Chapter 946

Zhuang Yifei and Geng Yushi both wore expressions of profound discomfort, speechless.

One was resentful, the other furious!

Both waited for the final ruling.

Chen Guanlou pointed at Geng Yushi, “You want to kill him because you fear he’ll kill you in revenge, correct?”

Geng Yushi said nothing, seemingly acknowledging it.

“You also want to kill him—revenge for grievances, payback for grudges. Right?” Chen Guanlou turned to Zhuang Yifei.

Zhuang Yifei nodded. “I’ve dreamed of killing him. For years, the Geng family, leveraging his position as Yushi, have tyrannized our hometown, terrorizing the villagers. You can send men to my village to verify—what I say is true, not exaggerated.”

“Nonsense!” Geng Yushi retorted. “My family built bridges, paved roads, aided the villagers—why don’t you mention that?”

Zhuang Yifei sneered bitterly, tearing away all pretense. “That’s because your Geng family has committed countless evils, terrified of heavenly retribution, afraid of being denounced—so you feign virtue to make amends. Every time you finish distributing porridge, you immediately seize the farmland of self-cultivating peasants. Whoever resists ends up with their family destroyed, with no recourse. Your family monopolizes power; the villagers can’t breathe, forced to live at your mercy. You’ll face retribution soon enough.”

“Absurd lies! When my family prospered, we never forgot to give back. We repaired ancestral halls, built schools, paved roads, built bridges, distributed porridge and clothing—each act, in your mouth, becomes guilt. Ridiculous! Chen Yucheng, don’t believe him—he’s a bandit; his words hold no truth. We’re on the same side—we’re family.”

Geng Yushi was furious; had the prison door not barred him, he would have killed Zhuang outright.

But Zhuang was a martial expert—he was no match. His only hope now was Chen Guanlou.

Yet the man’s demeanor suggested he had no intention of listening—even money meant nothing to him.

Fuming, his eyes darted wildly as thoughts flashed through his mind.

How could he move Chen Guanlou to kill Zhuang for him?

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow, clearly disdainful. “Don’t speak of being on the same side or of being ‘family.’ Geng Yushi, you’re a high-ranking Yushi; I’m merely a lowly Tianlao Yucheng—I dare not call myself your kin. After hearing so much, I finally understand your feud. That’s enough. Zhuang Yifei, come with me.”

That’s it?

Is that all?

Both wore expressions of utter disbelief.

“Chen Yucheng, this…”

Chen Guanlou cast a single glance—Zhuang Yifei instantly swallowed his unfinished words, daring not to speak further.

Geng Yushi chuckled mockingly. “You still want to kill me? How naive! As foolish as ever! This is Tianlao—I’m a convict official, but still an official. Do you understand the rules? You, however, are a bandit who dared break into Tianlao at night—wait for your death!”

Zhuang Yifei’s face turned ashen; had he not feared Chen Guanlou, he would have crushed Geng with a single blow.

“Chen Yucheng, may I kill him? After I kill him, arrest me—I’ll confess. Whether you execute me or flay me, I accept my fate.”

Chen Guanlou laughed coldly. “You think you can kill someone under my nose? Who do you think you are? Is there no law? Look around—this is Tianlao. I brought you here to settle accounts, not to kill. No more talk. Leave with me now.”

One sentence extinguished Zhuang Yifei’s hope.

Zhuang Yifei reluctantly followed behind.

Geng Yushi laughed loudly, triumphant and arrogant.

Chen Guanlou found the laughter crude and snapped, “Shut up!”

“I… Wuwuwu …” Geng Yushi found his voice gone, cheeks flushed with panic, helpless. Only after Chen Guanlou and Zhuang had left the prison did his voice return.

He was terrified.

Lying crooked on the bed, he laughed and trembled, half-mad.

Chen Guanlou brought Zhuang Yifei back to the office.

“You really want to kill him?” He struck straight to the heart. “Wait until he’s released.”

He offered the man a thoughtful suggestion.

In essence: no matter their feud, killing was forbidden inside Tianlao. Outside, he didn’t care.

Zhuang Yifei was reluctant but bowed deeply. “I’ll follow your orders, Chen Yucheng. But I have one humble request.”

“Speak.”

“Please have Tianlao imprison me.”

Huh?

These days, someone actually volunteered to be jailed.

“Not to hide anything, Chen Yucheng: Geng spent a fortune hiring a gang of scoundrels to ambush me. They won’t stop until I’m dead—I’m exhausted. I’ve thought it over: better to stay in Tianlao than face constant threats outside. I believe there’s no safer place in the world.”

Sharp thinking!

Chen Guanlou smirked smugly.

He couldn’t claim much, but safety—Tianlao could guarantee.

As for those who died inside Tianlao, they were just unlucky—not because Tianlao was unsafe.

But…

Before Chen Guanlou could respond, Zhuang Yifei spoke first: “I can pay.”

Ah, now he’s getting it!

Compared to Geng Yushi, Chen Guanlou clearly preferred Zhuang—a man who understood decorum. Geng’s face was genuinely repulsive, hard to look at.

Still, he feigned difficulty. “It’s against regulations.”

“Please, Chen Yucheng, make an exception!” Zhuang bowed again.

“You want to stay in Tianlao for safety—but aren’t you also hoping to keep Geng Yushi in sight? Once he’s released, you’ll strike?”

Zhuang Yifei, caught out, remained calm. “To be honest, Chen Yucheng, yes—I planned exactly that. Don’t worry—I won’t cause trouble inside Tianlao. The feud between the Zhuang and Geng families must end. One of us must die. There’s no other way.”

“Are you certain you can win? In ruthlessness, you’re no match for Geng Yushi. In cunning, you’re no match. Even in shamelessness, you’re thinner-skinned. Had you matched him in even one trait, you wouldn’t be reduced to this pitiful state.”

Zhuang Yifei was humiliated. “But I’m willing to fight to the death! I don’t believe he’ll dare match me. He fears death—I don’t. That alone is enough for me to win.”

Chen Guanlou nodded slightly. There was sense in that.

“Fine. You may stay in Tianlao for refuge. Go to Bingzi Large Cell.”

Chen Quan, standing nearby, whispered, “Sir, Bingzi Large Cell is crowded and noisy—won’t that be too disruptive?”

Accepting outsiders casually was illegal and against protocol.

Chen Quan feared word spreading might harm Tianlao’s reputation.

Chen Guanlou smiled. “I can’t put him in Jiazi Large Cell—that would truly violate rules. Yiizi Large Cell? I don’t trust the jailer Miao. Bingzi Large Cell has always been chaotic—perfect. Change his clothes. If he’s to be imprisoned, he must look like a prisoner. Dressed so finely—is that appropriate?”