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 brother's 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.
........
"You're back, are you alright? I've been uneasy all day!"
Returning home, Lin Chang'sheng was met by Yu Wenjing's 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.
"I'm fine, see? Good as new!"
Lin Chang'sheng made a fist to show off his strength, giving a slight smile.
"Okay, dinner's ready, let's eat!"
Yu Wenjing flashed a gentle smile and headed to the kitchen. Even donning her apron, she couldn't hide her slender, graceful figure.
After dinner,
Yu Wenjing went to clean up the dishes while Lin Chang'sheng sat outside the courtyard, soaking in the moonlight, tossing pebbles, waiting for the dead of night to get down to business.
"Chang'sheng, could you.......take a walk with me?"
At that moment, Yu Wenjing's voice drifted from behind Lin Chang'sheng.
"Sure. Where do you want to go?"
Lin Chang'sheng nodded. Yu Wenjing had been cooped up at home lately, probably feeling stifled.
"Let's just stroll wherever."
Yu Wenjing smiled radiantly.
Tonight,
She seemed to have dressed up on purpose—not 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 other's breathing.
Yu Wenjing seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end just said, "Chang'sheng, look—the moonlight's so beautiful tonight!"
"Yeah, it really is!"
Lin Chang'sheng 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 Chang'sheng and said, "Thank you for walking with me tonight, Chang'sheng."
"No need to be so formal."
Lin Chang'sheng smiled faintly.
The two shared a smile, had a brief chat, then Yu Wenjing went back to her room. Lin Chang'sheng 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 Chang'sheng 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 Chang'sheng back safe and sound. Looks like…"
Chen Ling's 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 twenty—if there were signs of a fight, it meant the Hall Masters gave it their all. Most likely… all three were killed by Lin Chang'sheng!
Otherwise, the three Hall Masters would never have failed to return and report!
But Lin Chang'sheng isn't even twenty. How could he have killed three Second-class Experts?
Unless he was a First-class Expert!
A First-class Expert under twenty—rare, but not impossible in this world!
He'd been to Yu City, and there were tales of Martial Dao prodigies just like that in Yu City!
"All this is that damn woman's fault!"
"She's dragged me into a deathtrap!"
Gripped by hatred, Chen Ling spoke harshly: "Someone! Arrest Ma Qian! Throw her in the dungeon!"
That Lin Chang'sheng killed the three Hall Masters—he'd 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, there's no way I could escape!
"My lord, this…"
A middle-aged man in black entered, face stunned—he'd never imagined his lord would sacrifice his beloved like this!
"Hurry! There's no time!"
Chen Ling barked.
"Yes, my lord!"
The man in black turned and zipped out.
"Lord Chen, had you known it'd come to this, why'd 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 me—my hands were tied! I've already sent someone to imprison Ma Qian!"
"And I'm willing to compensate you for your loss, great hero—please show mercy!"
He looked up at Lin Chang'sheng, trembling, pleading in his eyes.
"Compensate my loss?"
At that, Lin Chang'sheng's mind shifted. His cultivation needed silver to buy Qi Blood Pills and increase Cultivation Experience Points!
This Chen Ling was Ma Zhankui's brother-in-law with the Cyan Snake Gang—he must've pocketed plenty over the years. "That all depends on how much silver you're willing to pay for your life. If your offer satisfies me, maybe I'll 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 silver—
Chem Ling's "sudden death" wouldn't break his promise, technically.
"I'll trade my life for 4,000 taels!"
Chen Ling's 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 Chang'sheng narrowed his eyes and said coolly, "Lord Chen, show me you're sincere. My time is limited."
Lin Chang'sheng remembered well that Chen Ling, colluding with the Cyan Snake Gang, had bled the people dry for years—there's no way he only had this much stashed away!
"Ah…"
"G-great hero, I've got some gold, jewelry, calligraphy, antiques—they're worth maybe a thousand taels. I'll give you the 4,000 taels now, and after I scrape together the remaining thousand by tomorrow, I'll bring it right to you—please, show mercy!!"
Chen Ling was scared out of his mind now, near tears as he pleaded.
After this, there'd be nothing left.
"Fine—go fetch the silver."
Lin Chang'sheng 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 Ling's private property—years of corrupt gains had all been hidden here.