Swordholder

Three days after the Tianqing County Aristocratic Clan Conference concluded, Chen Yuan's name appeared on the desk of Yang Zhen, the Lord of Wangdong Prefecture.

The prefect was in his early forties, with a square face, a few strands of silver hair at his temples, and deep, unfathomable eyes that exuded an imposing official aura even without raising his gaze.

Before the desk, a middle-aged man with a cold and stern aura bowed slightly, as if waiting for instructions from the prefect, Yang Zhen.

His name was Zhao Ming, and he was the head of the court in Zhen Dong Prefecture.

The Enforcement Division of Tianqing County, at the level of Zhendong Prefecture, is the Enforcement Court.

"Lord Zhao, please take a look at this intelligence report."

Yang Zhen handed a jade slip to Zhao Ming.

Zhao Ming took the jade slip and immersed his spiritual sense into it.

Yang Zhen stood up from his seat and went to the wall behind him.

There was a huge map of the mountains on the wall.

That was a very detailed map of the entire Zhendong Prefecture, depicting mountains, rivers, lakes, and various towns and geographical strongholds.

His gaze slowly fell on the location of Tianqing County, and then he stretched out his finger and pressed it on a pattern that looked like five fingers.

That was the Five Finger Peak of the Chen family.

His force seemed a bit too strong, pressing the five-finger peak pattern down slightly.

After reading the information on the jade slip, Zhao Ming gently placed it on the table, while glancing at Yang Zhen out of the corner of his eye.

The man before them, Lord Yang Zhen, was dressed in a crimson brocade official robe, with gold-embroidered cloud and python patterns running across the fabric, shimmering in the light and shadow.

He wore a gilded and jade-inlaid belt around his waist, from which hung his official seal and pass token. His attire was impeccably neat and tidy, exuding the dignified and imposing presence of a high-ranking official.

He stood quietly in front of the wall, without deliberately displaying any imposing aura, yet Zhao Ming involuntarily fell silent and held his breath.

After a few moments of contemplation, he finally spoke in a low voice, "My lord, I have finished reading."

"Oh? What are your thoughts, Lord Zhao?"

Yang Zhen spoke calmly.

"He's just a human prodigy. How many human prodigies like him have appeared over the years?"

Zhao Ming's gaze turned sinister. He composed himself and continued, "We'll stick to the old rules: either become a citizen of the Great Xiang Empire and serve it, or perish here."

As for the Chen family...

Zhao Ming's eyes flashed with disdain, "A mere human clan is not worth worrying about."

Yang Zhen gave a soft "hmm," and the room fell silent.

At that moment, a black streak of light flew in from outside.

It turned out to be a crow.

Its eyes were bloodshot, radiating an eerie and malevolent aura.

Even though Zhao Ming was a Purple Mansion True Person, he couldn't help but look at his arm.

On his arms, the hairs stood on end.

He glanced at the crow with apprehension and took two steps back.

"Gah!"

The crow cawed and spat out a stream of black light.

call out!

After the black light entered Yang Zhen's brow, the black crow cawed twice more, glanced at Zhao Ming, and then turned and flew away.

Yang Zhen narrowed his eyes, then suddenly opened them again, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"Hehe, the Princess Consort of Zhendong sent a message, directly stating that her family has a prodigy descendant."

"Oh?"

Zhao Ming was surprised. "This princess is quite interesting. What does she want to do?"

Yang Zhen turned around and looked at the table. "Heh, she hopes to hand Chen Yuan over to the country, to serve the country, and to contribute to the great cause of the Great Xiang Empire."

Zhao Ming was stunned, but soon he laughed, "Hehe, you're quite sensible."

"Hmph, this is the only way to save her nephew's life." Yang Zhen snorted lightly, speaking indifferently.

"So, which department does she want Chen Yuan to join?"

Zhao Ming smiled; it was neither surprising nor expected.

"The Formless Gate".

Yang Zhen narrowed his eyes and said calmly.

"Heh, she thinks she can just join the Formless Sect whenever she wants? Isn't having Chen Guohai enough?"

Zhao Ming sneered.

"The prince has also spoken."

A cold glint appeared in Yang Zhen's eyes. "That woman Chen Xiaoying is really something. She can actually make the prince dote on her so much."

Is it just because she has big breasts and a nice butt, or because she's good in bed?

"......"

Zhao Ming coughed lightly, not wanting to comment on the Prince of Zhen Dong's private affairs, so he changed the subject.

"Since the prince has spoken, we can only let that boy become the Wuxiang Guard."

However, we must make him shed his human skin and become an orc.

"Um."

Yang Zhen nodded slightly, his long, narrow eyebrows sharp as swords, and said calmly, "Then let that kid join the Wuxiang Division of Tianshan County. It just so happens that the Grand Director Xu Zhihua is dead."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ming's gaze sharpened. "According to intelligence sources, it's said that Xu Zhihua was killed by a swordsman named Lu Chengfeng?"

"This Lu Chengfeng is still a sword-wielding prodigy, but he was dragged down by our people."

As for the deaths of Xu Zhihua and others, there are probably still problems...

"Perfect, let's send that kid over to investigate and verify his true nature."

Zhao Ming nodded slightly, his eyes growing even more profound.

"Also, there's a rumor that that kid obtained many top-grade pills, and even some saint-grade ones. Go and verify this information."

Yang Zhen looked at Zhao Ming, his eyes gleaming.

"What?"

Even Zhao Ming was unsettled.

------

These days, Chen Yuan's name has become the focus of heated discussion in Tianqing County.

The topic of conversation among many diners in restaurants revolves around Chen Yuan's background and achievements.

"I heard that the riot that happened at the refugee camp in front of the county seat a few months ago was caused by Chen Yuan!"

"Tsk tsk, that's brutal! They killed so many law enforcement guards and Lu family guards!"

"Some speculate that Chen Yuan and his family were responsible for burning down the Spring Dream Pavilion!"

"Holy crap, this is insane! I've never seen a human kid so arrogant!"

"Including this clan gathering, how much blood has he spilled on the hands of our Beastmaster disciples?"

·······

Many of the beastmen discussed this, their anger surging.

"We absolutely cannot let that brat continue to be so arrogant. We implore the Prefect to eliminate that ruthless and monstrous individual immediately!"

Someone suggested it, and it immediately received a lot of support, so the public was in an uproar.

Many people organized themselves, forming a huge crowd that headed towards the prefectural governor's office.

Some people came to the front of Palm Lake, pointing at Five Finger Peak and shouting that Chen Yuan should come down and die!

As time went by, more and more people started causing trouble.

Even Lu Sidao, the head of the Lu family, appeared.

He led all the high-ranking members of the Lu family, each dressed in plain clothes, with white cloths on their heads and holding a soul-guiding banner.

Carriages carrying coffins arrived at Palm Lake, where mourners wailed, performed funeral rites, and demanded that the Chen family pay for their blood debts.

The entire Lu family, numbering in the thousands, created a formidable force that immediately attracted the attention of countless people.

The sight of such a display in front of the family's mountain gate immediately alarmed the Chen family, who promptly activated the mountain gate's protective array and became solemn.

For a time, the eyes of all forces in Tianqing County were on the Chen family's land.

······

The county government office.

Niu Sengru, Gou Zongdao, Sun Chengzong, Qi Boheng, and Tianqing County officials gathered together.

Below are the powerful figures from the four major families, as well as all the middle and high-ranking officials of Tianqing.

"Your Excellency, the Lu family head has already launched an attack!"

At that moment, a man in black robes rushed in and spoke coldly.

As soon as he said that, everyone in the room had a sudden flash of brilliance in their eyes!

"Alright, as long as the Lu family and the Chen family start fighting, we'll use the pretext of suppressing a riot to arrest the entire Chen family! If they resist, kill them on sight!"

Gou Zongdao spoke excitedly.

Niu Sengru nodded slightly, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

Although it is still unclear how his son died at Duanyun Mountain.

But he suspected it must be related to Chen Yuan.

In particular, Chen Yuan's combat prowess proved that he could evade the calamities posed by evil spirits.

But this also proves that Chen Yuan was capable of killing Niu Huanxi, Sun Wu, and others.

"A large-scale riot has broken out within the county seat, and we are qualified to send troops to suppress it. Even Chen Xiaoying cannot interfere!"

Qi Boheng said calmly, his body radiating a strong fighting spirit.

"Heh, let's see how the Chen family responds this time!"

Niu Sengru sneered.

"What if the Chen family keeps their mountain gates closed and doesn't come out?"

Sun Chengzong asked in confusion.

If you come to cause trouble, I'll just lock myself in my room and not come out. Aside from being a little cowardly, there's nothing wrong with that.

"Heh, Patriarch Lu still has some tricks up his sleeve."

Gou Zongdao's eyes turned cold.

"Oh?"

Sun Chengzong's gaze sharpened.

·············

On the tip of the five fingers.

"Hmph, they want to bring down my Chen family too."

Chen Qingcang stood before a palace railing, looking down at the foot of the mountain, landing on the palm-sized lake below. His eyes narrowed, revealing a cold glint.

Beside him, Jiang Shangwu looked grave. "Patriarch, as long as we hold the mountain gate and don't go out, their disturbances won't do much good. Could it be that they're planning to attack the mountain?"

Chen Qingcang, with his hands behind his back, said in a deep voice, "Lu Sidao is ruthless and vicious. He must have some other tricks up his sleeve to provoke us into coming out of seclusion and fighting..."

Before he finished speaking, his gaze sharpened, and a murderous aura surged from his body!

"Damn it, how could he be so despicable!"

Chen Qingcang shouted in a low voice, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot!

Jiang Shangwu's expression hardened, and he suddenly realized, "The Lu family has a long history of trafficking young girls and children! And now they're offering these people up as sacrifices?"

"They're probably trying to provoke A-Yuan into leaving the refugee camp by causing a scene earlier!"

Chen Qingcang's voice was filled with intense anger, "Damn it, and those mortals on my Chen family's land too!"

Upon hearing this, even Chen Qingcang couldn't hold back any longer, and a murderous intent surged from his body.

"Master, don't be impulsive! They're forcing us to take action!"

Then the authorities sent troops to suppress it—this was a perfectly legitimate and open conspiracy!

Jiang Shangwu's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

Beneath the Chen family's territory, tens of thousands of humans were sheltered. Most of them were ordinary people who made a living by helping the Chen family grow spirit rice, spirit medicine, spirit herbs, and so on.

At this moment, he was captured by Lu Sidao and beheaded in front of Palm Lake to pay tribute to the dead members of the Lu family!

Especially since there are many members of the Chen family's collateral branches inside!

"Hmph, anyone who tries to kill me in front of my mountain gate is defecating and pissing on my head!"

If I were to tolerate him, then I would be a green-haired turtle!

Chen Qingcang roared angrily, turned around and left, apparently to arrange how to fight.

"Why!"

Jiang Shangwu sighed.

Lu Sidao's actions were truly malicious.

···

······

In front of Palm Lake, countless people gathered to watch the Lu family slaughter the heads of ordinary people!

In the blink of an eye, dozens of people were killed!

Blood gushed forth, flowing into the palm-sized lake and staining most of it crimson.