BANG! BANG! BANG!!!

No one could have imagined that the normally gentle and refined Zheng Heda would suddenly lose control.

By the time the other officials managed to pull him away, Hong Ming’an’s head was already covered in blood—a truly grisly sight.

"Hmph."

"Hong Ming’an, let me tell you something."

"I’m the County Magistrate here, not you. It’s not your place to run your mouth."

After bashing Hong Ming’an a few times, Zheng Heda finally vented the foul anger in his chest and felt utterly refreshed.

Hong Ming’an, beaten into a daze, could only wail incessantly from the side.

Because of the tournament today, the County Yamen had specially summoned a physician to be on hand for any emergencies.

Seeing Hong Ming’an’s wretched state, the officials quickly called the physician over to treat him.

Zheng Heda didn’t stop them. He just stared in the direction Han Yuan had gone, muttering to himself, ’Han Yuan... You absolutely cannot let that old bastard live.’

...

On an official road across the plains, two figures were locked in a frantic chase.

He Rongsheng never expected Han Yuan to be so savage, to actually hunt him down like this!

"Han Yuan, there is no enmity between us."

"Today was merely a contest for the position of Chief Constable."

"You’ve already won. Why are you so determined to kill me?!"

He Rongsheng cried out in terror as he watched the tall, imposing figure bearing down on him from behind.

"Why..."

"You still don’t get it?"

"The position of Chief Constable is not important."

"Killing you, however, is very important to me!"

Han Yuan grinned.

He ran at full speed, the air seeming to offer no resistance as he rapidly closed in on He Rongsheng.

Han Yuan quickly understood that this was his Sky-Breaking Divine Power at work.

This Divine Power could be infused into his blade, but it could clearly empower his body as well.

"Why?!"

He Rongsheng simply couldn’t comprehend why Han Yuan harbored such immense hatred for him.

"Why..."

"You’ll know when you meet someone down below."

Han Yuan roared and accelerated again.

In that instant, he had a flash of inspiration.

The movements and mystical techniques of the Thousand Falcons Blade Technique surged wildly through his mind.

They then coalesced into a single blade form.

"Thousand Falcons Streaming Light Sky Slash!"

Han Yuan shot up from the ground, like a ferocious bird of prey kicking up a hurricane, and brought his blade down on He Rongsheng in a powerful leaping slash.

The light from his blade was terrifyingly vicious, tearing through the air as it descended with savage force.

The speed of this attack was too astonishing; He Rongsheng could only hear the sound of the wind being torn apart by the blade.

The next moment.

His head was brutally split in two by the Cold Blade!

THUD!

He Rongsheng’s corpse collapsed to the ground, his head bleeding profusely.

Han Yuan panted slightly, then looked at He Rongsheng’s body and grinned.

After resting for a moment, he began dragging He Rongsheng’s corpse back toward the tournament grounds.

The crowd of onlookers, naturally, had not dispersed and were still waiting right where they were.

The day’s spectacle was far too exciting; no one wanted to be the first to leave.

Everyone was craning their necks, looking expectantly into the distance.

Soon.

A figure appeared in their line of sight.

"It’s Han Yuan!"

"And he seems to be dragging something..."

"Could it be..."

A single name leaped into everyone’s mind.

Zheng Heda and Zhang Hu could no longer suppress the joy on their faces!

"Steward Zhang!"

"I knew he could do it!"

"I knew it!!!"

Zheng Heda was so excited he was becoming incoherent.

"My Lord, calm yourself!"

"Today’s business isn’t over yet."

Zhang Hu said in a low voice.

Zheng Heda nodded quickly, forcing himself to calm down.

Soon.

Han Yuan returned to the tournament grounds.

And the corpse he was dragging, though its head was split in two, was still recognizable from the remaining half of its face.

It was the old Patriarch of the He Family, He Rongsheng.

"He really killed He Rongsheng."

"He killed Hong Mingchang earlier, too."

"What on earth is this Chief Constable Han planning to do?"

The townspeople murmured amongst themselves.

Even the slowest among them knew that the skies above Qingshui County Yamen were about to change.

"My Lord."

"I have fulfilled my duty. I have slain He Rongsheng!"

Han Yuan said, cupping his fist to Zheng Heda.

"Excellent!"

Zheng Heda shouted.

He and Zhang Hu walked before the assembled crowd.

The other officials’ eyes darted about nervously.

But one look at the murderous Han Yuan, and no one dared to interfere with Zheng Heda’s actions.

Zheng Heda went before the people and took out a list of charges.

"Everyone, these are the crimes of the He Family."

"Here in Qingshui County, the He Family has run rampant, ignoring the laws of the Great Ling."

"Over the past ten years, they have committed a total of thirty-two murders, forcefully seized hundreds of acres of fertile land, their family members have repeatedly abducted local women, and they have constantly inflated prices, causing the people of Qingshui County to live in misery!"

"Today, I will act on behalf of the people and excise this cancerous tumor, the He Family, from Qingshui County!"

Zheng Heda was overcome with emotion, roaring until his voice was hoarse.

And at that moment, the entire crowd was swept up in his fervor.

"Eradicate the He Family!!!"

"Eradicate the He Family!!!"

"Eradicate the He Family!!!"

These common folk had long been filled with resentment toward the powerful families in the city.

Now that they heard Zheng Heda was willing to take the lead, they were naturally eager to support him.

"Men of the Yamen, follow me!"

Zheng Heda shouted over his shoulder.

Han Yuan and Zhang Hu naturally followed behind him.

But the crowd of officials, constables, and government officials showed hesitation.

But seeing He Rongsheng’s corpse, they all knew the He Family’s power was broken.

If they didn’t go now, they feared Zheng Heda would settle the score with them later.

Soon.

Some of the neutral constables and government officials followed.

Seeing some people make their move, the rest quickly convinced themselves to do the same.

「A short while later.」

A massive crowd of several hundred people surged through the streets of Qingshui County, heading for the He Family residence.

No one could have ever imagined that what began as a contest for Chief Constable would end up as a campaign to eradicate the powerful He Family.

As more and more townspeople heard what was happening, they rushed to join the throng of spectators.

Even some of the local gangs mixed into the crowd.

When Zheng Heda led the mob to the He Family’s grand residence, they found numerous guards and household retainers armed with steel blades, defending the main gate to the death.

Seeing the situation, Zheng Heda quickly ducked behind Han Yuan.

’Swords and blades have no eyes.’

He’d be in serious trouble if some reckless hothead decided to take a few swings at him.

"Magistrate Zheng."

"First you indulge your County Yamen constable in murdering my brother."

"And now you lead a mob to besiege my He Family."

"This is utterly lawless!"

A burly man in his forties, holding a large saber, shouted coldly.

He was He Rongsheng’s younger brother, He Baosheng.

Clearly, news of He Rongsheng’s death had already reached them.

"Hmph, your He Family has committed countless evils."

"Look at the people behind me! Is there anyone who doesn’t despise your He Family?"

"If you know what’s good for you, surrender now. We might still spare your lives!"

Zheng Heda said coldly.

"Even if every last one of us dies today, the He Family will never bow to a corrupt official like you!"

He Baosheng sneered.

As they argued, a head quietly emerged from behind the high walls of the He Family residence. A man held a Black Crossbow at the ready, taking silent aim at Han Yuan.

His orders were to assassinate this constable.

Han Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. His gaze swept over, and he saw a cold gleam tear through the air, shooting straight for him.

"You’re courting death!"

Han Yuan roared, drawing his saber in a powerful slash!

PFFT!

The flash of his blade shot out, perfectly shattering the streak of light.

The crossbow bolt, split in two, clattered to the ground.