mynovelweb Chapter 498 - 357: Arrest and Opposition! (Double Length, Part 2)
Chapter 498 - 357: Arrest and Opposition! (Double Length, Part 2)
As long as the usual review process is followed, there’s almost no room for argument in this case.
The collusion between Zhao Zun and Zhao Liang, this pair of Zhao Family father and son, with the Demon Race to ambush the Military Department officers is an undeniable fact.
Their deaths would be in vain.
However, the problem is, as a top-tier noble family in the core district, the Zhao Family, if they wished, could easily turn black into white and confuse right and wrong.
This is why ordinary people cannot compete with them.
They don’t even need to reason with you; they could just swallow you whole.
Therefore, in this incident, the truth is not the most crucial element.
What truly matters is how many people are willing to support Song Changming and his party, and how many choose to side with the Zhao Family.
Just like those Military Officers at the city gate at the beginning.
They don’t care about the truth; they only care about what the Zhao Family tells them, and forcibly take away Song Changming and the others.
Wang Tianshuang, after listening and reviewing all the testimonies, showed a faint smile and said.
"Rest assured, since you’ve returned to the main city and the Military Department, you’re safe now.
The Zhao Family cannot touch you, and if they dare to make a scene, the price they will pay may be beyond their imagination!"
Song Changming, seeing this Grand Marshal so confident, felt slightly reassured.
Of course, he wouldn’t completely relax just because of Wang Tianshuang’s words.
Variables still exist, and who knows what outrageous actions the Zhao Family might take, so he must prepare for any eventuality.
Exiting Wang Tianshuang’s conference hall.
"What do you all think?" Yang Zhen asked.
"At this point, we can only choose to trust the Grand Marshal," said Xing Tiexin.
Song Changming said nothing, as his relatively cautious nature made it hard for him to trust anyone other than himself.
Looking back at the past decades, the number of people he truly trusted could be counted on two hands.
This trust required enough time spent together to build.
At present, let alone this noble-born Grand Marshal, even Xing Tiexin and Yang Zhen, who had joined him through life and death, he couldn’t 100% fully trust.
Therefore, he was always prepared for the worst.
The three exited the station, and Yang Zhen and Xing Tiexin hurried home to check on their families and relatives.
Song Changming also returned to his residence in the Third District.
"Young Master!"
In the courtyard, A Da, who was practicing his blade, saw Song Changming return and immediately sheathed his blade and met him.
"Has anything happened these days?" Song Changming asked.
"None." A Da shook his head.
With a sweep of his spiritual perception, everything in the courtyard was as it was before he left.
The little white bird on the wall, the napping Dahuang and White in the courtyard, and the little yellow chicken sunbathing on the stone table.
It seemed the Zhao Family had not yet made a move on Song Changming’s people.
Nonetheless, Song Changming had to stay on guard for this.
"Call Ping’an back; I have something to discuss with him." Song Changming instructed A Da.
"Yes, Young Master." A Da agreed and swiftly left the courtyard.
In no time, Song Ping’an hurried back, seeing Song Changming sitting in the courtyard, with A Er pouring him wine, he couldn’t help but smile.
"Young Master, you’re finally back. Was the mission smooth this time?"
Song Changming shook his head, "The mission is over, but it left behind quite a bit of trouble. I’m calling you back for this reason."
Hearing this, Song Ping’an noticed that what Song Changming mentioned wasn’t simple, and immediately put away his smile.
Song Changming then recounted the confrontation with the Zhao Family.
"Recently, all the businesses you’re running should be temporarily paused, and take A Da and A Er to Cuiwei City for a while under cover of night," said Song Changming.
He didn’t want any worries on his mind.
This time, faced with the immense threat from the Zhao Family, he might not be able to protect those around him, so he decided to have them retreat first, away from this quagmire, to avoid collateral damage.
"Understood!" Song Ping’an nodded heavily without asking further.
Over the years, although not frequently, Song Changming had encountered various crises.
Having those around him take shelter earlier, while he bore the risks of the crisis alone, was Song Changming’s usual approach.
Song Ping’an was also aware that if he stayed, it would only distract Song Changming. Coordinating a retreat would mean fewer concerns for Song Changming and help minimize any potential losses.
At this moment, bravado was useless.
After just one night.
Song Ping’an’s tavern, inn, and even the plan to bid for a restaurant had to be directly halted.
Everything followed Song Changming’s arrangements — efficient and decisive.
Meanwhile, the courtyard became lonely, leaving only Song Changming and the little yellow chicken and little white bird who didn’t want to leave him.
"Chirp chirp..."
The little yellow chicken, who used to find the noise of the foolish big dogs Dahuang and White annoying, now felt uneasy with the silence of the residence without the barking of these two guard dogs.
With a lazy flip, it beckoned to the little white bird on the wall with its wings.
Seeing this, the little white bird obediently flew to the little yellow chicken’s side, grooming its feathers with its beak, tending to it carefully.
"You certainly know how to enjoy life," Song Changming observed with amusement.
This little creature might be small, but it’s picked up quite a few human habits.
"Just so you know, I’m having some trouble now. Since you don’t want to leave, be more cautious and alert in your residence.
If bad people break in when I’m not around, hide quickly when you hear trouble, to avoid being caught and made into soup; I might not have time to rescue you," warned Song Changming.
He knew this little thing could understand.
No matter what, the little chick was part of his household, and he wouldn’t want to return one day to find only a few feathers left.
"Chirp," the little yellow chicken lazily responded, seemingly unconcerned.
The little white bird, however, lifted its head and looked intently at Song Changming.
Song Changming lay back on the deck chair in the courtyard, as was customary after returning from a mission, he could rest for a few days.
He didn’t need to attend to military affairs, and Wang Tianshuang deliberately gave the three of them a few more days off, with several Deputy Generals taking turns in command.
Song Changming turned his hand, revealing the ancient ring in his palm.
It was Zhao Liang’s Heaven and Earth Ring.
Intricate runic imprints shimmered on both the inner and outer surfaces of the ring.
With his right hand, he brushed over the ring.
A Spirit Crystal appeared in his hand.
A Top-grade Spirit Crystal.
It was more than twice the size of a middle-grade Spirit Crystal, large enough to be like a small fist.
The crystal, translucent, emanated a milk-white aura of energy.
The purity and strength of this Spiritual Qi far exceeded any middle-grade Spirit Crystal he had seen before; low-grade Spirit Crystals couldn’t even compare.
With Song Changming’s current perception, he couldn’t detect even the slightest energy impurity within it.
This purity, unique to a top-grade Spirit Crystal, was also what made it so precious.
In terms of cultivation, it significantly lowered the difficulty of refining Spiritual Qi and accelerated the efficiency of cultivation.
From his arms, in a wooden box, several long tendrils from the Mountain Ginseng Spirit reached out, sketching a dialogue box in the air, bargaining with Song Changming for some top-grade Spirit Crystals.
"Don’t even think about it," Song Changming promptly refused.
If it were a few middle-grade Spirit Crystals, he wouldn’t mind, but this Mountain Ginseng Spirit had high standards and simply looked down on the Spiritual Qi within middle-grade Spirit Crystals.
Only these top-grade Spirit Crystals could catch its interest.
Seeing Song Changming’s refusal, the Mountain Ginseng Spirit reluctantly withdrew its tendrils.
"Here, this Green Root Flower is for you." Song Changming wasn’t one to keep everything to himself, offering a turquoise blue exotic flower.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Xiaojin said happily, wrapping the long tendrils around it and storing the Heavenly and Earthly Treasure in the wooden box for absorption.
This flower was also, of course, a treasure from the ring.
The value of a single Green Root Flower wasn’t low, giving it to the Mountain Ginseng Spirit was quite generous from Song Changming.
Of course, this was also because there was a mountain of such rare treasures in the ring.
Having had a windfall, he was willing to be generous.
After all, his Qi Refining and cultivation still relied on Xiaojin’s assistance; constantly exploiting without giving back wouldn’t be a sustainable strategy.
In these years, the rapid progress of his cultivation could be much attributed to the contributions of this Mountain Ginseng Spirit.
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