Something Terrible Has Happened!

This was destined to be a sleepless night.

Yangzhou City was in an uproar.

The Cao Gang, which lorded over Yangzhou City, had lost a Hall Master, two stewards, and several elite disciples in a single night.

And they had been beaten to death in the streets of Yangzhou City.

A Cao Gang Hall Master—and the son of the Cao Gang's Deputy Gang Leader at that—had been beaten to death in the street on his own turf.

It was no different from shitting on the Cao Gang's head.

"This is simply lawless!"

Deputy Gang Leader Zhang Yangming wept bitterly as he held his son's corpse, while Gang Leader Cao Xiong flew into a rage.

"Notify the Demon Suppressing Division and the Governor's Mansion. Tell them to get to work. A Hall Master of our Cao Gang cannot die in vain."

"Also, send all the brothers out to search. Even if you have to turn Yangzhou City upside down, find me the killer."

"Yes!"

Late at night.

Countless Cao Gang disciples ran through every corner of Yangzhou City with torches, conducting a house-to-house, carpet-style search.

The door was suddenly slammed open.

"Steward Li, something terrible has happened!"

Brother Xin cried out in a panic.

Inside the Cultivation Room, Li Xian sat cross-legged. He raised his eyes toward Brother Xin and said expressionlessly, "Have I ever told you to remember to knock before entering my room?"

Under Li Xian's cold gaze, Brother Xin shuddered and hurriedly explained.

"I'm sorry, Steward Li. I won't do it again."

Li Xian did not pursue the matter. "What happened to make you so flustered?"

Brother Xin said, "Zhang Fengyuan, Lu Wu'an, and Duan Sanping are dead. They were killed!"

"Oh?" Li Xian looked slightly surprised. "How did they die? Who killed them?"

"You don't know?" Brother Xin looked even more astonished.

A playful smile appeared on Li Xian's face. "Why should I know?"

"I thought..."

"You thought I killed them?"

"Uh..."

Brother Xin suddenly realized that he had made a grave mistake.

He should not have tried to be clever. He should not have made wild guesses. As a subordinate, he should not pry into his superior's secrets.

That was seeking his own death.

Seeing the smile on Li Xian's face, chills rose in his heart. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Steward Li. I shouldn't have talked too much, I shouldn't have talked too much. Please spare my life, spare my life."

Li Xian's face went dark.

What are you doing?

I wanted you to guess it, then spread it everywhere so everyone would know that I killed Zhang Fengyuan.

But you have no evidence that I killed him, and you can't do a thing to me.

"Get up. What are you doing?" Li Xian said helplessly.

Brother Xin did not dare get up. "Steward Li, you really won't kill me?"

Li Xian said helplessly, "Why would I kill you?"

"Because I..." Brother Xin did not dare continue.

Because I saw through your plan and guessed that you killed Zhang Fengyuan, so you want to silence me.

He thought to himself.

"Zhang Fengyuan wasn't killed by me," Li Xian said. "I've been at the docks all night, in my room the whole time. I didn't go anywhere."

Brother Xin thought about it and realized that seemed right. He had been guarding the docks all night and had not seen Steward Li leave at all.

"Then... I..."

"Go out. Do whatever you're supposed to do."

"Yes. Then I won't disturb you any longer."

As he watched Brother Xin's departing back, the corner of Li Xian's mouth quietly curled upward.

He laughed wildly in his heart.

I killed him!

I killed him!!

I'd already found out that Zhang Fengyuan would be drinking and dining at Eight Immortals Tower tonight. While you weren't paying attention, I jumped out the window and left!

I waited for Zhang Fengyuan to come out of Eight Immortals Tower, then killed him with my own hands!

He was afraid. He begged for mercy. But I killed him anyway!

It was as easy as crushing an ant to death!

I forced his entire head into the floor, grinding it into a pulp!

Li Xian closed his eyes, recalling that crisp, pleasing crack, his face utterly enraptured.

Dawn broke.

A new day began.

The people of Yangzhou City, exhaustion written across their faces, began another day of bustling about.

As word of what had happened last night spread from mouth to mouth, the tale traveled farther and farther.

Beyond their shock and bewilderment, they felt a flicker of excitement.

Now there was a show to watch.

Someone actually dared to lay hands on the Cao Gang in Yangzhou City. That was truly audacious...

Thrilling, even.

Now it depended on how the Cao Gang would find the murderer and punish him to reclaim their pride.

Yangzhou City, Cao Gang headquarters, Loyalty and Righteousness Hall.

The Cao Gang's headquarters was a colossal dragon ship stretching across the Grand Canal, its hull hundreds of meters long and dozens of meters wide.

The Cao Gang had a long history. It had arisen alongside the digging of the canal at the founding of this dynasty, and after hundreds of years of wind and rain, it had long since grown into a towering tree.

All along the banks of the Grand Canal lay the Cao Gang's sphere of influence.

Inside Loyalty and Righteousness Hall.

Deputy Gang Leader Zhang Yangming stood in the main hall, cursing whoever he caught like a madman.

"Trash!"

"You're all a bunch of trash!"

"One whole night, and not a single clue!"

"You've disgraced the Cao Gang beyond measure!"

More than a dozen Hall Masters knelt in the hall with their heads lowered, scarcely daring to breathe.

Let him curse them a little. After all, his own son had just died.

Times were hard for everyone these days. Understanding was everything.

Cao Xiong sat in the seat of honor, his face dark as he stared at those below without saying a word.

After a whole night of work, they had come up empty-handed.

As the Cao Gang Leader, he naturally felt utterly humiliated.

Who exactly was stirring up trouble behind the scenes?

The Demon Suppressing Division? Unlikely. Demonic Evil had been running rampant these past few years; they had no time to bother with the Cao Gang.

The Governor's Mansion? Hm, that was possible. Governor Zheng had only recently taken office and was eager to crush the Cao Gang's spirit and bolster his own prestige. But given his character, he would never do something so brazen.

Who else was left?

White Dragon Temple? Sword Holding Pavilion? Or Chao Tian Temple?

He ran through every imagined enemy in his mind, but in the end found nothing.

"Enough. Stop making noise."

Cao Xiong said impatiently.

"You're giving me a headache."

Zhang Yangming knew better and immediately shut his mouth.

Cao Xiong held absolute authority over the Cao Gang. Even Zhang Yangming, the Deputy Gang Leader, had to watch his expression before acting.

He looked toward Guan Wangsheng, the Hall Master of Xingshang Hall, below.

"Wangsheng, what did the Demon Suppressing Division and the Governor's Mansion say?"

Guan Wangsheng replied, "I went to ask them this morning. Their answer was that they're still investigating."

"Hmph!"

Cao Xiong snorted coldly. "Rely on that bunch of good-for-nothings, and we won't find the murderer in this lifetime!"

"Gang Leader, what do we do now? My son can't have died for nothing!" Zhang Yangming said through tears and snot.

Cao Xiong lowered his head and looked at him.

"Has your son offended anyone recently?"

Another possibility had just occurred to him. Could it have been one of their own?

It would be a joke if there was a ghost in their own house and they did not even know it.

Zhang Yangming's expression immediately turned troubled.

What kind of question was that, sir? Who did they not offend on any given day? How could one climb to this position in the Cao Gang without offending anyone?

"This... this... how should I put it..." Zhang Yangming stammered, unable to get the words out.

Cao Xiong said impatiently, "Which people have you offended who also have the ability to do something like this?"

With that hint, Zhang Yangming understood.

He racked his brains for a long while, but in the end, still wearing a bitter expression, he said, "It seems... there really aren't any."

He had not thought of Li Xian at all.

Li Xian was someone Zhang Fengyuan had offended.

But Li Xian was only a minor steward. Zhang Fengyuan had never even taken him seriously; even when he stole credit for his achievements, he had not told his father.

So Zhang Yangming did not know Li Xian existed at all.

Last night, Zhang Yangming had only heard that his son was going out to treat people to drinks. He had thought it was merely an ordinary gathering—how could he have imagined it would be his last supper?

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