Chapter 143: Hosting Guests, Beheading, and Taking a Dog Under My Wing

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation     Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

As the horse’s hooves descended, the surrounding crowd gasped in horror, some of the more faint-hearted even covered their eyes.

With a dull thud, the expected tragedy did not occur.

Instead, the horse whinnied miserably and fell heavily to the ground.

Embedded in its flank was a thick bamboo pole, from which blood gushed out. The middle-aged scholar stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze icy.

“Damn you!”

The horse rider, now furious, scrambled up from the ground. He too had fallen

when his mount collapsed. The horse lay bleeding, its breathing growing faint,

clearly not long for this world.

The Qingxian Society man’s eyes reddened with rage. He uncoiled a whip from his waist and lashed it towards the middle-aged man. Unexpectedly, the latter caught the whip effortlessly, halting its motion as if it were tied to an iron post.

Lu Xuan sneered, and with a pull, the man was involuntarily drawn forward.

With a “thud,” Lu Xuan kicked the man in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. “Insolence!”

“Stop!”

Voices of protest came from behind, and several men in black and blue attire on horseback approached, surrounding Lu Xuan.

They hesitated to attack immediately, realizing that the middle-aged man before them had single-handedly felled a horse, caught a whip bare-handed, and knocked down a strong man with one kick…

This was someone skilled in martial arts, not to be trifled with.

“Who are you?!” one of the horsemen demanded.

Lu Xuan glanced at him and produced a document, “I am the Magistrate of Qingxian City, Wu Bangde.”

This revelation stirred a buzz among the crowd.

Nobody expected the new county head, dressed as a scholar, to possess such formidable skills.

“What? The magistrate?”

The Qingxian Society members were momentarily stunned.

Just then, another man rode up.

This man, dressed in green and red, appeared to be in his forties, with a thin and sly face. He hastily dismounted upon seeing Lu Xuan.

“So, it’s the magistrate. Well, this is just a misunderstanding, we’re all on the same side here.”

Seeing the appointment letter in Lu Xuan’s hand, the man named Gu Feng, the steward of the Gu family, greeted him with a smile, “I apologize for the confusion, Magistrate. We were actually preparing to welcome you outside the city…”

“We didn’t expect you to enter on your own.” “So, I should have waited outside the city for you?”

Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow.

“Oh no, sir, how could you say that?”

Gu Feng replied with a smile, “It would have been disrespectful not to welcome you. Besides, you see how chaotic our Qingxian City is, these ignorant peasants causing trouble, it’s not a pleasant sight for you, sir.”

“So, you’re saying that your galloping horses and the disturbance were for the good of the county?”

Lu Xuan looked at the still shaken child.

He had acted in time to save the child, who was now safely back in the arms of his parents.

“Of course, it was all for your honor’s benefit.”

Gu Feng said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He then inquired, “Where are your honor’s guards and attendants?”

“I only brought one advisor with me.” Lu Xuan replied.

Gu Feng was surprised, “And the others?” “They were robbed by bandits on the way.” Lu Xuan fabricated a reason casually.

“This, this…”

Gu Feng looked at Lu Xuan and then at the appointment letter in his hand. Lu Xuan lifted his eyelids and thrust the letter into Gu Feng’s hands:

“Do you doubt my identity as the magistrate?”

“Not at all, not at all.”

Gu Feng hurriedly said, though he did not stop checking the document. After confirming the portrait and the seal, he finally relaxed.

“Is there a problem?”

Lu Xuan asked in a calm voice.

“No, no…”

Gu Feng replied with an apologetic smile, returning the appointment letter.

“We just have to be careful of impostors ruining your honor’s reputation… Please understand.”

“Now that we have received your honor, there’s no need for us to leave the city.”

Gu Feng bowed slightly and requested, “Please, allow us to escort you to your horse. The three major families of Qingxian City have prepared a banquet to welcome you. All three heads of the families are waiting at home.”

Lu Xuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, looking towards the back of the convoy, “For my inauguration, you three families only sent a steward to receive me?”

“Well, it’s almost Qingxian Festival, and the heads of the families are busy with Qingxian Society matters. They cannot be negligent.”

Gu Feng replied with a grin, “Please come with me, sir. It wouldn’t be good to keep the heads of the families waiting.”

“I need to go to the government office for the handover. Let’s talk about the banquet another day.”

Lu Xuan spoke indifferently.

Gu Feng’s smile gradually faded, and he leaned forward slightly and asked a with sliver of threat, “Wouldn’t your honor grace us with your presence?”

“I said I have business.”

Lu Xuan stated.

“Then your honor may attend to your affairs first. I wish you every success.” Gu Feng smiled again.

He took a knife from the waist of a bystander and pointed at the man lying on the ground, his eyes filled with murderous intent:

“This fool, not recognizing greatness, dared to assault your honor… He deserves death! ”

In the next moment, Gu Feng’s hand moved swiftly, and a head flew into the air.

Blood splattered on his face and at Lu Xuan’s feet.

Gu Feng looked up, his face smeared with blood, and said with a sinister smile,

“In Qingxian City, those who don’t know their place… Don’t live long.”

“Murdering in broad daylight, showing no respect for the law, threatening a government official… This Qingxian Society truly covers the sky with one hand..”