147: Blood medicine?

The Black Tiger Gang's main base was behind a tavern, with over a dozen black and red three-story pavilions connected, housing Mortal Shedding seventh and eighth-level leaders.

It could be said, without exaggeration, that the Black Tiger Gang was the strongest force in the Great Stronghold, apart from major powers like the Zhuang Family and the Huang Family.

Worried about an old man guarding the place, Jiang Hanwen disguised himself as a wine delivery boy and, relying on his super five senses, moved back and forth through the courtyard, gathering information.

After more than half a day, he had a more concrete understanding of the entire Black Tiger Gang's strength.

The two Mortal Shedding ninth-level cultivators both lived near the gang leader Guo Yugang, forming a triangular formation, guarding Guo Yugang's house in the center.

Everyone else was Mortal Shedding eighth-level and below.

There were no eccentric old men in the gang, nor were there any exceptionally talented juniors, so he could act.

After gathering information about the ground situation, Jiang Hanwen returned underground to scout for an escape route.

Guo Yugang had two secret tunnels in total; one led directly to a grain shop three hundred meters away, and the other led to Fang Jie's place.

It seemed Guo Yugang trusted Fang Jie greatly and hadn't prepared too many contingencies.

As night fell, Jiang Hanwen continued to wait in the tunnel, eavesdropping.

"Gang Leader, I've already contacted Chen Hong today. It shouldn't be a problem to arrange for her to come out tomorrow.

When should we act?"

"In the evening, at the first quarter of You Shi. We'll act as soon as it gets dark. After we're done, hurry home and wait for my news."

"Yes!"

"Today—"

"No need. We can't be careless with Zhang Ping."

"Thump thump ~"

The conversation ended with the sound of heavy footsteps departing.

Jiang Hanwen did not go home. He remained hidden underground, quietly waiting.

His heartbeat had completely stopped, and his breathing had vanished; he was hardly more lively than a stone.

At dawn, the woman left the house.

He waited until the afternoon, estimating that the other party was about to act, before Jiang Hanwen emerged from the tunnel, carefully navigating the steps into Fang Jie's room.

The surrounding doors and windows were closed; the indistinct daylight filtering through the windows into the house created a hazy, dim atmosphere, like dusk at noon.

A faint, elegant scent permeated the air, the same scent as the silk scarf he had obtained.

From this, it seemed the woman who so captivated Zhang Jian was Fang Jie.

The room's decor was predominantly pink: curtains, quilts, and even clothes were a blush of pink.

A maiden's heart?

In the dim light, Jiang Hanwen saw gold bricks, several packed clothes, and two sharp willow-leaf daggers prepared on the table in the room.

Clearly, the woman was very meticulous; regardless of whether the operation succeeded, she had made preparations to leave.

After finishing his investigation of the room, Jiang Hanwen returned to the tunnel and went to Guo Yugang's other secret tunnel.

The bottom of the tunnel had an extremely fine layer of dust, and the air was stagnant, carrying a sour, foul smell.

There were milky-white spiderwebs in the corners, and the end of the passage was sealed with stones, like an old, dilapidated house that appeared intact but felt as if a gentle poke could bring down the wall.

Clearly, although this tunnel was built earlier, it hadn't been used for a long time and was ruled out as an escape option.

In the worst-case scenario, even if the operation failed and he had to escape, Guo Yugang would still leave via Fang Jie's place.

The answer to the action surfaced: his best ambush spot was not Guo Yugang's room, but Fang Jie's.

After determining the ambush location, Jiang Hanwen returned to the room, stood behind the screen, completely merging his figure with the wooden pillar, and quietly waited for nightfall.

Although his strength was sufficient to crush Guo Yugang and Fang Jie.

Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Jiang Hanwen was ten times cautious with everyone; this was his primary experience from being a commoner to enduring as a shopkeeper.

Outside the window, the rustling sound of wind blowing through leaves occasionally echoed.

For hunting, patience is the first priority.

As time passed, the sky gradually darkened, and the room became almost pitch black.

Who knows how much time had passed.

"Click!"

The outer courtyard door of the house was pushed open.

"Clack!"

The door slammed shut, locked tight.

Jiang Hanwen opened his eyes, Spiritual Qi surging in his Dantian, ready to strike at any moment.

Thump thump thump!

Fang Jie's footsteps were heavy and hurried as she quickly trod the stone steps.

"Bang!"

The main door was violently pushed open, and Fang Jie closed it.

With a hiss, she lit a candle, then walked directly to the door, used her feet to jump onto the step on the window frame, and reached into a high secret compartment to retrieve a scroll.

"Hmm?"

She sensed something.

Fang Jie suddenly turned her head and saw a face she absolutely hadn't expected. Her pupils constricted as if to say, 'How could it be him!'

Yet, the other party was smiling at her, and before a sound could escape her throat, an icy coldness, beyond neural reflex, rapidly shot up her skin.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

By the time she wanted to scream, it was too late.

A layer of ice, as thick as a thigh, had frozen her entire body at some point, leaving only her nostrils free for breathing.

Jiang Hanwen closed the door and moved the ice block in front of him, ensuring his shadow wouldn't reflect on the window.

"You are a smart person and know what I want. I'm giving you one chance. If you want to speak, blink three times.

If you don't want to speak, blink once. I will not force you."

Saying this, Jiang Hanwen pulled the carefully hidden scroll from the woman's hand.

The woman was extremely reluctant, her body instinctively struggling to snatch back her book, her gaze fixed on the light blue cover.

"Ten Records of Source Poison," Jiang Hanwen glanced at the title. Regardless of whether it was a good thing, he confiscated it directly.

After a quarter of an hour of stalemate, her body grew colder and colder.

The woman blinked three times, yielding.

Jiang Hanwen unsealed her mouth.

"Tell me everything you know."

"Shopkeeper Jiang, it's true that I arranged for that eye to monitor you, but I was also acting on someone else's orders.

The Black Tiger Gang Leader Guo Yugang, you know him, right? He's the one who forced me to do it.

I told him that you've always been a person of integrity, coming here to live in seclusion, and shouldn't be disturbed.

But he insisted on testing your background, looking for an opportunity to act against you.

You must think I'm making excuses, but it's really not. I was just an ordinary person originally..."

Fang Jie emphasized her tragic past, claiming she was forced and helpless, and in order to find someone to rely on, she had no choice but to resort to such measures, doing many wrong things against her conscience.

For example, all the girls currently under her care were individually screened by her, then she found ways to defile innocent virgins, and then, in the role of a savior, took them under her wing for use.

Seemingly complaining, she was actually demonstrating her capabilities and cunning.

Fang Jie was very clever: feigning weakness + displaying ability + the plight of being forced to follow evil forces, coupled with her pitiable appearance and melodious voice, would soften anyone's heart.

Jiang Hanwen sighed, as if lamenting her desolate, drifting first half of life, and waved his hand, releasing the ice from the woman's body.

"You've finished your story. Now tell me about Guo Yugang."

As the ice lifted, Fang Jie's taut nerves relaxed a bit, and excitement flashed in her eyes as she indignantly said:

"Guo Yugang is a complete scumbag. You don't know, do you? All these years, he's been capturing vagrants everywhere. The men are used for blood medicine, and the women are forced to sell themselves in brothels."

"You mentioned blood medicine. What's that about?" Jiang Hanwen caught the key detail.