Jiang Wang had nothing to prepare, either. He went to the stables, led Flame Shine out, hung his long sword at his waist, and rode out of the manor in his blue robes, heading straight for the Gate of Righteousness.
Of course, he wasn't going to gallop through the busy streets. Flame Shine was very intelligent, too, and walked steadily, even knowing to avoid pedestrians.
And look, an old man came tottering toward them up ahead.
Flame Shine snorted and turned aside on his own.
Jiang Wang then saw, clear as day, the old man turn in the same direction.
Then—
"Ah~! Ow!"
Right in front of Flame Shine's hooves, he slowly lay down.
In a feeble voice, he cried, "You've run me over!"
From his aura, he seemed to be an ordinary person. He wore coarse hemp clothes, patched twice, though they had clearly been washed clean.
Jiang Wang's forehead creased with exasperation. He tugged on the reins and rode around the man, afraid Flame Shine might actually step on him by accident.
"You can't leave!" the old man shouted again.
He yelled, "Everyone, come and see! He crippled someone and now he's just leaving him here!"
"Listen." Jiang Wang looked down at him from horseback and took out his Green Badge, waving it in front of his eyes. "If you're going to scam someone, shouldn't you at least look at who you're dealing with? I'm curious—how have you survived to this age with such poor professional skills?"
The old man sat up and squinted at the badge for a while, apparently trying to tell if it was real.
Then he lay back down...
And shouted, "Everyone, come and see! A Green Badge rider has run someone to death!"
Jiang Wang: ...
This old man really would risk his