The newcomer was remarkably thin.

Clad in a deep gray bull-fighting robe, he was past his thirties, walking with steady strides. His brows were sharp like blades, his physique tall and broad, filling the staircase as he ascended. Without the need for a servant's guidance, he arrived at the expansive third-floor corridor, exuding an indescribable aura of sharpness and expertise through every taut inch of his frame.

With his hands tucked into his sleeves, Wei Wuque walked leisurely forward. From the wide-open door, he immediately noticed the armed confrontation and unexpected turmoil. Yet, his expression remained unnervingly calm, as though such occurrences no longer fazed him.

Wei Wuque stepped past the glistening blades. All eyes were on him as he halted, lifted his head, and addressed Jiang Shangli:

"County Magistrate Jiang, quite the spectacle here."

Wei Wuque cast a glance around the room.

Before Jiang Shangli could respond, Zhao Yan's eyes lit up with a sharp gleam.

This was Wei Wuque, the new master of Xique Pavilion, whom Zhao Yan had wanted the Mihuandie (Bewitching Butterfly) to establish relations with.

After the earlier clash, Zhao Yan had already discerned that the so-called Young Master Long's martial arts were hardly comparable to ordinary standards. Teaming up with Jiang Shangli, killing him would likely not be too difficult, though it wouldn't come without injuries. But now, with the addition of Wei Wuque, the master of Xique Pavilion, their success was more or less assured.

Wei Wuque's unexpected arrival caused everyone to stay their blades. Chen Yi couldn't help but sneak a sideways glance at the man.

The latter caught Chen Yi's gaze, swept his peripheral vision over him, then asked:

"Who might this be? He looks somewhat familiar."

Chen Yi's eyes sharpened subtly, his grip on the knife hilt tightening ever so slightly.

Now a fugitive wanted by the court, Chen Yi was already a sworn enemy of Xique Pavilion. In this situation, it was plain as day: those three rogue-like assassins were beyond saving. Even though he practiced both martial arts and Taoist skills, taking on three foes alone was a perilous gamble.

Meanwhile, Zhao Yan felt a surge of confidence. With no chance for deniability now, holding the token in his hands, he had to win over the pavilion master. Above all, the current circumstances forbid deception. Zhao Yan promptly declared loudly, "To be forthright with Master Wei, this man's surname is Min, given name Ning. He was once a thousand-households commander of the Capital's Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Chen Yi suppressed the twitch of his lips,

trying his best to appear tense and uneasy.

In Zhao Yan's eyes, however, a savage glint flashed, as if he wanted to devour the man alive:

"This man slaughtered dozens of Lifeng Pavilion members, forming a blood feud with us. If he doesn't die, we Lifeng Pavilion will never swallow this grievance.

Master Wei, I implore you to aid us in dispatching the enemy today. Lifeng Pavilion will offer you generous rewards in the future."

The words burned with righteous fury, but Wei Wuque remained unmoved. A man of martial pursuits, he was long accustomed to the cyclical killings of the Jianghu, let alone someone tied to the Heavenly Family, who far exceeded such worldly entanglements. He would make judicious decisions of his own accord.

Casually, Wei Wuque picked up a piece of candied peanut on the table, placed it into his mouth, and ate it.

Gazing at Chen Yi, noting the bloodstains scattered across his hem, he remarked,

"Such potent murderous aura."

"Just the scent of blood."

"Blood scent is murderous aura. You've slain many people just now."

"Nineteen."

Wei Wuque mused curiously, "How long did it take?"

"A little over a quarter of an hour."

Wei Wuque clenched his fist, set down the candied peanut, though his face betrayed no change, his vigilance quietly heightened—he reckoned he'd need over half an hour to kill nineteen people himself.

"Why did you kill them?" Wei Wuque asked.

"I saw injustice on the road." The reply was matter-of-fact.

Wei Wuque's eyes narrowed faintly, offering no opinion.

Zhao Yan's sharp gaze captured Wei Wuque's rising caution and urgently chimed:

"We implore… Master Wei, lend us your hand in seizing this villain together."

"I serve the Heavenly Family, aiding only court officials. Who belongs to the court, I will aid them. Does your Lifeng Pavilion have official status?"

Wei Wuque's tone remained calm and unemotional. Recalling the origins of Lifeng Pavilion, he sneered:

"A Jianghu sect hailing from the Western Jin, do they feel entitled to command me?"

Zhao Yan stiffened his neck, words poised on his lips only to falter.

He hesitated briefly before frantically rifling through his possessions, suddenly recalling something significant.

In the next moment, a timber token of Xique Pavilion was retrieved by Chen Yi.

"Master Wei, I was once a thousand-households commander of the Capital, indeed officially appointed."

Zhao Yan's eyes widened, as the man calmly continued,

"Now I see Lifeng Pavilion of the Western Jin perpetrating heinous acts within the Great Yu's borders—murdering wantonly, oppressing commoners. Hence, I intervened after witnessing such injustice. To think someone would twist the facts, claiming my vendetta with them came first."

Zhao Yan's hand holding the blade trembled, his pupils brimming with inexhaustible horror.

The token he handed to his adopted daughter Mihuandie was meant to charm this pavilion master, establish ties, and secretly plant a foothold for Lifeng Pavilion in the Capital City of Great Yu—a gesture akin to acknowledging authority and seeking protection. Yet not even in a hundred wild guesses could he foresee the token's current whereabouts: in Chen Yi's grasp.

As Chen Yi explained, Wei Wuque's expression took on a scrutinizing edge. Zhao Yan's spine turned icy; a two-against-one fight promised victory, but two-against-two was far less certain.

Zhao Yan noticed Wei Wuque considering him, then shifting to look at Jiang Shangli. With that, his own resolve momentarily steadied.

No matter, Jiang Shangli stood by his side, naturally capable of articulating their case clearly, including why the token had fallen into Chen Yi's hands—an explanation could certainly be fabricated.

Wei Wuque gazed at Jiang Shangli and asked, "County Magistrate Jiang, you're standing over there—are you being coerced?"

Jiang Shangli smiled and replied, "Not coerced, merely dealing with a madman bending the truth. I don't know where he managed to steal a token from Xique Pavilion, only to turn it against us. This Min Qianhu may have been a thousand-households commander in the past, but that's all in past tense. Appearing now in Shantong City as a so-called rogue hero, I imagine he has long since been stripped of his position due to crimes, Master Wei. I implore you to discern the truth."

Wei Wuque's face revealed a thoughtful expression.

Jiang Shangli seized the opportunity and added, "And to note, Master Wei, tonight's gathering was originally intended for discussions regarding the Lonely Smoke Sword with Lifeng Pavilion. Unfortunately, events have taken a turn for the worse, drawing weapons and causing disturbances, making us a laughingstock in your eyes."

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