County Lieutenant Zheng Yuntao

The commotion outside the inn caught the shopkeeper's attention. He quickly led out a few strong waiters.

A middle-aged man in a purple robe, surrounded by burly men in plain clothes, strode out with an imposing aura.

Upon seeing the purple-robed middle-aged man, the shopkeeper was momentarily stunned. Then, his stern face immediately turned warm. "Oh, it's the Zhao Family Head! You're a rare guest. Would you like something to eat..."

"Scram."

The purple-robed middle-aged man glared at him impatiently. The shopkeeper wisely stepped aside. He couldn't afford to offend this person.

The purple-robed middle-aged man strode into the inn, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"Fellow villagers, please don't panic. I've just received news that my son has been murdered. The killer is hiding in this inn. I'd appreciate it if you could clear the place out for me. The Zhao Family will cover all expenses today."

The purple-robed middle-aged man said with a smile, cupping his fists. However, his smile was somewhat chilling.

This news stunned everyone present.

They hadn't expected that the Zhao Family's notoriously overbearing and arrogant young master had actually been killed.

Which chivalrous hero had such audacity?

Although everyone was curious, the inn was clearly no longer a safe place to linger.

The guests quickly left the inn one after another.

Only the two figures, one large and one small, by the window on the second floor remained motionless, a stark contrast.

"Did you see clearly? Is it them?"

The middle-aged man grabbed a shifty-eyed man beside him and asked.

The man rubbed his eyes. After confirming he hadn't misidentified them, he pointed at Li Xinge and the other person. "That's right, Master Zhao. I saw these two kill the young master with my own eyes."

The middle-aged man waved his hand. Behind him, over ten men in plain clothes drew their swords and surged upstairs menacingly.

They surrounded Li Xinge and the other person.

Seeing this, Little Wuyou was terrified and instinctively tried to hide behind Li Xinge.

But after thinking of something, she gritted her teeth and stood in front of Li Xinge.

Li Xinge put down his chopsticks and looked at the purple-robed middle-aged man with interest. "You are Zhao Tiancheng?"

Zhao Tiancheng raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "Kid, you know me?"

Li Xinge smiled faintly. "Before your son died, he said you wouldn't let me go. I've been waiting for you here for a long time. I just didn't expect you to be so slow."

Zhao Tiancheng was amused to the point of anger. "Good, good, good. It's been a long time since I've seen such an arrogant young man. Tell me, how do you want to die?"

Li Xinge raised an eyebrow. "With you! I doubt you can kill me?"

Li Xinge's contemptuous words completely enraged Zhao Tiancheng.

He was just about to lash out.

"Old Zhao, this is Yuebin Tower, not a place for you to fight and kill."

A stern voice came from inside the private room.

Hearing this voice, Zhao Tiancheng's expression changed. He shot Li Xinge a fierce look and left a threat: "I'll deal with you later."

Then he hurried towards the private room.

He forced a smile onto his old face and said with a hint of flattery, "County Lieutenant, I didn't expect you to be dining here too. It was my mistake. Something unexpected happened, disturbing your pleasant meal. I beg for your forgiveness."

He couldn't afford to offend this County Lieutenant. Rumor had it that he was a direct descendant of the Dongjiang Zheng Clan, a prominent family in the county.

A cold snort came from the private room.

Immediately after, the door opened, and a middle-aged man in a green official robe walked out.

"What is it?"

The County Lieutenant asked with displeasure.

"Please forgive me, County Lieutenant. My son was murdered, and I was overcome with anger and lost my reason, which is why I disturbed you."

The County Lieutenant seemed surprised. "In Qinghua Town, someone dared to kill the son of a local power like you?"

"Just some audacious outsider."

Zhao Tiancheng said through gritted teeth.

"I see."

Suddenly.

The County Lieutenant's peripheral vision swept across the corner by the window, and his brow furrowed.

The figure in the white robe seemed somewhat familiar. He felt like he had seen him somewhere before.

Suddenly, he remembered who the white-robed figure resembled – a powerful figure he had met before.

Could it be him?

But the County Lieutenant quickly dismissed his own speculation.

Given that person's status, how could they appear here alone? I must have been mistaken.

"Alright, since it's revenge for your son, then you can get your revenge and right your wrongs," the County Lieutenant said with a smile, waving his hand.

Zhao Tiancheng grinned, "Thank you, my lord. After I've avenged my son, I will then come to apologize to you, County Lieutenant."

"No matter."

Zhao Tiancheng turned around, his expression instantly becoming incredibly sinister.

He waved his large hand and coldly shouted, "Attack! Chop this brat into mincemeat for me!"

Over ten men in tight-fitting clothes simultaneously drew their swords and swarmed forward.

Li Xinge remained unfazed. He slowly picked up a handful of chopsticks from the table and flung them out fiercely.

"Whoosh!"

More than ten burly men fell to the ground in response, one after another, without a sound. A chopstick was embedded in the center of each of their brows, killing them instantly.

All of this happened far too suddenly.

Zhao Tiancheng hadn't even reacted before his subordinates were all killed.

"This, how is this possible?"

His subordinates were all elite warriors.

If they attacked together, even cultivators in the Body Realm would have to retreat. Now, they were all killed by the young man with casual ease.

Not entirely foolish, he immediately realized he had kicked a steel plate.

The young man was so fearless, he must not be simple.

It was all his fault, blinded by hatred.

What was his son worth?

He was still in his prime; he could have another son.

If he died, then he would truly have nothing left.

"Can you not kill me? I won't seek revenge against you anymore," Zhao Tiancheng said, clinging to a sliver of hope.

Li Xinge was startled at first, then reacted with a mocking expression, "What do you think?"

Zhao Tiancheng's face changed. His feet moved with extreme speed as he rushed into the private room.

Inside the private room, the County Lieutenant was drinking and reveling with two beauties.

Zhao Tiancheng's intrusion startled the two beauties into screaming, and a cup of wine spilled onto the County Lieutenant's crotch.

Seeing the wet stain on his crotch, the County Lieutenant's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Zhao Tiancheng had provoked him time and time again. Did he really think he was easy to deal with?

Just as he was about to erupt, he saw Zhao Tiancheng kneeling on the ground.

Tearfully, he cried, "My Lord County Lieutenant, please, for the sake of the filial piety I've shown you in the past, spare my life."

The County Lieutenant was taken aback, somewhat confused, "What happened?"

"The person who killed my son is too powerful. I am no match for him," Zhao Tiancheng said dejectedly.

"This..."

Seemingly noticing the County Lieutenant's hesitation, Zhao Tiancheng said with a pained expression, "If you are willing to act, my lord, I am willing to offer half of the Zhao Family's assets to show my gratitude."

The County Lieutenant's heart fluttered.

"Since that's the case, I'll make an exception and help you this once. I believe that in Baihe County, no one dares to refuse the face of my Zheng Family," the County Lieutenant said proudly.

"Thank you, my Lord County Lieutenant. I will never forget your great kindness."

The two walked out of the private room and headed straight for Li Xinge.

The County Lieutenant looked at Li Xinge, who was lowering his head and drinking wine, and said with a smile, "Young brother, I am a disciple of the Dongjiang Zheng Clan, Zheng Yuntao, the County Lieutenant of Baihe County. I wonder if you could give me some face and let Zhao Tiancheng go."

Li Xinge acted as if he hadn't heard, continuing to drink his wine, completely ignoring the County Lieutenant.

Beside him, Zhao Tiancheng saw Li Xinge's arrogance and secretly rejoiced.

He quickly stepped forward and reprimanded, "Brat, you have some nerve! This is the esteemed County Lieutenant, and you dare not show him respect? Be careful, or your entire clan will be wiped out."

The County Lieutenant glared at him, signaling him to shut up.

"Wipe out my entire clan?"

Li Xinge chuckled lightly, slowly raised his head, and sneered, "The last person who wanted to wipe out my entire clan had their entire family reunited in the underworld."

"What bold words! With the County Lieutenant himself present, you still dare to be so arrogant? I see you're courting death!"

"Shut up!"

The County Lieutenant roared.

At some point, a large bead of cold sweat had already broken out on his forehead.

The County Lieutenant's roar startled Zhao Tiancheng, who thought his instigation had worked.

He quickly added fuel to the fire, saying, "Look how angry the esteemed County Lieutenant is. Why don't you quickly kneel down and apologize to him!"

Li Xinge looked at the County Lieutenant and said with a smile, "Are you sure?"

The County Lieutenant snapped back to his senses, used all his might, and slapped Zhao Tiancheng across the face. The blow sent stars dancing before Zhao Tiancheng's eyes, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. It took him a while to recover.

What happened next froze Zhao Tiancheng in place.

He saw the County Lieutenant wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, bow with clasped hands, and say with a fawning expression, "Zheng Yuntao of the Zheng Family greets Patriarch Li."

"You know me?"

"I had the honor of meeting you once at the Patriarch's birthday banquet."

Li Xinge's eyes were cold. "How dare I accept such a grand gesture from the esteemed County Lieutenant!"

Zheng Yuntao's expression changed, and he quickly explained, "In front of you, what am I, a mere County Lieutenant? Patriarch Li, I was deceived by this scoundrel. Please, for the sake of the good relationship between the Zheng and Li families, do not blame me."

At this moment, Zheng Yuntao had already cursed Zhao Tiancheng's ancestors eighteen generations back. He had truly poked a hole in the heavens.

Li Xinge smiled slightly. "If it weren't for Brother Ling Jun's sake, would you still be standing here talking to me?"

The County Lieutenant chuckled sheepishly. Everyone in Baihe County knew his temper wasn't very good.

"Send my regards to Brother Ling Jun!"

He then pointed at Zhao Tiancheng, who was trembling beside him. "This one, I'll leave to you. If I heard correctly, he threatened to exterminate my entire clan."

"Rest assured, I will not disappoint you."

"That's good. I'll go rest now. Little Wuyou, let's go!"

Li Xinge said to Little Wuyou, who had already eaten his fill.

Holding Little Wuyou's hand, the two went up to the guest rooms on the third floor.

After Li Xinge left.

Zheng Yuntao let out a long sigh, tidied his official robes, and straightened his back. Heaven knew how much pressure he felt facing Li Xinge.

Looking at the stunned Zhao Tiancheng, a cold glint flashed in Zheng Yuntao's eyes. This damned fool had almost gotten him killed.

"Zhao Tiancheng, Zhao Tiancheng, you've really raised a good son. Without him, you probably wouldn't have met such an important figure in your entire life."

Zheng Yuntao gritted his teeth.

"C-County Lieutenant, he is?"

Zhao Tiancheng's teeth were chattering, and he could barely speak coherently.

"Since you're about to die, I'll let you be an enlightened ghost. The person just now was the Patriarch of the Green Maple Li Clan, someone who stands on equal footing with my Patriarch."

Zhao Tiancheng's eyes went black, and he fainted from fright.

"Guards! Carry out this County Lieutenant's order! The Zhao Family colluded with demonic cultivators and plotted rebellion. Their entire clan shall be exterminated!"