Turning Hostile

"Constable Xiang, do you have any way to help us get out of this case? If we brothers think it's feasible, we can immediately tell you where Boss An is hiding people."

The young men weren't fools either. If they couldn't come up with a feasible plan, let alone reveal their trump card to Xiang Yang, they wouldn't even let Xiang Yang leave. After all, their secrets had already been laid bare.

With a crack, the Wild Goose Feather Saber in Xiang Yang's hand was raised, shattering a flagstone beneath his feet. The bottom of the saber's scabbard also developed some cracks, startling everyone. Many looked at Xiang Yang with fear in their eyes. Two loyal men even rushed in front of the young man, afraid Xiang Yang would harm him.

They had seen strong people before. All these burly men were blacksmiths, and they all had strength in their hands. Shattering a flagstone wasn't difficult; with a sledgehammer, anyone could do it.

The key was that Xiang Yang's strength was so great that he could shatter a flagstone with a thin metal scabbard. This was not something ordinary people could do, and at least their group couldn't.

Xiang Yang smiled on the surface, appearing like a master. In reality, his palm was bright red, numb, and painful, almost losing all feeling.

There was no help for it; the effect of force is mutual. Before he learned internal energy, Newton's coffin lid was still firmly in place. He had put on a show, and he had to see it through, even if it meant crying.

"What you brothers are worried about is nothing more than the government's pursuit. Actually, this is simple.

The first person who poses the greatest threat to you is the leader of the Little Knife Society, Boss An. If he is arrested, he might reveal you to reduce his sentence.

Secondly, there is the testimony of the people who were trafficked. This is also an unstable factor. Thirdly, it's me, Xiang. As long as these three points are resolved, you are actually nothing in the eyes of the government."

Hearing Xiang Yang's words, the young man and the others' eyes lit up, and they nodded repeatedly. In fact, they didn't care about the third point. Since Xiang Yang had agreed to help them, would he go back on his word?

Seeing their agreement, Xiang Yang smiled coldly, "Since I, Xiang, have promised to help you all, I believe you should trust me. The rest is Boss An and those people you previously abducted.

In this world, only the dead can keep secrets. I can guarantee that as long as Mr. Lan's only son is found, neither Boss An nor those people you abducted will utter a single word.

The display I just put on, I daresay, is not something just anyone in Anyuan County can do. You don't need to worry about my skills."

The young man and the others were stunned. Murder? Boss An was one thing; he deserved it. But those abducted were pitiable women and children. Xiang Yang could actually do it? They didn't expect someone so young to be so ruthless. People would do anything for their future.

That's right. The reason the young man and the others were confident that Xiang Yang would help them was their future. Helping Mr. Lan find his only son was a significant favor that no one in the county yamen could ignore. However, they didn't trust him.

"Boss, he's just talking. Any promises are empty. What if he betrays us? I think it's still too risky."

A burly man with bright eyes hesitated. To be honest, if the young man hadn't always been the decision-maker among them with high prestige, he would have stopped them from the start.

Others also pondered whether Xiang Yang was trustworthy, as this was no small matter. If their deeds were exposed, Boss An would kill them, and the government would arrest and imprison them. Spending the best years of their lives in prison was a chilling thought.

The young man looked at Xiang Yang's determined face, his eyes clear and meeting Xiang Yang's gaze openly. He also recalled Xiang Yang helping them out of trouble earlier and kindly reminding them. Although he had some hesitation, he finally made his decision.

"If you trust someone, don't doubt them; if you doubt someone, don't trust them. I trust Constable Xiang. Constable Xiang, a cunning rabbit has three burrows. Boss An usually places the abducted people in..."

As he spoke, the young man leaned closer to Xiang Yang and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, telling him several possible secret locations.

Xiang Yang's expression gradually softened. His phoenix eyes occasionally revealed understanding, and at other times, surprise. These places were all over the place. He didn't expect this Boss An to be a simple character either.

When the young man finished speaking and was about to tell Xiang Yang in more detail which people he had abducted and whom he needed to kill, a cold weapon was suddenly pressed against his chest. It was the cracked scabbard of the Wild Goose Feather Saber.

Frowning, the young man's eyes flashed with cold light, "Constable Xiang, what is the meaning of this? Are you planning to cross the river and tear down the bridge? People in the martial world value trust above all else. Your actions are simply a betrayal of trust."

Seeing Xiang Yang's movement, the other burly men also drew their weapons and surrounded them, their eyes filled with killing intent. This was the blacksmith shop. The shops in front were mostly agricultural tools, but the small courtyard was filled with swords and sabers, all glinting in the sunlight.

"Betrayal of trust? You dare to talk about trust and righteousness with me? Parents cherish their children. You abducted them and tore them apart. Is that trust and righteousness? I should call you worse than beasts.

Do you know how many families you've broken apart, and how many parents have lost their minds from the unbearable mental anguish because of you?"

The young man's mouth twitched, and he finally blurted out, "I had no choice. Do you think I wanted to? If I didn't do it, someone else would have. The mastermind was Boss An."

Xiang Yang shook his head. He glanced at the men surrounding him and, with a bang, kicked the young man over ten feet away. He landed heavily with a thump, spitting blood and unable to even stand.

"No choice? That's just your excuse. Did you have no choice but to join the Little Knife Society? Did Boss An force you to join at knifepoint?

You are all strong and healthy young men. Even if you worked as laborers for various families, doing heavy lifting and carrying grain, you wouldn't starve. It's just that you have wicked intentions, always thinking that joining a gang would bring prestige and wealth. Now that Boss An is in trouble and can't compete with the Giant Bear Gang, you want to withdraw? There's no such good thing in this world.

You say I betrayed trust, but didn't you all swear oaths when you joined the gang? It is you who are betraying trust now.

Also, do you really think I would kill innocent women and children for you people? This is the last chance I'm giving you. If you still have a shred of humanity and try to persuade me, I might spare you. Unfortunately, you have disappointed me."

What Xiang Yang said was the truth. Killing, he wasn't afraid of, but it depended on who he was killing.

"To be honest, today was all an accident. Meeting the Giant Bear Gang causing trouble for you was an accident. Helping you out of trouble was an accident. Being dragged in to listen to your story was an accident. Only after learning the whole story did I turn against you, and that was not an accident. You all come at me."

Xiang Yang looked at the men surrounding him and said softly, his left thumb gently pressing the tip of the scabbard.