Chapter 389: Colluding in a Bind

If this official truly colludes with the Imperial Attendant of his residence to kill Hu Jiushisan, should I intervene or not?

Wang Ping'an couldn't help but mutter.

In any case, Hu Jiushisan is following their family to protect the lives of the whole family; as for Hu Jiushisan—more precisely, Hu Jianbai—what his true purpose is, whether he really wants to make him the son‑in‑law of the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan, or merely uses this matter to draw closer to him, or perhaps harbors ill intent toward him.

Before he has figured out the exact reason behind Hu Jianbai's actions, he can only assume that Hu Jiushisan follows their family in order to protect their safety.

Because he is the kind of person who believes in the goodness of the world, and without concrete evidence he tends to think the best of others.

A myriad of tangled thoughts rose in his mind, and Wang Ping'an quickly made up his mind; he is not the indecisive type, and he said thoughtfully, "I cannot just stand by and watch Hu Jiushisan die before my eyes; after all, we have met a few times!"

With that thought, Wang Ping'an no longer hesitated; his mind shifted, and he controlled a Paper Person he had hidden nearby, ready to rescue Hu Jiushisan from these two reckless subordinates should Wei Yuan truly join Tang Anzhi in attacking him.

He did not rush to act, not wanting to expose himself too early; even though he could use the Paper Person to save Hu Jiushisan from Wei Yuan and Tang Anzhi, no matter how imaginative they are, they would not suspect a link between the Paper Person and Wang Ping'an, though some traces might inevitably be revealed.

If such traces multiplied, he dared not guess what Wei Yuan, Tang Anzhi, or others might connect them to.

He only hopes Wei Yuan will be a bit more resolute and not commit the act of killing for credit; otherwise he would have to risk exposure to rescue Hu Jiushisan from these two.

Tang Anzhi looked at Wei Yuan's hesitant expression, smiled, and said, "County Magistrate Wei, are you planning to stop me from dealing with this monster that threatens the Top Scholar's family, or will you act together with me?"

"You cultivator, stop talking nonsense…"

Hu Jiushisan, his face angry and about to shout a tirade, was cut off by Tang Anzhi's rebuke, "Noisy!"

"Pfft!"

Hu Jiushisan spat a mouthful of fresh blood, his whole form collapsing like a pool of rotten mud; he struggled to lift his head toward Tang Anzhi, his face and eyes filled with unmistakable terror.

It knows that this person, qualified to be the Imperial Attendant of the County Magistrate's residence, must be extraordinary; his cultivation is likely very powerful.

It never imagined that a single cold rebuke could shatter its courage, and now it lacks even the strength to speak.

"I have been too idealistic about humans and monsters, and because the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan is a first‑rate benevolent race that rarely harms civilians, when this monster claimed to be from that clan and said it came to protect the Wang family's lives, I believed its nonsense!"

Wei Yuan let out a slight sigh, his face full of self‑reproach, whether offending the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan or killing for credit, he saw an opportunity to ingratiate himself with Wang Ruhai, hoping Wang Ruhai might recommend him to the Prime Minister's office or even the Prime Minister himself; he then quickly resolved himself and declared solemnly:

"But I forgot, how can a monster intermarry with a human? Moreover, this child has just been born and has never had contact with the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan; perhaps this child may have an extraordinary future."

Yet at present, it's just an ordinary child; before it shows any talent, how could the clan chief of the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan possibly let this child become their son‑in‑law?" At this point, Wei Yuan's words faltered, and he subconsciously glanced at Wang Ping'an, who was being held in Liu Dongzhu's arms; a fleeting complex look passed through his eyes.

Only then did he fully believe that Hu Jiushisan's purpose in coming here was to protect the Wang family, and that the clan chief of the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan wanted this newborn child to become their son‑in‑law.

He envied Wang Ping'an; even a newborn child can earn the clan chief's attention, an exception that allows a Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan fox maiden to marry this child—perhaps that fox maiden could even become the clan chief's son‑in‑law.

This newborn child might be more terrifying than he imagined.

Indeed.

Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes!

This newborn child, as the offspring of the current Top Scholar Wang Ruhai, could not possibly be an ordinary infant!

Liu Dongzhu seemed frightened by Wei Yuan's envious, jealous, hateful gaze; she immediately tucked Wang Ping'an behind Wang Lin and Zhang Guihua, perhaps fearing that Wei Yuan might harbor ill intent toward her child, thereby snapping him out of his envious state.

"This village woman has no manners at all; just because she glanced at your child, she treats me like a man‑eating tiger. No wonder the Top Scholar dismissed her; any scholar would never take a liking to this woman!"

Wei Yuan hummed discontentedly, but also knew that Liu Dongzhu's dismissal had nothing to do with him; even if she performed excellently, without a father who is a Prime Minister, she would still be dismissed, and he lamented silently:

"If this child were not Wang Ruhai's offspring, yet the clan chief of the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan could still favor him, I would recommend him to the clan."

This novel you to

Regardless of whether it's scholarly study, martial training, or Daoist cultivation, as long as one possesses extraordinary talent on a single path and makes rapid progress, I wonder what kind of reward the clan would grant!

What a pity.

This child is the Top Scholar's offspring; I still have to rely on the Top Scholar, ingratiate myself with the Prime Minister's office, and even if the child's talent is superb, I cannot recommend him to the clan!

Tang Anzhi sneered, "County Magistrate Wei, you are right; I have lived in Qingyang County for over a hundred years, and I am not unaware of the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan."

But I have never heard of the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan intermarrying with humans; yet this fox demon spouts such absurd claims, treating us like three‑year‑old children, and perhaps it isn't even from the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan at all!

Wei Yuan nodded, seeming to agree with Tang Anzhi, then looked up at Yu Die and said seriously, "Hundred Household Yu, you are a Hundred Household of the Demon Suppression Office; exterminating demons is your duty. This fox demon intends to harm the citizens of Qingyang County and the Top Scholar's family. What do you propose we do?"

Seeing Tang Anzhi and Wei Yuan colluding in a bind, Yu Die's face showed unmistakable disgust as she said:

"County Magistrate Wei, whether this fox demon intends to harm the people of Qingyang County, I do not know; I have no concrete evidence and cannot draw a conclusion lightly. However, if you wish to join Senior Tang in slaying this fox demon, I will not oppose, for demons are to be exterminated by all. I only hope this matter does not involve me!"

(End of chapter)