Can't I, Bai, Enjoy Myself Yet?

Chapter 44: So Bai Yan Can't Enjoy Himself Anymore?

Zheng Haihan shook his head and sighed, appearing somewhat helpless.

Then, his figure flickered, and he appeared ten feet away. The afterimage left in his original spot slowly dissipated after a moment, like the moon reflected on water or a flower in a mirror.

After only a few more teleportation-like movements, Zheng Haihan blocked Su Lengguan's escape route. He raised a palm and casually slapped downwards towards Su Lengguan.

With nowhere left to run, Su Lengguan could only fight back with all her might.

Her eyes widened, her clothes billowed as if in a strong wind, and all the True Essence within her body erupted, surging outwards without reservation to condense into her strongest sword strike.

"Clang—!"

Sword light flashed, the wind and snow were chilling, and the surrounding dozen feet seemed to transform into a world of ice and snow.

The cold wind howled, the ice and snow pierced the bone, and everything was frozen into frost.

Even an Innate Master, trapped within this, would likely be instantly frozen, their life extinguished.

Facing Su Lengguan's desperate attack, Zheng Haihan's expression remained as calm as ever. He pressed down with his palm casually.

With a crisp cracking sound, Su Lengguan's frosty sword energy was shattered by Zheng Haihan's palm. The sky filled with scattered frost, losing all its killing power.

Then, Zheng Haihan's palm landed steadily on Su Lengguan's chest.

"Pfft—!"

Struck by this blow, Su Lengguan's nose and mouth bled, her long sword flew out of her hand, and she fell powerlessly from mid-air.

After landing heavily, Su Lengguan spat out another mouthful of blood, no longer having the strength to even struggle to her feet.

One move.

Just one move.

Su Lengguan, a Master, was heavily injured and defeated.

The Imperial Guards in the villa watched Zheng Haihan display his might, their eyes burning with fervor and filled with awe. This was the power of a Grandmaster!

Only Bai Yan's expression was calm, his eyes devoid of any ripple.

Wasn't this to be expected?

Although there was only one major realm separating a Master and a Grandmaster, the difference in their strength was like that between heaven and earth.

If Zheng Haihan had needed a second move to deal with Su Lengguan, Bai Yan would have looked down on him.

"Take her down."

Zheng Haihan landed lightly and gave the order.

Two Brigade Leaders rushed forward, hastily pinning Su Lengguan to the ground. They immediately dislocated her jaw to prevent her from hiding poison in her mouth to commit suicide.

Chains and shackles were not enough; the two also produced several large needles and inserted them into Su Lengguan's major acupoints, sealing her meridians and preventing her from channeling her energy.

"If you ask me, they should have just crippled her martial arts. Why go through all this trouble?"

Bai Yan couldn't help but speak up when he saw this.

He had always done things this way before. When carrying out missions, as long as he captured someone alive, he would cripple their dantian and sea of qi.

Crippling their martial arts meant everything was resolved, and he wouldn't have to worry about them escaping again.

"It's different.

Zheng Haihan shook his head and explained from the side:

"This person is the Heavenly Gang Hall Master of the Demonic Cult. She must have a great secret on her."

"Leaving her martial arts intact is giving her a sliver of hope, which might allow us to pry open her mouth."

Bai Yan nodded upon hearing this, understanding Zheng Haihan's meaning.

For a martial arts expert, their martial arts were their everything, more important than their own life.

Crippling their martial arts was equivalent to losing everything. Even if they could survive in the future, they would be worse than a dog, a fate worse than death.

By leaving her martial arts intact, Su Lengguan had a reason to live.

And this sliver of hope was the opportunity for the Imperial Guard to extract information from her.

Dying was easy, but living would require something in exchange.

"Someone, search her home! Dig three feet into Yiping Villa for me, leaving no stone unturned!"

With Zheng Haihan's command, hundreds of Imperial Guards immediately dispersed and skillfully began the search.

Bai Yan led Ren Hong and Li Kaiyao's two squads directly to Xiao Yiping's side room.

With a bang, the door was violently kicked open.

Bai Yan led his men into the room and immediately saw a small leaf rosewood table. On it were a tea set, a wine set, and a chessboard.

The tea and wine sets were extraordinary, all made of fine imperial kiln porcelain.

The chessboard was carved from selected golden silk nanmu.

The jadestone chess pieces and the gold lacquered chess casket, when paired together, exuded an air of opulent nobility.

This set of implements alone was worth tens of thousands of taels of silver.

'That dog is really living the life, his standard of living is countless times higher than mine.'

Bai Yan grumbled inwardly, full of envy, then surveyed his surroundings.

He saw various famous calligraphies and ink-wash landscape paintings hanging on the four walls.

He didn't know much about calligraphy and paintings, but judging by the artistic level and the seals of the artists, he knew these items were not cheap.

Wooden shelves were placed in the four corners of the room, each holding a pot of orchids.

The variety was unknown, but the flowers bloomed brilliantly, and a faint, fresh fragrance wafted from them, filling the room with a lingering scent.

It had to be said, although Xiao Yiping's martial arts weren't much, his taste was quite refined.

It made Bai Yan want to get a set for himself.

He and Ye Lingdang were about to get married, so they couldn't live in his old small courtyard anymore. He had to buy a large house, and the furnishings and decorations in the rooms naturally couldn't be subpar. Life definitely had to be more comfortable.

"Search everywhere meticulously, don't miss any nooks or crannies!"

Bai Yan's expression turned serious, and he commanded in a deep voice:

"Also, all these antiques, calligraphies, and paintings, take them all back. There might be secret letters hidden inside, I must examine them carefully!"

"Yes!"

The Imperial Guards responded in unison and began to raid the house.

Their movements were very skilled, indicating they had done this sort of thing many times. Bai Yan didn't need to give any specific instructions; they were all experts.

This was something that didn't need teaching. Even if there were a few newcomers who hadn't raided a house before, they would quickly learn by following the experienced ones.

Bai Yan nodded with satisfaction. They were all diligent and good subordinates.

The antiques, calligraphies, and paintings on the walls were all taken down and registered. The stone bricks on the floor were lifted one by one, and the beams of the house were searched inch by inch.

The surrounding walls were also tapped to check for hidden doors.

Bai Yan sat leisurely by the small rosewood table, idly playing with the chess set made of golden silk nanmu and jade.

He admitted he was coveting it; he had his eye on this chess set.

Bai Yan had always loved playing chess, mainly because he had learned a few moves in his previous life.

Coincidentally, Ye Lingdang also liked playing chess.

This was one of their shared hobbies.

Taking this chess set home would greatly enhance their marital relationship.

It was truly a must-have item for any household.

As for pocketing it for himself...

What a joke! He was a dignified Company Commander of the Imperial Guard, risking his life daily. What was wrong with playing chess and enjoying himself a little!

Raiding houses was one of the Imperial Guard's channels for making money.

Wasn't it reasonable to take a few spoils of war during a raid?

As long as it wasn't too excessive, Zheng Haihan would turn a blind eye.

After all, who would complain about having too much money? Zheng Haihan wasn't exactly losing out.

From the Battalion Commander and Deputy Battalion Commander, Company Commander, and Acting Company Commander, down to the Brigade Leader, Squad Leader, and even the Enforcers, everyone in the Imperial Guard, from top to bottom, got a share.

"My Lord, I've found a secret room!"

Suddenly, Li Kaiyao's shout from outside the courtyard startled everyone.

Bai Yan got up and walked to the door, only to see Li Kaiyao and two Imperial Guards standing in front of a flower bed.

The flower bed had been split in the middle, revealing a secret passage leading underground.

Bai Yan looked at the entrance to the secret room before him, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"These two Demonic Cult leaders are quite interesting, knowing to place the secret room entrance outside."

Generally speaking, secret rooms were of utmost importance, holding the owner's most crucial secrets.

The person who built the secret room would usually place the entrance in their own room, only then would they feel at ease.

Just like Bai Yan's father, Bai Lizheng, the entrance to his secret room was in a side room.

Placing the secret room entrance outside, in an inconspicuous flower bed, made it easily overlooked.

During a house raid, after searching the interior, most people wouldn't pay attention to things outside. This was exploiting people's habitual thinking.

To put it simply, it was like hiding something in plain sight, similar to how Bai Yan hid the Demonic Cult's treasure map under a wall brick.

"My Lord, your subordinate will lead men down to investigate!"

Li Kaiyao stepped forward without hesitation and said.

If they discovered any Demonic Cult secrets, it would be a great opportunity to earn merits!

"My Lord, I'll go too!"

Ren Hong, unwilling to be left behind, also rushed forward.

He had already been a step behind by not finding the secret room. He wouldn't fall behind again this time.

"Alright, stop fighting. I'll lead the team myself."