The Son Must Not Be Allowed to Live

As for buying his freedom, Xie An had given it careful consideration.

Previously, Xie An had neither savings nor strength, and he was already old. Once he left Li Manor, making a living would truly be difficult.

After more than half a year of burning the midnight oil to practice the Health Cultivation Technique, especially with the support of Tang Qingfeng's Unique Medicinal Prescription, Xie An's Root Bone and body had undergone tremendous improvements. He reckoned he now had the strength to easily defeat a martial artist who had just entered the Bronze Skin Realm.

Over the past few months, whenever Xie An went to the black market in disguise, Zhang Lin had treated him warmly, repeatedly extending olive branches to recruit him. His desire to win Xie An over had grown increasingly intense.

Now that Xie An's strength had risen, he figured there should be no problem with going to White Feather Hall to work as an executive.

With an annual income of two hundred and forty taels, plus all kinds of generous martial arts benefits, not only would his livelihood for the coming days be secured, but he would also have access to resources for practicing martial arts.

Just as Xie An was pondering this, a commotion came from the reception hall.

"Executive Zhang, you're a rare guest indeed. Welcome, welcome."

Li Ru, dressed in a bright red celebratory robe, hurriedly rose and warmly welcomed a burly man in his forties into the reception hall.

Even the eldest young master of Li Manor, Li Shaoyun, rose to greet him. "Executive Zhang, welcome, welcome."

The man addressed as Executive Zhang entered carrying large and small bundles of gifts. As he handed them to the maids, he said with a smile, "I, Zhang Biao, also came from the county's Martial Arts Hall. Shaoyun is practically half a younger brother to me. Now that Shaoyun has passed the xiucai examination, as his elder brother, I naturally had to come and offer my congratulations."

"Executive Zhang, your presence alone makes my Li Manor shine. Why bring gifts as well? You're far too courteous. Please, sit."

"Master Li, please."

Xie An sat in his place, no longer in the mood to eat. His eyes measured Zhang Biao, who occupied the seat of honor.

So this was the Executive Zhang Zhang Lin had mentioned.

They said only after Zhang Biao left would the executive's position become vacant...

After calculating for a while, Xie An quietly asked Chunlan beside him, "Miss Chunlan, is Executive Zhang close with Master Li?"

Faced with Xie An's question, Chunlan did not conceal anything. "They weren't very familiar at first. Later, because of Zhang Wei's death and the death of the eldest son-in-law, Executive Zhang began coming here more frequently."

"Why is that?"

Chunlan glanced around. After confirming no one was paying attention, she leaned close to Xie An's ear and whispered, "It's said that Zhang Wei was Zhang Biao's biological nephew. Zhang Biao has come to Li Manor several times to exchange information and has been secretly investigating the murderer."

Xie An's heart jolted when he heard this, but he merely glanced at Zhang Biao in the distance without revealing anything.

So Zhang Wei was his nephew, and he was still secretly investigating the murderer?

Xie An lowered his head and began to ponder... Originally, he had not been particularly determined to deal with Zhang Biao. He did not want to involve himself too deeply in the grudges of the martial world.

But if that was the case, then...

At the banquet, Master Li naturally could not avoid boasting about how promising his son was at such a young age. He then handed out some silver.

After roughly two hours, the banquet ended.

As servants, Xie An and the others were the first to leave.

Xie An privately found Chunlan. "Miss Chunlan, I'd like to trouble you with something."

Chunlan was quite straightforward. "Master Xie, just say what you have to say."

Xie An said, "I'm getting old, and I can't keep up physically. I'm afraid I'll hold back the pawnshop. Besides, my two apprentices have both reached the point where they can graduate. I'd like to ask Miss Chunlan to sound out Master Li and see whether he might allow me to buy my freedom and spend my old age in peace."

Madam Li handled affairs thoughtfully, but Master Li was miserly and harsh. That had been clear from the last time he cut off Xie An's medicine. To avoid an awkward situation, Xie An still felt it would be more appropriate to have Chunlan sound him out indirectly.

Chunlan was extremely surprised when she heard this.

In these times, servants were lowly.

Especially once they grew old, being able to rely on their master's household—the great tree that sheltered them—for their retirement was undoubtedly an excellent destination for a servant.

It was truly rare for someone to still want to buy his freedom in old age.

"Master Xie, if you leave Li Manor at your age, with the world outside in chaos, are you sure you've thought it through?"

"I have."

Chunlan no longer tried to dissuade him. "All right. Wait for me outside. I'll go find Madam Li now. Tonight is New Year's Eve, a festive occasion. Maybe Madam Li will be in a good mood and agree."

"Thank you, Miss Chunlan."

After seeing Chunlan off, Xie An went alone to wait at the gates of Li Manor.

It was the depths of winter, with wind and snow stretching without end.

The passersby were all dressed in thick cotton-padded coats. They kept rubbing their hands and blowing warm air into them for heat.

Yet Xie An stood ramrod straight in the snow, letting the drifting flakes settle on his shoulders without feeling cold in the slightest. The warm current in his lower abdomen continued to generate heat, coursing through his limbs and bones.

This was an ability possessed only by martial artists in the Bronze Skin Realm.

"You're Xie An, the Appraisal Master from the Li Family Pawnshop, aren't you?"

A neither-warm-nor-cold voice interrupted Xie An's thoughts. He looked up and saw Zhang Biao and Li Shaoyun walking out side by side.

It was Zhang Biao who had spoken, his face full of lofty arrogance.

Xie An said, "That's me."

Zhang Biao wore an overbearing expression. "I heard Zhang Wei had an argument with you at the pawnshop before. Is that true?"

Xie An calmly recounted what had happened at the time, then said, "I've worked as the Appraisal Master at the pawnshop for many years. I've always diligently protected its business and done my best to find ways to earn it more silver. I've never dared make the slightest mistake."

Li Shaoyun was satisfied with Xie An's explanation. He tugged at Zhang Biao's shoulder. "Brother Zhang, Old Xie has been a servant of my Li Manor for thirty years. He has always known his place and handled matters properly. The prices of antiques and curios naturally fluctuate, so a few arguments are perfectly normal. Let's go. We have business to attend to. There's no need to waste energy on a servant."

"Let's hope I was just overthinking it!" Zhang Biao snorted coldly before following Li Shaoyun away.

Only after the two had gone far did Xie An slowly raise his head.

He was certain that when he had hacked Zhang Wei and Lu Wei to death, he had left behind no clues that could reveal his identity. No matter how Zhang Biao investigated, it was impossible for him to find evidence.

But being watched constantly was still a hidden danger.

It was like when a murder occurred in his previous life. Besides gathering evidence at the scene, the police would also focus on investigating people who had clashed with the victim.

The thought of taking out Zhang Biao began to take root in Xie An's heart.

Not long afterward, Chunlan arrived.

"Madam Li said that this matter still needs to be discussed with Master Li. She wants you to come to Li Manor again in three days."

After saying that, Chunlan added, "In my view, Madam Li sympathizes with you and intends to let you buy your freedom. But it seems Master Li is unwilling to release you."

"Thank you, Miss Chunlan."

Xie An understood. He thanked her and hurried away.

Today was New Year's Eve, so Xie An did not return directly to the pawnshop. Instead, he bought some gifts and went to Chen Martial Arts School to visit Chen He.

After living in Wuqiao Town for thirty years, Xie An had only a handful of close friends.

Chen He was one of them.

Xie An naturally would not neglect the proper courtesies.

After sharing a few cups of wine with Chen He, Xie An declined Chen He's invitation to stay the night and keep watch for the new year before taking his leave.

By the time he returned to the pawnshop, it was already deep into the night.

The moment he reached the entrance, he heard waves of sobbing from inside.

Had something happened?

Xie An hurriedly pushed open the door and entered. He saw He Chunli sprawled over a stool with his trousers pulled down, revealing buttocks beaten until the flesh had split and curled. Beside him, Han Li was using a hot towel to compress his wounds.

"What happened?"

Han Li spoke angrily. "Constable Liu just took Little He away for questioning and wouldn't let me come along. Then Little He ended up like this."

In this chaotic era, it was commonplace for constables to arrest people and interrogate them with brutal torture.

Xie An vaguely sensed what was going on and asked He Chunli sternly, "What did Constable Liu ask you?"

He Chunli endured the pain and held back his tears, gritting his teeth as he refused to speak. "Nothing. Just some ordinary questions."

Xie An snorted coldly. "You don't consider your master an outsider, do you?"

He Chunli immediately panicked. In the end, he said through his tears, "I—I didn't want to hide it from you, Master. I just didn't want you to worry."

"If you don't want me to worry, then explain everything clearly."

Only then did He Chunli say, "A few months ago, Zhang Wei and I had an argument when he came to the pawnshop. Constable Liu asked whether I had held a grudge and retaliated afterward... I said no, so Constable Liu tortured me, trying to force a confession. In the end, he only let me go after seeing how stubborn I was."

Xie An's gaze darkened.

They had abused their authority and used torture on his own apprentice.

Thinking back to what Zhang Biao had said to him at the gates of Li Manor that day...

It was definitely Zhang Biao's doing...

This son must not be allowed to live!