Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Men from the Iron Blood Guard
"Y-Yes, this is what happened..." The squad leader composed himself and then meticulously recounted, without leaving out a single detail, how Ye Xuan had been thrown in jail.
"So he killed guards from the houses of Marquis Tianqi and Marquis Zhenjun in the middle of the street, and even beat up those two little brats? Haha! Young friend Ye Xuan is quite the character. But he was far too merciful. If it were me and someone started trouble on the street, I would’ve finished off those two little brats as well," Elder Kuchen grumbled.
A cold sweat broke out on the City Guard squad leader’s forehead.
’This elder from the Soul Master Tower really has no filter.’ Only he could get away with saying something like that. If any ordinary person dared to speak that way, the two marquises would have already come for their heads.
"But in this matter, young friend Ye Xuan was clearly acting in self-defense. Why haven’t you City Guards released him yet? Why did he have to write to us? Is this the work of Marquis Tianqi and Marquis Zhenjun? The marquises of this kingdom are getting more shameless by the day." Elder Kuchen frowned and snorted. "Alright, I understand the situation. Chairman Dongfang, you heard him. I need to make a trip to the Public Security Office. I’d like to see for myself how they handle their cases, keeping my young friend Ye Xuan locked up when he was clearly acting in self-defense."
Dongfang Yanyu gave a wry smile and was about to speak when a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded from outside, and an attendant rushed in.
"Chairman, someone from the royal palace is here."
Before the attendant could finish, a man from the palace walked in, a smile on his face.
"Chairman Dongfang, Elder Kuchen, His Majesty was overjoyed to hear of the Elder’s promotion. He has sent me to immediately escort you two masters to the palace for an audience."
The courtier’s attitude was perfectly amiable, showing not a hint of arrogance.
Elder Kuchen fell into thought. He had planned to go to the Public Security Office immediately to get Ye Xuan, but it seemed that was no longer possible. After a moment’s consideration, his gaze landed on Liu Zhiwen, who was standing to the side.
"Liu Zhiwen."
"I am here."
"Go with this City Guard squad leader to the Public Security Office at once. Tell them to release young friend Ye Xuan for me immediately. I’m leaving this matter in your hands."
An elder of the prestigious Soul Master Tower was one of the most prominent figures in the Liuyun Kingdom. Moreover, he had just become the kingdom’s second Fourth Grade Soul Refiner and was about to be appointed Vice Chairman of the Soul Master Tower.
With such a status, Kuchen could meet the Monarch in the royal palace without even needing to bow. A single word from him was all it would take to retrieve someone from the Public Security Office—it couldn’t be simpler.
"Yes. I accept your command."
Liu Zhiwen bowed immediately, his heart swelling with delight. ’Elder Kuchen is entrusting this to me! That means he trusts me!’
’Besides, an errand like this would earn me Master Ye Xuan’s goodwill. If I can’t seize an opportunity this perfect, I have no business being here.’
"Let’s go. Take me to your Public Security Office."
After leaving the Soul Master Tower, Liu Zhiwen spoke calmly to the City Guard squad leader, and the two of them headed for the Public Security Office.
「Public Security Office, Detention Area」
Ye Xuan sat cross-legged in his solitary cell, meditating with his eyes closed.
Meanwhile, Fan Hao stood guard right outside the cell, leaning against the wall.
Suddenly, a clamor of voices erupted outside, and a large group of people strode in.
The one leading them was not Commander Long, nor the two marquises, but a young man under twenty years of age, who stared at Ye Xuan with an icy expression.
He wore a suit of blood-red armor and radiated a palpable killing intent. Behind him were several other men in identical armor, each with a piercing aura and a ferocious gaze.
"Ye Xuan, I’m sure you never imagined this day would come, did you?"
The young man came to a stop before Ye Xuan, the corners of his mouth curling into a cruel smile, his cold eyes gazing at Ye Xuan with indifference.
"It’s you, King’s Dao?"
Ye Xuan’s eyes snapped open.
This young man was none other than King’s Dao, formerly number one on the Profound Spirit Academy’s leaderboard.
"Open the cell door immediately. We’re taking custody of this man."
King’s Dao sneered at Fan Hao.
"Who are you? On what grounds should Ye Xuan be handed over to you?" Fan Hao’s pupils shrank at the sight of their armor, but he forced out a cold snort.
"Insolence!"
"How dare you!"
"How dare you speak to Captain Wang like that!"
The men in blood-red armor behind King’s Dao all barked, their faces menacing.
In terms of strength, none of them were a match for Fan Hao. But in terms of arrogance, they looked right through him, berating him as if he were one of their own subordinates.
"Fan Hao, hand this man over to the Iron Blood Guard. The Imperial Guard’s Iron Blood Guard is taking over this case."
Just then, a steady voice rang out. A man with an imposing aura walked forward from the back of the group, accompanied by Commander Long and the two marquises.
"Lord Xuu."
Fan Hao stiffened upon seeing the man.
This man was Xuu Shang, commander of the City Guard’s Public Security Office, and the superior officer to both him and Commander Long.
"Fan Hao, hurry up and open the cell door. Hand the prisoner over to the Iron Blood Guard. Are you going to defy Commander Xuu’s orders now?" Commander Long sneered.
Fan Hao looked at Commander Xuu. "Lord Xuu, this case has always been under our Public Security Office’s jurisdiction. On what grounds is it being handed over to the Iron Blood Guard?"
"Insolence!"
"Commander Xuu, this subordinate of yours is utterly lawless. Does he really think he runs the City Guard? He doesn’t even show my Iron Blood Guard a shred of respect."
King’s Dao’s gaze turned cold as he shot Fan Hao a mocking look.
The Iron Blood Guard was a division of the Royal Palace’s Imperial Guard, specializing in the Royal City’s criminal cases. They had the authority to arrest and execute anyone, from royal ministers down to common citizens. Their power was immense.
The City Guard’s Public Security Office, on the other hand, could only manage ordinary criminal cases. In terms of status, the City Guard and the Imperial Guard were simply incomparable.
Thus, King’s Dao, as a captain of the Iron Blood Guard, could completely disregard Fan Hao, a mere Vice Commander of the Public Security Office.
"Commander Xuu, is this the kind of subordinate you have at the Public Security Office? So lawless, with no respect for his superiors. How can a man like this possibly serve as your Vice Commander?"
"That’s right, Commander Xuu. It seems your Public Security Office is a den of degenerates, harboring all sorts of rabble. If a man like this were in my army, I’d have had him dragged out and beheaded long ago."
Marquis Tianqi and Marquis Zhenjun also chimed in with cold laughter.
"You all make a good point." A sharp glint flashed in Commander Xuu’s eyes. He said calmly, "Fan Hao, as of this moment, you are no longer the Vice Commander of the Public Security Office. Take off your armor and surrender."
Fan Hao’s face fell. He cried out, "Commander Xuu, are you really going to let these people run amok in our Public Security Office?"
"Fan Hao, open your damn eyes and look! This is Commander Xuu! Are you going to defy his orders, too? Men, seize him!"
A group of City Guards immediately surrounded Fan Hao.
With Commander Xuu present, a look of despair flashed in Fan Hao’s eyes. He was promptly seized, and the key to the cell fell into his captors’ hands.
"Captain Wang, I’m handing Ye Xuan over to you and the Iron Blood Guard."
Xuu Shang smiled faintly. He was one of the First Prince’s men, so of course, he knew the purpose of King’s Dao’s visit.
"Let’s go."
King’s Dao had two Iron Blood Guards restrain Ye Xuan, then sneered, "Ye Xuan, you attempted to assassinate the son of a marquis in the middle of the street. That is an act of treason and sedition. By law, you are now in the custody of my Iron Blood Guard. But you can rest assured, I won’t let you die easily."
A sinister smile touched the corner of King’s Dao’s mouth. "Oh, and Commander Xuu, I’d like to borrow someone from you. Commander Long was in charge of this case initially and knows a lot about it. It shouldn’t be a problem for him to come back with me to the Iron Blood Guard to assist in the investigation, right?"
"If Captain Wang says so, then of course it’s not a problem."
"Thank you for your trust, Captain Wang. Our Public Security Office has already more or less completed its investigation of this man’s wicked crimes. It’s just that he’s been stubbornly resisting and refuses to sign a confession."
"Rest assured. Once he’s with the Iron Blood Guard, whether he confesses or not won’t be up to him."
King’s Dao smiled sinisterly.
A chill ran down the spines of everyone present. The Iron Blood Guard handled interrogations for cases of treason and sedition. Even spies and scouts from enemy kingdoms were turned over to them for questioning after being captured.
Therefore, when it came to their methods, the Iron Blood Guard was far more terrifying than the Public Security Office. It was all too common for a sane person to go in and come out a raving lunatic.
More often, they simply vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.
Just as the group was preparing to leave, a man suddenly rushed in from outside. Following close behind him was none other than Liu Zhiwen.
"Commander Xuu, this man is Steward Liu from the Soul Master Tower. He says he’s here to see you."
"Steward Liu from the Soul Master Tower?"
Everyone turned to look. Xuu Shang immediately spoke up, "You wished to see me? What is this regarding?"
"I am Liu Zhiwen, a steward of the Soul Master Tower. I have come on the orders of Elder Kuchen to claim someone."
Before Elder Kuchen, Liu Zhiwen had bowed his head as low as it could go, but in front of Commander Xuu and his group, he held his head high and boomed.
The Soul Master Tower was an organization that stood entirely above the kingdom’s authority. Any one of its stewards had no reason to fear a figure of a mere Public Security Office commander’s rank.
"Claim someone?" Commander Xuu was taken aback. He quickly asked, "And who might that be?"
"Master Ye Xuan, who was arrested by your Public Security Office, of course," Liu Zhiwen said haughtily.
"Master Ye Xuan?"
Commander Xuu was startled and suddenly looked back at Ye Xuan. He had never imagined Ye Xuan could have a connection to the Soul Master Tower. If that was the case, then things were about to get complicated.
It wasn’t just him; Marquis Tianqi, Marquis Zhenjun, and the others were all dumbfounded. An elder from the Soul Master Tower had sent someone to claim Ye Xuan? They never thought he would have such powerful backing.
"Master Ye Xuan, are you all right?"
Following their gazes, Liu Zhiwen spotted Ye Xuan being restrained by the Iron Blood Guard. He rushed forward and asked with concern.
However, before he could get close, two Iron Blood Guards blocked his path.
"This man is a major criminal of the kingdom. Unauthorized personnel may not approach."
Liu Zhiwen’s brow furrowed. He said in a cold voice, "What? I am a steward of the great Soul Master Tower. Are you telling me I’m not even qualified to see one of our own masters?"
