A Captain's Interrogation

Sure enough, one could not underestimate the martial artists of this world in the slightest.

On further thought, that was only natural.

Before he had entered the ranks, the effects he could achieve by cultivating poison arts would already have been considered miraculous in his previous life.

After entering the ranks, all kinds of cultivation methods would naturally grow ever more profound and mysterious.

At higher ranks, they would probably reach a level akin to cultivation...

The Yang Family's Third Young Master had died, and near his remains, they had also found the remains of the servant Xu Haoran.

This terrible news immediately threw the entire Yang Estate into an uproar.

Though no one knew why a servant had died alongside the Yang Family's Third Young Master, it was easy to suspect that there were likely traitors within the Yang Estate—and more than one.

Only traitors working from within and without could most likely have exposed Yang Yanpeng's whereabouts, allowing for an assassination specifically aimed at him.

And once the traitor had served his purpose, he had naturally been disposed of as well.

Therefore, while the Blood-Handed Butcher was the prime suspect, the Yang Estate itself also had to be thoroughly investigated.

After all, who could guarantee that Xu Haoran had been the only traitor?

The methods evil cultivators used to control people went far beyond threats and temptation. Some evil arts could even ensnare someone without them realizing they had fallen victim...

Thus, from that afternoon onward, no one was permitted to leave the estate without authorization.

Zou Feng was not panicked by this.

Everything that needed to be dealt with had been dealt with, including the poison he had stored in the chamber pot.

Having entered the ranks, he no longer had any use for that poison anyway.

Although it had been mixed with rare poisons, most toxins gradually weakened over time until they disappeared.

In short, unless he made poison that was stronger and fresher, he had no way to push his Five Poisons Skill, already honed to consummate mastery, any further.

As for Little Green and the Red Flower Scorpion...

When he had gone out that morning to buy supplies, he had hidden them in a secluded ditch at East River Mouth and left enough food for ten days or so.

Fortunately, even without them, he could still drink wine while cultivating the Drunken Immortal Gazing at the Moon Step.

While drinking, he would also take mixed pills and test the idea he had conceived earlier.

At present, Li Li was the only person left on the transfer list, but the man was an expert of the poison path and ought to be quite harvestable.

It was worth mentioning that after entering the ranks, Zou Feng had felt as though the panel in his mind had undergone an upgrade-like change.

The change had not yet completely stabilized, however, so he had received no notification for the time being.

Still, he had a premonition that as his strength and cultivation realm rose, the transfer targets available to him each time would no longer be limited to a single person.

Once he became strong enough, he might even be able to harvest a whole swath of people at once.

In the novels and television dramas he had seen in his previous life, powerful evil cultivators would casually blood-sacrifice an entire city to cultivate their evil arts.

He was not so utterly deranged as that, but blood-sacrificing several hundred enemies to perfect an evil art would not trouble him in the least.

Not dwelling on it further, Zou Feng immediately washed down mixed pills with wine, eagerly anticipating that the more he drank, the more he would gain.

After the Blood and Vitality Pill entered his stomach, its benefits were obvious.

First, the constant feeling of hunger that had plagued him finally vanished at once.

Then his entire body began itching chaotically, as though he were soaking in a hot bath. It was exceedingly comfortable.

As for side effects, he could not feel any for now.

If several more trials produced no adverse reactions, that would prove his plan worked.

After taking mixed pills, he could immediately cultivate and use the Drug-High Style without burden.

That evening, just as darkness fell.

More than a dozen brawny men in standard-issue martial uniforms, brimming with menace, entered the Yang Estate.

The man at the front had bloodshot eyes and headed straight for the mourning hall.

At that moment, Zou Feng was doing odd jobs near the mourning hall.

The instant he saw this man, who bore quite a resemblance to Yang Yanpeng, he knew his identity.

The Yang Family's Eldest Young Master, Yang Zhengfei, who served in the Great Yan Dynasty's army.

It was only normal that this man had returned so quickly.

Zou Feng had long heard people in the estate mention that the Cheetah Camp where Yang Zhengfei served was not particularly far from Yuan Guang County.

Yang Zhengfei held the post of captain in the Cheetah Camp and was a ninth-rank martial artist.

However, because he had entered the ranks through a middling-to-low-grade method, he was inferior to Yang Qianqian. Theoretically speaking, his future potential was not as great as hers.

But in terms of immediate combat strength, Yang Zhengfei was unquestionably the strongest person in the Yang Estate.

"Third Brother, no matter who it was, your elder brother will surely avenge you!"

After standing in silent mourning for a while in the mourning hall, Yang Zhengfei deliberately raised his voice, making sure nearly half the Yang Estate could hear him.

Clearly, Yang Zhengfei also suspected that there were still traitors in the estate who had not been rooted out.

And if they found the traitors, there was a strong chance they could follow the vine to its melon and drag out the Blood-Handed Butcher's hiding place.

Yang Zhengfei handled matters with thunderous speed.

Everyone in the Yang Estate, from top to bottom—including members of the Yang Family themselves—had to undergo his individual interrogation.

Servants like Zou Feng, who had left the Yang Estate that night, were naturally key subjects of investigation.

When it was his turn to be summoned, Zou Feng was somewhat uneasy, but overall remained quite calm.

He believed he had not left behind a single flaw.

Even if Yang Zhengfei had heaven-reaching methods and truly uncovered that there was something wrong with him...

Then at worst, he would carve a bloody path out and live as a fugitive.

So what if there were rank-holding martial artists in the military? Zou Feng knew full well that he was no ordinary rank-holding martial artist.

Moreover, honing a cultivation method to consummate mastery was something most eighth-rank martial artists could not accomplish.

Still, if he could avoid becoming a fugitive, it was best not to reach that point.

It would be far too inconvenient, and there would be more unforeseen complications. His master's family might even be implicated.

Upon entering the hall, Yang Zhengfei sat upright in the center. At his side stood two broad-shouldered, thick-waisted guards carrying blades, their imposing presence apparent even without anger.

As for Yang Zhengfei, there was no need to mention him. He was actually circulating his cultivation in silence, constantly exerting invisible pressure.

An ordinary martial artist facing such a scene, if he truly had something to hide, would very likely be unable to withstand it and reveal a flaw.

"Greetings, Eldest Young Master!"

Zou Feng was naturally completely unaffected. The fearful expression on his face was entirely an act.

He was no longer that novice evil cultivator who had once trembled in fear at the sight of martial artists from the Heartfelt Martial Hall.

"Speak. Where did you go when you left the estate last night?" Yang Zhengfei's method of interrogation was simple and direct.

But his voice was so loud that the entire hall seemed to tremble.

Anyone with a guilty conscience would likely have their legs start shaking from the fright of that roar.

Zou Feng revealed his acting skills at the right moment. "This humble one... this humble one went to Jade-Cross Tower..."

"What did you go there for?"

This question was even louder.

What the hell? Why are you shouting so loudly? Even putting on a loud act should have its limits.

"This humble one has recently been practicing martial arts with the estate's martial instructors. My vigor has been growing by the day, and I truly could not hold it in..."

"What was the girl's name?"

"I think she was called... Hong Ying?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Zhengfei immediately gave one of the guards beside him a look.

The guard understood and strode out of the hall at once.

After that, Yang Zhengfei asked no further questions, but neither did he allow Zou Feng to leave.

They simply waited in silence amid the stifling, oppressive atmosphere.

About the time it took to finish a meal later, the guard returned.

"Reporting, sir, I asked. This man indeed went to Jade-Cross Tower that night and sought out a girl named Hong Ying."

Yang Zhengfei's expression did not change. "Did you interrogate that Hong Ying?"

Naturally, Hong Ying had to be interrogated as well, since the two might have coordinated their testimonies.

"I did. Hong Ying said... said..." At this point, the guard actually hesitated.

Yang Zhengfei turned his head and glared at him. "Speak!"

The guard froze for a moment, then hurriedly announced in a loud voice, "Hong Ying said she could never be mistaken. She would never forget that night's pleasure for the rest of her life!"

"She also asked this subordinate to tell this Zou Feng that he must come find her again. She will not charge him!"