"Mr. Zhu, based on your understanding, will there be reinforcements as the Marquis mentioned earlier?" The State Patrol Envoy Liu Teng, silent until now, finally spoke.

Magistrate Zhu Huaijin glanced at Liu Teng, then said, "If there were people coming from above, why would the Marquis go again to invite the elder Jiujiang Dragon King, Wang Wenzong?"

"If there are no reinforcements and no external aid, what are Mr. Zhu’s plans? Watch as the Zhuge family defects or holds a funeral?" State Patrol Envoy Liu Teng said, his eyes burning bright.

Magistrate Zhu Huaijin remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head, "It’s a dead end no matter what! Now we can only hope that the Marquis’ influence can persuade the elder Jiujiang Dragon King, Wang Wenzong."

"With Mr. Wang Wenzong’s strength and his influence, he could invite the Eighteen Dragon Heads for help. With this power aiding us, the crisis in Guangning Prefecture might be resolved."

Upon hearing these words.

State Patrol Envoy Liu Teng shook his head, "Jiujiang Dragon King Wang Wenzong, Mr. Zhu can’t be unaware of this. He changed his surname from Dragon to Wang, acknowledging his ancestors, which means he no longer concerns himself with the matters of the Eighteen Dragon Heads! Given the past temperament of the Nine River Dragon, would his decisions be easily changed? Let alone asking him to mobilize the Eighteen Dragon Heads once more."

Upon hearing Liu Teng’s straightforward words, Magistrate Zhu Huaijin fell into silence.

A sense of powerlessness rose within him.

This feeling had not appeared in his heart for a very long time.

As the parent official of a prefecture, he administered the livelihood, economy, and governance of Guangning Prefecture.

Since his appointment, he had been an unquestionable ruler in Guangning Prefecture, a true local emperor.

The things he desired upon waking up in the morning would often be achieved by evening.

As for powerlessness, it had long ceased to appear in him.

But now, faced with the oppression from several Martial Arts Grandmasters, he found there was no way out.

He couldn’t help but look out the window.

Outside, the wind and snow raged, a once-in-a-decade snowstorm.

Thinking of this, his heart was filled with coldness.

Now the official strength was vastly inferior to the Yingtian Alliance.

And in such windy and snowy weather, the strength of the Yingtian Alliance’s Alliance Hierarch, Ji Mingzhou, was even stronger by threefold, comparable to a true Peak of First Grade Martial Arts Grandmaster.

"What should be done..." His eyes wandered far away in thought.

...

On the other side.

Shen Wenyan stepped out of the government office’s main gate, plunging into the vast white snow.

At this moment, he did not resist the wind and snow, allowing it to beat against him.

Ye Zhengqi, who followed closely behind, also did not resist the wind and snow, allowing it to lash his body as well.

"Marquis, is it true there are reinforcements coming from above?" Ye Zhengqi’s voice sounded amidst the wind and snow.

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenyan stopped in his tracks. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Do you know who is currently the Patrol Envoy of Zeshan State?"

"I know!" Ye Zhengqi nodded, "It’s Brother Jiang."

Shen Wenyan said, "Under normal circumstances, when something like this happens in Guangning Prefecture, after I report it, the one to come would be the Patrol Envoy of Zeshan State."

"But the current Patrol Envoy of Zeshan State is Brother Jiang, who hasn’t yet entered the ranks of first-grade. Even if he has the desire, he is powerless! Moreover, I’ve heard he was cursed by some powerful figures from thousands of miles away half a month ago."

"Now, he can’t even protect himself, so how can he come to Guangning Prefecture to help?"

"Even if he really came, how could it change the situation?"

"Currently, the Yingtian Alliance has at least four Grandmasters, possibly more."

"That Ji Mingzhou from the Cross Immortal Gate, his strength is comparable to the peak of First-Grade Martial Arts in such snowstorm weather."

"Therefore, the only way to resolve the predicament in Guangning Prefecture now is by persuading the Jiujiang Dragon King, Wang Wenzong."

"If he takes action, using the Eighteen Dragon Heads’ formidable body, he can definitely fight several Grandmasters, truly on par with those at the peak of First-Grade Martial Arts."

"Moreover, if he is in danger, that Dragon Head won’t sit idly by."

"After all, Jiujiang Dragon King Wang Wenzong is the third brother of that Dragon Head."

"With the second brother absent, this Jiujiang Dragon King Wang Wenzong is effectively the second-in-command of the Eighteen Dragon Heads."

Upon hearing Shen Wenyan’s words, Ye Zhengqi nodded gravely.

"So the only one who can resolve the situation now is Jiujiang Dragon King Wang Wenzong?"

"Only him!" Shen Wenyan nodded.

...

The wind and snow were like knives, cutting through the silent streets of Guangning City.

At this moment, Guangning City was unusually quiet, with only a few people outside.

As daylight faded, there were fewer pedestrians, and the houses lining the streets were dimly lit with faint lights.

On the western street of the city.

Shen Wenyan and Ye Zhengqi tread, one behind the other, sinking deeply into the snow with each step, as the snow covered their boots.

Their figures seemed particularly solitary amidst the swirling snow.

Moments later, they arrived before an inconspicuous three-in-three-out courtyard.

From the outside, the courtyard looked dilapidated, with only a few dim lights protruding from its eaves in the snowstorm, as if it were uninhabited.

"Marquis!" Ye Zhengqi’s voice broke the silence: "Will Mr. Wang Wenzong really... nod in agreement? The debt of favor has been repaid, and now he only promises to guard Guangning City, remaining behind closed doors."

Shen Wenyan looked ahead and gently exhaled a long white mist.

"A debt of favor is cleared once repaid! So if you want to move him, relying on a debt of favor is impossible!"

"Therefore, this time, I speak not of favors, only of righteousness, and only ask... for the sake of all living beings."

Ye Zhengqi remained silent.

Righteousness and the well-being of all beings, for a former hero who has long retired and only wishes to spend his remaining years in peace, how much weight can they carry?

Then, Shen Wenyan tidied up his official robe, dampened by the wind and snow, and stepped forward voluntarily.

Raising his hand, he knocked lightly and steadily on the motionless door knocker.

The sound of knocking on the door appeared faint in the darkening evening, amidst the howling wind and snow, yet it carried a penetrating power.

After a moment.

The door creaked, opening a crack.

A handsome and well-behaved face appeared.

It was a child, about ten years old.

His eyes were clear and bright, making him appear particularly pure.

"Are you two visitors?" the child asked.

"I am Shen Wenyan, specifically here to visit Mr. Wang Wenzong!" Shen Wenyan replied.

"So it’s you, then. Come in! Grandpa Wang said you wouldn’t give up unless you saw him!" The child stepped aside after speaking.

Hearing this, Shen Wenyan couldn’t help but feel a heaviness in his heart.

This revealed some unfortunate news.

This Nine River Dragon, Wang Wenzong, was evidently set in his decision, unwilling to assist him.

He took a deep breath inwardly and stepped over the threshold.

Ye Zhengqi followed closely behind.

Then, led by the child, the three passed through the second gate, arriving at a square courtyard.

Shen Wenyan’s gaze immediately fell on the main room ahead, glowing dimly in the light. At this moment, the square courtyard was also covered in thick snow, appearing somewhat desolate due to a lack of clearing.

Crossing the square courtyard, the child stepped forward.

"Grandpa Wang, Shen Wenyan is here!" the child’s tender voice penetrated through the door room.

"Come in!" An elderly voice resonated from inside.

Upon hearing this, the child pushed the door open.

Then, the two saw a dimly lit room where a solitary candle burned.

An old man in a short jacket sat on a bench, sipping wine.

On the wooden square table in front of the old man lay a pile of peanuts and a dish of thick-cut beef.

Apart from these, there were no more side dishes to accompany the wine.

Inside, there was no charcoal fire, and the cold was palpable.

Yet the frail old man, seemingly nothing but skin and bones, wore only a short jacket in the cold winter, standing out as incongruous.

"Marquis, visiting at this time, would you like to drink some wine together?" Wang Wenzong’s calm voice rang out.

"I’d be delighted!" Shen Wenyan responded, lowering his tone.

"Warm another pot of rice wine!" Wang Wenzong called out.

"Yes, Grandpa Wang!" the child replied.

Then turned and left.

At this moment, Shen Wenyan lifted his legs over the threshold, then sat down beside Wang Wenzong.

"Marquis, you are truly persistent!" Wang Wenzong looked up at Shen Wenyan and said.

"I have no choice, it concerns the millions of people of Guangning Prefecture!" Shen Wenyan answered.

At this point, Ye Zhengqi was secretly observing Wang Wenzong.

In the past few years in Guangning Prefecture, he recalled, he never actually saw the true appearance of the Nine River Dragon, Wang Wenzong.

Today was the first time he saw him.

At this sight, he noticed the incongruities in Wang Wenzong.

At this moment, although Wang Wenzong was so skinny that his bones were visible, with hardly any flesh on him.

Yet it was as if a fire burned within him, constantly releasing warmth.

Though visually appearing over seventy or eighty years old, yet upon closer inspection, his face bore none of the wrinkles unique to the elderly.

His eyes were exceptionally bright in the dark, as if shining brilliantly.

"Young man, you sit too!" Wang Wenzong glanced at Ye Zhengqi and said.

At those words, Ye Zhengqi immediately cupped his hands and also sat down.

Choosing to sit beside Shen Wenyan, facing directly across from Wang Wenzong.