In front of the Inspection Bureau.
"Who are you calling colluding?" A man's voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.
In the next moment.
"Make way!" The man spoke, raising his hand and pushing the crowd aside, causing them to part.
"He Jinyun!!" Xie Xiaojiu's brows furrowed tightly upon seeing him.
Who didn't know the reputation of this young lord?
Yesterday, this young lord, as a captain, had effortlessly secured the position of deputy commander without even fighting a single battle.
This alone was enough to make everyone remember him deeply, unable to forget.
Not to mention his status as a young lord.
Anyone who understood what the title "lord" represented wouldn't dare to underestimate him.
"You say I'm colluding? Then explain how I'm colluding!" He Jinyun's face showed clear displeasure.
Seeing this, even though Xie Xiaojiu wasn't particularly skilled in conversation, she patiently explained the situation to He Jinyun.
On the other side.
By the window of the tower.
Two men stood quietly.
They were Hong Minghu and Ye Qiu.
One was the head of the Luoshui County Inspection Bureau, and the other was one of the four commanders.
Their status and positions were anything but ordinary.
"Some rabble!" Ye Qiu said coldly as he watched the scene below.
Hong Minghu smiled faintly. "Isn't this exactly what we expected?"
Ye Qiu sighed. "Even so, it's still quite disappointing. Some people, as soon as they gain power, start abusing it."
"It's acceptable," Hong Minghu said indifferently. "Compared to the current situation, their actions are minor issues at best."
"True," Ye Qiu nodded. "Coming to Luoshui County, I didn't expect it to be so peaceful here."
Hong Minghu said, "Luoshui County has a unique geographical advantage, bordering the Luoshui River. Even after months of drought, the area hasn't been greatly affected. The farmland still has water for irrigation, and because of the fishermen, grain prices haven't risen much."
"The county magistrate is a talented individual!"
Hearing Hong Minghu mention the county magistrate, Ye Qiu nodded. "Indeed, he is talented. Being able to suppress grain prices is already a great achievement."
"Speaking of which, among the three major local families, which one does the bureau head plan to target first?"
"You'll know in a few days," Hong Minghu said indifferently.
"Then I'll await the bureau head's news," Ye Qiu said.
"This matter doesn't need your involvement. Let one of the deputy commanders handle it," Hong Minghu added.
"No problem," Ye Qiu nodded.
In front of the Inspection Bureau.
Jiang Ning frowned.
"Cheng Ran and his father were also arrested?"
At that moment.
He Jinyun waved his hand, cutting off Xie Xiaojiu's explanation.
"Enough nonsense!"
"My ears are hurting!"
"If you want justice, it's simple!"
As he spoke, He Jinyun clenched his fist and gestured toward Xie Xiaojiu.
"Justice is power! Power is justice!! And truth!!"
"Just like the Martial Saint, his words are the truth of the entire Great Xia!!!"
"If you defeat me, then Xiao Tianhe is wrong, and I'll hand him over to you. If you lose to me, then you, for harming a colleague and disrespecting a superior, are wrong!"
Xie Xiaojiu clenched her fists, then took a deep breath. "You are a deputy commander with an eighth-rank position and a young lord. I'm just a regular guard. How can I compete with you?"
"Fair point," He Jinyun nodded slightly. "Making you fight me would indeed be bullying you."
Then, He Jinyun glanced around.
"Young lord!!" Xiao Tianhe looked anxious.
"It's your turn," He Jinyun's gaze fell on Xiao Tianhe. "Since this mess was caused by you, you'll handle it."
Hearing He Jinyun's words, Xiao Tianhe's face darkened.
If he could defeat Xie Xiaojiu, why would he need to resort to all this?
At this moment, he wanted to complain to He Jinyun, but he didn't dare.
He Jinyun was stronger than him, held a higher position, and had a more prestigious status.
After saying this, He Jinyun turned and left, leaving Xiao Tianhe with a dark expression.
"Captain Xiao, make your move!" Xie Xiaojiu's brows relaxed.
Against He Jinyun, she had no confidence.
After all, she had witnessed Jiang Ning's strength, and the pressure he exuded made her feel like she was facing an insurmountable mountain.
In such a situation, He Jinyun had secured the position of deputy commander without even fighting, which showed that his strength was not to be underestimated.
She couldn't afford to lose, so she didn't dare to rashly challenge He Jinyun.
But facing Xiao Tianhe was different.
He was just an ordinary captain.
If she hadn't overestimated herself and challenged Jiang Ning, the deputy commander, during the captain selection, how could she have ended up as a mere guard?
At the same time.
While Xie Xiaojiu's heart relaxed, Xiao Tianhe's grew tense.
He Jinyun's words had essentially put him on the spot.
If he lost to Xie Xiaojiu in front of so many people, not only would he lose face, but he might also be punished.
Because the things he had done that morning couldn't withstand scrutiny.
Thinking of this, Xiao Tianhe felt extremely conflicted.
"Captain Xiao, if you don't make a move, I will!" Xie Xiaojiu slightly turned her sword, and a blinding ray of sunlight reflected off the blade into Xiao Tianhe's eyes, causing him to squint.
Suddenly.
Xiao Tianhe sneered and pulled out a booklet from his pocket. "According to the rules of the Inspection Bureau, when does a mere guard like you have the right to challenge me?"
He then said, "According to the rules of the Inspection Bureau, disrespecting a superior is punishable by up to seven days in prison! In severe cases, it can result in immediate execution!!"
"Arrest her!" Xiao Tianhe waved the booklet in his hand.
His team members exchanged glances, then moved toward Xie Xiaojiu.
Seeing this, Xie Xiaojiu tightened her grip on her sword, the blade humming softly.
"What, do you dare to attack in front of so many people?" Xiao Tianhe said coldly. "Surrender now, and you'll only be imprisoned for seven days. If you continue to break the law, it won't be so lenient!"
He then turned to the other captains from the Martial Academy.
"Fellow captains, if this woman attacks, will you join me in subduing her?"
"Since Brother Tianhe has spoken, how could we refuse?" one of the captains smiled.
Another captain also smiled. "Of course, no problem. It's a good opportunity to use this woman to establish the rules of the Inspection Bureau, lest there be no order at all!!"
On the other side.
By the window of the tower.
"What do you think?" Hong Minghu asked Ye Qiu indifferently.
Ye Qiu said, "Without a doubt, Captain Xiao has a problem."
Then he added, "But they're right. The Inspection Bureau has just been established, and there's no order. Using this woman as an example can help set some rules."
Hearing this, Hong Minghu laughed.
"You seemed quite compassionate earlier, but now you're so cold and ruthless! And you don't even know how to appreciate beauty!"
Ye Qiu said indifferently, "Sacrificing the small for the greater good is just how it is. Sacrificing her to establish some rules for the Inspection Bureau is well worth it!"
At that moment.
Ye Qiu's eyes suddenly narrowed.
"It seems things won't go as planned!!"
Hong Minghu nodded slightly. "With him stepping in, your plan naturally won't work. Indeed, young people know how to appreciate beauty!!"
Then Hong Minghu thought to himself, but if this kid has such thoughts, why did he reject my proposal yesterday?
Could it be that he hasn't seen the portrait of my youngest daughter and thinks she looks like me?
Thinking of this, Hong Minghu stroked his chin.
Scratch
Scratch
His rough hand brushed against the stubble on his chin, making a scratching sound.
"That must be the reason!"
The more Hong Minghu thought about it, the more he felt this was the case.
Then.
He slapped his thigh.
"I'll send it to him later."
"Send what?" Ye Qiu looked at Hong Minghu in confusion.
Hong Minghu smiled at Ye Qiu.
To others, Hong Minghu didn't seem like the composed head of the bureau at this moment.
But yesterday, both he and Gongsun Yu, the third elder of the Medicine King Valley, had seen Jiang Ning's terrifying potential more clearly than anyone else.
At this age, with both internal and external cultivation, at the peak of the eighth rank, just one step away from the seventh rank.
Only those who had reached the fifth rank of internal refinement, like them, could see this.
Moreover, he had mastered blade intent, a skill that could reach the fourth rank.
All these factors combined in one person made him a template for a young grandmaster.
If he could marry his youngest daughter to Jiang Ning, there was a high chance of gaining a grandmaster in the future.
A grandmaster was enough to elevate a family to prominence in the Great Xia Empire.
Especially in these turbulent times, a grandmaster was a guarantee for the entire family.
At this moment, the reason Hong Minghu and Ye Qiu were acting this way.
Was because Jiang Ning, seeing Xie Xiaojiu in trouble, stepped out from the crowd.
On the other side.
"You say my subordinate is disrespecting a superior, but what if it's me?" Jiang Ning stood in front of Xie Xiaojiu.
Seeing Jiang Ning, who stood like a wall in front of her, Xie Xiaojiu's sinking heart suddenly saw light again.
She had arrived at the Inspection Bureau early and had already read the booklet from the Internal Affairs Office.
So she knew the rules of the Inspection Bureau.
As Xiao Tianhe had said, disrespecting a superior was a serious offense in the Inspection Bureau.
Moreover, according to the booklet, the rules of the Inspection Bureau were extremely strict, almost on par with the military.
These were the rules of the Inspection Bureau.
Now that Xiao Tianhe was using these rules to punish her, Xie Xiaojiu knew she was in real trouble.
In front of so many people, violating the rules of the Inspection Bureau would inevitably make her an example.
A newly established organization needed to make an example to establish order, or it would remain a rabble.
In the face of this situation, she had no power, no influence, and limited strength. As an individual, she would inevitably be sacrificed.
And once sacrificed, no one would stand up for her.
Seeing this, Xie Xiaojiu felt some regret.
If she had known that joining the Inspection Bureau would make her a scapegoat, she would have left long ago and not cared about the Xie family.
However, she hadn't expected that in the face of the overwhelming rules of the Inspection Bureau, when she was filled with despair.
Jiang Ning would choose to step forward.
A deputy commander stepping forward was no small matter.
Instantly, the darkness in Xie Xiaojiu's heart dissipated, replaced by hope.
Looking at Jiang Ning's back, Xie Xiaojiu also felt that her earlier decision had been wise.
If she hadn't chosen to align herself with such a young and vigorous deputy commander, who would have stood up for her today?
After all, Xiao Tianhe represented the collective of the Martial Academy.
Standing up to Xiao Tianhe was one thing, but the implications were entirely different.
This meant standing against the entire group of Martial Academy students.
In front of the Inspection Bureau.
Seeing Jiang Ning stand in front of Xie Xiaojiu.
Xiao Tianhe's expression changed slightly, and his teammates also stopped in their tracks.
Jiang Ning's name was known to all one of the four deputy commanders, who had fought his way out from more than a dozen captains.
He had defeated the dark horse Yuan Fei with his blade intent, showing overwhelming strength.
They had all been present yesterday and recognized Jiang Ning.
"Jiang Ning, what do you mean by this?" Xiao Tianhe asked.
Hearing this, Jiang Ning suddenly moved.
In an instant.
A gust of wind rose from the ground.
Xiao Tianhe's expression changed drastically.
"How dare you..."
"What are you doing..."
"Outrageous..."
Seeing this, the surrounding Martial Academy students all spoke up, their faces filled with anger.
Two of them even stepped forward to intercept.
One of them was familiar to Jiang Ning -Lü Renyao.
The other was a captain Jiang Ning had seen yesterday.
In the next moment.
Boom
The collision of flesh against flesh sent the two interceptors flying as if they were ordinary people trying to stop a galloping warhorse.
Jiang Ning, after knocking aside the two interceptors, appeared within three feet of Xiao Tianhe.
The moment Xiao Tianhe's fist collided with Jiang Ning's, his expression changed again.
A force like a tidal wave erupted from Jiang Ning's body, crashing onto Xiao Tianhe's right arm.
In an instant.
Xiao Tianhe heard the sound of bones twisting and muscles tearing in his right arm.
"You..." Xiao Tianhe's voice was cut off.
Because Jiang Ning's fingers, like tiger claws, had already locked onto his throat, cutting off his air supply.
"As a captain, can't you even say 'deputy commander'?" Jiang Ning said indifferently.
Then, he stared at Xiao Tianhe. "Where are the people you arrested this morning?"
Xiao Tianhe's face was now red, showing clear pain.
Jiang Ning's grip was too strong, making him feel like his neck could be snapped at any moment.
Before reaching the sixth rank, bones weren't fully tempered.
Even though Xiao Tianhe was at the peak of the eighth rank, with bones much stronger than an ordinary person's, in front of an opponent of the same level, the bones in his neck were still a fatal weak point.
Especially in Jiang Ning's hands.
Xiao Tianhe could feel that with Jiang Ning's strength, his neck could be easily snapped, killing him on the spot!
-support me on Patreon for more chapters, 410+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader