"Wang Hu!" Zhu Yuanhao's gun-hand trembled; if possible, he truly wished he could right here,
put a bullet through Wang Hu's head.
But he couldn't. Originally thinking he could make Wang Hu suffer great humiliation before the masses with blades and axes at his throat,
he never expected Wang Hu would turn the arrest scene into a passionate personal rally.
Zhu Yuanhao trembled all over as he looked at the crowd around him, whipped into a frenzy by Wang Hu's speech.
Watching those excited faces flush red, seeing the crowd begin to charge the warning line set up by the Adhesive Rod Agency's Secret Service Agents, the traitor Zhu Yuanhao felt an unparalleled sense of suffocation. He had no doubt that if he made any rash moves,
the crowd would tear him apart alive!
Since he could already become a traitor, Zhu Yuanhao obviously wouldn't sacrifice himself
to help the eunuch officials eliminate Wang Hu, who had now become a major problem.
He turned to look at Zhang Changbao standing behind him—the same Zhang Changbao he'd deliberately left behind earlier to steal credit—placing his hopes on this renowned Chief Archivist from the Adhesive Rod Agency to solve the current tricky problem.
Damn bastard!
Noticing Zhu Yuanhao's gaze, how could Zhang Changbao not know what he was thinking?
Weren't you running pretty fast when you wanted to steal credit earlier?
You even brought all these media reporters and civilians to put on a show, and now that things have gone wrong,
you want me to clean up your mess?
But no matter how unwilling he felt inside, Zhang Changbao still had to step forward and resolve the situation.
Accustomed to cleaning up after higher-ranking officials and gritting his teeth to wipe this bastard's ass, Zhang Changbao forced out a strained smile.
It must be said that regardless of a person's stance, whether they're good or bad,
if they can reach a certain high position, they must possess one or two remarkable skills.
For instance, Zhang Changbao of the Adhesive Rod Agency had always done dirty work—a executioner with blood-stained hands,
always quick to resort to torture at the slightest disagreement.
Yet in this situation with the restless crowd, even with over fifty War Machine Steel Skulls under his control surrounding them,
Zhang Changbao surprisingly didn't choose brutal suppression as his first move. Instead,
"This humble servant is deeply moved. This humble servant feels your sincere patriotism, Wang Hu."
Learning from prior experience and Zhu Yuanhao's "brilliant example," Zhang Changbao adopted a stalling strategy.
He immediately began showering Wang Hu with praise, suppressing his inner desire to execute him on the spot, and continued:
"After all, you are patriotic, and in this regard, the Attendants above are the same as you."
"Have faith in His Majesty the Emperor, believe in the Attendants. So please, Mr. Wang Hu,"
"This humble servant will take you to meet the Sage now. I'm sure the Sage is looking forward to meeting you too."
First agreement, then invitation—Zhang Changbao's intention was clear.
Public opinion must be appeased; the people's anger on site must not be provoked.
Once Wang Hu was brought back smoothly and thrown into the Adhesive Rod Agency's prison, wouldn't they be able to deal with him however they pleased?
Why bother acting like that fool Zhu Yuanhao, who turned a simple task into such a mess for no reason?
"And how may I address this Yellow Gate Attendant?" Wang Hu asked with a smile, continuing to wave to the crowd.
Wang Hu knew exactly what the other party was scheming—how could he possibly let him have his way?
"I am Zhang Changbao, a mere rootless man unworthy of Master Wang Hu's concern."
Quickening his pace, Zhang Changbao clearly didn't want Wang Hu to say anything more. As the saying goes, delays breed trouble—better to seize Wang Hu and take him back early.
"Zhang Changbao?"
Hearing the man reveal his name, Wang Hu smiled even more broadly.
In truth, the eunuchs had only a handful of men at their disposal, and Wang Hu was well-acquainted with every one of these lackeys.
"So it's you!" Wang Hu's eyes widened in fury, and he roared at Zhang Changbao.
"In June of last year, you suppressed the peaceful petitioners in Qinzhou. In November, you framed and imprisoned the virtuous Vice Minister Lord Yu, who refused to collude with the eunuchs in court, leading to his death."
"This year, you've committed even more heinous crimes that defy enumeration. I never thought a scoundrel like you would show up before me."
"Good, good, good."
Wang Hu's words made Zhang Changbao's face flush red and pale in turns. He never expected Wang Hu to expose his dirty secrets so thoroughly.
"Good." Zhang Changbao also uttered the word "good." He was no pushover.
If not for the circumstances, why would he have spoken so politely to Wang Hu?
He had originally hoped to take Wang Hu back without much fuss, but since Wang Hu refused to give him face—
"Wang Hu, don't think stirring up public sentiment makes you powerful. Remember, the people's will is no match for the hilt of a blade!"
His tone turning sinister, Zhang Changbao grabbed Wang Hu's hand and spoke viciously.
At the same time, several Secret Service Agents familiar with Zhang Changbao's methods—
Faced with the crowd growing more agitated and violently breaching the security line upon seeing the Adhesive Rod Agency threaten Wang Hu—
Under the direction of the Secret Service Agents, the dispatched Steel Skulls and numerous soldiers raised their guns toward the crowd.
It was clear: if you dare try to breach the warning line again, don't blame us for what happens!
After all, they'd already crossed the line once—what was one more step?
Having massacred rioters elsewhere, they wouldn't hesitate to do the same here.
"See that, Master Wang Hu?"
Leaning close to Wang Hu, Zhang Changbao spoke with a hollow smile.
"Reality isn't as pretty as your words. Might makes right—that's the universal truth. What can a scholar like you do against my fist?"
"So, I advise you to save your breath and come back with me quietly. If you cooperate, I might be generous."
"Whether you suffer less physical pain rests entirely on my whim."
And why not? Zhang Changbao had the numbers, the power, and the authority.
Hearing this, the crowd seemed dispirited under the threat of gun barrels. Faced with life and death, with bullets, their anger appeared futile.
In the end, nothing could be changed.
"Your fist is big, but mine is no smaller."
With a mere lift of his eyelids, Wang Hu—whom everyone had assumed to be a scholar—shocked the crowd by flipping Zhang Changbao onto the ground.
Then, stepping forward in one swift motion, Wang Hu planted a foot on Zhang Changbao's body, drew the belt from his waist, and brought it cracking down upon Zhang Changbao's face.
Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack.
No one had anticipated such a turn of events. As the sound of Wang Hu lashing Zhang Changbao echoed in their ears, the entire crowd froze in stunned silence, their minds blank as they stared wide-eyed at Zhang Changbao writhing and howling under the blows.
"You worthless scum, what are you doing?!"
Zhang Changbao struggled to fight back but found that, despite his renowned strength, he couldn't free himself from Wang Hu's foot.
Yet he was one of the top martial experts among the inner court eunuchs!
Only then did he realize that Wang Hu was no mere scholar but a fierce warrior.
After enduring several more lashes, Zhang Changbao finally snapped out of his daze and roared at the surrounding Secret Service Agents to come to his aid.
"Ah, yes, yes!" Jolted back to their senses by his shouts, the agents surged forward in unison.
For the moment, they refrained from using their firearms, intending to subdue Wang Hu first so that Chief Archivist Zhang Changbao could retaliate and vent his anger.
"Perfect timing." Wang Hu seized the chance to land a few more strikes on Zhang Changbao before turning to face the oncoming agents.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent the belt's buckle flying like a viper's strike, striking the eye socket of the lead agent.
"Agh!" The agent cried out in pain, clutching his eye as he collapsed.
Without giving the others time to react, Wang Hu closed in, brandishing his belt with a fierce, whistling force.
Surrounded by the agents, he moved with the ease and grace of Zhao Zilong at Changban Slope, cutting through their ranks again and again.
The agents were thrown into disarray, not a single fist managing to land on Wang Hu.
"What… what is this?" Supported by a few quick-witted agents, Zhang Changbao stared in disbelief.
Since when was the fugitive Wang Hu such a formidable fighter?
How could so many skilled men fail to capture a trapped rat?
"Bravo! Well fought!"
While Zhang Changbao and his agents were astounded by Wang Hu's display, the onlooking crowd had no such reservations.
Seeing these lackeys, who had long served as tools of oppression for the officials, being thoroughly thrashed by Wang Hu, the people cheered loudly, their fear of these henchmen gradually fading.
With every agent Wang Hu struck down, the crowd edged forward a step.
Having initially kept a cautious distance from the cordon, they now slowly gathered again at its edge.
"You fools!" Glancing at the crowd, whose courage had been stirred by Wang Hu's actions, Zhang Changbao knew he could not let this continue.
Hopping with rage, he shouted, "What are the guns in your hands for? What are the Steel Skulls standing by for?"
"No matter how skilled his fists, can they possibly outmatch bullets?"
His words cast a pall over the crowd's rising spirits.
Yes, the eunuch was right. No matter how powerful Wang Hu's fists were, how could they stand against bullets?
In the end, Wang Hu was but a mortal of flesh and blood. A bullet would surely claim his life!
Under Zhang Changbao's command, the Secret Service Agents who had been beaten to the point of crying for their parents suddenly snapped back to reality.
They quickly leaped away from Wang Hu, their faces regaining a smug and spirited expression.
Those with guns drew their firearms, while those without pulled out communicators to direct the Steel Skulls, ordering them to aim their mounted guns at Wang Hu.
"You think you're so good at fighting? But what use is being good at fighting?"
One of the Secret Service Agents swaggered forward, watching as Wang Hu, under the threat of the guns, was putting away his belt. With the arrogance of a petty man who had gained power, he laughed wildly.
"To get things done out here, you need connections and firepower."
"Now do you understand who's really powerful?"
An awkward silence fell. The entire crowd remained silent, edging even farther away from the warning line.
Even the few brave individuals were held back by those around them—a wise man doesn't fight against impossible odds.
Centuries of wisdom had taught them that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down first.
Just like Wang Hu, who was about to be hammered down before their eyes.
A sense of collective sorrow, like mourning for a hare that causes the hounds to grieve, spread among the people. But unarmed as they were, they could do nothing besides feel sorrow and numbness.
"Hahaha, so even as dogs, it's better to be the dogs of the rich and powerful."
Seeing that the Adhesive Rod Agency's Secret Service Agents had the situation under control, Zhu Yuanhao also jumped out.
With a face full of sycophantic servility, he sidled up to Zhang Changbao, lowering his voice in fawning admiration.
"Only the Chief Archivist can truly control the scene!"
"Hmph, sss." Zhang Changbao glanced at the now properly obedient Zhu Yuanhao, wanting to laugh but twitching from the pain of his facial injuries.
The flesh on his face trembled, and his fierce, menacing gaze fell upon Wang Hu, who remained calm in the center of the scene.
Waving his hand, Zhang Changbao prepared to make an example of Wang Hu in front of everyone—to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys.
"A gun is a good thing, so you must never let go of it. True justice should also be armed."
"After all, can justice that arrives late still be called justice?"
"Justice with a gun in hand, where revenge need not wait for another day—that is true justice."
With that, Wang Hu raised a single finger to the sky, and under the bright blue sky and white sun, justice from another world descended.
(End of Chapter)