Chapter 69

The next day.

Lin Xinshan, the chief of the Yingyang Guard, arrived early at the hundred-house office. He vaguely sensed that the newly appointed hundred-house was planning something big, which made him feel uneasy and anxious.

"Whoosh!"

As soon as he entered the backyard of the hundred-house office, Lin Xinshan heard the sound of a blade slicing through the air and couldn't help but push the door open to take a peek.

"Hum!"

The blade's glow flashed and stopped at Lin Xinshan's neck!

Lin Xinshan's hair stood on end, and he closed his eyes, shouting, "It's me! Hundred-house Wu! It's your subordinate! Lin Xinshan!"

Wu Fan had also risen early and practiced his sword techniques for a while. He calculated that the two intermediate "Rapid Learning" skills on the Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun Sword had reached their duration, and he had already become familiar with the sword techniques. What he lacked was integration. The system couldn't help Wu Fan with integration; he could only practice more and gradually accumulate experience in actual combat to fully master and use the sword techniques at will.

Wu Fan sheathed his sword, gave Lin Xinshan a strange, silent smile, performed a few sword flourishes, and put the fine steel sword back into its scabbard. He then went to fetch water to wash up.

Lin Xinshan stood rooted to the spot for a long time, the chill of the blade against his neck making his whole body shiver and stiffen.

After finishing his preparations, Wu Fan changed into a white brocade robe with a black eagle embroidered on it, symbolizing his position as the hundred-house of the Yingyang Guard.

After tidying up his clothes and putting on a Fan Yang hat, Wu Fan walked to the main hall and asked, "Chief Lin, did you take care of the matters I assigned you yesterday?"

Lin Xinshan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, clearly still shaken by Wu Fan's earlier move. He followed Wu Fan's steps, trembling, and replied, "Rest assured... everything is arranged... everyone who can come will come!"

"Good!"

Wu Fan only said one word and then fell silent, standing quietly under the sign at the entrance of the hundred-house office, waiting.

As the sun rose higher, Yingyang Guards in flying eagle uniforms began to gather in twos and threes. Lin Xinshan had not lied; most of the Yingyang Guards were injured or bruised from the attack by the Wang family in the southern part of the city. Some had their arms in slings, some limped, and others had bruised faces. In short, they looked miserable.

Wu Fan remained silent, but the coldness in his eyes was chilling.

When the sun was high in the sky, Lin Xinshan whispered in Wu Fan's ear, "Hundred-house, most of the people are here. The rest are bedridden!"

Wu Fan nodded, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "My name is Wu Fan, and I took office yesterday as the hundred-house of the Yingyang Guard in Xingyang! From now on, I will share the same honor and disgrace with all of you!" He paused and then raised his voice, "Look at yourselves! What do you look like? Beaten-up housewives? Or bunnies who got their butts kicked and didn't even get paid? Why are you all looking down? Look up at me!"

Wu Fan's words were harsh, and in just a few sentences, the crowd became agitated.

Seeing the red faces, angry eyes, and fierce expressions of the crowd, Wu Fan smiled, "It's rare that you know how to be angry. That's quite something!"

It sounded like praise, but everyone could hear the sarcasm in Wu Fan's words.

Wu Fan suddenly lunged forward, grabbed a Yingyang Guard's sword, and roared, "What is this? A fire poker?"

Then, he grabbed the flying eagle uniform of the person next to him and bellowed, "What is this? A costume?"

Wu Fan's face was fierce as he took a few steps back and looked at all the Yingyang Guards, his gaze like a knife, "Wimps! Useless! A bunch of wimps! You are the Emperor's personal guards! The swords in your hands are not fire pokers! You got beaten up and now you're all whining like women! Are you men? Looking at me? What are you looking at? Am I wrong? You can't even protect your own base, let alone your brothers who died in front of you. What else can you do? Why don't you just pee on yourselves and die, to save the trouble!"

After being scolded by Wu Fan, many people were angry but dared not speak, for Wu Fan was telling the truth.

Lin Xinshan, still having some spirit, gritted his teeth and said, "Hundred-house Wu! You can belittle us, but you can't slander us! We... we fought! But... we didn't win!"

Wu Fan bared his teeth at Lin Xinshan and then changed his expression faster than a dog, "Big wimp!"

Lin Xinshan was speechless, his face turning red with anger, wishing he could draw his sword and fight Wu Fan.

Wu Fan sneered, raised his head proudly, and said, "I didn't call you here to scold you! I want to show you something! Those who want to come, follow me. Those who don't, I won't force. I'll teach you what the Yingyang Guard is all about and how to be one!"

As he spoke, Wu Fan took a step forward and headed straight for the southern part of Xingyang County.

The Yingyang Guards, who had been embarrassed by Wu Fan, looked at each other hesitantly but still followed. They wanted to see what the new hundred-house was going to do.

The Wang family in the southern part of the city.

Among the local powerful families, the Wang family was not the top, but it was definitely one of the best. The "three haves" were not given lightly: they had money, people, and connections. Therefore, they had always been tyrannical in Xingyang County, controlling a significant portion of the labor and slave trade along the Grand Canal. Both officials and outlaws had to give them some face.

Because they were involved in the labor and slave trade, the Wang family had many tenant farmers. In name, they were tenant farmers, but in reality, they were retainers. These retainers were mostly strong and skilled in martial arts. What did the Wang family keep them for? Certainly not to feed them for free; they were used as enforcers! When laborers complained about their wages, the Wang family's retainers would secretly handle the situation, such as using violence to suppress them or even killing a few to set an example. When slaves tried to escape, these retainers would capture, punish, and intimidate them. Sometimes, they might even act as assassins for a good reward.

The Wang family's estate was large, and they even had a training ground for the retainers to practice and play.

After lunch, many energetic retainers were practicing martial arts or playing in the training ground in the front of the estate.

The retainers were having a good time—

"Bang!"

"Clang!"

A loud noise suddenly came, and the retainers in the training ground looked over.

A group of Yingyang Guards in flying eagle uniforms arrived, led by a person carrying a strange long box.

Wu Fan had arrived.

That's right!

Wu Fan wanted to establish his authority and had clearly targeted the Wang family!

Wu Fan slightly turned his head, looked at the Yingyang Guards who had followed him, and smiled, "Watch, and you'll see a good show!"

Lin Xinshan opened his mouth to try to persuade Wu Fan, but under Wu Fan's fierce gaze, he swallowed his words and could only stand outside the gate with the Yingyang Guards watching.

Wu Fan took a step forward and walked into the Wang family's estate.

The Wang family's retainers gathered around, and many of those in the back had already prepared their weapons.

The Wang family's people also came out, led by an elderly man in his fifties, dressed in a luxurious robe with a short beard, looking very authoritative. As he walked over, everyone made way, making him look very impressive.

Facing hundreds of people alone, Wu Fan showed no fear. He slightly raised his head and looked at the elderly man, slowly saying, "I am Wu Fan, the newly appointed hundred-house of the Yingyang Guard in Xingyang! I am here..."

The elderly man rudely interrupted Wu Fan, pointing to the door Wu Fan had kicked down, and shouted, "I don't care who you are. If you don't give me a reason... I'll hang you on the door latch and use you as a door!"

Wu Fan took a step forward, slightly turned his head, and asked with extra suspicion, "What did you say?"

...

PS1: Request for favorites, recommendations, likes, and red packets. I'm shameless. This chapter is posted early because I have an engagement tonight.

PS2: Seems to have made it to the new book list. Thank you all for your support. Gratitude.

PS3: Thank you for the 100-point red packet from the still-brainless cylinder. Thanks!