Walking out of the alley, the murmurs of those people could still be heard behind.
Just as they reached the mouth of the alley, the carriage came to a stop.
Before the guards beside Song Chongjin could inquire about the halt, someone came to report: "Reporting to the lord, someone claiming to be the Mayor of Shiqiao Town, accompanied by several subordinates, has come to pay their respects to the lord."
Song Chongjin lifted the curtain and looked towards the alley's entrance, where a group of people knelt trembling by the roadside.
After a moment of hesitation: "Let them come forward."
A guard received the order and approached to speak a few words, and the guards blocking them finally withdrew their long swords, stepping aside.
The kneeling people awkwardly stood up, brushed off the dust from their clothes, and with hunched backs and bowed heads, followed the guards to the carriage where Song Chongjin was seated.
