Stranger Danger

Anyang was one of the nine counties of Luoshui. Located in front of Bashan and north of Moshui, it was ridiculed as “The Last of The Nine” or “The County Backwater” because of its remote location. In reality, Ye Qing was quite impressed with the county’s tall buildings and sprawling walls. Whatever the others might say, it looked much grander than August Hill Village at the very least.

The group had just reached the gates when a platoon of soldiers stopped them.

“Halt! Do you have a travel pass?”

Yan Feng handed over the travel pass to a treacherous-looking soldier. He gave it a cursory glance before looking at the horse-drawn carriage behind Yan Feng with a cunning glint, saying, “What’s inside the carriage? Open it up! We’ll need to inspect it!”

Yang Guan was extremely displeased with the man’s rude and vulgar behavior. He muttered, “Is he serious? What else can be inside a carriage besides a person?”

The soldier heard that and flew into a rage, “How dare you! Who the fuck do you think you are to deride me? You know what, I think you lot are the bandits who robbed and killed the Qingfeng Merchants yesterday. Lock em’ up, boys!”

“Hehe! At once, captain!”

Every soldier in the vicinity started chuckling evilly. Their eyes were malicious, and naked greed was written all over their faces. They looked like a pack of wolves getting ready to slaughter a flock of sheeps. Some of them were even whispering to each other,

“Woohoo, that’s another lamb to the slaughter!”

“I can’t wait to find out what we’re going to get this time!”

“These merchants are oh-so-rich and yet oh-so-cowardly. It would be a sin not to milk them for all they’re worth!”

At the rear, a smirk crept across Ye Qing’s face. He could hardly wait to see what was going to happen next.

As expected, a booming voice erupted from inside the carriage, “No, how dare you. Do you even know who you’re speaking to?”

Yan Yufei lifted the curtains to reveal a cold, dark countenance. It was so unexpected and intimidating that the soldiers actually paused in their tracks!

The captain of the soldiers—the treacherous-looking one who took offense with Yang Guan’s retort and ordered them to be taken earlier—recovered his composure first and sneered, “What does it matter? I’m an official, and you’re a citizen! If I say you’re guilty, then you are! Now get them, boys! Kill anyone who dares to resist!”

“Bastard! I dare you to draw your weapons!” Yan Feng roared and took one step forward. He had subdued his presence before as a matter of politeness, but now he was unleashing it in full. Hand on his long saber and eyes wide with the promise of brutal violence, he glared at the soldiers around him like he would swallow them whole.

“He… he’s a Qi Invoker!” The soldiers paled and stopped in their tracks yet again. They had believed the group to be sheep, but now it would seem that they had awoken a tiger!

“Captain…” A soldier said hesitatingly. The captain himself looked bewildered as well. In the end, he decided call their bluff and threatened, 𝚋𝚎𝚍𝚗𝚘𝚟ｅｌ.ｃ𝚘𝚖

“Hmph! So what if you’re a Qi Invoker? My brother-in-law’s a Vessel Augmentor and the vice magistrate of Anyang! If you’re smart, you would put down your weapons and obey us! Otherwise, we will have to take drastic action!”

The captain wasn’t stupid, it seemed. He had brought out his patron immediately!

Yan Yufei wasn’t afraid, however. A cold smile cut across his face as he said, “Drastic action, you say? Should I take that as a threat against your very own magistrate?”

He produced a yellow silken cloth from his shirt and unfolded it. At that moment, the wind and clouds above Anyang surged, and a majestic, formidable power encompassed the world in an instant. It was stunning to put it mildly!

“You… you’re Anyang’s magistrate?” the captain couldn’t believe his eyes. He might refuse to believe Yan Yufei’s words, but he could never deny the silken cloth before his eyes. When the magnitude of his error finally dawned upon him, he actually collapsed to his feet and shook like a leaf.

“W-We greet you, Lord Magistrate!”

The rest of the soldiers had seen the contents of the silken cloth and felt the terrible power circulating above Anyang as well. Terrified for their lives, they immediately dropped to their knees and bowed as deeply as they could.

“Croak croak…” Kung Fu Frog was clearly uncomfortable with the majestic power in the sky. Their donkey straight up emptied its bowels out of fright.

“Is this what they call the ‘Will Of The Dragon’ and the ‘Will Of The People’?” Ye Qing patted Kung Fu Frog comfortingly while watching the sky curiously.

The “Will Of The Dragon” referred to the power of the Son of Heavens, the emperor himself, and the “Will Of The People” referred to the power of the people of a specific land or human settlement.

All Chu officials naturally bore a sliver of the Will Of The Dragon and commanded the authority to wield the Will Of The People. Blessed by the emperor and acknowledged by the land and people they governed, they were capable of commanding The Will Of The Dragon, the Will Of The People and the Human Way to attack their enemies. This was why a civil servant who had never touched a weapon their whole lives was still extremely deadly in their own right. It was a path of power that was completely different from that of martial arts and cultivation.

But of course, there were pros and cons. In their territory, a civil servant wielded power great enough to suppress most threats. But outside their territory or if they were expelled from their post, they were no different from an ordinary person.

Yan Yufei was clearly one such example. Earlier on the road, he had no power whatsoever. He had to rely on Yan Feng and his guards to protect him. But now, his power was easily the equal of a Vessel Augmentor, if not better.

I had no idea that Lord Yan is the magistrate of Anyang, Ye Qing thought to himself. Although he already guessed from Yan Yufei’s dignified bearing and his entourage’s cultivation level that they were no ordinary people, their true identity still surprised him.

Of course, this means that the show’s going to be even better.

“Rise!” Yan Yufei ordered while withdrawing the silken cloth. The terrible power and unnatural phenomenon happening in the sky vanished like they never happened, and everyone felt a considerable weight lifted from their shoulders.

“Thank you, my lord!” The soldiers responded and rose to their feet.

The captain was climbing to his feet as well when Yan Yufei stared straight into his eyes and uttered coldly, “I did not give you permission to rise!”

“M-My lord, I…” So scared the captain was that his knees weakened, and he dropped to his knees once more.

Yan Yufei asked emotionlessly, “Tell me your name and post.”

The captain answered with a tremor in his voice, “My name is Tang Yi’an [1]. I’m the current gate captain of Anyang!”

“Tang Yi’an? That name is wasted on someone like you!” Yan Yufei said scornfully, “I am not so naive that I would expect all officials of Chu to lead by example and solve the people’s problems, but to actively use your status to exploit the people you’re supposed to protect? How dare you.”

“I’m sorry, my lord! I beg you to give me another chance!” A trembling Tang Yi’an admitted his guilt and kowtowed immediately. However, he immediately defended himself by saying, “Yesterday, after the Qingfeng Merchants were robbed outside of Anyang and suffered heavy losses, the assistant magistrate ordered me to investigate everyone who passes through Anyang thoroughly. I dare not neglect my duty, and I am deeply sorry that I have offended you as a result. So please…”

“Hmph!” Yan Yufei narrowed his eyes. This Tang Yi’an really was smart. Not only did he manage to excuse himself from his behavior, he had brought up his patron again to warn him. In theory, the assistant magistrate was subordinate to him. In reality, the assistant magistrate commanded Anyang’s armed forces and wielded a lot of power. There was also the fact that he was a newly appointed magistrate, and this was technically his first day at the job. If he insisted on punishing the gate captain for his behavior, he was going to give off the impression that he was mean and petty-minded, and he would offend the assistant magistrate as well. It was a lose-lose situation in that case.

A short pause later, Yan Yufei said coldly, “Even so, you have clearly transgressed beyond your post and behaved unseemingly. If I find you doing this again, you will be punished severely!”

“I obey, my lord! Thank you for giving me a second chance, my lord!” Tang Yi’an replied in a hurry while hiding his delight. He knew the new magistrate wouldn’t dare to punish him and risk his brother-in-law’s ire!

Yan Yufei wasn’t planning on letting him off with no punishment, however. Just when Tang Yi’an was about to rise a second time, he said suddenly, “Speaking of which, you seem to have a fondness for kneeling. In that case, you may kneel a while longer!”

Tang Yi’an grimaced visibly. Since fucking when do I enjoy kneeling? He did not dare to disobey Yan Yufei though, so he dropped to his knees for a third time!

“The rest of you may resume your duties now. Be warned that you will be punished severely if you dare to abuse your position and neglect your duties again!” Yan Yufei’s voice was ice cold as he swept his gaze across the other soldiers.

“Yes, my lord…” They responded meekly. Unlike Tang Yi’an, they weren’t lucky enough to be the assistant magistrate’s brother-in-law. The only thing they could do was to obey.

“Now then. Let us enter Anyang!” Yan Yufei ordered before leaving his carriage. He then walked right through the gates.

Satisfied with the show he just watched, Ye Qing casually followed behind Yan Yufei and the others and passed through the gates as well. Since Yan Yufei was right there, no one had the guts to stop him and ask his name, much less put him through an inspection. He was happy with this outcome to say the least.

“Hee haw…” Prrrssssssh!

There was to be one last encore before the show truly ended, however. Ye Qing was leading his donkey past Tang Yi’an when his donkey—after all the fright it had suffered earlier—decided now was the time to take a literal piss. The hot stream hit Tang Yi’an squarely in the face.

Tang Yi’an: “...”

Ye Qing: “...”

Ye Qing looked down, and Tang Yi’an looked up. Their eyes met, and for a while no one knew what to say to each other!

“You—!”

A few speechless seconds later, Tang Yi’an’s emotions finally caught up to him, and he was ready to shout at the bastard. However, Ye Qing interrupted him with an apology, “Sorry, sorry! My donkey is a cowardly thing, and you are so intimidating that it just cannot help itself. I hope you won’t take offense with a donkey?”

His words almost sounded polite, but the derision in his voice was as clear as day. Ashen-faced with anger, Tang Yi’an was about to unleash fire and brimstone when suddenly, Yan Yufei looked back and said, “What are you doing, Joyless? Get over here already!”

“Coming!” Ye Qing responded, and whatever Tang Yi’an was going to say was quickly swallowed back into his stomach. It sounded like the young man was quite close with the magistrate, and until he figured out their relationship he didn’t dare to attack him. For a time, he looked like he was about to explode from all the anger and frustration he had pent up!

“Oh right, I almost forgot!” Ye Qing suddenly turned around after a few steps. “It’s pretty hot today, and you look like you can use some water. It so happens that my donkey’s piss is good for the liver and the lungs, and is most effective at cooling heat. If you like you can even roll yourself in the puddle or drink from it. I guarantee you’ll never feel as hot or impulsive ever again! No need to thank me, captain!”

Ye Qing gave him one final wave and left just like that!

“Pff…” Some of the crowd could not stop themselves from bursting out in laughter.

Creak… Tang Yi’an was clenching his teeth so hard that he almost broke a molar. He could not remember the last time he had been humiliated like this. His eyes flashed with a hint of hatred as he glared at Ye Qing’s back.

As soon as they were inside the county, Yan Yufei saluted Ye Qing and said sincerely, “Joyless, I hadn’t told you my identity earlier because I wish to avoid unnecessary risks. It’s not that I want to hide it from you. I hope you won’t mind?”

At that moment, he didn’t look like a magistrate at all.

Ye Qing smiled. “I understand, Lord Yan. I don’t mind it one bit! Plus, I already figured that you guys were no ordinary people. I wasn’t expecting you to be the magistrate of Anyang though! Now that was a surprise!”

“Haha… I knew we wouldn’t be able to hide it from you!”

Yan Yufei was quite delighted by Ye Qing’s honesty. “Speaking of which, what do you plan to do now that you’re here?”

1. meaning Justice and Peace 👈