Chief Steward

Iron Horse Manor counted as one of the major powers in Qingfeng County.

It was not located within Qingfeng County's seat, but south of the city, on Iron Horse Mountain.

Zhao Zhi drove the carriage slowly along the uneven mountain road. Looking up, he could see the grand manor halfway up the mountainside in the distance.

"Zhao Zhi, are we really going to Iron Horse Manor?"

Luo Dashan looked toward the distant Iron Horse Manor, his hand gripping the whip tightening.

For Iron Horse Manor to occupy South Mountain in such chaotic times and remain safe and sound for decades, its strength and methods were far beyond those of other forces.

The Fan Family was indeed a prominent gentry family in Qingfeng County, but the Fan Family of today could not compare at all to the Fan Family of old.

If not for Fan Zhenyu, who had displayed remarkable martial talent and made connections with influential people after leaving home, the Fan Family would likely have fallen into the ranks of second-rate families, unable to stand alongside the Su Family and Tao Family.

According to what Luo Dashan had learned, Iron Horse Manor alone had nearly fifty guards, every one of them skilled and formidable.

The two of them, mere constables, were heading to Iron Horse Manor like sheep walking into a tiger's jaws.

Zhao Zhi was strong enough to defeat even Dou Rong, an Initial Xiantian expert, with ease.

But the master of Iron Horse Manor was a Greater Xiantian martial artist. His horse-chopping saber had slain countless foes, carving out a fearsome reputation in the martial world.

"Of course we are."

Zhao Zhi smiled, showing no sign of concern.

The reason he insisted on going to Iron Horse Manor was not merely to seek justice for the people, but to uncover the truth about the manor.

When the previous owner of this body's father had still been alive, he had mentioned that Iron Horse Manor and County Magistrate Lu Guangyi were secretly colluding, seemingly plotting something.

He needed to find out what was going on.

Less than half an incense stick later.

The carriage leisurely arrived before Iron Horse Manor's gates.

Zhao Zhi got down from the carriage and signaled Luo Dashan to help Wang Cuihua, the middle-aged woman seeking redress, down. He then strode toward the manor himself.

Two burly guards stood at the entrance, their eyes sharp as lightning.

From their slightly protruding temples and rough hands, one could tell that both were skilled fighters, outstanding even among Houtian Warriors.

"Stop."

The guard on the left raised a hand to block him.

Zhao Zhi remained composed. "Qingfeng County constable Zhao Zhi. I wish to see the manor master. Please announce me."

"A constable?"

The left guard looked Zhao Zhi up and down. When he noticed Zhao Zhi's blue constable uniform, a trace of disdain surfaced deep in his eyes.

Just a blue-robed constable.

Still, he was a constable.

"Wait here."

The left guard spoke coldly. After exchanging a glance with the guard on the right, he headed into the manor.

A moment later.

The left guard returned. Before him stood a man who appeared to be around fifty, with graying temples and faint wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

Iron Horse Manor's chief steward, Yuan Suwang.

A smile tugged at his lips, yet there was not the slightest hint of amusement in his eyes. After sizing Zhao Zhi up, he said, "So you are Lord Zhao Zhi, who has become quite renowned of late. May I ask what brings Lord Zhao to Iron Horse Manor?"

Though Iron Horse Manor stood on South Mountain, it was not completely isolated from the outside world. Many of the manor's daily necessities had to be purchased from Qingfeng County.

Therefore.

Iron Horse Manor was able to obtain information about what happened in Qingfeng County.

What Zhao Zhi had done in Qingfeng County was no small matter. How could Iron Horse Manor not know? Yuan Suwang, as the manor's chief steward, had never met Zhao Zhi, but he knew the name.

Zhao Zhi rested a hand on the hilt of his constable's saber. "For a case."

"A case?" Yuan Suwang narrowed his eyes slightly before swiftly returning to normal. "May I ask what case Lord Zhao is here for?"

Zhao Zhi looked toward Wang Cuihua, who had stepped forward. "This woman is named Wang Cuihua. A month ago, her son entered Iron Horse Manor to work. Seven days ago, she came here seeking her son, only to be told that he had died, without even leaving behind a corpse. She came to me, hoping that I would seek justice for her."

Yuan Suwang glanced at Wang Cuihua, his expression barely changing, his tone still calm. "There is indeed such a matter." After a pause, he continued, "Lord Zhao, her son came to Iron Horse Manor to assist us in gathering medicinal herbs in the mountains. Half a month ago, while gathering herbs, her son unfortunately encountered a black bear.

"When Iron Horse Manor's guards found the traces he had left behind, all they found was a numbered herb basket. There was no sign of the man.

"I fear her son has already died beneath the black bear's jaws, leaving neither flesh nor bone."

Yuan Suwang glanced at Wang Cuihua again. "When this woman came some days ago, this humble one already explained it clearly to her. She simply refused to believe it."

"Impossible! My son could never have died in a black bear's mouth!" Wang Cuihua clutched Zhao Zhi's sleeve tightly, her eyes filled with grief as she cried out. "My son was a hunter. He had been entering the mountains ever since he learned to walk. How could he possibly have been eaten by a black bear? My lord, please seek justice for this commoner."

Zhao Zhi looked at Yuan Suwang, a faint smile appearing on his face. "How does Iron Horse Manor explain this?"

Yuan Suwang's expression remained calm. "Lord Zhao, this woman is merely speaking nonsense out of the pain of losing her son. She cannot be trusted. Besides, the manor's guards and servants can all testify that her son died in a black bear's mouth."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

The two simply looked at one another.

"If Chief Steward Yuan says this woman is talking nonsense, then she is talking nonsense." As Zhao Zhi spoke, his tone suddenly shifted. "On the third day of the sixth month two years ago, Wang Cai, a tenant farmer from Wang Family Village, came to Iron Horse Manor to work. A month later, it was said he had died in the jaws of wolves. On the twelfth day of the eighth month, Wang Yong, another tenant farmer from Wang Family Village, came to Iron Horse Manor to work. It was likewise said that he had died in the jaws of wolves, with no body found. On the twenty-third day of the ninth month, Li Er of Azure Mountain Village...

"On the tenth day of the third month last year, Li Daniu of Azure Mountain Village; on the fifteenth day of the fifth month, Yao Xing of Yao Family Ravine...

"On the fifth day of the fourth month this year, Zhang Tieshan of Great Stone Village..."

Zhao Zhi listed name after name.

How could he have come to Iron Horse Manor unprepared?

He also understood that relying on Wang Cuihua alone would make it difficult to move against Iron Horse Manor. Therefore, Zhao Zhi had instructed Luo Dashan to search through the old cases concerning Iron Horse Manor that had been shelved at the yamen.

Once they investigated.

The two were horrified to discover that over the past three years, more than thirty people had entered Iron Horse Manor and vanished without leaving a corpse, nearly all of it suppressed by County Magistrate Lu Guangyi.

Such an answer was anything but simple.

As Zhao Zhi spoke one name after another, Chief Steward Yuan's face gradually darkened, and the false smile on his face vanished without a trace.

"Chief Steward Yuan." Zhao Zhi stared directly at Yuan Suwang. "Quite a few people from Iron Horse Manor have died in the mouths of beasts in recent years."

Yuan Suwang said, "A coincidence, nothing more."

"Whether it is a coincidence or not can only be determined after an investigation." Zhao Zhi smiled. "Would Chief Steward Yuan permit me to enter the manor and investigate?"

A glint flashed deep in Yuan Suwang's eyes. He turned slightly aside. "Lord Zhao, please."