Violent Resistance to the Law

"Forget it. I just caused quite a stir in Starlight City. For now, as I'm taking up my post in Lingxiao City, it's best to prioritize stability since I'm new here."

Gu Jinlai dismissed the thoughts that shouldn't be there.

Although breaking rules and acting without restraint felt great, deep down, he was still a law-abiding citizen.

Judge actions, not intentions; no one is perfect if you scrutinize their thoughts.

Karma...

He'd just consider it a product of idealism.

Just a reference.

With that, Gu Jinlai cupped his hands. "For the next period, I'll need everyone's assistance. I also need you all to keep a close eye on the three counties west of Lingxiao City, and prevent local powers from making too much of a disturbance."

"Of course, of course. We will rally around Commander Gu and contribute to the prosperity and stability of Lingxiao City and its subordinate counties," Wang Dongyu replied with a smile.

"That's good."

Gu Jinlai nodded with a smile. "Then let's consolidate the powers in the western part of the city and the three western counties, and register them. This way, if there are any conflicts between local powers, we can intervene and resolve them promptly."

"Currently, the order within Lingxiao City is already considered peaceful compared to other cities in Xingzhou. In the past month, there haven't been any fights in the city. Any occasional disputes have been quickly resolved, so there's no need to make a big fuss about registering and investigating anything," Wang Dongyu said.

"It's just registration, not an investigation," Gu Jinlai waved his hand. "As one of the Commanders of Lingxiao City, I should at least have a clear understanding of the power structure within my jurisdiction."

"Yes, yes, it's only right, it's only right," Wang Dongyu immediately responded. "However, such minor matters can be handled by our subordinates. Commander Gu has traveled a long distance; you should rest for a while."

"It's fine. I've brought a few people with me, and I plan to have them join the Meteor Guard," Gu Jinlai said. "Have you brought the roster for the Meteor Guard's western branch? Please give it to me, and I'll process their enlistment first. Also, the expenses, the account books..."

He paused at this point.

Any organization would have corruption; there was no need to guess that.

The old expenses, the account books...

He'd just overlook them.

Lost in thought, he was about to speak again.

But at this moment, Wang Dongyu cupped his hands and said, "Commander Gu, you might not know this, but to ensure we can always understand the slightest shifts in the cultivation world, our Meteor Guard roster is often in two parts: one public and one secret. The public roster is fine, but accessing the secret roster requires the approval of a Commander."

He added, "As for the expenses and account books, they were lost by the previous Commander who left in a hurry. We can't hand them over even if we wanted to."

Gu Jinlai was stunned.

It was one thing if the expenses and account books couldn't be handed over.

But no roster?

Without the Meteor Guard roster, he didn't even know who his subordinates were. Was he still a Commander?

"Is it possible... I'm too easygoing?"

Gu Jinlai was somewhat taken aback.

Wang Dongyu smiled and said, "We are considering your best interests, Commander Gu."

"You are making things difficult for me," Gu Jinlai sighed.

He had been in the courtyard for so long, and he still didn't even have a place to sit.

Didn't anyone have the foresight to bring him a stool?

A Commander, after all, was an official.

Even a deputy one.

"If Commander Gu finds it difficult, you can entrust all matters, big and small, to us. We guarantee to handle everything perfectly for you, Commander Gu, so you won't have to worry about trivial matters," Wang Dongyu said.

Gu Jinlai looked at the fiery red Karma on Wang Dongyu's body, and the more he looked, the more amiable he seemed.

"You truly are a subordinate who cares for his superior," he thought with emotion.

He wasn't some kind of demon; he couldn't just kill people for no reason.

A sense of guilt arose.

Now, Wang Dongyu had even thought of a reason for him to act.

"Then I'll ask again, you can't hand over the roster, the account books, or the expense ledger, is that right?"

Gu Jinlai said.

A commotion arose from outside.

Immediately after, two elders led a powerful team of about twenty individuals, composed of Qi Refining and Gang Condensation cultivators, striding in.

The group of over twenty, with the two leading them being Core Condensation experts, exuded an imposing aura, as if their very presence couldn't be contained within the Meteor Guard's hall.

Seeing these people arrive, Wang Dongyu breathed a sigh of relief.

Even the several high-ranking Meteor Guard commanders at the Gang Condensation realm felt a bit more confident.

"It's not that we don't want to hand them over, but we genuinely can't. We beg Commander Gu for your understanding of our difficulties and request a little more time."

Wang Dongyu said with a smile.

"So, no one can produce them?"

Gu Jinlai's gaze shifted to the other high-ranking Meteor Guard commanders.

These individuals focused on their noses and eyes, remaining silent.

Zhao Fan, a Core Condensation expert, spoke up, "Commander, you've just arrived in our Lingxiao City and don't understand its situation. It's truly difficult to produce them on such short notice."

After all...

There were too many issues with the ledgers.

"Yes, Commander. If you don't believe us, you can have your people thoroughly investigate the situation. The Meteor Guard has hundreds of people, and they often cooperate with local forces. Reorganizing the accounts and expenses will take at least half a year to a year; it's impossible to do it any faster."

Another high-ranking Meteor Guard commander at the Gang Condensation realm added.

"Oh."

Gu Jinlai glanced at the newly arrived group of over twenty and nodded in understanding. "So you feel emboldened now."

"Alright, Commander Gu. If there's nothing else, we'll take our leave. We still have many matters to attend to."

As Wang Dongyu spoke, he prepared to depart.

When he moved, the several high-ranking Meteor Guard commanders, as well as the intermediate and low-ranking Meteor Guard members, followed suit. The entire West City branch seemed on the verge of emptying out.

Gu Jinlai remained silent, merely extending his hand and beckoning towards Su Nanxing with his fingers.

Su Nanxing immediately turned back, channeled his true qi, and retrieved a two-meter-long greatsword from the carriage.

Gu Jinlai's battle armor had been damaged in the battle at the Heavenly Grass Pavilion a few days prior and hadn't been repaired yet, but his treasured sword remained intact.

Su Nanxing, carrying the thousand-jin battle sword, quickly handed it over to Gu Jinlai.

Gu Jinlai lifted the battle sword with one hand and thrust it directly into the ground.

"Thump!"

A dull thud echoed.

Along with it came the sound of shattered flagstones and flying debris.

"What does Commander Gu mean by this? Don't tell me he intends to apply his methods from the Purgatory Demonic Sect to our Meteor Guard! The Meteor Guard has its own rules. Even if you're dissatisfied with me, at worst, I'll wait for you to impeach me to Commander Fang, or even report me to the Star Envoy. Are you trying to intimidate me? That won't work!"

Wang Dongyu said with a cold laugh, looking at Gu Jinlai.

Is he already impatient?

As expected, these people who mingle in sects don't understand the ways of officialdom.

As long as he makes a mistake, it will be much easier to bring him down later.

"Without even presenting the roster and ledgers, I have every reason to suspect that Wang Dongyu of the Meteor Guard is incompetent, disobeys superior orders with a facade of compliance, and resists investigation with violence, gravely injuring a colleague. The evidence is now conclusive, and the crime is unforgivable. Surrender immediately to await judgment, or face death!"

Gu Jinlai looked at the dozens of Meteor Guard members at the Qi Refining and Gang Condensation realms, along with the Wang family disciples in the field. The sea of red made him almost unable to restrain his sword. He gave Su Nanxing a look: "Take him away."

"Yes, Master," Su Nanxing said solemnly.

"That's it?"

Wang Dongyu scoffed, "Gu Jinlai, if you're going to play dirty tricks, at least be more clever."

As he spoke, he waved his hand at Su Nanxing, who was approaching: "Forget it, I don't have that much time to waste with you..."

"Bang!"

Before he could finish speaking, Su Nanxing was sent flying backward.

"Ah, such powerful Gang Qi! I'm injured!"

Su Nanxing cried out in pain.

Mid-air, he spat out a mouthful of blood and forcefully smashed through a wall.

"..."

Wang Dongyu's waving hand froze slightly.

"Audacious!"

Almost simultaneously, Gu Jinlai's aura surged, and he sternly rebuked with righteous indignation, "Wang Dongyu, you are incompetent in your duties, corrupt, disobedient to orders, and dare to resist investigation with violence, striking to gravely injure a colleague. With irrefutable evidence, your crimes are unforgivable. Surrender immediately to await judgment, or be killed without mercy!"