Plop! Plop!

The big fish flopped back and forth, as if trying to swallow the fish hook.

Seeing this, Brother Wan hastily stepped forward to retrieve the hook.

The fish was too large, and with Wan Hai’s age, it was impossible not only to retrieve the hook but even to hold down the big fish.

Rip—

The middle-aged man suddenly gave a powerful yank, as if exerting a force of a thousand pounds, instantly wrenching the fish hook out with brute strength.

Along with the fish hook, foul-smelling liquid and shattered flesh flew out.

The big fish floundered a few times, then remained motionless.

Wan Hai too remained motionless, splattered in the face with liquid and bits of flesh.

"Why struggle in vain."

The middle-aged man said calmly, casting the fish hook, now adorned with the flesh of the big fish, back into the lake.

It seemed he was speaking about the fish, yet it also felt like he was implying something else.

"By the way, what were you asking for just now?"

The lake returned to its tranquility, the stench lingering in Wan Hai’s heart.

"I only ask that Lord An make the decision for me."

Wan Hai knelt and spoke, a sense of desolation in his tone.

"I am willing to transport the mineral salt for you, my lord."

It seemed he was not intimidated by the middle-aged man’s recent display of power.

"Oh?" A glimmer of light flashed in the middle-aged man’s eyes: "You know what you’re saying, don’t you?"

"I know."

"I seek no reward, only a single favor from you, my lord."

"Speak."

"I hope my lord can bring charges against the new Imperial Scribe, Chu Ming."

"Chu Ming..." The middle-aged man paused, pondering aloud: "What crime did he commit?"

"Treason, this person colluded with the Blood Evil Sect!"

"Treason? Haha..." The middle-aged man laughed heartily: "Wan Hai, I think it’s your Wan Family that holds a grudge against the Imperial Scribe Chu, isn’t it?"

Wan Hai remained silent.

The middle-aged man set down the fishing rod, stood up, and walked over to Wan Hai: "Since you agreed to transport the mineral salt for me, I will grant your request."

"But I must tell you, even I cannot touch Chu Ming for the time being."

"My lord, you are the Standard Fourth-Grade Governor’s Office, overseeing the entire Xirong County, even the County Magistrate is under your supervision, how could you..." Wan Hai seemed anxious.

Click—

Just as Wan Hai finished speaking, the middle-aged man stomped the fish, already gutted by the hook, with a cold voice: "Wan Hai, you’re getting old, and your mind is growing cloudy."

"Why do you think the Imperial Examination Hall sent you a message?"

"I know, the Imperial Examination Hall wants to distance itself from me, even sacrificing my Wan Family..."

"Then why do you think the Imperial Examination Hall would do this?"

"Isn’t it because that Chu Ming and the County Magistrate..."

"Hmph, the Imperial Examination Hall is under my supervision, why should it fear the County Magistrate?" The middle-aged man seemed somewhat annoyed.

"My lord..." Wan Hai’s heart jumped.

The middle-aged man’s cold eyes fell: "Your Wan Family obediently transports the mineral salt for me, when the time comes, I will naturally help you."

The middle-aged man’s name was An Yingheng, Standard Fourth-Grade Governor’s Office of Xirong County, supervising the entire Xirong County, including both the Commandery Mansion and the Imperial Examination Hall.

"My lord..." Wan Hai reconsidered, finally responding respectfully: "Thank you, my lord."

"Arrange the transportation of mineral salt as soon as possible."

"Yes." Wan Hai cupped his fists and prepared to leave.

"Take the fish with you."

"...Yes."

Wan Hai picked up the mutilated fish corpse from the ground, respectfully withdrew.

An Yingheng watched Wan Hai’s hunched figure, a ferocity appearing at the corner of his lips.

Amidst the ferocity, there seemed to be a hint of hidden Blood Evil Qi.

"A mere merchant dares to bargain with me."

"Hmph, when the mineral salt is delivered..."

An Yingheng was simply using Wan Hai. Once he was of no use, the Wan Family’s end would come.

As for bringing charges against Chu Ming, in An Yingheng’s view, it was as absurd as a joke.

Indeed, he wasn’t afraid of the County Magistrate Xiao He, but he wouldn’t offend Xiao He just for the Wan Family.

"..."

...

Wan Hai left the An Mansion, boarded a carriage, and drove down the bustling avenue, heading straight north.

In the north of Xirong County, there were many gang organizations, escort agencies, Martial Arts Halls, and so on, basically places where martial artists gathered.

The carriage stopped before a leading escort agency in Xirong County, the Wind Traveling Escort Agency.

Wan Hai got off the carriage, familiarly entered the escort agency, and came to a courtyard.

Someone in the escort agency immediately informed others.

Before long, two people, somewhat similar in appearance, came out to greet him.

"Brother Wan, why are you here personally? What goods are you escorting this time?"

The speaker was Chen Shuo, the Chief Escort Master of the Wind Traveling Escort Agency, and the person beside him was the Escort Master Chen Xuan, who had asked the Wan Family for benefits a few days ago.

"A shipment of salt." Wan Hai said blandly.

"That’s easy... What?!" Chief Escort Master Chen Shuo’s face changed suddenly, the word ’easy’ stuck in his throat, his eyes widened, looking at Wan Hai with surprise and doubt, "Salt?"

"Yes." Wan Hai remained bland: "Just salt."

"Brother Wan, let’s just pretend we didn’t see each other today."

Chen Shuo’s expression instantly turned extremely serious, seemingly unwilling to accept this escort task from Wan Hai.

Salt is controlled by the government.

Selling and transporting private salt is a capital offense, a crime punishable by execution and confiscation!

Though the Wind Traveling Escort Agency consisted of martial artists, they weren’t brainless, reckless fools!

Wan Hai seemed not to notice, his eyes calmly watching Chen Shuo and Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan was a Strong Bone Realm middle-stage martial artist, while Chen Shuo had even begun Refining the Internal Organs. Yet the gaze of this ordinary old man, Wan Hai, evoked a chilling coldness in them. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Brother Wan... Transporting private salt is a capital offense..."

Chen Shuo looked around, confirmed no one was around in the courtyard, then dared to lower his voice and said.

This kind of capital offense, let alone doing it, even mentioning it was forbidden.

Wan Hai remained unmoved, seemingly not regarding the smuggling of private salt as a concern.

"Chief Escort Master Chen, do you think my Wan Family has the capability to obtain private salt?"

"What do you mean?" Chen Shuo frowned deeply.

"For transporting private salt, my Wan Family is entrusted by someone."

"Who?"

"Governor’s Office of Xirong County, Lord An."

"What?!" Chen Shuo and Chen Xuan were shocked and angry: "Brother Wan, you...!"

Wan Hai’s gaze remained eerily calm.

Upon hearing this, whether Chen Shuo and Chen Xuan wanted to transport or not, they had to, for they had heard things they shouldn’t have.

Wan Hai of course knew that smuggling mineral salt was a capital offense.

He knew too that if anything happened, that Governor’s Office would undoubtedly drag Wan Family out as scapegoats.

Wan Hai was not truly muddle-headed; he deliberately revealed this to bind the Wind Traveling Escort Agency to his side.

Otherwise, it would be difficult for the Wan Family alone to smuggle mineral salt.

Also, he needed to leave a backdoor for himself and the Wan Family.

"Wan Hai, I think you hold a grudge just because I asked your Wan Family for silver taels before!"

Chen Xuan angrily surged, as if to strike Wan Hai.

Wan Hai’s actions were akin to bringing disaster to the Wind Traveling Escort Agency unless they accepted the task.

"Stop!" Chen Shuo scolded, stopping Chen Xuan, his face troubled: "Brother Wan, this escort, my Wind Traveling Escort Agency will take."

"Big brother! Smuggling private salt is a capital offense!" Chen Xuan became anxious immediately.

"I know!" Chen Shuo’s voice was icy cold.

The issue was no longer whether the Wind Traveling Escort Agency would accept the task, nor was it time to kill this old fellow Wan Hai. Now was the time to survive.

Since Wan Hai appeared here, that Governor’s Office must already be aware.

They knew about the Governor’s Office smuggling private salt, yet if they didn’t participate, the outcome was clear—death.

The Governor’s Office would certainly silence them, agreeing with Wan Hai was the only chance for survival.

As for reporting the matter to the Commandery Mansion, Chen Shuo didn’t even consider it, knowing he wouldn’t live to step onto the Commandery Mansion’s street.

"Brother Wan, the only salt mine in Xirong County is at Jingyan County..."

"..."

...