Monarch Night

Zhao Shanhe entered Dongfang Sansan's office, closed the door, set up a soundproof barrier, and began to cry.

"I can't go on living... How can I still have the face to lead the Southeast Headquarters..."

Dongfang Sansan frowned, "What happened? Who did this?"

"It was that Shen Zhixuan... here's what happened..."

Zhao Shanhe recounted the events with a mournful expression, "...I'm so wronged..."

Dongfang Sansan's face suddenly turned very ugly.

His eyes fell on Zhao Shanhe like a sword's edge, cold and indifferent, without uttering a word.

Zhao Shanhe felt a chill all over, too scared to continue crying.

His legs inexplicably started trembling.

"You're feeling wronged?"

Dongfang Sansan frowned and coldly looked at him, "How wronged? More than those fallen brothers?"

Zhao Shanhe immediately stood at attention.

Because he realized, Dongfang Sansan was genuinely angry this time.

And it was anger towards him!

"You're feeling wronged, so you come to me to complain?"

Dongfang Sansan slammed the table with a bang, angrily shouting, "Who told you to come!?"

Zhao Shanhe hung his head, not daring to utter a word.

"Useless!"

Dongfang Sansan sighed disappointedly, coldly saying, "As the Southeast Commander, you don't even recognize the word 'task'? Can't understand it?"

"This is a task!"

"This is an order!"

"It's not playing games with you!"

"You don't need to know why! When you're needed to bear grievances, and you don't, who will?! When you're required to die because of it, you have to die!"

"And you dare come to me to complain!"

Dongfang Sansan said, disappointedly, "Don't you realize what consequences your visit could lead to? Absolutely reckless!"

Zhao Shanhe's face turned pale.

He had never seen Dongfang Sansan this furious in his life!

And just with scolding and chastising, so much was said continuously!

First time in his life!

Previously, no matter how big the mistake someone made, Dongfang Sansan would only say: Slightly disappointed.

Those four words, slightly disappointed, carried such weight that no one dared to hear them.

But now...

Zhao Shanhe felt his vision going black.

"If you really feel wronged, I'll just find someone else to do it."

Dongfang Sansan said indifferently, "You can leave now."

"Bang!"

Zhao Shanhe directly knelt on the ground, "Ninth lord, I was wrong! I hope you can give me another chance!"

"I doubt you have the capability to complete the task!"

"I do!"

Zhao Shanhe knelt on the ground, looking up, "Ninth lord! I was wrong!"

Dongfang Sansan rubbed his temples, his voice piercing coldly, "Just this once! If it happens again, don't come to me; you can handle it yourself in the Southeast."

"Yes!"

Zhao Shanhe knelt on the ground.

Just feeling like his heart was about to jump out of his mouth.

Terrified beyond belief.

This matter had turned out to be this serious!

A moment later.

The door opened.

Zhao Shanhe walked out meekly, under the watchful eyes of others, as Dongfang Sansan also emerged with his hands behind his back, expressionless, heading towards the hall.

Zhao Shanhe followed behind, looking like he wanted to speak but didn't dare to.

Until they reached the office area.

Everyone kept their heads down, pretending to work diligently, but each one's ears pricked up.

Something's up!

Looking at Zhao Shanhe's state, something's up.

"Stop following me."

Dongfang Sansan's voice was very gentle, "Go back."

"Ninth lord, shouldn't you say something..." Zhao Shanhe pleaded softly.

"Clean up your own mess."

Dongfang Sansan said blandly, "Go back, and if you come to me again for something like this, I'll remove you from your position!"

Zhao Shanhe, dutifully, "Yes."

Dongfang Sansan, hands behind his back, inspected every corner by himself.

Ignoring Zhao Shanhe.

Zhao Shanhe followed behind, remaining cautious, and slowly a hopeful look turned into a wry smile...

Everyone quietly chuckled.

Finally... Zhao Shanhe, who followed Dongfang Sansan like a tail, dejectedly said, "Ninth lord, I'll be going now."

Dongfang Sansan didn't even acknowledge him, continuing to inspect another hall.

Zhao Shanhe stood awkwardly in the crowd in the hall, his face stiff with embarrassment.

"Pff..."

Finally, a woman couldn't help but laugh.

And then everyone burst into laughter.

Zhao Shanhe's face turned red with anger, "What are you laughing at!"

He left in a huff, his robe sleeves billowing angrily behind him.

The laughter only grew louder behind him.

Leaving the headquarters, speeding down the road, Zhao Shanhe still felt cold sweat continuously trickling down his back.

Because of this matter, the Ninth Lord expressed the largest fury of his entire life.

Directed at himself.

This feeling, Zhao Shanhe didn't know what to make of it.

Anyway, he could guarantee if he hadn't yet completed his task, he might have been so ashamed he'd end it today.

"...Ah, I still have to keep bearing this black pot."

Zhao Shanhe sighed internally.

Headed back along the way.

...

Off work.

Fang Che walked down the road, striding confidently.

Since the last ambush, Fang Che always left work in a most unpredictable manner, without any fixed route, constantly changing his tracks.

If anyone were tracking him, they'd find that they would lose him midway.

Without any warning, they'd lose track of him.

Returning home, he dared not turn on the lights, trying to maintain the impression that only a maid resided at the Scholar Residence.

Moreover, he had bought small houses in various parts of the city, occasionally staying over, deliberately letting others see his presence scattered.

This meant that Fang Che had five bases in Baiyun State.

He could rest wherever he was at any time... making it even harder to gauge his whereabouts.

But today, Fang Che walked boldly on the street.

Heading straight to one of those small houses.

He had noticed two days ago that someone was tailing him, with an extremely advanced movement technique and clever methods.

Fang Che used Phantom Bones, Shifting Forms to shake them off, but his heart was already ringing alarm bells.

Today, he must lure this person out.

After walking boldly for a while, as if noticing something, he once again went into stealth mode.

But he was already being watched.

While trying to dash from a small alley back to the main street like a gust of wind...

Swish, swish, swish...

A total of six figures descended from above.

Front, rear, left, right, and even atop the walls, all were sealed.

Heaven and Earth Net.

Directly trapping Fang Che inside.

Fang Che's first reaction was to fling his hand, firing a rocket.

But it was knocked down with a clang after rising just three feet.

A flying knife struck down the rocket, embedding into the ground with a thud.

Gleaming brightly.

A cold laugh ensued, "Steward Fang, today your rocket isn't going anywhere. You'll have to shout your way out... but we're quite a distance here, afraid your cultivation won't carry it very far."

Another chuckled, "Even if they heard it, by the time they fly over from such a distance, it'd be too late."

A third person squatted on the wall like a large macaque, sinisterly saying, "Steward Fang, this time you showed great power intercepting and killing our Wei Wo Zheng Sect's people. Quite enjoyed yourself, didn't you?"

"Unfortunately, the wheel of karma turns, and today it's your turn, Steward Fang."

A fourth emerged from the shadows.

A full six Marquis!

All four on the ground simultaneously advanced toward Fang Che, eyes shining with cruelty.

Kill Fang Che, hang the corpse at the highest point, let them see what happens to those who oppose our Wei Wo Zheng Sect!

If you were Monarch Level or Emperor Level, on your turf, it would indeed be difficult to handle, but as a Second Grade General Steward, being this arrogant is courting death!

Fang Che wearily smiled, "Just you six? You're underestimating me, aren't you?"

The leader grinned hideously, "Us six accompanying Steward Fang on your road, already quite high standard enough. Or does Steward Fang want a grander death?"

Fang Che sighed, "I'm slightly regretful; far too few of your people came. Not enough to kill enjoyably."

All six laughed simultaneously, "Big words, without knowing, one might think you're Monarch Level... Steward Fang, don't think by boasting we'd believe you're anything beyond a Second Grade General's cultivation!"

Fang Che stood with hands behind his back.

Even as the four adversaries drew near, he made no move to strike nor to flee.

Calmly said, "Don't you know I'm important right now, guarded by bodyguards? You still have time to escape. If you wait for my bodyguards to act, it'll be too late for you to flee."

All six burst into laughter, "Really? Is it because Steward Fang was rewarded with twenty merits that you're important? Where are the bodyguards? Bring them out, let's have a look."

Fang Che sighed, waved his hand, "Kill them!"

All six laughed, viewing him as a pretentious clown; death within others' grasp, yet trying to scare them away with mere words?

Utterly laughable.

But immediately they could laugh no more.

Their eyes filled with unspeakable terror.

In the evening twilight, a piercing sword light emerged like the fierce midday sun in summer!

A single presence.

Illuminated mountains and rivers miles around.

A stroke of sword light emerged from behind Fang Che, in a flash, pierced through the bodies of all six!

Blood splattered abruptly.

Six wisps of black smoke rose.

On their faces, horror-struck expressions, the six fell neatly to the ground, in perfect unison.

A voice sounded behind Fang Che.

"How did you know I've been following you?"

Fang Che turned around, seeing a person covered in snow-like white clothes, standing straight like a pine tree in the shadows.

Precisely the white-clothed man he met during the day.

Now looking at him with peculiar eyes.

His sword gleam like cool water in the night, silently sheathed thereafter.

"If you hadn't followed me, I wouldn't have deliberately led these people today."

Fang Che said calmly.

Then stepped forward, decapitating each one. Actions were skillful and smooth.

The white-clad person frowned at the sight, lightly saying, "They're already dead, why are you still defiling their bodies?"

While working, Fang Che said, "What you're saying... If I don't bring their heads back, how do I report merit? After all, I killed six Marquises you know, that's merit, which could get me promoted."