Within the prefectural city of Qingling Prefecture stood a majestic and imposing mansion.
Hanging before the grand entrance was a plaque made of fine pearwood, clearly inscribed with two large characters:
Luo Residence!
This extraordinary estate was none other than the residence of Luo Jin, the Surveillance Commissioner of An Province—and also the ancestral home of Luo Jinhe, the Vice-Administrator of Baidao Prefecture.
However, the atmosphere surrounding the Luo Residence at this moment could make passersby feel an inexplicable air of solemnity and killing intent.
Even more peculiar was the fact that several stark white lanterns hung conspicuously before the Luo Residence’s main gate, with no attempt at concealment.
Inside the main hall of the Luo Residence, which had been eerily quiet, several voices now erupted in hoarse, anguished cries.
“Jinhe, my son!”
“And my dear grandsons!”
“I am filled with hatred!”
In the hall, an elderly man who appeared to be over ninety years old, clad in thin but exquisite silks, sat in the master’s seat.
He was Luo Jin, Luo Jinhe’s biological father.
He was also the Surveillance Commissioner of An Province, the martial arts master of Prince An of An Province, and a martial artist at the Major Accomplishment stage of the Internal Qi realm.
In Luo Jin’s wrinkled right hand was a palm-sized slip of paper.
Its contents had caused Luo Jin’s aged tears to flow, his cloudy eyes now filled with terrifying bloodshot veins.
Amidst the violent fluctuations of grief, a fearsome aura radiated from Luo Jin’s entire body.
The small slip of paper tightly gripped in his hand was pulverized into dust by an invisible stream of energy.
The message on that slip had been sent overnight by informants Luo Jin had stationed in Baidao Prefecture.
All of Jinhe’s remaining children and grandchildren had died unexpectedly just yesterday.
A few days prior, when the Provincial Governor had notified him, Luo Jin had nearly fainted from rage.
He was told that his eldest son, Luo Jinhe, had been accused of harming Profound Bird Guards and conspiring with them, and had been executed on the spot by the Profound Bird Guards!
And now, before Luo Jin could even catch his breath, another earth-shattering piece of bad news had arrived from Baidao Prefecture.
“Why!”
“Profound Bird Guards of Baidao Prefecture, what grudge does my Luo Family have with you that you would exterminate Jinhe’s entire family?”
“I swear, I will never let you get away with this!”
“He Yan! A mere Profound Bird Guard who just recently broke through to the Internal Qi realm, how dare he privately execute a court-appointed official! How dare he act like this!”
Luo Jin had learned all the details from the Provincial Governor.
Luo Jinhe’s death was linked to He Yan, the Deputy Profound Envoy of Baidao Prefecture’s Profound Bird Guards.
He Yan was the one who personally captured him; the evidence was also gathered by people He Yan sent to raid Jinhe’s residence.
Therefore, this Deputy Profound Envoy He Yan was the true culprit behind Jinhe’s death in Baidao Prefecture.
Yes, Luo Jin attributed his eldest son’s death entirely to He Yan.
Luo Jin was not a senile old fool; he also suspected that Jinhe’s death was likely connected to the new Profound Envoy of Baidao Prefecture.
However, the Profound Envoy of every prefecture was a martial artist at the Major Accomplishment stage of the Internal Qi realm—the same realm as Luo Jin himself.
Even if Luo Jin sought revenge, it would likely result in mutual destruction.
He Yan was different; he was merely a martial artist who had just entered the Internal Qi realm.
Luo Jin planned to target He Yan first and proceed step by step.
Once he found an opportunity, he would definitely not let this Lu Xuan off either.
The former Baidao Prefecture Profound Envoy, Li Chengfeng, had already returned to the Heavenly Capital.
This new Profound Envoy was a figure of unknown origin, only temporarily filling Li Chengfeng’s position.
“A member of the Li Family?”
“Even if he is from the Li Family, this old man will never let the matter rest.”
Given his high position, Luo Jin naturally knew about Li Chengfeng’s background: he was from that Li Family, one of the Eight Great Clans of the Heavenly Capital.
Thinking of the Li Family’s influence, the furious rage in Luo Jin’s heart cooled somewhat.
Hmph!
The Heavenly Capital isn’t ruled by the Li Family alone. Don’t think this old man fears your Li Family.
He, too, originated from one of the Eight Great Clans—the Luo Family… a branch family.
Although his status wasn’t as high as Li Chengfeng’s, who belonged to the main lineage, Luo Jin had another special identity.
He was the martial arts master of Prince An, Xia Mingqing, the tenth son of the Heavenly Qi Emperor.
Thinking of Prince An, Luo Jin’s mind grew active.
Then, he glanced ahead, where two men in their thirties knelt, putting on a show of weeping bitterly.
“You two, why are you kneeling here? Go prepare the carriage immediately.”
“Your father must personally visit Prince An’s residence to pay his respects to His Highness!”
“Yes, Father. We will go prepare the carriage at once.”
The two men, with haggard faces that spoke of excessive indulgence, were the sons born to Luo Jin by his concubines.
This was precisely why Luo Jin was determined to avenge his eldest son, Luo Jinhe.
Luo Jinhe was the son born to his principal wife. His martial talent was no less than Luo Jin’s own.
He was the only hope for the Luo Family to produce another Internal Qi realm expert who could succeed Luo Jin as the family head.
But now, with Jinhe’s death, the position of the next head of the Luo Family was left completely vacant.
His two remaining sons were nothing but useless wastrels, constantly lingering in pleasure districts, wreaking havoc, and oppressing the common people around Qingling Prefecture.
If not for his protection, these two useless sons would have long been captured by the authorities and publicly executed.
“Sigh!”
“To think the Luo Family’s legacy would one day be ruined in my hands.”
“Jinhe, rest assured. Your father will spare no effort to avenge you.”
“That He Yan, and that Lu Xuan—this old man will absolutely not let them off. Rest in peace!”
Luo Jin gnashed his teeth, muttering under his breath.
He was already a man with one foot in the grave and didn’t have many years left.
Luo Jin thought that before he died, he must eliminate those responsible for Jinhe’s death.
This way, even after his death, the Luo Family could rely on the influence he had accumulated over the years to linger on for a while longer in Qingling Prefecture.
As if remembering something, Luo Jin spoke coldly toward the hall’s entrance.
“Attendants, prepare writing brushes and ink for this official.”
“This official must submit a memorial to the imperial court!”
This so-called Lu Xuan probably had no idea that he, Luo Jin, possessed another authority due to his position.
As the Surveillance Commissioner of an entire province, he had the power to monitor the actions of all officials in An Province and report directly to the Emperor.
This was Luo Jin’s most important trump card and the reason why high-ranking officials in An Province treated him with such respect.
Of course, as Surveillance Commissioner, Luo Jin could only monitor regular court officials.
The Profound Bird Guards happened to fall outside Luo Jin’s jurisdiction.
However, since Luo Jinhe was the Vice-Administrator of Baidao Prefecture, that did fall under Luo Jin’s purview.
Luo Jin intended to submit a memorial to the imperial court, denouncing Lu Xuan, the Profound Envoy of Baidao Prefecture, and He Yan, the Deputy Profound Envoy.
