Chapter Thirty: A Severe Beating

  "This is going to kill the official and rebel?"

  Before Gao Feng could say a second word, another person at the street corner shouted loudly. This crime is even greater. In the capital city, this is indeed an unforgivable sin. A single constable may not be anything, but constables are official officials, and although their status is lowly, they represent the government, representing the dignity of the Great Xia system. Touching an official is, in a big way, killing an official and rebelling, making enemies with the capital's Forbidden Army, Taoist temples, sects, aristocratic families, and even the entire Great Xia.

  At the street corner, a dozen or so people appeared again. The leader was wearing the formal uniform of the Zhongjing Prefecture government office, while the others were dressed as constables, each holding weapons and looking tense and ready to strike.

  There are many heroes and extraordinary people in the world, but those who dare to offend officials in the capital are extremely rare. This is also where the courage of the constables comes from. According to their usual experience, if a heroic or extraordinary person knows what's good for them, they should leave now and not invite more trouble. It's easy to fight against a few constables, but it's foolish to confront the authorities.

  So seeing people lying all over the ground, these new catchers were not afraid at all. However, this young man in ordinary clothes was not what they had imagined.

  Gao Feng took out his own waist card and shouted loudly:

  "Constable Zhang is handling the case, these bandits want to kill officials and rebel, these two officials are colluding with the bandits, you've come just in time, take all of them back to interrogate!"

  No one had expected such an answer, and the team on the other side was stunned. It was certain that they couldn't beat the opponent, who had a higher status than their own family's, not to mention the official identity.

  Although the team leader was also a military officer, he was not in the mainstream, while the Town Demon Lieutenant was a real six-grade military officer. Not to mention that the catchers were the local snakes of the capital city, but behind this Town Demon Lieutenant were all the noble and aristocratic families of the capital city, with power and status being worlds apart.

  Gao Fang's words made the people lying on the ground stare blankly, and the faces of the team leader and the police officer standing at the street corner also turned ugly. The team leader glared viciously at the police officer beside him, forced a smile onto his face, and walked forward, saying as he went:

  "This gentleman looks familiar, how come I've never seen him on this street before?"

  "I only started my shift yesterday and today I'm officially on patrol, but I didn't expect to see a thief committing robbery in broad daylight. I caught him, but then he gathered his accomplices to kill me in revenge. What's even more unexpected is that the constables from the prefecture are actually colluding with them! Is there still any justice left? How do you manage this?"

  As a high-ranking official, he could indeed scold directly. The leader of the group was also in his forties, with a greasy face, and it seemed that he had not missed out on any benefits either. Being scolded by Gao Feng like this, the smile on his face couldn't be maintained. Looking at the thief lying on the ground unable to get up, and the catcher covering his face in pain, he could only lower his head and apologize, saying:

  "The adults said that it was all due to the incompetence of the lower officials. These scoundrels and rascals must be severely punished, and they will definitely give an account to the adults."

  Having said this, the team turned back and shouted:

  "What's wrong with you still standing there like a fool? Come over and catch the thief quickly!"

  As for the tricks and means of the prefectural yamen catchers, Gao Feng understood them very well in his heart. He said with a smile:

  "This official will go to the prefecture and ask whether these two thieves have been severely punished, and ask whether these two captors have been held accountable!"

  As soon as he said that, the face of the team leader turned bad, and the faces of the catchers who came to grab people also turned black. Looking at the team leader turning his head and exchanging eyes with the catchers, he turned his head and said to Gao Feng:

  "Constable, sir, has just arrived on this street to take office. We can still show our respect, it's our fault for not doing so earlier. These scoundrels and thieves didn't know any better and offended the constable, they deserve to die. I will definitely deal with them severely, but please, sir, have mercy on these two brothers!"

  "Colluding with thieves, why should I let you off?"

  Gao Feng coldly smiled and asked, "That team gritted their teeth and said again:"

  "Everyone is working hard for a living, they are just doing their job, don't be too harsh on them!"

  "How did colluding with thieves become a legitimate business? I've never heard of such a rule. It's common practice for street vendors to pay protection fees, but you're still taking money from thieves? Deal with them according to the law, no nonsense!"

  It's come to this point, there's no room for maneuvering anymore. The smile on the team leader's face has completely disappeared, and with a hint of ferocity, he said:

  Adults should not take things too far...

  This time, he didn't finish speaking, and Gao Feng slapped him with a loud slap. He had dealt with such local snakes many times before, and violence was the most effective way to handle them. The man hadn't been on guard and was caught off guard by the sudden slap, his cheek already swelling up. Rubbing his face, he retreated two steps, and Gao Feng stared at him, saying:

  "I, Gao Feng, act according to the law and do what is right. If I weren't capable of fighting back, I would have died on this street today. You're still covering up for this kind of scum, are you colluding with them?"

  This slap made all the other catchers shout in surprise. They saw Gao Feng's skill and didn't dare to rush up and beat him together, but they started shouting and scolding there:

  "You're just a sixth-rank officer, our Magistrate is of the third rank, what are you being so arrogant about?"

  "You can't monopolize the benefits of Shi Ma Street for yourself, no way!"

  "In the past, that school lieutenant was still honest and stayed in the teahouse, not daring to touch the business on the street. You have offended so many people, aren't you afraid of having a hard time in the future?"

  Just when the crowd was shouting and scolding fiercely, someone asked in a low voice:

  "Is this School Lieutenant Gao Feng?"

  The scene was quiet, and someone said:

  "Isn't it Gao Feng, who beheaded Hei Lang and silenced Liu Yong, the team leader of Tian Shui Street?"

  "I heard it was because of meritorious service that he went to the Demon Quelling Department as a registrar..."

  The whispers were transmitted to Gao Feng's ears without exception, and he saw that the catchers who had been shouting just now gradually calmed down, looking at Gao Feng with a few more respectful eyes. The team leader even covered his face and retreated several steps, his face turning pale.

  The news of the capital's capture spread quickly, and after Gao Feng killed the black wolf on Sweet Water Street, Liu Yong also "died in the line of duty". Rumors and speculation had already spread throughout the city. Killing the black wolf was a feat of bravery, but Liu Yong's "death in the line of duty" made everyone who heard about it shiver with fear. They all secretly evaluated that this young captain had exceptional skills and ruthless methods, and on top of that, he was also a clansman of the Marquis of Heaven. Such a character, we can't afford to offend.

  Unexpectedly, such a ruthless character was right in front of them. Seeing Gao Feng's bravery and ferocity, they thought about the rumors again, and everyone was afraid, feeling a chill rising from the bottom of their hearts. Now that Gao Feng had become the Town Demon Lieutenant, his official position had increased significantly. If they continued to argue like this, they might end up "dying on the job"...

  The team leader, who had just been slapped by Gao Feng, was initially furious and resentful, but his face gradually turned pale, and his eyes were filled with fear and panic. After a brief moment of silence, the team leader surprisingly forced out a smile and nodded repeatedly, saying:

  "The adults said that these two scoundrels, in collusion with each other, have tarnished the reputation of the Metropolitan Police Department. I will definitely send them to the prefecture for severe punishment. At that time, I will give you a message. What are you still stunned about? Quickly tie up the people!"