Chapter 354: Robbery and Killing

As soon as these words were spoken, a stir arose around them. A group of people began whispering among themselves, utterly surprised by the turn of events.

Many timid individuals immediately fled. Of course, others remained, relying on their significant connections or confident in their own cultivation level, deciding to stay and watch the excitement unfold.

The black market staff members' expressions all changed dramatically, and many guards secretly surrounded the area.

The auctioneer woman subtly shook her head at the guards, then quickly forced a smile and approached Sang Qian. "My lord," she began, "could there be some misunderstanding? All activities here have been reported to the authorities."

As she spoke, she slipped a stack of silver notes into his arms.

For the black market to have thrived in Bright Moon City for so many years, it was impossible for them not to have good relations with officials. Even tonight's auction had been arranged and reported to the relevant departments, though certainly under a different guise.

Sang Qian pushed her away abruptly. "Don't try that with me," he barked. "Search the place!"

"Yes, sir!" His subordinates immediately surged towards the backstage like hungry wolves. The items previously auctioned had already been delivered; now, only the salt permits remained.

Qin Wanru felt a bit puzzled. She lowered her voice and asked, "Didn't you say he wouldn't come in such a grand manner? What do you call this, then?"

Zu An pointed to their clothes. "Didn't you notice?" he said. "They aren't wearing official uniforms this time; they're all in plain clothes. And earlier, they claimed to have received a public report about contraband here; they didn't mention 'salt permits' at all. Clearly, they want to handle this quietly."

The woman on the stage looked displeased. "General Sang," she said, "isn't this a bit out of line?"

For her line of work, being familiar with the city's influential figures was a basic requirement. Given Sang Qian's father's position and his own rank, he was a well-known person in the city, so it was not at all surprising that she recognized him.

"What's out of line?" Sang Qian said with an official, business-like demeanor. "We are inherently responsible for apprehending thieves. If everything you have is legitimate, then there's nothing to worry about. We will never wrongly accuse an innocent person, but we also won't let any wrongdoer escape."

The black market group looked indignant. Several of them couldn't hold back and were about to rush forward, but their companions held them back.

Seeing that Sang Qian and his men were serious, the black market side also seemed resigned to their fate. The other spectators finally couldn't stay put and began to leave one after another.

Zu An, meanwhile, pulled Qin Wanru. "Let's go!"

"Just like that?" Qin Wanru looked bewildered, forgetting even to blame him for rudely pulling her hand.

"If we leave with the crowd now, no one will notice us. Staying here would be too conspicuous," Zu An explained further. "Besides, it's clear neither side will instigate a conflict in this location."

Qin Wanru was stunned. "You think the black market people would dare to attack Sang Qian?"

"Not openly, but behind the scenes, it's hard to say," Zu An replied. He recalled Qiu Honglei's solemn warning to him, knowing that the power behind her would absolutely not stand by and suffer such a huge loss.

Firstly, this batch of salt permits was worth several million taels of silver. Secondly, Sang Qian had broken the rules.

If the black market didn't respond, their reputation would be completely ruined in the future.

To a certain extent, this credibility was even more important than several million taels of silver.

It was a pity Sang Qian didn't know this. From Qin Wanru's tone just now, one could tell that in the eyes of the influential figures in Bright Moon City, they only thought the black market was a low-tier force, something that could be bullied with impunity.

How could they have known that a colossal power lurked behind them?

Alas, this was the disadvantage of information asymmetry.

Zu An led Qin Wanru out of the courtyard, but they didn't go far. Instead, they hid in a nearby large tree.

Although Qin Wanru had some doubts about his judgment, seeing how confident he was, she subconsciously believed him somewhat.

As the two hid in the tree, Qin Wanru's eyes suddenly narrowed. She had spotted the men who had bullied her earlier, including Ji Wuli.

"Damn it, I didn't expect the officials to show up," one of them said. "I was still planning to find that chick."

"Isn't it strange?" another chimed in. "At first, I thought she was ugly, but now that I think back, she gets more appealing, and I'm itching inside."

"Heh heh, with that perky butt and those full breasts," a third leered, "who needs to look at her face?"

"That woman is like a ripe peach, fresh and juicy. She must be incredibly satisfying in bed. I even envy the man next to her, living a life like a god every day."

Zu An felt a bit awkward listening. These guys were spouting such vulgarities, truly seeking death to a certain extent. It was a pity he had no long-range attack methods, so he couldn't stop their nonsense.

Qin Wanru, beside him, had already turned pale with anger. She casually plucked a few leaves, flicking them with her fingers. The leaves shot out in the darkness, cutting through the air like green streaks.

Zu An watched, both astonished and impressed. As expected of a master with a sixth-grade cultivation, that move was so fluid and effortless; he could never accomplish it.

"Ow, my butt!"

"Who hit me?!"

"My back!"

"Damn it, who slapped me? And I lost a few teeth!"

The men cursed continuously, looking around warily, but found nothing.

"Could it be a ghost?"

"Now that you mention it, I feel a chill down my spine."

"Let's go, let's go!"

Seeing the men leave in a panic, Zu An was somewhat surprised. "Your ladyship didn't kill them?"

"Do you think I'm such a vicious woman?" Qin Wanru huffed irritably. "Though these fellows are detestable, their crime isn't punishable by death. A lesson is enough."

Zu An couldn't help but laugh. "I never expected Your Ladyship to truly have a sharp tongue but a soft heart."

Qin Wanru's face flushed slightly. "Quiet," she said, "they're coming out."

Zu An peered through the gaps in the leaves and indeed saw Sang Qian and his group emerging. A carriage had been added to their procession, carrying several large boxes. These were clearly the salt permits.

"Strange, they didn't arrest a single person." Qin Wanru, with her higher cultivation and better eyesight, quickly got a clear view of their group.

"Sang Qian probably doesn't want to blow this out of proportion," Zu An analyzed. "This move is clearly meant to tell the black market side: 'We won't touch your people, but we're taking this batch of goods.' It's forcing them to accept their loss."

Qin Wanru couldn't help but give him another look. This fellow's mind was quick when analyzing problems. He was nothing like the idiotic ruffian she used to imagine him to be.

"Hmph," she thought, "his previous behavior was probably all an act. How dare he deceive me!"

Rage value from Qin Wanru +379!

Zu An was taken aback. Why was she suddenly getting angry for no reason?

"Let's go, follow them!" Having been pulled along by him before, Qin Wanru was a bit displeased. So this time, she simply took the initiative, discreetly grabbing his collar and following.

After all, this was within the city. Although somewhat secluded, there were houses and structures everywhere, making it easy to find cover. Thus, even while carrying a person, she wasn't discovered.

Only Zu An looked depressed. Being carried like a chick, didn't he have any dignity?

Qin Wanru began to weigh her options. Sang Qian was only a fifth-grade official. Even with a host of subordinates, she wasn't without a chance to seize the salt permits.

What's more, she had Zu An as an assistant.

The only trouble was those large boxes; they probably wouldn't be easy to carry away.

Sensing her eagerness, Zu An quickly said, "Don't rush, someone else will go."

As if to confirm his words, just as he finished speaking, many arrows suddenly shot out from the boxes in front.

Although Sang Qian immediately drew his saber to block, many arrows still broke through his defenses, shooting down many of his subordinates behind him.

Immediately after, a group of black-clad figures, wielding gleaming sabers, leaped out from the houses on both sides, rushing directly to ambush them.

Sang Qian was both shocked and enraged. "Who are you people?" he shouted. "Do you know that ambushing and killing imperial officials is a crime punishable by extermination of your entire clan!"

The black-clad figures remained silent, focusing only on slashing their sabers at the crowd. Every strike and every move aimed at a vital point.

In just about the time it takes for a single exchange, every one of Sang Qian's subordinates was wounded.

Several had even lost their lives.

Qin Wanru's expression changed slightly. "Where did these black-clad figures come from?" she murmured. "Their individual cultivation levels are even above that of the Red Robe Army!"