Chapter 72: This Official Has Always Been Fair

"Lu Ze, who do you think you are, daring to interfere in my business? Do you believe I can make you regret ever being born?"

"So arrogant!" Before even arriving, Shen Yu heard that wild, insolent voice from afar. On his own turf, to have someone this arrogant—this was someone who had never been beaten down by society and didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.

Upon arriving, Shen Yu saw Lu Ze surrounded by over a dozen Huwe. At this moment, Lu Ze was not only disheveled but also had traces of blood at the corner of his mouth; he looked utterly wretched, clearly having suffered a significant loss.

Beside him, several Constables were huddled together, surrounding a trembling young girl. However, these Constables were not in great shape either; they were all trembling, seemingly unable to even grip their blades firmly.

"County Magistrate!" Upon seeing Shen Yu walking over, Lu Ze nearly had tears in his eyes. A kinsman! He had finally arrived!

"What is going on? Who hit you?" His cold gaze swept over the surroundings. Ever since obtaining the Clear Heart Art, Shen Yu generally did not lose his temper, but the scene before him still made him very uncomfortable.

A spoiled brat actually dared to lay a hand on a County Lieutenant; had he gotten too big for his boots?

"I wondered who it was; so the new little County Magistrate has arrived. I hit him!" Clearly, the other party recognized the official robes Shen Yu was wearing, yet he didn't take him seriously in the slightest, his every movement reeking of a spoiled brat's nature.

"He's just a dog, what does he think he is? He dared to block me while I was doing things; hitting him was letting him off easy!"

"Good, a very good Young Master of the An Family!" Stepping forward, Shen Yu raised his hand and delivered a fierce slap—"Smack!"

Such a scene was unexpected not only to the Young Master of the An Family but also left all the Huwe and the surrounding commoners stunned. That was the Young Master of the An Family, a figure of some standing in Sanshui County; no one had ever heard of anyone daring to lay a hand on him in the street.

"You dare hit me? You actually dare to hit me!" Clutching his right cheek, which had already begun to swell, the Young Master of the An Family was full of madness. "Beat him! Beat him to death!"

"Let's see who dares! I am the County Magistrate of Sanshui County. If you dare to lay a hand on me, I can treat it as treason and will kill you without mercy!"

In an instant, a dense killing intent was released, like a cold wind from the depths of winter blowing through, wrapping them in a bone-chilling cold from the inside out. Once that terrifying aura emerged, it left everyone trembling with fear.

Even the personal Huwe of the Young Master of the An Family was instantly drenched in cold sweat. Although he was an expert of the Acquired Realm who had just been able to suppress Lu Ze, under this aura, he could only tremble.

This new County Magistrate is terrifying!

"Smack!" Raising his hand again, he delivered another fierce slap to the left side of the Young Master of the An Family's face. This slap knocked out several of his teeth, and blood flowed from his mouth.

Looking at the cheeks that were now both swollen high, with a palm print on the left and the right, Shen Yu nodded with satisfaction. "Now it's symmetrical; it looks much more pleasing to the eye!"

"You dare hit me? Do you know who I am? My father is the Third Master of the An Family, and my uncle-in-law is the Prefect!"

"Oh, the Prefect's nephew, but so what?" Casually picking up a sword, he let it sway back and forth near the Young Master of the An Family's neck. Shen Yu stared coldly at the other party, his eyes seemingly devoid of any emotion; this icy gaze made the other party's heart tighten.

"Do you know? When I was first in Sanshui County, someone once said the same thing to me. He clamored that his father was a Prefect and his uncle was a Marquis, thinking that with a little connection, he didn't have to take me seriously. Guess what happened?"

Shaking his head, Shen Yu's voice was indifferent, as if discussing an inconsequential matter. "Who told him I have a violent temper? I can't stand others being arrogant. In a fit of anger, I raised my hand, dropped my sword, and killed him on the spot!"

"Ah!"

"What are you 'ah-ing' about? I haven't even made a move yet, what are you screaming for!"

The Young Master of the An Family before him was not only a spoiled brat but also pitifully cowardly, a far cry from the elites in his impression. With such small courage, you still dare to come out and stir up trouble? What were you thinking?

"Young Master of the An Family, right? Not only did you molest a respectable woman, but you also dared to attack a County Lieutenant. Even if I kill you, it would be within reason! It seems I must collect your little life today!"

"My Lord, County Magistrate, I, I..." Looking at the sword blade inches away, it would be a lie to say he wasn't afraid. The other party's killing intent was practically written on his face; never in his life had he been so close to death.

"Do you want to live or die?"

"I want to live, I want to live!"

"Good, very good. If you want to live, then cooperate well!" Patting the Young Master of the An Family on the shoulder, Shen Yu nodded with satisfaction. He liked those who knew the times; communicating with them wasn't difficult at all.

"Lu Ze, go find a wooden board and bring it over to hang on the Young Master of the An Family. Write on it who this young master is, which family he comes from, and then write down what he did. Molesting a woman, attacking with a weapon, oh, and also using the Prefect's name to bully others—write all of that down!"

"Then take this Young Master of the An Family and parade him around Sanshui County so that all the commoners know that our Sanshui County has produced such a character!"

"From now on, whoever dares to disturb the peace or harass the commoners on the street will be hung with a sign and paraded through the streets!"

Slapping the Young Master of the An Family on the shoulder again, Shen Yu then said, "Later, when County Lieutenant Lu takes you to parade through the streets, you just need to shout 'I am not a human, I was wrong.' The volume must be loud; make sure everyone hears it. Shout for three days, and then I'll let you go back!"

"Ah, three days?"

"What are you 'ah-ing' about? You don't want to? Fine, no problem!" Waving at Lu Ze, Shen Yu said with an indifferent expression, "County Lieutenant Lu, since the Young Master of the An Family is unwilling, take him back and throw him into death row to await execution!"

"I..." Upon hearing this, the Young Master of the An Family's legs went weak. The killing intent from just a moment ago was no act; he could clearly feel that the other party was truly capable of doing it. He hurriedly shouted at the top of his lungs: "My Lord, I am willing, I am willing!"

"Striking at the heart!" Hidden in the crowd, Fang Ziyi narrowed his eyes slightly. This move was too ruthless.

For a great family like the An Family, face was of utmost importance. Shen Yu's approach was no different from throwing the An Family's face on the ground and then fiercely stomping on it repeatedly. For a period in the future, the An Family would be treated as a laughingstock for people to discuss after tea and meals.

This Young Master of the An Family is done for; when he gets home, if they don't beat him to death, they'll at least cripple him.

With such a cautionary example, every family will surely strictly restrain their own children; they must not lose their family's face. At the very least, before they can topple Shen Yu or win him over, they will never allow such things to happen.

"My Lord, County Magistrate, it's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!" In the crowd, a man rushed out in a hurry and hurriedly shouted loudly at Shen Yu, "This humble servant is the steward of the An Mansion. This young girl is a person of our An Family; there is a deed of sale!"

"My Lord, if you don't believe me, you can ask her. She is a person of our An Family; the young master's actions cannot be considered molesting a respectable woman!"

"My Lord, this humble girl is indeed a maid of the An Mansion!" At this moment, the young girl surrounded by the Constables also suddenly spoke up. This statement immediately put Lu Ze and his men in an awkward position.

If it was just their own people playing around, then what were they doing risking their lives to protect her? Were they being played for fools?

"A misunderstanding?" The moment the An Family steward rushed over with the deed of sale, Shen Yu knew that the deed should be genuine. After the young girl spoke, the matter was effectively confirmed.

After just a moment of thought, Shen Yu understood: the An Family was trying to dig a pit for him, to give him, the new County Magistrate, a warning. Playing mind games with me? Very good, I'll play you to death!

"So it is the steward of the An Mansion. You have been here for a while, haven't you? When this Young Master of the An Family was beating County Lieutenant Lu just now, you didn't come out to say it was a misunderstanding. Now that you tell me it's a misunderstanding, I'm sorry, it's too late!"

"I don't care whether you are truly one family or not, but the fact that he beat the County Lieutenant is true. County Lieutenant Lu, find a sign to hang on the Young Master of the An Family and continue the parade!"

"Oh, right, remember to erase the charge of molesting a woman. I have always been fair; since that didn't happen, we cannot wrong others, can we!"

"Yes, My Lord, My Lord, just watch, this subordinate will definitely handle the matter beautifully!"