Will you talk or not?

Lin Lang stared at the banknotes and gold on the tables, then suddenly asked, "Wang Wu, do you think any of the silver here was stolen by Li Fei elsewhere?"

Wang Wu caught on immediately and declared loudly, "Sir, Li Fei has no honest livelihood. His silver must all be stolen or plundered goods. By the rules, we must take it back and investigate so we can return it to its rightful owners."

If they could not find the owners, there would be no need to return it.

Lin Lang glanced at Wang Wu and knew he had been right to bring the fellow along.

Such a capable lackey. I must promote him when we get back!

"Mm. Then follow the rules."

The gambling house manager was dumbfounded. "Sir, Li Fei only brought a little over a thousand taels of silver with him. There's over ten thousand taels on these tables."

Besides, Li Fei had only played at one table. Why were they taking the silver from every table?

The bets over there were all copper coins. They were taking those too?

Wang Wu drew his saber with a swish. "You dare obstruct the Jinyiwei in an investigation? We haven't even settled accounts with you for harboring a fugitive wanted by the court at the Silver Hook Gambling House."

"Sir, should we take him back too and give him a thorough interrogation?"

The manager's hand trembled. You've taken so much, and it's still not enough?

Gritting his teeth, he pulled several more banknotes from his sleeve and stuffed them into Lin Lang's hand along with the previous thousand taels. "Sir, this man really only came here to play a few rounds. Please investigate fairly. This is the Silver Hook Gambling House."

Lin Lang patted the manager's shoulder. "Perhaps it has nothing to do with the Silver Hook Gambling House. I'll interrogate Li Fei when I get back and see whether he has anything to do with you."

"Rest assured, when the Jinyiwei investigates a case, we never wrong an innocent man, but we never let a villain go either!"

The manager drew a deep breath. If the Jinyiwei took him away, would he ever come out in one piece? By the time the owner backing him tried to get him out, he would probably have tasted all ten great tortures.

He pulled several more thousand-tael banknotes from his other sleeve and handed them over. "Sir, he has absolutely nothing to do with me either. Someone, hurry and prepare two chests for the gentlemen to carry that stolen silver."

Only then did Lin Lang look at the manager with a beaming smile. "Wouldn't it have been better to be this sensible from the start? Still, carrying all this stolen silver is too much trouble. Would you be willing to exchange it for something easier to take away?"

Carrying gold was all right, but why haul silver and copper coins around? They were so heavy. He still preferred banknotes filled with the fragrance of ink. Even sleeping was more comfortable with that scent in his nose.

The manager stared blankly at Lin Lang. I have to exchange it for banknotes for you too?

But at the sight of Lin Lang's half-smile, he immediately said, "Please wait a moment, sir. I'll exchange it for you right away."

The copper coins, gold, silver, and small-denomination banknotes came to a little over eleven thousand three hundred taels of silver. The manager simply gave him twelve thousand taels, afraid that paying the exact amount would give Lin Lang another excuse to extort money.

Tucking the banknotes into his robes, Lin Lang smiled and cupped his hands. "May the Silver Hook Gambling House enjoy flourishing business. Wang Wu, we're leaving."

Once Lin Lang and his men had left, the manager ordered the gambling house closed for an hour, saying it would reopen after they tidied up. The Silver Hook Gambling House would reimburse all the gamblers for the silver they had left on the tables.

Back in the rear courtyard, the manager wrote a note through gritted teeth and released a carrier pigeon.

"Hmph. A mere Jinyiwei officer dares provoke the Silver Hook Gambling House? Just wait for your death!"

Back at the local Hundred-household Office, Wang Wu asked worriedly, "Sir, they say the Silver Hook Gambling House has powerful backing. You should be careful."

He had never heard of the Silver Hook Gambling House paying regular protection money to any Thousand-household Office. That alone proved it was not to be trifled with.

Lin Lang casually pulled out two thousand-tael banknotes. "Don't worry about that. Keep one for yourself and divide the other among the men."

The Silver Hook Gambling House did not belong to the Eastern Depot. For it to grow this large while fearing neither the authorities nor the martial world, its backer was most likely the Dragon Guard Manor.

The Silver Hook Gambling House could both make money and gather intelligence from the martial world. Zhu Wushi must attach great importance to it.

But apart from the formidable Zhu Wushi, the Dragon Guard Manor's agents were at most at the Grandmaster level. They might even be mere Martial Arts Masters. He had nothing to fear from them.

Zhu Wushi would not leave the capital lightly. If he sent others to deal with Lin Lang, wouldn't that be delivering true qi straight to him?

Killing the Dragon Guard Manor's men could also earn him more benefits from Cao Zhengchun.

"All right, everyone out. Leave Li Fei here."

Wang Wu led everyone out and warned them all not to approach the courtyard without their superior's permission. He even stood guard at the entrance himself.

Lin Lang looked at Li Fei. "The Golden Coin Gang has been making quite a stir lately. I heard Shangguan Jinhong recruited quite a few experts from the martial world. Who are they?"

"What businesses does the Golden Coin Gang own, and how much silver does it earn each month?"

Li Fei stared straight at Lin Lang without a word. Furious, Lin Lang stepped forward and delivered several heavy slaps. "Will you talk or not? Will you talk or not!"

"Mmph!" Li Fei was on the verge of tears. I'd love to talk, but undo the pressure-point seal that's made me mute!

Hearing Li Fei's muffled sounds, Lin Lang finally remembered. "Oh, I forgot your mute pressure point was sealed. There. Now you can talk."

Li Fei glared at Lin Lang. "You're an expert of the martial world too. How can you humiliate me like this? I will never betray the Golden Coin Gang. If you've got the guts, give me a quick death!"

He was a dignified peak Martial Arts Master, and no one had ever slapped him like this. He would rather endure torture than suffer such humiliation!

Lin Lang delivered several more heavy slaps. "I'm with the Jinyiwei! I'm an official, and you dare insult me by calling me a martial-world ruffian?"

"You have two choices now. First, answer my questions and divulge your entire martial arts legacy. I guarantee I won't kill you, and I'll let you leave."

"Second, keep running that stubborn mouth, and I'll have someone pin you down in the privy so you can die with a full belly!"

Li Fei froze. "If I talk, will you really let me go?"

Lin Lang said disdainfully, "I'm a dignified Martial Arts Grandmaster and a fifth-rank official. Are you worth lying to? Do you think your head is worth more than intelligence on the Golden Coin Gang? If you don't talk, I'll take that as choosing the second option."

"I choose the first!" Seeing that Lin Lang was about to call someone in, Li Fei hurriedly made his choice.

Although talking would certainly bring the Golden Coin Gang's pursuit down on him, at least he could live a little longer.

Perhaps he could flee to Great Song, or even Dali or Mongol Yuan. The Golden Coin Gang's reach did not extend that far.

Li Fei gave a detailed account, and Lin Lang committed it all to memory. The Golden Coin Gang certainly did its name justice. They really were rich.

"I've told you everything. Can I leave now?"

Lin Lang stood up. "Let me untie you."

His hand settled on Li Fei's shoulder. Instantly, Li Fei felt his true qi flowing out through his shoulder, utterly beyond his control.

"Y-you know the Star-Sucking Great Skill? Wasn't it lost?!" Li Fei collapsed to the ground. Without his martial arts, how could he escape the Golden Coin Gang's pursuit?

"Good eye." Lin Lang did not mind that Li Fei had recognized the Star-Sucking Great Skill and continued untying him. "All right, you can go."

Li Fei struggled to his feet. He could cultivate his true qi again after losing it, but if he lost his life, he would truly have nothing left.

He hurried to the entrance and ran out without looking back.

He would avenge this humiliation, no matter what!

Just as he opened the courtyard gate, Lin Lang's voice rang out behind him. "The fugitive Li Fei is escaping!"

Li Fei: "???"