Zhang San first glanced at the bedroom of Bai Yucheng.
Although Bai Yucheng likely embezzled cultivation resources and money not wanted by the Town Martial Office, his bedroom was very plain. Zhang San touched here and there, looking around, and ultimately found nothing of value.
Cough cough... I, Zhang San, came to find clues, how could I possibly take the opportunity to scour for valuable items?
Next, Zhang San went to the study.
The moment he entered the study, Zhang San was shocked.
Bai Yucheng’s study was much larger than he had imagined, filled with countless books and manuscripts. Zhang San took a quick look and realized that these should all be internal documents from the Town Martial Office.
Clearly, Bai Yucheng had copied every Cultivation Technique and manuscript he could get his hands on from the Town Martial Office.
These were valuable items, and Zhang San immediately started putting them into his Gluttonous Bag.
After all, this not only saved his future contribution points for exchanging Secret Manuals, but he could also give some of these Secret Manuals to people with whom he was in good terms.
Even when he had time, he could pick some that would help his own cultivation.
From the shadows, Shadow reminded him, "Zhang San, is there a possibility that these items are meant to be handed over later?"
Instantly, Zhang San’s heart turned cold.
"Isn’t there a quick way to copy these manuscripts?"
Shadow said, "Within the Shadow Trick, there is a Rubbing Shadow Technique that can copy the text of these manuscripts, but it needs to be transferred onto something else. It might take a long time to transfer so many Secret Manuals, and more importantly, do you have the right materials?"
Zhang San realized that he indeed did not have anything appropriate on hand. It looked like he would have to prepare some books or similar items in his Gluttonous Bag in the future.
"In that case, I’ll collect all these Secret Manuals first. We can talk about handing them over later. Whenever you have time, help me with the transfer. You won’t miss out on the benefits later."
Soon, after he had packed up the manuscripts that should belong to the Town Martial Office, Zhang San found that among Bai Yucheng’s prized possessions, there were quite a few Demonic Path Scriptures.
Clearly, among those Martial Artists previously exterminated, many practiced the Demon Path, but their scriptures would not be put in the Town Martial Office for everyone to learn, so they were sealed away.
Bai Yucheng somehow got his hands on these.
"These are good items too, but rubbing these scripts the Town Martial Office already has wouldn’t amount to any significant merit when handed over."
Zhang San continued to gather items in the study and eventually found some Storage Rings, containing various items left behind by the small sects and clans exterminated by the Dragon Serpent Gang under Bai Yucheng’s orders.
Either these items would be recognized if brought out, or their origins were dubious...
In any case, almost nothing inside the twelve Storage Rings was clean.
Zhang San felt that if he handed these items over, on one hand, it would completely solidify the charges against Bai Yucheng, and on another hand, it would also count as merit for himself and Shadow.
Finally, Zhang San also discovered a few Magical Treasures in the study.
There was a broad and large flying sword that seemed capable of being stepped on for flight.
There was a Jade Scroll emitting a faint purple glow, surrounded by Demonic Qi. Zhang San wasn’t sure if Bai Yucheng had cultivated what was recorded inside, as it didn’t look like something a normal Martial Artist would use. So, he just collected it without daring to open it.
Then there was a very thick Treasure Scroll sealed with a binding that clearly required a special method to unlock.
Compared to that Demonic Qi-enshrouded scroll, this one was clearly the ledger that both the Heavenly Punishment Sect and the Crown Prince’s people had been searching for all along.
But with no time left to continue inspecting, Zhang San looked over the remaining items in the study. After moving the bookshelves to check behind them and confirming there was nothing left, he prepared to leave.
It was at this moment that Zhang San suddenly thought of something.
"Shadow, look around. I feel there should be a door or a hidden passage leading outside. Given Bai Yucheng’s cautious nature, it’s impossible for them to always enter and exit from the front. That would be too troublesome and unsafe."
Shadow immediately began searching, while the Red Dragon Soul beside them felt increasingly that Zhang San was far too cautious and far too clever.
How could such a person exist in this world!
"Zhang San, over here!"
Following the voice, Zhang San came over and discovered that Shadow had found a mechanism under the bed of Bai Yucheng, which opened to reveal a hidden passage below.
Zhang San put away the Red Dragon Hammer, entered into Shadow’s shadow, and then was led along the hidden passage out of the secret realm.
When Shadow released Zhang San, he found himself midway up one of the two mountains they had just been between.
"Finally got the ledger, ready to head back..."
Zhang San and Shadow had not yet finished speaking when he sensed a tremendous crisis approaching.
Eight Steps Xun Flash!
Now, Zhang San was able to execute the Eight Steps Xun Flash, and while swiftly dodging, he noticed two figures closing in on him from not far off.
Two faces that looked very familiar.
One was sunny and handsome, appearing utterly foolish and confident.
The other was aged and gloomy, looking ninety-nine percent foolish with a hint of slyness.
It was Wen Ruchu and Wen Family’s old servant, Uncle Liu.
The attack just now must have been Wen Ruchu trying to catch him off guard, otherwise, if Uncle Liu, who was at the peak of Spiritual Platform, had made a move, Zhang San probably wouldn’t have been able to dodge it just now.
At this moment, Uncle Liu exploded with speed, soaring towards him like a hawk diving at its prey.
Zhang San figured he would have a hard time fighting this one, so he immediately executed Swift Wind Technique, bursting at top speed, and also pulled out a scroll enveloped in Demonic Qi from the Gluttonous Bag.
"Doesn’t your Wen Family just want the ledger? Here, take it!"
Saying so, Zhang San threw the ledger in the opposite direction from where he was heading.
Seeing Zhang San using the ledger to save his life, Uncle Liu naturally rushed forward to seize it.
Moreover, seeing the ledger enveloped in Demonic Qi, it was obviously a magical treasure, and it seemed quite normal that the long-sought ledger would be a magical treasure itself.
Even more, Zhang San threw several Wind Blades in the direction of the "ledger," further convincing Uncle Liu that this was indeed the ledger.
Uncle Liu leapt forward, conjuring a round Qi Gang Shield with his left hand to block the Wind Blades, and easily grabbed the ledger with his right hand.
"Young Master, the ledger is secured!"
However, the moment Uncle Liu turned back to look at Wen Ruchu, he realized that Zhang San was already standing behind Wen Ruchu, with a Horizontal Blade held to Wen Ruchu’s neck.
"The ledger, Young Master, is secured!"