Chapter 84: Night Intrusion (Seeking First Subscription, Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Xu Jin returned to Xu Family Village in the afternoon.

Along the way, uncles and brothers in the village, seeing Xu Jin’s Patrol Star Guard uniform, approached him eagerly; those with discernment recognized it as the uniform of a Patrol Star Guard Squad Leader and exclaimed in astonishment that Xu Family Village had produced someone notable.

They immediately declared their intention to go congratulate Xu Dajiang.

Xu Jin greeted them all in turn—he had now fulfilled his father’s wish.

As soon as he stepped through the door, Xu Jin caught the rich aroma of meat.

In the kitchen, a large pot simmered a goose over golden-red flames, the scent of roasted meat filling the air.

It looked delicious; Xu Jin didn’t care about the heat and reached straight into the pot to pull out a piece and eat it.

Suddenly, footsteps came from behind—his father, Xu Dajiang, must have arrived.

Before Xu Jin could turn around, Xu Dajiang’s tense voice rang out: “May I ask, sir, what brings you here?”

“Father, it’s me!”

Xu Jin spun around like a whirlwind to see Xu Dajiang carrying a bundle of dry firewood; his expression instantly shifted from tension to anger as he snatched a stick and swung it at Xu Jin: “You little brat! You come back and don’t say a word? I thought the authorities had come!”

He chased Xu Jin around, making him leap and dodge.

Eventually, Xu Jin let himself take a blow, giving his father a way to save face.

“When did you become a Patrol Star Guard officer? How come I never heard?” After striking him, Xu Dajiang wiped his hands and carefully touched Xu Jin’s Patrol Star Guard uniform, afraid of damaging it.

“Father, look closer,” Xu Jin straightened his chest and pointed to the collar.

On his chest and collar were embroidered characters—“Team”—different in size, marking him as Squad Leader of the Patrol Star Guard.

Instantly, Xu Dajiang’s expression turned serious: “Squad Leader? Patrol Star Guard Squad Leader?” The next instant, he leapt to his feet, face tight with alarm: “You didn’t steal your superior’s uniform just to make me look good, did you?”

Hearing this, Xu Jin couldn’t help but laugh and sigh.

You can’t be mediocre, but you can’t be too successful either.

“Father, who’d dare steal?” Xu Jin pulled out his Squad Leader badge; on the back, it was stamped with the characters “Xu Jin.”

Instantly, Xu Dajiang’s face lit up with joy.

He paced back and forth, rubbing his hands, overwhelmed with delight, almost incoherent.

“You’re really a Squad Leader! Ancestors have blessed us! Ancestors protect us! Ancestors protect us! We have an official in the family!”

Xu Jin understood his father’s joy—he knew the true value of a Patrol Star Guard Squad Leader.

If assigned to a county, he’d be at least a County Commandant.

In his past life, that’d be the combined role of county police chief, director of the armed forces, and head of fire, traffic, and other agencies.

“Father, where’s Jiang Er? Hasn’t she returned yet?” Xu Jin asked, pulling his father out of his euphoria.

“Not yet, but soon. Last month, those who worked at Master Zhao’s place all came back in the afternoon,” Xu Dajiang replied.

“So people from last month already came back?”

“Yes. Since two months ago, eight people from our village have been working there—they’re all waiting to return now,” Xu Dajiang said.

Hearing this, Xu Jin felt somewhat reassured.

If this had been going on for months, it’d be even more reliable.

Happy, Xu Dajiang opened a jar of wine; the two of them sipped slowly, nibbling on peanuts, waiting for Jiang Er’s return.

But as time passed, an hour and a half went by; Xu Dajiang went to the village entrance several times to look, but saw no one.

“Could the rain have delayed them?”

Xu Dajiang grew restless: “I’ll go ask the other families.”

Fifteen minutes later, Xu Dajiang returned, his face tense: “No one’s returned. Probably delayed by the rain.”

Xu Jin frowned.

It was nearly dark; in half an hour, the county seat would close its gates—how could they still not be back?

Rain delaying them? Unlikely.

The rain had been falling steadily, but lightly—it didn’t hinder travel.

“Father, I’ll go meet them. If I don’t find them on the road, I’ll go to Zhao’s mansion in the county seat and ask. I’ll come back tomorrow,” Xu Jin rose.

“Good,” Xu Dajiang clearly worried about Xu Jiang.

“Father, get ready—I plan to move you and Jiang Er into the city. Next year, I’ll get Jiang Er to begin Star Point cultivation. I’m now serving in the Patrol Star Guard, hunting bandits and thieves. You staying here isn’t safe,” Xu Jin said.

Xu Dajiang didn’t want to move, but hearing “not safe,” he hesitated: “But the cost of living in the city—”

“Father, as a Patrol Star Guard Squad Leader, I earn fifty taels of silver a month.”

Saying this, Xu Jin picked up his umbrella and stepped outside.

Watching Xu Jin’s back, Xu Dajiang finally let out a complex smile: “This boy—he’s truly come into his own! Fifty taels a month? I’ve slaved for two years and still haven’t saved that much.”

The rain-heavy sky was gloomy; Xu Jin quickened his pace, heading straight for the county seat. Along the way, he saw no travelers in groups of seven or eight—not even a single pedestrian.

He spotted none of the girls from Xu Family Village who had gone to work, let alone his sister’s figure.

Xu Jin felt something was wrong.

Before the county gates closed, he entered the city, asked for directions, and headed straight for Zhao’s mansion.

The Zhao family’s benevolent patriarch was Zhao Bo; he had been in business for years, owning many properties inside and outside the county seat, the wealthiest and most virtuous man in Jinshan County, with an excellent reputation.

Xu Jin knocked; the gatekeeper opened and, seeing Xu Jin’s Patrol Star Guard Squad Leader uniform, immediately bowed: “This is the Zhao mansion. May I ask, sir, what brings you here?”

“Patrol Star Guard Squad Leader Xu Jin. I need to speak with your master. Please announce me immediately,” Xu Jin said bluntly, flashing his badge.

The rank of Patrol Star Guard Squad Leader still carried weight.

The gatekeeper glanced at the badge and hurried off; soon, an elderly man with a stooped posture and a one-inch beard arrived and ushered Xu Jin into the front courtyard’s flower pavilion.

“I am Zhao Fu, chief steward of the Zhao mansion. My master is currently away auditing accounts. Sir, if you have business, you may speak with me,” the steward said.

“My sister, Xu Jiang, worked at your mansion. Today was her day off, yet she hasn’t returned home—I’ve come to fetch her,” Xu Jin said, his mind sinking into the Mingji Star Pattern within his Lower Star Palace, activating the pattern to closely observe Zhao Fu’s every movement.

“Sir, what kind of work did your sister do? My Zhao mansion employs thousands—”

“She was a weaver. One day off per month,” Xu Jin pulled out the contract.

Seeing the contract, Zhao Fu’s eyebrows twitched slightly: “I’ll need to check with the overseers to confirm.”

Xu Jin nodded. Zhao Fu left; Xu Jin moved to follow, but at the corridor behind the pavilion, he spotted a guard—clearly a cultivator.

Qi Condensation Sixth Layer.

Xu Jin stepped back; his gaze turned grave.

Even a steward had a Qi Condensation Sixth Layer guard behind him—this Zhao mansion was no ordinary place.

Think about it: the richest man is often seen as a fat pig, but the Zhao family had held the title of Jinshan County’s wealthiest for years—they must be more than they seemed.

Half a minute later, Zhao Fu returned, apologetic: “Sir, I’ve just learned the weaving workshop is rushing production—everyone’s day off has been canceled. Extra bonuses will be issued, but the next day off will be next month.”

He gestured to a servant who brought a tray with twenty taels of silver and offered it to Xu Jin: “This is a small token for your trouble. Please accept it.”

The Mingji Star Pattern gave no reaction—it only heightened Xu Jin’s environmental awareness, not his perception of people’s intentions.

Xu Jin waved it off, dropping all pretense: “Steward, I don’t want my sister to work as a weaver anymore. I want her home now. As for breach penalties, I’ll pay them as agreed.”

“Send someone with me to the weaving workshop—I’m taking my sister home right now!”

“This—”

Zhao Fu’s face showed distress: “Sir, if you ask, my Zhao mansion will comply—no penalty needed. But the weaving workshop is far. Why not wait until next month when your sister returns?”

“I want her now!”

“I beg your pardon, but the workshop is producing thousands of taels daily—it cannot stop. Next month, your sister will return, and my household will add one hundred taels as a gift.”

This only deepened Xu Jin’s suspicion.

No penalty, plus a hundred taels? When did capitalists become so generous? Nine times out of ten, they were stalling!

Xu Jin knew his standing—a lowly Patrol Star Guard Squad Leader—meant little to the richest man in the county.

“Steward Zhao, I don’t need silver. I want my sister. Now. Immediately!” Xu Jin’s tone was absolute.

“Hmph!” Instantly, Zhao Fu slammed his fist on the table: “Ungrateful fool!

Even if a Squad Chief came here, he wouldn’t dare speak like this!

Your sister will return next month!

Guards! Show him out!”

Saying this, Zhao Fu swept out. Xu Jin opened his mouth to speak, but the Qi Condensation Sixth Layer guard stepped forward, hand on his blade, glaring at Xu Jin, blocking his path.

Xu Jin was escorted out of the Zhao mansion.

He wasn’t foolish enough to storm in and interrogate Zhao Fu on the spot.

But he was certain now—something was amiss.

Was it really so hard to pull one girl out of the weaving workshop?

Outside the Zhao mansion, night had fallen. Xu Jin found a shadowed corner, changed clothes, covered his face with a black cloth, and leapt lightly over the wall.

He had intended to activate the Concealment Star Pattern, but needed the Spirit Scent Star Pattern to track Zhao Fu’s location inside—so he didn’t switch.

Yet, when combined, the Spirit Scent Star Pattern and Mingji Star Pattern might be even more effective than Concealment.

With both patterns active, Xu Jin sensed every movement within a hundred-meter radius.

In this complex courtyard layout, he found the Spirit Scent Star Pattern far more useful than Concealment.

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

Among them, he encountered four guards with cultivation.

All were in the Qi Condensation realm.

A hundred breaths later, Xu Jin caught Zhao Fu’s scent again—a foul, bodily odor.

It came from the main hall in the rear courtyard.

Two Qi Condensation guards stood before the hall; inside, two voices whispered—one was Zhao Fu’s.

Xu Jin carefully circled to a side window, and as he activated the Mingji Star Pattern, the previously faint voices instantly became clear.

“Master Zhao, the weavers have drawn complaints today—turns out one was a Squad Leader of the Star Patrol. I barely managed to shoo him away.” This was the chief steward Zhao Fu complaining; “Master Zhao” was likely Zhao Weiqing, the eldest son of Zhao Bo, the richest man in Juncheng.

“A Star Patrol Squad Leader? When hiring, weren’t you told to recruit only children from poor, backgroundless families? How did you end up hiring a Star Patrol Squad Leader?” Master Zhao Weiqing complained.

“Master, I just asked the overseer. When hiring, we specifically checked family backgrounds—the Xu family had no connections. This Xu Jin who showed up now was just a Star-Pointing student at the Dao Academy, but back then he’d been there over eighty days without succeeding. Who knew—”

Xu Jin’s eyes widened instantly. Something was wrong. There was a major problem here.

The Zhao household had recruited workers with the intent to trap people.

“Other cases are easy to handle, Master, but this Star Patrol Squad Leader Xu Jin won’t be so easily dismissed. Why not bring out his sister?” Chief Steward Zhao Fu suggested. “After all, he’s with the Star Patrol.”

Master Zhao Weiqing did not respond.

Soon after, Zhao Fu’s voice sounded again: “Master, we can delay and cover this up this month—but what about next month?”

“Say the weaving mill was struck by a Star Beast—bodies completely destroyed. Pay each family ten or so taels of silver. For those who make too much noise, kill a few. Handle it as you see fit. Those poor wretches—give them a little silver, what complaints can they have?” Master Zhao Weiqing said.

Xu Jin, listening outside, was stunned—his heart clenched.

This was the plan?

Had his sister Jiang Er already…?

“Yes, Master.”

After their exchange, the two parted ways. Chief Steward Zhao Fu left the main hall, presumably heading toward his own courtyard.

He glanced at the two Canxia-level guards stationed at the door. Taking them down silently was virtually impossible.

After thinking, Xu Jin changed his mind and trailed behind Chief Steward Zhao Fu.

Not long after, he reached a courtyard where two maidservants were attending to someone.

With a silent slash of his blade, both maids collapsed instantly. Xu Jin surged into the room, clamping a hand over Zhao Fu’s mouth and nose while his long knife rested against his throat.

In an instant, Chief Steward Zhao was terrified. “Brother! Who are you, brother!”

“I ask, you answer. One lie, and I take your life.”

As he spoke, Xu Jin snapped one of Zhao Fu’s tail fingers. Zhao Fu convulsed in agony.

A stench filled the air—the bastard had urinated himself.

Xu Jin had no choice but to drag him elsewhere.

“What’s really going on with the weavers? Are they alive—or dead?”

At once, Zhao Fu realized: “You’re Squad Leader Xu?”

CRACK!

Without hesitation, Xu Jin snapped his second finger. “Answer me!”

After several breaths, Zhao Fu, drenched in sweat, trembled: “I—I don’t know for sure, but they’re probably still alive. If they were to be killed, it wouldn’t need this much trouble.”

Hearing this, Xu Jin exhaled slightly.

As long as they were still alive, that was enough.

“Where is the weaving mill?”

“I don’t know.”

CRACK!

Another finger broken. Zhao Fu, writhing in pain, begged: “Brother, I really don’t know where! I only handle hiring and minor duties. I truly don’t know the location—everything was ordered by Master Zhao. Supposedly, it was arranged by the old master.”

Zhao Bo?

After a hundred breaths, Xu Jin stopped interrogating.

Zhao Fu, all ten fingers broken, kept repeating the same thing—he truly didn’t know the details.

After thinking, Xu Jin applied slight pressure and twisted the chief steward’s neck.

This man had recognized him—he had to be eliminated.

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

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

At least four people were inside the inner quarters: three women, one man.

At the courtyard gate, two Canxia-level guards stood like stone statues.

Xu Jin frowned.

Killing those two Canxia-level guards wasn’t hard.

The difficulty was doing it silently.

If even a slight noise was made, Zhao’s entire guard force would swarm.

Then came the Juncheng Guards—or even the Star Patrol.

Xu Jin had no time to interrogate Zhao Weiqing.

As for seeking help from the authorities—whether the Juncheng Guards or the Star Patrol—he had considered it.

Lu Xianbing might help him; Ning Yuchan would certainly help him—but how much they could do, he couldn’t say.

The Zhao household had been the richest in Juncheng for years—there had to be powerful backing behind them. Until he understood that background, Xu Jin didn’t want to drag his friends into this.

Xu Jin hid in the shadow of a wall over twenty meters away, waiting silently for an opening.

Xu Jin had plenty of patience.

Fifteen minutes later, a maidservant approached and bowed: “Lords, dinner is ready. Which of you will go first?”

“Old He, I’ll go first—I’m hungry,” chuckled the Canxia Seventh Layer guard, patting his stomach.

“Fine. When you’re done, come back and relieve me.”

“Mm. No more than half an hour.”

With that, the Canxia Seventh Layer guard followed the maidservant away, occasionally groping her buttocks. She spat in disgust but didn’t cry out or dodge—clearly, she was used to it.

Xu Jin quietly circled around. The dining hall was about a hundred meters away, separated by four or five walls.

As long as the noise wasn’t too loud, success was possible.

The moment to act had come!

(End of Chapter)