Chapter 14: First-rate Realm?

Night gradually descended, the sky was already studded with twinkling stars, and the moonlight spilled down, flowing across the ground like water. A gentle breeze brushed against the face, bringing with it a faint, sweet scent.

Standing quietly on the street, Shen Yu looked calmly in all directions, surrounded by two hundred soldiers transferred from the County Lieutenant, as well as all the Constables and Yamen Runners from the yamen.

"My Lord, everyone has been arrested and thrown into prison, but the people from the Flying Tiger Hall seem to have received news long ago. The ones caught today are all from small gangs and factions; they are of no consequence at all!"

Reporting in a low voice to Shen Yu, who stood before him, Zhou Yuan carefully glanced up at this County Magistrate, only to find his expression calm, with no sign of urgency, as if he had no issue at all with the fact that the Flying Tiger Hall had suffered no losses.

"It seems the Flying Tiger Hall got the news early and called their people back ahead of time. No matter!" Hearing this, Shen Yu gave a light smile and waved his hand dismissively.

"Chief Constable Zhou, the brothers have worked hard today. Let them divide up today's spoils!"

"Ah? Divide them? Understood!" At first, Zhou Yuan thought he had misheard, but after confirming it repeatedly, he nodded hurriedly.

Today, they had swept the streets of everyone taking advantage of the situation to swindle and deceive, and had taken down the small gangs behind them as well. After compensating the commoners for their losses, there was still quite a bit left over.

If today's haul were distributed entirely, everyone would get at least a few taels of silver—no, at least ten taels of silver—and the little money in their pockets would increase significantly.

However, Zhou Yuan was also somewhat puzzled. When they raided the Cai Family before, gold and silver were piled high, yet this County Magistrate hadn't distributed a single coin. He had thought this County Magistrate was a stingy man, but now it seemed he was quite humane after all!

Once the money was in hand, everyone wore a look of joy; what could be more worth celebrating than receiving money? Moreover, for everyone, the amount they received was a substantial income.

"Everyone, now that you have the money, are you happy? Are you excited?" Standing before these soldiers and Yamen Runners, Shen Yu shouted loudly, ensuring his words reached every single person's ears.

"Happy! Thank you, County Magistrate!"

"Thank you, County Magistrate!"

"Enough!" Making a downward pressing motion with both hands to suppress the waves of gratitude, Shen Yu then shouted loudly, "But are you satisfied with just this little bit? This official feels that this money is not enough, far from enough!"

Shen Yu's voice fell into everyone's ears, seemingly possessing an infinite allure, drawing them in. Who wouldn't want to earn more money? Who wouldn't want to eat a few more pieces of meat!

"Then tell this official, do you want to earn a large sum of money, far exceeding the silver you have in your hands? As long as you put in a little more effort today, you will earn the money to marry a wife, the money to support your families—money you couldn't earn even after years of hard work!"

"With this money, you can buy your children new clothes, buy your wives jewelry, and eat big fish and meat for every meal for the next few months or even a year or two. Tell this official, do you want to?"

"Yes!" Answering Shen Yu was a chorus of synchronized shouts. With real silver in their hands, they gained not only the gratitude of the soldiers but also the motivation to earn even more; greed was the best driving force!

Earning money, who wouldn't want to? Especially under the leadership of a County Magistrate like Shen Yu, they were even less afraid. Whoever dared to stop them from earning money, they would kill him!

"What is the County Magistrate planning to do?" Although this sounded tempting, those with a bit of brains, like Zhou Yuan, felt that this County Magistrate was about to stir up trouble!

Looking at the fanatical eyes all around, Shen Yu nodded with satisfaction. "The morale is usable. It seems all those passionate speeches I watched before I transmigrated weren't in vain!"

"If you want to, then follow this official. This official will lead you to get rich!"

"My Lord, aren't you supposed to attend a banquet at the Drunk Spring Pavilion tonight?" Stealing a glance at Shen Yu, Zhou Yuan asked in a low, uncertain voice, "The County Lieutenant and the Hall Master of the Flying Tiger Hall are already waiting there. Could it be that you have changed your mind, My Lord?"

"A banquet? Heh, I will not attend the banquet tonight. Let the County Lieutenant and Hall Master He wait!" With a faint smile, Shen Yu then said softly, "This official is going to wipe out the Flying Tiger Hall first!"

"What? Wipe out the Flying Tiger Hall?" Shen Yu's words were like a heavy hammer, striking him hard and making his head buzz instantly!

"My Lord, the reason you invited the Hall Master of the Flying Tiger Hall to the banquet was to lure the tiger away from the mountain?" In an instant, Zhou Yuan understood Shen Yu's intention and why this man, who seemed unable to tolerate a grain of sand in his eyes, would eagerly invite the Hall Master of the Flying Tiger Hall to a banquet.

This looked like a compromise with the Flying Tiger Hall, but this was no compromise; it was clearly a plan to go head-to-head with them!

"My Lord, please think twice!" Although the Hall Master of the Flying Tiger Hall had taken a few experts to the Drunk Spring Pavilion, there were still several Second-rate Experts and hundreds of gang members inside the Flying Tiger Hall.

On their side, although they had two hundred soldiers and dozens of Constables and Yamen Runners, there was only one Second-rate Expert—himself. While a Second-rate Expert might not count for much in the pugilistic world, in a small place like Baian County, they were genuine experts.

This young County Magistrate was still too young and making rash decisions on a whim. If they really fought, they would definitely suffer. No, not just suffer; once hit by several Second-rate Experts, it would be a one-hundred-percent rout!

"My Lord, the Flying Tiger Hall has many experts. This subordinate begs you to think twice!"

"Enough, Chief Constable Zhou. If this official lets the Flying Tiger Hall go, how can I face the commoners of Baian County? How many more incidents like today's will happen?" Taking a deep breath, Shen Yu's gaze was profound, as if piercing through the dark night.

"This official has investigated the crimes of these years. The Flying Tiger Hall has opened brothels and gambling dens in Baian County, and even trafficked women and children, harming the commoners—they are utterly unscrupulous. Countless families have been ruined because of them, yet their crimes are numerous and no one dares to move against them!"

"Chief Constable Zhou, this official can wait, but can the commoners who have suffered so much wait?"

Each sentence hammered into Zhou Yuan's heart, causing his momentum as a Chief Constable to falter again and again. As a Chief Constable, how could he not know these things? They had even happened before his eyes more than once.

But what could he do? The Flying Tiger Hall was powerful, and he could only watch. He could only listen to the wails of the commoners and sigh in helplessness!

"Chief Constable Zhou!" Patting Zhou Yuan on the shoulder, Shen Yu continued, "It is not that this official does not want to wait, but for every day a force like the Flying Tiger Hall exists, who knows how many innocent commoners will suffer. As the head of this county, this official must do everything in his power to return a clear and bright world to the commoners!"

"My Lord, this subordinate understands!" Although he knew Shen Yu was just spouting rhetoric and it would be useless when the real fighting started, why did it feel so reasonable, and why was his blood boiling?

"Forget it, let's give it a shot!"

Looking up at Shen Yu, Zhou Yuan said earnestly and loudly, "My Lord, if the task is impossible, this subordinate is willing to protect you with my life. My Lord, rest assured, as long as I have a breath left, I will never let you suffer the slightest harm!"

"Good, Chief Constable Zhou, this official truly did not misjudge you!" Patting Zhou Yuan on the shoulder again, Shen Yu leaned into his ear and whispered, "Also, let me tell you one thing in secret: this official has already entered the First-rate Realm!"

"What? Fi, First-rate?"