Su Ye gradually learned what had happened. When it was Meng Daniu's turn to pay taxes, the amount demanded was more than double what it had been in previous years. He couldn't possibly come up with that much. Seeing this, Huang Qianqing had tried to seize his younger sister to make up the tax shortfall.
Meng Daniu's parents had both passed away when he was eleven or twelve. From then on, he and his younger sister had depended on each other, and the siblings were deeply attached. Naturally, he had fought with all his might to protect her. In the end, he hadn't managed to save her, and his own arm had been broken.
It had all happened because of Huang Qianqing. He had accidentally come across Meng Daniu's younger sister, thought her beautiful, and let wickedness rise in his heart.
"Please, sir, save my younger sister. I'll work like an ox or a horse for you. My life or death is yours to decide."
As he spoke, Meng Daniu seemed to remember something. Carefully, he took a piece of parchment from his clothes. It was filthy, covered in markings like the scrawl of ghosts, but the shapes of a dragon and a tiger could just barely be made out.
"My father gave this to me before he died. He said it had been passed down from our ancestors. Over the years, I've asked people to look at it, but no one knows what it depicts."
"Now, this is the only thing of any value I have. If you don't mind..." As he spoke, Meng Daniu suddenly dropped to his knees.
Hearing this, Su Ye swung down from his horse, walked over, and helped Meng Daniu up. "Get up first. We can talk."
"Sir..." Meng Daniu looked somewhat self-conscious as he drew the parchment in his hands back a little.
Su Ye accepted the parchment Meng Daniu had offered with both hands and examined it closely. He found nothing at all, but just then, the panel in his mind suddenly changed.
Dragon Tiger Vajra Skill · Yellow Tier Mid-grade successfully recorded
His mind swept over the panel's notification, and Su Ye couldn't help feeling both delighted and surprised. He hadn't expected a Yellow Tier Mid-grade technique to appear right before his eyes like this.
"Don't worry. I'll see this through for you." Since he'd already accepted the reward, Su Ye wasn't about to take the benefit and do nothing in return.
A man had to have some integrity, after all. Su Ye had already learned a little about Huang Qianqing on his way here. The man was only at Body Tempering Layer Two, and Su Ye was confident he could handle him with ease.
His mind swept over the panel once more. According to its description, the Dragon Tiger Vajra Skill was a Body Tempering martial art that reached all the way to the Meridian Mirror realm.
Once Martial Artists reached Body Tempering Perfection, they could begin preparing to break through to the Meridian realm. Cultivating in this realm involved circulating true qi through the body's meridians, laying a stronger foundation for breaking through to the next realm. This was called Internal Cultivation.
If they chose to continue tempering their bodies, that was another path: the Body Tempering Warrior. They focused more on their physical constitution and cultivated Qi and Blood Power. Nourishing their qi and blood required vast quantities of rare treasures, or supplements from food and medicine, so the process was extremely time-consuming. Ordinary Martial Artists simply couldn't afford to train this way, while the great clans looked down on Body Tempering methods.
Still, when most Martial Artists found themselves unable to break through and saw no path ahead, training in body-tempering methods to increase their combat strength was a good choice.
Martial Arts were divided, from highest to lowest, into the four tiers of Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow, each with upper, middle, and lower grades. Below those were the common-grade and unranked techniques. As for whether there were tiers beyond Heaven, Su Ye himself didn't know.
"S-sir..."
Pulling his attention back, he looked at Meng Daniu, who stood to one side with a face full of apprehension. "Wait here."
Su Ye turned around and swung his riding crop. The sound of hoofbeats rang out into the distance, and within a few breaths he had reached the entrance to the town yamen. The assembled constables all looked over curiously.
The newcomer wore a blue, round-collared robe with a red, cross-collared jacket over it. Huang Qianqing spoke first, his voice carrying a hint of mockery. "Oh, the Constable is here."
"Why didn't you let us know? We could've welcomed you properly."
"So you're Huang Qianqing." Su Ye sat on his horse and spoke calmly.
"Oh? You know me?"
Su Ye grinned faintly. "I don't. I've just heard a little about you."
"You've barely arrived, and already you're asking around about people. That's not a good habit." Huang Qianqing's gaze turned chilly.
Su Ye acted as if he hadn't heard him and asked, "Where is the person these two are looking for?"
"What, are you trying to play the hero?"
Su Ye continued, "I heard you forcibly abducted a young woman seven days ago, too."
At this, Huang Qianqing's expression darkened. He spoke coldly. "I advise you to stay out of other people's business. If you need something, we can talk it over. We can all make money in peace. Why spoil things over a few peasant louts?"
"You've got quite the scheme."
The farmers hidden nearby, listening in, all paled. They had seen Su Ye speaking with Meng Daniu earlier, and he had seemed quite amiable. They hadn't known exactly what the two were discussing, but they could guess that this newcomer was surely different from Huang Qianqing.
But Huang Qianqing's words now made them waver. If they were in Su Ye's place, what would they choose? Offend Huang Qianqing, or...
At the thought, many of them felt bitter and lowered their heads, as if resigned to their fate. Wu Lao Er and his wife were even prepared to die, clutching each other tightly.
Meng Daniu slumped to the ground, his face ashen. He blamed himself for being too reckless and impulsive. How could someone who had slain a Demonic Beast possibly care about commoners like them?
Su Ye swung down from his horse. "Bring the person out now. We'll deal with our business afterward."
"Kid, do you not understand plain speech? My business is none of yours. Don't go looking for trouble."
Huang Qianqing wore a haughty expression as he continued, "Do you know my uncle is a Hall Master of the Black Tiger Gang and an old acquaintance of the County Lieutenant? I can't speak for other matters, but taking down a little Constable like you would be easy."
Su Ye looked at Huang Qianqing and spoke in a deep voice. "You abducted a woman in broad daylight, and now you dare threaten this Constable? You've got some nerve."
"What are you supposed to be? You think you're some mighty dragon crossing the river? I already know your background. You only killed a Wolf Demon that hadn't gained intelligence. If the County Lieutenant hadn't taken a liking to you, would you dare speak to me like this?"
"I'm telling you, with me here, Kaoshan Town isn't going to turn upside down."
Hearing this, Su Ye's expression remained indifferent. He looked toward the assembled constables, whose faces showed all manner of reactions, and asked unconcernedly, "What do you think?"
"They're all my men. You think far too much of yourself."
Huang Qianqing spoke with a sneer, his words full of menace. "It might be a little troublesome to kill you, but I can still cripple you."
The constables chimed in as well. "Kid, get over here and kneel to apologize to our boss. Maybe you'll be spared a beating."
Su Ye said no more. He abruptly drew the long saber from his waist.
"Oh, you want to fight? Let's see what you can do." As he spoke, Huang Qianqing signaled to the constables beside him to go into the town yamen.
Soon, two constables carried out a ragged sack and threw it hard onto the ground. The cloth spread open, revealing the naked body of a young woman. Her body was covered in wounds, her waist and abdomen bent backward in a folded position. Her face was bruised purple and twisted with pain. No one knew what inhuman torment she had suffered before she died.
"Too late." Huang Qianqing pointed at the young woman's body on the ground and taunted him. "The one from earlier? I accidentally tossed her into the hills behind town. You can have this one if you want."
Huang Qianqing picked at his nose. "Well? Satisfied?"
"Ah!"
Wu Lao Er and his wife suddenly threw themselves down beside the young woman's body, letting out a cry of grief that shook the heavens. The onlookers in the distance couldn't help cursing under their breath.
"These damned beasts!"
"They say Heaven sees all that people do. Lord Heaven, why have you turned a blind eye?"
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