39: Chapter 39 Mission Failure

There was a fawning tone in Magistrate Zhao De's voice, mixed with the excitement of seeking credit.

A trace of emotion finally appeared on Captain Li Zhong's cold face, and a chilling Killing Intent radiated from his body.

"Lead the way!"

He did not waste a single word, squeezing those two words out through his teeth. He clamped his legs against his horse's flanks, and his mount let out a whinny.

Magistrate Zhao De shuddered in terror at the Killing Intent, scrambling to lead the way. His fat body looked particularly comical as he ran.

"Quick! Keep up!"

A low shout rang out from the guards. Thirty armored riders, led by the Magistrate of Qinghe County, swept into the silent streets of the county town like a black whirlwind.

The horses' hooves struck the bluestone pavement, creating a dense and crisp "clack-clack" sound that startled the wild dogs in the side alleys into a frenzy of barking.

Chen Fan blended into the ranks, remaining silent.

His gaze passed over the backs of his colleagues in front and landed on the bowing and scraping Magistrate at the very front.

Magistrate Zhao De.

Once imposing and majestic, he now walked with a hunched back—it was truly sigh-worthy.

His son was dead, and his daughter-in-law had run away; for this Magistrate in his fifties, it was a heavy blow.

Of course, this was also his retribution.

After turning through a few streets, the scent of perfume mingled with the sound of stringed instruments drifted over from afar.

The group stopped in front of a brightly lit three-story pavilion.

On the pavilion's plaque, three large, flamboyant characters were written: Yihong Brothel.

Chen Fan knew this place well. Back when he was a playboy, he had come here often.

"My Lord, th-this is the place." Magistrate Zhao De wiped the sweat from his forehead, pointed at the bustling brothel, and lowered his voice. "According to intelligence, that witch is hiding in here."

Captain Li Zhong glanced at the gaudy entrance and snorted in disgust.

The most dangerous place is the safest place.

That witch certainly knows how to choose.

"Surround the place! Don't let a single fly escape!"

"Yes!"

The guards responded in unison and quickly dispersed, surrounding every exit of the Yihong Brothel until it was completely sealed off.

Captain Li Zhong dismounted, his long saber already drawn half an inch from its scabbard.

He pointed at ten guards, including Chen Fan.

"You lot, come inside and search with me!"

The madam of the Yihong Brothel had long since been frightened to the point of weak knees; she knelt at the entrance with a group of girls and servants, trembling.

Captain Li Zhong did not even glance at them; he kicked the front door open and charged in with his men.

"Officers! Officers, please spare us!"

"We are all decent... ah no, we are all law-abiding business people!"

The madam's wailing was instantly drowned out.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Door after door was kicked open violently.

The originally decadent atmosphere was instantly replaced by terrified screams.

"Ah! There are soldiers!"

"What are you doing!"

Women in disarray were driven out of the rooms, wearing only thin gauze dresses, revealing more than they should. The patrons seeking pleasure scurried away in panic, only to be blocked in the main hall by the fierce-looking guards holding sharp blades.

The entire Yihong Brothel turned into chaos.

Sensual, yet chaotic.

Chen Fan followed the team expressionlessly and kicked open a door.

The man and woman inside let out terrified screams.

He just swept a cold glance over them, then backed out and walked toward the next room.

He was not here to catch adulterers.

A face appeared clearly in his mind.

Su Xin.

Back on the mountain, when the Princess and this witch were captured together, he had seen her a few times.

He remembered that face.

In the main hall, dozens of girls were driven together, huddling in fear, creating a rather vivid and sensual scene.

Captain Li Zhong stood in the center of the hall, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone's face like a hawk.

But there were too many people here, and they were all wearing heavy makeup, making it impossible to distinguish them.

Chen Fan's footsteps stopped in front of a moon gate leading to the backyard.

Several musicians holding instruments were also frightened pale, huddled in the corner.

His gaze fell upon a woman holding a pipa.

The woman was wearing a simple, elegant green dress, her face devoid of makeup, making her stand out among the gaudily dressed girls. Like the others, she kept her head down, her body trembling slightly, looking as if she had been terrified.

But Chen Fan stopped.

No.

This woman was too calm.

Her trembling was faked. Beneath that terrified exterior, there was an extreme calmness hidden.

More importantly, that face, that silhouette...

It was her!

Chen Fan did not hesitate at all; he suddenly raised his hand, pointed at the woman holding the pipa, and roared with all his might!

"The witch Su Xin! She is here!"

The shout, like a clap of thunder on a clear day, exploded in the chaotic hall.

Everyone's movements froze for a moment.

The woman holding the pipa stiffened abruptly.

She slowly raised her head, and all the disguise on her once delicate and innocent face vanished instantly, replaced by an unmelting coldness and shock.

She had not expected that her flawless disguise would be seen through at a glance!

During the time she had infiltrated the Xiushan Princes Mansion, she had disguised her appearance. Later, when she abducted the Princess and fled, she had changed her face again, which was the guise she was wearing now.

She could guarantee that the people from the Xiushan Princes Mansion could not possibly recognize her.

But why would this unknown, lowly guard recognize her?

Killing Intent flashed across her body and then vanished.

Almost the same moment Chen Fan shouted, Su Xin moved.

She had no intention of lingering in battle. With a tap of her toes, she floated toward the second-floor window like a weightless willow catkin.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Captain Li Zhong roared in anger. Having already been prepared, he stomped his foot, shattering the floor tiles, and turned into a black afterimage, chasing after her!

The flash of a blade lit up!

"Clang!"

Su Xin backhanded the pipa in her arms, using it as a weapon to block Captain Li Zhong's inevitable strike.

A loud bang ensued, and a powerful shockwave of Internal Energy exploded outward!

"Ah!"

The surrounding girls and patrons were knocked over by the wave of Qi, crying and howling.

Chen Fan was also forced back seven or eight steps before he could barely steady himself, feeling his blood churn in his chest.

A battle between Seventh-grade Martial Artists!

Even the aftermath of their clash was difficult for him, a Ninth-grade Martial Artist, to endure.

He could not intervene at all!

Captain Li Zhong and Su Xin had already fought their way from the first floor to the second.

Blades flashed and swords shimmered, with energy radiating everywhere.

Railings were severed, tables and chairs shattered; the entire second floor of the Yihong Brothel looked as if it had been swept by a violent storm under their clash.

Captain Li Zhong's saber technique was open and sweeping, full of the iron-blooded, fierce, and vigorous spirit of the military.

Su Xin's movement technique, however, was eerie and elusive. The pipa in her hands sometimes acted as a shield, sometimes as a weapon; her Moves were ruthless and tricky, not at all like the martial arts of the Righteous Path.

Chen Fan could only watch the battle calmly from downstairs.

He realized that although Captain Li Zhong's offensive was fierce, he was gradually falling into a disadvantage.

That witch's strength was far greater than what was described in the intelligence!

"Bang!"

Another hard clash.

Su Xin used the force to flip backward, landing lightly on a roof beam, looking down at the panting Captain Li Zhong from above.

Her delicate face bore a hint of undisguised mockery.

"Is this all the skill a Captain of the Xiushan Princes Mansion has?"

"You can't even take down a woman—aren't you afraid of being laughed at if word gets out!"

Captain Li Zhong was so furious his hair stood on end. With a roar, he raised his saber and prepared to charge again.

Just then, Su Xin's gaze passed over him and landed on the guard downstairs who had ruined her entire plan.

Her pupils constricted slightly.

That cold, viper-like stare made Chen Fan tense up, and a chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp.

Was he targeted?

Su Xin looked at him deeply, as if wanting to carve this plain, unremarkable face into her bones.

Then, she suddenly let out a soft laugh, pulled a black sphere from her bosom, and threw it forcefully downward.

"Bang!"

The sphere exploded, and a thick black smoke instantly enveloped the entire hall.

"Not good! It's poisonous!"

Captain Li Zhong roared and quickly held his breath.

By the time the smoke cleared, there was no sign of Su Xin on the roof beam.

Cold wind was blowing in through the window she had smashed open on the second floor.

The mission had failed.

Captain Li Zhong leaped down from the second floor and landed in the center of the devastated hall. The hand holding his saber had bulging veins, and his body trembled slightly from extreme rage.

Disgrace!

A huge disgrace!

He turned around abruptly, his bloodshot eyes staring fixedly at Magistrate Zhao De, who was already paralyzed with fear on the ground.

"Useless trash!"

With a roar, he kicked a sturdy eight-immortal table nearby.

"Crack!"

The entire table shattered into pieces!