Both men were locals and had served in the Hundred Households for two or three years. From them, Pei Shaoqing gained a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of Zheng Xuancheng and his men.
Zheng Xuancheng's father-in-law had once been the Hundred Households Commander of the Tongzhou Hundred Households and had helped him rise to the position. He was deeply entrenched in Tongzhou, a true local tyrant, and despite neglecting his cultivation, he possessed the strength of the late Qi Condensation Realm.
County Magistrate Wang was a pure scholar with no knowledge of martial arts. Rumor had it he'd offended someone while serving in the Hanlin Academy and was consequently tossed out to Tongzhou. He had arrived less than two years ago and was considered a decent and uncorrupt official, well-liked by the local populace.
Chen Zhongyi had been promoted and transferred from the neighboring Bazhou Hundred Households the year before last. He was completely obedient to Zheng Xuancheng. Besides his usual vices of wine and women, he enjoyed gambling. His strength was unremarkable, at the late Body Refining Realm.
Pei Shaoqing fell silent after hearing this. 'County Magistrate Wang and Chen Zhongyi will be easy enough to handle. I just need to find a chance to kill them and make sure I clean up afterward, leaving no evidence.'
'This world doesn't have surveillance or any of that high-tech stuff, after all.'
'Solving a case and hunting down a killer isn't so easy here.'
'The tricky one is Zheng Xuancheng. He has immense influence in Tongzhou, and his personal strength is formidable. Even if Ye Hanshuang and I attacked together, we'd be no match for him.'
'Since I can't kill him with brute force...'
'...I'll have to rely on power.'
"By the way, are there any traces of the Profound Yellow Sect's activities here in Tongzhou?" Pei Shaoqing asked, feigning curiosity.
The Profound Yellow Sect was a rebellious organization.
They were also known as the Profound Sect, though they called themselves the Holy Sect.
Their status in this world was comparable to the White Lotus Sect of his previous life. They rebelled against every dynasty, no matter which Emperor was on the throne. Consequently, even when dynasties changed and a new Emperor took power, the Court would still try to exterminate the Profound Yellow Sect. But the rebels were like weeds—impossible to burn away completely.
"Of course! Why wouldn't there be?" Song Youcai put down his wine cup, wiped his mouth, and said, "The previous County Magistrate was assassinated by rebels from the Profound Yellow Sect. Back then, our Hundred Households even arrested and killed a batch of malcontents suspected of having connections to them. But we never caught the real killer or any of the big fish. Those guys are like rats in a sewer, hiding in every nook and cranny, active at night and gone by day. They're hard to catch."
"Even in a remote place like this... these guys are like lingering ghosts, getting into everything." Pei Shaoqing shook his head, but a plan was already forming in his mind.
'To me, that Hundred Households Commander Zheng seems just like a rebel from the Profound Yellow Sect!'
'Otherwise, why has the assassin of the previous County Magistrate never been caught? Why do the Profound Yellow Sect rebels dare to operate in Tongzhou? It must be because he's protecting them!'
"You two, do something for me."
The two men immediately stood up. "At your command, my lord!"
Pei Shaoqing gestured for them to sit down. He casually picked at his food and said nonchalantly, "Find me some forbidden items related to the Profound Yellow Sect. Better yet, capture one of their followers."
This was also a test of their abilities.
More than that, it was a way for them to pledge their allegiance.
"This..." The two exchanged a glance. Possessing forbidden items of the Profound Yellow Sect was a capital crime, and capturing one of their rebels was even more difficult. But after only a moment's hesitation, they both gritted their teeth and replied in unison, "Yes, my lord!"
'We used to suffer from a lack of opportunity. Now that a chance for promotion and riches has presented itself, we have to grab it with everything we've got,' they thought.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Song and Sun wanted to invite Pei Shaoqing to the largest local brothel to listen to music, but this high and mighty gentleman from the capital refused, claiming he looked down on such crude, provincial women.
The two then offered to escort him home. After all, he had drunk quite a bit. They were afraid something might happen to the powerful patron they had just latched onto; if it did, they'd have nowhere to turn.
This time, Pei Shaoqing did not refuse.
'One has to give one's subordinates a chance to show their loyalty.'
"Careful, my lord. Watch the threshold."
"Take care, my lords! Come again soon!"
The two men obsequiously flanked Pei Shaoqing, pretending to support him as they walked out, while the waiter called out loudly from behind them.
"Junior Sister, Junior Sister, wait for me!"
"Hee hee, I won't! Hurry up, Senior Brother! Or else I'll go order your favorite crispy duck and eat it all myself, without leaving you a single bite... Ah!"
The next second, a fragrant breeze wafted over as a beautiful, lively, and charming young woman rushed in from outside and crashed right into Pei Shaoqing.
It was none other than Zhao Zilan, the beloved disciple of the Iron Sword Sect's Sect Leader.
She let out a cry of surprise and looked up. Recognizing Pei Shaoqing from earlier that day, a flash of disgust crossed her eyes. She immediately took a step back, intending to walk around him.
"Hey! You rude woman! You think you can just bump into my lord and walk away without apologizing?" Song Youcai, with quick eyes and faster hands, grabbed her wrist and spoke fiercely.
"Ah! You're hurting me!" Zhao Zilan cried out in pain and subconsciously struck out at Song Youcai with her palm.
Although she was young, she was not weak. Song Youcai was caught off guard. Struck in the chest, he lost his grip on her and staggered back several steps before steadying himself.
Zhao Zilan retracted her palm with a triumphant look, tilted her chin up high, and said to Pei Shaoqing, "Control your dog."
Pei Shaoqing's expression instantly turned cold.
"Insolent! My lord, step back." Sun Youliang exploded with rage. He stepped in front of Pei Shaoqing, drew his saber, and mercilessly slashed at Zhao Zilan.
"Damn it! Don't you dare harm my Junior Sister!" Jiang Yebai, who had just arrived at the restaurant entrance a step too late, was both shocked and furious at the sight. With a flick of his wrist, his sword's scabbard shot out like an arrow, deflecting Sun Youliang's saber. At the same time, he himself seemed to float forward, his longsword striking like a snake toward Sun Youliang's chest.
CLANG!
Ye Hanshuang, who was behind Pei Shaoqing, drew her sword in time to block the attack. She simultaneously pulled Sun Youliang behind her and engaged Jiang Yebai in battle.
Sun Youliang and Song Youcai, their faces full of shame, cupped their fists toward Pei Shaoqing to apologize. "We were incompetent, my lord!"
Pei Shaoqing waved his hand dismissively, his face expressionless. He watched Ye Hanshuang fight, his brow gradually furrowing.
As the head disciple of the Iron Sword Sect, Jiang Yebai's strength was clearly greater than Ye Hanshuang's. Though every one of Ye Hanshuang's moves was lethal, he neutralized them step by step, and she was gradually forced onto the defensive.
As the two fought, the restaurant suffered. A crowd of customers fled, and tables and chairs were continuously destroyed.
"Enough! Stop! Are you trying to kill a government official and stage a rebellion?" Seeing that Ye Hanshuang was on the verge of defeat, Pei Shaoqing roared, hoping to prevent her from getting injured.
"Ah!" His anger at seeing the woman he loved threatened with a drawn blade instantly vanished. Jiang Yebai finally realized what a foolish thing he had done. He quickly sheathed his sword, took a step back, and bowed with cupped fists. "I beg for your forgiveness, my lord!"
"Hmph!" Ye Hanshuang glared at him coldly with a dark expression, sheathed her sword, and returned to her position behind Pei Shaoqing.
"Senior Brother." Zhao Zilan ran to Jiang Yebai's side, tugged on his sleeve, and stared warily at Pei Shaoqing.
"You think you're a good fighter?" Pei Shaoqing asked, looking at Jiang Yebai. Before he could answer, Pei Shaoqing sneered mockingly, "What damn good is being a good fighter? In this world, what matters is power and backing! You dared to assault an officer of the Court—how audacious! Arrest them and lock them up. I'll deal with them tomorrow."
'Don't you go underestimating an Acting Standard-Bearer.'
"Yes, my lord!" Song Youcai and Sun Youliang didn't hesitate to rush forward and pin down Zhao Zilan and Jiang Yebai by the shoulders.
This time, the two didn't dare to resist. Jiang Yebai said anxiously, "My lord! Please, spare my Junior Sister."
"Senior Brother! Don't beg him! He's clearly the one making a big deal out of nothing," Zhao Zilan said, her face full of stubbornness.
"Junior Sister, be quiet!" Jiang Yebai scolded her, a rare occurrence. He continued to plead with Pei Shaoqing, "It's all my fault. I beg for your mercy, my lord. My Junior Sister is still young. I implore you to give her another chance."
Treated this way by her Senior Brother for the first time, and also seeing this subservient, weak side of him for the first time, Zhao Zilan was stunned. She stood there dumbfounded as the once-towering image of her Senior Brother in her mind began to crumble.
Pei Shaoqing couldn't be bothered with them. He waved his hand, signaling for them to be locked up, then casually tossed down a bag of broken silver as compensation for the restaurant and left without a backward glance.
"My lord! My lord, please wait! I beg you, my lord, be lenient on account of my Junior Sister's youth! My lord!"
Jiang Yebai was still pleading loudly behind him.
He could have easily broken free from Sun Youliang and Song Youcai's grasp and escaped, but he could not defy the Court. He was also afraid of implicating his Sect, so he didn't dare to try.
Pei Shaoqing turned a deaf ear to his voice.
In the end, both were locked up in the Hundred Households' prison.
Zhao Zilan was fine; no one dared do anything to her without instructions from Pei Shaoqing. Jiang Yebai, however, was in for a world of hurt.