Chapter 266: Locking Up Zuo Kui, Meeting Zhou Ze (Seeking Subscriptions)

When the air fell into silence, Du En had already quietly crept behind Zuo Kui.

He gave Tong Wenrong a look, who immediately cooperated, and taking advantage of his lack of preparation, captured and restrained this late-stage Golden Core—whose strength was actually quite good, and who was likely specifically arranged to assist the weak and easily bullied City Lord Tong—on the spot.

"You! What are you doing?!"

Zuo Kui felt a bit panicked, and even more incredulous, because he never expected that this fellow Tong Wenrong would actually dare to do such a thing!

This is colluding with bandits to target me!

I truly never expected that your usual weakness, you fellow, was actually faked!

"Tong Wenrong, are you not afraid of punishment from the Immortal Sect? No, could it be that you, you, you have actually defected to the other side!?"

"Nonsense!"

Facing such slander, Tong Wenrong immediately jumped up as if his tail had been stepped on: "It is clearly you who have a guilty conscience, otherwise why would you have been timid and shrinking just now?!"

"I think there must be some misunderstanding here."

Du En interjected at this moment, interrupting the argument that the two were about to continue.

Because the scene just now had a strong sense of déjà vu; it had happened not long ago.

"Misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstanding?"

The tones of these two local elites were different, but at this moment, inexplicably, both had a consistent sense of clarity.

One can only say that the higher-ups really didn't pick the wrong people; having them work together, this important inner city of Lin'an generally wouldn't have any trouble.

Du En shook his head inwardly and asked aloud: "Manager Zuo, have you ever committed any small mistakes, for example, like City Lord Tong, hoarding a room full of low-grade spirit stones or something?"

Oh my, why did you say that out loud!

Tong Wenrong couldn't help but blush, appearing very embarrassed.

Zuo Kui, however, was a blunt person, and upon hearing this, he only retorted: "Who are you? Why can you set foot in this place and dare to conspire to commit a crime?"

"A traveling practitioner..."

"That Du En?!"

"Mm."

He took out his token to confirm.

"... Hahaha, a misunderstanding! Everything just now was a misunderstanding!"

Zuo Kui was sweating coldly, speaking somewhat incoherently.

Why is it this jinx?

Hiss!

Looking at the current situation, could it be that something of a very vile nature has happened in the city that I don't know about?

Thinking of this, Zuo Kui dared not hide anything further and hurriedly spilled the beans: "Actually, it's just some small things, like accidentally ruining the training grounds, or being unable to resist my cravings and sneaking into the medicinal garden and fruit forest to pick fresh ones to eat. Also, because the fish would never bite when I was fishing, in a fit of anger, I hit them with a second-tier thunder talisman for fun."

As expected, they were all just trivial matters that were mere goosebumps to them.

Du En just nodded slightly, saying nothing.

This made Zuo Kui quickly add: "My Lord, I take responsibility for my own actions! Although I was panicked or inattentive when I first made the mistakes, afterwards, I repaired the grounds, secretly fertilized the medicinal garden and fruit forest, and even poured bait for the fish in the pond. Also, also, when my subordinates came to report, I covered for them all and did not use indiscriminate punishments!"

"I see."

As soon as Du En spoke, Zuo Kui immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

He was only afraid that he wouldn't speak, leaving him unable to gauge his thoughts.

Fortunately, fortunately, although the rumors sounded terrifying, he had carefully combed through them before and discovered that although this person was a bit fierce and liked to kill, his attitude toward those who followed the law and those bottom-tier bitter cultivators was actually acceptable, and he wouldn't implicate others indiscriminately.

Zuo Kui looked thick-browed and big-eyed, but he was actually bold and meticulous.

At this moment, he even took the initiative to say: "The current matter must have its cause. I understand the severity of it. My Lord, you don't have to undo the shackles and restraints on me, but please let me observe from the side, so as to avoid any thieves slandering my innocence out of thin air, and also to let me remain in your sight to prove my innocence!"

"Good, no time to lose, let's move immediately."

Du En followed the suggestion, had Tong Wenrong take Zuo Kui, and the three of them quickly headed out to the outer city.

The City Lord had already checked the city defenses several times just now; the situation was actually still within acceptable limits, only the Outer City Affairs Office, that monk temple, had lost contact.

At this time, using the City Lord's authority, he concentrated the intact parts to seal off the Outer City Affairs Office and urgently adjusted the settings of some key points.

And most crucially, he briefly organized these relevant situations and sent them to Meng Changqing via a dedicated line.

Vaguely, the general environment here had changed, mainly due to certain signs appearing in the spiritual Qi environment.

This was something Du En had quickly captured by relying on his mastery of spirit-seeking techniques.

It was very clear that the brewing of the higher-ups had not stopped for a moment and was being pushed forward step by step without a sound.

Under these circumstances, the three of them soon arrived before the Outer City Affairs Office.

"Zhou Ze is behind this? Hmph! This lecherous devil, I've long thought he looked suspicious!"

As soon as Zuo Kui arrived here, he couldn't help but say this, his words filled with an irrepressible sour envy.

If he could, he would also like to normally start a harem and enjoy the blessings of many wives, but unfortunately, those female cultivators in the inner city were so polite to him, usually being strictly professional, respectful yet distant.

What could he do? He couldn't force a marriage, could he?

So he was usually quite depressed about this, and seeing Zhou Ze with his crowd of wives and concubines, he was even more envious and jealous, which is why he couldn't help himself at this moment.

If he weren't restrained right now, he would have gone up to kick the door in first!

Creak~

Before anyone even approached, the big door opened by itself.

Inside, it was bright and clear, filled with beautiful women, all sorts of beauties gathered together, dense and crowded, and the scent of powder and rouge immediately spilled out, causing Tong Wenrong and Zuo Kui to look at each other in dismay.

What is the situation? Pushing women out to take the bullet?

Bah!

Truly ashamed to be associated with him!

The two of them, without prior consultation, thought of the same thing.

Du En narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a flat tone: "Zhou Ze, don't play any tricks. Either come out, admit your guilt, and submit to being shackled and imprisoned, or..."

Before he could finish speaking, these female cultivators began to weep, bowed deeply, and spoke in unison: "We beg the Great Cultivator to show mercy outside the law and spare our husband!"

Moving in unison, with no telling how many there were, and appearing so sincere, they momentarily made Tong Wenrong and Zuo Kui feel as if they were the ones who were truly heinous.

But Du En's expression remained unchanged, and he simply continued: "Either come out and fight, or hold your ground here until people from the Pivot City arrive and the entire Bureau of Affairs is relocated."

"Why must you be so aggressive, Traveling Inspector Du? What harm would it do to let me live?"

Zhou Ze's voice rang out; his heroic bearing was gone, his composure lost, and as he walked out from the crowd supported by his wives and concubines, he appeared disheveled, decadent, and listless.

Clearly, from beginning to end, the two sides had not actually engaged in any fierce battle; this fellow had either been waiting for a chance to launch a sneak attack or was in the middle of launching one, yet now he looked as if he were suffering from incurable, deep-seated injuries.

However, Du En did not find this strange.

(End of chapter)