The black-clad man pinning the person down heard the order, drew his dagger and was about to strike.
Faced with these people who dared to kill without restraint in Haishi, Aunt Yao panicked and cried out, “I’ll talk!”
The black-clad leader raised his hand to signal, and the man who had raised his dagger stopped his motion, temporarily delaying the strike.
Aunt Yao, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, instantly burst into tears again and pleaded, “If I talk, they won’t let us off.”
The black-clad leader said, “Speak freely. As long as you talk, we will have never come here, and you will have said nothing.” Seeing her still crying endlessly, he warned, “It seems we must chop off your son’s two arms before you’re willing to talk.”
Aunt Yao immediately raised her head and said, “Old Dog, it was Old Dog. He forced me to lure You Li away. I didn’t want to do it either. I watched You Li grow up. But I had no choice. If I didn’t agree, my son and I wouldn’t be able to survive in Haishi!” Tears flowed endlessly.
The black-clad leader said, “I hope what you said is true. If there is a single false word, you and your son truly won’t survive.” After speaking, he turned and left.
Immediately, two more black-clad men quickly removed several door planks, allowing him to exit first, with the rest following. The group quickly disappeared into the rainy night streets.
A group of mysterious people who came in haste and left in haste.
Inside the shop, the young man who had crawled up from the ground was filled with bitter resentment. Bang! He punched the counter, hating only his own powerlessness.
Aunt Yao supported her son’s arm, wiping tears from time to time…
The seashore on the rainy night was still splendidly lit, with people constantly boarding and disembarking from ships.
This place was not like Xingluo Island, where you needed to hang lanterns to arrange boats. Empty boats waited by the shore. People leaving Haishi simply found an empty boat, boarded it, negotiated the price, lit a lantern, and set off.
Wang Xueting, accompanied by several attendants, was doing exactly this, boarding a ship with a gloomy face.
At the bow, someone held an umbrella for Wang Xueting from behind.
Wang Xueting, sailing into the darkness against the light, did not know how this trip would turn out. But he still had to go to the capital of Jin Kingdom, to Sinan Mansion. Even if he knew the Earth Mother might not help him go to You Cliff to save his son, he still had to make the trip. Whether it worked or not, he had to at least try.
On the bustling shore, a group of disciples cupped their hands in farewell. Sun Jiu was among them. They were all from Zheluo Mountain.
There was no need for a crowd to run to Sinan Mansion. This place had its own affairs, and naturally someone would stay behind to guard…
At the highest point of Haishi, a castle with dim lights looked down deeply upon the entire city. On each side of the castle was a lower side tower.
The left side tower was the residence of Zhenhai Division’s Left Commissioner Yu Fei. Yu Fei was from the Third Cave of Qianliu Mountain. In terms of status and position, Liu Piaopiao was currently his subordinate.
The right side tower was the residence of Zhenhai Division’s Right Commissioner Shan Ashan. Shan Ashan was from the Fourth Cave of Qianliu Mountain.
The Left and Right Commissioners were actually deputy commissioners of the Zhenhai Division. Zhu Xuan was the Palm Commander, the chief commissioner.
At this moment, inside the right side tower, the fat-headed and big-eared Shan Ashan stood with hands behind his back at the window. In build, he was even fatter than Nan Zhu. He gazed at the brilliantly lit rainy Haishi, while the interior was completely dark.
A knocking sound came from outside the door. Shan Ashan said in a deep voice, “Come in.”
The door opened. A man who still carried traces of rain quickly entered and closed the door. It was his subordinate, a Palm Guard named Wu Qiongjing, also his trusted confidant.
Wu Qiongjing quickly stepped behind him, cupped his hands and said, “Right Commissioner, regarding those who participated in the kidnapping that day, we have found two. The one who abducted the child is called Hua Lang. The one who assisted is called Old Dog. Both are local snakes of the neighbourhood. Tracing further, we found both have disappeared. After the incident, the two vanished. Someone saw one of them taking a ferry to leave Haishi after the incident. Currently, we don’t know where the two went. I’m afraid they will be hard to find for the time being.”
Shan Ashan said, “What do you call a guilty conscience? They ran really fast, and their actions were quite meticulous. Are those two related to that Qing Ya who hangs around Wang Wentian?”
Wu Qiongjing said, “Qing Ya is the local snake among local snakes in Haishi, the top figure among them. If we’re talking about whether they’re related, they definitely are.”
Shan Ashan said, “Since the clues are broken, Qing Ya’s subordinates committed a crime. He must give an account. Arrest him.”
“This…” Wu Qiongjing hesitated and said, “We currently have no evidence proving he did it. Arresting him rashly might not be appropriate. That fellow has managed to survive in Haishi until now and still has some connections. Besides, the Palm Commander’s side…”
Shan Ashan said, “Whether there is evidence or not isn’t determined by talking. We’ll only know after we arrest and interrogate him. His subordinates openly kidnapped someone in Haishi. Is there anything wrong with bringing him in for questioning? The Youcha have intervened. The matter has blown up. The Palm Commander can’t sit still either. He seems to have gone to Qianliu Mountain. This is exactly when resistance is low. If we want to arrest someone, we must do it now.”
Wu Qiongjing understood and immediately said, “Good. I’ll go arrest him now. I’ll definitely pry his mouth open!”
…
In the garden, song and dance continued within the carved beams and painted rafters. Qing Ya, who had returned to Jinghong Hall, got off the carriage, his wooden clogs clacking along the corridor.
After finding a quiet place to sit, he sat there peeling peanuts to eat again, seemingly extremely fond of this habit.
Before long, Gu Qingzhao hurried over, sat directly beside him and asked, “How is that Wang fellow?”
Qing Ya chuckled, chewing as he spoke, “He was taken to You Cliff. The Youcha left word that Zheluo Mountain must pay twenty billion to exchange for the person. The deadline is one month. If the money isn’t seen after one month, Wang Xueting won’t see his son again.”
“Twenty billion?” Gu Qingzhao gasped. “Even if Zheluo Mountain is rich, they can’t withstand such expenditure, can they?”
Qing Ya said, “That’s not our concern… As expected, Godmother has indeed learned that Tanhua Lang’s identity.”
Gu Qingzhao was puzzled. “What did Godmother say?”
Qing Ya stopped peeling peanuts in his hands, quite puzzled as he said, “She told me not to stop. Continue dealing with him.”
Gu Qingzhao was stunned. “What does that mean?”
Qing Ya said, “What else could it mean? Just like before, continue targeting that Tanhua Lang in secret.”
Gu Qingzhao said, “No, what I mean is, why must Godmother have it out for that Tanhua Lang? They shouldn’t have had any dealings, should they? I’ve also never heard that Godmother’s side has had any connection with that Tanhua Lang. Given Godmother’s cold and detached temperament, she isn’t someone who meddles in others’ affairs. Why would she be fixated on Tanhua Lang? Why?”
Qing Ya said, “How would I know? Anyway, I couldn’t get a clear answer. Why don’t you go ask?”
In outsiders’ eyes, the two of them looked like they were flirting from afar. People coming and going around them didn’t find it strange. Qing Ya was a man who could enter the proprietress’s bedchamber. Everyone thought the two had an affair. Outsiders mostly assumed Gu Qingzhao was Qing Ya’s mistress.
Just then, a commotion came from the distance, and a group of figures rapidly ran towards them.
The guards who arrived first quickly flashed to Gu Qingzhao’s side. Before they could explain what was happening, a group of people wearing Zhenhai Division uniforms had already rapidly surrounded the man and woman in the secluded spot.
“Proprietress, they insisted on barging in. We couldn’t stop them…”
A guard captain urgently explained to Gu Qingzhao.
Gu Qingzhao waved her round fan, indicating no need to speak further. “I know. This isn’t your fault.”
Throughout all of Haishi, no matter what place, if the Zhenhai Division insisted on barging in, they could go anywhere. Jinghong Hall had no qualification to stop them. Otherwise, it would be obstructing official business.
Qing Ya, who had stood up, looked left and right, sizing up the people surrounding him. He started peeling peanuts again in his hands, casually throwing away peanut shells, his expression calm.
Seeing the leader who walked out from among the Zhenhai Division encirclement, the still-attractive middle-aged Gu Qingzhao smiled charmingly and said, “So it was Palm Guard Wu. What wind has blown you here, and with such a grand display? Have I done something against the rules?”
“It has nothing to do with the proprietress.” Wu Qiongjing replied with one sentence and ignored her, staring at Qing Ya and asking, “Qing Ya, do you know Hua Lang and Old Dog?”
Qing Ya said, “I know them. We’ve met. Not very familiar.”
Wu Qiongjing said, “What a ‘not very familiar’? I have a pile of evidence here proving you are very familiar. Qing Ya, you are suspected of openly kidnapping in Haishi. Come with us.”
Gu Qingzhao immediately stepped forward and blocked in front of Qing Ya. “Palm Guard Wu, how did this become about kidnapping? Is it really necessary…”
She still wanted to downplay the matter, but who knew Wu Qiongjing completely didn’t give her face this time. He waved his hand to brush her aside. “Get out of the way!”
A hand fast as a phantom suddenly caught his wrist. Just as his hand was about to brush Gu Qingzhao’s shoulder, it was caught by Qing Ya’s strike.
Wu Qiongjing immediately fixed his cold eyes on Qing Ya and said in a deep voice, “Insolence!”
The surrounding Zhenhai Division personnel immediately drew their swords with a clattering sound, all pointing at Qing Ya.
Qing Ya unhurriedly moved Gu Qingzhao behind him, ignoring the surrounding blades and sword shadows. He released Wu Qiongjing’s wrist. “Palm Guard Wu, anything can be discussed. If I must go, I’ll go. I’ll cooperate. Don’t be so rough with women.”
Wu Qiongjing said coldly, “Are you teaching me how to do my job?”
Qing Ya instantly fixed his eyes on Wu Qiongjing’s eyes. His tone instantly turned hostile. “Teach you? You’re overthinking it. Listen well. I am warning you. If you have the guts to touch a single finger of hers, I guarantee you won’t see tomorrow’s sun. Do you believe me or not?”
When these words came out, the guards of Jinghong Hall were instantly shocked. In the past, when other men hugged and embraced the proprietress, they had never seen this man act like this. Today, he suddenly displayed such dominance, immediately making them look at him with new respect, while also feeling worried.
The problem was that these words were spoken in front of a group of Zhenhai Division people, making it hard for Wu Qiongjing to save face.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Wu Qiongjing’s face.
Gu Qingzhao slowly waved her round fan and stopped talking, looking as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
Wu Qiongjing tightened his cheeks, staring coldly at Qing Ya. He saw the slowly rising killing intent in Qing Ya’s eyes. The impulsive words that had reached his mouth were ultimately swallowed back. He took a deep breath, waved his hand and shouted, “Take him away!”
Immediately, swords tentatively advanced forward. After the blades were placed against Qing Ya’s neck, a group of Zhenhai Division personnel dared to step forward and act, quickly subduing Qing Ya. They escorted the prisoner, chasing after Wu Qiongjing’s departing figure.
“Proprietress…”
The guard captain leaned close to Gu Qingzhao to speak.
Gu Qingzhao raised her hand to stop him. “It’s fine. Everyone return to your positions. Carry on as usual.”
After speaking, she turned and left calmly, as if nothing had happened.