Amid the surrounding chatter, Xiao Qian finally began to grasp the full picture.
Could it be that Liu Zhen had truly risen to power? He had come here to settle the score with Liu Feng? She looked at Liu Feng's wretched state, then at Liu Zhen's lofty, commanding demeanor.
Xiao Qian's heart skipped a beat, and at last she understood everything completely.
Suddenly, Xiao Qian burst into loud sobs. "Brother Zhen, this really isn't my fault! All of it — that bastard Liu Feng forced me into it. He bullies everyone, you know that. I had no choice... Brother Zhen, after all these years, you still haven't forgotten me. You came back for me. I... I've had enough. I want to go with you. Brother Zhen, please, let me go with you! Brother Zhen, I'll warm your bed, I can do anything..."
Xiao Qian's sudden change of face left Jiang Chen watching with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. This woman was far too fickle. The shift in her demeanor was as quick as flipping through a book.
The Peerless Great Emperor and Madam Yun both frowned at the spectacle.
They never could have imagined that Liu Zhen's woman would have such appallingly poor character.
"Shameful and disgusting." Liu Zhen snapped at her with fury. "Liu Feng bullying people — I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. But selling off my family estate and sneaking around with him behind my back — that doesn't seem like something he forced you to do, does it?"
Xiao Qian cried and screamed, "He forced me into all of it! Brother Zhen, you should know — you're the only one I've ever truly loved. In this whole world, you're my only real love. I was carrying your child back then, and he had it beaten out of me. Brother Zhen, you can't forgive this animal. You have to..."
"Enough!" Liu Zhen suddenly let out a bitter laugh. "What a lovely line — 'carrying your child' and 'beaten out of me.' Wonderful, just wonderful. The only thing I came back to find out was whose child you were really carrying. It seems now that there's no longer any need to know."
As Liu Zhen spoke, his eyes reddened.
After a moment, Liu Zhen's expression turned cold as he looked at Liu Yue. "Undersecretary Liu, I've seen your sincerity. However, what this pair of scoundrels did still demands an answer. Handle it as you see fit. I'll be waiting for your sincerity."
Liu Yue was stunned. What did that mean? Was he being asked to sacrifice his own kin in the name of justice?
Seeing Liu Yue still frozen in place, Liu Zhen had no patience to waste. He strode forward and delivered a kick straight to Liu Feng's groin.
Liu Feng let out a bloodcurdling scream as a sickening crunching sound echoed from below his waist.
The next instant, Liu Feng collapsed to the ground, convulsing and screaming in agony.
That was the sound of a man's most vital part being utterly destroyed.
Xiao Qian's face went white with terror and she shrieked repeatedly, "Brother Zhen, don't kill me! Please don't kill me! One night as man and wife brings a hundred days of grace — we were once so loving and devoted..."
"Shut your mouth, you wretched woman!" Liu Zhen sneered. "Killing you would only dirty my blade. Still, I should thank you for your shamelessness — it's helped me realize just how worthless all my suffering over the years has been. I won't kill you. From now on, you walk your wide road, and I'll walk my narrow bridge."
After that, he glanced at Liu Yue. "That's settled. Take them and go. I hope the Liu family remembers this lesson — the next time you consider doing something unconscionable, remember that the spirits watch from just three feet above your head!"
Liu Yue saw that while this ending cost him some face, it was the best outcome he could have hoped for. At the very least, from Liu Zhen's tone, it was clear he would not be pressing the matter any further.
This brought Liu Yue a measure of relief. Looking at the unfathomably powerful figures standing behind Liu Zhen, he felt almost as though he had narrowly escaped the gates of death itself.
Just as all of Chitang City was buzzing with turmoil over Liu Zhen's dramatic appearance, he mysteriously vanished once more.
However, he had hired someone to look after his family's ancestral estate.
It seemed Liu Zhen had left once again.
In no time, Liu Zhen had become something of a minor legend in Chitang City. Those idle, gossipy neighbors especially had turned Liu Zhen into a miraculous avenger, a model of the underdog's triumph. The story evolved into countless variations, spreading far and wide.
With his burden of the heart finally laid to rest, Liu Zhen felt far more at ease, his mood noticeably lighter and brighter.
The journey back to the Glazed Royal City was entirely free of any further obstacles or mishaps.
Ten-odd days later, the party arrived safely at the Glazed Royal City.
Upon entering the borders of the Glazed Royal City, the Peerless Emperor reined in his dazzling aura. He quietly accompanied Jiang Chen into the city.
The first thing Jiang Chen did upon returning to the Glazed Royal City was confirm whether Mu Gaoqi and the others had made it back safely.
Fortunately, everything had gone more or less smoothly. Mu Gaoqi and the rest had already returned to the Glazed Royal City a month prior. The Geng brothers, meanwhile, were still there.
Upon seeing the Peerless Emperor and Madam Yun, the Geng brothers were overjoyed.
Jiang Chen settled the Peerless Emperor and his companions across from the Taiyuan Pavilion. That property had once belonged to the Taiyuan Tower, but Jiang Chen had won it in a wager, and it was now his territory.
It was more than spacious enough to house the Peerless Emperor and his party.
Mu Gaoqi, being Jiang Chen's sworn brother, had already been brought to the Young Lord's residence on Peacock Sacred Mountain by Lin Yanyu.
Lin Yanyu knew how highly his master valued Mu Gaoqi, so he treated the latter with great respect as well. Elder Yun Nie, on the other hand, remained at the Taiyuan Pavilion.
The Taiyuan Pavilion had originally been under Shen Sanhuo's management. When the disciples of the Pill Dunk Palace laid eyes on Elder Yun Nie, they were thrilled.