Luan Bao’s face revealed a hesitant expression.

Luan Jingfu whispered, "Bao’er, don’t be soft-hearted!"

"For a man, cowardice and weakness are a great shame!"

"Moreover, do you think that old guy has any good intentions? Duan Rong blocked the door, so why did he call Wang De’an to find us father and son? He just wants to drag me into the water, afraid that others won’t know I’m involved in this matter! His heart is to be annihilated!"

Luan Bao walked out of his mansion gate, his eyes gloomy like the cold weather of the lunar month.

Luan Bao returned to the back yard accounting room with a heavy heart. He lingered in the hall for a long time before finally making up his mind and walked slowly to the east room where Xu Shouxian was held.

Luan Bao said to the guard at the door, "The shopkeeper asked me to ask Chief Accountant Xu a few words. Stand far away and don’t let anyone approach!"

"Yes!"

Luan Bao saw the guard stand at the corridor entrance, then pushed the door open, closed it behind him, and looked coldly at Xu Shouxian sitting behind the desolate desk.

Xu Shouxian’s eyes were lifeless, sitting there like a soulless skeleton.

Luan Bao approached a few steps and said, "Chief Accountant Xu!"

Xu Shouxian stiffly turned his head, his unfocused eyes blankly staring at Luan Bao.

At that moment, Luan Bao’s figure flickered, standing behind Xu Shouxian. The waistband hidden in his arms, at the same time Luan Bao’s figure flashed, already coiled around Xu Shouxian’s neck like a python.

With a hint of panic in his heart, Luan Bao tightened the waistband forcefully, mercilessly strangling Xu Shouxian’s neck.

Xu Shouxian, who had already lost hope, immediately struggled to breathe as his trachea was strangled, causing oxygen deprivation to his brain, his eyes rolling. His primal survival instinct surged, and his limbs flailed desperately...

Luan Bao groaned from his throat, "Xu Shouxian, you are already a skeleton in the grave! Why struggle? Just die!"

Speaking, Luan Bao seemed to be saying to himself, his voice dissolving his panic, his eyes becoming ruthless, his hands exerting more strength, pulling Xu Shouxian from the seat, his legs hanging over the chair’s edge, his butt suspended in mid-air...

After a few breaths, Xu Shouxian went limp like noodles, his hands powerless hanging down...

Luan Bao held for a while longer before releasing, wiping the sweat off his forehead, checking Xu Shouxian’s breathing, finding him completely dead...

Looking at Xu Shouxian’s face, Luan Bao suddenly startled himself, instinctively stepping back half a step...

Xu Shouxian’s eyes were wide open, staring at him, with his neck already bruised and deeply indented.

Luan Bao composed himself before looking up at the beam.

He loosened Xu Shouxian’s waistband, hung it on the beam, then with Xu Shouxian’s body in his arms, climbed onto the desk, hanging Xu Shouxian on the tied waistband, creating the illusion of Xu Shouxian hanging himself.

After finishing all this, Luan Bao eased his mind, tidied up his clothes, and slowly walked out of the room.

Upon exiting, Luan Bao secured the door, instructed the guard, "Watch Chief Accountant Xu closely, do not let anyone disturb him!"

"Yes."

An hour later, it was lunchtime.

Although Xu Shouxian, Wang De’an, and Zhu Shicheng were individually confined in rooms, Ruan Fengshan had ordered not to let anyone contact them.

But they couldn’t be starved.

Luan Bao appointed two guards, letting them collect meals from the middle courtyard dining hall and deliver them inside for them to eat.

A guard arranged by Luan Bao to deliver meals, carrying a food box, opened Xu Shouxian’s door.

The young guard froze there instantly, his hand trembling, barely grasping the food box, calling out, "Chief Accountant Xu... he hanged himself!"

Ruan Fengshan and Ma Chunying lay together on the bed, Ma Chunying awake, fanning the sleeping Ruan Fengshan...

Ruan Fengshan snored lightly, even in sleep, his eyebrows knitted together.

He hadn’t slept last night, expended considerable effort with Luan Jingfu in the neighboring county’s Filthy Blood Sect operation. Additionally, upon returning to the Escort Agency, encountered the mess at the accounting room.

The accounting room’s condition profoundly impacted Ruan Fengshan’s mind!

Ruan Fengshan slept soundly as his personal servant Zheng Wei suddenly appeared behind the screen by the bedside, whispering, "Master, something’s happened!"

After Zhou An’s death, Ruan Fengshan delegated reception duties to Zheng Wei.

Zheng Wei’s methodical approach, unlike Zhou An’s vivacity, functioned well as a servant for years, proficient in etiquette and protocol.

Zheng Wei’s words stopped Ma Chunying’s fan momentarily, then Ruan Fengshan opened his eyes within a few breaths.

Ruan Fengshan, a dry and raspy voice, said, "Come in and speak."

Zheng Wei bowed his head, entered behind the screen, the bed draped with light gauze, Ma Chunying’s graceful naked form faintly visible.

Zheng Wei peeked slightly, lowering his head further.

"Master, Xu Shouxian hanged himself!"

"What!"

Ruan Fengshan, naked, flung aside the gauze, leaping down from the bed.

"That old scoundrel, seeking escape through death!"

"Damn it!"

Ruan Fengshan paced naked in the room, his expression dark!

The news of Xu Shouxian’s suicide swiftly spread within the Escort Agency, lifting the spirits of many grim-faced fellows, believing that death absolves the debt!

Ye Tian, steward of Xu Shouxian’s residence, now sixty-seven years old, five years older than Xu Shouxian.

Typically elegantly dressed, though his hair sparse and white, it was neatly combed.

That afternoon, he walked alone, exiting the Xu Mansion, heading out the alleyway.

At the alley’s entrance was a stall selling sesame buns, Ye Tian frequently bought buns there, so the owner warmly called out, "Old Father Ye, freshly baked buns, how about two for you today!"

Ye Tian smiled and replied, "I have matters entrusted by the master, will buy when I return."

The owner glanced at Ye Tian’s trembling back, inexplicably sensing something peculiar about the old man today.

Ruan Fengshan, already dressed, sat in the back hall, sipping ginseng tea, mulling over events.

Just then, Zheng Wei entered slowly, saying, "Master, Xu Shouxian’s old steward is here, requesting to see you."

Ruan Fengshan’s brows furrowed coldly, "Tell him, when it’s time to collect the body, he’ll be called! Let him leave now!"

Zheng Wei said, "He’s not here for the body!"

"Not here for the body?"

"He said Xu Shouxian entrusted him with a secret letter, instructing him to deliver it to you if he died!"

"A secret letter?" Ruan Fengshan’s gaze suddenly sharpened, his mind racing, "Let him come in!"

Ye Tian’s face aged, yet spirited, dressed in a black silk robe, upon meeting Ruan Fengshan, bowed, "Old humble servant meets Shopkeeper Ruan."

Ruan Fengshan watched Ye Tian, saying, "Old man, you mentioned Xu Shouxian entrusted you with a secret letter while alive!"

"Indeed!"

"Where’s the secret letter?"

Ye Tian retrieved a seemingly thick envelope from his inner garment pocket, presenting it with both hands, stepping towards Ruan Fengshan.

Ruan Fengshan scrutinized Ye Tian’s steps, assessing if he possessed Martial Arts.

Ye Tian placed the letter on the desk beside Ruan Fengshan, then retreated by himself.

Ruan Fengshan glanced at the thick letter, pressing his big hand on it, caressing it a while before drawing a dagger to slice open the letter’s seal.