Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

The moment the wolf king fell, the remaining beast horde lost its leader.

Chaos broke out immediately.

Some of the monsters were still attacking the defensive line relentlessly, while others began to turn back.

It tucked its tail between its legs and fled into the depths of the mountains.

"Stop chasing!"

Li Ping, leaning on his short sword, was panting heavily.

He shouted loudly,

"Hold the line and wipe out the remaining monsters beneath the city!"

His voice was a little hoarse, but it carried throughout the entire North Gate.

The militiamen, as if waking from a dream, immediately stopped their pursuit.

They then focused their efforts on dealing with the remaining demonic beasts that were still putting up a stubborn resistance.

Li Ping walked over to Qian Duo and checked his breathing.

There was still a faint breath.

He took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket and poured out a pill.

Stuffed into Qian Duo's mouth

"My lord, this is..."

A militia member asked in a low voice

"Healing pills given by Supervisor Ren"

Li Ping casually made up a story, then looked up at Zhao Heng, who was bound hand and foot on the city wall.

A flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes.

Just then, a series of chaotic footsteps came from the direction of the south gate.

Magistrate Chen Rang led a troop of city defense soldiers, carrying torches

They came in a grand procession.

He changed into a clean set of official robes and tried to straighten his back.

He tried to appear dignified, but his pale face and shifty eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Li Ping! How dare you! You actually dared to kill an official appointed by the imperial court!"

Chen Rang started shouting from a distance, trying to gain the upper hand.

Li Ping didn't even glance at him, but instead gave orders to Shi Gan beside him:

"Keep a close eye on Registrar Zhao; if he dies..."

"I will hold you accountable."

"Yes, sir!"

Shi Gan, carrying an iron rod, walked to Zhao Heng's side.

Like an iron tower

Chen Rang was so angry that he trembled when he saw that he was being ignored.

He strode forward and pointed at Li Ping's nose.

"I'm asking you a question! Why...?"

His words caught in his throat halfway through.

Because he saw the mountain-sized corpse of the Wolf King, and beside it stood a young man, leaning on a sword and covered in blood.

The local militia and constables around him looked at Li Ping with...

Filled with awe and fervor

Chen Rang's heart skipped a beat.

"Magistrate Chen, you've come at just the right time."

A cold voice came from behind Chen Rang.

Song Ming, accompanied by two attendants, arrived sometime earlier.

He glanced at the battlefield, then at the bound Zhao Heng.

Finally, his gaze fell on Chen Rang.

"Lord Song!"

Chen Rang, as if seeing a savior, hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting.

"You've come at the right time! That brat Li Ping disregards my military orders."

"To even bind the Registrar in public is utterly lawless! I beg Lord Song to avenge this humble official!"

"Make the decision?"

Song Ming sneered

"I would like to ask Magistrate Chen, is the beast tide approaching?"

"As the lord of a county, why did you transfer all the city's garrison troops to the south gate? And why did you seal off the armory?"

"Did they cut off the supplies to the garrison at the north gate?"

Chen Rang's face turned pale, and he hurriedly tried to explain.

"This humble official is acting to prevent the demonic beasts from encircling us and to preserve the county's vitality! As for the armory..."

"The clerk in charge of the storeroom must have misunderstood; I had absolutely no such intention!"

"Did you misunderstand?"

Li Ping straightened up and handed the accounting book he had obtained from the Bai family to Song Ming.

"Lord Song, this is..."

"There is a detailed record of Magistrate Chen's years of receiving a salary without working and embezzling taxes."

He feared that after the city was defended, the county would conduct a thorough investigation.

"These deficits cannot be filled, so they intend to use the hands of demonic beasts."

"Besides those of us who know the truth, they're also trying to pin the blame for the failed defense on us."

"Such a clever plan to kill two birds with one stone, Magistrate Chen is truly shrewd."

Chen Rang was trembling with anger, pointing at Li Ping.

"You...you're making baseless accusations! That ledger must be forged by you!"

"Forgery?"

Song Ming opened the book and said coldly.

"Every single entry here matches the records kept in the county."

"Magistrate Chen, do you know the extent of your jurisdiction?"

"Has it been three years since the full amount of taxes and grain has been paid? The Prefect specifically instructed me to do so when I came here."

"We need to thoroughly investigate the granaries in Xiyun County."

Chen Rang's face flashed.

There was no trace of blood left.

He knew he was finished.

The hole in the granary was his biggest weakness.

"Lord Song, I... I was confused for a moment!"

Chen Rang suddenly knelt on the ground, hugging Song Ming's leg and crying out.

"This humble official knows his mistake! I beg Lord Song to spare my life, considering my many years of service as an official!"

Song Ming kicked him away, his face full of disgust.

Just then, Zhao Heng, who was tied up to the side...

A resolute glint flashed in his eyes.

Taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, he suddenly bit open the venom sac hidden in his teeth.

A plume of black smoke billowed from his mouth, blinding the two militiamen beside him.

He immediately freed himself from the ropes, took out a talisman from his pocket, and stuck it on his leg.

He vanished into the darkness outside the city, leaving only a fleeting shadow.

"Trying to run away?"

A cold glint flashed in Li Ping's eyes.

"Shi Gan!"

"exist!"

"Take those surrendered bandits from Black Wind Stronghold and chase after them!"

Li Ping's voice was icy.

"Dead or alive, it doesn't matter!"

"yes!"

Shi Gan roared and called upon more than a dozen strong and sturdy surrendered bandits.

They chased after him like wolves and tigers.

Inside the hall, only Chen Rang's wailing could be heard.

Song Ming looked at Li Ping with a complicated expression.

He walked up to Li Ping and patted him on the shoulder.

"Li Ping, you have done a great job defending the city."

"I will report this truthfully to the Prefect."

Song Ming said in a deep voice

"I'm temporarily entrusting Xiyun County to you."

"Take stock of casualties and reassure the public."

"Let's not cause any more trouble."

Li Ping bowed.

"Thank you for your trust, Lord Song."

"As for him..."

Song Ming pointed to Chen Rang, who was lying paralyzed on the ground.

"Guards, confiscate his official seal and robes."

"Throw him in jail and await the prefect's judgment!"

Two attendants stepped forward and unceremoniously stripped Chen Rang of his official robes.

Remove his official seal

Chen Rang collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

muttering to himself

"It's over...it's all over..."

Li Ping watched this scene without any change in his heart.

He knew that from tonight onwards...

He will be in charge of setting the rules for Xiyun County.

Song Ming walked to the city wall and looked at the cheering people below and the militiamen cleaning up the battlefield.

My heart is filled with countless emotions.

He initially thought it was just a corruption case in a remote small county.

Unexpectedly, I would witness a young man in person.

Beset by internal and external troubles, relying solely on his own strength

Turning the tide

He watched Li Ping's retreating figure and suddenly felt...

Perhaps the Prefect's grand scheme has gained another unexpected piece.

A single piece... capable of changing the course of the game.