Chapter Twenty-Three: Inspector Yuan

Laughter echoed as a middle-aged man in official garb, a blade strapped to his waist, stepped forward. Behind him marched two rows of thirty officers, each clad in government attire and bearing a sword at their side.

When Yang Ze saw clearly who had arrived, he understood why Yang Yuanzhen and the others’ faces had changed so suddenly. This newcomer was none other than Chief Constable Yuan, the renowned master at the peak of the Qi-Guiding realm from the government.

Though in recent times the families and martial factions of Yuyang City had grown brazen, showing little regard for the authorities, anyone with discernment knew the true might of the government. No one would foolishly provoke them without reason. Just as Yang Yuanzhen had brought the elders of the Yang family to the Lord’s Mansion before, it was always necessary to maintain good relations with the officials.

The reason was simple: the government’s power surpassed that of any family. The Yangs and a few others could only reside in the inner city because each possessed a master at the Qi-Guiding peak, allowing them to exert local dominance. But the government was different. They had several experts at the Yin-Qi peak; no single family could match them unless they joined forces.

Chief Constable Yuan was one of the government’s top experts. His arrival with this retinue signified official intervention.

Yang Yuanzhen glanced at Yang Ze with some displeasure, but recalling what Yang Ze had told him, he restrained himself.

“What’s this? Don’t go quiet just because I’ve arrived.” Chief Constable Yuan advanced with his men, and the crowd parted to let them through.

The true depth of the government’s strength was now apparent. The thirty constables behind Yuan each radiated the aura of Qi-Guiding practitioners, ten of them even at the mid-tier. The numbers seemed fewer than the two families of the North City, but one must not forget: the North City families had mobilized most of their forces, while the authorities had only brought these thirty.

“How could we not welcome you, Chief Yuan? What brings you here today?” Feng Lixuan asked with a hearty laugh.

“Master Feng, what are you implying? I heard there’s been a major murder here. Are you suggesting the government has no right to investigate such cases in Yuyang City?” As Yuan spoke, his tone shifted, and everyone could sense the underlying menace.

Feng Lixuan straightened, replying loudly, “Of course you can. Your arrival is timely. The culprit in this murder is Yang Ze, second son of the Yangs. We were about to detain him, but the Yang patriarch intervened.”

With a deft turn, Feng Lixuan successfully shifted the focus onto Yang Ze.

Yang Yuanzhen frowned slightly. “Chief Yuan, my son can explain the matter to you. Perhaps you should hear him out.”

Yuan did not act, instead giving Yang Ze the chance to speak. Yang Ze repeated what he had said earlier, and Yuan nodded occasionally as he listened.

After Yang Ze finished, Yuan’s gaze changed. He had indeed come to investigate—after so many deaths, the government would lose face if they did nothing. Yet, learning Yang Ze was the one responsible complicated matters. The Yangs were not a family that could be easily destroyed, and with the North City families meddling, it was clear this dispute could not be resolved solely according to his own wishes.

“So, according to your account, you acted in self-defense, making you innocent?” Yuan pressed.

“Indeed. Had I waited passively, it would be my brothers and me lying dead now. I would not be standing here speaking with you, sir,” Yang Ze replied firmly.

“Yet the bloodshed you’ve caused is considerable. If I were to accept your explanation as is, it wouldn’t suffice,” Yuan said again.

“That’s easy to resolve. The industries of these two factions will now merge with the Yangs. I can promise you, Chief Yuan, that from now on, three-tenths of our income from Xiangyun Street will be handed over to the government for the benefit of Yuyang City!”

At Yang Ze’s words, silence fell. Feng Lixuan and Fan Yongnian’s faces grew even darker. Even Yang Yuanzhen, who had known of this, was shaken.

The reason for this was that, historically, every family and group seized the full profits of their territory, never giving the government a share—if they did, it was only a token amount, secretly.

Yang Ze’s offer amounted to openly taxing the Yangs’ North City enterprises and handing three-tenths to the government—an unprecedented act.

Feng Lixuan and Fan Yongnian cursed Yang Ze inwardly for his cunning. He was attempting to draw the authorities to his side. Faced with such profits, the government would almost certainly agree, leaving the two families with no way to seize control of Xiangyun Street.

Seeing his words had taken effect, and Yuan now hesitated, Yang Ze pressed on.

“Chief Yuan, there’s another point. I have already forged alliances with more than half the businesses on Xiangyun Street. In the future, our profits will only increase!”

This second revelation unsettled Yuan completely. The tax revenue would be substantial, enough to earn him great merit with the city lord.

Meanwhile, Feng Lixuan and Fan Yongnian were furious—if only they could silence Yang Ze forever.

Yang Ze was delighted by their reactions. On the surface, he seemed to be making concessions to the government, but in reality, things were very different. Previously, their reach was limited; now, by absorbing the Furious Stone Gang and the Broken Mountain Gang and allying with other merchants, their profits would swell enormously. Even after handing over three-tenths, what remained far exceeded what they had before, and even after sharing some with Yang Yuanzhen, what Yang Ze kept for himself would be considerable.

He was increasingly pleased with his own strategy: after destroying the two gangs, he negotiated with former partners, sealing new deals, which now gave him leverage with Chief Yuan. Otherwise, even with Yang Yuanzhen’s support, it would have been hard to protect him amid such turmoil.

Seeing Yuan’s interest, Feng Lixuan and Fan Yongnian grew anxious. Fan Yongnian shouted, “You wretch! How dare you spout nonsense here? Watch me kill you with a single blow!”

Feng Lixuan echoed, “You disrupt the martial world of Yuyang. Yang Ze, you deserve death!”

Both struck at Yang Ze together, but Yang Yuanzhen stepped forward, blocking their attack. He could not let harm come to Yang Ze, or all their efforts would be wasted.

But before he could act, Yuan moved first.

Yuan’s sheathed blade struck out, colliding with the two men. A surge of force burst forth, sending all three reeling back.

“Are the Feng and Fan families rebelling? Can’t you see I am conducting an investigation?” Yuan’s face darkened, their actions showing utter disregard for him.

Feng Lixuan and Fan Yongnian looked grim. They had hoped to kill Yang Ze suddenly, thinking Yuan would not oppose them for a corpse. They had not expected Yuan to intervene so decisively.

Normally, their combined power could pressure the authorities for concessions, but with Yang Ze offering such immense profits, Yuan would not yield.

Feng Lixuan’s heart sank. He was not usually so rash, but his family was already showing signs of decline. The next generation had no one fit to lead. Without him, the Fengs would lose their current status. He had hoped to seize Xiangyun Street to strengthen his clan, but now the opportunity had fallen into Yang Ze’s hands.

The Fan family was even worse off. Not only had they failed at every turn, they had now antagonized Yuan.

Both men were furious, muttered a few conciliatory words, and withdrew with their clans.

Watching them depart, a cold gleam flashed in Yuan’s eyes. Had the two families not yet fallen, he might have moved against them.

“Chief Yuan, so you accept my proposal?” Yang Ze asked from the side.

“I must admit you are a talent, but I haven’t agreed yet. If you want me to accept, you must meet two conditions.

First, I want four-tenths, not three. Second, you must survive a single blow from me. Are you capable?”

Yuan suddenly laid out his terms. Yang Ze was taken aback, but quickly composed himself, smiling. “Why not? I accept.”

“Good. Then take my blow!” As soon as the words left his mouth, Yuan thrust out his right palm, and a fierce gust erupted.

Yang Ze’s eyes flashed. His legs rooted like ancient pines, he met Yuan’s palm with his own.

The two palms collided; force clashed.

Yuan remained calm and unmoved.

Yang Ze, however, felt a powerful force surge through him, penetrating his flesh, rushing into his meridians, wreaking havoc. His body was forced backward, blood spraying from his mouth with each step. After seven or eight steps, he finally summoned enough inner pressure to suppress the force and halted.