Chapter 13: Faster Than You

"You’re... quite the interesting fellow."

The black-spotted man stared at Han Yuan, his expression growing serious.

"Your saber... isn’t as fast as mine."

Han Yuan grinned.

"I wouldn’t be so sure."

The black-spotted man shook his head.

The next moment, they both moved at once.

Han Yuan strode forward, unleashing a vicious Flying Falcon Strike that shot out like lightning, aimed straight for his opponent’s heart.

The black-spotted man snorted coldly. He stepped forward and twisted his wrist, the tip of his saber flicking upward in a glint of cold light to parry Han Yuan’s long saber.

The next moment, he suddenly threw a cloud of white powder with his left hand.

Han Yuan, who had already noticed the scoundrel’s subtle movements, dodged backward and avoided the lime powder.

The black-spotted man hadn’t expected Han Yuan to be able to dodge.

However, Han Yuan’s retreat exposed an opening.

Naturally, the black-spotted man wouldn’t let the chance slip. He lunged forward, his long saber chopping viciously toward Han Yuan’s face.

At that same moment, Han Yuan also threw a cloud of white lime powder.

He had intentionally revealed this opening to the black-spotted man, and his opponent had taken the bait.

The black-spotted man never expected someone from the Government Office to use lime powder. Unable to dodge, his eyes immediately began to burn with searing pain.

SHINK!

Of course, Han Yuan had dodged his strike.

"Damn it!"

The black-spotted man was a ruthless one. Enduring the searing pain in his eyes, he swung his long saber and began to fight Han Yuan with desperate ferocity.

His eyes were shot through with crimson veins and bulged as if they were about to explode, giving him an exceptionally savage appearance.

His saber strikes became even more frenzied, as if he was willing to throw his life away to take Han Yuan down with him.

Han Yuan did not retreat. He executed the Thousand Falcons Blade Technique, unleashing a flurry of swift, precise slashes.

Falcon Dance in the Sky!

His opponent’s Blade Technique was frenzied, but the light from Han Yuan’s blade was faster and fiercer. It was as if innumerable falcons were weaving through the sky in a chaotic dance, their movements filled with killing intent.

SHLICK SHLICK SHLICK~~

The black-spotted man was soon covered in wounds.

Finally, he let out a furious roar. Ignoring the blade sweeping toward him, he gripped his own saber with both hands and chopped violently at Han Yuan’s face.

He was trying to take Han Yuan down with him.

Han Yuan smiled faintly. The muscles in his arms twitched as another surge of Power flowed into his long saber.

His thrusting saber accelerated again, almost seeming to let out a falcon’s screech.

SHUNK!

Han Yuan and the black-spotted man rushed past one another.

"I told you."

"My saber... is faster than yours."

Han Yuan said calmly.

The black-spotted man turned to look at Han Yuan, then his body suddenly collapsed.

Han Yuan pulled his long saber from the black-spotted man’s chest and glanced toward the other fight.

"Second Brother!"

Seeing his own brother die so tragically at Han Yuan’s hands, the white-spotted man roared, his eyes nearly splitting with rage.

He swung his Giant Axe violently, forcing Zeng Rongtian back. After shooting Han Yuan a venomous glare, he vanished in a flash and fled.

Worried for the safety of the County Magistrate’s Wife, Zeng Rongtian didn’t immediately give chase.

Han Yuan was too far away to catch him, even if he tried.

All he could do was help Zeng Rongtian finish off the remaining bandits.

On their side, three Government Officials had died, one was seriously injured, and three had minor injuries.

Zeng Rongtian had the men tend to their wounds, then quickly went to the carriage to check on the County Magistrate’s Wife. After confirming she was unharmed, he immediately had the carriage turn around and head back toward the Qingshui County Yamen.

"Han Yuan, when did you break through to the Gathering Realm?"

Zeng Rongtian couldn’t help but ask on the way back.

This time, if it hadn’t been for Han Yuan, he feared that even he might have been killed.

The Black and White Double Evil were both Gathering Power Experts.

One of them alone could fight him to a standstill; against both of them, the odds would have been stacked against him.

"After my brother went missing, I’ve been training my Blade Technique relentlessly."

"I just happened to break through to the Gathering Realm three days ago."

"I was also lucky just now. I managed to catch him off guard with the lime powder."

"Otherwise, I’m afraid I would have been in a tight spot myself."

Han Yuan explained.

He’d had no choice but to reveal his strength this time.

The Black and White Double Evil had made it clear they weren’t leaving any survivors, so he had to act.

Besides, a good amount of time had passed since Han Jiudao’s disappearance.

So his explanation was just barely plausible.

"In the Martial World, all that matters is who wins."

"Winning is all that matters."

Zeng Rongtian’s tone had clearly grown friendlier.

"You’re right, Constable Zeng," Han Yuan said with a slight nod.

They picked up the pace.

An hour later, they finally made it back to the Qingshui County Yamen.

County Magistrate Zheng Heda was startled to hear that his wife had nearly been abducted by bandits.

After consoling his wife, he summoned Zeng Rongtian to get a full report.

He heard that the crisis had been averted entirely thanks to a Government Official named Han Yuan.

Zheng Heda was filled with surprise and doubt. "Han Yuan... Why does that name sound familiar?"

The County Yamen had so many Government Officials and other officials that, of course, he couldn’t possibly know all of them.

"Your Excellency, this Han Yuan is Han Jiudao’s younger brother."

Steward Zhang Hu reminded him from the side.

"Han Jiudao... I remember now."

It suddenly dawned on Zheng Heda. "Constable Zeng, have Han Yuan come see me."

Zeng Rongtian cupped his fist and departed.

A short while later, Han Yuan walked into the main hall.

This was likely the first time Han Yuan had seen the County Magistrate since transmigrating to this world.

He wasn’t bad-looking, with a lean face, a goatee, and a red Official Uniform. He naturally possessed an air of authority.

"Your subordinate, Han Yuan, greets you, County Magistrate."

Han Yuan cupped his fist, his demeanor neither servile nor arrogant.

"Han Yuan, I have you to thank for this."

"If you hadn’t acted, I fear my wife would have been in grave danger."

Zheng Heda said with a slight smile.

"I was only doing my duty," Han Yuan said in a deep voice.

Zheng Heda seemed quite pleased with Han Yuan’s attitude. He narrowed his eyes. "I am a man who always rewards merit and punishes failure."

"You performed a great service today by killing the vicious bandit Black Evil."

"Steward Zhang, how do you think we should reward him?"

Zhang Hu smiled. "Your Excellency, this Han Yuan’s brother is Constable Han Jiudao."

"Constable Han went missing in the past while pursuing a notorious thief, and there has been no word of him since."

"In my opinion, why don’t we let Han Yuan take his brother’s place? What do you think?"

Zheng Heda was a little surprised. He had originally intended to just reward him with silver.

But now that Zhang Hu had mentioned it, he thought it made some sense.

Han Yuan was quite strong, and moreover, he had saved his wife’s life.

Making him a constable didn’t seem excessive.

Zheng Heda asked, "Han Yuan, are you confident you can handle the duties of a constable?"

"I will not fail to live up to Your Excellency’s expectations."

Han Yuan declared.

"Hmm, but you’ll still need to get past Chief Constable Gao."

"I can only give you the opportunity."

Zheng Heda said.

He could appoint a Government Official as he pleased.

But when it came to a constable, he also needed Gao Yuan’s approval.

"I understand," Han Yuan said, cupping his fist.

"You may go. I will have a word with Chief Constable Gao."

Zheng Heda said with a wave of his hand.

Han Yuan cupped his fist and withdrew.

’First Han Jiudao is gone, and now a Han Yuan appears.’

Zheng Heda’s eyes flickered.

"Yes... this Han Yuan’s previous performance at the Government Office was quite poor."

"But since his brother disappeared, he has seemingly striven to improve himself. Breaking through to Gathering Power in just a few months is quite an achievement."

Zhang Hu said softly.

’So he’s a promising talent... It would be good if I could make use of him.’

Zheng Heda muttered to himself before asking, "Steward Zhang, do you really think the attack on my wife was a coincidence?"

Zhang Hu shook his head. "It’s unlikely..."

"Or rather, it was aimed at you, Your Excellency."

Zheng Heda sneered. "What’s the use of coming after me? Am I really the one in charge of this County Yamen?"

Zhang Hu asked, "How do you intend to respond, Your Excellency?"

Zheng Heda pondered for a moment before giving a bitter smile. "What else can I do? Go get Gao Yuan."

"I’ll go at once," Zhang Hu nodded.

As he trotted out of the main hall on his short legs, heading for the County Yamen’s inner courtyard,

a figure blocked his path.

"Steward Zhang, you dropped your silver again."

Han Yuan said with a smile.