Liu’an Inn.
It was already noon.
The hall was filled with diners, so were passersby, and so were staying guests, like i Nianzhi and his group.
They had just returned from outside and saw the streets plastered with notices.
They were all about the affair in Changze County.
The Governnt Office had closed the case and was making every effort to arrest the remaining mbers of the Evil Wolf Gang around Wu’an County.
"It seems there should be no more issues in Changze County."
"It’s said that on the night of the 14th day of the first month, the Evil Wolf Gang suffered great losses, and later so were caught by the governnt. The remaining either hide out of fear or have fled far away."
"Hall Master i, since that’s the case, why don’t we return early? After all, with such a big incident at ho, we should go back and check, lest villains take the opportunity to cause trouble."
A wealthy gentleman from Changze County suggested.
Their properties were all in Changze County.
Since Changze County was now safe and the governnt had closed the case, everyone thought it best to return early to guard their hos.
i Nianzhi nodded.
No one from the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall in Wu’an County had succeeded in anything, so staying there held no aning. It’s best to return early.
After all, the martial arts hall still needed his oversight.
At this mont, two governntal officials swaggered in from outside, looked around, and frowned upon seeing the hall full of people.
The shop assistant, seeing these two, was sowhat intimidated and did not dare approach; he glanced towards the shopkeeper at the counter.
"Oh my, Master Bai, Master Shi are here!"
The shopkeeper quickly stood up, jogged over, and with a smiling face and a bow, said, "Masters, I’m afraid we’re all out of space today, would you please take a look..."
"Shopkeeper, business seems good."
The official with the surna Shi patted the shopkeeper’s shoulder, smiling squint-eyed.
The official with the surna Bai glanced around, his gaze fell on a table with three people, and pushed the inn shopkeeper aside, walking straight over.
He reached the table, removed the saber from his waist, and with a bang placed it on the table, saying, "Make so room!"
The official with the surna Shi followed along.
Lu Shizong’s family of three was startled.
They had just ordered food, and before dishes arrived at the table, a saber was already placed there.
The inn shopkeeper hurried over, looking apologetically at Lu Shizong’s family, whispered, "Guests, I’m really sorry, could you please make so space?"
Lu Shizong and his family had nothing to say.
Although they were displeased, they did not dare show it, rely nodding in agreent.
Local people in Wu’an County were not surprised by this scene, having beco accustod to it.
People like i Nianzhi from out of town disapproved inwardly, but dared not stand up and argue with the governntal officials.
"Shopkeeper, serve the best wine and food to us masters, we’re exhausted from posting notices all morning!"
The official nad Bai called out.
"Right away!"
The inn shopkeeper put on a forced smile, agreeing readily, though his heart ached.
These two never paid for their drinks.
The previous shopkeeper had once reported them.
The Commander was fair and personally handled the matter, not only ordering them to pay for the drinks but also to compensate so.
But after that, this inn never had peace, often having governntal officials co under the guise of searching for thieves, scaring the rchants away who moved out the next day.
Or a few governntal officials would loiter near the inn, never coming in, but seeing such a scene, passersby dared not stay.
There was no place for reasoning about such things.
These officials had plenty of ways to deal with them.
Even if they could win a lawsuit, it involved writing petitions, court hearings, confrontations, debates... ordinary people couldn’t keep up with them.
In the end, the shopkeeper couldn’t continue and sold the inn.
After taking over, whenever these officials ca for free als, he never dared say anything.
Thinking today’s full house might make these two masters go elsewhere.
Unexpectedly, the officials paid no mind, forcefully made space, and sat down.
At this mont, the shop assistant brought over the stead fish and roast chicken that Lu Shizong’s family ordered, placing them on the table.
Lu Shizong’s family, already hungry, was just about to reach for their chopsticks.
The two governntal officials pulled the two plates over to themselves first.
The official nad Bai grinned, "This is what we ordered, right?"
The other tore off a steaming chicken leg, eating and saying, "Exactly, what you ordered is yet to co."
The inn shopkeeper shook his head from the side, signaling Lu Shizong’s family to let it go.
Even without the shopkeeper’s reminder, Lu Shizong dared not speak up, only smiling sheepishly.
"Mother, I’m hungry, that was clearly ours..." Lu Ziqi whispered a complaint.
The Lu Clan hurriedly covered his mouth, fearing the two officials would take offense.
Official Bai, after taking a big swig of wine, looked around the room and said loudly, "You all saw the notices, right? If you have any leads on the remaining Evil Wolf Gang mbers, let us brothers know. As long as the information is accurate, there will be a silver reward."
Lu Shizong, hearing this, was moved, and his eyes darted a few tis, seemingly unintentionally turning his head towards i Nianzhi’s direction.
i Nianzhi frowned.
These two officials were talking about the remaining Evil Wolf Gang mbers, so why was Lu Shizong looking at ?
As expected.
The two officials, sitting directly across from Lu Shizong, imdiately noticed and followed his gaze, scrutinizing i Nianzhi and his companions.
Official Bai stared at Lu Shizong, with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes, and asked, "Do you have any leads?"
"Ah, it’s nothing."
Lu Shizong’s gaze was evasive, pretending not to know.
The governntal official surnad Bai sneered inwardly; this expression clearly showed he knew sothing!
"Then why were you looking over there?"
The governntal official surnad Bai pressed further.
"I, I..."
Lu Shizong stamred, appearing very troubled.
"Speak!"
The governntal official surnad Bai suddenly slamd the table, causing the dishes to jump.
The faces of Lu Clan and Lu Ziqi turned pale with fright, trembling.
Lu Shizong was also startled, "It’s nothing, really. That Hall Master i opened a school in Changze County, taking in disciples, and one of them was the only son of the Evil Wolf Gang Leader, Gou Dai."
Upon hearing this, i Nianzhi’s face darkened.
Lu Shizong hurriedly added, "But on the way here, Gou Dai already died. I don’t think Hall Master i has anything to do with the Evil Wolf Gang."
Yet, to the others, these words seed to conceal more than they revealed.
i Nianzhi slamd the table and stood, coldly saying, "Lu Shizong, what are you saying!"
Lu Shizong, in a panic, quickly stood up, innocently responding, "Hall Master i, I’m telling the truth, everyone in Changze County knows this, it’s surely not sothing that can be hidden from the authorities."
i Nianzhi was furious inside.
What Lu Shizong said was true.
But saying it at this mont would undoubtedly arouse the governntal officials’ suspicion.
i Nianzhi looked towards the two officials, cupped his fists, and said in a deep voice, "It’s true that Gou Dai was a disciple of my martial arts school, but I was only paid to teach him skills and have no personal connection with anyone else from the Evil Wolf Gang. I hope you can see this clearly, sirs."
"Heh heh."
The governntal official surnad Bai chuckled, "Whether or not there’s a personal connection, that’s for the governnt to decide. Hall Master i, is it? Co with us."
The two officials were worried about lacking achievents, and here soone was delivering themselves up.
i Nianzhi clenched his fists tightly, unwilling in his heart, glaring angrily at Lu Shizong.
"What, does Hall Master i intend to resist arrest?"
The two officials picked up their sabers, slowly approaching i Nianzhi.
The official surnad Bai smirked, holding a rope, threatening, "If you resist arrest, Hall Master i, the charges will be much greater!"
Seeing the two officials rise, Lu Shizong sat back down and brought back the stead fish and roast chicken that were taken by the two earlier, placing them in front of his children, whispering, "Eat."
"What are you doing!"
i Yingxue was anxious, blocking the two official, lightly rebuking, "In broad daylight, under the vast sky, how can you wrong a good person!"
"Little girl looks nice but has quite the temper."
The governntal official surnad Bai licked his lips and said, "You’re with them, aren’t you? All of you, co with us!"
With that, the official surnad Bai reached out to grab i Yingxue.
"I’ll go with you, this has nothing to do with her!"
i Nianzhi raised his hand, blocking the official surnad Bai, and stood in front of i Yingxue.
"Oh dear!"
The governntal official surnad Bai’s expression changed, glaring, "So you are resisting! Daring to resist arrest openly in Wu’an County, you must be feeling guilty, must be part of the Evil Wolf Gang!"
Clang!
The two officials simultaneously drew their sabers.
i Yingxue was furious, her eyes red, her blood boiling, and she reached for the long sword at her waist.
But as soon as her sword was halfway drawn, i Nianzhi’s large hand pressed it back down.
"Yingxue."
i Nianzhi shook his head slightly, softly saying, "Civilians do not fight the governnt; we cannot win against them."
Upon hearing those words, a loud noise exploded in i Yingxue’s mind, as if she rembered sothing, stunned on the spot.
She had once said that to Chen Tang.
Back then, she didn’t understand Chen Tang’s father, thinking Chen Da’an was too impulsive and not rational enough.
But having gone through all this herself, she now understood that feeling.
Aggrieved, angry, unwilling...
Truly being pushed into a corner, with no choice but to fight back.
i Nianzhi whispered, "Don’t worry, Yingxue. I’ve heard that the Commander is fair and just, and will surely get to the bottom of this and clear our nas."
i Yingxue was in a daze, just nodding instinctively.
i Nianzhi took off the long sword at his waist, his expression calm, and surrendered.
"Hmph, you picked the wise option."
The governntal official surnad Bai stepped forward, tied up i Nianzhi, then tied i Yingxue’s hands, pushing them, scolding, "Move!"
Walking past Lu Shizong, seeing the three eating and drinking, i Nianzhi halted, gritting his teeth, saying, "You scoundrel!"
Lu Shizong gave a dry laugh, "Hall Master i, you really misunderstood , I’m just too honest, I can’t keep things bottled up."
The Lu Clan chid in, "Our master didn’t say anything wrong, your martial arts school indeed accepted Gou Dai as a disciple."
"Move, don’t dawdle!"
The governntal official surnad Bai pushed i Nianzhi again.
The surrounding diners watched the scene, shaking their heads, sighing quietly.
Just then, the light in the inn suddenly dimd.
A tall figure appeared, standing at the inn’s entrance, wearing an Armor-Piercing Sword. The broad and strong figure blocked out most of the sunlight, also blocking the path of i Nianzhi and the others.
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