Chapter 71: Chapter 69: Tendon Changing Pill
After a moment of mutual stares, many quickly surrounded them.
At the Zheng Family side, early on, the constables guarding the door went inside to report, while others blocked the entrance.
“Stop!”
“What are you doing?”
“The City Defense Division is handling a case, do not disturb.”
If it had been in the past, three or five isolated constables facing such numerous groups from various factions would mostly lack confidence, not to mention speaking out to question.
But now, with the mighty Zheng Family destroyed overnight and their property confiscated on the spot, it gave the constables an unprecedented confidence, making everyone feel that the City Defense Division had drastically changed from before!
These shouts were not only confident but also carried sternness.
“Humph!”
However, the Black Sand Gang did not take this lightly, and the gang leader, Sha Xiangtian, with a fierce scar on his face, spoke grimly, “What have you done to the Zheng Family?”
As soon as the words fell, a voice came from inside.
“The Zheng Family smuggled medicinal herbs and resisted with force. Now the resisters have been executed and their property confiscated. Does Gang Leader Sha also plan to rebel with the Zheng Family?”
Shang Qinglai walked out from the Zheng house with a cold face, his tone carrying a chill and severity.
Although the scene before him largely explained everything, hearing Shang Qinglai personally declare that the Zheng Family had been annihilated and their property confiscated still made Sha Xiangtian and others stiffen.
The first reaction was disbelief.
How could the City Defense Division have such capability?
But if the Zheng Family’s main forces were still present, how could they possibly end up in this state of having their property confiscated?
“Lord Shang wields great authority, smuggling it is if you say so…”
After calming down, Sha Xiangtian was not yet ready to be intimidated by a head constable, replying coldly.
However, upon observing the situation and being unable to grasp the depth of the City Defense Division, feeling the strangeness of tonight’s events, he pondered for a moment with a grim face. Looking over at Shang Qinglai and others with cold faces, he finally waved his hand.
“Let’s go!”
The downfall of the Zheng Family was a foregone conclusion, and with no clear understanding of the current situation, there was no need to conflict with the City Defense Division anymore.
It was better to probe more thoroughly tomorrow.
Following Sha Xiangtian’s command, a large number of Black Sand Gang members and horses left one after another, leaving some from other factions who, after exchanging looks, also suppressed their astonishment and quickly left to report back to their respective leaders.
Watching the once aggressive hundreds of people leave cleanly, Shang Qinglai’s expression relaxed, feeling an unprecedented sense of clarity.
That was the authority the City Defense Division should have!
In the past, none of the gang forces feared the City Defense Division, but after tonight, Wutong Grove District would be turned upside down!
Any gang facing the City Defense Division from now on would probably step back in fear!
And all this was brought about by Chen Mu, the new Prefecture Chief who had been in office for only five days. Despite being much younger, his strength, tactics, and courage had already made him genuinely submit.
At this moment, Chen Mu was not concerned about the noise outside. Although he had also received reports from his subordinates, he clearly knew that those outside, unclear of the situation, would not dare to act rashly and would soon retreat.
Moreover.
Even if the Black Sand Gang really dared to confront the City Defense Division with their main force, it was of no consequence to Chen Mu. It would just cause a bigger commotion and destroy another power tomorrow.
“Prefecture Chief, everyone from outside has withdrawn,”
Shang Qinglai appeared behind Chen Mu, reporting to him respectfully.
Chen Mu nodded slightly, not particularly concerned.
By now, the raid on the Zheng Family had been underway for quite some time, the captured house servants were all tied up in one courtyard, while the women were confined in another.
A moment later.
Zhang Tong came to report, “Prefecture Chief, we have found some prohibited bows, arrows, armor, and medicinal herbs, but only a few hundred Silver Taels…”
Chen Mu spoke indifferently, “Keep searching, look for any hidden chambers.”
It was impossible for the vast estate of the Zheng Family to have only a few hundred Silver Taels.
His decision to target the Zheng Family, setting his first fire there as soon as he took office, was not solely because they tried to undermine him on his first day, but also because the wealth and foundation of the Zheng Family were certainly more substantial than that of powers like the Quicksand Gang.
The Quicksand Gang and other gangs were merely gangs; rising in just a few years, mostly composed of desperate outlaws. However, the Zheng Family had been entrenched in Wutong Grove District for decades.
“Yes.”
Zhang Tong responded, immediately taking people down to search thoroughly, also ordering the interrogation of the Zheng family members.
A moment later.
Zhang Tong reported back, discovering something unusual in the Zheng Family’s study, which seemed to have a hidden chamber, but he could not find the mechanism.
Upon hearing this, Chen Mu immediately asked Zhang Tong to lead the way. They quickly bypassed several courtyards to a different courtyard within the Zheng estate. The modest study, well decorated, was filled with spotlessly clean books, evidently well-maintained and frequently cleaned.
Some constables were inside, knocking and tapping around, searching for the mechanism.
Ultimately, someone tried to move a flowerpot, only to find it unusually heavy and immovable. After shifting it a few times, the bookshelf suddenly loosened and slid open on both sides, revealing a hidden passageway.
“Sir, the hidden chamber has been found.”
Seeing this, Zhang Tong and others immediately returned to Chen Mu’s side to report, but did not go down to inspect themselves.
Chen Mu nodded slightly, and then immediately stepped into the hidden passageway, while Zhang Tong and Shang Qinglai and others did not immediately follow but stood silently by the door.
The passageway led down a slightly sloping staircase, and after walking a short distance, they arrived at a not very large underground chamber, filled with many crates.
Chen Mu casually opened one.
Inside, bars of snowflake silver were revealed.
With a quick glance around, if all the numerous wooden crates contained Silver Taels, the total would almost certainly amount to tens of thousands, which was several dozen times his current entire estate.
However, Chen Mu was not particularly interested in these miscellaneous silver pieces. He took a few more steps inside and, after bypassing a large crate, found several smaller wooden crates. On opening them, he found sheets of Gold Leaf, also in substantial quantities.
“Hmm?”
Just as Chen Mu was casually opening several small crates, expecting them all to contain Gold Leaf, he suddenly saw in one crate a stack of items wrapped in oil paper.
Upon opening one, he found some kind of unknown medicinal herb.
Stored here specially, it must be no ordinary item, likely very precious.
He opened a few more oil paper packets, finding more of the same inside.
But as Chen Mu opened the last oil paper packet, what was revealed inside was a pill that looked like a Black Pearl, emitting a strange medicinal fragrance.
“Ah, this is…”
Chen Mu’s eyes shifted slightly, showing a hint of surprise.
He couldn’t recognize those few medicinal herbs, but he had never seen this kind of pill before. However, because he had specifically learned about many others before, from its shape and scent, he immediately thought of something.
Tendon Changing Pill.
Such a fine item was even found among the Zheng Family’s hidden treasures.
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