Asking Questions at the Pleasure House

A twist of fate.

Old Man Ma collapsed to the ground. Though he had not heard what the constable and Li Yuan had said, he still felt that it could not be anything good. So he began shouting again like a scoundrel throwing a tantrum. "Help! Help!! Murder!!"

This was the yamen. If he shouted for help, more constables would surely come out.

But he was wrong.

No matter how hoarse he screamed, the yamen gates remained shut.

During this time, Tian Bao wanted to cover Old Man Ma's mouth, but Li Yuan stopped him with a look.

Li Yuan simply let Old Man Ma scream his heart out.

A moment later, the yamen remained tightly closed, and Li Yuan could not help narrowing his eyes.

It was true.

Old Man Ma had cried and shouted for so long, yet no one else came out.

Order in Shanbao County was no longer maintained by the yamen.

Seeing this, panic began to show on the villagers' faces. Someone asked, "Yuan Ge'er, what's going on?"

Li Yuan's expression shifted slightly. Pretending not to care, he said casually, "Oh, it's nothing. That man is my Brother Cai. We just recognized each other. He told me to handle this as I saw fit, and that it would be fine even if I killed someone."

The man said, "How is that possible? Is there still any law?"

Another villager found it equally unbelievable. "That can't be right. Monk Pan was beheaded right away after committing a crime before."

Li Yuan did not waste words. He stepped forward, grabbed Old Man Ma from the village, and slapped him so hard that he could not speak. Then, with a casual twist, he broke his other hand as well.

Old Man Ma screamed miserably, but the yamen gates did not open at all.

Endless terror finally appeared in his eyes.

Li Yuan looked at everyone and said, "Take him back first."

As soon as he finished speaking, he tilted his head slightly toward Tian Bao.

The young man was staring at him with blazing eyes full of admiration.

"Brother Yuan, don't worry. I'll escort Old Man Ma back."

Li Yuan nodded, took out two Big Coins, and handed them to Tian Bao. "Exchange these for copper coins. Give everyone ten coins each, and keep the rest."

Tian Bao said, "Brother Yuan, I don't want that much money. I... I..."

The young man stammered for a while before saying, "I just want to follow you."

Li Yuan patted his shoulder. "Living a good life is much better than hanging around with me."

"Brother Yuan, then I..." Tian Bao stuttered a few words, but in the end, he did not say, "Then I'll live with you."

He was not some woman. How could Brother Yuan live with him? Why would he?

Tian Bao respectfully replied, "Yes, Brother Yuan."

Then the group escorted Old Man Ma back the way they had come.

Li Yuan, however, remained where he was.

He looked calm, but there was some panic in his heart.

Cai Ze's words were still rumbling through his mind.

What did he mean, the chief clerk was dead and two families and one sect were now maintaining order in Shanbao County?

What did he mean, no one would care if someone was killed, and I could quietly finish someone off?

This world...

No, he had to get to the bottom of this.

Watching the villagers leave, Li Yuan closed his eyes and sorted through his thoughts. After taking a deep breath, he turned and knocked on the yamen gates again.

When no one answered, he hesitated and paced back and forth a few times. Then he gritted his teeth, picked up the drumstick again, spread his hands, and began beating the drum. Bang! Bang! Bang!

Not long after, the gates opened again.

The constable who came out was still Cai Ze.

Cai Ze looked thoroughly impatient and was about to scold him. But when he saw Li Yuan, he restrained himself and asked, "What else is it, Brother Li?"

Li Yuan cupped his fists and smiled politely. "It's nearly noon, so I thought I'd invite Brother Cai to a simple meal. I hit it off with Brother Cai right away. We should drain a big cup together."

Cai Ze smiled as well. He looked Li Yuan up and down a few times, noticed the iron bow on his back, and asked, "Brother Li, are you from Shanbao County?"

Li Yuan smiled. "I'm a local. I used to live in the county seat, but moved to Little Ink Village three years ago and have been hunting ever since."

"A hunter? The County Magistrate has not issued many Hunter Permits, and none of them were to a Li family," Cai Ze said.

Li Yuan said, "Mine was signed by the previous County Magistrate."

"The previous County Magistrate..." Cai Ze's expression shifted. Then he suddenly asked, "What was your father's name?"

"Li Zhao."

Cai Ze froze for a moment, then burst out laughing and came over to pat Li Yuan on the shoulder. "No wonder you looked familiar just now. So you're Uncle Zhao's son.

"When I first entered the yamen, Uncle Zhao was still serving there. Later, it seemed he was seriously injured while doing something for the County Magistrate, which was why he retired."

Li Yuan was stunned as well.

He knew that his father had once been a constable, but he had retired many years ago. When he died, perhaps because of the plague, no friends had come to mourn him.

Now that he had this additional connection with the constable, it was certainly a good thing for him.

Li Yuan pretended to be excited. "Brother Cai, who would have thought we had such a connection?"

Cai Ze smiled and squeezed his arm. "Good lad, neither your 'Brother Cai' nor my 'brother' was wrong. Haha, we should drain a big cup. We certainly should."

A short while later.

Cai Ze brought Li Yuan into Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion and called over a young courtesan to pour their drinks.

Li Yuan's heart ached terribly, but in order to obtain some important information, he had no choice but to go along with Cai Ze.

He could only keep a close eye on the fruit, wine, and other things served in the pavilion. If the cost seemed to go overboard, he planned to stop it immediately. Even if it meant losing face, there was nothing he could do.

But before that, he did not hold back his questions.

After offering a cup of wine, he said, "Brother Cai, all anyone wants is a stable life. So what exactly is going on in the county now?"

Cai Ze smiled and pointed at the courtesan. "You might as well ask her. They know too."

Li Yuan said, "Miss, may I ask you something?"

Hearing him call her "Miss," the courtesan giggled. Then, swaying her slender waist, she slid her soft body into his arms and settled her bottom onto his thigh. "I'm not called Miss. I'm Yun Niang."

Li Yuan felt the sensation on his thigh, but he did not resist. He was neither a righteous gentleman nor some shy, innocent young master. What did it matter if an unfamiliar young woman sat on his lap?

More importantly... he had paid for it.

That bottom was practically gold-plated.

"Yun Niang, may I ask you something?"

"Drink this cup first, young master, then I'll tell you."

Li Yuan drained it in one gulp.

Yun Niang said, "Right now, two families and one sect have the final say in the county.

"The two families are the Wei Family and the Sun Family.

"The sect is the Blood Saber Sect.

"Our Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion is in Silver Stream Village, and this area is protected by the Blood Saber Sect.

"The Blood Saber Sect is quite formidable. Not only do they control Silver Stream Village, they also control Zichong Ward and Wutong Ward.

"And those three are considered the best three wards among Shanbao County's twelve wards."

Li Yuan asked, "What about the authorities?"

Yun Niang giggled. "Drink another cup, and I'll continue."

Li Yuan downed another cup in one go.

Yun Niang said, "There's nothing to hide from you, young master. At Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, we only know the Blood Saber Sect, not the authorities. It was like that in the past, and it is the same now.

"Only, when the County Magistrate and County Commandant were still around, Zichong Ward and Wutong Ward belonged to the authorities. Now that they are gone, those wards naturally joined the Blood Saber Sect's side.

"The Wei Family and Sun Family are the same. They each originally occupied one ward, but now each occupies three.

"As for poor places like Little Ink Village, none of the two families and one sect care for them, so they have been left to develop on their own."

This...

Li Yuan understood at once. The information in his memories had been incredibly superficial.

Perhaps only those who drifted through these gray areas knew some of the real situation.

Then what exactly was the relationship between the martial world factions and the authorities in this world?

Based on both his original memories and memories from before he transmigrated, it should not have been difficult for the authorities to wipe out martial world factions. In a low-martial world, even martial arts masters could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. In a slightly stronger world, a dynasty that gathered countless resources would likely have more powerful experts than the martial world factions.

But now it seemed that in Shanbao County, the authorities had always occupied a low position, while the real powers at the top were these two families and one sect.

The next moment, he suddenly thought of something. He shook his leg and said, "Yun Niang, go drink with Brother Cai. You needn't mind me."

Yun Niang shifted her bottom and rose reluctantly. Compared to Cai Ze, Li Yuan was young and quietly imposing. Sitting in his lap, she truly had not suffered in the slightest.

She swayed her waist, about to sit in Cai Ze's arms.

But Cai Ze directly raised a hand to stop Yun Niang. He laughed. "What's the fun in having one woman move back and forth between us? Call another one."

Li Yuan: ...

He took a deep breath. "Brother Cai, my purse..."

Cai Ze frowned and interrupted him. "How much money did you bring?"

Li Yuan smiled bitterly. "To be honest with you, Brother Cai, I have forty-eight Big Coins left. Not one more."

Cai Ze said, "That's enough."

As he spoke, he pointed at Yun Niang and smiled. "Make sure you serve my brother well."

Yun Niang giggled. "Yes."

With that, Yun Niang went out to call another girl.

Li Yuan's heart ached terribly. Sister Yan had given him a hundred Big Coins. At this rate, he would spend every last one in a single day.

No, he had to get something back from this. He had to make it worth the cost.

He hurriedly said, "Brother Cai, to be honest, when I was little, I lived in Silver Creek with my parents. Now that I've grown up, it isn't easy to return even once.

"I've always felt some longing for home.

"Brother Cai is often in Silver Creek. Do you know whether there are still any available residency spots in Silver Stream Village? Your brother wants to move back."