Tie Xuan's cold shout left the group of Government Officials hesitating.
On one side was the awe-inspiring reputation of Huang Xing, while on the other was the written approval from the County Magistrate.
Soon, a few Government Officials exchanged glances, and then sheathed their drawn swords, silently standing aside, obviously not prepared to oppose the County Government for the arrest officer Huang Xing.
Humans are herd animals; seeing someone taking the lead, most of the Government Officials followed suit, sheathing their swords and bowing their heads, not daring to meet the gloomy gaze of Huang Xing.
In the blink of an eye, there were only four or five people still standing behind Huang Xing, including Chen Yuan.
Seeing the silent Chen Yuan standing behind himself, Huang Xing felt a great surprise. Just as he was about to say some encouraging words, he saw Chen Yuan smile at him and, carrying his sword, stood aside.
It was obvious he was ready to watch the excitement.
The standoff in front of the Huang Family home attracted many onlookers, and the discussions among the people were lively, with not a few cheering on.
Huang Xing let out a cold snort, and the next moment, dozens of Protectors martial artists, armed with long sabers and swords, emerged from within the Huang Family and stared at Tie Xuan and his party.
They formed two rows, as if they were respectfully awaiting someone's arrival.
Soon, a man in a green long gown, with a goatee on his chin, the Family Head Huang Shengnian, walked out expressionless.
"Family Head!" Huang Xing's eyes flickered, seemingly asking whether everything at home was now prepared.
The Huang Family indeed had many incriminating evidences, and if discovered during a search, they would be facing a crime potent enough to result in their family's extermination. Huang Xing was delaying Tie Xuan here, trying to buy them time to obliterate all evidence swiftly.
As long as there was no evidence, the Huang Family could remain unscathed under Li Mingqi's protection.
The Huang Family hadn't skimped on sending gifts to the Li surname all these years; if they didn't help them out now, who would follow him in the future?
A trace of gloom flickered across Huang Shengnian's eyes, and imperceptibly, he shook his head.
Huang Xing took a deep breath, realizing things were turning bad.
"What's wrong? Arrest officer Huang, you don't think it's only here that has been blocked, do you?" Tie Xuan's lips curled into a cold smile.
The saying about a crafty rabbit having three burrows was not lost on him.
All the exits of the Huang Family were covered by Government Officials, all from the six divisions of the County Government. With a single command from Wu Qingfeng, no one dared to disobey.
"Brother Tie, the Huang Family doesn't seem to have offended you, right? Why do you press us so aggressively today?" Huang Shengnian stood with his hands behind his back, slightly frowning as he looked at Tie Xuan.
"Not offended? Haha... Huang Xing, you don't really think I'm unaware of who's been pulling the strings behind Old Song, do you? Let me tell you, I've already seen through him, and I've got all the Huang Family's deeds in my grasp."
Tie Xuan had an air of holding the winning cards, and even the watching Chen Yuan was almost convinced.
"Brother Tie, what are you talking about? I don't seem to understand what you're saying? Could it be that someone has been slandering..." Huang Xing's face remained unchanged.
"Humph, whether it's slander or not, you know full well. Enough idle talk, if you know what's good for you, back off now. As long as no evidence is found in the Huang Family, I will certainly come and apologize in person!"
"If arrest officer Tie really managed to force his way in successfully, my Huang Family would no longer have any standing from now on. This, I cannot allow!" Huang Shengnian refused flatly.
"Then there's nothing more to say..." Tie Xuan drew a short spear from behind his back, and with a violent flick, the short spear snapped and extended into a long spear, its head gleaming coldly, its black tassel flowing with the wind.
"I've long heard that the Tie Family's spear technique is unmatched in Ping'an County. I've been eager to see it for myself. I just wonder how it compares to our Huang Family's Gale Swift Sword..." Huang Shengnian took a step forward.
Behind him, a Protector shouted:
"Family Head, catch the sword!"
With a 'whoosh,' a green long sword was unsheathed. Huang Shengnian kept his eyes fixed on Tie Xuan, casually catching it. The sword in hand was engraved with green wind patterns.
Sword pointed at Tie Xuan!
Tie Xuan shook his long spear, emitting a buzzing sound, and said in a cold voice:
"The Huang Family has colluded with the No-Life Sect traitors to create chaos in Ping'an. By the County Magistrate's order, all members of the Huang Family will be arrested and thrown into prison. Any who dare resist will be killed without mercy!"
"Take action!"
With a low shout from Tie Xuan, facing Huang Shengnian, a hint of cold light arrived first, followed by his spear thrusting forth like a dragon!
The long spear moved swiftly, stabbing straight at his chest.
Huang Shengnian's expression turned grave as he retreated three steps, his sword bringing out an afterimage as it swung down fiercely.
With a 'ding', he parried it away.
Immediately, the two engaged in a fierce exchange, with ceaseless shadows of sword and spear, visibly marking the ground within a two-zhang radius with sword cuts.
Chen Yuan watched carefully, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes.
Such strength was far beyond him; relying solely on his Sword Drawing Skill, he probably wouldn't last more than a few moves.
At Tie Xuan's command, the government officials he brought along rushed towards the Huang Family's protectors.
Huang Xing swung his sword, and the protectors behind him showed not a hint of fear on their faces, some even looked frenzied.
Those present on the scene, aside from a group of commoners watching from a distance, were mostly government officials brought by Huang Xing; they looked at each other uncertain as to whom they should help.
Chen Yuan was among them.
His gaze was fixed on the battle between Tie Xuan and the Huang Family Head, Huang Shengnian.
With nearly every strike exchanged between the two, a layer of afterimages appeared, the fierce Sword Qi sweeping across in glints of cold light, cutting more than a dozen conspicuous marks into the ground.
Gale Swift Sword, as expected, lives up to its name!
This swordsmanship had quite a reputation in Ping'an County, considered the secret technique of the Huang Family and never taught outside, ranking above the martial arts of the county government.
As for the Tie Family's Spear Technique, it wasn't Chen Yuan's first time witnessing it. He had observed Tie Qinghua and Old Sixth Song's confrontation, but the Spear Technique Tie Xuan was using now seemed several times more powerful than Tie Qinghua's.
Could it be because a man still wields a spear, while a woman does not?
A peculiar thought crossed Chen Yuan's mind.
Standing on a rooftop five hundred meters away from the Huang Family was a group of five figures, led by the stern-faced Zhang Xuan.
"Tie Xuan's strength is indeed remarkable. At the Bone Refining Level, there's hardly anyone in Ping'an County who can match him," a man in black with a scar on his face murmured.
His clothes were embroidered with patterns similar to clouds, matching those on Zhang Xuan's outfit, but the main difference was that his were black, while Zhang Xuan's patterns were white.
"What does the master think of him?" a very burly man asked in a deep voice.
Zhang Xuan squinted and said:
"He's too old, not suitable for the Heavenly Patrol Bureau. Besides, he might not be willing to come. The power wielded by a head jailer in the government is not something a Heavenly Patrol Guard can compare with."
"Power? That's only against ordinary people. In front of us, what's a jailer worth?" muttered a middle-aged man covered in pockmarks.
"Yue Shan..." called Zhang Xuan softly.
"Master!"
The hefty man bowed and saluted with his fists.
"That Huang Xing is yours to deal with. For now, do not reveal your identity!"