An Incense Stick's Worth of Time for a Death Sentence, Twin Heroes Wielding Lightning to Repel Evil

In the Zhang residence's rear garden lay a pool of clear green water, teeming with koi.

Zhang Zhong reclined sideways in a carved rosewood lounge chair, the collar of his loose brocade robe hanging open to reveal the well-maintained, pale, plump flesh beneath.

He held a small celadon bowl filled with premium fish feed, idly scattering it into the pool now and then.

The koi surged toward it in a swarm—red, white, gold—churning the pool into flying shards of jade, a splendid sight to behold.

A composed smile rested on his lips.

The little show at Myriad Profits Trading House should be nearing its end by now.

That useless Du Heng had sent an old dog over last night to wag his tail and beg him for a little consideration.

And Zhang Zhong had given it to him. He had let the merchants cooperate with the registration, go through the motions, and give those two blockheads from Xianyang a way to save face.

What a tremendous favor that was.

Those two should be overflowing with gratitude—and should also learn whose domain the marketplace of Sour Jujube County was.

Zhang Zhong could practically picture the scene.

At first, that dark-faced brute would still be craning his neck stubbornly. But once Tu Lie led his private troops into the courtyard and over a hundred blades flashed into view, even the hardest bones would have to soften.

Then Du Heng would smooth things over with a smile, while the two foreign envoys slunk back with the county magistrate. From then on, they would know they could not run wild in this place. They would obediently listen, like Du Heng, and become dogs wagging their tails at the Zhang family's gate.

How wonderful.

No bloodshed, no killing—everyone happy.

He pinched up another bit of