With Chen Guang’s assistance, Shao Mingyuan’s pressure immediately lessened considerably. The two had fought together in the Northern Territories for many years and had long developed an understanding. Working together, they quickly dealt with the Japanese pirates.

Bodies of Japanese pirates lay in a circle on the ground, while the man standing in the center held a blood-dripping long sword, turning immediately to look toward the window.

Inside the window, a young lady held a bow and arrow, meeting the gaze of the man outside.

That moment of locked eyes seemed to last ten thousand years.

The young general’s robes were stained with blood, yet he showed the girl a hearty smile.

Qiao Zhao’s heart suddenly relaxed as she slowly lowered the bow and arrow.

Only at this moment did the discomfort from killing someone surge over her like an overwhelming tide.

She had an excellent memory, never forgetting what she saw. When that arrow flew out, she remembered clearly even the trajectory of the arrow’s flight; much less could she forget every change in the town magistrate’s expression after the feathered arrow penetrated his chest.

The town magistrate’s incredulous gaze, his painfully contorted expression, and the blood gushing wildly from his chest—she would probably never forget these for the rest of her life.

But she didn’t regret it at all.

If the friends she cared about could be safe, what did it matter to bear the sin of killing?

Moreover, he was someone who deserved to die anyway!

Qiao Zhao’s eyes turned cold.

Seeing this, Shao Mingyuan felt pity and took a step forward carrying his long sword.

As he stepped forward, the townspeople surrounding them immediately stepped back, staring at him blankly.

The Japanese pirates who came to commit evil were dead, and the town magistrate was dead too—so what should they do now?

Shao Mingyuan didn’t spare these people a glance, carrying his long sword as he walked step by step toward the entrance.

Blood dripped down from the blade—some from the Japanese pirates who had died under the sword, and some from his own.

The townspeople consciously made way for him.

Shao Mingyuan walked to the tavern entrance and nodded to Chi Can and Yang Houcheng.

“Are you alright?” Yang Houcheng asked.

“I’m fine.” Shao Mingyuan raised his hand to pat Yang Houcheng’s shoulder, but seeing his bloody, mangled palm, he paused mid-motion and silently lowered his hand.

Yang Houcheng’s expression changed: “Tingquan, your hands are in such a state, yet you still say you’re fine?”

He turned and shouted: “Miss Li! Tingquan’s hand wounds are very deep—please quickly help him bandage them!”

Shao Mingyuan shot Yang Houcheng a warning glare and hurried to meet the young lady walking quickly toward him.

He smiled slightly at her: “I’m fine, don’t listen to Chongshan’s nonsense.”

“Go to the private room, I’ll bandage it for you.”

Qiao Zhao looked deeply at Shao Mingyuan, then turned and walked quickly toward the tavern’s only private room.

Shao Mingyuan silently followed.

Seeing Ye Luo about to follow in, Chen Guang quickly pulled him back and said in a low voice: “Can’t you read the situation?”

Ye Luo looked confused: “Miss Li is bandaging the General’s hands—why can’t I go in?”

“What do you understand?” Chen Guang rolled his eyes at him.

Just bandaging hands? Don’t be so naive! Seeing how seriously injured the General’s hands were, how pitiful he looked, Miss Li might be so heartbroken that she’d embrace the General and cry! If someone else were there and she didn’t cry, wouldn’t the General lose out?

Chen Guang was secretly pleased with his cleverness when the General’s calm voice came from the private room: “Chen Guang, come in.”

Chen Guang’s eyes widened instantly.

Why was he being called in? He didn’t want to go in!

Despite his inner complaints, the young guard still obediently walked in.

“What are the General’s orders?”

Shao Mingyuan sat upright in his chair, expressionless: “Kneel.”

Chen Guang knelt without hesitation, quickly glancing up at Shao Mingyuan. Seeing the General’s cold, stern expression, his eyelashes couldn’t help but flutter.

This was bad—the General was angry, and the consequences would be severe!

“Chen Guang, what did I order you to do?”

Chen Guang lowered his head and honestly replied: “The General ordered me to guard the tavern entrance.”

“Then where were you?”

“This subordinate was wrong, this subordinate is guilty. Please punish me severely, General!”

Shao Mingyuan raised an eyebrow.

When had this fellow learned to retreat to advance? Did he think this would make him unable to bear punishing him?

“We’re away from home where dangers lurk everywhere, so I won’t punish you otherwise—pay a fine of one thousand taels of silver.” The young general spoke calmly.

“A fine of one thousand taels?” Chen Guang’s face turned deathly pale, swaying unsteadily. After a long while, he managed to breathe out weakly: “General, you might as well beat me to death.”

His painstakingly saved money for a wife—gone just like that. This was taking his life!

The young guard looked up at the General with a trace of hope, only to see the General’s dark eyes deep and cold as ice, making his heart immediately tremble.

It was over, over—the General was truly angry.

“Beating you to death isn’t an option. I’m considering whether to fine you one thousand taels or two thousand taels.” The General spoke expressionlessly.

Chen Guang nearly fainted from crying: “One thousand taels, this subordinate chooses one thousand taels.”

“Fine, if you do this again, I definitely won’t be lenient. Go out now.”

After Chen Guang left in heartbroken despair, the young general immediately changed from his cold demeanor and called warmly: “Zhaozhao.”

“Extend your hands, let me have a look.” Having just witnessed Shao Mingyuan disciplining his subordinate, Qiao Zhao hadn’t interrupted.

Strict military discipline was precisely the authority a qualified military commander should have. Even if a subordinate’s actions were for their superior’s benefit, such behavior couldn’t be condoned.

After all, no one could guarantee that unauthorized actions would yield good results.

However, Shao Mingyuan should be someone who clearly distinguishes rewards and punishments. Chen Guang would be fined one thousand taels for disobeying orders, but should be rewarded for fighting the enemy courageously. She was somewhat curious about what Shao Mingyuan would do.

As these thoughts passed through Qiao Zhao’s mind, her gaze fell on Shao Mingyuan’s extended hands, and her eyes immediately contracted.

Those large hands with thin calluses were completely red, with long gaping wounds in the palms that curved upward, revealing gruesome flesh and blood.

“A’Zhu, Binglu, come in.” Qiao Zhao suppressed the turmoil in her heart and called out.

A’Zhu and Binglu quickly entered.

“Binglu, go ask the tavern staff for hot water. A’Zhu, have Ye Luo accompany you back to the boat to fetch gauze and medicinal paste.”

Her pouch could only hold a small amount of medicine, which had already been used up when helping several Imperial Guards treat their wounds earlier. Now with Shao Mingyuan’s hand wounds so deep, she could only return to the boat for medicine.

Fortunately, Haimen Ferry was small, and the round trip wouldn’t even take two quarters of an hour—quite convenient.

The two maidservants immediately carried out Qiao Zhao’s instructions.

Binglu quickly brought hot water, and Qiao Zhao took out her handkerchief, soaked it in the hot water, and began carefully cleaning Shao Mingyuan’s wounds.

The water in the basin quickly turned bright red.

“Change the water.”

After changing the water three times, the man’s large hands finally appeared clean and white, which made the wounds in his palms look even more horrifying, painful just to look at.

While waiting for the gauze and medicinal paste to arrive, Qiao Zhao couldn’t help asking him: “It hurts, doesn’t it?”

With such severe injuries, he had maintained his composure throughout—surely he wasn’t made of iron?

Seeing the worry in the young lady’s eyes, Shao Mingyuan suddenly remembered when they were at the desolate mountain where Coroner Qian lived, Chi Can had been stung in the eye by a bee and had gained quite a bit of Zhaozhao’s concern by pretending to be pitiful.

The young general immediately decided and nodded: “It hurts.”