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Qin Xiaolou felt utterly overwhelmed: "Yesterday I went to the Holy Palace to see Chief Steward Chiba, and Xia Ao almost swept me out with an iron bar. They're very resentful of the local officials right now, and calming this storm will be extremely difficult..."

Because of the old monk's words, both Chiba and Xia'ao felt that there was something fishy about the incident. Although "Bokdo" himself had confessed, they still felt there were many doubts. In addition, the day after the incident, one of "Bokdo's" personal attendants committed suicide, which made the whole Holy Palace even more suspicious.

Although the monks were not very knowledgeable about worldly affairs, Chiba, as the chief of foreign affairs, was far more astute. Seeing the "Thousand Machine Gate" mobilized again, he found it even more suspicious. What angered him most was that, according to past local officials, they were not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the Holy Palace without authorization, yet the people of the "Thousand Machine Gate" had somehow discovered one of the Holy Palace's top secrets, far exceeding their authority.

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Chapter 138: The Trial at the Disciplinary Court (4)

He discussed his suspicions with Xia Ao, who admired "Bokdo" the most and was also fiery-tempered. He could not accept the fact that "Bokdo" had a "private affair". On the contrary, he always felt that he was "framed" by the group of people sent by the court.

Now, their enemy, the Rahan sect, is active on a large scale, and at such a crucial moment, "evidence" of Bokdo's crimes has emerged. The more the two think about it, the more bizarre the matter seems. Therefore, when they see Qin Xiaolou, they naturally won't give him a friendly look. Qin Xiaolou returned with a cold shoulder, but there was nothing he could do.

Zhu Yu looked at Zhang Yaoxing and said, "Lord Zhang, this matter must be kept absolutely secret. Anyone who leaks information will be executed without exception."

Zhang Yaoxing nodded. Even after years in the "Thousand Machines Sect," he couldn't help but admire Zhu Yu greatly. Since arriving here, Zhu Yu had always acted alone, and they had no idea of his whereabouts. It wasn't until Zhu Yu had arranged everything and set up ambushes around them that they were able to seize the mountain of irrefutable evidence in one fell swoop.

"Lord Zhu, your wisdom is truly remarkable. So many of us have been working tirelessly for so long without finding a single clue, yet you resolved the matter as soon as you arrived. I am truly ashamed of my own incompetence..."

"We're all in the same boat, Lord Zhang, why be so modest?"

Qin Xiaolou stared at Zhu Yu: "How did you know the exit of the secret room? Why are you so familiar with 'Bokdo's' whereabouts?"

"I cannot disclose my working methods to Lord Qin."

"Impressive, truly a tiger father begets no dog son!" Qin Xiaolou said with no small amount of sarcasm. "Zhu Yu, with all your extraordinary abilities, what benefit do you actually get from causing so much trouble?"

Zhu Yu's expression darkened: "Lord Qin, please watch your words. You represent the imperial court, not the Holy Palace. You must not take the wrong side!"

Qin Xiaolou was not as good as Zhang Yaoxing and the others, so he was not afraid of him. He glared at him angrily, and Zhu Yu also glared at him angrily.

After a long pause, Zhu Yu coldly said, "Lord Qin, your primary task now is to assist the Holy Palace in establishing a new 'Bokdo' as soon as possible..."

The current "Bokdor" is not dead, so where can we find a successor? And how easy is it to establish a new "Bokdor"?

Qin Xiaolou sighed, "Alas, Junyu and the Holy Palace have such a close relationship. It's a pity Junyu isn't here. If he were here, Chiba and Xia'ao's attitudes probably wouldn't be so bad. I could discuss it with him."

Zhu Yu's back trembled slightly. In recent days, he had made up his mind to forget this person and cut off all memories of her. Even when he had to mention her, he would only use "she" instead. However, as soon as he heard her name, he couldn't help but feel a pang of heart palpitation.

Chapter 139: To Kill or Not to Kill the "She" You Love Most (1)

A blizzard swept across the sky, bringing with it an overwhelming chill, howling and whistling repeatedly over the residence of the resident minister.

Tonight is the traditional Lantern Festival in the Central Plains. Although the residence of the resident minister is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations as is customary, there is no festive atmosphere whatsoever.

The hall was filled with people, each with a solemn expression. On the left were court officials led by Zhu Yu, and on the right were representatives of the Holy Palace led by Chiba, as well as the chief elders of the three major temples, including Tiema Temple.

Qin Xiaolou produced a secret imperial edict, which was the very decree Zhu Yu had prepared before leaving the capital, ordering the removal of the current "Bokdo." However, Zhu Yu had only shown this edict to Qin Xiaolou for the first time yesterday after meeting with the abbots of the three major monasteries. At this moment, Qin Xiaolou fully understood that the current emperor was already greatly dissatisfied with "Bokdo" and had already sentenced him for "crimes."

He had already been convinced of the affair between "Bokdo" and the woman named "Yangjin," but now, after seeing the secret decree and Zhu Yu's behavior, he had developed great doubts.

Although Chiba and the others were somewhat prepared, they were still greatly shocked when Qin Xiaolou read out the imperial edict. Xia Ao protested, "This matter has not yet been fully investigated, why does Lord Qin..."

“This matter has been thoroughly investigated, there’s no need to waste any more time!” Zhu Yu interrupted him. “Please make preparations at the Holy Palace. Five days from now, I will personally escort the former ‘Bokdo’ to the capital. As for the selection of the new ‘Bokdo,’ Lord Qin will assist the Holy Palace in making a decision as soon as possible.”

The group of believers glared at him angrily. Chiba said in a deep voice, "The Holy Palace has its own plans for the matter. Lord Zhu, please do your duty and there is no need to say more."

Zhu Yu coldly replied, "I am merely following orders. I will lead my men to the capital in five days. You all should take care of yourselves."

His tone was so arrogant that even Qin Xiaolou couldn't help but glare at him. Another assistant official next to him gave Qin Xiaolou a look, signaling him not to act rashly. Qin Xiaolou held back his anger and finally remained seated.

The group of foreign affairs believers had already left, leaving only Qin Xiaolou and Zhu Yu in the mansion.

Qin Xiaolou said, "Lord Zhu, I advise you to be very careful. If you forcibly take 'Bokdo' away, his loyal followers will not let it go. Who will be responsible if chaos ensues?"

“Bokdo’s violation of the rules is already a clear crime. Anyone who disobeys is committing treason!”

"Do you intend to suppress us by force?"

Zhu Yu laughed: "Lord Qin, to be honest, I hate that 'Bokdo' to the extreme. If anyone dares to cause trouble on the way, I will not be merciful and will immediately execute him on the spot."

Qin Xiaolou asked in surprise, "What did he do to offend you? Why are you going to such lengths to kill him?"

"It is best if Lord Qin does not inquire about matters that are not his concern."

Zhu Yu stopped at the door: "Qin Xiaolou, you'd better not reveal a word of this to Junyu. She has already been impeached for several serious crimes, including forming cliques for personal gain. As a frontier commander, if she dares to associate too closely with the Holy Palace again, she will suffer the same fate as 'Bokdo'! If you are really her friend, you should think it over yourself."

Qin Xiaolou sat there blankly, not understanding what he meant.

Zhu Yu sat beside the blazing brazier, drinking bowl after bowl of strong barley wine. The wine burned as it flowed down his throat, but his heart had already turned into a hard, unyielding stone, feeling no warmth whatsoever.

"Lord Zhu."

Zhu Yu raised his head and glanced drunkenly at Zhang Yaoxing, who was covered in snow: "What is it?"

"Tomorrow we'll be escorting Bokdo on his way. What should we do with that woman?"

"Kill them without mercy!"

Zhang Yaoxing looked very troubled. In addition to the two experts from the Thousand Machines Sect, there were also two followers from the Holy Palace guarding Yangjin. They were ordered by "Bokdo" to not execute Yangjin immediately under any circumstances.

Zhu Yu sneered, "He's no longer some 'Bokdo,' yet he still wants to give orders?"

"However, those believers still obey him completely. We cannot act on our own."

Zhu Yu said sternly, "As the deputy commander of the Thousand Machines Sect, you don't even have this much of a solution?"

Zhang Yaoxing dared not argue. As the deputy commander of the Thousand Machines Sect, he had failed to obtain evidence of "Bokdo's" crimes in two separate missions. However, Zhu Yu had handled the matter perfectly the moment he stepped in. Fearing reprimand for his incompetence upon returning to court, he had no choice but to obey Zhu Yu absolutely. He also wanted to make a good impression before leaving so that he could have something to report back. Therefore, he could only say, "Yes, Your Excellency, I will find a way to resolve this. Please rest assured, Lord Zhu."

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Chapter 140: To Kill or Not to Kill the "She" You Love Most (2)

Yangjin sat on the cold mattress in the corner, burying her head completely in her knees.

At this moment, although she was filled with fear and shame, she was not too worried about her fate. She firmly believed that the handsome and affectionate man would keep his promise and rescue her.

She was a very beautiful native girl from the area. That day, she was herding some cows on her family's pasture when she suddenly saw a handsome young man in white riding past on horseback across the snow.

Such a handsome and dashing person suddenly appeared in this icy and snowy land, and Yangjin was stunned for a moment.

The handsome young man turned around. These past few days, he had been searching for a suitable local woman. Upon seeing this beautiful and shy native girl, he immediately stopped his horse and walked over.

Yangjin was illiterate and unaware of the legend of "love at first sight," but in the man's gentle words, her heart had already melted into a pool of spring water.

The man was not only handsome but also extremely skilled. He could tame the wildest horses, catch swift rabbits, and flip a bull over with a single blow. After spending two days with him, he had become the most upright and indomitable hero in Yangjin's eyes, and all his words were divine will. Subsequently, in the small wooden cabin on the ranch, Yangjin, who was completely devoted to him, spent three whole days with him enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Before Yangjin could recover from this unexpected tenderness and happiness, her lover was already riding away.

Through her tear-filled eyes, her lover stopped and said he had something very important to do. Yangjin asked, "What's so important? Can I help you?"

Yangjin could never forget the cold expression on her lover's handsome face when she said those words. He said, "Okay, I need your help! I'm going to take revenge!"

In the icy wilderness of Namcha Barwa, she lay quietly behind a snowdrift like a groundhog, almost freezing to death several times. But because her lover was by her side, and because of his unwavering expression, she gritted her teeth and persevered.

Her lover told her that the person they were waiting for was his greatest enemy. This man was despicable and shameless, committing countless evil deeds that had caused him immense suffering, forcing him to flee his home and wander from place to place. This time, he had finally learned of the villain's whereabouts from one of the villain's confidants and immediately followed him here. The tragic story he told made the naive Yangjin feel a deep hatred for this "bad man," and she resolved to help her lover at all costs, to help him fulfill his wish for revenge.

The lover said, "Sister Yangjin, there are many beautiful landscapes in Jiangnan, colorful brocade clothes, and luxurious cosmetics. Once I have avenged my family, I will definitely take you to Jiangnan, away from this bitter and cold land of ice and snow, to live a happy and joyful life."

Although Yangjin also loved her hometown where she grew up, the bustling Jiangnan region described by her lover was far more alluring, because there she could be with him forever.

Everything unfolded exactly as her lover had planned. She received the "token" from the "bad guy," but she simply couldn't believe that the smiling boy who gave her flowers and bandaged her wounds could be such a wicked villain. His godlike face, kind heart, and ability to chant spells to ward off evil spirits made him seem like a deity from the legendary Namcha Barwa. How could he possibly be evil?

She carried the token and was about to ask her lover the questions that had been bothering her, but he had already turned and chased after the boy who had left alone without even saying goodbye.

At that moment, Yangjin almost froze to death in the icy snow, but she comforted herself, thinking that her lover must be rushing to avenge that villain, and he would come back eventually.

Sure enough, two weeks later, her lover returned to the ranch cottage to find her. She was overjoyed, but her lover was enraged and roared that he would kill his enemy.

By this time, her lover was no longer the tender and affectionate man she once was, but rather a manic and violent one. Yangjin dared not ask any questions and could only obey her lover's arrangements, hoping to help him achieve his wish of revenge as soon as possible and end these days of fear and anxiety.

Chapter 141: To Kill or Not to Kill the One I Love Most (3)

Her lover was meticulously planning something, but Yangjin dared not utter a word of inquiry. That night, as snow fell heavily, her lover suddenly became incredibly tender and considerate. Yangjin almost completely lost herself in that intense pleasure, willing to die for him even on the spot, let alone do what he called a "small thing." That night, Yangjin was taken to the "bad guy's" secret room—only then did she realize that the truly wicked man was not the boy who had given her flowers that day, but the person with the boy.

That man was none other than "Bokdo"!

"Bokdo" is the god of this land. Yangjin dared not and did not want to slander him. However, it was too late. Her lover was right beside her, staring at her with such a terrible look. So, she kowtowed heavily on the ground, begging Buddha for forgiveness while reciting the lie that she had already memorized.

“I have slandered Bokdo, and I will be punished by God!” Yangjin did not dare to look up in the dark room. She only knew that she needed to eat when she was hungry and drink when she was thirsty. But a small voice in her heart insisted, “He will save me. He will definitely save me.”

But a day passed, two days passed, many days passed, and there was still no news from her lover.

In the boundless darkness, Yangjin was almost in complete despair.

These past few days, she'd repeatedly recalled the cold expression on her lover's face when she asked, "Can I help you?" Naïve as she was, she suddenly realized that perhaps he was looking for just such a person, intending to use her. She was a very beautiful girl, and some local boys had once looked at her with fiery gazes. Now, she remembered that no matter how tender and affectionate their moments were, her lover had never looked at her with that same burning gaze. Once, she even woke from a dream to find his gaze so cold, even filled with an indescribable disgust—but at the time, she thought he was disgusted by his enemy, that he was preoccupied with revenge!

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, and she dared not think about it any further.

The door creaked open, and a blast of cold air rushed in, causing Yangjin to shiver involuntarily.

A man carrying a lantern walked in.

Yangjin raised her head happily, but her eyes quickly dimmed again.

Two agents from the Thousand Machines Sect followed and grabbed her. Yangjin asked in a trembling voice, "What are you going to do?"

"I'll take you where you need to be!"

"I need to see someone, I absolutely must see him..."

"Maybe in the next life."

In the snowy night, Yangjin let out a gurgling sound. Two iron-barbed deacons rushed over upon hearing the sound, only to find that she had already breathed her last in a pool of blood.

Bokto's living room.

Tomorrow we'll be setting off, and Tuosang isn't thinking about anything; he's just meditating quietly.

A personal attendant rushed in and whispered, "Bokdo, Miss Yangjin has been executed! The people from the Thousand Machine Sect did it themselves; we couldn't stop them."

Tuosang sighed inwardly; that innocent girl still couldn't escape this calamity.