Chapter 214: Chapter 137: Iron-Fisted Control, Sparing No Face
Xu Shenzhi scoffed.
"You..."
Before Gao Qilin could finish, Song Renyi cut him off, his gaze falling upon Chen Sheng.
"Deputy Captain Chen, there might be a misunderstanding. Gao Yuanzhao betrayed the Iron Sword Sect and colluded with the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance—for that, he certainly deserved to die. But his crimes shouldn’t fall upon his family. Qilin is truly innocent.
How about this? Give me and the Song Family some face. After the engagement ceremony today, I will personally send someone to the Jingwu Bureau to explain the details."
The corners of Chen Sheng’s mouth curled into a smirk, but his eyes turned incredibly cold.
"Gao Yuanzhao has already been executed. Before his death, he confessed and implicated his son, Gao Qilin. The evidence is irrefutable, so it’s only natural for the Jingwu Bureau to make an arrest. As for you... ha... The Song Family’s reputation means nothing to me."
Song Renyi took a deep breath and, wasting no more words, said in a heavy voice:
"If the Government Office acts like this, how will you command respect in the future? Since Deputy Captain Chen refuses to give me any face, then I will make myself perfectly clear.
A problem for Gao Qilin is a problem for the Song Family. If Captain Chen wants to take him, I’m afraid that won’t be happening today."
As his voice fell, the tyrannical aura of an Earth Fiend Martial Master erupted from Song Renyi’s body without restraint. His gaze, filled with menace, locked onto Chen Sheng.
But to his surprise, after hearing this, Chen Sheng actually gave a slight, smiling nod.
"Clan Leader Song, a deal is a deal!"
’The pretext has been given, so there’s no need to hold back anymore.’ Chen Sheng immediately issued a cold command:
"Kill every member of the Song Clan!"
SHIIING!
Hearing the command, every Jingwu Guard on site drew their blade in unison. A dangerous, murderous aura instantly filled the air, causing Song Renyi’s expression to freeze. He had thought that with his power, even if he couldn’t intimidate Chen Sheng, he could at least make him hesitate.
He never expected that the moment the words left his mouth, the other man would issue such a direct command.
And an order that implicated the entire Song Family at that.
Seeing this, he hurriedly raised a hand.
"Wait."
Then, after glancing at the surrounding guests—especially the elders from the Iron Sword Sect and Lu Maozhi—Song Renyi immediately raised his voice.
"Deputy Captain Chen, does the Government Office truly have no regard for the King’s Law? You want to annihilate an entire clan based on a single sentence? Tell me, is that in accordance with the rules? Everyone present here is a prominent figure in the Jianghu of Ning’an Prefecture.
Aren’t you afraid of inciting public outrage? Furthermore, my son-in-law, Qilin, is an Inner Sect Disciple of the Iron Sword Sect, and my Song Clan is a vassal of Luoyun Manor. Can it be that you, Deputy Captain Chen, hold both the Iron Sword Sect and Luoyun Manor in such contempt?"
Song Renyi had seen from the start that Chen Sheng came with ill intent, and he had made his own preparations. ’He can’t possibly dare to offend both the Iron Sword Sect and Luoyun Manor at the same time,’ he thought.
’In the Prefecture City, the Government Office isn’t powerful enough to just ignore everyone.’
But what Song Renyi never expected was that everyone saw right through his little trick. The guests exchanged glances, but not a single one stood up to speak for the Song Family.
’What a joke.’
’This is the Jingwu Bureau on official business.’
’They didn’t have powerful backgrounds or backers. If they angered the Jingwu Bureau, who would bear the consequences?’
’Besides, who here couldn’t see Song Renyi’s scheme? They owed the Song Family no favors, nor did they have any vested interests with them. Who would be foolish enough to stick their neck out for them?’
The entire area fell deathly silent.
Even the two Outer Sect elders from the Iron Sword Sect, both at the Earth Fiend realm, chose not to step forward after exchanging a look. One of them paused thoughtfully before speaking.
"Clan Leader Song, Gao Qilin cannot represent the Iron Sword Sect. If he has indeed broken the government’s laws and Deputy Captain Chen is here to make an arrest, the Iron Sword Sect will certainly not interfere."
Long before arriving, they had been summoned for an audience with the Sect Leader. The Sect Leader had warned them that if the Jingwu Bureau came to make an arrest, they were not to get involved and should let Luoyun Manor handle it instead.
Although they didn’t understand the key reasons, they didn’t have the courage to defy the Sect Leader’s wishes.
Hm?!
Hearing the Iron Sword Sect elder’s words, all the guests present stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
’What’s going on?’
’Even the Iron Sword Sect is backing down?’
As for Song Renyi and Gao Qilin, their faces were masks of utter astonishment.
The former was stunned because this turn of events was completely unexpected; the latter was becoming ever more terrified.
’The sect... they’ve actually abandoned me without a second thought?!’
’Have they forgotten the time Chen Sheng brought shame upon the Iron Sword Sect?’
"Elder Huo, Elder Ma, you..."
Gao Qilin’s eyes were filled with disbelief.
But Elders Huo and Ma didn’t even spare him a glance. They turned and walked away. It was clear they knew that backing down at a time like this was deeply shameful, and they had no desire to linger and invite more trouble.
Song Renyi’s expression darkened, a faint unease creeping into his heart. He could only place his hopes on Lu Maozhi. As for resorting to force, while he wasn’t afraid to fight, he feared retaliation from the Government Office later.
If that happened, it would be difficult for the Song Family to maintain its footing.
He immediately turned his gaze to Lu Maozhi.
"I implore Luoyun Manor and Young Master Lu to stand up for my Song Clan."
Lu Maozhi paused in thought for a moment, then slowly rose and walked toward Chen Sheng. With a faint smile, he cupped his fists and said:
"Deputy Captain Chen, I am Lu Maozhi of Luoyun Manor."
The Song Clan was a vassal of Luoyun Manor. If he failed to step forward and protect them now, it would be a blow to Luoyun Manor’s prestige and would dishearten its other subordinate powers.
’Therefore, since I am here, I cannot show the slightest hesitation.’
But he also sensed that something was amiss. ’Damn the Iron Sword Sect for being so useless,’ he cursed inwardly. ’The Government Office was clearly here for Gao Qilin, yet the sect refuses to get involved.’
