Divine & Bizarre: Increasing Points to Invincibility-Chapter 316 - 140: Daoist Priest Fan is extremely experienced, so even for the first time, it won’t hurt (A 10,000-word mega - !)_3
A group of members from the Imperial Astronomy Bureau saw the intruders barging in, each with a furious expression on their faces, and judging by their attire and demeanor, they all seemed to be no ordinary commoners.
This left the bureau members utterly perplexed. What on earth was wrong with these people?
Storming in without uttering a word?
Equally bewildered was the middle-aged man brimming with rage. He had anticipated encountering a group of family members upon his intrusion but had not expected to come face to face with the members of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau!
"Who are you? Why are you here?" the middle-aged man asked, his frown deepening, especially upon seeing two members of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau carrying a chest of silver.
He had an even worse premonition.
"And who might you be?" A Hundred Households officer of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau stepped forward—this was none other than Si Ma Hundred Households!
Si Ma Hundred Households approached with a hint of wariness on his face; he could sense that the group before him, particularly the leading middle-aged man, was no ordinary individual.
The man was undoubtedly a cultivator!
Si Ma was unable to gauge his depth!
Which meant...
This man...
Was stronger than him!
"We are from the Head Family of the Great Zhou Imperial City!" the middle-aged man declared, revealing his identity: "I, Elder Fu Yuantong, am from the Head Family of the Fu Clan in the Imperial City!"
"The Fu Clan... Head Family?" Si Ma Hundred Households was taken aback, not knowing that the Fu Clan had a head family branch.
Did that mean the Fu Family of Nanjun Prefecture was simply a branch family?
"Hundred Households sir, the Prefecture’s Fu Family indeed has a head family," a Chief Flag Officer whispered to Si Ma Hundred Households, providing an explanation: "Each year, the Prefecture’s Fu Family must present a large amount of gold, silver, jewels, various assets, as well as cultivation resources to the Head Family in the Imperial City."
"However, the Prefecture’s Fu Family considers this a matter they’re ashamed to discuss and almost never mention the head family in the city to outsiders. Not many people within the Prefecture are aware of this."
Upon hearing this, Si Ma Hundred Households came to a realization.
It seemed he, as a Hundred Households officer, had not paid enough attention to the Fu Family and lacked certain intelligence. If not for this Chief Flag Officer’s timely reminder, he would have found himself in an embarrassing situation.
He cleared his throat and said, "So, you’re the Elder from the Fu Family’s Head Family in the Imperial City, Fu Yuantong, correct?"
"Indeed!" replied Fu Yuantong.
Si Ma Hundred Households waved his hand dismissively, "You need not wait for the Prefecture’s Fu Family to offer their tribute to you. The wrongdoings of the Prefecture’s Fu Family within the Prefecture have all been exposed. As of now, they have been confiscated by the Prefecture Government, and all their assets have been seized. You might as well return."
"What?" Fu Yuantong was stunned, doubting his own hearing, and could not help but question, "What happened to the Prefecture’s Fu Family?!"
Si Ma Hundred Households continued, "The Fu Family’s misdeeds have come to light; their property has been confiscated!"
Fu Yuantong was dumbstruck and fell silent.
He had not expected that after traveling for thousands of miles from the Imperial City to Nanjun, encountering several crises both big and small along the way, and after a journey that took a full month...
To finally arrive at the Prefecture’s Fu Family, only to be presented not with their tribute, but with the bad news from the local Imperial Astronomy Bureau!
Damn it!
What in the world was the Prefecture’s Fu Family playing at? How did they suddenly have their misdeeds exposed, and how did they so inexplicably have their property confiscated by the Imperial Astronomy Bureau?
Seeing the confusion in his eyes, Si Ma Hundred Households briefly explained, "Head of the Prefecture’s Fu Family, Fu Daoxiong, suffered a relapse of an old injury which brought his life to the verge of its end. To extend his life, he used forbidden arts to harm others, resulting in the deaths of many, including ladybugs, prostitutes, and innocent civilians."
"Other members of the family were more or less involved in various wrongdoings, with some members of the Prefecture’s Fu Family committing crimes so severe that beheading them hundreds of times would not suffice, while others committed crimes that warranted lifelong imprisonment."
Si Ma Hundred Households paused dramatically before dropping another shocking statement.
"And those members of the Prefecture’s Fu Family are all now dead, including Fu Daoxiong, as well as the Eldest Young Master, the Second Young Master, and a group of elders."
"The rest, the riffraff, have either fled... or have been captured by us in the Imperial Astronomy Bureau and thrown into the Great Prison..."
"..."
Fu Yuantong was flabbergasted! How much time had passed?
Since his last visit to the Prefecture’s Fu Family.
It had been just a year, hadn’t it?
In just one year’s time, the Prefecture’s branch of the Fu Family had experienced so many significant events? Even Fu Daoxiong, the branch’s Family Head, and his two sons were dead?
A group of elders had perished as well?
Damned be!
What about this year’s tribute from the Prefecture’s Fu Family? If it couldn’t be collected, how would the Imperial City’s Head Family manage to get by this year?
It should be known that for the past few years, the Head Family had encountered several troubles and difficulties, barely surviving by leeching off other branch families.
And the Nanjun Prefecture’s branch of the Fu Family provided more support to the Head Family than several other branches combined!
If this year’s contribution from the Nanjun Prefecture’s branch couldn’t be collected, it would be a devastating blow to the Head Family...
They would not recover easily!
Countless thoughts rushed through Fu Yuantong’s mind. Before coming to Nanjun, he had sworn an oath to the Family Head, resolutely promising to safely bring back the tribute from the Nanjun branch to the head family.
