31: Chapter 31 Searching the Mountains

"Did something happen to Dad!"

Ye Yi rushed forward, clutching Ye Xuan's collar tightly, his eyes bloodshot.

Wu Guiyun and Liu Xianglan also looked at Ye Xuan in panic, tears on the verge of falling.

Ye Xuan remained silent, his eyes filled with sorrow.

"Big Brother! Say something!"

Seeing his silence, Ye Yi grew even more anxious, the strength in his hands tightening further.

"Did something happen to Dad? I'm going into the mountains to find him!"

Ye Yi had relied on Ye Jing the most since childhood; losing his father was his greatest fear. As soon as he finished speaking, he shoved Ye Xuan aside and turned to rush toward the mountain path with reckless impulse.

Ye Xuan lunged forward, grabbing Ye Yi's hand and pulling him back: "Second Brother! You can't go. The outlaws in the mountains are fierce! Let the people from the yamen come to support us!"

Having said that, he shouted to Qian Wang, who was still standing there in a daze: "Village Chief! Go report this to the authorities immediately! If anything happens to Lord Duan, it's all over!"

Startled back to his senses by Ye Xuan's roar, the terrified Qian Wang's lips trembled as he shouted: "Quickly, go to town and find the Inspector!"

The villagers following Qian Wang ran toward the edge of the village in a panic, some even losing their shoes in their haste.

For a moment, many in the village were filled with alarm, and the Ye family in particular was in a state of chaotic distress.

"Big Brother! Don't stop me! I'm going into the mountains to save Dad!" Ye Yi struggled and cried out.

Wu Guiyun and Liu Xianglan also said stubbornly: "That's right! We can't leave Dad alone in the mountain forest!"

"We don't want anything to happen to Grandpa!" Ye Tianyao and Ye Tianhao also tilted their small faces up, crying.

Ye Xuan looked at his panicked family and secretly noted that the other villagers were also very fearful.

He nodded and said: "Second Brother, don't be anxious! Lord Duan still has the strength to fight the outlaws. We must wait patiently for the yamen's men to arrive. Do not be impulsive!"

Ye Yi clenched his fists and stared fixedly at the distant Qinling Mountains. Just as he was about to argue, Ye Xuan patted his shoulder.

He whispered: "Second Brother, trust Dad!"

At these words, Ye Yi's eyes widened. Seeing Ye Xuan so calm, he wondered if his father really was alright.

Gritting his teeth, Ye Yi could only suppress his unease for now and listen to Ye Xuan.

"Gui Yun, take the children and Sister-in-law home first. I'll handle things here," Ye Xuan said in a heavy voice.

Wu Guiyun and Liu Xianglan looked at each other. Seeing Ye Xuan's composure, they had no choice but to listen and head home first.

A round trip between Liu Village and Yuanhe Town took several hours.

Qian Wang arrived at the yamen with Ye Xuan and Ye Yi, but the yamen had not yet opened, and no one answered their knocking.

They waited at the entrance until broad daylight, when the tall, black gates finally groaned open and a Gatekeeper in official robes stepped out.

Having waited so long, Qian Wang finally saw someone come out and hurriedly called out: "Sir! Could I see the Inspector? I have a major matter to report!"

The Gatekeeper saw a villager in coarse clothes and his eyes filled with contempt: "Where did you savages come from? Do you even know what place this is? Do you think the Inspector is someone you can see whenever you want? Get lost, don't be an eyesore here!"

As he spoke, he waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away something filthy.

Sweating with anxiety, Ye Yi stepped forward: "Officer, constables came to our Liu Village to catch a bandit. That bandit is extremely powerful, and I've come to beg the Inspector for reinforcements!"

Hearing this and seeing the villager's face covered in injuries, the Gatekeeper's eyes widened when the mention of capturing bandits came up. He straightened his posture: "Bandit? What bandit?!"

Qian Wang said with a mournful face: "I don't know what kind of bandit, but Lord Duan Peng led a team into Liu Village yesterday to capture them. We are here to request aid."

The Gatekeeper's blood ran cold upon hearing this, and he cursed: "Damn it, why are you only getting here now!"

The Gatekeeper sprinted all the way to the outer area of the Inspector's office. Ignoring the protocols for announcing visitors, he shouted inside: "Sir! Sir! It's an emergency! Head Constable Duan is trapped while capturing bandits in Liu Village and has sent people for reinforcements!"

Inside, Inspector Li Kun, who was currently sipping fragrant tea, looked up with a deep frown: "Why such panic? It's unbecoming. Duan Peng was capturing bandits; why would he be trapped?"

At that moment, Guo Zhengning, who had been invited by Li Kun for tea, also looked up in surprise.

"I do not know the specifics, but the messengers are villagers from Liu Village, waiting outside the yamen!" The Gatekeeper panted, bowing as cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Li Kun put down his brush, stood up, and said solemnly: "Bring them in!"

Qian Wang, Ye Xuan, and Ye Yi entered the hall. Ye Xuan noticed Inspector Li Kun in his green official robes, along with a strange, burly man.

This burly man was solemn and well-built, his temples bulging high—clearly a powerful individual.

Upon seeing the Inspector, Qian Wang's legs began to tremble uncontrollably: "I... Inspector..."

His voice shook so much he couldn't even speak in a coherent sentence.

Seeing this, Ye Xuan stepped forward and bowed to Li Kun. Though his voice carried a hint of urgency, he was much more composed than Qian Wang: "Sir, I am Ye Xuan. Yesterday, Lord Duan led a team to our village to capture a bandit. That bandit's skills are extremely fierce, and Lord Duan is already locked in a bitter struggle. We urgently need the government's support; please send troops immediately!"

Li Kun's gaze swept over the three of them. He saw that although Ye Xuan's face was scarred and his clothes were worn, he remained calm. Then he looked at Ye Yi, whose eyes were bloodshot and whose clenched fists had veins popping out, radiating a suppressed fury.

Only Qian Wang was trembling with nerves.

Li Kun thought to himself. A few months ago, he had received orders from above to hunt down a group of wandering horse bandits known as the Tiger Gang.

The County Magistrate had mobilized all local yamens to capture them along their route. Among them, the leader of the Tiger Gang was very formidable—a Peak Second-Stage Martial Artist who wielded a great saber. Several other minor leaders had also fled into Yanggu County.

Li Kun had followed the Magistrate's orders to help capture the criminals. As soon as he heard a minor leader of the horse bandits had fled into his jurisdiction at Liu Village, he had immediately sent men there to make an arrest.

He hadn't expected the bandit who fled to Liu Village to be so powerful that even Duan Peng, the strongest constable in their yamen, would be trapped in a bitter fight.

Furthermore, a whole night had passed since the fighting began; it was possible Duan Peng was already dead.

Li Kun's small yamen had no one else left to use.

"Sir?" Ye Xuan asked as a reminder when he saw the Inspector remain silent.

Li Kun snapped back to reality, his eyes filled with helplessness as he looked toward Guo Zhengning, who was calmly drinking tea, as if for help.

If that bandit continued to do as he pleased in Liu Village and others, causing tragedies...

Losing his position as Inspector would be secondary; his greatest fear was that the County Magistrate would charge him with dereliction of duty, which could cost him his head.

Guo Zhengning happened to be a Second-Stage Martial Artist; perhaps he could get him to help.

Li Kun asked: "Brother Guo, look at this matter... That boy Duan Peng probably can't hold out much longer. That minor leader of the Tiger Gang might be a tough nut to crack, likely having the cultivation of at least a Martial Artist. I truly have no one left in the yamen to use.

We are old acquaintances, and you are a genuine Second-Stage Martial Artist. For today's matter, I must trouble you to lend a hand!"

Guo Zhengning put down his teacup. He glanced at the villagers below and then looked up at Li Kun, his eyes calm and unreadable: "Inspector Li, this is a matter of the government catching thieves. By rights, it has nothing to do with an idle person like me."

Li Kun's expression turned anxious as he quickly added: "Brother Guo, you joke! If you can help, not only will you save Duan Peng, but capturing that horse bandit leader would be a massive achievement! I will certainly report it truthfully to the County Magistrate to request rewards and honors for you!"

Below them, Ye Xuan heard the Inspector address the burly man as "Brother Guo" and mention he was a Second-Stage Martial Artist.

Could this Martial Artist be Guo Zhengning, the martial arts hall master who had bought their family's golden spirit rice?