Village Chief Cui sat dejectedly on the ox cart.
Cui Minglin also had his head drooped, seemingly lost in thought.
Mo Jiuye held the mentality of minding his own business and wanted to quickly pass by them, so as to avoid any verbal conflict.
However, just as the ox cart was passing by them, Cui Minglin lifted his head and happened to see Mo Jiuye.
Cui Minglin shouted loudly, "What are you doing here? Don't tell me you've come to laugh at my cousin?"
Village Chief Cui and several other Cui clan members on the ox cart also saw Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran.
Everyone's eyes fell upon them in unison.
A Cui clan member who looked somewhat unfamiliar asked, "Brother Lin, could they be the exiled criminals assigned to our Xi Ling Village yesterday?"
This person's tone was clearly very disdainful towards Mo Jiuye couple. They had now arrived in the northwest and were no longer exiled criminals.
Other than not being allowed to leave Yun City without permission, they were no different from these commoners.
Mo Jiuye glanced coldly at the man without saying a word.
The speaker shivered instantly under that icy look.
He had also heard that the exiled criminals who came this time had quite the temper, and not even the Cui family was able to get any favors from them.
However, in his mind, the Cui clan's prestige could not be lost as Cui clan members, otherwise how could the Cui family gain a foothold in Xi Ling Village in the future?
Upon thinking of this, the man jumped directly down from the ox cart and pointed at Mo Jiuye yelling,
"What are you looking at? Be careful or I'll dig your eyes out!"
For such a person, Mo Jiuye was too lazy to bother with excessive words.
With a 'snap', the whip used for driving struck the man's body severely.
Village Chief Cui had intended to stop his clansman from confronting Mo Jiuye forcefully, but his actions were not as fast as the youngster's.
Seeing Mo Jiuye raise the whip in his hand, he shouted loudly, "Cui Liang, get out of the way quickly!"
However, his reminder was still too slow, as the whip had already greeted Cui Liang's body.
For someone who practiced martial arts all year round, even without internal energy infused, the force of this whip on a human body was beyond compare to ordinary people.
Cui Liang yelled out in pain, "Ah...you dare to attack in broad daylight, is there still royal law?"
Mo Jiuye sneered coldly, "You still know about royal law?
When your Cui family relied on the county magistrate clansman to bully and domineer in Xi Ling Village, where was this talk of royal law?"
By now, quite a few onlookers had gathered.
They didn't know the relationship between the quarreling sides, but even so, they could still see that it was the people on the ox cart who provoked first.
For such people, one could deduce without thinking that they must have bullied others relying on power frequently.
Therefore, when Cui Liang mentioned royal law yet was refuted by Mo Jiuye, the onlookers all laughed.
Cui Liang was unwilling to admit defeat. He pointed at Mo Jiuye and shouted, "You dare to attack people in the streets, I'm going to report you to the authorities!"
Mo Jiuye sneered coldly, "Do you think your Cui family county magistrate has time for you now that he is severely injured?"
Upon hearing this, Cui Liang instantly lost some confidence.
Coincidentally at this moment, several officers had just come out from the Cui residence. Cui Liang's eyes turned swiftly as he hurriedly ran over.
He pointed in Mo Jiuye's direction and told the officers, "Do you see that man over there? I suspect he is the one who injured the county magistrate, hurry and arrest him!"
Hearing that the assailant who stabbed the county magistrate had appeared, several officers surrounded Mo Jiuye brandishing their weapons.
Seeing that Mo Jiuye was about to be humiliated soon, Cui Liang revealed a wicked smile.
The officers surrounded the mule cart. One recognized Mo Jiuye instantly.
Yesterday at the government office, the Mo family did not give County Magistrate Cui any face at all. Hence, their impression of Mo Jiuye was extremely deep.
Carefully thinking back, given how the county magistrate made things difficult for them yesterday, it would not be unjustified for them to resent this. They truly had the motive to harm someone.
Upon realizing this, the officer shouted loudly, "Come with me to the county office now to assist in the investigation!"
Mo Jiuye did not move an inch.
"What have I done that requires assisting in an investigation?"
"Stop wasting words. I suspect you are the one who harmed the county magistrate!" The officer left no room for disagreement. He came forward wanting to make an arrest.
Mo Jiuye pulled He Zhiran along skillfully dodging to the side, easily avoiding the officer's salty pig hands that reached out.
The officer was furious seeing this. "How bold, actually daring to evade capture. Your crimes have increased one level!"
He clearly understood Mo Jiuye's former position and that as someone who had led troops into battle before, his skills must be formidable. Although his tone was still forceful, he no longer dared to recklessly use force.
At this moment, Mo Jiuye's face had completely blackened.
He first glared angrily at the Cui clan members, then looked towards the officers. In a low voice he asked sternly,
"For capturing thieves, what evidence do you have to determine that I am the one who harmed Cui County Magistrate?"
In actual fact, the officers did not suspect Mo Jiuye at all.
County Magistrate Cui had said there were a total of 5 assailants last night who were all masked.
They also saw the people from the Mo family who came yesterday, just 2 men with the rest being women. It was impossible for them to make up 5 people to commit the crime.
However, there was urgency from the county magistrate's side to apprehend the murderer within 3 days.
Without thinking, one could deduce that the 5 people who dared to sneak into a government official's home to commit assault at night could not be ordinary folk.
To capture such people, let alone 3 days, even if given 3 years it would likely be impossible.
Thus, the officers had the idea to catch a few scapegoats to close the case early.
Now that Mo Jiuye was in sight, they had this thought.
Not to mention how many Mo family men there were, using their unpleasant altercation with County Magistrate Cui yesterday was already an excuse to apprehend them.
Once at the government office, whether they would admit guilt would no longer be up to them. This would allow the case to be closed early.
Mo Jiuye had long seen through these officers' sinister intentions. How could he possibly go along with their wishes?
The officers harbored impure motives for the arrest to begin with. How could they possibly have any evidence?
Furthermore, together with the few officers behind was only a total of 4 men. Dealing with someone who had been on the battlefield, they likely lacked confidence.
Just as the officers were still considering countermeasures, another group of officers came running from the other end of the street.
That group appeared to at least have 6, 7 men. Gathered together they achieved upward of 10 men.
The officers instantly regained confidence. Towards the rushing colleagues he yelled loudly, "Hurry up! The assailant who injured the county magistrate last night is here!"
Unexpectedly, the approaching officers did not come to help arrest Mo Jiuye. Instead, they breathlessly notified the others,
"Quick, return to the county office now. The new county magistrate has arrived!"
This news was rather sudden. The officers who wanted to catch Mo Jiuye as a scapegoat were stunned briefly before calling to the men behind them to rush to the county office. They completely disregarded Mo Jiuye.
Hearing that a new Yun City county magistrate had arrived, the crowds that were watching also ran over to see the commotion.
The place instantly became empty here.
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran also wanted to go take a look at what background the newly arrived county magistrate had. However, before leaving this place, they had to settle things properly with these clueless Cui clan members first.
Mo Jiuye picked up the ox cart driving whip again and unhurriedly walked towards the Cui clan members' ox cart.
