Chapter 227 : Tortoiseshell
Chapter 227: Tortoiseshell
Chen Ming made a beckoning gesture, drawing the two items over. That pitch-black broken sword was of an unknown material—it was unlike metal, yet also unlike jade, but it was incomparably sharp. It should have been a rare divine weapon.
Unfortunately, it had been severed by the Zhi Chi Sword, with the other half left behind in that Secret Realm.
He tossed the black sword back beside Zhou You’s corpse and turned his attention to the tortoiseshell. The shell was completely black, its surface glossy as though oiled. It had clearly passed through the hands of countless owners, worn down until it had the texture of jade.
This tortoiseshell was only half the size of a palm, covered in some carved markings that exuded an ancient, timeless aura.
“ How is this thing supposed to be used? ”
Chen Ming was very curious about the tortoiseshell. Ruan Caihong had said that it was originally a treasure of the Celestial Master Residence, capable of divining fortune and misfortune.
If what he said was true, then Fang Yong had been able to foresee enemy movements during battle entirely because of this tortoiseshell.
“ Tortoiseshell, oh tortoiseshell, which direction should I go? ”
Chen Ming chanted softly, then injected a strand of Gang Yuan into the shell.
He waited for a few seconds, but nothing happened.
“ Could it be that I used the wrong method? ”
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew by, and a branch fell from above, landing right in front of him. One end of the branch pointed toward his left hand.
Chen Ming was slightly startled. “ Was that just a coincidence, or did the tortoiseshell truly reveal its spirit? ”
Left meant east.
He thought for a moment, then decided to try again.
“ Where will I find the opportunity to break through to Second Grade? ”
After asking, he once again injected a strand of Gang Yuan.
A few seconds later—
“ Were these two killed by you? ”
Suddenly, a voice sounded abruptly.
For some reason, Chen Ming felt his heart turn cold, as though locked onto by a chilling killing intent. He snapped his head around and saw a black-clad middle-aged man standing beside the two corpses.
This black-clad man was extremely strange. His pupils were pure white, and his entire body carried not the slightest trace of living aura. He seemed more like a ghost messenger from the underworld than a human.
Those stark-white pupils made Chen Ming’s scalp tingle.
He was actually a descendant of the most terrifying line of the Eight Righteous Gates—the Lineage of Bitter Righteousness. Why did he have to run into one of those madmen?
What rotten luck.
The Bitter Righteousness Lineage followed the creed of killing to stop killing. In order to strike fear into the world, as long as someone broke the killing prohibition, once they knew the culprit, they would pursue that person to the ends of the earth. They were truly a bunch of lunatics.
The threat this man posed to him was even greater than that of Ruan Caihong wielding the Demonic Sword.
Chen Ming hurriedly explained, “ I am Gu Xianyu of the Six Doors Authority. These two were disciples of the Nine Nether Sect. I was ordered to capture them. They resisted arrest, so I had no choice but to kill them. ”
To the people of the Bitter Righteousness Lineage, there was only one circumstance in which they would not pursue someone—when the killing was sanctioned under the law of the imperial court.
The law of the court was something they still acknowledged.
The black-clad man spoke coldly, “ Do you have a wanted order or a superior’s command token? ”
“ This time I came too hastily and didn’t have time to bring it. ”
“ Very well. Then I will accompany you to the Six Doors. If you are lying, I will kill you. ”
“ … ”
……
Chen Ming had no choice but to grit his teeth, carrying the two corpses and following the black-clad man toward Xiazhou City.
In Xiazhou, the Eight Righteous Gates were even more fearsome than the Six Doors. He would rather face the Six Doors than make enemies of the Eight Righteous Gates.
Those of the Bitter Righteousness Lineage were all lunatics. Even if he somehow managed to kill this black-clad man, it would only bring endless pursuit upon him.
As things stood, the Six Doors had four First Grades, but Ruan Caihong was dead. Two were away. The remaining one, Hong Yuze, had been plotted against by Fang Lue with the Mirage Pearl and was surely in grave danger.
As long as that red-robed Lord Zhong did not appear, no matter who was currently in charge of the Six Doors, once he got there, even if he could not win, he could at least escape.
That was far better than facing the pursuit of the Eight Righteous Gates!
Chen Ming followed the black-clad man eastward. After crossing a mountain, Xiazhou City came into view.
“ So it was eastward after all. Was the tortoiseshell trying to guide me to Xiazhou City? Could it be trying to harm me? Did the tortoiseshell develop a spirit of its own, seeking revenge for its former master? ”
Various thoughts flashed through his mind.
Their pace was swift. Before long, they entered Xiazhou City.
When they arrived at the Six Doors headquarters, they saw the gates heavily guarded, everyone on edge as though facing a great enemy.
Chen Ming’s heart tightened. Judging by this, the prison break had already been discovered. He maintained a calm facade. No matter what, the first priority was to send this madman from the Bitter Righteousness Lineage away.
He raised his voice, “ Prison Warden Gu Xianyu, having slain two disciples of the Nine Nether Sect, has come to report! Go and inform the officials! ”
“ Lord Gu! ”
“ He’s alive! ”
“ Quickly report to Lord Hong… ”
……
Many of the guards at the gate recognized him and shouted excitedly, especially after seeing the two corpses. Their joy was clear.
That was the benefit of fame.
As the youngest Third Grade officer in Xiazhou’s Six Doors, the man who had defeated the Peerless Young Master and married Xiazhou’s number one beauty— even the most ignorant people had surely heard of his name.
“ That’s—the Killing God of the Bitter Righteousness Lineage! ”
Finally, someone noticed the black-clad man behind Chen Ming and cried out sharply. At once, the crowd stepped back in unison.
That alone showed how terrifying the reputation of the Bitter Righteousness Lineage was in Xiazhou City.
Chen Ming explained, “ Everyone, do not be afraid. This brother of the Bitter Righteousness Lineage happened to witness me killing these men, so he came along to verify that I did so under the command of the Inspector. ”
Hearing this, the crowd finally relaxed a little.
Moments later, a man in Fifth Grade constable uniform strode out from within, holding a command token in his hands. He presented it respectfully to the black-clad man. “ This is Lord Hong’s command order. Please have a look. ”
The black-clad man glanced at it. The ink was still wet, clearly just written.
Without a word, he turned and left.
Once he was gone, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
“ The Killing God has finally left. ”
That Fifth Grade constable wiped cold sweat from his brow before turning to Chen Ming with a broad smile. “ Brother Gu, this time you have truly rendered great merit! ”
Chen Ming was a little puzzled. Could it be that Luo Zhouwu had not told them about the Undying Demon Venerable seizing his body?
That made no sense. Why would he conceal it?
He probed cautiously, “ What is the situation now? Have the criminals all been captured? ”
The constable gritted his teeth and said, “ After ambushing Lord Hong, that scoundrel vanished without a trace. ”
“ What… Lord Zhong has not acted? ”
“ Lord Zhong must be at a critical point in his cultivation and has not emerged from seclusion. ”
“ I see. Then that scoundrel truly profited. ” Chen Ming rejoiced inwardly. This was wonderful news. Without Lord Zhong appearing, no one in the Six Doors could catch him.
He asked with apparent concern, “ Lord Hong was not badly injured, was he? ”
The constable lowered his voice. “ Lord Hong was gravely wounded this time, but the news has been sealed off. It cannot be allowed to leak. ”
Chen Ming nodded solemnly. “ I understand. And what of the prison? ”
“ That, you must ask Lord Hong directly. ”
……
Inside Zeshi Hall.
Chen Ming saw Hong Yuze. He was indeed grievously injured, his face pale and his breath feeble to the extreme.
Chen Ming was shocked. “ Lord Hong, how did you get hurt? ”
“ It is shameful to say—I was ambushed. ” Hong Yuze shook his head, unwilling to dwell on it, and instead asked urgently, “ I heard you killed two disciples of the Nine Nether Sect? ”
“ Correct. ”
Chen Ming answered and had the corpses carried inside.
Hong Yuze, along with several Third Grade Inspectors, gathered around to examine them carefully.
“ Indeed, they are fiends of the Nine Nether Sect! Their flesh is formidable, and residual demonic aura still lingers. ”
“ This black sword must be a life-bound artifact. But why is there only one? Where is the other? ”
Chen Ming’s expression remained calm. “ When I killed the other, his life-bound artifact disappeared. ”
One of them barked, “ Hmph! I think you stole it for yourself. Hand it over at once! ”
Chen Ming’s face darkened. With a look of grief and indignation, he retorted, “ Zhu Wanlin, do not slander me here! When I was risking my life against the fiends of the Nine Nether Sect, where were you? ”
That Third Grade Inspector was none other than Zhu Wanlin, the very man who had caused the death of Xia Mudan’s younger brother—his sworn enemy. The man’s immediate accusation that he had taken the artifact for himself was utterly despicable.
Such enmity clearly stemmed from Xia Mudan.
Therefore, Chen Ming showed no courtesy and confronted him head-on.
Zhu Wanlin’s face turned ashen. “ Impudent! You, a mere Fifth Grade, dare to call me by name? Do not think that just because you killed two fiends of the Nine Nether Sect, you are qualified to shout so arrogantly. Guards— ”
Before he could finish, someone exclaimed in shock, “ First Grade! These two were actually First Grade cultivators! ”
The words caused an uproar among the crowd.
Soon, others confirmed, “ They truly were First Grade! Gu Xianyu, you actually killed two First Grades! ”
“ Hahaha… well done! ”
Someone clapped in applause.
The others quickly grasped the significance.
Today, one of the Six Doors’ First Grade Inspectors had been ambushed, the prison was breached, dozens of jailers were killed, and prisoners of Third Grade and above were either dead or escaped. Their reputation had been utterly shattered.
If word of this spread, Xiazhou’s Six Doors would become the laughingstock of the entire realm.
When the court pursued accountability, none of them would escape blame.
Now, with Gu Xianyu bringing back the corpses of two First Grade experts of the Nine Nether Sect, at least they had something to show, enough to appease the court.
When punishment came, it would not be too severe.
To them, Gu Xianyu was nothing less than a savior.
Zhu Wanlin quickly realized this as well. His face turned deathly pale. Under these circumstances, trying to use his superior position to suppress Chen Ming would only disgrace himself.
But Chen Ming had no intention of letting him off. He sneered, “ What is it, Lord Zhu? You don’t seem too pleased. ”
Zhu Wanlin lowered his gaze, lips sealed, refusing to respond.
“ Cough, cough… ”
Hong Yuze broke the tension. “ Xiao Gu, how exactly did you kill these two? ”
“ It was mere luck. Before I fought them, they were already gravely injured… ” Chen Ming gave a brief explanation, though doubts still lingered in his heart.
Why did it seem as though they all knew nothing about Zhou You and Fang Yong?