Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 114 Drag him away and feed him to the dogs!
Their martial arts skills were all crippled.

Snake Granny lay sprawled in the corner, half of her body torn apart by sword energy, revealing stark white bones. Her snakeskin cloak was tattered and torn, and her withered fingers dug desperately into the ground, her fingernails filled with dirt and blood.

Hearing footsteps, she abruptly looked up, her cloudy eyes filled with resentment: "You little beast... I'll be damned even as a ghost..."

Lu Chenyuan swiftly decapitated her with a backhand chop, then moved on to the next one.

Not far away, the Corrupting Poison King was crawling on the ground, leaving a trail of foul-smelling blood.

His black robe was burned through, revealing his back—where three Gu worms were crawling and frantically gnawing at his flesh.

The natal Gu poison backfires, making life worse than death.

The Dream Master fared even worse; all ten of his fingers were broken, his right arm was twisted unnaturally, and most horrifyingly, his face was covered in spiderweb-like blood vessels due to the backlash of his cultivation technique, as if it might shatter at any moment.

The only remaining relatively intact skeleton Guanyin suddenly sneered: "Hahaha... You think you've won? There's more to come..."

"boom!"

Chi Mei struck her face with the scabbard of her sword, knocking out half of her teeth.

"Don't fight yet."

Lu Chenyuan stood up, the moonlight casting a long shadow over him.

He walked up to the White Bone Guanyin and said, "How did the Seven Stars of Chasing the Moon get involved? Did Zhou Xing and Wu Chengsi have a deal?"

The White Bone Guanyin spat out a mouthful of blood, a mocking smile curving her blood-stained lips: "You think I would..."

There's no need to say anything if you're just stubbornly insisting on it.

Lu Chenyuan interrupted her, his voice eerily calm: "I'll give you one chance. If you tell me, I'll consider letting you go back alive to report. After all, making a big fuss about this won't do any good. The one who really wants to kill is behind him. If word gets out, it'll just be a slap in her face."

For that reason alone, I won't use you as a witness... Besides, if Wu Chengsi simply claims he doesn't know you, or that it was all Qu Baichuan's doing, who can do anything to this 'King Wei of the Great Zhou'? So, you don't need to worry; if anyone's to accuse, it's Qu Baichuan's job, not yours. Now tell me your reasons.”

"..."

The White Bone Guanyin stared at him coldly for a long time before finally speaking in a hoarse voice: "Lingnan... Wu Chengsi promised to give Zhou Xing a way out and protect him in Lingnan, on the condition that... he would lend him the Seven Stars of the Moon..."

Lu Chenyuan chuckled and said, "Good plan. Stir up the waters. If he succeeds, it will be seen by outsiders as a cruel official's revenge, and they will come after Zhou Xing. Zhou Xing has too many debts to bear, so Wu Chengsi can perfectly hide behind the scenes."

The White Bone Guanyin was startled and fell silent.

"grown ups."

Chi Mei handed over a document: "The information that just came from inside the manor has revealed the background of these people."

"Ah."

Lu Chenyuan casually took it, quickly flipped through it, and said to the White Bone Guanyin, "Wu Chengsi probably doesn't have many experts like Qu Baichuan. This time the losses were heavy. Go back and tell him to behave himself, otherwise... this 'Azure Netherworld Hundred Ghosts Painting' might be 'stolen' one day and then run to the Wei Prince's mansion to eat people... Do you understand?"

"..."

The face of the White Bone Guanyin instantly turned ashen white.

She stared intently at the scroll at Lu Chenyuan's waist, her throat bobbing a few times, but she couldn't utter a sound.

Those eyes, which were originally filled with resentment, now revealed a hint of fear that was hard to conceal.

She witnessed firsthand how this painting could devour people, and how incredibly realistic and terrifying the demons within it were!
"I understand……"

Her voice was hoarse, as if it had been sanded. The arrogance in her eyes had long since vanished, leaving only deep fear and... a trace of barely perceptible relief.

"Let's go."

Lu Chenyuan said casually, his gaze already turning to the intelligence in his hand.

The White Bone Guanyin, as if granted a pardon, struggled to walk out with her shattered body, when suddenly—

"and many more."

Lu Chenyuan's voice was as cold as ice.

The White Bone Guanyin stood frozen in place, then slowly turned around.

In the moonlight, she saw the young man staring intently at the intelligence report, his brow furrowed, and he said, "Your name is Yang Jingyuan?"

The White Bone Guanyin, not understanding, said, "Yes..."

Lu Chenyuan flashed forward, grabbed her neck, his gaze icy, and suddenly exerted force!
"Crack!"

With a crisp crack, the neck of the White Bone Guanyin was crushed!

Lu Chenyuan released his grip, and the corpse slumped to the ground like a rag doll, staring at him with its eyes wide open in death.

Lu Chenyuan stomped his foot on her head and spat out two words: "Feed the dog!"

"Yes."

Chi Mei waved for someone to drag him away, feeling the murderous aura emanating from him. Her gaze swept over the intelligence report, which read: Three years ago, in the case of the massacre of the Xu family in Linzi, Yang Jingyuan slaughtered all seventy-two members of the Xu family in a casual manner in order to refine human skin sedan curtains, not even sparing a three-year-old child.

Chi Mei sighed and said, "My lord, there's no need to be angry with such people. Most evil people are like this; they're utterly depraved!"

"It has nothing to do with this."

Lu Chenyuan pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands and said coldly, "I don't like her name... it reminds me of a bastard!"

He casually tossed the handkerchief aside and turned to the Corrupted Poison Lord crawling on the ground: "Did you hear what I just said?"

The Corrupt Heart Poison Lord's face turned deathly pale, and he swallowed hard. "I...I heard it..."

Lu Chenyuan said, "Then it's you. Tell Wu Chengsi what I said: Get lost!"

Lu Chenyuan turned and left.

The Corrupt Poison King's face turned deathly pale. He nodded weakly, struggled to his feet, and leaned against the wall as he walked outside.

……

Ziwei City.

Yingxian Palace.

The gilded beast-shaped incense burner emitted wisps of sandalwood fragrance. Empress Wu Zetian leaned against the dragon-patterned imperial couch, her fingertips lightly tapping a secret report.

Wu Chengsi, dressed in a crimson python robe with gold bricks pressed against his forehead, knelt prostrate at the foot of the steps.

Want to know the result?

Wu Zetian casually tossed the secret report onto the table, making a soft sound.

Wu Chengsi's shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Or do you already have a plan in mind?"

Her voice was calm and unhurried, yet it caused the temperature in the hall to drop sharply.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is filled with trepidation."

Wu Chengsi's voice tightened, "I don't know what Your Majesty is referring to..." *Slap!*

An unfolded intelligence report was thrown in front of him.

"At the third quarter of Hai hour, Qu Baichuan, the chief steward of the Prince of Wei's residence, attacked the Cen residence, accompanied by twelve vicious villains including the Seven Stars of the Moon and the White Bone Guanyin. Lu Chenyuan of Princess Taiping's residence, wielding the 'Azure Netherworld Hundred Ghosts Painting,' stood guard, while the Twenty-Four Flower Messenger Winds formed an array to resist. The battle situation is as follows—"

"Qu Baichuan's Five Poisons Bone-Melting Palm was broken by Yuan Qingshuang's Ice Heart Tribulation; the Six-Winged Heavenly Centipede was torn apart by the Golden Lion; the Seven Stars Chasing the Moon entered the Painting Realm and all perished; the White Bone Guanyin was killed after revealing Zhou Xing's conspiracy; the rest were either killed or captured."

"After the war, Lu Chenyuan released one person and ordered him to deliver a message to the King of Wei: 'If any more loyal and virtuous officials are killed, a banquet of a hundred ghosts will be held at the King of Wei's residence.'"

Wu Chengsi's fingernails dug into the cracks of the gold bricks.

"Look at people!"

Wu Zetian retorted mercilessly, "I allowed you to suppress the former officials of the Li Tang dynasty, but I didn't allow you to treat my imperial guards as mere decorations! Now you've left yourself with such a huge handle, and I'm the one who has to clean up your mess! You're truly more trouble than you're worth!"

Wu Chengsi's face was pale: "Aunt, please forgive me, I deserve to die! But Cen Changqian and the others..."

"enough!"

Wu Zetian straightened up, waved her wide sleeves, and said impatiently, "At the morning court tomorrow, you will submit a memorial to apologize! I have replaced Cen Changqian as the Right Chancellor, and I cannot keep you as the Left Chancellor either. Effective immediately, you are hereby dismissed and demoted to Special Envoy! All those scoundrels in your household are to be dismissed immediately and expelled from the capital within three days!"

Wu Chengsi was struck dumb.

Although the title of Special Advancement is prestigious, it is a completely nominal position!

Wu Chengsi exclaimed in surprise, "Aunt..."

"how?"

Wu Zetian narrowed her eyes, "Unwilling?"

"...Your subject...accepts the decree!"

Wu Chengsi dared not say another word, and kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the gold brick with a dull thud.

Wu Zetian continued, "Let that captain on duty guard the city gate again! Anyone who leaves his post without permission tonight will be punished with eighty strokes of the cane, demoted, and have their salary reduced!"

Wu Chengsi dared not say more: "Yes..."

"The Hundred Ghosts of the Azure Netherworld"...

Wu Zetian sighed: "The artifacts of the hidden immortals are ultimately extraordinary... Do you know why you lost? Because its master is not you! Instead of spending your days scheming about these petty matters, why not raze the Netherworld Palace to the ground and find the elixir of immortality for me!"

Wu Chengsi lowered his body even further.

Wu Zetian glanced at him, but finally softened her tone: "Do your job well. Once this storm passes, you will be reinstated. Go."

Wu Chengsi slowly straightened up, and some color had returned to his face.

He placed his hands together in front of his forehead and performed a standard kowtow: "Your subject respectfully obeys Your Majesty's decree."

The sound was steady and calm.

But as he stood up, a fleeting, chilling glint flashed beneath his lowered eyelids.

“Lu Chenyuan…”

Wu Zetian frowned slightly, deep in thought.

Did he merely guess that Wu Chengsi intended to kill someone, or did he realize that she also wanted to kill someone? If it was the former, then he was utterly loyal and dedicated to protecting a virtuous minister; but if it was the latter… then it was necessary to punish him appropriately.

Judging from Lu Chenyuan's displayed intelligence, the latter is more likely...

And then there was the scene of the golden Buddha weeping...

Did he participate in, or even... lead, his tireless efforts to protect those people?

Wu Zetian's face was gloomy.

Unfortunately, the Underworld Palace hasn't been eliminated yet, so she really can't pin any crime on him right now.

Lu Chenyuan is not one to swallow his anger; if he were truly "exiled," he would most likely defect to the enemy.

If the Netherworld Palace were to acquire the "Heavenly Crafts Scroll" and the "Alchemy Scroll," it would be like adding wings to a tiger!
But if they are not "exiled".

Given his relationship with Taiping, there wouldn't be any substantial punishment in the capital... Moreover, if he were actually punished, Taiping would probably feel even more distressed.

"This kid..."

Wu Zetian suddenly realized that there seemed to be no way to deal with him, which made her both amused and exasperated.

"That's all..."

Wu Zetian thought of the smile on her daughter's face and sighed, "Wan'er."

Shangguan Wan'er appeared like a ghost: "Your subject is here."

Wu Zetian said, "Issue an edict to Princess Taiping, ordering her to supervise Lu Chenyuan in copying 'The Minister's Code' one thousand times, with a deadline of ten days!"

Is he going to be punished?

Shangguan Wan'er's heart skipped a beat. She pursed her lips and said softly, "Yes..." Then, she lowered her eyes and said softly, "Your Majesty is wise. Her Highness the Princess is always... protective of her own. If she sees that the reason is not stated in the decree, she will probably keep asking me for an explanation. I wonder if Your Majesty... would you like me to prepare some explanation?"

She deliberately spoke the words "protecting one's own" softly, but said the words "keep asking" with a hint of helplessness, which not only highlighted Princess Taiping's personality, but also implied the need for a superficial reason to appease the princess.

Wu Zetian chuckled upon hearing this: "She's just willful and capricious, but you know how to make excuses for her... by using 'arrogance and overstepping her bounds' as a pretext."

She tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, her gaze deep and thoughtful: "Let me add another line—'Serving one's father and ruler requires strictness and respect. Filial piety should be exerted to the utmost, and loyalty should be given to the death.' This is a line from the Thousand Character Classic, a primer for children. Make sure he remembers it well!"

"..."

Shangguan Wan'er's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately understood her intention.

This serves as both a warning to Lu Chenyuan not to overstep his bounds and a reminder to him: whatever he has guessed, loyalty to the emperor is paramount!
"Your Majesty, I will go and draft the decree immediately."

Just as Shangguan Wan'er was about to turn and leave, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

A golden-armored guard knelt outside the palace gate, holding a piece of intelligence in his hands, his voice trembling slightly: "Your Majesty, an urgent military report from eight hundred li away!"

Wu Zetian frowned slightly: "Speak."

"The Unskilled Sect has been pacified, but..."

The guard's Adam's apple bobbed. "General Qiu was ambushed by the Netherworld Palace while pursuing the remaining rebels and died fighting valiantly..."

"Snapped!"

Wu Zetian slammed the teacup in her hand to the ground, shattering the porcelain.

Shangguan Wan'er was taken aback. As expected, the Netherworld Palace had a backup plan and actually killed Qiu Shenji!
The temperature inside the hall plummeted, and even the sandalwood in the beast-shaped incense burner seemed to solidify.

"What a magnificent Netherworld Palace."

Wu Zetian's voice was as cold as ice, "Summon General Tang Xiujing! I want to see just how many Yama Kings are hidden in this Netherworld Palace!"

(End of this chapter)