Promise!

Chapter 185, Counterattack

April 23.

On this day, Tao Mengran, the inspector sent by the Shen family, arrived in Linji County after traveling through five counties: Anfeng, Danhua, Yuyang, Guangping, and Wanliu.

Zhuang Jin came to greet him.

Tao Mengran came down from the deck and was shocked when she saw Zhuang Jin. Her martial arts intuition told her that the other party's presence was no weaker than her own, and perhaps even stronger. It was clear that he had already reached the third level of the Meridian Opening Realm, and perhaps he had even completed the accumulation of the third level of the Meridian Opening Realm.

'This is troublesome!' he thought to himself.

Of the five counties visited, only two have been decided to be taken over: Wanliu County, where Sun Mingbi has done a decent job and is the weakest, so it is naturally among the counties to be targeted; and Yuyang County, which has many problems and is only slightly better than Qinghe County. Although the county governor of Yuyang County is from a powerful family with deep connections, he acts impartially, has a legitimate reason for taking action, and is not afraid of offending anyone.

He planned to take the positions of county governors in three counties, and only the last one, which was also his own, was missing. After much thought, he set his sights on Linji County... He believed that his cultivation level was superior, and that a martial artist's strength was the key to power. He originally intended to take the initiative and use both soft and hard tactics to make Zhuang Jin withdraw voluntarily.

But now that they've just met Zhuang Jin, half of their plan has already fallen apart!
Tao Mengran was inwardly shocked, but her face remained calm as she praised, "Back in the prefectural city, it was said that Elder Zhuang was exceptionally talented, but everyone underestimated him. He broke through to the third meridian realm so quickly. It seems that Elder Zhuang did not waste his time in Linji County!"

These words have a hidden meaning, implying that Zhuang Jin's rapid breakthrough to the Three Meridians Realm might be due to resources obtained through exploitation and oppression, which could be contrary to his duties.
Zhuang Jin remained expressionless and replied with a smile, "You flatter me, Elder Tao. My current level of cultivation is due to the perilous encounters with the Fei and Yao families... the resources... and the approval of the family head."

"However, resources are only one aspect. My ability to sit in the position of County Governor of Linji County and cultivate in peace is also an important factor!"

This is to use Shen Xianhong's endorsement to explain the origin of his cultivation resources, while also stating his background and emphasizing the importance he attaches to the position of County Governor of Linji County, which is not to be coveted.

"Haha, the fact that you, Venerable Zhuang, have broken through to such a level so quickly shows that Linji County is a place of outstanding people and abundant resources. I will have to take the next two days to learn more about it. I'll have to trouble you, Venerable Zhuang."

"Of course, I have already arranged a banquet to welcome and entertain Master Tao... Please!"

After a brief exchange, Tao Mengran stopped her probing and smiled warmly. Zhuang Jin also remained enthusiastic, and the two walked away arm in arm.

……

A grand feast was held, with toasts exchanged and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.

During the meal, they didn't discuss anything to avoid creating an awkward atmosphere. After the meal, the two sat down in the living room, both knowing that the real event was about to begin.

"Our Shen family is fighting against the Medicine King Gang. The situation in the city is stable and improving. However, we urgently need offerings at the Meridian Opening level, especially geniuses like Offering Master Zhuang who are now at the Three Meridians level."

Tao Mengran said, "Don't look at how peaceful and stable the county towns are, or how risky the prefectural city is. However, the division of labor is different, and each has its advantages and disadvantages... Zhuang Gongfeng is such a genius, valued and favored by the family head. He should go to the place where the Shen family needs him most, to serve the public and seek the Dao for himself, so as not to waste his youth!"

"Tao Gongfeng has a good tongue, but surely he won't say the same thing to every county magistrate he visits?"

Zhuang Jin took a sip of tea, knowing that the other party was eyeing his position as the garrison commander of Linji County: 'This man has quite the appetite. Besides Sun Mingbi's Wanliu County, he's now eyeing my Linji County. Whether I can hold onto my position without any trouble depends on how I respond.'

"Of course not. The circumstances are different, and the division of labor is different. The right person should be placed in the right place. Zhuang Gongfeng shouldn't be resistant. Everyone knows Zhuang Gongfeng's abilities and loyalty to the Shen family. For the sake of the Shen family and the overall situation, don't hold grudges. We Gongfengs have all seen it, and our Shen family will not forget it!"

Tao Mengran spoke earnestly, adding with renewed enthusiasm, "Young people should be able to withstand trials and tribulations, and endure grievances. Only in this way can they achieve great things!"

"Ah!"

Zhuang Jin chuckled. Such rhetoric might have fooled a young man in his teens or twenties, but for him now, he didn't believe a single word of any grand narrative... because believing it would become the so-called 'necessary price'!
'Even if we take a step back, does this person truly represent the Shen family? He's merely using the Shen family's name to pursue his own selfish interests; his words are full of righteousness, but his heart is filled with nothing but self-interest!'

"Many people are like that. They wave the banner of justice, act in the name of the collective, do the hardest and most tiring work while enjoying the good life... If they resist even slightly, fight for some deserved benefits, or even realize the situation and want to quit, the other side immediately gets upset and accuses them of being inconsiderate and lazy."

Zhuang Jin shook his head slightly: "What Tao Gongfeng said is very good. However, I am long past the age of being full of passion and fervor, and I am not concerned about Tao Gongfeng's subordinates. Let's save this nonsense and not beat around the bush."

"Ha ha!"

Tao Mengran chuckled, her face twitching slightly as she looked at his youthful appearance and compared it to his words, but ultimately refrained from uttering any more empty platitudes. 'Seeing Zhuang Jin's youth, I originally intended to use this rhetoric to encourage him to go ahead, minimizing the cost and avoiding any resentment… Now it seems he's no ordinary person to have reached this point!'

He sighed inwardly and then brought up another matter: "The Fei family, a wealthy family in Linji County, has quite a connection with me. Back then, Zhuang Gongfeng quietly knocked it down, which was not a very ethical thing to do!"

The implication is that Zhuang Jin owes someone a favor.

"Speaking of the Fei family, Fei Yuanlong colluded with the Medicine King Gang to poison me. If I hadn't been lucky, I probably wouldn't be seeing Master Tao today."

One cannot casually accept favors, and such matters can be either minor or major. A minor favor, like that of Fu Shousong and Qiu Yizhi, can be settled with a prescription that accelerates the accumulation of one's cultivation level. A major one, however, involves the karma of a wealthy family, requiring them to relinquish their positions as county magistrates to repay the debt.

Zhuang Jin refused to acknowledge the favor and even demanded a return favor: "Since Tao Gongfeng has a close relationship with the Fei family, the lax supervision... has caused me a lot of trouble!"

You say you are the retainer of the Fei family, so if the Fei family plotted to kill me, don't you bear any responsibility?

"This... the patriarch and the law enforcement department have already made their judgments, this matter is over, over!" Tao Mengran no longer mentioned that she was a retainer of the Fei family, and simply laughed it off.

"Does Venerable Zhuang know that you are currently in the eye of the storm? The Qinghe County matter... the dispatch of an inspector... multiple powerful figures have pushed me into this position, so naturally there must be something in it for me... Venerable Zhuang is well-versed in the art of self-preservation, so you should voluntarily step down. I will negotiate a settlement and offer compensation..."

After repeated failures, he stopped beating around the bush and started using intimidation and bribery.

"What price is Tao Gongfeng willing to offer?" Zhuang Jin asked with a faint smile.

"If Master Zhuang were willing to voluntarily resign from his position..."

Tao Mengran held up three fingers: "Thirty thousand taels of silver!"

"In this way, as long as Tao Gongfeng acts impartially and conducts his inspection of Linji County fairly, justly, openly, and objectively..."

Zhuang Jin also held up three fingers: "I'll offer 300,000 taels of silver!"

"Three hundred thousand taels?!" Tao Mengran was stunned.

Three hundred thousand taels of silver is quite a lot. Although silver and battle merits cannot be exchanged one-to-one, it is still possible to purchase resources through one's own channels at a 20-30% discount. For a martial artist at the Meridian Opening Realm, this is a considerable amount of resources.

"Half a million!"

Zhuang Jin remained calm and quoted another price: "I'm not saying this out of anger, nor am I joking. As I said before, 500,000 taels of silver will be in Tao Gongfeng's pocket."

Tao Mengran's face twitched as she listened, and she could hardly maintain her expression.

Seeing the struggle in the other person's expression, Zhuang Jin calmly announced another number: "Eight hundred thousand taels!"

Snapped!
This seemed to be the last straw that broke the camel's back. Tao Mengran almost lost her grip on the teacup, but thanks to the quick reflexes of a martial artist who has reached the Meridian Opening stage, she managed to catch the teacup in mid-air and collect all the tea...

Getting back to the point, such a price was quite tempting to him; he was almost overwhelmed by the offer and nearly agreed on the spot.

—Now that we have two counties, Yuyang and Wanliu, and have dug up two radishes, we can barely make ends meet. The last one is his own, so giving it up doesn't seem unreasonable...

However, Tao Mengran was still rational enough to get to where she was today: "Master Zhuang is truly... decisive. In that case, allow me to consider this matter."

……

(End of this chapter)