Yunzhou.
Longjing City.
Early morning, in front of the county yamen.
"Oh my God! No way! Who's spreading such rumors? Master Zhuo is a clean and upright official who loves the people like his own children! How could he be corrupt, taking thirty thousand taels of silver and killing three people, throwing their bodies into a dry well?"
"And he lasts only three breaths in bed? His favorite concubine, Huang Ying, is having an affair with his eldest son, Zhuo Yidao? And his youngest son is actually his grandson? Such a scandal, I don't believe it!"
"Who dares to slander Master Zhuo so boldly?"
"..."
Nearly a hundred commoners and Jianghu guests looked at a piece of paper on the wall, discussing heatedly.
Over the years, Yunzhou Governor Zhuo Qiuhang had a great reputation in Yunzhou for being just and incorruptible. During the Yunzhou floods, he led the disaster relief efforts from the front, not sleeping for several days and nights, until he fainted from exhaustion. His clothes were always plain, and he never traveled in a sedan chair.
How could such a good official be corrupt and take thirty thousand taels of silver?
And even kill three people, throwing their bodies into a dry well?
At this moment, more than ten constables came over, tearing down the paper and taking it away.
Similar scenes appeared in nearly a hundred prominent places in Longjing City, including taverns, teahouses, intersections, city gates, and markets.
For a time, the entire Longjing City was abuzz, with the vast majority of people not believing the accusations.
Yuntian Prefecture.
Afternoon, three o'clock.
Zhuo Qiuhang, wearing a black veil hat, sat at his desk processing documents.
"Master... something terrible has happened!"
At this moment, the advisor walked up, respectfully handing over a notice and standing aside.
"What is this?"
Seeing the advisor's unusual expression, Zhuo Qiuhang frowned, took the paper, and after reading it for a while, stood up abruptly, his face darkening frighteningly.
"Advisor, where did you get this notice?"
Despite being an official for many years and having a calm demeanor, Zhuo Qiuhang couldn't help but clench his fists, causing his bones to crackle, as a powerful aura of a late-stage first-class expert spread out.
"Master, this... this... this notice was sent over by the Divine Constable Department in Longjing City. It is said that someone posted it last night on the yamen's gate, taverns, restaurants, city gates, and other places. There are hundreds of such notices..."
At this moment, the advisor, Shifeng, only felt a terrifying aura emanating from his master, causing him to step back several paces in fear, like a cicada in winter.
"In Longjing City! Who on earth is spreading these messages? What is their purpose?"
"How does this person know these secrets?"
At this moment, Zhuo Qiuhang's eyes shot cold light, thinking intensely.
The paper accused him of accepting bribes of thirty thousand taels of silver, secretly aligning with the King of Jin, having a wavering mind, harming three women, and hiding their bodies in an abandoned well. He knew that all of these were true. But how did this mysterious person know?
The most important thing was that the secret allegiance to the King of Jin being exposed would surely lead to an investigation by the Divine Constable Department.
Moreover, exposing his wavering allegiance would surely displease the King of Jin, making him a target from both sides, which was the most deadly part.
"Hmm? Exposure!"
"Qin siblings!"
Zhuo Qiuhang's eyes narrowed as he suddenly remembered the Hundred Knows Divine Lord and the Tianji Pavilion that had appeared in Yanyun County, exposing Zheng Kecheng!
Ultimately.
When Zheng Kecheng investigated the suspect Hundred Knows Divine Lord, he was killed and burned, with the suspicion pointing to the Qin siblings!
In other words, the Hundred Knows Divine Lord was disguised by the Qin siblings!
They were in Longjing City!
"This is simply courting death!"
"Daring to slander me like this, I will tear you to pieces!!"
Zhuo Qiuhang thought of this, his face expressionless, and slowly spoke. "Someone, notify the Yunling Guard to go to Longjing City and thoroughly investigate this matter!"
"Yes, Master!"
Shifeng respectfully clasped his fists, took three steps back, and then turned to leave.
At this moment.
He only felt cold sweat on his back.
As the master's advisor, he knew that the calmer the master was, the more terrifying it was.
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, two days later.
That afternoon, three o'clock.
In a secluded courtyard in Yunzhou Prefecture.
"Finally reached the second layer of the Qi Refining stage!"
Qin Wang sat on the bed, suddenly opening his eyes. After absorbing the remaining spirit stones, he finally broke through to the second layer of the Qi Refining stage.
At this moment.
A powerful wave of mana emanated from his body!
He slowly stretched out his hand, the Five Elements Gathering Technique operating, red mana like flames swirling around his palms!
It looked extremely mystical.
"Zhuo Qiuhang! Tonight is your death day!"
Qin Wang stood up, his eyes flashing with murderous intent, and began to organize his Soul Frightening Knife, Soul Gathering Bowl, Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles, and Bewitching Scatterwork Incense.
As it was still early.
Qin Wang disguised himself as an old man and walked to Yunzhou Prefecture's main street, entering the 'Yunzhou Clay Pot' restaurant.
He selected a pot of black-bone chicken and turtle soup and indulged heartily.
Tonight would be busy, so he needed to eat well.
The clay pot soup at this place was very unique, and the chef's skills were good, with diners almost always lining up.
"This morning, did you hear about people picking up silver at the eastern estate in Yunzhou?"
"Picking up silver? Where? I've only picked up three copper coins in my thirty years of life!"
"It's related to the mysterious person exposing Master Zhuo's deeds! It's true! That was indeed Master Zhuo's estate, and in the basement, there was a mountain of silver ingots, which was blown open by some mysterious Jianghu guests. The silver ingots were scattered everywhere, and many commoners went to pick them up!"
"I never imagined that the incorruptible Master Zhuo would embezzle so much silver. The saying 'Three years as a clean governor, ten thousand taels of snowflake silver' is truly accurate!"
"That's not all. Three skeletons were indeed found in the dry well in Master Zhuo's private estate!"
"Does that mean that Master Zhuo secretly aligning with the King of Jin is also true? And his son being his grandson is also true?"
"..."
Qin Wang drank his chicken soup, listening to the neighboring table's conversation.
"Zhuo Qiuhang, let's see how you turn things around!"
Qin Wang sneered inwardly.
His plan.
Was to first ruin this old man's reputation, and then assassinate him!
This old man dared to step on him to climb higher, clearly courting death!
Night.
Eleven o'clock.
Yunzhou Prefecture.
The hall was brightly lit.
Zhuo Qiuhang, wearing a brocade robe, sat at his desk, looking at his eldest son Zhuo Yidao, and calmly asked, "Yidao, have you found out who opened the basement of the eastern estate?!"
Yesterday, the mysterious person posted a notice.
At nine in the morning, the eastern estate was blown open, exposing thirty thousand taels of silver ingots.
This matter was too important, concerning the future of the Zhuo family, and had to be dealt with first.
The matter with Yidao and Huang Ying could wait until later.
"Father, we haven't found out yet. We only know that there were five men in black, who killed four guards, blew open the basement of the estate with palm strikes, and scattered the silver, causing the commoners to scramble for it..."
Zhuo Yidao respectfully clasped his fists. At this moment, he was frightened and didn't dare to look his father in the eye.
The exposure of his affair with Huang Ying and his father's calm demeanor made him feel very pressured.
"This is forcing me to make a choice!"
Zhuo Qiuhang sighed, took a deep breath, and made a decision.
With this exposure, the silver was found, and his long-standing reputation for being incorruptible collapsed. He had only one clear path left, to openly align with the King of Jin.
"Zhuo Qiuhang, you don't need to choose, I will send you on your way!"
At this moment, a cold voice sounded. With the voice, a thin figure appeared at the door, dressed in black and wearing a black mask. He carried a long knife on his back, held a cloth bundle the size of a sea bowl in his left hand, and a fire starter in his right hand.
"Who... are you?"
Both Zhuo Qiuhang and Zhuo Yidao were shocked, their eyes wary. They shouted and drew their swords, their powerful aura spreading out.
"Aren't you going to catch me, skin me, and lick the stinky feet of Chen Yi from the Immortal Sect?"
Qin Wang spoke lightly, and the fire starter in his hand shone, and the cloth bag was instantly lit.
The flame ignited, and Qin Wang swung the cloth bag and it flew into the hall!
"Is it you?!"
Zhuo Qiuhang's expression changed when he heard the words, and at the same time he held out a sword, trying to pick out the cloth bag. He knew that the Qin siblings would have a kind of power-dispersing poison, but before the sword touched the cloth bag, the cloth bag exploded and turned into countless sparks, scattering in all directions!
The next moment, Zhuo Qiuhang felt his dantian's inner strength stagnate. He quickly held his breath and circulated his first-rate power, instantly dispelling the stagnation. His sword produced a flurry of energy, targeting three major acupuncture points on Qin Wang!
"Not bad!"
Qin Wang chuckled, drawing his Jinghun Dao, his magic power surging. Instantly, the blade of the Jinghun Dao turned crimson. Using the Flying Eagle Technique, he transformed into a red flash and charged at Zhuo Qiuhang!
"Ding!"
With a crisp sound, Zhuo Qiuhang's 'Hongxing' sword, encased in magical power, was severed at the hilt by the Jinghun Dao. The blade's momentum continued unabated, a crimson arc slicing through Zhuo Qiuhang's legs, severing them at the root. He collapsed to the ground, his height abruptly reduced by half!
Blood spurted out!
Meanwhile, Zhuo Yidao was affected by the sorrow-dispelling incense. With his second-rate peak cultivation, he could not disperse it with his inner power like his father could. He immediately collapsed to the ground, watching in horror as his father was cut in two!
"Martial Dao Grandmaster! How...how is this possible?"
Zhuo Qiuhang looked at Qin Wang, his eyes filled with deep astonishment.
He never expected that the Qin siblings' cultivation would be at the Grandmaster level!
Despite his first-rate cultivation and the 'Hongxing' divine sword, he was still severed with a single stroke!
At this moment, Zhuo Qiuhang deeply regretted his actions. To align the Zhuo family with Chen Yi from the Immortal Sect, he ultimately brought about the destruction of his entire family.
"Zhuo Qiuhang, you were right to seek favor with Chen Yi, but stepping on me to rise was a fatal mistake!"
"Rest assured!"
"I will annihilate your entire Zhuo family! You can reunite in the underworld!"
"Now, die!"
Qin Wang looked at the struggling Zhuo Qiuhang with cold eyes, slashing his throat with one stroke. His head flew high!
Qin Wang stepped forward.
With another slash, Zhuo Yidao's head was sent flying!
Qin Wang then wandered through the Zhuo household, killing the remaining members. Finally, he set the place ablaze and left.
Jinzhou.
Jin Wang's Mansion.
Although Jin Wang, Cang Tianxiong, had not yet ascended the throne, his mansion was constructed like a miniature palace!
In the central gilded hall.
The lights were still brightly lit late into the night.
A man in white robes, with a crown and an extraordinary aura, sat at the desk, reviewing documents.
"Your Majesty! The task is complete!"
"Governor Zhuo's thirty thousand taels of silver in Yunzhou were exposed under the sun and looted by the people."
At this moment, a man in black stepped forward, kneeling at the hall's entrance, reporting.
"Very good."
"In this way, Governor Zhuo can join me without any reservations."
Cang Tianxiong's eyes showed satisfaction as he nodded.
Although Zhuo Qiuhang had secretly aligned himself with him, he had been hesitant. This time, seizing the opportunity, Cang Tianxiong gave him a push, cutting off his retreat. Zhuo Qiuhang would inevitably come to pledge allegiance.
Yunzhou.
Jinyun County.
In an inn.
"The Qin siblings appeared in Longjing City?"
A middle-aged man in red robes, with a pale face and no beard, holding an orchid finger, clutched a letter, his eyes suddenly filled with murderous intent!