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Chapter 28: Let Us Reason This Out

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Tilting his body to the side was his first attempt to avoid the attack; if he failed to evade the strike, he could still prevent it from inflicting damage on his vital parts; finally, he could use his arms, thighs, buttocks, or any less critical and less lethal body parts to block incoming blades or hidden weapons.

The single step backward was to ensure his safety while glancing towards the side and rear was to position himself correctly - if the attack that had seemed to originate from the front was but a ruse to divert his attention, the real assault would come from either the back or side.

While his torso automatically shifted into a defensive stance, his hand had already gripped the saber hilt, ready to distribute his body weight to prepare for a merciless attack.

These were all Yun Yang’s spontaneous reflexes from waging war in innumerable battles!

It was only until he straightened up did he realize that the person thrown out was a one-armed man; blood spewed on the street as the man twitched in a fit, trying his best to pick himself up with his single left hand.

Yun Yang frowned and peered upwards above the door. The crimson painted plaque that rested there was emblazoned with four large words - “Residence of Halcyon Marquis”.

“Residence of Halcyon Marquis…” Yun Yang immediately began to recite quietly in his heart, “Halcyon Marquis, Xie Wuyuan; Deputy Minister of the Board of War and a civil official; his father-in-law is Grand Tutor Liu Wei of the present dynasty; he used to serve as an ordinary officer but had leaped straight to being the Board of War’s Deputy Minister due to stellar performance and exemplary achievements in the military field.”

There was no doubt regarding the authority that was present here. However, despite rapidly climbing the ranks with the salutations of warriors and generals, in addition to receiving a military marquis title from the Imperial Court and serving as an official of the Board of War, Yun Yang had no love lost for those that served in the military.

Since time immemorial, the civil sector and the military had always been at odds! It was the same as in the imperial courts, but there was only a handful who dared to declare their allegiances as openly as Sir Xie.

“Sir Xie!” The man had obviously fallen down hard; blood oozed from both his nose and mouth. He seemed to only have raised his guard as he shouted, “This lowly one1 stands wrongly accused! We’re both militants of this nation, why do you seek to drive me away?”

Both militants of the nation? Yun Yang frowned. As if in response to the man’s proclamation, three figures slowly stepped out from the building, a man, and his two guards. Descending the staircase, the man had his arms behind him as he pursed his lips and spoke while watching the man on the ground, “Chen San, I was kind and benevolent enough to grant you this chance, yet you squander it by stealing from your workplace. I have already shown mercy by awarding you a pardon, seeing as to how you have served in the army before. Now, leave quickly unless you wish to die!”

Chen San got to his feet with great difficulty, “Young master have mercy, please allow this lowly one’s wife to return with me. Please be wise, Sir Xie be wise, this lowly one has always lived an upright life and has never done anything deceitful. This lowly one is being wrongly accused!”

“Scram!” Young Master Xie glared, “You say you have been wrongly accused? Do you deny that the jade pendant was found on your person?”

Chen San replied with despair, “Somebody must have framed me! Young master, young master please judge wisely!”

Young Master Xie smirked, “Of all people, somebody chose to frame you? Is it because of your striking looks?”

Chen San’s hopes began to shatter as hissed, “Even if it was this lowly one’s doing, it does not concern this lowly one’s wife! This lowly one is willing to accept the punishment, young master, please let my wife go!”

“Chase him out!” Young Master Xie commanded, disregarding what the wretch had said, “If he utters any more nonsense, send him straight to the courts!”

“Young Master Xie!” Chen San shouted in grief, “This lowly one has long known that you are charmed by my wife’s beauty! However, one should have some shred of conscience! Where is yours, that you accuse me of theft?”

Young Master Xie’s expression darkened; he issued his orders without a further glance at the man and turned to head back inside.

Chen San attempted to push past the guards. “Let my wife go!”

The two sentries adamantly blocked his way. “Chen San, cease your rantings and attempts to despoil a man’s good name. Any more words from you, and we can’t save you from the courts!”

Chen San’s lips trembled. ”But… my wife… my wife…”

One of the guards threw a solid punch straight into his face, sending blood splattering everywhere. “What about your wife? Begone!”

Chen San fell writhing to the ground and let out a hopeless cry. “God! Is there anywhere else in this world that is reasonable? Is this not Tiantang City, under the watch of the Emperor?”

Passersby stayed far away; they skirted the scene by walking along the walls, even as they threw sympathetic gazes over at the unfortunate man.

“This Chen San… The Residence of Halcyon Marquis is beyond his abilities to offend.”

“He hasn’t done too badly… He came out alive, didn’t he?”

“Sigh, if he continues to keep up with his rantings, he’ll be lucky to keep his life!”

“A woman will be the death of him yet.”

These people were indeed omniscient; they knew the whole story by just listening in on a simple conversation. Yet who would dare speak a word against the influential Residence of Halcyon Marquis?

Yun Yang pulled a long face and walked over. The guards, who saw his approach, cocked back a fist, ready to let loose at this unwanted irritation.

Thud!

He blocked the other guard’s punch precisely with his extended arm as his other hand was already pulling Chen San up. “Veteran? What has happened here?”

Chen San’s face dribbled with both blood and tears. “Yes, yes… Handicapped from the war at Yangwu Fortress four years ago… Young master, who are you?”

Yun Yang repeated his question gently, “What’s going on?”

Before Chen San could reply, both guards had surrounded him, menace clear in their eyes. “Fool, don’t poke your nose into another man’s affairs!”

Yun Yang did not even bother to turn his head, but his legs were already moving in response.

With two heavy thuds, both guards lay sprawled on the ground, breathless from his kicks. He moved his left leg back and propped both of his feet perfectly against each of the guard’s chests.

The two guards felt like the weight of a mountain had landed upon them as they struggled to breathe. Their eyes felt as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. They struggled violently but to no avail.

Chen San wiped the blood on his face as he explained his grievances, “A month ago, Young Master Xie sent his men to me, inviting me to be one of the residence’s guards and for my wife to perform some sewing. We were unable to say no to the salary; it was enough to cover our expenses and have some spare change. I was of the impression that Young Master Xie sympathized with our lives and specifically given us jobs out of generosity. We were unprepared for what would happen next…”

“Just as I finished my duty today, the young master found his missing jade pendant under my bed… This is an absolutely false accusation…”

Yun Yang nodded, “Say no more.” A murderous aura sprang up from within his eyes.

“I care nothing about right and wrong.” Yun Yang pulled Chen San along. “But I take umbrage at the unlawful detention of a man’s wife. Follow me!”

He took big strides towards the door of the Residence of Halcyon Marquis.

The guards had finally picked themselves up from the ground and staggered over, “Stop right there!”

Yun Yang frowned, turned and delivered two lightning-quick backhand blows. Blood spurted from the guard’s mouths as they spun away. “It would be acceptable for anyone else, but by looking at both your actions and bearing, are you two not from the army as well? Your comrade is being oppressed and his wife is being held against her will in another man’s house, what honor do you fellows have by being accomplices? You both are lesser than animals!” Yun Yang scolded harshly.

The guards laid on the ground, guilt written all over their faces. The injustice of this incident was clear, even more so when they were involved.

“Yun Yang!” Young Master Xie, hearing the commotion, had finally come out, looking displeased. “This has nothing to do with you, don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong!”

Yun Yang smirked and pulled Chen San along, striding along with large steps and stood in front of Young Master Xie.

“Xie Qingyun, what if I wanted to?” Yun Yang asked in a voice suddenly gone quiet and cold.

Xie Qingyun angrily replied, “What right do you have to meddle with my affairs?”

Yun Yang gave a single nod, then raised his hand. Before anyone could stop him, a harsh slap sounded as his palm landed right across Young Master Xie’s face. His head snapped back as two teeth flew away, blood gushing out of his nose.

“Release his wife.” Yun Yang’s expression was colder than Death itself.

“You dare lay hands on me?” Xie Qingyun was stunned, his eyes glared disbelievingly.

Slap!

Yun Yang slapped him again, the blow spinning Xie Qingyun’s head around, even as his face remained oddly impassive. “I said, hand the woman over.”

Xie Qingyun had collapsed onto the floor, woozy after the abrupt strikes. With the quickness of a desperate man, he got up and hollered hysterically, “Guards! Servants! Guards! Seize this madman!”

Yun Yang took several strides forward as his limbs flowed into graceful action, sending the four guards who had surrounded him to the floor. He grabbed a fistful of Xie Qingyun’s robe and lifted him up. His left hand delivered a powerful jab to his nose.

Crack!

Young Master Xie’s nose showered blood as the fragile bones collapsed under the vicious blow.

“Capture me? Even your father would not dare talk to me like this! I’m only asking you this one last time; are you or are you not handing over the woman?”

Only whines and odd groans could be heard coming from Xie Qingyun; the man was unable to speak coherently with a devastated nose.

A dignified voice called from inside, “I was wondering who it was. I see now that I have the dubious company of Marquis Yun’s young master. No one else would dare cause such a ruckus in my Residence of Halcyon Marquis!”

As the voice continued to ring out loud, a middle-aged man in a black scholar’s robe walked out with an impassive expression. Looking at his son, half dead in Yun Yang’s hands, a sliver of heartache flashed across his face. “Young Master Yun, this has nothing to do with you, please let him go.”

Yun Yang spoke coldly, “Ask your son to release the woman and I’ll let go.”

“Let us all be reasonable.” The man was the Deputy Minister of the Board of War, Xie Wuyuan. His expression was dark as he spoke, “You didn’t ask the right and wrong nor the cause and justification, yet you decided to intervene with violence. How is this reasonable?”

Yun Yang snorted with disdain, “Reasonable? I would like to ask how the Xie family practices reason! Let us not argue if Chen San really did commit a crime; even if he did, why hold his wife captive? What reasoning is this? To catch adulterers, you catch them by a pair; to catch a thief, you catch them with the spoils - one does things with proof. What cause have you to apprehend his wife?”

“Is this reasonable then, Sir Xie?” Yun Yang smiled lightly and said, “Since you men are without reason, why should I reason with you? I have only one question to ask of Sir Xie; are you or are you not releasing the woman? I do not care about the cause and effect, I won’t belittle myself by discussing reason with you either. I only ask for the woman to be released, even if it has nothing to do with me!” Yun Yang straightened up as he spoke, “Now, are you letting her go or not? For your own sakes, please answer clearly.”

Xie Wuyuan looked at Yun Yang with a grim face. He did not know about this incident nor did he know if his son would actually do something like this but how could he back down now, under the scrutiny of so many pairs of eyes?

“What would happen if I refuse?” Xie Wuyuan asked coldly.

“If you refuse?” Yun Yang chuckled with grim delight, “Why, I’ll just go on in and get her myself.”

Even as he spoke, he released Xie Qingyun to fall heavily onto the ground and prepared to charge into the residence.

“Guards, stop him!” Xie Wuyuan exploded. “Seize him! Even if I have to enter the palace to meet the emperor with you, I need to make things clear; even if your Residence of Marquis Xiaoyao is influential and all-powerful, justice must be served!”

“Allow me to save you the trouble, and serve you justice… right now!” Yun Yang smirked as he caught hold of Sir Xie, pulling him close as he lifted his knee straight up in a vicious blow.

Bam! Bam!

“Reason? I’m reasoning with you right now! Didn’t you ask for this? Come on, let’s reason this out!” Yun Yang spewed profanities like a raving madman, his normally calm demeanor evaporated even as his fists flew in a flurry of blows. Although he did not use any mystical energy, Sir Xie was of a slight and dainty physique, and he collapsed after only a short assault.

“Let the woman go! You think to threaten me with the emperor? Even if we were to meet the king of hell, you would have to let the girl go first!”

Those spectating felt their eyelids twitch in outrage. This ruffian had not stopped at the son, but had also assaulted the father!

…

Notes:

1 Lowly one (小人xiǎo rén): Used as a first person pronoun in regarding oneself as a person of lower status or more inferior to the other party.