The 18th year of the Da Yong reign: The beginning of the story involves rescuing revolutionaries.

The patriarch's question stumped Steward Zhang.

He didn't recognize the official from Zhaoyang, but after frowning and thinking for a moment, he quickly replied, "I didn't see anyone wearing any other official robes, so I suppose that official wasn't with you."

"Okay, I got it. I'm going out for a bit, so don't bother making dinner for me."

"Yes, sir."

Wang Zhi then strode hurriedly towards the gate.

But at the door, he heard a cry of pain. Wang Zhi shifted his feet slightly and lightly turned his body to the side, avoiding the man who almost bumped into him.

The latter grabbed the door frame, steadied himself, adjusted his crimson round hat, and then looked at Wang Zhi with a smile, saying, "Good nephew, where are you in such a hurry? Your uncle has something urgent to discuss with you."

"Uncle, even if you have something urgent, wait until I'm done and come back before we talk." Wang Zhi said, walking straight to the driver's seat of the car and opening the door.

With a roar, the car shot off like an angry bull.

Wang Xiping stood at the bottom of the stone steps at the entrance and waved, "Hey, hey." But he only saw the back of the rickshaw disappear around the street corner.

He muttered to himself, "Slow down, oh dear, I really am." Wang Xiping was so angry that he slapped his thigh.

He was very satisfied with his nephew, who, after returning from studying abroad, took charge of the Wang family and revitalized its traditions. He was much more promising than his father and his elder brother, who only knew about romance and literature.

They won over several families in the county and became rivals to the Daxing Gang.

He earned the reputation of being a great philanthropist.

But lately, the other party seems to have changed a bit.

Often, you can't find anyone, and when you do, they're locked up in their courtyard and won't see any visitors.

I wonder what he's thinking about; it can't be practicing martial arts, can it?

Even his own uncle was kept out.

He came to the door again today, and by sheer coincidence, he finally caught the kid at the door.

But he's so convenient; he disappeared in the blink of an eye.

He had something important to discuss with Wang Zhi.

These days, the government and the Daxing Gang have had a falling out, which is not only being talked about by ordinary people during their leisure time, but also by members of these large families.

Any slight movement in the county town would stir the hearts of these people.

It looks like the Daxing Gang is about to fall.

Even though the fierce-looking gang leader severed one of Zhou An's fingers, the latter didn't dare utter a single word.

No one in the county town had any faith in the Daxing Gang; the common people wouldn't fight against the officials.

The Daxing Gang remains the same.

The county government has not taken any action against the Daxing Gang; they are simply waiting for the provincial government to arrive. The county government still needs the Daxing Gang to take the blame for "failing to catch the rebels," and they cannot afford to fall.

Otherwise, Zhou An would simply report his severed finger to the authorities and label the Daxing Gang as traitors.

The imperial court could easily suppress two insignificant gangs from the commoner realm.

The imperial court has been unable to subdue the Cang Sheng Sect, let alone the Da Xing Gang? What a joke.

Now that the provincial government officials have arrived, the Daxing Gang is like a grasshopper in autumn; they won't be able to hop around for much longer.

On his way there, Wang Xiping saw Zhou An riding a tall horse, leading a large group of officials to the Daxing Gang.

Seeing that the Daxing Gang was about to fall, someone had to share the territory and profits that the Daxing Gang had built up over the years. Wang Xiping came to discuss this matter with Wang Zhi.

They certainly couldn't wait for the government to free up its resources and then support another powerful gang, the Dasheng Gang or the Dayu Gang, to compete with the major families.

"Fine," Wang Xiping sighed. He didn't know when his good nephew would return, so he simply turned around and left without even entering the Wang residence, heading towards the Huang family mansion.

......

Wang Zhi's car headed straight for the North Gate without any delay.

They were stopped by the local militia guarding the city gate when they reached it.

They naturally knew that this was the car of Wang Zhi, the head of the Wang family.

Wang Zhi lowered the car window and calmly watched a soldier approach.

The latter clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute outside the car door: "Master Wang, I apologize for the offense. I have received orders from the government to investigate two thugs carrying swords."

"Understood, go ahead and investigate." Wang Zhi got out of the car in a generous manner and opened the car door completely.

While the soldiers were searching, Wang Zhi casually asked, "What were those two villains dressed like? I'd like to keep an eye out for them and also keep an eye out for the yamen."

The soldier, his backside sticking out of the carriage door, replied, "They said it was two warriors wearing moon-white robes, who were also seriously injured and are still staying in our county."

"Oh? I wonder what level of cultivation these two martial artists possess, that even the officials from the provincial government are no match for them." Wang Zhi exclaimed in surprise and doubt.

"I don't know then." The soldier climbed out of the carriage, waved towards the city gate to indicate that passage was permitted, and then bowed to Wang Zhi, saying, "There is indeed no one here. Please forgive us, Patriarch Wang."

"It's no big deal." Wang Zhi got back into the car, started the engine, and drove out of the city gate.

As we drove toward Qingfeng Mountain, which was somewhat desolate under the autumn colors, the outline of the county town behind us gradually blurred, and a manor nestled quietly at the foot of the mountain, its slopes draped in green.

The gray brick wall was covered with ivy, the leaves of which had long turned yellow, and the old vines were covered with dark brown mottles. Wang Zhi stopped in front of the two vermilion gates with a flick of his tail, took out the key from his waist, pushed open the door and went straight into the inner courtyard and the secret passage.

In the secret passage, he donned all his disguises and once again became the composed and collected Chief Wang.

As he pushed open the stone door and emerged from the secret passage, the noise and commotion outside immediately filled his ears.

Even from this distance, you can hear Zhou An and Afu arguing outside the door.

"Li Quanfu, I am here on the orders of the county magistrate to search for the villains who attacked Lord Ji. I have no intention of clashing with your Daxing Gang. You shall all leave me alone at once." Zhou An, mounted on his horse and brandishing a leather whip, lingered at the entrance of the Daxing Gang's headquarters, speaking arrogantly.

"With so many places in the county left unsearched, Lord Zhou, you certainly have a refined taste. You've set your sights on this auspicious spot. What, Lord Zhou, are you convinced that those two villains are hiding in my Daxing Gang?" Li Quanfu said with a cold snort and a fist salute.

How could we allow Zhou An's men to freely search the Daxing Gang's territory? Even if there was nothing there, let alone the secret passage leading directly outside the city, Zhou An would still find something strange.

It's obvious that this guy surnamed Zhou is here to frame the Daxing Gang. He can just grab a few blood-stained clothes and a few swords, throw them into the gang, and call them the weapons of villains. Isn't that easy?

Li Quanfu's prediction was spot on.

Zhou An had this wishful thinking in mind. Before coming here, he had considered inviting Zhang Zhu, the provincial government inspector.

Thinking to himself, Zhang Zhu is at the third level of martial arts, the Cage Realm. With him around, why would he need to waste time arguing with Li Quanfu? He could have broken in long ago.

Unfortunately, Zhang Zhu refused, saying that he had come with Lord Ji and would only obey Lord Ji's orders, and would not interfere in the affairs of Liuzhou County without solid evidence.

"Fine, since you want evidence, I'll give you solid evidence." Zhou An's eyes narrowed slightly: "Li Quanfu, you could have easily proven your innocence by letting me search you. Now you're obstructing me, isn't that a sign that you have something to hide?"

"If you continue to obstruct me, it will be irrefutable evidence of your collusion with rebels and your opposition to the imperial court. I will personally report the truth to the officials in the provincial government." Zhou An cupped his hands towards the air while holding his riding whip, and then said, "Inspector Chen of the provincial government is a martial artist of the third realm. You should think carefully before you give way or not."

"I will count to three."

"three......"