Chapter 62: Miraculously Alive

The figure in the skull mask departed, and the heavy oppression weighing upon everyone present instantly dissipated.

Yan Ju and his two companions, in particular, let out long, relieved breaths.

At the very least, they could now be certain that the skull-masked person was indeed not an enemy.

"Let's get out of here quickly as well!"

"We must return and ask Master just who that senior really is."

With these words, Yan Ju, accompanied by Yun Liao and Hua Lanyue, swiftly leaped down from the rooftop and left the county yamen.

Their hearts were exceptionally light.

Not only had they escaped by the skin of their teeth from a powerhouse of Bao Chao's caliber, but they had also witnessed with their own eyes the death of Yang Jingye.

If that skull-masked figure truly was a hidden expert of their sect, then after such a monumental achievement, the three of them might even get to share a piece of the spoils.

Inside the study.

Qiu Zhuo was still trembling and cowering in the corner.

His gaze was fixed in a dull, vacant stare upon the corpses of Yang Jingye and Bao Chao.

In a single day, two major figures had died one after another right inside his yamen.

It was over...

He knew his official career was completely finished!

Qiu Zhuo felt like crying, but no tears came.

"Guiyi Sect!"

"You damned bastards!"

Qiu Zhuo beat his chest and stamped his feet, cursing with bitter rage.

Had it not been for these members of the Guiyi Sect suddenly appearing and killing Yang Jingye and Bao Chao, it wouldn't have been long before he was promoted to Vice-Prefect of Qingzhou!

Not only could he forget about a promotion now, but whether he could even keep his official hat was questionable.

Bao Chao was one thing; after all, he died in a martial world feud, which would be handled by the Six Fan School, and the responsibility wouldn't fall on Qiu Zhuo.

Yang Jingye, however, was a completely different story.

The old patriarch of the Yang family was dead, but other members of the Yang family were still alive, and they certainly wouldn't let the matter rest.

If the higher authorities decided to assign blame, Qiu Zhuo would never be able to absolve himself of complicity.

Suddenly—

"Bang!!!"

The courtyard gate was rudely kicked open from the outside, giving Qiu Zhuo another violent start that nearly sent him diving beneath the table.

He thought the Guiyi Sect had returned.

When Qiu Zhuo strained his eyes to look, he saw Zhang You leading a group of bailiffs rushing in:

"Protect the Magistrate!"

"Where have the villains gone? Search the premises immediately!"

"Damn scoundrels, daring to trespass in the county yamen! If we catch you, we'll strip your skin and pull your tendons!"

The bailiffs looked imposing and fierce, putting on expressions as if they were ready to devour anyone at a moment's notice.

Yet Qiu Zhuo knew full well that these bailiffs should have arrived long ago; the only reason they were showing up just now was purely out of fear for their own lives.

Qiu Zhuo did not reproach them.

The thought of his ruined official career had plunged him into utter despair, leaving him with no energy left to scold anyone.

Zhang You hurried to Qiu Zhuo's side and helped him up from the floor:

"County Magistrate, are you alright?"

Qiu Zhuo straightened his official cap and waved a hand to signal that he was fine.

As if he could be fine!

His official career was completely ruined.

However, even if he wasn't fine, what could be done? The crowd before him was fundamentally incapable of helping.

Qiu Zhuo could only issue instructions:

"Immediately report to the prefectural office and the Six Fan School that multiple experts from the Guiyi Sect raided the county yamen and killed Bao Chao, elder of the Asura Sect, alongside Yang Jingye, head of the Yang family."

"The county yamen is powerless to handle this matter; request them to make a prompt decision."

Zhang You memorized the instructions attentively.

Once Qiu Zhuo finished speaking, he asked further:

"County Magistrate, should we... should we pursue those Guiyi Sect villains?"

Qiu Zhuo cast a sidelong glance at him:

"Of course we must pursue!"

"With someone breaking into the yamen and committing murder under my administration, how could I simply sit by and do nothing?"

"Everyone gather around! I shall personally lead the team and brave the rain to apprehend the culprits!"

Pursue?

Pursuing them was out of the question.

Even if they caught up, what could they possibly do to those people?

Yet Qiu Zhuo had been an official for many years and deeply understood the importance of putting up a good front.

Regardless of how things were actually handled, the proper attitude had to be displayed.

Immediately, the surrounding bailiffs crowded forward, holding water-fire staffs and carrying iron chains and foot-rulers as they fell in behind Qiu Zhuo.

The procession marched imposingly toward the outer gates of the county yamen.

Naturally, their pace was extremely slow.

It was so slow that even Qiu Zhuo felt somewhat embarrassed, forcing him to claim that his foot had been injured by a falling tile from the roof earlier, making it impossible for him to walk fast.

Zhang You and the rest of the bailiffs chimed in to declare that for the sake of the Magistrate's safety, they would guard him with their lives and never leave his side by even half a step.

At last, they reached the main entrance of the county yamen.

Yet upon taking in the scene outside, they all stopped dead in their tracks.

Qiu Zhuo was equally thunderstruck:

"This... this..."

The heavy rain was still pouring relentlessly.

Yet the area outside the county yamen had been tightly surrounded and sealed off.

Countless people stood outside the yamen.

As far as the eye could see, the rainy veil was filled with surging heads; the entire county yamen had been enclosed by the crowd.

In particular, these people all wore yellow turbans—they were members of the Taiping Tao!

So many people stood silently in the driving rain, coldly staring at Qiu Zhuo and the others at the yamen entrance.

This sight made Qiu Zhuo dare not take a single step outside the yamen.

Meanwhile, a commotion arose nearby.

It came from the designated carriage parking area outside the yamen, where the luxurious carriage procession of the Yang family had been left.

At this very moment, however, members of the Taiping Tao were seen pressing the Yang family's servants and coachmen face down into the puddles of muddy water on the ground.

Other Taiping Tao members had climbed inside the Yang family's carriages, turning them upside down and conducting a thorough search.

Qiu Zhuo's heart skipped a beat.

He felt a sense of guilt.

After all, he had been aware of the Yang family's plot to assassinate the Grand Preceptor.

Could it be...

That after the death of the Grand Preceptor, this matter had come to light, and the Taiping Tao had come to settle scores?

Overwhelmed by tension, Qiu Zhuo low-voicedly rebuked the bailiffs behind him:

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Even the Taiping Tao has surrounded the yamen, and not a single soul came to report it? Furthermore, did nobody go notify the city garrison troops to come over?"

"And didn't I tell you to watch over the Yang family's carriages? Why did you let the Taiping Tao people rummage through them without the slightest attempt to stop them?"

The bailiffs lowered their heads in silence, not a single one of them offering a reply.

Even the bailiffs guarding the main yamen gates kept their eyes fixed on the tips of their noses.

As long as Qiu Zhuo didn't question them directly, they pretended not to hear anything.

"Hmm?"

Qiu Zhuo furrowed his brow deeply. What had gotten into these bailiffs today?

Zhang You tugged at the sleeve of Qiu Zhuo's robe from behind, leaned close to the Magistrate's ear, and whispered:

"County Magistrate, I must ask you not to lose your temper right now."

"Seven or eight out of every ten bailiffs here have already joined the Taiping Tao. The city garrison troops are largely the same..."

Hearing this, Qiu Zhuo felt a shock run through his heart.

Had the Taiping Tao developed at such a staggering pace?

Only now did he realize that he was gradually losing control even over his own county yamen.

Qiu Zhuo cast another glance at the throngs of Taiping Tao members blocking the yamen entrance.

If this massive crowd were to truly riot, he would likely lose not only his official post today, but his life as well.

Qiu Zhuo immediately waved at Zhang You, signaling him to step forward and negotiate.

Zhang You stepped up immediately, plastering a ingratiating smile on his face:

"Friends, the entrance of the yamen is no place to be lingering about casually."

"May I ask what brings you all here? Could it be that you have some sort of grievance?"

"Please send a representative forward to discuss it with us properly. Whatever problems there may be, the yamen is fully capable of resolving them for everyone."

Swish, splash.

The heavy rain continued to fall without cease.

Countless members of the Taiping Tao stood in the torrential downpour, still maintaining a stony silence.

This soundless oppression left Zhang You with no way to continue, forcing him to retreat back behind Qiu Zhuo.

Seeing this, Qiu Zhuo knew he had no choice but to step up himself.

Steeling himself, he took two steps forward, cupped his hands toward the crowd, and spoke:
"Respected elders and fellow townsmen, I am the Magistrate—"

Before he could finish his sentence,

a clap of thunder suddenly exploded across the sky, cutting him off mid-word.

"Rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble, rumble!!!"

The rolling peals of thunder echoed continuously for several seconds before subsiding.

Immediately afterward,

the crowd of Taiping Tao members blocking the yamen entrance suddenly parted to clear a path.

Two figures walked down this pathway toward the entrance of the yamen.

Miao Yuanzheng held an umbrella.

And beneath that umbrella was none other than Liang Jin.

Upon seeing this, Qiu Zhuo's eyelids twitched violently, and his face twisted into an expression as though he had just seen a ghost.

The Grand Preceptor... actually wasn't dead?!