Neither Zhang Yuankai nor Wei Chengrui believed that the news had leaked from their side, especially Wei Chengrui.

The prefectural government office is like a sieve; there aren't many people you can trust. If even the few people behind him can't be trusted, Wei Chengrui feels he should quit his job as prefect and just go home to farm.

Now that things have come to this, there is no longer any possibility of getting rid of these people quietly. Wei Chengrui's expression instantly turned cold, and he straightened his clothes: "I've come to your escort agency to handle official business, of course."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Yuankai took the initiative to attack the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort).

We're already at their mercy; if we don't launch a surprise attack, they'll only suffer an even worse fate.

The head镖师 (chief镖师) was genuinely surprised that these people would attack so suddenly. He instinctively used his torch to block, but the torch broke in two and fell to the ground, plunging the head镖师's face into darkness.

But he was no ordinary person to have reached the position of chief镖头 (chief镖头 is a title or position in the body of a镖师, meaning镖师 is a person who has achieved great things without real power). He drew his soft sword from his waist and went to meet the enemy.

With the two locked in combat, the others naturally lost any desire for further pleasantries.

Wei Chengrui, being a civil official, retreated repeatedly, almost tripping on the steps, and said hoarsely, "Chief Escort Zhou, we are all government officials. If you lay a hand on us, you should think carefully about the consequences!"

Zhou's soft sword clashed with Zhang Yuankai's knife, producing a clanging sound and sparks flying. Hearing Wei Chengrui's voice, he couldn't help but sneer: "You've already brought your men to my escort agency, what consequences am I supposed to consider!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Yuankai kicked him away, sending him crashing into a tree trunk before he fell to the ground with a thud. His stomach churned, and his mouth was filled with the taste of blood. He wiped his mouth violently, and the deepest violence in his heart was unleashed: "Brothers, give it your all!"

"So what if they're government officials? Just kill them and make up some excuse about an accident."

"Don't forget, the Northern Desert is whose territory!"

Upon hearing this, the bodyguards who had been hesitant before suddenly became ruthless in their attacks.

What surprised Zhang Yuankai and the others the most was that the bodyguards Yuan Shiliang trusted also turned against them at this time.

This is the last thing Wei Chengrui wanted to see.

There were more than fifty head镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) and more than seventy servants. These twenty men were almost all fighting eight fists with their bare hands.

"Head镖师 Zhou!" Wei Chengrui shouted sternly, "What do you mean by 'whose territory is the Northern Desert'? All land under heaven belongs to the emperor! You pledge allegiance to the emperor, but to whom are you truly pledging allegiance!"

"And you bodyguards who have only been with the escort agency for less than two years, do you really intend to aid and abet evil?"

"Think about your parents, wife, and children. Can you really bring yourself to abandon them?"

Upon hearing this, many bodyguards hesitated to make their move.

Upon seeing this, Wei Chengrui's expression brightened: "Did you think I would fight an unprepared battle?"

Annoyed by Wei Chengrui's voice, Zhou Biaotou hesitated for a moment and revealed his weakness. He was then kicked in the chest by Zhang Yuankai, who made him see stars. Before he even hit the ground, Zhang Yuankai caught up and, with a flourish of his sword, severed Zhou Biaotou's Achilles tendon.

The situation changed instantly. The bodyguards who had just drawn their swords laid down their weapons, and the remaining guards, who were determined to put up a last-ditch resistance, were clearly not as strong as before.

Zhou Biaotou's legs could not support him, and he was in so much pain that he was sweating profusely. He tried to get up by supporting himself with his hands, but Zhang Yuankai had already arrived and severed his tendons in an instant.

His body, which had been propped up, instantly collapsed back down. Zhou Biao's head ached so badly that his whole body was trembling, and for a moment the sounds of fighting around him seemed distant.

If this person isn't a yamen runner, then who is he?

Despite his high level of martial arts skills, he was defeated after only a dozen or so moves.

But that's not the point. The point is that this person's ruthlessness far exceeded his imagination.

Knowing he couldn't escape today, Zhou Biaotou hardened his heart and was about to bite his tongue to commit suicide when Zhang Yuankai stepped on his back, bent down and dislocated his jaw.

"Waaaaah..."

Zhang Yuankai turned Zhou Biaotou's head around and examined him carefully. He didn't find any hidden poison in Zhou Biaotou's mouth, so he released him, sat on Zhou Biaotou's back, and held his long sword to Zhou Biaotou's neck: "Stop, or I'll kill your chief镖头!"

However, to Zhang Yuankai's surprise, the scene he had envisioned—where the镖头 (bodyguards) and镖师 (bodyguards) laid down their weapons and immediately surrendered—did not occur.

And because of his words, the bodyguards who had previously killed people resisted even more fiercely, and even killed two constables.

What the hell is going on?!

Zhang Yuankai was dumbfounded, but he didn't care about being surprised and quickly rejoined the battle.

At this moment, Wei Chengrui had been forced into the room, looking extremely disheveled and on the verge of death.

After years of patient planning, who would have thought that things would go wrong at this moment? Wei Chengrui was furious. He rushed behind the screen, but was so frightened by the large sword that he retreated repeatedly, his back hitting the table, knocking over the candles on the table with a crash.

Flames quickly spread along the tent. Wei Chengrui had a sudden inspiration. He grabbed the burning cloth, endured the scorching heat, and covered the screen with it.

His idea was actually very simple: if he couldn't live, he wouldn't let these people live either.

But to his surprise, the fire spread too quickly, and the entire house was engulfed in flames in an instant.

Wei Chengrui couldn't help but curse, "Damn it, what on earth was this house made of? How could it burn down so quickly!"

As soon as the fire started, the fierce-looking bodyguards stopped instantly, all staring at the raging flames. Suddenly, one of them kicked aside the constable in front of him and rushed inside, covering his head.

The other bodyguards realized what was happening and rushed in as well.

The once crowded courtyard was now empty except for Zhang Yuankai and his group, along with the bodyguards who had arrived later, all looking at each other in bewilderment.

What on earth is going on?!

Zhang Yuankai couldn't help but curse out loud: "You bastards, are there gold hidden inside?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuankai and Wei Chengrui exchanged a glance and instantly understood. The load-bearing pillars of this house must really contain gold, otherwise there would be no explanation for why the wood could not burn so quickly!

Seeing these money-grubbing bodyguards, Wei Chengrui roared, "Put out the fire!"

The positions of both sides quickly changed, from the initial standoff and fighting to the current unilateral rescue.

But the fire spread too quickly, and apart from a few people outside, everyone else was trapped inside.

The defending soldiers finally realized something was wrong and came to put out the fire with buckets and other supplies.

Wei Chengrui directed the constables to take the remaining bodyguards back to the government office, and Zhang Yuankai followed them back as well.

The suspect has been apprehended; all that remains is interrogation.

Zhang Yuankai hadn't forgotten that Chief Escort Zhou had shouted loudly before, "Don't forget whose territory Mobei is!"