Chapter 438: A Mutual Understanding

"Chief Constable Yang, it appears this matter truly falls under internal strife within the Water Transport Guild. Although my subordinate's methods were less than honorable, it has nothing to do with Rong Tribe spies."

"I caused such a huge misunderstanding this time because I failed to properly manage my subordinates. I will punish them severely and also compensate each of you Ironclads one thousand taels of silver."

Nangong Linghe cupped his fist in salute, his tone exceedingly polite.

One thousand taels of silver per person?

Lu Xiangdi and the others' expressions immediately improved considerably, and they even felt somewhat excited.

One thousand taels of silver could buy two Spirit Nurturing Pills, which meant one thousand points of martial arts Proficiency!

With their aptitudes, a full day of arduous training would only yield a dozen or so Proficiency points.

Two Spirit Nurturing Pills were equivalent to two months of bitter cultivation!

Yang Ling frowned and said, "Internal strife within the Water Transport Guild? I wouldn't say so. This matter has already involved the Ironclad Department. Before things are cleared up, it's unwise to jump to conclusions."

"For instance, why did Monk Mingfa and the others insist that those Foundation Consolidation Pills, Spirit Nurturing Pills, and rare exotic herbs belonged to them?"

"Could they also have participated in your Water Transport Guild's internal conflict?"

"My subordinates are merely Ninth-Rank. Are they worth targeting with four Sixth-Ranks plus your Seventh-Rank and Eighth-Rank subordinates?"

Those words made the atmosphere at the scene turn delicate once again.

One by one, the Ironclads' eyes flickered with suspicion.

Even the constables under Wei Xing felt the matter was far too absurd to be so simple.

"Not long ago, I just exposed a conspiracy between the Immortal God Sect and the Heavenly Wolf Guard."

"And now my subordinates have been targeted. If I hadn't arrived in time, they would have been thrown into the sea by Director Wei."

"I see this as targeting the Ironclad Department, targeting me. If word got out that a Director of the Ironclad Department killed her own Ironclads, I'm afraid the troops' morale would truly be shaken to its core."

"How would lower-ranking Ironclads ever trust their superiors again?"

Wei Xing's expression turned incredibly ugly, and she seemed to want to speak but held back.

"Mingfa comes from the Bitter Awareness Temple, a second-rate sect of our Zhao State."

"The other three also come from the Yellow Court Temple, the Chuyuan Sword Sect, and the Great Yan Sword Sect, all second-rate sects of our Zhao State."

"I now suspect these four and your Water Transport Guild Supervisor may be working for the Rong Tribe."

"You'd all better come with me and let my superior, Director Ji Kongliu of the First Division, personally interrogate you."

"ENOUGH!!!"

Seeing the situation growing increasingly serious, Wei Xing let out a cold shout.

"Yang Ling, the Second Division is taking over this matter. Don't be giving orders here. How to handle this is for this official to decide!"

Nangong Linghe glanced at Yang Ling expressionlessly and said flatly:

"Chief Constable Yang certainly enjoys slapping labels on people. Do you know that our Water Transport Guild fears others throwing dirty water on us the least?

I suggest you listen to Director Wei's advice. This matter shouldn't be escalated further.

Knowing when to stop is best."

At this point, those Sixth-Ranks who had been watching the spectacle also wore grave expressions.

This matter had exceeded their expectations.

They had assumed it only involved some Ninth-Ranks below, a bunch of Canal Workers.

But it turned out this group of Canal Workers were Ironclads.

Now they could see at a glance that Yang Ling, this Sixth-Rank Ironclad, had no intention of letting things go easily.

If this continued, they estimated it wouldn't just be the Water Transport Guild losing face. Sects like the Bitter Awareness Temple would also have a chunk of flesh bitten off.

This time, the Bitter Awareness Temple hadn't just sent Monk Mingfa. Several monks aged fifty or sixty had also come.

They too were among the hundreds of irregular personnel heading to Fire Flood Dragon Island this time.

They exchanged glances with the Sixth-Rank experts from the Chuyuan Sword Sect, Yellow Court Temple, and Great Yan Sword Sect, as if they had reached a certain decision.

"Chief Constable Yang, matters should be handled one by one. Don't drag our sects into this, otherwise..."

A Sixth-Rank from the Great Yan Sword Sect narrowed his eyes slightly.

This person was also an acquaintance of Yang Ling, Xu Zegang.

He had sold Blazing Gold to this fellow several times.

Though he had always used Zhao Qing's face.

Just then, a figure descended from the sky.

Ji Kongliu glanced at Xu Zegang, and the pressure of an Upper Fifth-Rank peak immediately made Xu Zegang shut his mouth.

Then he looked toward Wei Xing:

"Director Wei, the First Division is taking over this matter. You are not to interfere further. As for your crime of negligence, we'll discuss it later."

Ji Kongliu's appearance and his attitude made Wei Xing fall silent.

Nangong Linghe also furrowed his brow deeply.

"Speak, are you Rong Tribe spies?"

Ji Kongliu suddenly looked at Monk Mingfa and the other three, his gaze cold and sharp, the vital qi within his body already surging.

The terrifying pressure made these four Sixth-Rank experts' breathing become labored, and the vital qi within their bodies was no longer as active, as if dark clouds were shrouding their heads.

Monk Mingfa immediately said:

"Amitabha, this humble monk is willing to confess. Those three Foundation Consolidation Pills were not mine. Miss Zhao asked this humble monk to cooperate."

Zhao Yan from the Great Yan Sword Sect immediately looked at Monk Mingfa, a flash of shock and anger in her eyes.

The two from the Yellow Court Temple and Chuyuan Sword Sect exchanged a glance, bitter smiles appearing on their faces.

They truly hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

From their perspective, they were just cooperating with Zhao Yan, the Great Yan Sword Sect's favored genius, a branch member of the Zhao imperial family, to teach a few small bugs below a lesson.

Who could have imagined these bugs would be Ironclads?

These two hesitated briefly, then also admitted that the exotic herbs and Spirit Nurturing Pills had nothing to do with them, that Zhao Yan had told them to say so.

"Zhao Yan of the Great Yan Sword Sect, branch member of the Zhao imperial family."

Ji Kongliu's gaze fell upon Zhao Yan.

Lu Xiangdi and the others were somewhat unsettled. They had thought this time it was players targeting them.

But unexpectedly, it was Divine Realm natives targeting them. Why?

Xu Zegang was somewhat unnerved.

The various martial artists also hadn't expected things to land on Zhao Yan.

But why would the Water Transport Guild cooperate with Zhao Yan to do this?

"Nangong Linghe, Zhao Yan..."

Two young men of distinguished bearing not far away exchanged a glance, as if they had already guessed the answer.

"Is Third Brother taking revenge on Fourth Brother, then starting with Fourth Brother's subordinate Yang Ling?"

"Looks like Third Brother will be reprimanded by Father Emperor again this time. He's already been humiliated several times, yet he still hasn't learned his lesson."

These two couldn't help but shake their heads slightly.

"Zhao Yan, are you a Rong Tribe spy?"

Ji Kongliu's eyes narrowed slightly.

Zhao Yan thought for a moment, then said calmly:

"I have the Zhao family bloodline flowing in my veins. How could I be a Rong Tribe spy?

It's simply that I couldn't stand these few Canal Workers. When boarding the ship, the fishy smell on their bodies stained my clothes.

So I gave them a little lesson. There's no need to drag in accusations of being Rong Tribe spies.

Had I known they were Ironclads, today's incident naturally wouldn't have happened.

I'll just compensate them with some silver."

Many Canal Workers witnessing this scene, whether players or natives, wore extremely grim expressions.

Canal Workers of the Water Transport Guild could be casually disciplined like this?

At that moment, a voice suddenly came from above.

"Hand this case over to Yang Ling to handle now. Handle it however it ought to be handled."

Everyone instinctively looked up. They saw a figure standing before the railing at the very top of the giant ship. Because he was backlit by the sun, only a shadowy silhouette was visible.

Ji Kongliu and Wei Xing hurriedly cupped their fists in salute:

"Yes."

Seeing the two of them like this, everyone guessed that person was very likely the Ironclad Department's Fourth-Rank Grandmaster!

Nangong Linghe remained silent, offering no objection either.

"Chief Constable Yang, the lord above says this matter is yours to handle."

"Handle it however it ought to be handled."

Ji Kongliu looked at Yang Ling and gave him a meaningful look.

Yang Ling understood immediately. He walked straight up to the Seventh-Rank Water Transport Guild expert, snapped his neck, and tossed him into the sea.

Splash——

Water splashed on the sea surface, and the Seventh-Rank expert's corpse quickly sank.

The expression on Ji Kongliu's face froze instantly.

The entire giant ship fell into dead silence.