Doing One Thing, Earning Twice

Inside the Zhao residence's inner courtyard, the scene was rather bloody. Aside from Su Chen and Captain Xing, no one dared to linger there.

The two casually fetched two chairs and sat opposite each other in the courtyard, striking up a conversation.

"I recall you were serving at Longmen Pass. How did you end up in the Hengyang region?" Su Chen inquired.

Captain Xing smiled, "Isn't that thanks to you?"

"Last time we pursued Zhao Huai'an outside the pass, I earned some merit for it. My superiors noticed me, and not only was I promoted from General Banner to Captain, but I was also transferred from that godforsaken place to Hengyang." A significant reason for Captain Xing's amiable attitude towards Su Chen, even bordering on obsequiousness, was this very matter.

Su Chen listened, nodding, and understood the cause and effect.

At this moment, a hint of hesitation appeared on Captain Xing's face.

It seemed he had something he wanted to tell Su Chen but didn't know how to begin.

Sensing Captain Xing's unspoken words, Su Chen said, "Just say whatever it is. We're old acquaintances now. If I can help, I definitely will."

"Brother Su~" Captain Xing was moved.

But just then, Su Chen added, "Of course, you'll have to pay me silver."

Captain Xing's lips twitched involuntarily. He muttered inwardly, 'As expected, he's always about the money.'

After a moment of internal grumbling, Captain Xing collected his thoughts and began to speak. "Brother Su, it's like this: tomorrow, Mount Heng's Liu Zhengfeng is holding his Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony."

"Before this, he already spent money to buy a nominal position as a Brigadier General, making him an official of the court."

"The higher-ups fear that something unexpected might happen to him tomorrow, so they've ordered us to go and provide some oversight."

At this point, Captain Xing's face showed a look of difficulty.

"Brother Su, you know my martial arts are mediocre. Tomorrow, at Liu Zhengfeng's place, there will undoubtedly be many martial arts experts from the jianghu..."

"I was worried about how to handle it, and then you arrived. So, could I trouble you to lend a hand tomorrow?"

After speaking, Captain Xing looked at Su Chen with hopeful anticipation.

Su Chen's expression remained as calm as still water, but inwardly, he was already overjoyed.

He had come for Liu Zhengfeng's matter in the first place.

Now, Captain Xing was asking for his help.

What did this mean? It meant he only had to do one thing and could earn money twice over.

This was simply too good.

Su Chen reveled in his good fortune, not responding immediately.

Captain Xing, however, misunderstood. He said anxiously, "Brother Su, I'll definitely pay you. The higher-ups have approved three thousand taels of silver for this operation, and I'll give it all to you without keeping a single coin."

"Three thousand taels." Su Chen's heart leaped with joy.

While three thousand taels wasn't a huge sum, it was extra money he was getting for free. Why wouldn't he take it?

With a shift in his thoughts, Su Chen decided to agree to Captain Xing's request.

However, agreeing didn't mean he wouldn't play hard to get.

"Three thousand taels?" Su Chen pondered, forcing a look of difficulty onto his face. "If it were anyone else, asking me to do this for three thousand taels, I definitely wouldn't agree. But, for your sake, Old Xing, I'll take the job."

Hearing Su Chen say this, Captain Xing felt a sense of being greatly honored.

After all, the last time they were outside Longmen Pass pursuing Zhao Huai'an and his group, the Western Depot's Third Bureau Chief, Ji Xueyong, had wanted Su Chen to help kill Ling Yanqiu and Feng Lidao without payment. Su Chen had refused him without the slightest hesitation. It was only after Ji Xueyong obediently paid the silver that Su Chen took action.

Now, Su Chen was willing to give him such face, which deeply touched Captain Xing.

'So, my standing in Brother Su's eyes is this high.'

Moved, Captain Xing immediately stood up and patted his chest. "Brother Su, you treat me like a brother, and a brother can't let you down. If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word, and I'll help you, even if it costs me my life."

Su Chen smiled and replied, "I don't need your life. Just think of me more often when there are profitable jobs within the factory and guard system."

The two chatted for a while longer, then each rested to conserve their energy, awaiting Tian Boguang's arrival.

As night deepened, Su Chen and Captain Xing had been waiting in the courtyard for two hours.

But Tian Boguang's trace was nowhere to be found.

Faced with this situation, Su Chen couldn't help but frown.

"Could it be that Tian Boguang isn't coming tonight?"

Tomorrow, he still had to go to Hengyang to participate in Liu Zhengfeng's affairs, which was where the real money was to be made. He couldn't stay in Hengnan County for long.

If he couldn't deal with Tian Boguang tonight, he wouldn't be able to get the ten thousand taels of silver from the Zhao family.

The silver taels he was about to acquire had just flown away, and Su Chen naturally couldn't accept this outcome.

"If Tian Boguang doesn't come, I'll go find him."

With that thought, Su Chen spoke to Captain Xing beside him, "Old Xing, do me a favor."

At this moment, Captain Xing was already drowsy. Hearing Su Chen's voice, he suddenly jolted awake.

He raised a hand to wipe the drool from the corner of his mouth and said somewhat indistinctly, "Brother Su, what are your orders?"

"You're a local big shot in Hengnan County, so your intelligence network should be quite strong. Help me find Tian Boguang."

"Don't worry, Brother Su. I can't speak for other places, but in this small Hengnan County, I can find a fly for you. Give me half an hour."

With that, Captain Xing hurried away with his Imperial Guardsmen to search for Tian Boguang's whereabouts in Hengnan County.

On the street, Captain Xing was leading his Imperial Guardsmen in a search.

"Boss, who is this Su Chen? I think you're being a little too nice to him," an Imperial Guardsman asked, puzzled.

As soon as he said that, the other Imperial Guardsmen also looked at Captain Xing.

Facing the curious gazes of his brothers, Captain Xing said slowly, "Don't ask what you shouldn't. I'll just tell you one thing: Su Chen is a Red Card."

The moment the words "Red Card" were uttered, the more than a dozen Imperial Guardsmen present changed their expressions and dared not ask any more questions.

As the official intelligence agency of the Great Ming Dynasty, the Imperial Guards monitored civil officials internally and also had the responsibility of deterring the martial arts world externally.

Therefore, in order to deal with those martial artists who were accustomed to breaking the law with their martial arts, the Imperial Guards would also spend money to hire some wandering martial artists to handle matters within the Jianghu.

To facilitate differentiation, they were represented by badges of different colors.

There were three colors in total: red, black, and blue. Red was the highest. Those who held a red card had a status comparable to the Bureau Chiefs within the various Depots and Guards.

At this moment, the Imperial Guardsmen finally understood why Captain Xing had said earlier in the Zhao residence that even the Bureau Chiefs in the Depots and Guards would give Su Chen some face.

Upon learning of Su Chen's prowess, the Imperial Guardsmen worked even harder. In less than half an hour, they found Tian Boguang's tracks.

After finding Tian Boguang's whereabouts, Captain Xing rushed back to the Zhao residence.

"Brother Su, I found Tian Boguang. He's at a brothel right now."

"However, it seems he's accompanied by a nun and a disciple from Mount Hua."

Hearing this, Su Chen immediately understood.

That nun should be the young master Yi Lin from the Mount Hengshan Sect.

As for that disciple from Mount Hua, it could only be Linghu Chong.

With this thought, Su Chen did not delay. He grabbed the ring-pommel saber from the table and strode out, "Let's go, we're going to kill Tian Boguang."

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