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However, although they were servants, these servants took pride in serving others here.

Because those whom they served were not only cultivators but also high-ranking officials in the imperial court.

At this moment, cries of sorrow emanated from the residence of Zhang Dongzhi.

Although Zhang Dongzhi possessed mediocre cultivation, he had a powerful uncle and the Zhang family had considerable influence, being able to speak in both the imperial court and the Immortal Sects. Hence, within five to six years of cultivation, Zhang Dongzhi rapidly rose through the ranks and eventually secured a position as a twelfth-grade pavilion scholar.

Therefore, the residence he lived in was not only vast, but also had a plethora of servants.

Even though only a few members of the Zhang family resided here, the care for their daily needs, as well as their cultivation and leisure, was left to over three hundred people.

However, at this time, the servants who usually considered servitude here an honor were each filled with terror, looking as if they wanted to cry but dared not let out a single sob.

Because of the death of Zhang Dongzhi, amidst a mixture of sorrow and rage, Zhang Dongzhi’s mother had already beaten several servants to death.

And yet, these servants did not dare to even take one step away to avoid it.

After all, the moment they became servants, everything about them no longer belonged to them.

In a certain sense, they were just like a herd of Zhang family livestock that could speak.

Yun Shutian stepped in from outside with a cold look upon his face. Though he bore no additional expression, it was clear that the deputy pavilion master was extremely furious at this time.

After all, the person who died was his own nephew.

"Brother, Dongzhi died so tragically, you must take revenge for him!" This was Zhang Dongzhi’s mother, who was also Yun Shutian’s own sister, uttering these words as she rushed over upon hearing the news of her son’s death.

"Indeed, husband, your nephew, the son of your sister-in-law, and Tan Shuchang dared to lay a hand on him. He really doesn’t know whether he wants to live or die!" These were the words of Yun Shutian’s wife.

Yun Shutian’s wife and his sister shared the same master and were senior and junior sisters. Their relationship was extremely good prior to her marriage to Yun Shutian.

"How should I kill him? Should I just do it myself?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Shutian let out a cold snort.

Qitian Pavilion was different from other imperial institutions, and due to the complex nature of its members, from its inception, there was a rule — starting from the rank of the Spiritual Officer and General, there was the authority to take the lives of subordinates.

However, because of the close relationships between different families, often those who were killed were the powerless and insignificant.

Although Yun Shutian could indeed make a move against Tan Shuchang if he really wanted to, he was also aware of the incident that took place during the Peaceful Harmony Assembly, and Tan Shuchang’s strength was much more troublesome than he had imagined.

Furthermore, this Tan Shuchang had actually met alone with the young master of Luoja Mountain for half an hour!

From Yun Shutian’s perspective, given Luoja Mountain’s uniqueness, this was an enormous honor.

Because of this, Yun Shutian found himself truly unsure of how to proceed in this instant. Taking direct action would not only involve risks but could also potentially offend Luoja Mountain.

He might ignore the former, but the latter was something he could not afford to overlook, even if there was just a possibility.

Luoja Mountain, a convergence of many myths!

At this moment, a trusted messenger of Yun Shutian hurried over and, after bowing, said, "My lord, Elder Zhao Huaiji from Sword Disciple Mountain has arrived. He requests your presence, claiming to have a way to assuage your anger."

"Zhao Huaiji?"

Yun Shutian was momentarily taken aback, but then seemed to recall something and couldn’t help revealing a partial smile, "It seems Sword Disciple Mountain is ready to make a move. Wife, keep our youngest sister company, I will go and meet Elder Zhao."

Yun Shutian went to see Zhao Huaiji right away.

Very soon, Yun Shutian came back. He handed a challenge letter to his sister and said in a lowered voice, "This is the challenge letter from the Ancestor of Sword Disciple Mountain, foretold in prophecy, written to Tan Shuchang. Use the influence of the Zhang family to spread the news of this letter as widely as possible.

It’s best I don’t come forward in order to avoid giving people reason to say that I am siding with outsiders against my own people from Qitian Pavilion."

"Brother, rest assured, I know what to do! I guarantee that the Yun family won’t be involved in the slightest," Zhang Dongzhi’s mother nodded her head. She was of Yun family origin and understood the troubles of a large family; thus, she empathized with her elder brother’s approach.

Not long after, through the vigorous efforts of the Zhang family to disseminate the news, Tan Shuchang had only just received the challenge letter from the Son of the Heavenly Mandate while the news of his duel to the death with a member of Sword Disciple Mountain had already caused a great stir.

How did Tan Shuchang come to know of it?

It was mentioned in a letter sent to him from the emperor after his resignation letter was received.

"Lord Tan, His Majesty is aware that you are to engage in a duel to the death with Long Zhangyuan of Sword Disciple Mountain, and has specifically ordered someone to bring the spirit-communicating Magic Artifact, the Heavenly Dragon Hairpin, from the imperial collection for your temporary use.

He hopes you will not disappoint him." This was said by the imperial eunuch who delivered the message, and while speaking, he did not forget to hand a Magic Artifact to Tan Shuchang.

Tan Shuchang was actually quite familiar with this imperial eunuch. When the Tan family was raided, it was he who had taken him aside and informed him of the "true news of his mother’s death."

"Heavenly Dragon Hairpin?" Tan Shuchang glanced at the spirit-communicating Magic Artifact in his hand and, recognizing the familiar mark of the martial sect, thought for a moment before saying, "If His Majesty is willing to gift me this spirit-communicating Magic Artifact, I swear I will one day slaughter the current legitimate heir of the Wu family."

Though named "Heavenly Dragon," the artifact was in the shape of a hairpin and a martial sect artifact at that; one didn’t need to think hard to know it was undoubtedly created by the Wu family to spite Emperor Yi.

As for Tan Shuchang’s vow of slaughter… When he would do it was never specified; three to five days later counts as a future day, so does seven to eight years later, and even a century hence could still be considered a future day.

By then, all he could do was express his regret and say that he failed to kill in time, truly dishonoring the imperial favor.

Next time for sure!

This imperial eunuch, upon hearing Tan Shuchang’s words, couldn’t help but be startled, not outright rejecting but saying he would relay the words to Emperor Yi.

Afterwards, the eunuch left.

Once the eunuch had gone, Tan Shuchang looked towards a certain spot on the wall of the Spiritual Officer and General Hall and said, "Since you’re here, come down from up there. This Spiritual Officer and General Hall should be the least populated area within Qitian Pavilion."

He had sensed someone there a while ago, but since the aura felt familiar, he had decided to handle the imperial eunuch first.

Upon hearing Tan Shuchang say this, the person hiding in that spot obediently revealed themselves, climbing down the wall using hands and feet. Then, with large eyes clearly demarcated in black and white, and a hint of hesitation, the person said, "The Sword Qi from the other day, it didn’t harm you, did it?"

At this moment, recognizing the appearance of the newcomer, Tan Shuchang was stunned because he had originally thought it was that damned diary-thief.

To his surprise, it was the little girl to whom he had given ten Alchemy Furnaces.

Thus, Tan Shuchang smiled and said, "I’m fine, thankfully you shouted for me to move quickly; otherwise, I might not have been able to avoid it."

In truth, even without the shout, he could have reacted in time, but since someone had gone to the effort of yelling out, it was only right to say a kind word or two to make them happy, wasn’t it? His emotional intelligence might not be high, but after living two lifetimes, he had cobbled together a bit.

"However, what brings you here? You seem to be acquainted with the person who wrote this letter, aren’t you?" Tan Shuchang then asked because he had seen the connection quite clearly at that time.