To be a person, one must follow the rules.

Before long, the government soldiers in Lieu Thon and several other villages were all dealt with by Tran Mac and his group.

The armor on those government soldiers was all stripped off, and their weapons were all taken.

It's unknown whether it was because they had killed government soldiers, or perhaps they were infected by their own side's momentum, or by Tran Mac's heroic spirit, but the whole crowd appeared exceptionally invigorated, a feeling they had never experienced before, like an addiction.

In the end, without even needing Tran Mac's orders, they surged towards Phuc Trach Village in a vast, swaying mass.

...

Phuc Trach Village. Because Tran Mac was a martial artist, Banh Thanh personally led men here to arrest him.

Banh Thanh had always held some admiration for Tran Mac; otherwise, he wouldn't have tried to recruit him before.

At such a young age, he was already a ranked martial artist and still a scholar. If the imperial examinations were to be held again in the future, and if Tran Mac could achieve official rank, he would surely rise steadily through the officialdom.

However, it was precisely for this reason that the yamen had ordered Tran Mac's arrest.

Actually, even if Han Tam Lang killed officials, incited others to flee, was convicted of rebellion, and his nine generations were exterminated, it wouldn't have implicated Tran Mac.

Because Tran Mac did not belong to Han Tam's nine generations, the implication wouldn't reach him. At most, his sister-in-law would be arrested.

But Tran Mac was too young and also a martial artist. If he were let go, and he made a name for himself in the future, who knew what kind of trouble he might cause? To prevent future troubles, the County Magistrate decisively ordered him to be captured as well, to settle everything. This way, there would be no risks.

However, Banh Thanh had his men search the Tran residence several times but found no sign of Tran Mac.

Not only did they not find Tran Mac, but even his sister-in-law Han An Nuong was gone.

Banh Thanh grabbed some fellow villagers for questioning.

He discovered that the group of deserters who had been heading to Phung Tien had already fled back to the village.

And Han Tam Lang had been killed by Tran Mac with a single saber strike.

Afterward, Tran Mac had led people away from Phuc Trach Village, their whereabouts unknown.

In other words, the news had leaked.

Banh Thanh pondered for a moment, sensing that things might have already developed in the worst possible direction.

He could no longer stay in Phuc Trach Village; he had to report the situation here to his superior.

He quickly gave orders, telling the constables and garrison troops under him to quickly arrest the wives and children of those deserters in the village, and then leave Phuc Trach Village.

...

Meanwhile.

Tran Mac, fearing discovery by the authorities, rushed back to Phuc Trach Village without stopping.

At the village entrance, Ngo Son was joking and chatting with two of his colleagues and good friends, but in his heart, he was praying that Tran Mac had already left and wouldn't be captured.

Firstly, he was genuinely worried about Tran Mac.

Secondly, he was afraid that if Tran Mac was captured, he would implicate him.

"Big... Big brother, Tran Mac!"

Suddenly, Ngo Son's subordinate beside him pointed not far away, his face changing color.

They saw on the road outside the village, a large group of people surging forward. Leading them was Tran Mac, whom they had met once before.

Ngo Son's gaze swept over, and his face also changed. He said in astonishment, "Tran... Mac, why are you... here?"

"Back to kill people."

Tran Mac walked straight over and said calmly.

Han Vu, who was following behind him, already familiar with the process, raised his saber and was about to lead men to attack Ngo Son and his group.

"Stop, these few are my friends."

Leaving this sentence, Tran Mac took the lead and charged into the village.

Han Vu's movement stopped abruptly, and the ferocious expression on his face also subsided, replaced by a compensatory smile.

After these several hundred people had all passed by them, Ngo Son and his two companions felt their bodies go limp, almost collapsing to the ground.

With Ngo Son's perceptiveness, he knew that this time, something major was likely to happen.

In the village.

Banh Thanh was escorting people towards the village entrance when he saw Tran Mac leading a group of people over. He was first stunned, then his expression changed drastically, knowing that things had indeed developed in the worst possible direction.

However, as the yamen's Head Constable, he had seen all sorts of grand scenes and wouldn't fall into utter panic. He waved his hand, and the more than fifty garrison troops behind him formed up.

Although the garrison troops couldn't compare to the Thanh Chau elites, they were still properly trained regular soldiers. Despite some nervousness, under Banh Thanh's leadership, they could still hold their formation.

Banh Thanh scanned the countless people behind Tran Mac, his expression grave, and said, "Tran Mac, are you intending to rebel?"

As his voice fell, the constables below tightened their grip on the villagers they had captured.

"Brother Mac, save me, save me!"

"Child's father, save the child!"

"..."

The village women captured by Banh Thanh and his men cried out hoarsely.

"I already know what happened on the road to Phung Tien. Whether I rebel now or not makes no difference."

Tran Mac looked at those captured villagers, sensed some commotion behind him, frowned, and said, "Head Constable Banh, let's make a deal. Release them, and I'll let you leave. Otherwise, you won't survive."

Tran Mac, seeing their formation, knew they were different from the government soldiers he had killed earlier. If he charged and killed like before, he might very well injure the villagers they had captured.

This good show today was almost at its final act; there could be no mistakes.

"Can I trust you?" Banh Thanh's palm pressed on his saber hilt, eyeing the distance between himself and Tran Mac, muttering to himself, "A little short."

"As long as Head Constable Banh doesn't cause trouble, I guarantee it," Tran Mac said.

"Good, I trust you."

Banh Thanh turned his head and said, "Release them."

"Yes, sir!"

Those captured villagers from Phuc Trach Village were released by the garrison troops.

"Make way!" Tran Mac raised his arm and shouted.

The crowd behind him slowly parted to form a path.

"Please," Tran Mac said.

Banh Thanh narrowed his eyes, nodded lightly, and waved his hand, "Let's go."

Banh Thanh walked in front, constables in the middle, and garrison troops followed behind, their faces showing vigilance.

As Banh Thanh walked past Tran Mac.

"Look!"

Banh Thanh first let out a loud shout, intending to distract Tran Mac's attention, then the hand on his saber hilt instantly drew the saber and slashed towards Tran Mac.

To catch bandits, first catch the king.

Banh Thanh knew that as long as he captured Tran Mac, it wouldn't matter how many people were behind him.

However, Tran Mac was already wary of Banh Thanh.

"Clang——"

Tran Mac drew his saber even faster.

"Clink!"

A flash of saber light, and the official saber Banh Thanh swung at Tran Mac was cut into two pieces.

Banh Thanh's pupils contracted. His reaction was also extremely swift. He instantly discarded the broken saber, his five fingers forming a claw, and like lightning, grabbed for Tran Mac's throat.

"Swish!"

A severed arm flew high, fresh blood spraying out like an arrow of blood.

Tran Mac's saber speed was too fast, so fast that when the severed arm flew high, Banh Thanh hadn't even realized his right arm had been cut off. Only when the blood spurted out did he belatedly let out a miserable scream, clutching his wound and collapsing on the spot.

The Tang saber in Tran Mac's hand pressed against Banh Thanh's neck. He sighed, "Head Constable Banh, you were the one who didn't follow the rules."

He tilted his head towards Truong Ha and Han Vu: "Kill them all."

"Brothers, kill for me!"

Truong Ha and Han Vu shouted almost simultaneously.

Those more than fifty garrison troops and several constables were instantly engulfed by the crowd. Fresh blood flowed everywhere...