Chapter 52: Intervention and Reckoning

Qin Yangjun finished speaking, then carried Ah Ling away.

Just then, the two Peak Masters approached Zhuang Hancheng.

“City Lord Zhuang, this time your negligence is inexcusable. You must have clearly heard the Young Master’s words. Did you truly believe the sect was unaware of your disgraceful actions? You’ve botched this completely. Fortunately, the Young Master is unharmed, otherwise… sigh… never mind. You should reflect on your own conduct.”

With that, both turned and prepared to follow Qin Yangjun.

Zhuang Hancheng, still standing rooted to the spot, watched his expression shift.

‘So, they did notice…’

He hadn’t truly believed his petty schemes could escape Mu Xianxian’s notice; his actions were more of a probing test.

Yet, he was unwilling to remain a mere City Lord guarding the frontier. He yearned for greater power, envisioning a day when he, too, would establish his own sect. His attempts to test Mu Xianxian now appeared to have crossed a critical line.

He had anticipated such a situation, but this was not the most pressing issue at hand.

At this crucial juncture, he had not only allowed demonic creatures to invade the City Lord’s manor but had also nearly caused Qin Yangjun’s assassination. This transcended mere negligence.

He might even be accused of colluding with the enemy.

If all his transgressions were to be judged together, retaining his position as City Lord would be highly questionable.

Just then, a Deacon’s voice echoed from behind Zhuang Hancheng.

“City Lord Zhuang, you should check on your son. He still has two demonic creatures accompanying him.”

“What?!”

Zhuang Hancheng’s head snapped up, and without a word, he burst through the main gate.

Meanwhile, Qin Yangjun carried Ah Ling into a room and thoroughly examined her body with his spiritual energy.

Fortunately, she had merely fainted from the intense clash between her demonic and spiritual energies, which had overwhelmed her divine consciousness, rather than sustaining any actual injury.

Releasing Ah Ling’s hand, Qin Yangjun fell into deep contemplation.

The day’s events had utterly blindsided Qin Yangjun.

Especially the assassination attempt by Yin Kang Xuehan, a plotline entirely absent from the original novel.

‘It seems my presence has once again caused the plot to diverge.’

Simultaneously, Qin Yangjun reflected on whether he had been too complacent.

He should have recognized the problem after several failed schemes.

The butterfly effect was pushing his calculations toward an uncontrollable trajectory.

Had Ah Ling’s demonic power not been unleashed during this incident, Yin Kang Xuehan would not have held back, and her strike would have led to an exceptionally tragic outcome.

Zhuang Hancheng’s timely arrival was also crucial; his Grand Weak Water Art could only withstand one attack, and with Yin Kang Xuehan’s cultivation, Qin Yangjun would not have escaped a second pursuit.

Even if his sister had sensed the danger through divine sense and rushed over, it would have been too late.

He would have been nothing more than a corpse.

Ultimately, his survival this time depended on Ah Ling and the ephemeral concept of luck.

The more Qin Yangjun pondered, the more a chilling dread crept into his heart.

Only now did he realize that, despite his memories from a previous life, his comfortable existence and noble status had dulled his perception.

Repeated failures still hadn’t prompted him to take things seriously.

If this continued, he might not even need the “Heavenly Lantern Lighting” event later on; he could well perish prematurely due to these unforeseen changes, transforming from a major villain into a mere jester.

‘If I don’t change, my character… will be ruined.’

With this realization, his perspective gradually began to shift.

After confirming Ah Ling was safe, Qin Yangjun returned to the room assigned to him.

Along the way, he heard Zhuang Daoyan’s pained cries, likely from a beating.

He also encountered Jiang Yanfeng, whose face was swollen like a pig’s head from a beating.

Upon seeing Qin Yangjun, Jiang Yanfeng scoffed coldly before retreating into his own room.

‘Even after such a beating, that brat remains so arrogant.’

Qin Yangjun paid him no mind. To him, Jiang Yanfeng was merely a “fun generator,” having done nothing truly outrageous beyond mockery and mischief.

Thus, Qin Yangjun had no intention of eliminating him.

Once back, he began recalling the plot points that were soon to unfold.

The main objective of the demonic invasion was the remains of the previous Demon King.

One faction launched a feint attack while another group infiltrated, and they actually succeeded.

The City Lord’s manor quickly reacted, with a group beginning their defense. Yu Lingyue was among them, and there were three paths for the counter-attack.

By chance, or perhaps fate, the chosen path was precisely the one Yu Lingyue was on.

Yu Lingyue and her companions were no match; they were utterly routed, but as the protagonist, Yu Lingyue naturally evaded capture, hiding while only the City Lord’s guards perished.

Then, the Demon King, celebrating prematurely, launched an attack on Yin Kang Xuehan, who had been wounded midway through the battle.

After a fierce battle, the Demon King perished, and Yin Kang Xuehan, severely injured, fled.

Yu Lingyue stumbled upon a windfall; the Demon King’s storage bag was, strictly speaking, a great stroke of fortune for her.

Not only did the storage bag contain many treasures, but it also pointed to a specific location.

It was precisely the fortuitous encounter at that place that allowed Yu Lingyue to achieve a breakthrough in Heavenly Vein Foundation Establishment.

‘Since it hasn’t happened yet, perhaps I could… manipulate things…’

Due to the previous incident at the Ancient Spirit Ruins, Qin Yangjun no longer harbored thoughts of harming Yu Lingyue.

However, he was greatly interested in this significant opportunity.

As he pondered this, a sudden knock sounded at his door.

Qin Yangjun already sensed who it was; coincidentally, he had been planning to seek them out.

“Enter.”

The two Peak Masters stepped in, clasping their fists in a respectful bow.

“Young Master, this time it was our oversight; we were too lax in our vigilance. Had it not been for your discerning insight, we might have fallen into the demonic creatures’ trap. We implore you to punish us.”

Both were acutely aware that if the Disciplinary Hall handled this matter, they would not only be dismissed but might even be exiled to mining labor.

They had also heard about the incident at Qingluan Mountain, where Qin Yangjun had magnanimously pardoned them, resulting in no punishment for Qingluan Mountain.

Therefore, they decided to confess their faults to Qin Yangjun proactively, hoping he would show leniency.

Qin Yangjun had no intention of punishing them.

He himself had been stunned by the situation.

As for their talk of his “discerning insight,” he simply took it as flattery.

“The responsibility for this doesn’t lie with you. If anyone is to be punished, it should be Zhuang Hancheng. However, now is not the time for such discussions. I recall you possess maps of the Canggu City vicinity, do you not?”

The two exchanged glances.

‘It seems the Young Master intends to intervene in this matter.’

This was good news for them, gaining a reliable helper. Simultaneously, both resolved to protect Qin Yangjun at all costs, never leaving his side.

If any problems arose again, they wouldn’t expect forgiveness; they would offer an apology with their lives.

Then, one of them waved a hand, and a translucent blue map, formed from spiritual energy, materialized within the room.

Qin Yangjun studied the map, beginning to determine the route.

To ensure no issues arose midway and the route remained unchanged, Qin Yangjun did not intend to interfere with their plan to steal the corpse. The crucial aspect was that subsequent events must remain within his control.

He needed to gather the protagonist’s group around him, and then, during the counter-attack, he would dictate the route.

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