A Pawn's Passage

The county government office was split into the front and back sections. The front of the government office was used for handling official business, while the back was the residence.

After the Green Phoenix Guards arrested Li Hongwen, the incumbent magistrate of Fengtai County, they imprisoned his family in the residence at the back of the county government office. They did not stir up much commotion but kept the Li family locked up in their respective rooms, not allowing them to leave.

On the other hand, Li Hongwen was imprisoned in his study.

While Zhou Feilong and Qi Xuansu were fighting in the front office, Li Sanxin and his guards walked along the corridor to Li Hongwen’s study. At this time, two Green Phoenix Guards were on duty in front of the room. Seeing Li Sanxin, the guards saluted him and unlocked the door per their superior’s orders.

Li Sanxin instructed the others to stand guard outside before he went into the study alone.

The study was simple, with only a desk, two chairs, and a bookshelf. The bookshelf was filled with all kinds of books. Aside from the Four Treasures of Study[1], as well as a brush washer, brush holder, paperweights, and other miscellaneous items, there were no other decorations on the desk. It was drab and unfit for a county magistrate.

At this time, Li Hongwen, the magistrate of Fengtai County, was sitting behind the desk. He was wearing a seventh-rank court robe and looked to be in his fifties, with a thin, scholarly face and a long beard. Judging by his appearance alone, he looked like a stereotypically honest official.

Li Sanxin picked up a chair against the wall with one hand and placed it opposite Li Hongwen’s desk. Then he took a seat in what was supposedly a subordinate’s position.

The county magistrate lowered his gaze, not reacting to Li Sanxin’s arrival. He also had no intention of getting up to greet the man.

Li Sanxin placed the gaiwan he was holding on the desk and broke the silence.

“According to the laws of the Great Xuan Dynasty, you are still considered an official member of the court until you are convicted, even though you are suspended from office. Although I’m here as the Emperor’s envoy tasked with handling this case, I will still show you my due respect and address you as Lord Li.”

The county magistrate still did not speak.

Li Sanxin didn’t mind his attitude and continued talking. “Lord Li, you and I are both officials of the Imperial Court. We serve the same emperor, so loyalty is most important to people like us. You consider yourself a loyal servant, but your accomplices are now attacking the county government office to rescue you. Lord Li, what’s your explanation for this?”

This sentence was no less than a blast of thunder that resounded in Li Hongwen’s ears. He suddenly looked up at Li Sanxin and scoffed. “Hmph! Serve the same emperor? Loyalty? Don’t think you can trick me by saying my accomplices are attacking the county government office! I have always been a loner. Actually, I would like to ask. Who exactly are you and your Lieutenant Colonel loyal to?”

“The Imperial Court, of course.” Li Sanxin raised his voice slightly. At the same time, he raised his hands in a fist-and-palm salute, facing the direction of the Capital. “The Green Phoenix Guards, myself included, have always been loyal to the Imperial Court.”

Li Hongwen sneered. “The court? Hah! You know what you did!”

With a gloomy expression, Li Sanxin jolted to his feet. “What do you mean by that, Lord Li?”

Li Hongwen looked fearless. “Whose order did the Green Phoenix Guards follow to arrest me this time? I doubt His Majesty issued the imperial order. The Chancellor must have ordered this, right? You accuse me of forming a party for personal gain, but pray tell, who am I allying with? What sort of personal gain am I getting, exactly? I think you’re just trying to find excuses to incriminate me.”

Li Sanxin suddenly chuckled and sat back on his chair. “Great! You’ve finally admitted it, Lord Li.”

The county magistrate’s expression changed. “What do you mean by this?”

Li Sanxin took a sip of the already cold tea in the gaiwan and asked, “Lord Li, do you know what the punishment is for making unfounded claims and framing court officials under the laws of the Great Xuan Dynasty?”

“I’m not afraid of death,” Li Hongwen said boldly.

“If you wanted to seek death, there are plenty of ways to take your own life. You can choose to hang, stab, or poison yourself. We can surely provide you with the tools if you don’t have them. Just take your pick!”

Li Sanxin then lowered his voice and added, “Lord Li, why are you dodging the situation? In fact, we can talk about it.”

Looking dignified, Li Hongwen asked, “Do you think I was born yesterday to believe we can still talk when we’ve reached this point?”

“But this involves the survival of your entire family, Lord Li.” Li Sanxin warned.

The county magistrate remained silent.

Li Sanxin continued, “Before I came to Fengtai County, the Lieutenant Colonel told me everything is negotiable as long as you hand over that item, Lord Li. The Lieutenant Colonel may not be able to keep you alive, but he can save your family members. To him, it’s just a matter of adding or subtracting a few entries in the files. Don’t you think confiscation and exile are better outcomes than having your entire family executed?”

Li Hongwen asked, “What if I refuse to hand it over?”

Sighing helplessly, Li Sanxin stood up from his chair again. “If you’re unwilling to talk, the Lieutenant Colonel will also be able to explain the situation.”

Li Hongwen merely stared at Li Sanxin.

The latter said casually, “Well then, you and your family can continue staying in Fengtai County. I hope you’ll consider it carefully.”

“There’s nothing to consider.” Li Hongwen looked determined and refused without hesitation. “I won’t give it to you.”

Li Sanxin’s eyes turned vicious. He did not utter a word and merely turned to leave the study.

With a wave of his hand, the Green Phoenix Guards outside the study immediately greeted him and waited for his instructions.

Li Sanxin was silent for a moment before remarking, “The heavens care for every living being. The Lieutenant Colonel also has a kind heart.”

The several Green Phoenix Guards did not speak and waited for further orders.

Li Sanxin paused for a moment. His expression turned gloomy, and then he continued, “But there are always some stubborn people who don’t appreciate the Lieutenant Colonel’s kindness.”

It was not the guards’ first day on the job; hence, they knew that the assistant major probably wanted someone dead.

A senior captain of the Green Phoenix Guard responded, “Sir, please give us your orders.”

Li Sanxin closed his eyes and spoke in a nonchalant tone. “Li Hongwen knows too much. If we send him to prison, it will cause unnecessary entanglements, which will be a bit troublesome. That leaves us with no choice but to choose the lesser of the two evils. He must stay in Fengtai County.”

The senior captain steeled himself. He understood that “stay” meant eternal rest for Li Hongwen.

Li Sanxin continued, “Li Hongwen has many old friends of the same age. If this isn’t done properly, it’ll cause rumors and arouse discussion in the court. That will be detrimental to us. So, you know the rules. Make him disappear.”

The senior captain immediately answered, “Yes, sir. You won’t see his body.”

Li Sanxin opened his eyes and looked at the senior captain. Then, he lowered his voice slightly. “Also, don’t forget about his family members. Spare no one. I want them all dead.”

The senior captain obliged. “Yes, sir!”

Li Sanxin looked at another scholarly-looking Green Phoenix Guard captain and ordered, “Prepare the case file and blame the murder of the county magistrate on the rebel outside. Just say that he attacked the Green Phoenix Guard and obstructed justice by killing the witness. It just so happens that so many of our brothers have died in the front. Blame all their deaths on that rebel. This time, we must make a solid case without letting anything through the cracks.”

The Green Phoenix Guard captain quickly responded, “Rest assured, sir.”

Li Sanxin waved his hand in dismissal, and all the Green Phoenix Guards immediately dispersed.

Soon, Li Sanxin heard footsteps, doors opening, swords unsheathing, and Li Hongwen’s family member’s final cries before facing death coming from the back residence.

Li Sanxin turned a deaf ear to this and stood under the eaves, looking at the rain curtain outside. He was still holding his gaiwan and sipping tea.

Rainy days were indeed a good time to kill.

When Li Sanxin finally drank the last sip of tea, someone walked in from the front office.

The man was soaked from head to toe, but there was no trace of blood on him. Instead, his hands were full, with a Slim Tiger Saber in his right and a decapitated head in his left.

The young man in the bamboo hat tossed over the decapitated head to Li Sanxin and threatened him. “This assistant major didn’t want to talk, so I had no choice but to kill him. It makes me wonder if you’re more willing to talk to me.”

Li Sanxin lowered his head and looked at the head that rolled to his feet. Zhou Feilong’s dead eyes, which were still wide open, stared back at him.

However, since he joined the Green Phoenix Guard, Li Sanxin has had no fear of ghosts or gods. Zhou Feilong could not do anything to Li Sanxin when he was alive, let alone dead.

Li Sanxin raised one foot and crushed the head of the colleague who had been chatting and laughing with him not long ago. He even scraped the sole of his boot, which was tainted with brain matter, on the edge of the steps.

After that, Li Sanxin looked up at the person who had walked over. He narrowed his eyes and praised, “You’re a good fighter.”

The man was indifferent, showing no trace of joy or anger.

An imperceptible hint of worry flashed in Li Sanxin’s eyes.

There was nothing to worry about if this man was ordinary. If this man was a Xiantian being, then Li Sanxin should not underestimate him.

There was a reason powerful families in the Capital spared no effort to win over Xiantian masters. In addition to doing shady work for them, they wanted these masters to protect their families.

If Li Hongwen had a master who was as capable as this man in front of Li Sanxin, then the situation would not have unfolded as such when the Green Phoenix Guards came to arrest the county magistrate.

Li Sanxin was just worried, not afraid. He was not a loser like Zhou Feilong. At a young age, Li Sanxin had already become a lower-sixth-rank assistant major and would soon be promoted to an upper-sixth-rank major. Naturally, he had some skills to keep his position.

When Li Sanxin spoke again, his voice suddenly deepened. “Why did you come here alone to kill my fellow guards?”

Qi Xuansu replied, “I’m just following orders. I’m sure you understand.”

“Of course, I understand!” Li Sanxin nodded. “People like us don’t call the shots. We have no choice but to fight to the death. So please, make your move.”

Qi Xuansu did not reply. He stepped on the bluestone floor, creating a circle of spider web-like cracks, before he lunged forward.

Li Sanxin smiled faintly and threw out the gaiwan he had been holding. It disappeared in a flash.

The next second, the gaiwan appeared right in front of Qi Xuansu.

This flying gaiwan spun non-stop, circling Qi Xuansu as if it had a mind of its own. Thus, Qi Xuansu had no choice but to stop on the spot.

1. Traditional Chinese must-have stationery items include brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone. ☜