Chapter 701 Cutting People Like Melons

Chapter 701: Cutting Through People Like Melons

The broker Yu Yongbai knew was surnamed Zhan and ranked seventh in his family, so people called him Zhan Laoqi (Old Seven Zhan).

As Zhan Laoqi was a well-known broker in the capital with connections across all walks of life—even in some illicit trades—Yu Yongbai didn’t want Xingxing to interact with him directly. He had Xingxing and Gong Qingniang sit behind a screen while he invited Zhan Laoqi into the room.

The screen was a rare import from the Western Frontier. With light streaming in from the window, Xingxing and Gong Qingniang could see the scene on the other side clearly, but due to the backlighting, those on the other side couldn’t see them.

“Ah, Master Yu Er!” Zhan Laoqi greeted Yu Yongbai warmly the moment he entered. “I was wondering why the magpies were singing so much this morning. Turns out it was because you were looking for me today.”

Yu Yongbai knew that with people like this, he had to project authority, or they would look down on him.

With a calm expression, Yu Yongbai nodded slightly. “Zhan Laoqi, take a seat. I have something to ask you.”

Zhan Laoqi chuckled and sat down, saluting with clasped hands. “Master Yu Er, ask away. I, Zhan Laoqi, will tell you everything I know.”

Yu Yongbai said coolly, “Things have been unsettled in the capital lately.”

Zhan Laoqi’s ears twitched slightly. His laugh came out dry as he probed, “I’m not sure what you mean by that, Master Yu Er… You know, I know quite a few people, and in my opinion, the capital has never been truly peaceful.”

Yu Yongbai then brought up the incident where the daughter of one of his shopkeepers had nearly been kidnapped. “Recently, has there been anyone involved in kidnapping? One of my shopkeepers’ daughters was taken.”

Zhan Laoqi put on a show of surprise. “Oh, I really haven’t heard about that. After all, that’s a heinous crime…”

He studied Yu Yongbai’s face. “But… I do know someone who might have some inside information… Master Yu Er, what’s the name of your shopkeeper’s daughter? I’ll help you look into it.”

Yu Yongbai remained expressionless and gave Chu Yaoniang’s name.

Zhan Laoqi nodded, stood up, and cupped his hands again. “Then I’d better hurry and make inquiries for you. No time to waste.”

Yu Yongbai also stood to see him off. “I’ll treat you to drinks later.”

Zhan Laoqi grinned unctuously. “Ah, that would be an honor. I’ll definitely come to you for that drink. Everyone knows that Master Yu Er is the top businessman in the capital now.” He gave a thumbs-up. “The wine you offer is bound to be top-notch.”

“Of course.”

Zhan Laoqi left in a hurry, his grin still plastered on his face.

Only then did Xingxing and Gong Qingniang emerge from behind the screen.

Gong Qingniang said, “That Zhan Laoqi was obviously lying through his teeth. He definitely knows something.”

Xingxing nodded in agreement.

Yu Yongbai said, “Kidnappers are in the vilest business. I’ve already sent men to follow Zhan Laoqi. Not only will we rescue that little girl, but we’ll also dismantle their entire operation.”

Every family had children. Thinking of others' plight—if it were Xingxing or one of those rascal brothers of ours who’d been kidnapped—Yu Yongbai couldn’t bear to imagine the devastation it would bring.

Yu Yongbai mobilized the heavily funded elite guard unit from their merchant group. Each member was a skilled fighter capable of taking on ten opponents. They were ready to move as soon as Zhan Laoqi led them to the kidnappers.

After waiting for two hours, one of the men tailing Zhan Laoqi returned.

Sure enough, Zhan Laoqi knew something.

The man reported, “After leaving our shop, Zhan Laoqi made a round of stops before sneaking into a residential house. The people there were very alert, so we couldn’t get too close. We only heard Zhan Laoqi telling them to back off, saying they’d messed with the wrong people this time. We scouted the house—it’s a plain layout, with no signs of hidden chambers or cellars. It’s probably just a safehouse. I came back to report, while the others are still maintaining surveillance, trying to locate their real hideout.”

Yu Yongbai nodded. “The city gates will be locked soon. If their base is inside the city, they might try to make their move tonight.”

Yu Yongbai gave the order for the caravan guards to remain on standby at all times.

Once the message arrives, they would launch a direct assault on their hideout.

Xingxing said, "The area near the South Gate is mostly a neighborhood, and the place where Chu Yaoniang went missing is also close by. I suspect the kidnappers' hideout might be there as well. Second Brother, have someone take my jade token as a commandery princess just in case. If anything happens, we can call on the nearby soldiers for help."

Yu Yongbai nodded, and Xingxing headed over to Lou Ruhui to exchange information.

Lou Ruhui's people had searched for most of the day with little success, leaving her somewhat disheartened. But upon hearing that Xingxing had made progress, her spirits lifted.

"Let’s wait here for Second Brother’s update," Xingxing said.

The two had arranged to meet near the southern part of the city.

With nothing else to do, the two girls found a teahouse to rest for a while.

Unexpectedly, as Xingxing sipped her tea and glanced outside, her face darkened.

Lou Ruhui asked, "What's wrong?"

Xingxing lowered her voice and quickly explained, "Did you see that man just now carrying a little girl who looked unconscious? She didn’t seem asleep—more like she’d been knocked out."

Lou Ruhui scratched her head, her expression also growing grave. "I didn’t see anything off. But if you say so, there must be something wrong."

Lou Ruhui tossed down a silver fragment and pulled Xingxing forward. "Come on, let’s tail him!"

It had to be said that Xingxing and Lou Ruhui were quick on the uptake. Though they had no training in tracking, they knew that larger groups were more easily noticed. They instructed their maids to hang back at a distance while they tiptoed after the man carrying the unconscious girl, following him into a narrow alley without being detected.

The man, holding the unconscious girl, glanced around cautiously before stopping in front of a small courtyard cluttered with junk. He rapped on the gate in a coded knock—three long, three short, three long.

The two girls hid behind a pile of debris. Xingxing, with her keen hearing, caught someone inside grumbling, "…We have to move again tonight, and you brought another kid?"

"Eh, it was an easy grab, no hassle…"

The voices faded, followed by a faint creak—likely a door being opened. After that, Xingxing could hear no more.

Her expression darkened.

She had guessed right—this was probably where the kidnappers were hiding the children.

It seemed she had stumbled upon the kidnappers' hideout before her Second Brother’s men.

From their conversation, the kidnappers planned to move the children out of the city tonight—they were running out of time!

Lou Ruhui hadn’t heard anything, but seeing Xingxing listening intently, she remained silent, her expression serious.

When Xingxing turned back to her, they exchanged a glance, and Lou Ruhui immediately understood, clenching her jaw and giving a sharp nod.

Just as they were about to sneak off, there was movement at the alley entrance again.

Xingxing and Lou Ruhui immediately dove back, blending into the junk pile.

The light was fading. Through the gaps in the clutter, Xingxing saw several burly men wearing escort uniforms enter the alley and head straight for the courtyard the kidnapper had gone into earlier.

The lead escort pounded loudly on the door—not using the kidnapper’s previous three long, three short, three long knocks.

Sure enough, a guarded voice from inside demanded, "Who is it?"

The escort chuckled, "Is Third Master Wang here? We have business to discuss with him."

Still cautious, the person inside asked through the gate, "What kind of business?"

Xingxing watched as the escort slipped a banknote through the door crack. The amount must have been substantial, as the voice inside turned friendlier. "Good, very sincere indeed."

The door creaked open slightly, revealing a still-wary face peering through the gap. "Talk. What do you want?"

The escort smiled. "Did you receive a boy around thirteen or fourteen last night? Handsome, wearing a pale blue robe with bamboo embroidery on the hem?"

The person inside stayed silent, but the shrewd escort read his expression and grinned. "So you do have him."

A scoff came from inside.

Dropping his voice, the escort murmured something Xingxing could barely catch: "...Someone hired us to handle this. That banknote just now is for the life..."

The rest was too quiet even for Xingxing’s sharp hearing.

The kidnapper inside seemed to hear, his half-visible face contorted in scorn. "Oh, even nastier than us. Fine, the payer calls the tune. The kid’s here... Tomorrow, send someone to the abandoned temple to collect the body. But after it’s done, you’ll owe us this much."

A hand appeared, fingers flashing twice—a hundred taels.

After haggling, the escort bargained it down to fifty.

They shook on it.

Meanwhile, a unit in light armor rushed into the alley.

The burly escorts instantly formed a defensive circle, swords drawn.

The kidnapper inside went white and slammed the gate shut.

But the armored unit moved swiftly, made quick work of the escorts.

The heavy gate was kicked open, and they charged in!

Lou Ruhui went white, covering her mouth.

But Xingxing’s eyes lit up. "Don’t worry—it’s my Second Brother’s men!"

Lou Ruhui caught on instantly, thrilled. "Your Second Brother’s men?! They’re this strong—does that mean it’s over?!"

Xingxing nodded but quickly added, "Lou-jie, stay hidden here. I’ve got knockout drugs—as backup, I’ll go help! If things go wrong, I’ll use it!"

Lou Ruhui knew she had no martial skills beyond her boldness and would just get in the way if she went.

She warned gravely, "Be careful!"

Xingxing nodded, pulling out a pouch of knockout powder from her waistband. She handed one to Lou Ruhui for self-defense and clutched another as she slipped quietly toward the courtyard gate.

The hulking escorts sprawled at the entrance were too battered to get up. For safety, Xingxing carefully skirted around them, musing, *These escorts look so tough, yet they can’t even take a beating.*

The sounds of struggle inside the courtyard had already ceased. Peering through the gate, Xingxing saw the elite guards in service to the Yu family—broad-shouldered with trim waists and neatly tied hair—had made quick work of the kidnappers.

Two of them were already binding the kidnappers, who lay scattered across the yard, preparing to hand them over to the authorities.

"Where’s the boy? Where did you lock him up?" One guard pressed the tip of his blade under a kidnapper’s chin, demanding answers.

Kidnapping was a grave crime, and the culprits feigned ignorance, pleading innocence.

The guard, burning with rage, didn't bother with words. With a flash of his blade, a scream erupted—he had lopped off a kidnapper’s hand. "One last time—where is he? If you don’t talk, I’ll take a foot next."

The kidnapper’s shrieks were piercing.

The others, no longer daring to play dumb, hastily pointed toward the cellar entrance.

Xingxing slipped her knockout powder back.

*These guards are so strong—what a relief!*

Noticing Xingxing snooping around, the guards went pale. "Miss Cen?! What are you doing here?!"

One guard quickly stepped in front of the maimed kidnapper, trying to block her view from the gruesome sight.

Xingxing cleared her throat.

*No need—I’ve already seen it...*

"Let’s rescue the people in the cellar first," she said. "Who knows how many are trapped inside?"

Following orders, the guards searched the kidnappers for keys and unlocked the cellar.

Inside were many children—mostly girls, but a few boys as well.

When freed, they burst into tears of disbelief, the courtyard soon filled with cries.

Since the rescued children were connected to disappearance cases and needed to testify against the kidnappers, they would have to be registered at the magistrate’s office.

Chu Yaoniang collapsed into Lou Ruhui’s arms, sobbing hysterically.

Her cries set off the other children, who clamored for their parents. The guards, who moments ago had cut down foes like melons, stood frozen, utterly overwhelmed.

Xingxing scanned the crowd, her gaze settling on a teenage boy causing the biggest scene.

His back was turned as he screamed hoarsely at a guard, "Go find my parents! Bring them here now!"

Clearly falling apart, he limped slightly—likely injured in the cellar.

What caught Xingxing’s eye, however, was his clothing. Though filthy, it was clearly moon-white under the cold moonlight.

And just as the escort had described, the hem was embroidered with green bamboo.

*So this is the one someone pulled strings and paid top dollar to have the kidnappers kill?*