Yu State City, Pear Garden.
Pear Garden was one of the most famous three theaters in Yu State City, facing east and west, with covered walkways on the north and south sides, forming a courtyard. The walkways were two stories high, allowing the audience to sit inside and watch the performances.
The west side had an elegant and ancient archway.
Walking into the theater, you saw gray tiles and red columns, magnificent and beautiful.
At this moment, a sudden clear voice rang out in the Pear Garden, high-pitched and melodious, like a thunderclap, echoing through the air.
Following it, the sound of rapid drumbeats continuously reached the ears.
Only hearing the lyrics sung, full of sorrow and lament, the audience below burst into applause, and the clamor rose.
Zhao Qingmei, dressed in a plain white robe, sat on the second floor, watching the performers below, her expression as calm as water.
"Sect Hierarch!"
Shortly after, the Ghost-faced Buddha appeared behind her.
"How's the investigation going?"
Zhao Qingmei took a light sip of tea and asked.
"I'm incompetent, I couldn't find out anything about this person," the Ghost-faced Buddha quickly bowed and said.
Tan Yun frowned and said, "I think this person might have just passed through Yu State City, maybe they've already left. Otherwise, how could the Human Sect experts not be able to find out?"
The Demon Sect's Human Sect was said to rival the Human Emperor's Heaven and Earth Net. Investigating a second-grade expert wasn't difficult unless that person belonged to the royal family or another top force.
The expert that even the Human Sect couldn't find, what kind of existence was this?
Zhao Qingmei said indifferently, "Since there are no results, don't waste a lot of manpower and resources. Any news on the other matter I asked you to investigate?"
The Ghost-faced Buddha said, "I found out some things, but also discovered other information."
Zhao Qingmei's jade fingers lightly tapped on the table, without speaking.
"Divine Calculator Jiang Sanjia is in Yu State City, and he's imprisoned in the Yu State Dungeon."
"A magistrate of Yu State shouldn't have such capability."
"Sect Hierarch, you're wise. Jiang Sanjia is jointly imprisoned by Liu Haoping, the Yu State Sect Leader of Cao Gang, and the magistrate of Yu State. Behind this might be Cao Gang..."
"Cao Gang?"
Zhao Qingmei's expression was like an ancient well, calm and steady.
The Ghost-faced Buddha said in a deep voice, "Since swallowing Nu Jing Gang, Cao Gang's influence has spanned Jiangnan Dao, Jinling Road, Jiangdong Road, and even beyond. Their numbers have expanded to hundreds of thousands, including second-grade experts like the Three Monsters of West Mountain and the Flying Eagle of Cang Mountain. In a short time, their power skyrocketed, making them one of the top five gangs. Coupled with the strong support of the four major chambers of commerce behind them, they are revered as the top gang in the world."
"It seems that our Demon Sect hasn't been in Great Yan for decades, and the winds have changed," Zhao Qingmei chuckled softly.
From start to finish, her expression remained serene and unchanged.
"They're just a bunch of petty thieves," Tan Yun snorted lightly, raising his head.
"Do not underestimate these four major chambers of commerce," the Ghost-faced Buddha shook his head, saying, "These four major chambers consist of merchants from Jin Merchants, Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, Jiangdong Business, and Southern Merchants. They hold massive economic power, controlling not just textiles, banks, porcelain, and silk but also trade with the desert grasslands, contributing to nearly twenty percent of Great Yan's livelihood. Their influence is so significant that even stomping a foot in Jiangnan Dao would cause a quake."
"And this Yu State magistrate, Cao Anmin, is just one figure in Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, not even a core member."
A magistrate of a city, especially an important one like Yu State City, not being part of Cao Gang's core, speaks volumes about Cao Gang's high-level prowess.
Zhao Qingmei glanced at the performers below and asked, "What do they want by imprisoning this divine calculator?"
The Ghost-faced Buddha took a deep breath and said, "This is a core secret of Cao Gang. Only Cao Anmin, the Yu State magistrate, and Liu Haoping, the Yu State Sect Leader, know it. My investigation reveals that Cao Gang might be after a very ancient artifact, possibly dating back to the former Great Zhou Dynasty."
"Interesting."
Zhao Qingmei chuckled softly.
"Sect Hierarch, what should we do now? Do we snatch food from the tiger's mouth?" The Ghost-faced Buddha paused, then said, "The Ghost Valley's divine calculator Jiang Sanjia is a descendant of Ghost Valley. The calculations of the Ghost Valley deplete one's Qi mechanism and life force. After so many years in Jianghu, he's already on the brink of death. Coupled with the torture in the dungeon, he might not have the strength left to deduce the killer of the former sect hierarch......"
The Ghost Valley faction was extremely mysterious in Jianghu, and Jiang Sanjia was one of its descendants.
"Using his life,"
Zhao Qingmei said softly, "he can still make one more calculation. But this time, actions should be moderate. If it succeeds, fine. If not, then let it be."
"I understand."
The Ghost-faced Buddha's eyes narrowed slightly, "I have thoroughly investigated the situation in Yu State Dungeon. The dungeon is guarded by numerous experts of Yu State City and elite members of Cao Gang, all carefully selected by Cao Gang."
"We will kill their elites."
........
In the dark, silent cells, the damp stench of rot lingered in the air.
On either side of the long corridor were cells, crudely built with stacked stones, with only a straw mat on the bed in the corners.
The Yu State Prison was divided into two layers, the upper layer holding ordinary prisoners, mostly petty thieves and local ruffians, who would be released after a few days.
The underground second layer held serious criminals, most of them heinous offenders destined for execution.
As one moved deeper into the second layer, the number of prisoners in the cells decreased, many cells' walls still smeared with blood and strange symbols.
Especially deep in the second layer, the air was heavily dank and foul, giving an extremely eerie feeling.
"Clang!" "Clang!"
At this time, the sound of metal clashing echoed from the deepest cell.
"Brother Jiang, stop struggling. The more you struggle, the more you waste your life force,"
A voice rang out.
The cell was filled with countless iron chains, their blackness glinting peculiarly, clearly made of extraordinary material.
These chains formed shackles, binding the man at the center of the cell.
The man had disheveled hair and tattered clothes, his face obscured.
Beside him stood a middle-aged scholar in an official robe, none other than the Yu State magistrate, Cao Anmin.
Yu State City was one of the core cities of Jiangnan Dao. Becoming its magistrate required not just talent but also strength and solid backing.
Cao Anmin's background was indeed strong, linked to the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, one of the four chambers controlling Cao Gang.
Thus, Cao Anmin had held the post of Yu State magistrate firmly for thirteen years, unshaken.
"My life force is dwindling, yet you seem more afraid than I am,"
The disheveled man revealed a pair of blood-red eyes.
The blood-colored eyes, in the stillness of the cell, glowed like a beam from an abyss, chilling anyone who looked at them, sending shivers down their spine.
"Afraid?"
Cao Anmin laughed, "Indeed, I'm afraid that Brother Jiang would die like this, making it difficult for me to explain. But this doesn't threaten me."
"All along, I've had some admiration for you, Jiang Sanjia, which is why I haven't used certain methods........"
If Jiang Sanjia died, it would indeed be hard for him to explain, but threatening him like this underestimated Cao Anmin too much.
Jiang Sanjia sneered, "Do you think I'd fear your methods?"
"Someone unafraid of death indeed fears little else."
Cao Anmin took a deep breath, a cold gleam in his eyes, "But, those unafraid of death might fear other things."
"Like what?"
"The Chief Eunuch of Kunning Palace is very greedy; it's easy to send you there. What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Sanjia's pupils contracted. In Kunning Palace, there was someone he dreaded most in his entire life.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Cao Anmin laughed heartily.
This laughter was extremely mocking to Jiang Sanjia's ears.
"Brother Jiang, the dungeon is heavily guarded, not just by its guards but also by Cao Gang's elite. Ordinary people cannot get in. I advise you not to hold any illusions."
"After all, you don't want to die; otherwise, you would have perished long ago. Think it over for the last time. I can always wait, but some people cannot."
After Cao Anmin finished, he left the cell with his hands behind him.
"Clink!" "Clink!" "Clink!"
As Cao Anmin stepped out, the guards behind him closed the cell door again and locked it with three iron locks.