Chapter 91: Killing the “Chicken” to Warn the “Monkey”

The four men on the ground weren’t unconscious but had temporarily lost the ability to move. Hearing Wei Hai’s voice, they naturally realized they had been ambushed.

But what baffled them was how any of the four could have the strength to throw a stone with such force, striking them all down like a perfect “one stone, two birds” scenario.

“Give me the blade!” The old beggar extended his hand toward Li Xunshan.

Without hesitation, Li Xunshan handed over a short blade.

Taking the blade, the old beggar swiftly approached the four and severed the tendons in their hands and feet!

Amidst their screams, the old beggar grabbed Guard Qian by the hair and asked calmly, “When did you betray us?”

Guard Qian gritted his teeth. “You filthy beggar! Looks like I really slipped up and fell into your trap today!”

“Kill me or torture me as you wish—I’m not afraid!”

Thud!

The old beggar plunged the blade into Guard Qian’s throat and pushed him aside, exposing the black-clad man beneath him. He continued, “Tell me, when did Guard Qian betray us?”

Before the black-clad man could respond, the old beggar drove the blade straight into his face!

Hot blood splattered onto the old beggar’s beard and hair, making him look utterly terrifying.

Smack!

He kicked another black-clad man aside and stabbed him repeatedly in the chest—once, twice, thrice… until the man’s chest turned into a bloody pulp. Only then did he stop.

“Now, it’s just you.” The old beggar turned to the last black-clad man, his tone eerily calm.

“Master Wen!”

“I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”

“Ask me! Just ask!”

Terrified after witnessing the brutal deaths of his three companions, the last man broke down.

Killing one “chicken” to warn the “monkey” was one thing—

But killing three? That was pure vengeance!

Terrified of being slaughtered without a chance to explain, the black-clad man eagerly “surrendered,” hoping to save his life.

“When did Guard Qian betray us?” The old beggar sat cross-legged beside him, casually playing with the bloodstained blade as he smiled.

Trembling, the black-clad man stammered, “I don’t know the exact date… but it was probably around the time you were sent to Gucheng County as a beggar.”

The old beggar continued, “Two years ago, he sent me a message saying the people monitoring me had withdrawn. Around the same time, my wife and children were killed. Are these events connected?”

The black-clad man nodded. “Yes. The people above Old Dog Sun always saw the evidence you hold as a thorn in their side. For eighteen years, it gave them no peace. So, they came up with this plan.”

“When you didn’t return to Jiangling Prefecture… Old Dog Sun, out of spite, had your wife and children flogged to death…”

Thud!

The old beggar drove the blade into the man’s arm. “I don’t want to keep questioning you. Tell me everything you know. If you’re thorough, I’ll let you go.”

Desperate to survive, the black-clad man endured the pain and spilled everything he knew like a bamboo tube spilling beans.

It turned out the mastermind had never stopped searching Jiangling Prefecture for the evidence hidden by the old beggar.

Years had passed, and even after practically digging up the whole city, they couldn’t find the evidence. In their frustration, they mistakenly killed many innocent civilians who appeared “suspicious.”

Finally, the mastermind resorted to using various methods to force the old beggar to return to Jiangling Prefecture and retrieve the evidence himself.

Guard Qian and his men were just one part of the plan… Even if they failed, the mastermind was confident that the old beggar, even with the evidence in hand, could never leave Jiangling Prefecture alive.

At this moment, all major exits of Jiangling Prefecture were heavily guarded. Anyone attempting to leave the city was subjected to rigorous inspections.

“Master Wen… did I speak well?” The last black-clad man asked cautiously.

The old beggar placed the bloodstained blade against the man’s neck and said flatly, “Not well enough.”

Slash!

The final black-clad man breathed his last.

Neither Gu Ning’an nor the other two found anything wrong with the old beggar’s actions.

Anyone who had endured such tragedy could hardly be expected to show mercy. Ending his enemies’ lives swiftly without prolonged torment was already a form of restraint.

“It’s all my fault for involving you.” The old beggar wiped the blood off his blade with the black-clad man’s nightwear before returning it to Li Xunshan.

Gu Ning’an said, “It’s pointless to dwell on that now. Instead, we should focus on finding the evidence and figuring out how to smuggle it out of the city.”

“But… the city is sealed off. How do we get anything out?” Wei Hai interjected.

After a moment of thought, Gu Ning’an replied, “Didn’t you notice the old man we saw at the Flowing Pavilion that day? His demeanor was extraordinary, as if he had a significant background.”

“An old man?”

The group pondered for a moment. The old beggar nodded. “Indeed. From the moment I saw him, I felt his scholarly aura was remarkable. But whether his background is significant is uncertain.”

“I didn’t notice that,” Wei Hai admitted, “but Mr. Gu’s intuition is sharp. I think it’s worth finding that old man.”

Li Xunshan agreed. “Let’s treat a dead horse as if it’s still alive. If he turns out to be an ordinary person, we’ll come up with another way to leave the city.”

“There’s no hope if we do nothing. At least trying gives us a chance!”

Looking at the resolute group before him, the old beggar nodded firmly. “If none of you are giving up, why should I despair? Let’s go!”

“Old Wen, where exactly did you hide the evidence? We’re nearly at the outskirts of the city…” Wei Hai, drenched in sweat, panted heavily, hunched over with his hands on his knees.

The old beggar glanced at him and replied casually, “To be honest, I’m not entirely sure where it is now.”

“What?” Wei Hai’s eyes widened. “You forgot where you hid it?”

The old beggar paused. “It’s not that I forgot. The evidence can move. I’m just following the places where it might be.”

Wei Hai frowned. “Did you hide it on someone?”

The old beggar shook his head. “On a dog.”

“A dog?” Wei Hai was speechless. “Dogs only live up to twenty years at most, and you…”

“Let’s keep looking. There’s only one last place left to check,” the old beggar said as he strode forward.

About half an hour later, the group arrived at a patch of wild grassland.

The area was overgrown with weeds, some waist-high. Its lush growth suggested that it was rarely visited.

Under the dim moonlight, the group groped through the darkness, parting the tall grass bit by bit in search of a small gray dog named “Yuanqiu.”

“I found it! Is that the one?” Li Xunshan suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a thin, skeletal dog lying motionless in the grass. Its fur was so unkempt that it was hard to tell if it was gray or black. It was unclear if the dog was dead or alive.

“That’s it! It must be!” The old beggar hurried toward the dog. As he got closer, he slowed his pace, inching forward cautiously.

“Yuanqiu… Yuanqiu… wake up. I’m back.”

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