Chapter 654: The Good Cop, the Bad Cop

Gao Zhiming: "You talk too much. We haven't interrogated him yet—don't let him hear too much."

Qu Le shrugged: "So what if he hears? He's a fish on the chopping block anyway. Besides, Pan Yun must've known he was awake—she didn't even suggest knocking him out."

Gao Zhiming: "I knocked him out. Master Pan Sanzhu didn't object."

Qu Le: …

Gao Zhiming asked: "Who taught you that speech?"

Qu Le dodged the question: "We're lagging behind, and you're not angry? The driver's your junior sister—since we got back, she hasn't asked you a single question."

Gao Zhiming: "Who says we're lagging? There are two people behind us."

Qu Le froze: "Who?"

No sooner had he spoken than rapid footsteps sounded outside—he whirled around, yanked the curtain aside with a sharp swipe, and peered out to see Chen Liutao and Qu Zhixing approaching at a run; they slowed as they reached the cart and bowed to Pan Yun: "Master Pan, all traces on the road have been erased—bloodstains, wheel ruts, and footprints gone. We left false traces at another fork."

Pan Yun nodded in satisfaction: "Thank you both."

The two replied they hadn't worked hard—they'd merely waited by the city gate, cleared away traces after confirming everyone had safely left, and planted a few false ones.

They were experts at this—Embroidered Uniform Guard!

So they'd left someone to ensure our safety~

Qu Le silently lowered the curtain and sat quietly, saying nothing.

Pan Yun and the others didn't stop until midnight, finding a spot to rest.

Only then did Pan Yun drag out Dainai Hongjian, lit a torch, and examined him closely.

Under the fierce torchlight, Dainai Hongjian woke again—this time, he had no choice but to open his eyes; the flame was nearly scorching his eyebrows, searing hot.

As his eyes opened, tears stung from the glare—he barely made out a young woman's face behind the torch.

He blinked, squinting: "Are you people from Great Ming?"

Pan Yun moved the torch away and smiled faintly at him: "Yes."

Dainai Hongjian's heart tightened.

Pan Yun studied his face, saw his expression shift, and nodded slightly: "So you know why we've come."

Dainai Hongjian's fingers twitched: "I never thought you'd track us down. The villages we left had few people—mostly elders, women, and children."

He lifted his head, calm: "If I'd known, I shouldn't have rushed away—I should've slaughtered every one of those villages clean."

"We aren't from those villages," Pan Yun said coolly. "Great Ming has countless villages. According to the Ministry of Revenue, there are over nine million households and fifty million souls. We can't kill them all—but we will avenge them."

Dainai Hongjian stared, bewildered: "You're not from those villages—what's it to you? They aren't your family."

Qu Le, furious, drew his sword with a sharp hiss: "Why waste words with him? This thing's worse than an animal—just torture him. I don't believe he won't confess."

He sneered: "You're trying to reason with him? A man without shame, propriety, or honor—does he even understand benevolence or virtue?"

Pan Yun asked Dainai Hongjian: "What's it to be? Torture first, then decide—or hand over the rest of their names now?"

Dainai Hongjian sneered: "That's all. Everyone else involved is on the island—you've taken the island already. Kill me, and your revenge is done."

"No, no, no," Pan Yun shook her finger and smiled at him. "You're just a lowly guard—why would I cross the sea just to kill you? Since I came all this way, I won't settle for killing just you. What about your lord, the head of the Dainai clan?"

"You want to kill our lord?" Dainai Hongjian sneered. "You overestimate yourself. Go ahead—come kill me, and you'll die with me."

Pan Yun smiled faintly and clapped her hands.

Qu Zhixing stepped forward with a box, opened it—and a wave of bloodstink surged out.

He showed no reaction as he lifted the curtain, exposing the head inside directly to Dainai Hongjian.

By the torchlight, Dainai Hongjian's pupils shrank.

Pan Yun whispered warmly in his ear: "To prove I'm not lying, I chose the most prominent man from your Shankou mansion recently—cut his head off right in the middle of a circle of samurai, and sent it to you. How's that for sincerity, Dainai Hongjian?"

Dainai Hongjian's lips trembled, his face twisted with terror and hatred as he stared at Pan Yun.

Pan Yun knew she'd struck true. She patted his shoulder and whispered in his ear: "Not just that—I left some of your belongings beside his corpse. I heard your superior, Tao Honghu, and Naito Hongju's father, Naito Hongju, are both chief retainers of your lord—your left and right arms. I wonder—when your left and right arms turn on each other, which side will your lord choose?"

Dainai Hongjian shook with rage.

Pan Yun stepped back, watching him seethe in silence, giving him time to fear.

Xue Shao stepped forward, handed him a bamboo tube of warm water, and spoke gently: "We know you were only obeying orders. The Dainai clan is vast—perhaps even your lord doesn't know about this?"

Pan Yun rose, crossed her arms, and stepped aside, watching him play the kind face.

"We only want to know: who is the woman in the cloak? Among the village killers, only she remains. Kill you and her—and our revenge ends." Xue Shao looked at him kindly. "If you don't speak, we won't leave."

Pan Yun sneered: "I don't want to leave either. I'm very interested in your lord's head. Even if I can't kill him, can't I plant the heads of Tao Honghu and Naito Hongju? What would killing them do to the Dainai clan?"

Dainai Hongjian clenched his fists, jerked his head up, and stared straight into Pan Yun's eyes: "Do you know where you are? You're a Great Ming subject—how dare you act like this in Japan?"

"A subject nation whose name our Emperor granted dares to invade the suzerain state and slaughter villages? I'm only taking the head of the guilty party—what's wrong with that?"

"You lie! Our country is called Japan—we never used your Central Plains' 'Wa.' Our Japan—"

Xue Shao released his wrist, sighed, and recited from memory: "Japan is a branch of Wa… because its land lies east of the sea, it calls itself Japan. Your envoys to Tang petitioned the Tang Emperor to change the name. 'Japan' is your own term—but it was granted. After Tang, through Song, to our Great Ming, you've sent diplomatic letters. When relations were close, Japan sent tribute every year, and Great Ming always replied with letters and gifts. How can you deny it?"

Dainai Hongjian panicked—it was true. He didn't know how to argue, so he shouted: "You're full of shit!"

Xue Shao shook his head as if he were throwing a tantrum, and spoke gently: "It's understandable you don't know. After all, you're just a samurai—though you speak Han, you may not even read, let alone have studied the sages." (End of chapter)