Chapter 43: Disappearance

Beneath the moonlight, a flicker of panic crossed Zhao He’s eyes.

He had held back just now, wanting to observe the situation.

If Han Yuan’s strength had been too poor, he wouldn’t have minded tearing up their private agreement and taking the opportunity to kill him.

But he never expected Han Yuan to have guessed his little scheme.

"Chief Constable Han, you must be joking."

"I may not be what you’d call a gentleman, but I would never backstab an ally."

Zhao He suppressed that trace of panic and said with a faint smile.

"Is that so..."

"But I don’t possess the Mind Reading Technique, so I have no way of knowing if you’re hiding some ulterior motive."

"So I’m thinking... it would be simpler to just kill you. That would settle things once and for all and save me the trouble of guessing."

Han Yuan said flatly.

Zhao He felt as if he were being stared down by a bloodthirsty beast. He stumbled back a few steps in fear, his face turning pale.

Based on the strength Han Yuan had just displayed, killing him would be as easy as flipping a hand.

Even if he tried to escape, he probably wouldn’t get far.

"Chief Constable Han... Qingshui County has so many gangs... someone has to manage them."

"There are some things you can’t be seen handling yourself..."

Zhao He said hurriedly.

He knew that to stay alive, he had to make Han Yuan see his value.

"I know..."

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on Du Shou’s corpse.

"Hong Ming’an hired him, didn’t he?"

Zhao He nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Hong Ming’an paid a hefty sum to hire this man."

"How hefty a sum are we talking about?" Han Yuan asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Probably five or six hundred taels of silver," Zhao He said.

"Son of a bitch!"

"My life is only worth five or six hundred taels? Who the hell does he think he is looking down on!"

Hearing this number, Han Yuan was clearly getting angry.

Zhao He’s expression was strange, but he didn’t dare to reply.

’Even Hong Mingchang is dead... how does Hong Ming’an still dare to cause trouble?’

’I don’t get it... I just don’t get it.’

Han Yuan sheathed his Cold Blade and habitually began searching the corpse.

On Du Shou, he found a silver note worth five hundred taels of silver.

It must have been the payment from Hong Ming’an.

But Qian Yuanlang’s corpse had nothing on it, which Han Yuan found deeply frustrating.

After looting the body, Han Yuan didn’t spare Du Shou another glance and vanished into the dim night.

Zhao He watched Han Yuan’s departing figure, clenched his jaw, and also left quickly.

...

Inside an ordinary residence.

Hong Ming’an was waiting for the results of the ambush on Han Yuan.

He was the sole mastermind behind tonight’s assassination plot against Han Yuan.

He knew that if Han Yuan wasn’t eliminated, it was only a matter of time before Han Yuan came to settle the score with him. That’s why he had joined forces with Zhao He and Qian Yuanlang.

He had even spared no expense to hire a Martial World Thief at the Body Tempering Realm from the Black Market.

Only then could they eliminate this god of slaughter, Han Yuan.

’Three Body Tempering Realm experts joining forces... even if that Han Yuan had three heads and six arms, he’d be no match for them.’

Hong Ming’an sat on a stool, took a small sip of tea, his expression relaxed. He wasn’t the least bit anxious.

In his eyes, as long as Han Yuan took the bait, there was no chance of failure.

BANG.

A knock came from the door.

Hong Ming’an smiled faintly, rose quickly, and opened the door.

The scholar-like figure of Zhao He appeared before him.

"Gang Leader Zhao, has Han Yuan been dealt with?"

Hong Ming’an asked with a smile upon seeing his visitor.

"He’s been dealt with..."

"And Han Yuan asked me to give you a message."

Zhao He said flatly.

"Oh? What did Han Yuan say before he died?"

Hong Ming’an was a little curious.

"He asked me to send you down to the Underworld."

Zhao He smiled. A dagger sprang from the paper fan in his hand and plunged viciously into Hong Ming’an’s heart.

Fast, precise, and ruthless!

"You!!"

Hong Ming’an’s old eyes were filled with horror.

He never imagined that Zhao He would turn on him.

’How could this be?!’

"Don’t blame me."

"You just lost, that’s all."

Zhao He calmly pulled the paper fan out.

Hong Ming’an collapsed to the ground without a sound, his life slowly fading away.

Soon, a few more men from the Cyan Sand Gang came in and quickly disposed of Hong Ming’an’s body.

...

Hong Ming’an’s disappearance didn’t even cause a stir.

Even the Hong Family didn’t come to the County Yamen to make trouble. They just quickly liquidated their assets and left Qingshui County for good.

Zheng Heda had long since gathered evidence of Hong Ming’an accepting bribes. He seized the opportunity to send it directly to the County Government Office, claiming that Hong Ming’an had fled to escape punishment.

Soon, the County Government Office sent back official documents, demanding that Hong Ming’an be apprehended and brought to justice.

「County Yamen, Main Hall.」

"Heheh."

"Chief Constable Han, I’ll have to entrust the capture of Hong Ming’an to you."

Zheng Heda handed Han Yuan an official document.

Han Yuan had already told him about what happened with Hong Ming’an.

He knew in his heart that the man would likely never be caught.

"Then I’ll do my best."

Han Yuan said with a smile.

"Mm."

"This is the Hong Family’s share."

Zheng Heda produced another envelope.

Han Yuan accepted it with a smile, saying nothing.

...

In the days that followed, Qingshui County actually became more peaceful.

The Cyan Sand Gang swallowed up the Fire Wolf Gang and became the largest gang in Qingshui County.

Zhao He established many rules, causing the small and medium-sized gangs to be less brazen than before and to abide by a certain code of conduct.

During this time, Han Yuan also summoned all the gang leaders in the city.

He made only one point.

He couldn’t be bothered to manage the gangs’ infighting and bloody battles, but they were not to harm the common people.

In Qingshui County now, who didn’t fear Han Yuan? The gang leaders had no choice but to obediently comply.

And so, the common people soon discovered that public order in Qingshui County had gradually improved. Even the gangs that collected protection money weren’t sucking them dry to the bone like before.

At the very least, they could now scrape by and have enough to eat.

The County Yamen had basically become Zheng Heda’s personal domain, and all the officials had been replaced with his own people.

Meanwhile, Han Yuan continued to cultivate his Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt day and night, basically paying no mind to anything else.

「In the blink of an eye, more than a month passed.」

...

The night was dim, and the streets were pitch-black.

Zhao Jian walked out of the gambling den with a look of frustration, cursing under his breath.

"It must’ve been that bastard Wang the Fourth clapping me on the shoulder. How could I have lost otherwise?"

"I even picked an auspicious day to come, damn it all!"

Having lost everything, Zhao Jian walked towards his home, still muttering curses.

He was thinking about how to explain himself to that wife of his at home.

If he didn’t come up with an excuse, that tigress would definitely tear him limb from limb.

As he walked, Zhao Jian suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

It was as if something was staring at his back.

Zhao Jian glanced back. The street was pitch-black, and he was the only one there. There was no one behind him.

"Damn, I lost so much money I’m starting to hallucinate."

Zhao Jian shook his head, dismissed it, and started walking again.

But as he kept walking, the feeling of being secretly spied on grew more and more intense.

He could even feel that the gaze was filled with a bloody malice, raising goosebumps all over his skin.

Terrified, Zhao Jian began to panic and quickened his pace.

It wasn’t until he got home that the terrifying sensation slowly faded away.

He figured he was just being paranoid.

Looking at his wife sleeping soundly on the bed, Zhao Jian felt tired too. After calming down, he got into bed to sleep.