#31 - The villains can't stand it anymore

From the moment the Suspended Mirror Division stormed in, Zhang Hongwen began to speculate about what he had been caught for.

He wasn't a good official by any means. If all his crimes were laid out one by one, it would be enough for a hundred executions.

But the binding force of feudal society's laws has always been inversely proportional to status and position.

Just as Li Kan had said that day, there weren't many crimes that could actually condemn a third-rank official to death.

And Zhang Hongwen didn't think that his affair of raising a demon would be found out.

This matter had been going on for nearly five years, and there had never been an accident. All those who knew about it were his confidants, and it was impossible for them to betray him.

As for other issues besides "raising a demon," Zhang Hongwen felt that he still had room to maneuver.

Of course, it was impossible to confess proactively.

The strip of cloth had just been removed from his mouth when he glared at Wei Changtian, shouting in a trembling voice as if he had suffered immense humiliation:

"Despicable brat! Don't you dare slander me!"

"I have been an official for decades, and my words and actions are worthy of the Emperor above and the people below!"

"And even more worthy of my own conscience!"

"You ask me if I know my crime?"

"I want to ask you!"

"Your Suspended Mirror Division ignores the laws of Da Ning, gagging and forcing a third-rank court official to kneel, what crime is that?!"

"… …"

Zhang Hongwen's voice was full of sorrow and anger, and at the same time, there was a sense of integrity that came from a clear conscience.

"How about this, I'll take you to a place to help you remember?"

"Lord Huang!"

Almost instantly, Wei Changtian's voice became extremely cold: "Take Lord Zhang! Follow me!"

"Leave fifty people here to watch over the Zhang family!"

"From this moment on, anyone who gets up or makes a sound will be executed immediately!"

"… …"

The continuous torches illuminated the surroundings like a high-power light bulb.

Seventy black-clothed constables sandwiched Zhang Hongwen in three layers, holding sharp blades and closely following behind Wei Changtian.

Further ahead was a trembling family servant leading the way.

"D-大人, This room is the master's bedroom..."

The servant pointed tremblingly at the door, and was immediately dragged aside by two constables.

Under the gaze of everyone, Wei Changtian recalled the description in the book, and stepped into the room.

Xu Qingwan kept a straight face, guarding him on the left and right with Huang Qianhu, while Zhang Hongwen's face became even paler.

He raised his eyes and carefully looked at the layout of the room, his gaze slowly locking on a large floor-to-ceiling plum vase placed in the corner.

【…The five-colored plum vase has a bulging belly and a long body, with a bunch of calendula inserted in it…】

Although Wei Changtian didn't know what calendula looked like, he could see that the small white-petaled, yellow-centered flower in front of him was a kind of chrysanthemum.

That's right, it should be it.

He stepped forward and stood in front of the plum vase, turning his head to look at Zhang Hongwen.

"Lord Zhang, do you have anything else to say?"

"I, I…" Zhang Hongwen's legs were like sieves, and cold sweat had already soaked his whole body.

Anyone could tell that something was wrong with him now.

Something's up!

Huang Qianhu finally breathed a sigh of relief at this point, and then saw Wei Changtian suddenly reach out.

"Knife!"

"Ah, yes!"

With a "clang", a cold blade was unsheathed, and the Hua Ling saber, which could scare countless officials awake in their dreams, was handed to Wei Changtian.

He moved the plum vase with one hand, and found the crack in the stone brick underneath.

Wei Changtian aimed the blade at it, and then stabbed down hard.

"Crack! Crack, crack, thump, thump…"

The five-foot-long knife went into the ground without any resistance, and then a slight sound of the mechanism operating sounded throughout the ground.

"No… No!!!"

Zhang Hongwen screamed miserably, struggling frantically.

But the next moment, his mouth was immediately stuffed again, and his hands and feet were held down, and he could only watch as the secret door, which hid the Zhang family's biggest secret, opened little by little.

"Whoosh!"

A gloomy wind rushed out, and inside the door was a series of stone steps leading down, and it was not clear what the end was.

But judging from the scene in front of him, this was definitely a big project.

I just don't know what is hidden in such a secret room…

A group of people didn't dare to breathe, all staring at Wei Changtian.

But the latter suddenly took a step back with a strange expression at this time.

"No, why are you all looking at me? Go inside!"

"Do you want me to go in first?!"

"… …"

For a villain, and a big villain with a background.

Personally taking the lead and risking his life is undoubtedly an operation that only a brain-dead person can do.

The protagonist rushes to the front to show off, Wei Changtian feels that it is safer to stay behind honestly.

Although it wasn't mentioned in the book, what if there were some deadly mechanisms hidden in this secret room?

Even if the facts eventually prove that he was overthinking it.

After an incense stick, the ten constables who were sent down earlier returned one after another.

They were not injured, but their faces were not good.

"Lord Wei, Lord Huang…"

The leading constable reported with a livid face: "The steps lead to a giant stone cave, about fifty feet in radius. We have carefully checked and there are no hidden mechanisms along the way."

Huang Qianhu hurriedly asked: "What's in the stone cave?"

"There is, there is a pool of mud, and in it is, is…"

"What is it?"

Huang Qianhu frowned and said sternly: "Why are you stuttering!"

"It's a toad demon…"

"Toad????"

"Yes…"

"Ridiculous! It's really ridiculous!"

Huang Qianhu was both surprised and angry at this time.

He was surprised that Zhang Hongwen dared to raise a demon in his home, and angry that the dignified men of the Suspended Mirror Division would be frightened by a toad.

A greenhorn!

No matter how ugly and strange a toad is, how terrifying can it be?

He has seen so many bloody and brutal scenes in his years of handling cases.

"Hmph! I'll go down and take a look with Lord Wei!"

Huang Qianhu glanced at the constables, and then plunged into the secret door.

Half an incense stick later.

"Ugh…cough, cough!"

"Lord, Lord Wei, this…"

"Stay away from me, don't throw up on me!"

Wei Changtian moved away a few steps in disgust, but his face was actually just as ugly.

Although he had been mentally prepared, the scene in front of him was still enough to shock the psychological defense line of any human being.

In the huge swamp, there was a giant toad as tall as two people, covered with bumps the size of watermelons, and surrounded by dozens of iron chains as thick as bowls.

Its turbid eyes were full of viciousness, half a human leg hung from the corner of its mouth, and the area beneath it was covered with broken limbs and bones.

Even the swamp had turned dark red.

It seems that this method of feeding with living people has been going on for a long time.

Damn, even I, a villain, can't stand it!

Glancing at Zhang Hongwen, who had already fainted behind him, Wei Changtian suddenly asked Huang Qianhu.

"Lord Huang, do you think we should let Lord Zhang identify the demon he raised at close range?"