The County Magistrate Pays a Visit

Night fell silently.

At this time, all the clerks of Li Family's business had gathered together and were hiding in the rear wing.

As for the storefront out front, Bai Ze glanced at the three Blood Changing Realm martial artists beside him, then waved them over and whispered instructions into their ears.

A few minutes later, Bai Ze and two of the others leaped into the air and hid directly behind the counter.

The remaining martial artist stayed where he was, serving as bait to lure the enemy in.

After all, if they all gathered in one place, what if the other party did not dare to make a move?

As long as the other party came, they would have a chance to uncover the truth.

Bai Ze gripped his longsword tightly, his eyes fixed on every movement within the shop.

Time passed bit by bit.

Meanwhile, the martial artist acting as bait was beginning to grow impatient, pacing back and forth through the shop.

After all, the martial artist who had died yesterday was no weaker than him. If Bai Ze and the others had not been here, he probably would not have dared to remain here alone.

Yet strangely enough, nothing happened even after dawn broke.

Bai Ze emerged from the back, feeling somewhat puzzled as well.

After glancing at the three men before him, he said calmly, "Go back first. Though it is daytime now, remain vigilant."

"Yes."

The three men hurriedly nodded. They exchanged glances and seemed to want to say something, but in the end, they said nothing and walked out.

At the same time, the shopkeeper from the rear came out with several others. Seeing that nothing appeared to have happened in the store, he asked in confusion, "My lord, the other party did not come last night?"

"That's right."

Bai Ze nodded at that, then looked at him and said, "Not coming last night does not mean they will not appear tonight."

"Carry on with business as usual during the day."

"Oh, and send someone to inquire whether anything strange happened last night."

"Especially over at the county office. After all, they are the only ones with Blood Changing Realm martial artists."

"Yes."

The shopkeeper immediately acknowledged the order and swiftly arranged for someone to investigate.

Since the other party was specifically targeting Blood Changing Realm martial artists, if they had not come here, perhaps they had gone to the county office instead.

If that was truly as he suspected, then this matter would become rather troublesome.

After Bai Ze returned to his residence, he rested for a while before resuming his cultivation.

Although he had gained nothing last night, it did not affect him in any way.

As long as he did his best to ensure the business continued operating normally, he would leave once the time came. As for what happened afterward, someone else would deal with it.

At noon, while they still had received no news, the County Magistrate of Blackwater County unexpectedly came to pay them a visit in person.

Led by the shopkeeper, they went straight to the courtyard where Bai Ze lived.

Upon seeing Bai Ze, the County Magistrate clasped his fists and said with a smile, "You must be Brother Bai of the Li Family! I have long admired your reputation."

"It is truly our honor that you have come to Blackwater County this time."

"I had originally planned to hold a welcoming banquet for you, but who could have expected something like this to happen? The affairs of this world are truly unpredictable!"

Bai Ze, however, was dismissive inwardly. He said evenly, "County Magistrate, you are too polite. I should have been the one to pay you a visit. This time, you have come here because...?"

He spoke as though he knew nothing at all, but the County Magistrate and his people did not believe it in the slightest.

After all, so many Blood Changing Realm martial artists had died in Blackwater County. One of them had even belonged to Li Family's business!

He could pretend not to know anything, but they could not!

If this continued, even he, the County Magistrate, might find himself unable to protect his own position.

The County Magistrate glanced at the man who had come with him, and the latter immediately understood.

He stepped forward and said, "Lord Bai, we truly had no choice but to come this time!"

"So many Blood Changing Realm martial artists have died in Blackwater County recently, and they were all important figures from various factions. Our County Magistrate is under immense pressure as well."

"Moreover, the other party has been utterly brazen. They not only targeted Li Family's business, but did not even spare the county office!"

"Indeed."

Seeing that Bai Ze still remained unmoved, the County Magistrate cursed him inwardly as a sly little fox.

He spoke again, "Quick, bring in everything I brought."

"Yes."

Several Yamen runners swiftly carried up a wooden chest and opened it directly.

Inside lay a large amount of gold and silver. Just one rough glance was enough to tell there were at least a hundred thousand taels of silver.

It was clear that the County Magistrate had truly gone all out this time, determined to make Bai Ze and the others take action.

Yet Bai Ze merely glanced at it, his expression unchanged, and asked somewhat doubtfully, "County Magistrate, what is this...?"

"These are all a gift for Brother Bai."

"This doesn't seem appropriate, does it? After all, one should not accept rewards without merit!"

"Hahaha, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter."

Hearing this, the County Magistrate saw that Bai Ze had already relented and seized the chance to say, "To be honest, I came this time to ask for your help."

"Oh?"

"You may not know this yet, but that mysterious fellow attacked the county office last night."

"How could that be? He is truly lawless."

"Isn't that so? If not for my men fighting to the death, I'm afraid I would have met a terrible end myself."

Watching the other man put on such a heart-worn, care-stricken look, Bai Ze could not help finding it amusing inside.

Still, he assumed an indignant expression and said, "Rest assured, County Magistrate. Our Li Family's business is also part of Blackwater County, and besides, that person killed our people as well."

"Tell us what you need. So long as it is within our power, we will never refuse."

"Good!"

The County Magistrate cried out in delight. Clearly, this was exactly what he had been waiting to hear.

He said loudly, "Brother Bai truly is a hero in his youth. Since that is the case, then I will not stand on ceremony."

"That person's target is very clear—Blood Changing Realm martial artists."

"So I want the martial artists from your business to work with our Yamen runners to capture him and root out this future threat once and for all."

"Rest assured, as long as he is dealt with, there will certainly be generous rewards afterward in addition to all this."

"You are too courteous, County Magistrate."

After Bai Ze agreed, the smile on the County Magistrate's face grew even broader, and he warmly chatted with him.

At the same time, he recounted what had happened the previous night. That mysterious fellow had indeed attacked their county office.

Though he did not describe it in detail, the fact that the man had entered the county office, killed a Blood Changing Realm martial artist, then escaped from layer upon layer of encirclement showed just how formidable he was.

However, judging from the County Magistrate's description, he should not have been an Innate Realm martial artist.

If he had not fled, they could not possibly have forced him back; instead, he would have slaughtered them until they scattered in all directions.