Chapter 31: Red Blood Mansion Treats Human Life Like Grass

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Red Blood Mansion Treats Human Life Like Grass

Chu Fan had intentionally let Yan Ji and the remaining guards leave. If his only goal had been to kill the members of Red Blood Mansion in Yunzhou City, he would have never appeared at the Chen Mansion.

His sole purpose was to muddy the waters.

The servants would naturally handle the chaotic scene outside the Chen Mansion. When Chen Guanglin heard from Chu Fan that the Chen Family might face an even greater disaster, he and Chen Qi’an invited Chu Fan into the study.

Chu Fan laid out his plan to save the Chen Family, but Chen Guanglin was indecisive.

Chen Qi’an, however, was eager to try.

"Guard Fan, are you certain An’Er will be in no danger with this plan?" Chen Guanglin asked worriedly.

Chu Fan shook his head, his expression turning grave. "There won’t be any danger, but nothing is ever foolproof. If you want to save the Chen Family, you have to take this gamble. If we succeed, it’s not just the Chen Family that will be saved—the entire Celestial Qi Kingdom will fall under our protection."

Chen Qi’an said, "Father, there’s no need to hesitate. In fact, when I was cornered at the intersection yesterday, I already made up my mind. If what Guard Fan says can be achieved, it would be an excellent outcome for my older brother, for myself, and for our entire Chen Family."

"In that case, I will immediately write a memorial to the throne and have it sent by express courier to the Capital City." Chen Guanglin had finally made up his mind.

Chu Fan waved his hand. "Don’t be hasty. It would be more effective to submit a joint petition with the Lord Governor tomorrow."

After Chu Fan left, the father and son discussed it further.

Chen Guanglin was still worried, but Chen Qi’an managed to persuade him further.

A Steward Elder and five guards from the Red Blood Mansion had died outside the Chen Mansion today. Knowing the sect’s reputation, retaliation was certain. The Chen Family had no other choice.

Taking this gamble offered them a chance. Doing nothing meant certain annihilation for their clan.

At dusk, Chen Qi’an, wearing the robes of a Champion Scholar, arrived alone at the main gate of the Lü Family estate.

His appearance drew a crowd of onlookers from all over the city.

Once at the Lü Family gate, he ignored the gatekeepers’ questions and attempts to drive him away. With his hands clasped behind his back, he shouted, "Lü Yingliang, get out here and give the Chen Family an explanation!"

Faced with the Champion Scholar, the two guards at the gatehouse dared not use force. When their verbal attempts to shoo him away failed, they had no choice but to run inside to report.

Lü Yingliang had, in fact, already heard that Chen Qi’an was on his way. He was in the guest courtyard at that very moment, asking Yan Ji for advice.

Yan Ji, who was already furious, became even more incensed upon hearing that Chen Qi’an dared to show up at their door demanding an explanation.

However, he didn’t let his rage cloud his judgment. After confirming Chen Qi’an had come alone, he accompanied Lü Yingliang outside to see what was happening.

The moment Chen Qi’an saw Lü Yingliang and Yan Ji appear together, he demanded, "Lü Yingliang, don’t you think you owe the Chen Family an explanation?"

"Chen Qi’an, what is the meaning of this?" Lü Yingliang said, his own anger rising. "You are the Golden Champion Scholar, for crying out loud. How can you act like a shrew screaming in the street? What has become of your dignity? If you have something to say, come inside and say it."

Chen Qi’an sneered. "Go into your mansion? I’m afraid I’d go in alive and come out dead. We’re in front of the good people of Yunzhou City right now. Let’s talk things out here and let them be the judge."

"Chen Qi’an, do you really insist on doing this?"

"I, Chen Qi’an, have a clear conscience. Under the clear light of day, with all these just citizens of Yunzhou City as witnesses, are you really going to kill someone, Lü Yingliang?"

Chen Qi’an’s words—"with all these just citizens of Yunzhou City as witnesses"—instantly won over the crowd. They all puffed out their chests and held their heads high, as if every single one of them was indeed a paragon of justice.

Lü Yingliang gritted his teeth. "What kind of explanation do you want? Is this all about the broken engagement?"

Most of Yunzhou City’s citizens knew about the long-standing marriage agreement between the Chen and Lü families; it had once been a celebrated tale in the city. But few were aware that the engagement had been broken.

So when the onlookers heard this, some cried out in surprise and began murmuring amongst themselves.

"Miss Lü looked down on a common mortal like myself, so your Lü Family came to our door to break the engagement. Though I was resentful, I wouldn’t cling to you like a leech. To each their own, as they say. I could only silently wish for Miss Lü to find a worthy partner. But..."

As Chen Qi’an said this, his gaze hardened and his face filled with rage. He pointed a trembling finger at Lü Yingliang.

"But what?"

"It is the Lü Family’s good fortune to have formed ties with a Cultivation Sect. But then you came to slaughter my Chen Family, causing hundreds of our Prefecture Guards to die tragic deaths! I want the people of Yunzhou here to be the judge. Does latching on to a Cultivation Sect give you the right to do as you please and treat human life as worthless? If I didn’t have a highly skilled Guard, wouldn’t my entire Chen Family have been exterminated? Lü Yingliang, you are truly ruthless! You asked to break the engagement, and the Chen Family agreed. We never imagined you would resort to this."

After Chen Qi’an’s speech, the crowd’s murmuring grew louder. Some even began to point accusingly at Lü Yingliang.

Their eyes were filled with scorn.

Lü Yingliang finally snapped out of it, his face an icy mask. "Chen Qi’an, what nonsense are you spouting?" he roared. "When did I ever send anyone to kill your family?"

"Are you still going to deny it? Why don’t you ask that new son-in-law of yours standing right beside you? Ask him how many Prefecture Guards he killed when he stormed our Chen Mansion! I’ll tell you: one hundred and twenty-six men! They were battle-hardened Elite Soldiers who fought for our Celestial Qi Kingdom! And they were slaughtered by the Cultivators you’re so eager to associate with." By the end, Chen Qi’an’s voice was choked with emotion.

After Chen Qi’an’s words, the crowd’s gazes toward Lü Yingliang and Yan Ji changed, now tinged with hostility.

"How dare you!" Lü Yingliang roared.

Chen Qi’an let out a wretched laugh. "Me? Insolent? This is the Celestial Qi Kingdom! For generations, the Chen Family has served loyally, willing to die on the battlefield to protect the people of Celestial Qi! By what right does some Cultivation Sect dare to treat lives so cheaply here in our Yunzhou City? What have they ever done for Celestial Qi? What have they ever done for the people of Yunzhou?"

Neither Lü Yingliang nor Yan Ji had expected Chen Qi’an to launch his attack in this manner. For a moment, Lü Yingliang was at a complete loss for words.

But a contemptuous smile played on Yan Ji’s lips. In his eyes, what was the difference between these commoners and ants?

’Has this Chen Qi’an lost his mind?’ he thought. ’Letting these ants judge? What can these commoners possibly do to me?’

"Chen Qi’an, are you finished?" Yan Ji sneered. "It’s true my men killed them. But your guard also killed a Steward Elder and disciples from my Red Blood Mansion. Let me tell you something. Forget these commoners. Even if the Monarch of your Celestial Qi Kingdom himself showed up, what could he do? Just you wait. I swear I will annihilate your Chen Family, or my name isn’t Yan."

"Fathers, mothers, fellow citizens! Did you hear him? This is a Cultivator for you! This is what we are in his eyes! And the Lü Family conspires with such evil. Yan Ji, so what if you’re the Young Sect Leader of Red Blood Mansion? The righteous way is long and hard, but evil can never triumph over justice! People of the Red Blood Mansion, get out of Yunzhou City!"

Chen Qi’an’s words struck a chord with the crowd. Galvanized by Yan Ji’s arrogant speech, they began to shout in unison, "People of the Red Blood Mansion, get out of Yunzhou City!"

"I’ll kill you right now!" Seeing the situation turn against him, Yan Ji’s rage boiled over. He leaped into the air and flew straight at Chen Qi’an.

Before Yan Ji even got close, Chen Qi’an suddenly collapsed, blood instantly pooling on the ground beneath him.

Yan Ji, frozen in mid-air, was utterly baffled.

The onlookers closest to the scene jumped back in fright. Then, filled with righteous indignation, they began to shout, "Murderer! A life for a life!"

"Stop!" Chu Fan’s figure came flying in from a distance, but he was, after all, a moment too late.