Chapter 60: The Secret Manual That Must Be Cultivated

  This time, he didn't imagine dealing with Hong Shan in the same way. He simply presented the evidence and asked a question: "You instructed Hong Shan to kill Jin Lao San and others. Now, I'm asking you, do you confess or not?"

  Liu Xiangzheng heard what Xiao Jiading said, thinking that he was still framing himself, and at the same time, he still hoped that his superiors would protect him. So he insisted on being wronged.

  Xiao Jiading didn't say much more and lazily waved his hand at Dai Boutu: "Use torture on him!"

  The yamen runners then took the water-soaked rattan, and gave Liu Xiangzheng a good thrashing. Next, they used the rattan to press down on his ankles, and even trampled on them fiercely, causing him so much pain that he was on the verge of collapse. Unable to withstand it any longer, he finally opened his mouth and said: "I... I confess..."

  At this time, Xiao Jiading was already leaning on the couch and fell asleep. He hadn't slept all night and was too tired. Since they had already obtained most of the key evidence for the case, he wasn't worried that Liu Xiangzheng wouldn't confess. The reason he didn't present the evidence to let the other party surrender voluntarily but instead used torture to force a confession was to make Liu Xiangzheng, this ruthless guy who had killed three people, suffer. As soon as his mood relaxed, while they were still using torture on the other side, he fell asleep over here.

  Dai Bo Tou hastily came over, carefully woke him up and said in a low voice: "Big brother, this little brat is willing to confess now."

  "Ah! Bring it over!"

  After Liu Xiangzheng was brought over, he began to speak without waiting for Xiao Jiading's question: "The thing is like this. After I learned that my sister-in-law had an affair with Jin Lao San from Huangyan Village, I was extremely angry and scolded Jin Lao San severely, saying that our family members would not die well. Unexpectedly, Hong Shan secretly heard about it and quietly went to kill Jin Lao San. When he came back and reported to me, I only knew then and asked him in detail about what happened. I was very angry and scolded him severely, saying that he should not have done so. I am wrong, I concealed this matter and did not report it to the government office, which is my dereliction of duty. I accept the severe punishment of the law..."

  He said this and stole a glance at Xiao Jia Ding, seeing that he was only coldly smiling, and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, so he stopped talking.

  Xiao Jiading said in a cold voice: "So you're saying that you didn't participate in killing Jin Lao San? The whole thing was done by Hong Shan with your involvement?"

  "Yes..." Liu Xiangzheng replied stiffly.

  "You're not telling the truth, continue with torture!" Xiao Jiading also didn't bother to say more to him, and waved his hand at Dai the catcher.

  Then, Liu Xiangzheng was dragged out of the door again and brutally tortured. The mournful cries echoed once more. However, this had no effect on Xiao Jiading's sleepiness, and he soon fell asleep again, snoring loudly on the couch.

  He was awakened by a sweet voice after an unknown period of time, and when he opened his eyes, it turned out to be that tender village girl, Chrysanthemum! She was holding a bowl of ginseng soup, standing shyly beside him.

  Xiao Jia Ding was both shocked and delighted, saying: "Chu Ju? How did you end up here?"

  "It was Lao Cun who asked me to come and serve Master Xiao. Master Xiao invites you to have some tea!"

  "Oh, thank you!" Xiao Jiading took over the medicinal soup and took a sip. It was quite bitter at first, but the aftertaste was sweet and fragrant.

  Chrysanthemum said: "Just now, the captain came in and said that Liu Xiangzheng was willing to confess again. Because he saw Master Xiao sleeping soundly, he didn't dare disturb him."

  "Hmm!" Xiao Jia Ding looked out of the main hall and saw Dai Bu Tou standing at the door, then said: "Bring him in!"

  The chrysanthemum hastily retreated into a side room.

  Liu Xiang Zheng was dragged in, his ankles were severely swollen from the waterboarding, his forehead covered with cold sweat, groaning in agony nonstop.

  Xiao Jiading still said lazily: "Alright! Remember, be honest! Otherwise, you'll suffer."

  Liu Xiangzheng said: "The little one must confess truthfully..."

  Then Liu Xiangzheng recounted the process of killing Jin Lao San, which was consistent with what Hong Shan and Xiao Pingzi said, proving that he told the truth.

  Xiao Jiading asked again after he finished speaking: "Is this all you have to say about this matter?"

  It is...

  "Haven't you done anything else illegal?"

  Liu Xiangzheng looked at Xiao Jiading with a terrified expression, unsure of how much he had grasped.

  Xiao Jiading said: "You and I are both very clear, you still have many illegal things that haven't been said! I don't want to remind you, you say it yourself! If you're not willing to speak, then I'll let the torture instruments make you speak!"

  Liu Xiangzheng remained silent, Xiao Jia Ding waved his hand and ordered the men to be dragged away for punishment. Liu Xiangzheng hastily said: "I'll speak! I'll speak!"

  Liu Xiangzheng then spoke of his illicit affairs with two other village women, and how he had used threats to force others to sell him their good land. He also spoke of extorting money from some of the wealthy households in the village that he looked down upon. Under threat and torture from Xiao Jiading, Liu finally confessed to bribing government officials.

  Xiao Jiading immediately ordered all unrelated personnel to leave, including the clerk responsible for recording. He personally made a separate record of the bribery case. Xiao Jiading repeatedly and in detail asked about the time of bribery, the recipient, the amount of bribery, and the entrusted matters. According to Liu Xiangzheng's confession, the people he bribed included Zhong Shihong, a law officer of the prefectural government, Gu Jinkun, a judicial consultant, and Deng Quansheng, a county lieutenant, among others. Through bribery, he became the head of the village and resolved some troublesome matters that implicated him.

  After finishing writing down all the bribery matters and having Liu Xiangzheng sign and fingerprint, he put away the written record and said to Liu Xiangzheng: "What you just said, don't mention it again when you get to the yamen, or else, you'll probably be silenced before you even make it to the execution ground! Did you hear me?"

  Liu Xiangzheng knew he couldn't escape his fate, but the longer he could drag things out, the better. He thought about what Xiao Jiading had said - if those people found out that he had revealed their bribery, they would probably kill him immediately to silence him. For now, he nodded in agreement.

  Xiao Jiading called in Dai Boutu and the clerk responsible for recording. He then asked, "Is that all? Are there no others?"

  Liu Xiangzheng cried with a sad face and said it was really gone.

  Xiao Jiading said: "You still have something to hide, it seems that not using torture is not an option." With a wave of his hand, he let Dai capture the head and dragged him down again.

  Xiao Jiading's stomach was also hungry, and Luo Cun happened to come over to accompany him with a smile, asking if he should eat first. Xiao Jianding then instructed to eat first and continue afterwards.

  Xiao Jiading followed Luo Cunzheng to the dining hall, where there was only a small round table with several exquisite dishes. Because he had to attend to official business, Luo Cunzheng did not invite any local gentry to join them, but instead had Ju Hua sit beside Xiao Jiading and pour him wine.

  Because there were still things to attend to, Xiao Jiading did not drink wine, only ate a meal, and then continued the interrogation.

  Not long after, Liu Xiangzheng again expressed his willingness to confess. When he was dragged over, both of his ankles had already been crushed by the water and fire pincers, causing him unbearable pain. It turned out that Dai, the head captor, saw that Liu's previous confessions did not satisfy Xiao Jiatian, feeling that the torture was not enough, this time increased the intensity, directly crippling Liu Xiangzheng's legs. And threatened that if this time still could not satisfy Xiao, he would let him fully experience suffering.

  Liu Xiang was really scared, so this time he finally confessed to instructing Hong Shan to kill Ban Dongzi and personally strangling his sister-in-law. The details of what he said were consistent with what Hong Shan and Xiao Pingzi had said.

  The case is now solved!

  Xiao Jia Ding ordered to return to the city. Luo Cun Zheng knew that Xiao Jia Ding had official business and didn't dare to detain him, so he accompanied the village elders, as well as the Jin family and Ju Hua, to see them off all the way to the village entrance.

  Xiao Jia Ding and his men escorted several prisoners back to the outskirts of Yizhou by afternoon.

  Seeing the city gate from afar, Huiyi said to Xiao Jiateng: "I'll go back and report to our master first, three days before the grand meeting of the sect, I'll come again to invite you."

  "Wait a minute, I still have something to tell you." Xiao Jiading instructed the others to go ahead first, and they would follow later.

  After others left, Xiao Jiading said in a low voice: "Can you arrange someone to do something for me?"

  "What's up?"

  "Help me sneak into Deng County Wei's house and get a clear understanding of his family's financial situation. At the same time, monitor his movements."

  "No problem!" Huiyi nodded in response.

  Xiao Jia Ding cupped his hands and said: "Then thank you, this news is hidden, it must be found to be trusted people to do, absolutely can not leak the wind."

  "I'll go and take care of it myself, let Sister Shifu and the others return and report back."

  "That's great! You handle it, I'm at ease!"

  Huiyi smiled slightly, her peach-like face flushing with a hint of redness. She lowered her head and said, "I also have something to tell you."

  Xiao Jia Ding suddenly saw her face showing a shy expression, looking very pretty, and was slightly stunned, saying: "If you have something to whisper, just say it!"

  This made Huiyi even more embarrassed, and she quickly glanced at him, took out two thin booklets from her bosom, and handed them to Xiao Jiading, saying: "You take these."

  "What is this?"

  "This is a manual of our Emei Sect's Lightness Skill, the Willow Leaf Step. I'm giving it to you. I saw that when you dodged those flying darts earlier, your movements were extremely swift and agile, very suitable for practicing this skill, so I'll have you cultivate it."

  "Your Emei Sect's martial arts skills, I'm not quite good at practicing them?"

  "This is just the introductory technique, even ordinary disciples of Emei Sect can practice it. You helped my master to contend for the position of leader, learning this set of techniques won't be a problem for you either. It's relatively simple, but it's enough to deal with ordinary masters in Jianghu. Since there are no experts around you, if you learn this martial art, who knows, maybe at critical moments it can help you escape."

  Haha, this is true, with slippery feet, you don't have to worry about fighting!

  Huiyi said, her voice even more bashful: "The second book is... a mind method, this book is very precious, you practice it yourself, don't lose it, and don't let outsiders see it."

  Neigong Xinfang? This thing is only found in martial arts novels, could it be that I've crossed over into a martial arts novel? Xiao Jiading was somewhat bewildered.

  Huì Yí said: "This kung fu, you... you must practice! It's good for you, remember?"

  Xiao Jia Ding didn't actually want to learn these things, after all he was already an adult, and going back to learning those stretching and breathing exercises seemed a bit too late. But the beautiful nun's kind intentions were hard to refuse. He accepted it on the spot. In his heart, he didn't think much of it, but on his face, he looked very sincere: "Great! Thank you for your gift, I will definitely practice well."

  Huì Yí was very satisfied, nodded slightly, still looking shy, and said: "For the next few days, you practice on your own first. If there's anything unclear, come to Qingyun An to find me. I'll tell you..."

  "Alright, I remember."

  "I will investigate as soon as possible and report back to you on the matter you entrusted me with."