While Zhuang Xun was studying the Summer-Winter Cicada,
on the other side of the academy, Xu Jianxing led a group of Law Enforcement disciples back. They brought with them the unconscious disciples of the mountain expedition team, as well as the bound bandits from Qushe Ridge and cultists from the Shengxue Cult, sparking heated discussions throughout the martial academy.
Some were curious about what had happened and why the mountain expedition team had returned unconscious under the escort of the Law Enforcement Hall, with the Qushe Ridge bandits and Shengxue Cultists bound behind them.
Some maliciously spread rumors, gloating that the mountain expedition team had used unethical methods to reap such massive harvests recently, and that this was their karma catching up to them.
Others worried about the safety of the expedition team members,
and still others pointed out that Yan Pingsheng happened to miss the trip this time. This sparked widespread astonishment, and the nickname of the human Koi was once again on everyone's lips.
However, as the Law Enforcement Hall revealed the truth—that the expedition team's plight was a conspiracy orchestrated by Xue Shiyu and Huang Renyong—the diverse reactions of the crowd instantly unified into profound shock.
“Senior Brother Xu, Yan Pingsheng has been in the mountain expedition team since its inception, and he participated in every single trip. Yet, he happened to be absent just when disaster struck. Senior Brother Xu, do you think he might be...”
“Shut up! That is Senior Brother's fellow townsman!” Xu Jianxing barked immediately.
The Law Enforcement disciple instantly realized his words might tarnish Bai Yujing's reputation. He lowered his head, not daring to speak another word.
Senior Brother's image must remain spotless. Yan Pingsheng, as Senior Brother's fellow townsman, you had better not be involved in this... Xu Jianxing's heart sank.
If Yan Pingsheng really was involved, to protect Bai Yujing's image, he would have to find a way to cover it up first before making any other plans.
However, with a brief investigation, Xu Jianxing easily found the evidence Zhuang Xun had left behind to prove Yan Pingsheng's innocence. He discovered that Yan Pingsheng's absence from the expedition was indeed a pure coincidence, and he had absolutely no part in Xue Shiyu and Huang Renyong's conspiracy.
But even as Xu Jianxing breathed a sigh of relief, he realized something even more absurd.
Yan Pingsheng's luck was simply too ridiculous.
What did it mean when you were short on cash and wondering how to make money, only for two people to go out of their way to hand you silver just to bait you? What did it mean when you picked up a dusty, neglected lotus that turned out to be an extremely rare precious herb worth over ten thousand gold? What did it mean when you ate all the anglers' bait, and just as they were about to pull in the net, a junior brother suddenly pestered you to hang out, preventing you from going with them?
And most importantly, his good fortune didn't stop there—he was also Bai Yujing's fellow townsman!
After learning all this, Xu Jianxing sat in a daze for a long time before he could barely accept the reality that someone could have such an incredibly blessed life.
How does this guy surnamed Yan get all the good luck! Gritting his teeth, he ordered his subordinates to spread the evidence proving Yan Pingsheng's innocence.
Consequently, before any malicious rumors fueled by jealousy or suspicion could spread, they vanished. In their place, Yan Pingsheng's reputation as a lucky Koi reached new heights, leaving even more people thoroughly convinced of his fortune.
From then on, some disciples of the mountain expedition team would even bow to Yan Pingsheng's portrait before heading out, praying for a safe journey.
...
Outside Xue Shiyu's courtyard.
A crowd of idle disciples had gathered outside, watching the Law Enforcement Hall seize his property.
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
“Ah?”
“Oh?”
Amidst the chorus of confusion, a small figure barged through the crowd, finally squeezing out from between two pairs of legs.
His beautiful peach-blossom eyes instantly lit up when he spotted a large, golden chick tied up in the courtyard.
“A chicken! I want this!”
Zhuang Xun ran into the courtyard and picked up the Qiankun Chicken, which was as large as his head.
“True Disciple Yi! Wait! You can't take that!”
Just as he was about to run off, a young disciple behind him quickly called out.
“Why not!” Zhuang Xun pointed at a group of Law Enforcement Hall disciples who were seizing assets on the other side of the yard, grumbling, “So many people are taking things, but I'm the only one who can't? Are you targeting me, the Little Overlord? I'm taking it!”
The young disciple explained, “No, True Disciple Yi, those are seized goods.”
“Filthy goods? Then I'll take them back and wash them.”
The young disciple didn't know whether to laugh or cry. “True Disciple Yi, not that kind of filthy. These must be handed over to the martial academy.”
“Tsk, why are there so many rules?” Zhuang Xun waved his hand impatiently. “I'm taking it anyway. Whatever lands in the hands of the Little Overlord is mine.”
With that, he hugged the Qiankun Chicken and bolted.
“Hey! True Disciple Yi...”
An older disciple held back the young disciple who wanted to give chase. He shook his head with a bitter smile, signaling him not to interfere.
Shortly after, the seized assets were delivered to the Law Enforcement Hall.
Having finished interrogating Xue Shiyu and Huang Renyong, Xu Jianxing excitedly ran toward the side cliff with the evidence in hand.
...
Zhuang Xun nodded slightly and said, “You've worked hard.”
“Working for Senior Brother is never hard!”
Receiving praise from Bai Yujing, Xu Jianxing felt like a garden in full bloom, shouting with high spirits.
He then stood to the side, quietly watching Bai Yujing flip through the evidence.
Elder Yu...
Zhuang Xun stared at the name mentioned by both the bandit chief and the evidence, his slender fingers lightly tapping on the stone table.
“Let's go.” After pondering for a moment, Zhuang Xun stood up, handed the evidence back to Xu Jianxing, and walked out of the courtyard.
“Yes.”
Xu Jianxing consciously lagged half a step behind, keeping his eyes straight ahead as he dedicated himself to playing the role of an attendant.
He secretly observed the reactions of the passersby, taking in their envious expressions at his privilege of walking behind Bai Yujing, feeling immensely proud.
Before long, they arrived at the Disciplinary Hall.
Zhuang Xun found Guan Ren'ai and asked him to make the arrest.
Soon, Elder Yu, who was currently inside the Disciplinary Hall, was arrested. His residence was also raided immediately, turning up a massive amount of silver and incriminating evidence.
“This, this, this... Who put so much silver in my manor?!”
“So you admit that it is your manor?”
“...Elder Guan, I really didn't dare to spend a single copper coin! I only took the silver but didn't do any work! I didn't collude with external enemies! You can't treat a meritorious contributor like this! I have a major matter to report! I want to see the Chief Disciple! I want to see the Principal!”
Inside the dark dungeon, dim candle lanterns hung along the stone walls on both sides. Listening to the dialogue coming from the cell ahead, Zhuang Xun felt a wave of bizarreness.
In a sense, Elder Yu indeed hadn't colluded with external enemies.
Because he truly did nothing but take their money.
Or rather, he only did minor, effortless favors like introducing people. The moment it required real effort on his part, he would take the money and endlessly procrastinate.
Even when Xue Shiyu paid him to help cover up the matter regarding Guichen, he took the money and did absolutely nothing.
As for why the Law Enforcement Hall had never intervened when the Wild Wolf Gang targeted Guichen, it was because Guichen had never once gone to them for help, stubbornly enduring it all while planning to take revenge himself.
Zhuang Xun had only suspected someone was backing Xue Shiyu by sheer luck.
How can someone be so stubborn... Zhuang Xun felt like laughing now, remembering how Guichen used to get beaten to a pulp so often.
Zhuang Xun walked toward the cell holding Elder Yu, with Xu Jianxing following closely behind.
With a sharp clack, the disciples on both sides unlocked the cell door.
Dressed in prison garb and huddled in a corner on a pile of straw, Elder Yu looked up at the sound. His eyes lit up, and grasping at this ray of hope, he pleaded, “Chief Disciple! Chief Disciple, I am innocent! I only took the silver, but I didn't do a single thing they asked! I stored the silver in another manor of mine and didn't dare to spend even a copper of it...”
“Shut up!” Xu Jianxing barked suddenly.
Elder Yu shuddered in fright, and Zhuang Xun was nearly startled into a shudder as well.
Shouting so suddenly nearly gave me a heart attack... Zhuang Xun grumbled internally as Xu Jianxing continued to bellow:
“Who allowed you to speak without permission? You will only answer what Senior Brother asks! And when Senior Brother speaks to you, stand up and listen!”
“Senior Brother.” Xu Jianxing turned to Bai Yujing, instantly reverting to his respectful and docile demeanor.
Zhuang Xun said to Elder Yu, who had scrambled to his feet, “Elder Yu, Yujing has a question for you.”
“Chief Disciple, please ask, please ask! I will cooperate fully, absolutely fully!”
Zhuang Xun took the list of bribes Elder Yu had received from Xu Jianxing, unfurled it before him, and asked, “Yujing wishes to know how Elder Yu has managed to remain safe and sound until now despite taking so much money and doing nothing.”
Qushe Ridge, the City Lord's Manor, the Shengxue Cult, and even the seven great families—Elder Yu had taken bribes from every single one of them.
Impressive... If it weren't for the fact that this infringed upon his own interests, Zhuang Xun would have given him a thumbs-up.
Elder Yu rubbed his hands and smiled sheepishly. “Because I know who the spies they planted in the martial academy are. Chief Disciple, I don't have many talents, but I have a keen nose. I can identify people by scent. Their agents approached me in secret, and with a bit of careful observation afterward, I could easily pinpoint them... Chief Disciple, I am willing to cooperate and identify them! That counts as making amends for my crimes, right?”
Zhuang Xun said, “Of course.”
Your reward is getting to live for two more days. Happy?
Thus, with Elder Yu's identification, the martial academy launched a vigorous crackdown, executing many spies sent by various factions.
To save his own skin, Elder Yu even pointed out many elders and deacons who had embezzled the martial academy's silver.
However, Zhuang Xun dealt with these people leniently.
As long as they weren't involved in colluding with external forces or harming their fellow disciples, they were simply required to return the embezzled silver within a set time frame, with no further punishment.
The day after the crackdown ended, Elder Yu met an accidental death, suffering eighteen stab wounds.
The elders and deacons who had harbored stray thoughts after seeing Bai Yujing's apparent mercy instantly fell into line. They quickly returned the embezzled funds and even voluntarily surrendered money that hadn't been discovered yet.
It was worth mentioning that during the crackdown, someone anonymously reported Yi Wangyou. However, Bai Yujing dismissed the report on account of his young age. He then invited the informant to visit the Law Enforcement Hall the next day to claim their reward, offering to reimburse their one-way travel expenses.
Rate on N.U.
