He Lingchuan's expression darkened. The news of his fall from the cliff along with the leopard was kept secret by the He household. The leopard, secretly brought back to the city for dissection, was found to have sustained severe injuries before its attack on He Lingchuan. Now, with these two foreigners inquiring about the leopard's whereabouts, it was clear they were linked to the demon leopard's assailants who had inflicted misery on He Lingchuan. This clue was too vital to ignore.
"Where are they now?"
"Still at the tavern, waiting on your instructions."
"Keep them there."
"Understood." The messenger smirked, "Those two are full of themselves, looking down on everyone as if they're above all. Complaining about the local wine one moment and the stench of the place the next, our brothers were already irked by their attitude; teaching them a lesson would be satisfying."
He Lingchuan hesitated for a moment before standing, "Lead the way." He knew all too well that his presence in this world was not merely to enjoy its pleasures without facing challenges or exerting effort. If so, he might as well take the initiative.
Uncle Hao interjected, "Allow me to go first, Young Master. You can follow later." After saying this, he left with the messenger.
The reason behind the Red-White Path's informant service to He Lingchuan stemmed from a past favor — they had shared drinks and songs, and He Lingchuan had facilitated some deals for them, establishing a certain rapport. In a small place like this, connections were ubiquitous, and the Red-White Path also sought to curry favor with the magistrate of Heishui City.
Upon assuming his position, He Chunhua discovered the city's most lucrative trades were monopolized amid its chaotic mix of characters. As magistrate, he yearned for long-term peace and order, especially given Heishui City's strategic location. Thus, he didn't cut off these individuals' livelihoods to avoid escalating conflicts, instead, he adapted to the circumstances by issuing "Liquor Licenses," mandating merchants to obtain them for selling alcohol legally.
From then on, selling alcohol in Heishui City required a permit from the authorities, or face legal repercussions. The people, not daring to contend with officialdom, and with He Chunhua's adeptness at both appeasement and enforcement, gradually unified these rough forces under the "Liquor License," slowly transforming Heishui City into his domain.
Any slight disturbance within the city quickly became known to the He household — the mark of true local influence.
As the two foreigners emerged from a teahouse, they were caught unawares by a sudden gust, sand and wind stinging their eyes before they could shield themselves with their hoods. Cursing, they returned to their inn for a warm meal and headed down to the communal bath.
Unbeknownst to them, they became drowsy, succumbing to sleep right in their tubs until a splash of cold water abruptly woke them. They found themselves bound to chairs, facing a grim reality.
Upon He Lingchuan's arrival at the inn's backyard, Uncle Hao emerged, his expression solemn after the interrogation, "They've confessed."
"Are they still alive?" Uncle Hao's stern face deepened He Lingchuan's sense of foreboding.
"Alive." Aren't you going to ask what they confessed to? "They claim to be second-rank guards from Donglai Prefecture, sent by the Grand Marshal to Heishui City on a mission."
"Donglai Prefecture?" The name rang familiar, and he sifted through his predecessor's memories. The original He Lingchuan was keen on pleasures and martial arts, paying little heed to other matters. However, the mention of "Grand Marshal" struck He Lingchuan profoundly.
Then it hit him.
In the Yan Kingdom, how many Grand Marshals could there be? "The estate of the pillar nation's Grand General, Grand Marshal Dong Haoming, is honored as 'Donglai Prefecture' by imperial decree!" Uncle Hao articulated, "He is the father of the Eastern Queen, the emperor's father-in-law!"
"These men are from the pillar nation's service?" He Lingchuan's face paled, but then he questioned, "If so, why didn't they disclose this earlier, enduring torture instead? Are they inherently masochistic?"
Described as guards, they essentially served as Donglai Prefecture's private soldiers. Nobility and officials in the capital were prohibited from maintaining armies, yet many high-ranking officials secretly kept private forces, officially under various guises.
In these tumultuous times, policy loopholes widened, an open secret to all.
"The mission's secrecy compelled them to silence. They were forbidden from speaking out." Uncle Hao presented two blood-stained tokens, "These are Dongming tokens,