Chapter 395: The Confucian Ineptitude

"County Magistrate Wei, it seems you, the Imperial Attendant, don't care about your own life at all!"

Wang Ping'an sneered.

"Of course he doesn't care about my life; I'd even wish to die, so that this damned thing could slay you and the Fox Demon, reap more merit, and more easily attract Wang Ruhai's attention!"

Hearing the sneering voice in his mind, Wei Yuan muttered under his breath, his heart seething as if he wanted to swallow Imperial Attendant Tang alive, and, trembling, pleaded:

"Daoist friend, you must hold that sword steady; I am an official appointed by the court—if you dare to take my life, you will be opposing the court, and the court will not let you go. Rest assured, I will now stop Imperial Attendant Tang from harming your companion!"

"I'm only afraid they won't listen to you!"

Wang Ping'an teased.

Offend the court?

He doesn't care whether he offends the court; he controls Paper Persons to act, and as long as he is careful and doesn't reveal his true form, the court cannot possibly find him.

Since the court can hardly locate him and cannot seek revenge, even if he kills the inactive County Magistrate Wei, the court would have no way to deal with him.

However.

If not absolutely necessary, he will not kill anyone; first, he is a benevolent person, and second, this world is surely more mysterious than he imagines.

Even if he leaves no trace, once the court resolves to investigate, even after ten or twenty years they still cannot find evidence that he killed Wei!

The court might not even know that he killed Wei!

But cultivators have long lives and mysterious methods; perhaps after a hundred or two hundred years they will trace the murder of Wei back to him.

He and Wei have no unending conflict; Wei has the court's backing, so at most he would give Wei a lesson, no need to end his life.

"No, no, that won't happen. Imperial Attendant Tang is the attendant of my household; for so many years he has enjoyed my generous treatment—how could he possibly disobey me?"

Wei Yuan shivered all over, fearing that Wang Ping'an considered him useless and had formed murderous intent toward him, and hurriedly spoke words he himself could barely believe, shouting loudly:

"Imperial Attendant Tang, stop right now! Do you really want to watch me die with my eyes open? Have you forgotten why you serve as the attendant of my household?"

With murderous intent, Imperial Attendant Tang had no interest in hearing Wei's cries; he was about to unleash his strongest, most practiced spell, just as Yu Die was about to deal a killing blow.

Yu Die sneered: "Senior Tang, I advise you to stop. Don't forget, your true purpose—killing me brings you no benefit at all!"

"You!"

Imperial Attendant Tang's momentum faltered; he glared at Yu Die, the horrific sword wound on his body and the immense pain constantly reminding him how narrowly he escaped death at Yu Die's hands, and thought she would just let go?

He is unwilling!

He is not the type who, after being wronged, would not retaliate!

Yu Die spoke again: "Senior Tang, it is said you were once an Immortal Official of Qingyang County, and now you serve as the Imperial Attendant of County Magistrate Wei's household. I do not know why you became his attendant.

But I believe County Magistrate Wei appointed you as his household attendant to safeguard his life. If you stand by and watch him die, offering no aid, even if you obtain a door‑knocking brick from the third‑ranked scholar Wang, I doubt the third‑ranked scholar Wang would continue to favor you!"

"You little brat, don't get cocky; this time it was my carelessness!"

Imperial Attendant Tang's face twisted into a snarling mask, and he glared at Yu Die with fury, saying, unwillingly.

Although Yu Die's expression remained calm, showing no sign of emotion, he believed that in Yu Die's eyes there was a trace of triumph, delighted that she had wounded him.

Imperial Attendant Tang complained bitterly: "Next time, you won't be as lucky as today!" A flash of murderous intent flickered briefly from deep within his gaze.

"Carelessness?"

Yu Die watched Imperial Attendant Tang's departing back, and even though he concealed himself well, she could faintly see a flash of murderous intent in his eyes. Her gaze fell on the horrific wound on his body; after taking a healing pill and applying magical energy, the wound healed at a visibly rapid rate. She whispered:

"If it weren't for the fact that you were once an Immortal Official of Qingyang County, and we hold no grudges, do you think this sword wound is merely a wound to you?"

Just now.

During her fight with Tang, she gave her all, never expecting Tang to dare to lose focus mid‑combat. Had she not reacted in time, had her swordsmanship not been superb, that sword wound to Tang's body would have been far more than just a simple injury.

She was a thousand percent certain she could take Tang's life!

"Daoist friend, you see that Imperial Attendant Tang is no longer fighting your companion; do you think you can remove the Sword Apparatus from around my neck?"

Wei Yuan saw Tang reluctantly follow his words, stop fighting Yu Die, and, taking a brisk step toward him, finally let out a sigh of relief and said awkwardly.

"I still consider you an Imperial Attendant, hoping you would die!"

Wang Ping'an let out a cold laugh, ignored Wei Yuan's words, retracted the Sword Apparatus from around his neck, and said with a smiling grin.

This novel you...

"How could it be, how could it be? Imperial Attendant Tang is the attendant I invited into my household; for so many years I've cared for him in countless ways. I consider myself not unkind to Imperial Attendant Tang—how could he possibly wish my death?"

Wei Yuan's face turned serious as he said.

Although he secretly wondered whether Tang intended to use his life to add another entry to his own merit record, he could not voice that thought.

It's not that he's afraid of Wang Ping'an's mockery; rather, he still hopes Imperial Attendant Tang will save his life. Even though he currently has countless grievances against Tang, he would not dare to offend him.

Wei Yuan asked: "Don't you know how to address the Daoist friend?"

"Li Fugui!"

Wang Ping'an replied offhandedly.

Imperial Attendant Tang strode briskly to Wei Yuan, his gaze wandering over Wang Ping'an as if trying to pierce him with his Dharma Eye. Upon hearing Wei's muttering, a flash of contempt flickered briefly in his eyes.

It's not that he thinks Wei was frightened...

Wei's so‑called muttering was actually a conversation with Wang Ping'an; he did not hear it, most likely because Wang Ping'an employed a transmission spell or similar technique.

He was also quite surprised; Wang Ping'an not only controls Paper Persons to act, but can also use them to cast transmission spells, showing that Wang Ping'an is no ordinary person.

He despises Wei because Wei is of no use; after all, he is the County Magistrate of Qingyang County, a Confucian scholar. Even though over the years he hasn't done many good deeds, at least he has spent years studying Confucian texts, cultivating a body of lofty righteousness. He does not expect Wei, relying on his lofty righteousness, to resolve Wang Ping'an.

At the very least, he should have some self‑preservation ability!

However.

Wei, before Wang Ping'an, had no means to retaliate, becoming Wang Ping'an's hostage; not only did he fail to help, he even became a hindrance. How could he possibly...

(End of Chapter)