"Well..." Jian Luchuan mulled it over for a long mont before speaking. "The Gang Leader of the Lishui District Thief Gang is a Perfect Martial Artist of the Skin Grinding Realm. A few of their Incense Masters are comparable in strength to this old man, also having reached Great Success in Skin Grinding Realm.
"The Thief Gang acts with discretion; we don’t just go around provoking powerful and influential families. Furthermore, the gang has already divided its territories for theft. The Qingshui Pier area has always been this old man’s turf, so other mbers of the Lishui District Thief Gang wouldn’t co here to steal. The cri last night probably wasn’t committed by one of our own.
"Besides the Thief Gang, there are many lone-wolf Flying Thieves in the Jianghu. As far as I know, there’s a Flying Thief in Lishui District who is an expert in lock-picking, skilled in a Light Body Technique, and has reached Skin Grinding Realm Perfection. His na is Ren Fei, and he always works alone."
Chen Cheng asked, "Have you ever seen this man?"
Jian Luchuan shook his head. "I have not. I’ve only heard that he’s around thirty years old, with a small, thin build, and that his Light Body Technique is exceptional.
"Oh, and if Master Chen wants to find soone in the Qingshui Pier area, your best bet is to go to the Tiger and Leopard Gang and the Celestial Dog Gang. Those two gangs have a lot of mbers. Any Jianghu figures looking to cause trouble in Qingshui Pier can’t possibly escape their notice.
"Especially the Tiger and Leopard Gang. They collect protection money in this area, so they know best who’s in every household.
"Besides, the gambling dens and brothels run by the Tiger and Leopard Gang are frequented by all sorts of Jianghu characters. It’s very easy to ask around and find soone there."
Chen Cheng’s expression suddenly darkened. "Incense Master Jian, you play your hand well. Do you really think a few words are enough for the Thief Gang to wash its hands of last night’s case?"
"Master Chen, I’ve told you everything I know! The Thief Gang truly wasn’t behind last night’s case. I beg you, Master Chen, please be rciful." Jian Luchuan trembled with fear, dropped to his knees with a THUD, and pleaded.
He was old and cunning, well aware of the City Guard Departnt’s thods. Whenever a difficult, thorny case popped up in their jurisdiction, the Officials from the City Guard Departnt would likely use people from his Thief Gang as scapegoats just to close the books.
Chen Cheng said coldly, "Since you brought up the Tiger and Leopard Gang and the Celestial Dog Gang, tell this: if I were to pay them a visit, how do you think they would respond?"
Jian Luchuan froze. He had, of course, ntioned the Tiger and Leopard Gang and the Celestial Dog Gang to divert Chen Cheng’s attention—to send the trouble elsewhere.
If Chen Cheng really did go and question the Tiger and Leopard Gang and the Celestial Dog Gang, those two gangs would likely think exactly as he had. They would do everything in their power to deny involvent and persuade Chen Cheng to point the finger right back at the Thief Gang.
At this realization, sweat beaded on Jian Luchuan’s forehead. He said repeatedly, "Master Chen, our Thief Gang truly had nothing to do with it!"
Chen Cheng snorted and said lightly, "The thief who robbed Gentry Shu in Bailiu Lane and Gentry Li in Liuyun Lane was clearly a repeat offender who had cased the joints beforehand. That sounds an awful lot like your Thief Gang’s style.
"If you want to prove your innocence, you’d better show so ’sincerity.’ Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to handle this by the book and invite your Thief Gang mbers for a ’visit’ to the City Guard Departnt."
’Prove our innocence? Sincerity? Isn’t this just his way of making the Thief Gang do the City Guard Departnt’s dirty work and track down the culprit for them?’ Jian Luchuan groaned inwardly.
"Master Chen, I understand. The Thief Gang will be sure to give you a satisfactory answer."
"Then I shall be waiting for that answer from your Thief Gang!" Seeing he wouldn’t get much more information out of him, Chen Cheng prepared to head back. But then a thought struck him. "You ntioned before that you have two Small Success Martial Artists in the Skin Grinding Realm under you. I’d like to see them."
’A Small Success Martial Artist in the Skin Grinding Realm might be weaker, but if their Light Body Technique is good enough, they could have pulled off last night’s theft.’
"I’ll have them co and pay their respects to Master Chen at once." Not daring to delay, Jian Luchuan went out himself and returned shortly, leading in two young people who looked to be about twenty-one or twenty-two.
The pair, a man and a woman, were dressed in simple cotton-padded jackets and carried no weapons. They looked no different from ordinary commoners.
However, Chen Cheng noticed that their steps were remarkably light and quick. ’They must have cultivated a Light Body Technique,’ he thought. Their breathing was also deep and steady, indicating a fair amount of skill.
"Ji Qing, paying respects to Master Chen!"
"Gou Yi, paying respects to Master Chen!"
The two cupped their fists toward Chen Cheng and spoke respectfully.
’Ji Qing? Gou Yi? How amusing. There’s a saying about "chickens flying and dogs jumping" to describe chaos. Their nas, however, sounded like "passionate chicken, loyal dog."’
What surprised Chen Cheng was that this was the very sa young couple who had bought Widow Tian’s ho in Locust Tree Lane in the Ruyi District.
"No need for formalities." Chen Cheng waved his hand, then smiled. "Do you two rember ?"
The two of them snuck a glance at Chen Cheng. Gou Yi spoke up, "In Locust Tree Lane, in the Ruyi District. I had the honor of being your neighbor, Master Chen."
Ji Qing added, "I didn’t recognize you before, Master Chen. Please forgive my rudeness."
"It’s no matter," Chen Cheng said coolly.
Seeing Chen Cheng’s attitude soften, Jian Luchuan was secretly pleased and quickly said, "Master Chen, Ji Qing and Gou Yi are my apprentices. I’ve raised them since they were children.
"I have no children of my own, and seeing how filial they both were, I adopted them as my own son and daughter.
"Though they may co from the Thief Gang, they are good-hearted by nature and have never done anything truly wicked.
"Being in the Thief Gang, I’ve spent my whole life in fear and have long wished to retire from the Jianghu. My son and daughter are preparing to retire with . They would never commit such a major cri."
The words of Jianghu folk were a mix of truth and lies; Chen Cheng wasn’t about to believe his one-sided story.
"It’s for the best that you wish to walk a righteous path." Chen Cheng waved his hand, then added, "But whether or not the Thief Gang can clear its na in the Qingshui Pier theft case is still up to you."
"Yes." Jian Luchuan could only agree respectfully.
Chen Cheng thought for a mont more. "In the coming days, I will be ordering my n to increase night patrols in the Qingshui Pier area. You’d all best be on your best behavior."
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