Promise!

Chapter 149, Killing
After the meeting ended, Liu Licheng, Huang Tianjun, and the other five people left.

Zhuang Jin summoned Xue Yandao, Duan Tao, and Lin Hong to take over Zhao Bin's men. Lin Hong, who was at the back, reminded him, "Brother Zhuang, with such open targeting, won't Zhao Bin make some kind of move?"

"Will!"

Zhuang Jin said with a playful tone, "Before, Zhao Bin was being closely watched and dared not make a move, but he could still barely survive. Now that I'm here, the higher-ups are eager to throw this hot potato at me, but this also means that Zhao Bin doesn't even have the chance to survive anymore."

“I make no attempt to hide my hostility towards this person. Now, Zhao Bin only has two choices: either obediently accept his death, which would mean the death of himself and his entire family; or launch a desperate counterattack to see if he can harm me and seek a glimmer of hope for survival…”

Upon hearing this, Lin Hong knew that Zhuang Jin was aware of the situation, but he couldn't understand why Zhuang Jin had acted so directly and blatantly this time. In his opinion, given Zhuang Jin's past behavior, he should have secretly plotted to kill him... After all, as a superior, he had plenty of opportunities like this...

'Unless... Brother Zhuang did this on purpose, with some other ulterior motive!' He thought to himself, his eyes brightening slightly.

Seeing Lin Hong's expression, Zhuang Jin knew that the other party had guessed her thoughts, so she didn't hide anything and also gave her subordinates confidence: "I do have some ideas. This kind of pressure might yield some unexpected gains... Of course, the most important thing is that the hatred between me and Zhao Bin is irreconcilable. It's a life-or-death struggle, and we all know that. Even if I pretend to be compliant and act calmly, Zhao Bin won't believe me. He will still do what he always has to do..."

If it's useless, why bother taking the time to do something pointless?
Furthermore, it must be said that this kind of blatant attempt to get back at you, this "petty person taking revenge from morning till night" approach, is indeed more satisfying, more cathartic, and more enjoyable!

"If Zhao Bin wants to seize that sliver of hope and survive, he either needs to turn against his own side on the battlefield, or... food, water... we'll have shifts for meals, in batches... and what we need..."

……

Several days passed quickly.

These past few days, Zhao Bin felt like each day was an eternity, being monitored and watched like a prisoner. He had to write down what he ate and did every day and submit a report. If any detail in the report did not match the records of the person monitoring him, he would be repeatedly questioned...

You need to submit an application to go out, but every time you do, the result is unsurprisingly either nothing happens or you're given excuses and your application is rejected...

Furthermore, Zhuang Jin's malice towards him was so obvious and undisguised that many of those below him, who fawned over him and trampled on him, followed suit...

If all that were true, what truly suffocated Zhao Bin was Zhuang Jin himself. He was now right under Zhuang Jin's nose, and he knew Zhuang Jin would definitely make a move against him, but when and how...

Whenever he lay in bed, the thought of Zhuang Jin's words, "It's not right to force someone to commit suicide to prove their innocence," sent chills down his spine. He feared that one day Zhuang Jin would find some fabricated "evidence" and force him to commit suicide.

These days are torture, every moment is agonizing, it's driving people crazy!

That afternoon, Zhao Bin's wife came to visit. After a thorough check, she was finally allowed to enter.

"Is everything alright at home?" Zhao Bin asked with concern.

"Waaah!" Zhao's wife shook her head, but only shed tears.

"How hateful!" Zhao Bin clenched his fists, and the veins on his forehead bulged. Of course, he was in such a state, how could his family be any better off?

At this moment, he felt genuine regret; he shouldn't have provoked Zhuang Jin in the first place...

To be honest, he didn't have any deep-seated hatred for Zhuang Jin, so how did things come to this? It all started with the Miao Lun case. He was jealous of Zhuang Jin's talent, his background, and the death of his son, so he deliberately took sides. Unlike others who would obediently accept it, Zhuang Jin dared to confront him head-on, which made him feel humiliated… The conflict escalated gradually in the confrontation… Later, he was transferred from headquarters and exiled to the south of the city… Then, he schemed against Chen Yun… Little by little, it led to this!

“Misfortune stems from jealousy, this is retribution, retribution!” Zhao Bin sighed, but it was too late to say anything now.

"Zhao Lang!" Zhao's wife called out, her voice trembling as she took something from her private parts, dipped it in tea, and wrote on the table: 'The other day, someone...'

For the Medicine King Gang to directly contact Zhao Bin and collude with him would be extremely difficult, almost impossible. But what about Zhao Bin's family? Although they are also under close surveillance and facing considerable challenges, it would be relatively easier. As long as they are willing and patiently wait for the right opportunity, they can send out their best men...

Looking at the words his wife had written on the table, and thinking about his current situation, this torment and suffering, and Zhuang Jin's undisguised malice... Zhao Bin gritted his teeth and took the things.

……

Chengnan was the main battleground for the war effort along the southern line of Shenjiacheng.

Right now, Fu Honggang, the leader of this group, is holding a meeting with his men: "The Shen family has gone too far. They drove our Medicine King Gang out of the north of the city, leaving not a single street untouched. They've shown us absolutely no respect... A disgrace! A tremendous disgrace! Now that I've taken over command of the battle in the south of the city, I'm determined to get revenge..."

He ran his finger across the four characters of the Shen family's nameplate on the map, finally landing on Zhuang Jin's Feng character nameplate.

Choosing this place is simple. All four of the four branches of the Shen family are guarding the central area. Zhuang Jin of the Feng branch is the weakest on the surface, having only just registered to break through to the Ten Classics two days ago. The other three are either Eleven Classics or veteran Ten Classics. Naturally, you should pick the softest persimmon to squeeze!

Another point is that Zhuang Jin was previously promoted as a benchmark. If Zhuang Jin were really killed, the deterrent effect would be the greatest, the reputation would be the best, and it would be the biggest slap in the face to the Shen family.

Besides, back then, when attacking the wealthy merchant fleet in the lower county, Fu Honggang was one of the planners. Only Zhuang Jin's part went awry due to old and new grudges... and relatively speaking, Zhuang Jin had the best aptitude and was the most likely to break through to the Qi Condensation stage in the future...

All things considered, targeting Zhuang Jin is the most cost-effective option!
"The Feng-character garrison commander is stationed near Zhuang Jin, and there have already been attempts to win him over... If he succeeds, that would be best... If not, then we'll use sheer force..."

Fu Honggang narrowed his eyes and said, "According to the intelligence, Zhuang Jin is cautious and likes to hide his strength... However, he only registered the Ten Classics a couple of days ago. At most, we can estimate that he has only one trick up his sleeve: the Swift Wind Step, a movement technique that has reached a minor mastery level..."

This is already a generous expectation.

The 'Glassy Scripture Testing Puppet' wouldn't lie. It's impossible that Zhuang Jin could accumulate ten levels of scripture cultivation and break through the bottleneck from ten to eleven in just a few days, right? Even if Zhuang Jin concealed his accumulation of ten levels of scripture cultivation, bottlenecks are not easy to break through. Do you think it's like a woman's... well, you can just break through it in a snap?
Fu Honggang named a steward of the eleventh rank—those of the fourth to sixth ranks of the Medicine King Gang are junior incense masters, corresponding to the guards of Shenjia Street; those of the seventh to ninth ranks are incense masters, corresponding to the guards of Shenjiafang; and those of the tenth to twelfth ranks are stewards, corresponding to the guards of Shenjiadu.

“Deacon Zhu, you yourself are an Eleventh Scripture Master, with six Incense Masters under your command, two Ninth Scripture Masters, two Eighth Scripture Masters, and two Seventh Scripture Masters. In terms of strength, you completely surpass that Zhuang Jinfeng’s faction… Tonight, I will lead the others to intercept the Shen family’s reinforcements. You will lead your men to eliminate this person in the shortest possible time… Retreat based on the signal…”

"Don't worry, Mr. Fu, when I, Old Zhu, return tonight, I will definitely bring you Zhuang Jin's head!" Zhu Xi's face revealed a bloodthirsty smile as he pounded his chest and made a deep promise.

He was a decisive, brave, and warlike man, somewhat similar to Fu Honggang, which was precisely why Fu Honggang admired him and entrusted him with the task of achieving the greatest merit.

"Haha, good! This operation has been successful, with the defection of our spies, the superior skills of Steward Zhu, and the all-around superiority of a sect leader-level martial artist... With such a setup, I don't think Zhuang Jin will survive. Once he's dead, it will be a slap in the face to the Shen family, and a way to vent our anger at being driven out of the north of the city last month..."

Fu Honggang laughed loudly and slammed his hand on the table, as if he could already see that scene.

……

The political landscape in the prefectural city is in flux. The Medicine King Gang in the north has been driven out, and Zhuang Jin has arrived in the south. Undercurrents are swirling, and various factions are laying their hands on various schemes, brewing a bloody storm. ...

Night falls and the lanterns are turned on.

That evening, food was delivered from below. As usual, Zhuang Jin fed it all to the white mice kept in the room, while she ate the jerky made from the exotic beast meat that Chen Yun had prepared in advance.

Unlike usual, today the mice ate their food and immediately stiffened up and collapsed.

—A drug that can be effective on a martial artist must have a strong effect. Even if it is not fatal, but only affects internal energy, ordinary small animals cannot withstand it.

"There really is an unexpected gain. Is the move going to take place tonight?"

Zhuang Jin's gaze sharpened. He put on his clothes and circulated his inner energy. The item he wore underneath emitted a faint sky-blue light, a phenomenon indicating the flow of supernatural power.

Indeed, this is the beast-hide armor!

If one were knowledgeable, one could tell that this was a top-grade Xuan-level beast hide armor, which was made from the hide of a beast at the level of perfected meat refinement, and had a good blocking effect on the strength of a martial artist with twelve meridians.

And what is its origin?

……

Let's rewind to the end of last month, July 29th, the day I had a small get-together with Shen Xuchen.

"...Master Pang is upright and incorruptible, and hates evil as if it were his enemy. If there is any offense, he has no ill intentions and does not mean to make things difficult... Please forgive him... I will reward him in another way..."

As Shen Xuchen spoke, he took out a leather armor: "This is a top-grade Xuan-level beast hide armor. It can block and weaken the strength of even a martial artist at the Qi Condensation Twelve Meridians Realm... Guardian Zhuang, take it with you on your journey to the south of the city, just in case..."

"This……"

Zhuang Jin was surprised and uncertain, but he was somewhat tolerant of Pang Shusheng's attitude. It was just a small matter, and small matters should be valued. How could he feel at ease accepting this gift if he didn't explain things clearly?

"Given the current situation in the city, the Medicine King Gang has been driven out of the north, and the fighting on the south front is becoming increasingly fierce and dangerous... Commander Zhuang is a role model and exemplar for the Shen family, representing the honor of the Shen family, and his safety cannot be taken lightly... Very well, if Commander Zhuang feels that he has not received a reward without merit and feels indebted, then this gift can be considered a loan..."

This was Shen Xuchen's own initiative, but it also had the hints and suggestions of his father, Shen Xianhong, the head of the Shen family: on the one hand, after the previous publicity, Zhuang Jin did represent the face of the Shen family to a certain extent, and nothing could go wrong, otherwise it would be a slap in the face; on the other hand, it was also to do Zhuang Jin a favor and win his heart.

To some extent, Zhuang Jin was chosen by Shen Xianhong and assigned to Shen Xuchen as a core member of the Shen family should he become the head of the family in the future.

—Zhuang Jin was recruited from outside the city as a martial arts student. When he was in the north of the city, he was treated coldly and subtly ostracized by the other towns and wards because of this. However, in the eyes of Shen Xianhong and Shen Xuchen, this was a plus, meaning that he was not involved in any of the various things and would not be affected by the personal relationships and connections within the Shen family.

Zhuang Jin's six months in the east of the city, besides the various considerations mentioned earlier, also served as a test: During those six months in the north, Zhuang Jin did not escalate conflicts with the corrupt officials in the east, maintaining a tacit understanding, which meant he was not someone who "couldn't tolerate any wrongdoing," knew how to be flexible, and possessed sufficient ability and skill; not colluding with them showed he had a moral bottom line; digesting his military achievements and breaking through to higher realms indicated he could calm down, understand his own strengths, and was good at seizing opportunities...

Considering Zhuang Jin's qualifications, potential, and the intelligence he has shown in the past to be clear about his grudges and grateful for kindness, he is simply a fine gem and the only choice to leave his son a pillar of support!
With these considerations in mind, the current decision to move the project to the south of the city is not only due to other strategic plans and a temporary shortage of manpower in the south, but also to refine the situation and make it easier to bestow favors. For example, Shen Xuchen's assistance with the exotic beast leather armor this time is a significant favor; and when Zhuang Jin breaks through the twelve meridians and is about to break through to the Meridian Opening Realm a year or two later, Shen Xuchen will again step in to curry favor and be transferred back to the rear, allowing Zhuang Jin to focus on his breakthrough, which is another significant favor...

In short, everything was meticulously planned out so that you would know the truth and feel indebted and grateful.

……

"What favors, human relationships, and returns are matters for the future... Now that Zhao Bin can't withstand the pressure and has taken action to court his own death, it's time to send him to his death!"

Zhuang Jin put on his coat and went outside. He fired a distress flare and headed straight for Zhao Bin's residence.

Inside the room, Zhao Bin paced nervously, occasionally wiping the sweat from his palms onto his clothes. When he heard the sound of a signal flare exploding, his expression changed immediately, and he rushed to the door.

But in the next moment——

boom!
The door shattered and flew open, splinters flying everywhere. Zhuang Jin strode in expressionlessly: "Zhao Bin, you've been caught!"

When Zhao Bin saw Zhuang Jin, his body trembled violently. He pointed at Zhuang Jin, his face full of disbelief: "You, you... I... I clearly used Chaotic Qi Dispersing... How could you?!"

"Surprising, isn't it? The most surprising thing tonight is yet to come, but you won't see it."

As Zhuang Jin spoke, he took a step forward and arrived in front of Zhao Bin in one stride. His speed was so fast that the other party could not react at all, and he pressed down with his palm.

puff~
boom!
Zhao Bin was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing hard into the wall before falling to the ground. A bright red stain appeared on his chest, and he clutched his chest in pain.

"Don't worry, you won't be alone on the road to the underworld. Your entire family will soon be going down to join you!"

Zhuang Jin left these words behind, flicked his sleeves, turned around, and strode out.

boom!
Behind him, Zhao Bin stared wide-eyed in terror, but he couldn't utter a single word. The next moment, the hidden force injected into his chest exploded, and his flesh and blood burst open... He died with his eyes wide open in disbelief.

……

It is not far from Fengdu Street in the Fengzihao area.

Chirp—pop!

A distress flare exploded over the streets of Fengdu.

"This is... a distress signal at the level of a garrison commander in the Shen family?! Oh no! It must be that good-for-nothing Zhao Bin's poor discretion that has led to our plan being exposed prematurely..."

At the critical moment, Zhu Xi remained clear-headed and made a decisive decision: "We cannot give Zhuang Jin time to react and retreat. We must act immediately!"

……

(End of this chapter)