Isolated City

The wine had gone around three times, and the dishes had been tasted five times.

Song Tianqing and Lin Qing were taken away by Qian Songyuan, and they rushed back to the Cangshan Sword Sect that very night.

Traveling at night was naturally dangerous for others, but for Qian Songyuan, who had reached the Profound Gang Realm, traveling at night was no different from traveling during the day.

The others in Black Stone County also dispersed. As Han Zheng rounded a corner in a small alley, he saw Zhang Tianyang waiting for him.

"Were you discouraged by that old guy Qian Songyuan today?

In fact, while so-called talent and aptitude are important, they aren't the most important."

Zhang Tianyang pointed to himself, "My aptitude was even worse back then. My teacher said I had almost no chance of breaking through to the Innate Realm.

And what happened? I still carved out a path for myself in the army, eventually joining the Demon Extermination Division, and my cultivation is now stronger than his.

Talent and aptitude don't mean everything. There's more than one path to martial arts."

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Zhang, but I've known for a long time that my talent and aptitude were poor, so I wasn't affected."

Han Zheng felt a bit amused and speechless.

Li Jingzhong was afraid he'd be discouraged, and now Zhang Tianyang had come to enlighten him.

But in reality, Han Zheng didn't care.

Being able to join the Cangshan Sword Sect was naturally good. He was confident he could quickly improve his cultivation with the Gluttonous Crucible. Even if he started as an Outer Sect Disciple, he could fight his way into the Inner Sect.

Moreover, joining a sect meant immediately being granted cultivation techniques, which would also be convenient for the Gluttonous Crucible to break through.

But it didn't matter if he couldn't join. With the Gluttonous Crucible, he could still gain satiety by fighting in the martial world, and he still had a bright future.

Zhang Tianyang nodded, "It's good that you weren't discouraged. Over the years, top sects like the Cangshan Sword Sect have been aggressively recruiting disciples. They've almost gathered all the talented young people.

The Demon Extermination Division has to look for promising candidates in the army. In recent years, we've simply stopped looking at aptitude and talent, and everything is based on strength and combat achievements."

"By the way, Lord Zhang, have you investigated whether anyone in the Three Harmonies Gang is colluding with the Incense Cult?"

Zhang Tianyang frowned, "We haven't found anything. And it's not just the Three Harmonies Gang. Last time there was a gang war in the county town, I even used the opportunity to arrest people from the Black Tiger Gang and the Sky Eagle Gang, even exposing some of my strength to do so, but I found nothing. It's truly strange.

But if it's not the Three Harmonies Gang, could it be the Shen family and the Song family?"

Previously, Zhang Tianyang had speculated that the most likely culprits colluding with the Incense Cult in Black Stone County were these three gangs.

After all, these low-level gangs had no bottom line whatsoever.

But now that the suspicion on these three gangs had been cleared, only the Song family and the Shen family remained.

Han Zheng shook his head, "In my opinion, neither of these families seems likely.

If the Song family were colluding with the Incense Cult, why would they send Song Tianqing to the Cangshan Sword Sect?

It's the same for the Shen family.

Shen Congyun is already the foremost among the younger generation of the Tiangang Sect. Why would they bother colluding with the Incense Cult? Wouldn't that just hold Shen Congyun back?

And today, Shen Chengshan also wanted to send Shen Conghai to the Cangshan Sword Sect.

If they were colluding with the Incense Cult, then doing these things would be a pointless, redundant effort."

Although the Song family wasn't colluding with the Incense Cult, they were colluding with demons. However, Han Zheng didn't plan to tell Zhang Tianyang about this.

Firstly, the Song family hadn't directly traded with demons. After Gao Kaiyuan died, there was no evidence.

Secondly, this matter was related to him, and there were still many doubts. Han Zheng didn't want to act rashly until he figured things out.

Besides, he didn't trust Zhang Tianyang to that extent.

Zhang Tianyang looked at Han Zheng with a slight surprise, not expecting Han Zheng to see things so clearly.

"My thoughts are similar to yours. After today's observation, the suspicion on these two families is indeed very small, but it still needs to be confirmed again."

"Then, Lord Zhang, do you need me to do anything else?"

Zhang Tianyang shook his head, "Not for now. Just wait for my news. However, I do need to speed up my progress."

As he finished speaking, Zhang Tianyang turned and disappeared into the shadows.

The following few days in the county town were peaceful. Zhang Tianyang even released the people arrested from those three gangs.

The Three Harmonies Gang and the other two gangs were merely fighting amongst themselves, and their crimes didn't warrant death. It would have been suspicious to keep them imprisoned for too long.

Moreover, Zhang Tianyang was now almost certain that the Incense Cult had no connection with the three gangs in Black Stone County, so he was too lazy to target them.

One morning, Chen Baiqing came to the martial arts school and specifically called for Han Zheng.

In the lobby of the martial arts school, Chen Baiqing smiled at Han Zheng and said, "Young Master Han, I'm here again to trouble you to escort my Shenghe Hall's merchant caravan.

Shenghe Hall is currently lacking several special medicinal herbs. I can't go to Huainan Dao, but I've found a source in Shannan Dao. I need you to lead the caravan to bring the medicinal herbs back.

This time, I plan to have you and Li Feng lead the team together, but the quantity is small this time, so I only need you.

When you return, I won't pay you in silver. I will personally prepare a medicinal bath for the Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm for you. How about that?"

Li Jingzhong, standing beside them, chuckled, "Shopkeeper Chen, my martial arts school disciples are almost being used as escorts by you."

Chen Baiqing laughed heartily, "I trust Young Master Han with my business. Those escorts are muddled and confused; I'm afraid they'll mess up my medicinal herbs.

So, Young Master Han, are you willing to take on this job?"

Han Zheng said directly, "Manager Chen, don't worry. This isn't our first collaboration. I guarantee I'll bring the spirit medicine back safely."

Han Zheng had already tried the benefits of the medicinal bath. Since Chen Baiqing was willing to pay with it now, he was naturally happy to accept.

The next day, Han Zheng arrived at the entrance of Shenghe Hall and waited.

This time was much simpler than the last. There were only four shop assistants and two carriages.

Li Feng and Han Zheng were old acquaintances. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they set off directly.

This time, Li Feng didn't prepare any meat dishes.

With Han Zheng around, what need was there for such things?

As the caravan reached the city gate, they saw many merchants and commoners walking back into the city. There was even a group of escorts returning with dejected expressions.

Li Feng and Han Zheng exchanged a look, both feeling a sense of strangeness.

Had something happened outside? Why was everyone heading back into the city?

Coincidentally, Li Feng recognized one of the escort leaders, who had previously come to him to have a medicinal bath prepared.

"Escort Leader Wu, what happened outside? Why are you all returning?"

Escort Leader Wu looked extremely unlucky. "Don't even mention it. We can't go to Shannan Dao anymore. The soldiers have blocked the road.

They say it's because the Incense Cult in Huainan Dao has caused trouble, and some Incense Cult demons have already infiltrated the area around Black Stone County.

Therefore, the only passage to Jingzhou Prefecture has been blocked and intercepted to prevent Incense Cult demons from entering.

Black Stone County and the two adjacent counties are currently inaccessible until the Incense Cult is completely pacified.

Our escort agency had accepted several jobs, and now they're all canceled."

Escort Leader Wu left dejectedly, and Li Feng also wore a troubled expression.

"Young Brother Han, it seems we won't be making this trip. I'll report back to the Head Shopkeeper first."

Han Zheng nodded. Li Feng, along with the shop assistants from Shenghe Hall, turned back.

Looking at the chaotic scene at the city gate, Han Zheng frowned slightly.

The imperial court had actually sealed off the roads. Didn't this mean that Black Stone County and the surrounding counties had effectively become isolated cities?

This was not good news at all.

Upon returning to the Zhenwei Martial Arts School, the commoners in the county town had also learned the news, which immediately triggered another wave of skyrocketing grain prices.

Black Stone County could not achieve self-sufficiency in grain production. Previously, it relied on the supply from merchant caravans from Huainan Dao.

Later, when Huainan Dao had issues with the Incense Cult, merchant caravans could still transport grain from Jingzhou Prefecture, albeit at a higher price.

But now, even the road to Jingzhou Prefecture was sealed off. Grain prices instantly surged several times, and some commoners even started fighting in front of grain stores.

Guo Kai was not only the richest man in the county town now, but his wealth might even exceed that of all the major merchants in Black Stone County combined.

At this moment, Han Zheng suddenly felt something unusual, a sensation like a thorn in his back.

He turned around and saw Zhang Tianyang standing in a corner, making a "follow me" gesture.

Han Zheng calmly followed Zhang Tianyang, taking several turns into a deserted alley.

"Did you hear about the commotion outside?"

Han Zheng nodded. "Jingzhou Prefecture sealed off the roads. Has Black Stone County truly become an isolated city?"

Zhang Tianyang shook his head. "It's not quite an isolated city. Jingzhou Prefecture is prioritizing stability, so of course, they can't let the Incense Cult spread to the prefecture level.

However, Black Stone County won't be abandoned either. At least my Demon Extermination Division won't abandon Black Stone County.

I originally planned to proceed cautiously, thoroughly investigating these forces within Black Stone County one by one to find any infiltrators.

But the Incense Cult's actions are too swift, and I don't have much time left.

I've come to ask for one last favor. Once the Black Stone County matter is resolved, the Demon Extermination Division will not treat you unfairly."

"What are your plans, Officer Zhang?"

"Investigating slowly is definitely too late, so let's use the most straightforward method: full city alert, and turn everything upside down!"

A cold glint appeared in Zhang Tianyang's eyes.

Han Zheng asked doubtfully, "But what about the manpower? When you first approached me, Officer Zhang, it was because your subordinate strength was insufficient.

With those useless yamen runners from the Black Stone County yamen, let alone turning the entire Black Stone County upside down, they can barely manage to right themselves."

"Of course, I won't use them. Those guys are also useless."

A slightly cruel smile appeared on Zhang Tianyang's lips. "A bunch of greedy and insatiable corrupt officials and yamen runners. They're incompetent at anything else, but skilled at extorting, blackmailing, and corruption.

I've found a few pretexts these past few days to deal with them, and I've actually squeezed out quite a bit of oil.

I can use this money to recruit a new batch of temporary yamen runners to help me."

Han Zheng immediately understood. "You want the disciples from the martial arts school to act as county yamen constables?"

It had to be said that Zhang Tianyang's idea was quite good.

In the entire Black Stone County, besides the two major families and three gangs, the only place where a large number of martial artists could be found was the Zhenwei Martial Arts School.

Although these young disciples of the martial arts school might not have much practical combat experience, their foundations are very solid, and they are almost all respectable citizens, making them reliable to use.

Moreover, only a few disciples of the Zhenwei Martial Arts School come from good backgrounds; most of them are from commoner origins.

As long as Zhang Tianyang offers enough monthly pay, they will certainly be willing to serve as temporary constables for a period.

Constables are, after all, more imposing; they must be stronger than escorts and guards.

"Precisely, but this matter still requires the teacher's consent.

The teacher is a good person and dedicates himself to teaching his disciples.

The only drawback is that he is somewhat indecisive and too timid and fearful of trouble.

You are now the teacher's favorite disciple, and he will listen to you, so I need you to subtly influence him."