"Another poor soul who lost his life because he had no choice." Pei Shaoqing, who had just been laughing heartily moments before, suddenly adopted a compassionate air. He bent down to close Xu Zhiyong's eyes, then turned and walked toward Ye Hanshuang.
He had always been one to hunt down and exterminate the living who offended him, and be endlessly tolerant of the dead who offended him.
"Big Brother, I'll be right back." Seeing him approach, Ye Hanshuang didn't go to meet him. Instead, after a quick word, she hurried into the nearby woods.
Pei Shaoqing didn't pay it any mind, just assuming she was going to relieve herself.
A moment later, Ye Hanshuang returned. But unlike her previously unremarkable appearance, her chest had resumed its former prominence, stretching the loose men's clothes taut. It seemed she wasn't wearing a chest wrap or any other undergarment, as her breasts swayed slightly with every movement.
"I was about to suffocate just now." She let out a long breath, her cheeks slightly red with embarrassment.
Pei Shaoqing could understand. After all, his second sister was tall and statuesque, with a generous bosom. To pass as a man, she had to bind her chest with white cloth. 'How uncomfortable that must have been!'
'I daren't imagine how amazing it would be to bury my face in them.'
'Even in this ancient era, I want to use a facial cleanser—the pure, all-natural, additive-free, traditional brand.'
Ye Hanshuang glanced at Xu Zhiyong's body and said to Pei Shaoqing, "Big Brother, Xu Zhiyong was just a small pawn. Behind him are Zheng Xuancheng and Noble Consort Wan. What should we do next?"
"Let's take it one step at a time," Pei Shaoqing sighed in response. But even as he said it, he was the type who preferred to take the initiative and strike first.
Noble Consort Wan was powerful and of high status, far away in the Capital City, and deeply favored by the Emperor. For now, she was beyond his reach.
'As for Zheng Xuancheng, though... I have to find a way to kill him first.'
"HYAH!"
"Sir! Sir, are you all right!?"
To the sound of urgent hoofbeats, a group of blood-stained Jing'an Guards galloped toward them. Still some distance away, they yanked their reins, leaped from their horses, and ran to stand before Pei Shaoqing.
"I'm fine." Pei Shaoqing shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the men. "Good! Excellent! Not a single one of you is missing. Truly worthy of the Jing'an Guard, worthy of the Emperor's Personal Guard! You haven't disgraced His Majesty's name. I'm relieved to see you're all safe. What's the status of the bandits?"
"Reporting, sir! They were just a bunch of third-rate rabble. As you ordered, we've killed them all, leaving no survivors! We just didn't find the bandit leader, Xu Yuanqing."
"Everyone, Xu Yuanqing is already dead," Pei Shaoqing said, pointing to Xu Zhiyong's body not far away.
Hearing this, everyone instinctively looked over.
"Ah! This... Isn't this Standard-Bearer Xu?"
"It really is Standard-Bearer Xu! How could this be?"
Everyone was aghast, and they all turned to look at Pei Shaoqing in unison, hoping he could provide an explanation.
"That's right. He is Standard-Bearer Xu, but he is also the bandit leader, Xu Yuanqing!" Pei Shaoqing's expression was grim as he spoke in a low voice. "While you were all tied up, this man blocked my path to kill me. Perhaps he was overconfident, sure his identity was perfectly hidden, and assumed I would be just another helpless victim of his blade. So he removed his mask and revealed his true face. At that moment, just like all of you, I was shocked, furious, and in disbelief. I was sure my death was inescapable."
"Fortunately, this heroic martial artist, Miss Ye Hanshuang, happened to pass by and intervened, killing him. Otherwise, I would have lost my life here today, and his true identity would have remained hidden forever, allowing him to continue his rampage of evil, murder, and arson!"
The men finally understood, and the truth of it left them deeply shaken.
"So that's how it is! No wonder that Xu Yuanqing, despite being a bandit for years, never dared to show his face. It turns out his real face couldn't see the light of day because he had another identity!"
"I never would have thought... Standard-Bearer Xu was actually Xu Yuanqing. No wonder he could always escape the Government Office's repeated encirclements. He was hidden far too deep!"
"Thankfully, Lord Pei is favored by the heavens! To meet the heroic Miss Ye at the moment of life and death... If anything had happened to you, sir, the sky would have fallen!"
"Everyone!" Pei Shaoqing raised his voice, drawing all eyes to him. Once the murmurs died down, he announced loudly, "Regardless of the twists and turns, we have achieved our objective. The Phoenix Mountain bandits who have plagued this region for years, including their leader Xu Yuanqing, have all been eliminated. Every one of you is a man of merit."
"We wouldn't dare take the credit! It was all thanks to Lord Pei's well-laid plans and excellent command on the battlefield," a slightly plump, fair-skinned young man immediately said, fawning.
The others, though a step behind, quickly chimed in, "That's right! It was all due to our lord's capable leadership!"
A refined-looking, slender Jing'an Guard shouted, "Without our lord's leadership, we never would have succeeded in wiping out the bandits! I clearly saw it with my own eyes—our lord, with peerless valor, killed Xu Yuanqing with his own sword!"
In an instant, the area fell deathly silent as everyone stared at him, wide-eyed. There was a limit to flattery, after all! 'With our lord's meager skills, could he really have killed Xu Yuanqing?' they all thought. 'Besides, the martial artist who actually did the deed is standing right there. Isn't this just a blatant lie?'
Stared at by so many of his comrades, the slender, refined Jing'an Guard remained completely unfazed. He declared with conviction, "I saw it with my own eyes. Our lord is the one who killed the bandit leader!"
"That's right. I only wounded him. It was Lord Pei who took his life," Ye Hanshuang said nonchalantly.
Pei Shaoqing said casually, "I have hired the heroic Miss Ye at great expense to be my personal guard."
It all clicked into place for the men, and they relaxed.
"That's right! Our lord's might is world-shaking! He took that dog Xu's life with a single sword strike! I saw it with my own eyes just now, too."
"We all saw it! Our lord is invincible!"
"Hahahaha! HAHAHAHA! It was just a lucky strike, that's all." Pei Shaoqing laughed, pleased and proud. His gaze flickered between the plump young man and the refined one before he pointed at the refined man and said, "You. Return to the city at once and report the good news to the Hundred Households Commander."
"As you command!" The refined young man mounted his horse and departed.
The plump young man watched this scene, a little envious and indignant. 'Damn it! I was first!'
"You there, what's your name?"
The plump young man looked left and right, then realized Pei Shaoqing was talking to him. He forced a dry smile and said, "Sir, I... I didn't say anything?"
"I'm asking what your name is!"
"Answering you, sir, this humble one is Song Youcai." The plump young man was overjoyed, a smile instantly spreading across his entire face as he scurried forward, bowing, to answer.
Pei Shaoqing said, "Go find a few carts. Lead the men in collecting all the bandits' bodies and return to the city."
"Yes, Sir!" Song Youcai responded loudly.
***
"HYAH! Clear the way! Clear the way!"
The refined young man galloped into the city. Seeing the panicking crowd scattering in all directions, he had a flash of inspiration. As he sped toward the Hundred Households, he began to shout, "The newly appointed Banner Commander of the Jing'an Guard, Lord Pei Shaoqing, has annihilated the Phoenix Mountain bandits and personally slain their leader, Xu Yuanqing!"
He repeated this shout all along the way.
"The bandits on Phoenix Mountain have been wiped out?"
"The butcher Xu Yuanqing has been killed, too?"
"This is wonderful! From now on, we won't have to be scared out of our wits when we go to get goods! These past few years have been a living hell for merchants!"
"It had to be the Jing'an Guard. They may be arrogant, domineering, and look down on everyone, but their strength is the real deal. The great bandit that the County Government Office couldn't defeat after so many attempts... the new Banner Commander Pei took care of him as soon as he made his move."
The people of the city were overjoyed. The merchants, in particular, couldn't stop laughing, constantly muttering praises for the Jing'an Guard and Pei Shaoqing.
From that day on, everyone in Tongzhou City knew that a highly capable new Banner Commander Pei had arrived at the Hundred Households. He had annihilated the Phoenix Mountain bandits as soon as he took office and was praised by all.
At the same time, Zheng Xuancheng and County Magistrate Wang were in the rear courtyard of the Hundred Households, playing chess and chatting idly.
"It should be about time, right? Why is there no news yet?" County Magistrate Wang was distracted, constantly looking up at the sun. "Hundred Households Commander, are your arrangements secure?"
Zheng Xuancheng looked completely at ease, placing a piece on the board without any hurry. "Lord Wang, you can set your mind at ease. With both Standard-Bearer Xu and Xu Yuanqing making a move at the same time, that Pei Shaoqing definitely won't be able to escape, even if he grew wings."
"My Lord! This is bad, my lord!" Just then, Chen Zhongyi rushed in.
Zheng Xuancheng frowned and snapped irritably, "What is it? Has the sky fallen?"
"My Lord!" Chen Zhongyi stopped, breathing heavily as he said, "Pei Shaoqing sent a messenger to report that he has annihilated the bandits and killed their leader, Xu Yuanqing!"
"What?" Zheng Xuancheng shot to his feet, knocking over the chessboard in front of him. The black and white pieces clattered and scattered across the ground. He spoke with shock and utter certainty, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
"Where is the messenger? Bring him here at once!" County Magistrate Wang had also risen to his feet, his face grim.