“So you’re the one backing them up?” A remarkably tall bailiff stood before Ye Kong. The fellow looked down at Ye Kong from above, his casual tone displaying considerable authority.

Ye Kong hadn’t expected even a minor bailiff would dare put on official airs with him. Even though this Eighth Young Master had once been looked down upon within the Ye Manor, this had never happened outside. The Ye Manor’s Eighth Young Master could still intimidate people quite effectively.

Ye Kong felt displeased. He turned sideways, not even glancing with his eyes, and snorted, “Who the hell are you?”

Putting on airs? Who can’t do that? Who’s afraid of who? Back on Earth, I was even better at it than you.

The bailiff didn’t get angry either. He clasped his hands behind his back, raised his head to gaze at the sky, and pointed his nostrils at Ye Kong. That look seemed to say: Friend, what you’re doing isn’t called putting on airs. This is what putting on airs looks like.

When the bailiff didn’t speak, a minor bailiff immediately sidled up to Ye Kong’s ear and introduced him quietly: “Eighth Young Master, this is our City Guard Office’s newly appointed bailiff squad leader, Iron Bailiff. He’s a trusted confidant Lord Chen brought with him…”

“Hmm?” Iron Bailiff was extremely dissatisfied with his subordinate’s introduction.

The minor bailiff quickly added, “Our Iron Bailiff is upright and unbending, hates evil like an enemy, possesses superb martial arts…”

“Enough, enough. No need to say more about this official’s style of conduct. In the future, the thugs and scoundrels of Southern Capital City will come to know it themselves.” Iron Bailiff waved his hand with great official authority, then rolled his eyes at Ye Kong and said, “Are you the Ye Manor’s degenerate young master Ye Kong, who oppresses the common people and preys upon the countryside in Southern Capital City?”

Ye Kong listened with extreme anger. I rarely go out, so how did I become the Ye Manor’s ​stolen content​degenerate young master? This was too much reversing black and white, spouting nonsense!

Iron Bailiff intimidated Ye Kong with one big accusation and felt quite smug inside. Actually, he’d come today specifically to cause trouble, wanting to knock around these local ruffians and hooligans. Seeing Ye Kong was just a kid, he felt even more contempt.

At the same time, in a refined room on Treasure Spring Pavilion’s second floor, a master and servant were lifting the curtain to observe below. The master was a stern-faced, middle-aged dark-complexioned man, slightly plump in build, with his hands clasped behind his back. When he walked, he was full of official authority. At a glance, you could tell he was an official.

Standing beside him was an elderly scholar, thin and weaselly in appearance. At this moment, he was waving a folding fan and saying with a smile, “My lord, Old Iron is playing this move quite well. Right from the start, he’s solidified this kid’s reputation as a degenerate young master. After it spreads in the future, everyone will know he’s a degenerate young master. Whether he commits evil or not, he’ll be a degenerate young master.”

“Haha, Advisor Shao, you think this official doesn’t know? This scheme was something you taught Old Iron. Good strategy, good!”

This dark-faced man observing from upstairs was the newly arrived Southern Capital City Guard, Chen Qingfang. This person was famous for ruining others. Officials brought down and knocked off their horses by him were numerous beyond count.

The common people of An Kingdom didn’t care whether you were bringing down corrupt officials or upright ones. As long as an official was brought down, they felt psychologically balanced and happy. Thus, back and forth, this Chen Qingfang had actually gained the reputation of being “Magistrate Chen the Just.”

Chen Qingfang had been dispatched to Southern Capital City, and the emperor’s purpose was abundantly clear. To use Earth terminology, he’d come to dig up dirt on Ye Haoran.

Chen Qingfang was quite skilled at ruining people. Deeply comprehending the emperor’s intentions, he’d arrived in Southern Capital City brimming with confidence. But he discovered that ruining Ye Haoran wasn’t easy.

The Ye family had a good reputation in Southern Capital City. The common people still remembered fondly how General Ye had exterminated the barbarian tribes. Moreover, the Ye Manor’s children were strictly educated, and there weren’t any excessively outrageous incidents.

Chen Qingfang was like a tiger trying Read on Jormuntl to bite a hedgehog, with nowhere to sink his teeth. Then Ye Kong appeared.

Chen Qingfang had learned of yesterday’s firefight a bit late and hadn’t caught it. After he learned the situation and inquired about the news, he discovered that the killed Fan Jiulong’s family were all bad people, with enormous public resentment. Ye Kong and the others’ actions could be considered punishing evil and promoting good.

He’d wanted to intervene immediately that day, slapping them with accusations of abusing private punishment and recklessly brandishing weapons. But thinking it over, now wasn’t the time for direct conflict with the Ye family. After all, Ye Haoran hadn’t fallen yet.

If he acted, there would be no room for maneuvering. So Chen Qingfang endured it. However, feeling stifled inside, he’d put on casual clothes and come to Treasure Spring Pavilion to find a girl for the night, to adjust his mood.

Who knew that early this morning, just as he was preparing to leave, he’d encounter the Lu brothers and Liu Changqing and the others. Chen Qingfang made some inquiries and was overjoyed. Here was an opportunity to exploit. He could use this matter to test the Ye Manor. So he wasn’t in a hurry to return. Iron Bailiff and the advisor were people he’d summoned.

Hearing Iron Bailiff put the degenerate young master label on Ye Kong, he was delighted inside. As long as everyone in Southern Capital City knew this degenerate young master’s great name, he could write in his secret memorial that Ye Haoran “indulges his son in violence, degenerate young master with a spotted record of misdeeds.”

But how could Ye Kong let someone dump a chamber pot on his head? He raised his head, and with just one sentence, pushed Iron Bailiff right back.

“Oppressing the common people, preying upon the countryside. I wonder if Bailiff Iron’s words have any evidence?” Ye Kong asked in return.

Cangnan Continent had no concept of rule of law whatsoever. Generally, whatever officials said was what it was. Who ever heard of requiring evidence?

Iron Bailiff snorted through his nostrils at Ye Kong, saying disdainfully, “Without evidence, this official has also heard rumors. What will you do about it?”

“What will I do about it?” Ye Kong chuckled coldly, his expression turning stern. “You’re spouting nonsense, so don’t blame me for slapping your mouth!”

Having said this, his hand struck out like lightning. “Smack, smack!” Two slaps landed. Although Iron Bailiff was also a martial arts expert, facing Ye Kong’s palm strikes, he simply couldn’t dodge.

“You dare strike this official?” Iron Bailiff covered his swollen, burning face, still unable to believe it.

“What kind of damn bird official are you!” Ye Kong stepped forward and kicked him in the crotch. The crowd behind cheered.

“Satisfying! Eighth Young Master is so satisfying! From now on, we’ll follow Eighth Young Master!”

“Beat this bird official who spouts shit from his mouth!”

“Spouting nonsense and insulting Eighth Young Master deserves a beating!”

In the upstairs room, Chen Qingfang suddenly slammed the table and said angrily, “Audacious and reckless! Lawless!”

The advisor, however, smiled and said, “My lord, don’t be hasty. In this humble one’s view, this is a good thing. Publicly assaulting a court official further proves this boy’s reputation as a degenerate young master.”

Chen Qingfang stroked his chin whiskers and began nodding with a smile. “You’re right. This boy is so arrogant, he’s truly seeking his own death!” Then he added, “If Iron Bailiff is clever, at this moment he should rush outside the building and let the onlookers all see the Ye Manor degenerate young master’s evil conduct.”

Iron Bailiff certainly wasn’t that clever, but he ​Read on Jormuntl​still rushed out of Treasure Spring Pavilion. Because the Ye family soldiers were all shouting, “Seize this person who spouts nonsense and insults the young master!”

Iron Bailiff didn’t dare linger long. Leading a group of bailiffs, he tried to escape. Rushing outside the building, he was blocked by the personal guards at the entrance.

At this moment, the outside was already packed with people. Common people all loved watching excitement. The Ye Manor’s personal guards and the City Guard Office bailiffs were going at it, and the location was a brothel no less. Nearby residents who heard the news all swarmed over to watch the excitement.

The people gathered outside weren’t just numerous in the ordinary sense. Describing it as a sea of humanity wasn’t excessive. The surrounding taverns and teahouses’ upstairs private rooms were especially busy with business. Everyone spread gossip and watched events develop, feeling comfortable and excited as onlookers.

“Seize this fellow! Go ask City Guard how he disciplines his subordinates!”

The Ye Manor guards roared and surrounded the bailiffs, their emotions激奋. The frightened bailiffs trembled, all wearing bitter faces. “Brother soldiers, brothers, we’re just on official business.”

“Centurion Liu, Centurion Liu, we’ve drunk together before. Let’s just let this pass today.”

The Ye Manor guards had been holding in a bellyful of anger toward these bailiffs who’d come looking for trouble. How could they let it pass so easily? Liu Changqing waved his big hand. “Go to hell! Just now I didn’t hear you say we’d drunk together. Seize them all!”

Iron Bailiff’s official authority and arrogance from earlier had vanished to who knows where. Just as he was about to be seized, his mind stirred and he finally had an idea – appeal to the masses for help.

“Fellow villagers and elders! You all saw it, didn’t you? Eighth Young Master Ye Kong of the Ye Manor brought personal guards in broad daylight to visit prostitutes and frequent brothels, corrupting military discipline. We bailiffs couldn’t stand by and watch, so we said a few words, only to be beaten. This degenerate young master beats court officials and wants to abuse private punishment. Please, fellow villagers, bear witness!”

“Excellent!” Standing at another window of Treasure Spring Pavilion, Chen Qingfang slapped the window frame again and shouted “Excellent!”

“Old Iron’s words not only solidify this boy’s reputation as a degenerate young master, but also let everyone witness the Ye family military’s lax discipline. Haha, wonderful!” The thin, dried-up old advisor waved his folding fan, shaking his head with smug satisfaction.

Chen Qingfang laughed heartily. “This Ye family brat has really done us a huge favor!”

Those onlooking common people looked at Iron Bailiff’s face swollen like a pig’s head and all discussed among themselves. “That’s right, these soldiers are too arrogant. Originally I thought the Ye family military had strict discipline and loved the people like their own children, but now it seems that’s not the case.”

“Who says it isn’t? Coming to visit prostitutes so early in the morning, do they look like soldiers at all!”

“Moreover, how much are these soldiers’ stipends? They actually have money to come to Treasure Spring Pavilion. Even I’m reluctant to come here. We should investigate whether they’ve embezzled funds!”

The common people’s discussions immediately increased, and the louder they discussed, the more vocal they became. All were criticizing the Ye Manor guards’ wrongs.

Kid! Fighting with me, you’re still green! Iron Bailiff covered his pig-like face, looking smugly at Ye Kong, thinking to himself: Hit me? This is the price of hitting me!

This time, Ye Kong became truly angry. Originally he’d never spoken up to seize anyone, but now he waved his hand. “Seize them all!”

Those soldiers had originally just been shouting slogans. Hearing Ye Kong’s order, they immediately pounced like wolves and tigers. Three strikes and five除二, they seized the group of black-clothed bailiffs.

“Excellent!” Upstairs, Chen Qingfang clapped and called ​noodles​out in approval, not worried in the slightest that his own people had been seized.

The advisor also laughed, showing off his knowledge. “This boy is too reckless. Knowing the common people already have opinions about the Ye family military, he still acts against public sentiment, provoking popular uprising. Let’s see how he accounts for this!” Having finished speaking, he snapped his folding fan shut with a whoosh and snorted coldly. “Pampered young wastrel, he truly doesn’t know how to write the character for ‘death’!”

Sure enough, the common people saw the degenerate young master’s soldier-thugs committing violence in the street. One by one, they grew indignant. The restless sounds grew louder and louder. The dark mass of people surged forward, pressing in. It looked like they were about to provoke public anger and trigger an uprising.

But at this moment, Ye Kong suddenly roared loudly, “Please everyone, listen to me, Ye Kong, speak!”

Ye Kong infused this shout with spiritual energy. Its loudness far exceeded a martial arts master’s lion’s roar, like a thunderclap exploding in midair. It shook the eardrums of the common people present until they buzzed. The chaotic, complicated scene immediately quieted down. Tens of thousands of eyes on the scene all focused on Ye Kong, waiting to see what exactly he wanted to say.