Departing, Executing the Mission

He pointed towards the location of the woodshed.

"There are over twenty children inside. Go count them, especially the seven mentioned in the files. Not a single one can be missing."

Wang Meng snapped back to reality and hurried to the woodshed door. He pushed it open and saw a group of children.

He turned to look at Su Fei, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Lord Su, you are truly amazing. Less than a day has passed, and you've already found the missing children."

"But why are there over a dozen more children? Besides those from Qingzhou Prefecture city, were children from other places also going missing and being held here?"

Hearing this, Su Fei's heart stirred. He hadn't received the system prompt for completing the mission yet.

It seemed this mission wasn't truly finished. These people were just pawns. The mastermind behind it all hadn't been caught yet.

"Find a cart in the village that can carry people. Transfer all the children onto it. We must return to the Qingzhou Prefecture Thousand Households Office before dawn."

He found a dilapidated cart in a corner of the village.

He carefully carried the children onto it one by one.

The children were frightened at first.

Only when Wang Meng and Su Fei told them they would be sent home did the children finally relax, sobbing softly.

Su Fei then searched the courtyard and found the alchemy furnace used by the Golden Saber Society to refine Qi and Blood Pills, along with residual medicinal dregs.

He piled them onto the cart and headed back to the Qingzhou Prefecture Thousand Households Office.

Their speed was significantly reduced.

By the time they reached the entrance of the Qingzhou Thousand Households Office, the sky had already brightened.

It was just about time for the morning shift. Only two night-duty Strongmen were at the gate, yawning.

They heard approaching footsteps.

The two Strongmen saw Wang Meng dragging a cart, with Su Fei and a group of children sitting behind him.

Their sleepiness vanished instantly.

"Wang Meng, what's going on? Where did you go so early in the morning?"

Wang Meng paused for a moment before loudly informing them.

"The child disappearance case in the west of the city has been solved by our Lord Su. These children are all ones we've found."

The two Strongmen were shocked. They had heard about the recent sensational child disappearance case.

It wasn't that they hadn't heard of it.

But this case had only been transferred to the Imperial Guard a couple of days ago, and it was already solved? Squad Leader Su's case-solving ability was truly incredible.

Outside Captain Li's office.

Over twenty children huddled together.

Su Fei leaned against a pillar, eyes closed, resting. The Spring Embroidered Saber was slung across his waist, its bloodstains already wiped clean.

Wang Meng paced back and forth, occasionally glancing at the entrance, his face showing unconcealed excitement and nervousness.

Footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.

Captain Li, dressed in casual clothes, entered with two junior clerks. He immediately froze upon seeing the room full of children and the alchemy furnace and medicinal dregs piled on the ground.

Captain Li's brows furrowed. His gaze swept over the children, and he had some guesses, but his eyes ultimately settled on Su Fei. His tone carried a hint of surprise.

"What's the story with these children?"

Su Fei opened his eyes, stood up straight, and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Lord Li, your subordinate has fulfilled his mission. The seven missing children from Qingzhou Prefecture have been recovered. As for the extra children, they are likely from other places."

"They were all hidden in Boulder Village outside the city, which is a stronghold of the Golden Saber Society. These children are victims of their kidnapping. The alchemy furnace on the ground is evidence that they used children's vital blood to refine Qi and Blood Pills."

Then, he concisely recounted the process of discovering the shadow play performers, tracking them to Boulder Village, and killing the human traffickers.

The more Captain Li listened, the stranger his expression became.

He gained a new understanding of his subordinate's capabilities.

Captain Li inquired.

"Are you certain it was the Golden Saber Society?"

Su Fei presented a token he had found on the Bearded Man, engraved with "Golden Saber Society Hall Master Token."

"This is what your subordinate found on the leader he killed. Furthermore, there were Golden Saber insignia on their sleeves."

Captain Li picked up the Golden Saber Society Hall Master Token and examined it carefully, his expression fluctuating.

The Golden Saber Society had been operating in Qingzhou for many years, with deeply entrenched influence. Wan Mengchang had a good reputation, and it was unexpected that he would engage in such heinous acts.

Captain Li felt a headache coming on.

Who would have thought that a child disappearance case would implicate the Golden Saber Society?

After a moment of thought, Captain Li issued an order to a junior clerk.

"This is no small matter."

"Have Zhao San and Qian Liu head to Boulder Village immediately to investigate and confirm the situation there."

Zhao San and Qian Liu were known for their excellent light footwork and reconnaissance skills within the Thousand Households Office.

While waiting for confirmation, Su Fei took the initiative to distribute some dry rations and water to the children. The little ones timidly accepted them, swallowing them in small bites, their gazes towards Su Fei softening.

About an hour later, Zhao San and Qian Liu returned to report, their expressions grave as they stated, "Sir, there are indeed traces of the Golden Saber Society at the Boulder Village outpost. Those killed were indeed members of the Golden Saber Society."

"Your subordinate also discovered the body of Hall Master Li of the Golden Saber Society."

Captain Li made up his mind. Refining Qi and Blood Pills with children's vital blood was a grave offense.

This was a major case.

Capturing the culprits of this case would be a significant achievement. With this thought, his gaze towards Su Fei softened even further.

"So it was the Golden Saber Society's doing. This matter is inextricably linked to their president, Wan Mengchang. Su Fei, your contributions will be rewarded later."

He then signaled the junior clerk.

"Go and summon all the men I can mobilize. We will gather at the training grounds in half an hour. To prevent anyone from tipping them off, do not tell them the objective yet."

Wang Meng was shocked.

"Sir, you intend to move against the Golden Saber Society."

Captain Li's tone was firm.

"To prevent the Golden Saber Society from noticing anything amiss, there's no time to report to the Thousand Households Commander now. We will first go to the Golden Saber Society's headquarters and bring Wan Mengchang back for questioning. If there is any resistance, kill them without mercy."

Su Fei's heart stirred, and he stepped forward, saying, "Sir, your subordinate is willing to accompany you."

Captain Li glanced at him, recalling Su Fei's performance last night, and nodded.

"Very well. Your skills are excellent. If you don't need to rest, you may come along."

Half an hour later, at the training grounds of the Qingzhou Imperial Guard Thousand Households Office, over two hundred Imperial Guard Strongmen, more than twenty Squad Leaders, and five Chief Squad Leaders were all in position.

They were neatly arrayed, their Spring Embroidered Sabers at their waists.

Captain Li spoke no words. He directly mounted his horse and surveyed everyone.

"Everyone follow me. Let's go, we have a mission."

The sound of hooves broke the tranquility of the early morning. The group, led by Captain Li, galloped towards the Golden Saber Society's headquarters.

Su Fei rode his horse alongside Captain Li.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Golden Saber Society's stronghold, Captain Li finally informed everyone of the Golden Saber Society's actions.

Seeing the evidence of the pill furnace before them and hearing Captain Li's words, the Imperial Guards were filled with rage.

The Golden Saber Society used children's vital blood to refine pills!

Many of these Imperial Guards were married. If their own children were captured and used as materials for refining pills, it was an unimaginable thought for them.

The over two hundred Imperial Guards dismounted and formed ranks.