Chapter 340 - 213: Impersonating the Real, the Waters of the Wu River

Chapter 340: Chapter 213: Impersonating the Real, the Waters of the Wu River

"Who’s there?"

At the entrance to the Wu River Boat Gang headquarters, a three-story building by the river, the gang members on duty saw a figure trying to barge in and immediately reached out to block him.

Xie Yuan slapped their hands aside, stood in the doorway, adjusted his collar, and let out a soft hmph.

"What, you don’t recognize me?"

"The... the County Magistrate?"

Only then did the two members get a clear look at the person who had rushed over, and they froze on the spot.

Everyone knew that Magistrate Yao and their Gang Leader were on good terms and often drank and dined together, but for the County Magistrate to personally visit their Wu River Boat Gang headquarters... well...

They instinctively felt something was strange, but as mere gate guards, they weren’t in a position to make a decision. So, one of them hurried off to inform their superiors, while the other immediately led Xie Yuan inside.

Xie Yuan was ushered into the Wu River Boat Gang’s headquarters with his chest puffed out and head held high, one hand still gripping Situ Qin’s soft, delicate hand.

When Situ Qin saw that the two guards acted as if they didn’t even see her as she stood right in front of them with Xie Yuan, her eyes lit up. Beyond finding it novel and interesting, she was utterly amazed.

’Looks like his Secret Technique has improved again,’ she thought. ’Besides changing his own appearance, he’s actually reached a level where he can make his companion invisible to others. He’s so much more powerful than he was back at the Inspector General’s residence! I wonder what kind of profound and wondrous art it is. It’s simply unheard of.’

The two entered the building. While Xie Yuan had to continue putting on an act and affecting the airs of a magistrate, Situ Qin shamelessly looked all around. She saw that the gang headquarters’ main hall was extremely spacious. People were constantly passing through the center, making it a hub of bustling activity. Ahead, a staircase on the left and right led to the upper floors. There were clearly fewer people upstairs, which was likely where the senior members had their offices.

Their guide led Xie Yuan and his invisible companion directly upstairs. Many of the gang members on the first floor had already seen Xie Yuan and wore expressions of surprise. They stepped aside, whispering to their companions.

A refined, scholarly-looking man hurried over. Seeing Xie Yuan at the top of the second-floor stairs, he immediately broke into a warm smile, though it was tinged with a barely perceptible hint of surprise.

’Why would the County Magistrate come here? And what’s with that strange posture with his hand... Did he sprain it?’

The scholar came forward and bowed.

"Greetings, Lord Magistrate! I wasn’t aware you were coming. Is there something...?"

"Where is your Gang Leader?"

Xie Yuan cut him off.

"The Gang Leader is currently in cultivation. Please wait just a moment. I’ll have him come see you at once!"

The scholar’s expression tensed. Seeing the County Magistrate in such a hurry, he thought, ’Something big must have happened,’ and immediately went to find the Gang Leader.

As he left, however, he couldn’t shake a strange feeling. ’We’ve drunk together so many times. Why does Magistrate Yao look at me as if he doesn’t recognize me?’

’Perhaps he’s just in a great hurry...’ At this thought, the scholar quickened his pace.

Xie Yuan watched the scholar hurry away as the surrounding gang members cast glances his way, murmuring amongst themselves. He thought to himself:

’I need to speed this up. If word gets out, it might attract the real Magistrate Yao.’

They arrived at a large tea room on the second floor. Just as their guide was asking them to wait a moment, the same scholar returned, leading a burly, bearded man into the room.

The moment the burly man entered, he shut the door. Before anyone could even pour Xie Yuan a cup of tea, he spoke with a grave expression, his voice low:

"Greetings, Lord Yao! Lord Yao, you came in such a rush. Did something happen?"

Xie Yuan waved a hand and replied in an equally low voice:

"Gang Leader Meng, that recent batch of ’goods’... has it been sent out yet?"

On their way over, Xie Yuan and Situ Qin had already found out the gang leader’s name. His surname was Meng, and his full name was Meng Hesheng.

"The recent batch..."

Meng Hesheng paused for a moment, then frowned.

"Didn’t you say last time that we should wait until the end of the month, gather enough people, and then transport them?"

Xie Yuan tilted his head slightly and exchanged a look with Situ Qin. Both of their eyes lit up.

’We definitely came to the right place!’

Of course, Meng Hesheng couldn’t see the beautiful young woman beside Xie Yuan. He just assumed the County Magistrate was tilting his head in thought. Then he heard him say slowly:

"It’s good that they haven’t been sent. There’s someone in this batch who shouldn’t have been taken. Take me to see them right now."

"Shouldn’t have been taken?"

Meng Hesheng grew instantly tense. He drew in a sharp breath and said urgently:

"Lord Magistrate, didn’t we already vet them before they were captured? They’re all commoners; no one will make a fuss if they go missing. How could we have grabbed the wrong person?"

"Large families have extensive, complicated branches. Who can keep it all straight? Just take me to see them, quickly. I’m afraid it will be too late if we delay."

Xie Yuan bluffed, getting to his feet.

Situ Qin found it both amusing and admirable to see Xie Yuan spouting complete nonsense yet handling the situation so adeptly, successfully wheedling information out of Meng Hesheng.

Before coming, the two had conducted a brief investigation, but they had no way of knowing how Yao Zhizhang and Meng Hesheng cooperated or communicated. They could only prepare according to the four-word strategy: "act according to circumstances."

It now seemed that Xie Yuan was performing brilliantly. He was quick-witted, and his excuse about a problem with the "goods" had indeed made Meng Hesheng nervous. He should be taking them directly to where the captives were held any moment now. Situ Qin couldn’t help but blink as she gazed at Xie Yuan, her eyes shining with a brilliant light.

Meng Hesheng listened to Xie Yuan and nodded, clearly thinking of something. However, his expression was a bit strange. He hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Lord Yao, have you mentioned this to Mr. Qian? Wouldn’t it be simpler to just go to him directly? I don’t really have any sway with him."

Xie Yuan, who had just started to walk, froze and quietly exchanged a glance with Situ Qin.

’Who is this Mr. Qian?’

’Weren’t the captured women and children being held by the boat gang?’

’According to our theory, if Yao Zhizhang and Meng Hesheng were cooperating on human trafficking in Wu River County, Yao Zhizhang should be the one overseeing the whole operation and providing cover, while Meng Hesheng would be responsible for the hands-on execution and using the waterways for transport.’