Chapter 391: The Power to Take or Give

It was already late at night when Duan Rong returned to that secluded Separate Courtyard of Liu Shushan.

But the four people—Xiao Yu, Shen Mizhi, Ximen Kankan, and Liu Shushan—had not yet slept; they were sitting there waiting for him.

As soon as Duan Rong stepped into the courtyard, Xiao Yu came out to greet him, looking at him with concern in her eyes. "Why so late?"

Duan Rong said, "I was delayed by something for a while."

As he spoke, Duan Rong gently squeezed Xiao Yu's hand, by way of comfort.

The two walked into the hall, and Ximen Kankan laughed, "You finally returned! If you hadn't come back, Sister-in-law would have driven us out onto the street to look for you!"

Xiao Yu laughed, "Don't talk nonsense, when did I say I would drive you out onto the street?"

Ximen Kankan said, "You didn't say it with your mouth, but you were already thinking it in your heart."

Xiao Yu laughed and scolded, "Only you are capable; do you have mind-reading powers?"

Ximen Kankan wanted to say something more, but Duan Rong had already cut him off, asking, "Let's first talk about what you two investigated."

Ximen Kankan then recounted the information he and Liu Shushan had investigated, picking out the important parts. Where he hadn't made things clear, Liu Shushan added some more.

Duan Rong sat there listening, a look of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

Most of the information Ximen Kankan and Liu Shushan investigated, he already knew, but there were some things he was not very clear about.

For example, some details of this major case involving the Shen Family.

The first to be set up and captured was naturally Tang Wanhong, and the entire Shen Garden was also surrounded.

Tang Wanhong had used the pretext of pawning to store the transaction ledgers and accounts in a black iron box, keeping it in the warehouse of a pawnshop. The owner of that pawnshop was his sworn brother from his early years.

Because Xiong Yi discovered that Tang Wanhong would go to that pawnshop every once in a while. Doubts arose in Xiong Yi's heart; Tang Wanhong wasn't going there to pawn things, so why did he keep running to the pawnshop?

Xiong Yi then told Li Hong about this.

That very day, Chen Xun sent people to seal that not-so-large pawnshop on the grounds of fraudulent pawn activities.

Immediately after, they found the Shen Garden's transaction ledgers and accounts in the pawnshop's warehouse.

After obtaining the ledgers and accounts, Chen Xun immediately ordered Li Hong to personally lead men to seal the Shen Garden and capture Tang Wanhong to the Prefecture Prison.

Chen Xun obtained the ledgers and accounts. Although those accounts were quite detailed, they were all records of dealings between officials and Tang Wanhong; not a single word directly involved Shen Yanliu.

In the prison, Chen Xun subjected Tang Wanhong to severe torture and coercion. However, Tang Wanhong knew that whether he spoke or not, he would die, so he gritted his teeth and didn't utter a single word.

Not long after Tang Wanhong was captured, Shen Yanliu received the news.

Shen Yanliu was still relatively calm, but Ma Chunmin immediately panicked; she actually found someone to seize Tang Wanhong's wife and children, and then she bribed an old jailer who delivered food in the prison, having him take Tang Wanhong's son's Longevity Lock to show Tang Wanhong when he delivered the meal.

As soon as Tang Wanhong saw that Longevity Lock, he immediately knew what was going on.

Because the whereabouts of his wife and children were known only to Shen Yanliu and his wife. This was clearly done by Shen Yanliu.

Tang Wanhong was suddenly overcome with great grief; he had twenty-plus years of friendship with Shen Yanliu, and he had originally made up his mind not to betray him. But he hadn't expected that at this moment, he would still be using his son's life to threaten him.

In Shen Yanliu's eyes, he was actually nothing more than a chess piece.

Tang Wanhong confessed that very night!

Chen Xun was naturally overjoyed; once Tang Wanhong's confession was obtained, the chain of evidence was complete.

These dirty transactions originally took place within the Shen Garden, and this Shen Garden was built by Shen Yanliu himself. He could not escape responsibility for these matters, and with the addition of Tang Wanhong's confession, it was completely nailed down.

That same night, Chen Xun personally led men to raid Shen Yanliu's home.

On the night the incident occurred, Shen Yanliu had sent several trusted aides to go to Shenyun Prefecture to lobby; he had originally expected that if Tang Wanhong didn't spill, Chen Xun wouldn't act so quickly!

But he didn't expect that the government soldiers had already surrounded his mansion.

Shen Yanliu immediately organized his servants and guards to resist, loudly berating Chen Xun for suppressing dissidents and framing him.

Chen Xun had long since anticipated that Shen Yanliu would not surrender, but he had been planning this for a long time; how could he allow Shen Yanliu to put up a desperate struggle?

Under the siege of several True Qi Realm experts, Chen Xun crippled Shen Yanliu's dantian on the spot.

When Liu Shushan mentioned that Chen Xun had crippled Shen Yanliu's dantian, Shen Mizhi, who was sitting to the side, had her eyelids visibly twitch.

But Duan Rong knew that Chen Xun had not only crippled Shen Yanliu's dantian, but also broken his limbs.

Duan Rong also shared some of his investigation results with them, mainly regarding the defensive strength of the Prefecture Prison.

When they heard that there were three True Qi Realm powerhouses stationed in the Prefecture Prison, everyone fell silent for a moment.

Duan Rong glanced at Shen Mizhi and said, "You must be mentally prepared; your father might... have some difficulty walking."

He was only kindly reminding Shen Mizhi so she would be prepared, which could be considered doing his small part. As for the rest, Duan Rong felt he was afraid he could do nothing to help.

As soon as Shen Mizhi heard this, her eyes turned slightly red. She could imagine what kind of torture her father had suffered in prison. If, according to Duan Rong's words, her father couldn't even walk, then her hope of rescuing her father was even more remote.

When Liu Shushan heard these words from Duan Rong, he looked at him with quite a curious expression.

The Prefecture Prison was such a confidential place, and the news inside was tightly sealed; even he, a local snake, found it hard to probe for news inside. How did Duan Rong know?

Although Liu Shushan had doubts in his heart, he was also a quite cautious person and did not ask to his face. After all, no one would casually reveal the channels through which they could find such confidential information. Why should he pry into someone else's secrets?

After exchanging information, everyone looked at Duan Rong with expectant eyes, asking if he had any good ideas.

Duan Rong only yawned and said he had no ideas, it was too late today, let's talk about it tomorrow.

When he said this, he clearly saw Shen Mizhi's eyes dim instantly.

Duan Rong also felt Shen Mizhi was pitiful, and he greatly admired her filial and heroic heart in risking her life to save her father, but one thing is one thing, this matter was clearly a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, how could he dare to get involved recklessly?

The group was indeed tired; after traveling repeatedly, their spirits had been in a state of tension all day today. At this time, seeing that it was only about two hours until dawn, they all hurried to sleep.

Xiao Yu actually abandoned Duan Rong and went to sleep in the same room as Shen Mizhi, leaving Duan Rong to sleep all alone on the bed.

He turned over and hugged the other pillow to his chest.

In fact, there was a very important piece of news just now that he had not shared with Shen Mizhi, Liu Shushan, and the others.

That was that the Prefectural Administrator of Ruyang Prefecture, Yang Ji, was going to personally go to Shenyun Prefecture; his purpose in going was to find a way to have the documents for the Shen Yanliu case reviewed within ten days and issued down to Ruyang Prefecture.

The reason Duan Rong didn't say it was because he felt that although Liu Shushan couldn't investigate this news today, he would definitely know by tomorrow.

Because a dignified Prefectural Administrator leaving Ruyang Prefecture would definitely be known by someone. Since it was news that Liu Shushan could find out, Duan Rong felt it was better to wait for him to tell everyone.

After all, after he finished sharing some of the situation inside the prison, the look in Liu Shushan's eyes when he looked at him was already a bit strange.

Just as Duan Rong had expected, at noon the next day, Liu Shushan gathered them all in the Main Hall and spoke of Prefectural Administrator Yang Ji heading to Shenyun Prefecture.

"Ten days?" Shen Mizhi could not sit still immediately.

"Yes!" Liu Shushan also knew Shen Mizhi was anxious, but he had to tell her the truth.

Shen Mizhi's body suddenly trembled slightly; her emotions were in the midst of intense turmoil.

She suddenly turned, faced Duan Rong, knelt on the ground with a thud, and said tearfully, "Brother Duan, as long as you save my father's life, this life of mine, Shen Mizhi, will be yours from now on. You and your wife may take or dispose of it as you please! My words, Shen Mizhi, are witnessed by heaven and earth!"

As Shen Mizhi spoke, she actually banged her head against the floor with a thud. Her emotions were intense at this moment, her True Qi fluctuating; with that one strike, she shattered a floor tile into fine powder, and a faint smoke rose up.

Xiao Yu immediately stepped forward, wanting to pull Shen Mizhi up. "Sister Mizhi, get up. Duan Rong cannot bear such a great courtesy from you!"

Yet Shen Mizhi stubbornly remained prostrate on the ground, not rising despite Xiao Yu pulling her.

She understood that she was not begging for herself; she was begging for her father.

Duan Rong said, "Get up! If you do this, I will lose years off my life!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mizhi raised her head; her face was already covered in tears.

She was cold and arrogant by nature, and it was precisely because of this temperament that the harm her background caused her was multiplied, twisting her soul.

But at this moment, for the sake of her father's life, she had abandoned all her dignity, and even abandoned her own life.

She had just said that as long as Duan Rong saved her father, her life was his to take or dispose of!

This meant she was willing to become a slave!

"Brother Duan, you have always been resourceful, I beg you to save my father's life!" Shen Mizhi said, prostrating herself again. Her shoulders kept heaving; clearly, her emotions were near collapse.

Xiao Yu looked at Duan Rong with a helpless expression and asked, "Have you thought of a way?"

Duan Rong looked silently at the prostrate Shen Mizhi.

In truth, after lying down last night, he really had a flash of inspiration and thought of a method. It was just that he had been hesitant in his heart. Although he pitied Shen Mizhi, he was truly unwilling to take action to save Shen Yanliu.

A corrupt official who harms the common people is not worth saving!

But at this moment, looking at Shen Mizhi, who was prostrate on the ground with heaving shoulders and on the verge of collapse, he suddenly changed his mind.

Although Shen Yanliu deserved to die, he happened to have such a filial and loyal daughter; it was his fate not to die yet!

Moreover, Shen Yanliu's dantian was already ruined; even if he saved Shen Yanliu's remnant life, he could never wash away the sins upon him. He could only live the rest of his life under an assumed name, and it would be impossible for him to do anything to harm the world again.

Thinking to this point, Duan Rong was prepared to agree to Shen Mizhi, because the method he had thought of, as long as there were no slip-ups, would not only save Shen Yanliu's life but also ensure that none of them would be exposed.

Ximen Kankan, standing to the side, suddenly looked at Duan Rong and said, "If you have a way, then help her. Even if it means taking a little risk."

Duan Rong glared at him, suddenly walked to his side, and whispered, "If you burn that thing, I'll help. How about it?"

"Ah..." Ximen Kankan was stunned, not expecting Duan Rong to bring this up again at such a time, but he also could not bear the sight of Shen Mizhi's pitiful, near-collapsed state of abandoning her pride to kneel, so he said, "Fine, I'll burn it."

Duan Rong looked at him and whispered, "You had better keep your word."

Liu Shushan was standing beside Ximen Kankan, looking at them with a strange expression.

"What are you two whispering about over there?" Xiao Yu suddenly asked with a cold gaze.

Duan Rong smiled and said, "Nothing."

Then he looked at Shen Mizhi, who was still prostrate on the ground, and said, "Mizhi, if you really want me to save your father, stand up."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mizhi immediately rose. Her face was still covered in tears as she said, "Brother Duan, have you agreed?"

Duan Rong nodded and said, "Get up first!"

Only then did Shen Mizhi stand up.

She knew this matter was very difficult, but for the past three months, no matter how difficult a case was, once it reached Duan Rong's hands, it could be solved with ease. Therefore, the moment Duan Rong agreed, Shen Mizhi believed that Duan Rong must have found a way to save her father.

Liu Shushan's expression was somewhat uncertain; he suddenly looked at Duan Rong and said, "Brother Duan, this matter is of great consequence. Are you sure you can save Uncle Shen?"

Duan Rong looked at Liu Shushan and immediately understood his meaning.

Liu Shushan was afraid of being implicated; this was human nature. His entire Liu family was within Ruyang Prefecture, and he had already taken a risk by keeping Shen Mizhi in this secret Separate Courtyard.

Duan Rong looked at him and said, "Don't worry, Shushan. We will neither raid the prison nor the execution ground. Not only will I save Shen Mizhi's father, but I guarantee that none of us here will be exposed!"

Liu Shushan's face flushed slightly. Duan Rong had clearly seen through the hidden worries in his heart. However, he truly could not imagine how one could save a person without raiding the prison or the execution ground. Would he conjure a person out of thin air?

Although Duan Rong's words were spoken with great confidence, everyone present still wore worried expressions.

After all, this case was being personally supervised by Ruyang Prefecture Master Chen Xun, who kept a group of retainers, among whom were many martial arts experts and people with strange and ingenious skills.

To save someone from his hands without being exposed—if it weren't for the fact that Duan Rong had repeatedly solved strange cases and already won their trust, they would have truly thought Duan Rong was talking nonsense.

"Since we have decided to do it, we must act immediately without delay!" Duan Rong said with decisive action.

After all, he only had ten days, and the first day was already half over; time was truly not abundant!

Duan Rong looked at Shen Mizhi and said in a deep voice, "Mizhi, you must return immediately to handle your case, finish the case you have half-completed in your hands. And you must not leave until the evening of the tenth day!"

"Ah..." Shen Mizhi did not expect that the first thing Duan Rong would do was ask her to leave this place. Her father was in the Prefecture City Dungeon and could be executed at any time; how could she leave? And where would she find the heart to handle a case?

Duan Rong knew Shen Mizhi could not accept this. "I know, this is somewhat unreasonable! But it must be done! Your alibi is a very important part of my plan!"

Although Shen Mizhi saw Duan Rong say this, her eyes were still hesitant.

Duan Rong turned his head to look at Xiao Yu and said, "You go with her. As for the case, even if she goes, she won't have the heart to handle it; you help her finish it."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu nodded and immediately grasped Duan Rong's meaning.

Duan Rong was worried that Shen Mizhi would not be able to stay there alone and might run back, so he had her follow her—half to help her with the case, and half to keep an eye on her.

Duan Rong said, "You leave now. When you get there, change into your original clothes and go to the Ya Men every day to report for duty, so that those people see you!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Mizhi suddenly stared blankly at Duan Rong and said, "Brother Duan, can you really save my father? If you can really save my father, I will listen to you and leave now."

Shen Mizhi truly could not bring herself to leave at this moment; she needed Duan Rong to tell her one more time.

Duan Rong looked at Shen Mizhi's expression and knew what she was thinking. He suddenly said, "Mizhi, don't worry! If I cannot save your father, I will cut off Ximen Kankan's head and use it as a chamber pot for you."

"Hiss~" Ximen Kankan gasped upon hearing this. "Damn you! What does this have to do with me? Why cut off mine? Besides, she's a woman, does she need a chamber pot? Is that necessary?"

Xiao Yu and Liu Shushan were both slightly amused by Ximen Kankan's comical appearance.

But Shen Mizhi and Duan Rong both had solemn expressions.

For some reason, Duan Rong's illogical and absurd words instantly made Shen Mizhi feel as if she had taken a calming pill, and her anxious, torn heart settled down in an instant.

"Good, I believe you!" After saying this, Shen Mizhi turned and walked outside.

Xiao Yu immediately walked up to Duan Rong and said, "Are you sure about this?"

Duan Rong's tone was calm as he said, "Eighty or ninety percent."

Xiao Yu's eyes flashed, and he said, "Then I'm leaving. Be careful!"

Duan Rong instructed, "Keep an eye on that girl, don't let her cause me any trouble, and there won't be much of a problem on my end."

"I know." Xiao Yu hurried outside to chase after Shen Mizhi.

(End of chapter)