Chapter 63: The Lingering Influence of Qiao's Family
The entrance of Yan City.
The bloodstains of Guo Yan on the wall by the city gate had long dried up, leaving only faint marks. The words engraved by Qiao Mu with his long spear were still vivid.
When passersby walked past this spot, most of them would glance up at the inscription and sigh.
The recent assassination of the city lord was a major earthquake for Yan City.
Considering Guo Yan's many years of managing Yan City, he could be called the "soil emperor" of Yan City. However, on that day, he tragically died on the street, followed by his son. All his efforts went up in smoke.
"Good riddance, Guo Yan."
A scholar sat in a teahouse at the city gate, occasionally glancing towards the city gate tower, engaging in lively discussions with other customers:
"I witnessed Guo Yan's tragic death right here on this street."
"Think about how powerful Guo Yan was in his daily life. Who would dare to criticize him? The most Yan City residents could say is that he spoiled his only son, but the blame was all taken by his son while he himself came out clean."
"Evil deeds will backfire. At that time, Guo Yan died under Qiao Sen's spear, like a stray dog on the side of the street..."
"What? Were you there watching at that time?"
"Please tell us more in detail."
At the teahouse, everyone was talking about the recent assassination of the city lord in Yan City, which is still a topic of great interest among the people.
When the wall falls, everyone pushes, and when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
In the past, Guo Yan was the dominant figure in Yan City, and he had only one son.
Now that both father and son have died tragically, and those loyal to Guo Yan have also passed away, the once powerful Guo family in Yan City is now in a precarious situation.
In the past, no one dared to speak in Yan City. Just a glance from Guo Yan was enough to command obedience. Smart people knew how to adapt and change their stance accordingly.
Now that the wall has fallen, everyone is pointing fingers, and the former city lord has quickly become a topic of gossip among the common people.
In the teahouse, a scholar was speaking passionately, causing saliva to fly, and catching the attention of many tea drinkers. Soon, someone urged:
"Tell us more about Guo Yan's death."
"What's there to say about Guo Yan's death? Tell us about Qiao Sen from the Qiao family."
And the scholar, being watched by so many people, also subconsciously became slightly excited and gradually got into character:
"On that day, I really was at the scene, and even had a chat with Qiao Sen, who killed Guo Yan, for several sentences."
"At that time, I was passionately debating with Qiao Sen on the street, and after the debate, he became emotionally stirred up, so he brazenly took action and assassinated City Lord Guo Yan."
"I can also be considered a witness to the death of City Lord Guo Yan, and half a participant. I have no credit, but at least I have half credit..."
Among the discussions of the teahouse crowd, someone sneered:
"It's one thing to discuss Guo Yan, but Guo Yan is already dead, and the Guo family is also in turmoil."
"You dare to discuss even Qiao Sen from the Qiao family. Do you really think just because he's not here, you can freely discuss him? So many people were watching on the street that day, do you dare to take credit for yourself?"
Amidst the noisy discussions, the scholar felt his face getting hot and hastily fled.
Below the city gate tower, Old Huang looked into the disturbance from a distance, with a slight smile on his lips.
"When Guo Yan died, everyone scattered like monkeys when a tree falls."
"The Qiao family had three noble heroes, and they have all passed away, but their influence remains."
"Big Brother, lift your head and take a good look."
Old Huang stood beneath the city gate and instructed his eldest daughter to look up at the inscription on the gate tower.
The words that Qiao Mu carved with a long spear in the past are still there, still clear, only the dried blood has faded away.
"Lord Guo Yan has built up his power in Yan City for many years, and no one dares to oppose him... including me."
"The father and sons of the Qiao Family were all noble heroes. In the end, it was these three outsiders who toppled the lofty Guo Yan family. Admirable, but also lamentable."
We admire the fact that the Qiao family, together as one, detests evil and values righteousness over life and death.
We lament the fact that Qiao Mu and Qiao Lin, the brothers who acted with chivalry, have already died tragically. Their father had to come to Yan City and take action to kill Guo Yan.
"Daughter, remember it well," Old Huang sighed.
"In the future, even if you can't become a brilliant knight, don't become a boring scholar either. Be a clever person who can adapt to different situations."
"....I understand."
While the father and daughter were talking, there were more people entering through the city gate.
In the past few days since Yan City lifted its ban, there have been many more people coming in and out of Yan City than usual.
Some were merchant caravans, while others were idle people who came to see the excitement after hearing about the assassination attempt on Yan City Lord.
Wang Songhe was one of those idle people.
With a changed appearance, he swaggered into the crowd and entered the scene.
"How come these words are still here?" he was surprised as he looked at the words on the city gate tower.
"After the killer assassinated the lord of the city, he left behind such a trace of words."
"This trace of words is still here, isn't it showing the might of the Qiao family's Qiao Sen? Why not destroy it?"
"Destroy it? Who dare?" Old Huang laughed when he heard this.
"Who will give the order? Who will take responsibility?"
"You are an outsider who doesn't know the story, you're just going by hearsay," Old Huang shook his head and said, "The Qiao brothers are dead, but Qiao Sen and those Qiao's family members, they left Yan City confidently on that day, they are still alive!"
"In this world today, the bold fear the strong, and the strong fear those who have nothing to lose."
"The Qiao's family has power and they are willing to risk their lives, who knows if this trace of words will be destroyed just now, and they will die a tragic death on the street the next day, just like Guo Yan?"
The father and son of the Qiao Family have left a remarkable mark in Yan City, using their own lives and the lives of Guo Yan and his son.
Wang Songhe's eye twitched slightly.
During the assassination of Guo Yan, everyone's attention was focused on "Qiao Sen". They all thought he was part of the Qiao Family because he and his band of bandits were wearing masks.
He thought to himself, "Now the rest of the officials in Yan City don't even dare to erase the words left by Qiao Sen. They must be scared, afraid that the Qiao Family will come back with another spear attack."
"When Guo Yan was alive, he was cunning and had a firm grip on power. He was the only influential figure in Yan City, while the other officials were ineffective."
"Now that he's dead, the influence of the Qiao Family can still temporarily keep the officials in check."
But only temporarily, it can't last forever.
As time passes, Yan City will eventually have a new lord.
The new lord is good or bad, it's hard to say, you can only rely on luck.
"As long as the world remains the same, even the righteous heroes like the Qiao Family's father and son can only kill Guo Yan with their lives, but they can't change the world. It's not something that a few scattered heroes can do."
And so, he came.
"In the space between heaven and earth, how could one shrink within the mountains and forests?" Wang Songhe quietly thought, looking at the desolate small town in front of him.
The bandits could only hide in the mountains and protect the people of a village, but their scope was ultimately limited.
Since the local leader of Yan City isn't capable, then let him take on this role of being the leader.
