Chapter Fifty-Three: An Incident Occurs

Many of the constables glanced over the goods, noting that most were of little value, with many items too large and cumbersome to carry away. Cheng Dong made a circuit around the room, then kicked open the door leading to the backyard.

“Let’s go, search the back!” he ordered.

“Officer, please wait! The back is just a warehouse—there’s no one there, surely there’s no need to search it?” Zhu Pengtao hurried forward when he saw the group of constables heading for the backyard, trying to persuade them.

“Why shouldn’t we search it? What if that wanted criminal is hiding in the warehouse?” Cheng Dong replied with a cold sneer.

“There really isn’t anyone back there! Officer, could you do us a favor? The warehouse is stacked high with goods, it won’t be easy for you to search.” Zhong Yanbin also stepped forward, discreetly pulling out a banknote for a hundred taels of silver, slipping it into Cheng Dong’s hand.

Cheng Dong glanced at the note, a smile immediately appearing on his face. What could be in the warehouse that was worth such a bribe? If he didn’t push this fool for more, he’d be letting himself down!

“I said, keep searching!” Cheng Dong brushed aside their attempts to block him and led his team toward the backyard.

He was determined to squeeze more from these two—a hundred taels was far from enough! He wanted more!

“Officer, isn’t this unnecessary?” Zhong Yanbin grew anxious, seeing that Cheng Dong had no intention of stopping.

But Cheng Dong ignored the pair, and soon the group of constables stood before the warehouse doors in the backyard.

“Officer, I mean it, there’s really nothing inside!”

Cheng Dong paid no heed, insisting on searching inside. At that moment, Zhong Yanbin and Zhu Pengtao exchanged a subtle glance, as if making a silent decision.

Cheng Dong raised his blade, smashed the lock, and kicked open the warehouse doors, leading the team inside.

Within, countless large crates were stacked together—dozens at least—no telling what they contained.

“Open them and see what’s inside!” Cheng Dong commanded.

At his order, the constables set about prying open the crates one by one.

Qin Yi didn’t help, choosing instead to watch his subordinates. He, too, was curious what the crates held.

Crack.

As each crate was opened and Cheng Dong raised his torch to peer inside, his expression changed dramatically in the next instant.

For the crates contained—heavy armor!

So many crates, at least two or three hundred suits of heavy armor!

Heavy armor—contraband under imperial law! Even the garrison at the provincial seat only possessed a hundred or so suits, which showed just how precious these were.

Yet here they were, discovered in the Sihai Trading Company!

Even a fool would realize these suits hadn’t been acquired through legal channels. Where had the Sihai Trading Company obtained them? Who was backing them, and how powerful were they? Who were these intended for—rebels?

A torrent of thoughts surged through Cheng Dong’s mind in an instant.

Cheng Dong turned around, his forehead already slick with cold sweat, but managed to force a strained smile. “Nothing here. Let’s pull out.”

But just then—

Bang!

The warehouse doors slammed shut. From the dark corners of the vast warehouse, over a hundred armed men emerged, silently surrounding the forty-odd constables.

At the now-closed entrance to the warehouse, Zhong Yanbin and Zhu Pengtao stood with a dozen burly men at their backs, all gripping blades, their eyes gleaming with danger.

“I told you not to come in and search. You wouldn’t listen. Now you want to leave? I’m afraid that’s impossible,” Zhong Yanbin said coldly.

“Gentlemen, I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding. We didn’t see anything, right?” Cheng Dong’s attitude shifted dramatically.

Inside, he was cursing himself for his greed—if only he’d stopped earlier! Who would have thought a routine search of a trading house would uncover heavy armor?

Damn it!

Now he’d trapped himself with no way out.

“I believe only the dead see nothing. Kill them!” Zhong Yanbin sneered.

“Wait!” Qin Yi called out.

“If you kill us, it’ll make a terrible commotion. That will draw our colleagues searching nearby—or even the city guard. You’ll be finished. Why not compromise?”

“Wiping out weaklings like you won’t make a fuss. Kill them!” came the reply.

At once, the armed men surged forward from all directions, attacking the constables in the center.

Blades flashed, swords whistled, screams echoed.

“Break out! Break out!” Cheng Dong roared.

“Die, you!” Zhong Yanbin appeared before Cheng Dong out of nowhere, and the two clashed at once.

But after only four or five moves, Zhong Yanbin’s blade took Cheng Dong’s head clean off.

“Sixth Rank!”

Squelch!

Qin Yi cut down a charging thug, glancing over in time to see Cheng Dong’s end. He realized instantly that these opponents were no ordinary foes—if they relied only on these constables, they were doomed.

Yet he was reluctant to reveal his true strength.

“Heh, you brat—you’ve killed several of my men! Time to die!” Zhu Pengtao, having dispatched a constable, now rushed at Qin Yi.

Qin Yi frowned.

Three packets of lime powder flew into the air.

Three blades swept out.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, a cloud of dust filled the air.

“Damn it, that kid’s playing tricks!” Zhu Pengtao had just charged forward, but now retreated.

Suddenly—

Bang!

A noise came from the distant window.

“Not good! Someone’s escaping through the window! Kill him! Don’t let anyone get away!”

Both Zhong Yanbin and Zhu Pengtao gave chase, one heading for the window, the other for the main door.

In the courtyard, Qin Yi stood calmly. In his left hand, he now held a signal flare; in his right, a fire striker.

The moment Zhong Yanbin and Zhu Pengtao emerged, they saw the flare in Qin Yi’s hand, and their faces changed.

“Order your men to stop killing mine, or else—hmph—you’ll never get away!” Qin Yi said coldly.

But Zhong Yanbin didn’t call off the slaughter inside. Instead, he forced a smile. “Young man—no, officer—let’s talk this over. There’s no need for things to go this far. You’re a constable—your annual salary can’t amount to much. How about this: I’ll give you three thousand taels of silver. As for your dead comrades inside, I’ll take care of it—no one will trouble you. How about that?”

“Very well,” Qin Yi replied with a slight smile.

Both Zhong Yanbin and Zhu Pengtao relaxed visibly, but a glint of contempt flickered in their eyes.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The whistle of arrows came from behind Qin Yi.

But he was faster—the flare in his hand had already been lit.

Whoosh!

The signal flare shot into the sky!

“No!” Both Zhong Yanbin and Zhu Pengtao’s faces changed at once.

At that moment, Qin Yi dodged the three arrows from behind in a bizarre fashion and bolted out of the courtyard.

The flare burst in the sky, instantly alerting the constables and city guards searching nearby, who rushed toward the commotion.

“What do we do now?” Zhu Pengtao no longer cared to chase after the escaping constable.

“It’s over. Tell everyone to scatter and escape!” Zhong Yanbin said darkly.