Chapter Six: The Filth of the Lin Residence

As Liu Wu stepped inside, he was momentarily stunned to witness a confrontation with swords drawn within the room.

Seeing Liu Wu, Butler Lin immediately approached and said, "Ah, brother, long time no see."

Liu Wu responded warmly, "Old friend, what brings you here?"

Butler Lin ground his teeth and said, "I came to collect a debt. That scoundrel owes money and refuses to pay. I was just about to take action."

Following Butler Lin's gesture, Liu Wu saw the scoundrel lying on the bed.

Liu Wu’s expression was a complex mix; after a long pause, he managed to say, "Is there some kind of misunderstanding here?"

Liu Wu had known Butler Lin for a long time and was aware that Lin Feng had connections with many in the camp, making him a local power in the frontier.

Lin Shize narrowed his eyes and said, "No misunderstanding. That old Deng led people to storm into my home demanding money. I had no choice but to bring him here."

Upon hearing this, Liu Wu understood that these people were playing dirty tricks, and Lin Shize was their target.

"Boss, what do you think we should do about this?"

Hearing Liu Wu call him "boss," Butler Lin’s heart skipped a beat. This place should be under Liu Wu’s command—why was Lin Shize addressing him as boss?

Lin Shize lazily said, "Tie them up first, then we'll talk."

Butler Lin shouted, "How dare you! The master will never forgive you..."

Before he could finish, Liu Wu kicked him squarely in the chest. In Liu Wu’s mind, Lin Shize was the leader who could help them rise in rank and fortune.

This was the perfect moment to prove himself.

Butler Lin didn’t expect Liu Wu to strike so ruthlessly and lay him writhing on the floor, wailing.

As two guards prepared to intervene, Liu Wu dashed forward and punched one in the jaw, knocking him out instantly. The other guard was held at knifepoint by Gou Dan’s long blade, frozen in place.

Gou Dan asked, "Boss, should we finish them off now?"

Butler Lin fell to his knees, repeatedly kowtowing and begging, "Xiao Ze, no, master, I was just momentarily confused. I am nothing but a dog. Please don’t kill me."

The two guards were stunned into silence. They were used to bullying others, but coming face-to-face with these battle-hardened frontier troops, they were outmatched.

Lin Shize strolled over and held out his hand. Butler Lin wisely took out the IOU.

However, Lin Shize did not stop there; he beckoned with his finger and said, "Since you're here, you might as well treat my brothers to a drink."

Butler Lin was devastated. He had come out to collect money but ended up being robbed.

Still, he dared not hesitate and quickly produced the silver, saying, "Master said so. This is all the silver I collected today. Please enjoy something good."

Lin Shize weighed the silver in his hand and said, "Is this all?"

Butler Lin replied, "That’s all. I’ve given you everything."

Lin Shize warned, "Are you sure? If I find even a tael missing, I'll break a leg! Starting with the third leg!"

"Wait! I still have a little more." Butler Lin frantically pulled five taels of silver from his pants—money he had secretly hidden.

Lin Shize said, "Old Liu, this silver is for you. Take them downstairs. These big, burly fellows are good workers; today, let them experience the hardships of frontier soldiers."

Then, he turned and placed the silver in Gou Dan’s hand.

Liu Wu happily accepted the silver and said, "Alright, boss, just watch me."

Liu Wu beat and kicked the three men out. Butler Lin tried to plead but was met with a punch that knocked out several teeth.

Lin Shize squatted by the trench and said to the three men down below, "Dig faster! We must find water today. If there’s no water, I’ll hold you all down and bleed you dry."

The three were so terrified they cried and sniffled as they hurried their work.

Liu Wu quietly approached Lin Shize and asked, "Boss, should we deal with them next?" He made a slashing motion across his neck.

Butler Lin caught the gesture from the corner of his eye. His legs turned to jelly, and with a thud, he dropped to his knees, wailing again.

"Master, this really isn’t my doing. It was that old Deng from Lin Feng who sent me. I’m just a dog following orders. Please spare me. Killing me would dirty your hands."

Lin Shize stared at him coldly and said, "When you were kidnapping children, did their parents beg you like this too?"

Butler Lin said, "Many of these things were done on Lin Feng’s orders. I didn’t want to do them either."

Lin Shize’s eyes lit up with a sudden idea.

"Come over here. I have some questions for you."

Butler Lin scrambled over, and Lin Shize led him aside.

"Tell me everything Lin Feng has done, every detail. If you’re honest, I’ll let you go."

Butler Lin nodded frantically and spilled all he knew like beans from a bamboo tube.

"Master, let me tell you, Lin Feng is so wicked it’s like his head is festering and his feet are oozing pus. He’s lazy, greedy, slippery, has a bad back, and weak kidneys."

"He blinds the blind, curses the mute, kicks widows' doors, digs up graves to erase family lines—there’s no evil he hasn’t done."

"Stop! Stop! Get to the point," Lin Shize interrupted. All that was useless information.

Butler Lin went on, "He often lends money to the poor at exorbitant interest rates, forcing them to sell their children and lose everything."

Lin Shize showed no reaction. Even if these deeds were exposed, it wouldn’t matter. The laws of the Great Qi Dynasty had no clear regulations on interest rates.

Besides, this was under the jurisdiction of the local authorities. With Lin Feng’s ties to the county office, no one would punish him.

Butler Lin glanced at Lin Shize cautiously and said, "There’s one more thing. Lin Feng colludes privately with the Mongrel people to smuggle military supplies."

Lin Shize leaned forward eagerly. "Tell me everything in detail."

Butler Lin explained, "All military supplies pass through the county office, so some officials secretly keep some for themselves. Lin Feng then sends men to contact the Mongrels to arrange meeting points for transactions."

Lin Shize asked, "How do you know these things?"

Butler Lin nodded.

Lin Shize continued, "How many times have they met recently? Where do they make these trades? What goods are involved?"

Butler Lin disclosed everything he knew.

Finally, Lin Shize smiled with satisfaction. "Good. You can go now. But remember to keep an eye on this matter. I’ll send someone to contact you. Report to me immediately if anything happens."

His tone darkened as he stepped closer to Butler Lin and said ominously, "But here’s a warning: we’re in this together now. If this leaks out, Lin Feng won’t spare you. You’re smart—you know what you must do."

Butler Lin nodded eagerly. His best choice now was to side with Lin Shize; otherwise, neither side would spare him.

Lin Shize took out ten taels of silver, placed them in his hand, and said, "This is for you. When you go back, tell Lin Feng I detained your men and took your money. If there’s any problem, have him come find me."