Village Chief Cui and Cui Minglin had just learned yesterday how formidable the Mo Family people were. Now, seeing Mo Jiuye walking over with a cold expression on his face, they cowered at once.
"What are you trying to do? Don't come over here!" Cui Minglin said fearfully.
Seeing this, Village Chief Cui's body also instinctively shrank back.
Mo Jiuye didn't bother explaining and immediately raised his whip, lashing out at Cui Liang first.
Cui Liang wasn't able to dodge in time and was hit hard several times, crying out painfully and losing all dignity.
Next, Mo Jiuye's whip ruthlessly struck Cui Minglin.
Cui Minglin had always been the village bully. Where had he ever suffered such humiliation?
After several lashes, he suddenly felt his blood boil.
He shouted at the other Cui family members in the ox cart, "Come on, everyone get him together!"
Seeing this, Village Chief Cui also forgot his earlier fear and pushed several Cui family members to surround and attack Mo Jiuye together.
Facing the group of Cui family members, Mo Jiuye showed no mercy. His whip lashed viciously at them with crushing force. The Cui family could only passively take the beating.
After pushing his clansmen forward, Village Chief Cui didn't join the attack. Instead, he circled around to He Zhiran's side from the other end of the mule cart.
He knew clearly that they were no match for Mo Jiuye. The best tactic was to control the woman and threaten the opponent that way.
Mo Jiuye had already noticed Village Chief Cui's actions long ago. He didn't go help because he knew He Zhiran was capable of handling an unskilled man without trouble.
As Village Chief Cui climbed down from the ox cart, he grabbed a not very long hemp rope along the way. He carefully crept up behind He Zhiran, just about to loop the rope around her neck, when He Zhiran suddenly leapt down from the mule cart.
He Zhiran spun and kicked out fiercely, her leg slamming into Village Chief Cui's lower abdomen.
Although He Zhiran didn't have inner energy, her technique was executed perfectly.
The kick sent Village Chief Cui flying back several meters. His whole body crashed heavily onto the ground.
He Zhiran revealed a mocking smile.
"Tsk, the village chief actually stooped so low as to sneak attack a powerless woman. It really makes one laugh."
Village Chief Cui rubbed his aching back that had hit the ground. He stared at He Zhiran in terror.
He absolutely hadn't expected that the Mo Family woman would be so formidable as well. Today, they had really kicked an iron panel.
He pointed a trembling finger at He Zhiran. "You... don't come over, or I'll report to the authorities!"
He Zhiran sneered coldly. "Report me? Go ahead. The new county prefect just arrived. I want to see if every official is as corrupt as Deputy Magistrate Cui."
When Village Chief Cui heard He Zhiran's words, his heart thudded.
He had been too angry and overlooked the news mentioned earlier by the deputies - that a new county prefect had arrived in Yun City.
He didn't know yet what kind of person this new prefect was.
If this prefect wasn't of the same circle as his nephew, then his family's good days would be over.
Furthermore, he had just witnessed with his own eyes Deputy Magistrate Cui's root being injured. This news didn't know which big mouth had spread it far and wide. By now, all the commoners in Yun City must know.
Things had gotten to this point. Even if Deputy Magistrate Cui wanted to conceal it, he couldn't possibly manage.
Originally, Village Chief Cui had thought it fortunate that Yun City currently had no prefect. His nephew could use this time to suppress discussion and continue concealing the matter in order to keep his position as magistrate.
But now, it seemed unlikely.
That meant his nephew would inevitably lose his magistrate's seat.
Thinking of this, Village Chief Cui instantly felt he had lost his footing.
He looked at his clansmen who had been whipped by Mo Jiuye until covered in injuries. "Nevermind not reporting. First make your husband stop."
He Zhiran glanced at Mo Jiuye and saw him wielding the whip in a lazy manner. Clearly he didn't take the Cui family people seriously at all.
Originally, He Zhiran had considered that this was on a main street after all. If Mo Jiuye wasn't careful with his strength and beat someone to death, it would be hard to smooth things over. So she had thought to stop him.
But upon hearing Village Chief Cui's threatening tone, she immediately didn't want to interfere anymore.
Not interfering didn't mean she had no other methods.
He Zhiran shot Village Chief Cui a look, then walked over to Mo Jiuye's side.
"Dear husband, are you tired from beating them? Why not take a break and let me have a turn."
This was good. Her strength would be gentler and it was a chance for her to practice.
Mo Jiuye looked at her affectionately. Knowing it was safe to beat these people without real danger, he handed over the whip without hesitation.
The Cui family had personally witnessed Village Chief Cui get kicked flying by this pretty woman earlier. So when facing He Zhiran, they didn't feel relieved at all.
Other than lacking Mo Jiuye's stamina, He Zhiran's strikes were no lighter.
Furthermore, her agility was quite good. If these people tried to flee, they wouldn't have a chance.
After wielding the whip for a while, when He Zhiran felt the timing was right, she stopped.
The so-called right timing was when the Cui family was hurt enough to be in agony but not fatally wounded.
With He Zhiran's medical expertise, she gauged these injuries would need at least half a month to heal.
Gripping the whip in hand, she panted, "I'm tired. You all can go report now."
As she spoke, she deliberately glanced at Village Chief Cui who had been scared witless.
This look conveyed her meaning thoroughly to Village Chief Cui.
As long as you don't mind the pain, feel free to go report us.
Recalling the kick to his lower abdomen earlier by this woman, at this moment Village Chief Cui still felt lingering fear.
"I won't report. None of us will report."
After he finished speaking, Village Chief Cui signalled to his clansmen with his eyes for everyone to leave quickly.
The Cui family were beyond relieved. They tumbled and crawled back onto the ox cart.
The cart driver fled as if avoiding the plague god, whipping the ox cart away at the fastest speed before Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran.
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran also tidied their clothes and got back in the mule cart.
If they hadn't run into the Cui family's provocation here, upon hearing the news of the new prefect's arrival they would have joined the crowd to watch the hubbub.
But now, they had changed their minds.
A new prefect had arrived. If he was a good official, then investigating Deputy Magistrate Cui's misconduct over the years - along with his current disability - would certainly lead to Deputy Magistrate Cui's dismissal and prosecution.
On the flip side, if the new prefect was similarly corrupt as Deputy Magistrate Cui, then Deputy Magistrate would certainly take this chance to give gifts and favors, smoothing the matter over.
In the former case of Deputy Magistrate Cui being investigated, his family property would surely be confiscated. In the latter case, Deputy Magistrate Cui would use his remaining assets to bribe the prefect. Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran didn't want to give him that chance.
Therefore, the two unanimously decided to first rob the Cui residence clean to avoid future troubles.
