Chapter 98 - 96: Order Collapsing (Part 2)
Just the day after Xiao Jingchuan left, the order in the County City began to collapse.
"We can’t manage it anymore; everyone should just protect their own families." A Patrol Captain gave up.
At this moment, they couldn’t even manage Donglai County City; just protecting the people around them would be considered good enough.
Song Changming alone was also powerless to change the situation in the city, estimating that it would remain chaotic for a few more days before the Imperial Court’s army arrived.
Returning to the Song Residence, Song Changming advised his parents not to go anywhere these days and just enjoy some sun in the courtyard.
"Changming, what exactly has happened? Why is it so noisy outside, and is it true that the Governor has abandoned the city and fled?" Father Song asked worriedly.
"The rumors are true, the Governor has indeed left, and now the city is already in chaos." Song Changming did not hide this, and explained the situation to his parents.
"Such a thing actually happened..." Father Song exclaimed in disbelief.
He had lived most of his life without experiencing such an event.
Never would have thought that the Governor, who seemed to be doing well, would suddenly leave just like that.
During Xiao Jingchuan’s tenure, although not extremely honest and benevolent, at least under his administration, Donglai Prefecture hadn’t faced any major troubles and was relatively peaceful.
The quality of life of the people, compared to other states and counties, was not bad. Overall, he was a competent and capable Governor.
"Luckily, we listened to you and bought plenty of rice and grain at home. Despite the chaos outside, we just need not to go out." Song’s Mother said with relief.
If Song Changming wasn’t working in the General Department, facing the current chaos, they wouldn’t have been prepared at all.
"Dahuang, White, be diligent these days and guard the courtyard well." Song Changming instructed the two large dogs beside him.
"Woof!"
The two dogs, with long barbed tongues, responded in unison.
By evening, the city still couldn’t calm down.
Robbing money, grain, treasures, and even women, things became increasingly atrocious.
Without the constraints of order, people’s inner greed can inflate infinitely, and many would do as they please at this time.
They even dared to band together to confront the previously untouchable city nobility.
Even the Song Residence, where Song Changming was, attracted a few daring thieves in the middle of the night.
As a result, before Song Changming could get up, the two large dogs in the courtyard had already chased the thieves away.
Early in the morning, Liang Zhao Long, along with the remaining seven Patrol Guards, found Song Changming.
"The brothers are all settled." Liang Zhao Long said.
"Well, thank you. Come over and have some breakfast." Song Changming gestured to them.
In his charge, there were nearly fifty Patrol Guards. Over ten were taken by Xie Shihuan, leaving over thirty who did not leave and were still willing to follow Song Changming.
The day before, Song Changming had asked Liang Zhao Long to settle the Patrol Guards with families and then come to find him.
The remaining seven Patrol Guards, including Liang Zhao Long himself, were unattached, so in these tumultuous times, they all came to rely on Song Changming.
"Alright." Liang Zhao Long didn’t hold back, scarfing down a bun with each bite.
If Song Changming hadn’t stockpiled a lot of food at home, it wouldn’t be enough to feed so many martial artists now.
"How is the city now on your way here?" Song Changming asked.
"Chaotic, too chaotic!" Liang Zhao Long shook his head.
"There are dead people everywhere. If merchants don’t have enough martial artists to protect them, they fare worse. Only those powerful local families can somewhat stay outside of the turmoil..."
Song Changming shook his head, asking no more.
This was all predictable; the scenes in the city these two days were true reflections of a chaotic world.
If true chaos came, it would only be worse than it is now.
"Boss, did you raise two lions?"
Several Patrol Guards watched the napping Dahuang and White in the courtyard, asking nervously.
Now, the two large dogs looked very much like lions, majestic and domineering.
"What are you saying, they’re just domestic guard dogs. Don’t worry, they won’t bite their own people." Song Changming waved off their concerns.
"Domestic...guard dogs..." The Patrol Guards swallowed and calmed down.
"Are they Exotic Beasts?" Liang Zhao Long, knowing a bit more, had seen those wild Exotic Beasts before.
In his view, only Exotic Beast dogs could grow to be this grand and mighty.
"Not sure, maybe just having some Exotic Beast blood in them." Song Changming replied casually.
As he spoke, a young man came running, knocking on the Song Residence’s door urgently.
Song Changming looked up; he recognized the young man.
He was a coachman working beside Liang Chuan Mountain for many years and seemed to be distantly related to him.
"Lord Song, something happened to Director Liang!" The young man said immediately upon seeing Song Changming at home.
"Explain clearly." Song Changming stood up and asked with a frown.
On the other side, at the Liang Residence, the main door was already in ruins, seemingly smashed to pieces by someone.
On the courtyard wall, over ten ragged figures either squatted or stood, watching the lone figure of Liang Chuan Mountain remaining in the yard.
On the ground lay all the household servants and guards, all slaughtered.
Even Liang Chuan Mountain himself was marked with several wounds, bleeding incessantly.
"Director Liang, you probably never imagined today would come when you imprisoned us," one of the vicious criminals sneered.
From the side rooms, more prisoners kicked open doors and came out, sneering.
"We must admire Director Liang’s alertness; you’ve hidden your wife and children so quickly?"
"Do not harm my family, if there is any hatred, come at me!" Liang Chuan Mountain coldly responded to the savage faces before him.
"That won’t do, Director Liang. After imprisoning me for years and torturing me so long, simply killing you doesn’t suffice for my revenge. If possible, wouldn’t it be more fun to torment you slowly!" the criminal laughed heartily.
"Besides you, every one of your patrol guards will be dealt with one by one until I’m satisfied!"
Liang Chuan Mountain took a deep breath. If there was one thing he regretted, it was not ordering the execution of these ruthless prisoners before chaos erupted in the city.
This was undoubtedly his oversight, and the consequences must be borne by himself.
"Could there be a cellar hidden inside..." one criminal speculated, noticing how Liang Chuan Mountain remained standing in the yard without moving.
Liang Chuan Mountain’s face stayed calm, but panic stirred within.
He had indeed hidden his wife and family in a cellar.
If discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Just as he tightened his grip on his sword, ready for a final desperate fight, someone rushed in, attracting everyone’s attention.
"Go!" Liang Chuan Mountain saw it was his coachman rushing in and quickly shouted, not wishing for more to die.
"Where do you think you’re going!" a criminal standing on the courtyard wall shrieked.
As he spoke, he leaped forward, grasping at the approaching young man with a claw-like hand.
To him, dealing with an ordinary person was no different from slaughtering a chicken.
However, the next moment.
He saw a flash of silver light, dazzling his eyes.
By the time he reacted, his heart had already been pierced by a sword, the blade passing through his body.
Song Changming withdrew the sword and stepped across the door’s threshold, entering.
"Changming!" Liang Chuan Mountain saw Song Changming and felt hope reigniting.
Seeing Liang Chuan Mountain still alive, Song Changming sighed in relief, his gaze shifting to the escaped prisoners.
"Kill them all?" he asked Liang Chuan Mountain.
"Yes!" Liang Chuan Mountain nodded.
These criminals deserved death; their prison break was an unforgivable crime.
Song Changming shook off the blood on his blade and stepped towards the prisoners in the courtyard.
"I remember him; he was a Patrol Captain in the Patrol Armor Bureau. He captured me!" one escaped prisoner pointed at Song Changming, gritting his teeth.
Song Changming had apprehended him back when he was stationed in Houli Street Patrol Armor Bureau some years ago.
Of course, Song Changming had no impression of this prisoner, given the many he had captured over the years.
"Attack!"
The eyes of those in the courtyard met, sensing Song Changming was a formidable foe, they charged at him together wielding swords and knives.
They were all martial artists, each with no less than Third Realm body refining cultivation.
A typical prisoner would seize any chance to flee the prison; daring to come here seeking revenge was pure madness.
If it were the past, when Song Changming was still young at the Patrol Armor Bureau, he might have been more cautious facing these vicious criminals.
But now, there was no need to hesitate, just cut them down!
Facing one of them, the Dragon Pattern Saber came down upon his head.
No sword skill was needed, just raw power, which was enough to cleave this criminal in two!
In three swift strikes, three fell dead. Song Changming’s speed was such that the criminals had no time to cry out.
"Attack together!"
The remaining prisoners, seeing this, no longer held back, rushing all at once.
Liang Chuan Mountain, watching this scene, initially wanted to help.
But soon, he realized how unnecessary that was.
These criminals, who had seemed formidable and brutal, couldn’t withstand even a single strike from Song Changming.
Like mowing down weeds, Song Changming sped through the courtyard.
Heads flew through the air, blood gushing uninterruptedly.
By the time the remaining criminals realized they should flee, it was already too late.
With the last escapee pinned against the courtyard wall by Song Changming’s Dragon Pattern Saber, a new mound of corpses cluttered the courtyard in a matter of moments.