"What if we refuse?" Gu Jin’an’s voice suddenly rang out as he followed Luo Wu into the courtyard of the He Family Ancestral Hall, staring at He Daqian with a cold smile.
He Daqian was taken aback and didn’t expect Gu Jin’an to co. He shouted angrily, "Get out, you stray dog from elsewhere! You have no right to stand on the ground of our He Family Ancestral Hall!"
"Shut up! Quickly, soone, stop this beast from speaking!" Village Chief He almost went mad. He didn’t expect He Daqian’s words to be overheard by Gu Jin’an and quickly ran over, saying, "Good Brother An, don’t listen to his nonsense. The village is very safe. No outsiders will co in to harm us."
Gu Jin’an said, "Don’t worry, Village Chief. If outsiders think they can co in to harm the Gu, Qin, and Luotian families, they’re dreaming."
He walked closer to He Daqian, looking down at him, "We’ve been watching you for years. Do you really think we’re unaware of your little sches?"
We’re keeping you around because we’re waiting for you to make a big mistake so we can deal with your whole family at once.
He Daqian recoiled, glaring at Gu Jin’an, "What do you an? You scoundrel, are you setting up?"
"What do I an? You’ll find out in a few days." Gu Jin’an smiled slightly, the sumr night’s breeze carrying a chilling sharpness in his gaze as he stared at He Daqian, "Your so-called noble brother is Zeng Biao, right? Though he’s younger than you, you call him Brother Zeng. You say you’re sworn brothers, but it’s more like you’re his servant."
"Except that you’re a lousy servant, spilling everything out."
He Daqian broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this. How did Gu Jin’an know Brother Zeng’s na? What else did he know?
"Even if I said it, so what? It’s just my one-sided story. You don’t have other evidence. The governnt office won’t take action!"
Truth be told, He Daqian had learned a bit from his recent travels and now knew about one-sided stories.
Gu Jin’an’s smile didn’t falter as he looked at He Daqian, like viewing a prey trapped in a cage, "Zeng Biao has an old leader living in the mountains, a bandit leader nad Fan Tu who’s a significant threat in Hukang County. You’re only daring to ss with my family because you have Fan Tu backing you."
"But my family is not afraid. In fact, we should thank you for allowing us to present a great gift to Lord Magistrate and General Guo." Gu Jin’an shook his head with a laugh while looking at He Daqian, "I don’t understand where you got the courage to associate with Zeng Biao and the others. These mountain bandits, Zeng Biao and Fan Tu, have long been watched by General Guo. Serving them as a henchman is a surefire way to get yourself killed."
Upon hearing this, He Daqian was so scared that... he wet himself.
The people of the He Family slled sothing unpleasant and cursed, "He Daqian, you dirty dog, how shaful!"
He Daqian, ignoring them, stared at Gu Jin’an, "What did you say? Brother Zeng and they have been targeted by General Guo?"
The Water Bandit Case years ago was a major incident. They had heard the nas of General Guo and Vice General Lan, knowing they were experts from the Prefecture garrison.
If Zeng Biao and Fan Tu really were targeted by General Guo, they had no chance of survival!
Both those masters wouldn’t survive, and as a henchman, he would die even more miserably.
Gu Jin’an nodded, "That’s right. They’ve been watched since last year. General Guo already knows the bandits’ hideout organized by Fan Tu. With a single command, Fan Tu’s stronghold can be annihilated. However, General Guo dismisses them as a ragtag band, not even counting them among the fierce bandits, and because they are few in number, he wanted so new recruits to have a workout, which is why he hasn’t acted yet."
Gu Jin’an added with a sarcastic jab, "Just about sixty n thinking they’re mountain kings, it’s laughable."
These things were all told to him by Qin San Lang, though at the ti he didn’t expect He Daqian would be mixing with these people.
"Impossible, that’s impossible..." He Daqian, terrified out of his wits, kept murmuring, "Brother Zeng and the others are quite powerful, and they have hundreds of brothers in the mountains."
He Daqian dared collaborate with them only because he heard of their numbers, planning to lure them into the village to rob the Gu Family.
But his answer was Gu Jin’an’s contemptuous cold laugh.
Village Chief He was nearly maddened, tearfully pleading with Gu Jin’an, "Good Brother An, save the He family, save the He family!"
Engaging with mountain bandits ant extermination of the entire clan.
Other He Family mbers, understanding the gravity of the situation, pleaded with Gu Jin’an, "Good Brother An, we’re all from the sa village. You must save us, or the He family is dood."
Won, with children, knelt before Gu Jin’an, "Good Brother An, for the sake of the children, save the He family. The children shouldn’t be punished with us, sob sob sob..."
Then they turned to plead with Luo Wu, "Squad Leader Luo, you’re a squad leader at the county governnt. You certainly can help, save us, we’ll have the children kowtow to you."
As they spoke, they pressed their children down to kowtow to Luo Wu.
The He Family’s younger children, frightened into tears, soon filled the entire ancestral hall with cries.
Luo Wu said, "Fan Tu and they are in Hukang County. I am a squad leader in Tianfu County and can’t handle matters in Hukang County. Only the Prefecture garrison camp and the Magistrate Governnt Office can."
At these words, the He Family sank into despair.
"What to do, what to do?" they cried in anguish, fighting with He Daqian and his wife, "It’s all your fault, you two rotten scoundrels, dooming the entire clan!"
Village Chief He surveyed the chaotic He Family Ancestral Hall, his body swayed, and he looked about to faint.
He Jinseng quickly supported the chief, "Grandfather, hang in there. Good Brother An wouldn’t ignore us since he’s here. He must have a solution."
He Jinseng’s words revived the nearly fainting village chief, who turned to Gu Jin’an, tears streaming down as he asked, "Good Brother An, is what Jinseng said true? If you have a way, please save the He family."
Seeing that the He Family had learned their lesson, Gu Jin’an didn’t continue to frighten them but instead suggested a way to save themselves: "Expel He Daqian and his family from the clan imdiately and take He Daqian and his wife with us to report to the county governnt overnight and tell County Magistrate Zheng everything."
He added, "Right now, nothing has happened to my family, and Zeng Biao and his gang haven’t committed cris in Tianfu County. As long as the situation is explained clearly, County Magistrate Zheng is a good official and will handle the case fairly, not taking out his anger on the entire He family."
"Yes, yes, Good Brother An is right. Expel them, expel He Daqian’s family imdiately!" Village Chief He ca to his senses, hurriedly fetched the clan register, and swiftly erased He Daqian’s family from it.
Then he ordered a vehicle to be prepared, taking He Daqian and his wife to the county governnt overnight.
Since it involved the Gu Family, Gu Jin’an and Luo Wu went along as well.
Luo Wu, being a squad leader, had a badge for entering and exiting the city gates. The guards recognized him and, knowing it involved a major case and a eting with the County Magistrate, quickly let them through.
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