Chapter 67 Walking Right Into the Trap-Sua bandeira do Imperador Humano já está exalando aura maligna, e ainda finge ser um genro agregado?(Grandes Esperanças)

"What brings Hundred-Householder Xu to my yamen? If you have any orders for us, please speak your mind. If not, I have a mountain of official business to attend to and cannot accompany you further."

Huang Wuzhong felt a deep sense of wariness toward Xu Feng. He knew that everyone had previously underestimated this matrilocal son-in-law. Both his methods and his temperament were truly commendable. If it were possible, he would have definitely tried to recruit Xu Feng to his side, but Huang Wuzhong also understood a stark reality: that was simply impossible. From the moment he put on the uniform of the Brocade Guard, the two of them were naturally cast as adversaries.

"Officer Huang actually has time to attend to official business? I heard previously that the pending matters in your yamen were piled higher than a man. How is it that you've become so diligent lately?" Xu Feng unhurriedly raised his teacup and took a sip.

This old fox was notoriously lazy and indifferent to practical matters. The number of unjust, false, and wrongful charges piled in his hands was countless, and he was frequently criticized by the ordinary citizens of Gusu City on a daily basis.

Huang Wuzhong knew that Xu Feng was subtly mocking him, yet he dared not display any temper.

"You jest, sir. As a local official of Gusu, I naturally have numerous government affairs on my hands and dare not slack off."

"I came here today to hand another official matter over to you. The Brocade Guard yamen could easily handle this ourselves, but I figured it would be better to leave it to you, lest people accuse the Brocade Guard of overstepping our bounds."

A sudden sense of foreboding rose in Huang Wuzhong's heart.

Sure enough, the very next words out of Xu Feng's mouth made Huang Wuzhong almost leap to his feet in rage.

"Sword Wind Mountain harbors the intent of rebellion and sent assassins to murder an imperial court official. The assassins have already been brought to justice, but the mastermind managed to escape. Your county yamen had better issue an arrest warrant immediately to prevent the culprit from fleeing to other regions."

Huang Wuzhong pondered for a moment before speaking.

"After all, this is a case handled by you Brocade Guards. For the county yamen to suddenly step in might seem a bit inappropriate. Why not have the Brocade Guard issue the arrest warrant yourselves? This falls entirely within your jurisdiction, and no one will accuse you of overstepping."

Huang Wuzhong offered excuse after excuse of reluctance. Once this arrest warrant was issued, the distance between him and Sword Wind Mountain would only grow wider.

Unfortunately, Xu Feng showed him no courtesy whatsoever. He had come here in person today precisely to force the county yamen into carrying this out thoroughly. His blatant intention was to disgust Huang Wuzhong, and yet Huang Wuzhong could do nothing against him.

"Officer Huang, do not refuse. The Brocade Guard has other matters to attend to. By the way, this incident has already been reported to the imperial court, so I must ask you not to slack off and to bring the murderer to justice as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Huang Wuzhong instantly ceased his objections.

Without lingering for a meal, Xu Feng turned around and took his leave.

Before he had even walked far, the sound of crashing objects echoed from within the room, suggesting Huang Wuzhong had been worked into quite a fury.

"My lord, calm your anger! He hasn't even gone far yet!"

Wang Qingshan said with a helpless expression. Ever since the Brocade Guard entered the city, the everyday utensils in Huang Wuzhong's residence had already been replaced two or three times.

"This Xu Feng is simply too tyrannical! He is treating me like a mere dog."

"And those idiots at Sword Wind Mountain! Not only are their methods crude, but they even managed to leave behind evidence for others to seize."

If one is going to commit murder, it must be done cleanly and decisively, dispatching enough men to resolve the matter directly. At the very least, that would prevent them from falling into such a delicate dilemma now.

How could Huang Wuzhong know that this incident was never instigated by Sword Wind Mountain at all, but was merely the wishful thinking of Zuo Jincheng, while Sword Wind Mountain had been entirely oblivious to it from start to finish?

Now that Zuo Jincheng had lost his mind, whether Sword Wind Mountain was implicated or not was entirely a matter of a single word from the Brocade Guard. Even if the blame was forcefully pinned on them, Zuo Jincheng had no way to refute it.

"County Vice Magistrate Wang, how do you think this matter should be handled? Should we issue this arrest warrant?"

Hearing Huang Wuzhong's inquiry, Wang Qingshan instantly felt a headache coming on. *If you knew this matter was difficult to handle, why did you have to dump it here?*

Yet, as this was the sort of work he handled daily, he certainly could not pretend not to hear and stand by without uttering a word.

"My lord, I believe we should not issue a direct warrant for Sword Wind Mountain itself. It will suffice if we issue the arrest warrant solely for Song Heng. In this way, Sword Wind Mountain can be distanced from the affair. Even if their people come to inquire, we will have a proper explanation ready."

"As for the rest, Sword Wind Mountain will surely handle it cleanly themselves; we need not worry too much. Let us not forget who stands behind Sword Wind Mountain."

Wang Qingshan's words plunged Huang Wuzhong into deep thought. Such an arrangement indeed left room for maneuver. It would neither offend Sword Wind Mountain nor ignore the Brocade Guard, providing an acceptable account to both sides.

"Good! You truly have not disappointed me. Then I shall leave the arrangements for this matter to you. Capture Song Heng as swiftly as possible—ideally before the Brocade Guard can lay hands on him."

Wang Qingshan wished he could slap himself twice. Had he known better, he wouldn't have explained it so clearly. Yet he had no choice but to make the arrangements as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, after fleeing, Song Heng did not linger long and directly returned to the headquarters of Sword Wind Mountain.

If he wanted to survive, constantly hiding outside would offer no opportunity; returning to headquarters might still grant him a sliver of a chance at life.

"Sect Master, save me!"

In tears and snot, Song Heng recounted his experiences in Gusu City to Chen Yushu, the Sect Master of Sword Wind Mountain.

Hearing this, Chen Yushu turned pale with shock. He had been in secluded closed-door cultivation for some time, having just emerged yesterday. Believing all was calm outside, he had not even managed to celebrate the joy of his breakthrough when he was struck by this bombshell of news, making him wish he could raise his hand and palm Song Heng to death.

"You fool! Zuo Jincheng is young, hot-headed, and ignorant, but you are a veteran of the sect! How could you be so devoid of sense? That is the Brocade Guard! Did you mistake them for the good-for-nothing parasites of the Six Fan Schools?"

"Even if you were to make a move, you should have dispatched elite experts. Arranging things like this—what is the difference between that and placing your neck beneath someone else's blade?"

Chen Yushu never imagined that such an idiot existed under his command. The crucial part was that after committing such a foolish act, the man actually dared to come back and beg for rescue.

"Go turn yourself in, take full responsibility for everything, and do not drag the sect into this. That is the best possible outcome."

Song Heng felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He had thought that fleeing to the sect would grant him a chance at survival, but never expected the same outcome awaited him here.

"Sect Master, I beg you to spare my life in consideration of my past contributions. Over the years, I have brought no small amount of revenue to the sect!"

Seeing that Song Heng was about to throw himself forward to plead further, Chen Yushu cut him off directly.

"Enough! Do you think the others have made no contribution to the sect? I will arrange for someone to take proper care of your wife, children, and elderly dependents. Leave in peace, and do not force my hand."

At these words, Song Heng realized he was doomed to die.

"Might I be allowed to bid farewell to my family?"

"Go. And remember: do not speak of things that ought not be said."

With a hollow, desolate soul, Song Heng left the grand hall of the sect. Only a short while ago he had been full of vigor and ambition; how little time had passed before his former prestige was entirely gone.