Chapter 16: Heaven is vast, earth is vast, reason is supreme

"What you said is correct; I don't dare to hurt people, because I only want to kill. Before you dared to lay a hand on my disciple, don't say you're just a servant in the prime minister's mansion—even if you are the prime minister yourself, I won't let you off!"

Xuanqing Daoist Master coldly looked at Liu Ankang lying on the ground, already a corpse, and seeing the restless warriors around, he shouted, "You still haven't scrammed? Do you also want to be buried with him?"

The warriors exchanged glances; clearly the leader stepped forward and said, "Daoist, don't be smug—you killed someone from our prime minister's mansion, and we from the prime minister's mansion will not let you off!"

Having said that, two warriors stepped forward, gathered Liu Ankang's corpse, turned and left.

They were guards; the purpose of accompanying Liu Ankang to Qingyang County this time was to protect his safety. Now Liu Ankang lost his life before them, they cannot escape blame, and returning will bring them reproach.

But...

When Xuanqing Daoist Master killed Liu Ankang, they didn't even have time to react, which shows his strength is beyond their resistance; if they dared to act against him, they would pay with their lives.

They had little connection with Liu Ankang; ever since he became the steward of the Zhuangyuan Lang household, he often flaunted his might in front of them.

How could they possibly sacrifice their own lives for such a worthless person?

They clearly understand which is more important: their own lives or being reprimanded after returning.

"Xuanqing Daozhang, you've brought great disaster!"

Guo Xuesong watched as a troop carried Liu Ankang's corpse away, his expression solemn, and he said:

"Scholar, is this how you let outsiders do evil at your elder brother Wang's gate?"

Xuanqing Daozhang gave a cold snort, strode up to Mao He, who was frightened and stepped back; with nowhere to retreat, he put on a fawning smile and said again, "Constable Mao, do you want to arrest me and take me to the county office?"

Mao He feigned confusion and said, "Xuanqing Daozhang, what are you saying? I don't understand; how could I arrest you and take you to the county office?"

"I killed someone; shouldn't I pay with my life?"

Xuanqing Daozhang retorted.

"Killed someone? Xuanqing Daozhang, you're joking—who did you kill? I didn't see anything."

Mao He wore a fawning smile; his brain wasn't addled—how could he possibly arrest Xuanqing Daozhang and take him to the county office? It's not that killing is right, but that Xuanqing Daozhang killed Liu Ankang, someone even he dares not offend.

How could someone dare to arrest a strongman like Xuanqing Daozhang and take him to the county office?

Let alone

If he really arrested Xuanqing Daozhang and took him to the county office, the county magistrate would be the first not to let him off.

Who doesn't know their county magistrate hates stirring up trouble the most!

Mao He knew this was a place of right and wrong; not daring to linger, he hurriedly said, "Xuanqing Daozhang, if there's nothing else, we'll leave first!"

As he spoke, Mao He rose, preparing to lead the constables away, when it seemed he thought of something; he turned to look at Wang Lin beside him and said, "Sir Wang, we're leaving first!"

"Constable Mao, I'll see you off!"

Wang Lin eagerly said.

Xuanqing Daozhang watched Wang Lin see off Mao He and his group, withdrew his gaze, angrily looked at Guo Xuesong, and said angrily:

"Scholar, weren't you planning to take Ping'an as your disciple? Now someone wants to harm Ping'an's life, yet you don't even dare to fart—is this how you protect your disciple?"

Not long ago, while he was cultivating in quiet meditation at the Daoist temple, a child Daoist startled him from his sitting, saying that a believer had reported something major had happened at Wang Lin's household: last night, villains had broken into the home of Wang Lin's daughter-in-law, intending to harm her and her son.

At that time. Upon hearing the news, he wasn't scared to death; ever since he determined that Wang Ping'an very likely possessed an Innate Dao Body, he resolved to revive the Xuanqing Temple—no, more accurately, to leave his name in Daoist history.

To leave his name in history!

All hopes were pinned on Wang Ping'an!

If he didn't have this disciple Wang Ping'an, then once he passes away after a hundred years, he doesn't know whether the Xuanqing Temple can continue to be preserved, but his name will certainly be absent from Daoist history: 'no such person'.

Who made him so ordinary? Daoists like him number not just hundreds of thousands but tens of thousands!

Upon hearing the news, he was both shocked and angry; immediately slinging his sword over his shoulder, he came down from the temple and saw Liu Ankang's arrogant and overbearing appearance.

Knowing this person was the murderer plotting against Wang Ping'an, how could he bear it?

Guo Xuesong opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but the words stuck at his lips and he could not utter them, finally letting out a sigh.

Even if he had a thousand reasons, he could not change Liu Ankang's arrogant and overbearing attitude just now.

Guo Xuesong let out a faint sigh: "Xuanqing Daozhang, you're right—this matter is my fault!"

"Xuanqing Daozhang, this matter isn't the scholar's fault; if it weren't for the scholar stepping forward, the village chief wouldn't dare to speak all he knows!"

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Wang Lin saw off Mao He and his group and returned; seeing Xuanqing Daozhang blaming Guo Xuesong, he hurriedly spoke a few words in Guo Xuesong's defense, then added gratefully:

"But I still thank Xuanqing Daozhang for avenging my daughter-in-law and grandson; aside from that one harm, the person was ultimately from the prime minister's mansion—Daozhang, you killed him, so beware of retaliation from the prime minister's mansion; otherwise, Daozhang, you should go out and hide!"

Guo Xuesong sneered: "Older brother Wang, I don't know whether he will suffer retaliation from the prime minister's mansion, but I know you, Older brother Wang, will definitely be retaliated against; Xuanqing Daozhang means well, but his doing this is good intentions leading to bad outcome!"

"Scholar, you worry too much; one who does the deed bears it—I will settle the trouble I caused myself and will not drag others into it!"

Xuanqing Daozhang glanced lightly at Guo Xuesong, then continued: "For a period of time, the Wang family will still need your help, Scholar, to look after things; I must go out for a trip!"

Guo Xuesong exclaimed in surprise: "Where are you going?"

"A trip to the capital city!"

Xuanqing Daozhang said.

Guo Xuesong panicked: "Are you going to assassinate the prime minister?"

"Scholar, you're too fond of joking; the prime minister is what kind of person—how could I dare to kill him? I'm afraid I couldn't even enter his gate!"

Although he said that, Xuanqing Daozhang's face showed only indifference, and he said: "I only know that heaven is vast, earth is vast, reason is supreme; I go to the capital merely to reason with them, and I don't believe they are all unreasonable."

"Xuanqing Daozhang..."

Guo Xuesong still wanted to say something, but Xuanqing Daozhang cut him off first: "Scholar, if I don't go, I fear the prime minister's household will come every few days to cause trouble for the Wang family; so don't say more—better first consider how, in my absence these days, you will protect the Wang family and avoid further accidents!"

Guo Xuesong said solemnly: "Rest assured, last night's incident will not happen again!"

Wang Lin worried: "Xuanqing Daozhang, the capital is a dragon's pool and tiger's den—perhaps you shouldn't go!"

Xuanqing Daozhang smiled, did not continue the topic, and changed his tone: "Older brother Wang, my disciple wasn't injured last night, nor did he suffer any fright, right?"

"This..."

In a moment, Wang Lin's face turned extremely complex; he sighed: "I also don't know what to say—Xuanqing Daozhang, why don't you go see for yourself?"

(End of chapter)