NOVEL NEXT Chapter 240: Return
"What is this woman implying? How am I a nuisance?
How can she say I've totally eroded the Southern Mountain Road? That's because at that time, the whole Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department was a bunch of inept fools!
Giving those fools cultivation resources was a waste, better that I used them all myself.
If I weren't so strong, how could I have slain the three Great Demons? How could I suppress the Sect families?
Xu Cunbao, that old guy, has finally condensed his Martial Arts True Pill now, right?
Sixty years, it took that kid sixty whole years to condense the Martial Arts True Pill, it's embarrassing to even mention!
Even with Xu Cunbao's talents, he was considered gifted in the Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department back then.
If I hadn't strengthened myself first, how could I have supported the entire Southern Mountain?"
Yan Xuankong cursed angrily in Han Zheng's mind, appearing extremely indignant.
Back in the days, he did quite a few unscrupulous things in the Southern Mountain area, but now he couldn't even stand being talked about.
If he knew that it was Wen Tingyun's comments that had allowed Han Zheng to see through him initially, Yan Xuankong would definitely wish to bite Wen Tingyun to death.
Han Zheng ignored Yan Xuankong and pondered, "So even if Chen Zhenfu were here, he would still need to compromise to some extent with those three Garrison Captains?"
Wen Tingyun nodded, "Pretty much, although Chen Zhenfu could easily suppress them, he still needs to be reasonable.
They were presumptuous this time because they had accrued merit, otherwise, they wouldn't dare make excessive demands in front of Chen Zhenfu.
Wu Yunfei and the others have been in the Southern Mountain for decades, but they only treated it as a stepping stone.
They accumulate experience and merit here, and eventually return to the headquarters in the Capital City. If they have a chance to step into the Yang God Realm, they can govern a territory."
Han Zheng nodded lightly, realizing the true situation of the Southern Mountain was even more complex than he had imagined.
Chen Baxian, this Garrison Commander, along with Xu Cunbao and Wen Tingyun, belonged to the Local Faction of the Southern Mountain.
But apart from Chen Baxian, the Local Faction was too weak.
The three, Wu Yunfei, were parachuted in from the Capital City, each with their own plans, and the overt and covert fights between the two sides were not limited to one or two incidents.
What Wen Tingyun said was correct; it was all Yan Xuankong's fault.
When Yan Xuankong was around, the influence of the Southern Mountain was extremely weak.
After his disappearance, followed by the chaos of the Black Mountain Demon, the already few personnel of the Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department suffered great losses.
If people from the Capital City hadn't come to fill the vacancies, the strength of the current Southern Mountain would certainly be even weaker.
Now that Han Zheng had decided to resign from his post as the Demon Sweeping Captain of the Smoke Wave Prefecture, he needed to inform others.
The Head of the Wen Family and Pei Xiuyuan were all summoned by Han Zheng.
Looking at the people below, Han Zheng said gravely, "After I reported the situation in the Smoke Wave Prefecture, Lord Wen Tingyun personally came to retrieve the Eternal Youth Spring, marking the end of this matter.
At the same time, Lord Wen also brought a transfer order. I will no longer be in charge of the Smoke Wave Prefecture but will be reassigned back to the Kai Ping Prefecture headquarters. The new Demon Sweeping Captain who will take charge of the Smoke Wave Prefecture will arrive in a few days."
With this statement, the room erupted in a hubbub.
How long had Han Zheng been in the Smoke Wave Prefecture, and now he was already leaving?
Pei Xiuyuan frowned, "What are they up to upstairs? This is nonsense!"
Being an old member of the Demon Cleansing Department, he naturally knew its rules.
Unless it was a Demon Sweeping Captain who had erred, how could the government office of the Demon Cleansing Department in a prefecture change its governor so frequently?
Han Zheng had just arrived a few days ago? Such frequent transfers were utterly nonsensical!
Wen Jingyun frowned, "Mr. Han, has there been some issue with the Demon Department that you are suddenly being transferred? What about our collaboration?"
Others also nodded; these Martial World forces did not wish to see Han Zheng abruptly transferred.
They had figured out Han Zheng's character, and they all trusted him.
With Han Zheng around, these Martial World forces and the Demon Cleansing Department office could collaborate and develop together, making everyone truly happy.
Suddenly, if they changed personnel, what if the new Demon Sweeping Captain were unwilling to cooperate with them or if there were differing views between the two parties?
Pei Xiuyuan was also showing reluctance on his face.
Han Zheng respected their decisions, but now that someone new was in charge at the Smoke Wave Prefecture, his jealousy kicked in again.
Could anyone really handle the Smoke Wave Prefecture? Am I the only one who never gets a chance?
Mr. Han running the Smoke Wave Prefecture is, of course, all right, but why should other nobodies be my superior, Pei Xiuyuan?
Han Zheng waved his hand, speaking solemnly, "Gentlemen, this comes from the headquarters of Kai Ping Prefecture, and I am powerless to change it.
However, the cooperation between the Demon Cleansing Department of the Smoke Wave Prefecture and you all can still continue. Let's develop together.
Also, Mr. Pei, you should restrain your temperament. You were once considered a talented young member of the Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department, but you have been stuck in the Smoke Wave Prefecture for many years, directly because of your attitude.
The new Demon Sweeping Captain in charge has strong backing, it's best if you do not provoke him.
Now that the situation in the Smoke Wave Prefecture has stabilized, if you endure for a while longer, you might even get transferred to another smaller State Mansion and be in charge."
Actually, Han Zheng could have instigated Wen Jingyun and Pei Xiuyuan to make things difficult for Cui Zeyuan, by not cooperating and causing trouble behind the scenes, but that would be meaningless.
After giving up the position, continuing to act this way would be rather petty.
Besides, Cui Zeyuan's master is Wu Yunfei, one of the four great Garrison Captains.
Wen Jingyun and others had been getting along well with Han Zheng during this time, standing by him at critical moments; Han Zheng did not want to burden them with an enemy of the Grandmaster Realm.
After pacifying everyone, Han Zheng bid farewell and returned to the Kai Ping Prefecture headquarters with Wen Tingyun.
In fact, Han Zheng had not been away from Kai Ping Prefecture for too long, totaling less than three months.
But upon returning now, it feels as though ages have passed.
Wen Tingyun went to find Xu Cunbao, while Han Zheng surveyed the current state of the Demon Cleansing Department.
The only change in the Demon Cleansing Department compared to before was the increase in personnel.
Previously, eighty percent of the Southern Mountain Demon Cleansing Department's force was taken to Huainan Road by Chen Baxian, now that these people have returned, the office suddenly buzzed with activity.
A few Xuanjia Guards who had gone on missions with Han Zheng recognized him and greeted him.
However, they were somewhat surprised to see Han Zheng there—wasn't he supposed to be in the Smoke Wave Prefecture?
Just then, Han Zheng spotted someone in the distance who looked like Yang Tianqi. He was about to go over and greet him when he saw someone blocking Yang Tianqi from the front.
One of the individuals blocking the way seemed familiar to Han Zheng. After thinking carefully, he realized it was Guo Zhen.
Previously, Guo Zhen, not knowing better, had teamed up with people from the Dan Yang Sect to falsely accuse Han Zheng. As a result, he was expelled from the Demon Cleansing Bureau by Wen Tingyun, and a restriction was placed in his body prohibiting the use of the Bureau's cultivation techniques.
Now, Guo Zhen had returned, but his demeanor was more sullen and his figure much thinner than before, indicating his recent life had not been good.
Yang Tianqi, seeing Guo Zhen for the first time, was also surprised, "Guo Zhen, how have you come back?"
Then Yang Tianqi scoffed, "You were expelled by Mr. Wen from the Demon Cleansing Bureau, what face do you have to return?"
Guo Zhen gave Yang Tianqi a grim smile, "Who says being expelled from the Demon Cleansing Bureau means I can't come back? Yang Tianqi, you and Han Zheng caused my expulsion, targeted by the Guo Family, and brought me to this low point. These grievances, I will settle with you sooner or later!"
Before, Yang Tianqi had often been bullied by Guo Zhen, but having accompanied Han Zheng on several missions, Yang Tianqi's character had also become resolute.
Faced with Guo Zhen's threat, Yang Tianqi scoffed disdainfully, "Settle accounts? I heard even the Guo Family doesn't regard you well, and now you're worse off than a loose cultivator, what will you use to settle accounts?
Moreover, this is the Demon Cleansing Department Office, you don't even have the right to wear Xuan Armor now, yet you dare to strut around here, it's ludicrous! Get out!"
With these words, Yang Tianqi threw a punch towards Guo Zhen.
His courage had grown much since before, and having earned quite a few merits under Han Zheng, he had stepped into the Half-step Xuan Gang Realm, his cultivation surpassing Guo Zhen slightly.
Guo Zhen seemed unfazed, smirking coldly.
Gang Qi suddenly struck, causing Yang Tianqi's expression to shift drastically. He converted his punch into a palm strike, using all his strength to block this blast of Gang Qi, but still was pushed back three steps.
A young Demon Sweeping Captain, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, wearing a Purple Gold Sky Wolf Armor and a Purple Jade Phoenix Crown, emerged from behind Guo Zhen, looking disdainfully at Yang Tianqi.
"Presumptuous! Guo Zhen came to the Demon Cleansing Department with me, do you think you can just drive him away? Yang Tianqi, in my absence, it seems this small errand boy has started to act up, truly laughable!"