208: Chapter 208: The New Official Takes Office

"Captain Xiao, just ahead is the most prosperous area in the eastern part of the city."

"Restaurants, tea houses, inns, Magical Artifact shops—you name it, it's there. However, the crowd is a mixed bag; there are people from all walks of life."

"People used to cause trouble here often; we had to make several trips a day."

Behind him.

An old Patrol Guard leaned in and said with a face full of smiles.

These veteran members didn't act superior or bully Xiao Ran for being a captain dropped in from above; instead, they reported the situation with great enthusiasm.

Because being 'dropped in' implied having a background, and surviving in this world was all about understanding social relations.

These old hands wouldn't do something so foolish.

Xiao Ran nodded. "How did you usually handle things when you encountered such situations before?"

The old Patrol Guard chuckled and rubbed his hands together.

"How else? We'd advise both sides, give them both a slap on the wrist, have them pay some compensation, and call it a day."

"Everyone is a Cultivator, and we're bound to cross paths again. There's no need to make things too tense."

"Besides, the people causing trouble all have backgrounds. A small Patrol Guard like us can't afford to offend them."

Xiao Ran frowned upon hearing this.

Through indirect questioning, he finally understood. The City Lord was right; the role of urban management did indeed cover a lot of ground and held significant power.

But at the same time, it was subject to many restrictions.

In short, they managed everything, but they managed everything loosely.

Therefore, past urban management enforcement was never too strict.

Usually, when they ran into trouble, they'd just penalize both sides equally and settle it with some money.

Xiao Ran muttered to himself.

"No wonder people often cause trouble at the Sword Qi Great Wall; it turns out the punishment is too light."

But he said nothing, only nodded and continued walking forward.

After walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a sudden loud bang came from ahead.

Boom!

The sound was deafening, as if something had exploded.

Immediately after, various sounds intertwined, turning the scene into a chaotic mess.

Pedestrians on the street stopped in their tracks, looking toward the direction of the sound.

"What happened?"

"It seems to be over by Zuixian Restaurant!"

"Is someone causing trouble again? Why is it happening every day lately?"

Xiao Ran stopped and looked toward the sound.

Dozens of yards ahead, in front of a three-story restaurant, dust filled the air and wood splinters flew.

Several figures flew out from the dust, slamming heavily onto the ground, spitting blood, and rolling around while clutching their chests.

The restaurant's doors and windows had been smashed to pieces, with wood chips scattered everywhere.

"Someone's causing trouble again!"

The old Patrol Guard's expression changed, and he quickly leaned toward Xiao Ran, lowering his voice.

"Captain Xiao, that's Zuixian Restaurant, the largest restaurant in the east of the city."

"People from the Zhou Family and Zheng Family often eat there. They've had trouble before, but never this serious."

"The Zhou Family is a first-rate clan in the Sword Qi Great Wall. Although they can't compare to the Zhao Family, they are still prominent."

"The Zheng Family is slightly weaker, but they aren't to be trifled with either."

"These two families are blood rivals and fight whenever they meet. Our Patrol Guard has come to mediate several times before, but it never works."

Xiao Ran didn't care about any of that. Whether you were a prestigious Family or not, if you fell into his hands, he'd make you pay a heavy price.

So he waved his hand. "Let's go take a look."

Twenty Patrol Guards followed him, walking briskly toward the restaurant.

Pedestrians on the road made way, some whispering among themselves.

"The Patrol Guard is here! This is going to be a good show."

"The new captain is said to be the Xiao Ran who saved the Monster Hunting Team."

"So young? Can he suppress the Zhou Family and the Zheng Family?"

"Who knows? Let's see."

Xiao Ran ignored the chatter and strode to the restaurant entrance.

He crossed his arms, his gaze sweeping over the wrecked scene, his brow furrowed.

The dust gradually cleared, revealing the scene inside.

The ground floor lobby was a mess, with tables and chairs smashed to pieces on the floor.

Two groups of people were in a standoff, swords drawn and bows bent, the air thick with the smell of gunpowder.

The group on the left wore green brocade robes with jade belts, and the character 'Zhou' was embroidered on their collars—clearly members of a prestigious Family.

The leader was a young man, roughly in his early thirties.

He had a sinister face, sharp eyes, and a cold sneer on his lips.

Perhaps for the sake of showing off, he held a folding fan in his hand, which depicted a lifelike white tiger.

His cultivation wasn't high, just a common Nascent Soul Great Perfection.

Behind him stood seven or eight people, all with average cultivation.

They all glared coldly, hands on their sword hilts, ready to strike at any moment.

The group on the right wore black martial outfits with longswords hanging from their waists, and the character 'Zheng' was embroidered on their collars.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a rugged face, a full beard, a broad back, and eyes as wide as copper bells.

He was also at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection.

Behind him stood five or six people, all of whom bore injuries.

Clearly, they had been beaten.

So they were all gnashing their teeth, refusing to back down even a single step.

On the ground between the two groups lay two injured Cultivators.

"Zhou Xian, don't push people too far!"

The bearded middle-aged man roared, his voice like thunder, causing dust to fall from the ceiling.

Veins bulged on his hand as he gripped a Ghost-headed Greatsword, his knuckles turning white; he was clearly enraged to the extreme.

The young man named Zhou Xian sneered and opened his folding fan, waving it gently.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his face full of mockery.

"Zheng Kui, you brought people to my restaurant to cause trouble, smashed my shop, and injured my men, and yet you say I'm pushing you too far?"

"Is there something wrong with your head? Do you want me to find a doctor for you?"

"Bullshit!"

Zheng Kui roared, spit flying from his mouth.

"This restaurant is a property of my Zheng Family! When did it become your Zhou Family's? Your Zhou Family shamelessly stole my Zheng Family's property, and you dare to make false accusations?"

Zhou Xian smiled, the mockery on his lips deepening.

"Your Zheng Family's? Then produce the land deed."

"If you can't produce it, it's mine."

"The black ink on white paper and the red thumbprints are all right here. What do you have to say?"

He took a yellowed piece of paper from his robe and waved it in front of Zheng Kui.

It was indeed the land deed for Zuixian Restaurant, with Zhou Xian's name clearly written on it, stamped with the Zhou Family's seal and the City Lord's official seal.

Zheng Kui's face turned red, and his chest heaved violently.

Zuixian Restaurant was originally co-founded by the two families to counter the Zhao Family; at that time, the relationship between the two families was very good.

But later, the Zhou Family's Old Ancestor made a Breakthrough to the Body Integration Stage, and everything changed.

Cracks began to appear in the once-friendly relationship between the two families.

The Zhou Family's ambition grew, and they wanted to kick the Zheng Family out of the game, leading to this scene.

"Zhou Xian, you're damn shameless."

Zheng Kui roared.

Zhou Xian shrugged, looking completely indifferent.

"The authorities only recognize the land deed. Now that the deed is in my hands, this restaurant is mine."

"From today on, no one from the Zheng Family is allowed to set foot in Zuixian Restaurant. I'll break the legs of anyone who dares to enter."

Zheng Kui was so angry he trembled all over, tightening his grip on the Ghost-headed Greatsword.

"You...!"

"What about me?"

Zhou Xian narrowed his eyes, snapped his folding fan shut, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

"Want to make a move? Can you beat me?"

"Can your Old Ancestor beat mine?"

Zheng Kui gnashed his teeth, not daring to strike for a long time.

He indeed could not beat Zhou Xian.

Both were at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection, but the Zhou Family's Cultivation Technique was stronger than his Zheng Family's.

If they really fought, he would undoubtedly lose.

The surrounding diners had long since fled, leaving only the two groups in a standoff.