The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 665 - 451. Zhao Douan: Then break both legs and leave a breath (5k)_2
Chapter 665: 451. Zhao Douan: Then break both legs and leave a breath (5k)_2
Zhao Douan looked strangely at the masked assassin charging towards him and muttered, "Still quite a master. This leap is at least Middle Grade of the Divine Chapter, maybe even higher."
Eunuch Hai, folding his sleeves like an old steward of a young master, said, "To gather such a group of people, they’re not a small character locally."
Zhao Douan nodded lazily, "Then break both legs and leave them with a breath."
As Zuo Rong got closer, a strong sense of unease grew in his heart. Out of the corner of his eye, he finally noticed a drunken swordsman with a wine gourd on his back and a curved saber in hand, suddenly stand up and leap forward.
"Swoosh!"
Lang Shiba’s bright curved saber swept through, cutting both legs like reed stalks, plunging them into the river water. Zuo Rong’s vision darkened, and he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, nearly fainting as he screamed loudly.
Lang Shiba casually shattered this Cao Gang assassin’s Qi Sea, cultivated over decades, and tossed him onto the deck, removing the mask from his face, saying, "Sir, unrecognizable."
Zhao Douan glanced over, also not recognizing him, and, with a cheerful smile, lifted his boot and placed it on Zuo Rong’s chest, smiling as he said, "Who are you?"
...
Inside the cabin.
Mrs. Ning and her daughter were roughly dragged out, their hands and feet bound with hemp rope, then thrown into the cabin.
Outside, they first heard the sound of cries and killings, accompanied by screams, and then the whole ship began to sway. The mother and daughter rolled on the floor, hitting the corner cabinet.
"Mother..." The girl, her face streaked with tears and a large bump on her head, was silenced by her mother’s stern gaze.
The mother and daughter huddled together, hearing terrified shouts coming from outside. The "Water Ghost" assassins on the ship seemed to be panicked, jumping into the water to flee, only to be forcibly dragged back by some unseen power.
Afterwards, it seemed another group of people boarded the ship, footsteps approached outside the door.
"Creak."
The cabin door was pushed open again, and the mother and daughter looked up, only to be blinded by the influx of bright sunlight. A stranger stood within the light.
"Young... Master, there are no other survivors on the ship. They were all killed by them, except for these two. They should be the targets."
"Hmm."
The young master, bathed in light, stepped in, revealing an extraordinarily handsome face.
Zhao Douan’s expression was odd as he smiled and said, "And who might you be?"
The dignified and composed Governor’s Wife looked at him with suspicion and uncertainty. She found him somewhat familiar, but was cautious and kept silent.
"Tsk, still a mute," Zhao Douan clicked his tongue, his eyes rolling as he said with a smile, "Old Hou, toss the little one into the river. If she doesn’t speak, let her drown."
Hou Renmeng grinned and was about to act.
Mrs. Ning couldn’t hold on any longer, her eyes showing sorrow and despair. To her, the villainous demeanor of this stranger was so strong, mother and daughter seemed to have just escaped a pack of wolves only to fall into a tiger’s den:
"No need to force us, Young Master. We are the wife and daughter of the Shipping Governor of Jianning Prefecture, attacked on our return journey."
Zhao Douan’s villainous smile slowly froze, and great confusion showed in his beady eyes.
...
A moment later.
The cabin was tidied up, and the two women restored to neatness.
Zhao Douan sat cross-legged at a table, staring gravely at the kneeling mother and daughter before him. He handed them a cup of hot water, saying, "So, Mrs. Ning really is unaware of these people’s identities and intentions?"
The Governor’s Wife, having learned Zhao Douan’s identity and background through conversation, had her ropes removed, showing both the joy of surviving a disaster and curiosity about Zhao Douan.
Mrs. Ning held the jade cup with both hands, her expression solemn, "I had no knowledge, but from the conversation, it was clear they were ordered to capture us to pressure my husband."
Killing government officers, kidnapping officials’ families, to threaten a Second Rank powerful governor!
"Lawless!"
Zhao Douan’s mind conjured this word, bringing him a new understanding of Jiancheng Road’s dire situation.
At this moment, a knock came on the door: "Sir, the interrogation yielded results."
"Enter."
The cabin door was pushed open; Secretary Qian Kerou entered, closing the door behind her and approached Zhao Douan, whispering something in his ear.
Zhao Douan’s expression shifted as he said, "Understood, you may leave."
After Qian Kerou left, he sipped the hot water, then slowly said under the curious gaze of Mrs. Ning and her daughter, "They were from the Cao Gang, under He Xiaolou, led by someone named Zuo Rong."
"It’s them?!" Mrs. Ning was stunned, eyes showing both shock and realization.
"This is my first visit to Jiancheng Road; I’m not very familiar with the area. Could Madam explain?" Zhao Douan asked.
Mrs. Ning explained, "Cao Gang... Sir should know, the government needs a large workforce for dock loading and the transport of grain, which they cannot afford, so they often recruit locals... With so many workers, the Martial World emerged, gradually forming numerous Cao Gangs. At one time, there were hundreds, initially protecting themselves, eventually exploiting Cao Yun’s convenience for profit, like piloting grain transport ships to intercept passing merchant vessels, claiming they delayed Cao Yun. Cao Yun was a significant matter; delays meant execution, so merchants had to pay to avoid trouble... Eventually unified, the situation now appears slightly more respectable, but they’re still not good people.
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