"You brats too—you sent the signal twice and made me come up empty-handed once."
Zhang Tianyang bared his teeth in a grin at Han Zheng and the others, then turned his gaze toward Shen Chengshan.
"Old Master Shen, hand him over, and everyone can account for themselves. If it is proven that Shen Conghai did not collude with the Incense Cult, I will naturally let him return."
Shen Chengshan took a deep breath. "In terms of standing, my Shen Family and the Song Family divide Black Stone County equally.
"In terms of prospects, the Shen Family's legitimate son is already the foremost of Tiangang Sect's younger generation. His future is boundless.
"Has my Shen Family eaten its fill and grown restless, that we would collude with the Incense Cult?
"I will explain the reasons behind this to the County Magistrate. I only ask Constable Zhang to give us some face."
Zhang Tianyang lightly shook his head. "By all reason, it should have been impossible. I did not expect it before either.
"But there are many things in this world that are simply this absurd—absurd beyond anything you could imagine.
"The County Magistrate is no longer handling affairs. The hunt for the Incense Cult's fiends has been entrusted entirely to me.
"Since Old Master Shen is unwilling to hand him over, I can only take him myself."
As his words fell, Zhang Tianyang took one step forward, and a scarlet blood mist flashed around his body.
His speed was astonishingly swift. In almost the blink of an eye, he had reached Shen Chengshan, punching out as killing intent soared into the heavens!
This was Han Zheng's first time seeing killing intent that had nearly condensed into physical substance.
That dense, heavy killing intent surged and roared. His Fist Intent was like a blade, and the fierce gale cut painfully across the cheeks of everyone in Autumn Moon Pavilion.
Shen Chengshan's expression abruptly changed.
Though he was old, his immense inner force now surged like raging waves, letting out a violent howl.
The Six Harmonies Heaven Overturning Palm descended. Its palm force was vast and magnificent, its intent to overturn the heavens fierce and peerless—utterly different from Shen Conghai's palm technique.
Yet beneath Zhang Tianyang's punch, with its killing intent piercing the sky, the Six Harmonies Heaven Overturning Palm was destroyed in an instant. That immense true qi of inner force was shredded to pieces amid boundless killing aura!
After that punch, Shen Chengshan remained standing where he was, but his face had already turned deathly pale.
Zhang Tianyang strode over, grabbed Shen Conghai by the collar, and turned to leave.
"Ancestor, save me! Save me, Ancestor!"
Shen Conghai screamed in terror, none of his previous arrogance remaining.
Even Pang Feiyan struggled to crawl to her feet and tugged at Shen Chengshan's sleeve.
"Ancestor! You can't let them take Brother Hai away!"
Shen Chengshan swayed, then suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his face white as paper.
With a single move, Zhang Tianyang had actually severely wounded Shen Chengshan, who was likewise at Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm Perfected!
Han Zheng's gaze narrowed.
Zhang Tianyang's cultivation was absolutely more than merely Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm Perfected.
He had likely already reached the Half-step Profound Gang Realm!
Zhang Tianyang had only acted once before, when he drove back the three gang leaders and captured quite a few members of the three gangs.
But Zhang Tianyang had held back even then. Otherwise, with his strength, the three gang leaders would not have been able to withstand even one move from him.
Now that he had finally caught members of the Incense Cult, Zhang Tianyang no longer concealed himself.
"Han Zheng, well done. Once the matter of the Incense Cult is settled, I will record a merit for you.
"But do not let your guard down. Continue patrolling the county town. There may be other Incense Cult fiends mixed in among the people.
"Take them to the County Yamen. I will interrogate these fellows first."
Zhang Tianyang slapped the shrieking Shen Conghai unconscious, then carried him away.
Han Zheng and the others followed behind him, escorting the Incense Cult members to the County Yamen.
Shen Chengshan gave a miserable laugh. He had no time to deal with the weeping Pang Feiyan and immediately prepared to return to the Shen Family to send a secret letter to Shen Congyun at Tiangang Sect.
For now, only Shen Conghai had been captured. But should the entire Shen Family be implicated, Shen Congyun would be their only salvation.
After Shen Chengshan left, Pang Heihu hurried over with the Black Tiger Gang's members.
The moment he heard that his daughter had become involved in something connected to the Incense Cult, he could no longer sit still.
Pang Heihu knew that his daughter liked Shen Conghai, and he was also happy to see her marry into the Shen Family.
He had only this one daughter, whom he had treasured like a jewel since childhood, so he had never intended to use Pang Feiyan in a marriage alliance.
Whomever Pang Feiyan liked, she could marry.
The Shen Family was one of Black Stone County's two great clans. Marrying Shen Conghai would also be an excellent match.
Though Pang Heihu knew Shen Conghai was not particularly capable, and was worlds apart from his elder brother Shen Congyun.
But if Pang Feiyan truly married Shen Congyun, Pang Heihu would not be willing either.
Shen Congyun was in Tiangang Sect and would certainly roam the martial world in the future.
Meanwhile, with Shen Conghai's talent, he could only remain in Black Stone County for the rest of his life and inherit the Shen Family estate.
If she married Shen Congyun, Pang Heihu would never get to see his daughter. But if she married Shen Conghai, he could see his precious daughter every day.
"Daughter! Daughter, are you all right?"
Pang Heihu held his daughter close. Seeing the blood at the corner of her mouth, killing intent instantly burst from his eyes as he roared, "Who injured you!? I'll kill him!"
"It was Li Jingzhong's disciple, Han Zheng!"
"Han Zheng!"
A fierce killing intent appeared in Pang Heihu's eyes.
His daughter had never suffered such a grievance from childhood until now.
Never mind that he was Li Jingzhong's disciple—even if he were Li Jingzhong's own son, Pang Heihu would not spare him!
Pang Heihu gently patted Pang Feiyan's head and said softly, "Good daughter, things are a little tense right now. That Han Zheng is working under Zhang Tianyang, and he even helped Zhang Tianyang catch people from the Incense Cult. He must be Zhang Tianyang's favorite right now.
"That fellow is not easy to deal with. But once the Incense Cult matter is over, he will surely leave Black Stone County. When that happens, Father will definitely avenge you."
Pang Feiyan vigorously shook Pang Heihu's arm and said anxiously, "I'm fine right now. There's no need for revenge yet! Father, hurry and save Brother Hai! He was thrown into the County Yamen prison. Those people will definitely torture him harshly!"
Pang Heihu frowned. "Daughter, I heard everything just now. Zhang Tianyang severely wounded Shen Chengshan in one move. That man's strength is absolutely not simple.
"Even Shen Chengshan, who has cultivated the Water-Fire Immortal Robe, was no match for him. What do you expect your father to use to save him?
"That man is certainly no ordinary County Constable. We cannot afford to provoke him right now.
"Besides, the Shen Family actually got tangled up with those lunatics from the Incense Cult. We must not provoke them even more.
"It is fortunate that you were not formally engaged to Shen Conghai yet. Otherwise, even you would have been implicated.
"Be good. Without Shen Conghai, Father will find you another fine match in the future."
Though Pang Heihu was merely the leader of a small gang in the county town, he was no fool.
Could someone who severely wounded Shen Chengshan in one move be an ordinary County Constable? Since when had County Constables become this powerful?
He was certain that Zhang Tianyang's identity was anything but simple.
Therefore, at a time like this, the best choice was to stay out of such matters.
"No! I only want Brother Hai! Father, I beg you, save him!"
Though Pang Feiyan was spoiled and overbearing, she and Shen Conghai had grown up together as childhood sweethearts. She truly had feelings for him.
If anything really happened to Shen Conghai, she would not want to live anymore.
"Foolish daughter! If I truly try to save him, your father will be dragged down with him!"
Pang Heihu held Pang Feiyan and forcefully took her back to the Black Tiger Gang.
"Little He, keep an eye on her. Do not let her get involved in the Shen Family's affairs."
After locking Pang Feiyan in a room, Pang Heihu instructed a dark-skinned, powerfully built young man with an honest, simple-looking face to watch over her.
The young man was named He Sheng. He was the hall master of the Black Tiger Hall of the Black Tiger Gang and possessed early Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm strength.
The Black Tiger Hall was the Black Tiger Gang's most elite hall. Being able to command it was enough to show Pang Heihu's trust in him.
Moreover, he was Pang Heihu's adopted son. He had inherited all of Pang Heihu's martial arts and was publicly recognized as the heir to the next generation of gang leadership.
"Yes, Adoptive Father."
After Pang Heihu left, He Sheng looked at the tearful Pang Feiyan, his heart aching for her.
He had also grown up with Pang Feiyan and could likewise be considered her childhood sweetheart. He had long since come to admire her.
But unfortunately, his looks were ordinary, and he was honest and plain. Every day, he mixed with the Black Tiger Gang members, speaking and acting crudely. Pang Feiyan disliked people like him most of all.
A refined, handsome, melancholy young master from a great family like Shen Conghai was Pang Feiyan's preferred type.
He Sheng had someone prepare plenty of food for Pang Feiyan and brought it before her.
"Feiyan, eat something."
But Pang Feiyan angrily flung the bowls and dishes of food onto the floor.
"Get out! I'm not eating!"
He Sheng sighed. He was not angry; facing Pang Feiyan, he felt only heartache.
Pang Feiyan suddenly looked at He Sheng. "He Sheng, help me with something. Let's go save Brother Hai from prison, all right?
"Father will not help me, but I know you definitely will. Since we were little, whenever I wanted something, you have never refused me."
He Sheng scratched his head, looking troubled. "If it were anything else, I would definitely agree. But the gang leader specifically instructed me not to let you get involved in this matter.
"We cannot afford to provoke the imperial court, and we cannot afford to provoke the Incense Cult either.
"Our Black Tiger Gang is just a small gang in the county town. Only by wisely preserving ourselves can we survive.
"Shen Conghai sought his own death by insisting on colluding with the Incense Cult. Fortunately, he did not drag you down with him."
Pang Feiyan immediately shouted furiously, "Who are you calling someone who sought his own death? Is Brother Hai someone you are worthy of speaking about?"
He Sheng wanted to refute her, but did not know what to say.
He believed he was no worse than Shen Conghai.
They were about the same age. Shen Conghai had only barely broken through to the Innate Realm by relying on his family's resources and the pills Shen Congyun brought back from Tiangang Sect.
Yet he, He Sheng, had fought his way up from the bottom through sheer force. That pretty boy Shen Conghai had little real combat experience; defeating him would be as easy as play.
But why did Feiyan like that pretty boy, while ordering him around at every turn?
At that moment, Pang Feiyan suddenly changed her attitude and said in a gentle tone, "Sorry. I was anxious just now, so I spoke too harshly to you.
"I won't ask you to go to prison and save Brother Hai. Can you promise to help me with something else?"