Free Web NovelChapter 16: Chapter 16: Search and Martial Arts
"Sir, so... can we go now?"
The horse-faced youth looked at Fang Xing and asked cautiously.
"You, you... the two of you stay. The rest can go."
Fang Xing said, looking at the horse-faced youth and another man.
Being called out by Fang Xing, the expressions on their faces turned as ugly as could be.
But they didn’t dare to ask why. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Their own boss had just been slaughtered by the fiend before them. If they angered him, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t follow in their boss’s footsteps.
The remaining few scrambled to leave, terrified that Fang Xing would call them back if they were a second too late.
With the Gang Leader dead, the Black Tiger Gang was finished.
They had plenty of rivals. If they didn’t run now, when would they?
Fang Xing paid them no mind. Just as he was about to give instructions, four or five more Constables arrived from nearby.
"Boss."
The five Constables stepped forward and greeted him in unison.
Fang Xing nodded, then looked at Xu Le and another Constable. "Xu Le, you stay behind with two men to handle this. Dispose of the body and temporarily seal this place off."
Hearing this, Xu Le’s face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Brother Xing!"
’Being put in charge was a favor. Sealing off a place meant there was plenty of grease to skim. Even a little bit would be enough.’
"Boss, what are we doing next?" a Constable asked Fang Xing.
Fang Xing glanced at the men, then turned to a slender Black Tiger Gang youth and said, "You were the one who went to notify Xu Hu, weren’t you?"
Hearing Fang Xing’s question, the slender gang member couldn’t help but shudder. He nodded tremblingly. "Replying to you, milord, it... it was me."
"Where did you find him?" Fang Xing asked.
"Not far. In a courtyard on the next street over," the youth said, raising a hand to point in a direction.
Fang Xing looked in that direction, then said, "In that case, lead the way. You come along too."
The slender youth and the horse-faced youth exchanged a glance, their faces showing bitter resignation, and nodded.
Fang Xing then looked at the remaining Constables. "The rest of you, with me."
"Yes, sir!"
The few Constables replied in unison, then followed him, departing in a large procession.
This scene immediately attracted a great deal of attention. People began to discuss it in hushed tones, whispering their speculations.
...
Soon, under the slender youth’s guidance, Fang Xing arrived at a courtyard.
It was a very secluded place.
The alley was located at the intersection of two districts.
Not far off, a few vagrants and beggars were huddled in a corner. As soon as they saw Fang Xing’s party, they scrambled away in a panic.
Fang Xing scanned the area, his gaze falling on the courtyard. He turned to the horse-faced youth beside him. "Is this courtyard where your Gang Leader lived?"
The horse-faced youth shook his head. "No, it’s a residence the Gang Leader arranged for someone."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Fang Xing’s eyes lit up. "Who was it arranged for?"
"Milord, I don’t know either. I’ve never seen him. I only know it’s a young man, and the Gang Leader respected him greatly."
The horse-faced youth replied.
’A young man... greatly respected... Could this be the residence of that Envoy?’
The thought flashed through his mind. At that, Fang Xing glanced at the Constables.
"Everyone, on your guard."
Hearing Fang Xing’s words, the Constables were startled but didn’t ask questions. They all drew their sabers and prepared for a fight!
BAM!!
Seeing them ready, Fang Xing lifted his foot and kicked the courtyard door open.
The door was kicked open easily. The courtyard wasn’t large.
There was only a main house, a side room, and a utility shed.
Gathering his Inner Strength, Fang Xing stepped into the courtyard.
The others followed close behind.
The doors to the main house and the side room were shut tight. Only the utility shed was open.
It was very quiet.
"You two, go open the doors," Fang Xing said to the horse-faced youth and the slender one.
The two didn’t dare refuse. Steeling themselves, they went forward to open the doors.
The doors to the main house and side room opened.
Inside, it was completely empty. Not even a ghost of a shadow could be seen.
Seeing this, Fang Xing frowned. ’Did he run off ahead of time...’
Looking at the two empty rooms, Fang Xing went inside to conduct a thorough search but found nothing of value.
Other than a sleeping mat and a bed, there was nothing.
Turning to the slender youth, Fang Xing’s gaze turned cold. "When you came to notify him, who else was here besides your Gang Leader?"
"I... I only saw the Gang Leader. I didn’t see anyone else," the slender youth said, his face tense with anxiety.
Hearing this, Fang Xing couldn’t help but feel a flicker of disappointment.
But there was nothing he could do.
’Having missed this chance, catching the "Envoy" behind all this will be difficult, unless he reveals himself.’
It wasn’t a huge pressure, but it was like a thorn stuck in his heart.
An uncomfortable feeling.
"Alright, you can go," Fang Xing said. The slender youth’s face lit up with joy, and he scurried away.
Then, Fang Xing gave a hand signal, and the Constables sheathed their sabers.
"Milord, so... can I go now, too?" the horse-faced youth asked cautiously.
"Go? Where do you think you’re going?" Fang Xing shot the horse-faced youth a cold glance.
At these words, the horse-faced youth’s face fell.
"Milord, I’ve told you everything I know. Please... please spare me."
"I’m just an ordinary member of the Black Tiger Gang."
The horse-faced youth put on a pitiful display, looking as if he was about to burst into tears.
But Fang Xing remained unmoved. "You can go when I say you can go. For now, take me to your Gang Leader’s residence."
"N-no problem." He had wanted to say more, but seeing Fang Xing’s cold expression, he swallowed his words and obediently turned to lead the way.
Fang Xing and the Constables followed behind him.
A short time later, Fang Xing and his men arrived at a courtyard in North City—Xu Hu’s residence.
Compared to the previous courtyard, Xu Hu’s residence was clearly much larger.
After opening the gate, Fang Xing posted two men as guards and then led the others into the courtyard.
The courtyard was quite large, with five main rooms, a large hall, guest rooms, a kitchen, and so on.
Fang Xing swept his gaze over the area, had the horse-faced youth lead him to the master bedroom, and sent the others to search the remaining rooms.
The master bedroom was spacious, twice the size of his own.
The horse-faced youth stood obediently outside the door, not daring to make the slightest move.
There were Constables guarding the door. Without Fang Xing’s order, his wanting to leave was nothing but a fool’s dream.
Stepping into the master bedroom, Fang Xing gave it a once-over before beginning to meticulously search every corner of the room.
The bed, the cabinets, everything—he searched it all.
But he came up with absolutely nothing.
Forget treasure; there wasn’t even a single tael of silver.
Xu Hu had given him a money pouch earlier, and a search of his body had revealed his entire worldly possessions amounted to no more than ten taels of silver.
But he refused to believe that the residence of a proper Gang Leader would have no hidden wealth.
He scanned the room carefully again. Soon, behind a man-high cabinet, Fang Xing discovered a hidden compartment.
He opened the compartment and found a bundle inside.
Inside the bundle were silver ingots, each one pure silver.
A hundred taels in total!
Besides that, there were also several gold leaves.
About five taels of gold leaves.
According to the exchange rate in the Great Jing, one tael of gold is worth ten taels of silver.
True hard currency!
Five taels of gold leaves were worth fifty taels of silver.
Adding the hundred taels of silver ingots, it was one hundred and fifty taels in all.
’I can’t take it all for myself, but I’ll be taking the lion’s share.’
He pocketed all the gold leaves and took thirty percent of the silver.
The rest would have to be "confiscated for the state"!
Not just for the Constables below him, but more importantly, for those above.
This was also the rule.
You could keep a portion for yourself, but what had to be turned in, had to be turned in.
After collecting the silver and gold leaves, Fang Xing’s gaze fell on the last item: a book.
On the cover, two words leaped into view.
Gale Step!
