Chapter 99

At this moment, the innkeeper, Su Guangju, brought over the freshly stewed free-range chicken. Even before they had picked up their chopsticks, the enticing aroma alone had already made Hu Xiaotian and his servant drool. Hu Xiaotian called out, "Mr. Su, let's have a drink together!" He was not being polite; having just arrived in Qingyun County, where he knew no one, Hu Xiaotian was eager to find a breakthrough to understand the local situation.

Su Guangju smiled and said, "No rush, no rush. There are still three dishes that haven't been prepared. Once the dishes are ready, I will definitely come over and toast with Mr. Hu."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Sit down and have a drink first!"

Unable to resist his enthusiasm, Su Guangju politely declined a few times before sitting down. The Fulin Inn had always been run by him and his wife. Since Qingyun County was located in a remote area, there were not many merchants or tourists passing through, and the inn's business could only be described as barely making ends meet. At present, there were only three guests staying at the inn, including Hu Xiaotian.

Liang Dazhuang helped fill the wine glasses. After bathing, Murong Feiyi changed into a blue martial arts outfit, looking spirited. She sat down next to Hu Xiaotian and smiled, "Sorry to keep you all waiting."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "I always have patience for beautiful women."

Murong Feiyi gave him a glance and raised her wine glass, "After all the hardships, we finally made it to Qingyun. Let's all have a drink together." Everyone responded, and they drank three cups in one go. The wine was Su Guangju's homemade rice wine, with a clear yellow color, sweet and fragrant, and a smooth taste. Hu Xiaotian praised it highly and asked about its origin.

Su Guangju smiled and said, "This rice wine is homemade. The chickens, ducks, and vegetables we eat are all grown and raised by us."

Hu Xiaotian remarked, "Pure and natural, no pollution," which left the others momentarily stunned. This guy quickly changed the topic and asked about the inn's business.

Su Guangju said, "Just barely making ends meet. Although Qingyun County is located in a remote area, it has fertile land and beautiful scenery, making it a rich and prosperous place. Surrounded by mountains, it has been relatively peaceful since the founding of the Dakan Dynasty. There are many ethnic groups around, such as the Black Miao and the Dong Man, who have always lived in harmony. Over a hundred years ago, when Nanyue was established, the trade route between Nanyue and Dakan passed through Qingyun, making it an important transit point on this trade route. However, about ten years ago, a group of bandits emerged on Tianlang Mountain. They committed all sorts of crimes, from robbery to arson. Relying on the advantageous location of Tianlang Mountain, they controlled the vital route to Nanyue, turning a once prosperous trade route into a dangerous and bloody one. Without security, merchants were unwilling to take the risk of passing through Tianlang Mountain. As a result, the trade route gradually became deserted, and fewer merchants came, which naturally affected the prosperity of Qingyun." He put down his wine glass, sighed, and continued, "At the height of Qingyun's prosperity, there were no fewer than two hundred inns in the city. Now, only six are still in operation."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, "If that's the case, why doesn't the government send troops to eliminate the bandits?"

Su Guangju said, "They haven't stopped over the years. Every county magistrate has tried to eliminate the bandits, but each attempt has been more show than substance. The bandits have not only not decreased but have increased. A few months ago, the government even sent troops from Xizhou Prefecture, but they were also defeated and scattered. In the past, the bandits only operated in the mountainous areas and ancient paths, but later, due to the merchants taking detours, the bandits' livelihood was affected, and their range of robbery expanded. Almost all the villages around Qingyun have been robbed, and wherever they went, they burned, killed, and looted, leaving nothing behind."

Hu Xiaotian raised his wine glass and drank with Su Guangju. Murong Feiyi said, "The county seems quite peaceful."

Su Guangju chuckled, "Peaceful?"

Murong Feiyi said, "When we passed by the county office today, we heard that there hasn't been a lawsuit in Qingyun for over a year. The security in Qingyun seems good."

Su Guangju smiled bitterly, "No lawsuits because no one can afford them. Whether the defendant or the plaintiff, once they enter the county office, they are sure to be stripped of their skin. Our Magistrate Xu has a nickname, 'Three Feet of Blue Sky!'"

Hu Xiaotian understood what 'Three Feet of Blue Sky' meant—it was a euphemism for 'digging three feet deep.' From the information he had gathered, Magistrate Xu was undoubtedly a corrupt official.

Su Guangju, perhaps realizing he had said too much, got up to go and prepare the dishes.

After he left, Murong Feiyi said, "This county magistrate is not a good person and has a very poor reputation in Qingyun."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Did you go out just to gather this information?"

Murong Feiyi shook her head, "Do you remember the thin man who filed the complaint?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Murong Feiyi said, "I followed him all the way and found that he is not an ordinary person."

Hu Xiaotian was taken aback. When he saw the two men in court earlier, he thought they were just ordinary farmers. From Murong Feiyi's tone, it seemed there was more to the story.

Murong Feiyi said, "He received ten lashes in court, and at first, he seemed to have difficulty walking. This person is quite cautious. When no one was around, I saw him walk briskly, as if the ten lashes had not affected him at all. From his movements, I could tell he is skilled in martial arts. I followed him, and he went out of the south gate and entered a place called Hongliu Village, about three miles away."

Liang Dazhuang said, "Maybe he just lives there."

Murong Feiyi said, "He entered a large courtyard in Hongliu Village, and two people came out to greet him. They also seemed to be skilled in martial arts."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Could the thin man and the fat man have been deliberately deceiving us?"

Murong Feiyi nodded, "I think so. The fat man probably deliberately provoked Magistrate Xu to have him imprisoned. It seems there is a secret in the jail."

Although Hu Xiaotian had just arrived in Qingyun, he found that this small county was more complex than he had imagined. He was here to serve as the county magistrate's assistant, but Magistrate Xu was above him. From the information he had gathered, he had already determined that Magistrate Xu was a corrupt official. Hu Xiaotian naturally had the idea of bringing him down. Not only to eliminate a corrupt official for the people, but also to clear the way for himself and protect his own interests, which would be a win-win situation.

After lunch, Hu Xiaotian invited Murong Feiyi to stroll around the city. Though it was a casual stroll, it was actually an opportunity to understand the local customs and traditions. Due to its geographical location, Qingyun had a diverse ethnic mix, and it was common to see Black Miao and Dong Man people in the city. Although the market was not as bustling as in the capital, the local specialties still caught their attention.

Murong Feiyi stopped at a Black Miao vendor's stall, showing great interest in the handmade silver jewelry. The various ethnic groups lived together in harmony, and the Black Miao vendor was quite friendly to the Han people. Murong Feiyi played with a pair of Miao silver bracelets, picking them up and putting them down.

Seeing her interest, Hu Xiaotian wanted to buy a few pieces for her, but when he felt his pockets, he found only a few pieces of silver, which was not enough. Despite this, he still tried to act confidently and said to Murong Feiy, "What do you like? I'll buy it for you."

Murong Feiyi shook her head, "I don't want it!"

Just as Hu Xiaotian was about to ask the price, he heard someone shouting, "Kidnapping a bride! Kidnapping a bride!" Looking up, he saw five black horses galloping towards them, with five strong Black Miao men on them. The leader had dark skin and sharp features, and a red-clad woman was lying on his saddle, wearing the typical Black Miao silver jewelry. Her body trembled with the horse's movements. Four Black Miao men guarded the sides, and the shouts of "kidnapping a bride" came from them.

At first, Hu Xiaotian was taken aback, thinking it was the first time he had seen such a bold kidnapping. But he quickly realized it was a local custom, as many ethnic groups had the tradition of kidnapping brides. Seeing the crowd smiling and moving aside to watch, he became even more certain. He was about to tell Murong Feiyi to move aside and watch, but when he turned around, he found that she was already gone. Hu Xiaotian's heart sank as he searched for Murong Feiyi.

A blue figure had already leaped into the air, flying towards the leading Black Miao man.

Hu Xiaotian was right; the kidnapping was indeed a local custom. After a young Black Miao man chose an unmarried girl from his tribe, he could take her home by force and then find a matchmaker to arrange the marriage. Often, the couple had already known and loved each other before the kidnapping, and the act was more of a public display of ownership and a show of masculine charm. Otherwise, his four companions would not have shouted so openly.

Murong Feiyi, not understanding the local custom, was enraged by the sight of a woman being kidnapped in broad daylight and rushed forward. By the time Hu Xiaotian realized what was happening and tried to stop her, it was too late.

The Black Miao man was the most unfortunate. Before he could react, he was kicked off his horse and landed face-first on the ground, looking like a dog eating dirt. Murong Feiyi landed steadily on the horse, took the horse, and then picked up the red-clad Black Miao woman, jumping down and asking, "Miss, are you okay?"

The red-clad Black Miao woman was shocked and looked at the handsome young man in front of her, not knowing what to say. Although Black Miao women were open and friendly, being held by a man in public made her blush.

Murong Feiyi usually dressed as a man, so it was understandable that others mistook her for one. Before she could say more, the four Black Miao men had already arrived, as they were friends of the kidnapper and had come to support him.

Qingyun County was a place with a mix of ethnic groups, and the locals were familiar with each other's customs. They knew about the Black Miao custom of kidnapping brides, so they mostly smiled and watched, finding it interesting.

Murong Feiyi, by interfering, had stirred up a hornet's nest. Even the Black Miao people who had been watching the spectacle gathered around. Murong Feiyi pushed the Black Miao woman towards Hu Xiaotian, "Take her and go first, I'll cover the rear!"

Hu Xiaotian was truly at a loss, thinking, "My silly sister, why are you making trouble for yourself?" The Black Miao woman was pushed to Hu Xiaotian's side and looked back at Murong Feiyi with a lingering gaze.