Chapter Thirty-One: Deliverance and Borrowed Treasures, Schemes Amid the Escort

“Very well, this matter is shrouded in strangeness; I will accompany you and see it through—no fiend shall go unpunished!” Han Chong nodded in agreement. When he saw injustice, he believed it was only right to draw his blade and assist; nothing angered him more than wrongful suffering, for he felt such things deeply.

“My profound thanks, benefactor. In my next life, I will return this great kindness, even if it means toiling like an ox or horse until I am dust!” the woman said gratefully.

Han Chong glanced around, then strode to the dais and retrieved a wine jug. “You will find it difficult to travel with us; for now, take refuge in this jug. Tomorrow, I shall accompany you to the Wind and Fire Escort Agency to investigate!”

“Thank you, benefactor,” the ghost replied, transforming into a wisp of spectral mist and entering the jug, which Han Chong tucked into his robe.

“Haha, Brother Han, you truly are a man of rare chivalry. So be it—this poor ghostly lady moves me as well. Tomorrow, I will join you on this journey,” said Ouyang Jingguan, gently flicking open his folding fan, his brows quirked in a smile.

“With Brother Ouyang’s help, nothing could be better. And the young Master Mingzhen is also indispensable,” Han Chong replied.

“And me as well!” Though Leng Yue’s expression remained cold and impassive, her eyes were faintly red. Hearing the ghost’s tale had stirred memories of her own childhood, leaving her deeply moved.

...

Meanwhile, hundreds of newly departed souls sat cross-legged around Mingzhen, their faces serene and at peace. As he recited the Rebirth Sutra, souls gradually sank into the earth below, bound for the underworld and the cycle of rebirth. Two hours passed before the last ghost was released. Mingzhen finally rose to his feet, his brow beaded with sweat, and he looked utterly spent. Clearly, the ritual had drained much of his spiritual energy, yet his eyes were more profound and compassionate than ever, as though he had gained new understanding.

...

“How odd. That One-Horned Ghost King has ruled the underwater ghost city for years, yet his hoard is so meager. It makes no sense,” Captain Wu remarked, having led his men through the city only to find a small pile of treasure. Though it was still a considerable amount, it hardly matched the king’s supposed power, arousing his suspicion.

“Indeed, whenever we’ve slain monsters or ghosts in the past, we’ve always confiscated gold and silver. But lately, every spirit we encounter is utterly destitute!” Captain Ning nodded thoughtfully.

The group exchanged puzzled looks. Could it be that the Ghost King had hidden his real fortune elsewhere?

...

But for now, investigating the murder of the ghostly woman’s father took precedence. Han Chong eyed the treasure, his mind at work. “Captains, could I borrow this trove of jewels for a while?”

“Oh? And what do you intend, Lieutenant Han?” they asked.

“I wish to use it to test Yu Tianlong. If he is truly a wolf in sheep’s clothing, greed will overcome him. When he sees these riches, he will surely reveal his intentions. Then I can apprehend him and uncover the truth of this case.”

“A sound plan, Lieutenant Han. Without hard evidence, the only way to unmask the villain is to lure him into action,” Captain Ning praised him. Han Chong gathered the treasure into his satchel.

With that, the party departed the ghost city, boarded a small boat, and made their way back.

...

The next day, the four dressed in plain clothes, divided the gold and jewels among four wooden chests, and, following Yun Ci’s ghostly directions, headed for the southern district of Peijun Prefecture. Within an hour, they drew up to the entrance of the Wind and Fire Escort Agency.

The imposing gate tower was adorned with black lacquer and golden trim; streams of people bustled in and out. A team of guards was loading iron chests onto a red-shafted carriage, a clear sign that business was booming for such a large and prosperous agency.

“Greetings, gentlemen. Are you here to hire our escort services?” asked a burly, blue-robed guard, bowing with respect.

“Yes. We wish to have a shipment of valuable goods delivered to Yunzhou City. Does your agency dare to accept such a task?” Han Chong replied, cupping his hands with a hint of challenge.

“Valuable goods, you say? Please, follow me inside and discuss it with Chief Yu himself,” the guard said, surprised but cordial.

The four dismounted, tethered their horses, and each carried a chest into the grand courtyard. They were shown to a side hall in the rear, where they were served tea while they waited.

“Haha! Which esteemed guest wishes to send such precious cargo?” A hearty laugh echoed from the corridor beyond as a middle-aged man in white, with sword-like brows and bright eyes, strode in, two guards in tow.

“I am Han Chong. Am I addressing Chief Yu? I’ve heard much of your reputation,” Han Chong said.

“Haha, so it’s Brother Han! Please, come sit,” Yu Tianlong replied, inviting Han Chong to the seat of honor.

“Brother Han, may I ask what sort of valuables you wish to send to Yunzhou, where exactly, and by when?” Yu Tianlong asked, his eyes sharp as he sipped his tea.

“Chief Yu, I have worked with Chief Yun from your agency before, and always found him trustworthy. May I ask where he is now?” Han Chong inquired.

At the mention of Chief Yun, Yu Tianlong’s face darkened. He sighed, “Alas, to tell you the truth, Chief Yun was tragically killed on a mission. Even I don’t know who is responsible. That escort was disastrous—over a dozen guards and Chief Yun were all slain. It was the greatest loss in our agency’s history, and there’s little hope of uncovering the truth now.”

“My condolences, Chief Yu. Frankly, with Chief Yun’s skills and decades of good standing, I would have trusted him with this cargo. But now, with the goods being so valuable, I am hesitant,” Han Chong replied with feigned reluctance.

“Let me reassure you, Brother Han. In all Peijun Prefecture, our agency is the strongest and most reputable. If your goods are truly valuable, I, Yu Tianlong, will personally see to their delivery—your mind can be at ease!” Yu Tianlong thumped his chest in promise, his eyes burning with intent.

“Very well. Leng Yue, close the door.”

“Brother Han, what’s this about?” Yu Tianlong asked as the black-clad woman shut the door tightly.

“Take a look,” Han Chong said, and the four opened their wooden chests on the carpet. The glittering treasure dazzled Yu Tianlong and his two guards, leaving them speechless.

“Incredible! Brother Han, I’ve never seen such a trove in all my years here. This is truly a fortune. Rest assured, since you have come to us, our agency will not let you down!” Yu Tianlong quickly regained his composure after his initial shock.

“Excellent. I have written to a friend who will meet us outside Yunzhou. All you need to do is ask for my name to confirm their identity. Now, let’s settle the fee.”

“Haha, for such precious cargo, twenty taels of gold will suffice. Guard Li, bring the contract,” Yu Tianlong ordered.

Han Chong nodded, taking a gold ingot from the chest and handing it over. The two guards counted the treasures, and the contract was duly signed and sealed by Yu Tianlong and Han Chong.

“Brother Han, rest easy. Tonight, I will personally escort your goods to Yunzhou. Expect news from me soon!” Yu Tianlong promised.

“I trust your word, Chief Yu. If there’s any news, contact me at once. We will be staying at the Peifeng Inn nearby. Farewell.”

“I shall see you out, Brother Han!”

Once outside the agency, Han Chong and his companions crossed the street to the inn, secured rooms, and sat around a table.

“What do you make of it, Brother Ouyang?” Han Chong asked.

“Haha, your plan is cunning. With such a fortune in front of him, anyone would be tempted, especially if they already have something to hide. Yet Yu Tianlong showed no sign of greed. There’s only one explanation: the moment you revealed the treasure, he already considered it his own,” Ouyang Jingguan replied, fanning himself as he analyzed, earning nods from the others.

“You all stay here. I’ll see what he’s plotting,” Han Chong said, then slipped out to investigate.

No sooner had he left the inn than he spotted two plainclothes men lurking suspiciously at a nearby tea stall, watching the inn’s entrance. He recalled that the stall had been empty earlier.

Slipping back to the side hall, Han Chong saw two guards standing sentry by the tightly shut door. Peering through a small hole in the window paper, he saw Yu Tianlong kneeling in front of the chests, caressing the treasure with wild, gleaming eyes and a twisted grin, nearly drooling with greed. The two guards beside him grinned, licking their lips.

“Protector Yu, we’ve struck it rich! Never thought such a fool would deliver gold and jewels right to our door!” one whispered.

“Indeed! We won’t have to worry about tribute for five years! Protector, you truly outwitted that lot,” the other chimed in.

Yu Tianlong’s face darkened, his eyes cold and fierce, sending a chill down their spines. “Listen well. Not a word of this to anyone. With this treasure, only an idiot would hand it all over. You two have done well—your reward is assured!”

“Yes, yes! Protector, what about those four just now?” they asked, bowing and grinning slyly.

“What else? Tomorrow morning, we’ll call on them and claim the treasure was stolen by mountain bandits. Wu Liu, gather our men tonight and head to Luoyan Gorge, understood?”

“Haha, brilliant, boss!”

“Hmph, they’re still too green to play tricks with me,” Yu Tianlong sneered.

Outside the window, Han Chong’s face was cold as ice, anger surging within him. These three were truly brazen criminals! He nearly burst in to arrest them on the spot, but hearing the guards call Yu Tianlong “Protector” made him reconsider. Clearly, Yu Tianlong had powerful backers—otherwise, he couldn’t have murdered Yun Tianxiao so easily.

Very well, Han Chong thought, let them carry out their plot. Tomorrow, they would be unmasked.

...

“How did it go?” Leng Yue asked when Han Chong returned.

“Yu Tianlong is indeed the villain. Tomorrow he plans to lure us to a place called Luoyan Gorge and ambush us. His two guards called him ‘Protector,’ a sign that he has powerful allies behind him,” Han Chong replied calmly.

“Oh? Your plan, Brother Han?” Ouyang Jingguan asked, fanning himself.

“Here’s what we’ll do. Tomorrow, you and I will give him a taste of his own medicine, then follow him to draw out his backers. Commander Leng, there are spies outside the inn. Tonight, slip back to the division and ask both captains to muster their men at Luoyan Gorge tomorrow. We’ll play the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—then catch them all in one net.”

“Brilliant strategy, Brother Han,” Ouyang Jingguan said, closing his fan with a smile. Leng Yue nodded in agreement.