Chapter Thirty-Five: The Broadcast of Peach Blossom Valley’s Destruction

After everyone reached a consensus, Ling Ji draped herself over Fan Jiu. Her fingers danced before his eyes, wisps of black mist drifting from between them and seeping into his mind. Fan Jiu’s gaze gradually grew vacant. Under Ling Ji’s control, he walked toward the loudspeaker’s microphone.

Xie Zhitou let out a soft laugh. “First she uses the ‘Witch’s’ powers to corrupt his will, then the Puppetmaster’s skills to manipulate his body and abilities… No matter how many times I witness it, the methods of the Desecrator Sect never fail to send chills down my spine.”

Qiu Shilu and Liang Zhi rolled their eyes in unison. If anything, Xie Zhitou’s ability to snatch away people’s lifespans was even more unnerving.

Meanwhile, Lord Crow cocked his tiny head, scrutinizing Xie Zhitou. Why did this fellow know so much, hijacking his own role as commentator?

Hmm… He did look familiar. Had they met somewhere before? Unfortunately, Lord Crow’s mind was too small, crammed full of matters concerning the “Bucket List,” leaving much of the past buried too deep to recall for the moment.

Fan Jiu lifted the microphone and flicked the switch, clearing his throat first. “Ahem…”

A tremendous wave of sound blared from the loudspeaker above, echoing through the entire district. Everyone inside the room, except for Xie Zhitou, clapped their hands over their ears.

“I am Fan Jiu, ninth son of Fan Tong, head of the Fan family, and also chief manager of the Little Lanting Tobacco Company in the Dongcheng District of Wangjing! Yet few know that I am also the ‘Village Head’ of Peach Blossom Spring, an organization that kidnaps people and sends them beyond the borders of Great Dong!

“In recent years, most of the missing women and children from Qizhou, Youzhou, and Huanzhou have passed through my hands to be sent outside Great Dong—there have been thousands so far… The ‘Luxury’ brand cigarettes I manage possess their unique flavor only because they use the toxic mists of four ‘Smoke Fiends.’ Prolonged smoking of these Luxury cigarettes will lead to…

“It was I who bribed Professor Hu Lai of Wangjing Academy to prove the harmlessness of the Luxury brand…”

…

Half an hour earlier, outside the Criminal Tribunal Office in Kaiyuan District.

Pan Tu stood beside Fan Nang’s corpse, his face ashen.

“I warned you all, didn’t I? Now look—our district’s tribunal office has truly been upended.” Wen Zhongxiang muttered quietly at the side.

“Shut your mouth! Are you happy now that the chief tribunal officer is dead?” Pan Tu snapped.

Wen Zhongxiang fell silent, though he couldn’t deny a small sense of satisfaction. Didn’t the chief tribunal officer, who had turned a blind eye to child abductions, deserve to die?

Niu Danong tried to smooth things over. “What’s most important now is to track down those culprits. Apart from ‘Night Crow,’ there should be two accomplices.”

“We’ve already found their trail—they went east, but Captain Hu doesn’t know their exact destination.”

Han Beinuan approached, beside her the despairing Hu Zhiying crouched on the ground.

He had planned to spin a web of lies, sending them off in the wrong direction. But the moment Han Beinuan simply sat by his side, he let down his guard and instinctively answered all her questions—including admitting that he had killed Fan Nang!

Yet, for reasons unknown, Han Beinuan didn’t point him out as the murderer, granting him a temporary reprieve.

Pan Tu issued the order. “Let’s search eastward. Ask around along the way—they’re bound to slip up. We must catch them today!”

In truth, even knowing the direction, it would be difficult to find Liang Zhi and the others. But the murder of the tribunal chief was a grave matter—they had no choice but to press on.

As they neared Bowang Street, a sudden roar rang out.

“Ahem… I am Fan of the Fan Family…”

The eyes of all five were drawn to the most conspicuous building in sight.

“They’re in there—let’s go!”

…

The Kaiyuan Dragonboat floated silently in the sky, a fierce dragon’s head painted on its prow.

The structure of the Great Dong dragonboat was reminiscent of Earth’s airships, floating by means of gases lighter than air. Though there were no airplanes here, their airship technology far surpassed Earth’s: dragonboats flew faster, steadier, and with fewer safety risks.

Clad in dark blue armor, Feng Yushang gazed down at the scenery beneath the dragonboat.

He was the highest-ranking officer on board: Feng Yushang, the twenty-seventh Cavalry Captain.

At the moment, the dragonboat was on a routine patrol. The earlier incident at the tribunal office was but a minor episode for them.

Their mission was to maintain the stability of Wangjing City.

Though Great Dong seemed tranquil, dangers lurked beneath the surface. Many places had already formed resistance groups in secret, known as the “Defiers.”

These perilous organizations had eyes and ears scattered throughout Wangjing. No one could predict when they might spark a riot, seeking to overthrow the city’s order.

The Sky Cavalry served as the greatest deterrent to these Defiers—guardians of the skies, protectors of Wangjing.

“Captain, do you hear that? There’s a commotion over there.” One of the sky-riders alerted him.

“Peach Blossom Spring is an organization that kidnaps people and sends them beyond Great Dong’s borders…”

At those words, Feng Yushang’s expression froze. He barked at his subordinates, “Change course—Bowang Street, full speed ahead!”

Gripping the railing, the veins on his forehead bulged. “Thousands of people… So it was all true. Such things happening in the Dongcheng District under my watch…”

…

“Eat something, even in grief you must keep your strength up.”

Brother Wang, with his lame leg, brought over two soft, steamed buns, a dish of pickled vegetables, and a bowl of plain porridge, placing them before the haggard, wan woman.

“Seven children from the Charity Orphanage on Broken Street have been rescued already, by a hero calling himself Night Crow. He’s still pursuing the traffickers’ trail—maybe our child will be found too.”

Their child had been missing for two days—a short time, compared to other parents.

But deep down, Brother Wang knew the chances of recovery were slim.

Still, he had to keep searching, for his wife had not taken a drop of water in two days. Any longer, and he risked losing another loved one.

So he could only pray in his heart that the mysterious Night Crow might truly find his child.

“If Heaven truly has eyes…”

Suddenly, Brother Wang heard a commotion outside. Stepping out, he heard the broadcast, faint but still audible.

He rushed back inside and told his wife, “Did you hear? The group that kidnaps children is called Peach Blossom Spring—their hideout has been destroyed by Night Crow!”

The couple clung to each other, weeping bitterly.