Free Web NovelChapter 27: Chapter 27: Returning Fully Loaded
At cock’s crow.
Calm returned to the Celestial Gate Inn.
Room Nine.
Chen Li slowly concluded his practice, and the faint white vapor steaming from his body gradually receded into him.
He opened his eyes, a hint of exhaustion showing within them.
The series of fierce battles, on top of using his energy to heal Mu Yuanying, had been a significant drain, even for someone with his Qi Realm Perfection cultivation. He sat in silent meditation, restoring his Inner Strength.
On the bed, Mu Yuanying’s long eyelashes fluttered a few times before she slowly stirred awake.
A sharp pain in her abdomen made her brow furrow instantly, but a gentle current of Inner Strength was still circulating around the wound, easing the burning sensation.
She turned her head and saw Chen Li sitting cross-legged not far away, eyes closed in meditation. She swallowed the groan of pain that had risen to her lips, not daring to disturb him.
However, when her gaze shifted and fell upon another figure in the room, her expression changed abruptly. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Pei Tianfeng was sitting at the table with her arms crossed. As if sensing Mu Yuanying’s gaze, she turned her head, her own eyes calm and unreadable.
"You?"
Greatly startled, Mu Yuanying struggled to sit up, but the movement tore at her wound. She drew in a sharp breath, the color draining from her pretty face, leaving it ghastly white.
"Just rest." Pei Tianfeng shot her a cool, indifferent glance. "Move around like that again, and you’ll be dead before your father’s case is even tried. Your death is a small matter, but if it keeps us from completing our mission to capture a fugitive wanted by the Court, who am I supposed to complain to?"
"I am not a fugitive of the Court, and neither is my father!" Mu Yuanying retorted through clenched teeth, enduring the sharp pain.
Pei Tianfeng’s voice was cold, betraying no emotion. "Whether you are or not isn’t for you to decide. That requires a verdict from a joint trial by the Court’s Three Ministries."
Mu Yuanying gave a cold laugh. "Even if the Court is to pass judgment, they still need evidence. And I have evidence that proves my father’s innocence."
"Evidence?" Pei Tianfeng’s eyes narrowed. "What evidence?"
Mu Yuanying said coldly, "The Yunze Water Bandits are actually kept by the Sect. They rob passing ships, and all the medicinal herbs they steal are sent to Luoyan Collection for transport. The ledgers at the Sect’s stronghold here have a record of every single transaction."
"And you’ve obtained them?"
Pei Tianfeng’s expression instantly grew grim, and she stepped forward to press the question.
"That’s no concern of yours. I will deliver the ledgers to the Court myself." Mu Yuanying turned her head away, her tone filled with obvious distrust.
Pei Tianfeng stared at her for a moment, then the corners of her lips curled into a meaningful smile. "So, you’re the one who led the Sect’s assassins here last night. Where is their stronghold?"
When Mu Yuanying remained silent, Pei Tianfeng continued, "Let’s make a deal. You tell me where the Sect’s stronghold is, and I guarantee I’ll get you safely to Kyoto."
"Why should I trust you?" Mu Yuanying’s eyes were full of suspicion.
"You should know you don’t have a choice right now." Pei Tianfeng broke into a smile, but her tone carried an undeniable pressure. "Telling me the location will only help you and your father’s case. It can do no harm."
Mu Yuanying fell silent for a moment. Her gaze swept over to Chen Li, who was sitting silently to the side, before she gritted her teeth and said, "It’s the gambling den, diagonally across the way."
Hearing this, Pei Tianfeng immediately stood up and looked at Chen Li. In a serious tone, she said, "The matter of the Sect is of great importance. We don’t know what we’ll find inside that gambling den. Might I ask you, sir, to lend us a hand once more and accompany us to investigate?" freeweɓnøvel.com
"Alright."
Chen Li slowly opened his eyes. His calm gaze swept over the two women, and he nodded.
The group quickly went downstairs.
Soon, they arrived at the gambling den diagonally across the street.
The main doors of the gambling den were shut tight, and a dead silence emanated from within.
Without hesitation, Pei Tianfeng lifted her foot and kicked the door forcefully.
"BANG!"
The bolt splintered, and the doors burst open.
An odor—a mixture of tobacco, sweat, and dust—assailed them.
Inside, tables and chairs were overturned, and chips were scattered across the floor. All the silver coins and valuables had been swept clean. It was clear that the remaining Sect members had fled in a panic after learning of the snake-eyed man’s death, scattering to the winds.
Shen Zui and Sun Yidao were carefully carrying Mu Yuanying on a makeshift stretcher made from a door panel. She scanned the chaotic main hall, her brow furrowed. "This casino is just a front. There’s a secret room in Manu’s quarters. There should be more useful things inside."
"Manu?"
"The snake-eyed man."
Following Mu Yuanying’s directions, the group soon found a well-hidden room in the gambling den’s rear courtyard. It was Manu’s room.
With a soft CLICK.
A bookshelf slowly slid aside, revealing a pitch-black opening behind it. A cold, damp, and sinister aura seeped out from within.
Pei Tianfeng didn’t enter immediately. Instead, she smiled warily. "Miss Mu, you seem to know quite a lot."
"My father planted a secret agent among the Water Bandits years ago. Later, that agent was assigned here and became one of Manu’s trusted confidants. He’s the one who told me all this."
Mu Yuanying met her gaze and said calmly, "Believe it or not."
"Of course I believe you." Pei Tianfeng chuckled, gesturing for Shen Zui and Sun Yidao to carry Mu Yuanying and enter the secret passage first. She and Chen Li followed close behind.
The secret room wasn’t large, but it was horrifying.
Innumerable niches had been carved into the surrounding walls, and crammed within them were hundreds of clay idols.
The idols were bizarre in form. Some had the head of a human and the body of a snake; others had a massive elephant’s head atop a seated human body; still others had four heads and eight arms, their faces savage and terrifying...
They were grotesque and misshapen, and the room was saturated with a sinister, evil aura.
"It really is the Sect."
Pei Tianfeng’s expression shifted, and a harsh glint flashed in her eyes.
In the center of the secret room stood a blackwood desk, on which were scattered a number of letters and a thick ledger.
Pei Tianfeng strode forward, snatched up the ledger, and began flipping through it rapidly. The more she read, the graver her expression became. Finally, she snapped the ledger shut, a cold light erupting from her eyes.
She took a deep breath to suppress her shock, then turned to Chen Li and solemnly clasped her fists. "Sir, your contribution in uncovering this Sect stronghold has been immense. Please return with me to the Jingwu Bureau. I will be sure to request a formal commendation for you."
"That won’t be necessary."
Chen Li cut her off. "My business here is finished. You take the ledger, and you take the person. I trust you’ll keep your promise. As for this... I’ll be taking it as my payment."
With that, he pointed to a rosewood chest in the corner of the secret room.
While Pei Tianfeng had been reading the letters and the ledger, Chen Li had already looked inside it.
It was filled with neatly stacked silver ingots.
Pei Tianfeng looked at Chen Li and fell silent for a moment.
She knew his strength was immeasurable and that he clearly wanted no deep involvement with the Government Office.
Forcing him to stay would be pointless and could lead to unnecessary complications.
"Fine." Pei Tianfeng nodded decisively. "I will not forget your righteous deed, sir. We will ensure Miss Mu receives proper medical treatment and escort her back to Kyoto. As for these valuables... please, help yourself!"
Chen Li nodded and said no more.
He shouldered the chest of silver and, under Pei Tianfeng’s watchful gaze, strode out of the gambling den.
By the time the first rays of dawn lit up Luoyan Collection, Chen Li had already loaded the silver taels onto his ox-cart.
"HYAH!"
The ox-cart creaked in the morning light as it slowly pulled away from the chaotic Luoyan Collection, heading back towards Lingxi Village, fully laden.
