Chapter 1400: How Dare You, Villain!

These bailiffs had just worked up a head of steam beating people; how could they possibly stop just because someone shouted? Instead, they turned their attention toward him and began closing in on him as well.

"What are you trying to do? Stop this at once!" Qi Wang shouted again, then pulled the waist token of the Embroidered Uniform Guard from his bosom. "I am Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

He was actually Embroidered Uniform Guard?

The several bailiffs were all slightly startled. They exchanged glances, then withdrew their weapons.

After that, they silently retreated a few steps, leaving the burly man who led them to face Qi Wang.

This burly man was extremely tall, a full head taller than Qi Wang, with a swarthy face and a full beard. He looked utterly ferocious. He stood before Qi Wang, sized him up for a moment, then took the waist token and examined it.

"So it's a gentleman from the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" After a moment, he raised his head and asked Qi Wang, "May I ask what business you have in stopping us?"

"You still need to ask? Won't you stop?!" Qi Wang straightened his back as well, not yielding an inch.

"Stop? Why should we stop?" The burly man seemed somewhat puzzled.

"You block the road here to stop starving people from crossing, and you even raise your hands to hurt them — do you still think you're in the right?!" Seeing the man's attitude, Qi Wang could not help growing even angrier. "Let them pass at once! No more hurting people!"

"Oh-ho?" The burly man was a little surprised. "This gentleman, I'm afraid you don't know what they're trying to do, do you? They want to go to Xuzhou and join the rebels! We are following orders from above to stop them. What's wrong with that?"

"You're clearly not stopping them — you're setting up a checkpoint to collect money! You only stop the ones who can't pay!" Qi Wang immediately retorted.

As if struck in a vital spot, the burly man's face showed a flicker of embarrassment.

"Fine. Since these starving people want to leave now, why must you stop them? Just let them go. Do you mean to keep them here so they all starve to death on the road?" Seeing that he had already cowed the burly man, Qi Wang continued reasoning with him. "Look at how pitiful these people already are — how much money could they possibly hand over?"

Though his words made sense, they did not move the burly man in the slightest.

How could he possibly give up his source of income just because of a few words from Qi Wang?

"I wonder what official post this gentleman holds in the Embroidered Uniform Guard? To think you can just let the court's subjects go with a word?" He stared coldly at Qi Wang, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. "Does this gentleman have an official court document for this order? If you do, just show it to us underlings, and we will obey at once."

Qi Wang faltered slightly.

"So it seems you don't have one?" The burly man sneered. "In that case, I must trouble this gentleman to go back and get the proper documents first. Otherwise, this matter truly is not yours to manage."

With that, he turned and made to leave.

Seeing himself brushed off and dismissed like this, Qi Wang grew even more anxious.

To say nothing of the fact that their status was lowly and they were merely under orders to escort Wei Zhongxian — they could not decide such matters. Even if they really could obtain a court document, how long would the delay be? How could these refugees, already on the verge of death, afford to wait?

"Hold it!" He hurriedly shouted, stopping the man. Then he widened his eyes and put on his fiercest expression. "The Scarlet Riders are on official business — do you lot get to run your mouths? Clear the way for these starving people at once!!"

With this shout of his, the atmosphere instantly grew even worse.

The burly man kept staring fixedly at Qi Wang. Unobtrusively, he made a subtle hand signal, and the other bailiffs slowly closed in as well.

"Heh, worthy of a man from the Embroidered Uniform Guard — you carry that official authority the moment you step out. Impressive, I have to admit!" After a moment, he sneered. "But nowadays, I'm afraid it's no longer the time when the Scarlet Riders showing up could make the whole realm tremble in fear, is it? His Sacred Majesty is compassionate toward his subjects and has repeatedly ordered the Depot and Guard to show restraint. If someone in the capital were to learn that this gentleman is throwing his weight around on the soil of Guangping Prefecture... that probably wouldn't be very good, would it..."

Qi Wang lowered his gaze. He sensed something was wrong too. "You accuse me of throwing my weight around? Aren't you the ones doing exactly that? You treat human lives like weeds, who knows how many crimes against heaven and reason you've committed! The hearts of the Great Ming's people — it's scum like you who have ruined them! I... when I return to the capital, I will definitely report you and have the higher-ups bring every one of you to justice!"

"Higher-ups? What higher-ups? Us underlings have never seen any higher-ups. We only know to follow the yamen's orders." Yet, faced with his threat, the burly man showed not the slightest fear. "We are carrying out our duties here on the Prefect's direct orders — is there any reason not to do our utmost? Sir Guard, I have already given you all the face I can. Please do not make things difficult for us underlings. If you have something to say, say it to our Prefect! Besides, the Prefect is benevolent and kind-hearted. Charging them only five wen of road toll to cross the prefecture is already an act of boundless grace. I hear that in other territories, these refugees have to pay even more for passage!"

Being squeezed like this, Qi Wang felt the blood surge up in his heart. The burly man's gaze, respectful on the surface yet laced with disdain and impatience, made him extremely uncomfortable.

Since when had the Embroidered Uniform Guard been so looked down upon?

"Nonsense! Your honorable Prefect is generous, benevolent, and loves the people — how could he commit such a deed that harms the people? This is clearly you extorting money under the Prefect's name, preying on the common folk, utterly devoid of conscience!"

This argument was actually somewhat forced. These refugees were all preparing to join the rebels and could no longer be considered law-abiding subjects. To be honest, even if the authorities punished them or even killed them, it could not exactly be called wrong.

It was just... a young man like him, full of hot blood — encountering something like this, how could he possibly swallow his anger?

The burly man's expression grew even uglier. His swarthy face was calm, yet betrayed a hint of ferocious cruelty.

"Fine. Since Sir Guard says we are falsely passing off the Prefect's orders, then nothing we underlings say will matter anymore. Why not come back with us right now and clear this up before the Prefect himself? Sir Guard could also take the chance to persuade His Excellency to rescind his order, sparing us underlings our futile toil here."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is on official business — we don't need your blathering! Let these refugees pass at once, and do not delay our mission!" Qi Wang rejected his demand in a tone that brooked no argument.

Guangping Prefectural City was several dozen li from here. If he went back with them, who knew how much time would be wasted? These starving people could not afford to wait. Besides, judging by how confident the burly man's tone was, their act of blocking the road and setting up a checkpoint had probably truly been sanctioned by the yamen... Qi Wang had some experience with the methods of local yamens nowadays.

"Heh, just as I thought! How dare you, villain — impersonating the Embroidered Uniform Guard!" The burly man first sneered, then abruptly drew the blade from his waist and pointed it at Qi Wang. "From the way you act, I could tell right away you're no man of the authorities. Now that I've tested you, it's exactly as I suspected! Don't let the villain escape!"

A surge of hot blood, mixed with fury, welled up from Qi Wang's gut. He heavily drew his own blade.

"You... do you not even recognize the Embroidered Uniform Guard's waist token anymore?!"

"The token may be real, but the man might not be..." The burly man still sneered. "This must be a villain who ambushed and killed a Scarlet Rider, then stole his token to swindle and deceive. The way you keep speaking up for rebel-joining refugees — I'm absolutely certain of it! Men, seize this villain for me!"

At his shout, his underlings surged forward in a rush, charging at Qi Wang.

Qi Wang had thought that revealing the name of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would have cowed this group. He never imagined they would be so utterly lawless, forcibly branding him a villain.

It was easy to imagine that if he fell into their hands, he would certainly not be taken to the yamen to clear his name — he would be killed and buried on the spot.

"You... you have the gall of dogs! The court will never spare you!" He cursed furiously, but no one paid him any heed. They only surged toward him.

These are the court's bailiffs, and now I'm going to oppose the court's bailiffs?

A sense of absurdity suddenly flashed through his mind.

But the situation was pressing, and Qi Wang could no longer care about any of that. He drew his blade and swung it heavily to the side, barely forcing back the charging bailiffs, then turned and ran toward the rear.

"Don't let the villain get away!" The bailiffs' leader bellowed.

Although he claimed aloud that this man was a fake Embroidered Uniform Guard, he knew in his heart that this one was real. Now that he had already turned hostile with this Guard, if the man escaped, the crime of threatening an imperial officer with blades would be impossible to shake off. Not only would his career be finished, but his very life would likely be forfeit. Therefore, he had to capture this young man, kill him, and destroy all traces of the body. Only then could he protect himself.

Hearing his shout, the other bailiffs hurriedly followed behind him, rushing urgently at Qi Wang.

Qi Wang had trained in martial arts for many years and was very agile. However, because there were simply too many refugees on the road, he had to weave left and right, and his speed simply could not pick up.

These bailiffs, however, were numerous and spread out everywhere. So after receiving the big man's shouted order, they all converged toward Qi Wang, faintly encircling him.

As he ran, Qi Wang raised his head to scan his surroundings. Because there were too many refugees, he could not immediately spot the exact location of Liu Songping and the others. He gritted his teeth, then charged toward the side where the fewest bailiffs were closing in.

There were two men on this side. Though they looked fierce, their steps were unsteady and their bodies were not solidly built — clearly men with no training. Although these two held weapons, how could they withstand Qi Wang? As soon as Qi Wang charged, they resisted briefly but could not help retreating steadily. Fortunately, Qi Wang was unwilling to hurt anyone, so he merely forced them back, then circled past and continued running.

"Don't let the villain get away!" A large group of bailiffs had now converged, shouting as they chased behind Qi Wang.

The refugees had now also noticed the commotion breaking out here. Although they did not understand the cause and effect of the disturbance, they knew full well how terrifying this gang of ferocious, weapon-wielding men was. Thus, the crowd quickly descended into chaos.