As soon as Evan Chu finished speaking, two guards appeared. They went straight up to the two richly dressed youths and, without a word, pinned them to the ground. The boys were so terrified they wet themselves, leaving a puddle on the floor.
"What are you doing? My father is the Minister of Rites! If you treat me like this, you're dead for sure!" one of the youths shouted loudly.
But the two guards ignored him completely. Almost at the same time, they each swung a fist straight into the boys' crotches. Two screams like slaughtered pigs rang out, and a certain part of the boys was shattered by the punch.
Only then did one guard speak up: "Minister of Rites? That's nothing. Do you even know who he is? You dare provoke the Grand Protector-General's women—do you have a death wish?"
Despair instantly flooded the two boys. The agony from below knocked them out cold, but their faces were still frozen in terror.
Only now did many in the crowd realize that this young man was the Grand Protector-General, adopted son of the Heavenly Dragon Emperor, and brother of the imperial consort. Any one of those identities far outweighed the Minister of Rites—let alone his terrifying strength. Everyone felt sorry for the foolishness of the two boys.
The crowd erupted in fresh discussion, but Evan Chu didn't care in the slightest. Not killing them outright was already merciful—mainly because he happened to be in a good mood today. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let them off so easily.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded nearby. Two middle-aged men quickly appeared before Evan Chu. One saw his son unconscious on the ground and immediately roared, "You brat, how dare you hurt my son! You're dead today!"
Evan Chu shot him a glare and retorted, "Dead, my ass! You dare be so rude to the Grand Protector-General in the middle of the Royal Capital—do you really think you're the boss here? Men, cripple this old fool for me!"
Evan Chu's words startled the middle-aged man. He looked closely at Evan, suddenly seeming to realize something. "You're the Grand Protector-General, Evan Chu?"
The Imperial Pardon Medallion has the Emperor’s jade seal—you can tell if it’s real just by looking. Why would I trick you? Now, let’s talk about how you’re going to handle my son’s case. If you don’t give me a proper explanation today, I’ll report you to the Emperor and show you who’s really in charge!
Evan Chu’s expression darkened. These people really thought they could push him around. He snapped, 'Men, take the Imperial Pardon Medallion and let me see if it’s real. If he resists, execute him as a traitor!'
The Minister of Rites reluctantly handed the medallion to the guards for Evan Chu to inspect. Evan took it, looked it over, and smiled. 'It’s real—you didn’t try to trick me.'
The Minister of Rites immediately demanded, 'So, are you going to explain yourself now?'
'Of course you need an explanation,' Evan Chu replied with a smile. 'But now that the medallion isn’t in your hand, what do I need to explain to you?' The Minister’s face fell—he realized he’d been tricked.
'You took my medallion! Everyone here saw it. You’re showing disrespect to the Emperor—committing treason! The Emperor won’t forgive you for this!' the Minister shouted angrily.
'Save it!' Evan Chu sneered. 'You really think a worthless token can save your life? You think the Grand Protector-General is afraid of you?' He squeezed the medallion until it crumbled into gold dust, which the wind blew right into the Minister’s face.
'Men, cripple these two right now. I was going to kill you, but since I’m in a good mood today, I’ll spare your lives. Just remember—I hate being threatened, even by the Emperor himself.' Evan Chu declared.
'Hahaha! Well said, well said!' someone in the crowd called out, laughing heartily.
The crowd erupted in laughter and applause, their faces full of admiration for Evan Chu’s boldness. Many felt a dark satisfaction—finally, someone had put these arrogant officials in their place.
The Minister of Rites and his companion collapsed to their knees, faces pale with terror, knowing their fates were sealed. Evan Chu’s guards stepped forward, their movements swift and merciless.
With a single blow each, the guards crippled the two officials, leaving them writhing in agony on the ground. The crowd watched in stunned silence—no one dared to intervene.
Evan Chu turned away, his expression cold and unyielding. 'Let this be a warning to all: under my watch, no one—no matter how high their status—can abuse the people and escape justice.'
The crowd bowed their heads, respect and awe filling their eyes. Evan Chu’s reputation as the Grand Protector-General soared to new heights that day.
Among the spectators, many who had suffered under the Minister of Rites’ tyranny felt tears of relief and gratitude. For the first time, hope flickered in their hearts.
Evan Chu glanced at his women and allies, giving them a reassuring nod. Today, he had truly lived up to his title—he had rid the people of a great evil.
Goldwing let out a low, approving growl, while the Savage Earth Dragon grinned, clearly satisfied with the outcome.
Selena Yale smirked, her eyes shining with pride. 'That’s our man,' she whispered, voice full of admiration.
With the matter settled, Evan Chu led his group onward, leaving behind a crowd that would remember this day for years to come.