"Young master, the little young master is missing."
Zhong Lin leaped, the sword light flickering in mid-air. Deng Yunsheng instinctively closed his eyes, and upon opening them again, he saw the sword tip already at his brow, just one inch forward could end a life.
Deng Yunsheng instantly turned stiff, a layer of cold sweat rising on his back.
Even with his Fifth Grade Inner Strengthening Realm cultivation, he felt there was nowhere to hide from that sword, only waiting for death.
"Young... young master."
Deng Yunsheng’s voice trembled, full of fear.
"What happened to Shi Tou?"
Zhong Lin’s voice revealed no emotion, but Deng Yunsheng felt that if he did not give a satisfactory answer, his head would be cut off immediately.
"Yesterday during Shen Shi, the young master went with three other students to the back mountain to dig bamboo shoots after returning from school. By You Shi, the three children returned home, but the young master was still missing. Immediately, I sent people to search the mountain, but still no trace."
Zhong Lin’s face turned icy cold, he said indifferently, "And then?"
Deng Yunsheng hurriedly continued, "I have already ordered strict guards at the city gates, even if we have to dig three feet deep, we will find the young master."
"Shi Tou is timid by nature and would not wander off. He would never go out after sunset."
Deng Yunsheng’s face changed, exclaiming, "Do you mean the young master was kidnapped? Impossible, no one would dare touch our Hundred Herbs Hall people on Tianyang County’s grounds, that’s courting death."
"Shi Tou and I just arrived in Tianyang County, the kidnapper might not know Shi Tou, or they are specifically after me, return to the city."
With the long sword sheathed, the two quickly returned to the city.
Upon hearing the news, Jing Yan also followed quickly, one more person meant more strength.
By now, the sky was darkening, but the whole Hundred Herbs Hall was brightly lit.
Mei Weixuan and Gu Yourong also arrived.
"Zhong Lin, don’t worry, little Shi Tou won’t be lost for sure," Gu Yourong comforted.
"Zhong Lin, I think it might be the work of human traffickers," Mei Weixuan said coldly.
"You have just arrived in Tianyang County, you don’t have any enemies, and since you are a disciple of Master Yin, no one would actively provoke you. Shi Tou is just a child, I can’t think of who would target him, except for those filthy scum, they probably don’t know Shi Tou’s identity."
"Yes, yes, yes, that’s possible."
At this time, Deng Yunsheng was like a headless fly, now he felt like he finally had a lead after hearing Mei Weixuan’s analysis, and even if it wasn’t them, it had to be them for now, at least first to let his young master vent his anger a bit.
"Young master, I will immediately round up all the human traffickers in the county, openly or secretly."
After speaking, he instructed the guard team to go catch people first, as the local power of Tianyang County, these human traffickers had nowhere to hide.
A little less than an hour later.
In the bright light, a group of ragged, toothless men and women were forced to kneel in front of Zhong Lin by a group of burly guard team members.
These scumbags, upon seeing Zhong Lin, grabbed onto his legs like drowning people clinging to straws, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
"Young master, we are wronged!"
"Even if you gave us the guts, we wouldn’t dare touch Hundred Herbs Hall people, let alone your brother, young master."
"Yes! Yes! Young master, see clearly, we are truly innocent!"
Interestingly, none of the people present mentioned Zhong Lin’s identity, yet these people recognized Zhong Lin at a glance.
Indeed, cats have a cat’s way, mice have a mouse’s way.
Zhong Lin had never shown his face publicly since arriving in Tianyang County, yet he was still recognized.
Moreover, Zhong Lin believed that his information had probably long been laid out on the tables of the various forces and families in Tianyang County.
Zhong Lin sat imposing in the Taishi Chair, face cold, right hand pressing the sword.
He slowly scanned over the few in front of him, speaking leisurely, "I don’t care if you admit it or not, but my brother is missing. If he is found, fine. If not, then you don’t need to live either."
"Of course, I also believe you don’t have the guts to attack Hundred Herbs Hall people, so if it’s just the wrong person, hand him over, and I will guarantee this matter ends here, no further pursuit. But if you don’t hand over the person and I find out, death will be the least of your worries, I will make him regret ever living in this world."
Although Zhong Lin’s words were calm and indifferent, the kneeling people felt a shiver in their souls, not doubting the truth of his words at all.
"Young master, see clearly, it really wasn’t us!"
"Heaven bears witness, if this was done by us, may I be struck by five thunders and never reincarnate."
"Yes, struck by five thunders and never reincarnate."
These scum hurriedly swore oaths, fearing Zhong Lin would suspect them.
"None of you confess?"
A smile suddenly appeared on Zhong Lin’s calm face.
"Very well, Old Deng."
"Start with her, kill every other one. If in half an hour there is still no confession, kill every other one again until they are all dead, right here."
Zhong Lin pointed to an old woman with a greasy face on the far left, his voice extremely cold.
The old woman pointed at by Zhong Lin collapsed to the ground, a urine smell wafting from her skirt.
"No, no, it really wasn’t me, it really wasn’t me, young master."
The old woman screamed miserably, speaking while crawling toward Zhong Lin’s feet.
A sword light flashed, and before the old woman could approach, her throat was slit, blood flowing out instantly.
The old woman did not die immediately, clutching her neck, gurgling sounds escaped her lips, like a fish gasping on land, her body twitched several times before finally going still after a few breaths.
As the blood flowed out, a strong smell of blood instantly permeated the room.
All the kneeling human traffickers were scared stiff at this moment, they hadn’t expected Zhong Lin to act so decisively.
A cold voice snapped them back to reality, now everyone was in a panic, especially seeing the still warm corpse next to them filled them with endless fear.
"Young master, I want to testify, Ma San accepted a big job a few days ago, he’s been like a mad dog searching everywhere for suitable two-legged sheep, I bet your young master is in his hands."
A fat man suddenly stood up, it was a horse-faced middle-aged man in the crowd who spoke loudly.
"Stop spewing bullshit."
Ma San, the accused, instantly flared up, furiously lunging at the speaking fat man but was kicked back by quick-footed guards.
Ignoring the pain, Ma San shouted frantically, "Young master, see clearly, even if I had the courage of a tiger I wouldn’t dare touch Hundred Herbs Hall, this is clearly Zhou Fatty framing me. Right, a few days ago while drinking, he even mentioned wanting to score big to go enjoy at the Xiangxiang Pavilion. Young master, I know where his pen for sheep is, let me lead you there, your young master must be there."
What they called "pen for sheep" is their term, referring to kidnapped children as "two-legged sheep," so the holding place was naturally called "pen for sheep."