Winds Rising, Clouds Gathering
"Hm? 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 decent martial talent, but no brains. I sent him to gather information, and he managed to get himself killed." 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's voice was cold.
"Yes, my lady!" The man in black left.
"A Zi, gather everyone," Yin Muhua said to a maid behind her.
The woman had a slender figure with curves in all the right places, but her face was covered in scars and hideously ugly.
"Yes."
The woman 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 believe the Buddha Statue is most likely in one of these four places." Someone presented a booklet with both hands.
Yin Muhua took it and quickly flipped through it. "Li's Pawnshop, Lin's General Store, Spring River Restaurant, and Wang Family Mansion. Send people to investigate at once. Remember: better to kill the wrong person than let anyone slip through. I must find that Buddha Statue within the month. If this drags on, people from the Prefectural City Soul-Calming Office will arrive."
"Yes," everyone answered in unison.
The next day.
Night lay heavy.
A loud gong suddenly rang out inside 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 major 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. Issue 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' blades had seen years of use, and most were worn and dull. The blades in the Armory were exceptionally sharp and were issued only in emergencies.
Everyone stepped forward to receive a gleaming saber.
The Eight Constable Chiefs each received a piece of chainmail as well. Yang Feng did not put his on. Instead, he led Lin Qing to a patch of open ground.
"Lin Qing, take this chainmail. We're going to Cao Family Village tonight. Your intelligence was accurate. That old fiend really is hiding there."
"Master, the chainmail is for a Constable Chief. You should wear it." Warmth filled Lin Qing's heart. Yang Feng had truly done right by him as his master.
"Take it. Wear it from now on, and you won't have to give it back. Chief Commissioner Cheng arranged this. You've earned great merit, and this reward is only fitting." Yang Feng gave Lin Qing no chance to refuse, forcing 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.
"That chainmail will give you a better chance of staying alive. Besides, you won't be leading the charge this time. Remember, don't act rashly 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, the weapons and armor had all been issued. 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 constables from the Netherworld Pacification Bureau and hold the fort here, just in case."
"Yes."
"Pang Tong, take a squad of constables on night patrol. Tonight will bring great upheaval. Be on guard against troublemakers."
"Yes!"
"Yang Feng, take a squad in through Cao Family Village's east gate..."
"Yu Muqing, take a squad in through Cao Family Village's North Gate..."
Cheng Yannian issued one crisp order after another. The constables in the courtyard were swiftly divided into squads, each with a different assignment.
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 to enter the village through the North Gate, searching for and arresting every criminal they encountered along the way.
Another squad, larger than his, would also enter through the North Gate. Yu Muqing would lead it in the main assault on the south gate.
Lin Qing and his men would merely follow behind in support, so the danger was not too great.
Once the squads had been assigned, Cheng Yannian shouted, "Recent intelligence indicates that the Yinyuan Sect Fiend Yin Muhua is hiding in Cao Family Village. Tonight, we settle this with one blow and kill her!"
The people present reacted differently to his words. Some rubbed their hands together, eager to begin, while others looked tense, their hearts full of worry.
Pang Tong frowned slightly, his expression shifting as he mulled over something.
"Move out!" At Cheng Yannian's command, everyone surged toward Cao Family Village.
Elsewhere.
Han Family Residence.
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 keen interest. A striped tiger was locked inside an iron cage, its eyes gleaming fiercely as it roared from time to time.
With a creak, the cage was opened and a man was shoved inside. His shrill scream rang out as the tiger tore him apart and devoured him.
The servants around them trembled in terror. Han Shantong's eyes flashed with savagery. "The lives of you dog-slaves are in my hands. If any of you dare break my rules again, that will be your fate!"
Just then, a figure rushed in through the gate. The man stood a full two meters tall, his hair loose and disheveled. Dark markings covered his face, his skin was blue-black, and his muscles rose like hills.
"Master, Pang Tong sent an urgent report. The Soul-Calming Office is making a major move against Cao Family Village tonight. Yin Muhua's location has been exposed," the man said grimly.
His voice was deep and powerful, like the low growl of a beast.
At those words, Han Shantong clenched his hand and crushed the teacup in his palm.
"Fool! That mad old woman can't even cover her tracks. When Cheng Yannian made his move last time, she would have died if I hadn't tipped her off. And now, after barely any time at all, she's exposed again. If she never learns, she'll die sooner or later."
"Master, what do we do now?" the man asked quietly.
Han Shantong rose from his chair and took a handkerchief from the maid beside him. Unhurriedly, he 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 fiend falls into his hands, I'm afraid he'll move against us immediately," the man said.
"You're right. Han Qi, take twelve men sworn to die for us. Have them swallow Blood-Burning Pills beforehand and head for Cao Family Village at once. If you're in time, rescue that old woman. If she's already fallen into Cheng Yannian's hands, find a way to kill him," Han Shantong said suddenly.
"Master, if Cheng Yannian dies, the Prefectural City Soul-Calming Office is bound to take notice. We'll face serious trouble afterward." Han Qi frowned.
"If Cheng Yannian lives, the Han Family truly will be driven to the end of the road. Kill him, and we might still have a chance to preserve the family estate. Go!" Han Shantong barked.
"Yes!"