Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 540 - 503

Chapter 540: 503

Jia Tulong knelt on the ground and recounted the events as they had happened.

It was then that Zhang San learned that Jia Tulong had intended to seek justice for other martial artists.

When he arrived at the location, he discovered that Shen Buxing had lured martial artists into the camp with the intention of ambushing them, so he charged in to rescue them.

But to his surprise, Shen Buxing charged at Jia Tulong.

Jia Tulong hadn’t wanted to kill anyone and only aimed to repel his opponent with a single blow, but little did he expect that Shen Buxing, despite appearing quite old and strong, was so fragile that he was cleaved in two with a single strike!

Zhang San felt somewhat speechless upon hearing this.

Although he had clashed with Shen Buxing himself, he felt that Shen Buxing wasn’t such a pushover.

But then he remembered that Jia Tulong was obsessed with martial arts, and given his position as Second Hall Master of the Wind Divine Hall, his strength was decidedly not weak.

Therefore, it seemed rather reasonable that he had killed Shen Buxing with a single slash amidst the chaos of battle.

"So after Shen Buxing died, what happened with the rest of the soldiers? Did they all give up resistance, or did the fighting intensify?"

Jia Tulong bowed his head in shame and said,"When he died, I thought he was just an ordinary soldier with a bit of a title, and it was only after I heard the others shouting his name that I realized the man was Shen Buxing! By the time I came to my senses, the surrounding battles had already ended."

At that moment, someone brought in White Cloud, who had been tied up.

Zhang San glanced at White Cloud and asked,"This one, if I remember correctly, is Deacon White from your Wind Divine Hall. When I brought back the stolen sheep and cattle from Tujue, he was very supportive. So, he was also present yesterday?"

Although Zhang San knew what White Cloud had done, and in fact had ordered him to do it, he still had to pretend to be oblivious.

White Cloud, held down by others and kneeling on the ground, confessed everything honestly.

From the initial discontent with the Shuofang Army to the realization along the way that the accounting for seized supplies was incorrect, and eventually witnessing Second Hall Master Jia Tulong slaying Shen Buxing with a single strike, prompting him to get the Shuofang Army soldiers to surrender, with most surrendering and a small number still resisting being killed.

In the end, a few experts escaped.

Hearing this, Zhang San’s expression darkened, but he made a high internal appraisal of White Cloud’s ability to get things done.

If everyone on the opposing side had died, the matter would not have caused a big stir. It was necessary to have casualties and prisoners, as well as someone to escape and inform Mei Fei.

"Why did some still resist after Shen Buxing’s death? Logically speaking, with the main general dead, shouldn’t they all surrender out of fear?"

Zhang San inquired of White Cloud.

White Cloud, with his head lowered, said,"To answer Military Chief Zhang, it was because Shen Buxing’s sons were still in the army. At the time, his eldest son led his men in charging at Hall Master Jia. The martial artists protecting Hall Master Jia fought back and eventually... executed him."

"And what about Shen Buxing’s second son?"

"He escaped, and according to the martial artists who pursued him afterwards, he was rescued by a young military general with excellent archery skills."

Zhang San silently noted this important information and then glanced over at Jia Tulong, who was still kneeling on the ground, trembling.

"Hall Master Jia, although Feng Bubian, the Third Hall Master of the Wind Divine Hall, hasn’t yet married into the Feng Family, in my view, it’s a done deal, and Feng Bubian is already my relative. By that account, you’re not an outsider either, right?"

Jia Tulong nodded repeatedly.

Although he had previously felt that Feng Bubian somehow lacked masculinity for marrying into the Feng Family instead of taking Feng Wenqing as his wife, he now felt that it was excellent to have a connection with Zhang San.

"Since you’re not an outsider, I’ll also be frank with you. I have another identity: I am the close disciple of the leader of the current Legalism, the Pharaoh. Therefore, in a sense, even though I am the Military Chief of the Town Martial Office and the Military General Ningyuan in the army, I am essentially a man of Legalism."

Jia Tulong was shocked.

He was well aware of the prestige of Legalism, but had never expected that Zhang San was actually the direct disciple of the Pharaoh.

This meant that he was probably going to be okay.

However, the next words from Zhang San sent chills down Jia Tulong’s spine.

"It’s precisely because I am of Legalism that I must uphold the law even more. If people of Legalism themselves don’t abide by the law, then what good is the law to this world?"

"Even though we have a relationship, I, Zhang San, cannot break the rules and laws, can I?"

At that moment, Jia Tulong felt a chill in his heart.

Beside him, Feng Bubian quickly kowtowed to Zhang San,"Military Chief Zhang, behind closed doors we are all family. If this time, Military Chief Zhang can find a way to spare my older brother’s life, I... I, on behalf of the Wind Divine Hall, will henceforth follow Military Chief Zhang’s lead!"

Feng Bubian, while saying this, made a discreet gesture to Jia Tulong, who was still foolishly kneeling at his side.

Jia Tulong instantly understood.

To receive the protection of the law also came with a price.

"Military Chief Zhang, though I founded the Wind Divine Hall myself, my lack of strength compelled me to invite my elder sworn brother to take the position of Hall Master. When we later discovered the talented third brother, we appointed him Third Hall Master to handle the affairs of the Wind Divine Hall. His intent is my intent. From now on, my Wind Divine Hall, too, will wholly follow Military Chief Zhang!"

Hearing this, Zhang San waved his hand and said,"You mustn’t misunderstand this matter. At most, I can only deal with it fairly and then try to help you escape punishment. But the fact remains you killed someone, and the Shuofang Army lost a general."

"As for the Wind Divine Hall, to be honest, I really had no interest in it. It’s only for Feng Bubian’s sake that I’ll give it a try."

Jia Tulong exhaled a sigh of relief at this response.

Though Zhang San hadn’t explicitly stated his desire for the Wind Divine Hall, it was clear to whom it would belong in the future.

As for how much Zhang San could help, Jia Tulong wasn’t sure.

Just when he was filled with trepidation, he suddenly heard Zhang San say something else.

"As for your attempt to prevent conflict between the martial artists and the Shuofang Army, and the success in avoiding a major battle, I will find a way to clear that matter for you. But before that, we need to take care of another matter first..."