Everyone else was chilled to the bone.
Cultivators possessed extraordinary power, far beyond what mortals like them could contend with.
Chen Nan: "Do you still want to kill me now?"
*Thump.*
Zhao Wuchang was so terrified he knelt on the ground immediately, saying, "Sir, it was Gong Wenming who wanted us to kill you. We were just blinded by greed and agreed to his words."
"You are magnanimous, sir, please let us go like a fart!"
Seeing Zhao Wuchang groveling in fear.
The others immediately knelt down in repentance.
Although they had all committed murder.
They did not believe they could challenge a cultivator.
Of course.
They also didn't know that the person the Gong family had ordered them to kill was a cultivator.
If they had known.
Even if they were given a hundred times the courage, they would never have dared to trouble Chen Nan.
"Get to the corner and kneel there," Chen Nan said. "Until I leave, you'd best not make a sound, best to consider yourselves as air, and don't make me unhappy."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhao Wuchang and the others scrambled to the corner and knelt there, not daring to move.
------
At the same time.
Uncle Tian found Yuan Zun.
And told him about Chen Nan being captured.
Upon hearing that Magistrate Gong had ordered Chen Nan to be thrown into prison, a strong killing intent surged within Yuan Zun.
Gong Ping had been very respectful to him lately.
Yet, he unexpectedly used the imperial envoy's presence as an excuse to arrest Chen Nan.
This was a direct slap in his face!
Uncle Tian continued, "Chen Nan has been locked in the 'Jingzi' (well character) cell. The Gong family intended for the death row inmates in that cell to kill him, but those people are no match for Chen Nan."
Yuan Zun's pupils trembled.
He knew very well that the 'Jingzi' cell housed the most vicious criminals.
Fortunately, Chen Nan had entered the Yin Gathering realm last night.
His strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"My lord, the imperial envoy has arrived."
At this moment.
A bailiff ran in quickly.
Yuan Zun was a bit surprised.
After all, he had received the message yesterday that the imperial envoy would arrive in Tongcheng tonight.
And it was only noon now.
Without further thought, he quickly led Uncle Tian to the entrance of the county yamen.
He saw the imperial envoys and their retinue.
A total of ten people.
Apart from eight accompanying personnel.
There was also Magistrate Gong, Gong Ping.
He stared at Yuan Zun with a half-smile.
It was obvious.
He had met the imperial envoys in advance.
And had spoken ill of Yuan Zun.
However.
Yuan Zun was not worried at all.
He, along with Uncle Tian and the officials in the county yamen, bowed to the two imperial envoys: "Your subordinate Yuan Zun pays his respects to Lord Bi Cang and Lord Gong Yi!"
He was from Fengdu City and naturally recognized these two.
He knew they were both Level Seven Yin Messengers, important officials even in Fengdu City.
Bi Cang was over sixty years old.
With white hair and a youthful complexion.
Wearing a grey robe, his every movement exuded an ethereal aura.
Gong Yi, on the other hand, appeared younger, around forty, thin, and slightly stooped.
He had a black, curled goatee.
His gaze was cold, making it clear he was no easy person.
Bi Cang smiled and said, "It has only been a few months since we last met, and I never expected Lord Yuan to advance from a Level Five Yin Messenger to a Level Six Yin Messenger. Congratulations!"
Yuan Zun replied politely, "Your subordinate was merely lucky, and by chance became a Level Six Yin Messenger. Please, sirs, come inside." He gestured invitingly and led them into the county yamen.
Upon arriving at the reception hall, he ordered tea to be prepared and arranged for everyone to be seated.
At this moment.
Gong Yi's voice rang out, he crossed his legs and said indifferently, "Lord Yuan, the Great Emperor attaches great importance to the case of the stolen 'Death Exemption Token' from the Marquis of Wen's family. Do you have any leads?"
Bi Cang accepted the tea from the servant, used the lid to stir the leaves, blew lightly, and then took a sip of the tea.
Although he did not speak, he was waiting for Yuan Zun's answer.
Yuan Zun said with shame, "Your subordinate's handling of the matter was not effective, and the whereabouts of the Death Exemption Token have not been found."
Gong Yi showed no mercy to Yuan Zun, and snorted coldly, "As the City Lord of Tongcheng, you cannot even locate the Death Exemption Token. If the Great Emperor learns of this, he will surely be disappointed in you."
"That cannot be said," Bi Cang said, putting down his teacup. "City Lord Yuan only recently took office in Tongcheng, and besides, no one knows when the Liu family's Death Exemption Token was stolen."
"Even if he wanted to investigate, how could he find clues so quickly?"
Gong Yi's expression changed slightly, seemingly surprised that Bi Cang would speak in Yuan Zun's defense.
He then said politely, "Your words are indeed wise."
His tone shifted, and he turned his attention sharply to Yuan Zun: "However, when Lord Yuan took office, he was attacked by remnants of the Anti-Heaven cult, and a green-eyed zombie also wreaked havoc here."
"Both of these incidents occurred after he took office, yet there was no action from him."
"He did not pursue the whereabouts of the Anti-Heaven cult remnants."
"And he allowed that green-eyed zombie to escape."
"How does Lord Yuan explain these two matters?"
"Is there such a thing?" Bi Cang narrowed his eyes slightly.
He was not aware of this.
Yuan Zun said respectfully, "Reporting to my lord, this is indeed true."
"When your subordinate took office, there was an attack by remnants of the Anti-Heaven cult."
"Although your subordinate set a net, the other party was a cultivator in the Form Transformation realm."
"My men only managed to heavily injure him, but could not capture him."
"This is my subordinate's dereliction of duty!"
Bi Cang shook his head slightly, "This is not your fault. A Form Transformation realm expert is indeed difficult to deal with. It is already very good that your men managed to heavily injure him."
Yuan Zun added, "As for the case of the green-eyed zombie murder mentioned by Lord Gong Yi, that is also true."
"Your subordinate once fought with it."
"But due to insufficient strength, I could only force it to retreat and was unable to kill it."
A wry smile appeared on Bi Cang's face, "Yuan Zun, Yuan Zun, why is your luck so poor?"
"When you took office, you were attacked by remnants of the Anti-Heaven cult, and then you encountered the case of the green-eyed zombie murder."
"Why is it that the enemies you encounter are all stronger than you?"
The green-eyed zombie's strength was comparable to a Form Transformation realm expert.
It was reasonable that Yuan Zun was no match for it.
Bi Cang sighed, "Even the case of the Liu family's Death Exemption Token being stolen happened after you took office."
Yuan Zun lowered his head in shame and remained silent.
Gong Yi took the opportunity to attack: "My lord, Lord Yuan did not pursue the whereabouts of the Anti-Heaven cult remnants or the green-eyed zombie after taking office. This alone shows that he does not care about the lives and deaths of the people of Tongcheng."
"He is not fit to be the parent official of Tongcheng."
"In my opinion, he should be dismissed from his post and investigated."
"As for how to determine his crime, it should be reported to the Great Emperor, and the Great Emperor will decide."
Bi Cang disliked Gong Yi's attitude.
But he also knew.
Yuan Zun had left a fatal handle, otherwise, Gong Yi would not have been able to use it as an excuse.
He looked at Yuan Zun and narrowed his eyes slightly, "Is what Lord Gong said true? Have you really not pursued the whereabouts of the Anti-Heaven cult remnants and the hiding place of that green-eyed zombie?"
At this moment.
Magistrate Gong angrily stated, "If Lord Yuan had truly pursued the whereabouts of the Anti-Heaven cult remnants, they would not have massacred the Liang family yesterday!"
"Yuan Zun is merely a hedonistic and incompetent official!"