Chapter 984

The rain in Jingcheng poured down like a deluge!

This year’s first heavy rain had arrived; low-lying areas of Jingcheng had already begun to flood.

Because of poor performance on duty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had been reprimanded, and Xiao Jincheng took the blame to protect his subordinates.

Qi Wuxiu sighed heavily and came to Chen Guanlou’s house to drink and drown his sorrows.

He didn’t want to go home—his wife kept asking questions he didn’t care to answer; he only wanted to relieve his frustration.

Chen Guanlou stared out at the torrential rain outside, clicking his tongue. “Even this downpour can’t keep you away. Are you really that troubled? It’s just a few months’ salary cut—really that bad?”

It’s that bad! We were only a hundred li from leaving the capital when we overturned into a ditch—the prisoner escaped. These Jianghu scoundrels have no fear—they dared to snatch someone right under the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s nose. But the higher-ups say we’ll soon launch a sweeping crackdown on the martial world to crush these Jianghu folks’ arrogance once and for all!

“A crackdown?”

Chen Guanlou was startled.

He was curious. “How exactly do you carry out a crackdown?”

“We have our own intelligence channels and methods. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“What about the sects? Will you crack down on them too?”

“The higher-ups will negotiate separately with each major sect, ordering them to keep their disciples in line during the crackdown. If any of them get caught by us during this period, we won’t recognize even family ties!”

Qi Wuxiu gritted his teeth, yet his eyes gleamed with excitement—he was eager to join the crackdown and crush the martial world’s arrogance!

Chen Guanlou scratched his head. He hadn’t expected the Embroidered Uniform Guard to resort to a crackdown. He hoped Zhuang Yifei was hiding well—don’t get swept up in it. Life is only given once; salvation only works once—there’s no second chance!

“A crackdown is long overdue!” he muttered in agreement. “When the Imperial Prison fills up, we can rent out cells in the Heavenly Prison.”

Qi Wuxiu burst out laughing.

“I heard it’s ten taels of silver per person.”

“Ten taels per month per prisoner. If there are many, we can offer a discount. But with this heat, too many prisoners in one cell risks plague. Come autumn and winter, no problem—three, five, even seven or eight in a single cell is fine.”

“Prisons really make money!” Qi Wuxiu murmured wistfully.

Chen Guanlou teased him. “Envious of prison profits? Apply for a post in the Imperial Prison. It makes far more than the Heavenly Prison.”

Qi Wuxiu shook his head vigorously, refusing outright. He wouldn’t even step inside the Imperial Prison, let alone work there. He served in the Embroidered Uniform Guard—monitoring suspects, arresting criminals, escorting prisoners—tasks that spared him moral self-flagellation, self-doubt, self-rejection.

Often, when big jobs came up—like ones requiring knives and killing—he deliberately avoided them.

That’s why his income fell short of his colleagues’.

Bottom line: if you’re in this line of work, your moral bottom line can’t be too high—or you’ll suffer.

Fortunately, he only judged himself—he never judged others.

Over the years, he’d learned to look away, to let it not enter his heart. Most of the time, he stayed detached.

“Do you remember a few years ago, I took on a disciple named Wang Wu?” Qi Wuxiu suddenly brought it up.

Chen Guanlou nodded. “I remember. He was eventually exiled. Why bring him up now?”

“I got word—he killed a local official and led a band of outlaws into the mountains to raise a rebel flag!”

Wow!

Chen Guanlou sighed. “The moment I saw your disciple, I knew he wasn’t ordinary—he wasn’t afraid of killing, and he’d come to enjoy it, even crave it, becoming a true killer-monster. I even suggested back then he switch careers and become an executioner. The only legitimate job suited for him was executioner. Who’d have thought, even in exile, he couldn’t stay quiet—he dared raise a rebel flag!”

A real character!

Clearly had the potential of a killer-monster.

But Qi Wuxiu looked stricken with regret. “I should’ve listened to you. Maybe by now he’d have completed his training. He wouldn’t be…”

“You’re not thinking of heading south yourself to capture him, are you? He raised a rebel flag—local authorities should handle him. If they can’t, the local army will move in. There’s always a solution for him.”

“I’d love to go south, but the higher-ups won’t approve. I just can’t understand—why is he so bold? How dare he raise a rebel flag?”

“What made you think he was timid? I told you back then—he was born to be an executioner. Have you ever seen a blood-thirsty executioner who was a coward? He’s braver than anyone! He’s fine as long as he stays small—but once he grows big, countless lives will be lost.”

Given Wang Wu’s bloodthirsty nature, he didn’t dream of becoming a regional warlord or anything noble—he wanted only to kill, to savor the thrill of killing. Whether peasant or tyrant, he’d slaughter them all.

Such a rebel madman is a scourge in any dynasty.

Wang Wu is the true target for this crackdown!

Chen Guanlou couldn’t imagine how unlucky those who crossed him would be—how much torture they’d endure. A living hell.

Chen Guanlou patted Qi Wuxiu’s shoulder. “Don’t worry too much. This kind of scourge will be dealt with eventually.”

Qi Wuxiu drank his gloomy wine. “Chen brother, could you kill Wang Wu for me?”

Huh?

For nearly ten years, this was the first time Qi Wuxiu had ever asked someone to kill another person—especially his own former disciple.

“You’re serious?” Chen Guanlou looked at him, surprised.

Qi Wuxiu set down his cup and nodded firmly. “He must die! You said he loves killing, enjoys it, and uses cruel methods. The first time he killed, I saw the scene myself—blood everywhere, a man’s intestines dragged across the ground…”

He couldn’t go on—he nearly vomited. Though he’d seen many crime scenes, every memory of Wang Wu’s killings still made Qi Wuxiu feel sick inside.

“Now that he’s raised a rebel flag, he’s just found an excuse to kill—indiscriminately. He’s my disciple; I know him better than most. I can’t let him keep killing like this—I must stop him.”

Relying on the authorities will take too long. If he flees and becomes a roaming bandit, it’ll be worse. Chen brother, kill him for me. No one else can do it—you definitely can. With your speed, you could finish him in days, and end this scourge once and for all!”

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow. “Are you certain?”

“I’ve thought it through completely. He must die. I won’t let him live to harm the innocent.”

Qi Wuxiu’s resolve was firm. Clearly, this was the true cause of his torment.

“Fine. I agree—he’s a menace. Back in the Imperial Prison, if not for your sake, I’d have killed him then. Letting him live these extra years was a mistake.”

Qi Wuxiu gave a bitter smile. It was all his own soft heart’s fault.