Skinny Monkey’s body slowly slumped to the ground.
The next moment, several big men burst in.
One-eyed Dragon flipped the table on the spot, but before he could take a few steps, someone pinned him to the floor.
He didn’t even have time to ask who they were before a blade slit his throat.
The only thug left alive was terrified. He’d seen brawls and even killings before, but who wouldn’t fear men who walked in and murdered without a word?
Yet those men didn’t kill him. They dragged him before a man.
“What’s your name?” The man stared at the trembling thug.
“I—I—I—I’m Liu Asan! Spare me, sir! Spare me!”
The man frowned. “I’ll give you two choices. Work for me, or… go with them.” He pointed at the two corpses not far away.
“I’ll work for you! I’ll follow!” Liu Asan blurted out without hesitation at the prospect of surviving.
At that moment, in Fengyang County, a local official was frowning at the young man who had arrived late at night.
“What business do you have?”
“I’m the owner of the Lucky Pawnshop, here specially to pay my respects to Lord Hu.” The young man smiled brightly.
“Lucky Pawnshop?”
The young man didn’t answer, merely handing over a stack of banknotes.
Seeing the money, the official’s eyes lit up. In any other time, taking this bribe would be suicide, but nowadays—if the county magistrate ate meat, he and his underlings ought to get at least a sip of the soup.
He studied the young man, hesitated briefly, then reached out and accepted the notes.
That night, several households in Fengyang County received a surprise visitor after dark.
But come dawn, everything appeared normal.
Beneath the surface, however, a storm was quietly brewing.
First, a gang that had long dominated Fengyang’s docks was thrown into the river, and Liu Asan took over the wharf.
Next, the gambling house owner disappeared, replaced by a stranger no one had seen before.
Even the underground loan sharks and illicit salt trades were seized.
Oddly enough, these ousted groups had all enjoyed the backing of local officials—yet the authorities remained conspicuously silent. Many soon caught on: someone had struck a deal with the government. No one dared to probe further.
Days passed, and things carried on as usual.
In truth, the county magistrate knew nothing of it. He only noticed that his cut never dropped, so he was happy to stay out of it.
“The External Relations Bureau handled this well. Remember, I told you to spend money—but not like fools. Fools throw money away for nothing,” Fang Zhiyi said to his subordinates. “Spend wisely. Spend where it counts.”
The men nodded.
Someone asked, “Your Highness, why not just give the silver directly to the county magistrate of Fengyang?”
Fang Zhiyi glanced at him. He knew these were all rookies, so he didn’t grow impatient. He explained: “The eunuch faction and the Ningxi faction are locked in a fierce struggle. Don’t underestimate some petty official—he’s the key to governing this place. His circle is bound to have spies from the Ningxi faction or the eunuch camp. We can’t afford that risk. Even if there were no spies, how do you know whose pocket he’s in? He might sell you out without you even knowing.”
He paused. “That’s why I believe the bureau did an excellent job. In times like these, lower-ranking officials either have their salaries slashed or haven’t been paid in ages—they’re desperate for cash. And does the magistrate handle every detail himself? No. So targeting these middlemen was the right move.”
“Originally, bribing the Fengyang magistrate was budgeted at five thousand taels. Thanks to the bureau’s setup, we saved three thousand. That saved sum will be distributed as bonuses.”
At this, many eyes lit up.
Another payout? The Prince sure is generous!
Fang Zhiyi clapped his hands with a smile. “This mission was meant to sharpen your teamwork. The Action Bureau contributed immensely—swiftly and fiercely neutralizing the local gangs, absorbing their underground networks, and recruiting a number of new hands. They will also be rewarded.”
Several men puffed out their chests.
“Remember: as long as the job gets done, you won’t lack rewards,” Fang Zhiyi said.
In unison, they replied: “For the Prince, we will brave fire and water, even unto death!”
Fang Zhiyi shook his head, a bit exasperated. Let them have their enthusiasm.
He turned to a scrawny man with rat-like eyes. “Liu Laogou, does the money house have anything to report?”
Liu Laogou shook his head.
“Then the rest is up to you. Sort out these businesses quickly. I’ve taught you this long enough—don’t let me down.”
Liu Laogou rubbed his hands together, grinning. “Don’t worry, Prince. I’ll get it done!” His little eyes sparkled with cunning, reminding Fang Zhiyi of a certain potbellied old acquaintance named Qian.
Though one was fat and the other thin, that calculating glint in their eyes was identical.
Seems like such talents existed in every world.
“Remember this: never touch anything involving the great clans,” Fang Zhiyi instructed.
“Understood!” Liu Laogou hurried off.
After everyone had left, the head of the External Relations Bureau, Zhu Hongcai, emerged from a corner. His frame was hunched, as if he might collapse at any moment. Fang Zhiyi exchanged a glance with him, then stood and walked outside. Zhu Hongcai followed without a word.
Only when they reached the garden did Zhu Hongcai speak. “Your Highness, the matter you asked me to investigate—I have the results.”
Fang Zhiyi’s lips curled. His eyes were fixed on the rockery in the garden. “Since it’s clear, put the brothers to work.”
“Yes.” Zhu Hongcai bowed and began to withdraw.
“Wait.” Fang Zhiyi turned to look at him.
Zhu Hongcai stopped at once. “What else do you command, Your Highness?”
“Your bureau has been running high and low—after all that, everyone’s exhausted. Go collect three thousand taels and distribute it among the men.”
Zhu Hongcai was taken aback. “Your Highness, we do this willingly. You’ve already rewarded us once just now. How can we accept another…”
“Enough. This isn’t from me to them—it’s for them to give to their parents. Times are hard. If it were better, I’d build new houses for them in the outskirts of the capital.” Fang Zhiyi laughed. “Tell them: if anyone pockets the silver, I’ll break their legs!”
A flicker of gratitude showed in Zhu Hongcai’s eyes. “Yes!”
“Your External Relations Bureau—outwardly, you are negotiators, but in truth, you are my eyes and ears.” Fang Zhiyi patted Zhu Hongcai’s shoulder. “Crucial. Hurry up and train the spies.”
Zhu Hongcai nodded firmly. “Rest assured, Your Highness. As you instructed, I’ve almost finished the groundwork.”
Fang Zhiyi closed his eyes. “Remember: even internally, the bureau only conducts targeted investigations. Never expose the undercover agents you’ve planted.”
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
nd fell into a coma while saving his younger sister from an out-of-control car. He became a vegetable. No one knew that his consciousness had crossed into a world of cultivation. Over the course of sixty years, he began as the lowest kind of mine slave, struggling to survive amid mountains of corpses and seas of blood. By sheer chance, he eventually obtained the complete memories of a fallen Immortal King. Alchemy, medicine, formations, feng shui, physiognomy, artifact forging… Every great inheritance of the cultivation world was now his. But when he opened his eyes again, he discovered that ten full years had passed in the modern world. To pay for his treatment, his father had sold the family’s shop and house, leaving himself covered in lasting injuries and illness. His mother had cared for him day and night, and more than half of her hair had already turned white. His younger sister, who had been only fifteen back then, was now twenty-five. To help repay the family’s debts, she had been forced to lower her head and put on a smiling face in places of glittering lights and endless revelry. Only then did Chen Xuan understand that what he had lost was not merely ten years. He had lost the life his entire family was meant to have. The good news was that he had brought back the memories of an Immortal King’s entire lifetime. The bad news was that his soul had returned alone—his cultivation had not come with him. Spiritual energy was scarce, resources were depleted, and the modern world still had firearms, surveillance, capital, and laws. If he wanted to protect his family, break free from everyone’s control, and become truly invincible beneath the heavens, he would have to start all over again.
pression Bureau] Transported to a fantasy world overrun by demons and monsters, Gu Qingfeng becomes a jailer in the Demon Suppression Prison of the Great Yan Dynasty's Demon Suppression Bureau. From this point on, bizarre cases frequently occur in the Demon Suppression Prison, once known as hell on earth and infamous for its gloomy, terrifying atmosphere! Why do the demons and monsters in the prison wail miserably every night? Why has the corpse demon, capable of transforming into various beauties, donned black stockings and switched careers to become a foot massage therapist? Why has the eye demon, expert in soul-snatching and illusions, turned into a VR headset? Why is the fox spirit performing otaku dances? Are all these occurrences a twisted expression of demonic nature, or a descent into moral depravity? After peeling away layer upon layer of mystery, all clues ultimately point to a jailer named Gu Qingfeng. Gu Qingfeng: "Hehehe... My dear demons and monsters, whose card shall we flip today?"
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
