Chapter 121: A Tremendous Honor

At this moment, Lu Tingfang showed no trace of magical power. Yet, with every gesture, he toyed effortlessly with a master at the eighth level of the Observing Void realm. No one could fathom the extent of his strength.

Lu Xin had once seen Lu Tingfang at full power inside the residence of Changsun Wuji. Then, managing seven tasks at once, he must have been at the seventh level of Observing Void. But the power Lu Tingfang displayed now was far more formidable than that.

Looking down at Luo Binwang on the ground, the boy’s face was pale as death. Though his eyes were open, he seemed frozen in place, as if paralyzed by a spell. The legal officer from Yongzhou Prefecture had already stepped beside Luo Binwang, the blade of his knife scraping slowly against the ground, emitting a chilling sound.

“Kneel to him? Lu Tingfang, in this world, there are only two people I would ever kneel to. Not even Changsun Wuji, let alone the Emperor of Tang, could make me yield such respect!”

“Very well. Since you refuse to repent, I, as your elder brother, will personally teach you a lesson.”

Seeing Lu Xin’s defiant expression, showing no respect whatsoever, Lu Tingfang’s usually impassive face finally revealed a flash of anger. Before he finished speaking, he leapt forward, surrounded by swirling black mist like drifting clouds, swift and relentless. By the time Lu Xin reacted, he found shadows of Lu Tingfang all around—near and far, left and right—countless and elusive.

This strange phenomenon quickly overwhelmed Lu Xin’s six senses: sight, hearing, smell... his entire physical perception dropped to a fraction within a single breath. He shook his head, eyes aching painfully as if the pain pierced into his skull.

“This is bad! My master once said that the demon sect has a technique designed to confuse the six senses, called the Mirage Demon Phantom Step. It’s nearly impossible to discern with the naked eye. The more you try to see clearly, the deeper you fall into its trap. Why does Lu Tingfang’s technique resemble this demonic skill so closely?”

Frowning, Lu Xin closed his eyes quickly and began silently reciting a mantra. Gradually, a soft Buddhist light appeared behind him.

“A Buddhist technique?”

Lu Tingfang’s brow furrowed slightly. To everyone else, he seemed unchanged, with no magical power radiating from him. He simply advanced toward the youth with a strange footwork. But the moment Lu Xin closed his eyes, Lu Tingfang halted. The distance between them was now less than five steps.

“Unity of Buddha and Dao, Heavenly Thunder Seal!”

Without opening his eyes, Lu Xin suddenly thrust out a palm precisely where Lu Tingfang stood. The latter stood firm, fist clenched, meeting the strike. Instantly, the Buddhist light and thunderclaps reverberated in all directions. Lu Xin staggered back seven steps before regaining his balance, feeling a surge of blood rise painfully in his throat.

The Heavenly Thunder Seal is a technique created by the Bodhisattva Shi Dao’an, combining Buddhist chants and Daoist heart methods to simulate the sound of celestial thunder with palm power.

All things fear heavenly thunder. Especially demonic arts, which are dark and sinister, most vulnerable to yang strength. Though Lu Xin’s palm was no match for Lu Tingfang, it broke through the Mirage Phantom Step.

Opening his eyes to look at Luo Binwang, he saw the legal officer poised to strike off the boy’s hands. Lu Xin inhaled deeply, his Immortal Wand Sword turning into a golden light that shot out, instantly shattering the great blade into fragments.

Startled, the legal officer paled and retreated several steps. Regaining composure, he gazed at the shattered sword with shock and fury. As a fifth-rank martial officer of Yongzhou Prefecture, his sword was a finely forged weapon, carried on countless cases and now deeply cherished.

“Boy, if I, Han Feng, cannot capture you today, I’m unfit to be a legal officer of Yongzhou Prefecture!”

“Haha! Then you might as well take off your official robe right now!”

Lu Xin sneered coldly, sheathing the Immortal Wand Sword, then turned his gaze back to Lu Tingfang. No matter how skilled the Yongzhou legal officer was, he was no match. The only real threat present was Lu Tingfang.

—

Sure enough, the moment Lu Xin looked away, Lu Tingfang took a step forward. This time, his movement was not swift but like a torrent unleashed, unstoppable and overwhelming. Lu Xin’s hairs stood on end, frozen in place.

“Hmph, with your level of cultivation, you dare to act so boldly?”

A cold snort echoed by his ear, and suddenly Lu Xin felt his neck seized tightly. The strength was immense, like countless needles piercing his flesh, instantly sealing his dantian. He tried to channel his magical power but found himself utterly powerless.

At that moment, he finally understood why Luo Binwang had been immobilized the moment Lu Tingfang grabbed his shoulder.

“Lu Tingfang! Look at you now—you’ve gone mad, haven’t you?”

“Mad? Let me tell you what madness means! In this world, the victor is king, the defeated are outlaws. You, chained and captive, are the true madness! Xin, I warned you repeatedly to leave Chang’an, to stay away from this chaos. It was to save your life, as your elder brother. But you refused to listen, forcing me to this point—do you want me to kill you?”

Lu Tingfang’s pupils contracted sharply as he gripped Lu Xin’s neck, his voice low and wild. He looked like a frustrated elder who had exhausted all patience, his hatred a complex, merciless grievance.

But to Lu Xin, these were mere excuses—changing times, fickle hearts.

“For my good? If you truly cared for me, you wouldn’t have left Little Creek Town, abandoning me here in Chang’an. I waited for you two years, Lu Tingfang—two whole years! And you? You left no word. Is this the elder brother you speak of? Is this the path you’re cultivating?”

Lu Xin tried to shout, but with his neck squeezed, his face reddened as he forced out only faint sounds through clenched teeth. Though no one else could hear, Lu Tingfang caught every word clearly.

He lifted his head and took a deep breath; his black hair fluttered in the wind. After a brief daze, his gaze steeled once more.

“The Dao? The Dao is Heaven and Earth... In this world, the Dao births all things; it is the source of life. It is impartial, without joy or sorrow, infinite and boundless. Bloodline and kinship are bonds that connect to the Great Way. Xin, after two years of arduous cultivation, I have reached my current state. But your presence has disturbed my heart and path. If I did not care for you, I would have killed you long ago!”

“Hahaha, you can’t kill me!”

“Is that so? Xin, you still don’t understand. In this world, killing you requires no hand from me.”

Leaning close to his ear, Lu Tingfang said this, then suddenly pointed at Lu Xin’s forehead. The boy winced sharply and fell to his knees. Lu Tingfang stepped back and looked toward the gathered examinees.

Their conversation had been whispered, heard only by the two. Now, Lu Tingfang clearly intended to address everyone.

“Fellow examinees, I am Lu Tingfang, disciple of Lord Changsun. These two madmen have been subdued by me. How to deal with them should be a matter for public judgment.”

“Well done! So you are the son of the Minister of Punishments. No wonder you are so brave. These two are truly deranged and unforgivable.”

“Brother Lu’s poise and talent are remarkable; I am honored to meet such a peer in this examination.”

“Hahaha, thanks to this brother’s righteous action, the two demons are subdued. Otherwise, who knows what chaos might have ensued. But let us leave the matter to the Minister for final judgment.”

—

With three punches and two kicks, Lu Tingfang had subdued both Lu Xin and Luo Binwang, dazzling everyone and establishing himself as the star of the day. Given his connection to Changsun Wuji, the examinees from various prefectures eagerly sought to curry favor with him. Praise flowed endlessly, not just from common examinees but even from noble scions like Zheng Huiming, who nodded and smiled respectfully.

“Teacher, how do you wish to deal with these two?”

Lu Tingfang returned their greetings with humility and dignity. Afterward, he bowed deeply toward Changsun Wuji standing below the platform, addressing him as teacher.

Changsun Wuji’s face brightened immediately, dispelling the earlier gloom.

“These two reckless scoundrels nearly jeopardized the great event. How detestable. Tingfang, the original verdict remains unchanged. As for this Lu Xin, after Deputy Commander Han carries out the execution, he will be handed back to Yongzhou Prefecture for further disposition. According to martial law, the sentence shall be carried out to demonstrate the fairness of our Tang Dynasty.”

“Teacher is wise. Legal officer, proceed with the execution.”

Lu Tingfang nodded, then turned but his gaze lingered on Lu Xin. The boy wore a cold sneer, staring him down fiercely.

“Lu Tingfang, you cannot kill us!”

“Hmph, stubborn and unyielding!”

Lu Tingfang swept his sleeve coldly, paying no heed to Lu Xin’s words. At the same moment, Han Feng borrowed a knife from the constables and approached Luo Binwang again. Just as he was about to act, a voice of immense authority rang out from outside the crowd.

“Put down the knife!”

Four simple words thundered through the air, silencing the entire scene. Han Feng immediately dropped the blade. Lu Tingfang’s expression changed sharply as he looked toward the source of the voice.

A middle-aged man dressed in prince’s robes stood outside the crowd, accompanied by a young man wearing the robes of the Supreme Court.

“Prince of Hejian, Li Xiaogong!”

Lu Tingfang narrowed his eyes as Li Xiaogong entered the crowd and slowly walked to Lu Xin’s side.

“Lord Changsun, you called my adopted son a scoundrel! Do you think I, Li Xiaogong, who has long stayed away from court, am dead at home?”

Li Xiaogong helped the boy to his feet as he spoke calmly, his words causing many present to draw a sharp breath.