Realm Walker

Chapter 87: Contact from the Slaughter Cessation Palace (I)

Fu Qingyang was here?

Steward Pang's brow twitched, and he shot to his feet.

Xiahou Tianyuan murmured thoughtfully, "What kind of man is this Fu Qingyang?"

The Fu family was one of the noble Spirit Realm families and a dominant force within the White Tiger Legion. Across the entire Five Elements Alliance, they stood like a towering mountain, an institution unto themselves. The family also controlled vast assets overseas, making them capitalists of the highest order. In terms of raw family power and financial muscle, the Xiahou family fell considerably short.

Steward Pang considered the question carefully before replying, "He's extraordinarily arrogant, and gifted beyond measure. I've heard that while still at the Transcendent tier, he once faced a Saint-tier Evil-class Walker head on and refused to retreat. He held his ground against a Saint for a whole half hour. It was nothing short of miraculous.

"He's been stationed in Songhai for less than a year. I haven't had much interaction with him, but from the few times we've crossed paths, I can say that while he's arrogant, he's no hothead."

Xiahou Tianyuan relaxed at once, a smile spreading across his face. "Good. As long as he's not a hothead, we're fine. The Fu family and the White Tiger Legion have plenty of business dealings with the Xiahou family. I doubt he'd turn on me over one insignificant commoner."

Steward Pang said nothing. He could already hear the chaotic stamp of footsteps approaching the office, and there were quite a few of them. Xiahou Tianyuan's expression went cold as he turned toward the open office door.

A group appeared in the doorway. The man at the front wore a crisp white suit that fit him like a second skin. He was devastatingly handsome, with his hair pulled back in a sharp, short ponytail. To his left stood a squinty-eyed man with disheveled hair in a casual outfit. To his right was the very person who had ruined his plans and made himself an enemy: Yuanshi Tianzun.

At that moment, Yuanshi Tianzun was trailing Fu Qingyang like a loyal lackey.

Xiahou Tianyuan's face darkened. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Steward Pang was all smiles as he stepped forward to greet the newcomers. "Centurion Fu! To what do I owe the pleasure? You’ve come to my office with such fanfare."

Fu Qingyang glanced at Xiahou Tianyuan. "I'm here to make an arrest."

The steward's smile didn't waver. "Who?"

Fu Qingyang had no interest in elaborating, but his loyal lackey Zhang Yuanqing spoke up right on cue. "Xiahou Tianyuan is suspected of kidnapping and endangering public safety. The evidence is conclusive. We're here to detain him according to the law."

Steward Pang's face hardened, and he let out a cold snort. "Who gave you permission to speak?"

He turned back to Fu Qingyang, and his smile returned. "Centurion Fu, Xiahou Tianyuan assaulted someone in my jurisdiction and has already been arrested. As for the kidnapping, he's confessed to that as well. By the rules, this case falls under the jurisdiction of Fenghua District."

"You want to talk about rules with me?" Fu Qingyang replied evenly. "Then let me tell you something. The victim's family filed a report with the Kangyang District Spirit Realm Walker squad this morning. My people killed the kidnappers and rescued the hostage. If we're going by the rules, my claim supersedes yours."

Steward Pang shook his head. "I've already made the arrest. I can't hand him over. Even if this goes before the Council of Elders, I'm in the right."

He knew perfectly well that Fu Qingyang had the stronger case. That was precisely why he had devised this approach: using procedure to block procedure, and dragging the whole thing into bureaucratic limbo. Working within the system meant knowing how to exploit the rules.

"Centurion Fu, I've already turned myself in," Xiahou Tianyuan chimed in. "I'm willing to accept punishment. Why are you being so aggressive about this?"

When Fu Qingyang didn't respond, he smiled and continued, "Come to think of it, the Fu family and the Xiahou family have longstanding business ties. Our families go back generations. I should be calling you Brother Fu."

The subtext was painfully clear. Are you really going to burn bridges with the Xiahou family over one commoner?

Fu Qingyang didn't even look at him. He kept his gaze fixed on Steward Pang, his tone flat and with the weight of finality behind it. "I didn't come here to negotiate."

Steward Pang frowned. "Then what did you come here to do?"

Fu Qingyang opened his Inventory and summoned a black Command Banner. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it forward. It struck the desk with a clear ringing sound and embedded itself in the surface, right in front of Xiahou Tianyuan.

Xiahou Tianyuan's entire body seized up. He collapsed back into the sofa, muscles spasming and twitching. Rage twisted his features, but he couldn't move an inch.

Steward Pang erupted with fury. "Fu Qingyang! You want to fight me?"

He pressed both hands against his chest, and waves of green luminescence radiated outward, rippling across the office in an expanding ring. A quick succession of cracking sounds filled the air as the floor and walls split apart, thick vines bursting through the gaps. They grew across the windows and the door, sealing them. Within moments, the entire office had become a wooden cage.

"Nobody is leaving this room today," Steward Pang snarled.

Slender vines sprouted from his body, writhing and extending like tentacles and weaving together into a full suit of vine armor.

Fu Qingyang reached into his Inventory and drew out a bronze sword, three feet and two inches long. The blade had eight facets, all of them covered in a thick layer of patina.

Zhang Yuanqing felt a chill run through him. Is this actually happening? If two Saint-tier Walkers fight in an enclosed space like this, won't we get caught in the crossfire?

He immediately looked to Guan Ya, Ling Jun, White Dragon, and the others, only to find every one of the seasoned Walkers wearing expressions of perfect calm. They were completely unperturbed.

They're way too relaxed. Did I overestimate the combat power of a Saint?

While Zhang Yuanqing was still lost in confusion, a blinding flash of light blazed out of the sword, so fierce that he squeezed them shut on instinct. As he did so, he heard a muffled grunt.

He opened his eyes. Steward Pang, still encased in his vine armor, had crumpled to the floor, blood pouring from his abdomen in thick, dark streams.

"You're welcome to report me to the Council of Elders for attacking a colleague. Of course, I'll also be reporting you for harboring a criminal and for corruption," said Fu Qingyang coldly as he flicked the blood from his blade with a casual shake. "You're simply not on my level."

His voice was cool and detached. There wasn't even a trace of contempt in his expression, just the serene calm of a king dispensing justice to a subject beneath his notice.

What just happened? Is this Steward Pang really a Saint? I didn't overestimate the power of a Saint-tier Walker. I just underestimated him, Zhang Yuanqing marveled silently.

He had heard Li Dongze and Guan Ya speak of Fu Qingyang's extraordinary talent before, and how he was the most likely candidate in this generation of the Five Elements Alliance to be promoted to Elder. But hearing about something and witnessing it were entirely different things.

Now, Zhang Yuanqing understood with perfect clarity. This man was a true prodigy among prodigies.

No wonder Ling Jun, Guan Ya, and the rest had been so calm.

Still slumped on the sofa, Xiahou Tianyuan watched the scene unfold, his face drained of all color.

Fu Qingyang didn't spare Steward Pang another glance. He walked to the coffee table, pulled the black Command Banner free, and returned it to his Inventory.

Xiahou Tianyuan leapt to his feet the instant the banner's hold released, his voice fierce but his courage hollow. "Fu Qingyang, I'm a direct heir of the Xiahou family! Do you really want to make enemies of the Xiahou family—"

Fu Qingyang raised the pommel of his sword and swung it at his head.

Xiahou Tianyuan leaned back, dodging the strike.

Thud!

Something slammed into the back of his skull with devastating force. Pain exploded through his head, shattering his consciousness instantly. In the last flickering moment before everything went dark, a single thought echoed through his mind: But I dodged that...

"Take him," Fu Qingyang commanded as he turned and walked away.

***

【#Repost #SHOCKING! Xiahou Tianyuan suspected of kidnapping, endangering public safety, arrested by Kangyang District Centurion Fu#】

By evening, a post reposted from the Taiyi Sect's official forum had set the Spirit Realm Walker community ablaze with discussion.

The post described the incident in detail. Kangyang District Squad Two Walker Yuanshi Tianzun had received a report from the victim's family claiming that Xiahou Tianyuan had kidnapped their loved one through vile and lawless means. The righteous Yuanshi Tianzun sprung into action, braving countless dangers to kill the kidnappers and rescue the hostage. Afterward, Fu Qingyang led a team to arrest Xiahou Tianyuan.

One thing worth noting: the poster was Yuan Ting.

⤷ Kidnapping? Tch. The Xiahou family is getting more lawless by the day.

⤷ Since when have they been anything else? None of those noble Spirit Realm families are exactly gentle and humble. But this time they picked a fight in Songhai and ran straight into a brick wall.

⤷ The centurion doesn't coddle anyone. The Xiahou family has been riding on their connections to the higher-ups and ignoring the rules for too long. It's about time someone brought the hammer down.

⤷ Careful up there. Keep talking like that and someone might show up at your door tonight to "check your water meter."

⤷ This Yuanshi Tianzun is interesting. I like him.

⤷ Young people are always full of fighting spirit, but I'm worried the Xiahou family will retaliate against him. Kidnapping an ordinary person is enough to land a freelance Walker in serious trouble, but it probably won't be enough to actually take down Xiahou Tianyuan.

⤷ If the Xiahou family retaliates openly against Yuanshi Tianzun, that's a declaration of war against all of us. The real worry is that they might do something underhanded. Who knows how this will play out?

⤷ The Xiahou family is already making moves. I've heard that several stewards across Songhai have filed complaints against the centurion, requesting the Elders convene a meeting to put him on trial.

⤷ Put him on trial? On what grounds?

⤷ I know this one. Our district's Steward Pang was stabbed by the centurion.

Zhang Yuanqing finished dinner, scrolled through the forum comments, and quietly turned off his screen. "Well, well..."

The dinner table had been unusually empty. His little aunt was working the night shift, and his cousin was also on night duty, so the house held only his grandparents and himself.

Before dinner, his uncle had come by to challenge his successor to a dance battle, but Grandma had chased him right back out. The two dancers hadn't felt the slightest embarrassment. Grandma, however, had felt plenty for both of them.

I wonder if the centurion can handle this, Zhang Yuanqing mused as he lay on his bed, quietly waiting for the results of the meeting.

After Xiahou Tianyuan's arrest, the pressure had come fast. Under Xiahou Xin's orchestration, every official with ties to the Xiahou family, from Five Elements Alliance stewards to Taiyi Sect squad leaders, had been calling Fu Qingyang one after another. Some tried persuasion, while others begged for leniency.

According to Guan Ya, even people from the Fu family had called him, demanding he release the prisoner. The Fu family's Council of Elders, however, had made no official statement.

In truth, the person with the most at stake in all of this wasn't Fu Qingyang. It was Zhang Yuanqing himself. Yet the centurion had shouldered it all.

Guan Ya had offered a simple explanation. "You're his underling. Of course he's going to protect you!"

Zhang Yuanqing had been deeply moved. "Is the centurion really that loyal?"

"No, he's just that full of himself."

1. Yue Fei was a celebrated general and patriot of the Song Dynasty who defended China against Jurchen Jin dynasty invaders, while Qin Hui was the chancellor who, favoring peace, engineered false charges of treason against Yue Fei, which led to his execution. ☜