Chapter 27: Where Is the Law of My Great Yu?

The damp prison cell was utterly silent, except for the sound of water droplets falling from somewhere unknown.

Drip, drip—each drop was an irritant to the nerves.

Chen Zhi’an sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed, deeply immersed in cultivating the Great Snow Mountain Ginseng Qi Technique.

Within his body, the blood qi circulated repeatedly, emitting faint chimes—the sound of a Huangzhong bell.

When the Great Snow Mountain Ginseng Qi Technique is practiced to perfection, the body and blood qi resonate to produce such a sound.

Unconsciously, Chen Zhi’an’s cultivation had reached a profound level, entering an advanced realm.

As he focused intently on his practice, a voice suddenly echoed by his ear.

“To have perfected such a conventional military cultivation technique as the Great Snow Mountain Ginseng Qi Technique, kid, you do possess some skill.”

Opening his eyes, Chen Zhi’an saw, emerging from the darkness, a face peering out from the adjacent cell.

The man’s face bore a rugged smile; a thick beard nearly obscured his features, while two copper bell-like eyes hung in the shadows—an imposing visage indeed.

Chen Zhi’an regarded him silently.

The man grinned broadly, shaking his head with a swaggering air. “I know how to observe qi. Though your cultivation is merely in the qi nurturing stage, your blood qi is remarkably dense, crashing like ocean waves, producing that Huangzhong bell sound. That’s truly rare.”

“What’s your name? How old are you?”

The man asked again.

Chen Zhi’an frowned slightly.

“Don’t be afraid. Since you’re locked in this cell, you must have committed a capital crime. Answer my questions, and there will be benefits for you… maybe in a few days, you might even walk out of here.”

The deep, resonant voice thundered in Chen Zhi’an’s ear, as if someone was shouting right beside him.

Chen Zhi’an naturally recognized the man’s extraordinary aura but remained silent, offering no reply.

For some reason, Chen Zhi’an sensed a fierce aura emanating from this man—every movement exuded an indescribable presence.

Perhaps this was what others called murderous intent.

“This man must be a relentless killer, a vicious brute,” Chen Zhi’an thought. “Best not to get involved with him.”

Resolved, he closed his eyes again, resumed his breathing exercises, and ignored the man’s words.

---

The man didn’t mind; instead, a deeper gleam lit his eyes, and a meaningful smile curled on his lips as he slowly receded into the darkness.

After practicing qi for a long while, Chen Zhi’an ceased cultivation and let the image of the Heavenly Jade Capital in his mind unfold gradually.

“Today, fighting those four Yellow Gate guards was no great challenge given my current strength, yet I still sustained minor injuries.”

Lowering his gaze over Kunlun Marsh and the Southern Flow Scenery, he reviewed the day’s mistakes.

The thick chain wielded by one of the Yellow Gate guards struck him hard; despite his extraordinary physique, sharp pain radiated from his shoulder.

“I have mastered the Twenty-Four Style Tiger Embrace Fist, but combat is not simply about martial arts practice. Real battle experience is paramount.”

Chen Zhi’an’s eyes settled on the Southern Flow Scenery.

Inside Kaiyang Palace, it was deserted today. That elder named Tuoba Dao had yet to come for cultivation practice.

“Tuoba Dao’s cultivation is profoundly deep; his murderous aura is thick. One can tell he’s a military man who has experienced countless battles. If he were to teach me, my combat skills would surely soar.”

“Yet, I am the lord of the White Jade Capital—how could I approach him for guidance?”

As these thoughts crossed his mind, his consciousness returned to Kaiyang Palace, where beams of light converged to form his body.

His awareness settled within…

Chen Zhi’an examined the Southern Flow Scenery incarnation for a long time, then suddenly had a striking idea.

In the next moment, the light surrounding him faded away, revealing his true appearance. Even the mysterious aura of the Southern Flow Scenery vanished completely.

“I can approach Tuoba Dao as myself to seek his instruction.”

Looking at the magnificent Kaiyang Palace, a firm resolve settled in his heart.

Just then, a sudden clamor broke the silence in the darkness. Chen Zhi’an withdrew his consciousness from the Heavenly Jade Capital image and slowly raised his head.

—

Zhou Xiujing held a delicate cup in his hand, rotating the expensive vessel with a faint smile at his lips.

“This Chen Zhi’an truly surprises me—he actually killed three Yellow Gate guards. Fascinating.”

He seemed to be speaking to himself, or perhaps to someone beside him.

In the distant sky, dark clouds pressed low, casting a heavy gloom over the evening.

---

Yet Zhou Xiujing found it all very amusing. He even stood, eyes fixed intently on the clouds.

“This Chen Zhi’an is clearly a cultivator with considerable power. Yet when I saw him in the workshop, he pretended to be a mere commoner fooling me. Detestable.”

Zhou Xiujing whispered.

Beside him, a tall figure spoke: “Young master, the Yellow Gate chief is still alive. There must be a flaw in this matter. Perhaps—”

Zhou Xiujing glanced sideways and shook his head. “Zhu Nu, you are formidable in cultivation, fierce and brave in martial arts, but you know nothing of the filth in this world. The Yellow Gate chief was crippled by Chen Zhi’an but not killed by him. If he suddenly died at home, it would arouse suspicion.”

Zhu Nu lowered his head. “But if he lives and is interrogated, he might expose you, young master…”

Zhou Xiujing laughed heartily. “Wu Peilin is greedy and lustful, talentless but smart enough to hold the Yellow Gate chief post for years. Now that he’s crippled, he can no longer serve as chief. Who else can he rely on but the Zhou family? Even if tortured harshly, he will bite down and only say what he must.”

“Besides… I haven’t even spoken to him. Even if he does betray me, so what?”

Zhou Xiujing’s eyes gleamed with confidence as if orchestrating a grand strategy. “Chen Zhi’an committed a grave crime; his neck will inevitably face the executioner’s blade. But that noble only ordered me to wound him severely, not kill him. If he dies, it will be harder to explain.”

The wealthy young master recalled the scene when Chen Zhi’an feigned poverty in the government workshop, then remembered how he took two hundred taels of gold yet remained entangled with the Xu family. His gaze grew colder still.

“Chen Zhi’an dies by the law of Great Yu—what concern is that of mine? If he dies, then so be it.”

Settling this in his mind, Zhou Xiujing’s smile deepened as he took a delicate sip of tea.

At that moment, someone hurried in with a report.

“Young master, Miss Xu of the Xu family has gone to the government office, requesting an audience with the deputy magistrate. It seems she wishes to save Chen Zhi’an.”

Zhou Xiujing’s expression shifted slightly, but he snorted coldly. “Such a heinous crime—saving him is a fool’s dream.”

After a short while, another hurried report arrived.

“Sir, Lord Zheng Liu, the workshop chief, has sent word… Chen Zhi’an has been released.”

Zhou Xiujing sprang to his feet, violently smashing the cup on the table. Tea spilled everywhere, shards scattering.

“How is that possible?” he inhaled deeply. “Where is the law of Great Yu?”