Chapter Sixty-six: The News

Outside the courtyard.

Two burly men in fitted attire quickly clasped their hands in salute as Zhu Fengyin stepped out. “Greetings, Miss Zhu. Our helmsman requests your presence.”

“Oh? Your helmsman is quite bold, daring to mingle within the city,” Zhu Fengyin remarked, surprised.

“Miss Zhu, you jest. Please, this way,” one of the men replied with a nervous smile.

...

In the northern part of the city, inside a slaughterhouse.

“Miss Zhu, I was deeply saddened by what happened to your brother. If you wish, I can send men to wipe out the twelfth constable squad and their captain,” Zhou Wuzhi said, his expression sincere.

“No need to trouble Helmsman Zhou. I will settle this matter myself!” Zhu Fengyin replied, her beautiful face frosted with resolve.

“Very well. If you need manpower, just call on me,” Zhou Wuzhi smiled.

“Miss Zhu, you know that the batch of heavy armor from your Golden Alliance was discovered and confiscated by the authorities. We still want another batch—ideally five hundred sets—and we hope to receive them as soon as possible. Could you help me secure this, Miss Zhu?” Zhou Wuzhi’s voice carried urgency. The loss of those two or three hundred sets of heavy armor had stung him; they were meant for future use, but before the transaction could be completed, the authorities had swept them away, sending them to the front lines the very next day. He had considered intercepting them in transit, but they were guarded by four thousand regional troops—untouchable.

The mention of heavy armor brought a murderous gleam to Zhu Fengyin’s eyes. Her brother had died because of it. Yet, as an officer of the Golden Alliance, she placed the interests of the alliance above personal grievance, suppressing her anger as she replied, “I can arrange five hundred sets, but the price will be steep.”

“The price is negotiable. When can they be delivered to Jiangning County? We’re in urgent need—sooner is better,” Zhou Wuzhi pressed.

“At the earliest, fifteen days. But we won’t deliver into the city—only to a location outside, where the transaction will take place,” Zhu Fengyin refused. It was Zhou who was anxious, not her.

The requested transaction site was just outside the county seat. Clearly, the Crimson Sect was planning something major.

Zhou Wuzhi paused, then nodded. “Alright.”

“We’ll make the exchange in Huangsha Town, just outside the city. Take this token to the Laifu Inn, and someone will meet you there,” Zhu Fengyin tossed him a metal card.

“Agreed.”

Once their deal was settled, Zhu Fengyin departed from the slaughterhouse.

Watching her leave, one subordinate turned to Zhou Wuzhi. “Helmsman, transporting this batch of heavy armor into the city will be a challenge. The gates are under strict lockdown.”

“There’s always a way around difficulties.”

...

On the street, Qin Yi was leading his squad past a crossroads when he spotted a group ahead, all dressed in Flying Eagle uniforms.

“The Forbidden Arms Hall!” he murmured. “Move aside,” Qin Yi instructed his men.

Soon, Guo Hu led eight stern-faced Forbidden Arms guards past them, heading toward the city gate.

“Leaving the city?” Qin Yi wondered as he watched them depart. He had been keeping an eye on the Forbidden Arms Hall lately. They had enlisted both the authorities and the city guards to search for the Dao map, little knowing it was in his own possession. As for Tang Mingwu’s death, Guo Hu had personally led an investigation, but found no clues.

By evening, Qin Yi returned with his team to the constabulary.

As he clocked out, he bumped into He Xiongjian.

“Captain He, I saw the Forbidden Arms Hall people leaving the city today,” Qin Yi said.

“To be precise, those bastards finally left!” He Xiongjian’s tone was tinged with bitterness. After Zhang Daoxuan’s death, he had eagerly sought to claim credit, only for Guo Hu to dismiss his efforts as ineffectual, denying him the reward of the seventh-level martial arts. He’d cursed inwardly, but dared not voice it aloud. He knew that merit depended wholly on the whims of those in charge. If they said you contributed, you did; if not, you didn’t. Damn it!

“They’re gone?” Qin Yi was surprised.

“Yes. You won’t have to keep searching for the Dao map anymore. Just focus on your usual duties.”

“Understood.”

...

At home.

“The Forbidden Arms Hall has left. That’s good news for me,” Qin Yi thought. He believed he had left no loose ends regarding Tang Mingwu’s death, and the Dao map was well hidden. Still, he remained cautious as long as the Hall lingered. Now that they were gone, he could finally let go of those worries.

...

Within a mansion.

A heavy, bloody stench filled the parlor.

He Xiongjian lay dead, his limbs severed.

“So my brother had a chance to escape after all. It was the chief constable, Huo Bairu, who recaptured him and Zhong Yanbin after they’d already fled the Four Seas Trading Firm!” Zhu Fengyin clenched her fists until her knuckles cracked. She had just wrung this information from He Xiongjian.

“Huo Bairu, you will pay for this. I will avenge my brother!” She resisted the urge to storm off and kill him immediately. She knew Huo Bairu’s strength was at the ninth level—a rank she could not match with only eighth-level prowess.

With this in mind, Zhu Fengyin hurried back to her residence.

Once home, she quickly penned a letter, tied it to a night eagle’s leg, and tossed the bird from her window.

Watching the night eagle vanish into the darkness, the light of vengeance in her eyes grew fiercer.

...

Early the next morning.

Qin Yi arrived at the constabulary for roll call, when Captain Liu Chengzhi from the neighboring squad rushed in.

“Qin Feng, Captain He is in trouble! The chief constable has ordered us all to go to his house!” Liu Chengzhi called.

“Trouble? What happened?” Qin Yi asked.

“Captain He is dead!”

“What? Dead?” Qin Yi was shocked. He Xiongjian was a seventh-level martial artist—dead at home? Was it murder, or something else?

All the constables in the courtyard were equally stunned by the news.

“Come, everyone, follow me,” Qin Yi ordered solemnly.

Soon, all members of the twelfth and eleventh squads headed to He Xiongjian’s house.

Arriving at the gate, they found it already cordoned off by colleagues from other teams.

Inside, they saw four bloody characters scrawled on the wall: Blood for blood!

Those words cast a pall over every face present.

“Wait here. Liu Chengzhi and I will go in and take a look,” Qin Yi instructed, and he and Liu Chengzhi stepped inside to investigate.