Chapter 83: Ningjiang City Under Martial Law
Ningjiang City is under martial law.
At least for martial artists with some cultivation, it’s equivalent to martial law, while ordinary people still don’t feel much.
Normal One Dragon Gate and Two Dragon Gate martial artists are actually just like normal people going to work, not getting involved in Ningjiang’s big or small affairs, all pretty much the same.
But for those related to the Ren Family, or those who were attacked at their door by Li Ye, or powerful martial artists with other businesses in Ningjiang City, they clearly noticed the shift in the wind.
Entertainment establishments are under stricter watch, and it’s not due to orders from above—it’s voluntary.
Public buses and taxis from transportation companies are all equipped with bronze mirrors, property management has been collectively replaced, ordinary residential community security guards aren’t martial artists, but martial artists with surging qi and blood appeared from who knows where, and bronze mirrors were installed at the main entrance and building entrances.
But it’s not abrupt at all; ordinary people just see them as quirky billboards, maybe some kind of performance art.
But other martial artists, regardless of their industry or connection to the Ren Family, have all been warned.
During this period, maintain stability, don’t cause trouble, and no accidents are allowed.
As for the Ren Family’s businesses, they’re really down on their luck.
Company heads have all been approached, not beaten or cursed, and operations aren’t halted—just someone sent to follow them or their sons, daughters, and parents, full of threat.
In one sentence: if you don’t comply, you’ll be in trouble.
Helplessly, they can only obey obediently.
Furthermore, they aren’t being asked to do anything—everything as usual, just no longer following their boss’s orders, completely sever ties with the Ren Family, not a word allowed.
Li Ye doesn’t dare do anything to halt civilian life; that would be truly stupid.
No matter how martial artists stir things up, it’s just martial artist business; escalating to individuals or small groups is fine, but affecting everyone
is not allowed.
Just like the Ren Family pinned down immobile by Pan Zhengyang, they haven’t gone mad enough that when Pan Zhengyang surrounds them, he orders food supply cutoff, logistics halt, traffic stop, and by the way shuts down real estate property management covering half of Ningjiang, leaving garbage in residential communities unable to be cleared and just piling up.
If you do that, that’s badass—even the most reckless or powerful people would give a thumbs up and say truly impressive.
Pan Zhengyang at most wants to force the Ren Family to the ‘counter-terrorism’ level, then annihilate them in one go.
But if the Ren Family does that, it’d be ‘suppressing rebellion’.
But with all contacts completely cut off, whether black or white, everything is under Li Ye’s control, eliminating skin-peeling demons and the possibility of the Ren Family issuing remote orders or receiving info to take action.
……
Ren Family old mansion.
Inside the large courtyard house occupying half a street, it’s a scene of grim tension right now, but no vehicles blocking it or seals posted at the door—just one person.
Pan Zhengyang has moved into the large courtyard house, personally pinning down the Ren Family, ordering them not to step out, and also jamming signals here.
He still has that much authority.
As for the reason…
Ren Family Head Ren Changtian leaning on his cane, staring tightly at Pan Zhengyang, shouted: “Pan Zhengyang! What exactly do you want to do!”
Pan Zhengyang smiled faintly, pointed to the test tube with black liquid placed on the table a few days ago, and laughed:
“Got the message that the Locust God Cult appeared in Ningjiang City causing disasters. The Ren Family is the mainstay of our Ningjiang City—if you fall, Ningjiang will quake. So I’m here guarding you.”
He’d said this kind of thing more than once already.
But Ren Changtian didn’t want to hear it.
He gave Pan Zhengyang a deep look and said gravely: “Save it. This old man can’t do anything to you, but you can’t do anything to this old man either. You guarding here now is just a few more meals; treated well here with good food and drink, and when the time comes, you go to Yangcheng—whatever you do will be for nothing.”
He glanced at the door, “Maybe you have arrangements outside, but no matter how you arrange them, it has nothing to do with my Ren Family. Pan Zhengyang, you have deep misunderstandings about us, but this old man can’t be bothered to explain.”
“Whether my misunderstanding of you is deep or not, time will tell—though I think my intuition is spot on.”
Pan Zhengyang picked his nose, flicked the booger, “You’re too lazy to explain, and I’m too lazy to explain. If you really push me, I’ll kill your whole family and turn myself in.”
Ren Changtian gnashed his teeth: “You’re at Human Origin, this old man is at Human Origin too, and I’ve cultivated longer than you. If we really fight, it might not be you who wins—don’t go too far!”
“Also, why target my Ren Family so specifically? Everyone knows about a lot of things in their hearts; they’re all within bounds, no influence. Is my Ren Family the only one in the world? Why keep staring at us?!”
“If you’re not satisfied, go abroad—oversight is lax there, cannibalism is routine in Southeast Asia, just a bit more Demon Realm.”
Pan Zhengyang said: “The Western Countries work too, more elegant cannibalism methods, voluntary system—pay for lives. You’re at Three Realms; you’d be welcomed there too, but in Shenzhou… no way!”
“I’m staring at you because you’re easy to bully—why not? Who can stop me?”
He grinned sinisterly: “No matter what you think, I haven’t been transferred yet anyway, so I’ll keep you pinned!”
“You!”
Ren Changtian glared at him hatefully, then slammed his cane on the ground, “This old man won’t say more to you. You’re malicious, this old man is kind-hearted—here in advance, I congratulate you on your promotion!”
With that, he turned and left the hall.
Pan Zhengyang didn’t care; he’d guard here this period, no one allowed to leave.
The Ren Family’s old undying was in a standoff with him, not making a move, and the remaining Second Realm heirs who had broken through the Mysterious Pass also clearly sensed his killing intent, not daring to truly anger Pan Zhengyang at this time.
In their view, Pan Zhengyang couldn’t be arrogant much longer—he’d be transferred away soon.
And their Older Brother was still outside handling things, so as long as one person was out, Ningjiang wouldn’t fall into chaos.
Pan Zhengyang knew this: that was Ren Xu’s father, Ren Changtian’s eldest son, away on a business trip.
Seemed like he returned a couple days ago, but why not come here after returning…
Hmm, so hard to guess.
……
Golden Splendor Nightclub.
In a private room with neon lights, Li Ye leaned on the sofa, cigarette in mouth, leisurely mixing western liquor.
“What exactly do you want to do!”
Beside him was a middle-aged man with a fixed posture, who shouted now:
“Li Ye, opposing our Ren Family has no good end—you’re still young, with a bright future ahead, martial arts training is hard—don’t ruin yourself!”
“Don’t ruin myself?”
Li Ye chuckled: “I’m seventeen, a Second Realm martial artist who’s broken three passes—which university I go to, their admissions office has to kneel and welcome me gladly. Whichever department I join, they have to put up banners to receive me.”
“You tell me not to ruin myself? The way you say it… I thought I was in the Great Qing Dynasty.”
He finished mixing the western liquor, raised the wine glass toward the middle-aged man, but shook his head, “Oh, forgot your hands don’t work. No matter—you’ll get a beautiful young lady to feed you personally.”
As he spoke, he bared a mouth of stark white teeth, saying words that made the middle-aged man’s pupils shrink.
“At least that skin is definitely pretty.”
Listing at noon tomorrow!
