Chapter 84: Night Intrusion (Seeking first subscription, seeking monthly tickets)

Xu Jin returned to Xu Family Village in the afternoon.

He got up before dawn, finished his morning lessons, and came to the Jinshan Juncheng market.

Carrying a bag of steaming hot meat buns, Xu Jin ate while strolling through the market.

It was so fragrant; the entrance was soft and fluffy, the meat particles were distinct, and it was chewy, making his mouth full of oil.

Thinking of the meat buns in his previous life that were only oil and mud when chewed, Xu Jin felt that this world seemed quite good too.

Of course, the main thing was that he couldn't go back.

Soon, the things in Xu Jin's hands gradually increased.

He bought a phoenix-eye silver hairpin; last time he didn't have silver, so he bought a wooden one for his sister.

He bought two pairs of cloth shoes for his father, a jar of old wine, braised chicken, peanuts, and also bought the pastries his sister loved.

Originally he wanted to buy clothes for Jiang Er, but the size wasn't very clear.

Xu Jin simply didn't buy them. Anyway, he wasn't short of silver now, so he would wait until tomorrow to take his sister to a clothing store to buy a few sets properly.

The overcast sky suddenly began to drizzle with light rain, and the rainwater was ice-cold.

Xu Jin saw umbrellas in a small shop nearby, so he hurriedly rushed in. "Boss, give me two umbrellas."

"Umbrellas?"

The boss was a bit puzzled, looked at what Xu Jin was pointing at, and suddenly said, "You mean holding a flower?"

"Holding a flower?"

A few minutes later, Xu Jin left the small shop with two umbrellas, looking at the umbrella opened above his head, it really looked like a flower in full bloom.

Good-looking and good-sounding.

Carrying a large bundle on his left shoulder and holding a flower in his right hand, Xu Jin was wearing the uniform of a Star-Patrol Guard team leader, walking toward the city gate, preparing to rush to Xu Family Village.

Actually, Xu Jin still liked wearing casual clothes, but this was something his father Xu Dajiang was thinking about day and night, saying that if Xu Jin could walk around in this official skin, he, old Xu, could walk sideways in Xu Family Village in the future.

Satisfied, arranged!

At the East Gate of Jinshan Juncheng, seeing Xu Jin wearing the Star-Patrol Guard team leader uniform, the ten city guards guarding the gate hurriedly came up to salute and pay respects, even alarming their team leader.

Although they were both team leaders, the team leader of the Jinshan Dao Academy's Star-Patrol Guard was one rank higher than them.

If it were wartime, the city guard team leader meeting the Great Chen Dao Academy's Star-Patrol Guard team leader would have to belong to the command, which was written into the Great Chen military law.

"I have met the lord. Is the lord going home? Do you need me to send someone to transport the items?" Qu Huai, the team leader on duty at the East Gate of Jinshan Juncheng today, came over in a flash, saluting while offering flattery.

Xu Jin raised the flower higher and said slowly, "Just going home, no need..."

Just as he finished speaking, Xu Jin revealed a strange smile.

An acquaintance.

Before Xu Jin had pointed stars, when he slipped out of the Dao Academy to open an altar to pray for stars and returned, he happened to run into this city

"Yes, we've had them at our village starting two months ago. There are eight of them, and they are all waiting to return now," Xu Dajiang said.

Hearing this, Xu Jin could not help but feel much more at ease.

If this had been going on for a few months, it was even more reliable.

Xu Dajiang was happy, so Xu Jin opened that jar of wine. With only peanuts as a side, the two of them, grandfather and grandson, had a cup each, sipping slowly while waiting for Jiang Er to return.

But as time passed, an hour and a half went by. In between, Xu Dajiang went to the village entrance to look several times, but saw no sign of anyone.

"Could it be that they were delayed by this rainy weather?"

Xu Dajiang could no longer sit still. "I'll go ask the other families."

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Dajiang returned, his old face slightly tense. "None of them have returned. It might be the rain; they were delayed on the road."

Xu Jin frowned.

It was almost dark now. In another half hour, the county city would close its gates; how could they not have returned yet?

Delayed by rain? That shouldn't be.

The rain had been falling, but it wasn't heavy; it shouldn't affect travel.

"Father, I'll go meet them. If I don't find them on the road, I'll go to the Zhao residence in the county city to ask, and return tomorrow," Xu Jin said, rising.

"That's fine." It was clear that Xu Dajiang was also very worried about Xu Jiang.

"Father, prepare yourself. I intend for you and Jiang Er to move into the city to live, and next year I'll let Jiang Er perform Star Pointing to cultivate. I am currently serving in the Star Patrol Guard, hunting thieves and killing bandits; it's not very safe for you to stay here," Xu Jin said.

It was clear that Xu Dajiang did not want to move, but hearing it wasn't safe, he hesitated. "It's just that the expenses in the county city..."

"Father, as a Star Patrol Guard squad leader, my monthly salary is fifty taels of silver."

After speaking, Xu Jin picked up his umbrella and left.

Watching Xu Jin's back, after a long time, Xu Dajiang revealed a complex smile. "This kid, he's really made something of himself! Fifty taels a month—I couldn't save that much even after two years of bitter toil..."

The rainy day was gloomy. Xu Jin quickened his pace, heading straight for the county city. On the road, let alone groups of seven or eight travelers, even individual pedestrians were extremely rare.

He hadn't found the young women from Xu Village who went to work, let alone his sister.

Xu Jin felt something was wrong.

Before the county city gates closed, he entered the city, then asked for directions and headed straight for the Zhao residence.

The Zhao residence's great philanthropist was named Zhao Bo. He had been in business for many years, and many properties inside and outside the county city belonged to his family. He was the richest man in Jinshan County and also the greatest philanthropist, with a very good reputation.

Xu Jin knocked on the door. The doorman opened it, and upon seeing Xu Jin's Star Patrol Guard squad leader uniform, he hurriedly saluted. "This is the Zhao residence. May I ask what business you have here, my lord?"

"Star Patrol Guard squad leader Xu Jin. I have business with your master; please report it quickly." Xu Jin did not want to waste words and directly showed his waist token.

The status of a Star Patrol Guard squad leader was still somewhat useful.

The doorman glanced at the token and hurriedly left. Not long after, an old man with a slightly hunched figure and a finger-length beard under his chin arrived and invited Xu Jin into the front courtyard's flower hall.

"I am Zhao Fu, the head steward of the Zhao residence. My master is currently out checking accounts. If you have any business, Lord Xu, you can tell me directly," the head steward said.

"It's like this: my sister, Xu Jiang, previously worked at the Zhao residence. Today should have been her day off to return home, but I haven't seen her, so I came directly to the residence to pick her up." As Xu Jin spoke, his mind had already sunk into the Insight Star Pattern in his Lower Star Palace. He activated the Insight Star Pattern, carefully observing every move of the head steward, Zhao Fu.

"Lord Xu, may I ask what kind of work your sister does? My Zhao residence employs at least several thousand people, this..."

"They said she was a weaver, with one day off a month." Xu Jin directly took out the contract.

Seeing the contract, Zhao Fu's brows and eyes clearly twitched. "This, I need to go ask the steward below to be clear."

Xu Jin nodded. The head steward, Zhao Fu, left. Xu Jin originally wanted to follow, but just as he reached the corridor behind the flower hall, he discovered a guard. This guard was clearly a cultivator.

Meal of Mist, Sixth Layer.

Xu Jin retreated, his gaze having become solemn.

A steward followed by a Meal of Mist, Sixth Layer guard—this Zhao residence was likely not simple.

Thinking about it, it made sense. In many cases, the richest man is synonymous with a fat pig, but for the Zhao family, the richest in Jinshan County, to have maintained such a reputation for so many years, they certainly weren't simple.

A quarter of an hour later, the head steward, Zhao Fu, returned with an apologetic face. "Lord Xu, I apologize. I just received news that the weaving workshop needs to rush production, so all weavers' days off have been canceled. The workshop will issue extra bonuses, but the days off will have to wait until next month."

After speaking, Zhao Fu had a servant bring over a tray containing twenty taels of silver, which he handed to Xu Jin. "I've troubled you to make this trip, my lord. This is a small token of my sincerity; I hope you will accept it."

The Insight Star Pattern had no reaction. It seemed the Insight Star Pattern could only make Xu Jin's perception of the environment acute, but it was insensitive to the human heart.

Xu Jin waved his hand in refusal. He no longer hid anything, but pointed directly at the contract and said, "Head steward, it's like this: I don't want my sister to be a weaver anymore. I want to take her home directly. As for the breach of contract compensation, I will pay it as agreed."

"I ask that the head steward send someone to accompany me to the weaving workshop; I want to pick up my sister immediately!"

"This..."

A look of difficulty appeared on the head steward's face. "Since you've asked, my lord, my Zhao residence will comply; what talk of compensation is there? But the weaving workshop is quite far. Why don't you wait until your sister returns home next month, my lord?"

"I want her now!"

"I ask for your understanding, my lord. The weaving workshop is rushing production; a single day is a business of thousands of taels, it cannot stop. Next month, when your sister returns home next month, my Zhao residence will present another hundred taels of silver as a token of our sincerity."

This increasingly aroused Xu Jin's suspicion.

Not accepting compensation and even gifting a hundred taels of silver—when were capitalists ever so easy to talk to? Nine times out of ten, they were stalling for time!

Xu Jin was very clear about the weight of a small Star Patrol Guard squad leader in the eyes of the county's richest man.

"Steward Zhao, I don't lack silver. I only want my sister, now, immediately!" Xu Jin's attitude was extremely firm!

"Hmph!" The next instant, the head steward slapped the table and stood up. "You don't know what's good for you!"

"Let alone a small squad leader like you, even a flag leader wouldn't dare to be like this!"

"Next month, your sister will return home on her own!"

"Someone, see the guest out!"

After speaking, the head steward flicked his sleeves and left. Xu Jin still wanted to say something, but the Meal of Mist, Sixth Layer guard he had discovered earlier stood with his hand on his sword, staring intensely at Xu Jin, blocking his path.

Xu Jin was escorted out of the Zhao residence.

Xu Jin wasn't stupid enough to start a fight on the spot and break in to interrogate the head steward.

But Xu Jin had already determined that there was something fishy about this.

Was it really that hard to pull one weaver out of the workshop?

Outside the Zhao residence, the sky was already completely dark. Xu Jin found a corner, changed into a set of clothes, covered his face with a black cloth, and with a light leap, vaulted over the wall.

Xu Jin originally wanted to switch to the 'Concealment Star Pattern', but he needed the Spirit Scent Star Pattern to track the steward's location within the residence, so he didn't switch.

However, this Spirit Scent Star Pattern, when combined with the Insight Star Pattern, might be even better than the Concealment Star Pattern if used well.

With the two major Star Patterns combined, Xu Jin could perceive all kinds of movements within a hundred-meter radius.

In this kind of complex courtyard terrain, Xu Jin felt the Spirit Scent Star Pattern was much more useful than the Concealment Star Pattern.

Along the way, Xu Jin avoided over a dozen servants and guards.

Among them, he encountered four guards who were cultivators.

All of them were in the Meal of Mist Realm.

A hundred breaths later, Xu Jin once again smelled the head steward's scent—a body odor with a foul smell.

It was in the main hall of the Zhao residence's backyard.

Two Meal of Mist Realm guards were guarding the door. Inside the main hall, two people were talking in low voices; one of the voices was exactly the head steward's.

Xu Jin carefully circled to a small side window. When he activated the Insight Star Pattern, the previously unclear voices immediately became distinct.

"Master, that batch of weavers—a victim's family has already come to the door today. I didn't expect it to be a Star Patrol Guard squad leader; it took me a lot of effort to send him away." This was the head steward, Zhao Fu, complaining. The "Master" should be Zhao Weiqing, the eldest son of the county's richest man, Zhao Bo.

"A Star Patrol Guard squad leader? When we were recruiting, didn't I tell you to only recruit children from poor families with no background? How did you recruit someone related to a Star Patrol Guard squad leader?" Master Zhao Weiqing said with dissatisfaction.

"Master, I just asked the steward. When we recruited her, I specifically asked about her family situation. The Xu family has no background. This Xu Jin who came to the door was just performing Star Pointing at the Dao Academy, but at the time it seemed he had been at it for over eighty days without success. Who would have thought..."

Xu Jin's eyes widened instantly. There was a problem—a huge problem.

When the Zhao residence was recruiting, they were aiming to scam people.

"The others are easy to send away. Master, this Star Patrol Guard squad leader Xu Jin is not easy to send away. Why don't we just bring his sister out?" the head steward, Zhao Fu, suggested. "After all, he is with the Star Patrol Guard."

Master Zhao Weiqing did not take the bait.

Subsequently, the head steward, Zhao Fu's voice sounded again. "Master, we can drag it out and cover it up this month, but what about next month?"

"Just say the weaving workshop was hit by a Star Beast attack and there were no remains left. Compensate each family with a dozen taels of silver. For those who make a big fuss, just kill a few; you handle it. Those poor people, as long as you give them some silver, what opinions could they possibly have?" Master Zhao Weiqing said.

Xu Jin, listening outside the door, was horrified; even his heart skipped a beat.

They planned it like this?

Could it be that his sister, Jiang Er, had already...?

"Very well, Master."

After the exchange, the two separated. The head steward, Zhao Fu, left the main hall and should have been heading toward his own small courtyard.

Looking at the two Meal of Mist Realm guards at the door, it was basically impossible to take them down without making a sound.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Jin turned and followed behind the head steward, Zhao Fu.

Not long after, he followed him into a courtyard where two maids were serving.

With a light chop of his hand, the two maids fainted and fell to the ground. Xu Jin instantly rushed into the room, covering the head steward's mouth and nose while his long blade was already pressed against his neck.

In an instant, the head steward panicked. "Good man, which good man are you!"

"I ask, you answer! If there is even one lie, I will take your old life!"

As he spoke, Xu Jin directly snapped one of the head steward's little fingers, causing him to convulse all over from the pain.

A foul smell came—the guy had actually wet himself.

Xu Jin had no choice but to drag him to another place.

"What exactly is going on with the weavers? Are those weavers alive or did they die in an accident?" Xu Jin asked.

Once these words were spoken, the head steward immediately reacted. "Are you Squad Leader Xu?"

Crack!

Xu Jin did not hesitate to snap a second finger. "Answer me!"

A few breaths later, the head steward, sweating profusely, said with a trembling voice, "I... I don't know either, but they should still be alive. If they wanted to kill them, they wouldn't need to go through so much trouble..."

Hearing this, Xu Jin breathed a slight sigh of relief.

As long as they were still alive, it was fine.

"Where is the weaving workshop?"

"I don't know."

Crack!

Another finger was snapped. Zhao Fu, convulsing from the pain, begged for mercy. "Good man, I really don't know where it is. I'm only responsible for recruiting people and arranging miscellaneous chores. I really don't know where it is. Everything was ordered by the Master, and it's said to be a matter arranged by the old residence master."

Zhao Bo?

A hundred breaths later, Xu Jin stopped the interrogation.

Zhao Fu, with all ten fingers broken, kept repeating the same things; it seemed he really didn't know the details.

After thinking for a moment, Xu Jin applied slight force and twisted the head steward's neck.

This person had already recognized him; he had to be eliminated.

A few minutes later, Xu Jin followed the scent and once again found Master Zhao Weiqing.

This time, Master Zhao Weiqing was already in the inner residence.

There were at least four people in the inner residence: three women and one man.

At the courtyard entrance, two Meal of Mist Realm guards stood like door gods.

Xu Jin frowned.

Taking down these two Meal of Mist Realm guards was not difficult.

The difficulty was how to take them down silently.

If he made any significant noise, it would immediately attract all the guards of the Zhao residence.

Then it would attract the County Guard, or even the Star Patrol Guard.

Xu Jin had absolutely no time to interrogate Zhao Weiqing.

As for using the power of the government, whether it was the County Guard or the Star Patrol Guard, Xu Jin had thought about it.

Lu Xianbing would probably help him, and Ning Yuchan would definitely help him, but it was hard to say to what extent they could help.

Having been the richest man in the county for so many years, the Zhao residence must have a major background. Xu Jin did not want to drag his friends into the water without figuring out that background.

Xu Jin hid in the shadows of a wall corner over twenty meters away, quietly waiting for an opportunity.

Xu Jin had enough patience!

A quarter of an hour later, a maid suddenly arrived and bowed, saying, "Two guards, dinner is ready. Which of you will go first?"

"Old He, I'll go first; I'm a bit hungry," the Meal of Mist, Seventh Layer guard said with a smile, rubbing his stomach.

"Fine! Come and replace me when you're done."

"Mm, half an hour at most."

After speaking, the Meal of Mist, Seventh Layer guard followed the little maid. From time to time, he would touch the little maid's bottom. The little maid would spit in disgust, but she didn't scream or dodge; clearly, she was used to being molested.

Xu Jin quietly followed them for a lap. The dining hall was about a hundred meters away, separated by four or five walls.

As long as the commotion wasn't too big, he should be able to succeed.

The opportunity to act had arrived!

(End of chapter)