The old man groaning before Li Qi was the former head of the Ning family, and the great-grandson of Ning Xiuchen, named Ning Changshi.
Ning Changshi's mention of King Jingfu referred to King Jinghe's son. King Jingfu had ascended the throne seventeen years ago, succeeding King Jinghe.
"The Ning family would not be subjected to a full family execution without reason. Tell me, what exactly did the Ning family do?" Li Qi's voice was calm.
Upon hearing this, Ning Changshi's wailing and pleading abruptly stopped. He lowered his head, hesitant to speak.
After a long pause, Ning Changshi gave a dry, awkward laugh. "Heh... Heh heh, Uncle Ancestor, it's really nothing major. It's just that a disobedient youngster in the family broke some laws."
Li Qi remained silent, his deep eyes eerily calm, which unnerved Ning Changshi.
Ning Changshi started to say something more, but Li Qi interrupted him. "Judging by your demeanor, you don't seem inclined to tell the truth. Very well, I will personally escort you to see King Jingfu, and let him explain."
With that, Ning Changshi and the young man accompanying him were stunned to find themselves floating into the air. Immediately after, Li Qi's own figure also lifted off the ground.
"Senior Uncle Li, do you require my assistance?"
"No need. You just keep an eye on the Feisha Sect."
Having said this, Li Qi transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the distance at an incredibly fast speed.
Zhang Yinjun watched Li Qi's receding figure for a long time before returning to the sect.
The royal capital of the Great Jing Dynasty. Compared to the past, the royal capital was now guarded by quite a few Golden Core experts of the Great Jing.
At this very moment, a streak of light, carrying a powerful aura, flew rapidly towards the capital from outside its walls, sending shivers down the spines of the Golden Core experts within, who found their fighting spirit dampened.
Just then, within the imperial palace, a figure at the second layer of the Nascent Soul stage leaped high into the air, treading on the emptiness. Zuo Shang's voice rang out.
"This is a vital area of the capital. Please halt, fellow Daoist..."
However, before Zuo Shang could finish speaking, he clearly recognized the streak of light approaching the capital.
"Fellow Daoist Li! It's you! It's been many years, are you well!" Zuo Shang's voice was filled with surprise and delight.
Li Qi, channeling his spiritual energy to gently support Ning Changshi and the young man beside him, looked at his old acquaintance Zuo Shang with a hint of a smile, nodding in greeting.
"It has been a long time."
Zuo Shang's gaze then fell upon Ning Changshi and the other man Li Qi was supporting. He understood Li Qi's purpose. Clasping his fists, he said, "I understand your intention, Fellow Daoist Li. His Majesty has been expecting you in the palace. Please follow me."
Zuo Shang then led Li Qi and the other two towards the imperial palace.
"National Preceptor, it is our regret that Jingfu did not extend a more fitting welcome for your arrival."
King Jingfu, clad in dragon robes, looked at Li Qi, who was accompanied by Zuo Shang from the heavens. A smile graced his face as he bowed respectfully.
This was Li Qi's first time meeting King Jingfu. The current King Jingfu appeared to be in his early thirties, and the majesty of an emperor was growing increasingly pronounced around him.
He placed the still-shaken Ning Changshi and the young man on the ground behind him and Li Qi directly asked, "Tell me, what exactly did the Ning family do to warrant a full family execution?"
King Jingfu glanced at Ning Changshi and the young man behind Li Qi, his gaze flickering with a hint of coldness. He then proceeded to recount the Ning family's transgressions.
It turned out that the Ning family's youngest generation had produced a notorious prodigal son, the son of the current Ning family patriarch. This individual disregarded the law, engaged in abduction and rape, forcibly seized women in broad daylight, and assaulted passersby. However, instead of disciplining him, the Ning family not only sheltered him but also exerted pressure on the authorities.
When victims dared to report to the officials, they found their entire families brutally murdered the very next day, with the female members suffering particularly horrific fates. Such incidents were not isolated; there were dozens of similar cases.
"In total, the Ning family has caused the deaths of at least hundreds of innocent civilians!" King Jingfu trembled with rage as he spoke. Although he might not be a great talent, he was dedicated to his people. Yet, in the land he governed, especially within the capital, such a scoundrel existed.
The other members of the Ning family had already been thrown into prison. It was precisely because King Jingfu knew of the Ning family's past association with Li Qi, and because his own father, King Jinghe, had often instructed him from a young age to show respect to the National Preceptor, that King Jingfu had deliberately allowed these two to seek out Li Qi, to gauge Li Qi's intentions before making a decision. Otherwise, any other family would have already faced a full family execution, without the luxury of time to remain alive.
"So that's how it is." Li Qi nodded, his expression unreadable. He slowly turned to face Ning Changshi behind him. "Do you have anything else to say? If any of what was said about the Ning family is untrue, speak up. For Ning Xiuchen's sake, I will surely help you clear your name."
However, Ning Changshi dared not retort. His face had turned deathly pale with each word King Jingfu uttered. Now, under Li Qi's gaze, he was terrified and hurriedly knelt, kowtowing. "Uncle Ancestor, Uncle Ancestor, it is our Ning family's failure in education. I implore you, for the sake of my great-grandfather Ning Xiuchen, please save the Ning family one last time."
As he spoke, Ning Changshi seemed to recall something. He fumbled in his robes and produced a letter, handing it to Li Qi. This was a letter bearing the marks of at least a hundred years of age.
Li Qi calmly accepted it. The letter was written in Ning Xiuchen's handwriting. It seemed Ning Xiuchen understood the principle that prosperity is fleeting, and thus left this letter. The gist of it was: "Should the Ning family ever face annihilation, Xiuchen humbly requests Brother Li to show mercy and preserve some of the Ning family's bloodline, ensuring their lineage does not end."
After slowly reading the letter, a flicker appeared in the depths of Li Qi's eyes. With a flick of his finger, the letter turned to dust. He then looked at King Jingfu.
"Your Majesty, for my sake, can the full family execution of the Ning family be rescinded?"
"Then, according to the National Preceptor's wishes?"
"An explanation must be given for the unjustly deceased. Conduct a thorough investigation. Those within the Ning family who harbored guilt and broke the laws of Great Jing shall be executed according to the law. As for any innocent individuals who did not participate, they shall be demoted to commoners. How does this arrangement sit with you?"
King Jingfu's brow immediately relaxed upon hearing this. He had initially expected Li Qi to stubbornly protect the Ning family due to their past relationship. However, the proposed solution was not a complete absolution. While not a full family execution, the guilty would be punished, and the survivors demoted to commoner status, which was a similar outcome.
"This is excellent! We shall proceed as the National Preceptor suggests." As for any potential wrongful accusations, there was no need for concern. After all, this was a world of cultivation, and cultivators possessed an abundance of methods.