A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch

Chapter 229 169: Commoners Never Win Against Officials—Daring to Kill My Horse (Part 2)

The two officers heard the words and immediately pressed down on Uncle Changshun's shoulders, forcing his knees to bend and kneel.

"Whoa! How did Changshun get arrested?"

"Could it be because he's stubborn and didn't offer respect, offending the military officers?"

"Quickly inform Master Qi, the boats can't set off, or business will be delayed!"

"The common people can't fight with officials, hurry and let Master Qi set up a table with wine..."

The villagers discussed fervently, shocked. To them, the authority of the County City officers was heavier than that of the three main families' lords.

Offending the latter might cost them their livelihood, but provoking the former could lead to decapitation.

"Ah Qi!"

Seeing his father arrested, Xiaotou panicked immediately.

"They're clearly looking for trouble with me, who is this person?"

Bai Qi lowered his eyelids. Ever since he destroyed Yang Meng and subdued the Fishery He Family, he was practically untouchable in Black River County. This kind of direct confrontation was indeed unexpected.

"Ah Xie, go ask He Jingfeng to investigate and find out more. Xiaotou, don't panic. This captain is acting this way publicly only to force me to show myself, so he can manipulate me. He has an official position, I'm a rich family, the common people don't fight with officials... let's wait and see."

In the business world, constantly referring to Tongwen Hall and invoking Ninghai Zen seemed too incompetent for a disciple.

Bai Qi's gaze turned cold. Even a mighty dragon can't overpower a local bully; not even an imperial envoy from the Dragon Court visiting the countryside can avoid worrying about their own head.

"Xiaotou, ride quickly and contact the Ginseng Collection Manor's Cold Arrow expert Wang Ding, and get him to go to Black River County."

...

...

"The one surnamed Tao clearly has ties with your junior apprentice, deliberately picking a fight with Young Master Qi."

In Tongwen Hall, Lao Dao finished watching the commotion and leisurely returned to the front courtyard, seeing Ninghai Zen rarely staying in the main hall.

"I've already dismissed the master; how is he still a junior apprentice? If Chen Zhao considers himself part of Tongwen Hall, he should visit me now.

His hesitation to appear indicates a guilty conscience, just like his mother, thinking he's clever but has petty ambitions."

Ninghai Zen spoke with a calm tone.

"Young Master, that is still your master's wife; it's inappropriate to speak this way."

Lao Dao chuckled.

"In the end, during tough times she gave a bowl of rice and vegetable stock, making the master blindly devoted. The word 'emotion' doesn't follow reason at all."

Ninghai Zen shook his head:

"The master is muddle-headed, feeding an ungrateful person is one thing, but he doesn't want to be the bad guy; I'm willing to, yet after crippling the first, another one pops up."

His master, Chen Xing, married a widow who brought along two sons. The older one changed his surname to 'Chen Ye,' and the younger one 'Chen Zhao.'

"Will Young Master handle this situation?"

Lao Dao's eyelids drooped, and he raised his hand to fiddle with the top of his mink hat, revealing a kindly smile.

"Let Ah Qi deal with it, if he can only lie beneath Tongwen Hall's signboard, how can he inherit its legacy?"

Ninghai Zen lightly raised one finger, then fell silent.

"I'll hold back too."

Lao Dao felt quite regretful; he couldn't stand those arrogant officials from the County City. In the past, when they gathered at Fulong Mountain, he had killed quite a few of them.

"Who do you think Ah Qi will strike first? Tao Rong or Chen Zhao?"

Ninghai Zen suddenly asked.

"Tao Rong is a captain at Zhechong Prefecture, Third Skin Barrier trained, and has multiple officers guarding him, unlike Zhu Shou Rang. Young Master Qi can't handle this solo.

Though Chen Zhao is dull, his martial aptitude is not bad; reportedly of superior bone structure, and with your master's teaching, he's gone through seven blood changes, developing Wind Tiger Body... Young Master Qi could kill him easily, but how to retreat unscathed?"

Lao Dao hesitated slightly.

"My disciple is wiser than he's strong."

Ninghai Zen's mouth curled up.

"Just wait and see."

...

...

The moon was high in the sky.

In a large mansion, Tao Rong sat seated, patiently awaiting Chen Zhao's completion of his training.

The spacious front courtyard seemed as if a hurricane swept through, lifting large clouds of dust.

Looking closely, streams of airflow formed white waves like dragons, emitting sharp whistles, encircling Chen Zhao who had removed his Hundred Refinements Bright Armor.

The intense and powerful breathing echoed like muffled thunder, rumbling as it struck against the walls and reverberated back, almost filling the entire space.

The Wind Dragon swept across, roaring like a blade, making even martial artists at the First Tendon Training Barrier unable to stand for half a stick of incense.

Chen Zhao's tall figure emitted a scorching and conspicuous burning red glow, akin to an exquisite crystal jade, revealing a vigorous flow of qi and blood.

"So this is the Wind Tiger Body..."

Tao Rong's gaze was complex, with both envy and jealousy.

As the saying goes, clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger.

Once such superior bone structure is cultivated, paired with matching top-level martial arts, future achievements are limitless.

"Pity I don't have a mother who married a good stepfather. Chen Xing, able to teach an extraordinary Four Cultivation Grandmaster like Ninghai Zen, sending a foster son to Third Training Great Success is certainly not difficult."

Tao Rong felt sour. Chen Zhao, a destitute fellow, had it not been for his stepfather Chen Xing's influence, wouldn't have mingled into Zhechong Prefecture, currying favor with Silver Hammer Grand Protector Pei Yuanqing, worthy of being treated with caution?

"Brother Tao, you detained all the fish docking boats and personnel, yet Bai Qilang didn't step forward?"

Chen Zhao deeply inhaled, the wind surging like substance, forming a formidable tiger lying on the ridge, intimidating spirits, as if a punch could shatter the mansion.

He slowly withdrew his stance, without a trace of sweat on his forehead, leisurely seated at the head:

"This person indeed remains composed, knowing he can't contend with you, Captain of the Brave Guard, and choosing to be a shrinking turtle."

Tao Rong carefully chose his words, speaking cautiously:

"I only detained all the fishery hands, this matter shouldn't be dragged too long, after all, the three major families in Black River County have their reputations.

Bai Qilang has close ties with He Jingfeng of the He Family, and Feng Shao Ling of the Feng Family, not to mention, the venerable Master Li of the Fire Kiln."

After a day's investigation and buying intelligence from the Hidden Pavilion, Tao Rong discovered Bai Qilang's considerable backing, aside from the Tongwen Hall brand, possessing other various connections.

Just learning under Fire Kiln's Li Yuan was enough to make him retreat.

If not already aboard Chen Zhao's bandwagon, having no other option, he would have been at Donglai Tower, apologizing with wine and punishing himself three glasses by now.

"Brother Tao, have no worries."

Chen Zhao extended his hand downward:

"Tomorrow morning, I'll visit Bai Qilang's place, his master being my father's disciple, calling me his elder should easily resolve this matter.

By then, lower your demeanor, the issue will pass, backed by my father's prestige along with the Pictorial Jade, how can Ninghai Zen refuse my request?"

Upon hearing this, Tao Rong reluctantly exhaled. It is said the commoners don't fight officials, yet Bai Qilang isn't an ordinary folk without backup.

With a Four Cultivation Grandmaster as patron, plus assistance from Master Craftsman Li Yuan, being a Captain of the Brave Guard is far from enough to hold the scene.

"Brother Tao, both crafted through battles on the field, one's the antagonist, the other's the protagonist, can't manage a young lad with a fishing background?"

Chen Zhao held a smile at the corner of his lips, as a talented elite from the Prefecture City, he had no regard for Bai Qi, who wielded power in Black River County.

"You capture, I release—a reciprocal favor. Besides, by seniority, he should call me Senior Uncle, couldn't be ungrateful..."

Confident, Chen Zhao, with his mother, meticulously planned this strategy.

The crux was his kind-hearted stepfather, reluctant to wield his master's influence to pressure Ninghai Zen; otherwise, how could Tongwen Hall's three authentic techniques be handed over to others.

"If I could master the Ten Dragons and Ten Elephants Prison-Suppression Skill, I wouldn't be inferior to Ninghai Zen from ten years ago..."

Crack!

As the thought rose, before it settled, thunderous roars erupted by his ear!

A strong bow drawn full, Iron Arrow tearing through the sky!

"Such audacity!"

Chen Zhao's eyes widened, the aura tightened around him, abruptly leaving the upper seat!

Snap!

Feathered arrows shot out, wood splinters scattered!

"They dare touch Zhechong Prefecture's people too! Lawlessness!"

Tao Rong in fury, stomped underfoot, crossing several yards in a bound, directly dashing out of the mansion, into the dark expanse.

With a face as composed as water, Chen Zhao triggered the Wind Tiger Body, his speed outpacing Tao Rong's Third Skin Refining Barrier, like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, chasing the fleeting archer's shadow.

A tea's time.

The two returned fruitless.

Chen Zhao's expression became gloomy:

"That person's lightweight skill matches mine, deliberately leading us in circles, could Bai Qilang plan to hijack?"

Having changed blood seven times, refined silver marrow, cultivated a Wind Tiger Body, qi and blood circulating throughout his body, his speed matched a Third Skin Cultivation expert, yet couldn't catch that assassin.

"Unless he's lost his mind. With so many personnel and stewards, running becomes fugitive, how can he hide... Brother Chen! Your horse!"

Crossing the threshold, Tao Rong sensed an overwhelming stench of blood, looking up, on the central hall's table, dramatically rested an immense... horse head!

"Red Blood Qilin Horse! He dared kill my horse!?"

Chen Zhao's eyes turned sharply red, fury rising to his mind, seeing it was the exotic steed gifted by Brother Pei!