Chapter 99: Searching for Ergou

Juexin arranged for people to investigate in the Black Market for a long time, and finally discovered Ergou's true identity.

Ergou's real name is Gou Dalang, and his home is not far from the Black Market.

After receiving the news, Juexin immediately led the Guard Army and rushed to Ergou's home.

After Ergou sold Bone-Softening Powder and Itch Powder to Duan Fengyun, he was given a large sum of money by Duan Fengyun.

Holding this money, Ergou began to squander it wantonly; how could he still have the heart to set up a stall?

Juexin, who had brought a group of men to Ergou's home, saw the dilapidated and empty house and assumed that Ergou's secret had been exposed and he had fled.

He called over a neighbor who was shivering in hiding nearby and asked:

"Where is the owner of this house, Ergou? Do you know where he went? Does he still have any relatives around?"

Looking at the fierce and menacing Juexin, the neighbor replied tremblingly:

"Sir, I don't know anything.

That Ergou lost his father and mother early on, and grew up stealing and pilfering all by himself.

He was unsociable by nature and didn't really talk to us much.

He came back two days ago to get some things and hasn't been back since."

Looking at the group of people holding their heads and shivering, Juexin took a gold bar out of his bag and said:

"Who knows Ergou's whereabouts? Those who know will be heavily rewarded."

Seeing a man nearby who was eager to move, Juexin signaled his men to bring him over.

The man plopped to his knees in front of Juexin and said:

"My lord, I don't know anything either."

Juexin held the gold bar and dangled it in front of his eyes, saying:

"I don't mean to blame you; as long as you tell me, this gold bar will be yours."

The man looked at the gold bar in Juexin's hand, thought of his own impoverished family, and ultimately betrayed his neighbor and childhood friend, Ergou.

He spoke up and said:

"My lord, Ergou must have gone to the Red Clothes Building, which he likes to visit most.

Whenever Ergou earns money, he goes there; this time will certainly be no exception."

Juexin smiled; as expected, only spending money could solve problems.

Juexin did not break his word; he threw the gold bar onto the ground and then left with the Guard Army.

Juexin soon arrived at the Red Clothes Building. It was currently evening, and business at the brothel was not yet very good; there were hardly any people.

Juexin walked in with a group of Guard Army members, and the procuress came up to greet them enthusiastically.

The procuress greeted them warmly:

"This gentleman looks very unfamiliar; is this your first time at our brothel?

Do you have any favorite girls? If not, let me recommend two for you, sir."

Juexin raised his hand, pinched the procuress's ample bosom twice, and said:

"I'm here to find someone today; I'll come back another day to support your business!"

Upon hearing that Juexin was here to find someone, the procuress's expression changed instantly, and she said impatiently:

"Who are you looking for?

We don't have the person you're looking for here."

Juexin grabbed the procuress by the throat with one hand and sneered:

"If you don't talk today, your little life will be gone."

Seeing this, the brothel servants nearby rushed up, intending to take action, but the Guard Army beside Juexin drew their blades and scared them back.

The procuress instantly gave in. Juexin let go, and the procuress begged for mercy:

"Sir, spare me!

Tell me, who are you looking for?"

Juexin said:

"I'm looking for Ergou."

After hearing this, the procuress hated Ergou to death; she hadn't earned much money from him, yet he had brought such a group of disasters upon her.

She walked and said:

"Sir, Ergou is here, follow me.

I'll take you to find Ergou."

Juexin had people surround the entire Red Clothes Building, while he followed the procuress alone to find Ergou.

The procuress brought Juexin to a room and pointed at it, saying:

"Ergou is in here. He seemed to have come into a bit of money two days ago, and then he came here to stay for two days."

Juexin pushed the door open. Inside, Ergou was having fun with a woman. Seeing someone enter, he angrily scolded:

"Who are you, daring to ruin my good time?

Watch out, or I'll kill you."

Juexin used a flash-step to arrive in front of Ergou and said:

"Ergou, do you still remember what you sold at the Black Market?"

Upon hearing that the visitor actually knew about him selling poison at the Black Market, Ergou realized his secret was exposed and turned to flee.

Juexin grabbed him and kicked Ergou's right leg; Ergou instantly fell to the ground clutching his leg, as Juexin's kick had broken it.

Ergou clutched his right leg and cried out in pain:

"Sir, I don't know anything!"

Juexin opened his mouth to ask:

"I only want to know if you sold anything a few days ago?"

Ergou nodded and said:

"I sold a batch of Bone-Softening Powder and Itch Powder two days ago."

Juexin knew that judging by this, the Bone-Softening Powder that killed Quan Dao Shen had indeed been sold from Ergou.

He asked:

"Do you still remember the appearance of the person who bought it?"

Ergou bowed and scraped, saying:

"I remember, I remember, of course I remember.

At the time, I didn't sell him much Bone-Softening Powder or Itch Powder, but he was very generous and gave me a large sum of money directly.

He also warned me to go into hiding after getting the money, so I came here as soon as I got the money."

Immediately, Juexin had a painter brought in, and the painter drew Duan Fengyun's appearance based on Ergou's description.

Juexin looked at the man in the painting with a face full of whiskers and wrinkled skin, and shook his head; in his impression, there was no such man's face.

Juexin ordered the painter to immediately copy hundreds of the portraits; he wanted to issue a wanted poster to hunt down this man.

The next day, when Duan Fengyun and the other two came out to move about, they saw the portrait posted on the wall, and Nie Feng said in surprise:

"Junior Brother Duan, you are truly clever.

I didn't expect them to actually have a way to find you."

Duan Fengyun laughed:

"In a place like the Black Market, the turnover of people is high, so it is normal for information to leak.

Therefore, I have already disguised myself again; now, who would see any connection between me and the person in the portrait?"

It turned out that Duan Fengyun had anticipated that the vendor who sold the poison would definitely be caught and would give him up, so he had disguised himself again after killing Quan Dao Shen.

The current Duan Fengyun was wearing a human-skin mask and sporting a handlebar mustache, bearing not the slightest resemblance to the man in the portrait.

Bu Jingyun spoke up:

"Junior Brother Duan, what is your next plan?

In the blink of an eye, we have been in Dongying for half a month, and Shuang's wedding is only half a month away; we must hurry back."

Duan Fengyun nodded and said:

"I know, I plan to stay for another five days.

Within these five days, we must find a way to locate Juexin and finish him off.

If there is time, we will then sneak into the Tianhuang Palace to kill the Emperor."

There was not much time left for them; the three of them had to hurry and take action.

The three of them began to inquire about news of Juexin, learning of Juexin's whereabouts, preparing to find an opportunity to kill Juexin.

They were racking their brains to find Juexin's tracks, and Juexin was also racking his brains to find them; it would depend on which side found the other first.