Chapter 24

Having gathered his resolve, Wei Jing delivered a few words that everyone inside and outside the county office heard clearly.

With a crisp “clang,” a long knife hit the ground.

The dead silence before them seemed abruptly broken as the repeated “clang, clang” echoed in unison. In just a few moments, weapons lay scattered everywhere; except for a dozen squad leaders and several high-ranking county officials, all the ordinary soldiers had surrendered.

“Everyone,” he announced.

In an instant, the balance of power shifted. Wei Jing pointed his long sword at Qu Cheng and the others—whose faces were a mix of terror and disbelief—and commanded, “Immediately pick up your weapons and seize that traitor Qu and his cohorts!”

One of the squad leaders standing in the courtyard was the first to stoop down and snatch up the long knife that had just been discarded.

“Brothers, let’s charge!” he cried.

Not seeking glory but only a chance to atone for their misdeeds, the county troops, after a resounding shout, turned their weapons against those who, just a moment ago, had been issuing orders—charging toward Qu Cheng and his men.

“Who dares come over?!”

Inside the county office, nearly all the subordinate officials were civil officers—except for a few military clerks—so those county functionaries, who had once behaved as if nothing in the world could touch them, scrambled in panic to hide behind the Qu family, father and sons. The four members of the Qu family wildly swung their knives and roared, “Who dares come forward?! I’m gonna take your dog’s life!”

In such a frenzied eruption—despite their years of accumulated prestige—they were not immediately subdued; on the contrary, they managed to slash and injure several soldiers.

With things descending into chaos up front, the county troops’ inefficiency greatly displeased Wei Jing. Narrowing his eyes, he commanded, “If anyone resists arrest—aside from the chief culprit—execute them without mercy!”

The father and sons of the Qu family had once doubted his identity, but Wei Jing did not intend to let the four utter a word.

Let Qu Cheng be held as the principal offender—he will deal with him later. As for the three sons of the Qu family, he must dispose of them immediately. Concerning the illicit salt case, isn’t there already a whole group of subordinate officials handling it?

His voice turned cold and severe. With a chilling “execute without exception” that sent shivers down the spines of the county soldiers, seven or eight of them leaped up, shouting as they brandished their knives and lunged forward.

Both of Qu Qian’s two elder brothers were instantly stabbed through, their eyes wide open as they collapsed in shock; meanwhile, he himself took a knife blow on his shoulder and back—fresh blood gushing out. With a pained scream, he staggered backward in panic, “Father! Father, save me!”

“Halt!” In an instant, among the three sons, two were dead and one was injured. Qu Cheng’s eyes blazed with fury as he looked up and glared savagely at Wei Jing, “Yang Ze, you little thief! How dare you?!”

Wei Jing did not rush to haul these trembling criminals off to the jail. Instead, he strode forward several paces, then stopped—right in front of Qu Qian.

Qu Qian was simultaneously startled, terrified, and in pain; his steadfast father lay senseless beside him. In a panic, he craned his head to see when suddenly a shadow fell over him. He stiffened and, turning his head back, looked.

Wei Jing’s face was as cold as frost, and his eyes burned with a fierce, ominous energy. It was precisely this scoundrel, who dared sneak into the rear courtyard of the county office—not only to endanger the life of his wife, the one person he holds most dear, but also to spy on her while she bathed. That very tender spot—his one and only vulnerability, the one area no one was ever permitted to touch—had been violated in the most outrageous way.

In the bright sunlight, Qu Qian’s fair and handsome face was evident, yet his eyes alone betrayed a hint of murkiness.

With a scowl, Wei Jing barked, “Men, spread out this thief’s hands!”

Even beneath the blazing summer noon, that grim, chilling command sent an icy shock through everyone present.

After a brief moment of silence, a resonant voice answered sharply, “Obey!”

It was the same young, thick-browed, big-eyed squad leader from earlier. With solemn respect, he clasped his fists and strode several brisk steps to where Qu Qian stood. Without hesitation, he bent over—one hand pressing against Qu Qian’s forehead while, in a sudden motion, he extended two fingers.

“Aaaaahhh!”

A heart-wrenching, piercing scream erupted—so powerful that even Shao Qing, who was pacing restlessly in the backyard, could faintly make it out.

“What’s going on?” She was startled; goosebumps broke out all over her body.

In fact, not only did Shao Qing jump in fright— even the typically composed Wang Mi shivered, exclaiming, “I don’t know!”

The two exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding with uneasy anxiety. Fortunately, the voice sounded unfamiliar; it was clearly that of the enemy.

By the time Shao Qing learned about Qu Qian’s situation, it was already evening—Wei Jing had told her in person.

At noon, Wei Jing had captured Qu Cheng and his band of close aides and thrown them into prison. Immediately afterward, he employed the several hundred troops urgently dispatched by Zhuang Yan, along with county soldiers—such as the perceptive young commander Deng Guang—from the garrison, swiftly bringing the entire Pingtao County under his control.

Thus, Pingtao County had officially passed into new hands.

Amid a flurry of chaotic matters that kept him busy until dusk, he finally returned, his steps bathed in the glow of the evening clouds.

Shao Qing had pushed aside the window shutters and was busy arranging the newly tailored clothes for him.

Though a county magistrate might not seem like much in their eyes, he was the local chief official. It was no longer fitting for him to continue wearing those same two stiff, close-fitted outfits every day. During those few days waiting for word from Gaoling, she had taken his measurements and had Wang Mi tailor new garments for him.

As for her own clothes, there was no rush—once she obtained a new household registration and her status as a woman was restored, she could take her time having hers made.

“Husband, you’re back?” Shao Qing saw him through the wide-open lattice window and smiled, “Sister Wang and Yue Niang are in the kitchen preparing dinner; it won’t be long.”

The entire backyard exuded a light, breezy atmosphere. Her smile was gentle and full of warmth, and upon seeing her, Wei Jing couldn’t help but lift the corners of his mouth. He sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Shao Qing fold his clothes. His heart was filled with calm and serenity as the lingering trace of brutality from noon—triggered by Qu Qian—quietly faded away.

He said, “Ah Qing, I’ve taken care of that bastard Qu.”

Taken care of?

For some reason, Shao Qing suddenly recalled the scream she had heard at noon, and her heart began pounding erratically.

“How did you do it?” she asked cautiously.

Wei Jing paused for a moment and, in a matter-of-fact tone, replied, “I ended his life.”

That was as it should be. In the end, Qu Qian indeed followed his two elder brothers down the path to the underworld. However, he wasn’t inclined to describe every detail of what had transpired. After the dispute in Hexiang, Wei Jing sensed that Shao Qing wasn’t comfortable with such matters.

Even though Shao Qing hadn’t known him for long, having shared life and death with him on multiple occasions and spending countless days and nights together, she was perceptive enough to notice even the subtlest changes in Wei Jing’s expression and tone.

“What else?” She suddenly recalled the night Qu Qian sneaked in a few days ago. That very night, Wei Jing, holding her close as they leaped across the rooftop, had bitterly vowed that he would gouge out that thief’s eyes.

Gouge out his eyes?!

At that moment, Shao Qing had assumed it was merely an angry, impulsive remark—after all, most people tend to spout harsh words in the heat of the moment, so it wasn’t unusual.

But now, in light of the dreadful scream from noon, she stared wide-eyed at Wei Jing. A shiver of cold crept up from her toes along her spine. Despite the midsummer evening, she couldn’t help but shudder.

Naturally, she felt no pity for Qu Qian’s death. After all, if he hadn’t been dead, it was likely that they would have been the ones to die instead. The Qu family had committed wrongs for years—hands stained with blood and countless lives lost—and his death would only have been cause for celebration. Yet the way he had carried out the act before killing him left her uneasy. Shao Qing had witnessed many deaths before, but simply recalling that scene sent goosebumps along her skin.

Still, everything Wei Jing did was for her sake, and for a moment, she didn’t know where to begin.

“Ah Qing, that thief dares to offend you so!”

Since Shao Qing had seen through everything, Wei Jing didn’t hold back either. A deep, somber darkness flashed in his inky eyes as he declared, “Even if I gouge out that thief’s eyes, it wouldn’t quench the hatred burning in my heart!”

Born a prince, if he were to learn that his wife had been ogled while bathing by a scoundrel, it would be perfectly customary for him to kill the offender in a fit of rage. Moreover, for the present Wei Jing, Shao Qing was far more than merely an ordinary wife.

He was extraordinarily furious—he wished he could flay and dismember Qu Qian, tearing him into eight pieces. Yet for now, merely gouging out his eyes was deemed sufficient, as he needed to assume control over Pingtao’s fortunes swiftly.

“Husband!”

Wei Jing’s gaze exuded menace, and his austere tone carried a trace of bloodlust, echoing the fierce confrontation once experienced in Hexiang.

At that moment, he had intended to purge the Kou family, but Shao Qing’s intervention prevented his emotions from spiraling out of control, sparing him from an all-out frenzy of bloodthirst.

Shao Qing’s heart pounded heavily as she suddenly realized that if Wei Jing continued down this path, he would inevitably become a brutal, murderous man—cruel towards others while living in deep, unrelenting pain.

She didn’t want him to be like this. Having narrowly escaped death together, leaping across rivers and supporting each other until now, no matter what the future held, she never wanted him to rush down this path—a path from which there was no return.

“Husband, I’m a little afraid.” Shao Qing frowned and said, “Just the thought of that situation makes me feel uneasy.”

She revealed her true feelings, and at that, Wei Jing’s heart tightened; uncharacteristically, a look of urgency flashed across his face. “Are you afraid of me?”

“Not at all.”

It wasn’t that Shao Qing was afraid of him; rather, the idea of actions like gouging out eyes or cutting off noses made her uneasy. She took a breath and whispered, “Husband, could you please not behave that way in the future?”

“Qu Qian sneaked into the backyard, spied on me, and for years terrorized the village—forcefully taking peasant women and leaving countless lives in his wake. His death is more than justified. But for such a villain, executing him outright is enough—why should you soil your own hands with his blood?”

Her gentle tone and hopeful look calmed the surge of hatred that had just filled Wei Jing’s heart until it gradually vanished.

Even though Wei Jing didn’t truly think that action was all that wrong, when he met her expectant, almond-shaped eyes, he couldn’t bear to disappoint her. He nodded and said, “Mm, alright.”

“I’ll do as you say..”

Joy sparked in Shao Qing’s eyes as she beamed and said, “My husband, you’re so wonderful.”

Her smile bloomed like a flower and her features softened; she didn’t realize that the anxiety and heaviness she had felt only moments ago had quietly vanished.

Wei Jing’s lips involuntarily curled upward.

……

The day after Wei Jing had taken full control of Pingtao County, Lord Bao led several thousand county soldiers from Gaoling to the scene. He was a middle-aged man with a rugged, curly-bearded face, dark-skinned and burly, clad in vermilion armor. When he first saw Wei Jing, he was taken aback.

Having traveled thousands of miles and being a fresh arrival, he promptly and decisively busted a case of illicit salt. Yang Ze was known to be a capable man, and Bao Zhong had been mentally prepared for such developments—but the young man before him, tall, handsome, and radiating an impressive aura, still exceeded his expectations.

“Excellent, simply excellent!” After Bao Zhong’s initial astonishment gave way to delight, the county magistrate pledged his allegiance to his faction when he handed him the letter and the account books. Having such an outstanding talent on his side couldn’t have been better.

“With your ability, why have you been transferred to this southwestern frontier?”

“Yang Ze, you’re young and conceited, but your horse stumbled—so unfortunate! From now on, take this as a lesson, and don’t repeat it.”

Wei Jing’s remark had broad implications and was applicable to any situation. Bao Zhong’s inquiry was meant merely to show camaraderie rather than to elicit an answer. Upon hearing it, Bao Zhong burst into hearty laughter and patted his shoulder, saying, “Young man, what’s the harm in making a few small mistakes? Besides, there’s no need to worry!”

One man was flexible and steadfast, his tone perfectly measured; the other was deliberately friendly and warm. For a while, amid cheerful banter and laughter, the two got along very harmoniously.

When the Qu family, sensing something was amiss, risked everything in an attempt to execute Wei Jing—and Wei Jing, on the spot, declared their crimes, causing the soldiers to defect and capturing a whole band of criminals ahead of schedule—Bao Zhong not only voiced no objections but even lavished praise upon him. He remarked that Wei Jing, undaunted in the face of danger and quick to adapt, truly proved himself both brave and resourceful.

Wei Jing smiled and said, “It’s all merely riding on your authority. I wouldn’t dare claim the credit.”

With a touch of modesty, he continued, “But now that the illicit salt case has been cracked, severing the Pu Tribe’s financial lifeline, I fear that they will harbor resentment and may send troops to trouble our Pingtao.”

That was Wei Jing’s primary objective for today.

At this stage, his goal was to build up his strength covertly. Yet, having just assumed office and begun recruiting troops en masse, he needed a pretext that wouldn’t attract undue attention.

Now, this illicit salt case is truly killing multiple birds with one stone.

For over a decade, because there had been secret salt trading between the two sides, the Pu tribe and Pingtao had coexisted peacefully and harmoniously. Pingtao, on the other hand, only needed to guard against the occasional harassment by the barbarian tribes—so the county’s 2,000 stationed soldiers had been more than enough.

But times had changed; after greatly offending the Pu tribe, 2,000 troops were clearly no longer sufficient.

Wei Jing remarked, “If we are to defend against the Pu tribe simultaneously, I’m afraid this county would need around four to five thousand troops.”

Officially, that would be five thousand; as for secretly recruited forces, there’s no hurry—given the high mountains and dense forests around Pingtao, hiding troops won’t be difficult.

Bao Zhong readily agreed and took charge, saying, “Once I return to Gaoling, I’ll notify the second master. You recruit as you see fit—no need to worry.”