Starting as The Young Master of A Pharmacy, He Trained Swordsmanship in Seclusion For Twenty Years - Chapter 131

Zhang Qi’s tone carried a hint of implication; he was questioning Su Quanchuan.

He had a nagging feeling that Su Quanchuan seemed to be indulging the spread of these monstrous rumors.

Naturally, Zhang Qi was also aware of the death of Su Quanchuan’s son.

But that was no excuse to neglect the entire county.

Now, with the county seat gripped by panic, Zhang Qi could no longer sit idly by.

It wasn’t just his concern; several other county officials shared the same anxiety.

If anything went wrong and the higher authorities investigated,

it wouldn’t be just Su Quanchuan’s problem—they would all be implicated.

Having served as the county magistrate for nearly ten years, how could Su Quanchuan not grasp Zhang Qi’s meaning?

Immediately, Su Quanchuan put on a self-blaming demeanor and agreed with Zhang Qi’s point.

“Magistrate Zhang, this official has been negligent. I truly did not expect the news to spread throughout the entire city.”

“Rest assured, I have already dispatched patrols throughout the county,

and posted notices explaining that the case of Landowner Ren’s family murder has been solved.”

“It was merely a result of a potent poison; there is no such thing as demons or monsters!”

By now, the rumors about that monstrous creature had already spread across the entire county, which put Su Quanchuan at ease.

He had fulfilled his task for that mysterious person and could now begin to suppress the rumors.

Although it might be futile, Su Quanchuan needed to go through the motions, showing that he had done his utmost.

“Died from poisoning… Magistrate Su… This…”

Su Quanchuan’s response left Zhang Qi at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.

Claiming it was due to a potent poison seemed far too perfunctory, didn’t it?

Landowner Ren himself was a martial artist at the Marrow Refining realm. To say he died from poisoning—who would believe that?
Ah.

Forget it.

At this point, saying anything is irrelevant. We can only try to mend the fold after the sheep have escaped.

Zhang Qi decided to let it go and changed the subject to what truly concerned him.

“Magistrate Su, has the Prefect sent any word? When will the Xuanniao Guard arrive to deal with this monster?”

Since the rumors had already spread this far, there was no changing that.

The top priority now was to eliminate that monstrous creature.

Otherwise, it wasn’t just the common people who were terrified; he too was deeply apprehensive about that thing.

Landowner Ren, a martial artist at the Marrow Refining realm—almost the same level as himself—had died silently and suddenly.

If he were to encounter that monster, his fate would likely be no better.

If he weren’t the County Deputy, unable to leave the county without authorization, he would have fled long ago.

Nothing mattered more than his own life—a principle Zhang Qi well understood.

Even Su Quanchuan was waiting for the Xuanniao Guard to arrive.

Although he resented them deeply, only a martial artist at the Blood Refining realm could kill such a monstrous creature.

“Magistrate Zhang, there’s no need to worry. This official is also awaiting a response from the Prefect.”

As soon as Su Quanchuan finished speaking, a young man in a constable’s uniform appeared at the hall’s entrance.

“Sir, the Chief Constable has returned.”

“Hmm?”

After the young constable’s hurried report, both Su Quanchuan and Zhang Qi turned their gaze toward the door.

Outside stood three middle-aged men. The one leading them appeared to be around fifty years old.

All three looked travel-worn, breathless, and slightly bronzed, as if they had hurried nonstop.

Seeing this middle-aged man, a glint flashed in Su Quanchuan’s eyes.

“Lao Feng, what did the Prefect say?”

This middle-aged man was the Chief Constable of Lanshan County, a martial artist at the peak of the Bone Refining realm.
He was one of the men Su Quanchuan had sent to White Path Prefecture’s capital to inform the Prefect.

“Reporting, Sir. The Prefect informed me that

he has personally notified the Xuanniao Guard. They will arrive in Lanshan County very soon.”

“He also entrusted me with a letter, to be delivered directly into your hands.”

A letter?

What could it mean?
Why would the Prefect specifically write him a letter?

Could there be important news?

Su Quanchuan took the letter and quickly opened it, scanning its contents.

A moment later, under the watchful eyes of Zhang Qi and the Chief Constable, Su Quanchuan’s expression turned very strange.

His body began to tremble visibly right there. His hand gripping the letter tightened, as if the paper weighed a thousand pounds!

Looking closer, beads of cold sweat silently formed on Su Quanchuan’s forehead.

His eyes widened, pupils sharply constricting. His lips parted slightly, as if a giant hand were choking him, preventing any sound.

Seeing this, Zhang Qi found it hard to believe and called out to Su Quanchuan.

“Magistrate Su, you!”

This exclamation snapped Su Quanchuan back to reality.

Su Quanchuan glanced up at Zhang Qi and Lao Feng, realizing his reaction had startled them.

Then, without any intention to conceal, he revealed the letter’s contents fully.

“The Xuanniao Guard are already on their way!”

“And this time… the one coming is most likely a Xuan Envoy!”

“The Prefect warns us to be extremely cautious. We must not make the slightest mistake.”

“Otherwise, we will bear the full consequences for any errors!”

Upon hearing this, the Chief Constable looked puzzled.

But Zhang Qi, standing beside him, gasped in shock.

“What!”

“The Xuan Envoy is coming!”

“Magistrate Su, this is a matter of utmost importance!”

“We’re finished! Completely finished!”

“In recent days, rumors about that monster have already spread throughout the entire county seat.”

“If the Xuan Envoy witnesses this, we won’t escape charges of dereliction of duty!”

Zhang Qi was panicked, truly panicked!
He had initially thought Yellow-level Xuanniao Guard members would come, but he never expected to attract that presence.

Zhang Qi’s background was not simple; he came from a prominent family in Anzhou.

Naturally, he understood what the Xuan Envoy of the Xuanniao Guard represented.

That was a figure of immense authority, commanding an entire prefecture, a martial artist who had reached the peak of the Internal Breath realm.

A true titan, a heavyweight in White Path Prefecture!

Zhang Qi’s posting as Deputy Magistrate in Lanshan County was merely a formality, a step for experience.

After a year or two, he was supposed to move to another prefectural city for a higher position.

He never expected that less than three months into his role as Deputy Magistrate of Lanshan County, he would be saddled with such a massive problem.

And to make matters worse, the one coming to eliminate the monster was the Xuan Envoy himself.

For the first time, Zhang Qi felt the crushing weight of impending doom.

Zhang Qi looked at Su Quanchuan with a resentful gaze, as if he had some heartfelt words he desperately wanted to say.

Damn this old bastard!
Not only is he adept at corruption and bending the law, but he’s also skilled at dragging others down with him!
When the Xuan Envoy holds us accountable, I absolutely will not let Su Quanchuan get away with this.