Winds Rising, Clouds Gathering

"Hmm? Who did it?" Yin Muhua frowned.

"A constable from the Soul-Calming Office named Lin Qing," the man in black replied.

"Useless fool. Chai Rang had a gift for martial arts, but no brains. I sent him to gather information, and he managed to lose his life." Yin Muhua could not help cursing.

"My lady, how should we handle this?" the man in black asked.

"He killed one of my people. We can't let that pass. Go. Within three days, send someone to wipe out his family," Yin Muhua said coldly.

"Yes, my lady!" The man in black left.

"A Zi, gather everyone," Yin Muhua said, turning to a maid behind her.

The woman had a slender figure and shapely curves, but her face was covered in scars, making her hideously ugly.

"Yes."

She left. Before long, more than twenty people dressed in black had gathered before Yin Muhua.

"Any progress lately?"

"My lady, after investigating every lead, we've narrowed the Buddha Statue's most likely location to these four places." Someone presented a booklet with both hands.

Yin Muhua took it and quickly leafed through it. "Li's Pawnshop, Lin's General Store, Spring River Restaurant, Wang Family Mansion. Send people to investigate at once. Remember: better to kill the wrong person than let anyone slip through. I must find the Buddha Statue within the month. If we delay any longer, people from the Prefectural City Soul-Calming Office will arrive."

"Yes," everyone answered in unison.

The next day.

The night was deep.

A loud gong suddenly rang through the Soul-Calming Office, jolting everyone awake.

"Assemble!"

"Everyone must gather in the courtyard of Cautious Conduct Hall within fifteen minutes!"

"Move!"

Lin Qing hurried straight to Cautious Conduct Hall. A mobilization like this usually meant something serious had happened. He guessed they had confirmed Yin Muhua's location.

Before long, a large crowd of constables had gathered in the courtyard. Cheng Yannian appeared.

The Three Bureau Chiefs and Eight Constable Chiefs were there as well.

The constables wore grave expressions, sensing that something momentous was about to happen.

"Open the Armory. Distribute weapons!"

At Cheng Yannian's command, constables carried out crate after crate of weapons from the Armory. Each was filled with brand-new swords and sabers.

Ordinarily, the constables used blades that had been in service for years, most of them worn and dulled. The blades in the Armory were exceptionally sharp and were issued only in emergencies.

Everyone stepped forward and received a gleaming saber.

The Eight Constable Chiefs each received a suit of chainmail as well, but Yang Feng did not put his on. Instead, he led Lin Qing to an open space nearby.

"Lin Qing, take this chainmail. We're going to Cao Family Village tonight. Your intelligence was accurate. That old hag really is hiding there."

"Master, that chainmail is meant for a Constable Chief. You should wear it." Warmth filled Lin Qing's heart. Yang Feng truly looked after him as a master should.

"Take it. Wear it from now on; you won't have to return it. Chief Commissioner Cheng arranged this. You've rendered a great service, and you deserve a reward." Yang Feng gave Lin Qing no chance to refuse and shoved the chainmail into his arms.

Lin Qing stopped protesting and put it on at once. It felt remarkably light and did not hinder his movements at all.

"With this chainmail, you'll have a better chance of surviving. Besides, you won't be leading the assault this time. Remember, don't act recklessly and throw your life away," Yang Feng instructed.

"Don't worry, Master," Lin Qing replied.

Yang Feng said no more and turned away. Lin Qing returned to the ranks to wait.

Before long, all the weapons and armor had been distributed. Cheng Yannian stood with his hands behind his back, an invisible pressure radiating from him.

"Shen Cheng, you're getting on in years. You needn't take part in tonight's operation. Lead a squad of Netherworld Pacification Bureau constables and hold the office, just in case."

"Yes."

"Pang Tong, take a squad of constables and patrol the streets tonight. There will be a great upheaval. Watch for scoundrels trying to stir up trouble."

"Yes!"

"Yang Feng, lead a squad into Cao Family Village through the east gate..."

"Yu Muqing, lead a squad into Cao Family Village through the North Gate..."

Cheng Yannian issued orders crisply, one after another. The constables in the courtyard were quickly divided into squads, each with a different task.

The constables of the Corpse Collection Team were split into two squads of twelve, one led by Yu Qiuyu and the other by Lin Qing.

Lin Qing's squad was tasked with entering the village through the North Gate and searching for and arresting any criminals they encountered along the way.

Another, larger squad would also enter through the North Gate. Led by Yu Muqing, it was responsible for leading the assault on the south gate.

Lin Qing and his men would merely follow behind in support, so their task was not especially dangerous.

Once the squads were assigned, Cheng Yannian shouted, "Recent intelligence shows that the Yinyuan Sect fiend Yin Muhua is hiding in Cao Family Village. Tonight, we must settle this with one decisive blow and kill her!"

The people present reacted differently to his words. Some rubbed their hands together, eager to begin, while others looked tense, worry weighing on their minds.

Pang Tong frowned slightly, his expression shifting as he pondered something.

"Move out!" At Cheng Yannian's command, everyone rushed toward Cao Family Village.

Elsewhere.

The Han Family Mansion.

In a courtyard, Han Shantong, head of the Han Family, sat in a chair with a cup of tea in his hand. He watched the scene before him with interest. A striped tiger was locked in an iron cage, its eyes gleaming fiercely as it let out the occasional roar.

With a creak, the cage was opened and a man was shoved inside. A terrible scream rang out as the tiger tore him apart and devoured him.

The servants around them trembled in terror. A vicious gleam entered Han Shantong's eyes. "The lives of you cur-like slaves are in my hands. If any of you break the rules again, that will be your fate!"

Just then, a figure charged through the gate. He stood two meters tall, with disheveled hair, tattoos on his face, dark blue-black skin, and muscles bulging like hills.

"Master, Pang Tong sent an urgent message. The Soul-Calming Office is making a major move against Cao Family Village tonight. Yin Muhua's location has been exposed," the man said gravely.

His voice was deep and powerful, like a beast growling.

At those words, Han Shantong tightened his grip and crushed the teacup in his palm.

"Idiot! That old madwoman can't even cover her own tracks. If I hadn't tipped her off when Cheng Yannian made his move last time, she'd already be dead. And now, after barely any time at all, she's been exposed again. She never learns. Sooner or later, she'll get herself killed."

"Master, what do we do now?" the man asked quietly.

Han Shantong rose from his chair, took a handkerchief from the maid beside him, and unhurriedly wiped the tea from his hand.

"That old woman knows many of my secrets. Besides, we still need her to broker our dealings with the Bai'e Cult. We can't let her die like this."

"Master, Cheng Yannian has long suspected us of colluding with the Bai'e Cult. If that old hag falls into his hands, I'm afraid he'll move against us at once," the man said.

"You're right. Han Qi, take twelve men sworn to die for us. Order them to swallow Blood-Burning Pills beforehand, then head to Cao Family Village immediately. If you make it in time, rescue that old hag. If Cheng Yannian has already captured her, find a way to kill him," Han Shantong said abruptly.

"Master, if Cheng Yannian dies, the Prefectural City Soul-Calming Office will certainly be alerted. We'll face serious trouble afterward." Han Qi frowned.

"If Cheng Yannian lives, the Han Family will truly reach the end of the road. Kill him, and we might still have a chance to preserve the family estate. Go!" Han Shantong snapped.

"Yes!"