When they arrived before a residence whose plaque read Sheng Residence, Ye Liuyun stopped.
"Is this the place?"
Looking at the several Brocade Guard stationed outside, it was clear that someone had already taken over the case.
Ye Liuyun directly led his people over.
As for anyone blocking the way, Ye Liuyun simply produced his Centurion's token.
"Lord Centurion!"
The Brocade Guards stationed outside to prevent people from entering at will hurriedly addressed him with respect upon seeing Ye Liuyun's token, obediently stepping aside.
Quite a few corpses lay in the courtyard, all maids and servants.
It felt somewhat like a revenge killing. If the target had only been Sheng Li, there would have been no need to lay hands on these maids and servants.
Just as Ye Liuyun was about to lead his people deeper into the residence,
a familiar voice, laced with mockery, reached the ears of Ye Liuyun and the others.
"Well, if it isn't Centurion Ye Liufeng?"
The newcomer was Lu Quan, whom Ye Liuyun had dealt with not long ago.
Lu Quan did not seem surprised by Ye Liuyun's appearance. Instead, the smile on his face became all the more unrestrained.
"My apologies, Centurion Ye. I've taken this case, so I can't let you just stroll in."
He must have known who had died, which was why he deliberately said that.
Ye Liuyun did not answer. He looked at Lu Quan as though he were watching a clown caper about on a stage, ignored him, and continued toward the rear courtyard.
"Centurion Ye! You—"
Lu Quan had intended to keep blocking Ye Liuyun's path.
But before he could finish speaking, Ye Liuyun raised a hand, placed it on Lu Quan's shoulder, and with the slightest exertion, shoved him to the ground at the side.
Frailer than a young maiden.
"Ye Liufeng, you've got some nerve!"
His backer was already dead, yet he still dared to act so arrogantly.
Having been publicly humiliated before so many people, Lu Quan let out a shrill roar.
He got up and intended to come block the way again.
But this time, Ye Liuyun did not need to say anything. Shi Sheng stepped directly in front of Lu Quan, raised his fist, and waved it.
"If you dare block my lord's path again, I'll beat you to death!"
After saying that, he shot Lu Quan a provocative look and continued following Ye Liuyun.
A Centurion like him had actually been publicly threatened by a Banner Commander. Lu Quan's face turned green, then purple.
Yet he truly did not dare keep blocking the way.
Because Lu Quan knew that a simpleton like Shi Sheng, whose head was full of nothing but fists, really had the guts to strike him in public. More importantly, he did not seem certain he could beat Shi Sheng.
In the rear courtyard, Ye Liuyun successfully found Sheng Li's corpse. He appeared to have been advanced in years, with graying hair, and even in death he was still dressed in official robes.
His body bore wounds large and small. It looked as though he had been tortured before he died.
Daring to lay hands on a court official within the imperial capital—even though Sheng Li had already retired—anyone capable of doing such a thing either possessed sufficient strength or held an exceedingly lofty position and great power.
"Centurion Ye!"
Just then,
Lu Quan's footsteps came hurrying after them.
Seeing Ye Liuyun staring intently at Sheng Li's corpse, Lu Quan felt the pent-up resentment in his heart dissipate considerably.
How was that? Anxious now, weren't you? Without Sheng Li as your backer, let's see how you can continue getting by in the Brocade Guard.
"So, now you know the consequences of offending Chieftain Wan."
As he spoke, Lu Quan deliberately leaned close to Ye Liuyun's ear and whispered.
"Without a backer, let's see how you'll hold steady in that Centurion's position."
After saying that, Lu Quan directly called his men over to search elsewhere.
Ye Liuyun narrowed his eyes as he watched Lu Quan's departing figure from the corner of his eye.
So Chieftain Wan's side had made the move?
Originally, Ye Liuyun had not cared much about Lu Quan. If he liked to jump around, then let him jump around—he could simply treat it as watching a clown perform.
But if he was going straight from that to disgusting him, then that was another matter.
"My lord!"
At that moment, Si Nan and Shi Sheng both looked over.
Although Lu Quan had spoken softly just now, they were not far away and naturally had heard him.
Ye Liuyun had no intention of wasting words and immediately ordered,
"Before sunset tonight, no matter what method you use, I want Lu Quan out of the imperial capital."
He had originally planned to wait for Lu Quan to leave the imperial capital on his own.
Since he liked jumping around so much, Ye Liuyun would send him on his way—to jump around in the underworld.
"Understood!"
Si Nan was more quick-witted. Seeing Ye Liuyun's expression, he immediately understood what he meant and did not hesitate in the slightest. "This subordinate will handle it at once."
With that, Si Nan turned and left.
As for Shi Sheng, he had not quite caught on yet.
But after seeing Si Nan leave, he stood there blankly for a moment before running after him as well.
"My lord, I'll go help too!"
Ye Liuyun calmly watched Si Nan and Shi Sheng leave, then looked toward Lu Quan in the distance, whose expression brimmed with smug delight.
Ye Liuyun hated trouble.
Rather than worrying about others making underhanded moves, it was better to strangle those capable of making such moves at the very beginning.
Whether Sheng Li lived or died did not matter much to Ye Liuyun. After all, he did not know him. In this era, people died every day, so why could the one dying not be Sheng Li?
As for backers and the like,
Ye Liuyun's strength was right there. He had no need to worry that his position as Centurion would be affected.
As for being promoted to Chieftain,
even if Sheng Li were alive, he would not have been able to help Ye Liuyun rise another rung in official rank.
But since this was clearly aimed at him, that was different.
Ye Liuyun merely watched for a while longer before leaving with his people.
Meanwhile, Lu Quan glanced at Ye Liuyun and the others as they departed, and the smile on his face became even more wanton.
He had absolutely no idea that a great calamity was about to descend upon him.
Si Nan was highly efficient.
That very night, he directly kidnapped Lu Quan's youngest son. It had to be said that though such a method was rather shameless, it was unexpectedly effective.
"My lord, rest assured. I investigated this long ago. Lu Quan loves his youngest son most. I left a letter beforehand, and he'll definitely come alone."
In a forest not far from the imperial capital,
Si Nan pointed at the child, around fourteen or fifteen years old, who was tied to a tree, and spoke with great satisfaction.
Though his mouth was gagged, the eyes of Lu Quan's youngest son were filled with venom as he glared fiercely at Ye Liuyun and the others before him.
To avoid any unforeseen complications, aside from Ye Liuyun, only Si Nan and Shi Sheng had come.
Meeting that venomous gaze, Ye Liuyun calmly withdrew his eyes.
"Well done!"
He offered a word of praise.
Using a child as leverage sounded rather villainous, but after personally killing his nominal elder brother, Ye Liuyun had no intention of being a good man.
To achieve one's goal, one stopped at nothing.
Wasn't that only natural?
Before you continue