"N-no… I wouldn't dare!"
Liu Yan trembled violently.
"Oh no, you've got plenty of courage."
Jiang Yan yanked his head up, killing intent blazing in his eyes.
"Don't worry. You won't have it easy."
"You, your family, and every filthy scum under you—"
"They'll all keep you company."
He patted Liu Yan's face lightly.
"You won't be lonely."
With that, he ordered the Millelith to drag him away.
Liu Yan's desperate screams echoed through Yuehai Pavilion.
After he was taken away, Jiang Yan rubbed his temples.
Corruption had grown right under his nose.
The Millelith's internal reviews had clearly grown lax.
It was time for a purge.
—
Soon after, Jiang Yan and Ganyu, clad in the white ceremonial robe of the Tianquan, departed with a contingent of elite Millelith toward Ningguang's village.
—
Village Chief's Residence.
Inside the main hall, the chief and his younger brother sat leisurely drinking tea.
In the corner, a middle-aged woman with a sallow face huddled weakly.
Bruises covered her body. She had clearly been beaten.
"You think that Ning girl will really come?" the chief asked.
"Of course."
His brother licked his lips, eyes gleaming with lust.
He had long set his sights on little Ningguang.
"Five hundred thousand Mora in one day?" he sneered.
"Even we would hesitate to pull that out."
"Let alone that dirt-poor brat."
The chief warned him, "Don't cause trouble today. I heard a big figure from Liyue Harbor is heading toward Guili Plains."
"Relax," the brother waved it off. "People like that don't care about villages like ours."
Just then—
"Village Chief!"
"Where's my mother?!"
Ningguang burst in.
The brother stepped forward, smirking.
"Did you bring the money?"
He looked her up and down greedily.
She clenched the Mora pouch tightly.
"The money's here. Where's my mother?"
The chief dragged the beaten woman forward and threw her onto the ground.
"Run, Ningguang—!"
Before she could finish, the chief kicked her viciously in the stomach.
"Don't touch my mother!"
Ningguang's fists trembled.
The brother snatched the Mora pouch and peeked inside.
"Hmm… this is only thirty thousand."
"It's not enough."
Ningguang's eyes widened.
Impossible. Jiang Yan had given her over one hundred thousand Mora.
"There's at least a hundred thousand inside!"
She shouted.
"I said it's thirty thousand."
He tossed the pouch aside casually.
"If it's not enough Mora…"
He grinned wickedly.
"You're quite pretty."
"Spend a few nights with me, and maybe I'll consider letting your mother go."
Ningguang's body shook with fury.
"Beast!"
"She's just a child!"
Her mother screamed, only to be stomped into the dirt.
"Agree to my brother's offer," the chief sneered.
"Or watch your mother die."
"Don't—!"
BOOM!
The doors exploded inward.
Millelith soldiers flooded the courtyard, spears raised, faces furious.
"Don't move!"
"Kneel!"
The chief and his brother were kicked to the ground instantly.
The soldiers had heard everything.
Disgust filled their eyes.
To prey on a child?
Subhuman.
"You dare lay hands on me?!" the chief roared.
"I know officials in the Millelith! You'll pay for this!"
He still thought they were ordinary guards.
Then—
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Slow applause echoed from the entrance.
"Magnificent."
"Your conduct truly broadens my horizons."
A white-haired young man in flowing white robes stepped inside calmly.
Ningguang's eyes lit up.
"Big brother!"
She ran to him.
"I'm sorry you suffered."
He gently patted her head.
The chief's brother struggled, shouting,
"Do you even know who I am?! Let me go!"
He hadn't yet realized what was happening.
Jiang Yan's eyes were ice.
"Oh?"
"Since you're so capable…"
He smiled faintly.
"Why don't you tell me who you are?"
The atmosphere turned deathly silent.
To read 30+ future chapters, head over to patreon:
patreon.com/ToastWizard