Chapter 595 - 387: Land of Certain Death (Part 2)

To a True Qi Realm expert, both the chains and the prison cell are like papier-mâché, essentially useless.

Duan Rong scanned his Divine Sense over the few cells near Shen Yanliu, convinced that the Shen Yanliu case had far-reaching implications and could not involve just him alone.

Indeed, in this section of the prison, Duan Rong also found Tang Wanhong and Ma Chunmin.

Ma Chunmin, too, was wearing prison clothes, though she wasn’t very injured; her eyes were dull, like a soulless corpse.

In the cell diagonally opposite Shen Yanliu, Tang Wanhong, severely injured, clung to the wooden bars, staring fixedly at Xiong Yi lying on a bench by the alley entrance.

He hadn’t expected that a casual outing on the street was merely a trap set by Mansion Master Chen Xun for him.

When Shen Yanliu first arrived at Ruyang Prefecture, due to his strong capabilities and good rapport with colleagues, Mansion Master Chen Xun initially held him in high regard.

But within a year, Shen Yanliu started expanding his power and cultivating allies.

He tampered with many criminal cases and even set up a Shen Garden outside the city, coercing and enticing the Chief and lower magistrates to fabricate false cases and prospering from them.

Using the profits, he wooed women and collected antiquities, paving the way for further promotions.

Mansion Master Chen Xun and Governor Yang Ji began to fear and dread Shen Yanliu; over half of the county magistrates under Ruyang Prefecture were recruited by Shen Yanliu, and he maintained ties with many officials in Divine Cloud Prefecture.

Such a person, with his connections, prompted Chen Xun and Yang Ji to jointly plan his downfall; if left unchecked for two more years, Shen Yanliu would surely take over their positions as Mansion Master and Governor.

But although Shen Yanliu had expanded far and wide, his deeds were marred with too many crimes; the key was finding evidence.

Chen Xun and Yang Ji, after much deliberation, quickly set their sights on Tang Wanhong.

Choosing Tang Wanhong as the Achilles’ heel of Shen Yanliu was a truly astute move!

However, capturing Tang Wanhong was no easy task either.

Chen Xun personally arranged investigations into all of Tang Wanhong’s activities.

In fact, Xiong Yi’s trap wasn’t his first attempt.

The first two traps failed, with Tang Wanhong evading capture both times.

Chen Xun didn’t consider the third attempt superior to the previous ones.

On that day, Chen knew one day in advance that Tang Wanhong would visit that shop.

Thus, the peasant woman, the ruffian, and Xiong Yi pretending to nap by the street were all part of his elaborate setup.

That night, upon returning from the government office, a secret agent notified him that Tang Wanhong had taken the bait; Chen merely smiled faintly.

Because, even if Tang Wanhong didn’t fall for this trap, Chen would keep trying, always patient and adept; he’d dealt with one person who lasted till the sixth setup.

He kind of hoped someone would break this record.

To rise as Mansion Master of Ruyang Prefecture, he stepped over countless bodies.

Shen Yanliu was capable and ambitious but lacked prudence, overestimating himself; if he were as loyal as Yang Ji, moving step by step, Chen would promote him accordingly.

But if Shen Yanliu intended to overtake him, Chen would send him away.

Duan Rong strolled around the market surrounding the prefecture city dungeon, eating a sugar figure and a stick of candied fruit, thoroughly examining the dungeon’s interior and exterior.

This tour led him to conclude: even for a True Qi Realm Great Perfection expert like himself, it’s extremely difficult to get a prisoner out alive.

The dungeon is practically a one-way deathtrap!

After leaving the dungeon, Duan Rong leisurely headed to a teahouse near the prefecture government office.

From the upstairs window, he ordered a pot of tea and a dish of melon seeds, sipping tea while gazing outside.

Nearby stood the grand entrance of the prefecture government office.

Seeing Xiong Yi guarding Shen Yanliu in the prefecture city dungeon alone confirmed that the mastermind behind Shen Yanliu’s case must be the Mansion Master Chen Xun.

Duan Rong sat there, cracking melon seeds, his Divine Sense suddenly extended and enveloped the prefecture government office.

He soon located Chen Xun, who appeared busy with various duties throughout the day, seemingly disconnected from the Shen Yanliu case.

Nevertheless, Duan Rong waited patiently, monitoring Chen Xun with his Divine Sense while cracking seeds; this teahouse, unlike the dungeon vicinity, didn’t attract attention. In such teahouses, many patrons linger with a pot of tea all day long.

Dusk fell, and the teahouse closed.

Duan Rong was one of the last patrons to leave.

He sighed deeply, having spent the day waiting, drinking plenty of water without gleaning any useful information from Chen Xun.

Duan Rong strolled over to a nearby wonton stall, intending to eat before leaving.

The vendor served steaming wontons, to which Duan Rong added a ladle of chili oil, swallowing one along with the soup.

Just as he swallowed, Duan Rong coughed, seemingly choked.

He planned to leave after finishing the wontons, but just as he took that first bite, two people entered Chen Xun’s study to see him.

The two didn’t arrive together; one came from the left corridor, the other from the right.

Yet they entered Chen Xun’s study without hesitation.

Among them was a tall figure, whom Duan Rong immediately recognized, almost choking himself upon realization.

This person was the one he followed one night from Shen Garden, meeting Xiong Yi outside the Mountain God Temple by the main road.

Seeing this person, Duan Rong promptly shouted to the stall owner, "Another bowl of wontons, please!"

"Coming right up!" The boss wiped his hands on his apron, happily responding.

Duan Rong didn’t really crave wontons; truth be told, they were quite average. Any random stall in Xianggu County had tastier offerings.

Yet, with that tall person around, it hinted at a discussion related to Shen Yanliu, giving Duan Rong an excuse to linger for eavesdropping.

The tall person was named Li Hong, a favored guest of Chen Xun, and the other who accompanied him was Yang Ji, the Governor of Ruyang Prefecture.

Li Hong had already greeted Yang Ji at the entrance.

Upon entering, both intended to pay respects to Chen Xun, but Chen Xun tiredly waved his hand to stop them.

They understood and took their seats.

Li Hong, having just settled, looked at Chen Xun and said, "Mansion Master, I’ve investigated the situation in Zhengze Prefecture; Shen Mizi abandoned her case midway and left without a word."

Chen Xun remained silent, merely sipping his ginseng tea.

Yang Ji remarked, "It’s expected; facing such a significant family issue, who would focus on someone else’s case? Shen Yanliu’s offenses relate to his tenure as Inspector General, during which Shen Mizi was secluded at Changling Mountain, nearly cut off from the world. These charges don’t implicate her, unless we charge collectively and avoid the hassle."

Chen Xun replied, "To truly cut the weeds, one must uproot them, or they’ll eventually pose a threat!"

Li Hong’s eyes shifted, "Her father is already in jail; I doubt she’d stand by and do nothing."

Yang Ji noted, "The dungeon isn’t the right moment; the execution ground is crucial."

Chen Xun glanced at Yang Ji.

Both understood Chen Xun’s look, though subtle, indicating his agreement with Yang Ji’s opinion.

Li Hong commented, "Security at the execution ground can’t rival that of the dungeon."

Yang Ji added, "If Shen Mizi acts alone, it’s manageable; the concern is her rallying others. That could prove troublesome..."

Chen Xun declared, "Then there mustn’t be time for her to rally anyone."

As he spoke, Chen Xun stood, pacing the room, eventually addressing Yang Ji, "Lord Yang, might I trouble you to visit Divine Cloud Prefecture personally? Navigate the paths, ensure the case findings endorsement is back within ten days."