NOVEL NEXT Chapter 200: Calling for Help
After subduing the Yue Family, Han Zheng brought his people straight back to the Demon Cleansing Bureau's government office.
Zhang Yan and the others from the Xuanjia Guard were happily carrying a huge pile of resources back to Smoke Wave Prefecture.
The Yue Family also had quite a few Qiankun Bags, but there were too many resources, so much so that even the Qiankun Bags couldn't hold them all.
These Xuanjia Guards were now utterly loyal to Han Zheng, to the point that if Han Zheng asked them to go fight the Black Mountain Demon to their deaths right now, they'd probably charge at it howling with enthusiasm.
Some of these Xuanjia Guards had been in Smoke Wave Prefecture for twenty or thirty years and had never seen a Governor with Han Zheng's prestige and generosity.
They knew that following Mr. Han meant they had food to eat, so naturally, they were willing to die for Han Zheng.
It's easy to say "both kindness and authority should be used" but hard to practice.
Without money in hand, how can you show kindness? Without strength, how can you assert authority?
Now, Han Zheng was using the Yue Family's money to show kindness and leveraged the prestige from annihilating the Yue Family to establish his authority, effectively taking complete control over both the interior and exterior of Smoke Wave Prefecture.
Whether it was the Xuanjia Guards within Smoke Wave Prefecture or the martial forces outside, one could say they all looked to Han Zheng as their leader.
Now, even if the Guiyuan Sword Pavilion were still around, Han Zheng would even dare to wrestle with them.
Zhao Rongye was already standing at the entrance to greet them as soon as they returned to Smoke Wave Prefecture.
"Old Zhao congratulates the lord on your triumphant return!"
Zhao Rongye's old face was almost bursting with joy.
The news about the annihilation of the Yue Family by Han Zheng had spread far and wide in just a few hours. How could Zhao Rongye not know?
From today onward, Smoke Wave Prefecture was completely changing, entering the era of Han Zheng.
When Zhao Rongye first heard the news, he was naturally shocked.
Having spent his whole life in Smoke Wave Prefecture, he knew full well how complex the situation was and how difficult those martial alliances were to deal with.
It was already unbelievable when Han Zheng managed to get the Black Water Gang to eliminate the Lishan Sect, but now he had eradicated the Yue Family and forced the Yuwen Family to submit. Zhao Rongye found it unimaginable how Han Zheng had managed to do it.
But the process was no longer important.
What mattered was that Han Zheng now had complete control over Smoke Wave Prefecture, both inside and out, and no one could shake his position.
"Old Zhao is being too polite. The brothers have just been through a big battle; let them rest for a bit. Then please invite some good chefs from the restaurants in Smoke Wave Prefecture to prepare a few tables of food to celebrate."
Zhao Rongye laughed and said, "Lord does not need to instruct me. As soon as Old Zhao heard that our Demon Cleansing Bureau in Smoke Wave Prefecture had secured a decisive victory, I immediately had people invite those chefs over. Mr. Han, you and your men go and rest first. Let's celebrate properly this evening."
"You're considerate, Old Zhao."
Zhao Rongye, an old man almost at retirement, knew how to handle things. Although he did not participate in the battle, Han Zheng felt it would be rude not to include him in the spoils.
After returning to his own room, Han Zheng took an Elixir that restored True Yuan and fully recovered to his Peak condition.
The battle with Yue Qing had taken a lot out of Han Zheng.
Moreover, Han Zheng had only been a whisker away from the Middle Stage of the Xuan Gang Realm before, but after this great battle, that slight barrier had been unknowingly broken through, officially entering the Middle Stage of the Xuan Gang Realm.
When night fell, the Demon Cleansing Bureau of Smoke Wave Prefecture held a grand banquet, presenting a bustling scene.
Speaking of which, these Xuanjia Guards of the Smoke Wave Prefecture's Demon Cleansing Bureau had been quite stifled.
In other State Mansions, the situation was similar, surrounded by major Sects, all very complex.
But the most complicated part of Smoke Wave Prefecture was that these major Sects had even formed an alliance, a scene rarely seen elsewhere.
Thus, over the years, the Xuanjia Guards of Smoke Wave Prefecture had always been frustrated, playing games of wit and intrigue with these martial alliances and rarely gaining an advantage.
It could even be said that Smoke Wave Prefecture's Demon Cleansing Bureau's Xuanjia Guards were only in charge of the local Smoke Wave Prefecture.
Once they stepped out of Smoke Wave Prefecture and onto these martial forces' territory, the Demon Department had almost no deterrent power.
But now, under Han Zheng's leadership, Smoke Wave Prefecture's Demon Cleansing Bureau had finally turned the tables and greatly increased its power.
"The prestige of the Smoke Wave Prefecture's Demon Cleansing Bureau today is all thanks to Mr. Han, who turned the tide with his numerous schemes! Come, come, everyone, let's toast to Mr. Han one by one."
Zhang Yan raised his wine cup to rouse everyone, creating quite a lively scene.
Han Zheng did not spoil the mood, and happily clinked glasses and drank with everyone.
After all, with his current strength, as long as he used True Yuan to dispel the effects of the alcohol, it wouldn't matter even if he drank a whole vat of wine.
Just then, a Xuanjia Guard covered in blood and looking extremely wretched hurried into the hall.
Everyone was taken aback, and upon closer inspection, they realized he was none other than Zhao Jinhua, the trusted aide of Pei Xiuyuan.
"Mr. Han, save me! Please, save my master!"
Zhao Jinhua suddenly knelt on the ground, a pitiful look in his eyes as he turned to Han Zheng.
Han Zheng slightly frowned, "What happened? Didn't Pei Xiuyuan lead you to exterminate demons?"
Pei Xiuyuan knew he couldn't compete with Han Zheng within the Demon Cleansing Bureau and didn't want to get involved in the matters targeting the major Sects, so he cleverly avoided the situation and left.
Taking the opportunity of demon disturbances in the East Mountain Valley, Pei Xiuyuan planned to go on a demon-slaying trip and stay there for a few more days, waiting for the storm to pass before returning.
Seeing Zhao Jinhua's current state, it seemed something unexpected had happened to Pei Xiuyuan.
Zhao Jinhua, with a mournful face, said, "In the East Mountain Valley, a Tiger Demon on the brink of becoming a Great Demon appeared, and Master Pei led us to exterminate it.
We originally thought the Tiger Demon wasn't fully transformed into a Great Demon yet, and would be easy to handle.
But to our surprise, the Tiger Demon was indeed still young and not completely transformed, yet it had a Great Demon father, comparable to a martial artist in the late stages of the Xuan Gang Realm!
The Great Demon treated us as prey, and while he could easily defeat us, he wanted to train his son and trapped us in the East Mountain Valley. He did not make a move himself, letting the young Tiger Demon stealthily attack us from time to time.
In a few days, everyone was tormented to the point of exhaustion, barely able to hold on.
Master Pei desperately blocked the Tiger Demon, covered my escape, and it's unknown whether he has incited the Tiger Demon to strike a killing blow or not.
Mr. Han, please go and save Master Pei quickly! There might still be a chance!"
Zhang Yan squinted his eyes and whispered behind Han Zheng, "Sir, Pei Xiuyuan is a narrow-minded man, always thinking of competing with you for power and causing you trouble.
This time, he brought it upon himself. He went out to avoid the limelight, thinking that we would surely be defeated, yet he did not expect that you would take control of the Smoke Wave Prefecture's situation.
We have no need to save him; we can deliberately delay, and let Pei Xiuyuan die in the East Mountain Valley.
If there is an inquiry from above, it will only be because Pei Xiuyuan was rash and presumptuous, and did not investigate properly before taking action—it has nothing to do with you, Sir."
Zhang Yan now fully regarded himself as Han Zheng's confidant, so even these kinds of scheming words against their own people, taboo as they were, he said to Han Zheng without any hesitation.
Han Zheng shook his head and whispered back, "I still need to save Pei Xiuyuan. Regardless of what he was thinking, demons really devour humans, and Pei Xiuyuan's going to slay demons is also true.
Fighting amongst ourselves is acceptable, but do not ever forget the rules of the Demon Cleansing Bureau, the bottom line of the Demon Cleansing Bureau."
Han Zheng could use various schemes to calculate against the forces of the Martial World, including Pei Xiuyuan.
If Pei Xiuyuan still wanted to stir up trouble within the Demon Cleansing Bureau, Han Zheng had a hundred methods to deal with him.
But these methods did not include using demons as a tool to kill their own people.
This time, Pei Xiuyuan went to confront the demons openly and honorably, and both morally and logically, Han Zheng had to act.
Zhang Yan, surprised, looked at Han Zheng, and then admiration appeared in his eyes.
He had underestimated Mr. Han somewhat.
A man skilled and ruthless in his methods would only inspire fear, but Han Zheng had his own principles and limits, making Zhang Yan believe even more in Han Zheng's grand vision and potential to achieve greatness.
"Lead the way."
Han Zheng looked at Zhao Jinhua and uttered just these four words.
Zhao Jinhua, incredulously looking towards Han Zheng, then frantically kowtowed until his forehead was bloody and bruised.
"Thank you, Mr. Han! Thank you, Mr. Han!"