28: Chapter 28 Fugitive

Inside the house, Ye Jing's heart sank the moment he heard the word 'thief.'

He hurriedly said to his sons, "Take the grandchildren! We're all going to the Village Chiefs Hall!"

Firelight illuminated Liu Village as black-clad Constable holding torches surrounded the large Village Chiefs Hall.

The villagers were filled with uncertainty and apprehension.

Duan Peng, with a saber strapped to his waist, shouted, "We are here under orders to apprehend a criminal. Do not be alarmed. Once the search is complete, we will depart!"

After speaking, he gave the villagers a disdainful smile, and the Constable beside him scattered to begin the headcount search.

Seeing Duan Peng's solemn expression, which was entirely unlike his casual demeanor during Niu Gui's case, Ye Jing felt a sense of dread in his heart.

What kind of criminal could make the authorities so serious?

Every villager's household registration was checked, and not a single suspicious person was found, even after the village had been searched inside and out.

However, this only served to frighten the villagers more. Their Liu Village was nestled against the Qinling Mountains, remote and sparsely populated. If a criminal truly came here, would there ever be peace again?

Seeing the situation, Qian Wang fearfully stepped forward to ask Duan Peng, "Lord Duan, has the criminal you're searching for already left? We've searched the entire village; we're all honest folk who have lived here for generations. We would never harbor a villain."

As he spoke, his voice trembled, his hands unconsciously gripped the hem of his clothes, and his eyes were full of pleading.

Duan Peng's brow furrowed. His gaze swept over the terrified villagers and then glanced at the constable bowing to report beside him. He said in a low voice, "Left? Not necessarily!"

He paused, lightly tapping the saber in his palm. "This man is no ordinary petty thief; he is a major fugitive wanted by the imperial court. He has killed countless people and is an expert at hiding his tracks. Although Liu Village is remote, it is adjacent to the Qinling pass, making it an excellent place to hide."

As soon as these words came out, the villagers immediately erupted into a commotion.

"How could such a criminal come to a poor place like ours?"

"Could they have looked in the wrong direction? We don't even have a proper inn here!"

"Please don't let us be implicated!"

Ye Jing also felt uneasy. Seeing how serious these officials were, it seemed this criminal was definitely no simple character.

Duan Peng raised his hand to signal for silence, and the villagers immediately quieted down.

"The government is handling a case. I believe this criminal may have fled toward the Qinling Mountains. Tomorrow, I need several people familiar with the Qinling terrain to act as guides and search for the criminal!"

Duan Peng said coldly, "Those willing, step forward!"

At these words, the villagers all showed expressions of fear, none daring to take a step forward.

Previously, some villagers had teamed up to hunt in the Qinling Mountains to pay off their tax silver and had encountered many dangers, let alone searching for a cold-blooded killer.

"What? No one dares to go?" Duan Peng's voice lowered, his tone carrying a hint of impatience.

He scanned the villagers below, his gaze finally settling on the white-haired Ye Jing in the crowd.

Ye Jing felt a bit unnerved being stared at by Duan Peng.

A second later, Duan Peng sneered, "I heard that your Liu Village teamed up with people from Chen Family Village to catch a lot of prey in the Qinling Mountains. You all seem to be tenant farmers, right? Do you know that this violates the laws of the Yan State?"

As farmers, teaming up to hunt in the mountains without permission was illegal. However, to make up for the tax silver, the authorities usually turned a blind eye and didn't bother with it.

Otherwise, the villagers of Liu Village wouldn't have been able to hunt in the mountains so leisurely.

Duan Peng had collected the tax silver, so he certainly knew that Liu Village had teamed up to hunt in the mountains to cover the taxes.

He hadn't cared about it before, but bringing it up now was a move to pressure the villagers; after all, if he said they were guilty, then they were guilty.

Hearing this, the villagers' faces instantly turned pale. Someone's legs went weak, and they nearly collapsed onto the ground. One had to remember that after Zheng Silang was taken away by Duan Peng, his head was chopped off just a few days later.

Therefore, the people in the village were terrified beyond measure.

"Sir, have mercy! We had no choice! The tax silver was too heavy; if we didn't go into the mountains to hunt, we wouldn't have been able to survive!"

A villager couldn't help but cry out, their voice full of despair.

Duan Peng remained unmoved, coldly watching the wailing villagers before his gaze fell on Ye Jing once more. "Elder Ye, I've checked. During that hunting trip, it was you who led the villagers to catch quite a bit of prey, wasn't it?"

Ye Jing's heart sank. He looked intently at Duan Peng, wondering if the man was deliberately targeting him.

"What? Nothing to say?" Duan Peng arched an eyebrow, his tone mocking. "However, I am not unreasonable. I will give you a chance to redeem yourselves. Accompany me into the mountains tomorrow to search for the criminal. If we catch him, I can let bygones be bygones!"

Hearing him say this, Ye Jing realized he was truly forcing the villagers to make a choice.

The villagers' expressions became complicated, especially those who had followed Ye Jing into the mountains to hunt; they all turned their eyes toward him.

"Hurry up, my patience is limited!"

Duan Peng urged impatiently.

Ye Jing took a deep breath and suddenly looked up. "Lord Duan, I will go!"

As his aged but powerful voice rang out, many people in the village looked at him in unison.

Seeing this, Ye Xuan hurriedly spoke up, "Father! This is too dangerous! There's a criminal in those woods!"

Seeing Ye Jing step forward, Duan Peng sneered, "Old man Ye, going into the mountains isn't like catching prey. If you die, I won't be responsible!"

Ye Jing walked out with a steady stride, meeting Duan Peng's gaze with a chuckle. "These old bones of mine can still handle some hardship. Why not let this old man accompany you for a trip?"

He knew that if Duan Peng really wanted to pursue the matter of the group hunting trip, he, Ye Jing, would be the first to be blamed.

So, he could only step forward to help first.

Seeing this, Ye Xuan and Ye Yi also stepped forward and said to Duan Peng, "Lord Duan! We will go too!"

Hearing this, Duan Peng was naturally more than happy. He nodded and said, "Fine! In that case, gather here tomorrow at the Hour of the Rabbit. And don't forget to bring your family's hunting dogs!"

With that, he didn't spare another glance at the crowd and left the village with his group of Bailiff.

After these officials left, the villagers' expressions varied, but most felt a sense of secret relief.

Since Ye Jing had stepped forward, they would no longer be troubled by Duan Peng.

They offered a few words of comfort and then dispersed in a flurry.

Ye Jing didn't care much about the villagers' attitude and returned home with his two sons.

As soon as they reached home, Wu Guiyun grew anxious. "Father! How could you agree to follow that Duan Peng into the mountains to search for a criminal! That criminal is not to be trifled with! What if something happens?"

Ye Jing was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "Gui Yun, you don't understand. Duan Peng was determined to have me help him search for the criminal. If I didn't agree, would I wait for him to use underhanded methods? It was better to agree first!"

"But..." Wu Guiyun still wanted to say something.

Ye Xuan patted her shoulder and offered a few words of comfort to put her mind at ease, then asked Ye Jing, "Father, do we need to prepare anything else for the trip into the mountains?"

Thinking about the potential dangers they might face, Ye Jing said, "Xuaner, you two go and sharpen the knives—make them razor-sharp—and come with me into the mountains tomorrow! Yier, you stay at home and look after the rest of the family."

"Alright, Father... Father, am I not going with you?" Ye Yi, who was about to agree, asked in confusion upon hearing Ye Jing's arrangement.

Ye Jing said seriously, "A criminal has appeared in Liu Village. I'm afraid it won't be safe if all the men in the house are gone. You stay behind to look after the grandchildren, Gui Yun, Xianglan, and the others, just in case!"

Hearing this, Ye Yi nodded in agreement. He looked at Ye Jing with concern and said, "Father, Big Brother, you must be careful when you go into the mountains!"

Ye Jing and Ye Xuan nodded.

The family spent the night filled with worry.