Chapter 109: Death to Those Who Stand in My Way

"Li Yi, if you dare to be insolent again, do not blame me for being discourteous," Magistrate Yan Zibin shouted in reprimand.

He Renlong gripped his broadsword tightly, his voice laced with fury. "Magistrate Yan, why waste words with him? Let us kill this brat first, and we can pin a crime on him later—that is something you civil officials are most adept at."

Yan Zibin turned his head and shot He Renlong a piercing glare. *You idiot, if you cannot speak well, then keep your mouth shut. Do you not know what it means to see through a ruse without exposing it?*

"Men, form ranks! Seize him. If Li Yi dares to resist, kill him without mercy!"

He Renlong was a man who feared nothing; he was a brute by nature. He had come under the implicit instruction of the Ai family and the Regional Commander of Yansui to seize this opportunity to eliminate Li Yi. The time was ripe.

Two hundred cavalrymen roared, their warhorses stomping the ground. As they drew their blades, the ferocious aura of battlefield slaughter sent the surrounding commoners into a panic, causing them to flee in disarray. The constables and yamen runners, who had initially stood by Li Yi's side, dared not remain and slunk away into the distance.

"Li Yi, this is my final order: release Secretary Zheng and return to Suijin Town. Otherwise, even if you die here, it will be deemed as contempt for your superiors and disregard for the law—a fitting end for your crimes."

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

The cavalrymen held their weapons high, staring at Li Yi with murderous intent, waiting for the command to hack him into a pulp.

"Brother Li, retreat. You are but one man; do not throw your life away for nothing," Gao Yigong pleaded, rushing forward to pull at Li Yi. The fierce momentum of the border troops left Gao visibly shaken.

He urged him repeatedly, but Li Yi remained unmoved.

"Brother Gao, you should withdraw first."

"Brother Li, the mountains and rivers may shift, but do not lose your life over a moment of anger." Gao Yigong gripped Li Yi’s arm, trying to drag him away, but his strength was no match for Li Yi's resolve.

Secretary Zheng laughed heartily. "Li Yi, this world is built for the high and mighty—from the imperial nobility down to the wealthy gentry. There has never been a place for commoners like you. You were lucky to obtain an official post; why are you so stubborn as to oppose us? Knowing when to advance and retreat, understanding one's place—that is the path to success. A stubborn fool like you, like a stone in a latrine, will not only fail to clear the skies or purify the waters, but you will find yourself unable to even save your own life."

"Governing and holding power is done for the Emperor and for the wealthy gentry—it is certainly not for the common folk. Why can you not grasp this simple truth?"

Li Yi gazed at him, his eyes cold and sharp. "A human is a human; we have never been mere blades of grass."

"Truly, you are incorrigible." Secretary Zheng frowned and began walking toward Yan Zibin.

*Squelch.*

A cold, gleaming spearhead reflected the icy light as it pierced through Secretary Zheng's back. The blood-stained tip emerged from his chest, and as the blade was withdrawn, fresh blood erupted like a fountain. Secretary Zheng’s body stiffened. He tried to look back in disbelief, but his strength ebbed away rapidly through the wound in his chest. His eyes, filled with resentment, fury, spite, and a trace of confusion, were gradually shrouded in deep darkness.

*Thud.*

Secretary Zheng's corpse collapsed to the ground. The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned in silence.

Ignoring them, Li Yi stepped forward, pulled out a short blade, and swung it with a sudden, violent motion. Secretary Zheng's neck was severed instantly. Li Yi tossed the head before Yan Zibin, blood splattering from the neck. Both the magistrate and the elite border troops were frozen in terror.

"Magistrate Yan, the culprit attempted to flee, so I have executed him," Li Yi stated, his gaze fixed sternly upon Yan Zibin.

Terrified by the grisly scene, Yan Zibin collapsed limply to the ground.

He Renlong raised his broadsword: "Kill!"

The thunderous sound of hooves striking the earth echoed like an army of thousands. Li Yi, his expression cold, mounted his horse and bellowed, "Death to those who block my path!"

He urged his horse forward, charging alone against a hundred cavalrymen. Behind He Renlong, eighteen of his personal guards followed closely, forming a sharp wedge formation like a long sword, driving toward Li Yi.

The street was narrow, and the remaining cavalry stood in formation, waiting. Both sides roared. Li Yi knocked aside He Renlong’s broadsword with a single strike of his spear and plunged into the ranks of the cavalry. His spear pierced through a soldier, and the scalding blood that splattered onto his face only added a touch of savagery to his handsome features.

"Die!"

With a thunderous shout, Li Yi swung his Tiger-Tooth Spear like lightning, sending two cavalrymen flying as they vomited blood. Amidst the chaos of iron and steel, Li Yi was struck in the shoulder by a volley from a three-barreled musket. He swallowed the blood rising in his throat, his eyes turning crimson. The cold, murderous intent made his strikes increasingly lethal. His spear thrusted continuously until the space before him cleared; the remaining cavalry stood in formation, staring at him in utter shock.

"Kill!"

Li Yi turned his horse and pointed his Tiger-Tooth Spear directly at He Renlong, charging headlong once more. He Renlong’s face twitched; his heart bled. In the initial charge, five of his elite guards had been killed or wounded. Seeing Li Yi charge again, his heart skipped a beat, and his malicious eyes flickered with a hint of fear. What kind of monster was this Li Yi, to be this ferocious?

"Die!"

He Renlong roared, his inner fury burning as he spurred his horse to meet Li Yi. He widened his small, beady eyes and brought his broadsword down with the weight of Mount Tai toward Li Yi's head.

Li Yi stood his ground, swinging his Tiger-Tooth Spear to deflect the blade. He Renlong felt a sharp pain in the web of his hand. In a flash, he ducked the sweeping spearhead and slashed his sword toward Li Yi’s thigh. Li Yi leaped with his horse, transforming his spear into a staff, and using the momentum of the descent, he struck down with a gust of wind.

He Renlong hurriedly raised his sword to block, but the crushing force bent the steel, emitting a suffocating screech of metal on metal. His horse let out a sorrowful neigh, its legs buckling until it collapsed under the overwhelming pressure. The surrounding guards were thrown into a panic; their formation broke, and Li Yi took the opportunity to charge through, killing two more men. The guards, unable to counterattack, scrambled to dismount and rescue He Renlong, who was pinned under his horse.

Falling in battle often meant being trampled to death. He Renlong was dragged out by his men, covered in dirt and grime, one of his legs broken. He glared at Li Yi with venomous hatred, shoved his rescuers aside, and pointed at him, screaming, "Forget about me! Whoever kills him today gets a reward of one hundred taels of silver!"

Hearing the bounty, the eyes of the border troops lit up. But as they looked at the blood-drenched Li Yi, still mounted and gripping his spear, their greed slowly extinguished. They had just witnessed the martial prowess of this "God of War." They feared that even if they managed to kill him, they wouldn't live long enough to spend the silver.

Just as He Renlong was raging and ordering his men to surround Li Yi, a ceremonial procession arrived with the beating of drums. Seeing the insignia of the grain-supervising official, the border troops parted ways. A six-man sedan chair approached slowly, and Hong Chengchou stepped out, his face etched with fury.

Upon seeing Hong Chengchou, He Renlong immediately stifled his arrogance, limped forward, and knelt on the ground.

"Subordinate He Renlong, commander of the Yansui Regional Commander’s guard, pays respects to the Excellency."

He Renlong was a brute, but he knew how to gauge power. Hong Chengchou was currently in the Emperor's favor, and his promotion to a high-ranking official was imminent; He had long wanted to latch onto this powerful figure.

Hong Chengchou cast a cold glance at the scene on the street, his sharp eyes locking onto Yan Zibin. "Magistrate Yan, what is the meaning of this?"

Yan Zibin approached tremblingly and knelt. "Excellency, Li Yi committed murder in the street, killing my subordinate secretary. Commander He attempted to arrest him, but Li Yi relied on his martial strength to resist the law and fight the government troops."

"And yet, I heard that it was Secretary Zheng who bribed assassins to kill Li Yi. Li Yi sought justice and wished to investigate the case, and you, the Magistrate of Mizhi, abused your power to protect your subordinate?" Hong Chengchou stared at Yan Zibin with a piercing gaze.

Yan Zibin looked up in astonishment. He did not understand; had Li Yi not offended Hong Chengchou? Why was Hong now speaking on his behalf? This was, of course, the work of Hong Yuying. Though forced to abandon Li Yi and Shi Kefa, Hong Chengchou did not truly harbor hatred for them. Persuaded by his daughter, he had decided to adopt a pragmatic approach: use men for their talents. He still needed Li Yi to earn the military merits he desired.

"Magistrate Yan, is this true?" Hong Chengchou pressed, his presence radiating the authority of a superior official.

Yan Zibin hung his head. "The matter is still under investigation. Regardless of the truth, Li Yi should not have committed murder in the street."

"Since an investigation is needed, let us investigate it thoroughly. An official of the Great Ming was assassinated; I shall report this case to the Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Surveillance Commissioner for their review." Hong Chengchou paused, then continued, "As for Li Yi, Wang Zuogua is causing chaos south of Yan'an Prefecture. The governor has ordered me to assemble troops to suppress the rebellion, and Li Yi shall serve in the army. Let him serve while awaiting trial; we shall handle his case once the investigation is complete."

Hearing this, Yan Zibin finally understood. Hong Chengchou was helping Li Yi because he intended to use him to suppress Wang Zuogua.

"Your subordinate obeys your orders," Yan Zibin said, not daring to interfere with Hong’s plans.

Hong Chengchou nodded in satisfaction and turned to the kneeling He Renlong. "Commander He, border troops and local law enforcement fighting in the street—what sort of decorum is this? Do you know your crime?"

He Renlong said anxiously, "Excellency, I was merely helping the local government; it was not intentional."

Hong Chengchou nodded, his expression softening. "The Regional Commander of Yansui sent you here to assist me in suppressing Wang Zuogua. These are troubled times; I shall overlook this. From now on, obey orders and refrain from acting recklessly."

He Renlong kowtowed in acknowledgment. Hong Chengchou noted that while the man was crude, he was sturdy and led elite cavalry, so he nodded in approval. He had long heard of He Renlong’s bravery in battle, but also of his cruelty in killing civilians to claim false military merits; this was why he had deliberately suppressed him—to break his rowdy spirit.

Having dealt with the two, Hong Chengchou walked up to Li Yi. "Li Yi, stop this nonsense. The matter ends here. Return to Suijin Town, recruit your men, and in five days, you will follow me south to suppress the bandits."

"Excellency, Secretary Zheng was merely an accomplice; the true culprit lies elsewhere."

"What? Are you refusing to listen to me?" Hong Chengchou’s voice turned icy.

"Ai Wanhua has tried to kill me time and again..."

"I said the matter ends here! What are you trying to do? Do you want to plunge Mizhi County into chaos, or force all the wealthy gentry of Yansui to oppose the government, just to satisfy your grudge?" Hong Chengchou scolded.

Li Yi froze and fell into deep thought. He understood now: Ai Wanhua could act with impunity not because the government was merely indulgent. The government’s administrative reach was limited to the vicinity of the county seat; for the vast rural villages, they relied on the wealthy gentry to collect taxes. With the famine in Shaanxi and bandits rising everywhere, the government treasuries were empty. To provide relief or fund the army, they had to beg these gentry. Arresting Ai Wanhua would only anger the Ai family, turning the gentry into enemies and worsening the situation.

As a fourth-rank official, Hong Chengchou had laid it out plainly; Li Yi had no choice but to comply. He bowed, exchanged a few words with Gao Yigong, and set off back to Suijin Town.