Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Clash at the Jin Clan Manor
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Morning light filtered into the courtyard of the Jing Province administrative office, but the room with the curtains drawn remained dim.
Liu Biao sat before a desk cluttered with brushes and bamboo slips.
He stared silently at the bamboo slip for a long while.
"Your humble servant's illness runs too deep to offer aid. Please seek someone more capable."
Yang Clan head, Yang Jin—
It was a concise sentence, full of decorum.
Yet Liu Biao mulled over each word again and again.
Thud—
The hand that slammed the desk trembled faintly at the fingertips.
"...In the end, nothing but a puppet."
He had toppled Sun Jian and driven out Yuan Shu.
Lord Chengwu, General Who Pacifies the South, Inspector of Jing Province—the titles had piled up.
He had come to believe he now qualified to contend for the realm.
But reality offered no mercy: without the whims of the Cai and Gai Clans, he could not take a single step forward.
"I possess so much... yet nothing truly mine."
Liu Biao's gaze hung in empty space, his eyes hollow with futility.
What he had thought within his grasp had slipped away entirely, leaving his hands empty.
At that moment, a cautious voice came from beyond the door.
"General, may I report something?"
"What is it?"
The aide opened his mouth gingerly.
"There was a disturbance among the children at Master Pang Degong's private school."
Liu Biao furrowed his brow.
"...Leave private school matters to the private school. No need to report every children's squabble."
Liu Biao raised his hand to cut him off, but the aide hesitated before continuing.
"It's... said a Gai Clan heir is involved."
His frown deepened slightly.
"...A Gai Clan heir?"
The finger lightly tapping the bamboo slip on the desk came to a halt.
"Who was the other party?"
The aide hesitated a moment before replying.
"Said to be the son of a Jin Clan servant girl."
Interest flickered in Liu Biao's eyes at those words.
The inner gate of the Jin Clan manor flew open with a crash that seemed to rattle the frame.
Shadows strode in without hesitation, kicking up dust in the courtyard.
At the fore stood a middle-aged man, his steps laden with uncontainable fury.
Gai Liang, head of the Jing Province Gai Clan.
At his side, Gai Yue with lips pressed tight and eyes cast coldly downward; behind them, Gai Jun followed with head bowed.
They were not alone.
Gai Clan retainers and burly men poured in as a group.
Clubs and iron rods dangled from their waists, and some concealed armor beneath their outer robes.
Moments later, Sunju emerged into the courtyard, supporting her frail frame.
"Isn't this the Gai Clan folk? What brings you here?"
"Is there a brat called Baek here?"
Gai Liang's voice rang out loud and sharp enough to fill the courtyard.
Sunju startled and asked back.
"Wha-why seek Baek?"
At that instant, Baek—who had been chopping wood at the rear of the courtyard—halted his axe.
At the bursting shouts and unfamiliar footsteps, he lifted his head toward the commotion.
He first wondered whose name it was, but soon realized it was his own, called clearly.
Baek propped his axe aside and steadied his breath slowly.
He rose and walked toward the front courtyard.
As their eyes met Baek's, Gai Jun shrank behind Gai Liang.
Noticing this, Gai Liang took a step toward Baek.
"So, you're the punk called Baek?"
His voice was edged sharp, as if ready to erupt.
"Daring to humiliate a Gai Clan heir like that?! Word's already spreading through the markets that this child pissed himself in front of everyone from your intimidation!"
At Gai Liang exposing his shame so openly, Gai Jun kept his head bowed, unable to lift his face.
Gai Liang's excited voice grew rougher still.
"Humiliating the Gai Clan on Jing soil—did you think you'd get away unscathed?"
Just then, Duseon—who had been carrying laundry from across the courtyard—sensed the uproar and halted.
She surveyed the scene briefly before hurrying over with a shout.
"What is this racket from the morning?"
Shock and bewilderment crossed Duseon's face as her gaze darted rapidly between the Gai brothers and Baek.
Gai Liang, spotting Duseon, spat with contempt curling his lips.
"You the mother of that uneducated scum?"
A tongue-click mingled with the end of his words.
"Your son didn't just intimidate a Gai Clan heir—he even punched the face of a scholar who tried to intervene! Know that?!"
As Duseon stood stunned and speechless, Gai Liang pressed on.
"Where's the father?! Call him out now!"
"...Fa-father... none."
Gai Liang scoffed at Duseon's words.
"As expected from a servant slut's womb—no roots. No father, no teacher, so he rampages like a beast! Shameless enough to barge into a private school. End of days!"
Unable to bear his mother's humiliation any longer, Baek stepped forward before Gai Liang could finish.
Standing before Duseon, he faced Gai Liang squarely.
"The fault is mine. I'll take responsibility."
His voice was low but resolute.
"There must have been a reason. He's not a child to do such things without cause. Tell us what happened, Baek..."
Duseon's voice trembled, laced with tears, her fingers clutching at Baek's hem.
But Baek kept his head bowed and did not open his mouth.
His lips quivered faintly, but the words died at his throat.
*How would he know his father's face? A lowly slut like that kept her chastity? Rolled her body everywhere, birthed him without knowing whose seed.*
Even if he voiced that insult toward his mother, would these men listen?
He knew dragging out unprovable words would only wound his mother further.
So he stayed silent.
Not from rage, but because he knew it would be pointless.
Sunju hurried over and pleaded with Gai Liang.
"Lord Gai, he's still just a child. I'll discipline him harshly..."
Gai Liang waved her off, blocking Sunju.
"He said he'd take responsibility. Those words clear?"
Baek nodded quietly.
Seeing this, the corner of Gai Liang's mouth slowly curled upward.
"Good. For humiliating a Gai heir and laying hands on a scholar's body—the price, pay it with your own flesh. Let's see if you stand so stiff after a beating."
As Gai Liang finished, Duseon rushed forward desperately.
"You can't! Report to the officials and let them sort the rights and wrongs! Beating someone in the courtyard—what law is this?!"
Gai Liang turned and glared at Duseon.
He sneered.
"Report to officials? Don't make me laugh. This is Jing Province. On this land, Gai words are the law—who dares judge my affairs? No such person exists."
At Gai Liang's gesture, the men stepped forward, clubs raised.
Duseon clung to Baek's arm.
"No! Baek, if I lose you too..."
Sunju raised her voice as well.
"Lord Gai, this goes too far—it's not right!"
In that moment, Baek quietly looked at his mother and Sunju, shaking his head.
"It's fine. Don't worry."
At his words, Duseon collapsed outright.
Sunju could no longer approach, her hands trembling.
Baek took one step forward.
Standing before the men, he clenched his fists tight.
And squeezed his eyes shut.
Soon, the first club crashed down on his shoulder.
Thwack—
His body lurched, but Baek did not kneel.
The second.
A heavy pain surged through his back, choking his breath.
The third.
His legs buckled, but Baek gritted his teeth and straightened up again.
Cries and screams erupted from behind, but with eyes closed, he showed no reaction.
Dozens of blows followed, yet Baek never fell.
Gai Liang's brow twitched.
Beaten so brutally yet not even flinching—it made his gut boil.
"You want to go all the way? Fine. Hit him harder! Turn him into a half-corpse!"
As the men raised their clubs once more, a low, firm voice boomed from the far side of the courtyard.
"Enough!"
All eyes turned to the source—there stood Liu Biao.
Beside him, Liu Qi glared sharply at the Gai clansmen.
Liu Biao walked slowly into the courtyard, taking in the scene.
Baek's pallid face, Duseon collapsed and sobbing on the ground, Sunju slumped in shock.
And the Gai men frozen, clubs still in hand.
He regarded the sight in silence for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Is this what's happening under the Inspector of Jing Province's name?"
His voice was not raised, but its weight bore down on the courtyard.
Gai Liang in particular found himself speechless.
Liu Qi stepped forward.
"If there's a crime, the officials must handle it. Acting without judgment like this—do the Gai house folk not even see the law?"
At his words, the men faltered and slowly lowered their clubs.
Liu Biao advanced slowly.
"Zi Xu."
His voice was soft, but laced with authority.
"Even so, I oversee Jing Province. Taking private action without seeking my intent—doesn't that defy propriety? Moreover, though she's passed, this is my late wife's family home... my mother-in-law's household."
Gai Liang's face twisted oddly at Liu Biao's words.
He who had fancied himself Jing's true master, standing above the law—now, before Liu Biao wielding justification, his position grew awkward.
Then, the hitherto silent Gai Yue spoke cautiously.
"We regret not awaiting the General Who Pacifies the South's judgment. But this child's conduct shook the very foundations of the scholars— we had no choice but to act first. A commoner's son intimidated gentlemen and even laid hands on them."
Liu Biao turned to Baek and asked.
"What happened? Surely not without reason."
But Baek kept his lips sealed tight.
They quivered for a moment, but he bowed his head and said nothing.
Then Liu Qi stepped forward quietly.
"There must be a reason. I've seen his character myself. He's not one to resort to violence without cause."
Gai Liang seized the opening with a sneer.
"Hah, sounds like we're the ones fabricating this, young master."
Gai Yue continued immediately.
His calm eyes held a calculated chill.
"Then let's do this: summon the other private school children and discern the truth. We can confirm right here whose account holds."
Soon after, several private school disciples entered the courtyard.
They glanced at one another and nodded almost in unison.
"The young master just sat there—Baek intimidated him first."
"Huang, who was nearby, tried to stop the fight and took a fist from Baek. His jaw's dislocated; he's recovering."
All spoke with one voice.
Baek kept his head bowed, silent.
Liu Qi and Liu Biao's expressions gradually hardened at the scene.
"General Who Pacifies the South, we apologize for the rudeness of not awaiting judgment—but as you see, this was to restore the collapsed order of the scholars."
Gai Yue's tone was deferential, yet carried a victor's ease.
Gai Liang nodded in satisfaction and took a step back, as if wrapping up a foregone conclusion.
Both wore faces saying the outcome was set.
In contrast, a subtle silence veiled Liu Biao's features.
It was too ambiguous to conclude on the spot, and there was no pretext to rebuke the Gai.
Liu Qi gazed at Baek, lips pressed tight beside him.
The child he trusted said nothing, while all testimonies pointed at him.
Yet he still believed in Baek—that made it all the more frustrating.
'Baek... why say nothing?'
Then, one quiet child stepped forward cautiously.
"May I say a word?"
As the words fell, the courtyard air sank in an instant.
All eyes turned to the child at once.
The owner of that voice was none other than Xi Jin.