Swordholder

The fire in the Yang family mansion burned very quickly. In the end, only some not-so-fierce flames remained, crackling and burning. The flickering flames stretched the shadows of the corpses on the ground, making them look like evil spirits baring their fangs and claws.

Prefect Zhu Xin and Tianshan Army Commander Jiang Chen led a large group of yamen runners, Tianshan soldiers, Wuxiang Guards, law enforcement guards, and others. They stepped through the broken gate, looked at the corpses scattered on the ground, and quickly entered the Yang family's residence.

Jiang Chen, the commander of the Tianshan Army, wore black armor and a mask, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes.

He walked side by side with Zhu Xin, stepping over burning beams and over charred corpses.

A wave of scorching heat, carrying a foul stench, swept over them, while the flickering firelight illuminated the two men's eyes with a chilling and murderous look.

"Lord Zhu, Yang Liu is, after all, a member of the same clan as Lord Yang Zhen. Even if he is from a collateral branch, no one should be allowed to slander his clan like this, especially not by labeling him a spy for the Swordholder."

Jiang Chen spoke in a low voice, cold and indifferent, as if reminding someone, or perhaps warning them.

"Heh, the Swordholder is someone even His Majesty the Emperor would destroy. No matter who it is, no one will tolerate it. Even if Yang Liu is backed by Lord Yang Zhen."

Zhu Xin said something indifferently.

Jiang Chen's pupils suddenly narrowed, and he turned to look at the tall woman beside him in disbelief. "Your target is Yang Zhen?"

He quickly realized that Zhu Xin wasn't just trying to smear Yang Liu.

I'm afraid we'll have to wait for Yang Zhen to reach out, and in the process, we'll also get Yang Zhen's hand dirty.

"My lord, please refrain from speculating about any conspiracy theories. I have always been loyal to the Empire and strictly enforce the law. I am not targeting any individual, but only the matter itself."

Zhu Xin spoke with righteous indignation.

Jiang Chen snorted coldly and said nothing more.

Behind them followed countless yamen runners and soldiers of Tianshan County, all watching the tragic scene around them in shock!

Soon, everyone arrived at the courtyard where the Yang family was holding a banquet.

Looking around, tables, chairs, and dishes were scattered all over the ground, mixed with severed limbs and blood, as if a layer of blood rain had just fallen.

A boy of about sixteen years old stood amidst a scene of bloodshed, with horns on his head, his white hair flying wildly, and fangs bared!

The crimson moonlight shone down, enveloping him like a blood-red cloak, making him look exceptionally eerie!

Especially his still somewhat immature and fair face, coupled with the fact that he was holding Yang Liu's head with his right hand, along with a bloody spine, was enough to make one's heart tremble!

When Chen Yuan saw Zhu Xin and a large group of people arrive, he grinned and threw Yang Liu's head in front of them!

Glug!

Its head rolled, its mangled face facing upwards, its ferocious eyes staring intently at Zhu Xin and her group.

The other yamen runners, Tianshan soldiers, Wuxiang Guards, and law enforcement guards all felt a chill run down their spines, their tails twitched, and their backs went cold.

Keep in mind, this was the chief of the Enforcement Division, and he was just killed like that?

They all turned to look at Chen Yuan again, their eyes filled with shock.

"You're a bit late. The traitor Yang Liu has already been executed, and you're only just arriving?"

Chen Yuan grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. The next moment, his white hair gradually turned back to black.

The two horns on the sides of its head also retracted, and its body, which was over three meters long, slowly shrank, returning to its original shape.

Upon hearing this, a director of the Enforcement Department angrily retorted, "Chen Yuan, how dare you slander the Chief Enforcement Officer!"

There were many law enforcement guards in the field, all glaring angrily at Chen Yuan.

Many of them were Yang Liu's confidants.

"Heh, the evidence is conclusive, your attempts to deny it are useless."

At that moment, a person emerged from a dilapidated and collapsed house on one side; it was Li Wei.

"Bang!"

With a casual wave of his hand, a pile of corpses fell in front of the group of law enforcement officers.

The directors were stunned and looked over; it was the corpse of the swordsman.

Each person has a unique sword-wielding symbol on their body.

Chen Yuan glanced at it briefly.

These corpses were the bodies of the swordsman whom the Xu family had strangled in the temple in the southern suburbs three nights ago.

Chen Yuan left the corpses behind and did not devour them.

This is just what they need now; it can be said that this is what they killed tonight!

Hehehe!

At that moment, Nuomi, whose hair stood on end, let out a sinister laugh and bounced out of the ruins.

It's like a flea.

"Splash!"

She opened her mouth and spat out a large number of short swords, which flew out of her mouth and landed at the feet of Zhu Xin, Jiang Chen and the others!

Their eyes narrowed!

This was clearly the short sword that identified the wielder.

Most of them were iron swords and bronze swords, but there were also a few silver swords that were very conspicuous, representing several chief sword-bearers.

Chen Yuan glanced at the short swords of the swordsmen and said calmly,

"These are the sword-wielders we killed here earlier, including their corpses and the sword-wielding tokens they possessed. Do you all have anything else to say?"

At this, all the law enforcement officers were speechless.

The Yang family killed their way to the sword-wielders, who also possessed short swords that represented their identities, also known as sword-wielding tokens.

If the Yang family wasn't harboring criminals, why would there be a swordsman here?

And they were killed by Chen Yuan and his men?

Everyone was speechless, finding it utterly unbelievable.

"There are also their secret dealings with the remnants of the Sword-wielding faction, the two sides joined forces to plot an ambush against the Xu family, and all the correspondence between them."

Chen Yuan spoke again, and with a wave of his hand, another large pile of letters was thrown at them.

These letters fell into the crowd, and some of the officials, such as the Director of the Wuxiang Guard or the Director of the Law Enforcement Department, picked them up and opened them to read.

Among these letters are not only letters from Cai Fu, Gao Zhongliang and other sword-wielders to Yang Liu, but also Yang Liu's replies to them.

Of course, the authenticity of the handwriting is impossible to verify, since Yang Liu is dead and there is no way to verify it.

Even if some people think there is something wrong with the handwriting, most of it has been stained with blood, resulting in rough edges and a blurry appearance.

Seeing their complicated expressions, Chen Yuan clasped his hands in a fist salute again and shouted loudly:

"Today, Chen Yuan, the Chief of the Wuxiang Division, along with Captain Li Wei and Captain Nuomi, have executed the traitor Yang Liu, who wielded the sword, and all members of the Yang family, as a warning to others!"

"In addition, more than thirty remnants of the Yang family's faction who were harboring sword-wielding members were also killed!"

"These people all bear the insignia of the Sword Bearer, which completely confirms their identities; they are undoubtedly the Sword Bearers!"

After a pause, Chen Yuan shouted again.

"I, Chen, made a promise seven days ago to expose the remaining members of the Sword-Bearing Clan and the traitors within seven days, and I have fulfilled that promise. I humbly request Prefect Zhu to verify!"

These words, imbued with spiritual energy and cultivation, reverberated across the sky above Tianshan County, causing a great stir among many.

"What? The entire Yang family is dead? They were all killed by Chen Yuan and his two accomplices?"

"Heavens! How is this possible? Doesn't the Yang family have three Daoists at the Great Perfection of the Yellow Court realm?"

"They've already confirmed he's the traitor within the Sword-wielding organization? Really?"

"How could it not be? They even killed over thirty sword-bearers in the Yang family, including several chief sword-bearers!"

"This is unbelievable! Chen Yuan actually found out? My god, we were hoping to see him commit suicide by swallowing shit!"

······

The entire Tianshan County was in an uproar, with everyone discussing it!

The cultivators standing around the Yang family were even more shocked and sighed.

You should know that the Yang family was one of the official families of Tianshan, and even the Chief of Law Enforcement. How could they be wiped out like this?

Countless eyes turned to the ruins and looked at the tall woman.

People were curious whether Prefect Zhu believed Chen Yuan's words and labeled Yang Liu as an internal traitor, or whether he would challenge Chen Yuan!

The atmosphere in the room was the same; everyone's eyes were on Zhu Xin.

"Slap, slap, slap..."

Surprisingly, Zhu Xin clapped her hands lightly and said with a smile, "Congratulations to Lord Chen for making outstanding contributions."

As she spoke, amidst everyone's shocked gazes, she continued...

"I will personally report to the Wangdong Prefecture Court and request that Lord Zhao, the head of the court, promote Lord Chen to the position of Grand Master of the Tianshan Wuxiang."

These words sealed Chen Yuan's fate and also brought closure to the Yang Liu family.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at Zhu Xin in disbelief.

Why would the Prefect support a human?

However, people quickly realized what was happening.

Judging from Chen Yuan's previous appearance, he was clearly a demon.

Where is the human race that should exist?

In an instant, the gazes of countless law enforcement guards, Wuxiang guards, and yamen runners fixed on Chen Yuan and his companions all changed.

The monster race worships the strong the most.

Chen Yuan and his two companions came to the Yang family to deliver a coffin and cut down willow branches. Despite being outnumbered, they forcefully killed everyone.

It can be described as incredibly fierce.

"Lord Chen."

At this moment, Zhu Xin spoke again, looking at Chen Yuan and the other two, "And these two captains, please come with me back to the prefectural governor's mansion. Tonight's battle must have been quite tiring. I will host a banquet to celebrate your victory."

Upon hearing that there would be a banquet, Li Wei and Nuomi's eyes lit up.

The delicious food from the Yang family had made their mouths water.

Unfortunately, the massacre destroyed everything.

"Perfect timing, we're hungry too. Thank you in advance, Prefect."

Chen Yuan smiled and nodded, without refusing.

His actions were all meant to show the rest of Tianshan County.

He had an affair with Prefect Zhu.

No, it should be said that their relationship is unusual.

This will make things much easier for him no matter what he does later.

Many people made way, staring at Chen Yuan and his companions with expressions of shock and complex emotions, before following Zhu Xin away.

The remaining people stood silently in place, looking at the ruins of the Yang family compound and the scene of corpses strewn everywhere, their hearts pounding with fear.

"Return to camp!"

Jiang Chen's gaze darkened, and he waved his hand, leading the Tianshan Army away.

"What do we do?"

The remaining Wuxiang Guards, Law Enforcement Guards, and Yamen Runners stood there, somewhat at a loss.

The Yang family, a vast and powerful clan, was annihilated by Chen Yuan and his two companions. It's truly astonishing.

Some of the Wuxiang Chiefs, in particular, felt a chill run down their spines and their hearts pounded.

No wonder that kid dared to kill Yang Gang and Ma Ling'en; he's that ruthless!

Fortunately, they hadn't offended them too deeply.

"Take these sword-wielders' corpses and the evidence back to the Wuxiang Prefecture, immediately compile a complete chain of evidence, and submit it to the Wangdong Court!"

Zhu Xiong stepped out from the crowd and gave the instructions.

Some of the Wuxiang Guards sprang into action, collecting the corpses of the sword-wielders, the letters, and the short swords from the ground.

More of the Formless Guardians' eyes lit up, and they quietly dispersed, starting to loot the storage bags and resources from the corpses on the ground.

But soon, their expressions turned angry.

"Damn it, someone touched me naked!"

"All of the Yang family's resources and wealth are gone!"

"What? Who did this?"

······

The Wuxiang Guards and others, who were running through the ruins of the Yang family, exclaimed in surprise.

Soon, they remembered the three people Chen Yuan had mentioned earlier.

"You beast! How can you kill people and still collect resources at the same time?"

Many of the Wuxiang Guardians couldn't help but speak up.

After searching for a long time, there was nothing but a corpse.

Even the corpses seemed to be more than half gone!