A quarter of an hour earlier.
Two men in black arrived deep inside the mine.
The man removed his bamboo hat, revealing a handsome, regular-featured face. He was none other than Zhou Mansion's head guard, Zhou Li.
The other man pulled off his veil. He had a ratlike face and shifty eyes, and his inverted-V-shaped brows gave him a sinister look.
"Commander Zhou, you can see we've nearly finished digging up the Red Sand. Shouldn't you settle the rest of my payment?" Qian Tong said with a fawning smile, rubbing his hands together.
Zhou Li's eyes showed a trace of disgust.
Though Heaven Capital City stood at the Son of Heaven's feet, wherever there was light, there were shadows. The city was a jumble of all sorts, with unsavory dealings hidden in its dark corners.
Qian Tong was a trafficker who made his living kidnapping and selling people.
He had brought these miners in from the nearby villages and towns. Most were solitary souls—widowers, widows, and people with no family. Even if they went missing, no one would care.
When Zhou Li said nothing, Qian Tong's smile faded. He furrowed his brow.
"Commander Zhou, don't tell me you're planning to welsh on the deal?"
"Illegally mining Red Sand is a capital offense. I risked my neck to do this for you... Don't think you can silence me, either. If I haven't returned by dawn, my brother will make this matter public."
"The Zhou Family is porcelain. Don't go smashing yourselves against a rock like me."
"Just settle my payment, and I'll leave Heaven Capital City at once. I guarantee not a word will get out."
Business had been getting worse lately. That constable surnamed Lin from the Six Gates was ruthless, and in just three months, she had arrested dozens