Chapter 98 - 97: The Whole Clan Shall Hang Under the Brocade Spring Saber
Tonight in Linjiang City, unrest spread everywhere—from the lowest Martial World thugs to the highest Prefecture Government.
Beneath the brilliant lights of the Prefecture Government, hidden undercurrents surged.
Different from the real swords and blades of the Hundred Households Office’s slaughter, here the struggle was a bloodless oppression.
In just a few short hours, officials from various Prefecture Government departments were either arrested, wanted, or put under house arrest—including Prefect Yang Yuzhi himself.
When County Magistrate Wu Yang arrived with a group of officials at the Prefecture Government—
The Transitory Official Lineage was already almost completely under control,
Even if a few slipped through the net, they were only making a desperate stand.
In a large courtyard of the Prefecture Government—
Yang Yuzhi squatted at the doorway, faint silver moonlight falling from the sky, and a brazier beside him was blazing with fierce fire.
Yang Yuzhi kept throwing dossiers into the flames.
Standing nearby was a middle-aged scholar, face full of anxiety. As the sound of heavy footsteps outside grew louder, he urged, "Master, let’s go! If we don’t leave now, it will be too late!"
This scholar was precisely Yang Yuzhi’s chief staff officer, known as Ghost Hand Yuan Xing. The name ’Ghost Hand’ was a nightmare for many; first for his ruthless, scheming nature—destroying countless families and leaving no escape; second, for his mastery of Hidden Weapons, making him impossible to defend against. Many Martial Artists fell to his hand.
"It’s already too late."
Yang Yuzhi opened the last dossier and slowly tossed it into the fire. In a flash of flame, the only vaguely visible words left were "dead spy".
"Master, as long as there is life, there’s hope!" said Yuan Xing. "Let me fight our way out with you! We’ll go to Yunzhou and find the Old Master—you’re his most accomplished disciple, he won’t stand by and do nothing!"
Yang Yuzhi slowly stood, walked back through the doorway—his figure a little desolate. Walking, he said, "In these troubled times, how many loyal and righteous men bled dry to no avail! How could even Master hold back such a flood of fate with just his own strength?"
"But no matter what, we can’t just sit and wait to die!" Yuan Xing insisted.
"You go—hide," Yang Yuzhi said softly. "This isn’t over yet. If I’d truly lost, I wouldn’t have summoned my junior here to help me."
Yuan Xing paused, surprised. "Master, you..."
"Go!" Yang Yuzhi slowly sat in a chair, waved his hand, and said, "When I need you, I’ll send for you."
Yuan Xing hesitated a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Then... take care, Master. Your student takes his leave!"
With that, Yuan Xing melted into the night, vanishing without a trace.
In the great hall, only Yang Yuzhi sat alone. He glanced out at the night, slowly picked up the jug on the table,
This was the half jug of wine Wan Yan had left earlier in the night.
Yang Yuzhi poured a bowl of wine, tipped it slowly to the ground, and sighed, "Junior brother, the road ahead is long. You’ve gone ahead—I toast you, from your elder brother."
The wine spilled onto the ground,
Just then, a group of people entered from outside, led by County Magistrate Wu Yang.
Wu Yang cupped his hands, about to speak—
Yang Yuzhi suddenly raised his hand in a gesture.
Wu Yang fell silent, only cupped his hands again and motioned his men to quietly withdraw to the sides, not making a sound.
Yang Yuzhi unhurriedly poured another bowl of wine, toasted it to the horizon brightening with dawn, and drank it in one draft.
He closed his eyes slightly,
After a long silence,
He set down the bowl on the table, removed his official hat, straightened his robes, and said in a low voice, "All right. Let’s go."
Only then did Wu Yang and his men come forward.
"Lord Yang, forgive me." Wu Yang bowed deeply in salute.
Yang Yuzhi nodded, saying, "I’ll leave things in your care, Lord Wu. Tonight’s upheaval will have a huge impact on Linjiang Prefecture; difficulties will arise from top to bottom. Do your best to pacify it quickly; some price will inevitably be paid."
"I understand. But, until the Imperial Censor from the State Mansion arrives for a proper audit, it’ll be some time before things settle. During this period, I’m afraid you’ll have to be wronged and stay temporarily in the dungeon. But, if you need anything, feel free to instruct the wardens," Wu Yang replied.
"Thank you," Yang Yuzhi nodded. "Just prepare some books and writing materials to pass the time."
Wu Yang nodded, "Understood."
Soon, they escorted Yang Yuzhi in grand procession to the dungeon.
Just as Wu Yang came out of the dungeon,
A member of the Wu Family came running up in panic, crying, "Sir, this is bad! There’s been an incident at the Hundred Households Office!"
...
Outside the Hundred Households Office,
Wu Yang and the Patriarchs of the Six Great Families all hurried over with their men—Linjiang Prefecture was in chaos tonight. That they could come in person was effort enough, and their retinues were small.
Of course, even if they brought more,
The Hundred Households Office was already chaotic enough by now.
They dismounted quickly and rushed into the courtyard. Right inside, they saw Gu Zhan pinning down a famous Innate Martial Artist of a Noble Family, pounding him fiercely until blood flew everywhere.
Elsewhere, the South City Embroidered Uniform Guard and South City Martial World men were locked in a standoff with the Noble Families’ people, blades drawn—but with the Wu Family’s second master mediating, though the tension was thick, only Gu Zhan had actually resorted to violence.
"Stop!"
At once, the Patriarch Lin shouted loudly.
The Innate Martial Artist Gu Zhan was beating to death belonged to the Lin Family.
However, Gu Zhan ignored his roar, continuing his brutal assault—only when the Innate Martial Artist’s head was bashed into the ground did Gu Zhan finally twist his neck slightly and raise his head.
"Gu Zhan... what is the meaning of this? Is this a declaration of war?" Patriarch Lin bellowed in rage.
At that moment, several other Noble Inheritors—terrified by Gu Zhan—saw a chance at survival and quickly hid behind their Patriarchs, not daring to speak.
Gu Zhan wiped his hands unhurriedly, glanced at Patriarch Lin, and slowly got to his feet.
Immediately, a Personal Guard hurried over to offer him a clean kerchief.
Gu Zhan wiped the blood from his face and hands, then strode toward the assembled Noble Family Heads, issuing a disdainful snort: "This question should be asked by this officer—of you."
Patriarch Lin roared, "Ask us? What right do you have to ask us? The moment we entered, we saw you murdering our family’s people—what is the meaning of that?"
Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes and said, "I don’t mind telling you: Over half of your families’ Innate Martial Artists were killed by me personally. Tonight, all those who fought, except for the Wu Family, from your families—their Innate Martial Artists are all dead. Do you accept this or not?"
The Family Heads erupted in fury.
"Gu Zhan, are you going to break your oath and betray us—"
"To hell with that,"
Gu Zhan said coldly, "I will say just one thing: On the way to besiege the Hundred Households Office, aside from the Wu Family, the rest of your Five Great Families plotted together against me—you nearly killed me. This is not over. You had best give me a satisfactory explanation, or I’ll have your entire clans hanging from Brocade Spring Sabers!"