32: Old beggar, temple of wealth

Three breaths later.

The thugs lay scattered across the ground, their expressions unusually serene.

Zhang Wen’s face was filled with terror.

“Boss, did you kill them all?”

As a Demon Suppression Guard, if he truly killed a few innocent people during a case, then so be it; no one would pursue it.

But the situation now was different.

This was on someone else’s territory.

The servant boy just now had said that Jucai Workshop was opened by Prince Qing.

If Jiang Lan had really killed everyone, he would likely be in big trouble.

Glancing sideways at Zhang Wen, Jiang Lan said:

“They’re not dead, just knocked out.”

He wasn’t stupid; if Zhang Wen could think of it, how could he not?

Although that fat man was indeed asking for a beating, his crime certainly wasn’t punishable by death.

Moreover, Jiang Lan currently had no interest in creating further complications.

Who knew what Zhang Cui’s situation was, or if she was safe?

Every moment delayed increased the possibility of something going wrong.

Jiang Lan no longer paid attention to the people on the ground and turned to look at the old beggar.

“Old sir, do you know where she is?”

The expressions of the other people in the room as they looked at Jiang Lan were like they were seeing a ghost.

Only the old man had no expression on his face, looking as if he had seen many storms and was as calm as an ancient well.

“I saw him yesterday.”

Jiang Lan’s eyes lit up, “Where?”

“There’s a God of Wealth Temple outside the city, do you know it?”

Memories surfaced in Jiang Lan’s mind.

Indeed, there were many dilapidated temples outside Yan Du City.

However, he truly didn’t know about the God of Wealth Temple the beggar mentioned.

“Old sir, could you explain in detail?”

The old beggar didn’t waste words.

“Head out of the South Gate, follow the main road for three li, there’s a three-way fork on the right, take the furthest right path, walk another four or five li, and you’ll see it.”

Jiang Lan walked up to the old beggar, “Old sir, may I have a word with you privately?”

The old beggar raised an eyebrow.

Jiang Lan gave Zhang Wen and Zhao Wu a look, then took the old beggar, and the four of them walked out of the gambling house’s main entrance.

Only when they reached another street did Jiang Lan stop, handing the silver ingot in his hand to the old beggar.

“Old sir, please accept this silver ingot.”

The old beggar said, “I thought you wouldn’t keep your word.”

“I wouldn’t.” Jiang Lan said, “There were many people in the gambling house. If I had given you the silver ingot in front of so many people, wouldn’t that have harmed you?”

The old beggar smiled.

“The young man is quite kind-hearted. Since that’s the case, this old beggar will give you a piece of advice.”

“I’d be glad to hear it.”

“That God of Wealth Temple isn’t peaceful. During the day, it’s fine, but don’t go at night.”

After speaking, the old beggar, weighing the silver ingot in his hand, turned directly around and drifted out of the sight of Jiang Lan and his two companions.

Jiang Lan stared intently in the direction where the old beggar disappeared.

“Boss?”

Jiang Lan snapped back to reality.

Zhang Wen said, “You just gave him the silver like that? Aren’t you afraid he’ll trick us?”

Jiang Lan looked at Zhang Wen.

“It’s not me giving it, it’s you giving it.”

Although Jiang Lan didn’t care about money, it was fine for him to put in the effort, but he couldn’t be expected to pay for everything.

“Huh? Where am I going to get five taels of silver?” Zhang Wen was bewildered.

“Don’t you have quite a bit of family wealth?”

Zhang Wen: “...”

After a moment of silence, Zhang Wen gritted his teeth.

“Alright! As long as we can find my sister!” Then, Zhang Wen added, “So, Boss, are we going to that God of Wealth Temple now?”

“You two don’t need to come, I’ll go by myself.”

Jiang Lan thought for a moment, took out a brocade box from his chest, and handed it to Zhao Wu.

“Please keep this brocade box safe for me, or send it back to Commandant Chen at the Division. Also, if Prince Qing’s people find the Demon Suppression Division, go find Centurion Chou.”

“Understood.” Zhao Wu nodded in agreement, but then looked a bit confused, “Find the Centurion?”

“Yes.” Jiang Lan nodded and said, “If Prince Qing’s people really come, go directly to Qiu Rang and just tell him what happened; he will resolve it.”

“This... Alright!”

Zhao Wu looked at Jiang Lan again, “But Boss, when did you become so powerful? You took down a dozen strong men in less than three breaths? I didn’t even realize what was happening.”

Jiang Lan didn’t explain much, only saying:

“I was lucky enough to enter a new Realm.”

Zhao Wu suddenly understood.

“No wonder.”

Both he and Zhang Wen were ordinary people, so they naturally couldn’t discern the intricacies of Jiang Lan’s movements when he acted, only feeling that he was formidable.

Hearing Jiang Lan say he had entered a new Realm, Zhang Wen and Zhao Wu subconsciously assumed that Jiang Lan was merely in the Skin Refinement Realm.

“I’m leaving. You two go back to the Division first. If anyone asks where I went, just say I went out to handle some business.”

With that, Jiang Lan waved his hand and turned to walk towards the South Gate.

That old beggar probably wasn’t lying to him.

Unless he was incredibly brazen, he surely wouldn’t dare to deceive someone from the Demon Suppression Division for five taels of silver.

Unless he planned to run away after this job and never return to Yan Du City.

But that wasn’t realistic.

It might be worth it for a lot of silver.

Five taels of silver was only equivalent to about ten thousand yuan in his previous life; no one would risk their life for such a small benefit.

Beggars wouldn’t either.

Although the term ‘beggar’ didn’t sound good, in reality, their lives might be better than most common folk.

Moreover, judging by the old beggar’s appearance, he was clearly not an ordinary person.

Lost in thought, Jiang Lan had already walked out of the South Gate... Inside Jucai Workshop.

“Shopkeeper, Shopkeeper, wake up quickly!”

The fat man lying on the ground slowly opened his eyes.

In front of him, the young attendant looked surprised and delighted.

“Shopkeeper, you’re awake? Get up quickly!”

The fat man was first confused, then memories flooded back, recalling what had just happened.

His fat face instantly filled with rage.

“You little brat, how dare you lay hands on me? Where is he? Did you catch him?”

The attendant looked troubled.

“He... he left...”

The fat man lying on the ground widened his eyes, “Left? Where are Huo Shu and Qian Yong? What the hell were they doing?”

The young attendant shrank his neck and pointed next to the fat man.

“Shopkeeper, they’re all lying there.”

Hearing this, the fat man somewhat laboriously turned his fat face and saw the group of thugs lying scattered on the ground.

As for the gamblers who were originally in the house, they had already left, every single one of them.

Cold sweat immediately broke out on the fat man’s face.

“That Demon Suppression Guard did all this?”

“Yes...” the attendant replied weakly.

The fat man swallowed hard.

The strength of these thugs, outsiders didn’t know, but he did.

None of them were weak; the worst one was at least Lian Pi Third Level.

As for Huo Shu and Qian Yong, they were the cream of the crop, with their martial arts Realm reaching Leather Refining Seventh Level.

To be able to take down more than ten people and escape unscathed, his strength must not be weak.

But soon, the fat man gritted his teeth.

So what if he’s not weak? Just a Demon Suppression Guard, it’s not like he could be a Bone Refinement master?

Even if he were a Bone Refinement master, what then? Offending Prince Qing would still lead to a bad end!

“Shopkeeper, the ground is cold, why don’t you get up first?”

“Then help me up, you old fool!”

The young attendant immediately grabbed the fat man’s arm, pulling with all his might, but couldn’t get him up.

The fat man also tried to stand, but he felt that one side of his body had no strength at all.

Even if the fat man was slow-witted, he now understood what was happening.

“Am I paralyzed, you motherfucker?”