Chief Zhu, the captain of the yamen, had personally overseen He Zifeng’s family division, and at the time, he suspected that He Zifeng must have some connection to the county magistrate. Otherwise, the magistrate wouldn’t have personally ordered the case handled.
Witnessing He Zifeng’s situation that day left a strong impression on Chief Zhu. Fortunately, the old village chief had intervened, ensuring a smooth resolution.
Chief Zhu had been busy with private matters and relied on his deputy to manage the office. Thus, he hadn’t realized that He Zifeng had joined as a constable.
The deputy, noticing Chief Zhu’s interest in He Zifeng, whispered, “He’s someone the old village chief recommended.”
Chief Zhu nodded in understanding and then declared, “He Zifeng will lead the search group.”
His words stunned everyone. This was effectively a fast-tracked promotion for He Zifeng.
The fifteen other members in the group were indignant but dared not voice objections.
Once Chief Zhu left, they surrounded He Zifeng. “What’s your connection to the chief?”
At that moment, three members of the city gate guard group recognized He Zifeng. “That day, Chief Zhu personally went to oversee his family division,” they explained. These guards had accompanied the chief back then, and while they had initially failed to recognize He Zifeng, his sudden rise jogged their memories.
Those who had initially intended to cause trouble backed off. Even if they didn’t respect He Zifeng, they couldn’t risk offending the chief.
Brother Xiong had been assigned to the city guard group, while Bingzi and Xie Rui were in He Zifeng’s search group.
Given the magistrate’s strict orders, everyone got to work quickly. Despite their usual laziness, they were diligent when it mattered.
The teams divided up their tasks: patrolling, guarding the gates, and searching the city. Two groups had already set out.
He Zifeng addressed his group, “I’m the newest here, with the least experience. If there’s anything I overlook, please bear with me. I’ll share my thoughts, and feel free to offer suggestions.”
His tactful words eased some of the tension among the group.
He divided the sixteen men into three sub-groups. Zhou Hao led one, Lin Feng the other. Though these two were known for organizing drinking parties and frequenting brothels, He Zifeng saw their potential: they were well-connected and capable organizers. Given their camaraderie with the others, they could command respect.
The two were surprised but excited to be given leadership roles.
He Zifeng led the third group, which included Xie Rui, Bingzi, and three others.
Though the first two sub-groups were smaller by one person, no one complained. Everyone knew Xie Rui’s cowardice would render him useless in any real danger.
Lin Feng and Zhou Hao asked, “What’s the plan?”
He Zifeng explained, “Since this pair of bandits isn’t local, they won’t stay in crowded areas. As strangers, their movements would quickly draw attention. Likely hiding spots include the pleasure district, gambling dens, and the impoverished Su City’ street.
“They’ve created such a stir that they’d expect us to search inns first. That would play right into their hands. We need to catch them off guard.”
He Zifeng had thoroughly familiarized himself with the county’s streets during his patrols.
Su City’ street was notorious for its poverty and crime, home to thugs, vagrants, and clandestine prostitutes. If the bandits were hiding there, they wouldn’t be easily noticed.
With memories from his past life, He Zifeng vividly recalled these bandits renting a room for five coins a day at the home of a blind old woman on Su City’ street. They had murdered her and her granddaughter, leaving a bloody handprint on the wall before escaping. The city had been gripped by fear for years afterward.
Determined to prevent such a tragedy, He Zifeng laid out his plan. Lin Feng and Zhou Hao agreed it was sound.
The three groups covered different areas but remained close enough to support each other. Each group carried signal flares for emergencies.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, they armed themselves with finely sharpened blades from the armory.
He Zifeng commanded, “Follow me.”
His group began questioning residents on Su City’ street.
Since he only knew the general details—an elderly blind woman living with her granddaughter—he had no specific address. Su City’ street housed hundreds of densely packed families.
He assigned Bingzi to guard the only exit. “If anyone tries to run, cut them down.”
Meanwhile, Xie Rui, trembling with fear, clung closely to the group. His pale face and chattering teeth betrayed his terror.
He Zifeng, knowing the bandits were indeed hiding here, chose not to disclose this to Xie Rui, fearing the man might lose control.
“You go to West City and fetch two taels of Bamboo Leaf Green wine,” He Zifeng said, handing him 200 coins. The renowned wine shop in West City was their only source. This not only gave Xie Rui a way out but also allowed He Zifeng to handle the situation without distraction.
Although Xie Rui was timid, he reasoned that he might not be unlucky enough to encounter the notorious pair. “If I fall behind, it’ll be even more dangerous. I’d better stay close to you,” he said.
“Alright,” He Zifeng replied.
They began searching house by house.
Inside, they found gamblers crowded together and improper couples fooling around in broken-down sheds filled with an unpleasant stench.
He Zifeng warned his group to stay close. Their numbers might intimidate the thieves, but if they split up, they risked losing their lives in a confrontation.
Outside, patrols continued, and the city gates were sealed as tightly as a drum. Without exceptional skills, there was no escaping the city.
Meanwhile, the infamous duo hid in a farmyard. One of them was drinking, relishing the memory of their previous night’s mockery of the county magistrate.
The pair had long since accumulated wealth. They derived pleasure from sowing chaos, leaving towns in fear. Their behavior was irrational, far from that of ordinary people.
Surprisingly, the male thief appeared refined, while the other—a “ge’er”—had been cold-blooded since childhood. For him, killing was as easy as slaughtering a chicken.
They had planned to rest during the day, but the commotion outside was incessant. Irritated, the ge’er twitched his nose, a sign that his urge to kill was surfacing.
“I’ll go check,” the male thief said.
Stepping outside, he kicked a five-year-old girl awake. The blind old woman and her granddaughter had rented them the house for five extra coins, leaving themselves to sleep in the woodshed.
The girl, though terrified, didn’t cry. She feared this handsome man.
“Go find out what’s happening,” the man ordered.
The girl obeyed and returned shortly. “It’s the authorities looking for someone,” she reported.
The man’s face turned pale. He quickly informed his ge’er partner of the situation.
The thieves had caused havoc in multiple locations, yet the speed of the county’s response unsettled them.
Years of evading law enforcement had honed their instincts. Though they felt a pang of unease, the ge’er dismissed it. “Just a bunch of useless officials,” he sneered. “What can they do in broad daylight? We’ll deal with them tonight and rid ourselves of these pests.”
He Zifeng and his team methodically searched, eventually arriving at the old woman’s home. She opened the door hesitantly, nervous in the presence of officials. “Sirs, what’s the matter?”
Xie Rui stepped forward. “We’re searching for dangerous criminals. Bring everyone out; we’ll inspect your home.” Having spent half an hour searching harmless residences, Xie Rui felt braver now, especially with He Zifeng nearby.
The old woman called for her granddaughter and mentioned two distant guests staying inside. She sent the girl to fetch them.
Hearing this, He Zifeng’s breathing briefly halted. He quickly composed himself, hiding any signs of alarm.
Soon, the sound of coughing emerged from inside.
A man claiming to be a doctor opened the door. “My younger brother is ill and cannot be exposed to the wind,” he said, offering a coin pouch containing 200 wen.
He Zifeng weighed it briefly before tossing it to the ground in disgust. “You think this small sum is enough to buy me off?” He shoved past the man, opening the door further to reveal a sickly yet captivating ge’er inside. His pale skin and delicate features exuded an enticing charm.
The doctor dropped to his knees, trembling. “Please, sir, forgive us. My brother is too weak for such disturbance.”
“Brother? Or your ‘special brother’?(Lover)” one constable snickered, prompting others to laugh. They’d seen plenty of brothels during their patrols, but none with someone as attractive as this.
The ge’er shifted back slightly, an action that seemed more inviting than defensive to these men—except for He Zifeng, whose composure stood firm.
After a cursory search of the room, He Zifeng ordered, “Let’s move on to the next house.”
Reluctantly, the group left.
Once alone, the doctor muttered, “They’ve all been exposed to the Pursuing Soul Incense.” This special incense clung to clothing, its scent lingering for a year, guiding trained bees to track its targets, ensuring their eventual demise.
The ge’er wiped the greenish tint from his face with a damp cloth, revealing his true color. Coldly, he declared, “Everyone who has seen my face must die.”
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