Chapter Thirty-Two: Commandant Chen Is Here! Who Dares Cause Trouble!

A wince of pain followed, and Feng Qing could not help but stumble backward, crashing straight into his retinue.

"Damn it! How dare you challenge the authority of the Tai Sui! Men, give these people a lesson they'll never forget!" Feeling that his pride had been trampled, Feng Qing glared at Chen An and his companions with undisguised hatred.

"Where did these outsiders come from? Is their brain stuck to their backside?"
"Of all people to provoke, they chose Young Master Feng!"

Eight or nine attendants rolled up their sleeves and charged aggressively toward Chen An. A few kind-hearted locals hurriedly squeezed their eyes shut, terrified of witnessing the bloodshed to come. These servants had no idea that this time, they hadn't kicked a wooden board—they had kicked an iron plate. These thugs, who knew only how to throw their weight around, were no match for Zhang Xiaojing and the others.

Wu Daizi remained expressionless. He stepped forward, caught a servant's fist, executed a back-throw, and twisted his arm with a sudden, forceful rotation. The man collapsed heavily to the ground, the splash of dust obscuring the look of shock on Feng Qing’s face. It seemed likely that the man had been knocked unconscious instantly. Two others tried to ambush Wu Daizi while his back was turned, but Zhang Xiaojing seized the opening, his blade flashing twice. In broad daylight, the two attendants were stripped of their clothes in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, Feng Qing's entire retinue had been dealt with. The commotion had drawn a crowd of onlookers. Curious patrons stretched their necks, watching the scene with fascination. Everyone knew that to dare raise a hand against the Four Great Families in Youshan Pass meant one was either possessed of suicidal courage or was a reckless novice. This spectacle was akin to a meteor colliding with the earth.

Among the onlookers, a middle-aged man with a sturdy build, broad shoulders, and a resolute face took in the entire scene. He did not even deign to glance at the arrogant, foppish Feng Qing, but he watched Chen An with intense curiosity.

"So young, yet surrounded by such hidden talents. These men appear to be soldiers."
"I never expected to find such formidable figures in this tiny Youshan Pass. It is truly a surprise."
"Khan, our things are packed. Should we leave now?"

A young man, roughly the same age as Chen An, whispered into the middle-aged man's ear amidst the fray.

"No rush. Now is the perfect time to watch the show."
"Khan, what is there to see in a brawl between a few street thugs?"

The middle-aged man nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on Chen An as he commented softly, "This youth remains unmoved even as Mount Tai crumbles before him. His trust in his subordinates’ extraordinary abilities is remarkable—even compared to you, he is not inferior."

"Khan, there are very few who could earn such praise from you." The young man’s lips curled into a smirk. "The way you put it, I am becoming curious myself."

As they spoke, the fight reached its conclusion. Unsurprisingly, it ended with the groans of Feng Qing’s subordinates.

"Useless! All of you are completely useless!" Feng Qing winced in pain, grimacing as he watched his servants collapse one after another.

Punishing a spoiled brat was bound to draw applause from the common folk.
"Damn, that was a satisfying vent."
"He spends all his time walking by the river, and finally, the brat's shoes are wet!"
"That was too light—if it were me, I would have been much harsher!"
"Nonsense. Even if you had the skills, I don't believe you'd dare strike a young master of the Feng family."

At these words, the crowd sobered up, their amazement turning into worry. "No way? These people are going to be in huge trouble."

As the onlookers fell silent, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the street. Two or three dozen well-armed thugs swarmed in from all directions. The servants, who had been wailing for mercy moments ago, began to clamor again.

"Brat, you may be tough, but you're dead today!"
"Don't you dare run!"
"I suggest you apologize now and leave us a hundred taels of silver. Maybe then you'll keep your lives."

The servants helped each other up, and Feng Qing, his face dark with malice, expressed his disdain: "Kid, this is Youshan Pass. Challenging us here? You might have the life to come in, but you won't have the life to leave!"

Zhang Juzhong appeared alongside the thugs.
"Yingying!"
"Husband!"

Feng Qing, witnessing this, felt a surge of wicked delight. "Kid, you're lucky today. I've taken a liking to your wife. If you don't want to die, get on your knees and kowtow for forgiveness."
"Maybe I'll let you live. Let your little lady spend the night with me; not only will you be spared, but if I’m in a good mood, I might even give you a reward!"

As Feng Qing spoke, his attendants began to flatter him again.
"Kid, did you hear that? My young master is being merciful."
"There's no good end for those who cross the Four Great Families. The last one who was this stubborn is already on his way to reincarnation!"

"In broad daylight, under the vast sky, how can you people twist black into white!" Zhang Juzhong clenched his fists. Although he was a scholar, he would never submit!

"Hey, scholar! Stand back, or you'll get hurt when the fighting starts," Wu Daizi said bluntly.
"Impossible. While I am but a man of letters, I am well aware that when a commoner is enraged, blood will splash five paces!"

"It seems you won't listen to reason. Fine. I'm in a bad mood today, and I feel like teaching you a lesson!" Feng Qing gave the final order: "Get them!"

Just as the battle was about to ignite, the ground began to tremble. As everyone wondered if an earthquake was occurring, a cluster of tall figures slowly emerged from beyond the city wall.

"Is that cavalry?"
"Nonsense, that’s heavy armored cavalry!"
"My god, there must be at least a hundred of them."

The chattering resumed. Seeing soldiers in Youshan Pass was not strange, but seeing so many heavy armored troops was unheard of! Every step the warhorses of the Tiger Battalion took seemed to land directly on Feng Qing’s heart.

"You... you... you..."

Zhang Xiaojing gave Feng Qing a cold look, stepped forward, and produced a stack of documents.

"By the military order of Qiao Dafang, Commander of Huyang Pass, Vice-Lieutenant Chen An is stationed at Youshan Pass with the Tiger Battalion!"

"ROAR!"
"Lieutenant Chen is here! Who dares to act insolently!"