I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

"At that time, you will experience pain a hundred times more intense than before. Your heart will be gnawed away inch by inch, and eventually, in endless torment, it will turn into a pool of pus and blood."

"Of course, you can find other sorcerers or healers to cure it. But I must warn you,"

"Any external force attempting to touch this barrier will only cause it to explode instantly. Then... bang!"

He made an explosion gesture.

"Even a celestial being couldn't save you."

Liu Mang's mind went blank.

Where did this monster come from?!

"Mr. Zhao... Mr. Zhao!"

"Rest assured, sir! From this day forward, you are my second father! I will obey any command you give me, even at the cost of my life! The Wang family... no, within the entire city, anyone who is your friend is my friend, Liu Mang! I will be the first to object to anyone who dares to lay a finger on them!"

Zhao Zian remained calm.

"Remember what you said today."

He took out a pill and threw it in front of Liu Mang.

"This is the first antidote; it will keep you safe for seven days. After seven days, come to Jishetang to find me. Remember, don't try anything funny."

Liu Mang stuffed it into his mouth without even looking at it, afraid that Zhao Zian would change his mind.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you for the medicine!"

Zhao Zian turned and walked out of the private room.

That Heart-Eating Forbidden Technique was obviously something he made up.

That was merely a true qi restriction imposed using a special method from the Shennong Valley Classic.

Its function is to monitor the flow of qi and blood within Liu Mang's body.

As long as Liu Mang harbors evil intentions and murderous intent, his qi and blood will inevitably fluctuate abnormally.

The true energy that Zhao Zian left inside would be activated, allowing him to sense something.

At that time, he will only need a single thought.

This would allow him to draw upon this true energy, letting Liu Mang experience the sensation of blood and qi flowing backwards once more.

This is better than any poison, and it won't actually harm your life.

After all, keeping an obedient prefect alive is far more valuable than killing him.

……

The Prince's Mansion, back garden.

Yan Song pulled the ninth evil nail out of the crack in the rockery.

He placed nine nails in a wooden box and walked toward Wang Jingtian in the pavilion.

"Young Master Wang."

Yan Song took three steps to the pavilion and knelt on one knee.

"I have been ordered by the Prefect to remove all the evil spirits from the manor. Our previous offenses were due to Liu Mang and my Blackwater Alliance's blindness; please forgive us, Young Master Wang!"

Wang Jingtian's voice was as cold as if it had been quenched with ice.

"Liu Mang's dog dares to come before my Wang family's door to beg for forgiveness?"

Before he could finish speaking, he kicked her.

The wooden box was kicked away.

The color drained from Yan Song's face.

This is a blatant insult!

Yan Song, a prominent figure in the county town, had never suffered such humiliation!

Wang Jingtian turned his gaze to him.

"What? You want to fight?"

"It's just a dog. It bites when its master tells it to bite, and wags its tail when its master tells it to wag its tail. Now it wags its tail to beg for forgiveness, and you expect me to give it a few bones?"

"The Blackwater Alliance? Heh, they're nothing but a bunch of vermin Liu Mang kept in the gutter. Without Liu Mang, what are you?"

"Go back and tell Liu Mang that I, Wang Jingtian, will remember this debt. Tell him to wash his neck clean and wait at the prefect's mansion. The blood of the Wang family is not so easily shed."

Yan Song gritted his teeth.

In the past, he would have already attacked and killed this arrogant young master of the Wang family on the spot.

But now, he can't.

He dare not.

Liu Mang's life is now in Zhao Zian's hands.

Yan Song bent down, picked up the scattered evil nails, and put them back into the wooden box.

The mockery in Wang Jingtian's eyes intensified.

"That's more like a dog."

"Once you're done picking up the trash, get out of here. Don't dirty my Wang family's land."

Yan Song held the box and knelt down again.

"Young Master Wang is right. Yan Song... takes his leave."

"Is the matter settled?"

Yan Song turned around.

Zhao Zian was walking slowly towards them.

"Mr. Zhao! Are you alright?"

Wang Jingtian was no longer as cold and hard as before.

Yan Song was dumbfounded.

Zhao Zian nodded slightly to Wang Jingtian.

"What could possibly be wrong with me? It was just a minor problem, and it's already been resolved."

Wang Jingtian breathed a sigh of relief.

"What about that old dog Liu Mang? Did he give you any trouble? He's treacherous and cunning; you must be very careful."

Zhao Zian smiled.

"rest assured."

"There won't be any more trouble with Liu Mang."

"From today onwards, he is one of us."

"What?"

Wang Jingtian was stunned.

What does this mean?

How could a dignified prefect, who commands the troops of a prefecture, so easily become someone else's man?

Zhao Zian said calmly.

"From now on, the Wang family can act with peace of mind within the city. Liu Mang will not only not be an obstacle for you, but will also provide you with convenience in many matters."

"As for the Blackwater Alliance..."

He paused in his speech.

Yan Song's heart was in his throat.

"Since you are Prefect Liu's man, then you are mine. I will let bygones be bygones. From now on, serve Prefect Liu well, which means you will serve me."

"Brother Wang, what do you think?"

Wang Jingtian bowed to Zhao Zian.

"Brother Zhao's abilities are truly admirable... I am utterly in awe!"

"Since Brother Zhao has spoken, all past grievances will be wiped clean. As long as they behave themselves, my Wang family will never cause them any more trouble."

Upon hearing this, Yan Song felt a sense of relief.

He took two steps forward and knelt down on both knees.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Zhao, for sparing my life! Thank you so much, Young Master Wang, for your magnanimity!"

"From this day forward, I, Yan Song, and all three hundred-plus brothers of the Blackwater Alliance, are willing to go through fire and water, even to the death, for Mr. Zhao!"

Zhao Zian remained calm.

Get up.

"Remember, I don't like trouble. If you behave yourselves, we'll all be fine. But if you don't..."

"Understood! Understood!"

Yan Song left the back garden.

Wang Jingtian breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother Zhao, you really are...you always manage to surprise me."

Zhao Zian walked to the pavilion and sat down.

"Only after solving the immediate problem can we talk about the future."

Wang Jingtian felt a mix of emotions.

Not long ago, he regarded Liu Mang as a major threat and the Blackwater Alliance as a persistent problem.

But now?

Zhao Zian only went once, which took no more than an hour.

Liu Mang, this local tyrant who had been entrenched in the county town for many years and the nominal supreme ruler of the county town, just like that... became one of their own?

"Brother Zhao."

Wang Jingtian spoke.

"The matter of the county seat ends here. What... are your plans now?"

Zhao Zian put down his teacup.

"The problem is solved, I should head back to Willow Creek Town now."

Wang Jingtian stood up.

"So fast?"

He was somewhat anxious.

"Brother Zhao, why don't you stay a few more days? My father has been wanting to thank you in person for saving his life. Besides, you've helped my Wang family solve such a big problem, and we haven't even had a chance to properly entertain you yet."

He genuinely wanted Zhao Zian to stay a few more days.