Chapter 526: Anyone Else That Whines Will Answer to the Stick!

"Lu Yao reporting in, Lord Lu," Yun Xiao said with a calm demeanor.

Liu Chaochao stood by his side like a statue. "You needn't be nervous. Lord Lu merely wishes to ask about the final challenge of the Arbiter examination in the Black Demon Cavern. All candidates have ended up here."

"I understand," Yun Xiao nodded. He knew, and so did Lord Lu, that he was an impostor! And his daughter had just so happened to

disappear

in the Black Demon Cavern. If Lord Lu wasn't suspicious, that would be the real surprise.

In the deathly quiet hall, Lord Lu scanned Yun Xiao from top to bottom and said, "Ten years on, the prodigal son returns, having successfully become an Arbiter. As the Manor Lord, I've forgotten to congratulate your mother. If you have the time, convey my apologies."

"You honor me too greatly, sir. My mother has been deeply worried since the incident with Xiaolu," Yun Xiao replied.

"During your time in the Black Demon Cavern yesterday, did you see Xiaolu at any point?" the Madame asked.

Yun Xiao shook his head, "No."

"How did you survive being pushed into a lava pit by Yuan Gang?" she pressed on.

"My master gave me a protective garment, a robe of golden threads," Yun Xiao responded.

"Liu Mumu?" Liu Chaochao glanced at Yun Xiao.

"Yes," he nodded.

"..." Lord Lu and the Madame exchanged a look. Then, Lord Lu waved his hand, "Liu Chaochao, see him out."

"Yes," Liu Chaochao obeyed.

"I shall take my leave then." Yun Xiao said. The two walked out of the Guardian Hall together.

"Do you know your way back, or do you need me to escort you?" Liu Chaochao suddenly asked.

"I know the way," Yun Xiao said.

"Good." Liu Chaochao clapped him on the shoulder, his gaze suddenly turning icy, "A word of warning, keep yourself and your brother away from my sister."

"On what grounds?" Yun Xiao asked calmly.

"..." Liu Chaochao paused. He didn't expect Yun Xiao to speak to him in that tone.

"You ask me on what grounds?" Liu Chaochao shook his head, "You're not very bright, are you?"

With that, he walked off in another direction.

?ι══????????══ι?

Inside the Guardian Hall, Lord Lu watched Yun Xiao's departing figure and said icily, "I am 80% certain that Xiaolu was killed by that man."

"Why wait then? Let’s carve him up, let him die a death more gruesome than any other! Even if he has the support of the people, should we hesitate to kill a mere Arbiter?"

The Madame's face twisted fiercely as she clenched the armrest, her voice cold, "The people are driven by fleeting emotions, they forget quickly. There are many who disappear without cause, they’ll forget him in a few days. Or perhaps you could stir up another conflict to divert their attention."

"No," Lord Lu said, his head bowed, his gaze deep, "We can't be too hasty. There's something bigger at play here."

"What do you mean?" The Madame frowned.

"Don’t you find it strange? Lu Yao has been presumed dead for ten years, with no one but his mother and brother caring about him. Suddenly, this impostor appears, with no background, yet dares to provoke me by targeting my daughter…" Lord Lu shook his head as he spoke.

"You mean, someone might be setting a trap for you? Trying to use the incident from ten years ago to ensnare you step by step?" the Madame’s face tightened.

"If Governor Jiang gets promoted, I'm the next likely governor, but so is that person from the Liu Family! The Skyruler Immortal Manor is their turf… Some blemishes, though minor, if magnified, can incite public outrage and affect decisions at critical moments," Lord Lu said coldly.

"The Liu Family sent a greenhorn to mess with us?" The Madame’s face turned ashen with rage, her chest heaving.

"Exactly. If we act rashly now, the other side is surely ready with a counterstrike of public opinion," Lord Lu said impassively.

"Xiaolu was taken from us too young, how can we swallow this loss?" the Madame said anxiously.

"We certainly cannot swallow it!" Lord Lu raised his head to look at the Madame and dear wife, could you possibly use your family's connections to pull some strings, to ask for something?"

The Madame paused, then asked, "Are you talking about the Longevity Immortal from the Ascension Pool?"

“Yes! He’s a master of breeding Gu,” Lord Lu leaned in, whispering, “I want to ask him for a Truth Gu that compels people to speak the truth. With it, we could break this situation wide open—not only avenge Xiaolu but also use this chance to topple the Liu Immortal Manor!”

“Gu Worms are priceless… Moreover, the Longevity Immortal is a Rank 2 Heavenly Officer of the Celestial Court. Our connection is not that strong.” The Madame gritted her teeth.

“We have no choice. We’ve got to use everything available. You must go yourself,” Lord Lu grasped the Madame's hand, his eyes burning with intensity. “For Xiaolu.”

“Alright. I’ll take care of it,” the Madame said, standing up and slipping away quietly.

Lord Lu leaned back in his chair, shrugged his shoulders slightly, and a sly, cold smile crept over his lips.

?ι══????????══ι?

Yun Xiao had just returned to the Wind Pavilion when he was greeted at the door by an Arbiter. “Lu Yao, Deputy Changfeng is looking for you.”

“Where is he?” Yun Xiao asked.

Now, Lu Changfeng was his direct superior.

Although everyone here was a Rank 9 Arbiter, within this rank, there were still distinctions in positions. For instance, Lu Changfeng, as the leader of the Wind Pavilion, commanded over 100 Arbiters and was also the deputy to the former commander, Yuan Gang.

And Yun Xiao was merely the most junior Arbiter Initiate.

“In your cultivation room!” the Arbiter replied.

“Okay.”

Upon returning, Yun Xiao indeed found the door to his cultivation room wide open. He entered and saw not just Lu Changfeng inside, but four others.

Having briefly reviewed the files of other Arbiters at the Wind Pavilion before, Yun Xiao recognized these individuals.

All four wore platinum armor, indistinguishable in their garb, differentiated only by stature and gender.

The tallest and most imposing of them was Zhao Cheng, who had been an Arbiter for five years and had just been confirmed in his position yesterday. He was now an official Arbiter.

The other three, like Yun Xiao, were still Arbiter Initiates. They had been at the Skyruler Immortal Manor longer than Yun Xiao, the shortest tenure among them being two years.

Apart from Zhao Cheng, the other three were Chi Yu, Gu Yuan, and Sun Xiaoqi.

Chi Yu and Gu Yuan appeared to be a couple, lovers who had already officially married. They were a striking pair, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, true partners ordained by the heavens.

Sun Xiaoqi, the most junior apart from Yun Xiao, was a girl whose chubby cheeks beneath her Arbiter armor made her look somewhat na?ve and endearing.

"Is everyone here?" Lu Changfeng motioned to Yun Xiao, "Come here, there’s a mission!"

Yun Xiao stepped forward.

Lu Changfeng spoke solemnly, "We've received a report. Within the jurisdiction of Sky Soaring City, a small settlement called Sangju City has witnessed a series of murders. Nine people have been killed in just three days, all in the same manner. The local authorities are out of their depth, so the Skyruler Immortal Manor has formed a special unit. I'm in charge of the investigation, and you five will form a team and act immediately under my command."

Investigating murders?

For Yun Xiao, who was devoted to his cultivation, this was an intriguing diversion.

However, he knew that being pulled into a major case so soon after joining had to have some hidden motives.

Sure enough, Lu Changfeng said, "I'll mainly handle the coordination with Sangju City, and the five of you will conduct the investigation."

After this, he looked at Yun Xiao and said, "Lu Yao, you will lead the team. If you solve the case, you’ll earn the most merit. Seize this opportunity well!"

As soon as he finished, Zhao Cheng said incredulously, "Deputy Changfeng, I object! I've worked hard for five years and just got confirmed. Why should I take orders from him?"

Lu Changfeng put his arm around Yun Xiao’s shoulder and said, "Because he's a brother of the Lu Family, and because he topped the leaderboards in the recent Arbiter examination!"

Zhao Cheng clenched his fists, swallowing his resentment.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Having an Arbiter Initiate as a leader when there's an official Arbiter in the group, there's no precedent for this!" Chi Yu said.

"Shut up!" Lu Changfeng glared at them. "Anyone else wants to whine, they'll answer to the stick!"

With those words, they had no choice but to bow their heads.

"Hurry up! Take the Skyruler Sword Vessels, and depart immediately!"

JustLivingJL's Thoughts

"Shut up!" Lu Changfeng glared at them. "Anyone else wants to whine, they'll answer to the stick!"