Chapter 245: Fragrance in the Small Tower (Part 1)

Fu Jingyu was filled with extraordinary anger.

This was a conspiratorial attack specifically targeting the Nancheng Patrol Station.

The perpetrators were scheming, sinister, and vicious!

Just by looking at the scale of the Blood Salt Demon, one knew this attack could not possibly have been planned and executed by mere two people.

There must be a mastermind behind it.

Fu Jingyu also knew the sooner the prisoners were interrogated, the better.

Since the attack had failed, the mastermind must already know; the longer the delay, the greater the chance the mastermind would escape.

But he could not disturb Xu Yuan and Lin Wanmo, so Fu Jingyu tried to peel those two shadow puppets off the prisoners' backs.

He tried many times, switching several different approaches, but none succeeded.

The onlookers were just watching; they knew their own skill levels and dared not intervene.

If Fu Dagong couldn't do it, they certainly couldn't.

Only Zhou Leizi was making a fuss, offering several "good ideas."

Fu Jingyu ignored him, and he hadn't realized it yet.

Until finally, believing he had thought of a surefire method, he said: "Let's just use a small knife to peel the skin off these two people's backs..."

Then he received a slap from Di Youzhi and finally stopped being so noisy.

Zhang Laoya stood with his hands behind his back, watching from the perimeter.

Fu Jingyu worked for two hours but still couldn't remove Lin Wanmo's shadow puppet; finally, he sighed and gave up.

Turning around, he saw Zhang Laoya and suddenly felt a glimmer of hope: "Senior, could you lend a hand?"

Zhang Laoya rolled his eyes and walked away: "I don't want to offend Little Lin; I still want her to keep buying me wine and cooking for me."

Fu Jingyu pursed his lips, knowing this old senior was also at a loss.

He was just too proud to admit defeat verbally.

So they could only wait until Lin Wanmo came out, then Fu Jingyu approached to ask for help.

Lin Wanmo patted her smooth forehead and apologized: "I forgot about this matter."

It was already fully bright outside; Lin Wanmo and Fu Jingyu arrived at the prison cell together.

Tie Beigai and his old brother stood inside like two statues.

Yu Yunhang personally led eight Captains to guard them.

The sound of the door opening first alerted the cell's only "prisoner," Wei Yunhua.

Wei Yunhua rushed to the iron bars and cried out for help: "My lord, my lord, this commoner woman is innocent..."

Especially when Wei Yunhua saw a "female lord" among the newcomers, she felt boundless hope rise within her.

Lin Wanmo looked at her, and Yu Yunhang timely said: "She was imprisoned by order of Lord Xu."

"Oh, then she must deserve it," Lin Wanmo said, and stopped looking at Wei Yunhua.

Wei Yunhua instantly fell into despair again, sobbing as she shrank back into the dark corner of the cell.

Her resentment during this period had not been so great—originally sky-high resentment had been secretly eaten by "Resentment."

Once the resentment scattered, fear began.

Was she really going to be locked up in this dark, lightless prison cell for the rest of her life, unclear and unjust?

She decided to soften her stance; as long as she saw Xu Yuan again, she would surely apologize to him, only begging to be released.

But Xu Yuan never came.

Lin Wanmo approached Tie Beigai, reaching out to peel off the shadow puppet: "These two are likely death warriors, bound by the Pulling Thread Technique. If I remove the shadow puppets, can you guarantee their lives?"

Fu Jingyu frowned; he truly had no way.

"Let's not move them for now," Fu Jingyu said. "First, investigate their identities."

"Good; when you need the shadow puppets removed, come find me anytime."

Lin Wanmo came out of the prison cell and met those Captains in the courtyard; all respectfully stepped aside to the roadside, bowing to greet her: "Old Lady."

Before, although these Captains were respectful to her, it was all because of Xu Yuan.

After last night's events, these Captains under Xu Yuan were all shocked.

The Old Lady's strength is even above Lord Xu's!

This respect came from the heart, directed solely at Lin Wanmo.

The Captains were not only shocked; more than that, they were delighted.

Everyone had followed Lord Xu, originally drawn by Lord Xu's own ability and character.

They never expected Lord Xu's family to have such a solid backing.

This is truly excellent.

Xu Yuan slept until afternoon before getting up; Lin Wanmo had already prepared the meals, reheating them twice.

Xu Yuan was also starving; he devoured half a pot of rice like a whirlwind sweeping up remnants.

Fu Jingyu had already clarified Tie Beigai's identity and spoke from the side: "They are the largest salt smuggler gang in the city.

Their main base is in Chengxi; I took people there, but they had all fled.

According to surrounding neighbors, a few days ago they hosted a group of people who seemed to have high status.

I went to the yamen to retrieve the relevant Juan Sect files; these people are somewhat strange. The yamen all knew they were trafficking private salt, but could never catch evidence.

Several times they were about to catch them red-handed, but they always slipped away at the last moment."

Xu Yuan, having eaten and drunk his fill, wiped his mouth: "Someone is secretly looking after them?"

"That is what I think too."

"Find out who it is."

In fact, Xu Yuan already had a guess in his heart: who else in Zhan City would hold such a great grudge against him, spare no effort to kill and injure many lives, and create Blood Salt Fiends to harm him?

Whether he could find out was not important; now, the first priority was to locate Iron Back Gai's subordinates and those "guests."

When it came to finding people, naturally, the Jianghu gangs were more effective than the yamen runners.

Di Youzhi and the others each led men to Guanglan Street.

Under threats and inducements, they quickly learned that Iron Back Gai's gang had four other hideouts inside and outside the city.

Xu Yuan personally led the team, searching them one by one.

But all four hideouts were empty!

For a moment, they fell into a stalemate.

Xu Yuan thought again: "If they are not in Iron Back Gai's territory, then... those guests have their own hiding places."

Di Youzhi went again to instruct the Third Lady Society, Iron Boat Gang, and others to watch for any suspicious unfamiliar faces in the city.

Xu Yuan, however, wanted to open the situation by finding a new path.

"If those two of Iron Back Gai confess, they will certainly provide useful clues."

"But among the Shen Xiu of the Zhan City Office, no one can break the Thread-Pulling Method."

"Could it be that I must invite Uncle Mao Si to come again?"

The last time Uncle Mao Si came, he stepped in to help Xu Yuan interrogate the soul of Lady Fu Shuanghui.

His physical condition was much better than Aunt Wang's, but when he left, he was as if he had just suffered a severe illness.

Xu Yuan then found Zhang Laoya: "Who in this city can break the Thread-Pulling Method?"

Zhang Laoya tapped the table with his finger: "What will you use to buy this old man's answer?"

"Name your price."

"When you are promoted to the fourth rank of the imperial court, give me a fifth-rank sinecure."

Zhang Laoya was stuck at the sixth flow, holding an official position; relying on the benefits of his rank, he had great hope of breaking through to the fifth flow.

Xu Yuan shook his head: "The price is too high; it is not fair."

Zhang Laoya pouted: "Then three thousand taels of silver will do."

Xu Yuan looked at him: "Do you still want to discuss this deal? If you do, stop opening your mouth like a lion."

Everyone cultivates the Merchant Dao; no one should expect to gain an advantage over another.

"Then name your price."

"A cultivation method for Wu Xiu."

Zhang Laoya stroked his beard and reluctantly agreed: "Very well."

Xu Yuan handed him the "Heaven-Connecting Cannon"; Zhang Laoya casually tucked it into his chest and said: "Go to the Liang Family Troupe and find Xiao Xiao Lou Fang."

(End of this chapter)