"I, your humble subordinate Zheng Jun, greet you, my Lords!"
In the main hall, Zheng Jun strode in with his head held high and chest puffed out. Seeing the hall full of officials, he immediately cupped his hands in a respectful greeting.
After bowing, Zheng Jun took the opportunity to observe the people in the hall.
County Magistrate Meng Xian was over forty years old. His face was thin and exuded a scholarly air, though he looked somewhat haggard. There were faint dark circles under his eyes, as if he had not slept well for a long time.
Had he not seen it with his own eyes, Zheng Jun would never have believed this slightly sickly, thin scholar was the head of a county.
County Captain Cai Xun stood tall and straight, wearing a loose Official Robe with a Jade Pendant tied at his waist. He appeared to be in his thirties, though the temperament of Noble Families he carried made him seem only in his twenties.
Compared to the County Magistrate, this Lord County Captain looked exceptionally heroic and extraordinary. If an ordinary person who didn't recognize either of them were to judge, they would undoubtedly assume County Captain Cai was the county head.
Meanwhile, Chief Clerk Shen Yunyi was a dark, skinny man with a goatee. He sat in his seat, his gaze darting around, his mind clearly wandering elsewhere.
As for County Magistrate Tian Zhenyuan, he looked like a strong and robust man, not at all like a Civil Servant. He sat in his seat yawning, appearing as though he hadn't slept well the night before.
"Zheng San is here."
Seeing Zheng Jun come to pay his respects, County Magistrate Meng Xian's thin face couldn't help but reveal a smile. "I've long heard that a young talent had emerged in our county, but I never had the chance to meet him. Seeing Zheng San today, I truly find you to be a remarkable hero!
"Lou Wei and Liang Fan are both wanted criminals in the Commandery, carrying a total bounty of one hundred and ten taels. After the session ends, I will send someone to deliver the silver to you."
Hearing Meng Xian's words, Zheng Jun couldn't help but feel overjoyed, though he remained perfectly calm on the surface. He simply cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Lord County Magistrate!"
He thought, "Over a hundred taels?!"
Meng Xian nodded, and Zheng Jun took the hint, immediately stepping to the side. However, he suddenly noticed County Captain Cai Xun smiling at him.
Zheng Jun was slightly surprised. Soon, Squad Leader Bai of the Black Shift and Squad Leader Sun of the Fast Shift followed closely behind, arriving at the main hall to pay their respects to the County Magistrate.
Once the Three Squad Leaders had all arrived, County Magistrate Tian Zhenyuan finally stood up. He cupped his hands toward the County Captain and the County Magistrate and said, "Lord Meng, Lord Cai, what is the purpose of today's meeting? The Demon Suppression Tax is about to be collected, and the feedback from the towns and villages has been rather delayed. I still have a whole mess of accounts to settle on my end."
It seemed this Lord County Magistrate had quite a heavy burden on his shoulders.
"Calling everyone here today is, of course, for a major matter."
Before the County Magistrate could speak, Cai Xun had already stood up. He stared intently at Tian Zhenyuan and said, "County Magistrate Tian, the Qingshui Gang is plotting a rebellion. Are you aware of this?"
"Huh?"
Hearing this, Tian Zhenyuan couldn't help but freeze in shock.
However, before he could even react, Cai Xun opened his mouth and spat out a breath of Gang Qi. This Gang Qi instantly transformed into a wave of air, shooting toward Tian Zhenyuan like an arrow!
"SPURT!"
Tian Zhenyuan had no time to react at all. He was directly hit by this Qi Arrow, and blood violently sprayed from his mouth!
After being struck by the Qi Arrow, Tian Zhenyuan didn't hesitate in the slightest and attempted to flee.
County Magistrate Meng Xian stood up and shouted, "Apprehend this treacherous Rebel!"
Seeing this, Zheng Jun didn't hesitate for a second. He immediately drew his saber and blocked Tian Zhenyuan's path.
"Get lost!"
Tian Zhenyuan was absolutely terrified. Seeing that Zheng Jun dared to block his way, he grew frantic with desperation. True Qi surged through his legs as he launched a vicious kick at Zheng Jun!
The True Qi surged overwhelmingly, exuding terrifying power!
Tian Zhenyuan's Leg Technique was far more vigorous and profound than Lou Wei's.
Although Lou Wei was also a Qi Storage Martial Artist, he had only just entered the Qi Storage realm. He hadn't even had the chance to draw upon his newly cultivated breath of True Qi before Zheng Jun Slashed him down. He could only be considered an overgrown Blood Refining Martial Artist.
But this Tian Zhenyuan was the real deal, a genuine Qi Storage Martial Artist who had fully cultivated his True Qi!
Facing the fiercely charging Tian Zhenyuan, Zheng Jun inevitably felt a wave of pressure in his heart. However, he gripped his saber tightly and, without hesitation, executed the Cloak and Dagger Technique, Chopping fiercely forward!
"CLANG!"
With a ringing sound, Zheng Jun's Ceremonial Saber was caught firmly by Tian Zhenyuan. This sight left Zheng Jun briefly stunned.
But his astonishment lasted only a fleeting moment. In the very next second, Zheng Jun released the saber hilt, clenched his five fingers into a tight fist, and unleashed a straightforward, unflashy punch—the Ma Family Fist!
"BAM!"
Tian Zhenyuan had never expected Zheng Jun to possess such a proficient Fist Technique. The punch landed squarely on Tian Zhenyuan's face with brutal force, instantly sending a burning flare of pain across his features.
"You little beast, how dare you!"
Tian Zhenyuan flew into a violent rage. For a Qi Storage Martial Artist, Zheng Jun's punch hadn't damaged his bones or tendons, but it had made him lose all face!
Consequently, Tian Zhenyuan immediately adjusted his True Qi, intending to kill Zheng Jun on the spot with a single palm strike.
But Zheng Jun was utterly fearless. He thought, "So what if you, Tian Zhenyuan, are stronger than Lou Wei? When I was at the first stage of Blood Refining, I Slashed Lou Wei down. Now that I have undergone Blood Refining three times, why would I fear you?"
"How dare you act so brazenly in the main hall!"
Just as Tian Zhenyuan was readjusting his True Qi, Cai Xun let out a cold snort and barked, "Rebel, did you really think you could escape!"
In a flash, Cai Xun's figure appeared beside Tian Zhenyuan like a phantom, his palm slapping directly onto Tian Zhenyuan's shoulder.
Tian Zhenyuan's face instantly turned deathly pale, his bones seemingly going limp.
Immediately after, Cai Xun thrust both hands out like a bolt of lightning, forcibly seizing Tian Zhenyuan. Channeling his True Qi, he hoisted and wrenched. The sound of fracturing bones echoed instantly, and Tian Zhenyuan let out a blood-curdling scream.
"ARGH!"
Before Tian Zhenyuan's scream could even finish, Cai Xun's left leg lashed out like a whip, striking fiercely at Tian Zhenyuan's legs.
"CRACK CRACK CRACK..."
The air currents burst like firecrackers. Tian Zhenyuan's legs were directly snapped, and he slumped weakly to the floor. Tendons and Bones Dislocation, all of his meridians and tendons completely severed!
"Take him down!"
After finishing all this, Cai Xun gave a cold snort. He looked at Zheng Jun, nodded approvingly, and then continued, "Tian Zhenyuan! How many benefits did the Qingshui Gang give you, that you would gather intelligence for them here and leak all the Court's secrets to them!"
"I..."
Tian Zhenyuan's face was completely ashen. He parted his lips but couldn't speak a single word.
His Qi Storage Cultivation had already been crippled by Cai Xun. At this moment, with his bones and tendons severed and his collarbones locked, he was no different from a cripple.
"Take him away! Once we have put down the Qingshui Gang, we will execute them all together!"
Cai Xun waved his large hand. The two government constables at the door finally snapped out of their daze. Trembling, they stepped forward and escorted Tian Zhenyuan away, denying him any chance to defend himself.
Seeing this, Zheng Jun picked up his Ceremonial Saber and stepped forward to offer a Ritual of gratitude to Cai Xun.
"This matter is of grave importance. Let's not worry about such excessive formalities right now."
Cai Xun took a deep breath and continued speaking to the hall, "Everyone, the Qingshui Gang has colluded with the Black Mountain Thieves, intending to act as inside agents and open the city gates under the cover of night to rebel! I discussed this with Magistrate Meng last night. Today, we will dispatch our forces emergently to annihilate the Qingshui Gang and kill their rebel leader, Zhang Qingyu!
"Before coming here, I already ordered the County Soldiers of the Military Department into a state of high alert! In a moment, I will personally muster the troops and storm the Qingshui Gang's headquarters. Zheng Jun, Sun Wang, assemble the Black Officials and constables under your command immediately. Muster your men and strike at once to raid and exterminate the entire households of Qingshui Gang's Gang Leader Zhang Qingyu, and Vice Gang Leaders Mu Feng and Ke Zhijian!"
"Yes, sir!"
Zheng Jun quickly cupped his hands to accept the order, then swiftly returned to his shift to assemble the Black Officials.
On the way, the small ink-wash text began to unfurl before Zheng Jun's eyes.
[Faced a Qi Storage Martial Artist directly. The Ma Family Fist Fist Technique has been fully unleashed. Repayment progress +100. Current repayment progress: 3502/5000.]
Seeing this, Zheng Jun remained silent, his heart filled with the lingering echoes of that thrilling, life-and-death encounter.
He thought, "This summons must have been meant to mobilize the Three Squads and, along the way, take down the Qingshui Gang's patron within the County Government Office, County Magistrate Tian Zhenyuan.
"However, just now, when Tian Zhenyuan was driven to desperation and I stepped out to block him, Cai Xun was fully capable of subduing him before we clashed. Yet, he didn't do so. What was his reason?
"Was he testing me?
"Aside from that, this County Captain Cai was also a bit too domineering.
"During this entire summons, County Magistrate Meng Xian, the supreme authority of the entire county, didn't say a single word. Instead, he just sat high up in the hall, silently watching everything unfold.
"It seems the future situation within the County Government Office is not something to be optimistic about."
Zheng Jun took a deep breath, dispelling all these scattered thoughts. Then, he stepped into the duty room and shouted sternly, "Everyone, assemble! Open the armory and take up your weapons!
"The Qingshui Gang is rebelling! We march to encircle and annihilate the Rebels!"