Longevity Martial Arts: Obtain Golden Affixes at the Start

Although the main positions in Tianmu County were all held by Mo Wentian's subordinates, most of the secondary positions were occupied by Black Wind Sect disciples.

How to properly settle the disciples of the Black Wind Sect has become a major headache for every county.

Mo Qiushui continued, "Please be patient, everyone. The war has just ended, and the Blood Essence Pills haven't been distributed yet. Once next year's tax revenue is collected, we will definitely give you a satisfactory result..."

Han Chong waved his hand impatiently: "Magistrate Mo, you make it sound so easy. Next year? Who can say for sure what will happen next year? We Black Wind Sect are risking our lives; we can't possibly not even get a sip of soup, can we?"

Several people behind him echoed his sentiments:

"Exactly! We can't just abandon those who helped us after we've served our purpose!"

"Twelve Blood Essence Pills a year plus six hundred taels of silver? That's far too little!"

"Now that the war is over, shouldn't we at least give them some rewards?"

"We've been here for days, and we haven't seen a single Blood Essence Pill, not even a copper coin!"

Mo Qiushui was also somewhat helpless. The previous magistrate, Luo Heng, had taken away all the valuables, and now the yamen was just an empty shell. Not to mention Blood Essence Pills, there wasn't even a single tael of silver left.

She knew perfectly well that this group of people, relying on the Black Wind Sect's background, were trying to intimidate her, the newly appointed county magistrate.

If she backs down today, they'll dare to take advantage of her tomorrow and treat the county government like their own backyard.

But right now, we really can't touch them.

Mo Qiushui took a deep breath, about to speak again to comfort him, when she heard a steady and powerful voice behind her.

"Your actions of surrounding the county magistrate are, according to the laws of the Great Chu, treason!"

Hong Lang strode over, a corner of his wolfskin coat being lifted by the morning breeze.

Out of consideration for him, Mo Wentian had shown him kindness and support, and now that his daughter was being harassed, he should step in to help.

Logically, as the county magistrate of Hengjiang County, he should be in charge of this matter.

Han Chong glanced at Hong Lang, curled his lip, and sneered, "Who do we have here? It's that County Magistrate Hong who 'abandoned darkness for light'."

He emphasized the words "abandon darkness for light," his eyes filled with contempt. "What, you've changed your skin and now you really think you're someone important? What business is it of yours, a surrendered person, to interfere in the affairs between our Black Wind Sect and Prefect Mo?"

Hong Lang remained calm and composed, turning to Liu Zhong and saying indifferently, "Old Liu, immediately write a document and send it to the prefectural city as urgent. Say that the Black Wind Sect disciples have defied orders and besieged the government offices, thus rebelling. Request the prefect to dispatch troops to quell them immediately!"

Labeling is a very effective tactic in any era and in any place.

The courtyard fell silent immediately upon hearing this.

Han Chong's mocking smile froze, and the men behind him exchanged glances, their previous arrogance instantly diminishing.

They dared to cause trouble because they knew Mo Qiushui wouldn't dare to escalate the situation, and they wanted to gain some benefits from it.

Hong Lang's move put them in a very difficult position. Currently, Black Wind Sect and Mo Wentian still have a legitimate cooperative relationship. Mo Wentian needs the Black Wind Sect's military support, and Black Wind Sect needs Mo Wentian's official identity as a cover.

Both sides can fight each other however they want in private, but neither dares to break the unspoken rules in public.

Han Chong's face alternated between pale and flushed as he forced a cold smile and gritted his teeth, saying, "Hey Hong, stop trying to pin this on me! When did we rebel?"

"I'm just asking Magistrate Mo for an explanation. Does the Great Chu Law even care about people's right to speak? You're just a surrendered general, what right do you have to boss people around like this? Magistrate Mo hasn't even spoken, who do you think you are!"

As he spoke, he took a step forward, his finger almost pointing at Hong Lang's face.

Hong Lang's gaze remained fixed on that finger, unmoving.

Seeing that he didn't react, Han Chong thought he was scared and was about to speak again.

"Are you done talking?"

Hong Lang raised his head, his gaze so calm it didn't seem like he was looking at a living person.

Han Chong's heart skipped a beat. Before he could retreat, Hong Lang's right hand reached out and grabbed his finger.

click!

A crisp sound rang out.

Han Chong let out a pig-like scream as Hong Lang snapped his fingers, the white bone fragments piercing his flesh and protruding.

"You're asking for it!"

A fierce glint flashed in Han Chong's eyes, and he reached for his waist with his left hand, about to draw his sword.

Hong Lang was far faster than him.

The instant Han Chong's finger was broken, Hong Lang took a half step forward with his left foot, his body slightly slumped, and his right leg suddenly rose and slammed down.

A mighty stomp, a mountain-splitting strike!

After practicing for a period of time, his Thousand-Pound Step has reached a high level of mastery. Now, when he kicks, the force is more than a thousand pounds.

Bang!

With a muffled thud, Hong Lang's foot struck Han Chong squarely in the chest.

The sound was like a heavy hammer striking a drum.

Han Chong's clothes suddenly ripped open on the back, and his spine made a cracking sound.

His eyes bulged out suddenly, and before he could even utter a sound, he spat out a mouthful of blood mist, mixed with dark red fragments.

Its body flew backward for more than ten feet, crashed heavily against the base of the wall, and rolled twice before coming to a stop.

His limbs were still twitching slightly, but his chest had already collapsed into a noticeable dent, and blood was flowing from beneath him, slowly trickling down the cracks in the brickwork.

The courtyard was deathly silent.

The Black Wind Sect disciples were all dumbfounded, staring blankly at the still convulsing body on the ground, and for a moment no one dared to move.

Han Chong, whose cultivation was at the minor completion stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, had his sternum shattered by Hong Lang's stomp, and died on the spot without even struggling.

Actually, if he hadn't been so arrogant, and the two had actually fought each other, Hong Lang wouldn't have been able to take him down so easily.

Relying on the Black Wind Sect's backing, he acted recklessly, never expecting that Hong Lang would dare to make a direct move.

"Senior Brother Han!"

Lai Ting was the first to come to his senses and rushed over to check Han Chong's breathing.

There was no breath.

His voice trembled: "You...you dare kill someone from the Black Wind Sect?!"

Yan Yu, Yu Hao, and the others drew their waist knives.

Mo Qiushui was also stunned. What was wrong with this person? How could he kill a disciple of the Black Wind Sect in front of so many people?

How are we going to explain this to the Black Wind Sect? If it causes a conflict between the two sides and allows other prefects to take advantage of the situation, it will be too late!

"Brothers, he killed Senior Brother Han! Let's attack together and chop him up to avenge Senior Brother Han!"

Lai Ting drew his sword, but hesitated to be the first to charge forward.

Like Han Chong, he was at the minor completion stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and probably couldn't withstand a single kick.

The others looked at each other, unsure whether to move forward or backward.

[Defeat a martial artist at the Lesser Completion stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm and gain 60 Martial Arts Points]

Hong Lang slowly retracted his right foot, and his wolfskin coat gently fell down, covering the few bloodstains on his boots.

He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the faces of Lai Ting and the other six, his gaze so intense that they dared not meet his eyes.

Hong Lang smiled faintly, slightly opened his mouth, and spoke from the bottom of his heart:

"With Honglang here, who dares to step forward? Who... can step forward!"