Compared to the rather shabby Lingbei County itself, the Lingbei County Office appeared much more imposing. Its grand entrance was constructed from premium nanmu wood, and its roof was covered with glazed tiles—far superior to ordinary green bricks.

The office occupied the best location in Lingbei County, situated right in the center, with the county’s only main road leading straight to its gate.

Even though the county office gate was currently closed and the area appeared deserted, pedestrians passing by on the main road kept a respectful distance. Occasionally, they cast cautious glances at the entrance, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and reverence.

Li Hu and Zhao Da waited patiently at the gate for some time, but the tightly shut doors showed no sign of opening.

After nearly half an hour, Li Hu finally gathered his courage and knocked gently on the large doors.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The clear sound of knocking echoed in the air, but there was no response. Just as Li Hu hesitated about whether to knock again, the creaking sound of a door opening suddenly broke the silence.

A sharp voice rang out:

"Who are these country bumpkins daring to knock on the gate of the county office? If you don’t give me a good explanation, you’ll be coming with me today!"

A bailiff, dressed in the official uniform of the county office, stepped out. He looked at Li Hu and Zhao Da with contempt, his face full of disdain.

Li Hu immediately clasped his hands respectfully and spoke with humility. "Please forgive this small one, Officer. I didn’t mean to disturb you. I know it’s nothing major and wouldn’t dare to trouble you without reason."

"Recently, a tiger came down from the mountains and injured several villagers. We managed to subdue it and have brought its carcass here in hopes of claiming a reward."

"A tiger, you say? Let me have a look," the heavyset bailiff responded, his brows furrowing slightly in mild surprise.

It was common to hear news of tigers attacking villages, but for villagers to successfully capture and kill a tiger was rare indeed. Even the bailiff couldn’t help but feel intrigued.

Li Hu quickly signaled to Tieniu and Shuisheng to uncover a corner of the straw mat covering the cart. Instantly, a strong stench of blood and decaying flesh filled the air.

The bailiff recoiled, covering his nose and mouth. One glance was enough to dispel his curiosity, and his face quickly returned to its usual dismissive expression.

"Alright, alright, I’ve seen enough. You’re lucky—it must’ve been a sick tiger. Drag it away, register it, and collect your reward," the bailiff said coldly.

"Officer, this is no sick tiger. It’s..." Zhao Da began to explain but was quickly silenced by Li Hu.

Clasping his hands again, Li Hu bowed and said, "The officer is right. We were fortunate. May I ask how much reward we can claim for this sick tiger?"

"Twenty taels. Now stop loitering and take it away," the bailiff replied impatiently.

"Twenty taels? Officer, there must be some mistake. Although the tiger is somewhat decomposed, its skeleton and pelt are intact. Surely it should be worth at least eighty taels," Li Hu protested.

The bailiff spat angrily. "Eighty taels? You damned bumpkins dare to ask for that much? You’re lucky to get twenty taels! Claiming you killed this tiger yourselves is absurd enough. Take your good fortune and leave before you regret it!"

His tone sharp, the bailiff struck Li Hu on the shoulder with his baton. The next moment, he grabbed Li Hu, ready to drag him into the office.

"Officer, I was wrong! I misspoke! Please have mercy and spare me," Li Hu pleaded as he dodged, knowing full well that once inside, there was no guarantee he’d come out alive.

"Hmph! Do you think you can make baseless claims at the county office? Follow me inside, you lowly peasant!" the bailiff sneered, tightening his grip on Li Hu.

At that moment, a shovel came flying from behind, striking the bailiff’s hand. He yelped in pain, stumbling backward.

"How dare you bumpkins attack an officer! Guards, seize them all!" the bailiff roared, clutching his injured hand.

Immediately, a group of bailiffs poured out of the county office and surrounded Su Qi’an and his group without saying a word.

Turning to Su Qi’an, the injured bailiff sneered, "You insolent brat! You dared to strike an officer? Let’s see how tough you really are!"

The other bailiffs closed in, ready to seize Su Qi’an. Tieniu and Shuisheng quickly stepped forward to shield him, but Su Qi’an raised his hand, signaling them to step back.

He stepped forward calmly. As the bailiff’s hand reached for his shoulder, Su Qi’an shouted, "How dare you! Do you think a mere bailiff without rank can lay a hand on me? Touch me, and I’ll make sure you lose your uniform today!"

His commanding tone startled the bailiffs. Though they were used to dealing with ordinary villagers, Su Qi’an’s words and demeanor made them hesitate.

They scrutinized him closely and quickly realized that this man was different from the others. His confident bearing and composed speech set him apart.

One of the bailiffs asked cautiously, "Sir, may I ask if you hold an official title?"

Su Qi’an’s icy gaze swept over them. He replied calmly, "I hold the title of Xiucai (Scholar)."

Hearing this, the bailiffs’ expressions shifted. Even the heavyset one softened his tone and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"My apologies, Scholar Su. It seems there’s been a misunderstanding," the lead bailiff said, signaling his men to stand down.

Su Qi’an’s voice remained cold. "A misunderstanding? If I weren’t a scholar, would you have beaten a commoner to death? A mere bailiff, yet you flaunt your so-called authority?"

His words struck like needles, piercing the hearts of the bailiffs. Their faces turned pale, though the lead bailiff, more experienced than the others, quickly composed himself. He forced a smile and said, "Scholar Su, we were in the wrong. As the saying goes, leave some room for future encounters. Let’s let bygones be bygones."

Su Qi’an’s eyes narrowed. "So, you think you can resolve this with a few light words after assaulting someone and dragging them into court? Would you show the same courtesy to another scholar if they encountered you?"

The lead bailiff’s expression darkened. His forced smile vanished, replaced by a hint of malice. He leaned closer and muttered, "Listen here, Su. Calling you 'Scholar' was already a courtesy. Don’t push your luck. Even a Xiucai can be silenced if they step out of line. Do you believe me?"

Su Qi’an smirked. "Oh? Not even a Juren (Advanced Scholar) would be safe from you? It seems Lingbei County Office believes itself above the law. Let’s test this theory. Zhao Da, Shuisheng—go to the gate and strike the drum. Let’s see if this county office still answers to the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty."

The lead bailiff’s face turned pale. He hadn’t expected Su Qi’an to escalate matters by ordering someone to strike the official drum. Once the drum sounded, even a minor dispute would become a public matter.

Though the bailiff was arrogant, he wasn’t foolish. Before he could react, his subordinates rushed forward to stop Zhao Da and Shuisheng, creating a chaotic scene at the gate.

The commotion drew the attention of passing townsfolk, who stopped to watch but quickly hurried away, not wanting to get involved.

The noise continued until a deep voice rang out from within the office.

"What’s all this commotion? This is the Lingbei County Office, not a marketplace!"

Moments later, a middle-aged man dressed in a gray robe and a square cap stepped out. His scholarly demeanor and refined air marked him as someone of importance.

"Advisor Liu, my apologies for disturbing you. It’s just a minor issue," the lead bailiff said, his earlier arrogance replaced with obsequiousness.

This was Advisor Liu, the county magistrate’s trusted aide. Though he held no official rank, his influence was second only to the magistrate’s. Even the county constable and vice magistrate showed him respect, let alone the low-ranking bailiffs.

Without sparing the bailiff a glance, Advisor Liu turned to Su Qi’an and said, "Scholar Su, I trust you are a reasonable man. Allow me to apologize on behalf of my subordinates. Let’s not discuss this here. Please, follow me to a side room where we can talk."

With that, he turned and entered through the side gate. Su Qi’an followed with Li Hu and the others, trailing their cart behind them.

The side yard was a tranquil sanctuary, paved with cobblestones and surrounded by lush flowers. As Su Qi’an’s group entered, several bailiffs appeared to take charge of the cart and its cargo.

Su Qi’an offered no resistance, understanding that the fact Advisor Liu had personally intervened was already a significant concession.

Following Advisor Liu, they entered a spacious side room. After they were seated, maids quickly delivered tea and then left without a word.

Advisor Liu sipped his tea in silence, glancing occasionally at Su Qi’an. The atmosphere grew tense, but Su Qi’an remained composed, calmly drinking his tea as if nothing were amiss.

His composure wasn’t feigned. In his previous life, Su Qi’an had faced far more intense situations. The higher the stakes, the steadier he became. Even if he were sitting across from the county magistrate, his demeanor wouldn’t change.

In contrast, Li Hu, Zhao Da, and the others were visibly nervous despite their best efforts to hide it. Their unease made for a comical juxtaposition against Su Qi’an’s calm confidence.

Finally, after half an hour of silence, a maid entered the room, breaking the tension.

[--------------------------------------------]

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