Martial Saint through Reading

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Wan Family! Imperial Examination Hall! Blood Evil Sect!

Qiu Li’s words were nothing less than saying it’s all the Blood Evil Sect’s doing.

”My lord...” Sweat trickled down Qiu Li’s forehead as he continued, ”I suspect the Wan Family is connected to the Blood Evil Sect!”

”According to the clues I’ve investigated, Wan Yuan of the Wan Family was originally imprisoned in the Baiyuan County Criminal Defense Bureau’s dungeon. After being taken away by an Arresting Captain, she never returned. I found out that this captain is a member of the Blood Evil Sect infiltrating the Criminal Defense Bureau!”

Following his words, the room fell into a brief silence.

Zhou Xi rubbed the porcelain shard in his hand, his eyes flickering with uncertainty: ”Do you have evidence?”

If the Wan Family is associated with the Blood Evil Sect, he needs to prepare early.

Dissociate from the Wan Family, or even...use the Wan Family to gain merit for a promotion.

”I... I am still investigating...” Qiu Li said tremblingly.

”So there’s no evidence yet.” Zhou Xi pinched a shattered piece of porcelain between his index and middle fingers, and suddenly flexed, sending it shooting past Qiu Li’s head like a hidden weapon.

Bang—

The porcelain shard pierced through the wall and only stopped after embedding deeply into the trunk of a large tree outside.

At the same time, the official hat on Qiu Li’s head cracked open.

”You have ten days to find out the relationship between the Wan Family and the Blood Evil Sect.” Zhou Xi continued to turn the jade ring indifferently: ”Remember, I want evidence of a connection between the Wan Family and the Blood Evil Sect, understood?”

The implication was that evidence must be fabricated if none exists.

”Understood...I understand!”

Qiu Li’s heart pounded fiercely; the shard just now could have pierced through his body...

”I have another matter to report to you, sir.”

”Speak.”

”That illegitimate son of the Chu Family in Baiyuan County, Chu Ming, seems to have a deep relationship with Shen Yu. Shen Yu somehow convinced Lord County Governor to personally meet with Chu Ming.”

”Oh?” Zhou Xi’s eyes gleamed coldly as he looked at the kneeling Qiu Li and suddenly laughed chillingly: ”Interesting, the illegitimate son of a wealthy county merchant is actually connected to Shen Yu.”

”Go investigate what relationship exactly Chu Ming has with Shen Yu.”

”Yes.”

”...”

...

Xirong County, Wan Family.

An elder with white hair on his temples sat in a large chair, surrounded by several individuals with varied expressions.

”Brother Wan, my Chief Escort Master Ruan Heng of the Wind Traveling Escort Agency disappeared without a trace. It’s hard for me to explain this to the agency brothers if the Wan Family doesn’t say something about it.”

The speaker was another Chief Escort Master of the Wind Traveling Escort Agency in Xirong County, named Chen Xuan, who was close to Ruan Heng and thus came to demand an explanation.

It looked like he was seeking justice for Ruan Heng, but he was really just taking the opportunity to ask for benefits.

”Chief Escort Master Chen, being an Escort Master requires the resolve to hang one’s head on one’s belt. We, the Wan Family, are not unwilling to pay your Wind Traveling Escort Agency!”

Someone immediately countered, clearly from the Wan Family.

This person’s name was Wan Cheng and was the younger brother of the white-haired elder.

”Hmph, the Wan Family paid for the escort service, but now my Wind Traveling Escort Agency has lost a Chief Escort Master!” Chen Xuan remained undaunted.

His strength was still above Ruan Heng, as he had begun refining his torso bones, while none of the Wan Family members had practiced martial arts.

”That’s because Ruan Heng the Escort Master was incompetent in strength, even if he died...”

”Shut up!”

Halfway through Wan Cheng’s words, the white-haired elder on the high seat sternly interrupted, then made a clasping gesture of apology to Chen Xuan, with an apologetic face: ”Please convey to Chief Escort Master Chen and the Chief Escort Master of your agency that the disappearance of Ruan Heng the Escort Master is our responsibility.”

The Chief Escort Master of the Wind Traveling Escort Agency was Chen Xuan’s own brother, also surnamed Chen.

Seeing the elder’s stance, Chen Xuan didn’t say more and left the Wan Family with a wave of his hand.

”Patriarch, why should our Wan Family compromise with an escort agency?” Wan Cheng spoke up in dissatisfaction after Chen Xuan had left.

The white-haired elder looked at Wan Cheng, his expression unusually calm, as if nothing had happened.

”Patriarch, in my opinion, the Wind Traveling Escort Agency is just being greedy, actually trying to extort benefits from our Wan Family...”

As Wan Cheng cursed, his eyes flickered with an odd light, suddenly changing the topic: ”Elder brother, with Lin’er and Qin’er missing, the family business they were in charge of...”

”Enough!” Just as Wan Cheng was about to continue, the white-haired elder slapped his hand down, his voice cold: ”Leave us.”

”Patriarch...”

”Leave!”

”...”

Wan Cheng retreated, and the other individuals in the hall also left one by one, leaving only the white-haired elder alone.

He raised his murky eyes wearily, gazing at the empty hall, a sadness evident in his expression.

”Lin’er... Yuaan’er... Qin’er...”

The elder was Wan Hai, patriarch of the Wan Family in Xirong County.

He had one son and two daughters. Many years ago, his second daughter Wan Yuan had a falling out with the Wan Family due to his assertiveness, leaving only his eldest son Wan Lin and Wan Qin by his side.

But who could have expected that because of a wrong decision, he would now have to send white-haired people to bury the black-haired ones.

Following his intentions, Wan Lin and Wan Qin had gone to Baiyuan County to assist Wan Yuan, but instead of saving her, they lost their lives.

Wan Hai knew that even the Chief Escort Master Ruan Heng, who was in the Strong Bone Realm, had disappeared, and it was undoubtedly a dire situation for Wan Lin and the others.

Without a son or daughter beneath him...

Perhaps if he hadn’t treated Yuaan’er that way back then, today’s events wouldn’t have happened.

Wan Yuan had accidentally gotten pregnant years ago, and in anger, Wan Hai had slapped her hard several times, forcing her to leave the Wan Family.

Wan Hai gave a bitter smile: ”It’s all karma...”

”Grandfather.”

At this moment, a young voice came from outside.

The young man was tall, with handsome features, and there was a trace of Wan Yuan in his expression.

”Feng’er!”

Upon hearing the voice, the sorrow on Wan Hai’s face disappeared, replaced by a gentle smile.

The person was Wan Feng.

”Feng’er, aren’t you in the Tiger Armor Army? How come you have time to come back today?”

Looking at Wan Feng, whose appearance resembled Wan Yuan’s, Wan Hai’s heart was again pierced with pain.

Wan Feng walked into the hall, gently helping Wan Hai sit down, then asked, ”Grandfather, has my mother returned?”

”Your mother...” Wan Hai didn’t know what to say.

Wan Feng immediately sensed something amiss: ”Grandfather, is something wrong with my mother?!”

Wan Hai sighed heavily: ”Your mother is missing.”

This matter couldn’t be hidden, nor did he intend to hide it from Wan Feng.

”Missing?” Wan Feng’s eyes instantly focused: ”How is that possible, didn’t grandfather send the Chief Escort Master from the Wind Traveling Escort Agency to rescue my mother?”

”That Chief Escort Master is also missing.”

Wan Hai spoke gravely, recounting everything he knew about the events in Baiyuan County to Wan Feng.

”...”

”Criminal Defense Bureau! Chu Family! Chu Ming!”

Upon hearing this, Wan Feng clenched his fists tightly, fury burning fiercely in his chest, his entire body emanating a terrifying aura.

And within that aura, there was an extremely faint trace of Blood Evil Qi.

”Feng’er...your mother is only missing, grandfather has already sent people to search for her. Her disappearance is very mysterious and seems related to the Blood Evil Sect. You mustn’t act impulsively and focus on your martial training in the Tiger Armor Army!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wan Hai regretted it.

”Related to the Blood Evil Sect? Grandfather, what do you mean?!”

Wan Feng’s brows lifted, and on his angry face appeared a hint of joy that Wan Hai, his grandfather, could not understand.

Wan Hai paused, then hoarsely said: ”Not only did grandfather send Escort Masters from the Wind Traveling Escort Agency to rescue your mother, but he also smoothed relations with the Inspectorate. Inspector General, your Uncle Zhou, sent Captain Qiu Li personally to Baiyuan County.”

”Captain Qiu did not find your mother, but discovered she was taken by members of the Blood Evil Sect who had infiltrated the Baiyuan County Criminal Defense Bureau. She hasn’t appeared since then.”

”Grandfather suspects your mother was taken hostage and that the Blood Evil Sect likely wants money. Our Wan Family has money, so there’s no need for you to worry too much, Feng’er.”

This statement was clearly intended to reassure Wan Feng.