CHAPTER 85: CHAPTER 60 EXTERMINATION OF FAMILY_1

Ding Hao stepped forward. Reassured by Zheng Fan’s guarantee, he completely let himself go.

In his mind, the image of Wang Li dying before his eyes to protect him constantly resurfaced. This image was now inextricably linked with the woman in plain clothes huddled in the corner.

"What are you doing? Don’t come over! Don’t come over!" Registrar Chen pointed at Ding Hao and berated him, though he was clearly blustering but inwardly terrified.

Ding Hao reached out and directly seized the finger Registrar Chen was pointing at him. Then...

CRACK!

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!"

Registrar Chen’s finger was snapped.

Immediately, Ding Hao kicked Registrar Chen’s knee and then slammed a fist into his back!

BANG!

Registrar Chen was knocked to his knees, his face contorted in agony.

Zheng Fan, standing to the side, felt nothing. Perhaps his aesthetic standards had been elevated by the torturous methods of the demons under his command. He merely thought Ding Hao’s current actions lacked a certain artistic flair.

Fanli’s ’human stump,’ Xue Three’s ’stretching torture,’ A Ming’s ’fresh blood appreciation,’ Siniang’s ’two brains’...

When these demons tortured people, each had their own unique flourish, never resorting to clichés.

Alas, it seems there’s still much room for Student Ding Hao to learn and progress, Zheng Fan mused.

Apparently drawn by Registrar Chen’s screams, three servant-like men rushed up the stairs.

Zheng Fan gestured to his side with his index finger. The meaning was clear.

Behind him, five Centurions exchanged glances, then cupped their fists in salute and acknowledged the unspoken order.

They knew Registrar Chen. The Chen Family was a prominent clan in Hutou City, with several generations having held positions as lower officials.

But now, they had to make a choice. Obviously, compared to the great wealth and power of the Earl of North Border’s household, the Chen Family was nothing more than a tiny toothpick.

The five armored Centurions took their positions at the head of the stairs, and Registrar Chen’s servants dared not rush forward. However, one of them immediately turned and ran back to report the incident.

"How dare you! Do you know who I am? Do you know who I am?!"

Registrar Chen wailed, yet he still had some fight left in him, managing to threaten them. It seemed he had never suffered such treatment in Hutou City his entire life.

Zheng Fan ignored Registrar Chen. Instead, he walked over to the woman, bent down, and asked, "What happened?"

"He... he said the higher-ups want to charge my deceased husband with a crime," the woman stammered, "and told me... told me to meet him here, or my whole family would be implicated..."

Hearing this, Ding Hao, who was still restraining Registrar Chen, immediately punched him in the back again.

BANG!

"Wang Li failed to escort the prisoner and died in battle! What crime could there possibly be?"

Ding Hao was clearly familiar with the intricacies of Yan State’s bureaucracy. After hearing Xiao Cui’s explanation, he understood: Registrar Chen was trying to coerce a widow.

And most importantly, I was the true cause of this whole affair, Ding Hao thought bitterly.

’Beauty in mourning attire,’ the old saying goes... Zheng Fan thought, feeling a pang of inappropriateness. Such a thought now is a significant moral lapse.

The blind man’s wife was nearly violated by this bag of bones, Chen.

Given the temperaments and methods of those demons, I truly have no other choice right now, Zheng Fan considered. If I don’t handle this aggressively, if I react indecisively, if I don’t make this bloody enough, those demons will definitely be disappointed and hold it against me. Others might be forgivable, but if that blind man develops a grievance... the feeling of being targeted by that sly old fox would be too dreadful.

Therefore, Registrar Chen must die!

The five Centurions standing by the door also heard Xiao Cui’s account, and their expressions turned grim.

Wang Li had been the former patrol captain of Hutou City. Being of common birth, he hadn’t been part of their circle.

However, they all wore armor and belonged to the military ranks of Hutou City. Despite their different origins, they shared the bonds of fellow soldiers.

As soldiers, how could they not feel a pang of shared sorrow—like a fox grieving for a dead rabbit—seeing a comrade’s widow and orphan bullied so soon after his death in battle?

In the past, faced with such a situation, they might have only felt anger, especially since the other party was not to be trifled with. The Chen Family was no small clan in Hutou City and had always considered themselves retainers of Lady Liu. It was rumored that this Registrar Chen was highly trusted by the official Registrar Liu.

But this time, with Zheng Fan taking the lead, they undoubtedly had a pillar of support.

Isn’t the greatest fear of a toady not knowing where to begin licking the boot?

"Master?" Ding Hao asked Zheng Fan, seeking his decision.

Zheng Fan’s lips twitched. "Don’t give him a quick death," he said curtly. "That would be letting him off too easily."

However, before Ding Hao could act, a group of men brandishing blades suddenly stormed into the tavern.

The Chen Family’s shops and residence were, in fact, in the alley just across from this tavern. That was why Registrar Chen had arranged the meeting here—it was close to his home.

Consequently, as soon as trouble erupted, the Chen Family’s men arrived swiftly.

Dozens of men, all armed—these were the Chen Family’s private soldiers in Hutou City. Ordinarily, they were responsible for looking after the family’s businesses, but when a serious fight was needed, they could be armed and mobilized instantly.

This was the custom in Yan State: prominent clans, large and small, possessed not only political and cultural influence but also land, private households, and their own private soldiers.

In the wartime years of the past, this was an advantage for Yan State.

Firstly, to the north lay the barbarian territories; the Yan State clans certainly didn’t want to let the barbarians in, lest everyone end up herding sheep. Secondly, to the south were the Qian State and Jin State, both governed by scholar-bureaucrats who wouldn’t align with them, and the Chu State, with its aristocratic system, also kept them at arm’s length.

Therefore, in the early years, to resist foreign enemies and protect their own lands and way of life, the great clans of Yan State contributed their private soldiers. These forces were like elite reserve units, readily summoned and capable in battle, and the imperial court didn’t even have to bear the expense of maintaining them.

But when the Barbarian Royal Court overextended itself with its western campaign and collapsed, and when Qian State became vulnerable and Jin State was wracked by internal conflict, the Yan monarch intended to expand outward. However, the great clans were unwilling to assist. Newly conquered territories would be like distant exclaves to them, with the lion’s share of the benefits going into the imperial coffers. What if the Yan monarch grew too powerful from these conquests and then decided to centralize power, discarding them once they’d outlived their usefulness?

This was the crucial reason why Yan State, despite holding the strategic initiative, had been unable to launch a war of unification in recent decades.

Zheng Fan stepped out to observe the situation. Below, the Chen Family’s private soldiers were creating a furious uproar. The other patrons in the tavern had already fled to avoid trouble; even the tavern owner and staff dared not approach to mediate.

Let the bottles and cans be smashed, the owner likely thought. If a person gets cut down, then everything is truly lost.

Ding Hao, meanwhile, dragged Registrar Chen out like a sack of dead meat, following Zheng Fan.

"Save me! Save me! Save me!!!"

The Chen Family’s private soldiers began to charge up the stairs.

The five Centurions immediately drew their sabers to protect Zheng Fan. Ding Hao, meanwhile, threw Registrar Chen to the ground and stomped on his left shin.

CRACK!

"AAAAAHHH!!!"

Registrar Chen let out another bloodcurdling scream.

This scream further enraged the Chen Family’s private soldiers below, and they surged upward with even greater ferocity.

"In broad daylight, you dare to plot the murder of a court-appointed official! This is a group of... rebels! Slay them without mercy!"

Zheng Fan finished speaking and, with a wave of his hand, commanded, "Bar the doors and release ’Lin Chong’!"

Ding Hao gripped his long spear and charged down the stairs.

HUM!

A dark aura pulsed from Ding Hao’s body. The foremost private soldiers instinctively slowed, their faces contorting in terror. A Ninth Rank Martial Cultivator!

But Ding Hao paid them no mind. Ever since he was captured by the Earl of North Border’s army and became a prisoner, a bellyful of simmering rage had been building within him, and he was desperate for an outlet!

SWISH! SWISH!

His spear lashed out twice, punching through the chests of two private soldiers.

Then, with a sweep of his spear shaft, he sent several more Chen Family soldiers tumbling back down the stairs.

The principle of ’an inch longer, an inch stronger,’ combined with the power and speed of a Ninth Rank Martial Cultivator, made him like a heavy tank charging into a flock of sheep in the narrow stairwell!

Witnessing that the servant standing beside Zheng Fan was actually a Ninth Rank Martial Cultivator, the five Centurions felt an even deeper sense of awe towards Zheng Fan.

They had all seen how deferential this Ninth Rank Martial Cultivator was to Zheng Fan, to whom Zheng Fan had casually declared, "You are my dog."

Only a person of immense importance and favor within the Earl of North Border’s household would dare to possess such confidence and make such a display!

Ding Hao fought his way from the top of the stairs to the bottom. When he reached the ground floor, he slammed the butt of his spear onto the ground with a THUD. Blood dripped continuously from its tip. Behind and around him lay numerous corpses, with some wounded still moaning in pools of blood.

Zheng Fan glanced down at Registrar Chen, who had fallen silent, his screams forgotten. A flicker of irritation stirred within him.

Then, he lifted his foot and kicked Registrar Chen squarely in the face.

BANG!

Registrar Chen’s head snapped to the side, a mixture of snot, tears, and blood streaming from his face.

Initially, I just wanted to teach a lesson to some local bully who was preying on the weak, maybe show off a little. But then I ran into this piece of work, and this idiot just had to make a move on the blind man’s widow. Fine. Now I’m backed into a corner, forced to respond in the most extreme way. And now, dozens more people have charged in, and so many have died. If this blows up, I’ll have to go home and start packing with Siniang to flee. My mansion, the hot spring pool, the service of the young ladies... it all feels like it’s about to sprout wings and fly away. How could I not be furious?

TAP. TAP. TAP...

Zheng Fan started down the stairs, his boots treading on the blood-slicked steps, making squelching sounds with each footfall.

As he calmly descended, he rapidly analyzed the situation. By the time he reached the foot of the stairs, Zheng Fan had made his decision.

The remaining Chen Family private soldiers only dared to watch warily from the doorway, their courage utterly shattered by Ding Hao’s earlier rampage.

The five Centurions followed behind Zheng Fan. The most astute among them, Wang Duan, even carried the half-dead Registrar Chen down with them.

Just then, the clatter of armor and the thud of marching feet echoed from the street outside. Groups of soldiers in leather armor were surrounding the tavern entrance.

Zheng Fan glanced back in surprise at Wang Duan, who was still carrying Registrar Chen, and asked, "Your men?"

Wang Duan replied humbly, "Colonel Zheng, this cur was bullying the widow of one of our own fellow soldiers. How could we, as soldiers, tolerate such an outrage? If word got out, people would think all the soldiers in Hutou City are cowards! Besides, Colonel, you were stepping up for us; we couldn’t just stand by and let you face danger alone. We just didn’t expect you to have such a formidable expert by your side, Colonel. Our actions were rather superfluous, it seems."

Wang Duan finished with a sheepish smile.

The four Centurions behind him also wore embarrassed expressions.

They had offered their flattery, summoned their men, and put on a show of support. As for the dead Chen Family members, they hadn’t laid a hand on them. If the Chen Family wanted to settle scores later, they would target Zheng Fan. This affair wouldn’t implicate them at all. This was indeed a profitable venture for them. Bringing in the troops was to support Zheng Fan and stabilize the situation. From here on, it would be up to the higher-ups to handle the cleanup and negotiations. People like them, from minor families, wouldn’t get involved further.

However, Zheng Fan’s next words left the five Centurions utterly stunned.

"Good. It’s good you mobilized the troops. They’ll come in handy."

"Huh?"

Wang Duan asked, perplexed, "Colonel Zheng, what do you intend to do with the troops?"

Zheng Fan smiled. He reached out and gently patted Registrar Chen’s bloodied face, then said slowly, "Annihilate his clan."