Chapter 43: If Qingcheng Mountain Can Kill, So Can the Canal Guild

A group of people were galloping on horseback through the city, creating total chaos. Many pedestrians were shoved aside or trampled in the scramble to escape, nearly losing their lives.

"Order in Hangzhou City is truly a mess."

"Another one of these pampered young scions. Isn't there anyone with the authority to keep them in line?"

"If someone like that pulled this stunt in Wuyou County, I'd have his legs broken into a pulp."

A constable in the entourage pointed at the recklessly riding young aristocrat, his face twisted with disgust.

As constables, the thing they despised most was anyone disrupting the peace of the city. Had ordinary constables possessed cross-jurisdictional enforcement powers, he would have already rushed forward with his baton.

"Stop spouting nonsense."

"That fellow has powerful backing. He is the young master of the Water Transport Gang, the only son of its leader, Lu Tianxing. Touch him, and you won't survive the night."

Old Sun explained.

"No wonder he's so arrogant."

"Turns out he's got a good daddy."

"Hmph, even with a good daddy, he'd have to crawl if he were in Wuyou County."

"Yes, yes, yes, but this is Hangzhou City. Keep your mouth shut."

"Speak less, do nothing."

"Fewer words mean fewer troubles."

"Understands?"

Old Sun's tone grew somewhat stern.

These constables had spent too long following Lu Yuan, and their understanding of the world had grown increasingly naive. Their egos had ballooned, making them oblivious to the dangers of courting death. Did they fail to realize what they were without Lu Yuan? A mere ninth-grade rogue cultivator—insignificant pawns in the pugilistic world.

Wretches of their caliber would drop dead not just for openly insulting the Water Transport Gang to their faces, but even for whispering slanders behind their backs. Lacking strength and backing, no one would spare them a glance if they died.

"Understood. Old Sun, you're being a bit too sensitive."

"We are constables, officials of the government. Even with all their influence, the Water Transport Gang wouldn't dare lay a hand on us."

The junior constable remained unconvinced.

"Officials of the government? And what of it? The official uniforms on our backs are only good for frightening ordinary folks. People with real backing care nothing for these garments."

"Do you remember Head Constable Muma?"

"Do you remember how those dozens of brothers died?"

"Before our current Head Constable arrived, how many of our brothers in Wuyou County perished at the hands of martial artists?"

"Without absolute strength, you'd better keep your tail tucked and behave yourself. Don't be so eager to leap into the fire."

"Otherwise, you might find yourself inexplicably committing suicide at any moment."

"Understand?"

"Understood."

Constable Sun was dishing out a lesson.

Lu Yuan had no interest in such matters. He sat inside the prison cart, staring blankly ahead. The tumult of the outside world had nothing to do with him. It was as the old man always said:

Do not court trouble, but fear none.

Keep aloof from affairs that do not concern you.

Whatever happened outside Wuyou County was none of his business.

...

Lu Yuan believed that as long as he did not court trouble, trouble would not come knocking.

However, things often went contrary to expectations.

Trouble was not something one could avoid simply by stepping out of its way.

Especially not for Lu Yuan, whose towering physique made him exceptionally conspicuous. Even while seated, he stood taller than most men standing up.

Very soon, he caught the attention of the young master of the Water Transport Gang.

"Well, look at that."

"Lads, take a look over there."

"That dog-hide of a constable is built like an ox."

"He looks just like a freak."

"Let's capture him later and send him to the beast arena; we might even turn a tidy profit."

"Hhahahaha."

Upon seeing Lu Yuan, the young master of the Water Transport Gang was astounded by his sheer size. Spurring his horse, he rode straight toward Lu Yuan, his words dripping with utter disdain.

"Damn it, what kind of piece of trash is that, daring to insult our Head Constable?"

"Does this retarded rich brat have a death wish?"

Before Lu Yuan could react, his subordinate constables lost their temper. They would never tolerate anyone disparaging their Head Constable—not even someone with such a formidable background. Loyalty demanded it.

...

"Audacious! Do you even know who our young master is?"

"Just a lowly dog-hide constable, yet you dare to resist?"

"Our young master gracing you with a glance is an honor for the likes of you."

"That's right."

"Hahaha, well said. Reward each of them with two taels of silver."

The young master tilted his head back, immensely pleased with himself. Though his lackeys possessed mediocre martial arts, they certainly knew how to talk. Their flattery felt exceptionally gratifying.

"Thank you, Young Master!"

"May the Young Master's blessings be as boundless as the heavens!"

The sycophants were ecstatic.

This enraged Lu Yuan's constables even further.

"What the hell is wrong with you bastards?"

"What kind of dogs do you think you are?"

"An honor? An honor to your great-grandfather!"

"A pampered young scion really thinks he's something special, doesn't he?"

"Send our Head Constable to the beast arena? I'll send your mother to a brothel to sell her flesh."

"You bunch of brainless idiots."

When it came to hurling insults, no one surpassed them. For a very long time, scolding people had constituted a major part of their daily routine.

"Scoundrels!"

"Beat them to death!"

"Hold nothing back. Beat them to whatever end, and this young master will handle the fallout."

With his face flushed crimson with fury, the young master ordered his lackeys to beat Lu Yuan and his men to death. As for the fact that they were government officials, the young master no longer cared. His father was Lu Tianxing, a peak second-grade martial artist. Killing a few minor constables was of no consequence. Would the imperial court really hold the Water Transport Gang accountable over a few low-level constables?

"Beat them to death!"

"Charge!"

"Follow the Young Master's orders and kill them all!"

A dozen lackeys brandished their broadswords and rushed toward Lu Yuan's group.

Lu Yuan's subordinates were no cowards. Since the enemy had made the first move, they had no intention of holding back either. Drawing their own sabers, they charged forward to meet the attack.

Even though they were heavily outnumbered, they refused to cower. Their Head Constable was watching from behind; they could not afford to lose face before him.

"Charge!"

"Beat these turtle-spawn to death!"

"Punk, you're dead!"

"Watch my white blade go in and red blade come out!"

"Witness the might of my eunuch-making saber technique!"

The constables and the gang members immediately clashed into a chaotic brawl.

However, due to the enemy's numerical superiority, the Wuyou County constables soon found themselves overwhelmed, crying out as they took blows.

Seeing this, Lu Yuan finally stood up.

Just as the old man had taught him:

If others do not offend me, I shall not offend them.

If others offend me, I shall surely kill them.

The premise of keeping aloof from outside affairs was that others did not actively seek trouble with him. Since someone had chosen to provoke him, they could not blame him for striking heavily.

"Head Constable, are you going to make a move?"

"If possible, please spare their lives."

"That Water Transport Gang is extremely troublesome."

Constable Sun cautioned.

"The Water Transport Gang is troublesome, but am I not?"

"A mere Water Transport Gang—what is there to fear?"

"Two thousand men or a few hundred thousand men make no difference to me."

Lu Yuan sneered.

From beginning to end, he had never taken the Water Transport Gang seriously. True, the gang possessed hundreds of thousands of members—a massive force indeed. But among those hundreds of thousands, how many were truly willing to die for the gang? Did they not join merely to make a living? Such people were nothing more than a mob; once confronted with overwhelming might, they would scatter like smoke.

Even if every single one of them were willing to die for the gang, so what?

Could he slaughter over two thousand disciples of Qingcheng Mountain, yet fail to kill hundreds of thousands of members of the Water Transport Gang? Were the lives of the Water Transport Gang somehow more noble?

Two thousand or hundreds of thousands—in Lu Yuan's eyes, there was no difference. It merely meant getting a little more blood on his hands and taking a bit more time.

"If they know what's good for them, only these few will die."

"If they don't know what's good for them, what does it matter if a few hundred thousand more perish?"

"Old Sun, brute force is the ultimate truth."