Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start

Xu Qinge raised her head to glance at the sky, her slender eyebrows slightly furrowing as she said, "How come the Master hasn't returned at this hour?"

Seated by the side, Gu Qingyan's face was fair with shapely brows and a high nose bridge. She spoke softly, "Perhaps something has delayed him."

A touch of worry crossed Xu Qinge's face as she said, "I don't know why, but since the Master left this morning, I've felt restless all day, as if something is going to happen. And with the eldest son out at the maternal grandfather's, I'm truly concerned."

"Don't worry, Mother. The eldest brother will be fine since good people will be protected by Heaven, and nothing will happen. Father is in Tiandu, so it's even less likely for any mishap to occur. He might have had some urgent affair or perhaps went to have drinks with colleagues," Gu Qingyan reassured her.

"I hope so," sighed Xu Qinge softly, but she still looked uneasy.

"Let's reheat the dishes when Father returns," suggested Gu Qingyan.

Xu Qinge nodded without another word.

Gu Qingyan glanced at her mother's expression, feeling a bit of doubt herself. Gu Chengfeng had promised to come home for dinner in the evening, so it made no sense for him to not be home yet. The possibility of a spur-of-the-moment drink with colleagues was quite rare—it was merely a comforting speculation she had offered Xu Qinge.

"Xiao Yu, please take the dishes to the kitchen and reheat them," said Xu Qinge.

"Yes, Madam," responded the maid standing to the side, ready to take the dishes to the kitchen.

However, at this moment, a clamor suddenly erupted from outside; then, they saw the doors of Gu Mansion pushed open as a dozen or more people barged in.

"What are you doing? You can't go in..." Uncle Zhang, the gatekeeper, tried to stop them, but being advanced in years, was easily pushed to the ground by one of them.

"What's happening?" Hearing the noise, Xu Qinge and Gu Qingyan hurried out from the inner room.

"Madam, they... they say they need to search our Gu Mansion," stammered Uncle Zhang, flustered as these people insisted on conducting a search without explanation, leaving him unable to stop them.

Xu Qinge frowned. She stepped forward to help Uncle Zhang up and saw that the intruders invading Gu Mansion were all wearing official uniforms, swords at their waists, and had a mirror embroidered on their chests.

Seeing these uniforms, Xu Qinge instantly felt a sinking feeling in her heart.

Having lived in Tiandu for so long, while Gu Chengfeng held office, Xu Qinge had grown familiar with some of Da Xia's key institutions. The men in the official uniforms with the mirror embroidery were from Da Xia's "Mingjing Department."

The Mingjing Department was as renowned as the Jing Tian Department, representing two vitally important institutions in Da Xia. If the Jing Tian Department's duty was to monitor the world beyond, Mingjing Department's was to keep watch internally.

The Jing Tian Department was responsible for overseeing the land, while the duty of the Mingjing Department was to supervise civil officials. In essence, the Mingjing Department was a sharp blade looming over the heads of Da Xia's nobility and governmental officials.

In Da Xia, from the highest-ranking princes and dignitaries to the nine-rank officials and minor bureaucrats, there was not a single one who did not dread or fear the Mingjing Department.

Mingjing Department, symbolizing a high-hanging mirror, embroidered a mirror at the center of their official attire, signifying the hope that every one of Da Xia's officials fully comprehend their duties, keeping a clear mirror in their hearts to distinguish between right and wrong.

Whenever an official engaged in corruption and injustice, the Mingjing Department would intervene. Since the establishment of the Mingjing Department, countless high officials had been apprehended and delivered to the Department's prison, meeting with exceedingly dire fates, sometimes even implicating their families.

Once the Mingjing Department caught an official on charges and placed them in their prison, no one could save them.

There was even a time when a prince of Da Xia, having violated the law, was captured by Mingjing Department and died in their prison.

It could be said that the mere three words "Mingjing Department" were enough to terrify many officials in Da Xia.

Seeing the people from the Mingjing Department storm into the Gu Mansion, Xu Qinge knew for certain that something had befallen Gu Chengfeng.

"May I ask what brings you all here?" Xu Qinge feigned calm as she asked.

Gu Qingyan, with her slender figure, stood beside Xu Qinge, and seeing her mother's serious expression, she too became anxious.

Twelve people from the Mingjing Department had come, led by a middle-aged man with a grim face—the father of Liu Zheng, Liu Ningyuan.

Liu Ningyuan looked Xu Qinge up and down a few times; a mysterious light flickered in his eyes. Despite her age, Xu Qinge still had charm and a shapely figure. Frowned upon by such scrutiny, Xu Qinge's brow wrinkled in displeasure.

After sizing up Xu Qinge, Liu Ningyuan's gaze turned toward Gu Qingyan and a cold smirk appeared on his face. He said, "Gu Chengfeng is indeed blessed to have such a wife and daughter, hmm."

Then, his expression turned cold, he waved his hand and shouted, "Search!"

"Yes!"

His subordinates from the Mingjing Department rushed into the Gu Mansion and began their violent search. Sounds of crashing resonated intermittently as the group ransacked the place; it wasn't long before countless pieces of furniture and porcelain were destroyed.

"What are you doing?" Witnessing this, Gu Qingyan's eyebrows knit tightly, and she glared at Liu Ningyuan with widened eyes.

"Qinyan." Seeing this, Xu Qinge's complexion tightened, and she hurriedly pulled Gu Qingyan's hand, drawing her back to her side.

"Hmph."

Liu Ningyuan let out a cold snort, his eyes fierce as he declared, "Gu Chengfeng is audacious, corrupt and law-breaking, daring to buy and sell official positions. He has been caught red-handed by this official. We are searching the Gu Family today to see just how much he has embezzled over the years by betraying his conscience!"

Boom!

Liu Ningyuan's words struck Xu Qinge's heart like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky. Buying and selling official positions was always a capital offense through the ages!

Xu Qinge's vision darkened, her heart felt as if it stopped, and her legs nearly gave way beneath her, almost fainting.

"Mother!"

Gu Qingyan immediately tightened with worry and quickly supported Xu Qinge, whose body almost collapsed.

Afterward, she turned her head and stared angrily at Liu Ningyuan, saying, "That's impossible, my father would never do such a thing!"

In Tiandu, the capital of Da Xia, Gu Chengfeng had served for many years, and although only a seventh-rank official, he did have plenty of gray income, which were all minor benefits that didn't reach the level of violating the laws of Da Xia.

Moreover, having been an official for many years, Gu Chengfeng was clear about what could be done and what couldn't, what could be accepted and what couldn't.

Besides, Gu Chengfeng was never one to only seek profits, so Gu Qingyan simply didn't believe what Liu Ningyuan had just said.

With a cold smile, Liu Ningyuan said, "Still trying to defend yourselves? Gu Chengfeng was caught with evidence of his crimes. It's not for you to say what he did or did not do!"

Saying that, he disregarded Gu Qingyan's gaze, walked past Xu Qinge, and as he brushed past her, he glanced at Xu Qinge's prominent chest and whispered in her ear, "Your nephew has injured my son gravely, nearly crippling his martial arts. Today, I've arrested your husband as payback. When that Gu Chen returns, I'll make sure he suffers the same fate, just like your dead husband!"

"If you want to save them, then exchange their freedom for yourself or your daughter."

After he spoke those words, Liu Ningyuan chuckled coldly several times and walked away.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qinge's vision went black, and she fainted on the spot.

"Mother, what's wrong with you, mother…" Gu Qingyan cried in alarm, calling out repeatedly.

Liu Ningyuan, with his back to the two, listened to Gu Qingyan's cries, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, his smile extremely intense.