Chapter 114: Fair and Just Garrison Commander Ning

Qinghe Branch Office.

Gathering Righteousness Hall.

Dao Xiong, rarely seen, did not sit in the main seat but sat modestly to the side.

As a branch chief, he could not sit on equal footing with the alliance leader.

“Perhaps some of you don’t know me—then get to know me now. My surname is Ning, Ning Zhongtian, as in ‘the sun at its zenith.’”

Ning Zhongtian scanned the few people in the hall and spoke bluntly.

Everyone chorused: “Greetings, Lord Ning.”

In such a setting, only Dao Xiong and Li Rui’s four deputy branch chiefs could be present.

“Truly imposing!”

The Heaven and Earth Alliance was originally founded by three men, among whom Ning Zhongtian was the youngest, the most gifted, and now the strongest in Wu Gong.

He had subtly surpassed the other two.

Ever since his breakthrough this time.

The notion that the Heaven and Earth Alliance could have only one leader had never ceased; had Ning Zhongtian not personally suppressed it, someone would surely have tried to emulate the role of a “dragon-supporting” hero.

Wei Ming glanced sidelong at Ning Zhongtian.

The kind of look reserved for someone showing off to a familiar face.

Ning Zhongtian’s lips curled slightly: “Now that I’ve become Garrison Commander of Anning Guard, our Qinghe Branch Office must at least produce one Platoon Leader and one Grain Officer.”

Wei Ming’s mouth twitched.

He had never heard anyone justify placing loyalists so unapologetically.

Yet to secure his position as Garrison Commander, Ning Zhongtian would inevitably need to cultivate his own confidants.

Though Platoon Leader and Grain Officer were the lowest ranks in Annan Army, they still held value.

As the saying goes: “Ants can shake trees, and insects can destroy nests.”

Don’t underestimate the lowly soldiers.

Besides, Ning Zhongtian wasn’t just cultivating two.

He simply chose from Qinghe Branch Office because its members knew Qinghe’s situation best.

Ning Zhongtian glanced at Dao Xiong, who sat beside him, eager to speak up:

“You’re a branch chief—stay out of this. Don’t let others say the Heaven and Earth Alliance’s leader and branch chief have both vanished.”

Dao Xiong’s face froze.

Upon hearing the news, he had entertained this very thought, hoping to try his luck.

Now Ning Zhongtian’s words crushed his hope.

The greater his hope had been, the deeper his disappointment now.

Though unwilling, he forced a smile before Ning Zhongtian: “Yes, Lord.”

Though Ning Zhongtian appeared least often among the three alliance leaders, his prestige was extremely high.

Why?

Because Ning Zhongtian was ruthless—he never hesitated to eliminate rivals, and anyone who defied him was deemed a rival.

Dao Xiong wasn’t an old man seeking immortality; he had no desire to shorten his life.

Human joy and sorrow can never be truly shared.

Just as Dao Xiong felt deeply dejected, Zhang Yang, Zhou Rui, and Ge Hong felt immensely elated.

Ning Zhongtian needed only two.

There were five of them.

With Dao Xiong, the strongest rival, out of the picture, their chances rose sharply—now fifty-fifty.

Zhou Rui glanced at Zhang Yang, then at Ge Hong.

“This is going to be a tough fight.”

As for Li Rui—

He had already been ignored.

A seventy-year-old man who had just broken through—he wasn’t taken seriously.

“Zhang Yang. Ge Hong.”

He sighed inwardly.

Zhang Yang’s former badge had been “2”—not merely for seniority, but for strength.

He had always overshadowed Zhou Rui.

Ge Hong needed no introduction—he had been eighth-rank a decade ago, a famed expert in Qinghe City.

Both were formidable opponents.

Zhang Yang and Ge Hong glanced left and right.

A quiet sense of victory already settled in their hearts.

After all, the lure of Annan Army was hard for anyone to ignore.

With Dao Xiong out of the race, he sneered as he surveyed his four deputies—the scene perfectly illustrated what “each harboring secret motives” truly meant.

Ning Zhongtian glanced at the men and spoke again: “In the spirit of fairness and justice, these two positions will go to the two with the highest cultivation.”

He extended his index finger and pointed at Ge Hong and Zhou Rui. “You two—fight first.”

Ge Hong and Zhou Rui, singled out, froze.

Zhou Rui’s heart sank.

He had assumed Ning Zhongtian would choose between Zhang Yang and Ge Hong; he had even leaned toward Zhang Yang. He never expected the Lord Ning would skip drawing lots or round-robin duels.

He simply named them directly.

So simple. So crude.

Or rather—utterly unfair...

Zhou Rui took a deep breath and rose slowly.

Even if he knew he was unlikely to win against Ge Hong, he still had to try. What if there was a chance?

He bowed: “Please.”

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Ge Hong also stood: “Deputy Branch Chief Zhou, after you.”

The Gathering Righteousness Hall was spacious.

Seeing Ning Zhongtian had no intention of leaving, they began their duel right inside the hall.

Willow-leaf saber against Tyrant’s Blade.

Only a dozen strikes.

Zhou Rui dodged left and right, falling into disadvantage.

Zhang Yang watched Ge Hong’s exquisite blade technique, secretly astonished: “Ge Hong has improved again!”

He was glad Ning Zhongtian hadn’t chosen him to face Ge Hong—he’d almost certainly lose.

Li Rui watched, secretly astonished.

Not because the duel between Ge Hong and Zhou Rui was thrilling, but because every time their blades touched any object in the hall, an invisible aura wrapped around it, preventing the blades from damaging it even slightly.

“Exquisite control of true qi.”

Without thinking, this was surely Ning Zhongtian’s doing.

“No wonder he’s sixth-rank!”

Li Rui had also awakened true qi, but he knew he could neither project it outside his body nor wield it with such mastery.

In the time of one incense stick.

Ge Hong disarmed Zhou Rui.

“I lose.”

Zhou Rui’s face darkened.

Though he had anticipated the result, losing still left him disheartened.

Ge Hong didn’t offer any false, polite words.

He merely bowed:

“Brother Zhou, I thank you for your courtesy.”

Though years as a martial arts school master had hardened his composure, Ge Hong could not suppress his inner excitement.

Becoming an official.

This was a matter of honoring ancestors—far beyond the status of a martial arts school master.

Moreover, Annan Army’s Platoon Leader held even more power than the Assistant County Magistrate.

Both sat down.

Zhang Yang immediately rose, grinning: “Old Brother Li, forgive me.”

Though Ning Zhongtian’s arrangement seemed tyrannical, it was all pre-calculated.

He clearly knew the strengths of these four deputy branch chiefs.

He had assessed them all precisely, hence this arrangement.

Just to save time.

Besides, he was choosing his own loyalists—what need had he for fairness?

Li Rui also stood up and locked eyes with Zhang Yang.

A flicker of guilt passed through Zhang Yang’s heart.

His bond with Li Rui needed no words, but to yield before the temptation of the Annan Army was unthinkable.

“Li Lao’s already old—being an official won’t do him much good.”

“Once I win, I’ll treat you to wine and make it up with some spirit elixirs.”

Though he was close to Li Rui and deeply admired his way of doing things,

when it came to team combat,

he was certain he surpassed Li Rui by a wide margin.

Li Rui slowly drew the long knife he had already gripped, thinking to himself:

“Young Brother Zhang, I’m sorry.”

(End of Chapter)