Chapter 65

Zhao Jin was annoyed by the noise, so he flipped his spear and turned around to strike it hard on someone's shoulder, eliciting a scream, which finally brought some peace.

The group hadn't walked far from the warehouse when they saw two young men and a woman walking towards them. Everyone had seen these three people many times; they had come to pick up Mu Shulan.

Suddenly being targeted, it was no longer safe to follow them. Mr. Mu's side had more people and greater influence, so they should be able to provide better protection.

Zhao Jin still hadn't figured out what Mu Shulan's family did. When he asked his parents, they told him not to pry. He also found it awkward to ask his friends directly. As a result, they had been together for so long, but he was still in the dark.

"You go back first and tell your father what happened today," Zhao Jin instructed. Mu Shulan nodded obediently and ran towards the people who had come to pick her up.

As soon as the little girl left, Wang Zhaojing caught up with Zhao Jin and whispered, "Yunshan Temple has considerable influence. Sending them to the yamen probably won't do much good."

"In broad daylight, we can't do much. My father and Chen Sheng's father both work there. Once we send them in, they will step in and issue a warning," Zhao Jin replied solemnly.

Wang Zhaojing nodded and smiled, saying, "Brother Zhao, you've thought it through."

"Those bastards got off easy!" Chen Sheng, who had overheard their conversation, cursed angrily.

Compared to most of his peers, Wang Zhaojing was much more thoughtful. He had also considered what Zhao Jin had thought of.

The two of them followed the group, but they could also pretend to be coincidentally on the same path. They kept their distance, never making contact, and had no evidence to charge them. If they tried to use force, Yunshan Temple's influence in Xuzhou was too great, and they couldn't afford a direct confrontation. The best they could do was to send them to the yamen for a warning, and the elders would pass the message along, bringing the matter to a close.

Although it didn't feel satisfying, it was the best they could do.

Ordinary people were afraid of the authorities and usually avoided the yamen. However, Zhao Jin and Chen Sheng were familiar with the place, and even the guards sitting idly at the gate recognized them.

"Uncle Liu, these two were trying to kidnap children. We caught them. Could you please put them in jail for now?"

The man called Uncle Liu, along with three helpers, was chatting idly when Zhao Jin and the others arrived. After hearing Zhao Jin's words, he arranged for the three helpers to take the men inside and smiled, saying, "Little Jin, you're starting to catch people now. Aren't you taking my job?"

"My father will invite you for a drink!" Zhao Jin replied with a smile, then turned to the others and told them to wait outside. He and Chen Sheng then entered the yamen.

The guard at the gate, surnamed Liu, was a regular officer on the imperial payroll, with a status similar to Zhao Jin's father. Zhao Jin knew that the reason Uncle Liu was so accommodating was partly due to his father, Zhao Zhentang, and partly due to Chen Sheng's father, Chen Wu, who might have even more influence.

After all, Chen Wu was the chief constable of Xuzhou, overseeing the constables and fast runners, and with the help of the unregistered assistants, he had hundreds of people under his command.

The yamen was large but in poor condition, and the officials had let it deteriorate over the years. Zhao Jin and Chen Sheng walked directly into the constable's office.

The constable's office was spacious, and inside, over a dozen constables were drinking tea and chatting, a lively and relaxed scene. They all smiled and greeted Zhao Jin and Chen Sheng as they walked in, calling out to them as they entered.

Zhao Zhentang was sitting casually on one side, surrounded by two people. Everyone in the room was a regular officer on the imperial payroll, but Zhao Zhentang, who was a hangman, had a higher status due to his daily work and his chivalrous nature. Everyone flattered him, and of course, Chen Wu, who was the highest-ranking, was surrounded by seven or eight people.

Seeing his son, Zhao Zhentang was surprised and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Someone has been watching our house since this morning. I caught them at noon and found out they were from Yunshan Temple. They were watching Xiao Lan and might have had bad intentions," Zhao Jin explained briefly, glancing at Chen Sheng, who was also recounting the same story.

Hearing "Yunshan Temple," Zhao Zhentang frowned and said after a moment of thought, "They have so much influence that even the Prefect would give them face. Besides, you have no evidence, so there's nothing to pursue."

After explaining the difficulty, Zhao Zhentang paused and then asked, "What do you think should be done?"

Zhao Jin was clear-headed and resourceful, often thinking more thoroughly than adults. Plus, Zhao Zhentang's brother had instructed them to consult Zhao Jin more often before he passed away. Knowing his brother was a steady person who wouldn't speak rashly, Zhao Zhentang actively sought his son's opinion.

"Father, we can't pursue it, but we can beat these two lackeys. Yunshan Temple will definitely send someone to bail them out. When these two lackeys return, they will know their limits," Zhao Jin explained clearly.

Although Yunshan Temple had great influence, they might not be willing to have a full-scale conflict with the yamen over a little girl. A warning should make them back off.

Zhao Zhentang thought for a moment and then smiled, saying, "Actually, we don't need to worry. Xiao Lan's family isn't to be trifled with, but we still need to take action. I'll talk to Chief Chen."

After saying that, Zhao Zhentang stood up and walked over to Chen Wu. After a brief conversation, he returned and said to Zhao Jin, "We'll do it your way. Go back and practice your martial arts."

Zhao Jin knew he had achieved his goal and left with Chen Sheng. As they left the yamen, Chen Sheng was still angry, saying, "I told my father to use severe punishment, but he didn't agree."

At dinner, Zhao Zhentang told Zhao Jin about what happened in the yamen that afternoon. The two men who had been following them were beaten with forty strokes of the cane before being reported to the Prefect. As Zhao Jin had expected, Yunshan Temple quickly sent someone to bail them out.

After this incident, they would likely know that Mu Shulan wasn't an easy target and would be more cautious.

When He Cuihua heard that Mu Shulan had been targeted, she was very worried. However, Zhao Zhentang smiled and said, "You're worrying for nothing. Do you think Mu Shulan's father would let it go? It's better to think about the consequences for Yunshan Temple's people."

He Cuihua was taken aback and then smiled in realization. Zhao Jin seized the opportunity to ask, "Father, what does Xiao Lan's family do?"

"Don't ask about this, and don't get involved with them. If it weren't for Xiao Lan growing up in our house, you should avoid her," Zhao Zhentang said, just as he had before, refusing to answer.

"You should listen to your father," He Cuihua, rarely agreeing with Zhao Zhentang on such matters, added, making Zhao Jin even more confused. However, he wisely didn't ask further.

In the middle of the night, Zhao Jin vaguely heard a commotion in the distance, but he was too tired from the day's events and, since it wasn't related to his family, he went back to sleep.

The next morning, he ran as usual, had breakfast, and went to his uncle's courtyard to practice martial arts. After less than half an hour, someone knocked on the door. Zhao Jin, holding his spear, went to open it. Outside was Chen Sheng, his round face full of excitement, who said mysteriously, "Zhao Jin, Yunshan Temple's courtyard was burned last night. They say half the goods in the warehouse were destroyed, and the shop was badly damaged. Fortunately, they discovered it early, and no one was killed."

Zhao Jin's heart sank. No wonder his father had said that. It seemed that Mu Shulan's family was not to be underestimated, daring to set fire to Yunshan Temple.

"Karma, they deserved it. They were watching Xiao Lan. No wonder my father said they would suffer," Chen Sheng said excitedly.

It seemed that the adults knew about the Mu family's background but didn't want the next generation to know. This mystery only made Zhao Jin more curious.

Chen Sheng, holding a long knife, looked around the courtyard enviously and said, "You have a quiet place to practice. My place is always bustling. My grandfather always makes me practice alone, saying that practicing at home creates too much negative energy. He taught me initially."

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