Cultivating in Different Professions

In the main hall of the Drunken Full House.

Two rows of constables in official uniforms stood tall and proud, their hands on the hilts of their swords, exuding an imposing aura.

In the center of the hall, a score or two of corpses were piled up like a small mountain.

A dozen or so people now stood before this mound of bodies.

Their lavish attire was a stark contrast to their deathly pale faces.

At the very top of the pile, a man they knew all too well stared down at them with lifeless eyes, as if telling a tale of endless unwillingness.

Ma Shuangcheng, the chairman of the Ronghua Association, was actually dead, just like that.

Not only was he dead, but his body was also being displayed so ignominiously for all to see, along with those of his trusted subordinates.

"Is everyone here?"

Su Mu asked calmly.

"Reporting to you, sir. There are nineteen official members in the Ronghua Association. Including Ma Shuangcheng, who has already been summarily executed, everyone is present."

Minister Yu Xiujiang said with a cupped-fist salute.

After all he had been through, he found himself surprisingly unfazed by an event that would have once sent shockwaves through the entire East City District.

In fact, he even felt a sense of vindicated satisfaction.

The more arrogant these members of the Ronghua Association had been before, the more gratifying their current state was to see.

"Very good."

Su Mu nodded slightly. "Since everyone is here, let’s begin."

His gaze swept over the crowd as he slowly announced, "Ma Shuangcheng manipulated grain prices and disrupted the market. He then refused to pay his fine and attempted to attack me, a Sima. According to Da Xuan Law, he deserved death."

"Whether you participated in this matter or knew about it, I will assume for now that you were all completely ignorant. We’ll let it slide this time.

From now on, you are the chairman of the Ronghua Association. I hope you will operate legally in the future and lead the Ronghua Association to contribute to the peace and stability of the East City District."

"I have said my piece. If any of you have objections, you may speak now."

With that, Su Mu looked at the crowd calmly.

The ’lucky’ man whom Su Mu had just appointed as the new chairman of the Ronghua Association showed not a hint of joy, his face filled only with bitterness.

If he had been offered the position of chairman before, he would have jumped at the chance.

But now, any discerning person could see that whoever became the chairman of the Ronghua Association would be nothing more than a puppet for the East City Bureau.

If he dared to defy the East City Bureau’s orders, the fate of the former chairman, Ma Shuangcheng, was a clear warning.

But if he obeyed the East City Bureau in all matters, the Association’s own interests would suffer greatly. When that happened, it would be a miracle if the other members didn’t skin him alive.

The position of chairman of the Ronghua Association was now nothing but a hot potato.

’I don’t want to accept it.’

’It has only just begun, and those guys already suspect I’ve been colluding with the East City Bureau. If I really become the chairman, it’ll be a miracle if they support me.’

’The problem is, if I refuse now, will Little Su kill me on the spot?’

’The possibility is very high.’

’The corpse of the former chairman, Ma Shuangcheng, is right in front of my eyes!’

"Since there are no objections, the matter is settled."

After waiting a moment and seeing no one speak, Su Mu nodded in satisfaction. "What is your name? Later, sort out the Ronghua Association’s affairs and report them to the East City Bureau for filing. From now on, anything the Ronghua Association does must be approved by the East City Bureau. You will only proceed after receiving approval. Any problems?"

Any problems?

Of course there were!

The problems were huge!

If everything required the East City Bureau’s approval, then what was the point of the Ronghua Association’s existence?

Was there even a need for it to exist anymore?

The members of the Ronghua Association all looked at each other in dismay. Their minds were full of objections, but not a single one of them dared to speak.

What a joke. It wasn’t like they were blind.

The former chairman, Ma Shuangcheng, and his strongest Martial Artists had all been turned into corpses, laid out neatly right before their eyes.

What did this prove?

It proved that Su Mu’s strength was far greater than they had ever anticipated!

The former chairman, Ma Shuangcheng, was a Martial Artist in the Bone Tempering Realm, and his Martial Artists were the strongest in the Ronghua Association. Yet, Su Mu had single-handedly slaughtered them all.

Not a single one of them was a match for Ma Shuangcheng, so how could they possibly dare to stick their necks out now?

Not until Su Mu rose to leave and his figure disappeared did the members of the Ronghua Association feel their strength leave them. A few even collapsed onto the ground, heedless of their image, the deep terror still lingering in their eyes.

"Chairman Ma... he died so miserably."

A bitter taste filled Shen Yizhi’s mouth.

He was the ’lucky’ man whom Su Mu had appointed as the new chairman of the Ronghua Association.

"Fellow members, I really didn’t collude with Little Su..."

"We know."

A wealthy merchant interrupted Shen Yizhi’s explanation. "Even Chairman Ma fell at his hands, and he didn’t use any underhanded tricks. With that kind of power, our Ronghua Association’s defeat is not unjust."

Wry smiles appeared on everyone’s faces.

They were all very clear about the former Chairman Ma Shuangcheng’s level of strength.

To be able to kill Chairman Ma and all his people, Su Mu’s power must have reached a terrifying level.

This was not something one could do just by mastering an Intent.

It was highly likely that he had already stepped into the Bone Tempering Realm.

With the terrifying physique of the Bone Tempering Realm, combined with his mastery of an Intent, he was practically invincible among those below the Blood Exchange Realm.

With such power, no one in the Outer City could contend with him.

He no longer needed to resort to any schemes or plots against the Ronghua Association.

In his eyes, the Ronghua Association could be crushed at any time.

"Fellow members, what are your thoughts...?"

Shen Yizhi asked weakly.

Although he was now the chairman of the Ronghua Association in name, he truly lacked the confidence to give any orders.

"What other thoughts could we have?"

The crowd replied irritably. "We’ll just do as he says. We’d like to live a few more years, you know. Old Shen, you’re our leader now. From now on, we’ll have to rely on you to fight for our interests with the East City Bureau."