Gripping the knife, Chen Yuan didn't recklessly charge in but took a deep breath, kicked the door open, and swiftly scattered a handful of lime.
Whoever it was, prudence came first!
As the lime dispersed, the room fell into complete silence, and Chen Yuan, squinting his eyes, slowly walked in.
Empty!
Walking slowly to the window, Chen Yuan held his breath and searched the room.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Chen Yuan's step faltered, but he quickly covered it up, sighed, and retreated from the room.
Back on the street, Chen Yuan gazed ahead and briskly walked away, but his heart had already sunk.
Just now, he had caught sight of half a shallow footprint, which was the reason for his sudden pause. This was because he was somewhat familiar with that half footprint.
Huang Xing!
The person previously spying in the dark was almost certainly Huang Xing.
That was why Chen Yuan swiftly exited the room.
He speculated that Huang Xing was hidden in the room, and once he found Huang Xing, it would lead to an all-out confrontation, and he currently wasn't strong enough to contend with Huang Xing.
Even if he could hold out for a moment, once the constables from the County Government arrived, would those government officials aid him or Huang Xing?
"The Huang Family..."
Chen Yuan had now fully realized that the Huang Family was out to kill him; Wang Meng was just a pawn sent in first.
Afterwards, the Huang Family's intention to kill would only become more ferocious.
"Tie Xuan, you better not disappoint me!" Chen Yuan murmured, eyes narrowed.
Inside that residence, Huang Xing, with an expressionless face, returned to the window and watched Chen Yuan leave, his complexion dark and uncertain!
...
...
County Government.
Dressed in a dark black robe, Tie Xuan nodded at the two government officials guarding the gate and walked in at a leisurely pace.
Turning a few corners inside the County Government, he finally stopped in front of a small courtyard, and bowed to the two confidants of the County Magistrate at the door:
"Is the County Magistrate available? Tie has an urgent matter to report!"
The two confidants exchanged glances and nodded:
"Please wait a moment, Sir Tie; I will immediately go and inform him."
With that, one of the confidants turned and entered the courtyard.
After a moment, he hurried back out and said to Tie Xuan:
"Sir Tie, please come in; the County Magistrate is waiting for you inside."
"Thank you!"
Tie Xuan quickly walked into the courtyard.
This was the residence of County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng, heavily guarded, and it could be considered one of the safest places in Ping'an County. Six rooms of government officials were nearby, ready to rapidly assemble at a moment's notice.
Apart from County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng, the County Constable Li Mingqi also lived within the County Government.
Tie Xuan stood quietly at the door for a moment before pushing it open and entering.
A middle-aged man in a crimson official's robe, looking serene, sat in the main seat holding a cup of clear tea—it was Ping'an County's Magistrate, Wu Qingfeng.
"This subordinate pays respects to the Magistrate!"
Tie Xuan bowed and saluted with his fist.
"What is the urgent matter you wish to report?" Wu Qingfeng peered at Tie Xuan.
He knew Tie Xuan well and was aware that he was not rash. Tie Xuan's presence meant he certainly had something significant to report.
"Back to your question, sir, it's about the affairs of the No-Life Sect scoundrels!"
"Hmm?" Wu Qingfeng's eyes narrowed slightly, his interest piqued:
"Have you found traces of those thieves?"
Tie Xuan took a deep breath and whispered:
"I have received some information that the Huang Family has been secretly communicating with the No-Life Sect scoundrels and working for them!"
For Tie Xuan, taking on the Huang Family by himself was an impossible task; only with the help of County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng did he see any hope.
Not even the capable Li Mingqi, the County Magistrate, was someone he could confront.
Upon hearing of the Huang Family's secret dealings with the No-Life Sect, Wu Qingfeng's expression suddenly changed, his grip on his teacup tightened:
"Are you certain?"
"I am ninety percent sure!" Tie Xuan gritted his teeth and said softly.
Huang Xing had secretly conspired with Old Six Song to kill him, and they were now in a fight to the death; he had to eradicate them, for there was no reason to be constantly on guard against thieves.
He dared to speak so boldly because he knew that the County Magistrate had always been at odds with the Huang Family; even if no evidence was found of contacting the Demon Dao, Wu Qingfeng would still press charges.
"Where's the evidence?" Wu Qingfeng's gaze involuntarily shifted to the screen not far away as he asked in a stern voice.
"The evidence hasn't been obtained yet, but as long as we thoroughly search the Huang Family, I will certainly bring the evidence..." Tie Xuan's voice became even lower.
He wasn't sure if Wu Qingfeng would agree.
After all, this was indeed risky, to search the Huang Family would mean completely falling out with Li Mingqi.
Wu Qingfeng's fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop:
"Where did you get this information?"
"The honorable sir also knows, my younger sister mingles with the lower classes in South City every day; from one of those people I found out about this. He claims that he cleans out filth for the Huang Family every day, often seeing human bones among the filth... He dares not make this public, and it was only after getting drunk last time that he..."
Tie Xuan carefully watched Wu Qingfeng's reaction.
This story was of course fabricated, a plot devised by Chen Yuan and Tie Xuan to decide Wu Qingfeng's actions; even if nothing was found in the end, the enmity between the Huang Family and Wu Qingfeng would surely come to the forefront.
By then, the Huang Family would have no mood to pay him any further attention.
If evidence was found, all the better.
Regardless of the outcome, Chen Yuan had nothing to lose!
After a moment of silence, Wu Qingfeng emptied the tea from his cup in one gulp and lowered his voice:
"Keep this quiet for now, investigate more thoroughly, and wait for my command!"
Tie Xuan gritted his teeth, somewhat unwilling, but with Wu Qingfeng's words reaching this point, he could do nothing but comply:
"Yes, I shall obey your order!"
"All right, you may leave now..." said Wu Qingfeng.
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
Once Tie Xuan's figure had completely disappeared, Wu Qingfeng spoke indifferently:
"Director Zhang, it seems that news of the Huang Family colluding with the No-Life Sect is known to more than just you and me."
As Wu Qingfeng finished, a young man clad in Mysterious Armor, with a stern face and white patterns on his chest, emerged from behind the screen.
The young man referred to as Director Zhang walked slowly to the front of Wu Qingfeng and sat down, took a teacup, poured himself a cup of clear tea, took a sip, and said in a low voice:
"I had intended to use the Huang Family to catch a few big fish from the No-Life Sect; I didn't expect the news to leak out so soon..."
He spoke emotionlessly, a glint of lethal intent flashing in his eyes.
The intelligence department of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau had already discovered the Huang Family's secret communications with the No-Life Sect, and he had come specifically for this matter. To think that just when he had finished communicating with County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng,
someone reported it, and frankly, he was not pleased.
"Does Director Zhang still plan to continue the fishing?" Wu Qingfeng asked softly.
"Since the news is already out, to avoid startling the snakes, County Magistrate Wu, you should take action as soon as possible!" The young man crushed the teacup he was holding, causing Wu Qingfeng to wince.