HE With the Cold Male Protagonist C47

Chapter 47: The Prefect Steps In, A Newfound Respect

Almost as soon as his words fell, a squad of black-clad officers marched down the broad stone road that led directly to Jichun Apothecary. Their formation was imposing, so much so that even villagers who had done nothing wrong hunched their shoulders, hardly daring to breathe.

Judging from their attire, these were not mere county yamen runners—they had been dispatched by the Prefect of Xuanhe!

Doctor Hu drew in a sharp breath and turned his gaze toward He Lin, who stood elegantly fanning himself. “Huichun Hall engaging in such improper competition hardly seems fitting, does it?”

He Lin’s smile never faltered. “Doctor Hu, it is you who ought to reflect. Our Huichun Hall has always acted openly, saving lives with conscience. Not like certain others who flaunt the banner of ‘Virtuous Medicine,’ but in truth…”

He clicked his tongue and shook his head meaningfully. At this, many of the Xishui and Li Family villagers surrounding the scene began to feel that perhaps Shanyi Hall was not to be trusted. They already held it in low regard, but now they resolved to spread word more widely, to warn others to beware.

If they could stoop to something as monstrous as plotting murder, what else might they not do? Could such people possess medical ethics?

The officers’ arrival quickly restored order. Since the report had come from the He family and the matter was serious, they treated it with grave formality, proceeding carefully through proper steps.

Yet they did not immediately shackle Doctor Hu. Clearly they recognized him. Until the truth was fully confirmed, they maintained courtesy, merely escorting him away.

Others were tasked with escorting the victims and witnesses—Feng Lan’er, Xuanzi, Madam Feng, and some informed villagers.

Of course, the Jiang patriarch’s household was not spared either. Jiang Yueming protested fiercely, but no one heeded him. “Whether guilty or not, it will be clear before the magistrate!”

Finally, four sturdy officers and a coroner remained. Their bearing alone marked them as skilled, each with weapons in hand. “Take us at once to the spot in Mount Da Heng where you struck!”

“M–Mount Da Heng?” The two bandits blanched.

“Quit stalling! Didn’t you say it wasn’t deep in the mountains?” Were it not for the fugitives’ sensitive identities and the Prefect’s strict orders, even these men would have balked at entering the infamous forest.

Still, their faces tightened, and they all but wished to wring the bandits’ necks.

The two desperadoes wished only to die on the spot, but at last, under duress, they followed. Led by Jiang Baiye, they returned to the site of the battle two days before for investigation and evidence gathering.

The scene was still a wreck. Arrow marks riddled the ground and trees, some trunks and earth pierced through as if by a sieve. It spoke loudly of Jiang Baiye’s ordeal.

When he had finished recounting events and showed the arrow wound still on his arm, He Lin—who had tagged along out of curiosity—exclaimed, “And you survived that?”

The rough-faced officers exchanged looks of doubt and wonder. “You mentioned hawks—what’s the meaning? You can command them?”

Suspicion and awe flickered in their eyes as they studied him like some rare marvel.

Before Baiye could reply, the two bandits shuddered. “Let’s leave quickly! The hawks here are vicious!”

Baiye only shrugged. “When you’re ready to go, I’ll let you see for yourselves.”

He never claimed mastery of hawks, yet the officers were still struck by his skill and nerve. To survive an ambush from roving killers—this youth was impressive indeed!

Of course, they also harbored doubts.

After Baiye gathered his scattered tools, He Lin approached. “Conspiring with outlaws—this time Shanyi Hall will surely shed its skin.”

Then his tone darkened. “But Hu Yao has backing. Otherwise, he’d never dare such a thing. Likely he underestimated you, thinking he could both remove a rival, seize your workshop, and perhaps monopolize Mount Da Heng’s resources. Their planned apothecary could then flourish.”

Baiye had long expected Doctor Hu would not be destroyed so easily. He recalled his previous life: during that epidemic, Shanyi Hall had distinguished itself, its fame soaring when it curbed the plague in the central region.

“I’ve always felt Doctor Hu’s origins are not so humble. To linger in little Changlin County—his pride in his medical skill is not baseless.” He Lin and his father had puzzled over this many times, but eventually dismissed it. He mentioned it now only in passing.

Baiye pondered, but found no clear answer. In either his past life or the book, he had little to do with the medical field.

One thing was certain: he had now made Shanyi Hall his enemy. What the future held was uncertain. He must hasten his plans, lest he endure more blows like this—
blows that might not only hurt him, but drag down his family and those he cherished.

Drawing a steady breath, he asked, “This time you’ve helped me greatly, but hasn’t it brought you much trouble too?”

He Lin gave a wry smile, none of his earlier composure left. “Shanyi Hall in Changlin is nothing. In all of Xuanhe Prefecture, Huichun Hall still holds sway.”

“But Shanyi’s roots lie in the capital…” Their network and power were of another level entirely.

To put it starkly: if Shanyi Hall was a thumb, Huichun Hall was scarcely even a little finger.

“Still, don’t worry. A dragon from afar cannot suppress a local serpent. Since I promised you, I won’t break faith out of fear. Besides, the capital branch of Shanyi Hall has no leisure to meddle here.”

Seeing the officers returning, Baiye spoke quickly. “When this is done, I’ll give you something—as thanks, and as proof of my intent to cooperate.”

Alone, without allies, the burden was too heavy. To fight Shanyi Hall, he must… set against them an adversary fierce enough to make them bleed.

“Young man, we’re done here. Show us your hawk-handling skill,” the officers called, half in jest, half in earnest.

Clearly, admiration was one thing, but they did not yet truly regard him.

Baiye chuckled. “Then you’d best be ready…”

He hadn’t even whistled yet when the bandits stiffened in dread. The officers, though, remained oblivious.

When the great hawks swooped down, savage and relentless, they finally understood. Baiye had no need to “command” them—they bore him a grudge!

Their attacks were indiscriminate. Triggered by that sound, they dived from cliffs, branches, and shallows to drive intruders away.

Hawks often “recognized” their foes. Baiye had never shown his face to them, but they remembered those two bandits.

Dragged along by the arms, the outlaws wailed silently. The hawks are after our heads! Won’t you do something?

The officers flailed, parrying with swords, careful not to wound the birds. Martial men revered such predators—and to incur their vengeance might bring endless trouble.

Baiye, meanwhile, had already vanished into the distance.

He Lin groaned inwardly. What mess had he stumbled into? His carefully dressed finery, his polished hair—all were reduced to rags by the hawks’ wings, leaving him like a beggar.

Fortunately, once the hawks had driven them far enough, they returned to their nests.

But not without issuing a shrill, threatening cry as they left.

The officers, still uneasy, jogged on for a long while. At last, gasping, hands on knees, they pointed at Baiye who was strolling back. “You—you—”

“You” was all they managed, unable to find the words to curse him.

Baiye raised his brows. “Weren’t you the ones who asked me to demonstrate?”

“But—not like this! Why didn’t you warn us sooner?”

“I did. But you wouldn’t have believed me without seeing. Better this than wasting your time with half-baked proof.”

He called them “esteemed officers” with respectful tone, but none of them believed his deference.

The youth was bold to the bone—even daring to toy with officers.

Yet he was right. And now they understood how he had escaped assassination—this was the truth of his survival.

Their earlier suspicion turned into laughter.

“We are clerks of the Prefectural Criminal Office. I am Cheng Ping, these are Wang Hao, Yuan Erhu, and Zheng Hai. Jiang Baiye, was it? Are you interested in joining us as a clerk? Mostly you’d run errands, investigate cases.”

But before he finished, Yuan Erhu nudged him. This man was no poor villager but the wealthy owner of a workshop—envied enough to draw assassins.

Cheng Ping had merely been impressed, compelled to extend the offer. Even if they had no shortage of men, letting such talent slip away seemed wasteful.

Such clerks were no officials, merely auxiliary staff. Still, they wielded some petty authority. For someone without prospects, it might be fun.

But Baiye declined without a frown.

The men sighed with regret, until he added, “But if you ever want to drink, come find me. I’ll always be ready.”

Beside him, He Lin—preening like a bedraggled parrot—was speechless.

What just happened?

“Ha! Then what ‘officers’? I’m the eldest here—call me Brother Cheng!”

The abandoned bandits: “…”

As they spoke, Baiye dragged corpses from thickets and hollows—bandits already dead.

Not one was whole. Some were gnawed down to bare bone, scraps of flesh still clinging.

In the summer heat, flies and maggots swarmed hungrily. He Lin promptly vomited.

The officers too flinched, but Baiye’s calm as he displayed the bodies only deepened their respect.

Even the coroner was surprised. This man was fit for his trade—skilled in medicine too. Why waste him as a mere runner?

By the time they carried the corpses out, all swore never again to step into that cursed mountain. And that was only the outer edge, where beasts were scarce. Within—how terrible must it be? Hawks alone had nearly undone them!

What they didn’t know was that Baiye’s aim had been achieved. He wished to keep all from stirring trouble in Mount Da Heng, hated their repeated trespass into his domain.

With all evidence gathered and records made, Cheng Ping and his fellows hurried back.

Village Head Wang, who had remained in Xishui to calm the people, came too after glimpsing the ghastly corpses.

The matter was grave and wide-reaching. It would be tried under the Prefect’s own court. That night, every party—culprits, victims, witnesses—was placed under strict guard, forbidden to whisper, left anxious and restless.

At dawn, word spread, and townsfolk gathered to watch outside the hall.

Even Master He came, curious to see the man his son had spoken of as “Qi Jiu,” bringing servants to spectate.

And so they saw—while all others quailed, even Doctor Hu, haggard after a night’s torment, pale as death—one tall, proud figure stood calmly before the magistrate’s bench, speaking with poise.

Not a stammer, but sharp, precise words, laying out the entire case…