When Wang Jin woke up, the sky had just begun to show the faint light of dawn.

He had fallen asleep last night and didn’t get to see what the post house turned into. Only now, he realized how terrifyingly large the fire must have been.

The faint smell of burnt wood and rubble filled his nose. The entire post house was already completely destroyed, everything inside and the corpses of the Death Warriors had turned to black ash, leaving only charred ruins covered in soot.

Qin Yao was holding a shovel, putting out fires in various places. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

She had been watching the fire all night, and only after extinguishing the final embers with soil did she finally let out a long breath.

Turning around, seeing Wang Jin already awake and sitting a bit dazed on the straw mat, she raised her hand and waved at him, "Morning!"

"... Morning." Wang Jin hesitated for a moment before reacting and nodding.

"You stayed up all night just to watch the fire?" he asked tentatively.

Seeing Qin Yao nod, with a hint of surprise in her eyes, he asked, "Why?"

Qin Yao tossed the shovel into the carriage, clapped her hands, and drank a large sip of water before saying while looking at the lush mountains ahead:

"It’s midsummer right now. If even a single spark gets out, this entire lush green landscape will be reduced to ashes. It takes decades for these plants to grow into a vast forest like this, and it would be such a loss to burn them down."

"Humans have done too much damage to nature. Consider this my way of making amends for humanity." Qin Yao said half-seriously, half-jokingly.

Wang Jin slightly twitched the corner of his mouth, no longer questioning her. Seeing the sky getting brighter, he asked Qin Yao if she wanted to rest for a while.

"No need, let’s go. The sooner we get to the Prefecture, the sooner I can catch up on sleep."

Qin Yao whistled, and the freed Old Huang immediately ran back.

The two readied the carriage and set off without even stopping for breakfast.

The rest of the journey was much easier than before. As they got closer to the Prefecture, they encountered more and more merchants and travelers on the road.

The presence of more people actually made it safer for Qin Yao and Wang Jin.

However, the destruction of the post house inevitably alerted the government.

Leaving the boundary of Kaiyang County, Qin Yao was unsure of which side the officials here were on. Just as she was planning to push Wang Jin forward as a shield, Wang Jin gestured to her to calm down.

"It’s alright, they are on our side."

Wang Jin softly said this and then jumped off the carriage, confidently approaching the officials who surrounded the carriage.

He revealed his identity.

The officials looked at each other, confused.

The next moment, the leading official waved his hand and ordered, "Capture these two criminals who burned the post house and showed contempt for the law!"

Oh no, Qin Yao thought to herself in alarm.

Wang Jin didn’t have time to be shocked; he quickly turned to Qin Yao, indicating that he really didn’t know why things had turned out this way, and it wasn’t his intention to betray her.

Qin Yao gave him a speechless glance and quickly pulled out her sword, assembling the blade and handle, she wielded a two-meter-long broadsword and jumped off the carriage, pulling Wang Jin behind her to shield him from the advancing officials.

No one expected Qin Yao to actually draw a weapon against the officials. First, they were surprised, then immediately angered, shouting fiercely:

"How dare you, criminal, resist arrest!"

Qin Yao stood firm like a mountain in front of Wang Jin, raising her gaze to look at the official on horseback and said loudly:

"Are you really planning to capture innocent travelers without even asking any questions? May I ask which government office sent you, officers?"

The official sneered contemptuously, "Who are you to ask about which government office sent us?"

His expression turned cold, "Take them down! Life or death doesn’t matter!"

With those words, the officials no longer held back, immediately raising their swords to strike Qin Yao.

These were officials, not bandits or elusive assassins. If a real fight broke out, at the very least, Qin Yao would be charged with assaulting court officials.

If she were alone, it would be fine; she could just escape.

But unfortunately, she wasn’t alone and was the village head of the Liu Family Village. If they really pursued this, it would mean the end for her entire clan!

Just as Qin Yao hesitated and took a step back, Wang Jin suddenly changed his previously shameless attitude and raised the Imperial Censor Token high, speaking in a deep voice:

"I am Wang Jin, the Imperial Censor appointed by the Emperor. I am here in Zijing Mansion on behalf of the Emperor to fulfill my duty of supervision. Anyone who dares obstruct me is obstructing the Emperor, offending the Sage, a crime punishable by death!"

Having said that, he immediately ordered Qin Yao: "Qin Yao, I order you to swiftly capture all these audacious criminals who dared to offend the Sage and bring them to the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office for judgment!"

Upon hearing his words, Qin Yao glanced back at him. Are you sure you’ll protect me, sir?

Wang Jin nodded heavily, expression serious and earnest.

Qin Yao raised an eyebrow. In that case, let’s get started!

As the officials were stunned by Wang Jin’s proclamation acting on behalf of the Emperor, Qin Yao suddenly moved her large sword.

The long blade swept sideways, felling a swath!

Reversing the blade, an iron rod struck heavily, making them all fall.

There was no chance to resist—they hadn’t even reacted before the long blade was sheathed, and the hemp rope flew.

Who knows how she moved, but in a few swift motions, everyone’s hands were bound together.

"Done!"

Qin Yao clapped her hands and stood up, looking at the last official still on horseback with a friendly smile, asking, "Will you come down and surrender, or do you need a hand?"

The official’s eyes widened, both angry and shocked, his face full of disbelief: How dare you!

But his lips moved, unable to utter a word out of anger.

Qin Yao had no patience for this. Seeing no reply, she made the choice for him—whacking him off his horse and swiftly pinning him down, binding his hands and stuffing some dry grass from the roadside into his mouth to stop him from cursing.

"May I ask Lord Imperial Censor, what are our next steps?" Qin Yao asked formally.

She appeared to be just helplessly following orders, implying that none of this was of her own volition.

Wang Jin uneasily glanced at her, pondering for a moment as he surveyed the dozen or so bound officials, and then instructed:

"You continue driving the carriage; I’ll ride the horse and lead these audacious criminals who dared to disrespect the Sage, straight to the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office!"

Qin Yao saluted, "Understood."

Then she handed the rope to him and adeptly climbed back onto the carriage.

The officials were extremely astonished. What is this? This isn’t how things were supposed to go!

Weren’t they supposed to be capturing the criminals?

How did it turn out that they themselves became the criminals?

The group marched grandly to the monumental city gates of Zijing Mansion, filled with confusion, not only among the bound officials but also among curious passersby and the city guards.

Wang Jin, having seen through these petty tricks, didn’t bother to explain, maintaining a stern face as he pulled out the Imperial Censor Token and tossed it impatiently into a guard’s arms.

The four guards glanced at the token, their eyes instantly widening as they looked at Wang Jin and the familiar fellow officials he was holding.

At this moment, silence spoke louder than words, as Wang Jin, from on high, cast a sidelong glance down at them. The four guards trembled all over, hastily offering the token back with respectful hands and kneeling to salute: "We greet Lord Imperial Censor!"