The next morning.

Overnight.

At the County Magistrate’s Office in Jade Peak County Town, every trace of the Da Liang Government Office had been completely wiped away.

The original plaque of the County Magistrate’s Office had been replaced by a new one: Li Courtyard!

"Sir, we’ve arrived. Are you going in alone?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Ma Yue asked in a low voice, pulling the carriage’s reins as he addressed Cheng Zongyang inside.

Ma Yue had now successfully reached Entry Grade and become his subordinate. Cheng Zongyang had summoned him the previous night; he needed at least one person by his side to run errands.

Cheng Zongyang lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage. He looked at the new plaque and nodded slightly. "Wait here for me."

’Li Courtyard,’ Cheng Zongyang mused. ’It must mean something like the Li Family’s main compound.’

But that wasn’t important. His gaze swept over the surroundings. On the streets, he saw several Outsiders dressed in the liveries of various families. They were stopping intermittently in front of shops and houses, presumably to get the lay of the land in the County Town.

’They’re new here. To take control of the County Town’s territory quickly, they naturally need to understand the details of every household and take stock of the situation.’

’They’re checking which properties are owned and which are not. Regardless of who the previous owner was, everything will now be re-registered. Unclaimed properties will be confiscated, which will make things clearer.’

’They’ll also deal with any mismatches between properties and their occupants. For instance, a few vagrants can’t possibly be living in a mansion, can they?’

’At the same time, they’ll be investigating the records left behind by the Household Department.’

Cheng Zongyang had already erased his own registration with the Household Department for the house he’d bought, but he hadn’t touched anything else. This would be a great help to the families now taking over the County Town.

’At the very least, it’ll reduce unnecessary disputes and trouble, and it will also protect some of the original residents’ rights.’

’Of course, the main goal is to stabilize the County Town quickly. That benefits me, too.’

Without another thought, he walked inside alone.

At the entrance, he was stopped by two guards in dark gray martial uniforms, each with the word "Li" embroidered in gold on his chest.

Sabers hung at their waists as their eyes swept over Cheng Zongyang. Seeing that he wore no family livery yet radiated the potent vitality of a Martial Artist, they concluded he was not from one of the six families.

The young guard on the right spoke up immediately. "This is the Li Courtyard, a restricted area. State your business or you may not enter."

Cheng Zongyang clasped his fist in a salute. "I am Cheng Zongyang of the Cheng Family, from right here in Jade Peak County. I am aware of the Royal Family’s regulations and have come to call on the Li Family Steward."

The two guards understood at once.

This was a local power coming to state their position. The guard on the left said, "Wait here."

With that, he turned and went through the main gate.

Cheng Zongyang was not in a hurry and waited off to the side.

It wasn’t strictly necessary for his family to submit to the Li Family’s authority, but there were definite advantages to joining.

For instance, factions under Li Family jurisdiction would receive preferential treatment in matters of inter-family trade, passage through checkpoints for their merchants, and the setting of commercial regulations.

Furthermore, if his family grew stronger and came into conflict with another, not being under Li Family rule meant that any other family—even one of the Lower Three Grade Families—could ask the Li Family to intervene. At that point, it would no longer be considered a mere dispute between subordinate factions.

Therefore, to avoid unnecessary trouble, submitting was a small price to pay.

A short while later, the guard returned and said to Cheng Zongyang,

"The Steward is in the rear courtyard. Someone will guide you once you’re inside."

"Thank you," Cheng Zongyang said with a slight smile.

He entered the main hall of the former County Magistrate’s Office, the very place where the County Magistrate used to hold court. A number of people were busy cleaning up the debris from recent demolitions.

It was as if they were trying to erase all history of the government institution that had once stood here.

Led by a guard, he passed through the front hall and into the rear courtyard.

In the drawing room, a young man in his twenties was reading a book. When he saw someone at the door, he looked up.

His eyes immediately met Cheng Zongyang’s.

"Greetings, Lord Li."

Cheng Zongyang offered a salute, his bearing neither servile nor arrogant. At the same time, he quickly sized the other man up.

’Well, he has eyes, a nose, a mouth...’ The face was unremarkable. His features were regular, but by no means striking.

However, he was dressed in a cyan robe, with an exquisite Jade Belt cinched at his waist. The Emerald on the belt glowed with a soft luster. The man’s attire accentuated his refined bearing and temperament, giving him the air of a humble scholar-gentleman.

’So it’s true,’ Cheng Zongyang concluded. ’Not everyone from the Noble Families, Gate Valves, or the Royal Family is necessarily handsome.’

"You may call me Steward Li. For the next three years, Jade Peak County falls under my jurisdiction. I heard the guards report that you represent a local family power. What is your name?"

Li Mingxin set down the book in his hands, his eyes showing a hint of curiosity.

It wasn’t unusual for a faction under the Royal Family to encounter local powers when taking over conquered territory. But he had also heard about what happened last night.

A single person had suppressed the Lu Family and forced the Qiu Family to retreat. While the power of a Divine Weapon was a factor, he knew it was more about the other families’ wariness of this so-called Cheng Family. It also spoke volumes about the strength of the young man standing before him!

Otherwise, those families would never have ceded the entire West City district last night!

He was also well aware that as the Cheng Family’s secrets were unveiled, the moment they were deemed not to be a significant threat, the Lu Family and the others would launch their counterattack.

Cheng Zongyang clasped his fist. "I am Cheng Zongyang, eldest son of the Cheng Family. Our family has always kept a low profile, remaining in seclusion and never participating in any conflicts. Now that the situation in Xiangyang has changed, the Cheng Family understands the Royal Family’s regulations. That is why I have come today on behalf of both the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang to call on you, Steward Li. It’s just that last night, Li Lu, the Gang Leader of the Celestial Break Gang..."

Cheng Zongyang gave a brief account of what had happened to Li Lu.

Li Mingxin nodded slightly after listening, then got straight to the point, his expression turning serious.

"Since the Cheng Family and the Celestial Break Gang wish to come under the Li Family’s jurisdiction, you should be aware of the rules."

"I’m all ears," Cheng Zongyang replied.