Chapter 112: Didn’t You Tell Me Not to Speak?

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Boom!

Dark clouds rolled over the city, and bean-sized raindrops sprinkled outside the main hall of the Black Office. The chief constables on duty were sitting on both sides of the hall.

Two constables were standing in the middle of the hall. They both had black eyes and had clearly been punched a few times.

Behind the main table, Dongfang Liren was dressed in her silver python robe, sitting upright with her back straight. She looked at the injuries on the constables’ faces with hidden anger in her eyes. “What happened?”

The two constables were clearly afraid. One of them, the slightly older one, lowered his head and said, “We patrolled Bamboo Street today and discovered a murder case. The way of death was very special. It’s obviously a big case. The corpse that I and Xiao Wang discovered first was undergoing an autopsy. But the people from the Six Gates chased us out…”

Thump!

Dongfang Liren slapped the table. “Then you took action? How many times have 1 told you not to fight with the people from the Three Law Division? If anything happens, come back directly and tell a chief constable…”

The older constable lowered his head and replied, “I didn’t want to fight in the first place. I was just scolding them. But I don’t know what Xiao Wang was thinking, but he suddenly said, Til stab you to death with a stick in your back door!”‘

“Cough cough!” She Long, who was sitting upright, choked when he heard this. His face turned red, and he coughed a few times, almost suffocating.

Shang Jianli’s cold face twitched a few times.

Only Dongfang Liren’s eyes were blank. “What does that mean?”

Constable Xiao Wang said aggrievedly, “At first, I didn’t know what it meant.

Old Liu said that it was a profound spear technique that was especially powerful. So 1 casually scolded them. The people from the Six Gates laughed at me. Then they figured it out and became angry…”

Dongfang Liren was baffled. “What do you mean by a stick in the back door?”

She Long forcefully suppressed the churning aura and waved his hand. “Go treat your injuries. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

“Yes, Sir.” The two constables hurried away.

She Long faced the Prince of Jing and said respectfully, “Your Highness’ ears have been dirtied by the vulgarities in the market. Please excuse me for taking action first. This beating was for nothing. 1 don’t think the case will come back.”

Seeing the strange expressions on the male and female chief constables’ faces, Dongfang Liren knew that the words weren’t anything good, so she didn’t ask further.

The Black Office didn’t even have an official position. In theory, it was the private guard of the Prince of Jing Estate. Imperial authority could manage anything, but the Black Office’s powers overlapped with those of the judicial organ.

There were only so many cases in the capital, and constables and officials all needed achievements. For this reason, the two sides had great differences and often got into conflicts.

The salary of the Black Office’s constables was allocated from the Prince of Jing Estate, and Dongfang Liren had to ask the Ministry of Revenue for money. Without achievements, the Ministry of Revenue wouldn’t allocate funds. For this reason, the Black Office could give up small cases such as theft, but it had to participate in murder cases.

Dongfang Liren was just about to arrange for a fiercer subordinate to go to Bamboo Street to take some credit forcefully when she heard hurried footsteps outside.

Tread, tread, tread!

She looked up and saw Wang Chihu, who was wearing an aristocratic robe, running in with an umbrella.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

“The Black Office is an important place. It’s unbecoming to make a ruckus.”

“Brother Ye is back.”

“Hmm?” Dongfang Liren’s anger froze. She looked outside, but there was no sign of Ye Jingtang. “Where is Ye Jingtang? Tell him to come over. 1 have something to arrange.”

Wang Chihu stopped outside the hall and said excitedly, “Brother Ye just smashed a casino on Parasol Street and beat someone half to death. Then he turned around and went to the West Market. He’s probably going to beat up Vice-Minister Wang’s brother-in-law. Your Highness, do you want to watch the show?”

Dongfang Liren was puzzled. She wanted to get up, but it didn’t match her status, so she patted the long table lightly. “How dare he! At the feet of Her Majesty, he’s fighting in the streets. Does he still have the law in his heart? I will go and take a look. All of you, stay here.”

The chief constables, who were about to follow to watch the show, immediately sat back down resentfully…

Whoosh!

Outside the Three Yuan Building, it was pouring rain, but inside, it was in full swing. The children of wealthy families were throwing money on the gambling tables with beauties accompanying them. The scene was worlds apart from the murky gambling dens on the streets.

“Come, come, come! Four, five, six!”

“Great!”

“Sigh, how unlucky…”

Parasol Street was a famous money-squandering cave in the capital. The Three Yuan Building wasn’t considered top-notch on the street, but its background was quite strong. The owner was Cheng Bao, Second Master Cheng, who had roots in the West Market.

Second Master Cheng was born in the Iron Buddha Ridge, a large sect in Yun Province. His elder brother was the sect master, and his young sister had married into the Wang family of Yun Province. He was in-laws with an important minister of the current dynasty. With this background in lawful society and the underworld, it could be said that no one dared to touch him.

Cheng Song, who was in charge of the Three Yuan Building, was the eldest son of Second Master Cheng. He had good relationships with the profligate sons in the capital.

At noon, in a private room facing the street of the Three Yuan Building, a few young masters of Literary Virtue Bridge were playing pai gow tiles at the table. Cheng Song, dressed as a rich young master, was accompanying them.

As the martial arts scene of Great Wei was flourishing, no matter where people were, Jianghu affairs were always a topic of conversation. The young masters at the table chatted casually as they spent money like water.

“Young Master Cheng, 1 heard that the sect master of the Water Cloud Sword Pool was killed?”

Cheng Song pushed out the silver ingots on the table in front of him with a folding fan and smiled amiably. “Young Master Li, you’re quite well-informed. It’s said that Zhou Huaili went out in the middle of the night to kill someone, but he was bumped into by someone from the Black Office and capsized.”

“Then, what can they do about this?”

“What else can they do? In the eyes of the Imperial Court, everyone from beggars to the Eight Chiefs is a ‘citizen’. The Black Office kills people according to the law. If they don’t accept it, they can go to the Law Division to complain. Because of Zhou Chiyang’s special status, the Imperial Court treats him quite politely and will specially let Vice-Minister Lin, who is the most impartial and unselfish person in the Ministry of Justice, preside over the trial. Vice-Minister Lin is someone who even dares to arrest and sentence relatives of the emperor. Moreover, because the Black Office’s authority and position are unclear, he has impeached the Prince of Jing many times…”

“The Prince of Jing is famous for being protective of her people. Since she dares to let Iron Head Lin interrogate her person, then it must be an ironclad case that even Her Majesty can’t reverse… Has Sword Saint Zhou Chiyang come?”

“Who knows how many lives Zhou Huaili has taken. Wouldn’t Zhou Chiyang be in trouble if he came? If the Zhou family takes the initiative to give up on pursuing the matter and accepts the punishment, Zhou Chiyang will be a hypocrite if he goes to the Black Office to take revenge. But if he doesn’t take revenge, he will be heartless and unrighteous. It’s quite unlucky to have such a stupid brother…”

At this point, Cheng Song thought of something and said, “Now that the Zhou family has gotten into this trouble, they definitely won’t dare to commit another crime and get into a conflict with the Red Flower Pavilion. Broad Cossing’s Baoyuan School has also eaten the Red Flower Pavilion’s industry. I reckon that the Red Flower Pavilion will find trouble with Li Yuanyuan next…”

“Then, Young Master Cheng, won’t you be able to reap some benefits?”

“Hehe…”

The Iron Buddha Ridge behind Cheng Song and the Baoyuan School had established their sects in Yun Province. It was impossible for them to mind their own business.

If the Red Flower Pavilion knocked the Baoyuan School down a peg, the Iron Buddha Ridge would naturally benefit from it.

Cheng Song smiled and said, “Jianghu is just like this gambling table. Luck is more important than wealth and power. When this luck comes, even while sitting, windfalls will blow your—”

Clatter!

While he was speaking, the sound of doors and windows shattering suddenly sounded from downstairs.

“Who’s there?!”

“What happened?”

The private room fell silent. The young masters were a little puzzled.

Cheng Song frowned, got up, and went to the window to look.

Parasol Street was the most prosperous street in the capital. Even though it was raining heavily, there were still many carriages coming and going. At this moment, they had all stopped.

In front of Three Yuan Building stood a young master in a water cloud brocade robe holding a black umbrella. The umbrella blocked his face, so his appearance couldn’t be seen.

Behind the black-robed young master was a rich young master in a brocade robe. The umbrella in his hand fell to the street, his mouth was wide open, and his eyes were full of shock.

The subordinates originally standing at the entrance of Three Yuan Building had already disappeared. As expected, they had been kicked into the door.

Pei Luo?Cheng Song recognized this big financier of Heavenly Water Bridge and thought that Pei Luo had brought thugs to cause trouble. “Excuse me for a moment.”

He jumped down from the window on the second floor of the Three Yuan Building, his figure elegant and agile.

The profligate young masters sitting here were all busybodies. They also knew Pei Luo, a slightly famous rich young master in the capital. Seeing that there was something interesting to watch, they didn’t care about the game on the table and went over to look curiously.

The noble young masters originally thought that Cheng Song would negotiate with Young Master Pei in front of the door.

But unexpectedly, just as Cheng Song jumped out of the window, an explosion sounded from below.

Bam!

The black-robed young man standing outside the building didn’t even move the oil-paper umbrella away. He raised his head, looked up, turned around, and raised his leg. Then a fierce side kick was aimed at Cheng Song, who was jumping down from the second floor.

This kick was as fast as lightning, and white mist erupted around his right leg.

Cheng Song didn’t expect the other party to be so unethical. His eyes were full of shock and anger. If this kick landed on his crotch, he would probably become half a woman for the rest of his life. Before he landed, he pressed down with his hands in the air.

Bam!

In an instant, the boot pressed against the two palms!

Cheng Song, who had yet to land, flew back at several times the speed he fell, smashing the plaque of the Three Yuan Building into pieces.

Clatter!

Then he smashed into the wooden beam and let out a muffled cough.

He lost his balance and fell from the air, landing on the steps outside the Three Yuan Building.

Thud!

There was a deathly silence inside and outside of the Three Yuan Building.

Pei Luo, who had come to help Ye Jingtang settle the matter, was stunned when he saw this scene. He raised his hand and said incoherently, “Hiss… Jingtang… What…”

Ye Jingtang didn’t respond. Holding his umbrella, he walked up the steps.

“Cough, cough, cough!”

Cheng Song had fallen to the ground. He wanted to get up, but his arms could no longer exert any strength. He could only grit his teeth and glare at the man outside the door. “You—”

As soon as the word came out of his mouth, the man stepped on his chest.

Crack!

“Cough!”

Broken bones were accompanied by muffled coughs.

Cheng Song was firmly stepped on by the boot on the steps. His face immediately turned red, and he slapped the boot hard.

Ba! Pa! Pa!

This scene made the people inside and outside the Three Yuan Building scream a few times. The thugs of the casino who came out to help were also stunned on the spot.

Pei Luo was a scholar. His face turned pale with fear. He ran forward in horror and pulled Ye Jingtang’s arm. “What are you doing? Are you crazy? This is the capital. We’re at the feet of Her Majesty…”

Cheng Song was also a ruthless person. His eyes were bloodshot as he forced himself to speak. “My father

Crack!

Another stomp came.

Cheng Song stopped talking abruptly and coughed up a mouthful of blood. He couldn’t even make a sound. His eyes were full of horror, and his entire body was trembling. He pushed hard against the boot that almost stomped into his chest.

Ye Jingtang lowered his head and looked into his eyes. It was only when his face turned purple and his eyes became unfocused that he restrained his strength slightly.

“Ugh—cough, cough, cough!”

Ye Jingtang moved his foot away to prevent blood from splattering on his boot. “Do you know why I hit you?”

Cheng Song clutched his chest and coughed non-stop. He didn’t dare to speak and only nodded vigorously.

Ye Jingtang didn’t say anything else. Still holding his umbrella, he turned to leave.

Pei Luo’s eyes were dull. Realizing that Ye Jingtang had left, perhaps afraid that he would be beaten to death by the casino’s thugs, he hurriedly caught up to Ye Jingtang. “Are you crazy? A gentleman uses his mouth, not his hands…”

After walking a few steps, Ye Jingtang turned to look at Pei Luo. “Didn’t you tell me not to speak?”

“I…” Pei Luo was stunned. “I told you not to speak, but you just hit him?! You… Second Master Cheng is a big shot in the West Market. He has hundreds of thugs under him. Let’s go. I ll bring you to the government to turn yourself in. If you hide in a cell and pay a sum of money, this matter might be over… Hey, where are you going?”

“I’m going to talk business with Second Master Cheng.”

“What?! You beat his son up like this, and now you’re going to discuss business with him. He will definitely beat you up… Don’t go. Hey, listen to your brother’s advice. The capital has its rules. If you mess around like this, Third Aunt will definitely hang you up and beat you up.. I won’t dare to speak up for you…”