144: You are truly the worst batch of prisoners I've ever executed!

"Detected player Karma has reached 5000 for the first time. Awarding title [Great Philanthropist (Excellent)]."

"Congratulations, player, for obtaining the Karma-exclusive fashion [Kind-hearted Person]."

After killing so many people, it only increased by a few thousand? What exactly is the acquisition mechanism for this Karma?

Zhou Yan ignored Judge Chen, who was fuming at the edge of the execution ground, and focused on pondering the game mechanics.

"Zhou Yan! You're going too far!"

"Now that Lord Qian is here, how dare you still be so reckless!"

Judge Chen was already furious about failing to save Qiao Wenbin, and seeing Zhou Yan completely ignore him made his anger flare even more.

If he hadn't known he couldn't defeat Zhou Yan, he would have charged forward and attacked long ago.

He had painstakingly escaped Jiangzhou, rushing to find the Transport Commissioner for help, wasn't it all to save Qiao Wenbin? Now everything was ruined!

His exasperated appearance, however, caught Zhou Yan's attention.

Zhou Yan couldn't help but find it amusing.

The version has already been updated, and you, an old hero, are only now returning.

Official positions are fixed; whatever rank it is, it is.

However, the actual status varies due to different powers and responsibilities.

Because Zhou Yan was a Censor from the capital, even the Prefect of Jiangzhou had to give him Face.

But now that they had completely fallen out, Judge Chen dared to speak to him like this.

It's a pity that the other party's version hasn't been updated.

Currently, Zhou Yan's highest official position is Director of the Dali Temple, a sixth-rank official, and in Jiangzhou, only Qiao Wenze is higher than him.

If Judge Chen didn't already have the identity of an escaped criminal and didn't need any more added, Zhou Yan could have added several more charges just for his shouting and insulting a superior.

"Who do we have here? It turns out to be the escaped criminal Chen Wenruo."

Zhou Yan then frowned, stood up, and slammed the table, shouting.

"I told you to come early, but you didn't, insisting on running around!"

"Now look? Everyone's been executed, only you're left, making a bunch of people wait for you. Aren't you ashamed at your age!"

"Everyone here is a criminal, only you're out of place, like one rotten apple spoiling the whole barrel."

"You're truly the worst batch of criminals I've ever executed!"

Seeing Zhou Yan's stern demeanor, Judge Chen instinctively reacted, quickly apologizing awkwardly.

"Ah? I'm sorry, it really wasn't my fault for being late this time, mainly because there was really a traffic jam today, and I didn't want to... I'll definitely change next time, definitely change."

"Alright, there won't be a next time, come up and get your head chopped off." Zhou Yan still kept a straight Face.

"Okay, okay, thank you, Lord Zhou. I'll definitely punish myself with three cuts later to apologize to everyone." Judge Chen walked onto the execution ground with a forced smile, turned around, and knelt down, ready for execution.

"Holy crap, that's not right!"

Only after kneeling down did Judge Chen realize what he had just done, and fearing he would actually be beheaded, he frantically shouted.

"Stop the execution!"

It would have been better if he hadn't shouted; his shout startled the executioner, who instinctively recalled Zhou Yan's previous instructions, and with a swift motion, brought the blade down.

Since Judge Chen was an escaped criminal, he was locked onto by the national destiny as soon as he stepped onto the execution ground, and was about to be executed as a matter of course.

At the most crucial moment, a person dressed as a Young Master, who had been standing silently beside Judge Chen, pointed a finger in the air, shattering the blade from a distance.

Zhou Yan also looked at that person.

The person wore a white brocade robe, embroidered with various patterns, held a folding fan, and always had a slight smile on his lips.

Although he had long known that Judge Chen's escape was to prepare a backup plan, and he was prepared for it, trouble was still trouble, and adding even one more made him tired.

Why can't they be like in online games, where relatives and friends only exist in the background? As long as the game doesn't model them, everyone is an orphan.

Alas, how good would it have been to just execute him? Why cause me more trouble? And this kid is so pretentious, I really want to punch him twice.

"Presumably, you are Qian Santong, Lord Qian?"

Complaining is complaining, but since the person is here, he still has to be dealt with.

Isn't he just a fourth-rank official? Watch me work!

Qian Santong casually waved his hand, and Judge Chen on the platform was enveloped by magical power and brought to his side.

At this moment, Judge Chen was still in shock, his Face pale, unable to speak for a while.

To be stopped midway after being brought to the execution ground, without a special imperial decree, this was a display of strength.

Preventing a seventh-rank official from being beheaded, Zhou Yan could also do it by transforming into a Dragon, but he would definitely suffer a backlash and some minor pain.

Combining the opponent's fourth-rank status, plus being so young, and a local official rather than a capital official, Zhou Yan estimated his strength should be around the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul.

Qian Santong's display also showed his confidence in his own strength and status. Unfortunately, like Judge Chen, his version was outdated.

"Lord Qian is obstructing the execution, this is a serious crime." Zhou Yan continued, seeing that the other party hadn't responded to his previous words.

"Censor Zhou's accusation makes this official very scared."

"You, a mere Censor, come to my West Jiangnan Circuit to cause trouble, did you ask for my opinion?"

"Everyone present here, no matter what they did, are the backbone of my Jiangzhou. You just killed them all, do you still have me in your eyes!"

Qian Santong's smile remained, but his tone grew cold, followed by a vast oppressive Aura sweeping towards Zhou Yan.

However, it was blocked by the silent Li Cheng beside him just as it was about to approach.

Seeing that his show of force didn't work, Qian Santong's expression stiffened.

There was an unexpected gain? This Qian Santong is actually only in the Early Stage of Nascent Soul?

Then the next plan will be even more secure.

"Cough cough."

"Censor Zhou, what a grand display of official power!"

No wonder he could become a fourth-rank official; after being slapped in the Face, he could immediately regain his composure as if nothing had happened.

"Lord Qian's accusation also makes me very scared."

"I have been impartial in enforcing the law from beginning to end, unlike you, who immediately obstructed an execution. An outsider would think you are a rebellious minister and a traitor, disregarding all royal law."

Hearing Zhou Yan use his own words to retort, Qian Santong could no longer maintain his smile, and his entire Face turned cold.

"Zhou Yan, do you know your crime!" This time, Qian Santong did not use his oppressive Aura, but the Aura, cultivated through long years in officialdom and nourished by the national destiny, still exerted immense pressure.

Li Cheng couldn't help Zhou Yan with this kind of Aura suppression.

However, Zhou Yan only felt a slight pressure, and then released a vast Righteous Qi from his body, pushing back the pressure, and said.

"I'm listening!"

This was the title and fashion he had just acquired at work.

This situation, coupled with this Righteous Qi, was perfect. It was also thanks to their appearance; otherwise, Zhou Yan would have had to rely on the unadorned effects of the Path of Slaughter, Dragon and Phoenix Talent, and Immortal Qi to counter it.

It was also thanks to their appearance; otherwise, Zhou Yan would have had to rely on the unadorned effects of the Path of Slaughter, Dragon and Phoenix Talent, and Immortal Qi to counter it.

Having been rebuffed again, Qian Santong completely lost his patience and no longer maintained his high-and-mighty posture, directly tearing off the pretense and launching an attack.

"You despise the judicial system! A mere Censor, without reporting to your superiors, you dare to slaughter the entire officialdom of Jiangzhou alone!"

"And you dare to despise your superior! A petty official, no bigger than a sesame seed, dares to show off in front of me, you have immense guts!"

Indeed, since the other party dared to come, they must have come prepared.

However, Qiao Wenze had already used this routine in the previous version. After the version update, this bug was fixed.

Now you're still exploiting this bug? Then don't blame me for making you suffer a bit.

Zhou Yan walked to the table and took off his official robe.

Li Shan behind him immediately took it.

And beneath this official robe, there was another official robe.

Qian Santong didn't understand what he was doing.

It's not even winter yet, wearing two layers of clothes? And aren't you a Cultivator, so afraid of the cold?

But Zhou Yan's actions didn't stop. He continued to unbutton the second official robe, revealing the vibrant red beneath.

On the other side, Sage Xiao stepped forward and took it.

What Zhou Yan was wearing at this moment was precisely the scarlet robe that only officials of the sixth rank and above could wear.

"What do you mean by this?" Qian Santong was truly bewildered. He was halfway through his words, and now he's putting on a big show, is this a costume change performance?

Zhou Yan did not answer immediately. Instead, he took out three more fish tallies from his bosom, hanging them respectively on the belts of the two official robes on his left and right, and held the last one in his hand, extending it to show the other party.

"I haven't formally introduced myself yet. I am the Director of the Dali Temple, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and Palace Attendant Censor—Zhou Yan."

"As a member of the Three Judicial Offices, everything I do complies with the law. So now, I should ask Lord Qian to explain the purpose of your obstruction of the execution."

"I, as a member of the Three Judicial Offices"—what an obscure way of speaking.

After seeing all this, Qian Santong's expression changed again, turning as pale as Judge Chen beside him.

Damn it, I've become the one putting on a show!