Chapter 15: Swordsmanship

I, I, I…

For a moment, Cheng Yong's speech became hesitant, not knowing how to answer; he wasn't stupid, so how could he fail to hear the threat in Liu Ankang's words?

Don't underestimate Liu Ankang just because he's a servant, but there's an old saying that fits:

A seventh‑rank official before the Prime Minister's door!

Even if he's just a tiny Village Chief, even a County Magistrate of the county office.

They might not even be able to provoke Liu Ankang!

Seeing Village Chief Cheng stammering, unable to speak clearly, Liu Ankang's face full of arrogance, he snorted coldly: "Village Chief Cheng, why don't you speak? I ask you, is this person really my follower!"

Isn't it obvious to you whether he's your follower or not?

Just as Cheng Yong was extremely panicked, not knowing what to do, a cold laugh rang out, and Guo Xuesong walked over from a side path, saying: "Village Chief, whatever the matter, I'll take it on for you; speak the truth openly!"

Hearing this, Cheng Yong's face lit up, he breathed a sigh of relief, shouted "Scholar Gong", and hurriedly said:

"Butler Liu, when I brought you to the Wang Family yesterday, this person was right beside you; if he's not your follower, why was he by your side?"

"Good, good, good…"

Liu Ankang gave Cheng Yong a deep look, his eyes full of resentment, then glanced at Guo Xuesong and said:

"You say this person is my follower; I won't dispute that. Since you claim he's a murderer intending to take a life, I wonder whether he succeeded or merely found the murder weapon?"

"In the dead of night, he sneaked into my daughter‑in‑law's room; if he's not a villain, could he possibly be a good person?"

Wang Lin said coldly: "I haven't found the murder weapon, but I did find this!"

As he spoke, Wang Lin pulled a ceramic bottle from his chest; it was something he had retrieved from the hand of the Faction corpse while examining it.

Liu Ankang sneered: "Lord Wang, you really know how to joke. Killing without a weapon, using a ceramic bottle? Do you intend to smash the victim with it?"

"Of course not to smash someone with a ceramic bottle, but to use the poison inside it!"

Wang Lin's face grew grim; not long ago, after finding this ceramic bottle on the Faction corpse and seeing pills inside, he consulted Wei Langzhong, who told him what the poison was.

It is called Cicada Medicine, a chronic poison with a latency of about one to two months; once it manifests, there is no cure, and unless one is a medical saint, the cause of death is hard to determine, being treated as ordinary death.

It is extremely expensive; bluntly put, the life of an ordinary family may not even be worth a single Cicada Medicine.

Liu Ankang sneered: "Lord Wang, you say it's poison because it's poison? Who knows if you deliberately found it to frame me?"

Wang Lin ignored Liu Ankang's outcry and said: "Mao the Captor, please act on behalf of the Wang Family and apprehend this murderer!"

"Brother, please accompany me to the magistrate's office for a while!"

Mao agreed.

"What are you, daring to call me brother?"

Liu Ankang coldly shouted, his face full of contempt, completely ignoring Mao's angry expression; seeing him draw his side sword without a hint of panic, he said: "I am the steward of the Prime Minister's residence, and now also the steward of the Third Scholar's household; without any proof, how dare you seize me?"

I, I, I…

Mao was indeed angry, but Liu Ankang was right; not only is there no evidence, even with evidence, before any other powerful figure speaks, he wouldn't have the nerve to seize that bastard Liu Ankang.

Who says he's not from the Prime Minister's residence!

"Lord Wang, time is short; please bring Madam Wang with us to the Capital City; soon my master will need two senior elders…"

Liu Ankang hadn't finished speaking when he saw Wang Lin's face full of unhidden anger; about to say something, he cut in:

"Lord Wang, if you disagree, I might do something even I don't know!" As he spoke, Liu Ankang glanced toward Liu Dongzhu's bedroom.

Though his words were vague, even a three‑year‑old would understand the meaning.

Wang Lin, angry, said: "You're threatening me!"

Guo Xuesong, also angry, shouted: "How daring!"

"Lord Wang, you're joking; I only speak the truth, how could I threaten you?"

Liu Ankang smiled and said: "Moreover, Lord Wang, you're the father of the Third Scholar; how could I dare…"

"But you intend to kill my disciple's life?"

At that moment, a cold, icy voice rang out, making Liu Ankang shiver as if falling into a thousand‑year‑old ice cellar; he turned his head and saw, not far away, a Daoist bearing a long sword.

At a glance, it was clear the newcomer meant no good!

The next moment.

The warrior beside Liu Ankang quickly drew his long knife, blocking in front of Liu Ankang to stop the Daoist's approach.

This novel you…

At this moment, Liu Ankang felt a surge of confidence, frowned and said: "Old Daoist, I don't even know you; how could I endanger your disciple's life?"

"My disciple is Wang Ping'an!"

The newcomer was indeed Xuanqing Daozhang; with a "clang!" the long sword on his back unsheathed itself, about to strike.

Liu Ankang felt a wave of unease, hurriedly shouted: "I am a servant of the Prime Minister's residence; how dare you hurt me…"

"Pfft!"

Before Liu Ankang could finish, a streak of Flowing Light flashed by, then a sharp pain shot through his body; when he recovered, a long sword had pierced through, the voice resentful: "My master will not let you go!"

After the words, with a "thud!", Liu Ankang fell to the ground.

At the moment of death, his heart harbored not only resentment toward Xuanqing Daozhang, but even more, resentment toward the warrior who had shielded him.

So many people, yet it was Xuanqing Daozhang who took his life!

"Ding! By using the pet's eye, you witnessed Xuanqing Daozhang's swordsmanship killing, you have gained the skill: Swordsmanship 【Entry Level】!"

A mechanical, cold voice echoed in his mind, yet Wang Ping'an's emotions remained unchanged; not that he dislikes Swordsmanship, but he was startled by Xuanqing Daozhang's audacity.

Liu Ankang was from the Prime Minister's residence; even with solid evidence, not a single constable would dare arrest him, yet Xuanqing Daoist Master would kill on a whim.

One can imagine the calamity this caused.

Wang Ping'an naturally understood why Xuanqing Daozhang acted so, his heart filled with gratitude.

"My master truly cares about me, knowing I was almost harmed; even the Prime Minister's men, when they say kill they kill, without caring what disaster it might invite!"

Wang Ping'an sighed to himself.

After experiencing this matter, Wang Ping'an had already decided from the bottom of his heart to take Xuanqing Daozhang as his master.

No matter how capable he is, just relying on his kindness toward me, if I become his disciple, I will surely not suffer a loss.

A teacher transmits the Dao, imparts learning, and resolves doubts!

(End of chapter)