The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 174 Bowing Down to the High Official

Ximen Da Guanren held the wanted poster in his hand, his fingertips rubbing the three characters "Shi Wengong" hard twice, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

He turned his head to the side, a smile playing on his lips, and asked, "Brother He, where are Shi Wengong and that scoundrel called Latou San locked up right now?"

Lord He put on a familiar smile and said, "Brother Ximen, just put your mind at ease! Do you think I'm some kind of fool who doesn't know what's important? This is an important person you personally instructed me to take seriously, how could I not care?"

"Shi Wengong and that bald-headed San are both locked up in the lowest level of our military guard, the 'Iron Yama's Palace'! According to your idea, brother, we'll separate them into two dark dungeons, three layers deep, as solid as cast iron. Not even a fly could squeeze through a crack, let alone grow wings!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his face showing some difficulty, and rubbed his hands, saying, "However... right now there are a few urgent military documents from above, like death warrants, that require my old face to personally sign and handle. I can't get away for a while and can't accompany you on this trip. I'm truly sorry for the delay! Please forgive me! I'll have my capable men..."

Just then, the warm curtain was lifted with a "whoosh," and someone slipped in. Lord He immediately beamed and clapped his hands, saying, "Ah! We were just talking about quenching our thirst, and here comes the sweet dew!"

The newcomer was dressed in a military officer's uniform, with broad shoulders and a thick waist. He was none other than Wu Tang, the deputy commander of a thousand households and Ximen Qing's brother-in-law.

Wu Tang first bowed to Lord He with his hands clasped, and gave a respectful greeting: "Greetings, Your Excellency."

Upon turning around and seeing the official, a broad, oily smile immediately bloomed on his dark face, revealing an innate warmth and a casual, unpretentious familiarity.

"Oh my good brother-in-law! What kind of wind blew you here today, causing you to linger in this filthy military yamen? Is there some important business that requires the help of your old bones?"

Before Ximen Qing could reply, Lord He interjected, "Vice Commander Wu, you've come at just the right time! Your brother-in-law wants to go down to our 'Iron Yama's Palace' to check on the two important prisoners locked up there. You'll have to accompany him and lead him down for a look. Be very careful and don't let anything go wrong!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Tang's smile faltered for a moment—his inherited nominal position as deputy commander of a thousand men meant that he had no say in many of the military's secret dealings.

All I knew was that my superior had taken a hundred or so men out the day before yesterday and returned with a great military achievement. Now it seemed that it was all thanks to my brother-in-law, who had connections everywhere!
His mind raced, but he dared not be negligent on the surface. He quickly clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Yes! This subordinate obeys the order. Rest assured, sir!"

He turned to Ximen Qing and said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, this way please."

Lord He went to deal with his pile of military affairs.

Ximen Da Guanren and Wu Tang then strolled out of the warm pavilion side by side.

The early winter chill outside, sandwiched between those towering blue brick walls, felt even more biting and penetrating.

The two walked along the slippery bluestone corridor covered with a thin layer of frost, heading towards the gloomy prison that reeked of mold and blood.

Wu Tang cupped his rough hands to his mouth, exhaled a large puff of white breath, rubbed his reddened palms vigorously a few times, and grinned:

"That man! He can turn on you in an instant, and it's so cold that you feel the wind seeping into your bones! It's nothing like my brother-in-law's house, where the underfloor heating is scorching hot, and you'd probably feel hot even in just a single layer of clothing in the warm room."

"Tsk tsk, this dilapidated government office of ours is drafty and freezing! How is Sister Yue Niang at home? I was just thinking about going to see her the other day."

Upon hearing this, the official slowly straightened the glossy cuffs of his fur coat and replied, "She's doing very well. She manages everything inside and out perfectly. She often nags me about how she cares about you and your second brother-in-law."

His tone carried a touch of familiar warmth, yet also a hint of the head of the household's complaint:
"Brother-in-law, you two brothers are now making a living in this tiny place called Qinghe County. How far away can you go? How come you're like a kite with a broken string, rarely seen for ten days or half a month?"

"You know Yue Niang's temperament. She may not say it, but she's been thinking about it a lot. She often grumbles to me, 'I don't know what her two brothers are busy with all day long, they don't even care about showing their faces!'"

"The other day he was discussing with me that when the weather gets a bit colder, he'll prepare a nice feast and invite you and your second brother-in-law over so we can have a lively meal, warm our stomachs, and catch up on our family ties!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Tang's smile faltered, and he awkwardly replied:

"Oh dear! I deserve a beating! I deserve a beating! It's all my fault! The various errands at the yamen are keeping me so busy that I can't get away, and that troublesome wife at home is causing trouble every few days, making my head spin... Sigh! I've made you worry, sister! Another day! Another day I will definitely come to your door and kowtow to apologize!"

He chuckled, but dared not stop walking, only leading the way.

The official knew perfectly well what was going on. His brother-in-law, after all, still knew some manners and face. He felt that he had received a lot of respectable and generous gifts from his brother-in-law. He relied on his brother-in-law for daily support, but he didn't have the ability to prepare appropriate return gifts. Feeling indebted, he simply stopped visiting to avoid making things awkward between them.

On the other hand, her second brother-in-law was much more shameless. He would often sneak off to find Yue Niang when she was not at home, making up excuses and asking for favors to get some money to do with her.

Leading the high-ranking official through several heavily locked, heavily guarded gates, the air was thick with the chilling smell of prison—a mixture of stale mold, rust, blood, smoldering cheap charcoal, and the stench of excrement—that seeped into his flesh layer by layer, like rotten cotton soaked in ice water, penetrating to the very marrow of his bones.

"Brother-in-law, we've arrived." Wu Tang's voice was extremely low, echoing in the dungeon passage. "It's filthy inside, with a pungent smell. Be careful where you step, it's very slippery."

As soon as the door opened, a chilling, foul wind, mixed with the heavy stench of blood, rotting corpses, urine, and choking smoke from burning charcoal, rushed out!

The prison was as dark as ink, with only a single oil lamp flickering like a will-o'-the-wisp in the far corner. The tiny flame swayed wildly in the eerie wind that seemed to come from nowhere, stretching the shadows on the walls and the floor into different lengths, twisting and writhing, like ghostly figures.

Wu Tang led Ximen Qing through a winding path, until they reached the deepest, most filthy room in the prison. Under the dim light of an oil lamp, they saw a man curled up in a ball, huddled in a thin layer of moldy straw.

The thin prison uniform he wore was already tattered and its original color was indistinguishable. It was covered in dark red scabs and black filth, and the stench of the raging stench assaulted one's nostrils.

Upon closer inspection, the man's hair was sparse, revealing several scabies scars, making him quite filthy. His face was swollen and bluish-purple, his eye sockets were as black as the bottom of a pot, his mouth was split open, and one ear looked like it was missing half, covered with some dark ointment—he looked exactly like a pickled cucumber that hadn't been properly pickled. If it wasn't that rogue, Lai Tou San, then who was it?

Suddenly, the iron chains rattled, and Lai Tou San shuddered, struggling to open his eyes, which were swollen to the point of being barely open.

When he finally caught a glimpse of the figure standing outside the prison gate, especially when he could make out Ximen Da Guanren's ambiguous, smirking face in the dim light, his swollen pupils suddenly contracted, and he hissed and gasped for breath.

He struggled to shrink back, but the movement aggravated his wound, causing him to grimace in pain, like a mangy dog ​​that had lost its cramps.

Ximen Qing, the master of the house, leisurely sized up the mud-like rogue through the thick wooden fence, a slight smirk playing on his lips. He slowly opened his mouth, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery:

"Heh, you bald-headed rascal! It's been a few days, and you've really made something of yourself. How did you manage to sneak into such a 'good' place and establish such a respectable reputation? Do you still recognize me?"

The bald man was startled and uncertain. His cloudy eyes were fixed on the official's face. His swollen, oily lips moved for a long time before a hoarse, broken voice squeezed out from his throat. He hesitated and said, "You...you are...from the Zhang family of Qinghe County...no...no..."

Suddenly, fear spread like ink in his eyes, his voice rose, cracked, and filled with utter terror: "You! You are...you are Ximen Qing! Master Ximen!"

"Hahaha!" The official seemed to have heard something incredibly funny, letting out a short, cold laugh: "Well done! You dog, you're not so stupid after all!"

Lai Tou San was so startled that his three souls trembled and his seven spirits were adrift!

Suddenly, with a burst of unexpected strength, he tumbled down from the pile of rotten grass with a "thud," his forehead hitting the cold, icy stone ground with a series of thuds, accompanied by cries of agony.
"My lord! My lord Ximen! Spare my life! I was truly blind! I was out of my mind! I deserve to be struck by lightning! How dare I offend your might! I deserve to die! I deserve to die a thousand times over! Please, my lord, have mercy and spare my dog's life! Forget it, just let me go!"

He cried out, ignoring his injuries, and kept kowtowing. His forehead was torn and bleeding, and fresh blood mixed with old grime flowed down his filthy face to the corners of his mouth, making him look even more wretched.

The smile on Ximen Qing's face vanished instantly, and a layer of frost settled in his eyes.

He took a half step forward, the tip of his official boot almost touching the rough wooden fence. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like icicles scraping against stone, carrying a bone-chilling cold: "Spare my life? Ha, let me ask you, where are my eight hundred taels of silver, as white as snowflakes? Which few blind stray dogs have I fed them all?"

The man with the bald head trembled violently, shaking like a leaf. He dared not conceal anything, and burst into tears, sobbing, "My lord! I dare not lie! That eight hundred taels…it really was…the militia commander, Lord Yang…he…he took the lion's share, three hundred taels! Of the remaining five hundred taels…my adoptive father took two hundred, and I…I only got one hundred to cover my shame…and…there are still two hundred taels left, distributed per person to those dozens of lawless scoundrels who attacked that day…" "Lord Yang?" Ximen Da Guanren repeated calmly, his eyelids twitching slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "You mean Lord Yang also got involved in this low-stakes highway robbery?"

The bald man hurriedly shook his scraggly head, aggravating his wounds and causing him to hiss in pain: "No, no, no! Lord Yang... he considers himself a descendant of a prestigious family, so respectable and precious! How could he... how could he personally get involved in such blatant and controversial dealings? He just... he just turns a blind eye..."

Upon hearing this, Master Ximen snorted lightly.

The matter concerning Lord Yang has caused a great uproar and alarmed the higher-ups. The charge of "failing to properly manage his subordinates and condoning looting" is likely to stick to him like a leech, impossible to remove.

He paused slightly, his eyelids drooping as he looked down at the bald-headed man curled up on the ground, trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind. His voice sounded as if icy:

"Let me ask you another crucial question: Why don't you stay put in your doghouse in the capital? Instead, you've rushed to Qinghe County like a stray dog ​​smelling fish, specifically targeting my caravan. What's the reason for that?"

The bald man, with a filthy face and snot and tears smeared all over his face, cried out, "My lord, you have great wisdom! In the capital, I only survive by collecting debts from the King of Hell in gambling dens!"

"That day, I sent a few rascals to Wang Zhaoxuan's residence in Qinghe County to collect a gambling debt. Who knew... who knew that those useless fellows, unaware of their own limitations, were soundly beaten by your servants outside the gate. They all crawled back with bruises, broken arms, and broken legs!"

"I was burning with rage, it was making my insides ache! Then I saw that my godfather was also worried about money, so I casually suggested that he help me get revenge for this humiliation and make a fortune in the process... I... I was blinded by greed, I thought, since it's a merchant caravan from out of town, it's a good opportunity to vent my anger... Who... who knew I would end up touching your tiger's whiskers..."

The official nodded slightly, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes, and asked the question he most wanted to know: "Who in Qinghe County leaked the whereabouts of my family's caravan?"

Lazi San blurted out without the slightest hesitation: "Reporting to Your Excellency! It is indeed the gambling den in Qinghe County that hangs the 'Tongchi Fang' sign! It is originally a branch of the 'Tongchi Lou' gambling den in the capital, and Wang Zhaoxuan's gambling debts were also owed to the Tongchi Lou in the capital!"

It turns out the roots are here!
Ximen Qing's eyes flashed with a sharp light, like a hungry wolf smelling blood: "Then tell me again, who is the real boss behind this 'All-Eat-Outhouse' who sits there and shares the spoils?"

The bald man forced a fawning smile that was even more grotesque than a mournful wail, then shrank back further, wishing he could disappear into the pile of rotten grass.

"Oh my god, my great ancestor! You're really flattering me! I'm just a lowly scoundrel who runs errands, gets beaten up and bullied, and chases debts. I can't even get past the casino manager's door, let alone have any idea which powerful bodhisattva is behind me!"

He paused, stealing a glance at Ximen Qing's unpredictable expression, swallowed hard, and cautiously added:

"However... having spent these years wallowing in the mire of the capital, I've heard plenty of gossip. Every gambling den in the capital that can stand firm, thrive, and rake in money every day, has powerful connections behind it! They're either imperial relatives, princes, or high-ranking officials in the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers! Who would dare to open such a hellish place?"

"But... lately, some strange wind has been blowing in the capital. The nine gates open and close like turtles stretching their heads and shrinking back, unpredictable! And Grand Commandant Gao Qiu is investigating too strictly! It's like everyone is on edge, seeing enemies everywhere! Many gambling dens, fearing a huge disaster, have quietly moved their venues to the prefectures and counties near the capital, like mice moving house."

"Just in Qinghe County alone, there are at least three or four newly relocated gambling dens! They probably won't dare to show their faces until that 'evil wind' in the capital has subsided..."

Ximen Qing listened without changing his expression. He immediately thought of how Ying Bojue had been beaten a few days ago. It seemed that these people who had "fled" from the capital had gathered in this place.

His thoughts shifted, and he suddenly posed a seemingly unrelated question, his tone calm yet carrying an invisible pressure: "Your godfather, Shi Wengong, is quite the tough guy, daring to rob my money. Does he... have any family or relatives? Where do they live?"

Upon hearing this, the bald man's swollen eyelids twitched violently, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, which he quickly suppressed, forcing an even more obsequious smile onto his face as he waved his hands repeatedly:
"No! Absolutely not! How could we dare to bring our families along when we're doing this dangerous business? Wouldn't that be handing our 'weak point' over to others? My godfather has always been a lone goose, only caring about himself! With a family to support, how could he dare to do something that could lead to execution and confiscation of property?"

Ximen Qing stared into his evasive eyes, a cold smile slowly curving his lips. There was no warmth in that smile, only mockery that saw through the lie and the cruelty that was about to be inflicted.

He nodded slowly, his voice low but sharp as an ice-cold knife: "Bastard San, oh bastard San... it seems you need a good beating."

The fawning smile on La Tou San's face froze instantly, like solidified lard. Looking into Ximen Qing's all-knowing eyes, a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head; he knew he could no longer deceive him.

He dropped his fawning smile, straightened his back abruptly, his swollen face contorted with rage, and his eyes turned venomous as he hissed and sneered:

"Hmph! Ximen Qing! It's true that I, Lai Tou San, am a worthless scoundrel! But in the world of martial arts, there's a damn thing called 'loyalty and righteousness'! Don't even think about squeezing a fart out of my mouth! I will never betray my godfather. Kill me or do whatever you want! If you even flinch, then I'm not born of a father and mother!"

The official had a half-smile on his face, but he actually gave a thumbs up and clicked his tongue in praise: "Good! What a tough bird! Today I will grant you your 'loyalty and courage'!"

Having said that, he turned to Wu Tang, who had been standing by with his arms crossed, watching coldly, and said with a smile, "Brother-in-law, it seems I'll have to trouble you today to loosen up this hero's muscles and wake him up!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Tang grinned, revealing a set of white teeth that gleamed like a carnivore in the dim oil lamp light: "Hey! Brother-in-law, you're being too polite! We're brothers, why bother? Just relax and enjoy the show from the sidelines!"

He suddenly raised his voice and shouted sternly at the prison gate: "Men! Drag this damned thief to the 'Fairy Cave' next door! We've got all the gear ready! Let this mangy dog ​​see how our military yamen operates! How we 'serve' heroes!"

Before he could finish speaking, two burly, wolf-like jailers burst through the cell door, bringing a gust of cold wind with them. Without a word, they grabbed one of the bald-headed guards by the arm and dragged him out like a dead dog.

The shrill curses and struggles of the bald man were instantly drowned out by the dragging and scraping sounds and the jailer's sinister laughter.

Two fierce jailers, dragging the bald-headed San who was covered in mud, kicked open the heavy oak door of the adjacent torture chamber, which was covered in dirt and suspicious dark red marks.

A stench ten times stronger than that of a prison cell, a mixture of blood, rotting flesh, and rust, surged out as if it were a tangible substance, causing Ximen Qing to instinctively take a half step back, his brows furrowed.

The torture chamber was small, yet chilling. The walls were covered with all sorts of black, gleaming instruments of torture, their surfaces gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen.
Several thick, barbed "lazy man's stools" stood against the wall, covered with dark brown grime.

Several thick iron chains and barbed ropes hung from the roof beams, with heavy iron balls suspended at the ends.

The brazier in the corner was burning brightly, with several red-hot branding irons stuck inside. They were of various shapes, some with the character "王" (king) and others with lotus flower patterns, and they were hissing and emitting blue smoke.

Scattered on the ground were clamps and finger-crushing devices stained with dried blood, as well as several iron brushes covered in barbs, which made one's skin tighten just looking at them.

The most conspicuous thing in the center of the room is an iron object shaped like a bronze bull, with holes for adding fuel to the fire. Next to it are several boning knives of different sizes and short saws with serrations.

La Tou San was roughly thrown onto the cold, slippery stone ground. His swollen eyes bulged out like those of a dying fish, scanning the grotesque objects with utter terror.

When his gaze fell upon the red-hot branding iron and the barbed iron brush, he suddenly prostrated himself on the cold ground at Ximen Qing's feet, and shouted with a hearty and unrestrained voice:
"My lord! I confess!! I've confessed everything!"

"Oh?" The official, who was examining the various "wonderful things" in this "immortal's cave" with great interest, was taken aback upon hearing this, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth:
"Weren't you just now prioritizing 'loyalty and righteousness,' striving to be a righteous and unyielding hero? What? The 'deity' hasn't even shown its power to enlighten you yet, and you're already in a hurry to have an 'epiphany'?"

The bald-headed man forced out a fawning smile that was more like a grimace, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Excellency is wise! I know my own limitations perfectly well! With so many 'treasures' under the King of Hell, even if I tried them all, my worthless body would eventually give out! Rather than that, I might as well just confess everything now!"

The official smiled enigmatically: "Tsk, didn't you swear that 'if I even frown, I'm not your father and mother'? Where's that stubborn, arrogant attitude?"

The bald-headed man kowtowed even louder, his forehead covered in mud, ash, and bits of grass, his voice trembling with a sob, yet also revealing a slick, reckless abandon.

“Oh my god! You flatter me! My short-lived mother… was a courtesan in a government-run brothel! I was not even four years old when she kicked the bucket and passed away, not even a grave can be found! I had no mother to raise me!”

"As for my father, which bastard father conceived him? I have no idea! He has no father or mother!"

Seeing this, Wu Tang couldn't help but burst out laughing, pointing at the bald man and saying to the official, "Brother-in-law! This fellow is truly a 'rolling knife' character!"

(End of this chapter)