Chapter Forty-Nine: Gaze

"Yongle Gambling House?" After hearing this, Qin Yi slashed at Feng Long without hesitation.

"You..." Blood spurted from Feng Long's neck, his face full of shock as he struggled for breath. Hadn't he sworn an oath? Soon, Feng Long breathed his last. Qin Yi then began to wake Ma Ren, applying the same ruthless method.

A quarter of an hour later, he received the same answer: Yongle Gambling House.

"So it seems Feng Long didn't lie earlier," Qin Yi's expression grew uncertain.

"There are dozens of Red Sect members in that stronghold. With gamblers mingling inside, it'd be hard to tell who's who. If I go alone to wipe them out, I'm likely to miss some." Nighttime curfew was still enforced; any commotion would surely draw the City Guard, and he wouldn't have enough time to ensure nothing was left behind.

Moreover, he had another concern. Even if he silenced everyone, the mastermind directing the incense master would surely make a guess. They had just sent the incense master to test him, and that very night the whole stronghold was annihilated—far too obvious.

"In this case, I can only muddle the waters for now," Qin Yi decided.

...

He Xiongjian's home.

Swish!

A throwing knife embedded itself in the door.

"Who?" He Xiongjian sprang up, alert and ready for trouble.

"Gone?" He opened the door to find the knife stuck there, with a letter tied to it.

He returned inside, put on gloves, and opened the envelope.

"Red Sect remnants at Yongle Gambling House—left by Red Sect's mortal enemy!"

After reading the message, He Xiongjian's face changed dramatically.

"Regardless of whether it's true, I must report it!"

At present, any information about the Red Sect was being taken extremely seriously by the entire district office.

...

Yongle Gambling House.

Incense Master Lu Yanguan sat in a private room on the third floor, waiting for Feng Long and Ma Ren to return.

"Incense Master, surely those above don't really believe that a mere young vice-captain of the constables could have killed our Deputy Altar Master Wang? Deputy Altar Master Wang was a seventh-level expert! If Qin Feng was so young and already had seventh-level cultivation, not only would he have joined some prominent force, but any great family in Jiangning County would gladly offer him wealth and status should he ask to marry into their family! Besides, seventh-level cultivators all carry their own pride; why would one become a constable?" Lin Weicai said to Lu Yanguan.

"I agree, it's impossible! If he were thirty or forty, I might have some doubts, but at fifteen? Do you think he could have seventh-level strength? Still, those above insist we leave no clue unexamined, so I must follow orders and send someone to test him," Lu Yanguan shrugged.

A few days ago, he was instructed to investigate who exactly went to Li Family Town that day and who survived. After looking into it, he found only someone named Qin Feng had returned alive, so he reported it. Unexpectedly, today he received a mission to send people to test this Qin Feng.

He dispatched two fourth-level men. If they killed Qin Feng, it would rule him out as the killer of Deputy Altar Master Wang. But if both failed to return, then suspicion would be enormous!

Of course, he doubted Qin Feng was the second possibility.

Just then, the quiet street suddenly echoed with dense footsteps.

"Seems a lot of people nearby?"

"Probably the City Guard on patrol."

"Something's off," Lu Yanguan frowned.

"Bad news—the City Guard has surrounded us!"

"What?" Lu Yanguan's eyelid twitched. He rushed to the window and was stunned; the entire perimeter of Yongle Gambling House was packed with City Guard soldiers and a swarm of constables!

"Damn it, we've been exposed!"

"Retreat, retreat!"

...

Constable Office.

Qin Yi, feeling refreshed, arrived to hear people gossiping.

"Did you hear? Last night, Red Sect remnants were found in the city! Not only did the City Guard mobilize, but Constable Teams One, Two, and Three were sent out!" Mei Wenjie recounted with animated excitement.

"Oh, such a thing happened?" Qin Yi walked over.

"Greetings, Captain Qin," everyone greeted him with salutes as he approached.

"So, Red Sect remnants appeared in the city?"

"Yes, Captain Qin. Last night at Yongle Gambling House, Red Sect remnants were discovered. Apparently, over five hundred City Guards and more than a hundred constables surrounded the place so tightly that not a single Red Sect member escaped!" Mei Wenjie chuckled.

"Oh, that's good news," Qin Yi replied calmly.

Soon, Cheng Dong and others arrived for roll call, and as usual, Qin Yi led his team to patrol the streets.

As vice-captain, he had the right to lead patrols every day.

All day, Qin Yi didn't see Subteam Captain He Xiongjian.

...

Inside a secret room.

A carrier pigeon landed on the windowsill. Zhou Wuzhi untied the note from its leg and read it.

"Yongle Gambling House was wiped out?" Zhou Wuzhi's face darkened.

The message said it was the City Guard's doing.

A while ago, their largest stronghold had been destroyed, an Altar Master killed, and most strongholds uprooted. Only a few were left, hiding in the city.

Now, the last and biggest remaining stronghold—and an Incense Master—had also been wiped out!

That meant, for now, there was no one left to command in Jiangning County—only a few minor followers remained!

"Useless! Can't even hide properly. Looks like I'll have to send another batch to infiltrate."

...

After work, Qin Yi bought his father's favorite braised pig head and headed home at leisure.

Not long after, at the dinner table.

Father and son ate together.

"Father, if you're bored lately, how about I find you a job? Maybe as a bookkeeper," Qin Yi said suddenly.

He asked because he worried his father might fall ill from idleness.

With his current position as vice-captain, finding a bookkeeper's job was easy. Many innkeepers, restaurant owners, and rice shop proprietors on his patrol route would gladly show him respect.

"Fourth son, if you're really worried about me being idle, how about you get married and give the Qin family a grandchild? Then I can take care of the child and won't be bored!" Qin Zumin replied.

Before Qin Yi could respond, he continued, "I think there's a good girl right on our street—the second daughter of the Deng family. Their family runs a tailor shop and is well off. The girl is quite pretty, and with your position as vice-captain, I'm sure they'd be happy to marry into our family!"

"..."

"Father, I'm still young. I don't want to marry yet. Besides, with chaos everywhere, dragging a family along would only be troublesome!" Qin Yi said seriously.

He had no intention of settling down yet.

"Young? What young? I was married at fourteen! With the current turmoil, you'd better hurry and continue the family line!" Qin Zumin declared solemnly.

"Father, I'm full. I'll go practice now! We'll talk about this later!"