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The dead of night in Yongtong District was still and quiet.
Dozens of dark figures split into five teams, swiftly surging into the alleyways.
The people walked with moss ash in their shoe soles, landing silently. They moved without speaking a word, communicating solely through hand gestures.
They resembled black ink injected into five twisting, slender glass tubes, with groups of people clad in black rapidly heading toward their target.
Soon, they had a residence completely surrounded.
Afar, on the rooftops lay five or six archers with strong bows at the ready.
Bang!
Zhuo Yinghai charged forward, leading the way and thundering towards the courtyard gate.
The gray wooden gate instantly shattered.
Zhuo Yinghai, not minding the wood chips and dust on his face and head, rushed into the house without hesitation.
In no time, he stormed out of the room with a face full of anger.
“No one?” Li Jun was surprised.
He had made a special inquiry earlier, confirming that there were people coming and going from this residence.
“Perhaps we are too late.”
“Or maybe, as the saying goes, ‘the cunning rabbit has three burrows,’ and this place is just a decoy,” Zhuo Yinghai suppressed his rage to calmly analyze.
“This is troublesome,” Li Jun frowned deeply.
“Let it be, let’s go back,” Zhuo Yinghai sighed heavily, his face filled with dejection.
He thought back to the massive search a few months ago.
All the forces big and small of Nanyang Prefecture had taken action together, and it was only because someone had tipped them off that they found Cheng Yi.
He was just a hall master of the Startling Swan Gang and couldn’t mobilize the entire Lijiang Guard City.
“It’s been troubling you recently, Hall Master Li. Let’s go back and have a couple of drinks,” Zhuo Yinghai said bitterly.
He felt that avenging his son was becoming an unattainable goal.
The dozens of people who arrived quickly left just as rapidly, disappearing into the night.
In the silence of the deep night, only the broken wooden gate and the messy courtyard remained.
Two blocks away, on the roof of another residence, a wisp of black smoke slowly appeared against the night sky, with a little paper figure, looking solemnly at the chaotic residence in the distance.
Two more streets away was the Chen Residence.
Under the moonlight resembling watery light, Chen Mu picked up a piece of fragrant fried fish and stuffed it into his mouth.
“There is indeed more trouble to come.”
He had gotten up in the middle of the night for a snack and, out of habit, sent out ghost paper figures to scout, never expecting to witness this scene.
“Forget it, I’m used to it.”
After killing the small, the big ones come. Isn’t this just the standard routine of Jianghu?
“To eradicate the roots?” Chen Mu sighed, “Jianghu really is a big dye vat.”
“The thought of ‘eradicating the roots’ flows so smoothly through my mind, alas…”
“The honest and kind me, am I really gone forever?” Chen Mu felt somewhat heavy-hearted.
“It’s all this damned world’s fault!”
…
In the deep of the night, as the crescent moon hung low in the west,
the entire Lijiang Guard City had fallen into a deep slumber.
Even the pleasure quarters had gradually lost their noise.
Inside a residence with five courtyards, all was pitch black, the maids and servants had all retired to rest, with only one room in the inner house where candlelight flickered
Zhuo Yinghai poured drink after drink into his mouth.
Li Jun at his side kept comforting and persuading him.
The dishes on the table had been replaced twice, yet Zhuo Yinghai frustratingly couldn’t get himself drunk.
“Damn, I really hate my tolerance! I can’t even get drunk when I want to!” Zhuo Yinghai shouted, as he downed another glass.
The corner of Li Jun’s mouth twitched. Your name really does suit you, containing the word ‘sea.’
As his company, Li Jun already felt dizzy from the alcohol, yet this old boy seemed more energized the more he drank.
Seeing the other’s woeful expression, Li Jun had no choice but to shake his head and continued drinking.
…
In the quiet courtyard,
a dark figure stealthily jumped into the residence.
The family dog that had just risen to bark suddenly whined twice and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
The shadow moved swiftly and lightly, proceeding quickly through the shadows.
As if familiar with the layout of the courtyard, he made his way to the inner house with ease.
Glancing at the brightly lit room not far away, the shadow quietly moved toward the back of the house.
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The door burst open.
A figure, like an arrow released from a bowstring, holding half a shattered door, charged directly at the dark figure!
“I’ve been waiting for you!”
“Die!”
Zhuo Yinghai, full of resentment, unleashed a punch at the intruder’s back.
Pssht!
A bloodied fist suddenly burst through the intruder’s chest.
Zhuo Yinghai shook off his hand violently, and the figure, like a rag doll, crashed into a wall with a loud bang, instantly silenced.
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“Zhuo brother, caught him?!” Li Jun quickly followed behind.
The pitch-black residence lit up with lights. More than a dozen strong men with lanterns and torches quickly surrounded the inner house.
“Something’s not right,” Zhuo Yinghai frowned.
A few strong men stepped forward and dug someone out of the rubble in no time.
Li Jun stepped forward and yanked off the black-clad person’s face covering.
A gaunt face of a man in his forties appeared before everyone.
“Who is this?” Li Jun was astonished.
Zhuo Yinghai’s heart grew heavier.
This was definitely not Chen Jia; the age didn’t match.
“Looks like he really left,” Zhuo Yinghai couldn’t help but sigh.
Creating such a disturbance in the other party’s residence, he had thought the opponent would take advantage of the night to launch a counterattack. Instead, an unknown person had shown up.
…
Two days later.
The same five-courtyard residence.
“It’s been checked out, it was a local thief,” Li Jun said with an unsightly face.
This residence was his own secret private home, unknown to outsiders. He never expected it to be targeted by a local habitual thief. And to acquire the layout of the courtyard without making a sound.
He sneaked in on the night, simply because he was being chased by the gambling den for debts and wanted to steal some money here to pay them off.
“Forget it,” Zhuo Yinghai let out a dejected sigh.
Li Jun had not been idle these past two days either. He had sent people to search for him within Lijiang Guard City and even issued a secret reward. But alas, they found nothing.
“I’ll be going back tomorrow,” Zhuo Yinghai waved his hand in disappointment.
“Zhuo brother, wait another two days! I refuse to believe that in the small Lijiang City, there is someone I can’t find!” Li Jun said with resentment.
Mobilizing so much effort yet finding no one. Plus, he had his own home burglarized by a little thief, what an embarrassment!
He had to accomplish something no matter what!
“Forget it,” Zhuo Yinghai sighed, “The little concubine at home gave birth, twins, two sons.”
Zhuo Yinghai suppressed the corners of his mouth from turning up. “One gone and here come two. Ah… let it be.”
“Rufeng was not well instructed by me, causing trouble with people he shouldn’t have messed with.”
“I have to properly educate these two young sons, cannot let them follow in Rufeng’s footsteps.”
“Old Li, does Lijiang Guard City have any local specialties? I’ll bring some back for my sons tomorrow.”
“Um… and also send something to Rufeng,” Zhuo Yinghai earnestly looked at Li Jun.
Li Jun: “…”
Am I really supposed to congratulate you, or am I really supposed to urge you to mourn?
You’re making me very confused!
…
Hongde Wharf.
Chen Mu, with a small bag on his back, boarded the passenger ship returning to Nanyang Prefecture City with light steps.
It was the third day after the raid, and he decided to quietly leave Lijiang Guard City.
“I am still that honest and kind-hearted good person,” Chen Mu was very relieved that his heart hadn’t darkened.
He actually went out that night, but his conscience overcome the negative influence of the wicked world.
On the road, he encountered a desperate gambler. Seeing the poor man beaten up by debt collectors, he kindly gave him a map of a wealthy family’s residence.
Hoping it would relieve the gambler’s urgent need and save his life.
As for traps, encirclements, and ambuscades, Chen Mu said he had no clue whatsoever.
“Good people really do receive good rewards,” Chen Mu was very grateful to the gambler.
…
After half a day of travel, the ship finally left Lijiang City well behind.
Chen Mu stepped out of his cabin.
His room was on the top level of the boat, at the bow, where there was a public observation deck.
Chen Mu leisurely made his way to the observation deck, leaning on the railing to enjoy the serene river view.
The light and cool breeze of the river made Chen Mu close his eyes in comfort.
“The most dangerous place is actually the safest,” he thought.
“Everyone knows that Chen Jia came to Lijiang Guard City.”
“They would never expect Chen Jia to return to Nanyang Prefecture City.”
Chen Mu thought with pleasure.
Suddenly, a sigh came from not far away.
A sturdy, half-grey-haired old man in his fifties was leaning against the railing, looking out.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but turn his head to look.
“Young brother, are you also going to Nanyang Prefecture City?” the old man asked amiably.
“It seems we’re travelling the same way,” Chen Mu responded kindly.
“Why do I find young brother somewhat familiar?” the old man wondered.
Chen Mu also furrowed his brows slightly: “I have the same feeling.”
“Maybe you saw me somewhere,” the old man thought and then felt relieved.
“Maybe it’s because I have a common face,” Chen Mu laughed in response.
“I’m Zhuo Yinghai. What’s your honorable surname, young brother?” Zhuo Yinghai asked with a smile.
“Oh, no need for formalities, my name is Mu Chen,” Chen Mu replied with a smile.
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