Gu Yong studied the man for a moment, then nodded.
"Lead the way."
The county official trembled slightly but did not dare refuse. He quickly rose, bowed again, and hurried ahead, guiding Gu Yong and the group out of the county office.
Dian Wei strode beside Gu Yong, his iron halberds resting on his shoulders, the mere sound of his footsteps enough to make passersby shrink aside. The fifty armored soldiers followed closely, their formation tight and disciplined, exuding a quiet but unmistakable pressure.
The group moved swiftly toward Nanxiang.
Along the way, Gu Yong's gaze swept across the surroundings.
The closer they got to Nanxiang, the more unusual things became.
Fields lay half-plowed.
Farm tools were abandoned by the ridges.
Not a single farmer was in sight.
During spring planting season, this was practically unthinkable.
Gu Yong's expression gradually darkened.
"This is no small matter…" he murmured.
Dian Wei grunted. "Looks like something big happened."
After traveling for a while, they finally approached Nanxiang.
Before they even entered the village, they heard faint cries.
Not the noisy clamor from before—but low, suppressed sobbing.
Gu Yong raised a hand.
"Slow down."
The group reduced their pace and entered cautiously.
What they saw made even Dian Wei frown.
In the open space of the village, dozens of villagers were kneeling on the ground.
Men, women, the elderly, even children—this time, all were present.
In front of them stood a group of armed yamen runners, holding wooden staves.
At the center—
A man in official robes sat upright on a chair, face cold and stern.
Beside him stood another official, occasionally whispering something into his ear.
On the ground before them lay a bloodied man, barely conscious.
"Confess!"
One of the yamen runners shouted, raising his staff.
The blow came down hard.
The man on the ground let out a weak groan.
"We… we didn't steal…"
"Still denying it?!" the official on the chair slammed the armrest. "The evidence is conclusive, yet you dare quibble! Beat him!"
Another strike fell.
The kneeling villagers trembled, but none dared speak.
Gu Yong's eyes turned icy.
So this is what they were hiding.
Fabricated charges.
Forced confessions.
And judging by the scale—
This wasn't an isolated case.
At that moment, the leading county official who had guided them forward suddenly froze.
His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees.
"Magistrate… Magistrate…"
The commotion drew attention.
The magistrate looked up impatiently—
And his expression instantly changed.
His gaze landed on the dragon-headed staff in Gu Yong's hand.
For a split second, his face went pale.
Gu Yong stepped forward slowly, holding the imperial staff upright.
His voice was calm—but carried a chilling weight.
"The Emperor's staff is here."
A pause.
Then, word by word:
"Why does the Magistrate of Quanzhou not kneel?"
The entire scene fell into dead silence.
Even the wind seemed to stop.