Hong Wei, now walking toward the town office, had actually already thought the situation through.
Should he try to hide his strength… meaning the strength of Shan Mei and Seren, his subordinates, or should he reveal it?
This was a question he had been asking himself since yesterday.
The town was already abuzz with talk about the Black Dog Gang, and some were already linking their wipeout to him.
But with no evidence, and with him not saying anything, these kinds of rumors would eventually fade.
So, should he really add more oil to the fire?
In the end, the answer was simple. Hong Wei didn't feel like hiding.
He wanted to live peacefully, without clashing with anyone if possible… but that didn't mean he would shrink away either.
If showing Shan Mei's power could save him more trouble down the line, then why not?
Anyway, his real trump card wasn't even Shan Mei. It was Seren, who hadn't shown herself yet, and his gacha system, through which he would keep drawing more characters in the future!
With that thought, Hong Wei, accompanied by Shan Mei, the limping Zhao Jinpeng, and another man whose name he didn't know, finally arrived at the town office.
It wasn't an awe-inspiring building… for someone who came from the modern world, it even looked a bit shabby for the office of the one holding the most authority in town.
Still, it was one or two levels better than the surrounding structures, so perhaps that was enough?
As he was thinking that, one of the guards stationed at the gate of the office suddenly called out in a loud voice, "Halt!"
He clearly looked like someone who had trained in martial arts, and more guards began gathering at his shout.
But Hong Wei paid them no mind.
Instead, he turned to the bystander who had accompanied him and helped support Zhao Jinpeng along the way, gave him a generous smile, and said, "Thank you for your hard work. You can go back now."
Then, as leisurely as if he were on a stroll, he fished through his pocket, pulled out one tael of silver, and handed it to the bewildered man.
Only then did he turn back to the guards.
By now, they had already noticed the battered Zhao Jinpeng trailing behind him, and their hostility only deepened.
But Hong Wei walked forward anyway.
And they had no choice but to make way… not because they wanted to, but because Shan Mei conjured a gust of wind that knocked them off balance and scattered them like dry leaves.
"Hiss… a cultivator?"
"Zhao Jinpeng really did it this time, he provoked someone he can't afford to offend."
"Fool didn't even know his place… and his father's just the town chief."
"Tch. No wonder he got his leg broken. Serves him right."
"Better pray the chief doesn't drag this into a mess for all of us."
Hong Wei heard their murmurs behind him, but naturally didn't pay them any attention.
He simply continued onward and finally stepped into the town office, where the town chief, Zhao Wenyuan, was.
There, instead of sitting behind his desk, where scrolls upon scrolls were stacked, Zhao Wenyuan was lounging in a chair, a teacup in hand. He didn't look like someone buried in work, perhaps he had already finished… or perhaps he didn't bother in the first place.
He glanced up at the unfamiliar figure entering, his brow creasing.
"What are the guards doing, letting some commoner stroll in on his own?" he muttered, clearly displeased.
But Hong Wei didn't respond. Instead, he gave a subtle gesture to Shan Mei, who instantly understood. She stepped forward and waved her hand lightly.
In the next moment, Zhao Wenyuan was lifted off his seat and slammed into the wall with a muffled grunt.
Hong Wei casually took the now-vacant seat, crossed one leg over the other, and looked at the stunned town chief… who, it turned out, wasn't even a cultivator.
Still leaning against the wall, Zhao Wenyuan stared in disbelief as pain bloomed in his ribs.
"Tell me, Town Chief," Hong Wei said lightly, "how should I punish you?"
How could Zhao Wenyuan not understand what the guards outside had already realized?
With just this move, he knew, he was in the presence of a cultivator. And so, his face turned pale as panic surged through his chest.
Punish him? For what? What had he done?
His thoughts scrambled in search of an answer. Then, after taking a deep breath, he straightened his back and tried to appear calm… reminding himself that he was the town chief, and behind him stood Fenghua County… and, more importantly, the Xia Dynasty.
Still, he respectfully bowed and said, "Should this humble official have acted with any impropriety without realizing it, I ask for Immortal Master's forgiveness."
Hong Wei chuckled at that response, then leaned forward and asked directly, "Your son had designs on my companion and even claimed you'd kill me. What do you say to that?"
Zhao Wenyuan's expression cracked. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the said companion, and in that instant, he understood the situation fully. His lips twitched, as if he wished to curse out loud, but he swallowed the urge.
That unfilial son… was he still alive? He wondered bitterly. Then, after a long pause, he bowed even deeper than before and said, "My son had eyes but could not see. Please, just tell me how I should deal with him."
He's trying to find out if that shit is still alive, right?
Hong Wei thought to himself as he took the clean cup of tea Shan Mei had poured him. He took a slow sip, then said flatly, "I don't care how you deal with him. But from now on, if there's any trouble in this town, whether it's your son again, or some gang that decides to take root here now that I've wiped out the Black Dog Gang… I'll hold you personally responsible. Do you understand?"