Chapter 205 - 117: Consolidating the Mountain Search Authority, The First Step into Jiangyin Prefecture, Killing with a Borrowed Knife to Eradicate Future Troubles

Chapter 205: Chapter 117: Consolidating the Mountain Search Authority, The First Step into Jiangyin Prefecture, Killing with a Borrowed Knife to Eradicate Future Troubles

I wonder about this young master from the Post House...

"Come on, Brother Ji, that’s just making things awkward between us."

"I felt like we were old friends the moment we met. I may be a few years older, but after meeting just twice, I can tell we really click."

"Let’s not talk about money. That’s just tacky."

"What was it those monks in that new Outer Dao Temple in Jiangyin Prefecture always say...?"

"Right, fate!"

"The friendship of gentlemen is as pure as water. Let’s talk about fate!"

"It’s fate that brought us together!"

Ji Xiu met his gaze.

Di Yuan’s expression was sincere as he blinked.

The next moment, Ji Xiu gave a knowing smile and clapped the young master from the Post House on the shoulder.

Heh.

’So we’re brothers who truly hit it off from the start!’

And just like that, in addition to Zhao Jiu from the Wine Shop, he now had another brother in Di Yuan from the Post House.

Ji Xiu mentally counted on his fingers, mulling things over:

’Cai Ling’er from the Jade Shop, Ye Ningzhi from the Embroidery Lineage, Zhao Jiu from the Wine Shop, Di Yuan from the Post House...’

’Master Duan always said he had many enemies within the prefecture and old scores to settle with these Grand Lineages, Daoist Schools, and other Schools.’

’But I’ve already made several friends before even joining him. It’s better to resolve enmity than to create it.’

’I hope these "brothers and sisters" have some influence. Maybe they can put in a good word with the patriarchs of their families. If there’s some rift between them and Master Duan, perhaps they can help us bury the hatchet...’

Power is essential, of course.

But if I can solve problems without throwing a punch and still reap some benefits...

Wouldn’t that be the best strategy of all?

...

The sky was dim at the pier.

Huang Xiuwen was a wretched sight. His trouser legs were caked in blood and mud. The servants with him had long since been slaughtered and eaten by the Demon, leaving only his half-crippled old servant, Old Huang.

"Damn it, what the hell is that Di Yuan waiting for? I already told him a Demon from the Central Yellow Sect entered the county and caused chaos! That it went to find that punk Ji to get revenge..."

"And he still won’t set sail? To get Pill Master Xu and me out of here? Does he really want to die in this backwater mountain county!?"

The Seventh Young Master of the Medicine Shop, his face flushed red, glared at the man from the Post House in charge of the merchant ship and roared:

"I told you, I’m the direct-lineage grandson of the Medicine Shop, the sole heir for three generations! My grandfather is one of the Nine Lords of Jiangyin, and his word carries immense weight!"

"Get this ship moving and take me away!"

"After this is over, whatever the Post House pays you, come to my Medicine Shop, and I’ll triple it! Are you deaf or just stupid?"

He vented his frustration by kicking wildly at the ship’s railing.

But the Steward of the Post House merchant ship just kept a placating smile on his face, issuing no orders. Inwardly, however, he was cursing:

’The compensation is great, but if we do this, our reputation will be ruined.’

’A few months from now, you high-and-mighty nobles with your short memories will have forgotten all about us.’

’We’re not from the Medicine Shop. We’re nobodies with no connections. If we get kicked out someday and our former masters come to settle scores, who would we even turn to for help?’

He hadn’t even finished his internal muttering.

But just then, a great torrent of armored and armed County Soldiers, reeking of bloodlust and surrounded by Martial Artists, stormed toward Anning Pier.

The stench of blood was palpable even from dozens of yards away, cutting through the icy air.

The man in the lead, County Magistrate Zhao Jiu, was gritting his teeth. The moment he saw Huang Xiuwen, his eyes turned red. With a SHING, he drew his sword.

"You bastard! I don’t give a damn about your grandfather’s reputation today. Even if Lord Profound Monarch himself jumped out of his coffin, I wouldn’t care!"

"Now die!"

Zhao Jiu was bursting with pent-up rage.

On the way here, Elder Liang had barely needed to investigate to uncover all the holes in Huang Xiuwen’s scheme, laying the evidence bare before him.

Because of this, whenever Lord Zhao the County Magistrate thought of the "punishment" awaiting him from the prefecture, a firestorm of rage surged in his heart. Looking at Huang Xiuwen now, he wished he could just cut him down with a single strike!

SWISH!

Seeing the glint of the sword, Huang Xiuwen’s face went deathly pale.

"Brother... Brother Zhao, listen to me, I..."

However, just as Zhao Jiu stepped onto the deck, his sword was blocked.

Ji Xiu, at his side, shook his head and pressed down on the blade. He then spoke in a low, serious voice:

"County Magistrate, Huang the Seventh is from the Direct Lineage of the Medicine Shop, after all. To just kill him like this..."

"...there will be difficult consequences to face."

Ji Xiu’s meaningful tone was like a bucket of cold water dumped over Zhao Jiu.

He remembered the power of the Medicine Shop, and his heart began to race with apprehension. His anger subsided, but his chest still heaved. Gritting his teeth, he gripped his sword hilt, still unwilling to let it go.

"So... we just let it go?"

To this, Ji Xiu just smiled faintly.

"Of course not."

He looked at Huang Xiuwen, who now had a glimmer of hope in his eyes, and deliberately spoke loud enough for everyone to hear:

"But the evidence is conclusive that Seventh Young Master Huang colluded with the Outer Dao and let a Demon into the city. A criminal like him should be taken back to the County Yamen, given a sound beating, and interrogated under torture until he confesses everything..."

"Then, under the cover of night, we’ll escort him to Jiangyin Prefecture to await their judgment. I expect the authorities in Jiangyin Prefecture will grant us justice!"

After hearing Ji Xiu’s words, Zhao Jiu pondered for a moment. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Seeing the smile in Ji Xiu’s gaze, he narrowed his own.

"You want to..."

Zhao Jiu glanced sideways and saw a flicker of joy appear on Huang Xiuwen’s pale face. He immediately clapped his hands.

"Excellent! Just as I’d expect from my brother—so level-headed."

"You’ve got a point. Men, forward! Drag this son of a bitch back to the County Yamen for a thorough interrogation!"

"Also, that old servant next to him..."

"Elder Liang, subdue him!"

"Go!"

「Fifteen minutes later.」

Inside the County Yamen’s torture chamber.

WHACK!

WHACK!

WHACK!

A series of blood-curdling screams echoed, utterly inhuman.

...

「Nighttime, Anning Pier.」

After being beaten all night, Huang Xiuwen lay collapsed on the deck of a boat. As he was being escorted to Jiangyin Prefecture, he rubbed his backside, his face a mask of venom.

He glared at the two County Soldiers escorting him, gritting his teeth. He didn’t dare make a sound, but his mind seethed with vengeful thoughts:

’Zhao Jiu, Ji Xiu...’

’Just you wait! Both of you, just you wait for me!’

’Especially you, Ji! I’ve got it in for you now!’

’Weren’t you so scared of my family’s power?’

’Let me tell you...’

’This is just the beginning!’

’Once I get back to the Prefecture, you’ll get what’s coming to you!’

He lay prone on the boat, his body trembling. He felt as if the skin on his back was split open, and he could barely move.

However, before he could finish his internal tirade, he heard two successive SPLASHES!

The County Soldiers escorting him had suddenly jumped off the boat, leaving Huang Xiuwen stunned.

"What’s..."

Immediately after!

From his left and right, two sampans approached as if by some tacit agreement!

When a masked figure in black struck down at him from the air, his hands forming a Dragon Head, Huang Xiuwen’s eyes widened in horror.

"Ji—!"

But before he could finish, he and the small boat were smashed into the water, sinking without a trace!

On the vast expanse of the East Canghai... not even a ripple was left behind.

On the other sampan.

Elder Liang, who had been secretly instructed by Zhao Jiu to come and "silence the witness," was stunned by the scene.

"Which path do you walk, brother?"

He had already figured out the black-clad figure’s identity but feigned ignorance as he asked loudly.

In response, Ji Xiu turned back, his face tightly covered. He looked at the old man before him, grinned, and deliberately lowered his voice:

"I am Wei Changjiao of the Chaotic Heaven Righteous Army, the last of its ten leaders!"

"This punk crossed me, so today I came to take his life!"

"What, are you going to stop me?"

Hearing this name, Elder Liang’s face darkened. He cursed the "stinking brat" inwardly, but his expression remained one of feigned apprehension.

"So it’s you... We in the Jiangyin Black Market have heard of the Chaotic Heaven Righteous Army."

"Since that’s the case, I’ll pass on this job. He’s all yours!"

After their brief exchange, the two men, with perfect tacit understanding, piloted their sampans in opposite directions.

All that remained was the wreckage of the boat and, a long while later, the two County Soldiers who finally resurfaced.

The two exchanged a look, their faces filled with lingering fear. After a moment, they dragged a small dinghy from the wreckage and headed back to Anning to make their report.

They had already decided on the exceedingly simple official report.

[Following the Demon Chaos, at 9 p.m.]

[The convicted Young Master Huang of the Huang Family was ambushed and killed on the East Canghai by the Chaotic Heaven Thieves and an assassin from the Black Market Kill List.]

[No remains were found!]