Expressionlessly, Zhang Cheng took out the Official Seal he carried, stamped it heavily on several final execution documents, then tucked it back into his robes.
"Next, it’s time to pay a visit to our County Magistrate."
Just as Zhang Cheng was preparing to rise, the crowd at the edge of the execution ground was suddenly forced apart.
The rhythmic beat of hooves shook the ground. An elite squad of constables clad in the armor of the County Yamen parted the crowd. Behind them, an exceptionally grand carriage slowly approached.
The carriage was constructed entirely from Purple Fir Wood, its windows inlaid with translucent Lingxi Horn. It was drawn not by ordinary horses, but by a pair of Demon Horses, their coats pitch-black and their eyes glowing with a faint red light.
Each time their hooves struck the flagstones, they left a faint scorch mark.
The Magistrate of Anping County—Qian Shen.
Before leaving for Dayuan Prefecture, Chu Bai had once seen this highest-ranking Civil Servant of Anping County from afar.
Back then, his impression was of a man who never betrayed his emotions, always maintaining an inscrutable facade. But now, having advanced to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation and gained Official Status within the Evil Suppression Department, Chu Bai looked again. He could now sense that Qian Shen’s aura was like the water of a deep pool—perfectly contained and restrained. He was clearly a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.
The carriage came to a steady halt, and the common folk, herded away by the constables, gradually retreated.
Although the executions were finished, the way the crowd looked at the County Magistrate held not only reverence, but also an indefinable sense of alienation.
Qian Shen lifted the curtain and slowly disembarked from the carriage.
He glanced at the corpses on the execution ground, his eyes holding neither pity nor anger, only appraisal.
"County Captain Zhang."
Qian Shen began to speak, his voice soft, yet it carried clearly to every corner of the execution ground.
"You’ve certainly caused quite a stir here."
Zhang Cheng stood in the center of the execution ground. Though splattered with fresh blood, he remained composed and dignified. He gave a slight bow. "I am merely fulfilling my duty. With bones piled high beneath the Sanmu River, if I did not kill, it would be impossible to quell the heavens’ wrath."
Qian Shen took a few steps closer, his boots stopping at the edge of the blood-stained ground.
"It is indeed within the jurisdiction of the Evil Suppression Department to investigate cases and make arrests.
"But to execute dozens of people in one fell swoop, among them the patriarch of a clan that has been prominent in Anping County for a century... County Captain Zhang, don’t you think your process was a bit rushed? The County Yamen had yet to review the sentences, yet you proceeded with the executions. This is against regulations, is it not?"
His words were like an iron fist in a velvet glove—a veiled threat.
Zhang Cheng stood taller and retorted coldly, "I was afraid that with even one day’s delay, certain individuals would muddy the waters of Anping County. With one day’s delay, a few heads that deserved to roll would have been shielded by the hands of certain ’great men.’"
The atmosphere between them instantly grew taut, as if swords were drawn. Two terrifying auras of Spiritual Pressure, unique to Foundation Establishment Cultivators, clashed invisibly above the execution ground. The force pressed down on the surrounding constables and Evil Suppression Guards, making it almost impossible for them to stand upright.
Standing to the side, Hu Hao’s face was pale. Even though he had been promoted to Deputy Captain, he felt like a lone boat tossed on a stormy sea in the face of such a high-level power play.
Chu Bai, however, remained perfectly composed as he silently observed the County Magistrate.
Qian Shen glanced at Zhang Cheng, then at the executed prisoners. He suddenly retracted his aura and said coolly:
"Since they are dead, I suppose none were wrongly executed. However, County Captain Zhang, your actions have ultimately broken protocol.
"As the Magistrate of Anping County, I must report this to the Prefecture Yamen, noting your ’tyrannical and improper conduct.’"
Zhang Cheng nodded, his tone unyielding. "Be my guest. Should such man-eating atrocities occur again, I will do the same. You may file as many reports as you wish."
"Excellent. County Captain Zhang is certainly a man of direct words."
The corner of Qian Shen’s mouth twitched, though it was impossible to tell if it was in mockery or approval. He flicked his sleeve, returned to his Demon Horse carriage, and the procession departed without a moment’s delay.
Only when the grand procession had vanished completely at the end of the street did the tense atmosphere around the execution ground finally dissipate.
"The Magistrate’s presence is truly terrifying..."
Hu Hao let out a long sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. "Younger Brother Chu, did you see that? Lord Qian Shen’s gaze was so intense, it felt like he could see right through a person. I fear the Director has truly and deeply offended him this time."
But Chu Bai, gazing in the direction the carriage had disappeared, slowly shook his head.
"That’s where you’re mistaken."
Chu Bai’s voice was low and calm. "If Lord Qian truly wanted to stop today’s executions, he could have arrived with the County Yamen’s review documents before 11:45 AM and forcibly intervened. He wouldn’t have waited until the dust had settled and the blood had dried to make an appearance."
Hu Hao froze. "You mean... he did it on purpose?"
"Qian Shen is a Civil Servant who was assigned here from the outside. His foundations in Anping County run shallow.
"While the local Noble Races are respectful to him on the surface, in private, the allocation of funds, grain, and the execution of government decrees often depend on their cooperation."
Chu Bai explained, "We may not be the ones most pleased by the Luu Family’s destruction. That honor might belong to our dear County Magistrate.
"Director Zhang played the part of the ’bad guy’ and wiped out the Luu Family. Now, Lord Qian Shen not only has one less Noble Race to constrain him, but he can also conveniently take control of the lands and resources they left behind. He came here today ostensibly to warn the Director, but in reality, it was all a show for the remaining Noble Races."
"His subtext was: ’Look, it’s not that I wouldn’t protect the Luu Family. It’s that the men of the Evil Suppression Department are too fanatical; even I can’t stop them. If any of you dare to cause trouble in the future and Zhang Cheng comes to kill you, I won’t be able to save you either.’"
Chu Bai sneered. "As for that so-called ’report’ he’s filing, the higher-ups might not see it as a demerit at all. Instead, they might see it as proof of Director Zhang’s swift, decisive action and his merit in cleansing the land of evil. This Lord Qian... he’s a very clever man."
Hu Hao listened, dumbfounded. The endless twists and turns of official life were ten thousand times more complex than he had ever imagined back when he was a city gate guard.
"So that’s how it is... Politics are truly more unfathomable than Demons."
Just then, Zhang Cheng walked over. He glanced at Chu Bai, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. He had clearly overheard most of Chu Bai’s analysis.
"Not a bad analysis."
Zhang Cheng clapped Chu Bai on the shoulder, his expression still grave. "But what Qian Shen thinks isn’t important.
"What’s important is that even though the Luu Family has fallen, the fisheries, the river routes, and the web of profit they controlled are still intact. If we don’t establish new regulations quickly, a second ’Luu Family’ will soon emerge to feed the next Wild God."
"Let’s go. Back to the Evil Suppression Department."
Zhang Cheng’s voice carried an iron resolve. "While Patriarch Luu’s head still hangs from the city gate, and while the other Noble Races are still reeling, we will go and rewrite the rules of Anping County, once and for all!"

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