The Prefectural Governor's Mansion in Suzhou and Hangzhou.
It was also a grand mansion with eight courtyards in and out. The guards at the gate were real Six Doors constables, identical in configuration to the Prefectural Governor's Mansion in Fengcheng.
Chen Jiuyang arrived at the Prefectural Governor's Mansion in Suzhou and Hangzhou.
The Prefectural Governor of Suzhou and Hangzhou was a righteous, vigorous, and strong middle-aged man named Zhang Tianen. Upon seeing Chen Jiuyang enter the main hall, he chuckled and said, "It is said that heroes emerge from youth. Today, seeing young Mr. Chen, I can indeed say you have an extraordinary bearing."
"Greetings, Prefectural Governor," Chen Jiuyang said, cupping his fist in a salute.
In Suzhou and Hangzhou, if one were to speak of the highest social status and greatest power openly, it would be the Prefectural Governor before him, who managed all affairs within Suzhou and Hangzhou.
For a dignified Prefectural Governor to praise him upon their first meeting might not necessarily be a good thing.
The two had absolutely no prior connection.
Chen Jiuyang asked, "May I know why the Prefectural Governor has summoned me?"
Zhang Tianen had someone serve Chen Jiuyang a cup of tea before speaking, "Your Shu Mountain sect sells elixirs in our Suzhou and Hangzhou, boosting our local economy and earning widespread praise from martial artists. How could I not meet you?"
Chen Jiuyang's expression faltered, "Is it just for this?"
Following this, Zhang Tianen continued, "Some people in Suzhou and Hangzhou offended you some days ago. You dealt with them subtly, leaving them in a state where they could neither live nor die. These individuals, having exhausted all other avenues, came to me."
"It is better to resolve enmities than to foster them."
Chen Jiuyang frowned slightly, "Does Prefectural Governor Zhang mean for me to let them go?"
Zhang Tianen replied, "They were coerced by Japanese merchants. These Japanese merchants have invested a significant amount of money in Suzhou and Hangzhou and pay considerable taxes. While they may have erred, it does not warrant death. Moreover, some of them are my subordinates; they are all my responsibility."
Chen Jiuyang's brow furrowed, and he said, "Prefectural Governor Zhang, I had given them an opportunity. If they had apologized and allowed Yun Jingbai's concert to proceed smoothly, I would have let them off. However, they have shown no movement thus far."
"Furthermore, they asked my Dragon Country cultural promotion ambassador to drink with Japanese merchants. This matter cannot be justified in any way."
Zhang Tianen let out a cold snort, "Chen Jiuyang, are you implying that I am negligent in my governance?"
The atmosphere suddenly chilled by three degrees.
"I dare not!" Chen Jiuyang cupped his fist in a salute, "Right and wrong are clear in people's hearts. Prefectural Governor Zhang, for me to let them go is simple, but they must also demonstrate sufficient sincerity."
"That is only natural," Zhang Tianen said, "Come out."
As Zhang Tianen's voice fell, the Japanese merchant whom Chen Jiuyang had subtly dealt with walked out, followed by a middle-aged, beautiful woman in a kimono.
Zhang Tianen introduced, "This is my wife."
A hint of strangeness flashed in Chen Jiuyang's eyes. The wife of the esteemed Prefectural Governor of Suzhou and Hangzhou was actually Japanese.
Zhang Tianen chuckled, "The wife of the hero Chen Zhen decades ago was also Japanese. This is of no consequence."
Chen Jiuyang slowly nodded.
The Japanese merchant bowed, "Mr. Chen, I was quite discourteous some days ago. I implore your excellency to spare my life."
Chen Jiuyang coldly snorted, "That depends on your sincerity!"
The Japanese merchant spoke, "I heard that Mr. Chen is currently embroiled in a case of mass murder. The Ning family of the Jiangnan Sect is actually controlled by the Ueda family of Japan."
"The Japanese people in our Suzhou and Hangzhou are divided into two factions. One faction is like us, conducting legitimate business. The other faction is the Ueda family, involved in trafficking and smuggling."
"I received secret intelligence that tomorrow, the Ueda family will be transporting a batch of goods from the Suzhou and Hangzhou port back to Japan."
"As long as Mr. Chen intercepts this shipment, you can coerce the Ueda family to come forward, hand over the murderer, and clear Mr. Chen's name."
Chen Jiuyang's eyes immediately narrowed. It seemed Madam Ning's words were true.
As long as the Tianqi Legion could be dispatched to follow that ship to Japan tomorrow night and investigate the Ueda family, they should be able to uproot this trafficking and smuggling crime, allowing Chen Jiuyang to complete his marquis mission.
Chen Jiuyang coldly snorted, "It seems you truly wish to live."
As he spoke, he produced a prescription and said calmly, "Take this medicine according to this prescription, and you shall live."
"Within ten days, I want to see Yun Jingbai's concert proceed smoothly."
The Japanese merchant took the prescription and respectfully said, "Yes, Mr. Chen!"
"That's more like it. You both are people who can contribute to our Suzhou and Hangzhou economy. It is better to resolve enmities than to foster them. Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, we should hold a banquet to celebrate," Zhang Tianen said with a smile.
Chen Jiuyang, however, stated, "Thank you for your kind offer, Prefectural Governor Zhang, but I, Chen Jiuyang, will not dine and drink at the same table with foreign guests. Since the matter has been resolved, I should return home to cultivate."
"The Dragon Country Martial Rankings Competition will be held soon, and my Chen family of Shu Mountain has high expectations for me. I, Chen Jiuyang, dare not delay even a moment and need to improve my cultivation. Prefectural Governor, if I have offended you in any way, please forgive me. Chen Jiuyang shall take his leave now."
With that, Chen Jiuyang turned and left the Prefectural Governor's Mansion in Suzhou and Hangzhou.
However, as he left the Prefectural Governor's Mansion in Suzhou and Hangzhou, he felt a sense of strangeness, though he couldn't quite articulate it.
Upon returning to the Chen family in Suzhou and Hangzhou, Chen Jiuyang informed the Chen family patriarch of the day's events.
The Chen family patriarch pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "Based on my decades of experience, there should be no trickery involved. You do not need to personally go to Japan for now. Let the Tianqi Legion investigate the situation in Japan first, and then you can go to establish merit."
"If you leave the Dragon Country rashly and go to Japan, I fear Zhou Fangzun might try to kill you."
Reputation precedes a person.
Zhou Fangzun, the Third King of the Dragon Country, a Heavenly Realm King, possessed terrifying strength that was beyond imagination. This was why he could guard the border and prevent those with wolfish ambitions from daring to offend the Dragon Country.
Chen Jiuyang had offended Zhou Fangzun for reasons unknown to him. The Chen family patriarch was also apprehensive, which was why he summoned the fifteen families of Shu Mountain to Suzhou and Hangzhou. Should Zhou Fangzun truly intend to kill Chen Jiuyang, the Chen family could barely hold on for a while, buying Chen Jiuyang time to escape.
Chen Jiuyang's brow furrowed. He had not interacted with a Heavenly Realm King and did not understand the pressure. However, judging by the reactions of the Chen family patriarch and the Tianqi Legion, Zhou Fangzun was indeed not to be trifled with.
Chen Jiuyang indeed needed to act cautiously, "I will only act when the critical moment arrives."
After discussing this matter, the Chen family patriarch asked, "Jiuyang, can your Pure Yang True Qi suppress evil?"
Chen Jiuyang's expression faltered. Pure Yang True Qi only made him immune to all poisons. It was only with the third turn of Pure Yang that he could suppress evil. He replied, "It should be possible. Patriarch, why do you ask?"
The Chen family patriarch's expression turned grave, "Suzhou and Hangzhou is experiencing hauntings. Several of our Shu Mountain sixteen families have lost martial artists. I have also personally investigated, but I am unable to resolve it. If you can suppress evil, this matter will require your intervention."