The moon is dark and the wind is high.
The weather is freezing, and the snow is falling heavily.
The streets of Changze County are empty; even the night patrol constables are unwilling to step outside to work.
"In this damn weather, the lords are cozying up with beautiful ladies in bed, having a grand time, while we brothers are sent out to patrol."
"That's because we're White Servants."
"Cui Yong is also a White Servant, but he doesn't suffer like us."
"Brother Cui's second uncle is the Chief Constable of Changze County, a Ninth Grade Martial Artist appointed by the Court; we can't compare."
A tall and a short White Servant stumbled out of a tavern, holding a wine jug. Their faces were flushed from drinking, and they staggered as they continually complained.
"Let's just take a quick walk around, do a cursory check, and go back to sleep. In this weather, not even dogs would go out!"
"Sounds good to me."
After stumbling around for a while, one of them pointed to a nearby alley and said, "Let's go in there to relieve ourselves."
"Just do it here, there's no one watching."
"Damn, this wind is like a knife, stinging the face. Aren't you afraid your little thing will freeze off if you take it out?"
"You've got a point. I'm drunk, I'm drunk, haha!"
The two White Servants supported each other into the nearby alley.
The alley was narrow and dark, with heavy snowfall lowering visibility even further.
But once inside, the chill of the wind subsided a lot, and the two White Servants stood by a mud wall, loosening their belts.
"Come to think of it, being a White Servant is tough at times, but it's still better than being a lowly commoner."
"Of course. We dare not provoke those above us, but we can vent our frustration on these commoners, use some tactics."
"If it weren't for Miss Mei stepping in the other day, I would have found a reason to teach Chen Tang a lesson about how treacherous Jianghu can be!"
The two White Servants chatted aimlessly while relieving themselves.
"Talking about it makes me angry. Yesterday, I ran into an old woman selling buns. They smelled delicious, so I took a few, and she had the nerve to ask me for money! Damn it, I got enraged and knocked over her basket, trampling the buns to mush!"
"I'd make sure she couldn't sell any!"
The tall White Servant recounted the story with animated gestures, his face glowing with pride, utterly oblivious to the fact that the urine was splashing onto his trouser legs.
The other said, "You can't coddle these uncivilized people. Tactics must be employed decisively, otherwise they'll forget their place."
The tall White Servant continued, "That old woman sat in the snow crying, cursing me to die horribly. Damn, you think I'd let her off?"
"I grabbed her by the collar, lifted her off her feet, and flung her to the ground! Her frail body was too thin, and once she fell in the snow pit, she stopped moving..."
Just as the tall White Servant finished speaking, he suddenly felt a chill in his throat!
He instinctively opened his mouth to speak, but found that he couldn't utter a word, only making a strange 'hoho' sound.
A warm, sticky liquid flowed down his neck into his chest, soaking his clothes.
He seemed to realize something, his eyes suddenly widened with terror as he instinctively clutched his throat.
Both hands pressed tightly!
But the blood wouldn't stop, gushing out between his fingers, a shocking red.
The tall White Servant felt his whole body weaken, his consciousness gradually fading, with the old woman's curses echoing in his ears.
The short, stout White Servant beside him suddenly felt a chill.
But having just drunk, the wind made his head fuzzy, and after relieving himself, he didn't think much of it. He shook with a shiver and asked, "And then?"
Thud!
The tall White Servant suddenly fell flat in front of him.
"Haha, drunk like this..."
The short, stout White Servant didn't finish his sentence before frowning.
The snow on the ground before him seemed to have been stained red!
He shook his head vigorously, trying to focus again.
Hiss!
What he saw made him gasp in horror.
Before he could react, a cold, sharp weapon pressed against the back of his neck.
In an instant, every hair on his body stood on end.
His belt unfinished, his pants slid down his legs.
"Spare me, brave man!"
The short, stout White Servant's face turned pale, his voice trembling, and the alcohol wore off by seven or eight points.
"I ask, you answer. A single lie, and you lose your head!"
The voice behind him was cold and eerie, sending a chill down his spine.
"I'll speak, I'll speak!"
The short, stout White Servant quickly responded.
"Why was Chen Da'an imprisoned, and what conflict did he have with Cui Yong?"
Hearing this question, the short, stout White Servant's heart stirred.
Earlier, he felt the voice behind him was familiar.
But everything happened too fast, and he was so frightened that he couldn't discern it.
Now, hearing this question, he quickly realized and instinctively said, "It's you, Chen..."
Bam!
Suddenly, he felt a heavy kick to the back of his knee, almost shattering it. His legs gave way, and he fell to his knees in the snow.
He grunted in pain.
"It's me."
Chen Tang stood in front of the short, stout White Servant, his long sword still against the man's neck, looking down with a cold, indifferent expression.
"That damn brat! How dare he!"
The short, stout White Servant cursed in his heart.
But soon, the chilling sensation coming from the lower half of his body and the corpse before him brought him back to his senses.
Given the circumstances, he couldn't confront this little brat head-on.
His pants were down to his ankles, much like shackles, making movement difficult, and a knife was at his throat, leaving him no chance.
He could only stabilize the situation and find a way to escape.
In a few breaths, the stocky white servant's mind raced.
"So it turns out to be Brother Chen; let me explain the situation carefully."
The stocky white servant was filled with hatred, yet his face betrayed no dissatisfaction, instead, he put on a fawning smile.
Snap!
Chen Tang swung his left hand, the dark scabbard landing heavily on the stocky white servant's head.
In an instant, it left him with a bleeding head injury.
The stocky white servant was dazed, his head buzzing, unable to comprehend what had happened.
"No need for a detailed explanation, just focus on the key points."
Chen Tang said indifferently.
Little brat, you're pushing it too far!
All because of that, you hit me?
The stocky white servant gritted his teeth in hatred.
But he still steadied his mind, blood streaming from his forehead, yet he kept a smiling face and said, "Yes, yes."
The stocky white servant said, "Ever since your family moved into the city, you haven't paid off Cui Yong, and he's held a grudge ever since. He's harassed your family multiple times because of that."
"That day, Cui Yong said something was stolen from his house and falsely accused your father of the theft, bringing us to your home to search. If your father understood the rules and voluntarily slipped some silver taels to Cui Yong, apologized and softened up, perhaps this matter would have ended."
Chen Tang said, "So, it was my father's fault."
Chen Tang's tone was calm, his face showing no emotion, yet the stocky white servant felt a chill in his heart, quickly laughing it off and saying, "No, no, I didn't mean it that way."
The stocky white servant steadied himself and said, "Your father, being wronged, naturally refused to comply, and Cui Yong took action. Your father didn't fight back initially, but Cui Yong was too ruthless..."
Chen Tang suddenly interrupted, "You guys joined in too, didn't you?"
"I, I didn't."
The stocky white servant's face flashed with panic, and he quickly shook his head, saying, "I even tried to intervene; it was the two of them who fought."
Chen Tang understood, merely letting out a faint, cold laugh, saying, "Continue."
The stocky white servant swallowed and said, "Your father was driven to desperation, went back inside, grabbed a knife, and injured Cui Yong."
"Your father was brave, none of the three of us were his match. Cui Yong then called Chief Cui, claiming your father stole from the neighbors and defied orders while injuring people."
"Chief Cui is Cui Yong's second uncle, and a Ninth Grade Martial Artist, so naturally, your father was no match. On the way to be taken away, under Cui Yong's provocation, Chief Cui even broke your father's leg."
At this point, the stocky white servant stole a glance at Chen Tang.
Seeing that Chen Tang remained expressionless, only his eyes cold as ice.
The stocky white servant said, "Later, at the government office, your father tried to argue, but the government office isn't a place for reason, and County Magistrate Sun directly ordered torture."
"Even an iron-willed man couldn't withstand such torture, but your father endured a round, refusing to admit guilt, and continuously cursed County Magistrate Sun for his lack of discernment, calling him a dog official."
Hearing this, Chen Tang had roughly understood the whole affair.
Changze County, being remote, allowed a County Magistrate, holding both power of life and death, to be almost equivalent to a local tyrant.
Even if Chen Da'an hadn't insulted the County Magistrate, after a round of torture, he would have been ruined.
With just a glance or a hint from County Magistrate Sun, Chen Da'an wouldn't have left the government office alive.
"Brother Chen, I've told you everything I know; this has nothing to do with me, I'm just a lackey doing chores."
The stocky white servant was full of flattery, his demeanor servile.
The long knife remained at his throat, and Chen Tang seemed unmoved.
The stocky white servant swallowed, solemnly declaring, "Brother Chen, rest assured, about today's events, I, Niu Er, will not utter a word; it'll be like it never happened! If I break this oath, may heaven strike me down!"
"Your name is Niu Er?"
Chen Tang raised an eyebrow.
Niu Er nodded immediately.
Chen Tang said, "A good name, sounds like a ruffian at first listen."
Is he insulting me or praising me?
Niu Er couldn't quite grasp Chen Tang's thoughts for a moment, but he felt that this little brat's tone seemed to have softened.
He was pondering making more serious oaths to get through this when Chen Tang suddenly said, "Let me show you just how treacherous the Jianghu is."
Before he finished speaking, there was a flash of cold light.
Splash!
The long knife drew across the throat, blood gushing!
Niu Er was stunned, eyes wide open, his gaze quickly dimming, and he fell headlong into the snow without a sound.
Chen Tang glanced around, spotting a wine jug on the ground, picking it up and shaking it.
There was still some wine inside.
Chen Tang opened the lid and downed it in one go!
The strong wine mixed with the chill, sliding down his throat.
As if burning.
Like a knife slicing.
"Refreshing!"
Chen Tang grinned, wiping the blood off the knife on Niu Er's body and searched both bodies, finding a few taels of broken silver, then turned to leave.
The wind blew more fiercely.
The snow fell heavier.
Before long, these two bodies would be covered by the snow.
They wouldn't be discovered until at least tomorrow.