I Want to Report

Jiang Feng had barely stepped out of the small courtyard when he saw a slight young man hurrying toward him.

"Jiang Feng, what happened just now? That fellow Xue didn't make things difficult for you again, did he?"

The newcomer was Zhao Sen, the only person in the Medicine Hall whom Jiang Feng's former self could truly call a friend.

Even after that incident happened to his former self, Zhao Sen had remained friendly toward Jiang Feng. During the days after Jiang Feng had first transmigrated here, Zhao Sen had looked after him plenty as well. Jiang Feng therefore thought quite highly of him.

"It was nothing serious. He just questioned me a little. I haven't done anything wrong, after all. Without a reason, he wouldn't dare lay a hand on me so easily."

Only then did Zhao Sen let out a breath of relief. "That's good, that's good."

As he spoke, he reached out and patted Jiang Feng on the shoulder, advising him earnestly:

"Jiang Feng, let bygones be bygones. An arm can't twist a thigh, and Li Yue is already wholeheartedly devoted to Young Master Wu. No matter how unwilling you are, it's useless.

"If you ask me, find a chance to lower your head and apologize to Young Master Wu. Maybe then Xue Zhao won't keep making things difficult for you, and your days at the Medicine Hall will be easier."

Li Yue was naturally his former self's childhood sweetheart. Jiang Feng did not have the slightest feeling for that woman, much less any intention of making trouble for himself because of her.

As a modern man tempered by the workplace, if lowering his head and admitting fault could truly bring him benefits, he would not feel the slightest psychological burden.

But the problem was that Wu Han, that beast, was no good man at all. If Jiang Feng went up to him to apologize, what he received would likely not be forgiveness, but ever more vicious humiliation.

"Zhao Sen, I understand what you mean, but don't say such things again. I've already forgiven Wu Han."

At the first half of that sentence, Zhao Sen thought Jiang Feng's stubborn streak had flared up again.

But after hearing the second half, his mind filled with question marks.

Who was forgiving whom?

Had this kid been beaten stupid before?

He opened his mouth, still wanting to offer a few more words of advice, but Jiang Feng had already started running off. Only then did Zhao Sen suddenly remember that there was something important today, and he quickly broke into a run toward the front courtyard as well.

By the time Jiang Feng reached the front courtyard, the masters of the household had yet to appear.

The apprentices and guards from the herb garden stood in separate rows along both sides of the courtyard, whispering in clusters of three or five.

Without drawing attention to himself, Jiang Feng took his place at the very end of the apprentices' line and listened closely.

"Damn, you guys came out too late and didn't see it. I saw it with my own eyes—there's no way it wasn't Young Master Wu Han!"

"What? What happened to Young Master Wu Han? Speak clearly."

The speaker was clearly a loudmouth. He gesticulated as he spoke, spittle flying everywhere, without the slightest concern for what consequences his words might bring.

"I saw it with my own eyes! Young Master Wu Han was in the pigsty, mounting the biggest, fattest old sow!

"Several guards tried to drag him out of the pigsty, but they couldn't budge him. It was like his whole body had been locked onto that pig!"

Perhaps the man had recalled the scene again. He laughed so hard that he bent back and forth, unable to stop himself.

"I know some rich people have special tastes, but Young Master Wu Han's taste is just too fucking—"

Before he could finish, a pebble shot through the air with a terrifying whistle.

The speaker's head exploded like a ripe watermelon.

Red and white matter splashed over everyone around him, covering them from head to toe.

The once-noisy courtyard fell silent as a graveyard. One could hear a needle drop.

"Those who spread rumors and slander the masters of the household deserve death."

An incomparably cold voice rang out. Then came a string of footsteps, approaching from afar and entering the front courtyard.

At the head was a tall young man dressed in a pure white brocade robe. His hands were clasped behind his back, his chin slightly raised, his face icy.

Clearly, he was the one who had struck just now.

He resembled Wu Han by seventy or eighty percent, but lacked some of Wu Han's effeminate lewdness and had a little more masculine vigor.

At his side followed a middle-aged man with a slightly stooped figure, a pale face, sparse beard, a square kerchief on his head, and a dark blue long robe patterned with subtle designs.

This man was Xie Shu, the resident shopkeeper of Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall.

Xue Zhao led a group of guards behind the two men, having completely reined in the arrogant, overbearing manner he had displayed in the small courtyard earlier.

Resident shopkeeper Xie Shu slowly walked onto the platform in the center of the courtyard. His gaze swept over the crowd, his expression calm, as if he had not seen what had just happened at all. Then he slowly spoke:

"We have gathered everyone here so suddenly today because of an extremely important matter."

"Last night, Second Young Master of the Wu Family, Wu Han, was attacked by an assailant in the rear courtyard storeroom. According to the guards stationed around the Medicine Hall, there were no signs of outsiders entering last night."

"Therefore, the attacker is very likely among us."

The atmosphere in the courtyard instantly grew even more oppressive, as though even the sound of breathing had become imperceptible.

Xie Shu paused, then continued:

"This matter has had an extremely vile impact. The masters of the household have issued strict orders that it must be thoroughly investigated. If any of you believe someone near you is suspicious, you may report them on the spot. Those whose reports prove meritorious will be rewarded with ten taels of silver."

The moment those words fell, the previously silent front courtyard erupted into commotion.

Everyone looked at one another and whispered among themselves, their eyes deliberately or inadvertently sweeping over those around them.

Ten taels of silver was no small sum, whether for apprentices or guards.

At Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall, apprentices earned only half a tael a month, while guards earned merely one tael. A successful report would be equivalent to gaining several months' income out of thin air.

Places they had previously not dared visit could now be enjoyed properly; things they had once been reluctant to buy could now be bought to try something new.

Just as everyone grew excited, the young man in brocade also stepped onto the platform, adding another bucket of oil to the fire below.

"Everyone, I'm afraid many of you do not yet know me.

"My name is Wu Tian, the eldest son of the Wu Family and Wu Han's elder brother. What happened to my younger brother has left me equally enraged beyond measure."

He paused, then declared loudly, "Whoever can provide a clue to the culprit, I am willing to personally reward them with an additional bottle of Blood-Qi Pills."

Boom!

The instant those words came out, the crowd below completely boiled over.

"A bottle of Blood-Qi Pills? An entire bottle of Blood-Qi Pills!"

"This... this reward is far too generous!"

"As expected of the eldest young master of the Wu Family. His hand is truly lavish!"

At Benevolent Heart Medicine Hall, a bottle of Blood-Qi Pills sold for twenty taels of silver, yet supply had always fallen short of demand.

If one resold it on the black market, the price fetched would only be higher.

What was more, Blood-Qi Pills could hasten the improvement of one's cultivation realm. Apprentices might use them to escape the Slave Registry and become Medicine Hall guards, while guards might seize the chance to advance another step.

The same bottle of pills meant entirely different things to everyone present, but without question, every one of them desperately wanted it.

The murmured discussions gradually subsided. Everyone began racking their brains, desperately recalling and thinking: among those around them, who exactly was more suspicious?

Even if that person had once been on good terms with them, they could no longer spare a thought for such trivial, dispensable friendship.

Not long after the reward was announced, a robust voice suddenly exploded across the courtyard, drowning out every other sound.

"I want to report someone! I know who attacked Young Master Wu Han!"