Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 718 - 658: Ghost Lamp of the Long Night

Chapter 718: Chapter 658: Ghost Lamp of the Long Night

"Ah... this place... it’s no good..."

"Don’t burn it anymore~ Please, I beg you~"

"Spare me—"

"I’m dead! No, I’m already dead... Save me, oh ghost—"

Recently, people near the Town Martial Office had been considering moving.

Because from evening, the martial artists of the Town Martial Office began to set up long poles on both sides of the street at the entrance of the Government Office, then hung a huge lamp on each pole.

At first, everyone was curious about what the Town Martial Office was doing.

But soon, they heard wailing and howling coming from inside the lanterns.

At this moment, Zhang San had hung all the lanterns on the poles.

As night fell, the souls of the assassins previously captured by Zhang San were being burned by the special lamp oil confined within the lanterns by a Rune Array.

Wang Ziteng asked in a low voice, "Brother San, isn’t this a bit too cruel? They were killed by you while alive, and now their souls are being burned in the lantern... tsk, tsk, tsk..."

Zhang San smiled faintly, speaking softly, "The lamp oil was prepared by Xu, and I don’t understand the Path of Life and Death, so... what does this have to do with me? It’s all Xu’s responsibility. Just let them hang here, waiting for their confessions."

Upon hearing this, in each of the ghost-containing lanterns, a ghost immediately shouted, "I’ll tell! It was the Cui Family! We are the Death Warriors of the Cui Family! Kill me! Don’t torture me, just kill me!"

Zhang San retorted, "Aren’t you already dead?"

"Then please let us go! It’s too painful..."

"That’s right! We admit it, we all are Death Warriors of the Cui Family, sent to assassinate you. Please let us go!"

"We are just subordinates, we can only follow orders! Go seek revenge from the Cui Family, don’t take it out on us—"

Though howls and wails of the Death Warriors came from the lanterns,

Zhang San showed no intention of listening to them.

Death Warriors, indeed, are not afraid of dying.

But Zhang San wanted everyone to know, if someone wanted to kill him, they better bring along some experts proficient in the Path of Life and Death, otherwise, death itself could be very terrifying.

Perhaps, even more terrifying!

As these ghostly wails grew more pitiful, many residents in the neighborhood were considering selling their houses.

At that moment, Vermilion Bird Principal Officer walked out from the Government Office and asked Zhang San, "Are we taking action against the Cui Family?"

Now, Zhang San was no longer as scared as he had been at first when he saw Vermilion Bird.

But now, Zhang San felt a bit scared hearing Vermilion Bird’s words.

Because after talking with Wang Ziteng, Zhang San learned that during the months he had been away from the Capital, Vermilion Bird had wiped out many disobedient martial forces within the Capital Region Road.

Not just destroying their gates but eliminating the entire sect along with the martial artists within—completely annihilating them.

So Zhang San thought, when Vermilion Bird mentioned taking action against the Cui Family, it might not mean just dealing with the members in the Capital but attacking the Cui Family right up to Longwang Road.

"Thank you, Vermilion Bird Principal Officer, but that won’t be necessary. Actually, by this stage, they would know to restrain themselves."

Vermilion Bird asked, "What if they continue to act nevertheless?"

Zhang San laughed, "That won’t happen. Although there’s no solid evidence that they attacked me, everyone now knows about the Cui Family deploying a Death Warrior to assassinate me. After all, I am a Marquis—how audacious of the Cui Family to strike at a Marquis. Even if I remain silent, Emperor Kaihuang will discipline them."

Vermilion Bird also didn’t quite understand these roundabout strategies. In their view, if there’s animosity, just eliminate it and be done.

But since Zhang San had said so, they decided to trust him.

At that moment, as Vermilion Bird looked at Zhang San’s face, he couldn’t help but think of his own son.

Actually, his son was sometimes tender like Zhang San, not always resorting to violence like himself.

If only he had been more patient with his son, paid more attention to his matters, then he might not have died.

But fortunately, even though his son was no longer in this world, his soul had merged with Zhang San’s.

Zhang San did not know why Vermilion Bird was looking at him with such tenderness, a gaze that made his hair stand on end.

The souls wailing in the nearby Ghost Lamp seemed less frightening at the moment.

The next day at court, when Emperor Kaihuang saw Zhang San had also arrived, he asked, "Marquis Beyond the Law, I heard that you were attacked outside the city yesterday, is this true?"

Zhang San stepped forward, cupped his fists and bowed, "Your Majesty, I serve Your Majesty loyally, I am filial to my mentor, kind to my students, and righteous to my colleagues. For a minister like me, coveted by those who wish to undermine the Great Sui, it is only normal. It’s just a few Death Warriors, no trouble, no trouble at all."

Emperor Kaihuang knew Zhang San was doing this on purpose, so he played along and asked, "But I have heard from the interrogation that the one who tried to assassinate you was a Death Warrior from the Cui Family?"

Zhang San laughed, "Those are but rumors, how can they be taken seriously? Your Majesty, do not jest. The Cui Family also had talents selected in this examination. I believe that even if the Cui Family really did wish to put me to death, considering their intentions to serve the country, this matter should not be pursued."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kaihuang burst into hearty laughter.

Clearly, Zhang San’s words had essentially defined the Cui Family’s actions.

"Who would have thought, Marquis Beyond the Law, you are so magnanimous. This truly is a fortunate thing for the state."

The Confucian ministers standing by, hearing Emperor Kaihuang and Zhang San sing in harmony, felt extremely uncomfortable.

Was Zhang San really being magnanimous?

The Cui Family had only one person pass the imperial examination, who was even the Second Top Scholar, which indeed was a cause for celebration. But wasn’t that individual dealt with by Wang Junwu?

Yet, this matter had yet to be settled.

After all, if it were pursued, it would mean that Cui Wenjun had harassed Princess Qionghua in public.

If this scandal spread, it would naturally disgrace the Imperial Family.

In the end, the Cui Family would bear the misfortune.

Thus, the Cui Family dared not mention it, Emperor Kaihuang remained silent, and the Ministry of Punishment didn’t investigate—it was left at that.

Although Zhang San made light of the assassination attempt, everyone knew that following this incident, Emperor Kaihuang would certainly teach the Cui Family a stern lesson.

Although the Five Surnames and Seven Families held significant power locally, they weren’t entities the Emperor could easily move against.

But the precondition was that you had to handle things properly.

If Cui Family’s assassination attempt had succeeded and Zhang San had died, it would be a strike against Emperor Kaihuang. The marriage between Princess Qionghua and Wang Junwu might have been canceled, possibly replaced by another match from the Cui Family.

But now, the assassination had failed, and Emperor Kaihuang held the advantage—thus it was the Cui Family that had to face the consequences.

At that moment in the court, whether it was the Confucian ministers or ministers from other factions, everyone realized one thing.

Recently, it’s best not to come too close to the Crown Prince—it’s unlucky.