Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 122 - 121: Beware of the Deputy Officer! (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 122: Chapter 121: Beware of the Deputy Officer! (Please Subscribe)

Zhang San and others got the carriage ready and then left the Shi Family Villa from the western gate with Xu.

After making a small detour, they returned to Xiongfeng Manor.

Meanwhile, Fang Cunzai, who was trapped in the circle next to the small woods on the east side of Shi Family Villa, had been stuck for a full day and night.

Being hungry was one thing, but as a Cultivator of the Spiritual Platform Realm, he could withstand it.

However, when it came to the discomfort in his stomach that needed relieving, this wasn’t something that could be endured simply because one was of the Spiritual Platform Realm.

And unfortunately, he was confined to a circle with a diameter no greater than ten feet.

It was extremely difficult.

As soon as the invisible wall around him disappeared, Fang Cunzai immediately searched for some wild fruits in the woods, not to eat them, but to sniff their scent to freshen up his own nose.

Then he found a small river to bathe in.

That very night, Fang Cunzai climbed over the wall of the Shi Family Villa and entered.

The first person he found was the ruffian who had instigated others to pull down his trousers.

The ruffian was sleeping soundly in his home, never expecting that someone would sneak in during the middle of the night, carrying a weapon no less.

"Mercy, hero! My family is poor, we really don’t have any money! The only thing of value is a piece of Gold Leaves in my socks; if you fancy it, just take it!"

Fang Cunzai chuckled, but considering all the hardships he had suffered on this trip, taking a piece of Gold Leaves from the ruffian felt like a form of compensation.

When Fang Cunzai found the Gold Leaves in the socks, he didn’t think they smelled bad at all.

Perhaps he had gotten used to the bad smells recently.

"Tell me, who was it that instructed you all to keep me out of the Shi Family Villa the day before yesterday?"

Upon hearing this, the ruffian in the dark instantly realized that the visitor was Fang Cunzai.

"So it’s Master Fang. Master Fang, you see, we, who roam the streets, also have our own sense of loyalty. Zhang San considers me a friend, and I absolutely cannot betray him."

Fang Cunzai laughed; indeed, it was Zhang San’s handiwork.

"Where are they now?"

The ruffian turned his head away, "Despite being a good-for-nothing and a vagrant, I remember who has been good to me. Don’t even think I’ll lead you to the courtyard next to the blacksmith’s shop on the north side of the villa. We live by the code of ’loyalty’ on the streets!"

Admiring the ruffian’s obstinacy, Fang Cunzai then left for the northern part of the villa.

Watching Fang Cunzai leave, the ruffian felt the pain of losing his Gold Leaves but also admired his own integrity.

"It must be my quality of not betraying friends that moved him! No wonder they say you have to be loyal when you’re out in the world!"

Fang Cunzai arrived at the courtyard previously occupied by Zhang San and his group, noticing from a distance the marks left by the carriage at the door.

Consequently, Fang Cunzai jumped over the wall into the compound.

No sooner had he entered than several skilled martial artists rushed out from all around.

Before Fang Cunzai had a chance to use his techniques to sense the Realm of his attackers, the two people to his left and right lifted their hands to immobilize him, preventing him from moving. Then, the person in front slapped him across the face.

Following that, a group rushed forward to pummel him with punches and kicks.

Fang Cunzai was in excruciating pain, yet despite opening his mouth, he couldn’t make a sound, as if all the sounds in the area were automatically silenced.

Not to mention the sound of his own cries, even the noise made by fists and feet hitting his body was utterly inaudible.

Could it be that I’ve been beaten deaf?

Fortunately, once Fang Cunzai was thrown into the woodshed, someone spoke up, and Fang Cunzai was relieved; he wasn’t deaf.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Fang Cunzai knew that these people were powerful, surely from some martial path faction. At this time, it was best to reveal his identity, or else he was in danger.

"I am Fang Cunzai, Military Chief of the Town Martial Office, here to investigate a secret case. Who are you?"

The skilled fighters exchanged glances, not expecting that this person was from the Town Martial Office.

At the same time, someone searched Fang Cunzai’s person and found a Token, confirming his connection to the Town Martial Office.

The fighters wore troubled expressions.

"Why is it someone from the Town Martial Office?"

"It’s good that it’s someone from the Town Martial Office; I heard..."

The individual who seemed to know some inside information hesitated mid-sentence upon glancing at Fang Cunzai, then at the Token in hand. They stuffed the Token back into Fang Cunzai’s chest and tapped his face, rendering Fang Cunzai completely mute.

Then, the expert who had just spoken said, "What Town Martial Office, did you hear him mention it?"

The few people beside him shook their heads one after another.

"Since he’s not from the Town Martial Office, and he’s climbing walls into someone else’s yard in the middle of the night, he’s definitely up to no good. Give him a beating first, then tie him up."

So, the group pinned Fang Cunzai to the ground and gave him another beating.

They then casually tied Fang Cunzai’s hands and feet with some straw they found in the firewood storage area.

Fang Cunzai watched as the others used straw to tie him up, and couldn’t help feeling a bit puzzled.

Are they afraid I won’t be able to run away?

However, Fang Cunzai failed to notice that after these people tied his hands and feet with straw, they pointed at the straw with their fingers and murmured something softly.

By the time the group left the firewood storage area, Fang Cunzai struggled to free himself, then started to question his life.

How the hell can I not break free from straw?

This stuff should fall off even without me struggling, with just a few shakes!

Did I run into a ghost tonight?

...

Meanwhile, Zhang San was unaware of everything that had happened at the Shi Family Villa. After all, he had found a way to help Xu refine the wronged souls, and a significant part of them had been refined by Xu. The remaining souls were a bit troublesome to deal with as they had coalesced into one, but they weren’t impossible to communicate with.

It was as if Xu had developed a second, anti-social personality, liable to erupt at any moment, but at least he could hide it in front of others by simply saying he was possessed by devils during his training.

It wouldn’t let others see him as a living dead.

They had just arrived at Xiongfeng Manor when Ling suddenly thought of something and reminded Zhang San, "Speaking of which, when you get back, you should be careful of one person."

"Fang Cunzai? That guy’s intentions aren’t bad, he’s just limited in intelligence, so he’s not a concern," Zhang San didn’t take Fang Cunzai seriously at all.

"Of course, it’s not him, it’s the Deputy Officer, Lu Qingquan."

Zhang San was stunned.

This was the first time he learned that there was a Deputy Officer above them.

"Is he very strong, or does he have a good relationship with Officer Bai?"

"Neither. The man is petty and mean, extremely opportunistic, a real scoundrel. If you get on his bad side, you’ll find trouble in your shoes," Ling warned.

Zhang San curled his lip and thought to himself, why would I provoke the Deputy Officer without any reason?

Just then, the carriage arrived at the entrance of Xiongfeng Manor, and a long-faced middle-aged man dressed as a scholar came out with a cold expression, pointing his folding fan at Zhang San and the others.

"The two Principal Officers who came down to investigate have already arrived. Yet curiously, all three of you Military Chiefs involved in the affair are absent. This is utterly preposterous!"

Zhang San, seeing his sharp and mean appearance and his face long enough for two people, knew this had to be Deputy Officer Lu Qingquan.

But fortunately, there were three Military Chiefs to take the blame, so it wouldn’t come down to him.

"And you! Zhang San! You’re an Apprentice Warrior. After something like this happens, instead of waiting obediently at your post, you run off? Get inside!"

Zhang San forced a smile and followed Lu Qingquan, leading the horse into the manor.

Lu Qingquan, while walking Zhang San and the others inside, grumbled non-stop.

As they approached the entrance of the Council Hall, he finally stopped his ranting and turned to glare at Zhang San, "Had the two Principal Officers not been in a hurry, I would have had some stern words for you today!"

After saying that, Lu Qingquan walked into the Council Hall first.

Zhang San watched Lu Qingquan’s retreating figure with a befuddled expression, wondering if someone had just been releasing gas.

Zhang San turned helplessly to look at Wei and the other two, only to find they seemed indifferent, evidently quite accustomed to Lu Qingquan’s behavior.

Zhang San followed them inside and immediately saw Lu Qingquan in the Council Hall, warming up to the two Principal Officers and reporting on the work.

In the hall, the two Principal Officers, one to the left and one to the right, were dressed in the Town Martial Office’s uniform with a red Martial character embellishing their attire, appearing all the more formidable.

"Although we are Principal Officers, we certainly don’t understand the affairs of the Chuan-Yu Road as well as you do, so you should conduct the interrogation," the Principal Officer on the east side said softly.

The Principal Officer on the west side nodded in agreement.

Lu Qingquan quickly agreed, "Then I shall begin. If the Principal Officers have any suggestions, please feel free to voice them."

Zhang San watched as Lu Qingquan, with his obnoxious long face, took the main seat; he sensed that the situation was not good.