Book 16: Chapter 22
Yangliu, a small town with a small population located 150 kilometres from the capital, was not a memorable town until acts of savagery caught the attention of the magistrate and Liu Shan Men. While the case was never passed on to Liu Shan Men, Su Xiao had read through numerous cases that had been left aside or unsolved at Liu Shan Men.
Several months ago, a man woke up after a peaceful night to see his pregnant wife’s corpse beside him and find his face smeared in blood. The culprit dug her innards out, and her stiff expression proved that she suffered the torment with self-awareness.
The awful act of cruelty sabotaged the peace of the town, but that was only the beginning. Night after night following that first case, more pregnant women in the town suffered the same ill fate, totalling more than forty women.
Due to it coinciding with the timing of Jiang Chen’s rampage, there was no spare manpower to handle the case. Shen Yiren was out, while Song Ou was too incompetent. In the end, the case was handballed to the Qilin Guards.
Upon recalling what he had read, Su Xiao turned to the steward. “That’s why you wanted to drive us off as soon as you learnt we’re with Liu Shan Men?”
The steward uncorked a lightning-imbued palm strike at the man out of the blue without telegraphing it.
“That was just a joke, but it looks like it wasn’t for you.” The chirping sound remained, but the tattooed man had retreated, still maintaining his casual smile. “We can only act seriously if you’re serious.”
The swordsman and two youngest members backed off instinctively upon hearing lighting crackle again and seeing another strike, with Wei being forced a few steps back. All three consecutive palm strikes were “Forbidden Wind Lightning” techniques.
Before Wei could swing her three-section nunchaku, the steward had already caught one end with a vice-like grip whilst reaching for her with his other hand. He struck at the swordsman before aiming for the two younger ones based on his assumption of who the easiest targets were. The fact that he struck without hesitation, missed the first two strikes and then managed to catch Wei proved he attacked them on purpose and that he was not their match when outnumbered. Therefore, he used the first two strikes to test the waters and make them underestimate him so that his final strike would land.