Chapter 573: Chi Yongchun, you're no good!

"I, I, I……"

Chi Yongchun opened his mouth, wanting to say that he had come this time to speak up for Cui Xing, but under Le Wenmao's fierce gaze, the words on the tip of his tongue left him unable to speak.

What's more, he feared that Le Wenmao would take him for Cui Xing's accomplice and cut him down together with Cui Xing behind him.

He practically wished he could hide, exposing Cui Xing, who was hiding behind him, to Le Wenmao.

Don't look at him just as a constable of Liangshui Town; he's now a chief constable, handling major affairs like criminal investigations, but if a murder case really occurred before him, he would first make a concrete assessment.

Who the victim was, what his background was, who the killer was, and how strong the killer was.

If it didn't pass his assessment, he wouldn't pretend it hadn't happened; after all, he's a constable making his living from this job, he'd put on a show of effort, but whether the killer could be caught and brought to justice was none of his concern.

"If."

If a murder case occurred in an ordinary household, and the killer was extremely formidable, even if he had confidence to defeat the killer, if he lacked absolute certainty, he would wait until the killer finished killing, then rush hastily to the crime scene.

He became a constable just to make money, not truly intending to stand up for the common folk.

"Brother Chi, you're the chief constable of Liangshui Town; this old bastard killed my parents on your turf—are you really going to do nothing about it?"

Although Cui Xing, hiding behind Chi Yongchun, was indeed frightened by Le Wenmao's brutality, he hadn't yet been scared witless.

Although he couldn't see Chi Yongchun's expression, seeing his whole body tremble and hearing his hesitant tone, how could he not understand what was going on, given their years of acquaintance?

What sort of person Chi Yongchun is—he knew it all too well.

"Boss Cui..."

Chi Yongchun detected something extraordinary in Cui Xing's words, but he paid no heed; just as he was about to say something, Cui Xing cut him off:

"Brother Chi, as long as you catch him for me so I can avenge my parents, I'll give you whatever you want!"

Hearing this, Chi Yongchun's eyes lit up at once—just as he knew Cui Xing well, Cui Xing knew him just as well; how could Cui Xing fail to realize what he wanted?

Money!

Heap after heap of money!

What sort of person Cui Xing is, he knew full well; since Cui Xing dared say this, it meant he was willing to spare no expense.

Just as Chi Yongchun felt tempted and was about to readily agree, a fellow constable at his side—his cousin and trusted aide—leaned in and whispered:

"Brother, just listen to what he says; he's generous, but think about it—no matter how generous he is, what difference does it make? If he's gone, with your abilities, his estate would be yours, wouldn't it?"

Chi Yongchun hesitated in replying: "But his younger brother..."

"His younger brother has latched onto Young Master Zhu's leg, but putting it bluntly, he's just Young Master Zhu's dog; if Cui Xing can do things for Young Master Zhu, couldn't you, Brother, do the same?"

Chi Yongchun's cousin tempted him: "Who knows? You might even use this affair to climb onto Young Master Zhu's thigh and rocket to success!"

Chi Yongchun's eyes lit up at once, and he hastily said to Le Wenmao:

"Uncle Le, although I don't know why you suddenly stormed the Cui manor and went on a killing spree, whatever your reasons, it's against imperial law, but law is nothing but human sentiment; Uncle Le, you must have some unspeakable hardship for doing this, I want to support you, but since I'm a constable I can't knowingly break the law..." "Brother..."

Chi Yongchun's cousin panicked at once, about to say something, but before he could finish speaking, Chi Yongchun glared at him and then gave him a look.

As if saying, "Just watch my performance."

Then Chi Yongchun added: "I'll hand Cui Xing over to you, Uncle Le, to deal with, but I hope that after you've settled Cui Xing, you'll go with me to the county office so I can file my report!"

"Chi Yongchun!"

Cui Xing glared with a ferocious face at Chi Yongchun's back, never imagining that the Chi Yongchun who used to be waited on hand and foot with gold and silver would, at this moment, when he himself was in trouble, say such things.

Chi Yongchun spoke righteously: "Cui Xing, don't blame me—blame yourself. For years you've run amok in Liangshui Town, doing every conceivable evil; the townsfolk dare be angry but dare not speak out against you."

"I'm useless, afraid of your power, not daring to offend you, only able to grovel before you; now that someone is willing to do heaven's work, how could I not support them?"

"Chi Yongchun, you're pretending to be a saint— I'm no good person, so are you claiming to be one? What sort of person are you, don't the people of Liangshui Town know?"

Cui Xing could no longer suppress his inner fury; he couldn't help but burst out cursing, but seeing Chi Yongchun's expression, knowing he wasn't joking, this ungrateful beast was truly preparing to hand him over to Le Wenmao; in a flash of anger, he was about to snatch Chi Yongchun's sidearm and take him hostage.

Threatening Le Wenmao to let him go!

You have reached this novel.

"Your damned brain must have been caught in a door— even if you turned and fled, it'd be better than holding me hostage; even if you truly managed to hold me, do you expect this old bastard Le Wenmao to let you go just because I spared you?"

Chi Yongchun jumped in fright, but quickly reacted; since Cui Xing was seriously injured, his response was relatively slow— he lashed out with a fierce kick, sending Cui Xing sprawling to the ground, muttered a curse, then looked at Le Wenmao full of admiration and said respectfully:

"Uncle Le, I won't stop you from doing heaven's work, but I hope that after you've avenged yourself and settled your grudge, you'll go with me to the office so I can file my report!"

"When did Chi Yongchun become so righteous?"

This sudden change was even more shocking than the news they'd heard from Cui Xing's mouth—that Le Wenmao, right in front of Cui Xing, had slaughtered his parents.

Who made Chi Yongchun such a person? They knew full well that he had colluded with Cui Xing in wickedness, causing much harm to Liangshui Town's folk; now, seeing Chi Yongchun speak those righteous words before Le Wenmao, they simply couldn't believe it, wondering if they were hallucinating.

"He must have been scared witless by Old Master Le; otherwise Chi Yongchun would never have done something like this no matter what!"

Chi Yongchun ignored it; all around, whispers drifted to his ears— even the faintest snippets were mostly mockery and sarcasm toward him; this man had few merits, his sole virtue being a thick skin.

As long as he could gain an advantage and make his ideas work, he didn't mind a few jeers, let alone being insulted to his face with a finger pointed at his nose— he had no objections.

Le Wenmao glanced at Chi Yongchun, saw him fawning with a smile, his face full of obsequious grins, ignored him, strode forward, still cursing Chi Yongchun's Cui Xing under his breath, and said expressionlessly:

"Do you have any last words you'd like to pass on to your brother?"

(End of chapter)