Long Xiyue hurried forward to help the little beggar up. Two soldiers charged over like wolves and tigers, and one shouted, "There's another one here! Arrest her!"
"Don't arrest me... I haven't done anything bad..." the little beggar cried in terror, bursting into tears as she spoke. She was a girl of six or seven. Tears ran down her grime-covered face, revealing skin as white as jade. Her filthy little hands clutched Long Xiyue's sleeve as she looked up at her pleadingly.
The soldier froze for a moment at the sight of Long Xiyue's beauty. He reached out his large hand to seize the little beggar, but Long Xiyue said, "Stop. She's only a child. Why must you make things difficult for her?"
By now, more than a dozen soldiers had gathered around them. Their commander barked like a fiend, "You'd better keep out of this. The King has ordered every disciple of the Beggar Gang expelled from the kingdom. If you defy his decree and try to stop us, we'll arrest you too."
"But... I'm not a disciple of the Beggar Gang..." the little beggar wailed.
Hu Xiaotian walked over. Not bothering to argue, he waved the green jade Dragon Token carved with a dragon before the commander's eyes. The commander clearly recognized it as a palace credential. Frightened, he hastily lowered his head and cupped his fists. "I must have been blind. Please forgive my offense, my lord."
Hu Xiaotian waved a hand, signaling for them to leave at once.
The soldiers did not dare trouble them any further and left with the other beggars.
Long Xiyue looked at the little beggar with aching sympathy. Her fall had been a hard one, and a large bump had risen on her forehead. "Does it hurt?" Long Xiyue asked gently.