Bandit Suppression

After reading through the dossier, Fang Xing felt a heavy weight settle in his heart.

"You only need to remember this information. Don't tell anyone else," Shen Ye said, looking at him.

Fang Xing nodded.

Then Shen Ye rose and walked over to him, placing one hand on his shoulder.

Fang Xing immediately came back to his senses. Shen Ye had one hand on his shoulder, feeling him over carefully.

"Peak Dark Force... Your strength has improved quite quickly."

A trace of surprise appeared in Shen Ye's eyes.

Fang Xing's heart tightened, but his expression did not change. "You flatter me, sir. This subordinate has merely cultivated diligently."

Shen Ye lowered his hand and stood with his arms at his sides. "To reach peak Dark Force so quickly, you must indeed have worked hard. But unfortunately, your innate bones are somewhat poor. You only have low-grade innate bones. I'm afraid your chances of breaking through to Transformation Force in the future are very slim."

Fang Xing remained silent.

Poor innate bones...

That was his disadvantage, but it did not affect him much.

Perhaps low-grade innate bones were a major problem for others, but for him, it was not absolute.

With exceptional comprehension and sufficient resources, even with poor innate bones, he was confident he could cross this Dragon Gate.

"Low-grade innate bones, yet he went from early Dark Force to peak Dark Force in one month? Are you sure you didn't feel wrong?"

At that moment, Baili Yanran spoke up from the side, asking curiously.

"Come feel for yourself." Shen Ye glanced at her.

Baili Yanran curled her lips and said nothing more.

Shen Ye looked at Fang Xing. "Go notify them. Change into your yamen uniform and gather outside the city in one hour."

Fang Xing nodded, then left the inner hall.

Watching Fang Xing's departing figure, Shen Ye sighed. "What a pity. Such a fine prospect, yet he has low-grade innate bones."

Hearing Shen Ye's sigh, Baili Yanran blinked. "What, have you taken a liking to him?"

Shen Ye nodded. "I had considered it, but forget it for now. If he enters the Heavenly Supervision Bureau with those innate bones, it will be difficult for him to achieve much in the future."

Baili Yanran smiled. "Innate bones only account for thirty percent. They are not absolute. Don't forget that our Commander also has low-grade innate bones. And so what? The Commander's strength is something both you and I can only look up to."

Shen Ye fell silent at those words. After a long while, he finally spoke. "People like the Commander are rare, after all."

"What if he happens to be one of those rare few?" Baili Yanran blinked.

Shen Ye's gaze flickered as he looked at Baili Yanran. "You mean I should take him in?"

Baili Yanran's face remained calm. "I didn't say that. If you want to take him in, then do it."

"But he is only at Dark Force. That is still lacking. If he can reach Transformation Force, then I'll give him an opportunity."

"You really know how to work your abacus." Baili Yanran rolled her eyes.

"If he can enter Transformation Force, it proves his comprehension is high. That is a test as well."

Shen Ye looked completely unconcerned.

"Tch."

"What a nice thing to say." Baili Yanran looked disdainful.

Shen Ye: "..."

County Yamen, main squad room.

After Fang Xing issued the order, a group of yamen runners quickly arrived at the squad room.

The four Constables and four Deputy Constables, along with the other martial yamen runners who had reached Bright Force.

Eighteen people in total.

Including him, there were nineteen altogether!

"Lord Fang, what is so urgent? What exactly is happening?" one yamen runner could not help asking.

"Bandit suppression," Fang Xing said blandly.

Huh?

Bandit suppression?!

At those words, everyone froze.

Why were they suddenly going to suppress bandits?

"Lord Fang, why are we suddenly suppressing bandits?" Yang Bo asked.

"Do you have an objection?" Fang Xing looked at Yang Bo, his expression calm.

Yang Bo immediately lowered his head. "I would not dare. This subordinate merely finds it somewhat strange."

Fang Xing swept his gaze over them. "This is an order from above. You will go with me. No one else needs to come."

Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances. Though puzzled, they did not think too much of it. With Fang Xing personally leading them, this lineup would have no problem suppressing bandits.

"Go back, change clothes, bring your weapons, then gather outside the city."

Fang Xing spoke.

"Yes." Everyone nodded and promptly left the main squad room.

Fang Xing also left the County Yamen at once and returned home, changing into a set of black fitted clothing.

Then he headed out of the city.

Upon arriving outside the city, Xu Zhengxiong and the others came before long.

They gathered together.

"Lord Fang, did this order come from the Heavenly Supervision Bureau?" Chen Shan asked, somewhat curious.

Fang Xing nodded lightly.

At that, everyone's hearts jolted.

An order from the Heavenly Supervision Bureau—this probably was not a simple bandit suppression operation.

There was likely something fishy behind it.

But even if there was something fishy, they had to carry out the order from above.

The Heavenly Supervision Bureau had the authority to mobilize everything. If needed, not only them—even the county magistrate and the county's garrison troops would have to obey.

"They're here."

As Fang Xing and the others waited, two figures soon appeared in the distance.

Everyone turned their eyes toward them.

They recognized them at a glance.

But aside from those two, there was also a donkey cart behind them, loaded with some goods.

Before long, Shen Ye and Baili Yanran arrived before the group.

After sweeping his gaze across everyone, Shen Ye spoke directly.

"Set out."

After giving the order, Shen Ye headed into the distance. Everyone immediately followed behind him.

The group of more than twenty quickly vanished.

At the beginning of the hour of the Goat, Fang Xing's group reached their destination.

In the distance, a mountain came into view.

This mountain was where Black Wolf Stronghold lay hidden.

The terrain was steep and well concealed!

Black Wolf Stronghold's main camp had been built atop the mountain.

The group arrived.

After Shen Lang arranged for some people to guard several key positions, he led the rest directly up the mountain.

The mountain path was rugged and uneven, but it was no problem for them.

Everyone who had come was a Bright Force martial artist. Such rough mountain roads had no effect on them.

They did not conceal their tracks. When they reached the mountainside, a sound suddenly came from the forest.

It resembled the call of a partridge.

Whoosh—!

Yet just as it cried out once, something tore through the air and shot into the dense woods.

Bang!

A thin, small figure fell from a tree, blood flowing from between his brows.

A sharp pebble had pierced into his brain.

Fang Xing had made the move.

Having reached Dark Force, one could pluck leaves and toss flowers to kill.

A single pebble became a flying-locust stone. Killing an ordinary person was effortless.

"You're quite sharp." Shen Ye smiled in satisfaction from the side.

"You flatter me, sir," Fang Xing said politely.

Shen Ye smiled. Then his figure suddenly accelerated. Baili Yanran sped up as well, and seeing this, everyone immediately quickened their pace to follow.

They advanced all the way, taking care of several bandit sentries.

The group arrived outside the stronghold.

The stronghold wall stood one zhang high. Bandits holding bows watched them warily.

"Honored heroes, why have you come here?"

A voice rang out from atop the wall.

"So long-winded," Baili Yanran grumbled. The moment her words fell, her figure vanished from where she stood.

Like a soaring bird, she leaped into the air.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!!!

Seeing this, the bandits fired their arrows in panic. The arrows sliced through the air.

But as the arrows drew near, they were blocked by a force and fell one after another to the ground.

"Force protecting the body!"

Fang Xing's pupils contracted at the sight.

It was the hallmark defensive method of a Transformation Force martial artist.

A layer of force enveloped the body, like a natural shield.

Without breaking through that force, all attacks were futile.

Boom!!!

In an instant, Baili Yanran smashed the stronghold gate to pieces.

Splintered wood flew everywhere.

The terrifying force shook the stronghold walls. The bandits swayed on their feet and fell down one after another.

Ordinary people facing Transformation Force were simply suffering a crushing blow from another dimension.

"Deal with these small fry." Shen Ye's voice rang out. As soon as he spoke, he and Baili Yanran charged together toward the depths of the stronghold.

"Move!" Fang Xing waved his hand and led the others into the stronghold.