Chapter 30: The Truth

Han Yuan left Gao Yuan’s courtyard, seemingly with a heavy heart, but on a strange impulse, he ducked into a patch of bushes.

Not long after.

He saw a figure furtively approaching.

’Why is this guy here too?’

Hiding in the shadows, Han Yuan’s heart turned cold.

The figure was none other than the Prison Chief, Zhang Fang.

After watching Zhang Fang enter Gao Yuan’s courtyard, he didn’t dare get too close and could only leave for the time being.

After entering the room, Zhang Fang cupped his fist in salute to Gao Yuan.

"Chief Constable Gao, that move of yours was brilliant."

"You had that brat Han Yuan completely fooled, making him willingly become a blade in your hand."

A contemptuous smile touched Gao Yuan’s lips. "It seems Han Jiudao really didn’t tell Han Yuan anything. That’s good. As long as we pin all the blame on the Cyan Sand Gang, Han Yuan will be useful to me."

Zhang Fang laughed. "As long as we take care of the Cyan Sand Gang this time... the remaining Fire Wolf Gang will be nothing to worry about."

Gao Yuan nodded, his expression turning grave again. "This time, prepare more people..."

He held up five fingers.

Zhang Fang immediately looked troubled. "Chief Constable Gao... this... where am I supposed to get that many people?"

"Don’t worry... you just need to gather them within three months."

"It doesn’t matter if there are a few less vagrants and beggars on the streets," Gao Yuan said lightly.

"I... I’ll do my best."

Zhang Fang didn’t dare to refuse.

He knew that if he didn’t agree, his end would be absolutely miserable.

"Don’t worry... I’m sure it won’t be too difficult for you."

Gao Yuan patted Zhang Fang’s shoulder and smiled.

"Rest assured, my lord, it will be no problem."

Zhang Fang nodded hastily.

"Mm, do a good job."

Gao Yuan nodded.

Zhang Fang’s eyes were filled with helplessness.

....

’Interesting...’

Inside the County Yamen’s storehouse, Han Yuan’s expression flickered as he stared at the note in his hand.

He replayed his conversation with Gao Yuan in his mind, making sure he hadn’t revealed any weaknesses.

Because of that letter, he had always maintained a trace of vigilance towards Gao Yuan.

Moreover, after his last analysis with Wang Changbai, he felt that the Cyan Sand Gang most likely had nothing to do with Han Jiudao’s disappearance.

Therefore, Gao Yuan’s actions tonight seemed bizarre to Han Yuan.

He only believed three-tenths of what he said.

So he hid his true thoughts and put on a convincing act.

’My brother... just why did he disappear?’

’And who was it that slipped that letter into my house?’

’Is Gao Yuan good or bad...?’

Han Yuan felt as if he were shrouded in fog.

’If Gao Yuan really is behind this... and Zhang Fang showed up right after I left...’

’...Could it be that what Old Zhang told me before... was also meant to lure me in, or even to test me?!’

’This guy is shady too?!’

A glint flashed in Han Yuan’s eyes.

He felt that to find out whether Gao Yuan was good or bad, he had to start with Zhang Fang.

After thinking things through, he stretched his muscles and went into the courtyard to practice his Mountain-Breaking Fist.

His conversation with Gao Yuan tonight had intensified his sense of urgency.

What came next wasn’t a matter of avenging Han Jiudao.

It was a matter of whether he could survive.

Because once some things came knocking, there was no escaping them.

He trained until late into the night. Only after applying a layer of medicinal ointment did Han Yuan fall into a deep sleep.

.....

「The next day.」

After handing over his duties to another constable, Han Yuan walked back home.

On the way, a young beggar suddenly brushed past him.

Han Yuan’s eyes flickered, and he quietly slipped into a small alley.

Afterward, he changed direction and headed to the riverbank in Qingshui County.

Many small boats were moored there.

Han Yuan’s gaze locked onto a small boat with salted fish hanging from it.

The boatman was a small, thin, dark-skinned old man. Seeing Han Yuan enter the cabin, he pushed off with a bamboo pole, slowly heading toward the center of the river.

"Magistrate Zheng, Steward Zhang, if you two wanted to see me, was there any need to be so mysterious?"

Han Yuan looked at the two people in the cabin, his expression surprised.

He hadn’t expected these two to be the ones looking for him.

"Constable Han, it’s not safe to meet anywhere else."

"It’s safer here on the river."

Zhang Hu solicitously poured Han Yuan a cup of tea.

"Not safe... you mean even the County Yamen isn’t safe enough?"

"Steward Zhang, your words seem to imply something."

Han Yuan blinked.

"Han Yuan, you’ve been serving in the County Yamen for a long time now."

"You must know that while I, the County Magistrate, may seem imposing on the outside, I actually hold no real power in the Yamen."

"Previously, even promoting you to constable required someone else’s approval."

Zheng Heda said with a sigh.

"Indeed... Constable Han."

"The Magistrate has never forgotten the debt he owes you for saving his wife," Zhang Hu chimed in from the side.

Han Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly. He knew Zheng Heda’s words were no exaggeration.

This County Magistrate’s presence in the Yamen was indeed negligible.

Basically, all matters, big or small, were handled by Gao Yuan.

"My lord... that letter, it was you who slipped it to me, wasn’t it?" Han Yuan said softly.

"That’s right, it was me," Zheng Heda admitted directly.

"Let me tell you, Gao Yuan may seem like just a Chief Constable, but his power is greater than mine, the County Magistrate."

"His in-laws are the He Family, the most powerful magnate clan in Qinghe County."

"Besides him, the various officials in the County Yamen, high and low, are also members of other magnate clans."

"These people’s roots are tangled and intertwined, their interests tightly bound together. Taxes, finances, even the storehouses—none of it is under my control. It makes me, the County Magistrate, little more than a figurehead."

"So tell me, is the County Yamen still safe?" Zheng Heda said with a bitter smile.

These past few years, his time as County Magistrate had indeed been filled with bitterness.

Even the time his wife was robbed while going out to offer incense, it was because those gangs didn’t dare to move against Gao Yuan, so they targeted his wife instead—a classic case of "beating the mountain to frighten the tiger."

"Lord He, you still haven’t told me," Han Yuan didn’t want to hear Zheng Heda’s complaints. "Why I should be wary of Chief Constable Gao."

"It’s simple... Gao Yuan is very likely connected to your brother’s disappearance."

"I know Gao Yuan summoned you last night."

"I don’t know what he said to you, but you must believe me."

"Gao Yuan is the one who murdered your brother," Zheng Heda said in a low, heavy voice.

"Why?" Han Yuan remained calm.

"Before your brother disappeared, he came to see me."

"He revealed a piece of information to me..."

"He was investigating the County Prison. He discovered that inside the County Prison, it seemed a dozen or so people would mysteriously disappear every month..."

"But the people who disappeared were all scum—the kind that no one would even bury if they died, the kind no one would care about."

"But your brother just had to discover this secret... He felt something was fishy, so he began to investigate in secret," Zheng Heda narrated slowly.

"My brother never mentioned this to me." Han Yuan frowned.

"He didn’t tell you to protect you," Zheng Heda said softly.

"So my brother disappeared because he was investigating this matter?" Han Yuan was lost in thought.

"Yes... I asked him."

"Besides me, he had only revealed it to Gao Yuan."

"Perhaps... that’s why he brought a fatal disaster upon himself."

"Although I know the truth, I don’t dare make a move. Otherwise, my own life would be at risk," Zheng Heda sighed.

"You could have told me sooner," Han Yuan said coldly.

"I... I was hesitating."

"Before, there was no point in telling you. You didn’t have the ability to get revenge on Gao Yuan."

"Even now that I’ve told you, I don’t know if you’ll believe me, because I have no proof."

Zheng Heda looked into Han Yuan’s eyes.

"Then why did you seek me out now?"

Han Yuan also looked into Zheng Heda’s eyes.

"Because... I want to take a gamble!!!"