Execute first, report later-by imperial prerogative!

At midnight, on the riverbank north of the city, bean-sized raindrops hammered the river, throwing up muddy splashes.

More than two hundred people in close-fitting martial attire stood facing one another across the river. The tension was like drawn swords and bent bows, and killing intent permeated the rain.

A burly middle-aged man stood motionless, his bearing as imposing and majestic as a fierce tiger. He thundered:

"Golden Toad, you still have time to submit. Once we start fighting, your Toad Gate will suffer countless casualties!"

Opposite him stood an ugly old man with vicious eyes-the leader of the Toad Gate.

Golden Toad roared like thunder:

"I'm not old yet! A junior like you dares meddle in my territory? If I back down, how could I ever show my face in Hundredfold Crossing again?"

"We settle this tonight, once and for all!"

His words had barely fallen.

Clang!

Nearly a hundred followers behind him drew their blades in unison.

A trace of apprehension lurked deep in Giant Tiger's eyes. He did not want both sides to suffer, but retreat was even less possible. This was no longer about profit, but standing in the Jianghu.

He could not lose his authority!

"I'll give you one more chance to reconsider. I'll only count to three."

Giant Tiger enunciated every word.

"One."

The Tiger Head Gang had over a hundred and thirty members armed with swords and sabers, and archers and crossbowmen even waited on both flanks, ready to strike!

A long moment passed.

"Two!" Giant Tiger's expression darkened as he slowly raised his arm.

Seeing Golden Toad remain motionless, he knew the battle was inevitable. Then he would hit them hard!

He swung his arm, but before he could roar "three"-

Hoofbeats sounded nearby.

Seven riders arrived through the rain.

Twin Whips reined in his horse, pulled out his identification token, and declared gravely:

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard is conducting an investigation. Everyone, kneel!"

The sudden turn caught both gang leaders off guard.

At the sight of those Flying Fish Uniforms, Giant Tiger's expression changed drastically, and he bellowed:

"You've been secretly dealing with the authorities?"

Golden Toad was equally shocked. He pointed at Giant Tiger and cursed:

"You dare collude with the court's running dogs?"

"Kneel at once!" Twin Whips and the others shouted.

The two hundred-odd people on the riverbank exchanged looks but remained standing. Despite the Embroidered Uniform Guard's brutal, tyrannical reputation, there were only seven of them.

Jia Huan dismounted expressionlessly and walked toward the Tiger Head Gang's leader under their stares.

"You're Giant Tiger?"

Giant Tiger was bewildered and suspicious, but seeing that the newcomer was younger than his own son, he relaxed his guard and cupped his hands.

"My lord, you've misunderstood. This isn't an armed brawl. We're only negotiating. Do me this favor, and I'll send you five hundred taels of silver later so you can enjoy yourself."

Instead, Jia Huan smiled and asked mildly:

"Do you a favor? Who do you think you are?"

As he spoke, he raised his palm.

Giant Tiger reacted swiftly, mobilizing his inner qi and turning sideways to dodge.

Yet that seemingly weightless slap carried a gentle breeze as it struck Giant Tiger's face.

Smack!

A crisp sound rang out, and a red palm print appeared on Giant Tiger's face.

Clatter!

Over a hundred of his brothers drew their blades and surged forward.

"Stand down!" Giant Tiger covered his face. The pain was slight, but the humiliation was intense.

Unless he had absolutely no alternative, how could he dare attack the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

"What have I done to offend you, my lord?" Giant Tiger's eyes burned with anger.

Jia Huan remained utterly composed. As he walked toward Golden Toad, he said:

"Trafficking children, murder, arson-you've brought death upon yourself."

The instant his words fell-

A bizarre scene unfolded.

Without the slightest warning, Giant Tiger crashed to the ground and did not rise.

His bones had gone soft as cotton, shattered inch by inch throughout his body. His organs and dantian had ruptured. Not a drop of blood stained him, and he died with his eyes still open.

The riverbank fell deathly silent.

Every gang member felt their hair stand on end.

Just one slap.

So light, seemingly without any force...

What kind of terrifying martial art was that?

"The boss is mighty." Fathead Fish and the others were swept by emotion. Even they were badly shaken. One slap had sent the Bone Tiger Head Gang's leader straight to the underworld.

Golden Toad's hair bristled at the sight. Watching the young man draw closer, he was so frightened that even his lips trembled:

"M-my lord, I haven't trafficked anyone."

Jia Huan was very satisfied with the Bone-Melting Cotton Palm's power. He flicked his sleeve and raised two fingers, sending finger force surging invisibly into Golden Toad's neck.

"Raping innocent girls-your crimes are equally unforgivable."

Thud!

Golden Toad's entire body burned hot. His eyes bulged as he dropped to his knees, blood spurting from his neck like a spring. A few breaths later, he departed for the Yellow Springs.

Jia Huan's voice turned chilling:

"Every last one of you, kneel!"

In an instant, cowed by his presence, they dropped their weapons and fell prostrate on their knees.

Ordinarily, they only dared swagger and bully commoners. When had they ever witnessed such a terrifying scene?

Their leaders were dead, and the rabble all dropped to their knees.

He stood alone, yet more than two hundred people knelt around him.

"Scholar, read out the names."

"Listen carefully. When you hear a name, identify them."

With that instruction, Jia Huan drew his Embroidered Spring Saber.

"Zhang Erhu, second-in-command of the Tiger Head Gang." Scholar's voice rang like a great bell.

"My lord, that's him!"

The Toad Gate's members pointed across at a bearded man whose face was filled with terror.

Jia Huan walked over with measured steps.

Zhang Erhu shook like chaff in a sieve and stammered:

"W-where's the county office's notice? You can't kill indiscriminately. I demand to see the paperwork first."

Jia Huan swung his saber down, murderous menace enveloping him.

A head flew and rolled.

He sneered:

"Execute first, report later-by imperial prerogative! Since when does the Embroidered Uniform Guard need paperwork from a county office?"

"Next."

"Li Tianba, second-in-command of the Toad Gate!" Scholar continued reading.

"My lord, it's that one-armed man! That's him!"

The Tiger Head Gang's members pointed with bloodshot eyes at the one-armed old man who was trying to flee.

Li Tianba's face turned pale. Looking around at both gangs, he screamed himself hoarse:

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard means to slaughter us! Rather than stretch out our necks for their blades, let's fight back together! We outnumber them-everyone, attack!"

His trusted followers stirred, vicious light flashing across their faces.

Jia Huan lunged forward, using Snow-Treading Without a Trace. Moving with incredible speed, he drove several punches straight into their chests-bam, bam, bam! Before the burly men could act, they fell.

Spurt!

The Embroidered Spring Saber cleaved down, and Li Tianba's head rolled several yards away.

"Keep reading." Jia Huan's expression remained unchanged.

Every gang member fell silent as cicadas in winter, unable to muster even the slightest thought of resistance.

Had it been other Embroidered Uniform Guards, they would have feared their official authority but still fought desperately when cornered. Yet the pressure this young man exerted was simply too terrifying.

The weight of authority and the power to slaughter left them waiting like ants for their fate.

Scholar continued reading the list.

Jia Huan killed one with every stroke.

After hacking down over twenty vicious villains in succession, Jia Huan's wrist grew sore. He said gravely:

"Your turn."

This was also why Jianghu experts struggled to contend with imperial troops. People grew tired, blades dulled, and the inner qi in their dantian ran dry. Those so-called experts could simply be worn to death.

"Yes, sir!" Twin Whips and the other four approached with blades in hand.

A quarter of an hour later, the pungent stench of blood filled the riverbank. Blood mingled with rainwater and flowed everywhere. Over forty corpses lay sprawled across the ground, a sight too gruesome to bear.

"Boss?" Scholar asked quietly.

"Stop." Jia Huan waved a hand and said gravely:

"There are bound to be others we've missed. Twin Whips, Biaozi, notify the county office. Have them send people to interrogate and investigate."

"Scholar, question this rotten fish and spoiled shrimp. Make them identify their accomplices inside the county office."

"Fathead Fish, Drunkard, Skinny Monkey, confiscate both gangs' assets. Turn in seventy percent and keep thirty percent."

Under the Embroidered Uniform Guard Office's long-standing, unspoken rules, seventy percent of confiscated spoils went into the public coffers, while thirty percent belonged to those who seized them.

He wanted to keep eating for years, not feast just once. Jia Huan had no intention of jeopardizing his future for silver.

As for the thirty percent they kept, thirty percent of that went to General Banner Zhao.

"Yes, sir!" The six went to carry out their orders.

Under countless gazes filled with awe and terror, Jia Huan walked alone to a distant stream and bent down to wash his Embroidered Spring Saber.

Meanwhile, portraits of over forty people appeared on the panel in his mind, flashing past one by one.

[Sin rating-upper seventh rank, upper seventh rank, middle eighth rank, middle eighth rank, lower eighth rank, lower eighth rank...]

[Participation-65%]

[Reward-three forms of Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, proficiency-initial grasp; reward-One Reed Crossing the River, proficiency-masterful perfection]

[Experience points: 882/10000]

This trip has filled my bowls and pots to overflowing!

Jia Huan's heart filled with joy.

He knew well the utterly yang, utterly forceful might of the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms. Now he had gained three more forms, along with a top-tier movement technique. One Reed Crossing the River stood several levels above Snow-Treading Without a Trace!

As for his experience points, he had only a hundred and ninety when he left the capital. Now he had eight hundred and eighty-two!

Rooting out villains and ridding the world of harm was a duty he could not shirk!