Chapter 19

Nanling Zhao smiled and said, "As a patrol envoy, these are all things I should do. You don't need to thank me."

Yetianming glanced at her and said nothing.

Nanling Zhao kept observing him. Yetianming felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze and his face turned red.

Nanling Zhao smiled and said, "Why are you blushing?"

Yetianming hurriedly replied, "No... just a bit hot."

Nanling Zhao smiled and said, "Don't worry, the Xiao family can't cover up the sky of the Guanxuan universe."

Yetianming nodded and then said, "Zhao大人, there's one thing I don't understand. Why is the Xiao family so reckless? Not only do they openly ignore the Guanxuan laws, but they even dare to kill you..."

Nanling Zhao replied, "There are several reasons, but the main reason is arrogance."

Yetianming frowned, "Arrogance?"

Nanling Zhao nodded, "The Xiao family, although a second-tier family, is different from other second-tier families. Their ancestor once had a relationship with the Guanxuan Sword Master. Because of this, their status is extremely special. In the entire Guanxuan universe, even the first-tier families would give them some respect. Over time, the entire Xiao family naturally became arrogant."

Yetianming said, "Another reason is that I am from a low-tier family, right?"

Nanling Zhao nodded, "From a strength perspective, a low-tier family is not even considered an ant in the eyes of the Xiao family. Therefore, they look down on you from the bottom of their hearts. Even if you passed the Guanxuan Dao, you are still an ant to them. The Xiao family is a thousand-year-old family with deep roots, and a genius or a prodigy cannot shake their foundation."

She continued, "What others think of you is not important. What's important is that you respect yourself."

Yetianming nodded, "I understand."

Nanling Zhao laughed, "Of course you understand, you are a rebel."

Yetianming: "......"

Nanling Zhao continued, "Arrogance makes people lose their reason. The Xiao family has already lost their reason. Normally, the Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy would never follow their madness, but the problem is that the academy has many internal issues. They cannot afford to investigate themselves, so they can only follow the Xiao family and join forces to pressure you to give up the investigation."

Yetianming said, "Is it just the Qingzhou Guanxuan Academy, or are the Wan Prefecture Guanxuan Academies also...?"

Nanling Zhao leaned against the stone wall, looking a bit powerless, "I don't know."

Yetianming looked at Nanling Zhao, who smiled and said, "I've been a patrol envoy for five years, and in these five years, I've seen too many dark things..."

She took out a thick stack of paper, randomly pulled out a sheet, and said, "For example, this incident happened in Bo Prefecture's Green Mountain Town. A woman was publicly raped, but afterward, the man received no punishment. The woman and her family wanted to appeal, but the next day, the woman and her family were exterminated... The entire Green Mountain Town kept this incident hidden because the man was the son of the Green Mountain Town law enforcement commander."

Yetianming frowned.

Nanling Zhao continued, "A small town's law enforcement commander is just a minor official in our eyes, but in the local area, they have immense power and can easily control ordinary people. The smaller the place, the more chaotic and lawless it is, like a local emperor."

Yetianming didn't speak, just took out a steamed bun and started eating. After a few bites, he gave one to Nanling Zhao.

Nanling Zhao took the steamed bun and took a bite, smiling, "Do you like steamed buns?"

Yetianming nodded, "I've liked them since I was a child."

Nanling Zhao looked down at the paper in her hand and said, "Do you know why I'm telling you these cases?"

Yetianming said, "Zhao大人, these things are not within my control. I just listen."

Nanling Zhao laughed, "You know what I mean, but you're dodging the issue. Of course, I understand you."

Yetianming thought for a moment and then said, "Zhao大人, you are a very upright person, but to be frank, even if there were a hundred thousand of you, it wouldn't change the current chaos."

Nanling Zhao said, "Tell me your thoughts."

Yetianming shook his head, "I won't."

Nanling Zhao was slightly taken aback and then laughed, "I really want to hear your thoughts. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. It will be our secret."

After a moment of silence, Yetianming said, "If we look at these issues from a fundamental perspective, we will find that behind these issues is a bigger problem. The bigger problem is the lack of oversight. The Yang family has become too powerful, and their power is unchecked..."

"Stop!"

Nanling Zhao immediately interrupted Yetianming, "Don't say anymore."

Yetianming said, "Oh."

He continued eating the steamed bun.

Nanling Zhao stared at Yetianming without speaking, making him feel a bit uncomfortable.

Nanling Zhao suddenly said seriously, "Don't say these things to anyone in the future, understand?"

Yetianming nodded, "Yes."

Nanling Zhao said earnestly, "Tianming, you need to understand that some issues are not only clear to you but also to others. There are many smart people in this world, but understanding and speaking are two different things. You need to learn to protect yourself, understand?"

Yetianming said, "I'm not a radical, nor am I mocking anything. These issues exist in any civilization, and it's normal. Just like what you told me before, the Guanxuan universe has people like the Xiao family, but it also has people like you. In any civilization, there are good and bad people. But if there are too many people like the Xiao family and too few like you, then the world is doomed."

He looked at Nanling Zhao, "The core issue now is whether the highest level of the Guanxuan universe will take this seriously. If they severely punish the Xiao family, it proves that the academy's leadership values this issue and cares about people like me. But if the academy doesn't severely punish the Xiao family, it proves that in the eyes of the academy's leadership, connections and relationships are more important than the Guanxuan divine laws. Once this happens, people like the Xiao family will outnumber people like you..."

Nanling Zhao said, "When we reach the Guanxuan realm, I will accompany you to file a complaint. Don't worry, the outer and inner cabinets will give you justice. The Xiao family is acting recklessly because they know that once you reach the Guanxuan realm, they will be in trouble."

Yetianming nodded and said nothing.

Suddenly, the sound of a sword rang out outside.

Nanling Zhao immediately smiled, "They're here. Let's go."

She stood up and walked outside, and Yetianming followed closely behind.

Outside, they saw the female sword cultivator Pei Buleng from the Sword Sect.

Pei Buleng stared at Nanling Zhao, "It's really bad."

She seemed to be gloating.

Nanling Zhao directly gave her the middle finger.

Yetianming: "......"

Pei Buleng's eyebrows furrowed, and her sword cultivator aura trembled. Nanling Zhao said, "We'll spar later. Let's go to the teleportation array first."

Pei Buleng turned and flew away on her sword, and Nanling Zhao grabbed Yetianming and flew into the sky, disappearing in the distance.

In the sky, Yetianming instinctively held onto Nanling Zhao's waist. She turned to look at him and saw his pale face, then laughed, "Are you afraid of heights?"

Yetianming hurriedly nodded.

Nanling Zhao laughed, "You are a sword cultivator, and you're afraid of heights? How will you fly on a sword in the future?"

Yetianming: "......"

After a while, the three of them landed in front of a valley. Yetianming quickly let go of Nanling Zhao. At this moment, he felt as if his soul had left his body, and he was a bit unsteady on his feet.

Nanling Zhao supported him and took out a pill, handing it to him, "Take this pill."

Yetianming took the pill and felt warm, which made him feel much better.

Nanling Zhao smiled, "Let's go."

Yetianming nodded, "Thank you."

The three of them walked toward the distance. On the way, Yetianming looked around. On the surrounding mountains, he could vaguely see some sword cultivators, about six or seven of them.

Nanling Zhao said, "Don't worry. With these Sword Sect disciples here, the Xiao family won't dare to come and kill you. They are arrogant, but not to the point of daring to confront the Sword Sect."

She suddenly stopped and looked at Pei Buleng, "Buleng, why don't you spar with this young brother?"

Yetianming was slightly taken aback but immediately understood Nanling Zhao's intention, feeling a bit moved.

Pei Buleng stopped and turned to look at Yetianming, then at Nanling Zhao.

Nanling Zhao looked at her seriously.

After a moment of silence, Pei Buleng said, "The Sword Sect is very strict in accepting new members. If his strength is not solid, joining the sect will be painful."

Nan