Wu Jingshan thought Wen Boyuan had finally yielded and secretly rejoiced. It seems this old face of mine still carries a little weight.
But Wen Boyuan changed tack. "We cannot let today's incident go unsettled. Liang Yinghao's identity is suspect. He must be detained for now. I will question him thoroughly before deciding what to do with him."
Liang Yinghao's heart lurched at those words. If he fell into Wen Boyuan's hands again, torture to extract a confession would surely be unavoidable. Even if he survived, it would cost him half his life.
Hu Xiaotian chuckled. "Wen Boyuan, questioning him isn't your place, either. Liang Yinghao is one of my men. Anyone who dares lay a hand on my men is making an enemy of me."
Wen Boyuan sneered. "Hu Xiaotian, I will report everything you've done to His Majesty in person. Let's see how you explain yourself then."
Hu Xiaotian said, "If you have a case, make it. Even before His Majesty, I'm not afraid to argue it with you." Inwardly, he sneered. You won't get that chance, Wen Boyuan.
Wen Boyuan harbored much the same thought about Hu Xiaotian. Just then, a commotion broke out beyond the drill ground's gates, followed by a strange shout. "Don't worry, Uncle Hu! I'm here to help!" Xiong Tianba had heard the news and brought a band of his men to lend a hand. Wen Boyuan had severed his Mountain-Cleaving Axe, so he now carried two woodcutting axes, looking every bit as imposing as before.
Another group surged up behind Xiong Tianba's men: the Tang Family Three Siblings, leading the grooms and porters over to help. In an instant, more than two hundred people poured into the drill ground, making the formerly spacious East Drill Ground feel crowded.
Wen Boyuan frowned at