Chapter 1119: I Am the Law

"Young Master Zu, don't worry about me. Go save the Madame." In that instant, Xingnu had decided to sacrifice herself to avoid implicating Zu An.

Zu An didn't reply. Instead, he grabbed her shoulders and, in a few leaps, appeared several streets away.

However, he quickly frowned as more and more soldiers arrived, tightening the encirclement. In broad daylight, it was difficult for him to hide while carrying someone.

After only a moment's hesitation, he quickly changed direction with Xingnu, arriving swiftly outside the Duke's Mansion.

Xingnu's face lit up with joy. "We can ask the Duke to help."

Zu An thought to himself, "What would your expression be if you knew I am also the Duke?"

He didn't answer, instead taking her directly over the courtyard wall.

Xingnu looked surprised, watching him easily avoid guards along the way, as if he were familiar with his own home.

Finding a moment, Zu An asked, "Can Liu Ji and Chu Ji be trusted?"

He needed someone to help care for the injured Xingnu.

Xingnu replied, "Go find Chu Ji; she is also one of our kin."

The implication was that Liu Ji was human.

Zu An was dumbfounded.

He was utterly bewildered. Had he unwittingly become a folk hero like Xu Xian?

No wonder Liu Ji had such a slender, flexible waist...

However, he had no time for such thoughts now. He quickly took Xingnu to Liu Ji's residence.

Xingnu was a little surprised. "Huh, how does Young Master Zu know Liu Ji lives here?"

She couldn't help but be puzzled. The private quarters within a mansion were generally kept secret from outsiders, and even within the Duke's Mansion, only maids working there knew the internal layout.

Zu An was speechless.

What could he say? Could he admit he used to visit often?

He set Xingnu down outside Liu Ji's private room. "Go find her. I'll take care of the people following us."

He found it inconvenient to meet Liu Ji in his current state, as he didn't want their relationship to become overly complicated.

After knocking on the door to inform Liu Ji, he quickly disappeared from the courtyard.

Observing from the shadows, he only truly felt at ease leaving after Liu Ji came out and took Xingnu inside.

By this time, sounds of commotion were coming from outside, indicating that soldiers wanted to enter and search.

Zu An quickly used the "Thousand Faces" technique to transform into Jian Yanyou. He then found a random young servant and used the "Cute Girl Voice Changer" before heading to the secluded cultivation chamber, pretending to have just emerged.

"What's happening? Why is it so noisy outside?" Zu An asked with Jian Yanyou's authoritative voice.

"Duke, you've come out!" The young servant outside exclaimed, a mix of surprise and joy, quickly replying, "It seems some soldiers claim they saw a fugitive heading this way and want to search the house. They're truly audacious, completely overstepping their bounds!"

The servant spoke indignantly, clearly displeased that, as a member of the Duke's Mansion, they were being bullied right at their doorstep.

Zu An said nothing, walking directly towards the gate.

From a distance, he saw the mansion guards confronting the soldiers. "Do you even know where this is? The Duke's Mansion isn't just somewhere you can search at will!"

A commanding officer among the soldiers arrogantly declared, "We are apprehending a wanted demon fugitive. Someone saw her flee in this direction, which is why we've brought men to search. Your obstruction means you intend to harbor a demon fugitive, correct?"

Hearing the accusation of harboring a demon, the guards' morale immediately faltered. They dared not accept such a charge.

Zu An roughly sensed with his divine perception that there were quite a few soldiers. The excuse about seeing a fugitive run inside was pure nonsense; if these soldiers had seen him bring Xingnu in without him knowing, all his cultivation would have been in vain.

Clearly, these people had come prepared. Xu Yu likely knew about Yu Yanluo and Jian Yanyou's connection and guessed that Xingnu would seek refuge here, so he sent men to search while simultaneously warning Jian Yanyou not to interfere.

"Move aside quickly! If the wanted demon fugitive escapes, all of you will face confiscation of your property and extermination of your families!" the officer arrogantly cursed.

The guards were at a loss, feeling immense frustration. In the past, who would dare to act so brazenly at the Duke's Mansion? Unfortunately, recently, Second Master Jian and Uncle Ming had successively met with misfortune, and the Duke had been missing for a long time, only returning to enter prolonged seclusion. The entire Duke's Mansion had lost its backbone.

Faced with these aggressive soldiers, none of the guards dared to take on the charge of harboring a demon.

Just then, a cold snort echoed. "What great audacity, to come and cause trouble at my mansion."

Hearing this voice, many of the mansion's guards showed expressions of pleasant surprise, while the officer's face changed.

"Greetings, Duke!" All the guards bowed to Zu An, and even the soldiers followed suit.

"Who are you?" Zu An asked coldly, looking at the officer who had just been so defiant.

"I am Fei Xun, a brigadier general from the Governor-General's Mansion," the officer hastily replied.

"Fei Xun? I haven't heard that name." Zu An frowned slightly. Previously, when he was vying with Jian Taiding for control of the Governor-General's Mansion, Yu Yanluo had analyzed the important generals within it for him, but he had no recollection of this Fei Xun.

"I was recently promoted by Sir Xu," Fei Xun quickly explained. Feeling somewhat pressured by the Duke, he immediately brought up Xu Yu, instantly feeling a little more confident.

"Xu Yu..." Zu An sneered inwardly. As expected, silent dogs bite harder. While he and Jian Taiding were locked in a fierce struggle, this fellow had quietly promoted his trusted subordinates to various key positions without anyone realizing.

"Isn't the Duke in seclusion? How did you come out so soon?" Fei Xun asked, testing the waters.

"So, you saw I was in seclusion and took the opportunity to show off your might at my mansion, did you?" Zu An's face darkened. "If I hadn't come out, would you have simply let yourself demolish the Duke's Mansion?"

Fei Xun's expression changed. He awkwardly said, "This subordinate doesn't care about that. It's just that I was indeed ordered to pursue a wanted demon fugitive. If I have offended you, I hope the Duke will not mind."

"If you want to pursue a demon fugitive, then go pursue them. Why are you causing a ruckus at my mansion?" Zu An rebuked.

Fei Xun stated in a low voice, "Because someone saw the wanted demon fugitive escape into the Duke's Mansion."

"Who saw them? Let them come out and explain," Zu An said, knowing full well he was fabricating the story, merely a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.

Fei Xun subtly glanced at a few of his subordinates, who, feeling guilty, all lowered their heads, avoiding his gaze.

"Useless!" Fei Xun cursed inwardly. At this point, he had no choice but to speak up himself. "To answer the Duke, I saw her!"

He knew that Sir Xu had personally promoted him, and the reason for his promotion was simply his obedience and boldness. If he disappointed Sir Xu, his future would be over.

In any case, Yu Yanluo was a demon, and the Yu family was doomed.

Jian Taiding was also dead, and the Jian family's smuggling cooperation with demons was a certainty. Further investigation would likely lead to the Jian family's downfall as well.

Furthermore, Jian Yanyou had been missing for so long that Yunzhong Commandery had already changed. Even if he returned, he was severely injured and reportedly needed prolonged seclusion to save his life.

Given this, what did he have to fear? Fortune favors the bold!

If he could openly challenge the Duke now and not lose ground, his reputation would soar. He would then find it much easier to ascend to power in the vacuum left by the collapse of the Jian and Yu families.

He was a dignified imperial official, and there was even an imperial envoy stationed in the city. Even if the Duke was displeased, would he truly dare to do anything to him?

That would be open defiance of the imperial court!

The Jian family was now on the verge of collapse, and Jian Yanyou could barely protect himself, so he wouldn't be so unwise.

The more Fei Xun thought about it, the more excited he became. Soon, the news of him openly defying the Duke would spread throughout Yunzhong Commandery.

Times had changed; it was their turn to rise.

Seeing the eagerness in the soldiers' eyes, each with a bloodthirsty glint, Zu An immediately guessed what they were thinking.

"Guards, break this man's legs. Yunzhong Commandery does not permit such arrogant existence," Zu An commanded directly.

The guards were initially stunned, then overjoyed. They rushed towards Fei Xun. This arrogant fellow had just made them seethe with suppressed anger, and now, finally, the tables had turned.

Fei Xun was taken aback, clearly not expecting such an order. He was both shocked and enraged. "We are carrying out our duty! How dare you attack us? Are you defying the law?"

Rage points from Fei Xun +253 +253 +253...

His subordinates also drew their swords, and the situation became instantly tense.

The Duke's Mansion guards were hesitant. With so many soldiers on the other side, if a real fight broke out, there would likely be many casualties, and the matter would escalate significantly.

Zu An scoffed, and with a casual wave of his hand, a fierce surge of qi swept directly onto Fei Xun's leg.

With a crisp crack, his leg bone clearly snapped, and he collapsed onto his knees.

Zu An said coldly, "In this place, Yunzhong Commandery, I am the law!"