595: Then I'm going to be a demon

Under Shen Bei's operations, the Night Watcher quickly listed Pan Fei's crimes.

Most of them had conclusive evidence.

It was just that the narratives were even more chilling, exaggerated for effect.

"...In Panjia Village's rocky pit, bones piled up, no less than three thousand people. These were all common folk who died over decades, ever since Pan Fei became an official in the Imperial City. For his cultivation and wealth, Pan Fei forced the people of Panjia Village into endless mining, treating them as slaves. Countless died from exhaustion, and he even collaborated with the Demonic Path. They mined during the day and had their vital essence extracted by Demon Path cultivators at night, living in a demonic den..."

"...Thirty-six newborns in Panjia Village disappeared overnight. It was Pan Fei who instructed his clansmen to steal them and offer them to Demonic Path powerhouses for blood sacrifice cultivation..."

"...Liu Bing, a scholar from Fengcheng, was exceptionally talented. But because Pan Fei accepted bribes, he was failed to make room for another, and when Liu Bing refused to accept it and wanted to report it to the capital, Pan Fei had someone break his tendons and torture him until he went mad..."

"...Pan Fei was inherently greedy. For money, he used his power to arrange the sale of titles and offices, and he formed a small circle..."

"...Pan Fei, using his immense power as a Minister of Rites, committed numerous evil deeds. The lives tainted by his hands numbered over ten thousand. The stench of corpses in Panjia Village's rocky hill still lingers today..."

The posted notices meticulously detailed Pan Fei's crimes, causing an uproar in the Imperial City.

At the same time, countless common folk knelt outside the Night Watcher's gate.

Most of these people resented Pan Fei. There were officials who had been suppressed, commoners who had been bullied, and many relatives of those who died by his hand. They used to be angry but dared not speak. Now, seeing the Night Watcher's public notices, they knew Pan Fei was doomed.

Tears streamed down their faces as they kowtowed repeatedly to the Night Watcher. As a third-rank official, Pan Fei's evil deeds affected too many people.

Naturally, Shen Bei's name also resounded throughout the Imperial City.

Compared to the silence of the Imperial City's upper echelons, the common people of the Imperial City held Shen Bei in immense reverence.

"Team Leader Shen is an upright and honest official!"

"He's a good person! He actually sacrificed himself for others."

"If only all officials in the Imperial City were as noble and upright as Team Leader Shen."

"..."

The story of him using himself as bait to eliminate Pan Fei quickly spread, moving many Imperial City residents to tears.

At this moment, Shen Bei had already returned to the Night Watcher and met with Prince Wei, saying, "Your Highness, can I have a few days off? I'm a bit tired."

"..."

Prince Wei looked at Shen Bei, speechless for a moment, then said after a pause, "Do you know how much trouble you've caused?"

Shen Bei asked, puzzled, "This has nothing to do with me, does it? You promised me you'd be my backing!"

Prince Wei laughed in exasperation. You certainly know how to deflect blame. This Prince knew you wouldn't be quiet, but he didn't expect you to be this restless.

You directly took down a third-rank official.

Yes!

Taking him down doesn't scare this Prince. If he's taken down, he's taken down. As a figure of the Old Ancestor level in the imperial family, what's a third-rank official? As long as those three big figures aren't touched, this Prince can handle it.

But the problem isn't a third-rank official; it's the Great Ancestor's ancient text.

Throughout the country, who wants this thing to appear? By so ostentatiously bringing out the great ancestor's sacred edict, you are announcing to them that this great ancestor's sacred edict is about to return to the world. The Night Watcher is about to return to the era of unparalleled power it held during Great Ancestor's time.

How could the various officials of the state accept this? Does General Yang truly care about Pan Fei? Such a figure stepping forward is for the sake of the great ancestor's sacred edict!

Too radical!

Prince Wei also felt a headache. The great ancestor's sacred edict was brought out, but you were so radical that he didn't even have a chance to ease the tension or muddle through.

He almost didn't need to think; most of the state's officials were probably looking for the Emperor right now.

Not many things in this world could stir his emotions anymore, but now he was also finding it hard to cope. Thinking about the problems he would face later, his scalp tingled.

Forget it, how the hell can I face this? I can't face it! Hmm, I'll hide. If I hide, I won't have to deal with it.

Prince Wei ignored Shen Bei and shouted outside, "Let Bi Kun come!"

Bi Kun arrived quickly.

When Bi Kun saw Shen Bei, he didn't know what emotion to use to treat him. Everything he did... was truly... crazy.

Prince Wei saw Bi Kun and said, "An imperial decree will surely arrive soon. Tell the imperial envoy that this Prince is ill and has gone somewhere to recuperate."

Bi Kun was stunned. Was His Highness trying to bury his head in the sand? But what was the use of that? He would have to face it sooner or later.

When Shen Bei heard Prince Wei say that, his heart skipped a beat.

No way, really?

Prince Wei can't even handle this small matter?

Are you really capable?

Wouldn't that be the end?

Damn it, I need to be low-key in the future!

Why was he so arrogant? Wasn't it all because of you, Prince Wei? Your status is too detached; even the current Emperor is your grand-nephew. If you can't handle things, you should have said so earlier.

No, I need to find a time to run away.

"Your Highness, one must be trustworthy!" Shen Bei reminded him. Can't you just hold on for a bit and buy me some time to escape?

Prince Wei glanced at Shen Bei and instantly saw through his thoughts.

Scared already? When you were arrogantly brandishing the great ancestor's sacred edict and charging ahead, why were you so fearless?

However, he couldn't let this kid look down on him either.

Prince Wei said to Bi Kun, "Oh! Right, Shen Bei was seriously injured while apprehending Pan Fei, and he's recuperating with this Prince. Any matters can wait until we've recovered!"

"..."

Bi Kun thought to himself, this reason is truly impossible to argue with.

However, it was also clear that Prince Wei intended to protect Shen Bei at all costs. He said no more, nodded, and left.

Seeing Prince Wei say this, Shen Bei let out a sigh of relief. He thought he couldn't handle it, but it seemed he was still stable. That's good, the great ancestor's sacred edict can still be used vigorously.

Prince Wei looked at Shen Bei and said, "Hide for a bit, don't stick your head out. Be low-key during this period, and while you're at it, get through your five minor declines. That way, you'll have some self-preservation ability."

Shen Bei yawned.

Of the five minor declines, only heart decline remained, and he would soon overcome it.

The God Realm was not far off.

Stared at playfully by Prince Wei, Shen Bei couldn't figure out what he was thinking. For a moment, he remained silent.

"Boring!" Prince Wei stood up and said, "It's a good game; everyone just plays along without exposing each other. You just had to make this Prince spell it out, and now this Prince doesn't know how to play with you anymore."

"Your Highness, please be a little more careful with your choice of words," Shen Bei reminded him. When he used that word on him, it felt like he was being abused.

Prince Wei smiled and said, "You know you came from the Sacred Temple and used the great ancestor's sacred edict to stir up trouble. Could you possibly survive in this Imperial City? Being cut into a thousand pieces wouldn't be surprising, would it?"

"This subordinate is not worried about that. Since Your Highness didn't expose it from the beginning, you surely don't wish for my death."

Prince Wei, however, shook his head and said, "You have some cleverness, but how do you know what this Prince is thinking? This Prince merely saw Hong Long die by your hand and took the opportunity to set up a chess piece to play with. After all, this was a chess piece delivered to my doorstep. Anyone could be used, and if this chess piece isn't cooperative, replacing it would only be a little more troublesome."

Shen Bei stared intently at Prince Wei. He didn't speak; he truly couldn't discern Prince Wei's true intentions.

"Of course, you don't need to be afraid. What you said is also true; since I didn't expose it at the beginning, there's no reason to expose it now. So... you must be obedient. Being obedient means being this Prince's good subordinate."

Shen Bei understood Prince Wei's meaning: if he wasn't obedient, he would be abandoned.

Shen Bei's expression changed unpredictably, his heart filled with apprehension.

Then he really couldn't stay quiet.

He had to make Prince Wei feel that he was getting into more and more trouble, and cooperate with Fu Jian to deal with Zhen Li.

At that time, Prince Wei, in order to avoid trouble, would naturally send him to One-Blade Gorge to avoid the limelight.

Simply perfect!