Chapter 256: A Banquet at a Private Residence (Seeking Subscriptions)

Is that so?

This sort of unwritten rule regarding the employment of personnel, which is not found in any books, was something Du En had not known before.

However, as he appeared lost in thought, he asked a question he already knew the answer to: "But if it's like this, if the Rotten Forest Immortal Sect breaks the agreement and invades again, how can someone like you hold the line?"

"Ha! If you sent a genius or a prodigy to guard this place, as long as they were still at the Golden Core stage, they definitely wouldn't be able to hold it! So, it's better to just put out a piece of trash like me; perhaps I can feign weakness to the enemy and catch them by surprise!"

Tong Wenrong realized at this moment that this person who had suddenly appeared was not from the Inspection Guard, so his tone became more casual and quite brazen; he didn't feel there was anything wrong with his own spinelessness.

If he weren't like this, he wouldn't have been able to become this City Lord!

If he hadn't become City Lord, who knows, in the past two hundred years, he might have long since been sent to the front lines as cannon fodder and died until not even a handful of ash remained.

It's nothing like it is now; although there are potential risks, as long as they don't erupt, he can spend the rest of his life in peace and live quietly.

The premise being that he doesn't make any mistakes...

"What you say actually makes some sense." At this point, Du En, who had been observing the other party the whole time, basically confirmed that he wasn't acting, so he turned around and said: "Alright, City Lord Tong, I am not from the Inspection Guard. You can get up. Here, my identity token."

"Understood."

Only then did Tong Wenrong stand up, daring to glance at it, taking it with a fawning smile, and then.

"Eh? Eh? Eh?!"

"Du, Du, Du Youli?!"

Thump!

He collapsed again, howling once more: "Lord Du, I really haven't committed treason! I've just been a bit greedy, the kind I really couldn't help, you must absolutely not kill me!"

That's right, Tong Wenrong was even more terrified.

He actually had some self-awareness regarding where his crimes of greed stood.

But now, this disaster star Du En had run over here and acted in such a way; it was clear that the nature of the situation was far more severe. Perhaps he was reenacting the Chiwu incident, wanting to wipe out all three upper-level Golden Core cultivators in the city in one go to turn them into his own merit!

This was truly life-threatening!

How could he not be afraid?

"I won't kill you if there's nothing wrong. It's just that I came here this time and found that the situation was a bit off, and I heard people say it seemed to have something to do with you, so I snuck in to investigate. I've caused City Lord Tong some trouble."

Who the hell is talking nonsense?!

Subconsciously, even someone like Tong Wenrong couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.

After all, if this went wrong, he would lose his head!

But then he gave a start, reacting: "What situation is a bit off?"

Don't let it really be like Chiwu!

I still want to stay here and rot away in peace!

Who exactly dares to commit treason behind my back?!

He stood up with a start, meeting Du En's calm gaze, but his legs went weak again, thinking whether he should just continue to collapse and kneel.

Not giving him the chance to collapse back down, Du En spoke directly: "It is the situation with the women outside the city; don't tell me you don't know anything about it."

"I know, I know, I definitely know about this; it's being done by the Outer City Superintendent, Zhou Ze."

Nodding and bowing while rubbing his hands, answering as he spoke, Tong Wenrong couldn't help but feel puzzled: "What's the problem with this? It's just that he took a few more Dao companions. Uh, it doesn't seem like just a few; he's almost filled up his Administrative Office, making the outer city have more women than men now."

"But, this doesn't really count as a violation, right? And they look quite happy too. As for those who were unwilling, I did have him send them back."

Regarding these matters, he was aware and somewhat involved.

In other words, the fact that there could still be so many couples and so many single female cultivators outside the city, maintaining a nine-to-one ratio, was actually thanks to the credit of this City Lord Tong.

The reason those outer city managers discussed him earlier was probably just out of concern for this, but in the end, a local official is no match for the one currently in charge; making the Outer City Superintendent above them satisfied was their primary task.

"This Superintendent Zhou, his recent behavior is not as lighthearted as you say. Simply put, his hunting range has suddenly increased..."

Du En briefly explained the situation, letting this City Lord, who did not yet know of the changes, understand the matter.

"It's actually like this? Uh, maybe his tastes just suddenly changed?" Tong Wenrong subconsciously wanted to defend his subordinate, but then suddenly felt something was wrong. "However, this guy's actions are indeed coercive, starting to hover on the edge of breaking the rules."

As for violating his orders?

This didn't make him mind much, because he actually knew that the two superintendents under him looked down on him in private, so they always liked to act first and report later, but they hadn't caused any major messes in the past.

Facing this pot-bellied City Lord, Du En hatched a plan and said: "City Lord Tong knows the local situation inside and out and controls the inner and outer city defenses. Why don't you go help me probe the bottom of this? It can count as atoning for your crimes with merit."

As he spoke, he gestured toward the room behind him.

Tong Wenrong immediately shuddered and patted his chest: "Lord Du, rest assured, I will definitely investigate it clearly for you!"

It wasn't just to atone for his crimes; he was truly afraid that Zhou Ze was up to some unknown treasonous act. If it implicated him, it would be a disaster for no reason, and his normal life of rotting away in peace would be shattered to pieces!

This touched upon Tong Wenrong's fundamental interests!

Even a paper person has three parts of temper, let alone him, the dignified City Lord Tong?

Thus, Tong Wenrong went off to carry out the order.

Meanwhile.

Lin'an City, Outer City.

In a private residence belonging to the local tyrant, the Outer City Superintendent Zhou Ze, a banquet was being held at this moment.

"Hahaha, the three distinguished guests have come from afar. I am truly terrified and honored; I can only prepare this meager banquet to entertain you. If there is any discourtesy, I hope you will be magnanimous!"

Zhou Ze was a man of talent and appearance, handsome and refined; he truly had a good exterior, and his words were very polite, without the slightest arrogance of a local tyrant.

The reason was simple: the guests at the banquet were visitors from the great city of Yunyi, the three disciples of the Great Cultivator of Yunyi. They had some fame in these southern lands of the Immortal Sects, and he was just an obscure superintendent of a small border city, so naturally, he dared not have a shred of arrogance.

Fine wine and delicacies, along with beauties singing and dancing, everything was arranged exceptionally well, leaving no room for criticism. It was just that the Fifth Senior Sister of Ren Li, An Yan, was vaguely displeased, so she just sat upright and did not participate in the banquet.

The reason was simple: the beauties entertaining the guests were all Zhou Ze's wives and concubines, each with their own charm and tenderness.

And the reason the banquet was held in this private residence, besides the fact that they needed to act cautiously, was because the entire Outer City Administrative Office, apart from Zhou Ze, was composed entirely of his wives, concubines, and female relatives!

Although the three had heard vague rumors, only upon seeing it did they realize the degree of exaggeration; it was truly eye-opening, and at the same time, they quickly sensed that something was wrong.

(End of chapter)