Volume One, Chapter 16: Wanted?

The next day at noon, while Shen Ji was still feasting with his men at the inn, Song Qingwu arrived, bringing gold and horses.

Upon seeing Shen Ji, Song Qingwu immediately plastered a smile on his face and said, “Thank you, Young Marquis, for avenging my sister. This is a small token of appreciation from the Song family. Please, don’t refuse.”

Even he was disgusted by his own words.

They had been so harshly dealt with by Shen Ji, yet here he was, forced to wear a smile in front of him.

It was clearly that despicable man who had extorted the Song family, and now the Song family had to thank him!

Disgusting!

Absolutely revolting!

“Brother Song, you are too polite.”

Shen Ji smiled as he accepted the gold, nodding slightly, then glanced at the two azure-maned horses. “It seems that half of the jade pendant truly is Qingluan’s relic. Although I had some disagreements with Song Qingluan, a debt ends with death. I won’t say much more…”

After exchanging a few insincere pleasantries with Song Qingwu, Shen Ji handed over the half jade pendant.

Holding the pendant, Song Qingwu was overwhelmed with emotion.

Yet he forced himself to put on a sorrowful expression. “Young Marquis, do you know where Zhou Tong threw Qingluan’s remains?”

“Go ask Captain Chen,” Shen Ji said, pointing to the increasingly drunk Chen Liuqi. “They were pursuing Zhou Tong. When I finally saw him, he was already dead…”

“All right!” Song Qingwu nodded and hurried over to question the drunken Chen Liuqi.

Whether or not he found Qingluan’s body mattered little to him.

But Song Fanghuai wanted to find it!

Song Qingwu approached Chen Liuqi. “Captain Chen, when you were chasing Zhou Tong…”

“Zhou… Zhou Tong?” Chen Liuqi, clearly drunk, suddenly slammed the table and shouted drunkenly, “Zhou Tong… where is he? Let that lecher come out! I’ll fight him… three hundred rounds…”

He burped drunkenly, wrapping an arm around Song Qingwu’s shoulder. “I’m not bragging, but that lecher Zhou Tong…”

Was he bragging?

As if!

Damn it, drunk out of his mind at midday.

The money for their drinking was all extorted from the Song family by that bastard Shen Ji.

Song Qingwu wanted to learn more from Chen Liuqi, but the captain’s ramblings made no sense. Seeing no point in continuing, Song Qingwu excused himself.

Shen Ji pretended to urge him to stay, but Song Qingwu was not inclined to linger. After a few polite words, he left.

As he climbed into the carriage, he shot Shen Ji a venomous glare.

You bastard!

Just wait!

When you’re sentenced to death, I’ll be there to see you off!

Keep this gold to buy your coffin!

And I’ll even burn you a couple of paper horses!

Filled with a burning grudge against Shen Ji, Song Qingwu headed home.

But he hadn’t gone far when he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Chen Liuqi and many others were drunk!

And Shen Ji was acting as if nothing was amiss!

No good!

That bastard was trying to get everyone drunk so he could slip away from Qingzhou on a fast horse.

Damn him!

I won’t let his scheme succeed!

I want to witness his death!

With this thought, Song Qingwu immediately ordered the coachman, “Take me to the magistrate’s office!”

...

Dusk.

“Father! Father…”

“Good news! Good news!”

Song Qingwu ran into the manor excitedly, shouting.

Song Fanghuai had been despondent since losing his beloved daughter, listless and broken in spirit.

Hearing his son’s excited voice, he forced himself to rally.

Soon, Song Qingwu hurried in, beaming.

“Father, good news!”

Unlike the gloomy Song Fanghuai, Song Qingwu was radiant, practically walking on air. “Shen Ji and Chichi have been declared wanted by the entire city!”

“Wanted?” Song Fanghuai frowned. “They weren’t caught?”

“No,” Song Qingwu shook his head. “That bastard must have known the city gates were guarded, so he didn’t dare leave. Instead, he waited until everyone around him was drunk, then took Chichi and fled the inn to hide!”

“The authorities mobilized a large force, searching the entire city for them!”

“I heard even those searching for the silver at Qingshan Lake were recalled…”

Shen Ji and Chichi’s disappearance sent Feng Min into a rage.

The disaster relief silver had been robbed within Qingzhou’s borders, already placing Feng Min under immense pressure.

Now, with Shen Ji, who had openly defied the imperial decree, missing, Feng Min’s position as magistrate was on the line.

He could even face imprisonment!

In a fury, Feng Min threw the still-drunk Chen Liuqi and the others into jail.

Feng Min reasoned that Shen Ji’s demand for horses was merely a diversion.

He wanted people to think he and Chichi would flee Qingzhou swiftly on horseback.

While Feng Min focused all attention on the city gates, Shen Ji and Chichi would secretly hide within the city, waiting for the right moment to escape.

Feng Min was determined to capture Shen Ji.

But for Song Qingwu, none of that mattered.

With the city-wide manhunt underway, it was only a matter of time before Shen Ji and Chichi were caught.

As long as Shen Ji was reduced to a terrified fugitive, Song Qingwu would be pleased.

And when that worthless scoundrel was finally captured, Song Qingwu vowed to confront him.

Hearing the news from his son, Song Fanghuai’s mind suddenly brightened.

“Good, excellent!”

A rare smile appeared on his face. “Heaven truly assists me! That worthless wretch has ended up helping us after all!”

“Ah?” Song Qingwu was puzzled.

“Use your brain!” Song Fanghuai glared at his son, annoyed. “The authorities are all focused on Shen Ji and Chichi. This is our perfect opportunity to leave the city, meet with our contacts, and check on the silver!”

Even those searching Qingshan Lake had been recalled!

This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for them.

Meeting with their allies now was the safest course.

“Oh, right!”

Hearing his father’s reasoning, Song Qingwu suddenly understood, admiration shining in his eyes. “Father is truly shrewd!”

With Shen Ji and Chichi drawing the authorities’ attention, they were effectively helping the Song family.

Song Fanghuai thought for a moment and immediately gave instructions. “Prepare quickly and be sure to leave the city before the gates close! Contact them as soon as possible!”

Because of Qingluan’s misfortune, the matter had been delayed for two or three days.

They could not afford to wait any longer.

“All right!”

Song Qingwu immediately agreed.

Previously, Song Fanghuai had focused more on Qingluan.

Many times, even he had only been Qingluan’s assistant.

Now that Qingluan was gone, it was Song Qingwu’s turn to shoulder the burden.

Thinking it over, Qingluan’s misfortune was not entirely a bad thing.

“Also, make sure those who go with you are absolutely trustworthy! Understood?” Song Fanghuai, clearly uneasy, reminded him once more.

“Don’t worry, Father. I know what I’m doing.”

Song Qingwu nodded, though inwardly displeased.

Such a simple matter required a reminder?

Would he bring anyone unreliable otherwise?

If Qingluan were handling this, she surely wouldn’t bother with such trivial warnings.

That old man was clearly biased!

But sadly, his most cherished daughter was dead.

From now on, I, Song Qingwu, will be the backbone of the Song family!