Wu Laoda, Li Wen, Li Wu, and the others stood frozen in shock, their backs drenched in cold sweat.

They almost, almost, their child became someone else's suicide squad, and their daughter too. Brothels are worse than death!

The usually kind-hearted Boss Wu had held back from making a move before, but now he couldn't hold back any longer. He kicked out and roared, "Are you even human?!"

How could they do that to such a young child!

“Trafficking people is punishable by beheading, you, you…” Li Wu paused. These bandits dared to kill people, which was already a crime punishable by beheading, so why would they care about adding another crime?

The men of Shanshui Village had always believed that these people still had some conscience and a sense of justice, since they hadn't harmed the children, which was their bottom line, so they could be considered to have shown them mercy.

After hearing the reason, I realized how naive and simple their previous ideas were. These people have no conscience or moral sense; they are evil spirits.

Not harming children isn't out of conscience, but because children have a greater purpose!

Those present were filled with intense emotion, their chests heaving as they desperately hoped that dawn would break quickly so that they could all be sent to the county government office to be executed.

Shui Qing's gaze was deep as she met the questioning of the bandit and asked, "Who is your backer?"

The man on the ground looked up in surprise, his eyes filled with disbelief as he stared at Shui Qing.

He shook his head, then shook it again, and muttered in panic, "I...I don't understand what you're saying? We sell people whenever we want, we don't need any backers."

"Impossible. Although the floods have caused great chaos here, other places may not be in such a state. Besides, the imperial court has not yet collapsed or changed dynasties. The officials are still the same officials. You are openly sending a large number of people there. Putting aside everything else, just consider the travel permits."

"Why aren't the government officials and the soldiers guarding the city checking?" Although Shui Qing phrased it as an inquiry, the meaning behind her words was quite clear.

The men from Shanshui Village were still immersed in the bandits' evil deeds when they first heard this. They stared blankly at Shuiqing and then at the men tied up on the ground.

His eyes darted away, and he didn't dare to look directly at me.

There's definitely something fishy going on here!

Li Wu was furious and kicked him, angrily saying, "You're not telling the truth!"

Wang Laoba drew his long knife and pointed it, saying, "Fine, you won't talk, huh? Then I'll just chop you down with one stroke!"

They thought the bound bandit would be afraid, but to their surprise, he closed his eyes.

Shui Qing waved his hand at Wang Laoba and said coldly, "They know that if they tell the truth, they will have no way out. They will die either way, so they are unwilling to tell the truth."

The bandits in front of him had expressions of resignation to their fate.

Shui Qing wasn't annoyed at all; instead, her voice became even gentler, carrying a sense of certainty: "You don't talk because you'll definitely die if you do, and perhaps you'll have a way to live if you don't talk, right?"

I already know without you saying it, your backer is Magistrate Wu.

The man on the ground couldn't hide the shock on his face.

How did a woman in a village know?

Shui Qing knew she had guessed correctly just by looking at their expressions!

As expected, it was Magistrate Wu! But considering that Magistrate Wu was the most powerful person in Guangning Prefecture, it would be easy for a group of over a hundred bandits to rob and kill without collusion. However, transporting people to other places would be extremely difficult, passing through numerous checkpoints and prefectural cities along the way. If the number of people was small, it would be fine, but if the number was large, it would be as difficult as climbing to heaven without a travel permit!