Chapter 83

Lu Fang frowned deeply. “Elder, I came to Wuyincheng to discuss the promotion of the Da Zhou Gazette with Elder Shen, so how could I have poisoned anyone?”

“Fine, I’ll temporarily believe you.”

Wang Luo changed tack: “But the Shen family must interrogate this woman of unknown origin. Lord Wenguan, I hope you won’t meddle.”

“Bring her away! Whether she’s guilty or not, we must uncover her true identity.”

Shen Qi cheng waved his hand, and immediately a dozen guards surrounded Shen Xiaxuan, ready to drag her off.

Shen Xiaxuan shrank back in terror, hiding entirely behind Lu Fang, tugging at his arm: “Big Brother Lu, save me—if they take me away, I’d rather die right here.”

The guards, wary of Lu Fang’s status, exchanged glances but dared not advance. A man’s reputation precedes him—this was none other than Lord Wenguan.

Wang Luo sneered. “Still standing there? Do you want me to fetch her myself?”

The lead guard gritted his teeth and stepped toward Lu Fang. “Lord Wenguan, please step aside, lest you be injured.”

Shen Xiaxuan stamped her foot in desperation. “Big Brother Lu…”

“Useless fools!”

Shen Lingyun cursed, striding forward. He paid no mind to Lu Fang, a seventh-rank Confucian, and reached out to seize Shen Xiaxuan. “You think begging him helps? If you resist again, I’ll break your legs right here!”

Though Shen Xiaxuan was an eighth-rank martial cultivator, she offered no resistance against Shen Lingyun’s grasp—her shoulder was instantly pinned.

Shen Xiaxuan, though an eighth-rank martial artist, offered no resistance as Shen Lingyun seized her shoulder at once.

Lu Fang, who had watched all this in silence, could no longer hold back.

The air around them froze. Everyone present froze in shock—this Lord Wenguan, facing a half-sage, still refused to yield.

Shen Lingyun raised an eyebrow, tightened his grip, making Shen Xiaxuan cry out in pain. “What if I don’t let go, Lord Wenguan? What will you do?”

Shen Lingyun raised an eyebrow, tightened his grip, making Shen Xiaxuan cry out in pain; he said coldly, “If I don’t let go, Marquis Wenguan, what will you do?”

Lu Fang’s voice exploded like thunder.

Shen Lingyun stood rigid, as if struck by lightning. His upright frame suddenly bent under invisible weight, his expression stunned as he staggered backward several steps and collapsed onto the ground.

Shen Qi cheng’s face darkened. “I’ve told you to train harder, yet you ignore me. You’re this weak before a seventh-rank Confucian?”

Humiliated, Shen Lingyun scrambled up, too ashamed to approach again. “Lord Wenguan! Are you openly declaring war on the Shen family?”

Lu Fang shook his head, speaking as calmly as he could: “I don’t wish to oppose the Shen family. But she is under my protection. If you have no proof she poisoned anyone, you cannot subject her to private punishment.”

Wang Luo’s face turned to ice. He sneered at Lu Fang. “Lord Wenguan, are you determined to protect her? Are you certain you have the strength to do so?”

As Wang Luo’s gaze fell upon Lu Fang, his breathing grew ragged. The “Power of Heaven and Earth” activated automatically, barely allowing him to remain standing.

This was the pressure of a half-sage!

Merely releasing a fraction of his “power” was more than Lu Fang could endure.

Wang Luo’s hair and beard fluttered as he stepped forward, his eyes like knives. “Lord Wenguan, are you certain you wish to protect her?”

Even releasing a fraction of his “presence” would be more than Lu Fang could currently endure.

The floor beneath Lu Fang’s feet cracked and sank. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead; his legs trembled uncontrollably, as if crushed by immense weight.

Shen Xiaxuan cried urgently: “Big Brother Lu, are you alright?”

Lu Fang clenched his teeth. Under the half-sage’s targeted pressure, he could not even speak. Merely standing was an effort that drained every ounce of his strength.

Boom! A powerful force erupted.

Lu Fang’s bent back snapped upright. His robes and hair whipped violently in the gale. He could hold back no longer—he unleashed the full power of the “Power of Heaven and Earth.” His voice rang clear and firm: “Elder, even if you ask a hundred times, my answer remains the same: she is under my protection. Without proof, no one may punish her!”

Shen Xiaxuan whispered: “Big Brother Lu…”

Wang Luo showed slight surprise, paused briefly, then stepped forward again—silent, only sneering at Lu Fang.

The pressure on Lu Fang surged. He felt his skin splitting, bones compressing—any second, he might collapse. Yet his eyes burned with unyielding resolve.

Protecting Shen Xiaxuan was his bottom line.

Unless he died, he would not yield.

The pressure on Lu Fang surged abruptly; he felt the sound of his skin and flesh tearing, his bones being crushed—perhaps in the next second he would be crushed to the ground—but his eyes burned with resolve.

A faint, weary sigh echoed.

A frail, aged voice whispered directly into Lu Fang’s mind: “Lord Wenguan, you came here to discuss the Da Zhou Gazette with Elder Shen. Why risk angering the Shen family over a stranger you just met?”

Lu Fang knew it was the one sent by His Majesty to protect him. He smiled bitterly in reply: “Elder, I never sought confrontation. But I cannot stand by and watch an innocent person suffer because of a conspiracy.”

Almost as soon as he finished speaking—

A Bagua diagram appeared beneath Lu Fang’s feet. The crushing pressure vanished instantly. The hidden protector, at last, intervened.

Wang Luo’s expression darkened. He scanned the surroundings. “Your skill is impressive—I didn’t sense you at all.”

No one appeared—only the voice.

“I vouch for Lord Wenguan—he is not the one who poisoned Elder Shen. As for the woman, she arrived here by pure chance. She is even less likely to be the culprit.”

“The Shen family may question her to verify her identity. But torturing her—even if she confesses under duress—will only let the real killer escape.”

“So, investigate thoroughly. Only then can you save Elder Shen.”

Seeing Wang Luo fall silent, the Shen family exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what to do. Their eyes turned to Shen Qi cheng and Shen Qi heng.

Shen Qi cheng bowed slightly, displeased. “Sir, you must be someone of renown. Why not show yourself?”

The aged voice interrupted: “Years ago, I met your family’s patriarch a few times. I have no wish to interfere in your family affairs. Just remember this: do not harm Lord Wenguan.”

Shen Qi heng paused, then said: “That’s true. Lord Wenguan just emerged from the Lower Realm, single-handedly turned the tide and gained great fortune. He came here alone to Wuyincheng—wouldn’t it be strange if no one secretly protected him?”

Hearing this, Shen Qi cheng looked desperately at Wang Luo.

Wang Luo sighed heavily, closed his eyes, and said: “Since a half-sage vouches for Lord Wenguan, the culprit must be someone else. Who it is matters less—hurry and prepare the antidote. You may still save Elder Shen.”

With that, Wang Luo’s figure vanished from sight.

Shen Qi bowed slightly, his expression displeased: “Sir, you must be someone of name and standing—why not show yourself…?”

A withered voice interrupted: “Many years ago, I met your family’s founding ancestor a few times. I have no wish to meddle in your Shen family’s affairs—just remember this: do not touch the Marquis of Wenguan!”

Shen Qihe paused in thought for a moment, then said:

“That’s true. The Marquis of Wenguan has just emerged from the Lower Heavenly Realm, single-handedly reversing fate and gaining great cosmic fortune. Now he comes alone to Wuyincheng—wouldn’t it be strange if no one were secretly protecting him?”

Hearing this, Shen Qicheng looked toward Wang Luo as if begging for help.

Wang Luo let out a heavy sigh, closed his eyes, and said:

“If a half-sage is vouching for the Marquis of Wenguan, then the killer must be someone else. Who the killer is isn’t the main issue—hurry and prepare the antidote; you might still save Shen Kangbo’s life.”

With that,

Wang Luo’s figure vanished from where he stood.