“Crack!”
A crisp sound rang out as Fang Qingshu’s arm bones were broken alive.
The faces of everyone present twitched violently. Especially Fu Lingxi, whose delicate body trembled almost imperceptibly.
The sixteen judges and the trial knights present also shuddered violently.
Fang Qingshu himself, however, merely twitched the muscles of his face without uttering the slightest sound. His handsome face was completely bloodless, his gaze almost shooting flames.
Continuing to arrest Yan Nai’er was now completely impossible. With the protection gold token bearing the personal signature of Sky Priest Gu Ban, it was virtually equivalent to an imperial pardon.
With his own standing, Fang Qingshu no longer had the authority or power to arrest Yan Nai’er.
Moreover, he could not spare any attention for arresting Yan Nai’er at all. He had to rush back immediately to extinguish the fire and protect himself. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Staring into Suo Lun’s eyes, Fang Qingshu said word by word, “Suo Lun, everything that has happened today, I will remember forever. In the future, I shall repay it tenfold, a hundredfold!”
Then, Fang Qingshu leapt onto his warhorse and shouted, “Go!”
The sixteen judges and five hundred trial knights mounted their warhorses in unison, then retreated like the ebbing tide, disappearing completely in a short time.
And the crowd of onlookers present wore expressions of shock, as if they still had not recovered from their reverie.
Lord Fang Qingshu of the Dragon God Temple had arrived in a menacing manner with arrest warrants personally signed by Luo Ge and Ge Li to capture someone. Everyone had believed that Yan Nai’er was doomed this time, and that Suo Lun would certainly be dragged down with her.
Everyone knew that this was a counterattack by Young Lord Zhili, incomparably sharp, nearly fatal!
But no one had expected such an outcome. Not only did Fang Qingshu leave in disgrace, but his arms had been broken alive.
This outcome was truly shocking. Even dispatching the Dragon God Temple could not do anything to Suo Lun.
……
“Disperse!” Suo Lun shouted.
Instantly, the crowd of onlookers shuddered violently, then retreated swiftly.
To be fair, ever since becoming the lord of Tianshui City, Suo Lun had always treated the populace with cold brows and a stern face, without the slightest pleasant expression.
This was different from Suo Long, and different from Suo Hanyi as well.
Count Suo Long was dignified and steady, while Suo Hanyi was warm and cordial.
But even so, Suo Lun’s reputation in Tianshui City remained excellent. Everyone held him in both respect and fear.
The respect was because Suo Lun collected low taxes, and whether building the Wind and Thunder Fortress defence line, constructing weapon workshops, or conscripting civilian labour during wartime, he always paid generous sums of money without ever falling into arrears.
Ever since Suo Lun became the lord of Tianshui City, the living standards of the subjects on these five hundred li of territory had nearly doubled.
And the reasons for fear needed no further explanation. Suo Lun’s attitude towards the populace was cold, and he never showed mercy when it came to killing.
……
“Husband, in truth you should not have broken his arms. This makes things difficult for both the High Priest and Luo Ge, and thoroughly offends the Hidden Continent.” Zhiyan said in a low voice from the side.
Suo Lun nodded. Breaking Fang Qingshu’s arms was indeed very unwise.
But he truly could not restrain himself. Hearing the venomous words Fang Qingshu spoke about Yan Nai’er and Gui Qinshao, he completely could not suppress the fury in his heart.
“I was not wise enough, but if it happened again, I would still do the same.” Suo Lun said, “Next, we must exert all our strength to salvage the situation!”
Zhiyan nodded.
At this moment, Gui Qinshao stepped forward, linking her arm through Suo Lun’s, and said smugly, “Husband, you truly should have broken Fang Qingshu’s legs as well, letting everyone under heaven see that we are not some stray cats or dogs to be bullied. Even Zhili was beaten into disgrace by you, let alone some Fang Qingshu?”
These words left Suo Lun speechless, but he could not be bothered to explain anything to her. He merely pinched her little nose affectionately.
How could Gui Qinshao know that the reason Suo Lun was able to break Fang Qingshu’s arms this time and dig such an enormous trap for him was entirely a case of the fox borrowing the tiger’s might, exploiting the power struggles among the upper echelons of the Dragon God Temple.
Where had Suo Lun obtained the signed gold token of Sky Priest Gu Ban? On the surface, Suo Lun had won it from Huai Bingyi in a game of chess.
But the true reasons were somewhat of a long story.
Previously, Sky Priest Gu Ban had personally come to guard the Zhidu Temple, responsible for capturing the Hell Knight Ashiluo, and thereby capturing the master of the Demon Star, the World-Destroying Demon Emperor.
This capture operation was conducted jointly by the Dragon God Temple and the Inquisition of the Raging Wave Kingdom.
But the entire operation could only be described as a failure.
Because Ashiluo chose to commit suicide at the final juncture, completely severing the clues to capturing the World-Destroying Demon Emperor.
Thus, Sky Priest Gu Ban already harboured dissatisfaction towards Luo Ge and Ge Li.
After the entire operation concluded, when Holy Maiden Ji Xiuning returned to the Sky Temple to report, she strongly expressed her dissatisfaction with Grand Inquisitor Luo Ge and High Priest Ge Li.
At the time, after capturing Ashiluo, the Dragon God Temple had used the lives of Ashi Liren and Ashi Yuanba to threaten Ashiluo, forcing him to hand over the demon tears.
Regarding this point, Ji Xiuning expressed extreme opposition, believing this completely violated the justice and sanctity of the Dragon God Temple.
She felt that it was precisely because of this that Ashiluo, at the final juncture, had firmed up his demon faith and chosen to die a tragic suicide, using his own life to protect the World-Destroying Demon Emperor, causing the only clue to capturing the World-Destroying Demon Emperor to be severed.
Therefore, Ji Xiuning strongly recommended punishing Luo Ge and Ge Li.
But Ji Xiuning was, after all, still only a Holy Maiden, only a future Sky Priest. Her recommendations were not implemented.
She was a person of justice and universal love, filled with idealism. But even within the Sky Temple, reality abounded.
However, in the end, the Sky Temple still decided to hand over the operation to capture the World-Destroying Demon Emperor to another Sky Temple disciple, the future Sky Priest Huai Bingyi.
Nearly two months ago, while sailing on a sea vessel from the Floating Pagoda Giant Tower Island back to the mainland, Suo Lun and Huai Bingyi were like kindred spirits of the high mountains and flowing waters. Every day they played chess, played the zither, painted, and drank wine.
Suo Lun had brought up the matter of the demon blood in Yan Nai’er’s body, saying that Fang Qingshu would certainly exploit the opportunity to avenge personal grievances under the guise of public duty.
Huai Bingyi had said at the time, let us play a game of chess. He would make the first move. If Suo Lun won, Huai Bingyi would help him protect Yan Nai’er.
In the end, Suo Lun won, and Huai Bingyi truly gave Suo Lun a Sky Temple protection gold token.
As for the official reason for protecting Yan Nai’er, it was quite simple. Because she was the only known person in the human kingdoms infected with demon blood, she held important significance for capturing the World-Destroying Demon Emperor, and thus needed to be protected first.
This was equivalent to a police informant in a major case, who must receive proper protection.
Possessing demon blood in one’s body was certainly anti-Dragon God force and anti-Dragon God faith, an enormous crime. But compared to capturing the World-Destroying Demon Emperor, these minor matters were not worth mentioning.
As for the source of the demon blood in Yan Nai’er’s body, Suo Lun had explained everything clearly, concealing only the Demon Star. Everything else was completely true.
That Suo Lun would use this Sky Temple protection gold token to frame Fang Qingshu, Huai Bingyi certainly knew, and there was even a tacit understanding between him and Suo Lun regarding this.
Because one of the manipulators behind the Demon Continent Princess Yuanyuan’s ambush of Suo Lun was Fang Qingshu.
Yuanyuan had exploited Suo Lun in an attempt to kill Zhiyan, something that greatly angered Huai Bingyi. Moreover, one was the young master of the Tyrant Continent and the other the young master of the Hidden Continent. It was impossible for there to be no competition or conflict between them.
So this time, it could be considered Huai Bingyi and Suo Lun joining forces to thoroughly trap Fang Qingshu once.
Of course, regarding these secret matters, other outsiders could not see through them at all. Everyone only saw that Suo Lun’s power was overwhelming. Not only did he make Fang Qingshu leave in disgrace, but he also broke his arms.
……
At this moment, the person with the most unsightly expression was, without question, Suo Lun’s mother Fu Lingxi.
First was extreme shock!
She had been born and raised in the Dragon God Temple, regarding it as higher than heaven itself, and did not think much of secular royal power.
Therefore, Suo Lun temporarily winning a small step against Zhili did not strike her as particularly impressive. In the eyes of the Dragon God Temple, secular people were like ants.
And this time, the arrest warrant bore the joint signatures of the Grand Inquisitor and the High Priest. She had believed that no matter what, Yan Nai’er was doomed.
Previously, when Yan Nai’er said that Suo Lun had already resolved this crisis, Fu Lingxi had scoffed inwardly. In her view, how could Suo Lun’s hands possibly reach into the high-level power of the Dragon God Temple? What kind of sacred power was this? How could a mere Suo Lun possibly touch it?
Yet she had not expected that Suo Lun truly turned the tables. Not only did he save Yan Nai’er, but he broke Fang Qingshu’s arms alive.
Then came extreme bitterness.
Suo Lun clearly had the ability to save Yan Nai’er, yet deliberately asked her to step forward to save her, precisely to test her true inner feelings.
Did you not say over and over that you wished to make amends for your previous mistakes? Did you not say over and over that you loved your son and your daughter?
Now the opportunity has come. Are you willing to pay the price of your future to save your daughter-in-law?
If Fu Lingxi had said yes at that time, she would immediately have received forgiveness from Suo Lun and Suo Ningbing and everyone else, becoming a mother completely accepted by her children.
Moreover, she would not have needed to pay any price. Her future in the Dragon God Temple would not have been affected in the slightest.
As it turned out, Fu Lingxi followed her heart and gave the coldest, most heartless answer.
Thus, she was subsequently slapped in the face repeatedly, becoming the ugliest woman present.
From this point on, the door of familial affection between her and her son Suo Lun and daughter Suo Ningbing was thoroughly closed!
Moreover, she was completely ashamed to face Suo Lun and Suo Ningbing.
But she was a noble Dragon God Temple judge. She could display her compassion, but she could not lower her lofty head.
Taking a deep breath, Fu Lingxi put away all the guilt in her heart, put away all tenderness, and said coldly to Suo Lun, “Suo Lun, take care of yourself!”
Then, she directly left the Tianshui City Lord’s residence and returned to the royal capital Zhidu.
Suo Ningbing could barely believe her eyes. Her mother Fu Lingxi had done such a thing. Faced with such a situation, should she not be overwhelmed with guilt? How could she instead become even more self-righteous and even more high and mighty?
“Get out!” Suo Lun did not speak, but Suo Ningbing shouted coldly instead.
Fu Lingxi left without looking back.
Suo Ningbing could hold back no longer. She threw herself into Suo Lun’s embrace, crying as she said, “When I was little, I always thought Mother was very gentle and treated me very well. She never said a harsh word and patiently taught me art and literature. I thought she was a good mother. And Father was distant towards her. After she left home, I always felt this was Father’s fault, and did not blame Fu Lingxi much in my heart. Now I finally understand why Father was so distant towards her. It was not because he could not forget Aunt Yan Chuo’er, but because he thoroughly saw through this woman Fu Lingxi.”
At this moment, Suo Lun also completely understood Count Suo Long’s state of mind.
He was an absolutely upright man. Even if he could not forget Yan Chuo’er, he would absolutely never treat his own wife poorly. He would certainly try every means to love her.
However, he had encountered an incomparably hypocritical, incomparably heartless woman.
This woman appeared gentle, virtuous, elegant, and beautiful on the surface, virtually perfect.
But in reality, she was like a person in a painting. She looked perfect, yet completely lacked an inner heart. Her entire inner being was occupied by the Dragon God Temple, with little emotion for her husband or her children.
Therefore, Count Suo Long had become thoroughly distant towards her.
……
Fang Qingshu led the judges and the trial knights in a swift gallop back to Zhidu.
Everything was not yet over. He had to save himself. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
And his only path to survival now was to drag Grand Inquisitor Luo Ge and High Priest Ge Li down with him.
After all, the arrest warrant for Yan Nai’er had been personally signed by Luo Ge and Ge Li. This return in defeat, and even Fang Qingshu’s arms being broken, was also Suo Lun slapping these two supreme figures in the face.
If he manoeuvred properly, the three of them banding together, even Sky Priest Gu Ban would likely not dare act rashly.
Moreover, they could strike back and place Suo Lun in a fatal position.
After all, were the faces of Luo Ge and Ge Li so easily slapped?
Therefore, Fang Qingshu decided without hesitation to leave Tianshui City.
Three hundred li after leaving Tianshui City, a graceful figure followed closely behind. Looking back, it was actually Fu Lingxi.
“Oh, has Lady Fu Lingxi also been expelled by Suo Lun?” Fang Qingshu sneered coldly.
Fu Lingxi said, “Lord Fang Qingshu, you should still be thinking about how to save yourself?”
Fang Qingshu looked at Fu Lingxi’s peerlessly beautiful face. Associating it with her special identity as Suo Lun’s mother, his heart suddenly stirred, and he said, “Lady Fu Lingxi, shall we make a deal?”
“A deal?” Fu Lingxi furrowed her brows.
Fang Qingshu said, “You help me through this difficult time and carry out a desperate counterattack against Suo Lun. And I guarantee you rise another level, becoming one of the four Grand Inquisitors. How about that?”
Upon these words, Fu Lingxi’s delicate body trembled violently.
……
In the Tianshui City Lord’s residence!
“For Fang Qingshu to save himself, he must drag Luo Ge and Ge Li down with him.” Suo Lun said, “A young master of the Hidden Continent, a Grand Inquisitor, and a High Priest. If the three of them band together, even one as esteemed as Sky Priest Gu Ban would find it difficult to do anything.”
Princess Zhiyan nodded.
Suo Lun said, “Therefore, if we wish to place Fang Qingshu in a fatal position, we must thoroughly separate him from Luo Ge and Ge Li.”
Zhiyan said, “But this arrest warrant was personally signed by Luo Ge and Ge Li after all. They and Fang Qingshu are difficult to separate. No matter what we do, we are slapping these two in the face. By then, not only will we fail to destroy Fang Qingshu, but we will bring catastrophic disaster upon ourselves!”
Suo Lun nodded. A Grand Inquisitor and a High Priest were virtually the pinnacle of power in the entire Raging Wave Kingdom.
The fury of these two was something Suo Lun could not currently withstand.
Once Fang Qingshu succeeded, not only would he escape, but Suo Lun and Yan Nai’er would die without a burial place.
After all, whether Huai Bingyi or Sky Priest Gu Ban, neither would completely fall out with a Grand Inquisitor and a High Priest for the sake of a mere Suo Lun.
“Strike a snake but fail to kill it, and you shall suffer its harm.” Suo Lun rose and said, “This time, we must thoroughly destroy Fang Qingshu, leaving him unable to recover!”
Princess Zhiyan said, “How certain are you?”
“Seventy percent!” Suo Lun said.
Upon these words, Princess Zhiyan was startled, unable to believe it.
Suo Lun said, “Come, let us enter Zhidu and thoroughly destroy Fang Qingshu!”