Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 595 - 480 - Thousand Cuts and Countless Lacerations at Your Whim (Seeking Monthly Pass)_1

Chapter 595: Chapter 480 - Thousand Cuts and Countless Lacerations at Your Whim (Seeking Monthly Pass)_1

After Zhu Mingyue announced the result of the selection for the Venerable of Zhuque Hall, Li Xuan got up from his seat.

There were still items, including the impeachment of Abbot Weizhen’s position as an elder and the budget proposition for Shenyi Department, but Li Xuan had lost interest in continuing his participation, assuming that these would not likely be rejected.

Even if Li Xuan did not intervene, Zhu Mingyue would have ensured their acceptance.

The Venerable in the hall, after all, was not a clay idol.

Having served for twelve years in the Liudao Division and being one of the most powerful Fumo Venerables in history, he was far from powerless in the elder council.

The elders who got along well with Zhu Mingyue overlapped significantly with Li Xuan’s side. The four families of Confucianism, Legalism, Military, and Moism shared Zhu Mingyue’s philosophy of worldliness. Only the Daoist and Buddhist schools advocated transcendence.

The core of this dispute was the fear among some elders that Zhu Mingyue might suppress and exclude the influence of disciples from the six schools of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Legalism, Military strategy, and Moism within the Liudao Division.

The Liudao Division was no longer the fledgling organization it once was. Even without the support of the six schools, they had grown strong enough to survive. On the contrary, the six schools now needed to rely on the Liudao Division.

Zhu Mingyue had been trying, somewhat subtly, to bolster talents and factions within the Liudao Division that did not come from the ’six schools’.

But his battle with the Mongolian Shaman in the north has heightened the fears of the six schools.

This time, even Zhu Mingyue’s friends chose to oppose him, indirectly affecting Li Xuan as well.

When Li Xuan passed by Huangfu Xuanji, he found the former Dudu Tongzhi flushed with rage, hands trembling with fury, and eyes filled with disbelief and unwillingness.

Li Xuan suddenly became interested in him and stopped next to Huangfu Xuanji, "I’ve heard the Princess Hejian is a wise and remarkable woman, yet in her old age and amidst her decline, she made a foolish decision."

Huangfu Xuanji glared at Li Xuan in anger, "What did you say? You dare insult my mother?"

If he were not aware that he would lose, and if they were not on the grounds of the Liudao Division, he would have lunged at Li Xuan and torn him apart right then.

"I only speak the truth." Li Xuan said indifferently. "Princess Hejian released you, no doubt out of maternal love. She didn’t realize, however, that fortune and misfortune are interdependent. If you, Huangfu Xuanji, had accepted your punishment, you might have had a slight chance. But now..."

At this point, Li Xuan simply laughed and continued his way past Huangfu Xuanji.

Previously, Li had framed Huangfu Xuanji, accusing him of collusion with Wang Zhen and immoral behavior in the army during the campaign which involved the assault and murder of native women.

As for whether Huangfu Xuanji released Wu Zhiqi, Li Xuan had always been investigating but found no definitive proof.

Still, these two charges were not enough to execute Huangfu Xuanji.

This era, after all, was not a rule-of-law society.

Huangfu Xuanji’s father, Huangfu Yu, saved the life of Emperor Taizong and was the foremost meritorious statesman of Jingnan; his elder brother, Huangfu Shenji, the first-generation Fuguogong, was the best general in the country during the Zhengtong Era.

Could the Court possibly execute Huangfu Xuanji for these crimes?

The worst-case scenario for him would be to lose his position and be imprisoned and then exiled.

Li Xuan, despite his hatred of Huangfu Xuanji, could not ignore the reactions of the northern military families and the Jingnan nobles.

Provoking a full-blown conflict was not the act of a mature person.

But now that Huangfu Xuanji was out of prison, the situation had changed drastically.

If he had behaved himself from now on, Li Xuan might have shown some mercy.

But as he was too defiant and ungrateful, all Li Xuan could do was make sure he never recovered.

When Li Xuan left the Elder Hall, Luo Yan and Yue Qianqian came to greet him.

Yue Qianqian was fine, but Luo Yan’s look was so passionate that Li Xuan felt a heat on his skin.

Li Xuan saw that this bewitching lady had countless questions to ask, so he simply shook his head, "We have something else to do next. Luo Yan, whatever questions you have, you can ask me later."

He quickly left the Liudao Division with Luo Yan and headed to an alley to wait.

Shortly after, left Tianbu Yushi Wei Zhen and Qianhu of Xiuyiwei Wei Bailong came into the alley with a group of people.

Monk Weizhen was among them, sitting in a prison cart covered in Zhenyuan nails and bound with dozens of black chains.

Wei Bai Long and his Xiuyiwei guards, extremely wary of Monk Weizhen’s martial prowess, had used no less than seven different techniques to seal and ensure this sub-heavenly level Buddhist cultivator was incapable of resisting.

When Wei Bai Long and his group stopped in front of Li Xuan, Monk Weizhen looked at Li Xuan with dead, cold eyes, "Marquis of Guanjun, you play a good game! I’m impressed."

"Well said! However, you can’t compete with Abbot Weizhen, who remains calm even in the face of certain doom."

Li Xuan chuckled, a glint of curiosity in his eye. "Abbot, your calm suggests that you believe you might escape from prison?"

Upon hearing this, Weizhen slightly narrowed his eyes, remaining silent.

Indeed, that’s what he was thinking. The case against Xunjian Yushi Xia Guangwei would not be easily overturned.

The current Li Xuan was indeed powerful and influential, but the old case involved a prince, two provincial kings, thirteen government officials in office, and seventeen wealthy businessmen in Shandong and North Zhili, each worth millions.

If he meddled in the case against Xunjian Yushi Xia Guangwei, it would be like stirring up a hornet’s nest.

In addition, over the years, he had established a vast network of connections in Capital City, which reached high-ranking officials and even took control of the lifeblood of many officials.

How could it be easy for Li Xuan to pin him down with this case?

Weizhen believed that once he secured himself in the Dali Temple prison, he could mobilize his connections and wealth to exonerate himself, even turning the tables.

He might not be able to preserve his status as the abbot of Huguo Temple or the elder of Liudao, but he could still live as a wealthy man, enjoying his twilight years.

However, these thoughts he kept to himself and saw no need to confess in front of Li Xuan.

But what happened next shook him. Li Xuan casually handed a strangely shaped knife to Luo Yan, saying, "Kill him as you please."

Luo Yan was dumbfounded. She subconsciously accepted the knife, but looked at Li Xuan in confusion. "Xuan, are you saying that I should kill him right here?"

"If not here, then where?" Li Xuan’s lips curled up slightly, his eyes as cold as a blade. "Should we wait for him to be imprisoned, mobilize his connections and wealth, and continue to fight against us?

Moreover, I promised you that I would let you avenge your enemies as much as possible."

At this, Luo Yan’s pupils dilated slightly. Then, she gripped the knife in her hand and turned her gaze to Weizhen.

The color drained from Weizhen’s face as he realized that Wei Bailong and the Xiuyiwei, as well as the ten-plus Forbidden Army soldiers, had all moved twenty zhang away, facing outwards.

For the first time, panic flashed across Weizhen’s eyes. Inside the prisoner cart, he struggled violently, causing the iron chains to jingle loudly. "Li Xuan, what are you trying to do? You dare to kill me? Don’t forget, you are the Fumo Zhonglangjiang of the Liudao Division, the Judge of the Central Army. You dare to break the law while knowing it?

Also, do you think everyone else is a fool and won’t be able to investigate? Will the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishments let this case go and allow you to act recklessly?"

Luo Yan looked worriedly at Li Xuan. She was eager to tear Weizhen to pieces right then and there, but if it implicated Li Xuan, she would rather wait a little longer to take her revenge.

"Your words are odd, Abbot." Li Xuan replied calmly with his hands behind his back. "It’s ’Only for Profits’ Mei Qingshu, the twelfth on the Black List, who is going to kill you, not me.

He attacked midway, intending to kill people and silence them. Qianhu Wei and Yushi Wei were caught off guard and fell into his hands. And because of his unique technique, your body and the prisoner’s wagon would instantly turn into dust.

Moreover, all the Xiuyiwei and the Forbidden Army present here today will also die at the hands of Mei Qingshu."

In fact, they would escape from Beijing, change their names and go south. He would even use a secret technique to erase their memories of today.

At this time, his enemies in the court were all incredibly powerful. He wouldn’t leave any loopholes that could be exploited.

Weizhen’s pupils had shrunk to pins. His face turned ashen. "Absurd! You think you can deceive the Liudao Division, the Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Punishments? There are countless divine catchers in the capital. Can’t they investigate?"

"They can’t find out because this is simply the truth."

At this moment, a dark figure suddenly appeared behind Li Xuan and Luo Yan.

He was holding a knife identical to the one in Luo Yan’s hand, and upon appearing, he saluted Weizhen. "’Only for Profits’ Mei Qingshu, at your service, Abbot Weizhen! I’ll take the blame for your case."

Seeing this man, a desolation overwhelmed Weizhen. His mind was too flabbergasted for words. "No, it’s not right, it’s against the rules, the law! How dare you? How could you? You are the Hufa of Neo-Confucianism, the Fumo Zhonglangjiang of the Liudao Division, the Judge of the Central Army of the Court. How could you break the law knowingly?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan sneered. "You blatantly disregard the law, yet expect others to play by the rules with you? Besides, having witnessed what happened to Yushi Xia, how could I make the same mistake?"

Twelve years ago, Luo Yan’s father, Xia Guangwei, had collected a substantial amount of evidence, nearly enough to convict Weizhen. However, his meticulous adherence to proper procedures had left a room for Weizhen to make a comeback.

"Also, I know that you have two concubines and over a dozen children."

With a voice as light and calm as ever, Li Xuan pronounced these ruthless words, "As they say, he who starts trouble should end it. Since you wiped out all 75 members of Yushi Xia’s family, I see no need for a lecture on morality and justice.

In less than two hours, they will join you in the Underworld. As a family, they should arrive all together."

"Beast!" Weizhen let out a roar, his figure resembling a furious lion.

But by then, the knife in Luo Yan’s hand had already pierced Weizhen’s heart.