Royal Gold Magistrate

For a crude bottom-rung organization like the Feces Clan, Huang Shengrong as the leader naturally held immense authority.

Fang Zheng also felt it was a bit disgusting, but it was indeed an efficient and effective method.

With each member spitting on him, there was no possibility of return.

The so-called authority and prestige also vanished without a trace along with the spit on his face.

After the initiation ceremony was complete, Fang Zheng had Zhang Biao drag Huang Shengrong away.

At this point, Huang Shengrong had completely lost his sanity, cursing incessantly.

From this trip, he lost his ear, lost his gang members, and lost his face. In short, he lost everything.

In the end, after losing it all, Huang Shengrong was left with only howls and endless hatred…

Afterwards, Fang Zheng specially opened up a room for Huang Shengrong to receive his former subordinates.

The remaining Feces Clan members flocked over upon recommendation from the first batch of Sanitation Team members.

Everyone was originally just an ordinary bottom-rung worker. Doing the same work, who cares who you work for?

Wages increased, new clothes provided, and a three-day tour every year. Such a life was probably unimaginable before!

Thus, in the following days, a steady stream of people came to Huang Shengrong’s room to spit, almost wearing out the doorstep.

At first, no one dared to spit on Huang Shengrong’s face. Later, Zhang Biao dragged him to the courtyard and personally demonstrated. With more people around, everyone’s courage also grew…

On the first day, Huang Shengrong was still cursing nonstop. Afterwards, he stopped talking.

Perhaps because the food Fang Zheng provided wasn’t very good, he seemed to have no appetite. He practically didn’t eat or drink, his whole body becoming much thinner, his mental state also very poor.

But he wasn’t thirsty. After all, some would always leak in.

Finally, on the fifth day, the hellish life ended.

Huang Shengrong’s last bit of value had been completely squeezed dry.

A total of less than four thousand people joined. According to Fang Zheng’s estimate, satisfying the capital’s need for latrine cleaners required at least fifteen thousand people.

It seemed Huang Shengrong’s main forces were limited to the area under the North City Garrison’s jurisdiction.

But Fang Zheng was already very satisfied with this many people joining. The remaining scattered Feces Clan members who came later didn’t need to go through the initiation ceremony.

However, among the last small group of original Feces Clan members, many dissatisfied voices emerged. Not being able to personally spit on the renowned Latrine Lord was truly a lifelong regret.

……….

On a bright sunny morning.

Fang Zheng, Zhang Biao, and Huang Shengrong sat in the courtyard of the Fang Residence.

A pot of tea was placed on the table, wisps of white steam occasionally drifting out.

Huang Shengrong was like an old monk in meditation, his face as tranquil as an ancient well.

Fang Zheng couldn’t help wanting to laugh upon seeing this, but felt it would be too mean and held it in.

After five days of nourishment from the essence of humanity, extended hydration, and facial masks, Huang Shengrong’s whole body was fair and tender compared to before, his facial skin also looking much smoother.

His murderous aura was completely gone. He was thin like a scholar, more handsome than before, his mental state also not seeming to have issues.

Fang Zheng poured him a cup of tea, smiling. “Do you hate me?”

Huang Shengrong shook his head. “No hate. The past is like smoke. I just want to go home now.”

“Good, you can leave. But before you go, there’s still something I need to ask. Who is behind you?”

Fang Zheng actually wasn’t too curious about this question. He clearly didn’t have any deep grudges with anyone in the capital.

And he didn’t have intense conflicts of interest with anyone either.

The most likely possibility was that this idiot Huang Shengrong was just borrowing the prestige of his backer to take personal revenge.

Huang Shengrong took a sip of tea and pursed his lips, perhaps finding it a bit too thin.

After a long while, he replied, “It’s the King of Wu…”

“King of Wu?” Fang Zheng furrowed his brows.

This was the second time he heard the King of Wu’s name after entering the capital. The previous time was at the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

In his eyes, the King of Wu had always been a useless person. Taoyuan County’s white liquor business had been cooperating with the King of Wu, but the King of Wu’s side had always performed mediocrely.

But seeing the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion’s flourishing business, Fang Zheng felt something was off in his heart. However, he didn’t think too much of it.

Perhaps they were just skilled at running brothels?

He didn’t expect the Feces Clan to also have ties with the King of Wu. That made it unusual.

These shady industries seemed inconspicuous but could often mobilize immense power.

Brothels could be considered half an intelligence agency, while the Feces Clan had huge mobilization power among the bottom rungs of society.

In this light, the King of Wu was definitely not the stereotypical image Fang Zheng previously had of him.

Moreover, the King of Wu had never been to Taoyuan County but could definitely have considerable understanding of it through his steward.

But why did he have to wait until Fang Zheng entered the capital to try contacting him?

“The King of Wu sent you to harm me?”

Huang Shengrong shook his head, smiling bitterly. “No, I’ve never met the King of Wu. It was all the steward relaying messages.”

“Sigh… He only wanted me to probe your situation a bit, no ill intent. That’s all.”

Hmm, this matched up… but the feeling of being monitored by someone was really unpleasant.

“So? How will you explain to the King of Wu after failing this time?”

Huang Shengrong shook his head again. “Don’t know. Wait for the steward to find me. Or maybe he won’t come find me. With such a big commotion, he probably already knows my situation from other sources.”

“Asking again is pointless.”

“With the Feces Clan gone, what are your plans?”

“Become a monk.”

“What about your wife and kids?”

“There’s still some money at home. No need to worry.”

Fang Zheng nodded, a glimmer of realization flashing in his eyes. So this Huang Shengrong had been successfully initiated.

Had he found the shortcut to becoming a Buddha?

“Good. You can leave now. But from today onward, I need to know all the messages the King of Wu’s side passes to you, including anything the steward says to you.”

“You also need to try to fish out more information for me. Understand?”

Huang Shengrong shook his head without hesitation. “Impossible! If the King of Wu finds out, I’m dead!”

“You have a residence in the northern city, privately keeping two concubines. Your fierce wife lives in the southern city. At home are three sons, one fourteen years old, two attending private school. You also have two daughters of marriageable age…”

Fang Zheng calmly listed off.

“They have all been moved to Banshan District now. Your children will attend school as they should. Your daughters will eat and drink well at home. Your wife and concubines are all at the medical center, medical expenses covered by me.”

“Think it over.”

“Fang Zheng! You’re despicable!” Huang Shengrong immediately broke down.

“Is this your first day knowing me?”

Huang Shengrong’s originally tranquil state of mind was shattered. He didn’t expect Fang Zheng to have become so vile after seven years.

After a while, he laughed again, shaking his head. “Hehe, I won’t agree.”

“You absolutely cannot do anything to my wife and children. I know you can’t bring yourself to do it. Back in Hengjiang City, you took in orphans everywhere. I knew you weren’t that kind of person. And before in the warehouse, you were considerate of your three uncles. I saw it clearly!”

Fang Zheng said indifferently, “Yeah, you do know me quite well. I won’t kill them.”

“But I can make your wife and concubines remarry over and over. Your two children in private school will be bullied by classmates every day, growing up with no confidence even to clean latrines.”

“Think it over.”

Huang Shengrong’s face stiffened. In the few years they hadn’t met, Fang Zheng’s degree of shamelessness seemed to have exceeded his imagination.

If his wife died and remarried, no problem. But having his children bullied every day was not okay!

After weighing it for a while, Huang Shengrong said in a deep voice, “Fine! I agree! But I want to see my family first.”

“Alright, let’s reunite you with your first wife first.”

“No need! I’m leaving now!”