Chapter 50: What Do You Mean, “Seems”?

Half an incense stick of time later.

The two fellows outside had finally grown tired of fighting.

Unfortunately...

Despite Wu Ji exhausting all his skills and even resorting to the long-lost "Burning Finger" technique, he still failed to crack Guo Jing's "defense."

"Awooh!"

"I was wrong! I was wrong, Big Brother..."

Guo Jing clutched his rear while spinning wildly on the spot, his wails echoing loudly down the main street.

Yet Wu Ji remained utterly stubborn.

Determined to make good on the bold boast he had previously uttered!

"Hey!"

Cheng An had grown tired of watching.

Resting his chin on his hands by the windowsill with a teacup in hand, he shouted, "Aren't you two tired yet? If you really can't decide the winner, why not grab a meal first? My treat!"

Huh?

The two of them froze on the spot.

Knowing full well that his tall tale was hard to back up, Wu Ji feigned a serious nod.

"I am a little hungry, actually."

"Me too!"

Guo Jing hastily chimed in, "Big Brother, let's stop fighting, shall we? Didn't that kid say he's treating us to dinner? Perfect timing to regain your stamina, right?"

The pair patched things up as quickly as they had fallen out.

Only as they walked into the shop did the diners consciously step aside to clear a path for them.

Cheng An bounded forward in a single stride.

He blocked their path and said, "Wash your hands first. Especially you... Guo Jing, was it? Go outside and wash yourself clean before stepping inside, or I'll beat you to death!"

"Hah, you and what army?"

Guo Jing rolled his eyes in disdain.

Yet upon catching sight of the murderous glares shooting from the surrounding patrons, he sheepishly rubbed his nose.

*Blech!*

For a moment.

The tavern practically turned into a bucket of slops!

...

After much ado.

The tavern quickly grew quiet once more.

Cheng An looked at the two of them speechlessly and remarked, "Fine, the fact that you two actually managed to pull this off makes you two bastards genuine lucky stars!"

"What did the two of us pull off?"

"Cut the crap!"

Cheng An waved his hand to signal the server to bring out the dishes.

Several fragrant small dishes were served, and the two immediately transformed into voracious beasts.

Sitting off to the side, Cheng An said calmly, "You two, I suppose we can consider ourselves friends after a good fight today, and I can tell that neither of you... is truly a bad person."

Mm-hm?

The two turned to look at him, their mouths still stuffed with food.

"Then let's speak plainly!"

Suppressing a smile, Cheng An said solemnly, "Dong Dakang is so insidious and despicable, and he almost tricked the two of you as well. Are we really just going to let him off like this?"

Wu Ji opened his mouth to speak, but was yanked back by Guo Jing.

The pair simply lowered their heads and resumed devouring their meal...

Cheng An shook his head with a chuckle. "Denying it is useless; everyone heard what you said just now! Do you really think Dong Dakang will still pay you?"

Clack.

Wu Ji's chopsticks slipped from his hand onto the table, and he fumed, "He wouldn't dare!"

"Why wouldn't he dare?"

"When all is said and done, you two are just hired muscle. Not only did you fail to get the job done, but you've also let everyone know who the mastermind is! If you were in his shoes..."

Cheng An looked at the two of them and shook his head helplessly.

"Would you pay yourselves?"

"Of course not!"

Guo Jing glared furiously at Wu Ji, gnashing his teeth in lingering resentment.

"If there's no money, didn't the two of you do all that work for nothing?"

"That's right!"

The pair found themselves tangled in dilemma once again.

"Then how about this!"

Cheng An fished a small string of cash from his robes and said, "You two bear witness for me, report Dong Dakang for hiring thugs to commit assault, and whatever amount he shortchanged you, I'll pay!"

"You?"

"No way!"

Guo Jing hesitated for a fraction of a second before Wu Ji cut him off.

Glancing sideways at Cheng An, Wu Ji declared, "A promise made to someone must be fulfilled! Even if we want our money, it has to come from the person who's supposed to pay it!"

"And what if he refuses to pay?"

"If he doesn't pay, we'll beat him up!"

Wu Ji raised his fists, their knuckles still faintly tinged with a yellowish hue.

Cheng An couldn't help but dry-retch slightly as he said, "Wouldn't it be better if I gave it to you? You won't have to go around beating people up, and you might even earn a little extra!"

"That won't do!"

"Business is business..."

Wu Ji was about to say more.

Cheng An suddenly stood up, sighed, and said, "Fine then, I suppose it's the magistrate's court for us! Let's just hope your posteriors can withstand the yamen runners' paddles!"

"What do you mean?"

Guo Jing sprang to his feet.

Only to hiss in pain and awkwardly twist his backside.

Cheng An flashed an innocent smile and said, "Reporting to the authorities, of course! The two of you gathered a mob to cause a disturbance and attempted to assault a scholar. According to the Great Zhou code, that calls for fifteen strokes of the heavy staff and a fine of two hundred cash!"

*Pfft~~~*

Guo Jing's legs turned to jelly and he collapsed back into his seat.

Then he leaped straight back up. "No, spare my life, Young Master Cheng! A beating from the yamen's staff is no different from murder! Show mercy and let us off this once!"

Wu Ji wore an expression of sheer astonishment as well.

Putting aside whether they could endure those fifteen heavy blows, neither of them even possessed two hundred cash for the fine, which would likely end with them being pressed into corvée labor!

"Those are the terms..."

Cheng An stopped as he reached the doorway and said calmly, "What you choose to do is up to you."

...

There was no yamen in Clear Water Town.

Just a dilapidated courtyard containing two large rooms.

Liu Qi sat right in the center.

Flanked by two yamen runners.

This constituted the entire official law enforcement establishment of Clear Water Town.

"You've come to file a lawsuit?"

Liu Qi was quite warm and welcoming upon Cheng An's arrival.

Cheng An bowed respectfully and said, "Reporting to Magistrate Liu, Dong Dakang hired thugs to commit assault and attempted to beat a scholar. Fortunately, these two brave fellows possess a strong sense of righteousness..."

"Eh?"

He glanced back.

Only to find Wu Ji and Guo Jing standing far in the back, heads lowered and shivering visibly.

Cheng An offered a wry, exasperated smile.

With that kind of cowardice, they actually dared to be thugs?

"You two, come here!"

"Ah, oh, right..."

After roughly recounting the details of the case.

Liu Qi furrowed his brow slightly and asked a seemingly disconnected question.

"Is there deep-seated animosity between you?"

"Yes!"

Cheng An did not hesitate at all!

He knew Liu Qi was merely trying to smooth things over and glosses things out. After all, both the Gu and Dong families were prominent households who undoubtedly showered the "official lord" with plenty of tributes on ordinary days.

If it were merely minor friction between the two sides.

The magistrate naturally wouldn't pursue the matter deeply, choosing instead to minimize it into nothing.

"Why?"

Liu Qi grew gradually displeased. "This is the Gu family's business; what does it have to do with you? Besides, even if a few harsh words were exchanged, everyone could just talk it out and let it go. Why make such a fuss?"

"I cannot."

Cheng An shook his head with unyielding firmness.

Before Liu Qi could fly into a rage, he continued, "In the past, this student was ambushed and nearly assassinated on the way to the academy examinations. According to the confessions of the scoundrels, the Dong family 'appeared' to be involved!"

What was that supposed to mean—"appeared"?

Liu Qi subconsciously turned solemn.

When he looked at Cheng An again, his expression carried much more seriousness.

This little brat was not to be underestimated!

A single word like "appeared" had managed to drag Dong Dakang into a murder case, especially since the previous ruffian had already been sentenced to exile in Lingnan!

The witness was literally gone.

So wouldn't it be whatever Cheng An claimed it to be?

Liu Qi took a deep breath, his tone turning cold and stern. "Do you know the consequences of false accusations? Once it is proven, even your scholarly status will be stripped away!"

"This student is aware."

Cheng An nodded without a moment's hesitation.

Yet who would go through the trouble of traveling a thousand miles to fetch a witness just over a false accusation?

Perhaps somewhere else...

But he could guarantee that Liu Qi was far too lazy to uphold such rigorous justice!

"You..."

Liu Qi felt entirely helpless.

He waved the guards out of the room and motioned for Cheng An to step into the inner parlor.

Then he went straight to the point: "Although this official does not know what deep grievances lie between you, you must also understand that the Dong family is not so easily trifled with!"

Being able to utter those words.

Liu Qi was already extending a generous amount of face.

He was doing this largely because Cheng An had successfully passed the preliminary examinations, adding luster to the reputation of a humble town registrar like himself; otherwise, he would have torn away all pretense long ago.

Just then.

Someone in the tavern bellowed, "What kind of damn shredded pork dish is this?!"