Chapter 254: Kill or Not Kill

“Set off, head to Qingjiang Prefecture!”

Fang Cun had already broken through to a new realm and didn’t hesitate at all. He simply laughed and gave the order.

His companions knew he had come out this time to raise funds for Dragon Stones. But they hadn’t expected that after merely wandering around the wild valley without doing anything, he was now heading straight for Great Qingjiang City. They felt uneasy, yet seeing Second Young Master Fang so resolute, seemingly very confident, they didn’t dare question him. Each felt both anticipation and a surge of excitement.

Though they trusted him greatly, they still couldn’t help but ask on the way: “Second Young Master Fang, are we really going to confront them?”

Fang Cun simply answered: “I started confronting them a long time ago!”

……

Around the same time Fang Cun was comprehending the Dao in the wild valley, over two thousand li away from Lingwu Sect, on Crimson Forge Mountain, a blade was poised above the neck of Bai Family’s Young Master, Bai Huaiyu. For all his noble status and loud protests, his life had reached its end.

Watching this execution were the Qi Refiners from the Seven Clans. They gazed coldly at the scene. Though their eyes were fixed on Bai Huaiyu, their attention was actually focused on their surroundings. They didn’t know if the blade would fall smoothly. Yet, whether it fell or not was ultimately unimportant to them.

Earlier, Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao had tried using Bai Huaiyu as bait to lure out the Ghost Official, a plan that ultimately failed.

Now, what the Seven Clans were doing was, to any clear-eyed observer, simply repeating the same trick. However, this wasn’t even a hidden conspiracy; it was an open one. They had the explicit permission of Bai Huaiyu’s grandfather. They genuinely intended to kill someone…

If the Ghost Official appeared, the bait was taken, a cause for joy.

If the Ghost Official didn’t appear, the blade would fall anyway, cleanly severing the Seven Clans’ troublesome business deal with the south!

This was the difference between Old Master Fan and the Seven Clans’ methods, compared to those of Divine Eye Young Master.

The schemes of the younger generation always reeked of pettiness.

The plans of the older generation were simple, straightforward, and decisive…

“Hold!”

But just as the blade was about to fall, a loud shout suddenly rang out.

The hearts of the Seven Clans’ Qi Refiners leaped with elation. They swiftly turned towards the source of the sound.

They saw a figure of medium build and cultivation, hands tucked into wide sleeves, radiating a silent, resolute aura. The figure wore a light grey robe, hair tied in a Daoist bun. His features were ordinary, unremarkably silent. His aura was restrained inside him, showing nothing outwardly powerful. Only his eyes, cold and piercing, swept over them. This was Young Sect Master Xu.

“How come you’re here?”

The Qi Refiners frowned, their expressions turning cold: “So it was you?”

But to everyone’s surprise, Young Sect Master Xu offered no explanation. He simply strode forward with uncanny speed. An invisible, spectral aura seemed to rise around him. With each step, he covered a surprising distance, exuding an ineffable sense of both profound mystery and strangeness.

“This man cannot be killed…”

He shouted low, and with a sudden swing of his wide sleeve, magical power surged out, interweaving in the void to form dark clouds. Like a vast, overwhelming tide, they descended instantly, enveloping the group of Seven Clans’ Qi Refiners completely. Whether in aura, the peculiar spectral sense, or even his movement technique, this Young Sect Master Xu was clearly a master beyond anything they had ever encountered.

“It really is him…”

The hearts of the Seven Clans’ Qi Refiners lurched. They moved urgently.

Since they dared to kill here, dared to bait the Ghost Official, they naturally were prepared. Immediately, some surged their cultivation power while others retrieved Magic Treasures specifically prepared for the Ghost Official from their sleeves. Moreover, less than a hundred li away from their group, an Elder who had been lurking in the shadows, waiting for the Ghost Official to appear, narrowed his eyes, ready to strike…

“This man is the key witness to the greatest sins of the Seven Clans! How dare you publicly murder him right here?”

But none of them expected that as Young Sect Master Xu attacked, he let out a deep roar that echoed in all directions.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

As he made his move, more than a dozen figures emerged in the distance, hurriedly rushing across the void. They were from Shoushan Sect, led by the two Elders who charged in front, faces stern and full of murderous intent, though their pace visibly slowed the closer they got.

Further back, several more figures emerged, watching the unfolding fight with faint smiles.

These were Elders from Leshui Sect and Yunwu Sect. They seemed not to be there to join the fight, merely to observe.

“Not good…”

The Seven Clans’ Qi Refiners were shocked, realizing a problem.

It wasn’t the Ghost Official who had come, but Shoushan Sect’s young Sect Leader…

But was this young Sect Leader the Ghost Official?

That was beyond their ability to discern. Right now, it didn’t matter. Regardless of his true identity, he had come openly. He was here in his official capacity as Shoushan Sect’s Sect Leader, under the banner of preventing the Seven Clans from silencing this key witness who had publicly revealed their secrets. This reason was unimpeachable!

Looking at the stunned and confused expressions on the Seven Clans’ Qi Refiners, Young Sect Master Xu felt a surge of complex emotions.

He had taken on the identity of the Ghost Official because he couldn’t seek justice through his public identity. Yet, at this final moment, the suggestion Second Young Master Fang had given him was to shed that Ghost Official persona. He should intervene openly, as the Shoushan Sect Leader, to overturn the situation.

And this… felt incredibly right!

……

Meanwhile, in Great Qingjiang City, chaos reigned within the County Mansion. The new Secretary specifically sent over by the Nanli Family had just finished scolding everyone to work harder and had turned to enter the small courtyard beside the main hall to rest when he saw someone waiting for him.

It was a young man in a black robe, holding a folding fan.

His face wore a gentle smile as he looked calmly at Nanli Xuanying, seeming to have awaited him for some time.

“Who are you?”

Nanli Xuanying was startled, calling out sharply, sensing something amiss.

Instinctively, he prepared to retreat, to distance himself from this ominous figure.

But at that moment, several powerful auras simultaneously radiated from the four corners of the small courtyard.

These auras were immensely strong and terrifying, each one clearly emanating from a Golden Core Realm cultivator – on par with his own level.

One or two such figures he could handle, perhaps. But with four Golden Core auras, plus this young man whose gentle smile gave him an inherently unsettling feeling… Nanli Xuanying froze. His impulse to retreat instantly vanished.

He was confident in his own cultivation, yet he clearly understood he stood no chance against this group.

Temporarily, he couldn’t flee, but confusion also filled his mind.

Who were these people? How dare they be so bold as to barge into the inner courtyard of the County Mansion…?

Crucially, with the County Mansion so heavily guarded, how could they even get in?

……

“My surname is Lin. I have come on the orders of an important person to find you.”

The young man casually twirled his folding fan as he stepped towards Nanli Xuanying, speaking softly: “The reason is simple. I need you to do some things for me here in the County Mansion. In return, when the Seven Clans are overthrown, you will be able to save yourself. You will also be able to save your wife, your daughter, that female disciple of yours, and your illegitimate son…”

Nanli Xuanying’s face showed shock and anger; he felt this was utterly absurd.

Where did this lunatic come from, babbling about overthrowing the Seven Clans? What a joke?

Yet, the man’s precise mention of his family members’ identities sent an involuntary chill down Nanli Xuanying’s spine.

“Do you think what I say is absurd?”

The young man with the fan looked at Nanli Xuanying, chuckling softly: “Right now, even within the Nanli Family, you are merely a second master from a branch line, forever shut out from the main lineage. But if you pledge yourself to my Master, you might actually advance further. Of course, I came only to inform you, not to negotiate. Being chosen is your fortune. As for what you’re thinking… that the Seven Clans are vast, deeply rooted, and not easily toppled… heh… don’t waste your thoughts. Within three days, there will be no more Seven Clans in Qingjiang.”

As he spoke, he produced a white pill: “Eat this pill. Obey my commands. How about it?”

Nanli Xuanying almost laughed in angry disbelief. What was this nonsense? Just pulling out something and demanding he eat it—?

His thought was cut short as the young man put the pill away again, smiling: “It doesn’t matter if you refuse. Because your wife, your daughter, that female disciple… and the son you had with that disciple… even the son’s wet nurse…”

“They’ve already taken theirs.”

“……”

Hot blood rushed to Nanli Xuanying’s head; he nearly fainted. He nearly shouted in fury and attacked.

But at that moment, the courtyard door suddenly opened. A Secretary walked in.

He seemed to be carrying a dossier, probably having a question for Nanli Xuanying. Seeing the scene in the courtyard, he froze for a moment.

Nanli Xuanying felt a flash of hope – perfect! If this Secretary shouted and caused a commotion, the situation would become chaotic. He could use the distraction to flee towards the courtyard exit. Even if he couldn’t defeat these people, he could alert the other experts within the County Mansion. Once others surrounded the area, these people would be…

His thoughts were shattered as the Secretary only paused briefly before walking forward with no sign of surprise. He didn’t head to Nanli Xuanying, but went straight to the young man with the fan, saying: “Mr. Lin, the T-character dossiers are all processed now…”

The young man surnamed Lin frowned slightly: “So slow? What about the others?”

The Secretary answered respectfully: “The X-character and Mystery-character dossiers are still being processed. As for the Heaven-character ones…”

He glanced back at Nanli Xuanying: “…without the seal of this Mr. Nanli here, it might be troublesome. But no matter. If he refuses… we can just kill him. This humble one has a few other… suitable candidates… to recommend for the position… hmm…”

The young man surnamed Lin closed his fan and tapped it gently against his lips, thoughtfully murmuring: “Kill…”

“…”

“…or not kill?”

“…?”