Guilty conscience breeds fear.

"Such a matter, how could we possibly trouble the two Lord Officers..."

Zheng Quan still wanted to argue further.

If the wizard officers from the Disciplinary Department truly intervened, not only would he lose the opportunity to eliminate his political rivals, but he might also risk exposing illicit issues among some of his own subordinates.

While his men might not necessarily have colluded with demons, ghosts, or foreign spies, they had certainly engaged in plenty of bribery and collusion with local criminal gangs.

After all, subordinates tend to mimic the behavior of their superiors.

However, before Zheng Quan could finish, he was coldly interrupted by Wizard Officer Jiang.

"Investigating internal traitors is the inherent duty of our Disciplinary Department. Furthermore, this matter concerns a secret realm; how can you speak of trouble?"

Pausing, Wizard Officer Jiang narrowed his eyes slightly and questioned, "Or could it be that the Chief Clerk Zheng does not wish for our Disciplinary Department to intervene in the investigation?"

Startled, Zheng Quan hurriedly denied it: "There is no such thing! Absolutely not!"

At that moment, the only thing he could do was comfort himself inwardly: It is merely an investigation of the clerks and runners, not an investigation into me. What is there to be afraid of?

At the same time, Zheng Quan quickly pondered what he should do if his subordinates were indeed found guilty of certain wrongdoings—how could he completely sever ties with them, extract himself, and avoid being implicated?

"I beg the Lord Wizard Officers to rest a moment. Your humble servant will go and assemble everyone in the county office right away and have them accompany you to the wizard temple for examination."

Zheng Quan intended to use the opportunity of gathering them to give his subordinates strict instructions, warning them to keep their mouths firmly shut during the wizard officers' examination and strictly forbid them from speaking recklessly!

If anything truly damning were discovered, they were to take the blame upon themselves and on no account drag him into it.

As long as he remained uninvolved, he would take care of the wives, children, and parents of those men.

However, right at that moment, Zheng Quan heard Wizard Officer Jiang say, "Not just the clerks and runners. The two of you must also accompany me to the wizard temple for examination."

"Ah? We must be examined as well?" Zheng Quan was stunned, caught completely off guard.

"Of course."

Wizard Officer Jiang nodded, throwing back the exact words someone had uttered earlier: "As principal officials, you must set an example! Only then will the people below harbor no resentment."

Zheng Quan's expression changed instantly.

Although he had not colluded with demons, ghosts, or foreign spies this time to plot against the Mount Yunhua secret realm, the number of wrongful deeds he had committed in the past was by no means small.

Bribing superiors, colluding with gangs, falsifying merit and demerit ledgers...

Any single one of these offenses was a grave crime!

It would have been fine if the wizard officers from the Disciplinary Department were only investigating collusion with demons, ghosts, and foreign spies; but if they intended to dig into these past misdeeds as well, he would be in deep trouble.

Zheng Quan was terrified, but he dared not show it.

He could only comfort himself inwardly: This is an extraordinary period. Both the imperial court and the Wizard Academy must maintain stability in Luoshui County, so they certainly won't investigate these matters. Even if they uncover something, they will turn a blind eye. I still have time to pull strings...

Damn it, there are far too many wizard officers in Luoshui County right now. Remaining here, although offering a chance to win merits, makes it all too easy to capsize. Perhaps I should apply for a transfer instead of trying to oust Shang Lu.

While Zheng Quan was in a state of chaotic anxiety, Shang Lu had already arrived at the Three Squads Courtyard.

He had not accompanied Wizard Officer Jiang to the main hall of the county office; Jiang's presence was quite sufficient to deal with the magistrate and the chief clerk, and his own presence there would serve no purpose.

Upon reaching the Three Squads Courtyard, Shang Lu had the squad leaders assemble all the newly recruited bailiffs and local braves into the open courtyard.

Liu Zhi remained in the dungeons, closely supervising the interrogations.

Du Feng followed Shang Lu to the courtyard, standing closely beside him and glaring like a fierce tiger at the batch of newly recruited bailiffs and braves.

Chief Constable Niu hurried over to Shang Lu, bowed, and reported, "My lord, the newly recruited bailiffs and braves have all assembled."

"Good."

Shang Lu nodded and commanded, "Everyone, follow me to the wizard temple to undergo the wizard officers' examination!"

Upon hearing that they were going to the wizard temple for examination by the wizard officers, the majority of the men felt nervous, yet they were not truly afraid.

After all, they had committed no wrongdoing; their only concern was whether there might be mistaken accusations.

However, a few of the newly recruited bailiffs and braves betrayed panicked expressions.

Daring not go to the wizard temple for examination, they immediately clamored that they wanted to leave and even attempted to incite the emotions of the others.

"This county lieutenant clearly does not trust us!"

"We are willing to risk our lives and contribute to the country, yet what we get in return is suspicion and hostility! Brothers, do you not feel chilled to the bone? Serving as bailiffs like this is hardly worth it!"

"Since they don't trust us, why should we stay here any longer? Brothers, let's all leave!"

"Leave?"

Du Feng crossed his arms over his saber, speaking with mocking disdain, "Do you take the county office for a latrine? You come and go as you please?"

Hearing this, Chief Constable Niu and the others nearby rolled their eyes in unison.

If the county office is a latrine, what does that make us? Excrement? Can you please engage your brain before you speak? Stop launching attacks that damage your own side thousandfold for every eight hundred enemies you hit!

Shang Lu's gaze locked not only on those shouting and causing a disturbance, but also on several individuals who shrank into the crowd, maintaining silence while their eyes darted restlessly as they scanned their surroundings in search of an escape route.

With a sudden, explosive roar, he commanded, "Seize the troublemakers!"

"Understood!"

Du Feng shouted in acknowledgment, charging into the crowd ahead of the rest to make the arrests.

Chief Constable Niu and the other squad leaders, seeing this, refused to lag behind and plunged into the crowd like ravenous wolves.

Those few troublemakers attempting to stir up the crowd tried to resist, but they were entirely no match for the seasoned squad leaders, let alone Du Feng, and were swiftly subdued.

Meanwhile, those individuals hiding within the crowd attempted to slip away in the ensuing chaos.

Yet no sooner had they broken out of the crowd than Shang Lu blocked their path.

"Where do you think you're going? If you have nothing to hide, why are you running?"

These men were startled at first, but then they exchanged glances, roared in unison, and charged straight at Shang Lu, attempting to subdue him together and take him hostage in order to escape.

However, they vastly overestimated their strength.

Barely having taken a few steps forward while roaring at the top of their lungs, they felt a massive surge of immense force sweep over them. Without even catching a clear glimpse of a figure, they were sent flying backward with loud thuds.

Upon hitting the ground, they felt an excruciating pain throughout their bodies, their bones feeling as though they had all been shattered, rendering them completely immobile as they lay on the ground, wailing in agony.

This sudden turn of events caused a ripple of commotion among the crowd.

Yet Shang Lu's thunderous methods deterred them from daring to act rashly.

Shang Lu instructed the squad leaders to escort the captured men to the dungeon for interrogation, then swept his gaze across the anxious crowd and said in a deep voice, "This is merely a routine examination. As long as you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. Those who clamored and attempted to slip away clearly harbor guilty consciences!"

Hearing this, the newly recruited bailiffs and braves relaxed somewhat.

And when they stepped out of the yamen and headed toward the wizard temple, they were astonished to discover that it was not only they, the newly recruited men, who had to go to the wizard temple for examination by the wizard officers.

The veteran clerks who had served in the county office for years were heading there as well.

Even the county magistrate, the chief clerk, and County Lieutenant Shang—who had just displayed his formidable skills before them and deeply awed them—were all heading to the wizard temple to undergo the examination alongside them.

Thus, the last lingering trace of resentment in their hearts vanished completely.

Zheng Quan, however, was filled with burning resentment.

He stared at Shang Lu, thinking vindictively in his heart:

I hadn't even begun to launch my retaliation, yet you actually struck first?! Why did I never realize before that you brat act with such decisive ruthlessness?!