Han Ji

The Snake Coil Gang. Liu Bei remembered this name.

Zhang Wu and Li Huan also returned and added some details. They secretly followed the Black Fish Gang leader that Qian Li had contacted and discovered that he later secretly met someone at the back door of a low-end tavern called Drunken Spring Breeze.

"Whom did you meet?" Liu Bei asked.

"I didn't see his face clearly, he was wearing a cloak, not very tall, and moved very nimbly. The two exchanged a few words and then parted ways," Zhang Wu said. "We tried to follow him, but he was very alert and disappeared into an alley."

The clues were scattered, but they all vaguely pointed to that chaotic area in the west of the city: the Snake Coil Gang and the Drunken Spring Breeze Tavern.

The injury to his shoulder still throbbed faintly, but the fire in Liu Bei's heart burned again. The shadows of the vines grew clearer and clearer.

He instructed Zhang Wu to keep an eye on Zui Chunfeng again, paying particular attention to any activity at the back door. He also ordered Li Huan to take Zhao Li and try to ascertain the relationship between the Snake Coil Gang and the wooden plaque.

"Be careful, it's better to lose them than to be exposed."

The two men accepted the order and left.

The room fell silent again. Liu Bei tried to move his left arm, but still couldn't muster any strength. He punched the bed board in frustration.

Just then, an announcement came from outside the door: Zhou Chong had arrived.

Liu Bei was taken aback for a moment, then had someone invite him in.

Zhou Chong was in his forties, dressed in silk casual clothes, with a fair complexion and a shrewd, businessman-like smile. As soon as he entered, he cupped his hands and said, "I heard that Mr. Liu was frightened a few days ago, so I came to visit him. This is just a small gift, nothing more." As he spoke, he had his attendant bring out a gift box.

Liu Bei had a servant take it and said calmly, "Master Zhou is too kind. It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."

Zhou Chong sat down on the couch in front of him, observed Liu Bei's expression, and sighed, "This Shuxian County has been going through a lot lately. Prefect Wang, Commandant Li... Alas, now even a young talent like Mr. Liu has been ambushed by bandits. It's truly worrying."

Liu Bei looked at him and said, "These petty scoundrels can't cause any big trouble. You and I have our own way of dealing with this."

"That's natural. I admire Lord Lu's swift and decisive methods." Zhou Chong changed the subject. "However, the undercurrents in this city are sometimes more dangerous than the open battles. Mr. Liu is young and an outsider, so there are some things he may not be aware of."

"Oh? What does Master Zhou mean?"

"Take the Snake Coil Gang in the west of the city, for example," Zhou Chong lowered his voice, "they're a gang of ruthless outlaws, ruthless as can be. And, it's said they have some shady dealings with the mountains... If Magistrate Lu wants to cleanse the region, this kind of cancer must be eradicated."

Liu Bei's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive: "Master Zhou is well-informed. However, investigations require evidence; without concrete proof, it's best not to take action against them."

"Evidence? We can always find it if we look for it." Zhou Chong smiled meaningfully. "The Zhou family has been in Shuxian for many years and still has some connections. If Mr. Liu needs anything, please don't hesitate to ask. After all, maintaining local stability is also the responsibility of us local gentry."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Zhou Chong got up to take his leave.

After seeing Zhou Chong off, Liu Bei looked at the gift box and his expression darkened.

Zhou Chong offered a knife, pointing it at the Snake Coil Gang. Was he genuinely helping, or using someone else to do his dirty work? Or was he testing something?

He recalled Lu Zhi's warning: This Lujiang is a place of intricate and complex relationships.

Regardless of Zhou Chong's motives, the suspicion surrounding the Snake Coil Gang is indeed growing stronger. He needs more conclusive evidence, and he also needs an opportune moment.

Two nights later, Li Huan and Zhao Li returned, bringing with them a skinny man with a bruised and swollen face.

"Sir, we've caught a low-level member of the Snake Coil Gang." Li Huan wiped the sweat from his face. "This coward couldn't take the beating and confessed. Some of their gang's minor leaders do have these wooden plaques; they're tokens used to contact a group of 'big shots' from the mountains. Sometimes they meet in the back room of a gambling den, and sometimes in an abandoned warehouse on Waguan Street."

Liu Bei's spirits lifted: "Are you sure?"

Zhao Li nodded and took out a wooden plaque from his pocket, exactly the same as the one on the assassin's body. "Found it on him."

We have both eyewitness testimony and physical evidence.

Liu Bei took a deep breath, pressing down on the pain in his shoulder. "Go, please invite the lord over."

Lu Zhi arrived quickly, listened to the report, looked at the wooden sign, and showed no expression on his face.

"Shall we get started, teacher?" Liu Bei asked.

Lu Zhi looked at the trembling henchmen on the ground, then at Liu Bei: "Your injuries haven't healed yet."

"It's alright. The students can give instructions."

Lu Zhi remained silent for a moment, then a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Then let's move out. Zhang Wu and Li Huan, you lead the way. Gather your personal guards and immediately surround the warehouse on Waguan Street and the main hideout of the Shepan Gang. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy."

He looked at Liu Bei: "You will be in charge of the prefecture and coordinate all parties."

"yes!"

The order was given, and the once silent prefectural government instantly sprang into action, like a tightly wound machine. Footsteps, the clanging of armor, and deep commands converged into a chilling atmosphere in the night.

Liu Bei stood at the door, looking at the faces of the soldiers flickering in the torchlight, feeling that long-lost tension, like the imminent unsheathing of a blade.

The vine has been touched; now, it's time to cut it off with a knife.

Waguan Street, abandoned warehouses.

Zhang Wu, accompanied by twenty elite personal guards, stealthily approached the warehouse's perimeter. From inside, the faint sounds of gambling shouts and women's flirtatious laughter could be heard.

According to the plan, Li Huan led another team to raid the Snake Coil Gang's hideout in Mud Loach Alley.

Zhang Wu made a gesture, and two soldiers stepped forward and gently pried open the door latch with the tip of their knives.

A soft creaking sound rang out, particularly jarring in the quiet night.

The noise inside suddenly stopped.

"Charge!" Zhang Wu roared, smashing open the door and rushing inside with his knife in hand!

The warehouse was dimly lit and reeked of cheap liquor and sweat. Seven or eight men were gambling around a broken table, with two heavily made-up women nearby. When the soldiers stormed in like wolves, everyone froze.

"Sir! Sir, spare my life!" One of the quick-witted ones immediately threw away the dice in his hand and knelt down with a thud.

"Take them all! Search them!" Zhang Wu pointed his blade.

The soldiers swarmed forward, pinning the still-unresponsive gang members to the ground. Resistance was futile; with knives to their throats, no one dared to move.

Soon, under a broken box in the corner of the warehouse, they found several packets of salt and iron, as well as several letters written in a barbarian language. More importantly, they found a snake-shaped wooden plaque in the arms of a man who appeared to be the leader.

"Boss, we found it!" The soldier handed the wooden plaque to Zhang Wu.

Zhang Wu took it, glanced at it, and confirmed it was correct. "Take it!"

Almost simultaneously, the sounds of clashing weapons and screams rang out from Mudfish Alley. Li Huan had also made his move, and encountered resistance.

Zhang Wu's face darkened: "Leave a few men to guard the area; the rest of you, come with me to provide support!"

He and his men had just rushed out of the warehouse when they saw dark figures moving at the alley entrance. Several men dressed in black, wielding sharp blades, were trying to break through the outer guards and charge towards the warehouse! Judging by their skills, they were no ordinary gang members; they seemed more like the assassins they had encountered that night!

"Stop them!" Zhang Wu shouted, drawing his sword to meet them!