Moonlight Pavilion.
A group of soldiers marched toward the Moonlight Pavilion, which had just opened for business.
As soon as they stepped into the main hall of the pavilion.
"Get out! Get out!! This official is here to seal the Moonlight Pavilion. Anyone who stays will be thrown into jail!" As the soldiers began to drive people out, the diners in the pavilion quickly put down their chopsticks and fled through the doors.
It was just past noon, so there weren't many people in the pavilion. Under the soldiers' orders, the large Moonlight Pavilion was soon emptied.
Thud thud thud
A series of footsteps came from the second floor.
"What are you doing?" Tong Xiuyun asked.
"Manager Tong, you're in trouble!" said a middle-aged man with a sly appearance, standing in front of the soldiers.
In front of this middle-aged man was a handsome, dignified young man.
He waved his hand. "Take her away!"
"Your Excellency is wise!" The sly-looking man behind him was overjoyed.
"Huang Dazheng, you're breaking the rules!" Tong Xiuyun said angrily.
"What rules? You, Tong Xiuyun, are suspected of child trafficking and murder. As a law-abiding citizen, can't I report your crimes?" Huang Dazheng raised his eyebrows and smiled, revealing a set of yellow teeth.
Then.
As he watched the soldiers step forward and arrest Tong Xiuyun, he couldn't help but feel smug.
Business warfare was just this simple.
If you couldn't beat the Moonlight Pavilion in business, it didn't matter. As long as you found a powerful backer, you could just arrest someone and frame them.
Tong Xiuyun might have her connections, but how could they compare to the young talent from Dongling City standing in front of him?
This young man was the new rising star in Luoshui County.
One of the captains of the Inspection Bureau.
Members of the Inspection Bureau held the power of life and death and could act first and report later.
From officials to commoners, everyone was under their jurisdiction.
Their authority was immense.
Not to mention, this backer of his was a ninth-rank official, one of the captains of the Inspection Bureau.
He also had the strength of a peak eighth-rank martial artist.
As Tong Xiuyun was being escorted past the young man by the soldiers, her heart sank.
How could she not recognize him? He was one of the newly appointed captains of the Inspection Bureau.
A ninth-rank official with the strength of a peak eighth-rank martial artist.
In front of him, her previous connections were nothing.
Not to mention, this man was also a student from the Martial Academy in Dongling City.
In the Inspection Bureau of Luoshui County, the Martial Academy students were a powerful faction.
Among the more than ten captains, seven or eight were Martial Academy students.
Each of them had the strength of an eighth-rank martial artist.
Not to mention the large number of ninth-rank Martial Academy students below them.
Thinking of this, Tong Xiuyun couldn't help but feel a sense of despair.
But then she calmed down.
She turned her gaze to the side and looked at the servant at the entrance.
She gave him a meaningful look.
The message was clear: go and call for help.
"I wonder if Xiao Jiu can help me after learning about this," Tong Xiuyun thought to herself.
On the other side.
The young man looked at Huang Dazheng. "Where are the other taverns? Lead the way, and I'll seal them."
"Thank you, Your Excellency!" Huang Dazheng was overjoyed.
He felt that his decision last night to give away his family heirloom had been a wise one.
The so-called family heirloom had been useless in his hands, his father's hands, and his grandfather's hands.
Since that was the case, holding onto it was meaningless.
It was better to give it away. Now, with the heirloom gone.
He had gained the favor of this young man, which had led to today's business warfare.
If he couldn't beat the Moonlight Pavilion, it didn't matter. As long as he arrested Tong Xiuyun, the Moonlight Pavilion would naturally collapse.
Moreover, with this young man's help, he could seal all the other taverns today and take everyone inside away.
After today, the tavern industry in Luoshui County would be his.
With this backer, Huang Dazheng could truly make a fortune.
Leaving the Moonlight Pavilion.
Under the escort of the soldiers, they took Tong Xiuyun to the Rich Fortune Pavilion.
The Rich Fortune Pavilion was another establishment, owned by the Cheng family.
A moment later.
At the entrance of the Rich Fortune Pavilion.
Cheng Ran and his father, who happened to be in the tavern, were immediately arrested.
As they were taken out, the soldiers quickly sealed the doors and windows and posted notices.
As for the onlookers, they only dared to watch from a distance. In front of these soldiers, they didn't dare get too close.
"Aunt Tong!" Seeing Tong Xiuyun, Cheng Ran called out.
"Silence!!" one of the soldiers shouted.
Cheng Ran's father immediately shook his head at him.
Seeing that the situation was against them, Cheng Ran fell silent.
At this moment, Tong Xiuyun gave Cheng Ran a reassuring look, as if to say, don't worry, I've sent for help!
"Next?" the young man asked Huang Dazheng.
Huang Dazheng nodded vigorously. "Next. Thank you for your trouble today, Your Excellency!"
"Lead the way. Let's finish this quickly," the young man said indifferently.
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
Inspection Bureau.
"Sir!" Xie Xiaojiu, dressed in black, bowed slightly to Jiang Ning.
At this moment, Jiang Ning was sitting in the inner hall of his residence.
As a deputy commander, he had his residence within the Inspection Bureau.
The residence covered an area of several hundred meters.
After touring the vast Inspection Bureau, he had come to his residence.
Although he didn't have any subordinates yet.
The residence had already been cleaned and prepared by the servants.
So when he arrived at his residence, he spent time in the inner hall reading some information about the Inspection Bureau.
For example, what he could exchange for with his authority in the Internal Affairs Office, and how many contribution points those items required.
These details need to be thoroughly understood.
After all, he had joined the Inspection Bureau not only to secure his position but also to facilitate his cultivation.
There was a lot of information, recorded in a thick book. In the Internal Affairs Office, he hadn't had time to read it all, only skimming through a few key points.
At this moment.
In the inner hall of the residence.
As Xie Xiaojiu appeared, Jiang Ning put down the book in his hands.
[Skill]: Literacy (Second Breakthrough 1911/3000) (Traits: Photographic Memory, Enhanced Senses)
After glancing at the dozens of experience points his literacy skill had gained, Jiang Ning turned his attention to Xie Xiaojiu.
Xie Xiaojiu was now wearing the official uniform of the Inspection Bureau.
The large black uniform was trimmed with blood-red edges.
"Miss Xie, you're quite true to your word," Jiang Ning said.
Xie Xiaojiu replied, "Since I lost to you yesterday, it's only natural that I come to serve under you."
Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded slightly.
He was quite pleased with Xie Xiaojiu's arrival.
Because Xie Xiaojiu's strength was formidable. If she hadn't faced him, she would have been fully qualified to secure a captain's position.
Moreover, when Xie Xiaojiu lost to him, it was clear that she hadn't used her full strength.
She was one of the two prodigies in Luoshui County that Lin Qingyi had taken a liking to.
A prodigy with exceptional talent in swordsmanship.
Having such a skilled person under his command was naturally something to be happy about.
Not to mention, Xie Xiaojiu was still young, only a few months older than him, which meant her potential was immense.
Where else could he find someone who was strong now and would only grow stronger in the future?
In addition, Xie Xiaojiu had a deep connection with Lin Qingyi, and Jiang Ning himself seemed to have a good relationship with Lin Qingyi.
If, after some time, Xie Xiaojiu proved to be trustworthy, she would undoubtedly be a great asset to him.
The stronger Xie Xiaojiu became, the more time Jiang Ning would have to focus on improving himself.
At this moment, Xie Xiaojiu suddenly looked up at Jiang Ning.
"Sir, I'd like to spar with you again!"
"Still not satisfied with yesterday's loss?" Jiang Ning asked.
"A little," Xie Xiaojiu nodded.
Then she added, "If you can defeat me, from now on, I will follow your orders without any complaints!"
"Alright," Jiang Ning agreed.
The two then walked out of the inner hall and into the spacious courtyard.
The courtyard was paved with blue bricks and was very tidy, with few decorations. The only notable feature was a massive banyan tree.
The banyan tree's dense branches blocked much of the sunlight, providing shade to the courtyard.
"Sir, please!" Xie Xiaojiu drew her sword.
Jiang Ning thought for a moment and decided not to use the spirit weapon he had brought. Instead, he picked up a standard long blade from the weapon rack.
"Miss Xie, let's begin!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Xie Xiaojiu moved, and the two began to spar.
A moment later.
The blade rested against Xie Xiaojiu's fair, jade-like neck.
Jiang Ning then withdrew the blade. "Miss Xie, I concede."
Xie Xiaojiu fell silent. After a few breaths, she asked, "Sir, was that your full strength?"
Jiang Ning hesitated, then slowly shook his head. "No."
"I see," Xie Xiaojiu took a deep breath to calm her emotions.
"I thought I was a true prodigy, but today I realized that compared to you, I'm nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well."
"Miss Xie, don't be too hard on yourself," Jiang Ning comforted her. "You're the most talented person I've met so far. At just nineteen, you've reached this level. You're not far from the seventh rank."
Xie Xiaojiu forced a smile at Jiang Ning.
"Thank you for your comfort, sir."
"You can call me Xiao Jiu."
At that moment, a voice came from the entrance of the residence.
"Sir, you have quite the leisure!"
The two turned to see Feng Jiuge, dressed in fiery red armor.
"Greetings, Captain Feng!" Xie Xiaojiu bowed slightly.
Feng Jiuge walked up to Xie Xiaojiu and gently lifted her chin with a finger.
"Miss Xie, you're quite the beauty. Even I can't help but admire you."
"Captain Feng, do you need something?" Xie Xiaojiu looked up at Feng Jiuge, her expression calm, as if unaffected by the provocation.
"How boring!" Feng Jiuge withdrew her finger.
Then she turned to Jiang Ning. "Sir, I've come to report. From now on, I'll be working under you!"
Jiang Ning nodded slightly. "Miss Feng, you truly keep your word."
Feng Jiuge pouted. "Sir, you're quite handsome. Working under you is at least more pleasing to the eye."
Jiang Ning: "..."
He felt a bit speechless.
It seemed like Feng Jiuge had stolen his line.
Feng Jiuge and Xie Xiaojiu were undoubtedly both beautiful and elegant women.
Each had her unique charm, and both could be considered stunning beauties.
Such women were naturally a sight to behold.
Having these two under his command, regardless of their abilities, would at least be a daily visual treat.
At this moment, Xie Xiaojiu left as Feng Jiuge arrived.
"Miss Feng, has your father agreed?" After Xie Xiaojiu left, Jiang Ning asked.
"Just call me Jiuge. Miss Feng sounds too formal," Feng Jiuge said.
Then she continued, "As for my father's response, it might take a while. He's busy with military affairs. It could be a few days, or even ten days to half a month before he replies."
"Understood," Jiang Ning nodded.
Then he asked, "Would you like to come in and sit?"
"Is there wine?" Feng Jiuge suddenly asked.
"Not at the moment," Jiang Ning shook his head.
"Then never mind! I'll go out to find some wine. I came here today mainly to meet you. From now on, I'll be working under you. If you need anything, just let me know!"
"Alright," Jiang Ning nodded.
As Feng Jiuge left, Jiang Ning turned and headed back to the inner hall.
He hadn't finished reading the book about the Inspection Bureau.
"Sir!"
Jiang Ning had only taken a few steps through the courtyard and was about to return to the inner hall when he heard a woman's voice behind him.
He turned around and saw a somewhat familiar figure.
Ruan Hongmei from the Fuyuan Escort Agency.
Seeing her, Jiang Ning immediately remembered.
Yesterday, Ruan Hongmei, one of the captains, had fought Qin Xuan with her whip.
Although she had ultimately lost, her skills had left Qin Xuan with minor injuries.
Before leaving the arena, Ruan Hongmei had also exchanged a few words with him.
"So it's Miss Ruan!" Jiang Ning walked forward to greet her.
Ruan Hongmei was also wearing the official uniform of a captain.
A long whip was coiled around her waist like a belt.
"Sir Jiang, may I join your team?" Ruan Hongmei got straight to the point.
On her way here, Ruan Hongmei had made up her mind.
As a captain, she needed to align herself with one of the four deputy commanders and serve under them.
Being from Luoshui County, her first choice was naturally Jiang Ning.
Although Jiang Ning might not be the strongest among the four deputy commanders, he was undoubtedly the most handsome in her eyes.
And he was also the most talented.
These reasons were enough!
"You are most welcome!" Jiang Ning smiled.
From what he had seen yesterday, Ruan Hongmei's strength was at least mid-tier among the more than ten captains.
Mid-tier strength meant she had the power of a peak eighth-rank martial artist.
"I hadn't heard before that the owner of the Fuyuan Escort Agency had such an outstanding daughter," Jiang Ning thought to himself.
Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Ruan Hongmei also smiled slightly.
"Since Sir Jiang agrees, I'll be under your care from now on!"
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