“Minister Zhang, sorry to keep you waiting. Please come in.”

The judge under Lord Chu Jiang went to announce the arrival and returned, speaking to Zhang Tang in this manner.

Zhang Tang had just arrived and hadn’t waited very long.

The message from Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost had naturally been delivered, but he hadn’t immediately gone to the eighteenth level of hell to see Jian Chou. Since he still carried the task assigned by Lord Qin Guang, he had to make a trip to the Ghost Gate Pass watchtower first before heading to the eighteenth level of hell.

Of course, he was very clear in his heart that there was another crucial reason for not going immediately—

That was, he privately didn’t want to go.

His initial willingness to help Jian Chou was merely due to a trace of conscience stirring in his heart, but he was a harsh judge! Even if he had conscience, how much could there be? He had already used it all up helping someone last time; there was no reason to expect it to still be available for him now.

Zhang Tang didn’t want to get involved in this trouble at all.

But sometimes, when you don’t go looking for trouble, trouble comes looking for you; when you walk around avoiding trouble, you might come home to find trouble has already made itself comfortable inside.

Just like now.

Zhang Tang never expected that entering would reveal such a scene!

The Lord Chu Jiang he had come to see—where was even half of his former dignity as an Underworld ruler? He had actually been blasted apart on one side of his body, lying on the ground in humiliation and pain, with a man and woman standing nearby. He didn’t recognize the man, but this woman…

If it wasn’t Jian Chou, whom he originally wanted to avoid, then who else could it be?!

His heart grew cold, his eyelids immediately began twitching, and when his gaze shifted again, he saw an “old acquaintance” he hadn’t seen in a long time!

“Xie Wuming!”

That was almost the instinct and talent deeply ingrained in the bones and blood of a harsh judge. Even though more than eighty years had passed, the moment he saw this person, Zhang Tang’s mind still clearly conjured up this person’s name and surname, and even his life’s history!

A razor-thin blade instantly flashed between his fingers!

Xie Buchen also hadn’t expected to encounter his former “enemy” who had destroyed his family and clan under such circumstances at this time and place.

When Lord Chu Jiang mentioned this name earlier, he still had some doubts.

But upon seeing this person walk in from outside the hall and clearly seeing his appearance, all doubts vanished into thin air!

—This Zhang Tang was indeed that Zhang Tang!

“Skinning harsh judge!”

His bluish-purple thin lips curved up, Xie Buchen’s handsome cold eyebrows carried the indifference that had separated from the dusty air. With a flip of his palm, the Human Emperor Sword had already been unsheathed, its sword qi surging!

“Traitorous rebel!”

Zhang Tang’s harsh dead man’s face showed complete coldness as he retorted sharply!

The two began fighting without any hesitation!

But ultimately, they didn’t actually fight.

Just as the thin blade and sharp sword were about to collide, settling an old case from the former isolated island of the Great Xia Dynasty, who would have thought that at this crucial moment, a figure would insert itself between them!

Pale palms, slender fingers.

Light golden dragon scales immediately covered them!

One hand stretched out to block Zhang Tang’s fierce thin blade, the other reached over to intercept Xie Buchen’s sharp long sword!

Moving in and out of the flashing blades and swords as if entering an uninhabited realm!

It was still Jian Chou!

How could she not know about the grudge between Xie Buchen and Zhang Tang? From Xie Buchen’s perspective, Zhang Tang was the enemy who destroyed his family and clan; from Zhang Tang’s perspective, Xie Buchen was a rebellious traitor who deserved execution.

Upon meeting, they would inevitably fight.

So when she had imitated Lord Chu Jiang’s voice to invite Zhang Tang in, she had already prepared in advance, which is why she could now so calmly intercept both of their attacks.

“Minister Zhang, Daoist Xie, this time and place is truly not suitable for settling old grudges. Please both of you postpone your actions.” Jian Chou smiled peacefully, her words sounding like a discussion with the two of them, but clearly carrying a tone that brooked no refusal. “I wonder, would you both be willing to listen to Jian Chou’s persuasion?”

Xie Buchen still bore injuries, but his strength still exceeded Zhang Tang’s.

Since entering the Nineteen Continents, his originally indifferent temperament had become even more detached. He could abandon all emotions and love, so reasonably speaking, even something like the hatred of family and clan destruction shouldn’t be as deep as when he fled for his life with Jian Chou in the past.

But Zhang Tang wanted to kill him.

This person had been a blade in the emperor’s hand during the Great Xia period, serving as Court Commandant and managing the imperial prison. He was most skilled at devising various cruel punishments, favoring severe laws and harsh penalties. Many prisoners couldn’t withstand his brutal torture and died in prison. Under forced confessions, how could there not be wrongful cases?

Though he was indeed incorruptible as an official, he was also a harsh judge.

Back in the capital, Xie Buchen had extremely disliked this person, and it was the same now.

With Jian Chou present, they indeed couldn’t fight.

He sheathed his sword, his azure robes like ink wash painting, revealing a somewhat ethereal noble air, as if he were still the third young master of the Xie Marquis Manor.

“Minister Zhang lived as a harsh judge and died as a judge—truly a smooth official career, rising step by step. It’s just hard on the people of the isolated island who suffered your torment in life and must endure your torment in death. How pitiful indeed.”

“Treacherous rebel, traitorous minister—death is too good for you!”

How could Zhang Tang not hear the sarcasm in his words? But he remained completely unmoved. Being recognized as a harsh judge by the Great Xia naturally had its reasons, and he never denied it. He also knew he had wrongfully killed many innocent people under his authority.

But so what?

When the Xie Marquis Manor was destroyed back then, whether it was due to plotting rebellion or because their achievements threatened the throne, he didn’t care at all.

As long as he could get promoted, that was good enough.

“The emperor wants you dead, you can’t live. This official says you’re plotting rebellion, then you’re a traitor!”

The tension was drawn tight, the murderous atmosphere had become extremely heavy.

Jian Chou had to interrupt again, standing between the two.

She understood that the key to today’s matter lay with Zhang Tang, and she was just thinking of taking this opportunity to have a conversation with Zhang Tang, so she spoke: “Minister Zhang, the past grudges have already dragged on for over eighty years—putting them aside for a bit longer won’t matter. Since we’ve met by chance here today, it saves us from having to meet at the eighteenth level of hell. Speaking of which, Big Ghost and Little Ghost should have already delivered Jian Chou’s message to you, haven’t they?”

The scene finally quieted down.

Xie Buchen no longer spoke.

Qu Zhengfeng observed Zhang Tang.

Lu Xiangleng watched with some confusion, not understanding what relationship this Grand Judge Zhang Tang had with Xie Buchen and Jian Chou.

Kong Yin was injured, his consciousness already muddled, unaware of what was happening.

Lord Chu Jiang remained firmly pressed against the cold ground, desperately using his peripheral vision to watch Jian Chou and Zhang Tang facing each other, listening to their earlier conversation. A few traces of ominous premonition had already emerged in his heart, his lips trembling as his complexion rapidly turned ashen…

“…”

Zhang Tang truly didn’t want to speak with Jian Chou. He looked up at Jian Chou’s smiling eyes, actually ignoring even Xie Buchen, and turned to walk outside.

“Consider that this official was never here.”

“Minister Zhang!”

Jian Chou’s eyebrows raised as she watched, her expression becoming somewhat mocking.

“There’s a saying: ‘Once you board a pirate ship, it’s hard to get off.’ If you step out this door today, by tomorrow morning the truth about how you opened convenient doors for me eighty years ago and how we were ‘in cahoots’ will be placed before Lord Qin Guang. Whether you ‘were here’ or not, you’d better consider carefully.”

He knew it!

Daring to only have Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost deliver such a simple message, she must have harbored a thousand times more malicious intent, must have had means to force his compliance!

If he could think of it, how could Jian Chou not?

Just as he was about to take that final step out the door, countless thoughts swirled in Zhang Tang’s head, and this seemingly simple step became impossible to take.

He stopped, turned back, and looked at Jian Chou.

Jian Chou looked back at him very candidly, smiling with pure kindness: “So?”

No ‘so’—just regret.

Zhang Tang felt he shouldn’t have helped Jian Chou back then. He had originally thought she was someone who, though capable, had pure intentions, but it turned out she wasn’t any kind of gentle person either.

She had indeed gotten hold of his weakness.

If he didn’t help Jian Chou, given the huge incident that occurred during the tripod competition back then, once Lord Qin Guang learned the truth and investigated, he would definitely have no good end; if he helped Jian Chou, his foundation built over many years in the Extreme Domain would be ruined overnight. He could only hope that by standing on her side, the Nineteen Continents would win. If the Extreme Domain won instead, he would still have no good end.

He truly couldn’t get off the pirate ship.

Zhang Tang remained silent for a long time, finally having to accept his fate: “What do you want this official to do?”

“Zhang Tang! You! ! !”

With these words, he had undoubtedly agreed to Jian Chou, been turned against her, and would betray the Extreme Domain to cooperate with these Nineteen Continents cultivators!

Lord Chu Jiang simply couldn’t believe what he was hearing!

“You’re the first judge under Lord Qin Guang’s palace—how dare you?!”

Lord Chu Jiang?

When Zhang Tang entered, his attention had been on Xie Buchen, then he had confronted Jian Chou for so long that he hadn’t paid attention to Lord Chu Jiang, who he should have noticed. Only now when he suddenly spoke did his eyebrows furrow.

Unfortunately, Lord Chu Jiang hadn’t noticed his displeasure. Moreover, he had always regarded him as just a subordinate judge who followed the Underworld ruler’s orders, completely unaware that the situation had already changed and that he was merely a prisoner under others’ control.

Seeing Zhang Tang not responding, he still scolded severely!

“Lord Qin Guang sent you here to supervise the army, but now you’ve been caught off guard by Nineteen Continents cultivators. If he finds out, he’ll definitely make you pay dearly! Why don’t you quickly—”

“Boom!”

Blade light suddenly rose, slashing down like a waterfall!

All the remaining reckless shouting was submerged at this moment by the thunderous attacking force. Lord Chu Jiang, bound to the ground by the power of the Houtu Seal, had no ability to resist whatsoever.

His severely damaged shell was instantly destroyed!

In the last moment before his consciousness scattered, this Underworld ruler who had sat high in the second palace of the Eight Directions City for eleven cycles could only manage to widen his eyes.

Until death, he didn’t understand.

“What are you doing…”

“Bang”—the head that had struggled to lift up knocked back against the ground with a light sound.

Lord Chu Jiang’s shell finally lay motionless.

The imprint of his divine soul had already scattered cleanly when that blade light struck.

Everyone was stunned!

Qu Zhengfeng still maintained his defensive posture from suddenly facing an attack, Xie Buchen’s pupils contracted sharply, and Lu Xiangleng slightly widened her eyes.

Even Jian Chou was dumbfounded…

Dead.

Lord Chu Jiang had actually died just like that?!

The one who acted was neither Jian Chou, nor Qu Zhengfeng, nor Xie Buchen and Lu Xiangleng, but Zhang Tang, who hadn’t even spoken a word to Lord Chu Jiang since entering!

He had acted too quickly and without any warning!

Not only had Jian Chou, standing before him, failed to react, but even Qu Zhengfeng, standing beside Lord Chu Jiang, hadn’t reacted. In the instant Zhang Tang’s blade light struck, he had instinctively raised his defenses, thinking the other was launching a surprise attack on him, but who would have thought that attack would land on Lord Chu Jiang!

How could Lord Chu Jiang have any defensive ability?

At that moment, he was simply no different from a mortal—how could he resist Zhang Tang’s strike!

He died as quickly as possible!

Jian Chou’s mind went “buzz” with an instant dizzying sensation that made her feel as if she were in a nightmare, looking at Zhang Tang and saying: “You, how could you…”

Zhang Tang withdrew his thin blade, his expression utterly bland as he simply said: “This official has been tolerating him for a long time.”

Tolerating him for a long time?

So he just killed him like that?

One must know that when an Underworld ruler dies, the corresponding palace in the Eight Directions City will collapse, inevitably drawing the attention of other Underworld rulers. This matter was no small thing!

Moreover—

Jian Chou’s eyelids couldn’t stop twitching, her voice somewhat dazed: “We hadn’t yet asked about the Waning Moon Order token to close the watchtower…”

Zhang Tang lowered his gaze, as if he hadn’t just done something earth-shattering, merely producing a crescent moon-like snow-white jade token with a flip of his hand. Then he raised his eyes to look at her, asking calmly: “You want this thing?”