Assault on the Qian Manor

"Quick, quick! Everyone who received their copper coins, come here and get your weapons!"

The steward of the Qian residence shouted at the chaotic crowd before him.

The ragged, disheveled people paid no attention to his call. They took their reward money and stood around lazily, which infuriated the steward.

He suppressed his anger and shouted, "There's another reward after this is over! Anyone I call out to ten who isn't assembled will be kicked out immediately! One... Two..."

As soon as he said this, the group of loafers immediately sped up. By the time the steward reached seven, they were all lined up in front of him.

"What happened at the Qian residence?"

"They say there's been a lot of bandit activity lately and they need people to guard the estate."

"You believe that nonsense? They probably offended someone."

"Who cares? Why ask so many questions when they're just giving away money?"

This group consisted of idle individuals from Qingshan County. They were too lazy to farm or work, preferring to engage in petty thievery.

They held the "weapons" distributed by the Qian residence – mostly just clubs and pitchforks, with a few lucky ones getting a rusty cleaver. They chatted amongst themselves, showing no semblance of order.

Looking at the disorderly crowd below, the steward felt uneasy.

"These people alone... are they really reliable?"

He knew why Old Master Qian had hired so many people on short notice.

That lawless young master had finally kicked a hornet's nest.

Everyone in Qingshan County knew that Constable Kong was a righteous man who hated evil. He wouldn't show favoritism when faced with injustice.

Previously, Steward Fu's son had beaten his own maid to death. Not only did he not take it seriously, but he even boasted about it everywhere. Constable Kong had come knocking.

He forcefully entered the Fu residence and dragged Young Master Fu out.

Steward Fu approached the County Magistrate, hoping to plead for mercy, but Kong Wu showed no respect. In front of the County Magistrate, he dragged the Young Master Fu to the marketplace and had him beheaded.

He was a living Yama.

Now, this Yama was coming to the Qian residence.

Looking at the noisy ruffians and thugs before him, the steward felt they definitely wouldn't be able to stop Kong Wu.

Fortunately, they only needed to stall for a while.

The steward glanced up at the sun.

Master Zhou's senior disciple would arrive in Qingshan County that afternoon. As long as they held out until then, it would be fine.

While he was thinking, a loud noise came from behind the steward.

A figure flew past him and landed heavily on the ground.

But the steward was staring blankly in the direction of the main gate, unconsciously swallowing.

A hole had been smashed through the Qian residence's imposing ten-foot-tall red sandalwood gate.

Through the opening, the steward saw the living Yama.

Behind him, the figure that had just flown by lay limply, its neck twisted at an odd angle.

A mortal body crashing through the gate clearly had no chance of survival.

Kong Wu stepped forward, grabbed the edges of the opening in the gate with both hands, and pulled them apart.

The red sandalwood gate was torn open as easily as if it were paper.

Thump!

Kong Wu crossed the threshold, his feet landing on the ground of the Qian residence.

Opposite him, a mob of undisciplined fighters stood, holding various weapons and looking at him blankly.

"Go... everyone... everyone go! Kill him, and I'll reward you ten taels of silver!"

The steward retreated, trembling, his voice hoarse.

Behind him, the thugs and ruffians, having witnessed Kong Wu's earlier display, dared not make a move and retreated even faster than the steward.

Just then, a man with a full beard walked out from a side courtyard.

More than ten people followed behind him.

These men were all robust and energetic, each holding a steel saber.

They were the Qian residence's guards. From their appearance alone, one could tell they were different from the ruffians and thugs.

"The Old Master said that if this fellow is captured, everyone will be rewarded fifty taels of silver. Whoever beheads him will be rewarded five hundred taels!"

With that, he nodded to those behind him, and the guards charged forward, rushing towards Kong Wu.

At the same time, someone in the crowd shouted, "Hurry up, brothers! These guys have knives, don't let them snatch that five hundred taels."

The generous rewards made these thugs forget Kong Wu's previous actions. Their pupils dilated with greed, and they charged forward, roaring.

Too excited, they didn't notice the guards in front of them slowing down, being left behind.

Seeing all this, Kong Wu stroked his chin, understanding the bearded man's plan.

Does this mob want to wear me down?

Heh!

With a sneer, Kong Wu reached out his hand.

Before the young man charging at the front could even swing his club, he found a palm as large as a cattail fan engulfing his vision.

Kong Wu grabbed him and casually tossed him into the crowd, knocking over a group of people.

However, those blinded by greed paid no mind to this scene, their footsteps not slowing one bit.

Instantly, seven or eight wooden clubs fell upon Kong Wu.

Without taking any action, Kong Wu simply stood his ground.

With a series of cracking sounds, the people around him, holding broken clubs snapped in two, looked on in a daze.

Hey!

Kong Wu grinned.

There was no need for courtesy with these street thugs.

He took a step forward, grabbed one person, and swung him in a circle. Within a three-meter radius centered on him, no one else was standing.

The crowd, stirring restlessly behind, stopped dead in their tracks upon seeing their companions groaning on the ground.

Those lying on the ground had twisted limbs, and some even had bone showing through their flesh.

The horrifying sight suppressed the greed that had clouded their minds.

The courtyard fell into an unnerving silence.

Whoosh!

A sound of air being cut through rang out.

The bearded man standing behind the crowd held a crossbow, a look of delight on his face as he watched the bolt shoot towards Kong Wu.

This guy's aim was good. The arrow was shot from the crowd at a perfect moment, flying straight towards Kong Wu's forehead.

It's done!

The bearded man rejoiced inwardly.

This guy was incredibly brave, but he was too focused on the trash in front of him and didn't pay attention to the shadows.

The short crossbow in his hand was standard issue in the Great Jin army, and he had spent a considerable sum to get his hands on it.

No matter how strong Kong Wu was, he was still only human. As long as this arrow hit...

His thoughts were still racing when the crossbow bolt struck Kong Wu's head.

But the scene of his head being pierced did not occur as he imagined.

With a crisp "clang!", the crossbow bolt broke on the spot and was flung away.

Kong Wu didn't even flinch.

The smile on the bearded man's face vanished instantly, and he stared at the scene with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Before he could react, Kong Wu looked towards him.

"Still hiding controlled weapons, eh?"

After saying this, Kong Wu bared his teeth, a row of pearly whites flashing in the sunlight, making him look particularly intimidating with his muscles.

The next moment, a smile appeared before the bearded man.

"Wh—"

Before he could finish speaking, Kong Wu slapped him.

Crack!

With a dull thud, the bearded man's head spun around three times.