County Captain’s Mansion.
The weather was cold, and snow was falling heavily.
A red clay stove was placed on the table, with a copper pot heating on top. Inside, water boiled furiously, and thin slices of tender red mutton quickly changed color as they were swirled through the boiling water.
Steam rose, and three people sat around the table, dipping ginger, garlic, and scallions in oil, accompanied by several jars of fine wine. They enjoyed the feast while watching the snow, delighting in the mont.
One of them was County Captain Han Lang, another was Third Young Master Huo Ziyi.
The third person was tall, with disheveled hair and a left-lapelled robe, upturned nostrils, and an ugly face. He was Hall Master Du Yinfeng of the Black Water Gang in Wu’an County.
Han Lang asked, "Hall Master Du, how is the establishnt of the branch in Changze County? Is everything going smoothly?"
"Everything is going smoothly."
Du Yinfeng raised a glass of wine and said, "This matter is thanks in large part to County Magistrate Zheng and County Captain Duan. I hear they are both under Lord Han, so I toast to you, my lord."
"It’s a small matter."
Han Lang laughed, "Duan Zhao was brought up by , but for them to be able to take up office in Changze County, it’s thanks to the work being done behind the scenes by Marquis Wu’an’s Mansion. Third Young Master Huo also played a part in this."
"It’s not worth ntioning."
Huo Ziyi raised his glass as well, and the three of them drank together.
Han Lang asked again, "I heard that a masked blade master appeared that night, with fierce sword skills, killing many of your gang. Are there any leads?"
"Since that day, this person seems to have vanished into thin air and has not appeared again."
Du Yinfeng shook his head and said, "Perhaps the Evil Wolf Gang hired this person and he fled after killing."
"I have left so more people in Changze County this ti, including ten Ninth Grades and three Eighth Grades stationed there, so there shouldn’t be any problem. Find an opportunity to abolish that Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall, and there will be no force in Changze County that can threaten us."
Han Lang nodded and said, "That’s good. If there’s anything you can’t handle, rember to seek help from the County Governnt. I’ve inford Duan Zhao and the others, and they will assist at that ti."
"Lord Han is so open-minded, another toast to you!"
Du Yinfeng and Han Lang raised their glasses and drank again.
Beside them, Huo Ziyi looked at the heavy snow outside, seemingly in low spirits.
Han Lang asked, "Third Young Master Huo seems to have sothing on your mind?"
"It’s nothing."
Huo Ziyi said, "Hearing you ntion Changze County reminds of Chen Tang from Changze County. Damn, I failed twice with him, and he even joined the Cyan Dragon Bureau!"
ntioning this matter, Huo Ziyi felt sowhat indignant.
"Forget it."
Han Lang laughed, "He’s just a Ninth Grade, no need to worry about him. When the ti cos, and we’ve accomplished great deeds, in Wu’an County, you can kill whoever you wish. There’s no need to rush."
"You’re right."
Huo Ziyi nodded, regaining his smile, and emptied his cup.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the door.
"Lord Han, sothing has happened!"
Two governntal officials ran in hastily, sweating profusely.
"What’s the matter? Co in and speak."
Han Lang frowned, instructing the two officials to co in and talk.
He looked at one of the officials and asked, "Fan Xing, weren’t you just with Duan Zhao in Changze County? Why are you back? Has sothing happened in Changze County?"
The official nad Fan Xing nodded and said, "Lord Duan Zhao is dead, killed by the Cyan Dragon Guard!"
"What?"
Han Lang’s expression changed, "What happened? Tell in detail!"
Fan Xing recounted the events at the County Governnt Office verbatim.
"It’s that Chen Tang again?"
Han Lang’s face darkened, and with a loud bang, he slamd his hand on the table, enunciating each word, "The Cyan Dragon Bureau, too much!"
Huo Ziyi’s eyes darted, and he said, "In my opinion, this doesn’t seem like a directive from the Cyan Dragon Bureau. It’s possible it was an action taken privately by the three of them. Since Chen Tang is from Changze County, he probably has a private connection with ng Liangyu, which is why he stepped in to save soone."
"If there was a directive from the Cyan Dragon Bureau, Duan Zhao wouldn’t have dared to resist."
Han Lang quickly cald down after hearing this, sensing sothing amiss.
Duan Zhao obstructing the Cyan Dragon Guard’s capture, he could understand.
But for Duan Zhao to be bold enough to draw his blade against the Cyan Dragon Guard?
Never mind Duan Zhao, even without any evidence or accusation, he wouldn’t dare strike openly against the Cyan Dragon Guard.
Han Lang stared at Fan Xing and asked, "Did you see it clearly? Was it really Duan Zhao who struck first?"
"Yes."
Fan Xing said, "At that ti, Chen Tang wanted to speak privately and stood close to Lord Duan. I suspect Chen Tang said sothing that provoked Lord Duan, causing him to lose control and draw his blade to injure Chen Tang."
Han Lang furrowed his brows tightly, puzzled.
Duan Zhao did not seem like soone so reckless and impulsive.
What could the other party have said to provoke him to draw his blade and injure soone?
Even if they had cursed his ancestors for eighteen generations, it shouldn’t have been this way.
Du Yinfeng chuckled and said, "What kind of person is this Chen Tang? He should know that Duan Zhao is one of Lord Han’s n, but he still killed him?"
Han Lang was stirred and recalled so information about Chen Tang, saying lightly, "Actually, this Chen Tang once had a grudge with your gang, and Young Leader Xiao also knows him."
"Oh?"
Du Yinfeng looked surprised and asked, "I truly didn’t know about this, please tell more."
Han Lang briefly narrated how a few months ago, Chen Tang stood up against injustice in Changze County, clashing with the Black Water Gang’s Young Leader, and added, "As far as I know, the young girl that Young Leader Xiao fancied is currently living in his ho."
"There’s even such a matter."
Du Yinfeng stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"Lord Han, are you suggesting that I take action to help you get rid of him?"
Du Yinfeng, having been involved with the Black Water Gang for so many years, could roughly guess the intention behind Han Lang’s words and hit the nail on the head.
Han Lang smiled and said, "It is indeed inconvenient for my n to take action."
"This matter is not without benefits for Hall Master Du. Getting rid of Chen Tang will make it much easier to deal with his family."
"If Hall Master Du takes that little girl away, and presents her when Young Leader Xiao cos next ti, he would be overjoyed, and you would have achieved a great success."
Du Yinfeng chuckled.
It was precisely for this reason that he had been tempted earlier.
Du Yinfeng said, "My people from the Black Water Gang also can’t easily make a move against the Cyan Dragon Guard. If exposed, it would be quite troubleso."
"Let those people outside the city co in, and I’ll let the guards pass them through."
Han Lang said, "A few days ago, Chen Tang just killed many ’Snow Thieves’ on his way to Wu’an County, forming a grudge. It makes sense for them to co into the city to seek revenge on Chen Tang."
"Just kill Chen Tang? What about the two Cyan Dragon Guards with him?" Du Yinfeng asked.
"Killing just him is enough."
Han Lang squinted, thinking to himself, "Cai Yin, since you killed one of my n, let make you repay it. An eye for an eye."
Huo Ziyi said, "Chen Tang is not yet an official Cyan Dragon Guard, so killing him is manageable. Besides, his cultivation isn’t high, and he’s injured. There won’t be any surprises. Wei Qun is Sixth Grade, Wang Yanli is Seventh Grade; your Snow Thieves probably can’t handle them."
Du Yinfeng nodded and said, "Where does Chen Tang’s family live, and who else is there?"
"I’ve investigated it all."
Han Lang said, "There are three other people in Chen Tang’s family, apart from the little girl nad Zhiwei. The other two are his uncle and cousin. By the way, I’ve seen his cousin at the training field once; she’s breathtakingly beautiful."
"Oh?"
Huo Ziyi’s eyes lit up, asking, "Are you serious, is she really that beautiful?"
"The word ’beautiful’ almost seems too mundane for her."
Han Lang said, "His cousin always wears a veil when she goes out. To put it without exaggeration, if she walks down the street without her veil in Wu’an County, it would definitely cause a huge sensation!"
"Interesting, I would like to see for myself."
Huo Ziyi licked his lips.
Han Lang knew Third Young Master Huo all too well.
His greatest passion in life was won.
Many beautiful and decent won in Wu’an County had been victimized by him.
But the power of Marquis Wu’an’s Mansion was so imnse that even when taken to the County Governnt Office, nothing would co of it.
A few years ago, it even stirred up such a scandal that it reached the Capital City.
In the end, Marquis Wu’an stepped down from the Commander’s position, and Li Yan from the Li Family ca to serve as the Commander in Wu’an County.
It seed like a demotion, but in fact, his title remained, and the foundation was untouched. Wu’an County was still under the control of Marquis Wu’an’s Mansion!
Huo Ziyi said, "Hall Master Du, leave Chen Tang to you, and the three people in his family to . At that ti, I’ll send the little girl to your gang."
Han Lang said, "When you take action, make it look like they’re missing. This way, the case would be a mystery with no resolution in sight."
"When do we act? I’m getting impatient."
"Third Young Master Huo, I know you’re eager, but don’t rush. If you act on his family now, it will certainly alert him. If Chen Tang stays hidden in the Cyan Dragon Bureau, we won’t have any opportunity."
"Alright, then we’ll wait for him to return!"
The three agreed and toasted a drink.
...
Due to ng Liangyu’s severe injuries, he couldn’t ride a horse.
Chen Tang hired a carriage to take him to Wu’an County, which significantly slowed them down.
By the ti the news of Duan Zhao’s murder reached Wu’an County, the four of them were still on the road.
Chen Tang initially wanted Wei Qun and Wang Yanli to return to the city ahead of ti.
But they were concerned about encountering mishaps on the road, so they decided to escort all the way.
When the four arrived in Wu’an County, it was already the next evening.
Chen Tang first took the heavily injured ng Liangyu to his own ho.
The chubby old man chuckled, teasing, "What’s the matter? Why are you in such a sorry state?"
ng Liangyu rembered the old man had co specifically to give him a nudge back then.
Hmph!
Having known the chubby old man for a while, ng Liangyu gave a wry smile and said, "Senior, please don’t tease ."
"Old man, let him sleep with you tonight."
"Alright."
The chubby old man was about to agree but seed to rember sothing and cautiously asked, "Do you snore in your sleep?"
"Huh?"
ng Liangyu was taken aback by the question and shook his head, "I don’t think so."
"That’s good."
The chubby old man breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhiwei and Qingmu also busied themselves on the side, bringing clean water and gauze, ready to tend to ng Liangyu’s wounds.
Chen Tang said, "You rest here first. I’ll return to the Cyan Dragon Bureau to get so dicine for you. The Golden Sore dicine from the Cyan Dragon Bureau works quite well."
Although he carried so with him, it was far from enough.
ng Liangyu was covered in wounds.
After temporarily settling ng Liangyu, Chen Tang, Wei Qun, and Wang Yanli headed towards the Cyan Dragon Bureau.
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