Chapter 1087

First Volume, Chapter 1087: Witnessing Injustice on the Road

On the other side, Qin Feng had already reunited with Niu Er and his mother, and the caravan resumed its journey.

Although they had been delayed three days in Yuping County, for Qin Feng, who was lightly equipped, the delay wasn't significant.

However, considering that the Black Cavalry were heavy cavalry and could not march for long periods—even if the men could endure it, the warhorses could not.

Therefore, the formation had to rest every two hours, with two major halts each day.

Even so, Qin Feng's advance speed was still much faster than the women's caravan.

After all, besides Niu Er and his mother, Qin Feng had no other "burdens."

The women's caravan, besides the soldiers guarding them, carried many servants and laborers; the more people, the slower the pace.

Not to mention, just feeding everyone each day took considerable time.

The next morning, as dawn barely broke, Qin Feng's force had already reached Ming County, one hundred li beyond Yuping County.

Ming County, as its name suggests, was renowned for its tea production.

Ming County's rock tea was highly famous throughout Shedynasty.

But since it was winter, Ming County appeared very desolate; yet along this stretch of road, the poor and displaced were noticeably fewer, indicating Ming County was considerably wealthier than other county cities.

The Common People's lives were still bearable.

This was certainly good news for Qin Feng—he had assumed passing through Ming County would take little time, but as soon as he reached the outskirts of the county city, a scene before him caught his attention.

At the City Gate, a group of Common People knelt, numbering at least dozens.

Judging by their clothing, though plainly dressed, they were at least well-fed and warmly clad—Qin Feng saw no one with sallow skin and emaciated frames or tattered rags.

At first, Qin Feng paid no mind.

After all, in these times, such incidents were far too common, and each place had its own customs; Qin Feng couldn't interfere in every matter.

Just as Qin Feng was about to lead the Black Cavalry through and depart, a scream suddenly erupted from the crowd.

Following the sound, he saw a woman in her twenties curled into a ball, weeping hysterically.

Beside her stood a man in his thirties, wielding a Whip, striking the woman without any mercy.

Seeing this, Zhao Yulong frowned: "What crime has this woman committed to warrant such public punishment?"

Qin Feng shrugged, dismissively replying: "Too many possibilities—theft, infidelity, or harboring corruption—who knows?"

Qin Feng, well-versed in the Da Liang Lüli, knew many Great Liang Code statutes permitted public punishment of offenders.

And offenders, of course, were not exempt by gender.

Moreover, the man in Yamen Runner uniform was merely whipping the woman—no other outrageous acts—so Qin Feng naturally had no intention of intervening.

But precisely then, laughter rose from the City Wall, drawing Qin Feng's attention.

Looking up, he saw three young men gathered atop the City Wall.

They appeared no older than twenty, dressed extravagantly—clearly wealthy locals.

The leader, clad in White Clothes, stood on the City Wall's edge, looking down with a mocking grin.

"Didn't you eat? Hit harder!"

"These bastards deserve to die; even if you beat them to death, no one would blame you."

"What, you're not some sentimental fool, are you?"

Hearing the young master's taunts, the yamen runner whipped harder—each lash tore the woman's clothing into shreds.

The woman's hysterical screams were heart-wrenching.

Whoa!

Qin Feng pulled his Reins, halting to observe the scene.

The man in White Clothes noticed Qin Feng; his earlier arrogance vanished instantly.

Immediately, the man and his two companions disappeared from the City Wall.

After all, the Black Cavalry's Armor was far too conspicuous—even if the man didn't know Qin Feng's identity, he understood this force was no joke.

The Yamen Runner continued whipping the woman; she writhed on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

An old man could no longer bear it—he rose to plead, but as soon as he opened his mouth, the Yamen Runner lashed him across the face; he collapsed backward, motionless.

"Father!"

Seeing the old man unconscious, the woman screamed, ignoring the Whips still swinging above her, and threw herself over the old man, wailing in utter despair.

"Father, are you alright? Don't scare me!"

"Why are you so cruel? Even the elderly aren't spared…"

In response to her accusations, the Yamen Runner showed no reaction—he simply whipped her to the ground.

Sensing the resentment in the crowd's stares, the Yamen Runner finally growled: "Don't blame me—I'm just carrying out orders."

"Blame your Liu Family for bad luck—why pick on anyone else, but the Young Master Wang?"

"In Ming County, anyone who provokes the Young Master Wang is asking for death."

"If you're wise, hand over the culprit immediately—or not a single Liu will escape."

Facing the Yamen Runner's threats, the Liu Family bowed their heads, eyes filled with despair—no one spoke.

Seeing these Nubi were so foolishly defiant, the Yamen Runner stopped wasting words and raised his Whip again.

But this time, his target was no longer the young woman—he aimed at a girl of twelve or thirteen in the crowd.

Crack!

The whip struck, and a scream echoed across the outskirts of Ming County.

But the one screaming was not the girl—it was the young woman.

As the Yamen Runner swung his Whip, the woman had thrown herself over the girl, shielding her with her own body and taking the blow.

Seeing this, the Yamen Runner flew into a rage, whipping the woman like a madman.

"Worthless Bones!"

"You like getting beaten so much? Then I'll oblige you!"

"You're a worthless spawn of a Nubi—do you really think you're a hero? You're begging for death!"

The whip, too strong even for a War Horse, struck the petite woman—resulting in predictable carnage: each lash split skin and tore flesh.

In an instant, the woman lay motionless, too broken even to cry out or beg.

Yet the Yamen Runner had no intention of stopping—he raised the whip once more.

This time, he raised it high above his head; if this lash fell, it would kill the woman outright.

At that critical moment, an Arrow shot through the air, piercing straight through the Yamen Runner's upraised palm.

"Aaaah!!!"