Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 224 - 217: How Dare the Heavenly Punishment Sect Act Rashly!

Chapter 224: Chapter 217: How Dare the Heavenly Punishment Sect Act Rashly!

In the afternoon, the people from the Town Martial Office had gathered all the martial artists in Fuling City and then brought them to their residence, assigning them places to stay together.

At first, these martial artists were reluctant, as they naturally had an aversion to seeing people from the Town Martial Office.

However, people from a sect called the Flying Eagle Sect, which had just arrived, persuaded everyone to cooperate after some discussion.

Zhang San, upon meeting the sect leader of the newly established Flying Eagle Sect, realized that this person was the previous leader who had had a conflict with the Wen Family.

"So it was you!"

The people from the Flying Eagle Sect were in a separate courtyard, discussing why the Town Martial Office had gathered them together.

When Zhang San entered, everyone immediately stood up.

The Sect Leader of the Flying Eagle Sect greeted Zhang San with a cupped-fist salute.

"I am the Sect Leader of the Flying Eagle Sect, Tie Wuheng, and I have seen Military Chief Zhang."

Zhang San waved his hand and then sat down on the ground with everyone else.

"Have you all seen the bounty posted by our Town Martial Office?"

One of the martial artists couldn’t help but ask, "Is eight taels of gold not a bit too little for a former deputy leader of the Dragon Serpent Gang?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang San burst into laughter.

"That’s just for show, to lull Lv Dagen into complacency when he sees it."

Actually, Zhang San was clearer than anyone that the purpose of posting the bounty was to let Hu Feipan inform Lv Dagen that he was being sought after, so that Hu Feipan would not have time to move Lv Dagen, thus creating an opportunity for himself to capture Lv Dagen later.

Otherwise, if Hu Feipan felt that something was amiss and moved the person, it would be difficult to find him in the vast Fuling City.

"In fact, I have received intelligence that Lv Dagen, knowing we were coming, has already secretly slipped out of the city. But since the Town Martial Office is short-handed, we have invited all martial artists of Fuling to help us find the person."

Tie Wuheng nodded and then said, "We at the Flying Eagle Sect are best at manhunting. Military Chief Zhang, to be honest, when we initially established our sect, it was because we couldn’t make much money traveling the world. So, we specialized in doing tasks for people with money, and besides escorting and guarding, the most frequent job we undertake is finding people. We are very adept at it."

Zhang San nodded with satisfaction and said, "Then I’ll leave it to you all. But I’m worried that just the people from the Flying Eagle Sect won’t be enough, so we have also invited all the martial artists here. I will need Sect Leader Tie’s help to persuade them. Before the city gates close tonight, I will take everyone out of the city to look for Lv Dagen!"

"Understood!"

Tie Wuheng immediately went to persuade the rest of the martial artists.

Everyone knew that although the Flying Eagle Sect had been established for less than a year, and the sect didn’t have much money, not even a proper mountain gate, the Sect Leader was known for his loyalty and treated his disciples well, so many people were willing to follow him.

And so, with the help of the Flying Eagle Sect, that evening, Zhang San led all the people from the Town Martial Office, along with many martial artists, majestically out of Fuling City.

Hu Feipan, upon receiving this information, found it strange.

Zhang San had said there were not many people from the Town Martial Office, but upon investigation, Hu Feipan found there were over five hundred people.

Furthermore, they had invited all the martial artists of Fuling City, adding another five hundred people.

Together, more than a thousand people should be able to search all of Fuling City, so why did they leave the city before sunset?

Could he really believe that they would search within the city?

In the end, Hu Feipan still ordered his men to conduct a cursory search throughout the city.

That way, when Zhang San returned, at least he would have something to show for it.

However, what Hu Feipan didn’t expect was that after Zhang San took his men out, they didn’t go looking for Lv Dagen. Instead, they found a spot sheltered from the wind, set up camp, and prepared to rest.

Wang Ziteng even sent people to buy a substantial amount of wine and food, purchasing fifty sheep alone.

Everyone was eating meat and drinking wine, enjoying themselves greatly.

"Lately, we should eat more mutton, you know? The price of mutton has dropped!"

The people from the Flying Eagle Sect were well-informed, and as some ate, they began to tell everyone about the strange events they had recently heard about.

"I heard that not too long ago, in a certain place, many people who bought sheep home and tied them up found that they disappeared!"

Someone nearby immediately said, "That must be theft! Can a sheep turn into a spirit and run away?"

The person from the Flying Eagle Sect waved his hand and said, "No! That’s because sheep have been going missing in that place quite often. What kind of thief can steal every day? I even heard that one family recently struck it rich, bought twenty sheep, and when they checked the next morning, only two were left! If it really were a thief, would he leave two behind?"

At this moment, many people also sensed the unusual flavor in this story.

The person from the Flying Eagle Sect continued, "Later, I don’t know who said it, but there was talk that the sheep might have been eaten by a ghost, and even that someone saw a very tall ghost in the sheep pen at night! As a result, many shepherds are now reluctant to keep sheep and are selling them in large numbers; hence the price of sheep has dropped quite a bit."

Upon hearing this story, Zhang San couldn’t help but think of Wang Dada and Song Dingbo, wondering if their money-making business would be affected by this.

Then, others began to tell other eerie and odd tales that were rarely heard.

As everyone chatted, Tie Wuheng found an opportunity to sit next to Zhang San, wanting to take the chance to foster a relationship, and started a conversation, "Military Chief Zhang, why do you have a Little Fox with you? I suppose this Little Fox has become spiritually aware, hasn’t it?"

Zhang San nodded.

Although recently the Little Fox hadn’t spoken a word by his side, Zhang San knew that a fox that could talk was at least in the Primordial Qi Realm.

"I’m just curious. The martial artists from the Town Martial Office bring Demon Beasts with them, doesn’t the Town Demon Office give you any trouble?"

Zhang San was startled; although he knew that Kaihuang had established the Town Martial Office and the Town Demon Office, regarded equally as the Two Imperial Bureaus, he wasn’t very familiar with the Town Demon Office.

Seeing Zhang San’s confusion, Tie Wuheng figured Zhang San wasn’t very knowledgeable about the matter, so he took the opportunity to tell Zhang San about the grievances between the Town Martial Office and the Town Demon Office.

At first, Kaihuang established the Two Imperial Bureaus, which answered directly to him.

The sudden emergence of two organizations with powerful martial forces, although greatly restricted in official rank, made every minister in the court feel threatened.

Fortunately, the Town Demon Office mainly focused on combating the All Things Path on Longyou Road, preventing Demons from invading Great Sui. The rest of the Town Demon Office’s force was mainly concentrated in the south.

Over the years, the Town Demon Office has remained the same.

However, the Town Martial Office evolved from initially suppressing martial path forces and families to becoming the armor of Great Sui, a far cry from its origins as a sharp sword.

The power of the Town Martial Office is far beyond that of the Town Demon Office, which deals only with Demons. This is also why the Town Demon Office is displeased with the Town Martial Office.

Zhang San chuckled and said, "That’s all thanks to the contributions of the predecessors of the Town Martial Office that we have our present-day status."

Tie Wuheng nodded repeatedly, saying, "True! Back then, the Heavenly Punishment Sect wished to compete with the Town Martial Office, but what about now? Regardless of this desolate place, as long as you and your men are here, if there are any from the Heavenly Punishment Sect in Fuling City, they wouldn’t dare to make a move."

Zhang San laughed.

Meanwhile, in Fuling City, more than thirty hidden martial artists gathered near the Governor Mansion, led by Xia Chenglong of the Heavenly Punishment Sect.

"Tonight’s target, raid the home of the corrupt official Hu Feipan!"

"Make sure to spare no one on your path!"