Chapter Twenty-Two: The Little Orchid Pavilion Tobacco Shop

Page 1

"Who are you people? This is the Criminal Tribunal of Kaiyuan District—you’ve already committed a grave crime!" The bailiff at the front, his voice trembling slightly, questioned them.

Originally, they had planned to apprehend everyone who barged in, but the strange shattering of the main gate had unsettled them deeply.

"Night Owl, go show them what you can do," Liang Zhi turned his head to Qiu Shilu.

"Night Owl..." Qiu Shilu rolled her eyes, hefted her massive hammer, and smashed it down onto a rockery in the rear courtyard. "Don’t go giving me random nicknames!"

Boom!

The rockery, taller than a man, shattered into fragments with a single blow. The splintered earth and stone flew outward, grazing past a bailiff’s cheek and leaving a bloody gash.

The bailiffs in the rear courtyard exchanged glances, then promptly dropped their weapons and raised their hands.

It wasn’t cowardice—it was to avoid needless sacrifice.

"Heh, truly cowardly. I have no respect for you lot," Liang Zhi sneered as he strode past them.

"Yes, you’re absolutely right," one bailiff replied obsequiously, the others nodding in agreement.

Suddenly, Liang Zhi heard a rustling sound. He looked to the side and saw someone collapse behind a tree, entwined in writhing vines, a hand crossbow lying beside him.

Liang Zhi glanced behind him. Xie Zhitou smiled and nodded in return.

"So, your ability is to control plants, to accelerate their growth... That means at your Benevolent Youth House, you only need to spend money on meat, right?"

Xie Zhitou was momentarily taken aback by the abrupt topic shift, but he followed Liang Zhi’s train of thought. "But seeds still need to be purchased."

"Oh."

Liang Zhi turned back and stepped into the residential quarters at the rear of the tribunal.

Liang Zhi wasn’t at all surprised by Xie Zhitou’s ability. In fact, he suspected that Xie Zhitou possessed more than just one.

After all, Xie Zhitou was the initiator of this operation, surely extremely confident in his own power. Perhaps, even without help from Liang Zhi and Qiu Shilu, he could have achieved everything himself.

It was precisely because of such suspicions that Liang Zhi acted so boldly—because Xie Zhitou was there as a safety net.

Just as he had no particular reason to dislike Xie Zhitou, he also, for no particular reason, believed that Xie Zhitou was far from simple.

It was a peculiar feeling, like an instinct etched into his DNA.

"Caw, caw, caw..."

Master Crow landed on the rooftop of a house, calling loudly; Fan Nang was inside that room.

Page 2

Bang!

The three of them kicked open the door, trapping Fan Nang inside his concubine’s chamber.

"Who are you people? Are you courting death? Do you wish to end up in prison?" Fan Nang’s hair had gone white, but his features bore a resemblance to Fan Dai from An Tai Town—there must be some kinship. Behind him, a woman clung tightly to her quilt.

Liang Zhi blinked. "I’m so scared, I don’t want to go to prison. If we leave now, does that mean we’re innocent?"

Fan Nang regained his confidence instantly. "You are already guilty of a major crime, but as long as I—"

Liang Zhi punched him, knocking him to the floor. "Since we’re already guilty, there’s only one path left for us. Tell me, where is the Taoist Paradise’s base?"

"Taoist Paradise? What Taoist Paradise?" Fan Nang was stunned, feigning ignorance.

"Lies!"

Master Crow poked his head out from behind Liang Zhi; he could discern truth from falsehood.

Liang Zhi slapped Fan Nang. "Dare to lie to me? It s