"Yes." The palace-dressed woman respectfully took the order and left, somewhat anxious, as she could see that the queen was truly angry.

Since they spoke of having time to wait, Qie Shan wasn't in a hurry, standing there with a trademark smile, just waiting.

Everyone looked as if they were unaffected, all staring at the mirror images of the Heavenly Mirror.

Everyone else at the scene stood, except for Shi Chun, who was kneeling.

However, Shi Chun also secretly turned his head to sneak a few glances at the mirror image; seeing no one paying attention to him, and unable to speak, he boldly turned his head to watch the execution ground scene in the mirror image, roughly understanding how this mirror image came about, and in his heart, he marveled at its luxury, being far from the execution ground yet feeling like he was there.

Of course, he would occasionally steal another glance at the Queen, reflecting on seeing such a legendary figure, a feeling hard to shake off; this time, even if he truly died, it wouldn't be for nothing.

In the mirror image, the execution ground's public beheading event was over, and most of the people had relaxed, already gradually dispersing.

The Mingshan Sect party on site, Young Master Nan and his entourage, the Golden-haired Rat Clan, and the group from Wukang Mountain, Mulan Qingqing, and Miao Yilan—all were frozen in place, uncertain whether to leave or stay for the moment.

Especially the Mingshan Sect party, they came to collect the Master's body, and Young Master Nan even prepared a fine coffin, but then this happened.

The Royal Court's troops on the execution ground began to wrap up; would the Master really die or not?

"Life Prison is arresting the Master; did the Master do something again?"

When there were fewer people around, Zhu Xiangxin turned his head to look at everyone, asking uncertainly.

By this time, the news of Life Prison's arrest had spread among the crowd, and they were aware too.

Actually, everyone shared this question; if it was about whether the Master had done something to provoke Life Prison again, they wouldn't be surprised at all. Having been together for so long, they knew Life Prison was scary, but the Master... they might let loose, after all, they've all been through it together.

Beside him, Young Master Nan couldn't help but sigh, "Provoking Life Prison again? He came from Life Prison and should know they aren't to be trifled with. This mess—originally a straightforward matter, now it's hard to say what kind of death it will be. Well, Life Prison specializes in destroying various connections; we can't interfere at all. I hope it's not something bad and hope there's a chance for reprieve."

Tong Mingshan attempted to ask, "Young Master Nan, what do we do now, withdraw or wait?"

Young Master Nan shook his head, "Let's wait for now. I'll find someone to inquire, see if we can figure out the situation."

While they were muttering, the old man Wu Jinliang also left the scene. Mr. Qing seemed to support the old man, escorting him through the crowd. Xiang Laner saw this.

After leaving the square far behind, a carriage picked up Mr. Qing and Wu Jinliang and drove away.

The carriage headed towards a secluded place, pausing on the roadside at the city outskirts, and Mr. Qing took Wu Jinliang deeper into the mountains.

After crossing a few mountain peaks, Mr. Qing suddenly became alert, abruptly stopping at the mountainside, hearing strange noises.

Realizing he had been detected, those trailing in secret stopped concealing themselves, quickly flashing across the surrounding mountains and forests, directly encircling—four black-clad, masked figures. Mr. Qing was shocked, immediately grabbed Wu Jinliang and darted away.

The shadows on both sides closed in like phantoms. Mr. Qing was startled and pale with fear, realizing they were all experts far superior to him in cultivation.

Not knowing how he had been targeted, he suddenly thought about Wu Jinliang.

Realizing the situation was hopeless, he decisively struck down, clawing towards Wu Jinliang's forehead, intending to silence him first.

At the same time, he caught a glimpse of a flash of purple light that suddenly disappeared. Before his mind could fully react, his chest abruptly ruptured with shadows, a purple light shot forth, leaving him with no chance to evade or resist; he felt a tremendous shock to his body, forcibly restraining his fleeing speed.

Bang, a sound shook him, his breath thoroughly disordered; his claw aimed at Wu Jinliang's forehead was forcibly halted.

Wu Jinliang, despite being frightened out of his wits, still had some awareness.

Floating in the air, Mr. Qing lowered his head slightly to look at his chest, finding a large hole there, despite putting all his cultivation power into defense against that strike. Yet, it was still thin as paper. His face showed unwillingness, his eyes filled with confusion and incomprehension, murmuring to himself, "Void Escape Divine Arrow..."

By this time, the four masked men also rushed in, someone pulled him aside, while another swiftly took charge of the immobile Wu Jinliang.

Ahead, another masked figure flashed over, holding a vigorous bow like an old tree's root. The purple light piercing Mr. Qing encapsulated in mid-air, flew to the bow-wielder, and a flash dropped into the arrow quiver on his back, transforming into an ink-purple Returning Vase Arrow.

The group gathered on the ground, one squatted down to inspect Mr. Qing's bleeding, then looked up, "No chance for rescue, one strike killed him, dead."

The bow-wielder seemed to regret not capturing him alive, sighing, "The situation was urgent, had to use the Divine Arrow. Search him, see if any clues about his identity can be found."

Wu Jinliang's eyes darted around, scanning them, estimating their origins, when suddenly he noticed the bow-wielder's body start to tremble strangely, his eyes widening straight away, and then it ruptured.

Indeed, his body ruptured, as if someone had stabbed him through the back. A figure emerged from his body, with cold gleams flashing from the exploded flesh, darting past the group.

This person appeared so mysteriously and unexpectedly, that those kneeling to check the corpse had no time to react, and were knocked to the ground.

The other two hastily dodged aside, one dragging Wu Jinliang away.

When the two masked men saw clearly the floating assailant, the abrupt figure draped in a black cloak, was already floating and nocking an arrow, preparing his bow.

The bow looked familiar. The masked figure who dodged suddenly turned back to look at the spot where the bowman had been, but found no trace of the Divine Bow.

The two were filled with shock and confusion, and immediately turned to flee.

In front of the black-cloaked bowman, the void suddenly trembled, and a purple light shot out from the bow, silent and stealthy, disappearing in a flash.

The masked figure dragging Wu Jinliang to hide in the mountains suddenly had his head explode out of nowhere, both of them tumbling to the ground together.

The void shook again, and another purple light shot from the bow, darting into the forest, hitting a masked figure hiding behind a hill. Yet, even there, he could not escape the purple light that suddenly appeared behind him. Watching the light burst through his chest, he fell to the ground as his vision rolled.

Wu Jinliang, who had fallen to the ground, was already lying there eating dirt, his nose bloodied, feeling that he must have broken two bones.

A masked figure in a black cloak landed beside him, cautiously walking around. Two purple lights that twirled empty returned one after the other into the arrow quiver on his back.

With a heavy bow in hand, the figure nudged Wu Jinliang, crouched beside him, grabbed his beard, and tore off half of the disguise. After pulling and plucking to reveal Wu Jinliang's true face, he used a spell to release Wu Jinliang's restraint.

"Oh..." Wu Jinliang immediately clutched his dislocated nose and shouted as he sat up. He glanced at Yu Xuanbing in surprise and said, "Elder Yu, what brings you here?"

Upon seeing the attire and stature of the other, he recognized him instantly, giving Wu Jinliang an enormous surprise. He had thought he was done for, not expecting this person to suddenly appear to save him. Truly, he lived up to the name of the first assassin. Those looking at him were masters, yet he managed to kill them without anyone knowing how he got so close.

As he spoke, he got up, continually rubbing his fractured bones and groaning in pain.

Yu Xuanbing reminded, "The people who held you had contact with the most beautiful woman among you."

Wu Jinliang, wiping his bloody nose, immediately muttered who it was, "Xiang Laner..."

He then understood who had made the move, clenching his teeth, "No wonder they suddenly sent me two inexplicable messages. Damn bitch..."

He suddenly looked up in astonishment, realizing that the other side had come to probe his background.

Indeed, Yu Xuanbing, after learning that Shi Chun and his accomplices were in East Victory Royal City, feared they would break their word afterward and wanted to know more about them to counteract them in the future. Unexpectedly, he inadvertently discovered the communication between Xiang Laner and Mr. Qing, learning they were targeting Wu Jinliang.

Of course, Wu Jinliang was sensible enough not to dwell on it at the moment and promptly asked, "Who was the group that came afterward?"

Yu Xuanbing hefted the Divine Bow, "I don't know. This treasure is extremely difficult to craft and should be in the hands of only a few. I originally didn't know who exactly possessed it, let alone eight hundred years later." Saying this, he glanced at the demon cultivator corpses that lay revealed, "Including those who died behind the mountain, they were all demon cultivators."

"Demon cultivators..." Wu Jinliang turned back, limping as he pondered.

Yu Xuanbing had no desire to say more. Finally, he instructed, "I promised to help you kill one more person; now, to save you, I've killed five, enough to settle the account. From now on, we're even, and will not interfere with each other!"

With that, he tossed aside the Divine Bow and arrow quiver.

Wu Jinliang's eyes sparkled, "You don't want it? Giving it to me?"

Turning to leave, Yu Xuanbing glanced back at him, "How do you know there's no tracking device in that Divine Artifact? Those who can hold such a treasure are not ordinary forces. If found by them, it will be troublesome. I advise you not to take it. If they find something wrong, they'll come quickly, you should leave soon."

With those words, he vanished in a flash, never to meet again, like mountains high and waters long.

Yet Wu Jinliang chuckled incessantly, hobbling along. You may be afraid, but I am not. You don't want it; I do. He hurriedly picked up the Divine Bow and kissed it twice.

He understood very well that since they were coming after him, even if he didn't take this set of things, they wouldn't leave when they didn't see their people return, and they would come after him again. Better to find a place to hide first.

Focusing only on the treasure, he paid no attention to whether Yu Xuanbing had truly bid farewell this time, pocketed the treasure, and hurried to leave. Were it not for fear of the deceased's accomplices coming after him, he would have searched the body...

At the entrance of the great hall, a woman in palace attire appeared hurriedly, having finally found a difficult-to-find record jade scroll, she approached the queen quickly, presenting it with both hands, "Your Majesty, I've found it."

There really is one? Queen Xin's eyes showed a hint of anger as she snatched it to inspect, realizing upon reading that the case was somewhat familiar, it spoke of the Qi Family suspected of privately disrupting the Life Prison years ago. Due to a break in clues, the case was temporarily suspended, but Life Prison did not give up the investigation and had issued a notice for assistance externally.

In short, it means I have no evidence for now and can choose not to pursue it, but this does not mean I have abandoned the investigation. If any party discovers clues, or if I find clues in the future, I hope all parties will cooperate. Anyone who conceals and does not report shall bear the consequences!

Insightful people knew that they still suspected the Qi Family, they just had no evidence.

However, after reading the entire record from start to finish twice, she still couldn't see any connection with Shi Chun. She looked up at the woman beside her in puzzlement, "Where is Shi Chun mentioned in the record?"

The woman in palace attire, a bit embarrassed, pointed to the jade scroll, weakly saying, "The Eastern Jiuyuan Bandit Leader, that's Shi Chun."

"..." Queen Xin was somewhat stupefied, looking again, and indeed found that there was such a phrase.

Goodness, remembering Shi Chun's name was impressive enough, and now she finally understood why her subordinates had overlooked it; it was no fault of theirs.

She swept a cold glance toward Qie Shan, words held back.

Qie Shan seemed to know what she wanted to say, immediately explaining, "At the time, he was just an unremarkable character, not worth elaborating on, including him in a sentence was as much as the report needed. Oh, and that Wu Jinliang, Shi Chun's accomplice, is also among 'Eastern Jiuyuan Bandit Leader'. If East Victory has caught him, please hand him over to me for thorough interrogation."

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