The surrounding disciples, having guessed Chu Chen's intentions, broke into fervent discussion.

The entire Spirit Herb Garden once again descended into an uproar.

"That's right. Feng Jiao clearly died at the hands of that female slave. Chu Chen wasn't the one who killed her."

"Although Chu Chen slashed Feng Jiao's face, he didn't take her life. Even if he is guilty, his crime doesn't warrant death."

"Every grievance has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. If the Law Enforcement Hall wants to arrest someone, they have to arrest that slave!"

"Such deep schemes! No wonder he didn't strike the killing blow himself, but had his slave do it. He planned to divert the disaster from the very beginning."

"Sacrificing a slave not only eliminates a problem, but more importantly, it establishes his own dominance."

"This kid is far from simple. He's just a bit lacking in conscience!"

"Tch, what is a conscience worth? How many spirit stones per pound??"

......

Amidst the whispers of the crowd, Zhou Song and Zhang San's faces turned completely black.

Chu Chen was a Pro-disciple, possessing an exalted status.

Since he hadn't personally struck the killing blow against a fellow disciple, even the Law Enforcement Hall could not touch him.

"Chu Chen, you..."

"Despicable! Shameless!!"

Zhou Song glared viciously at Chu Chen, then pointed at the silent Yu Youwei and abruptly waved his hand:

"Since she is the one who killed her, I can at least take her away, can't I?!"

"I heard from my subordinates that your name is Yu Youwei, right? Chu Chen's servant and steward. A nice name, but a pity you followed the wrong master!"

"At the first sign of danger, you are pushed out by your master to pay with your life. How truly pathetic!"

As he spoke, Zhou Song waved his hand, and his subordinates immediately pressed a gleaming, cold blade against Yu Youwei's neck.

Throughout it all, Yu Youwei maintained a completely calm expression.

To her, this life of hers had been given by Chu Chen.

Dying for her master was her greatest honor, because it meant she could help him.

She was repaying her debt of gratitude!

"Youwei bids farewell to Master!"

With the blade at her neck, Yu Youwei bowed deeply to Chu Chen. Then, following the Law Enforcement Hall disciples, she lifted her foot to leave the Spirit Herb Garden.

She was merely a lowly female slave. If she went to the Law Enforcement Hall, would she have any chance of survival?

The onlookers sighed in lament.

But Zhou Song was powerful and bore the authority of the Law Enforcement Hall. For Chu Chen to retreat unscathed was already no small feat.

None of them could have handled the situation better than Chu Chen.

Just as Yu Youwei was about to step out of the Spirit Herb Garden.

Just as everyone thought the matter was settled.

Chu Chen suddenly reached out his arm and stopped Yu Youwei:

"Zhou Song, why are you arresting my person?"

Whoosh-

Not to mention Zhou Song and the dozen Law Enforcement Hall disciples, even the hundreds of onlookers erupted in shock.

They wondered, why would Chu Chen ask such an obvious question?!

"Presumptuous!"

Zhou Song snorted coldly. Even a clay figurine has a temper, let alone a high-ranking disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall like him:

"By your own admission, your female slave committed murder. Of course the Law Enforcement Hall must arrest her!"

"A life for a life! Let me tell you, Chu Chen, once I take this slave back, I will definitely execute her!!"

"What? Are you going to obstruct the Law Enforcement Hall in carrying out its duties?!"

As he spoke, Zhou Song gripped his sword hilt once more, his Killing Intent fully exposed.

If Chu Chen was unwilling to part with this female slave, then another opportunity to strike him down had just presented itself.

Yu Youwei desperately shook her head at Chu Chen. She had already resolved to die, only hoping to be of use to her master.

Yu Youwei couldn't understand. She was just a lowly slave, and a disfigured one at that.

Wasn't it perfectly fine to throw an insignificant nobody like her out to take the blame?

Why...

Why step forward?

Why stand up and offend the Law Enforcement Hall?

Why put himself in danger and give others leverage against him?

She...

She was just a lowly servant. If she died, no one would care, no one would grieve, no one would be sad...

In an instant, Yu Youwei's eyes reddened again.

She rubbed her eyes and turned her head away.

Why was the wind and sand in the Spirit Herb Hall so... so strong today?

Chu Chen didn't notice Yu Youwei's emotional shift. Instead, he spoke with righteous indignation, arguing on principle:

"It's true that Yu Youwei killed someone. But since she is my female slave, if she makes a mistake, it is up to me, her master, to discipline her. What right do you, Zhou Song, have to dictate terms here?!"

A Law Enforcement Hall disciple couldn't hold back his anger and tried to argue:

"But..."

"But what? You can't even finish a sentence. Shut your mouth!"

Before the disciple could finish, Chu Chen forcefully interrupted him:

"If I remember correctly, the rules of my Divine Flame Emperor Palace state that killing a fellow disciple is a capital offense! But this female slave of mine is merely a servant, not a disciple of the Divine Flame Emperor Palace. How can this be considered killing a fellow disciple?"

"Since she is not a fellow disciple, if the Law Enforcement Hall insists on arresting her, aren't you just a dog catching mice-meddling in things that don't concern you! Now back down and get the hell out of the Red King Palace!"

Whoosh-

The entire Red King Palace was in an uproar.

The hundreds of spectating disciples stared at each other, wide-eyed. For a moment, they were... they were completely speechless.

It was clearly twisted logic, yet... every single sentence was well-reasoned and grounded in the rules.

There was simply no way to refute it!!

"Chu Chen, you..."

Zhou Song was so furious his face and neck turned thick and red. Since joining the Law Enforcement Hall, he had never suffered such humiliation. Only at this moment did he finally realize:

"Chu Chen, are you playing me? You dare to make a fool out of me!"

"Glad you finally caught on. I am playing you!"

Chu Chen grabbed the stunned Yu Youwei and pulled her behind him. Then, he took a step forward, getting right in Zhou Song's face:

"But you're far dumber than I thought. It took you until now to realize it. You're no different from a pig!"

Boom!!

Zhou Song could no longer restrain himself. He drew his longsword, his spiritual power surging, and slashed directly at Chu Chen's throat.

A full-force strike from a Heaven Opening Realm Fifth Layer expert-let alone Chu Chen, who was only at the Qi Gathering Realm, even a fellow Heaven Opening Realm expert wouldn't dare meet it head-on.

But Chu Chen remained utterly reckless from beginning to end, arrogant to the extreme, without a single trace of fear.

Even as Zhou Song's longsword thrust toward him, he couldn't even be bothered to dodge.

"No! Master, run!!"

Seeing Zhou Song's sword about to strike Chu Chen, Yu Youwei cried out in alarm from behind him. Yet, at that very moment, the corners of Chu Chen's lips curled upward. His gaze toward Zhou Song was filled with nothing but contempt and disdain.

"Ah!!! Die for me!"

Unable to bear that contemptuous look any longer, Zhou Song's spiritual power surged forth once more, and the sword in his hand accelerated.

Even if he faced punishment from the Sect afterward, Zhou Song swore to cut down this madman Chu Chen today.

Swish!!

But just as Zhou Song's sword was a mere finger's width from Chu Chen's neck, the void before them shattered, and an old man in black robes leisurely stepped out.

Spatial power rippled outward, instantly freezing Zhou Song's sword and the surrounding hundreds of meters of space. The terrifying Pressure of a Great Saint flooded the realm.

Including Chu Chen and Zhou Song, the hundreds of disciples within the Spirit Herb Hall were frozen in place by the spatial power, unable to even blink.

"You little brat, you really are audacious."

"This old man is the Dao Protector assigned to you by the Palace Master, Zhong Sheng!"

The old man stroked his white stubble, leaned close to Chu Chen, and looked him up and down with cloudy old eyes.

As he looked, he nodded and clicked his tongue in wonder:

"The Palace Master was right about you. You're a troublemaker! A real troublemaker!!"

"But you're still too foolish. Provoking the Law Enforcement Hall at a time like this only leads to a dead end."

"Letting the female slave take the blame so you could extricate yourself-wasn't that a perfectly fine plan? Sigh, still too impulsive. Rotten wood cannot be carved, a fool cannot be taught..."

As he spoke, the old man suddenly realized something. He leaned close to Chu Chen again and said:

"No, you little brat had already guessed this old man's existence! You guessed this old man would step in to save you!"

"Is that right or not?!"

......