Pei Zhaolin's gaze towards her was somewhat peculiar.
Even if they couldn't recognize the token, everyone understood what the words "Censorate" meant.
The emperor's close attendants. Every word and deed of theirs represented the current emperor!
Pei Zhaolin dismounted his horse and tossed the reins to Fu Li.
He stepped forward. His gaze slid past Cui Jintang, and when he saw the letter, it paused for a moment.
"Arrest all those who caused trouble today and throw them into prison."
Some people turned around and tried to flee, but the dark - clad Black Armored Troops rushed towards them. Just one glance was enough to strike fear into people's hearts.
The strong man was pushed to the front.
His eyes darted around quickly, constantly lingering among the Black Armored Troops.
Not seeing the familiar face, his heart skipped a beat.
Suppressing the bad premonition, he questioned angrily, "We just came to ask some questions. Is it a crime to ask? This is so unfair!"
Cui Jintang had been waiting for this impatient man who jumped out first.
She flapped the letter paper in her hand and let out a surprised sound, "Don't you think someone is missing today?"
The strong man was momentarily at a loss.
Suddenly, someone shouted loudly, "Why isn't Old Lady Cheng from the blacksmith's shop here? She cried the loudest three days ago!"
Cui Sheng spat and said angrily, "That old woman couldn't even recognize her own child's face that day! You all just followed her lead. You're so stupid that you don't even know you've been sold!"
"The old woman is already in the government office. Everyone, don't be impatient. It's just a matter of time."
"Everyone here is not a three - year - old kid. Even if you haven't read books, you should know the truth that rumors can be misleading!"
Cui Jintang still looked as timid as ever.
Even when she said something tough, she stood behind Pei Zhaolin.
Timid as she was, she said a lot of words that made people angry.
The strong man wanted to attack her but couldn't reach her.
From behind came the sound of horses' hooves, dull and intense, like thunder rumbling on the ground.
All the Black Armored Troops had arrived. Suddenly, they raised their shields.
The crowd was like a swarm of bees suddenly awakened, buzzing and getting restless.
The peddler holding a carrying pole opened his mouth as if he wanted to explain, but for a long time, only a half - mumbled grunt came out of his throat.
The lame woman's lips quivered. She put the eggs back into the basket and kept shaking her head, saying, "It's not right."
This group of people was in a strange, helpless panic.
Someone suddenly roared, "We're just seeking justice for our deceased relatives. How is that a crime? Why are you arresting us? Folks, run!"
Two strong men leaped forward.
Cui Sheng, who had been prepared for a long time, swung his arm and scattered a large handful of powder at them.
The wind blew the powder into their eyes, and the sharp pain immediately burned in their eyes.
The two men immediately knelt on the ground.
They covered their eyes with their hands and wailed in pain.
Cui Jintang covered her ears and shouted at Cui Sheng, "Cover their mouths. Don't let them commit suicide again."
As soon as she finished speaking, she didn't notice that Pei Zhaolin suddenly glanced at her.
Cui Sheng took off their smelly socks and stuffed them into their mouths.
The Black Armored Troops, who were already ready for a fierce battle, thought, "What the...?"
This doesn't seem right, does it?
Aren't these guys supposed to be big villains who kill, burn, and rob?
How could they be defeated by just a little chili powder?!
Cui Jintang walked up to the lame woman, who was standing there blank - eyed, and looked at her for a long time. She was still just shaking her head and saying, "It's not right."
Looking at the others, they all looked the same.
Some people in the shops on both sides of the street poked their heads out to watch.
As soon as they met Cui Jintang's gaze, they quickly retracted their heads.
Cui Jintang thought, "What?"
All she could hear in her ears was, "It's not right. It's not right. It's not right."
Cui Jintang turned her head and slapped the lame woman across the face.
Looking at Pei Zhaolin, she said fearfully with a trembling voice, "Lord Pei, their state seems a bit off. Should we find some doctors to take a look?"
Pei Zhaolin had been standing three steps away, his lips tightly pursed.
Hearing her voice, he casually glanced over.
But the next second, a strange emotion suddenly surged in his eyes.
It was like a whirlpool suddenly rising under a calm lake.
Cui Jintang didn't catch that strange look.
Almost in an instant when no one noticed, Pei Zhaolin suddenly flipped his right hand. A cold light flashed out of his sleeve!
The sound of the object cutting through the air rang out suddenly. That cold light was aimed straight at Cui Jintang's throat.
Her pupils shrank suddenly. Her survival instinct made her lean backward, but the sharp object had already grazed the side of her neck!
"Clang!"
It was firmly embedded in the red - painted corridor pillar three steps behind her.
The hilt of the dagger was still trembling, emitting a fine buzzing sound.
Cui Jintang's heart tightened suddenly.
She stood there stunned, her fingertips curling unconsciously.
That moment was so sudden that she didn't even see Pei Zhaolin's movement clearly.
He was clearly still standing there, but the dagger seemed to appear out of thin air and aim straight at her throat!
"You—!"
Her voice trembled slightly. Her fingertips unconsciously tightened on her sleeve, and her eyes stared fixedly at Pei Zhaolin.
Pei Zhaolin stood there, and his expression had returned to normal.
He looked at her indifferently, as if nothing had happened.
Cui Jintang's heart was pounding like a drum. The tremor of facing the dagger just now still remained at the tip of her heart.
—Did Pei Zhaolin want to kill her?
Just as Cui Jintang was filled with suspicion and her body was tense, she turned to look at the dagger stuck in the pillar.
She saw a tiny black shadow wriggling and struggling under the blade.
Its six legs were slightly spread, and its abdomen was an eerie dark red. Even though it had been pierced by the dagger, it could still emit a faint buzzing sound.
A Gu worm!
In a split - second, Cui Jintang understood.
If it had been a moment later, the Gu worm would have bitten her neck!
Cui Jintang pulled out the dagger and sliced it across the Gu worm.
The Gu worm fell to the ground, wriggled a few times, and then stopped moving.
The lame woman, who had been standing there stupidly and only saying "It's not right," seemed to wake up from a big dream. She let out a scream and fell to the ground.
A basket of eggs in her hand all smashed on the ground. "Don't arrest me! Don't arrest me!"
Cui Jintang exchanged a look with Pei Zhaolin.
The latter quickly stepped forward.
Cui Jintang slapped the peddler with the carrying pole hard. A Gu worm crawled out of his nose and buzzed, trying to bite Cui Jintang's hand.
Pei Zhaolin picked it up with a flick and stomped it to death.
Cui Jintang slapped another person, and Pei Zhaolin silently followed.
By the end, Cui Jintang was completely excited.
In the end, there was a hint of peculiarity in Pei Zhaolin's gaze towards her.
He felt a strange sense of familiarity with her method...?
Cui Jintang patted her slightly swollen hand, preparing to end this farce.
"Lady Jiang."
Cui Jintang turned her head. "Huh?"
There was a half - smile on Pei Zhaolin's lips. His eyes seemed casual, but they were always firmly fixed on her.
He said slowly, "I still have some confusion and need Lady Jiang to explain it to me."
After saying that, he took out a short piece of a secret letter from his sleeve.
He even turned it around a couple of times to show it to Cui Jintang.
—It was the secret letter that she had asked Cui Sheng to shoot down the pigeon from the Censorate and replace it with the one she had written.