Chapter 21

The Hu man was not tall, appearing to be less than 170 centimeters. However, this guy was ruthless. Despite being almost bitten through the hand by the ugly girl, he still struggled. He glared with his eyes, gritted his teeth, and tried to pick up the saber from the ground. Yang Shouwen's spear pressed against his chest, finally making him stop struggling, but he continued to mutter incessantly. Although Yang Shouwen couldn't understand what he was saying, he could guess it wasn't anything good. Frowning, he took a step forward and kicked the man in the stomach. The Hu man let out a惨叫, curling up like a large shrimp, groaning continuously.

"Why did you kill Lüzhu?"

Yang Shouwen and Lüzhu didn't have much of a relationship, but he had a good impression of her.

The Hu man stopped groaning and quickly spat out a series of sounds, but unfortunately, Yang Shouwen didn't understand a single word.

"What is he saying?"

"He says Lüzhu stole from him and extorted him."

A Hu merchant ran over, translated, and then started cursing, "Lüzhu is a hardworking and honest woman; who doesn't know that in Guguzhu? How could she steal from you... If Lüzhu wanted money, she could have stayed in Chang'an long ago."

The Hu man's face changed, seemingly getting desperate.

He kept muttering, but it only provoked more curses from the surrounding people.

It seemed that Lüzhu had a good reputation in Guguzhu, which was why so many Hu merchants were standing up for her.

Yang Shouwen frowned and turned to look at the Hu merchant.

The Hu merchant said, "Young Master, there's no need to be troubled. Since this guy is so stubborn, we'll send him to the government office. We'll see if he remains stubborn then."

The Hu man's face changed, and he started shouting loudly.

But at that moment, a dagger flew out from the crowd, hitting him in the throat.

The Hu man fell backward, dead instantly. A series of gasps spread through the crowd, and people scattered to both sides. Yang Shouwen was also startled and quickly moved to the side, holding his spear and looking around cautiously.

However, the Hu people often carried weapons.

It was impossible to identify the killer from just a dagger.

Yang Shouwen shouted sternly, "Who, who is killing to silence someone?"

But the crowd was silent, and everyone looked terrified, with no one stepping forward.

Two deaths in a row seemed to foreshadow something... Yang Shouwen had a premonition that this matter was not so simple.

Perhaps Lüzhu really did steal and extort.

But what could be worth two lives?

Yang Shouwen's gaze, like two sharp swords, swept over the surroundings. When his gaze passed over the ugly girl crouching next to the body, a sudden idea flashed in his mind.

"Everyone, keep an eye on the people around you. Whoever leaves now is the killer."

After saying this, he tore a piece of cloth from his clothes, walked to the body, and pulled out the dagger.

He crouched down and brought the dagger close to the ugly girl's nose, whispering, "Ugly girl, help me with a favor. Smell it and find its owner."

The ugly girl looked confused, staring at Yang Shouwen.

Yang Shouwen put the dagger to his nose, made a sniffing motion, and then handed it to the ugly girl.

The ugly girl sniffed the dagger for a while.

Yang Shouwen patted her head gently, and the ugly girl immediately darted out, moving through the crowd. She sniffed everyone, making them extremely nervous. The scene of the ugly girl biting the Hu man's wrist was very frightening. They were unsure if the ugly girl would bite them.

Suddenly, the ugly girl stood next to a Hu merchant and started barking wildly.

The Hu merchant's face changed, and he suddenly drew a bright saber from his waist and swung it at the ugly girl. However, Yang Shouwen, who had been watching the ugly girl, noticed the Hu merchant's movement. As soon as the Hu merchant drew his saber, Yang Shouwen stepped forward, used a move called "Circle Blue Tiger Embrace," and grabbed the Hu merchant, lifting him up and slamming him to the ground. This "Circle Blue Tiger Embrace" was one of the Eight Golden Techniques taught by Yang Shouwen's grandfather, Yang Dafang, a powerful close-combat technique that relied on the strength of the arms.

It was said that the Eight Golden Techniques were originally a family martial art of the Yang family.

As for their origin, Yang Shouwen wasn't clear, but he remembered Yang Dafang saying that this technique could be used to fight a bear bare-handed.

Although the Hu merchant was strong, he couldn't withstand Yang Shouwen's throw and immediately passed out.

At this moment, a group of officials in black robes rushed over. Seeing the situation, they were also shocked.

Fortunately, the Hu merchant testified for Yang Shouwen, so the officials didn't become hostile. Their attitude changed, and they spoke more politely to Yang Shouwen when they heard that he was standing up for Lüzhu.

"Little Master, although you acted to right a wrong, the person died in front of you. We need you to come with us."

Yang Shouwen didn't refuse and quickly agreed.

Yang Chenglie had already warned him not to cause trouble.

Although this matter had nothing to do with him, he couldn't deny that he was involved.

Handing over his Tiger Swallow Spear to the officials, Yang Shouwen followed them to the Guguzhu County Office.

The Guguzhu County Office looked more like a fort.

There was a wooden fence outside, a large tent inside, and several smaller tents on both sides. In one corner of the fort, there were several wooden cages. According to the officials, these cages were the prison of Guguzhu County.

Fortunately, the officials didn't throw Yang Shouwen into the prison but let him stay in a small tent.

The officials then left the tent, and Yang Shouwen sat inside, bored, and eventually dozed off.

He didn't know how long he had slept when a commotion woke him up.

Soon, several officials walked in from outside the large tent, bowed to Yang Shouwen, and said, "Little Master, we have investigated the matter. It has nothing to do with you... You can leave now."

Just like that?

No interrogation, no questioning, and he could just leave?

Although Yang Shouwen found it strange, he didn't want to cause trouble for himself, so he quickly thanked them and got up to leave. The officials returned his Tiger Swallow Spear.

As he was escorted out of the fort, Yang Shouwen suddenly stopped.

He saw the ugly girl, with a bag around her neck, crouching outside the fort.

Seeing Yang Shouwen come out, the ugly girl wagged her tail and came up to him, crouching in front of him and barking twice.

She looked calm, as if saying, "You're out?"

Yang Shouwen's face lit up with surprise, and he quickly squatted down, reaching out to pet the ugly girl's head.

"Ugly girl, were you waiting for me?"

"Woof woof!"

The ugly girl barked again.

Yang Shouwen didn't understand dog language and didn't know what she was saying.

But he knew that the ugly girl had no ill intentions toward him; otherwise, she wouldn't have bitten the Hu man's wrist at noon and wouldn't have been waiting for him, waiting until now.

The sun was setting.

The evening light shone on the fort gate, on Yang Shouwen, and on the ugly girl.

Yang Shouwen stood up and smiled, saying, "Let's go. From now on, you and your children will follow me.

As long as I have food, I won't let your family go hungry... Come on, let's go back to the inn first, and I'll give you a bath."

He took a step forward, and the ugly girl followed behind him.

The evening light stretched their shadows long.

They headed toward the market, and faintly, they could hear the ugly girl's barks, accompanied by the barks of her puppies.

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When they returned to the inn, it was already dark.

Yang Shouwen didn't go to the large tent but brought the ugly girl and her family to the door of his own small tent.

Inside the tent, Yang Chenglie was sitting on a bed, reading the "Spring and Autumn Annals" by the oil lamp.

Seeing Yang Shouwen come in, he grunted and ignored him, focusing on the "Spring and Autumn Annals" again.

Yang Shouwen let the ugly girl and her family wait at the door, then entered the tent and sat opposite Yang Chenglie.

Yang Chenglie still ignored Yang Shouwen, making him feel uneasy.

His father had repeatedly warned him not to cause trouble, but he still got into trouble and was even thrown into the county office.

Opening his mouth, Yang Shouwen's eyes darted around, and he suddenly said, "Father, are you holding the book upside down?"

"Huh?"

Yang Chenglie was startled and quickly looked, but he found that the book wasn't upside down.

However, he hadn't been focusing on the book, thinking about how to discipline Yang Shouwen to teach him a lesson. But with Yang Shouwen's trick, Yang Chenglie couldn't continue to act aloof, so he frowned and said, "Hmph!"

"Father, I was wrong."

Yang Shouwen turned the page, and the advertisement began.

Yang Shouwen turned the page, and the advertisement ended.