The metal badge sewn onto the chest of Juxi’s shirt began to shine with a dazzling light. That light instantly cleared the sharp look in the girl’s eyes, as if she’d suddenly understood everything.
The Qing soldiers immediately backed away, some of them even raising their arms to shield their eyes.
“My lord, we didn’t know you’d come here in person! Our rough treatment just now must have startled you!” After seeing the badge, every one of them bowed before Juxi and pledged their allegiance.
Juxi had a hard time adjusting to everyone’s sudden one-eighty, but what could he do? Compared to those lazy, gluttonous nobles, the current Tiandao Academy practically had the power to cover the sky with one hand. Its influence at court, in particular, was already almost on par with the emperor’s.
But the blond punks beside Juxi couldn’t care less about any of that. They got up and immediately leaped to their feet, then charged toward the door, while the woman began screaming again at the top of her lungs. The sound was deafening.
“I can walk by myself.” The girl repeated herself in a loud voice. “You three go ahead and take me to the person in charge here. I don’t know the way.”
“Uh… yes. This way, please.” The Qing soldier, who’d been scared out of his wits moments ago, could only lower his head and mutter. He walked to the door, looking somewhat at a loss. The other two hurried after him.
The girl finally returned the dagger to its sheath, tucked it back into her boot, and brought up the rear.
As they passed through, she kept her face covered with her clothing.
Juxi followed behind her reluctantly, because…
That girl couldn’t die yet!
Li Cai, the law enforcer of the Capital, stroked his chin in deep thought.
He wasn’t superstitious or cowardly, but he didn’t like discussing this matter with a Xiyi person.
Only after a long while did he finally make up his mind.
“You two, get out.” He ordered the guards.
“You, sit down… No, not here, Xiyi person. If you don’t mind, sit by the window.”
With no other choice, the girl sat down facing him. By then, she no longer had a sword on her, nor the black veil that had covered her.
“If there’s anything you want to say, I’m all ears.” Li Cai spoke as he toyed with the jade bracelet on the table. “I’m Li Cai, the law enforcer personally appointed by His Majesty. Before I throw you into prison, is there anything you’d like to say, Xiyi gentleman? You caused trouble on Qing territory and illegally carried a weapon without permission… Tsk, tsk, not bad. What an arrogant bandit. You should know that Great Qing is governed by strict laws these days. Forget anything else—even carrying this dagger is enough to get you beheaded!”
“…”
“Ah~? Ahem, ahem!”
The atmosphere suddenly grew awkward. The girl hadn’t understood a single word Li Cai had said. No matter how he tried to intimidate her, she remained completely unresponsive.
This left the old corrupt official at a loss. After all, the reason he’d been able to swindle people out of so much money over the years was that everyone knew he was Li Wen’an’s good friend. The two of them handled affairs together in the dungeon, and Li Wen’an had always treated prisoners kindly—unlike this old bastard.
After his attempt at extortion failed, he put on an air of authority and said, “But I’m a fair man. I’ll hear your side of the story. Go on.”
As usual, Li Cai calmly fastened his upper garment and took out a sheet of white paper to make a written record.
“You caused trouble at the crossroads and at Yixiang Restaurant…” he said in a low voice. “Is what’s written here true?”
Just then, Juxi stepped out from the doorway and murmured, “It’s all true, but… I have something important to discuss with this Xiyi person. Could you hand her over to us?”
Li Cai immediately recognized the clothes Juxi was wearing. He was more than familiar with the Tiandao Academy’s gold-threaded battle robes!
“Sigh, the law is the law in the end. I, Li Cai, am only carrying out my official duty to uphold the peace and laws here! The law doesn’t permit anyone to kill in this place. I hope you can understand, my lord…”
Juxi nodded to show that he understood. But before Li Cai could secretly celebrate, Juxi angrily snorted and said,
“I get it!”
“Heh heh heh, as long as you understand the law, my lord…”
“Yes, I understand now. You want to stand against the entire Tiandao Academy, don’t you?”
Juxi’s harsh words once again drove fear straight into Li Cai’s chest. And that wasn’t all. Juxi immediately pulled out a tiger-head badge hanging against his chest.
The white tiger carved into the badge looked completely lifelike, its stark white fangs bared in a terrifying display.
“You have a name, right? It’s… what was it… I’m not asking because I’m curious. It’ll just make talking easier!”
That was what Li Cai said, but his voice had already begun to stumble.
“You aren’t qualified to know my name.”
“Uh… then why should the Tiandao Academy listen to your orders?!”
“That’s right. I can’t command the Tiandao Academy.”
Faced with Li Cai’s doubt, Juxi merely spread his hands. He truly had no real authority within the Tiandao Academy, so he didn’t dare lie about it.
“But there’s one thing,” Juxi added. “Even if I don’t say what shouldn’t be said, I won’t lie to you. What I can tell you is that getting into trouble with me is no different from getting into trouble with the entire Tiandao Academy!”
“Fine, then this matter—” Li Cai, sweating heavily, slapped his palm against the notice. “Let’s just forget it. This isn’t something to joke about… My lord, if I keep talking, I’m afraid I won’t get to keep my head, will I?”
