Chapter 285 - 180: Protection

Chapter 285: Chapter 180: Protection

But there was nothing he could really do to Xu Chongyuan.

After holding out for so long, Xu Chongyuan was finally willing to talk.

As long as he talked, the Inspection Bureau would have a breakthrough. For that, he was willing to give Xu Chongyuan a little something.

"Heh, first bring me some fine wine and good food. I haven’t had a proper meal in days. I have no strength to talk."

Xu Chongyuan said lazily.

Wu Qiuyuan glared at him with narrowed eyes for a long moment before finally waving his hand. "Go. Prepare wine and food."

More than an hour later, Xu Chongyuan let out a satisfied burp.

Wu Qiuyuan’s face was already a mask of impatience.

"You can talk now, can’t you?"

Wu Qiuyuan said coldly.

"Don’t be in such a hurry."

Xu Chongyuan said while picking his teeth, "After a full meal and wine, wouldn’t it be a waste of life not to listen to a little music?

I doubt you can get the Xiang Family, so just casually fetch me a courtesan. I want to listen to some music!"

"You—!"

Wu Qiuyuan was furious, his chest heaving violently.

Finally, he managed to suppress his anger.

’For the sake of the Wuling Taiping Bureau’s great secret, I’ll let this Xu Chongyuan be smug for a little while longer!’

"Go get one!"

Wu Qiuyuan waved his hand and ordered coldly.

More than another hour passed.

Watching Xu Chongyuan, his eyes closed, lost in the music, Wu Qiuyuan was finally losing his patience.

"Xu Chongyuan, you can talk now, can’t you?

I’ve met all of your conditions!"

Wu Qiuyuan said coldly.

"Oh, you can’t satisfy me."

Xu Chongyuan yawned and said, "I still want to have a long, heart-to-heart talk with the courtesan all night."

As he spoke, Xu Chongyuan shot a look at the courtesan who was playing her instrument.

"Don’t push your luck!"

Wu Qiuyuan roared.

"Lord Wu, as the saying goes, haste makes waste. My great secret must naturally be sold to the highest bidder."

Xu Chongyuan said with a chuckle, "If Lord Wu doesn’t want to hear it, you’re free to leave."

"Very well!"

Wu Qiuyuan said coldly, "You keep playing. I’ll be back tomorrow!"

With that, he turned to leave.

CRACK!

A wine cup flew through the air.

Wu Qiuyuan blocked it instinctively.

CRUNCH.

The cup shattered against his scabbard, splashing wine all over him.

"I gave you an inch and you took a mile! Eat my fist!"

It all happened in a flash.

A massive fist rapidly grew larger in Wu Qiuyuan’s vision.

THWACK!

Suddenly, Wu Qiuyuan was sporting a black eye.

"Xu Chongyuan! I’ll kill you!"

Wu Qiuyuan exploded with rage.

He drew his blade and charged.

In an instant, the two were clashing, sending CLANGS and BANGS through the room.

The other Inspectors looked at each other in dismay.

’How did they start fighting?’

’Should we intervene or not?’

By the time they came to their senses and rushed forward to separate the two, Wu Qiuyuan was already sporting two black eyes.

Xu Chongyuan wore a smug grin and didn’t resist, allowing several Inspectors to pin him to the ground.

"Wu Qiuyuan, you have no sincerity at all."

Xu Chongyuan shouted, "I’ve decided. I’m specifically not going to tell you the secret now."

"Hey, you there. Come here. I’ll tell you the secret, and you can take the credit."

He called out to Wang Guan.

Wang Guan scurried over eagerly.

Xu Chongyuan whispered something in his ear, then flopped onto his back and, feigning drunkenness, began to snore loudly.

Wu Qiuyuan was on the verge of going insane with anger.

If the other Inspectors hadn’t been holding him back, he would have already torn Xu Chongyuan limb from limb.

"Lord Wu, don’t be rash."

An Inspector grabbed Wu Qiuyuan and advised, "Xu Chongyuan hasn’t committed a capital crime. If you kill him, the Taiping Bureau won’t let it go."

"I—!"

Wu Qiuyuan was stamping his feet in a thunderous rage.

"Wang Guan, what was the secret he just told you?"

"He said..."

Wang Guan said hesitantly, "He said the great secret is... that Governor Zhao Poni... wet the bed until he was ten..."

Wu Qiuyuan felt his vision go black.

"That’s the Wuling Taiping Bureau’s great secret?"

"Yes."

Wang Guan said matter-of-factly, "Think about it, Lord Wu. The esteemed Governor of the Wuling Taiping Bureau was still wetting the bed at ten years old. Isn’t that humiliating enough?"

Wu Qiuyuan let out a furious roar.

......

After Wu Qiuyuan and his men left, Xu Chongyuan, who had seemingly passed out drunk, suddenly opened his eyes.

He placed his hands behind his head and muttered to himself, ’Junior Brother Su, this is all I can do to help you. By now, you should be out of the city, right?’

......

Outside Wuling City, two figures walked along the main road.

Neither was old, both appearing to be in their early twenties, with looks so fine they seemed to have stepped out of a painting.

"I’m going on a mission. Why did you insist on leaving the city with me?"

Su Mu asked, looking at Luo Anning beside him.

"I’m on a mission, too."

Luo Anning said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I’ve already reached Blood Exchange Perfection. As a Taiping Captain of the Wuling Taiping Bureau, my strength is at least in the top five. Isn’t it normal for me to leave the city for a mission?"

A small smile touched Su Mu’s lips. On the Dragon and Tiger Blood Exchange List, Luo Anning was ranked third.

Among the Taiping Captains of the Wuling Taiping Bureau, her strength was far beyond just the top five.

With a nine-fold Blood Exchange and her comprehension of the Kan Water Realm, even Zhong Guizheng, another Taiping Captain who had also comprehended a Realm, wouldn’t be guaranteed a victory against her.

For her to say her strength was in the top five was just being modest.

"It seems I was judging you by old standards. In that case, Junior Sister Luo, can you tell me what your mission is?"

Su Mu said with a smile.

"My mission is—"

Luo Anning blurted out.

Before she could finish, she clapped a hand over her mouth.

"I can’t tell you. It’s a secret."

Luo Anning said seriously.

"A secret?"

"It’s a secret mission Lord Zhao arranged for me. I can’t tell you."

Luo Anning said.

"Alright then. You go carry out your secret mission. I’ll go on ahead."

Su Mu said, then suddenly picked up his pace, leaving Luo Anning more than a hundred feet behind in the blink of an eye.

"Wait—!"

Luo Anning grew anxious.

The secret mission Zhao Poni had given her was to ensure Su Mu stayed outside the city for at least three months, and that he couldn’t return to the city at will during that time.

If Su Mu left her behind, how was she supposed to complete her mission?

"Senior Brother Su, wait for me!"

Luo Anning shouted.

"Junior Sister Luo, I think if you’re on a secret mission, it’s not appropriate for us to be together. What if I find out the details of your secret mission?"

Su Mu’s voice drifted back from a distance.

"Senior Brother Su, just wait! I’ll tell you, alright?"

Luo Anning gave chase with all her might but couldn’t catch up to Su Mu, shouting out in desperation.

Su Mu burst out laughing and stopped in his tracks.

......

Early the next morning, Wu Qiuyuan led a group of Inspectors to the Taiping Government Office.

"Lord Wu is looking for Captain Su?"

Zhao Poni personally came out to receive Wu Qiuyuan.

"What unfortunate timing. Captain Su just left on a mission.

Traces of a demon were found outside the city, so Captain Su left yesterday to slay it."

Zhao Poni continued, "When he returns, I’ll have him go to the Inspection Bureau to cooperate with your investigation, Lord Wu."

"Left the city?"

Wu Qiuyuan frowned. "How could it be such a coincidence?"

"Lord Wu, you must be joking. Our Taiping Bureau isn’t as idle as the Inspection Bureau. Our Taiping Captains spend more than half the year outside the city slaying demons and devils. Is there a problem with Captain Su leaving the city?

In fact, I should be asking you, Lord Wu, what law has Captain Su broken to warrant an investigation from the Inspection Bureau?"

Zhao Poni sneered.

"Whether he has broken any laws is what needs to be investigated. Right now, he is merely being asked to cooperate with the investigation,"

Wu Qiuyuan said.

"Of course. My Taiping Bureau has always been dedicated to upholding the law. When Su Mu returns, I will have him report to you, Lord Wu."

Zhao Poni continued, "If there’s nothing else, I won’t invite you to stay for tea, Lord Wu. We’re all quite busy. Please, see yourself out.

Men, show our guests out!"

Wu Qiuyuan opened his mouth, about to say something more, but Zhao Poni had already turned and walked away.

Several Taiping Captains surrounded him, their hands resting on the hilts of their blades.

"Lord Wu, please. Our Governor said that when Captain Su returns, he will be sent to the Inspection Bureau to see you.

If you’re in a hurry, Lord Wu, you could always send your own men outside the city to find Captain Su.

However, it’s not as peaceful outside the city as it is inside. If you run into a demon and something unfortunate happens... well, you should think it over carefully, Lord Wu."

Ding Shiyun said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.