Chapter 108: Such Overbearing Authority

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Xu Mo quickly left the Zhenxiu Pavilion accompanied by the Sword Blind Man. From a distance, Xu Mo spotted the man in the brown long robe along with a group of government officials. At that moment, the man was speaking to an official dressed in green, his gestures and expression revealing considerable anger and agitation, clearly not exchanging pleasant words.

Suddenly, the official turned around, and Xu Mo immediately recognized him as Xiao Jinzhong, the county clerk of this district. Xu Mo frowned slightly, thinking to himself: Why is it him?

Xiao Jinzhong, having turned around, also saw the Sword Blind Man and promptly said to the man in the brown robe, "He's out."

No sooner had he spoken than Xiao Jinzhong noticed Xu Mo and was somewhat surprised, muttering inwardly: Why is he everywhere?

The man in the brown robe cast an angry glare at the Sword Blind Man. Even from a distance, one could feel the sudden surge of his arrogance.

Before long, Xu Mo and the Sword Blind Man arrived before Xiao Jinzhong and his group.

The man in the brown robe pointed at the Sword Blind Man and shouted, "Clerk Xiao, this filthy blind man injured my people, blatantly defying the law. Arrest him at once!"

Xiao Jinzhong was somewhat displeased but maintained a calm expression. He said, "Lord Wang, please calm down. With me here, this matter will be resolved properly."

The man in the brown robe was Wang Xiaole, a local wealthy landlord from Liwang Village, twenty miles outside the southern city walls.

Wang Xiaole was a notorious local tycoon, flaunting his modest wealth and habitually looking down on others in the village.

He had come to the Zhenxiu Pavilion that day, taking advantage of the market day to dine there. But because he overslept that morning and arrived late, he failed to get in line.

Unwilling to wait another day, Wang Xiaole set his sights on the Sword Blind Man’s queue ticket, thinking it would be easy to snatch it from an old blind man.

Unexpectedly, not only did he fail, but the Sword Blind Man also gave him a thorough lesson, which was quite humiliating.

Fuming, Wang Xiaole reported the incident to the authorities, just as Xiao Jinzhong was on duty that day.

After hearing the full story, Xiao Jinzhong initially wanted to advise Wang Xiaole to let the matter drop, since it was Wang’s servants who initiated the violence and were merely repaid in kind.

However, Wang Xiaole refused to relent and immediately slipped a silver ingot to Xiao Jinzhong, promising a hefty reward if the Sword Blind Man was apprehended and punished.

Tempted by the silver, Xiao Jinzhong finally agreed.

Xiao Jinzhong was a clever man, and clever men excel at gauging limits.

The Zhenxiu Pavilion was owned by the Ning family, whose status in Xinzhou County was unquestionable.

Therefore, upon arriving, Xiao Jinzhong did not recklessly barge in but sent someone ahead to deliver a message, patiently waiting outside.

Had it been any other tavern, he would have stormed in with an intimidating force to seize the suspect.

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While Xiao Jinzhong was speaking, Chen Miaoyi and Ning Yaxin, among others, approached.

Xiao Jinzhong did not know the others, but he recognized Ning Yaxin and Ning Yongqiang.

“Miss Ning, Young Master Ning, I have received a report from the people claiming someone has acted lawlessly and assaulted others in public!” Xiao Jinzhong said, pointing at the Sword Blind Man and loudly asking Wang Xiaole, “Lord Wang, is this the one who injured your servant?”

“That’s right! It’s him!” Wang Xiaole practically bounced with rage while pointing at the Sword Blind Man, his arrogance reaching its peak in an instant.

Behind him, four servants who had been beaten also pointed accusingly, full of indignation.

The Sword Blind Man then shouted loudly, “Yes, I’m the one who hit them, and I did so with pleasure and satisfaction!”

“Guards!” Xiao Jinzhong immediately shouted, then ordered, “Seize this man and bring him back to the office!”

“Understood!” The constables responded in unison and immediately surrounded the Sword Blind Man.

Xu Mo quickly shouted, “Hold on!”

The constables were startled and immediately halted.

Xu Mo sneered, “Clerk Xiao, to order an arrest without considering right or wrong — you wield your official power rather arrogantly!”

Xiao Jinzhong raised an eyebrow and scrutinized Xu Mo coldly, “Who are you? Are you connected to this case?”

“I’m an eyewitness. I saw everything clearly,” Xu Mo replied.

Xiao Jinzhong scoffed and said, “In that case, take you both to the office!”

With that, he waved his hand, and the constables prepared to seize them both.

Chen Miaoyi panicked and rushed to Xu Mo’s side to shield him.

Qin Mutou stepped forward to block the constables, brandishing his bronze hammer, ready to fight.

Xiao Jinzhong’s expression darkened, “How dare you openly defy the authorities? Do you know what crime that is?”

Qin Mutou shouted, “I don’t care! If you dare arrest my master, I’ll fight you to the death!”

Xiao Jinzhong’s fury flared as he pointed at Qin Mutou, about to order his arrest.

Just as he was about to speak, Xu Mo suddenly shouted, “Mutou, what are you doing? Step back now!”

Qin Mutou calmed and lowered his weapon, retreating behind.

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But Xiao Jinzhong was unwilling to let Qin Mutou go; he considered Qin’s actions a public challenge, a blatant disrespect toward his authority as clerk.

“Trying to escape? Not so easy! Guards, seize all three of them and take them to the office!” Xiao Jinzhong commanded.

Before his words had fully fallen, Ning Yaxin’s voice interrupted, “Wait, Clerk Xiao!”

Ning Yaxin stepped forward and addressed Xiao Jinzhong, “Clerk Xiao, may I say a word?”

No matter how angry he was, Xiao Jinzhong had to show respect to Miss Ning, so he suppressed his anger and said, “Please, Miss Ning, speak…”

Ning Yaxin glanced disdainfully at Wang Xiaole, then raised her voice, “Clerk Xiao, both Master Xu and I witnessed everything ourselves. It was clearly his servants who started the fight. Clerk Xiao, don’t be deceived by his smooth talk.”

Ning Yongqiang added from behind, “Clerk Xiao, my sister never lies. Please uphold justice!”

Xiao Jinzhong immediately sensed that the Ning siblings shared a special relationship with Xu Mo and began to reconsider.

Wang Xiaole, seeing Xiao Jinzhong fall silent, assumed he was having second thoughts. Without thinking, he blurted out, “Clerk Xiao, arrest him quickly! I’m willing to pay double once you catch him…”

“Lord Wang!” Xiao Jinzhong suddenly shouted, cutting Wang Xiaole off.

At this moment, Xiao Jinzhong’s face was extremely awkward; he even wished he could kill Wang Xiaole on the spot.

Of course, killing was impossible, so he glared fiercely at Wang Xiaole, silently cursing how foolish he was, while his eyes seemed to have slain him a thousand times over.

Wang Xiaole realized his mistake, covered his mouth, and lowered his head, no longer daring to speak.

Ning Yongqiang sneered and stepped forward, “Clerk Xiao, you wouldn’t have taken that man’s silver, would you?”

“No, no, how could I? I’m on duty today. Since he came to report the case, I naturally have to investigate,” Xiao Jinzhong replied with an awkward smile.

Ning Yaxin immediately said, “Yongqiang, how can you say such things?”

She continued, “I recall when we last met the county magistrate, he personally praised Clerk Xiao, saying that since taking office he has always been impartial and never shown favoritism. Such an upright man couldn’t possibly accept bribes.”

As soon as she finished, Xiao Jinzhong’s face darkened.

He was no fool; he knew Ning Yaxin’s words were a warning: if he dared to make an arrest, she would report the matter to the magistrate, and he would bear the consequences.