Stronger by Killing

Outside the hall, heavy snow was falling.

After a brief wait in silence, a few figures slowly appeared in the courtyard, led in by a guard from Shuixie Manor.

The one in the center was Gu Zhan.

He wore a black embroidered robe, covered with a long black cloak, a jade crown upon his head, walking in at a measured pace. He did not look like a merciless God of Slaughter; rather, he bore the air of a noble family’s young lord.

Beside Gu Zhan followed an Embroidered Uniform Guard, holding an umbrella for him, his waist girded with a Brocade Spring Saber and carrying a Horizontal Saber on his back, along with several other Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Gu Zhan slowly entered the main hall, glanced about at Luo Huaiyang and the group of Martial World big shots, then sneered before cupping his hands toward Mo Beiyan who sat at the head seat, and said: "I am Gu Zhan, Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand Households of Pingyang City. I am here to apprehend criminals and bring them to justice. Sixth Young Master, I seek your cooperation."

"Someone, serve the tea!"

Mo Beiyan sized up Gu Zhan, and said softly, "Lord Gu, please, have a seat."

Gu Zhan waved his hand and said, "Official business demands urgency. It’s not convenient to stay long. Once matters are resolved, I will surely return to visit Sixth Young Master and enjoy a few cups of Shuixie Manor’s tea. For now, however, I must first apprehend the criminals."

"Arrogant!"

Luo Huaiyang suddenly said coldly, "Gu Zhan, you are far too disrespectful! Sixth Young Master is here, this is his estate! Do you think you can act with impunity?"

Gu Zhan glanced at Luo Huaiyang and slowly extended his hand.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard at his side understood instantly, drew the Horizontal Saber, and handed it to Gu Zhan.

Luo Huaiyang panicked at once, shouting, "Gu Zhan! What are you doing? This is Shuixie Manor, the Sixth Young Master’s mansion, with him present—you dare act so wildly, you—"

Gu Zhan gripped the sabre and spoke coldly: "What are you but a piece of trash, a criminal at that! Even Shuixie Manor is beneath you. I am merely helping Sixth Young Master clean out the garbage—why not?"

"Lord Gu, please hold your hand,"

At that moment, Miss Yu, who stood beside Mo Beiyan, suddenly spoke: "Lord Gu, this is Shuixie Manor. Since you are inside, please abide by its rules."

Gu Zhan tilted his head to look at Miss Yu, and said in a deep voice, "I am very curious—what sort of rules would dare hinder a court official from apprehending criminals?"

Miss Yu said softly, "Lord Gu, this is Shuixie Manor. Even a Great Cultivator mustn’t brandish weapons here. Sixth Young Master is present, so you’d best put down your blade. With him as a mediator, why not all sit down and try to resolve these misunderstandings? It is better to untangle enmities than tie them tighter. Lord Gu, what do you say?"

"Hmph," Luo Huaiyang snorted coldly, "Gu Zhan, you’re not allowed to act so unruly here! Besides, in terms of rank, I am your equal—on what grounds do you arrest me? Do you even have a warrant?"

Gu Zhan sneered, beckoned, and said: "Someone, write a warrant for Lord Luo!"

"Lord, I only have paper, no brush," said an Embroidered Uniform Guard, bringing out a crumpled sheet of Xuan paper.

Gu Zhan took the Xuan paper, balled it up, and tossed it directly at Luo Huaiyang, saying coldly: "That is your warrant!"

Luo Huaiyang was furious, pointed at Gu Zhan and yelled: "Gu Zhan, your bullying is intolerable—ah!"

In the hall, a flash of saber light streaked through.

A spray of fresh blood erupted forth,

Luo Huaiyang’s hand was chopped off and fell to the floor, blood streaming everywhere.

"Ah, Gu Zhan!"

Luo Huaiyang screamed in agony, his voice hysterical.

"Lord Gu!"

Miss Yu’s face darkened, and she said loudly: "You’ve gone too far. This is Shuixie Manor, and I told you not to brandish weapons. Do you simply disregard Sixth Young Master?"

"Pa!"

Gu Zhan swung his hand back, slapping Miss Yu with a burst of True Qi; a swollen red handprint appeared on her face.

"Just a maid—you think you get to speak here?"

Miss Yu cried out miserably, stunned as she stared at Gu Zhan, stammering: "You... You... I am the Sixth Young Master’s—"

Gu Zhan squinted, slowly looking to Mo Beiyan, and said mildly: "Sixth Young Master, I am here to apprehend these criminals. What is your decision?"

On Mo Beiyan’s calm face suddenly appeared a smile, as he said: "Of course I fully support you. The court’s officers hunting criminals, what else can I say? Naturally I support you. Lord Gu, please do as you wish, no need to mind me. If you break something, don’t worry about compensation; consider it my way of helping the Embroidered Uniform Guard with the investigation!"

With those words,

The entire hall was thrown into shock,

Not only Luo Huaiyang and company—even Gu Zhan looked surprised.

At that instant,

Luo Huaiyang suddenly flipped the table at Gu Zhan, roaring, "Run!"

In a split second,

The Martial World big shots all flung their weapons at Gu Zhan, while simultaneously bolting for the exit,

The table and weapons struck at Gu Zhan, but stopped frozen three feet away for an instant—then the table shattered with a crash, the weapons hanging suspended in the air.

Gu Zhan’s gaze iced over, he gently waved his hand,

In an instant, all the weapons pivoted and swarmed forth like rain, shooting toward the fleeing Martial World big shots.

"Puh!" "Puh!" "Ah..."

The sound of weapons piercing flesh filled the air, each scream cut short. One after another, the Martial World big shots died beneath their own blades before ever reaching the door,

Only Luo Huaiyang fought to resist for a brief moment, shouting hysterically: "Mo Beiyan, you have no honor—puh!"

A saber flashed by,

Luo Huaiyang’s head flew off, blood spraying everywhere.

The hall fell silent in an instant,

Mo Beiyan sat at the seat of honor, chuckled lightly and said: "From start to finish, I never promised to protect any of you."

As he spoke, Mo Beiyan slowly looked over at his chief maid, Miss Yu, and said mildly: "There is but one person who promised that, but she has no right to protect you!"

Mo Beiyan’s tone was flat,

But Miss Yu’s face went utterly pale, her body trembling, and she dropped to her knees with a thud, tears streaming as she pleaded: "Young master... Young master... I... I..."

"Brother Gu!"

Mo Beiyan ignored the kneeling Miss Yu, rose and walked down, saying: "Wait for me a moment, brother, I have some family matters to settle. Afterwards, I’ll speak with you at length."

Gu Zhan nodded, saying: "Then I’ll step aside for a bit."

"No need," Mo Beiyan waved his hand, "Brother Gu, we aren’t strangers. It doesn’t matter if you watch."

With that, Mo Beiyan slowly turned, his expression instantly darkening as he looked at Miss Yu and said calmly: "Brother Gu barely appeared at my side and you couldn’t wait to interfere. Yu’Er, this time you really crossed my line!"

Miss Yu, clutching her face, knelt in tears: "Young master, I... I only thought of you. I wanted to help you gather more allies..."

Mo Beiyan smiled faintly and said: "Yu’Er, is it that in your eyes I am nothing but a fool? If you’re truly helping me gather allies, why risk offending Brother Gu over a few stray dogs?"