Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 233 - 224: Where are my huge hostage and gold?

Chapter 233: Chapter 224: Where are my huge hostage and gold?

Early the next morning, Hu Feipan sent someone to deliver a variety of breakfasts to Zhang San.

Zhang San watched as the butler set up an assortment of breakfasts that filled up a whole four tables, and he was completely dumbfounded.

I sneaked into your house last night, and you’re inviting me to breakfast this morning? Is Governor Hu really that nice of a person?

"Thank you, Governor Hu," Zhang San said.

After speaking, Zhang San directly called over the people in the room to eat together, without any intention of continuing to entertain the butler.

The butler said with an embarrassed face, "Military Chief Zhang, our governor mentioned he will send someone to help look for Lv Dagen’s whereabouts today..."

"When can he be found?"

Zhang San didn’t even lift his head as he asked.

The butler said with an embarrassed face, "This... it’s hard to say. However, our governor mentioned that there has always been a ghost child in Fuling City, named Yin Sheng. If Military Chief Zhang can help deal with this ghost child, then he will have more energy to help look for Lv Dagen."

Zhang San snorted coldly, knowing that Hu Feipan wanted to leverage him.

"Understood."

Seeing Zhang San’s displeased expression, the butler retreated from the room and then turned and returned to the Governor Mansion, telling Hu Feipan everything that had just happened.

Hu Feipan had been somewhat worried that Zhang San might have some other reaction or discover something, but listening to the butler’s description, he was certain that Zhang San might suspect that Lv Dagen was in his hands, but did not know Lv Dagen’s exact location.

Otherwise, Zhang San’s attitude would not have been as such.

If Zhang San could take care of Yin Sheng, that would be great.

As for finding Lv Dagen, hmph, just wait!

After breakfast, Zhang San continued to wander around Fuling City, looking for the little beggar only he could see. When he turned a corner in the street, he saw the other party hiding under a wall.

Zhang San walked over and began to place nine copper coins in the little beggar’s bowl and asked, "I’m looking for someone, Yin Sheng. Do you know him?"

The little beggar glanced at Zhang San and then pointed at himself.

Zhang San had guessed that this little beggar was the Yin Sheng the butler had spoken of, but he was still somewhat puzzled and continued to ask, "Why is Hu Feipan targeting you?"

While talking, Zhang San threw another nine copper coins into Yin Sheng’s battered bowl.

Yin Sheng thought for a moment, then looked at Zhang San seriously and asked, "Can I trust you?"

"I don’t know if I’m trustworthy, and even if I am, I’m not sure if I can do what you ask. Let’s just try; I’ll give it a try."

Hearing this, Yin Sheng smiled.

He knew that the man in front of him was not like the others he had encountered before, making grand promises and ending up doing nothing, scared off by what he would say.

"In the north of Fuling City, the Guo Family of Baisheng Town, seventeen members wiped out overnight, their lands spanning two hundred and forty mu, all taken by Hu Feipan’s brother-in-law."

"In the north of Fuling City, Shuangsheng Stockade, thirteen members of the Wang Family imprisoned for building a bridge for the convenience of the people."

"In the west of Fuling City, Thunder Sound Village..."

Zhang San silently took note of each and every case of injustice that Yin Sheng mentioned happening around and within Fuling City.

A total of one hundred and seven cases.

In the end, Zhang San looked at Yin Sheng and asked, "What about you?"

With a light smile, Yin Sheng asked in return, "If these people’s grievances can be cleansed, does my matter still hold importance?"

"It’s important; everyone is important."

"What if it’s not a person, but a ghost?" Yin Sheng asked expressionlessly.

"A ghost was once a person. In the future, they can be people too," Zhang San replied.

Yin Sheng slowly closed his eyes, and a crystal-clear tear slid down his cheek, falling onto the broken bowl.

Its tinkling sound seemed to resonate with the bell of the Town Martial Office.

Zhang San immediately went back and called Tie Wuheng, asking him to help contact some absolutely reliable martial artists to come over. Then, one by one, he had them investigate the one hundred and seven cases of injustice mentioned by Yin Sheng, inside and outside of Fuling City, making sure they thoroughly investigated each.

Zhang San felt that something very important might be hidden within these cases.

Otherwise, Hu Feipan would not have asked him to lay hands on Yin Sheng.

Otherwise, a ghost child like Yin Sheng couldn’t possibly shed tears.

Because ghosts do not cry.

Then, Zhang San gave the order, saying that he had found some very important intelligence regarding the Heavenly Punishment Sect, which needed to be sent back to the Capital.

And the one assigned to escort it was none other than Wen Ruchu and the martial artists from the Wen Family.

The martial artists from the Wen Family felt this was a great opportunity; at last, they could leave this forsaken place and return to the Capital.

But Wen Ruchu had already noticed Zhang San’s arrangements for the many non-Town Martial Office martial artists and had a vague feeling that something was not quite right.

Then, Zhang San called over other Military Chiefs and secretly ordered them to handle certain matters.

Only, exactly what those matters were, no one knew.

...

At dusk, Hu Feipan was happily picking his teeth when suddenly, the butler came running over.

"Master, that person downstairs, he has been refusing to eat all day."

Hu Feipan’s brow furrowed, and he thought to himself: Could it be that Lv Dagen heard some rumors, thinking that I’m going to hand him over?

After all, the secret chamber where Lv Dagen was located had ventilation, and it was possible that someone might have talked near the rockery, and he overheard something.

"Got it, I’ll go there right now."

Hu Feipan immediately headed to the rockery area and came to the entrance of the secret chamber where Lv Dagen was hidden.

Indeed, breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all left untouched at the door; Lv Dagen hadn’t even reached out for the meals through the small opening at the bottom of the door.

Hu Feipan opened the door to the secret chamber carefully, pushed it gently, and looked inside.

"Eh!?"

Hu Feipan immediately walked in, only to discover that the entire room was empty.

Where was Lv Dagen?

Where was the two to three hundred pound Lv Dagen?

How could such a large man just disappear!?

At this moment, Hu Feipan felt his head buzzing.

This was one of his important bargaining chips for keeping Zhang San in check, but he also knew that Lv Dagen must have known some secret, which is why he had agreed to let Lv Dagen hide at his place.

Initially, Hu Feipan planned to wait until the rumors died down, then find a way to coax the secret out of Lv Dagen.

He even prepared a beauty trap for the occasion.

The beauty was ready, and he had even tested it out; indeed, she was top-notch.

But now, Lv Dagen was gone!

Hu Feipan immediately looked at the door lock and found that it wasn’t tampered with or broken.

But if the door wasn’t broken, how did Lv Dagen leave?

Unable to figure it out, Hu Feipan even started to worry about whether there were any losses in his other secret chambers, and he rushed to the next room, opening the door to the chamber.

Seeing the pillar inside still standing tall, Hu Feipan finally felt some relief.

This pillar was his entire savings accumulated over the years.

Although the gold and silver stolen by the Heavenly Punishment Sect previously was painful, it was something he could grieve over for a few days; but if this pillar was hollowed out, he would probably only grieve for a few days.

Touching the pillar, Hu Feipan felt an inexplicable sense of security. Then, leaning against the pillar, he laughed and said, "I’m glad that you’re still here..."

Boom——

The hollow pillar behind him suddenly collapsed.

Hu Feipan fell into the hollow pillar, covered in dust, with a panicked look in his eyes.

Where was my gold?

Where was my huge piece of gold!?

I...

Hu Feipan ran out of breath and passed out.

It wasn’t until late into the night when the butler, feeling that something was wrong, came down to check, that he discovered Hu Feipan had fainted in the secret chamber.

Meanwhile, Wen Ruchu, escorting an important Thousand Mechanisms wooden box, led the Wen Family martial artists outside Fuling City, racing northeastward.

Yet, while on the move, Wen Ruchu suddenly shouted, "Stop!"

Uncle Liu asked curiously, "Young Master, what’s wrong?"

Wen Ruchu shook his head and said, "Something’s not right, there must be something happening in Fuling City tonight! Uncle Liu, let’s go back!"

However, just as the Wen Family was turning their horses to head back to Fuling City, countless Evil Ghosts appeared behind them, blocking their way.

At the same time, the martial artists from the Heavenly Punishment Sect were besieging the Governor Mansion, with their target this time—to assassinate Hu Feipan!