Chapter 473: How Would You Like To Die?
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Just when the officers from the Northwestern Transportation Office were about to enter the workshop where the springs were manufactured, an icy voice filled with murderous intent rang out.
“Who dares to trespass into my manufacturing bureau…?”
The next thing that followed was the terrifying sound of something slicing through the air.
The horse-faced officer who sent Zhou Yong flying had just taken a step forward, but immediately jumped backward without thinking when he heard the terrifying noise.
BANG…! Dust flew everywhere. A white ash spear came flying from the distance like a bolt of lighting, then buried itself in the stone slab at the spring workshop’s entrance. The spearhead penetrated the slab, causing the ground within a radius of one meter around it to crack with a spider web pattern. Two-thirds of the three-meter-long spear was deeply buried into the ground, leaving the end of its handle vibrating like a bowstring after it hit the ground.
The spear that came flying seemed to carry an imposing aura. It immediately caused the countenance of those officers from the Northwestern Transportation Office to contort. The more timid ones couldn’t help but tremble after witnessing this display of might.
Yan Liqiang came with a group of soldiers from the manufacturing bureau. He swept his murderous eyes across the officers, just like a lion patrolling his own territory.
When Yan Liqiang arrived here, he saw the situation outside the spring workshop from afar. He took the spear from a soldier beside him without a second thought and threw it in that direction. As soon as he launched the spear, his terrifying strength stunned everyone including Shi Dafeng and Shen Teng who were walking with him. It had been a very long time since they last saw Yan Liqiang do something like that. Seeing that again sent a chill down their spines. They looked at each other and exchanged a message that only both them could understand through their eyes, then continued walking behind Yan Liqiang.
As soon as Liu An saw the horse-faced man, he immediately pointed at him and told Yan Liqiang, “Young Lord, it was that horse-faced man who beat Old Master’s steed and caused him to fall off…”
Yan Liqiang nodded then quickly walked over to the man with his own men behind him.
The horse-faced man shifted his gaze to Yan Liqiang and asked, “Who are you?”
Yan Liqiang only looked at him coldly as though he was looking at a corpse. He walked to Zhou Yong and pulled him up by the hand. “Are you alright?”
Zhou Yong wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth with a pained look on his face and got up while holding his chest. “I… I am alright. Please be careful, Protectorate General. The opponent… is strong…”
The other soldiers at the side also got up from the floor.
Yan Liqiang patted Zhou Yong on his arm and gave the other soldiers a nod. He turned around to face the officers from the Northwestern Transportation Office.
“So, you are Yan Liqiang?” The horse-faced man obviously figured out Yan Liqiang’s identity when he heard Zhou Yong address him. The spear that Yan Liqiang threw just now made him hold back a little, but he still had that arrogant look on his face and seemed fearless as though he had a backing. He spoke to Yan Liqiang like how a superior would to his subordinate.
“Hehe, good timing. I am Shi Zhiyao, Gan Province’s Patrol Examiner from the Northwestern Transportation Office. I am here on duty with the Vice Transport Commissioner Zhong today. Get your subordinates out of my way quickly so we can inspect whatever is in there, and I shall pardon their rudeness from earlier!”
Yan Liqiang took a deep breath and raised his hand to calm Shi Dafeng and the other soldiers behind him. He then sized up the Gan Province’s Patrol Examiner named Shi Zhiyao through his narrowed eyes before asking him a question. “Tell me, how would you like to die?”
“What was that?” Shi Zhiyao was somewhat taken aback. He blinked, even leaning his head to the side and dug his ear with his pinky finger as though he couldn’t believe what he just heard. “Say it one more time!”
“I asked, how would you like to die today?” Yan Liqiang remained to look calm as he spoke every word like he was asking something as normal as the price of a jin of pear at the market.
“HAHAHAHA!” Shi Zhiyao heard the question clearly. Instead of flying off the handle, he was roaring with laughter.
“This is the best joke I’ve ever heard in my life. Someone actually dares to threaten me here, in Gan Province, asking me how I would like to die? From the sounds of it, you’re planning to lay a finger on us? Tell me, isn’t it a joke that there are people actually asking for their clans to be executed? Ahaha…!”
“Of course it is. In the Great Han Empire, I’ve yet to see anyone who dares to lay a finger on us!” A fat man chimed in from the side, fawning over Shi Zhiyao.
“Everyone has been saying there is a genius boy from Gan Province’s Pingxi Prefecture who made a big name for himself in the Imperial Capital. I think he looks more like a fool who doesn’t know his place to me. As the patrol examiner for Gan Province, Lord Shi has already progressed into a Martial Grandmaster a year ago and has yet to meet a worthy opponent since then! In the northwestern region, even the Provincial Governor has to show him some respect! Who is prepared to throw away their life and lay a finger on my lord?”
The fat man was still grinning after saying all that. He then strutted forward from Shi Zhiyao’s side and came in front of Yan Liqiang. He fearlessly bowed down, stuck his head out, and patted the back of his neck noisily, “Come, come, come. Don’t talk about doing something to our Lord Shi first. I’ve heard enough empty threats before. You better take a look at the uniform I am wearing. If you have the guts, then take out your sword and chop my head off. You’re only a real man if blood is shed; just a scratch won’t count. All of you from the Northwestern Transportation Office look here. I, Liu Qingshan, shall put my life on the line here today. Come now, chop my head off! If you don’t dare to then you are…”
SNAP…!
All the noises immediately ceased. The outside of the spring workshop fell so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. It was as though time had stood still.
“How noisy.” Yan Liqiang said while shaking his head and stopped. “Killing someone like you will be like squashing a bug. There’s no need for me to use a sword!”
The head of the fat man who taunted Yan Liqiang was twisted 180 degrees. He was bending down with his head facing the ground just now. However, his face was facing toward the sky with the tip his nose pointing to his back now. His stiff body kept the strange posture for two seconds before his knees gave way and he collapsed in a heap before Yan Liqiang, causing dust to rise about a foot into the air. He was no longer moving, but his eyes were still wide open and staring at the sky…
“Y-Y-Y-… Y-YOU… W-WANT TO REVOLT AGAINST…!” An officer beside Shi Zhiyao pointed his finger at Yan Liqiang and shouted like a strangled duck. He tried to sound fierce, but his shaky voice betrayed him.
“So have you decided how you want to die today?” Yan Liqiang looked at Shi Zhiyao and repeated the same question again.
A sword gleam flashed by. Shi Zhiyao clenched his teeth and slashed toward Yan Liqiang’s neck with his sword in silent fury…