Chapter 85: Do Not Scorn the Young for Their Poverty

“So, Lord Song has brought a madman to try and convict me. Tsk, tsk… Lord Song, was that really necessary? If you wish to arrest me, how would I dare resist? Come, come, Lord Song, since you want to detain me, I'll let you do as you please.”

Seeing the calm smile on Wu Tian’s face, Song Ke’s expression froze instantly. He had originally summoned a servant from the Nie family to point out Wu Tian as the culprit, but who would have thought that the servant would shrink back in terror at the very sight of Wu Tian, as though he had seen a ghost. Now, Song Ke truly found himself in a dilemma.

On one hand, Song Ke wanted to show he was upholding the law for all to see; on the other, he did not want to antagonize Wu Tian and the Qitian Sect. But now Wu Tian had offered up his hands to be bound—should he arrest him or not?

If he didn’t, it would look as though he’d lost his nerve, and how could he continue as city lord with such a reputation? If he did, he would make an enemy of this terrifying master—what then? Song Ke had hoped to use the Nie family servant’s testimony as justification for a lawful arrest, but now he was caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Wu Tian, it’s not that I’m targeting you, but you slaughtered so many members of the Nie family last night. For the sake of order and justice in Pingyang City, I must take you into custody!” Song Ke gritted his teeth, deciding at last to bring Wu Tian in—even if he had to release him later, it was better than doing nothing at all.

Wu Tian shrugged indifferently. “I hope Lord Song is arresting the right man.”

“Take him away!” Song Ke ordered, and several city guards stepped forward to restrain Wu Tian. Yet as they approached, they immediately shrank back. They all knew Wu Tian had single-handedly massacred the Nie family. Who among them would dare provoke such a formidable figure?

“Please, Lord Song,” Wu Tian said, still perfectly cooperative as he followed Song Ke away.

Song Ke was at a loss, but he could only bring Wu Tian to the city lord’s residence.

When the elders of the Qitian Sect heard that the city lord was detaining Wu Tian, Hao Hu rushed to the city lord’s residence at once to negotiate. At the same time, when the Sun family learned Wu Tian was under arrest, Sun Siqing also hurried to the city lord’s residence.

Upon arrival, Wu Tian was not thrown into the dungeon. Instead, he was given a guest room, and servants were ordered to prepare tea for him.

“Wu Tian, to tell the truth, I am not your enemy. You wiped out most of the Nie family last night, and the whole city is in an uproar over it. If I don't arrest you, I have no way to answer to my superiors,” Song Ke said with a bitter smile after leading Wu Tian to the guest room.

Wu Tian sat down, took a sip of tea, and asked, “So what does Lord Song intend to do now?”

“By the usual procedure, I should lock you in the dungeon,” Song Ke replied, eyeing Wu Tian carefully as he spoke, watching for any reaction.

Wu Tian’s expression did not change. He understood these so-called procedures, but he understood even more that in this world, such procedures only restrained the weak; they meant little to the powerful.

“Then Lord Song should simply follow the usual procedure,” Wu Tian said calmly, setting down his teacup.

Song Ke could only let out a wry laugh and wave his hand. “Wu Tian, to be honest, you destroyed the Nie family single-handedly. With such strength, I’d be a fool to make you an enemy—especially when you’ve achieved so much at such a young age. Clearly, your future will be extraordinary. I may be only a minor city lord, but I know how to judge character.”

Wu Tian laughed. “Since Lord Song is so discerning, why did you avoid me like the plague when I was crippled, and even break off our engagement in public to sever all ties with me?”

“That…” Song Ke was at a loss for words. At the time, Wu Tian’s dantian was destroyed, making him a useless cripple by any standard. Who could have predicted he would one day recover his cultivation and become even more powerful?

“Lord Song, I hold no real grudge against you. When my dantian was shattered and I lost all my cultivation, you weren’t the only one who looked down on me. There were many others. You were just one among them. But let me offer you some advice: never underestimate the young and downtrodden,” Wu Tian said coolly.

Song Ke fell silent. He understood perfectly what those words meant and had no argument to offer.

At that moment, the guest room door was flung open and Song Qianqian burst in.

“Wu Tian, you scoundrel! You’ve finally been caught by my father! Weren’t you arrogant before? Now you know how formidable my father is!” Song Qianqian shouted gleefully, not even looking at Wu Tian as she entered.

“Yes, I’ve always known your father is formidable,” Wu Tian replied with a smile, calmly sipping his tea.

Song Qianqian was dumbfounded. She had expected to find her father interrogating Wu Tian, but why was Wu Tian drinking tea so leisurely?

“Why are you sitting here so relaxed? Father, what’s going on? Didn’t you arrest him? Why is he sitting here drinking tea?” Song Qianqian asked, utterly perplexed.

“Qianqian, this is none of your concern. Leave at once!” Song Ke said sternly.

“But why, Father? He’s a criminal—why not just tie him up and throw him in the dungeon?” Song Qianqian protested, pointing indignantly at Wu Tian.

“Leave, now!” Song Ke barked coldly.

“Father, what’s wrong with you? You’re the lord of Pingyang City, the most powerful man here. Wu Tian killed the Nie family—shouldn’t he be dealt with according to the law? Are you letting him go just because he’s strong? Aren’t you serving the Empire of Wild Might? Arresting a petty criminal like him should be simple!” Song Qianqian’s voice trembled with frustration, her anger mounting as she questioned her father.

Smack!

A sharp slap landed on Song Qianqian’s cheek.

“What do you know? This has nothing to do with you—why meddle in matters beyond your reach?” Song Ke roared.

“Father… you… you’d hit me for an outsider? For a man who was once a cripple?” Song Qianqian cried, clutching her face in disbelief.

“Kneel! Apologize now! Quickly!” Song Ke was utterly enraged. Even now, Song Qianqian called Wu Tian a cripple. What if Wu Tian lost his temper and killed someone? This was the only way.

“I won’t apologize! Why should I apologize to him? I refuse! He’s just a nobody I broke off my engagement with—I won’t apologize!” Song Qianqian bit her lip and stubbornly refused.

“City Lord, Elder Hao of Qitian Sect requests an audience!” At that moment, a city guard entered to report.

“City Lord, Steward Sun of the Sun family requests an audience!” Another guard arrived with news.

Before Song Ke could respond, yet another guard rushed in urgently. “My lord, the Eighth Prince has arrived—he’s at the gates of the city lord’s residence!”

“What? I understand why the Qitian Sect would come, but why the Sun family? And the Eighth Prince too? Why are they all here?” Song Ke was utterly bewildered, and hurried out in a fluster.