27: People from the county town

"Someone from the prefecture city has arrived?" Shen Qiming frowned and asked in a heavy voice.

"Who is it? How did Lord Prefectural Governor respond?"

In his mind, it was expected that the prefecture city would send someone.

It would be nothing more than a formality to verify the situation, reassure the Shen Family, and discuss candidates for the new City Lord.

However, the next words from the reporting clansman caused his heart to sink abruptly.

"To the Family Head, the Prefectural Governors Mansion... has sent an Inspector surnamed Ma, saying he wants to thoroughly investigate the matter of Zhao Wuji's 'Qi Deviation'!" The clansman panted heavily, his face full of panic.

"And... and he didn't come alone! Traveling with him is the Third Young Master of the Wei Family from the prefecture city, Wei Ming! Their... their flying boat is almost at Linjiang City!"

"Inspector Ma? Someone from the Wei Family?"

The expressions of Shen Qiming and Shen Zongdao, who was standing nearby, changed simultaneously.

They had lived in Linjiang City for a long time, but they had also heard some things about the Baiyue Prefecture city.

This Inspector Ma was notorious in the prefecture city for being greedy, cunning, and ruthless. Countless small families had been bled dry by his excuses, leading to their ruin.

As for that Wei Family, they were a major Family ranked in the top five in the prefecture city! They had a Golden Core True Person presiding over them, and their influence was deeply entrenched.

Most crucially, they had all heard a rumor that Zhao Wuji's Dao Companion was seemingly a woman from a branch of the Wei Family.

Although only from a branch line, they were relatives after all.

Now, an Inspector known for his harshness and a scion of a major Family with ties to Zhao Wuji had come together under the banner of a "thorough investigation."

The meaning behind this was self-evident!

The visitors were not friendly!

"This... what should we do?" Shen Qiming was suddenly at a loss.

"They clearly come with ill intent, seeking to stand up for Zhao Wuji and find trouble with us!"

"An Inspector Ma is one thing, but adding a Wei Family makes things tricky. A Golden Core Family is not something we can afford to offend right now." Shen Zongdao's expression was also grave to the extreme.

The Family had only just seen a glimmer of hope for rising; were they now to face suppression from this behemoth of the prefecture city?

For a moment, the atmosphere that had been full of hope just now instantly became oppressive.

Only Shen Yuanmo's face remained completely calm from beginning to end.

"How many of them are there? What are their cultivation levels?" After listening to the clansman's report, he only asked calmly.

The clansman was stunned for a moment before quickly answering.

"To the Grand Elder, there are about twenty-odd people on the flying boat. I cannot see through the cultivation of the leading Inspector Ma and that Young Master Wei, but the guards around them all have powerful auras; they are at least Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators!"

At least two Foundation Establishment Stages, plus over a dozen Foundation Establishment guards!

This lineup was enough to easily level Linjiang City!

Shen Qiming and Shen Zongdao's hearts sank even further.

Shen Yuanmo merely nodded, a flash of understanding in his eyes.

"It seems that others do not wish to accept our kindness."

He had originally thought that by handling the matter flawlessly and giving the prefecture city a perfect way out, the other party would go along with it.

Now it seemed he had thought too simply.

Or rather, he had underestimated the greed of some people and the chain of interests represented by a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

Zhao Wuji's downfall didn't just mean the sky had changed in Linjiang City; it also touched the interests of certain people in the prefecture city.

These people would not be satisfied without coming to take a bite themselves.

"Yuan Mo, what should we do now?" Shen Qiming asked anxiously.

"Should we transfer the clansmen first to avoid their edge for now?"

"Avoid?" Shen Yuanmo shook his head.

"Where can we hide? The entire Baiyue Prefecture is the territory of the Immortal Dynasty. As long as we still want a foothold in Linjiang City, we must pass this trial."

He turned around and looked at his worried father and the Old Ancestor, his face regaining a confident smile.

"Father, Old Ancestor, do not worry."

"Soldiers will be blocked by generals, and water by earth. Since they want to come as guests, we will entertain them well."

"They are here to test our strength, to see if our Shen Family is a hard bone to pick or a piece of fat meat that can be handled at will."

"Since that's the case, we'll let them see clearly."

Shen Yuanmo's words allowed Shen Qiming and Shen Zongdao's panicked hearts to settle slightly.

"Pass down my order." Shen Yuanmo's voice became steady and powerful.

"Activate the Family's grand array, but only for defense; do not reveal any Killing Intent."

"All clansmen are to perform their duties; no one is allowed to panic. Elders of the Qi Generation, follow me, my father, and the Old Ancestor to welcome the 'distinguished guests' from the prefecture city."

"Additionally..." He paused and said to Shen Qiming.

"Father, bring that 'evidence' of Zhao Wuji's crimes that we prepared."

Since the other party was not being considerate, he didn't need to be polite anymore.

Some things were meant to be kept as a trump card, but now it seemed it was time to bring them out for these guests from afar to see... Half an hour later.

Outside the East Gate of Linjiang City.

A flying boat over ten zhang long, constructed entirely of green wood and engraved with the cloud patterns of the Immortal Dynasty, slowly descended from the clouds.

A banner of the Baiyue Prefecture fluttered in the wind atop the flying boat.

Before the flying boat even touched the ground, waves of powerful Foundation Establishment pressure were released wantonly from the vessel, pressing down toward Linjiang City below.

In the city, countless Mortals and low-level Cultivators felt their chests tighten and their legs weaken under this pressure, looking up at the sky in horror.

This was a blatant show of force!

The flying boat ultimately did not fly toward the City Lord's Mansion in the center of the city, but instead hovered over the Shen Family estate, looking down with an arrogant posture.

The cabin doors opened, and a group of twenty-odd people leapt down from the flying boat, landing before the main gate of the Shen Family estate.

Leading them were two young men.

One wore the official robes of a prefecture city Inspector, with a fat build, triangular eyes, and a hooked nose, wearing a malicious smile; it was Ma Kun.

The other was dressed in white brocade robes, with fine jade hanging from his waist and a folding fan in his hand. He had a handsome face, but his brow carried an indelible arrogance and gloom.

The look he gave the Shen Family estate was full of undisguised contempt and scrutiny; he was the Third Young Master of the Wei Family, Wei Ming.

Behind them were eighteen Foundation Establishment guards in uniform armor with condensed Auras, each expressionless and brimming with Killing Intent.

With such a display, this was no investigation; it was clearly a confrontation to demand accountability!

Ma Kun cleared his throat, preparing to exert his official authority and shout a stern questioning.

Just then.

"Creak—"

The gates of the Shen Family slowly opened.

Shen Yuanmo led the way, followed by Shen Qiming, Shen Zongdao, and several core Elders of the Family, coming out to welcome them neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"We did not know the Lord Inspector was gracing us with his presence. Our Shen Family has failed to welcome you properly; we hope for your forgiveness."

Shen Yuanmo had a gentle smile on his face as he cupped his hands to Ma Kun, as if he didn't feel the other party's aggressive Aura at all.

His gaze merely swept across Wei Ming's face before he didn't spare him another look.