Chapter 19

Wang Huaishui cautiously pushed open the dilapidated door, looked up, and was startled to see it was Niu Guan.

"What wind has brought you here, I'm truly flattered!"

"Cut the crap, let's talk inside."

"Yes, yes, please come in."

Niu Guan strode into Wang Huaishui's house, glanced around, and saw Liu Er standing next to a pile of packed items.

"Huaishun, what are you preparing to do?"

"Niu Guan, you know how I work, it's all about speed. The more money, the faster it goes. I need to get rid of these things quickly, I can't delay in showing my respect to you!"

"You still have some heart." Niu Guan smiled slightly. "Huaishun, we've worked together for a long time, and I've always treated you well, haven't I? I've carried you through so many troubles!"

Niu Guan had never come to Wang Huaishui's home before; he always called him over. This time, not only did he come, but he also started talking about their relationship, which made Wang Huaishui quite surprised.

Niu Guan had indeed helped, but don't forget, every time we got something, didn't I have to give him half? It's not like I'm keeping it all for myself!

Wang Huaishui grumbled inwardly but still wore a smile on his face.

"Yes, yes, without Niu Guan, there would be no me."

"Hmm, good to know. I came to discuss something with you. This time, you've cheated a lot, and according to the usual rules, I should get half. I don't want to make things difficult, so just give me the white wolf skin, and you can keep the rest. What do you think, Huaishun?"

"Not a good idea!"

Wang Huaishui suddenly stood up, his eyes darting around.

"Niu Guan, everything has its rules. There's a lot of stuff, but the most valuable and easiest to sell is the white wolf skin. You want it just by asking, that's not fair!"

Niu Guan's face turned ashen, and he slammed his fist on the table, making the cups and plates rattle.

"Wang Huaishui, don't push your luck, I must have the wolf skin!"

The two men glared at each other, and Liu Er quickly tried to smooth things over, smiling. "Niu Guan, if you want the white wolf skin, you should have a reason. Speak up, Wang Da isn't unreasonable."

Niu Guan's eyes darted around, and he suddenly smiled. "To be honest, my master is kind and has promised to help the old man buy a small official position. I'll go back to my hometown, Jinzhou, to be a low-ranking official, not much to speak of."

Although he said it this way, the corners of Niu Guan's mouth were curled up to the sky. A low-ranking official might not be much, but he would oversee six departments and manage the county's documents. If the county magistrate and registrar were absent, he could take over their duties. To the common people, this was a position of great power!

"Oh, Niu Guan, you're really climbing the ranks! We brothers congratulate you in advance!"

"How about it, Huaishui, aren't you going to give me the wolf skin? This is a good gift for me to smooth things over."

"Of course, I can't delay your official career, Niu Da!"

The three of them laughed heartily in the room, completely unaware that their words had been overheard. A thin, dried-up figure stealthily crept along the wall, climbed over the low wall, and ran off.

"Brother Huzi, Brother Huzi!"

Zhang Ke and the others were heading to Wang Huaishui's house when they saw Xiaodouzi running towards them.

"Master Zhang, Wang Huaishui and Liu Er are both at home, and there's another person, they call him Niu Guan!"

"Oh!" Zhang Ke's eyes lit up. These three scoundrels are all together.

"Xiaodouzi, tell me quickly, what are they discussing?"

"Niu Guan is asking Wang Huaishui for the white wolf skin, saying he's going to be an official and needs it as a gift. That's all I heard before I ran out."

"Good boy!" Zhang Ke patted Xiaodouzi's shoulder and said with a cold smile, "It's time to settle the score, follow me!"

...

"Huaishui, when I become an official, you and the others can come to Jinzhou. With me protecting you, you won't have to worry about making money!"

"Thank you, Niu Da, we are deeply grateful!"

Niu Guan left Wang Huaishui's house with a smile, humming a tune, and swaggering down the street.

"Hmph, Wang Huaishui, you're just a clever little rat. Wait until I become an official, and I'll be the first to get rid of you!"

Niu Guan muttered to himself, just as he turned the corner, a gust of wind hit him, and a thick wooden club smashed into the back of his head. Niu Guan didn't even have time to cry out before he fell to the ground.

"Quick, drag him away!"

Qiao Gui and Qiao Fu each grabbed one of Niu Guan's arms and dragged him into a dead-end alley.

"Brother Ke, look, it's our wolf skin!"

Qiao Fu eagerly opened the backpack on Niu Guan's back, and the bright white wolf skin was inside. He carefully inspected it, finding no damage, and let out a long breath of relief. Then he jumped up and grabbed Niu Guan's chest.

"You old scoundrel, you're just a thief, and you dare to pretend in front of me? Let's see how you pretend now, how you pretend now!"

Qiao Fu roared in anger, raising his hand and slapping Niu Guan's old face hard.

"Cough, cough!"

Niu Guan woke up in pain, spitting out a mouthful of blood and several broken teeth.

"Who, who dares to hit me!"

"Look carefully, it's me!"

Qiao Fu's hammer-like fist hit the old man's nose, and with a crack, the nasal bone broke, and two streams of blood spurted out.

"Ah! How can it be you?"

The physical pain was nothing compared to the mental shock. Niu Guan never thought he would fall into the hands of Zhang Ke and the others! These boys were just country bumpkins, how could they find him? This was too unbelievable!

"Niu Guan, you don't need to doubt. Stealing from me means this is your fate!" Zhang Ke said with a cold smile. "You can shout as much as you want, but I guarantee you'll be dead before anyone can save you!"

Zhang Ke placed a short sword against Niu Guan's neck, the sharp blade cutting into the skin, and a drop of blood trickled down.

"Spare my life, spare my life!" Niu Guan felt as if he were standing in a cold wind on a winter day, chilled to the bone!

Seeing his state, Zhang Ke was still not satisfied. He ran the short sword along Niu Guan's forehead, making his heart race. His life was now in their hands.

"Tell me, how did you and Wang Huaishui plan to cheat us? If you lie, you won't see the sun tomorrow!"

"I'll tell, I'll tell!" Niu Guan's face was a picture of misery.

"Gentlemen, I was blinded by greed. Wang Huaishui said country bumpkins are easy to cheat. As long as they see a grand house, they'll hand over their things. Then I would say he was renting the house, and if they caused trouble, I would send some thugs to drive them away. I didn't know Wang Huaishui was targeting you, these scoundrels have really done me in!"

"Stop lying!" Qiao Fu punched Niu Guan in the chest, almost knocking him out.

"When we came to find you, you were as arrogant as a tailless dog, saying you didn't know anything. Who were you trying to fool? I'll kill you now!"

Qiao Fu reached out to grab Niu Guan's neck.

"Wait!"

Zhang Ke stopped him, smiling. "Niu Guan, you've done this more than once, right? How much ill-gotten money have you made? Tell the truth!"

"Right, if you don't, I'll break your neck!"

In the hands of these men, Niu Guan had no choice but to admit, "Gentlemen, I've been doing this since last year, and I've cheated for a total of 200 taels of silver."

"Good, Niu Guan, here's what we'll do. You give us the silver, and I'll spare your life. What do you think?" Zhang Ke smiled.

Niu Guan could only nod. "The money is hidden in the house, only I can find it. Let me go back, and I'll get the silver for you."

"Ha ha ha, do you think I'm a three-year-old? Tell me where the silver is hidden now, and I'll send them to get it. If they don't return in half an hour, I'll cut off your head and feed it to the dogs!"

Niu Guan was on the verge of tears, these weren't just country bumpkins, they were like monkeys, completely in control.

Niu Guan could only cry as he revealed where the silver was hidden and drew a simple map on the ground.

"Brother Gui, you and Qiao Fu go get the silver!"

The two brothers nodded and hurried off. Zhang Ke continued to interrogate Niu Guan, who spilled everything, revealing all the bad deeds he had done over the years.

He not only helped set up scams but also used his connections to traffic women and children, buy land by force, and even collude with bandits.

Zhang Ke asked while thinking. Doing so many bad deeds, Niu Guan was indeed capable, but more frightening was his master, who rarely showed up but had the power to make even the officials of Guangning bow to him. He was definitely not an ordinary person.

"Niu Guan, I heard you're going to be an official?"

"Yes, thanks to my master, I'm going to Jinzhou to be a low-ranking official. Gentlemen, please rest assured, once I become an official, I'll reform and do as you say!"

"Ha ha ha, no fight, no friendship, we're friends now."

Zhang Ke smiled, and Niu Guan forced a smile, but he didn't notice the flash of killing intent in Zhang Ke's eyes.

...

"Brother Ke, we're back!"

Qiao Fu and Qiao Gui each carried a large bag, their foreheads sweating.

"We've made it, we've made a fortune!" Qiao Fu couldn't contain his joy and spread the bag in front of Zhang Ke.

"Brother Ke, I found the place where the old man hid the silver, as he said. There was not only silver but also a lot of gold and jewelry, all packed up. Next to it was a cabinet with two boxes of silver, probably a thousand taels, and my brother carried it all!"

Qiao Gui also put down his bag and patted his chest. "Zhang Ke, my heart almost jumped out just now!"

Zhang Ke bent down and gently opened the bag. Fifty-tael silver ingots were piled up like a small mountain, shining softly. The amount of silver was so much that even Zhang Ke almost shouted in surprise!

"You, how can you break your word? This is my master's silver, not mine. If you take the silver, how can I live?"

"Ha ha ha, you've done so many bad things, do you still want to live?"

Zhang Ke grabbed Niu Guan's neck in a flash, and Niu Guan's face turned red, unable to speak.

"Niu Guan, I didn't want to kill you, but I'm a coward and don't want to be remembered by a low-ranking official. So, I'll send you on your way!"

Zhang Ke dragged Niu Guan to a well.

Crack, he crushed Niu Guan's throat and threw the body into the well.

"Brother Ke, well done, let's go find Wang Huaishui and settle the score."

"Hehehe, one step at a time, Niu Guan dared to harm people because of his master. Let's burn down the den of thieves!" Zhang Ke said with a fierce expression.

...