Chapter 69: Take Action
Many noble descendants were disappointed to see that Jiang Ten had not caused a stir, and some even tried to incite conflict through Qun Yushu. But unlike those underdeveloped scions, Lu Wangji and the others all let out a sigh of relief.
As the saying went, sky-high offers were for show—settlements were grounded. No one truly intended to settle Jiang Ten this way; they only wanted the Jie Family and Shang Family to pay a price. If Jiang Ten truly admitted guilt and submitted to the law, then they would be the ones in trouble—who among them hadn’t committed dirty deeds? Were the Jie Family and Shang Family supposed to be benevolent saints?
The Liang Kingdom lacked the vendettas and bloody duels of the Northern Dynasties. Aside from the emperor’s wisdom, the key lay in the tacit understanding among noble houses: struggle but don’t destroy. Officials could be demoted, even imprisoned, but never killed. The victor would not drive the loser to extinction, and the defeated always had a sliver of hope. This, along with the Nine-Rank Household Registration System’s upward mobility, was the true cornerstone of Liang’s enduring stability.
With the murder dispute having settled, the essence of the matter was that the Jie Family and Shang Family were sacrificing the Huainan Underground Palace Secret Realm in exchange for Jiang Ten’s goodwill and a year’s worth of time for her to grow. The Grand Treasure Chest was merely a side item; Lu Wangji’s insistence on including it was more to uncover the chest’s drop list. Jiang Ten had exploited a loophole—being a blacklisted identity—otherwise Lu Wangji wouldn’t have gotten involved.
“Have you reached a decision?” Lu Wangji waved for a servant to handle Luo Weijin’s corpse. “I’ll report the crime of corpse desecration truthfully.”
“Jiang Ten, since the Shang Family has secured you a year to find evidence, you’re not the true culprit in Luo Weijin’s murder until proven otherwise. Even if you confess, it’s meaningless unless you provide new evidence confirming it.” He spoke calmly. “Testimonies hold very little weight in the laws of the Liang Kingdom.”
“To believe that what you say defines the truth—that’s a childish fantasy.”
For a fleeting moment, Lu Wangji almost believed Jiang Ten was going to strike him dead. Her eyes, usually cloudless and serene, flickered with a chilling malice, as though a grim reaper lurked behind her, baring its cruel grin. But Jiang Ten turned her head soon after, still beautiful, still calm, as if it had all been a paranoid illusion.
“If it’s childish nonsense, then surely you won’t take it to heart, Swift Rider Lu?” Shang Yue no longer felt like speaking pleasantly. “Jiang Ten is innocent. You, of all people, should understand her emotions best.”
“She’s innocent for now,” Lu Wangji suppressed his unease and said, “It’s getting dark. Let’s hurry and claim the personal chests.”
The group walked to the base of the Total Scoreboard. Gazing at the four dazzling golden scores at the top, everyone grew expectant. Since ancient times, the highest personal score in Mansu Woodland had been 15 points. Now, four monsters had emerged with thousands of points—what kind of reward would these chests yield?
Lu Wangji looked at Jiang Ten, seemingly hoping she would go first, but Jiang Ten turned instead to look at Qian Gongyu.
“Huh? Me first?”
Rarely under such spotlight, Qian Gongyu was both nervous and excited. She stepped beneath the Total Scoreboard. The line “Qian Gongyu: 7215 points” extended countless golden threads, as if an invisible deity was weaving a treasure chest for her. The threads formed a golden, dragon-phoenix-engraved chest. Onlookers gasped—it was incomparable to the wooden chests they’d received today. Theirs now seemed like toilet bowls.
Qian Gongyu opened her chest. Three rainbow-colored misty orbs floated out.
The left orb contained a manual titled 《Secret Technique: Thunderous Roar of Tiger and Leopard》.
The center orb held a pair of boots, shimmering with golden light.
The right orb contained a token inscribed with the characters ‘Reward the Good, Punish the Wicked’.
“A secret technique manual?”
“It’s the ‘Reward the Good, Punish the Wicked’ Token! Mansu Woodland actually dropped one—quick—”
“Whoa! A Rare Token!”
Qian Gongyu reached for the boots. The moment the central orb shattered, the other two orbs burst like bubbles. Hugging the boots lovingly, she giggled, “Heehee! The Qian Family finally has a Rare Token, and it’s boots too! Ah, so you can only pick one.”
Turning around, she saw everyone frozen in place and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Come back first...” Shang Xinlei smiled wryly. “I’ll explain the value of the other rewards later.”
“I’m taking the chest too—it looks expensive!”
As Qian Gongyu huffed and puffed to carry the chest away, Jie Zilong turned to look at his niece. Without a word, Jie Yuanshao understood.
“If there’s a ‘Reward the Good, Punish the Wicked’ Token, I’ll claim it.”
Her score, “Jie Yuanshao: 8530 points,” also produced a golden chest, but the engravings were more intricate. As Jie Yuanshao opened it, everyone held their breath.
Three orbs again. Same order: manual, token, and rare item.
The left orb’s manual was titled 《Secret Technique: Ascending Wind Sword》.
The center orb contained a golden-glowing sword.
The right orb held another ‘Reward the Good, Punish the Wicked’ Token.
Without hesitation, Jie Yuanshao took the token and handed it to Jie Zilong. He stored it in a storage item, then drew a steel spear. His piercing gaze swept across the crowd, driving off the ill-intentioned onlookers.
Next was “Shang Xinlei: 8950 points.” Unlike the previous two, her chest lacked the ‘Reward the Good, Punish the Wicked’ Token.
The left orb’s secret technique was 《Secret Technique: Void-Cleaving Wheel》.
The center orb held a pair of golden flying rings.
The right orb contained a token with the characters ‘Treasure Hunt’.
Shang Xinlei glanced at her brother. Shang Yue smiled and gestured for her to decide.
The 《Secret Technique: Void-Cleaving Wheel》 was ruled out first. She already had the Secret Technique: Blood Wheel, enough to ensure her Third Job Change. Though having more techniques was better, they had to suit her needs.
What did she lack most?
A Rare Token!
She had Blood Weapon enhancement materials. With a Rare Token, she could immediately upgrade to a Legendary Token! Though flying rings were niche weapons and the Shang Family’s best only reached Second-Stage Rare Token, she had planned to switch to swordsmanship post-Third Job Change to inherit a Rare Longsword from her clan. But now that she could claim a Rare Flying Ring, there was no need to complicate things.
As for the third item, the Treasure-Hunting Token, she was ignorant of its use. It might be as valuable as the ‘Reward the Good, Punish the Wicked’ Token, but she had no interest in gambling.
After Shang Xinlei retrieved the Rare Flying Rings, the camp’s mood peaked. Everyone stared at Jiang Ten, then at the scoreboard:
“Jiang Ten: 11200 points.”
Over 2000 points higher than Shang Xinlei. A total score exceeding ten thousand!
What would her chest reveal? A ‘Reward the Good, Punish the Wicked’ Token? A Legendary Token? Or perhaps... a Foundation Pill?
“As soon as Jiang Ten opens the chest, everyone step back!” Lu Wangji ordered. “The split remains sixty-forty, but we must coordinate our pick!”
“Jiang Ten, if the chest reward can’t be yours alone, I promise the Shang Family will compensate you with one secret technique and one Rare Token!” Shang Yue pledged. “Whatever technique or token you want, the Shang Family will help you obtain it!”
“The Jie Family will do the same!” Jie Zilong followed. “Rest assured, we won’t let you suffer. You can return to Mansu Woodland for countless years. We’re not so shortsighted as to rob you here!”
Facing the excited, anxious crowd, Jiang Ten neither nodded nor shook her head. She simply walked toward the Total Scoreboard.
Lu Wangji followed closely. He genuinely feared Jiang Ten might instantly use a secret technique from the chest—if it contained a Foundation Pill or ‘Reward the Good, Punish the Wicked’ Token, the Court had to secure it!
Just then, Jiang Ten suddenly turned to him. Her expression was calm, revealing no anger or joy, but Lu Wangji knew she must hate him now. Others may have nudged the scheme, but it was he who framed her and took her reward. One was a matter of life and death, the other of interest—two sure ways to earn vengeance.
Lu Wangji did feel some anxiety. The rewards in Mansu Woodland were simply too bountiful. Jiang Ten could potentially generate four ‘Reward the Good, Punish the Wicked’ Tokens per year. Every noble family in the Liang Kingdom would bow to her. She was the rising force, the defining power. He, a mere Third-Stage Messenger from a noble house, stood no chance.
But there was still a year left—enough time for Lu Wangji to ‘fake his death and escape’.
The Court had established relocation mechanisms for scapegoats like him. By the time Jiang Ten grew unstoppable and sought revenge, he would’ve ‘died in a Secret Realm’, handing over a patsy for the Luo Weijin case to quell her fury. She would then have no target but the other noble houses. The Court would fade neatly from view.
With that thought, Lu Wangji’s unease dissipated. After all, Jiang Ten was only a First-Stage Messenger. No matter how angry or resentful she was, what could she really—
Boom!
A surge of Vital Energy and Blood erupted mere feet away, like a searing blast wave, forcing Lu Wangji to squint. In that instant, a brilliant Moonring Slash sliced through the night, wreathed in roaring thunder, blooming before his throat!