99 We Need To Leave (1/2)

He Peng, Yang Chang, and Lan An go to where the carriages are located. Robbers have taken everything and burnt the carriages. ”How could this have happened”, Lan An surveys the charred remains of the three carriages.

”I think Huang Howan is in over her head with the Mayor. She probably conspired with him but never expected him to take everything and destroy the carriages. No one can find her and her mother Huang Hua is frantic.” Yang Chang saw Huang Hua earlier searching for her daughter.

”The men that I left to guard the carriages were summoned by Huang Howan, she told them someone had let the horses loose. Fu Shan and the others ran to the stables where we had tied them to find them gone. While they went to look for them all this transpired, they located the horses using their qinggong and brought them back. When they returned this is what they found, one of the carriages was still smoldering. His Highness will be infuriated by this turn of events, he thought it would be a simple matter of donating to the village. He summoned me so I had to leave, I hope he doesn't blame me, I had no idea until Fu Shan found me as we were about to enter the Inn.” Yang Chang is a little nervous at the prospect of angering Wang Li Jie.

”Chang, he can't blame you. We will get to the bottom of this and have Huang Howan confess.”

” Peng, maybe while Wang Li Jie is gone that man Kang Longwei can help. I don't think we have the capability to interrogate the Mayor.” Lan An is worried about Yang Chang.

He Peng gives Lan An a look tinged with jealousy, ”We can handle it.”

While they are contemplating how to find Huang Hua, Huang Howan is trapped in the Mayor's basement. He had his men throw her down there when she started whining. She only wanted to swindle the town out of some money, when the Mayor took it to the extreme she protested. She told him Wang Li Jie isn't someone to be played with, he just laughed not knowing how fierce Wang Li Jie can be. He wouldn't notice some goods missing, but everything? She wants to cry at how gullible she was to believe this horrid man.The Mayor fearing she would fold and confess he decided to throw her into his 'play' room. He has been running this town stealing from travelers for a hundred years and has never been caught.

Why was she so greedy, she looks around the basement its walls are covered in torture devices. Her clothes are ripped and she noticed the lustful stares of his men as her chest was slightly exposed. How is she going to get out of here. She knows some demonic magic but this room is sealed tight.

He Peng decides he will go to the Mayor's house himself and deal with the situation. If he can at least retrieve something...

”Yang Chang tell Fu Shan and the others to meet me at the fork in the road. You take Lan An back to the Inn and wait. If His Highness comes back don't mention anything until I return.”

”No Peng, don't go. Let His Highness deal with them. ” Who knows how many men the Mayor has protecting him.

”Don't worry I will be back soon.”

He takes long strides down the street to wait for Fu Shan to meet him.

Yang Chang and Lan An are walking back to the Inn when they are stopped by some black robed men holding an ink drawing. One man grabs Yang Chang's arm then shoves it into his face, with a threatening tone asks ”Have you seen this woman ?” Both Yang Chang and Lan Ann quickly shake their heads no. The men swiftly move through the crowd continuing to ask villagers as they walk along the street.

”Why are they looking for the Miss?” Lan Ann is worried she could sense the dangerous aura surrounding those men. She sees a small boy accepting some copper coins as he points to the Inn.

”We should hurry and get to the Inn to see if His Highness and Zhang Xiaolian have returned.”

Yang Chang is beginning to wonder why the hell they even stopped in this village. It has been one problem after another, typically they leave The Mystical Cloud Palace without coming to the village.

They arrive at the Inn to see the people in the crowd grumbling Zhao Jiao hasn't returned to the stage. No one can find her or the kitchen manager Wan Cuifen. The Innkeeper is on stage apologizing to the crowd distraught he can't find Wan Cuifen either.

Lan An pulls on Yang Chang's sleeve, whispers”Should we check the private room?”

”I doubt they would go there but.. I don't know where else to go.”

As they are heading up the stairs Jiang Bai enters the restaurant with Sun Qiang, he recognizes them as the servants who are to accompany Xiaolian to the bamboo house.

He waits until they reach the private room to get their attention. ”You two, stop.”

Lan An easily recognizes him as the guard who was with Xiaolian. ”Yes?”

Jiang Bai motions to them to enter the room. Sun Qiang follows along thinking how interesting, who is that girl? He had seen the men on the street frantically looking for Zhang Xiaolian. Wang Chao Han scouring the world looking for you, he shakes his head, nothing good can come from knowing that evil man.