Chapter 173: Sacrificing the Innocent Is ‘Worth It’

“You must be insane! I think you’re possessed!”

Magistrate Lu abruptly stood up, grabbed everything on the table, and hurled it at Zhao Quan!

With every throw, he cursed, calling him a “useless fool”!

Only when the table was completely emptied did he finally wave his hand in anger and shout, “Come! Tie him up for me!”

But despite his order, the constables in the room remained motionless.

Furious to the point of distortion, Magistrate Lu bellowed, “Fine! Fine! You’re all rebelling now, is that it?”

“Do you all want to play heroes?”

“I’ll grant your wish!”

“You can all take responsibility for this matter! Tomorrow, I’ll hand every last one of you over to Zheng Wuwei to vent his anger!”

“And don’t worry—I won’t personally send your families to him… but if Zheng Wuwei comes looking for them himself, I certainly won’t order anyone to stop him!”

In the hall below, Zhao Quan raised his bloodstained blade, his face calm. “Magistrate Lu, to be honest, you’re a disgrace to that official robe you wear…”

“Impudent!” Magistrate Lu’s face darkened as if ink could drip from it. He pointed at Zhao Quan and shouted, “How dare you insult a county magistrate! Do you have a death wish?”

“You sit in that seat and are—” Zhao Quan hadn’t even finished speaking when the old constable beside him suddenly stepped forward and covered his mouth.

“Say no more!” The old constable muttered as he pressed down Zhao Quan’s raised right hand.

Zhao Quan, caught off guard, had no defense against him. As soon as he lowered his weapon and turned back toward Magistrate Lu—

A sharp numbness struck the back of his neck. His vision went black, and his body collapsed!

The old constable had seized the opportunity and struck the base of Zhao Quan’s neck with a swift palm. The heavy blow knocked him unconscious instantly.

This scene shocked everyone present!

The old constable caught Zhao Quan as he fell, carefully lowering him to the ground. Then, he turned to Magistrate Lu, clasped his hands, and said, “Magistrate Lu, I believe you are right! Sacrificing a few irrelevant people to save many more is worth it!”

Hearing this, Magistrate Lu burst into laughter. “Good! The older, the wiser. More years, more sense—much clearer vision than that fool Zhao Quan!”

“When this is all over, I’ll strip Zhao Quan of his position and make you the new head constable!”

“Thank you, Magistrate!” The old constable bowed deeply, then turned to the remaining constables and commanded sternly, “Come! Tie up Captain Zhao and throw him into the woodshed under strict watch!”

The constables exchanged glances, their expressions complicated beyond words.

Seeing their hesitation, Magistrate Lu slammed the table. “What? Did you not hear Captain Luo?”

“If you’re really planning to throw your lives away over this, then I won’t lift a finger to save you!”

A second later, the constables moved as one, fetching ropes and binding Zhao Quan tightly.

“Now that’s more like it! Don’t throw your lives away for some nonsense about righteousness and morality!”

“That’s something only saints do!”

With a sneering laugh, Magistrate Lu beckoned to the old constable. The latter immediately stepped forward and leaned in to listen.

After receiving his orders, the old constable nodded firmly. “I will not fail you, Magistrate.”

Then, he led the constables away with Zhao Quan in tow.

The bitter wind howled, and the snow piled ever higher along the road.

Two figures, one tall and one short, trudged slowly through the frozen landscape.

Mao Cuicui, her mind filled with unanswered questions, caught sight of De Ping Courtyard ahead and asked, “Miss Mu, weren’t you even a little afraid back there?”

“I’m not afraid.”

“Why not?”

“With Mr. Gu here, nothing will go wrong.”

“Mr. Gu? But he never showed up the entire time…”

Mu Sheng gave no response. Instead, she quickened her pace, ascended the steps, and pushed open the unlocked courtyard gate before stepping inside.

Seeing this, Mao Cuicui tactfully refrained from asking further. She followed closely behind and shut the gate after entering.

At that moment, the room facing the courtyard was open, revealing Gu Ning’an hunched over his desk, writing something with a brush.

Upon hearing the noise at the entrance, he didn’t look up and simply said, “Mu Sheng, take Ms. Mao to your room to rest.”

“Alright.” Mu Sheng nodded and was about to lead Mao Cuicui when the latter quickly stepped into the room and bowed slightly to Gu Ning’an. “Mr. Gu, was it you who… killed and saved us just now?”

Gu Ning’an continued writing, his gaze never lifting. “No.”

“Uh…” Mao Cuicui hesitated for a moment before asking, “Do you know what just happened?”

Dipping his brush into ink, Gu Ning’an replied, “I do.”

But if Mr. Gu had been at home the whole time, how could he know?

Judging by Mu Sheng’s expression, could it be that Mr. Gu was hiding in the shadows earlier?

And what about Brother A’Yong wielding the blade… Did I really see that, or was I mistaken?

Staring at Gu Ning’an for a long while, Mao Cuicui suddenly asked, “Sir, we were almost in danger just now, but then a blade suddenly flew through the air and killed those villains… Do you know what happened?”

Gu Ning’an answered flatly, “After Huang Yong died, his lingering resentment remained. It turned into a vengeful spirit seeking revenge.”

“Brother A’Yong!” Mao Cuicui gasped, covering her mouth. “Where is his soul now?”

“After taking his revenge, he has gone where he is meant to go.”

Upon hearing this, Mao Cuicui’s eyes welled up with tears, which soon streamed down her face. “Sir… has he gone to reincarnate? If I die now, can I catch up to him?”

Thud!

Gu Ning’an placed his brush down and looked up. “You won’t catch up.”

With a plop, Mao Cuicui fell to her knees, covering her face as she sobbed. “S-sir… is there any way for me to see him one last time?”

“The dead cannot return to life. Please accept this and move on…” Gu Ning’an’s tone suddenly shifted. “Before he left, Huang Yong asked me to erase your memories of him… I agreed, but the choice is yours—do you want this or not?”

“No! No!” Mao Cuicui shook her head frantically. “I can’t forget Brother A’Yong!”

Gu Ning’an picked up a sheet of rice paper, folded it into a long strip, and slipped it into a prepared envelope. “Alright.”

Knock, knock, knock!

“Mr. Gu, are you there?”

Creak!

Seeing that the door was unlocked, the person outside pushed it open and stepped in.

The newcomer was dressed in the earth-yellow uniform of a constable—it was the old constable surnamed Luo.

“Ah, perfect! Everyone’s here!” The old constable muttered to himself, looking anxious as he strode toward Gu Ning’an and the others.

“Huh? Why is Ms. Mao kneeling on the ground?”

“The weather is cold; be careful not to catch a chill!”

As he spoke, the old constable reached out, intending to help Mao Cuicui up.

However, having developed a strong aversion to constables, Mao Cuicui immediately waved her hands and stepped aside, saying, “No need,” before getting up on her own and moving away.

Left with his hand awkwardly suspended in midair, the old constable chuckled and withdrew it. “Since you two young ladies have returned home safely, I assume you’ve already told Mr. Gu about what happened earlier?”