Nobles District, Black Dust Capital, Black Dusk Domain.
In a dimly lit tavern that was about to close for the day, there was a man clad in Warrior's council's signature armor. He was currently drinking beer in a tankard, gulping all the contents in just one gulp. The man was of average build, not that thin but not that big either. However, if one were to see his hands, one would notice that they were full of scars and calluses from a constant battle in wars.
Ring!
The bell on the door suddenly rang as it opened, entering a young man in officer clothes. He, too, had an average build, but was a lot thinner than the Warrior drinking. He hesitated for a moment, before finally making up his mind to approach the Warrior.
"The tavern has closed, please go back tomorrow!" The barista popped up from the kitchen as he said that to the young officer.
The young officer just smiled and replied, "It's fine, I am not going to order anything. I'm just going to talk."
"If you say so." The barista, who looked like the owner of the place, nodded his head, still full of doubt, but just returned to the kitchen.
The young officer looked at the Warrior, who did not even look at him and the entire team. He was eating exotic foods made from the meat of demonic beasts, one which can be mostly found outside the Domain.
The officer then squeezed out a voice, greeting the Warrior. "Good evening, Lord Liang Xuan, I have news for you."
Finally, the Warrior paused, stared at the officer, and said in a coarse voice that made the young officer slightly uncomfortable. "What's your name?"
"I am Cang Wei, Milord." Cang Wei replied. That's right, this was the same Cang Wei that Jiang Ye had encountered in the slavery camp, where the latter had beaten Officer Qin.
"Cang Wei? Huh?" Lord Liang Xuan mumbled. "Go, sit."
Cang Wei respectfully nodded his head and sat on the chair, his eyes never leaving Liang Xuan's. He was hesitating on what to say, on what to deliver, even though the mission was provided by the deputy head of officers in the slavery camp.
It was understandable, of course, as the man in front of him was perhaps the second most powerful figure in the entire Black Dust Domain. At just the young age of 23, Liang Xuan had already risen through the ranks of the Warrior's council and became its leader by the time he turned 25.
As for why Liang Xuan has the same family name as the Domain Lord, Liang Shuyue? There were, naturally, brothers. Both of them are dragons among men but in different fields. If Domain Lord Liang Shuyue mastered the art of politics and manipulation, Liang Xuan would have mastered the art of war. They were, in a simple word, both masters of their specialties.
Cang Wei rubbed both his hands under the table so that Liang Xuan wouldn't be able to see it. He was nervous, this was the first time he was going to talk with such an influential person. The highest-ranked person he had talked to before this meeting was just Officer Qin.
"Speak, what is this news you have for me?" Liang Xuan asked as he munched the meat in his mouth.
"Well," Cang Wei replied. "There was a bit of a problem that happened yesterday, in the slavery camp, and the deputy head advised me to approach you rather than Lord Liang Shuyue."
"Deputy head? That Tianzu something person? What happened to Qin Zhangmu?" Liang Xuan replied, there was a slight crease on his forehead.
"He was currently unconscious," Cang Wei said, the content surprising Liang Xuan. "His nose was broken and his face was deformed."
Liang Xuan's eyebrows go up as he listens in interesting. Then, he said, "What exactly happened?"
"Well, it was related to the news I am going to tell you, Milord." Cang Wei was still rubbing his hands, quite uneasy. "The thing is, there was a slave yesterday that got out of the slave camp, he managed to escape even as the barracks surrounded the camp. The slave's name is Jiang Ye and he and an old man he's accompliced with stole a precious cultivation technique stored in Lord Shuyue's manor in the slave camp. It seemed that this Jiang Ye used the cultivation technique to become a cultivator and yesterday he almost killed the head officer in their fight."
"Sounds like an interesting individual." Liang Xuan touched his chin when he heard this. It was someone who had the nerve to directly intrude on his brother's house and steal his cultivation techniques? That was, in some way, an amazing feat, and he admired brave people the most. "So what about his accomplice? The old man?"
"He was in the Lord's custody the day before yesterday," Cang Wei replied.
"Then why are you going to me, instead of going to my brother?"
Cang Wei's face froze upon hearing this. Indeed, he was right. If the Lord was already involved in this incident, to begin with, why would they turn to this person? Wouldn't it be more efficient if they just asked the Domain Lord some advice?
"Oh I get it," Liang Xuan chuckled. "You people got no guts to face my brother, huh? So you think I am the easy target now?"
"O-of course not Milord," Cang Wei stammered. "I am sure the deputy head just has his reasons—"
"Cowardly reasons!" Liang Xuan sneered. "And the thing I hate the most are cowards. Even that thief named Jiang Ye has more guts than all of the officers! How embarrassing!"
Cang Wei's face turned red when he heard this. He was, indeed, embarrassed. Liang Xuan was right in this regard. They were in some sense, cowards. They did not dare to face the Domain Lord and instead asked his brother about this matter when he was not even involved.
"B-but—"
"No buts!" Liang Xuan interjected. "Do you think my brother paid you to become cowards? Of course not! Useless pieces of shit."
These words offended Cang Wei as he was an officer too, but he did not say anything. He did not dare say anything. Because all the things that Liang Xuan has been saying since the very beginning are all, cold, and solid undeniable facts.
Cang Wei remained silent as he thought of these things. He did not know what to say. He can't deny that they were indeed, cowardly people. He remembered yesterday when Officer Qin and that bastard Jiang Ye, why didn't they interfere? Because they will die? No! Because they were all just cowards. Indeed, he did shout against Jiang Ye yesterday, but that's all he was. Talk. He just talks but does not act. He was now starting to realize how shameful he was in that fight.
"However—"
Cang Wei suddenly snapped out of his train of thought when he heard this.
"—since you have made an effort to meet me here in person, I supposed I shall help you regarding this case. Did my brother about this incident?"
Cang Wei's eyes lit up as he excitedly said, "Other than the fact that the old man stole the cultivation technique, he did not know any other details. The officers have also warned the slaves who had witnessed the fight to keep silent."
"Good," Liang Xuan nodded. "Well then, keep it that way. Do you think he was in the capital now?"
"I don't know, Milord." Cang Wei shook his head. The Black Dust Domain was an extremely huge land. Other than the land that homed the Black Dust Volcano, there were a lot of towns and cities within the Black Dust Domain. Jiang Ye could be hiding in any one of them.
"I see." Liang Xuan became silent for a moment before he added, "I will take care of this matter."
Cang Wei's eyes widened in appreciation as he suddenly stood up and made a fist and palm gesture as he slightly bowed. "Thank you for your kindness, Milord."
"It's nothing," Liang Xuan waved his hand. "But I do have one final question."
"What is it, Lord Xuan?"
"Before being enslaved, can you tell me where this Jiang Ye was living?"