Stronger by Killing

Gu Zhan frowned and said, "What’s the situation exactly?"

Zuo Yang cupped his hands and said, "Over in Youyang County, everything was always pretty normal. There are just a few second or third-tier influences. They often clash with our Embroidered Uniform Guard, but both sides are rather restrained.

Those Martial World Influences don’t dare to kill, and our Embroidered Uniform Guard just catch some troublemakers, fine them, and lock them up for a few days, that’s usually it. But just two nights ago, suddenly a fire broke out.

It was only when the Youyang County Yamen rushed in to put out the fire they discovered that everyone from the Hundred Households Office had been killed. After slaughtering them, they set the fire. Not even the gatekeeper or stable hands were spared—a total of more than two hundred people, not a single one survived!"

"Bold indeed!"

Mo Beiyan suddenly slapped the table and said, "I figured those Martial World Influences wouldn’t be content letting our Embroidered Uniform Guard gradually eat them up. I just didn’t expect they’d go so far—kill over two hundred people!"

Mo Beiyan took a deep breath and said, "Brother Gu, I’m afraid this is a counterattack from those Martial World Influences. Youyang County is the first. If this isn’t handled well, other influences elsewhere might follow suit, and the Hundred Households Offices in various places won’t be able to stay at all!"

Gu Zhan’s expression was cold. He said, "So decisive. We haven’t taken the next step yet, and they’ve already made their move."

Mo Beiyan said in a deep voice, "This is both a warning and a threat to us. Maybe we’ve pressured them too hard recently. Youyang County, that’s bordering the Lingxi Sword Sect, isn’t it?"

Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "You’re suggesting it’s the Lingxi Sword Sect?"

Mo Beiyan shook his head and said, "Not necessarily the Lingxi Sword Sect directly. Their target’s too big, and lately we’ve mostly been going after the second and third-tier influences, not the top ones. The top influences shouldn’t be forced to this point. But the Lingxi Sword Sect is the overlord around there. If we want to deal with this, I’m afraid we can’t avoid the Lingxi Sword Sect!"

Gu Zhan’s eyes flashed with cold light. He said grimly, "Lingxi Sword Sect had better have nothing to do with this, or I won’t mind trampling the Martial World under my horse’s hooves, starting with their Lingxi Sword Sect!"

With that,

Gu Zhan stood up and said, "Zuo Yang, get prepared now. Tonight, we’ll head to Youyang County."

"Yes." Zuo Yang cupped his hands and left.

"Brother Gu," Mo Beiyan hurriedly asked, "Should I go with you?"

"No need," Gu Zhan waved his hand and said, "One of us has to stay in Pingyang City to oversee everything. I’ll handle Youyang County."

Mo Beiyan nodded, then said, "But it’ll probably be quite troublesome to investigate. Since they’ve slaughtered everyone and burned the office, it’s clear they don’t want to leave any evidence. And the local influences there are definitely united in excluding the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Gu Zhan said slowly, "If they dare to be united against us, I’ll dare to cut them down together!"

...

After the spring, Pingyang Prefecture slowly started to warm up. Occasionally, there would be a day or two of bright sunshine.

After several days of fast riding,

Gu Zhan led a team of lightly equipped Embroidered Uniform Guard to Youyang County.

Youyang County is quite far from Pingyang City, already at the border of Pingyang Prefecture, adjoining several other County Mansions.

And in this area, the biggest Martial World Influence is the Lingxi Sword Sect on Lingxi Mountain, spanning the land of three County Mansions. They are the leading Martial World Sect in this region. The rest are second or third-tier Noble Families and gangs. None dare to found new sects here—doing so would be directly opposing the Lingxi Sword Sect.

Before arriving, Gu Zhan had already learned about Youyang County. Here, spirit medicine is abundant, so all major influences are involved in the spirit medicine business. Also, it’s a big county for weapon production—the iron ore here is high quality, so weapons forged from it are much sought after, always in demand. Several local Noble Families have become fabulously rich from this business.

But honestly, it’s rather absurd,

A county rich in spirit medicine and weapons, yet they often can’t collect tax. Only last month, when the Embroidered Uniform Guard pressed them, did the various influences scrape together twenty thousand taels of silver as tax,

Only twenty thousand taels, not even enough for the Hundred Households Office’s payroll. Even that was only forced out by the daily door-blocking tactics of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Youyang County’s Hundred Households Office has a staff of two hundred thirty-five. The Hundred Households head is a Middle Innate Martial Artist from Shuixie Manor—not someone to be underestimated.

...

When Gu Zhan arrived in Youyang County, the local County Magistrate led a crowd of County Yamen officials and had been waiting early at the city gate.

This gesture—most of it is actually sincere.

This County Yamen, in the past, was nominally in charge of the county, but actually had no power. Instead, they were bullied by local influences. The dignified County Magistrate would be called here and there like a servant,

But ever since the Embroidered Uniform Guard was reestablished,

And Youyang County set up a Hundred Households Office, the County Yamen benefited, their status soared. Especially since the Embroidered Uniform Guard at the Hundred Households Office started enforcing the law like ruffians, the local Martial World Influences suffered, and many came to the County Yamen to plead. It finally let the County Yamen vent their frustration.

Youyang County’s Magistrate is a short, fat middle-aged man. He rushed up to Gu Zhan’s horse from far away, panting as he tried to assist Gu Zhan, nodding and bowing like a loyal lackey.

Gu Zhan glanced at the Fat County Magistrate, who looked so feeble he could hardly walk, waved his hand and said, "To the site!"

"Yes sir, yes sir," the Fat County Magistrate hurriedly signaled the officials, "Quick, quick, follow Lord Gu into the city to the site."

Watching Gu Zhan ride into the city,

The Fat County Magistrate sat in his carriage, clicking his tongue in admiration, "Truly heroic and extraordinary—a rare young talent!"

A small attendant beside him whispered, "Sir, Gu Qianhu has entered the city already, he can’t hear this. If you’re going to stroke an ego, you should do it inside the city."

"You don’t understand," the Fat County Magistrate clicked his tongue, "Flattery isn’t about in front or behind people—flatter until even you believe it, then others will believe it’s your sincere words."

"Sir... Brilliant!"

...

Youyang County Hundred Households Office.

Gu Zhan stood at the gate, looking at the pitch-black ruined estate before him, his expression as cold as water.

The fire left nothing but ashes and charcoal,

A group of Embroidered Uniform Guard searched the estate for a long time but found no useful clues, and so turned to the County Yamen’s mortuary to examine the corpses.

Most bodies were already charred,

But luckily the County Yamen had arrived quickly and managed to rescue a few intact corpses.

Soon, Zuo Yang arrived at the door, cupped his hands and said, "My lord, all were killed with a single strike. This couldn’t be done by just three or five experts—there must have been at least thirty Innate Martial Artists involved, otherwise it wouldn’t be so clean."

Gu Zhan narrowed his eyes and asked, "Any other clues?"

Zuo Yang shook his head and said, "The fire was so thorough, it’s hard to find anything else."

"Gu... Lord Gu,"

The Fat County Magistrate, who had been following Gu Zhan, suddenly spoke, "This humble official actually knows a little something—I don’t know if it will help your investigation?"