Chapter 14: Xuanhuang Sect: In the End, Fists Cannot Defeat Power (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Both men were locals and had served in the Hundred-Household Office for two or three years; through them, Pei Shaoqing gained a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of Zheng Xuancheng and the others.

Zheng Xuancheng's father-in-law was once the Hundred-Household of the Tongzhou Hundred-Household Office and later helped him ascend to the position; he is deeply rooted in Tongzhou, a true local tyrant, and even if he neglects his training, he possesses the strength of the Ningqi Late Stage.

Wang Xianling is a pure scholar who does not understand martial arts; it is said that he offended someone while serving at the Hanlin Academy and was tossed to Tongzhou. He has been here for less than two years, barely counts as a good and honest official, and is quite supported by the local people.

Chen Zhongyi was transferred here from the neighboring Baozhou Baihu Suo the year before last; he is obedient to Zheng Xuancheng, and usually, apart from basic drinking and womanizing, he likes to gamble a few rounds at the casino. His strength is mediocre: Body Tempering Realm Late Stage.

After listening, Pei Shaoqing pondered in silence; Wang Xianling and Chen Zhongyi are easy to deal with—find an opportunity to kill them, as long as one can clean up the loose ends and leave no evidence behind.

This world has no high-tech surveillance or the like.

It is not that easy to solve a case and hunt down a killer.

The difficult one is Zheng Xuancheng, who has great influence in Tongzhou and, on top of that, possesses strong personal strength; even if Pei Shaoqing and Ye Hanshuang attacked together, they would be no match.

Since he cannot be killed by relying on strength.

Then one can only rely on power.

"Speaking of which, are there any traces of the Xuanhuang Sect active in our Tongzhou?" Pei Shaoqing asked, feigning curiosity.

The Xuanhuang Sect is a rebel organization.

It is also called the Xuan Sect, and they call themselves the Holy Sect.

In this world, its status is comparable to the White Lotus Sect of the previous life; no matter which emperor is on the throne throughout the dynasties, they always rebel, so even if dynasties change and a new emperor takes the throne, they will still try to exterminate the Xuanhuang Sect. Yet, the rebels of the Xuanhuang Sect are like wild grass—they cannot be burned away.

"There are! How could there not be!" Song Youcai put down his wine cup, wiped his mouth, and said, "The previous County Magistrate was assassinated by rebels of the Xuanhuang Sect. At that time, our Hundred-Household Office even arrested a batch of unruly people suspected of having ties to the Xuanhuang Sect, but we couldn't catch the real culprits or the big fish. These guys are like rats in a gutter, hiding here and there, active at night and sleeping by day; they are hard to catch."

"Even in such a remote place, these guys are truly like lingering ghosts, infiltrating everywhere." Pei Shaoqing shook his head, but a plan had already formed in his mind.

He viewed that Hundred-Household Zheng as a Xuanhuang Sect rebel!

Otherwise, why was the culprit who assassinated the previous County Magistrate never caught? Why do the Xuanhuang Sect rebels dare to be active in Tongzhou? It is precisely because they have his protection!

"The two of you, do something for me."

Both men immediately stood up: "Please give your orders, My Lord!"

Pei Shaoqing raised his hand to signal them to sit, and while picking up food, he said nonchalantly: "Find me some Forbidden Items related to the Xuanhuang Sect; it would be best if you could catch a sect member."

This could be considered a test of their capabilities.

And even more so, a pledge of allegiance to him.

"This..." The two looked at each other; privately possessing Forbidden Items of the Xuanhuang Sect was a capital offense, and catching a Xuanhuang Sect rebel was even harder than ascending to heaven. However, after only a moment of hesitation, they both gritted their teeth and replied: "Yes!"

Previously, they suffered from having no opportunity; now that the chance for promotion and wealth had arrived, they naturally had to give their all to seize it.

After they were full of food and wine, Song and Sun wanted to invite Pei Shaoqing to the largest local brothel to listen to music, but they were rejected by Pei Shaoqing, this noble gentleman from the capital, on the grounds that he looked down on those tacky, common women from the sticks.

The two then offered to escort him back to his residence; after all, they had drunk quite a bit tonight, and they were afraid that the "big thigh" they had just latched onto might meet with some accident, in which case they would have nowhere to cry.

This time, Pei Shaoqing did not refuse.

One must give subordinates a chance to show their loyalty.

"Watch your step, My Lord, mind the threshold."

"Take care, you three lords, come back again!"

The two diligently supported Pei Shaoqing from left and right as they walked out, while the waiter greeted them loudly from behind.

"Junior Sister, Junior Sister, wait for me!"

"Hee hee, no way! Hurry up, Senior Brother! Otherwise, I'm going to go ahead and order your favorite crispy duck, and then eat it all up without leaving a single bite for you... ah!"

The next second, accompanied by a fragrant breeze, a youthful, beautiful, and cute young girl ran over in a rush and bumped head-on into Pei Shaoqing.

It was none other than Zhao Zhilan, the beloved disciple of the Iron Sword Sect Leader.

After a gasp of surprise, she looked up and recognized Pei Shaoqing, whom she had seen earlier that day. A flash of disgust crossed her eyes, and she immediately took a step back, intending to bypass him.

"Hey! You woman, how unreasonable! You bump into my Lord and want to leave without apologizing?" Song Youcai was quick-handed and sharp-eyed; he grabbed her wrist and said fiercely.

"Ah! You're hurting me!" Zhao Zhilan cried out in pain and instinctively raised her palm to strike at Song Youcai.

Although she was young, her strength was not weak. Song Youcai was caught off guard; after being hit in the chest, he lost control of his body, let go of her, and stumbled back a few steps before standing steady.

Zhao Zhilan retracted her palm with a smug look, held her chin high, and said to Pei Shaoqing: "Keep your dog on a leash."

Pei Shaoqing's expression turned cold in an instant.

"Presumptuous! My Lord, please step back." Sun Youliang was furious; he stepped forward to block in front of Pei Shaoqing, drew his blade, and slashed mercilessly at Zhao Zhilan's face.

"Damn it! Stop hurting my Junior Sister!" Jiang Yebai, who had arrived at the restaurant entrance a step late, saw this scene and was both shocked and angry. He flicked his long sword, and the scabbard flew out like a sharp arrow, deflecting Sun Youliang's blade. At the same time, he drifted forward, his long sword striking like a snake directly at Sun Youliang's chest.

"Clang!" Ye Hanshuang, who was behind Pei Shaoqing, drew her sword in time to block the strike, simultaneously pulling Sun Youliang behind her as she engaged Jiang Yebai in battle.

Sun Youliang and Song Youcai both looked ashamed as they cupped their fists toward Pei Shaoqing to plead guilty, "This subordinate is incompetent!"

Pei Shaoqing waved his hand expressionlessly and watched quietly as Ye Hanshuang exchanged blows with the opponent, gradually frowning.

As the head disciple of the Iron Sword Sect, Jiang Yebai's strength was clearly stronger than Ye Hanshuang's. Even though Ye Hanshuang's moves were lethal, they were parried step by step, and she gradually fell into a disadvantage.

As the two fought, the restaurant suffered; a crowd of customers fled, and tables and chairs were constantly being damaged.

"Enough! Stop! Are you trying to kill an official and rebel?" Seeing that Ye Hanshuang was about to be defeated, Pei Shaoqing immediately roared to prevent her from getting injured.

"Ah!" Seeing the anger of his beloved being attacked with a blade instantly fade, Jiang Yebai finally realized what a stupid thing he had done. He hurriedly sheathed his sword, took a step back, bowed, and cupped his fists, "I beg for your forgiveness, My Lord!"

"Hmph!" Ye Hanshuang glared at him coldly with a gloomy face, sheathed her sword, and returned behind Pei Shaoqing.

"Senior Brother." Zhao Zhilan ran to Jiang Yebai's side, tugging at his sleeve while glaring at Pei Shaoqing with vigilance.

"Are you very good at fighting?" Pei Shaoqing asked Jiang Yebai, and without waiting for an answer, he sneered mockingly: "Being good at fighting is worth shit! Out here in the world, it's all about strength and background! Daring to assassinate this official—how bold and reckless. Take them back and lock them up; I will deal with them tomorrow."

Don't treat an Acting Flag Captain as if he isn't an official!

"Yes!" Song Youcai and Sun Youliang rushed up without hesitation and pinned down the shoulders of Zhao Zhilan and Jiang Yebai.

This time, the two did not dare to resist. Jiang Yebai said anxiously: "My Lord! Please let my Junior Sister go."

"Senior Brother! Don't beg him! It's clearly him making a mountain out of a molehill," Zhao Zhilan said with a stubborn face.

"Junior Sister, be quiet!" Jiang Yebai scolded her with a rare sternness and continued to plead with Pei Shaoqing, "Everything is my fault. I beg for your mercy, My Lord. My Junior Sister is still young; I implore you to give her a chance."

Zhao Zhilan, who had been treated like this by her Senior Brother for the first time and had also seen such a humble and weak side of him for the first time, was stunned. She stood there blankly, as the once-lofty image of her Senior Brother in her heart was gradually crumbling.

Pei Shaoqing could not be bothered to pay attention; he waved his hand to signal for the people to be locked up, tossed down a bag of broken silver as compensation for the restaurant, and left without looking back.

"My Lord! My Lord, please stop! I beg you to consider that my junior sister is still young and show mercy, my Lord!"

Jiang Yebai was still pleading loudly behind him.

He could easily resist the control of Sun Youliang and Song Youcai to escape, but he could not resist the imperial court, and he was afraid of implicating his sect, so he dared not do such a thing at all.

Pei Shaoqing turned a deaf ear to his voice.

In the end, both were locked into the Hundred-Household Office dungeon.

Zhao Zhilan was fine; before Pei Shaoqing gave instructions, no one dared to do anything, but Jiang Yebai suffered greatly.

Seeking monthly votes! Seeking to maintain follow-readings!

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(End of this chapter)