[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling":3,"chapter-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-40":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Top Scholar of Da Ling",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2288875,4475,"Chapter 40: Lawless and Unrestrained","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-40",40,"\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu let out a sharp shout, instantly causing the middle-aged man far away to pale with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hand clutching the gray cloth money bag trembled unnaturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing he was exposed, he furrowed his brows, turned his head, and fled in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s furious shout, despite his plain clothes, remained clearly audible: “Catch him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He happened to witness the thief stealing the old woman’s money bag from beside the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thief had run far away; only then did the old woman realize she’d been robbed, and she tore at her hair, wailing: “Someone help! Catch the thief!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old woman collapsed onto the ground, pounding her thighs repeatedly, crying without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo, Murong Yunhai, and others were also in plain clothes; without hesitation, they charged after him: “Where are you running? Stop right there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu stepped forward two paces and gently helped the old woman up: “Old lady, don’t panic—we’ll recover your money bag for you. Look…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced toward Tukesiluo and the others—once he looked, he was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo, seeing the thief nearly vanish from sight, leapt into the air like a peacock in flight, suddenly soaring upward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His feet barely touched the ground; instead, he precisely stepped through the air, launching himself violently onto the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He climbed the rooftops at astonishing speed, continuing to pursue the thief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tukesiluo’s movements seemed as if his body had faded, leaving only his soul dancing freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu understood, stunned: “Damn, that’s insane?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu knew Tukesiluo was powerful—but he never expected that after being nourished by Qi Hai Li Zhenren, Tukesiluo’s mobility had become so inhuman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could process it, he saw Tukesiluo had already caught the thief, lifting him like a chick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In broad daylight, stealing money—what crime do you deserve?” Jiang Mingyu’s voice rang with authority and finality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thief, unafraid, replied brazenly: “Pfft, who the hell are you? Got nothing better to do? It’s not your money—what’s it to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu didn’t reveal his identity yet: “Do you have no regard for the law? Do you truly think no one can punish you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough talk. Theft is a crime—hand over the money bag and come with me to the magistrate’s office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thief, pinned to the ground, laughed: “Hah, the county office? The county magistrate’s gone—why are you still thinking about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just a bunch of weaklings who prey on the people—do you really think I’m afraid of them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little brat, you can eat anything, but don’t speak nonsense. You call me a thief—what proof do you have?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu reached into the thief’s chest and pulled out the old woman’s money bag: “How do you explain this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thief blurted out: “What are you doing with that money bag?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered: “Before the victim, you still dare to deny it? Old lady, is this your money bag?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held the bag before her, asking softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the old woman could speak, the thief on the ground glared fiercely and threatened: “Old hag, I’m from Qinglong Zhai —think twice before you speak!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-this… n-not… mine…” The old woman was terrified, unable to utter a complete sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t lose any money, young man—you’re wronging this elder. Let him go right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all my fault, sir—I apologize to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, she bent down and bowed to the thief on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu froze—within just a few words, the victim had turned against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, he realized the problem lay in those three words: Qinglong Zhai .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could speak, the subdued thief burst into laughter: “Kid, you heard that? The money’s mine—give it back right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu ignored him and turned to Murong Yunhai: “What is Qinglong Zhai ?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Xiao, who had been silent until now, suddenly sneered: “Qinglong Zhai  is a bandit den on Qinglong Mountain to the east, home to a pack of bastards—this thief is likely one of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over the years, the people of Shangmu have suffered greatly at their hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But our troops are already overwhelmed fighting foreign tribes—there’s nothing we can do but turn a blind eye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu mused: “No wonder you’re so arrogant—you’re just a gang of bullies preying on the weak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thief on the ground writhed, his expression wildly defiant: “Kid, you’re blind if you’ve never heard of Qinglong Zhai  in Shangmu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Release me right now, bring five hundred taels of silver, and I’ll pretend today never happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smirked at Jiang Mingyu: “Say one word of refusal, and when I return to the mountain, your family will be the first to be destroyed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled: “So you’re truly a villain who specializes in wicked deeds—caught in my hands, and you still dare to be so arrogant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thin thief slowly dropped his grin: “Kid, you still dare to speak insolently after hearing the name Qinglong Zhai ?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Out of respect for our homeland, I’ll warn you one last time—don’t bring trouble upon yourself!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if you send me to jail today, tomorrow you’ll be on your knees begging me to come out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’re young and still clueless, why don’t you release me and hurry home to fetch the silver?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled faintly: “Hah, I’d like to see exactly how I’ll be on my knees begging for you tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered, his gaze filled with contempt: “You really think I can’t touch you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing Jiang Mingyu’s self-introduction, the thief’s face turned ashen: “Who… who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu crossed his arms behind his back, confidently replying: “I am the Imperial Envoy, granted by the Emperor himself. Qinglong Zhai  has quite the reputation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thief, who had just been boasting and threatening to destroy Jiang Mingyu’s family, now trembled as he begged: “Y-you’re… the Envoy… my lord, spare my life…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu shook his head, his tone mocking: “So even your so-called heroes of Qinglong Zhai  know fear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s that boldness you showed when bullying the people? Let me see how you planned to destroy my family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thief, Liu Tianyu, was nearly terrified to death; he frantically banged his head on the ground: “Envoy Lord, I’m blind to your greatness—please forgive me, please forgive me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered dismissively: “Whose money is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thief pounded his head harder: “Hers—it’s the old… the old lady’s! My lord, I’m sorry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded, satisfied: “Good. Gou Dan, Xiao Er—take this thief to jail. Deal with him later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, Li Gou Dan looked slightly embarrassed, but finally stepped forward and dragged the pleading thief toward the jail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the thief disappeared into the distance, the old woman fell to her knees: “Please, Envoy Lord, forgive me—I had no choice saying what I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we angered Qinglong Zhai , my whole family would be dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu gently helped her up: “Old lady, I understand your plight. Take your money and go home to rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the old woman’s frail figure walk away, Jiang Mingyu’s face turned cold: “See? They dare not speak out! How broken have these people become under the oppression of such vermin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Murong Yunhai’s expression was equally grim, his voice icy: “What do you mean, Xingqiu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered: “Their good days are over. Since I’m here, I’ll uproot them completely—to serve as a warning to all.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1222,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","34cf23586cfa86af4f9b2ec13734eebaac16d19727be7155ccc04916ad2e1692","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-41","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-39",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]