Zheng Ci, Zheng Bao, and Zheng Youqing would all face execution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gao family, for exposing the crimes, was released and granted rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the county magistrate’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Acting County Magistrate Hu Wei bowed. “Senior Gao, congratulations. Surviving such a calamity means great fortune lies ahead—your family’s future is assured.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior Gao beamed. “Thank you, Magistrate Hu, for your kind words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing beside Senior Gao, Gao Youyao asked, “Magistrate Hu, where is one of our people? Where is Fang Lu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue’er nodded vigorously. “Fang Young Master hasn’t been with us since before. Could he still be inside the magistrate’s office?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day before, they had all been confined separately within the office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they had not seen Lu Fang—and now that they were all free, he was still missing, hence their suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Shi smiled and nodded. “Our family escaped disaster thanks to Fang Lu. Xue’er, go to the magistrate’s office and bring Fang Young Master out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Wei sighed. “No need. That Fang Young Master left long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? He left already?” Gao Youyao hesitated. “That doesn’t make sense—he’s a destitute scholar, hasn’t even been paid for the third-grade Haoran Zhengqi Elixir. Why would he leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Wei glanced around, then lowered his voice. “You don’t actually think that Fang Young Master is a destitute scholar, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun, the steward, nodded emphatically. “My lord, when I first saw Fang Young Master, he was lying on the ground begging—clearly a destitute scholar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Wei shook his head. “A destitute scholar possess a third-grade Haoran Zhengqi Elixir? Possess a token from the Minister of Military? Command the manager of the Shen family’s auction house?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The hidden master you spoke of? It was him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I’m right, he doesn’t even go by Fang Lu. He’s likely some great figure. I heard the Shen family’s patriarch enjoys disguising himself and traveling the land—perhaps it’s him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, I’m not certain. But this man is no ordinary scholar—he’s extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Gao family rode home in their carriage, they still puzzled over who Lu Fang truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gao Youyao sighed softly, murmuring to herself, “Fang Lu… Lu Fang… could Fang Young Master be the Marquis of Wenguan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue’er, who had just bought a copy of the Great Zhou Gazette on the street, slipped into the carriage and overheard this. She shook her head vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible! How could he be the Marquis of Wenguan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not?” Gao Youyao raised an eyebrow. “Fang Lu and Lu Fang—don’t you think those names are suspiciously similar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue’er blinked. “If he really is the Marquis of Wenguan, then I once bathed him… Had I known, I would have…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming the matter was settled, Lu Fang left Beicheng. As for the silver for the third-grade Haoran Zhengqi Elixir, he simply forgot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, he thought about returning to collect it—but felt too embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he continued his travels—but only for two days, before Lu Ling in the capital fell into trouble!\u003C\u002Fp>",1142,"2026-06-20T03:56:21.568Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d1e60c24bf1d8ab8303682d84898a1c97651cf73ef0e73be5ad09382abd34a68","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-110","the-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-chapter-108",289,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ink-saint-of-great-zhou-cover.jpg"]