Chapter 73: Chapter 71: Reaction

Inner City.

Located at the very center was an ancient and majestic set of pavilions, with towering bluestone walls around the courtyard. This was the heart of Yu City, the seat of the City Lord's Mansion and various Yamen offices.

In a small building on one side, a plainly dressed middle-aged man stood by the window with his hands behind his back, gazing out at the courtyard.

Although not in official attire, there was an inherent majesty in his facial expressions that set him apart from ordinary men.

He was the Metropolitan Commander of the Outer City, Yan Guang.

Beyond managing the four divisions of the City Defense Division, all Yamen under the Outer City also came under his jurisdiction—not only was he the immediate superior of Xu Hongyu, but he was also a towering figure in Yu City.

Above him, there were only a few figures such as the Commander-in-chief and City Lord.

"I heard there was some disturbance in South City last night?"

Suddenly, someone walked in. Yan Guang did not turn around but casually asked while standing in front of the window.

The person behind laughed and said, "A minor incident, I didn't expect even you would have heard about it."

Yan Guang turned his head and said indifferently, "The Zheng Family really isn't significant, just a distant relative of the He Family. However, that young man Hongyu promoted has some skills."

"Yes, this child was unexpectedly discovered by Xu Hongyu. Originally just a lowly figure, but he possesses insight and self-taught a set of Blade Techniques gaining Blade Momentum. He's especially talented, having developed extreme Skin Toughening in a short time, and has now reached the Body Refinement level,"

Xue Xiang nodded and said.

Yan Guang mused, "Both his insight and talent are rather extraordinary. Even though he started late, if he can reach the Tendon Changing Level, he would indeed be worth recruiting."

Xue Xiang thought for a moment and then said, "Chen Mu was practically brought up from the bottom by Xu Hongyu's own hands. It won't be easy to bring him under the Xue family's banner, and it's not worth a major struggle. I think it would be better to let the Yu Family handle it and let them continue to contend with the He Family."

Upon hearing this, Yan Guang showed a contemplative expression.

Although Chen Mu had been promoted by Xu Hongyu, if he wanted to intervene, it wouldn't be difficult; he could directly promote Chen Mu to work in the Inner City, pulling him out of the mire of the Yu and He Family feud in one step.

He could even bestow Tendon Changing Pills, and find a suitable candidate among the children of the Xue Family to betroth to Chen Mu, among other measures.

There were plenty of ways to recruit him.

The main issue was weighing the pros and cons.

According to current intelligence, Chen Mu indeed had notable insight and talent, but he had started late, and currently was only in the Body Refinement Realm. Whether he could cross the threshold of Tendon Changing was unknown to anyone.

If various methods were used to woo him over, yet Chen Mu failed to enter the Tendon Changing Level, it would be a joke.

After all, there were plenty of martial practitioners in the Skin Toughening and Body Refinement Realms. Without reaching Tendon Changing, they couldn't really be considered significant.

"Let it be,"

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Yan Guang thought, then still shook his head slightly.

Indeed, as Xue Xiang had said, it wasn't worth a major struggle. Even if Chen Mu could later step into the Tendon Changing Level, he would only be regarded as a talent worth recruiting, not indispensably so.

The Yu Family was currently in a difficult situation, and there was no need to target them deliberately. If they could cause a bit more trouble for the He Family, that would also serve a purpose.

...

South City District.

City Guard General.

Garbed in dark green constable attire, Chen Mu arrived at the base of the main building.

It was nearing noon, and the intense Taiyin made it difficult to keep one's eyes open.

Although he had ordered someone to report last night's events to the Chief Officer early in the morning, after handling various matters at the prefecture, he still needed to come in person to report his duties.

Chen Mu, now, whether entering the Chief Office or the chief building, no longer needed anyone to report his arrival or lead the way.

He proceeded upwards along the staircase.

But just as he passed the third floor, a cold voice came, "Prefecture Chief Chen, such a grand air, not reporting to the Chief Officer beforehand and rallying troops to tackle the Zheng family. Could it be that the constables of Wutong Grove District have already become Prefecture Chief Chen's private soldiers to command at will?"

Approaching was a man with a cold expression and an unfriendly tone, exactly Deputy Head Officer He Mingxuan.

Although the Zheng family meant little to the He family, they were, after all, a faction raised in the Outer City for decades, delivering up to ten thousand taels of silver to the He family every year.

And now, they had been wiped out overnight!

This shocked He Mingxuan, who had heard the news early in the morning. He had intended for the Zheng family to lead the trouble against Chen Mu while he created difficulties from the Chief Office's side, looking for an opportunity to kick Chen Mu out of the City Defense Division of Wutong Grove District and place his own people in charge.

Yet, before the Zheng family could act, Chen Mu, just five days into his office, had unexpectedly struck like thunder and uprooted the Zheng family entirely.

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He Mingxuan, upon realizing this, was even more furiously shaken.

However,

The next scene made He Mingxuan even more furiously enraged.

There stood Chen Mu, his expression indifferent, saying,

"Who are you?"

Faced with Chen Mu's response, He Mingxuan was stunned momentarily, then a surge of rage rose, "Damned fool!"

Although it was their first meeting, how could Chen Mu possibly not recognize his rank!

Chen Mu indifferently said, "If you have no business, please do not block the way."

He of course knew who the man before him was, but since He Mingxuan did not announce his identity, he naturally couldn't be bothered to acknowledge it, especially since the conflict between Hongyu and He Mingxuan was well-known. He needed to give even less face.

"You..."

For a moment, He Mingxuan was fuming, he, the dignified Deputy Head Officer, a direct descendant of the He family, Hongyu was one thing, but since when could a mere Prefecture Chief be so disrespectful to him.

Just as He Mingxuan was furiously enraged, unable to hold back any longer and about to explode, a crisp voice suddenly arrived.

"This gentleman is Deputy Head Officer Lord He."

The figure of Xiao He appeared on the stairs.

"Oh, so it is Lord He."

Chen Mu bowed slightly to He Mingxuan.

He Mingxuan's face stiffened there, feeling a belly full of rage with nowhere to vent, coldly said, "You still haven't explained the incident with the Zheng family's clash last night."

Xiao He took over the conversation, "The Zheng family was smuggling banned medicinal materials, warranting a family raid and exile. Lord Chen had already reported to the Chief Constable beforehand, and last night's actions were approved by the Chief Constable. Lord He, if you have any questions, you may inquire with the Chief Constable."

"...Very well."

He Mingxuan glowered, his gaze cold as he glanced at Xiao He and then at Chen Mu, before leaving with a flick of his sleeve.

Xiao He watched He Mingxuan turn around, the corners of her eyes curving into a cute arc, then turned to Chen Mu and said, "Alright, hurry upstairs. The lady is waiting for you."

Chen Mu and Xiao He exchanged a knowing look, both resuming their calm expressions, and then they continued upstairs together, soon disappearing on the fourth floor.

It was a long while before some silent constables cautiously glanced this way, then quickly withdrew their gazes.