Promise!

Chapter 165, Arrest

Shen Xuchen was meticulous. While gathering manpower, he also went through the procedures in advance, obtained evidence, and obtained the judgment from the law enforcement department. After arresting the three main culprits, they could be sent to the execution ground immediately.

Zhuang Jin approached him: "Eighth Young Master, if the Patriarch hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known that you did such a thing today... This act of eliminating evil and upholding justice should also be counted as part of my efforts!"

When Shen Xuchen heard Zhuang Jin mention his father, he knew it was arranged by Shen Xianhong. He was moved and grateful when he saw Zhuang Jin's sincere expression. He clasped his hands and said, "I couldn't ask for more. Thank you for your kindness, Zhuang!"

"I am not without gratitude for the Eighth Young Master's repeated assistance. Moreover, I admire Master Pang and have great respect for the Eighth Young Master's actions this time..."

Zhuang Jin was telling the truth. Shen Xuchen was willing to use the favors of the two chief judges to avenge Pang Shusheng's blood debt, which at least proved that he was not someone who only cared about interests and still had passion in his heart. This move was indeed worthy of respect.

"To be honest, Venerable Master Zhuang, I also have my own selfish motives. Master Pang was my mentor in martial arts... If I were to suppress such hatred, what would happen to the others who follow me..."

Shen Xuchen shook his head with a wry smile: "Forget it, let's not talk about these things for now. The most urgent thing now is to capture and execute those three culprits as quickly as possible!"

……

Shen Xuchen was well-prepared and acted swiftly and decisively, demonstrating a keen understanding of speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness.

The first culprit, a ward guard named Gong Chu, who was at the ninth level of the imperial examinations, was captured on the spot in the ward's residence, which was extremely smooth.

The second culprit was also an acquaintance of Zhuang Jin—Ou Wenzhong, the representative chosen by the forces in the east of the city to communicate with him. This man was quite shrewd and generous, but he was also involved in this matter and suffered irreparable consequences.

A few days ago, he had already obtained a Meridian-Clearing Pill and had now broken through to the Ten Meridians. However, under the insistence of the Eighth Young Master Shen Xuchen on pursuing the matter, this level of attainment was not enough for him to escape punishment.

Ou Wenzhong understood this, especially after seeing Zhuang Jin. He did not put up any futile resistance and surrendered without resistance. He simply closed his eyes and sighed three times in regret.

"My biggest regret is that when we first met in early February, I didn't insist on becoming sworn brothers with Master Zhuang!"

"Secondly, in August, I was blinded by a mere meridian-clearing pill and participated in the attack on Uncle Pang!"

"Third regret: my aptitude is insufficient. To this day, I am still three realms away from reaching the Meridian Opening Realm and the level of a Venerable!"

After sighing three times, Ou Wenzhong looked at Shen Xuchen and said, "One should take responsibility for one's own actions. I was the one who attacked Pang Shusheng back then. Can you stop now and not let your family suffer the same fate?"

“Governor Ou has made contributions to the Shen family. Although he has committed crimes, it is not enough to implicate his family after his death,” Shen Xuchen said calmly, glancing at the man.

Ou Wenzhong was naturally aware of this, but he was worried that someone would not let it go and would continue to make moves in private. After nodding slightly upon hearing this, he bowed to Zhuang Jin and said, "Lord Zhuang, now you are Yun Zhonghe and I am a prisoner. I wonder if you could take care of my family for the sake of our relationship over the past six months... I don't ask for anything, just that my whole family is not wiped out without any explanation."

"Ugh!"

Zhuang Jin sighed softly. Shen Xushen hadn't planned to do anything extra anyway, and with the other party nodding slightly, the sigh was his response and agreement.

The last culprit, Qiu Tongxiang, was arrested at the garrison. Compared to the previous two, he was far less courageous. His face was pale, and he still shouted, "My father is Qiu Yizhi, who dares to arrest me? You... the matter of Pang Shusheng, the one who planned it behind the scenes was me... Waaah!"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted, gagged, and arrested.

……

The three ringleaders were apprehended, the evidence presented, and the verdict read aloud. They were immediately escorted to the execution ground in the east of the city, to be executed at noon. These were the conditions offered to Shen Xuchen by the Enforcement Department and the General Affairs Department. Since execution was to be carried out, it should be a public spectacle to maximize the benefits: firstly, it would serve as a warning to the remaining stubborn forces in the east of the city; secondly, the contrast would greatly reduce the resentment of other upper-middle-class people in the east, and those martial artists of the seventh to twelfth rank already exiled to the south of the city; and thirdly, it would be a public announcement to win over the hearts and minds of the people…

Finally, there's the matter of giving the three men a dignified end. After all, these three are from the upper echelons of the Shen family, so their requests, such as a final meal or a well-fed death, can be granted.

Many people gathered around, enjoying the spectacle and discussing it amongst themselves.

"I heard these three are all town wardens, what powerful martial artists! Tsk tsk, these past six months have been quite unusual, so many big shots in our eastern city have been dealt with!"

"It's all dogs fighting each other. What does it have to do with us ordinary folks? I'm telling you, whether it's the Shen family or the government, they're all bad news!"

"That's right! The sun still has some time to rise, I need to hurry back and get some steamed buns... This martial artist's blood is a good thing, I heard that if you dip steamed buns in it and give them to children, they'll be safe and sound!"

……

Zhuang Jin, with her ears open, heard these voices and felt a mix of emotions. Just as she was about to say something, her gaze suddenly sharpened, and she looked towards a certain spot, walking over to Shen Xuchen's side.

Seven or eight breaths later, several figures swiftly rushed over.

Leading the group were two retainers, Fu Shousong and Qiu Yizhi, followed by several white-haired figures. In Zhuang Jin's martial arts intuition, they were all at the Qi Condensation level 10 to 12, clearly the elders behind these three.

'They've come, just as I expected!'

Shen Xuchen's face was grim as he stepped forward and said, "The evidence against these three is conclusive, and we are about to make an example of them. Fu Gongfeng and Qiu Gongfeng, are you here to storm the execution ground?"

"Eighth Young Master, you flatter us. How could we dare to say such a thing? We're only here to ask for your face..." Fu Shousong said, giving a wink.

Qiu Yi stepped forward and clasped his hands in a fist salute: "I know that these three, including my son, deserve to die for their crimes... However, the Medicine King Gang is currently facing a formidable enemy abroad, and our Shen family is in dire need of manpower. How about we send these three to the southern front of the city to atone for their sins? The war continues, and they cannot retreat."

"If that's the case, we will certainly remember the Eighth Prince's kindness and repay him in the future..."

This was a clear indication that if they agreed to this arrangement, they would remember this favor and even stand on Shen Xuchen's side in the future struggle for the position of family head.

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuchen remained calm and unmoved: "These three... the Enforcement Division has already made a judgment; how can it be changed so easily?"

He disdained using his mentor's blood debt as a bargaining chip... Moreover, after the incident in the east of the city, the reputations of these two retainers were not good, and compromising with them might lose the favor of his father and the other retainers.

"We'll handle the judgment with the Enforcement Division..." Qiu Yizhi wanted to say something more.

Fu Shousong sighed and raised his hand to stop him: "How about this? Let's have a duel between Venerable Zhuang and Venerable Qiu. If Venerable Qiu is lucky enough to win, then as Venerable Qiu said before, we will handle things with the Enforcement Division... If Venerable Qiu loses, then naturally we'll drop everything and leave it all to Eighth Young Master to decide..."

"Eighth Young Master, don't be in such a hurry to refuse. Before we came, we went to headquarters and asked the family head for his opinion. The family head's exact words were, 'He has no objection, as long as Elder Zhuang agrees!'"

……

(End of this chapter)