Chapter 92

The second steward of the Ancient Sword Manor was a coward. At first, he put on a brave face, but after Huang Yanjun cut off three of his fingers, his courage vanished. He answered Su Peng's questions truthfully, spilling everything like beans falling from a bamboo tube.

This man was indeed the second steward of the Ancient Sword Manor. Because he was relatively clever in handling affairs and had served in the manor for a long time, he had gained Ancient Sword's trust and was given the name Gu Yong. In recent years, he had often been assigned to conduct some shady transactions. This time, he was handling a task for the manor, traveling south to buy a batch of women and children from human traffickers.

It wasn't the first time he had done this. Everyone in the Ancient Sword Manor knew that Lord Gu secretly engaged in the human trafficking business, with connections everywhere, and no one dared to investigate them. This time, he had bought about forty to fifty people in the south, planning to send them to the manor for training before selling them to wealthy households or brothels in Suzhou and Jiangning. However, he never expected to be intercepted by Su Peng and his group.

Su Peng asked again, and Huang Yanjun, still angry about being stabbed, cut off two more of Gu Yong's fingers. Gu Yong cried as if his heart was breaking, repeatedly claiming he hadn't said anything. Su Peng stopped Huang Yanjun, who was intent on revenge, believing that Gu Yong's story was likely true.

Xie An was also present, and he kept giving Su Peng meaningful glances, as if he had something to say.

Su Peng understood and stepped aside, letting Wei Shan take control of the man while he and Xie An moved to one side.

"Su Peng, if we pursue this matter, we can only accuse the Ancient Sword Manor of human trafficking. However, the Ancient Sword Manor has been doing this for many years, and people in Jiangning might be in on it. Reporting it won't have much effect. If we can't connect this to the matter I told you about, it won't be useful. Moreover, you have no excuse to explain how you knew about their trafficking and intercepted them."

Xie An said, and Su Peng frowned, nodding. "You're right. If we only rely on this, it won't be enough to bring down the Ancient Sword Manor and its people."

"Yes... When I left last time, I also thought about this. So I prepared a backup plan," Xie An said, then took out two scrolls from his backpack and handed them to Su Peng. "After I left, I made these. What do you think?"

Su Peng opened them and saw two documents, both detailing Xie An's account of the events from years ago. One was written in ordinary ink, while the other was a blood letter.

"Good. With this, I can present it to the Jiangning Prefecture. Combined with the people we intercepted, we can get the prefecture to order a raid on the Ancient Sword Manor," Su Peng said, feeling a bit relieved.

However, Xie An shook his head. "I've been in seclusion for years and have seen many things at the grassroots level. I've lost faith in the government and powerful figures. If you submit this, it will likely be ignored. I gave you this to help you with another task."

"Another task? What is it?" Su Peng asked, puzzled.

"I want you to issue a martial order, spreading the information I have to fellow martial artists and even prestigious sects. I want the sects to know about this and gather righteous martial artists to attack the Ancient Sword Manor together!" Xie An said.

"Martial order?" Su Peng pondered, "Given my status, I doubt anyone will believe me. After all, Ancient Sword himself is a former disciple of the Qingcheng Sect and has a much higher reputation in the martial world."

"I didn't want to take this path either. If I had, I would have done it years ago. Back then, I was afraid of being hunted by Ancient Sword, and I didn't know who to trust in the martial world, fearing betrayal. But I see something different in you."

Xie An said, glancing at Wei Shan and Long Jun, who were interrogating Gu Yong. "I told you about the Ancient Sword Manor just two days ago, and you've already gathered so many martial artists. Although they don't seem to be from reputable sects, they are all skilled martial artists. I've known you for less than a month, and you've gained such influence in a short time. There are only two possibilities: either you are extremely capable, which I doubt, or you have a powerful organization backing you, allowing you to gather people quickly."

Hearing this, Su Peng narrowed his eyes and looked at Xie An. "You observe things closely."

"Don't misunderstand. I don't mean to target you. I only seek revenge. As long as I can achieve this goal, I won't resent you for taking my opportunity," Xie An quickly explained, then continued, "Since you have an organization behind you, I believe it's not small. The Ancient Sword Manor has been operating for many years and has substantial resources. If you can use your organization or gather martial artists to attack the Ancient Sword Manor, the reputation and benefits you gain will be significant. The two documents I wrote, one for the prefecture, and the blood letter for the martial artists you gather."

Su Peng listened and looked at Xie An, seeing his determined gaze. "Since you've figured it out, I won't deny it. Yes, I have a backing organization. However, helping you will cost me resources and put me at risk. How will you compensate me?"

"If you help me eliminate Ancient Sword, my mortal enemy, I, Xie An, will serve you loyally, doing whatever you need that you can't do yourself," Xie An said after a moment of silence.

"Not enough. It's not that I don't trust you, but who can guarantee that after avenging your grudge, you won't disappear? Besides, I don't plan to become a king or a tyrant. What practical benefit would I gain from having you as a subordinate?" Su Peng shook his head.

Xie An clenched his teeth, hesitated, and then said, "If you help me avenge my grudge, I will give you the secret mechanism to open the treasure of the previous dynasty!"

"Really?" Su Peng's interest was piqued. "Didn't you say the treasure map was already in Ancient Sword's hands? It's been over a decade. Even if there was a treasure, it must have been used up by now."

"You misunderstand," Xie An shook his head. "The treasure I speak of was left by Li Gongzan during the chaos of the previous dynasty. When the thirty-six rebel kings rose against the empire, the royal family had vast wealth but couldn't raise an army. The emperor, fleeing the capital, didn't want to leave the wealth to the rebels. He entrusted the accumulated wealth of a hundred years to Li Gongzan, a three-time minister and two-time tutor, to bury it secretly at the origin of the imperial dragon's pulse, for future use. However, the emperor was killed shortly after leaving the capital, and Li Gongzan, being old, died after completing his final task. The treasure was lost. My sister and I, by chance, found a clue in an ancient tomb and came to Suzhou..."

"The location of the treasure is extremely complex, with various mechanisms and secret techniques. You must know all of them to enter the treasure. The treasure map Ancient Sword took from me only records some general information. I kept the key details in my mind, which is why he kept me alive. Observing the Ancient Sword Manor, they have been maintaining the manor through human trafficking for years, which doesn't suggest they have found the treasure. Otherwise, with Li Gongzan's treasure, they could have become a powerful force in the region, without the need to go to such lengths to earn money."

Xie An explained, and Su Peng nodded. "So, it seems they haven't found the treasure."

"Exactly," Xie An nodded. "I have lost all hope and no longer care about the treasure. I only seek to avenge my grudge and prevent Ancient Sword from dying peacefully. If you help me, I will give you all the secrets and techniques related to the treasure."

Su Peng pondered. He had already decided to take on this task. By putting on a show, he hoped to extract more value from Xie An, but he didn't expect to gain such significant information. If Xie An's information was true, the Li Gongzan treasure mission would be far more valuable than the Ancient Sword Manor mission.

After some thought, Su Peng said, "Alright, since you've said this, I believe you. I will use my organization's connections to gather martial artists and attack the Ancient Sword Manor."

"Thank you!" Xie An bowed deeply to Su Peng.

Just as Su Peng was about to comfort Xie An, he heard Sun Shijia shout, "Brother Su! Come and look! There's a woman in the carriage!"

Su Peng turned and saw Sun Shijia standing by the carriage where Gu Yong had escaped, looking inside.

"What woman?" Su Peng walked over and looked into the carriage. Indeed, there was a woman dressed like a martial artist, with some charm, lying inside. Her clothes were half-undressed, revealing a pink undergarment. Her hands were chained to the carriage, and her feet were also bound with thin iron chains. She was unconscious.

"Go ask Gu Yong about the woman," Su Peng said to Sun Shijia, who nodded and went to interrogate Gu Yong.

After Huang Yanjun cut off two more of Gu Yong's fingers, leaving him with only three fingers if he survived, Su Peng got the information he wanted. The unconscious woman in the carriage was indeed a martial artist. When Gu Yong and his men were buying the trafficked women and children in the south, she discovered their activities and followed them. Unfortunately, her martial skills were weak, and she was captured by Gu Yong and his men. Because of her beauty, they decided to take her to the Ancient Sword Manor for training and then sell her, considering her a rare commodity.

On the journey, the woman caused trouble and was restrained with iron chains and drugged. Gu Yong, who had a weakness for martial artists despite his poor martial skills, often visited the carriage to molest her.

"Fortunately, Gu Yong said he hasn't done anything to the woman yet," Sun Shijia told Su Peng, who nodded. "Good. The ordinary women and children won't provide much information. This martial artist, once awakened, will be a valuable witness."

With that, Su Peng called Ling Xiaoyu to the carriage to wake the martial artist.

As Ling Xiaoyu entered the carriage, she suddenly called out, "Brother Su, look! There's a box here, and it seems to contain something valuable..." (To be continued)