Chapter 38: Assassination

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Assassination

Lijiang Street fell under Zeng Anmin’s jurisdiction. The early morning sun shone brightly. Despite being early winter, countless trackers chanted their work songs, exerting all their strength to drag the massive ships into the water.

Wangxian Restaurant, an establishment catering specifically to passing merchant caravans, was packed with customers every day.

Inside one of the restaurant’s private rooms, Zeng Anmin looked at Shen Jun across from him, his gaze calm.

"So you’re saying your uncle’s disappearance had no warning signs at all?"

"Yes. My uncle has led the fleet on the waters for years and has interacted with far too many factions. As for who he might have offended, I really can’t think of anyone," Shen Jun said, nodding with a grave expression at Zeng Anmin’s words.

After returning to the Observation Department yesterday, Zeng Anmin had reviewed numerous case files but found no clues regarding Shen Liu. Thus, he came to the restaurant today to question Shen Jun.

"Where do you think your uncle would hide?" Zeng Anmin asked, crossing his arms and staring into Shen Jun’s eyes.

Shen Jun didn’t dare to be negligent. He pondered for a long time before offering a bitter smile. "My uncle has been traveling for the family business since he was ten. He knows the terrain along the river like the back of his hand. There are many unnamed, rugged mountains along the riverbanks. If he wanted to hide, he could just pick any random mountain, and even an Immortal would have a hard time finding him."

"Have you ever traveled with him in the caravan?"

Shen Jun paused for a moment and nodded. "Of course."

"Are there any places that left a deep impression on you? Or rather, is there any place your uncle was particularly attached to?" Zeng Anmin asked, his voice carrying a heavy, oppressive weight.

Upon hearing this, Shen Jun’s expression turned hesitant.

"What? Are you unwilling to say?" Zeng Anmin’s face grew cold.

Shen Jun let out a long sigh, his voice tinged with resignation. "There is an island very close to Liangjiang Commandery. Years ago, when my uncle led a fleet on the river, they encountered river bandits. After a fierce battle, the entire crew perished. Only my uncle survived. He drifted on the river for two days before climbing onto that Desolate Mountain...

"That Desolate Mountain has water, trees, and plenty of wild game. If an ordinary person were stranded there, they could survive. If my uncle genuinely wanted to hide, he would likely be there."

Hearing this, Zeng Anmin raised an eyebrow. "Who else knows about this place?"

"My uncle only mentioned it to me in passing."

Zeng Anmin slowly stood up and headed downstairs. "Go back and pack up. Tomorrow, you will take me to this Desolate Mountain to have a look.

"If we can find your uncle, I can overlook the matter of him killing his wife."

In this feudal society, if a wife committed adultery with an outsider and her husband reported it to the authorities, the woman would be sentenced to death anyway. Shen Liu’s only crime was taking the law into his own hands with a private lynching. This matter could be blown out of proportion or easily dismissed.

"Yes, sir!" A bright glimmer of hope flashed across Shen Jun’s face upon hearing those words.

* * *

After going downstairs, a smile curled on Zeng Anmin’s lips. If he handled the Shen family’s case well, he might be able to secure a rather capable subordinate faction for his father. The Shen family of Liangjiang Commandery was the largest shipping merchant along the entire Fengqi Road.

He was one step closer to living a life of luxury and debauchery. Having transmigrated here without ever experiencing a single day as a wealthy young master, he still harbored a certain obsession with it.

Mounting his horse, he looked toward the docks. At this moment, a massive ship was slowly approaching the pier.

Zeng Anmin’s gaze deepened. Seeing the words "King Jiang" fluttering on the ship’s flag, a smile flashed across his face.

"A ship from Prince Jiang’s Mansion, huh? I definitely need to investigate it thoroughly!" he thought.

"Make them stop for an inspection!" Zeng Anmin turned to one of his subordinates and pointed at the approaching ship.

As the Left Chief Clerk of the Observation Department, he inherently possessed the authority to inspect cargo on ships.

"Yes, sir." The subordinate didn’t hesitate at all. He called over a dozen Red-clothed Guards and marched toward the docks.

After the ship docked and a few shouts were exchanged, a pot-bellied middle-aged man walked off the deck. After negotiating with the Red-clothed Guards, the middle-aged man put on a flattering smile and walked over to Zeng Anmin.

"I am the commoner Wang Fu. Greetings, Your Honor." With that, he discreetly pulled a silver note from his sleeve and offered it to Zeng Anmin.

Zeng Anmin raised an eyebrow. "Tsk. The evil feudal society," he thought.

He looked at the man coldly. "Cut the nonsense. Submit to the inspection."

After speaking, he took the lead and boarded the massive ship.

Stepping onto the deck, the first thing that caught his eye was a few boatmen who had come out to catch a breath of fresh air, along with several guards. Upon seeing his official uniform, these men instinctively lowered their heads and bowed their bodies.

"This..." Wang Fu trailed behind Zeng Anmin with a bitter expression, forcing a smile.

"What kind of goods are on this ship?" Zeng Anmin asked, glancing at Wang Fu’s face as he walked into the ship’s hold.

"Just some everyday items. Soap pods, fabrics, hemp fibers... These goods all belong to Prince Jiang’s Mansion..."

Since Wang Fu hadn’t successfully handed off the silver, he assumed this official thought it was too little. Not wanting to give any more, he could only invoke his backer’s name to see if it would intimidate the young man.

Zeng Anmin scoffed. "Prince Jiang’s Mansion? I don’t care whose goods these are. I only care if there is anything fishy going on with them!"

With that, he walked toward a row of crates, patted them, and ordered, "Open them!"

"Yes, sir." Two Red-clothed Guards stepped forward, drew the sabers at their waists, and gently pried open the gaps in the crate lids.

CRACK.

As the lids were opened, a fragrant scent wafted into the air.

Smelling the familiar aroma, Zeng Anmin peered into the crate.

"Soap?" he thought. Well, any thoughts he had about making a fortune by manufacturing soap were instantly extinguished. The people of this world were not stupid. Furthermore, the government didn’t deliberately suppress merchants. As a result, certain novel and quirky inventions were far more developed here than in the feudal societies of his past life.

"Wait, no," he thought.

Zeng Anmin casually picked up a bar of soap, held it up to his nose, and took a sniff. He detected a different kind of scent.

"Is this sulfur soap?" Zeng Anmin asked, looking up at Wang Fu.

Wang Fu was taken aback. "Sulfur?"

"I mean yellow teeth," Zeng Anmin clarified.

In this world, sulfur was known as ’yellow teeth’, and its primary use among commoners was for medicinal purposes.

"Your Honor actually understands the art of manufacturing soap?!" Wang Fu looked at him in sheer amazement.

"Just a little bit."

Zeng Anmin ordered his men to open a few more crates. They contained sulfur ore, the raw material used for extracting sulfur. After a cursory glance, he looked toward another section of the hold.

"This is the storage area for fabrics," Wang Fu proactively introduced.

Zeng Anmin took a general look around before walking out of the ship’s hold. He hadn’t found anything amiss, and the ship inspection was only a spur-of-the-moment whim anyway.

"Take care, Your Honor..." After cheerfully sending Zeng Anmin off, Wang Fu gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.

* * *

"If soap has already been invented, does that mean distilled liquor exists too? What about glass? Don’t tell me they have glass too?" Zeng Anmin thought in frustration as his gaze rested on the river’s surface after disembarking.

He had just raised his hand, the words ’Fall out’ on the tip of his tongue, when he suddenly heard a sharp WHOOSH!

THUD!

A flying dart suddenly appeared, lodged in the throat of the Red-clothed Guard standing closest to him. Blood poured out endlessly.

"Murder!!!" A terrified scream instantly erupted from the surrounding crowd.

Zeng Anmin narrowed his eyes and looked over. A figure wearing a black... cat head mask, clutching a short blade, was slowly approaching him.

"An assassin! At least an Eighth Grade Nourishing Breath Realm assassin," he thought.

The corner of Zeng Anmin’s mouth twitched. He stared at the black cat mask on the assassin who was advancing toward him step by step... Even the short blade in the killer’s hand was exactly identical to his own... And judging by the sharp glint reflecting off the blade, it appeared to be a Spiritual Artifact as well...

"If you are the Black Cat Martial Artist, then who am I??" he thought.

However, he also knew one thing. Right now, the only thing he needed to consider was how to survive the imminent crisis right under everyone’s watchful eyes without exposing his true identity.