Chapter 61: The Cause

"Old sir, what are you doing? If you bow to me, I'll lose years from my life. If you have any grievances, just say the word." Ling Chi left himself some room, deciding to hear the man out first.

"Come, let’s sit inside and talk," he said, feeling a pang of pity at the old man’s trembling form.

Ling Chi helped the old man to the main hall and called for a servant woman to bring hot tea.

"Sir, I am the Town Constable of the Jing'an Office here in Willow Town. My name is Ling Chi. If you have something to say, speak plainly." He had little patience for beating around the bush.

The old man cupped the tea in both hands and spoke slowly.

"Sir, my name is Zhang Shunzhi. I am originally from South Pearl Prefecture in Guangnan. When the barbarians’ war broke out, I fled with my family to Yingzhou, and finally settled here in Willow Town."

"My wife, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson and I were given a house by the authorities. We took up our ancestral trade. Though not wealthy, it was far better than the days when our lives hung by a thread."

"But calamity struck. My six-year-old grandson was snatched by the Xue family on his way to private school. My son tried to get him back, but the master of the Xue family threw him a silver coin and said my grandson’s birth date was just right to be wed to his granddaughter in a ghost marriage. My son refused, so the Xue master had his men break his leg."

"My daughter-in-law, strong-willed as she is, went to the office to file a complaint without telling us. But there were Xue family spies near our house. Before they got to the office, both were captured and taken to the Xue estate. Their fate remains unknown." Tears streamed down Old Zhang’s face as he beat his chest in grief.

"I am not afraid to die, but if I go to the authorities and lose my life, my son and daughter-in-law will never see justice. All I could do was beg forgiveness, offer money, and survive in humiliation. Until today, when I saw you, sir, dressed in official robes, decisive and fair, even paying for your purchases. That gave me the courage to follow you and beg for your help."

As Zhang Shunzhi spoke, he tried to kneel again, but Ling Chi was quick and pressed him back into the chair.

Where did this Xue family come from? Willow Town’s reconstruction had only begun a few days ago—how could a clan have established itself already?

"Old Zhang, how long ago did this happen? Did you report it to the Jing'an Office?" Ling Chi asked.

"It’s been four or five days now. I dared not go. I was afraid," Zhang Shunzhi replied, anxiety in his voice, unsure if he’d chosen the right young constable to turn to.

"Do the Jing'an Office officials usually take things without paying?" Ling Chi’s brow furrowed.

"I’ve only been selling glutinous rice chicken these past few days—before, it was always my son who went out. The officials pay, but I dare not accept the money."

"Hmph. A few days of full meals and they’re losing their heads already."

Ling Chi made up his mind—after settling the Xue family’s matter, he would have to properly straighten out the Jing'an Office.

Without delay, Ling Chi summoned Pei Shinan and led over a dozen officers straight to the Xue residence.

All the way there, Ling Chi walked in silence, making Pei Shinan uneasy—could something have happened at the Jing'an Office?

Ling Chi walked with his hand on his sword, Zhang Shunzhi guiding the way at his side, finally feeling hope in his heart.

Had the official present been a middle-aged man, Zhang likely wouldn’t have dared to file a complaint. But seeing Ling Chi so young and decisive, he was gambling that the young constable might have a spirit to right the world’s injustices.

What he didn’t know was that Ling Chi had always hated evil with a passion. Saving people was not his forte, but killing—of that, he was an expert. Whether the condemned was ninety-nine or just learning to walk, once Ling Chi sentenced them to death, none survived.

Their group marched down the street, exuding such fierce energy that people fled before them like tigers clearing the road.

Some bystanders followed at a distance, eager for news to bring to the taverns for a free drink.

"Who is this young man, so bold and reckless?" asked a customer at a noodle stall.

"You must be new here," another replied, eager to show off his knowledge. "Brother, may I have your name? I’m a merchant from out of town, just arrived today."

"Owner, bring us a plate of pig’s head meat, to go with our noodles. Put it on my tab."

The human love for gossip never fades, and the fire of curiosity burned bright. Some passersby even slowed their steps, straining to listen.

Ling Chi rarely appeared in town—he’d either been cultivating on Ox Mountain or out on business. Lately, he’d been training hard at the martial grounds, so few townsfolk had seen him, let alone any passing merchants, who only knew of a formidable martial artist in Willow Town wielding thunder magic.

"Ahem, that’s Lord Ling Chi, the Town Constable of our Jing'an Office. His thunder arts reach the heavens and earth. Just this morning, I, Wang Er, saw him deal with the willow tree demon at the town’s entrance. With a single slap, the demon turned to dust, thunder resounding through the town."

"So it was Lord Ling from the Jing'an Office driving out the demon this morning. I was wondering why there was thunder but no rain," the merchant remarked, suddenly enlightened.

"If you’d arrived a day earlier, you’d know what thunder magic truly is. For over ten days, lightning blazed in the sky for dozens of miles around Ling’s residence—it was a sight to behold," Wang Er said, pride swelling in his voice.

"Alas, my late arrival made me miss such a spectacle. But Lord Ling is so young—in all my years as a merchant, I’ve never seen an official so youthful."

"Don’t be fooled by his youth. His strength is unfathomable. They say he’s a martial artist already at the Qi Sea stage."

"But what could the Xue family have done to warrant Lord Ling’s personal intervention?" Wang Er mused aloud.

"What’s the story with the Xue family? Are they a local aristocratic clan?" the merchant asked, pushing the plate of pig’s head meat towards Wang Er.

Wang Er, pleased with the gesture, stuffed a piece of meat into his mouth and mumbled, "Nonsense. There are no old families here. Willow Town suffered a disaster months ago—everyone here now came from elsewhere."

"The Xue family just happens to have a few martial artists and a pack of thugs. They bully merchants, seize goods, and even kill for profit. They have some influence in town and, it’s said, people in the office, too."

"But this time, they’ve overstepped. To offend Lord Ling—there’ll be hell to pay. They’ll be ripped out, roots and all," Wang Er declared.

As they spoke, thunder rumbled nearby, followed by a thunderous voice: "You people have some nerve!"

The merchant dropped his bowl in fright.

Who could have guessed Lord Ling had such a temper—already he was taking action?

Guided by Zhang Shunzhi, Ling Chi arrived before the Xue family’s gates.

Wasn’t this the old Lin family residence? How had the Xue family gotten hold of it? They had some means, it seemed.

Ling Chi didn’t bother knocking. Houses like this always had a foul-mouthed, uncouth doorman—he had no patience for such people.

Bang!

With a kick, Ling Chi sent the vermillion doors crashing down.

Under the fallen doors, the doorman was pinned, still struggling and howling.

Ling Chi strode in at the head, indifferent to civility—such trifles meant nothing to him.