The Black Book: Seven Deadly Sins

"Did you offend some noble person? To the extent that they can mobilize the Minister of Criminal Justice against you?"

Pushing others away, Yin Tianze held the boy's hand with concern and asked.

"Uh... does the Third Prince count?"

"The Third Prince?! How did you provoke him?!"

"Emmmm..."

Seeing Yin Tianze's tiger-like eyes widening in shock, Zhu Haomiao pursed his lips, finding it hard to explain.

"Didn't you meet Sister Ke Jun?"

"I've been reporting your situation to Zuo Jinwu all morning, where would I find time to meet Ke Jun? Don't change the topic, how exactly did you provoke the Third Prince?"

"Sigh... it's a long story..."

"Then make it short!"

"The Third Prince likes Sister Ke Jun."

"....."

Yin Tianze's expression froze, immediately understanding something, and then he fell into a deathly silence.

After a long time, Yin Tianze looked at Zhu Haomiao with guilty eyes, muttering dejectedly.

"My dear nephew, I'm sorry..."

"Uncle, why do you say that? You haven't done anything wrong."

Zhu Haomiao laughed carelessly, patting Yin Tianze on the shoulder, disregarding formality.

"Besides, it's just a Prince, not the Emperor, I don't believe he can cover the sky with one hand."

Hearing this, Yin Tianze regained his spirit, nodding to himself as if in self-hypnosis.

"That's right, the Third Prince leans on Duke Ning, his main influence is in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue, he can't control us!"

"Rest assured, my dear nephew, I will find a way to help you resolve this conflict!"

Having said this, Yin Tianze turned and hurried away, but halfway, he suddenly remembered something and turned back.

"By the way, your official papers for promotion to seventh rank will arrive in two days."

"Make this file look good, with this achievement and qualifications, after some time, you can naturally replace Shao Jie's position and be promoted to Sixth Rank!"

"Thank you, Uncle."

Seeing the boy's composed demeanor, Yin Tianze felt even more guilty.

How could such a heroic young lad, with a nature like this, get himself into such unnecessary trouble because of me...

Thinking of the Third Prince's extensive network and immense power, Yin Tianze's heart grew heavier.

Even if he could fend off the overt attacks, what about the covert assassinations?

Even more frightening, the Third Prince is among the most likely heirs, what if he ascends the throne in the future...

At that thought, Yin Tianze felt terrible all over.

On the other side, watching Yin Tianze leave worriedly, Zhu Haomiao rubbed his chin, half-smiling.

Tsk, tsk, is that big baby really that jealous?

Or is it because he lost face in front of Yin Kejun and Zhao Nuo when I confronted him, hurting his self-esteem?

"Sigh, pampered brats are just so fragile, can't handle even a bit of setback."

Just as he entered, Yan Yunsheng heard the boy's random muttering and paused for a moment, then adjusted his mindset and reported anxiously.

"Sir, something's happened!"

"Oh? What is it?"

"The Tiger Head Gang has planted their flag at Lechang Square, claiming they're going to set up a hall and establish authority!"

"Tsk, tsk, they've smelled the scent and are here for the taking when they see the unclaimed fat meat. I didn't clean up Lechang Square for them to take advantage..."

Sneering, Zhu Haomiao suddenly furrowed his brows, narrowing his eyes.

"Wait, I remember, isn't Duke Ning behind the Tiger Head Gang..."

"Yes, sir."

After all, you're the one who told me!

Yan Yunsheng added silently in his heart, then immediately heard words that left him horrified.

"In the future, pay attention to Duke Ning's forces, find an opportunity, and kill one on sight!"

"What?!"

"The Minister of Criminal Justice who tried to arrest me earlier was Duke Ning's man, any more questions?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Yunsheng suddenly realized he had been caught up in an upper-level power struggle, and after a brief hesitation, nodded resolutely.

"Understood, sir!"

"Very well, here is an Ancient Secret Manual titled 'Void Refining God and Returning to Truth Technique.'

"It and 'Constant Star Melting Furnace Body Tempering Technique' complement each other inside and out, practice to perfection, and you can shatter the void and ascend in broad daylight. Keep it well and pass it on to brothers with enough achievements at the right time."

Blankly receiving the small booklet handed by the boy, Yan Yunsheng was full of confusion.

Shatter the void, ascend in broad daylight?

Such a high-level Secret Manual, handed to me just like this?

No trial of walking on a blade mountain or boiling in an oil pot?

Clenching the book in his hand, a fierce determination arose in Yan Yunsheng's eyes as he nodded calmly yet frantically.

"I will follow your orders, sir!"

Seeing this, Zhu Haomiao smiled faintly and began walking.

"Let's go, I want to see who is so disrespectful to come and plant a flag on my turf!"

You want to bring black and white forces together, do you?

Bound by the Heavenly Dao, I can't kill the Third Prince for now, but I can certainly kill you gangsters, right?

Do you know what it means to act on behalf of Heaven?!

With a group of fierce constables, they headed straight to another corner of Lechang Square. The vanguard ignored obstructions and kicked open the gate of a closed courtyard.

Armored constables poured in like molten silver, surrounding a group who were offering incense in the courtyard.

Shocked by these wolf-like constables, a burly man in the lead frowned, his gaze falling on the handsome young man entering under escort.

"Sir, why do you intrude into a private residence?"

"Private residence? Isn't this the newly-flagged Tiger Head Gang's 'Lechang Hall'?"

Half-smiling, Zhu Haomiao leisurely inspected the people around the man, his critical eyes like those of a butcher assessing pigs.

"There really are more good people in the world, rushing to give me gifts..."

With that, the boy lazily waved his hand.

"Take them down. If they resist, kill them without mercy."

Upon hearing this, the faces of everyone in the courtyard changed drastically.

Having never expected the other side to ignore the rules and resort to killing immediately, they hastily picked up weapons to fight the constables.

"Don't get entangled, follow me to break out!"

The leading man roared, charging through Yan Yunsheng's blockade and heading straight for the slender and elegant boy.

In the blink of an eye, the man had already planned to take the boy hostage and then escape with his brothers unscathed.

Snarling, the man chopped left and right, driving back the advancing enemies, but upon truly facing the boy, an uncanny chill crept over him.

The boy in front was too calm, too composed. That half-smiling expression was not as if he was looking at an angry enemy, but rather at a flailing ant.

But with the arrow already on the string, he had to release it. The man suppressed his terror, clawing at the boy's neck with his fingers like eagle talons.

But at that very moment, the boy raised his hand, striking with a fist that hit the man's claw first despite being slower.

Eyes narrowing fiercely, the man instinctively switched from claw to palm, mustering twelve parts of his strength, and met the boy's fist squarely.

Boom!

A thunderous boom exploded in the courtyard, with a violent Gang Wind sweeping several feet around.