I Grind to Martial Saint

After hearing what Huang Xian’Er said, Zhang Cang was silent for a long while.

Since leaving Cangshui County Town, he had visited many places.

Each place was more chaotic than the last; they couldn’t even begin to compare to Cangshui County Town.

"So if you want to save more people... perhaps you should learn from Han Yuan."

Huang Xian’Er said calmly.

"I’m not as skilled as Brother Han."

"I’ll just save who I can."

Zhang Cang shook his head.

Huang Xian’Er said no more.

The two continued on their way.

Their true destination was the next village.

It seemed Evil Spirits were causing trouble there.

Now, Zhang Cang’s main business was vanquishing monsters and demons; healing the sick and saving people was something he only did occasionally.

Two days later, after Zhang Cang dealt with the Evil Spirits wreaking havoc near the village, he and Huang Xian’Er headed to the local county town, planning to rest for a day.

But at the city gate, they saw a corpse hanging from the gate tower.

"Li Liu?!"

Zhang Cang froze.

He hurried over to the guards on duty at the city gate to inquire about the situation.

The guard on duty saw his Daoist Robe and was surprisingly courteous. "Daoist, this man’s crimes were monstrous. He refused to pay his debts, then murdered someone and tried to flee."

"In the end, Chief Constable Luo himself hunted him down and brought him back. He was hung here at the gate to make an example of him."

Zhang Cang was stunned.

He had only known Li Liu for a short time, but he could tell the man was a simple, honest farmer. ’How could he possibly do something like this?’

But he didn’t question the guard, simply bidding him farewell and walking away.

Huang Xian’Er was rather surprised. "Why didn’t you press him for more?"

"You said it yourself. They’re a nest of vipers."

"Questioning him further would only have aroused suspicion."

Zhang Cang said in a low voice.

"You’ve gotten smarter this time," Huang Xian’Er said with a smile.

Then she asked, "So, are you planning to just let it go?"

"No... I want to find out... You clearly gave him ten taels of silver that day."

"So why did he still end up like this?"

Zhang Cang took a deep breath.

"That’s simple enough."

"To be honest, I want to find out, too."

Huang Xian’Er said with a smile.

「Nightfall.」

「Hongque Tower.」

It was the most popular brothel in the area, a place where many powerful and influential men came to amuse themselves.

Chief Constable Luo Zhang of the County Yamen was one of them.

As he walked into Hongque Tower, the colorfully dressed Procuress hurried to greet him. "Chief Constable Luo, we’ve been waiting for you! Miss Baihua has been in her room expecting you for a long time."

Luo Zhang laughed heartily. "Official business at the County Yamen was demanding today, so I’m a bit late."

"Then you should go explain that to Miss Baihua. It’s no use telling me," the Procuress said with a laugh.

"Then I’ll head right over." The mere thought of Miss Baihua sent Luo Zhang’s mind racing.

"The usual place," the Procuress said, covering her mouth with a chuckle.

Luo Zhang, of course, knew where the "usual place" was.

He cut through the brothel and arrived at a courtyard in the back.

Inside a room off the courtyard, a red candle was burning slowly.

Luo Zhang couldn’t wait to get inside the room.

But what awaited him was not Miss Baihua, but a cold, hard longsword.

"Miss... whatever it is... we can talk it out."

Luo Zhang raised his hands in terror, his legs trembling.

"Come in and talk."

Huang Xian’Er said calmly.

Luo Zhang could only bite the bullet, walk into the room, and, as per Huang Xian’Er’s instructions, sit down on a stool.

Only then did Zhang Cang step out from a corner, shut the door, and blow out the candle.

"You two... how have I offended you?"

Luo Zhang asked, bracing himself.

"You know Li Liu... the farmer you killed the day before yesterday."

"What crime did he actually commit?"

Zhang Cang asked.

"Li Liu? The man owed the Qian Family money and wouldn’t pay. He even hacked one of the Qian Family’s stewards to death with a hatchet."

"I was just handling it by the book."

Luo Zhang explained hastily.

"Is that so? Then why was his body hung up?"

’He knew this guy wouldn’t be straight with them.’

"That was the Qian Family’s idea... The Qians are a powerful clan around here... I didn’t dare offend them. I could only do as they asked."

Luo Zhang wore an expression of utter helplessness.

Huang Xian’Er smiled. "Cover your mouth. If you make a sound in a moment, I’ll slit your throat."

Luo Zhang looked baffled but still covered his mouth with his right hand.

SHLICK!

The next second.

Huang Xian’Er swung her longsword and lopped off the little finger of Luo Zhang’s left hand.

The pain was blinding.

Luo Zhang’s face contorted in agony.

But remembering Huang Xian’Er’s words, he could only clamp his right hand tighter over his mouth, refusing to make a sound.

"Now, tell me what really happened."

"Of course, you could also say you don’t know."

Huang Xian’Er offered a faint smile.

Luo Zhang’s voice trembled from the pain. "It was the Qian Family’s evil..."

"The Qian Family sent a Steward to collect the grain Li Liu owed. To their surprise, Li Liu produced ten taels of silver, wanting to clear his debt."

"But the Steward said it wasn’t enough. He claimed that the interest accumulated over the years had to be paid too. After some calculation, he came up with another ten taels of silver."

"Li Liu couldn’t possibly produce another ten taels of silver. Seeing this, the Steward tried to force him to sign an indenture contract for his son."

"Li Liu and his wife refused to the death, and they were brutally beaten for it."

"Li Liu watched with his own eyes as his wife was beaten to death... Like a wild animal, he grabbed a hatchet and hacked that Steward to death."

Hearing this, even with his good temper, Zhang Cang felt a boundless rage rise within him.

"What a fine ’compounding interest’!"

"To think they could squeeze another ten taels of silver out of it!"

Luo Zhang quickly added, "You two... it really had nothing to do with me. I was just following orders from above."

Zhang Cang paid him no mind, asking directly, "What about Li Liu’s son?"

"Li Liu’s son... I heard he was taken to the Qian Family’s estate."

"He apparently tried to escape later, was discovered, and was whipped to death."

Luo Zhang said hurriedly.

He was a crafty old fox and knew these two were probably here to avenge Li Liu.

Naturally, he had to shift their attention to the Qian Family.

That would make his own situation a little safer.

"And you, a constable, knew all this and did nothing?"

This time it was Huang Xian’Er who asked.

"Lady Knight... how could I possibly dare to interfere in the Qian Family’s affairs?"

Luo Zhang said with a bitter smile.

"It’s not that you couldn’t interfere... You’re just in the same nest of vipers as the Qian Family."

Huang Xian’Er sneered.

Luo Zhang tried to explain, but Huang Xian’Er wasn’t listening. She simply drew her sword across his throat.

After the kill, Huang Xian’Er flicked the blood from her blade.

’She couldn’t let a man like that dirty her sword.’

Zhang Cang, however, said nothing.

The two left Hongque Tower and walked down the dark street.

"What are you thinking about?" Huang Xian’Er asked.

"Nothing... I just feel a bit helpless."

"I really thought that with those ten taels of silver, Li Liu’s fate would change."

"But in the end... it was all the same."

Zhang Cang shook his head.

"So? What are you going to do about it?"

Huang Xian’Er asked.

"What am I going to do?"

"I was just asking myself the same thing."

"And now I have an answer."

Zhang Cang suddenly began to laugh.

He looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

"Daoists... can kill, too."

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