“I’ve told you!”
Yan Chengping screamed, his voice hoarse and rough from extreme pain, as if being scraped frantically against sandpaper.
“I really told you!”
Yan Chengping cried out, almost on the verge of tears, his trembling finger desperately pointing forward.
The place his fingertip pointed to was exactly where the group of county officials stood.
At this moment, he had only one thought in mind—to be freed as soon as possible. He didn’t want to suffer any more physical pain.
“He’s the one who ordered me to do it!”
Yan Chengping shouted himself hoarse, his eyes wide open, bloodshot deep in his pupils.
“Fu Songde!”
“That’s him!”
Yan Chengping’s voice echoed in the dead silent air.
“That night, he went to the Feng family with me!”
Yan Chengping spoke extremely fast, as if afraid that if he didn’t finish these words in time, he’d suffer another beating from Liang Cheng.
“The Feng family head, Feng Jin!”
“Died at Fu Songde’s hands!”
“More than half of the Feng family’s treasures were also taken by that demon Fu Songde!”
Every single word seemed squeezed out from between Yan Chengping’s teeth, carrying deep hatred and fear.
Yan Chengping’s words were like a heavy bomb, instantly setting off a stormy wave among the county officials.
The county officials, who had previously been standing around idly, instantly turned pale as paper, their eyes full of terror and panic.
Almost all of them scattered like frightened animals, fleeing desperately in all directions, afraid that Yan Chengping’s finger would point at them.
Some officials stumbled in panic, nearly falling to the ground; others ran blindly and bumped into people beside them without even bothering to apologize.
For a moment, the scene descended into chaos.
And in the direction Yan Chengping pointed, stood a middle-aged man wearing a constable’s uniform.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, his face dark as ink, frighteningly gloomy, with a heavy saber hanging at his waist.
And this middle-aged man was none other than Panshi County’s constable—Fu Songde.
Fu Songde was the strongest constable under the county’s chief constable, a martial artist at the Marrow-Refining Realm’s minor accomplishment stage, and normally held extremely high prestige in the county office.
Yet at this moment, Fu Songde’s face had turned extremely ugly, a flash of panic passing through his eyes.
“Yan Chengping!”
Fu Songde roared, with a hint of embarrassed anger.
“You dare to slander me!”
Before his words faded, Fu Songde moved with incredible speed. His right hand shot out like lightning, quickly gripping the hilt of the saber at his waist, and with a sudden forceful pull.
“Shing!” With a crisp sound, the cold, gleaming blade instantly left its sheath, pointing straight at Yan Chengping.
At this moment, Fu Songde’s eyes were wide open, burning with raging fury, veins bulging on his forehead—the very picture of a man enraged.
“You evil, serial rapist, you’re already at death’s door.”
“And yet you still dare to quibble, trying to smear my good name!”
“Now, I, your constable, will carry out justice on heaven’s behalf and personally execute you, you beast!”
With that, Fu Songde pushed off with his feet, his figure flashing forward, charging at Yan Chengping with a howling wind.
The saber in his hand, reflected in the cold moonlight, gave off chilling flashes of cold light, like a venomous snake ready to strike.
The blade’s target was clear—Yan Chengping’s face—clearly determined to take his life.
But just as Fu Songde’s blade was about to fall, Liang Cheng, who had been watching coldly all along, curled the corner of his mouth into a mocking sneer.
Immediately after, Liang Cheng’s right hand moved fast as lightning, quickly reaching for the saber hilt tied at his waist.
“Clang!”
A crisp sound of metal clashing suddenly rang out, appearing especially jarring in this chaotic, noisy scene.
Of course, Liang Cheng’s reaction also forced Fu Songde’s killing blow to halt mid-air.
Liang Cheng looked at Fu Songde coldly, the broad blade in his hand not moving in the slightest.
“Marrow-Refining Realm, great accomplishment!”
“You!”
Fu Songde’s face instantly turned pale, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.
He hadn’t expected that this young brat who looked under twenty was actually a martial artist at the Marrow-Refining Realm’s great accomplishment stage.
At this moment, Fu Songde forced himself to stay calm and said through gritted teeth: “Master Liang, what do you mean by this?”
“This serial rapist Yan Chengping is clearly framing me!”
“I, Fu Songde, as Panshi County’s constable, how could I possibly collude with such a beast?”
The next moment, Liang Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly, a sharp cold light flashing through them.
His right hand steadily gripped the saber hilt, arm muscles taut, then suddenly pushed forward with force.
This seemingly simple action contained astonishing power.
Fu Songde felt a massive force like overturning mountains and seas surging at him along the blade—utterly impossible to resist.
In an instant, Fu Songde’s feet carved two deep tracks into the ground, his body uncontrollably staggering backward again and again.
One step, two steps… he retreated over a dozen steps, his shoe soles scraping against the bluestone ground with a harsh sound.
After a few breaths, Fu Songde barely managed to steady himself.
At this moment, Fu Songde’s face was flushed red, his chest heaving violently, bean-sized beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, his eyes full of shock.
He clearly hadn’t expected Liang Cheng to possess such terrifying strength.
Liang Cheng had no intention of paying attention to Fu Songde. Instead, he turned to look at Yan Chengping and said sternly: “Yan Chengping, was what you just said the truth?”
“If there’s even half a lie, I, your uncle, will make you wish you were dead!”
Yan Chengping quickly nodded, his voice carrying a hint of tears: “Every word I said is true!”
“That night, it really was Fu Songde who took me to the Feng family. The Feng family head, Feng Jin, was also killed by his own hands!”
“He also took most of the Feng family’s treasures.”
“My lord, you can send someone to search Fu Songde’s residence. Such valuable things—he must have hidden them in his home.”
Hearing this, Fu Songde’s face instantly turned deathly pale, and the saber in his hand clattered to the ground.
His legs gave way, and he dropped to his knees, his voice trembling: “Lord Su, Lord Liang, Lord Lu, this humble official is innocent!”
“This Yan Chengping is clearly framing me!”
“I… I…”
Suddenly, another dull thud of “thump” came.
Fu Songde fell straight forward, already unconscious.
And behind Fu Songde, Su An stood quietly, his expression calm as water.
Su An slowly withdrew his right hand that had been extended in mid-air—clearly, he had knocked Fu Songde unconscious.
Su An glanced at the county officials around him, then fixed his gaze on the Panshi County magistrate.
“There’s nothing more for you here. All of you, withdraw.”
“Also, take him away too.”
“Remember, you’d best not try any tricks with me.”
“Otherwise, hmph!”
These last two sentences, Su An deliberately said slowly and clearly, specifically so the Panshi County magistrate could hear every word.
This was a warning—telling him to handle this case honestly, and not to entertain any thoughts he shouldn’t have.
“Yes, Lord Su. This humble official and the others will take our leave now.”
Seeing this, those county officials didn’t dare delay even a moment. Under the direction of the Panshi County magistrate, they hurriedly lifted Fu Songde.
Then, under the watchful eyes of Su An, Liang Cheng, and Lu Yunqing, they slunk away in disgrace.
Liang Cheng glanced at Yan Chengping at his feet from the corner of his eye, then without hesitation reached out his right hand and hoisted him up.
Yan Chengping’s body, like a torn burlap sack, hung in mid-air, his face pale as paper, his eyes full of terror and despair.
“What are you looking at!”
“Next, it’s time for you, you beast and scum, to pay your blood debt.”
Yan Chengping, held in Liang Cheng’s hand, his feet off the ground, trembled uncontrollably from fear.
His lips quivered, his voice broken: “You… what are you going to do!”
“Let me go, let me go!”
Liang Cheng paid no attention to Yan Chengping’s pleas, only giving him a cold glance.
Then, Liang Cheng strode toward the estate filled with the smell of char.
The estate’s gate was already in ruins, the door panels covered in charred black marks—clearly having been through a great fire.
“Bang!”
Liang Cheng raised his foot and unceremoniously kicked open the crumbling gate.
The door panel let out a dull thud, then crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Inside the estate, everything was in chaos.
The walls were covered in charred black marks, and faint traces of dried blood could still be seen on them.
The ground was littered with burnt furniture and shattered porcelain.
Liang Cheng carried Yan Chengping and strode into the estate. His gaze swept around, a flash of coldness passing through his eyes.
After stepping into the main hall, the air was filled with a pungent burnt smell, mixed with a rotting stench that made Liang Cheng feel nauseated.
Those charred wooden pillars that hadn’t burned clean through barely propped up the crumbling, dilapidated structure.
With every step, the broken wooden fragments underfoot let out creaking moans.
The roof beams overhead were riddled with holes, a few strands of bright moonlight barely squeezing through the gaps.
On the dusty ground, they cast mottled patches of light and shadow.
“Alright!”
Su An’s voice suddenly rang out. He lightly furrowed his brow and said to Liang Cheng: “Liang Cheng, just put him here!”
“We need to leave first. Deputy Envoy He is waiting outside.”
Hearing this, Liang Cheng nodded, then unceremoniously tossed Yan Chengping toward the center of the hall.
“Thud!”
Yan Chengping’s body crashed heavily to the ground with a dull thud.
His body had long been crippled by Liang Cheng and Lu Yunqing—he couldn’t move, only lie there limp like a broken puppet.
“Hurry!”
Su An said in a low voice. The three of them no longer maintained their calm demeanor, but instead scurried out of the estate like their soles were greased.
Their figures quickly disappeared into the darkness, leaving only Yan Chengping sprawled in the center of the hall.
“Hey!”
“You corrupt officials!”
“What the hell!”
“What are you talking about!”
“What do those ghost things of the Feng family mean!”
Yan Chengping’s voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying endless terror and fury.
His gaze swept around, his eyes full of despair.
The hall was dead silent all around.
The charred marks on the walls looked especially menacing in the dim light.
Yan Chengping’s body trembled violently from fear, his lips quivering, his voice broken: “No… don’t… spare me… spare me…”
Yan Chengping’s voice echoed in the empty hall, as if squeezed from his throat, carrying endless despair and pleading.
Yet the only response was silent, soundless stillness.
Outside the estate, Liang Cheng, Su An, and Lu Yunqing stood not far away, coldly watching the direction of the estate.
“Brother Su, do you think… those ‘ghost things’ of the Feng family will really appear?”
Liang Cheng asked in a low voice, a hint of uncertainty in his tone.
“They will!”
A deep, majestic voice came from behind the three of them, interrupting their conversation.
Hearing this familiar voice, Liang Cheng, Su An, and Lu Yunqing’s faces lit up with joy, and they quickly turned around.
They saw an old man dressed in a cyan Xuanbird uniform walking slowly toward them, emanating an invisible pressure from his entire being.
This old man was none other than the Baidao Prefecture’s Deputy Xuan Envoy—He Yan!
“Uncle He!”
“Master!”
Liang Cheng and the other two quickly bowed in salute, their tones carrying extreme respect.
He Yan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, then landing on the distant estate, a hint of solemnity appearing on his face.
“Ah!”
“Director Lu told me long ago.”
“That the heavens and earth have undergone strange changes.”
“These changes can, with a certain probability, cause those who died filled with resentment to come back from the dead, becoming those ghost things.”
“Uncle He, Brother Xuan also told me!”
Liang Cheng naturally knew who the “Director Lu” He Yan referred to was.
Lu Xuan!
As for his cousin Lu Xuan, Liang Cheng had always been paying close attention.
The matter of Lu Xuan becoming the Xuanbird Guards’ Deputy Director had spread throughout the entire Great Xia Imperial Dynasty days ago.
“Yes!”
He Yan’s gaze carried a hint of profundity: “After the Feng family massacre, dozens of commoners around them mysteriously disappeared.”
“I already sensed this morning that there was a faint yin energy around the Feng family.”
Less than half a month after Lu Xuan left Baidao Prefecture, He Yan had already broken through to the Inner Qi Realm’s great accomplishment stage.
Of course, He Yan hadn’t chosen to leave Baidao Prefecture, but instead planned to stay here permanently.
Because it was thanks to Lu Xuan’s grace that he could break through to the Inner Qi great accomplishment stage.
Not just He Yan, but also Liang Cheng, Lu Yunqing, Ye Qingxuan, Li Chengfeng… and others.
In any case, all the Xuanbird Guards connected to Lu Xuan received vigorous cultivation from the Xuanbird Guards’ headquarters in Tiandu.
The martial arts resources they could obtain were more than ten times what they had before!
At this moment, Lu Yunqing furrowed his brow and asked in a low voice: “Uncle He, those ghost things…”
“Are they really the dead members of the Feng family?”
Regarding Lu Yunqing’s question, He Yan nodded in affirmation, then his gaze once again landed on the distant estate.
“Remember, no matter what happens next, don’t act rashly.”
“Su An, your task is to stay by Liang Cheng and Lu Yunqing’s side.”
“Yes, Master.”
Inside the Feng family estate’s main hall, Yan Chengping still lay limp on the ground, staring blankly at the ceiling.
His lips quivered, but he could no longer make any sound.
In the air, there seemed to be a low, muffled whimper, as if countless wronged souls were weeping in the darkness.
“No… don’t…”
“Ghosts!”
Yan Chengping’s eyes were full of terror and despair. Rather than being scared to death like this, he’d rather just end it all directly.
At this thought, a ruthless, decisive look flashed through Yan Chengping’s eyes. He wanted to bite off his own tongue and end his life!
Suddenly, the temperature inside the estate plummeted, and the air was filled with a piercing chill.
Yan Chengping’s body jerked violently, the muscles on his face already stiffening.
He couldn’t move!
His body couldn’t move!
The next second, inside the hall, the deep darkness seemed to come alive.
Countless blurry figures slowly emerged from the walls, the floor, the ceiling.
Their gazes were hollow and cold, white cold air visibly spilling from their bodies.
“Save me…”
However, those “ghost things” ignored Yan Chengping’s pleas.
In an instant, these strange dark shadows, at a horrifying speed, completely devoured his entire being.
In the blink of an eye, Yan Chengping’s flesh and blood rapidly rotted away at a visible speed.
His skin turned blackish-blue, blood vessels bulging, as if millions of insects were gnawing at his body.
Immediately after, Yan Chengping’s body began to turn to dust, finally becoming a pile of bone ash on the ground, gently rising in the cold, eerie air.
“They’ve finally appeared…”
Just then, He Yan’s deep voice came from outside the hall.
He blocked the entrance, staring intently at those terrifying dark shadows inside the hall.
