Upon hearing this, Chen Zhennan did not stop walking, but a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

He turned to look at the bound city guard, his eyes gleaming.

"Oh? So, I've run into a tough opponent today?"

The city guard nodded slightly: "This Ji County is indeed not one that ordinary people can shake. Magistrate Sun Lei has a powerful background. If you are wise, it would be best to let go." His words had a hint of flattery in them, trying to scare Chen Zhennan away.

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhennan merely smiled slightly and said with a disdainful expression, "So what if he's the magistrate's son-in-law? Money makes the world go round. Tell me, does the governor of Jingzhou want money, or does he want Ji County to live?"

Upon hearing this, the city guard was surprised, not expecting Chen Zhennan to be so bold.

"Hero, so what do you mean by that today?"

Chen Zhennan tilted his head slightly and snorted, "What I do is none of your business. Are you perhaps planning to take another step forward?"

The city guard coughed and then said in a low voice, "Everyone has the desire to make a name for themselves. If you are truly capable, I will certainly help you."

Chen Zhennan chuckled, his laughter tinged with contempt and disdain, and shoved the city guard into the county government office.

As soon as the group entered the county government hall, the bailiffs on both sides were dumbfounded. They looked at each other, completely bewildered.

The sight of the city's garrison commander being held at knifepoint shocked them all. No one dared to make a move, fearing they might inadvertently bring trouble upon themselves.

Chen Zhennan asked Yan Shiyu to watch over the city guards, while he leisurely walked to the county magistrate's seat and sat down.

He looked around, but no one dared to move; the constables' eyes were filled with doubt.

With a smile, Chen Zhennan reached out and picked up the gavel from the desk. The gavel drew an arc in the air before landing heavily on the table with a loud "smack," a sound like thunder on a summer afternoon, instantly waking everyone who was still in a daze.

Chen Zhennan's expression remained unchanged, maintaining his composure. Sun Hao, however, was puzzled. After changing his clothes, he hurriedly came to the main hall.

As soon as they entered, they were surprised to find Chen Zhennan sitting in the county magistrate's seat.

A look of surprise flashed across Sun Hao's face, which was then replaced by a cold smile.

"Chen Zhennan, you really are a strange person, daring to come to the county government office in person. You're courting death!"

Sun Hao's words revealed an unbridled arrogance, as if his status allowed him to be above everything else.

Chen Zhennan showed no reaction; his face remained calm as he slowly drew a pistol from his waist and fired a shot at Sun Hao's calf.

The gunshot rang out, and Sun Hao's laughter came to an abrupt halt, replaced by a painful scream.

"You...you dare!"

Sun Hao clutched his injured calf, his face pale, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Chen Zhennan looked at him coldly, his voice laced with ruthlessness: "What wouldn't I dare to do? I've already let you off easy by not killing you outright. By the way, where's your father?"

Sun Hao felt a sharp pain in his calf, as if a ball of fire was burning inside.

His legs went weak and he almost knelt down, but he forced himself to stand up, unwilling to show weakness in front of Chen Zhennan.

"Do you think you can just see my father whenever you want? You dare to lay a hand on me in Ji County? You're dead today!"

Chen Zhennan looked helpless upon hearing this and pointed to the yamen runners and soldiers below.

"Are you out of your mind? Look at this county government hall, who do you think you can get your hands on?"

Sun Hao then realized something was wrong, and gritted his teeth as he turned to look at the yamen runners and soldiers who were harvesting the spoils.

Despite the excruciating pain, with beads of sweat beading on his forehead, Sun Hao's voice trembled with agony, yet he still commanded, "Men! Kill them! Kill these thieves!"

Chen Zhennan raised his eyes slightly upon hearing this and said coldly, "If your men dare to make a move, my men will kill your old Xu. Try me if you don't believe me!"

Sun Hao completely disregarded Chen Zhennan's threat, his voice laced with mockery and disdain: "Go! Kill them, and I'll reward you handsomely!"

Upon hearing of the hefty reward, the constables drew their swords from their waists, their eyes revealing greed and cruelty, as if they could already see the wealth about to be theirs.

But the soldiers guarding the city stood still, unmoved, and showed no intention of making a move.

Upon seeing this, Chen Zhennan burst into laughter, his laughter revealing a cold irony.

Pointing at the city guard, Chen Zhennan couldn't help but say, "This is really interesting. You just said you wanted to climb the ranks. Well, from now on, you are the magistrate of Ji County!"

Upon hearing this, a sly smile appeared on the city guard's face, his eyes revealing a look of helplessness yet determination.

Yan Shiyu untied the ropes binding him and handed the long sword in his hand to the city guard.

"Lord Xu, success or failure hinges on this one move. If you dare to make a move, my manager can bribe the governor of Jingzhou. If you don't dare, I'm sorry, you'll only become a pawn and go to the underworld with us," Yan Shiyu said in a deep voice.

The city guard smiled coldly, took the long sword, and sneered with narrowed eyes, "You've tied me to a pirate ship, but I'm still willing to fight. I serve the Sun family, yet I'm still just a city guard. As long as the Sun family lives, I'll never have a chance to rise in the world!"

His words carried a hint of resentment and determination, clearly indicating that his dissatisfaction with the Sun family had reached its peak.

Upon seeing this, Sun Hao was stunned. The constables also stopped in their tracks, not daring to approach Chen Zhennan.

The city guard, gripping his long sword, approached Sun Hao step by step, creating an extremely tense atmosphere.

Just as he was about to kill Sun Hao, a series of footsteps suddenly sounded outside the county government office, and hundreds of county soldiers surrounded the office.

Sun Hao was overjoyed at the sight. A smug smile spread across his face as he laughed and shouted, "Hahaha! My dad's here! Xu Bin, it's not too late for you to back down!"

Xu Bin didn't react at all upon hearing this, and directly placed the long knife against Sun Hao's neck.

"Sun Hao, Sun Hao, you don't think you can live just because your father is here, do you? Let me tell you the truth, the brothers at the yamen have been wanting to kill you and your father for a long time. Today is your chance, and you and your father are doomed!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of soldiers from the county government gate rushed in, led by a middle-aged man.

The man looked anxious. Chen Zhennan glanced at him and knew without a doubt that he was Sun Hao's father, Sun Lei.

"Xu Bin! What are you doing? Put down the knife! If you dare to hurt my son, I'll make sure your whole family dies a horrible death!"

Upon hearing Sun Lei's words, Xu Bin couldn't help but sneer, then raised his long sword and slashed fiercely at Sun Hao's neck.

"From this moment forward, I am the magistrate!"