Chapter 299: Chapter 19 Hello There, Audacity
“There were quite a few who inquired about the reward,”
Weng Kang had thought Zhou Heng was blaming him, feeling that he had already sent a message to the Sect asking for help and still posting a reward might appear as distrust towards the Sect. He quickly said, “Uncle Master, I’ll remove the reward right away, please don’t be upset.”
“Don’t overthink it, I’m just asking you some questions,” Zhou Heng saw through Weng Kang’s thoughts, walked into the inner hall, sat down, and asked, “Were there more men or women who came to inquire about the reward?”
Weng Kang followed him inside and answered, “There were more men, after all, most of those who roam the jianghu are male martial artists, naturally…”
He was in the middle of speaking when he abruptly stopped, as if realizing something, his eyes widened suddenly, “Uncle Master, do you mean that my reward attracted a large number of male martial artists, playing right into the hands of that evil cultivator?”
“It is indeed a possibility,” Zhou Heng nodded lightly, saying, “From your earlier accounts, it was after issuing the reward that the number of male victims increased, right?”
“It seems, it indeed seems to be the case.” Weng Kang’s face turned even paler, he became more haggard, and said bitterly, “It was me who brought disaster to those poor martial artists who were desperately traveling the jianghu.”
Jianghu martial artists are actually those without a Sect and who only reached Ninth Grade after turning thirty; they mostly come from martial arts schools, lack the qualifications to be accepted into a Sect, and can only wander the jianghu in search of opportunities to advance.
These people are actually the real backbone of the jianghu martial world.
Weng Kang had once been such a jianghu martial artist until, by a stroke of luck, he was noticed by the Pure Yang Palace and taken in as an outer sect disciple.
Therefore, he now felt deep guilt.
“There’s no need for you to feel guilty, Weng, the blame should fall on the evil cultivator,” Zhou Heng spoke solemnly, “However, this also provides me with a clue, as it seems that most of the victims actually came from outside Anhe Prefecture.”
At this point, he paused then added, “Weng, have you ever thought about why, before the martial artists from outside arrived, the incidents happened less frequently and at a slower pace, but after the martial artists from outside came, the pace suddenly accelerated?”
“This, this… Could it be that the evil cultivator has no regard for people outside of Anhe Prefectural city?” Weng Kang said incredulously and puzzled, “But why would that be?”
“There’s something else,” Zhou Heng continued, “Last night, a Sixth Rank expert from the Honghua Palace came to find me in disguise.”
“What?!” Weng Kang stood up suddenly, anxiously said, “Uncle Master, are you alright? What happened to that person in the end?”
“I’m fine; I killed that disguise with a single sword strike,” Zhou Heng waved his hand lightly and got up, looking outside, “What I’ve been wondering though, in such a serious matter that clearly involves a Middle Third Rank evil practitioner, did the Prefecture Chief take any action?”
In Da Qi, except for a few Prefecture Chiefs who are high-ranking officials not skilled in martial arts, the heads of the prefectural cities are usually Sixth Rank martial artists, appointed to deal with disturbances caused by high-level practitioners.
Now, with people in Anhe Prefecture city living in fear and Seventh Rank warriors being killed, suggesting the possible involvement of a Sixth Rank evil practitioner, the Prefecture Chief should have intervened by now.
But from his conversation with Weng Kang, Zhou Heng discovered that the city’s authorities had only arranged for bailiffs and constables to investigate.
The Prefecture Chief had yet to make an appearance from beginning to end.
This was obviously abnormal.
Moreover, he had not told anyone else about his arrival at Anhe Prefecture city, apart from Weng Kang, only the soldiers guarding the city were aware, yet the evil female cultivator had found him so quickly.
This made Zhou Heng suspect the city’s authorities.
Of course, he also seriously scrutinized Weng Kang but had yet to find any flaws for the time being.
“The Prefecture Chief…,” Weng Kang fell into deep thought upon hearing this, and after a long while, he said, “Since last year, the Prefecture Chief has been seldom seen; he rarely makes a public appearance.
“When I went to visit him as usual during the new year, I was turned away at the door and didn’t even get to see him. Uncle Master, are you suspecting the Prefecture Chief?”
“At least this Prefecture Chief is suspicious,” Zhou Heng nodded lightly, and at the same time, his gaze towards the outside narrowed slightly, saying, “Someone’s coming, looks like it’s a bailiff from the Prefectural city’s office.”
“Ah?” Weng Kang exclaimed in surprise, “What are they here for?”
“They must be here to ask me to go over,” Zhou Heng said with a smile.
“Uncle Master, you won’t be in any trouble, will you?” Weng Kang looked somewhat concerned.
“Don’t worry about it,” Zhou Heng said gently shaking his head.
Soon after, a middle-aged man dressed as a head constable walked into the Jade Hua Jewelry Shop with three bailiffs.
The man at the lead looked at Zhou Heng, bowed slightly, and said, “I am Qu Tai, the Chief Head Constable of Anhe Prefecture. You must be Zhou Heng, Mr. Zhou, the Purple Lightning Sword Immortal. May I ask you to accompany us to the prefectural city’s yamen?”
“Whose idea is this?” Zhou Heng asked indifferently.
“It’s an invitation from our Lord Prefect,” Qu Tai replied respectfully.
“Fine,” Zhou Heng nodded lightly.
…
The Jade Hua Jewelry Shop was some distance from the prefectural city’s yamen.
On the way, Zhou Heng and Qu Tai chatted sporadically, quickly touching upon the subject of the Prefect Nie Yu.
However, as the Chief Head Constable of Anhe Prefecture, Qu Tai was very measured, and despite how Zhou Heng tried to draw him out, he did not reveal anything particularly valuable.
All that was known was that beside his official wife, Prefect Nie Yu had three concubines, yet no sons, only a daughter who was considered the apple of his eye.
Apparently, that could also be considered a valuable clue.
…
Prefectural city’s yamen, the back yard.
The residence of the prefectural city’s Lord Prefect in Da Qi is usually connected to the yamen, either next door or built directly in the back yard.
This was a rather elegant garden with mountains and water, possessing a natural charm.
Nie Yu appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties, with a face like white jade, handsome features, dressed as a scholar and wearing a scholar’s hat, sporting a fine beard, and flicking a folding fan, exuding the air of a refined gentleman of the mortal world.
Even at an older age, he still possessed great appeal to many women.
No wonder he had three concubines.
Seeing Zhou Heng approach, Nie Yu quickly closed his fan and came to meet him with a joyful face, saying, “Mr. Zhou, I have long admired your great reputation; I heard about you several months ago when you were still listed among the outstanding figures. I never expected that by now, you would no longer be on that list.”
“It was just a fleeting honor, not worth mentioning,” Zhou Heng smiled and waved it off before getting straight to the point, “Lord Nie, for what purpose have you invited me here?”
“Naturally, it’s because… lately there has been unrest in Anhe Prefecture, and you know that, Mr. Zhou,” Nie Yu’s face lost its joy as he gave a wry smile, “What I mean to say is, could you please not get involved in this matter?”
“What matter?” Zhou Heng asked deliberately feigning ignorance.
“Ah, do you really want me to spell it out?” Nie Yu sighed softly, “Mr. Zhou, I hope you won’t meddle in the recent affairs of Anhe Prefecture city, nor in the affairs of Weng Kang’s family.”
“Nie Yu…” Zhou Heng’s eyes narrowed, and he laughed coldly, “You’ve got some nerve.”