The Bully 012

He exchanged a glance with Liu Acai and nodded.

Liu Acai reached for the short knife at his waist. Even though he had started paying more attention to his appearance lately, the habit of carrying a blade hadn't changed. Then he kicked Chen Huaimin's prosthetic leg. Seeing that Chen Huaimin didn't even flinch, he couldn't help but pout. The boss was really playing favorites, only teaching Chen Huaimin martial arts.

He still remembered when he had asked to learn. Fang Zhiyi had just said, "Sure. Chop your leg off first, then come ask me."

Liu Acai had given up the idea then and there.

County Magistrate Hu stormed into the western suburbs, but his steps gradually slowed.

This place was the western suburbs?

Impossible. It should be filthy and stinking here!

The soldiers accompanying him shared his astonishment. They too rarely saw such clean streets, appearing quiet and pleasant... except for the group of fierce-looking men walking straight towards them.

"Halt! Who are you people?" County Magistrate Hu mustered his courage and shouted.

Fang Zhiyi smiled. "You come here without knowing who you're looking for?"

"This county magistrate is under orders to arrest the ringleader Fang Zhiyi!" he bellowed. A timid voice came from behind him.

"Your Honor, that is Fang Zhiyi."

At this moment, Nian'an's face was full of disbelief, followed by wildly sprouting jealousy. When he left, this place wasn't like this! It should be dirty and smelly!

Moreover, he had heard that his adoptive father had started a new business and was now making a lot of money. His heart was first filled with regret, then suspicion, then conviction—the conviction that Fang Zhiyi was an evil man. Finally, seeing with his own eyes that all the people he once knew so well were dressed better than him, jealousy and resentment began to spread uncontrollably.

"Truly an ungrateful wretch," Liu Acai sneered upon recognizing the young man.

"Fang Zhiyi! Your adopted son accuses you of colluding with others to seize official grain, oppressing the people, tyrannizing the township, extorting money, and treating human life as worthless! Be sensible and surrender quietly!" County Magistrate Hu rattled off Fang Zhiyi's crimes in one breath.

Fang Zhiyi was somewhat impressed by his lung capacity. Maintaining that volume for such a long list was no easy feat.

Feeling the gazes of confusion, disdain, contempt, and hatred from the opposite side, Nian'an felt his face grow hot. But he quickly told himself, "What I'm doing is right! They all deserve it!" He didn't believe Fang Zhiyi could escape. He straightened his back slightly. Today was the starting point of his comeback!

Once Fang Zhiyi was brought to justice, he could be with Lin Yanqing. First this, then that, and then he could turn his life around... maybe he could even get a share of Fang Zhiyi's property...

A soldier standing near him took a step to the side, thinking this kid must have something wrong with his head; he was practically drooling.

Seeing that Fang Zhiyi and his men remained unmoved, County Magistrate Hu knew further talk was useless. "Seize Fang Zhiyi! The rest of you, disperse! This is none of your concern! Anyone obstructing official business risks losing their heads!"

As a constable's rod came crashing down towards his head, Fang Zhiyi didn't even bat an eyelid.

The next moment, a flash of cold light swept by. The rod was cleanly split in two! Simultaneously, a soldier on the right who had drawn his sword found Liu Acai's short knife pressed against his neck.

Liu Acai's eyes widened. "You damn cripple, you kept this from me?"

Chen Huaimin was now standing on one leg, his other leg revealed to be a gleaming, sharp blade!

"The boss said, once drawn, the blade must taste blood," Chen Huaimin said with a sly smile.

At the same time, the others behind them began to step forward.

"In the end, we still didn't make it in time..." Fang Zhiyi sighed. Oh well, it just meant a little more trouble.

Just as the two sides were about to clash, shouts of "Stop!" came from the distance, followed by a squad of armored soldiers charging over. The murderous aura of these soldiers made both sides freeze. It had to be understood, armored soldiers were different from ordinary constables; their combat prowess wasn't even on the same level.

Fang Zhiyi, however, smiled. "Stand down, everyone. Work's over."

Liu Acai looked at his boss, puzzled.

After stopping the conflict, several horses galloped up, and a man dismounted.

"This kid looks familiar," Liu Acai muttered, confused.

Chen Huaimin grinned. "Huang Weixing!"

Huang Weixing first flashed a toothy grin at Fang Zhiyi, then quickly put on a stern face.

"Where is Hu Wanghui?"

County Magistrate Hu, who had shrunk into the crowd, poked his head out upon hearing his name. "Here. And you are?"

Huang Weixing was about to speak when he caught Fang Zhiyi's look. He straightened his back. "You are not worthy to ask."

County Magistrate Hu was stunned. How dare this young upstart be so arrogant? But glancing at the armored soldiers, he could only force a smile. In these times, whoever had the bigger fists was the boss.

He asked cautiously, "This humble official is carrying out official duties. May I ask..." Suddenly, County Magistrate Hu realized something. "Could it be that you, sir, have been sent by the Prefect to assist me in suppressing the bandits?"

Fang Zhiyi was taken aback. In the blink of an eye, he was a bandit again?

Huang Weixing took a deep breath. "Get lost!"

County Magistrate Hu first stared in shock, then his face turned livid. To be cursed at by a young punk in front of his subordinates—how could he maintain authority after this? In this little territory of his, he had never suffered a loss! He glanced at the armored soldiers and his tone darkened. "This... superior envoy, we both serve the court. But I, Hu, am still the local magistrate here. How dare you insult me like this?" He had already subconsciously assumed Huang Weixing was an official.

Huang Weixing looked at him with a hint of pity. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not an official."

County Magistrate Hu was confused. "Not an official? Then you..." He looked around and suddenly understood. "Bandits? How audacious!" Even as he said this, he shrank further into the crowd. "Fang Zhiyi! You actually collude with bandits! You're finished!"

At that moment, the sound of hoofbeats came from outside as several more riders arrived.

County Magistrate Hu looked up and was overjoyed. "Prefect! Here! Over here!"

The newcomer was indeed County Magistrate Hu's superior. Before his horse even came to a full stop, he dismounted and rushed straight towards the magistrate. County Magistrate Hu's heart settled; with his superior here, reinforcements must be close behind!

But as he was thinking this, the Prefect, without any warning, slapped him hard across the face. County Magistrate Hu spun a full circle on the spot, seeing double.

"I... Your Excellency, why..." County Magistrate Hu was both angry and wronged. The Prefect didn't let him finish. He grabbed him by the collar and dragged him aside, where the two whispered for a while.

Then the Prefect, smiling, invited Huang Weixing over, seemingly introducing him to County Magistrate Hu.

A reversal occurred that left everyone dumbfounded, especially Fang Zhiyi's close associates, who all looked at him with probing expressions. They all knew Huang Weixing had spent some time with Fang Zhiyi, but they didn't know what he had learned. The atmosphere on the scene relaxed.