"Big Brother Qin, what's wrong?"
Qi Yan walked over and asked with some concern.
Qin Zheng shook his head and put away the invitation. "Nothing. I'll go outside and buy the grain first."
With that, he stepped out of the ruined temple.
The county office had not concealed its intentions.
It had broadly distributed heroes' invitations, gathering the various forces and martial experts within Black Goose City.
Its purpose was to resolve the current bandit crisis.
The various factions were one matter. They had taken root in Black Goose City and long since become one with it.
Now that Black Goose City faced such a crisis, if the bandits broke into the city, these factions would also suffer disaster and losses.
If the county office spoke up and offered benefits and promises, they might not refuse to leave the city and suppress the bandits.
But there seemed to be no need for him to take such a risk.
Qin Zheng felt somewhat hesitant for a moment.
Forget it!
He still did not know what the county office truly intended. Everything was merely his current speculation.
There was no point thinking so much. He could deal with it when the time came and he truly had to face the issue.
Qin Zheng shook his head, sweeping the thoughts from his mind.
Then he headed toward the western part of the city.
Now that Black Goose City had been blockaded by those bandits, after a round of frantic looting, only the western district still had grain for sale.
People on the streets traveled in twos and threes. Other than those forced out by the necessities of life, the citizens of Black Goose City clearly did not wish to leave their homes.
However, just as he was about to leave the eastern district, he suddenly spotted a crowd gathered at one corner of the street.
There was a group of impoverished citizens in thin clothes, their faces sallow and their bodies emaciated, clearly malnourished.
They were seated around a young monk dressed in white robes.
Their expressions were devout as they followed the monk in chanting scriptures.
These citizens clearly could not satisfy their material needs, so they turned to gods and Buddhas in search of spiritual comfort.
Yet no matter whether Buddhist scriptures were recited a thousand or ten thousand times, grain would not appear out of thin air.
Nor would those gods emerge in times of danger to protect them.
Qin Zheng shook his head, withdrew his gaze, and hurried all the way toward the western district.
After that, Qin Zheng spent a high price to buy a great deal of grain in the western district.
His lavish manner immediately caused the citizens wandering about the western district to turn their heads again and again.
During this time, some ill-intentioned people tried to quietly follow Qin Zheng and rob him of his grain and silver.
But before they could act, their companions would pull them back and warn them in low voices, "Are you tired of living? That's Qin the Executioner, the man who suppressed the Canoe Gang until they didn't dare make a peep!"
Besides those people, some factions recognized Qin Zheng and sent him grain one after another.
Among them were even top-tier Black Goose City factions like the Canoe Gang.
This situation frightened the grain merchants who had taken Qin Zheng's high-priced silver, and they all hurried over to return his money.
Thus, not only did Qin Zheng spend little on this trip, he also gained quite a bit of grain.
This was the benefit brought by increased strength.
A fist was power!
Qin Zheng gained a small measure of insight from this.
He carried the grain back to the ruined temple in the eastern district.
Qi Yan swiftly and efficiently prepared dinner as well.
After they had finished eating.
Night fell.
Qin Zheng rose to his feet and looked at Qi Yan. "I'm going out for a while. Take care of them."
The county office was in the northern district. Setting out now was just right.
Qi Yan nodded and reminded him as usual, "Big Brother Qin, be careful."
Qin Zheng slung the Ghost-Head Saber over his back, left the ruined temple, and swiftly vanished into the night.
Black Goose City became even quieter and deeper in the night.
Especially after entering the northern district, this became even more apparent.
If not for the occasional voices drifting from the houses lining both sides of the road, Qin Zheng would have thought he had entered a ghost city.
And once he arrived here, an uncomfortable feeling arose within him.
It was as though someone were secretly watching him, stirring a faint irritation in his heart.
The spot between his brows throbbed faintly twice as well.
This made Qin Zheng take notice, and he became even more cautious.
Before long, Qin Zheng arrived at the county office.
By now, scattered groups of people had already gathered before its gates.
The moment Qin Zheng appeared, he immediately drew the attention of many people.
There was no other reason. The Ghost-Head Saber on Qin Zheng's back was simply too distinctive.
Ordinary martial artists would not wield such a broad saber.
Thus, Qin Zheng's identity was easy to recognize.
When Qin Zheng reached the county office gates, several figures immediately approached him.
"Brother Qin, you came as well!"
Zhang Wei, the Canoe Gang's chief leader, was the first to reach Qin Zheng and greet him warmly.
His words and tone were exceedingly cordial, as though he and Qin Zheng were good brothers rather than opponents who had faced off not long ago.
Qin Zheng nodded.
One did not strike a smiling face.
The other man had fulfilled his promise, no longer troubling him, and had even sent him quite a bit of grain during the day.
Naturally, Qin Zheng would not ignore him and make him lose face before everyone.
"Come, come, let me introduce you. This is Leader Wei of the Black Tiger Gang."
"This is Leader Xing of the Vermilion Bird Gang, and this is Leader Xiong of the Three Origins Gang."
Zhang Wei introduced the martial artists beside him to Qin Zheng.
Most of them were around fifty years old, and all were martial artists of the Muscle-Refining Realm.
This was also the first time Qin Zheng had learned of the gangs within Black Goose City and the Muscle-Refining Realm martial artists standing behind them.
He did not put on airs either. He clasped his fists to each of them in greeting and introduced himself.
Thus, before the county office, Qin Zheng thoroughly became acquainted with these gang leaders who secretly controlled Black Goose City.
Besides these men, there were also some lone martial artists.
Among them were Flesh-Refining Realm martial artists who had broken through the second great barrier, as well as Muscle-Refining Realm martial artists who had broken through the third great barrier.
The hidden strength within Black Goose City was truly not weak.
At the very least, Qin Zheng had not expected there to be so many Muscle-Refining Realm martial artists.
He thought of the experts who had gone to suppress the bandits, among whom there had only been Ji Changyin and Xu Weisai.
If all the Muscle-Refining Realm martial artists present agreed to act, perhaps resolving this bandit scourge would not be too difficult.
Just as this thought unconsciously surfaced in Qin Zheng's mind.
A figure jogged out from within the county office gates and called loudly, "My apologies for keeping everyone waiting. A banquet has already been prepared inside. Please, everyone, come in!"
"Advisor Liu!"
Zhang Wei and the others clasped their fists toward the newcomer.
Qin Zheng turned his gaze over and saw that the man was thin and gaunt, with a goatee and bright eyes. He was clearly a shrewd fellow.
"Please come in, please come in. It was my oversight to make everyone wait outside for so long."
"Chief Zhang, Leader Wei, Leader Xing, Young Hero Qin."
Advisor Liu greeted everyone with warm efficiency.
After they entered the county office, he led them straight down a secluded path and into a garden.
At this moment, the place was brightly lit, with singing girls and dancing maidens, fine wine, and lavish delicacies.
Everyone was astonished that such an extravagant place existed within the county office.
Qin Zheng, however, fixed his gaze on the monk in white robes who had already taken a seat not far away!
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