OUTSIDE OF TIME

763 Where the Heart Leads To (4)

It was also because of the Emperor’s Heart Inquisition that Xu Qing’s voice caused intense waves when it landed in the ears of the listeners.

If today was Xu Qing’s first day in the county capital, then even if he had the endorsement of the emperor, he wouldn’t cause such a commotion.

No one knew or understood him, so he would just be a name.

Everything was just an appearance. The people of Fenghai County knew that he was extraordinary, but it wasn’t that important.

But now, it was different.

Xu Qing had unknowingly walked into the hearts of the humans in Fenghai County. His assistance provided great help to the western front line. His identity as an edict bearer allowed countless people to know of his existence.

His subsequent participation at the front line also allowed those cultivators who had fought many battles to deeply understand and acknowledge him.

To Fenghai County, he was one of their own, especially to the Sword Holders. They were comrades who had experienced life and death together and could trust each other with their backs!

With such a foundation, his 100,000 feet of light in heart inquisition put a halo around him and made him become the center of attention.

It made him stand out, causing him to be deeply remembered and acknowledged by the people of Fenghai County. The Sword Holders even instinctively thought of the Palace Master when they saw him.

Even Kong Xianglong couldn’t achieve this.

This was because everyone only found out about Kong Xianglong’s identity after the Palace Master died. During the war, other than the middle period, Xu Qing was the one who stayed beside the Palace Master.

And so, his words at this moment were like thunder, exploding in all directions, making the square silent, and the entire city seemed to tremble.

After experiencing all these events, Xu Qing had already realized that the hearts of the people were the most elusive and easily influenced thing in this world.

In their eyes, compared to Xu Qing, the Deputy Governor was the one truly benefiting everyone.

To them, Xu Qing was much inferior to the Deputy Governor.

Even the cultivators from the three major palaces, although they were shaken at the moment, their expressions showed confusion, surprise, and bewilderment. All of this made Xu Qing realize what he had to face.

Clarity was a crime.

As the words of Xu Qing echoed, the Deputy Palace Master of the Sword Holding Palace, the old man who had tearfully watched the fall of the Palace Master, suddenly rushed out and roared at Xu Qing.

“Xu Qing, did you practice another level of the technique I gave you? You are confused! I warned you before not to be greedy for progress, but why didn’t you listen!”

The Deputy Palace Master roared in anger, but there was obvious nervousness in his eyes. He quickly turned around, bowed towards the platform, and spoke loudly.

“Your Highness, County Governor, there’s a problem with Xu Qing’s cultivation. Please don’t take offense. This old man will punish him when we return!”

Almost at the same time as the Deputy Palace Master’s voice rang out, Deacon Sima and Deacon Sun from the Sword Holding Palace also rose into the air and bowed toward the platform.

The veteran Sword Holders were also about to rise into the air. There were more than 100,000 of them, including Kong Xianglong, the captain, Qing Qiu, and Ning Yan.

No matter what, no matter how big of a mistake Xu Qing had committed, they instinctively stepped forward to protect him. Xu Qing would do the same for them. They were comrades!

This was especially so for the captain. His body emitted a blue light.

In the sky, when the Deputy Palace Master saw this, he immediately shouted and stopped everyone from rising into the air. He continued to bow toward the platform.

The Seventh Prince narrowed his eyes and his gaze landed on the top of Xu Qing’s head. The waves in his heart were still there. After that, his gaze landed on the hundred thousand-odd cultivators in the crowd below. He understood that if he didn’t handle today’s matter well, there would be chaos.

And even if it was handled well, there would still be some stains on the matter of the Deputy Governor becoming the County Governor. After all, this was an objection by the holder of the 100,000 ft of light in heart inquisition who was also recognized by the fortune of Fenghai County. Even his father would have some contemplation.

However, what did this have to do with him? He had fulfilled the agreement. If the Deputy Governor couldn’t receive it, it had nothing to do with him.

Hence, the Seventh Prince didn’t speak. He wanted to see how the Deputy Governor would handle this.

The Deputy Governor stood on the platform and looked at Xu Qing, and spoke softly.

“It’s fine. I also want to hear the reason for your objection. Also, Xu Qing, I remember giving you lessons before.”

“The nonsense of a kid. County Governor, why do you have to take it seriously?” Before Xu Qing could speak, the Deputy Palace Master of the Sword Holding Palace cupped his fists again. After that, he turned his head and berated Xu Qing.

“Hurry up and go back!”

As he spoke, he took a few steps back and was about to leave with Xu Qing. His cultivation spread throughout his body to guard against any sudden changes from the generals of the Imperial Capital and the Deputy Governor.

“Li Yunshan, stop!” The Deputy Governor calmly spoke.

The Deputy Palace Master stopped in his tracks. This was his name but he still took a few steps back and arrived beside Xu Qing. He then looked at the Deputy Governor, and spoke bitterly but firmly.

“County Governor, Xu Qing was the edict bearer of the Palace Master and a Sword Holder. He is young and ignorant but he doesn’t deserve to die. Before the Palace Master died, he entrusted me with his life, so… I have to protect him!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Deacon Sima and Deacon Sun spread out their cultivation bases. The auras of the more than 100,000 cultivators who had fought a hundred battles instantly erupted.

The Seventh Prince’s eyes flickered as he looked at the Deputy Governor.

The Deputy Governor stared at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing stepped forward and bowed to the Deputy Palace Master beside him, the two deacons, and the over 100,000 comrades on the ground. After that, he lifted his head and spoke softly in a calm voice.

“In April this year, after the war broke out, when the Palace Master led the army forward, he gave me a secret mission to investigate the cause of the County Governor’s death!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Deputy Palace Master, who originally wanted to stop him, paused. The hundreds of thousands of cultivators here also felt waves in their hearts as they looked at Xu Qing.

Under the attention of everyone, Xu Qing expressionlessly took out the jade slip given by the Palace Master. This was evidence.

“After half a year of investigation, I have finally completed the investigation. In this case, besides Marquis Yao, there are still some suspicious elements, and it seems that there may be another culprit. However, with the passing of the Palace Master, I no longer have anyone to report to. Deputy Governor… may I report to you here? I want to provide more truth about the death of the County Governor, so that all the people of the human race in Fenghai County can have a clearer understanding of this matter.”

“Deputy Governor, please correct me!”

On the ground, the captain sighed. The blue light in his eyes intensified as he prepared to undo his seal.

Kong Xianglong’s body trembled and his eyes turned bloodshot. He abruptly looked at the Deputy Governor.

Ning Yan shrunk his head and secretly glanced at the Seventh Prince, sighing inwardly.

Qing Qiu fell silent, but the hand that was holding the scythe exerted some force.

There was also an unfamiliar Sword Holder who was hidden in the crowd. He looked at Xu Qing with admiration and pride. However, at the same time, there was also helplessness. A hint of golden light flashed in his eyes.

Under the platform, among the generals brought by the Seventh Prince, the masked Blood Nightmare, who was once in charge of the exploration of the Immortal Forbidden, lifted his head slightly at this moment. A glint flashed in his eyes.

The surroundings were silent. Everyone couldn’t help but look at the Deputy Governor when they heard Xu Qing’s words. The cause of the County Governor’s death was the pain of the entire Fenghai County.

Needless to say, this was the last order of the Sword Holding Palace’s Palace Master.

Even the mortals in the city fell silent when they heard this. The hearts of the people swayed.

Compared to the Deputy Governor, Xu Qing’s reputation was inferior.

However, compared to the Palace Master and the County Governor, the Deputy Governor was inferior.

The Deputy Governor looked at Xu Qing solemnly, as though he was getting to know him once again. A moment later, he calmly spoke.

“Go ahead.”