Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Poor Old Wang, Played Like a Fiddle

Pei Shaoqing walked into the main hall with a smile plastered across his face.

"Hahahaha, County Magistrate Wang, have you come all the way to my home to collect a debt? Rest assured, I am a man of my word. I won’t go back on my promise regarding the Soul-Attracting Flower."

"I’m not here for that." County Magistrate Wang had lost his usual composure; he looked agitated. He glanced around and waved his hand. "Have everyone leave."

"What’s with all the secrecy?" Pei Shaoqing chuckled and shook his head, but still gave a wave of his hand.

A group of maids bowed and slowly filed out.

"Is this good enough for you?" he asked, looking at County Magistrate Wang with a puzzled expression. "Old Wang, what’s gotten into you? Did I offend you in some way? You look like you’re here to condemn me."

"Do you truly not know?" County Magistrate Wang rose from his chair, staring daggers at him. He spoke, enunciating each word, "Pei Shaoqing, release the Saintess immediately."

He didn’t ask if the Saintess was in his custody.

He just directly demanded her release.

There’s no such thing as a perfect secret. Pei Shaoqing was already prepared for this. With a look of bewilderment, he said, "The Saintess? What Saintess? Old Wang, have you lost your mind?"

"Still playing dumb!" County Magistrate Wang barked, his voice cold. "The Shaking Light Saintess of our Holy Sect, of course."

"Old Wang, what are you implying?" Pei Shaoqing didn’t argue further. Instead, his expression darkened.

He looked as if he thought the other man was just looking for a fight.

Since he hadn’t done it, there was no need to defend himself.

The more one argues, the guiltier one appears.

County Magistrate Wang said in a low voice, "If I’ve come to you for her, it’s because I’m certain she’s here. Young Master Pei, our brief cooperation has been pleasant. Release the Saintess, and I will persuade her to let bygones be bygones and to let go of her hatred over the Kaiyang Saint Heir."

Pei Shaoqing believed Old Wang would actually do that.

But he also thought the man was far too naive.

After what he had done to the Shaking Light Saintess, if he really let her go now, she would undoubtedly kill him.

Besides, the Kaiyang Saint Heir was one of the seven Saint Heirs of the Profound Sect. How could Old Wang, a mere Sub-Squad Leader, possibly convince the Profound Yellow Sect not to settle this score with him?

"How absurd!" Pei Shaoqing put on a display of laughing in anger, his voice chilling. "Who has been wagging their tongue in front of you? Tell them to come confront me themselves if they have the guts! You may not know my strength, but are you not aware of the Shaking Light Saintess’s? How could I possibly defeat her?"

He wasn’t surprised that someone from the Hundred Households had leaked the secret to County Magistrate Wang. Since Wang could plant a spy next to Zheng Xuancheng, it was only natural he would have informants in the Hundred Households as well.

He had deliberately lowered his voice when speaking with the Shaking Light Saintess that day to avoid exposing her identity. That could only prevent the Profound Sect’s informants in the Hundred Households from reporting on their own initiative.

But once the Profound Sect began actively searching for the missing Shaking Light Saintess and questioning their informants, the matter was bound to be exposed. It was only a matter of time.

"Is that so? Then do you dare allow me to search the dungeon in your estate?" County Magistrate Wang ignored Pei Shaoqing’s demand for a confrontation and asked coldly.

Pei Shaoqing fell silent.

County Magistrate Wang thought he was feeling guilty and pressed further. "To tell you the truth, a Holy Envoy from the Holy Hall is in Tongzhou right now. I haven’t told him this news. If he knew, he would have already come to kill you."

On this point, he was indeed looking out for Pei Shaoqing.

"You disappoint me greatly," Pei Shaoqing said with a sigh. "What if you don’t find anyone?"

"I’ll owe you a favor. I’ll do anything you ask," County Magistrate Wang said, his words ringing with conviction.

His informant had told him that Pei Shaoqing had stated clearly that day that he was going to lock the Saintess in his estate’s dungeon. And since he had launched a surprise visit today, his opponent naturally wouldn’t have had time to move the Saintess yet.

Pei Shaoqing nodded and looked at him expressionlessly. "Fine. Old Wang, besides our cooperative relationship, I also consider you a friend. That’s why I’ll allow you to commit this offense against me. But this is the only time. If there is a next time, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

County Magistrate Wang’s face was grim and he remained silent, because he was now utterly convinced the Saintess was in the dungeon.

So, no matter how harsh Pei Shaoqing’s words were, he felt no reaction in his heart.

"Follow me." Pei Shaoqing tossed out the two words nonchalantly, then turned and walked out with a cold expression.

County Magistrate Wang immediately strode after him.

When they reached the dungeon entrance, Pei Shaoqing stopped and said, "There is indeed a woman locked up in there. But she’s an assassin who tried to kill me, not some Saintess from your Profound Yellow Sect. Are you sure you want to go in?"

"Of course." County Magistrate Wang was ninety, if not one hundred, percent certain that the woman locked inside was the Shaking Light Saintess.

For the other man to say this was, on the contrary, a dead giveaway.

Pei Shaoqing turned, opened the door, and went in first.

County Magistrate Wang followed close behind without hesitation.

Arriving at the cell door, he saw a disheveled woman curled up in a corner. Her bare feet were stained with filth, and a red string with a small bell was tied around her ankle. He immediately cried out in alarm, "Saintess!"

He didn’t even bother waiting for Pei Shaoqing to open the door, instead shattering it with a single punch and rushing inside.

"Saintess, I’ve come to save you!" County Magistrate Wang exclaimed, dropping to one knee in his excitement.

But when the woman slowly raised her head, the expression on his face instantly froze. "Who are you?"

He had once seen the Saintess’s divine beauty from a distance. While the woman before him was quite attractive, she was a far cry from the Saintess. Crucially, she lacked the same aura.

"You’re from the Profound Yellow Sect? Then why are you with that bastard official?" the woman asked, ignoring County Magistrate Wang’s question. Before he could answer, she began cursing agitatedly, "You traitor who betrayed the Holy Sect! The Shaking Light Saintess will not let you go!"

With that, she lunged at County Magistrate Wang.

"You traitor, colluding with the Court!"

County Magistrate Wang shoved her away, then stood up and walked over to Pei Shaoqing. "Who is she?"

"An admirer of the Shaking Light Saintess. A poor fool brainwashed by your Profound Yellow Sect who stupidly ran off to assassinate me to avenge the Kaiyang Saint Heir," Pei Shaoqing said coldly, standing with his hands behind his back, a mocking look in his eyes.

County Magistrate Wang stood frozen, his expression shifting uncertainly.

Pei Shaoqing said sarcastically, "Your tone just now was so certain, it almost made me suspect this woman had tricked me, that she really was the Shaking Light Saintess. Heh. County Magistrate Wang, what do you have to say?"

"My apologies." County Magistrate Wang’s expression was sincere. He sighed and said, "The Saintess’s disappearance is a matter of grave importance. I must pay attention to even the slightest clue."

Having verified it with his own eyes, and with Pei Shaoqing having had no time or opportunity to switch prisoners, he had already dismissed the idea that the Shaking Light Saintess was in the other man’s hands.

Moreover, just as Pei Shaoqing had said, with his and Liu Yuheng’s combined strength, it was impossible for them to have captured the Saintess.

"Remember what you said. You owe me one favor, to unconditionally grant me one request," Pei Shaoqing said with a cold snort, his expression softening slightly.

"Yes, yes." County Magistrate Wang nodded repeatedly, feeling a little guilty. He was also grateful that Pei Shaoqing had been willing to cooperate with the search. "Young Master Pei, this promise will be valid forever. I, Mr. Wang, am a man of my word. I hope you can forgive my impulsive actions today."

"Who can I blame but myself for being so loyal, righteous, and easy to talk to?" Pei Shaoqing said as he started to walk out. "Let’s go."

County Magistrate Wang glanced back at the woman, who was still glaring at him, before following Pei Shaoqing.

After leaving the dungeon, Pei Shaoqing asked with a look of feigned confusion, "So your Shaking Light Saintess really is missing?"

"Can’t you see how anxious I am? Could it be fake?" County Magistrate Wang said with a melancholic sigh.

Pei Shaoqing laughed. "Old Wang, forgive me, but this is good news for me. It would be best if she never appears again. Then I’ll be safe."

Their positions were different. Although County Magistrate Wang felt very uncomfortable hearing this, he couldn’t refute it.

He could only say, "Then you’re celebrating too soon. If the Shaking Light Saintess isn’t found, our superiors will naturally send someone else to settle the score for Kaiyang."

"At least it buys me some more time," Pei Shaoqing said with a smile, looking quite content with that.

He personally saw County Magistrate Wang to the door. After watching his back disappear from view, the smile on his face gradually faded.

Next, he had to root out the traitor who had snitched to Old Wang and make them pay a heavy price!

"My lord," Liu Yuheng came over and asked softly, "Should we move the Shaking Light Saintess back to the dungeon?"

"No." Pei Shaoqing shook his head, his gaze fixed on the distance. "I have a decent understanding of Old Wang. Although he believes me now, to be absolutely sure, he will definitely sneak back tonight."

After tonight, they would move the Shaking Light Saintess back to the dungeon. It would then become the safest place.

This was why, even though he knew this matter might eventually be exposed, he still kept the Shaking Light Saintess at his estate instead of moving her to another location.

Because he needed to clear his name!

Otherwise, with Old Wang constantly watching him, how could he peacefully mold the Saintess into the shape he desired?

"My lord, you are truly meticulous and plan every step," Liu Yuheng praised, her face full of admiration.

This lord of hers was simply too steady.

Pei Shaoqing smiled faintly. "Lady Gongsun, you flatter me. I am also treading on thin ice."

"In that case, my lord, should we pretend not to notice County Magistrate Wang tonight?" Liu Yuheng asked another question.

"No." Pei Shaoqing shook his head again, a cunning glint in his smile. "We’re going to catch him in the act. Old Wang considers himself a gentleman. This way, he’ll be more embarrassed, more ashamed, and more humiliated when he faces me. In the future, whenever I bring this up, he’ll always be one step beneath me."

Liu Yuheng thought, ’My lord is truly wicked.’

"My Lord! My Lord!"

As the two were chatting by the entrance,

Chen Zhongyi came galloping over on his horse.

After dismounting, he immediately stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and presented several pages covered in writing with both hands, his expression grave.

"My Lord, this is a matter of great urgency. Your humble subordinate had no choice but to disturb your rest. This is Wang Wu’s confession. It is simply appalling. Please review it yourself."

"Oh?" Pei Shaoqing raised an eyebrow, took the confession, and began to read. As he read, his expression changed drastically. Before he even finished, he looked up and asked, "Has anyone else seen this confession?"

"Replying to My Lord, no," Chen Zhongyi answered.

Pei Shaoqing said in a low voice, "Immediately move Wang Wu to a secret location. Guard him closely and prevent him from being silenced."

"Yes, sir!" Chen Zhongyi acknowledged, then added, "Your humble subordinate will personally lead the night watch."

Pei Shaoqing nodded, then went back to reading the confession. The more he read, the more horrified he became.

"Utterly devoid of conscience. Truly, utterly devoid of conscience!"

Even he found the contents of the confession difficult to accept.

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