The gate swung wide open, and the group walked in—over fifty people in all.

Ji Xiaobo remained outside, unable to decide whether to go in or leave.

Without stepping inside, one would never have guessed just how vast and luxurious the place was.

Knowing that all of it had been paid for with young women made the sight feel more and more like a cruel joke to anyone who saw it.

A man who looked to be the household steward came hurrying over.

“You, you are…?”

the steward asked.

“This is the new City Lord of Yongshan City, here to see your master. Bring him out.”

said the man walking in front.

“City Lord?”

The steward frowned. “C-City Lord…” The group didn’t slow their steps at all because of his presence—one man led the way in front, followed by Feng Jiu’er and Qiao Mu, then Jian Yi and Xiao Yingtao.

Never mind the several dozen tall, imposing men bringing up the rear—just the sight of the two commanding women in front was enough to badly frighten the steward.

After Feng Jiu’er and the others passed him, the steward suddenly came to his senses and hurried after them.

“City Lord, my master isn’t in. I wonder what business the City Lord has with him?”

“Get him back here!”

Feng Jiu’er tossed out the words coldly.

“But…” The steward’s brow furrowed tightly.

But more and more people kept passing him by, dozens of them, all walking inside.

The steward waved a hand, and two young servants came running over.

The steward murmured something in their ears, and the servants turned and ran off. The steward himself didn’t dare delay either, hurrying to catch up with those ahead.

In the main hall of the residence, Feng Jiu’er and the others remained standing, not taking any seats.

Aside from eight men who followed inside—four stationed on each side—the rest remained outside the hall.

The steward hurried in and knelt before Feng Jiu’er.

“Not knowing the City Lord would grace us with a visit, this lowly one failed to greet you properly. Please forgive my offense!”

“Enough chatter! Where exactly is Liao Mushan?”

Qiao Mu’s cold gaze swept over the steward.

The steward looked up, gave a shudder, and lowered his head again.

“My master, my master… this lowly one truly doesn’t know where he is. When my master left, he told me to watch the house. I wonder what business the City Lord has with him?”

“I’ve come to seize this household!”

Feng Jiu’er didn’t mince words at all.

Ji Xiaobo hesitated a moment, then steeled himself and came in anyway.

He happened to catch Feng Jiu’er’s words too.

“City Lord, you say you intend to seize the Liao household—what does this mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Does the town head not understand plain speech?”

Xiao Yingtao stared at the man who’d hurried in.

One glance was enough to tell this man was no good—it was as if the words “partners in crime” were plastered right across his face.

Thinking of the persecuted women, Xiao Yingtao felt an urge to see these men wiped out to the last generation.

But she held herself back—with Jiu’er here, Jiu’er would surely not let them off. Ji Xiaobo forced up something of a smile and looked at Feng Jiu’er.

“City Lord, every nation has its laws, every city its rules. The Liao family is, whatever else, a household of standing—surely you can’t just seize it on a whim?”

“Perhaps…” “My master’s word is the city’s rule!”

said the man standing closest inside, his voice low and firm.

Ji Xiaobo turned to look at the man who’d spoken, his face showing difficulty. “This…” “You need a reason, is that it?”

Feng Jiu’er asked, staring at Ji Xiaobo.

Ji Xiaobo looked up at her, then quickly lowered his head again. “That’s not quite it either, it’s just…” “Fine!”

Feng Jiu’er cut him off. “Then I’ll give you a reason.”

“Who exactly Liao Mushan and Mao Zhongcai are to each other—the town head knows better than any of us, doesn’t he?”

“Mao Zhongcai attacked my city without cause, and as his forces retreated in defeat, he seized over a hundred young women. Are you aware of this?”

“T-the fighting, of course I know about that, but seizing over a hundred young women, that matter…” Ji Xiaobo’s brow furrowed.

“So then, what exactly does a town head like you do with your time?”

Feng Jiu’er’s voice grew even more severe.

Ji Xiaobo frowned, then dropped to his knees with a thud.

“City Lord, this lowly one truly did not know about this.”

Ji Xiaobo looked up at Feng Jiu’er. “Where did the City Lord hear of this matter?”

“Might there not be some misunderstanding?

It couldn’t be—this lowly one never received any word of it.”

“Did you never receive word, or did you simply not want to?”

Qiao Mu snorted coldly.

Ji Xiaobo’s gaze shifted to Qiao Mu, whose eyes were cold as ice. “This lowly one, this lowly one truly did not know.”

“Didn’t know?”

Qiao Mu raised her Dragon-Tongue Silver Spear and struck it hard against the ground.

The overwhelming force of the blow shook Ji Xiaobo so badly he toppled over onto the ground in fright.

“As town head, if you truly knew nothing of this, that only makes your crime worse!”

Qiao Mu’s cold gaze swept over Ji Xiaobo.

“Liao Mushan is suspected of conspiring with my city’s enemy, Mao Zhongcai, as partners in crime. Today, I’ve come to seize the Liao household.”

Feng Jiu’er turned and looked outward.

“If anyone has an objection, step forward now!”

Seeing that even the town head could do nothing, the steward certainly didn’t dare say a word.

He lowered his head and stepped back twice.

The servant boys and maids standing guard outside stood in silence, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

Feng Jiu’er had only asked as a matter of form—today, with Liao Mushan nowhere to be seen, she was determined to seize this household regardless.

Feng Jiu’er frowned, drew her gaze back, and looked down at Ji Xiaobo.

“It won’t be just the Liao residence—afterward I intend to pay a visit to the Ji residence as well. The town head has no objection, I trust?”

Ji Xiaobo, who had just risen to kneel upright, was immediately startled into trembling again.

“N-no objection.”

He finally composed himself enough to stand, his back bent.

“City Lord, this lowly one will go back first to make preparations, and await the City Lord’s honored visit.”

Ji Xiaobo left those words behind and hurried off in a rush.

He feared that if he didn’t leave now, Feng Jiu’er might force him to stay.

Though he’d spent this whole time hiding his wealth, having now seen the City Lord in person, he felt he needed to do a great deal more “preparing” still.

What Ji Xiaobo didn’t know was that the moment he stepped out of the Liao residence, he’d already been marked by someone watching.

Whether Ji Xiaobo left or stayed made no difference to Feng Jiu’er’s plans to seize the Liao household.

For a full two hours, the men turned the Liao household inside out, and turned up no small amount of valuables.

The steward and the servants had long since packed their belongings and left; only Feng Jiu’er and the people she’d brought remained in the residence.

Seated in the place of honor, Feng Jiu’er watched as her men carried out box after box of gold, silver, and jewels, her expression heavy.

“Young Miss Jiu’er, this is everything we’ve found so far.”

one of the men said, cupping his hands.

“Mm.”

Feng Jiu’er stood up. “Take it all.”

“Yes.”

The man nodded, turned, and waved a hand.

The men in the hall picked up the boxes, famous paintings, vases, and more, and carried them outside.

“Jiu’er, are we just going to leave it at this?”

Xiao Yingtao caught up and asked in a low voice.

“The fact that Liao Mushan never showed himself only proves that his wealth extends far beyond this.”

Feng Jiu’er’s voice was heavy.

“If he’s not coming back, we don’t have the time to keep waiting around here either.”

“Damn it!”

Qiao Mu felt a knot of frustration in her chest at not being able to cut down this wolf with her own hands.

“No matter!”

Feng Jiu’er comforted her quietly. “He won’t be able to escape.”

“Let’s go take a look at Ji Xiaobo’s house—there’s bound to be more to find there.”