Chapter 122: Who Dares Touch My Tiger Armor Army?!
Lv Jinhui picked up the inkstone from the desk and smashed it down hard, furious beyond measure:
"Feng Dianji, this officer has tolerated you again and again for your merit in exterminating the Blood Evil Sect, but your attitude today is so vile, even if you truly have nothing to do with the Blood Evil Sect, I can still charge you with the great crime of defying superiors and being insolent!"
"Captain Qiu, arrest Feng Yuan!"
Qiu Li paused, his eyes signaling the constables beside him to take action.
Lin Zhenwu, Shao Pengshu refused to allow it, Fang Xiao stepped forward, blocking in front of Feng Yuan.
"Good, very good. You think that by earning a little credit, this officer truly doesn’t dare arrest you?" Lv Jinhui’s face was frosted, his gaze cold as it swept over the group:
"Law of the Great Qin Dynasty: even the emperor and commoners are punished alike; you have defended Chu Ming, Fang Xiao, Feng Yuan—three men guilty of rebellion—again and again. Even if the Lord County Governor were to arrive today, I would determine right and wrong myself!"
"Anyone who obstructs this officer’s investigation shall be arrested for attempted rebellion!"
The County Governor could not possibly come here; Lv Jinhui’s words were only borrowing authority.
But, Baiyuan County has no County Governor, yet it does have...
Roar——
Just then, outside the county yamen, an ear-splitting shriek echoed.
"Who dares touch my Tiger Armor Army?!"
The people hadn’t arrived, but their voice preceded them.
Huo Buyan, leading several captains, rode Blazing Fire Tiger Horses straight over the county government’s high walls, leaping into the interior.
Thick waves of blood reeked from the breaths of the Blazing Fire Tiger Horses, their flaming red manes seemed to burn without wind, spreading a terrifying aura.
On horseback, Huo Buyan lowered his gaze toward the main hall. Just one look, and the previously arrogant Lv Jinhui’s expression instantly changed, his spine chilled, as if sitting on needles.
He rushed to his feet, bowing toward Huo Buyan outside the hall: "Commander Huo."
Yet, Huo Buyan didn’t even look at Lv Jinhui, his calm face emanating an indescribable oppressive atmosphere, surging at Lv Jinhui from all sides.
The Tiger Armor Army Commander, equivalent to Fourth Grade in rank—even the County Governor and County Magistrate of Xirong County are cautious before him. A Fifth Grade Merit Officer Goong like Lv Jinhui is of no concern to Huo Buyan.
Roar——
Huo Buyan didn’t speak, and as he did, Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander Meng Zhen, riding behind him, had his warhorse suddenly bolt. Its four hooves stomped like a runaway wild horse, charging directly toward the hall.
Lv Jinhui immediately trembled all over, his legs suddenly losing their bones, collapsing heavily backward—if not for the chair stopping him, he would have been injured by the fall.
Seeing the Blazing Fire Tiger Horse about to trample Lv Jinhui, Meng Zhen suddenly swung his arm, barely reining in the warhorse at the last moment.
His gaze dropped, disdainfully looking over the man beneath the war horse’s hooves: "Fang Xiao is a soldier of my Tiger Armor Army; all matters of reward and punishment are decided by us. Since when does a Merit Officer Goong like you get a say?!"
Meng Zhen’s voice thundered like a bell, replacing the iron hooves with a heavy blow to Lv Jinhui’s chest.
Lv Jinhui slumped in his chair, sweat beads as big as beans rolling down his forehead.
He was just a civil servant, never before had he faced such peril; just now, he felt his heart nearly leap out of his throat.
The county hall was so silent a pin could drop, no one dared speak, even breathing was careful.
The oppression of the Blazing Fire Warhorse was simply overwhelming.
It wasn’t just the warhorse—it was the men riding them!
Lv Jinhui knew Meng Zhen, Ten Thousand Soldiers Commander of the Tiger Armor Army, rank equivalent to Fifth Grade, yet his intimidation was far greater than a Merit Officer Goong like himself.
As for Inspector Qiu Li, although his cultivation was already Strong Bone Realm middle stage, he was still nothing before the Tiger Armor Army mounted on Blazing Fire Tiger Horses.
Just a few people from Huo Buyan’s side arriving instantly reversed the entire situation.
This was the might of the Tiger Armor Army!
After a long while, Lv Jinhui finally recovered, forcing himself to speak: "Commander Huo, this subordinate only wishes to arrest Lord of the Classics Feng Yuan of Baiyuan County. He is insolent, defies authority..."
He knew Fang Xiao was once a Tiger Armor Army Squad Leader; he hadn’t expected that the former Squad Leader would still be shielded so fiercely by the Tiger Armor Army.
Protecting Fang Xiao meant protecting his kin—Chu Ming.
No choice, Lv Jinhui could only use Feng Yuan as a stepping stone, trying to preserve his dignity as a Merit Officer Goong.
Lord of the Classics Feng Yuan?
Huo Buyan’s gaze landed on Feng Yuan.
He did not know Feng Yuan, nor did Feng Yuan know him.
But just one glance, Huo Buyan concluded this Lord of the Classics called Feng Yuan was on Fang Xiao’s side.
He gently stroked the warhorse’s mane, as if caressing fiercely burning red flames, acting as if he didn’t hear Lv Jinhui’s words, his voice deep and low: "The Criminal Defense Bureau of Baiyuan County assisted the Tiger Armor Army in exterminating the Blood Evil Sect who illegally forged armor; by order, I have come to bestow rewards."
Saying this, he tapped his toe and leaped off the Blazing Fire Tiger Horse: "Criminal Defense Bureau’s Lin Zhenwu, Shao Pengshu."
"Yes..." The two were somewhat at a loss and hurriedly cupped their hands in salute.
"Lin Zhenwu, leading the bureau’s constables, assisted my Tiger Armor Army in exterminating the Blood Evil Sect and has the heart to return to the Tiger Armor Army. By order of Commander Xiang, from today, Lin Zhenwu shall be Tiger Armor Army Decurion; Shao Pengshu, Squad Leader."
Ah?
Lin Zhenwu was instantly ecstatic.
Shao Pengshu, however, looked troubled.
Squad Leader is no match for the Junior Seventh-Grade Criminal Defense Guard; he himself isn’t keen to join the Tiger Armor Army.
Huo Buyan looked to Fang Xiao again: "Former Tiger Armor Army Squad Leader Fang Xiao, bold and brave, helped the Tiger Armor Army’s Chiliarch Ling Hao and Centurion Ji Yong defeat the Blood Evil Sect masters. By order of Commander Xiang, Fang Xiao is appointed Centurion."
That night, during the siege of the Blood Evil Sect, Chu Ming disguised himself as Fang Xiao, charging alone into the fire-oil encirclement. Many constables of the Criminal Defense Bureau witnessed it, though the actual fight inside was unclear.
To prevent any incident before returning to the Tiger Armor Army, Huo Buyan improvised, using the Centurion promotion as a cover.
Centurion?
Lin Zhenwu, Shao Pengshu froze for a moment, then understood what was happening.
The Tiger Armor Army was shielding Fang Xiao; they couldn’t let outsiders know that the strong Bone Realm master and Young Master of the Blood Evil Sect died at Fang Xiao’s hands.
A Centurion’s rank isn’t so high as to draw much attention, but it ties Fang Xiao closely to the Tiger Armor Army.
Touch Fang Xiao—touch the Tiger Armor Army.
With that, Fu Chang and Liu Sitong, finally had their tense nerves relax; Feng Yuan, too, quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Fang Xiao’s promotion to Centurion, with the Tiger Armor Army’s dominance, meant for the time being no one would dare move against Chu Ming.
Yet Inspector Qiu Li and Merit Officer Goong Lv Jinhui’s expressions were complicated—their eyes full of suppressed fury.
"Commander Huo," Lv Jinhui, seeing Huo Buyan finish bestowing the rewards, stammered: "This subordinate only means to..."
But as he began to speak, Huo Buyan tapped his toes, leaped onto the Blazing Fire Tiger Horse, his voice icy: "Centurion Fang is my Tiger Armor Army Centurion; anyone who dares oppose Centurion Fang opposes my Tiger Armor Army, opposes me, Huo Buyan!"
Lv Jinhui’s face changed repeatedly upon hearing this.
Though not addressed to him, the meaning couldn’t be clearer.
Once again, the hall fell into oppression.
"Lv Gongcao," Fang Xiao stepped forward to stand in front of Feng Yuan, brimming with confidence: "Feng Dianji is my close friend, Chu Librarian is my dearest kin."
Just these two sentences, the oppressive aura unique to the Tiger Armor Army enveloped Lv Jinhui and Qiu Li’s hearts.
These words declared Fang Xiao’s stance: touch Feng Yuan or Chu Ming, and you touch Fang Xiao.
Touch Fang Xiao—touch the Tiger Armor Army!
Lv Jinhui and Qiu Li’s faces were ugly, anger simmering yet helpless.
This was the crushing force brought by absolute strength—even with the County Governor of Xirong County behind Lv Jinhui.
"Today’s affair ends here." Huo Buyan looked to Lv Jinhui: "Any objections?"