Chapter 535

Because they had taken another step closer to the mastermind behind the scenes!

"Brother Su, we have already searched. We found secret passages and hidden rooms in five locations in total. Of these, only three show signs of use or disturbance; the other two bear no traces whatsoever."

After resting for a day, Luo Yangxing came to Su Qiao and said.

Hearing this, Su Qiao shook his head. "It's useless. Finding these places is basically pointless; it can only serve as a warning to those hiding in the shadows that their secret bases are no longer usable. The other effects are minimal!"

"Does Brother Su have any ideas?"

Luo Yangxing, of course, knew it was useless; that was precisely why he had come to see Su Qiao.

"Now that the secret passages and hidden rooms capable of sheltering people have been dealt with, what remains is to determine the locations of those who are hiding. First, there must be extra rooms; at the very least, they need somewhere to hide."

"Second, obtaining food must not be a problem, and it must be convenient to go out and communicate. It is impossible for them to remain completely cut off from the outside world; otherwise, hiding would make them no better than the dead."

"And third, there must be pigeons!"

"Fourth, there must be enough people and eyes around so they are not easily discovered."

Exchanging information cannot always happen within Tianjin City.

They also need to know about news from outside, or other situations, and so on.

This requires pigeons!

"Ah, yes, pigeons! How could I have forgotten that?!" Luo Yangxing really slapped his thigh.

Previously, he had only thought about directly "surrounding" Tianjin Wei and arresting anyone suspected.

Instead, he had forgotten about messenger pigeons delivering information.

"Brother Luo, where in Tianjin City do you think could meet the four points I mentioned?" Su Qiao turned his head and asked Luo Yangxing.

Hearing this, Luo Yangxing shook his head. "There are not many such places, but there are also not few. However, I believe gambling houses and brothels are the most suitable."

Luo Yangxing was indeed quite impressive.

At least, that was what Su Qiao thought; with just a slight hint, he could figure it out.

The reason he hadn't thought of it before was simply that he hadn't paid attention, or perhaps he had a blind spot.

Exactly; sometimes, when one becomes accustomed to a certain way of thinking, the mind develops blind spots.

Now, with Su Qiao's slight hint, he was able to think of it.

"Brother Luo and I are thinking the same thing, so I believe we can start sending people to check them one by one."

"No problem. Although searching gambling houses and brothels will disturb many people, we are already conducting a search intended to startle the snake, so we are not worried about that!"

Having said this, Luo Yangxing immediately arranged for people to begin preparing to search every gambling house and brothel in Tianjin Wei from start to finish.

On that very day, they searched one gambling house and one brothel.

Because the flow of people in such places is extremely high.

Therefore, verifying things there is also quite troublesome and difficult.

After a full day, being able to finish checking just one or two of these places was already a sign of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's high efficiency!

However, the gambling houses and brothels within Tianjin City are numerous when counted, yet not actually that many.

Starting from today, with a patient search, it would take at most ten days or so to finish searching them all.

If there really is a problem, perhaps before the tenth day of searching the last one, they would be able to catch the problematic individuals.

Therefore, under such a grand and conspicuous operation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard,

those who had hidden away earlier could no longer sit still and began to confer again.

At the same time, in the same location.

Even with the same people in the same positions.

.... 0

Almost nothing had changed.

The woman still occupied the dominant position and spoke first: "I did not expect Luo Yangxing and Su Qiao to actually come. How are your preparations?"

"We prepared long ago, but many of our safe houses have been raided by the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

The old man replied.

The woman said indifferently, "It doesn't matter. As long as we kill Luo Yangxing and Su Qiao, they will be headless snakes. I estimate they would never imagine we would turn around and attack them."

The old man also expressed agreement, but he could not help but add a reminder: "Given the current speed of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's search, our current base will soon be unable to hide us and will be exposed immediately. Have you decided on the day to act?"

"No need. The moment they reach our base is the moment we act!"

The woman's cold voice rang out.

The old man acknowledged this, then rose and left, trembling and unsteady.

The woman, however, stood in the shadows, watching the hunched, trembling figure of the old man walk out of the courtyard, and could not help but spit.

A curve of disdain formed at the corner of her mouth.

For three consecutive days, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has searched five gambling houses and five brothels.

Tomorrow, it will be the turn of the largest brothel, Ye Xiang Lou.

As for the gambling houses, they have already been searched.

Only several brothels remain.

Who could have guessed there are fewer gambling houses but more brothels!

Moreover, the Ye Xiang Lou to be searched tomorrow is the most famous and largest brothel in Tianjin Wei, with booming business.

It also has the most personnel, so tomorrow only this one establishment has been targeted.

390, ambushed!

The next day, the day of searching Ye Xiang Lou.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's operations over several consecutive days have allowed many to discern a pattern.

Furthermore, during this period, everyone has seen that the Embroidered Uniform Guard seems to be targeting brothels and gambling houses.

Of course, guests may choose not to go, but the people inside the brothels and gambling houses cannot escape.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard has been watching them for a long time!

Whoever tries to escape will be caught immediately.

Therefore, many people have not gone there these past few days.

If you cannot provoke them, you can at least avoid them!

Besides, no one is willing to invite trouble upon themselves.

This has led to a severe impact on the business of brothels and gambling houses recently.

The door is so quiet a sparrow could roost there!

In the past, Ye Xiang Lou could be said to be brightly lit day and night, with people coming and going, guests streaming in without end, and business was very good!

But these past few days are truly different!

There is simply no business at all; no one comes.

Everyone inside the brothel is listless, looking utterly dejected.

It was only when Luo Yangxing arrived with the Embroidered Uniform Guard that these people suddenly perked up.

"Send someone to search thoroughly!"

A Battalion Commander under Luo Yangxing immediately shouted the order.

Upon receiving the order, the Embroidered Uniform Guard members rushed in like a swarm.

For most of the day, the Embroidered Uniform Guard inside found nothing.

However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard searching the rear courtyard and inner residence did make some discoveries.

"We found something!"

The sound of an Embroidered Uniform Guard member shouting in surprise came from inside.

Luo Yangxing and Su Qiao were momentarily stunned, then lifted their legs to rush toward the back.

But just as he took a step, Su Qiao stopped.

He quickly reached out and grabbed Luo Yangxing's sleeve, "Brother Luo, wait!"

Luo Yangxing stopped his steps; he actually knew martial arts, and his skill was very formidable.

Horseback combat might be slightly lacking, but foot combat is extremely strong.

That Su Qiao's slender frame could hold back Luo Yangxing was only because he did not use much force.

Otherwise, Luo Yangxing might have rushed inside long ago.