Chapter 40: The Blood Feast

The next morning, Li Yun went straight to the county office to request an audience with the magistrate.

“Your Excellency, the security within the city walls has worsened recently. Several cases of robbery and even murder have occurred,” Li Yun reported.

“In the past, these were mere trifles. I wouldn’t trouble Your Excellency with such matters,” he continued, “but now that there are many gentry residing within the city, I fear that some desperate individuals might resort to violence, endangering the lives of these gentlemen. That would be truly disastrous.”

Prepared for this moment, Li Yun brought with him numerous authentic case files. Previously, such incidents had been suppressed, with the magistrate feigning ignorance. But now, his intention was clear: by placing the evidence directly before the magistrate, his words would carry undeniable weight.

The magistrate, who detested hearing bad news, furrowed his brow deeply upon hearing this. “Then increase the patrols, strengthen neighborhood watch, and drive all beggars out of the city,” he ordered.

Li Yun smiled wryly. “Does Your Excellency not know what condition the city walls are in? Even if the beggars are driven out now, they will simply return in a few days to fill the city again.”

“As for increasing patrols, Your Excellency, the county’s constables are currently busy preparing supplies, weapons, and provisions for the army. We simply lack sufficient manpower.”

The magistrate grew agitated and shouted, “This won’t do, that won’t do—what good are you if you cannot solve these problems? Go and find a solution, and do not bother me with complaints!”

Li Yun bowed deeply, hiding the tension on his face, and replied humbly, “I do have a suggestion, Your Excellency, and I hope you will support it.”

“Given the special circumstances, why not have the village heads lead their constables into the city to assist with security? The autumn harvest is over, and these constables have more free time. Their presence here would not interfere with farming.”

“Since their role is merely to assist with patrols and minor duties, not to engage in direct combat with bandits, the risk is minimal.”

“Once reinforcements arrive and the Elm Mountain bandits are completely eradicated, the gentry can safely return home, and then the constables can be dismissed.”

Upon hearing this, the magistrate’s anger transformed into delight. He praised Li Yun, saying, “It’s rare to find such a clever plan. Indeed, you are a capable talent, and this office has not misjudged you.”

“In the future, if you have more such ideas, do not hesitate to share them. If they prove effective, you will be rewarded accordingly.”

The magistrate agreed to Li Yun’s proposal and immediately issued notices to the village heads, sending constables to deliver the orders.

Li Qing, though reluctant, received the command as well. Bound by its legitimacy, he had no choice but to gather his guards, select some elderly and infirm to accompany him, and head to the city.

His elite soldiers remained at the manor, prepared to defend against any Elm Mountain bandit attacks.

Others with local influence had similar ideas, summoning about a hundred expendable men to fulfill the duty.

The group assembled within the city, reporting first to the magistrate’s office to register and complete all formalities before receiving their respective assignments to oversee city defense.

These village heads were local strongmen, more formidable than the gentry hiding within the city itself. The magistrate dared not neglect their importance. After formalities were complete, he took the initiative to host a welcoming banquet at the First Rank Pavilion to honor the village heads.

As evening approached, with twilight settling but before nightfall, the main street where the pavilion stood was bustling with carriages and horses, filled with gentry arriving for the feast.

These were the county’s prominent figures, many of whom knew one another well. Upon meeting, they exchanged courteous greetings before ascending the stairs.

With so many guests, clusters inevitably gathered before the entrance.

For convenience, their servants and retainers remained downstairs at separate tables, while the gentry gathered upstairs.

When the appointed hour arrived, the magistrate descended from his carriage and entered the main hall amid a warm reception.

Upon his ascent, the gentry rose to pay their respects, exchanging formalities. Once the ceremony concluded and everyone took their seats, the magistrate rose first to propose a toast.

Just as he stood, before he could utter a word, a sudden uproar erupted downstairs. Though voices were muffled behind the private rooms, the disturbance was unmistakable.

Everyone frowned in unison—such rudeness was unacceptable.

The magistrate gave a subtle signal to Master Song, who understood immediately and rose to investigate.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps thundered up the stairs. The door to the private room burst open with a bang, and a man covered in blood staggered inside, shouting:

“Disaster! The Elm Mountain bandits… have attacked!”

Before he could finish, a large, imposing black-clad man followed swiftly, raising an axe and cleaving the messenger in half at the waist. Blood gushed like a waterfall, spraying everyone within five steps, leaving them drenched.

“Ah!” The assembled gentry, unaccustomed to such violence, screamed in terror and scattered, tumbling to the ground in panic.

The black-clad man swept his gaze over the room, spotting several seated at the head table. Though unsure which was Li Qing, he was certain none would escape death.

“Traitors to the people! Take this!” he roared, leaping forward.

His axe descended ferociously toward the closest figure—the one in the official robe standing central among the group.

By coincidence, this was Li Qing.

A seasoned martial artist, far stronger than the disorganized gentry, Li Qing remained calm. Grasping the dining table with both hands, he heaved it upward, flipping the entire banquet table toward the attacker.

He was not worried because he knew that although the village heads had brought only elderly and weak constables, their personal bodyguards were far from weak.

He himself had several formidable fighters from the manor downstairs, including the instructor Wu Cheng, all ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.

Frankly, most of the county’s toughest heroes from the martial underworld were gathered in this very establishment.

No matter how fierce the Elm Mountain bandits, they could not withstand such a coalition of warriors.

Sure enough, when the attacker’s axe shattered the table, and he once again faced Li Qing, the sound of footsteps thundered up the stairs. Several men charged forward, led by one wielding a six-sided steel spear. This was none other than Wu Cheng.

Delighted, Li Qing gave a clear whistle and seized two round stools, swinging them simultaneously at the attacker.

The black-clad man laughed heartily and spun his axe in a wide arc. Both warriors felt a sharp, searing pain in their hands, losing grip as their weapons flew aside.

The stools shattered midair, raining fragments like hail onto the surrounding gentry, who screamed and writhed in agony on the floor.

The spear’s wooden shaft snapped in two, the broken ends piercing two hapless men through the chest like javelins.

With a backhanded swing, the attacker’s axe cleaved through Wu Cheng’s forehead, splitting his body in two. Blood and entrails spilled across the floor.

The attacker laughed with cruel delight, hoisted the severed torso, and flung it toward the guests.

Though the private room was spacious, the dense crowd of gentry, tables, and chairs left no room to avoid the flying corpse and splattered blood, terrifying them so much that many lost control of themselves.

Below, no one knew the chaos unfolding upstairs. But from the stairwell, more reinforcements surged upward, launching a desperate assault against the attacker.

The black-clad man planted his feet firmly, swinging his axe like a lumberjack, heedless of any martial technique—only relentless, heavy blows that were difficult to dodge.

The bodyguards and retainers who charged him were all skilled fighters with formidable reputations in the county’s martial circles.

Yet against this seemingly invincible foe, their efforts were futile. Each was cut down with a single blow, weapon and limb severed, dying instantly.

In the attacker’s eyes, wisps of white and gray qi arose from the corpses of gentry and warriors alike, merging with his own body and driving his physical strength to an almost exaggerated degree.

He laughed uproariously, invigorated by the carnage, and fought with renewed ferocity.