Chapter 72: True Hearts Revealed

The two of them arrived at the goods yard. Though it was already late, there were still quite a few children playing there. Seeing Zhao Jin and the others appear, many found it strange, because at this hour normally the two of them would never show up.

Zhao Jin looked around; the yard had grown much quieter. He raised his voice and said, "I'm heading from here along Scissors Alley east to the Black Tiger God of Wealth Temple in the south of the city. Which of you will go find Chen Sheng, Sun Dalei, Dong Bingfeng, Shi Manqiang, and Ji Xiang for me? Once you find them, tell them to bring their weapons and meet me on that road. Tell them I have urgent business. Whoever finds them gets ten wen and a sesame flatbread tomorrow."

As soon as these words were spoken, the goods yard instantly fell silent. Zhao Jin raised his voice a little louder and shouted, "When have I ever lied to you? Hurry up, go late and someone else will snatch the prize!"

Before his voice had faded, with a roar, the children in the yard scattered and ran off, each heading to find whoever they knew.

Zhao Jin led Wang Zhaojing along, walking quickly down the road he had just mentioned. As they walked, he said, "We're too few. Calling a few more friends is safer."

Wang Zhaojing had also calmed down by now. Keeping pace briskly, he smiled and said, "Brother Zhao, this method of yours truly wastes not a moment of time."

Zhao Jin and Wang Zhaojing did not walk very fast. The city gates were already shut, and with everyone still inside the city anyway, being too hurried would do little good.

After they had walked a while, Chen Sheng came running over quickly, saber in hand. He had come in a rush, yet his breathing was very steady — all those years of diligent training had paid off after all. His face was full of questions; he knew the always prudent Zhao Jin would not call him out for no reason, but he still wanted to know why.

"I'll explain everything once everyone's gathered. For now, let's keep moving," Zhao Jin said curtly.

Chen Sheng glanced at Wang Zhaojing and noticed the narrow-bladed longsword in Wang Zhaojing's hand. He said nothing further, but his expression grew somewhat excited. The ever-steady Zhao Jin telling everyone to bring weapons when heading out — whatever this was about, it stirred anticipation.

When they passed through Cross Street, Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang both caught up with them. Everyone Zhao Jin had called for was now assembled. Dong Bingfeng, for the convenience of practicing martial arts, also lived inside the city. His place was the farthest from this road, yet Dong Bingfeng had arrived the earliest — because he had come on horseback.

Sun Dalei and Dong Bingfeng both wore leather armor reinforced with iron plates. Sun Dalei carried an axe, and Dong Bingfeng a spear. Compared to their full battle gear, Shi Manqiang and Ji Xiang each held only a wooden staff, though both had short blades tucked at their waists.

As they walked and Zhao Jin explained the situation, everyone's expressions grew serious.

"... If I'm wrong about this, then wouldn't I have made the elders at the yamen busy themselves for nothing? Let's search on our own first. If nothing's wrong, all the better. This is just for peace of mind." Everyone knew Mu Shulan's background; some things didn't need to be spelled out too clearly.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Zhao Jin spoke again, "We'll probably all be getting home late tonight. Tomorrow I'll explain things to your parents on your behalf."

Young men this age heading out armed near nightfall would certainly worry any parents. Zhao Jin's words were meant to ease their concerns.

Sure enough, after he said this, the atmosphere relaxed considerably, and everyone joked and laughed a little.

They hadn't gone far when Shi Manqiang seized a moment to sidle up to Zhao Jin and ask, "Brother Zhao, aren't we calling Little Yong?"

Normally, when everyone trained and played together, Liu Yong was also part of this little circle. Hearing that Zhao Jin hadn't called for him, Shi Manqiang asked on purpose, worried that Liu Yong might be excluded and grow distant from the group.

"You're a decent fellow," Zhao Jin, of course understanding Shi Manqiang's thinking, said with a smile. Then he added, "We're going to find him right now."

After saying this, Zhao Jin smacked his forehead and said to Dong Bingfeng beside him, "Bingfeng, you're fastest on horseback. Ride ahead to the Black Tiger God of Wealth Temple and find Liu Yong. Tell him to wait there, and say I'm coming with urgent business. If he's not there, have the people there help look for him. Tell them it's important."

Seeing how serious Zhao Jin was, Dong Bingfeng immediately spurred his horse and headed toward the south of the city.

Walking briskly down the street with weapons in hand, everyone initially found it novel and exciting, and some even chatted and laughed in low voices. But seeing Zhao Jin's solemn expression as he walked ahead, they gradually sensed that this was no simple matter, and they too became grave.

Bearing arms and walking in solemn silence — it carried the atmosphere of troops on the march without them realizing it. Each of them gradually felt it, a surge of hot blood they could barely contain.

By the time they reached the Black Tiger God of Wealth Temple, the sky had grown somewhat dark. The temple was considerably newer than when Zhao Jin had first visited. Though the incident with Chen Ergou and those five ruffians had given Boss Cheng a fright, it had also brought him much closer to Zhao Zhentang. His underworld business had grown smoother and smoother, and his operation had expanded considerably.

When Zhao Jin was still two streets away from the temple, he noticed lookouts posted as sentries. With night falling, seven or eight sturdy young men striding over quickly with weapons in hand, and one man in armor on horseback, the sight was rather intimidating. The lookout hurriedly ran back to report.

By the time they reached the front of the temple, over twenty men had already gathered around, every one of them with a hostile look — likely men Boss Cheng had hastily summoned.

Liu Yong was there looking around; Dong Bingfeng's message had clearly reached him.

Seeing Zhao Jin and the others arrive dressed like this, Liu Yong was also startled and hurried forward to meet them. Zhao Jin came straight to the point and asked, "Are you familiar with the White Lotus Sect and the Smelling Incense Sect inside the city?"

The question was far too direct. Liu Yong's body trembled, and he quickly shook his head, saying, "I know a few incense-burners near my home, but I don't know about anywhere else."

After saying this, Liu Yong leaned in close and lowered his voice. "Brother Zhao, actually, you could ask Little Lan. She should know..."

"Little Lan has disappeared..." Zhao Jin frowned and briefly recounted the situation.

Liu Yong was startled, then scratched his head and said quietly, "Brother Zhao, my information isn't that extensive. Our chief can definitely find out."

Zhao Jin nodded. Liu Yong had already begun moving in the underworld; someone in their line of work would certainly be well aware of every rustle and stir in the city. That was exactly why he had come to find Liu Yong. Of course, if Liu Yong didn't know, he would go ask Boss Cheng.

"Please go and report this for me," Zhao Jin said. Liu Yong nodded crisply and turned to go in, but was stopped by Zhao Jin just as he started moving, who added a reminder: "Remember to tell your chief about the family backgrounds of Wang Zhaojing and Chen Sheng."

His own father's face carried enough weight, but the Wang family was among the most elite and respected in Xuzhou, and the Chen family's influence in the yamen's constable squad was even greater — those two could apply far more pressure.

Liu Yong nodded and walked quickly inside. From another direction, someone approached, cupping his hands in greeting from a distance. It was Chen Ergou, one of those five ruffians from back then. Because of that turn of events years ago, Chen Ergou was now a lieutenant under Boss Cheng, handling matters on his own.

Chen Ergou was exceedingly polite to Zhao Jin. After the formal greeting, he came up and asked, "Young Master Jin, what orders do you have for us this time?"

Zhao Jin recounted the afternoon's events once more. After hearing it, Chen Ergou paused, rubbed his chin, and said, "This sounds like the work of a kidnapper."

"Kidnapper?" Zhao Jin asked in return. This theory was even worse — a girl this age, if abducted, would nine times out of ten end up sold into a living hell.

"When a relative comes to pick someone up, they'd naturally take all the luggage and money with them. A kidnapper gets the money the moment he succeeds, so of course he wouldn't care about that." Chen Ergou was a seasoned veteran of the underworld and had heard of many such tricks. His analysis was far more reliable than Liu Yong's.

Hearing this, Zhao Jin grew even more alarmed. He decided to give more details — about the peddler, about the people on that street. Chen Ergou stopped the motion of his hand and leaned in closer. "That was casing the place and watching the scene ahead of time. I'm afraid they had their eyes on the lord official and the young master practicing martial arts before they went to do the deceiving."

At this point, Chen Ergou shook his head and said, "A kidnapper willing to go to all this trouble... well, with Miss Mu's looks, she'd be worth it..."

Chen Ergou seemed to recall something. Just then, Liu Yong came out from the Black Tiger God of Wealth Temple, his expression extremely grim. He walked up to Zhao Jin, hesitated a moment, then lowered his head and said quietly, "Brother Zhao, our chief isn't here. They say he went outside the city at noon."