I Am The Villain In The Novel

Chapter 29: Leading the Team for the First Time

Heavenly blessings, 15th year, 8th month, 12th day.

Ren’an Lane was a neighbourhood south of the capital city, home to a few hundred households, mostly comprised of small business owners working nearby.

Loctus Alley, on the other hand, was the smallest street in Ren’an Lane. There weren’t many pedestrians passing through on ordinary days, except for a few people who came to pick locust flowers in March or April each year, to take home for cooking rice or steaming.

Apart from that, few people remembered this ordinary little alley.

At dusk, several servants dressed in servant attire stopped in front of a house in Loctus Alley. Each of them carried several large food boxes, from which the aroma of food faintly wafted.

“Big brother, we’ve been delivering food here for nearly ten days. What do you think the people inside are up to?” one of them asked in a low voice.

“Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask!”

Another person glanced at him, then put the food box in his hand on the ground and knocked on the copper ring on the door four times.

“…”

There was no response from inside the door.

“Hmm? Big brother, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know.”

The leader also looked puzzled. After hesitating for a moment, he knocked on the door again.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

“…”

Still no response.

“Big brother, this doesn’t seem right… Should I climb over the wall and take a look inside?”

“Don’t be meddlesome! We’ll wait here. You go back and report to Manager Liu about the situation!”

“Yes, I’ll go back now…”

The speaker agreed and quickly ran off, leaving the others behind. Those who remained found a place to sit and rest, looking at each other, while the leader stood, his gaze fixed on the courtyard door, his nostrils twitching slightly.

Huh? Why does it smell like blood in the wind?

…

“What’s going on?”

“A dozen or so people disappeared just like that?”

“What’s the use of you useless bunch?!”

“Go and find out for me immediately! I need to see them alive or dead…”

In the main hall of the Liu Family Mansion, an old man dressed in purple, with a golden fish bag at his waist, was furious at the people before him.

He was Liu Yuanshan, the head of the Liu family and the current prime minister.

Having just returned from the palace after a busy day, he hadn’t even had time to change into his official robes when he heard such bad news. Liu Yuanshan found it hard to speak calmly.

“…”

The people in front of him hung their heads, afraid to say a word. Only an elderly steward-like man stepped forward, bowing gently, and said, “Master, don’t let such small matters upset your health.”

“In my humble opinion, in such a vast capital, only the Mirror Division could make a dozen people disappear so quietly.”

“It must be the Wei family who somehow got wind of the news and silenced them.”

“Sigh…”

Liu Yuanshan sighed, and his emotions stabilized.

After so many years in the position of prime minister, he had seen all sorts of storms. Although he might lose his temper, his mind remained clear.

“I understand that this is Wei Xianzhi’s doing, but I don’t know who leaked the information.”

“Master, we can investigate, but I’m afraid it will be difficult to find any results.”

The old man calmly said, “Besides the people of the Liu family, there are also a few individuals in the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court who are aware of this matter. It’s easy to investigate our own people, but as for them…”

“Are you saying the informer might be from the Ministry of Justice or the Supreme Court?”

“That’s my humble opinion.”

“…”

Liu Yuanshan took a deep breath:

“Since that’s the case, then let it be.”

“After all, this incident wouldn’t fundamentally harm the Wei family. Since it’s already like this, it’s not worth it to antagonize the two ministries over this.”

“Master has foresight.”

The old man flattered a bit, then reminded, “As for the eldest son…”

“Summon Zongliang; I’ll talk to him personally.”

Liu Yuanshan shook his head. “Otherwise, he might not be able to swallow this anger.”

“Yes, Master… Oh, and one more thing.”

“What is it?”

“A member of the Heavenly Society wants to see you. He’s been waiting all afternoon.”

“The Heavenly Society? That bunch of troublemakers…”

Liu Yuanshan impatiently waved his hand, ready to refuse.

But just as the words “not seeing” were about to come out, a somewhat inexplicable thought suddenly occurred to him.

Maybe I should see him. What if there’s something important…

“Let him in.”

…

While Liu Yuanshan and Xiao Feng were about to meet for the first “historical” time, the atmosphere in a certain secret room of the Mirror Division was unusually solemn.

A hundred and twenty constables dressed in black tiger dragon robes stood solemnly in six rows. Each of them stood tall, wearing bamboo hats, with their left palms lightly resting on their sword handles.

If it weren’t for the slight differences in height and build, they would have looked like they were carved from the same mold.

In front of the crowd, Wei Changtian, also dressed in a tiger dragon robe, had a cold expression, with a captain with a long beard standing beside him.

The atmosphere in the secret room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop, as if even the sound of breathing had disappeared.

Although it was very unscientific, Wei Changtian could indeed feel a very obvious aura of killing.

Or it might be more appropriate to call it a murderous aura.

As he looked at the sea of bamboo hats on the opposite side, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—

The Mirror Division was impressive!

In less than a day, there were a hundred and twenty experts above the seventh rank.

Plus a captain at the fifth rank.

It should be noted that this kind of force would be enough to rebel in some small counties, yet tonight they would completely obey his orders.

Tsk tsk tsk, indeed it’s good to have the backing of a big tree!

“Master, it’s time for the Hai hour.”

A reminder suddenly sounded in his ear.

Wei Changtian immediately composed himself and nodded solemnly, “Master Huang, let’s go.”

“Yes!”

The captain surnamed Huang responded, then looked at the crowd and loudly commanded, “From now on, anyone who leaves the team without permission will be executed!”

“Anyone who abuses their power will be executed!”

“Anyone who violates orders will be executed!”

“… ”

He issued several prohibitions in a row, then waved his hand.

In just five breaths, the secret room that had been bustling with activity a moment ago was now empty, with only him and Wei Changtian remaining.

“Young Master Wei, where are we going? You can tell me now.”

“Alright.”

Wei Changtian turned his head slightly and revealed the mission objective for the first time.

“Ministry Of Justice Minister, Zhang Mansion!”

“…”

A hint of disbelief flashed in Captain Huang’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it forcefully.

Taking a deep breath, he answered in a deep voice, “Yes!”

Half an incense stick later, a dozen or so various types of carriages departed from various small gates of the Mirror Division, stopped near the Zhang Mansion in the darkness, and then dispersed stealthily around the walls of the courtyard.

The entire Zhang Mansion was quiet, oblivious to everything.

“Sir, our people have blocked all the exits.”

Captain Huang looked up at the scarlet gate and the plaque with the characters “Zhang Mansion” just a few yards ahead, and finally swallowed his saliva.

Although he still didn’t know what crime the Zhang family had committed, judging from the situation, it was definitely not simple.

Looking at Wei Changtian, who seemed calm and even excited, he paused before handing over a bamboo tube. “Young Master, this is a signal flare. You just need to twist the bottom to shoot out a flash of light… Be careful not to twist it the wrong way.”

Wei Changtian: “…”

At this moment, he really wanted to ask, “Do I look like an idiot?” But he ultimately held back, just glanced at Captain Huang, then took the bamboo tube and aimed it at the night sky.

“Boom!”

A huge ring of fire suddenly exploded in the night sky, and the torches that lit up instantly surrounded the Zhang Mansion.

After a brief silence, the noise began to rise from within the mansion, and the constables who had entered the courtyard pushed the doors wide open.

“Who, who are you people?”

“Do you, do you know this is the Zhang Mansion?”

Several gatekeepers trembled under the cold light, looking at Wei Changtian who was walking towards them with fear.

But Wei Changtian completely ignored them, just waved his hand lightly.

“Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!”

Hundreds of figures holding torches and long knives rushed into the mansion, accompanied by shouts that made countless people tremble—

“The Mirror Division is investigating!”

“Everyone come out! Kneel at the threshold!”

“Those who resist will be treated as conspirators!”

“Those who flee will be treated the same!”