Chapter 49: Coercion (Please follow, bookmark, and vote with monthly tickets and recommendation votes)

Chapter 49: Coercion (Please follow, collect, and vote with monthly tickets and recommendation votes)

Su Mu did not stay overnight in the inner city.

Despite Wang Guan's warm invitation, after eating a full meal, Su Mu set off to return to the outer city.

As for any other hospitality offered by Wang Guan, Su Mu politely declined.

Before reaching the perfection of Body Tempering, it was best to keep one's vital energy tightly locked.

Matters of men and women would only hinder the progress of Body Tempering.

Refusing Wang Guan's escort, Su Mu hurried toward the inner city gates before nightfall descended.

"No transit permit and unauthorized entry into the inner city—arrest him!"

The guards at the gate were not the same group that had seen him enter. Just as Su Mu was queuing to leave, a guard suddenly waved his hand.

*Clatter!*

Several long spears were instantly leveled at Su Mu from various directions.

…………

Not far from the inner city gates was a row of guardhouses, the resting place for the gatekeepers.

At this moment, inside one of the guardhouses, several people were conversing.

One of them was none other than He Yuxing, the Sima of the South City Division.

"Brother He, rest assured. He has no transit permit and no identity token. I will have no problem arresting him according to the rules," a man dressed as a general spoke up. "Once I've intimidated him, you can step in to rescue him. For a kid who hasn't seen the world, won't he be filled with gratitude toward you?"

"Originally, I wanted to temper his temperament, which is why I didn't give him an identity token. I didn't expect it to serve such a purpose today," He Yuxing said slowly, stroking his beard. "Young people simply haven't been beaten enough, which is why they harbor so many unrealistic fantasies. After today, he will realize that joining our He family will bring him nothing but benefits."

"Although this Su Mu's Body Tempering realm is somewhat lacking and won't catch the eye of the clan, his ability to master Blade Intent is quite rare even in the outer city. With your assistance, Brother He, I am sure you will be able to reach even greater heights," the general said with a chuckle.

"If that day comes, I shall certainly not forget Brother Feng's assistance."

The two exchanged glances and laughed together.

…………

Su Mu did not resist, instead allowing the guards to lead him into a room with a single window barely a foot square.

The inner city was strict about entry but lenient about exit; usually, they only checked for contraband and did not re-verify transit permits.

Furthermore, the opponents gave him no chance to explain, moving straight to arrest him.

No matter how slow Su Mu's reactions were, he knew they were clearly targeting him.

*I just managed to fool the Wang family, and now who is it this time?*

Su Mu thought somewhat helplessly, *When others show talent, they ascend to heaven in a single step, and money and beauties flock to them. Why is it that when I show a bit of strength, I only attract all sorts of trouble? Can't you use normal methods to recruit me? If you provided enough wealth and honor, I might actually consider it.*

To recruit someone, you should use incentives. What is the meaning of coming at me with coercion?

Do you look down on me?

I originally wanted to interact with you as an ordinary person, but all I got in return was alienation.

Fine, I'm done pretending. I'll lay my cards on the table.

As Su Mu was thinking, the door suddenly creaked open, and a man dressed as a general strode in.

The general sat down heavily across from Su Mu, one hand resting on his knee and the other pressing against the hilt of the saber at his waist, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.

"Su Mu, do you know the crime of unauthorized entry and exit of the inner city?" the general barked, staring intently at Su Mu.

"Great Xuan Law: unauthorized entry into the inner city results in one hundred strokes of the cane and exile for three thousand miles," Su Mu answered instantly.

As a constable, how could he not understand the Great Xuan laws? He had truly studied them seriously.

Feng Wandong: "..."

Su Mu had snatched his lines, leaving him momentarily unsure of how to respond.

An awkward silence lasted for several breaths.

Feng Wandong snorted coldly. "Breaking the law while knowing it! That is an aggravated offense! I sentence you to three hundred strokes and exile for six thousand miles!"

Exile for six thousand miles—with the physique of a Body Tempering martial artist, he might not die on the road. But once he reached the desolate, harsh borderlands, his labor would be squeezed dry until he died. Moreover, three hundred strokes were enough to take his life.

*Now, are you still not afraid?* Feng Wandong thought triumphantly.

Next, it was time for Brother He to make his appearance.

Feng Wandong could almost see Su Mu trembling in terror. He was just about to signal He Yuxing when he saw Su Mu standing there calmly, his expression unchanged, without a trace of fear or panic.

"You aren't afraid of death?" Feng Wandong blurted out.

"How could I not be afraid?" Su Mu said. "However, General, what if I wasn't entering or exiting the inner city without authorization? Would I then be exempt from punishment?"

"Yes," Feng Wandong said. "If you can produce a transit permit or an identity token of a Head Constable or Squad Leader, I will release you immediately. Do you have one?"

Su Mu was a Squad Leader of the South City Division, and since He Yuxing, the Sima of the South City Division, was outside, it was impossible for him to have a transit permit or a Squad Leader's token. He Yuxing had never given him either.

Feng Wandong was brimming with confidence.

"Kid, let me teach you a lesson: rules are rules. If you want to break the rules, you must have the status to do so," Feng Wandong said. "Unless someone vouches for you, you will not escape punishment today! But is there anyone to vouch for you? Others aren't your father; why should they?"

By this point, he had practically made his intentions clear.

Why would anyone vouch for him? Unless he pledged his loyalty to someone, they wouldn't step in.

Shouldn't recruiting talent be done through incentives? Why do you all choose coercion?

Ultimately, it was because these great families had sat high above for too long. Perhaps they felt that their willingness to recruit Su Mu was already a divine favor.

Just as Su Mu was debating whether to fight back or continue bluffing, a loud *bang* echoed.

The door was kicked open from the outside.

"Feng Wandong, I'll vouch for him. Is that enough?" an arrogant voice rang out.

"Who is it?!" Feng Wandong frowned. He hadn't expected someone to cause trouble on his turf and immediately turned to look.

As he looked, his frown deepened.

"Young Master Wang, what does this have to do with you? Is he your man?"

Looking past Wang Guan, Feng Wandong saw He Yuxing and his subordinates being blocked outside by several men—clearly, they were men brought by Wang Guan.

"Wrong!" Wang Guan shouted. "He is my brother! Feng Wandong, my brother Wang Guan cannot enter or exit the inner city? If you think I can't protect him, should I have my Eldest Brother come talk to you? And if my Eldest Brother's weight isn't enough, how about I have my father come?"

Feng Wandong's expression shifted slightly.

Although Wang Guan was a profligate young master, his eldest brother was a leading figure of the younger generation in Wuling City. Not to mention Wang Guan's father, who was the head of the Wang family, one of the four great families and the most powerful figure in Wuling City.

Wang Guan gave Su Mu a triumphant wink: *Don't worry, brother, I'll definitely get you out.*

"Feng Wandong, is my Wang family really unable to invite a single person to enter and exit the inner city? Do you dare to look down on my Wang family?" Seeing that Feng Wandong remained silent, Wang Guan flew into a rage, stamping his feet and rolling up his sleeves.

Feng Wandong hesitated, glancing at He Yuxing, who was being held back outside.

He Yuxing was not from the direct lineage of the He family, and neither was Feng Wandong. Their statuses were somewhat insignificant in front of Wang Guan.

"Release him!" Feng Wandong finally waved his hand and spoke.