55: Chapter 54: Having Laws is Supreme 55: Chapter 54: Having Laws is Supreme This was a cultivator, at the same Energy Induction Realm as himself, yet he could discern that this man’s body had been hollowed out by indulgence in alcohol and women; surely he was not from the Quanzhen Sect, but rather a manager from the Tianxiang Building?

A brothel being able to hire a cultivator, the power behind this was self-evident.

But he couldn’t retreat!

“Firstly, the Tianxiang Building is not a private residence!

It is a business establishment, therefore it is obligated to accept the jurisdiction of the South City Prefecture Office.

Secondly, this inspection is routine official business by the Prefecture Office, with the seal of the office official and the dispatch of inspectors, so it is not personal conduct!

As long as I wear the official uniform, I represent the public; a public servant conducting public duties being assaulted by you, I need an explanation!”

The middle-aged man looked disdainful, “He was extorting!”

Hou Niao was uncompromising, “Can you repeat what he said, as if it were evidence in court?

If not, it might be your fabrication!

A mere mortal daring to extort a cultivator, this is the biggest joke I’ve heard in my life!

Moreover, if he was extorting, you could have reported it to the Prefecture Office, we have our own way of dealing with it!”

He could certainly be sure that Dalong would not leave any excuses; these guys were all seasoned clerks, slick and elusive, their way with words left you unable to detect any fault, yet you could clearly feel they were asking for money!

Having heard it all the way down the street, Hou Niao was familiar with their behavior and knew what kind of people they were, how could they possibly leave any incriminating evidence in such a situation?

Of course, Da Long the fool was also blinded by greed, lacking discernment.

Inside such a hall, why still ask for money?

Seeing that the situation was unfavorable, he just should have left―it was devil-driven, and everyone else suffered because of him!

The man was composed, “So, I’ve hit and I’ve scolded, what are you going to do about it?”

A cultivator at a nearby table spoke in a low voice, “A mere yamen runner, and yet blind!

Don’t you know that today Marshal Mu is hosting esteemed guests from the Blood Transformation Sect at the Tianxiang Building?

You choose to come here and make trouble, pull back at once!

Tomorrow I will have your South City officials straighten out internal affairs and seriously dampen your bullying behaviors!”

Hou Niao felt bitter inside, this must be an official from Marshal Mu’s residence, that’s why he dared to lecture the South City officials.

You say you couldn’t clarify your own affairs and notify us earlier, then South City wouldn’t have embarked on this operation… it’s just that the position in South City Office is too low; they’re past cultivators, lacking upper-level information.

Could he just leave then?

If he were to leave now, he shouldn’t have entered in the first place!

What does it matter if Dalong, a mere mortal, loses face?

Looking up with a smile on his face, he moved swiftly as lightning, his finger like a sword, he pointed at the chest’s Central Covering Acupoint of the middle-aged man, a crucial pivot for the flow of Spiritual Power.

He, being a cultivator in his late stages of Energy Induction ascending upwards, striking suddenly at a man weakened by indulgence, the man did not react at all and just collapsed softly to the ground.

“Lock him up!”

Using locks on cultivators was not practically significant, but it was a statement.

His action shocked all the guests present, including the yamen runners behind him.

The guests watched with amusement, while the runners were feeble and astonished, never expecting that someone who seemed quite mild-mannered and generous at first would have such a fiery temper!

That official from Marshal Mu’s office somewhat couldn’t stand losing face, but under the circumstances, he couldn’t intervene; he was neither the host nor a distinguished guest.

Many schemes were withheld due to the presence of the Blood Transformation Sect cultivators; one could lose face within his circle, but not in front of outsiders!

Xiao Qiang’s beautiful eyes moved, while Dugu Lan covered her mouth with one hand, emitting a low gasp,

“Has he always been this impulsive?

Is there something missing in his brain?”

“Hmm?”, Hou Niao turned around, his sinister gaze sweeping over Old Liao, making him immediately understand his predicament.

Now that he had started, there could be no peaceable end, what was the use in acting good now?

Caught in a dilemma, neither the nobles nor his peers might spare him…

Under his instruction, several officers bumblingly shackled the middle-aged cultivator who had no power to resist.

The wooden shackles fell off several times, revealing their tense state of mind.

Hou Niao turned his gaze towards Da Long, “I heard there are young geishas here?

Have you thoroughly checked it out?”

Da Long, tearful and snotty, knew he had caused a huge disaster.

It was uncertain if he would live to see tomorrow’s sun, but the actions of the prefecture office at least allowed him a more bearable departure.

Though he had been beaten and might still die, the fact that this manager was also shackled was a victory for mortals!

He was very moved, grateful that the prefecture office had not abandoned him, allowing him to be thrown out like a dog.

For this, not to mention slandering that there were young geishas here, if it were said that there were monsters, he would dare agree!

A man about to die, what is there to fear?

“Yes, I have already…” with somewhat swollen eyes, he strained to search for potential targets on the stage.

Old Liao, now fully awake, took over, “There are three, two dancers and one singer, their names are Cui Yiyi, Huang Que’er, Lin Xiaoou…”

As the oldest officer of South City, he knew all the dark secrets of his area like the back of his hand.

He stayed silent because it was usually inadvisable to speak, but now with disaster looming, who cared about such prohibitions?

And as an experienced bureaucrat, he could somewhat guess Hou Niao’s intention.

If things can’t end well, then they must be escalated!

The bigger the issue, the better.

Everyone would be stuck, and then they could deal with the aftermath, perhaps an unexpected opportunity might arise?

Besides making mountains out of molehills, another trick in the bureaucratic handbook is creating something out of nothing!

He didn’t know what would happen next, but since Hou Niao had asked such, he could only assist from the side.

As for how the knife would dance, that was no longer his concern.

Looking at the shackled middle-aged cultivator, Hou Niao feigned sudden realization, “So that’s how it is!

I ask you, Da Yan law states that minors under the age of fifteen must not be employed in pleasure quarters.

Why did you knowingly commit this crime?”

The middle-aged cultivator’s eyes were about to burst from rage.

Indeed, it is easy to find a pretext for accusation!

Among the sixty-one flower buildings on the wide streets, which one didn’t employ such young geishas?

Yet even in anger, being a cultivator, he had a certain degree of self-control and knew he couldn’t speak recklessly in public!

Some things can be done, but cannot be said; even if it must be said, it definitely cannot be mentioned under such circumstances!

If he really spoke out, not even immortals could save him!

He was waiting, waiting for the real master of Tianxiang Building, a high-level Essence Building Realm master.

And he arrived!

A man in green clothes rushed over from the direction of the grand hall’s kitchen.

To ensure he entertained the distinguished guests that day, he had deigned to supervise the kitchen lest something went awry; as it turned out, there was no trouble in the kitchen, but in the cultivator-filled hall, trouble had erupted!

He was already briefed about the situation, knowing that conventianal methods wouldn’t work on such a greenhorn!

The longer the delay, the more dissatisfied the distinguished guests would become, no matter how well you handled it!

A swift solution was imperative!

To deal with a greenhorn, one must use a greenhorn’s methods!

“Which scoundrel dares to cause trouble in my Tianxiang Building?

Taste my sword first, then I will hand you over to Shangguan!”

The man in green dived down dramatically, his sword gleaming sharply, like an eagle striking the sky!

Hou Niao bowed his head in silence, seemingly in deep contemplation?

Then suddenly, he stepped forward, a vicious glint flashed in the air, a burst of blood erupted, amidst which a long, piercing scream sounded, its tone harrowing…

…

With a lonely sword in hand, who believes the renowned mountains were empty for a hundred years!