Chapter 13: The Chaotic Streets

"That's right, it is indeed this official!"

No sooner had the words fallen than Shen Yu had already arrived beside these few burly men. Immediately following, before the burly men could even react, they had already been fiercely thrown into the air, and a moment later, the sound of them landing heavily followed.

The entire process was completed in almost the blink of an eye, and the movements were dazzling. Even the Constable Zhou Yuan nearby only saw a blur flash by; he hadn't seen clearly at all how Shen Yu had managed it.

This speed was simply too fast—could it be that this kind of hand speed only comes from being single?

"Daring to rob your grandmother, I see you lot don't want to live anymore!" Seeing these few people beaten down in almost an instant, the young girl seemed completely unsatisfied and went into action herself. The few people, already in a state of serious injury, immediately began to suffer even more inhumane, brutal blows.

At first, the young girl was just punching and kicking them, but later, perhaps she was tired and her hands hurt a bit, so she grabbed a bench from a nearby tea stall and swung it down fiercely. That wasn't even the end of it; she even splashed the hot water from the tea stall onto them, and the bursts of screams ringing in their ears were enough to make one's hair stand on end.

"Hiss!" Seeing this scene, Shen Yu and Constable Zhou Yuan both gasped in cold air. Therefore, one must never easily provoke a woman; you never know just how terrifying they can be when they fly into a rage.

Having finished venting, the young girl panted heavily and sat slumped to the side, only then remembering there were two other people nearby, and her face immediately flushed with embarrassment.

"Thanks for just now. My name is Lu Siyu. If you run into trouble in the future, just report my name!"

"Another rich young lady running away from home!" Shaking his head, Zhou Yuan nearby muttered in a low voice, clearly no stranger to such girls.

In this World of the jianghu, the constraints on women's thinking are relatively weaker. Moreover, there are countless legendary Martial Artists in the jianghu, and coupled with the fact that the mouths of storytellers paint jianghu life in such flowery terms, there is no shortage of young men and women who like to run away from home to roam the jianghu.

He sees one or two such children of wealthy families every year, so it is not strange at all.

"By the way, I just heard them say you are the County Magistrate of Baian County? There are actually bandits in Baian County robbing common women in broad daylight; you tell me yourself, how are you doing as this County Magistrate?"

Looking Shen Yu up and down, the young girl had no reservations just because she had been saved by Shen Yu, but instead started spraying criticism directly at him. With this level of emotional intelligence, she was likely spoiled at home, acting and speaking without using her brain at all.

"Audacious! Our County Magistrate just saved you, and not only are you not grateful, you actually..."

"Shut your mouth!" Shen Yu snorted coldly at Zhou Yuan, then immediately bowed slightly and cupped his hands to the girl in front of him. "It is this official's dereliction of duty that has caused the young lady to suffer a grievance!"

"That attitude is more like it. Learn from him, why is he the County Magistrate and you're just a Constable!"

"Because he reads books well, what else could it be!" Hearing the girl's words, Zhou Yuan complained inwardly. Could one become an official just by having a good attitude? That's nonsense.

And as long as one studies hard by the window and passes the imperial examinations, even a bookworm can become a County Magistrate. But if you lack that qualification, heh, the lords in the imperial court won't acknowledge you.

Of course, if your cultivation is strong enough to suppress a region, never mind a County Magistrate, as long as you can serve the imperial court, they are even willing to grant you the position of a high-ranking regional official.

"County Magistrate, it's not that I'm saying your Baian County has poor public order; my purse was stolen just after I entered the city, and then I saw gang disciples on the street going door-to-door collecting protection money, punching and kicking those who didn't pay. Before I could even act with chivalry, I was targeted by these people and was almost dragged away myself."

"Tsk tsk, you tell me yourself, isn't your performance as County Magistrate very unsuccessful?"

"It is very unsuccessful!" Nodding, Shen Yu's expression turned very ugly. He hadn't expected the public order in Baian County to be this poor; it was likely already at a point that could not be ignored. If someone didn't know better, they would probably think they had walked into a thieves' den!

"My Lord, the situation on the streets has existed for a long time, and so many previous County Magistrates haven't solved it; how long have you been in office..." At this point, Zhou Yuan couldn't continue, because he saw Shen Yu's ugly expression.

The last time he saw the County Magistrate with such an expression was when he was beaten by Cai He. Then, the massive Cai Family was gone. Now that the County Magistrate was wearing such an expression again, someone was likely going to lose sleep.

"Constable Zhou, you immediately take men to the streets to maintain order, and by the way, find out who is stirring up trouble in broad daylight—do they think this official doesn't exist?"

"Yes, my Lord, this subordinate will go at once!" Stealing a glance at Shen Yu, Zhou Yuan then left quickly, and it was a long time before he hurried back.

"My Lord, this subordinate has basically found out; it is the Flying Tiger Hall! For these past two days, the Flying Tiger Hall has inexplicably begun to act in a high-profile manner. Other small gangs and street thugs have also followed suit upon hearing the news. So, the situation on the streets these past two days is inevitably worse!"

"Also!" Carefully looking at Shen Yu, Zhou Yuan then said in a low voice, "My Lord, if you want to maintain order, I'm afraid the number of Constables under my command is not quite enough!"

"Flying Tiger Hall, it's the Flying Tiger Hall again!" With a light snort, Shen Yu smiled coldly. "They are trying to give this official a show of force, wanting me to be like Cai Zhong and sign a humiliating treaty with them?"

"My Lord, the Flying Tiger Hall is, after all, numerous and powerful, and they have many experts; you must not underestimate them!"

"This official understands!" Waving his hand, Shen Yu thought for a moment, then immediately said, "Constable Zhou, you immediately take my official order to mobilize two hundred soldiers from the County Lieutenant to maintain order. Additionally, help me ask if the Hall Master of the Flying Tiger Hall is available for a banquet this evening?"

"If the Flying Tiger Hall Master is not busy, please have the County Lieutenant send an invitation on my behalf, inviting him to attend the banquet with me tonight!"

"This... yes, my Lord!" Sighing softly, it seemed this young and vigorous County Magistrate had chosen to avoid the sharp edge for now. It was hard to tell if this retreat was a step back to advance, or if it would be a retreat followed by further retreats.

Watching Zhou Yuan's retreating back, Shen Yu squeezed his palm lightly, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes. "Flying Tiger Hall, hmph!"

On the other side, inside the Drunk Spring Pavilion—the Drunk Spring Pavilion had not yet opened, but that did not affect people enjoying life inside. Shen Yu would never have guessed that the County Lieutenant Feng Zhong was currently sitting with the Flying Tiger Hall Master He Yiqiu, and by the looks of it, he seemed to be fawning and accompanying a young nobleman.

"Young Master!" Bowing slightly, County Lieutenant Feng Zhong spoke softly; it seemed he held a certain amount of awe for this young nobleman.

"Young Master, Hall Master He, that little County Magistrate just asked me to mobilize two hundred soldiers for him to maintain order, and he even specifically requested to invite Hall Master He to tonight's banquet. It seems that little County Magistrate can't hold on anymore. Young Master, do you think these soldiers should be given?"

"Give them, why not?" Smiling lightly, the young nobleman did not mind at all, picking up his wine cup and draining it in one gulp.

"The streets of Baian County are currently in chaos. If you, Magistrate Feng, refuse, this little County Magistrate might report you to your superiors, or even shirk his own responsibilities and use the opportunity to cause trouble!"

"He dares?"

"Magistrate Feng, calm down!" Waving his hand, the young nobleman continued, "Hall Master He, you can let your people return. Just let the County Magistrate of your Baian County help your Flying Tiger Hall clean up the small gangs on the streets; it saves you from having to do it yourself, wouldn't that be better?"

"Young Master is wise. Come, I toast you, Young Master!"

"Good, let's drink! Come, cheers!" Raising his wine cup, the young nobleman drained it again, his face showing an indescribable sense of triumph.

"Magistrate Feng, Hall Master He, I hope you can teach this little County Magistrate how to behave. If he doesn't know what's good for him!" At this point, a cold light flashed in the young nobleman's eyes. The score between him and this County Magistrate had to be settled properly.

"The two of you—one is the County Lieutenant holding military power, the other is the Hall Master of the Flying Tiger Hall with hundreds of gang members under your command. If the two of you exert force together, Baian County will inevitably fall into chaos. At that time, he, as County Magistrate, will be unable to shirk responsibility and will at the very least be dismissed from office! As long as I make a small move, I can make him suffer the consequences!"

"However, I would prefer it if he learned to be sensible after a good beating. After all, my subordinates are still missing a good, obedient dog!"