Interrogation

Wu Han stared at the women for a long while. Not only did they fail to stir the slightest desire in him, the more he looked, the angrier he became. His already lecherous face twisted before their eyes.

With a deafening crash, he raised his hand and smashed the solid-wood tea table beside him to pieces. Splinters flew everywhere.

The three women turned pale with fright and trembled all over, not daring to make a sound.

"A bunch of useless trash! And you call yourselves the top beauties of Moon Gazing Pavilion? All looks and no substance!"

Wu Han swore loudly right there in the room.

Scenes like this had played out countless times over the past few days. Everyone in the courtyard was on edge, walking on tiptoe for fear of provoking the young master.

Seeing that things were going badly, Xue Zhao hurriedly waved the three bewildered women out of the room.

He gazed longingly after their graceful figures until they disappeared beyond the courtyard gate. Only then did he reluctantly turn away, his face instantly blooming into a fawning smile as he picked up where Wu Han had left off:

"You're right, young master. Those women were nothing but frail willows and fading flowers—not worthy of your notice. It's only natural they failed to stir your interest.

"After all, what good could a little place like Black Water Town possibly offer?

"Once you return to Ping'an County, you can choose a few truly fine girls to attend to you. Your health will surely improve in no time."

Wu Han's expression eased slightly, but the gloom in his eyes remained.

Over the past few days, his hidden physical affliction had all but become an obsession.

At the thought that he might never be able to perform as a man again, he ground his teeth in hatred. The blaze of fury in his chest refused to die down, no matter how hard he tried to suppress it.

"It's all that bitch Li Muxue's fault! If not for her, how would I have ended up like this?"

His hatred grew with every word, and killing intent nearly spilled from his eyes. "And that thief who ambushed me—let's see him try to hide from me. If I ever find out who he is, I'll tear him limb from limb and grind his bones to dust. Only then will I be satisfied!"

Xue Zhao listened with cold sweat trickling down his back, his heart pounding. Still, he edged forward to comfort him:

"Please calm down, young master. Just wait a few more days. I've assigned more men to investigate, and we should make a major breakthrough within the next couple of days. You can rest assured."

Wu Han shot him a sidelong glance, his voice dark and cold. "You'd better be right. If there's no progress, just wait and see what I do to you."

Xue Zhao hurriedly bowed and nodded, his smile growing ever more obsequious and confident.

Fan Qingyang had given him a firm guarantee that the plan would go off without a hitch this time.

Not only did he think he had nothing to fear, he was already calculating that he would likely earn merit and catch Wu Han's eye.

If he could truly latch onto such a powerful patron, rise another step in rank, or even be taken into the Wu Family as a servant, he would be soaring to the heavens in a single bound.

Just as Xue Zhao was lost in dreams of a promotion, a pay raise, and being taken in as a servant of the Wu Family, an apprentice came hurrying to the door, gasping for breath.

"Steward Xue, there's something I need to report."

Xue Zhao's face darkened at the interruption. He thought the apprentice was terribly inconsiderate. Couldn't he see that he was currying favor with young master Wu Han?

He leaned close to Wu Han and murmured a few words, then followed the apprentice out of the room.

As soon as they were outside, he demanded irritably, "Speak. What happened? Why are you in such a panic? Is someone causing trouble, or has someone been up to no good again?"

The apprentice hurriedly shook his head, panting. "Neither. It's the medicine-gathering team that went out... Someone has come back."

Xue Zhao pondered for a moment, then smiled. "You mean Fan Qingyang and the others are back? Isn't that good news? Tell him to come see me right now."

The apprentice stamped his feet in distress and shook his head like a rattle drum.

"No, that's not it. Jiang Feng is back!"

"Jiang Feng is back?" The smile froze on Xue Zhao's face, and his voice rose uncontrollably. "Then where's Fan Qingyang? Where is he?"

"I don't know... Out of the whole team that went out, Jiang Feng was the only one who came back."

Xue Zhao's heart sank, and a wave of foreboding shot up his spine.

According to the plan he and Fan Qingyang had made, no matter who returned, it absolutely could not be Jiang Feng.

Realizing that something had gone wrong, he wasted no time. He took off running toward the courtyard entrance.

Meanwhile, Jiang Feng followed a maid into the reception hall and finally met Xie Shu, who had hurried over.

Before he could say a word, Xie Shu strode up to him with delight and warmly clasped his hand, his voice full of concern.

"Jiang Feng, you're finally back! Did the team send you back to deliver a message?"

Xie Shu looked him over repeatedly, and soon noticed the wounds scattered across his body. His brow furrowed, and his voice grew more serious.

"What happened to you? Did something go wrong on this trip?"

Jiang Feng heard his words, but his mind was occupied with other calculations.

He had learned from Fan Qingyang that the trip had been a premeditated attack targeting him.

At first, he had even suspected that Xie Shu might have been involved. If that were true, he had been prepared to flee at any moment from the instant he stepped into the Medicine Hall.

But judging from Xie Shu's complete lack of knowledge—and how eagerly he had hoped Jiang Feng would return alive—it was clear he had nothing to do with it.

For Jiang Feng, this was undoubtedly the best possible news.

Jiang Feng let a hint of pain and weakness show on his face, lowering his voice.

"Shopkeeper Xie, we were indeed attacked on this trip... I was the only one in the whole team to survive."

Those words shocked everyone present.

In all the years the Medicine Hall had sent people out to gather herbs, it had never suffered such devastating losses.

Xie Shu's expression turned solemn. He immediately waved all the attendants away, then spoke to Jiang Feng in a grave voice.

"Jiang Feng, tell me carefully. What kind of attack did you face, and why were the losses so severe?

"Don't worry. You were working for the Medicine Hall, and the Medicine Hall will stand up for you."

Jiang Feng nodded gratefully, then slowly told the story he had rehearsed countless times in his mind.

The account was mostly true, except that he deliberately left out Fan Qingyang's collusion with outsiders to target him.

He knew that exposing the matter would inevitably draw more attention, and that attention might not be good for him right now.

In the end, Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall was still the Wu Family's property. If Wu Han was determined to kill him, he had no way to fight back.

Xie Shu listened with a grave expression. After a moment of silence, he slowly nodded.

"So you were attacked by an evil spirit... That explains it.

"Even martial artists have to steer clear of evil spirits, let alone Blood-Moving Realm Martial Apprentices like you, whose cultivation is still low."

He looked at Jiang Feng, genuine emotion showing in his eyes.

"You did remarkably well to escape an evil spirit's clutches."

He was about to ask for more details when an unwelcome voice came coldly from outside the hall.

"Hmph. You escaped an evil spirit's clutches?

"Jiang Feng, aren't you afraid you'll bite your tongue with all those tall tales?"

The conversation abruptly stopped.

Jiang Feng and Xie Shu turned toward the doorway at the same time. The apprentice steward, Xue Zhao, was striding in with several of his men, looking aggressive.