Chapter 84: Taiyi Order

Xie Daohan is already forty-eight years old this year and has served three different county magistrates. The fact that he has been able to sit securely in the position of Head Constable for criminal cases all this time shows that he has some means.

He was originally a Registered Disciple of the Taiyi Sect, but after failing to be promoted to an Outer Sect Disciple, he was sent back to his native place.

Later, relying on diligent practice, he broke through to the First Layer of the True Qi Realm. A few years later, he took the position of Head Constable of Xiangu County, a seat he has held for over ten years.

Over these dozen years, the number of people who have died unjustly or miserably at his hands is countless...

"Master Luan, a key criminal has escaped from the County Government Office dungeon! I have already closed the city gates and issued strict orders for a city-wide search! You are blocking the way and not letting my men in—I suspect you have a guilty conscience! Could it be that you are an accomplice to that fugitive?"

Luan Jingfu let out a cold snort, his eyes sweeping across Xie Daohan's face with anger, and said, "Head Constable Xie, forgive me, but I don't quite understand what you mean! When did I ever say I wouldn't let you in? However, a search requires an Official Arrest Warrant."

"My Yuanshun Escort Agency isn't run by your family! You can't just barge in whenever you please without a warrant!"

In truth, Xie Daohan has quite a bit of influence in the county, and Luan Jingfu does not want to offend him.

But with Ruan Fengshan away, if he just let this group in—even though they are Constables from the County Government Office—there would inevitably be some with sticky fingers. The antiques in Ruan Fengshan's Back Courtyard are all worth a lot of money.

If they broke one or if one or two went missing, and Ruan Fengshan came back to ask for the reason, wouldn't that make him, the Chief Escort, look useless for letting them into the Back Courtyard to rummage around without even an Official Arrest Warrant?

The reason Luan Jingfu fears Ruan Fengshan so much is that they share a relationship far more secretive than that of a superior and subordinate, which is why Luan Jingfu knows Ruan Fengshan very well!

Ruan Fengshan had actually long since broken through to the True Qi Realm, but he had always maintained an outward facade of being limited by his talent and trapped in the Inner Breath Realm. From this, one can see how profound this man's schemes are! How could Luan Jingfu not be afraid?

"It's not that I won't give you a warrant. It's that the County Magistrate went to Yuanyang Prefecture on official business a few days ago and is not currently in Xiangu County! I will provide the warrant to you later!" Xie Daohan said anxiously.

Luan Jingfu said, "Without a warrant, no one is stepping foot into my Yuanshun Escort Agency."

"Luan Jingfu, are you deliberately going against me?" Xie Daohan was furious upon hearing this, and with a *shing* sound, he drew his blade!

The blades equipped by the Ya Men Constables are of a standardized type used throughout Qingzhou, known as barrier blades.

The hilt is slightly long, allowing for one-handed or two-handed use; the blade is narrow and long, the spine is slightly thick, and it is single-edged!

"What, you want to make a move?" Luan Jingfu kicked the Four-Edged Steel Mace he had been leaning on, lifted it, and held it horizontally in front of him. He did not actually want to fight Xie Daohan, but rather took a defensive stance and asked in a deep voice, "May I ask, Head Constable Xie, is it proper to force your way into my Yuanshun Escort Agency without a warrant?"

Xie Daohan was stumped by Luan Jingfu's question and replied, "One must act according to the situation, Master Luan! We see each other every day; do you really have to make things difficult for a brother?"

"Head Constable Xie, my Manager is not here. If you want to act according to the situation, you'll have to go find him to do so!"

"You..."

The muscles on Xie Daohan's face twitched. He knew he was in the wrong here, and the Yuanshun Escort Agency is one of the major powers in Xiangu County, with the taxes it pays to the Taiyi Sect every year second only to the Huaying Pavilion and the Raw Medicine Shop.

Once a fight broke out, if an investigation followed, it would be he who incited a civil disturbance!

In fact, he was originally the Head Constable in charge of criminal cases for the county, and he also had the authority to issue Official Arrest Warrants and hunt down criminals.

But ever since Shen Yanliu took office, he had reclaimed this power for the county government, which was equivalent to sidelining him as Head Constable on major cases, leaving him only to catch bandits and petty criminals.

Yet, just when Shen Yanliu went to the Prefecture City on official business, this major case of a prisoner escaping jail occurred, immediately leaving him, the Head Constable of criminal cases, in a dilemma.

A prisoner escaping jail is his primary responsibility!

If he could catch them back in time, he could make up for his negligence, but once delayed, the best opportunity for the search would be missed!

But he, the Head Constable of criminal cases, did not have the authority to issue an Official Arrest Warrant, and he kept hitting walls everywhere he tried to conduct a timely search!

Fan Yuanhai suddenly walked out from behind a stone lion by the gate of the Yuanshun Escort Agency, stepped forward a few paces, and smiled, "Master Luan is truly worthy of being the Chief Escort of the Yuanshun Escort Agency..."

Although this man was dressed in ordinary attire, his gait was light and slow, and a faint smile hung on his face. Luan Jingfu noticed him the moment he appeared, but seeing that he was a stranger, he did not seem to be from Xiangu County.

Fan Yuanhai spoke as he walked, but when he reached Luan Jingfu, his tone suddenly shifted, saying, "... truly a good dog!"

"Insolent!"

As the saying goes, a strong dragon does not suppress a local snake. Seeing a stranger insult him so publicly, Luan Jingfu was instantly enraged. He flicked the Steel Mace in his hand and thrust it toward the man's face.

Fan Yuanhai remained motionless, his right hand forming a palm, and with a single palm-blade strike, he slashed diagonally at the Steel Mace pointing toward his face!

The moment they connected, the web of Luan Jingfu's hand split open, blood flowed freely, and the Steel Mace in his hand flew backward, embedding itself into the top of the stone lion on the left. The stone top cracked, and a small half of the stone lion's head shattered and flew off!

"True Qi Realm Second Layer!"

Luan Jingfu was greatly shocked. He was already at the First Layer of the True Qi Realm; to be able to shatter his weapon in a single exchange, the opponent must have achieved the Second Layer of the True Qi Realm!

He did not expect that this man, who did not look very old, would have such cultivation!

"When did such a person come to Xiangu County?"

Fan Yuanhai looked at Luan Jingfu with an expressionless face and suddenly took out a token.

The token was entirely black, cast from an unknown metal, only the size of a palm, and shaped like a wedge with a square bottom and a pointed top. In the center of the token were the raised characters: Taiyi!

"Taiyi Order!"

Luan Jingfu could not help but step back two paces and cupped his hands in a salute to Fan Yuanhai.

"Master Luan, I wonder if this order counts as a warrant?"

"Naturally, it counts!" Cold sweat broke out slightly on Luan Jingfu's forehead as he said, "I was reckless and just offended the Imperial Envoy. I hope you will forgive me, my lord!"

Fan Yuanhai is an Outer Sect Disciple of the Taiyi Sect.

But even as an Outer Sect Disciple, his status is higher than Shen Yanliu's.

Because Shen Yanliu is an Outer Sect Disciple sent out to a post, while he is an Outer Sect Disciple within the sect.

An Outer Sect Disciple from within the sect who goes out on official business and holds the Taiyi Order is an Imperial Envoy, possessing the power to make decisions on the spot and the power of life and death!

The reason Luan Jingfu was terrified was that just now, even if Fan Yuanhai had executed him on the spot for obstructing the investigation, it would have been in accordance with the law!

"Since Master Luan has already spoken! Head Constable Xie, why are you still standing there?" Fan Yuanhai turned his head to look at Xie Daohan beside him, a look of disdain appearing in his eyes.

Xie Daohan cupped his hands in a salute to Fan Yuanhai before saying to the Constables behind him, "Brothers, follow me in to search! You few, the front courtyard! You few, the back courtyard and Middle Courtyard!"

After Xie Daohan finished giving orders, the Constables pushed aside the Escorts at the gate and rushed in!

Luan Jingfu immediately turned his head and instructed Luan Bao beside him, "Take a few men to the Back Courtyard and accompany them closely during the search!"

By "accompany them during the search," Luan Jingfu meant to keep a close eye on the items. Luan Bao understood and immediately took a few Escorts and hurried toward the Back Courtyard!

As soon as Duan Rong saw the Constables rushing in with hurried steps, he immediately thought that this search would surely involve rummaging and smashing, and he felt worried, fearing that the Constables would cause trouble over at the mourning hall. He then slipped out of the crowd and hurried toward the courtyard of Xiao Zongting in the Middle Courtyard.

(End of chapter)