Chapter 229: Planning to catch the culprit and turn him in at the county office for the reward money

Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli exchanged a smile and agreed to Li He's request.

The three left the ruined temple together.

Before heading home, Li He went to a place not far from the ruined temple, took out the hundred taels of silver he had hidden earlier, and then entered the city.

The ruined temple lay outside the south gate of the city, his home outside the north gate, so he had to pass through the county seat to get home.

The three passed by Duyanlong's roast chicken shop, just as Sun leading a few constables came to seal the shop.

As expected, Sun spotted them.

"Stop!"

Sun shouted with a dark face.

Li He greeted with a grin, "Yo, isn't that Sun? What brings you here?"

Seeing Li He's smug smile, Sun flew into a rage.

According to the plan agreed upon last night, he was supposed to receive fifty taels of silver and then close the case by naming Li He the murderer.

But he never expected that, after going to the county gate this morning, he would learn everything had changed.

Li He became a hero who eliminated a menace and was released without charge.

No matter what he said to the county magistrate, the magistrate insisted the case was closed and that was that.

So the fifty taels of silver he had been eagerly expecting naturally would not materialize.

"You little brat!" Sun grabbed Li He's collar, gritting his teeth, "You dare mess with me?"

Li He chuckled, "Constable Sun, you're laying it on thick—I wouldn't dare mess with anyone, let alone you."

Sun shook him off and ordered a few constables to surround Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli.

Xiao Qidi glanced at them indifferently and asked, "What do you mean?"

"What do you mean? I still want to know what you're up to!" Sun's face turned deathly pale as he stepped up to Xiao Qidi, staring him down, "I saw you beat the One-Eyed Dragon to death, causing his wife's death, while Li He took the blame and was acquitted, letting you, the real killer, walk free! Tell me, what trick did you pull?"

Li He hurried over, grabbed Sun's arm, "Calm down, calm down, let's step aside to talk."

Sun gave Xiao Qidi a fierce glare, then walked a short distance away with Li He, his face stern.

Before Li He could say anything, Sun lowered his voice to warn, "You little brat, don't think this is over just because; as long as I'm still on duty here, you'll never have an easy day, and that man and woman—I'll never let them go, they'd better not think of leaving Jingxian County!"

Unfazed by the threat, Li He winked at Sun, "All this trouble just wears you out—I know, Constable Zhao, you're not one to like hassle..."

Saying that, he pulled out fifty taels of silver from his pocket.

As soon as he saw the silver, Sun's expression softened instantly, squinting, he asked, "Kid, what's this supposed to mean?"

"No matter what, I won't short you on what I promised, Constable Sun," Li He said, slipping the silver into Sun's pocket with a grin, "You see, the money's been paid, the case has a result everyone can agree on—isn't that a win‑win? So… hehe…"

Li He had Sun's nature figured out—it was all about the money.

If that's the case, just give it to him.

Sure enough, Sun's brows relaxed into a smile, "Good kid, you're sensible. Alright, since the county magistrate settled the case, I naturally have to follow his lead."

"So… Constable Sun, you won't cause us trouble again, will you?" Li He asked.

Sun patted his shoulder, "You've come this far—could I still cling to you and not let go? That'd just show I'm less sensible than you little brat. Based on this performance, I won't bother you; in fact, I'll watch your back—if anyone messes with you, I'll take care of them for you!"

Li He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly offering flattery, "Constable Sun, you're righteous, a real man—I admire you! When I get some benefit later, I'll certainly not forget you."

"Cut the crap!"

Sun laughed and cursed.

Though he muttered curses, he inwardly felt pleased by the praise.

Feeling pleased, he put an arm around Li He's shoulders, "Kid, the shop still has plenty of drink and food—I'm happy today, let me treat you to a meal!"

"Such a good thing? Thanks, Constable Sun!" Li He agreed without hesitation, then asked if he could invite his friends along.

Sun also agreed.

Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli didn't want to waste time here, but couldn't resist Li He's earnest invitation, adding that although the One-Eyed Dragon couple were vicious and had done plenty of evil, their roast chicken was absolutely top‑notch.

After they died, you could never eat it again.

Moreover, the remaining chicken in the shop would inevitably be divided among the constables, so not eating it would be a waste.

So the two followed them inside.

The One-Eyed Dragon couple's corpses had already been hauled away, the scene cleaned up, leaving only a dark red stain on the stone floor tiles.

"You sit here for now; I and my brothers will go fetch the drink and chicken." Sun said, then led his men to the back inner room of the shop.

Ning Jinli muttered, "This place really shows money can make ghosts push mills—Li He, you gave them fifty taels, and now they're all so enthusiastic, letting us sit while they go get food."

Li He snorted, "Sister Ning, you're giving him too much credit—he's just trying to loot the place clean before we go in; the One-Eyed Dragon couple have no relatives, so Sun and his lot won't miss any valuables in the shop, otherwise locals or beggars would snatch them later. Let's wait a bit; once they've finished scavenging, they'll bring out the food."

Ning Jinli was speechless, unable to deny that in these matters, fifteen‑year‑old Li He had more insight and experience than she did.

At that moment, a few burly men poked their heads into the shop.

Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi had met these men yesterday, while Li He had known them before.

Indeed, these burly men were the One-Eyed Dragon's henchmen.

"How did they get here?" Xiao Qidi frowned.

Li He grinned, "They also came running over to see if they could scavenge some valuables."

Xiao Qidi said, "I thought they'd come to pay their respects."

"Pay respects? Heh, they don't have that mindset," Li He scoffed, "They're just hired hands the One-Eyed Dragon paid to hang around—purely money for work, with no personal ties to the couple."

At that moment, the burly men also noticed the three sitting in the shop.

The two sides exchanged a glance.

One burly man shouted, "The murderer's actually here?!"

The remaining burly men immediately fixed a tigerish stare on Xiao Qidi.

The notice from the county office hadn't been posted yet, so they naturally didn't know the case had been settled in a way they never expected.

Xiao Qidi was very calm, too lazy to even look at them again.

A few burly men whispered to each other, then suddenly pulled out the hatchets tucked at their waists and slowly stepped forward.

Seeing the situation was off, Li He said, "No need for this; you can take whatever you want, we'll pretend we didn't see anything."

One burly man sneered, "Whether we take anything is none of your business; we're here to catch the killer who murdered our big brother and caused our sister-in-law's death! You brat, since you're with him… you're an accomplice, just like that little girl!"

"Huh?" Li He exclaimed in surprise, "When did you develop such deep feelings for the Duyanlong couple?"

The burly man showed contempt, "What feelings! Catch the killer and turn him in to the county office for a reward! This windfall landed right in our laps—how could we let it pass?"

Li He slapped his forehead and laughed, "Oh, if you hadn't mentioned it I'd almost forgotten about this. But I should remind you, the case is already closed; a notice will be posted soon, there's no killer, so you're just wasting your effort."

The burly men certainly wouldn't believe it.

Isn't that nonsense?

Yesterday they personally witnessed the entire murder process, and at the time Constable Sun and other officials were present.

Case closed? No killer?

You're trying to fool a three-year-old!

The leader of the burly men waved his hatchet, approaching with a vicious grin as he said, "Are you thinking the constables must be out searching for you elsewhere, thus overlooking the roast chicken stall, so you sneaked over here to hide, thinking you're safe?"

Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli's mouths twitched slightly, barely holding back laughter.

They hadn't thought of that at all; this guy's imagination is way too vivid.

"I'm right, you can't refute that, huh?" the leader gloated, "Hehe, blame only yourselves for being too clever! Lie flat on the ground and don't move—otherwise my hatchet won't show mercy!"

The burly men wanted to take them alive, since according to the county office's precedent, living criminals fetch more money than dead ones.

Xiao Qidi, Ning Jinli, and Li He didn't budge, clearly not taking his threat seriously.

Li He scratched his head, pointed to the back door, and said to the burly men, "Let me tell you the truth: Constable Sun and a few constables are right inside the back room; if you really don't believe me, go have a look and verify what I just said. You're just trying to make a living—no need to make things irreparable."

The leader glanced at the back door, wore a see-through-it-all smirk, and sneered, "Punk, trying to play tricks on me? Why don't you say the county magistrate's inside? You want to fool me into bringing my brothers in, then you'll sneak out while I'm distracted? Dream on—I'm not that stupid!"

Li He sighed helplessly, "Ah… you really are… too clever."

"Brothers! Charge!" the leader barked, "If we can't take them alive, killing them is fine too!"

Several men raised their hatchets and launched an attack in a surrounding formation.

Without a word, Li He dove under the table.

He was well aware of his own mediocre skills; usually, when pushed to the brink, he could manage a fight against one or two grown men, but facing so many burly men wielding weapons, he had absolutely no chance.

So hiding was the wisest choice.

Moreover, just hiding under the table to avoid accidental injury was enough, because he believed that since Xiao Qidi could kill Duyanlong with a single punch, dealing with these guys would be no problem.

"Ning Jinli sister, hurry down and hide!" Li He called out as he ducked under the table, not forgetting to tug at Ning Jinli's pant leg to remind her.

Ning Jinli lowered her head, gave him a small smile, and said, "I don't need to; you hide yourself."

Bang!

A thud.

The leader had already swung his hatchet down, but Xiao Qidi dodged slightly to the side, and the hatchet slammed heavily into the tabletop.

Seeing the leader's leg right in front of him, Li He kicked it.

Almost simultaneously, Xiao Qidi grabbed the leader's wrist and twisted it.

The leader's knee buckled from the pain, losing balance; he instinctively tried to brace himself on the table, but his hand was still gripped, leaving no time to adjust his posture, and his head slammed into the table.

"Ah… ah!"

The leader's nose bone broke on the spot, blood pouring from his face as he let out an anguished cry.

Xiao Qidi expressionlessly flicked his wrist, throwing him two meters away.

The other burly men, seeing this, simultaneously raised their hatchets and swung at Xiao Qidi's head.

Bang bang bang!

Thuds rang out in quick succession.

They only saw a blur before them, couldn't even make out Xiao Qidi's move, and were flung backward one after another.

"He's even stronger than I thought!" Li He widened his eyes at the fallen crowd and marveled, "This guy… what did he eat to grow up like that…"

Xiao Qidi glanced at the people on the ground and said coolly, "I have no interest in fighting you; be smart, get out on your own, and don't let me run into you again."

Li He from under the table also chimed in, "You've seen how tough my big brother is, huh? Hurry up and get lost!"

Xiao Qidi kicked Li He and said, "Who's your big brother?"

Li He hehehed, "I call Ning Jinli sister, so doesn't that make you my big brother? When we have time, why not become sworn brothers?"

Xiao Qidi's cheek twitched slightly as he said with a strained smile, "You're dreaming."

"Then I'll become sworn brothers with Ning Jinli sister," Li He chuckled.

Xiao Qidi speechlessly rubbed his forehead.

The burly men groaned as they got up, their injuries not serious, but after that exchange they had already begun to fear Xiao Qidi.

The leader clutched his bleeding nose, shocked and angry.

He wanted to fight again, but felt he couldn't win.

After a brief moment of thought, he fixed his gaze on Ning Jinli.

This little girl looks delicate and weak—better to seize her first and use her life as a threat!

"Grab her!" the leader shouted, pointing at Ning Jinli.

The burly men quickly circled around Xiao Qidi and lunged at Ning Jinli.

Xiao Qidi's mouth curled into a faint smile, arms crossed, showing no intention to intervene.

Seeing the burly men shift their attack to Ning Jinli, Li He instantly popped out from under the table, shielding Ning Jinli behind him and declared, "No one touches my sister!"

Before his words even finished, before he could see clearly, a hatchet came down aimed at his face.

In a flash, Li He's mind went blank; all he saw was a slender, pale hand arriving first and slapping onto the firewood axe.

What seemed like a light tap instantly sent the heavy bronze firewood axe flying sideways from the sturdy axe-wielder's hand.

Just then, Captor Head Sun, who had heard the unusual commotion in the shop, came over to see what was happening, having just lifted the back door curtain and poked his head out.

Swish—

The spinning firewood axe grazed Captor Head Sun's cheek as it flew by, then with a clang it struck the door frame, embedding three cun deep!

Captor Head Sun's hairs stood on end, he froze in place, then felt a sharp pain in his right ear; raising his hand to touch it, he discovered his entire right ear had been sliced off!