209: Chapter 209: Why are the flowers so red?

A few bold Loose Cultivators stood in the distance, watching the spectacle.

“The Zhou Family is really bullying people too much.”

“Who told the Zheng family to decline? The Zheng family used to be a first-class clan on the Sword Qi Great Wall, but unfortunately, since Old Man Zheng died, things have been getting worse by the day.”

“And on top of that, the Zhou Family is shameless...”

“Shh, keep your voice down, don't let the Zhou Family people hear you.”

“That Zhou Xian from the Zhou Family is extremely narrow-minded and holds a grudge for the smallest slight.”

“Last time a Loose Cultivator spoke ill of him behind his back and he found out; the grass on that guy's grave is already three meters high.”

“That ruthless?”

“What do you think? The Zhou Family has been operating on the Sword Qi Great Wall for three hundred years; their influence is immense.”

“Even the Patrol Guard doesn't dare provoke them. Every time they come, they just try to smooth things over, advise both sides, and that's it.”

“I heard the new captain is a tough character. I wonder if he'll dare to step in.”

“Step in? He's just a Patrol Guard captain, can he control the Zhou Family? The Sword Sect is standing behind the Zhou Family.”

“Sword Sect? For real?”

“Of course it's real. The Zhou Family's Young Miss married a Grand Elder of the Sword Sect.”

“With that kind of connection, who can touch the Zhou Family?”

“Then isn't the Zheng family finished?”

“If they're finished, they're finished. What does it have to do with us?”

Xiao Ran listened to these discussions, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

Zhou Family? Zheng family? Sword Sect?

So they're all big shots!

And I'm the only soft persimmon?

Xiao Ran certainly wouldn't take this lying down; the City Lord had said when he left that the Urban Management's power was incredibly vast.

If he couldn't even handle this matter, how could he be a member of Urban Management?

Xiao Ran immediately had a plan in mind.

The Zhou Family had seized a restaurant, and the Zheng family had come to cause a scene out of indignation.

In the past, the Patrol Guard would have just smoothed things over and advised both sides to finish it.

But he was different.

Because Xiao Ran had spotted a business opportunity.

He glanced at the patrolman beside him and asked, “In this situation, how should it be handled in the future?”

The old patrolman whispered, “In the past, we'd advise both sides and give them both a slap on the wrist.”

“After all, both sides have backgrounds; we can't afford to offend them.”

Xiao Ran asked again, “Then who does the restaurant belong to?”

The old patrolman was stunned and scratched his head.

“The Patrol Guard can't manage that; that's a matter for the City Lord's Manor.”

Xiao Ran nodded and said nothing.

Then he strode forward and flashed his token.

“The Patrol Guard is here! Nobody move!”

His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

Twenty patrolmen followed behind him, drawing their long sabers in unison. The blade-light flickered in the sunlight, chillingly cold.

Zhou Xian turned and was momentarily stunned to see a young man leading twenty patrolmen inside.

He folded his fan and tucked it into his waist.

“Oh, the Patrol Guard? A newcomer?”

Xiao Ran said indifferently, “I am the new Patrol Guard Captain Xiao Ran. What's going on here?”

“Xiao Ran? Never heard of you.”

“Besides, can't you see? People from the Zheng family came to my restaurant to cause trouble, trashed my shop, and injured me and my men.”

“You've come at the right time. Arrest them and lock them up for a few days, and they'll behave.”

Zheng Kui's expression changed, and he hurriedly said,

“Zhou Xian stole my restaurant and then had the nerve to sue first! You can't just listen to his side of the story!”

Zhou Xian sneered, “It's your Zheng family's? Where's the land deed?”

Zheng Kui gritted his teeth. “The land deed was stolen by you!”

Zhou Xian spread his hands, looking innocent.

“See, he can't produce the land deed.”

“Captain Xiao, why aren't you arresting this rogue yet?”

The two went back and forth, their argument growing more heated, spit nearly flying into Xiao Ran's face.

Xiao Ran raised his hand to stop them.

“Enough, stop arguing.”

He looked at the patrolmen behind him. “Take everyone away.”

Zhou Xian was stunned, the smile on his face freezing. “Captain Xiao, what do you mean by this?”

Xiao Ran looked at him and said calmly,

“Gathering a crowd to cause trouble and trashing a restaurant has a terrible influence.”

“Everyone, escort them back to the Patrol Guard dungeon.”

Zhou Xian's face darkened. “Captain Xiao, do you know who I am?”

“I am Zhou Xian of the Zhou Family; my father is the head of the Zhou Family.”

Xiao Ran smiled indifferently.

Comparing backgrounds?

Once outside the gates of the Sword Qi Great Wall, I'd plant you in the ground like ginseng.

“Do I give a damn who you are?”

“I don't care if you're from the Zhou Family or the Sword Sect; I'm definitely arresting those who gather to cause trouble.”

“Take them away!”

Hearing this, Zhou Xian's eyes were filled with malice.

“Fine, Captain Xiao, you've got guts. I'll remember you.”

“I want to see just how many days he can keep me locked up.”

Zheng Kui was also stunned.

He hadn't expected Xiao Ran would even dare to arrest Zhou Xian.

He hurriedly said, “Captain Xiao, we...”

Xiao Ran looked at him. “You too. Let's go.”

Zheng Kui gritted his teeth and said nothing.

Twenty patrolmen stepped forward and escorted both groups away.

The Loose Cultivators watching the scene were dumbfounded, and their discussions grew louder.

“The new captain is this fierce? He even dares to arrest people from the Zhou Family?”

“Nonsense, he saved the Monster Hunting Team, why would he fear the Zhou Family?”

“The Sword Sect is behind the Zhou Family; can a mere Patrol Guard captain afford to offend them?”

“What about the Sword Sect? The Sword Sect can't be unreasonable, can they?”

“Reasonable? You're talking about being reasonable with the Sword Sect? Are you crazy?”

“Now there's a good show to watch; the Zhou Family certainly won't let this slide.”

“The Zheng family won't be idle either. With both families in the dungeon, this is going to be a huge spectacle.”

Xiao Ran ignored these discussions and led his men towards the Patrol Guard station.

On the way, the old patrolman leaned in and whispered,

“Captain Xiao, the Zhou Family is a first-class clan of the Sword Qi Great Wall, and they have the Sword Sect backing them.”

“You've arrested Zhou Xian, so on the Zhou Family's side...”

Xiao Ran glanced at him.

“Look at how little courage you have.”

“Never mind the Zhou Family, even if people from the Sword Sect came, I'd arrest them just the same.”

The old patrolman stopped talking upon hearing this.

It was certain now.

This parachuted-in little captain was a reckless fool.

...

The Patrol Guard dungeon was located beneath the station.

It was dark and damp, the air thick with the smell of mold and rust.

The walls were covered with various torture instruments: iron chains, iron rods, branding irons... all stained with dark red blood left behind from who knows how many years ago.

Straw was spread on the floor, with cockroaches and rats crawling through it, and in the corner, a puddle of unknown liquid emitted a foul odor.

Xiao Ran had Zhou Xian and Zheng Kui locked in separate individual cells, while the others were put in the common barracks.

As Zhou Xian entered his cell, he looked back at Xiao Ran, his eyes full of coldness.

“You will regret this.”

Xiao Ran kicked him into the cell.

“Still so arrogant in my territory?”

Zheng Kui, on the other hand, was well-behaved and walked into his cell without a word.

Seeing this, Xiao Ran walked out of the dungeon and into the courtyard.

The old patrolman followed and asked cautiously, “Captain Xiao, what do we do next?”

Xiao Ran thought for a moment. “Keep them locked up for now.”

“I'm going to ask the City Lord.”

He wanted to ensure the City Lord would truly protect him, and then... hehehe.

He would let those inside know why the flowers were so red.