Chapter 209: Heaven-Shattering Calamity

Four Seas Pavilion.

Wu Lan had brought a mob of fierce-looking Martial Artists to surround the entrance, every one of them radiating killing intent.

Chu Huai’an stood alone at the door.

Wu Lan said gravely, "Shopkeeper Chu, I have it on good authority that a dangerous criminal from the Wu Dynasty is hiding in your establishment. I must trouble you to hand the person over. I will be sure to reward you handsomely in the future."

Chu Huai’an asked, "And which criminal might the Crown Prince be referring to?"

Wu Lan said, "Her surname is Wang, from Liuxi Town. She is the mother of the Evil Exterminator Guard, Lu Bai."

"Oh?"

Chu Huai’an feigned surprise. "I was not aware. What crime has this person committed to warrant the Crown Prince mobilizing such a force?"

Wu Lan said patiently, "Lu Bai committed murder at Wangjiang Tower and spread seditious lies. He is clearly a foreign spy. As his mother, she is undoubtedly involved!"

Chu Huai’an chuckled. "I did indeed just hear about Lu Bai’s killing. As for him being a foreign spy, I know nothing of that.

If his crime has been formally declared, perhaps the Crown Prince could present the sea arrest warrant. The Four Seas Pavilion will naturally hand her over then."

Wu Lan’s expression darkened.

’How could he have a sea arrest warrant for something that just happened!’

Wu Lan’s tone turned icy as he asked slowly, "Is this you, Shopkeeper Chu, intending to harbor a major criminal of the Wu Dynasty?"

Chu Huai’an, however, remained calm. "I wouldn’t dare," he said with a smile. "The Four Seas Pavilion has always abided by the laws of all nations. We would never harbor a criminal.

It’s just that, according to the Crown Prince, the criminal is Lu Bai. I truly don’t understand why the Crown Prince has come to the Four Seas Pavilion to arrest his mother."

A bald brute snorted. "Crown Prince, why waste words on him? Let’s just swarm in and tear this Four Seas Pavilion apart!"

"That’s right! So what if it’s the Four Seas Pavilion?"

Another man with a scarred face looked on with disdain.

Wu Lan said coldly, "Shopkeeper Chu, you’ve seen them. These men of mine don’t value their own lives. If you continue to be obstinate, don’t blame me for being discourteous."

"If the Crown Prince insists on forcing his way in, I will not stop you."

Chu Huai’an, still smiling, stepped aside to make way. "However, you will be responsible for the consequences."

Seeing Chu Huai’an so composed, Wu Lan sensed a hidden meaning in his words. A feeling of apprehension crept in, and he quickly calmed himself.

Just then, a commotion erupted in the distance.

Someone ran up in a hurry, shouting, "Crown Prince, terrible news! Lu Bai went to the Fujiao Gang and started a massacre! Countless are dead and injured at Fujiao Manor!"

"Hm?"

Wu Lan’s expression changed.

"Let’s go! To Fujiao Manor!"

Wu Lan waved his hand, leaped onto his horse, and galloped off with his band of desperados.

’After I capture Lu Bai, I can come back and deal with this. It won’t be difficult to have Liang Yifan draw up a sea arrest warrant then.’

Once the crowd had dispersed, Chu Huai’an turned and entered the Four Seas Pavilion. He walked through a covered corridor, reached the rear courtyard, passed through several more gates, and arrived at a detached courtyard house.

Chu Huai’an stepped forward and knocked.

"Come in."

Yun Luo’s voice came from within.

Chu Huai’an pushed the door open and entered, his expression respectful.

"Did something happen outside?"

Yun Luo asked curiously.

Mrs. Wang had gone to bed early.

She and Shi Kai were full of energy, and her aunt had just said something big would happen tonight, so the two of them hadn’t gone to sleep.

"Yes."

Chu Huai’an relayed everything he had just heard, down to the last detail.

"Wow!"

Yun Luo exclaimed in amazement. "Brother Lu really stirred up trouble!"

Chu Huai’an said, "You could call it a sky-shattering catastrophe."

Since arriving, Shi Kai had been silent and taciturn, speaking very little.

But upon hearing this news, he instantly understood: Lu Bai was avenging his father!

Gratitude washed over Shi Kai, followed by a wave of worry.

"Is my benefactor in danger?"

Shi Kai couldn’t help but ask.

"His situation is certainly not good."

Chu Huai’an said, "Based on what was said, many powers will be after him now: the State Mansion, the Demon Suppression Bureau, Marquis Jingzhong’s Mansion...

Danding Temple might even get involved. He’s only in the Innate Realm. He shouldn’t be able to escape."

"Then what do we do?"

Shi Kai grew anxious. Worried for Lu Bai’s safety, he looked pleadingly at Chu Huai’an and Yun Luo.

Yun Luo stole a glance at Yu Daoxuan.

Seeing her aunt’s eyes closed in Meditation, as if she hadn’t heard a thing, Yun Luo didn’t dare disturb her.

The Black Dog, which had been sleeping at Yu Daoxuan’s feet, grew restless upon hearing the news.

Yu Daoxuan reached out and gently stroked it a few times to calm it down.

-----------------

Fujiao Manor.

By the time Mo Tang arrived, there were no living people to be seen in the manor. A river of blood flowed around the Hall of Unity, and the ground was littered with corpses—a truly shocking sight!

Of the several hundred members of the Fujiao Gang, more than half had been killed by Lu Bai!

The sight made Mo Tang’s heart pound with fear.

She had entered the Golden Core Realm, become a True Master of the Martial Dao, and cultivated for decades, yet the total number of people she had killed in her entire life was less than the number Lu Bai had killed this one night!

’Lu Bai, oh, Lu Bai... you’ve really caused a massive disaster this time!’

Mo Tang’s expression was grave.

KREE! KREE!

Just then, the cry of the Divine Chicken echoed from a distance.

Mo Tang’s heart stirred, and she immediately sped off in the direction of the sound.

Before long, she arrived nearby and saw another corpse.

The Gang Leader of the Fujiao Gang, Luo Hengjiang.

He had several sword wounds, but the fatal injury was on his skull, where a bloody hole had been pecked open. His eyes were wide open; he was thoroughly dead.

Lu Bai stood nearby, leaning on his sword and breathing heavily. He was clearly exhausted, his clothes completely soaked in blood.

Ah Ming stood guard beside him, tilting its head slightly to watch Mo Tang as she landed.

It recognized Mo Tang and showed no hostility, but it still positioned itself protectively in front of Lu Bai.

Lu Bai glanced at the newcomer and wiped away the blood and sweat from his face. "Lord Mo, what are you doing here? Have your injuries healed?"

Mo Tang didn’t know whether to be angry or amused.

’What in the world am I supposed to say to him?’

’Even at a time like this, he’s still worried about my injuries.’

"Lu Bai, are you insane? Do you have a death wish?"

Mo Tang had been about to chew Lu Bai out, but after hearing his words, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Her tone softened considerably.

Lu Bai smiled. "Lord Mo, this doesn’t concern you. From now on, I’m no longer an Evil Exterminator Guard."

"Why did you have to do this?"

Mo Tang’s face was filled with sorrow. "I was planning to take you to the capital for an audience with His Majesty. But by doing this, you’ve completely ruined your own future!"

Lu Bai just shook his head slightly, remaining silent.

Mo Tang seemed to guess what Lu Bai was thinking. "The current ruler is wise and just. If he learns of this matter, he will absolutely not tolerate it."

Lu Bai glanced in the direction of Jingzhou City, still silent.

"Come with me!"

Mo Tang stepped forward to grab Lu Bai’s wrist.

Lu Bai sidestepped her. "Lord Mo, things have already come to this. Don’t get yourself involved."

Mo Tang said in a low, firm voice, "I’m taking you to the capital. We leave now!"

"To the capital?"

Lu Bai was taken aback.

Mo Tang said, "Go to the capital, have an audience with His Majesty, and explain the entire sequence of events. This is your only chance. Or do you really plan to leave the Wu Country, become a wanted fugitive, and wander the world with no home to return to?

The Shi and Mo Countries are very close to here. You were planning to finish this and then flee to one of them, weren’t you?"

Lu Bai didn’t speak, neither denying nor confirming it.

’Of course, that was his escape plan.’

’But before that, there was something else he had to try.’

’Compared to that, killing Wu Ziyan and wiping out the Fujiao Gang was nothing.’