"Yes, I was thinking the sa thing." Chong Jingtian nodded. The inspection process finished quickly, and the Flying Device headed straight for Ying Feng.
"Who does Ying Feng plan to have lead the expedition to the ruins this ti?" Wu Chenpei asked tentatively.
"I will lead the team myself." Chong Jingtian glanced at him.
"Just you, Chief?" Wu Chenpei looked surprised.
"The Faceless Divine Son has infiltrated our ranks for an unknown purpose. We need enough personnel for defense to prevent any accidents." Chong Jingtian’s expression was solemn.
"You’ve been very thoughtful, Chief," Wu Chenpei said, deeply agreeing. Internally, however, he breathed a sigh of relief.
’It’s best if it’s just Chong Jingtian. Another Saint Envoy from Yuan Capital is already on their way in secret. By the ti we’re at the ruins, there will be two Saint Envoys.’
’Even if the plan to assassinate Su Chen is exposed, we’ll be able to control the situation.’
As he was thinking this, he watched the scenery blur past the Flying Device. It seed to be heading straight for the Judicial Court. Wu Chenpei couldn’t help but say, "Chief, you can just drop off here. I’ll return to the guest house on my own."
"No rush." Chong Jingtian waved his hand dismissively. "The Saint Envoy has worked hard for Ying Feng. We must reward you properly. The guest should follow the host’s arrangents, so please don’t refuse."
Seeing that Chong Jingtian gave him no opportunity to refuse, Wu Chenpei thought for a mont. ’It’s not a big deal anyway.’ He had no choice but to follow Chong Jingtian back to the Judicial Court.
Chong Jingtian possessed the highest level of clearance. The Flying Device flew directly into the Judicial Court’s airspace and landed atop the Central Building.
"It’s been many days, but the Judicial Court is still as orderly as ever." After stepping off the Flying Device, Wu Chenpei glanced down, his face filled with admiration as he offered a complint.
The two n exchanged a few pleasantries, and in the end, Chong Jingtian led the way to a conference room.
The mont the door was pushed open, the smile on Wu Chenpei’s old face froze. Several figures were already seated on both sides of the long conference table, and he recognized every single one of them.
Security Director—Zhou Yanwu
Resources Director—Shi Yunzhou
Internal Affairs Director—Min Shengrui
Auxiliary Affairs Director—Zhong Yanghui
Including the Judicial Court’s Chief, Chong Jingtian, at his side, all five elders of Ying Feng were present. And before his arrival, they had all concealed their auras.
Such a grand formation imdiately gave Wu Chenpei a bad feeling.
"This..." He subconsciously tried to retreat, but Chong Jingtian had already blocked his path.
Shi Yunzhou rose with a cheerful laugh. "Saint Envoy, co, have a seat, have a seat..."
Wu Chenpei’s expression shifted. He swept his gaze to the side, and his face changed drastically.
"Lu Kai? What are you doing here?!"
At the end of the conference table, two more people were seated: Xia Hanshi and Lu Kai.
Xia Hanshi’s face was as grim as ever, while Lu Kai looked bitter. "Saint Envoy..." he called out.
"Where’s Hongxuan?" Wu Chenpei’s heart skipped a beat. A vague premonition surfaced, and he asked urgently.
"Saint Envoy..." Chong Jingtian suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder and sighed. "While you and I were away, a few things happened in Ying Feng. It’s hard to explain in just a few words. There’s a recording I’d like you to see."
"A recording..." Wu Chenpei’s face tensed. Seeing the other four elders all looking at him, he had no choice but to follow Chong Jingtian and take a seat.
Shi Yunzhou snapped his fingers. The lights in the entire room dimd, and a massive virtual screen was projected before them.
"...Yuan Capital used the guest house to harbor the Faceless Divine Son! Their intentions are despicable, their cris unforgivable!"
It was a bombshell from the very start. As Xia Hanshi’s sharp cry ca from the recording, Wu Chenpei’s expression changed dramatically. In a low voice, he said, "Nonsense! We..."
"Saint Envoy!" another imposing, middle-aged man spoke up. It was Zhou Yanwu. As the leader of another enforcent agency, he naturally possessed a fierce aura.
"Keep watching..." After that sharp command, his tone softened, but Wu Chenpei couldn’t help but clench his fists, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.
As the video showed Xia Hanshi’s confrontation with Lu Kai, as Hongxuan walked down, as Xu Siyuan, standing beside him, transford into the Faceless Divine Son...
Wu Chenpei was completely stunned. "This... this... how could this be!"
"I was about to ask you!" Zhou Yanwu snapped. "Why did Hongxuan collude with the Faceless Divine Son?"
"I... this... he..." Wu Chenpei took a deep breath, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. ’I don’t even have to think about it. Ying Feng must be behind this trickery.’
But he could only suppress his anger. In a constrained voice laced with a probing tone, he said, "Let see Hongxuan. There must be a misunderstanding."
"Keep watching," Chong Jingtian said coolly.
Wu Chenpei’s eye twitched. His gaze was drawn back to the screen. Xia Hanshi’s killing intent was too obvious, and his heart sank to the depths.
He believed that Ying Feng might consider many factors, but a madman like Xia Hanshi would likely act without any hesitation.
But just as he was about to lose control of his anger, he saw Hongxuan propose a duel, and Shi Yunzhou, that old peacemaker, actually agreed.
’This... could it be...’ Wu Chenpei couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope.
He could tell that even if Hongxuan won, he was banking on Xia Hanshi keeping his promise. He had guessed Hongxuan’s plan: to trade his life for his target’s.
’If the timing was right, and Hongxuan got close to Su Chen, there might be a chance to kill him before anyone else could react...’
But suddenly, Wu Chenpei’s expression turned to one of horror. His face twitched, and he cried out in shock, "This... how is this..."
His thoughts hadn’t even settled before the battle was decided. Half of Hongxuan’s shoulder had been sheared off, and he was wailing on the ground.
Hongxuan was utterly defeated, unable to withstand even a single blow.
Not only did he fail to seize that one-in-ten-thousand chance, but he had also given Ying Feng a pretext.
But then Hongxuan’s leaking of secrets, followed by his suicide, made Wu Chenpei grit his teeth. He even felt a flicker of anger toward Hongxuan. With this, Yuan Capital had almost no ground to stand on.
The gazes of everyone in the room subtly converged on Wu Chenpei’s face. When they had first seen this recording, their reactions had been quite similar to his. Su Chen’s display of strength was truly beyond their imagination.
"Saint Envoy!" Zhou Yanwu suddenly roared again, his face livid. "What is the aning of this, Yuan Capital? You ca to us, claiming your chosen one could save Red Thunder Star. We’ve been treading on eggshells, trying our best to cooperate."
"And what is the result? Not only did you harbor malicious intent, planning to settle scores with us afterward, but you even tried to assassinate Su Chen! And this Hongxuan isn’t even from Red Thunder Star—he was secretly contacting outsiders! Are you trying to save Red Thunder Star from disaster, or are you trying to drag us all into the abyss?!"
Listening to the furious rebukes, Wu Chenpei’s face turned ugly. He wanted to flip the table and stand up, but he had no leverage. Instead, Ying Feng had him by the throat, interrogating him relentlessly.
Years of plotting, all reduced to nothing in an instant. Wu Chenpei was filled with rage. He didn’t even have to think to know that Xia Hanshi, sitting at the end of the table, must be sneering at him internally.
’The plan was to assassinate Su Chen before reaching the ruins, but that madman Xia Hanshi acted without any restraint, even more decisively than we did!’
"Despicable, despicable, despicable..." Wu Chenpei’s eyes were bloodshot. Energy began to leak from him as he snarled like a beast, "This is utterly despicable!"
"I fought off the Faceless Followers for you, and you stab in the back like this!"
"You know perfectly well why Hongxuan died!"
"Hongxuan committed suicide," Shi Yunzhou said lightly. "He was outmatched and killed himself to atone for his cri."
Wu Chenpei froze. He was seething with indignation, but he still forced the words out through clenched teeth: "Do you really think Yuan Capital will just go along with your plans? If it cos to it, we’ll all die together!"
"You supported an outsider and planned to settle scores with us afterward. What do you think Lieyang and Celestial Joy will think?" Chong Jingtian said coldly. "Who would die together with you?"
"Then let’s see if you can even open these ruins without my Yuan Capital!"
The anger in Wu Chenpei’s heart, the frustration, the bitterness of his failed sches, all mixed with the hatred from his brother’s murder many years ago. His gaze turned deathly cold. "I, Wu Chenpei, swear to take revenge—"
Before he could finish, a knock suddenly sounded at the door. The tense, sword-drawn atmosphere froze, and everyone frowned in unison.
Jiang Shu Mo’s voice ca from outside, sounding very rushed; he hadn’t even announced himself properly. "Chief, a group of people has arrived outside Yingfeng City! They claim to be from the Royal Court!"
"The Royal Court?"
Zhou Yanwu’s expression changed. Shi Yunzhou shot to his feet. Chong Jingtian looked startled and uncertain, and Xia Hanshi’s eyes narrowed.
’The Royal Court?’
Wu Chenpei, who had been filled with rage, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. His expression shifted dramatically. He glanced at the others, and in a flash, he understood the implications.
He suppressed the fire in his heart and actually forced an ugly smile onto his face. He said hoarsely, "Hongxuan’s death was well-deserved."
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