Martial Saint through Reading

Fang Xiao didn’t mind; after all, it was just a low-tier cultivation technique, completely incomparable with the Strong Bone Realm Technique Chu Ming had given him.

"Young Master, here." He handed over the dozen or so silver notes.

Thirteen silver notes, that meant thirteen hundred taels of silver.

Chu Ming took seven notes, not giving Fang Xiao a chance to speak: "The rest, use it to buy medicinal soup, and get some clothes and food for Little Shan."

"And this person?"

"Kill him." Chu Ming said calmly.

The man in black had only one breath left; even if left alone, he wouldn’t survive the night.

They already knew the man’s identity and purpose; might as well give him a quick death.

"Yes."

With a single punch, the Strong Bone Martial Artist Ruan Heng died unclear and unavenged at the hands of Fang Xiao, who was only at the Blood Circulation Realm.

Moreover, no one would ever find his body, because Fang Xiao would dispose of Ruan Heng’s corpse so thoroughly, it would be as if the man had never come to the Chu Mansion.

Chu Ming left Fang Xiao’s residence, returned to West Willow Garden, and began trying to guide his Qi and Blood Power into the tibial bone.

Because the later part of the technique was imperfect, the tempering effect on the shin bone was far inferior to that on the limb bones and trunk bones.

An entire night without sleep.

At dawn, he ceased cultivation, ate morning porridge, and then drew several paintings.

Painting brought him a sense of inner calm, a tranquility from the soul, different from the external force of a Calming God Pearl.

...

Outer courtyard, just after daybreak, Feng Yuan hurried over.

"Chu Ming was attacked last night?"

"Mm." Shao Pengshu frowned.

"How did the questioning of those three go?" Fang Xiao asked in a deep voice.

Shao Pengshu was silent.

"What is it?" Fang Xiao sensed something was wrong.

"They killed themselves before we could question them," Shao Pengshu said.

"Suicide? Impossible. They were seriously injured; without any outside stimulus, they shouldn’t have been able to wake and kill themselves!" Fang Xiao slammed the arm of the wooden chair, shattering it.

Although he already knew the identities of last night’s assassins, he couldn’t reveal the existence of that Strong Bone Realm master, or Chu Ming would be exposed.

He had to use the other three to bring to light Baiyuan County’s Wan Family’s involvement.

He had inspected those three—found nothing. With their suicide, there was no testimony.

"What about the constables in charge of last night’s patrol?" Fang Xiao continued to ask.

"Those people have all been detained, but they say last night Blood Evil Sect cultists suddenly appeared, and Zheng Guard Captain ordered them to give chase, which is why they left their posts; the assassins used that gap to sneak into the mansion."

"Such coincidence?" Feng Yuan heard something wrong: "Zheng Guard Captain holds the same rank as Lord Lin... That shouldn’t be possible, right?"

Lin Zhenwu was a Junior Seventh-Grade official, and could be said to be a man who dominated all of Baiyuan County.

For such a person to also be connected to Blood Evil Sect?

"Zheng Dongjin?" Fang Xiao asked, furrowing his brow as he recalled a name Chu Ming had mentioned—Zheng Xiguan.

Was it the same person?

Fang Xiao couldn’t confirm for now.

"Mm." Shao Pengshu nodded. "It’s Lord Zheng Dongjin."

"And what about Lin Zhenwu?" Fang Xiao did not linger too much on the matter.

Blood Python Technique had already spread within the Criminal Defense Bureau; he believed few could resist the allure of a technique more exquisite than the Tiger and Python Body Refining Technique.

Those Blood Evil Sect members hidden in the shadows, none would escape, not even the likes of Zheng Dongjin.

"The location is confirmed, action expected tonight," Shao Pengshu said.

Tonight they would move, to capture the Blood Evil Sect Young Master lurking in hiding.

"Lord Feng, Lord Fu requests you and Lord Liuu to go to County Government before nightfall. Lord Lin and the Prison Chief will oversee personally, to guard against unexpected incidents."

Blood Evil Sect infiltrated Criminal Defense Bureau, hiding in Baiyuan County. Once they act, tonight is bound to be turbulent.

Civil servants like Feng Yuan, Liu Sitong, Fu Chang—highly important and easy targets for attack or abduction—had to be arranged for in advance.

"Alright." Feng Yuan nodded.

"Instructor Fang, Lord Fu requests Chu Ming to go to County Government this afternoon," Shao Pengshu added.

"Mm."

Meanwhile, Chu Ming, dressed in a Flying Fish Suit, disguised as an Arresting Captain, arrived at the Criminal Defense Bureau dungeon.

This commandant was a Blood Evil Sect mole placed inside Criminal Defense Bureau.

"Sir, I am wronged!"

"Bullshit ’sir’, the moment you take off that Flying Fish Suit you’re just an executioner with a blade!"

"Sir, I admit it all. I’ll say everything. Please, just give me something to eat!"

In the dim, damp dungeon, many prisoners were locked in cold cells.

Curses sounded, pleadings too, and only a few were silent, lying on dried straw, uncertain whether dead or alive.

Chu Ming’s expression didn’t change as he walked deeper into the dungeon.

He had come for one purpose only.

To kill Madam Chu, to eradicate future troubles.

After a moment, the light dimmed further and the air filled with stench.

"Lord Wu."

He stopped before a cell door; the constable on guard promptly bowed in greeting as he approached.

Chu Ming glanced at the constable coldly, instantly silencing him.

Then, turning his gaze into the cell, he saw an elegantly noble person within, with sinister eyes fixed outside.

Hmm?

Just one look, and Chu Ming’s brows furrowed slightly.

The woman in the dungeon was not Madam Chu—Wan Yuan!

Her features were extremely similar, and the traces of disguise were hard to spot; without the Sword Gourd Spirit’s meticulous observation, it would be almost impossible to discern with the naked eye.

"Open the door." He said indifferently.

Wan Yuan hadn’t been captured, so last night’s assassination attempt made even more sense.

Who was this person, and why did she look so much like Wan Yuan?

Sisters?

Even so, would a sister willingly enter prison in Wan Yuan’s stead?

But one thing was certain: this woman must be related to Wan Yuan by blood, a member of the Wan Family.

He prepared to interrogate her thoroughly.

"Yes." The two constables dared not neglect.

"Hmph, without solid evidence, your Criminal Defense Bureau can’t sentence me!" Wan Qin, disguised as Wan Yuan, when she saw someone enter, just slightly lifted her head, entirely unafraid.

She had substituted for Wan Yuan in prison, guilty of impersonation, but with the Wan Family and her father’s connections, Criminal Defense Bureau could not touch her. Once her sister safely left Baiyuan County, the Bureau would have to apologize both to her and to the Wan Family.

Because, the Bureau would be accused of reckless arrests and failing to discern right from wrong!

Chu Ming, disguised as an Arresting Captain, faced Wan Qin, his back to the constables, his gaze shifting, feigning as if to convey some message.

Wan Qin was momentarily confused, then her eyes flashed with suspicion and joy.

The commandant before her seemed to be sending her a message?

Could it be that the plan had changed, and her brother was coming to rescue her now?

"Put on the shackles." Chu Ming, as Arresting Captain, turned and said, "I’m taking her for interrogation."

"Yes." The constables didn’t think much of it—the Captain had authority to interrogate prisoners.

Cold, heavy shackles were fastened to Wan Qin’s hands and feet; Chu Ming led her through the dungeon.

Clang... Clang...

The clattering of iron chains echoed harshly through the dungeon, drawing the gaze of many inmates.

"Yuaan’er, Yuaan’er, where are you taking Yuaan’er?"

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

Chu Ming, disguised as commandant, looked over; in the left cell, a filthy, disheveled person gripped the bars tightly, shouting outside.

"Silver, as much as you want, I, Chu Rong, will give you. Please spare Yuaan’er."