"And Chen Hu's revenge—are we just going to let it go like this?"
Chen Zhenfeng's expression turned hesitant upon hearing this.
At that moment, Chen Hu struggled to his feet and pleaded,
"Father, listen to Second Uncle this time. Look at how miserable I am now."
Chen Zhenfeng turned back to look at his son's pitiful state, and a wave of sorrow welled up in his heart.
Early the next morning,
Su Fei wore a brand-new Commander's Flying Fish Robe, an embroidered spring blade hanging at his waist, and strode steadily into the yamen.
Quite a few Strongmen on duty turned to look at him. Everyone knew that this newly promoted Commander Su had risen on solid merit. Commander Feng's personal commendation yesterday had long since spread throughout the Thousand Households Office.
"Good morning, Commander Su!"
Several patrolling Strongmen hurriedly cupped their hands in salute when they saw him, their eyes carrying a measure of awe.
Su Fei nodded slightly.
He had only been a Commander for one day, yet he was already gradually growing accustomed to the respect that came with the position.
Just as he reached the entrance to the duty room, Captain Li approached him, a case file still clutched in his hand.
"Su Fei, you came at just the right time."
Captain Li smiled and handed him the case file.
"We interrogated that old bastard all night. Wan Mengchang couldn't hold out and confessed to everything."
Su Fei took the case file and flipped it open. Inside was Wan Mengchang's testimony.
The testimony detailed how he had used the Golden Saber Society to abduct and traffic children, used the children's blood essence to refine Qi and Blood Pills, then exchanged them for silver from the Blood Sea Cult.
Captain Li said,
"Commander Feng has approved it. At noon three days from now, he'll be escorted to the execution grounds and beheaded before the public as a warning to others. But before that, there's something else I need you to handle."
"Please give your orders, Captain."
"Wan Mengchang's residence is in the western part of the city. It's where he normally lived."
Captain Li said,
"The Commander has said that the job of confiscating his estate will be yours."
He was being assigned to confiscate an estate.
Su Fei's heart stirred.
Though he had never done such work before, he had heard others mention that when the property of criminal officials or major criminals was seized, a great deal of hidden wealth was often uncovered. The profits were generous.
This was the kind of assignment everyone fought to get.
Captain Li giving him this task was clearly an act of consideration, a reward for solving the case.
"This subordinate obeys."
Su Fei cupped his hands and accepted the order.
"Thank you for your support, Captain."
Captain Li patted his shoulder.
"What are you thanking me for? You earned this. Thanks to you, I've also gained some merit before the Commander."
"Bring enough men and search carefully. Wan Mengchang is in the Xiantian Realm and has been rooted in Qingzhou for many years. Who knows what good things he may have hidden away? Don't miss a single thing. Also, see if you can find anything related to the Blood Sea Cult. It would be best if you could uncover the location of one of their hidden branch headquarters."
"Yes."
Su Fei turned to gather men. Wang Meng and the other Strongmen had already been waiting outside. When they saw him emerge, they all straightened up in unison.
Having received fifty taels of reward silver yesterday and spent a merry night at the Drunken Flower Pavilion with Su Fei, the men were all brimming with energy now. Their gazes toward Su Fei were filled with admiration.
"Follow me. The Captain has given me an assignment. We're going to confiscate Wan Mengchang's home."
Su Fei kept it brief.
"Got it!" Wang Meng was the first to respond, rubbing his hands together with a foolish grin.
Confiscating an estate—now that was a fine assignment.
Li Si beside him also leaned over.
"The Wan family definitely has no shortage of silver."
Su Fei glanced at the Strongmen and laughed as he scolded them.
"Enough nonsense. Register everything we seize first and follow the rules. But whatever is due to us, none of you will get shorted."
Wan Mengchang's residence was hidden in the wealthy district of the western city, its blue-brick walls standing three feet taller than those of ordinary households.
Its vermilion-lacquered gates were far grander than Su Fei's little courtyard.
Su Fei signaled for the Strongmen to go forward and smash the gate.
After several loud bangs, an old servant poked his head out from the side gate. The instant he saw the Imperial Guard's Flying Fish Robes, his legs went limp and he collapsed to the ground.
"The Imperial Guard is conducting official business! Everyone, come out at once!"
Wang Meng stepped forward and shouted. The aura of the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm spread outward, frightening the servants pale as they hurriedly obeyed.
The entire courtyard, inside and out, fell silent as a graveyard.
The group entered the Wan residence.
Su Fei swept his gaze across the courtyard. The God-tier Insight Technique silently began operating, and he quickly locked onto the direction of the rear courtyard.
"Wang Meng, take ten men and secure the rear courtyard. The rest of you search the front courtyard with me. Remember, inspect the beams, pillars, floor tiles, and bookshelves carefully. Pry open and inspect any suspicious spot."
In the main hall of the front courtyard, a beautiful woman dressed in embroidered finery was trembling as she hugged a brocade box. She was Wan Mengchang's concubine, Lady Liu.
When she saw Su Fei enter, she hastily knelt in panic and begged for mercy.
"Lord Imperial Guard, spare my life! I'm only a concubine. I don't know anything! It was all Wan Mengchang's doing. It has nothing to do with me!"
Su Fei glanced at the brocade box in her arms and said flatly,
"Put it down and wait outside the courtyard. If you dare conceal anything, you'll be treated as an accomplice."
Lady Liu shuddered all over and hurriedly presented the brocade box.
When it was opened, it contained an entire box of pearls, every one round and lustrous. This box of pearls alone was worth a fortune.
The Strongmen moved quickly. They pried up the floor tiles in the main hall and dug up several large wooden chests from underground. When they pried one open, it was filled entirely with silver ingots, dazzling their eyes.
A hidden compartment lay behind the bookshelf in the study. They found more than a dozen ancient paintings, several jade Buddhas, and a yellowed account book that recorded in detail the dates and particulars of transactions with the Blood Sea Cult.
"Third day of the third month: ten Qi and Blood Pills exchanged for fifty taels of gold. Fifteenth day of the fifth month: fifteen Qi and Blood Pills exchanged for eighty taels of gold."
This was evidence of Wan Mengchang's dealings with the Blood Sea Cult.
Though they had not found the whereabouts of the Blood Sea Cult members, these pieces of evidence thoroughly confirmed Wan Mengchang's crimes. Su Fei would also be able to report back to Captain Li.
"Sir, we found something in the rear courtyard!"
Wang Meng's voice rang out from the front courtyard, carrying several traces of excitement.
Su Fei hurried to the rear courtyard and saw that the floor of a side room had been lifted, revealing two large wooden chests underneath.
One chest contained all manner of precious medicinal ingredients, including a century-old wild ginseng.
The other was packed with bottles and jars containing numerous medicinal pills. Their labels read "Qi Gathering Pill" and "Bone Strengthening Powder."
Wang Meng asked,
"Commander Su, should we interrogate these people?"
Su Fei shook his head. "The main culprit has already confessed. Most of these people probably know nothing. Register their names and places of origin, then take them back first."
"Register and record all the property. Send the gold, silver, and medicinal ingredients to the Thousand Households Office storehouse. Escort the account books and all suspects back to the Thousand Households Office for interrogation."
Two hours later, the residence had been turned upside down. The registry was densely filled with entries.
Eight thousand taels of silver, five hundred taels of gold, more than a hundred strings of pearls and agates, one case of South Sea pearls, sixteen ancient paintings and jade artifacts, more than thirty types of precious medicinal ingredients, twenty-eight bottles of pills, two account books, and Martial Arts manuals.
The Strongmen escorted the concubine, old servant, and the others outside. As they passed through the front courtyard, Lady Liu turned back to look at the residence, tears streaming down her face.
Su Fei looked at the pile of wealth before him.
No wonder everyone liked confiscating estates. This feeling was truly satisfying.
Wan Mengchang's family fortune was far more substantial than that of an ordinary Xiantian Realm martial artist.
All the Strongmen wore excited expressions.
According to the Imperial Guard's rules,
As the leader of the Golden Saber Society, Wan Mengchang had run the Golden Saber Society for many years and traded with the Blood Sea Cult. As expected, he had accumulated quite a fortune.
According to Imperial Guard rules, eighty percent of confiscated property had to be handed over, while twenty percent could be kept for themselves.
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