Many high officials and nobles lived in the Divine Capital's southern city. A large number of houses were connected and they often belonged to the same surname family. Some of them were pillars of the imperial court and there were also many who rendered meritorious service in founding the nation. Although there was already no real authority now, the titles and wealth have been inherited. They were not to be messed with in the southern city.
In the depths of that alley called Willow Street, there was a rather quiet little courtyard. It was originally a courtyard of Duke Liang back then. But later on, this Duke Liang failed in his rebellion and his entire clan was executed. This courtyard was also confiscated by the Divine Capital's government. Only until many years later, when a mysterious buyer bought it, did this small courtyard have a new owner.
It was just that that person's identity had always been well-hidden. Outsiders did not know it.
Today's Divine Capital was still rainy. Even if this might very well be the last rain in spring, the people also spurned it.
The man who was walking through the rain would stop from time to time. Only after getting complete assurance that no one was following behind him, did he walk into that small alley and arrive at the deepest manor. Then, he reached his hand out and knocked on the door. His knocking was very rhythmic; one heavy and two light. The door only slowly opened after repeating this several times.
An elderly-looking old man glanced around the surroundings before his voice sounded out, "No one saw, right?"
"This lowly one knows the rules, I guarantee that nobody knows." The man smiled meekly and took a letter that was wrapped in cowhide paper out of his bosom. After the old man took it, he said expressionlessly, "Go and get your money from the accounts office."
After saying this, the old man shut the door with a bang. The body that was originally still a little hunched instantly straightened up. He walked into the courtyard with that letter. Soon, he saw two young men in front of a house. The old man's old face was already occupied by a smile. At this moment, his body became even more hunched, "Reporting to immortal masters, there's news."
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The interior of the houses was lined with precious white deer hide. The three chairs were all crafted from several centuries-old fragrant rosewood, while the candles were made using rendered fat from the South Sea's merfolk. The entire house was currently filled with a light fragrance.
The old man with a head full of white hair was standing at one side meekly. The people seated on those few chairs were all rather imposing.
Apart from a vicious-looking daoist nun.
Chen Chao had met two of them before; that daoist nun from Three Streams Manor as well as Xu Yu from the South Heaven Sect. The other person was a senior of Chi Ganquan duo, Liu Shui Mountain's Yu Ke.
If the Court of Judicial Review wanted to try Chen Chao for killing cultivators without authorization, it not only needed to team up with the Three Judicial Chief Ministries, they also needed each sect to send a cultivator here to listen, so that the Great Liang Dynasty could not play favoritism. But in reality, it was just the foreign land cultivation sects exerting pressure on the Great Liang Dynasty.
The disciple outside brought in the letter covered in cowhide. Xu Yu did not go and take it. Yu Ke was also expressionless and did nothing.
The middle-aged daoist nun took the letter. Opening and reading it a little, she sneered coldly, "That miscreant has already reached his wit's end! He has no more tricks! He can only wait to die."
Seeing that the middle-aged daoist nun had no intention of letting the two of them read the letter, Xu Yu could only smile bitterly and reach out his hand, "Can Fellow Daoist Wang let me read this letter?"
Only then, did the middle-aged daoist nun hand over the letter with a cold face.
After Xu Yu finished reading it, he passed it to Yu Ke.
"In this case, even if that scoundrel is acquainted with that dean's last disciple, it hasn't reached the point where the dean will step forward either. There's really nothing to worry about anymore, we just have to stop Great Liang from showing favoritism to that scoundrel. Just the crime of him killing cultivators without authorization is enough to make him die here. It's a shame that he'll actually be getting off so easily. If I can bring him back to the South Heaven Sect, I'll definitely torment him to death!"
Xu Yu's expression was ugly. He had a stomach pent up with anger in the first time. He could not vent it on the middle-aged daoist nun at this moment, so he could only vent it on Chen Chao.
The middle-aged daoist nun frowned and said with a cold smile, "Even if we can take him away, he'll also be taken to my Three Streams Manor. When is it your South Heaven Sect's turn?"
When Xu Yu heard that, his expression changed and became even darker. When he previously heard that the one from Three Streams Manor was not Li Huo, he felt that it was not very good. Now, as expected, this woman had long gone mad. She was totally a mad dog who bit anyone she saw.
"Fellow Daoist Wang, why is this necessary? Our demand now should be the same, let's not harm the harmony."
Without waiting for Xu Yu to speak, Yu Ke who did not talk the entire time opened his mouth to urge, "The three families are now on the same boat, we should be working together."
The middle-aged daoist nun laughed coldly and did not say anything. She just got up and left without any hesitation.
Xu Yu's expression was livid, but he did not say a word. Only after the middle-aged daoist nun left, did he wave his hand. The people in the house left one after another. In the end, there was only Yu Ke alone left. This ordinary-looking middle-aged man had a bitter smile, "Fellow Daoist Yu, that Fellow Daoist Wang is in pain from losing her disciple. You and I have to show more understanding."
Xu Yu lifted his head and looked at Yu Ke as he said, "You yourself are aware of how the Three Streams Manor is normally, why is there a need to say more? Moreover, they actually only sent a crazy b!tch here for the current matter, can she be in charge of anything? If any unforeseen accidents happen later, can we count on her?"
Yu Ke glanced at the letter that was still on the table and said with a smile, "That scoundrel no longer has any tricks, what else is there to worry about now?"
Xu Yu stood up, smacked the table, and tried his best to suppress his anger as he said, "Fellow Daoist Yu, I hope that you can understand, this place isn't the foreign lands, it's the Great Liang Dynasty's Divine Capital. There isn't only that Warden here, there's the academy's dean, and also that emperor in the imperial palace!"
Those were all big shots; genuinely important people.
They were not what a Three Streams Manor could compare to.
"Fellow Daoist Xu should also not forget about a domino effect. Although our qi refiner lineage can't challenge the Great Liang Dynasty, if we get any unfair treatment here, could it be that the entire foreign lands will sit on the sidelines and ignore?" "They won't. There are so many people in the foreign lands, how can Great Liang dare to do so?"
Yu Ke had some anger too, but he suppressed it extremely well, "Fellow Daoist Xu, don't be too worried, this incident was just an accident, that's all. Moreover, we've already taken care of things, that Li fellow is dead too. Even if this wench knows the truth, there's no truth. Who can say anything?"
Xu Yu took a deep breath. Only then, did he look at Yu Ke and said softly, "I hope so."
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Xie Nandu returned to the shore of South Lake. There was still half a month until the Three Judicial Chief Ministries' trial. Those things that happened in the Court of Judicial Review had presumably reached some people's ears already. Therefore, she did not need to worry that some people would come here to see her. Even if there really were, it was actually harmless too. She only needed to wait half a month for that day. Of course, before this, cultivating with her senior brother was essential.
Actually, Xie Nandu already stepped into Initial Realm on the third day of studying with Wei Xu.
Wei Xu did not express much shock, because their teacher had long said that this junior sister was shockingly talented. Stepping into Nepenthe Realm was just a matter of time. What was even more commendable was that her mentality also far surpassed ordinary people.
At that time, his teacher drank some alcohol and said something that Wei Xu could not forget.
That was that: this girl can inherit my mantle.
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The dean was not interested in thinking about what his disciples were thinking. At this moment, he was currently arranging for someone to play chess with, not the old friend that he played with before. The one playing with him today was another one of his disciples.
He took in 72 disciples. Although some of them had passed away due to various reasons, leaving before him, the teacher, there were still many disciples who were still alive to this day. Among those disciples who were still alive, this person in front of him was the best in chess. He was the national champion of the Great Liang Dynasty, called Su Yi.
Su Yi was handsome, gentle, and refined. Su Yi was the ideal partner in the hearts of many ladies in the Divine Capital over a dozen years ago. But sadly, he only liked to study and play chess all his life. Hence, he still had no woman accompanying by his side after more than ten years had passed.
"I heard that teacher got your wish and found a little junior sister for us senior brothers. This is truly a wonderful thing."
Su Yi reached out to place a piece. It was just that he forcefully changed his advantageous play into an evenly-matched situation.
The dean nodded his head in satisfaction, "That junior sister of yours is like a piece of rough jade that still needs polishing, Presently, I'm temporarily having Wei Xu teach her on my behalf."
Su Yi nodded his head and praised, "Since it's Senior Brother Wei, then there's nothing to say. Senior Brother is exceptionally talented. In both cultivation and studying, one probably can't find a senior brother to compare to him. With him teaching Little Junior Sister, it shouldn't be bad. But, as the senior brother, since I learned that I have such a little junior sister, I have to send a greeting gift no matter what. It's just, I don't know what Little Junior Sister likes."
The dean glanced at the game. Placing a piece, he shook his head and said, "Your junior sister is from a great family, but is a hard-to-come-across pure person. Gifting anything seems vulgar, so forget it."
When Su Yi heard this, he said a little sadly when placing a piece again, "Then, could it be that I don't gift anything? Then Little Junior Sister will probably feel that I, this senior brother, is stingy."
The dean laughed coldly, "Do I not know what you're thinking? You'd best put away your ideas. Plus, that little junior sister of yours already has someone she fancies. A young boy and a young girl, a suitable pairing. Why are you joining in the fun at your age?"
Su Yi exclaimed and asked disappointedly, "Which family's boy is it?"
The dean casually said, "That one who's stirring up a storm in the Divine Capital presently."
That incident had already set off a storm in the Divine Capital, he naturally knew about it.
"This student heard that those foreign land cultivators have already entered the Divine Capital. Since that's Little Junior Sister's cherished person, isn't teacher going to do anything?"
Su Yi looked at the dean.
"That's all my speculation. Even if it's true, so what? I'm your little junior sister's teacher, have I become that kid's teacher too?" The dean snorted coldly, "There's no such logic in this world, I said it."
"Sir, you're so overbearing."
Su Yi felt a little helpless.
The dean said coolly, "Used to it. I'm just this overbearing."
Su Yi laughed dryly and said no more. It was just that he brimmed with killing intent with each piece he placed after that.
Seeing that his defeat on the chessboard was already set, the dean's expression became increasingly worse. Finally, he simply waved his sleeve and knocked the board over as he scolded, "You traitorous disciple!"
Su Yi had an innocent look, "Teacher, it's just playing chess. Why are you being unreasonable?"
The dean was full of rage, "How many words do you know?! You're reasoning things out with me?!"
