9: Chapter 9 The Black Tiger Gang's Murderous Intent and the Zhenwu Guard's Conspiracy

After leaving the dilapidated courtyard, Gu Han looked leisurely at the night view of the capital.

"With such prosperity, I wonder how long it can last."

According to the memories of the original host, Gu Han knew.

The current Great Chu Dynasty could be described as tottering in the wind and rain.

The Emperor was incompetent; internally, the princes were fighting for the throne, and various factions were constantly choosing sides. Externally, there were rebellions by the Blood God Cult and insurgent armies, while other dynasties were eyeing it covetously.

The Yao Race and the Sea Race would also frequently breach the borders to plunder the people.

"I wonder how much longer this capital can remain peaceful."

With this thought, Gu Han shook his head.

"None of my damn business."

"I've been influenced by the emotions in the original host's memories."

"I'd better go back to Cultivate and kill whoever is behind the scenes trying to take me out."

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Black Tiger Hall of the Fierce Tiger Gang.

Inside the main hall of the Black Tiger Hall, candle flames flickered, and eighteen ox-fat torches, each as thick as a bowl, illuminated the four walls with a crimson glow.

Butcher Zheng leaned back on a tiger-skin armchair, his entire body like a small mountain, causing the chair to creak under his weight.

He was the height of Wu Dalang, wearing a faded dark blue martial outfit. The belt around his waist was cinched extremely tight, yet it still couldn't hide his round belly.

That belly rose and fell with his breathing, looking just like an overturned water vat.

His square face was filled with flabby flesh, and a three-inch-long scar crawled diagonally from the corner of his left eye to his ear.

It pulled his already fierce features into an even more hideous expression.

"Someone, go and find Lai Three for me."

"To handle such a small matter and still drag it out for so long."

As soon as Butcher Zheng finished speaking, a Disciple stepped out.

"Yes, Hall Master!"

"This subordinate will go and bring Lai Three back right away."

Hearing this, Butcher Zheng didn't even glance at him, simply waving his hand.

By this time, Gu Han had already walked back home.

Once home, after taking various security measures, Gu Han summoned his System panel.

host: Gu Han

life essence: 16 / 27

Aptitude: Trash

Realm: Body Tempering Realm Seventh Layer

Cultivation Technique: Prison Suppressing Art - Major Achievement

Martial Skill: Town Prison Saber Technique - Mastery

remnants of fate: + 15

life origin crystal: + 2

"Huh!"

"Those few small-time thugs from the Fierce Tiger Gang actually generated two life origin crystals for me."

"It seems I need to cause some trouble for this group of people!"

"Anyway, they are all people who deserve to die; leaving them alive is just a scourge."

Feeling a bit happier inside, Gu Han looked at the other columns.

"This Prison Suppressing Art is only a Cultivation Technique for the Body Tempering Realm; it is absolutely impossible to use it to break through to the Meridian Connecting Realm."

At this moment, Gu Han fell into the predicament of having no Cultivation Technique to practice.

Just then, Gu Han remembered the cloth-wrapped item he had looted from Lai Three.

"I was busy leaving at the time and didn't open it to look."

Immediately, Gu Han took the item out from his bosom.

Unwrapping the cloth, he discovered it was a book.

"Flying on Grass?"

Looking at the sloppy handwriting, Gu Han struggled to identify it for a long time before finally recognizing it.

"A wasted joy, it's not a Cultivation Technique."

"But then again, how could that group of hooligans possess a profound Cultivation Technique?"

"I suppose I was just too impatient."

At this moment, a line of text floated before his eyes.

【Recorded Body Tempering Realm Movement Technique - Flying on Grass】

Seeing this, Gu Han immediately felt relieved.

The System's recording is honest and reliable.

Immediately, Gu Han calmed his mind and used one life origin crystal to practice the Prison Suppressing Art.

In the blink of an eye, the experience of ten years of cultivation was reflected back to him.

Gu Han's cultivation also reached the Ninth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm.

"I consumed three life origin crystals and thirty years of cultivation just to bring the Prison Suppressing Art to Perfection."

"The System's evaluation of my Aptitude as trash is quite accurate."

"Now, I am fully qualified to apply to become a reserve Zhenwu Guard."

According to his memories, Gu Han knew that the Zhenwu Guard was established by the Grand Ancestor of Great Chu.

The Zhenwu Guard internally suppresses Cultivators who commit heinous crimes.

Externally, they slaughter the Yao Race and Demon Race that infiltrate the Great Chu Dynasty.

It is a sharp blade of the Great Chu Dynasty.

They are under the command of the current Emperor, Emperor Yuanwu.

The Zhenwu Guard has nine Ranks.

They are, respectively: Reserve Zhenwu Guard, Official Zhenwu Guard, Small Flag, General Flag, Captain, Thousand Household, Zhenwu Envoy, General Zhenwu Envoy, and Zhenwu Guard Master.

"By becoming a Zhenwu Guard, I can harvest even more remnants of fate."

"With the authority to handle cases, the remnants of fate of those criminals and demons will all be mine."

Gu Han clenched his fists tightly, secretly making plans.

On the other side.

The person Butcher Zheng sent to find Lai Three ran into the Black Tiger Hall in a panic.

"Hall Master, it's bad! Lai Three... he's dead."

"Along with all of his underlings, they are all dead."

"Especially Lai Three; the bones in his body were all shattered."

"What?"

Butcher Zheng stood up abruptly, overturning the tiger-skin armchair. His square face, full of flabby flesh, turned ashen instantly, and a fierce light gleamed in his eyes.

"Are you sure?"

The person was frightened by Butcher Zheng's gaze and replied stutteringly.

"Hall... Hall Master, I... I am sure that is Lai Three."

Hearing his subordinate's reply, Butcher Zheng pondered while sticking out his big belly.

"Lai Three has the cultivation of the Fifth Layer of the Body Tempering Realm, and according to the intelligence, that kid has absolutely no cultivation."

"Could someone be protecting him in the shadows?"

Thinking of this, Butcher Zheng dismissed the idea.

"Can you tell what kind of weapon Lai Three was killed with?"

The subordinate shook his head.

"Hall Master, Lai Three and the others were killed by external force; they were not killed by weapons like swords or blades."

Hearing this, Butcher Zheng waved his hand.

At this moment, Zhang Tian, who had ordered Butcher Zheng to kill Gu Han, flashed in from outside the door.

"Hall Master Zheng, you are not doing your job well!"

"You can't even manage to take the head of a piece of trash."

Hearing Zhang Tian's mockery, Butcher Zheng did not tolerate it.

"The intelligence you provided was incorrect, causing me to lose several brothers for nothing."

Butcher Zheng leaned his obese body forward.

"Is the life of my Black Tiger Hall brothers so cheap?!"

"The intelligence was incorrect?"

Zhang Tian chuckled.

"How is that possible? That kid is just a Jailer with low status, with no cultivation at all."

Hearing this, the corner of Butcher Zheng's mouth twitched; he was clearly already enraged.

If it weren't for the fact that Zhang Tian was a member of the Zhenwu Guard and a trusted aide of Ma Yong, Butcher Zheng would have likely already taken him down.

Afterwards, he stared fiercely at Zhang Tian.

"Could my dead subordinates be fake?"

"Do you think I, Butcher Zheng, would use the lives of my subordinates to deceive you?"

Zhang Tian's face turned ashen instantly; he hadn't expected Butcher Zheng to dare to contradict him to his face.

As a member of the Zhenwu Guard, a trusted aide of Ma Yong, and an external spokesperson.

Zhang Tian had always been bossy, accustomed to people below him being submissive to him.

These words from Butcher Zheng undoubtedly gave him a loud slap in the face.

Seeing Zhang Tian's unpleasant expression, Butcher Zheng felt secretly pleased.

"A mere Zhenwu Guard, if it weren't for his backing by Ma Yong,"

"I could toy him to death."

Butcher Zheng thought to himself.

"Hall Master Zheng, don't make false accusations."

Zhang Tian suppressed his anger, but his voice turned cold.

"Lai Three failed to do his job; he deserved to die."

"As for the head of that low-status Jailer, Captain Ma is waiting for it."

"Hall Master Zheng, do not disappoint Lord Ma."

"Otherwise, if Lord Ma blames you, Hall Master Zheng, you won't be able to handle the consequences."

He suddenly revealed a sinister smile, especially when mentioning Ma Yong, emphasizing the tone by three points.

Butcher Zheng felt a shiver in his heart; the name of Ma Yong indeed made him extremely wary.

But he quickly regained his composure, and the flabby flesh on his fat face trembled.

"Is Lord Zhang threatening me?"

Zhang Tian's eyes turned cold.

"Hall Master Zheng, don't misunderstand my words."

"I am just reminding you that if you truly make Lord Ma angry,"

"whether you can sit firmly in your position as Hall Master will be another matter."

Butcher Zheng cursed inwardly but dared not say anything else, turning instead to a fawning smile.

"Brother Zhang, it was just that your brother was anxious earlier."

"Don't blame me, don't blame me."

"We are all working for Lord Ma, we are all our own people."

"I ask Brother Zhang to speak well of me in front of Lord Ma."

"Give your brother two days."

"Once I have investigated the situation clearly, I will definitely deliver his head personally."

Immediately, Butcher Zheng ordered someone to bring a generous gift.

Seeing the gift, Zhang Tian smiled.

"Easy, easy."

"I will try my best to put in a good word for you with Lord Ma."

"Hall Master Zheng, get it done as soon as possible."

"Otherwise, when I come next time, I won't be able to speak for you."

After speaking, Zhang Tian tucked the gift into his bosom and left.

Butcher Zheng watched Zhang Tian's back disappear, and his face dropped.

"Pah!"

"A dog relying on its master's power."

"Just let you be carefree for a few days."

"When Big Brother succeeds, I'll make you spit it all back out with interest."

Immediately, Butcher Zheng called over his subordinate and whispered arrangements into his ear.

At this moment, Gu Han did not know that another murderous plot against him had unfolded.