Chapter 412: Those Who Offend Great Shen Shall Be Punished by Great Shen

Chapter 412: Those Who Offend Great Shen Shall Be Punished by Great Shen

Xie Yuan did not speak but continued to scrutinize his face.

With each passing second, County Magistrate Wang felt increasingly tormented, as if all the fat on his body was being tightly bound by a thin rope.

"Si... Sir..."

After a moment, Xie Yuan finally turned around, and County Magistrate Wang let out a sigh of relief.

Su Youyue untied and helped up Old Lady Zhang and the others, then frowned as she walked to Xie Yuan's side.

Xie Yuan, however, said calmly, "It seems this official made a mistake."

County Magistrate Wang immediately relaxed, but soon sensed something amiss and stammered, "Sir? Could it be that you are really the Inspector General..."

At this point, he couldn't help but glare at the two soldiers in the corner who had delivered the message.

The two looked bewildered, but seeing everyone turn to look at them, they trembled in fear.

"Your Excellency, we... we only said we were unsure about the authenticity of the Inspector General's seal. After all, it was our first time seeing it, but you personally inquired and said there was no Inspector General sent to Jiuyuan Pass!"

Hearing the two shift the blame onto him, County Magistrate Wang cried out in distress, "I... I did inquire, and heard that the court had not dispatched an Inspector General, so... so I thought it was fake."

"You just inquired and didn't even try to verify before daring to arrest someone?" Su Youyue asked, her brows furrowed.

She felt that County Magistrate Wang was lying or, at least, hiding something.

Even if he lacked brains, he shouldn't be stupid enough to confidently claim a second-rank official from the court was fake without seeing the seal with his own eyes.

"It... It is so..." County Magistrate Wang hurriedly replied, clearly terrified, "This subordinate truly knows his fault, please forgive me this once, Your Excellency..."

Outside, the villagers were stunned again.

What did that mean, the Inspector General was real after all?

While the villagers were still confused, they suddenly heard the sound of galloping horses.

Turning around, their faces changed dramatically.

"The... The Dongrong People are here!"

Someone shouted, and immediately the entire village erupted into chaos, with people screaming and fleeing. Some who couldn't escape in time scrambled into Zhang Laoer's house.

Lu Dashan was pushed inside, her face pale and her limbs trembling as she tried to hide in the back courtyard of the Zhang family, only to find the back door locked.

Zhang Laoer's family had gone on a trip and were not at home. Before leaving, the temporary residents had naturally locked the door for them, so the back door was now padlocked.

"Finished, finished..." Lu Dashan was almost fainting, and she quickly ran back, but in the blink of an eye, the Dongrong group had reached the village entrance.

This group consisted of only twenty-odd people, while Small River Village had several hundred residents. However, even one Dongrong person could terrify these villagers.

These Dongrong people sneaked across the border and massacred every village they encountered, sparing not even infants!

They were not human; they were beasts that devoured humans!

County Magistrate Wang and his men never expected to encounter a Dongrong group on a massacre mission, and they were instantly terrified.

"Mag... Magistrate, let's run!" The magistrate's clerk, whose legs were shaking like sieves, dragged County Magistrate Wang and tried to flee.

Hearing this, County Magistrate Wang also forgot everything and tried to run away with his men.

At this moment, Zhang Shuitong, who was standing beside him, hesitated for a moment and then pulled Lu Dashan, intending to follow County Magistrate Wang's group.

But just as County Magistrate Wang took a step, a snow-white long sword suddenly appeared before him, making him stop in his tracks. However, the people behind him pushed him forward, causing the sword to cut a bloody line on his neck.

"Scram, scram, all of you scram!" With his neck cut, County Magistrate Wang was almost out of his mind with fear and immediately cursed those cowards behind him.

He looked at Xie Yuan, who had drawn the sword, and pleaded, "Your Excellency, the Dongrong People are here, let's hide..."

Su Youyue was so angry at this County Magistrate that she wanted to hit him and couldn't help but curse, "What kind of dog official are you? How can you be the guardian of Jiuyuan Town and not protect its people with so many men at your disposal?"

County Magistrate Wang's face darkened, clearly resentful, but too eager to leave to argue, so he could only look at Xie Yuan, "Your Excellency..."

"Stay here, take another step, and I'll cut off your head," Xie Yuan said calmly.

Though his tone was calm, it made County Magistrate Wang's legs shake, believing every word.

What kind of incompetent inspector is this? He must be a fool! Even if his men are strong, they can't possibly match the Dongrong People! Does he think he's the Xie Yuan from the Capital?

"The Dongrong People kill our people, eat their flesh, drink their blood, crush their bones, suck their marrow, and sleep on their skin. This hatred is irreconcilable, and every person in Great Shen has the right to punish them. Men, stand up and fight."

Xie Yuan's eyes turned cold as he looked at the trembling officials trying to escape and issued a stern order.

The officials were stunned, the fear in their eyes gradually dissipating. They looked at each other, hesitating.

Finally, two soldiers from the army stepped forward, their previously uncertain gazes suddenly finding direction, instinctively choosing to obey their superior.

"Your Excellency, we... we will follow you into battle!"

Indeed, while everyone in Great Shen feared the Dongrong People, who wouldn't want to fight them?

It was precisely because they believed it was impossible to win that they dared not fight. But after being oppressed for so long, anyone would harbor resentment.

These two men might have been thinking of slacking off now, but their original purpose for joining the army was certainly not this. Reality had worn down their resolve.

Hearing Xie Yuan's words, the hatred they harbored for the Dongrong People finally overcame their fear.

This is their land in Great Shen. Why should they stand idly by and watch the Dongrong People slaughter and ravage here?

These Dongrong people have killed their fellow villagers, feasted on the flesh and blood of their kin, and skinned their countrymen!

Even if they die here today, they will fight these Dongrong people to the end!

Perhaps moved by the emotions of these two individuals, or perhaps out of subconscious obedience to their superiors, the hundred or so officials slowly stepped forward one by one.

"Sir... I... I'll go too..."

"I will as well..."

"I'm coming too!"

The resolve in their voices grew stronger with each word.

County Magistrate Wang was dumbfounded.

Had his subordinates all gone mad?

They were Dongrong people!

Wasn't this just a death sentence?

He wouldn't join these fools heading to their deaths, no matter what!

Noticing that Zhang Shuitong and Lu Dashan hadn't spoken, he instinctively moved closer to them.

Xie Yuan, seemingly oblivious to his small actions, swung his long sword and strode toward the Dongrong people outside the courtyard.

"Those who dare to invade Great Shen shall be punished by Great Shen! Follow me, and kill every last invader!"