Anshan City, County Government.
The government office was dilapidated, having previously lacked much presence.
It was only after a large number of constables from the Divine Capture Sect came to station there that martial law was enforced and a sense of authority began to emanate.
Zhong Shenxiu had visited several times, greeted the guarding constables with a nod, and then walked into the County Government on his own.
He intended to look for Yan Wushuang to discuss their next collaboration, the attack on the Five Poison Sect stronghold.
Of course, a copy of the Five Elements Thief Palm could not be omitted.
Outside the courtroom.
Yan Wushuang seemed to be receiving other guests, so Zhong Shenxiu stood aside and waited.
He looked at the towering and majestic hall, over ten meters tall, as Yan Wushuang’s voice faintly reached his ears, "Your Nine Elements Sect will cooperate fully with the imperial court this time, and we will let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, severe punishment will be inevitable. Go now!"
A large man came out with a dirt-covered face, wearing the attire of the Nine Elements Sect.
Zhong Shenxiu actually recognized him; this man should be Meng Tian, the Deputy Sect Master of the Nine Elements Sect, managing a vast amount of business for the sect in Anshan City, even Wei Baizhu would have to flatter him with a smiling face.
Yet in front of Yan Wushuang, all he could do was nod and bow.
’It’s true, though the Wu Dynasty may be in decline, the Martial Ancestor’s legacy and a thousand years of foundation remain. If the imperial court put forth all its efforts, obliterating any top sect in Jianghu wouldn’t be a problem... But this world is too vast; once power is dispersed, it becomes weak... In Anshan City, the Nine Elements Sect can bully the County Magistrate, but once the Divine Capture Sect arrives, they must show respect.’
This was also partly due to Yan Wushuang’s superior martial arts skills.
After all, this place was the realm where Martial Arts Divine touched upon the divine. The Sect Master of the Nine Elements Sect was only young when he made it onto the list of extraordinary individuals, and it was uncertain whether he could match Yan Wushuang now; how could this Deputy Sect Master be audacious?
Meng Tian walked out from the government office looking preoccupied, but paused upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu.
He recognized Xun Liu Yi, too, since the Shanyao Gang’s reputation for possessing top experts had been particularly prominent in Anshan City these days.
Meng Tian, adept in handling external affairs for the Nine Elements Sect, changed his expression swiftly. Just moments before, he appeared clouded with gloom, yet now, as if the storm had passed and skies cleared, he greeted with a smile, "Isn’t this Young Hero Xun?"
"Sect Master Meng..."
Since the Nine Elements Sect Master wasn’t present and there was no one else around, Zhong Shenxiu skipped the "Deputy," making Meng Tian smile even more broadly.
"I wonder what brings Young Hero Xun here?" Meng Tian asked with a smile.
"Ah... I have an errand from the Divine Capture Sect. What can we, the small folk, do?" Zhong Shenxiu replied with a helpless look on his face.
"Fame brings trouble as surely as a fat pig attracts butchers; there’s nothing to be done about it," Meng Tian said. "This time, our Nine Elements Sect will also dispatch elite disciples to join the Divine Capture Sect in their mission. You should get closer to them for mutual support."
Ultimately, they were in the County Government, so after a few pleasantries, Meng Tian excused himself and left.
Zhong Shenxiu was left alone, contemplative: ’Hmm, the Nine Elements Sect is indeed quite amiable towards the Shanyao Hall... Of course, it might also be because I’m leveraging my connections with the imperial court and Yan Wushuang, playing the fox that exploits the tiger’s might?’
He chuckled and entered the main hall.
Yan Wushuang was holding a writing brush, reviewing a document. Upon seeing him, she smiled slightly, "You’ve come."
"Aye... For the sake of martial arts, I had to come."
Zhong Shenxiu’s reply was blunt, "Has that Five Poison Sect Disciple confessed?"
"Almost. According to my many years of experience in the judicial system, as long as one isn’t afraid to kill the prisoner, under extreme torture, confessions are common. Secrets can hardly be kept... unless one has cultivated a secret technique to become insensible to pain or taken some secret medicine to endure..."
Yan Wushuang’s beautiful face uttered words as chilly as ice, "This disciple of the Five Poison Sect hasn’t trained to withstand severe torture. It turns out he concealed many secret medicines on his person, wrapped in a layer of false skin, deftly hidden. He has adept skills, but still, they were discovered. Now he can neither live nor die at will. His confession will be obtained soon..."
Zhong Shenxiu suddenly shivered, realizing that this Goddess Constable indeed possessed a dual nature.
She was like a bizarre statue, half-Bodhisattva, half-demon, contradictory yet oddly harmonious.
"That’s good, I’ll reside in the County Government and wait for action."
Zhong Shenxiu announced his plans, "After all, the Five Poison Sect might also attempt a jailbreak."
This, however, was a lie.
He swaggered into the County Government, seen by many on the street, also intending to divert attention to the Shanyao Hall.
Yan Wushuang looked at Zhong Shenxiu, her bright eyes seeming to see through his plans, but she did not call him out; instead, she smiled and said, "The Nine Elements Sect will also send a group of disciples to assist. My original intention was the same, to have you all wait at the County Government for action, to prevent any leaks."
"In that case, I shall take my leave."
With a cupped fist salute, Zhong Shenxiu prepared to withdraw.
"Hold on, Young Hero Xun, won’t you really consider joining the Divine Capture Sect? The court needs talents like you... And besides... the Shanyao Gang is no more, you are a free man!"
Yan Wushuang extended her final invitation.
People of Jianghu naturally abide by the rules of Jianghu; for instance, alive one belongs to their clan, dead one is their clan’s ghost, betrayal is scorned by all heroes under heaven.
But there was no longer a Shanyao Gang in Jianghu, so the constraints were gone.
"I’m sorry, though the Shanyao Gang is no more, Shanyao Hall remains. My brothers and sisters each have a sea of blood enmity that must be avenged!"
Zhong Shenxiu said with a desolate face, "And the Divine Capture Sect has always had rules, not to involve itself in Jianghu vendettas. If I joined the Divine Capture Sect, how would I exact my revenge in the future?"
In truth, the previous Divine Capture Sect had no such rules, practically managing heaven and earth, whenever it was a matter of Jianghu, the Divine Capture Sect would intervene.
Of course, that was during the pinnacle of the imperial power.
Later on, they gradually ceased involvement in Jianghu vendettas, simply stipulating that martial artists must not disturb the peace or kill civilians indiscriminately. This was done to avoid the Divine Capture Sect from being besieged after the weakening of the court, a helpless move.
Yan Wushuang let out a bitter laugh and waved her hand.
Having bid farewell, Zhong Shenxiu departed and was naturally escorted by a constable to a small courtyard.
The yard was not large, but it had three guest rooms and a fragrant osmanthus in the center.
It appeared to be a place where some minor officials used to reside within the government office. Yan Wushuang had made thoughtful arrangements.
Zhong Shenxiu thus took up residence without qualms, awaiting the results from the Divine Capture Sect.
Not dealing with that bunch from the Five Poison Sect was indeed troublesome.
He planned to put in a solid effort this time.
Zhong Shenxiu got up from his sleep, stepped outside, and saw several Nine Elements Sect disciples in the courtyard, all presumably elite reinforcements.
One of them, a twenty-something young man in white, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, came over with a smile and greeted him with a salute, "Is this Young Hero Xun of the Shanyao Hall, truly the epitome of talent. I am Han Xing, ordered by the Deputy Sect Master to support. We must work together in this undertaking."
"Please, the pleasure is all mine!"
Zhong Shenxiu reciprocated with politeness.
These disciples from mid-tier sects prided themselves on being well-mannered; even if they looked down on someone, they would not show it openly or make ugly gestures.
But such behavior was also tinged with subtle disdain and detachment.
Naturally, Zhong Shenxiu was not inclined to fawn over them either; after exchanging a few pleasantries, they went their separate ways.