"...Useless! A bunch of useless trash! You even let them beat all the servants to the ground! You've completely disgraced me!"

"Master, please calm down... that kid... that kid is a border general, a ruthless killer... we... we can't afford to offend him..." It was the voice of someone with slanted eyes.

"Can't afford to offend him? Hmph! My cousin is the Prefectural Magistrate! Tomorrow I'll write a letter and have him impeach that brat! He left the border without permission, trespassed on civilian property, beat up people, and abducted women! He'll be in big trouble!"

"Master is wise! However... that lad is quite skilled; we must be wary of him resorting to desperate measures..."

"What are you afraid of? I've already sent someone to invite Scarface Liu from 'Black Wind Stronghold'! I'll spend five hundred taels of silver to buy that kid's life! Scarface Liu will be leading his men down the mountain by the day after tomorrow at the latest! Then, I'll make that kid kneel before me and beg for mercy! And that little wench from the Liu family, I'll make her wish she were dead!"

Lin Feng's eyes were icy cold as he looked out the window.

Black Wind Stronghold? It's them again. It seems this bandit gang really needs to be wiped out completely.

He stopped listening, reached the study on the side of the main house, pried open the window, and climbed in.

The study is large, with a row of bookshelves against the wall and a large rosewood desk in the middle.

Lin Feng quickly searched and found several account books in a hidden compartment of the desk. He flipped through them and found records of Master Zhang's activities, including lending money at exorbitant interest rates, seizing land, colluding with the government, and buying and selling people. The records were shocking.

They found another iron box containing land deeds, house deeds, and several letters exchanged with the Assistant Magistrate of Luzhou Prefecture, the contents of which were obscene.

Suddenly, the study door was pushed open!

It was Master Zhang! He came in to retrieve something, saw Lin Feng, and was first taken aback, then his expression changed drastically: "It's you?! How did you get in?!"

"I've come to pick up something," Lin Feng said casually.

A look of terror flashed across Master Zhang's eyes, and he opened his mouth to shout.

Lin Feng stepped forward, covered his mouth, and pressed a small knife against his throat: "Don't scream. Otherwise, you'll die."

"Hero...Hero, spare my life! I'll give you money, please let me go! I...I'll never dare to do it again!" Master Zhang knelt down and begged for mercy.

"Let you go?" Lin Feng looked at him. "Those people you killed, have you ever let them go?"

"I...I'll pay for it! I'll repair their graves! I...I'll give away all my wealth!"

"Your money is stained with blood." Lin Feng shook his head. "In your next life, be a good person."

A flash of light.

Master Zhang's eyes widened, he clutched his neck, blood gushing from between his fingers, and he slowly collapsed to the ground.

Lin Feng didn't even look at him. He took out some gold, silver and valuables from the hidden compartment, wrapped them in cloth, and carried them on his shoulder.

Then, he went to his desk, ground the ink, laid out the paper, picked up his brush, and wrote in Zhang Yuanwai's handwriting:

"I have committed countless evils and my sins are grave. Now I am filled with remorse and have no face to live on. I am willing to atone for my sins with my death. All my property will be distributed to the victims. Zhang's last words."

After writing, he shoved the pen into Zhang's hand, faking a suicide attempt. He then placed the incriminating ledgers and letters on the table in a conspicuous place.

After doing all this, he climbed out of the window and disappeared into the rainy night.

It was nearly midnight when I returned to the clinic.

The rain lessened a bit. Liu Rushuang and Su Wanyue hadn't slept and were keeping watch in the hall. They both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw him return safely.

"We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning. You should also leave Sanhedu as soon as possible. Master Zhang is dead, and his henchmen and the magistrate behind him won't let this go. We can't stay in this clinic any longer."

"Dead?" Liu Rushuang and Su Wanyue were both taken aback.

"Yes. Suicide, leaving behind a suicide note and evidence of the crime," Lin Feng said calmly.

"The authorities will be investigating tomorrow. Take advantage of the chaos to flee south, find a safe place, and start over."

Liu Rushuang looked at him, tears falling again, but this time with relief: "General Lin... I will never forget your kindness in saving me. If we are fortunate enough to meet again someday, I will repay you with all my heart."

"Living well is the best way to repay someone," Lin Feng said to Su Wanyue. "Pack your things, we'll leave at dawn."

Silent all night.

The next day, before dawn, Lin Feng led Su Wanyue away from the clinic. Liu Rushuang saw them off at the door and gave them a deep bow as they walked away.

The carriage was waiting at the local temple outside the town. The two men boarded, and the driver cracked his whip, setting off onto the main road heading north.

The carriage curtain was drawn, shutting out the outside world.

Su Wanyue leaned on Lin Feng's shoulder and whispered, "Husband, we... have saved another family."

At noon, the carriage broke down.

The driver, Old Zhao, fiddled with it for a long time before it was barely usable. But it also delayed things, as it was completely dark by then.

After traveling about twenty li, a few lights could be faintly seen in the mountain valley ahead.

"We'll have to spend the night at Wild Wolf Inn ahead!" Old Zhao said.

Wild Wolf Inn was a small post station. Three mud-brick houses surrounded a small courtyard, and a dim, flickering lamp hung at the entrance. The three characters "Wild Wolf Inn" on the wooden sign under the lamp were already blurred. Several horses were tethered in the courtyard, grazing with their heads down.

The courtyard wasn't large, but it was fairly clean. The main house was lit, and you could faintly hear voices, as if there were other guests.

The courier led them to the east wing. The room was small, with only an earthen bed, a broken table, and two chairs, but it was clean.

"Cook your own meals; the kitchen is at the west end. The well is in the yard. Don't wander around at night; this place isn't safe." After saying this, the courier yawned and left.

Old Zhao went to settle the horses. Lin Feng and Su Wanyue went inside and put down their luggage.

"I'll go fetch some water and boil some hot water." Su Wanyue picked up the bucket and went out the door.

Lin Feng walked around the room, then opened the window and could see the light and shadows of people in the main room. Judging from the noise, there were at least four or five people inside, drinking and playing drinking games, making a lot of noise.

"Guys, let's do one more! Once we get to Yingchuan Prefecture, we'll be rich!"

"Haha, this batch of goods is good, it's sure to fetch a good price!"

"That's right! The master said that if this trip is successful, everyone will be rewarded with ten taels of silver!"

Are they traveling merchants? Lin Feng frowned, stopped listening, and closed the window.

In the middle of the night, Lin Feng suddenly woke up. He was always a vigilant sleeper and could detect the slightest sound or movement.

At that moment, he heard very faint footsteps in the courtyard, and more than one person was quietly approaching the east wing.

He got up quietly, reached for the window, and looked out through the hole in the window paper.

Under the moonlight, three dark figures crouched low and crept in, each holding a short blade that gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

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