Chapter 163: Chapter 117: My Elder Brother Is a Ning’an Ten Hero
At the news that the Jingwu Bureau had surrounded the entire Han Mansion, everyone in the great hall from the Han Family turned pale with horror—all except Li Xuanche, whose expression merely flickered. A bone-chilling cold shot up their spines and into their skulls.
They knew all too well what kind of organization the Jingwu Bureau was.
It was a sharp sword hanging over the head of the Jianghu.
Enforcing Heaven’s Law, Pacifying the World!
Even the great Major Sects with their deep foundations did not fear the Jingwu Bureau, but they were still unwilling to challenge them without good reason. What chance, then, did a small, declining family like theirs have?
Moreover, a visit from the Jingwu Bureau was almost always a bad omen, often ending in the confiscation of property and the annihilation of entire families.
In recent years, their power and influence had only grown more prominent, their methods more brutal.
And the name Xu Shenzhi was like a red-hot brand, searing itself upon the hearts of everyone in the Han Family.
In the past, Han Ling’Er had acted willfully, insisting on breaking off the engagement. This not only made the Xu Family a laughingstock in Ning’an Prefecture but also gave the Han Family a reputation for treachery, causing their prestige to plummet.
There were no winners in that scandal. The Han Family had initially intended to punish Han Ling’Er severely to quell the gossip, but they dropped the matter out of fear of the faint shadow of the Wang Family behind her.
Later, when they heard that Xu Shenzhi had joined the Jingwu Bureau, the Han Family’s upper echelons grew uneasy. They had even discussed whether to try and mend their relationship with the Xu Family and resolve the grudge.
But before they could act, Xu Shenzhi had already arrived at their doorstep with the forces of the Jingwu Bureau, making such a forceful show of power.
His intentions were self-evident!
Han Ling’Er, standing to the side, was now ghastly pale.
She even had a faint idea of why Chen Sheng and Xu Shenzhi had come. She remembered telling Xu Shenzhi the secret that the Han Family possessed the Hundred-Year Earth Heart Lotus.
At first, she hadn’t thought much of it. But when she later learned that Xu Shenzhi hadn’t returned home, but had instead stayed in Changshan County to join Chen Sheng, she realized with a jolt that something was wrong. She guessed that he must bear a grudge and that the best way to get revenge would be to retaliate against her and the Han Family.
And given Chen Sheng’s personality, and the fact that he had just broken through to the Innate realm and desperately needed resources to consolidate his Cultivation, how could he not be tempted by such a Spiritual Object?
In fact, it was precisely because she had sensed this approaching crisis that she had preemptively sought out Li Xuanche, attempting to use the Earth Heart Lotus as a bargaining chip in exchange for Innate Spiritual Qi, or at least some form of protection.
’Jingwu Bureau... Chen Sheng.’
Li Xuanche gently rubbed the rim of his teacup, his gaze flickering slightly.
He had heard the name recently. The man was currently in the spotlight, but they had never crossed paths, so Li Xuanche hadn’t paid him much mind.
As for Xu Shenzhi, he had completely ignored him. A good-for-nothing who couldn’t even hold on to his own betrothal wasn’t worth a second thought.
Patriarch Han Jingyi’s mind raced. He instantly understood that today’s matter would not be resolved peacefully. The only hope for a turnaround might lie with the young master of the Li Family right before him.
He immediately turned to Li Xuanche, his tone pleading:
"Young Master Li, the Han Family has been struck by this sudden disaster. I hope you will speak up for us and lend a helping hand. If you can help the Han Family survive this crisis, we are prepared to sell the seeds of the Hundred-Year Earth Heart Lotus to you at a low price."
The Han Family was far too weak to stand against the Jingwu Bureau, but Li Xuanche was different. The Li Family behind him was a first-rate Noble Family, and his elder brother was none other than Li Xuance—the head disciple of the Iron Sword Sect and one of the Ning’an Ten Heroes.
’That should be enough to intimidate Chen Sheng.’
Li Xuanche’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t agree immediately.
He wouldn’t take a firm stance until he understood the Jingwu Bureau’s true intentions and limits. He only said thoughtfully,
"My words may not carry much weight, but I will do my best to mediate and try to resolve this misunderstanding."
Although Li Xuanche didn’t promise to handle everything, his willingness to intervene was enough to slightly ease Han Jingyi’s mind. Just as he was about to speak again, several blood-curdling screams and the thud of heavy objects hitting the ground came from outside the doors.
The next moment, a figure was thrown violently into the hall like a sack of broken goods. It tumbled across the floor, knocking over a chair before coming to a stop. It was the Han Family disciple who had been guarding the gate, now unconscious.
A figure flickered into view. Clad in the jet-black, standard-issue armor of the Jingwu Bureau, Xu Shenzhi strode into the hall with his hand on his sword. His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept coldly over everyone present before finally landing on Han Jingyi’s face. His voice was bone-chillingly cold:
"The Han Family certainly has some nerve! Captain Chen himself has graced you with his presence, yet instead of coming out to greet him, you bar your doors. Are you looking for a death wish?!"
"Xu, you... What is the meaning of this?!"
Han Jingyi’s face was ashen as he looked at his kinsman lying on the floor, his life hanging in the balance. He suppressed his rage and demanded an answer.
The other Han Family elders also glared at him with fury.
"Nephew?"
Xu Shenzhi sneered, his tone dripping with undisguised sarcasm. "I’m afraid you have the wrong person, Patriarch Han. I am Small Flag Officer Xu Shenzhi of the Jingwu Bureau’s G Camp, not some ’nephew’."
Then, his gaze shifted to the pale-faced Han Ling’Er at the side. When he saw how close she was sitting to Li Xuanche, an uncontrollable wave of humiliation and fury surged through him. The killing intent in his eyes was almost palpable.
’That bitch!’
’She used me, squeezed me for all I was worth, and then cast me aside, only to immediately start climbing the high branches of the Li Family.’
’I must have been blind back then, to trade my precious Innate Spiritual Qi for her life and chastity!’
’If I had known, I should have let Captain Chen ’unseal’ her!’
"Heh."
Suddenly, a soft, contemptuous chuckle cut through the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere.
Li Xuanche calmly picked up his teacup, using the lid to gently push aside the floating leaves. Without even lifting his eyelids, he said slowly,
"Junior Brother Xu, you’ve only been wearing that official’s hide for a few days, and you’ve already forgotten the bonds of our sect? Ling’Er was your childhood sweetheart, after all. It’s one thing not to greet her, but must you put on such airs of official authority? You’re only making yourself a laughingstock."
