After the family split up, I achieved martial arts sainthood.

In order to realize his dream of getting rich quick, Gu Xin showed no mercy.

They followed the same method and broke into all the gambling dens of the Green Forest Gang, looting them one by one throughout the city.

This time, it wasn't him deliberately causing trouble; it was the Qinglin Gang that started the trouble.

Cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents.

The Qinglin Gang prevented him from becoming rich overnight, and this enmity runs deep.

As dusk approached, Gu Xin emerged from the last gambling den of the Qinglin Gang, his face still ashen and extremely unpleasant.

He went through all sorts of trouble to rob all the gambling dens of the Qinglin Gang, but he only managed to exchange them for a little over four hundred taels of silver.

After deducting his initial investment of one hundred taels, he only received back a little over three hundred taels of his bet.

Compared to the enormous sum of five thousand taels, it was utterly insignificant.

Such a stark contrast nearly made Gu Xin furious.

After taking out the warrant and glancing at it, Gu Xin put it back into his pocket with a sullen face.

This score isn't settled!

Gu Xinyun used his luck to suppress the regret in his heart.

He turned and walked out of the alley, preparing to return to the martial arts school.

But just as he was about to step out of the alley, a figure blocked his way.

The figure was tall and sturdy, and appeared to be about thirty years old.

He has a dignified appearance and strong features.

Gu Xin instinctively tried to dodge, but found that the other person also dodged and blocked his way again.

"Gu Xin!"

Before Gu Xin could react, the person opposite him called out his name.

Ok?

Do you recognize me?

Gu Xin stopped, looked up warily at the other person.

Hmm, this looks familiar.

Gu Xin also felt that it looked familiar, but couldn't remember it for a moment.

I think I've seen it before, but it's not common.

"Who are you?"

Gu Xin frowned and asked suspiciously.

"Chen Tong!"

The person opposite me stood with their hands behind their back, a slight smile on their face, and introduced themselves.

Chen Tong...

Gu Xin thought carefully about the people he knew, but it seemed that there was no one with that name.

and many more!

Chen Tong?

The county magistrate of Qingyuan County seems to be named Chen Tong as well?

Suddenly realizing this, Gu Xin subconsciously scrutinized the person opposite him, only to find that he was unable to discern any information about them.

He had only encountered this situation with two other people.

One was Master Yang Wei, and the other was that effeminate woman from out of town.

This means that the person in front of him is either an ordinary person with no special skills, or a martial arts master whose strength far surpasses his.

However, the possibility of the former is almost zero.

Even the most ordinary person has some skill or expertise, which is almost always noticeable.

Moreover, the person opposite him was clearly no ordinary person just by his demeanor.

"County Commandant?"

After a moment's hesitation, Gu Xin tentatively asked.

This is one of the top Qi-Creating Realm experts in Qingyuan County.

He was also a martial arts scholar.

Its value surpasses that of Zhou Feng by several levels.

"Would you mind chatting for a bit?"

Chen Tong didn't answer, but instead asked with a smile.

This attitude clearly acknowledges her identity without a doubt.

The county constable of Qingyuan County actually wanted to chat with me?

Gu Xin couldn't help but feel a little dazed, as if he were in another world.

The county constable was in charge of all matters related to public security and arrests, and was responsible for maintaining public order and military defense in the county area.

His duties and powers were roughly similar to those of a county public security bureau chief in his previous life.

In the county town, he was a powerful figure second only to the county magistrate.

Before, Gu Xin could only look up to such a person.

touch?

Those are completely unrelated.

These days, such people are actively seeking me out, wanting to chat with me.

Gu Xin had never encountered such treatment in either of his two lives.

"Please, sir!"

After a moment of silence, Gu Xin raised his hand, turned around, and gestured towards the alleyway.

Chen Tong walked in calmly, his hands behind his back.

"What advice does Your Excellency have for me?"

The alley was quiet and deserted, so Gu Xin didn't mince words and went straight to the point, asking about the other person's purpose.

He believed he had no connection with Chen Tong.

There's no point in exchanging pleasantries and reminiscing.

"You have a very straightforward personality."

Chen Tong turned around to look at Gu Xin and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Being roundabout with adults is pointless and only makes you a laughingstock."

Gu Xin smiled calmly, subtly flattering him.

Flattery will get you everywhere.

Gu Xin naturally understood this principle.

Even if it's an enemy, if you flatter them enough, they'll kill you more easily and you'll suffer less pain.

"Ha! I just praised you for being honest, and you've already started lying."

Hearing Gu Xin's flattery, Chen Tong couldn't help but smile even more broadly.

Gu Xin shrugged and then smiled, "Sir, this isn't the place for a long chat. Let's get straight to the point and cut to the chase!"

"good!"

Chen Tong readily agreed, and then, without further ado, looked at Gu Xin and said solemnly, "Gu Xin, I would like to invite you to work for me."

what?

Is this an attempt to win me over?

Gu Xin was surprised, not expecting Chen Tong's purpose for coming to be like this.

Why?

Gu Xin frowned and pondered for a moment, then guessed the reason.

Although Chen Tong was the county lieutenant of Qingyuan County, his status was second only to the county magistrate.

However, most of the people, whether they were from the three shifts of the yamen or the city guards, had close relationships with the four major clans in the inner city.

It was even controlled by the collateral branches and sub-branches of the four major clans.

Chen Tonggui was a county magistrate, but he was a complete outsider.

He wanted to seize complete power and mobilize these figures, but without the approval of the four major clans, it was virtually impossible.

Not to mention Chen Tong, even the county magistrate, who is the most powerful person in the county, is the same.

Therefore, if Chen Tong wanted to do business in Qingyuan County, he had to cultivate his own team.

And I am the one he chose.

Gu Xin was very certain of this guess.

But fearing he might be presumptuous, or that Chen Tong might be saying one thing and meaning another, Gu Xin didn't bring it up himself. Instead, he feigned ignorance and surprise: "Sir, what do you mean by that?"

"It means exactly what it says: I want to ask you to do something for me."

Chen Tong gave Gu Xin a meaningful look, then smiled frankly and said, "Gu Xin, as you said, we're straightforward and don't mince words, so I won't hide anything from you."

"Although I hold the high position of County Commandant of Qingyuan County, I have no real power in the county. Or to be more precise, I have no one I can rely on."

"The three shifts in the yamen and the city guard are almost all filled with people from the four major clans. They are either blood relatives or subordinates. I want to be transferred, but only if I coexist with the four major clans."

"But I didn't want to do that, so for the past few years since I took office, I have been unable to move an inch in Qingyuan County."

really!

Gu Xin was not surprised; instead, he subconsciously nodded in agreement.

Why should I nod?

Isn't that embarrassing?

Gu Xin quickly shook his head, then pretended to be stupid and said, "What's so difficult about that? Just dismiss them and hire new people."

"It's not that easy..."

Chen Tong couldn't help but smile wryly: "Although I have the power to dismiss, I still need to notify the county magistrate. But the county magistrate..."

Having said that, Chen Tong sighed and jumped over.

"Even if we can lay off staff and recruit new ones, how many people in Qingyuan County have the guts to go against the four major clans?"