Chapter 69
Tortured by a Thousand Blades, the Scholar Reaches Eightfold!
Six days later.
Yuchun Prefecture.
Inside a luxurious restaurant.
Gu Lin and his entourage, dressed in ordinary fine clothes, headed to the private room on the top floor.
There are seven girls inside, all around sixteen or seventeen years old.
Perhaps due to childhood abuse, they are extremely self-conscious, with shifty eyes and a hunched posture.
Gu Lin clasped his hands in a salute to Liu Xiaoqi:
"Lord Liu, I'm in trouble."
Since they are not in the same holy site, there is no need to perform the ritual.
But this is the posture of asking someone for a favor.
Liu Xiaoqi nodded and slowly walked to the seven girls.
"Ying'er, cooperate with this gentleman," Feng Nu gently called to her old friend.
Yinger carefully turned around, brushed aside her beautiful hair, and sure enough, a red dot remained on the back of her head.
Liu Xiaoqi of the Wen Dao Academy activated the Wen Palace, and a vast purple aura swirled around him. He moved his lips a few times, and wisps of purple smoke flowed into the back of Ying'er's head.
Yinger fainted on the spot.
Liu Xiaoqi said gently:
"She's only at the Meridian Opening Realm; it will take her half an hour to wake up."
He then went to the other six girls and used the "Snatching Technique" on each of them.
Seven people are unconscious.
Gu Lin handed over ten high-grade spirit stones and said with a smile:
"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Liu."
"It's alright," Liu Xiaoqi said with a smile, then left the restaurant.
His mission is complete.
Gu Lin and the others waited quietly.
Two incense sticks' worth of time later, a girl awoke from her deep sleep, her face filled with utter astonishment, followed by anger and fear, and finally, tears streaming down her face.
An extra memory has appeared in her mind, causing her immense pain.
The Wind Maiden stepped forward and hugged her, gently comforting her:
"Don't worry, we will definitely give you justice."
"We come from the Holy Land, and this Lord Gu is extremely righteous and has no fear of the Dean of Shanxi Academy."
The girl couldn't stop her tears, her voice trembling:
"It's...it's Dean Sima!"
Gu Lin's face was grim.
You beast, an outrage against humanity!
One by one, the girls woke up and recalled that horrific memory, their heart-wrenching pleas for mercy.
"Lord Gu!" Feng Nu's eyes reddened, and she choked out:
"There are still many victims."
Gu Lin's tone was icy:
"Continue your investigation."
"Gentlemen, please follow me to Shanxi Academy!"
......
noon.
East Street of Yuchun County Government.
It is a school building covering several hundred acres, with eight powerful characters inscribed on it: "Nurturing people with kindness and enriching the cultural heritage".
In the school square, a 60-year-old man dressed in a blue robe sat on a prayer mat, holding a scroll, annotating and explaining the scriptures to hundreds of outstanding students.
"Dean, Higashiji Hachiko is leading his subordinate swordsmiths to visit the academy."
A person came to report.
Sima Wei put down the scroll and slowly got up.
According to etiquette, one should personally greet them.
After a short while, Sima Wei led the academy instructors to greet them from afar.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Sima Wei's expression changed instantly.
The leader was dressed in a majestic black robe embroidered with three ferocious Xie Zhi heads, and his young face was cold and indifferent.
He had seen the portrait and recognized the man.
Or rather, the entire Sima clan knew about this arrogant and conceited new member of the Eastern Temple.
"Lord Gu." Sima Wei restrained his emotions and calmly performed the courtesy.
Gu Lin stared at him for a long time, then suddenly commanded:
"take away!!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a young instructor suddenly flew into a rage and roared:
"The dean is highly respected and renowned. How dare you detain him so disrespectfully? Shanxi Academy practices education for all and treats children kindly. If you act recklessly, you will be condemned by the entire Yuchun County, and even the sacred Dongsi Temple cannot withstand the public outcry!"
"Or is it that, in order to make things difficult for my Sima clan, you dare not provoke us in the sacred land, and instead come to Yuchun County to vent your hatred?"
Gu Lin remained expressionless.
So this guy is also a member of the Sima clan. No wonder he dared to talk back to Dongsi. Is he used to being arrogant?
He walked slowly to the young instructor's side and said, emphasizing each word:
Say it again.
The young instructor, exasperated and furious, said:
"Our Sima family is magnanimous and possesses the spirit of a powerful clan, so we've decided not to hold it against you. But if you continue to act recklessly and commit evil deeds, you will pay the price with your life sooner or later!"
"Shut up!" Sima Weigang had just finished speaking.
The young instructor collapsed suddenly, blood streaming from his forehead, and died on the spot.
Gu Lin withdrew his hand and took out the pen and notebook.
"Threate the head of the East Temple and kill him on the spot."
After writing it down, they stamped it and pasted the document on the corpse's forehead.
The room fell into a deathly silence, and the other instructors remained completely still.
Sima Wei finally lost his refined and upright demeanor, and his face suddenly turned ferocious.
Gu Lin turned and left, saying in a deep voice:
"This is a school; children should not be exposed to such crimes. His literary talent is hereby revoked, and he is to be taken away!"
After he finished speaking, several sword-wielding warriors from the Mountain and Sea Realm, who had been waiting for their turn, surrounded Sima Wei one after another.
Sima Wei's eyes were filled with panic; he had a strong sense that disaster was about to befall him.
To resist Toji on the spot is a capital offense.
If they can be taken away, does that mean they won't die? What exactly is the crime that beast is talking about...?
boom!
Sima Wei's spirit surged, and he fought desperately.
A quarter of an hour later, Sima Wei lay on the ground, his body bound by shackles and chains, blood dripping from his brow; his literary talent was now useless.
.......
evening.
The prefectural government office of Yuchun County.
The officials, led by the prefect, witnessed a horrifying scene.
The once highly respected Dean Sima Wei was now being dragged around like a stray dog by a group of ghostwriters.
No one dared to utter a sound.
One is the direct descendant of the Sima clan.
One is the head of the East Temple, whose name represents the sacred site of the East Temple.
Gu Lin glanced around at the group of officials and said in an icy voice:
"This person is a beast in human form, worse than a pig or a dog. He has been in charge of Shanxi Academy for thirty years. To satisfy his perverted desires, he has violated girls and framed boys, ruining their lives."
"The evidence is irrefutable, the crime is heinous, and he deserves to be torn to pieces!"
In an instant, countless officials were dumbfounded, their minds blank.
How is this possible?!
Gu Lin opened his palm, and a knife-wielder handed him a sharp blade.
Amidst horrified gazes, Gu Lin carried out torture on the spot.
The girl's life was ruined.
Those little boys became scapegoats, bearing the same stigma and suffering imprisonment, never able to hold their heads high again.
Such a beast is beyond redemption, an outrage against both heaven and man!
Amidst screams and wails, Sima Wei's flesh was sliced off piece by piece, and blood gushed out like a spring on the ground until only bones remained.
The most tragic thing was that Sima Wei had not yet died, but could only endure one torture after another, his cries were heart-wrenching.
Until the final, brutal blow, Sima Wei's life was extinguished.
Many officials were terrified, not daring to breathe loudly, let alone look directly at this ruthless young man.
Several servants stepped forward to wipe the blood from Lord Gu's official robes.
Gu Lin said in an icy tone:
"In a few days, an official document from the sacred site will be issued to the prefectural government, and the Sima family must compensate the victims handsomely."
"Furthermore, the ringleader has been executed, but there are certainly more perpetrators than just this old dog. All those who helped carry out the investigation, listen to my orders: remain in Yuchun County to continue investigating this old case, and do not let any of them escape justice. The county government must fully cooperate!"
After speaking, he looked at the group of people who had written the sword and said solemnly:
"Eliminating evil is also an opportunity for your advancement!"
"Arrest the villains and send them all to the jailer's prison. I cannot tolerate the slightest evil in my eyes. Such a heinous crime must be punished by my own hand!"
Unlike the extremely strict promotion conditions of the Holy Land, which require slaying demons with royal bloodlines, the East Temple Heavenly Profound Guards can gain promotion by eliminating officials of the Divine Dynasty of the fifth rank or above.
The job of a ghostwriter is relatively easier in government offices. As long as the case has a large enough impact, the ghostwriter can be promoted and receive better treatment and resources.
"Yes, sir!" Yan Shouxu and the other assistants respectfully clasped their hands in greeting.
Gu Linyu was still furious, but he couldn't vent his anger at the prefectural government office. This old dog had been in charge of the academy for thirty years, while the government office staff had only been in office for five years.
The old dog's evil deeds were indeed hidden. If Feng Nu hadn't already harbored suspicions and hadn't been lucky enough to consult the ancient texts, it would have been difficult to uncover the old dog's perverted crimes.
After giving instructions to the ghostwriter, Gu Lin returned to the restaurant.
With the grand competition just around the corner, he certainly couldn't linger in Yuchun County any longer.
Gu Lin was alone in the private room of the restaurant.
At that moment, a few golden lights flashed through my mind, eventually coalescing into the three large golden characters "Book of Merit".
[Slay a fifth-class villainous scholar, reward: Max level "Speak with Imperial Authority"!]
[Martial Arts Merit Points: 7156/10000]
[Confucian and Taoist Merit Points: 7589/10000]
[Merit Points in Taoist Arts: 0/1000]
[Witchcraft Merit Points: 654/10000]
In an instant, purple mist filled the space between the eyebrows, and a magnificent pavilion rose from the ground, revealing the appearance of the eighth floor.
The eighth level of the Confucian Yunling Realm!
Jumping directly to the sixth level!
Breakthrough to the sixth rank!!!
Gu Lin's face was tense as he tried his best to suppress his emotions.
He knew that this old dog was utterly wicked, had committed evil deeds for two or three decades, and had harmed countless poor children.
It is astonishing that it reaches the level of a Class A crime, and the merit value of eliminating a Class A villain is so terrifying.
This is Grade A!
The Confucian scholar has undergone a complete transformation!
Martial arts, Confucianism and Taoism are all at the eighth level!
Gu Lin looked up to calm himself and quickly checked the power of "Mouth of Heavenly Law".
Upon seeing this, he was immediately overjoyed.
This is probably his strongest technique.
With his mouth holding the mandate of Heaven, and with his strength as an eighth-level Confucian scholar, he was able to utter eight words.
Gu Lin calmed his mind and focused on recuperating, gently moving his lips:
"To eradicate evil is an inescapable duty."
As soon as he finished speaking, purple energy enveloped the entire private room. The offensive power was like a stampede of ten thousand horses. In an instant, eight purple characters appeared, each reflecting Gu Lin's illusory image.
Absolutely domineering and unparalleled!
In a moment, the eight large characters slowly transformed, turning into purple swords, spears, halberds, axes, whips, and maces...
"This isn't the limit yet," Gu Lin said with a smile.
When this Confucianism is used, an illusory pavilion will appear beneath one's feet, allowing one to stand atop it and look down domineeringly at one's opponent.
"That's incredible!"
At this moment, Gu Lin hated that he could not punish Sima Wei's crimes and extend them to the entire Sima clan!
However, he knew that this was completely unrealistic. With so many members of the Holy Land in the Sima clan, they could easily use the excuse that Sima Wei had long been expelled from the Sima clan to forge a contract of withdrawal from the clan and wipe themselves clean.
Yuchun Prefecture.
Inside a luxurious restaurant.
Gu Lin and his entourage, dressed in ordinary fine clothes, headed to the private room on the top floor.
There are seven girls inside, all around sixteen or seventeen years old.
Perhaps due to childhood abuse, they are extremely self-conscious, with shifty eyes and a hunched posture.
Gu Lin clasped his hands in a salute to Liu Xiaoqi:
"Lord Liu, I'm in trouble."
Since they are not in the same holy site, there is no need to perform the ritual.
But this is the posture of asking someone for a favor.
Liu Xiaoqi nodded and slowly walked to the seven girls.
"Ying'er, cooperate with this gentleman," Feng Nu gently called to her old friend.
Yinger carefully turned around, brushed aside her beautiful hair, and sure enough, a red dot remained on the back of her head.
Liu Xiaoqi of the Wen Dao Academy activated the Wen Palace, and a vast purple aura swirled around him. He moved his lips a few times, and wisps of purple smoke flowed into the back of Ying'er's head.
Yinger fainted on the spot.
Liu Xiaoqi said gently:
"She's only at the Meridian Opening Realm; it will take her half an hour to wake up."
He then went to the other six girls and used the "Snatching Technique" on each of them.
Seven people are unconscious.
Gu Lin handed over ten high-grade spirit stones and said with a smile:
"Thank you for your trouble, Lord Liu."
"It's alright," Liu Xiaoqi said with a smile, then left the restaurant.
His mission is complete.
Gu Lin and the others waited quietly.
Two incense sticks' worth of time later, a girl awoke from her deep sleep, her face filled with utter astonishment, followed by anger and fear, and finally, tears streaming down her face.
An extra memory has appeared in her mind, causing her immense pain.
The Wind Maiden stepped forward and hugged her, gently comforting her:
"Don't worry, we will definitely give you justice."
"We come from the Holy Land, and this Lord Gu is extremely righteous and has no fear of the Dean of Shanxi Academy."
The girl couldn't stop her tears, her voice trembling:
"It's...it's Dean Sima!"
Gu Lin's face was grim.
You beast, an outrage against humanity!
One by one, the girls woke up and recalled that horrific memory, their heart-wrenching pleas for mercy.
"Lord Gu!" Feng Nu's eyes reddened, and she choked out:
"There are still many victims."
Gu Lin's tone was icy:
"Continue your investigation."
"Gentlemen, please follow me to Shanxi Academy!"
......
noon.
East Street of Yuchun County Government.
It is a school building covering several hundred acres, with eight powerful characters inscribed on it: "Nurturing people with kindness and enriching the cultural heritage".
In the school square, a 60-year-old man dressed in a blue robe sat on a prayer mat, holding a scroll, annotating and explaining the scriptures to hundreds of outstanding students.
"Dean, Higashiji Hachiko is leading his subordinate swordsmiths to visit the academy."
A person came to report.
Sima Wei put down the scroll and slowly got up.
According to etiquette, one should personally greet them.
After a short while, Sima Wei led the academy instructors to greet them from afar.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Sima Wei's expression changed instantly.
The leader was dressed in a majestic black robe embroidered with three ferocious Xie Zhi heads, and his young face was cold and indifferent.
He had seen the portrait and recognized the man.
Or rather, the entire Sima clan knew about this arrogant and conceited new member of the Eastern Temple.
"Lord Gu." Sima Wei restrained his emotions and calmly performed the courtesy.
Gu Lin stared at him for a long time, then suddenly commanded:
"take away!!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a young instructor suddenly flew into a rage and roared:
"The dean is highly respected and renowned. How dare you detain him so disrespectfully? Shanxi Academy practices education for all and treats children kindly. If you act recklessly, you will be condemned by the entire Yuchun County, and even the sacred Dongsi Temple cannot withstand the public outcry!"
"Or is it that, in order to make things difficult for my Sima clan, you dare not provoke us in the sacred land, and instead come to Yuchun County to vent your hatred?"
Gu Lin remained expressionless.
So this guy is also a member of the Sima clan. No wonder he dared to talk back to Dongsi. Is he used to being arrogant?
He walked slowly to the young instructor's side and said, emphasizing each word:
Say it again.
The young instructor, exasperated and furious, said:
"Our Sima family is magnanimous and possesses the spirit of a powerful clan, so we've decided not to hold it against you. But if you continue to act recklessly and commit evil deeds, you will pay the price with your life sooner or later!"
"Shut up!" Sima Weigang had just finished speaking.
The young instructor collapsed suddenly, blood streaming from his forehead, and died on the spot.
Gu Lin withdrew his hand and took out the pen and notebook.
"Threate the head of the East Temple and kill him on the spot."
After writing it down, they stamped it and pasted the document on the corpse's forehead.
The room fell into a deathly silence, and the other instructors remained completely still.
Sima Wei finally lost his refined and upright demeanor, and his face suddenly turned ferocious.
Gu Lin turned and left, saying in a deep voice:
"This is a school; children should not be exposed to such crimes. His literary talent is hereby revoked, and he is to be taken away!"
After he finished speaking, several sword-wielding warriors from the Mountain and Sea Realm, who had been waiting for their turn, surrounded Sima Wei one after another.
Sima Wei's eyes were filled with panic; he had a strong sense that disaster was about to befall him.
To resist Toji on the spot is a capital offense.
If they can be taken away, does that mean they won't die? What exactly is the crime that beast is talking about...?
boom!
Sima Wei's spirit surged, and he fought desperately.
A quarter of an hour later, Sima Wei lay on the ground, his body bound by shackles and chains, blood dripping from his brow; his literary talent was now useless.
.......
evening.
The prefectural government office of Yuchun County.
The officials, led by the prefect, witnessed a horrifying scene.
The once highly respected Dean Sima Wei was now being dragged around like a stray dog by a group of ghostwriters.
No one dared to utter a sound.
One is the direct descendant of the Sima clan.
One is the head of the East Temple, whose name represents the sacred site of the East Temple.
Gu Lin glanced around at the group of officials and said in an icy voice:
"This person is a beast in human form, worse than a pig or a dog. He has been in charge of Shanxi Academy for thirty years. To satisfy his perverted desires, he has violated girls and framed boys, ruining their lives."
"The evidence is irrefutable, the crime is heinous, and he deserves to be torn to pieces!"
In an instant, countless officials were dumbfounded, their minds blank.
How is this possible?!
Gu Lin opened his palm, and a knife-wielder handed him a sharp blade.
Amidst horrified gazes, Gu Lin carried out torture on the spot.
The girl's life was ruined.
Those little boys became scapegoats, bearing the same stigma and suffering imprisonment, never able to hold their heads high again.
Such a beast is beyond redemption, an outrage against both heaven and man!
Amidst screams and wails, Sima Wei's flesh was sliced off piece by piece, and blood gushed out like a spring on the ground until only bones remained.
The most tragic thing was that Sima Wei had not yet died, but could only endure one torture after another, his cries were heart-wrenching.
Until the final, brutal blow, Sima Wei's life was extinguished.
Many officials were terrified, not daring to breathe loudly, let alone look directly at this ruthless young man.
Several servants stepped forward to wipe the blood from Lord Gu's official robes.
Gu Lin said in an icy tone:
"In a few days, an official document from the sacred site will be issued to the prefectural government, and the Sima family must compensate the victims handsomely."
"Furthermore, the ringleader has been executed, but there are certainly more perpetrators than just this old dog. All those who helped carry out the investigation, listen to my orders: remain in Yuchun County to continue investigating this old case, and do not let any of them escape justice. The county government must fully cooperate!"
After speaking, he looked at the group of people who had written the sword and said solemnly:
"Eliminating evil is also an opportunity for your advancement!"
"Arrest the villains and send them all to the jailer's prison. I cannot tolerate the slightest evil in my eyes. Such a heinous crime must be punished by my own hand!"
Unlike the extremely strict promotion conditions of the Holy Land, which require slaying demons with royal bloodlines, the East Temple Heavenly Profound Guards can gain promotion by eliminating officials of the Divine Dynasty of the fifth rank or above.
The job of a ghostwriter is relatively easier in government offices. As long as the case has a large enough impact, the ghostwriter can be promoted and receive better treatment and resources.
"Yes, sir!" Yan Shouxu and the other assistants respectfully clasped their hands in greeting.
Gu Linyu was still furious, but he couldn't vent his anger at the prefectural government office. This old dog had been in charge of the academy for thirty years, while the government office staff had only been in office for five years.
The old dog's evil deeds were indeed hidden. If Feng Nu hadn't already harbored suspicions and hadn't been lucky enough to consult the ancient texts, it would have been difficult to uncover the old dog's perverted crimes.
After giving instructions to the ghostwriter, Gu Lin returned to the restaurant.
With the grand competition just around the corner, he certainly couldn't linger in Yuchun County any longer.
Gu Lin was alone in the private room of the restaurant.
At that moment, a few golden lights flashed through my mind, eventually coalescing into the three large golden characters "Book of Merit".
[Slay a fifth-class villainous scholar, reward: Max level "Speak with Imperial Authority"!]
[Martial Arts Merit Points: 7156/10000]
[Confucian and Taoist Merit Points: 7589/10000]
[Merit Points in Taoist Arts: 0/1000]
[Witchcraft Merit Points: 654/10000]
In an instant, purple mist filled the space between the eyebrows, and a magnificent pavilion rose from the ground, revealing the appearance of the eighth floor.
The eighth level of the Confucian Yunling Realm!
Jumping directly to the sixth level!
Breakthrough to the sixth rank!!!
Gu Lin's face was tense as he tried his best to suppress his emotions.
He knew that this old dog was utterly wicked, had committed evil deeds for two or three decades, and had harmed countless poor children.
It is astonishing that it reaches the level of a Class A crime, and the merit value of eliminating a Class A villain is so terrifying.
This is Grade A!
The Confucian scholar has undergone a complete transformation!
Martial arts, Confucianism and Taoism are all at the eighth level!
Gu Lin looked up to calm himself and quickly checked the power of "Mouth of Heavenly Law".
Upon seeing this, he was immediately overjoyed.
This is probably his strongest technique.
With his mouth holding the mandate of Heaven, and with his strength as an eighth-level Confucian scholar, he was able to utter eight words.
Gu Lin calmed his mind and focused on recuperating, gently moving his lips:
"To eradicate evil is an inescapable duty."
As soon as he finished speaking, purple energy enveloped the entire private room. The offensive power was like a stampede of ten thousand horses. In an instant, eight purple characters appeared, each reflecting Gu Lin's illusory image.
Absolutely domineering and unparalleled!
In a moment, the eight large characters slowly transformed, turning into purple swords, spears, halberds, axes, whips, and maces...
"This isn't the limit yet," Gu Lin said with a smile.
When this Confucianism is used, an illusory pavilion will appear beneath one's feet, allowing one to stand atop it and look down domineeringly at one's opponent.
"That's incredible!"
At this moment, Gu Lin hated that he could not punish Sima Wei's crimes and extend them to the entire Sima clan!
However, he knew that this was completely unrealistic. With so many members of the Holy Land in the Sima clan, they could easily use the excuse that Sima Wei had long been expelled from the Sima clan to forge a contract of withdrawal from the clan and wipe themselves clean.