Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Chapter 420: 209. Overly Polite Prefect Zhou_2

After all, these two people are considered the faces of Jinling Prefecture!

There's no need to mention Prefect Zhou Hong, who not only holds the title of prefectural chief but also possesses the cultivation of a Great Grandmaster of the Fourth Realm. Unlike Fan Longhe, another prefectural chief, he also concurrently serves as the Deputy Magistrate of the Prison Admin Department, holding significant power in his hands and rightfully being the leading figure of Jinling Prefecture.

Shen Gufan is not far behind, with cultivation comparable to Zhou Hong's, but behind him stands the vast Shen Clan, which has been established in Jinling for over a hundred years longer than the Great Luo Sect. The Shen Clan has performed many good deeds and is deeply loved by the people of Jinling Prefecture, even surpassing Zhou Hong in terms of influence.

Who could be so important that these two are waiting together for him here?

For a moment, everyone fell into puzzlement...

While the crowd was puzzled, someone among the group standing at the eastern gate spoke up.

"Just a member of a third-rate small clan, even if he has some reputation, letting Ling Yanyun and the six others greet and wait would be enough. Having Family Head Shen himself come, isn't he afraid of becoming a laughingstock!"

The speaker was Jinling Prefect Zhou Hong. Although everyone was standing together, it was clear that Ling Yanyun and the six others were closer to Shen Gufan and slightly farther from Zhou Hong.

This positioning, coupled with Zhou Hong's sarcastic tone, clearly indicated that this prefect did not get along well with the local forces of Jinling Prefecture.

Shen Gufan responded calmly and softly,"Prefect Zhou's cultivation is far superior to mine. If we were to talk about becoming a laughingstock, I'm afraid it wouldn't start with me. As for President Ling and the six, I believe they have come on their own upon hearing of the Hou family's esteemed reputation. It has little to do with me. I hope the prefect can see clearly!"

"Yes, prefect, please discern carefully. The Double Dragons of the Hou Family are highly respected. All martial practitioners in Xingnan Prefecture know and admire them. Knowing that someone from the Hou family was passing through today, it is only right for us to extend the local hospitality."

"The one coming today is said to be Hou Yuduan from Zhao Yang Mo Ru, one of the Double Dragons. Studying scholars and unique talents like him are truly rare in Yongzhou. Such a prodigy, it would be a pity not to see him with our own eyes!"

"Right, right, right, I heard he achieved the state of Righteous Heart Junior Confucian in his twenties, even considered a genius at the Bailu Academy, not to mention that Fifth Master Hou is also within Yongzhou. I brought several promising disciples from my Burning Flame Sect in hopes that they could soak up some of his aura and have a model to aim for in their future cultivation!"

......

Seeing Ling Yanyun and the six others responding in unison, Zhou Hong's expression immediately darkened. This scene before him was a true depiction of his years as a prefect in Jinling:

Whatever he says, figures like Ling Yanyun from third-rate forces would never echo him, but if the same words came from Shen Gufan, those six would immediately respond, even openly contradicting him as long as Shen Gufan led the charge, without any fear...

The position of the Shen Clan in Jinling is indeed too solid. Even though he holds the roles of Deputy Magistrate and Prefect, and appears to outsiders as the number one figure in Jinling, in reality, he doesn't call the shots within Jinling—it's Shen Gufan who does.

Zhou Hong, backed by the powerful Rakshasa Holy Sect and holding both deputy and prefect jobs, initially treated Jinling as his territory. Naturally, he despised the Shen family as a major obstacle.

Over the years, Zhou Hong has always wanted to weaken the Shen family, sometimes attacking through religious taxes, sometimes through cronyism, but Shen Gufan was watertight, leaving no loopholes.

During tense relations, Zhou Hong even thought about taking direct action to eliminate the Shen family, but after weighing his options and especially after Shen Gufan occasionally showed a hint of the Shen family's strength, he decided to give up.

Zhou Hong looked at the calm-faced Shen Gufan, his eyes filled with undisguised murderous intent, staring at him for more than ten breaths before he snorted coldly and turned his head away.

Shen Gufan remained unfazed, continuing to watch the Official Road intently, with Ling Yanyun and the six, following his lead, doing the same.

......

The voices of Zhou Hong and the others were not concealed, and the onlookers nearby, overhearing their discussion and knowing whom they were waiting for, immediately burst into a fervent discussion:

"Hou Yuduan, the Zhao Yang Mo Ru, is he one of the Five Young Masters of the Hou Clan of Zhaoyang recently famed on the Demon Path?"

"Definitely the Double Dragons of the Hou family. The Five Young Masters are now ranked on the New Star Ranking of the Demon Path across six provinces. With both the Jinling Prefect and Family Head Shen coming out to greet them personally, it makes sense!"

"I heard that during the recent demons uprising, the Deputy Magistrate Ding Dian defected, and it was the Double Dragons who killed him. The Hou family has now become the overlord of Tongling, and even Fan Longhe, the prefectural chief, couldn't stir up any trouble."

"That's not all! In the wars of the three Hexi counties, the Hou family also contributed. Family Head Hou Yuxiao, is now a favored one in front of Master Fanyin!"

"Hou Yuxiao, the Thousand-Faced Handsome Man Hou Yuxiao, the Double Dragons are Hou Yuduan and him, right?"

"Yes, I heard he's not even thirty yet and ranked 93rd on the New Star Ranking, four places higher than his younger brother Hou Yuduan!"

"How are these brothers so strong?"

"They are now big names in Xingnan Prefecture. It's not just our Prefectural City, but likely all of Yongzhou, and even other provinces, are buzzing about the Double Dragons of the Hou family."

Thud, thud, thud......

At the end of the Official Road, a sudden thundering sound of horse hooves hitting the ground erupted, instantly drawing everyone's attention. Within the range of sight, dust filled the air, and in less than ten breaths, a red and a black horse came into view.