The Letter

Lin Fan was indifferent to the other villagers' plight.

He cared only about Uncle Liu.

"I should have enough," Uncle Liu replied.

"Thank God for Lin Fan's help with the sensei fee," Mei Fong had her hands clasped to her chest.

It was too much for her.

Had Lin Fan not helped out earlier with the medical fees, it would have been Uncle Liu who was dragged away.

She would have had to beg and steal to try and survive with Liu Han.

"Next!"

Finally, it was Uncle Liu's turn.

The tax officials, when they saw Uncle Liu's muscular body, hesitated for a moment.

They looked at each other, nodded, and demanded the correct amount for the tax.

To survive long enough, they had learned to pick their victims.

Uncle Liu wasn't one of them.

A hunter with fit physique, not someone you want to mess with, especially if they feel they have nothing to lose.

Mei Fong was all smiles as she welcomed Uncle Liu back.

"Next."

Finally, it was Lin Fan's turn.

When Lin Fan walked up to the tax officials, they checked him out.

Even though Lin Fan wasn't as tall as Uncle Liu, he was surprisingly just as fit as him.

The only difference was that Lin Fan was just a teenager.

"Lin Ye household, headcount of two. That will be two taels of silver."

The tax official on the right tapped his fingers on the table, waiting for Lin Fan to pay up.

Tap.

Tap.

A few moments passed.

Before Lin Fan could protest, the other tax official quickly said, "Guess there was a mistake. Your father's passing wasn't reflected in the registry on time."

"What are you—"

"You fool. Look at his chest!"

The tax official who had demanded more money then looked at Lin Fan's chest.

His jaw nearly dropped when he saw the pendant on Lin Fan's chest.

Especially when he saw the word carving of 'Qing Feng Sect'.

"Yes... yes, I've made a mistake," the tax official with his trembling hands updated the registry.

Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead even in the chill of late autumn.

He shuddered to think what would happen to him if he had offended the Qing Feng sect.

Being a lowly tax official wouldn't be enough to save his skin.

From his experience, the emperor would always pick the side of the sects.

With the constant pressure of demonic beasts and all the evil sects trying to invade the Quan territory, the emperor needs the sects to work with him.

How could I be so careless? the tax official thought as he rubbed his neck to check whether his head and neck were still intact.

"Hope you aren't offended. You'll only need to pay one tael of silver," the other tax official said, smiling at Lin Fan.

Seeing the change in attitude from the tax officials, the villagers waiting in line were perturbed.

Why did these two officials change their tune?

Lin Fan was becoming an enigma to them. What other secrets did he hold?

They could only look at each other, trying to figure it out.

They didn't even dare make a sound, fearing they might anger the tax officials.

"Here is my one tael of silver," Lin Fan didn't know what had transpired, but he was not one to complain.

"Lin Fan!"

Just as Lin Fan wanted to turn away, Ho Fu's voice boomed.

With his pipe in his hand, Ho Fu emerged from his house with a man beside him.

Constable Cai from Feng Shou town.

"Come over and tell Constable Cai what happened with Housekeeper Lee."

Lin Fan walked over, clasped his hands together, and bowed to Constable Cai.

"He also found this on Housekeeper Lee," Ho Fu handed the wooden slab to Constable Cai.

Constable Cai frowned as he looked at the wooden slab.

"This wooden slab is for the disciples of the Dark Lotus Sect."

"They indulge in dark and evil cultivation methods."

"His majesty had outlawed them long ago."

"Hurry, bring me to where this Housekeeper Lee stayed."

"Tell me what happened on the way."

His expression turned serious when he saw the wooden slab.

Any mistakes in this case and his head would roll.

Ho Fu, Lin Fan, and Constable Cai hurriedly went on their way to the Tan Mansion.

...

Tan Mansion, main hall.

The servants poured tea for Lin Fan and the rest.

After they were done, they bowed and hurriedly left.

Lin Fan took note of their behavior; it was as if they were afraid to be in this hall.

Inside the hall, in front of them was the huge screen.

Master Tan's voice emerged from behind the screen, "I'm so sorry, Constable Cai. I caught a cold and can't see you face to face."

"I understand, Master Tan," Constable Cai took a sip of the tea and said, "May I check the room where Housekeeper Lee stayed? I suspect he was in cahoots with the Dark Lotus sect, a crime punishable by death."

"Go ahead," Master Tan coughed and said.

Then he clapped, "Xiao Fang, show them the way. Please excuse me, as I'm tired."

Constable Cai nodded.

With his hand on his chin, Lin Fan was perturbed.

He didn't expect it to be so smooth.

What was Master Tan up to?

Was Master Tan innocent?

Lin Fan continued to think about all the different scenarios.

He needed to be prepared for any possibilities.

"Please come with me," Xiao Fang's voice stopped him in his deep thoughts.

When they got to Housekeeper Lee's room, Constable Cai started searching.

The room was well decorated, with furniture made of yellow rosewood, vases and porcelain from famous kilns.

Constable Cai didn't care; he rummaged through without any regard.

He left no corner unturned, and finally he found a letter under Housekeeper Lee's bed.

"Is this Housekeeper Lee's handwriting?" Constable Cai showed the letter to Xiao Fang.

She looked at it and nodded.

Constable Cai proceeded to read the content of the letter.

"Hmph! These bastards!" after he was done reading, he burst out in anger.