Each mber of the Fierce Tiger Gang carries a token, used to verify their identity.
The Gang Leader, however, possesses a gilded token. After Wang ng beca the Gang Leader, Chen Sheng handed this over to him as proof of his ascension to the new leadership position.
Qin Yuesheng touched the token, which was larger than a palm, and muttered to himself, "Fierce Tiger Gang, you people just don’t quit. It seems Cyan Yang City can no longer accommodate you."
Setting down the token, Qin Yuesheng imdiately picked up the small jar. Inside were two pills the size of longan fruit, emitting a fragrant aroma. Yet, because their effects were unknown, Qin Yuesheng didn’t dare consu them rashly.
After all, he wasn’t sure if, by relying on the super auxiliary tool, taking these possibly poisonous pills would grant him All-Purpose Essence or simply cause his demise.
Such matters can’t be gambled on.
As for the pure gold insole, Qin Yuesheng instructed Chunfeng to clean it. Once lted down, it could later be used as funds to purchase pills.
Currently, Cyan Yang City hadn’t received a large shipnt of pills, so Qin Yuesheng planned to take so ti off on a chosen day to travel to Yangzhou Prefecture for a purchase, provided the funds were available, as quality pills weren’t cheap.
"Young Master."
At this mont, Cao Zhengchun entered from outside the room. After the recent incident in the mansion, Qin Yuesheng had sent Cao Zhengchun to see Qin Feng’s reaction.
Although the reason was unclear, Qin Yuesheng could sowhat deduce that Wang ng’s intrusion into the Qin Mansion was surely related to him, as during the killing spree, he was constantly yelling for the young mber of the Qin family to co out and et him.
"Young Master, the Master is not in the mansion, nor is the Second Madam," Cao Zhengchun reported.
"Oh? Where did they go?"
"According to Ah Fu, who serves the Master, and Ah Xiang, who serves the Second Madam, a rchant ship previously sent by the Qin family to transport goods to Chang’an is expected to arrive at the Gusu Wharf this morning, so the Master and the Second Madam have gone to receive it."
"Oh." Qin Yuesheng breathed a sigh of relief. "So they’re not in the mansion. I was wondering how such a commotion went unnoticed."
Handing the small jar to Cao Zhengchun, Qin Yuesheng instructed, "Do another favor and take this to Doctor Hua for inspection. See if it’s poisonous or harmful to humans, and if not, bring it back."
"Yes."
...
Gusu Wharf.
Cyan Yang City is close to the Gusu River and frequented by rchants traveling both north and south, making water transport very developed.
This ti, Qin Feng personally handled the arrival of the rchant ship, which he had specifically instructed to bring goods from Chang’an.
As the Patriarch of the Qin family, Qin Feng didn’t usually personally oversee ordinary shipnts. However, this vessel brought in expensive jade stones and wood from Chang’an, with a total value exceeding four thousand taels of gold.
The sum is substantial even for the Qin family, which made Qin Feng particularly attentive.
Standing at the dock with Duan Hongjin, up the Gusu River, a two-tiered cargo ship was slowly sailing in, with three large flags on the ship’s bow bearing the character ’Qin.’
The ship utilized the wind with its sails, advancing swiftly along its course.
"Master, the ship has arrived," Duan Hongjin softly announced.
"Hmm." Qin Feng nodded, his previously tense deanor relaxing significantly.
As the rchant ship neared the dock, its full view ca into sight for everyone onshore. Curiously, no crew mbers were visible on deck, and the entire ship was eerily quiet.
This was highly unusual. Typically, upon nearing the shore, anchoring, securing lines, and lowering sails were necessary actions; otherwise, the ship might crash into the dock or drift uncontrollably downstream.
"Master, Madam, watch out!"
A guard hurriedly pulled Qin Feng and Duan Hongjin aside. Within monts, the cargo ship fiercely collided with the dock’s edge, cracking the bluestones extensively.
If Qin Feng hadn’t moved away in ti, he might have been in danger.
"What’s going on? Why isn’t there anyone to anchor the ship?" The Qin family’s dockworkers voiced their confusion.
A few quick-thinking individuals imdiately took out ergency rope hooks from the riverside and tossed them toward the vessel. Securing the ship’s railing, they climbed aboard swiftly to anchor the ship.
Yet, as soon as they set foot on the deck, these workers were stunned.
Strewn before them were disordered human skins.
Feeling chills run down their spines and their hairs stand on end, they truly felt the horror of the scene.
"Up there, why are you standing in a daze? Hurry up and secure the ship!" an overseer from the Qin family shouted loudly from the dock.
"Dead, there are dead people! The deck is full of them."
"Huh?" Qin Feng and Duan Hongjin exchanged glances.
Even though they hadn’t yet seen the situation on the deck, they already sensed sothing was wrong.
"Anchor the ship and lower the ladder so we can go up," Qin Feng ordered.
The dockworkers, being under the Qin family’s employ, naturally carried out their duties despite their fear. Soon, with several heavy iron anchors cast from the deck into the water, the ship stabilized. Thick hemp ropes, as thick as an adult’s wrist, were thrown to the dock.
The dock workers quickly secured these ropes to iron stakes embedded in the dock’s ground, thus gaining full control over the ship.
Watching as a wooden ladder made of slats was slowly lowered, Qin Feng said to Duan Hongjin, "You should stay here and wait for ."
"Alright, Master."
Upon stepping onto the deck, Qin Feng understood why the dockworkers were so panicked and disoriented. The sight before him wasn’t sothing ordinary people could bear. Even Qin Feng, as the Patriarch of the Qin family, couldn’t help but shiver all over and find himself at a loss for words upon seeing the scattered human skins.
"Master, there are twenty-three human skins on the deck, and they all belong to the ship’s crew." A guard reported after a brief inspection.
Qin Feng: "What about the cabin? Have you checked inside the ship?"
"Not yet."
"Hurry and check it."
"Yes."
Gazing at the deck full of human skins, Qin Feng’s face was grave.
As the patriarch of the Qin family for so many years, this was the first ti he encountered such an incident.
Who on earth is so cruel to do such a vicious deed?
Water bandits? Or pirates?
Soon, the guards who entered the cabin all ca out.
"Master, there are dozens more human skins inside, besides that..." The guard paused, hesitating to continue.
"Continue," Qin Feng said.
"There’s a room full of skinned crew corpses, but it’s strange; their bodies are stuck to the wall like glue, impossible to pry off. Also..." The guard touched his nose, speaking reluctantly, "The jade stored in the cabin has all turned to powder."
These words struck Qin Feng like a thunderbolt, leaving his face pale.
The very reason he ca to the dock personally was the exceedingly precious cargo transported by water.
Despite all the worries, the worst-case scenario still occurred.
"Report this to the authorities, quickly."
...
As they say, there’s no smoke without fire.
This affair involving the Qin family soon spread in Cyan Yang City.
You can keep your mouth shut, but not others’.
Soone leaked the news, leading many citizens to learn about the happenings on the Qin family’s cargo ship.
Human skins, skinless bloody corpses, powderized jade.
These three things spread far and wide, their stories becoming increasingly outrageous, with many rumors erging in the community.
The most accepted theory was that the Qin family cargo ship offended the Sea Dragon King, resulting in the Sea Yaksha, a subordinate of the Sea Dragon King, coming to punish the crew.
And coincidentally, skinning people was rumored to be the Sea Yaksha’s thod of punishing fishern.
This matter, within a day, beca more mysterious and uproaring, with many old folks taking various offerings to the banks of the Gusu River, tossing them in, praying for the Sea Dragon King’s forgiveness.
anwhile, the Qin family’s cargo ship had already been seized by the constables. No one was allowed within five hundred paces of it, though many curious citizens stood outside the restricted line, watching, only able to see a few constables pacing on the deck.
"Chief Constable Xing, this doesn’t seem like sothing humans would do, does it?"
"Xiaoliu, tell your understanding of this case."
"I believe there is sothing fishy about it."
Xing Biao: "..."
Liu Xiaoliu: "..."
In the room sared with skinless bloody corpses, several constables, faces covered with white cloths, were searching for clues.
They were all experienced constables from Cyan Yang City’s yan, having seen many grueso cases before. The younger constables couldn’t stay in the room long before running out to vomit.
The frequent episodes indeed hindered the investigation efficiency. As the team leader, Xing Biao let the seasoned constables take over the case, while the new constables stood outside to prevent citizens from approaching the ship.
"Sir."
"Sir."
Suddenly, footsteps ca from outside. Xing Biao turned and saw Xun Sheng at the door, holding a handkerchief over his nose and mouth, asking, "How is it?"
Xing Biao replied, "Sir, these bloody corpses were all skillfully skinned, resembling the notorious murderer ’Blood Hand Butcher’ from Jiangnan years ago, but we can’t confirm it’s him yet."
Xun Sheng asked, "How long have these people been dead?"
"The coroner is still assessing; I don’t know yet."
Facing the blood-red room, with corpses stuck on the walls like spiders, Xun Sheng shivered involuntarily, instinctively touching the jade ring on his thumb.
This scene couldn’t be watched for long; too much exposure and one might have nightmares at night.
As Xun Sheng was about to return to the deck, he suddenly heard a soft creaking below a wooden plank. Without reacting, a blood-soaked arm shot out from beneath, grabbing Xun Sheng’s ankle.
Boom!
With the appearance of a void on the floor, Xun Sheng vanished from everyone’s sight.
"Sir!"
"Sir!"
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