A large group of black-clad n surrounded the courtyard.
They blocked all the exits and entrances.
Dozens of pairs of eyes, hundreds of pupils focused on him, causing Zhang Rongfang’s skin to break out in goosebumps.
Most of these gazes were filled with malice.
"Officials, if you can’t give a convincing reason today..."
The old man slowly raised his hand.
"Then, we will escort you to our own court of the Ten Industries Heaven!"
Zhang Rongfang’s face was as calm as water.
Previously, he didn’t understand why the Prison Chief regretted Lin Qixiao’s dismissal.
Now he personally experienced that in such a situation, it was Lin Qixiao’s kind of tyrannical ruthlessness that could suppress everyone.
At this mont, he could feel the rest of the team mbers behind him staring at him as well, each tightly gripping their sword handles, with their possessions mostly placed on the ground.
If he handled this poorly, a bloody lee would occur on the spot. How many could return, that was uncertain.
Zhang Rongfang took a deep breath, not thinking about how many they were or how many masters there might be.
"Sir, may I ask your na?"
"I am Basari, what do you have to say?" The old man’s face was full of wrinkles, like an ancient tree.
"I want to say that today, we ca here to eliminate an evil group engaged in the trafficking of good families!"
Zhang Rongfang raised a small booklet.
"Everyone can see that it records all the evidence of human trafficking by the owner here!"
"So what!?" Basari shouted forcefully, "He is our brother, sister! Even if there is judgnt, it shouldn’t be at your hands!"
He heavily tapped the ground with his cane, making a muffled sound.
The people surrounding him, likewise, remained indifferent. The malicious intent in their eyes grew thicker.
Pop.
Suddenly the booklet in Zhang Rongfang’s hand fell to the ground.
He raised his hands.
"Alright, this matter is our fault. You can state your demands, and as long as they’re reasonable, I’ll try to agree.
Even if I’m not qualified, I’ll report back to seek a superior’s response."
Basari’s expression remained unchanged; he turned his head, gesturing to two strong n beside him.
"Seize his sword."
The two strong n silently bowed and then walked toward Zhang Rongfang with large strides.
As they walked, they slowly drew out their waist knives.
Zhang Rongfang raised his hands, revealing the official sword at his waist.
"May I ask... are you twins?"
He looked at their remarkably similar faces and asked.
"No..." one of them slightly opened his mouth.
Clang!!
In an instant, there was a light sound, and a figure flashed between the two.
A flash of a knife light, blood sprayed.
Zhang Rongfang suddenly passed between them, holding his knife against the neck of the black-clad old man.
The sharp blade slowly cut into the old man’s throat, pressing out a trace of blood.
He turned his head, watching the two slowly holding their throats and falling to the ground.
"No, that’s really a pity."
Thud.
The two bodies, blood spraying from their necks, knelt to the ground.
Everyone around was stunned by this sudden change.
In just a mont, even surrounded by so many people, Zhang Rongfang dared to kill!
Old Basari’s lips trembled, his hands gripping the cane shaking more.
He was unafraid of the blood trace on his neck, staring fiercely at Zhang Rongfang, as if his eyeballs were about to pop out.
"Release the elder!!"
"Kill him! Cut off his limbs!!"
"Pierce him! Hang him to dry!!"
"Release Lord Basari!!"
The angry roar of the crowd rolled in waves from inside and outside the courtyard.
At this mont, Zhang Rongfang and his party realized, the black-clad n, there were even more outside!
The ninth team mbers, each turned pale and dared not move.
So even started to shake in their grip of the sword.
When Lin Qixiao led them before, they never encountered such a scene. Others simply didn’t dare to oppose Lin Qixiao.
But now....
"Brave!" Basari spoke forcefully. The voice sounded as if it was crushed.
"Let the blade fall!" He raised his hand, reaching for the blade. "Cut my head off!!"
"Just like those you killed just now!"
The withered hand slowly reached for the back of the blade.
"Co on!!!" Basari suddenly shouted.
Poof!!
The blade pressed hard, cutting open the neck blood vessels. Bright blood beads flowed down the blade sideways.
"Stop!!"
"Release the Grand Elder!!"
The crowds gasped in shock.
It wasn’t just the black-clad n, even the ninth team was startled.
Zhang Rongfang smiled.
"Now."
"Get out of my way!!"
He roared furiously.
The shout paused all the voices.
The black-clad n stared at Basari’s bleeding neck.
After a mont of silence, the crowd split apart, forming a path.
"Let’s go." Zhang Rongfang’s face returned to a smile. "Thanks to Elder Basari for personally sending us off."
Basari stared at him intently, not uttering a word.
He had already foreseen the outco. Even if he was unafraid of death, the other tribe mbers would never watch him bleed to death passively.
Zhang Rongfang ignored him, leading the group of Squad Nine slowly through the crowd.
Not until they completely left the town did he casually release Basari, departing from the place.
*
*
*
"Well done!"
Inside the Penal Departnt, Squadron Chief Zhang Xiangyang looked at Zhang Rongfang with appreciation.
He also didn’t think much of the previous Squad Nine Captain, Lin Qixiao, but it was beyond his control.
Finally, they had replaced him with soone normal.
Having passed the age of forty, Zhang Xiangyang now focused his priorities on his family aside from his usual duties at the Penal Departnt headquarters.
Particularly after the birth of his grandson last year, he cared even less about his work position.
He had seen plenty of the dirty dealings in the bureaucracy over the years.
Now, seeing Zhang Rongfang rise to the occasion without resorting to unsavory ans, he felt a bit of comfort.
"Back in the day, I was just like you... my passion hadn’t cooled..."
Zhang Xiangyang sighed, picking up an appointnt letter from the desk in front of him.
"This is your appointnt letter. From today on, you are the official captain of Squad Nine. The jurisdictional rights of Squad Nine are all detailed on this. The uniform remains the sa, but you need to add a hat insignia. Rember to replace it."
The appointnt letter had been pre-arranged by the Inspector General.
As long as Zhang Ying didn’t perform too poorly during this special mission, stabilization was assured.
Moreover, in such situations, even if conflicts arose, there were so from the Black Ten Sect who would secretly assist them in disengaging.
Of course, if so major accident did arise, it would be his fate.
In a place like the Penal Departnt, once you’re in, it’s only a matter of ti before you risk your life.
This mission was rely a test for Zhang Ying.
"Thank you for your guidance, Sir." Zhang Rongfang stepped forward calmly, accepting the appointnt letter with both hands.
He glanced down at it; it clearly stated that as captain of Squad Nine, he not only had absolute authority over his subordinates but could also mobilize below thirty clerical officials at any ti.
Additionally, in terms of benefits, his salary increased to fifty taels a month. It’s considered a very high salary.
And he enjoys over half of various tax exemption policies.
It was this last tax exemption policy that was critical.
Zhang Rongfang understood clearly in his heart.
One could say that it was only now that he could truly enjoy the benefits of the tax exemption policies.
Before this, he was just a clerk, and while there were tax exemption items, they were minimal and mostly only applicable to himself.
But now, under the position of captain, this system could benefit his imdiate family.
Because this is considered to be truly an official position.
This is the foundation of a family’s beginning!
"Do well." Squadron Chief Zhang Xiangyang patted Zhang Rongfang’s shoulder heavily.
"Thank you, Sir!" Zhang Rongfang nodded solemnly.
At this mont, he wasn’t thinking of himself, but of the treatnt of the Barbarians.
Within the Barbarians, it’s extrely rare to obtain an official position.
Because the Great Spirit has a regulation that all official positions are not permitted to be held by Barbarians.
Even if exceptions exist in certain places, allowing Barbarians to hold official positions, they are extrely rare cases.
Those people are typically exceptional talents who have perford outstanding feats.
"By the way, Sir, I have a question to ask." Zhang Rongfang suddenly thought of sothing.
"Feel free to ask." Zhang Xiangyang smiled.
"It’s about the martial arts ranking. When I was at the Daoist Palace, as long as I was ranked, wasn’t it said that you could enjoy the tax exemption policy? What’s the difference between the Daoism tax exemption and the official tax exemption?" Zhang Rongfang asked puzzled.
"The Daoism tax exemption doesn’t extend to family mbers. Unless your kin are also in the Dao." Zhang Xiangyang explained simply. "Whereas being an official, you can extend the benefits to your imdiate family."
Zhang Rongfang imdiately understood. No wonder many high-levels in the Daoist Palace would send their children to hold official positions.
Holding the appointnt letter, he returned to the Squad Nine small building thoughtfully.
As soon as he entered, a cheer erupted inside.
The majority of Squad Nine mbers were on the first floor.
Seeing him arrive, they all quickly approached, with Liu Han taking the lead to hand over an envelope with both hands.
"Congratulations on your official promotion, Captain Zhang!"
Zhang Rongfang swept his gaze over everyone, seeing their faces donned with either stiff or sincere smiles.
He had a sense of what was happening in his mind.
No matter what, he had led them to significant benefits this ti, also breaking through obstacles first.
Now having been promoted, they were worried about future repercussions and had united to offer him an apology gift in advance.
He paused, squinted his eyes, and stared at each team mber.
Ti passed slowly.
With his silence.
The initially cheerful atmosphere gradually turned heavy.
The envelope in Liu Han’s hands also began to feel increasingly weighty.
Suddenly, a burst of hearty laughter sounded.
Zhang Rongfang laughed, taking the envelope and weighing it in his hands.
"Quite honest. Let bygones be bygones and let’s take care of each other from now on!"
Everyone’s hearts instantly relaxed.
"Captain Zhang is indeed generous!"
"The mont Captain Zhang rushed forward yesterday, I was stunned! Hahaha!"
All the team mbers started offering effusive praise.
Zhang Rongfang accepted them all with a smile. But in the end, what everyone truly felt inside, that was unknown.
Among this group, even Chen Hansheng, Liu Han, and Gelu Xilai might not truly accept him.
After pacifying the team mbers, Zhang Rongfang returned to his own room.
The room hadn’t changed; he had to wait for Lin Qixiao to move out his personal belongings before he could move into the captain’s quarters.
However, the difference between the vice-captain and the captain’s quarters wasn’t large. The area was the sa, only differing in decor.
Zhang Rongfang didn’t care much about such details and was too lazy to move.
He stood in the center of the room, closed his eyes.
The attribute panel slowly erged.
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