A Gentle Deception, Evidence Obtained

A moment later, a middle-aged man in a blue brocade official robe, with a narrow face, deep-set eyes, and a somber aura, walked out from the back hall. He was Lu Yi, the current magistrate of Jiashan County, followed by the servant from before.

"Advisor Xue, why have you returned? Did something happen on Mount Dawen?"

"My Lord, these three are the leaders of Black Cloud Stronghold. This is Black Fur Tiger Xie Baoqing, the head leader. This is Yellow Tooth Tiger Zhu Tieshou, the third leader." Xue Wujing paused slightly and continued, "And this is Mystic Tiger of Chaoge Qin Shuang, the western leader. He is currently in charge of Black Cloud Stronghold."

"So, you are the leaders of Black Cloud Stronghold. My apologies, please have a seat." Lu Yi gestured for everyone to sit while scolding the servant, "Hurry up and serve tea to the leaders!"

The servant bowed and scraped as he served tea to Xie Baoqing and the other two one by one. As he approached Qin Shuang, he suddenly threw the teacup at Qin Shuang's face and, in the same motion, flicked out a short sword from his sleeve, stabbing towards Qin Shuang's throat like lightning.

In less time than it takes to say, Qin Shuang casually drew a semicircle with his left hand. The teacup and water flying towards his face were instantly frozen and scattered on the ground. Then, he extended his right hand, clenched it, and firmly grasped the short sword that had intended to take his life.

Before the servant could react, Qin Shuang twisted his right hand forcefully, creating a vortex of cold air centered around his arm. This was the fifth move of Heavenly Frost Fist, Frost and Snow Dance!

The servant watched helplessly as he turned into an ice sculpture, completely unable to resist.

"Crack!" The ice sculpture heavily impacted the ground, shattering into more than ten pieces.

"Hmph! A fine official you are. I originally just wanted to discuss the issue of profit sharing between the mountain stronghold and you. I never expected you to try and take my life!" Qin Shuang snorted angrily. Everyone felt the temperature in the side hall suddenly drop. "Since you want my life, then killing you can be considered self-defense!"

"You... How dare you! I am a county magistrate officially registered with the Ministry of Personnel. How dare you arbitrarily kill an official appointed by the court!"

"Heh heh, I'm just killing someone. What is there for me to not dare!" Qin Shuang stood up and walked towards Lu Yi step by step, his Heavenly Frost energy spreading out, making everyone shiver uncontrollably.

"Young Hero Qin, please show some mercy. You are only after wealth. If you spare my life, the source of wealth will continue!" Xue Wujing, showing considerable loyalty, actually had the courage to stand up and plead for Lu Yi.

Qin Shuang stopped in his tracks upon hearing this, as if weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he took a deep breath, made up his mind, and stared at Lu Yi with extreme coldness, "From now on, of all the wealth obtained from robberies, Black Cloud Stronghold will take eighty percent, and you will take twenty percent. Do you have any objections?"

Xue Wujing tugged hard at Lu Yi's sleeve. Seeing Qin Shuang's murderous intent and his apparent disregard for the court, Lu Yi reluctantly said, "Alright."

Just as Xie Baoqing and Xue Wujing secretly breathed a sigh of relief, they saw Qin Shuang raise his bloody right hand and ask, "How should this be accounted for?"

"What else do you want?" Lu Yi asked with a hint of anger.

Qin Shuang kicked Lu Yi in the stomach, sending him flying a considerable distance. Before Lu Yi could get up, Qin Shuang's left hand was already pressed onto the crown of his head. "Watch your attitude when you speak to me. It seems you don't quite understand the current situation. If I kill you, I'll just end up in a different place at most!"

From Qin Shuang's words, it was clear that if negotiations failed, no one here would escape death. The most timid Zhu Tieshou immediately knelt on the ground with a "thump."

"I want you to hand over the wealth you previously took from Black Cloud Stronghold and make up the eighty percent that belongs to me!" Qin Shuang applied slight pressure with his left hand. "Alright, yes or no?"

Lu Yi's head felt excruciating pain under Qin Shuang's hand, as if it could be crushed at any moment. Thinking that he could at least keep twenty percent of the wealth, and with his life on the line, he quickly agreed, "Alright, alright, no problem! Leader Qin, spare my life!"

"Good. Now, you three spread out and write down all the wealth you previously robbed and the detailed distribution later!" Qin Shuang first pointed at Lu Yi, Xue Wujing, and Xie Baoqing. Then he said to Zhu Tieshou, "Old Third Zhu, you will watch these three with me and prevent them from communicating. Finally, compare what the three of you write. Anyone who dares to write less is trying to cheat me out of my money, and I'll send them to hell with one punch!"

Under Qin Shuang's fierce gaze, Lu Yi and the other two recalled the events with great trepidation and wrote them down bit by bit, not daring to conceal anything.

Xie Baoqing said to Qin Shuang with a dejected face, "W-West... Young Hero Qin, I can barely read or write. I can't write it down!"

"Old Third Zhu, go outside and find someone who can write to come in for the head leader!"

"Right away." By now, Zhu Tieshou was completely awestruck by Qin Shuang's power.

More than an hour later, Qin Shuang, holding three stacks of paper with fingerprints, said to Lu Yi with satisfaction, "I'm not an unreasonable person. I'll give you three days to gather the money. I'll send someone to collect it then."

He then said to Xie Baoqing and the other two, "You three go back and prepare. In three days, arrange for trustworthy brothers to come to Master Lu's place to collect the money. Keep my sixty percent safe, and the remaining twenty percent you can discuss and divide amongst yourselves."

"Yes!"

After giving his instructions, Qin Shuang was the first to walk out of the county yamen, mounted his horse, and rode away.

Qin Shuang's final words were naturally meant to appease Xie Baoqing and the others. A few hours later, the three self-reported documents from Lu Yi and the others appeared on the desk of the Six Gates official in charge in Hongnong Commandery. With this, Qin Shuang's mission was complete. The specific tasks of arresting, interrogating, and punishing would naturally be handled by the local Six Gates. Such minor cases did not warrant troubling the Dragon Guard.

Excluding travel time, Qin Shuang completed his promotion assessment task in one night and half a day. Such speed and efficiency were unprecedented in the records of the Dragon Guard, if not unparalleled!

Spirited and confident, Qin Shuang rode back. He arrived at the Pu River ferry crossing again. He had been too focused on his journey before to notice the scenery to the west, but now his state of mind was completely different. He felt relaxed after completing his mission, and looking at the river, it resembled a jade belt inlaid with emeralds, reflecting the sky, the clouds, the birds, and the mountains... It was breathtakingly beautiful!

The river water was tranquil, so tranquil that there wasn't a ripple, like a bride-to-be, veiled by a thin mist, so shy, so gentle.

Qin Shuang stood on the bank and looked into the distance. He saw a bustling group of maids and servants surrounding a woman dressed in brocade and embroidered robes, graceful and beautiful like a lotus emerging from water, boarding a magnificent boat.

The grand boat drifted leisurely on the sparkling river, and together with the elegant figure, it painted an intoxicatingly beautiful picture.