Chapter 78: There is a Traitor Among Us, Kill Without Pardon
Chapter 78: Chapter 78: There is a Traitor Among Us, Kill Without Pardon
It was afternoon, and the sun was at its peak.
Inside the office, Pei Shaoqing lazily enjoyed Ye Hanshuang’s head massage while pondering how to root out the mole in the Hundred Households who had been bought by County Magistrate Wang.
But for some reason—perhaps because Ye Hanshuang’s soft bosom was pressed against the back of his head—his thoughts felt sluggish.
He just couldn’t come up with a good plan.
He suddenly found himself missing his tablet.
"Brother, can you let me try?"
Ye Hanshuang’s voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
Pei Shaoqing asked in confusion, "Try what?"
"What Miss Zhao did last time... It hasn’t been my turn yet," Ye Hanshuang said with a completely serious expression. She could see her brother was in a bad mood and wanted to make him happy.
Pei Shaoqing drew in a sharp breath. Looking at his sworn sister’s earnest gaze, he just couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
’After all, I’ve always enjoyed helping others.’
Even kneeling, Ye Hanshuang was still a little taller than the seated Pei Shaoqing.
Pei Shaoqing glanced past her broad back. Her backside was as full and round as a millstone, its contours stretching her loose skirt taut.
’What an exaggerated physique.’
’I’d need a stool if I wanted to attack from the rear.’
...
Ye Hanshuang stood up smoothly, her face full of anticipation. "Brother, how was it?"
"Mmm." Pei Shaoqing’s gaze was full of tenderness. He said with a gentle smile, "Sister Shuang, you were amazing."
’She was better than Zhao Zilan.’
’Thanks to her natural gifts, even when it felt like a fishbone was stuck in her throat, she could keep gobbling it down.’
Ye Hanshuang immediately beamed with pride, like a little schoolgirl praised for getting a good grade.
His mind at ease, Pei Shaoqing couldn’t be bothered to think about catching the mole anymore. He’d let his subordinates have the headache.
He decided to find two of his confidants to discuss the matter.
"Sister Shuang, go get Sun Youliang and Song Youcai," Pei Shaoqing said in a gentle tone.
Ye Hanshuang did as she was told and left.
Soon, Sun Youliang and Song Youcai arrived together.
"Greetings, Commander!"
Pei Shaoqing said, "No need for formalities. Sit."
"Thank you, Commander."
After rising, the two each found a seat.
Pei Shaoqing’s sharp gaze slowly swept over them, making them subconsciously puff out their chests.
"There is a traitor among us."
He spoke in an icy tone.
Song Youcai and Sun Youliang exchanged a look. Sun Youliang asked, "Commander, are you referring to someone in the Hundred Households?"
"Mm." Pei Shaoqing nodded. Having been seated for a long time, he stood up from his chair and began to pace as he spoke. "This traitor is colluding with the rebels of the Profound Sect."
"If I may ask, Commander, how do you know he is colluding with the Profound Sect rebels?" Song Youcai asked.
Pei Shaoqing glanced at him and replied, "Because I am acquainted with the Squad Leader of the Profound Sect’s Tongzhou Branch."
Song Youcai and Sun Youliang were stunned on the spot.
’Why does it sound like you’re a traitor, too?’
"That traitor told the Profound Sect rebels that I captured the female assassin," Pei Shaoqing added.
Song Youcai immediately said, "Commander, you issued a gag order that day. No one would dare gossip. The only ones who know are the people who were present at the time. That damned traitor must be one of them."
"Commander, I can probably recall everyone who was there," Sun Youliang said at once.
’As expected of a man who passed the scholar’s examination.’
’His memory really is something else.’
Song Youcai glanced at him, his own mind racing. "I may not remember everyone who was there, but I do recall there were just under thirty men. Commander, you could issue a fake order concerning the Profound Sect rebels and then place these people under surveillance."
"I second that," Sun Youliang chimed in.
Pei Shaoqing nodded. "Mm, you two are thinking along the same lines as me. Let’s do that."
With a plan in place, they acted immediately.
Of course, he also had to give Chen Zhongyi a heads-up.
He was a veteran of the Hundred Households with many reliable men under him. Pei Shaoqing needed him to pick the surveillance team in advance.
That night, Pei Shaoqing urgently recalled all the off-duty Jing’an Guards to assemble at the Hundred Households.
On the Martial Arts Arena, over a hundred men stood as still and orderly as a forest.
Pei Shaoqing’s voice rang out, "According to reliable intelligence, although Zheng Xuancheng is dead, remnants of the Profound Sect are still active in Tongzhou. I have already learned the location of their stronghold. Tonight, we will wipe them out completely.
The operation will commence at the third watch, when their guard is at its lowest. For now, all of you are dismissed to prepare and rest. Reassemble promptly at the second watch."
"Yes, sir!" everyone answered in unison.
Pei Shaoqing waved his hand. "Dismissed."
Watching the crowd disperse, his eyes narrowed to slits, and a cold smirk touched the corner of his lips.
’I’m just waiting for you to expose yourself.’
An honest-looking, simple-minded middle-aged man followed the crowd out. Once outside the Hundred Households, he leaned against the stone Pixiu by the entrance, frowning and lost in a daze.
WHAP! Suddenly, someone clapped him on the shoulder.
The dazed middle-aged man was startled and instinctively drew his saber. After seeing who it was, he sighed in relief and said irritably, "You didn’t make a sound! You scared me to death."
"What do you mean I didn’t make a sound? You were the one spacing out, thinking about who-knows-what, you didn’t hear me," said the man who had clapped his shoulder. "Come on, Lao Zhao, let’s go grab a bite. Don’t want to go into battle on an empty stomach."
"Forget it, Lao Li. I have to hurry home and grab some of my gear," Lao Zhao said, shaking his head.
The man turned to leave. "Alright then."
Watching his friend leave, Lao Zhao moistened his dry lips and also turned to go. He first rushed home, took off his uniform, changed into plain clothes, and then went out again.
With something weighing on his mind, his pace was hurried.
He didn’t notice at all that among the pedestrians coming and going, a disguised colleague was following him.
He entered the Juyuan Inn with practiced ease.
"Welcome, guest, please come in. Whatever you’d like to eat, we have it here," a waiter greeted him enthusiastically.
Lao Zhao said in a low voice, "Beef noodles."
"Unfortunately, we don’t actually have that dish," the waiter said with an apologetic smile, pointing to the hanging menu board.
Lao Zhao continued, "It’s all I’m craving. It’s not hard to make. I’ll pay extra, please trouble the chef to make a bowl."
"Alright, the customer is always right. Guest, do you have any dietary restrictions?" the waiter asked, staring at him.
Lao Zhao said, "I don’t eat beef."
The code phrases matched. He was one of them. The waiter immediately whispered, "Follow me."
He then turned and led the way.
Lao Zhao followed with his head lowered.
The person surveilling him didn’t dare to follow, but he didn’t leave in a hurry either. Instead, he waited until his food was served and took a few bites before leaving.
Shopkeeper Ma of Juyuan Inn met with Lao Zhao and then hurried off to report the matter to County Magistrate Wang.
County Magistrate Wang’s expression changed after hearing the report. "This is bad!"
"What is it?" Shopkeeper Ma asked, puzzled.
County Magistrate Wang’s face was as dark as water. He was certain this was a trap set by Pei Shaoqing to lure out Lao Zhao.
Because not only was it impossible for Pei Shaoqing to know the location of their branch, but even if he did, he would never move to exterminate them given their mutually beneficial relationship.
Lao Zhao had most likely already been captured by Pei Shaoqing.
He sighed and said, "Follow the emergency plan. Have the brothers at the inn evacuate immediately."
At the very least, Juyuan Inn was definitely compromised along with Lao Zhao. They had to move to a new stronghold.
As for Lao Zhao...
The man wasn’t a member of the Holy Sect at all.
He had simply been bought and lured with a hefty sum of money.
Now that the plot was exposed, he would have to fend for himself.
............
"Commander! Commander, spare me! Commander!"
In the backyard of the Hundred Households, Lao Zhao—who had been captured the moment he returned home from the inn—knelt before Pei Shaoqing, begging pitifully for his life, tears and snot streaming down his face as he repeatedly slammed his head against the ground.
The green flagstones on the ground were stained red with his blood.
"Oh? What did you do wrong? Why do you need me to spare your life?" Pei Shaoqing asked nonchalantly.
"I..." Lao Zhao raised his head, but looking at Pei Shaoqing, he was at a loss for words, stammering and unable to speak.
Pei Shaoqing gave a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Speak."
"I... I was blinded by greed. I was tempted by the Profound Sect rebels with women and money. I passed them information multiple times... Commander, I truly know I was wrong."
Lao Zhao confessed honestly while wailing, lunging forward to hug Pei Shaoqing’s leg. "Commander, I beg you, spare my life! I can still be useful, I can be useful! I’m willing to pass false information to confuse the Profound Sect rebels for you."
"Traitors only have one path: death." Pei Shaoqing kicked him away and ordered, "Have everyone assemble."
"Yes, sir!" Chen Zhongyi immediately went to relay the order.
"Commander! Commander!" Lao Zhao scrambled up pathetically, trying to grab Pei Shaoqing’s leg again, but Sun Youliang stepped forward and struck him on the back with his saber’s scabbard, knocking him to the ground.
Then, two Jing’an Guards came forward, grabbed him by the arms, and dragged him toward the Martial Arts Arena in the front courtyard.
About half an hour later, the men had assembled once more.
Pei Shaoqing stood on the steps, his gaze as sharp as a knife as it swept over the crowd. He said in a deep voice, "There was no mission to exterminate rebels tonight. That was just a hook I used to lure out a traitor in our midst."
BOOM! The crowd instantly exploded into an uproar.
"There’s a Profound Sect mole in the Hundred Households?"
"Who is it? Damn it! How many of our brothers have died at the hands of the Profound Sect rebels? Which bastard is it?"
"Throwing away a good government post to be a criminal, he’s a disgrace to the Jing’an Guard! Commander, kill him!"
The entire crowd was incensed, except for Lao Zhao’s friend, Lao Li, who had a complicated expression. Lao Zhao always stood next to him during assemblies, but this time he wasn’t there.
Recalling how Lao Zhao had been dazed at the entrance of the Hundred Households earlier, he already had a premonition.
’Lao Zhao, oh Lao Zhao, how could you be so foolish!’
Pei Shaoqing raised his hand. The noisy Martial Arts Arena gradually fell silent, quickly returning to a state of calm.
"Bring him up," he said loudly.
Soon, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Lao Zhao was dragged out like a dead dog, his Dantian sealed.
Seeing this, Lao Li closed his eyes in pain.
"What? It’s actually Lao Zhao!"
"I never would have guessed. That honest-looking guy with the thick brows was actually colluding with the Profound Sect rebels behind our backs."
"You bastard! You damned traitor!"
Everyone was shocked, surprised, and furious.
"My heart was blinded by greed! I know I was wrong, Commander! Commander! I beg you, for the sake of my old parents and young children, please let me go!"
Lao Zhao wailed and begged Pei Shaoqing for mercy.
He was sick with regret.
The Profound Sect’s women and silver were nice.
But he never thought he’d have to trade his life for them.
Pei Shaoqing remained unmoved. He looked around at the crowd and said in a powerful, resonant voice, "We are all brothers who have faced life and death together. We can die at the hands of the enemy, but we must never die at the hands of our own! As for traitors, no matter who they are, I will show no mercy! Saber!"
Chen Zhongyi immediately drew his own saber and offered it with both hands.
"Commander! Commander!" Lao Zhao trembled like a leaf, howling with snot and tears.
Pei Shaoqing’s face was expressionless. His hand rose, and the saber fell.
SQUELCH—
Hot blood gushed out, spattering his robes and face. Lao Zhao’s desperate expression was frozen in time as his head rolled down the steps.
Blood trickled and pooled all over the ground.
The crowd that had just been clamoring for Lao Zhao’s death was now completely silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Pei Shaoqing tossed the saber back to Chen Zhongyi, casually wiped the blood from his face, and said, "Confiscate all of Lao Zhao’s family property as a warning to others. Dismissed."
As his voice fell, he turned and walked toward the inner hall.
"We respectfully see the Commander off!" everyone shouted in unison.
Only after Pei Shaoqing’s back was out of sight did the men begin to disperse in twos and threes. Looking at the headless body of Lao Zhao, some felt hatred, while others sighed in pity.
Lao Li sighed and went forward to claim his body.
Ye Hanshuang walked up to him with a cold face and said coolly, "The Commander wants to see you."
After speaking, she turned and walked back inside without another word.
Lao Li was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed.