086 Where is your treasure (Part 2)

Shen Tang seized a thug by the neck with one hand, dragging him out of the tavern as if disposing of trash, tossing him into the pile of thugs without a second thought.

"Bravo!"

"Great heroes!"

"You've done well, heroes!"

With those words spoken, a thunderous applause erupted from the crowd of onlookers.

Zhai Le, seemingly accustomed to such scenes, gazed proudly at the applauding crowd through his smiling eyes, almost overflowing with pride. He bowed to the applauding crowd, his mouth brimming with smiles as he said, "Folks, your praise is too generous. Thank you all, thank you. Upholding justice and righteousness is our duty as men of honor..."

Watching the black-clad youth, excited like a peacock displaying its feathers, Shen Tang fixed her gaze on his provocatively swaying hips for three seconds.

Finally, she followed her instincts.

Zhai Le, not one to be trifled with, agilely dodged, his hands instinctively covering his nearly endangered rear, exclaiming in alarm, "Shen, what's this sneak attack from behind?"

Regrettably, Shen Tang withdrew her foot.

Coolly, she stated, "We've yet to attend to serious matters."

Zhai Le paused for a moment before recalling what constituted "serious matters." He couldn't help but remark, "These extortion-loving thugs, I've encountered plenty. While they may engage in petty evils, I doubt they're capable of grave atrocities. They also fear staining their hands with blood..."

Guilty but not deserving of death.

Shen Tang scoffed, asking, "Have you interrogated them?"

Zhai Le replied, "Not yet, but..."

"You haven't even asked, yet you're making rash judgments based on experience? It's like a eunuch pontificating at a royal court, baseless talk! Silence!"

Zhai Le was silenced by her cutting words.

Shen Tang pressed her foot against the thug leader's shoulder, a sword held against his forehead threateningly. "Confess truthfully, or I'll kill you!"

Unable to hold back, Zhai Le interjected, "Shen, upholding justice..."

Shen Tang raised an eyebrow coldly, looking at Zhai Le.

"Speak plainly!"

"Justice doesn't condone coercive interrogation."

Shen Tang remained silent, silently conveying her disbelief.

Their conversation only solidified the thugs' perception of the duo—they were nothing more than inexperienced youths imitating the knights from tales, self-proclaimed champions of righteousness, seeking excitement and accomplishment by targeting the weak.

This was precisely what the thugs were least afraid of.

Shen Tang berated, "Nonsense! I'm going to use coercive interrogation!"

Zhai Le hesitated. Watching Shen Tang, resembling someone familiar in demeanor, he could almost smell the strong scent of alcohol emanating from 'him.' Zhai Le couldn't help but feel a sense of impending disaster, akin to a torrential downpour...

Could it be that Shen Tang had secretly been drinking?

He asked tentatively, "Shen, are you intoxicated?"

"No, I remain sober after a thousand cups."

Zhai Le thought, "Surely there's a ninety percent chance he's drunk."

But he couldn't recall when Shen Tang had been drinking. They had been acting together since the disturbance began, after all.

Recalling that night when Shen Tang had been particularly excited and vigorous, Zhai Le felt a headache coming on. He worried that Shen Tang might suddenly go berserk from alcohol, and he might not be able to restrain him. So he came up with an idea: "Shen, aren't you going to find the stolen treasures?"

He remembered how Shen Tang had mistakenly believed Guan Shuwu to be a thief stealing treasures and had chased him all the way out of the city.

If this worked—

Guan Shuwu should be able to handle it, right?

Surely...

Little did he know that Shen Tang would defy expectations.

She said, "The thief has already been apprehended by me!"

Zhai Le's mouth twitched. "What about the treasures?"

Gritting her teeth, Shen Tang remembered something irritating. "The thief refuses to surrender the treasures, but it doesn't matter. With the thief in my grasp, the treasures will return to their rightful owner someday!"

Zhai Le remained silent.

Shen Tang's drunkenness was indeed peculiar.

Shen Tang kicked a thug attempting to flee back, leaving him struggling to get up for a moment. She positioned her long sword threateningly against the neck of the burly leader. "Confess truthfully!"

He remained stubbornly silent.

Shen Tang decided to show him some color.

Pressing her foot on his knee, she exerted a bit of force, causing the burly man's face to turn several shades paler, unable to bear the pain and crying out.

Shen Tang removed her foot, and the burly man writhed in pain, clutching his leg.

The other thugs paled at the sight.

Shen Tang said, "Originally, I intended to break all your legs. Since you refuse to speak, I'll proceed with the process..."

With that, she prepared to break a leg.

"You can't! You can't! Don't lay a hand on him!"

A voice rang out from the bystanders.

Shen Tang lowered her gaze. "Does this man have a special status?"

As she inquired, some of the onlookers suddenly changed their expressions.

Some hesitated to speak, while others slipped away quietly.

A white-haired old man emerged from the crowd.

He said, "This man is known as 'Snakehead.' His elder brother is a bandit in the mountains and also the second-in-command. He's untouchable!"

The old man was also a wandering peddler, barely making a living with his skill of weaving straw shoes. Worried that Shen Tang and Zhai Le might get into big trouble for their momentary act of righteousness, he stepped forward.

Shen Tang raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Old man, don't worry. Aside from the matters I mentioned earlier, have these thugs committed any other atrocities?"

The old man was exasperated. "Why don't you listen to reason, young man?"

"Don't worry, sir. I'm not one of those knights who forget about their deeds after a brawl. If these thugs have truly committed grave sins, I'll send them to meet the King of Hell. If that second-in-command is their backer, I'll take care of him too. Our after-sales service quality is top-notch, guaranteed not to cause you any further trouble."

Zhai Le felt himself being implicated in Shen Tang's words, included among those "some."

Seeing Shen Tang's stubbornness and her grandiose claims, the old man was certain that these young men were in for trouble. Unable to stop them, he could only sigh resignedly and reveal some information. He hoped Shen Tang and Zhai Le would heed his advice and escape from Xiaocheng overnight.

It turned out that "Snakehead" relied on his brother, who was a bandit, to establish a gang of thugs in Xiaocheng, extorting merchants throughout the city. When this matter was reported to the county government, they initially sent people to arrest "Snakehead," but he was released after only a couple of days in prison. It was rumored that his

 connections were strong, bribing officials from top to bottom. Subsequent reports from merchants resulted in either ruin or death.

"Snakehead's" main business was collecting "stall fees," but he also engaged in other side businesses, such as forcing women into prostitution, trafficking in human beings, counterfeiting currency, and killing debtors...

The merchants dared not speak out.

They paid the "stall fees" obediently and left it at that.

Shen Tang looked at Zhai Le with a smirk that wasn't quite a smile.

"No grave sins?"

Zhai Le hesitated. "There are."

"No blood on their hands?"

Zhai Le admitted, "There is."

It seemed that the den of thieves had some substance to it.

"Relying solely on experience is problematic, Zhai Xiaofang."

Zhai Le blushed crimson, feeling himself included in the category of "some."

Seeing Zhai Le's embarrassment, Shen Tang forcefully changed the subject. "Zhai, is it time for our settlement? These scoundrels are despicable and should be dispatched, leaving none behind!"

Shen Tang nodded. "Indeed, let's take them to the small forest outside the city!"

"That den of thieves doesn't sound good either."

Shen Tang agreed. "Right, let's wipe them out together!"

With that said, they began to tie up the thugs, preparing to settle things outside the city. Seeing this, Zhai Le's expression turned fearful. "No...no, Shen, shouldn't we go back to find Master Qi first? If not, I can go find my brother... Just the two of us?"

He felt it was unwise.

Even though Shen was also scholarly.

Unfortunately, Shen wasn't having any of it!