When the sharp-mouthed, hollow-cheeked young man heard that, the blood drained from his face. Sweat sprang out on his forehead and he took to his heels.

But he had barely set one foot over the threshold when a teapot came flying after him.

Bang!!!

The teapot caught him square in the back.

The sharp-mouthed, hollow-cheeked young man let out a yelp and pitched headlong to the floor.

The customers nearest the door grabbed him by the legs and hauled him back inside.

The customers in the shop swarmed him, fists and feet flying, tables, chairs and benches going over everywhere.

"You black-hearted thing, slandering Marquis Ning — we'll beat you to death!"

"This one might be a spy for an enemy state."

"That's right. No one who wasn't an enemy spy would work that hard at framing and slandering Marquis Ning."

The customers cursed him and beat him at the same time.

Once the spy's hat was on a man's head, you could beat him to death and answer for nothing.

Under the laws of Great Xuan, spies, slavers, thieves and bandits could be beaten to death without any crime committed — and there was a reward on top of it.

The sharp-mouthed, hollow-cheeked young man clutched his head and howled under the blows.

"Brother, could you let me get one kick in?"

"Stop shoving, stop shoving... you've shoved my shoe right off."

"Haven't you eaten today? Hit him harder... or don't drink with me again. I won't have a brother like you — I couldn't stand the shame of it."

There were too many of them.

Some wanted to get in and land a few kicks of their own but could not squeeze through at all.

One man finally forced his way in and landed one kick, only for the press to trap his leg; by the time he had worked it free his shoe was gone.

The manager of the Heavenly Blessing Tower stood up on the counter, roaring at them to beat the man to death.

"Stop! Stop at once... I am a red coat of the…