#392 - Chapter 392 Exposed
Qingxi County Government Office
Upon learning that his soldiers had also let some of the Lin family members escape, leaving only one person as a hostage, Magistrate Liu was so angry that he threw his beloved teacup to the ground.
"Damn it, you ignorant good-for-nothings, showing no respect for anything!
What did I say?
Don't let a single one escape…
Yet you were fooled like this, not even as smart as a three-year-old child."
Magistrate Liu paced back and forth in the hall, seething with anger.
The shards of porcelain on the ground glinted coldly in the dim candlelight, reflecting his mood—icy and sharp.
The negligent yamen runners lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly,
fearing that they might accidentally provoke the wrath of this enraged magistrate.
"Do you know that the Lin family members who escaped this time are likely to be wanted criminals by the imperial court!"
Magistrate Liu's voice trembled with anger.
He slammed the table with force, causing the documents on it to jump.
"If they escape, do you know how much trouble it will bring me?"
The yamen runners looked at each other, secretly lamenting their misfortune.
They truly hadn't expected that those seemingly ordinary Lin family members would have such important identities.
You should know that the Lin family has been rooted in Qingxi County for three generations.
Many officials in the government have unclear dealings with the Lin family.
The usual tributes were never lacking.
Moreover, the Lin family usually wielded great power and had plenty of money, so ordinary people didn't dare to provoke them.
Everyone was just trying to earn a living, so why stir up trouble?
But now that things had come to this, they could only silently endure the magistrate's anger.
"Your Honor, please calm down; we were momentarily negligent," a yamen runner finally mustered the courage to say cautiously.
"However, we have left one person as a hostage, perhaps we can get some clues from him."
Magistrate Liu's anger subsided slightly upon hearing this.
He glared at the yamen runner and said, "Hostage? Hmph, if you could get useful information from him,
you wouldn't be waiting here to be flogged.
Quickly, bring him to me!"
The yamen runners were relieved and quickly responded, leaving to bring in the captured Lin family member.
The man was ragged, his face covered in wounds, but his eyes revealed a stubborn light.
Magistrate Liu looked at the hostage, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
He waved his hand, dismissing the soldiers, and then faced the hostage alone.
"Who are you in the Lin family?" Magistrate Liu asked coldly.
The hostage was silent for a moment, then raised his head, looked directly into Magistrate Liu's eyes, and said, "I am just an insignificant nobody, not worth mentioning.
But if you think you can get any useful information from me, then you are greatly mistaken."
Magistrate Liu's face darkened upon hearing this.
He didn't expect the hostage to be so unyielding, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed.
But he also understood that if he forced a confession at this time, he probably wouldn't get anything useful.
"Hmph, you're tough, are you?" Magistrate Liu sneered, "Don't think you can escape like this.
I have plenty of ways to make you talk."
With that, he stood up, walked to the hostage, and gently patted his face with his hand.
Lin Mo didn't dodge, just looked at him coldly.
"Take him down and treat him well," Magistrate Liu said to the yamen runners outside the door.
The yamen runners responded and entered, escorting the hostage away.
Magistrate Liu sat back in his chair, his heart filled with turmoil.
He understood that this matter had already blown up.
If he couldn't catch those escaped Lin family members as soon as possible,
his official hat would probably be lost.
With the rebel army approaching and the county town falling,
he would surely face death in such a situation.
Even if the Liu family could save him,
they wouldn't be willing to pay such a high price for such a small pawn like him.
Magistrate Liu was deeply convinced of this.
He sighed and his gaze fell again on the shards of porcelain.
He knew he had to come up with a plan as soon as possible.
Otherwise, the news of the Lin family's departure would drag him into an even deeper vortex…
Moreover, based on his past experience,
the relationship between the Liu family and the Red Lotus Sect was probably not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
"Someone, summon County尉 Li here; I have important matters to discuss."
Now, the only one he could rely on was County尉 Li, who was at the Bone Refinement Realm.
"Yes, sir."
In less than a quarter of an hour, County尉 Li appeared at the county government office.
County尉 Li clasped his fist respectfully and said, "Sir, do you have any important matters?
This subordinate still needs to oversee the sealing off of the area."
Magistrate Liu stroked his round belly and said, "County尉 Li is quite busy,
but I have an important matter here that requires a martial arts expert to handle.
In my opinion, only County尉 Li possesses both virtue and talent
to bring those wanted criminals to justice."
County尉 Li was puzzled: Besides trying to torment women,
what major case could this henpecked fatty have that would involve wanted criminals?
But he said sincerely, "Sir, what important matter do you have?"
Magistrate Liu's eyes looked particularly deep.
He slowly stood up, walked around the desk,
and approached County尉 Li, saying in a low and urgent voice, "County尉 Li, the situation is urgent.
I have received a secret report that the Red Lotus Sect's rebel army is quietly approaching.
Qingyang County has already fallen, and the rebel army will reach Qingxi County in less than three days.
We cannot sit idly by and wait for death.
You must set off immediately to track down those fleeing criminals,
especially the Lin family members, who may hold the key clues to the rebel army."
County尉 Li frowned upon hearing this, his heart heavy.
The sudden news made County尉 Li somewhat overwhelmed.
He swallowed, his mouth a little dry, and said, "Rebel army? Attacking the city??"
He was just a martial artist who had just entered the Bone Refinement Realm!
Wasn't this a bit too much to expect from him?
To leave the city and pursue wanted criminals directly in this situation?
But he said righteously, "Sir, rest assured, this subordinate will do my best to live up to your trust.
However, the rebel army is powerful, and with my strength alone, I'm afraid it will be difficult…"
Magistrate Liu interrupted him, took out a secret letter from his sleeve, and handed it to County尉 Li: "This is the message I just received.
The Lin family members are gathering less than three miles outside the city,
presumably waiting for someone.
Your martial arts realm is the highest, and your methods are strong.
Dealing with those family disciples should be no problem.
You are the only one who can handle this quickly."
Seeing that the fatty, whom he usually looked down upon, had even prepared the information,
he really had no choice but to go.
County尉 Li took the secret letter, quickly scanning the words, and secretly calculated in his heart.
He didn't expect the Lin family members to gather so boldly not far outside the city, which undoubtedly gave him an excellent opportunity.
"Sir, I understand. Besides Lin Ziyang, who is a bit tricky, I have ways to deal with the rest of the Lin family members."
County尉 Li clasped his fist and said, his voice revealing an unquestionable firmness.
Magistrate Liu nodded in satisfaction, a smile squeezing out on his fat face: "Good, County尉 Li is indeed a sensible person.
If this trip is successful, I will reward you handsomely.
However, remember to be careful and not to alert the enemy."
County尉 Li felt a bit bitter in his heart, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go.
He could only hope that they were all纨绔子弟!
