Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

The shouts from afar grew closer.

"Scatter! Scatter all!"

The group of more than ten city officials, though disheveled, exuded an imposing aura, each wielding a short stick. Despite being officials, they had the air of thugs and hooligans.

Liu Bian narrowed his eyes as he looked at the newcomer.

The man in the lead was around forty years old, with a rough, dark complexion, but his eyes were very lively. He didn't look at the cripple lying on the ground, nor at the bag of lime powder. Instead, he scanned the faces of the onlookers.

When his gaze fell on the tall, thin man, his eyes paused almost imperceptibly, then he looked away as if he hadn't seen him.

He then raised his hand behind him.

The city officials behind him immediately split into two rows, one driving people away and the other blocking the way.

"There's no fun in this! Get out of here!"

"Anyone who dares to say a word will be taken away with them!"

The crowd, already fearful of officials, retreated like a receding tide upon hearing these words. The vendors, still shouting "kidnappers" and "lime powder," only dared to mutter a few words as they retreated, and dared not approach again.

The leading market official then stepped into the empty circle, his gaze falling on the hemp rope and powder packets on the ground, but he acted as if he didn't see them. He simply raised his hand and pointed at Cao Cao and his entourage, his voice like a broken gong:

"You lot, release them!"

Cao Cao frowned slightly but did not move.

Xiahou Dun's smile faded, and he placed his fingers on his waist, looking as if he could draw his sword at any moment.

Liu Bian subtly pressed down, then said to the leading market official:

"Sir, these people are binding people with hemp rope and they're also carrying lime powder."

"Shut up!"

The market official interrupted him with a shout, a hint of impatience and wariness flashing in his eyes, as if afraid he would say something terrible.

Did I ask you? Did I tell you to speak?

He took a step forward, the end of the stick striking the ground with a "thump, thump" sound.

"In Luoyang, who gave you permission to set up an arbitrary arrest? Who gave you permission to injure people? Release them!"

A flash of anger crossed Liu Bian's eyes.

These people, without first inquiring about the cause and effect, first dispersed the crowd, and then demanded the release of the people in a forceful manner.

He already knew what was going on: the city official wasn't there to arrest the kidnapper, but to suppress the matter.

The person he was looking for was the one who could get the city officials to suppress the matter.

He said no more, and instead seemed frightened. The innkeeper, who was not one to cause trouble, took a light breath and turned to Cao Cao, saying:

Release them.

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao said nothing more. He raised his hand and waved his hand, causing Xiahou Yuan to release his knee pressure, Xiahou Dun to withdraw his arm, and Cao Hong and Cao Chun to step back half a step.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the kidnappers scrambled towards the tall, thin man. The man gritted his teeth, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were as sinister as a snake's.

When the city official saw that the man had been released, a hint of relief appeared on his face.

He pointed his stick, and the sound grew louder:

"Fine! Now that we've released them—you lot, for engaging in a gang fight and disrupting the market, come with me!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions on everyone's faces changed simultaneously.

The smile in Xiahou Dun's eyes vanished completely, and he took half a step forward to speak.

Cao Hong was even more direct, reaching behind his back as if to make a move:

"You have some nerve, do you know..."

But Liu Bian shook his head.

Once the title of "Crown Prince" is mentioned, this bag of lime powder, these ropes, these faces—will be blown away like the wind. The city officials will change their tune, the kidnapper might "accidentally commit suicide" on the spot, the onlookers will be driven even further away, and even the hand behind that lean man will retract, severing all clues.

What's even more dangerous is that the people behind it may not just be a brokerage firm or some back alley.

Eunuchs, imperial relatives, powerful families—anyone could be a potential threat. In this game of Luoyang, the most ruthless element has never been the sticks on the streets, but the whispers within the palace walls.

If he were to openly display his power in the street, pushing the other party to their limit, they might very well make an issue of the "Crown Prince's virtue," "Crown Prince's arrogance," or "Crown Prince's faction"—a single sentence could reverse the tide in the Eastern Palace and even threaten his position as Crown Prince.

"Let's go," Liu Bian said calmly. "Go with the official."

The market official paused for a moment, seemingly surprised by how smoothly things went. But he quickly sneered, raising his hand and shouting, "Tie them up!"

Two market officials stepped forward to take the rope, but Cao Ren stepped aside to block them, his eyes cold.

Liu Bian raised his hand and waved it away, then pulled his sleeves up slightly and said calmly, "Don't tie us up. We'll walk ourselves."

The head clerk's eyes darted around, as if fearing complications, and finally he snorted, "You're smart to know what's good for you. Let's go!"

Thus, Liu Bian and his entourage were sandwiched between market officials and made their way to the government office along the market road.

On the way, those men followed, as if watching a joke, deliberately not getting close, yet unwilling to leave their sight.

Reaching the entrance of an alley, the lean man finally couldn't contain himself any longer. He quickly took a few steps and squeezed to the side of the line, a sinister smile on his lips.

"Young shopkeeper, weren't you quite assertive just now? Now you want to see whose rules govern Luoyang?"

He spat, speaking in a low voice, making sure Liu Bian could hear him:

"The rule in Luoyang is to recognize people."

"If you don't acknowledge people, then you'll lose."

The city official didn't turn around, as if he couldn't hear.

Liu Bian was certain in his heart that these people must be in cahoots.

Liu Bian raised his eyes, glanced at the lean man, and instead of getting angry, he snorted like a child, "I didn't steal anything from you."

The lean man grinned, revealing yellow teeth:

"You touched someone you shouldn't have."

He leaned closer, his voice as soft as a viper's flick:

"There are many things to sell in Luoyang. People can be sold too. A young man with delicate skin like you will fetch an even higher price."

Cao Ren's eyes suddenly turned cold, and he took a deep step forward, about to press forward.

Liu Bian still shook his head, and even deliberately took a half-step forward to let his words dissipate like the wind.

In his mind, this person was already a corpse.

Human traffickers have been hated throughout history. A profession that treats people as commodities truly deserves to be eradicated by everyone.

Moreover, these are all interconnected – there are people receiving the goods, people selling them, and people protecting them.

What he wants is for this link to come to light.

The group continued forward.

After crossing two streets, the county temple archway came into view. Several bailiffs stood in front of the gate, showing no surprise at the sight of the market official escorting people back; rather, they seemed to have been waiting for this.

The head clerk slung his stick over his shoulder and shouted into the gate, "We've brought in a few people involved in a gang fight!"

A voice answered from inside the door, and then a clerk in a blue robe came out. He had a refined appearance, but his eyes were anything but. He first looked at Liu Bian, then at Cao Cao, and finally his gaze lingered on Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan, as if he were weighing them.

He frowned slightly. These people all had an extraordinary aura, unlike what one would expect from a typical street brawl.

The clerk tucked his pen behind his ear and asked the head market official in a low voice:

"Have you asked about their family background?"

The head official was stunned, and the smug look on his face froze.

When arresting people, people are in a hurry; they don't care about asking about family background.

He opened his mouth and said, "Sir, according to protocol, we'll take him in first. Once inside, we don't care about his family background; he'll still have to listen to us, won't he?"

The clerk's eyes turned cold, and he said, "If you offend some big shot, and the higher-ups blame you, how many heads do you have to lose?"

The clerk stopped arguing with him, turned around and walked inside quickly.

"Go and summon the registrar."

Before long, footsteps echoed in the inner courtyard.

A middle-aged man, around fifty years old, lifted the curtain and emerged. He was dressed neatly, with an official seal tied around his waist, and his face carried the composure of someone who had seen it all. Just as he was about to put on airs, his gaze fell on Cao Cao's face, and he trembled, his eyelids twitching violently.

"Cao, Cao Yilang?"

The registrar's voice softened immediately, and he quickly stepped forward, bowing very low.

"This humble official was blind and did not recognize you as Cao Yilang. I have been very rude just now, please forgive me!"

Cao Cao did not accept the gift, but instead stepped aside and handed it to Liu Bian behind him.

The clerk was about to offer a few more words of thanks when he caught a glimpse of Cao Cao's action out of the corner of his eye, and his heart skipped a beat.

What was Cao Cao's status in Luoyang? He was known for his ruthless nature, famously beating powerful figures in the streets with his five-colored stick and even disciplining the sons of eunuchs. Not to mention, his father was one of the Nine Ministers of the time.

How could such a person be led by a mere "shopkeeper"?

The clerk was immediately covered in sweat.

He looked at Liu Bian again: he wore a short brown cloth turban, his face was as tender as a young man's, but his eyes were excessively deep. Just standing there, without relying on shouting or anger, he made people dare not underestimate him.

This is definitely not an ordinary family's child.

The registrar immediately changed his tune, speaking more cautiously:

"May I ask... who you are, young master?"

Cao Cao then spoke, his voice low, yet as firm as nailing a door shut:

"Before asking this question, you should shut your mouths."

He glanced at the head official.

The city official was now pale-faced, all his arrogance gone, and he could only lower his head.

The registrar immediately realized that he had met his match.

He dared not delay any longer and lowered his voice to instruct the clerk:

"Take these men away, make sure they handle things cleanly, and don't cause any trouble."

The faces of the city officials changed simultaneously. The leader tried to argue, but the other official was faster, covering his mouth and taking him away.

The clerk's expression softened slightly, and he turned to Liu Bian and Cao Cao, bowing respectfully.

"Please, please come inside. I will certainly give you an explanation for what just happened."