Chapter 87: Bait

Everyone seemed to have their souls hooked, and even the usually stern Li Wenqing couldn't help stealing a few glances.

Huang Quan walked up to Jiang Xiaomu, bowed deeply, and her charming voice sounded like a spring breeze brushing past.

"Chief, Miss Ye Ying specially ordered me to assist the chief; what are your commands?"

Jiang Xiaomu's gaze lingered on her for a moment, and he thought to himself:

This venomous woman is truly a temptress.

But his face remained unchanged; he merely gave a slight nod and said:

"The old beggar is in your hands; you must make him speak, please."

Huang Quan covered her mouth and laughed lightly, her eyes flickering.

"Chief, rest assured, I have my own way."

Having said that, she twisted her waist like a water snake and walked into the gloomy torture chamber.

Inside the cell, the old beggar lay on the ground, barely alive.

Huang Quan walked up to him, looking down from above, her eyes devoid of pity, filled only with cold mockery.

"Tsk, how pitiful," she said, lifting the old beggar's chin with her slender finger.

"Why suffer this fleshly torment?"

"If you obediently tell what you know, I'll guarantee you a quicker death."

The old beggar weakly opened his eyes; his cloudy gaze was full of hatred, yet he still clenched his teeth, refusing to utter a word.

Seeing this, Huang Quan's smile widened.

"Looks like you won't cry until you see the coffin."

Having said that, she took out an exquisite cloth bundle from her bosom, inside which lay rows of silver needles.

Huang Quan picked up a long, slender silver needle and waved it in front of the old beggar.

"This is a Bone-Eroding Needle; when inserted into an acupoint, it makes you unable to live or die. Want to try it?"

Without giving the old beggar a chance to think, the needle in her hand flashed like lightning and stabbed into his Central Extreme Point.

"Ah!"

A heart-rending scream echoed throughout the cell.

Over the next few minutes, blood-curdling screams continually came from inside the cell.

Huang Quan's methods were so vicious that even the seasoned yamen runners listening were filled with dread.

Jiang Xiaomu stood outside the cell, listening to the commotion within, his expression calm as water.

After half an hour, the cell finally fell silent.

Huang Quan emerged from inside, cupping her fists toward Jiang Xiaomu.

"Chief, he's willing to talk."

Jiang Xiaomu nodded and said:

"Good job, you've worked hard. Go back."

Huang Quan pursed her lips and smiled.

"Until we meet again!"

Amid the eager yet restrained gazes of a bunch of lecherous old men, Huang Quan vanished into the night.

The cell was filled with a strange fragrance, that being Huang Quan's usual "Bone-Eroding Incense."

The old beggar curled up in the corner, trembling slightly, his gaze unfocused, emitting indistinct moans from his mouth.

Jiang Xiaomu walked over slowly, looking down at him from above.

The old beggar strained to lift his head; fear flashed in his cloudy eyes, quickly replaced by numbness.

"Now you can speak."

Jiang Xiaomu's voice was icy, devoid of any emotion.

The old beggar's lips trembled as he uttered a few words haltingly:

"I... I will speak..."

Li Wenqing then entered the cell, holding brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

He approached the old beggar and said in a low voice:

"Tell everything you know; perhaps you'll suffer less."

The old beggar's eyes were vacant; under the dual torment of Huang Quan's Bone-Eroding Incense and Bone-Eroding Needle, his will had already collapsed.

Li Wenqing recorded each piece of information the beggar disclosed.

Three long and two short bird calls are the signal for meeting with contacts outside the city.

The location is the ruined temple in the western suburbs outside the city,

as for the time, it is the zi hour of the fifteenth day of each month.

He also disclosed some details about the Blood Moon Sect's interior:

The sect leader is mysterious and unfathomable, called the Holy Envoy, with four great guardians under him, each overseeing sect affairs, and the sect has many followers.

Widespread across the land, their goal is to overthrow the Imperial Court and establish a new order.

Li Wenqing recorded the old beggar's testimony in full, his face growing increasingly grave.

"The situation is more complicated than we imagined." Li Wenqing said in a low voice:

"The Blood Moon Sect's influence has already permeated the city; we must take action swiftly."

Jiang Xiaomu nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"This old beggar is merely a minor lackey; the true mastermind is that so-called Holy Envoy."

"I will immediately report to the Prefect; we must find the Holy Envoy and utterly eradicate the Blood Moon Sect."

Li Wenqing looked at the already recorded confession.

Jiang Xiaomu walked to the prison door, turned back and glanced at the dying old beggar, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile.

"As for him…"

"Keep him alive for one breath; he's still useful."

Jiang Xiaomu's voice was icy and merciless.

Li Wenqing said nothing, merely nodding silently.

The two walked out of the prison and came to the hall of the county office.

"Sir Li, what do you think we should do next?"

Jiang Xiaomu asked.

Li Wenqing pondered for a moment, then said:

"We now have the Blood Moon Sect's contact signal and location."

"We can send people to ambush in the ruined temple west of the city outskirts, wait for them to appear, and wipe them out in one fell swoop."

Jiang Xiaomu shook his head and said:

"No, that's too risky."

"The Blood Moon Sect's forces are huge; we don't know how many they have."

"Acting rashly will only scare the snake."

"Then what should we do?" Li Wenqing asked.

A cunning glint flashed in Jiang Xiaomu's eyes.

"We can turn the tables, using this old beggar to lure the snake out of its hole."

Li Wenqing's eyes lit up,

"You mean…"

"We can spread the word that the old beggar has confessed and revealed all the Blood Moon Sect's secrets."

Jiang Xiaomu said:

"That way, the Blood Moon Sect will surely send someone to silence him, and we can follow the vine to find their lair."

Li Wenqing nodded in agreement.

"This plan is good, but… how do we ensure the news reaches the Blood Moon Sect's ears?"

Jiang Xiaomu gave a mysterious smile.

"This is simple; I have my own way."

He paused, then said: "This matter I'll leave to you to handle."

"I need you to spread rumors, saying…"

Jiang Xiaomu leaned close to Li Wenqing's ear and whispered a few words, his tone tinged with malice.

Li Wenqing listened, his face gradually turning solemn; finally, he nodded heavily.

After straightening his attire, he hurried toward the Governor's Mansion.

His mind kept replaying Jiang Xiaomu's instructions and the rumors he had spread—the old beggar had confessed everything, and the identity of the Blood Moon Sect's holy envoy was about to be exposed.

Prefect Zhao sat upright in the hall, holding a bamboo slip, his brows furrowed.

Li Wenqing stepped forward and saluted:

"Your subordinate Li Wenqing pays respects to Prefect."

Prefect Zhao put down the bamboo slip, lifted his gaze to Li Wenqing and said:

"Wenqing, you've come at just the right time—tell me, what did that old beggar confess?"

Li Wenqing reported the old beggar's confession in full detail to Prefect Zhao.

He also embellished his description of the Blood Moon Sect's immense power and their ambition to overthrow the imperial court.

Finally, he put forward his own suggestion:

"Sir, we now have the Blood Moon Sect's contact signal and location."

"Why not take this opportunity to wipe them out in one fell swoop!"