[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday":3,"chapter-the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-457":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Imperial Hound on an Eight-Hour Shift",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2225515,4113,"Chapter 457: Assessment","the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-457",457,"\u003Cp>An Ziyang’s words were clear and provided a perfect explanation for the group’s doubts along the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why Qi Jiguang, who was deeply trusted by the Dengzhou Garrison Commander, had suddenly been imprisoned, and why the thousands of soldiers of the Dengzhou Garrison had been cleared out overnight—if one only looked at the events in Dengzhou, it would seem headless and tailless, but if it were under An Ziyang’s instruction, it all made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One had to know that the former Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was now the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet; and as for who the current Commander was, it went without saying... In a mere Dengzhou Garrison, An Ziyang was naturally free to act as he pleased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But, why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question of \"could he\" could be explained, but \"why\"?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how outstanding General Qi was, to put it plainly, he was just a nineteen-year-old youth who had succeeded to his father’s position and achieved some results. Why would a figure like An Ziyang condescend to target him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Huanhua Sword Sect youth’s mind was in chaos, and it sank to the bottom like snowflakes under An Ziyang’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had better think about how to shoulder the responsibility himself and try not to implicate his sect or parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the new generation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, An Ziyang was not famous for his *Wu Gong*, and no one had ever seen him truly strike. *Jianghu* rumors said his own *Wu Gong* was only at a first or second-rate level, and he had only risen to power through ruthlessness and flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But everyone present dared not strike at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jailbreak might lead to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Striking at a Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would lead to the corpses of one’s ancestors for eight generations being dug up and fed to dogs. One could risk one’s own life, but how could one abandon the lives of parents, relatives, teachers, and friends?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only plan now was to offer one’s neck for the executioner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he died quickly, and given the relationship between his sect and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, perhaps he could end the matter with himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned down tremblingly, picked up his long sword, and pressed it against his own neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Ziyang, opposite him, seemed to have lost interest in him, slightly turning his head to look beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And who are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed at the group with his fan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are all scared to death when they see me, why are you so calm, neither speaking nor making a sound, just crossing your arms and smiling?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Huanhua Sword Sect youth was stunned, suddenly reacting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment An Ziyang appeared until now, \"Brother Li\" hadn't said another word or made a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just been leaning against the wall, arms crossed, head tilted, watching quietly, not even hiding that inexplicable smile at the corner of his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after being named by An Ziyang did he drop his hands, walk from the wall to the front of the group, and say with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s just that you look so majestic, Lord, I didn't want to say anything inappropriate, so I just waited on the side for a while—are you done speaking now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you’re done, I’ll say a few words.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slightly turned half his face, speaking to the group behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s go, do you want to stay for a meal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone was stunned in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Huanhua Sword Sect youth’s long sword stopped at his neck, and then he suddenly burst into tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Li, you can't!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This matter should have been shouldered by everyone together!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Miao just waved his hand at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Ziyang, opposite, smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Want to strike at me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill me, leave no evidence, destroy the traces of their visit, and shoulder the matter yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped tapping his fan against his palm, his smile unchanged, but everyone present felt a chill run through their entire bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then come, try it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tail of his sentence landed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noisy sounds arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle—*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless tiny sounds of wings flapping and crawling overlapped neatly, accompanied by the sounds of countless mechanisms unfolding and gears meshing, becoming deafening in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The floors of the prison cells on both sides flipped up, countless Gu worms flew and crawled out, occupying every inch of the walls. Then, Gu worms the size of fists carried out one-foot-square machines; countless worms surged in the holes of the machines, driving gears and aiming cold-glinting blades at Li Miao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Ziyang broke the folding fan in his hand and pulled it; the fan face shattered, and ten fan ribs broke together, revealing the sky-silk connecting them. He looped one end over his five fingers and let the other end drop to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn't all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doors of the dozen or so prison cells that everyone thought were empty swung open, and a dozen figures with no beards or hair, pale faces, and hollow eyes walked out, reaching out in unison to tear open the clothes on their chests, revealing metal and holes embedded in their flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gu soldiers...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A *Jianghu* person said in despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heaven-Man Gu soldiers, Tang Men mechanisms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He can simultaneously manipulate so many Heaven-Man Gu soldiers and top-tier Tang Men mechanisms with *Qi*... He is not the first or second-rate level from the *Jianghu* rumors; he is... a Heaven-Man...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A Heaven-Man who pioneered the combination of Gu arts and mechanisms...\" \u003C\u002Fp>",923,"2026-06-17T21:41:17.211Z","2026-06-18T03:13:38.468Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","9db293e8fc3dccdbabf73f135f8862d6c689fa019bfc376f1f6cb571d8e7b13c","the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-458","the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-456",647,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-imperial-hound-on-an-eight-hour-shift-cover.jpg"]