Sly and Vile Officials, Lending a Hand (4k Combined)

"Less nonsense!"

Zhao Xiaoyi bellowed, the flesh on his face quivering as he choked the words right back down Gao Cheng's throat.

"The County Governor had long noticed the Mingzun Cult's thieves prowling the streets and alleys with sinister intentions. He specifically ordered us to follow their trail, and this morning, we finally caught them all in one net!"

"You claim you were wronged? You were arrested right beneath the preaching platform. How dare you quibble!"

Gao Cheng's heart immediately turned to ashes.

On one hand, he cursed his own wife for refusing to listen. He had long told her not to get mixed up with those Mingzun Cult people. When Li Cunxiao was around, she had promised him properly enough, yet the moment he turned away, she had already landed herself in prison.

But on the other hand, he truly feared for his wife's safety. Though the mother of his child had a few minor flaws, she had weathered wind and rain with him for so many years. She had borne him Huzi, carried on the family line, and tended the household. She had never done a single thing to wrong the Gao family.

How could he possibly stand by and do nothing?

Gao Cheng was honest, but he was no fool. Of the two constables, the one with the tattoo on his neck was clearly the leader. After talking for so long, the man had only said that his wife had been arrested, never mentioning what crime she had committed. He was simply trying to scare him.

Gao Cheng immediately caught onto something. He pulled out five mace of broken silver from his pocket and slipped it into the man's hand.

"Please, sir, do me a favor and tell me—was what my wife did serious?"

Of course it was not serious.

Zhao Xiaoyi weighed the broken silver in his hand, mockery flickering in his eyes.

When they had gone to arrest people that morning, the Gao family's wife had indeed been sitting beneath the preaching platform.

But she had not been there to listen to any sermon. She had been there to snatch eggs.

When they seized her, she still refused to let go of the basket in her hands. Zhao Xiaoyi had nearly laughed himself silly.

In truth, aside from a few incense masters who counted as Mingzun Cult thieves, the other twenty or thirty people arrested were merely common folk looking to take advantage. They could not even recite the slogan "The Mingzun has descended" properly. What crime could they possibly have committed?

But now that they had arrested them, were they supposed to release them for nothing?

Impossible!

"Fifty taels."

"What?"

Gao Cheng thought he had misheard. Zhao Xiaoyi held out five fingers and slowly said,

"Your wife's matter can be big or small. Gather fifty taels, and I'll pull some strings above and below. Then she can be released."

"Fifty taels? Why don't you just rob me!"

Gao Cheng's fury flared at once. His monthly wages were only three taels, and Shopkeeper Sun had raised them just a few days ago. Since getting married, his family had saved only a little over twenty taels in total.

Where was he supposed to find the remaining thirty taels?

"You'd best think carefully before you speak." Zhao Xiaoyi's gaze instantly turned dangerous.

He was standing near the front door. At that moment, his ears twitched as though he had heard something. The next instant, his right arm, wrapped in a black narrow-sleeved round-collared robe, suddenly swelled with blood like an iron hammer and smashed viciously into the door. Wood chips exploded with a boom!

"Father!"

A child's frightened cry suddenly rang out from inside. Gao Cheng charged into the room without a thought, scooping the sobbing Huzi into his arms.

"Gao, don't fail to recognize a good thing when you see one. I'm doing this for your own good."

"One day as husband and wife means a hundred days of grace. Even if you don't want a wife, your son still needs a mother, doesn't he?"

"I'll give you three days. Fifty taels of silver—not one cent less—and your wife can come home."

"Can't produce it? Then I'll have to thoroughly investigate what connection you have with those Ming Cult demons. Let's go!"

Gao Cheng's face alternated between green and red. Through the head-sized hole in the door, he glared furiously at the two men's arrogant backs, but after a moment, he could only lower his head helplessly.

Because Huzi sniffled beside him and asked,

"Father, can Mother still come back?"

"She can. She definitely can!"

Gao Cheng suppressed the rage and pain in his heart and forced an ugly smile at his son.

"Huzi, stay home and behave. Father will go find a way!"

"Gao Cheng, what are you doing?"

Inside the restaurant, Master Zhang saw his returning apprentice about to kneel before him without a word. Startled, he hurriedly pulled him up.

Heaven knew that though he had beaten and scolded his apprentice in the past, he had not merely been taking out his anger on him. Did not other masters teach their apprentices the same way? He considered himself one of the gentler ones.

But ever since Li Cunxiao had become an escort master and started backing Gao Cheng, whenever Master Zhang wanted to curse someone, he would remember that leopard-like face and forcibly swallow the words back down.

Martial men had hard fists. He could not afford to provoke them.

There were still many people in the back kitchen. With so many watching, if someone turned around and tipped Li Cunxiao off, claiming he had bullied Gao Cheng, would he not be wronged to death?

"Master."

With reddened eyes, Gao Cheng explained the entire matter from beginning to end. Among the watching workers, many showed sympathy, while others took pleasure in his misfortune.

"This is bad. Sister-in-law Gao was thrown into prison by those cruel officials. She'll probably lose a layer of skin."

"These petty clerks have no real skills. All they know is how to make things difficult for ordinary folk like us. They're things that eat people without even spitting out the bones!"

"Heh, if you ask me, Gao Cheng brought this upon himself. Didn't they say it? Fortune cannot be enjoyed to the fullest. Take everything too far, and it will surely end early."

"Look at him recently—his wages went up, and he had an acquaintance become an escort master. He was riding high on the spring breeze, and now misfortune has come knocking."

"I'll screw your mother! How does Elder Brother Gao usually treat you? Say one more word of nonsense, and I'll cut off your balls!"

Master Zhang's neck shrank as soon as he heard the full story. Anything involving the yamen was something he truly did not want to meddle in, but he was still Gao Cheng's master. If he ignored it completely, people would laugh at him.

"Apprentice, how much silver are you still short?"

"Thirty taels."

Master Zhang pondered for a moment.

"Apprentice, your master has a whole family to support too. I can't take out that much all at once."

As he spoke, he searched himself from head to toe and scraped together five taels of broken silver.

The nearby workers also gathered together, feeling around through their pockets. Added to Master Zhang's contribution, they managed to collect a little over ten taels.

Seeing that he was still short twenty taels, Gao Cheng grew anxious. He thought that if Li Cunxiao were here, the money would probably already have been gathered.

But before leaving on his escort mission, Li Cunxiao had told him that this trip would take two days. The earliest he could return would be tomorrow.

But was a prison cell a place for people to stay? Every extra moment his wife spent there meant another measure of danger. Those jailers and constables would not treat a woman kindly. If they used torture, how could the mother of his child endure it?

Fortunately, after Shopkeeper Sun learned of the matter, he was uncharacteristically generous. He helped Gao Cheng make up the remaining twenty taels, saying only that it would be deducted from his future wages.

Gao Cheng was naturally deeply moved. But as he was about to leave, Shopkeeper Sun thought it over and over before finally calling him back to offer some advice.

"Gao Cheng, I know you're anxious to save your wife, but if you trust me, listen to one thing I say. Wait for Li Sanlang to return, then have him go with you."

"Why?"

Shopkeeper Sun snorted coldly.

"Because those people are greedy, of course! With Li Sanlang there, it's fifty taels. Without him, those black-hearted bastards might very well raise the price on the spot. Understand?"

Watching Gao Cheng's hurriedly departing back, Shopkeeper Sun's nephew could not help asking,

"Second Uncle, aren't you quite familiar with the escort leaders of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency? Why wait for Li Sanlang to come back?"

Shopkeeper Sun raised his brows and smacked his nephew across the head again.

"Idiot! The more favors are traveled, the deeper they become; the more they are used, the thinner they grow. Gao Cheng is only an apprentice. I lent him money only because he'll earn money for me in the future."

"The escort masters' favors have more valuable uses. How can they be wasted here for nothing?"

Naturally, Gao Cheng had no idea what Shopkeeper Sun was thinking. After returning home, he muddled through making a meal for Huzi.

After his son cried himself to sleep, Gao Cheng still clutched a small bundle of silver as he tossed and turned in bed. Only one thought remained in his heart.

"Sanlang, hurry back!"

"You're finally back. Hey, Qian Laosan, want to go drink flower wine?"

"You know what the one at home is like."

"Quit talking nonsense. Are you going or not?"

"Let me get some silver first!"

Stepping out from among the noisy escort masters, Li Cunxiao tucked the ten-tael dividend he had just received into his purse and spotted He Bi not far away.

"Brother He, were you waiting here especially for me?"

With no goods on the road back, everyone had returned much faster. Not long after the hour of Wei had begun, they had entered Chuqiu County City. Normally, He Bi should have already finished practicing and gone home at this hour.

"No, I... yes, yes." He Bi looked somewhat awkward. Looking closer, there were even faint dark circles under his eyes.

He would never tell Li Cunxiao that he had been stimulated by the latter breaking through two Blood Essence barriers in succession. Last night, while eating Demon Meat, he had lost control and eaten too much again. The heat in his body had become unbearable, forcing him to have his maid help him practice through the night once more.

When he woke up, he found that noon had already passed. Remembering that Li Cunxiao would return to the escort agency today, he had hurried over.

"Brother He is truly a man of his word." Thinking of the support He Bi had given him all this time, Li Cunxiao considered for a moment before saying, "After morning practice ends in the future, Brother He may as well stay a while longer. Though my knowledge is shallow, I have gained some insights into how to manipulate blood essence. I can share a thing or two."

He Bi was overjoyed when he heard this. He had not expected Li Cunxiao to be so generous and considerate.

Which apprentice in the escort agency was not like a person cherishing a broom they thought was precious, desperate to stay one step ahead so they could win an escort leader's favor? Even that small courtyard in the inner city was the same. Yet Li Cunxiao was willing to share such precious experience?

It was not that the He family could not afford training partners, but even among those in the Controlling Qi realm, different martial arts had their differences. Compared to others, Li Cunxiao's experience as someone who had recently achieved Minor Accomplishment in Tiger Form Fist was naturally more suitable.

"Wouldn't this delay Brother Li too much?"

"How could it delay me?" Li Cunxiao smiled sincerely.

You're my angel investor. If I don't give you some interim feedback, how am I supposed to get you to keep dropping gold coins?

Though he had relied on the Vajra Scepter to break through, he lacked none of the insights and experiences he should have gained. Rather than hide them away, he might as well use them to earn a favor.

In any case, once he obtained the Internal Cultivation Method, he could immediately break through to the Minor Circulation of Blood Qi.

Who could cultivate faster than him?

He was miles ahead!

"Li... Li, Brother Li, Young Master He." Qin Yu had known that the escort cart convoy would return today and had been watching for them all day. Seeing both men in the distance, he gathered his courage and approached.

"Qin Yu?"

Li Cunxiao looked at him in confusion. Qin Yu opened his mouth, hesitated for a long while, and finally forced out a sentence.

"I was thinking, whenever the two of you are free, since we've met by chance, perhaps we could have a drink together. And, and perhaps exchange some martial arts experience as well."

As Qin Yu spoke, his head unconsciously lowered. His face burned hot, and regret rose in his heart as he silently cursed himself.

You know you only met by chance. That's experience in breaking through the Controlling Qi realm—how could you have the nerve to shamelessly ask for it?

"I have no objections. Another person joining the discussion is always a good thing, but it mainly depends on Brother Li."

As He Bi spoke, there was no displeasure on his face.

He was indeed investing in Li Cunxiao, but he did not think Li Cunxiao was some vassal of the He family whose every gain had to belong solely to him.

Besides, he was young and high-spirited. He believed his wealth, resources, comprehension, and everything else surpassed Qin Yu's. Both would be hearing Li Cunxiao's experience and insights. Could he possibly lose out to Qin Yu?

Though He Bi was not a monster like Li Cunxiao, he had his own pride too, all right?

"Since Brother He has said so, then we'll find a time."

Li Cunxiao had no objection. Selling one favor twice—either way, he would not lose out.

Qin Yu was immediately overjoyed and was about to strike while the iron was hot when someone suddenly called from afar.

"Li Cunxiao! Master Li! There's a man named Gao Cheng outside looking for you!"

Hm? Elder Brother Gao?

Li Cunxiao's heart tightened. Knowing Gao Cheng as he did, if there were no urgent matter, Gao Cheng would never come looking for him.

Could something have happened to Sister-in-law Gao or Huzi?

After offering apologies to He Bi and Qin Yu, Li Cunxiao kept his expression calm and quickly left the escort agency. At the corner of the wall diagonally opposite the main entrance, he saw Gao Cheng.

But as soon as he approached, he could not help being startled.

The once honest and cheerful man now had bloodshot eyes, dark circles around them, and pale lips. He looked as though he had not slept all night or touched a drop of water.

At the sight of someone familiar, the fear and worry Gao Cheng had been bottling up could no longer be contained. His voice carried a sob.

"Brother, you have to save your sister-in-law!"

Gao Cheng was someone who knew what mattered most. He quickly adjusted his emotions and, while hurrying toward the county yamen, explained the entire matter to Li Cunxiao.

Li Cunxiao had initially been shocked to hear that Sister-in-law Gao had been arrested, but after Gao Cheng finished, he had a rough grasp of the situation.

Clearly, Sister-in-law Gao had been caught in the crossfire this time. The constables were plainly extorting silver with a fabricated charge, and that was indeed the usual conduct of this pack of cruel officials.

But conversely, they were after money and held no private grudge against Gao Cheng. As long as they got the silver, there was an eighty percent chance they would release her.

Now the only concern was that those people's greed would blind them and make them raise the price on the spot. Still, the Flying Tiger Escort Agency was a force with some standing in Chuqiu. It was said that escort leader Zhang Lishi was even a master evenly matched with county magistrate Murong Bai.

Wearing that tiger skin, they had to show some face at least.

"But this Murong Bai is truly sharp. The Mingzun Cult people have only been causing trouble for a few days, yet he's already swept them up in one stroke."

"This County Governor's control over Chuqiu City is truly extraordinary."

The two soon arrived at the yamen and explained their purpose. When those people saw the Winged Tiger on Li Cunxiao's red headband, they did not make things difficult for them and led them straight to the prison.

"Here to ransom someone? Xiaoyi! Xiaoyi!"

Seeing the jailer speak of extortion so bluntly, as though they were bandits demanding ransom for a kidnapping victim, too lazy even to put on a pretense, Li Cunxiao secretly shook his head.

Before long, a man with a face full of fleshy folds and a faintly visible tattoo on his neck walked over.

Zhao Xiaoyi was somewhat surprised when he saw the two men. First, he had not expected them to gather the money so quickly. Second, he had not expected them to bring someone from the Flying Tiger Escort Agency for support.

But that was all.

He was only an escort master, not an escort leader. His build was inferior to Zhao Xiaoyi's, and judging by his appearance in his twenties, he had probably needed four or five years to manipulate blood essence. Zhao Xiaoyi himself was already brushing against the threshold of the Minor Circulation of Blood Qi.

Still, he was not here to fight. As long as there was silver, that was enough.

"Where's the money?"

Gao Cheng was reluctant. These fifty taels had not only emptied all his savings, but also left him buried under a mountain of debt.

He hardened his heart and handed over the bundle of broken silver.

Zhao Xiaoyi weighed it, then nodded toward the person beside him to signal for the prisoner to be released. He himself shoved the jailer aside, sat atop the table, and began counting the silver piece by piece. From the way he acted, he seemed more like the prison chief than anyone else.

"Husband!"

"Mother of my child!"

Before long, Sister-in-law Gao was brought over. What relieved Li Cunxiao was that she bore no bruises or wounds. She was merely disheveled and dirty.

"Fortunately, Sister-in-law Gao had a sturdy build and unremarkable looks. Otherwise, she might have suffered other indignities."

The husband and wife embraced and wept. After exchanging a few words, Sister-in-law Gao calmed down as well, gratitude in her eyes when she looked at Li Cunxiao.

Seeing that the matter was settled, the three were about to leave when Zhao Xiaoyi suddenly spoke.

"Stop."