Chapter 52: Chief Xiong’s Closest Friend

As Zhang Black Dog was being beaten and crying out in pain, the crowd around them cheered enthusiastically, their shouts rising and falling with each of Xu Mo’s punches. The atmosphere at the scene reached its peak.

“Stop, please, stop!” Zhang Black Dog could no longer endure. His face battered, he began to beg for mercy.

Xu Mo, beginning to tire, paused for a few breaths and sneered, “You wouldn’t listen when I told you to kowtow for money. Had to come looking for a beating!”

“I was wrong, I know I was wrong. Please, please, stop!” Zhang Black Dog sobbed, his face smeared with tears and mucus.

Meanwhile, on the second floor of a nearby building, Li Huo watched the street below from the window.

“Damn it, useless fool! So many people and no one can handle him!” Li Huo’s face was dark with anger as he cursed Zhang Black Dog.

Just as Xu Mo stood up from Zhang Black Dog’s crumpled form, a commotion arose at the back of the crowd.

“The officers are coming, the officers are coming!” someone in the crowd shouted.

Immediately, a stern voice rang out, “Clear the way! Move aside! Don’t block the road!”

In the next moment, the crowd parted quickly, making way for a tall constable accompanied by two bailiffs.

Upon seeing the constable, Zhang Black Dog leapt up as if seeing his savior and scrambled over, rolling and crawling to the constable’s feet.

He clutched the constable’s leg, pointing behind him at Xu Mo, crying, “Constable Xiong, this man assaulted me in broad daylight. Look at what he’s done! You must get justice for me!”

Constable Xiong’s full name was Xiong Youli. He had served as a constable in Xinzhou County for five years and, being tall and skilled, was feared by most of the city’s ruffians.

Xiong Youli, clearly displeased with Zhang Black Dog clinging to his leg, kicked him aside and said in a deep voice, “Speak if you have something to say, but don’t grab me!”

Zhang Black Dog hurriedly recounted how Xu Mo had injured him and his companions, embellishing the story as much as he could.

Qin Moutu, not waiting for him to finish, exploded, “He’s lying! They tried to extort my master. They’re nothing but a bunch of scoundrels!”

Zhang Black Dog immediately pointed at Qin Moutu, shouting to Constable Xiong, “Him too! He’s one of the attackers! Constable Xiong, arrest him!”

“Zhang Black Dog, aren’t you getting bold? Now you’re telling me what to do?” Xiong Youli’s tone was mocking.

Zhang Black Dog, startled, shook his head and waved his hands frantically, “No, no, Constable Xiong, I wouldn’t dare!”

Xiong Youli sneered, fixing Zhang Black Dog with a cold stare. “Do you think I don’t know what kind of person you are? Even if you’ve been beaten, I can guess with my eyes closed—it’s always you who started the trouble!”

Of course, Zhang Black Dog would never admit it, shaking his head as hard as he could, putting on his most aggrieved face.

Xiong Youli immediately gave orders, “Men, lock up Zhang Black Dog and his crew first!”

“Yes, sir!” the two bailiffs responded in unison, producing iron chains and moving to restrain the miscreants.

Zhang Black Dog, terrified, scrambled up and approached Xiong Youli, whispering, “Constable Xiong, my cousin-in-law’s brother is very close to your wife’s brother. Since we’re all acquaintances, could I have a word in private?”

As he spoke, one hand slipped into his coat, his expression subtly suggestive.

Xiong Youli, experienced in his post, immediately understood what Zhang Black Dog was up to.

He put on a troubled face, then reluctantly nodded, “Since we have this connection, I’ll give you a chance to explain yourself. But don’t expect it again!”

With that, Xiong Youli moved aside, and Zhang Black Dog hurried after him.

All that talk of cousin-in-laws and family ties was nonsense; the two had no real connection. Zhang Black Dog simply wanted to bribe Xiong Youli and win his favor.

Out of sight of the crowd, Zhang Black Dog pulled a large chunk of silver from his coat and pressed it into Xiong Youli’s hand. “Constable Xiong, a little token for you—have some tea.”

As the silver touched his palm, Xiong Youli weighed it—at least three taels.

With a flick of his wrist, the silver vanished.

Immediately, Xiong Youli’s gaze toward Zhang Black Dog grew warmer.

“Brother Zhang, what happened to you? How did you end up like this?” His tone changed, and he examined Zhang Black Dog’s wounds with concern.

Zhang Black Dog straightened up, emboldened, and pointed toward Xu Mo. “Constable Xiong, those two are outrageous, far too arrogant and wicked! You must stand up for us!”

Xiong Youli’s face hardened as he strode back into the crowd and barked at Xu Mo, “You reckless rogue! How dare you flout the law and assault people in broad daylight! Men! Chain these two and bring them to the magistrate!”

“Yes, sir!” the bailiffs responded loudly, moving toward Xu Mo and Qin Moutu.

Qin Moutu panicked, jumping in front of Xu Mo, ready to fight if they tried to restrain his master.

Xu Mo quickly intervened, “What are you doing? Stand down, now!”

He pulled Qin Moutu behind him and shot him a fierce glare.

Xu Mo would never let Qin Moutu fight the officers; if they harmed the constables, things would get out of hand.

Then Xu Mo turned to Xiong Youli, calmly clasping his hands, “Sir, I have a friend who is a close confidant of yours. Our relationship is deep—perhaps you’d allow me a private word, for the sake of this acquaintance?”

Xu Mo had noticed Zhang Black Dog’s bribery; he thought, You’re not the only one who knows this trick.

Xiong Youli was slightly surprised, “Your friend is my close confidant? Who is it? What’s his name?”

Xu Mo smiled, “Constable Xiong, my friend’s name is best not spoken in public. May I have a private word with you?”

Xiong Youli considered for a moment, then nodded, “Come with me.”

Zhang Black Dog, not slow, immediately guessed Xu Mo’s intent and shouted anxiously, “Constable Xiong, he’s lying! He’s just a degenerate gambler from Cockcrow Alley. He lost his entire estate—he doesn’t have any friends! Don’t believe his flowery words!”

But Zhang Black Dog’s protest was useless. Not only did Xiong Youli ignore him, he shot him an annoyed look.

Xu Mo gave Zhang Black Dog a contemptuous smile, then followed Xiong Youli out of the crowd.

It was the same place as before.

Xiong Youli asked coldly, “Speak. What’s your friend’s name?”

Xu Mo smiled and took out a ten-tael silver ingot from his coat, placing it in Xiong Youli’s hand.

“Constable Xiong, this is the friend I spoke of,” Xu Mo said.

Xiong Youli’s hand sagged under the weight, astonished by Xu Mo’s generosity—a whole ten taels at once!

“Sir, this is…?”

Xiong Youli revealed his talent for changing faces.

Xu Mo smiled, “Just making a friend, nothing more.”

After Xiong Youli deftly pocketed the silver, he cleared his throat and said, “Ahem… Sir, what happened here today? Would you be willing to explain everything before everyone?”

Xu Mo nodded, “Of course.”

“Please, sir!” Xiong Youli gestured politely.

Soon, the two returned to the center of the crowd.

Under Xiong Youli’s guidance, Xu Mo recounted the entire incident before everyone.

Several times, Zhang Black Dog tried to interrupt and defend himself, but Xiong Youli sternly forbade him.

When Xu Mo finished, Xiong Youli’s voice rang out, full of righteous indignation, “Zhang Black Dog, idling and making trouble day after day was bad enough, but now you dare to frame honest folk before so many witnesses, extorting money—such lawlessness is utterly disgraceful!”

With that, Xiong Youli snatched the iron chains from a bailiff and personally locked Zhang Black Dog up.

He then turned to Zhang Black Dog’s gang, shouting, “And the rest of them—take them all to the magistrate!”