Chapter 72: Lin Ming, You Deserve to Die!

At the entrance of Jingshui Martial Arts Hall.

The woman’s sudden kowtow drew the attention of passersby, including several disciples just stepping out of the hall.

“Aunt Zhou?”

Lin Chen was puzzled, and when Zhao Canghu saw the woman kneel, he immediately shouted to Lin Liang and Gu Fei: “Quick, help her up!”

Lin Liang and Gu Fei snapped to attention and rushed forward to support her, but Aunt Zhou struggled and refused to rise.

“Zhou Lian, don’t act crazy here! You’re making people misunderstand Xiao Chen! We’ve already brought you to Xiao Chen—get up right now!”

Zhao Canghu’s face hardened as he saw the woman wouldn’t rise.

“Aunt Zhou, just say what’s wrong. If I can help, I will.”

Lin Chen stepped forward himself and helped her up—he was a martial artist, and his strength was considerable.

“Lin Chen, Young Master Lin, please save my Qianqian! You’ve met her—she’s still so young… if anything happens to her, how can I go on living?”

Seeing Aunt Zhou’s words falter, Lin Chen turned his gaze to the village chief.

“Xiao Chen, let’s talk somewhere else—don’t stand here at the martial hall’s entrance.”

Zhao Canghu glanced at the gathering crowd and feared it might damage Lin Chen’s reputation; he signaled Gu Fei and Lin Liang to escort Aunt Zhou aside.

Lin Chen halted his brother and Gu Fei with a look and said to Aunt Zhou: “Aunt Zhou, let’s go over there and talk.”

The group stopped at the mouth of an alley beside the martial hall. Lin Chen didn’t ask Aunt Zhou—he turned his gaze to the village chief.

Zhao Canghu’s eyes fell on Jiang Qing, who had followed Lin Chen—this girl radiated noble bearing, unmistakably the daughter of high-ranking nobility.

“Village Chief, this is my senior sister. Whatever it is, say it plainly.”

Seeing the village chief hesitate and glance toward Senior Sister Jiang, Lin Chen understood his hesitation.

“You know Qianqian—yesterday she went missing in our village. We all went out searching. We came to the city yesterday, and this official said he saw a girl matching Qianqian’s description enter the city.”

As Lin Chen listened, his brow furrowed—the village chief was still holding back.

He knew Qianqian—Aunt Zhou’s daughter.

Aunt Zhou had suffered terribly: her husband drowned while fishing years ago, and she raised Qianqian alone. The girl, barely five or six, played with other children in the village every day.

The little girl had a sweet tongue—every time she saw him, she called him “Chenchen Brother.”

“Brother, you tell him. Tell the truth.”

Lin Chen looked at his brother. Lin Liang glanced at the village chief, then spoke in a low voice: “Three days ago, Lin Ming returned to the village. On the day Qianqian went missing, Lin Ming left too. Today, this official said Qianqian was taken by a man—his build closely resembled Lin Ming’s.”

The air fell silent.

Lin Chen now understood why the village chief had been stammering and avoiding the point.

Qianqian had been kidnapped by Lin Ming!

The village chief feared speaking out would tarnish his own reputation—after all, Lin Ming was his elder cousin.

“It… it might be a mistake. We’re not sure yet. I thought we should find Lin Ming first, but Aunt Zhou insisted on coming to you.”

Zhao Canghu looked helpless—he truly had Lin Chen’s reputation in mind.

In fact, ever since Qianqian vanished, some villagers had suspected Lin Ming—but because of Lin Chen’s standing in the village, no one dared voice the suspicion.

After all, they shared the same surname—Lin Chen and Lin Ming were cousins, both Lin family.

“Lin Chen… Young Master Lin, Qianqian wasn’t taken by your elder brother. She wandered off on her own. I only ask you to help me find her—I swear she won’t say a word. If you won’t help, I’ll take her away from the village myself.”

Aunt Zhou gripped Lin Chen’s hand tightly, her disheveled hair hiding a pale face filled with desperate hope.

Lin Chen understood why she said that—she feared he’d refuse to search for Qianqian if he knew Lin Ming was the culprit, fearing it would damage his reputation.

“Aunt, don’t worry—even if Lin Ming took Qianqian, I’ll find her for you.” Lin Chen assured her.

“Village Chief, I told you Chenzi isn’t that kind of person—we should’ve come to him sooner!”

Gu Fei, hearing Lin Chen’s words, smiled. Zhao Canghu shot him a glare; Gu Fei shrank back and fell silent.

“Official, I’m Lin Chen from Linhu Village. May I ask your name?”

Lin Chen looked at the constable who had once let him cut the line for his fishing boat when he entered the martial hall.

“Young Master Lin, you’re too kind—don’t call me ‘official.’ I share your surname—Lin.”

Lin Xiuyong hurried to reply—he dared not act superior before Lin Chen.

It was sheer coincidence: yesterday, while on gate duty, a villager had asked if he’d seen a child enter the city.

He normally wouldn’t care—but the man asking looked familiar. He recalled: when village students arrived in the city, he’d been maintaining order at the docks, and the promising student whose fishing boat Lin Chen had rowed had been the one he’d seen.

Because of that, he’d been more patient. After subtle probing, he learned the man was the promising student’s elder brother—and his warmth deepened.

“Young Master Lin, the girl’s clothing matched the missing child from your village. But the young man who took her… my memory is hazy.”

Lin Xiuyong felt helpless—had he known this was the case, he’d never have mentioned anything.

A cousin kidnapping a village child—if it were another family, the whole household would be shamed by villagers. He hadn’t known the young man was Lin Chen’s cousin—he’d merely wanted to do a favor.

For all Lin Chen’s kind words, only he knew what he truly thought.

Lin Chen had lived two lives—he could hear the hesitation in the man’s tone. He was preserving Lin Chen’s dignity.

He understood—the man feared Lin Chen would think him meddling.

No need to press further. Once Qianqian was found, the truth would reveal itself.

“Official, you’re a few years older—I’ll call you Brother Lin. Do you know where kidnapped children in the city are typically taken?”

In any dynasty, the most knowledgeable about the underworld were the government office runners.

“Very likely sold to Third Master Zhou.”

Lin Xiuyong didn’t pretend to be above it—he spoke plainly.

“Third Master Zhou keeps many ruffians. They sometimes go to villages and kidnap children.”

“Official Lin, if Third Master Zhou kidnaps children, why doesn’t your government office act?” Gu Fei couldn’t help asking.

Lin Xiuyong sighed: “Third Master Zhou is an Open-Apertures martial artist. He always operates in the villages, hides well, and leaves no evidence. We can’t touch him.”

Lin Chen sneered—couldn’t touch him?

Plainly put, Third Master Zhou dared not kidnap children in the city—his victims were poor villagers from the countryside, whose disappearances caused little uproar.

Most county officials had come from martial halls. Third Master Zhou was a martial artist too—likely from the same hall. With shared martial hall ties, he probably had connections with some government office runners.

Corruption between black and white—ancient as time.

“Young Master Lin, may I ask—how many apertures have you opened?” Lin Xiuyong suddenly asked.

“Six.”

Hearing Lin Chen’s answer, Lin Xiuyong was stunned—not just him, even Gu Fei and Zhao Canghu were shocked.

Lin Liang, who had never trained, didn’t understand—but Gu Fei was a martial hall student himself and knew how hard cultivation was. Zhao Canghu, as village chief, had followed martial arts closely since Jiang Ju Ren’s rise.

Six apertures opened in three months?

Lin Xiuyong suppressed his shock and said: “If that’s true, Young Master Lin, you should go to Third Master Zhou—he’ll give you face.”

Opening six apertures in three months since entering the martial hall—Lin Xiuyong was certain Third Master Zhou wouldn’t risk offending Lin Chen over a little girl.

“Xiao Chen, if possible, let’s go find Third Master Zhou. We can pay him.”

Zhao Canghu signaled Lin Chen with his eyes—a village girl meant maybe ten or so silver taels at most. If Third Master Zhou gave Lin Chen face, the village could pay him.

Lin Chen nodded: “Brother Lin, please guide us to Third Master Zhou.”

As a villager, he wouldn’t refuse to help in such a matter—especially since Lin Ming was involved.

He didn’t care what the village said about his grandfather and uncle’s family—but he didn’t want his parents dragged into it.

“Young Master Lin, you’re too kind. Third Master Zhou has a house in Qingshui Alley in the east city, but at this hour he’s likely in the south. I’ll take you.”

Knowing Lin Chen had opened six apertures, Lin Xiuyong now wanted to build a stronger connection.

Originally, he thought Lin Chen had potential—maybe his children could benefit someday. But now, with Lin Chen’s status, he himself might need that connection.

Lin Chen didn’t move yet—he turned to Jiang Qing: “Senior Sister, I’m afraid I have no time today. I’ll ask for your guidance another day.”

“I’m coming with you.”

Jiang Qing’s face was icy—she despised traffickers more than anything as a woman.

Lin Chen paused. Senior Sister Jiang’s status was extraordinary—if Third Master Zhou refused Lin Chen face, he’d surely give hers.

“Thank you, thank you, Young Master Lin!”

Aunt Zhou, hearing the conversation, tried to kneel and kowtow again.

Lin Chen snatched her hand with lightning speed: “Aunt, don’t do that. Just call me Xiao Chen.”

Seeing Aunt Zhou’s bewildered, helpless eyes, Lin Chen’s gaze flickered with killing intent.

Lin Ming, you deserve to die!

(End of Chapter)