Chapter 78: Breaking the Rules

Fang Xu, of course, showed no mercy just because of idle gossip; in fact, he saw these rumors as a promising start. If corrupt officials and greedy bureaucrats could not be suppressed with iron-blooded methods, then any remedy would be nothing but superficial. This was precisely why Qin Suwen had sent Old Wu and the others to protect him—a crucial decision, and Fang Xu was well aware of Qin Suwen's intentions.

Yet, regrettably, Fang Xu had misunderstood. At the beginning, Qin Suwen was only concerned that the barbarian tribes from beyond the border might target Fang Xu. After all, had it not been for Fang Xu, the barbarians’ surprise assault would have succeeded. Thus, Qin Suwen feared that, once the barbarians learned Fang Xu was responsible for their failure, they would stop at nothing for revenge. That was why Old Wu and his men were dispatched to guard Fang Xu. However, Qin Suwen had never anticipated that Fang Xu would choose to head south—a move that caught her entirely off guard.

By chance, this miscommunication led Fang Xu to believe that all his actions had Qin Suwen’s approval. Now, aware of Fang Xu’s recent deeds, Qin Suwen could only laugh and cry at his audacity. She had clearly underestimated him. Especially when she heard that those corrupt officials had begun to call Fang Xu the Living Judge of Hell, the corners of Qin Suwen’s lips curled with satisfaction.

“Truly, the favored consort I value most is no less ruthless than I.” This was what Qin Suwen exclaimed upon learning of Fang Xu’s actions.

She harbored no dissatisfaction with his methods; in fact, she thought them exemplary. Qin Suwen knew she could not leave the city of Xianyang herself—without her presence to maintain order, who knew what those with ill intent might do? Now, Fang Xu was acting in her stead, interrogating the southern prefectures and rescuing the common people from dire suffering.

As a result, Qin Suwen’s prestige and the people’s esteem for their ruler soared to new heights. And why? All thanks to Fang Xu. Whenever he saved a county office or a village, and the grateful villagers asked his name, Fang Xu never revealed his family name; he only told them he was sent by the present emperor. This was a decision he had pondered deeply.

Gazing up at the myriad stars, Fang Xu allowed a faint smile to touch his lips. “Old Wu, what do you think?” he asked, noticing the murderous glint in Old Wu’s eyes. Old Wu nodded without hesitation.

“These scoundrels deserve nothing less! In all my years, I’ve never despised anyone more than men like these,” Old Wu declared, rising with indignation.

“If that’s so, then let’s go and see for ourselves. I’m rather curious to test my improved flash bomb,” Fang Xu said, turning the slender bamboo tube over in his hands, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

At his words, Old Wu and Gu Bei both shuddered involuntarily. Just days earlier, they had suffered enough at the hands of Fang Xu’s flash bombs.

Fang Xu then issued brief instructions: a portion of their men were to stay behind and protect Qiu Chuji, while he himself led Gu Bei and Old Wu up the mountain to the bandits’ stronghold. Both Old Wu and Gu Bei tried their best to persuade Fang Xu to remain behind—blades are blind, after all, and Fang Xu’s safety could not be guaranteed. Especially since these bandits lived by the edge of the knife—who knew what they might do if driven to desperation?

With a resigned sigh, Fang Xu drew two of his improved flash bombs from his breast and handed them to Old Wu and Gu Bei, suggesting that they should be the ones to test them. At this, both men promptly fell silent. The mere thought of experimenting with the flash bombs themselves was enough—they would be grateful not to add to their own troubles.

In the end, with Gu Bei leading the way, the group set off in great numbers toward the mountain stronghold. At that very moment, the bandits were busy sorting through the gold and silver they had looted in recent days, as well as several young women they had abducted from the villages below. The bandits were roaring with laughter, gobbling meat and guzzling wine, entirely unaware that doom was descending upon them.

On the way, Old Wu asked Gu Bei how he had recognized their martial prowess. Both Fang Xu and Gu Bei shot him a look—after all, when Old Wu and his men had slaughtered those corrupt officials, their skills had been plain as day. Did Gu Bei look like a blind man to them?

“Young master, this is the bandit stronghold,” Gu Bei announced as they arrived. Fang Xu’s mouth curled into a satisfied smile.

Before Old Wu and the others could rush forward, Fang Xu lit two flash bombs at once and, before their astonished eyes, hurled them in a perfect arc right into the midst of the bandits. In an instant, two crisp explosions rang out, followed by a tumult of curses and the wild screaming of horses.

“Looks like the improvements worked well enough,” Fang Xu murmured, smiling at the now brilliantly illuminated bandit camp.

Behind him, Old Wu, Gu Bei, and the rest stood agape, utterly speechless at the spectacle before them—it was far beyond anything they had imagined. But Fang Xu paid them no heed.

“What are you waiting for, stunned like that? Go in and seize them!” Fang Xu laughed, spurring the others into action. Only then did they finally surge into the bandit camp.

Yet, upon entering, they found little left to do. Throughout the camp, bandits were writhing and howling on the ground, clutching their eyes in agony. Old Wu and Gu Bei could not help but recall their own recent suffering; they could well sympathize with the bandits’ pain, but now was not the time for sentiment.

Without delay, Old Wu and the others bound up the bandits writhing on the ground. Fang Xu ignored these affairs, instead picking up the shattered remains of his bamboo tube, lost in thought.

“Young master, the men are all captured—just waiting for your interrogation,” Gu Bei whispered as he approached Fang Xu.

At these words, Fang Xu stood, slipped the bamboo tube into his robe, and turned with a smile toward the bandit chief who was still struggling desperately.

“So, you’re the leader of this band of thieves?” Fang Xu asked with a smile, gazing at the man’s swollen, red eyes. The bandit chief, however, gave him no reply.

“Why resist?” Fang Xu sighed. Removing his coat, he handed it to Gu Bei. Before anyone—Gu Bei or Old Wu—could react, Fang Xu drew the embroidered Spring Blade from Gu Bei’s waist. A flash of cold steel, and the bandit chief’s head tumbled to the ground, blood spraying everywhere.

“Now then, are you willing to cooperate with me?” Fang Xu asked, smiling as he accepted a handkerchief from Gu Bei and wiped the blood from his face. The bound bandit next to the slain chief shuddered uncontrollably—after all, the heat of fresh blood upon his skin was a vivid reminder of his own peril.