Chapter 91: Cruel Official

Chapter 91: The Cruel Official

"Never would I have imagined that a dignified member of the Legalist Sequence would willingly serve as a blade for the Confucian aristocracy, acknowledging a thief as a father?"

Though he had vaguely guessed the other's identity beforehand, upon hearing Le Zhong's words, Li Jun still couldn't help but let out a cold scoff, his eyes brimming with mockery.

"If I acknowledge a thief as a father, then you are selling your soul for glory."

Le Zhong smiled faintly. "We are all half a catty, eight taels—six of one, half a dozen of the other. What qualification do you have to say that?"

Li Jun narrowed his eyes, tossing Song Li's corpse aside. "Since we've run into each other today, let's weigh and see whose measure is fuller."

Le Zhong's face twisted into a cold sneer. "That blood-soaked frame of yours deserves death by a thousand cuts."

"Then let's see if your Law Blade is faster, or my flesh and blood harder!"

The moment the words fell, the two moved almost in perfect sync.

Yet their speeds differed vastly, one fast, one slow, the gap between them immense.

Le Zhong had barely cleared the threshold when Li Jun's fist wind was already crashing into his face.

"Halt!"

Le Zhong's temples fluttered in the fist wind, a sudden, awe-inspiring majesty erupting in his gaze.

As the word left his mouth, it seemed a power of statute followed. That fist, pressing close to his face, shuddered violently.

Li Jun felt a crushing pressure emanate from the other man; instinctively, he almost obeyed the command to stop.

"Submit to arrest!"

Le Zhong's voice was deep and stern. The shackling force on Li Jun grew heavier; the launched fist actually hovered suspended at the tip of the other's nose.

"I... have sinned?"

In a trance, Li Jun seemed to see his own hands stained with blood; inexplicably, a surge of guilt and self-reproach welled up in his heart.

In that single instant of distraction, Le Zhong moved, sidestepping past the fist's edge, his right hand brushing and plucking at Li Jun's chest.

"I'll submit to arrest my ass!"

A thunderous roar exploded.

Having survived two slaughters in the Buddhist Kingdom, Li Jun's mind was already forged like steel; in a breath, he crushed that absurd sense of guilt.

His expression turned violently annoyed. He forcibly twisted his body, intent on continuing his assault on Le Zhong.

But the next moment, Li Jun, having just turned his head, froze. The rolling killing intent around him abruptly choked.

He saw the Xi Ting Lang—a gift from Wei Ju'an—inexplicably appear in Le Zhong's hand.

*Hum.*

The Xi Ting Lang beat its wings and rose, hovering in the courtyard air.

"Fortunately I have this Xi Ting Lang; otherwise, I really would have had to fight you to the death."

Le Zhong let out a long breath, visibly relieved.

*Otherwise?*

The implication behind that word was exceedingly complex. Li Jun stood stunned for a moment.

"How did you know I had a Xi Ting Lang?"

"The Legalists could secure a few seats in the hall the Confucians regard as their forbidden fruit; naturally, we have our channels. Though I've lost nearly all authority, investigating information is still easy."

Le Zhong squeezed an ugly smile onto his gaunt, sharp face. "Your identity as a Baihu of Baoning Prefecture is written clearly in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's case files. Your identity, however, surprised me somewhat."

The moment his voice fell, heavy, drum-like footsteps suddenly resounded in the courtyard.

Li Jun stepped forward again, cold intent radiating from his face.

Le Zhong realized he had misspoken and hurriedly explained, "Don't be hasty. If I truly wanted to leak your identity, I would have used the Yellow Millet Dream to contact the Wu clan just now. No need to provoke you with this."

"When it comes down to it, I actually have to thank you. If not for you, I'd still be in the Wu clan's private prison listening to the Analects."

Le Zhong was forced back two steps by the tangible killing intent, his eyelid twitching. "That bastard Wu Gong—he loops it, his mother's *Analects*, twelve hours non-stop."

"There is no need for enmity between us!"

Li Jun's steps didn't stop, but he didn't rush to unleash his movement art either, simply pressing toward Le Zhong step by step.

The man's ability was too bizarre; that level of hypnosis rivaled the Buddhist Sequence, perhaps even surpassed it. He couldn't help but be cautious. "My mockery just now was only to get this Xi Ting Lang, to shield us from the Wu clan's surveillance."

Seeing the gaze projected at him remain cold as a blade, Le Zhong shook his head with a bitter smile. He simply spread his arms, adopting a posture of letting Li Jun slaughter him at will.

Li Jun's steps faltered, brows knitting. "What do you mean?"

"I have no need to fight you. Or put another way: guilt knows no magnitude, but judgment has its urgency. It is not yet your turn to be tried."

Le Zhong's words were like his face—seemingly born sharp and mean.

Li Jun's anger flared instantly. He gave a sharp laugh. "Then let me cut the line. I'll go first?"

Le Zhong's smile stiffened. Even with his temper, he couldn't help but snap, "If the Great Ming's laws weren't in ruins today, and if I hadn't lost my official authority, dealing with you would be easy as flipping a hand."

"Your premises are many. Just say you're not my match!" Li Jun's voice rose.

Le Zhong gritted his teeth. "Don't push your luck!"

"Heh."

A light laugh rang out, like a wind scattering the sword-drawn, bow-bent tension from moments ago.

The overbearing aura on Li Jun dissipated. He stood with arms crossed, looking at Le Zhong's livid face with great interest.

So this Legalist Sequence really is planning to turn coat!

He hadn't even gotten around to doing it himself, yet a teacher arrived first. He'd have to learn the experience well.

Li Jun couldn't help but ask, "What is Wu Gong thinking, letting you out to settle the score without any countermeasures?"

"This time he only downloaded the 'Statute' intent I use for execution. Part of my 'Law' consciousness remains in the Wu clan's private prison. If I don't return for long, both sides will turn into idiots."

Le Zhong took a few deep breaths on the spot, finally calming his emotions.

While answering Li Jun's question, he rolled up his sleeves, bent down, and rummaged through the corpses on the ground, muttering to himself.

"Damn it, how was the Law Measure forged again?"

Li Jun looked puzzled. "Then if you don't kill me, won't you die yourself?"

"At most, you're guilty of brawling and killing a few people. Compared to the Wu clan illegally establishing private prisons and laws, it's a minor crime."

"Besides, what would killing you achieve? I'd just be remanded back to the private prison. Would he let me go?"

Le Zhong didn't raise his head, still turning over the bodies on the ground.

Li Jun watched clearly from the side. This Legalist Sequence was digging out the bio-chips from the corpses piece by piece, soon clutching a large handful in his hand.

"Since you won't kill me, and you can't escape yourself, what are you planning?"

Le Zhong finally finished gathering the chips on the ground. Twenty-odd pieces of various sizes and models, all tucked into the hem of his long robe.

"I said it just now: judgment has its urgency, but guilt knows no magnitude."

On Le Zhong's sharp face, which had just displayed joy and anger, a stern, righteous aura now emerged.

To hate evil as a mortal enemy; to wield severe laws and harsh punishments.

This—this is what a cruel official truly is.

"The Wu clan's crimes are monstrous; I shall try him first!"

With a flick of his front lapel, dozens of chips flew into the air; electric arcs flashed between them, fusing together piece by piece.

Forming a long ruler stained through with the color of blood.