I was reborn after cheating on the aloof and powerful man.

Chapter 40 The Drums of Heaven and Earth Resound, Martial Spirits Appear in the World!

Jia Shidao felt that he had been extremely unlucky lately. As the official in charge of Nanxuan City, he should have been the highest-ranking and most respected person in the city.

But His Majesty created a so-called mission to defend the righteous path, which led to a group of inexperienced martial arts practitioners pointing fingers and making a fuss in his city.

If it weren't for these despicable defenders of the Way, how could I be so constantly hampered by others?

Yesterday, he finally managed to avoid his wife at home and went to the Jiangzhang Courtyard to run some business. But halfway there, that damned thief knocked him unconscious and stole his keepsakes and letters.

If that person knew that he had secretly left the secret room to indulge in pleasure, resulting in the theft of his belongings... Jia Shidao couldn't help but shudder.

Getting on board is easy, but getting off is hard. If something really goes wrong, I'll definitely be abandoned. With that person's methods, I'll probably be worse off than dead!

Those idiots in the Crimson Tent Courtyard turned it upside down yesterday but still couldn't catch the thieves. Now they're demanding to seal off the entire city.

He might be able to manage under normal circumstances, but Nanxuan City had just hosted the grand gathering of the three religions. Who knew which other powerful figures besides Cui Chou had not yet left?

If he could simply impose a city lockdown with a single word, why would he have to go through all this trouble?

As Jia Shidao paced anxiously back and forth, pondering a way to break the deadlock, an excited report suddenly came from outside the door:

"My lord, something terrible has happened! The Qingcheng Sect refuses to hand over Master Yan's body, and the Yan family has come to the main hall to cause a scene!"

"what!"

It's those damned gangsters again!

Enraged, Jia Shidao personally led his men to the mortuary.

Outside the mortuary, Qingcheng Sect disciples formed the Twenty-Eight Constellations Formation, protecting the mortuary from all sides.

Li, the steward of Yan Gongsheng's household, arrived early in the morning with his men to retrieve his master's body. However, they were not even allowed to enter the mortuary and were stopped at the gate.

"You lawless scoundrels of the martial world! You call yourselves guardians of justice, yet you allow your sect disciples to kill our master. Our master's body is barely cold, and you dare to go back on your word, holding onto his corpse and refusing to return it. Do you really think no one can control you?!"

"Steward Li, please leave. It is not the right time yet. We, the Qingcheng Sect, cannot hand over Master Yan's body."

"When is it not time?! Perhaps you're just feeling guilty, thinking that by destroying our master's body and leaving no one to testify, you can save your sect's disciples? Bah! Your Qingcheng Sect is nothing but a den of filth and depravity..."

Outside the mortuary gate, Wang Zhizhong stood motionless like a mountain, his green robes making him stand proudly like an unbreakable bamboo.

After offering an explanation, he ignored the foul language hurled at him by the Yan family. No matter how they insulted him, he remained serious and showed no sign of backing down.

Wang Zhizhong was surrounded by his fellow disciples who had come to defend the Qingcheng Sect. Some were as calm as still water, others as passionate as fire; each of them possessed a resolute and courageous gaze. Their eyes met, conveying a silent understanding and trust. Like Wang Zhizhong, even Yu Mu, who was usually the most easily angered, remained calm. Their steps were steady, and no matter how the Yan family hurled insults, they stood firm at their posts, unmoved.

The eldest sister said that no one should be allowed to enter the manor before she comes out!

Butler Li was at a loss, seeing that no matter how much he insulted them, the group of young men ignored him. If he didn't retrieve Master Yan's body, the old lady would be the first to punish him. But he dared not actually fight these martial arts practitioners.

Just then, a deafening gong and drum resounded!

A group of yamen runners walked down the street, and pedestrians quickly stepped aside, kneeling and kowtowing.

A yamen runner was banging a gong in front of them, and four other yamen runners were each holding two signs that read "Avoidance" and "Silence." Behind them was a sedan chair carried by eight men, and behind the sedan chair was a group of yamen runners holding ox-tail knives.

The group made a grand entrance, shaking the earth and raising dust in the air. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of impending doom and impending storm.

The sedan chair stopped at the entrance of the mortuary. Jia Shidao, dressed in a robe with eight pythons and five claws, stepped out of the sedan chair. His face was calm, and his steps were neither hurried nor slow. Every step carried an indescribable majesty.

As the local official, Jia Shidao's authority was ingrained in his very being. He would do everything in his power to be obsequious and ingratiating to those in higher positions, but when faced with disciples of the third-rate Qingcheng Sect who had no official rank or powerful backing, his sense of superiority as a superior made him despise these young people from the bottom of his heart.

Jia Shidao ignored Wang Zhizhong and his group at the entrance of the mortuary and was about to lead them into the mortuary.

Wang Zhizhong moved swiftly and stepped forward to block the way:

"Lord Jia, the time is not yet right. Please return."

"How dare you! Do you really intend to rebel?!"

Seeing that this group of martial arts figures dared to block Lord Jia's way, Master Liu, who was behind Jia Shidao, immediately shouted a rebuke.

Wang Zhizhong and the others were young and had never seen such a scene before.

People on both sides of the street knelt down in a dense mass, but they stood there like madmen, facing the most terrifying thing in the world—the power of those in power to intimidate and oppress the people.

Wang Zhizhong suppressed the inexplicable fear rising in his heart, gritted his teeth, and gave his junior brothers and sisters a wink.

The Twenty-Eight Constellations Defense Formation is activated!

Jia Shidao and his group were blocked outside the formation and could not take another step forward.

"Lord Jia, please return!"

"How dare you!"

Pushed 10 meters away from the mortuary by the powerful internal energy, Jia Shidao's eyes widened in anger, unable to believe that these young people actually dared to attack him.

"Immediately relay my order: have Thunderbolt Fortress and Xuehai Academy bring reinforcements! The Qingcheng Faction is about to rebel!"

Half an hour later, all the students of Xuehai Academy arrived, led by Wu Gao.

"Reporting to my lord, the Thunderbolt Fortress replied that their leader is not here, and they dare not leave the sect's headquarters without authorization."

"This is really unreasonable!"

Jia Shidao suppressed his anger. He knew that Thunderbolt Fortress and Qingcheng Sect had a close relationship, almost like family. But Thunderbolt Fortress was not intervening in the Qingcheng Sect's current outrageous actions; these martial arts figures were simply disregarding the imperial court!

"Lord Jia, I have long stated that the Qingcheng Sect members are problematic and are remnants of the Demonic Sect. It's just a pity that my great-uncle wouldn't believe me. Now, as I predicted, these villains have finally revealed their true colors. You can rest assured, my lord, that the students of Xuehai Academy will do everything in their power to bring these traitors to justice!"

Jia Shidao's lips twitched slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips, as he looked at the scholar before him, who wore a jade crown and a straight-cut Confucian robe, looking utterly out of place. His face was clearly filled with malice, a desire to use this opportunity to destroy the Qingcheng Sect, disregarding all sentimentality.

The so-called remnants of a demonic cult are nothing but a pretext to fool the ignorant masses. As a member of the martial arts world, to be unable to see through the trickery involved is so foolish that even Jia Shidao cannot bear to look at such a petty person.

He instantly lost all hope for the people at Xuehai Academy, but still feigned politeness and said:

"I have other important matters to attend to, so I will leave this place to Young Hero Wu. I will await your good news from within the manor."

"We will certainly not let you down, sir!"

Wu Gao immediately became excited, displaying the smug and arrogant attitude of someone who takes a chicken feather as an arrow. Before Lord Jia could give any orders, he turned around and instructed his fellow disciples to attack the mortuary.

Jia Shidao was too lazy to watch any longer and left directly. He couldn't figure out what the Qingcheng Sect was up to, but he knew that there was someone in the city who could keep these lawless madmen in check!

Inside the "Plain Crown and Lotus Tripod" room in the Crimson Tent Courtyard.

Cui Chou lay languidly on the beauty's lap, enjoying the grapes she had peeled one by one with her delicate hands. Even though it wasn't yet February, the grapes were all crystal clear, as precious as pearls, each one worth a fortune.

Jia Shidao had long heard that this god of war was extremely extravagant, and now that he had witnessed it with his own eyes, he couldn't help but feel both jealous and envious.

After hearing Jia Shidao's words, Cui Chou remained expressionless. His rough, hoarse voice was calm as still water, revealing no trace of joy or anger.

"Oh, you mean the Qingcheng Sect rebelled?"

"I truly cannot understand. It is not a big deal for a disciple to accidentally kill someone. Moreover, the murderer is currently imprisoned in the yamen's jail. Not only does the Qingcheng Sect refuse to hand over the victim's body, but they have even attacked me. I really cannot fathom what they intend to do! Has the entire sect gone mad?"

"Ha, interesting!"

Cui Chou licked his gums lightly, his narrow, fox-like eyes slightly narrowed, revealing a hint of inscrutable excitement. The little girl's series of actions were always unexpected, which only intensified his interest.

She had only left last night, and now she'd already caused such a commotion. Cui Chou couldn't help but recall that the little girl had said she wanted to clear her most important junior brother's name. Hmm... was she certain he would intervene?

"It is my duty to monitor and protect those who uphold justice. I will accompany you to meet these outlaws."

At the entrance of the mortuary, the students of Xuehai Academy lay sprawled on the ground, none of them able to stand up.

Not everyone was as weak in martial arts as Wu Gao, but no matter how they attacked, the Qingcheng Sect members in front of the mortuary were as solid as an impregnable wall.

Their attacks were like ants trying to shake a tree, unable to break through the Qingcheng Sect's defenses in the slightest.

"Get up and keep fighting!"

Seeing that the situation was not good, Wu Gao had already hidden behind, only talking and not fighting. He himself was unharmed, but although the Qingcheng Sect only defended and did not attack, the people of Xuehai Academy were sore all over by the internal energy and could hardly bear it.

Hearing Wu Gao gesturing and pointing, some principled people turned and left without looking back. This infuriated Wu Gao, who jumped up and down, threatening to complain to the Master.

When Cui Chou brought Jia Shidao to the entrance of the mortuary, what came into view was a group of Confucian scholars lying on the ground, refusing to get up. Next to them was a man who looked like a clown, with his jade crown askew, who was cursing and swearing in a fit of rage.

Cui Chou glanced at him hastily and then ignored him. He flashed forward, using his lightness skill to try and break into the mortuary alone. Unexpectedly, Wang Zhizhong recognized the butcher immediately and was already on guard.

Once the Twenty-Eight Constellations Formation was activated, Cui Chou was blocked outside the Yizhuang gate by the continuous and powerful internal energy.

Interesting, really interesting!

Cui Chou hadn't expected that the Big Dipper Formation on the shore of Beiliang Lake was not the limit. He couldn't help but feel a little regretful. His injuries hadn't healed yet. Should he expose his injuries to test the depth of this formation?

Just as Cui Chou was struggling to make a decision, and the two sides were at a stalemate,

Boom!Boom!Boom!

The drums of heaven and earth resound, the spirit of martial arts endures forever!

Upon hearing the drumbeat, three figures arrived at the entrance of the mortuary like shooting stars.