Chapter 280 - 142: Timely Aid, Righteous and Gallant! Spiritual Saber ’Long Day’, My Dao Like the Sun in Central Heaven

Chapter 280: Chapter 142: Timely Aid, Righteous and Gallant! Spiritual Saber ’Long Day’, My Dao Like the Sun in Central Heaven

"Unless this kid’s contributions to the Great Xuan and the Northern Garrison Command surpass my own, I won’t accept it! Worst-case scenario, I’ll take this straight to the Northern Garrison Command! I’ll ask Commander Li to pass judgment, I’ll even ask the head of the Prefecture Bureau himself to weigh in!"

Li Lin gritted his teeth, his face flushed a deep red. Rage surged in his chest. With his future on the line, he chose to confront Gu Baichuan head-on.

He even went so far as to name his backer—a Prefecture Commander in the Northern Garrison Command, and a Leakless Level master at that.

’I’m telling you, don’t think you can just walk all over me. We should both take a step back, or this will get ugly for everyone!’

He stood tensely before the coffin, his words tumbling out in a rapid, incessant argument.

However—

BANG!

"It’s no use even if you appeal to the Celestial King!"

"I, Master Jiu, was the Lord of Anning County for three years! Three whole years! I know everything that’s happened in Anning County like the back of my hand."

"You’re saying my brother’s contributions don’t stack up to yours?"

With a bruised and swollen face and reeking of wine, a drunken Zhao Jiu, followed by Elder Liang, kicked open the gate to the Celestial Blade Style courtyard.

He’d heard Hundred Households Li Lin’s frantic arguments before he even stepped inside. Neck stiff and eyes wide, he strode in and immediately started counting on his fingers:

"Who the hell are you, you little punk, to be talking about contributions?"

"Ji Xiu made his name in Anning County in just half a year. He presented the head of Wang Hongzu, the Ghost Hand Judge, a Commander serving a Celestial Monarch of the Central Yellow Sect! He quelled the demonic disaster in the Earth Dragon Cave! And he personally obliterated the very will of a ’Dharma Guardian General’!"

"In your Northern Garrison Command, wouldn’t any one of those achievements be enough for a promotion? He would have shot up the ranks like a rocket!"

"Deeds like those would probably be enough to make him a Prefecture Commander! Comparing him to a Hundred Households like you? It’s utterly laughable."

"Without him, Anning County would have been a dead city long ago! And you call that no contribution? In the end, you people not only want to erase his name, but you also stripped me of my position as County Magistrate. You’ve pushed things too far!"

Elder Liang watched his arrogant, domineering Master Jiu, who had kicked down a door in front of dozens of Imperial Guard Cavalry and the Grandmasters from Daoist School Street who had stopped to watch.

His master pointed directly at the Hundred Households in the Flying Fish Robe—whose face had turned a furious, deep red—and gave him a vicious tongue-lashing. Elder Liang’s heart trembled in his chest...

"Master Jiu, that’s enough! Don’t say any more!"

Elder Liang grabbed Zhao Jiu’s sleeve and swallowed hard. Looking at the succession of famous and formidable figures from the prefecture, he inwardly clicked his tongue in awe.

If word of this got out...

Their master... would have made quite a name for himself.

After listening to Zhao Jiu’s torrent of abuse, Li Lin, who was already simmering with pent-up anger, saw his eyes go bloodshot in an instant. His fists cracked as he clenched them.

"You dare curse me? Do you have any idea who I am?!" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Zhao Jiu glared, planting his hands on his hips.

"Who do you think you’re fooling, acting all tough? Do you know who *I* am?"

"My own brother commands a vassal town that spans an entire state! He holds a fiefdom and guards a Realm Gate! He’s a hardened warrior who has fought Outer Dao Divine Armor Dao Soldiers head-on! He has what it takes to earn a grand Title!"

"Just for what you said, I’m seeing this through with you today. Didn’t you say that if my brother’s contributions turned out to be greater than yours, you’d give up your official post?"

"I’ve got the Anning Archives on me right now! Let’s go! I’m taking you to court at the Prefecture Yamen! Let’s see if you dare!"

WHOOSH!

Upon hearing this...

It was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over the head of the still red-eyed Li Lin, completely extinguishing his fiery spirit.

Looking at the disheveled rake before him and listening to his audacious tone...

The more Li Lin looked, the more familiar the man seemed. When recognition finally dawned, his heart sank another notch.

’Is that the younger son of the Wine Shop’s Lineage Master, one of the Upper Nine Professions?’

’Wasn’t his blood brother that fearsome figure rumored to have fought in the final war against the Immortal Buddha and Outsider Dao? The one who caught the eye of a Governor, was rapidly promoted, and is expected to govern his own territory in the future!’

’Wait, wasn’t this kid just a spoiled brat three years ago? How did he get so gutsy all of a sudden?’

’Has coarse iron been forged into true gold?’

’And...’

’How in the world did that Ji Xiu get friendly with the young master of a Grand Lineage!?’

’He’s even willing to go to bat for him and act as a witness!’

’The County Magistrate’s Archives are an official record, as good as gospel! Isn’t that the most powerful evidence possible!?’

’They’re all from Grand Lineages. The Fishing and Medicine lineages wanted to take this kid down, so why didn’t they coordinate with the other families?’

A fine tremor was already running through Li Lin’s body.

However, as if to confirm his worst fears...

"Well said."

"I am the eldest daughter of the Jade Shop’s main house. I stayed in Anning for two months, living right in Ji Xiu’s residence. Why have I never heard..."

"...of him colluding with a Divine Fiend?"

"On the other hand, every word Master Zhao Jiu has said is true."

The jade pendants at her waist chimed with a clear, crisp sound.

A young woman arrived, flanked by her maids. She wore a blue silk dress, her shoulders embroidered with Red Gold, and her hair was held in place by a jade hairpin. She exuded an air of luxurious nobility under the slanted rays of the sun. Tilting her chin up, she announced:

"If Master Zhao Jiu is taking this to the Prefecture Yamen, then I shall also go and bear witness."

TAP. TAP. TAP.

From behind Cai Ling’er...

Ye Ningzhi emerged. She wore a simple white dress with a longsword at her waist, and her tone was earnest:

"Count me in."

At the same time, she turned to the cenotaph on display, placed a hand on her sword hilt, and bowed three times.

"Mr. Duan, may your journey be peaceful. I will never forget the month you spent teaching me. From now on, on the anniversary of your passing, I will be sure to offer some wine to see you on your way..."

At these words, the expressions of two people on Daoist School Street changed.

Hidden at the very back of the crowd, Duan Chenzhou—clad in wide robes and an iron mask—had an incredibly complex expression on his face.

’That girl... she has a good heart.’

Then, in a deserted corner, Duan Chenzhou’s expression turned cold. He took out a bamboo scroll and lightly carved a few names into it.