You Can't Handle It

Meanwhile, in the small courtyard where Lin Xiao lived in Emerald Cloud Valley.

"Brother Lin, six days have passed, and we still haven't found a single clue. Looks like our good days are about to come to an end."

In the rain pavilion in the courtyard, Kong Mingyuan took a sip of tea and said gloomily.

The Market Masters of Emerald Cloud Valley were highly coveted positions. Now that something this serious had happened, the other Market Masters were all watching, waiting to take their places.

If they couldn't find the person who started this case, the two of them would have to pack up and leave.

"What's there to be afraid of? We're both martial artists who've entered the ranks. We can't kill first-rank monsters, but killing unranked ones would be as easy as turning our hands over."

Lin Xiao said nonchalantly, "Besides, in a situation like this, no matter who was there, they couldn't have prevented it..."

Kong Mingyuan sighed. "Those damn thieves. We were far too lenient with them before. If we can keep serving as Market Masters in Emerald Cloud Valley, I won't go easy on anyone who dares to cause trouble again."

Lin Xiao sighed. "It's too late to say all that now. I'm afraid neither of us can escape the fallout this time. Who could have guessed those fellows would be so brazen as to lure a Dark Gold Red Tiger off a cliff and cause a commotion just to sneak into the valley and steal Origin Mulberry Fruit?"

"The losses this time are simply too great. Even Hall Master Gu can't suppress the matter."

Just then, someone suddenly knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Who is it?"

Lin Xiao looked toward the gate and asked impatiently.

"Market Master Lin, it's me, Hong Jingcheng!"

Hong Jingcheng called out from outside.

Lin Xiao asked, "What is it?"

"Market Master Lin, I've caught the two ringleaders who were behind the crime that night."

At his words, Lin Xiao and Kong Mingyuan both changed expression. They sprang to their feet and hurried straight to the gate.

Creak.

The gate swung open. Guo Jinchuan and Yue Kun lay tossed on the ground beside Hong Jingcheng, both unconscious.

"Hong Jingcheng, you're saying these two were the ones who lured the Dark Gold Red Tiger off the cliff that night?"

Lin Xiao glanced at Guo Jinchuan and Yue Kun, his face full of doubt.

"That's right."

Hong Jingcheng nodded, looking somewhat excited.

Kong Mingyuan said gravely, "Tell us the whole story. Start from the beginning."

"Yes."

Hong Jingcheng began slowly, "Here's what happened..."

He explained how Guo Jinchuan had fallen into gambling debt and how the Money Gang had entered the valley to collect.

After that, he'd tailed Guo Jinchuan, discovered him meeting up with Yue Kun, and accidentally stumbled upon their scheme.

He also gave a general account of how Guo Jinchuan and Yue Kun had gathered men and set a trap to lure the Dark Gold Red Tiger off the cliff.

Hong Jingcheng naturally left out everything about Shen Mu, instead claiming that he'd sensed something was wrong, followed up on it, and eventually cracked the case.

This credit is too much for Brother Shen to handle...

Lin Xiao praised him three times in a row. When he looked at Guo Jinchuan, his expression darkened. "I never would've thought this incident involved an inside job. Even our Firewood Gang had people who'd turned against us."

"It's like searching high and low, only to find what you wanted without lifting a finger."

Kong Mingyuan was also excited. He laughed, "Now that we've caught the two ringleaders, all we have to do is follow the clues from them and arrest everyone involved."

Hong Jingcheng fetched a basin of water and poured it over Yue Kun, bringing him around again.

Seeing Lin Xiao and Kong Mingyuan, Yue Kun's face twitched. He knew he was unlikely to leave here alive.

"Your name is Yue Kun, right?"

Lin Xiao's smile faded. Looking down at him, he said sternly, "Tell us, who else took part in the operation that night?"

A cold smile touched Yue Kun's lips. "Since I'm going to die anyway, why should I waste my breath?"

Though that was what he said, Yue Kun was actually hoping to use the situation to bargain for a chance at survival.

"Going to die anyway?"

Kong Mingyuan said coldly, "You won't get to die that easily. I suggest you wise up and tell us where the others are before you do. Otherwise, you'll be in for a bit of pain."

Yue Kun's lips curled in a mocking smile, but he said nothing.

"In that case, let's see whether your mouth or your bones are harder."

Lin Xiao glanced at Hong Jingcheng and said blandly, "Get started."

"Sure thing, Market Master Lin, Market Master Kong. You two step aside first, so you don't get blood on you."

Hong Jingcheng said, then walked forward with a sinister grin.

"Yue Kun, I'll give you one more chance. Are you going to talk or not?"

Hong Jingcheng asked, his gaze icy.

When Yue Kun still said nothing, Hong Jingcheng didn't waste any more words. He stepped forward with a cold laugh and slammed his fist down on Yue Kun's left thumb.

The force of the blow crushed Yue Kun's thumb, turning bone and flesh into a bloody pulp.

"Ah!"

The pain shot through Yue Kun's entire body. His face twisted as he let out a wretched scream that rang through all of Emerald Cloud Valley.

"Kill me! Just kill me!"

Yue Kun howled like a madman.

Only now did he realize his mistake. Not everyone could endure the process of interrogation.

"Boy, you still have nine fingers and ten toes. If you don't confess, I don't mind smashing them one by one!"

Hong Jingcheng cackled with a vicious grin.

"Don't! I'll talk. I'll tell you everything."

When Hong Jingcheng raised his fist again, Yue Kun finally broke completely.

For him now, death had become a luxury.

He knew full well that until he'd named his other accomplices, the three men before him wouldn't let him die so easily.

The endless interrogation left him unable to put on a brave face any longer.

"What are you waiting for? Give us their names, cultivation levels, and home addresses, one by one."

Lin Xiao glanced at the sky and spoke impatiently.

He could hardly wait to go arrest them and claim the reward.

After all, Ren Yunzhao had said there was no upper limit on the bounty: five hundred taels of silver for every person arrested.

Yue Kun drew a deep breath and said in a trembling voice, "He Shanliu, Third Stage Boiling Blood, lives at Number Fifty-Nine, Willow Cloud Alley, Pine Suburb Street..."

"Chen Yunyuan, Third Stage Boiling Blood, lives at Number Thirteen, Boluo Alley, Tai Gang Street..."

"Fu Bohong, Fourth Stage Boiling Blood, lives at Number Ninety-Five, Changyang Alley, Kunhua Street..."

"..."

Yue Kun named a total of twenty-two people involved. He even revealed every place where the Origin Mulberry Fruit had been hidden. Lin Xiao and Kong Mingyuan could barely contain their delight as they listened.

The more people involved, the more the two of them stood to earn, right?

"Is that everyone?"

When Yue Kun finally stopped, Lin Xiao asked gravely.

"That's everyone. There were twenty-four of us in all."

Yue Kun's eyes were unfocused as he shook his head.

"Good."

Lin Xiao turned to Hong Jingcheng and asked, "Did you write down everything he said?"

"I did."

Hong Jingcheng handed over the list, then hesitated. "Market Master Lin, everyone involved is from the Hundred Generations Martial Hall. If we round them all up, could that anger the Hundred Generations Martial Hall?"

"Hmph, anger the Hundred Generations Martial Hall?"

Kong Mingyuan snorted. "What does the Hundred Generations Martial Hall amount to? The students they train are nothing but a pack of thieves and rogues."

"If word of this reaches the hall's master, he'll have to come to our Gang Leader's door and apologize."

Lin Xiao took the list and sneered. "Now that we know where these people live, let's start making arrests."

He looked at Hong Jingcheng and ordered, "Jingcheng, you're in charge of guarding these two. Market Master Kong and I will handle the rest."

At that, Hong Jingcheng's mouth twitched. He replied respectfully, "Yes."

Just as he'd expected, these two wanted to use the opportunity to make a windfall too.

Still, the two men he'd caught would earn him a clean thousand taels of silver. That was already a bountiful haul.

"Hong Jingcheng, you've done a great service this time. The two of us will report it to Incense Master Ren. You'll get the share you've earned, of course."

"But what isn't yours is more than you can handle. You understand what I mean?"

Hong Jingcheng nodded repeatedly and smiled. "I understand."

Before leaving, Kong Mingyuan smiled and said, "Consider this a favor Market Master Lin and I owe you. If there's ever anything within our power to do, just ask."

Kong Mingyuan's words made Hong Jingcheng's eyes light up. He demurred, "You're too kind, Market Master Kong. As a member of the Firewood Gang, this is simply my duty..."

Though he said that, Hong Jingcheng was delighted inside.

The favor of two Market Masters was worth far more than a thousand taels of silver.