novelraw Chapter 235
Chapter 235
Chunfeng Pavilion.
The Crimson Pavilion assassin “Tie Eleven” was holding a girl from the pavilion in his arms, drinking and making merry.
“Hejiang Town is quite a fine place.”
“The young ladies here have graceful figures and tender skin. For a mere town like Hejiang, to have beauties like this—what kind of unparalleled stunner must the courtesan of Sanhe Commandery be?”
Tie Eleven nearly teased the girl in his arms into pouting. Her voice grew softer and more intimate.
“Young Master Wang, saying that is looking down on our Hejiang Town a little. Our town may be small, but the business here is anything but small.”
“I once heard a Deputy Helm Leader from Caobang say that during the best time of the year, a single day could bring in over a hundred taels of gold in revenue! It is truly a place where money pours in like water.”
“So profitable?”
Tie Eleven widened his eyes in mock astonishment. “A mere branch helm can take in ten thousand taels of gold a year?”
“Hmph! Otherwise, how could Caobang spread its business across the five lakes and four seas and challenge the Beggar Sect for the title of the greatest gang in the world? When it comes to making money, how many gangs in the Jianghu can compare?”The girl called Xiao Hong shot him a flirtatious glance, not without pride.
“No wonder you beauties are willing to stay in such a small place. So even a little branch helm is a treasure bowl. You truly have good judgment.”
Tie Eleven burst into laughter.
“Unfortunately, the Sanjiang Branch Helm has had many incidents lately. Three helm leaders and deputy helm leaders have died. Another was injured, and I heard he has not fully recovered. Those wealthy patrons have not shown up much recently.”
“Three deputy helm leaders died? What happened?”
Tie Eleven feigned shock.
“Young Master Wang, let us drink.”
Between laughter and chatter, another pot of wine was emptied. Xiao Hong clearly explained how the three deputy helm leaders had died.
On the surface, Tie Eleven appeared heavily intoxicated. In truth, his mind was perfectly clear, and he had already grasped most of the situation of Caobang’s Sanjiang Branch Helm.
After the deaths of the three helm leaders and deputy helm leaders, the Sanjiang Branch Helm was now overseen only by a newly appointed helm leader and a single deputy helm leader. No new deputies had been assigned.
His targets were only two…
The task would be easy.
At that moment, Xiao Hong looked regretful and reached for the wine pot.
“There is no more wine. Quickly, bring Young Master Wang another pot.”
“Coming right up.”
A passing attendant smilingly took the empty pot and placed a fresh, full one on the table.
“Tsk tsk.”
“A place where money pours in like water must have many disputes. Being the helm leader of the Sanjiang Branch Helm cannot be easy.”
Tie Eleven continued probing for information.
Xiao Hong followed his lead.
“Is that not so?”
“I heard the new helm leader is quite timid. Although the assassin is dead, hardly anyone sees him. He has never once come to our Chunfeng Pavilion, such a delightful place…”
“Does not like beauties? Then he must be a gambler! Hahaha…”
Tie Eleven joked.
Xiao Hong poured wine while shaking her head.
“I heard the new helm leader is quite young. He neither frequents brothels nor has a habit of gambling. Truly a strange man.”
“That is indeed strange.”
Tie Eleven rotated the wine cup in his hand, a playful gleam in his eyes.
That meant he could not catch the man in brothels or gambling houses.
“With so much money earned every day, if he does not spend it, how are you supposed to make your living?”
“Exactly.”
“Young Master Wang is the best. Xiao Hong offers you a toast.”
Amid soft fragrance and tender warmth, Tie Eleven soon finished yet another pot of wine.
Before long, his vision blurred. The single Xiao Hong before him became two, then four.
“Young Master Wang, you are so impressive… I am drunk.”
Xiao Hong fared no better. Swaying, she collapsed into his arms.
“This wine…”
Young Master Wang’s scalp prickled. He sensed something was wrong. He tried to stand, but his body felt limp, completely devoid of strength.
The hall remained lively and noisy.
No one noticed as several attendants and men dressed like Caobang disciples supported him out.
Splash!
A bucket of cold water was poured over his face.
When Tie Eleven awoke, he was tightly bound in cowhide ropes, soaked through, and still unable to muster any strength.
In front of him, two figures stood in the shadows. One held a bucket.
“Hero…”
“Hero, spare my life.”
“I will give you all the money on me. I only beg you to spare me.”
Tie Eleven’s acting was superb.
At that moment, the man holding the bucket spoke.
“Helm Leader, he is awake. Shall I apply torture and pry open his mouth before reporting to you?”
The speaker was Chen Ergou.
The other figure was naturally Wangchuan.
After learning that the suspect was drinking at Chunfeng Pavilion, Wangchuan had immediately ordered someone to fetch medicine and mix it into the man’s wine. Without much effort, they had brought him to the branch helm’s interrogation room.
When Tie Eleven heard the word “Helm Leader,” a flicker of fear flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it and put on a panicked expression.
“Caobang?”
“You are people from Caobang?”
“Brother! Brother, there must be some mistake…”
“I am an honest businessman!”
Wangchuan stepped forward from the shadows. A faintly mocking smile hung on his cold face as he tossed a belt onto the ground. It struck the floor with a crisp metallic sound.
“An honest businessman? Why would you carry a soft sword on your person? This is a specially forged weapon. The Crimson Pavilion assassin who killed my two deputy helm leaders last time happened to use the same kind.”
At those words, Tie Eleven’s face instantly turned ghastly pale.
They had discovered the soft sword hidden inside his belt.
His identity was exposed.
It was over.
In that instant, Tie Eleven abandoned any thought of struggle. He slumped backward and stared at the dark ceiling of the interrogation room with a bitter smile.
“To think that Crimson Pavilion would fall twice to a mere second-rank Jianghu nobody.”
Then, as if recalling something, he added through gritted teeth, “A man who neither drinks at brothels nor gambles is indeed suspicious… and dangerous.”
“Enough nonsense. If you want to live, name your accomplices.”
Wangchuan fixed him with a calm, steady gaze.
Tie Eleven shook his head indifferently.
“I have no accomplices.”
He did not want to betray his companions.
He knew he would not survive. Even if he betrayed them, he could not escape the organization’s pursuit.
Wangchuan let out a cold laugh.
“I have heard of Crimson Pavilion’s rules. If a mission fails once, the next attempt will escalate. Since you are only a third-rank ordinary assassin, there must be others.”
“…”
Tie Eleven remained silent.
Wangchuan stared at him for several breaths before issuing his order.
“Put a hood over his head. Send him overnight to the Prefectural Government and hand him to Old Seven. If he is to die, he will not die on the grounds of the Sanjiang Branch Helm.”
As for whether they could pry open the mouth of a Crimson Pavilion assassin, that would depend on Old Seven’s ability.