Chapter 400: A Promise Worth a Thousand Gold

"It seems the County Magistrate is also unwilling to speak. No matter, this official can ask!"

Walking to the side of the eldest of the Peng brothers, Shen Yu patted his shoulder; Qing'er had already completely controlled him as before.

It was as if an inexplicable Mental Power had invaded his mind, making him completely unable to resist, and his entire person instantly became muddled and confused.

"Come, County Assistant Peng, tell me about the dirty deeds you brothers have committed over these years. Oh, and the County Magistrate Bei's as well. I want to know everything, down to the smallest detail!"

"My Lord, County Assistant Peng and this subordinate have conflicts; his words cannot be trusted!"

"What, is County Magistrate Bei panicking?" With a cold laugh, Shen Yu said indifferently: "Whether it is trustworthy or not, this official has his own judgment!"

"Speak!"

"At the very beginning, we only used the Gu family's shops to smuggle salt with the County Magistrate, doing some small business. Come to think of it, it could be considered small-time."

"But later, the business we did with County Magistrate Bei was discovered by the previous County Assistant, and he insisted on dealing with us!"

"Originally, we just wanted to pull him into our group, but he was just a stubborn rock who refused no matter what!"

"County Assistant Peng, watch your words! What does this have to do with this old man!"

"County Magistrate Bei!" Walking over to the County Magistrate's side and patting his shoulder, Shen Yu said expressionlessly, "Don't be anxious. We've barely started; let the man finish what he's saying!"

"And then?"

"Then we decided to go all the way. We discussed it with County Magistrate Bei, got that disobedient County Assistant drunk that very night, and then found a woman to sleep with him!"

"After that, we used the charge of molesting a woman to take him down and directly stripped him of his position as County Assistant!"

"Framing a loyal official!" With a cold snort, Shen Yu glanced coldly to the side. "County Magistrate Bei, framing your own colleague—you really are quite capable!"

"This subordinate is terrified!"

"Terrified? Were you this terrified when you were doing these things? Why does it sound to me like you are quite practiced at such matters?"

"This, this..."

Casting a cold glance at the other party, one didn't need to guess to know that this old man's heart had likely turned black long ago.

"Continue!"

"After that, I spent some money to grease the wheels and became the candidate for this County Assistant position. Once I sat firmly in this position, I started bringing my second brother along to get rich!"

"My second brother also formed a gang. We had the money, we had the power, and the next step was to expand our grand plans!"

"Most of the Brothels and gambling dens in the entire Luhe County were swallowed up by us!"

"The girls in the Brothels were all carefully selected from all over the county, each one charming and alluring. Some were lured and abducted, while others were forced!"

"If anyone dared to disobey, we would ruin their family and destroy their lives until they were willing to submit!"

"These were the big earners. Unlike that County Magistrate, who still had to invent excuses to collect all sorts of taxes—not only was it troublesome, but it earned less!"

"Very good!" His expression turning cold, Shen Yu looked at the Peng brothers, then at the Luhe County Magistrate who had completely collapsed onto the ground; the killing intent on his body was already becoming difficult to suppress.

"Trafficking people, forcing good women into prostitution! Inventing excuses to extort and plunder! For such crimes, dying ten times would not be enough!"

"Impressive, County Magistrate Bei. You've managed to commit every evil deed possible. Tell me, is there anything you lot wouldn't dare to do?"

"My Lord, this subordinate, this subordinate... they are slandering me, they are framing this subordinate! My Lord, please investigate clearly!"

"Whether it is slander, you know best in your own heart. If you had a clear conscience, why are you shaking there!"

With a cold snort, Shen Yu then said coldly, "Continue speaking. This official wants to see just how black your heart as a County Magistrate truly is!"

"That old thing, the County Magistrate, has a heart even blacker than ours. We have to hand over a portion of the money we earn, otherwise, the business simply wouldn't be able to continue!"

"And this old fellow likes sixteen or seventeen-year-old girls; he has to change a few every two or three months."

"I've heard that those girls, once they enter his home, are abused terribly. I've never heard of one coming out alive!"

"Although we run Brothels and deal in flesh, we generally don't kill. But he? Those beautiful young girls are tortured to death every month or two. It's truly a waste of heaven's gifts!"

"It's over!"

If it were in the past, being pointed at and scolded like this by the Peng brothers, County Magistrate Bei would have long since been enraged. *My heart is black? You lot are any better? What kind of trash are you! *

But at this moment, County Magistrate Bei was filled with panic and fear; his body couldn't stop trembling, and even a faint smell of urine drifted over.

As a well-informed County Magistrate, he knew very well what his fate would be after meeting this Lord Shen. The best outcome would be a quick blade!

Pity that he was already in his seventies; he feared he wouldn't make it past this hurdle!

Thinking of the dozen concubines at home, sorrow welled up in his heart. Among them was that little girl he had just taken in; her delicate appearance was so endearing, and he hadn't even begun with her yet.

He was unwilling, so very unwilling!

"County Magistrate Bei, you must be at least seventy, if not eighty, this year, yet you still covet sixteen-year-old girls. You really have no shame!"

"And listening to this, those girls were all tortured to death by you. County Magistrate Bei, you have truly massive gall!"

At this moment, Shen Yu was truly angry. He really hadn't expected that this old man, who looked quite kind and benevolent, could have such a cruel heart.

Some people grow kinder with age, while others grow blacker. For someone like the person before him, even a thousand cuts would not be enough to satisfy the hatred!

"This subordinate is terrified!"

"Terrified, terrified again. You still know how to be terrified? Why weren't you terrified when you were killing people? Why weren't you terrified when those girls were wailing and begging for mercy in front of you?"

"Arrest them all for this official! I want to make them pay the price!"

"Lord Shen, this subordinate is truly wronged!"

"What are you still standing there for?" Watching the Constables nearby who wanted to move but dared not, Shen Yu snorted in dissatisfaction, "Could it be that some of you are also complicit?"

"My Lord, it is this subordinate's fault!" Seeing that Shen Yu seemed impatient, the Head Constable immediately ordered, "Move quickly, take them all down!"

"Chang Xu, this official has treated you well, and you dare to make a move!"

"Pah, you old thing, I've been sick of you for a long time. Today, with Lord Shen here to uphold justice for the common people, do you still want to act like a tyrant!"

"You, you!"

"What 'you' what? Get up!" Yanking the County Magistrate up, Chang Xu's movements were very rough, showing no regard for their past relationship.

At a time like this, it was already too late to distance himself; he wasn't going to talk about sentimentality with him—he had to save himself first.

As for the two Peng brothers, they had long since been severely injured and unable to resist, and were easily taken down by several Constables.

"Right, Licentiate Gu, come here!" Watching these three people tightly bound by ropes, Shen Yu finally remembered the serious business.

"Licentiate Gu, today this official actually came to retrieve something!"

Pulling a jade pendant from his bosom, Shen Yu handed it over, "Licentiate Gu, do you recognize this thing? I wonder if the item you were tasked to keep is still here?"

"This, it's it, it's it, it's been nearly thirty years!"

Taking the jade pendant in his hands, for a moment Licentiate Gu felt a thousand grievances welling up in his heart, and tears almost fell directly. He had waited for so many years, and finally, someone had come holding the token!

"My lord, I never expected it would be you who came holding the token. My lord, rest assured, the item is still here!"

"My late father once told me that for the men of the Gu family, a promise is worth a thousand gold; even if it means death, we must never lose the item!"