Yuhuazhai.
An official named Cheng Chun came to the public house and reported to Fang Qian, "Sir, those bandits just won't talk."
Fang Qian was taking a nap. He was lying with his black - boots - clad feet crossed on a high table.
Hearing what Cheng Chun said, he lifted the photocopied book covering his face and uttered two words expressionlessly, "Idiots."
Cheng Chun broke into a cold sweat. Was the sir referring to the bandits or subtly mocking him?
Fang Qian got up impatiently. He had really raised a bunch of good - for - nothings. At critical moments, he had to do things himself.
Yuhuazhai was built in a new town more than ten miles away from Yinwan.
One could take a shortcut to Yinggehai from here to prepare for pirate attacks.
It was a rare situation.
The current dynasty was powerful and in an era of peace. Fang Qian could hardly remember when the last pirate - fighting operation was.
The last time they had mobilized in a big way was to deal with a fight between fishermen due to property disputes.
Fang Qian had been itching for action.
It was just coincidence that Ni Er and his gang had walked right into the trap.
There was a small prison in the backyard of Yuhuazhai, where Ni Er and his men were imprisoned.
Cheng Chun bowed and opened the door. Fang Qian strode in.
Hearing the noise outside, Hei San and the others immediately shouted, "We're wronged, sir! The Pei family in Baiyun Village are all heartless. They've brought such harm to us. Sir, please spare us!"
Fang Qian didn't even glance at him. He waved his hand to summon two small officials and whispered a few words in their ears.
Soon, Hei San was the first to be taken out.
Hei San was shocked when he was dragged out, "What are you going to do?"
Fang Qian stopped and sneered, "Didn't you want to appeal your case? I'm giving you this chance."
After that, Hei San felt Ni Er's cold and venomous gaze shooting at his face.
Hei San immediately shut up. As long as he said nothing, the boss wouldn't do anything to him.
Hei San was dragged into a small dark room. His hands and feet were quickly tied up in a special way that he couldn't break free.
The patrol inspection office was subordinate to the county lieutenant's office. The jailers had countless ways to force confessions.
Cheng Chun took out a leather whip and whipped Hei San hard across the face, "Answer whatever the sir asks you. Otherwise, I'll make you wish you were dead."
Fang Qian stood in front of Hei San, looking down and saying, "Who ordered you to assassinate Master Fu the Seventh?"
Hearing this, Hei San's dark face twitched.
He seemed as unjustly treated as Dou E. He roared at the top of his lungs, "Good heavens! I don't even know who Master Fu the Seventh is. How can I talk about assassination?"
Fang Qian wasn't angry. He stared at Hei San and continued, "You heard that Master Fu the Seventh was saved by Pei Xia. So you raided the Pei family at night, trying to kill everyone to cover your tracks, burning, killing, and raping, right?"
Hei San shook his head like a rattle and kept shouting his innocence, "Sir, look at the blisters on my body. If I had such abilities, I wouldn't have been harmed like this!"
Fang Qian suddenly smiled.
"You know, sometimes human lives are the least valuable. You pirates came ashore and harassed the common people. Even if I were to slaughter all of you, people would only praise me for protecting the peace of this area and eradicating the scourge. Do you want to become a meritorious deed in my promotion document?"
Fang Qian squinted at Hei San.
Hei San's heart skipped a beat. Fear flashed in his eyes.
He stammered in disbelief, "N...n..."
Fang Qian drawled, "I'm not a good person. Since you've come into my hands, I don't mind killing people or covering up the evidence. Tell me, how would you like to die more painlessly?"
His tone was calm, not threatening at all, but Hei San felt the real threat of death.
Hei San's teeth chattered. He couldn't say a word for a long time.
Fang Qian seemed to have lost his patience and turned away.
Fang Qian stood under the camphor tree in the yard, looking unhappy.
Cheng Chun asked carefully, "Sir, what should we do next?"
Fang Qian knew what Cheng Chun meant.
Before noon, Pei Xia and Qi Jiao had come to Yuhuazhai to detail what had happened last night.
They had also said what these pirates were after.
The Fu family was the largest shipping merchant in the two southern counties, with amazing wealth.
As a small local official, Fang Qian originally didn't want to get involved in this family infighting.
According to the usual practice, he would just punish both sides.
But somehow, in front of Pei Xia and Qi Jiao, he didn't want to lose his reputation.
Fang Qian turned around, "What should we do? Lock up those two with high martial arts skills separately. I'll interrogate them myself."
*
At night, Hei San was on the verge of tears, tortured by the impending death.
"I don't want to die! I haven't slept with enough women. I haven't earned enough wealth... Sir! Let me see the sir!"
The guard outside sneered, "Save your energy. The sir won't see a dying man. He doesn't want any bad luck!"
The guard spat, and the spittle landed on Hei San's face.
Soon, someone brought a meal with both meat and vegetables.
The guard said, "Eat quickly. This is your last meal."
Saying that, the guard picked up the chopsticks and stuffed the food into Hei San's mouth like feeding a livestock.
Hei San's bull - like eyes widened. His bound feet kicked wildly.
The guard's face loomed large, becoming more and more ferocious.
Finally, Hei San couldn't resist anymore. He completely broke down, "I'll talk! I'll talk!"
It turned out that Ni Er was very careful and didn't tell others the real mastermind behind the scenes.
It was just that Hei San was lecherous. He accidentally saw the woman who contacted Ni Er.
The woman wore a long veil hat. Although her face couldn't be seen clearly, it was obvious that she had a graceful figure and was undoubtedly a beauty.
Hei San was immediately attracted.
He secretly followed her and found that the woman entered the back door of the Fu mansion.
The Fu family was a big and powerful family, rich enough to rival a kingdom.
Even the small back door showed its dazzling wealth.
Hei San was extremely annoyed but had to stop.
After this incident, Ni Er led them to sneak into the Fu family's caravan and set sail on a ship.
That was how the attempted assassination of Master Fu the Seventh happened.
Unfortunately, Master Fu the Seventh was lucky and was saved.
A few days later, the woman came again.
This time, she was angry. She scolded Ni Er mercilessly in the room.
"If it weren't for the concubine having an old acquaintance with you, how could she have entrusted this important task to you? In the end, you can't even handle such a small thing well. Bah, you're good for nothing..."
"The old master is dying. The concubine has ordered you to find Master Fu the Seventh and kill him within half a month. Otherwise, you won't get a single cent!"
...
Hei San hid behind a big locust tree outside the house and heard the woman's angry scolding and these two relatively clear sentences.
He knew that there was a concubine in the Fu family who knew Ni Er and that she was the one who hired the killers to kill Master Fu the Seventh.
The voices in the room gradually died down.
Hei San pricked up his ears, ready to listen carefully.
Suddenly, a pile of bird droppings fell on his head. Hei San was so disgusted that he couldn't help cursing.
The voices in the room suddenly stopped.
Two pairs of footsteps walked towards the door.
Hei San ran away as fast as he could and returned to his lodging.
On the other side, Ni Er and the woman came out. They found that there were birds chirping in the locust tree and a lot of bird droppings on the ground.
They glanced at each other and dispelled their doubts.
After Hei San finished his confession in front of Fang Qian, his face was sweaty.
Fang Qian didn't say a word. He seemed to be considering how much of Hei San's words were credible.
Hei San was extremely nervous. He pleaded, "Sir! I've confessed everything. Ni Er took us in for a living but always kept an eye on us. I only know that it was a concubine in the Fu family who wanted to harm Master Fu the Seventh. I really don't know anything else, sir! Please, let me go!"
Fang Qian quickly thought it over in his mind. Hei San's confession was consistent with what the other two highly - skilled martial artists had said.
Ni Er hadn't told them the real mastermind.
Fortunately, there were two clues now. Fang Qian made a decision and told his subordinates to untie Hei San's feet but still keep him imprisoned.
He would only be given two meals a day, just enough to keep him alive.
Hei San let out a long howl to the sky.