"Did you think that just by silencing those few people, this Prince wouldn't know what you've done?" Wei Ming straightened up, looking down at Zhao Tingying with a resolute expression. "Heaven is watching what you do. Gods and spirits are meant to make you revere them and perform good deeds, not for you to act so ruthlessly, thinking you can get away with it unnoticed."

He Guan and Shen Yunshan were sitting close by. Although Wei Ming kept his voice low, the two of them could understand some of it. The hands they held their brushes with trembled slightly, and they couldn't help but exchange glances back and forth. If their gazes had substance, they would surely be filled with the words 'Is it true?' and 'Is it really, really true?'.

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Wei Ming said without looking up, "Don't write this part down."

He Guan and Shen Yunshan were instantly like students caught passing notes in class by their teacher. They ducked their heads in unison, their brushes flying across the paper as they pretended to be diligently writing the confession.

It wasn't that Zhao Tingying hadn't suspected something along these lines, but it was an extremely bizarre conjecture. Yet, Prince Duan had just repeated the very words he had spoken to Liu Qi at the edge of the cliff. Unless Liu Qi had betrayed him, the only other possibility was that he had used some method to recreate the scene.

If his opponent were merely a mortal, even a prince or a royal descendant, he could still muster the spirit to contend with him. But now, he was the mortal one. What chance did he have fighting against an immortal? The fact that Prince Duan was willing to stand here and speak to him, rather than just slicing his head open to see what was inside, was already giving him more than enough face.

"Since Your Highness possesses such heaven-reaching abilities, why would you go through the trouble of scheming against me?" Zhao Tingying supported himself with his hands on the ground and asked in a low voice, "Was it just to watch a group of us mortals be played for fools by you..."

"Lord Zhao, you have some nerve to ask," Wei Ming said mockingly, standing with his hands behind his back. "What, when you deceive others, you're smug and think you've pulled off the perfect deception, but when someone deceives you, you can't stand the injustice?"

"I'll give you two choices. First, this Prince takes his men directly back to the Capital to report to the Emperor. You don't have to say a thing. Based on what you've done, a beheading after the autumn is a certainty. Second, tell me what you know about the relationship between Fang Tianchong and that Ghost Ship, as well as his actions over these years. If it's true, I can send him to be executed along with you."

Zhao Tingying: "..."

Isn't that just death either way?!

He Guan really couldn't listen anymore and tried to remind him in a whisper, "Your Highness..."

Wei Ming stopped him with a wave of his hand and said, "Lord Zhao, as the chief administrator of a continent, you have surely seen far more criminals who try to get a lighter sentence by exposing others than this Prince has. But I'll tell you the truth: the path of using Fang Tianchong's crimes as a life-saving talisman is not an option. This Prince will not grant you any merit for exposing him—because even if you confess, those dead fishermen cannot be brought back to life. A person must take responsibility for their own actions."

"If Fang Tianchong hadn't been looking for that red box, you wouldn't have had to get blood on your hands. Therefore, the only thing this Prince can promise is to have Fang Tianchong accompany you to the execution ground."

Although Prince Duan's words sounded horrifying, they were indeed the truth. Zhao Tingying knew that death was inevitable, so how could he not feel a trace of resentment toward Fang Tianchong? He remained silent for a long time, his heart so conflicted it felt like it could ignite: on one hand, he was resentful and unwilling to accept his fate, but on the other, there was still a faint glimmer of hope, a desire to find a way out of this dead end, hoping Fang Tianchong might pull him out of this one more time for the sake of his loyal service.

As if he could read minds, Wei Ming said at the perfect moment, "It's not that you can't wait for Fang Tianchong to save you, but this Prince suggests you write your will first. If Governor-General Fang knew you'd fallen into this Prince's hands, what do you think he would do? Would he risk exposing himself to save you, or would he secretly send someone to see you off?"

Zhao Tingying himself was a man who killed to silence others. He had not yet shifted from his hunter's mindset. At Wei Ming's reminder, he was suddenly terrified, and a cold sweat instantly soaked the shirt on his back.

"You must know your place, Lord Zhao," he heard Wei Ming say lightly.

Never mind a sacrifice akin to a warrior cutting off his own wrist; in Fang Tianchong's eyes, Zhao Tingying probably wasn't even worth as much as a gecko's tail. Often, the less important a person is, the more desperately they will try to curry favor with those above them, because they know in their hearts they are not valued by the powerful. If they can't even be "useful," they will be quickly discarded.

Zhao Tingying asked himself: if he were Fang Tianchong, would he save a subordinate who had likely fallen into enemy hands and had even passed on false information for them? No matter how he thought about it, the logical course of action would be to strike first and kill him before he could reveal anything more.

"I..."

After long and careful consideration, he finally took a deep breath and said hoarsely, "This subordinate official will tell you everything I know, without any deception. I ask Your Highness to keep your promise."

"The reason Fang Tianchong was able to become the West Sea Governor-General is precisely because of the rampant piracy in recent years. Without battles, he gets no military provisions or pay, no commendations from the Imperial Court, and no military merits. To secure his position, he made a secret pact with those Ghost Ship merchants from Qiyun. The sea merchants abduct natives from other countries and sell them to Fang Tianchong. If he lost a previous battle, or if no pirates attacked for a long time, he would claim these people were pirates, slaughter them all, and then falsely report his military achievements, claiming rewards from the Imperial Court by presenting the heads of innocents he had killed."

"Your Highness would never imagine that since becoming the West Sea Governor-General, Fang Tianchong has hardly won any real victories with his own army, because he barely has any soldiers. Fang Tianchong claims the West Sea has a total of two hundred thousand marines, with one hundred thousand stationed in Liang Continent alone. But in reality, the entire population of Liangzhou City is only a little over one hundred thousand. All those phantom soldiers on the roster are just a way for him to embezzle funds." Zhao Tingying said through clenched teeth, "To embellish his achievements, he frequently fabricates a batch of 'pirates' to kill. That stranded Ghost Ship was here to do business with him. It's just that no one expected it to meet with misfortune midway, drifting to the shores of Liang Continent by a strange twist of fate. Then Tian Youyu and his group got there first and took the red box."

"Liu Qi is Fang Tianchong's trusted confidant. He came personally to find that red box. It most likely contains evidence of Fang Tianchong's dealings with the Qiyun merchants. Your Highness only needs to find the records of military merits Fang Tianchong reported to the Imperial Court over the years and compare them with the number of heads presented; you will see the discrepancy."

Wei Ming had not interrupted, merely listening quietly. When he finished, he said to He Guan, "Bring the written confession over. Have Lord Zhao sign it and add his fingerprint."

After Zhao Tingying pressed his fingerprint with a trembling hand, Wei Ming took the paper and read it over, sighing deeply. "I thought we were just investigating a haunting, but we've fished out a shark. It seems it's not just Lord Zhao now; I'm afraid even our own lives are at risk."

Zhao Tingying said miserably, "Fang Tianchong's power in the West Sea is absolute; what I know is merely the tip of the iceberg. Not to mention, he has Prince Kang backing him. For Your Highness to try and bring him down with just this testimony will be extremely difficult, I'm afraid."

He Guan and Shen Yunshan had grown up in families of high-ranking officials. They were well aware of the stakes. Although their hearts were pounding with anxiety, they both said with resolute determination, "We became officials precisely to investigate injustice and uphold righteousness. We have long been resolved to die for our country. We implore Your Highness not to worry about us. As long as we can verify Fang Tianchong's crimes, what do a thousand perils or the threat of execution matter!"

"Good. That spirit is enough." Wei Ming turned to Zhao Tingying. "Lord Zhao, you are not safe in Liang Continent. I will have Lord Shen and Lord He take you and your confession back to the Capital together."

He exchanged a look with He Guan and Shen Yunshan. "Remember, there could be danger at any point along the way, and arriving in the Capital doesn't mean you're safe. Lord Zhao is only a sharp blade against Fang Tianchong if he is alive. You must keep him under your watchful eyes. No matter who pressures the Dali Temple, you must not hand him over."

"You are both talented young men capable of handling great responsibilities. This Prince doesn't need to teach you what to do. In all matters, just ask heaven, ask earth, and ask your conscience. If you can do so without shame, you won't fear running into ghosts on a dark road."

Shen Yunshan's heart trembled with fear as he listened. "Your Highness, does this mean you don't plan to leave with us?"

"It wasn't easy to make a trip to Liang Continent. To leave without meeting the host would be a bit hasty and rude." Wei Ming turned his head to look at a corner of the blue sky outside the window and said faintly, "I believe Governor-General Fang thinks the same way as this Prince."

Early the next morning, Prince Duan's party departed from the Liangzhou Government Office. Compared to the grand reception when they arrived, led by the Chief Administrator, their departure was met with no officials to see them off and no tearful farewells. Only a few carriages hurried toward the ferry crossing, appearing exceptionally low-key.

Once the people from the carriages had boarded the ferry one by one, a lookout on the shore confirmed that Zhao Tingying was among them. He immediately summoned a subordinate and whispered quickly, "Go back and report to the Governor-General. Prince Duan has indeed taken Zhao Tingying. Our men will make their move in the middle of the river at the third watch tonight. Ask His Lordship to wait for us at Little Stone River Bay."

Late at night. Datangzi Village, Yulong County. Little Stone River Bay.

This was a small fishing village over a hundred li from Liangzhou, with a small river connected to the canal system. It was also Tian Youyu's hometown. The village, situated by the river and the sea, was once a habitable place. Unfortunately, after being repeatedly plundered by pirates, it was eventually burned to the ground and had now become an abandoned village.

A small boat sailed along the river toward a large ship moored in Little Stone River Bay. Three long whistles sounded in the dead of night. A guard on the large ship peered out, exchanged the secret signal, and confirmed they were friendlies. He then lowered a long plank, allowing the people on the small boat to board in succession.

Several robust men in tight black outfits each carried a person with a black cloth sack over their head, slung over their shoulder. Fang Tianchong's personal guard captain, Liu Qi, watched them board and pointed to an empty space on the deck. "Put them here. The Governor-General has a few questions for them."

Once the transfer was complete, the large ship slowly began to move. A short while later, lights gradually brightened in the ship's cabin, and a middle-aged man in a sky-blue Daoist robe with a short mustache walked out. He had a lean face, thick eyebrows, and a gaze as sharp as lightning. From spending years at sea, his complexion was darker than most. Surrounded by his armored personal guards, he walked up to the bound figures lying haphazardly on the deck and lifted his chin, signaling to Liu Qi, "Go wake Prince Duan."

Liu Qi went over, lifted each hood to take a look, and found Wei Ming, who was unconscious, his eyes tightly shut. He took a small medicine bottle from his waist, waved it under his nose to make him inhale the antidote, and after a moment, he indeed heard a low groan escape Wei Ming's throat as he slowly regained consciousness.

He had been knocked out by an assassin's drug on the boat, and he still felt dizzy for a while after waking up. He blinked, taking a long moment to recover slightly. Then he looked left and right, confirming his situation, but he didn't seem surprised at all. Instead, he looked at the middle-aged man and smiled nonchalantly. "You must be Governor-General Fang? I have long admired your reputation. It is a pleasure to meet you, though I didn't expect it would be in a place like this."

"His Highness, Prince Duan," Fang Tianchong said coldly. "This old man has also long admired Your Highness's reputation. I never expected Your Highness to possess such decisive methods. It seems all the ministers in the court, and even His Majesty, have been deceived by Your Highness's act of hiding your talents."

Wei Ming's hands were bound behind his back, but that didn't stop him from shuffling around to find a more comfortable position. He leaned back against a ship plank, stretched out his legs, and said in a very unserious tone, "This Prince has said it many times: I'm really a cultivator. Governor-General Fang, I advise you to believe it."

Fang Tianchong assumed he was just stalling for time. "If Your Highness thinks you can get away unscathed by playing dumb, I'm afraid you're mistaken. You've stirred up such a great storm in Liang Continent, but you never considered whether your own little boat could withstand it. Now, not only can you not save yourself, but two court officials and Liangzhou's Chief Administrator Zhao Tingying will have to die as martyrs alongside Your Highness. How lamentable."

"Governor-General Fang, this Prince is still breathing. Can you save your crocodile tears for later?" Wei Ming said. "With this much time on your hands, why not satisfy this Prince's curiosity? Where do you get the nerve to kill a prince and an imperial emissary without a moment's hesitation?"

Fang Tianchong narrowed his eyes, sizing him up, as if weighing the safety of telling the truth to a dead man walking. But perhaps Wei Ming's gaze was too calm, completely devoid of fear, which sparked a flicker of anger in his heart from being looked down upon and provoked. He snorted coldly, "Since this is Your Highness's last wish, there's no harm in satisfying you."

"I know you've ordered someone to escort that red box back to the Capital overnight, and it does indeed contain the records of my dealings with the Qiyun merchants. But when I discovered the box was missing, I immediately sent a message to the Capital. Your Highness's man is probably still on the road, isn't he? The moment he steps into Prince Duan's Manor, someone will immediately pay a 'visit'."

Wei Ming came to a sudden realization. "Prince Kang's men?"

Fang Tianchong said, "Correct. His Highness, Prince Kang, only needs to exert a tiny bit of effort and cover things up slightly, and I can remove a major stumbling block on his path to the throne. Isn't this a very profitable deal?"

"His Highness, Prince Duan, your evidence will never reach the Emperor. And it's the same for you and your men. You can only meet again in the Yellow Springs."

"But Your Highness need not worry. After you die, I will report the truth to the Imperial Court: His Highness, Prince Duan, and his accompanying officials were unfortunately abducted by pirates while investigating a case incognito in Liang Continent. To avoid being used as bargaining chips by the pirates to extort the Imperial Court, they righteously committed suicide for the nation. And Liangzhou's Chief Administrator, Zhao Tingying, for his failure to protect you, will be reported to have committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

Wei Ming laughed. "If this Prince's hands were free, I would definitely have to applaud and cheer for the Governor-General's fantastic story. I guess next, the Governor-General will use this Prince's death to boost morale, lead his troops in pursuit of the pirates with a heart full of grief and indignation, successfully annihilate them, and then report another great merit to the Imperial Court, correct?"

He sighed. "The Governor-General doesn't just have the pirates in the palm of his hand; they obey your every command. The pirates are probably more obedient than your own son, aren't they? At a glance, it's hard to tell who the real pirates are."

Fang Tianchong returned a fake smile. "His Highness, Prince Duan, is a clever man. It's just a pity that you're too clever, which makes people fearful. That's why sometimes it's better for a person to be a little dull."

"But sometimes, being too dull can really mess things up," Wei Ming said. "Just like you, Governor-General Fang."

Fang Tianchong: "What do you mean?"

The corners of Wei Ming's lips curled up. "Who told you that this Prince's evidence wouldn't reach the Emperor? You think you can enjoy the shade just by leaning against the big tree that is Prince Kang, but do you know who this Prince's backer is?"

Fang Tianchong's face flushed red and white. He retorted coldly, "His Highness, Prince Duan, with death at your doorstep, why bother putting up a brave front? Never mind a backer, even if the Emperor himself were here, he couldn't save you now!"

Before his voice had faded, a dazzling radiance suddenly streaked across the dark sky. A golden-red stream of light descended like a fireball, grazing the very tip of Fang Tianchong's nose with incredible precision before crashing down between him and Wei Ming.

In his forty-plus years of life, Fang Tianchong had never seen such an unnatural sight. He was so frightened he fell backward and landed on the ground.

The moment the light landed, it dissipated like extinguished fire and smoke, revealing a tall, upright figure. The newcomer had white hair and was dressed in black, with picturesque features and a face as cold as frost. He was exceptionally beautiful but his expression was glacial. The residual light gathered in his hand, coalescing into a longsword with a dark red blade, making him look like a god of slaughter descending under the cover of night.

All the personal guards drew their swords at once. "Who's there!"

In an instant, a blinding white light filled everyone's vision indiscriminately. An immense sword gleam illuminated half the night sky, followed by the clatter of countless broken swords falling onto the deck. Amid the chaos, only Prince Duan's low, urgent cry could be heard, filled with an intent to stop him: "Chi Lian!"

When their vision returned, the personal guards' eyes were blurry. They stood comically holding their broken hilts, staring dumbfounded as the man in black flicked his wrist, placing his sword horizontally to shield Wei Ming.

The flickering torchlight reflected on the sword's body was compressed into a single line by the thin blade. It flowed as smoothly as water to the sword's tip, coalescing into a single, terrifyingly cold, shimmering point of light.

Without lowering his head in the slightest, his eyelids half-closed, he made no effort to conceal the icy killing intent and contempt radiating from him. He stared at Fang Tianchong and asked, "Who did you just say had death at their doorstep?"

Author's Note:

The Grand Preceptor makes his grand entrance