Chapter 00188: The Lord's Fury
# The Lord's Fury
Chapter 188
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 188: The Lord's Fury
When Ding Huan returned to the City Patrol Guard, Yan Mei and Lao Liu were happily counting crystals inside.
“Brother Huan…” As soon as Lao Liu saw Ding Huan return, he rushed over.
Usually, he wouldn't be so enthusiastic, mainly because he had discovered a problem: he could not establish a foundation here, no matter how hard he tried.
Without the ability to cultivate, the world lost its color and vibrancy for him.
Yet today, he found value and color in his existence.
Leading a group of younger brothers in West Wind City, flaunting his authority as an official representative—wasn't this what he wanted when he thought about establishing his foundation? As for avenging his past life? Ha, he couldn’t even establish a foundation, so how could he seek revenge?
“Brother Huan…” Yan Mei also came over to greet him.
Gu Bin, Wu Xun, Bei Huoer, and Peng Lei, seeing both Lao Liu and Yan Mei calling him brother, quickly followed suit.
Ding Huan scanned the ground and noticed heaps of crystals—there were several thousand of them.
It seemed that Yan Mei and Lao Liu had indeed made a significant haul.
“Well done! From now on, just call me captain in the City Patrol Guard. Sit down; let’s chat,” Ding Huan said, visibly pleased.
Once everyone settled, Ding Huan continued, “From today onward, the City Patrol Guard will take over all of West Wind City.”
“Brother… Captain, what about the Lord’s Residence?” Yan Mei, not understanding the underlying implications, immediately asked.
After all, in terms of official rank, Ding Huan, as the captain of the City Patrol Guard, was far inferior to the city lord.
Ding Huan waved his hand dismissively: “Don’t worry about the Lord’s Residence. If he dares to interfere, Lao Liu will take care of him.”
Upon hearing this, Lao Liu thumped his chest confidently: “Leave it to me, Brother Huan.”
Whether he was considered a captain meant little to him.
In his eyes, where he had the ability to act, he didn't need to worry about titles.
Gu Bin and the others were startled; after all, in the previous power structure, the City Patrol Guard belonged to the Lord’s Residence.
Now that Ding Huan openly disregarded the Lord’s Residence, it was clear he was preparing to overseer it.
However, remembering how Yan Mei and Lao Liu had wiped out the Iron Strength Alliance today, along with the hundreds of shopkeepers who aided them, they wanted to speak up but didn't dare to.
Their current captain was definitely no soft-hearted person.
“Yan Mei, you probably won’t be able to establish a foundation in the short term. If you want to join a sect, you’ll have to wait. If you’re unwilling to join a sect, how about training behind me? What do you think?” Ding Huan looked at Yan Mei.
Without hesitation, Yan Mei replied, “Brother Huan, I’ll follow you to train.”
Ding Huan’s innate talent might be lacking, but the Extreme Shadow Escape technique he passed on was undoubtedly extraordinary.
Furthermore, today he witnessed Ding Huan's killing techniques; that invisible wind blade was incredibly powerful.
Yan Mei suspected that even a foundation establishment expert wouldn't necessarily be a match for Brother Huan.
“Alright, I've found a place to stay in the large crystal area. Once you finish your business and return, I’ll teach you my training techniques,” Ding Huan said immediately.
He currently lacked a foundation establishment technique, searching for a small courtyard in the large crystal area was to create his own method for establishing a foundation.
With such favorable conditions, not seeking a path that suited him would only result in future humiliation.
“You can command me directly, Captain.” Although Yan Mei wasn’t as boastful as Lao Liu, his tone was firm.
He understood Ding Huan’s intentions well; hiding and avoiding wasn’t the goal; finding a quiet place to improve strength was the true purpose.
Ding Huan chose West Wind City; he absolutely wouldn’t stand still.
He believed in his judgment and choices; he initially chose wrongly with the Twin Soul Sect due to lack of experience.
If he were to choose wrong again, it would mean he truly was lacking.
Ding Huan felt that communicating with someone as smart as Yan Mei was simple:
“Yan Mei, take Lao Liu and the four here to recruit a patrol team in West Wind City. The number… let’s set it at one thousand two hundred people.”
“Ah…”
Gu Bin and the others, who were previously admiring Yan Mei, were utterly shocked at Ding Huan's words.
Recruit one thousand two hundred people? Was this rebellion?
Ding Huan had just said to not worry about the Lord’s Residence, and if they dared to interfere, Lao Liu would act—it already sounded like rebellion.
“Captain, I think… I think…” Gu Bin bit his lip, deciding he needed to voice his concerns.
Today had been far too exhilarating; they had experienced countless life-and-death situations.
“Now we are all part of the City Patrol Guard; speak freely.” Ding Huan said to Gu Bin.
He felt Gu Bin had been slacking off; the guy actually had some potential.
Receiving Ding Huan’s approval, Gu Bin quickly spoke: “Actually, there’s a leader in the East and South Cities named Pan Qi, and in the North and West Cities, there’s a leader named Gu Zhan Jian. Both are ruthless characters who have likely killed many of our patrol guards; if we recruit soldiers, they will certainly take action against us.”
Ding Huan laughed heartily: “You can take a few people to clean up the bodies on Sheng Dao Street. I killed Pan Qi and Gu Zhan Jian on my way here; there’s no need to worry.”
The unexpected good news left Gu Bin and the others in stunned silence.
In truth, although Yan Mei and Lao Liu had led them to eliminate the Iron Strength Alliance, they did not feel safe.
As long as Pan Qi returned, he might even attack the City Patrol Guard directly.
“Don’t worry, Captain. I will make sure to take care of everything you instructed.” Gu Bin was so excited he almost referred to Ding Huan as the city lord.
Ding Huan stood up: “Gu Bin, you will be the assistant to Vice Captain Yan in recruiting patrol guards in West Wind City, a total of one thousand two hundred people, with a monthly salary of one crystal. Additionally, the City Patrol Guard will also take over the city’s guards. Not just anyone can come or go as they please…”
To ensure his training wouldn't be disturbed and to maintain some peace in West Wind City, Ding Huan not only recruited over a thousand patrol guards, but he also required Yan Mei to take over the city’s defense.
In line with the laws of the Zhuang Xing Lord Nation, he established new laws for West Wind City.
These included charging merchant management fees and certain taxes, prohibiting fighting, reclaiming all houses in West Wind City without property deeds, and returning occupied houses…
Moreover, he even prohibited the circulation of Joy Branch.
This item was akin to drugs, and since he was overseeing West Wind City, it had to be banned.
Only after two hours did Ding Huan leave the City Patrol Guard and return to his residence.
It would be tough for a few days, but once West Wind City stabilized, he would find peace.
…
As Ding Huan returned to his small courtyard in the large crystal area to study the storage bags, the expression on Xue Bu's face in the Lord's Residence of West Wind City was dark as thunder.
Not only was his face gloomy, but his hands were trembling slightly as well.
Ding Huan was too arrogant; a mere captain of the City Patrol Guard dared to recruit soldiers in West Wind City.
Ever since the stationed guards of West Wind City were disbanded, there had been no guards stationed here for decades.
“Lord.” When Xue Bu was struggling to calm himself, a woman's voice came from outside.
“Yi Yi is back; come in.” Xue Bu tried hard to regain his composure.
Moments later, a woman in black entered.
She was Xue Bu's confidante, Cang Yi Yi, who bowed slightly before him and then spoke: “I’ve looked into it; Ding Huan is very strong. He killed Pan Qi, Gu Zhan Jian, Shan Hu Er, and Kong Xin effortlessly, and he didn't have any help during the process, not even using a magic tool—just relying on the wind blades...”
Xue Bu, who had been furious just moments ago, suddenly regained his calm.
Pan Qi, Gu Zhan Jian, Shan Hu Er, and Kong Xin were all at a similar cultivation level to him.
“Is Ding Huan a foundation establishment cultivator?” Xue Bu asked hoarsely.
How else could he kill those four who were all at the ninth layer of Qi Refining?
Cang Yi Yi shook her head: “I’m not certain. But if he has established his foundation, why would he come to West Wind City?”
Xue Bu fell silent for a long time before he finally spoke: “I need to go into seclusion soon and strive to establish my foundation. Even if I have to leave West Wind City after establishing my foundation, I still need to kill this bastard.”
“Yi Yi, keep an eye on the people in the Lord’s Residence and just collect the shop taxes in the Central District. Don’t confront Ding Huan’s City Patrol Guard.”
Cang Yi Yi remained silent.
“What? Is there a problem?” Xue Bu frowned.
Cang Yi Yi, looking a bit uneasy, said: “I just received news that Ding Huan has taken control of all of West Wind City, including the Central District. That means all shops apart from the Lord’s Residence must answer to the City Patrol Guard, and taxes and management fees must be given to them. Even the household registration office has been taken over by the City Patrol Guard.”
She didn’t add that she suspected that soon even the Lord’s Residence would have to pay management fees to Ding Huan.
“Fine, fine…” Xue Bu gritted his teeth, saying the words “fine” twice before managing to calm down.
After half a stick of incense, he sighed: “Since it’s like this, let’s just engage in the business of Joy Branch. There’s no need to compete with him.”
Cang Yi Yi then continued, “The business of Joy Branch has been explicitly banned by the City Patrol Guard, and I fear we won’t be able to engage in that anymore.”
“Bang!” Xue Bu slammed his palm on the table, his emotions that he had tried to control once again bursting forth.
After all, was Xue Bu the lord of West Wind City, or was Ding Huan the lord here?
“Go summon Ding Huan. Tell him that the Lord’s Residence has something important to discuss.” After pacing the room a few times, Xue Bu resolved to confront Ding Huan.
If he received no benefits whatsoever, would Xue Bu just starve in this place? What kind of foundation would he establish then?
“Lord, I’m just worried that Ding Huan might have ill intentions…” Cang Yi Yi couldn’t help but add.
Xue Bu snorted: “He dares not. The Zhuang Xing Lord Nation doesn't care about West Wind City anymore. If a city lord is killed, they will definitely intervene.”
Cang Yi Yi thought it over and agreed; West Wind City had survived many upheavals, but no one dared to harm the lord.
Xue Bu knew he likely wasn't Ding Huan's opponent, but in the Lord's Residence, he still had some confidence.
As long as Ding Huan hadn't established a foundation, he could use the Killing Formation of the Lord's Residence to finish him off.
In his judgment, the chances of Ding Huan having reached foundation establishment were slim to none; he was just someone who could kill opponents beyond his level.
A foundation establishment cultivator had no reason to remain in West Wind City.
(End of Chapter)