Martial Star Ocean - Chapter 9 Sudden Change

Chapter 9 – Sudden Change

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But what he lacked was actual combat experience. If he were to truly fight, his opponent surely wouldn’t stand around like a stone block and allow him to freely strike them. Thus, if he were to fight someone on the level of Ma Junmo, his chances of winning would only be around 70-80%.

Li Mu objectively judged his strength.

“How strong is the Divine Orchard Gang in the county? Do they have any powerful masters in their ranks?” Li Mu also asked.

Ma Junmo’s thoughts skipped a beat as he heard this.

News of what happened yesterday in the court hall had already spread through all the high level circles of Alabaster County.

Many people thought that this new young county magistrate was crazy and all of them were waiting to see what kind of joke he would make of himself.

But for the lord county magistrate to ask such a question, could he really be planning on moving against the Divine Orchard Gang?

“The Divine Orchard Gang was founded over 20 years ago. They were a gang formed from various medicine, agriculture, hunting, and alchemy industries. The gang has thousands of members, and although most of these people are ordinary citizens, they can still be considered a considerable influence in Alabaster County City. The gang has over 10 beginning-level masters at the Strength Unity realm and at least two third-class masters of the Energy Unity realm: the gang leader Sikong Jin as well as their guest Fan Changan.” Ma Junmo was clearly a proficient county guard chief captain. He had a great deal of information about these matters.

But at the end, the straightforward chief captain couldn’t help but add on, “The Divine Orchard Gang has been operating in the county for dozens of years already. They have formed all sorts of intertwined connections with different officials and merchants; they cannot be underestimated.”

This could be called an extremely vague reminder.

Ma Junmo thought that this was the very least he could do.

As for whether or not this young county magistrate listened to him, that was his own business.

Although Li Mu was his boss, his foundation was too shallow and he possessed too much of a youth’s impulsiveness. He wouldn’t accompany Li Mu to his death.

As Li Mu heard this information, his heart began to race.

So, it seemed that the Divine Orchard Gang’s influence was a bit greater than expected. This would be a little troublesome.

Should he first endure for a year or so until his strength increased before he did something?

But thinking about it, this was not a feasible idea.

He had already put forth an act. Even if he must cry, he had to play the role until the end.

Otherwise, wouldn’t he really become a joke?

At this time, the sound of rapid footsteps came from outside. A county guard rushed in, panicked, “My Lord, My Lord, things are bad! Some thugs attacked the medical hall and captured Zhang Li and her daughter! Zhang Ru has also been killed…”

“What?” Ma Junmo’s complexion changed and he stood up.

Li Mu was stunned before immediately understanding what happened. He took a few steps forwards and grabbed onto the county guard. “What did you say? What is going on?”

“People from the Divine Orchard Gang attacked the medical hall…” The county guard’s voice shivered as he replied. He was also wounded from the fight.

Li Mu had sent the plaintiff Zhang Li and her daughter Little Kin to the medical hall for their wounds to be healed. At the same time, he assigned the county guard Zhang Ru to protect the plaintiff. However, only a day had passed and a bunch of hoodlums from the Divine Orchard Gang had been prompted to attack. They said that Zhang Li had falsely accused Divine Herb Hall and was colluding with the dog officials from the County Administrative Hall, and that all of this was done to ruin their livelihoods. Then, they forced their way into the medicinal hall and captured the plaintiff. As for the county guard Zhang Ru who worked for the County Administrative Hall, he had even been beaten to death…these actions were simply overturning the heavens.

“Motherfucker!”

Li Mu’s anger suddenly erupted.

They dared say he was a dog official?

Then he would kill those bastards.

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Alabaster County’s official administrative medical hall –

The front doors had been broken in and even the signboard had been pulled down and torn apart. The entire courtyard was in tatters and pained groans echoed out.

Of the medical hall’s four doctors, three had been knocked unconsciousness and another had a broken leg and blood dripping down his head. He was being supported by an apprentice whose face was beaten black and blue. They sat at the entrance of the medical hall, their faces numb as they gazed at the chaos.

The people from the Divine Orchard Gang had already left.

Li Mu had come one step too late.

The air was filled with the smell of blood.

Li Mu had sent four county guards to protect Zhang Li and her daughter. Besides the one that had returned to report this incident to him, two of them were lying unconscious in the lobby with broken hands and feet.

But, the only county guard that Li Mu knew by name was that young and strong Zhang Ru. It seemed that because he had resisted, someone had shoved a sharp medicine scoop through his chest, pinning him to the dark wooden screen doors of the medical hall. His eyes were wide open and he held a long service saber in his hand. A pool of blood had formed beneath his feet, and his eyes were filled with pain and anger as if he had died with deep injustice and unsatisfied grudges.

This was the first time Li Mu had seen a corpse at such a close distance.

But he didn’t feel fear.

What had been a living person yesterday had become an icy cold corpse today.

Li Mu lifted his hands and brought down Zhang Ru’s corpse. He gently laid him down, stroked his face and closed his eyes.

On the side, even though Chief Captain Ma Junmo had become accustomed to the arrogant and reckless actions of this gang, he still couldn’t conceal the anger on his face.

The Divine Orchard Gang was becoming increasingly daring and excessive; they even dared to kill a county guard. Their gallbladders were larger than the heavens.

As for Li Mu, he actually calmed down.

The reason he had given a buffer of three days’ time was in order to obtain more information and get a better understanding of the situation and then deal with this manner calmly and reasonably. But now, it seemed that some people’s arrogance had become utterly uncontrollable and could only be dealt with in the most simple of ways.

He took the steel saber from Zhang Ru’s hand and looked towards the county guard who had reported this incident to him. He asked, “You saw what happened. Was this all really done by people from the Divine Orchard Gang?”

The county guard shivered. He didn’t dare look Li Mu in the eyes. He nodded and said, “This subordinate saw everything clearly. The Divine Orchard Gang’s Four Heavenly Guardians led people to break their way into the medical hall and capture Zhang Li and her daughter. Big Brother Zhang Ru ordered me to report this to you, but I never thought that…” Speaking to here, the county guard burst into tears. Although he was afraid of death, Zhang Ru was a kind older brother who had looked after him and his fellow colleagues.

Li Mu looked at Ma Junmo. “Chief Captain Ma, is the headquarters of the Divine Orchard Gang located in the city?”

“It is in the city.”

“Then do you dare to lead me there?”

“This is…” Ma Junmo hesitated for a moment. The Divine Orchard Gang was formed from all sorts of complex elements and they had no lack of ruffians and thugs at their command. The headquarters was even worse, simply a ruinous mess. If they really caused a ruckus then those outlaws might go insane. At that time, lives would be put in danger.

“You do not need to fear. Just bring me to the entrance of their headquarters; you do not need to guide me in.” Li Mu calmly said.

But even though Li Mu’s expression was calm, Ma Junmo felt that this young county magistrate was like a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.

“Of course this subordinate dares to bring you.” Ma Junmo’s face blushed red with Li Mu’s words. He began to feel his blood boiling over. He grit his teeth and shouted out, “Zhang Ru was my soldier! I will also demand justice for him. But, My Lord doesn’t need to brave this danger alone. We should gather the county guards and soldier guards first and then go together…”

Li Mu shook his head. He said with a bit of disdain, “Does Chief Captain Ma still believe that I can mobilize the soldier guard troops of Alabaster County?”

Ma Junmo fell into an awkward silence.

County Deputy Zhou Wu and County Commander Zheng Longxing were secretly undermining Li Mu. Even he had managed to catch wind of this.

Thus, he was well aware that besides a small number of county guards, this county magistrate was in truth nothing but an empty figurehead without any power at all. He couldn’t mobilize any soldiers.

“Let’s go.”

Li Mu lifted the saber and walked out of the medicinal hall.

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Zhou Mansion –

County Deputy Zhou played with a ring of beads in his hands, a sinister smile etched across his face.

“I never thought things would be like this. This young county magistrate comes from a scholarly background, but he does have a little courage. He actually wants to go to the headquarters of the Divine Orchard Gang alone, hahaha…the heavens are truly helping me.” He smiled, his face just like that of a snake.

He was well-informed of all matters. Everything that occurred in the county was within his grasp.

On the side, County Registrar Feng Yuanxing smiled. “The Divine Orchard Gang is supported by County Commander Zheng Longxing, and is also considered his right hand. For these past years, they have handled many matters for him, but this Zheng Longxing simply doesn’t realize that you have already placed a spy in the Divine Orchard Gang. When Zheng Longxing sent people to break into the medical hall, he shouldn’t have wanted to kill anyone, but you actually moved in secret to do so…haha, this has truly become a great mess now. Let’s see how this Zheng Longxing deals with this.”

Zhou Wu playfully smiled. “Yes, but this matter hasn’t become great enough.”

“Lord’s meaning is…” Feng Yuanxing asked with a smile.

“I’m saying that if this young county magistrate isn’t careful, he might accidentally die in the Divine Orchard Gang’s headquarters, and then wouldn’t Zheng Longxing be in an even worse situation?” Zhou Wu lightly said.

Feng Yuanxing was startled. A trace of alarm and fear flashed through his eyes.

What a vicious and sinister plan.

If he could take advantage of this opportunity to kill the young county magistrate in the Divine Orchard Gang’s headquarters, then the entire Alabaster County City would be turned over.

After all, he was still a ninth-grade official. If he died to the hands of a gang, then no matter how corrupt and inefficient the empire’s government was, they would still investigate this. It would be easy for the empire to find the connection between Zheng Longxing and the Divine Orchard Gang. At that time, even if he wasn’t sentenced to death, his position as the county commander would come to an end.

As things stood, just a little bit more planning and the seat of Alabaster County Magistrate would completely belong to County Deputy Zhou Wu.

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At the same time, at the county commander’s office –

Zheng Longxing had a happy expression on his face. “Haha, that turtle finally left the County Administrative Hall. My painstaking efforts finally bore fruit…however, why did that county guard die? Didn’t I give express orders not to kill anyone?”

“It might be because those outlaws from the Divine Orchard Gang were unable to control themselves…” The aide on the ground explained, fear thick in his voice.

“Whatever. The goal has been achieved, so the death of a county guard isn’t anything at all.” Zheng Longxing waved his hand.

“My Lord, how about having Sikong Jin move to get rid of that fellow and end this trouble.” The aide pulled his finger across his throat.

“What nonsense.” Zheng Longxing scolded. “Who doesn’t know of my relationship with the Divine Orchard Gang? If that young county magistrate dies in the Divine Orchard Gang then there is no way I can escape being connected to this matter. Hehe, This time I fear the entire county is paying attention to this matter. Tell Sikong Jin to stay in seclusion and not see that small county magistrate. If the county magistrate forcefully rushes in, have someone in disguise catch him and make him suffer a little before releasing him in public….as for what happens afterwards, there is no need for you to worry about it.”

“Understood.” The aide rose up to leave.

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