Chapter 102: Before the City Gate

Xie Daohan glanced at Ruan Fengshan not far ahead; the fact that Ruan Fengshan could still obtain such a warrant from Shen Yanliu at a time like this showed that he still held some sway with the County Magistrate.

"Brother Shen, since there is a warrant, we shall naturally inspect and let you pass!"

Ruan Fengshan stood there, calm and composed, and said, "Head Constable Xie is righteous!"

Others might not know the inside story, but he knew it very clearly: ever since Shen Yanliu arrived in this Xiangu County, Xie Daohan had essentially been sidelined.

After all, he had grown up in this county since he was a child, while no matter how capable Shen Yanliu was, he was still an outsider; the saying goes that a powerful dragon does not suppress the local serpent, yet this person had done the opposite and suppressed him completely! If this wasn't being spineless, what was?

Although Ruan Fengshan looked down on Xie Daohan in his heart, a faint smile remained on his face.

Xie Daohan glanced at the trusted Constable not far beside him, shook the large sheet of paper in his hand, and said, "Weiming! Take the list, call them out one by one, and let them pass!"

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Fengshan's eyelids twitched, but he said nothing.

It was a troubled time, so inspections were unavoidable! The time for the funeral procession had already been moved up precisely because they feared delays when leaving the city.

Weiming was around forty years old, burly, with slightly puffy eyes; he took the list and shouted, "Whoever I call, go out! Do not cause disorder!"

"Xiao Ping!"

As soon as Weiming finished speaking, a thin, fair-skinned twenty-year-old youth in mourning clothes walked out from the group carrying the banners at the front, and he walked forward holding a white banner!

Xie Daohan's gaze was sharp, like a hawk's, as he looked Xiao Ping up and down!

"Xiaochong!"

"Xiao Yun!"

Following Weiming's voice, one banner-bearer after another walked forward, exited the city gate, and waited outside the city...

Behind the banner-bearing group was the group carrying the coffin!

Since everyone was carrying the coffin together, they couldn't just let one person out at a time.

Therefore, they used Weiming calling the names and the coffin-bearers answering as the signal!

"Qinyu!"

"Here!"

"Zhao Mu!"

"Here!"

"Duan Rong!"

"Here!"

Xie Daohan circled Xiao Baijiao's coffin, fixing his eyes on each of the coffin-bearers one by one!

Xie Daohan paused slightly in front of Duan Rong; the coffin-bearers were all in Escort attire, but Duan Rong was wearing short-sleeved work clothes!

Seeing Xie Daohan stop in front of Duan Rong, Ruan Fengshan said, "He is an Apprentice Escort recruited this year!"

Xie Daohan stopped because he had some impression of the name Duan Rong, but he couldn't recall where he had heard it for a moment, so his footsteps faltered.

Xie Daohan waved his hand!

Once the names of the coffin-bearers were called and checked one by one, the group should have been able to carry the coffin out of the city!

However, just as the group moved, Xie Daohan's cold eyes swept over the dark, heavy coffin, and he suddenly said coldly, "Stop!"

The coffin-bearers slowed their pace, paused, and set the heavy coffin down steadily!

At this moment, all the coffin-bearers turned their heads to look at Xie Daohan!

Even Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi, who were leading the procession in front of the coffin, turned sideways to look at Xie Daohan, wondering what kind of madness he was up to now.

"Manager Ruan, has the coffin been nailed shut?"

"Yes, it has been nailed," Ruan Fengshan replied, blinking.

Xie Daohan suddenly said coldly, "Open it!"

As soon as Xie Daohan said this, the scene fell into a deathly silence!

Ruan Fengshan's expression changed, and as he looked at Xie Daohan, his tone was already somewhat unfriendly: "Head Constable Xie, the coffin has been nailed shut. If we were to pry the nails and open it now, I fear it would be disrespectful to the deceased!"

"If you don't open it, how do I know if there are any fugitives hidden inside this coffin?" Xie Daohan looked at Ruan Fengshan with a sharp gaze.

His attitude was extremely firm; he suspected that people from several major factions were involved in the ins and outs of this matter, and the more Ruan Fengshan acted this way, the more he felt he had to open it to be at ease!

"Is Head Constable Xie implying suspicion of me with these words?" Ruan Fengshan felt hidden anger.

"I am merely investigating the case as it stands, so I ask Manager Ruan to cooperate! Furthermore, this case involves the Taiyi Sect, so we cannot be anything but cautious! I hope Manager Ruan can weigh the consequences!"

When Xie Daohan said this, Ruan Fengshan's eyelids could not help but twitch. Luan Jingfu had told him upon his return that Fan Yuanhai was assisting Xie Daohan in searching the Yuanshun Escort Agency with the Taiyi Order.

If this case really involved the Sect, he did not want to be too deeply involved!

People like them might have some influence in the secular world, but in front of the Sect, they were nothing but cannon fodder; to put it bluntly, if they wanted to kill you, they wouldn't even need to say a word.

Thinking this far, Ruan Fengshan did not want to continue clashing with Xie Daohan; after all, Fan Yuanhai, who held the Taiyi Order, might be nearby.

"This..." Ruan Fengshan's tone and expression were already hesitant.

Xie Daohan glanced at Ruan Fengshan and called out, "If the coffin is to leave the city, it must be opened for inspection!"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Fengshan remained silent. With that expression of his, his attitude was already somewhat clear.

Seeing Ruan Fengshan's demeanor, Xiao Yu felt a sudden chill in her heart and was extremely disappointed. Her Xiaojia had served the Yuanshun Escort Agency for two generations, yet when a real crisis hit, this was the attitude of the master!

Overcome with grief and indignation, Xiao Yu shouted, "Who dares?"

Xiao Yu shoved the spirit tablet in her hand into the hands of Zhu Xiaoqi beside her, reached into the back of her mourning clothes, and drew her Qingling Saber.

With a *shing* sound, the long, narrow blade gleamed like water; Xiao Yu stood before the coffin with the blade in hand and shouted in a clear, high-pitched voice, "If you want to open the coffin, you must ask the blade in my hand!"

"Xiao Yu! Are you trying to rebel?" Xie Daohan stood sideways, his eyes wide with rage, and asked through gritted teeth, almost word for word.

Xiao Yu sneered and said, "The Xiaojia have been law-abiding citizens for generations; how would we dare to rebel? But whoever wants to insult my sister must step over the corpse of me, Xiao Yu!"

"You?!" Xie Daohan was so infuriated that his mustache bristled, and he shouted, "Men, surround them for me!"

Weiming received the order, led the Constables, drew their blades to form a semi-circle, and surrounded Xiao Yu in front of the coffin!

Xiao Yu was dressed in mourning clothes, tears in the corners of her eyes; the cold blade in her hand shimmered with a chilling light, and there was not a trace of retreat in her eyes. Xiao Yu held the blade in one hand and gently stroked the raised edge of the coffin lid with the other, saying, "Little sister, don't be afraid! Big sister is here; no one can bully you!"

Those Constables, seeing Xiao Yu with tears streaming down her face like rain and sorrow in her eyes, felt a surge of reluctance in their hearts!

But Xie Daohan was even more furious; his nephew had died a tragic death, and the sorrow in his heart was no less than Xiao Yu's. At this moment, how could he leave the enemy the slightest possibility of escape? He had to examine this coffin!

"Xiao Yu, do not be stubborn! This is a necessity for investigating the case. This case is of great importance and is not something a mere commoner like you can bear. This Head Constable advises you to step aside!"

"It is not that Xiao Yu is stubborn, but that you, Head Constable Xie, are bullying people too much!" Xiao Yu gritted her teeth and said angrily.

Seeing that further talk was useless, Xie Daohan's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he drew the long saber from his waist!

He was truly preparing to take action! However, he did not intend to kill Xiao Yu!

Xie Daohan was a True Qi Realm Martial Artist, while Xiao Yu was only at the Inner Breath Realm Third Layer. Injuring her with a shock to make her temporarily lose her combat ability was not a difficult task for Xie Daohan!

In the funeral procession at the very back, Xiao Zongting was already weeping bitterly with tears streaming down his face, his legs weak. Seeing his daughter surrounded, he struggled to rush forward, but was held tightly by several relatives!

Xiao Zongting's martial arts had been crippled, and he was old; held fast by others, he could not break free for a moment, only howling dryly...

Seeing that Xie Daohan was about to take action, Duan Rong suddenly flashed out from under the coffin and stood by Xiao Yu's side!

When Duan Rong suddenly flashed out, Zhao Mu, who was carrying the coffin beside him, felt his shoulder suddenly sink and had to exert force to steady himself!

Duan Rong stood beside Xiao Yu, drew his Ox-Tail Saber in one motion, took another half-step, and blocked in front of Xiao Yu!

Duan Rong suddenly roared: "Fellow disciples! We all received instruction from Xiao Lao! The grace of teaching is greater than heaven!"

"Today, the Xiaojia is in trouble!"

"A real man, standing up for righteousness even unto death, is today!"

"Those with guts, follow me and charge!"

At this moment, Duan Rong's eyes were wide open; because he had roared with such force, the veins on his forehead were visible, and his face and neck were flushed red...

Xiao Yu stood behind Duan Rong, staring blankly at his back, and hot tears suddenly welled up from her eye sockets...

The Yuanshun Escort Agency usually had strict rules, and these Escorts dared not move without Ruan Fengshan's word. But at this moment, spurred by Duan Rong's roar—they were all people who walked the rivers and lakes and lived by the blade—their bloodlust was ignited, and how could they hold back any longer!

The sound of blades being drawn, *shing shing*, immediately rang out all around!

In an instant, figures shifted, and a group of Escorts all came forward with blades, surrounding the Constables who had been surrounding Xiao Yu!

Zhao Mu, who was carrying the coffin behind Duan Rong, saw everyone move and felt his own blood surge. He drew the Ox-Tail Saber from his waist, still carrying the coffin with half his shoulder, pointed the tip of the blade at the Constables from a distance, and shouted while spitting, "Whoever dares to move a finger against Miss Yu, I will fight him to the death!"

(End of this chapter)