By the time noon had passed, the sun had begun to slant westward.
The curtain was suddenly flung aside, and a gust of cold wind mixed with the smell of hot sweat crashed in.
Abacus Song had come running back.
The secretary who normally cared most about appearances—even every strand of hair had to be combed perfectly into place—now had his hat askew, his forehead covered in fine beads of oily sweat, and the back of his long gown soaked through.
He gasped for breath, his pale face flushed with the red glow of someone who had narrowly escaped death. Clearly, the interrogation he had just endured had nearly scared his soul out of him.
But he did not dare rest. The moment he entered, he saw the dignified men seated in a circle around the room. His knees went weak, and he first bowed deeply to the elders at the head of the room before fixing his gaze on Qin Geng, his eyes burning with fervor and awe.
"Fifth Master."
Abacus Song swallowed, moistening his parched throat before cupping his hands and saying, "The matter—it's done.
"Fourth Master's methods are truly heaven-reaching. I confessed everything I was supposed to confess and didn't dare conceal a thing."
Everyone smiled knowingly. They glanced at Qin Geng, then at Abacus Song's current state, and understood everything as clearly as if they were looking into a mirror.
After catching his breath, Abacus Song leaned closer, his tone becoming urgent and earnest. "Fifth Master, now that Jiang Hailong is dead, the Dragon King Society has collapsed. With the tree fallen, the monkeys scatter. The Red Poles and hall masters beneath him have either been arrested or are fleeing. The whole waterway is leaderless and as chaotic as a pot of porridge."
He paused, his