County Government Office.
Five miles away, inside a large mansion.
Chen Ling stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, pacing anxiously, waiting for good news.
"Husband, with the three Hall Masters taking action, that wretch will surely be captured alive. I must have his skin peeled and tendons pulled to appease my brotherâs spirit in heaven!"
A woman dressed in a bright red dress, stunningly adorned, gazed toward the doorway, also waiting expectantly.
"Mm."
Chen Ling nodded, though a sliver of worry gnawed at his heart.
He knew.
When he received news that the thief was heading to the riverbank beneath Lonely Wolf Mountain, he immediately notified the three Hall Masters to go capture him alive, then hold him at an estate outside the city, so his beloved could get her revenge.
But now, night had fallen.
Still, no message had arrived.
........
"Youâre back, are you alright? Iâve been uneasy all day!"
Returning home, Lin Changâsheng was met by Yu Wenjingâs beautiful face, full of worry.
At that moment,
Yu Wenjing wore an apron like any housewife, looking just like a young bride waiting for her husband to come home.
"Iâm fine, see? Good as new!"
Lin Changâsheng made a fist to show off his strength, giving a slight smile.
"Okay, dinnerâs ready, letâs eat!"
Yu Wenjing flashed a gentle smile and headed to the kitchen. Even donning her apron, she couldnât hide her slender, graceful figure.
After dinner,
Yu Wenjing went to clean up the dishes while Lin Changâsheng sat outside the courtyard, soaking in the moonlight, tossing pebbles, waiting for the dead of night to get down to business.
"Changâsheng, could you.......take a walk with me?"
At that moment, Yu Wenjingâs voice drifted from behind Lin Changâsheng.
"Sure. Where do you want to go?"
Lin Changâsheng nodded. Yu Wenjing had been cooped up at home lately, probably feeling stifled.
"Letâs just stroll wherever."
Yu Wenjing smiled radiantly.
Tonight,
She seemed to have dressed up on purposeânot a trace of makeup, yet her fair face glowed, her skin smooth as porcelain, radiating a breathtaking beauty!
The two walked side by side under the moonlight. They still gained experience this way, so no time was wasted.
All around, crickets chirped, and they could even hear each otherâs breathing.
Yu Wenjing seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end just said, "Changâsheng, lookâthe moonlightâs so beautiful tonight!"
"Yeah, it really is!"
Lin Changâsheng gazed at the bright moon above, nodding his head.
Yu Wenjing said nothing more. They wandered through the bamboo grove and back again several times. When the moon was at its zenith, Yu Wenjing turned to Lin Changâsheng and said, "Thank you for walking with me tonight, Changâsheng."
"No need to be so formal."
Lin Changâsheng smiled faintly.
The two shared a smile, had a brief chat, then Yu Wenjing went back to her room. Lin Changâsheng stayed in his own, waiting until Yu Wenjing fell asleep before donning black clothes and a mask and heading out into the city.
.......
As night deepened.
County Government Office.
Five miles away, inside a large mansion.
Chen Ling stood before a folding screen with his hands behind his back, his brow deeply furrowed.
"My lord, I went to the riverbank at Lonely Wolf Mountain. There were clear signs of a fight. We searched a ten-mile radius. The three Hall Masters are nowhere to be found!"
"However, our spies spotted Lin Changâsheng returning home unharmed."
At that moment, a man in black slipped in and cupped his fist to Chen Ling.
"Signs of a fight, the three Hall Masters missing without a trace, and Lin Changâsheng back safe and sound. Looks like..."
Chen Lingâs body jolted as dread swept over him, and cold sweat beaded on his back.
Those three Hall Masters were all Second-class Experts!
To ambush a youth under twentyâif there were signs of a fight, it meant the Hall Masters gave it their all. Most likely... all three were killed by Lin Changâsheng!
Otherwise, the three Hall Masters would never have failed to return and report!
But Lin Changâsheng isnât even twenty. How could he have killed three Second-class Experts?
Unless he was a First-class Expert!
A First-class Expert under twentyârare, but not impossible in this world!
Heâd been to Yu City, and there were tales of Martial Dao prodigies just like that in Yu City!
"All this is that damn womanâs fault!"
"Sheâs dragged me into a deathtrap!"
Gripped by hatred, Chen Ling spoke harshly: "Someone! Arrest Ma Qian! Throw her in the dungeon!"
That Lin Changâsheng killed the three Hall Mastersâheâd never spare me. Any moment now he could come for my head. Outmatched and outmaneuvered, if I want to live, I have to save myself!
Blame everything on beloved Ma Qian!
Then hand over all my ill-gotten gains, and with my special status, maybe I can keep my life!
As for running away?
With an expert of this caliber after me, thereâs no way I could escape!
"My lord, this..."
A middle-aged man in black entered, face stunnedâheâd never imagined his lord would sacrifice his beloved like this!
"Hurry! Thereâs no time!"
Chen Ling barked.
"Yes, my lord!"
The man in black turned and zipped out.
"Lord Chen, had you known itâd come to this, whyâd you do it in the first place?!"
Just then, a cold voice sounded behind Chen Ling.
"Ah!"
Chen Ling whirled around in terror and fell to the ground, hands splayed, staring in panic at the masked man in black before him. He scrambled onto his knees and kowtowed, wailing, "Please spare me, great hero! It was all because my concubine Ma Qian forced meâmy hands were tied! Iâve already sent someone to imprison Ma Qian!"
"And Iâm willing to compensate you for your loss, great heroâplease show mercy!"
He looked up at Lin Changâsheng, trembling, pleading in his eyes.
"Compensate my loss?"
At that, Lin Changâshengâs mind shifted. His cultivation needed silver to buy Qi Blood Pills and increase Cultivation Experience Points!
This Chen Ling was Ma Zhankuiâs brother-in-law with the Cyan Snake Gangâhe mustâve pocketed plenty over the years. "That all depends on how much silver youâre willing to pay for your life. If your offer satisfies me, maybe Iâll let you live."
Even so,
Chen Ling had just sent three Hall Masters to ambush him. No way would he let this bastard live.
Once he got the silverâ
Chem Lingâs "sudden death" wouldnât break his promise, technically.
"Iâll trade my life for 4,000 taels!"
Chen Lingâs eyes glimmered with hope and he quickly held up four fingers.
"4,000 taels! You truly are a master of the game... Ten thousand flowing in three years, huh?"
Lin Changâsheng narrowed his eyes and said coolly, "Lord Chen, show me youâre sincere. My time is limited."
Lin Changâsheng remembered well that Chen Ling, colluding with the Cyan Snake Gang, had bled the people dry for yearsâthereâs no way he only had this much stashed away!
"Ah..."
"G-great hero, Iâve got some gold, jewelry, calligraphy, antiquesâtheyâre worth maybe a thousand taels. Iâll give you the 4,000 taels now, and after I scrape together the remaining thousand by tomorrow, Iâll bring it right to youâplease, show mercy!!"
Chen Ling was scared out of his mind now, near tears as he pleaded.
After this, thereâd be nothing left.
"Fineâgo fetch the silver."
Lin Changâsheng barked.
"Yes! Please, this way!"
Chen Ling heaved a secret sigh, then led the way behind the folding screen to a hidden door in the wall. Behind it, tucked away, was a small room.
The room was about five yards across, with a landscape painting hanging on the entry wall and several cubbyholes filled with antiques along the right.
Chen Ling went up to the painting, lifted it, pressed a button behind it, and revealed a secret compartment.
He reached in and pulled out a handful of silver notes.
This estate,
Was Chen Lingâs private propertyâyears of corrupt gains had all been hidden here.