The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 379 - 235: The Emerging Dark Hand (Extra for Alliance Leader bobby1994)

Chapter 379: Chapter 235: The Emerging Dark Hand (Extra for Alliance Leader bobby1994)

"You’re talking nonsense!"

Wu Dehai became anxious when he heard this. Seeing the Prefect, Zhou Kai’s, suspicious look, he quickly cupped his hands and said, "My lord, you must discern the truth. My son, Wu Shiqing, is known for his kind nature throughout Zigui County. Now he is afflicted by evil forces, bedridden with a serious illness. How could he do such a thing?"

"This person is clearly slandering, slandering indeed!"

"It’s you who’s talking nonsense!"

Yuan Feng, the lecturer, also desperately spoke up, kneeling and bowing to the court, "My lord, please see clearly. My brother has been addicted to gambling, borrowing silver from the Chaoshancai Society, and was constantly harassed by a group of rogues until he almost hanged himself."

"I didn’t want the family’s shame to be known, nor could I gather the silver to repay the debt, so I sought Wu Dehai’s mercy. Unexpectedly, he took the chance to blackmail me, forcing me to monitor the academy’s movements..."

At these words, the academy’s people were all in an uproar.

"Yuan Feng, may you die a terrible death!"

"What a disgrace to be a disciple of the sages!"

"Wu Dehai, you truly are a treacherous villain!"

For a moment, the people of the academy cursed in anger.

Bang!

Prefect Zhou Kai slammed the gavel, his face dark, and said, "Do not make noise. Continue speaking."

At this moment, he too was furious, wishing he could drag all these incompetent fools out for a whipping.

However, he keenly sensed something was amiss.

Yuan Feng, knowing he was doomed, stopped hiding and confessed everything:

"My lord, with no hope for success in the imperial exams, I became interested in some Mystical Sect secrets in my free time while teaching. One day in the library, I accidentally discovered an ancient Chu manuscript detailing the method of alchemy to create the Red Pill."

"Because of Wu Dehai’s blackmail, I often took care of his son, Wu Shiqing, who also enjoyed Mystical Sect arts. However, he was more interested in Buddhist principles and often discussed them with me."

"I showed him this method of the ’Red Pill’ after acquiring it, and it was with his help that we actually refined this elixir."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, "How did he help you?"

Yuan Feng blushed slightly, gritted his teeth, and said, "This elixir is refined using the water method, which doesn’t require fire. It needs red lead, autumn stone, Chensha... and other materials. I am poor and couldn’t gather them."

"Especially since ’human milk’ was also needed. Wu Shiqing was equally interested, so he helped me gather these things. Together we refined the elixir multiple times, producing over a thousand pills in total."

"After trying the elixir, we found it miraculous, and thus secretly consumed it, greatly improving our academic performance."

"Later, when Wu Shiqing got into trouble, and my brother secretly gambled, accruing massive debt, I didn’t want to involve myself, but my parents begged me passionately, so I began selling it privately to people in the academy to raise funds..."

Hearing this tale, the academy’s people were furious beyond measure, even Wu Dehai was dumbfounded, clearly not expecting his son to be involved.

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "Is there any ’Red Pill’ left?"

"Yes! Yes!"

Yuan Feng quickly took out a small white porcelain bottle from his bosom on hearing this.

The white porcelain bottle was exquisite, with an ancient charm depicted with "a picture of Guiguzi descending the mountain" on it.

Wu Dehai, upon seeing it, felt a tightness in his chest, "Isn’t this from my collection? The unfilial child went and stole it!"

Li Yan ignored Wu Dehai, took the white porcelain bottle, pulled out the cork, and poured out a red pill the size of a soybean.

He sensed it using the Yang Jue technique and immediately nodded, saying,

"No doubt about it, the evil energy comes from this!"

At that moment, the crowd in the hall fell silent.

The academy’s students looked at each other, their faces pale.

They didn’t expect that the "Immortal Pill" they secretly consumed was something everyone had been taking, that it contained evil energy.

County Magistrate Wu was shaking with rage.

He wasn’t a fool, feigning recklessness in Zigui County, but treading the line—profiting without provoking the court’s scrutiny.

But then his son created a major scandal...

The Prefect, Zhou Kai, on the hall also wore an ugly expression.

What he could see was only some superficial issues, mere corruption and land seizures, which were common across the Divine State.

Compared to the current chaos in the Southwest, it seemed trivial.

But he hadn’t expected so much filth beneath the surface.

Moreover, he had a feeling that he might have just uncovered the tip of a corrupt iceberg, with countless messes underneath.

Li Yan and Sha Lifei looked coldly at the people.

This was why they despised the government.

There was nothing wrong with government or law.

But human greed was endless. Ordinary people could only see the surface, while those in the pugilistic world, with their intelligence, knew how vile these outwardly righteous officials were in reality.

The Feng Daoist from the City God Temple felt his scalp prickling.

Originally hoping for a master to aid him, he didn’t expect to face such trouble instead.

Everyone knew it was a cesspit.

So why stir it?!

Prefect Zhou Kai took a deep breath,

"Men, arrest them all for me!"

He knew some things had to be faced head-on now.

The Government Officials outside looked at each other, hesitating.

"How dare you!"

Prefect Zhou Kai instantly became furious, "You’re fed by Great Xuan’s rice and grain, not the Wu family’s dogs!"

Hearing this, Wu Dehai’s face turned pale as he threw his official position hat aside and glared at the Government Officials, "What are you waiting for? Hurry and arrest me!"

The Government Officials had no choice but to step forward and make the arrests.

Wu Dehai glanced secretly, seeing Zhou Kai’s sinister eyes, and couldn’t help but lament inwardly.

Just then, Li Yan’s eyes flashed with sharp light. Suddenly, Hidden Energy burst from under his feet. In an instant, he leaped out of the county government’s main hall and then, with a reverse hand, flung something.

"What are you doing?!"

The soldiers roared in anger, brandishing their weapons to surround him.

Clatter!

Before the words finished, something flapped its wings and fell from the air. It was a gray messenger pigeon, its chest pierced by a Flying Blade, and it soon lay lifeless.