Late Night Tales Of The Capital Chapter 51 Two Blades

The Prefectural Magistrate's Office of Luoyang was located in the middle of the southern line. It was accessible from all sides, making transportation convenient.

The tip of Ye Que's foot had just touched the grounds of the Prefectural Magistrate's Office when a large crowd of commoners emerging swiftly from the 36 lanes of the city. Watching from a high vantage point, the stream of people looked like black threads. The point of their convergence was also the Prefectural Magistrate's Office.

When the glorious Tang Empire was established, it was expressly stipulated in the law that all cases must be transparent and all investigation files were put on the public record to ease supervision.

A significant crowd had gathered outside the lobby by the time the Senior Prefectural Official of Luoyang, Song Gongming, was prepared to begin the trials. If one were to take a careful look, one would easily discover that most of the Branch Masters of the Divine Sect were here as well.

Song Gongming hit the gravel, startling the crowd into silence. He asked solemnly, "Who is it that has come here? For what reason?"

"I'm Ye Que. I'm here to resolve a business dispute," Ye Que said in a clear voice.

"Business dispute? Please state the cause of it." Song Gongming had been worried when he stared at the crowd outside earlier. If this was a scandalous case or if the case involved high officials and n.o.bles, it wouldn't be easy to deal with this matter with so many pair of eyes watching. The moment he heard that it was a business dispute, relief immediately washed over him. No matter how serious a business dispute was, it was ultimately a matter of money.

"This is what happened: The other day, I purchased a batch of sabers and swords in the weaponry marketplace with the plan of selling them in the Western Regions. The swords were Mystical Iron Swords and the sabers were Goose-quill Sabers, both produced by the Extinctive Sword Manor House. The swords cost 130 taels each; the sabers cost 110 taels each. It was a clean transaction where the payment was made the moment the goods were delivered. There ought to be no need for follow-ups after."

Ye Que articulated his explanation well and continued at a neutral pace. "But after returning home, I unexpectedly discovered that the sabers and swords were defective goods. They look no different from ordinary sabers and swords but they're completely useless when you use them."

He then took out two sabers from behind his back and pointed to the one on his left. "This is a Goose-quill Saber from the Extinctive Sword Manor House."

He pointed to the one on his right. "This is a vegetable knife from my home."

"I can give demonstrate the quality of this saber here, Sir, and show you whether it's a high-quality or defective item." Ye Que took a step back. "You can order your men to inspect them first, Sir."

This case was clear; similarly, the cause and dispute weren't complicated either. With a wave of Song Gongming's hand, a bailiff stepped forward to pick up the two blades and carefully inspected them. Then, he nodded at Song Gongming.

Ye Que wasted no time in taking a step forward and lifted the two blades. First, he showed them to Song Gongming and then to the crowd outside.

Then, he raised the blades and crisscrossed them over his head.

"Clang!"

An ear-piercing clanging resounded!

"Crash!"

Half of the Goose-quill Saber fell to the ground.

Song Gongming, the bailiffs that flanked him, as well as the crowd surrounding the court were all dumbstruck to see this. The vegetable knife had been able to hack the Goose-quill Saber in half without suffering any harm.

"Sir, this saber is from the Extinctive Sword Manor House of Luoyang. Since the transaction has been completed, I'll accept that this is my misfortune. However, I hope you can investigate this strictly, Sir. We can't allow shoddy weapons like this to come out of Luoyang and our Tang Empire. If the investigation shows that there's really a quality issue with the weapons, then the Extinctive Sword Manor House owes all weaponry merchants an apology!"

While talking, Ye Que waved his hand behind him. Chu Dongnan immediately walked into the court while propping up a large chest and dropped it to the floor with a resounding noise. "These are one hundred weapons that I purchased from the Extinctive Sword Manor House. I damaged one at home and damaged another in my demonstration earlier. This leaves 98 sabers and swords. Please accept them as evidence, Sir."

"Is that saber made of meat, to break with a single slash?"

"Meat? I think it's worse than meat. It's ridiculously soft."

"Saw that? The symbol on the handle of the saber. Remember the symbol of the Extinctive Sword Manor House. We absolutely can't buy weapons from them in the future. This can't do. I must inform my uncle; he operates an escort agency. If they use weapons like these, they'd definitely die. I'm frightened just thinking about it."

"Fortunately these weapons didn't go to the army. The death of our soldiers would double or triple if they use these weapons against another army."

"What evildoers!"

The commoners surrounding the court chimed in with their thoughts one after another and soon, turned the Extinctive Sword Manor House into a pariah. Song Gongming had the feeling that something was off with this case. However, on the one hand, there were too many onlookers and on the other, the plaintiff Ye Que didn't make unreasonable demands.

Ye Que neither demanded money nor life, only wanting an explanation. He even handed the court evidence on the spot. Song Gongming thought that this case should end here for today; his men could slowly investigate it after. No matter what, it wasn't a good thing to conduct business in front of so many people.

The crowd dispersed as quickly as they had gathered. In no time at all, they had vacated the place.

The audience might be gone, but it wasn't the end of this matter.

This was Luoyang, after all. Countless traders, calvaries, bards, performing troupes, and foreign diplomats came and went in the capital, Luoyang, each day.

Similarly, the speed of which this piece of news was spread was also as astonishing.

Before the sky even darkened outside, the news that the sabers and swords from the Extinctive Sword Manor House were as soft as soy pulp had spread throughout Luoyang City.

"Did you hear the news? Someone went to the Prefectural Magistrate's Office today and filed a case against the Extinctive Sword Manor House because of a saber."

"How can I miss the news? This is about a vegetable knife hacking a Goose-quill Saber!"

"To think they'd be so dishonest in making even a saber."

"Public morals continue to decline with each day."

From the wine shops to the brothels, from the teahouses to the theaters, from the streets to residential courtyards, this piece of news spread like wildfire from one to another. By the time night fell, the news had left the mouths of countless people.

The initial story of a vegetable knife hacking the Goose-quill Saber gradually turned into countless fabricated versions. Some even said that the saber from the Extinctive Sword Manor House was fashioned out of paper and wood and that it was nothing beyond its fearsome appearance.

Gossip was a fearful thing!

Rumors were the most terrifying thing!

Everyone who heard the news would process it with their brain. When they repeated it again, they would tack on their judgment and embellishments. The rumor would get increasingly far from the truth.

"Brother Ye, just how does your brain work?! This is awesome!" Inside a teahouse, Qian Shuxiao wore a look of excitement as he listened to the conversations of those around him.

Ye Que smirked. "If it's a problem that can be solved by the sword, I'd suggest that you use your sword. If it's a problem that can't be solved by the sword, then you'll have to learn to use your brain. Nothing is difficult if you set your mind to it. Even the most solid of dams would be afraid of those who carve it."

Qian Shuxiao raised a cup of tea after hearing Ye Que's guidance. "Let me salute you with a cup of tea in place of wine, Sect Leader!"

After saluting Ye Que with the cup of tea, he sipped the tea emotionally and wiped his mouth. "Borrowing someone else's sword to kill. I like this tactic!"

On the same night.

It was said that the Extinctive Sword Manor House, located on the outskirts of Luoyang City, was brightly lit throughout the night.

Its Manor Master, Lin Shan, had been venting his anger for an entire night. He even smashed one of his beloved porcelain bottles.

His anger didn't come as a surprise. For six meals throughout two whole days, nearly nine-tenths of his disciples were unable to fill their stomach. This afternoon, 18 disciplines even went mad. Not only did they fail to deliver the promised goods, they even caused panic by screaming about seeing a ghost. Someone reported to him that news had come from Luoyang City that there had been a quality issue in his weapons and that his sabers and swords were no better than paper!

"Bulls.h.i.t!"

"Can the paper in your house slash someone?!"

"Isn't that complete nonsense?!"