This was a cultivator in the Qi Gathering realm, just like him, but he could see that wine and women had hollowed the man out. He probably was not from the Quanzhen Sect, but a steward of the Heavenly Fragrance Tower?
Even a brothel could hire cultivators to work for it. The power behind it went without saying.
But he could not back down!
"First, the Heavenly Fragrance Tower is not a private residence! It is a place of business, and therefore obliged to accept the jurisdiction of the South City Prefectural Office.
"Second, this spot inspection is routine prefectural business, bearing the Yamen Officer's seal and carried out under the inspector's orders. Therefore, it is not a private undertaking!"
"Wearing an official uniform means representing the authorities. You beat a public servant while he was carrying out his duties. I need an explanation!"
The middle-aged man was dismissive. "He was soliciting a bribe!"
Hou Niao gave him no quarter. "Can you repeat what he said as testimony to be presented in court? If not, you may be framing him!
"A mere mortal daring to demand a bribe from a cultivator is the biggest joke I have heard in my life!
"Besides, if he was soliciting a bribe, you could have reported him to the prefectural office. We have our own procedures for dealing with that!"
Of course he could be certain Da Long would not have left anyone anything to use against him. These men were veteran functionaries, slippery beyond belief. After a whole spiel, you would find nothing wrong with their words, yet feel perfectly clearly that they were asking for money!
After one trip along Wide Street, Hou Niao was already thoroughly familiar with it. He knew what these men were like. How could they leave someone