Ch. 24
Chapter 24: As for a Witness, I Actually Do Have One. Show Him!
The Jinyiwei was killed in broad daylight. Cheng Yu had cut off the head of the Cui Family’s eldest young master.
The people nearby were scared out of their wits by the sight.
The martial artists among them were especially terrified when they saw Cheng Yu’s frightening strength.
Since when has Qingjiang Prefecture produced a Jinyiwei expert so young, yet already capable of crushing a Second Rank martial artist?
Everyone trembled in fear. The more timid among them even had their legs go weak and collapsed to the ground.
In their fear, they looked once more toward Cheng Yu, who stood there coldly.
They only felt that the Hundred-Forged Xiuchun Saber in his hand, unstained by blood, glinted with a chilling light.
As though it could slash toward them at any moment.
And the black Flying Fish Uniform on Cheng Yu’s body was even more horrifying, like some dreadful demon in the night.
For so many years, these two symbols of the Jinyiwei had been mocked by people of the jianghu as “the court’s hounds,” yet today they brought fear to everyone present.
All because
a ruthless man had emerged from the Jinyiwei...
At the gates of the Cui Residence.
Cheng Yu and the others arrived at their destination and dismounted.
Before him stood a grand manor with a huge plaque reading “Cui Residence.”
It occupied half the street and exuded an imposing, majestic air, with countless servants coming and going.
“How come there aren’t any beggars or vagrants around here?”
“My lord, I just asked around. They say Master Cui is a famous philanthropist in Qingjiang Prefecture. Whenever he sees the poor, he can’t help but sympathize with them and give them aid. Everyone praises him for it.”
“He gives aid to those beggars and poor people?”
“How could that be? That’s just the nice version the Cui Residence puts out. No beggars or poor people are allowed within five li of this place. If any of them come near, their legs are broken and they’re thrown out.”
Hearing that, Cheng Yu let out a cold laugh.
From the powerful heroes of the jianghu to the local clans of Great Qian, all of them were steeped in this kind of utter hypocrisy and self-deception.
And then they turned around and loved pointing fingers at others. What a complete joke.
“Go knock. Tell them the Jinyiwei are here to investigate a case.”
“Yes, sir!”
Looking at the subordinate who went ahead to call at the gate, Cheng Yu shook his head faintly.
The strength under his command was still somewhat weak. In situations like this, he always had to lure people to the entrance first, deal with them there, and only then confiscate the household and kill.
If his Jinyiwei were like the ones in his memories, they could simply force their way in and confiscate the place directly—kill whoever blocked them, be it man or Buddha.
Cheng Yu himself had no problem with that.
But his subordinates would probably be slaughtered by those martial artists until barely any of them remained.
“I still need to build up my strength. These people have been following a bunch of spineless trash, muddling through life and waiting to die. They might as well follow me and live with some satisfaction.”
At the same time, the servants standing before the Cui Residence gates saw the Jinyiwei approaching.
They barked harshly, “Stop! No idlers are allowed to enter the Cui Residence!”
“The Jinyiwei are investigating a case. Tell whoever’s in charge of your household to come out!”
When the Cui Family servants heard the visitors identify themselves, not only did they remain unmoved, they even sneered.
What did the Jinyiwei count for? The people from the Hundred-Household Office had never dared act arrogantly when facing the Cui Residence.
“Hmph. The Jinyiwei think they’re worthy of investigating my Cui Residence? Get lost! If you don’t get lost right now, we’ll break all your legs!”
The gatekeeper servant had barely gotten halfway through his threat when he suddenly felt a chill at his neck.
Several Xiuchun Sabers had been laid against it.
“Get in there and report it already!”
Where had the servant ever seen something like this before?
The Jinyiwei, who normally bowed and scraped before the Cui Residence, were actually this overbearing today. He was badly frightened.
He fled into the residence to report the matter as though running for his life.
Not long after, the Cui Family’s plump middle-aged steward hurried out, his face full of fury.
“Which Acting Hundred-Household Commander’s men are so blind as to come swaggering around before my Cui Family!”
The steward cursed as he came, but when he saw Cheng Yu and the others, he froze.
He had not expected the arriving Jinyiwei to all be unfamiliar faces.
He only felt that the leading Cheng Yu possessed a mysterious, unfathomable strength that made even him, a late Second Rank martial artist, feel extreme apprehension.
His expression improved slightly, and he asked in a lukewarm tone,
“Which lord has come, and why do you wish to investigate my Cui Residence?”
“So now you get to choose whether you’re investigated or not? Get back inside and call out your clan head!”
After being influenced by Cheng Yu for so long, his subordinates had finally acquired a bit of the Jinyiwei’s bearing.
Humiliated, Steward Cui let out an angry snort.
“You dare investigate my Cui Family? I’m afraid you may have the nerve, but not the life to back it up!”
“Oh?”
Cheng Yu sneered.
“We, the Jinyiwei, are the Son of Heaven’s personal troops. What place in Great Qian is beyond investigation? Could it be that your mere Cui Family does not even fear the Emperor of Great Qian?”
The Cui steward had not expected Cheng Yu to say that, and a trace of contemptuous amusement appeared on his face.
What era was this? Great Qian’s court and imperial house had long since declined.
To still use such stale, toothless words to intimidate others was simply laughable!
If he really got scared, he would lose face and be mocked by others.
“Ridiculous! Let me put it plainly—within this Qingjiang Prefecture, my Cui Family is the greatest! If you insist on remaining stubborn, then don’t blame my Cui Family for taking action!”
“Forget the old Emperor—even if the Heavenly King himself came, he still wouldn’t be able to control us!”
Hearing the steward’s arrogant words, Cheng Yu nodded and revealed a satisfied smile.
He looked at the subordinates beside him. “Did you hear that?”
“We heard it!” the Jinyiwei replied in unison, though confused.
Even if they had no idea what kind of move Lord Cheng was about to pull this time, they were full of spirit.
The smile on Cheng Yu’s face froze at once, turning utterly cold.
“Good, since you heard it...”
Seeing this, Steward Cui stroked his chin and burst into laughter. This man had clearly been scared stupid.
Heard it meant heard it; didn’t hear it meant didn’t hear it. What was there to dwell on?
Cheng Yu continued, “The Cui Family has openly insulted His Majesty and intends rebellion! Treat the entire clan as traitors and confiscate the household for me!”
“Anyone who resists is to be killed without mercy!”
This time, the Cui steward’s formerly smug face changed drastically on the spot.
“You lunatic, are you really tired of living?! Men, get me—”
Before he could finish speaking, a rain of bolts shot straight at them.
The Cui steward hurriedly dodged in terror, staring in disbelief at what was happening.
“Mad! Mad! This is outrageous!”
Someone had truly brought a few dozen men into Qingjiang Prefecture City and dared move against the Cui Family!
After one volley, more than ten Cui Family servants fell with bolts in them, wailing and screaming as blood poured out.
Cheng Yu looked toward the gates of the Cui Residence, where the Cui steward was glaring at him hatefully.
“You dare lay hands on the Cui Family? You’re finished!”
Cheng Yu let out a cold laugh. With a flick of his hand, three exquisite poisoned darts appeared in it.
A top-grade Medium-Rank hidden weapon: Tang Sect Poison Darts!
With a twist of his wrist, the poisoned darts flew out soundlessly and without a trace, nailing themselves into the Cui steward’s forehead like ghosts.
The Cui steward gave a cold snort and plucked off the darts. “Such petty tri—”
Before he could finish the next word, his vision spun. Not long after, he spat out black blood and collapsed to the ground.
The Cui steward was dead. Cheng Yu and the others smashed through the gates and charged into the Cui Residence.
The moment they entered through the main gate, a deep, forceful voice rang out.
“Who dared kill a member of my Cui Family?!”
A man full of stern authority appeared at the entrance, openly revealing Third Rank strength.
“You’re the Cui Family’s clan head?”
Cheng Yu looked at the newcomer and asked blandly.
“So I am! I’d like to ask just what branch of the Jinyiwei you come from. Even Ma Yuan doesn’t dare show me disrespect, yet you dare kill my people!”
“If you don’t give this old man a reasonable explanation today, none of you should even think of leaving!”
Clan Head Cui, Cui Duo, gritted his teeth and glared furiously at Cheng Yu.
He had come right to the Cui Family, killed people openly, and then broken through the gates. It was like taking his old face and grinding it into the dirt!
If not for the fact that he was wary of the other side being Jinyiwei with official status after all, he would already have struck and killed them himself.
“Who I am isn’t important.”
“What is important is that your man openly insulted His Majesty. I’ve already cleaned house for you.”
Cui Duo was momentarily blank. Only after asking the servants at his side did he learn what had just happened.
The moment he heard the Cui steward’s remarks about not fearing the Emperor, he froze.
The knife really had been handed over by one of their own!
After cursing Steward Cui a few times inwardly, he gritted his teeth and said, “This man was my failure in discipline. But he is already dead, so it has nothing to do with my Cui Family.”
“But what do you mean by saying you want to investigate my Cui Family?”
While Cui Duo questioned Cheng Yu, more and more experts of the Cui Family gathered around him.
They formed a force that could not be underestimated anywhere in Qingjiang Prefecture.
Seeing this, Cheng Yu showed not the slightest sign of panic and calmly announced the Cui Family’s crimes.
“Your Cui Family colluded with the rebel force known as the Red River Gang to murder the people of Great Qian. Naturally, we Jinyiwei must investigate on behalf of His Majesty.”
The moment he heard the name Red River Gang, Cui Duo shuddered and recognized the young man before him.
That mad Banner Captain from Qinghe County! He had actually come to Qingjiang Prefecture City to investigate the Cui Family!
Inwardly, he cursed Ma Yuan, who had guaranteed the problem would be handled.
But outwardly, he did not show the slightest weakness.
“So whatever you say is true? Where is the evidence? Where is the witness?”
Cheng Yu smiled.
“As for a witness, I actually do have one. Show him!”
“Yes!”
Two round objects were thrown before Cui Duo.
Wearing a look of utter disdain, Cui Duo lowered his eyes to them—and his expression lost all control.
What lay before him were two human heads, their faces incomparably familiar.
He let out a shrill, tragic cry.
“Yan’er! My Yan’er!”