Chapter 184: Conflict Settled

Chapter 184: Conflict Settled

At the entrance of the Inspection Office.

As Jiang Ning took action, the crowd erupted in surprise.

No one expected Jiang Ning to directly intervene.

"Release Captain Xiao!"

"Release Captain Xiao!"

The voices echoed.

Jiang Ning ignored them and said, "Xie Xiaojiu, arrest these two. They dared to attack me, committing insolence. Take them away first."

"Yes!" Xie Xiaojiu responded immediately from behind.

With Jiang Ning's support, Xie Xiaojiu's confidence soared.

Backed by one of the four Deputy Leaders, she had nothing to fear from these captains.

This was her newfound confidence.

At that moment, Xie Xiaojiu, sword in hand, transformed into a gust of wind, rushing towards Lu Renyao and another captain.

The two, having just been struck by Jiang Ning's full force, were in a weakened state compared to their peak. Seeing Xie Xiaojiu charging, they quickly stood to counter.

"Brothers, we are all from the Martial Academy. Follow me!" Lu Renyao shouted.

Hearing this, some in the crowd stepped forward.

Meanwhile, Jiang Ning paid no further attention to Xie Xiaojiu's battle.

He had just struck down two people—a captain and Lu Renyao.

Especially Lu Renyao, whom he had punched the previous day, and who had attacked him again today. Jiang Ning showed no mercy, ensuring Lu Renyao would suffer.

In this situation, if Xie Xiaojiu couldn't handle it, she would be letting down her reputation as a Celestial Prodigy.

She would also disappoint Lin Qingyi's trust in her.

Jiang Ning then turned his attention to Xiao Tianhe, who he held.

"Speak. Where are the people you arrested this morning hidden?"

Xiao Tianhe, in pain, pointed to his throat, his face turning red as he struggled to speak.

Seeing this, Jiang Ning released his grip.

Plop—

Xiao Tianhe fell from mid-air.

Cough, cough—

He coughed a few times, catching his breath before speaking, "I didn't know there was a friend of the Commander among the civilians. The Commander told me to identify that person, and I'll go to the county prison to release them right away!"

Xiao Tianhe immediately conceded.

Just then, a voice rang out, "Useless!"

He Jinyun, his face pale, emerged from the crowd again.

"You dare to touch my people?" He addressed Jiang Ning.

"Is the Young Master trying to abuse his power?" Jiang Ning smiled.

Hearing this, He Jinyun gave Jiang Ning a serious look.

"You're very bold!"

"The Young Master is also quite bold," Jiang Ning said. "In front of so many people, he dares to cover up for his subordinates."

"You are indeed very bold!" He Jinyun's eyes narrowed.

"Enough!" A deep voice came from the entrance of the Inspection Office.

The crowd, startled, turned to see Hong Minghu and Ye Qiu.

They parted, making way for the two.

"Greetings, Governor, and Commander Ye!"

"Greetings, Governor, and Commander Ye!"

"Greetings, Governor, and Commander Ye!"

"Greetings, Governor, and Commander Ye!"

"..."

"What a disgrace!" Hong Minghu glanced at He Jinyun. "Causing such a ruckus at the entrance of the Inspection Office is like a mob. It's embarrassing."

"Please investigate, Governor!" Xie Xiaojiu, who had stopped, stepped forward. "Captain Xiao accepted bribes, abused his power, and arbitrarily arrested the owners of various taverns, sealing them without allowing business."

"Is that true, Captain Xiao?" Hong Minghu's calm gaze fell on Xiao Tianhe.

Under Hong Minghu's serene gaze, Xiao Tianhe's heart trembled.

"Confess, and you'll be treated leniently," Hong Minghu said.

Hearing this, Xiao Tianhe nodded. "I did accept bribes."

"I sentence you to a month in the dark cell. Do you accept this punishment?" Hong Minghu asked.

"I accept," Xiao Tianhe replied.

Then, Hong Minghu looked towards Xie Xiaojiu.

"Xie Xiaojiu, you reported this, but you also committed insolence. Your merits and faults balance out. You'll receive neither reward nor punishment. Do you accept this?"

Xie Xiaojiu nodded repeatedly. "I accept."

Hong Minghu then turned to Jiang Ning.

"Jiang Commander, you stood up to uphold the integrity of the Inspection Office. Consider this a minor achievement, earning you 10 contribution points. Are you satisfied?"

Action: Jiang Ning said, "I am satisfied!"

Upon hearing this, Hong Minghu nodded slightly.

He then looked at the few individuals who had fought with Xie Xiaojiu.

"Lu Renyao, Huang Xianzong, the two of you attacked Jiang Commander, committing the offense of insubordination. Huang Xianzong, as a captain, will be punished with fifteen days in the dark cell. Lu Renyao, as an Inspector Guard, will face three months in the dark cell for the same offense. Do you accept this punishment?"

At these words, Lu Renyao's face paled slightly.

Three months in the dark cell.

This wasn't a secluded cultivation, but rather enduring two months of torment in a dungeon devoid of light.

The dark cell in the Inspection Office was something he had the fortune to witness that morning.

The dark cell was also known as the water cell.

Inside the dark cell, the environment was cold, damp, and completely dark. Moreover, because this cell was underground, the space was cramped, and even the height was insufficient, making it impossible to stand up straight.

In such an environment, not to mention three months, even three days would be unbearable for him.

Furthermore, the conditions inside made it so that he could only sense the passage of time, and nothing else.

"I don't accept this!" Lu Renyao blurted out, raising his head to look at Hong Minghu. "The Governor is biased, favoring this native Jiang Ning."

Hong Minghu's expression darkened at these words.

"Hmph!" He let out a cold snort.

In that instant, it was as if an invisible force exploded in the void, causing Lu Renyao's body to stagger backward, his footsteps faltering as he fell to the ground, blood trickling from his mouth.

"Disobeying orders will earn you an additional month!" Hong Minghu said calmly.

Then, he turned to look at the few individuals who had fought with Xie Xiaojiu.

"All of you, forming cliques and disregarding your duties, even fighting with colleagues in public—you will be confined to the dark cell for three days. Do you accept this punishment?"

"I accept!" With Lu Renyao as a cautionary tale, the others didn't dare utter another word, all of them expressing their submission.

At that moment, Ye Qiu finally stepped forward.

"Everyone, disperse! Today, the Governor is being lenient because you are all new to the Inspection Office and may not understand many of its rules."

"If there's a next time, I won't be so lenient!"

"Please take a good look at what you should and shouldn't do, and the rules you must follow!"

"The rules in the Inspection Office are extremely strict!"

After leaving these words, Ye Qiu turned to look at the man beside her.

One of the four Deputy Commanders, Tang Miaomiao.

"Commander Tang!"

"Your command, sir!" Tang Miaomiao saluted.

She was from the Academy, the Academy of Guangning Prefecture.

Naturally, she understood the Inspection Office better than the Martial Academy students from Dongling Prefecture.

Therefore, facing Ye Qiu, she didn't show the slightest bit of disrespect.

Strictly speaking, only Ye Qiu, Hong Minghu, and a few others were the true core members of the various Inspection Offices.

As for those beneath them, they were at most considered peripheral, nothing more than a mob.

At that moment,

69shu.bar

Ye Qiu saw Tang Miaomiao salute and nodded slightly.

"Leave the punishment of those individuals to Commander Tang to handle!"

"Rest assured, sir!" Tang Miaomiao said.

As Ye Qiu and Hong Minghu left, the crowd dispersed as well.

"Jiang Ning, I'll remember you!" He Jinyun walked past Jiang Ning and suddenly stopped, leaving these words before departing.

"Sir!" Xie Xiaojiu approached Jiang Ning: "Thank you for your help earlier! It was my fault for involving you!"

Jiang Ning smiled faintly. "There's no need for that. Since you're my person, how could I stand by and let you be bullied? Besides, Xiaotianhe captured one of my friends this morning!"

"Then, what should we do now, sir?" Xie Xiaojiu asked.

"Go find Feng Jiuge and ask her to gather some people. We're going to the County Administration."

"Yes, sir!" Xie Xiaojiu saluted in a hurry.

On the other side,

Inside the Inspection Office,

Ye Qiu and Hong Minghu walked side by side.

"Governor, you're being unusually lenient today," Ye Qiu said.

Hong Minghu slowly spoke, "These people are, after all, Martial Academy students and come from influential families in Dongling City. It's not appropriate to punish them too severely."

"In that case, if that young girl hadn't had Jiang Commander's intervention, would the Governor have taken action against her?" Ye Qiu turned to ask.

"Not bad!" Hong Minghu readily admitted.

Then, he said, "Today's outcome has indeed lessened the impact, but there's no other way. These people are difficult to deal with."

"In that case, the Governor is giving Jiang Commander quite a bit of face!" Ye Qiu said.

"Jiang Ning?" Hong Minghu muttered Jiang Ning's name and then laughed, "Jiang Commander's face must be given! He's a young grandmaster!"

"You view him so highly?"

"Ye Qiu's face registered a hint of surprise.

Hong Minghu nodded, "Just wait and see. Soon, the updated Dragon Ascension Chart will have a spot for him."

At the county jail.

'Halt, who goes there!'

The two guards on duty at the jail immediately drew their swords, their eyes filled with vigilance as they faced Jiang Ning and his group.

'Call your warden out!' Feng Jiuge stepped forward and spoke.

'Who are you? Please state your identity,' one of the guards swallowed his saliva, suppressing his inner fear as he spoke.

'Inspector Commander!' Feng Jiuge stated calmly.

Hearing these three words, the guard repeatedly nodded.

'Please wait here, I'll go get Old Zhang!'

Seeing this, Feng Jiuge turned to Jiang Ning and said, 'Sir, judging by their reaction, Xiao Tianhe wasn't lying. The people he captured this morning are here.'

Jiang Ning nodded, 'He has no reason to lie. In front of the Manor Lord, he wouldn't dare to lie.'

At the county jail.

'Damn it! Who dares disturb my peaceful sleep? Why is Xiao Tianhe here again?' A middle-aged man with a robust build and a foul mouth stood up, grumbling.

'Sir, the people who came this time aren't the same group from this morning. The leader is a woman, a remarkable and valiant one at that.'

'A woman?' The robust middle-aged man was taken aback for a moment, then said, 'Lead the way!'

A moment later.

At the entrance of the county jail.

'Where's Xiao Tianhe?' The middle-aged man with a robust build, who had just come out from the dark jail into the bright sunlight, narrowed his eyes at the sight before him, his thoughts turning dark.

The next moment.

'Greetings, esteemed guests!' He immediately put on a smile and approached Jiang Ning's group, 'May I know the names of the esteemed guests? I am Zhang Cheng, the warden of this county jail.'

Feng Jiuge spoke, 'Inspector Commander, Feng Jiuge.'

As she spoke, she took out a silver token and presented it to Zhang Cheng.

'So it's Commander Feng!' Zhang Cheng hurriedly clasped his hands in salute, 'This official greets Commander Feng!'

At this moment, Jiang Ning also took out a golden token.

'Deputy Inspector Commander, Jiang Ning!'

'You're Jiang Ning!!' Zhang Cheng's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Jiang Ning.

'Indeed!' Jiang Ning nodded.

'Greetings, Commander Jiang!' Zhang Cheng came back to his senses and quickly saluted.

At this moment, he was also filled with astonishment.

The name Jiang Ning had already been like thunder in his ears, especially after yesterday's events; everyone in Luoshui County knew of this name.

But knowing is one thing, actually meeting Jiang Ning is another.

He was one of the few.

As the warden of the county jail, guarding the county's main prison was his primary duty.

So, despite his leisurely life in the jail, he wouldn't dare take a single step away from his post.

Guarding the county jail, any unauthorized absence from duty would be a capital offense.

A myriad of thoughts flashed through Zhang Cheng's mind at this moment.

Then he turned to Jiang Ning and said, 'I don't know why Commander Jiang has graced this place with his presence?'

Jiang Ning spoke, 'Warden Zhang, did someone from the Inspector Commander's office come here to deliver a group of prisoners this morning?'

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng repeatedly waved his hands.

'I dare not claim the title of sir in front of Commander Jiang. As a mere ninth-rank warden, I am not qualified to be addressed as sir.'

Then he continued, 'But what you said is correct, sir. This morning, a group of prisoners was indeed delivered here, and they are currently locked up on the second floor of the county jail.'

'Take me to see them!' Jiang Ning ordered.

'Yes, sir!' Zhang Cheng nodded repeatedly and then led the way forward.

As he led the way, he spoke, 'Commander Jiang, this group of people was brought in by Captain Xiao Tianhe this morning. When he left, he instructed me to keep them securely and not allow anyone to visit them.'

Feng Jiuge said, 'The Xiao Tianhe you mentioned has already been locked up in the Inspector Commander's dark cell.'

'He's been locked up?' Zhang Cheng's expression was one of surprise, and then he suddenly realized, nodding repeatedly, 'This official understands!'

A moment later.

Led by Zhang Cheng, the group arrived at the second floor of the county jail.

Compared to the first floor above, this level was darker, more oppressive, and damp.

'Sir, it's just ahead!' Zhang Cheng spoke.

The group turned a corner and saw several people locked up in the cells ahead.

The footsteps of Jiang Ning and the others entering the cell also caught their attention, and they all looked towards the corner.

'Miss Ninth?' Tong Xiuyun saw Xie Xiaojiu and her face lit up with joy.

'Brother Jiang!!' Cheng Ran's eyes lit up.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end