"L-Lord, could you untie us first?"
The brocade-robed youth from earlier spoke softly and timidly.
The impression left by those killing gods before him was simply too deep. Coupled with their identities as members of the Heavenly Realm Division, he did not dare show the slightest disrespect.
"Zhu Huan."
"Yes."
At Zhu Huan's response, he gave the constables beside him a look.
"Thank you, Lord."
Freed from their bindings, the crowd bowed deeply toward Wei Qing and the others in thanks.
Wei Qing looked at the injured constables before him and asked, "Zhu Huan, what were the casualties in this operation?"
Zhu Huan's tone was heavy. "Lord, six men died in the line of duty, and eleven were injured."
Wei Qing immediately gave the order. "Send men to escort the civilians back to the city."
"At the same time, bring the injured back as well. The yamen will cover all expenses and spare no effort in treating them. In addition, reward each of them with ten taels of silver."
"For the brothers who died in the line of duty, give each family three hundred taels as settlement money. Tell their families that if they encounter any difficulties in the future, they may come directly to the yamen for help."
"Yes. On behalf of my brothers, I thank you, Lord," Zhu Huan replied in a deep voice, clasping his fists.
"Thank you, Lord."
The injured constables were overwhelmed with emotion. There had never been any rewards for operations like this in the past.
Ten taels of silver was equivalent to two and a half months of their salaries.
As for the three hundred taels of settlement money, it raised the previous compensation standard by a full sixfold.
For a moment.
Warmth surged through everyone's hearts.
How they wished Wei Qing could remain in Qingcheng and serve as Magistrate.
Such a generous superior.
They liked him far too much.
Then Wei Qing added, "Captain Zhu, you must handle this matter personally."
"The compensation and settlement money must reach the people themselves or their families, down to the very last coin."
"If anyone dares to skim from it..."
"Kill without mercy!"
As the word "kill" fell, everyone was shaken by the invisible killing intent emanating from Wei Qing.
They understood in their hearts.
If some blind fool truly dared reach out his hand, Wei Qing would absolutely unleash a massacre!
"Yes. I will not disappoint you, Lord."
Zhu Huan nodded solemnly.
From this moment onward, beneath the constraints of countless Master-Servant Contracts, he truly acknowledged Wei Qing as his master from the bottom of his heart.
"Thank you, Lord Wei."
At those words, the constables present had reddened eyes.
In the past, whenever something like this happened, after layer upon layer of exploitation, only a few scraps of silver would remain by the time it reached their hands.
Some had once gathered the courage to demand an explanation, only to be charged with "disrupting official business" in the blink of an eye.
Even their families' safety could not be guaranteed.
Wei Qing's words were like a calming pill, leaving them free of all worries.
The looks Tantai Yue and the others gave Wei Qing also changed subtly.
In the past, matters like these had always been handled by the local authorities.
They had heard of some of the shady dealings involved, but the Heavenly Realm Division had no authority to interfere in local administrative affairs.
Now that Wei Qing was Acting Magistrate, handling it this way was entirely proper and justified.
No one could say a word against it.
"Qingzi, you're the man!"
Jun Wushang raised a thumbs-up, his face full of admiration. Ever since Wei Qing had "come back from the dead," he had become more and more to Jun Wushang's liking.
Decisive in action, seasoned in dealing with people.
He was no longer as indecisive as before.
Jun Wushang was more than happy to see Wei Qing's transformation.
"You sure talk a lot. What, your arm doesn't hurt anymore?"
Where no one else could see, Wei Qing lightly jabbed Jun Wushang and swiftly glanced at Zhang Xue.
"Ow... you crow-mouthed bastard. Now that you mention it, it really does hurt a little."
After Jun Wushang's heroic rescue of the beauty just now, his feelings toward the fiery Zhang Xue had also changed subtly.
Seeing Wei Qing's obvious hint, the "pain" in his arm suddenly worsened, and he could not help crying out.
"Xue'er, go take care of Wushang. He was injured saving you, after all," Shen Yan instructed Zhang Xue.
"Fine." A trace of delight flashed through Zhang Xue's eyes, only to vanish in an instant. With an unhappy expression, she stepped forward. "Hmph, if Mother hadn't said so, I wouldn't be bothered to take care of you."
"Thank you, Xue'er."
Jun Wushang grinned foolishly, raising the arm hidden behind his back to give Wei Qing a huge thumbs-up.
Wei Qing smiled calmly.
Seeing his precious daughter go to care for Jun Wushang, Zhang Zhidong shot him a dissatisfied glare.
Jun Wushang acted as though he had not seen it, baring his teeth and hissing dramatically as he pretended to be in pain.
Everyone set fire to the bodies of the Yan Family members and Cheng Hao, burning them to ashes.
Then they followed Wei Qing out of the City God Temple and set off along the road they had come by.
Whoosh...
After confirming that Wei Qing and the others had left, Zhou Kai appeared at the City God Temple.
"This kid hides himself even deeper than his old man."
"His combat strength just now could absolutely rival that of a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist. A Seventh-Rank Martial Artist who had comprehended an esoteric truth—forget the Heavenly Realm Division, there wasn't anyone in all Great Zhou who could compete with him in talent."
When Tao Kun had appeared earlier, Zhou Kai had been preparing to lend a hand.
Yet he discovered that there had not been the slightest panic or fear on Wei Qing's face!
His curiosity was immediately stirred.
He wanted to see why Wei Qing was so confident. Perhaps there would be an unexpected surprise!
Yet Wei Qing's performance afterward was far more than a surprise—it was downright terrifying.
Who could have imagined that a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist could comprehend an esoteric truth?
And in the battle that followed, he had severed a Fifth-Rank Martial Artist's arm with a single strike, sending that Fifth-Rank Martial Artist fleeing in miserable defeat.
Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he would not have believed it even if beaten to death.
"Wei Yuan, you raised a fine son."
"Once this kid returns to the Heavenly Realm Division, that place is going to become lively."
"Next, with strength even greater than mine, there's no need to keep watching over him."
"Oh, right. This kid seems to still be single. If he runs into that one..."
His voice still lingered in the air, but he had already melted into the night and vanished without a trace.
At the mass graveyard ten li outside Qingcheng.
Tao Kun emerged from behind a large tree and cautiously scanned his surroundings. Seeing no one nearby, he quietly let out a breath.
Clutching the still-bleeding wound, he looked toward the City God Temple. "That damned brat. Next time we meet, I'll avenge this severed-arm grudge."
If he had not acted cautiously today.
And carried the Teleportation Talisman on him, he might have ended up buried in the City God Temple like Cheng Hao.
At the thought of Cheng Hao, his head began to ache again.
As the final disciple of Chen Hai, an elder of the sect, Tao Kun had been repeatedly warned before leaving the sect to protect Cheng Hao at all costs.
Should an emergency arise, Cheng Hao's safety was to take first priority.
Yet Tao Kun had survived, while Cheng Hao had died.
If he returned to the sect like this, he would surely have to bear Chen Hai's towering rage and punishment.
Just as he racked his brains for a solution, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him. "That's right, how could I have forgotten this? Brat, let's see if you can survive this time. Heh heh..."
With that, his figure flickered and disappeared into the night.
Before you continue