Chapter 86 - 85: Questioning to the End and Killing in One Go

"Think it through before you speak again. Of course, you could also try calling for help. Let’s see if you can speak faster than I can move my hand." Jiang Shu’s hand relaxed, and Zhou Yang’s corpse slumped to the ground. The air in the room seemed to freeze. His voice was soft yet carried an icy murderous intent. He was no longer the youth who had just entered Pingling County without even Qi Blood Sensing. In less than a year, he had transformed from an ordinary person into an Iron Skin Realm Martial Artist. Apart from a few experts in the Bone Forging Realm, no one in Pingling County could stop him now! With an aura like a tiger, Jiang Shu sat on the sandalwood chair. "I... I also have a few thousand silver notes stored at the Yao Family Restaurant. I’m a regular at Skylark Square; I always run a tab there... I don’t carry money on me." Yao Wenbai took a couple of deep breaths to suppress his inner terror. Beneath him, the unconscious girl from Skylark Square slumped, her head lolling to the side. His own unsightly, diminutive manhood was exposed. To have climbed to his current position from being a mere concubine’s son was certainly related to his mother’s favor. But he himself was no true profligate. When he saw this nameless Martial Artist choke Zhou Yang to death without batting an eye, he knew the best thing for him right now was to be utterly obedient and compliant. Nothing was more important than his own life! "Not enough." Jiang Shu’s words were concise. He was timing things in his mind. Skylark Square was crowded and heavily watched. From the time he came upstairs until now, a little less than half an hour had passed. In another half an hour, girls should be arriving at his room. He needed to speed up. "Besides these few thousand silver notes, let’s add some questions. I’ll ask, you’ll answer. What Cultivation Techniques does the Yao Family possess?" "’Black Panther Savage Strength.’ Our Yao Family’s Martial Artists are typically about twenty to thirty percent stronger than those practicing average Cultivation Techniques. This is our family’s core technique. I’m not very clear about others; after all, I’m not a Martial Artist and haven’t been to the Hidden Technique Pavilion. Such a technique is beyond my reach. Even if I became a Martial Artist, the only techniques I could obtain would be at the Skin Grinding Realm, which wouldn’t be very useful to you. Silver notes are more practical. If you think a few thousand silver notes aren’t enough, my mother also has some pearls and gems I could get for you." Yao Wenbai spoke with increasing composure. By now, he was certain. This Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist probably couldn’t obtain any advanced Martial Arts techniques. He likely just wanted to abduct some wealthy young master to interrogate about Cultivation Techniques. He himself was simply unfortunate to have been chosen. This wasn’t a deliberate act of vengeance. As long as that was the case, his life was surely safe! Feeling secretly reassured, Yao Wenbai breathed an inward sigh of relief. This nameless Martial Artist—who knew how he even reached the Skin Grinding Realm—was far too naive. Every major family treasured its Martial Arts. If techniques were so easily obtained by capturing a young master, the number of Martial Artists in Pingling County would be several times higher. A country bumpkin was still a country bumpkin; even if he became a Martial Artist, his perspective remained shallow. Besides, so what if he did obtain their Yao Family’s ’Black Panther Savage Strength’? Every major family’s foundational Martial Arts had hidden aspects. When the family’s younger generation studied them, they were personally guided by elders and formally initiated. Trying to master Martial Arts just from the written manuals? A pipe dream! "Where is the Hidden Technique Pavilion?" Jiang Shu continued to ask, his expression unchanged. "In the Yao Family’s main residence, on the top floor of the easternmost tower," Yao Wenbai answered quickly. He scoffed inwardly, almost wishing this nameless Martial Artist would rush to the Yao Family’s Hidden Technique Pavilion to steal techniques right now. His Bone Forging Realm elders lived near that tower; what chance did a mere Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist have? He wouldn’t even know how he died! "How many retainers does the Yao Family currently have?" "Currently, there should be around twenty Skin Grinding Realm retainers. Our Yao Family’s strength is now paramount in Pingling County. Other major families have, at most, fourteen or fifteen retainers." He added with a hint of pride, "Actually, with your strength, you might consider joining our Yao Family and becoming one of our retainers. If you pass the assessment, I assure you I’ll overlook past grievances and even speak highly of you to the family elders to help you integrate quickly into the Yao Family. One day, if you reach the Iron Skin Realm, our Yao Family could even arrange for a daughter from a concubine to marry you and teach you ’Black Panther Savage Strength,’ helping you become a true Bone Forging Realm expert. "What do you think? You won’t find such preferential treatment elsewhere. The Martial Arts of the martial arts schools are in the hands of their masters. Unless you’re a true Disciple, don’t expect to obtain them easily. Moreover, martial arts schools only teach Martial Arts; they don’t provide meat. As a Martial Artist, you naturally know how precious exotic beast meat is. Without it, how easy is it to advance your Realm? "In comparison, our Yao Family has the backing of the County Magistrate. We have an absolute abundance of exotic beast meat. As long as you serve our Yao Family loyally, you won’t lack for food or drink." Yao Wenbai was attempting to recruit him, but only he knew his true intentions. "About twenty retainers, hmm? Then there must be at least three at the Bone Forging Realm..." Jiang Shu’s voice held a hint of surprise, baiting Yao Wenbai to reveal more. His current strength wasn’t weak, but he lacked information channels. His so-called master only taught him Martial Arts and never bothered to inform him about the various powers within Pingling County. His close friend, Senior Brother Qi Yuan, was only at the Stone Skin Realm and knew even less about the major families. How powerful were the top-tier experts? What was the strength of the mid-tier? Where was their treasury? What were the characteristics of their Cultivation Techniques? He had absolutely no idea about any of it. The only reason he was listening to Yao Wenbai’s nonsense was to gather more intelligence. The Yao Family of today was not the same as before. With their burgeoning strength, a power seeking to expand was bound to swallow the weak. And he himself was just a ’lowly’ Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artist. Yet, he possessed salt, MSG, and spices, making a fortune from the common folk. Such a fine lamb... The upper echelons might not care, but those profligate young masters would definitely target him. From the moment the Yao Family began to grow, his fate had been sealed. All he could do was submit... or else... "Four! Some time ago, my second uncle also became a Bone Forging Realm expert under the guidance of County Magistrate Nie. How about that? I can’t guarantee that joining our Yao Family will ensure you reach the Bone Forging Realm, but attaining the Iron Skin Realm is absolutely simple!" Yao Wenbai boasted, his words flowing like a torrent. Then, in the next instant, a hand shot out and clamped around his throat. His face turned deathly pale in a heartbeat. He tried to make a sound, but— CRACK. He heard the faint snap of his own neck. "Alright, time’s up." Jiang Shu twisted his neck as if nothing at all had happened. He picked up the girl from Skylark Square from the floor, carried her to the bed, tore the bedsheet into strips, and tied her up tightly. He then wadded up a thin veil and stuffed it into her mouth. Next, he calmly walked to the adjacent room. When the girl there entered, he knocked her out with a swift chop of his hand, then tied and gagged her with practiced ease. After waiting quietly for about another half-hour, he walked straight out of the room. He handed a substantial sum of silver taels to the madam downstairs, saying, "The young lady is sound asleep; don’t disturb her. I’ve paid for the entire night. I’ll be back in the morning." 「In just two hours, he had interrogated, killed, and dealt with the aftermath—all in one smooth sequence.」