“Captain, what’s going on?”
The veteran standing at the door ran over to support Iron Hammer.
Jin Feng’s heart tightened sharply.
He knew Iron Hammer’s character, if it wasn’t absolutely necessary, he would never abandon Tang Dongdong and Tang Xiaobei to return alone.
“Sir, quick, go save them.”
Iron Hammer’s left eye was beaten shut, his right eye barely a slit, his nose crooked, and his words slurred.
“Where are they?”
Though Jin Feng was worried about Iron Hammer, the priority was finding out where the Tang sisters were.
“Smelting, smelting workshop, entrance.”
Iron Hammer struggled to say.
“Who did this?”
“Don’t, don’t know.”
Iron Hammer finished, barely able to lift his head.
“Aqiang, take Iron Hammer to the doctor.”
Jin Feng shouted to the veteran, “Everyone else, grab your weapons!”
“Yes!”
The remaining veterans roared in unison, returning to their rooms.
Their shouts startled Guan Xiaorou and others talking inside, the women came out, just as the veteran helped Iron Hammer leave.
“Sir, what’s happened?” Qing Mulanzhou frowned, “How did Iron Hammer get beaten like this?”
“I don’t know either, Iron Hammer can’t speak clearly.”
Jin Feng shook his head, “He only said to go to the smelting workshop to save someone.”
“Who’s the enemy?”
“Iron Hammer said he didn’t know.”
Jin Feng said, “I’ve asked Da Liu to get weapons, you and the female soldiers watch the inn.”
“Zhao’s inn is run by the county governor, no one usually dares cause trouble here, leave a few to guard, I’ll go with you.”
Qing Mulanzhou said coldly, “I want to see who in Guangyuan County is bold enough to attack in the streets!”
Though she often bickered with Iron Hammer, it showed her closeness to him.
She wouldn’t bother with most people.
Seeing Iron Hammer beaten, her anger surged.
Jin Feng was about to speak when a scholar, led by a waiter, rushed in.
It was Young Master Zhou, whom Jin Feng met at the smelting workshop.
“Mr Jin, hurry to the smelting workshop, Miss Xiaobei, she’s been strung up by Wei’s tigress.”
Young Master Zhou panted.
“Strung up?” Jin Feng’s face darkened, “Why?”
“Wei’s tigress hates brothel girls, she met Miss Xiaobei on the road, someone must have told her Xiaobei’s identity, she spat at her, Iron Hammer cursed her, so she had her slaves beat him.”
Young Master Zhou caught his breath, “I wanted to mediate, but my father feared offending the tigress, so his slaves locked me in, I pried open a window to escape.”
“The county governor’s niece?” Jin Feng frowned, “The one who killed a girl in a brothel?”
“Yes, that’s her.”
Young Master Zhou nodded repeatedly.
“How many people does she have?”
“About a dozen.”
Young Master Zhou glanced around, advising, “Sir, report to the magistrate, but not the governor, the tigress is his niece, find Deputy Qin, he’s the only one in Guangyuan who can challenge the governor.”
In Dakang, the county’s highest official was the governor, commonly called the county governor, the deputy was appointed by the court to check the governor’s power.
“Deputy Qin is a family friend, I visited him a few days ago, shall I speak to him?” Qing Mulanzhou whispered to Jin Feng.
“Does Guangyuan’s governor hold a noble title?” Jin Feng asked.
“No,” Qing Mulanzhou shook her head, “As far as I know, only three nobles are in Guangyuan, Deputy Qin and two old generals from the previous emperor.”
“No title, then don’t bother.”
Jin Feng’s eyes narrowed, “This time, I’ll teach her a lesson.”
Few knew Qing Mulanzhou’s identity, it was one of Jin Feng’s trump cards, he didn’t want to expose it over a shrew.
“Fine, but you must let me come.”
Qing Mulanzhou had promised her brother not to act unless necessary.
Jin Feng thought, then nodded.
While they spoke, Amei had the female soldiers bring the horses.
The veterans, armed, lined up neatly before Jin Feng.
Da Liu brought Jin Feng a crossbow and long sword.
“Everyone, mount up!”
Jin Feng hung the crossbow and sword on the horse, gave the order, and the veterans mounted in unison.
“Young Master Zhou, thank you!”
Jin Feng saluted, then mounted with Qing Mulanzhou.
With a press of his legs, the horse neighed and bolted.
“This is trouble!”
Young Master Zhou paled, watching Jin Feng gallop off.
He thought Jin Feng would report to the authorities, not muster such a force.
Seeing the veterans’ fierce looks and the armoured female soldiers, clearly no ordinary slaves, Young Master Zhou found Jin Feng mysterious.
The smelting workshop wasn’t far from the inn, a few minutes by horse, just around the corner from the workshop’s gate.
“Mulanzhou, wait here, come when I call.”
Jin Feng reined in his horse.
“Why?” Qing Mulanzhou asked, puzzled.
“If we all go, we’ll scare the tigress off,” Jin Feng said coldly.
“You’re plotting again!”
Qing Mulanzhou understood, nodding, “Just in case, let Amei follow you.”
Jin Feng thought, then nodded.
He’d seen Amei’s skills, Iron Hammer and five guards couldn’t match her, bringing her gave him confidence.
The two rode out, seeing two people hung on a tree by the smelting workshop’s gate.
Who else but Tang Dongdong and Tang Xiaobei?
A bucket-shaped middle-aged woman stood before them, whip in her left hand, right hand on her hip, cursing loudly.
“I’ve seen plenty of sluts like you, I even killed one last time!”
The tigress pointed at Tang Xiaobei, spitting furiously, “I spit on you as a compliment, yet you dared have your slave curse me, you’re tired of living!”
She spat at Tang Xiaobei again.
“Madam Wei, I was wrong, I won’t do it again.”
Tang Xiaobei, knowing the tigress’s reputation, pleaded, “Punish me however you want, but my sister isn’t from a brothel, please let her go.”
“Anyone with a slut like you can’t be any good.”
The tigress sneered.
“Xiaobei, don’t beg her, when Sir arrives, she’ll get what’s coming!”
Tang Dongdong glared at the tigress.
“You dare threaten me, you slut!”
The tigress whipped Tang Dongdong’s leg, “I let that short-lived guard go ages ago, where’s your master?”
