Martial Saint through Reading

Inside Yunqi Courtyard.

Hou Wuchun was drenched in sweat, panting as he ran back. "Master, the task is done."

"Mm, well done." Shao Pengshu was waiting anxiously outside the door, his eyes practically glued to the western room’s entrance.

Why isn’t it finished yet!

Inside the room.

Chu Ming heard Hou Wuchun’s voice, put down his book, picked up the copied Tiger Blood Technique pages, and walked toward the door.

Creaaak...

The door swung open, Shao Pengshu’s eyes instantly brightened. He hurried up, "Young Master Chu..."

"It’s copied."

Chu Ming handed over the dozen pages of the Tiger Blood Technique. Shao Pengshu grew excited, unable to wait, flipping through them on the spot.

The more he looked, the more intense the excitement on his face became.

A complete set of Blood Circulation Realm cultivation techniques—just by reading, he could feel the Qi and Blood Power surging through his veins.

Hou Wuchun’s eyes darted; he could tell those dozen pages were something special, so he quietly tiptoed closer to sneak a peek.

Ning Hao and Liang Yuan stood where they were, not daring to approach, but both secretly guessing what Chu Ming had written to make the Criminal Defense Bureau Commandant so out of sorts.

Hou Wuchun managed to sneak quite a look, his face full of shock, unable to hold back an exclamation: "Tiger Blood Technique, a complete Body Refining Technique!"

Body Refining Technique?

Ning Hao and Liang Yuan froze.

They didn’t practice martial arts, but the meaning of those three words dawned on them instantly.

Brother Chu copied a martial artist’s cultivation method?!

What’s going on—does Brother Chu also practice martial arts?

Shao Pengshu was jolted by the shout, and instantly slapped the nosy Hou Wuchun. "What are you looking at?"

The slap was hard enough that Hou Wuchun was left dizzy, finally clutching his head and refusing to get up.

"..." Chu Ming watched, then spoke after a pause. "Lord Shao, I’m a bit hungry. Let’s go eat."

"Eat, yes, my treat!" Shao Pengshu quietly stashed away the Tiger Blood Technique pages.

Chu Ming didn’t bother arguing about who’s treating. He walked to the center of the courtyard and said in a low voice: "Senior Brother Ningx, could you please invite Mr. Feng for me?"

Then he turned to Hou Wuchun and Liang Yuan, "Senior Brother Liang, Brother Hou, could you help me buy some Longan Tea?"

"Longan Tea? That’s some pricey tea..." Hou Wuchun was holding his head, protesting, when a handful of shiny silver was handed over before his eyes. "Alright, I’ll go right away."

His headache vanished instantly; he took the silver, grabbed Liang Yuan’s arm regardless of their acquaintance, and dashed off.

"Young Master Chu, is it really necessary? Just one pot of Longan Tea costs ten taels of silver, that’s too extravagant," Shao Pengshu remarked.

Chu Ming smiled but didn’t reply.

He wasn’t buying Longan Tea for a job promotion celebration—it had another purpose entirely.

A small amount of arsenic powder won’t cause discomfort—it simply accumulates in the body and can’t be expelled.

If it encounters Longan Tea, the medicinal properties of the arsenic powder erupt; mild cases cause dizziness and stomach pains, severe cases bloated abdomens and swollen limbs.

But Longan Tea isn’t a poison—it’s actually a remedy for arsenic powder, though the detoxification process is rather intense.

Even martial artists like Shao Pengshu in the Blood Circulation Realm would experience mild symptoms of vertigo.

Chu Ming intended for Feng Yuan, Shao Pengshu, Ning Hao, Liang Yuan, and the rest to all be poisoned.

An academy dining hall mass poisoning, with both Classic keepers and Commandants involved—the affair would certainly explode.

Once thoroughly investigated, the mastermind would definitely panic.

Chaos breeds mistakes!

The Criminal Defense Bureau would then have a legitimate reason to investigate the Chu Family.

If in the process, the Blood Evil Sect’s Young Master and the suspected Strong Bone Realm middle stage martial artist lurking in the shadows were scared off, all the better.

His target was the Chu Family and the lady trying to harm him; as for the grudge with the Blood Evil Sect, it was best handed over to the Criminal Defense Bureau.

If the enemy dared remain in the Chu Family or Baiyuan County, he’d have to leverage the Bureau’s power.

Originally, he’d wanted to bring in Shen Yu, but after reconsidering, he gave up.

Firstly, Shen Yu’s status was sensitive; Feng Yuan preferred to avoid contact, and Mr. Shen likely didn’t enjoy such occasions either.

Secondly, Shen Yu was too old; the Longan Tea would trigger an overly fierce reaction from the arsenic powder, and Shen Yu’s body might not withstand it.

Shao Pengshu received compensation, and Chu Ming would make it up to the others later.

Ning Hao bowed respectfully to Chu Ming and Shao Pengshu, then left to invite Feng Yuan.

"Lord Shao, let’s go to the dining hall first."

"Alright."

The two didn’t linger, leaving the courtyard side by side.

"They’re out; Chu Ming and the Criminal Defense Bureau Commandant are out." Quite a few junior examinees hurried to avoid them, as if afraid of being seen.

Luu Xian was about to dash behind a tree when he saw Chu Ming coming in his direction.

"Brother Luu, coming for a meal?"

Luu Xian froze, staring dazedly at Chu Ming.

Free to come and go, the Commandant’s demeanor cold and stern, yet quietly following Brother Chu...

Could it be, Brother Chu is really not a suspect, but actually being protected by the Criminal Defense Bureau?

"I... I can?" Luu Xian was so intimidated by Shao Pengshu his words stumbled.

"Of course you can. Haven’t we eaten together since my first day at the Academy, Brother Luu?"

"Oh, Brother Luu, invite Brother Guan Chong too," said Chu Ming. "I’ll go ahead to the dining hall to order."

The more people, the bigger the commotion.

"O... okay..." Luu Xian watched Chu Ming’s back, feeling extremely conflicted.

Just what did Brother Chu do to warrant protection from a Standard Eighth-Grade Criminal Commandant?

Before he could figure it out, a crowd hurriedly gathered around him.

"Junior Brother Luu, is Junior Brother Chu really not a suspect, but under protection?"

"Junior Brother Luu, what did Junior Brother Chu just say to you?"

"..."

Everyone clamored; some questioned Luu Xian, some didn’t, just waiting for him to speak.

But actually, the crowd could see it too—Chu Ming wasn’t a suspect. Otherwise, the Commandant wouldn’t simply follow him; if he’d committed a crime, he’d be restrained.

Luu Xian listened to the noisy voices, his expression shifting repeatedly.

After a while, as if remembering his ability to speak, he said: "Brother Chu invited me to eat at the dining hall. Everyone out of the way, I need to honor the invitation."

Saying that, he lifted his chin and squeezed through the crowd.

...

Dining hall, the largest private room on the second floor.

The table was laden with dishes; each person had a cup of Longan Tea placed in front of them.

Liang Yuan, Luu Xian, and Guan Chong sat uneasily at the lower table.

Hou Wuchun also sat at the lower table, but wasn’t so nervous, instead staring fixedly at the food.

Shao Pengshu was seated near the upper table, with Chu Ming beside him, Sword Gourd Spirit activated, revealing three dishes on the table laced with arsenic powder.

In no time, the room door swung open; Feng Yuan and Ning Hao entered.

"So many people?" Feng Yuan clearly hadn’t expected the room to be full—especially with junior examinees like Luu Xian and Guan Chong.

Still, he said nothing, though he felt Chu Ming’s arrangement a bit inappropriate.

For a celebration, invitations should be divided by status.

Feng Yuan took the upper seat, Ning Hao squeezed in next to Liang Yuan.

"Are all the dishes here?" asked Feng Yuan.

"All here."

"Judicial Officer Shao?" Feng Yuan looked at the two.

Of those present, Feng Yuan and Shao Pengshu held the highest rank.

Shao Pengshu glanced at Chu Ming. Seeing Chu Ming nod, he said, "Lord Feng, please."

Feng Yuan and Shao Pengshu moved their chopsticks first; Chu Ming followed, then the already impatient Hou Wuchun.

Ning Hao and the other four only held their chopsticks from start to finish, not daring to take food.

"Everyone, eat,"

It was Shao Pengshu who finally spoke, letting Ning Hao and the others cautiously pick their food.

Some devoured their food, some chewed slowly, others crept along carefully.

Chu Ming watched everyone eat the dishes containing arsenic powder, then drank the Longan Tea.

Moments later, Feng Yuan was the first to react; after a sip of tea, he suddenly felt a twisting pain in his abdomen, dizzy and lightheaded.

"Lord Feng?" Shao Pengshu was close by, immediately noticing something was wrong.

"There’s... poison..." Beads of sweat rolled off Feng Yuan’s forehead.

Poison?!