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Chapter 55: Aristocratic Families, Imperial Court, and Sects

Completely over.

Being exiled to guard a city in Xi Liang, no one has ever been known to return from such a fate.

This is a road of certain death!

The people present couldn’t help but sigh at the perilous nature of the martial world, where no one knew if an ordinary-looking person had a powerful backer.

To the common eye, the position of Official Supervisor of Martial Affairs in a mansion was already significant, but even such figures could be crushed to dust in an instant before the truly powerful.

Even their future life or death would be unpredictable.

Pei Zhantu looked at Zhou Heng with approval and laughed,

“You are decisive indeed. After all, martial arts are the foundation. If groveling worked, what would be the need for martial arts?”

No sooner had he spoken than he turned to Feng He, the newly appointed Official Supervisor of Martial Affairs on the high platform,

“What are you waiting for? Why aren’t you ordering someone to drag this criminal down?”

“Ah?” Feng He was taken aback, still not fully adjusted to his new position, but he quickly caught on and nodded hastily,

“Yes, yes! Someone come! Immediately, immediately, drag Tian… drag Tian Chong down and guard him strictly!”

A group of bailiffs from the Office of Martial Affairs approached the stage, ready to drag Tian Chong away.

"No! Don’t!” Tian Chong suddenly started to scream. It seemed he had thought of something. He said to Pei Zhantu,

“My lord, my lord! I have a daughter, she is close with your son, close with your son!”

"Oh?” On hearing this, Pei Zhantu gestured for the bailiffs to pause and chuckled,

“Is that so? What is your daughter’s name?”

"Her name is Tian Rou, Tian Ron!” Tian Chong said, brimming with hope, thinking that Pei Zhantu might spare him in consideration of this connection— and maybe he could even use it to make a comeback someday!

"Hmm, I remember now,” Pei Zhantu nodded lightly, saying, “When I go back,

I will instruct my children to cut off all ties with Tian Rou, letting your daughter accompany you to Xi Liang, so you will have someone to look after you.”

"What!???” Tian Chong had never imagined such a consequence and immediately rolled his eyes up in his head, struggling to catch his breath, an Eighth Rank martial artist fainting on the spot.

The bailiffs, always quick to read the situation, saw Tian Chong had been scared unconscious and hurriedly dragged the former Official Supervisor of Martial Affairs down.

Now, silence fell all around the stage, as if deathly still, without a single noise.

This abrupt change stunned everyone present; just moments ago, they were all worried that Zhou Heng could not escape his fate, but in the blink of an eye, the situation completely reversed.

The appearance of such a powerful figure to support Zhou Heng was truly beyond belief!

"Thankyou, Mr. Pei,” Zhou Heng said, clasping his hands in thanks.

"There’s no need for formality, nor for thanks,” Pei Zhantu said with a smile.

“I was simply passing by and happened to see Tian Chong abusing his power. It was too much for me to ignore.”

Zhou Heng found himself at a loss for words. Is the world of adults always this hypocritical?

II   II

Whether it was Lei Xiuyan and Lin Cang on the high platform or Yu He, Yun Xiu, Liu Changsheng, and others around the stage, they all looked shocked at Pei Zhantu’s remarks.

Could this be the way of an official?

As Tian Chong had just slightly regained consciousness, he heard Pei Zhantu’s comments.

With a jerk of his legs and his eyes rolling back, he fainted once more.

"Hahaha.” Pei Zhantu laughed heartily and turned to Kong Chengshun,

“Now, Mr. Kong, shall we talk about the matter of Zhou Heng joining the Chang Xing Sect?”

"This…” Kong Chengshun’s face darkened as he said,

“Mr. Pei, as I understand it, the Office of Martial Affairs only governs matters within the city. The affairs of our mountainous sects are beyond your jurisdiction.”

After the initial panic, he was no longer very wary of Pei Zhantu.

Because he had figured out some things.

Although Pei Zhantu was a Fifth Rank Sect Master, and backed by the influential Pingzhou Pei Clan of the Chang Xing Sect, which nobody dared to provoke, he was sure that as long as Pei Zhantu wasn’t foolish, he wouldn’t use the authority of the Buwu government office or the status of the Pingzhou Pei Clan to pressure him.

The contradictions between noble families and sects have existed since ancient times.

If Pei Zhantu really dared to use official authority to oppress the Chang Xing Sect, then this wouldn’t just be a matter between Pei Zhantu and the Chang Xing Sect themselves; it could lead to a multitude of conflicts between noble families, the imperial court, and the sects.

This wasn’t something that Pei Zhantu could afford to withstand.

The fact that Pei Zhantu only dealt with Tian Chong of Huangtong Mansion’s Buwu office just now and didn’t bother with the meddling Huang Jingfu and Hong Kang showed that he was fully aware of the complications involved. Therefore, Kong Chengshun’s courage grew much stronger.

Pei Zhantu saw what Kong Chengshun was thinking and smiled,

“Young Master Kong, you misunderstand. I have no intention of interfering with the matters within your sect. I only hope that Young Master Kong takes good care of his own affairs.”

His implication was for Kong Chengshun to just manage the Chang Xing Sect’s recruitment of disciples and not to interfere with Zhou Heng joining other sects.

"Taking care of my own matters is my duty, so there’s no need for Lord Pei to worry,” Kong Chengshun said, seeing that Pei Zhantu’s words were indeed as he thought. He instantly felt a surge of excitement, which even lessened the pain in his arms, and smiled,

“As for the other sects, I have no authority to inquire into their affairs.”

"That’s how it should be,” Pei Zhantu nodded, his face impassive but with a hint of displeasure in his heart.

Because what Kong Chengshun seemingly expressed was that he had no authority to stop other sects from rejecting Zhou Heng, but it was really just a game of semantics.

He said he had no authority to inquire, which means whether other sects accept or reject Zhou Heng, it was none of his business.

Whether he truly

“inquired” if the sects did not accept Zhou Heng, nobody knew.

But with Kong Chengshun putting his point across like this, Pei Zhantu knew he couldn’t press too hard.

The Da Qi imperial court was very sensitive about the relationship between officials and sects. Even though Kong Chengshun was just a lowly Eighth Rank martial artist, Pei Zhantu still had to be cautious.

The Chang Xing Sect might be weak, but there were plenty of powerful Martial Dao sects in the world.

To rashly use official power to suppress sect martial artists under everyone’s watchful eyes was not a wise decision.

It’s just unfortunate that a talent like Zhou Heng might find his martial path fraught with hardship.

Kong Chengshun, seeing Pei Zhantu’s expression, could hardly contain his glee, and his face broke into an obvious grin as he said sarcastically:

"Although my Chang Xing Sect can’t take Zhou Heng, with his qualifications, if he wishes to go to other sects, I’m sure they will be scrambling for him. Lord Pei need not concern himself.”

At the same time, he made a firm decision in his heart. After this conference, he would report the happenings to his master and contact other sects via various connections to reach a tacit agreement with most sects in Huangtong Mansion and the surrounding regions.

Not to accept this Zhou Heng!

Liu Changsheng, who was watching from below, also caught the underlying message in Kong Chengshun’s words. He snorted coldly, ready to step up and challenge, to ask if the Five Elements Sect would accept Zhou Heng as a disciple, and whether the Chang Xing Sect would have any objection.

But before he could take action, a clear crane’s cry came from the sky.

Instantly the sky darkened.

A colossal white crane soared into view, its shadow blotting out the sun as it gradually descended, perching steadily on the platform.

This white crane was over ten feet tall; under the sunlight, its feathers seemed to be wrapped in a golden glow, exuding a profound sanctity, like a divine bird descended from an immortal mountain.

Thud!

Suddenly, there was a dull sound as a dirty, oil-stained Taoist in a disheveled Taoist robe tumbled from the back of the white crane, landing in a heap shaped like the character for

“wood.”

Ah, the vertical stroke of the

“wood” character was an inadvertent addition from the wine gourd that fell below.

"Burp!” The Taoist belched out a ring of alcohol fumes, lifted his head with bleary eyes, looking around in a daze, and slurred,

“Who, who, who is calling for Zhou Heng?”