The townspeople turned back to look toward Xie Bi'an and Fan Wuchang.
Lord Lang followed their gazes and immediately spotted the two distinguished young men in the crowd.
One wore black, the other white, both radiating heroic spirit. Each wore a tall hat, one inscribed with "Wealth at First Sight," the other with "Peace Under Heaven." They cut quite an imposing figure.
Lord Lang approached with a broad smile. "Could the 'Anti-Ming Heroes' be these two young heroes before me?"
Xie Bi'an and Fan Wujiao regarded the middle-aged man before them without expression and gave no answer.
"Would you two young heroes be interested in joining me at the County Yamen?"
Xie Bi'an frowned slightly and asked coldly, "My lord, are you trying to arrest us?"
"Arrest you? Why would I arrest you?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Xie Bi'an said irritably. "We're the 'Anti-Ming Heroes,' while you're an official of Great Ming. Whichever way you look at it, we're not walking the same road, are we?"
"You misunderstand, young heroes." Lord Lang smiled and shook his head. "I've already made inquiries. You two command considerable respect in this county, so I'd like you to serve at the County Yamen and take up official posts. What do you think?"
"Serve as officers?!"
Du Yu, Xie Bi'an, and Fan Wujiao all felt uneasy.
"You mean you want us to become government officers?" Xie Bi'an asked.
"Indeed. That is precisely my intention."
Du Yu narrowed his eyes as he considered the situation. Logically, Xie Bi'an and Fan Wujiao really ought to become officers. It was also the best path forward for them.
But was this right?
They had killed so many of the Ming Cult's Red Turban Bandits, only to become officers of Great Ming. Was that right?
Lord Lang had come to take