Yunshui County Government Office, the rear hall, sandalwood incense curling through the air.  

The scent of sandalwood mixed with the smell of ink from the case files. This place, which should have been serene, was suffocatingly oppressive at this moment.  

Magistrate Liang sat upright in the grandmaster’s chair, his fingers lightly stroking a smooth jade pendant. He did not look up; his gaze was fixed on the withered yellow phoenix tree outside the hall, as if all the affairs of the county were less important than this single autumn leaf.  

“So you’re saying that the town’s hooligans and ruffians still run rampant. And those remnants of the Endless Life Sect still scurry about like rats in the fields from time to time, disgusting everyone?”  

His voice was as calm as water, betraying no emotion.  

Yet standing below in the hall, Li Ping’an felt a faint chill.  

Liang withdrew his gaze from outside and fixed it on the Li brothers, a faint smile playing on his lips, but it did not reach his eyes.  

“Ping’an, when I first promoted you, it was because I valued your talent that was on the official roster. Pingfu, when I allowed you to take charge of the patrol camp, it was because of your innate strength in martial arts.”  

He paused, lifted his teacup, gently blew the foam off the surface, then leisurely continued, “But from what I see now, you two brothers, masters of both civil and martial arts, can’t even manage the security of a mere Yunshui County. Is it your incompetence, or have the gangs in Yunshui become so entrenched that even the government is powerless against them?”  

His words sounded casual but cut deep.  

Though he never uttered the words “good-for-nothings,” the disdain and accusation hung thick in the air of the rear hall.  

Liang’s eyes looked calm on the surface as they rested on the bowed Li Ping’an, but deep within his gaze was a trace of irritation and unease even he hadn’t noticed.  

The case files on the desk recorded the achievements of Li Pingfu since taking office.  

The gambling dens in the west of the city had been shut down, longstanding ruffians rounded up, and even several unsolved headless murder cases had found leads under the swift actions of the patrol camp.  

The praise of the common people almost echoed into the rear hall of the county office.  

Yet the more so, the more displeased Liang felt in his heart.  

These Li brothers were like two perfectly meshed gears, one managing military power, terrifying the scoundrels; the other handling paperwork and winning hearts. They worked as one, their momentum so fierce it subtly hinted at slipping beyond his control.  

What he needed was a dog that obeyed, not a wolf that stood shoulder to shoulder with its master.  

“Magistrate Liang, please calm your heavenly anger.”  

Li Ping’an bowed deeply, his posture extremely humble, tone peaceful and respectful. “I am incompetent and have failed to eradicate the stubborn problems quickly, disturbing your peace. I will reflect deeply, increase manpower, patrol day and night, and surely bring those lawbreakers to justice to restore a bright and clear Yunshui.”  

He knew perfectly well that Magistrate Liang was sending a warning. The Li family’s wings were not yet strong; they must not break ties with him.  

This county magistrate was not just an official but an immortal backed by the entire Great Yu Dynasty, enjoying the blessings of the dynasty’s destiny. Every word and action carried the power of law. To oppose him was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.  

Patience—only patience.  

When the family’s strength truly grew, today’s humiliation would be reckoned with.  

Standing aside, Zhou Junzhi listened with silent fury. For the past two months, his brother Weining had often stayed up all night reviewing files and formulating cleanup plans to organize various factions. His eyes had sunk deep from sleeplessness.  

Weining’s elder brother had taken the lead, training and patrolling daily with the patrol camp brothers, catching many criminals. He had become paler and thinner.  

The security in Yunshui County was worlds apart from when the Zhou family was in power.  

But in Zhou Junzhi’s mouth, these achievements were reduced to mere “capability” and “rampancy.”  

It was clearly a deliberate suppression, fearing that You Zhengjun’s prestige in the county might fall below his own!  

Li Ping’an was furious inside but could only keep a stiff upper lip, suppressing his anger deep within. Inside the county office, Zhou Junzhi was the authority; anyone who dared to oppose his will…  

Seeing Li Ping’an’s humble attitude satisfied Liang’s desire to suppress. His face resumed a compassionate expression, offering a few gentle words of encouragement before waving him off.  

After Li Ping’an disappeared through the door, the warmth on Liang’s face instantly vanished, replaced by a cold indifference.  

“Those unruly country bumpkins really think they’ve become phoenixes once perched on a branch?”  

He raised his teacup, gently blew the foam, and muttered, “Yunshui County still answers to me in the end.”  

……  

After the three left the rear hall,  

the hot-tempered Zhou Junzhi could no longer hold back and cursed softly, “This is too much bullying!”  

There were fewer than five competent officials in the county government who truly worked for the people, and the Li brothers were two of them.  

Just because they were outstanding, they were humiliated like this.  

“Junzhi,” Li Ping’an’s gaze was still clear, reminding him, “This isn’t a place to talk.” Immortal divine senses could probe the surroundings.  

Zhou Junzhi swallowed his anger. Once the three had walked far away, Li Ping’an smiled, “Those who don’t attract envy are mediocre. The more so, the more we must keep calm. The most urgent thing now is to solve these troubles. As long as we do a good job, he will have nothing to say.”  

Zhou Junzhi took a deep breath, nodded, his anger gradually turning into battle intent.  

Li Pingfu’s expression was solemn. Although he had become an “official” and benefited the people, Magistrate Liang had grown increasingly dissatisfied with them over the years. This immortal’s desire for control was too strong to tolerate any resistance.  

Not to mention, when the Li brothers removed the Zhou family, Liang had not openly opposed it but certainly had objections in his heart.  

It seemed the plan had to be moved up.  

……  

Night was as dark as ink, killing intent concealed.  

According to Zhou Tong’s plan, the gang’s elite was split into two groups, like two poisoned daggers silently stabbing toward the Li family and Li Pingfu’s brothers.  

On a quiet path, Li Yuan and Li Chao were walking.  

“Chaozi, something’s off about the wind tonight.”  

Li Yuan squinted, scanning the silent woods on both sides of the road. Years of experience in the Jianghu had sharpened his alertness.  

Li Chao calmly replied, “I feel like someone’s watching us too.”  

The two exchanged a glance. Their years of tacit understanding meant no words were needed. They continued walking quietly but suddenly disappeared behind a tall tree.  

“Where are they? Why are they gone?”  

The two elite tailers’ hearts jumped as they hurried to catch up, looking around anxiously at the base of the tree.  

In the next instant, two figures pounced down like leopards. Li Yuan threw a punch straight at the leader’s face. Li Chao followed closely, protecting Li Yuan’s flank, delivering a sweeping leg kick that knocked the man down.  

They attacked and defended with seamless coordination.  

Though these gang members were also tough fighters, the true Divine Execution Realm experts were here. Compared to Li Chao, a battle-hardened escort, the Blood Qi martial artists showed many flaws.  

“Bang!”  

Seeing the man knocked down by Li Chao, Li Yuan’s Black Tiger Fist smashed into his shoulder blade with a fierce punch, denting his chest and spraying blood from his mouth.  

The other man’s eyes flashed with horror. They hadn’t expected these two escorts to be so perceptive and ferocious.  

“Better retreat first!”  

He made a quick decision, feinted, and turned to escape into the woods.  

“Trying to run? Did you ask me first?”  

Li Yuan sneered, pushing off with his feet to speed up, chasing like a shadow. A punch struck the man’s back heart.  

The man’s body stiffened instantly and fell straight to the ground.  

Moments later, the battle was over.  

Li Yuan and Li Chao only added some dust to themselves. They searched the bodies but found nothing proving their identities.  

“I should have left one alive,” Li Chao regretted, voice low. “Brother Yuan, these people are mysterious and ruthless, probably targeting us.”  

“They can’t be kept alive,” Li Yuan said, revealing two poison pills between the teeth of the corpse. If tortured, they would commit suicide.  

Capturing two masters of movement alive without harming them was too difficult. A slight mistake meant a near-death crisis.  

This danger was unnecessary.  

Li Yuan’s face grew serious. “Dispose of the bodies first, then return to the county immediately. This must be reported to Brother Pingfu at once!”  

……  

Elsewhere, Zhang Hua and Miao Kai faced even greater danger.  

Though Zhang Hua’s martial skill was average, he was clever and excelled at underhanded tricks. When he sensed they were being followed, he did not alert anyone but threw a handful of white powder from his pocket as they passed a teahouse corner.  

The follower instinctively closed his eyes and swung his blade but didn’t realize the powder was ordinary lime, just a feint.  

The real killing move was the powerful narcotic bottle Zhang Hua held in the other hand, which had already been opened.  

Taking advantage of the opponent’s impaired vision, Zhang smashed the drug bottle hard on his face.  

“Heh, you guys playing dirty with grandpa still have a ways to go!”  

Emerging from the shadows, Zhang stabbed twice mercilessly into the chest of the stunned man, then fled like the wind without hesitation.  

Miao Kai’s situation was far more perilous. After discovering they were followed, he struck first, but due to limited talent and weak martial arts, he failed to wound the opponent’s vital spots and lost the initiative.  

Within a few moves, he was severely injured with several bloody cuts.  

He knew he had no chance and his eyes flashed with determination.  

“If you want to kill me, you’ll die with me!”  

Miao Kai roared, abandoning all defense, allowing the opponent’s long blade to pierce his chest.  

At the moment the blade entered, he used his last strength to tightly grasp the attacker’s body and bit fiercely into the attacker’s carotid artery!  

“Madman!”  

The attacker was shocked. This seemingly weakest man was so fierce. He stabbed again into Miao Kai’s abdomen but it was useless; the ripping pain came from his neck.  

“Pfft!”  

Miao Kai spat the bitten flesh and throat blood onto the ground with his last breath.  

His body was riddled with bloody holes, blood spurting out. A faint smile of satisfaction appeared in his eyes as he and the black-clad man collapsed weakly together.  

Peach Blossom Village.  

The sun was setting in the west, smoke curling from chimneys, and the entire village was enveloped in a peaceful atmosphere.  

Two figures, like ghosts merging with dusk, silently lurked on a hillside outside the village, hiding among dense grass, watching the Li Family Mansion in the distance.  

These two were Kong Wu and Huang Baotian, Divine Execution Realm experts dispatched by Zhou Tong, the leader of the Blood River Gang.  

Kong Wu was short and stocky, plain-looking but had mastered an extraordinary stealth skill — the Turtle Breath Technique.  

Once activated, he could reduce his breathing and heartbeat to the lowest, becoming like a lifeless stone blending perfectly with the environment, extremely hard to detect.  

Huang Baotian was tall and thin, practicing the more mysterious Shadow Concealment Technique, which could subtly adjust his clothing’s color and aura according to light and surroundings, creating visual illusions like a shadow in the night.  

Their coordination was flawless, a perfect duo for scouting and infiltration.  

As they stealthily approached on foot, they hid silently in a lush locust tree near the Li Family Mansion and began observing recklessly.  

“Pfft, this Li Family Mansion is pretty grand. I wonder how much silver they’ve hidden.”  

Huang Baotian whispered greedily, “Once we catch the old man, the silver in the house might just be ours.”  

“Stop whining and focus,” Kong Wu said cautiously. He activated Turtle Breath, merging with the tree shadows.  

Huang Baotian ignored him, grinning cheekily as he loudly commented, “Look, isn’t that a Li family servant? Hey, gotta admit, that girl’s butt wiggles real nice when she walks.”  

“Focus on the mission first,” Kong Wu said helplessly, “Once it’s done, that maid will be ours to enjoy.”  

The two were confident in their stealth and relaxed since Peach Blossom Village was an ordinary village with lax defenses. They didn’t notice that every move of theirs had long been caught by a pair of sharp, weathered eyes like a hawk’s.  

Those eyes belonged to Li Rongzhou.  

Since his sons had risen to high positions, he had become more vigilant.  

Outwardly, he looked like any ordinary farmer in the village, relaxed with half-closed eyes, appearing oblivious to outside matters.  

But since entering the Divine Execution Realm and practicing the Breath of the Tree technique taught by his sons, his six senses had become incredibly sharp. Any discordant movement in the air could not escape his perception.  

The faint, blood-tinged spying gaze had been precisely captured by him from the start.  

“Divine Execution Realm, first layer?”  

Huang Baotian laughed in anger inside, “Floating aura, stable foundation, and still dare to come cause trouble at your Li family?”  

He hurriedly stood, pretending to head to the front yard to relieve himself, stepping slowly toward the two spies’ hiding place.  

His mind raced. Their hiding skills were faulty, clearly professional criminals with no one behind them.  

“We can’t alert the snakes. We must capture them alive.”  

Kong Wu and Huang Baotian were excitedly talking when suddenly Li Rongzhou’s figure was blocked by a bush. His slow steps abruptly vanished!  

Five Spirit Play · Crane Dance!  

His movement became light and silent, like a crane walking in the forest, no wind stirred. He quietly circled behind the two.  

Then his tiger-shaped ferocity struck, unstoppable!  

“Who!?”  

Kong Wu and Huang Baotian were masters of stealth. When Li Rongzhou landed, they finally sensed deadly danger and turned sharply.  

But it was too late.  

They only saw a huge fist accompanied by the roar of wind and thunder rapidly enlarging before their eyes.  

“Smash! Smash!”  

Two muffled sounds. Li Rongzhou’s two seemingly ordinary straight punches, packed with peak Divine Execution Realm inner strength, struck precisely on their chests.  

Kong Wu and Huang Baotian had no time to be shocked or scream; their chests felt like being hit by a battering ram. Darkness filled their vision, and they lost consciousness instantly.  

Li Rongzhou grabbed one by each hand and dragged them like dead dogs into the wood shed.  

He did not wake them immediately but returned inside to retrieve a clay pot from a hidden corner.  

Inside were several brightly colored mushrooms emitting a strange fragrance.  

These were the “treasures” left by his youngest son Pingcan, who received them daily from Golden Eagle with instructions never to use them without necessity.  

Li Rongzhou forced two small pieces into the mouths of the two unconscious men.  

Soon, Kong Wu and Huang Baotian gradually regained consciousness. They looked at the calm-faced farmer before them, eyes filled with shock and confusion, then turned to blank stupidity.  

This hallucinogenic mushroom lacked Pingcan’s exquisite guidance to build complex illusions, but its truth-revealing effect was first-rate and overwhelming.  

“Who are you? Why are you here?” Li Rongzhou’s voice was emotionless.  

“We… are from the Blood River Gang…” Kong Wu’s eyes were glazed as he muttered, “Lord Zhou… Lord Zhou sent us… to scout… prepare to kidnap…”  

Through the broken and hesitant answers, a poisonous conspiracy gradually took shape before Li Rongzhou’s eyes.  

He listened quietly, expression growing colder, eyes blazing with anger.  

“What a Blood River Gang! What a Zhou Tong!”  

He spoke slowly, each word filled with barely suppressed fury.  

A dragon’s reverse scale must be struck to die.  

His family were the reverse scales he had guarded his whole life.  

He asked no more. This information was enough. With Ping’an around, the truth would be uncovered.  

He glanced at the two still babbling fools on the ground, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes without concealment.  

“Pfft!”  

“Pfft!”  

Li Rongzhou raised his hand in anger, crushing the two large heads like two watermelons exploded, juice splattering everywhere!