Chapter 46 : Qingzhou Is About to Fall into Chaos

Chapter 46: Qingzhou Is About to Fall into Chaos

“Who dares touch my sister!”

Just as Jiang Yu arrived, another furious shout resounded through the long street.

Li Shuo, dressed in the black cloud-patterned robe of the Demon Suppression Division, strode forward at the front. Behind him followed more than a dozen Demon Suppression Guards, all holding unsheathed horizontal blades as they rushed over at speed.

In just a few moments, the entire street was surrounded by a crowd.

At the center, over thirty yamen runners—including Zhao Chuan—trembled uncontrollably.

“Hahaha… looks like they’ve offended someone they shouldn’t have, huh?”

“Weren’t these yamen runners acting all tyrannical just a few days ago? What happened today?”

“Even a Commandant from the Demon Suppression Division has come—this Miss of the Li family is truly formidable!”

“After today’s incident, I’m afraid no one will dare provoke Miss Li anymore.”

Seeing the center of the long street completely blocked off, the surrounding onlookers couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

But in the very next moment, another voice rang out across the street.

“My Mingyu Martial Hall disciple—whether she’s at fault or not—is not for you to touch!”

“If there’s a next time, bear the consequences yourselves!”

Though aged, the voice carried an astonishing presence. It wasn’t loud, yet it echoed clearly in everyone’s ears.

The next moment, everyone saw an old man slowly walking forward. Wherever he passed, the crowd parted.

“Isn’t she just a nominal disciple?”

“Why has this old fellow come as well?”

Seeing that old figure, Zhao Chuan nearly collapsed.

She was clearly just a fifteen-year-old girl. It was clearly just an ordinary arrest. So why were all the people showing up such big figures?

That old man was the Hall Master of the Mingyu Martial Hall. Behind him stood a reclusive sect—someone even the head of the Zhou Family dared not offend.

Standing atop the front of the carriage, Li Yunqing blinked as she looked at the people around her, falling slightly silent.

She understood Jiang Yu’s arrival—after all, they were nominally betrothed.

But why had Qin Yu, the direct heir of the Qin Family, arrived even faster than Jiang Yu?

And Jiang Jing—this shouldn’t count as asking him to take action, right?

As for Hall Master Liu, she hadn’t expected it at all.

A nominal disciple of a martial hall wasn’t considered a true inheritor. Only personal disciples were genuine disciples.

Although nominal disciples would also receive protection, it only applied while they were within the martial hall.

Without being a true disciple, it was impossible for Hall Master Liu to personally come.

“You bastard! Who told you to do this!”

At that moment, an angry shout erupted from a nearby restaurant.

In the next instant, Zhou Ke, the direct heir of the Zhou Family, appeared in the middle of the crowd and slapped Zhao Chuan across the face.

“Pa!”

As the sharp sound rang out, Zhao Chuan’s body spun in place four or five times before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.

Seeing Zhao Chuan faint, Zhou Ke let out a slight breath of relief. He quickly turned and said, “Miss Yunqing, this was due to my failure in discipline. I have offended you—please forgive me!”

After speaking, he hurriedly bowed toward Hall Master Liu. “Hall Master Liu, I will give you an explanation.”

The moment his words fell, Zhou Ke grabbed a yamen runner’s blade and slashed toward Zhao Chuan.

“Chi—”

The blade flashed past, and blood instantly sprayed from Zhao Chuan’s neck. Within moments, he was lifeless.

He turned again and cupped his hands toward Jiang Jing. “Commandant Jiang, Brother Qin, Brother Jiang—this was a misunderstanding. I hope you will forgive it!”

Seeing Zhou Ke act like this, everyone frowned.

Zhao Chuan, as a Patrol Office officer, definitely wouldn’t dare act like this on his own—someone must have been backing him.

But now that Zhou Ke had killed him, everything could only end here.

At this moment, everyone’s gaze turned toward Li Yunqing.

“Thank you, Master Liu!”

Li Yunqing bowed toward Hall Master Liu, then turned and bowed one by one to Jiang Jing, Qin Yu, and Jiang Yu. “Thank you, Lord Jiang, Young Master Qin, Young Master Jiang, for your assistance.”

“Let this matter end here!”

She knew in her heart it was the Zhou Family—perhaps even Zhou Ke himself—but the matter could only be settled like this.

Killing Zhou Ke in secret might be possible, but openly, no one dared act.

No one was willing to completely tear apart relations.

She could only remember it and wait for the right opportunity.

“Hmm?”

Li Yunqing’s gaze fell upon the two corpses on the ground. Her brows shifted slightly as she instinctively circulated the Medicine King Scripture.

Strands of strange aura began to rise from the two bodies.

“Plague Qi?”

“How could there be Plague Qi?”

Li Yunqing was slightly startled. These two had just died—it was impossible for Plague Qi to form so quickly.

“Miss Li has been startled. Tomorrow, I will surely host a banquet to apologize.”

Zhou Ke quickly spoke upon hearing this, his gaze lingering on Li Yunqing, unwilling to move away.

“No need.”

Li Yunqing refused directly, continuing to circulate the Medicine King Scripture and absorb the Plague Qi.

Medicine King Scripture experience +2.

Medicine King Scripture experience +2.

“So it really is Plague Qi!”

She looked at the crowd and bowed. “It’s getting late. Everyone, please return early!”

Hall Master Liu nodded. “If anything happens in the future, just send word.”

“This old man may not have many skills, but protecting a disciple is still within my ability.”

With that, Hall Master Liu slowly turned and walked back toward the martial hall.

Qin Yu was somewhat reluctant to leave, but seeing so many people present, he still turned back repeatedly before finally departing.

Jiang Jing said nothing more—he merely waved his hand. Only then did the Demon Suppression Guards sheathe their blades and leave one after another.

“I’ll escort you back.”

Jiang Yu spoke, giving a look to the young general beside him. Instantly, the soldiers surrounded the carriage protectively.

After glancing at her elder brother and giving a slight nod, Li Yunqing turned to Jiang Yu. After hesitating for a moment, she still asked, “Is your leg alright?”

Jiang Yu’s face flushed slightly as he replied awkwardly, “It’s fine. Just a minor injury.”

Who knew what had happened last night? He had simply been too happy and drank a bit too much—then woke up with a broken leg.

Thinking about it carefully, he must have drunk on the rooftop and fallen off.

That was far too embarrassing to admit.

Watching Li Yunqing and her group leave one after another, Zhou Ke’s expression darkened as he looked at Zhao Chuan’s corpse. “Useless trash—unable to accomplish anything, yet capable of ruining everything!”

If they had just brought her to the prison… no—even just to the Zhou Family’s gates, he could have gotten her inside.

Then he could have handled everything calmly.

At worst, he could claim Li Yunqing had seduced him. The words of a woman—even if she had a small Li Family behind her—would be useless.

Even the Jiang Family wouldn’t be able to do anything to him.

In fact, once things were done, the Jiang Family would directly annul the engagement.

But now, not only had the plan failed, he would likely be scolded by his father upon returning.

“Hu…”

Staring at Li Yunqing’s carriage disappearing at the end of the long street, Zhou Ke finally took a deep breath. “There’s still a chance.”

“If I had known earlier… a mere Li Family would never have been Jiang Yu’s turn!”

Ever since seeing Li Yunqing once at the engagement banquet, he had been unable to forget her.

Her figure was enchanting—far superior to the girls in brothels.

Her beauty was unmatched in all of Qingzhou.

Especially her skin—fair and tender, as if water could be squeezed from it, more alluring than the softest warm jade.

Her slender waist seemed like it could snap with the slightest force.

It was hard to imagine what it would feel like to hold such a beauty and hear her soft moans beneath him.

At the dining table of the Li Residence.

“Little sister, bring more guards tomorrow.”

Li Shuo’s expression was grave. If they dared to frame and arrest her openly today, tomorrow they might dare to snatch her in broad daylight—this had to be guarded against.

“Arrange forty guards tomorrow!” Li Yansong said, his expression equally heavy.

This was the sorrow of small families—even if they knew who was behind it, they didn’t dare retaliate, nor did they have the strength to do so.

They even had to pretend they didn’t know.

Li Yunqing nodded. “Big brother, hurry and accumulate merit to comprehend the Concept Fundamental Diagram—strive to break into the Qi Realm!”

“And father, should I ask Jiang Yu to let you comprehend the Concept Fundamental Diagram at the Jiang Family?”

Her father was at Initial Realm Perfection. Without the Concept Fundamental Diagram, his progress was extremely slow.

If the family had even one Qi Realm expert, the Zhou Family wouldn’t dare act so arrogantly.

And today’s events made Li Yunqing understand just how harsh this chaotic world was—one misstep could mean the destruction of an entire family.

Zhao Chuan was the direct heir of the Zhao Family—a family stronger than the Li Family—yet in the eyes of the Zhou Family, they could still decide life and death at will.

“I know,” Li Shuo said. “Recently, Commandant Jiang has been giving me guidance. It won’t be long before I accumulate enough merit.”

But Li Yansong sighed. “No need. I know you’re unwilling, and at my age, even one or two attempts probably won’t help much.”

He already felt guilty about arranging his daughter’s marriage—how could he ask her to seek help from Jiang Yu for his sake?

Li Yunqing fell slightly silent upon hearing this. Her gaze shifted to a stack of invitation posts nearby. “What are these?”

She truly didn’t want to seek Jiang Yu’s help. After the incident in the mountain valley, they owed each other nothing, and she didn’t want further entanglement.

She would simply wait until her strength was sufficient, then annul the engagement.

Moreover, once her Sword Intent reached minor success, she might be able to draw a Concept Fundamental Diagram herself.

“Those are invitations from various families. If you want to go, take a look. If not, just ignore them.”

Li Yansong placed a stack of over twenty invitations in front of Li Yunqing.

“Flower appreciation, garden outings, tea gatherings, chess meets…”

Looking at the contents, Li Yunqing was speechless. Did these people have nothing better to do?

“You can ignore the others—but this one, you must attend!”

Seeing his daughter’s lack of interest, Li Yansong took out a more exquisite invitation and placed it before her.

“The Qin Family’s old master’s 120th birthday?”

“Half a month later? Perform on stage?”

Reading the contents, Li Yunqing’s heart skipped a beat.

For a Qi Realm martial artist to live to 120 years—this meant his end was near.

Once the Qin Family’s old master passed away, it would inevitably cause turmoil.

“Qingzhou is about to fall into chaos!”