The onlookers gathered, and all eyes turned toward the owner of the Rice Shop.
The Rice Shop owner shouted to the crowd, "I’ve been running this small shop for several decades, thanks to everyone’s patronage. Today, there’s no rice in the store, yet someone insisted on buying rice, forcing me to risk my old life today. At my age, even if I die here today, it’ll have been worth it. I just ask for everyone, young and old, to be my witness. If someone asks in the future, at least speak a word of truth for me!"
More and more spectators gathered, and Du Zhaohui became increasingly nervous.
His subordinates stepped forward to drive away the crowd, but it was useless; no one listened to their yelling.
Seeing that the situation was about to escalate, a Cultivator named Chen Yusheng stood by Du Zhaohui’s side—a Fifth Layer Martial Cultivator.
This man was clever and could see the situation clearly.
At this moment, it was unrealistic to drive the crowd away. The most effective method was to immediately take down the core figure of this incident—the owner of the Rice Shop.
The move had to be covert, giving the target no chance to notice.
The strike had to be decisive, allowing no stalemate. Otherwise, it could trigger a brawl and escalate matters.
The blow had to be vicious. After felling him, they needed to beat the Rice Shop owner half to death on the spot, leaving him unable to even cry out, thereby intimidating everyone else.
Chen Yusheng silently approached the Rice Shop owner from behind, his gaze turning cold.
Li Banfeng reached out, grabbed Chen Yusheng by the hair, and slammed him to the ground.
The move had to be covert; Chen Yusheng indeed hadn’t noticed.
The strike had to be decisive; once Li Banfeng slammed him down, he immediately started kicking.
The blow had to be vicious. On this point, Li Banfeng’s idea differed from Chen Yusheng’s—he used his feet.
As soon as Li Banfeng made his move, the owner of the Rice Shop acted as well, and so did the onlookers who came for the excitement.
They had been holding back for a long time.
He first kicked Chen Yusheng. When Chen Yusheng tried to struggle up, Tang Shijiang kicked him back to the ground.
"Brother," Tang Shijiang whispered, "weren’t you told not to get involved in this?"
Li Banfeng kicked again. "I’m not really involved, just here to watch the excitement."
Tang Shijiang gave another kick. "Don’t worry, they can handle this by themselves."
Their kicks were too heavy; Chen Yusheng was nearly breathless after just a few.
Meanwhile, Du Zhaohui was caught in a siege, and the situation was extremely perilous.
Beside Du Zhaohui stood another Body Cultivator, who easily shielded him. "Let’s see which of you dares to come!"
Brother Tang stepped forward, pinned that Body Cultivator to the ground, and said to Li Banfeng, "Join in."
The two chatted while kicking this Body Cultivator.
"Brother, you should go first. Leave this to me."
"As you say, Brother."
Li Banfeng landed two more kicks and then left the Rice Shop.
At dusk, Du Zhaohui, bruised and swollen, reported to Cheng Mingke that he had still failed to purchase the grain.
Cheng Mingke placed his teacup on the table and said to Du Zhaohui, "Where are the guards I assigned you?"
"They’ve been badly injured and are being treated in the infirmary."
"Both Fifth Layer Cultivators were injured. This means something is amiss; there are extraordinary people involved in this matter! Fu Botai’s disappearance is connected to these people. We must dig three feet deep if necessary to find them! Gather all Dark Energy Users from the Defense Agency. All Deputy Defense Envoys not on external assignments are to lead teams. First, go to the Rice Shop. Bring back the rice, and bring back the people from the Rice Shop as well. These people are so audacious; they must be acting under orders. Tonight, interrogate them rigorously. We must get results! If any uninvolved individuals participated, they will be charged as accomplices and escorted to the Defense Agency as well."
As Cheng Mingke issued the orders, Du Zhaohui watched in astonishment.
Cheng Mingke frowned and said, "What are you waiting for? Hurry and get moving!"
Du Zhaohui asked, "Officer Cheng, aren’t you going?"
Cheng Mingke glared at Du Zhaohui, who quickly left the office.
The sun was about to set. Cheng Mingke stood by the window, gazing at the scenery outside, maintaining his usual calm and composure.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip just as Tong Lingzhu pushed the door open and walked in.
Cheng Mingke frowned slightly. He didn’t turn around, but he saw Tong Lingzhu in the reflection in the glass.
Cheng Mingke turned, set down his teacup, and prepared to use this opportunity to properly reprimand Tong Lingzhu.
Tong Lingzhu said, "The Chief Defense Envoy has arrived."
The teacup wasn’t placed steadily and fell to the floor. Cheng Mingke didn’t have time to pick it up and hurried out to meet the Chief Envoy.
Just as he reached the doorway, the portly Chief Defense Envoy, Liao Zihui, walked right in with a cordial smile.
Cheng Mingke promptly asked Tong Lingzhu to make tea, but Liao Zihui waved his hand, saying, "No need for the trouble. I won’t be staying long. Little Tong, you go attend to your business. I have a few words for Mingke in private."
Tong Lingzhu left the office, and Liao Zihui sat down on the sofa, saying to Cheng Mingke, "Mingke, you’ve just started working in Puluo State. There must be many aspects you’re not used to, right?"
His words carried a hidden meaning. Having struggled for so many years, how could Cheng Mingke fail to discern it? He quickly explained, "Chief Envoy Liao, Black Stone Slope did have a minor issue, but I’ve already handled it promptly..."
Liao Zihui nodded. He was already aware of how Cheng Mingke had handled the situation but made no comment.
"Mingke, when doing things in Puluo State, one mustn’t be too hasty. I don’t know if you’ve read the papers recently. Many rumors are flying about, linking us to the Jiang Xiang Gang. Some even link us to Human Traffickers. The impact is quite negative."
"These are baseless rumors. We have always maintained a clear boundary with the Jiang Xiang Gang," Cheng Mingke had been prepared for this. "The newspaper offices spreading such baseless rumors have already been shut down by me."
Liao Zihui fell silent for a moment, then asked, "Mingke, you can shut down the newspaper offices in Black Stone Slope, but can you shut down all the newspaper offices in the entire Puluo State?"
Cheng Mingke carefully modulated his tone before responding to Liao Zihui, "Chief Envoy Liao, I believe that for these unprincipled newspapers, strict measures are indeed necessary."
Liao Zihui sighed and said, "You’re still too impetuous. How about this: pack your things and take a trip with me to Greenwater City. I have some work there that requires your assistance."
Cheng Mingke paused momentarily and said, "For me to leave Black Stone Slope at this juncture, isn’t it rather inappropriate?"
"Mingke, someone else has already been assigned to take over your duties here in Black Stone City."
Cheng Mingke shook his head and said, "Chief Envoy, I don’t understand. What exactly was derelict about my work?"
Liao Zihui smiled and said, "This decision is also for your safety. Your resume states you are a Second Layer Dark Energy User, but to my knowledge, you’ve only just reached the First Layer, correct?"
Cheng Mingke’s expression remained unchanged. Among the Border Defense Envoys, overstating one’s cultivation level was not uncommon. He neither admitted nor denied it, simply saying calmly, "I believe a person’s combat strength and their capabilities are not necessarily linked. I feel..."
"You feel?" Liao Zihui’s smile vanished, his tone no longer as mild.
Cheng Mingke realized.
Liao Zihui asked, "Do you know just how formidable Puluo State is?"
Cheng Mingke deliberated for a moment, then revised his wording, "I believe their so-called formidability is merely superficial. In essence..."
"Enough!" Liao Zihui cut Cheng Mingke off. "It’s irrelevant whether you know how formidable they are. What’s crucial is that they themselves must not find out. If you continue your reckless meddling, they soon will."
PS: Liao Zihui had appeared previously in the battle between Lu Chunying and Lu Maoxian, where he had put an end to the vicious fight.