Chapter 180: An Envoy from Qingzhou, an Unexpected Offer

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Qin Xiao arranged everything and agreed to Zhang Zuo and Li You’s request. He had originally planned to let these two bodyguards leave anyway, so since they brought it up themselves, he readily consented.

In his current situation, it was best to have no one around him. Only by being completely alone could he act without restraint.

If the Heavenly Dynasty truly wanted to destroy him, relying on his speed and reserves, he could easily escape, hide away, and wait to slowly exact his revenge later.

After settling everything, Qin Xiao did not leave. Instead, he went straight to the City Lord Manor and moved in.

“Lord Qin, the restaurant just sent this Spiritual Food. If it isn’t to your liking, I’ll have something else prepared.”

Chen Lou had servants buy plenty of Spiritual Food from the city’s restaurants, and was asking Qin Xiao cautiously.

Sweat ran down Chen Lou’s back, but he dared say nothing. Qin Xiao had killed his uncle, then stayed instead of fleeing and even moved into the City Lord Manor. Chen Lou could only attend to him carefully.

The young man had killed even his uncle. A minor City Lord like Chen Lou could probably be killed just as easily.

When Qin Xiao first arrived, Chen Lou had assumed he was there for his life and hastily activated the manor’s Formation. Yet before the Formation could even fully engage, Qin Xiao had already stepped inside.

Qin Xiao was too fast, and Chen Lou could do nothing. Fortunately, Qin Xiao hadn’t killed him, only moved in. To stay alive, Chen Lou served him good food every day, hoping the authorities would hurry and take Qin Xiao away.

For the past two days, Chen Lou had been unable to sleep. He had no mind to tend to his many beautiful wives; his head was entirely consumed with how to properly wait on Qin Xiao.

“You’re too kind, City Lord. It tastes quite good. It isn’t as delicious as the food in Pure Yang City, but it has its own local character.”

Qin Xiao did not stand on ceremony. Having waited two days, the people from above should be arriving shortly. He might as well eat his fill first.

“Lord Qin is too polite. Just call me Little Chen.”

Chen Lou wiped the sweat from his brow and spoke with utmost respect.

“Nothing more for you here. Go see if the Heavenly Dynasty’s people have arrived. I dislike being watched while I eat. You may leave.”

Qin Xiao waved a hand, dismissing Chen Lou.

“This official will go immediately.”

Hearing the dismissal, Chen Lou did not hesitate in the slightest. He turned and hurried out. New chapters come out on novelping . com first.

“The higher-ups should certainly know about this by now. Traveling from Qingzhou takes only a little over a day. It has already been two days-why hasn’t anyone arrived?”

Once outside the room, Chen Lou was filled with lingering doubts. Why was there still no sign of the envoys, nor any word from above?

While Qin Xiao was still eating, the door was suddenly pushed open.

Qin Xiao looked up at the unfamiliar man. He gave off a strong sense of pressure. He was an expert.

“You are Qin Xiao? I never expected you to have such daring. After slaying a Heavenly Dynasty official, you not only refused to flee, but actually moved into the City Lord Manor.”

The newcomer got straight to the point.

“Senior, please take a seat. I wonder if Senior is an envoy of the Heavenly Dynasty or someone else? How should I address you?”

Qin Xiao wiped his mouth and asked calmly.

Showing no hesitation, the visitor sat down directly across from him.

“This official is the Deputy Director of the Qingzhou Prison Bureau, dispatched here to place you under arrest.”

He introduced himself as Yan Xingchang, Deputy Director of the Qingzhou Prison Bureau. He was at late-stage Body Integration, held a Lower Third-Rank post, and chiefly handled arrests.

“So Senior has come to arrest me. I wonder what charges have been leveled against me?”

Since the other party had revealed his background, it was undoubtedly for an arrest.

“Indeed, I am here to arrest you. However, this official offers you two ways to handle this: a public settlement or a private settlement. Since there are two methods, there are naturally two sets of charges.”

Yan Xingchang did not answer directly, offering two distinct resolutions instead.

“Oh? Now I’m curious. What’s the difference between settling it publicly and privately?”

Qin Xiao had expected the man to seize him outright and was ready to flee. Instead, he was offered two choices, leaving him unsure what to make of it.

“The public route is simple: you killed a Heavenly Dynasty official and challenged the dynasty. I’ll arrest you, and the Governor-General will decide whether to kill or flay you.”

Yan Xingchang left the outcome of the private settlement unstated, focusing purely on the consequences of the public route.

“That public option doesn’t sound too good. I’d prefer to settle privately. How would that work, Senior?”

Qin Xiao suspected there was more to the matter; otherwise, the man would not waste breath when he could simply subdue him by force.

“A private settlement is easy. The Governor-General admires you. Killing Chen Shunyi could be a major matter or a minor one. Join the Governor-General and agree to act as his Hidden Agent, and we’ll charge you with Manslaughter. Pay enough compensation and the matter can be settled. You’re a clever man. You know what to do, don’t you?”

Yan Xingchang stated his true purpose plainly. If not for this objective, he would never have bothered talking. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.

He had arrived yesterday and waited for Qin Xiao to leave the city, planning to seize him as he fled. But Qin Xiao had stayed at the City Lord Manor. Yan Xingchang could only come alone and lay the offer before him.

“Oh? And just how much compensation is required?”

Qin Xiao was genuinely tempted. Any problem that could be resolved with Spirit Stones was no problem at all.

“Ten billion. Don’t complain that it’s too much. The Governor-General isn’t keeping it all himself; many people have to be paid off. We’ve investigated you. We don’t know where you got so many resources, but you can afford ten billion. There are also rumors you obtained Saint Origin Spirit Fruits. Ten billion is a lot, but it’s only ten of those fruits.”

Since Qin Xiao asked the price, Yan Xingchang took it to mean he had chosen the private settlement, and quoted it directly.

Qin Xiao’s sudden rise had prompted the Qingzhou authorities to investigate him. They had set their price according to his assets.

“Since Senior has investigated so thoroughly, I have nothing more to say. Naturally, I choose the private settlement. However, since Chen Shunyi managed to climb to the position of Grand Commander, he must have had powerful backing behind him. How does Senior propose to guarantee that I will not face retaliation?”

Qin Xiao asked curiously.

A deal was a deal. Since they were demanding ten billion, they needed to offer some form of security in return.

“That is something this official cannot guarantee. Chen Shunyi also has a powerful figure backing him. We can only ensure that you face no official prosecution from the authorities. As for covert retaliation, we cannot easily intervene. Besides, a troublemaker like you-surely you aren’t afraid of a few enemies seeking revenge?”

Yan Xingchang rejected Qin Xiao’s request. Removing the official charge was already enough. Did Qin Xiao still want more? They were recruiting him as a Hidden Agent; openly helping him would give the other side leverage.

“Very well. Since Senior puts it that way, I suppose I shall handle any hidden troubles myself. How do you plan to manage the procedure, and how will you clear my name?”

Qin Xiao knew they would recruit him if they could, and abandon the idea if they couldn’t. They wouldn’t promise more. He could only accept: his life was in someone else’s hands.

“You needn’t worry about that. This afternoon I’ll bring people into the city and arrest you. Surrender without resistance. I’ll charge you, and you’ll explain yourself as best you can. Here is a booklet of Chen Shunyi’s crimes over the years; present it to me then. In the end, I’ll convict you of Manslaughter and sentence you to flogging and compensation. Once you’re flogged, the matter will be over.”

Yan Xingchang gave Qin Xiao the booklet. He had already worked out his plan. Since the Governor-General wanted to recruit Qin Xiao, he had prepared for both outcomes before coming.

“Then I shall respectfully await Senior’s arrival.”

Qin Xiao accepted the booklet, stood, and bowed respectfully.

By the time Qin Xiao raised his head, Yan Xingchang had already left.

“Things can actually be resolved this way? Truly unexpected.”

Qin Xiao never imagined the crisis would dissolve so easily.

Where there were people, there were rivalries, and the Heavenly Dynasty was no exception. It surely had competing factions. Qin Xiao had gambled that Chen Shunyi did not belong to the Governor-General’s faction. If he didn’t, perhaps there would be room to maneuver. To his surprise, his gamble had paid off.