I meet all the requirements for becoming a god in this world!

Zhang Hong narrowed his eyes to slits, his gaze roaming over her face like a venomous snake.

She naturally understood the meaning behind Xu Miaozhen's words.

The Zhang family of Quzhou is deeply rooted.

But the Mo Sect is no pushover either.

The Zhang family won't come out in full force just because Zhang Hong lost his son.

The Mo Sect would not disregard losses for Cheng Laiyun's sake.

This can only be considered their personal grudge.

But that's the logic.

Zhang Hong was consumed by the grief of losing his son! How could he let it go like this?!

"My son is an official appointed by the imperial court."

Zhang Hong suddenly looked up, speaking slowly and deliberately:

"Cheng Laiyun, a commoner, has violated the laws of my Great Yuan."

"I am determined to bring this matter to the Emperor's attention!"

The hatred for killing one's son is irreconcilable.

But he knew he couldn't touch Cheng Laiyun tonight.

Because Xu Miaozhen was there.

So he revealed his hand directly.

Officials appointed by the imperial court, enforcing the laws and regulations far beyond the reach of the emperor, stood before the sage's desk.

This is the source of his confidence as the governor of Qingzhou.

This is the source of his confidence as a fifth-rank Confucian scholar with supernatural powers.

This is also the source of his confidence in obtaining substantial resources from the Zhang family!

Xu Miaozhen looked at him and suddenly smiled.

That smile was so beautiful, so beautiful that you couldn't take your eyes off it:

"Please go ahead."

Two words.

Light and airy.

It was like dismissing a tenant who came to collect a debt.

She completely ignored Zhang Hong throughout the entire process.

Zhang Hong stared at her for a long time.

Then, he smiled too.

The smile was faint, so faint that it was almost invisible.

But a fire burned in those eyes.

"it is good."

"OK!!"

He repeated it again.

Then, he turned around, picked up Zhang Lai's body, and strode away.

He walked quickly and steadily.

There was no turning back.

But everyone knows it.

This matter won't just end like this.

Only after his figure completely disappeared into the night did Xu Miaozhen turn her gaze away.

Cheng Laiyun collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Xu Jiayin was so excited her face turned red: "Master! You're amazing!"

Xu Miaozhen ignored her.

She simply lowered her head and looked at Cheng Laiyun.

Her gaze fell on his brow.

That is where the sea of ​​consciousness resides.

This is the place where the Jade Pivot Giant Statue disappeared.

Cheng Laiyun's heart jumped into his throat.

But Xu Miaozhen didn't say anything.

She simply reached out and gently patted him on the head.

Get up.

"Yes!" Cheng Laiyun breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"I wouldn't even use supernatural powers to avenge the death of my son." Xu Miaozhen frowned slightly, raised her lip, and said softly:

"Zhang Hong is quite tolerant."

"So what if he uses supernatural powers? He's nothing but an ant before Master!"

Xu Jiayin had lost her usual cunning and was now sitting like a well-behaved girl.

"Alright, let's go back to the Institute of Crafts."

Xu Miaozhen smiled faintly, raised an eyebrow, and looked at Xu Jiayin, asking:

"It's been a long time. Has your cultivation slackened?"

"Uh..." Xu Jiayin's face stiffened for a moment, then her round eyes darted around, and she chuckled:

"These days, I have been doing my best to teach Junior Brother Cheng."

"It's understandable that your cultivation level is a bit lower~"

At this point, she puffed out her chest proudly and said:

"Under my tutelage, Junior Brother Cheng is now an eighth-rank Confucian cultivator!!"

The words fell.

Xu Miaozhen's face froze for a moment, then her smile blossomed like a spring bamboo shoot. She glanced back at Cheng Laiyun, her face full of satisfaction, and said:

"good."

Amidst their laughter and conversation, the group headed outside.

"Master, please wait a moment." Cheng Laiyun took a deep breath, then turned and went toward the two corpses on the ground.

One of them was the mother of the old woman Wu Qiufeng.

One of them was a young girl, Wu Qiufeng's younger sister.

"I will bury these two people." Cheng Laiyun's gaze was fixed on the two corpses.

A complex light flickered in his eyes.

He handled the body with great patience.

In the countryside.

It took Cheng Lai a long time to bury them.

Looking at the two bulging mounds in front of me.

He sighed softly, bowed, and then left. Reaching Xu Miaozhen, he bowed again and said:

"I've kept Master waiting."

"It's alright."

Xu Miaozhen witnessed all of this.

He nodded calmly.

Xu Jiayin carried the torch, which carried Cheng Laiyun and Qi Dazhuang.

Following behind Xu Miaozhen, who seemed to float in the air like a fairy in the moonlight, they flew towards the Heavenly Craft Academy.

…………

That night.

Xu Jiayin, using the excuse that she hadn't seen her master in a long time and wanted to catch up, went to have a long talk with Xu Miaozhen all night.

Cheng Laiyun then returned to his room.

That night.

There was a knock on the door.

"Junior Brother Cheng."

It was Ling Ziyun's voice, hoarse with weariness.

Cheng Laiyun got up and opened the door.

Ling Ziyun stood at the door, his face still stained with blood, his robes rumpled, and his eyes bloodshot.

He saw Cheng Laiyun, opened his mouth, and after a long while said:

"Wu Qiufeng has woken up."

"woke up?"

Cheng Laiyun paused slightly, then nodded: "Take me to see."

……

Wu Qiufeng was lying in bed.

His face was so swollen that it was unrecognizable, covered in bruises and purple, and his eyes were reduced to slits.

His body was wrapped in bandages, and blood seeped out from under the bandages, a glaring red.

His eyes were open, his face blank.

He stared at the roof, motionless.

Cheng Laiyun pursed his lips slightly when he saw him like this.

After a long silence, he finally spoke softly:

"Your mother and your sister..."

"I buried them."

Wu Qiufeng's eyes moved, and he slowly turned to look at Cheng Laiyun.

His eyes were so swollen they were barely open, but Cheng Laiyun could still see the light inside.

"Thank you," Wu Qiufeng said hoarsely.

Cheng Laiyun shook his head: "No need."

Silence again.

The flame of the oil lamp flickered.

Wu Qiufeng stared at the ceiling, then suddenly spoke: "Zhang Lai, he..."

Cheng Laiyun knew what he was thinking and replied:

"I killed him."

Wu Qiufeng closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again.

Thank you.

Cheng Laiyun looked at him, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

Tell him to grieve in moderation? He's already dead, what's there to grieve for?

Should we persuade him to take revenge?

He's just an eighth-rank martial artist, while Zhang Hong is a fifth-rank Confucian scholar with supernatural powers. How can he possibly report this?

Should I advise him to focus on recovering? What good will it do if he recovers? He'll have lost his family.

Cheng Laiyun remained silent for a long time, and finally only said one sentence:

"Take good care of your injury."

Wu Qiufeng nodded.

Cheng Laiyun got up and walked towards the door. When he reached the door, he looked back.

Wu Qiufeng remained lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, motionless.

……

Its daybreak.

Cheng Laiyun was awakened by a series of hurried footsteps.

He opened his eyes and saw a servant from the Imperial Workshop stumbling in:

"Someone has hanged themselves!!"

Cheng Laiyun's brow twitched suddenly, as if he sensed something, and he looked toward Wu Qiufeng's room.

Without any hesitation, he jumped out of bed and ran outside with the servant.

At this moment, several people had gathered outside Wu Qiufeng's room.

Cheng Laiyun squeezed in and looked up to see Wu Qiufeng hanging from the roof beam.

A hemp rope was pulled into her neck, leaving a deep purple mark.

His body was suspended in mid-air, swaying slightly, with his feet a foot off the ground.

His face had turned pale, and his eyes were half-open, staring in some unseen direction.

He just hung there.

It hangs there quietly.

Cheng Laiyun stood still, motionless.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard his own voice, hoarse and unlike his own:

"Put him down."

Someone climbed onto the bed and cut the rope.

Wu Qiufeng's body lay on the bed, still in the same position, curled up, as if he were asleep.

Cheng Laiyun walked to the bedside.

He looked at Wu Qiufeng's pale face, at the rope marks that had dug into his flesh, and at his slightly open eyes.

Cheng Laiyun squatted down, reached out his hand, and gently closed his eyes.

The moment her fingers touched his eyelids, the coldness sent a shiver down his spine.

He withdrew his hand, looked down, and saw a piece of paper pressed down beside Wu Qiufeng's hand.

letter.

Cheng Laiyun picked it up and unfolded it.

The handwriting is crooked and messy.

[A Review of Cheng Laiyun's Apprenticeship]

The autumn wind bows in greeting.

Brother Ling has told me everything that happened last night. My benefactor is a member of Qiufeng's family; he killed Zhang Lai and executed the murderers. Qiufeng has no way to repay him.

[I should kneel and thank my benefactor, but after much deliberation, I believe only death can atone for my sins.]

My mother and my sister both died because of me.

The day the remains went missing, I was utterly baffled. The storeroom locks were intact, the doors and windows were undamaged, and none of the guards had left their posts without permission. How could the remains have been lost?

Until last night, the autumn wind finally understood.

The only person who entered the storeroom that day was Prefect Zhang Hong. He came to inspect and ordered us to leave.

That's when I lost my life bone.

Therefore, he didn't want Qiufeng to live.

Finally, I have one request.

Cheng Laiyun's throat moved slightly.

He tightened his grip slightly and continued reading.

Seeking Benefactor

Please don't seek revenge for me.

Cheng Laiyun's hand stopped.

He stared at that last line of text for a very long time.

"Please don't seek revenge for me."

Cheng Laiyun's lips were pressed tightly together.

He folded the letter carefully, slowly and meticulously, then tucked it into his bosom, close to his heart.

It's very hot there.

He stood up and gave Wu Qiufeng one last look.

That bluish face, those closed eyes, that rope mark dug into the flesh.

He turned and walked towards the door.

He stopped at the door, and without turning his head, said:

Give him a proper burial.

Then, he pushed open the door and went out.

Outside the door, the sun is just right.

The sky was very blue.

Cheng Laiyun raised his head, squinted at the sun, and let the sunlight sting his eyes.

His voice was like two rusty swords clashing:

"Zhang Hong must die."