Paying a Visit

The next day.

After eating, Ye Kang's subordinates arrived in plain clothes to report.

"Lord Ye, we've got some leads on the Flower Thief. Apparently, Jiayang City has been plagued by the Flower Thief since a year ago. Quite a few daughters from wealthy families have fallen victim, and the authorities have replaced the wanted posters several times."

"That's all? Anything else?"

"I heard the Flower Thief is quite sinister. Before every attack, he sends out a Flower Thief's token. Everyone who receives one falls victim without exception. No matter how many guards they have, they can't stop him."

"Then he must be quite the expert. Just like Dai Huanhuan, he's cut from the same cloth—a similarly arrogant sort."

Ye Kang pondered for a moment, then continued, "Has another Flower Thief's token appeared recently?"

"By coincidence, a woman received one just two days ago. But she has a special status, so I don't think the Flower Thief will dare touch her."

"Who is she?"

"Zheng Hailong's concubine. He's the City Lord of Jiayang City."

At those words, everyone in the room looked astonished.

They hadn't expected the Flower Thief to be so audacious as to target the City Lord's concubine.

He Zhi cupped his hands. "My lord, Zheng Hailong himself is an Innate Master, and his household is full of guards. That man may just be bluffing, deliberately trying to distract the authorities."

Ye Kang considered it, then stood. "Whether it's a smokescreen or not, we'll pay a visit to the City Lord's Mansion and see."

At once, more than a dozen elite members of the Imperial City Department dressed in full uniform and followed Ye Kang out of Wangjiang Tower.

At the same time, across from Wangjiang Tower, a group of Jianghu Martial Artists spotted Ye Kang. Chilling Intent flashed in their eyes.

"He's come out. Tell the brothers to make their move somewhere secluded."

Immediately, more than a dozen figures converged from afar and quietly followed Ye Kang and his party.

At their head was the guard who had been beaten black and blue by Jin Baobei the day before. His name was Ding Wu.

His injuries hadn't healed yet. A huge black eye surrounded one eye, and his expression was grim.

After he'd been beaten yesterday, his young master had assigned several men to accompany him, ready to exact revenge at any moment.

This group was no ordinary bunch. Even the weakest among them was a First-class expert, and several Super First-Class experts were there to back them up.

Ding Wu and his men trailed from a distance. A burly man behind him, a Super First-Class expert, voiced his concern. "Brother Ding, they're with the Imperial City Department. If we attack them, won't the court get involved?"

Ding Wu laughed dismissively.

"The Imperial City Department is nothing but a joke—the most useless bunch in the government's law enforcement. Who'd stick their neck out for them? Besides, my young master's here. What's there to be afraid of?"

"Good. Brother Ding, you don't need to lift a finger. Just watch what we can do."

The burly man grinned viciously, his fist cracking as he clenched it.

Before long, the group left the bustling streets and entered an alley.

There were fewer pedestrians here. Ding Wu was just about to make his move when Ye Kang suddenly turned around, a faint smile on his lips.

At the sight of that expression, Ding Wu's heart gave a sudden lurch.

The burly man behind him strode forward.

"He's spotted us. Attack!"

In an instant, more than a dozen martial artists rushed out, startling the pedestrians in the street.

Ye Kang didn't move. As the burly man threw a punch at him, he raised a hand to stop He Zhi from stepping in. Then he swept the Demonic Saber in his hand, smashing its scabbard into the man's face at blinding speed.

A sharp crack rang out. The burly man went flying, spitting out a row of bloody teeth.

The others were stunned. Before they could react, Ye Kang was already moving. His scabbard struck again and again, sending more than a dozen men flying in the blink of an eye and leaving the street in chaos.

From beginning to end, Ye Kang hadn't even drawn his blade.

In his eyes, these Jianghu Martial Artists were no different from children.

"Arrest them all. Throw them in the Jiayang authorities' prison and make them suffer."

At Ye Kang's command, more than a dozen subordinates rushed forward and seized the men.

Ye Kang had already beaten them half to death. Even with their Martial Skills, they couldn't muster the strength to fight back.

Then he turned with a smile toward the last man standing, Ding Wu.

"You again. Attacking an Imperial City Department officer is a capital offense."

Ding Wu was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding with shock.

He hadn't expected Ye Kang to be so young and yet so formidable.

He stammered, "You can't kill me! I'm a guard of the Zheng family!"

"The Zheng family? Zheng Hailong?"

"That's right!"

"Lucky for you, then. Come along with us."

Ye Kang flicked his right hand, sending the Demonic Saber flying. With a crash, it slammed into Ding Wu and sent him sprawling. He Zhi immediately moved in to seize him.

Ye Kang hadn't expected such an unexpected bonus.

How could you pay a visit without bringing a gift?

And so Ding Wu and his men were marched at the front of the group, all the way to the City Lord's Mansion.

A servant at the gate took one look at the sight and hurried inside to report. Soon, a group of martial artists streamed out.

"Ye Kang, Deputy Commander of the Imperial City Department, has come to pay his respects to City Lord Zheng. Please inform him."

Ye Kang didn't waste time with pleasantries and announced his name directly.

Soon, the steward came out and invited everyone inside.

Before them stretched an enormous garden. On the path through its center, a burly, middle-aged man with graying temples reclined on a chaise. A White-robed Young Master stood behind him, looking alarmed.

When the middle-aged man saw Ye Kang, he raised his eyelids and gestured. "Bring Lord Ye a seat."

"Yes."

A sandalwood chair was brought over. Ye Kang didn't stand on ceremony and sat down.

"Lord Ye, you've barely arrived and already beaten up all the guards in my household. You've got some skill. Since when could the Imperial City Department afford to keep a second Innate Master?"

Zheng Hailong didn't spare a glance at Ding Wu's bruised and swollen face. His eyes showed not the slightest concern.

Ye Kang smiled. "Not at all. My meager skills are nothing compared to the City Lord's. They attacked me in the street, so I had no choice but to fight back."

Zheng Hailong nodded. "I've heard about it. Since my men were in the wrong, they deserved the beating. You may deal with them as you see fit. But what brings you here so suddenly, Lord Ye?"

"I heard the Flower Thief has been running rampant in the city and has even set his sights on your wife. I was quite concerned, so I came to check on her."

At that, Zheng Hailong burst into laughter.

"Sorry for the trouble, Lord Ye, but there's no need to trouble yourself with this. I can handle it myself. He's just a petty troublemaker. I'd like to see how much nerve he really has."

"City Lord, the culprit has strange abilities. Something unexpected could happen."

"Are you doubting my abilities?"

Zheng Hailong frowned. An overbearing stream of true qi rose from him, leaving the Imperial City Department's elite momentarily stunned.

Third-Rank Innate!

How impressive!

Ye Kang hadn't expected the City Lord of Jiayang to be so powerful. He knew there was no point saying more, so he rose and cupped his hands.

"Your Divine Might is formidable, City Lord. That petty miscreant wouldn't dare make a move. I was worrying over nothing."

With that, Ye Kang turned and led his men away.

Ding Wu's expression changed. He shouted, "Master! Young Master! Save me!"

But no one paid him any mind. Young Master Zheng merely watched him being led away with a grim expression.

Only after Ye Kang had left did Young Master Zheng grit his teeth and say, "Father! Why didn't you kill those bastards?"

"Shut up! You'd actually suggest killing agents of the court? I'm warning you: keep a low profile from now on! And don't have anything more to do with that woman. All it took was one little Flower Thief to summon both the Imperial City Department and the Azure Scale Guard. What a spectacle."