Cultivating in Different Professions

Chapter 199: Chapter 139: Returning to the Outer City

East City District.

Inside the East City Government Office.

East City Bureau Captain Yu Xiujiang, Minister Chen Song, Constable Zheng Wang, Chairman Shen Yizhi of the East City District’s Ronghua Association, and Vice Sect Leader Zhou Yin of the Qingcha Sect were all gathered in one room.

The dozen or so people in the room were all renowned figures in the East City District, either gang leaders or patriarchs of powerful families.

To put it bluntly, if everyone in this room were killed, the East City District would immediately fall into chaos.

"Yu Sima, you rushed to gather all of us here. Surely it wasn’t just so we could watch you space out."

The speaker was Liu Peng, Gang Leader of the East City District’s Beggar’s Gang.

The Beggar’s Gang—the "beggar" in their name was a misnomer. They were in the pleasure trade.

They controlled more than half of the brothels in the East City District.

Back when Su Mu was the Sima of the East City District, the Beggar’s Gang kept an exceptionally low profile.

But now that Yu Xiujiang was the Sima, Liu Peng wasn’t afraid of him.

"Patience, everyone. It was not this Sima who summoned you all—"

Yu Xiujiang said.

He lacked Su Mu’s power, so he could only govern the East City District through gentle persuasion.

Fortunately, the lingering shadow of Su Mu’s authority remained. The Ronghua Association and the Qingcha Sect still showed him respect because of it; otherwise, his position as Sima would not be so secure.

"No matter who it is, isn’t it improper to make all of us wait like this?"

Liu Peng said, displeased, "Who do we think we are? And who does he think he is, to be worth so many of us waiting for him?"

"And what might your status be? Why don’t you enlighten me?"

Just then, a voice suddenly cut in.

The door opened, and a figure strode inside.

Clad in a Brocade and Ink Shirt, his presence was striking and handsome.

The extravagantly embroidered characters on his chest made Liu Peng’s expression freeze.

’Taiping Captain?’

His gaze moved upward. When he saw the man’s face clearly, he was instantly drenched in a cold sweat and slumped into his chair.

"Su—Su Sima?"

Liu Peng stammered, "Sima, you jest. I was just joking with Yu Sima. I honestly had no idea it was you who wanted to see us."

He was on the verge of tears.

’Damn that Yu Xiujiang, so secretive and vague. Why the hell didn’t you just say it was *this* master who summoned us?!’

’If I’d known it was him, would I have dared to open my mouth?’

’Forget waiting an hour, I wouldn’t have dared to let out a single fart even if he’d made us wait a whole day!’

Su Mu merely shot him a cold glance and paid him no further mind.

He walked directly to Yu Xiujiang’s side and took the main seat without any ceremony.

Yu Xiujiang and Chen Song stood behind him like bodyguards, one on his left and one on his right.

Zheng Wang couldn’t get a good spot, so he had to stand behind Chen Song, his hand resting on the hilt of his saber.

"Sit."

Su Mu said faintly, gesturing downward with his hand.

Only then did Shen Yizhi, Zhou Yin, and the others sit down. Liu Peng perched on the edge of his chair, trembling as he watched Su Mu, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

"I’ve called everyone here to discuss a certain matter."

Su Mu said slowly, "From now on, all of your families’ Martial Artists are to be transferred to the East City Bureau for assignment. This will last for a minimum of half a year, and a maximum of two to three years."

"If anyone has any objections, you may voice them now."

Everyone exchanged glances, momentarily unsure of Su Mu’s meaning.

"Lord Captain, what is the meaning of this? Even if you intend to recruit us, the East City Bureau can’t possibly support so many Martial Artists, can it?"

Vice Sect Leader Zhou Yin of the Qingcha Sect asked in a low voice.

"This isn’t a recruitment. It’s a temporary requisition."

Su Mu said.

"Captain Su, there has never been a precedent for such a thing."

Zhou Yin mused, "Our families have never been late with our taxes or labor levies to the Government Office. If you conscript all of our Martial Artists like this, it will be impossible for our families to maintain our livelihoods."

"We are willing to cooperate with the Government Office’s actions, but surely the Government Office owes us an explanation?"

"That’s right, Captain Su. If you want the horse to run, you have to let it eat."

A gang leader mustered his courage and added, "You can’t expect us to bleed for you and get nothing in return."

"Does anyone else have an objection? Speak now."

Su Mu said slowly, "If you have objections today, I will give you an explanation. But after today, if anyone feigns compliance while secretly disobeying... I, Su Mu, may recognize you, but this saber of mine will not."

CLACK.

Su Mu placed the Thunder Shocking Saber on the table.

At this, even Zhou Yin’s face paled slightly.

They had all personally witnessed Su Mu’s ruthlessness. The memory of how Chairman Ma of the Ronghua Association and several other families in the East City District had met their end was still fresh in their minds.

He was like that when he was merely the East City Bureau Captain; now, he was a Taiping Captain.

A Taiping Captain held a special warrant from the Imperial Authority to slay demons and eliminate evil.

Rumor had it that the Hu Family, one of the four great families of the Inner City, had been raided and seized by this very Captain Su.

The Inner City Hu Family was a massive crocodile; compared to them, these men were nothing but small fry.

"Captain Su, we didn’t mean anything by it."

The gang leader who had spoken earlier said with a deathly pale face, "I just wanted to ask... if our families send our Martial Artists over for assignment, will the East City Bureau at least provide meals?"

He had originally wanted to ask if the East City Bureau would pay them, but the words changed on his lips to whether they would provide food.

He couldn’t help it. That saber was just too terrifying.

"I will answer your question later. Does anyone else have anything to say?"

Su Mu stated calmly, "I’ll give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. If no one speaks, I will assume you have no objections."

Everyone exchanged glances again. They had a bellyful of objections, but the problem was, no one dared to voice them.

In the end, everyone’s gazes fell upon Vice Sect Leader Zhou Yin of the Qingcha Sect.

With the Ronghua Association now existing in name only, the Qingcha Sect was the undisputed top power in the East City District.

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