Free Web NovelChapter 1369: Chapter 60 Protecting the Body_2
Zhang Weiyu was indeed exceptionally attentive to Chen Fu, adhering strictly to customs and rituals without a hint of negligence. His visits to pay respects were frequent—occurring every few days—and he went personally to deliver them. Even now, as a middle-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel and one of the prominent young authorities in the court, he remained unchanged.
Zhongxuan Sheng claimed he was seeking a new father, and frankly, it’s not far from the truth.
But many things are like this—one may do them themselves, but others are forbidden from speaking of them.
Zhang Weiyu’s expression darkened. "Let’s refrain from using such vulgar street language; it only tarnishes the noble demeanor of your Heavy Mystery lineage."
"Some people, ah, when you reason with them, they curse you; when you curse them, they shift to lecturing you about dignity."
Zhongxuan Sheng chuckled. "The Heavy Mystery clan will not lose its illustrious reputation just because of a foolish member like me. Similarly, your Zhang Family will not gain any glory simply because of someone like you, Zhang Weiyu. After all, your surname is Chen now! And perhaps in the future, it might even be Heavy Mystery."
"Looks like I’m wasting pearls on swine here," Zhang Weiyu repressed his anger, gripping the amulet tightly. Then, he shifted the topic: "I hope you manage to maintain your sharp tongue even when the support of the world’s foremost Inner Mansion is no longer at your disposal."
Zhang Weiyu, evidently, did not grasp the art of quarreling. In disputes, whoever loses their temper first loses the battle.
Zhongxuan Sheng, however, was an adept, which made his smile even brighter.
"I suggest you let go," he said calmly. "If you damage it, chances are you won’t be able to afford the compensation."
"Oh?" Zhang Weiyu felt he had regained the upper hand and sneered coldly at Zhongxuan Sheng. "Looks like Master Heavy Mystery is aware of this item’s origins?"
Zhongxuan Sheng smiled back. "Not only do I know, but the Qintian Monitor also knows. His Majesty, I reckon, is aware as well."
"Is that so?" Zhang Weiyu’s smile faltered slightly.
Zhongxuan Sheng pointed at the amulet with his pudgy fingers. "This object was gifted by Yu Beidou himself. He declared Jiang Qingyang a prodigy unseen in millennia, with a presence that could overshadow nine generations. Specifically, he used this item to foster goodwill with him. As the saying goes, treasures are bestowed upon heroes, and rare gems pair with geniuses!"
Jiang Qingyang being a millennial prodigy, overshadowing nine generations—such exaggerated claims were unworthy of consideration. Despite how highly Yu Beidou regarded Jiang Wang, he wouldn’t have made such exaggerated statements. Zhang Weiyu instantly recognized that Zhongxuan Sheng was fabricating nonsense again.
However, the fact that this belonged to Yu Beidou was undoubtedly true.
Especially since Zhongxuan Sheng had invoked the names of the Qintian Monitor and the Son of Heaven, almost eliminating any likelihood of falsehood in this context.
Yu Beidou, known as "Half a Lifetime of Divinations," was immensely renowned.
Some reviled him as a demon; some revered him as a deity.
But none could deny his immense power.
Zhang Weiyu mulled it over and ultimately decided not to let his anger get the better of him. A true man must have foresight. He handed the amulet back and instructed, "Place this amulet in its original position."
The Rain-slicing Army soldier standing before him reached out to take it...
But at that moment, an unusual transformation seemed to occur between heaven and earth. It was silent and imperceptible, as there were neither audible sounds nor visible movements. Yet it was also torrential and overwhelming. In the entire assembly hall, everyone felt an immense sense of foreboding.
It was as though a blood-drenched, colossal beast had drawn near to their chest.
This sensation emerged, and within the hall, a long streak of blood-light flickered, slithering like a dragon or serpent. It existed somewhere between illusion and reality, elusive and unclear...
Then, it vanished in an instant!
The feeling of dread dissipated, and everything returned to calm. freewёbnoνel.com
Meanwhile, the amulet Zhang Weiyu held in his hand exploded soundlessly!
Its shreds scattered and fluttered everywhere!
The Rain-slicing Army soldier who had reached out froze, and so did Zhang Weiyu.
That streak of blood-light seemed like a hallucination, never to be seen again.
And that eerie sense of dread felt as if it had never existed at all.
But in Zhang Weiyu’s palm remained a heap of tattered threads, very real!
"Well now!"
Zhongxuan Sheng was the first to react within the assembly hall. However, his focus wasn’t on pursuing the fleeting and mysterious blood-light.
Instead, he pointed an accusing finger at Zhang Weiyu, stomping his foot as he exclaimed, "You’ve destroyed Jiang Wang’s treasured amulet!"
He didn’t have the faintest idea of what had just occurred, but that didn’t hinder his righteous indignation and fiery rage at this moment: "Well done, Zhang Weiyu! I had always believed you upheld public principles, considering you were trained by Chen Fu—a talented individual, albeit lacking in nobility or virtue. But unexpectedly, you would intrude upon Jiang Wang’s private chamber while he’s away and destroy his treasured amulet!"
"Zhang Weiyu, Jiang Wang has yet to even be deemed guilty! You’re merely assigned to search Qingyang Town. For such a rare and exceptional treasure, a protective artifact, who gave you the authority and audacity to destroy it?"
"Just because Chen Fu supports you, does that mean you can blatantly harm a hero who brings honor to the nation?"
Zhang Weiyu’s expression grew ashen.
This wretched man dared to escalate the matter absurdly, even dubbing the item a "protective artifact." While Zhang Weiyu acknowledged the amulet’s uniqueness, he didn’t believe it warranted such exaggerated praise. Jiang Wang, despite being gifted, was merely an Inner Mansion cultivator at best—how could he warrant such an artifact already?
Yet the undeniable truth was—
The amulet was indeed destroyed in his hands!
Truly, a yellow mud mess on his pants.
He grimly replied, "I did nothing. You aren’t blind, are you?"
"You’re an Outer Building expert, and I’m merely at the Inner Mansion level. If you pull some slight trick, it’s perfectly normal for me not to see it," Zhongxuan Sheng turned to look at Ma Xiong. "Ma arrest officer, you’re also at the Outer Building level, equal in cultivation to him. Did you see anything unusual?"
Zhang Weiyu didn’t hold much expectation, but he still glanced over with some hope.
"Huh?" Caught off guard by their questioning gaze, Ma Xiong jolted awake as if from a dream and replied blankly, "I was just inspecting the Inner Mansion; I didn’t pay attention to the outer surroundings. Did something happen?"
Which brings up the point—there are no fools here! ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Having served for years at the Imperial City Inspection Mansion, Ma Xiong’s expertise might not be remarkable in other areas, but his slippery demeanor was unmatched.
It was inevitable. Linzi held too many influential figures. What needed honing had already been honed long ago; those who couldn’t adapt wouldn’t last in Linzi.
"Alas." Zhongxuan Sheng shook his head, looking mournfully at Zhang Weiyu. "Master Zhang, others like Jiang Qingyang hide their treasures peacefully at home, without bothering anyone. And yet, you simply destroy them upon arrival. Without two or three thousand Prime Stones, I fear it will be difficult to explain this away!"
...
...
At the same moment, within Qingyang Town where the amulet shattered...
In Yingguang City, a fortune-teller known both as man and demon had just slammed his palm onto the divination platform, only to suddenly collapse backward.
His expression instantly filled with venomous resentment. He opened his mouth wide and coughed out a still-beating, pulsating heart!
Then, he reached out and grabbed it!
Mid-fall, his body shifted dangerously before he managed to stabilize himself, clutching the heart tightly in his hand. With a sudden force, he crushed it on the spot!
Boom!
A thunderous explosion reverberated.
Jiang Wang, endowed with the Cloud Top Fairy Palace’s inheritance, carried an exceedingly terrifying web of karmic connections. Direct divination upon his person was impossible.
Fortunately, the Yellow River Gathering had drawn the attention of the nation, and Jiang Wang, atop the Guanhe Platform, had revealed his Flat Step Qingyun Immortal Technique. This allowed the diviner to discern detailed information about Jiang Wang.
Jiang Wang of Qi Country was far too dazzling and prominent; any random Qi citizen could provide some information concerning him.
His person, his name, his rank, his position, his land!
The blood diviner’s ancient art relied on sacrifice to confirm its targets. Profound and enigmatic, it fully exploited Jiang Wang’s landholdings as leverage. By forcing connections between Jiang Wang, his properties, and himself, the diviner established a new karmic relationship.
From this moment, no matter the ends of the earth, Jiang Wang could never escape.
The Cloud Top Fairy Palace was precisely his ultimate target.
Yet unexpectedly, this divination fell into a trap. Amidst the haze, his focus inexplicably shifted from Jiang Wang to someone else. He nearly established life-and-death karma with that person instead.
At this moment, how could he not realize he’d been schemed against?
Moreover, his adversary was none other than that "old acquaintance!"
Even within the Divine Arrival layer, he was exceptionally powerful. His reaction was swift: at the first sign of trouble, he forcibly terminated the divination, promptly suppressing its backlash, and severed the karmic chain at the cost of his own heart.
But he understood all too well—against that individual...
This was far from sufficient...
Nowhere near enough!
Thus, after crushing his heart, his eyes immediately darted to Jingye, bound in the corner.
The town guard general, not particularly notable within Yingguang City!
