Chapter 214: You've Got Some Nerve

The Desperados from the Shi and Mo Countries saw the situation turn against them and tried to flee, but they felt frozen in place, completely unable to move. They could only watch as a pack of ferocious Guards swarmed forward and bound them.

These Guards’ methods of capture were extremely professional.

Not only did they seal several major acupoints to stop the flow of Blood Qi, but they also used specially-made chains to bind the group, leaving no chance for escape.

“Greetings, Duke Wei.”

Wu Lan took a deep breath, trying his best to remain calm. He braced himself, stepped forward, and bowed in salute. Forcing a smile, he said, “My father often speaks of you, Duke Wei. It is an honor for me to finally meet you today.”

Although Wu Lan had been to the Capital City with his father, Marquis Jingzhong, a few times, he never had the opportunity to attend the royal court, much less meet the Duke of Wei.

The Duke of Wei was considered the most low-key among the Six Great Dukes.

However, according to his father, the Duke of Wei’s combat prowess was immense. Back then, he had followed the Late King on campaigns across the Celestial Divine Land, earning countless military honors.

He had a legendary record of single-handedly shattering the armies of eighteen vassal lords while wielding a pair of golden hammers, making him unrivaled among his peers and his name renowned throughout the land!

The battles in which he defeated and killed enemies far stronger than himself were simply too numerous to count!

But later, after becoming the Commander of the Imperial Guard and being tasked with guarding the Royal Palace, he rarely made public appearances, and the instances of him taking action became few and far between.

Let alone him; even many of the officials in the Capital City had likely never seen Duke Wei.

But his mount, the horse-like Exotic Beast known as the Ten Thousand Miles Smoke Cloud Beast, paired with his terrifying golden hammers, were Duke Wei’s most unmistakable trademarks.

That was why, when Wu Lan and the others first saw the Exotic Beast and the pair of golden hammers, they immediately recalled the numerous rumors surrounding this man.

The Duke of Wei did not look old, appearing to be around thirty.

It was only because his Cultivation had reached the Returning Void Realm, granting him a lifespan of around two thousand years, that his true age was impossible to discern.

Wu Lan couldn’t help but think of his own father, Marquis Jingzhong.

Although he was a Nascent Soul True Monarch with a thousand-year lifespan, he was already a white-haired old man entering his twilight years.

The Duke of Wei was even older than his father.

Yet, he looked as if he were only in his thirties.

“Greetings, Duke Wei.”

Mo Tang let out a soft breath of relief and also stepped forward to bow.

Li Qingtian, however, paid them no mind. His gaze shifted, landing on a corner of the forest as he said flatly, “Come out.”

Wu Lan and the others subconsciously looked over.

There was nothing there.

In truth, the moment the man appeared, Lu Bai realized his Mountain Demon Hat likely wouldn’t be enough to fool him.

He wasn’t surprised by this.

Lu Bai acted decisively, taking off the Mountain Demon Hat and tucking it away before stumbling forward.

This wasn’t an act.

Just a moment ago, his Blood Qi had been nearly drained dry by the Immortal Vine. Now, his legs were jelly, and his entire body felt drained of strength.

“Lu Bai!”

When Wu Lan saw Lu Bai, the thought of everything that had happened that night made his blood boil. He glared furiously, so angry he felt dizzy. He practically spat out those two words through gritted teeth.

“You’re Lu Bai?”

Li Qingtian glanced at him, then looked away and asked impassively.

‘That’s a strange question. It’s as if he’s heard of me before,’ Lu Bai grumbled to himself. Outwardly, however, he remained respectful, bowing as he said, “I am Lu Bai. Greetings, Duke Wei.”

Yu Weifeng and Liang Yifan exchanged a look and repeatedly shot meaningful glances at Wu Lan.

Wu Lan took the hint and quickly said, “Your Grace, I implore you to deliver justice! This Lu Bai is a spy from another country! He infiltrated the Evil Extermination Bureau, spread seditious rumors throughout Jingzhou City, and has been killing wantonly.”

“My son was simply enjoying a meal at a restaurant. He never provoked this man, yet Lu Bai beheaded him.”

“Oh?”

Li Qingtian let out a soft sound, seemingly a little surprised.

“Your Grace, please understand, there are reasons for what happened—”

Mo Tang tried to explain on Lu Bai’s behalf, but before she could finish, Liang Yifan cut her off.

“Your Grace, please see the truth! This man is truly bloodthirsty by nature, a vicious and utterly evil person! The Fujiao Gang had several hundred members who were just minding their own business, making a living at the Jingzhou Ferry, yet this man slaughtered most of them.”

Liang Yifan said gravely, “Afterward, at their manor, rivers of blood flowed and corpses littered the ground! It is simply the most shocking case our dynasty has seen since its founding!”

“Hm?”

Li Qingtian turned his head and sized Lu Bai up and down.

After arriving, he had spread his Divine Sense to envelop the entirety of Jingzhou City and its surroundings. Everything was under his control, so he had naturally witnessed the scene at Fujiao Manor.

He just hadn’t expected that those several hundred people were all killed by Lu Bai.

“Talk about the guilty party pointing the finger first! What utter nonsense!” Mo Tang sneered. “It was clearly the Fujiao Gang, in collusion with the Demon Sect’s Corpse Refining Sect, who first trapped and murdered thousands of refugees. How dare you call them ‘law-abiding’!”

Liang Yifan retorted, “That’s just Lu Bai’s side of the story! He’s a foreign spy, spreading rumors and stirring up trouble to destabilize the morale of our troops on the Jing State border!”

When it came to arguments and debates, Mo Tang was clearly at a disadvantage.

Liang Yifan deflected her points with just a few words.

Yu Weifeng, seeing that the Duke of Wei had shown no particular reaction toward them since his arrival, gradually regained his composure. He stood up and sighed softly.

“And it wasn’t just Marquis Jingzhong’s young grandson and the hundreds of members of the Fujiao Gang. True Master Dan Ding, the Sect Leader of Danding Temple, had no history with this man, yet he took advantage of an opening and killed the True Master.”

In reality, Yu Weifeng hadn’t seen how True Master Dan Ding died at all.

But at this moment, the right move was to pin everything on Lu Bai.

Wu Lan said in a low voice, “This man has gone completely mad, like a follower of the Demon Dao, slaughtering the innocent indiscriminately! I implore you, Your Grace, to bring justice for the souls of those he has wrongfully killed!”

Li Qingtian asked in return, “He, an Innate Martial Artist, killed a True Master Golden Core?”

“It… it was a sneak attack!”

Yu Weifeng hesitated for a moment before saying, “Yes! His Tier Three Exotic Beast Chongming Bird distracted True Master Dan Ding, then he launched a sudden sneak attack. True Master Dan Ding was caught off guard, and that’s how he succeeded.”

“Your Grace, there are extenuating circumstances…”

Mo Tang had just started to speak when Li Qingtian waved a hand, cutting her off.

Li Qingtian turned to look at Lu Bai. The twin flames in his eyes suddenly flared, his gaze intensifying as he radiated a heart-stopping pressure. He asked slowly, “What do you have to say for yourself?”

It wasn’t just Lu Bai, the target of Li Qingtian’s gaze; even Mo Tang beside him felt an immense pressure.

It felt as if disaster would befall Lu Bai if he uttered a single wrong word.

Wu Lan was secretly delighted. ‘If I can use Duke Wei’s power to eliminate Lu Bai, it will finally satisfy the hatred in my heart!’

Lu Bai was silent for a long moment, then he suddenly chuckled. “There’s nothing to say. I take responsibility for my own actions. I was the one who killed them.”

At this point, there was truly nothing left to argue about.

Mo Tang had already said everything that needed to be said.

“Good.”

Li Qingtian nodded slightly. “You’ve got some nerve. It seems I underestimated you.”

Lu Bai felt his body lighten as the suffocating pressure from moments before suddenly vanished.

Li Qingtian didn’t attack. Instead, he said something puzzling.

“Duke Wei…”

Wu Lan and the other two were completely baffled.

Li Qingtian turned to look at the three of them and said flatly, “If you have more to say, save it for the Capital City. Get on the boat.”

“What boat?”

Liang Yifan panicked. Feigning confusion, he forced a laugh and said, “Your Grace… are you asking us to go to the Capital City? Or… someone else?”

“Do I need to personally escort the three of you onto the boat?”

Li Qingtian’s gaze was as sharp as a torch, searingly bright.

It sounded like a question, but it was a threat, a warning—an ultimatum to the three of them!

Wu Lan and the other two felt their spirits tremble. They didn’t dare meet his gaze and subconsciously lowered their heads.

He was speaking to them civilly for now. If they actually forced Duke Wei to take action, the situation would be entirely different.