Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

”Lord Shangguan.”

Facing the young man in luxurious clothes, Captain Zhang frowned.

”What are you doing here?”

”I heard you’ve arrested some high monks, so I came over.”

”What high monks?”

Listening to the inexplicable words of the young man, Captain Zhang was also puzzled. The Great Han had no Buddhism, so he didn’t know about monks or nuns. Hearing this, Fang Zheng squinted his eyes, staring at the youth before him. If he guessed correctly, this young man was probably the son of a high-ranking official, and he kept referring to those guys as high monks...

Well, damn it, you’re preaching on my turf now...

”Are you talking about the people you brought in before!”

”You mean that group of bald guys?”

Hearing this, Captain Zhang’s face darkened.

”Lord Shangguan, may I ask what your relation is with those bald guys?”

”This... this... what’s it to you?”

Despite being a privileged second-generation official, seeing Captain Zhang’s face turn cold, the young man’s confidence waned.

”Those bald guys are suspected of hiding an important criminal of the Imperial Court. If Lord Shangguan has no special relation with them, please leave.”

Saying this, Captain Zhang extended his hand, gesturing.

”Please.”

”You... you...”

Looking at Captain Zhang, the young man in luxurious clothes trembled with anger.

”How dare you do this! Don’t you know that my father is the County Magistrate, and with just one word, he could get you fired!”

Oh, so he’s the son of County Magistrate Guiyang.

Fang Zheng silently jotted down in his little black book.

Dear Tovarish, is your name ready to be on the purge list?

”Lord Shangguan, you may not know, but these people are hiding not just any ordinary criminal, but the Blood Hand Butcher Wang Wu! Furthermore, they confessed to sheltering Wang Wu knowingly. Hiding an important criminal of the Imperial Court and not reporting it, you should know the consequences, right?”

”This, this...”

Faced with Captain Zhang’s retort, the young man in luxurious clothes was at a loss for words.

”This must be a forced confession through torture!”

”There is absolutely no such thing, Lord Shangguan.”

Seeing the young man’s stubbornness, Captain Zhang had no choice but to repeat what those bald guys said before to the young man in luxurious clothes.

”...That’s the situation. Do you understand, Lord Shangguan? They confessed to hiding an important criminal of the Imperial Court for inexplicable reasons, so naturally they must be arrested and judged for the crime of harboring.”

”...This is truly wonderful.”

”...Hmm?”

”Those masters are indeed high monks!”

To Captain Zhang’s surprise, the young man in luxurious clothes became even more excited.

”Even a ferocious person like the Blood Hand Butcher Wang Wu submitted to Buddhism. This is surely about laying down the butcher’s knife and becoming a Buddha immediately!”

”...???”

What the hell?

Seeing the young man in luxurious clothes act like this madman, Captain Zhang glanced at the government official beside him in bewilderment, unsure of what to say. However, the young man in luxurious clothes, as if on drugs, looked at Captain Zhang again.

”So Captain Zhang, since you know this, why haven’t you released them?”

”...? Lord Shangguan, I don’t understand your meaning...”

”Hasn’t Wang Wu already been inspired by Buddhism? So he’s become a good person now and won’t commit crimes again! It’s all thanks to those high monks! Why do you still imprison those high monks!?”

”...???”

At this moment, Captain Zhang’s gaze at the young man in luxurious clothes was like ”Does this kid have a brain issue?”

”Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re saying, Lord Shangguan. Regardless, it’s a fact that these people hid a criminal, and no matter what their reason, it doesn’t change that.”

”Bu-but...”

”Alright, take Lord Shangguan out. I still have to take a statement here.”

Captain Zhang also found an excuse, and then two government officials stepped in, cheerfully escorting the young man in fine clothing out. Only then did Captain Zhang sigh and sit down on the chair opposite Fang Zheng.

”Sorry, Young Master Fang, you had to witness such a spectacle.”

”It’s nothing, but who was that just now...”

”That was the son of County Magistrate Shangguan Long in Guiyang. Ah... I don’t know what’s gotten into him, daring to get involved in such matters...”

Here, Captain Zhang also let out a helpless sigh. This wasn’t just about harboring a minor criminal; Wang Wu was a major criminal of the Imperial Court, with many deaths on his hands. Some high officials had even hired him for assassinations to eliminate rivals. So this involved not just commoner cases but also matters in the bureaucracy.

Because of this, those bald guys who sheltered Wang Wu couldn’t just talk their way out of it. They’re sure to carry out a covert investigation of the Sect known as the Pure Thought Zen Temple to see if there are more secrets.

And under these circumstances, that bureaucrat’s son dared to intervene... Does he think his father has lived too long?

”Then I’ll leave the rest to Captain Zhang.”

Fang Zheng chuckled, standing up.

”I still have to attend the Martial Arts Tournament, so I’ll excuse myself.”

”Rest assured, Young Master Fang, leave it to me. I guarantee Wang Wu won’t escape... Of course, he can’t run away.”

Recalling the image of Wang Wu lying pathetically on the bed, wailing, Captain Zhang also gave a wry smile. Although they didn’t show it outwardly, most constables and government officials secretly applauded Fang Zheng’s actions.

After all, they also had to chase these criminals, but due to insufficient strength, people often lost their lives to these villains. They were frustrated with criminals like Wang Wu, but helpless. Even if they caught him, they couldn’t torture him as a vent for their anger.

So seeing Fang Zheng render a person unable to live or die, it was quite satisfying.

After this, Captain Zhang sent two people to escort Fang Zheng to the Martial Arts Tournament venue. Though the Wang Wu incident happened earlier, it was already near the end, and most people had gone to the arena to watch the upcoming matches, so it didn’t affect the tournament itself much.

When Fang Zheng arrived at the Martial Arts Tournament venue, he just caught the end of the opening performance by a sect. Next up was the free-for-all stage.

Of course, this wasn’t some martial arts match for marriage proposals. Just like in martial arts novels, if someone wanted to challenge, they could jump onto the stage, announce their name, and declare whom they wanted to challenge. Originally, this was meant for martial arts exchanges, but it later evolved into a place to settle Jianghu disputes.

After all, if you privately duel, it’s hard to say whether you win or lose, but at the martial arts tournament, under everyone’s watchful eyes, it’s hard to pull off any tricks. Thus, many people see this as a stage to resolve grievances.

Of course, most of these would be grievances that are difficult for a judge to resolve, as real cases of family massacre or clan extermination, like in wuxia novels, don’t need such resolutions. In the Great Han, they would be treated as major cases right away.

For instance, competing now are two brothers from Lake House Villa. The younger brother fell for the sister-in-law, and they were caught, leading to a fallout. So now they’re on the stage shouting at each other.

The older brother says, ”I trusted you, that’s why I left my wife in your care, but you ended up taking care of her in bed?”

However, the younger brother retorts, ”You married her, yet you’re always out partying, leaving her a widow. I stepped back because she truly loved you. Now you marry her and still keep mistresses outside, I have every right to take her back!”

So, disagreements led to the brothers fighting on stage, amusing the onlookers while the Manor Lord of Lake House Villa looked downcast, anticipating a bloody aftermath once the Martial Arts Tournament concluded...

The brotherly duel ended with the younger brother winning the beauty, but next up were two disciples from Emei, involving a love triangle between a senior brother and two junior sisters.

Junior Sister A says, ”I was here first, whether calling or caring for Senior Brother, I came first. So why did this happen?”

Junior Sister B responds, ”Though we are sisters, love has no reason. I’m hopelessly in love with Senior Brother...”

The decision was to settle it with fists.

Both exchanged moves on the stage, leaving the observing Senior Brother sweating profusely. Just as Junior Sister A was about to win, she suddenly dropped her longsword and embraced Junior Sister B, revealing the truth—she actually didn’t love Senior Brother but Junior Sister B!

She didn’t want Junior Sister B to marry Senior Brother, thus choosing to sacrifice herself!

”Why do we fight when I’m clearly in love with you?”

At Junior Sister A’s confession, Junior Sister B also revealed her feelings, admitting she had always secretly admired Junior Sister A. But seeing no special affection from her, she chose Senior Brother out of despair, trying to forget her feelings for her.

Ultimately, they reconciled, walking off stage arm in arm, leaving a bewildered Senior Brother staring at their departing figures...

Such tangled affairs!

Sitting below, Fang Zheng also enjoyed the spectacle with snacks, feeling like he was watching a morality play. Just as he anticipated the next drama, a white figure flashed by, and a young man in light armor leaped onto the stage, raising both hands.

”I am the wanderer Zhao Yide! I challenge Young Lord Jade Face Fang Zheng!”

”Hm?”

Fang Zheng was munching on seeds and singing when he heard the challenge, stopping in surprise.

What’s the deal?

All the girls I’ve courted these years shouldn’t have boyfriends...right...