Chapter 365: Chapter 139: Yue Mankong’s Promised "Benefit"... Eradicate the Roots! Plunder

Just as everyone was wondering, Chu Fan casually raised his left hand.

A soft white light flashed from an ancient, simple ring on his finger.

SWOOSH!

As the white light faded, four extremely heavy chests materialized from thin air, landing steadily before the group!

"Ah!" White Snake couldn’t help but exclaim, her beautiful eyes wide. "Is... is that the legendary Sumeru Ring? I’ve only heard the elders in my clan speak of it!"

Cao Feng, Li Qingxue, and the others were also shocked and overjoyed.

They never imagined Chu Fan would possess such a rare spatial Exotic Treasure!

Just moments ago, they had been worrying about how to transport so much treasure. They were far too conspicuous, and there was no way to move it all back to Cyan Yang undetected.

If they took it directly to Qing Province, the long and treacherous journey was sure to attract countless covetous eyes and desperate criminals.

"This was a gift from Lord Yue Mankong," Chu Fan explained simply, then activated the Sumeru Ring again.

The chests piled high in the cave transformed into streams of light one after another, vanishing into the ring.

With the Sumeru Ring, all their problems were readily solved.

Chu Fan exchanged a look with the others. Without further delay, they used the cover of night to slip silently back to Cyan Yang, a city still shrouded in blood and hidden currents.

The next morning, a shocking piece of news spread like wildfire through the streets and alleys of Cyan Yang.

Zhang Wenpeng’s wife and son, along with all his concubines, had managed to escape Cyan Yang City the previous night with the help of County Captain Cui Baiyu!

Even more shocking, they had made off with all the wealth Zhang Wenpeng had plundered over the years!

Rumor had it that the notoriously vicious bandits, the Heaven-Flipping Saber, had been waiting outside the city to receive them.

However, the insatiably greedy Heaven-Flipping Saber had turned on them on the spot. They slaughtered Madam Zhang’s entire party, seized the riches, and fled into the mountains, their whereabouts unknown.

"Did you hear? Zhang Wenpeng’s wife and kid were slaughtered by the Heaven-Flipping Saber yesterday!"

"Serves them right! Zhang Wenpeng threw in with the Moon Worship Sect, pushed us to the brink of death for years, and even wanted to use the entire city for a Blood Sacrifice. He deserves to die without an heir!"

"Every last one of his family members deserves death by a thousand cuts!"

The people gossiped animatedly, their words flying like spittle.

Some even swore up and down, "I saw it with my own eyes last night by the Black Water River! The Heaven-Flipping Saber gang was carrying heavy chests. I was so scared I hid in the bushes and didn’t dare to breathe!"

The common folk clapped their hands in delight.

Anyone with a discerning eye could guess there was something else going on, but by unspoken agreement, everyone pinned the blame squarely on the Heaven-Flipping Saber.

The County Magistrate’s Office, however, remained unusually silent.

The officials, led by the County Magistrate, knew that even if they were complete fools, this matter was undeniably connected to the Demon Suppression Bureau and the young man named Chu Fan.

But what could they do?

The Ministry of Justice hadn’t even arrived yet. And even when they did, would they dare lay a finger on Chu Fan?

The Demon Suppression Bureau held a transcendent status. Though it didn’t involve itself in court politics, even the imperial family had to treat it with a healthy dose of fear.

Whenever the Moon Worship Sect was involved, even high-ranking court officials had to tread carefully.

「Two days later...」

Envoys from the Ministry of Justice and the Demon Suppression Bureau finally arrived.

The officials from the Ministry of Justice all had ashen faces.

They had traveled a thousand li only to find the Zhang Mansion wiped out, root and stem. There wasn’t a single person left to question.

They had intended to confiscate the family’s assets, only to discover the Zhang Family had been picked clean!

This was preposterous!

The two envoys from the Demon Suppression Bureau, however, feigned "righteous indignation," vowing to completely annihilate the Heaven-Flipping Saber gang.

Naturally, this task fell upon the shoulders of the newly appointed Demon Suppression Guard, Chu Fan.

"This humble officer will do his utmost to annihilate the bandits and uphold the law!"

Chu Fan’s expression was solemn as he accepted the order, clasping his fists. The officials from the Ministry of Justice firmly committed the young man’s face to memory.

How could these old foxes, who had clawed their way through the bureaucracy for years, not see that something was fishy?

But what could they do?

Not only was there no concrete evidence, but even if there were, would they dare to make a move against someone from the Demon Suppression Bureau?

Besides, the accompanying Demon Suppression Bureau envoys were clearly already in on it. This was obviously a play that Yue Mankong had staged long ago.

The Ministry of Justice officials could only maintain their bureaucratic airs, offer a few pompous, empty pleasantries, and depart resentfully.

Once they were gone, the two Demon Suppression Bureau envoys looked at Chu Fan with gazes full of admiration.

With the Moon Worship Sect reappearing in the martial world and stirring up trouble everywhere, the weakened Demon Suppression Bureau was already run ragged.

They never expected that here in Cyan Yang, this young man had not only helped Lord Yue Mankong escape, but had also saved an entire city and utterly crushed the Moon Worship Sect’s forces!

"This humble officer dare not take the credit. If not for the timely intervention of Lord Ding Jian and the others, I could not have accomplished such a great feat on my own," Chu Fan replied humbly.

The two Demon Suppression Bureau envoys exchanged a smile and looked at Chu Fan with complex expressions. They suddenly asked about Old Limp’s current situation.

Chu Fan answered truthfully, "That senior returned to the North City black market that day and hasn’t been seen since."

"We actually have another mission on this trip..." one of the envoys said, lowering his voice. "After Lord Yue Mankong returned to the Bureau, he specially requested a ’Vein Continuation Spirit Fusion Pill’ for that man."

"That elixir can mend severed veins and reignite one’s cultivation. It’s incredibly precious."

"It’s just that..." The other envoy looked troubled. "Ahem, we don’t really have the face to see that senior."

From the two of them, Chu Fan finally learned of Old Limp’s legend from years past.

He had once been a decisive and ruthless God of Slaughter whose might was renowned far and wide. Unfortunately, he broke one of the Demon Suppression Bureau’s iron laws, was crippled in one leg, and had his cultivation completely destroyed.

"Back in his prime, even Lord Yue Mankong had to show him a measure of deference!"

The two Demon Suppression Bureau envoys steeled themselves and went to the North City black market.

Chu Fan didn’t know what happened after that.

’The senior probably wouldn’t refuse such an elixir, would he?’

’He deserved it, after all.’

After the contingents from the Ministry of Justice and the Demon Suppression Bureau left the city one after another, Cyan Yang Ancient City suddenly grew much quieter, as if returning to its former peace.

It was also time for Cao Feng, Li Qingxue, and the others to set off for the Qing Province capital.

To Chu Fan’s slight surprise, Cao Feng had managed to persuade Chen Xuan of the Moon Arrow Martial Arts Hall, as well as Wang Kaishan, the master of the Mountain Opening Boxing Hall.