Chapter 69: I

"But what, Brother Zhao, say it freely." Chen Mu said calmly.

"To become an Inspector, you must meet three conditions."

Zhao Fuzhou didn't waste words, explaining, "First, your cultivation must be at least the Innate Realm! There are four ranks of Inspectors, and even the lowest Ding Zi Inspector requires the Innate Realm to hold the position. Because a Ding Zi Inspector oversees an entire prefecture. Without the Innate Realm, how can you intimidate others?"

"The second condition is to expose a rebel force—this you have already accomplished; the Guo family is a rebel force."

"The third condition is to have a sponsor—this is simple too; I can recommend you."

"... So, to become an Inspector, I must break through to the Innate Realm?" Chen Mu confirmed.

"Yes."

Zhao Fuzhou smiled, "When you break through to the Innate Realm, just come find me at the Town Martial Office."

"Thank you, Brother Zhao!" Chen Mu bowed respectfully.

Whether or not he was acting out of respect for Long Tu, Zhao Fuzhou's willingness to recommend and vouch for him to enter the Town Martial Office was a great favor.

It was just funny that the second condition for becoming an Inspector had been fulfilled so easily.

So all along, reporting the Guo family for self-preservation had this hidden benefit?

Rebel force!

The Town Martial Office monitors the entire martial world and determines which factions are rebels—this requires evidence.

Fabricating evidence won't work.

In terms of individual factions, the Town Martial Office fears none.

Even the six ancient sword sects and the Qidawu Sect, with millennia of heritage, are no match for the Town Martial Office.

But if all major sects unite, even the entire Zhou imperial court cannot withstand them.

So when the Town Martial Office annihilates sects or clans, it always has a just cause!

For example, the Guo family was destroyed for trafficking Carefree Pills, and not a single faction in Nanyun Prefecture dared to utter a word of protest.

When a whale dies, ten thousand lives thrive.

After the Guo family's destruction, all their assets were confiscated. The Town Martial Office auctioned off their businesses to recover silver.

Those connected to the Guo family were either killed or arrested.

Those with only loose ties—who had merely relied on the Guo family—escaped unscathed.

But these merchants were terrified and dared not remain in Nan Yun Prefecture; they all sold their properties.

The largest and finest tavern in the East District of the Outer City, Drunk Moon Tavern, was one of them.

The owner was seeking someone to buy it.

Both the Blood Wolf Gang and the Big Knife Gang took interest.

Neither would yield, and the owner dared not raise the price—so the situation stalled.

Li Xiangyang then devised a solution: challenge Guan Tong!

They would settle ownership of Drunk Moon Tavern through a duel.

Chen Mu originally had no intention of getting involved.

Unexpectedly, after a day, Li Xiangyang spread rumors calling Guan Tong a coward, a chicken, and a man whose sons would be born without anuses.

The Big Knife Gang's Punishment Hall chief couldn't bear it and fought the Blood Wolf Gang's men—he initially won, but later had his arm broken by Li Xiangyang and was carried back to headquarters.

This could no longer be tolerated!

Guan Tong's care for his subordinates was always visible.

Li Xiangyang insulted first, then broke a subordinate's arm—if Guan Tong still "closed his door" and did nothing, it would be utterly abnormal.

Chen Mu thus had no choice but to put on Guan Tong's clothes, don a skin mask, and emerge from the underground chamber.

"Boss, you've finally emerged from seclusion!"

"Boss, Li Xiangyang is pushing us too far!"

"Fight the Blood Wolf Gang!"

"..."

At the Big Knife Gang headquarters, all Hall chiefs and top leaders shouted in outrage.

Chen Mu maintained Guan Tong's expression, activated his "voice mimicry," raised his hand, and spoke in a deep tone, "All of you, be silent! Uncle Dao, tell me exactly what happened."

Upon hearing this, the Internal Affairs Hall chief recounted the entire sequence of events, then frowned and said, "Li Xiangyang clearly has ill intentions—he wants to intrude into our territory."

Drunk Moon Tavern currently sits within the Big Knife Gang's territory.

"Hah. He won't get the chance."

Chen Mu, speaking in Guan Tong's voice, sneered, "Go inform Li Xiangyang—he has my acceptance of his challenge."

"Yes, Boss!"

The Surveillance Hall chief responded, turned, and left the meeting hall.

Chen Mu then asked about several other matters.

After confirming everything was in order, he verbally commended everyone.

No sooner had he finished praising them than the Surveillance Hall chief rushed back in, reporting that Li Xiangyang was already waiting at Drunk Moon Tavern.

"Looks like he's counting on me to show up."

Chen Mu, speaking in Guan Tong's voice, barked coldly, "Let's go to Drunk Moon Tavern!"

Saying this, he stepped forward first toward the door.

"Crush the Blood Wolf Gang!"

"Li Xiangyang is dead."

「……」

Behind him, everyone closely followed, shouting.

In fact, there was an unusual situation here.

Chen Mu, in his official capacity as Head of the External Affairs Hall, was nowhere to be seen!

Huang Feiyang, Xie Hong, and others were all present.

Although Chen Mu had told the hall members before coming over disguised as 'Guan Tong' that he did not wish to meddle in gang affairs, this concerned the Big Knife Gang's honor and its new enterprise—yet the Hall Head was absent, which was hard to justify.

The fact that Chen Mu and Guan Tong cannot appear simultaneously is a flaw!

Once or twice is fine, but if it happens too often, the gang members will inevitably whisper, and notice the anomaly!

Chen Mu had no solution to this problem—he could only take it one step at a time.

……

Drunk Moon Tower.

First-floor main hall.

When Chen Mu arrived, Li Xiangyang, accompanied by over a dozen Blood Wolf Gang members, had already been waiting for more than a quarter-hour.

Seeing 'Guan Tong'—Chen Mu's disguise—walk through the door, Li Xiangyang, seated on a bench, lifted his eyelids and laughed loudly, "Brother Guan, long time no see! I heard you were in seclusion—how's your cultivation progressing?"

"No progress worth mentioning, but enough to handle you."

Chen Mu, speaking in Guan Tong's tone, said calmly, "Li Xiangyang, no more talk. I'm here—let's settle this."

"Good! Straight to the point!"

Li Xiangyang's eyes gleamed. He stood up and waved his hand. "Clear away these tables and chairs—make space!"

"Yes!"

Behind Li Xiangyang, over a dozen Blood Wolf Gang members responded, stepped forward, lifted the tables and chairs, and moved them all to the rear against the wall.

The owner of Drunk Moon Tower, the Shopkeeper, the attendants—all hid along the corridor, silent and tense, watching.

"After you, Brother Guan."

Li Xiangyang stepped forward two paces, standing in the cleared space, gesturing to Chen Mu.

As Chen Mu walked forward, he spoke, "Are you ready?"

"Of course I am." Li Xiangyang smiled confidently, standing firm, assuming his stance. His internal energy surged outward, forming a vortex around him; both palms instantly turned black.

"Good."

Chen Mu nodded. As his words ended, his body shot forward, feet tracing the Spirit Snake Step—a flicker, and he stood before Li Xiangyang.

Huh~

The sound of rushing wind howled through the first-floor main hall.

Chen Mu did not use any martial technique—only pure physical strength, crashing forward to strike Li Xiangyang's chest.

Li Xiangyang, caught off-guard, barely raised both arms to block.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud echoed.

Li Xiangyang's arms went numb and thrummed with pain; his entire body lost control and staggered backward.

But he only retreated two steps…

Huh!

Chen Mu unleashed a whipping kick, striking Li Xiangyang with a heavy, unnatural thud—sending him flying, crashing "thud!" against the wall, where he hung motionless for three seconds before sliding down the wall and collapsing to the ground, unconscious.

Instantly, the entire first-floor main hall fell utterly silent.