Chapter 209 : Pleading Guilty
Chapter 209: Pleading Guilty
Lei Chun and the other four only stopped after leaving the punishment chamber and walking some distance away. Since the superior wanted to conduct a private interrogation, as subordinates, they naturally had to be sensible, keeping their distance to show they were not eavesdropping.
“‘Our lord is still young, ah.’” Liu Yan, who had just passed forty this year, shook his head. “‘If it were so easy to torture out these prisoners’ cultivation methods, the post of Warden would not have remained vacant for so long.’”
Those who could cultivate to the Third Grade were all people of firm will. Moreover, once one reached this level, no torture had much effect on them.
Even if methods were exhausted to force out a martial art, who could guarantee there was nothing wrong with it? Verifying authenticity was extremely difficult—who would dare to practice it?
If they let their own people try and there was a problem, it would waste an entire lifetime.
If they let outsiders try, it would take ten or even dozens of years to see results. And even if it later turned out to be fake, it would be hard to fix.
Another man, named Zhang Dingce, said, “‘I heard that our lord has just passed twenty, yet he is already Fourth Grade. With such talent, why would he come to the Six Doors Authority?’”
Liu Yan lowered his voice. “‘It is said that Lord Gu was actually an illegitimate child, growing up among the commoners. Only in his teens was he brought back into the clan. Because of his outstanding talent, he was excluded and suppressed by his brothers…’”
“‘So that’s how it is.’”
The others suddenly understood.
While speaking, Zhang Dingce glanced at Qi Hong, who looked absent-minded, and teased, “‘What’s wrong? Did you sneak off to Shuiyue Tower again last night? So early in the morning, and you already look lifeless.’”
Lei Chun added, “‘If you ask me, you might as well marry Miss Wen’er back home. All your salary goes straight to Shuiyue Tower anyway.’”
Qi Hong raised his head to look at the four colleagues, his expression rather grave.
The four found it strange. Normally when teased like this, he would curse them back with a grin.
Liu Yan’s smile faded as he asked seriously, “‘Did something happen in your family? If something really happened, tell us. We’ll figure out a solution together.’”
Qi Hong shook his head, his expression strange. “‘Last night, I heard a rumor—it’s about our lord.’”
Deng Wei, who had been silent until now, asked, “‘What rumor?’”
Qi Hong said, “‘Do you still remember, a few days ago, when Qian Money Gang of Wanlei City held a martial contest for marriage?’”
“‘Of course I remember. Good heavens, even just from Xiazhou City, all the renowned young experts went. I can imagine how grand it was. A pity we had duties; otherwise, we’d surely have gone to witness it.’”
“‘You just wanted to see that Mortal Flower of Wealth on the Supreme Beauty List, right?’”
“‘Naturally. In all my years, I’ve never seen one of the Supreme Beauty List’s women. Who knows how stunning she really looks.’”
Lei Chun asked, “‘So, was there a result? Who won in the end?’”
Liu Yan answered, “‘Do we even need to say? Surely it was Peerless Young Master.’”
Qi Hong shook his head. “‘It wasn’t Peerless Young Master.’”
The four were shocked. “‘Then who?’”
“‘Rumor has it, it was a young master from the capital who defeated Peerless Young Master.’” Qi Hong paused here, glancing at his colleagues. “‘Coincidentally, that young master from the capital bore the same surname Gu as our lord—and even the same full name.’”
The four exchanged glances.
“‘Puhahaha—’” Suddenly, Liu Yan burst into laughter. “‘Trying to trick us, are you?’”
Zhang Dingce also said, “‘At least make it believable. Peerless Young Master’s cultivation is at Third Grade! Lord Gu is only twenty. How could that be possible?’”
Just as they spoke, the five were suddenly startled. They turned sharply toward the punishment chamber, where a terrifying aura erupted.
It was a Third Grade expert!
Lei Chun’s face changed drastically. “‘Not good—the Dragon-Locking Needle has been pulled out!’”
“‘Hurry, notify the outer guards and seal the storeroom gates!’”
A Third Grade expert was extremely terrifying. Only by sealing their cultivation with the “Dragon-Locking Needle” could they be imprisoned.
Once the needle was pulled, it was like a dragon returning to the sea.
Every time a Third Grade prisoner regained their strength, the prison would be thrown into chaos, with many deaths.
Just when the five thought they were doomed, another icy aura erupted—also Third Grade.
Lei Chun cried out, “‘This is—’”
The five looked at one another, seeing shock, disbelief, and deep relief in each other’s eyes.
Qi Hong’s words had turned out to be true!
Lord Gu was truly Third Grade.
A twenty-year-old Third Grade!
He had even defeated Peerless Young Master, the unrivaled one among Xiazhou’s young generation!
…
Moments later, the two Third Grade auras both receded, as if nothing had happened.
“‘Come.’”
From within the punishment chamber, Lord Gu’s voice rang out.
The five hurried forward and respectfully asked, “‘My lord, what are your orders?’”
Before, their respect was only superficial. Now, facing their superior—a twenty-year-old Third Grade—their attitude was completely different. There was deep reverence!
“‘Take this one away and bring another Third Grade prisoner.’”
“‘Yes, my lord!’”
They entered the chamber, carrying away the withered prisoner whose cultivation had once again been sealed.
When they sent in another Third Grade prisoner, Lord Gu once more sent them outside to wait.
Soon, the chamber again erupted with two Third Grade auras.
At this point, they naturally realized what Lord Gu was doing—he was using the Third Grade prisoners to temper his Combat Techniques.
The five admired him deeply. Such a thing was extremely dangerous. Without absolute confidence in one’s own strength, no one would dare attempt it.
However, this time they remained silent.
At this distance, nothing could escape a Third Grade’s ears. Before, they hadn’t known—but now that they did, how could they dare gossip about their lord?
In the end, this Lord Gu sparred with all the Third Grade prisoners one by one before finally leaving with satisfaction.
…
“‘This trip was worth it.’”
Chen Ming was in high spirits as he left the prison.
Nine Third Grade prisoners had given him more than four hundred thousand experience points.
Most of them were above level 75, each worth over forty thousand points. Two were even at level 79, peak of Third Grade.
Had they not been imprisoned, sealed by the “Dragon-Locking Needle,” and badly injured, he might not have been their match.
“‘Lord Gu.’”
“‘Greetings, Lord Gu.’”
“‘…’”
Along the way, everyone he encountered greeted him warmly or respectfully. Their attitude was vastly different from before.
Chen Ming naturally understood the reason—he had heard his five subordinates’ chatter earlier. News from Wanlei City had finally spread to Xiazhou City.
It had to be said, Xiazhou’s information network was far slower than Jiangzhou’s.
Third Grade was a watershed. At this level, one was already a top expert of the martial world, worthy of the title “strong.”
No matter where, a Third Grade expert was always accorded respect.
Even more so for one so young, from a top clan. Only a fool would not see that this Lord Gu’s future was limitless, and stepping into the Divine Repository Realm was only a matter of time.
“‘Lord Gu!’”
When Chen Ming returned to his office, he saw Old Zhang waiting at the door. Upon seeing him, Old Zhang gave a deep bow.
He smiled and asked, “‘Old Zhang, what’s the meaning of this?’”
“‘Lord Gu, you humble me. This old man was blind, acting arrogant before you. I beg forgiveness. From now on, just call me Old Zhang.’” The old man looked uneasy, deliberately here to plead guilty.
Chen Ming naturally knew he was mostly putting on an act, but he didn’t care. He patted the man’s shoulder. “‘Don’t worry, I’m not a petty person. We’re colleagues—there’s no need for this.’”
Old Zhang immediately flattered, “‘Lord Gu has a magnanimous heart, broad as the sea!’”
“‘Enough, I’ll be off. I’ll leave this place to you.’”
…
Chen Ming returned to his residence and first checked in on Xia Mudan. She had already woken up, looking much better than the previous night.
She had also resumed her female attire, no longer disguised as Peerless Young Master.
This meant the people around her were trustworthy.
Chen Ming sat by the bed, stretched out his hand to check her pulse, and asked, “‘How do you feel?’”
“‘Much better. Thank you for your concern, Brother Gu.’” Xia Mudan gazed at him unblinkingly. When he looked back, she lowered her eyes, a faint blush spreading across her face.
Her shy and bashful appearance stirred something in his heart.
Chen Ming swallowed, released her hand, and coughed lightly. “‘The sword intent within you is only temporarily suppressed. It could flare up at any time. The best way is to find someone you trust to expel it.’”
She nodded softly. “‘Mm.’”
He pondered for a moment, then asked, “‘What’s the story with Peerless Young Master? How did you come to hold such an identity?’”
He had investigated—there truly was a Jiang family in Xiazhou, far from Wanlei City. And Peerless Young Master was not a recent fabrication; his name had been known for nearly ten years.
Chen Ming was curious—how had she maintained this identity without raising suspicion?
Xia Mudan explained, “‘This involves a secret of my family. My grandmother’s maiden name was Jiang. She eloped with my grandfather. After giving birth to my father, the Jiang family came to take him away. But my grandfather was the only son of his line. My grandmother resisted desperately. In the end, my grandfather and the Jiang family struck a bargain—that when the Xia family next produced a son, he would take the Jiang surname.
“‘Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away not long after. Years later, when my parents married, they bore twins, a boy and a girl. My father kept the bargain and sent my younger brother to the Jiang family. Because of this, my mother hated him…
“‘When I was thirteen, my younger brother was murdered, his death shrouded in mystery. The Jiang family and my father, seeking revenge, devised a plan for me to impersonate him, to draw out the killer. As the reputation of Peerless Young Master grew, the culprit finally could not resist, attempting to target me instead—and so revealed himself…’”
Xia Mudan grew agitated as she spoke, struggling to breathe.
Chen Ming sat by her side, gently patting her back to ease her breathing.
Lowering her head shyly, she whispered, “‘Thank you, Brother Gu.’”