Chapter 107: Wash Away Sin with Blood

“It was my fault for being reckless!” Chen Guanlou quickly apologized, lowering his stance. “Please, Old Master, point me in the right direction—where should we start looking for them?”

Saying this, Chen Guanlou handed over an envelope. Inside were one hundred taels in silver notes, all from Sitong Bank.

The matter was infuriating. Not only had Sitong Bank pressured him, but he was still forced to use their silver notes. On the market, everyone trusted Sitong’s notes—others’ notes simply didn’t circulate as well. The difference wasn’t just in reputation, but in liquidity and exchange rates.

The maid took the envelope, didn’t need to look, skillfully pinched it once, and knew exactly how many notes were inside. Then she slipped the envelope into a drawer.

Seeing the maid accept the envelope, Chen Guanlou finally exhaled. Before coming, he’d feared they’d think the money was too little. Now it seemed he’d overthought it. One hundred taels for a single piece of information already far exceeded market value. He was desperate to find the child—he couldn’t haggle over money. He couldn’t let a few coins delay the matter.

There would be plenty of chances to earn money. No amount of wealth mattered more than a person’s life.

The Old Master sipped his tea, calm and unhurried. “The founding emperor of the previous dynasty was originally a contractor who built houses. When chaos swept the land, he rallied his brothers and rose with the tide. In twenty years, he founded the Great Xia Dynasty. This capital? He personally oversaw its construction—some say he even helped design the entire city. That included the underground world. Dynasties rise and fall, but the underground world has remained unchanged for centuries.”

“Are you referring to the city’s underground sewage tunnels?”

Chen Guanlou had lived in the capital long enough to be most impressed by its underground sewage system—so advanced it was. The capital had never suffered from flooding, thanks entirely to this superior infrastructure.

The Old Master chuckled. “The underground world here isn’t just sewage tunnels. That’s only a small part. When the former emperor designed the capital, he treated the underground as a fortress. During my time serving in the palace, I once saw the original blueprints. And as a child, I lived down there. No one understands the underground world better than I do.”

“So you mean those outsiders are hiding in the underground world?”

“It’s inevitable. A group of outsiders come to the capital to trade—no inn or lodging is safer or more convenient for escape than the underground. From what I’ve heard, dozens of children have gone missing in the capital recently.”

“The capital is vast, the underground world incredibly complex. Please, Old Master, give us a clear path—where should we begin searching?”

The Old Master waved his hand. One of the maids took a scroll from a display shelf, placed it on the table, and slowly unrolled it.

It was a simplified map of the underground pipeline network.

Chen Guanlou stared at the scroll, trying to memorize every line and curve.

The Old Master casually traced a circle with his finger. “They can’t escape beyond this area. Leave this zone, and they’ll be hunted down by the capital’s local child-snatchers in unison. Remember these two routes—they’re the only escape paths. If you find the child before they leave the city, there’s still hope. Once they’re out, finding them will be nearly impossible. You have two hours. Go now.”

With those words, the Old Master lifted his teacup—dismissal.

Chen Guanlou and Lu Datou left the gambling den.

He told Lu Datou: “Thanks for your help today, Big Head. Please gather the jailers from Tianlaomiao and secure a few key intersections.”

“And what about you?”

“I’m going down into the underground world to face those traffickers.”

“You’re going alone? That’s madness. Those traffickers will kill if cornered.”

“Don’t worry—I won’t get hurt.”

Lu Datou wanted to argue further, but seeing Chen Guanlou’s resolute gaze, the words died in his throat. He didn’t know what skills Chen Guanlou possessed, nor his cultivation level. Yet just from that look, he felt strength—an unshakable confidence. It seemed no obstacle could stop Chen Guanlou. Even those monstrous traffickers couldn’t bar his path.

He could only nod and obey.

“Don’t be reckless. Your life matters most. As long as they’re alive, there’s always a chance to bring them back.”

“I know my limits.”

With that, Chen Guanlou stepped into the darkness and vanished from Lu Datou’s sight.

Under the bridge over the Inner City River.

Chen Guanlou altered his appearance, becoming a rough, middle-aged man. Following the map, he found one of the entrances to the underground world beneath the bridge.

The entrance was small—he had to bend to enter—but inside, it opened into a vast, hidden world.

After passing many branching paths, he saw signs of human habitation. Many lived down here. It was a world he’d never known—his first step into it, yet his heart burned with urgency.

A group of half-grown children hid in a cave. Seeing him, they scattered like rats—fleeing in every direction. These children were native to the underground world—slippery as eels, familiar with every tunnel, swift as wind.

Chen Guanlou locked onto one, chased hard, and finally caught a half-grown boy. “Where are they?”

The boy’s face was filthy, but his eyes were dark and bright.

“My child was kidnapped. Where are those outsiders? Tell me, and this silver is yours.”

Chen Guanlou pulled out a silver coin, silently regretting—he’d come in haste and brought no food. In the underground world, food was probably worth more than silver.

The boy hesitated. His eyes hungered for the coin, yet he feared a trick, and didn’t reach out.

Chen Guanlou said: “I only want to find my child—a girl, three and a half years old, wearing a green dress embroidered with peonies in silk thread. Have you seen her?”

The boy slowly raised his hand and pointed left-forward.

“They’re hiding there?”

The boy nodded.

Chen Guanlou immediately handed him the coin and turned toward the direction he’d indicated.

“There’s a big man over there—mean as hell,” the boy suddenly spoke up.

Chen Guanlou turned back to him. “Thanks! Once I find my child, I’ll buy you all a meal.”

Following the boy’s direction, he pressed deeper into the underground world. Paths crisscrossed everywhere, dense and labyrinthine—rock layers had been blasted open to form a fortress-like subterranean realm, awe-inspiring.

He heard voices.

Chen Guanlou moved toward the sound.

“Uncle, we must sell this batch quickly.”

A voice, extremely young—even childish.

“Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ve arranged everything. No mistakes will be made.”

“I trust your competence completely. Father sent you with me because he knew, with your help, this trip would go smoothly.”

“You flatter me. Who’s there?”

A blade flashed—steel reached its target.

The most primal evil of mankind must be washed away in blood!