Xu… Brother Xu, Have You Eaten?

Translator: CinderTL

Xu Sanyan was stunned. Rebels? Where did they come from? How come he didn't know about this?

County Magistrate Lu seemed to notice his confusion and explained, "Prince Rui of Xiangzhou raised an army in rebellion three months ago. Since Xiangzhou is quite far from here, the news hasn't reached us until now. It's normal that you haven't heard about it."

Xu Sanyan nodded. "So, the White Horse Gang is colluding with Prince Rui?"

Zhu Yong nodded. "Exactly. Our Li Prefecture is rich in warhorses, and the White Horse Gang has a horse farm outside the city. They've been selling horses to other provinces."

"Until recently, when they were caught by the Surveillance Bureau during a transaction in Huai Prefecture. After tracking the buyers, they discovered that the White Horse Gang was supplying warhorses to the rebels."

Xu Sanyan frowned and asked, "Are you planning to take action against the White Horse Gang?"

Zhu Yong nodded. "Colluding with rebels is a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire clan. Moreover, the Surveillance Bureau already knows about this. There's no way to cover it up. The only option is to make amends through meritorious deeds."

Xu Sanyan asked curiously, "What exactly is the Surveillance Bureau?"

"They oversee everything under the heavens. Whether it's commoners or high-ranking officials, they have the authority to investigate anyone. Their power is immense, and they report directly to the Emperor."

Xu Sanyan slowly nodded, then looked at the two men. "Since the two of you have already made your plans, why call me here?"

Xu Sanyan naturally understood their intentions, but he certainly wouldn't act as their pawn for free.

County Magistrate Lu's eyelids drooped, making it hard to discern his thoughts. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, "We've received news that Bai Wuxia has reached the Celestial Being Realm."

Xu Sanyan chuckled inwardly. He had known this for a while, but he still feigned surprise. "Since he's already broken through, why not seek reinforcements? Surely the Surveillance Bureau has experts at the Celestial Being Realm?"

County Magistrate Lu sighed. "Alas, with Prince Rui's rebellion, most of the court's martial forces have been sent to the frontlines to suppress the revolt. There's no one to spare."

"Moreover, the appearance of rebels within our jurisdiction is already a failure on our part. If we can suppress the rebellion, our merits and faults may offset each other. Otherwise..."

County Magistrate Lu didn't continue, but Xu Sanyan understood. If they sought reinforcements, the blame would undoubtedly fall on him, and he couldn't bear that responsibility.

This "moreover" was the main point. The old man still wanted to climb higher in the officialdom.

"So, you called me here to involve the Guanshan Association as well?" Xu Sanyan asked.

Zhu Yong took over, "Brother Xu, rest assured, we won't let you help for nothing. Once this is done, you'll take over all of the White Horse Gang's businesses. How does that sound?"

County Magistrate Lu also looked up. This was the price they had agreed upon. Once the Guanshan Association absorbed the White Horse Gang, it would become the largest gang in Taian City.

The reason County Magistrate Lu and Zhu Yong agreed to this was that they believed Xu Sanyan's cultivation level was low, making him easy to control. Even if the Guanshan Association grew powerful, they weren't afraid.

But they were likely to be disappointed. Xu Sanyan gently shook his head. "I'm not interested in gangs, Brother Zhu. You should know that my ambition lies in cultivation."

The implication was clear: he needed something related to cultivation, or he wouldn't help. The two naturally understood the underlying message.

Zhu Yong's expression immediately turned ugly. Despite his usual friendly demeanor, calling Xu Sanyan "brother" here and there, it was all for the sake of money. Deep down, he didn't take Xu Sanyan seriously.

A mere gang leader, thinking he could stand on equal footing with him?

Zhu Yong couldn't help but feel even more contemptuous, suspecting that Xu Sanyan's Inner Qi Realm cultivation was likely achieved through the use of precious medicine.

But what Zhu Yong didn't expect was that Xu Sanyan had the audacity to bargain with him. He couldn't help but wonder if he had been too friendly, making Xu Sanyan forget his place.

After just a few business dealings, he really thought he was something special.

What a joke!

Zhu Yong snorted coldly. "Gang Leader Xu, you'd better remember who you're talking to."

By addressing him as "Gang Leader Xu," Zhu Yong made it clear that there was no friendship between them. Everything before had been a matter of mutual benefit.

Tonight's meeting was less of a discussion and more of an order.

The two of them, one the top official and the other the second-in-command of Taian City, had no room for refusal in their instructions.

Unless Xu Sanyan no longer wanted to stay in Taian City.

"Hehe..." Xu Sanyan smiled.

Seeing that Xu Sanyan still had the nerve to laugh, Zhu Yong's tone turned dark.

"You should know that even without your help, with the seven thousand troops under my command, I can easily crush the Guanshan Blade Association. But after this, you'd better think about your future..."

The threat in Zhu Yong's words couldn't be more obvious.

Xu Sanyan spread his hands with a smile. "Then why call me here? Please, go ahead."

Xu Sanyan naturally understood their plan. They wanted to use his men as cannon fodder to minimize the losses of the official troops.

Hmph, Xu Sanyan sneered inwardly. They wanted others to die for them without paying any price, wanting to have their cake and eat it too?

Dream on.

"Bang!"

Zhu Yong slammed the table and stood up. As a martial artist, he had a short temper, and Xu Sanyan's insolence had pushed him to the limit. He pointed at Xu Sanyan with a fierce expression.

"This isn't up to you. If you don't go, from now on, you can forget about staying in Taian City. I can raise you up, and I can crush you!"

"Hahaha..."

Xu Sanyan laughed as if he had heard the funniest joke, clutching his stomach. "Crush me? Alright, I'd like to see how you're going to crush me."

"You son of a..."

Before Zhu Yong could finish, Xu Sanyan slowly stood up, no longer hiding his cultivation. His aura erupted, and with a flick of his sleeve, his Inner Qi burst forth, causing the tables, chairs, doors, and windows around them to explode.

Bang—

The teacup on the table shattered, and shards of porcelain flew into the walls, leaving deep gouges. Some even grazed Zhu Yong's cheek, drawing blood.

In an instant, the room was in shambles. Books on the shelves in the corner were torn apart by an invisible force, scattering in the air.

Zhu Yong's eyes were blank, his mind empty. County Magistrate Lu was even worse off. The overwhelming aura made him tremble violently, as if he were being stared down by a ferocious tiger.

Xu Sanyan's figure blurred and disappeared, reappearing behind the two men. He placed his hands on their shoulders and leaned in, whispering softly, "Master Zhu, Master Lu, how do you plan to deal with me now?"

Zhu Yong's earlier ferocity was gone, replaced by a pale face. He muttered in disbelief, "The... the Celestial Being Realm?!"

County Magistrate Lu, being a civil official, might not fully grasp what it meant for someone so young to reach the Celestial Being Realm, but Zhu Yong knew all too well. A martial artist in the Celestial Being Realm at around twenty years old was a prodigy even in the imperial family.

He never would have imagined that in this impoverished northwestern region, a dragon could emerge.

What was even more terrifying was that he had offended this person...

Zhu Yong swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. He forced a smile that was uglier than a grimace. "Xu... Brother Xu, have you eaten?"

(End of the Chapter)

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