The Provincial Official rested one hand behind his back and grasped the jade pendant with his right, slowly rubbing it while his veins bulged and his eyes invariably glanced at the corpse lying on the ground. Each look made his heart sink an inch and his face grow paler by the moment.
Jiangnan Road values scholars and the spirit of scholars greatly.
The middle-aged man who had deceased was fond of alcohol and poetry, with a carefree personality and had gained fame early on; he was the drinking companion of Xianping County's Pillar of the State for several decades.
All the major and minor officials in Xianping County knew that the hot-tempered Pillar of the State, who was a Great General, held great affection for the scholar who loved wine like a maniac. Unless it involved his own wife, if the scholar requested, the general would even allow him into his chambers directly after having him cleaned up.
If the Pillar of the State were to find out that the scholar died here today and the perpetrator escaped...
The Provincial Official turned deathly pale, completely drained of color.
With a crack, the jade pendant in his hand suddenly developed a crack from being squeezed too hard.
Wang Anfeng raised his hand to shield Liu Ling on one side, a surge of anger rising in his mind. The Provincial Official's demeanor was crude, but a lot could be inferred from the few words he uttered. The most obvious point was that this official in light vermilion clothes clearly did not intend to explain the details to them.
The Martial Artists before him were not much trouble, if he was to let loose and deploy all his Martial Arts techniques, he could subdue them all within thirty to forty moves. However, the Martial Soldiers gathering around with crossbows posed a significant obstacle if they were to fire all at once.
Moreover, because Liu Ling was present, he absolutely could not engage in a mobile fighting style and had to withstand direct attacks. If he were to ascend the steps of Heaven and Earth using his own Qi Mechanism, it would easily cause civilian casualties.
Wang Anfeng glanced outside the high wall on the right, where there was a hubbub of voices, and one could hear the playful teasing of children, suggesting there were many passersby. If a Third Rank Martial Artist were to exert full strength, with Sword Qi slashing through the air, it was unknown how many could be hurt or killed.
This thought appeared in his mind for only a moment before being suppressed.
While the Divine Weapon could get them out of this bind, revealing it might actually lead to more significant troubles, attracting countless Martial Artists to make covert moves against him.
The city as a whole, the common people on the streets and Liu Ling whom he needed to protect behind him...
It seemed as though three chains were bindng Wang Anfeng's limbs, making it impossible for him to fight freely to his full strength. As his mind turned, it seemed there was only one way to break this stalemate now.
Wang Anfeng exhaled a turbid breath, and his state of mind gradually calmed.
His eyes firmly locked onto the unsettled Provincial Official.
His Qi Mechanism began to rotate, stirring up energy.
The lanterns hanging in the district market swung noisily, and the lights flickered. The Martial Artist at the forefront felt a massive alarm in his heart; though he couldn't feel anything unusual, an uncontrollable tremor ran through him, prompting him to tighten his grip on his weapon.
Soon, the young man in front raised his eyes, and a golden-red light swirled deep within his pupils, disappearing in a flash. His posture seemed relaxed, but upon closer inspection, it bore the heft of mountains.
The Martial Artist's heart shuddered, and he instinctively stepped forward, putting full strength into his weapon that originally only held a fraction of his power. The sword vibrated thunderously, and a green glow fluctuated continuously. He was just about to strike.
"What has happened here?!"
A cold voice rang out; soon, a figure wearing vermilion clothes and with bright red lips and white teeth descended from a pavilion, holding a broadsword in the right hand, exuding a cold aura.
As the voice fell, the entire courtyard seemed to enter deep winter.
The newcomer landed beside the Provincial Official; the surrounding Martial Artists instinctively stopped their movements, all turning to look at the arrival. The Martial Artist in the lead felt his Qi Mechanism tilt, and ultimately, the sword he had intended to thrust did not strike.
The Provincial Official's hand trembled, and the unconsciously crushed jade pendant shattered into powder on the ground.
The woman being protected by the foreign expert's eyes brightened, shifting her gaze away from Wang Anfeng's face to land on the man who had appeared in the courtyard. The latter seemed not to notice and scanned the courtyard. His gaze then settled on the deceased, and his expression became solemn.
Wang Anfeng stopped his actions, his heart gave a sigh of relief, and his Qi Mechanism dispersed.
With him here, they could now have a proper conversation.
Seeing an old friend.
But in an instant, many confusions arose in his heart.
Given his status, why was he here at this time?
Could there be other matters at this place?
PS: Today, combining two chapters into one... Transition of chapters, written very slowly, sorry for everyone's indulgence, approximately 4600 words...