Chapter 187: 【Silencing】(Lower) – Extra Chapter for Alliance Leader Linghu Baobao

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "The officials of Qingyun County Government Office are originally a den of snakes and rats; Xu Qinglian, Guo Shouguang, Liu Bajiu, and Xingshan's gang have not a single good thing among them. They all regard me as a thorn in their flesh and a splinter in their eye, each wanting to get rid of me as soon as possible."

Murong Feiyan said: "I told you long ago to keep a low profile when you came here, but you refused to listen, and as a result you've offended so many people."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I won't live with my tail between my legs."

"But I see you usually know how to conduct yourself; you often say a real man can bend and stretch."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I mean a real man can be hard or soft."

Murong Feiyan blushed all over her face, but she didn't know how to respond.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Even if it's about being able to bend and stretch, I wouldn't bother with this bunch of flies, Feiyan—aren't we on the same side?"

Murong Feiyan said: "I'm ashamed to be associated with someone like you."

"Only a woman who knows how to be shy has feminine charm; you finally understand how to be more like a woman."

"I spit!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Xu Qinglian's gang are all corrupt officials, and they corruptly exploit the common people; I've blocked their path, so this bunch of bastards wants to get rid of me."

"What evidence do you have to prove it?" Hu Xiaotian said: "I have an idea, but I don't know if you agree."

Murong Feiyan said: "Don't make me do bad things; I will never do anything against my conscience."

Hu Xiaotian said: "In my eyes you are the goddess of justice; how could I possibly let you do bad things? Besides, if I were to let you do bad things, with your clever mind you'd still be able to tell right from wrong."

Murong Feiyan heard that this guy was starting to sweet-talk her again; she knew it was sweet-talk, but hearing it still felt quite nice. "Goddess of justice, this guy really knows how to coin phrases."

Hu Xiaotian secretly smiled, thinking, "Goddess of justice, you surely don't know that the goddess of justice statue has its eyes covered." He whispered: "The day after tomorrow there's a charity auction; I plan to invite all the officials of Qingyun County, big and small."

Murong Feiyan blinked and thought, "What does this have to do with me? Does he want me to be in charge of on-site security?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'll send them all away. Then I want to find someone to go door to door."

Murong Feiyan sucked in a cold breath: "What are you planning? Do you want to be a thief?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Even if I wanted to be a thief, I have the thief's heart but not the thief's skill; these corrupt officials daily fleece the people, but when it comes time to actually pay out, they're better at playing dumb than anyone else—I don't believe there's an honest official among them. If I had the ability to scale walls and roofs, I would have struck long ago. I'd seize all the silver they hoard at home; if they dare to report it, I'll make them disclose the source of the money; if they don't dare to report it, then this money is essentially extorted from the people, so we'll take it from the people and use it for the people." Murong Feiyan now fully understood: he was asking her to temporarily play the role of a female flying thief—what a schemer. She snorted coldly and said: "This is outright conspiracy and crime; there's no difference from being a thief."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Feiyan, our assassination attempt in Flying Eagle Valley was this gang's doing. If we don't show some reaction, they'll think we're easy to bully and who knows what nasty ideas they'll come up with next. I haven't asked you to deal with others—Xu Qinglian alone is enough; he constantly claims to be an honest official. He's the harshest exploiter of Qingyun's common folk; you just need to pack up some of his gold, silver, and valuables and bring them out, and that'll count as completing the task. After thinking it over, the person I trust most is you, and among those I know, you have the highest martial skill. Only someone like you is fit to undertake such a great deed."

Murong Feiyan blinked and said: "Hu Xiaotian, should I refuse you?"

Hu Xiaotian looked at Murong Feiyan pitifully and said: "Feiyan, you must absolutely not refuse me, or I'll be heartbroken."

Murong Feiyan said: "Then go die; I guarantee I won't feel the slightest bit of sorrow if you die."

Perhaps because Zhou Wenju's Golden Trauma Medicine was indeed miraculous, or perhaps because Hu Xiaotian's arrow wound on his buttocks wasn't serious to begin with, he went to the Government Office the next day full of vigor; everyone admired his high-spirited fighting spirit, and though his martial ability was lacking, this tenacious spirit could be compared to that of an indestructible cockroach.

The ordinary clerks of the County Government Office all thought Hu Xiaotian would need at least a few days' rest this time, but no one expected him to show up at the county office early that morning; Xu Qinglian wasn't present today, reportedly having taken a group of his trusted aides down to the countryside for an inspection.

The Government Office was originally quite idle; if anything happened, it occurred after Hu Xiaotian arrived.

Clerk Guo Shouguang remained on duty, having just finished dealing with the prison cell affairs; although only two inmates had died, since the incident occurred inside the Government Office, an investigation was necessary. He questioned the on-duty jailer thoroughly, and while he was writing up the incident report in the office, he heard that Hu Xiaotian had arrived. He felt both hatred and fear toward Hu Xiaotian; with no one else present in the county office, he thought it best not to see Hu Xiaotian, so after giving a brief word, he slipped out the back door quietly.

Hu Xiaotian heard that the several officials in charge of the Government Office were all absent, which suited him perfectly; he went to the prison cell. Although the cell had been cleaned, it still had a sour stench, because the air didn't circulate well and the smell was hard to dispel.

Hu Xiaotian went through the motions of interrogating a few inmates, but the real focus was on Zhou Batian; he had the jailer summon Zhou Batian to the punishment room. Originally he wanted to learn something about last night's situation through Zhou Batian.

Zhou Batian anticipated that he would be asked about this, and in a low voice said: "Those two ate dinner just like we did, but for some unknown reason only they met with misfortune."

Hu Xiaotian lowered his voice and said: "Those two are members of the Wuxian Sect!" He hadn't forgotten Xiao Tianmu's instruction, and immediately reported this to Zhou Batian.

Upon hearing the three words "Wuxian Sect," Zhou Batian's expression instantly turned grim: "Wuxian Sect?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "That's right; Mr. Xiao said so."

Zhou Batian asked: "Sir Hu, do you have a grudge against the Wuxian Sect?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "I'm also hearing this name for the first time; I've never had any contact with them in the past, let alone any grudge."

Zhou Batian frowned tightly and asked: "Sir, have you examined those two corpses?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The corpses have already been sent to the Charitable Estate for temporary keeping; the coroner will examine them today." In fact, Hu Xiaotian had no intention of determining what poison the two had taken; to him they were merely insignificant bit players. Sending them to the prison cell was meant to prove one thing: that someone inside the Government Office wanted to kill and silence them, from which he could infer that the murder in Flying Eagle Valley was plotted by colleagues. In this regard, Hu Xiaotian had already achieved his goal; next he would move on to revenge, eliminating potential opponents one by one.

Zhou Batian said: "Sir, you should still investigate thoroughly; this is no trivial matter."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Is the Wuxian Sect really that formidable?"

Zhou Batian slowly nodded and said: "Please, Sir, help me arrange this; I need to get out of prison."

Hu Xiaotian didn't know why this matter shocked Zhou Batian so much; it seemed Zhou Batian was quite wary of the Wuxian Sect, having hidden in the prison cell for nearly four months, yet upon hearing the sect's name he immediately prepared to leave—could it be that Zhou Batian bears a grudge against the Wuxian Sect? Although Hu Xiaotian had doubts, he didn't voice them, since he and Zhou Batian hadn't yet reached the point of speaking freely; whatever Zhou Batian didn't want to say, probably no one could pry it out.

Leaving the prison cell, a jailer came up and said: "Sir, a young lady is waiting for you at the Government Office gate."

Upon hearing the word "young lady," Hu Xiaotian's mind instantly flashed with several images; the first that came to mind was Le Yao, but the first he dismissed was also Le Yao—she had just managed to escape, how could she possibly appear openly at the Qingyun County Government Office? Then he thought of Murong Feiyan; these people surely know Murong Feiyan, and although he knows quite a few young ladies, there aren't many in this Qingyun area.

Hu Xiaotian came to the gate full of curiosity; even if he racked his brains, he never expected Qin Yutong to come looking for him.

Qin Yutong wore a dark indigo Black Miao ethnic costume, with a bamboo hat on her head, still covering half her face with black gauze; she stood silently before the Government Office, gazing at the gluttonous beast carved on the screen wall.

Although only seeing her back, she was already breathtakingly beautiful; Hu Xiaotian slowly stepped up behind her, less than a zhang away, when Qin Yutong turned around—her clear, deep eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian's face, showing no trace of joy or sorrow in her gaze; from the corners of her eyes and brows one could tell her age was not much older than his, yet her gaze was as calm as an ancient mountain pool, undisturbed. Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but marvel: how could such a young girl cultivate such an unflappable state of mind?

Among the girls Hu Xiaotian had encountered—some pure, some affectionate, some frank, some noble, some scheming—only Qin Yutong left him with an impression that was unfathomable and flawless; it was the first time anyone had given him such an impression, and he even felt that he was not facing a real person.

But Qin Yutong was indeed a living person standing there; her clear eyes blinked, and she whispered softly: "Sir Hu, I presume to come here, but I still want to see the set of instruments you used to dissect Yan Boguang."

Hu Xiaotian had thought it was a major matter, and he couldn't help laughing: "No problem, Miss Qin—you don't need to come in person; just have someone let me know, and I'll have someone send it over."

Upon hearing Hu Xiaotian's ready agreement, a hint of relief appeared in Qin Yutong's gaze; she noticed his limping step and said: "Sir, are you injured?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and answered truthfully: "Yesterday, on my way back from the Black Stone Stronghold, I was ambushed by bandits and took an arrow to the buttocks."

"Is it serious?" Although she was asking about his buttock condition, Qin Yutong showed no embarrassment or awkwardness; she really is different from other women.

Thanks to Baobao, the Medical Union now has another female alliance leader; the alliance leader is mighty—extra chapter uploaded, and there'll be more at month's end!