Unstoppable Martial Arts: Starting with brother's wife and young sister Chapter 864 - 468: Chaos? Then Kill! (Part 3)

"But that merely scratches the surface and ignores the root cause; its impact is marginal and ultimately useless."

After a long silence, Liu Sheng finally spoke.

The foundations of Great Yu have always been anchored in powerful clans, and the current Imperial Family is simply the former Qin family under a new mantle.

Among the many prominent houses of that era, the Qin family distinguished itself by seizing control over the vital arteries of the Eastern Continent.

By forging alliances with other elite families, they paved the way for the eventual shift in dynastic power.

"Patience is required; you cannot hope to grow fat from a single mouthful."

"It has been many years, and these things cannot be undone overnight."

Zhan Tian is not a deity, after all.

In the face of the complex, tangled issues plaguing Yu Imperial City, what else could he realistically achieve?

He simply moves one step at a time; the final outcome is well beyond his control.

As long as he remains true to his own conscience, it is enough.

"By the way, the Ritual Department needs to stir things up as well."

"What are you implying?"

Liu Sheng raised his eyebrows; he wondered exactly what the Ritual Department was expected to disturb.

"Expose the corruption within the various departments! This is the express will of His Majesty."

"The Emperor plans to make an example of a few to deter these families, and then reclaim those essential resources piece by piece."

"This..."

Upon hearing this, deep furrows appeared on Liu Sheng’s brow.

If Zhan Tian had only intended to cause a minor disturbance, that would be one thing, but this was a direct attack on the very livelihood of those influential houses.

Even he felt the crushing weight of the situation now.

"Old Liu, His Majesty’s resolve is absolute. Do you have any idea how much capital is exhausted daily just to contain those forbidden zones?"

"The treasury of Great Yu is practically hollowed out."

"Should we fail to act now and those sites break containment, Great Yu will be on the brink of disaster."

Hearing this, Liu Sheng nodded grimly. As a pillar of Great Yu, he was well aware of the facts; those dangerous regions had been restless for years, and the daily consumption of spirit stones needed to maintain the arrays was astronomical.

Yet, the mining rights to those precious spirit stones remained firmly clutched in the hands of the wealthy families.

Nobody truly knows just how many spirit stones those families have greedily hoarded.

"It is time for a thorough investigation."

Liu Sheng spoke with great difficulty. The internal pressure would be immense—even standing at the summit of Great Yu, such a task was far from simple.

Not to mention the Liu Family itself... incidents of this nature were hardly foreign to them.

"It appears I shall have to draw the blade first myself."

Liu Sheng looked at Zhan Tian with a wry, bittersweet smile.

"Are you overthinking this? Does the Ritual Department truly lack the ability to wield such a blade?"

Zhan Tian offered a faint smile.

"What are you getting at...?"

"The Ritual Department merely handles the investigation; the Three Judicial Departments will ensure stability. As for who brandishes the blade... that job must fall to the Shadow Guard. They have already offended enough people over the years that a few more will make no difference. They are the most suitable instrument for this task."

The Ritual Department, the Three Judicial Departments, and the Shadow Guard—with the three mightiest forces of Great Yu moving in unison, life was about to become quite difficult for many.

"His Majesty is truly meticulous in his planning."

Liu Sheng smiled, fully grasping Emperor Yu’s determination.

Of course, this also served as proof that the state treasury was truly drained to its absolute limits.

Slaughtering the fattened pig for the New Year, he thought to himself.

"Alas!"

Liu Sheng let out a long, weary sigh. "I have barely managed the Liu Family for years, and now heaven only knows how many of my own kin will curse my name."

"Haha! Regardless, I am unscathed."

Zhan Tian shrugged. He was a lone man, which was precisely why he could act so fearlessly without any ties or worries.

Nobody had any appetite to offend a person of his nature.

"Besides, your Liu Family has leaned on your reputation for years and profited handsomely; they have had their fill."

Upon hearing this, Liu Sheng gave a slow nod.

He understood this point, but personally acting against his own clan... it was a bitter pill to swallow.

He felt quite helpless.

After all, he bore the name Liu; without the clan, there would be no Chief Eunuch Liu today.

He remained somewhat reluctant.

"Enough, you look like you are mourning; aren't you actually saving the Liu Family by cutting away the rot?"

Zhan Tian curled his lips.

If you cannot perceive such a simple truth, you have truly lived in vain.

"You know nothing!"

Liu Sheng glared at him, barking a retort.

How could a lone wolf like him understand the complexities of a clan?

However, Emperor Yu likely foresaw this, which was why he entrusted him with the initial move.

"Oh, by the way, you aren't the only Liu family in the Imperial City; there is another!"

As he said this, Zhan Tian began to grin mischievously.

The two Liu clans of the Imperial City.

Liu Daoxin, one of the Three Dukes.

Liu Sheng, Chief of the Ritual Department.

These two were celebrated as the 'Imperial City Double Liu,' and both houses were considered top-tier clans.

Suddenly, Liu Sheng grasped his intent, laughing as he cursed, "You old rogue, your heart is still as petty as it was in your youth."

"But is this not simply an abuse of power to settle old personal vendettas?"

"Of course it is!"

Zhan Tian showed no hesitation or shame in his admission.

Liu Daoxin had repeatedly defied the Three Judicial Departments, and Zhan Tian had long held a grudge, but as one of the Three Dukes, he had been unable to strike back openly.

Now that the opportunity had finally presented itself, he certainly would not let it slip away.

"I am neither greedy nor lustful, which makes me infinitely better than those wretches, does it not?"

Indeed, compared to the rest, Zhan Tian was entirely uncorrupted, a man of far greater character.

"You are truly beyond shameless!"

Liu Sheng shook his head; he had long since witnessed the depths of Zhan Tian’s lack of shame.

Yet, the two found themselves in perfect agreement.

"Understood. Just consider it a favor from me to avenge your grievances."

"However..."

Liu Sheng paused, the mirth disappearing from his face. "The Three Judicial Departments must keep order; if they fail, Great Yu will descend into total anarchy!"

"Anarchy?"

A biting, chilling aura surged from Zhan Tian, "Then let us slaughter them!"

Grave illnesses require drastic remedies!

Anyone who dares to act recklessly will be executed without mercy!

Liu Sheng watched his old companion, the sheer bloodlust reminding him of that day in the distant forbidden zone, when Zhan Tian had single-handedly entered the Stone Cave and decimated the Stone Race.

That was the true Zhan Tian.

"I wonder how many heads will roll before this is over."