County Jail.
"Brother Jiang, how did you get here!" Cheng Ran grabbed the iron bars of his cell, his face filled with surprise and joy.
He hadn't expected to see Jiang Ning here.
At this moment, Xie Xiaojiu also arrived at the cell where Tong Xiuyun was being held. After checking Tong Xiuyun's clothes and confirming that she was unharmed, Xie Xiaojiu let out a long sigh of relief.
The two women held hands, their faces filled with joy.
Nearby.
Seeing that Cheng Ran was safe and sound, Jiang Ning nodded slightly and replied, "I just heard about your situation and came as soon as possible."
After saying this, Jiang Ning added, "Brother Cheng, why didn't you mention my name when you were arrested this morning? If you had, Xiao Tianhe wouldn't have dared to act so recklessly."
Hearing this, Cheng Ran could only smile bitterly and shake his head.
"How could I have the face to bring up Brother Jiang's name?"
Then he sighed. "Today, I finally realized that martial arts are far more important than business. Take my Cheng family, for example. We're wealthy, but what does that matter? Faced with a mere captain from the Inspection Bureau, we were completely powerless!"
"If it weren't for Brother Jiang coming to rescue us, my entire family might have died unjustly."
Jiang Ning said, "Brother Cheng, have you finally seen the light?"
Cheng Ran nodded repeatedly. "I have. Even if martial arts are difficult to master, I must pursue them. In this world, without strength, you can't go anywhere!"
"If I had even half of Brother Jiang's strength, how would Xiao Tianhe dare to bully my family like this?"
At this moment, Cheng Ran's father patted his son on the shoulder.
"My son, go ahead and strive! Even if I have to spend our family's entire fortune, I will fully support you!"
Seeing this, Jiang Ning nodded slightly.
Strength is the ultimate truth, and he had long understood this.
Just like in his previous life, among powerful nations, truth only existed within the range of their cannons. Small countries without sufficient strength would never be treated with fairness.
Therefore, after realizing how prosperous martial arts were in this world and how individuals could achieve immense personal power, with powerful martial artists living for hundreds or even thousands of years, Jiang Ning had already set his goal: to continuously climb the path of martial arts.
Discovering his mysterious panel had only strengthened this resolve.
A moment later.
"Sir, what should we do with the others?" Zhang Cheng cautiously asked Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning said, "Release them all. They were all innocent people arrested unjustly."
"Thank you, sir!"
"Thank you, Deputy Commander Jiang!!"
"Thank you, sir!!"
"..."
As soon as Jiang Ning said this, the tavern owners in the surrounding cells began to express their gratitude, with some even kneeling on the spot.
Tong Xiuyun, who had already stepped out of her cell, looked at Jiang Ning with a complex expression.
From Xie Xiaojiu, she learned that her rescue was entirely due to Jiang Ning's efforts.
Without Jiang Ning stepping forward, not only would she not have been rescued, but Xie Xiaojiu would also have been in danger.
Thinking of this, Tong Xiuyun bowed and said, "Thank you, Deputy Commander Jiang, for saving my life!"
Jiang Ning replied, "No need for thanks. Manager Tong, you once sold me that house at a discount. I've always remembered that favor."
Tong Xiuyun smiled. "Such a small matter, and yet Deputy Commander Jiang still remembers it."
A moment later.
The group walked out of the jail.
Zhang Cheng jogged behind them. "Deputy Commander Jiang, your friend was arrested because of Huang Dazheng. Should I send someone to arrest him and bring him to the Inspection Bureau?"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning stopped.
"Xie Xiaojiu, go with Warden Zhang and bring Huang Dazheng to the Inspection Bureau to see me!"
"Yes, sir!" Xie Xiaojiu immediately saluted.
At the same time.
Cheng Ran and his father, who had been following closely behind Jiang Ning, watched this scene. Cheng Ran's father sighed softly.
"Son, it's a good thing you chose to befriend Jiang Ning earlier. Otherwise, we would be in trouble today!"
"Yes," Cheng Ran nodded in agreement.
Today was the first time he had witnessed what true power looked like.
Xiao Tianhe, just a captain, could fabricate a reason to arrest them at will.
And the county officials had fully cooperated, not bothering to investigate the truth.
Zhang Cheng, the jail warden with decades of experience.
Today, when facing Jiang Ning, he could only smile obsequiously and follow behind, completely unlike the fearsome warden he was known to be.
Anyone who thought this was Zhang Cheng's true nature would be sorely mistaken.
To serve as the warden of the county jail for decades, ensuring that no major incidents occurred, was no ordinary feat.
After all, the county jail housed many notorious bandits and outlaws.
These people had countless connections outside.
And these so-called outlaws valued loyalty above all.
There had been attempts to break people out of jail before.
But over the years, the county jail had never experienced any major incidents.
This spoke volumes about Zhang Cheng's capabilities.
Cheng Ran and his father continued to follow closely behind Jiang Ning.
"Son, I regret it! I shouldn't have doubted your judgment before."
"Father is right..." Cheng Ran said slowly.
Cheng Ran's father said, "Back then when you suggested investing in Jiang Ning if I had believed your judgment, with this favor, our Cheng family would have benefited immensely in the future."
Hearing this, Cheng Ran shook his head slightly. "Father, there's no point in saying all this now."
"True, it's too late now," Cheng Ran's father sighed. "We missed the best opportunity to befriend Deputy Commander Jiang. Now, even if we spent our entire fortune, Deputy Commander Jiang probably wouldn't care."
Inspection Bureau.
After leaving the county office, Jiang Ning had Cheng Ran make some arrangements and then brought him to the Inspection Bureau.
The purpose was simple: to register Cheng Ran.
"Brother Cheng, take this token to the Internal Affairs Office. Once you're registered, you'll officially be a member of the Inspection Bureau," Jiang Ning said, taking out a black token from his pocket and handing it to Cheng Ran.
"Deputy Commander Jiang, rest assured, I won't let you down. In ten days to half a month, I'm confident I can reach the ninth rank in martial arts."
"Take your time, no rush," Jiang Ning said, then added, "And there's no need to call me 'Deputy Commander Jiang' between us."
Cheng Ran immediately shook his head. "Deputy Commander Jiang, official matters are official, and private matters are private!"
"In private, we're friends, but here, we must handle things officially. Since Deputy Commander Jiang considers me a friend, you mustn't put me in an awkward position!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning smiled.
"You make a good point. In that case, we'll do as you say."
"Sir, I'll take my leave now!" Cheng Ran saluted.
After Cheng Ran left, Jiang Ning turned and entered the inner hall.
Returning to the inner hall of his residence, he continued to practice the Furnace Elixir Refinement Technique, refining the Leopard Fetus Transformation Body Tempering Pill in his body.
He realized that with the potency of this pill and his current refining speed, it wouldn't be long before he truly reached the peak of the eighth rank.
Several hours later.
"Sir, we've brought him!" Xie Xiaojiu stood in the courtyard and called out.
At this moment, Jiang Ning slowly retracted his fist.
[Five Animals Fist experience +1]
[Skill]: Five Animals Fist (First Breakthrough 366/2000) (Trait: Essence Storage in Organs)
"The Five Animals Fist is still far from its next breakthrough. It seems I need to focus on martial arts training once things settle down," Jiang Ning thought to himself as he glanced at his panel.
Then he closed the panel and looked at Xie Xiaojiu.
"Sir, this is Huang Dazheng. He's the source of this morning's incident."
Thud
As Xie Xiaojiu spoke, Huang Dazheng's knees gave out, and he knelt on the ground.
This morning, he had witnessed the power of Xiao Tianhe, a captain of the Inspection Bureau.
Now, he was facing not a captain, but a deputy commander someone whose status and strength far surpassed Xiao Tianhe's.
"Sir, I was foolish!" Huang Dazheng said, trembling with fear.
"So you admit that you were behind all this?" Jiang Ning said indifferently.
Huang Dazheng nodded. "Yes, it was all my doing. I was blinded by greed and used a family heirloom to bribe Captain Xiao into abusing his power, leading to this grave mistake."
"Please, sir, have mercy and spare me this once."
As he spoke, Huang Dazheng presented a ring with both hands.
"This is one of my family heirlooms! There are two rings in total. According to family records, this item can store things within it."
"Store things within it?" Jiang Ning looked surprised.
"Oh, store things within it?" A surprised voice came from the entrance of the residence.
Jiang Ning looked up and saw Feng Jiuge.
"Sir!" Feng Jiuge said as she met Jiang Ning's gaze.
Then, with a flash, she crossed several meters and appeared in front of Jiang Ning.
"I've heard that in ancient times, there were miraculous crafting techniques that could store vast spaces within tiny objects. Is the ring in your hand one of those legendary storage rings?" Feng Jiuge looked at the ring in Huang Dazheng's hand, her eyes flickering with interest.
Huang Dazheng nodded repeatedly. "You're right, sir. According to family records, this is indeed one of those legendary items."
"If it's a legendary item, why haven't you used it?" Feng Jiuge voiced the question in Jiang Ning's mind.
Huang Dazheng sighed. "It's not that I don't want to use it, but I can't. This item isn't for ordinary people. It requires the legendary methods of immortals to activate."
"What kind of immortal methods?" Feng Jiuge asked.
Huang Dazheng said, "I don't know. My father, grandfather, and several generations before them have studied it, but they could never figure out how to use it properly."
"That's why I didn't want this treasure to go to waste and decided to offer it to you, sir. Please spare my life!"
As he finished speaking, Huang Dazheng raised the ring above his head, presenting it to Jiang Ning.
"Sir!" Xie Xiaojiu opened her mouth, looking like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Seeing this, Jiang Ning pondered for a few breaths.
Then he reached out and took the storage ring from Huang Dazheng.
The ring was a dark black color, dull and unremarkable. On its surface was an intricate pattern of flowers and birds, but otherwise, it seemed entirely ordinary.
However, as Jiang Ning held the ring, he felt a faint stirring in his heart, as if he had experienced something similar before.
He frowned slightly.
In the next moment, he remembered.
Back in the underground armory of the weapon forge, when he had discovered the spirit weapon, he had felt a similar sensation.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ning's heart stirred.
"I'll accept this item, and we'll consider this matter settled," he said indifferently.
"Thank you, sir!!" Huang Dazheng's face lit up with joy.
Then he added, "As the saying goes, a treasured sword belongs to a hero. This item must have been destined to come into your hands, sir. In your possession, it will surely reveal its miraculous powers."
Jiang Ning said, "From what you said earlier, there's another ring in Xiao Tianhe's possession?"
Huang Dazheng nodded. "Yes, sir! There are two of these family heirloom rings. One is now in your hands, and the other was given to Captain Xiao this morning. It should still be in his possession."
Jiang Ning nodded slightly, then said, "Xiao Jiu, escort him out."
"Yes, sir!" Xie Xiaojiu saluted.
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!!" Huang Dazheng was overjoyed.
On the way here, he had learned that Xiao Tianhe had already been thrown into the hard labor prison.
Knowing this outcome, Huang Dazheng was extremely nervous.
If even Captain Xiao Tianhe had been arrested and thrown into the hard labor prison, then as a mere commoner, he was as good as dead.
But now, he hadn't expected Jiang Ning to handle the situation so leniently.
Although it was partly because he had offered his family heirloom, Huang Dazheng still felt immensely relieved.
After all, many people would take the bribe and then renege on their promise.
For ordinary people, finding someone who would follow through after taking a bribe was rare.
Although he had lost a family heirloom, to Huang Dazheng, it was essentially useless.
Despite knowing that the storage ring was extraordinary, after generations of effort, his family had never figured out how to use it.
Now, being able to exchange this useless item for his life was already a stroke of luck.
What use was a treasure if you were dead?
Soon after, Xie Xiaojiu led Huang Dazheng out.
In the residence, only Feng Jiuge and Jiang Ning remained.
"By the way, sir!" Feng Jiuge said. "I've recruited all ten members for my team. Would you like to inspect them later?"
Jiang Ning replied, "No need, I trust you."
"Sir, you're hands-off!" Feng Jiuge chuckled.
Then she said, "Sir, may I take a look at the storage ring in your hand?"
Jiang Ning nodded slightly and handed the ring to Feng Jiuge.
Feng Jiuge took the ring and examined it carefully for a moment, then said, "Sir, have you heard of the saying a mustard seed can hold Mount Sumeru'?"
Jiang Ning shook his head slightly. "No, I haven't."
Feng Jiuge explained, "The saying refers to ancient immortal artifacts that could store vast spaces within tiny objects."
"If this ring is truly one of those legendary storage rings, then it is indeed a treasure."
"But using it won't be easy!"
"From what I know, only those with immortal roots or those whose spiritual power can manifest physically, even briefly, can use it."
"I see," Jiang Ning nodded slightly, then said, "Even if it can't be used, it's still a valuable collectible."
"Sir, you're right! That tavern owner is just an ordinary person. If what he said is true, his life is far less valuable than this storage ring."
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