Chapter 20: What Use Are They?

"Hou Tian Realm!"

Feng Zhong, who had fallen to the ground and could not rise, looked at Shen Yu as if looking at some terrifying existence. If they had known Shen Yu's cultivation level beforehand, they wouldn't have dared to act rashly even if beaten to death; lying low wouldn't have been shameful.

The Hou Tian Realm was already at the level of an Elder in ordinary sects; it was a realm they yearned for but dared not imagine. It wasn't that they hadn't worked hard enough, but that the Martial Arts they practiced were merely third-rate Cultivation Methods.

In a small place like Baian County, it was fortunate enough to have a Cultivation Method at all; what else could one hope for? If not for those with exceptional natural talent, it would likely be impossible to reach the Hou Tian Realm relying on such third-rate Cultivation Methods. And as for these few, if they had even slightly higher talent, they wouldn't be scraping by in such a small place.

Thinking back to when the County Magistrate first took office, he had disguised himself so well at the beginning, appearing as if he were truly a scholar with no power to truss a chicken, which made them relax their vigilance completely. No one had taken him seriously; who would have known that in his eyes, they were the ones acting like clowns.

As a result, they had all jumped into the pit one by one, and now they couldn't climb out. Feigning weakness to lure the snake into the hole, then wiping them all out in one net. Look at that, this little County Magistrate's heart is truly too dark!

"County Lieutenant Feng, it really is you!" Tearing the mask off the other man's face, Shen Yu smiled lightly and said calmly, "Since when does County Lieutenant Feng stop doing his proper job as an official and start acting as a thief?"

"Feng Zhong, you and the villains of the Flying Tiger Hall openly attacked this official. Coupled with the account books seized from the Flying Tiger Hall, which contain detailed records of you, Feng Zhong, accepting bribes and engaging in corruption and law-breaking. County Lieutenant Feng, think about Cai Zhong's fate—you are finished!"

"You!" At the mere thought of Cai Zhong's fate, Feng Zhong couldn't help but shiver. He knew this young master's style all too well. Once they were of no use, he would discard them without the slightest hesitation, just like the previous Cai Zhong.

Over these years, Cai Zhong had worked hard for him, taking advantage of his position as County Assistant, but now that he had been taken down in a single day, there was no sign of the young master wanting to pull him out; on the contrary, not a single soul in the Cai Family was left alive. The warning from the past was already vividly before his eyes!

His eyes couldn't help but glance toward the distant Drunk Spring Pavilion, and suddenly Feng Zhong felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. Above the Drunk Spring Pavilion, the young master was staring here, taking everything in this place into his eyes.

As if sensing the gaze Feng Zhong cast over, the young master slowly opened the folding fan in his hand and shook it gently, a hint of inexplicable coldness appearing on his face.

"This... so be it!" With just that one gesture, Feng Zhong understood what it meant and let out a long, silent sigh, as if he had made a decision.

Yet Feng Zhong's face remained full of unwillingness, and the look he cast at He Yiqiu held hatred that could not be dissolved. This was only because he couldn't move; if he had even a bit of strength left, he would definitely bite him to death with his last breath.

What a piece of work. He had originally only intended to send his subordinates; he hadn't wanted to go himself. It was this bastard who insisted on dragging him along, causing him to have no chance to run now. He didn't hate Shen Yu; he only hated this pig of a teammate, this saboteur!

"Hoo!" Taking two deep breaths, Feng Zhong closed his eyes. He likely had no choice now. If he ended his own life, perhaps his family might still have a way to survive.

Biting down hard on his own collar, soon, black-red blood flowed down the corners of his mouth, and his breathing grew weaker and weaker. It was the same for Feng Zhong, and the same for He Yiqiu beside him; as if they had discussed it, they both lost all signs of life in the blink of an eye.

"Poisoned? Dead?" Such a turn of events took Shen Yu by great surprise, but it was already too late.

Following the direction Feng Zhong had just looked, Shen Yu only saw what appeared to be a blurred figure, which then quickly disappeared.

"System, sign in!"

"Sign-in successful, obtained Divine Illumination Scripture!"

"Divine Illumination Scripture? Is this for real?" In Shen Yu's impression, this was a top-tier divine art. It supposedly even had the power to bring the dead back to life; although he didn't know if it was true or false, it was enough to demonstrate the power of this Cultivation Method.

Before Shen Yu could react, countless pieces of information flooded into his mind. Shen Yu felt as if countless figures were practicing some kind of internal energy in his mind, and the various essentials of the Divine Illumination Scripture naturally welled up in his heart.

It was as if this knowledge, these insights into the Cultivation Method, had been obtained through his own hard practice, completely mastered by him. This feeling of being unable to distinguish reality from illusion made him somewhat intoxicated. The True Qi within his body also began to circulate along specific paths, quickly assimilating the previous True Qi, becoming more refined and heavy, as if it had undergone some kind of sublimation.

"My Lord, My Lord!" At this moment, Zhou Yuan finally hurried over, panting. Seeing the black-clad men all over the ground, Zhou Yuan didn't even have time to wipe the sweat from his forehead and hurriedly began to inspect them carefully.

One had to wonder if these people were stupid; wearing all black in broad daylight, were they just bored? Didn't this clearly tell others, "I'm a damn villain!"

"Cloud-Entering Hand Hu Yungui, Eight-Step Iron Fist Sun Linjiang... hiss, this is, Flying Tiger Hall Master He Yiqiu!"

Looking at these people around him, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but gasp. These were all famous experts in Baian County. This one haul had almost wiped out all the famous experts in Baian County in one go.

Looking at Shen Yu with disbelief, Zhou Yuan became somewhat uncertain. Could a First-rate Expert raid for so long and kill their way through all of Baian County? Could a First-rate Expert fight for such a long time without his face turning red or his breath shortening? Could a First-rate Expert remain completely unscathed after such exertion while facing the siege of so many experts?

The Lord's cultivation was definitely not as simple as the First-rate Realm. If it wasn't First-rate, then could it be... Hou Tian? That couldn't be!

A twenty-year-old Hou Tian expert was already a sign of extremely high natural talent; every sect would be breaking their heads to snatch them up. If one had this level of cultivation, why bother studying hard for over ten years, or working so hard to be a County Magistrate?

Being an ordinary County Magistrate had far fewer opportunities than staying in the Capital. It was often three years after another three years, and another three years after that; one couldn't get promoted in a short time, and if one didn't do well, it was easy to run into trouble. Think about the previous County Magistrate, then think about the one before that—tsk tsk, which one had a good ending?

A twenty-year-old Hou Tian expert, if they joined the Capture Gate, the Black-Clad Guard, or the Tiger Tooth Guard, would definitely be highly valued; promotion and wealth were just the basics, and there were many benefits and privileges. Wherever they went, local government officials would have to carefully cooperate and actively offer tribute.

I can't figure it out, I just don't understand! People's thoughts are just different!

"Bring everyone back. Dispose of the dead, and lock the living in the jail. Then post a notice: the Yamen is recruiting new Yamen Runners and Constables!"

"Yes, My Lord. Wait? Recruiting new people?" Unable to help but look up, Zhou Yuan said in a low voice, "My Lord, we are not short of manpower; it's just that today was an emergency situation, and most people didn't come. There really is no need to recruit so many."

"Then notify those who didn't come today that they don't need to come starting tomorrow!"

"Ah?"

"Ah what? When trouble came, they all acted like turtles hiding in their shells. What use does the Yamen have for them? What use do I have for them?" Unable to help but snort coldly, even the brilliant results of today could not hide the anger in Shen Yu's heart.

Of course, Shen Yu understood that these Constables and Yamen Runners might have encountered threats or inducements and had no choice but to do so, but at least they could have given a hint when they were hiding, which would have counted as some contribution.

As it turned out, with so many people, not a single one spoke up or gave a hint. It was only after the entire Baian County had fallen into complete chaos that Shen Yu learned the news; he didn't even know how many people had been harmed.

Such Yamen Runners and Constables—what use are they? Replace them all, and it will also serve as a warning to everyone!