Sixth-Rank Might

Within the Thirty-Six Guilds, a guild master was murdered in the attic of the trade association.

The body was also destroyed to eliminate any evidence.

The following day, this case caused a massive uproar in Ram City.

Nearly every constable from the Ram City Yamen was dispatched.

However, the Great Liang Dynasty was like a setting sun.

Its control over the Nine Provinces had long since failed.

In the Jiangnan Circuit, the reputation of major martial arts sects was even more effective than the imperial court.

These constables in Ram City were merely working to put food on the table.

Most had not even entered the martial ranks, and there were few experts among them.

Upon seeing this major case, they knew immediately it was the work of a powerful martial artist.

Asking them to apprehend the true culprit was truly putting them in a difficult position.

They had no choice but to seek help from the Thirty-Six Guilds to participate in the investigation together.

Initially, the Thirty-Six Guilds paid great attention to the matter and even dispatched their own retainers to investigate.

But soon, Meng Juxiang returned to Ram City.

A letter signed by Meng Juxiang, a sixth-rank expert, was delivered from the Like-Elephant Martial Hall to the Meat Trade Association.

[Zhou Zhongru of the Meat Trade, you plotted against my disciple's property.]

[Though the man is dead, the crime remains.]

[Within three days, come to my door to apologize and provide tenfold compensation.]

[If you miss the deadline, the Ram City Meat Trade can simply change to a different association.]

[Do not say you were not warned.]

When the letter arrived, several of Zhou Zhongru's wives, concubines, and sons were wailing inside the association.

The retainers of the Thirty-Six Guilds and the remaining managers of the Meat Trade Association were also gathered there.

When Meng Juxiang's letter arrived, everyone initially thought this sixth-rank expert was going to uphold justice for them.

But after they read the contents of the letter, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.

Zhou Zhongru's widows were sheltered women who had always believed Zhou Zhongru was the most powerful figure in Ram City.

They did not understand what a sixth-rank martial artist like Meng Juxiang represented in the city.

Seeing the content of the letter, they immediately flew into a rage.

With disheveled hair and outstretched nails, they grabbed at the managers of the Meat Trade Association and the retainers of the Thirty-Six Guilds.

"Why haven't you captured this Meng Juxiang yet?"

Their tone was arrogant and commanding.

Accustomed to bossing people around, they seemed unable to adjust to their change in status.

Seeing that no one paid them any mind, they plopped onto the floor and began to wail and throw a tantrum.

"My husband's body is not yet cold, and already people are bullying his kin!"

"Oh Heavens, open your eyes and strike these heartless, ungrateful wolves with a bolt of lightning!"

The retainers of the Thirty-Six Guilds had already seen their expressions change repeatedly upon reading Meng Juxiang's letter.

Seeing the widows of Zhou Zhongru acting so shamelessly, someone immediately took a step back.

"Since Master Meng has spoken on this matter, it would be inappropriate for me to continue my involvement. Everyone, the Cloth Guild will not be participating. This humble one takes his leave!"

"I shall also take my leave..."

"Don't go!"

Zhou Zhongru's kin scrambled to their feet.

They grabbed at clothes, trying to detain the retainers of the Thirty-Six Guilds.

But they were as weak as chickens, so how could they hold back martial artists who had entered the ranks?

Instead, they stumbled and fell to the ground.

In a short time, most of the martial retainers of the Thirty-Six Guilds had departed.

Even the retainers belonging to the Meat Trade Association itself left, not a single one remaining.

"Good heavens, to think the Master supported these people so much while he was alive! Now that he's gone, they don't even dare to show their faces!"

Zhou Zhongru's widow was once again cursing and wailing on the ground.

A shopkeeper from the Meat Trade Association looked at the shrewish woman, shook his head, and spoke up.

"These retainers belong to the other guilds of the Thirty-Six Guilds; how can you speak of support from Chairman Zhou?"

At the same moment, another deacon with considerable status in the association stepped forward.

"Madam Zhou, are you aware that Meng Juxiang is a Sixth-Rank Martial Artist? Even if Zhou Zhongru were alive to see him, he would have to show him three parts respect, let alone now that he is dead."

When a wall is about to collapse, everyone gives it a push.

The shopkeepers and deacons of the Meat Trade Association spoke up one after another.

"Offend Meng Juxiang, and unless the other masters of the Four Great Martial Halls provide a guarantee, no one will care if you die."

"Zhou Zhongru's mistakes alone cannot implicate the association."

"You must come up with five hundred taels to go and offer an apology!"

In an instant, these association shopkeepers stared at Zhou Zhongru's wives, concubines, and children like starving wolves.

"You, you all..."

"If Madam Zhou doesn't provide a result voluntarily, then we can only provide one for you."

"Zhou Zhongru still has some residences and storefronts; I imagine that should be enough for compensation."

Some were making naked threats, setting their sights directly on Zhou Zhongru's inheritance.

At this, Zhou Zhongru's wives and concubines regretted coming to the association; they should have swept up his assets and left Ram City.

They hadn't expected that a single sheet of letter paper from Meng Juxiang would reverse the situation so completely.

Those who had previously sworn to stand up for them were now turning around to tear at their flesh and blood.

Now, no matter how they cried or made a scene, the outcome of the matter could not be changed.

Early the next morning, the shopkeepers of the Meat Trade Association arrived at the door, dragging the weeping widow of Zhou Zhongru along to offer an apology.

Li Beichen had not yet left the house.

He had just finished washing up and was eating breakfast.

He heard a burst of commotion outside the gate.

When he opened the door, he saw the association shopkeepers standing there with fawning smiles and bowing low.

"Retainer Li, we have brought Zhou Zhongru's widow to offer a humble apology."

As they spoke, they lifted up a wooden box over a foot wide.

They opened it right in front of Li Beichen.

Ingots of snow-white silver, neatly stacked, filled the box.

"Here is five hundred taels of silver, drawn from Zhou Zhongru's estate."

"He was insatiably greedy and deserved to die; this is our compensation on his behalf."

The association members even dragged over one of Zhou Zhongru's concubines, who was quite attractive.

"If Retainer Li is still not satisfied, this concubine of Zhou Zhongru is yours to dispose of as you please."

The concubine who had been dragged over stopped crying the moment she saw the heroic and extraordinary Li Beichen.

Instead, her eyes revealed a flirtatious charm.

She was actually dreaming that Li Beichen would take her.

The members of the association were also full of flattery, trying to curry favor.

"We hope Retainer Li will ask Hall Master Meng not to vent his anger on the Meat Trade Association; everything Zhou Zhongru did had nothing to do with the association."

"When did my master say he wanted to vent his anger on the Meat Trade?"

At this moment, Li Beichen did not yet know about the letter Meng Juxiang had sent yesterday.

Seeing Li Beichen's confusion, they hurriedly took out the letter.

Li Beichen glanced at it and only then realized that Meng Juxiang had completely covered for him.

Not only had he resolved the future trouble, but he had also secured him a windfall.

Looking at the letter, thoughts flashed through Li Beichen's mind.

A Sixth-Rank Martial Artist... his deterrent power is even greater than I imagined...

Li Beichen looked at the Meat Trade Association and the weeping widow of Zhou Zhongru.

He waved his hand.

"Leave the silver, take these women and children, and get lost."

"Many thanks, Retainer Li!"

Hearing this, the people from the Meat Trade Association felt as if they had been granted amnesty; they dragged Zhou Zhongru's widow away immediately.

Li Beichen carried the box of silver with one hand, returned to the inner room, and finished his breakfast.

Then, taking the silver with him, he headed toward the Like-Elephant Martial Hall.