The street ahead was packed with people, and the noise of an argument drew a large crowd of onlookers.
The streets on the western side of Fengxian County were like those in the old city district, far narrower than those in the east. Once blocked, the entire street immediately became completely impassable.
“Everyone, move aside! Move aside! What are you blocking the street for?”
Old Liu pushed through the crowd and strode inside, conveniently grabbing a handful of sugar-roasted chestnuts and stuffing them into his sleeve. He was wearing an official Dogskin uniform, so the crowd did not dare obstruct him. Soon, he reached the center of the disturbance.
Xiang Yuan followed close behind and saw two burly men grappling in the middle of the street.
One wore blue cloth garments, while the other wore black. Both were dressed like family retainers. The former used Tiger-Leopard Fist, while the latter used Mantis Fist. They went Back and forth, making quite a lively spectacle.
A few days ago, Xiang Yuan would not have been able to defeat either of them. Now, however, he felt that both men were riddled with Flaws. He could have imitated Liu Xuande and stepped forward to break up the fight with the move One Dragon Divides Two Tigers.
The Idea was far too much of a Clown move. When he was Steady, he could not bring himself to do such a thing, so he was perfectly willing to play the supporting role and let Old Liu shine.
“What a lively scene. I was wondering who it was—so it’s you two.”
Old Liu shoved aside a group of Onlookers, seized a long bench, and sat down. He said to Xiang Yuan, “These two are hooligans from a local Martial arts school. One calls himself the ‘Big Bug,’ while the other calls himself the ‘Flying Mantis.’ They claim to be Jianghu People, but they’re actually just local thugs and scoundrels. Relying on a little Martial arts, they pick fights with people at the slightest provocation. They’re regulars at the Yamen.”
Xiang Yuan nodded as he listened. “What’s with the clothes they’re wearing? Have they reformed?”
“They couldn’t spend their whole lives fighting. Once they developed some sense and learned how to live, someone recruited them as family retainers. They guard houses for a living. Who would’ve thought they still couldn’t change their ways? The moment they get a little free time, they Cause trouble for the Yamen.”
Old Liu’s voice was loud enough for all the Onlookers to hear, but the two fighting hooligans were so Obsessed with wrestling that they paid no attention. Their eyes held only one another, leaving Old Liu thoroughly humiliated.
Hearing a few faint snickers, Old Liu’s face became difficult to keep. He rose angrily and charged forward, delivering a kick to each of them.
Each of the two “Jianghu heroes” took a kick. They turned around All together and glared furiously, but upon seeing Constable Old Liu, they turned and ran without saying a word.
“Hmph. Perfect. I’ll use you two to settle today’s business.”
Old Liu had no intention of letting them go. He was somewhat timid toward the Fierce people of the Five Poisons Sect, but he struck hard against local hooligans and scoundrels. Catching up to the Big Bug, he knocked him to the ground in three moves.
“Master Liu, take it easy! That hurts.”
“If you know it hurts, then why did you run? Come back to the Yamen with me!”
On the other side, the Flying Mantis darted back and forth through the crowd. There were Too many people watching, and he simply could not squeeze his way out. Then his eyes lit up when he spotted Xiang Yuan’s clean Face, and he made a great leap straight toward him.
He did not have the courage to attack a Constable, but he still dared to frighten a Little Constable.
He was an old hand at this. He knew that a Newcomer like Xiang Yuan was easy to bully. By putting on a show of power and glaring fiercely, he could make Xiang Yuan subconsciously move aside.
Once he escaped the crowd, he would return to his employer’s residence and hide. The Constable naturally would not dare come to the door to arrest him.
Thinking this, the Flying Mantis charged even faster. He was tall and powerfully built, and when he rushed forward, he seemed As if he were a sturdy bull, startling the Onlookers into shouting All together.
Xiang Yuan stood Expressionless in place. His hand did not touch his saber, and he seemed to have been overwhelmed by the other man’s Aura, standing rigidly like a piece of deadwood and completely losing his composure.
Move aside, you!
The Flying Mantis secretly congratulated himself. Suddenly, the scene before his eyes changed drastically. There was no street and no crowd—only a pair of tiger eyes that stirred the soul.
A Fierce Tiger Roar erupted. The tiger charged down the mountain, breaking Grass and Trees wherever it passed and throwing every beast into panic.
The Flying Mantis’s Expression instantly turned pale. His knees weakened, and he rolled onto the ground, then collapsed limply at Xiang Yuan’s feet.
At that moment, the Flying Mantis had become a dung beetle rolling on the ground.
The surrounding Onlookers Don't understand. They merely assumed that the Flying Mantis was a Soft-legged shrimp. The spectacle ended hastily, leaving everyone deeply dissatisfied with the anticlimax.
“Fight a little longer!” xN
“Why are all of you standing here? Go home! You’re blocking the Great Dao. I’ll take every one of you back to the Yamen for questioning!” Old Liu shouted loudly, driving away all the Onlookers.
As the crowd dispersed, a complaint rang out.
“Damn you! May your Son be born without an asshole! Who stole my sugar-roasted chestnuts?”
Old Liu had no Son, so the curse did not affect him in the slightest. Holding the Big Bug by the back of his collar, he came over to Xiang Yuan and exclaimed in amazement, “Well done, kid! You’ve got some Ability. Where did you learn that? Does the Martial arts school teach this too?”
Captain Liu taught me.
Xiang Yuan gave the answer in his Heart. Imitating Old Liu, he grabbed the “ground-rolling dung beetle” by the back of his collar, then escorted one of them each to the Yamen.
Neither of them took the minor matter of maintaining Public Security to Heart. When the Yamen closed for the afternoon, which Xiang Yuan called clocking out, the Big Bug and Flying Mantis—who should have been Squatting in Prison—were Show Off Power at the Yamen Entrance, claiming that a Lord was hosting a banquet for Old Liu and Xiang Yuan at Hongyun Garden.
Upon learning the name of the person giving the banquet, Old Liu broke into a cold sweat.
“County Lieutenant Qin, his family retainers…”
On the way, Old Liu coaxed the general situation out of the two hooligans—no, the two family retainers.
To be precise, the two family retainers were not County Lieutenant Qin’s retainers. They belonged to his second and third Concubines.
The two Concubines engaged in Overt and Covert Struggle every day. Relying on their youth and beauty, they were at odds with County Lieutenant Qin’s Madam. With the three Women constantly fighting, County Lieutenant Qin’s health declined day by day. He Might as well purchase separate residences and move the two Concubines out.
The fight between the two family retainers today was also related to their competing for the Mistress of the house’s favor.
Why had the two family retainers not said so at the beginning?
What kind of question was that? It was hardly anything to be proud of, so naturally they would say nothing if they could avoid it.
Old Liu shook his head repeatedly, looking bitterly at Xiang Yuan. He whispered, “I guarded against everything day and night, but I never expected Lord Qin to move the two Concubines elsewhere. This meal is going to be hard to swallow!”
Xiang Yuan nodded. Who could say otherwise? They had been truly Unlucky today.
The County Magistrate Sima and Assistant County Magistrate Wu handled the major and minor affairs of Fengxian County. As the third-ranking official, County Lieutenant Qin could neither serve as a Representative of the Imperial Court nor rely on any Noble Families Behind him. He chose to Lie flat and Rot, and had practically stopped exercising the authority of a County Lieutenant.
Not using it does not equal not having it.
In name, County Lieutenant Qin was In Charge Of apprehending thieves, Public Security, and other such matters. He was the direct superior of the Constables. They could offend anyone except him. Otherwise, with a single transfer order, they would have no choice but to drink the northwest wind.
Hearing Old Liu Complain, Xiang Yuan tightly furrowed his brows.
He had studied under a renowned master, obtained a Divine Skill, and had a promising Future ahead of him. He was destined to be extraordinary, yet because two Concubines were Jealous over a man, he had been invited to drink tea by his superior Leader. It was truly unpleasant.
Putting aside a little arrogance, that was simply the reality. The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became. He had an Unresolved issue.
His True heart told him that he Might as well quit this lousy Constable job!
Following the two family retainers, Old Liu and Xiang Yuan crossed the bustling East Main Street and entered Hongyun Garden, the highest-Grade restaurant in Fengxian County.
The main structure of Hongyun Garden was a Manor divided into eight Halls and thirty-six smaller halls. Between every hall were plants and Rock Gardens serving as screens. The Artistic Conception was elegant, the arrangement ingenious, and it subtly conformed to the principles of feng shui.
Maple Color Hall.
Xiang Yuan followed the anxious Old Liu inside. Upon seeing the Master hosting the banquet, County Lieutenant Qin, dressed like a wealthy landowner, they both made a Cupped hands gesture and bowed.
“Lord Qin, I did not know that these two family retainers had some connection to you. I Offended them earlier; please forgive me.”
Old Liu Gritted teeth. “If you do not dislike the idea, I, Old Liu, will pay for this meal out of my own pocket today. I only hope to Resolve this Misunderstanding.”
Hongyun Garden was not cheap. Old Liu was taking a severe financial hit. Given his stingy nature, and the fact that Xiang Yuan had also seized one of the family retainers, the two of them would have to split the bill evenly.
What kind of nonsense was this? They had to treat people to a meal just for maintaining Public Security? Was there no justice left? When had Western Chu become like this?
But clearly, it was not only Western Chu. Northern Qi and Southern Jin were the same.
Xiang Yuan was extremely Depressed. Following Old Liu’s instructions, the Newcomer kept quiet and did not speak. He would do whatever he was told.
County Lieutenant Qin smiled. “This matter was merely a Misunderstanding. I summoned the two of you to make that clear. Since you have shown such sincerity, you can put the bill on your tab.”
Saying this, his Gaze passed over Old Liu and settled on Xiang Yuan. “What a handsome Young person. You walk like the wind and carry the force of fire. You were just like me in my younger days, with eyes that could not tolerate even a grain of sand.”
The meaning behind his words was perfectly clear. Xiang Yuan lowered his head to Plead Guilty.
“No harm, no harm. It is all a minor matter. First drink three cups as punishment, and pay Attention in the future.” County Lieutenant Qin nodded in satisfaction.
Just then, loud and boisterous shouting came from outside Maple Color Hall. “Little Yuan Ge, why didn’t you call me when you came to eat?”
“Who is Little Yuan Ge?”
County Lieutenant Qin’s brows drew together tightly, and his face was full of displeasure. He glared at Xiang Yuan, rose, and said, “Shouting so loudly—there are no Rules at all! I’d like to see which household raised this brat, and who dares to make such a racket in front of me…”
“Young Master Xiao, what brings you here?”
Arrogant before, obsequious afterward. The thought of it was laughable.