Chapter 1256 - 885: Gong Chun

Zhang Chen was contemplating the situation in the Imperial Palace and stayed at the Inspection and Supervision Department, waiting for the morning court to ferment, while Xie Lingyun went out to dismiss various visitors.

On the third day, Zhang Chen was sitting in the pavilion debating philosophy with Xie Lingyun when suddenly a sound of hoofbeats drew his gaze. From his high vantage point, he looked down at the entire Inspection and Supervision Department and saw hundreds of knights in golden armor surrounding the gate of the department.

"Who dares to act recklessly at the Inspection and Supervision Department?" Zhang Chen observed the aggressive entourage of soldiers with a look of surprise, turning to Xie Lingyun.

Xie Lingyun’s face immediately turned grim, his eyes fixed on the newcomers, with the intent to kill swirling in his pupils: "It’s the people from the Five Cities Military Division!"

"Would the Five Cities Military Division dare to provoke the Inspection and Supervision Department?" Zhang Chen’s face showed a hint of curiosity.

Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, Xie Lingyun remained silent, coldly watching from the pavilion. At this moment, Zhang Chen looked at the leader of the Five Cities Military Division with a look of astonishment: "It’s him? He’s not dead!"

The general turned his head, revealing half of his face beneath the golden armor, and Zhang Chen was stunned for a moment. Do you know who this person is? It’s Gong Chun, who Zhang Chen had buried under Old Tortoise Ridge. According to reason, Gong Chun should have died under Old Tortoise Ridge when Zhang Chen activated the Feng Shui Grand Array, but unexpectedly, he survived.

"How did he survive?" Zhang Chen showed a hint of surprise.

"You know that leader?" Xie Lingyun heard Zhang Chen muttering and asked.

Zhang Chen did not conceal the matter and recounted how he tried to kill Gong Chun. Upon hearing this, Xie Lingyun realized: "So that’s how it is. But Gong Chun is the foremost young talent of the Gong Family and possesses an Innate Spiritual Treasure, making it extremely difficult to kill him. It is precisely because he holds the Innate Spiritual Treasure that he dares to trespass our Inspection and Supervision Department and challenge us."

"An Innate Spiritual Treasure?" Zhang Chen contemplated upon hearing this.

At this moment, a shout came from below: "Bold! Who dares to act recklessly here?"

"I am General Gong Chun of the Five Cities Military Division; I’ve received reports of the criminal Zhang Chen leaving the Northern Land and infiltrating the capital. I am here to arrest him and hope the Inspection and Supervision Department will not harbor the criminal, lest the case reaches the Human King, resulting in embarrassment for all." Gong Chun, mounted on his horse, looked down at the guard.

The guard was stunned by Gong Chun’s words, not knowing how to refute him. Given the other’s high-ranking banner, he dared not speak recklessly.

"Men, follow me into the Inspection and Supervision Department to capture the criminal." Seeing the gate guards unresponsive, Gong Chun was about to lead the Five Cities Military Division into the department.

"Reckless! Let’s see who dares to act at the Inspection and Supervision Department!" Xie Lingyun stepped forward, transforming into a multicolored light appearing at the city wall, his gaze icy cold:

"Gong Chun, you’re bold indeed to trespass the Inspection and Supervision Department; do you not know the meaning of death?"

"Leader Xie, I’ve heard reports that you are colluding with the criminal Zhang Chen, leading him around town and hiding him within the Inspection and Supervision Department. Is this true?" Gong Chun, unfazed, spoke from his horse with a mysterious air: "Though you lead the Inspection and Supervision Department, if you secretly harbor criminals and disrupt the laws, even the Human King will not tolerate you."

"Are you threatening me?" Xie Lingyun’s aura flickered behind his head, Divine Power flowing as he looked at Gong Chun.

"I don’t dare threaten Leader Xie, merely stating facts. Capturing criminals is the responsibility of the Five Cities Military Division. Even if this case went to the Emperor, I wouldn’t fear it in the least." Gong Chun said coldly.

Hearing this, Xie Lingyun glanced at Gong Chun, his eyes showing a hint of mystery: "You are interesting indeed; is it only the Five Cities Military Division that can arrest people, while the Inspection and Supervision Department can’t?"

Gong Chun was taken aback, immediately sensing something amiss. Sure enough, he heard Xie Lingyun say: "Zhang Chen is involved in a major case from the Prince Pingbian’s Mansion in the Northern Land. The Inspection and Supervision Department has already arrested him and imprisoned him. I am merely enforcing the law publicly, not harboring criminals as you’ve said."

"Do you intend to raid the Inspection and Supervision Department’s gate to rescue a prisoner?" Xie Lingyun looked at Gong Chun.

Gong Chun was dumbfounded, his eyes filled with frustration. The other party was incredibly good with words, cleverly shifting the topic from harboring a criminal to imprisoning one, rendering all of his accusations baseless. He was left speechless.

"Get lost! Don’t be an eyesore in front of the Inspection and Supervision Department." Xie Lingyun smirked at Gong Chun, leisurely turning back towards the department, with his merciless ridicule leaving Gong Chun red-eyed, but helpless against Xie Lingyun. After all, Xie Lingyun’s explanation was reasonable; if Gong Chun dared storm the Inspection and Supervision Department, he’d likely lose his head.

Though he wanted Zhang Chen dead, he didn’t wish to jeopardize himself in the process.

Gong Chun left in a furious rage, leading his men away like dogs with their tails between their legs, appearing extremely embarrassed.

"This is just the first move of the Eight Great Clans!" Xie Lingyun came to Zhang Chen and said: "For the Eight Great Clans, the real strategy is just beginning. If you don’t resolve the issues regarding your identity, sooner or later they will find a perfect pretext to use the Great Victory Dynasty’s laws to destroy you."

Upon hearing Xie Lingyun’s words, Zhang Chen raised an eyebrow: "Once I resolve my identity issues, the first I’ll target will be the Gong Family."

Isn’t it a coincidence that the Gong Family is one of the Eight Great Clans!

This time, upon entering Kyoto, if it weren’t for Xie Lingyun making arrangements in advance, I would really be in trouble if the other party blocked me and used the dynasty’s laws to constrain my family.

If by any chance the Gong Family took the initiative, I would truly fall into a passive state.

However, with Xie Lingyun around, many troubles have already been blocked outside by her. I just need to wait patiently for the final result.

Zhang Chen considered his thoughts, his eyes gazing towards the departing direction of the Five Cities Military Department, with various thoughts stirring in his heart.

Yet, before he could retract his thoughts, he saw a familiar figure outside the door of the Inspection and Supervision Department: Zhang Gaqi.

Zhang Gaqi, dressed in a black robe, arrived outside the door of the Inspection and Supervision Department. After jumping off the carriage, he silently gazed at the door.

"That’s your fourth uncle, Zhang Gaqi." Xie Lingyun obviously saw Zhang Gaqi too and said to Zhang Chen.

"I saw him. How would you evaluate this person?" Zhang Chen opened his mouth to ask.

"Although this person is of your uncle’s generation, he was raised by your father, akin to half a son. Within the Zhang Family, if anyone truly hopes for you siblings to return to the family and hopes for you all to live smoothly, he is definitely one of them." Xie Lingyun said.

"People leave, yet tea does not cool; that’s rare indeed!" Zhang Chen said something cryptic.

Upon hearing this, Xie Lingyun smiled gently, then said to Zhang Chen, "Will you meet him?"

"Meeting him is no harm, after all, my return to Kyoto isn’t a secret, and my younger siblings were taken away by him back then. I should find him to reclaim them," Zhang Chen replied.

Zhang Gaqi was blocked outside by the people of the Inspection and Supervision Department. Zhang Gaqi, unhurriedly, handed over a visiting card: "I am here to pay respects to Leader Xie Lingyun."

"Invite Lord Zhang in," Xie Lingyun didn’t wait for the guard to reply but stood at the city head and started speaking, her voice already transmitting through the void. Although the Imperial Dragon Qi suppressed Ten Thousand Techniques, Xie Lingyun had already broken the shackles of her realm and stepped into the Tenth Tier. Her body was immensely powerful; merely relying on the vibrations of her internal organs to sound her voice could transmit over ten miles easily.

The guard respectfully opened the door upon hearing this and led Zhang Gaqi up to the pavilion. As soon as Zhang Gaqi arrived, he saw Zhang Chen sitting in the pavilion having tea. After giving his respects to Xie Lingyun, Zhang Gaqi looked towards Zhang Chen:

"Since you’re back, why don’t you return home to live, but instead stay at the Inspection and Supervision Department?"

"I’m afraid if I leave the Inspection and Supervision Department, I won’t see the sun of tomorrow," Zhang Chen replied with a smile. "After all, there are quite a few people in Kyoto who want me dead."

"Our Zhang Family isn’t made of mud; once you enter our Zhang Family, who would dare be disrespectful to you?" Zhang Gaqi furrowed his brows.

Zhang Chen smiled lightly upon hearing this: "Just now, a group from the Five Cities Military Department nearly dragged me out from the Inspection and Supervision Department to be executed."

Zhang Gaqi was taken aback upon hearing this: "Really?"

"Leader Xie was the one who sent the people away," Zhang Chen replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gaqi’s face instantly turned gloomy: "Gong Chun has guts, daring to lay a hand on my Zhang Family members, simply audacious!"

Seeing Zhang Gaqi’s genuine anger, Zhang Chen felt a bit of warmth in his heart and then smiled, "How did Fourth Uncle find his way here?"

"I came to persuade you to leave Kyoto; the tides in Kyoto are too deep now. As soon as you entered, countless undercurrents surged trying to swallow you. You should leave quickly," Zhang Gaqi’s voice was filled with seriousness.

Once Zhang Chen leaves Kyoto, all the storms would be calmed.

Zhang Chen looked at Zhang Gaqi, his mouth curling into an elusive smile: "Since I’ve come to Kyoto, how could I flee like a stray dog?"

"But if you continue to stay here, you’ll die! I can’t let you die in Kyoto; even if there’s a one percent chance of death, I won’t agree!" Zhang Gaqi’s voice was resolute.

"Waves rise; who will they crush might still be uncertain, whether it’s me or those lurking hands in the dark, who can tell?" Zhang Chen replied with a smile, raising his tea cup for a sip.

Zhang Gaqi fell into silence upon hearing this, staring intensely at Zhang Chen. After a long while, he finally spoke, "You can’t fight them! Their power is too extensive, even capable of contending with the Great Victory’s royal family. What do you have to fight them? For you, leaving is the best choice, do not be like eggs colliding with stones. Even with Leader Xie’s protection, she ultimately can’t guard you forever; there will always be moments of oversight."