Chapter 0008: Dark Web

Old Xing said: "This is all... none of this was done by me, it was... it was done by Xiao Tou... I... I was just trying to make a living, I... I am a constable under Xiao Tou...!"

"Capital City?" Yang Ning was taken aback and furrowed his brows, saying: "Are you saying that Constable Feng personally sent them to the capital?"

"Leave this place?" A look of joy appeared in Xiu'er’s eyes, "You... you mean to say we can leave this place?" The other girls also showed expressions of joy and excitement, at this moment no longer feeling fear towards Yang Ning, but instead thinking of him as a savior sent by heaven, and they could not help but gather around him.

Xiu'er nodded and said: "Xiao Die arrived earlier than us. By the time we got here, her group had already practiced very well." After a pause, she lowered her voice and added: "I heard that those who practice dancing the best can go to the kitchen to work at night"

The young women looked at each other, and it was the older girl who spoke: "I... I am Xiu'er, and we... we were all deceived to come here."

"Deceived?" Yang Ning was taken aback

Yang Ning observed his appearance and found it unlikely that he was lying. He asked in a low voice, "How many people have you sent to the capital? When did you start engaging in this dirty business?"

Are these young ladies all deceived by you?

Old Xing said with a grim face: "Old Feng Er... as long as Old Feng Er sends the people out of the city, there will be someone waiting outside the city to assist them, and then... then someone will take them to the capital. That is all I know; I truly do not know anything else. Xiao... Xiao Yishui is meticulous in his work; he will not let us know too much about what we should not know. Even the matter of sending them to the capital was something that Old Feng Er accidentally let slip when he was drunk once."... Xiao Yishui is meticulous in his work; he will not let us know too much about what we should not know. Even the matter of sending them to the capital was something that Old Feng Er accidentally let slip when he was drunk once.

Yang Ning said in a low voice: "To leave here, we must first ascertain how many henchmen are in this house. Are you all clear on that?"

Yang Ning thought to herself that they were unaware of the hole at the base of the wall in the back garden. They did not speak up immediately. After the girl took the key, they quickly exited. First, she went to the table in the courtyard and grabbed a large knife, then casually picked up a wine pouch from the table. She then ran to the base of the wall beside Old Xing, and seeing that he was still unconscious, she poured the wine over his face.

Old Xing was about to speak when Yang Ning repeated, "Let me remind you, if you mispronounce even a single word, I will slit your throat immediately"

Xiu'er immediately said: "Originally there were more than twenty people, today...!" She glanced at the several young ladies beside her, "Today another four have been sent over, there should be more than thirty now"

The young ladies exchanged glances, and Xiu'er said: "I have seen four or five different ones, all of them extremely fierce. However, I know that there are always two people guarding the main entrance of the residence day and night, and they... they have knives in their hands"

"Well, the lady sometimes needs to eat at night, so there are often two people in the kitchen to attend to her at any time," Xiuer said. "Xiaodie dances well, so she can also go to the kitchen sometimes."

Old Xing said: "Well... I really don't know... Ah, don't... don't take action, I will say anything...!" After hesitating for a moment, he said with a苦脸: "I only know... I only know that when the time comes, Old Feng Er... um, that is, Officer Feng from the yamen, he will take people away in a horse-drawn carriage. As far as I know, it is to... it is to be sent to the capital!"

Yang Ning inhaled sharply

Yang Ning finally felt relieved, thinking that it was quite possible for Xiao Die to sneak out of the house while taking advantage of the opportunity when someone was busy in the kitchen, but that was also quite risky

Upon hearing this, Yang Ning felt a sinking sensation in his heart, and a chill arose in his eyes

After speaking, the blade made a motion as if to scrape across his throat, causing Old Xing to shudder all over, letting out two muffled sounds of "mm mm".

In order to ensure absolute certainty, Yang Ning had previously torn a piece of burlap to cover half of his face. He held a knife to Old Xing's neck and asked, "Why are so many young women imprisoned here?"

Old Xing was roused by the alcohol, and immediately became alert. His head throbbed painfully, and as he opened his eyes, he saw a masked figure in front of him. Just as he was about to shout, he suddenly felt a chill at his throat, and heard a cold voice say: "Ask one question, say one word, if you are not honest, I will cut your throat immediately"

What happens next

Old Xing said: "Yes, it was all his idea. Since two years ago, no fewer than two hundred people have been sent to this residence, and most of them have been taken away later"

Xiu'er shook her head and said: "In the past, even if they were in the kitchen at night, we could still see them during the day. But this time, I haven't seen them for many days. Perhaps... perhaps they have already left"

"Then... how will you lead us out of the house?" Xiu'er said with concern, "There are people guarding the main door, and they have knives. We cannot get out."

With the cold blade pressed against his throat, and coupled with Yang Ning's pair of piercing eyes, Old Xing appeared significantly more subdued: "Xiao Tou specifically arranges for people to search among the refugees for such young girls, aged under 15, with attractive appearances. Once they set their sights on someone, they will use the pretext of hiring a maid to deceive them. Once they have been deceived, they are first taken to another location for a few days, and then... then they are quietly and secretly brought over here...!"

Xiu'er thought for a moment and then softly said: "I have heard them mention before that many people have come and gone in this residence, with one group arriving and another departing. Once they have mastered the songs and dances, they are sent away, and no one can find them again. Xiao Die... Xiao Die and the others arrived early, and they have been learning the songs and dances for quite some time. It has been several days since I last saw any trace of them, so... so I wonder if they have already been sent away."

Yang Ning pondered for a moment before handing the bunch of keys in his hand to Xiu'er, and said softly: "These are the keys to several rooms. Please let everyone prepare a bit, and be sure not to make too much noise. Until I return, do not act rashly. After I come back, I will take you all away."

Are these the young ladies you are referring to

Old Xing said: "We are all constables in the yamen, obeying... obeying the orders of Chief Xiao. Including myself, there are a total of six constables here in the residence"

I see. Yang Ning furrowed his brow and asked, "Do you know why they brought you here?"

Yang Ning was taken aback and coldly said: "Are the other men in black in that house all constables?"

Yang Ning nodded slightly, thinking that this number coincided with what Madam Hua had mentioned earlier, and lowered her voice to say: "If you leave here, is it possible to find your parents"

"Since you are a constable, you should ensure the safety of the people in your jurisdiction. Why do you conspire with him and engage in such heinous acts that defy the laws of nature?" Yang Ning spoke with a chilling intensity, his eyes glinting with coldness, his voice icy.

Old Xing said: "All of us are able to become constables because of him. From the day we became constables, we have already boarded his ship. If we disobey his orders, not to mention that we cannot secure the livelihoods of our families, we might even lose our lives. Xiao Yishui is ruthless and merciless. He... he is officially a head constable, but he has connections in both the legal and illegal realms. In Huize County, there are several groups of bandits that continue to exist precisely because of their good relations with him. Those bandit leaders have even sworn brotherhood with him...!"

The little girl suddenly called out "big brother," and it seemed that she was quite familiar with him. Yang Ning curiously asked, "Do you know me?"

The constables maintain order in the region and ensure the safety of the people, yet who could have known that these individuals were engaging in such activities behind the scenes

Hmm...! The little girl nodded excitedly and said: "I know, I know, Sister Xiaodie has mentioned you to me, she said... she said you are her only relative. Little... little brother, how did you come here?"

"In that case, is Xiaodie also practicing songs and dances with you?" Yang Ning asked in a low voice, her brows furrowed.

It has already been two years. Old Xing did not dare to move. After the Battle of Huai River broke out, many refugees fled. At first, it was the wealthy merchants and nobles who came here, bringing gold, silver, and jewels as they escaped, and then they continued southward. At that time, Xiao Yishui began to utilize the disciples of the Beggar's Sect to keep an eye on those wealthy merchants and nobles in the city, stealing their money and acquiring a great deal of gold and silver. Later, as the wealthy merchants all headed south, fewer and fewer wealthy merchants came, while more and more impoverished refugees arrived in the city. Xiao Yishui then began to set his sights on those refugees.

The young girls all shook their heads in confusion. Xiu'er said: "After we arrived here, someone began to teach us to practice the performing arts, not allowing us to do anything else, nor permitting us to ask too many questions. If we practice well, we will be treated a little better; if we do poorly, we cannot eat and will also be subjected to whipping..." At this point, her eyes had already turned red, and her voice became even lower: "I heard that in the past, someone was beaten to death because they could not practice well."

This is the collusion between officials and bandits. Yang Ning said with a cold smile, but in his heart, he knew that Xiao Yishui not only had powerful connections in the capital but had also woven a terrifying black web within the boundaries of Huize County.

Yang Ning raised a finger to her lips, signaling everyone to keep their voices down. The young ladies all nodded obediently, and only then did Yang Ning move a little closer and ask, "Why are you all locked up here?"

Is that little Die also in the kitchen tonight

A few months ago, my parents and I fled to this city. A person found us and told my parents that I could work as a maid, with food and lodging provided, and I would receive two coins of silver each month. Xiu'er explained in a low voice: "We could no longer survive, so we did not refuse. That person first took me to another courtyard, and when we arrived, there were already several sisters like me waiting there. After two or three days, one night we were called onto a carriage, and then... then we arrived here. Since then, I have not gone out again, and my parents do not know I am here." That person first took me to another courtyard, and when we arrived, there were already several sisters like me waiting there. After two or three days, one night we were called onto a carriage, and then... then we arrived here. Since then, I have not gone out again, and my parents do not know I am here.

Then... then hand over... hand over to Madame Hua to teach them the art of performance. Old Xing said: "Once they have some foundation, they can... they can be sent out.

Where is she sent? Yang Ning's greatest curiosity is where Xiao Die has gone now, where is she delivered to?

"Gone?" Yang Ning frowned and said, "Are you saying they are not in this residence? So, who are you referring to as 'they'?"

kitchen

He pondered for a moment before softly asking, "How many people are still here?"

He originally thought that these men in black were merely hired thugs, and that the constables involved were nothing more than Xiao Yishui and his trusted subordinate, Constable Feng. However, he has now come to realize that the thugs inside the residence are, in fact, all constables from the county office.