With tears in her eyes, Wei Lanlan said, "Grandfather, Father tried to forcefully detain Master Ran Xi. He angered the Master, and in the end he collapsed and never woke up."
She did not know how to say the rest.
A flicker of anger passed over Wei Lansong's stern face. He turned to the butler, who was standing there in fear and trepidation. "What is going on? Who allowed him to do this?"
"It was Young Master Liang who mobilized the guard unit. I do not know his exact intentions. He only ordered me to lock the young miss in her room."
Just then, the family physician hurried in. Wei Lanlan spoke at once. "Doctor Shen, please check on my father."
Doctor Shen glanced once at the uncanny tableau in the reception hall, then bowed his head, took out his portable devices, and began his examination of Wei Lanliang.
Five minutes later, he set the equipment down. Meeting the anxious gazes of grandfather and granddaughter, he shook his head. "I am sorry. Young Master Liang no longer has any vital signs."
Wei Lansong closed his eyes briefly, then pulled out his phone, intending to contact a "Soul Apprehender" from the Reincarnation Department. Wei Lanlan spoke first. "Grandfather, there is no need to summon anyone to collect the soul. If Master Ran Xi made a move, Father's soul is surely gone."
Wei Lansong's hand tightened on the phone, yet he still dialed the number and said a few words to the person on the other end. After hanging up, he looked toward the guards who still held their weapons as if frozen and frowned deeply.
Doctor Shen stepped forward again to examine the immobilized guards, then said, "Sir, their vital signs are normal. They are simply fixed in place by some kind of power. Give it a little time and they may recover on their own."
No sooner had he spoken than one guard's gun arm angled downward slightly. As soon as he could make that small motion, the others also began to move in small increments. Five minutes later, everyone who had been immobilized could move freely again.
Wei Lansong waved the guards out of the reception hall, their expressions still strange, then led Wei Lanlan to the study. He needed to hear everything.
Meanwhile, Yunxi, who had departed by flying boat, had already sent word of what happened to Han Lian.
Li Li sprawled contentedly across Yunxi's knees, tail flicking. "Zūnzhě, you acted very decisively. What if the Wei Lan clan turns against you?"
"This was only a matter of time. It is a pity for the Wei Lan clan's only clear-headed one, Wei Lanlan.
Wei Lansong was not wrong about one thing. Perhaps mastering reincarnation technology began by chance. But the benefits it brought the ruling class were too great. After that, events snowballed beyond control.
Imagine your rivals using this method to make their clan stronger and seize more resources. Would other families be content to play supporting roles, especially a clan like the Wei Lan family that already stood at the top?
Later, their methods disrupted the laws of Heaven and Earth, drawing punishment. They had no choice but to maintain the Reincarnation System, and it no longer served only the upper class.
It is like a runaway carriage with failed brakes. It cannot stop, only rush forward until it crashes completely, or someone steps in to halt it."
Li Li had lived on Azure Star for a while and understood what Yunxi meant. He swished his tail helplessly. "What is the point of all this? They cannot defeat Zūnzhě in a fight, and they still refuse to listen. Do they really plan to turn all of Azure Star into a ghost realm?"
"Inertia, nothing more."
"So next, will Zūnzhě and the others act while avoiding them?"
"Yes. We will first regroup with Han Lian and the others. I believe Elder Nan, who oversees reincarnation under the Special Department, must know something. We will pay him a visit first, and after that we will follow Yun Chen's lead."
"And the Wei Lan family?"
Yunxi narrowed her apricot eyes. "I said before, once a decision is made, they must pay the price for their actions. Not only the Wei Lan clan. All families who fanned the flames will be punished."
Elsewhere, Han Lian received Yunxi's message and let a wry smile show. She said to Yun Chen and Xun Kun, "Ran Xi is on her way back. Negotiations with the Wei Lan clan collapsed."
Xun Kun folded his arms and leaned against a garden tree, speaking in a tone of "as expected.""Those in power will never willingly give up vested interests. They have grown used to throwing their weight around. How could they bear to fall beneath others? Ran Xi is the patient one for going in person."
"Amitabha. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it seems we should act while avoiding contact with the people of Azure Star."
Yun Chen had anticipated this outcome.
Han Lian continued, "Ran Xi says there is more information to gather. Before we go to ground, we will visit the Elder Nan that Minister Ruo Bai mentioned. Be ready. Once she rejoins us, we will head to the Special Department's headquarters in District C."
Yun Chen and Xun Kun had no objections. The four would act and retreat together.
An hour later, Yunxi rejoined the group without incident. They went again to the top floor of the Special Department's branch. This time, only Minister Ruo Bai was there.
Watching the four enter at an unhurried pace, Ruo Bai rubbed his brow. "Miss Ran Xi, why did you kill Mr. Wei Lan's son?"
Yunxi arched a brow. "Because he was discourteous to me and tried to force me to stay."
"You did not have to destroy his soul."
Yunxi spoke with indifference. "There was no need to purify his soul. Better to save the purification crystals."
She had acted without mercy because Li Li had seen that Wei Lanliang's soul was the worst among the Wei Lan clan. Perhaps he had done too many evil deeds. The karmic taint on his soul was heavy and already showing signs of corruption. Otherwise, Zi Yan would not have burned it to ash so easily.
Han Lian asked directly, "What now? Did the Wei Lan clan come to you to seize us? Or order you to kill us?"
Minister Ruo Bai shook his head. "They asked the Special Department for help, hoping a Soul Apprehender could try to retrieve Wei Lanliang's soul. I sent the Gongsun brothers."
"Do not waste your efforts. His karmic burden is too heavy. Even if purified, he cannot reincarnate."
"Karmic burden?"
Minister Ruo Bai repeated the term. It was the first time he had heard it.
"You do not need to understand. Just know he cannot reincarnate. We came first to say farewell, and second to ask you to keep the Reincarnation System stable. When we finish our arrangements, we will notify you."
Ruo Bai stood at once. "You are leaving?"
"Should we stay and wait to go to war with you?" Xun Kun said with disdain.
Minister Ruo Bai choked on his words. He knew there was no way to keep them. He could only nod and personally escort the four to the Special Department's entrance.
Han Lian beckoned to Captain Chen, who was standing not far away. He jogged over at once."Madam Han Lian, what do you need?"
Han Lian met his eyes and spoke slowly. "My friends and I are leaving for a while. There is no need for you to follow. You could not keep up anyway. Return and guard the base well. Do not let those creatures escape again. If possible, eliminate them."