Nightwatcher

Chapter 102: More Valuable than One's Life

# 102. More Valuable than One's Life

Your Mother!

Xu Qian cursed internally, accepting his fate.

He thought back to his previous life, in officer training, when the sergeant would deliberately pick on him. At that time, he could still say: I aint doing this!

But the Nightwatchers ranks were strict, and so one couldnt use such extreme a response.

Youre making things hard for me? Then dont blame me when I tell on you to Daddy Wei. Xu Qian rubbed his swollen arms, aflame with fury.

After all personnel had arrived, the Nightwatchers and their assistant bailiffs hastily rushed to their destination.

That head of finance whose house they were raiding was surnamed Cheng, with a large three-tiered courtyard house. The house was already surrounded on all sides by the city guard.

After the Nightwatchers had arrived, silver gong Zhu pulled his sabre out, and with his blade like a flash of lightning, cut the Zhu Manor sign in half.

Afterwards, he waved his sabre in the air: Nightwatchers! Open up!

Like a cloud of angry wasps, the bronze gongs and bailiffs barged into the house.

The servants in the manor were so scared they dared not breathe, shakily retreating to the corners, to the side of the road, to under the eaves.

Only yesterday did they know their master had been arrested, and the manor was about to ask around their contacts. Who knew that they would be raided so quickly?

Xu Qian and his two colleagues entered the front hall, and were just about to go to the back courtyard, when they were kicked back by silver gong Zhu.

You three stay here, dont you dare go anywhere. Afterwards, I will search each and every one of you. If you dare to try smuggle anything, you will be punished according to all possible regulations. he said darkly.

Seeing that Xu Qian and the other two were being picked on, some bronze gongs looked on with schadenfreude, others pretending not to see anything, in an effort to protect themselves.

Song Tingfeng dared to be angry, but dared not say anything.

The always silent Zhu Guangxiao bore a dark expression.

Xu Qian clenched his teeth, and chose to remain silent. He couldnt fight back at this time, otherwise his fate would be dire indeed.

Watching silver gong Zhu enter the inner courtyard, Song Tingfeng spat in his direction, angrily saying This damn bastard, breaking ones path to wealth, has no sense of PY trading.[^1]

Sorry, Im weighing you all down. Xu Qian said in shame.

Song Tingfeng rolled his eyes, his gaze falling on Xu Qians arm: Im seeing you rubbing your arm a lot, are you hurt much?

Laughing bitterly, Xu Qian pulled up his sleeve, to reveal that his arm was already swollen and red.

That piece of shit used qi? Song Tingfengs expression turned.

An average officer beating his subordinates would at most cause some minor bruises, and would absolutely not secretly add qi to their blows. Causing pain and causing actual injury were two different things.

But that Zhu was another level of mean-spirited.

Just with this injury, you can report him. When we get back, go find boss, boss wont tolerate this. Zhu Guangxiao said.

Song Tingfeng glanced at him, shaking his head, Dont cause boss more trouble.

Even though they were both silver gongs, but Zhus father was a gold gong, and a person with such a big tree to lean against was not someone Li Yuchun could afford to get on the bad side of.

Song Tingfeng continued, Forget it. If you get put with him next time, just admit your misfortune.

*I will report him, but not to brother Chun, but rather daddy Wei* Xu Qian dropped down his sleeve.

The house raid was different to what Xu Qian had in mind; there werent any sounds of smashing and crashing about. Quite the opposite, the bronze gongs and white bailiffs were all very careful with their task.

A random flowerpot in the study, could be a piece of porcelain worth over a hundred taels. A small desk used to put papers, could be a few taels of silver alone.

Suddenly, the three of them in the front hall heard the sharp screams and cries of a woman, along with her pleading.

Whats going on? Xu Qians expression changed, turning to look at Song Tingfeng, The sentence said only a house raid, no other arrests.

The sentence given to Minister Cheng was only to be exiled, and have his property confiscated. No one else would be arrested along with him.

This implied that his family would at most be evicted from the manor; they werent guilty of any crime.

Song Tingfeng said hesitantly, Perhaps the women in the manor are rather pretty they want to play this type of thing happens all the time.

Fuck! Xu Qian cursed, rushing to the back courtyard with large steps.

In the courtyard, a womans sharp cries echoed throughout the manor, along with a mans perverted laugh.

Bang!

Xu Qian headed towards the source of the commotion, kicking open a door, to see a bronze gong he didnt know was currently pulling at a middle-aged womans clothes.

That woman had well-defined features, pale skin, and on her body was only left a *dudou* undershirt.[^2] She was crying in utter despair.

The bronze gong jumped in fright, his face losing colour. If it was only a moment later, then would he not have been scared into paranoia. He turned his head in anger to look at the door.

Xu Qian stared back at him coldly, scanning the plaque on the bronze gongs waist, You continue. Ive remembered your name, afterwards Ill personally go to Duke Wei and report you.

Wei Yuans name carried heavy weight. The bronze gong glanced at the woman, then glanced at Xu Qians dark face, making sure it was not a joke, before hesitating.

Xu Qian did not pay him any more attention, and making best of what little time he had, started kicking open other doors in succession, like a cannon, and similarly frightening his colleagues off their imminent misdeeds.

*I havent seen that Zhu* Xu Qians heart sank, and without hesitation, kicked open the door to the last room.

As expected, revealing silver gong Zhu.

And as for him, he was in the middle of pinching a girl, a wicked smile on his face, slowly ripping off her clothes layer by layer with twisted enjoyment.

That girl was no more than twelve or thirteen. Tear tracks shone down her face, and she was making choked sobs, wanting but not daring to cry.

At that instant, Xu Qians anger reached boiling point, yet he did not rashly run in, staring daggers at silver gong Zhu.

Piss off! Silver gong Zhus face was sullen.

Xu Qian did not piss off, staring a Refining Spirit master eye-to-eye without a hint of timidness, spitting out word by word: You dare to touch her, I will report you to Duke Wei.

Hearing his words, the young girls eyes shone with newfound radiance, finally finding a lifeline to clutch at.

This altercation drew the attention of the other bronze gongs and assistant bailiffs. They stood not far away, looking in shock at this famed bronze gong facing off against the silver gong.

Sure, you worthless thing.

He had disliked Xu Qians spotlight earlier, but now his feeling towards the bronze gong was that the quicker he died the better.

Silver gong Zhu grabbed the girl by the neck, holding her up in the air, and walked out of the room with great strides.

Xu Qian felt a surging wave of qi, and instinctively put a hand on his sabre hilt, backing off cautiously, avoiding the sharp edge.

Silver gong Zhu carried the girl to the courtyard, and threw her atop the stone table. He turned, and with a twisted smile said:

What will you do?

The veins in Xu Qians forehead bulged.

Ningyan Song Tingfeng ran over with an awful looking expression, putting a hand onto Xu Qians right hand, on his pommel, saying with gritted teeth, Dont start, dont start, you know the consequences

His voice was pleading.

Xu Qian found a bit of calmness again, and understood Song Tingfengs warning.

Firstly, a bronze gong attacking a silver gong was an enormous violation; if he were killed on the spot he would only have himself to blame.

Put it another way, the reason that Zhu pulled the girl into the courtyard to assault her in front of everyone, was to provoke Xu Qian, and force him to attack.

Giving Xu Qian no path forward but death.

Secondly, how could a refining qi beat a refining spirit?

Both status and strength disallowed it.

Xu Qian did not give up, meticulously repeating himself: If you dare touch her, I will report you to Wei Yuan.

Silver gong Zhu laughed maniacally, You can go tell on me, but only after I enjoy this little beauty.

Other bronze gongs might have been afraid of Xu Qians threat, but he was not.

With a gold gong as his father, added onto the fact that he had done everything properly, he was not afraid of problems he could not solve, or calamity.

What is it really to abuse a few women of a criminal family?

Furthermore, it wasnt the first or second time he had done it; every year with so many officials found guilty, and suffering house raids, even if their familys women werent sentenced on association, were they really able to get off scott free?

They also had to pay something.

Silver gong Zhu laughed derisively, and made to start assaulting the girl.

Some bronze gongs turned their heads, some whistled, laughing strangely.

This only just secondary school aged girl facing such a fate, deeply pierced at his 21st century transmigrated soul.

Let her go!

Song Tingfeng heard his companions words, they were very light.

But his expression was that resolute, that unconsciously, Song Tingfeng took a step back.

Xu Qians eyes were calm, his breath calm, all his emotions were flattened into a calm lake. In an instant, he had entered an optimal state.

With the thumb of his right hand, he lightly pushed off the hand guard of his sabre, letting the blade come out of its scabbard an inch.

Sching!

The sound of a sword leaving its scabbard resonated around the courtyard. Silver gong Zhu suddenly rose, gaze cold, lashing out with no hesitation, his blade humming towards Xu Qian.

He had long anticipated this.

A raging torrent of qi came crashing forth, like the sea tide. Xu Qian was like a stone monolith, resolute and unyielding.

Everything had come to this point, he had reached his peak!

Sching!

Another sound of sword leaving scabbard.

Everyone only saw a thin blade of light appear and flash away, only saw Xu Qians hand move slightly.

That somewhat straight looking sabre, was still in its scabbard, as if that sound was merely an illusion.

Silver gong Zhu did not move, his wide, staring eyes frozen in place.

A few seconds later, the silver gong at his chest split, falling to the floor with a crash.

Immediately afterwards, a sabre gash split open his chest, as fresh blood sprayed out, spraying on Xu Qians face and body.

In absolute silence, he toppled over backwards.

Moments later, Song Tingfeng was the first to react, rushing towards silver gong Zhu with a face as white as a sheet, feeling for his meridians.

Hes not dead, hes not dead Song Tingfeng yelled hoarsely, Someone save him!

The scene immediately became chaotic. A group of silver gongs started trying to stabilise silver gong Zhu, channelling qi into him, giving him medicine. They then picked him up, and carried him off, planning to take him to the constabulary for further treatment.

Another group drew their sabres in a wave of sching! sounds, surrounding Xu Qian.

The silent Zhu Guangxiao, hand on his sword hilt, stood in front of Xu Qian.

Ningyan Song Tingfengs face became even whiter. With great difficulty, he squeezed out the words Flee

Xu Qian, who with one strike used up all his qi, shook his head, his face full of tiredness. He laughed, If I flee, what happens to my uncle and auntie?

Song Tingfeng became angry. He pulled at Xu Qians robe, pointing at the dazed young girl, shouting with gritted teeth, Is it worth it? For a girl that you dont even know, is it worth it?

Shes still a child Xu Qian stared back at him, There are some things, that are more valuable than ones life.

He started walking away, lightly. No one dared to stop him. When he took a step, the Nightwatchers would back off a step.

After about ten steps, Xu Qian took off his plaque and scabbard, and threw them on the ground. Then, he made an action that no body could understand.

With eyes turned towards the heavens, he raised his hand, and gave a military salute.

So many years apart, on Xu Qians face flashed again that overflowing youthful vigour, that he had when he first graduated police academy.

Even if he was covered in blood.

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[^1]: Probably mentioned this before but PY trading: trading between friends anus trading, basically backdoor deals, shady business.

[^2]: [Dudou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudou)