Chapter 170: Ironclad Guard Town-Pacifying Commander

"You've ruined Grand Coordinator Jia's plans." Deng Cheng, the Ironclad Guard Town-Pacifying Commander, sipped his tea with a smile.

The White Tiger Hall's chief chuckled apologetically: "Who knew that whiny little thing was a famous actor?"

"Your Excellency, forgive us—we're rough men, we can't tell a martial actor from a literary one."

"We only knew this pretty boy was trying to seize the lives of your lordships."

Deng Cheng was satisfied with the White Tiger Hall chief's answer, then asked: "What do you know about Lou Yuesheng's background? Have you investigated?"

In truth, Lou Yuesheng didn't have to die—even after seeing the White Tiger Hall transport the chests containing ledgers and lists.

What was there to hide? He couldn't see what was inside the boxes or their contents.

His real cause of death was that he actually tried to investigate further.

"I don't know much," said the White Tiger Hall chief. "Only after the fact did I learn he was invited by Grand Coordinator Jia." He only knew Lou Yuesheng was a singer.

"He's certainly no ordinary man," Deng Cheng shook his head. "Who else would dare approach a gang moving cargo at midnight? They'd run far away."

"But this matter involves Grand Coordinator Jia—we can't investigate easily," the White Tiger Hall chief said cautiously.

He'd realized: this Town-Pacifying Commander held little regard for their own Provincial Governor.

Deng Cheng deeply resented Jia Simou. Had he arrived even one or two days later, Jia Simou would have truly become Ma Yunfeng's blade.

Fortunately, he'd swiftly corrected the situation—and uncovered some interesting facts.

For instance, the matter of the former Green Robe Guard Battalion Commander.

He'd already reported this to Commander Qi Qianshan. Chen Jiunan's successful escape from pursuit and infiltration into LinYuan City likely has ties to that Green Robe Guard Battalion Commander.

Compared to the reorganized Ironclad Guard, the original Green Robe Guard were all veterans who'd braved storms and fought on battlefields.

Anyone who rose to Battalion Commander was no ordinary man.

He himself had little confidence he could defeat one—and thankfully, he was only a vanguard foot soldier, not tasked with such concerns.

His reason for arriving in LinYuan City first was to remove these ledgers and lists before Ma Yunfeng could seize them.

Tonight, he'd take these dozen chests and leave at once—no delays.

"You cowards," Deng Cheng scolded with a laugh. "Fine, I won't press you."

"Disband the artisans gradually tomorrow. Your line is cut—His Majesty the Empress Dowager has cut back on expenses these past days."

The Azure Dragon Society handled river transport; the White Tiger Hall managed craftsmanship—monopolizing LinYuan City's iron industry and secretly casting weapons and armor, which the Azure Dragon Society smuggled out for sale.

For LinYuan City and the Ironclad Guard, the White Tiger Hall had plenty of replacements—but these artisans, as skilled laborers, were each invaluable.

LinYuan City would soon descend into chaos; these artisans must be evacuated quickly.

Once order was restored, they could resume their trade and resume smuggling out goods.

"Yes, yes, Your Excellency, rest assured—in seven days at most, every artisan will vanish from the city without a trace," the White Tiger Hall chief hurried to say.

"Too slow. Three days." Deng Cheng tightened the deadline, then opened his mouth to say more—but his expression suddenly changed.

In a flash, he drew his longsword and slashed upward in one swift vertical cut.

A streak of gold light split cleanly in two—missing him entirely.

He spat out a mouthful of foul air; his blade was riddled with cracks, and his grip trembled uncontrollably.

The enemy was strong—he was no match.

Surviving the first strike didn't mean he'd survive the second.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" he roared, gathering his breath once more.

Martial cultivation was simple: strengthen the flesh, bones, and skin externally; cultivate one's inner breath internally.

So long as that breath remained, even ghosts and gods could be slain.

At the same time, chaos erupted within the White Tiger Hall—Deng Cheng's face darkened.

The attacker was unquestionably the Zhao Ming Society.

Ma Yunfeng acted with grandeur—he always targeted weaknesses first, then crushed with overwhelming force.

But he followed rules—he wouldn't just storm in like this.

No sooner had he spoken than a monstrous figure lunged in, attacking Deng Cheng without hesitation.

"Wait—it's you? The former Green Robe Guard Battalion Commander…" Deng Cheng recognized the intruder.

But he couldn't finish—he was forced to counterattack, as the assault had already arrived.

Da Bao's features were unmistakable; any fool could see who he was.

Chu Danqing watched from afar, with no intention of entering the battle.

As for his identity being exposed? That was a minor matter.

Da Bao fought Deng Cheng and the White Tiger Hall chief alone—both were strong, and Da Bao was outmatched, constantly on the defensive.

Fortunately, Da Bai was watching Da Bao's health closely—though he couldn't win, his enemies couldn't kill him either.

The Son of Heaven and the Ghost Mother were clearing out the White Tiger Hall's personnel, while the Ghost Infant began searching for the ledgers and lists.

There were two reasons for sending Da Bao in.

First, Chu Danqing needed live captives; second, Da Bao needed combat experience.

Chu Danqing could crush opponents through sheer stat superiority—but Da Bao was a frontline fighter; he had to fight more.

Deng Cheng's gaze swept over the Son of Heaven and the Ghost Mother—he sensed the threat they posed.

He couldn't defeat even one—how could he face two together?

After briefly repelling Da Bao alongside the White Tiger Hall chief, he shouted decisively: "Split up!"

Let Chu Danqing take the chests with the ledgers and lists—it was his life that mattered.

With that, Deng Cheng lunged for the nearest window and smashed through it to escape.

Da Bao, steadied, immediately gave chase.

The White Tiger Hall chief didn't need worrying about—the Ghost Mother would handle him.

Roughly two minutes later, the White Tiger Hall chief was dragged to Chu Danqing's side.

He was still alive—but unconscious, his skin marred by dark bruises from yin energy erosion.

Elsewhere, Deng Cheng, battered by Da Bao's reckless, take-a-hit-to-land-one style, had both hands torn off and was finally captured.

Da Bao fought without fear because Da Bai's healing never stopped—he had nothing to lose.

Deng Cheng wasn't like Da Bao—he had constraints. Stronger as he was, his hesitation cost him.

Captured, Deng Cheng stared fixedly at Chu Danqing.

"What? Something wrong?" Chu Danqing ordered Da Bai to heal Deng Cheng—lest he bleed out before interrogation.

After all, both arms were torn off; without prompt treatment, questioning would be impossible.

He still hadn't uncovered the full truth behind Lou Yuesheng's death.

"The Emperor's foresight is profound," Deng Cheng gasped out.

Chu Danqing didn't understand what the man had imagined—but it didn't matter. Since the man had conveniently supplied him a shield, Chu Danqing would gladly take advantage.

"Good," Chu Danqing said, then sent a Ghost Infant to summon Liu Bai for backup.

Capturing Deng Cheng and the White Tiger Hall chief alone posed little problem.

The real trouble was the dozen large chests—they wouldn't fit in his storage space.

With these ledgers and lists, the Vermilion Tower and Black Tortoise Gate would be easy to deal with.

As for staffing gaps and financial issues? Ma Yunfeng was a Chancellor—if he couldn't handle this, why bother coming to LinYuan City at all?

Besides, Chu Danqing had already given him a helping hand. If this failed, it only meant Heaven's favor lay elsewhere—with Zhao Ming Society and the Suo Emperor.

About half an hour later, several carriages arrived at the White Tiger Hall's entrance.

Liu Bai and Chen Jiunan arrived personally; remaining Zhao Ming Society members began moving the bodies and clearing debris.

"Master Chu, you handled this far too roughly," Chen Jiunan said, gazing at the ruined White Tiger Hall.

"Necessity demands haste," Chu Danqing replied calmly. "Besides, don't stand there talking without skin in the game."

"You haven't paid a single copper—how am I supposed to deliver perfection?"

Chen Jiunan was left speechless.

Originally, they'd asked Chu Danqing to protect Ma Yunfeng—then Ma Yunfeng assigned him to investigate Lou Yuesheng's death.

"Thankfully, those artisans weren't allowed inside the White Tiger Hall," Liu Bai said after counting, relief on his face.

"The job's done—when will my payment arrive?" Chu Danqing had been precise—he knew the difference between gang members and civilians.

Besides, artisans weren't of low status, but they held little standing.

How could they live inside the White Tiger Hall? Only the overseers could.

"They're already en route—two more days," Chen Jiunan replied, responding to Chu Danqing's urgency.

"Fine." Chu Danqing glanced at the loaded chests and the cleaned-up corpses, then asked: "Where will you interrogate these two?"

"I need to know how and why Lou Yuesheng died before I can report back to Ma Yunfeng."

He was just making an excuse—they'd hand the interrogation results directly to Ma Yunfeng anyway; he didn't need to act as intermediary.

He only wanted to complete the side quest quickly.

"I have a hidden villa—perfect for this," Liu Bai said immediately.

Neither the chests nor the interrogation could be conducted at his Liu residence.

Even the carriages transporting the goods had been requisitioned from elsewhere.

Liu Bai was a local—if his identity were exposed, his entire family would suffer.

Unless Ma Yunfeng successfully seized control of LinYuan City and used it as a base to radiate across the entire Da Suo Empire.

Still, Liu Bai had to leave himself an escape route.

Not for himself—but for his family.

"Lead the way." Chu Danqing did not hesitate: "Tonight, we must get to the bottom of this."

Liu Bai and Chen Jiunan did not fully understand why Chu Danqing was so urgent.

They did not oppose Chu Danqing's words; they feared delays might invite further complications.

We must not only interrogate, but also audit the accounts, to further confirm the situation in Lin Yuan City.

(End of Chapter)