Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Without Morality, There’s No Hostage

“You dare defy the City Lord’s command? Are you looking to be demoted and investigated?”

Upon hearing Wei Fan’s words, the Order Officer flew into a rage.

This was an urgent matter—one Captain had already died. None of the other Captains dared take charge, so they unanimously nominated Wei Fan.

If he couldn’t bring Wei Fan to the City Lord’s Mansion, it would be him getting demoted.

Several people at the City Lord’s Mansion had already died. If more died, who knew if the City Lord would be next? And yet some Little Arrest Officer actually dared ignore the City Lord’s order—unbelievable.

Wei Fan’s face was expressionless: “Then the City Lord better hurry. Our Clerk told me I must wipe out the Black Wind Stronghold within seven days or else I’ll be demoted and investigated, too. Why don’t the City Lord and our Clerk have a race—see who manages to fire me first?”

“What the hell is Wei Qingyuan up to?”

The Order Officer froze as he heard this.

Wiping out Black Wind Stronghold was nearly impossible. The guy’s already about to be fired—does he look scared of threats of demotion?

“Chief Wei, just you wait. Wei Qingyuan is abusing his power for personal revenge. I’ll report this to the City Lord right now.”

The Order Officer clearly knew what was going on between Wei Fan and Wei Qingyuan, and hurried off without delay.

“You’re really determined to offend even the City Lord, huh?”

Luo Wen sighed. Judging by Wei Fan’s attitude, even if the City Lord managed to resolve Wei Qingyuan’s Black Wind Stronghold issue, Wei Fan had no intention of going to the City Lord’s Mansion to help.

Wei Fan nodded: “When I accomplished things, he turned a blind eye—tossed me five taels of silver and called it done. Now he’s in trouble, suddenly he remembers me? He’s dreaming.

If it comes to it, I’ll just shed this skin—what can he do about it?”

Wei Fan had absolutely no interest in saving the City Lord’s whole family.

After a little while, the Order Officer returned.

This time he wasn’t alone—Wei Qingyuan had come as well.

“Chief Wei, great news! Great news!”

Before even stepping into the office, the Order Officer was shouting: “Oh, wait, I should call you Captain Wei now.

Arrest Officer Wei Fan—hear this order:

For your recent feats in slaying Demon Fiends, and in recognition of your outstanding merit, the City Lord has decided to promote you to Inner City Captain. You are to take up your new post immediately.

Captain Wei, come with me to take office.”

Luo Wen was left in a state of shock and suspicion.

Pushing the City Lord like this should have infuriated him—yet not only did the City Lord not dare fire Wei Fan, he promoted him from Arrest Officer up two ranks, straight to Captain.

He’d become the top Inner City Captain, equal in rank to Wei Qingyuan.

If it were anyone else, they’d be kowtowing to thank the City Lord, but when Luo Wen looked at Wei Fan, he found he showed not the slightest reaction.

Wei Fan replied with his usual dry tone: “I’m busy. Still figuring out how to attack Black Wind Stronghold. I’ll talk about anything else after I pull that off.”

The Order Officer’s face twisted, aching to blow up.

But the City Lord had made it clear: do not anger Wei Fan, do everything to please him.

Now, with an unknown Demon Fiend on the loose, Wei Fan was their only hope for slaying it—offending him was out of the question.

Even though the City Lord had asked Su City for aid, just sending the message alone would take at least a day or two.

He hurriedly shot a look at Wei Qingyuan for help.

“The Black Wind Stronghold matter was my oversight. Captain Wei, please don’t hold it against me. Come take your post in the Inner City.”

Wei Qingyuan forced a smile, though his face was stiff with unhappiness, and stepped forward.

Wei Fan’s smile was faint, almost mocking: “Take the post in the Inner City? What, you mean go risk my neck for you lot? You really think I haven’t heard a Captain just died in there.”

That hit home—the Order Officer and Wei Qingyuan’s expressions changed instantly.

Because what happened at the City Lord’s Mansion was supposed to be confidential, few people knew.

Since Wei Fan had always refused to go, they assumed he didn’t know about the Inner City incident—just holding a grudge over past slights.

After a moment’s silence, Wei Qingyuan spoke: “So you already know. That means you have even more reason not to stand idle. Isn’t your reputation built on integrity, zero tolerance for Demon Fiends? This is the time to step up and eliminate evil, not hide away.”

Wei Fan was known for his stern righteousness and hatred of Demon Fiends. Back when everyone feared the Fierce Tiger Gang, he’d been just a lowly governmental officer who stood up to them, and even slew Huang Daxian.

At times like this, just invoke justice—he refused to believe Wei Fan wouldn’t cave.

“Thinking of kidnapping me?”

Wei Fan sneered: “I can’t stand seeing Demon Fiends harm people—but it depends on what kind of ’people’ they’re harming.

If Demon Fiends eat a bunch of beasts dressed as men, I’m all for it.

For years, the people of Yun City have suffered countless attacks from Demon Fiends, and what did you do about it? Nothing. You closed your eyes and did nothing.

And now, you’re experiencing just a few days of the terror ordinary citizens have endured for decades—and you already can’t take it?”

Wei Qingyuan and the Order Officer were livid; Wei Fan’s words were barely short of saying it’d be better if the City Lord died.

The worst part was, Wei Fan was all but calling them beasts.

Wei Qingyuan, almost losing his temper: “Wei Fan, you’re outrageous! Maybe you’re working with the Demon Fiends.”

“If you’re going to fire me, hurry up. If not, I’m going out on patrol. Ha! Honestly, I’d love to see how that Demon Fiend eats every last one of you beasts in the Inner City.

Maybe the City Lord needs to ask himself if it’s from doing too many evil deeds—the Demon Fiend ignores everyone else and goes after his whole family.”

With that, Wei Fan left, striding away. The whole office was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

He’d just openly expressed schadenfreude over the disaster at the City Lord’s Mansion.

This time, it was truly strange—the Demon Fiend showed up at the City Lord’s Mansion and nowhere else, only picking off people in the City Lord’s household.

“Serves him right. No wonder they wanted to promote Wei Fan to Captain—turns out there’s a Demon Fiend eating people at the City Lord’s Mansion every day.”

Luo Wen watched the backs of Wei Qingyuan and the Order Officer, feeling exceedingly pleased.

In Yun City, plenty of people hoped the City Lord would get eaten by a Demon Fiend—just that few had Wei Fan’s guts to say it out loud, and the City Lord didn’t dare touch him.

…

One day passed quickly; the City Lord didn’t send anyone else to look for Wei Fan. When his shift ended, Wei Fan headed straight home.

“Brother Wei!”

As he approached his door, the Zhang Family Girl and a middle-aged woman were waiting there, as if they’d been standing a long time.

Wei Fan stopped, keeping his distance: “Little Ya, who is she?”

The woman wore martial-attire and carried a longsword—obviously a Martial Artist.

Her energy was tightly suppressed; Wei Fan couldn’t sense her exact cultivation, but it was probably powerful—his Sword Intent actually resisted approaching her.

“She’s my master. Brother Wei, I’m leaving with my master to learn martial skills. When I return, I’ll repay the kindness you showed me and grandpa.”

The Zhang Family Girl looked at Wei Fan, her gaze firm and determined.

Her real name was Zhang Caiwei, but since her grandfather always called her ’Little Girl,’ everyone followed suit.

Her face was sallow from long-term malnutrition, but quite delicate—otherwise that beast Yang Jun wouldn’t have tried anything with her.

Wei Fan smiled, surprised at the opportunity: “Then you’d better study hard with your master! I’ll be waiting for your gratitude, but if your skills aren’t up to par, you won’t be able to repay me.”

He didn’t say much else, because when he looked at the middle-aged woman, his panel showed no changes.

This meant the woman hadn’t colluded with Demon Fiends, nor done anything wrong.

Because if she were guilty, the panel would’ve suggested killing her for power harvesting.

Of course, whether or not Wei Fan expected her gratitude—that was just his way of encouraging the girl to work hard at learning martial arts.

She’d come by specifically to say goodbye to Wei Fan, then left with her master.

The woman didn’t talk with Wei Fan, and he didn’t ask about her background—so long as she wasn’t a bad person, that was enough.

The Zhang Family Girl leaving to learn martial arts was infinitely better than staying in Yun City.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep