Chapter 76

As long as the case of the missing grain tax ship remains unsolved, Wu Fan will not be able to rest easy in the territory of Xingyang.

Little eunuch Manning, inexperienced in the ways of the world and terribly lazy, seemed an unreliable hope. Therefore, Wu Fan decided to not only target the Green Forest Gang in his investigation but to fully intervene and resolve everything.

He rushed back to the city of Xingyang at night, a piece of dried meat in his mouth, and headed straight for the "Fragrant Scent House." He intended to meet Duan Xiuxiu and perhaps thoroughly investigate the "Fragrant Scent House." He had a vague feeling that he was touching upon something significant...

The Grand Canal brought countless darkness and chaos, but also prosperity and splendor. At night, large ships did not travel on the canal; instead, it was filled with talented scholars and beautiful women who rode in flower boats or small boats, reciting poetry and playing, enjoying themselves immensely. The banks were brightly lit, with constant noise, and various shops and businesses were booming. Of course, the most bustling places were the entertainment quarters.

The Fragrant Scent House was one of the best among them.

Wu Fan, weary from his journey, jumped from a small boat he had hired on the canal directly onto the riverbank and rushed into the main gate of the Fragrant Scent House.

Buildings like these entertainment quarters were quite interesting. It wasn't because they used green tiles and red bricks, which were festive in color, nor because they were tall and multi-storied. It was because they were very close to the canal, and one could jump into the Grand Canal with just a few steps from the main gate. In other words, to enter such a place, one had to take a boat, with no land route available.

"Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Wu Fan, head down, had already stepped into the main gate of the Fragrant Scent House when he heard an angry shout.

Turning his head, Wu Fan stared blankly at the gatekeeper, pointing to his own nose to indicate that the call was for him.

The gatekeeper, with his arms crossed, glanced at Wu Fan's attire and sneered, "Where did you come from, you ragged fellow? Couldn't you dress up a bit before coming? Look at the wool felt under your feet..."

Wu Fan, already extremely tired, felt a surge of anger, and his face turned frighteningly dark.

"Swish!"

A light sound of a blade cutting through the air.

After severing the gatekeeper's topknot, Wu Fan placed the blade against his neck and said, "I don't know what's wrong with you today, whether you're upset from being scolded or looking down on people... I don't know! But if you want to take out your anger on me, you've picked the wrong person!" He moved forward two steps, grabbed the gatekeeper's chin, and forced him to look into his eyes, saying fiercely, "Be polite, okay?"

The disheveled gatekeeper was so frightened that he collapsed on the ground, losing control of his bladder...

"Friend! What you're doing isn't right, is it?"

Perhaps the commotion at the entrance was too loud, and the bouncers of the Fragrant Scent House quickly arrived. The leader looked like a butcher, extremely fierce.

Wu Fan, expressionless, sheathed his sword and clasped his hands, saying, "I have no intention of causing trouble, but if you look at me with that kind of eye again, I guarantee I'll look at you like I'm looking at a dead man!" He paused, then glared and roared, "Eagle Guard investigating! All irrelevant people, get out of my way!"

Silence...

For a long time.

"Ha!"

"Ha ha!"

"Ha ha ha!"

The entire Fragrant Scent House seemed to shake from the laughter.

Wu Fan also laughed, silently, his narrow eyes drooping slightly from fatigue, but his eyes sparkled with a dangerous light.

The leader of the bouncers of the Fragrant Scent House bowed mockingly and said, "Oh! So you're an official of the Eagle Guard! Sir, how are you? I greet you! Sir, do you want to leave on your own, or shall we escort you?"

Wu Fan sighed, rubbing his forehead, looking very troubled.

Suddenly—

A crisp sound, followed by a flash of the blade, spewing three feet of blood, splattering everywhere, staining the main gate red.

The entire Fragrant Scent House fell silent.

Wu Fan wiped the blood from his fine steel sword on the face of the gatekeeper who had collapsed on the ground, making him look even more bizarre and eerie.

Pointing his sword at the remaining bouncers and the guests who had laughed mockingly, Wu Fan said slowly, "My name is Wu Fan, the new captain of the Xingyang Eagle Guard. If you haven't heard of me before, I don't blame you. From today on, remember it. I said, Eagle Guard investigating, all irrelevant people, get out of my way. Understand?"

"Ah—!"

Someone screamed, and instantly the entire Fragrant Scent House was in chaos.

Who was Wu Fan?

Before yesterday, perhaps no one knew.

But just yesterday, the Xingyang tyrant, the Wang family of the southern city, was wiped out.

Everyone knew who Wu Fan was... a truly ruthless person! A person so cruel and vicious that it made people shudder!

Half an hour later.

Looking at the cleared-out Fragrant Scent House, Wu Fan nodded in satisfaction, standing at the entrance, looking up at the courtesans peering down from the upper floors, and asked, "Which one is Duan Xiuxiu? Step forward!" After a long pause, seeing no one respond, he continued, "Which one is Duan Xiuxiu? Step forward! I don't want to repeat myself, I'm very tired!"

The courtesans on the upper floor looked at each other, whispering, and pointed in one direction.

Wu Fan looked up but saw no one, only a tightly closed door. Frowning, he stomped up the stairs and kicked open the door.

Standing outside the door, Wu Fan couldn't move for a long time. Why? Because there was indeed a woman inside, but she was... hanging from the ceiling.

"Stomp, stomp, stomp...!"

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the stairway.

A middle-aged man in a silk robe walked up, stopping three steps away from Wu Fan, and clasped his hands, saying, "Are you Captain Wu? Do you know who owns the Fragrant Scent House? Causing trouble here, aren't you afraid..."

Wu Fan turned to look at the middle-aged man, interrupting him and smiling, "Whose property? Tell me!"

The middle-aged man said, "Have you heard of the Zhang family of Xingyang?"

Wu Fan blinked, slowly approaching the middle-aged man, taking a step and asking a question, "You, threatening me? You are, threatening me? You actually, threatening me?"

The middle-aged man, frightened by Wu Fan's fierce gaze, swallowed hard, fearing that Wu Fan might kill him first before saying anything else.

"Ha ha ha..."

Stopping, Wu Fan laughed lowly and sighed, "I've heard of the Zhang family of Xingyang. But have you... heard of the Wang family of the southern city? Hmm? Brother! Don't scare me, I've seen many storms in Luoyang!"

Putting his arm around the middle-aged man's shoulder, Wu Fan pointed to the dead woman in the room and said, "Do you know why I'm looking for her? I suspect she's involved in the missing grain tax ship case from Ji Province! You know... if you scare me like this, when I write my report to the higher-ups, my hand might shake and write down the name of the Zhang family of Xingyang and this Fragrant Scent House... Hmm? Do you think the Fragrant Scent House will be razed to the ground, dug up to the third layer? Do you think the Zhang family of Xingyang will... Ha ha ha..."

The middle-aged man was instantly terrified.

"Boyan, step back!"

An old voice suddenly sounded.

...

PS1: Request for collection, recommendation votes, likes, and red packets, anything is appreciated.

PS2: Thank you to the golden orange friend for the 200-point red packet, and to the main god friend and ~YE Ye friend for the 100-point red packets. Thanks.

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