The Martial Doctor

"Has anyone contacted him privately?"

"This..." Mr. Cao was momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond.

"This court is aware that among the city guards, many have received allowances from Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion. There is a saying: accept someone’s money and help them avert disasters. But these individuals need to understand that this case is of great importance. If they don’t want to lose their heads and bring disaster to their families, they should refrain from any private actions against this court." Pei Jian gave a stern warning.

"Understood, I will definitely convey your words." A chill ran down Mr. Cao’s spine; this Mr. Pei was not someone to be trifled with.

Although this esteemed official had been in office for almost two years and seemed to blend in without making waves, courteous to his Dongshan colleagues, like a kind elder.

But he knew this Pei Jian was skilled at enduring and decisive in action.

A kind elder rising one rank within a year and receiving praise from the court; although in Dongshan City he seemed to have no notable achievements, he had cracked a major case involving illegal weapon forging.

While there was luck involved, without courage, this case probably wouldn’t have been his to resolve.

And this Xue Family Manor case was clearly a premeditated action, with Pei Jian clearly targeting Marquis Lingyang.

This is not a move taken lightly; when it happens, it comes with thunderous force.

Now that he’s part of the carriage, if something happens to Pei Jian, as a military officer, he’d also be finished. Luckily, his ties to Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion were not deep, just having received a few allowances.

Honestly, how many officials in Dongshan Prefecture haven’t taken money from Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion? The esteemed officer probably has too, right?

"Why hasn’t lime been spread here?"

"Sir, it’s not necessary. In this winter weather, it’s so cold that the pests don’t dare come out. You’re just being too cautious." Mr. Cao said, outside it’s below freezing, snakes, insects, and rodents are hiding, unable to survive outside.

"Do as I say, spread lime in all corners!" Pei Jian glared at Mr. Cao, Lin Miao had instructed this for a reason, or why would he go to the trouble of sending a secret message?

The more he interacted with Lin Miao, the more he felt this young man was unfathomable, surely harboring a great secret.

Did he not have secrets himself?

But as Lin Miao wisely put it, "Seek common ground while reserving differences," their interests now aligned, making cooperation worthwhile.

If there wasn’t this level of trust, he wouldn’t have revealed the secret of the Xue Family Manor’s vault to him.

In Dongshan City, there weren’t many who could be his allies, Lin Miao was one, and now it seemed, the most crucial one.

As they inspected along the way.

"Sir, look up at the sky!" Suddenly a night guard pointed to a sky lantern floating toward them.

"Sir, a sky lantern, in the dead of night, in the wilderness, who would be so idle to release a sky lantern..." Mr. Cao thought, someone was bored.

But Pei Jian’s face changed: "Mr. Cao, quickly, enemy attack, command them to shoot down the sky lantern!"

"Shoot, shoot the sky lantern..." Mr. Cao was at a loss, the lantern floated high, ordinary arrows couldn’t reach it, unless using a giant crossbow.

"What are you standing there for, shoot quickly!" Pei Jian was anxious, the sky lantern was almost overhead, he rushed over, uncovering the giant crossbow, and maneuvered it himself.

Seizing an arrow as thick as a spear, loading it into the groove, then exhaling sharply, he drew the bowstring to full tension.

Seeing this, Mr. Cao felt dumbfounded; he was a military officer, how did Pei Jian, supposedly a civil official, seem more adept than him in martial arts?

Of course, civil officials practicing martial arts in Da Li wasn’t unusual; many had robust martial skills, but mastering both literature and martial arts was incredibly demanding, not easily achieved.

Pei Jian, though a scholar, had martial prowess surpassing his own as a military officer, being able to operate the giant crossbow effortlessly indicated at least an Upper Grade Blood Fusion Realm mastery.

No wonder he dared assume office in Dongshan Prefecture alone; he was not a frail scholar.

Boom!

The giant crossbow’s string vibrated violently, the javelin soared, tearing through the air towards the sky lantern.

The lantern, at least four hundred meters high, was pierced at blazing speed by Pei Jian’s arrow, as if piercing the heavens, striking the lantern.

Rip!

A "tearing silk" sound was heard.

The gigantic crossbow arrow split the lantern in two, quickly turning it into a massive fireball in mid-air, the flames lighting up half the sky.

Kerosene!

Pei Jian caught a familiar scent, the kerosene beneath the lantern; once landed at Xue Family Manor, the entire place would become a sea of flames.

"Sir, there are more..." Mr. Cao raised his head in horror, seeing flickers of fire not far off, clearly not stars, but ignited sky lanterns.

At least fifty oil lanterns, each with a kerosene pouch; when they land, even a spark will ignite them.

This kerosene is hard to extinguish, it’s military-grade.

Damn.

These scoundrels planned to burn Xue Family Manor to ashes, so long as the evidence is destroyed, any accusations against Marquis Lingyang vanish.

"Quickly, don’t let those lanterns near the manor, shoot them down with the giant crossbow!" Pei Jian commanded loudly.

Fortunately, he had dismantled Dongshan City’s defensive crossbows and brought them, otherwise, these descending sky lanterns would have been unmanageable.

...

"Scorpio, they actually moved the city’s defensive giant crossbows here. Your aerial attack might not be very effective."

In the woods, Scorpio waited quietly with men from Li Hen City and Black Abyss for attack orders.

Tonight’s operation, the employer spent a million taels of silver, failing this task would tarnish Scorpio’s reputation, making it hard to operate in Longchuan Canyon.

"No worries, this is just an appetizer, even if they have giant crossbows, how many arrows could they have? Our cheap lanterns and kerosene can exhaust their arrows, and what’s left when we attack?" the masked Scorpio casually remarked.

"True, this small manor, we can easily slaughter everyone!"

"Everyone else can be killed, but Pei Jian must live. Our goal is to burn those items; as for the gold, all you can carry is yours, I won’t take a cent!" Scorpio surveyed, saying.

"Scorpio boss, really?"

"Of course, when have I ever gone back on my word? Whatever you can take is yours, but how you sell them is your business, I’m not responsible."

"Don’t worry, Scorpio, that’s no concern for you!"

Swish, swish!

Arrows shot at the sky lanterns; what ordinary arrows couldn’t handle, the giant crossbows managed easily.

Each arrow pierced a lantern, and the sky lit like fireworks. Even if the kerosene burned above, as it fell, only small sparks remained.

Regarding fire, Pei Jian had prepared thoroughly, anticipating a fire attack from the enemy, knowing the most thorough way to destroy evidence is fire. How could he be unprepared?

The sky’s attack failed, the opponent started from the ground next.

With a gesture from Scorpio.

His recruited men from Li Hen City drew their weapons, stealthily advancing on Xue Family Manor under night’s cover; to conceal identity, they wore masks or veils.

They knew well, ending up on the court’s wanted list would complicate travels within Da Li.

Of course, some were indifferent, already listed, another wouldn’t matter.

Enemy attack!

The manor’s alarm bells rang loudly.