Chapter Eighty-Three

  You want to be the deputy county governor yourself? Officer Yuan Ji stared at Tang Yin in surprise, wondering if his ears had misheard.

  He involuntarily opened his mouth, but didn't say a word for a long time.

  "It's no surprise to me," Tang Yin smiled and said, "This is my condition for releasing Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao. Of course, this is also my only condition. I wonder if Brother Shangguan can accept it?"

  "This...this..." Shangguan Yuangei never thought that Tang Yin would propose such a condition, and for a moment he couldn't react, stuttering and unable to speak.

  "I will give Officer Tang time to consider." Tang Yin asked: "I don't know if three days' time is enough?"

  "That's enough!" At this time, Shangguan Yuange's mind was in a mess, and he responded absent-mindedly. After a moment, as if he had thought of something again, he asked urgently: "And my younger brother..."

  Tang Yin was about to speak, but suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him, and he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He rolled his eyes and smiled: "If Officer Shang can guarantee that his younger brother won't escape, I can hand them over to you right now."

  As soon as this was said, everyone present was shocked.

  Now hand over Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao to Shangguan Yuanji, what if the two of them run away? If at that time Shangguan Yuanji does not accept Tang Yin's terms, won't it be like pouring water into a bamboo basket, all for nothing?

  Qiu Zhen immediately pulled Tang Yin's sleeve tightly and signaled to him with her eyes, hinting that this was not a good idea.

  Tang Yin naturally understood his meaning and smiled slightly at him, indicating that there was no need to worry.

  Now, not only does Shang Guan Yuange feel bewildered, but even Qiu Zhen and the others do not know what kind of trick Tang Yin is playing.

  "This is...this is naturally for the best!" Shangguan Yuanyu said, looking at Tang Yin.

  His brothers were being held in Tang Yin's hands, and something unexpected could happen at any time. Of course, it was not safe to leave them by his side, but the question was why Tang Yin was so confident in himself. Wasn't he afraid that he would secretly let the two brothers escape?

  It seems that he saw the doubt in his heart, Tang Yin smiled and said: "Although I have just met Shangguan brother, I can also see that Shangguan brother is a man of great weight, as long as you make a guarantee, I will be very relieved."

  Looking at Tang Yin's sincere words, Shangguan Yuanji no longer doubted him and said seriously: "I can guarantee that within these three days, I will absolutely not let Yuanwu and Yuanbiao leave my mansion for a single step. Three days later, whether or not I accept Mr. Tang's conditions, I will send the two of them back and hand them over to Mr. Tang for disposal!"

  "Alright! A gentleman's word is as good as a swift horse's whip, I believe Officer Shang is a man of his word!" As he spoke, Tang Yin turned to Qiu Zhen and said: "Release Shang Yuwu and Shang Yuanbiao, bring them here!"

  "Yes!" The words had already been spoken in public, and Qiu Zhen thought to stop him but it was too late, he could only reluctantly agree with a sound, not waiting for him to walk out, Tang Yin suddenly changed his mind again, saying: "I'll go instead!" After finishing speaking, without waiting for Qiu Zhen's response, he walked out in big strides.

  Everyone was thoroughly confused by Tang Yin's repeated changes, and if they had known it would be so easy to let the Shangguan brothers go, it would have been pointless to capture them alive with great effort in the first place.

  Afraid he would go alone and lose his way, Zhang Zhou, Bai Yong, Gu Yue, Le Tian and others followed him out.

  Tang Yin and others were transferred to the back courtyard of the government office, entering a small, enclosed thatched cottage. The space inside was not large, but it was packed with fully armed soldiers. Xiang Yuwu and Xiang Yuanbiao, two brothers, were bound by iron chains and brutally pressed to the ground by the soldiers. Their appearance was so miserable, without any of their usual prestige.

  When Tang Yin arrived, the officers and soldiers stood up straight, bowed their heads and paid their respects.

  Tang Yin waved his hand, indicating that everyone didn't need to be too polite, then walked up to the two brothers and looked at them with their gray heads and dirty faces. He couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile as he reached out to pull out the cloth strips stuffed in their mouths. With a sarcastic tone, he asked: "Gentlemen, do you find the hospitality here quite comfortable?"

  "Damn it..." The two brothers, Shangguan, had never suffered such humiliation before. Especially when they saw the mocking smile on Tang Yan's face, they couldn't bear it anymore and burst into a loud curse. However, just as they started cursing, they immediately triggered a barrage of punches and kicks from the surrounding officials and soldiers. The latter showed no mercy, with every punch feeling like a slap in the face and every kick hurting to the bone. Poor Shangguan brothers were unable to display their skills and were beaten until they cried out in pain.

  "Alright!" After everyone had fought for a while, Tang Yin finally ordered his subordinates to stop and smiled: "Release the chains on their bodies."

  "What?" As soon as this was said, the officers and soldiers were all stunned, looking at Tang Yin in confusion.

  The two brothers Shangguan also forgot to cry out in pain, lying on the ground, staring at him with their heads raised in surprise.

  Tang Yin smiled and said: "You two are insignificant in my eyes, not worth mentioning. If it weren't for the sake of winning over your brother, Lord Yuanji, I wouldn't have tolerated you two until now. You two should be grateful that your lives are good, with a great elder brother like him. Now that Lord Yuanji has arrived, according to our agreement, I will let you two leave."

  His words and the contempt in his tone hurt the two brothers more than if he had killed them outright.

  Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao's eyes were both red with rage, glaring at Tang Yin, their teeth clenched so tightly they crackled, unable to devour his flesh or swallow his bones.

  Tang Yin didn't put the hatred of the two men in his eyes, or rather, he didn't even put these two brothers in his heart. He turned to the soldiers and shouted: "Release them!"

  "Yes! Lord Tang!"

  He was the commander, and the soldiers did not dare to disobey his orders. The two brothers, Wu Zhen and Wu Xiang, were like wild beasts in shackles, and when the soldiers untied them, they did so with great care, keeping a safe distance, as if the two would pounce on them at any moment and bite them.

  Their concerns are not unreasonable. As expected, after Shangguan Yuanbiao gained his freedom, he let out a strange cry and suddenly sprang up from the ground like a fierce tiger, both hands simultaneously reaching out to grab the neck of the nearest soldier. Just as he was about to exert force to twist off the soldier's head, Tang Yin calmly opened his mouth and said: "If you want to drag Shangguan Yuanji down with you to die an unjust death, then go ahead and make your move!"

  This sentence is powerful enough, and Yuanguan can ignore his own life and death, but he absolutely does not want to implicate his elder brother.

  His hand, which had been gripping the soldier's neck, suddenly stiffened and stopped applying force.

  At this time, Shangguan Yuanwu also crawled up from the ground. He was much calmer than his twin brother and hastily stepped forward, pulling open Shangguan Yuanbiao's hand and saying in a low voice: "Don't be impulsive now!"

  Shangguan Yuanbiao looked at his brother, took a deep breath, and slowly released his hand. He then turned back, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Tang Yin.

  Seeing this, the surrounding soldiers and Zhang Zhou, Bai Yong and others finally felt a little relieved, and the original intention to draw their weapons was also stopped.

  Shangguan Yuanwu looked at Tang Yin and asked in a cold voice: "Tang Yin, are you really going to let my brother go?"

  "That's right!"

  "Aren't you afraid that we two will come back and take revenge on you?"

  "Haha——" Tang Yin seemed to have heard the most hilarious joke in the world, throwing his head back and laughing loudly. With a proud tone, he said: "I just said it earlier, you two think you're some kind of big shots, but in my eyes, you're nothing but worthless trash. Wanting to kill me? Even if you wait another hundred years, you two still won't be able to do it!"

  "Good, good, good!" Officer Yuan Wu's body shook violently as he nodded repeatedly and said, "Then let's just wait and see!"

  "Heavenly retribution can be avoided, but self-inflicted suffering cannot. You two will bring trouble upon yourselves, and when the time comes, don't blame others!" After finishing speaking, Tang Yin looked at the two with a profound gaze, then turned around and ignored them, walking out of the thatched hut. Once outside, he said without looking back, "If you want to see your brother, follow me!"

  The two brothers Shangguan had already let go at this time and followed Tang Yin without any fear.

  Back in the main hall of Zhengfang, Tang Yin's arrogant expression vanished and he returned to his previous affable demeanor. He smiled faintly at Shangguan Yuange who was waiting there and said softly: "I've brought both of your brothers, Brother Shangguan."

  Shangguan Yuange hastily stood up to greet him, thanking Tang Yin at the same time. His eyes naturally glanced behind him, and indeed, he saw Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao walking towards him with anger in their faces. Looking at them, they didn't seem like prisoners of war, but rather like people who had come to seek revenge.

  Alas! Shangguan Yuangei couldn't help but sigh inwardly, his three younger brothers were all a source of worry for him, especially the third and fourth brothers, who were about to drive him crazy.

  At this moment, he didn't see a hint of remorse on the faces of the two brothers. Anger rose from his heart and he forced a smile at Tang Yin. Then, suppressing his voice, he sternly shouted to the two officials behind him: "Tang Sir is magnanimous, sparing your lives and not prosecuting you for your crimes! Don't you hurry up and thank Tang Sir!"

  "Thank him?" Yuanguan Yuanbiao's nose almost crooked in anger, if it weren't for the presence of Yuanguan Yuangei, he would have fought Tangyin to the death long ago.

  He turned his head away and coldly snorted: "Wait till next life!"

  "Shangguan!" Shangguan Yuanji was furious, his hand trembling as he pointed at Shangguan Yuanbiao's nose, shouting: "Both of you come here!"

  Shangguan Yuánjí had never practiced spiritual martial arts, he was just a scholar with no strength to truss a chicken, but his elder brothers Shangguan Yuánwǔ and Shangguan Yuánbiāo who feared nothing in heaven or earth were most afraid of this big brother.

  Usually, the two of them were extremely afraid of Daoyi's big principles and even more afraid of his nagging. They would avoid him if they could, but now they couldn't escape no matter how hard they tried.

  Upon hearing their elder brother's shout, the two men's arrogance vanished instantly. They hung their heads in shame and walked listlessly to Upper Guardian Yuanji.

  Before the two could steady themselves, Xiang Guan Yuangui raised his hand and gave each of them a slap on the ear, saying in a low voice: "Thank Tang Gong for you!"

  His strength was not great, and the slap on the two brothers' faces was nothing to be concerned about. However, being beaten in public, Shangguan Yuanwu and Shangguan Yuanbiao's faces turned red with shame and anger, wishing they could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

  Knowing that this big brother is a stubborn temper, he won't let it go without thanking him. The two brothers reluctantly and unwillingly hummed to Tang Yin: "Th...thank you, Lord Tang!"