Chapter 1065: Verification Method

Zuan was startled by the exaggerated rage value displayed in the system background. Until now, despite having been present for quite some time and Jian Taiding having shown anger several times, his rage had always been within a controllable range.

Now it was clearly out of control.

He recalled that it seemed to be because he had embraced Yu Yanluo.

Well, well, well, this fellow actually harbored an illicit, twisted affection for his sister-in-law.

Thinking of this, he deliberately hugged Yu Yanluo again and provocatively glanced towards Jian Taiding.

In front of such a crowd, Yu Yanluo couldn't openly resist him. She could only use her body to obscure the action, quietly pinching the tender flesh on Zuan's waist several times.

Although their actions were subtle, Jian Taiding's exceptionally sharp eyes naturally saw everything clearly.

It looked as if they were flirting!

He felt his blood churn, a sweet taste filled his mouth, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. His wounds, which had finally stopped bleeding, burst open again, the bandages visibly soaking through with blood.

Rage value from Jian Taiding: 888,888,888...

Given this scene, he decisively chose to faint, thus avoiding publicly acknowledging Zuan's identity.

"Second Master has fainted! Second Master has fainted!"

"Quick, help him back to his room to rest."

"Send for a doctor at once!"

A group of people immediately began shouting in a fluster.

Zuan naturally took the opportunity to issue orders in the name of the family head, instructing the servants to carry Jian Taiding back.

Uncle Ming looked as if he wanted to speak but hesitated; in the end, he said nothing.

As the servants carried Jian Taiding, Zuan, acting as his "elder brother," naturally had to follow to check on his condition.

They soon arrived at a courtyard, where everyone's expressions immediately became subtle, and they paused at the entrance with Jian Taiding.

Just as Zuan was puzzled, Yu Yanluo's pleasant voice rang in his ears, saying, "This used to be Jian Yanyou's room."

Zuan immediately understood, and not only secretly sneered, but also thought: Jian Taiding truly was like a cuckoo usurping a magpie's nest, not only killing your people, but also sleeping in your room, and even wanting to possess your woman.

Jian Yanyou truly had a tragic fate!

Well, since I'm impersonating you, I might as well help you vent some anger.

So his face darkened, and he coughed, saying, "Why are you carrying him here? Hurry and take him back to his own room!"

The others fell silent as if struck by winter's chill. Uncle Ming had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Second Master has been staying here for some time."

"Nonsense, do you think I'm dead?" Zuan snorted coldly. "Moreover, these rooms were specifically chosen by a geomancer when they were built, designed as exclusive courtyards for each of us brothers. One who is unworthy of their position will invite disaster. No wonder he suffered such severe injuries. Move him back quickly; this is for his own good."

Jian Taiding, who was feigning unconsciousness, almost spat out a mouthful of old blood. "For my own good, my ass!" he thought. "I'm already so badly injured, and you're still tossing me around like this, yet you have the nerve to say it's for my own good."

"Furthermore, if this bullshit geomancy were truly effective, wouldn't you have been finished even when you lived in this room before?"

A thought suddenly startled him: "Huh, could there really be something wrong with the geomancy of this room?"

Rage value from Jian Taiding: 681,681,681...

Yu Yanluo, standing by, suppressed a smile and also spoke up, "It's better to send Second Uncle back to his own room. He'll recover much faster in a place he's accustomed to."

The reason this matter could not be conceded was because it involved the issue of the main position. With Jian Yanyou absent, it wasn't a major issue for Jian Taiding to temporarily reside in the main house.

But now that he had returned, if he conceded, others would think he was afraid of Jian Taiding, or that he intended to abdicate and yield his position to a more capable person.

Regardless of which scenario, it would demoralize his supporters and prompt hesitant bystanders to choose Jian Taiding. Thus, choosing a room seemed like a trivial matter, but it was actually a significant one.

Hearing Yu Yanluo speak up for Jian Yanyou, Jian Taiding regretted choosing to faint just now, leaving him unable to refute her.

"How could this woman betray me like this! And to think I've always liked her so much, treated her so well. She's an ungrateful wretch!"

Uncle Ming on the other side wanted to say something, but this was originally Jian Yanyou's room, and Jian Taiding living here was somewhat unjustified. Uncle Ming himself was also Jian Yanyou's confidant, and if he kept speaking up for Jian Taiding, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.

While the two of them hesitated, the matter was already decided. Jian Taiding was carried back to his original room, and Zuan would now occupy the main house.

Since there were still many of Jian Taiding's belongings in the room, maids and servants helped tidy up, simultaneously replacing them with Jian Yanyou's original items.

Zuan gestured for Gong Pan to stay and watch here, to see if any confidential documents or similar items could be found in the room.

However, judging by Jian Taiding's and Uncle Ming's reactions, this probability seemed rather low.

He, along with Yu Yanluo, escorted Jian Taiding back to his room. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, they were close blood brothers with deep affection, and the necessary appearances still had to be maintained.

A pale-faced Jian Taiding was placed on the bed. Since the doctor hadn't arrived yet, Zuan took the opportunity to sit by the bed, take his pulse, and check his injuries.

Once cultivation reached a certain level, using primal energy to examine or treat injuries were basic operations.

However, Jian Taiding's entire body stiffened, and Uncle Ming's expression also changed. Both of their muscles tensed, as if they would retaliate with lightning speed if anything unusual happened.

Zuan used his primal energy to examine the other's body, and indeed, his previous blow had severely injured him. Not only were there massive external wounds, but his sword energy had also damaged the internal organs.

Although for him, as a Grandmaster, such injuries were not fatal, his combat power would not recover to its peak in a short period.

Zuan hesitated for a moment. At that moment, he was holding Jian Taiding's pulse point. As long as he used the Gluttony Devouring Heaven Art, there was a high probability of draining the other person dry, and the crisis in Yunzhong Commandery would be violently resolved.

However, he ultimately abandoned this tempting idea. Firstly, with so many people watching, if a cultivation method like the Gluttony Devouring Heaven Art were exposed, it would be regarded as a public enemy by all cultivators in the world. After all, no one wanted to toil their whole life cultivating only to have their efforts benefit others.

Secondly, Jian Taiding still had many subordinates. The entire Governor-General's Mansion was now filled with an unknown number of his trusted followers. Zuan did not want to repeat the mistake of Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei, Yuan Ziyou, who was killed by Erzhu Rong's subordinates after assassinating him.

Just then, the doctor arrived. Zuan took the opportunity to release Jian Taiding's hand, saying, "Let Second Brother rest well. I will take care of affairs in the mansion; there's no need to worry."

The others all agreed, and Zuan returned to his room with Yu Yanluo.

By this time, most of the items in the room had been changed. He asked Gong Pan, and indeed, no valuable items were found. Even if there were some confidential documents, they were related to the Governor-General's Mansion's official business and did not involve Jian Yanyou or matters related to the demon race.

Zuan had him guard outside. Yu Yanluo visibly sighed in relief, saying, "The first hurdle is overcome. Your performance was much better than I expected."

"It's all thanks to madam's excellent guidance," Zuan said with a smile.

Yu Yanluo glared at him irritably. "I certainly didn't teach you to hug me," she retorted.

Zuan said seriously, "In that situation just now, everyone was suspicious of my identity. It was precisely through that embrace that everyone believed me."

Yu Yanluo scoffed, "Pah, spouting nonsense so solemnly."

Hearing her tone of playful annoyance, Zuan deliberately checked the system background and found he hadn't received any rage value from her. He couldn't help but smile knowingly.

The two chatted for a while. Soon, someone reported from outside that Sang Hong and others had come to request an audience.

Zuan was startled, not expecting to meet him under such circumstances.

Yu Yanluo explained, "You are now the Duke. It's expected for them to visit now that the Duke has returned. Don't worry, even the people here can't tell you're an anomaly, let alone these outsiders. Just follow our training."

Zuan nodded and had them invited to the reception hall. Yu Yanluo always preferred quiet, so she only waited near the reception hall and did not go with him to meet the guests.

Arriving at the reception hall, Zuan found that not only Sang Hong had come, but also Assistant Administrator Xu Yu, City Lord Pei Shao, and even members of the Yu family—the two elder brothers Yu Xuanqing and Yu Xuansu. One worked at the Prefectural Administrator's office, the other at the Governor-General's Mansion, each bringing a number of their colleagues.

The group was greatly surprised upon seeing Zuan, and one after another offered their congratulations, wishing him a safe return.

They then began to ask where he had been during his disappearance. Zuan shook his head and said, "I suffered severe injuries and recuperated in a hidden cave deep in the mountains. I barely managed to cling to my life. Some of my memories from before are missing, and I can't recall why I disappeared."