Tu Ninth Master clearly didn't catch what Wei Changle muttered and barked, "What are you mumbling about, you little brat? Hand over the money—200 taels for the noodles and the damage to the shop. Oh, and those three horses outside are ours now. If you don't pay up, don't even think about leaving this place!"
"You're absolutely right," Wei Changle said with a calm nod. "Since we're all here, no one's leaving today."
Tu Ninth Master burst into laughter. "Ha! You've got guts, I'll give you that. How about this: pay up, kneel down, kowtow a few times, and I'll only break your legs today."
"My bones are too tough to kneel," Wei Changle replied with a smirk. "But you're welcome to kneel. I promise to leave you with your life."
"Damn you, you're asking for death!" Tu Ninth Master's face darkened in anger. He grabbed a wooden club from one of his thugs and, without another word, swung it directly at Wei Changle's head.
Wei Changle reacted instantly. A swift kick sent a chair flying straight toward Tu Ninth Master's face.
Tu Ninth Master dodged quickly, but before he could regain his footing, Wei Changle had already closed the distance. Like a hunting leopard, he dashed forward with incredible speed.
As Tu Ninth Master avoided the chair, Wei Changle's foot came crashing into his gut. The force of the kick sent the 100-plus-kilogram man hurtling backward. He knocked over two of his own men, and they fell to the ground in a messy heap.
Wei Changle's anger toward Tu Ninth Master's earlier behavior had been simmering, and this kick carried a significant amount of force.
"Ninth Master...!"
Several of the thugs rushed over to help him up, their expressions a mix of fury and fear.
They couldn't believe it. Here, in the infamous West City slum, someone actually dared to attack Tu Ninth Master.
Tu Ninth Master, meanwhile, felt as though his internal organs had been shattered. The excruciating pain made it nearly impossible for him to breathe. His eyes rolled back as he lay on the ground, but he still managed to lift a trembling finger, signaling for his men to attack.
Before he could give the order, however, Wei Changle had already charged forward, grabbing a chair as he moved.
His fearless demeanor stunned the group of thugs for a moment.
"Kill him!" one of them shouted, charging forward with a wooden club raised high.
The man swung the club at Wei Changle, but he was too slow. Before the club could even come close, Wei Changle smashed the chair over his head.
With a muffled groan, the thug collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Zhu Nu, the cleaver!" Wei Changle called out.
Zhu Nu, who had been following closely behind, immediately handed him the cleaver. Wei Changle took it, let out a loud yell, and charged straight into the remaining thugs.
Though Wei Changle had already taken down two men in a matter of moments, the rest of the group, confident in their superior numbers, didn't back down. They swung their clubs wildly, aiming for Wei Changle's head and body.
Several blows landed on Wei Changle, but he seemed unfazed. Wielding the cleaver with deadly precision, he slashed left and right.
He didn't aim for their heads, instead targeting their arms and bodies. His strikes were ruthless, and every slash drew blood.
As the saying goes, "The bold fear the reckless, and the reckless fear the fearless." Wei Changle's ferocity sent chills down the spines of the thugs.
Within moments, five or six of them had been injured, with two bleeding profusely from their wounds. When Wei Changle delivered a particularly savage slash to one man's shoulder, another thug finally reached his breaking point. Letting out a terrified scream, he turned and fled.
The sight of their comrade fleeing shattered the remaining thugs' morale. One by one, they scattered, running for their lives.
Two of them, however, had the presence of mind to grab Tu Ninth Master and help him escape.
Although Wei Changle had taken several hits from the clubs, he seemed unaffected. Seeing the thugs flee, he didn't stop. Raising the cleaver, he chased after them.
The thugs ran like frightened rabbits, but Tu Ninth Master, weighed down by his bulk and needing support from his two men, couldn't move quickly.
Wei Changle caught up to them and slashed the cleaver across Tu Ninth Master's back.
"Aaaah!" Tu Ninth Master screamed in agony. "Run! Hurry up and get me out of here!"
The two men, terrified, didn't dare abandon him. They dragged him forward as fast as they could, but Wei Changle wasn't letting up.
With five or six more strikes, Tu Ninth Master's back was a mess of shredded fabric and bloody gashes. The deep red of his wounds contrasted starkly with the pale white of his flesh, creating a grotesque sight.
People on the street scrambled to get out of the way, but their eyes gleamed with excitement, as though Wei Changle were their personal avenger.
"Stop right there!"
Just as Wei Changle was about to strike again, a stern voice rang out.
"Assaulting people in broad daylight—are you trying to start a rebellion?"
"Captain Wang, save me… save me!" Tu Ninth Master, seeing the group of men approaching, screamed like he'd seen his last hope for survival. "This traitor… he's trying to kill me…!"
Wei Changle also saw the approaching group clearly now. They were men dressed in black hats and dark blue cotton uniforms, with knives strapped to their waists and thick hemp ropes hanging from their belts. From their attire, it was obvious they were yamen constables.
Ordinarily, once Wei Changle reached the county seat and formally received his official seal, these constables would be his subordinates.
"Clang, clang, clang!"
Four constables drew their blades simultaneously, rushing toward Wei Changle with swift and steady steps.
Leading them was a man in his early forties, short but stocky, with dark skin. He bellowed, "Drop the knife! Drop it now!"
The constables stepped between Wei Changle and the thugs. Wei Changle tossed the cleaver aside and was about to speak when two or three of the thugs who had previously fled returned, battered and bruised.
"Captain Wang… this bastard refused to pay for his noodles and smashed up the shop with his gang," one thug accused, playing the victim. "Ninth Master tried to stand up for justice and asked him to pay, but this madman flew into a rage and attacked us with a cleaver. He injured several of our brothers!"
Captain Wang glanced at the speaker, noting his pale complexion and the fresh knife wound on his arm. He snorted coldly and asked, "How many of them fought back?"
The thug hesitated, lowering his head in embarrassment. "Just… just him alone…"
"One man chased all of you off?" Captain Wang sneered. "Are the Five Immortals Society members so weak they eat with buckets instead of bowls?"
Five Immortals Society?
Wei Changle recalled Tu Ninth Master mentioning that name earlier. What exactly was the Five Immortals Society?
Whatever it was, it seemed the thugs were deeply fearful of the constables. Even as Captain Wang mocked them, they kept their heads bowed and said nothing in response.
"These injuries are serious," Captain Wang said, noticing the blood-soaked wounds on Tu Ninth Master's back. With a wave of his hand, he ordered, "Take him to the medical clinic immediately."
"Thank you… thank you, Captain Wang…" Tu Ninth Master muttered weakly. "I'll repay your kindness later…"
Two of his men quickly helped him up and hurried away.
"Seize him!" Captain Wang's voice suddenly turned icy as he barked, "Arrest them!"
Three constables stepped forward. One of them deftly untied the rope from his belt and moved to restrain Wei Changle.
"Who dares!" Zhu Nu's sharp voice rang out as he and Old Wei Gu rushed to the scene. Seeing the constables about to detain Wei Changle, Zhu Nu shouted, "Do you know who my Second Master is?" He prepared to lunge forward and block them.
Wei Changle, however, grabbed Zhu Nu's arm and pulled him behind him.
"Captain Wang, you haven't even figured out what's going on, and you're already arresting me. Isn't that a bit reckless?" Wei Changle stared at Captain Wang coldly, a mocking smile on his lips. "Is this how you execute the law?"
The constables ignored his protests, roughly pinning Wei Changle's arms behind his back. One of them expertly tied his hands.
Wei Changle didn't resist and allowed himself to be restrained.
With his head tilted slightly upward, Captain Wang responded indifferently, "I saw you with my own eyes—chasing and hacking at someone with a knife. Are you saying that didn't happen? I don't care who you are. If you've broken the law, I'll enforce it impartially."
He struck a righteous pose, his demeanor one of unwavering integrity.
Wei Changle chuckled. "Since you're the captain of constables in Shanyin City, you must be well aware of the situation here. That noodle shop—what kind of shady dealings go on there, you know as well as I do. And as for the Five Immortals Society, you're equally familiar with what kind of people they are. Yet here you are, arresting me without question while ignoring them. Are you truly incapable of distinguishing right from wrong?"
"Save it," Captain Wang said coolly. "You'll have your chance to explain once we're at the yamen. Arrest his accomplices too!"
Old Wei Gu, still clutching his wooden box, quickly spoke up. "Captain Wang, I didn't lift a hand throughout this whole ordeal. I'm just an old man. If you want me to come to the yamen, I'll go willingly. No need to tie me up."
"Good, as long as you behave," Captain Wang replied, before pointing at Zhu Nu. "Tie this one up."
Zhu Nu hesitated, unsure why Wei Changle hadn't revealed his identity. But seeing his Second Master submit without resistance, Zhu Nu decided not to act rashly and allowed himself to be restrained.
"Take them to the yamen," Captain Wang ordered, sheathing his blade and straightening his uniform. He turned and walked off, while the three constables marched behind him, escorting Wei Changle, Old Wei Gu, and Zhu Nu toward the Shanyin County Office.
[--------------------------------------------]
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