《I Have A Qi Fortune Altar.》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Chen Yuan Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Chen Yuan Ping¡¯an County, County Government. Chen Yuan slowly awoke, smelling a trace of alcohol, feeling some discomfort in his stomach as acid churned. ¡°I¡­ wasn¡¯t I just washing my feet? Why is there a smell of alcohol on me?¡± As everyone knows, after drinking, you shouldn¡¯t¡­ Yes, that¡¯s right! Drive! And tomorrow was the day Chen Yuan had been looking forward to, number eighty-eight¡¯s day to go back home for a matchmaking visit. Chen Yuan had just taken some time out of his busy schedule to say farewell to number eighty-eight. With time, they had developed a bit of a ¡°relationship.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s focused gaze briefly surveyed his surroundings, somewhat shocked. Woody, simplistic tables and chairs, slightly yellowing pillars, and green bedding spread over his body. ¡°Where¡­ where is this?¡± Chen Yuan stood up, rushed to the water tank, then froze. The water reflected a face, with thick eyebrows, a high nose bridge, deep pupils, and a determined visage. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co But, this wasn¡¯t him! ¡°I¡­ I time-traveled?¡± Just as Chen Yuan was questioning his life, suddenly, he fell silent for a moment, his gaze stiffened, and he suddenly thought about whether the police would check his Quark browser history if he suddenly died. ¡°Damn!!!¡± Chen Yuan clearly remembered he hadn¡¯t used private browsing! He was not afraid of his body breaking, but he wanted to maintain innocence in the human world! Right after, before Chen Yuan could feel ashamed and annoyed, remembering his social death, a tidal wave of memories surged in, entered his brain, and flowed rapidly. Chen Yuan, a government official in Ping¡¯an County of Nanling Prefecture, Qingzhou, in the Great Jin Dynasty, earning less than two silvers a month. His parents had died early of illness, he was raised by his uncle, who later fell severely ill and, worried about him, used connections and silver to get him into the government. Thinking of this, Chen Yuan felt a sense of relief, as he was now without family ties, all alone. Most importantly, people whose parents had both died generally led uncomplicated lives. After a long silence, Chen Yuan¡¯s voice tentatively filled the room: ¡°System?¡± Unfortunately, the system did not respond to him. ¡°Sign-in?¡± Chen Yuan said again. ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Without any Golden Finger, what should I do¡­¡± Inside the County Government, Chen Yuan¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. For seven days, Chen Yuan had called the system countless times, but not once had he received a reply. If it were a normal ancient world, it would have been fine, but in the past few days, Chen Yuan had come to understand that this was a world where Martial Arts reigned supreme. Legend had it that there were strong individuals who could sever rivers with a sword or shatter mountains with a fist¡­ If his own talent had been outstanding, Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t have expected the Golden Finger so much, but he tried to practice martial arts, only to find his talents seemed rather ordinary. He totally lacked the flair that a transmigrator should have. ¡°Forget it, at least I have the status of a government official¡­¡± Chen Yuan sighed. Over a few days, Chen Yuan had accepted reality, the Golden Finger had not favored him. The only consolation was that he wasn¡¯t starting in hell, having the identity of a constable in the County Government meant he wouldn¡¯t fall into dire poverty, as long as he accepted his mediocrity. ¡°Brother Yuan, the arrest officer has called for us!¡± While Chen Yuan was lost in thought, a young figure hurriedly burst in. ¡°What happened?¡± Chen Yuan immediately stood up, reaching quickly for the knife handle at his waist, displaying the extreme insecurity within. ¡°We¡¯ve found a trace of Tie Shou!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze hardened; the name ¡°Tie Shou¡± had frequently echoed in his ears these past few days, a skilled hand at the Blood Refining Level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, who had committed several murders in Ping¡¯an County. The County Magistrate was furious and ordered that Tie Shou be captured within a set timeframe. All this had not let Chen Yuan rest well, and just when it seemed as if Tie Shou had vanished without a trace from the human world, they now had finally found a clue, no wonder arrest officer Huang Xing was so eager to gather the government officials. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Chen Yuan didn¡¯t dare delay; if he let the arrest officer down at this time, he would inevitably suffer later on, considering the arrest officer¡¯s significant influence in Ping¡¯an County. It was not only his rank as a ninth-grade official but also his affiliation with the Huang family from Ping¡¯an County. Even the county magistrate and county constable had to take him seriously. To capture Tie Shou, the county government had mobilized all available government officials, amounting to more than twenty, and added to that, hundreds of temporary white servants; the force was undeniably massive. Although Tie Shou himself was at the Blood Refining Level, even Huang, an arrest officer who was a level higher than him, was reluctant to confront those iron hands directly. As for Chen Yuan, he was just an ordinary government official at the Skin Refining Level, barely qualifying as a martial artist. ¡°Chen Yuan, Wang Ping, you take eight white servants and guard Beijie.¡± ¡°Li¡­¡± Huang Xing, with a grave expression, scanned the eight government officials and several dozen white servants, speaking in a low voice: ¡°No matter which direction Tie Shou flees from, stop him at all costs. Anyone who dares to cut corners and lets Tie Shou escape, don¡¯t blame me for turning my back on you afterward!¡± Huang Xing¡¯s large figure imposed a sense of oppression on everyone. ¡°Yes, this subordinate obeys!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s voice joined in unison with the others. After instructing them, Huang Xing led the government officials on a house-to-house search; the last trace of Tie Shou vanished within a few thousand meters. ¡°Brother Yuan, I¡¯m a bit nervous.¡± Wang Ping lowered his voice slightly. Even though Chen Yuan was also quite panicked internally ¡ª after all, this was his first time facing such a formidable martial artist from Jianghu, who was rumored to have claimed no fewer than ten lives in Ping¡¯an County ¡ª he still maintained a basic calm on the surface: ¡°Don¡¯t panic, the arrest officer is a high-level expert at the Bone Refining Level. With the help of our fellow government officials, capturing Tie Shou won¡¯t be difficult.¡± Wang Ping seemed somewhat reassured by Chen Yuan¡¯s composure, whispering: ¡°Brother Yuan, how come I¡¯ve noticed that you¡¯ve been different these past few days?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s heart skipped a beat, his body hairs bristling: ¡°Different how? I¡¯m still the same old me.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t put my finger on it¡­ just feels different. A few days ago, when I asked you to join me at the brothel, you declined too.¡± ¡°How could a man born of this world stoop so low?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Something¡¯s happening!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s whisper reached the ears of Wang Ping and a few white servants. No sooner had Chen Yuan spoken when they all heard several screams followed by the furious roar of the arrest officer, Huang Xing: ¡°Tie Shou, you¡¯re dead!¡± ¡°Hmph, a bunch of government constables trying to catch me? Maybe in your next life¡­¡± ¡°Quick, chase him!¡± Huang Xing¡¯s tone was tinged with shock and anger. ¡°Can our luck be this bad¡­¡± Chen Yuan muttered to himself, gripping his long knife tightly. Then¡­ Chen Yuan saw a thin figure rushing towards them, followed closely by the arrest officer, Huang Xing. ¡°Stop him!¡± Huang Xing bellowed. Chen Yuan looked around; several white servants were fumbling with their blades, leaving only Wang Ping and himself in the middle of the road. ¡°Scram!¡± With a low growl, Tie Shou¡¯s arms momentarily turned green as he reached for Chen Yuan and Wang Ping. ¡°Kill!¡± Wang Ping was the first to react, his shout seeming to empower him as he swung his knife at the grasping hand. ¡°Bang!¡± The hand collided with the long knife, instantly shattering it, and Wang Ping was sent flying by Tie Shou¡¯s powerful strike, followed by a sinister smile from Tie Shou and a swift movement to grasp Chen Yuan¡¯s throat. ¡°Whish!¡± In an instant, just as Wang Ping was struck, a handful of lime was thrown. Tie Shou covered his eyes, and Chen Yuan stabbed with his knife while Huang Xing arrived just in time to strike Tie Shou¡¯s back, causing him to stagger unsteadily. ¡°Pfft.¡± The long knife pierced through him. Chen Yuan¡¯s expression stiffened, a cool stream of qi flowing from Tie Shou¡¯s dead body into his mind. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª New author, new book, hoping for everyone¡¯s support! Internal votes have passed; feel free to invest and benefit from Qidian¡­ Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Qi Fortune Altar Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Qi Fortune Altar ¡°Heavenly Eye!¡± ¡°Qi Fortune Altar!¡± ¡°Sacrificing Qi Fortune can guide opportunities!¡± ¡°Cien Temple,¡± Chen Yuan stood stiffly in place, and at this moment, under the infusion of that cool qi, he faintly saw the incomplete altar in his mind, covered with blood-colored patterns. ¡°It turns out¡­ I have the Golden Finger!¡± Chen Yuan flashed this thought. ¡°Chen Yuan, well done!¡± The arrest officer Huang Xing praised, walked forward, and patted Chen Yuan on the shoulder, bringing his consciousness back instantly. After that, he saw the fresh blood flowing down the blade onto his hand. Tie Shou¡¯s eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe he had actually been killed by a mere government official. The long sword was thrust into Tie Shou¡¯s left chest, half the blade embedded. Chen Yuan gasped slightly, a trace of relief flashing through his heart. Luckily, he had been clever enough to prepare a pack of lime powder concealed inside his chest. Otherwise, seeing how Tie Shou sent Wang Ping flying with a palm strike, he would have not fared much better himself. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Good lad, you even hid a pack of lime powder.¡± Huang Xing didn¡¯t mind Chen Yuan¡¯s dazed expression. He thought it was because of the pressure from Tie Shou that Chen Yuan hadn¡¯t snapped back to reality for a moment. Chen Yuan squeezed out a thin smile, ¡°In the end, I killed that evildoer!¡± ¡°When we return, I¡¯ll ask the County Magistrate to commend you for your achievement.¡± Huang Xing was very happy. Killing Tie Shou meant they had something to report back to the County Magistrate and the County Magistrate. Although the arrest officer appeared to have an official status and the backing of the local influential Huang Family, if the County Magistrate became displeased, it would be quite unbearable for him. ¡°Uh¡­ Uh¡­¡± The faint voice of Wang Ping came from not far away. Chen Yuan quickly reacted, released the knife in his hand, and went to help Wang Ping up. Without support, the corpse of Tie Shou collapsed to the ground with a thunderous sound. ¡°How is it¡­ Can you still move?¡± Chen Yuan asked, supporting Wang Ping. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t move, it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s broken¡­¡± ¡°A few ribs are broken¡­ Damn it, Tie Shou¡­ was really ruthless!¡± Wang Ping was drawing in breaths of cold air. Huang Xing examined Tie Shou to be sure there were no issues and then turned to Wang Ping saying, ¡°You¡¯ll be credited for this incident, rest assured, there will be a reward.¡± ¡°Thank¡­ thank you, sir.¡± Huang Xing¡¯s gaze turned a bit somber as he swept his eyes over the White Servants and said flatly: ¡°Take Wang Ping to the medical clinic.¡± He didn¡¯t express much blame, as these White Servants were, after all, a form of corv¨¦e labor¡ªgood for doing chores and bullying common folk, but completely lacking courage when their lives were on the line. ¡­ ¡­ Late at night. Chen Yuan lay in bed, pondering the stream of consciousness that had entered his mind today. Golden Finger! He had a Golden Finger as well! The only difference was that his Golden Finger was a bit special; it required absorbing Qi Fortune to be activated. Otherwise, even if Chen Yuan followed the status quo his entire life, there would never be any reaction. And today, it was by absorbing the mysterious Qi Fortune from Tie Shou. That his Golden Finger had reacted. His Golden Finger was called the Qi Fortune Altar, which could guide opportunities for him as long as it absorbed Qi Fortune. And Qi Fortune seemed not to be possessed by everyone, nor was it associated with strong power. It appeared more like a mysterious energy. Named only for Qi Fortune. After all, Tie Shou didn¡¯t quite resemble the protagonists of legend. As for the Heavenly Eye¡­ It was a Pupil Skill that was transmitted to Chen Yuan¡¯s mind after the Qi Fortune Altar was activated. By practicing this Pupil Skill, he would be able to sense individuals carrying Qi Fortune within a hundred meter radius. Once he was killed, his Qi Fortune would be swallowed and absorbed by the Qi Fortune Altar. Cien Temple, Diamond Sutra. It was the opportunity guided by the Qi Fortune after absorbing Tie Shou¡¯s. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this mean I have to hunt down the children of Qi Fortune across the world!¡± A wave of dread washed over Chen Yuan¡¯s mind. He was embarking on the path of a great villain, and without a doubt, those imbued with Qi Fortune were probably geniuses with top-notch martial arts talents. These geniuses all had powerful backers! Such clich¨¦s of defeating the younger ones only to face their stronger seniors are rife in novels! ¡°And¡­ today, I killed a man!¡± Up close, as he stabbed Tie Shou in the chest, Tie Shou died with his eyes wide open. But what really startled Chen Yuan was that he exhibited no unusual reaction; in fact¡­ he was somewhat excited. Bloodthirst. This was a word that flashed through Chen Yuan¡¯s mind. After a quarter of an hour of silence, Chen Yuan closed his eyes. ¡­ In the early morning, when all was still, a faint light began to break over the eastern horizon, delicately saturating the sky. Ping¡¯an County, North Gate. A man dressed in the attire of a Government Official, riding a brown horse, left the town of Ping¡¯an County. This man was none other than Chen Yuan. And his destination was guided by the information from the Qi Fortune Altar in his mind: Cien Temple, Diamond Sutra. The whole world is vast, but not as immense as Golden Finger! This was the enlightenment of an avid reader of a decade. He did not sleep well last night, with the scene of himself stabbing Tie Shou to death playing over in his mind, along with the information that had entered his thoughts. Therefore, as soon as the sky was dimly lit, he hurried to his intended destination. Cien Temple, located ten miles north of Ping¡¯an County, is a small temple that became widespread throughout the Great Jin Dynasty two hundred years ago when Buddhism spread from the Western Regions to the Central Plains. Cien Temple is one of the more inconspicuous branches among them. Though not significant in the grand scheme of things, the temple nevertheless saw a continuous flow of worshippers every day. In the past, his predecessor would often follow his uncle to burn incense and pray to the Buddha, so Chen Yuan was not unfamiliar with the route. Along the way, Chen Yuan pondered over the information conveyed by the broken altar in his mind, dwelling on words like Qi Fortune and opportunity. After nearly an hour, Chen Yuan arrived at Cien Temple on horseback. With disasters striking left and right, the common people were living in hardship, and fewer individuals were visiting Cien Temple to burn incense. After entrusting his horse to the care of the monks and nuns, Chen Yuan found an acquaintance among the monks and expressed his intent to visit the Scripture Pavilion. The pavilion contained no Divine Skills and Secret Techniques, only Buddhist scriptures, so visitors were not prohibited from entering. ¡°Are these all the copies of the Diamond Sutra in the temple?¡± Chen Yuan asked, looking at the dozen or so scriptures before him. The monk in the green robe nodded with a smile: ¡°All of the temple¡¯s copies of the Diamond Sutra are here. What does Chen Benefactor want to do with them?¡± After a moment of contemplation, Chen Yuan explained: ¡°My uncle was very fond of the Diamond Sutra. In a few days, it will be the anniversary of his death. I would like to take all these scriptures to burn for my uncle. I hope that the master can¡­¡± The monk frowned slightly and shook his head: ¡°Chen Benefactor, if you were only to take one copy of the Diamond Sutra, I could decide on my own, but for taking them all, I would need the Abbot¡¯s approval.¡± Chen Yuan smiled and handed over some silver. ¡°I hope the master, considering my filial piety, can be accommodating.¡± The monk looked around discreetly and slipped the silver into his sleeve, then brought his hands together and said: ¡°Old Benefactor Chen used to come and burn incense here often. I naturally wouldn¡¯t want to be unkind. I¡¯m sure the Abbot would agree as well.¡± ¡°Many thanks, Master.¡± Chen Yuan collected the scriptures, silently chuckling to himself. The true fragrance principle never goes out of fashion. Even monks are no exception! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Newcomer asking for attention! Seeking recommendations, seeking Monthly Ticket Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Vajra Glaze Body Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Vajra Glaze Body Noon, inside the Chen Family¡¯s small courtyard. Chen Yuan carefully perused the scriptures, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper: ¡°What hidden secrets lie within this Diamond Sutra?¡± After flipping through it several times, Chen Yuan saw nothing but ordinary scriptures, leaving no impression whatsoever. ¡°Could it really require soaking in water, burning with fire¡­¡± Weighing for a moment, Chen Yuan made up his mind. He acted on his thoughts immediately. With a fire stick in hand, Chen Yuan went in front of his biological parents¡¯ and uncle¡¯s memorial tablets, placed a basin down, and bowed solemnly three times, murmuring as he did so: ¡°Although I have never met you, since you are the parents of this body, you are also my biological parents. Father, mother, uncle above, bless me to uncover something good!¡± It was as if he was opening a mystery box. Chen Yuan tore off half of the scripture and then blew on the fire stick. Page by page, the scripture turned to ash. Chen Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm, but when only the last three copies of the Diamond Sutra were left, he couldn¡¯t help worrying whether his method was wrong? Taking a deep breath, Chen Yuan did not change his method. With determination, he threw all three copies of the Diamond Sutra into the fire basin. Chen Yuan watched the burning scriptures in the fire basin with a grave look. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Finally, a flash of golden brilliance appeared in the basin. Unable to contain his excitement, Chen Yuan quickly snuffed out the fire and reached into the ashes to retrieve the shimmering object. It was a piece of golden paper as thin as a cicada¡¯s wings, but Chen Yuan could not tear it despite how hard he pulled ¨C its material was unknown. Calming his spirit, Chen Yuan focused his gaze on the paper. It was inscribed with densely packed small characters in the Sanskrit language of the Western Regions, along with the image of a Buddha with hands clasped together. However, Chen Yuan could recognize it, because his uncle had been a Buddhist believer in his early years and understood Sanskrit, and Chen Yuan, by osmosis, had become familiar with some of it. At the top of the golden paper were five large characters. Vajra Glaze Body! Chen Yuan could feel his heart pounding fiercely. The Vajra Glaze Body, a Buddhist Body Refining Divine Skill, was one of the top-level Body Refining Divine Skills for Martial Artists in the Foundation Establishment Realm, renowned throughout Jianghu! When his original self first obtained the Body Refining Technique from the County Government, he learned about such things, including hearing about the renown of the Vajra Glaze Body. After careful consideration several times, Chen Yuan had made up his mind. Clearing all distractions from his heart, he stood devotedly within the small courtyard, his hands forming a strange posture, as sunlight shone down upon him. A faintly scorching sensation clung to his skin. Silently cultivating the Vajra Glaze Body, tiny golden specks began to emerge on Chen Yuan¡¯s body. He maintained this state for two hours, and even though his forehead was still covered with sweat, he stopped the cultivation practice, and the golden specks on his body receded. A glint flashed in Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes. Truly a Buddhist Body Refinement Divine Skill, even the first cultivation session made Chen Yuan feel the difference. Chen Yuan had also practiced the County Government¡¯s Body Refinement Technique over the last few days, and now, in comparison, they were not on the same level at all. The only pity was that the Vajra Glaze Body was incomplete and could only be cultivated up to the Refining Gang Realm. However, it was more than enough for the short term. From what Chen Yuan had learned during the past few days, Martial Arts were divided into Six Realms, known to the world as the Sky-reaching Six Realms. The Human Race¡¯s Martial Emperor unified the world three thousand years ago and organized the chaotic realms of the world, paving the way for future Martial Artists. This was the general outline Chen Yuan found when reading through historical records. Having just arrived in this seemingly ancient world, aside from calling out to the system, Chen Yuan learned about the history of this world. The County Government¡¯s records were scant, but they were enough to give Chen Yuan a one-sided understanding. What Chen Yuan knew were only the first two major realms, Martial Arts Foundation Establishment and Qi Absorption Gang Condensation. Martial Arts Foundation Establishment was divided into three minor realms, Foundation Establishment Three Refinements: Skin Refining, Blood Refining, and Bone Refining. The arrest officer Huang Xing was a Martial Artist at the Bone Refining Level, leaping dozens of feet at a time and shattering green stones with a palm was nothing difficult for him. As for Chen Yuan, he had only practiced the most basic Body Refining Technique of the Government, and it took him over a year to step into the Skin Refining Level. He was merely good-looking, with rather ordinary cultivation talent. No different from the other Government Officials at the Government. Without the help of the Golden Finger, Chen Yuan once thought that maybe the highest he could achieve would be the Blood Refining Level; regarding Bone Refining, it would be very difficult without resource assistance. After obtaining the Vajra Glaze Body, Chen Yuan was determined to start from scratch, laying a solid foundation. Though no one taught or guided him, Chen Yuan firmly believed in this point. A tall building rises from the ground, its strength comes from its foundation. Chen Yuan pondered over the four characters of Martial Arts Foundation Establishment for quite some time. And by re-cultivating at the Skin Refining Level, with the foundation already laid, Chen Yuan could quickly enter the threshold, and it wouldn¡¯t nullify the little strength he had. Because Chen Yuan made a meritorious act by killing Tie Shou yesterday, the arrest officer Huang Xing specially allowed him three days off to recuperate at home without going to the County Government. It was the same for Wang Ping, who broke several ribs and needed even longer to recover. Now that Chen Yuan had just obtained the cultivation technique, he only wished to practice steadily for a few days before doing anything else. Picking up the standard-issue long saber provided by the County Government, Chen Yuan began to practice in a very methodical way. If one wanted to practice a Saber Technique within the County Government, it required either merit or Silver, but Chen Yuan had been at the County Government for too short a time and didn¡¯t have nearly enough Silver. So, after learning a few moves from an old constable, Chen Yuan was now searching his memory, practicing the saber according to the key points the old constable had described. Truthfully, Chen Yuan had the dream of becoming a Sword Immortal in his heart, but lacking the conditions, he could only use the most practical saber to enhance his strength. After swinging the saber a hundred times continuously, Chen Yuan only felt some soreness in his arms. After resting for a while, Chen Yuan immediately resumed the stance of the Vajra Glaze Body, bathing in the sunlight. Maintaining a single posture, his spirit seemed to enter a void realm, with sweat continuously dropping from his body. Beneath him, there was now a slight shadow. It was a puddle of sweat. If talent is not enough, perseverance makes up for it! ¡­ Three days, it seemed long and also very short. Aside from visiting Wang Ping¡¯s home the day before yesterday, Chen Yuan stayed at home the entire time, exploring the Body Refining Divine Skill of the Vajra Glaze Body. Unfortunately, the progress could only be considered average. In three days, he barely made it to the beginner level, and only managed to cultivate one-fifth of the golden spots on his body. This was still with some foundation from the past to aid him; otherwise¡­ it probably would have been even harder. At the Skin Refining Level, only when the golden paint covers the entire body can it be considered to have cultivated the Skin Refining Level to perfection. Chen Yuan estimated roughly that it would take at least four months or more just to refine Blood! Although this was already fast compared to ordinary Body Refinement, Chen Yuan was not satisfied. Because the Body Refining Divine Skill of the Vajra Glaze Body could be enhanced under the intense sunlight. ¡°Looks like¡­ I need to find a way to get some Silver¡­¡± Chen Yuan looked at his reflection in the water jar, his expression flashing a touch of seriousness. Resources, especially those used for Martial Artists¡¯ cultivation, required a lot of Silver Coins! Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Sword Drawing Skill! Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Sword Drawing Skill! Chen Yuan, dressed in his government official attire and with a long saber fastened to his waist, stepped out of the courtyard, nodding slightly in calm acknowledgment at the occasional greetings from passersby. To Chen Yuan, these neighborhood folks felt both familiar and strange; he did not wish to be overly enthusiastic and appear suspicious. In the eyes of the nearby residents, a government official¡¯s status was already quite significant. In his memories, his predecessor always maintained a calm demeanor. ¡°Yuan Ge¡¯er, heading to the county government?¡± Passing by a bun shop, a fair and pretty girl greeted Chen Yuan. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take two meat buns.¡± Chen Yuan placed four copper coins on the counter; each large meat bun cost two pennies. The girl, with her thick braids swinging, took out two meat buns from the steamer. Then, while her father wasn¡¯t looking, she slipped an egg to Chen Yuan. Her cheeks were flushed, seemingly a bit shy. Looking down at the items, Chen Yuan realized her intent and said with a smile, ¡°Thank you.¡± The girl smiled timidly, and Chen Yuan nonchalantly tossed a copper coin into the cash box, saying with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll be off then.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Then, take your time.¡± Chen Yuan bit into a meat bun; it tasted quite good and he couldn¡¯t help but reflect internally. The past Xiaofang had braids both coarse and long. The later Xiaofang wanted both a car and a house. ¡­ Before long, Chen Yuan arrived at the county government. A few government officials huddled together, whispering among themselves. As Chen Yuan walked by not too far away, he occasionally heard words like ¡°brothel.¡± ¡°You lad, this time you¡¯ve won the affirmation of both the County Magistrate and the County Magistrate; you should really celebrate properly¡­¡± someone teased. ¡°Definitely, certainly.¡± A smile spread across Chen Yuan¡¯s face. The recent chance killing of Tie Shou, though fortuitous, happened with many witnesses present, and the arrest officer wouldn¡¯t embezzle his credit, especially since the County Magistrate was greatly angered by the Tie Shou case. Now that it was solved, rewards were naturally to be expected. Otherwise, who would risk their lives for the government in the future? The armed forces of the county government relied entirely on the government officials, as the martial readiness had long been neglected, and as for the white servants, they were just one kind of corv¨¦e labor. Operating on a rotation system, they were hardly willing to die for the government. They were just ordinary people, unable to even practice the most basic body refining technique. This was a privilege reserved for the government officials. ¡°Oh right, the arrest officer ordered that you should go see him in the squad room as soon as you return,¡± someone said. ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Chen Yuan gave a salute and then turned, saber at his waist, and headed in a certain direction. ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡± Standing in front of the door, Chen Yuan knocked. ¡°Come in!¡± A deep voice from Huang Xing came from inside the room. Chen Yuan walked calmly into the squad room and, after glancing at Huang Xing¡¯s rugged face, quickly lowered his head: ¡°This subordinate offers respects to the official.¡± Seeing it was Chen Yuan, Huang Xing nodded: ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°May I ask what business the official has summoned this subordinate for?¡± ¡°It pertains to your merit. The County Magistrate and the County Magistrate personally inquired about this matter.¡± ¡°Defeating Tie Shou, the credit belongs to Your Honor entirely; this humble official only provided some minor assistance. Without Your Honor, this humble official would certainly not be a match for Tie Shou.¡± Chen Yuan whispered softly. Huang Xing smiled with satisfaction: ¡°What¡¯s yours is yours; does this official look like he would embezzle your earnings?¡± ¡°This humble official wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°For this act of slaying Tie Shou, your merit is substantial. Both the County Magistrate and I have taken note. How about a reward of twenty silver taels and the bestowment of a saber technique?¡± Huang Xing said lightly. Chen Yuan felt a surge of joy in his heart; twenty silver taels¡ªthat was more than his annual salary; he had never handled such a large sum before! And a saber technique! Chen Yuan had been in the County Government for over a year, but his merits were low, and usually only the long-serving government officials were rewarded with a saber technique. Even a common saber technique was beyond the reach of ordinary people. In Ping¡¯an County, many relied on a single saber or fist technique to open martial arts halls and teach martial arts. From this, it was apparent that a single saber technique could become a legacy for an ordinary family. However, cultivation techniques rewarded by the imperial court were not to be taught to others; if discovered, one risked becoming a wanted fugitive. In essence, the imperial court did not wish for everyone to be martially inclined, for the knight-errant, with his martial prowess, may break the law, and a person skilled in martial arts becomes an element of instability. Yet, anyone with a bit of insight would pursue the path of martial arts. For it brought power, status, wealth¡­ In this extraordinary world, only formidable martial strength could protect everything. Within Ping¡¯an County, every martial arts hall bore the same inscription. ¡°All are inferior; only martial arts stand supreme!¡± Thus, one could see just how important ¡®martial arts¡¯ truly were. ¡°Thank you, Your Honor!¡± Chen Yuan bowed deeply, his gesture conveying an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward Huang Xing. Observing Chen Yuan¡¯s expression, Huang Xing¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°Your Honor¡­ may this humble official exchange the silver for¡­ Tiger Bone Pills?¡± Chen Yuan suddenly asked. ¡°You may¡­¡± Huang Xing looked at Chen Yuan with a hint of interest. Twenty silver taels were enough to marry a wife, but Chen Yuan opted to exchange them for an elixir. It was such a pity; with this kind of resolve, if it were not for his poor aptitude, Huang Xing would have seriously considered cultivating him. ¡°Thank Your Honor.¡± The Tiger Bone Pill, one of the most suitable body refining elixirs for those at the Foundation Establishment Realm, was something Chen Yuan had researched and longed to exchange for, but his means were too meager to afford it. One Tiger Bone Pill was worth ten silver taels, that being the internal price set by the imperial court. On the black market, a Tiger Bone Pill could sometimes fetch more than twelve silver taels. Despite earning nearly two silver taels a month in salary plus additional perks, Chen Yuan¡¯s expenses were high and savings difficult to accumulate. A martial artist needed regular nourishment; otherwise, the daily cultivation would be too taxing. Chen Yuan had previously calculated his assets¡ªaside from real estate, he had little more than eight silver taels and some copper coins, not even enough to afford a single Tiger Bone Pill. ¡°Here are two Tiger Bone Pills,¡± Huang Xing said, taking a small porcelain bottle from his bosom and tossing it to Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan hastily caught it and tucked it away in his chest. ¡°The County Government currently has three saber techniques available: Stone Cutting Blade Technique, Gale Blade Technique, and Sword Drawing Skill. Which one would you like to learn?¡± Huang Xing lifted his teacup and took a sip without any intent to elaborate. Nonetheless, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t need any introduction; all these three saber techniques were practiced by the veteran government officials, with the Gale Blade Technique being the most common for its boldness. However, after weighing his options, Chen Yuan chose the Sword Drawing Skill. It was a saber technique meant for killing, with only one move. In the memories of his previous life, he had seen the prison chief execute this technique, severing a foe in two with a single strike, leaving a profound impact on Chen Yuan. The catch was, if that one strike didn¡¯t kill the opponent, the enemy would be on guard, necessitating the use of other saber techniques to combat them. Yet, this aligned with Chen Yuan¡¯s beliefs. Flashy saber techniques really couldn¡¯t compare with the potency of one that focused on a singular, powerful strike. One strike to determine life or death! Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Tiger Bone Pill Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Tiger Bone Pill During a confrontation with enemies, the most dangerous moments often occurred, and such saber techniques were actually very useful. Moreover, having cultivated the Body Refining Divine Skill known as Vajra Glaze Body, Chen Yuan¡¯s strength was many times greater than that of an ordinary person, sufficient to enhance the power of this saber technique by multiple times. As for the Stone Cutting Blade Technique, Chen Yuan had never considered it an option because it neither possessed the instant explosive power of the Sword Drawing Skill nor the ruthless moves of the Gale Blade Technique; it was merely showy. In the County Government of Ping¡¯an County, very few long-serving Government Officials ever practiced this saber technique, a point noted by many. ¡°Reply to the Lord, I wish to learn the Sword Drawing Skill.¡± ¡°Follow me¡­¡± Huang Xing nodded his head and stood up, not wasting any more words. With a calm face, Chen Yuan followed behind Huang Xing, twisting and turning until they finally arrived at a secret room guarded by two Government Officials of the Blood Refining Level. ¡°Arrest Officer Huang.¡± The two Government Officials clasped their hands in greeting. ¡°Give him the Sword Drawing Skill¡­¡± Huang Xing pointed to Chen Yuan behind him. One of them sized up Chen Yuan, nodded slightly, then turned and entered the secret room. In just a few breaths, he emerged, handing over a thin booklet to Chen Yuan. ¡°Return the sword manual within three days, remember, do not divulge it.¡± Although the Government Official did not verbalize the consequences, Chen Yuan clearly understood them. ¡°Good.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Chen Yuan took the sword manual and slightly nodded. ¡­ ¡­ Resting and recuperating. ¡°Swoosh!¡± Chen Yuan took a step forward and suddenly drew his sword, a streak of bright light flashing as he struck at the empty air. After acquiring the Sword Drawing Skill and having memorized all its content, he began to practice the saber slowly according to the power, footwork, and breath mentioned in the saber method. In this world where martial arts reigned supreme, Chen Yuan felt a deep sense of urgency because the Qi Fortune Altar required Qi Fortune to guide him towards opportunities. Most individuals who possessed Qi Fortune were exceptionally talented geniuses. He had used the Heavenly Eye Pupil Technique to observe inside the County Government several times, but had not found a single person endowed with Qi Fortune, which also showed how lucky he was to have previously slain Tie Shou. Without an influx of Qi Fortune, he might have to settle for mediocrity his entire life. This was not the ancient world he was familiar with, where he could rise step by step with foreknowledge; here, he was blind, relying only on himself. But since the pathway to ascension was monopolized by the imperial court, noble families, and sects, and given his poor talents, no one would include a 21-year-old youth into a sect. They recruited disciples starting from a young age to cultivate loyalty. Therefore, after much consideration, Chen Yuan felt that his only reliance was on the imperial court, climbing up step by step within its system, slaying those with Qi Fortune, and thus gaining opportunities. This was the principle Chen Yuan had set after careful deliberation. Moreover, possessing the Qi Fortune Altar had already destined him to tread a path of a villain, and which villain did not possess extraordinary strength? Strength! That was the only thing a lonely soul could rely on in this world. Drops of sweat fell as Chen Yuan continuously repeated the action of drawing his sword. In this sword technique, speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness were crucial. To strike down the enemy with a speed as fast as lightning. After swinging his saber for half an hour, his arms began to feel sore and weak, and Chen Yuan planted his long sword into the ground. He pulled a small porcelain bottle from his bosom, which was exchanged for twenty Silver Coins, the Tiger Bone Pill! Chen Yuan turned out a pill, examining it carefully. It was the size of a thumb, entirely black, and had a pungent smell. ¡°This pill alone is almost half a year¡¯s income for me,¡± Chen Yuan sighed. Why do government officials¡¯ cultivation progress so slowly? It¡¯s not just about aptitude but also because of the limitations of Silver¡­ If there were a large amount of Body Refining Elixirs available, even a pig could cultivate up to the Bone Refining Level. Gently exhaling a breath of stale air, Chen Yuan put the pungent Tiger Bone Pill into his mouth and immediately struck a pose with both palms facing up, Vajra Glaze Body! The Tiger Bone Pill that was in his mouth was swallowed, and a powerful medicinal force surged into his viscera and then spread throughout his body like a series of intensely hot streams. The sun was directly overhead. Bits of golden paint began to rise on Chen Yuan¡¯s body. From a distance, Chen Yuan¡¯s body seemed to be enveloped in a faint golden glow. The massive medicinal power accelerated in refinement under the sunlight. Chen Yuan¡¯s spirit grew quiet, and he could feel his skin seemingly growing tougher¡­ An hour later, Chen Yuan opened his eyes, having fully refined the medicinal power of the Tiger Bone Pill, and he found that the golden paint on his body had increased by another fifth. Nearly half! A single Tiger Bone Pill saved Chen Yuan a month¡¯s time. Clasping his fists tightly, the golden paint spread over Chen Yuan¡¯s arms, and then he forcefully slammed his fist onto the ground. A dull thud exploded. ¡°The power of this punch must have reached the Blood Refining Level; my power has increased so much, it¡¯s truly worthy of being the top-tier Foundation Establishment Body Refining Divine Skill in the world,¡± Chen Yuan sighed. And now, Chen Yuan had not yet completed the Body Refinement Perfection, and his progress was not even halfway! Looking up at the sun in the sky, it was already the hour of Shen , the sunlight¡¯s intensity was waning; it was not advisable to use another Tiger Bone Pill now as it would waste some medicinal power. And¡­ A strong sense of hunger filled his stomach; he had been practicing for several hours without a bite to eat. Cool water cascaded down from overhead, a cool mist spreading through his body, Chen Yuan dressed in the official¡¯s attire and, wearing his long saber at his waist, walked out of his home. The reason to wear it even during a break was to avoid many unnecessary issues. To many ordinary citizens, a government official was someone unbearable, and it was very easy to find an excuse to throw someone into the prison to suffer. Walking on the streets of Ping¡¯an County, Chen Yuan occasionally activated his Heavenly Eye Pupil Technique, a fleeting blue glint, barely noticeable unless one was deliberately watching. Chen Yuan was now eager to find the next person endowed with Qi Fortune, so the Qi Fortune Altar could guide him to his next fortuitous encounter. The first time it was the Vajra Glaze Body, a Body Refining Divine Skill; the next time, Chen Yuan believed it would certainly not disappoint him either. Lacking background, talent, and strength, Chen Yuan could only rely on the Qi Fortune Altar! Along the way, Chen Yuan thought about how to gather some Silver. What use was it to envy others? He needed to take action and make money! Unfortunately, even though Chen Yuan was a transmigrator as well, he really had no good ways to earn Silver¡ªeither they were not applicable in this world, or he did not know the recipes. After walking for a while, Chen Yuan stopped in front of a regular tavern. Seeing a government official come in, the waiter hurriedly piled on the smiles. Chen Yuan waved his hand, went upstairs, and sat down by a window. He ordered a jar of wine, along with a pork knuckle and two large bowls of rice. Ravenous, Chen Yuan just wanted to eat his fill and alleviate the gnawing hunger in his stomach. Soon, a serving of pork knuckle was brought out, along with two complimentary side dishes. Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Beihai Gang Chapter 6: Chapter 6 Beihai Gang The tavern Shopkeeper was adept at watching and listening, and although Chen Yuan was only a Government Official, he didn¡¯t want to stir up trouble unnecessarily. The tavern owner had his own connections but as the saying goes, little ghosts are hard to deal with. This was also a hidden benefit within the Government. Originally, Chen Yuan¡¯s uncle had gone to great lengths to bribe and pull strings for him to become an official Government Official. ¡°Thank the Shopkeeper for me,¡± Chen Yuan said with a pleasant smile, nodding to the waiter. ¡°Lord, if you need anything else, this servant will take his leave.¡± The waiter smiled obsequiously. Chen Yuan nodded slightly, first taking a big swig of his drink and then grabbing a pork knuckle to eat ravenously, washing down each mouthful of meat with a gulp of liquor to sate his hungry gut. Practicing with a blade and Skin Refining were activities that consumed a great deal of energy. After consuming a plate of pork knuckles, Chen Yuan began to leisurely enjoy the two side dishes the Shopkeeper had gifted¡­ ¡°Beihai Gang is doing business, bystanders clear out¡­¡± Downstairs, a low shout exploded, and Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze sharpened as he watched a group of men, each with a small dagger embroidered on their chests. The Beihai Gang, a not insignificant force within Ping¡¯an County, bullied the good, collected protection fees, ran gambling dens and brothels, with nearly a hundred disciples in the gang. They were the bullies of North City. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Moreover, and most importantly, every Government Official in the County Government knew that the Beihai Gang was backed by the Huang Family of Ping¡¯an County, namely the family of the arrest officer Huang Xing. Therefore, as long as no one was killed, the people in the County Government would turn a blind eye. Chen Yuan was no exception. Speaking of which, Chen Yuan¡¯s family had also suffered extortion from the Beihai Gang, but ever since he donned the official¡¯s uniform, the Beihai Gang seemed to have disappeared, never bothering the Chen Family again. Consequently, the protection fees collected from the Chen Family¡¯s neighbors were significantly reduced, which was one of the reasons why Xiao Fang, who sold steamed buns, took quite a liking to him. Among those neighbors, Chen Yuan was already regarded as a rather powerful Lord. But as the saying goes, a drinker knows how warm or cold the water is. The hierarchy within the County Government was based on seniority, and due to Chen Yuan¡¯s low strength, his position among the constables was not high, ranking at most in the lower-middle. Of course, since they were colleagues, no one would normally go out of their way to make things difficult for him. With a few more years under his belt, Chen Yuan would be one of them. As Chen Yuan knew, those long-serving Government Officials at the Blood Refining Level had an income more than double his and were considered high-income earners within Ping¡¯an County. Only then could they afford the expenses of practicing martial arts. ¡°Perhaps¡­ I could get Silver from the Beihai Gang¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression was dark and uncertain. But he could not go about it in the usual way, because of his own low power and the fact that his immediate superior was Huang Xing. Looking for trouble was definitely not an option. That would be suicide. Down below, members of the Beihai Gang, as usual, collected protection fees, with merchants on both sides of the street reluctantly taking money out of their cash boxes to settle matters. And if they had no money¡­ The Beihai Gang would ¡°generously¡± allow debts to accrue, but the interest was steep, so most would rather borrow money to pay their monthly dues. There were many cautionary tales of families being ruined. Even the merchants in the vicinity of his neighborhood sometimes hoped he would step in to help. Chen Yuan¡¯s influence was not significant; he could only grant them a few days¡¯ extension at most. Soon, six or seven members of the Beihai Gang, carrying long knives, ascended to the second floor, where the waiter¡¯s expression was even more fawning than before Chen Yuan. ¡°Chen the constable¡­¡± The leading Beihai Gang member, who recognized Chen Yuan at a glance, came forward with a cupped fist salute, his face still wearing a smile. ¡°Hall Master Wang.¡± Chen Yuan also revealed a slight smile. ¡°The deputy, hehe¡­¡± Hall Master Wang laughed heartily, seemingly very pleased with being addressed as Hall Master Wang by Chen Yuan. In his heart, he couldn¡¯t help but think that mixing in the Government was different after all, unlike his subordinates who would only call him ¡°Deputy Hall Master Wang.¡± ¡°With Hall Master Wang¡¯s skills, it¡¯s only a matter of time before you drop the ¡®deputy¡¯,¡± Chen Yuan said. ¡°I heard from Constable Xu that the ferocious Tie Shou was actually killed by Constable Chen. Wang has to admit, he greatly admires that. Tie Shou was no easy foe.¡± ¡°It was just luck.¡± Hall Master Wang glanced at the food and drink on Chen Yuan¡¯s table and instructed the serving boy beside him: ¡°Put the cost of Constable Chen¡¯s drinks on Wang¡¯s tab¡­¡± ¡°Yes, this humble one understands.¡± ¡°Hall Master Wang is too kind.¡± ¡°Heh, just for the fact that Constable Chen took down Tie Shou, this bit of drink money is nothing to fuss about.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t be so courteous¡­¡± Chen Yuan didn¡¯t indulge in too much politeness. ¡°Then Wang will take his seat first,¡± Hall Master Wang said, pulling off a scholarly demeanor. ¡°Please do.¡± Hall Master Wang and his party sat quite far from Chen Yuan, his subordinates seemingly discussing something. Meanwhile, Chen Yuan was thinking about how to extort money from the Beihai Gang. Although the Beihai Gang was rather polite to the government officials, the relationship between them wasn¡¯t really good; it was nothing more than hoping to avoid any trouble. This was also a warning from the Huang Family. In Ping¡¯an County, it was still the imperial court that held real authority; if things turned into an absolute disaster, it would be very difficult to bring to an end. After taking a sip of his drink, Chen Yuan¡¯s ears twitched, and he began to eavesdrop on the conversation of Hall Master Wang and his people. Ever since he practiced the Heavenly Eye Pupil Technique, Chen Yuan discovered that his hearing had also improved a lot. Therefore, even though they kept their voices low, he could still hear them. ¡°Deputy Hall Master Wang, there¡¯s no need to curry favor with a government official who¡¯s only just started, right?¡± A subordinate sitting next to Hall Master Wang commented, inadvertently glancing at Chen Yuan a few times. ¡°What do you know? That Chen Yuan is a man of the Government after all. Recently, our Gang Leader has ordered us not to stir up any trouble.¡± ¡°With Constable Huang around, what trouble could a mere government official cause?¡± ¡°What are you trying to say, boy? You have a grudge against that Chen?¡± Hall Master Wang turned sharp, eyeing his subordinate closely. ¡°Heh, I should¡¯ve known how capable you are, Deputy Hall Master Wang. Indeed, I have a bit of grudge against that Chen. Do you remember the young woman from Zhou¡¯s Steamed Bun Shop?¡± ¡°What about her?¡± ¡°When I went to collect the regular payment, I took a fancy to her, but¡­ I heard she¡¯s gotten quite close to that Chen. So I was thinking, maybe Deputy Hall Master Wang might help me suppress that guy.¡± ¡°Rest assured, I know the rules.¡± Hall Master Wang looked at Wang Er¡¯s dejected face: ¡°I¡¯m not with the Government; how could I suppress Chen? It¡¯s best if you don¡¯t think about it too much. You¡¯ve heard who killed Tie Shou recently, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°They say that young Chen has won the favor of County Magistrate Wu; you better save yourself the trouble.¡± ¡°Heh, Hall Master, I just mentioned it in passing.¡± ¡°Enough, I know what you¡¯re plotting. Drink less wine and don¡¯t screw up tonight¡¯s task¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Hall Master, there will be no issues. It¡¯s just delivering silver to Steward Huang. It¡¯s not as if the Huang Family¡¯s younger members haven¡¯t been there before.¡± ¡°Shut your mouth and quit your yapping,¡± Hall Master Wang said coldly. Wang Er panicked and quickly gave a sycophantic smile: ¡°You¡¯re right, Hall Master. I¡¯m just here to get things done, to get things done¡­¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thanks to book friend Red Dust One Ze for the reward of five hundred point coins. Thanks to book friend Apocalypse Charge for the reward of one hundred point coins. Thanks to book friend God GB for the reward of five hundred point coins. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Collecting Silver Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Collecting Silver Hall Master Wang sized up the surroundings and even glanced subconsciously toward the distant Chen Yuan, only relaxing after seeing no one paying attention to this area. Tonight¡¯s delivery of silver to the Huang Family¡¯s steward was crucial for the opportunity to remove the ¡°deputy¡± prefix from his title. The Huang Family openly supports the Beihai Gang, not secretly, but in a nearly blatant manner. Whether it¡¯s the Gang Leader or Hall Master, their words mostly carry the weight of the Huang Family¡¯s influence. The Huang Family¡¯s chief steward also had a say in matters, and Hall Master Wang had cultivated a relationship with the steward for exactly this critical moment so that not even the slightest hint of rumor could leak out. Otherwise, who knew what tricks the other competitors might pull out? From afar, the corners of Chen Yuan¡¯s mouth curled up slightly, ¡°Silver? Here it comes indeed.¡± Chen Yuan even entertained a thought: that during the absorption of Tie Shou¡¯s Qi Fortune by the Qi Fortune Altar, he had inadvertently absorbed some as well. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain why he had just thought about making money, and then the silver appeared right before his eyes. Could it be¡­ That he was actually the protagonist? ¡­ ¡­ After a good meal, Chen Yuan did not pay the slightest attention to Hall Master Wang and turned to walk down from the second floor. He headed home but was calculating about Wang Er in his mind. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Since Wang Er was planning to deliver silver to the Huang Family tonight, it surely must not be a small amount. Intercepting him en route would make the operation foolproof. Wang Er was just an ordinary person with a rudimentary knowledge of fighting, not a practitioner of Martial Arts. Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t find it difficult to deal with him, as long as no one noticed. As he walked, a sudden commotion by his ear caught his attention; shouts were coming from not far away, heading in his direction. ¡°Robbery, murder!¡± ¡°Help!¡± ¡°Stop, stop¡­¡± A familiar voice rang out. Chen Yuan focused his gaze and saw it was Xiao Fang¡¯s father, chasing a middle-aged man with a kitchen knife in hand. Chen Yuan thought swiftly, his long knife streaked through the air, and planted itself right in front of the fleeing man, causing him to panic and fall to the ground. Xiao Fang¡¯s father approached and directly grabbed the man, cursing loudly: ¡°You little punk, got the guts of a leopard, daring to¡­¡± As Chen Yuan casually approached, the crowd parted to create a path upon seeing the official uniform he wore. ¡°Here comes someone from the Government office¡­¡± ¡°Lord, Lord, this old crook tried to steal my money, I beg the Lord to grant me justice,¡± the man cried out upon seeing Chen Yuan. ¡°You¡­ you dare to slander me.¡± ¡°Uncle Zhou¡­¡± Chen Yuan greeted softly. ¡°Chen¡­ is that you, Brother Yuan?¡± Xiao Fang¡¯s father rubbed his hands, seeming a bit nervous. ¡°Hehe¡­ Uncle Zhou, calling me ¡®young Chen¡¯ is still more pleasing to my ears,¡± Chen Yuan chuckled. Chen Yuan hadn¡¯t held back in taking advantage of him in his younger days, but Uncle Zhou always laughed it off without holding a grudge. That is why Chen Yuan, having become a Government Official, was willing to stand up for the Zhou Family. Wang Er from the Beihai Gang dared not act rashly out of fear for Chen Yuan¡¯s relationship with the Zhou Family. ¡°Lord¡­ Lord¡­¡± The man on the ground went pale, realizing to his alarm that the constable seemed to know the old man. People nearby murmured among themselves. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze swept over the crowd, moved a little closer, and he fixated on the skinny man on the ground: ¡°You said Uncle Zhou wanted to steal your money?¡± ¡°No¡­ that¡¯s correct, I went to buy medicine for my mother, and I was passing by his bun shop when my coin pouch accidentally fell to the ground. He saw it and wanted to rob me¡­¡± the man complained amidst his tears. People around were even discussing the oppression of the good. ¡°Nonsense, I had just come back from buying meat at the butcher shop when my coin pouch fell to the ground. Before I could pick it up, you dog stole it,¡± Uncle Zhou¡¯s face showed urgency. ¡°How could I dare to steal your coin pouch with all these wounds on my body?¡± The man argued, lifting his arm to display the marks. ¡°You said you were buying medicine for your mother?¡± Chen Yuan sheathed his long knife back into its scabbard. ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°As far as I know, there are no medicine shops in North City, so how did you come to North City to buy medicine?¡± ¡°I¡­ I came in from outside the city, and was preparing to go to a medicine shop in South City.¡± ¡°Outside?¡± Chen Yuan pointed at the man¡¯s shoe soles. ¡°There has been light rain every night these past few days, so if you came from outside the city, why is there no mud on your shoes?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± The man was at a loss for words momentarily. ¡°Did you change your shoes after entering the city?¡± Chen Yuan chuckled lightly. ¡°Yes¡­ no¡­ no, I cleaned off the mud from my feet.¡± ¡°Heh¡­ you had time to clean off the mud while buying medicine for your mother?¡± ¡°Yes, I hope the Lord sees clearly,¡± the man pleaded tearfully. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s assume you cleaned off the mud. I still have a way to verify whose money is actually in the purse,¡± the constable stated. ¡°What way?¡± The man on the ground was already somewhat afraid. It was not just the fear of Chen Yuan¡¯s government authority, but also the words he spoke. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze swept around and moved towards a middle-aged man. ¡°Could I use some water from your bucket?¡± Chen Yuan tossed him a copper coin. ¡°Lord, please feel free to use it.¡± The man¡¯s face brightened as he carried the bucket to the person collapsed on the ground. ¡°Dump the copper coins from the purse into the water, and it will be clear who is lying.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all up to Brother Yuan,¡± Uncle Zhou immediately said. Chen Yuan shifted his gaze to the man on the ground and said in a low voice: ¡°If you dare not, then the purse is stolen by you.¡± ¡°Who said I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± The person on the ground hesitated for a moment, opened the purse, and a hundred copper coins clattered into the water. ¡°How can this prove it? I expect the Lord to decide,¡± the man said loudly. Chen Yuan glanced at the man and pointed at the layer of oil floating in the bucket: ¡°You say you were going to buy medicine for your old mother, so why is there oil in the bucket? Look at Uncle Zhou, he has just come back from buying meat at the butcher¡¯s, with greasy hands.¡± ¡°Do we still need to say whose money it really is in the purse?¡± ¡°This Lord truly has divine skill!¡± ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± The man¡¯s face went from green to white, glanced at Chen Yuan, and turned to flee. Chen Yuan suddenly threw his sheathed knife, hitting the man¡¯s back and knocking him to the ground; he walked over nonchalantly and stepped on the man¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re a habitual thief, you should take a trip to the constable¡¯s prison,¡± he declared. ¡°Please, please¡­ Lord, I know I¡¯m wrong, give me a chance,¡± the man begged. Uncle Zhou approached with a beaming face, the more he looked at Chen Yuan, the more satisfied he became: ¡°Chen Yuan, thank you.¡± ¡°Uncle Zhou, you¡¯re too polite, we¡¯re just neighbors,¡± Chen Yuan smiled. In the memories of his original self, he had a good impression of the Zhou Family, and with those memories accepted, Chen Yuan also couldn¡¯t bring himself to have any ill feelings towards them. ¡°Let¡¯s go, you dare to quibble in broad daylight right before a constable¡¯s eyes,¡± Chen Yuan said as he grabbed the man¡¯s neck and lifted him up. ¡°Lord¡­ Lord, spare my life, it was my first time doing this, my family¡­¡± ¡°The border is short of men, you, go serve at the border,¡± Chen Yuan decreed. ¡°Lord¡­ Lord, I¡¯ll give silver, just please let me go,¡± the man pleaded with a mournful face. Being sent to the border was a matter of life and death. Thank you to book friend Wolf Turning Back for the reward of 5000 Qidian Coins. Thank you to book friend 35161lisahy for the reward of a hundred point coins. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8: 32 Patterned Silver Chapter 8: Chapter 8: 32 Patterned Silver ¡°` The frontier is fraught with danger, a well-known fact. Even if one were to squander all their wealth, no one would be willing to go to the frontier to fight with barbarians. Chen Yuan chuckled lightly, ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°My lowly name is¡­ Liu Yishou.¡± The man hurriedly responded. ¡°Whom do you associate with?¡± In Ping¡¯an County, there were many gang influences. Not just pickpockets, but even beggars were usually part of some organization, and if there was no one to cover for them, they simply couldn¡¯t survive. ¡°Old Sixth of South City¡­¡± Liu Yishou dared not conceal the truth. He even hoped that the Lord would take into account his connection with Old Sixth and let him off the hook. Theft was not a grave crime, but it couldn¡¯t avoid causing some suffering. If his name were struck off, being sent to the frontier would indeed be a stroke of bad luck smothered in blood. ¡°Old Sixth¡­ the one who runs the gambling house?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ yes, that¡¯s him. Old Sixth started as a thief and later set up a gambling house, but he never gave up this line of work.¡± ¡°Almost everyone involved in this line of work in Ping¡¯an County has some connection with him.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted slightly, and the grip of his hand loosened a bit. ¡°What relation does Old Sixth have with the people in the County Government?¡± ¡°This¡­ This lowly one does not know.¡± ¡°How much silver are you prepared to give for your life?¡± ¡°This lowly one¡­ this lowly one has only a tael of silver on me¡­ I¡¯m willing to offer it all to the Lord.¡± Liu Yishou hastily took out a piece of broken silver from his sleeve, looking quite pained. A tael of silver was worth one guan, equivalent to a thousand copper coins, and yet he had to spend a tael of silver for a mere hundred or so copper coins. What a loss! Chen Yuan accepted the broken silver. A mosquito was still meat, no matter how small; all the more so, a tael of silver was not a small amount. His monthly salary combined with some extra income did not surpass two taels. In strict terms, this was also a form of gift. ¡°Alright, be off with you¡­¡± Chen Yuan waved his hand. ¡°Thank you, Lord, for your grace¡­¡± Liu Yishou hastily bowed and then quickly turned and disappeared into the crowd. ¡­ The sky gradually darkened, and as the hustle and bustle of the townspeople in the county city began to head home, Chen Yuan had just finished his hundredth sword swing. At least two hundred times a day, every day, that was the goal Chen Yuan had set for himself since he discovered the Golden Finger. He had maintained this routine for several days now, and his arms had gone from sore and weak to accustomed. Of course, this also included Chen Yuan¡¯s progress in Skin Refining. Changing into a set of ordinary clothes and letting a few strands of hair fall loose, Chen Yuan, expressionless, stepped out of the courtyard. From the moment he resolved to tread the path of the villain, Chen Yuan had prepared himself to kill. Reflecting on his close-proximity kill of Tie Shou last time, he not only felt no nausea but rather a sense of exhilaration! Inside a small building somewhere. With a solemn expression, Hall Master Wang handed a locked wooden box to Wang Er, cautioning: ¡°This trip is crucial; it dictates whether I can take the seat of the Hall Master. Be very careful.¡± Hall Master Wang then paused before adding, ¡°Once I ascend to the position of Hall Master, I can get you a copy of a Body Refining Technique and will make sure to promote you well.¡± Wang Er was one of his trusted subordinates. The Gang Leader had been convening meetings every night and he had been unable to leave; otherwise, he would never delegate such an important task to anyone else. ¡°Hall Master, rest assured, I can find the Huang family¡¯s door. Besides, the Huang family¡¯s steward will send someone to respond. I will make sure this task is accomplished for the Hall Master,¡± he said. ¡°And don¡¯t forget what you promised to say,¡± the Hall Master reminded him. ¡°You can count on me,¡± Wang Er declared, thumping his chest with an oath. ¡°` ¡°` In order to get Wang Er to devote himself to the task, Hall Master Wang whispered: ¡°If I can secure the position of Hall Master, I¡¯d be able to meet Officer Huang face to face. At that time, putting pressure on that Chen kid wouldn¡¯t be out of the question.¡± Wang Er¡¯s face lit up with excitement. He had been coveting the owner of Zhou¡¯s Bun Shop for a long time. Chen Yuan donned a black cloth over his face, hiding on the roof of a building not far from the Huang Family¡¯s back door, watching intently for anyone passing by below. It was unlikely that bribery would happen through the front entrance since Hall Master Wang¡¯s intended recipient was the Huang Family¡¯s steward. Surely, the Huang Family shouldn¡¯t get wind of it. A gleam of green light flashed in Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes as he surveyed the vicinity for anything unusual. After waiting for a long time, a persistent light rain began to fall once again. This weather pattern had been going on for several days. The clouds partially obscured the moon, making the night even darker. Just as Chen Yuan was growing impatient, a faint sound of footsteps reached his ears. He focused his gaze and saw a slim figure moving cautiously through the alley in the distance. Moving silently down from the rooftop, Chen Yuan slowly crept closer¡­ Wang Er took a deep breath and hunched over, clutching his chest. Without careful observation, no one would have noticed the bulging pouch he was concealing. ¡°Shasha¡­¡± Directly ahead of Wang Er appeared another figure, also walking with bowed head. As the two of them gradually neared each other, Wang Er sidestepped to avoid any trouble. But then, the figure suddenly stopped walking, and a flash of white light revealed a pair of profound eyes. ¡°Pfft.¡± Before Wang Er could recognize those familiar eyes, a long blade thrust forward, cutting off his head without giving him a chance to scream. At the end of his life, all Wang Er saw was a figure with its back to him, seemingly searching for something on his person. ¡°Is the betrayal discovered¡­ Was it one of the other Deputy Hall Masters who acted? That wench¡­¡± The last thought that flashed through Wang Er¡¯s mind. ¡­ ¡­ Lighting a candle. Chen Yuan, expressionless, pulled out a wooden box he had found on Wang Er¡¯s body. After inspecting it briefly, he drew his knife and slashed it open, sending wood chips flying. Inside were three small ingots of gold and a piece of fine green jade pendant. ¡°Thirty taels of Patterned Silver, this jade pendant is worth at least five taels of silver,¡± observed Chen Yuan, his eyes sparking with shrewdness. The trip had not been in vain. Thirty taels of silver was no small amount. For his services to the County Government, he was rewarded with only twenty taels of Patterned Silver, which gives a sense of the value of silver. With the status of a Hall Master, it would take at least two years to save up such an amount. Now for the sake of his own future, he was willing to spend his wealth to entice the Huang Family¡¯s steward to say a few words. However¡­ better him than me. Chen Yuan felt no guilt about intercepting the silver, not to mention the past oppression his family had suffered at the hands of the Beihai Gang. Just on the present occasion, it was likely that Hall Master Wang¡¯s silver had been extorted from the common people. ¡°With this silver, I can exchange for three Tiger Bone Pills. With that¡­ stepping into the Blood Refining Level should be soon¡­¡± mused Chen Yuan internally. This year he turned twenty-one and was considered as an older martial artist. If he didn¡¯t advance to a higher realm quickly, the dream of walking the path of the Martial Arts would be just that, a dream. Not to mention everyone else, Chen Yuan knew that the most talented youth of the Huang Family, not even sixteen, had already reached the Blood Refining Level. This was just one family in a small county. By extension, the strength of young prodigies in the Jianghu would definitely be beyond his imagination. One step ahead ensures further steps ahead¡­ Since he was unwilling to remain unremarkable and had decided to venture on the path of Martial Arts, he had to strive towards this goal. That night, Hall Master Wang waited very late¡­ ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thank you to the book friend who goes by ¡°Vast Ocean Endless, Phoenix Nine Donghua¡± for the generous gift of a hundred point coins. ¡°` Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Song Lao Liu Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Song Lao Liu The next day, at the County Government. ¡°Chen Yuan, a murder has occurred at the back door of the Huang Family. Take a few White Servants and investigate¡­¡± Just arrived at the County Government, Chen Yuan was already assigned by Arrest Officer Huang Xing to a task, which happened to be the very crime he himself had committed last night. Yet, Chen Yuan still managed to display some feigned surprise at the appropriate time. Such that no one would easily suspect him, while Arrest Officer Huang Xing did not seem to take much notice, his brows furrowed, apparently preoccupied with some distressing matter. At the back door of the Huang Family, within a narrow street about three hundred meters away, Chen Yuan emotionlessly scrutinized the severed head of Wang Er. Overnight, the bloodstains next to Wang Er had spread out over a large area with the rain. ¡°Constable Chen, this kid¡­ seems to be Wang Er from the Beihai Gang.¡± A White Servant examined closely. ¡°Hmm¡­ you two, take the body away. This looks like a gang dispute. A strike to kill, swift, accurate, and ruthless¡ªclearly premeditated.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s voice reached the ears of several White Servants. The two who were instructed exchanged glances. Although they were somewhat reluctant, they did not dare refuse and held their noses as they placed Wang Er¡¯s corpse in a body bag. ¡°Constable Chen, should we go and ask the Huang Family?¡± someone suggested. Chen Yuan shook his head: ¡°Everyone is clear about the relationship between the Huang Family and the Beihai Gang. We won¡¯t get anything from asking. With the constant murders in the county, how can we investigate?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Basically, the arrest officer wants us to remove the body¡­ don¡¯t bother inviting trouble.¡± Of course, Chen Yuan was not going to delve further into the investigation, as he was the culprit. Such gang-related murders are quite common in Ping¡¯an County; they hardly ever create much of a stir, unless they multiply. It¡¯s only when people die daily that the County Magistrate will be enraged and the various powers within the County Government will be subdued by the majesty of the court and settle down. Indeed, such cases wouldn¡¯t even be formally recorded in the case files. After staying in the County Government for a while, Chen Yuan took people out on patrol, and even visited Wang Ping to check on his recovery. Although he is improving, he still needs to lie down for over a month. They say it takes a hundred days to recover from serious muscle and bone injuries. With several ribs broken, even the strong-bodied Wang Ping needs to rest for over a month. Within the County Government, it was Wang Ping who had the best relationship with Chen Yuan. Although the current Chen Yuan didn¡¯t feel much for him, to avoid drawing suspicion, he still made trips to see him every few days. In the following days, Chen Yuan had quite a leisurely time, having refined the last Tiger Bone Pill. With his Golden Paint covering over half of his body, even without resources and relying solely on his daily training, he could reach Perfection in the Skin Refining Realm within two months. However, it was clear that Chen Yuan could not wait that long. After making sure there were no abnormalities with Hall Master Wang¡¯s situation, Chen Yuan planned to find someone to exchange Silver for Tiger Bone Pills for his training. That night. Once again, Chen Yuan wrapped himself in his night garment and disappeared into the shades of the night. Chen Yuan had already identified his target¡ªthe South City¡¯s Song Laoliu, also the person he had learned about from Liu Yishou¡¯s information¡ªwho was rather influential there. He must have channels for obtaining Tiger Bone Pills. Dealing with people from the County Government would have been cheaper, but the risks were too high. It would certainly raise questions about the origin of his Silver, thus it was not worth the potential loss. Chen Yuan, currently lacking in strength, only wished to get by in Ping¡¯an County and, incidentally, during his patrols in the city, to see if anyone possessed Qi Fortune. Recently, Song Laoliu spent most of his time away from the gambling house; he often slept in an inconspicuous little courtyard in South City. Chen Yuan had later found Liu Yishou and learned of this secret through him. Liu Yishou mentioned that uncovering Song Laoliu¡¯s secret retreat was a matter of chance and never dared to disclose it to anyone else. One must plan before taking action. Chen Yuan¡¯s reason for choosing Song Laoliu was not only because of his connections but also because his strength was merely at the Blood Refining Level, which meant that even if there were unexpected complications, with Chen Yuan¡¯s current strength, he was confident in controlling the situation. After scoping out the small courtyard and ensuring there were no threats, Chen Yuan climbed over the wall and entered, making his steps as light as possible, until he reached the outside of a room. ¡°Rustle, rustle¡­¡± In the room, a middle-aged man dressed in plain clothes who had been sleeping suddenly sat up from the bed, reaching out to grab a long saber at the bedside, startling the young woman who had been sleeping next to him. ¡°Master¡­ what¡¯s wrong?¡± the young woman asked, her sleepy eyes slightly opening, somewhat perplexed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure which friend has come here, and I, Song Laoliu, have failed to welcome you from afar¡­¡± Song Laoliu patted the woman beside him to reassure her, then got up from the bed and cautiously eyed the faint black silhouette at the door. The woman on the bed was greatly alarmed, shielding herself with the bedding, her body trembling slightly¡­ She was a young concubine Song Laoliu kept outside, deeply afraid that it was one of Song Laoliu¡¯s jealous wives from his household. Despite appearing quite reputable outside, Song Laoliu actually feared his wife back home the most, as several of his mistresses from before had all died under various circumstances. ¡°Brother Song, there¡¯s no need for panic. I¡¯ve come here solely to make a transaction with you¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s hoarse voice came from outside the door into the room. Song Laoliu breathed a sigh of relief. Long periods of luxury had nearly eroded his strength, and although he was at the Blood Refining Level, his power ranked at the very bottom of those within this realm. If it had truly been an assassin or such outside, he would have been in danger. ¡°What business would you like to discuss, brother? Why not come inside for a chat?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. Disturbing Brother Song¡¯s pleasure is truly not my wish.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ don¡¯t mention it.¡± ¡°I would like three Tiger Bone Pills, Brother Song. Please set your price¡­¡± Song Laoliu¡¯s eyes shifted slightly as he spoke in a low voice: ¡°Tiger Bone Pills are market-priced at ten Patterned Silver each, in high demand and with extremely hard-to-find ingredients. If you want them, I can get a few for you at eleven Patterned Silver apiece.¡± He didn¡¯t dare to ask for an exorbitant price; if the person outside hadn¡¯t purposely made some noise, he might still be sound asleep now. The stranger¡¯s strength was likely stronger than his own. ¡°That¡¯s acceptable¡­ How many days will it take to get them?¡± ¡°Seven days.¡± ¡°Whoosh!¡± A small hole was made in the window, and a bar of finely minted silver landed in front of Song Laoliu. ¡°This ten Silver is the deposit. Seven days from now, at the same time, I will come on schedule. I hope you will have the Tiger Bone Pills ready, Brother Song.¡± ¡°By the way¡­ I am a solitary person and would prefer no other outsiders to be present at that time¡­¡± After these words, the footsteps outside the window gradually receded. Song Laoliu picked up the silver from the ground and scrutinized it carefully, his complexion dark and uncertain. His little courtyard was supposed to be extremely hidden, yet he hadn¡¯t expected someone to find it¡­ It was no longer safe. ¡°Master¡­¡± the young woman on the bed said, worry in her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, it¡¯s just a friend.¡± Song Laoliu fell silent for a moment before putting down the silver and slowly returning to bed to rest. ¡°Master¡­ I don¡¯t want to live this kind of skulking life anymore.¡± _________ Thank you to Dalao Wolf for turning back and for the reward, thank you for the support! Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10: No-Life Sect! Chapter 10: Chapter 10: No-Life Sect! ¡°` Late at night, after returning to his small courtyard in the North City, Chen Yuan took off his black clothes, the Heart Guard Mirror, the Hand Crossbow, the lime bag¡­ These were all items he had prepared over the past few days, especially the poison-coated crossbow arrows on his wrist, which had required a great deal of effort to obtain. He had spent nearly two taels of Silver Coins. There was no other way, self-preservation came first. Life is singular, and once it¡¯s gone, it¡¯s truly gone! Chen Yuan had already calculated that once the three Tiger Bone Pills from Old Song Six arrived, he would be able to cover his body with the golden paint within a few days and achieve perfection in the Skin Refining level. After that, he would be able to step into the Blood Refining Level, only then would he possess some self-defensive capability within Ping¡¯an County. Ping¡¯an County was a small town, and there weren¡¯t many masters. The arrest officer Huang Xing, with his Bone Refining Level cultivation, was enough to be considered a master. Chen Yuan thought that there were probably not even ten Bone Refining Martial Artists in the entire area of Ping¡¯an County. Because the cultivation of Martial Artists is extremely resource-intensive. For example, the Blood Refining Constables in the county government were all over thirty years old, and the Bone Refining Level required even more resources to achieve. And resources required a lot of Silver Coins. A single Tiger Bone Pill cost ten taels of Patterned Silver, and although it was one of the top elixirs in the Foundation Establishment Realm, even weaker elixirs still cost five taels of silver. And silver was hard currency. As a government official, Chen Yuan¡¯s salary and additional earnings didn¡¯t amount to two taels of silver a month, and that had to cover daily expenses as well. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Thus, those who could embark on the path of Martial Arts needed a reasonably affluent family background, otherwise, they simply couldn¡¯t afford it. That night, Chen Yuan pondered a lot, and it felt like the first time he truly relaxed since arriving in this supernatural world¡­ Having been in this world for more than half a month, Chen Yuan had spent the first half looking for his ¡°Golden Finger¡± and the second half working hard after finding the opportunity directed by it. Aside from practicing with his blade every day, it was cultivation, or fulfilling his duties by patrolling daily¡­ Such days were plain and dull. If it hadn¡¯t been for the assistance of the ¡°Golden Finger,¡± Chen Yuan might have been content with an ordinary life, though it¡¯s more likely that he would still resolutely embark on the path of Martial Arts. But the growing process without it would have been many times harder than now. The Vajra Glaze Body Refining Divine Skill alone was something Chen Yuan could only look up to. And he could only practice the most widely spread Body Refining Technique. Although it was also a Body Refining Technique, it was the most rudimentary technique in the world, not only slow to cultivate but also offering mediocre strength. Its only advantage might be that it was quick to learn, suitable for entry-level government officials to practice. Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he saw his hometown in the distance, that blue planet where his family, friends, and concerns lived¡­ It seemed there was also the smartphone with the browser history he hadn¡¯t cleared. Just as Chen Yuan was trying to see more clearly, a colossal black altar appeared before his eyes. It was engraved with blood-colored patterns, some corners were damaged, and there was a faint light emanating from within. Chen Yuan suddenly sat up from his bed, and it was dawn! ¡­ ¡­ At the County Government. ¡°Why the urgent summon today, what¡¯s happened?¡± Chen Yuan leaned closer and quietly asked an old constable beside him. This morning, Chen Yuan was getting ready to have breakfast at the Zhou¡¯s Bun Shop. Before he could finish, as he was whispering sweet nothings with Xiao Fang, a White Servant hurriedly informed him that the arrest officer had issued an urgent order, calling all available government officials, including those on leave, to assemble. Without delay, Chen Yuan rushed to the County Government. Afterward, he saw more than twenty constables and nearly a hundred White Servants standing solemnly at the entrance to the Arrest Room. This was a significant force, not even seen during the capture of the criminal known as Tie Shou. The old constable glanced around, and seeing that the arrest officer had not yet arrived, quietly told Chen Yuan: ¡°It is said to be an order from the Government, that some demon folks of the Demon Dao might have infiltrated the County Government Office.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°` Chen Yuan¡¯s heart trembled¡ªDemon Dao fiends, they were individuals relentlessly pursued by the imperial court. They practiced cultivation with no holds barred, concocting Blood Refining Pills and harvesting souls. They even stirred the common people into rebellion. Qingzhou had been in constant turmoil over the past few years, all because of the chaos sown by some Demon Dao fiends. Since the first day Chen Yuan had entered the County Government, the long-standing constables had warned him about the dangers of the Demon Dao fiends. The old constable shook his head: ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or false, Old Ma told me, but there¡¯s a good chance it is. The County Government had a similar situation a few years back, only you hadn¡¯t arrived yet and didn¡¯t know about it.¡± ¡°How was it resolved last time? Aren¡¯t the Demon Dao fiends said to be extremely sinister? If we constables were to¡­¡± Chen Yuan hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he suddenly closed his mouth. He looked straight ahead without diverting his gaze. The troop of over a hundred people fell silent as the discussion ceased. That was because Arrest Officer Huang Xing, surrounded by a cluster of men, escorted a middle-aged man in a red official robe to their proximity. The middle-aged man had a slender figure with long, thin cheeks and a long beard hanging from his chin; his entire aura exuded a faint sense of authority that made the surrounding constables instinctively lower their heads. The County Magistrate, Li Mingqi! With cultivation at the Gang Condensation Realm, he was the strongest in Ping¡¯an County Government, seventh grade, and the direct superior of Arrest Officer Huang Xing. In the Great Jin Dynasty, even in the entire realm, martial prowess was esteemed. Without a powerful martial artist to maintain order, stability at the grassroots level was impossible. Thus, the County Magistrate was in charge of governance and the people¡¯s livelihood, while the County Magistrate oversaw law enforcement and catching thieves¡ªone civil and one military authority managed the entire county together. He was equivalent to the current Director of Public Security, while Arrest Officer Huang Xing was akin to the head of the Criminal Investigation Department. Although the County Magistrate was of the standard seventh rank, the authority of the County Magistrate was in no way inferior to the County Magistrate¡¯s. Li Mingqi walked to the center of the crowd, with Arrest Officer Huang Xing half a step behind him, a stern expression on his face. ¡°Recently, the Government quelled a group of demon cultists from the No-Life Sect, but remnants still remain and may have possibly fled into the territory of our Ping¡¯an County.¡± ¡°The Magistrate has issued a strict order that all remnants of the Demon Dao must be rooted out.¡± ¡°Therefore, I have decided to conduct a thorough investigation across the county. Anyone who discovers traces of the No-Life Sect remnants will be richly rewarded upon confirmation. Anyone who manages to kill the No-Life Sect cultists will also be richly rewarded.¡± ¡°But if anyone knows and fails to report, or shows fear and retreats from the enemy, they will be severely punished!¡± County Magistrate Li Mingqi, standing with his hands behind his back, spoke in a solemn and loud voice. ¡°Yes, this subordinate obeys!¡± The voices of over a hundred people were somewhat disorderly. ¡°Arrest Officer Huang¡­¡± Li Mingqi called out indifferently. ¡°This subordinate is here,¡± Huang Xing stepped forward, bowing slightly. ¡°These men will be under your command. We cannot overlook even the towns and villages beneath the county city; these Demon Dao thieves are very cunning, and there is a significant chance they are hiding among them.¡± ¡°Yes, this subordinate understands,¡± replied Huang Xing. Li Mingqi nodded slightly, sweeping his gaze over the constables, then turned and left with brisk steps, seemingly preoccupied with an urgent matter. Chen Yuan watched Li Mingqi leave with a calm demeanor. When his gaze had swept over earlier, Chen Yuan had felt it pause momentarily on him. Taking a deep breath, Huang Xing began to assign tasks: ¡°Chen Yuan, Zhao Ning, you two will lead seven White Servants to Ping¡¯an Town¡­¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thank you to the book friends Naming Really Sucks and Wolf Turning Back for your rewards! I¡¯m asking for a Monthly Ticket! If you want to keep up with the reading, I hope you can click on the chapter even if you are just fostering the book¡­ Thank you, Shi Tou bows down! Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Youth Ping An! Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Youth Ping An! Ping¡¯an Town belonged within Ping¡¯an County, the most basic unit of administration, ranked alongside villages and hamlets, but its chief official did not possess an official rank and was not included in the bureaucratic grading system. Moreover, in such an ancient world, transportation was inconvenient; unless there was a significant incident to report, the local villages and hamlets would only report to the County Government twice a year. Chen Yuan had only heard of Ping¡¯an Town, but had never visited it. However, the name gave him an inexplicably familiar feeling. ¡°Zhao Brother, have you ever been to Ping¡¯an Town?¡± From horseback, Chen Yuan turned his head and asked. ¡°I visited a few years ago, when Ping¡¯an Town experienced a very bizarre incident. Arrest Officer Huang personally led the team to investigate, but unfortunately, they ended up finding nothing.¡± ¡°Bizarre?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Yes, in a rather remote village in Ping¡¯an Town, twenty-three households disappeared without a trace. It was a big case a few years ago.¡± ¡°No traces were found at all?¡± ¡°None, that village was too remote, seldom interacting with outsiders¡­¡± ¡°Was it the work of Demon Dao evildoers?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Uncertain, there were no clues. In the end, the matter just fizzled out.¡± Zhao Ning shook his head slightly. After two hours, nearing midday, Chen Yuan, Zhao Ning, and a few White Servants finally arrived at Ping¡¯an Town, where Zhao Ning led the way to the residence of Chief Officer Liu Laotie with familiar ease. Although he did not hold an official rank, Liu Laotie wielded significant power in Ping¡¯an Town and was quite affluent. The clothes he wore were of fine fabric, starkly different from the coarse clothes of the common folk. ¡°Who might this be?¡± Liu Laotie cupped his hands towards Zhao Ning, smiling as he looked at Chen Yuan. ¡°This is a constable who joined last year, Chen Yuan¡­ This gentleman is Elder Liu¡­¡± Zhao Ning introduced with a chuckle. ¡°What Elder Liu? Constable Chen can just call me Old Liu,¡± Liu Laotie waved his hand. Chen Yuan nodded with a smile. ¡°What brings the two constables to Ping¡¯an Town today? Has the County Magistrate given you any instructions?¡± Liu Laotie asked tentatively. Chen Yuan and Zhao Ning exchanged a glance, then spoke in a low voice: ¡°We are here to search for some fugitives. The County Magistrate is furious, and is thoroughly investigating all villages and hamlets within the County¡­ That is why¡­ we were assigned to Ping¡¯an Town.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Liu Laotie appeared relieved. As long as they weren¡¯t after him. ¡°You constables must be weary from your journey, why not rest here a bit?¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll impose upon your hospitality¡­¡± ¡­ After some merry drinking, Liu Laotie¡¯s cheeks began to redden, and his voice grew tipsy and slurred. Lurching about, he grabbed Chen Yuan and said: ¡°Chen Brother, you¡­.¡± ¡°Old Liu, has there been any unusual happenings in Ping¡¯an Town recently?¡± Chen Yuan asked softly, while Zhao Ning had already collapsed unconscious on the table. ¡°Unusual happenings¡­ Let me think, it seems like nothing¡­ Ah, that¡¯s right, three days ago Old Chen and his wife died¡­ quite¡­ quite eerily¡­¡± Liu Laotie, burping, spoke haltingly. ¡°What was eerie about it?¡± Chen Yuan grew more interested. ¡°The two of them¡­¡± With a furrowed brow, Chen Yuan left Liu Laotie¡¯s home alone, intending to check out Old Chen¡¯s house. According to Liu Laotie, Old Chen and his wife were hardworking and had not provoked anyone, but they died mysteriously one night three days ago. They looked as if they had been buried underground for a long time, turned to mummies. One person who saw them was so scared that they didn¡¯t dare to close their eyes for a whole day and night. To this day, their corpses are still in their home, with few daring to approach. After asking around in the town, Chen Yuan weaved his way to Old Chen¡¯s house. It was a very dilapidated courtyard, with the door tightly closed. Upon the door were New Year¡¯s couplets from years past, now completely faded, threatening to fall off at the slightest breeze. ¡°Knock knock knock¡­¡± Chen Yuan held the long sword at his waist with one hand and gently knocked on the door with the other. Old Chen had died, but from Liu Lao San¡¯s words, Chen Yuan learned that they had a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old son who had not left home these past few days. When Chen Yuan wanted to ask more, Liu Lao San had already stopped moving. No one dared to go to his house to help, the townspeople all said that his family had provoked some kind of evil spirit, which had sucked them dry of their essence blood, and now the demon worship still lingered in their home. Even if someone, out of neighborly kindness, wanted to help, they didn¡¯t have the courage. ¡°Rustle rustle¡­¡± A faint sound of friction came from the small courtyard. ¡°Creak¡­¡± The door was pulled open from the inside, and a young boy appeared before Chen Yuan. The boy was not very old, his head wrapped in a white cap, wearing a linen robe with several noticeable patches on it. The boy¡¯s face was calm, with clear eyes beneath dense eyebrows, looking rather resolute, holding in his hand a cut-out paper figure. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± the boy asked calmly. Chen Yuan¡¯s brow furrowed, with such a drastic change at home, a boy of his age should not be this composed, as if what had happened in his house was not a funeral. ¡°I am Constable Chen Yuan, here to investigate the death of your parents,¡± Chen Yuan said in a low voice. The boy was startled for a moment, looked up at Chen Yuan, and said softly, ¡°Lord, please come in.¡± With an impassive face, Chen Yuan walked into the courtyard, his gaze carefully surveying the small courtyard, which was very simple and nothing out of the ordinary, except for some wood shavings piled up. ¡°What is this for?¡± ¡°Making coffins for my parents.¡± ¡°At such a young age, you¡¯re already capable of this?¡± Chen Yuan asked in surprise. ¡°I learned it before¡­¡± ¡°What is your name?¡± Chen Yuan inquired. The boy was silent for a long while before he said in a low voice, ¡°My parents always called me Ping¡¯an¡­¡± ¡°Ping¡¯an, Chen Ping¡¯an!!!¡± Chen Yuan muttered to himself, why are they all named Chen Ping¡¯an now? Huh? Why use the word ¡®all¡¯? ¡°It seems your parents wished for you to be safe and well.¡± Chen Ping¡¯an did not answer, returning to the small hut to continue shaving wood with his tools, intending to complete the last plank. Chen Yuan stepped inside the small hut, what appeared before his eyes was a very large coffin, with many imperfections and missing the most important part, the coffin lid, a faint stench of decay wafting out. Chen Ping¡¯an, expressionless, sanded the plank, unmoved by Chen Yuan¡¯s thorough scrutiny, and he didn¡¯t cry out for the truth behind his parents¡¯ death to be uncovered. Chen Yuan covered his nose and leaned forward, two withered corpses, their faces twisted in horror as if they had encountered great fear just before death. Lightly lifting the coarse cloth covering them with a knife, Chen Yuan examined them carefully, but there were no obvious wounds on their bodies, just a red spot at the back of their necks. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report it to the authorities?¡± Chen Yuan asked while he observed. ¡°Would reporting it have been of any use?¡± Chen Ping¡¯an didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Were you at home the night your parents died?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Did you feel that something was not right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Ping¡¯an looked up, locking eyes with Chen Yuan. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t die¡­¡± Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Paper Figurine Sorcery Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Paper Figurine Sorcery ¡°Hmm?¡± Chen Yuan squinted his eyes at Chen Ping¡¯an. ¡°Do you mean to say that your parents died under unusual circumstances, and yet you did not, which in itself is quite strange?¡± Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s determined little face nodded. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you leave? Why continue to stay in this courtyard?¡± ¡°I have nowhere to go, and besides, if I leave, then truly no one will take care of my parents¡­¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of dying?¡± ¡°I am!¡± Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s body trembled slightly as he put down the tool in his hand, clutching the paper figure tightly. ¡°Did you also cut this paper figure?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze fixed on the paper figure in his hands. It was a life-sized paper figure with a vividly painted face and two drops of bright red blood on its eyes, making it appear somewhat eerie. ¡°No, it has always been revered in my parents¡¯ home. Now that they have passed away, I want to burn the paper figure for them. Would you like to see it?¡± Chen Ping¡¯an, not quite addressing the question, held up the paper figure. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Chen Yuan instinctively gripped the handle of his sword, murmuring softly, ¡°Alright.¡± Chen Ping¡¯an stood up, lifting the paper figure and handing it over to Chen Yuan. Suddenly, a glint of light flashed in the eyes of the paper figure, which turned faintly red, and it unexpectedly detached from Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s hands, attacking Chen Yuan at high speed. Chen Ping¡¯an froze in place, at a loss for what to do. With a sense of alarm, Chen Yuan¡¯s Sword Drawing Skill erupted instantly, a white light flashed, cutting the attacking paper figure in two. However, the paper figure did not stop. The split body fluttered, its thin fingers aiming for Chen Yuan¡¯s chest. Golden paint instantly materialized under Chen Yuan¡¯s clothes. ¡°Bang!¡± Though the paper figure was flimsy, Chen Yuan felt a great force, as if pushed back several meters by the paper figure, staggering backward. ¡°Sorcery!¡± A chill settled in Chen Yuan¡¯s heart as he realized that the death of Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s parents was definitely related to a practitioner of Demon Dao, and at this moment, he truly didn¡¯t know whether his luck was good or bad. Originally, he was just a bit suspicious, so he came to check. If there were no anomalies, he was ready to return to the County Government with Zhao Ning to report back. Finding traces of a Demon Dao practitioner wasn¡¯t of much interest to Chen Yuan. Remnants that could escape from the Government weren¡¯t something a mere Skin Refiner like him could contend with. Controlling what seemed to be the paper figure, after repelling Chen Yuan, the two halves of its body floated in the air, palms flickering with light. Sharp! Grabbing something nearby, Chen Yuan threw it at the paper figure and, using the momentum, leapt forward, his long saber slashing fiercely, only to miss as the paper figure slightly dodged the attack. ¡°Bang!¡± Chen Yuan landed, spun around and slashed at the air again. ¡°Shoo.¡± Chen Yuan raised his left arm, and a flying arrow shot forth, piercing the paper figure. Then, he advanced again, his long saber waving through the air, bringing forth a flurry of dazzling light. He dared not pause, for the paper figure was eerily deadly and filled with killing intent. Soon, the paper figure floating in the air was sliced into dozens of pieces by Chen Yuan, falling to the ground motionlessly¡­ Chen Yuan quickly lit a fire stick and threw it on the paper figure¡¯s body. The flames burned fiercely, lasting a full ten moments before extinguishing. The usual calm on Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s face disappeared, turning into sheer panic, as if even he hadn¡¯t anticipated such a sudden reaction from the paper figure. ¡°Why did the paper figure remain calm in Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s hands, yet became aggressive at my arrival?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression darkened and became uncertain as he suddenly turned to Chen Ping¡¯an. A flash of blue light twinkled in his eyes. Heavenly Eye! As soon as he activated the Heavenly Eye Pupil Technique, Chen Yuan was overjoyed. His guess was not wrong; Chen Ping¡¯an indeed possessed Qi Fortune. Within moments of contemplating, Chen Yuan developed a guess, which was that this paper figure might be protecting or monitoring Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s safety, and his intrusion made the paper figure sense danger. Or perhaps¡­ there was someone else within Ping¡¯an Town, silently watching all this unfold and secretly manipulating the paper figure to attack¡­ Of course, there was another possibility¡ªthat all of this was orchestrated by Chen Ping¡¯an himself. He wanted to kill him! With a chilling gaze, Chen Yuan, grasping his knife, took step by step towards Chen Ping¡¯an, who was hiding in a corner and trembling slightly. ¡°You want to kill me?¡± Sensing the faint desire on Chen Yuan¡¯s expression, Chen Ping¡¯an seemed to perceive something. ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Yuan did not deny it. ¡°Why? I¡­ I¡¯m not aware of the evil nature of the paper figure.¡± Chen Ping¡¯an swallowed. ¡°The paper figure doesn¡¯t harm you at all, yet it attacks as soon as I arrive. Do you think I would believe your nonsense?¡± Chen Yuan said in a low voice. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Chen Ping¡¯an, feeling the dangerous aura from Chen Yuan, was at a loss for words. His gaze flickered, considering something. ¡°May I ask you one last thing?¡± Chen Ping¡¯an suddenly calmed down for some reason. Because the Lord in front of him showed no signs of wavering. ¡°What is it?¡± Chen Yuan stopped walking, his gaze slightly intense. His hand tightened around the long knife, the blade gleaming. ¡°The thing is¡­¡± Chen Ping¡¯an paused, his eyes suffused with a hint of red. Suddenly, he leaped from the corner, his palms turned jet black, reaching for Chen Yuan, his mouth splitting into a smile: ¡°The thing is, let me drain your Essence Blood, okay?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s pupils constricted, sensing the danger, and immediately raised his knife to block, and Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s claws struck the blade, producing a crisp sound. Chen Yuan continuously retreated, his body hair bristling, staring at Chen Ping¡¯an: ¡°Your parents¡­ they were indeed killed by you!¡± Seeing Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s current state, there was no doubt his guess was right. It was Chen Ping¡¯an who had set things in motion just now. Chen Ping¡¯an revealed a seemingly harmless smile: ¡°I lost control while practicing, they noticed, and I couldn¡¯t control myself and accidentally killed them¡­¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you leave, instead¡­¡± ¡°As I said, it was an accident, not my intention. I was planning to leave after the seventh day,¡± Chen Ping¡¯an interpolated. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to come knocking on my door.¡± Chen Ping¡¯an shook his head, stepping forward rapidly, his fingernails shining with a cold light, thrusting towards Chen Yuan. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t attacked, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed anything¡­¡± Chen Yuan said gravely, swinging his knife to retreat. ¡°I know, only, I couldn¡¯t help wanting to drain your blood again. I was grinding wood to try to control my thirst for blood.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s knife struck the side of Chen Ping¡¯an, splitting open his parents¡¯ coffin, while Chen Ping¡¯an used the opportunity to leap up, throwing a handful of Poison Powder. Coincidentally, Chen Yuan also threw a pack of Lime Powder. A mist of pale green and white fog filled the room. Vajra Glaze Body was activated by Chen Yuan, who also held his breath, raising his knife in an upward swipe. ¡°Slash!¡± The sound of fabric mixed with flesh sounded as Chen Yuan sliced a long wound across Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s chest. In response, Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s ferocity was triggered, responding with injury for injury, wanting to stab his fingernails into Chen Yuan¡¯s chest. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl! Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl! ¡°Ding!¡± A crisp sound of metal striking metal rang out, as Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s fingernails failed to pierce Chen Yuan¡¯s skin, but instead felt as if they had hit stone. ¡°The cultivation technique you practice isn¡¯t a body refinement technique!¡± ¡°What¡¯s your relationship with those No-Life Sect demons who fled into Ping¡¯an County!¡± Both posed their questions at the same time. Chen Yuan only knew the name of the No-Life Sect; as for the rest, it was all confidential information beyond his reach. Escaping into Ping¡¯an County¡­ Heh heh¡­¡± A look of disdain flashed across Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s face. ¡°Hm?¡± Dead men don¡¯t need to know too much. Since I¡¯ve joined the sect, I¡¯ve never killed any of the imperial hounds. I¡¯ll start with you!¡± The moment Chen Ping¡¯an stepped forward, an explosive noise filled the room, and his figure seemed to blur, as he unleashed a Black Tiger Heart Pluck aiming for Chen Yuan¡¯s chest. Chen Yuan swung his sword in a downward chop, forcing Chen Ping¡¯an to sidestep, and then with a flying kick, Chen Yuan used his sword to block in front of him, staggering back several steps. ¡°You¡¯ve reached the Blood Refining Realm at such a young age!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s face darkened. The strength Chen Ping¡¯an displayed was immense, and no Skin Refining martial artist could have such power unless he was also practicing a top-level Martial Arts Foundation Establishment technique. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°What¡¯s so great about Blood Refining? With the sect¡¯s secret techniques to refine essence blood, the path of martial arts becomes a smooth journey. How about it, do you want to join the Holy Sect? You can too¡­¡± Chen Ping¡¯an chuckled with a hint of madness, appearing somewhat unhinged. Evil Demon outsiders, it¡¯s nothing but the use of Blood Pills. If you were really that powerful, you wouldn¡¯t be hiding like a mongrel on the run!¡± Chen Yuan assumed a stance with his long sword, his feet suddenly stamping forward, and from beneath his clothing, his arms shone with a golden light, the sword gleaming as it thunderously slashed towards Chen Ping¡¯an. Although Chen Yuan was only at the Skin Refining Level, his own strength was not inferior to that of a Blood Refining martial artist. The two of them engaged again, turning the entire room into their battlefield, with blood and flesh flying about. The more Chen Yuan fought, the stronger he felt. The golden glow on his body began to permeate his entire being, as if even his blood and qi were surging. ¡°This is¡­ Buddhist cultivation technique. Who exactly are you!¡± Chen Ping¡¯an roared with a terrified expression. ¡°Bang!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s punch landed expressionlessly on Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s chest, instantly collapsing it, with the sound of breaking sinews and bones. Like a sandbag, Chen Ping¡¯an was thrown onto the floor. Chen Yuan, not letting up on the attack, leaped up with the momentum and drove his sword straight through Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s chest, pinning him to a wooden pillar. ¡°You dare to kill me? You know¡­ I am¡­¡± Chen Ping¡¯an gritted his teeth, his eyes glaring at Chen Yuan. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. As long as you have what I need, you must die!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s fist flashed with golden light. ¡°Boom!¡± Flesh burst and Chen Yuan¡¯s fist pierced through Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s neck, leaving a huge hole. Chen Yuan opened his Heavenly Eye, and could clearly see a green qi flow being drawn towards his forehead, just like being guided by something. Cool and refreshing, like a whiff of cool air on a summer day. Soon, Chen Yuan received a piece of information that tightened his expression. Because the information that came through was Ping¡¯an County, the Huang Family, Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl! The difficulty in obtaining this opportunity far surpassed the first time at Cien Temple by countless folds. At Cien Temple, Chen Yuan could buy all of the Diamond Sutra with silver. But this would not be possible with the Huang Family. Although he had not heard of the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl, if the Qi Fortune Altar guided him to it, then it would definitely be an opportunity that was not inferior to the Vajra Glaze Body. Marrow Cleansing, Marrow Cleansing! Chen Yuan could easily associate it with something beyond refining one¡¯s aptitude. Chen Yuan¡¯s aptitude was quite ordinary, and of course, he had thought about things that could enhance aptitude, but those things were all treasures, extremely difficult to obtain. A mere government official did not have the capability to obtain them. And the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl in the hands of the Huang Family, although it was not so difficult to obtain, was certainly not something that could be obtained without effort. The Huang Family was very powerful in Ping¡¯an County, second to none. With countless experts, plus the existence of an arrest officer like Huang Xing, it was indeed very troublesome for Chen Yuan. However, even if it was troublesome, Chen Yuan had to get the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl because it concerned his future achievements in the Martial Arts! After a moment of silence, Chen Yuan turned his attention to Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s body, gazing intently, now certain that Chen Ping¡¯an was a Demon Dao thief. He did not know how long he had hidden here, his strength even reached the Blood Refining Level. Although the Demon Dao cultivation techniques break through very quickly, it was enough to show his extraordinary aptitude. Perhaps, this also had something to do with Qi Fortune. Considering Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s age, Chen Yuan estimated he was at most sixteen, or even slightly younger, with a somewhat childish appearance. ¡°This kid¡¯s identity, I¡¯m afraid, is also quite extraordinary¡­¡± Chen Yuan squinted his eyes and examined Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s corpse, able to cultivate in peace in Ping¡¯an Town and having the protection of this sinister paper effigy¡­ Chen Ping¡¯an was definitely not a pawn to be easily sacrificed. Chen Yuan even speculated that Chen Ping¡¯an had been switched out by someone long ago, and the real Chen Ping¡¯an had already died¡­ Of course, as for what the truth was, Chen Yuan had no interest in knowing. His attention was now all on the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl. Chen Yuan severed Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s head and his hard fingernails as well, taking them as evidence and wrapping them in cloth. The County Magistrate once said that whoever discovered traces of the evil Demon Dao would be richly rewarded. Chen Yuan did not expect much else; if he could be awarded a few Tiger Bone Pills, he would be very satisfied. During the fight, Chen Yuan¡¯s practice of the Vajra Glaze Body became stronger. He was just one step away from reaching perfection in Skin Refining, with golden paint covering his whole body. It may not mean he was invulnerable to swords and spears, but it also greatly increased Chen Yuan¡¯s defensive power, equivalent to having an added layer of armor, and his strength would increase significantly as well. His power advanced a step further! To have Qi strength at the Skin Refining Level that did not lose to the Blood Refining Level, Chen Yuan looked forward to whether he could have the strength of the Bone Refining Level after he stepped into the Blood Refining Level. Perhaps because of some paranoia, Chen Yuan always felt that the future of Ping¡¯an County would not continue to be peaceful, and the source would most likely be because of these Demon Dao evildoers. Among Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s previous words, there was a lot of information contained. ¡°Escaping into Ping¡¯an County, huh¡­¡± This sentence made Chen Yuan expand his thoughts. ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Are you saying that you went to investigate Old Chen¡¯s house and then discovered the traces of a Demon Dao thief and successfully killed him?¡± Zhao Ning, sober after drinking, had asked Chen Yuan several times with great astonishment. He had just had a drink, and then this had happened? It was simply too dramatic. If it weren¡¯t for Chen Yuan showing him Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s head and hands as evidence, Zhao Ning would think Chen Yuan was crazy for credit. ¡°Brother Zhao, I¡¯ve already said it three times¡­ If you don¡¯t believe me, let the arrest officer come and investigate himself¡­¡± Chen Yuan said somewhat impatiently. If it hadn¡¯t been for the suspicion that going back alone would arouse, Chen Yuan would have returned to the County Government to claim the reward long ago. As it was, Chen Yuan dragged Zhao Ning out of Old Liu¡¯s house despite his drunken stupor, dousing him with a big basin of cold water. Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Skin Refining Perfection! Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Skin Refining Perfection! ¡°` ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you, I¡¯m just¡­¡± Zhao Ning stuttered, still feeling somewhat dizzy. ¡°Enough, let¡¯s talk less and hurry back to the County Government. I have a feeling that the matter in Ping¡¯an Town is not simple¡­¡± Chen Yuan finished speaking and left Zhao Ning with his back view. Aside from Zhao Ning, the few White Servants who had originally followed were left by Chen Yuan in Ping¡¯an Town to keep watch over the Chen Family, as their speed was much too slow. There were only two horses, not enough to carry them all. With a sense of urgency, and without the drag of the White Servants, Chen Yuan and his companion made it back to the County Government in just one hour, whereupon Chen Yuan dismounted and hurried inside. ¡°Where is the arrest officer?¡± Chen Yuan quickly asked a Government Official. ¡°Arrest Constable Chen, Officer Huang is not at the County Government. He took people to inspect the county this morning and hasn¡¯t returned yet¡­¡± The Government Official glanced at the blood-stained cloth in Chen Yuan¡¯s hand with some trepidation. ¡°Is the County Magistrate here?¡± Chen Yuan continued to inquire. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen the County Magistrate leave the Government. He should be¡­¡± The Government Official said uncertainly. ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± Chen Yuan nodded and quickly headed towards a certain place in the County Government. It¡¯s a big taboo to report matters to the boss¡¯s boss, but Chen Yuan couldn¡¯t possibly go looking for Huang Xing in the county, otherwise such an urgent matter could be delayed, and instead of a reward, the County Magistrate might punish him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co He would just have to report to Huang Xing later and take the opportunity to bridge the gap between them. ¡°Excuse me for the trouble, but I have an urgent matter to report to the County Magistrate!¡± Chen Yuan bowed to the two Government Officials guarding the door. There were over a hundred official Government Officials in the County Government, divided into three shifts and six rooms, and Chen Yuan was one of the members of the Arrest Room, the most powerful of the departments within the Ping¡¯an County Government. The two Government Officials at the door sized up Chen Yuan and nodded without making it difficult for him. They turned and went inside to report and came out hurriedly after a moment. ¡°Come in.¡± Chen Yuan bowed and quickly entered with the blood-stained cloth. Inside the main hall, County Magistrate Li Mingqi, with a cold expression, was stroking the lid of his tea cup with furrowed brows, deep in thought. Seeing Chen Yuan rushing in, he put the tea cup on the table and asked in a low voice, ¡°What matter do you have to report?¡± Chen Yuan held up the cloth and said respectfully, ¡°Your Honor, today at noon, I found traces of a demon from the No-Life Sect in Ping¡¯an Town.¡± ¡°What!¡± Li Mingqi looked at Chen Yuan with a slightly heavier tone. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°This is the head of a demon from the No-Life Sect, which I have brought as proof¡­¡± Li Mingqi stepped forward with a gust of cool air, reaching out to slowly open the cloth, his eyebrows showing some displeasure as he said lightly, ¡°This is clearly a child. What is this about a demon?¡± ¡°Please see clearly, Your Honor,¡± Chen Yuan looked neither servile nor overbearing as he presented Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s pair of hands to Li Mingqi. Li Mingqi squinted at the pair of darkened fingernails and the faint bloody patterns on the palms. ¡°How did you find this villain?¡± asked Li Mingqi. Chen Yuan did not hide anything and shared how he had sensed something amiss from what Old Li the Third had said, then investigated Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s home and subsequently engaged in a fight. ¡°` However, Chen Yuan concealed his own and Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s strength, merely stating that he was lucky to have blinded Chen Ping¡¯an with lime, thereby achieving a difficult victory. ¡°Very good, Chen Yuan, you¡¯ve done very well. To have slain a heretic of the Demon Dao in such a short time, come¡­ hurry and take this official to Ping¡¯an Town.¡± ¡°Perhaps there are still remnants hiding in Ping¡¯an Town!¡± Li Mingqi suddenly slapped the table. ¡°Yes, I shall obey¡­¡± Chen Yuan said loudly. ¡°Excellent, if we can truly find traces of those Demon Dao remnants, this official will certainly note your merit!¡± Li Mingqi patted Chen Yuan¡¯s shoulder, his eyes showing some satisfaction. ¡­ County Magistrate Li Mingqi, with a group of Government Officials in tow, soon rushed to Ping¡¯an Town and conducted a thorough search of Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s home, only to find a few dried up bones in a remote well in Ping¡¯an Town, but no trace of other Demon Dao villains. While the search was underway, constables patrolling Sishui Town also encountered an attack by a suspected expert of the Demon Dao, where two Government Officials and seven White Servants died tragically. County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng was furious and commanded the arrest officer Huang Xing to quickly track down the trail of the No-Life Sect demon, and to report to the Government¡­ However, the Government¡¯s response wasn¡¯t huge, for apart from the chaos in Ping¡¯an County, the disorder that erupted within several other counties was much worse. By comparison, Ping¡¯an County only lost two Government Officials and a few White Servants, which hardly counted for anything. Both County Magistrate Li Mingqi and County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng placed heavy pressure on arrest officer Huang Xing, causing him great stress, yet the promised generous reward had not been delivered. After asking for Chen Yuan¡¯s opinion, he was rewarded with a Tiger Bone Pill. This was already not a small reward, because Chen Yuan did not not reveal the true strength of Chen Ping¡¯an, thus, the people in the County Government only saw Chen Ping¡¯an as a peripheral member of the No-Life Sect demon, not very valuable. Naturally, it would not be possible to give a particularly generous reward. To this, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t feel any sense of dejection, as he never wanted to expose any real strength, only wishing to hang on for a short while. He always had the feeling that the Demon Dao forces in Ping¡¯an County were not simple. Moreover, scheming for the Huang Family¡¯s Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl wasn¡¯t something he wanted to arouse suspicion about. After deliberate interaction by Chen Yuan, his relationship with arrest officer Huang Xing began to grow closer. Due to the strict orders from the County Government, the rest days of the Arrest Room officials were forcefully turned into overtime work, and there was no overtime pay¡­ leaving the officials grumbling non-stop. But even after searching nearly the entire county, they found no trace of the Demon Dao villains, including the County Magistrate himself, who began to gradually relax. Of course, perhaps some officials didn¡¯t want to be diligent. Only those who had encountered the ruthlessness of the Demon Dao knew their strength¡ªit was a matter of life and death. No one wanted to sacrifice themselves. Many officials in the County Government envied Wang Ping, who was still recuperating at home. Although he had broken a few ribs, he didn¡¯t have to face the ferocious demon of the Demon Dao. After another day of ineffective patrolling, Chen Yuan returned home, closing the door behind him as the sky gradually darkened. Pouring out a somewhat pungent Tiger Bone Pill from the porcelain bottle, excitement flashed in Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes. Now, with the aid of the Tiger Bone Pill, his cultivation had surged, and he was already on the verge of reaching the Perfection of Skin Refining. During these days, whenever he found the time, he would assume a cultivation posture under the Taiyang. The Golden Paint was nearly covering his entire body. It could be said that, barring any accidents, consuming this Tiger Bone Pill would allow him to bring his Skin Refining cultivation to Perfection. Exhaling a breath of foul air, Chen Yuan picked up the Tiger Bone Pill and placed it in his mouth to suck on it. Chen Yuan soon felt a strong medicinal power surging through his skin. With palms facing the sky and legs bent, the Vajra Glaze Body technique started to operate, and streaks of Golden Paint rapidly spread across his body at an astonishing pace, a fierce heat clinging to his skin. Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15: 50 Taels Chapter 15: Chapter 15: 50 Taels In just a moment¡¯s time, Chen Yuan¡¯s body was completely covered in golden paint, looking from afar like a golden statue! Skin Refining Perfection! At this moment, Chen Yuan had finally reached the perfection of the Skin Refining Level, his strength surged wildly, and with clenched fists, streaks of golden light flashed. Opening his eyes, a sharp glint flashed through Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze. After Skin Refining comes Blood Refining. To successfully enter the core ranks of the County Government, usually, only seasoned Government Officials who have endured several years can enter into the Blood Refining Level. As for Bone Refining, it requires not only resources but also one¡¯s own aptitude to qualify; only then can one hope to step into the Bone Refining Level. To refine a body with the Vajra Iron Bone. After a long while, Chen Yuan exhaled a breath of turbid air and took out a piece of shiny, mysterious paper from his chest, starting to ponder over it carefully. Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, expressionless. Ordinary Body Refining Techniques record three times of blood cleansing inside the body, also known as Blood Exchange. However, the Vajra Glaze Body requires nine Blood Refinings until the blood in one¡¯s body glows with a pale golden light. The strength will surge, and both the meridians and bones will greatly strengthen during the cleansing, laying the foundation for future cultivation. Without hesitation, Chen Yuan knew that although nine Blood Refinings would increase the need for resources several times over, it could pave the way for the future. The path of cultivation is about moving forward step by step. If the road ahead is well laid, the future will be smooth. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co A night passed without words. Chen Yuan woke up early, and before dawn, he went to the small courtyard to practice his swordplay until a thick heat began to emanate from his body before slowly ceasing. If nothing unexpected happened, he would still patrol unremarkably for the day. For the ordinary Government Officials in the Ping¡¯an County Government, they actually didn¡¯t look forward to encountering traces of Demon Dao thieves, but with strict orders from above, no one dared to protest. Sword in hand, Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze was sharp like an eagle¡¯s as he led four White Servants patrolling the streets, questioning anyone who appeared suspicious. Suddenly, Chen Yuan¡¯s ears twitched, and in an instant, he sidestepped and whipped out his long sword, slicing at something that was approaching. ¡°Snap.¡± It was a wooden stick used to prop up a window, which Chen Yuan cleaved in two with his sword. Above, a beautiful woman with a pretty face let out a scream, standing at the window stunned and panicked. Chen Yuan furrowed his brows slightly and exchanged a glance with the gorgeous woman upstairs. Such a familiar scenario! This doesn¡¯t seem to be Qinghe County either¡­ ¡°Presumptuous!¡± a White Servant beside Chen Yuan suddenly reprimanded the woman above. Chen Yuan raised his hand, stopping their movements, and said in a low voice, ¡°Continue patrolling.¡± The White Servants exchanged glances, not daring to argue. Casting another glance at the frozen beautiful woman by the window, Chen Yuan turned and shook his head; he had no interest in being some lord from the West Gate. Right now, his goal was strength, making money! And the Huang Family¡¯s Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl! However, Chen Yuan wasn¡¯t sure how to go about it for the time being. Compared to him, the Huang Family had power and influence, and Huang Xing was his immediate superior, with far more strength than him. It was not an easy target to strike, and during the patrolling intervals over the past few days, Chen Yuan had been pondering without much clue. The only bit of progress was that Chen Yuan had intentionally gotten somewhat closer to Huang Xing, but with dozens of Government Officials under his command, his impression of Chen Yuan was probably not very deep. After all, Chen Yuan had only joined the County Government for a year. In the dead of night. Wrapped in black clothes, Chen Yuan left the small courtyard without a sound; seven days had passed, and it was time for Old Sixth Song¡¯s Tiger Bone Pill to be ready. Without elixirs to aid him, the speed of cultivation would plummet, not to mention that the Vajra Glaze Body required nine Blood Refinings, making the process several times more difficult than ordinary Body Refinement Techniques. Still in Old Sixth Song¡¯s quiet courtyard, Chen Yuan observed from the outside for a long while, confirming there were no problems before vaulting over the wall to enter. Walking quietly to the door, Chen Yuan knocked lightly. ¡°Knock knock¡­¡± Song Lao Liu, seated within the room, instantly opened his eyes, flashing a glint of sharpness as he spoke softly: ¡°Brother, please come in.¡± Feeling the black kerchief on his face, Chen Yuan pushed the door open and entered. The candlelight in the room flared up in an instant, revealing Song Lao Liu¡¯s figure, and the two men locked eyes for a brief moment. Song Lao Liu was the first to speak: ¡°I wonder where Brother has been to actually find Song¡¯s offer of Tiger Bone Pills for sale.¡± ¡°I have long heard of Brother Song¡¯s reputation, which is why I dared to disturb you. I hope Brother Song is not annoyed,¡± Chen Yuan said with a cupped fist salute. ¡°Annoyed? That¡¯s not something to speak of, Brother, please have a seat¡­¡± Without any pretense, Chen Yuan sat opposite Song Lao Liu. Song Lao Liu pointed to a wooden box in front of him and said: ¡°Inside is the Tiger Bone Pill you requested. Feel free to examine it.¡± Chen Yuan nodded, took the box with great care, and gently opened it. Three thumb-sized, jet-black pills lay within. Drawing closer to smell, there was a distinctive pungent odor, undoubtedly that of the Tiger Bone Pill. After securing the elixir, Chen Yuan tossed a brocade pouch onto the table: ¡°Here is the remaining silver.¡± Song Lao Liu did not even look, merely chuckling lightly: ¡°Song has faith in you, Brother.¡± ¡°Brother Song is straightforward. If I seek elixirs again, I will certainly go through Brother Song¡¯s channels¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s hoarse voice came from beneath the kerchief. However, Song Lao Liu was staring into Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes, smiling and asking: ¡°To be friends with Brother is also Song¡¯s fortune. I haven¡¯t yet asked, what name does Brother go by?¡± Chen Yuan paused for a moment before uttering two words: ¡°Yuan Chen!¡± ¡°So you are Brother Yuan¡­¡± Song Lao Liu nodded, not prying further as he obviously understood the name to be a pseudonym. ¡°Is Brother Yuan using the Tiger Bone Pills for cultivation?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Has Brother Yuan stepped into Bone Refining?¡± Suddenly, Song Lao Liu asked in a low voice. Chen Yuan stared at him and shook his head: ¡°Just shy of it.¡± Speaking of strength, Chen Yuan¡¯s power at the Blood Refining Level was also among the top tier, greatly enhanced by the Vajra Glaze Body. Disappointment flashed in Song Lao Liu¡¯s eyes. ¡°What, Brother Song is looking for a Bone Refining expert?¡± ¡°Indeed, there is a matter for which I hope to engage the services of a Bone Refining expert. Does Brother Yuan have any acquaintances to recommend?¡± Song Lao Liu¡¯s eyes held a hopeful expression. ¡°After I return, I will make inquiries. May I know what task requires a Bone Refining expert?¡± ¡°Rest assured, Brother Yuan, it¡¯s nothing dangerous. If a Bone Refining expert is willing to assist, Song is willing to offer fifty taels of silver as a reward.¡± Song Lao Liu stretched out five fingers. ¡°Fifty taels!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s heart stirred. This signified five Tiger Bone Pills, enough to greatly advance his cultivation. Advancing the Vajra Glaze Body required nine cycles of Blood Refining, and the time consumed was too long; Chen Yuan did not wish to cultivate slowly. ¡°Is it necessary for the expert to be at the Bone Refining Level to assist Brother Song?¡± Song Lao Liu hesitated for a moment before speaking softly: ¡°A Blood Refining Martial Artist might also suffice, though it involves some risk.¡± Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Plotting Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Plotting ¡°Oh? Please elaborate, Brother Song,¡± Chen Yuan whispered. ¡°Have you heard of Tie Shou, who was formidable for a time?¡± ¡°I have heard a bit about him.¡± More than just a bit, he died by my hand, Chen Yuan thought to himself. ¡°If someone has the strength not inferior to Tie Shou, the danger should not be too great.¡± Song Lao Liu spoke in a subdued voice. Chen Yuan gave Song Lao Liu a long look and then suddenly smiled, ¡°Brother Song¡¯s words are quite coincidental. Not long before Tie Shou¡¯s death, Yuan had sparred with him and we were evenly matched¡­¡± ¡°Oh, Brother Yuan actually has such strength!¡± Song Lao Liu had a face full of surprise and joy. Then, he sincerely said, ¡°Please help Song out, Brother Yuan. After the matter is settled, fifty silvers will be yours with no regrets!¡± ¡°I still do not know what exactly Brother Song is talking about, how could I dare agree?¡± Chen Yuan said unhurriedly. Song Lao Liu¡¯s gaze began to shift evasively, but it soon steadied, and he whispered, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°The favor Song wants to ask of Brother Yuan is actually to kill someone.¡± ¡°Who does Brother Song wish to kill that it¡¯s worth fifty pieces of silver?¡± Chen Yuan asked in a serious tone. ¡°Song¡¯s wife, Tie Qinghua!¡± ¡°Who does Brother Song want to kill?¡± Chen Yuan raised his voice a notch. He never expected that the person Song Lao Liu wanted to kill would be his own wife¡ªtruly¡­ a peculiar turn of events. ¡°Brother Yuan doesn¡¯t know the full situation. Song really has no choice but to do this. Tie Qinghua cannot bear children, and she doesn¡¯t allow Song to take a concubine.¡± ¡°The several concubines that Song was keeping outside have all been killed by that venomous woman, Tie Qinghua. She even said that if it happened one more time, she would take Song¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Since Brother Yuan has come to seek Song out this time, maybe Tie Qinghua already knows. Song can only strike first for self-protection and take the initiative!¡± ¡°Tie Qinghua is powerful, with few rivals at the Blood Refining Level. Therefore, Song thought of finding a martial artist at the Bone Refining Level to eliminate her!¡± A glint of murderous intent flashed in Song Lao Liu¡¯s eyes. ¡°The Tie Qinghua that Brother Song speaks of, I wonder what her relation is to Tie Xuan from the county government prison in Ping¡¯an County?¡± Chen Yuan looked steadily at Song Lao Liu. The surname Tie is not common in Ping¡¯an County, and Chen Yuan only knew a few bearers of it, including the prison head, Tie Xuan! This man is a more formidable expert than Huang Xing, with Bone Refining Cultivation, in charge of the prison¡¯s three divisions and six chambers, wielding no small power. If not for the backing of the Huang Family supporting Huang Xing, it is still uncertain to whom the position of arrest officer would belong. Song Lao Liu felt a bit embarrassed, not expecting the person in front of him to know of Tie Xuan; he thus spoke truthfully, ¡°I won¡¯t hide it from Brother Yuan, Tie Xuan is indeed Tie Qinghua¡¯s elder brother.¡± ¡°Brother Song, killing Tie Qinghua would mean offending Tie Xuan, a formidable expert¡ªthat¡¯s too great a risk, the loss would exceed the gain¡­¡± Chen Yuan said, shaking his head after a moment of silence. Seeing Yuan Chen hesitate, Song Lao Liu hastily said, ¡°As long as Tie Qinghua is killed, Brother Yuan can travel far and wide, unreachable. Could Tie Xuan¡¯s reach extend that far? Those fifty silvers might even enable Brother Yuan to advance to the Bone Refining Level.¡± Chen Yuan looked at Song Lao Liu with an almost amused expression, speaking softly, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to do it, but the price has to be higher!¡± ¡°Tie Qinghua¡¯s strength is extraordinary, and with a brother like Tie Xuan, the danger is too great. Without the lack of cultivation resources, Yuan would never take such a risk.¡± ¡°How much does Brother Yuan want?¡± Song Lao Liu asked urgently. ¡°One hundred silvers!¡± ¡°Fine, one hundred taels it is, after the deed is done, Song¡­¡± Chen Yuan cut off Song Laoliu¡¯s words, whispering: ¡°I want those one hundred taels now!¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible; if Brother Yuan takes the money and doesn¡¯t do the job, wouldn¡¯t I be throwing my money to the winds?¡± Song Laoliu frowned. ¡°And if Brother Song reneges after the deed is done, what should Yuan do then?¡± Chen Yuan and Song Laoliu exchanged a glance, smiled at each other, and Song Laoliu said: ¡°In that case, how about I first hand over thirty taels of silver as a deposit, and after Tie Qinghua¡¯s death, I¡¯ll give the remaining seventy taels to Brother Yuan?¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Chen Yuan revealed a slight smile; the silver he had just spent had come back to him. After a while, having discussed the details, Chen Yuan left with thirty taels of silver and three Tiger Bone Pills. Inside the room, Song Laoliu¡¯s mouth curled up slightly in disdain, he said: ¡°Thinking you can take my money? You¡¯re not worthy!¡± ¡­ ¡°Tsk, trying to deceive me, haha¡­¡± Chen Yuan glanced back at the courtyard, his eyes full of cold intent. Perhaps from the very beginning, Song Laoliu had intended to use him as a pawn, which is why he had indirectly gauged Chen Yuan¡¯s strength and calculated his lack of cultivation resources, luring him with the promise of fifty taels of silver. Then he feigned saying that if one had the strength of Tie Shou, it could be done as well. This was entirely in line with what Chen Yuan had said before, for he had mentioned that he was only a step away from reaching the Bone Refining level; naturally, his strength wouldn¡¯t be weak. If Chen Yuan hadn¡¯t asked about Tie Xuan, Song Laoliu would likely have kept that information hidden as well. However, after deducing Song Laoliu¡¯s plan, Chen Yuan still decided to cooperate because he was indeed in dire need of silver. If he didn¡¯t take this opportunity, once he finished using the three Tiger Bone Pills, he would have to find another way to get money. If this went well, he might even be able to earn some extra silver, and possibly even gain the connections of the prison head, Tie Xuan. If Chen Yuan wasn¡¯t mistaken about Song Laoliu¡¯s plan, it must involve waiting for him to kill Tie Qinghua and then unexpectedly striking to silence him. By doing so, he could explain himself to Tie Xuan. Otherwise, with his own sister dying tragically, how could Tie Xuan just let it go? Would he not suspect Song Laoliu¡¯s involvement? Does he really think Tie Xuan is a fool? Back at his home, Chen Yuan couldn¡¯t wait to take out the three Tiger Bone Pills he had bought from Song Laoliu, his eyes burning with eagerness. Three Tiger Bone Pills were enough to advance him a step further in the Blood Refining Level. He and Song Laoliu had agreed on a three-day period because Chen Yuan needed to fully assimilate the Tiger Bone Pills to enhance his strength within those three days. Ordinary people, when assimilating elixirs, usually take half a month or even a month to assimilate one without affecting their foundations, allowing them to maximize the potency of the medicine. But Chen Yuan was somewhat different because Vajra Glaze Body, this divine skill, wasn¡¯t like ordinary Body Refining Techniques. Practicing under the scorching sun, he could assimilate elixirs very quickly. Of course, continuously assimilating elixirs could lead to an unstable foundation. However, once the elixirs were assimilated, smoothing out some of the volatile Qi and Blood wouldn¡¯t be a big problem. He could completely manage one Tiger Bone Pill a day in the short term! This was one of the marvels of Vajra Glaze Body. It even made Chen Yuan marvel, thinking it truly deserved its reputation as one of the top Body Refinement skills in Buddhism, renowned throughout the land. It was exactly because of the marvel of Vajra Glaze Body that Chen Yuan became so interested in the Huang Family¡¯s Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl. Although he didn¡¯t know the true value of the Marrow Cleansing Spirit, just by Vajra Glaze Body alone, he could determine that it must be of immense help to him, perhaps even more precious than Vajra Glaze Body itself. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Tie Qinghua Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Tie Qinghua Three days had passed quietly. In the County Government, it was still the boring routine of patrolling every day, and the higher-ups had already grown more and more hopeless about any clues regarding the remnants of the No-Life Sect. Trying to track them down without any leads was like finding a needle in a haystack, with slim chances. Chen Yuan spent three days refining three Tiger Bone Pills, one per day, and had successfully advanced in Blood Refining twice, with his strength surging further. While cultivating, Chen Yuan also calculated that the first Blood Refining took him two Tiger Bone Pills, the second Blood Refining hadn¡¯t been completely successful, but he estimated that it would take at least two to three Tiger Bone Pills. For the third time, it would likely require four to five Tiger Bone Pills, or even double the amount, to succeed. This alarmed Chen Yuan; if it were true that the requirement doubled each time, wouldn¡¯t he need a hundred Tiger Bone Pills to reach the Perfection of Blood Refining? A single Tiger Bone Pill costs at least ten taels of silver, a hundred would be a thousand taels! To Chen Yuan at present, that number was astronomical, the equivalent of several decades¡¯ worth of his salary. Of course, these were Chen Yuan¡¯s arbitrary speculations; in reality, it might not take that many. Otherwise, looking across the world, there wouldn¡¯t be so many Martial Artists. Furthermore, the Cultivation Technique Chen Yuan practiced was different from the Body Refining Techniques, although he did not know how common Body Refining Techniques worked in Blood Refining, Chen Yuan reckoned that it definitely wouldn¡¯t be easy. Otherwise, Ping¡¯an County would not have so many Blood Refining Constables, with only a few Bone Refining Martial Artists. From this, one could see the difficulty in reaching Bone Refining. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co However, refining the body with common techniques would certainly be a lot easier. The sky was filled with a continuous, fine drizzle, and the dim night was approaching. Chen Yuan, in a black robe, arrived at a large mansion in South City. This was the Song residence, or perhaps more aptly called the Tie residence, since Chen Yuan, after several days of meticulous investigation, also finally understood why Song Lao Liu harbored such intense murderous intentions. It was entirely because the Song residence was essentially controlled by Tie Qinghua; Song Lao Liu¡¯s power wasn¡¯t as substantial as imagined, hence his plan to kill Tie Qinghua and monopolize the estate. The Song residence was heavily guarded, including several Martial Artists at the Blood Refining Level, all hired by Tie Qinghua at great expense. As for Bone Refining Martial Artists, she didn¡¯t yet dare to employ them. Who knew if in the end, they would turn against her? Although there were many experts in the Song residence, Chen Yuan wasn¡¯t worried about being discovered, because Song Lao Liu had already made all the preparations and was just waiting for him to make his move. Chen Yuan had memorized the entire layout of the patrols in the Song residence; any unavoidable guards would be diverted tonight through other means by Song Lao Liu. In short, he was paving the back door wide open for Chen Yuan. A proper back door. After a quick look around, Chen Yuan held his breath, his face solemn as he slowly moved towards the direction indicated by Song Lao Liu. Along the way, Chen Yuan encountered protectors and maids, but was not discovered. Soon, Chen Yuan passed through several gates and arrived at the courtyard where Tie Qinghua lived. Tie Qinghua liked quietness and had long been sleeping in separate rooms from Song Lao Liu, which was one of the reasons he dared to hire Chen Yuan to kill Tie Qinghua in the Song residence. Even if Tie Qinghua died, it would be very difficult for Tie Xuan to suspect him. To avoid any accidents, Song Lao Liu had informed Chen Yuan that he would poison Tie Qinghua¡¯s food today. The poison was mild, difficult to detect, and its sole purpose was to cause her blood flow to be sluggish and unable to muster her full strength. This would allow Chen Yuan to deliver a fatal blow! To be honest, Chen Yuan couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Song Lao Liu¡¯s ruthlessness, capable of such decisive action despite years of marriage. The room was brightly lit by candles, casting the silhouette of a beautiful figure. Chen Yuan raised his hand and knocked on the window. ¡°Knock, knock¡­¡± Inside the room, Tie Qinghua, in a plain Qing-colored robe, frowned as she looked at account books, deep in thought. Hearing the knock at the door, she said irritably, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Lady, the master sent me to retrieve an item,¡± Chen Yuan said, his voice subdued. ¡°What item?¡± Tie Qinghua was somewhat puzzled, asking as she opened the door. ¡°Creak!¡± The moment the door opened, Tie Qinghua immediately saw Chen Yuan¡¯s indifferent eyes through the black cloth covering his face, followed by a cold voice: ¡°I¡¯ve come for your life!¡± ¡°Whoosh!¡± A flash of white light from a blade shone as Chen Yuan instantly utilized his Sword Drawing Skill! Tie Qinghua¡¯s heart tightened, and without thinking, she quickly retreated, trying to dodge the blade. She also lifted her right leg, aiming a kick at Chen Yuan¡¯s chest, but as her Qi and blood surged, it suddenly stalled, preventing the flow. She could only watch helplessly as the blade¡¯s light shone brightly before her eyes. ¡°Rip!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s blade slashed across the front of Tie Qinghua¡¯s chest. However, he controlled his force well, merely shredding her clothes to reveal the white undergarment beneath. Afterwards, Chen Yuan planted a palm on Tie Qinghua¡¯s chest, sending her flying back several meters to crash onto a nearby table. The table shattered, and just as Tie Qinghua tried to get up, the long blade was already positioned before her neck. Chen Yuan chuckled softly, looking down at Tie Qinghua on the ground and asked, ¡°How about that?¡± Tie Qinghua¡¯s appearance was not unattractive, quite average, possibly due to her long years of martial training, which made her frame appear somewhat larger. Completely unlike the delicate beauty described in books, perhaps this was one of the reasons why Mr. Song had little interest in her. Of course, this was just Chen Yuan¡¯s speculation. Feeling a chilling sensation on her neck, Tie Qinghua was shocked. She tried to calm her spirit and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what offense Qinghua might have caused to offend you to the extent of breaking into my home to kill me?¡± Chen Yuan chuckled lightly and shook his head: ¡°I just mentioned, the master sent me to retrieve an item, and that item¡­¡± Chen Yuan paused momentarily then continued: ¡°¡­is your life!¡± Tie Qinghua¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, ¡°Was it Mr. Song who hired you?¡± ¡°Congratulations, you guessed correctly.¡± ¡°Impossible, impossible, how could Mr. Song dare to kill me? Doesn¡¯t he know that if I die, my brother will certainly not spare him!¡± Tie Qinghua clenched her teeth. ¡°Of course, he doesn¡¯t dare to kill you openly. That¡¯s why he hired me to do it. The reward is one hundred taels of silver. Does Lady Tie think this price is right?¡± Chen Yuan gazed at Tie Qinghua. ¡°Why should I believe what you¡¯re saying?¡± Tie Qinghua suddenly said. ¡°With the blade at your neck, isn¡¯t that enough for Lady Tie to believe what Yuan says?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just your side of the story!¡± ¡°Does Lady Tie really think so? Mr. Song¡¯s residence is strictly guarded, with many martial artists patrolling. Could my finding you so easily just be luck?¡± ¡°The relationship between you and Mr. Song, perhaps I don¡¯t need to elaborate, as you¡¯ve probably already believed it was Mr. Song who sent me.¡± ¡°However, by talking so much, you¡¯re probably just waiting for reinforcements.¡± ¡°Am I right, Lady Tie?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Request for monthly tickets! Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Cooperation Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Cooperation Chen Yuan looked at Tie Qinghua, his tone slightly rising as if he had already seen through her thoughts. ¡°Since you understand everything, why not take action immediately instead of explaining so much?¡± Tie Qinghua didn¡¯t show the annoyance of being seen through but instead forced herself to remain calm. Being able to control such a large enterprise and force Old Sixth Song to resort to such lowly tactics, how could Tie Qinghua be the jealous woman Old Sixth Song described? Although she had her brother Tie Xuan backing her, Tie Qinghua¡¯s intelligence was certainly not less than an ordinary person¡¯s. She quickly picked up on something from Chen Yuan¡¯s words. ¡°Lady Tie is indeed clever, heh, yes, Yuan here has no intention of killing Lady Tie, and I can guess some of Old Sixth Song¡¯s plans.¡± ¡°To use me as a knife, and after killing Lady Tie, he would probably immediately jump out and kill me, to give an explanation to your brother Tie Xuan.¡± ¡°Yuan has been in Jianghu for quite some years now, how could I not guess his plans?¡± Chen Yuan said calmly, without a trace of arrogance. ¡°Then¡­ does your plan involve sparing me?¡± A glimmer of hope flashed in Tie Qinghua¡¯s eyes. Who would choose death if they could live? ¡°That depends on what terms Lady Tie can offer¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s mouth curved slightly. ¡°If Old Sixth Song is paying a hundred taels for my life, then Qinghua will offer two hundred taels to buy my life, what do you think?¡± Tie Qinghua said in a deep voice. Chen Yuan shook his head: ¡°Not acceptable¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Tie Qinghua frowned and said in a low voice: ¡°That¡¯s all the silver Qinghua can offer. Gambling dens and brothels might seem like gold mines, but the real profits all go to my brother to manage the officials of Ping¡¯an County big and small.¡± ¡°And some must be retained for cultivation, moreover, South City is not like North City, dominated by the Beihai Gang, there are several powers at odds with each other¡­¡± Chen Yuan gestured with his hand, stopping Tie Qinghua¡¯s lament: ¡°Twenty Tiger Bone Pills in exchange for your life!¡± ¡°Tiger Bone Pills¡­¡± Tie Qinghua looked into Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes which showed no hesitation, and as if he was impatient with further bargaining, she quickly nodded: ¡°Agreed!¡± ¡°But¡­ I need time; Tiger Bone Pills are not like ordinary elixirs, no one in Ping¡¯an County can refine them.¡± ¡°How long do you need?¡± ¡°One month.¡± ¡°Twenty days.¡± ¡°Fine!¡± Tie Qinghua didn¡¯t hesitate for an instant. ¡°To ensure our cooperation goes a little smoother, you don¡¯t need Yuan here to say more, do you?¡± Chen Yuan produced a black porcelain bottle from his chest. On it were no patterns, appearing like an exceedingly ordinary bottle. But Tie Qinghua dared not underestimate it. Chen Yuan tossed the porcelain bottle to Tie Qinghua. She opened the bottle, poured out a dark, shiny elixir that emitted a faint, fishy odor. After a moment of silence, Tie Qinghua swallowed the elixir and then stared at Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan removed the long knife from Tie Qinghua¡¯s neck and spoke softly: ¡°Lady Tie should not think about finding someone to detoxify the poison. This is a Highly Toxic Pill Yuan happened upon by chance, rare in this world, hiding in the organs and cannot be expelled from the body. If the antidote is not found within a month, it will invade the meridians and blood.¡± ¡°Of course, if Lady Tie finds some Detoxification Elixir, there might still be a chance.¡± ¡°Thank you for the warning, Brother Yuan, Qinghua understands.¡± Tie Qinghua took a deep breath. ¡°Very good, Yuan does this also to give us both peace of mind.¡± Tie Qinghua stood up from the ground, ignoring Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze, tightly bound her slit-open robe with a ribbon, her voluptuous chest now apparent. ¡°I want to know, why did Song Laoliu want to kill me?¡± ¡°Brother Song merely said that Lady Tie is a jealous woman, unable to bear heirs, yet not allowing him to take a concubine. The several mistresses he kept were killed by the Lady.¡± ¡°He does not want to endure this kind of stifling life any longer, haha, of course¡­ As for the specific circumstances, Yuan does not know!¡± Tie Qinghua¡¯s eyes filled with rage: ¡°Why can¡¯t I bear heirs, isn¡¯t it because once¡­¡± Tie Qinghua stopped speaking halfway, evidently realizing that Chen Yuan, an outsider, was still present. Chen Yuan watched the scene with great interest; family ethics and such, he loved to see the most. ¡°Where is Song Laoliu at this moment?¡± Tie Qinghua said, her presence enveloped by murderous intent and a trace of desolation. Even a day as husband and wife earns one a hundred days of grace, a hundred days as a couple feels as deep as the sea. Not to mention the bond of over ten years of marriage they shared. Song Laoliu actually didn¡¯t care at all and wanted to kill her. Without her help, Song Laoliu would still be that small-time thug roaming the criminal underworld; how could he possess his current status and power? In the South City territory, mentioning Song Laoliu¡¯s name would strike a chord, a character of note! ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, he should be nearby, just waiting for my success here, and he will likely kill his way out immediately!¡± Chen Yuan said. ¡°I want to confront him face to face, and I ask for Brother Yuan¡¯s assistance,¡± Tie Qinghua said softly. Chen Yuan nodded: ¡°Sure, Yuan has always been happy to help others.¡± Stopping at the door, Chen Yuan gathered his strength and struck the door with his palm, making a huge noise that seemed to serve as a signal. In just an instant, Song Laoliu¡¯s voice emerged from nearby, shouting: ¡°Thieves have forced their way in, hurry to protect the Lady!¡± Immediately after, three figures moved towards Tie Qinghua¡¯s small courtyard with incredible speed, while the Protectors of the Song residence were also alarmed. Torches were lit, cries filled the air. Hearing such sounds, Tie Qinghua¡¯s face turned even more ashen, the man surnamed Yuan was right, Song Laoliu indeed wanted her dead. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have responded so quickly. When the man surnamed Yuan mentioned it earlier, Tie Qinghua still harbored a sliver of hope, hoping Song Laoliu was not such a heartless man. But now¡­ Chen Yuan did not leave, slowly entering the room, stood behind the screen with a knife in hand, ready to watch the drama unfold. Now that the Song residence was on high alert, it would be difficult for Chen Yuan to leave without making a sound, of course, he was not afraid of Tie Qinghua having second thoughts. With his current strength, as long as it wasn¡¯t someone from the Bone Refining Realm or a particularly strong presence within the Blood Refining Level, nobody could stop him. The Vajra Glaze Body divine skill he learned, the boost it provided to Chen Yuan was not just talk. At the Skin Refining Realm, he could match someone at the Blood Refining Level. Although he had only undergone Blood Refining once and had not succeeded a second time, he already belonged to the ranks of the strong within the Blood Refining Level. When it comes to strength alone, Chen Yuan even felt he could contend with Tie Shou. As for Martial Artists at the Bone Refining Level, Chen Yuan had not yet crossed hands with any, but he supposed he was not a match for them at present. However, it didn¡¯t matter. It was improbable for the Song residence to have a Martial Artist of the Bone Refining Level stationed there. A master of such caliber wouldn¡¯t stoop to serve as a mere household Protector. And it was even less likely for the prison head Tie Xuan to be living at the Song residence. Chen Yuan valued his own safety highly and wouldn¡¯t put himself at risk. Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19 The Person Behind Song Lao Liu Chapter 19: Chapter 19 The Person Behind Song Lao Liu Soon, bursts of footsteps reached the ears of Tie Qinghua and Chen Yuan. Outside the small courtyard. Song Lao Liu looked ahead, his heart stirring, finally able to kill this wicked woman and finally able to become his own master. Tie Xuan¡­hah. ¡°Break in, we mustn¡¯t let the thief escape!¡± Song Lao Liu ordered loudly, charging in first with a dozen Protectors armed with knives shouting behind him. After Chen Yuan had gone in, Song Lao Liu had been watching him closely, very certain he couldn¡¯t escape. Killing him for revenge on behalf of Tie Qinghua, even under the furious wrath of Tie Xuan, would merit nothing more than a scolding at most. And he had found a strong patron long ago, otherwise, how would he dare to lay a hand on Tie Qinghua? ¡°Lady, lady¡­¡± Song Lao Liu burst into the room with a look of urgency, expecting to see a body collapsed on the floor. Before his heart could even rejoice, he saw Tie Qinghua looking at him with a face full of hatred and somewhat unable to accept the sight before her. ¡°La¡­lady, you are unharmed¡­ truly, that is wonderful, where is the thief?¡± Although his heart was fillled with shock and rage, Song Lao Liu quickly changed his expression. Altering it to one of surprise and deep concern. However, Tie Qinghua was no longer deceived by this facade, watching Song Lao Liu coldly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Timely, Chen Yuan coughed lightly: ¡°Brother Song, Yuan is right here!¡± Song Lao Liu¡¯s face stiffened, goosebumps forming on his body as he turned to look towards the screen not far away, with Chen Yuan slowly appearing, holding a long knife. Locking eyes with Song Lao Liu for a moment. At the doorway, several Protectors saw the stern expression on Tie Qinghua¡¯s face and glanced at each other, not quite understanding what was happening. Nor daring to take any rash action. Song Lao Liu¡¯s eyes flickered with murderous intent, now realizing that this man surnamed Yuan had tricked him. ¡°Scoundrel!¡± ¡°You Song, I gave you status, gave you power, and this is how you repay me!¡± Tie Qinghua¡¯s face was full of fury. ¡°Qingqing, listen to my explanation,¡± Song Lao Liu swallowed, invoking Tie Qinghua¡¯s nickname. ¡°Alright then, explain it¡­¡± Chen Yuan was somewhat surprised; he had thought that Tie Qinghua would say something like, ¡®I¡¯m not listening, I¡¯m not listening.¡¯ ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Song Lao Liu was momentarily at a loss for words. Seeing the look of disappointment on Tie Qinghua¡¯s face, he hurriedly said: ¡°I was confused for a moment, Qingqing¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Tie Qinghua stood up and rebuked him. ¡°You Song, since you are so heartless, don¡¯t blame me for not considering our marital feelings anymore¡­¡± ¡°Qingqing, I was confused for a moment, yes, I was misled by this scoundrel,¡± Song Lao Liu pointed at Chen Yuan standing aside. ¡°At this point, you still have excuses, I¡¯m truly blind,¡± Tie Qinghua¡¯s eyes shimmered with tears. Seeing that he was doomed, Song Lao Liu¡¯s expression turned gloomy: ¡°Qingqing, what I did, I did out of necessity, for I don¡¯t want the Song Family to end with me.¡± ¡°You still have the cheek to say that, why can¡¯t I bear a child? Isn¡¯t it because I was severely injured while saving you from robbers in the past? What did you say then, that you would not fail me in this life¡­ ¡°Hah, and now you send people to kill me?¡± Tie Qinghua quickly moved to the bedside, grabbed a long spear, and pointed it at Song Lao Liu rebuking: ¡°Since you have betrayed me, then I shall fulfill the vow I made back then and kill you!¡± Song Lao Liu blanched, turning around trying to flee. ¡°Stop him!¡± Tie Qinghua shouted, and the few Protectors at the door exchanged looks, simultaneously saying: ¡°Yes!¡± The crowd drew their knives and attacked Song Lao Liu, who then slashed off the arm of the first Protector who approached, shouting: ¡°Scram!¡± The men were frightened but still dared not disobey Tie Qinghua¡¯s orders, pressing forward. Taking advantage of the moment, Tie Qinghua crossed dozens of steps in an instant, sending a cold gleam of her spear toward Song Lao Liu. ¡°Ding.¡± The sound of metal clashing rang out as Old Six Song turned around to block a spear. Immediately following was a flurry of combat, Tie Qinghua¡¯s spear technique was swift, and her strength was extraordinary, striking a tree trunk thick as a bowl in the courtyard. ¡°Bang!¡± The tree was snapped by a spear strike, with flashes of cold light stabbing, whipping, or flicking, knocking Old Six Song¡¯s long knife to the ground, as the spear pierced into his shoulder bone. ¡°Ah!¡± Old Six Song cried out in pain. ¡°Qingqing, don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t kill me.¡± Tie Qinghua didn¡¯t answer, her spear penetrated through the shoulder bone, leaving a bloody hole. ¡°Lady Tie, please hold your hand¡­¡± Chen Yuan suddenly spoke. Tie Qinghua¡¯s spear tip rested against Old Six Song¡¯s neck as she looked toward Chen Yuan. ¡°Brother Yuan, what is the matter?¡± Chen Yuan stepped forward slowly, ignoring the wary expressions of the Song Family¡¯s Protectors, and looked down at Old Six Song, saying: ¡°Doesn¡¯t Lady Tie want to know who¡¯s been backing Old Six Song from behind?¡± Tie Qinghua frowned slightly: ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Although I have only met Brother Song a few times, I surmise based on his cautious nature, that he wouldn¡¯t rashly make a move on Lady Tie?¡± ¡°You should know, killing Lady Tie might lead her brother to no longer support Old Six Song, and he might even suspect the role Old Six Song has played.¡± ¡°Old Six Song¡¯s foundations in South City¡ªif not supported by her brother, how could they withstand? Old Six Song must know the secrets involved.¡± ¡°Thus, I surmise, Old Six Song must be supported by someone from behind.¡± Chen Yuan smiled lightly, looking at Old Six Song: ¡°Brother Song, am I right?¡± Tie Qinghua¡¯s expression faltered as she also figured out the implications. Indeed, by killing her, could he control all the foundations? You should know, all these foundations are backed by her brother, Tie Xuan. Without him, Old Six Song would surely lose everything. ¡°You¡­ who exactly are you?¡± Old Six Song¡¯s face was terrified, as if he couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°It seems, I guessed right¡­¡± Chen Yuan smiled. Tie Qinghua felt a chill on her back, realizing Old Six Song was actually conspiring with others to seize the Tie Family¡¯s foundations, even¡­ it was aimed at her brother, Tie Xuan. ¡°You all go down¡­¡± Tie Qinghua instructed the Protectors. ¡°Yes.¡± The crowd retreated, leaving only Chen Yuan and two others behind. Although Tie Qinghua also signaled Chen Yuan to leave, he pretended not to see it. ¡°Surname Song¡­¡± Tie Qinghua was full of anger, her face cold as she wanted to ask who was behind all this. Chen Yuan interrupted Tie Qinghua¡¯s questioning, saying: ¡°Lady Tie, Brother Song won¡¯t confess so easily.¡± ¡°Do you have a way?¡± Chen Yuan smiled, stepped forward, lifted his foot, and pressed down on one of Old Six Song¡¯s fingers, applying slight pressure. ¡°Ah¡­ah¡­.¡± As fingers are connected to the heart, Old Six Song¡¯s face contorted in agony, unable to suppress his cries of pain. ¡°Stop¡­stop¡­¡± Chen Yuan paid him no mind, one by one, he crushed the fingers of Old Six Song¡¯s left hand into mush, with blood soaking into the ground. ¡°Brother Song, can you talk now?¡± ¡°You¡­ just ask me!!!¡± Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Is it him in Chapter 20? Chapter 20: Is it him in Chapter 20? ¡°You¡­ you just ask¡­¡± Song Lao Liu¡¯s face expressed immense pain. He had wanted to speak when the first finger was crushed, but Chen Yuan didn¡¯t give him the chance, instead crushing all five of his fingers at once. But he just wouldn¡¯t ask! Chen Yuan smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s not too late to talk now. You still have one palm and both feet left.¡± Indeed, Chen Yuan wanted to torture Song Lao Liu. Had Chen Yuan not been vigilant and uncovered Song Lao Liu¡¯s conspiracy earlier, he might have really fallen into his trap this time. By then, even if he claimed it was Song Lao Liu¡¯s doing, others would consider it slander. Having learned that his Golden Finger involved killing those with Qi Fortune in the world, Chen Yuan had prepared himself to play the role of a villain. So, he didn¡¯t feel any psychological burden. The reason he could change his mindset so quickly was that even in his previous life, he was a self-centered person,¡ªnot just him, but most people were self-centered. If man does not do for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him! As the saying goes, good people don¡¯t get rewarded, and bad people wear official hats. In this extremely dangerous supernatural world, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t want to be a saintly figure. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co There were too many saints; they wouldn¡¯t miss one less. Tie Qinghua, seeing Chen Yuan¡¯s deliberate actions, also felt a sense of relief, already deciding to severely torture Song Lao Liu, this bastard. Song Lao Liu, gasping for air, said in a low voice, ¡°It was Huang Xing.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Huang Xing?¡± Chen Yuan and Tie Qinghua asked at the same time. ¡°Yes, Huang Xing promised me that as long as I helped him kill Tie Xuan, all these properties would belong to me, and the Huang Family would become my backing.¡± Song Lao Liu did not dare to conceal anything, fearing that Chen Yuan would crush his other hand into mud too. He would rather die than endure that kind of pain. ¡°To kill my brother¡­¡± Fire flashed in Tie Qinghua¡¯s eyes. She had been raised by Tie Xuan since she was a child. A brother to her like a father, her affection was very deep, so learning that Huang Xing¡¯s real target was her brother enraged her instantly. Tie Qinghua, in her fury, stabbed Song Lao Liu, creating a bloody hole in his body. ¡°How did my Tie Family wrong you for you to treat us like this¡­ even conspiring with outsiders against my brother?¡± Tie Qinghua spat out these words through clenched teeth. Song Lao Liu¡¯s face showed some shame; he opened his mouth but did not speak, fearing to further enrage this furious woman. ¡°Why does Huang Xing want to kill Tie Xuan?¡± Chen Yuan asked, frowning. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Chen Yuan stepped forward and lifted his foot to stomp on the other hand. ¡°I¡­ I really don¡¯t know¡­¡± Song Lao Liu said desperately. ¡°What else do you know?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°Since Huang Xing was backing you, why did you need to hire me to do the job? The Huang Family surely doesn¡¯t lack experts in Bone Refining, right¡­¡± Chen Yuan continued to inquire. ¡°You¡­ you were just a disposable pawn.¡± Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, thinking that made sense. Indeed, as per Song Lao Liu¡¯s plans, he was just a disposable pawn, put in place to be blamed for the incident with Tie Xuan. The Huang Family would not afford to waste an expert in Bone Refining as a pawn. Moreover, all of the renowned Bone Refining experts in Ping¡¯an County had well-known identities; it wouldn¡¯t be hard for Tie Xuan to track them down. And hiring outside experts would be too costly and not worth it. Chen Yuan was just a perfect scapegoat who had walked right into the trap. From the beginning when Chen Yuan met Old Six Song, he had probably already been plotting. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t get anything more out of the situation, Chen Yuan suggested taking his leave, as there was nothing of interest left here. ¡°Lady Tie, I shall take my leave now¡­¡± ¡°Brother Yuan, take care.¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, I have some grievances with the Huang Family as well. If you wish to seek revenge against the Huang Family, please count me in¡­¡± When it was revealed that Huang Xing was involved behind Old Six Song, Chen Yuan was actually quite pleased, as he had gained an ally. An expert at the Bone Refining Level, no less. Chen Yuan was well acquainted with the reputation of Tie Xuan, who could be called the number one expert in the Foundation Establishment Realm of the Ping¡¯an County Government, stronger than Huang Xing by a margin. His relationship with County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng was very close. Where there are people, there is Jianghu, and Ping¡¯an County Government was no exception. The two pillars of Ping¡¯an County Government, County Magistrate Li Mingqi and Wu Qingfeng, were like two major mountains. The arrest officer Huang Xing and Li Mingqi had a very close relationship. However, this was good news for Chen Yuan. Alone, Chen Yuan was absolutely no match for the Huang Family, but with the inclusion of the Jail Head Tie Xuan and County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng, the outcome was yet to be known. This could be the point that breaks the game for Chen Yuan. Tie Qinghua was momentarily stunned, gazing at Chen Yuan, and said: ¡°I will tell my brother of Brother Yuan¡¯s words.¡± ¡°That would be best.¡± Tie Qinghua: ¡°I just don¡¯t know how to contact Brother Yuan, must we wait until the Tiger Bone Pill arrives?¡± Chen Yuan thought for a moment and spoke softly: ¡°In front of Song¡¯s residence, there are two stone lions. Lady Tie, if you wish to find me, tie a red silk on one of the lions. Once I see it, I will come after midnight.¡± He could never reveal his own address as that would make it easy for Tie Xuan to guess his identity, which he did not want to expose. Staying hidden in the shadows was the most ideal way. Undercurrents flowed in Ping¡¯an County, compounded by the hidden presence of the No-Life Sect¡¯s demons. Although it seemed to have calmed on the surface, Chen Yuan was not careless. After all, Chen Ping¡¯an had died by his hand; there could well be vengeance. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Seeing that Chen Yuan did not wish to reveal his identity, Tie Qinghua felt somewhat helpless but could not push further and simply nodded in agreement. The breeze turned colder, and no candle was lit in North City. Chen Yuan returned to the small courtyard where he lived. Lying on his bed, Chen Yuan recalled the events of the night. It went well; nothing was beyond his capability, all within his expectations. Today¡¯s actions, to ensure absolute success, Chen Yuan had gone over them multiple times, checking and filling gaps, including his conversation with Tie Qinghua. Fortunately, Tie Qinghua was no fool. As for the Poison Pill given to Tie Qinghua, it was just a pill Chen Yuan made casually with herbs, completely non-toxic, let alone traceable. Chen Yuan was not omniscient and did not know everything. There was no famous poison in Ping¡¯an County, and even if there were, he couldn¡¯t acquire it. Moreover, with Tie Qinghua¡¯s capabilities, an ordinary Poison Pill could be detoxified for a great price, which is why Chen Yuan had tricked her. This was also to ensure that Tie Qinghua wouldn¡¯t do anything that would make both sides unhappy. Beyond that, today¡¯s greatest gain was securing a potential ally, the Jail Head Tie Xuan. Should they truly join forces, it would make obtaining the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl from the Huang Family much easier. Of course, Chen Yuan was also very cautious about Tie Xuan. Or rather, not just him; Chen Yuan was deeply cautious of everyone in this world. This stemmed from Chen Yuan¡¯s insecurities. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Murder, Demon! Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Murder, Demon! The next day. ¡°Swoosh!¡± Chen Yuan swung the long knife in his hand expressionlessly. Once, Twice, Three times¡­ After swinging the knife a hundred times, Chen Yuan¡¯s forehead was covered with sweat beads, and the qi and blood in his body surged. If one listened carefully, some sounds could be heard. While practicing with the sword, Chen Yuan was also cultivating. After a long while, Chen Yuan sheathed his sword and stood still. The sun in the void had already risen, bringing a touch of warmth. After having breakfast at Zhou¡¯s Baozi Shop, Chen Yuan leisurely made his way towards the County Government. Today was yet another idle day! At the County Government. Chen Yuan greeted each of the veteran Government Officials, and after having slain Tie Shou and killed a member of the No-Life Sect, his status in the County Government had clearly become much stronger. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Among the Government Officials who had joined with him, most had no presence to speak of. Even within the County Government, it was still strength that did the talking. In the two incidents, although Chen Yuan had used some clever tactics, his strength had also been recognized. No one knew yet that Chen Yuan had stepped into Blood Refining; the shock would be even greater if they did. However, Chen Yuan did not want to be the focus of everyone¡¯s attention at the moment. Developing quietly and making a fortune silently were the best strategies. He would wait until he had stepped into Bone Refining before he played his cards. After greeting everyone, Chen Yuan was just about to sit down. Suddenly, a Government Official rushed in frantically and headed towards the room where arrest officer Huang Xing was located, his expression grave. A moment later, arrest officer Huang Xing and the Government Official walked out of the room and scanned the crowd. ¡°Zhao Ning, Chen Yuan, Wang¡­¡± ¡°The rest continue with the routine patrol, you come with me!¡± Huang Xing spoke with finality as if facing a major crisis, and the few people he named were mostly strong. Chen Yuan, of course, dared not object and followed Huang Xing obediently. On the way, Chen Yuan finally learned what had happened. It was related to the demon folk of the No-Life Sect again. The incident occurred in City East, at a wealthy household in City East¡ªseventeen members of the family, including maids and servants, all died unnatural deaths. Their essence blood was drained, almost identical to the death of Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s parents. It¡¯s no wonder Huang Xing looked so solemn faced with such a major case. The previous murder cases had occurred in remote hostels, which many did not want to provoke, but happening within the city, the County Government had no choice but to take it seriously. City East was relatively the wealthiest area in Ping¡¯an County, the Huang Family resided there as well. Quickly, the Government Officials did not dare delay and arrived in front of the household. Over a dozen White Servants guarded the manor, while Huang Xing led the others inside. In the courtyard. Seventeen corpses were laid out, each covered with a white cloth. Chen Yuan lifted the cloth with the scabbard, carefully examining each one, and indeed, the state of death was exactly like that of Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s parents. Chen Yuan tensed up, uncertain whether these acts by the demon folk of the No-Life Sect were accidental or a warning to the County Government, and whether they might target him? ¡°What does the Forensic Doctor say?¡± Huang Xing asked, looking down. A middle-aged Forensic Doctor bowed and said, ¡°It should have happened last night.¡± ¡°Any traces found?¡± Huang Xing nodded and then turned his gaze to the group of Government Officials. Just now, they had thoroughly searched the entire manor. Some shook their heads, while others presented some clues. But in the end, there wasn¡¯t any clear lead. Chen Yuan searched every corner and finally discovered several not very conspicuous footprints. He slowly crouched down, Chen Yuan stared at the footprints, his gaze pondering something unknown. Seeing Chen Yuan¡¯s unusual behavior, Huang Xing approached: ¡°What have you thought of?¡± Chen Yuan pointed at the footprints on the ground: ¡°Sir, from these footprints, I infer that there were two culprits from the No-Life Sect, one with a rather slim build, the other somewhat fat.¡± ¡°The fat one seems to have a limp.¡± Huang Xing narrowed his eyes and sized up Chen Yuan: ¡°How can you tell?¡± ¡°Please look, sir, this footprint is obviously deeper than the others. The left leg is putting forth more effort. And I have already observed all seventeen bodies on the ground earlier; none has a limp!¡± Chen Yuan said in a heavy voice. Having nothing else to do earlier, Chen Yuan had already examined all the corpses on the ground once to confirm that nobody had a leg issue, which is why he was so certain when later investigating the footprints. Huang Xing¡¯s gaze lingered for a while before he said: ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Quickly, Huang Xing ordered a search based on Chen Yuan¡¯s judgement. The target was a limping fat man¡­ They couldn¡¯t overlook a homicide that occurred within the county town. The imperial court had already placed the No-Life Sect on a Death Warrant list. ¡°Did you discover the morning¡¯s homicide first?¡± Chen Yuan found the first person who reported the crime, a carpenter who delivered coffins to that family. ¡°Yes¡­ Lord, this morning¡­¡± According to the middle-aged man, he was supposed to deliver a message that the coffin was ready, but the main gate remained tightly shut and wouldn¡¯t open. After waiting a while, he intended to leave, but then he smelled a scent of blood and realized something was wrong. That¡¯s when he and a few carpentry colleagues pushed open the gate. Afterward, they saw the horrific scene inside the residence, and, panic-stricken, he ran to report to the authorities. Chen Yuan squinted his eyes and, after a moment of thought, focused on another matter. ¡°Why were coffins being made?¡± From his observations, the master and Lady of that family were not on their deathbeds; they were only in their forties and shouldn¡¯t have been preparing for their passing so prematurely. The carpenter was taken aback and replied truthfully: ¡°Lord Liu had us make the coffins, saying it was for relocating his ancestors¡¯ tombs, and he used only the finest wood¡­¡± ¡°Relocating tombs¡­¡± Chen Yuan seemed to realize something. ¡°Why relocate the tombs out of nowhere, do you know why?¡± ¡°I heard Lord Liu say something about the old tomb having bad Feng Shui, but I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true.¡± Could there be a connection between relocating tombs and homicide? Chen Yuan squinted his eyes. ¡°Do you know where Lord Liu¡¯s family tomb is located?¡± ¡°I do, I do. I have been there once; Lord Liu believes in it and specifically took us to pay homage.¡± ¡°Take me to see it¡­¡± The carpenter dared not retort. To him, a Lord from the County Government was already a significant figure, not someone a commoner like him could afford to provoke. After speaking a few words, Chen Yuan went to ask for instructions from arrest officer Huang Xing, but Huang Xing expressed his opposition. ¡°What¡¯s there to see at a grave? You might as well spend the time searching the county town,¡± Huang Xing reprimanded, seemingly displeased. Chen Yuan squinted his eyes, didn¡¯t contend, and quickly agreed, his mind speculating whether he had somehow offended Huang Xing. Or had Huang Xing sensed some enmity from him? Chen Yuan didn¡¯t know, but since Huang Xing had spoken, Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t go against him directly. After softly inquiring about the location of the Liu family¡¯s ancestral tomb, he led a few White Servants and began searching within the county town. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Murderous Intent Chapter 22: Chapter 22 Murderous Intent Although he was conducting a search, Chen Yuan¡¯s mind constantly lingered on the arrest officer Huang Xing, pondering why he had prevented him from investigating the Liu Family ancestral grave. Was he overthinking it, and Huang Xing simply felt that such an action would be pointless, or could it be that Huang Xing had some scheme he didn¡¯t want him to know about¡­ Chen Yuan dispersed his thoughts, continuously speculating. It was just his nature to mull over even the smallest matters. Cautious, suspicious, scheming¡­ After all, who at this age still has such a pure-hearted mentality? Ping¡¯an County remained as noisy as ever, with the vast majority of the people still unaware of the No-Life Sect demons causing trouble within the town, thus there was not much panic. But for the government officials and constables of the county government, each holding a long saber, they looked fierce as they scrutinized the pedestrians on the road¡ªapproaching anyone unfamiliar to interrogate them. As for those with a limp, there was no need to say more, they were directly apprehended. Chen Yuan activated his Heavenly Eye Pupil Technique, observing to see if there was anyone who caught his eye. Unfortunately, Chen Yuan was overly optimistic, how could a small Ping¡¯an County have so many people with Qi Fortune? Nonetheless, Chen Yuan himself didn¡¯t harbor much hope; it was just a part of his daily routine. After ending a day of searching, Chen Yuan returned home. Today, County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng and County Magistrate Li Mingqi were very angry upon learning the No-Life Sect demons were causing disturbances again. They severely reprimanded arrest officer Huang Xing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co And Huang Xing didn¡¯t take all the blame alone; he turned around and began to scold a group of government officials and White Servants, which made people grit their teeth in hatred! What was most important was that Chen Yuan himself didn¡¯t understand why Huang Xing¡¯s attitude toward him had suddenly cooled, when he had seemed somewhat appreciative before. But today, when Chen Yuan was receiving the reprimand, he noticed that Huang Xing seemed to harbor some disgust toward him. Although it was not obvious, Chen Yuan, who was always keeping an eye on Huang Xing, still noticed it. After much thought, Chen Yuan could only attribute the reason to the day¡¯s events, including his identification of a person with a limp amongst those who had killed the Liu Family of over a dozen people. The county government caught no fewer than ten people with limps today, yet after interrogation, not a single one of them appeared to be problematic. A few old government officials also had some whispers. They said that after Chen Yuan killed a demon from the No-Life Sect, he forgot his own name, thinking he was some godly constable, didn¡¯t he? A mere constable who had been on the job for just over a year had the audacity to make such outrageous claims. Waiting at home until late at night, Chen Yuan left Ping¡¯an County by himself. He wanted to see if there was anything strange within the Liu Family ancestral grave. Why arrest officer Huang Xing seemed to dislike it so much. And just when Chen Yuan left the city that day. Inside the Huang Family¡¯s study. Family Head Huang Shengnian was discussing Chen Yuan¡¯s matter with arrest officer Huang Xing. Huang Xing had a gloomy expression and said in a low voice, ¡°One of my government officials has noticed something.¡± ¡°A government official?¡± Huang Shengnian frowned. Normally, such a lowly government official wouldn¡¯t catch his eye. ¡°He figured out that the perpetrator was a person with a limp. Luckily, ¡®Old Seventh¡¯ has never shown himself; otherwise, our Huang Family would be in danger¡­¡± A murderous intent flickered in Huang Xing¡¯s eyes. ¡°Just a minor government official, find a way to kill him off¡­¡± Hearing Huang Xing speak thus, Huang Shengnian¡¯s expression tightened. If someone found out that the Huang Family had ties with the No-Life Sect. The Huang Family would be in danger, and no one could save them. ¡°It¡¯s not just that. That government official also wanted to go and investigate the Liu Family ancestral grave himself but was stopped by me¡­¡± Huang Xing continued. Huang Shengnian stood up abruptly: ¡°Wouldn¡¯t stopping him make him suspect us?¡± ¡°Elder brother, rest assured, today I had someone restore the Liu family¡¯s ancestral grave to its original state, precisely to let him see. No matter what, there must be no possibility of the Huang family being exposed.¡± ¡°This Government Official knows too much; even if he hasn¡¯t linked it to our Huang family, he can¡¯t be left alive!¡± Huang Shengnian slammed the table in front of him, his gaze sharp. The Huang family had been working for the No-Life Sect for many years without incident, precisely because of their caution. For instance, when the Liu family wanted to relocate their grave and the Huang family found out, they immediately sent someone to wipe out the entire Liu lineage, as they did not want to risk exposure. Unexpectedly, a Government Official still managed to deduce some of the situation. His only regret now was sending that seventh brother to take action, even daring to use the No-Life Sect¡¯s secret technique to refine Essence Blood within Ping¡¯an County, infuriating both the arrest officer and the County Magistrate. ¡°Elder brother, rest assured, once this matter subsides, this lad is as good as dead!¡± Huang Xing murmured. The Government Officials in the County Government office, who had died by his hand, were too numerous to count; a mere Skin Refining Realm constable didn¡¯t stand a chance in his eyes. ¡°Let the Beihai Gang do it. People from the Huang family won¡¯t do. The word has already come down from above, the master of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau from the Prefecture City is preparing to investigate the entire territory.¡± ¡°The Huang family must not be exposed at all costs¡­¡± Huang Shengnian let out a deep breath. ¡°Alright¡­¡± ¡­ ¡­ The Liu family¡¯s ancestral grave. Chen Yuan knit his brows and investigated thoroughly, even digging up and opening the coffins within, but he found not the slightest anomaly. Chen Yuan thought to himself, could he have been overthinking things? Could the extermination of the Liu family have nothing to do with the relocation of the grave? That shouldn¡¯t be the case, considering murder cases usually have some form of connection, and the Liu family¡¯s most prominent recent event was the grave relocation. Could it be that several operatives from the No-Life Sect suddenly took a fancy to it and embarked on a killing spree within the county, annihilating the Liu family? Impossible, There couldn¡¯t be such a coincidence. If the No-Life Sect was so reckless immediately after the situation had calmed down, making the Imperial Court suffer so much frustration, they wouldn¡¯t be acting so rashly! However, no matter how much Chen Yuan investigated, he discovered nothing out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, he didn¡¯t feel that it was a wasted trip. He had a premonition that the Huang family was not as simple as they seemed¡­ After searching the site, Chen Yuan restored the mausoleum to its original state and quietly returned to the county. What he didn¡¯t know was that someone had been watching his entire visit to the Liu family¡¯s ancestral grave. After informing Huang Xing of Chen Yuan¡¯s nocturnal exit from the city to the Liu family¡¯s ancestral grave, Huang Xing could no longer restrain the murderous intent in his eyes; Chen Yuan had indeed gone to investigate personally. With the Family Head¡¯s instructions in mind, Huang Xing now harbored the intent to kill Chen Yuan, but it was not quite the right time to act; it was best to wait at least two days. Who knew if Chen Yuan had left behind any traps? If he died too soon, it would definitely raise suspicion. Thinking back on Chen Yuan, Huang Xing felt that he had underestimated him in the past; he had not expected Chen Yuan to be so meticulous. This man, he must not be allowed to live! That was Huang Xing¡¯s thought at the moment. A mere Government Official, no matter how scheming, could not stir up much trouble; just kill him, and all would return to tranquility! While Chen Yuan was harboring murderous thoughts against the Huang family, the Huang family was also intent on killing Chen Yuan! Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Prison Head Tie Xuan Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Prison Head Tie Xuan Beihai Gang. Gang Leader Zhu Sihai sat solemnly at the head of the room, staring at the bowing Hall Master Wang before him. ¡°The position of Hall Master of the Iron Eagle Hall has been vacant for some time now, and we have yet to decide who will take over. What are your thoughts?¡± Zhu Sihai held a cup of tea in his hand, his voice faint, yet it clearly echoed in Hall Master Wang¡¯s ears. ¡°I will follow the Gang Leader¡¯s arrangements in all things.¡± Wang Meng¡¯s heart leaped with joy. He had thought that he might not be able to attain the position of Hall Master, and his attempts to bribe Manager Huang had fallen through. Unexpectedly, just when things seemed bleak, it seemed the Gang Leader was considering promoting him. Zhu Sihai¡¯s words weren¡¯t explicit, but Wang Meng had already understood. However, he dared not become complacent, fearing that this hard-won opportunity might vanish. ¡°You are someone I have watched grow step by step. Now that the opportunity has arisen, I naturally want to promote you,¡± Zhu Sihai said slowly. ¡°Thank you, Gang Leader. I will definitely¡­¡± Zhu Sihai sipped his tea and continued: ¡°Go kill someone. As long as he is dead, your position as Hall Master will be essentially secure.¡± Wang Meng¡¯s emotions took a swift turn, and he quickly responded: ¡°Whatever you command, Gang Leader, I will brave any danger. May I know who the Gang Leader wishes to kill?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a Government Official named Chen Yuan in the County Government Arrest Room. He is your target,¡± Zhu Sihai tapped his fingers on the table. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Chen Yuan? He seems to be under the arrest officer Huang¡­¡± Wang Meng hesitated, not even understanding why the Gang Leader would issue such an order. Giving Wang Meng a glance, Zhu Sihai asked coldly: ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No, no, just¡­¡± ¡°Rest assured and go kill him, there won¡¯t be any problems,¡± Zhu Sihai hinted with a smirk, implying that this was an order from the Huang family. ¡®Yes, I obey the command!¡¯ ¡°Furthermore, you must not assassinate him sneakily, find an excuse and kill him openly¡­¡± Zhu Sihai, recalling the instructions from Huang Shengnian, continued. The Huang family did not wish to assassinate Chen Yuan at this juncture, lest it raise any suspicions. No need for complications, just find an excuse. Afterwards, make Wang Meng disappear from the Human World. The death of a mere Government Official won¡¯t cause much of an uproar. Murder and assault were common occurrences. Although Chen Yuan¡¯s position presented some complications, with Huang Xing overseeing from above, there wouldn¡¯t be any issues. One could simply claim there was a personal grudge between Wang Meng and Chen Yuan. Would anyone really investigate it? Or rather, would anyone dare to investigate it? ¡°I understand¡­¡± ¡­ ¡­ These past days at work in the Government, Chen Yuan could be certain, beyond any doubt, that Huang Xing harbored some animosity toward him. Although on the surface, things seemed as usual, even more amicable than a few days ago, a sense of danger had surged in Chen Yuan¡¯s heart. Thus, although he seemed to remain close to Huang Xing, his vigilance was at its highest. What Huang Xing did not know was that just as he harbored the intent to kill him, Chen Yuan had already sensed it. In Huang Xing¡¯s mind, Chen Yuan was probably oblivious to everything. Wang Ping¡¯s injuries had mostly healed, which was partly due to Chen Yuan¡¯s efforts. He had even spent several tael of silver to buy some top-quality medicinal supplements for Wang Ping. Wang Ping was deeply touched. He knew that government officials like them, who had not been in the County Government long, could hardly save much silver. Towards this, Chen Yuan was quite unconcerned. He possessed nearly forty tael of silver, plus the twenty Tiger Bone Pills owed to him by Tie Qinghua. In total, his assets amounted to several hundred tael. Chen Yuan did not mind using these resources to win people¡¯s hearts. The relationship between Wang Ping and him was already close, and with deliberate efforts to get closer, it was easy to take the initiative. Speaking of Tie Qinghua, Chen Yuan had already spotted the stone lion at the entrance of the Song residence yesterday, but he had decided not to approach it until the pair of custom-ordered black iron masks arrived. For now, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t want to reveal his identity, but staying active around the County Government, he might run into Tie Xuan. If discovered, Tie Xuan might guess his identity. The night was bright, stars dotted the sky. Chen Yuan, wearing a black iron mask and a black robe, silently arrived in front of the Song residence. The streets were already devoid of people, save for the occasional sound of the watchmen, rendering most of the county eerily quiet. Chen Yuan glanced at the two lions in front of the Song residence, one made of stone, the other also of stone, the only difference being the red silk on one had not been removed. With a boost from his steps, Chen Yuan quickly leaped over. ¡°Big brother¡­¡± Tie Qinghua cautiously eyed the middle-aged man in front of her. Dressed in green, his skin slightly dark, temples bulging, his face covered with stubble, he sipped tea calmly¡ªit was Tie Qinghua¡¯s elder brother, the head of the County Government prison, Tie Xuan! ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Tie Xuan glanced at his sister. ¡°The man surnamed Yuan probably won¡¯t come today.¡± ¡°Since he told you to tie the red silk, it proves he has the strength to watch from the shadows, don¡¯t worry, he will definitely¡­¡± Tie Xuan hadn¡¯t finished speaking when he suddenly paused, grabbed a short gun at his feet, and whispered, ¡°He¡¯s already here!¡± ¡°What!¡± Tie Qinghua¡¯s pupils dilated in shock, glancing towards the door. As she looked, the door was pushed open, and Chen Yuan stepped in, fixing his gaze on Tie Xuan: ¡°Brother Tie indeed has remarkable abilities!¡± Tie Xuan stood up, sizing up Chen Yuan: ¡°So, brother, are you still afraid to show your face?¡± Chen Yuan was unbothered, remaining vigilant as he stepped forward, ¡°I was slashed across the face when I was young, and I prefer not to show my true face, please forgive me, Brother Tie.¡± Tie Xuan: ¡°No matter, Brother Yuan, please sit!¡± Chen Yuan nodded and walked forward to sit opposite Tie Xuan. ¡°I wonder why Brother Tie has invited me here, what is the matter?¡± Chen Yuan took initiative and asked directly. ¡°Does Brother Yuan hold a grudge against the Huang Family?¡± Instead of answering Chen Yuan¡¯s question, Tie Xuan posed another. ¡°There are some grievances¡­¡± Tie Xuan nodded and continued: ¡°I too have some grievances with the Huang Family, and I believe Brother Yuan has seen it.¡± Tie Xuan was referring to the previous incident where Song Lao Liu, under Huang Xing¡¯s instruction, tried to kill Tie Xuan. Chen Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised: ¡°So, we have a common enemy. How about we join forces and destroy the Huang Family?¡± Under the mask, Chen Yuan¡¯s profound eyes stared intently at Tie Xuan. Tie Xuan smiled at the comment: ¡°Brother Yuan is confident about wiping out the Huang Family? As far as I know, Brother Yuan¡¯s strength is merely in Blood Refining¡­¡± The implication was, on what basis do you propose an alliance? ¡°Strength isn¡¯t the most important thing. If I had the power to eliminate the Huang Family alone, why would I join hands with Brother Tie?¡± ¡°Would you care to elaborate?¡± ¡°I have some leverage over the Huang Family in my hands, enough to overturn them. That¡¯s what¡¯s most important!¡± Chen Yuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thank you to the generous Mr. Liang Kun for the reward of twenty thousand point coins! Impressive! Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: 24 Bullying the Honest? Chapter 24: 24 Bullying the Honest? ¡°What leverage?¡± Tie Xuan¡¯s eyes twinkled, and he leaned forward slightly, showing interest. Huang Xing wanted to kill him, and he naturally wanted to kill Huang Xing as well. Their animosity was well known throughout the Ping¡¯an County Government; had it not been for the Huang Family¡¯s interference, the position of the arrest officer should have been his. In terms of achievements and strength, he was actually a notch above Huang Xing. Chen Yuan weighed the pros and cons: what would he gain by exterminating the Huang Family? With his own strength, it would be difficult to reap benefits. But if he didn¡¯t make a move¡­ Chen Yuan had the premonition that Huang Xing already harbored a killing intent toward him; if he didn¡¯t act first, it would seem rather passive. Another crucial point was that although Chen Yuan suspected the Huang Family of colluding with the No-Life Sect, he had no evidence. Slandering them without proof would hardly hurt the Huang Family! However, framing the Huang Family or letting Tie Xuan deal with Huang Xing seemed like a good choice. Presently, Chen Yuan, while able to rank amongst the best at the Blood Refining Level, was still somewhat incapable against Huang Xing, who was at the Bone Refining Level. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°I just received some information: the Huang Family is secretly communicating with the No-Life Sect!¡± Chen Yuan lowered his voice, yet it echoed in Tie Xuan and Tie Qinghua¡¯s minds like a great bell, leaving them shocked and motionless for a long time. After a while, Tie Xuan calmed his trembling, excited heart and picked up the teacup in front of him, took a gentle sip, and asked softly, ¡°Really?¡± Tie Qinghua didn¡¯t speak but also gazed at Chen Yuan, unable to suppress the joy in her eyes. She was well aware of how much her brother loathed Huang Xing. Had it not been for the Huang Family¡¯s suppression, their Tie Family would definitely have secured a place in South City rather than having to share profits with other forces as they did now. Tie Qinghua had long been dissatisfied, but due to the might of the Huang Family, she had been forced to suppress her feelings. Chen Yuan tapped his fingers on the table and smiled, ¡°Would Brother Tie joke about such matters?¡± ¡°Is there any evidence?¡± Tie Xuan continued to inquire. ¡°I haven¡¯t got any proof, but I¡¯m ninety-nine percent sure; whether you believe it or not is up to you, Brother Tie¡­¡± Chen Yuan, peering through his mask, gazed deeply at him. Hearing that there was no evidence, Tie Xuan frowned. Without solid proof, it was impossible to take down the Huang Family and might even lead to complications. Seeing Tie Xuan¡¯s hesitant expression, Chen Yuan casually said, ¡°This could be a good opportunity for Brother Tie. Since Huang Xing has signaled Song Laoliu to start targeting the Tie Family, a storm-like assault will surely follow.¡± ¡°Moreover, since Song Laoliu has failed, Huang Xing must have received the news already; it¡¯s better to strike first.¡± ¡°How much enmity does Brother Yuan hold against the Huang Family? You seem very eager for me to make a move against them,¡± Tie Xuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°The enmity between the Huang Family and Brother Tie is as great as my own. Moreover, the Huang Family possesses an item of great importance to me; I hope Brother Tie will lend a hand when the time comes¡­¡± Chen Yuan said in a low voice. ¡°As for this matter, I can only try my best; without evidence, trying to destroy the Huang Family¡­ haha, that¡¯s tough¡­¡± Tie Xuan chuckled bitterly. The Huang Family was deeply rooted in Ping¡¯an County and had significant connections with County Magistrate Li Mingqi, making them difficult to topple. ¡°Hasn¡¯t County Magistrate Wu been dissatisfied with the Huang Family for a long time? Why not leverage that, Brother Tie?¡± Chen Yuan pretended to know it all. This information, he had accidentally heard from a drunken government official. But to Tie Xuan¡¯s ears, it was even more shocking. This man surnamed Yuan really understood the dynamics within the county government well. County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng¡¯s dissatisfaction with the Huang Family was something few people knew about. If he were not a confidant of Wu Qingfeng in Ping¡¯an County, it would also be difficult to know about this matter. Most importantly, why did this Mr. Yuan bring up this matter knowing he could leverage Wu Qingfeng¡¯s influence? What exactly was his identity? It should be noted that on the surface, his relationship with Wu Qingfeng was quite distant, after all, his direct superior was County Magistrate Li Mingqi. In fact, it was not hard for Chen Yuan to guess this; where there are people, there is Jianghu, and where there is Jianghu, there are factions. Since the Huang Family had deep ties with Li Mingqi, how could Wu Qingfeng, as the head official of the county, not cultivate some of his own trusted followers? Tie Xuan seemed aloof, but the Huang Family had been unable to bring him down for so long, even intending to use some underhanded methods to assassinate him, which proved that someone was protecting Tie Xuan. With careful reasoning, the backer of Tie Xuan gradually emerged. The reason Chen Yuan thought of striking against the Huang Family through Tie Xuan was because he had considered this aspect. Everything should be planned before taking action! ¡°It seems Brother Yuan knows quite a lot¡­¡± Tie Xuan said. Chen Yuan did not respond but instead asked: ¡°What does Brother Tie think about Mr. Yuan¡¯s suggestion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth a try!¡± ¡­ ¡­ Under the blazing sun, Chen Yuan was posing in a strange stance, his body radiating a faint golden glow, and he vaguely felt the blood within his body circulating. Blood Refining! Chen Yuan was Blood Refining. After entering the Blood Refining Level, Chen Yuan still dared not slack off and continued to temper his vitality daily. After leaving the Song residence last night, Chen Yuan had been waiting for any action from the County Government, hoping that County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng would not disappoint him. He hoped fervently not to let the Huang Family off because of considerations for Li Mingqi. It was now impossible for him to take action against the Huang Family himself; he could only borrow strength, and this would also better conceal his own identity, not wishing to reveal himself before having sufficient strength to protect himself. After ending his practice, Chen Yuan washed his body with cold water, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Exiting his courtyard, Chen Yuan calmly walked towards an inn, not having felt much before but now, after entering Blood Refining, his appetite had increased drastically. Each meal required four to five pounds of meat to satiate his hunger. This was indeed the life of ¡°poor in the arts, rich in the martial ways.¡± ¡°Shopkeeper, the usual¡­¡± Chen Yuan ordered and then found an empty seat to sit down, quietly waiting for the waiter to serve the meal. ¡°Lord, here¡¯s your meat¡­¡± A waiter, smiling broadly, placed a large plate of sliced pork in front of Chen Yuan, along with a jug of wine. ¡°Hmm.¡± Chen Yuan nodded, picked up his chopsticks, and began wolfing down the meat, occasionally taking a large gulp of wine, living life to the fullest. Shortly after, Chen Yuan stood up, put down several large coins, and prepared to leave. Suddenly, the waiter approached with an unnatural step and whispered: ¡°Lord, the money isn¡¯t enough.¡± Chen Yuan furrowed his brows and said unhappily: ¡°Did the prices go up? It was the same price the day before yesterday.¡± ¡°The price has not changed, but¡­ Lord, you¡¯ve eaten ten pounds of meat but only paid for five, and there¡¯s also the wine¡­¡± the waiter said tremblingly. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Peeking Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Peeking Chen Yuan¡¯s expression turned frosty as he said, word by word: ¡°Playing this game with Chen?¡± Bullying an honest person, and now bullying him? ¡°Hahaha¡­ Constable Chen, why are you making things difficult for a mere servant? If word gets out, won¡¯t it be a laughingstock?¡± Wang Meng¡¯s voice came down from upstairs, followed by seven or eight burly men, all staring at Chen Yuan with covetous eyes. ¡°Hall Master Wang¡­¡± Chen Yuan thought to himself, could it be that the other party knew it was he who had hijacked the silver? That shouldn¡¯t be the case, all traces had been erased. ¡°Constable Chen, as a member of the government, you cannot act tyrannically in the countryside, better quickly make up the rest of the money¡­¡± Hall Master Wang wore a smile on his face, yet it carried a ruthless tone. ¡°What do you mean by this, Hall Master Wang? I believe I haven¡¯t committed any crimes against your esteemed gang, have I?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s mind raced, completely unexpected that the Beihai Gang would pick today to cause him trouble. Could it be Huang Xing¡¯s order? ¡°Of course not, I actually quite admire Constable Chen for slaying Tie Shou, but since the Dingsheng Building pays monthly tribute to our Beihai Gang, I naturally need to speak out for justice.¡± Wang Meng laughed heartily. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes gradually became colder. Playing the game of Six with him? ¡°If you refuse, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to leave this door¡­¡± Wang Meng¡¯s expression hardened as he stared at Chen Yuan. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°You¡¯ve eaten ten catties of meat but only paid for five, even if this goes to the County Magistrate, I will still have my say¡­¡± Wang Meng swaggered and took a seat to one side. The innkeeper bowed his head, not daring to speak, while the server who had been bringing in dishes had already frozen in his tracks. ¡°Who can prove that I ate ten catties of meat?¡± ¡°Just now I saw very clearly that Constable Chen ate ten catties of meat¡­¡± A gaunt man at the next table stood up and spoke. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted, and in the next moment, he swiftly moved to the man¡¯s side, two fingers piercing directly into his eyes and gouging out a bloody bead. ¡°Ah¡­ Aah¡­¡± The man screamed. ¡°Was it with this eye that you saw? Speak up, I¡¯ll swallow it down today and see just how many catties of meat I have in my stomach!¡± Chen Yuan was like a demon, his hand clutching a bloody eyeball, yet his face still bore a warm smile, as if he had done a trivial thing of no significance. ¡°Ah¡­ Aah¡­¡± The man continued to wail in pain. Wang Meng leapt up from his chair and rebuked: ¡°Chen Yuan, you are a member of the government, yet you dare to oppress the common people so; could it be that you are the wanted demon of the Demon Dao!¡± Chen Yuan, holding the man in his hand: ¡°We both know who he is. What¡¯s the meaning of this, Hall Master Wang? Has the Beihai Gang really become lawless to the point of framing someone from the government in broad daylight!¡± ¡°Audacious!¡± Wang Meng¡¯s gaze sharpened as a dark layer of skin seemed to ignite upon his body, throwing a punch at Chen Yuan. A wave of hot air rushed towards him. Under Chen Yuan¡¯s clothes, a faint golden light surfaced. He too raised his fist and met Wang Meng¡¯s blow with a solid punch. ¡°Bang!¡± The tremendous force caused Wang Meng to stagger back several steps, his face filled with disbelief as he looked at Chen Yuan: ¡°You¡­ have entered the Blood Refining Level!¡± That power was certainly not something a Martial Artist of the Skin Refining Level could possess; Wang Meng himself was of the Blood Refining Level, he understood clearly. ¡°Wang, Chen has no old grudges or recent quarrels with you,¡± Chen said. ¡°State your intentions plainly, or perhaps, we can both go to the County Government¡¯s public hall to have the County Magistrate rule on this matter.¡± County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng had long held dissatisfaction with the gang factions within Ping¡¯an County, particularly with the Beihai ¡ª which was supported by the Huang Family. In North City, Beihai Gang¡¯s orders were even more effective than those of the Government. If it were not for the fear of the powers backing these gangs, he would have eradicated them long ago. The gang factions themselves also understood this, so very few ever let things escalate to that degree, as it would come at a great cost to them. ¡°Hmph, how could I, Wang, bear any grudges against you? I¡¯m merely standing up for others,¡± Wang Meng¡¯s eyes flashed with wariness. He hadn¡¯t expected Chen Yuan to be stronger than him. Originally, he planned to slander Chen Yuan first, then pressure him to make the first move. Then he would strike back and eliminate him. That way would be the safest. But Chen Yuan¡¯s strength was beyond his expectations. His qi was even stronger, making it impossible for Wang to overpower him. If the situation got out of hand, it was uncertain if the Gang Leader would be willing to protect him. He wasn¡¯t foolish. On the street, to murder a constable ¡ª a government official ¡ª was no small matter. If it were someone else, he might find other excuses, but a public murder would be seen as a contempt for the imperial court and the Government, something the County Magistrate would never tolerate. ¡®To think that the infamous Beihai Gang is standing up for others; do you even believe your own words?¡¯ Chen Yuan sneered coldly and threw the person he was holding to the ground. ¡°If you dare, then come at me. This officer may have not killed anyone in a long time¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s hand rested on his knife hilt, ready to unleash at a moment¡¯s notice. Chen Yuan couldn¡¯t possibly tolerate others urinating on his head. Worse comes to worst, he would kill these men and then flee to the mountains to become an outlaw¡­ After all, he had no attachments. Of course, doing so would have severe consequences, and if it weren¡¯t absolutely necessary, Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t choose the path of a fugitive. Wang Meng gazed at Chen Yuan and pointedly said, ¡°Chen, we¡¯ve now made an enemy of each other; there will be a long time to settle this in the future¡­¡± ¡®You have no future¡­¡¯ Chen Yuan thought to himself. With a cold snort, Wang Meng turned and left, his followers picked up the man whose eyes had been gouged out, and followed in Wang Meng¡¯s steps. ¡°Waste!¡± Across from the inn where Chen Yuan was staying, inside a civilian house, a constable clad in Qing attire, Huang Xing, watched the scene unfold through a gap and couldn¡¯t help but curse under his breath. What a waste Wang Meng was! At the same time, Huang Xing was also astonished by Chen Yuan¡¯s strength. He knew of Wang Meng¡¯s ability; a good hand at the Blood Refining Level, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been in contention for the position of Hall Master. But Chen Yuan was able to repel him with a single punch. Such strength was definitely at the Blood Refining Level, and not merely a recent breakthrough. However, Huang Xing had never heard of this before, nor it seemed had Chen Yuan himself, who was purposefully concealing his abilities, and that was what caught Wang Meng off guard. In reality, the Huang Family¡¯s status wasn¡¯t high enough. Otherwise, if someone from the No-Life Sect informed him of Chen Ping¡¯an¡¯s prowess, he would naturally be able to deduce Chen Yuan¡¯s strength after killing Chen Ping¡¯an. ¡°Quite the promising young lad, what a pity. You¡¯ve noticed things you shouldn¡¯t have noticed and spoken words you shouldn¡¯t have,¡± the murderous intent in Huang Xing¡¯s eyes flashed and vanished. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Chen Yuan, as if sensing something, suddenly looked in a direction but sadly, the distance was too great for him to see who was behind the window. Without giving it much thought, after sensing someone, Chen Yuan quickly leapt through the window and raced towards that civilian house, the door of which was locked. ¡°Bang!¡± Chen Yuan slashed it open with his knife. Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26, Master! Chapter 26: Chapter 26, Master! Gripping the knife, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t recklessly charge in but took a deep breath, kicked the door open, and swiftly scattered a handful of lime. Whoever it was, prudence came first! As the lime dispersed, the room fell into complete silence, and Chen Yuan, squinting his eyes, slowly walked in. Empty! Walking slowly to the window, Chen Yuan held his breath and searched the room. ¡°Hmm?¡± Suddenly, Chen Yuan¡¯s step faltered, but he quickly covered it up, sighed, and retreated from the room. Back on the street, Chen Yuan gazed ahead and briskly walked away, but his heart had already sunk. Just now, he had caught sight of half a shallow footprint, which was the reason for his sudden pause. This was because he was somewhat familiar with that half footprint. Huang Xing! The person previously spying in the dark was almost certainly Huang Xing. That was why Chen Yuan swiftly exited the room. He speculated that Huang Xing was hidden in the room, and once he found Huang Xing, it would lead to an all-out confrontation, and he currently wasn¡¯t strong enough to contend with Huang Xing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Even if he could hold out for a moment, once the constables from the County Government arrived, would those government officials aid him or Huang Xing? ¡°The Huang Family¡­¡± Chen Yuan had now fully realized that the Huang Family was out to kill him; Wang Meng was just a pawn sent in first. Afterwards, the Huang Family¡¯s intention to kill would only become more ferocious. ¡°Tie Xuan, you better not disappoint me!¡± Chen Yuan murmured, eyes narrowed. Inside that residence, Huang Xing, with an expressionless face, returned to the window and watched Chen Yuan leave, his complexion dark and uncertain! ¡­ ¡­ County Government. Dressed in a dark black robe, Tie Xuan nodded at the two government officials guarding the gate and walked in at a leisurely pace. Turning a few corners inside the County Government, he finally stopped in front of a small courtyard, and bowed to the two confidants of the County Magistrate at the door: ¡°Is the County Magistrate available? Tie has an urgent matter to report!¡± The two confidants exchanged glances and nodded: ¡°Please wait a moment, Sir Tie; I will immediately go and inform him.¡± With that, one of the confidants turned and entered the courtyard. After a moment, he hurried back out and said to Tie Xuan: ¡°Sir Tie, please come in; the County Magistrate is waiting for you inside.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Tie Xuan quickly walked into the courtyard. This was the residence of County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng, heavily guarded, and it could be considered one of the safest places in Ping¡¯an County. Six rooms of government officials were nearby, ready to rapidly assemble at a moment¡¯s notice. Apart from County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng, the County Constable Li Mingqi also lived within the County Government. Tie Xuan stood quietly at the door for a moment before pushing it open and entering. A middle-aged man in a crimson official¡¯s robe, looking serene, sat in the main seat holding a cup of clear tea¡ªit was Ping¡¯an County¡¯s Magistrate, Wu Qingfeng. ¡°This subordinate pays respects to the Magistrate!¡± Tie Xuan bowed and saluted with his fist. ¡°What is the urgent matter you wish to report?¡± Wu Qingfeng peered at Tie Xuan. He knew Tie Xuan well and was aware that he was not rash. Tie Xuan¡¯s presence meant he certainly had something significant to report. ¡°Back to your question, sir, it¡¯s about the affairs of the No-Life Sect scoundrels!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Wu Qingfeng¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his interest piqued: ¡°Have you found traces of those thieves?¡± Tie Xuan took a deep breath and whispered: ¡°I have received some information that the Huang Family has been secretly communicating with the No-Life Sect scoundrels and working for them!¡± For Tie Xuan, taking on the Huang Family by himself was an impossible task; only with the help of County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng did he see any hope. Not even the capable Li Mingqi, the County Magistrate, was someone he could confront. Upon hearing of the Huang Family¡¯s secret dealings with the No-Life Sect, Wu Qingfeng¡¯s expression suddenly changed, his grip on his teacup tightened: ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°I am ninety percent sure!¡± Tie Xuan gritted his teeth and said softly. Huang Xing had secretly conspired with Old Six Song to kill him, and they were now in a fight to the death; he had to eradicate them, for there was no reason to be constantly on guard against thieves. He dared to speak so boldly because he knew that the County Magistrate had always been at odds with the Huang Family; even if no evidence was found of contacting the Demon Dao, Wu Qingfeng would still press charges. ¡°Where¡¯s the evidence?¡± Wu Qingfeng¡¯s gaze involuntarily shifted to the screen not far away as he asked in a stern voice. ¡°The evidence hasn¡¯t been obtained yet, but as long as we thoroughly search the Huang Family, I will certainly bring the evidence¡­¡± Tie Xuan¡¯s voice became even lower. He wasn¡¯t sure if Wu Qingfeng would agree. After all, this was indeed risky, to search the Huang Family would mean completely falling out with Li Mingqi. Wu Qingfeng¡¯s fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop: ¡°Where did you get this information?¡± ¡°The honorable sir also knows, my younger sister mingles with the lower classes in South City every day; from one of those people I found out about this. He claims that he cleans out filth for the Huang Family every day, often seeing human bones among the filth¡­ He dares not make this public, and it was only after getting drunk last time that he¡­¡± Tie Xuan carefully watched Wu Qingfeng¡¯s reaction. This story was of course fabricated, a plot devised by Chen Yuan and Tie Xuan to decide Wu Qingfeng¡¯s actions; even if nothing was found in the end, the enmity between the Huang Family and Wu Qingfeng would surely come to the forefront. By then, the Huang Family would have no mood to pay him any further attention. If evidence was found, all the better. Regardless of the outcome, Chen Yuan had nothing to lose! After a moment of silence, Wu Qingfeng emptied the tea from his cup in one gulp and lowered his voice: ¡°Keep this quiet for now, investigate more thoroughly, and wait for my command!¡± Tie Xuan gritted his teeth, somewhat unwilling, but with Wu Qingfeng¡¯s words reaching this point, he could do nothing but comply: ¡°Yes, I shall obey your order!¡± ¡°All right, you may leave now¡­¡± said Wu Qingfeng. ¡°Your subordinate takes his leave.¡± Once Tie Xuan¡¯s figure had completely disappeared, Wu Qingfeng spoke indifferently: ¡°Director Zhang, it seems that news of the Huang Family colluding with the No-Life Sect is known to more than just you and me.¡± As Wu Qingfeng finished, a young man clad in Mysterious Armor, with a stern face and white patterns on his chest, emerged from behind the screen. The young man referred to as Director Zhang walked slowly to the front of Wu Qingfeng and sat down, took a teacup, poured himself a cup of clear tea, took a sip, and said in a low voice: ¡°I had intended to use the Huang Family to catch a few big fish from the No-Life Sect; I didn¡¯t expect the news to leak out so soon¡­¡± He spoke emotionlessly, a glint of lethal intent flashing in his eyes. The intelligence department of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau had already discovered the Huang Family¡¯s secret communications with the No-Life Sect, and he had come specifically for this matter. To think that just when he had finished communicating with County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng, someone reported it, and frankly, he was not pleased. ¡°Does Director Zhang still plan to continue the fishing?¡± Wu Qingfeng asked softly. ¡°Since the news is already out, to avoid startling the snakes, County Magistrate Wu, you should take action as soon as possible!¡± The young man crushed the teacup he was holding, causing Wu Qingfeng to wince. Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Unexpected Incidents Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Unexpected Incidents ¡°` That cup was a fine piece of blue and white porcelain, worth at least ten taels of silver! Noticing the brief flash of pain in Wu Qingfeng¡¯s eyes, Zhang Xuan smiled: ¡°The Huang Family¡¯s wealth is beyond measure, and this time, the County Magistrate Wu has definitely had his fill¡­¡± Wu Qingfeng showed no change in expression: ¡°I will have to rely greatly on Director Zhang. I¡¯ll persuade County Magistrate Li myself¡­¡± Wu Qingfeng didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with discussing such matters. If one doesn¡¯t make money while holding office, then what¡¯s the point of becoming an official! ¡°Let¡¯s set it for tomorrow night, my Heavenly Patrol Guard will arrive in Ping¡¯an County,¡± Zhang Xuan said expressionlessly as he tapped on the table. ¡°Good!¡± ¡­ ¡­ That night, the stars were bright. Chen Yuan slipped into Wang Meng¡¯s home alone. Gentlemen might talk about revenge after ten years, but for someone like Chen Yuan, he would settle scores the very night¡ªof course, one needed certain capabilities to do this. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Wang Meng¡¯s home had little in the way of defenses. Clearly, he himself couldn¡¯t have imagined that Chen Yuan would be so bold: just after a conflict in the afternoon, he would come for your life at night. Without hesitation, Chen Yuan moved from room to room, claiming several lives. Finally, he reached the last room. As soon as Chen Yuan pushed the door, a long saber thrust straight at him, aiming to impale his chest. But Chen Yuan was prepared. The moment the saber was thrust, he quickly sidestepped, avoiding the lethal blow, and then with one slash, he smashed the door to pieces and sent a figure flying outwards. Chen Yuan, holding his blood-dripping saber, took steps forward, like a reaper from Hell. ¡°I do not know in what way Wang has offended brother to make brother strike such a ruthless blow¡­¡± Wang Meng said intermittently as he lay on the ground. ¡°Today¡¯s newly kindled grudge!¡± ¡°You¡­ who are you¡­¡± Wang Meng¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Who ordered you to act against me?¡± ¡°It was¡­ Gang Leader Zhu Sihai, Chen¡­ Brother Chen, please spare my life!¡± The next instant, the blade flashed, and Chen Yuan emotionlessly beheaded him. To prevent anyone from having evidence to link back to him, he even altered the knife wounds on Wang Meng¡¯s body, turning it into a mess of flesh. After handling Wang Meng, Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze caught a pair of trembling legs on the bed. He approached slowly, holding the knife¡­ After leaving Wang Meng¡¯s home, Chen Yuan was as composed as still water. This time he had indeed acted impulsively, but¡­ it was worth it! Since Huang Xing had already sent people to act against him, even if he behaved himself, they wouldn¡¯t let him off. He might as well fight with all he had. Tomorrow, he would see how things stood with Tie Xuan. If the County Magistrate Wu didn¡¯t plan to take action, then he truly needed to consider an exit strategy soon. ¡­ The next day. Chen Yuan entered the county government with a calm expression, as usual. As soon as he entered, he felt that the atmosphere was somewhat amiss; everyone was silent, like the calm before the storm. ¡°Brother Wang? What¡¯s going on today? Why is everyone acting this way¡­¡± Chen Yuan casually approached a government official and asked in a low voice. The government official looked around and whispered: ¡°Today, the arrest officer is quite gloomy for some reason, probably because someone has annoyed him again. You better keep it low-key these days and don¡¯t get caught in the crossfire.¡± ¡°Thank you for the warning, brother.¡± Chen Yuan nodded his thanks, but inside, he was speculating whether it was due to his wiping out Wang Meng¡¯s entire household last night that had upset Huang Xing. What surprised him most was that the news of the annihilation of Wang Meng¡¯s family seemed to be suppressed; no one was aware of it. It seemed that someone had hushed it up. Logically, someone should have informed him of this matter as soon as he entered the county government. ¡°` With his mind preoccupied, Chen Yuan took a few White Servants for a stroll around Ping¡¯an County, even routinely inspecting the entrance of the Song residence several times, but he never saw the red silk that was supposed to be there. ¡°Could it be that Wu Qingfeng is unwilling to make a move?¡± ¡°But even so, Tie Xuan should have at least informed me¡­¡± Chen Yuan squinted his eyes, his hand always gripping the hilt of his blade. Carrying his thoughts with him, Chen Yuan returned to the County Government. He had just sat down, not even having time to take a sip of water, when he was called over by the arrest officer Huang Xing, much to the schadenfreude of several Government Officials. ¡°My lord!¡± Chen Yuan saluted with clasped hands and bowed. Huang Xing stared intently at Chen Yuan and suddenly said, ¡°Wang Meng is dead!¡± Chen Yuan timely raised his head in shock, ¡°Dead?¡± ¡°Last night, he died in his home, and not a single one of the fourteen family members survived. What do you think?¡± Huang Xing asked with a somewhat bland tone. As he asked, Huang Xing also observed Chen Yuan¡¯s reaction. When he first learned of the incident, he thought it might have been Chen Yuan, but upon reflection, it seemed unlikely. A mere tavern brawl wouldn¡¯t justify Chen Yuan risking everything to commit murder, right? ¡°To act in the dead of night, sparing no one, there¡¯s something strange about this. Could it be the work of the No-Life Sect¡¯s rascals again?¡± Chen Yuan frowned, but a cold sweat broke out on his back. ¡°I¡¯ve already investigated; it doesn¡¯t look like the work of the No-Life Sect¡¯s rascals!¡± ¡°May I go to the scene to search for clues? Perhaps I can find some leads. Although I¡¯ve had conflicts with Wang Meng, he was still a decent person,¡± said Chen Yuan with a light chuckle. After looking at Chen Yuan carefully, Huang Xing suddenly laughed and said, ¡°Forget it. The more gangland killings, the better. Your current priority is to pursue the whereabouts of the No-Life Sect¡¯s rascals. How can you afford to waste time on this?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, my lord!¡± ¡°Alright, you may leave now¡­¡± Huang Xing waved his hand. ¡°This official takes his leave¡­¡± Chen Yuan bowed and departed. As Chen Yuan was leaving, an unfamiliar-looking Government Official bustled into the room where Huang Xing was, and with a ¡®bang¡¯, closed the door. Chen Yuan observed that Huang Xing stayed in the room for a moment, his expression blank and even slightly grim as he summoned all the officials from the Arrest Room. ¡°Everyone, follow me¡­¡± By this time, the sky had become rather dark, signaling the time to return home. Despite this, no Government Official dared to object to Huang Xing¡¯s command; they all accepted the order, and Chen Yuan, standing in the last row, frowned as he watched the scene unfold. Could it be another murder case? After saying this, Huang Xing led a phalanx of Government Officials, their presence looming, toward a certain direction, their steps even a bit hasty. Chen Yuan took a deep breath. Could this be related to Tie Xuan¡­ As expected by Chen Yuan, Huang Xing indeed was leading his men toward the Huang Family¡¯s direction. They had not yet arrived when Chen Yuan heard the noisy commotion. The Huang Family was in trouble! Faced with such an unexpected and sudden event, Chen Yuan felt both thrilled and solemn. He was thrilled that the Huang Family was finally being eradicated; yet solemn because the current situation had completely exceeded his expectations. What exactly had happened on Tie Xuan¡¯s side? Was this directed by Wu Qingfeng? If the Huang Family was really colluding with the No-Life Sect¡¯s rascals, could these men from the County Government possibly withstand those powerful figures? ¡°How dare you cause trouble at the gates of the Huang Family!¡± Huang Xing¡¯s voice rang out coldly, and suddenly everything around fell into eerie silence. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Clash! Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Clash! At this moment. County Government. Li Mingqi, listening to his subordinate¡¯s report, smashed the desk in front of him with a palm and said in a low voice, ¡°What is Tie Xuan trying to do? He dares to send people to surround the Huang Family¡¯s gate. Is he planning to rebel?¡± The young Government Official bowing in front of Li Mingqi involuntarily trembled, not daring to say much. Huang Xing had only asked him to come and inform the County Magistrate of the situation; he didn¡¯t know the specifics either. Taking a deep breath, Li Mingqi¡¯s eyes flashed with a cold light as he stood up, ¡°This official wants to see who gave Tie Xuan the audacity to be so presumptuous!¡± Everyone in Ping¡¯an County knows that the arrest officer Huang Xing and the Huang Family are vassals to Li Mingqi, who present him with a hefty sum of silver taels monthly for his cultivation needs. If Tie Xuan really confiscated the Huang Family¡¯s property, it would not only be a slap in the face for the Huang Family but for him, Li Mingqi, as well! ¡°Why does Lord Li need to be so angry?¡± Just then, a calm middle-aged voice sounded¡ªit was the County Magistrate, Wu Qingfeng. The door was pushed open, and Wu Qingfeng walked in with a smile on his face, flanked by two Government Officials. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Li Mingqi¡¯s expression showed neither sadness nor joy. With his strength, he had noticed someone approaching from dozens of feet away long ago; his previous words were indeed intended for Wu Qingfeng to hear. ¡°Magistrate Wu¡­¡± Li Mingqi stood with his hands behind his back, facing Wu Qingfeng head-on. Wu Qingfeng was a full seventh-rank official, while Li Mingqi was a junior seventh-rank. In terms of official position, Li Mingqi was slightly lower, but his power was no less than that of Wu Qingfeng. Therefore, there was not much respect. On the surface, they got along fine on ordinary days, but now, as Wu Qingfeng had signaled Tie Xuan to cause trouble at the Huang Family, there was no need to save face for either side. Li Mingqi was not afraid of tearing off this facade. While Wu Qingfeng had his connections in the Prefecture City, had Li Mingqi, immersed in the officialdom for decades, no backing of his own? ¡°You all, step out. I have something to discuss with Lord Li¡­¡± Wu Qingfeng motioned with his hand. The few Government Officials didn¡¯t dare to object and withdrew, bowing. Soon, only Li Mingqi and Wu Qingfeng were left in the room. The atmosphere tensed for a moment before Wu Qingfeng took the lead, ¡°It was I who ordered Tie Xuan to take action against the Huang Family¡­¡± ¡°What crime has the Huang Family committed to warrant such an order from the County Magistrate? Does Magistrate Wu not know the Huang Family¡¯s standing in Ping¡¯an County City? Do you have no regard for Officer Huang¡¯s dignity?¡± Li Mingqi narrowed his eyes, his tone showing no respect. Wu Qingfeng smiled unhurriedly, ¡°There is a reason for this official¡¯s actions.¡± ¡°Is that so? This official would like to hear it¡­¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s gaze was indifferent. ¡°The Huang Family colluded with the No-Life Sect!¡± Wu Qingfeng said emotionlessly. In an instant, Li Mingqi felt a shock in his heart, his disbelief quickly turning to gloom, ¡°Is collusion what you claim it to be, Magistrate Wu? Where is the evidence?¡± ¡°Baseless accusations against an imperial officer¡ªif there¡¯s no solid evidence, this official will have to report you to the Magistrate.¡± ¡°Evidence? This is the evidence.¡± Wu Qingfeng took out a waisted badge from his bosom and threw it to Li Mingqi. Seeing the large ¡°Patrol¡± character on the white badge, Li Mingqi took a deep breath, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes, and flipped the badge over. On it was clearly engraved a small ¡°Zhang¡± character. ¡°The Heavenly Patrol Bureau!¡± Li Mingqi gasped in shock. Known for supervising officials and inspecting everything under the heavens, the reputation of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau was known to all, far and wide. Merely the mention of its name could keep an official up all night with worry. Falling into the hands of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau essentially meant death. Watching the undisguised terror in Li Mingqi¡¯s pupils, Wu Qingfeng felt a surge of satisfaction. This Li Mingqi had been frequently at odds with him during his term; otherwise, dealing with the Huang Family wouldn¡¯t have been so troublesome. ¡°Master Zhang Xuan of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau had long been aware of the Huang Family¡¯s secret communications with the No-Life Sect. The takedown was a bit hasty this time, otherwise, more than just the little Huang Family would have been caught,¡± said Wu Qingfeng, with a veiled threat in his words. Feeling the threat in Wu Qingfeng¡¯s words, the grip around his waist token tightened, but this token of the Heavenly Patrol was made of the finest black iron, capable of withstanding such strength. ¡°Since the Heavenly Patrol Bureau is leading the charge, I have no objections,¡± Li Mingqi said expressionlessly as he returned the token to Wu Qingfeng and stood up to leave. ¡°Do not be angered, Magistrate Li. After all, we are colleagues who have served together for many years. We should, rightly, cooperate with sincerity and dedication¡­ don¡¯t you think?¡± Wu Qingfeng stood up, straightened his official robes, and said with a smile. ¡°Exactly as Magistrate says!¡± Li Mingqi replied. After saying this, Li Mingqi strode out of the room. Only Wu Qingfeng was left, the corners of his mouth hooked in a slight smirk. After years of opposition from Li Mingqi, he had never felt quite as elated as he did now; the prestige of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau was truly invaluable! ¡­ ¡­ With a low shout, Huang Xing took a step forward, leaped into the air with momentum, somersaulted in mid-flight, and landed knife in hand in front of the Huang Family¡¯s gates, his eyes burning with rage as he stared down Tie Xuan. ¡°Tie, what the hell do you want, daring to block the doorway of my Huang Family!¡± A cold smirk flickered at the corner of Tie Xuan¡¯s mouth: ¡°Huang Xing, I am here on the County Magistrate¡¯s orders to search the Huang Family. Should you obstruct, you would hinder the Government¡¯s affairs. As an arrest officer, I have the authority to execute you on the spot!¡± ¡°Bullshit! My Huang Family is calm and obedient; what crimes have we committed? You say it¡¯s the County Magistrate¡¯s order? Then confront me in front of the County Magistrate himself!¡± Huang Xing gripped the handle of his knife, his gaze firm on Tie Xuan. Several of Huang Xing¡¯s closest Government Officials drew their knives and stood behind him, ready to act at a moment¡¯s notice. The situation was on a knife-edge. Chen Yuan frowned at the scene, quietly retreating to the back of the crowd. He seemed to be nothing more than a bystander. With both Tie Xuan and Huang Xing¡¯s attention on each other, they had no surplus attention to spare for a mere Government Official like him. At this moment, he was sure that Tie Xuan had long been ready to act, but there had been no intention to inform him. It seemed that to them, a mere Blood Refining Martial Artist wasn¡¯t worth much attention. Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with cold indifference as he tightly gripped the sheath of his knife. Tie Xuan pulled a document from his chest and threw it to Huang Xing: ¡°This is an order from the County Magistrate. Are you going to defy it, Captain Huang?¡± Dealing with an official required proper documentation, and Wu Qingfeng had already made the necessary preparations. Huang Xing caught the document and examined it closely. But upon seeing the words that suggested the Huang Family was suspected of secret communications with the No-Life Sect, he couldn¡¯t help the panic that rose within him, his gaze instinctively glancing in the direction of his family home. ¡°Nonsense, how could I, the captain, possibly consort with the No-Life Sect? This must be your slanderous scheme. I will not accept this today!¡± Huang Xing said coldly, gripping the document tight in his hand. ¡°Whether you accept it or not is not for you to decide. I am here to conduct a search on behalf of the Magistrate. Do you wish to go against the court?¡± Tie Xuan took a step forward and said coldly to the group of Government Officials. Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Gale Swift Sword Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Gale Swift Sword Tie Xuan¡¯s cold shout left the group of Government Officials hesitating. On one side was the awe-inspiring reputation of Huang Xing, while on the other was the written approval from the County Magistrate. Soon, a few Government Officials exchanged glances, and then sheathed their drawn swords, silently standing aside, obviously not prepared to oppose the County Government for the arrest officer Huang Xing. Humans are herd animals; seeing someone taking the lead, most of the Government Officials followed suit, sheathing their swords and bowing their heads, not daring to meet the gloomy gaze of Huang Xing. In the blink of an eye, there were only four or five people still standing behind Huang Xing, including Chen Yuan. Seeing the silent Chen Yuan standing behind himself, Huang Xing felt a great surprise. Just as he was about to say some encouraging words, he saw Chen Yuan smile at him and, carrying his sword, stood aside. It was obvious he was ready to watch the excitement. The standoff in front of the Huang Family home attracted many onlookers, and the discussions among the people were lively, with not a few cheering on. Huang Xing let out a cold snort, and the next moment, dozens of Protectors martial artists, armed with long sabers and swords, emerged from within the Huang Family and stared at Tie Xuan and his party. They formed two rows, as if they were respectfully awaiting someone¡¯s arrival. Soon, a man in a green long gown, with a goatee on his chin, the Family Head Huang Shengnian, walked out expressionless. ¡°Family Head!¡± Huang Xing¡¯s eyes flickered, seemingly asking whether everything at home was now prepared. The Huang Family indeed had many incriminating evidences, and if discovered during a search, they would be facing a crime potent enough to result in their family¡¯s extermination. Huang Xing was delaying Tie Xuan here, trying to buy them time to obliterate all evidence swiftly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co As long as there was no evidence, the Huang Family could remain unscathed under Li Mingqi¡¯s protection. The Huang Family hadn¡¯t skimped on sending gifts to the Li surname all these years; if they didn¡¯t help them out now, who would follow him in the future? A trace of gloom flickered across Huang Shengnian¡¯s eyes, and imperceptibly, he shook his head. Huang Xing took a deep breath, realizing things were turning bad. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Arrest officer Huang, you don¡¯t think it¡¯s only here that has been blocked, do you?¡± Tie Xuan¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. The saying about a crafty rabbit having three burrows was not lost on him. All the exits of the Huang Family were covered by Government Officials, all from the six divisions of the County Government. With a single command from Wu Qingfeng, no one dared to disobey. ¡°Brother Tie, the Huang Family doesn¡¯t seem to have offended you, right? Why do you press us so aggressively today?¡± Huang Shengnian stood with his hands behind his back, slightly frowning as he looked at Tie Xuan. ¡°Not offended? Haha¡­ Huang Xing, you don¡¯t really think I¡¯m unaware of who¡¯s been pulling the strings behind Old Song, do you? Let me tell you, I¡¯ve already seen through him, and I¡¯ve got all the Huang Family¡¯s deeds in my grasp.¡± Tie Xuan had an air of holding the winning cards, and even the watching Chen Yuan was almost convinced. ¡°Brother Tie, what are you talking about? I don¡¯t seem to understand what you¡¯re saying? Could it be that someone has been slandering¡­¡± Huang Xing¡¯s face remained unchanged. ¡°Humph, whether it¡¯s slander or not, you know full well. Enough idle talk, if you know what¡¯s good for you, back off now. As long as no evidence is found in the Huang Family, I will certainly come and apologize in person!¡± ¡°If arrest officer Tie really managed to force his way in successfully, my Huang Family would no longer have any standing from now on. This, I cannot allow!¡± Huang Shengnian refused flatly. ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing more to say¡­¡± Tie Xuan drew a short spear from behind his back, and with a violent flick, the short spear snapped and extended into a long spear, its head gleaming coldly, its black tassel flowing with the wind. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that the Tie Family¡¯s spear technique is unmatched in Ping¡¯an County. I¡¯ve been eager to see it for myself. I just wonder how it compares to our Huang Family¡¯s Gale Swift Sword¡­¡± Huang Shengnian took a step forward. Behind him, a Protector shouted: ¡°Family Head, catch the sword!¡± With a ¡®whoosh,¡¯ a green long sword was unsheathed. Huang Shengnian kept his eyes fixed on Tie Xuan, casually catching it. The sword in hand was engraved with green wind patterns. Sword pointed at Tie Xuan! Tie Xuan shook his long spear, emitting a buzzing sound, and said in a cold voice: ¡°The Huang Family has colluded with the No-Life Sect traitors to create chaos in Ping¡¯an. By the County Magistrate¡¯s order, all members of the Huang Family will be arrested and thrown into prison. Any who dare resist will be killed without mercy!¡± ¡°Take action!¡± With a low shout from Tie Xuan, facing Huang Shengnian, a hint of cold light arrived first, followed by his spear thrusting forth like a dragon! The long spear moved swiftly, stabbing straight at his chest. Huang Shengnian¡¯s expression turned grave as he retreated three steps, his sword bringing out an afterimage as it swung down fiercely. With a ¡®ding¡¯, he parried it away. Immediately, the two engaged in a fierce exchange, with ceaseless shadows of sword and spear, visibly marking the ground within a two-zhang radius with sword cuts. Chen Yuan watched carefully, a trace of wariness flashing in his eyes. Such strength was far beyond him; relying solely on his Sword Drawing Skill, he probably wouldn¡¯t last more than a few moves. At Tie Xuan¡¯s command, the government officials he brought along rushed towards the Huang Family¡¯s protectors. Huang Xing swung his sword, and the protectors behind him showed not a hint of fear on their faces, some even looked frenzied. Those present on the scene, aside from a group of commoners watching from a distance, were mostly government officials brought by Huang Xing; they looked at each other uncertain as to whom they should help. Chen Yuan was among them. His gaze was fixed on the battle between Tie Xuan and the Huang Family Head, Huang Shengnian. With nearly every strike exchanged between the two, a layer of afterimages appeared, the fierce Sword Qi sweeping across in glints of cold light, cutting more than a dozen conspicuous marks into the ground. Gale Swift Sword, as expected, lives up to its name! This swordsmanship had quite a reputation in Ping¡¯an County, considered the secret technique of the Huang Family and never taught outside, ranking above the martial arts of the county government. As for the Tie Family¡¯s Spear Technique, it wasn¡¯t Chen Yuan¡¯s first time witnessing it. He had observed Tie Qinghua and Old Sixth Song¡¯s confrontation, but the Spear Technique Tie Xuan was using now seemed several times more powerful than Tie Qinghua¡¯s. Could it be because a man still wields a spear, while a woman does not? A peculiar thought crossed Chen Yuan¡¯s mind. Standing on a rooftop five hundred meters away from the Huang Family was a group of five figures, led by the stern-faced Zhang Xuan. ¡°Tie Xuan¡¯s strength is indeed remarkable. At the Bone Refining Level, there¡¯s hardly anyone in Ping¡¯an County who can match him,¡± a man in black with a scar on his face murmured. His clothes were embroidered with patterns similar to clouds, matching those on Zhang Xuan¡¯s outfit, but the main difference was that his were black, while Zhang Xuan¡¯s patterns were white. ¡°What does the master think of him?¡± a very burly man asked in a deep voice. Zhang Xuan squinted and said: ¡°He¡¯s too old, not suitable for the Heavenly Patrol Bureau. Besides, he might not be willing to come. The power wielded by a head jailer in the government is not something a Heavenly Patrol Guard can compare with.¡± ¡°Power? That¡¯s only against ordinary people. In front of us, what¡¯s a jailer worth?¡± muttered a middle-aged man covered in pockmarks. ¡°Yue Shan¡­¡± called Zhang Xuan softly. ¡°Master!¡± The hefty man bowed and saluted with his fists. ¡°That Huang Xing is yours to deal with. For now, do not reveal your identity!¡± Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: 30 Yue Shan! Chapter 30: 30 Yue Shan! Zhang Xuan¡¯s gaze was fixed in the direction of the Huang Family; currently, the entire Huang Family was surrounded on two fronts. The first layer was led by the arrest officer Tie Xuan, and the second was him. Regrettably, up to now, there had not been anyone of interest emerging from within the Huang Family. He naturally did not want to reveal himself so early, lest he scare away the thieves from the No-Life Sect. ¡°Your servant obeys the command!¡± Yue Shan nodded slightly and leapt down from the rooftop. ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Huang Xing¡¯s strength is indeed extraordinary!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with deep caution. While Tie Xuan might be able to suppress Huang Shengnian somewhat, no one could handle Huang Xing; though the government officials that Tie Xuan brought were not lacking in the Blood Refining Level, none could withstand more than three moves from Huang Xing. Huang Xing did not kill, merely breaking a few bones at most; it was apparent he also did not want to completely fall out just yet. ¡°Bang!¡± Tie Xuan struck the ground in front of Huang Shengnian with his spear, creating a mark on the ground and forcing Huang Shengnian to retreat, but when he turned his gaze towards Huang Xing, his expression darkened. The government officials he had brought were no match for Huang Xing; they were already being pushed back by the Huang Family¡¯s Protectors, while Huang Xing remained calm and composed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co He felt impatient inside, cursing to himself why the reinforcements Wu Qingfeng promised had not arrived. If he let Huang Xing finish off all the government officials, not only would it be a massive loss of face, but it might also allow Huang Xing to turn the tables on him. He guessed that inside the Huang Family, they were surely destroying all evidence, or perhaps transferring it. ¡°Tie Xuan, you can still ensure peace by withdrawing your men now; otherwise, don¡¯t blame my Huang Family if, in a little while, we inadvertently cripple you!¡± Huang Shengnian threatened with a grim face. ¡°Old fool, with these little tricks, you think you can take down Tie someone?¡± Tie Xuan snorted coldly. ¡°I alone may not be enough, but what if Huang Xing joins me?¡± Squinting his eyes, Tie Xuan swept his gaze over the group of government officials brought by Huang Xing and shouted lowly: ¡°Huang Xing is committing treason, if you all redeem yourselves now, the arrest officer not only will forgive your crimes, but will also plead for your merits with the County Magistrate; otherwise, when the County Magistrate is enraged, all of you will be thrown into prison and sent to the border!¡± ¡°Spreading false rumors, when have I, the arrest officer, committed treason? Stop your nonsense. All you need to do is watch, and afterwards, I will not hold you responsible for any crimes, but if you dare attack the Huang Family, afterwards do not blame me, Huang Xing, for settling accounts!¡± Huang Xing said sternly, with a dark face. The government officials looked at each other, slightly uncertain, caught between the command of the County Magistrate and the threatening words of the long-established of Huang Xing. Chen Yuan squinted his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows. He had initially wanted to just wait and see, but if Tie Xuan were defeated, this great opportunity would be wasted. Furthermore¡­ If Wu Qingfeng decided to let Tie Xuan make a move, how could he possibly rely solely on Tie Xuan? Is he perhaps watching from the shadows? Or has he been held back? Thinking this, Chen Yuan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said loudly: ¡°Fellow colleagues, the County Magistrate¡¯s order is here, which is the decree of the court; do you really want to disobey? Chen Yuan might be inexperienced, but I know that the command of the court must not be defied.¡± ¡°Being sent to the border means a situation of nine deaths and one life.¡± Chen Yuan decided to take a gamble, betting that the Huang Family would not last through this. If the Huang Family had not decided to make the Beihai Gang move against him, Chen Yuan would have ignored it, but since the Huang Family harbored the intent to kill him, he could no longer wait. If he did not step forward now, afterward he would only be able to flee from Ping¡¯an County. On hearing this, everyone turned to look at Chen Yuan, recalling that this Chen Yuan was just a newcomer who had joined the County Government barely a year ago; how did he have the courage to speak such words? ¡°Chen Yuan¡­ are you opposing me, the arrest officer?¡± Huang Xing¡¯s gaze was somewhat sinister. ¡°Arrest officer? Huang Xing, your defiance has already come first. My action was merely following orders!¡± Chen Yuan stepped forward expressionlessly. Tie Xuan¡¯s eyes sparkled, and he was about to say something when he realized the man stepping forward was unfamiliar. He instantly understood that this person might be a newbie in the County Government, feeling somewhat disappointed. ¡°Scoundrel, who do you think you are to directly address me by name, showing insubordination? Today, I, the arrest officer, will let you understand what it means to respect hierarchy!¡± Huang Xing said coldly, furious in his heart. ¡°Hah¡­¡± Chen Yuan scoffed coldly, his hand gripping the handle of his sword tightly. No need to win; just blocking a few moves would naturally prompt those hesitant Government Officials to intervene. If the chaos resulted in Huang Xing being killed, a position for an arrest officer would then be vacant within the County Government. The law does not hold the crowd accountable, even if something were to happen afterward, it would be under Tie Xuan¡¯s orders and Chen Yuan¡¯s leadership. Disdainfully glancing at Chen Yuan, Huang Xing thought, even if you could kill Wang Meng, so what? The gap between Blood Refining and Bone Refining is not so easily bridged! Without further words, Huang Xing stepped forward, covering the distance of several meters, and slashed at Chen Yuan with his sword. Chen Yuan didn¡¯t dodge; his Sword Drawing Skill erupted instantly. ¡°Ding!¡± The sound of metal clashing echoed as Chen Yuan was forced several steps back by Huang Xing¡¯s strike. Huang Xing¡¯s eyes were cold, and just as he was about to continue, suddenly, a whooshing sound exploded. Huang Xing tensed, sidestepped, and staggered several steps. The spot where he had just stood now had a small hatchet the size of a forearm embedded in the ground! ¡°Who is it?¡± Huang Xing narrowed his eyes, suddenly feeling an ominous premonition. Chen Yuan turned his head to look, and saw a burly man nearly two meters tall, holding a Heavy Blade, appearing before everyone. The burly man, bare-chested, had bronze-colored skin with smooth lines, very aesthetically pleasing, and there was a tuft of chest hair between his pectorals. His tiger-like eyes exerted a strong oppressive force, staring coldly at Huang Xing, causing him to feel an intense pressure. ¡°May I know who you are and why you are interfering in the affairs of the Huang Family?¡± Huang Xing asked, narrowing his eyes in wariness. Yue Shan grinned, revealing a simple and naive smile: ¡°On the orders of the County Magistrate to inspect the Huang Family, you tell me, who am I?¡± In mid-combat, Tie Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that it was about time. If it had been delayed any longer, it would have truly been embarrassing. ¡°Brother, I¡¯ll leave Huang Xing to you!¡± Tie Xuan shouted loudly. Yue Shan nodded, and then gave Chen Yuan a side glance: ¡°Your strength is quite decent, it¡¯s just a pity about your Realm¡­¡± Chen Yuan smiled and remained silent. Huang Xing¡¯s expression changed, feeling an increasing sense of unease. This time Wu Qingfeng probably hadn¡¯t come just for an inspection, otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have asked for such a strong fighter to come from elsewhere. ¡°This brother, see clearly, my Huang Family has always been loyal to the imperial court, how can¡­¡± Yue Shan, impatient, waved his hand: ¡°I¡¯m not interested in listening to your nonsense. Now, I give you a choice, either surrender or¡­ I¡¯ll smash you to pieces!¡± As he spoke the words ¡°smash to pieces,¡± Chen Yuan felt a bloodthirsty aura. This person is no ordinary man! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thank you to the great Shadow Ice Heart for the 10,000 point coins donation. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Playing with Life! Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Playing with Life! ¡°You¡­¡± Huang Xing, hearing this kind of threatening talk, felt a surge of anger rise. ¡°What, not choosing? Then I¡¯ll choose for you¡­¡± Yue Shan said calmly, lifting the heavy blade with one hand, and stepping down, the ground seemed to have been struck by a giant rock. ¡°Hmph!¡± Huang Xing snorted coldly, slashing his sword toward Yue Shan. ¡°Bang!¡± When Huang Xing¡¯s sword collided with Yue Shan¡¯s, Huang Xing was directly sent flying back several meters, staggering three steps before coming to a stop, with a slight tremble in his right hand. Upon closer inspection of the blade, there was a sizeable nick. ¡°Such immense strength!¡± Huang Xing murmured in a low voice, with substantial apprehension toward the burly man before him. Yue Shan said nothing and took the opportunity to continue his attack, the heavy blade stirring up gusts of wind with each swing, so pronounced that even Chen Yuan, who was watching from the side, could clearly sense it. The situation reversed! Huang Xing didn¡¯t dare to clash directly with Yue Shan, his only option was to keep dodging, his steps already starting to scatter. ¡°Yue Shan has grown even stronger!¡± Someone from Zhang Xuan¡¯s group, watching from hundreds of meters away, exclaimed. ¡°Within Nanling Prefecture¡¯s Heavenly Patrol Bureau, there hasn¡¯t been anyone who could rely solely on strength to defeat Yue Shan in the same realm,¡± a man with a scarred face said in a low voice. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?????????????????.co ¡°Damn, what on earth did Yue Shan eat to grow so big¡­¡± ¡°You talk too much, don¡¯t you?¡± Zhang Xuan said indifferently. Upon his words, the people behind him immediately fell silent. ¡°Excellent!¡± Seeing the strong man brought by the County Magistrate able to suppress Huang Xing upon the first exchange, Tie Xuan was instantly overjoyed. Seeing this, Chen Yuan did not continue to watch but took the initiative to confront a Protector Martial Artist of the Huang Family, slashing off one of his arms. The hesitating Government Officials also stopped dithering at this moment, shouting loudly as they charged toward the Huang Family¡¯s men. Facing the wind, they dared not act, but when capitalizing on the momentum to claim achievements, not a single one fell behind. Huang Xing, being pushed back step by step, shouted toward Huang Shengnian: ¡°Family Head!¡± ¡°Bang!!!¡± Huang Shengnian was struck in the chest by Tie Xuan¡¯s spear, stepping back several paces, covering his chest with his hand, a trickle of fresh blood seeping from the corner of his mouth as he let out a breath. ¡°Huang Shengnian, even at this point, you still don¡¯t intend to allow the Government to perform a search. Clearly, you indeed harbor evil intentions!¡± Tie Xuan snorted coldly. Huang Shengnian glanced at Tie Xuan and then at the suppressed Huang Xing and the other Huang Family Martial Artists not far away. He pulled out a small whistle from his chest and blew into it by his mouth. ¡°Woo¡­¡± The piercing sound spread through a radius of several miles. Afterward, Huang Shengnian crushed the whistle: ¡°Tie Xuan, you¡¯re right. The Huang Family has long since pledged allegiance to the Holy Sect. Since you¡¯ve come knocking, then today, you shall leave your life here!¡± ¡°Just with you?¡± ¡°Of course not just with me. The Holy Sect has countless experts, and there will be those who will extract your soul and refine it!¡± ¡°It seems the real deal is about to show up¡­¡± Zhang Xuan, hearing that long whistle, chuckled lightly. A moment, ten moments, thirty moments¡­ The complexion of Huang Shengnian became increasingly unsightly; the Holy Sect¡¯s experts did not appear as agreed! Suddenly, a booming sound emanated from inside the Huang family compound, several dark figures leapt up and vanished into the dimming streets in an instant. ¡°No good, those guys are trying to run!¡± Zhang Xuan¡¯s gaze sharpened, and he ordered the people beside him: ¡°Pursue!¡± After speaking, Zhang Xuan immediately leaped down from the rooftop, chasing in the direction where the shadows disappeared. The several Heavenly Patrol Guards beside him dared not hesitate and powered up to follow closely behind Zhang Xuan. Yue Shan, who was suppressing Huang Xing, seeing Zhang Xuan and the others give chase, frowned, took a deep breath, and with a swing, sent his opponent reeling back, then closed in with a punched out. Huang Xing¡¯s expression changed, trying to retreat, but it was already a bit too late, as Yue Shan¡¯s oppressively large figure was close at hand, and he could only manage to place his long sword in front of himself in defense. ¡°Bang!¡± Yue Shan¡¯s terrifying strength bent the long sword and directly slammed into Huang Xing¡¯s body. ¡°Puh¡­¡± Huang Xing knelt on the ground, clutching his chest, as blood had already soaked his clothes. Yue Shan cast a sideways glance at Huang Xing, took a step causing the ground to shake, leaped into the air, and swung the heavy blade down ferociously, while Huang Xing, musterering his strength, dodged to the side. The heavy blade struck the ground, creating a crater. Then, Yue Shan¡¯s leg, like a giant boulder, kicked Huang Xing several meters away. He lay on the ground gasping for air, with several of his ribs broken by that kick. Each breath brought piercing pain. ¡°This guy is already finished. Keep an eye on him¡­¡± Yue Shan said to Chen Yuan, who was not far away fighting with the Huang Family¡¯s Protector, then without a word of farewell, he turned and chased after the direction Zhang Xuan and the others had left. Chen Yuan sliced a Huang Family Martial Artist at the waist and quickly rushed towards Huang Xing. At this point, neither side was concerned with status anymore. If they could kill, they would kill. ¡°My lord!¡± A loyal Government Official of Huang Xing¡¯s saw Chen Yuan approaching and hurriedly stood in front of Huang Xing, holding a long sword and staring at Chen Yuan, he said in a low voice, ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Chen Yuan, looking at this Government Official who had been around the County Government for years, said, ¡°Huang Xing¡¯s rebellion is proven. Are you sure you want to oppose the County Government for him? Have you thought about the consequences for your family and relatives?¡± ¡°Chen Yuan, you think you¡¯re in a position to lecture me?¡± ¡°If you have any sense, get out of my way, or I will cut you down with my blade!¡± Chen Yuan did not say much more. Under his clothes, golden paint spread over his entire body, and a glint of gold flashed in his eyes¡ªhis strength surged. He took three quick steps forward. ¡°Swoosh!¡± A flash of white light from the sword¡ªSword Drawing Skill! The long sword passed over the Government Official¡¯s sword-wielding palm, blood spurting meters away. His face twisted in pain, his arm trembled, and he looked at Chen Yuan in horror. That cut was so fast! He too had practiced the Sword Drawing Skill, but never with such speed. Just one cut, and he was disabled. With his long sword drawn, Chen Yuan slid forward, the blade shining brightly. ¡°Swoosh!¡± Half of the Government Official¡¯s arm was cut off with one slice, followed by Chen Yuan¡¯s fist slamming into his chest. ¡°Bang!¡± The Government Official was sent flying, landing close to Huang Xing. Chen Yuan walked up with an indifferent expression, crouched down, and with the flat of his blade, patted the Government Official¡¯s face, murmuring, ¡°Two taels of silver a month, and you¡¯re throwing your life away!¡± ¡°Ha¡­cough cough¡­¡± The Government Official lay on the ground, blood bubbling out of the corner of his mouth, looking at Chen Yuan with disbelief. Isn¡¯t he just a newbie in the County Government with a little more than a year of service? Why was his strength so formidable? Both at the Blood Refining Level, and yet he was lying on the ground after just one exchange. Chen Yuan stood up, scanned his surroundings¡ªno one had time to pay attention to what was happening here. He wiped his blade¡¯s blood on the Government Official¡¯s body and, with a blank face, walked towards Huang Xing. ¡°I pay my respects to you, my lord¡­¡± Chen Yuan said with a smile in his narrowed eyes. ¡°Chen Yuan!!!¡± Huang Xing glared furiously at Chen Yuan, grinding his teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me with that kind of face. It scares me¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done well¡­¡± ¡°Of course I have!¡± Chen Yuan smiled. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Huang Familys Second Son! Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Huang Family¡¯s Second Son! ¡°Huff¡­.¡± Huang Xing panted heavily, glaring angrily at Chen Yuan. A mere government official now dared to speak to him this way; it was an utter humiliation. He was still unaware that the trouble the Huang Family faced was entirely triggered by Chen Yuan; otherwise, he might have had other thoughts. After dealing with Huang Xing, the martial artists of the Huang Family, overwhelmed by the large number of government officials, fell one after another. Soon, several of Tie Xuan¡¯s men bound Huang Xing in iron chains. The clash between Tie Xuan and Huang Shengnian was also nearing its end. Tie Xuan was much stronger than Huang Shengnian. A long spear danced in his hands, his blood surging around him, giving off a faint black shimmer on his skin. The ground roared under the assault, and Huang Shengnian¡¯s Gale Swift Sword kept flashing, the clinking sounds of metal striking metal resonating nonstop. Huang Shengnian¡¯s body was stained with several plum blossoms of blood, each one a wound from Tie Xuan¡¯s spear. ¡°Charge!¡± Several government officials under Tie Xuan exchanged looks and, wielding long sabers, rushed towards Huang Shengnian. With the addition of these fresh troops, it took just a few moments for Huang Shengnian to be defeated. Tie Xuan held him at spear-point at the neck, a trickle of blood seeping out. Huang Shengnian looked utterly defeated and let out a long sigh. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co This time, the Huang Family was done for! Those No-Life Sect people hadn¡¯t shown up as they had promised with the secret signal; they were despicable. ¡°Master Huang, do you have anything to say now?¡± Tie Xuan asked with a hint of triumph. Huang Shengnian: ¡°Tie Xuan, don¡¯t celebrate too soon!¡± ¡°Oh? Do you still have some tricks up your sleeve?¡± Tie Xuan asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. Huang Shengnian snorted coldly and turned his head away. ¡°So you¡¯ve nothing left? Then save your breath¡­ Wait and see, the doors of the Huang Family are doomed! You think I don¡¯t know that you ordered my sister to be ambushed?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just been biding my time, and today is the day of my revenge!¡± Tie Xuan¡¯s tone shifted, his gaze filled with a murderous intent. After speaking, Tie Xuan gestured. Several government officials immediately stepped forward with iron hooks and pierced through his shoulder bones. Huang Shengnian clenched his teeth, cold sweat streaming down. ¡°What is your name?¡± Tie Xuan turned his attention to Chen Yuan and walked closer. Although the unfamiliar government official before him hadn¡¯t taken action, the powerful man invited by the County Magistrate would soon arrive, but showing capability was still impressive. And his skill seemed quite remarkable, too. If this lad was sensible, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to nurture him a bit. ¡°Responding to the superior, my humble name is Chen Yuan¡­¡± Chen Yuan bowed slightly, glancing at the ground. He was sure that Tie Xuan hadn¡¯t recognized him. But that was normal; when he had seen Tie Xuan, not only had he changed his voice, but his face had also been hidden behind a mask. Even peering through the mask, he could only be somewhat familiar with his eyes. ¡°Chen Yuan¡­ how long have you been in the county government?¡± Tie Xuan pondered, confirming he had no recollection of him. ¡°One year and two months.¡± ¡°Why did you intervene just now?¡± ¡°As a servant of the government, I must serve the court loyally!¡± Chen Yuan said with a solemn face. ¡°Ha¡­ I¡¯ll take your word for it for now,¡± Tie Xuan chuckled, then continued: ¡°From now on, follow me,¡± Tie Xuan said as he stepped forward and patted Chen Yuan¡¯s shoulder, indicating his support. ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± Chen Yuan feigned excitement at the appropriate moment. ¡°Your physique is quite robust, the foundation decent,¡± Tie Xuan nodded, then turned his gaze to Huang Xing on the ground, sneered coldly, looking towards the Huang Family and muttered lowly: ¡°Search for me!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Chen Yuan was somewhat moved, his hostility towards the Huang Family stemmed not only from Huang Xing¡¯s murderous intent towards him, but also from the information directed by the Qi Fortune Altar, the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl! ¡°Chen Yuan, Zhao Yang¡­ follow me,¡± Tie Xuan casually called out two names, stepping into the house of the Huang Family. Chen Yuan squinted his eyes, expressionlessly following behind Tie Xuan. A group of government officials charged into the Huang Family home, all the women and children fell to the ground crying, and those who resisted were stabbed to death. The Huang Family had fallen, and even if no evidence of crime was ultimately found, the government officials were convinced of this, and Tie Xuan would definitely make life hell for the Huang Family members. Therefore, no one was lenient. Many also had a greedy look in their eyes. The title of the Number One Family in Ping¡¯an County wasn¡¯t for nothing, aside from the strength of the Huang Family, there was also their wealth, controlling most of North City in Ping¡¯an County. There, the words of the Huang Family were more effective than the government¡¯s! ¡°My lord, this is the matriarch of the Huang Family¡­¡± Zhao Yang stepped forward, pointing to the expressionless middle-aged woman sitting in the center of the great hall. Tie Xuan raised his hand, speaking indifferently, ¡°I recognize Lady Huang myself.¡± Zhao Yang smirked obsequiously, bowed his head, and closely followed behind Tie Xuan. With the death of Huang Xing, Tie Xuan¡¯s position within the Ping¡¯an County government was set to greatly improve, and with the favorable view of the County Magistrate, as long as he pleased him, he would surely have peace in the future. ¡°Lady Huang, Tie presents his respects.¡± Tie Xuan casually bowed his hands, his gaze somewhat mocking. The middle-aged woman in fine clothes stared right back at Tie Xuan: ¡°Head Jailer Tie is skilled indeed, destroying my Huang Family¡¯s century-old foundation in such a short time.¡± ¡°Not skilled on my part, but the Huang Family brought it upon themselves; they even dared to collude with the traitors of the No-Life Sect. They deserve to die!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Lady Huang stared at Tie Xuan, snorted coldly, and seemed to bite into something, as a trickle of black blood oozed from the corner of her mouth. Tie Xuan¡¯s expression turned slightly cold: ¡°Lady Huang, safe journey. When you get below, don¡¯t be in a hurry to reincarnate; wait for Lord Huang to join you.¡± Lady Huang spat a mouthful of black blood onto Tie Xuan, closed her eyes, and slumped down in her chair, while Tie Xuan thrust his long spear, sending the corpse flying, and boldly sat on top of it. The cries of killing within the Huang Family home continued, and thick black smoke stood out against the gradually darkening sky. ¡°Has Huang Erlang been found?¡± Tie Xuan¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, discontent evident. Huang Erlang was a renowned genius in Ping¡¯an County, having entered the Blood Refining Level at merely sixteen years old, a feat that could even offer an opportunity to enter major factions in Jianghu. Aside from Huang Shengnian and Huang Xing, the person Tie Xuan most wanted to kill was Huang Erlang. It¡¯s better to bully an old man than a poor youth, a principle even Tie Xuan understood. Possessing such talent, he must be eradicated root and branch; otherwise, he might become a major threat in the future! ¡°My lord, we have already severely tortured some of the Huang family, but¡­ they also do not know exactly where Huang Erlang is hiding,¡± a government official said with his head bowed, somewhat nervously. ¡°Useless!¡± Tie Xuan stood up, his face full of gloom. ¡°Could he have left the Huang Family earlier?¡± Zhao Yang hurriedly suggested. Tie Xuan took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and said in a low voice, ¡°Even if it means digging three feet into the ground, find him for me!¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Hiding Place! Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Hiding Place! ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± A group of Government Officials hurriedly took their orders and left. When all the Government Officials had departed, leaving only Zhao Yang and two others, Chen Yuan slowly walked up to Tie Xuan and spoke in a low voice: ¡°Sir, the Huang Family is securely guarded on all sides. With Huang Erlang¡¯s strength, escaping is probably impossible.¡± Tie Xuan glanced at Chen Yuan: ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I believe there is a very high possibility that Huang Erlang is still hiding somewhere within the Huang Family. Perhaps, he is waiting for us to disperse so he can flee the Huang premises.¡± Zhao Yang gave Chen Yuan a sharp look. Chen Yuan¡¯s remarks were a direct negation of him. ¡°Then where do you think Huang Erlang could be hiding?¡± Tie Xuan looked at Chen Yuan, seemingly interested in hearing his opinion. ¡°It¡¯s often said that the most dangerous place is the safest. Lady Huang was sitting in the hall for no reason, waiting for you. Perhaps¡­ it¡¯s because she had just hidden Huang Erlang and hadn¡¯t had the chance to leave yet,¡± Chen Yuan whispered. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Since entering the Huang residence, Chen Yuan had been using his Dharma Eye, and right there in the hall, he had seen a fleeting hint of Qing light. Chen Yuan had tested before that apart from seeing if someone carried Qi Fortune, his Heavenly Eye Technique could also detect opportunities directed by the Qi Fortune Altar. For instance, the fragment of the Vajra Glaze Body that he had; whenever he used the Heavenly Eye, he could see the light flickering. Follwing this idea, either the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl was hidden right here in this hall, or there was someone here carrying Qi Fortune. Chen Yuan leaned towards the former. ¡°You mean to say that, right now, Huang Erlang is hidden here in this hall?¡± Zhao Yang said with a scoff, thinking that Chen Yuan¡¯s words were completely baseless. The Huang Family was under siege, and as the young master of the Huang Family, how could he possibly be hiding here? Chen Yuan ignored Zhao Yang and looked at Tie Xuan. Tie Xuan squinted his eyes, raised his hand to silence Zhao Yang, and surveyed the hall, finally resting his gaze on a landscape painting in the center. Then, he threw a spear that pierced through the landscape painting, the shaft penetrating three feet deep. Tie Xuan grasped the end of the spear and swung it forcefully. ¡°Boom!¡± The wooden wall instantly exploded. The next moment, a flash of sword light burst forth, directly targeting Tie Xuan¡¯s head. Tie Xuan¡¯s pupils shrank, and he stepped back three paces, his gaze sharpened, arriving right beside Zhao Yang, drawing the long blade in his hand to parry the incoming sword thrust. ¡°Huang Erlang!¡± Tie Xuan squinted his eyes, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth. Huang Erlang, with a face marked by desperate madness appearing somewhat delicate and immature, possessed a strength not to be underestimated. That sword strike alone made Chen Yuan acknowledge him as a worthy hand in the realm of Blood Refining Level. ¡°Tie Xuan, you deserve to die!¡± Huang Erlang scoffed coldly. ¡°Whether I deserve to die or not is unclear, but the Huang Family will certainly fall¡­¡± Zhao Yang¡¯s expression flickered with displeasure, having just questioned Chen Yuan¡¯s judgment, only to be proven wrong the next moment. ¡°Die, Tie Xuan.¡± Huang Erlang¡¯s sword vibrated, flicked a sword flower, and lunged directly at Tie Xuan. Chen Yuan grasped the hilt of his blade and was about to step forward when Tie Xuan raised his hand and said softly: ¡°No need to intervene. I have long heard that Huang Erlang¡¯s skills are extraordinary, being the top talent of Ping¡¯an County. Today, let me personally test his methods.¡± After speaking, Tie Xuan stepped forward, swiping the sword away with his blade, and his formidable Qi forced Huang Erlang¡¯s expression to change as he kicked toward Tie Xuan¡¯s chest. ¡°Bang!¡± Tie Xuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he calmly threw a punch. The punch and kick collided, emitting a muffled grunt; Huang Erlang was sent flying backwards, stumbling several steps on the ground, his expression ferocious, supporting himself with one hand on his right leg, Chen Yuan could see that Huang Erlang¡¯s forehead was already beaded with cold sweat, his right leg trembling uncontrollably. ¡°These paltry tricks, just like Huang Shengnian, that dog, are worthless¡­¡± Tie Xuan sneered coldly, his face showing some mockery, and then, he hurled the long knife directly. Huang Erlang dodged to the side, the blade of the knife grazing his left arm, tearing his clothes, and droplets of bright red blood fell. Tie Xuan did not give Huang Erlang a chance, a long leg thundered onto his body, ¡®crack¡¯ sounds followed, breaking several of his ribs. Tie Xuan, expressionless, stepped on Huang Erlang¡¯s chest, was about to say something when suddenly he felt something hard under his foot, his brows furrowed, and he bent down to take it out. Huang Erlang transformed his right palm into a claw, aiming at Tie Xuan¡¯s face, but was grabbed casually by him, twisted backward, and Huang Erlang¡¯s arm broke instantly, emitting a painful howl. ¡°What is this?¡± Tie Xuan took out a black wooden box from Huang Erlang¡¯s embrace, its style somewhat antique, seemingly quite old, and squinted his eyes asking the Huang Erlang on the ground. ¡°Pah!¡± Huang Erlang spat a mouthful of blood onto Tie Xuan¡¯s leg. ¡°Seeking death!¡± Tie Xuan lifted his right leg, suddenly stomping down. ¡°Ah¡­ Ah¡­¡± Huang Erlang, eyes wide open, emitted a painful scream from his mouth. The previously injured right leg, severely fractured, blood and flesh blurred. Tie Xuan threw the item from the box to Zhao Yang, whispering, ¡°Open it and see¡­¡± He was genuinely worried it might be some kind of concealed weapon, which would be embarrassing if triggered. Zhao Yang, gritting his teeth, dared not refuse, held the box a bit far away, and gently opened it. ¡°Click¡­¡± Inside the wooden box, a baby fist-sized black bead rested quietly, its surface possessing a delicate sheen, looking extremely extraordinary. ¡°Sir, it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a black bead!¡± Zhao Yang hurriedly said. ¡°Bring it here,¡± Tie Xuan stretched out his hand. Zhao Yang approached with small steps, presenting the box with both hands to Tie Xuan. Neither of them noticed, in the instant Chen Yuan saw the bead, a trace of imperceptible green light flashed in his eyes, after which, he unobtrusively moved closer. Tie Xuan, frowning, picked up the black bead and examined it closely, even bringing it to his nose to smell it, but the object had no scent. Looking coldly at Huang Erlang on the ground, his face twisted in pain, he demanded, ¡°If you do not wish to endure the pain of broken bones again, then tell me honestly about the origin of this thing, otherwise¡­¡± This black bead, although Tie Xuan did not know what it was, given that Huang Erlang kept it close to his body without any gold or silver treasures, proved it was definitely no ordinary item. ¡°Even if you kill me, I won¡¯t tell you!¡± Huang Erlang glared at Tie Xuan¡¯s eyes and said word by word. Tie Xuan sneered, ¡°Fine, then I¡¯ll kill you. Do you think I can¡¯t find out if you don¡¯t tell me?¡± Tie Xuan lifted his leg, about to stomp down heavily, when suddenly, Chen Yuan¡¯s voice sounded, ¡°Sir, I am familiar with this object.¡± Tie Xuan raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Oh? You recognize it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just somewhat familiar, seems like I saw it in a book¡­¡± ¡°Then come closer and take a good look.¡± Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Treasure Pearl! Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Treasure Pearl! ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Yuan gave a slight nod and moved a little closer to Tie Xuan. Pinching a bead with a black luster between his thumb and forefinger, Tie Xuan held it up to Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes to give him a clearer look, while his interest in Chen Yuan grew. This kid really is talented! Lying on the ground, the second son of the Huang Family watched Chen Yuan with a serious expression, a hint of scorn flashing in his eyes, seemingly certain that a mere constable couldn¡¯t possibly recognize the object. Off to the side, Zhao Yang felt a twinge of jealousy. He had noticed Tie Xuan¡¯s growing interest in Chen Yuan, interest that could be transformed into favor and, possibly, patronage¡­ but all these were supposed to be his. He had bet on Tie Xuan long ago, never expecting this unfamiliar constable to steal the limelight. The title of Tie Xuan¡¯s top lackey was his to claim! ¡°Can you recognize this object?¡± Tie Xuan asked, noting Chen Yuan¡¯s weighty expression, which clearly indicated he was onto something. Chen Yuan furrowed his brow and paced a few steps in front of Tie Xuan, pointing at the second son of the Huang Family lying on the ground: ¡°This object seems to be related to Marrow Cleansing. I¡¯ve read about it in an ancient text, but when I try to recall it, it¡¯s a bit fuzzy.¡± The eyes of the second son of the Huang Family on the ground contracted sharply with shock. Could the constable actually pinpoint the origin of the item? Were there really records of it in Ping¡¯an County? No, impossible! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Tie Xuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise passing through them. Marrow Cleansing! Spiritual objects of Marrow Cleansing! Such treasures were not for someone of his station to possess on regular days. He became somewhat excited and turned his gaze to the second son of the Huang Family, asking in a forceful tone: ¡°Is what he says true? Could this thing really¡­?¡± ¡°I remember now!¡± The voice of Chen Yuan suddenly rang out. ¡°What?¡± Tie Xuan turned his head to look. ¡°Pfft!¡± A flash of white light, the Sword Drawing Skill exploded in an instant. Chen Yuan¡¯s long sword plunged entirely into Tie Xuan¡¯s chest, and blood gushed forth. A flash of astonishment passed through Tie Xuan¡¯s eyes. The scene came to an abrupt halt. Immediately following, Zhao Yang shouted in horror: ¡°Chen¡­ Chen Yuan, what are you doing?¡± Chen Yuan didn¡¯t reply. His Qi circulated around his body, he withdrew the long sword and with a reverse grip, stabbed it into Zhao Yang¡¯s chest. In an instant, the situation in the field underwent a dramatic change. Zhao Yang took a fatal hit from the blade, the immense pain piercing into his marrow. Then Chen Yuan slammed a palm onto the hilt of the sword, the massive power flinging Zhao Yang away. The long sword pierced through his chest and pinned him against a pillar. Tie Xuan clutched at his chest, but the blood flowed like a breach in a dam, unstoppable. His body¡¯s Qi felt as if it had been drained in an instant. He tried to lift his arms, clench his fists, but he just couldn¡¯t muster the strength. The Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl, loosened by his weakening grip, dropped to the ground. Chen Yuan bent down to pick it up, wiped it on his sleeve, and tucked it into his bosom, then looked at Tie Xuan. ¡°Chen¡­ Chen Yuan¡­ why¡­ why did you¡­?¡± Tie Xuan¡¯s gaze was fixed on Chen Yuan, as if trying to kill him with his stare. It¡¯s like spending all day hunting geese, only to have the geese peck out your eyes! ¡°Why? Heh¡­¡± A faint smile curled on Chen Yuan¡¯s lips as he walked up close to Tie Xuan¡¯s ear and said in a hoarse whisper, ¡°Of course, for the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl.¡± Wide-eyed, Tie Xuan pointed at Chen Yuan and started to speak: ¡°Yuan¡­¡± ¡°I never expected that your true identity¡­ You really hid it well,¡± Tie Xuan gasped for air, his eyes cold. Upon witnessing this turn of events, the second son of the Huang Family first startled, then burst out laughing. His laughter was piercing in Tie Xuan¡¯s ears. ¡°Shut up!¡± Chen Yuan shot a cold glance at the second son of the Huang Family. Tie Xuan, as if sensing something, narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice: ¡°From the beginning, was it that black bead you were after?¡± Chen Yuan nodded and smiled without speaking. That had indeed been his goal from the start. When he said he wanted something from the Huang Family, he was referring to this very object. It seemed that Tie Xuan had no intention of keeping his promise and handing it over, so Chen Yuan had to claim it for himself. To the virtuous belong the treasures, and he was the virtuous one! ¡°Killing me, how do you plan to escape?¡± Tie Xuan¡¯s gaze was locked on Chen Yuan. ¡°Brother Tie must not speak ill of me. It¡¯s the hidden members of the No-Life Sect who are killing you, not me. I, a mere government official, am just lucky to have escaped with my life.¡± ¡°You truly are shameless.¡± ¡°This world is so dangerous, how else can one survive better than by being a little shameless?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s face was unperturbed, without any sense of wrongdoing. There was no profound relationship between him and Tie Xuan, no betrayal to speak of. From the beginning, it was all about the exchange of benefits, and he had no guilty conscience about it. ¡°Heh¡­ that¡¯s also true. I¡¯ve fallen this time. You even smeared poison on the blade, very good¡­ very good¡­¡± Tie Xuan took a deep breath, then continued: ¡°You¡¯ve got the object, and sooner or later you¡¯ll silence the witnesses. I ask you one thing, spare my sister. She knows nothing.¡± Chen Yuan didn¡¯t agree. Sparing her was out of the question¡ªin this lifetime, it was not going to happen. Uprooting completely was the best solution, Chen Yuan did not want to leave room for future troubles. ¡°Please¡­ I beg you!¡± Tie Xuan¡¯s face was pleading. ¡°Fine, I promise you¡­¡± Chen Yuan nodded. ¡°Thank you¡­ thank you so much.¡± ¡°Enough talk, Brother Tie. Safe travels,¡± Chen Yuan said softly. Tie Xuan closed his eyes, not quite understanding the meaning in Chen Yuan¡¯s words, but since he had no power left to resist, he might as well wait peacefully for death. He could only hope that Chen Yuan would keep his word. Chen Yuan¡¯s palm struck his head, and the immense power shattered his brain. Looking at the peaceful figure of Tie Xuan, Chen Yuan stared for a moment, then rose to his feet, turned his head to the last remaining person, the second son of the Huang Family. ¡°How did you know that the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl was hidden in my Huang Family¡¯s possession?¡± The second son of the Huang Family couldn¡¯t help but ask. From the conversation between Tie Xuan and this constable, he understood that the downfall of the Huang Family was tied to him, and his ultimate objective was the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Interrogation! Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Interrogation! But¡­ The secret of the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl was only known to his father, Huang Shengnian, within the entire Huang Family, even he had only been told today when Huang Shengnian handed over the Spiritual Pearl to him. This Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl was obtained by the previous Family Head of the Huang Family by chance in a ruin and had been passed down for almost fifty years, with not the slightest leak of information. Even the people of the No-Life Sect didn¡¯t know, so how on earth did the constable in front of him find out? Huang Erlang was very perplexed! ¡°You want to know?¡± Chen Yuan approached slowly, slightly raising his eyebrows. ¡°Yes.¡± Huang Erlang nodded emphatically. ¡°First tell me, how is the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl used?¡± Chen Yuan said with an expressionless face. He guessed that the Spiritual Pearl had to be swallowed, but he was not sure whether it was really so or not. If Huang Erlang could tell him, that would be best. Huang Erlang squinted his eyes: ¡°So you only know of this object¡¯s existence in my Huang Family.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Feeling the sense of powerlessness on his body, Huang Erlang took a deep breath and said: ¡°Grind it into powder and apply it externally on the body.¡± Chen Yuan nodded: ¡°It really is for internal use!¡± A hint of astonishment flashed in Huang Erlang¡¯s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a flicker of realization. This guy was indeed not that easy to deceive. ¡°Can you tell me now?¡± Huang Erlang asked. Chen Yuan stepped forward and whispered softly: ¡°I saw it in a dream.¡± Then, without giving Huang Erlang a chance to speak, he struck a palm on the crown of his head. His eyes, nose, mouth¡­ Huang Erlang¡¯s seven orifices bled, and with a bang, he lay on the ground. Inside the main hall, silence prevailed, three corpses were stacked together. To prevent any accidents, Chen Yuan had to destroy the scene. Otherwise, being the only one alive, it was too easy to be noticed. Fortunately, before this, Tie Xuan had already ordered most of the Government Officials to leave the Huang Family to track down the whereabouts of Huang Erlang. Chen Yuan emotionlessly tore down the curtains and covered the three bodies, picking up a candle and tossing it onto them. He then doused the entire main hall, including their bodies, with lamp oil. ¡°Boom!¡± The flames ignited instantly, and Chen Yuan could clearly see their bodies shriveling, their hair burnt to nothing. After a while, when the three corpses could no longer be recognized as human, and some parts even turned into charred wood-like shapes, Chen Yuan, emotionless, spread the fire to every corner of the main hall. With a calm face, Chen Yuan walked out of the main hall, leaving behind a blazing inferno. Murder and burning of the bodies! ¡°The thieves of the No-Life Sect are hidden here, come quickly to put out the fire!¡± Chen Yuan took a slight inhale with his throat, letting out a hoarse shout. ¡­ ¡­ The fire set by Chen Yuan had burnt down a great part of the Huang Family, the bright flames visible from half the county. County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng and the County Magistrate Li Mingqi, guarded by a troop of Government Officials, personally arrived near the Huang Family to take charge. ¡°Where is Tie Xuan? Send for Tie Xuan to see me immediately!¡± Wu Qingfeng¡¯s face held an imperceptible chill, his eyes sharp. He had ordered Tie Xuan to wipe out the Huang Family, not to destroy it completely. And what was most important, Tie Xuan¡¯s men had searched the whole Huang Family and found less than a thousand Silver. Afterwards, there was a great fire that involved the entire Huang Family. Several of Tie Xuan¡¯s trusted men knelt down in front of Wu Qingfeng and Li Mingqi, sobbing as they said: ¡°Sirs, the prison head¡­ he never came out after entering the Huang family residence.¡± Wu Qingfeng¡¯s pupils constricted, and he quickly pressed for answers: ¡°Tie Xuan didn¡¯t come out?¡± ¡°Yes, previously someone shouted, claiming¡­ claiming that inside the Huang family there were still cultists from the No-Life Sect in hiding, the prison head he¡­¡± The government official didn¡¯t finish, lowering his head. The implication was clear without saying more. ¡°Who was the one who shouted?¡± asked County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng, frowning. At that moment, he had a vague premonition, and his fists tightened beneath his long sleeves involuntarily. It wasn¡¯t anger over Tie Xuan¡¯s death, but rather the events of the day had completely exceeded his expectations. The people from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau were now unaccounted for, and he had no control over those individuals. ¡°The crowd was too chaotic, this subordinate asked several people but couldn¡¯t find out who shouted,¡± replied the man, shaking his head. ¡°Why did Tie Xuan separate from you?¡± Li Mingqi suddenly asked. The government official hesitated before continuing: ¡°The prison head ordered us to search for the whereabouts of Huang Erlang. When he left, this subordinate only noticed Zhao Yang and someone who seemed to be called Chen Yuan following the prison head.¡± ¡°And after that, well¡­¡± ¡°Are Zhao Yang and Chen Yuan still alive?¡± Li Mingqi squinted his eyes. Although Tie Xuan wasn¡¯t part of his faction and had even crippled Huang Xing, he was nonetheless one of his subordinates; as his direct superior, it was only fitting that he say something. The Huang Family was suspected of colluding with the No-Life Sect; the most important thing for him to do now was to avoid any association with the demon cultists. ¡°Zhao Yang is missing, Chen Yuan sustained some minor injuries and is currently helping with the firefighting effort,¡± they said. ¡°Bring him to me. I have questions for him!¡± Li Mingqi declared in a low voice. Wu Qingfeng glanced at Li Mingqi, then slowly turned his gaze towards the fire that lay before them; at this point, the blaze had been brought under control. The fire had originally erupted from the main hall of the Huang family and merely needed to be contained. With the help of the numerous government and white servants, extinguishing it wasn¡¯t difficult. When Chen Yuan was summoned by the government official, he showed no signs of abnormality, his face smeared with grime and his body stained with some blood. ¡°This subordinate pays respects to the two sirs!¡± Chen Yuan stepped forward in front of Li Mingqi and Wu Qingfeng, bowing with clasped hands. ¡°So you are Chen Yuan?¡± Li Mingqi scrutinized him, his gaze lingering for a moment on the blood on Chen Yuan¡¯s face and body. ¡°I am indeed Chen Yuan,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Were you with Tie Xuan all the time before?¡± ¡°To answer the sir, I indeed followed behind Tie Xuan earlier,¡± Chen Yuan replied truthfully. He knew that there were many who had seen him with Tie Xuan, so lying was impossible; he could only acknowledge it, letting the facts speak for themselves. ¡°Then where is he? Did you see him?¡± asked Li Mingqi, his voice deep. Chen Yuan considered for a moment, then hesitated before saying: ¡°Previously, the prison head ordered me to interrogate the Huang constables¡­ Huang Xing and Huang Shengnian, about the whereabouts of Huang Erlang. However, just as I left the Huang residence by not too far, a great fire broke out within. Therefore, I did not go and instead rushed to help put out the fire.¡± ¡°As for the whereabouts of the prison head, when I left, he was still inside the main hall, with Zhao¡­ Zhao Yang always by his side.¡± Wu Qingfeng stared at Chen Yuan, stepped forward slowly, his gaze shifting, then suddenly shouted: ¡°You¡¯re lying. Several witnesses can prove that you and Zhao Yang were always with Tie Xuan and never left his side. Confess now!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s face feigned shock, and he quickly bowed, saying: ¡°The Sirs¡¯ discernment is clear. I truly was sent by Prison Head Tie to inquire about the whereabouts of Huang Erlang, and I would never dare to conceal anything.¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36: A Powerful Heavenly Gang Warrior! Chapter 36: Chapter 36: A Powerful Heavenly Gang Warrior! Although he appeared to be flustered on the surface, in reality, he was not. Chen Yuan had gone over the events several times and was certain that no one had been paying attention to him. Moreover, it was already getting dark, and it was impossible to see someone¡¯s face clearly. He could plausibly explain himself, and right now, it was merely Wu Qingfeng trying to bluff him. Of course, if Wu Qingfeng insisted on pinning it on him, there was nothing he could do about it. Given his current strength and status, he was too low and could only bide his time. However, Wu Qingfeng had no grudge against him, and it was highly likely that he did not care much about him. He had neither the motive nor the strength to kill Tie Xuan. As for the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl, hardly anyone knew about it, and it wasn¡¯t worth Wu Qingfeng making a big fuss over. Li Mingqi watched as Wu Qingfeng actually went so far as to deceive a mere constable, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, thinking that he really was regressing the more he lived. ¡°When you left Tie Xuan¡¯s side, did you notice anything amiss? I can tell you clearly that it¡¯s highly likely that Tie Xuan died within the Huang Family, and you are somewhat suspect.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be implicated, then you must tell the truth¡­¡± Li Mingqi interjected at the right moment. After a moment¡¯s thought, Chen Yuan said: ¡°At that time¡­ I remember that Lord Tie seemed to want to entrust Zhao Yang with some matters, but as for what they were, this humble official does not know.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Li Mingqi¡¯s brow furrowed, just as he was about to ask something else. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and he looked to the left, where several figures slowly approached. The leader was a young man with a stern face, and the few people by his side wore uniform black garments with black patterns embroidered on them. Aside from a burly man holding a giant heavy blade, the rest were all equipped with uniform standard long blades. They were more refined and swift compared to the long blades in the hands of the County Government constables. And their identity was now self-evident. The Heavenly Patrol Bureau! ¡°County Magistrate Li, this is Zhang Xuan, the newly appointed Heavenly Patrol Envoy to Nanling Prefecture, and these are also experts from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau,¡± County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng seemed to have already forgotten about Tie Xuan¡¯s matter, stepping forward to introduce them to Li Mingqi. Indirectly, he showed a somewhat close relationship with this Heavenly Patrol Envoy. ¡°Master Zhang.¡± Li Mingqi quickly clasped his hands in greeting. He had dealt with people from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau before, so he was not willing to offend these executioners. For them, exterminating families was no more than routine work, and they were martial artists of exceptional strength, said to be deeply trusted by the Emperor. Zhang Xuan nodded slightly, his gaze measuring everyone present. When it landed on Chen Yuan, it paused for a moment. Yue Shan had said this youngster was somewhat capable. Being able to face the strike of a Bone Refining Martial Artist and only retreat a few steps, his strength was considered decent among the Blood Refining Level. This piqued his interest, though it was just a bit, of course. A Blood Refining Martial Artist was not worthy of his attention. Even the lowest rank Heavenly Patrol Guards in the Heavenly Patrol Bureau must possess Bone Refining Level cultivation. To be recruited into the Bureau, even among the Bone Refining Level, one would need some strength. In the moment that Zhang Xuan¡¯s gaze rested on Chen Yuan, a chill went down his back, and his hand involuntarily clenched. That dangerous sensation was heart-thumping. Fortunately, this Master Zhang soon shifted his attention away, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief. Gang Condensation Realm! He was certain that this dignitary, Zhang Xuan, was undoubtedly at the Gang Condensation Realm in his cultivation, possessing an indescribable temperament that Martial Artists like Tie Xuan and Huang Xing at the Bone Refining Level simply did not have. Of course, the biggest evidence was the attitude of the County Magistrate Li Mingqi. The fact that a magistrate would take the initiative and even appear somewhat disdainful definitely indicated an overwhelmingly stronger power. This was the law of the survival of the fittest. ¡°What is County Magistrate Wu asking?¡± Zhang Xuan glanced at Wu Qingfeng. Wu Qingfeng managed a strained smile and fully informed Zhang Xuan of the matter concerning Tie Xuan. ¡°There is still a hidden member of the No-Life Sect within the Huang Family?¡± Zhang Xuan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Someone shouted out earlier; whether they actually exist cannot be confirmed yet. However, head constable Tie Xuan¡­ He is very likely to have already¡­¡± Wu Qingfeng continued. ¡°Tie Xuan¡­¡± Zhang Xuan murmured to himself. He had just recently witnessed his strength. Tie Xuan was indeed quite remarkable among those at the Bone Refining Level, having some capability, yet his age was a bit high. His potential had essentially reached its limit. Had he been a decade or so younger, Zhang Xuan might really have considered extending an invitation himself. ¡°Sir,¡± said a man with a scar on his face beside Zhang Xuan, his eyes signaling an inquiring look as to whether they should rush in at this moment. They had been pursuing those robbers from the No-Life Sect earlier, but when they reached outside the city, the culprits vanished without a trace. The original plan had failed, and they all harbored a sense of frustration. Now, hearing that there was still a hidden culprit within the Huang Family, they naturally did not want to let it go. However, he also understood that from the discovery to the present, the culprit had certainly already left. Zhang Xuan raised his right hand, stopping the man¡¯s words, and said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ll go in and take a look.¡± After speaking, he did not pay attention to anyone else and headed towards the direction of the blaze with an unchanged expression, showing no fear of the raging flames. Although the flames had already been largely extinguished at this moment, they were not yet out, and the scorching heat could still be felt even by Chen Yuan, who was dozens of meters away. One could only imagine how terrifying it was inside. Wu Qingfeng¡¯s face tightened, and he hastily said, ¡°Sir Zhang, it would be safer to wait until the flames are completely extinguished before entering. It¡¯s too dangerous now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Zhang Xuan¡¯s pace did not stop, and Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze narrowed. He saw an airflow enveloping Zhang Xuan¡¯s body, and within a distance of one zhang around him, the flames could not even get close! Not only him, but everyone present, including the County Magistrate Li Mingqi, was shocked. Even the few experts from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau with him were somewhat astonished. This was most certainly not an ordinary tactic! A deep yearning flashed in Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes, but it was quickly followed by an almost imperceptible look of concern. If Sir Zhang discovered any traces, wouldn¡¯t that be¡­ Chen Yuan took a deep breath and forced himself not to show any signs of panic. With the flames having burned for so long, the bodies of Tie Xuan and the others had undoubtedly turned to ash, making it highly unlikely that any traces could be found. The most important thing now was to avoid showing any disarray. Otherwise, with so many powerful figures around, he would have no chance of escape. A hint of envy and longing flashed in the eyes of the County Magistrate Li Mingqi, who spoke softly, ¡°Heavenly Gang!¡± Though his voice was low, those nearby could hear him loud and clear. Realization dawned in the eyes of Yue Shan and others, and County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng also looked envious, clearly understanding the significance of the ¡°Heavenly Gang¡± Li Mingqi referred to. Although Chen Yuan did not understand, he could guess that it was very likely a strong symbol within the Gang Condensation Level, or perhaps it represented a level of division! Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Marrow Cleansing Blood Refining! Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Marrow Cleansing Blood Refining! Soon, under the gaze of everyone, Zhang Xuan disappeared into the sea of fire. Everyone present stared intensely at the spectacle, most of them with longing. This was the capability of a martial arts master! Chen Yuan took a deep breath, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the crowd, his expression shifting as he pondered over something. After a while, Zhang Xuan emerged from the sea of fire. A faint airflow around his body seemed to act as a barrier, shielding him from all the flames. This scene deeply imprinted itself in Chen Yuan¡¯s mind. In his previous life, he had seen many cheap special effects, but witnessing this right in front of his eyes was still shocking. He now utterly believed the legends that martial arts masters could block rivers with a sword or shatter mountains with one finger. ¡°Lord Zhang, how was it?¡± Wu Qingfeng, seeing Zhang Xuan emerge unscathed, let out a sigh of relief and quickly asked. ¡°There are three charred corpses and a long spear inside,¡± Zhang Xuan replied succinctly, his meaning self-evident. Tie Xuan was dead. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co He had died within the Huang Family! In a matter of hours, the County Government had suffered heavy losses, with bone-refining experts like Huang Xing and Tie Xuan either dead or imprisoned. Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, hoping nothing else would surface. Wu Qingfeng fell silent for a moment, then continued: ¡°May I know if Lord Zhang managed to capture those No-Life Sect criminals?¡± There was no use thinking about the dead now. And besides, Tie Xuan was replaceable, with other bone-refining experts still in the County Government capable of shouldering the responsibilities for a short duration. ¡°The criminals of the No-Life Sect in Ping¡¯an County are not that simple. I will return to the Prefecture City for now, and if County Magistrate Wu discovers anything amiss, he can seek me out,¡± said Zhang Xuan before turning and leaving with a few subordinates. Watching the departing figures of Zhang Xuan and his men, Wu Qingfeng slightly furrowed his brows and turned his gaze to the gathering of government officials: ¡°What are you looking at? Go put out the fire!¡± ¡­ ¡­ By the time Chen Yuan returned home, it was the hour of Hai, and the night was exceedingly dark. The fire at the Huang Family had been extinguished, and the County Magistrate Li Mingqi had already dismissed the officials to go home. Chen Yuan could tell that neither Li Mingqi nor Wu Qingfeng appeared very happy. This time, Li Mingqi¡¯s trusted Huang Xing was captured, the Huang Family was annihilated and their reputation greatly damaged, which was a substantial loss since everyone in Ping¡¯an County knew about the connection between Huang Family and Li Mingqi. But during the destruction of Huang Family, Li Mingqi did not utter a single word. They were unaware of Huang Family¡¯s collusion with the No-Life Sect, and even if they did, they would likely deem it a fabricated charge by the government. As for Wu Qingfeng¡¯s gains, they were less than satisfactory, with little in the way of gold and silver treasures, and all the martial arts manuscripts were burnt to ashes in a great fire along with his confidant Tie Xuan now dead. No one knew that the person who benefitted the most from the downfall of Huang Family was a mere low-level constable. Chen Yuan lit a candle and took a wooden box out of his chest, placing it on the table. ¡°Click¡­¡± The box opened, revealing a baby¡¯s fist-sized black bead inside. Chen Yuan pinched the bead between two fingers and brought it up to his eyes. Under the candlelight, the bead grew increasingly luminous. All black, it exuded an unusual beauty. To prevent night from fostering more dreams, Chen Yuan decided to take the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl right away. He didn¡¯t want to end up like the Huang Family, making wedding clothes for others. Of course, their thoughts were not the same. Chen Yuan guessed that the elderly of the Huang Family who initially obtained the bead definitely knew its purpose, but did not want to waste it on themselves, preferring to save it for talented descendants. Family legacy! However, he would never have thought that it would end up benefiting him instead. Of course, this was just a guess, and the truth no longer mattered now. Chen Yuan stripped off his clothes, revealing a robust and beautiful physique, especially the faint golden hue of his skin, which was truly astounding. His chest heaved, showing the formidable spirit and blood within him. Bare-chested, Chen Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground, and placed the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl into his mouth. It was strange to say; prior to that, it felt as hard as a stone, but once inside his mouth, Chen Yuan felt the bead soften somewhat, tasteless, yet carrying a cool sensation. The bead traveled down his throat and into his stomach, and the cooling sensation began to slowly spread to his limbs and bones. Chen Yuan emptied his mind and closed his eyes in exhalation, silently feeling the coolness. Chen Yuan speculated that this¡­perhaps was the Marrow Cleansing! An hour passed, and pores all over Chen Yuan¡¯s body opened. Black impurities were expelled from his body, and he sniffed at the foul odor emitted. Chen Yuan remained seated, the sensation of coolness still persistently cleansing his marrow. Gradually, more impurities were expelled, the foul odor intensified, and an intense pain started to spread throughout his body. Chen Yuan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, allowing the pain to permeate his body. Such is the path of Martial Arts¡ªexceedingly challenging. A night passed without words. The next day, in the early morning, the first rays of sunlight fell. Chen Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of sharp light flitting across. His body seemed to be coated with a layer of black mud. Chen Yuan held his breath, walked to the courtyard, picked up a basin of clear water, and poured it over his head. The black muddy water flowed down his body to the ground. ¡°Huh¡­¡± Chen Yuan let out a breath. Although there seemed to be no visible changes on the surface of his flesh, which had merely become somewhat paler, Chen Yuan could feel a transformative change in himself, as if his entire body had lightened considerably. Clenching his fists, Chen Yuan stamped his foot, making a sudden boom. A faint sound reverberated through the air. Stretching his body, continuous cracking sounds emitted from it. During the process of Marrow Cleansing, Chen Yuan, without realizing it, had completed the second Blood Refining, and his strength had increased considerably. The Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl continued to emit an extremely subtle cooling sensation. Subtly yet profoundly refining Chen Yuan¡¯s aptitude. This treasure was certainly no ordinary item! This time, he had made a huge gain! The value of this Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl was definitely not inferior to the Vajra Glaze Body, this Divine Skill of Body Refinement; it was even stronger! After completely cleansing his flesh, Chen Yuan faced the morning sun, bent his legs slightly, and placed a single palm on his chest, his face expressionless as he spurred the Vajra Glaze Body. Specks of golden light enveloped his body, making him look like a golden statue from afar. If an uninformed commoner had seen him, they would surely mistake him for an enlightened monk, although that assumed his head was shaved and a few ceremonial scars were added. In his initial Blood Refining, Chen Yuan felt a great difference, no longer hindered as before, quickly entering the state, and the speed of Blood Refining also increased. Although the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl did not cause a sudden increase in Chen Yuan¡¯s power, it had changed his aptitude and strengthened his foundation! Before, Chen Yuan¡¯s aptitude was no different from that of the regular Government Officials, topically very ordinary. But now¡­ Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Position of the Arrest Officer Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Position of the Arrest Officer But now, after the refinement of the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl and the subsequent subtle influences, Chen Yuan¡¯s martial arts talent could definitely be called genius. This could be seen from how Chen Yuan was currently cultivating the Vajra Glaze Body. Threads of scorching heat were seeping into his flesh, and Chen Yuan¡¯s blood was undergoing its third refinement. According to the standard Blood Refining Technique, Chen Yuan was already considered among the strong at the Blood Refining Level; should he step into the fourth or fifth Blood Refining, his strength could catch up to that of a Bone Refining Martial Artist. This was the terror of ninefold Blood Refining. In comparison, Chen Yuan had already created a gap between himself and ordinary people at the foundational level. Of course, this was only true for ordinary people, Chen Yuan speculated that the real prodigies within the Jianghu, the Body Refining Techniques they cultivated, were definitely not limited to mere threefold Blood Refining. Martial Arts Foundation Establishment, these four words encapsulated it all. The entire goal of the Foundation Establishment Realm was to forge a foundation for the subsequent realms. That is why ordinary Government Officials might enter the Blood Refining Level with the passing of time, but very few could reach the Bone Refining Level. Looking across the entire Ping¡¯an County Government, you could not find a handful of Bone Refining experts. Chen Yuan focused his mind and calmed his Qi, with scorching solar energy on the outside and the cool power of the Marrow Cleansing Spirit on the inside, one inside and one outside, one cold and one hot, the overlapping effects caused his blood to flow like a bubbling brook. In the midst of this, Chen Yuan felt as if he could sense his blood flowing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Stillness. Chen Yuan maintained his posture for nearly an hour, when suddenly he furrowed his brows and opened his eyes. Footsteps approached from the front of the gate, and the Golden Paint merged back into his body. ¡°Creak.¡± The gate was pushed open, and in came Wang Ping, wearing a Government Official¡¯s attire with a long saber slung on his waist, smiling. ¡°Brother Yuan, you¡¯re practicing your cultivation techniques early in the morning,¡± Wang Ping said as he looked at Chen Yuan, who was bare-chested and in a horse stance. ¡°The plan for a year lies in spring, and the plan for a day lies in the morning,¡± Chen Yuan replied with a smile, taking a deep breath and standing up. ¡°Anyway, since Bone Refining is out of reach, I¡¯ll naturally enter Blood Refining after a few years; I don¡¯t want to work that hard,¡± Wang Ping shook his head. ¡°Uncle Wang spent money to get you into the Government office, isn¡¯t it because he wants you to step onto the path of martial arts and bring glory to the family? By acting this way, you¡¯re wasting Uncle Wang¡¯s good intentions.¡± Just like Chen Yuan, Wang Ping and most of the Ping¡¯an County Government Officials had gained their positions through money. ¡°Nonsense, he just wanted to get rid of me. You really think I don¡¯t know about his dirty business?¡± Wang Ping curled his lips, obviously having some complaints. Chen Yuan was taken aback, then he remembered Wang Ping¡¯s father, who was indeed worthy of the nickname ¡®the man next door,¡¯ according to Wang Ping, he had quite a few romantic affairs. ¡°Has your injury healed?¡± Chen Yuan looked him up and down. ¡°It healed a long time ago. If it weren¡¯t for wanting to rest a bit longer, I would have returned to the County Government office much earlier,¡± Wang Ping pounded his chest a few times with his fist to show his robustness. ¡°It¡¯s just as well that you¡¯re coming back now. If it had been earlier, it would have been dangerous instead.¡± It had to be said, Wang Ping¡¯s luck was indeed good. He had not been involved in the previous chaos caused by the No-Life Sect or the matters with the Huang Family. After all, the County Government had lost quite a few men in the battle with the Huang Family. And someone like Wang Ping, the most common of Government Officials, would have easily been injured. Hearing Chen Yuan¡¯s words, Wang Ping¡¯s eyes twitched with interest. He looked around, stepped forward, and asked in a low voice, ¡°Brother Yuan, I heard that guy Huang Xing was thrown into prison?¡± ¡°The Huang Family had secret communications with the No-Life Sect traitors, so naturally the County Magistrate was furious and couldn¡¯t let him off,¡± said Chen Yuan. ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk, the Huang Family had quite a reputation in our Ping¡¯an County; I never thought they would collapse so quickly. It¡¯s a pity I didn¡¯t get to see that scene,¡± Wang Ping said with some regret. Glancing at Wang Ping, Chen Yuan commented, ¡°With your skinny frame, if you really got mixed up in that, do you think you could have come out unscathed?¡± Wang Ping grinned, touching his face, ¡°Brother Yuan, you¡¯re right. With my strength, indeed I¡¯m not enough.¡± Chen Yuan turned around and went back into his room, got dressed, and strapped the long saber to his waist. ¡°Let¡¯s go, to the county government.¡± ¡­ ¡°Hey, Brother Yuan, with Huang Xing and Tie Xuan dead, who do you think will take their places? Should we start building relationships now, so it¡¯ll be easier for us later?¡± Wang Ping said, lightly stroking the stubble on his chin. ¡°You just suck up to me, that¡¯s enough¡­¡± Chen Yuan said with a smile glancing at Wang Ping. ¡°Brother Yuan, you haven¡¯t already made arrangements, have you?¡± Wang Ping asked somewhat surprised. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then what do you mean, Brother Yuan¡­ You¡¯re not thinking of becoming the arrest officer, are you?¡± After some thought, Wang Ping suddenly asked in shock. Chen Yuan smiled without a word and saw Zhou¡¯s Steamed Bun Shop, hastening his steps towards it. ¡°Hey¡­¡± Wang Ping called out and hurriedly followed. He didn¡¯t bring up the arrest officer matter again. The position of a county arrest officer was a ninth-rank official post, usually requiring the Cultivation of the Bone Refining Level to hold it. Although Brother Yuan was a bit stronger than him, the difference was not by much; Wang Ping figured he was just joking. Without taking action, nobody could tell that Chen Yuan had reached the Blood Refining Level. Of course, after the confrontation at the Huang Family¡¯s doorstep, some government officials knew that Chen Yuan must have started Blood Refining; otherwise, it would have been impossible to take down an experienced old government official by himself. ¡°Uncle Zhou, six pork buns and two eggs,¡± Chen Yuan called out to the busy figure of Xiao Fang¡¯s father. A few villagers gathered to buy buns stepped back a bit, making way upon seeing Chen Yuan and Wang Ping¡¯s attire. ¡°Ah Fang, get Brother Yuan¡¯s buns¡­¡± Uncle Zhou called out. ¡°Hey¡­¡± Xiao Fang responded and, swishing her braids, hurried over and began to fill a steamer with several buns. ¡°Brother Yuan, I¡¯ll take two buns.¡± Chen Yuan nodded and said to Xiao Fang: ¡°Give me eight pork buns.¡± Wang Ping ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Fang, with a bright smile, handed the pork buns and eggs to Chen Yuan. Her fingers brushed his involuntarily, retracted quickly, her cheeks coloring like a spread of crimson dawn. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chen Yuan smiled, tossed two pork buns to Wang Ping, and turned to leave. Xiao Fang¡¯s face flushed, watching Chen Yuan¡¯s silhouette slowly fade away. Wang Ping kept looking back and forth, glancing at Xiao Fang and then at Chen Yuan, bit off a big mouthful of his pork bun, and muttered: ¡°Brother Yuan, Xiao Fang is a nice girl, how come it looks like you¡­¡± Chen Yuan popped the peeled egg into his mouth, his expression calm: ¡°She is nice, but not suitable for me.¡± If it were the old Chen Yuan, marrying such a domestically-inclined woman would have been quite good, but now, Chen Yuan was determined to pursue the path of Martial Arts and did not want to be restricted by romantic entanglements. That way, it wasn¡¯t good for either her or Chen Yuan. Once involved in the Jianghu, time flies. Chen Yuan did not wish to have her involved in the troubles of enemies in the future; thus, it was better to cut off romantic ties sooner. Wang Ping heard the firmness in Chen Yuan¡¯s voice, looked once more at Xiao Fang who was still gazing behind them, and sighed, thinking to himself: ¡°That¡¯s just what love is¡­¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thank you to the book friend Zi Jin for the support of a hundred point coins. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Competition! Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Competition! Chen Yuan gave Wang Ping a curious glance, noticing a trace of regret flashing across his face. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Nothing, nothing,¡± Wang Ping shook his head. Chen Yuan had always been stronger than him. When they previously sparred with each other, Wang Ping had his fair share of beatings. If Chen Yuan found out that he was plotting against him in his mind, who knows, he might find some excuse to go a few rounds with him again. Now that his injuries had just healed, Wang Ping certainly didn¡¯t want to spend another few days in bed. This past half-month, that¡¯s exactly what had almost driven his brother mad. ¡°Cough cough¡­ Brother Yuan,¡± Wang Ping leaned a little closer. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I heard from my father that a decent girl has arrived at Yanyu Building in South City. She used to be an Oiran in the Prefecture City, but now she¡¯s getting older and her business has declined, so she¡¯s come to our Ping¡¯an County.¡± ¡°How about tonight¡­¡± Wang Ping chuckled mischievously. ¡°Regardless, she was an Oiran. Do you have that much silver?¡± Wang Ping¡¯s family was well-off, but that was all. His father was a merchant with a few shops, but that counted for little in Ping¡¯an County, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have needed to send Wang Ping to work at the Government. The truly wealthy were either training in martial arts at a Martial Arts Hall from a young age or sent to join a Sect in Nanling Prefecture. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Just to listen to a song, not to stay overnight. It won¡¯t cost much silver. My injury netted me quite a bit of compensation from the Government that I haven¡¯t spent yet. I¡¯ll treat you¡­¡± A look of pain crossed Wang Ping¡¯s eyes. Chen Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°Too old; I¡¯m not interested.¡± Moreover, she was a courtesan. Honestly, Chen Yuan¡¯s interest really wasn¡¯t that great. Even though it had been over a month since he last washed his feet, Chen Yuan still preferred quality. He couldn¡¯t just settle for anything, could he? He was no longer the naive teenager whose mind was only filled with hormonal desires. Wang Ping hurriedly said, ¡°Brother Yuan, although she¡¯s older, she doesn¡¯t look it at all. There¡¯s not a single wrinkle on her face, as if time hasn¡¯t left any mark on her.¡± A look of yearning appeared in Wang Ping¡¯s eyes. ¡°The marks of time don¡¯t necessarily show on the face¡­¡± Chen Yuan said softly. ¡°Huh? Where do they show then?¡± ¡°In that place where peach blossoms bloom.¡± ¡°???¡± ¡­ ¡­ Ping¡¯an County, County Government. Today, the County Government was unusually quiet. Each Government Official performed their duties without the usual noise. When Chen Yuan and Wang Ping arrived, someone glanced at them and then lowered their head, pretending to be busy with documents. Chen Yuan and Wang Ping exchanged a look and didn¡¯t disrupt the odd silence. They casually picked up two files and stood in an unremarkable spot. ¡°Brother Yuan, this¡­¡± Wang Ping signaled with his eyes. ¡°Probably about the position of arrest officer, keep quiet,¡± Chen Yuan whispered. The position of an arrest officer put one entirely within the ¡®official¡¯ class, vastly different from an ordinary Government Official, with status and power incomparable to before. Naturally, many coveted the position. Someone like Huang Xing could prop up a sizeable family on his own. Various powers in Ping¡¯an County showed great courtesy to the most powerful arrest officer in the County Government. This opportunity for these ordinary Government Officials was akin to a carp leaping through the dragon gate. Although the arrest officer position was generally held by Bone Refining experts, there were precedents of Blood Refining Martial Artists taking on the role. Otherwise, Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t have made those implicit suggestions to Wang Ping earlier. If Chen Yuan could secure the arrest officer position, it would be very easy for him in the future to obtain resources or other things. The veteran Government Officials shared this same thought. Apart from Tie Xuan and Huang Xing, there were only a handful of Bone Refining experts within the Ping¡¯an County Government, each with their own responsibilities. They weren¡¯t without opportunities. Whether it could be achieved or not, they had to at least compete for it. The two spoke quietly when a middle-aged man with a smiling face stepped forward: ¡°Wang Ping, have you recovered from your injuries?¡± ¡°Constable Wu, it¡¯s nothing serious anymore.¡± Wang Ping hurriedly responded. ¡°Don¡¯t be so distant. When you entered the County Government, it was I who lent you a hand,¡± Wu Yushan said with a smile, a glint flashing in his eyes. ¡°Hehe, I should thank Big Brother Wu. Let¡¯s do this, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal another day just to thank you, how¡¯s that?¡± Though Wang Ping was scheming inside, he still maintained a respectful demeanor on the surface. Initially, he had relied on Wu Yushan to get into the County Government but hadn¡¯t stopped sending Silver over the past year. Wu hadn¡¯t shown much care, and whatever favor there had been was long gone. ¡°How could I let you pay? Like this, once I, Old Wu, secure the arrest officer position, I will be the one to treat you and Chen Yuan,¡± Wu Yushan squinted his eyes and nodded to Chen Yuan. ¡°Then let me congratulate Big Brother Wu in advance.¡± Wu Yushan waved his hand, saying: ¡°Don¡¯t congratulate me just yet. I¡¯ve come here because I hope you two will support me. Rest assured, once I become the arrest officer, you won¡¯t lack benefits.¡± ¡°What do you think, Chen Yuan?¡± After witnessing Chen Yuan¡¯s strength before, Wu Yushan and the other veteran Government Officials had started to take him more seriously. Having him on their side would save a lot of trouble, and as for Wang Ping, who was only at the Skin Refining Level, he was simply an extra. Those aiming for the arrest officer position this time weren¡¯t limited to him; there were also experts from other rooms, so naturally, it was important to rally some strong supporters. Chen Yuan and Wu Yushan exchanged a look: ¡°If Big Brother Wu can secure that position, of course, it would be good.¡± ¡°Good, with your word, I can rest assured. To be honest, I have high hopes for you. After I step down, you taking my place is also a possibility.¡± Wu Yushan spoke in a low voice, making a promise. Chen Yuan¡¯s lips curled into a smile as he softly said: ¡°It still depends on what the County Magistrate has to say.¡± Wu Yushan frowned and gave Chen Yuan a look. He was about to say something else when the County Magistrate, Li Mingqi, entered the Arrest Room with a stiff face. All the Government Officials stood and saluted: ¡°We have seen the magistrate.¡± ¡°We have seen the magistrate.¡± Li Mingqi, with a stern face, scanned nearly thirty Government Officials present and said loudly: ¡°I know all of you here, including those from other rooms, wish to be promoted to arrest officer. However, the position of arrest officer has always been held by Bone Refining experts with significant accomplishments.¡± ¡°You all are still far from it¡­¡± ¡°Originally, County Magistrate Wu intended to transfer an expert from the Prefecture City to assume the arrest officer position, to cope with the pressure from the No-Life Sect. However, I rejected it. The position must be filled through selection within Ping¡¯an County. I am willing to give you all an opportunity, even if your strength isn¡¯t sufficient; there¡¯s always hope to enter Bone Refining in the future.¡± The Government Officials below exchanged glances, no one speaking. ¡°Those who have historically taken on the arrest officer role must be able to command respect. Those without contributions cannot assume the position. Seniority and strength will determine the arrest officer, but this time, I have decided to use a different method for the selection. Tomorrow, I will preside over the selection at the City East training field¡­¡± Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40 I would also like to give it a try Chapter 40: Chapter 40 I would also like to give it a try ¡°To decide the outcome based on strength, whoever can overawe all competitors will have the right to hold the position of arrest officer. As for official status, once he advances to the Bone Refining Level, I will personally report it upwards,¡± said County Magistrate Li Mingqi. Li Mingqi¡¯s gaze swept over everyone present. The position of an arrest officer is that of a ninth-rank official, which neither a County Magistrate nor a County Magistrate can decide upon; it must be authorized by issuing an official document from the Prefecture City. The Government Officials below whispered among themselves and continued to converse. ¡°Brother Yuan, this is a good opportunity, what a pity, both of us are only at the Skin Refining Cultivation Level now, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to compete,¡± someone lamented. Wang Ping suddenly showed a hint of regret for not cultivating diligently. He had spent both his silver and time in pleasure quarters. Having the power of an arrest officer meant having access to a large number of Cultivation Resources, stepping into the Bone Refining Level wasn¡¯t a difficult matter. For all the Blood Refining Constables, this was greatly beneficial news. From Skin Refining to Blood Refining, with diligent cultivation, one could begin Blood Refining within a few years. But entering Bone Refining was different. It required not only talent but also Cultivation Resources. And most important were the Cultivation Resources. With enough resources, very few couldn¡¯t cross that threshold. Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping and said in a low voice: ¡°Silence.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Wang Ping startled, closed his mouth promptly, and listened to the excited words of his fellow Officials around him. Li Mingqi raised his palm, and silence fell below: ¡°Although Blood Refining Martial Artists can compete for this position, I still advise you to gauge your own strength. Swords and blades are blind. If accidents occur during the competition, you can¡¯t blame others.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have substantial strength, it¡¯s better to continue cultivating honestly. If you establish significant merit, I will promote you just the same. Now, anyone who wants to compete, step forward,¡± Li Mingqi said. Li Mingqi stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent as he watched the Government Officials. Wu Yushan took a deep breath and stepped forward slowly: ¡°My lord, I would like to vie for the opportunity,¡± he said. His strength was second only to Huang Xing¡¯s in the Arrest Room, ranking him among the skilled practitioners, and naturally, he wouldn¡¯t pass up this opportunity. Although he had previously tried to win over Chen Yuan, Wang Ping, and some other Officials, he didn¡¯t have much confidence in his heart. After all, the position of arrest officer generally requires a Bone Refining expert with substantial merit. Although he had undergone Blood Refining three times, he was still quite far from reaching Bone Refining. Now that Li Mingqi had proposed determining the outcome by strength, it was exactly what he wanted. He was confident that, unless a Bone Refining expert intervened, he had a great chance of winning among his peers. ¡°Anyone else?¡± asked Li Mingqi calmly. Among the Officials, two older ones stepped forward together, bowing as they said: ¡°My lord.¡± Chen Yuan observed the three who had stepped forward, all skilled at the Blood Refining Level, but aside from Wu Yushan who had declared earlier, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t consider any of them a serious challenge. ¡°Just the three of you?¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s gaze briefly assessed the gathered Officials, then he understood. There were only a few skilled practitioners in the Arrest Room. The rest seemingly didn¡¯t qualify to compete. As Li Mingqi finished speaking, Chen Yuan calmly bowed to Li Mingqi: ¡°My lord, I would also like to try,¡± he said. When Chen Yuan said this, most of the constables in the room were somewhat surprised, especially Wang Ping who looked utterly incredulous. He had been home recuperating for more than half a month; how could Brother Yuan have changed so much? To think he even aspired to compete for the position of arrest officer! This was utterly shocking, as if a classmate, who was nearly at the same level of academic performance as you, suddenly said with a calm voice that they intended to be top of the class. And he wasn¡¯t joking. Wang Ping looked at Chen Yuan as if he were seeing him for the first time, his eyes full of amazement as he scrutinized him. Li Mingqi squinted at Chen Yuan, who was bowing respectfully. He still remembered this young man ¨C he had asked him many questions the previous night, yet he hadn¡¯t expected him to step forward and compete. The government official was familiar with those in the County Government who possessed some real skill, but Chen Yuan had seemed a bit unfamiliar, clearly a recent addition. Wu Yushan slightly furrowed his brows, gazing at Chen Yuan, his eyes flashing a glint of cold light. Did he truly believe that having some strength would enable him to compete with him? This was utter folly. Initially, Wu Yushan had considered nurturing him to become a capable subordinate, but now¡­ if the opportunity arose, Wu Yushan wouldn¡¯t mind breaking a few of his ribs to teach him how vast the world truly is! The other two veteran constables flashed a hint of contempt in their eyes. Although Chen Yuan had displayed some strength at the Huang Family, which made them take him somewhat seriously, it didn¡¯t mean he was a threat to them. A constable who had been in the County Government for barely a year, competing against those who had been there for more than ten years, was bound to face a predictable outcome. This was a challenge and contempt towards them! Behind Chen Yuan, the group of constables either ridiculed, stared, or admired him with differing expressions, but one thing was clear ¨C they all knew that Chen Yuan was definitely bold. Relying on his strength, he dared to disregard a group of veteran constables. In the County Government where seniority ruled, it was in no way his turn, a newcomer, to ascend. ¡°Are you sure? You know that swords and spears have no eyes,¡± Li Mingqi said evenly. ¡°This humble official has practiced martial arts for a year, training diligently every day, for the day I could ensure the peace and protect the people, and serve the imperial court. This opportunity is rare, and I truly do not wish to give it up,¡± he said. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze was fixed on the ground; he knew that if he won this contest, it would undoubtedly arouse some suspicion, and even Tie Xuan¡¯s death might be attributed to him. But this opportunity was too rare to pass up. The position of an arrest officer meant access to a massive amount of cultivation resources. Practicing the divine skill, Vajra Glaze Technique, which requires nine Blood Refinings, already needed substantial resources, and that was just for Blood Refining. The resources needed for Bone Refining later would undoubtedly be even greater. He couldn¡¯t possibly keep extorting or ambushing forever ¨C humans err, horses stumble. The benefits that this position of arrest officer could bring were significant, so even at the risk of danger, he had to seize it! He wished not only to ascend step by step on the path of martial arts but also to climb step by step to the highest ranks within the imperial court! At his age, apart from joining a Demon Sect, it was nearly impossible for any major forces to want to take him in; thus, all he could rely on now was the imperial court! Listening to Chen Yuan speak of ensuring peace and serving the imperial court, Li Mingqi chuckled lightly: ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, at that time I shall see if your strength is as lofty as your aspirations.¡± ¡°You jest, my lord,¡± Chen Yuan laughed. Li Mingqi nodded slightly, looking towards Wu Yushan and the other two veteran constables, and declared loudly: ¡°Tomorrow at noon, at the City East training grounds, whether you can secure the position of arrest officer will depend on your own skills.¡± ¡°Yes, I shall obey the command!¡± Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Spirit Hall Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Spirit Hall Ping¡¯an County, South City. Chen Yuan and Wang Ping were leading a few White Servants on patrol. After the incident with the Huang Family, the security at the county government had been tightly reinstated. Not only them, but most government officials had been assigned tasks as well. The official from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau had already made it very clear before: those fugitives from the No-Life Sect had not been captured and were still hiding within Ping¡¯an County. ¡°Yuan bro, do you really want to compete for the position of arrest officer?¡± Wang Ping looked around, moved closer, and asked in a lower voice. He couldn¡¯t help it, he was just curious about what Chen Yuan was thinking and¡­ how he had improved his strength? Although Chen Yuan was a bit more diligent than he, they had sparred last month, and he had only been slightly better than him, still a long way off from the Blood Refining Level. Lying at home for more than half a month, it felt as if a year had passed. The world really changes fast. ¡°With such a good opportunity, if I miss it, I really wouldn¡¯t be content,¡± Chen Yuan shook his head. ¡°Then¡­ do you feel confident? Wu Yushan, Wang Lin in the prison, are among the top experts in the county government,¡± Wang Ping¡¯s eyes flashed with concern. Chen Yuan and he had hit it off, and he had always regarded Chen Yuan as an older brother. He really didn¡¯t want to see any accidents happen to him during the competition. ¡°Just a tiny bit.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Just a little bit, and you dare to gamble, Yuan bro? Wang Ping was startled, not catching the teasing in Chen Yuan¡¯s words. ¡°You will know when the time comes.¡± ¡°Yuan bro, please don¡¯t overdo it,¡± Wang Ping said, and then sighed: ¡°If you could really become an arrest officer, it would be great, I could also bask in your reflected glory.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll let you bask in it.¡± ¡°Yuan bro, look.¡± Suddenly, Wang Ping¡¯s voice paused, he raised his eyebrows, signaling Chen Yuan to look to the front left. There, white silk was hung up. Above the gate hung a plaque with two large characters, Tie Residence! Since the death of Old Sixth Song, Tie Qinghua naturally wouldn¡¯t continue to pose as Lady Song, but rather as the Tie Lady. ¡°I heard they never found the entirety of the head jailer Tie¡¯s body. Several corpses were mixed together, with only the head jailer¡¯s long spear preserved intact.¡± Wang Ping smacked his lips, seemingly in regret. ¡°What, did the head jailer owe you a favor? Why do you look so regretful?¡± Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping. ¡°No, what position did the head jailer hold? How could I possibly have anything to do with him for no reason.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go, move on to patrol ahead,¡± Chen Yuan said softly. ¡°Hey Yuan bro, do you think now that Tie Xuan is dead, will his subordinates still be able to preserve their assets? I heard that the Tie Lady¡¯s strength is only at the Blood Refining level, not at all like Zhu Sihai from the Four Seas Gang, whose benefits increased with the downfall of the Huang Family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably difficult. It depends on what tactics the Tie Lady has.¡± ¡°Heh, a woman taking on the nickname ¡®Tie Lady¡¯, just not sure if they can still be so ironclad now that the head jailer has died.¡± The tone of Wang Ping¡¯s voice carried a hint of enjoying the chaos. ¡°Either way, it¡¯s none of our business, no point in worrying about it.¡± Chen Yuan rebuked softly. Wang Ping grinned and stopped discussing Tie Qinghua, instead making suggestive gestures and saying: ¡°Yuan bro, the Oiran at Yanyu Building, don¡¯t you want to try her? Maybe¡­ after that, you could even get some benefits in tomorrow¡¯s competition.¡± ¡°If you want to go, just go, I need to cultivate tonight.¡± ¡°Training at night too?¡± ¡°Otherwise, how do you think strength is achieved? The sword¡¯s edge comes from sharpening, and the plum blossom¡¯s scent from the bitter cold. Only through diligent and hard training can one possess the strength others cannot.¡± ¡°The sword¡¯s edge comes from sharpening, and the plum blossom¡¯s scent from the bitter cold¡­ Chen Yuan, I suddenly realize you are quite literary,¡± Wang Ping muttered. ¡°Of course, do you really think I wasted those years at the private school?¡± ¡°It seems I read more books than you, so why are you so exceptional?¡± Chen Yuan remained silent. ¡°Forget it, if you¡¯re going to train hard tonight, then I¡¯ll go check out Yanyu Building tonight to see if it¡¯s really as my father said: time leaves no trace. If it¡¯s not bad, you must go another day.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it another day.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Chen Yuan, you¡¯ve changed. You didn¡¯t used to be this evasive about such things¡­¡± ¡­ ¡­ Late at night. At Chen Yuan¡¯s home. After finishing his saber practice, Chen Yuan took a deep breath, sheathed his long saber, hung it on the wall, and from a cabinet, took out a set of black robes, hanging the black iron mask from under the bed box on his face. He silently walked out of his home. He was off to visit Tie Qinghua at the Tie Family residence. She wasn¡¯t important, nor was the death of Tie Xuan¡ªwhat was important were the twenty Tiger Bone Pills that Tie Qinghua had promised. Though Chen Yuan had some silver, to be honest, he had few connections. Within the county government, he couldn¡¯t reveal too much until he ascended to the position of arrest officer. Otherwise, it would cause unnecessary trouble. For now, his reliance was still on Tie Qinghua. Moreover, most importantly, although Tiger Bone Pills as cultivation resources could span the entire Foundation Establishment Realm¡­ once it reached the Bone Refining Level, it likely wouldn¡¯t be so simple. He would definitely need some other elixirs to aid him. Tiger Bone Pills as cultivation resources were not easy to come by, and Chen Yuan¡¯s plan was actually to temporarily support Tie Qinghua. Of course, it was still too early to say if it would succeed. The Tie Residence. The candlelight gradually extinguished, and apart from some patrolling footsteps, the entire Tie residence was quiet. ¡°Big brother, the head of the Tie prison is dead. Are we still going to sell our lives for the Tie Family? I heard that there are quite a few forces outside coveting the Tie Family¡¯s assets.¡± ¡°Without a Bone Refining master present, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± One of the patrolling protectors of the Tie Family whispered. Not just him, ever since the news of Tie Xuan¡¯s death came back, the whole Tie residence had been enveloped in a fearful atmosphere. The reason Song Lao Liu and Tie Qinghua could steadily control these foundations was precisely because of Tie Xuan¡¯s fame. But now, with Tie Xuan dead, the ghosts and spirits of Ping¡¯an County would not miss this opportunity. Without a Bone Refining master present, the brothels, gambling dens, and pickpocketing businesses in Tie Qinghua¡¯s hands were quite a juicy piece of meat. ¡°Lady usually treats us generously; how can we¡­¡± another hesitated. ¡°Big brother, you¡¯re being foolish. She treats us well because we work for her, but now, it¡¯s sending us to our deaths!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to think about, from what I see¡­¡± The two protectors walked away, and a shadow from the corner moved in a certain direction. In a spirit hall covered with white silk, seven white candles burned as bursts of cold air blew in from outside, and Tie Qinghua, kneeling on a cushion, had a cold expression on her face. ¡°Shush¡­¡± Chen Yuan, making no attempt to hide, checked the surroundings for other people. After making sure there were none, he walked confidently into the spirit hall. Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: 42 chapters of satire Chapter 42: 42 chapters of satire ¡°Brother Yuan has arrived?¡± Kneeling on the ground, Tie Qinghua gazed at the coffin in front, her voice very light. ¡°He has¡­¡± Chen Yuan glanced at the mourning clothes on Tie Qinghua and a term suddenly flashed through his mind. Seductive temptation¡­ However, he quickly discarded these strange thoughts and, like a magician, took out a white flower from behind and placed it in front of Tie Xuan¡¯s coffin. Tie Qinghua gave Chen Yuan a glance, her eyes revealing a hint of incomprehension. ¡°This is a ritual that originated from my hometown, Lady Tie, please accept my condolences.¡± Chen Yuan timely expressed a bit of sorrow. Tie Qinghua took a deep breath and slowly bowed her head: ¡°When big brother was alive, I didn¡¯t feel anything was amiss, but now with big brother dead, all sorts of demons and monsters have popped up.¡± ¡°I believe Lady Tie can safely get through these calamities.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe so myself,¡± Tie Qinghua said with self-mockery. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co In just a few short days, she had lost both her husband and her elder brother, the two most important men to her. If it were anyone else, they would have already been in a state of distraught. But she couldn¡¯t afford to, for besides herself, she had her elder brother¡¯s offspring and widow to care for. If she did not pull herself together, the Tie Family truly would have no hope left. Indeed, Tie Xuan had some sworn brothers and subordinates while he was alive, but death is like a snuffed-out lamp, and upon Tie Xuan¡¯s death, the first to surge forth were those so-called friends. ¡°Brother Yuan, the Tie Family still has some silver, please take it. As for the Tiger Bone Pill, I don¡¯t know if I will be able to hold on until then¡­¡± Tie Qinghua said softly. Squinting his eyes, Chen Yuan watched Tie Qinghua¡¯s performance and then said: ¡°Silver is of no use to me. What I want is the Tiger Bone Pill. As for the Tie Family, I will provide some help within my means.¡± Tie Qinghua raised her head, gazing at Chen Yuan for a moment: ¡°Thanks for Brother Yuan¡¯s assistance.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to thank me, our relationship is merely one of mutual benefit. Apart from the previously mentioned Tiger Bone Pills, I will need more as my compensation.¡± ¡°I had not expected that during the Tie Family¡¯s great misfortune, it would be Brother Yuan, a friend known for just a few days, who truly helps Qinghua. I believe big brother can rest peacefully below.¡± Tie Qinghua continued. ¡°Indeed, Brother Tie can rest in peace¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze slowly carried an unnoticeable smile. ¡°Lady Tie, do you know how your elder brother died?¡± Chen Yuan asked softly. ¡°The message from the County Government said that my elder brother died at the hands of the No-Life Sect¡¯s rebels.¡± A flash of hatred appeared in Tie Qinghua¡¯s eyes. Tie Xuan raised her, being both a brother and a father. Such enmity was impossible to forget for a lifetime. ¡°The No-Life Sect, that¡¯s a very powerful Demon Dao force. It¡¯s unlikely that Lady Tie¡¯s vengeance will be avenged anytime soon,¡± Chen Yuan shook his head. ¡°Such great enmity, even ten years is not too late. Even if I cannot avenge it, the descendants of the Tie Family will carry this grudge forward, never-ending!¡± Tie Qinghua said through clenched teeth. ¡°I see¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed coldly, and then the look vanished, replaced by a smile: ¡°I believe that one day, Lady Tie will indeed avenge this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting late, Lady Tie should continue the vigil. I must take my leave now. If any force troubles the Tie Family, leave some marks on the stone lions in front of your door. If I see them, I will come¡­¡± Chen Yuan said, standing in front of the Spirit Hall, his back to Tie Qinghua. ¡°Brother Yuan, take care¡­¡± Although the phrase felt awkward, Chen Yuan did not show it, he nodded slightly and then vanished into the darkness. After Chen Yuan left, Tie Qinghua suddenly remembered the words her elder brother had cautioned her with. Yuan Chen telling them about the Huang Family¡¯s affairs so easily, his demands must not be small, she must be vigilant. Looking at the situation now¡­ After a long silence, Tie Qinghua rested her forehead on the ground, constantly recalling the image of Tie Xuan when he was alive. Two tears fell from the corner of her eyes. ¡­ ¡­ The next day. The training ground in the east of the city. Starting from early morning, government officials began to arrive one after another, all eager to witness the newly appointed arrest officer who had emerged victorious from the competition. Although they did not yet hold official status, they possessed authority, and moreover, as soon as they reached the Bone Refining Level, County Magistrate Li Mingqi would report to the prefecture city to issue official documentation. There was little difference between them and a true arrest officer. What truly interested people was that this time, it was not a Bone Refining expert who was appointed to the post of arrest officer, but rather, County Magistrate Li Mingqi had decided to select a skilled individual from among the six divisions in the government office. These individuals were, at best, of the Blood Refining Level. Although this was not the first time such an event had occurred, it was extremely rare. It had been at least several decades since Ping¡¯an County had seen such a thing; normally, Bone Refining experts were appointed as arrest officers, as only they could assert authority over the unruly and long-standing government officials. The internal competition within the county government was an affair that County Magistrate Li Mingqi ordered should not be open to outsiders; after all, it was not some martial contest or a Cause for celebration. It was rather embarrassing that such a vast Ping¡¯an County could not find a suitable person to take up the post of arrest officer¡ªwhich, in turn, reflected his own lapse in judgment. If he had a choice, Li Mingqi would not opt for this. The main issue was that the other two Bone Refining experts within the county government had aligned themselves with County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng; if he chose someone who had sided with Wu Qingfeng, wouldn¡¯t that be tantamount to allowing himself to be sidelined? This was something Li Mingqi could not tolerate at all. Nor could he show weakness by asking for someone from the prefecture city, or how would his superiors view him? Without demonstrating capability, how could he be considered for future promotion? Thus, Li Mingqi had no choice but to pick the tallest dwarf, so to speak, selecting the strongest from among those at the Blood Refining Level. As long as they devoted themselves wholeheartedly and with his cultivation, advancing to Bone Refining was not at all a difficult task. Walking on the road to the east of the city, Chen Yuan and Wang Ping were chatting leisurely. ¡°Yuan, how are your preparations?¡± Chen Yuan looked down at the hidden Heart Guard Mirror on his chest and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°If Yuan is confident, then I believe in you,¡± Wang Ping patted his chest. ¡°How was last night at Yanyu Building? Did you see the Oiran?¡± Chen Yuan asked with a smile. Upon this mention, Wang Ping¡¯s eyelids drooped slightly as he replied in a low voice, ¡°I saw her.¡± ¡°What, weren¡¯t you satisfied, or was the rumor not true?¡± ¡°No¡­ no, the woman was very nice.¡± ¡°Then why do you look like this?¡± ¡°Yuan, do you believe in love at first sight?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyebrows rose, and he asked mockingly, ¡°You haven¡¯t fallen for a brothel woman, have you?¡± Engaging in fun, whoever gets emotional is the loser. Wang Ping immediately defended, ¡°Last night I spent a lot of time with Xiao Yue. She¡¯s virtuous, gentle, and¡­ beautiful. Even though she¡¯s a brothel woman, she¡¯s also a good woman.¡± A dark line crossed Chen Yuan¡¯s forehead; this was just like saying she parties all night, drinks, gets tattoos, doesn¡¯t come home at night, but still is a good girl, wasn¡¯t it? Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Clashing Blades! Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Clashing Blades! ¡°You really do your surname an injustice,¡± Chen Yuan shook his head. Is Old Wang a sentimental character? ¡°Brother Yuan, but I¡¯m also somewhat troubled. Father definitely won¡¯t let her enter the door, and I also feel somewhat¡­¡± Wang Ping¡¯s face slightly crinkled. ¡°Do you have the silver to redeem her?¡± ¡°Do you think a woman of the dust like her could truly fall in love with you?¡± Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping and asked. Wang Ping remained silent, as if weighing the pros and cons. ¡°I will only say one thing, afterwards I will not advise you, everyone has their own choices.¡± ¡°Brother Yuan, speak,¡± Wang Ping lifted his head, somewhat earnestly. ¡°The wooded path you long for is actually every morning and evening filled with¡­¡± Wang Ping: ¡°???¡± ¡­ All along the way, Wang Ping¡¯s face was troubled. Chen Yuan also shared with him the real meaning behind those words, causing Wang Ping to blurt out ¡°excellent¡± in response to Chen Yuan. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Brother Yuan, I¡¯ve understood!¡± Shortly after, Wang Ping suddenly said with conviction. ¡°Understood what?¡± ¡°Brother Yuan, you are right, such a woman is not suitable to bring home.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, hehe¡­¡± That kind of woman, no matter what she says, how pitiful she is, is not to be trusted¡ªit¡¯s the bloody lesson learned from a friend of his in the past! Father gambles, mother is ill, younger brother studies, just started and still unfamiliar, I must rely on myself for brothers and sisters, business failure requires loan repayment, former husband was abusive and took drugs, no income of her own, necessitated this path¡­ He, who had washed feet for years, was well acquainted with such tricks. City East, training field. Chen Yuan and Wang Ping discussed and exchanged views all the way and soon reached their destination. Two young government officials who had not been at the office for long saw Chen Yuan and Wang Ping in their official uniforms and did not stop them, letting them pass. ¡°Hey, is that Chen Yuan?¡± Once Chen Yuan and his companion had walked away, the two young government officials whispered amongst themselves. ¡°Yes, the one on the left.¡± ¡°I heard he had entered the County Government just half a year earlier than me, how dare he vie for the position of arrest officer? Those veteran officials are at the Blood Refining Level!¡± ¡°He must be either foolish or has some backing. If he dares to vie, it means he has the capability, which is certainly something to be proud of for us newbies.¡± Inside the County Government, only those who have mixed in for more than three years can be called old government officials. This is not just a title, but also a proof of strength. Being able to survive numerous dangers, every old government official¡¯s strength is not to be underestimated. ¡°When will I be that strong?¡± ¡°When you¡¯re that strong, you¡¯ll be that strong,¡± the other replied. The young government official who had spoken looked at him speechless and said: ¡°Well said, don¡¯t say it again next time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not very crowded?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression was solemn as he glanced over the people present. By now, the drill ground was populated with over a dozen individuals, including Wu Yushan and Wang Lin, who had been mentioned earlier by Wang Ping, both of whom were notable figures in the County Government. After Chen Yuan and Wang Ping entered, numerous gazes carefully sized up Chen Yuan. Wu Yushan narrowed his eyes in displeasure, while Wang Lin glanced over and then closed his eyes again. Chen Yuan nodded slightly, remained silent, and directly sat down. Most of the people present were here to compete for the position of the arrest officer. It was not possible for all the Government Officials in the County Government to attend, as that would leave Ping¡¯an County without patrols. Those who could attend were either competitors or, like Wang Ping, had been informed beforehand. Although the position of arrest officer carried an official status, it didn¡¯t cause any sensation. As time passed, the scene became somewhat quiet, save for a few people who were talking amongst each other. The rest of the Government Officials remained silent, waiting for the arrival of County Magistrate Li Mingqi. Chen Yuan did the same. At noon, the sun nearly hung directly overhead, causing beads of sweat to appear on the foreheads of the Government Officials. July was the peak of summer, which made it much hotter than usual. Suddenly, two voices from outside said, ¡®Greetings to the magistrate¡¯. The Government Officials straightened up, sitting upright and attentively looking toward the gate. Sure enough, County Magistrate Li Mingqi had arrived! ¡°This subordinate greets the magistrate!¡± Everyone bowed in unison. Li Mingqi, with a calm expression, walked onto the limestone-constructed platform and casually pointed at two Government Officials: ¡°You two, come up.¡± The contenders for the arrest officer position were eight in total, all stronger Blood Refining experts selected from over a hundred Government Officials. The two Government Officials, having been named by Li Mingqi, didn¡¯t dare to delay and quickly moved to the platform. Without a signal to start, they bowed to each other and simultaneously drew their swords. ¡°Brother Yuan, which of the two do you think is stronger?¡± Wang Ping asked in a lowered voice. Chen Yuan shook his head: ¡°Can¡¯t tell.¡± It wasn¡¯t an evasion but a genuine uncertainty. Without clear markers of the Foundation Establishment Realm and no exchange of blows, it was hard to discern their level from their movements and saber techniques alone. The clash above was swift, lasting only around forty breaths before the confrontation ended. Blood Refining Martial Artists didn¡¯t speak of drawn-out battles; sometimes, a few moves were enough to determine the winner. The victor was a middle-aged Government Official with a light red birthmark on his left cheek, who placed his saber at the other¡¯s neck, obviating any need for further competition. The other Government Official was somewhat reluctant but dared not act out with the County Magistrate present. He bowed and stepped down. Li Mingqi¡¯s expression remained calm as he scanned over to Chen Yuan and others. Wu Yushan immediately stood up, approached the platform, and Li Mingqi casually pointed to another nearby Government Official, who, seeing it was Wu Yushan, clenched his teeth and followed. The previous victor stepped aside to stand and watch the upcoming exchanges. In Li Mingqi¡¯s eyes, a contest at the Foundation Establishment Level did not mean much, but it was different for them as they looked at their formidable opponents! Wu Yushan, deservedly a top expert in the Arrest Room second only to Huang Xing, took merely five breaths to punch the opponent off the platform. After Wu Yushan¡¯s victory, Wang Lin, holding a blue long sword, stepped onto the platform and, after bowing to Li Mingqi, casually pointed at another Government Official. Wang Lin¡¯s swordplay was fierce, creating afterimages. In a mere moment, the Government Official he was facing had several sword marks on his body, his clothes torn, with the sword tip pressing against the other official¡¯s brow, appearing to sink a shallow point, as trails of blood seeped from the sword tip. ¡°Arrest officer Wang¡¯s strength is extraordinary, I admit defeat!¡± The Government Official swiftly conceded defeat and stepped down from the platform. Li Mingqi then turned his gaze to Chen Yuan, giving him a measured look. Understanding the signal, Chen Yuan holding his saber, walked onto the platform. The other, older Government Official, facing Chen Yuan¡¯s youthful appearance, showed no trace of contempt or mockery. Since he had dared to enter the competition, it meant he was confident in his strength! Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Chen Yuans Strength! Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Chen Yuan¡¯s Strength! ¡°Please!¡± The government official clasped his hands and drew his sword slowly. Chen Yuan nodded slightly and reached for the hilt of his sword. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The government official¡¯s gaze sharpened, a dangerous look flashed in his eyes as he stepped forward, swinging his sword decisively towards Chen Yuan¡¯s head. The saber brought a gust of cold wind, but Chen Yuan did not even blink as he dodged to the side. The blade skimmed past his body, then flipped over aggressively, leaving no opportunity for a counter. Strike while the iron is hot, wane on the second, and exhaust on the third. The official intended to rely on his burst of power to quickly finish off Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan shuffled his feet, ducking as the official¡¯s sword cut through the air. Then, with neither joy nor sorrow in his eyes, Chen Yuan¡¯s feet glided across the ground, spanning several meters in an instant. He was now before the official, his Sword Drawing Skill exploding forth! The arena went silent; all eyes were fixed on Chen Yuan with intense concentration. The long saber pierced through the official¡¯s clothes, barely missing his flesh. A hair¡¯s breadth would have impaled him, decisively settling the superiority! The government official¡¯s mouth opened slightly, but in the end, he said nothing. He had meant to slash directly at Chen Yuan when he got close, but was blinded by the glint of the sword, and now he was in this predicament. Just one strike, and with that, Chen Yuan ended the fight. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co From start to finish, it did not exceed the time of three breaths! Chen Yuan¡¯s strength was indeed impressive! After lying dormant for more than a month, he had now displayed his strength, successfully astonishing everyone. A flash of disbelief crossed Wu Yushan¡¯s eyes, while Wang Lin¡¯s gaze was filled with wariness. Wang Ping below was slightly agape, frozen in place; this was the first time he had seen Brother Yuan unleash his power since his recovery. No longer a match for the Current Chen Yuan, he felt that if they were to spar again, he would likely be on his knees at the first exchange. Brother Yuan, terrifying indeed! County Magistrate Li Mingqi gave Chen Yuan a deep look, his eyes flickering with thoughts unknown. The government official swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and with cupped hands said, ¡°My thanks.¡± Without a doubt, Chen Yuan had shown restraint, otherwise, a mere scrape would have injured him. Although Li Mingqi¡¯s presence prevented anyone from killing, injuries still couldn¡¯t be freely inflicted. ¡°Chen Yuan, come and compete with Wu Yushan,¡± Li Mingqi said without much pause, assigning directly. Next, he instructed Wang Lin and another official to compete below the stage. He wasn¡¯t too interested in witnessing each bout between the Blood Refining Level, preferring to resolve matters quickly. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Yuan and Wu Yushan responded in unison. ¡°Chen Yuan, if you step down now, I won¡¯t hurt you, and I¡¯ll still use you in the future,¡± Wu Yushan said in a low voice, standing face to face with Chen Yuan at a distance of six meters. From the previous strike, Wu Yushan could tell that Chen Yuan was not to be trifled with; having cultivated his Sword Drawing Skill to such an extent that he could unsheathe and attack in the blink of an eye. Sure enough, he dared to compete for a reason. ¡°Wu Brother, if you step down now, I won¡¯t hurt you either¡­¡± Chen Yuan said. What a joke. Chen Yuan had stepped up with the aim of securing the position of arrest officer; why would he possibly give it up for nothing? Empty talk! Wu Yushan narrowed his eyes, staring at Chen Yuan while curling the corner of his mouth and giving a slight nod: ¡°Good, since you¡¯ve made your choice, don¡¯t blame me for not holding onto past affections.¡± No sooner had his voice faded than, without waiting for Chen Yuan¡¯s reply, Wu Yushan stepped forward, leaped into the air, and chopped his sword directly towards Chen Yuan¡¯s head. Chen Yuan took a step back, his eyes turned cold, and his Sword Drawing Skill burst forth in an instant. ¡°Clang!¡± The blades collided, emitting the sound of metal striking metal. The powerful force from Wu Yushan¡¯s leap was neutralized by Chen Yuan, who then lifted his sword to strike directly at Wu Yushan¡¯s neck. Aside from some martial arts that could explode in an instant, the difference in perception within ordinary martial arts was not very significant, merely a gap in strength and speed, with the only advantage being technique. Since his transmigration, Chen Yuan practised swordplay hundreds of times daily, laying a foundation that was no less than any ordinary saber technique, with stable steps and forceful longsword strikes. With every swing of his sword, he was able to block Wu Yushan¡¯s attacks. Even the strength he gained from practicing the Vajra Glaze Body made Wu Yushan somewhat unable to withstand it, and he hadn¡¯t even unleashed his full power! Having completed two Blood Refinings, Chen Yuan¡¯s strength was on par with any Government Official from the County Government who practiced ordinary Body Refining Techniques, such was the power of a top-tier Foundation Establishment Divine Skill. And this was only the beginning, once the nine Blood Refinings were completed, Chen Yuan¡¯s strength would certainly be on par with the majority of Bone Refining experts. ¡°Impossible, how could he be so strong!¡± Wu Yushan was repelled by Chen Yuan¡¯s sword, his face full of disbelief. He was quite familiar with Chen Yuan and remembered his strength being decent among the younger Government Officials, but it was negligible compared to Blood Refining Martial Artists. Although Chen Yuan had shown some prowess at the Huang Family¡¯s gate before, which made Wu Yushan take him more seriously, he had never regarded him as a real opponent. But the current scene had him somewhat at a disadvantage! Throwing his longsword aside, Wu Yushan¡¯s expression turned cold. He twisted his wrist slightly, as if triggering a mechanism, producing a ¡®click-clack¡¯ sound. A layer of black iron skin quickly climbed up his right fist. ¡°Kill!¡± Having scrapped in the army for a few years, Wu Yushan let out a roar. He quickly traversed several meters with a step and smashed his fist towards Chen Yuan¡¯s face. Chen Yuan tilted his head to dodge, and the fist brought a cold wind to his cheek. A sword slashed onto Wu Yushan¡¯s iron fist. Yet shockingly, his right fist sprouted sparks while the iron skin remained unharmed. Wu Yushan had never revealed such a technique in the County Government! Wu Yushan¡¯s mouth curled into a cold smile as his half-covered iron fist was mixed with some Obsidian, making it extremely difficult for ordinary swords and sabers in the County Government to destroy it. With a swing of his arm, Chen Yuan used the blade to block, but it bent slightly under Wu Yushan¡¯s punch, and he was immediately forced to take several steps back to steady himself. Wu Yushan didn¡¯t give Chen Yuan a chance to react. Almost instantly as Chen Yuan backed away, Wu Yushan closed the gap, channeling all his power into his right arm, its veins bulging, and he aimed a fierce blow at Chen Yuan¡¯s chest. Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes turned colder, flung his longsword aside, took a step forward, and leaped directly into the air, the Vajra Glaze Body erupting! Reflected in the sunlight, Chen Yuan seemed like a golden statue, and beneath his clothes, lines of golden paint covered his body. He too raised his right fist covered with golden paint, but no one seemed to notice this detail, attributing it to the reflection of the sunlight. ¡°Boom!!!¡± The two fists collided solidly, even emitting a faint grunt, and the massive power worked through the fist onto Wu Yushan¡¯s body. ¡°Crack!¡± The force transmitted broke Wu Yushan¡¯s arm bone directly. ¡°Ah!¡± Wu Yushan¡¯s face turned frantic as he tried to withdraw his right fist, but Chen Yuan didn¡¯t give him the opportunity. He closed the distance with a step, twisted Wu Yushan¡¯s arm into an unnatural shape, then opened his fist into a palm and slammed it into his chest! Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Stirring Up Trouble! Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Stirring Up Trouble! ¡°Boom!!!¡± A muffled grunt echoed as Wu Yushan was sent flying several meters away by Chen Yuan¡¯s palm strike, crashing heavily onto the ground. He furrowed his brows, gritted his teeth, and tried to get up, but as soon as he lifted his head, he saw Chen Yuan¡¯s foot positioned right above his head, ready to strike down at any moment! If this had not been in the schoolyard, with County Magistrate Li Mingqi watching, Chen Yuan¡¯s foot would have crushed Wu Yushan¡¯s skull like a watermelon being smashed open. But there were no ifs. Under the watchful eyes of the public, Chen Yuan really couldn¡¯t make his move. Of course, if Wu Yushan continued to fight, he could stomp on his arm or leg instead. The air around seemed to freeze for a few moments. Chen Yuan had won! Wang Ping¡¯s face surged with excitement. Had he not been cautious of Li Mingqi, he might have even shouted out loud. In his view, with such formidable strength, Brother Yuan had a great chance of securing the arrest officer position. ¡°Cough, cough¡­ Chen Yuan, you have won,¡± Wu Yushan lowered his head, speaking with some reluctance. But reluctance changed nothing. If he did not concede, that foot would undoubtedly crash heavily upon him, and he almost had no strength left to resist. His right arm was broken and twisted into an extremely irregular shape. ¡°Brother Wu, I might have been a bit too harsh; please forgive me¡­¡± Chen Yuan showed a seemingly harmless smile. Just a bit too harsh? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Wu Yushan wanted to roar out loud. His arm was nearly dislocated! Now, he would at least have to recuperate at home for a while, having no chance to make any moves. And this was exactly the outcome Chen Yuan wanted to see. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine; such is the nature of competition,¡± despite cursing Chen Yuan in his heart, Wu Yushan still managed a smile on his face. Chen Yuan extended a hand and pulled Wu Yushan up. The bout below was still ongoing but was nearing its end. Wang Lin¡¯s swordsmanship filled the air with shadows of blades, making it extremely difficult for the other government official to defend. His body was already marked with seven or eight bloodlines. ¡°Wang Lin, I concede!¡± Finding a gap, the government official hurriedly cried out. Wang Lin sheathed his sword, nodded slightly, and began walking toward the high platform. The next match with Chen Yuan would be key in deciding the position of the arrest officer, he could not lose! Li Mingqi walked up to the two of them and spoke softly, ¡°The two of you will compete in a match, the victor will be the new head of the arrest room.¡± Chen Yuan and Wang Lin nodded to each other, each displaying a hint of solemness. Although they had each been fighting separately, they still observed each other during the intervals, not underestimating the opponent¡ªan assessment they both silently agreed upon. ¡°Please.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Chen Yuan and Wang Lin both bowed, and then, with Wang Lin pointing his sword at Chen Yuan, Chen grabbed a long saber borrowed from Wang Ping, as his own blade was ruined, bent and affecting his ability to strike. Suddenly, just as the two were about to engage, the schoolyard gate was pushed open. Two figures walked in, one of whom wore a red official uniform, a middle-aged man with a slight smile on his face¡ªnone other than Wu Qingfeng, the County Magistrate of Ping¡¯an County. The man by his side was somewhat stout, carrying a Nine Ring Great Saber on his back. However, compared to Yue Shan whom Chen Yuan had met before, he was still a notch below. Li Mingqi, upon seeing Wu Qingfeng arrive uninvited, furrowed his eyebrows: ¡°Is the County Magistrate so free?¡± Wu Qingfeng, undisturbed, said: ¡°Why must County Magistrate Li be annoyed? Is Wu not allowed to watch the battle?¡± Chen Yuan and Wang Lin exchanged glances, simultaneously dismissing the idea of continuing their combat to first see what the County Magistrate was here for. ¡°This humble official pays his respects to your Excellency!¡± Unlike Wu Qingfeng¡¯s demeanor, the robust man he brought along treated Li Mingqi with great respect, obviously aware of the huge disparity between them and daring not to show the slightest disrespect. A Gang Condensation powerhouse, killing him would be like slaughtering a chicken! ¡°No one comes to the Temple of the Three Treasures without a purpose, just speak your mind, County Magistrate Wu¡­¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s gaze hardened, somewhat dangerous. If it were not for the matters of the Huang Family intertwining with him, how could he let Wu Qingfeng, this person, gain the upper hand? In the Great Jin Dynasty, they say that civil and military pursuits are equally valued, but martial artists ultimately carry more weight, as indeed they did, with Wu Qingfeng being suppressed by him before the Huang Family affair. Unfortunately, once involved with the No-Life Sect villains, things were not that simple anymore. The backing above made him temporarily behave, to avoid Wu Qingfeng submitting a document that would leave him unable to step down. This was also the reason he conceded the position of the Arrest Room principal. However, Wu Qingfeng¡¯s target seemed to have fallen on the arrest officer position, which he had mentioned repeatedly before. Li had intended to settle this position as soon as possible, being somewhat urgent, but still, Wu Qingfeng showed up! Wu Qingfeng, with an unchanged expression, gradually ascended the high platform, speaking as he walked: ¡°County Magistrate Li, forgive my frankness, but you have been somewhat arbitrary in appointing the arrest officer this time. Historically, those who take on the heavy responsibility of arrest officer have been experts at the Bone Refining Level with merits to their name, only then can they protect the region and the people.¡± ¡°The position of arrest officer is of great importance, relating to the safety of over a hundred thousand people of Ping¡¯an County. With the No-Life Sect villains frequently causing trouble, this is a critical moment, is this really a time for child¡¯s play?¡± ¡°Having a Blood Refining Level martial artist serve as arrest officer, how can he command respect? There are many thorns within Ping¡¯an County, among them not a few Bone Refining experts. Would they really care for a Blood Refining Martial Artist?¡± ¡°I know that County Magistrate Li is exceptionally strong, with few rivals in Ping¡¯an County, but County Magistrate Li is the stabilizing pin of our county. Can we really trouble you with every trivial issue?¡± Having reached the high platform, Wu Qingfeng glanced at Chen Yuan and Wang Lin, before finally turning back to Li Mingqi. Undeniably, Wu Qingfeng had a point, but Li Mingqi would not listen to him. Though Wu Qingfeng was technically the top official in the county, who does not want to hold power? The County Magistrate and County Commander inherently check and balance each other. ¡°High-sounding words from County Magistrate Wu, but does having a Bone Refining expert as the arrest officer guarantee there will be no worries? Just swear a guarantee, and I¡¯ll let you handle the appointment of the arrest officer today.¡± Li Mingqi snorted coldly. ¡°Nothing is predictable; who can make such a guarantee?¡± Wu Qingfeng, cool and steady. ¡°Then what are you here talking about? The arrest officer falls within my jurisdiction; what does Bone Refining matter? With my guidance, either of them could step into Bone Refining in no time!¡± Li Mingqi, pointing confidently at Chen Yuan and Wang Ping, said. A Gang Condensation powerhouse is entitled to make such a claim. ¡°Short as it may be, it still takes time. If something happens during this period, who will take responsibility?¡± ¡°Certainly not you, County Magistrate Wu!¡± Li Mingqi declared. Wu Qingfeng and Li Mingqi stared each other down for three breaths¡¯ time, then Wu spoke: ¡°Since Lord Li is so confident in these two men, let¡¯s have Li Mu test them. No need for him to win¡ªjust have either of them last twenty moves against him, and I¡¯ll agree without another word!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s heart sank, thinking that having Blood Refining serve as the arrest officer truly wasn¡¯t so simple¡­ Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Lacking Martial Virtue Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Lacking Martial Virtue No wonder Li Mingqi appointed the arrest officer so swiftly¡ªit turns out Wu Qingfeng was also eyeing this position and even went so far as to shed all pretense to fight for it! Does he think that by obtaining the position of arrest officer, he can strip Li Mingqi of his authority? Is becoming a Gang Condensation expert really that simple? Chen Yuan found it somewhat incomprehensible¡ªif he were Wu Qingfeng, he would have taken the gains and stopped, never pressing aggressively at such a time. While the position of arrest officer was made a subject of contention, the position of head jailer was deliberately ignored. Chen Yuan speculated that perhaps Wu Qingfeng had already secured the latter position, but he was not satisfied! ¡°Twenty moves!¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s face was somber, his gaze unsettled. A Bone Refining Martial Artist¡¯s skeleton is robust, and after three rounds of Blood Refining, their physical body is greatly enhanced, rarely matched by a Blood Refining Martial Artist. But lasting through twenty moves seemed to offer some hope. ¡°If Lord Li disagrees and insists on doing things his own way, I will definitely report Lord Li¡¯s decision to Shangguan, and let Shangguan decide if Lord Li is right or not!¡± Wu Qingfeng said in a timely manner. Chen Yuan squinted his eyes; this seemed all too clich¨¦ to him. At the critical moment, there would always be a disruption¡ªindeed, art imitates life. He suddenly understood the dime novels he had read in his past life. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Since County Magistrate Wu has said so, let¡¯s give it a try¡­¡± Li Mingqi turned his gaze to Wang Lin, paused for a moment, then finally rested on Chen Yuan, whispering: ¡°Chen Yuan, you¡¯re up!¡± Compared to Chen Yuan, Li Mingqi felt that Wang Lin¡¯s strength was stronger, and he was already his man. Did he really think he was unaware of Tie Xuan¡¯s defection to Wu Qingfeng? The ones who had previously rushed into the Arrest Room to inform Huang Xing, as well as those sent to notify him, were all Wang Lin¡¯s confidants. If promoting a Blood Refining Martial Artist hadn¡¯t seemed too abrupt and if the Government Officials in the government wouldn¡¯t have been convinced, Li Mingqi would have directly promoted Wang Lin to the position of arrest officer. He was well aware of Wang Lin¡¯s strength; in the Blood Refining Level, he certainly belonged to the very powerful few. One could say that the position of arrest officer was actually almost secured. Now was the perfect time to use Chen Yuan to test and wear down Li Mu¡¯s strength! Chen Yuan was taken aback¡ªshouldn¡¯t he be the one to appear last and turn the tide? Why was this deviating from the norm? However, Chen Yuan did not show his surprise and quickly bowed, saying: ¡°This subordinate obeys!¡± ¡°Li Mu, he¡¯s yours,¡± Wu Qingfeng said with a faint hint of a cold smile at the corner of his mouth. The muscular man bowed: ¡°This subordinate obeys!¡± Having said that, he suddenly stamped his foot on the ground, leaped into the air several meters high, and landed on the stage with a dull thud. Chen Yuan¡¯s face was filled with solemnity. A Bone Refining Martial Artist, whether in speed, defense, or attack, was many times stronger than a Blood Refining one¡ªa formidable opponent indeed! Yet, he did not back down but instead felt a surge of combativeness. The path of Martial Arts, fraught with hardships, is about stepping over rivals to reach the pinnacle. ¡°Begin!¡± Li Mingqi barked the command, and Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. He chose not to defend but to attack because offense was the best defense! The blade flashed, the long saber unscathed instantly; Sword Drawing Skill, unleashed! The two were about eight meters apart. In the blink of an eye, Chen Yuan had closed the distance and a bright gleam of the saber aimed straight for Li Mu¡¯s neck! Li Mingqi narrowed his eyes. Chen Yuan¡¯s strike was even faster than before¡ªhe had been holding back! Below, Wu Yushan stood with his mouth agape in astonishment, goosebumps rising on his skin. ¡°Clang!¡± Li Mu was calm, the Nine Ring Great Saber strapped to his back used to shield himself at the very instant Chen Yuan moved, emitting a sound of metal clashing and sparks flying¡­ Li Mu¡¯s brow furrowed as he took a step back, finally offsetting the huge force from just a moment ago. The people below were full of shock, but none dared make a sound, their gaze fixated on the scene. Chen Yuan, at the Blood Refining Level, had actually managed to push back a Bone Refining Martial Artist! ¡°Hmm?¡± Li Mu let out a cold snort, feeling humiliated. His right hand gripped the hilt of his saber tightly, and he swung down directly at Chen Yuan, while the latter dodged to the side. ¡°Bang!¡± A layer of dust rose from the ground as the bluestone platform, under that strike, unexpectedly bore a fine crack from the saber. Saber splitting bluestone! One could imagine how strong that force had been. Seeing Chen Yuan dodge to the side, Li Mu changed his chop to a sweep, the blade sweeping horizontally, aiming to sever Chen Yuan¡¯s legs. Yet, Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes sharpened, and with a close shave, he leaped up. His flesh unable to stop falling, Chen Yuan tapped his leg on the blade, borrowing the force to surge forward and kicked towards Li Mu¡¯s chest. ¡°Scram!¡± Li Mu uttered in a low shout, his left fist charged and hammered onto the bottom of Chen Yuan¡¯s foot. ¡°Stomp stomp stomp¡­¡± Chen Yuan was sent flying, landing heavily on the ground before continuing to retreat several steps to dissipate the force. The strength of a Bone Refining Martial Artist was indeed strong! Li Mu repelled Chen Yuan, not giving him a chance to react. He stepped forward swiftly, bringing with him a gust of cold wind, and in the blink of an eye, he was right before Chen Yuan, chopping down towards his head. Chen Yuan¡¯s pupils constricted, sensing danger, and immediately raised his saber to block. ¡°Ding!¡± The Nine Ring Great Saber actually chipped a notch in Chen Yuan¡¯s standard-issue long saber, the bluestone underfoot shook as if a giant stone had fallen. Chen Yuan¡¯s right leg bent sharply, he gritted his teeth, at this moment, he could not worry about being discovered anymore. The next moment, his clothes filled with golden paint, his blood qi surged throughout his body, bracing against Li Mu¡¯s powerful strength as he straightened his bent right leg, looking at him: ¡°Get lost!¡± Chen Yuan suddenly raised his right leg, slamming it straight towards the space between Li Mu¡¯s legs. Li Mu was instantly startled, his legs clamping together, attempting to retract his stance, but at this moment, it was already too late. ¡°Bang!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s kick connected squarely, Li Mu¡¯s face went dark as he staggered back several steps, propping the Nine Ring Great Saber on the ground, grinding his teeth as he roared: ¡°You, have no honor!¡± Obviously, although Li Mu had managed to retract a bit, Chen Yuan had still grazed him. ¡°There were no rules stated before the bout!¡± Chen Yuan scoffed, taking two steps and lunging forward, leaping up! ¡­ ¡­ ¡°County Magistrate Wu, it has been twenty moves already,¡± Li Mingqi said indifferently, his eyes showing a hint of admiration for Chen Yuan at this moment. Thanks to those few preemptive strikes, Chen Yuan had stubbornly fought through the first dozen moves. Although later on he was overpowered by the furious Li Mu, he had managed to hold his ground without any injury. And had not lost face. Hearing Li Mingqi¡¯s words, Wu Qingfeng¡¯s expression turned ashen, and he said coldly: ¡°Li Mu, that¡¯s enough!¡± Li Mu, standing on the platform, suddenly stopped, his hands gripping the Nine Ring Saber tightly in mid-air, refraining from making another move, as he glared at Chen Yuan, begrudgingly retracting his saber. Chen Yuan grinned, though injured, his wounds were fortunately superficial. Wu Qingfeng didn¡¯t exchange any further words with Li Mingqi. Instead, with a face still ashen, he scrutinized Chen Yuan carefully, as if etching his image into memory. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Chen the Arrest Officer! Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Chen the Arrest Officer! Chen Yuan concentrated his spirit and calmed his Qi, exchanging a glance with Wu Qingfeng, and after a moment¡¯s thought, he clasped his hands together and made a fist in salute: ¡°Sir!¡± Wu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes, and the iron blue on his face suddenly cleared to reveal a warm smile: ¡°Chen Yuan, is it? Not bad, this official thinks highly of you.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± ¡°The strength of the people under County Magistrate Li is indeed extraordinary, I have no objections, goodbye¡­¡± Wu Qingfeng spoke indifferently, then turned to leave. ¡°Hmph!¡± Li Mu snorted coldly, somewhat unwillingly, but unable to do anything about it, and turned to follow Wu Qingfeng¡¯s steps. ¡°County Magistrate Wu, have a good journey, I won¡¯t see you out.¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s tone went up a notch. When Wu Qingfeng¡¯s figure disappeared completely, Li Mingqi withdrew his gaze and stepped in front of Chen Yuan, examining him from head to toe and whispered: ¡°Your strength is indeed remarkable!¡± This statement was quite accurate; from the engagement just now, anyone could see that the reason Chen Yuan managed to withstand Li Mu¡¯s onslaught was because of his strength, which was almost on par with that of a Bone Refining Martial Artist. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co According to common sense, the strength of a Bone Refining Martial Artist would absolutely surpass that of a Blood Refining Martial Artist by no small margin, because a Bone Refining Martial Artist has completed Blood Refining, making their bones exceptionally sturdy and greatly increasing their strength. Not to say they could shatter bluestone with one palm, but breaking a tree with one strike was basically still within reach, with the only difference being the thickness of the tree. ¡°Since childhood, my strength was stronger than that of an average person; perhaps due to advancements in my cultivation recently, my strength has grown even stronger,¡± said Chen Yuan. He had controlled the Golden Paint to only appear beneath his clothes just now, and with the sunlight¡¯s reflection hiding it, even if someone did see it, they wouldn¡¯t think much of it. Of course, even if it was exposed, it wouldn¡¯t matter; Body Refining Techniques vary widely. For example, Tie Shou, whom Chen Yuan had killed shortly after arriving in this world, would show a hue of iron blue on his hands whenever he activated his power. The Vajra Glaze Body¡ªif Chen Yuan didn¡¯t reveal it himself, it was unlikely someone could recognize it at a glance in Ping¡¯an County. In the end, Ping¡¯an County was just a small county town after all. Li Mingqi chuckled lightly, not revealing whether he believed Chen Yuan¡¯s words or not, only saying: ¡°From now on, the heavy responsibility of Ping¡¯an County will be placed on your shoulders.¡± With that, he even patted Chen Yuan on the shoulder. With a single statement, he had confirmed Chen Yuan¡¯s appointment as the arrest officer; there was no need to compare him with Wang Lin any longer. Judging from the exchange of moves between Chen Yuan and Li Mu, Wang Lin was almost certainly no match for him. ¡°Do you have any objections?¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s gaze shifted to Wang Lin. If he was confident that he was not inferior to Chen Yuan, it would not be impossible to have another match. Wang Lin hastily clasped his hands and said: ¡°I am not a match for arrest officer Chen and am willing to admit defeat.¡± Given the strength that Chen Yuan had shown, apart from Bone Refining experts, there really was no Blood Refining Martial Artist who could defeat him, Wang Lin included. It¡¯s just that, in the end, he still felt a bit dissatisfied. Earlier, he had been certain that he would secure the position of arrest officer, only for Chen Yuan to unexpectedly appear out of nowhere, and to make matters worse, his strength was so formidable. ¡°Thank you, sir, for your trust. I will definitely go through fire and water for you and for the county government in the future¡­¡± Chen Yuan placed Li Mingqi¡¯s trust first, eliciting a smile from Li Mingqi. The arrest officer he promoted had to be wholeheartedly loyal to him! ¡°Come to see me tonight, I have something to instruct you about. As for the position of arrest officer, you will officially assume it tomorrow¡­¡± Li Mingqi said in a low voice. Chen Yuan understood and nodded quickly: ¡°I shall follow your orders!¡± ¡­ ¡°My lord, are we really going to let Chen Yuan take the position of arrest officer that easily?¡± After leaving the drill ground, Li Mu looked back unwillingly. He originally intended to give the role of prison head to another Bone Refining expert and take the position of arrest officer himself, but things had not gone as planned. More importantly, his status in the County Government would now be much weaker than Chen Yuan¡¯s. In the County Government, among its six departments, the Arrest Room is the largest! ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you let Chen Yuan withstand twenty moves?¡± Wu Qingfeng¡¯s face darkened as he flicked his sleeve. Of course, deep down, Wu Qingfeng didn¡¯t want to push Li Mingqi too hard; a Gang Condensation powerhouse, if cornered, could easily kill him. However, such a situation was generally unlikely. Killing a court-appointed official was a crime punishable by the execution of the entire family, and Qingzhou wasn¡¯t as chaotic as some border regions; the imperial court still had some control there. Especially since the new Prefectural Governor took office four years ago! Li Mu immediately dared not speak and followed closely behind Wu Qingfeng with his head low. ¡°Arrest Officer Chen.¡± After Li Mingqi left, whether it was those watching or the Government Officials who had fought before, they all stepped forward to congratulate him, with somewhat flattering expressions on their faces. Although there was no official document from the Prefecture City, Chen Yuan¡¯s position as arrest officer was genuine. Although not stable, it wasn¡¯t something they could shake. Even if not courting favor, they couldn¡¯t afford to make an enemy of him. ¡°You¡¯re all too kind.¡± Chen Yuan cupped his hands in thanks. Wu Yushan, supporting his injured right arm, stepped forward and said quietly, ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, about before¡­ I apologize for any offense, please¡­ be magnanimous.¡± Even though it was very much against his wishes, Wu Yushan now didn¡¯t dare to show his displeasure, because, from this day forward, Chen Yuan was his superior, and he wasn¡¯t a match for Chen Yuan in strength. It wouldn¡¯t be too difficult for him to deal with him. This was something Wu Yushan was very clear about. Chen Yuan looked at Wu Yushan and smiled, ¡°Brother Wu, why say such things? The struggle for superiority before was just a matter of each showing their skill; I won¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Since he was not yet officially the arrest officer and had not worn his official uniform, calling himself ¡°this official¡± wouldn¡¯t be appropriate, hence Chen Yuan still referred to himself as ¡°Chen.¡± ¡°Constable Chen, your magnanimity is truly admirable.¡± Chen Yuan gave Wu Yushan an out, and he naturally took it. Chen Yuan smiled, suddenly remembering a saying: when you have power and status, everyone around you is a good person. This saying made a lot of sense! After the pleasantries at the drill ground dispersed, Chen Yuan and Wang Ping calmly walked out. Surprised, Chen Yuan looked at Wang Ping and asked, ¡°Why so silent today?¡± Wang Ping pursed his lips, ¡°Yuan¡­ Arrest Officer Chen, why do you say that?¡± He stopped himself from saying ¡°Brother Yuan¡± and cautiously began to refer to him as ¡®arrest officer¡¯ instead. He wasn¡¯t sure if Chen Yuan would change after attaining his position, so he could only tentatively feel it out; this he realized after Li Mingqi announced Chen Yuan as the new arrest officer. Having grown up in a merchant family, Wang Ping had learned from young to read people and understand subtleties of speech. ¡°From now on, just call me Brother Yuan. It sounds friendlier, and there¡¯s no need for formality between us. I¡¯ve heard a saying, ¡®The three iron bonds of life: sharing the same desk at school, enlisting together in the military, and visiting the pleasure houses together¡­¡¯ ¡°We can consider ourselves fellow travelers,¡± Chen Yuan said with a smile. Before he crossed over, Chen Yuan and Wang Ping had often visited the pleasure houses together. Wang Ping breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, ¡°Brother Yuan, for that statement alone, from here on out we are brothers from different fathers.¡± Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48 The True Hidden Forces of Pingan County Chapter 48: Chapter 48 The True Hidden Forces of Ping¡¯an County Chen Yuan: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re really something, you know that?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this all because of your influence, Brother Yuan?¡± Wang Ping chuckled. ¡°Alright, we won¡¯t patrol today, head home early.¡± Chen Yuan patted Wang Ping¡¯s shoulder. Wang Ping¡¯s face fell, and he said urgently: ¡°What¡¯s so fun about going home? My dad¡¯s probably at Widow Ma¡¯s place again. How about it, Brother Yuan, shall we head to Yanyu Building? My dad said the new batch of girls there is particularly nice, not to mention Little Yue. Don¡¯t you want to meet her?¡± ¡°We can celebrate your promotion to arrest officer, I¡¯ll foot the bill,¡± Wang Ping patted his chest. Chen Yuan gave Wang Ping a speechless look: ¡°Would you cool it for a second?¡± ¡°Do you have anything other than girls on your mind?¡± Wang Ping was silent for a moment, then nodded emphatically. ¡­ The hour of the Dog, third quarter. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co The sky had grown completely dark, and a half-moon hung in the night sky as Chen Yuan arrived alone at the residence of County Magistrate Li Mingqi. Li Mingqi¡¯s words at noon, Chen Yuan did not dare to neglect. His position as an arrest officer wasn¡¯t yet secured; it would only be solidified after he entered the Bone Refining phase, with Li Mingqi or Wu Qingfeng going to the prefecture city, and the prefecture city issuing a document. Only then would Chen Yuan¡¯s post be stable. And now, his biggest backer was none other than Li Mingqi. In front of Li¡¯s residence stood two unfamiliar government officials guarding the door. After carefully inquiring and seeing it was Chen Yuan approaching, without giving him a hard time, they let him into the house, obviously because Li Mingqi had instructed them beforehand. ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, the County Magistrate awaits inside.¡± The slightly younger official had a somewhat ingratiating look on his face. Chen Yuan¡¯s defeat of the veteran officials and his appointment as the new arrest officer of Ping¡¯an County had spread throughout much of the Ping¡¯an County within just half a day. So, when they learned of Chen Yuan¡¯s identity, they were very respectful. Chen Yuan was no longer someone on their level. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Chen Yuan smiled and nodded as he watched the official leave, then took a deep breath before pushing the door open. But before he could raise his hand to do so, the door opened on its own¡­ Li Mingqi, playing with a ring in his hand without looking up, said softly: ¡°Come in if you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Yuan didn¡¯t dare to object, and stepped slowly into the room. ¡°Sit.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± ¡°You seem nervous. Are you afraid I might harm you?¡± Suddenly, Li Mingqi looked up and spoke softly, gazing directly at Chen Yuan. A shock went through Chen Yuan, and he quickly stood up: ¡°It¡¯s your solemn authority, sir. I¡­ I¡¯m a bit at a loss.¡± Li Mingqi gestured with one hand for Chen Yuan to sit down. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so tense. I won¡¯t do anything to you, nor will I¡­ probe into the reasons why you concealed your strength before or¡­ the cause of Tie Xuan and the others¡¯ deaths.¡± Li Mingqi smiled. Chen Yuan¡¯s hand clenched inside his sleeve, but his face showed puzzlement: ¡°My lord¡­ what do you mean by that?¡± Li Mingqi smiled: ¡°Nothing much, I was just speaking off the cuff.¡± Chen Yuan naturally couldn¡¯t believe this, he felt that it must be the strength he revealed when he had taken action today that led Li Mingqi to suspect something. Indeed, there are no fools in this world! However, fortunately, Li Mingqi didn¡¯t seem to place much importance on this matter. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in prying into your secrets, as long as you serve me faithfully, that¡¯s enough,¡± Li Mingqi said with a smile, his fingers lightly tapping on the tabletop. ¡°To serve my lord is my duty I cannot shirk!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s face was a picture of solemnity. He knew that this was the moment to show his loyalty, only then would Li Mingqi really act as if he knew nothing. Of course, he indeed knew nothing, he simply had some suspicions. ¡°In serving me, you will not be mistreated. You must be aware that Magistrate Wu has strong objections to your appointment as an arrest officer, only I can ensure your position,¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s voice shifted in tone, the hint in his words now very clear. ¡°I understand,¡± Chen Yuan replied respectfully. Li Mingqi¡¯s gaze shifted slightly, a warning was given, now it was time for the carrot. He placed a palm-sized porcelain bottle on the table in front of Chen Yuan: ¡°Inside are six Blood Essence Pills, specially prepared for you. Compared to the Tiger Bone Pill, this elixir is more suitable for practitioners at the Blood Refining Level and is rare to find in the county.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes glittered, he had naturally heard of the Blood Essence Pill, and it was indeed as difficult to obtain as Li Mingqi said. Although it was an elixir for the Blood Refining Level, its value was higher than that of the Tiger Bone Pill. The Tiger Bone Pill is a common elixir within the Foundation Establishment Realm, suitable for any level, but compared to the Blood Essence Pill, which is specifically crafted for Blood Refining Martial Artists, its effect is somewhat inferior. Moreover, it¡¯s said to be more difficult to refine, making it quite rare; without the right connections, it¡¯s not attainable. Knowing this, Chen Yuan hadn¡¯t thought about seeking other elixirs and had planned to use the Tiger Bone Pill to cultivate to the peak of Foundation Establishment. What Chen Yuan didn¡¯t know was that long-term use of the same elixir could lead to a tolerance build-up. ¡°Many thanks to you, my lord, I will remember this kindness,¡± Chen Yuan said as he quickly stood up. ¡°Customarily, an arrest officer is rewarded with six Tiger Bone Pills upon their appointment, but your situation is different; without the official paperwork from the Prefecture City, you¡¯re not officially recognized, so I¡¯m providing these pills myself,¡± Li Mingqi said softly. ¡°Among the three saber techniques available in the county government, only the Sword Drawing Skill is passable, the other two won¡¯t be of much use to you. Not only do they require a long time to learn, but their power is also underwhelming,¡± he continued. ¡°I don¡¯t use a saber and can¡¯t teach you anything, but I can point you towards a place¡­¡± Li Mingqi went on. ¡°My lord is referring to¡­¡± Chen Yuan said, somewhat puzzled. ¡°Zhao Nanshan of the Sanhe Boxing Club in City East has a family saber technique which is quite decent. I once mentioned it to Huang Xing, but he wasn¡¯t interested. If you¡¯re keen, you should try it.¡± ¡°City East, Sanhe Boxing Club,¡± Chen Yuan murmured to himself. ¡°Haven¡¯t heard of it? Hehe¡­ Zhao Nanshan does indeed shy from the limelight, but his strength was once no less than mine,¡± Li Mingqi sneered lightly. Chen Yuan was startled; if Zhao Nanshan¡¯s strength was no less than Li Mingqi¡¯s, didn¡¯t that mean¡­ Zhao Nanshan was also a Gang Condensing powerhouse? Seemingly noticing the shock in Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes, Li Mingqi said indifferently: ¡°That was in the past, Zhao Nanshan is now half-crippled, and his strength has greatly diminished.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s my ignorance, I have never heard of his name,¡± Chen Yuan admitted. ¡°There¡¯s much you haven¡¯t heard of. Cien Temple not far outside the city, Lin Family Village in Sishui Town, both have Gang Condensing experts in residence, but they seldom make themselves known.¡± ¡°I always thought the Huang Family was the prime power in Ping¡¯an County¡­¡± Chen Yuan said, lowering his head. ¡°The Huang Family? Without a Gang Condensing Martial Artist in residence, how can they claim to be the first? They are merely boasting¡­¡± Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The 4th Blood Refining! Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The 4th Blood Refining! After hearing Li Mingqi¡¯s explanation, Chen Yuan finally truly understood the situation in Ping¡¯an County. It turned out there were so many Gang Condensation experts who remained unseen and unknown. Cien Temple, Lin Family Village, Sanhe Boxing Club¡­ Especially Cien Temple and Lin Family Village, their strengths were not to be underestimated! He had always wondered why the Huang Family, the so-called number one family of Ping¡¯an County, had been destroyed so easily. How could they have been referred to as the number one? Now, at last, he understood. It was nothing but reckless praise from those who didn¡¯t know the truth. Indeed, with two Bone Refining experts, the Huang Family was strong, but without a Gang Condensation expert to hold the fort, they were simply wiped out in the end. Only those with a Gang Condensation expert could truly contend in Ping¡¯an County. Of course, if the Huang Family had not been destroyed, with the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl in their possession, there was not no chance for a Gang Condensation expert to emerge from their ranks, but there were no ifs¡­ ¡°Telling you all this is to make you understand that the strength of the County Government is not as strong as you imagined, and¡­ the No-Life Sect rogues have been restless lately. The most important thing for you as the arrest officer is to find the traces of those rogues,¡± Li Mingqi said, looking at Chen Yuan with furrowed brows. ¡°This servant will do his utmost.¡± ¡°Besides that, handling the North City Beihai Gang falls to you, whether to destroy or to subdue them, I want two hundred taels of silver every month,¡± Li Mingqi said as he fiddled with the ring on his right hand. Chen Yuan was somewhat shocked. Li Mingqi was blatantly asking for a bribe, without any attempt to hide it, and he was even telling him this before he took office. Suddenly, Chen Yuan felt that this might be the real reason why Li Mingqi had arranged to meet him tonight. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co Two hundred taels of silver! That was no small amount; it was the salary he had earned for over a decade as a Government Official, and this was just for a mere month. A year amounted to two thousand four hundred taels. To put it in perspective, even the Huang Family was said to have had only a little over a thousand taels of available silver. Though Chen Yuan had extorted twenty Tiger Bone Pills worth over two hundred taels of silver from Tie Qinghua, it was a one-off deal. Even if it was a hundred taels, let alone two hundred, if he needed it every month, Tie Qinghua would not be able to provide it. Silver was not so easy to come by, but since Li Mingqi had asked for it, Chen Yuan could not, would not refuse. He guessed that perhaps this was how officialdom worked, layer upon layer of exploitation, two hundred taels of silver a month, most likely a significant portion would have to be sent up to Prefecture City. In fact, Chen Yuan had guessed right; the reality was just that cruel. Seeing Chen Yuan hesitating slightly, Li Mingqi¡¯s expression turned a bit cold and he spoke, ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Any difficulty?¡± Chen Yuan took a deep breath and hurriedly said, ¡°No, this servant will definitely accomplish it.¡± Only then did Li Mingqi show a hint of a smile, stood up, patted Chen Yuan on the shoulder, and said, ¡°That¡¯s more like it¡­ Hehe, you can go back for now. From tomorrow on, you¡¯ll be the new arrest officer of Ping¡¯an County!¡± ¡°Yes, this servant shall take his leave.¡± Chen Yuan nodded and turned to leave the room. As Chen Yuan¡¯s figure retreated, Li Mingqi¡¯s hand suddenly touched the teacup beside him. ¡°Crash!¡± The cup shattered, and the tea stained the floor. Chen Yuan turned around abruptly, his heart skipping a beat. There weren¡¯t executioners lying in wait here, ready to move at the signal of Li Mingqi¡¯s cup dropping, were there? That wouldn¡¯t make sense¡­ Li Mingqi gave Chen Yuan a look, then suddenly smiled, ¡°You haven¡¯t taken the Blood Essence Pill yet.¡± Chen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡± Afterward, Chen Yuan stepped forward to place the porcelain bottle in his bosom, then turned and pushed open the door to leave the room. Once Chen Yuan was far away, Li Mingqi withdrew his gaze, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the tabletop. North City. Chen Family small courtyard. Chen Yuan placed the porcelain bottle containing the Blood Essence Pill on the table and squinted his eyes, reminiscing about the events that had occurred previously, silent for a long time. After a moment of silence, Chen Yuan stopped dwelling on those trivial matters and turned his attention to the Blood Essence Pill on the table, his eyes showing a trace of yearning. ¡­ The next day. In the early morning, a ray of sunlight fell through the window. Chen Yuan, who was seated cross-legged on the bed, slowly opened his eyes, a glint of sharpness flashing by, as the golden paint he had applied slowly retracted into his flesh. His originally fair skin began to turn bronze. After cultivating for a whole night, Chen Yuan felt not the slightest bit fatigued but instead was full of energy. During the night, Chen Yuan had ingested and refined four Blood Essence Pills. With the help of the medicinal power, he had successfully completed the third Blood Refining and was ready to start the fourth Blood Refining. The strength of his Qi had grown considerably once again. Normally, such a speed of cultivation was impossible because the human body has its limits and can¡¯t practice incessantly. He had faced this issue before when refining Tiger Bone Pills. He could only refine one Tiger Bone Pill per day before feeling a sense of bloatedness. But maybe it was because of the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl, Chen Yuan was able to refine continuously for a whole night, greatly enhancing the quality of his practice. Previously, he could only absorb at most 70% of the medicinal power from a single Tiger Bone Pill. But now, he could feel that 100% of the Blood Essence Pill¡¯s medicinal power was acting on his body. Only then was it possible to complete a Blood Refining with just four Blood Essence Pills. If it weren¡¯t for the Marrow Cleansing, Chen Yuan would have needed at least six elixirs for this round of Blood Refining. Thinking of this, Chen Yuan was even more eager to seize Qi Fortune again and obtain another opportunity. The first opportunity led him to Cien Temple¡¯s Vajra Glaze Body, allowing him to practice one of Jianghu¡¯s top Body Refining Divine Skills. The second was the Huang Family¡¯s Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl, which greatly enhanced Chen Yuan¡¯s cultivation talent. What would the next opportunity be then? Chen Yuan was very much looking forward to it! Unfortunately, he had mostly roamed around Ping¡¯an County and hadn¡¯t found anyone with Qi Fortune. At one time, Chen Yuan had thought that every living person should have Qi Fortune to some degree, but the Heavenly Eye Technique completely ignored it. Even if he killed many people, there was no change at all. It was only later that he realized that perhaps there were some secrets about ¡®Qi Fortune¡¯ that he didn¡¯t know. Standing up from the bed, Chen Yuan properly tied the clothes of a Government Official and did not wear his long sword at his waist. His sword was destroyed in Wu Yushan¡¯s hands and initially, he would have needed to apply for a new one. But not anymore, because he had become an arrest officer and would receive a new set of official uniform and sidearm. Leaving the small courtyard, Chen Yuan followed his routine and had some breakfast at Zhou¡¯s bun shop before hurrying to the County Government. Although Wang Ping also lived in North City, their routes rarely coincided, so aside from occasionally accompanying each other, most of the time Chen Yuan went on his own. Arrest Room. As soon as Chen Yuan walked in, a young Government Official came forward, cupping his hands and bowing: ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, your official uniform and sidearm have already been delivered to the room.¡± ¡°Much appreciated¡­¡± Chen Yuan nodded slightly, continuing his walk. All the Government Officials he passed greeted him eagerly, afraid of being even a half step slower than the others. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The success of a book depends on readership, Monthly Tickets, rewards, and chapter comments. It can¡¯t succeed without the support of the big bosses out there. I hope everyone can click on the latest chapters and leave a comment when possible. If you really have nothing to say, even teasing the author for endurance is fine¡­ Also, I¡¯m asking for Monthly Tickets, recommendations, and rewards, and so on. Furthermore, I heard that knocking one¡¯s kidney is not debilitating! Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Taking Office! Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Taking Office! In the private study reserved for the arrest officer, Chen Yuan had changed into his official uniform, which was slightly different from that worn by ordinary government officials, embroidered with simple patterns. The new sword he had donned was also a high-quality Hundred Refinement Blade. Not to mention cutting hair as if it were blowing in the wind, it was incomparably sharp, slicing through copper and iron. It was superior to the Ten Refinement Blade used by normal government officials by at least one level, and was worth at least ten pieces of silver. In Ping¡¯an County, no more than three master smiths could forge such Hundred Refinement Blades. He had carefully scrutinized his reflection in the bronze mirror before him, the young man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes and a profound gaze. Dressed in an official uniform, anyone would praise him as a promising youngster. ¡°Creak.¡± With a calm expression, Chen Yuan pushed open the door. Before the door, rows of government officials and nearly a hundred White Servants stood, all looking eagerly at Chen Yuan. Anyone else in his place would definitely feel nervous. This was all the manpower within the Arrest Room, and also the personnel Chen Yuan would be able to control from now on. Chen Yuan walked to the center of the crowd, stood with his hands behind his back, and his sharp eyes swept over everyone, as if he intended to see through them; no one dared meet his gaze. ¡°From today onward, Chen Yuan is the officer in charge of the Arrest Room, your direct superior. I don¡¯t care about the rules that were followed before, but from today onwards, the Arrest Room must implement my rules.¡± ¡°My orders must be followed; violators will be severely punished!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. Among these people were government officials older than Chen Yuan. To avoid conflicts in the future, he had to establish the rules today! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ????????????????????.co ¡°Whoever disagrees, step forward.¡± The crowd was silent; most lowered their heads, their minds undoubtedly occupied with various thoughts¡ªperhaps disdainful, perhaps preoccupied with diverse ideas¡ªbut no one dared to speak out. Everyone understood that this was Chen Yuan showing his authority as a new official. ¡°Very well, since no one opposes, I shall take it that you have submitted. Should anyone dare to disregard my words in the future, don¡¯t blame me for being unsympathetic to past relations.¡± Saying so, Chen Yuan¡¯s right leg forcefully stomped down, and the ground emitted a muffled grunt. The crowd was shocked as Chen Yuan¡¯s stomp had actually shattered a bluestone slab! Chen Yuan¡¯s strength was truly formidable! This was a thought shared by all the experienced government officials present. ¡°Your grace, we have seen you!¡± The crowd spoke in unison. ¡°The No-Life Sect villains are rampant, showing no regard for imperial authority. The County Magistrate Li and County Magistrate Wu have both issued stern orders to find these villains¡¯ tracks.¡± ¡°Those with merits will not be stinted rewards by the County Government¡­¡± Chen Yuan then said a lot of formal words, unavoidable in his position. Especially concerning his attitude, he needed to foreground Li Mingqi. Soon, at Chen Yuan¡¯s command, the government officials were either patrolling, stationed at the Arrest Room, or otherwise occupied¡ªthey certainly would not be idle. As for Chen Yuan, naturally, he no longer needed to patrol daily. Today, he still had two matters to attend to¡ªone was to visit the Sanhe Boxing Club in City East, and the other¡­ was to deal with the remnants of the Beihai Gang left from the destruction of the Huang Family! ¡­ ¡°Brother Yuan, where are we going?¡± Wang Ping followed behind Chen Yuan, somewhat puzzled. This was not the way to the Yanyu Building. ¡°Sanhe Boxing Club,¡± Chen Yuan said. ¡°Sanhe Boxing Club?¡± Wang Ping was stunned. Chen Yuan didn¡¯t explain much, merely mentioning that there were things to be done. Wang Ping was perplexed, but since Chen Yuan did not elaborate, he didn¡¯t dare to ask. Although Chen Yuan had said their relationship would remain the same as before, Wang Ping knew that was impossible. With different statuses now, Chen Yuan was just looking out for him. Displaying a strong presence today, Wang Ping felt somewhat unfamiliar with it, to be honest. On the road, the commoners stepped aside to clear a path, keeping their distance from these people clad in official robes with a sense of fear. Since ancient times, commoners don¡¯t contend with officials. Inside the restaurant on the second floor, a woman dressed in a blue long dress watched Chen Yuan and his companion leave, and let out a cold huff, her gaze filled with disdain: ¡°A bunch of court hounds, only good for bullying the lowly commoners.¡± ¡°Ruoqing, don¡¯t start trouble. I know you have grievances against the court officials because of what happened before, but in Jianghu, the most important thing is to be cautious and prudent with your words and actions,¡± a man in blue behind her spoke, his expression slightly displeased. ¡°Big brother, why are you also siding with these court lackeys?¡± the woman pouted. ¡°It¡¯s not about siding with them, but about not wanting to cause trouble. Have you forgotten our purpose this time?¡± the man in blue sighed. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just about recruiting some bandits and horse thieves? What¡¯s so difficult about that?¡± she replied indifferently. ¡°Bandits and horse thieves? Hmph, they are not that simple. Forget it, it¡¯s no use explaining to you. Let¡¯s leave, those people have probably received the invitation by now.¡± The man in blue left a piece of Broken Silver on the table and then stood up. ¡°But big brother, I haven¡¯t had a chance to explore Ping¡¯an County yet? Let¡¯s stay a few more days¡­¡± the woman in the long dress coaxed as she approached the man in blue. ¡°Let¡¯s take care of business first, and after that¡­¡± Before the man in blue could finish, the woman in the long dress suddenly leaped down from the second floor and smiled at the man: ¡°Then you go by yourself, big brother. I¡¯ll explore for a few days. Come find me after you¡¯ve handled things.¡± Watching his sister being wilful at this time, the man in blue hastily scolded: ¡°Don¡¯t delay the important matters. Have you forgotten father¡¯s order? Don¡¯t blame me for telling father when we get back, and getting you grounded for another year!¡± With these words, the woman in the long dress immediately huffed impatiently, but dared not to be wilful anymore. The thought of being grounded was too bitter for her to bear. ¡­ Chen Yuan, of course, was unaware of the events unfolding behind him, and by now, he had finally arrived at his intended destination, the Sanhe Boxing Club. This boxing club didn¡¯t have much fame within Ping¡¯an County, and the Sanhe Fist taught here wasn¡¯t as powerful as those of other martial arts halls. Thus, fewer people practiced here, but its only advantage was that it was relatively cheaper, making it the first choice for civilians who were short on money. But few people knew that the master of this club was once a practitioner of the Gang Condensation Realm. ¡°Let¡¯s go in and take a look.¡± Chen Yuan looked up at the plain signboard and spoke to Wang Ping. Since there was no one guarding the entrance, no one stopped them, and Chen Yuan and Wang Ping easily entered. As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, they heard a chorus of shouts. About a dozen men dressed in loose white long shirts were arching in horse stances, uniformly thrusting out their fists. A man who looked to be in his thirties was holding a whip, surveying with his arms behind his back, and whoever was not in the correct stance received a lash in front of them. Seeing Chen Yuan and Wang Ping entering, the disciples of the martial arts club gathered around, but seeing their clothes of the government officials, they dared not rashly scold or start a fight to avoid any trouble. ¡ª¡ª- Thank you to Dian Chenbai for the generous donation of ten thousand point coins! Thank you to Shi Ting Wu for the kind donation of one hundred point coins! Thank you to Marshal of the Heavenly Canopy for donating five hundred point coins! Thank you for your support! Also, to other generous donors who wish to contribute, please donate this week if possible, as the new book list expires next week! Thank you all Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: 51 conditions! Chapter 51: 51 conditions! The middle-aged man leading the group furrowed his brow slightly and stepped forward with a clasped-hand salute: ¡°May I inquire what brings the two lord officials here?¡± Though Chen Yuan¡¯s attire was somewhat different from that of a regular government official, he really was somewhat too young. Guo Xu was not clear about his rank and thus dared not address him rashly. ¡°I have come to pay a visit to the venerable Zhao Nanshan,¡± Chen Yuan raised his hand to indicate politeness, as he had come to seek favors and naturally could not afford to carry himself too arrogantly. ¡°I am the arrest officer¡­¡± Guo Xu squinted, sizing up Chen Yuan with a sense of unfamiliarity. In the county government, he might not know every old official, but he had seen most of them, yet he had never seen this person before. Wang Ping stepped forward at the right moment and said: ¡°This is Chen Yuan, the new arrest officer of our Ping¡¯an County Government!¡± ¡°Chen¡­ Arrest Officer!¡± Guo Xu was startled, carefully examining the patterns on Chen Yuan¡¯s official robe, a bit stupefied. He had never imagined that the person to replace Huang Xing would be such a young constable. Soon Guo Xu recovered and, addressing the disciples who had gathered around, he called out loudly: Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï ¡°Continue your practice.¡± ¡°Chen¡­ Lord Chen, my master is in the backyard. Please follow me.¡± Knowing Chen Yuan¡¯s true identity, Guo Xu behaved extremely politely, even somewhat restrained, and quickly gestured with his hand to lead Chen Yuan to the back yard. Though he was unaware of the arrest officer¡¯s purpose, he definitely could not obstruct him. For an arrest officer from the county government, even within the whole of Ping¡¯an County, that was no small figure. Under his command were scores of government officials and white servants, and with a mere stomp of his foot, Ping¡¯an County would tremble. Guo Xu had previously seen the authority wielded by the former arrest officer Huang Xing and knew well that it was not something he, a mere Guo Xu, could challenge. The true strength of Zhao Nanshan was obviously not known to these disciples. ¡°May I ask what matter brings Lord Chen to seek my master?¡± Guo Xu asked tentatively. Chen Yuan smiled: ¡°To practice martial arts.¡± ¡°To practice martial arts?¡± Guo Xu was astounded, never having expected Chen Yuan¡¯s answer to be this. But how could that be? To become an arrest officer of the county government means one¡¯s strength must be absolutely formidable. As for Sanhe Fist, in the ranking of several martial arts halls within Ping¡¯an County, it was not particularly outstanding and even ranked rather low. The current situation was getting worse, causing Guo Xu to feel extremely anxious. However, Master Zhao Nanshan seemed not to be worried at all, as if he had lost all confidence. When Chen Yuan, accompanied by Wang Ping, entered the backyard, he instantly noticed an elder in green clothing lying on a chair, seemingly in a deep sleep, with a folding fan covering his face. Chen Yuan fell silent for a moment on the spot, then slowly stepped forward with a clasped-hand salute: ¡°Chen Yuan pays respects to senior Zhao.¡± The fan slid off his face, revealing Zhao Nanshan¡¯s visage. With wrinkled skin and gray hair, a pair of sharp eyes opened and sized up Chen Yuan from head to toe, then he sat up and extended his hand: ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, please take a seat.¡± Chen Yuan did not stand on ceremony and took a seat opposite Zhao Nanshan. Although according to Li Mingqi, Zhao Nanshan was now practically incapacitated and no longer had the strength of the Gang Condensation Realm, he was still not to be underestimated, so Chen Yuan did not dare to disrespect him. Wang Ping stood silently behind Chen Yuan, while Guo Xu picked up the fan to fan air towards Zhao Nanshan. ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, newly appointed, instead of pursuing the whereabouts of the No-Life Sect¡¯s felons, you come to my Sanhe Boxing Club. I wonder what brings you here?¡± Zhao Nanshan¡¯s voice was not loud, unlike that of someone who practiced martial arts; rather, it more truly resembled that of a frail old man in his sixties or seventies. Chen Yuan didn¡¯t beat around the bush but went straight to the point: ¡°I have come for martial arts practice!¡± Zhao Nanshan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, his face unchanged, merely asking: ¡°My Sanhe Fist is not the highlight of Ping¡¯an County, unlike the martial arts taught by the other schools. Are you sure you want to learn?¡± Chen Yuan shook his head lightly: ¡°Not to learn the fist, but the saber!¡± Upon these words, Guo Xu froze in his spot. There¡¯s a saber technique in Sanhe Martial Arts Hall? Why does he, as the chief senior disciple, not know about it? Zhao Nanshan narrowed his eyes, showing an expression that seemed to say ¡°I knew it,¡± and after a moment of silence, he said to Guo Xu: ¡°You go out first.¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± Despite being filled with countless confusions, Guo Xu didn¡¯t dare to contradict Zhao Nanshan and bowed before leaving the back yard. ¡°Wang Ping, you go out too.¡± Chen Yuan said in a low voice. Wang Ping nodded and left the backyard without a word. Although he didn¡¯t quite get along with Chen Yuan at times, Wang Ping clearly knew when to be serious; otherwise, if he were just a brainless twit, Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t keep him around. The reason why Chen Yuan somewhat valued Wang Ping was not only because of their decent past relations but also because Wang Ping was skilled at reading the room and understanding priorities. ¡°Was it Li Mingqi who told you this?¡± Zhao Nanshan¡¯s tone was slightly cold. It was because he had once interacted with Li Mingqi. Moreover, when Li Mingqi first took office as the County Magistrate of Ping¡¯an County and accidentally stumbled upon his whereabouts, he even paid him a visit. But upon learning that he had become semi-crippled, Li began to grow distant. Such a person, very practical, was also very repulsive. ¡°Indeed, Lord Li praised Zhao Predecessor for his outstanding saber technique, fierce and decisive in killing; as Chen has practiced the saber, but the few saber techniques in the county government are not presentable, he suggested Chen try and see if he could learn from Zhao Predecessor¡¯s true teachings.¡± A trace of sincerity showed on Chen Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°This is the Zhao family¡¯s ancestral saber technique, how can it be imparted to outsiders?¡± Zhao Nanshan¡¯s eyes flickered as he picked up his fan and began to wield it. Chen Yuan gave Zhao Nanshan a long look, stood up, and suddenly smiled: ¡°Since Zhao Predecessor is unwilling to pass it on, then¡­ I shall take my leave.¡± Having said that, Chen Yuan turned around and strode off. Zhao Nanshan: ¡°???¡± Why was this man not following the script? Shouldn¡¯t he be begging earnestly and then give himself a chance to set conditions? Why did he just turn around and leave? Was he not interested in the Zhao family¡¯s saber technique? Zhao Nanshan was full of puzzlement. Just as Chen Yuan was about to step out of the backyard, Zhao Nanshan suddenly spoke up: ¡°Constable Chen, wait!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s uplifted foot gently touched down, the corner of his mouth curling slightly, though the smile quickly vanished. He had seen Zhao Nanshan¡¯s desire when he refused, but Chen Yuan wanted to maintain control. Moreover, Chen Yuan wasn¡¯t desperate for this particular technique. It wasn¡¯t some top-tier saber technique, not worth pleading for; he¡¯d manage just fine starting with the Basic Blade Technique. With the Qi Fortune Altar at his disposal, Chen Yuan believed that one day he would acquire other top-tier techniques. ¡°Elder Zhao, is there anything else?¡± ¡°I can teach you the technique, but you must do three favors for me,¡± Zhao Nanshan said, word by word. ¡°Elder Zhao must be joking. If there¡¯s nothing else, I will take my leave,¡± Chen Yuan said with a bow, turning around to leave. Are you kidding me? Three conditions, does he think I¡¯m Aladdin¡¯s Magic Lamp? He can do without the technique! Watching Chen Yuan turn around decisively, Zhao Nanshan was momentarily stunned, then hastily said: ¡°Constable Chen, hang on, let¡¯s¡­ talk it over.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª In this night full of turmoil and good tidings, I still insist on updating. February fifteen, zero zero hours Beijing time, a pure-hearted check-in! In light of my pitiful circumstance, wouldn¡¯t you consider giving some Monthly Tickets, recommendation tickets, or rewards? If you have a book list, please add it¡­ Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Zhao Family Six Harmonies Saber! Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Zhao Family Six Harmonies Saber! In the courtyard. Chen Yuan and Zhao Nanshan sat opposite each other, the atmosphere somewhat solemn. Chen Yuan remained silent, waiting for Zhao Nanshan to speak: ¡°The saber technique passed down by our Zhao family is known as the Six Harmonies Saber. It¡¯s a fierce technique that once made quite a name for itself, but unfortunately, I have been incapable of further developing the reputation of the Zhao family¡¯s Six Harmonies Saber¡­¡± Chen Yuan, listening to Zhao Nanshan¡¯s sighs, remained silent, quietly listening to the conditions he was about to propose. If they were too difficult, Chen Yuan would turn around and leave, without a second thought. ¡°You may learn our Zhao family¡¯s Six Harmonies Saber, but¡­ you must agree to two conditions from me. First, you need to be the backbone for Sanhe Boxing Club. In a few days, some other martial arts halls are looking to expel Sanhe Boxing Club, and you must stand up for the club.¡± Zhao Nanshan held up two fingers. ¡°Fine, what¡¯s the second condition?¡± If it was just about dealing with a few other martial arts halls, that wouldn¡¯t be much of an issue for Chen Yuan. ¡°Second¡­¡± Zhao Nanshan took a deep breath before continuing, ¡°I originally thought of asking you to exchange it for the Spirit Medicine Qing Jade Disconnecting Integrating Paste, but you certainly wouldn¡¯t agree, so instead, help me kill someone.¡± ¡°Kill who?¡± This Qing Jade Disconnecting Integrating Paste that he had never even heard of was naturally out of the question for him to exchange, but killing someone¡ªif the person was not too powerful¡ªmight be tried. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Nanling Prefecture, Sect Leader of Dragon Tiger Sect, Xu Lingtian!¡± Hate flashed through Zhao Nanshan¡¯s eyes. ¡°What¡¯s his strength?¡± In Chen Yuan¡¯s heart, it seemed clear. Perhaps it was this Xu Lingtian who had crippled Zhao Nanshan, which explained his deep hatred. ¡°If nothing unexpected has occurred, he should now be at the peak of Gang Condensation Realm.¡± ¡°I will take my leave then!¡± Chen Yuan bowed and was about to leave. What a joke, with his own inferior constitution, a single finger from that man could kill him. For a saber technique whose power he was unaware of, it wasn¡¯t worth it. ¡°The youths of today are too hasty, I never said you had to kill him now¡­¡± Zhao Nanshan glanced at Chen Yuan. ¡°Then what do you mean?¡± ¡°Wait until you are capable in the future before you act. As for the saber technique, I can teach it to you in advance,¡± Zhao Nanshan spoke softly. ¡°There aren¡¯t any constraints, right?¡± Chen Yuan suspiciously eyed the elder before him. ¡°If I constrained you, would you definitely not break your promise?¡± Zhao Nanshan stared at Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan shook his head and said: ¡°I am always true to my word.¡± ¡°Very well, old man will trust you this once, wait here¡­¡± Zhao Nanshan stood up and walked towards a room. Before long, he returned with a thin booklet in his hand and laid it before Chen Yuan. ¡°This is our Zhao family¡¯s Six Harmonies Saber, I hope you can make a name for yourself with this technique in Jianghu someday.¡± Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, picked up the yellowed booklet, and carefully flipped through it. It was filled with annotations, evidently written in recent years. With this thing, it could save Chen Yuan quite a bit of trouble. Afterwards, Chen Yuan assumed a stance in the backyard. Under Zhao Nanshan¡¯s guidance, he looked quite adept, even causing Zhao Nanshan to exclaim that Chen Yuan was exceptionally gifted in saber skills. Additionally, his fundamentals were solid; each stroke of the saber was fierce and forceful. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to advance so quickly. After a long while, Chen Yuan sheathed his saber, letting out a breath. ¡°You are quite talented; it¡¯s just a pity that you are older, those prestigious sects won¡¯t accept you¡­¡± Zhao Nanshan seemed somewhat regretful. ¡°The strongest force under the heavens is the Imperial Court!¡± Chen Yuan said softly. Zhao Nanshan shook his head: ¡°The court is indeed powerful, but how many people does it have? To get support, one must climb to an extremely high level to wield real power.¡± Chen Yuan chuckled lightly and stopped discussing the topic, only saying: ¡°In three days, when those from the Martial Arts Hall come knocking, I will be there.¡± ¡°I naturally trust the words of Officer Chen,¡± said the old man. Chen Yuan nodded and turned to leave. As he was stepping out of the door, he suddenly turned and asked: ¡°Elder Zhao, how many people have you transmitted this Six Harmonies Saber technique to?¡± Having obtained this saber technique so easily, Chen Yuan couldn¡¯t help but suspect that he might just be one of several selected, and not the only person to have learned this technique. Zhao Nanshan¡¯s expression remained unchanged: ¡°Do you think my Zhao family¡¯s Six Harmonies Saber is as common as cabbage on the streets?¡± Chen Yuan said nothing more, merely smiled, and turned to leave. Once Chen Yuan¡¯s figure had completely disappeared, Zhao Nanshan¡¯s smile vanished. He strode firmly to the bed, lifted a wooden plank, and revealed underneath it five yellowed booklets identical to the Sword Manual Chen Yuan had taken. ¡°The fourth one, with so many people, there¡¯s bound to be someone who can take revenge for me,¡± Zhao Nanshan said with a shake of his head and a smile. He actually harbored a bit of hope for this Chen Yuan, for no other reason than his solid foundation, strong physique, and decent talent, making him likely to reach the Gang Condensation Realm or even higher realms. Actually, when Chen Yuan had asked to learn the Six Harmonies Saber, Zhao Nanshan had thought of extorting him, but after some thought, he decided against it, strangely feeling a hint of killing aura from Chen Yuan. He even guessed that if he hadn¡¯t offered the sword manual, Chen Yuan might have taken it by force. ¡­ By the time he left the Sanhe Boxing Club, it was already around four in the afternoon, and Chen Yuan felt quite hungry since Zhao Nanshan had him practicing saber techniques without any break. This time had gone very smoothly, and the Six Harmonies Saber was indeed a level above the saber techniques at the County Government. And the condition promised to Zhao Nanshan¡ªto first handle the oppression from the other martial arts halls¡ªwas not a big deal for an officer. As for the second condition, there was no hurry to act until he had enough strength, since there were no constraints binding him. ¡°Brother Yuan.¡± Wang Ping, who had been waiting by the door, immediately greeted Chen Yuan as he emerged. ¡°Let¡¯s go eat.¡± Seeing Wang Ping¡¯s manner, it was clear he had been waiting there all along. Chen Yuan waved broadly, ready to eat. On the way, Wang Ping didn¡¯t ask anything about what had happened inside the Sanhe Boxing Club, displaying good tact. Chen Yuan planned to properly mentor him and let him choose any martial arts from the County Government. ¡°This market is really bustling.¡± Wang Ping looked at the bustling crowd, chuckled lightly, and his eyes sparkled whenever he spotted a young woman, closely observing her two strengths and one weakness. Chen Yuan glanced at him, noticing Wang Ping had already revealed quite a bit. ¡°With the market only four times a month, how could it not be lively¡­¡± Chen Yuan laughed. In the distance, Liu Ruoqing in a long dress moved through the crowd, causing the young man following behind to feel somewhat helpless, regretting bringing her along as she was proving to be quite a handful. ¡°Big brother, if you really can¡¯t keep up with me, you¡¯ll have to promise to let me enjoy a few days here in Ping¡¯an County. Otherwise, you might as well go back first¡­¡± Liu Ruoqing hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when she suddenly stepped on a stone, slipped, and with a cry of alarm, she plunged towards Chen Yuan, who was walking by. One¡ª Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Disgusting! Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Disgusting! Chen Yuan had a high sense of alertness, and with a step, he dodged the incoming azure silhouette. He had no interest in playing any accidental encounters. He really disliked trouble. ¡°Ow¡­¡± Liu Ruqing fell to the ground, her palm scraped of a layer of skin, as she glared at Chen Yuan: ¡°You¡­ why did you dodge? Didn¡¯t you know I would fall if you dodged?¡± Chen Yuan frowned, feeling some disgust: ¡°Even if you had died from the fall, what would that have to do with me?¡± With a cold snort, Chen Yuan stepped forward, intending to leave without paying any attention to the woman on the ground. A day that had been pleasant was abruptly ruined; this woman was truly detestable! Seeing the junior constable in front of her ignore her, Liu Ruqing, who had always done as she pleased since she was little, suddenly felt a surge of anger and shouted directly: ¡°You scoundrel, how dare you take advantage of me! Stand right there!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 Her voice attracted the attention of the surrounding people, all of whom began to watch the scene unfold. Chen Yuan stopped in his tracks and emotionlessly turned his gaze toward Liu Ruqing: ¡°What did you say?¡± But inwardly, he was cursing¡ªjust as he thought, trouble had found him again. This darn author really has no other tricks left¡­ Liu Ruqing huffed and stood up, tilting her head back as she said: ¡°The pebble just now was clearly thrown by you on purpose, trying to take advantage of me. Thankfully, my movement technique is extraordinary, which stopped you from succeeding.¡± She glanced at the official uniform on Chen Yuan¡¯s body, her eyes flashing with disdain. Wang Ping, who saw the woman in front of him smearing Chen Yuan¡¯s name, immediately went to draw his sword, but Chen Yuan stopped him with a hand. ¡°What, you want to fight?¡± Liu Ruqing snorted lightly. ¡°Two insignificant government officials dare to touch this young lady? I¡¯m not afraid to tell you, Huang Xing, the arrest officer of Ping¡¯an County, is an old acquaintance of our family. Kneel down now if you know what¡¯s good for you, or else, heh heh¡­¡± Liu Ruqing showed no fear towards Chen Yuan and Wang Ping¡¯s movements but instead continued to threaten. ¡°Ruoqing, what¡¯s going on?¡± The man in blue had also arrived by now, asking with concern. With a smirk on her lips, Liu Ruqing simply said these two men were scoundrels, but Liu Changzhi could guess what had happened. He thought to himself it was just nonsense. He stepped forward and said softly: ¡°Alright, you can leave.¡± ¡°Hey, big brother, we can¡¯t let them go. I¡¯ve wanted to punish a few of the court¡¯s lackeys for a while now, and it¡¯s just the opportunity to have some fun with them¡­¡± urged Liu Ruqing anxiously. ¡°You¡­¡± Liu Changzhi felt a headache coming on. This little sister was utterly spoiled. ¡°Just make an apology to my sister and leave quickly¡­¡± Liu Changzhi spoke, intending to turn around and persuade Liu Ruqing not to cause trouble here. But before he could finish, he heard a cold voice: ¡°Leave? Apologize? Have fun, heh¡­ Who do you think you are, daring to make trouble here, slandering an imperial officer under broad daylight? You should be punished with death!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze grew cold, flickering with a hint of killing intent. ¡°Imperial officer¡­¡± Liu Changzhi furrowed his brow, feeling surprised. After carefully looking Chen Yuan up and down, when he noticed the patterns on his uniform that differed from those of ordinary constables, his heart shook. The constable before him was actually a government official! ¡°May I ask which department this noble officer is from?¡± Liu Changzhi¡¯s tone became extremely polite. Seeing this, Liu Ruqing also realized that the man before her was not just any common constable, and with a pout, she huffed softly. Chen Yuan, without expression, stepped forward, and with a swing of his palm, Liu Changzhi¡¯s pupils constricted, and he moved sideways to dodge, but Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t possibly give him a chance to retreat, would he? His step was swift as a flash. ¡°Slap!¡± A solid slap landed on Liu Changzhi¡¯s face, sending him tumbling to the ground. Looking down on him from above: ¡°What does it matter to you which household she¡¯s from?¡± Immediately behind him, Wang Ping drew his sword and placed it against Liu Changzhi¡¯s neck, making him dare not move. Liu Ruqing stood petrified, disbelieving what she was witnessing. Her own second brother, an expert at the Blood Refining Level, had been knocked down without even dodging? This¡­ ¡°You¡­what right do you have to hit someone?¡± Liu Ruoxuan turned and glared at Chen Yuan. ¡°Hmm?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted to this particularly annoying woman. For some reason, Liu Ruqing felt a chill deep in her heart and the hairs on her body stood on end. ¡°Ruoqing, shut up!¡± Liu Changzhi scolded, then tried to squeeze out a smile: ¡°Esteemed Official, it was my sister who was ignorant and offended you just now. On behalf of my sister, I offer our apologies.¡± ¡°Heh, you¡¯re scared now? Do you think just offering an apology will let you get off so easily? If it were any other constable, you would surely have made things difficult for them today!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s face darkened, suppressing his anger. Indeed, if it were some other powerless government official, they would definitely be miserably troubled by this woman. ¡°This¡­Esteemed Official, I am Liu Changzhi from the Liu Family of Cao County. I am acquainted with Huang Xing, the arrest officer from your county government.¡± Liu Changzhi quickly introduced himself, attempting to use the Huang Family¡¯s name to temporarily tide over this crisis. As for settling the score for this slap later on, that would come in due time! ¡°Huang Xing, shall I send you to meet him?¡± Chen Yuan said with a cold smile curling at his lips, then continuing, ¡°The Liu Family of Cao County? Heh heh¡­¡± Did they really think they were all that great? Chen Yuan certainly knew of Cao County, located in the northwest direction from Ping¡¯an County, its strength comparable to that of Ping¡¯an County, not considered a significant county, and so what of the Liu Family? Even if they were powerful, their reach could not extend to Ping¡¯an County. If he were to be frightened by a mere name today, tomorrow the whole of Ping¡¯an County would hear of it! His troubles would multiply, and more people would challenge his authority. After all, his cultivation was only at the level of Blood Refining, nothing to boast about; likely, many were already eyeing his position. ¡°This¡­this¡­¡± Liu Changzhi¡¯s eyes darted around rapidly, searching for a way out. The man before him was unafraid of both Huang Xing and the reputation of the Liu Family, which spelled trouble. He might well be a high-ranking official¡¯s son on a training tour to Ping¡¯an County. Seeing that the Liu Family¡¯s name could not intimidate the man before her, Liu Ruqing said with some grievance, ¡°You are really hateful! It¡¯s just a small matter, and you have to blow it out of proportion. Obviously, it was you who didn¡¯t catch me earlier. Ignoring the facts, do you really have no fault in this?¡± Liu Changzhi knew it was bad news as soon as he heard Liu Ruqing¡¯s words. This was not Cao County, where everyone gave her way. Her words would likely make the man before them even angrier. Sure enough, before he could say anything, Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze sharpened, he moved in a flash, and in an instant, he was in front of Liu Ruqing. ¡°Slap.¡± Chen Yuan used some force, slapping the arrogant woman before him on the face, the powerful blow causing her to lose balance and fall to the ground. ¡°Ignoring the facts, then what shall I discuss with you? About your mother?¡± Chen Yuan looked down expressionlessly at the woman on the ground. This argument was utterly nonsensical, ignoring the facts¡­ it was truly disgusting! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thank you to Qingyang Star Lord for the gift of 1,500 point coins. Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54 No Woman in His Heart! Chapter 54: Chapter 54 No Woman in His Heart! Liu Ruoqing stood stunned in place, she hadn¡¯t expected that the fellow before her would actually dare to hit her! Ever since she was little, apart from her father¡¯s scolding, who didn¡¯t bend over backwards to dote on her? Yet today, she had been hit! Liu Changzhi slightly opened his mouth, seeing Liu Ruoqing slapped across the face, for some reason, besides worry, he even felt a tinge of dark pleasure. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Liu Ruoqing¡¯s eyes filled with rage, murderous intent surfaced, lifting up her right arm, as if triggering some mechanism, a pitch-black short dart shot out fiercely from her sleeve. Chen Yuan frowned, tilted his head to dodge, then, drawing his long knife, a streak of white light flashed, and a deep red line of blood appeared on the woman¡¯s arms on the ground. Her tendons, had been severed! Show mercy? To a woman who can¡¯t even walk? Nonexistent! With no women in his heart, his sword thrusts are indeed divine! ¡°Ah¡­ ah¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Liu Ruoqing on the ground, realizing belatedly, piercing pain sunk deep into her brain, contorting her face into a ghastly expression, tears flowing down from the corners of her eyes. ¡°My¡­ my lord, stop, no matter what, Ruoqing is but a mere woman, as a court official, such humiliation upon a woman, wouldn¡¯t it be laughable if the word spread?¡± Although Liu Changzhi also wanted to see Liu Ruoqing taught a lesson, having her arms directly crippled was indeed a bit too vicious, and he would be utterly unable to explain it to his father once he got home. Though his father was very strict with Ruoqing, he was also extremely affectionate. Not to mention his stepmother, whose eyes held only her daughter. If they were to see what was happening now, probably even he would be punished alongside her! ¡°Everyone must be responsible for their own actions. If I had no strength, no official status, do you think my outcome would be favorable?¡± Chen Yuan said coldly. This time, he was truly angry. If it had been an ordinary matter, he would have let it go, but not this time. Apart from this woman being extremely distasteful to him, there were also many onlookers. He needed to establish his reputation, even if he would be labeled as brutal afterward, he didn¡¯t want to attract trouble by being lenient. ¡°Ruoqing is the daughter my father loves the most, this¡­ my lord, must one be merciful where they can,¡± Liu Changzhi looked intently at Chen Yuan. ¡°Who is your father?¡± Chen Yuan asked. ¡°My father is Liu Shuanghe!¡± Liu Changzhi said loudly. ¡°Liu Shuanghe¡­ sorry, never heard of him.¡± Chen Yuan curled his lip, then ignored Liu Changzhi, stepped up to Liu Ruoqing, looking down at her from on high, whispering: ¡°This is not Cao County, this is Ping¡¯an County, you, have no privileges! Do you think the Liu Family is invincible, or are you confident in your beauty that everyone will yield to you?¡± ¡°You will take responsibility for your own words and actions!¡± Liu Ruoqing¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, looking somewhat pitiable, feeling the pain from her arms, a surge of hatred filled her heart, wishing to carve up the man before her, yet also feeling fear and regret. ¡°Spare¡­ spare me, it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s my fault, I¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have slandered you.¡± Liu Ruoqing, trembling, gazed at Chen Yuan¡¯s black boots, her voice very faint. ¡°What use is regret if laws are of any use? Moreover, you¡¯re not regretting, you¡¯re just scared of what I might do to you¡­¡± Chen Yuan murmured softly. But in Liu Ruoqing¡¯s ears, it sounded like the whispers of a demon. ¡°Second Brother¡­ save me!¡± Unable to withstand Chen Yuan¡¯s pressure, Liu Ruoqing looked towards Liu Changzhi with a grieving face. ¡°Had you known this would happen, why act so arrogantly before?¡± Liu Changzhi sighed inwardly. But from the words of the man before him, he knew that now was not the time to provoke him further, otherwise¡­ ¡°I can¡¯t stand to see a woman cry¡­¡± Chen Yuan gazed at the woman on the ground. Liu Ruoqing showed a glimmer of hope, thinking perhaps the man before her would spare her? But before she could continue to indulge in her wishes, she heard Chen Yuan¡¯s next sentence. ¡°Because when a woman cries, it makes me want to laugh.¡± Soon, the sound of footsteps approached from a distance. Several Government Officials, accompanied by a few White Servants, were scolding the surrounding commoners, urging them to clear a path to Chen Yuan. ¡°This subordinate has arrived late and begs for your forgiveness!¡± The leader was a middle-aged Government Official, speaking very respectfully. ¡°Take them down,¡± Chen Yuan ordered with a wave of his hand. The White Servants immediately stepped forward and tightly bound the two with hemp ropes. Chen Yuan looked at Liu Ruqing¡¯s frightened appearance and revealed a cold smile. A scoundrel needs another scoundrel to grind. The more pitiful she is now, the more arrogant she was before. If she were dealing with a weakling, Chen Yuan believed that the weakling¡¯s fate would be no better than her current state. ¡°Wang Ping.¡± Chen Yuan called out. ¡°Your Honor.¡± Wang Ping saluted with hands clasped in front of him, showing respect. In front of others, he still addressed Chen Yuan as ¡°Your Honor¡± instead of ¡°Brother Yuan.¡± ¡°She likes to have fun, doesn¡¯t she? Give her some in the prison cell!¡± Liu Ruqing¡¯s face was filled with panic as she looked at her second brother for help. Chen Yuan indifferently said while the corners of his mouth curled up at the sight of Liu Ruqing. This type of woman truly didn¡¯t know what fear was without being frightened. ¡°Your subordinate will obey the command!¡± Wang Ping said in a low voice. Liu Changzhi was shocked and quickly protested: ¡°Your Honor, do you wish to be at loggerheads with the Liu Family forever? Even if you are an arrest officer of a county, you cannot insult the Liu Family like this!¡± ¡°At loggerheads forever¡­ if I let you go now, could we really live in peace?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s indifferent gaze swept across Liu Changzhi. ¡°I¡­ if you are willing to let this matter go, today¡¯s incident will be dropped,¡± Liu Changzhi said hastily after a moment of silence. No matter what, it was important to stabilize the situation first. ¡°Do you believe that yourself?¡± Chen Yuan lifted his chin slightly. ¡°Of course, the blame lies with my younger sister Ruoqing. I am willing to apologize on behalf of the Liu Family and can definitely offer you something satisfactory. If you are still worried, let Ruoqing leave first, and I, Changzhi, am willing to serve as a hostage.¡± Liu Changzhi¡¯s gaze was firm, and he spoke sincerely. ¡°You are a clever man, but it¡¯s a shame to have such an arrogant sister. Bring them away!¡± Chen Yuan waved his hand, and several White Servants immediately went forward and seized Liu Changzhi. ¡°Take him to the Prison and guard him strictly!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The White Servants responded in unison and were about to take him away. ¡°Wait¡­¡± Chen Yuan suddenly raised his hand. ¡°Take them to the cells beneath the Arrest Room, don¡¯t send them to the main Prison¡­¡± Chen Yuan said softly. He suddenly remembered that the current head of the prison was not on the same side as Li Mingqi, and it would be troublesome if things got spoiled. The Arrest Room also had a simple cell for temporarily detaining prisoners; detaining them for a short period wouldn¡¯t be an issue. He had refrained from dealing a fatal blow now, partly out of consideration for the Liu Family mentioned by Liu Changzhi. He needed to meet with Li Mingqi and inquire first. Li Mingqi, who had been mixing in the Nanling Territory for decades, was very familiar with the power dynamics of the region. If things were unfeasible, Chen Yuan would need to prepare early. But one thing was certain, there would be no reconciliation. A family that could raise such an arrogant daughter must be a bully relying on their power, and he definitely did not want to capsize in a small gutter. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Thorough investigation on 55 chapters! Chapter 55: Thorough investigation on 55 chapters! County Government. Li Mingqi played indifferently with a green ring in his hand, while Chen Yuan sat opposite him, his expression solemn, and the atmosphere somewhat tense. After pushing the Liu siblings into the prison cell, Chen Yuan immediately went to meet Li Mingqi, recounted the events roughly, and had not even had time to eat. Liu Changzhi once said, having a good relationship with the Huang Family, a clan with a Bone Refining expert at its core, was not something to be overlooked. Of course, if it were just a Bone Refining power, Chen Yuan would not mind, but¡­ what if there were a Gang Condensation expert in charge? Chen Yuan did not want to gamble, so the best course was to report immediately to Li Mingqi. Chen Yuan was somewhat confident that Li Mingqi would support him because the matter with the Huang Family had already caused a significant loss to Li Mingqi, diminishing his reputation. If the new arrest officer, Chen Yuan, could not be kept in position, then he would truly have no influence in Ping¡¯an County. Of course, this all hinged on one condition, that the power of the Liu Family was something Li Mingqi could cope with. ¡°Liu Shuanghe¡­¡± Li Mingqi murmured. ¡°My lord, the power of this Liu Family?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered as he asked softly. ¡°If it had been two years earlier, the Liu Family wouldn¡¯t have meant much, comparable only to the Huang Family. But Liu Shuanghe has a talented son who joined the Qingyun Sword Sect. His talent is said to be exceptional, and it greatly enhanced the reputation of the Liu Family. Just a year ago, Liu Shuanghe advanced to the Gang Condensation Realm, and he invited experts from surrounding counties, gaining unmatched influence at that time.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Li Mingqi spoke gravely. Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting as he whispered: ¡°In that case, are we to¡­ release the Liu siblings?¡± Though he was reluctant, if the Liu Family¡¯s influence was indeed that great, then there was nothing that could be done. Of course, this was contingent upon Li Mingqi being able to protect him; otherwise, Chen Yuan would kill the Liu siblings first before leaving Ping¡¯an County on his own. No matter what, waiting for death was not his style! ¡°What, getting scared?¡± Li Mingqi snorted lightly. ¡°I thought you were utterly fearless and unruly.¡± ¡°This humble official dares not. This strong stance is a helpless move. This humble official is only in the Blood Refining Realm, not particularly distinguished in strength, and cannot afford to falter under public scrutiny, otherwise, some despicable figures will probably jump out.¡± ¡°By then, not only will this humble official be troubled, but you, my lord, will also lose face.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s words were tactfully put, suggesting that their fates were intertwined, that he was representing Li Mingqi¡¯s dignity. ¡°Smooth talker.¡± Li Mingqi, his expression neutral, huffed and said: ¡°You are indeed lucky. Liu Shuanghe¡¯s eldest son has been missing for over three months now, still unaccounted for. Otherwise, not even I could protect you, as the Qingyun Sword Sect is one of the top powers in Qingzhou¡­¡± ¡°Once a person dies, it¡¯s like a snuffed-out lamp; the Liu Family will no longer receive support from the Qingyun Sword Sect. Liu Shuanghe alone is no match for me.¡± After Li Mingqi finished speaking, Chen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. His fortune was indeed good; with the Liu Family¡¯s backing gone, and his desire to suppress him, Li Mingqi wouldn¡¯t consent. Moreover, Chen Yuan suddenly realized that the recent boost in the Liu Family¡¯s influence must have encroached on the interests of several powers. Now¡­ perhaps the Liu Family simply couldn¡¯t afford to deal with him. ¡°With my lord present, this humble official is indeed without worries!¡± Chen Yuan spoke with a tone of reverence. ¡°Enough, stop worrying about the Liu Family¡¯s matter. Your main priority now should be to incorporate the Beihai Gang¡¯s power and also track the whereabouts of the No-Life Sect rogues,¡± said Li Mingqi. ¡°Rest assured, my lord, by tomorrow, the Beihai Gang will be settled!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s tone was resolute. Li Mingqi had shielded him from the Liu Family¡¯s threat, and it was time for him to exemplify his value. A person of value is always treasured. Li Mingqi looked at Chen Yuan and said: ¡°Good.¡± ¡°This humble official takes his leave!¡± ¡­ ¡­ Arrest Room. ¡°Yuan Brother.¡± Upon seeing Chen Yuan come in, Wang Ping stepped forward and greeted him. ¡°Have the Liu siblings been detained properly?¡± ¡°Both are firmly bound by chains, and it is absolutely impossible for them to escape. Yuan Brother, rest assured.¡± Wang Ping chuckled. ¡°Did you find something to amuse her?¡± ¡°Would Yuan Brother like to take a look?¡± Wang Ping asked in return. ¡°No, there are other matters to attend to. Also, gradually cripple Liu Changzhi too,¡± Chen Yuan instructed. Although it was Liu Ruqing who had offended him, Liu Changzhi obviously had also been accustomed to being high and mighty. Since the grudge had already been formed, there was no need to be cautious anymore. ¡°Yuan Brother, rest assured¡­¡± There was a gleam in Wang Ping¡¯s eyes. In terms of improving cultivation, the government officials couldn¡¯t cope, but when it came to slowly crippling someone, they were quite skilled. ¡°Additionally, gather all the government officials in the county government, and let each man carry a sword!¡± Chen Yuan gave him a piercing look. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Wang Ping was baffled, completely unaware of what he was now gathering the government officials for. It was almost dusk, the sun setting in the west, and the sky was getting dark. Could there still be some tasks? ¡°We¡¯ve been busy all day and haven¡¯t had good food. I¡¯ll treat you to something nice¡­¡± Chen Yuan smiled. Although Wang Ping was full of questions, he didn¡¯t voice them. Instead, he immediately summoned all the personnel available in the county government: nineteen government officials and thirty White Servants, exactly fifty people including himself. This was the quickest force Chen Yuan could assemble. Other government officials and White Servants were either patrolling or stationed outside. Wang Ping was Chen Yuan¡¯s confidant. This was well-known throughout the Arrest Room, so no one dared to disobey, though they might have objections in their minds, yet no one wanted to be the first to oppose. After all, the case of Wu Yushan, who was still recuperating from his injuries, served as a warning. ¡°My lord, all the arrest officers from the Arrest Room are present,¡± Wang Ping gestured with a cupped fist salute. Chen Yuan looked them up and down and nodded: ¡°This magistrate has discovered traces of the No-Life Sect rogues within the Beihai Gang, and the County Magistrate has commanded a thorough investigation!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡­ ¡­ North City, at the entrance of the Beihai Gang headquarters. Gang Leader Zhu Sihai was sitting at the head, listening to his subordinates report today¡¯s conflict involving Chen Yuan and the Liu siblings. He frowned and his face seemed rather fierce, as he played with two iron balls in his hands, murmuring quietly: ¡°It seems this Chen, the arrest officer, is rather strict. He snatches and cripples the Liu Family as he says¡­¡± Next to him, a slender man with a noticeable scar at the corner of his eye touched his chin: ¡°This young man, it¡¯s really hard to ascertain his intent for now.¡± Zhu Sihai glanced at him: ¡°Who would have thought that an unknown could become the head of the Arrest Room and even gained favor from County Magistrate Li Mingqi.¡± ¡°Gang Leader, should we send him an invitation to test this guy first?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thanks to Liu Zun for the donation of five hundred point coins. Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Zhu Sihai Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Zhu Sihai Zhu Sihai narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°Well, let¡¯s send an invitation and ask this Officer Chen to our Beihai Gang. I, the Gang Leader myself, want to test his mettle to see if he really has what it takes, or if he¡¯s just all show and no go.¡± ¡°With the Gang Leader taking action, everything is settled!¡± Somebody at his side started to flatter him. ¡°Gang Leader, there¡¯s trouble!¡± Suddenly, a Beihai Gang member clad in black clothing rushed into the hall, knelt on one knee on the ground, and cupped his hands in salute. ¡°What has happened?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the panic!¡± Several Hall Masters from the Beihai Gang immediately rebuked. The kneeling gang member opened his mouth slightly and said hurriedly, ¡°To report to the Hall Masters, outside¡­ there are government officials everywhere.¡± ¡°What?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Government officials?¡± Several Hall Masters stood up hastily. Zhu Sihai, who was fiddling with an iron ball in his hand, squeezed it slightly, revealing a hint of panic in his heart, but he maintained a calm demeanor as he rebuked the Hall Masters, ¡°Government officials? What¡¯s there to panic about? The sky isn¡¯t falling!¡± The Hall Masters pursed their lips, not daring to argue, but their gaze still rested on the gang member on the ground. Zhu Sihai frowned and asked in a low voice, ¡°How many people have come from the government?¡± ¡°At a rough count, at least fifty or sixty men, all armed with knives, and some even holding hand crossbows, heading towards the hall. By now, they¡¯re probably already here.¡± ¡°Fifty or sixty men, all armed with knives, and even hand crossbows¡­¡± Zhu Sihai felt uneasy and said quickly, ¡°Who is leading them?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t recognize him. He seems very young, and some of the older government officials¡­ they¡¯re all following behind him¡­¡± Zhu Sihai immediately stood up; he guessed the identity of the visitor. The newly appointed arrest officer of the County Government, Chen Yuan! He hadn¡¯t waited for him to send the invitation; Chen Yuan had taken the initiative to show up, and with hostile intent! Taking a deep breath, Zhu Sihai with hands behind his back said, ¡°Gather the disciples of the gang. We¡¯ll meet this Officer Chen!¡± ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Brother Yuan, should we make a move?¡± Wang Ping moved closer and asked in a lowered voice. Everyone was arranged in a fan shape surrounding the entrance of the Beihai Gang. The atmosphere was tense and electric. The gate guards of the Beihai Gang were trembling in their legs. Chen Yuan raised his hand: ¡°No need to take action yet, wait for Zhu Sihai to come out!¡± Wang Ping nodded, then silently stood behind Chen Yuan. Before long, a hearty laugh emerged from inside the Beihai Gang: ¡°What kind of wind has blown Officer Chen our way? It is truly an auspicious occasion for our Beihai Gang¡­¡± Then, the sound of footsteps followed as more than thirty Beihai Gang members poured out of the door, each holding weapons, watching Chen Yuan¡¯s group of government officials with vigilance. Upon seeing this, without anyone¡¯s command, eight White Servants armed with hand crossbows stepped forward in a line, aiming at the Beihai Gang members. Chen Yuan¡¯s expression was indifferent as he gazed at a slightly overweight middle-aged man emerging from inside. He was dressed in a long robe made of expensive silk, his face was cruel, but he bore a smile. It was the Gang Leader of Beihai, Zhu Sihai! Bone Refining Level of cultivation. However, Chen Yuan had also heard that due to the relaxation of martial arts, his strength had greatly declined. He just didn¡¯t know if it was true. As Chen Yuan sized up Zhu Sihai, Zhu Sihai was also meticulously examining the young man in front of him. If he were in different clothes, Zhu Sihai would definitely think Chen Yuan was a wealthy young master. ¡°Officer Chen.¡± Zhu Sihai clasped his hands together, his speech very polite. ¡°Gang Leader Zhu¡­¡± ¡°This is quite a show of force. Has my Beihai Gang violated any laws?¡± Zhu Sihai asked, raising an eyebrow at the government officials behind Chen Yuan. ¡°It seems Gang Leader Zhu has already learned something. Indeed, I have received reliable information that there are hidden members of the No-Life Sect within the Beihai Gang. The County Magistrate has ordered me to thoroughly investigate the Beihai Gang!¡± Chen Yuan said, looking directly at Zhu Sihai. ¡°Could it be Officer Chen is joking? How could my Beihai Gang, clean and innocent, collude with the thieves of the No-Life Sect?¡± Zhu Sihai¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°The Huang Family also said they did not collude, yet weren¡¯t they eradicated all the same? Do I need to elaborate on the relationship between Beihai Gang and the Huang Family?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Zhu Sihai found himself at a loss for words, wanting to curse out loud that the Huang Family was slandered, but he did not dare to say it. It wasn¡¯t just his own opinion, most in Ping¡¯an County felt that the Huang Family had been falsely accused, with the No-Life Sect being nothing but a pretext since the government had not captured any real culprits. Zhu Sihai felt that Chen Yuan wanted to re-enact the Huang Family¡¯s tragedy on the Beihai Gang. ¡°Officer Chen can conduct his search, but he will need to present evidence!¡± Zhu Sihai stated in a muffled voice. Chen Yuan chuckled lightly and proclaimed loudly: ¡°I, Chen Yuan, do not need evidence to conduct a search!¡± Zhu Sihai took a deep breath, his gaze shifting around. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said: ¡°Officer Chen, may I have a word with you in private?¡± Seeing that his goal had been reached, Chen Yuan nodded and replied: ¡°Sure.¡± ¡­ ¡­ In the main hall of the Beihai Gang. Chen Yuan, Zhu Sihai, Wang Ping, and a hall master of the Beihai Gang with a scar on his face were seated around a table, on which fourteen exquisite dishes were placed. ¡°Officer Chen, this is some fine wine, please.¡± Zhu Sihai was exceedingly polite. ¡°Gang Leader Zhu should drink first,¡± Chen Yuan glanced at the wine and chuckled lightly. Zhu Sihai, very perceptive, smiled and without further persuasion, lifted his cup and drained it in one gulp. Watching Zhu Sihai¡¯s mannerisms, Chen Yuan smiled. He had not come with the intention of annihilating the Beihai Gang. While it was possible to do so at a certain cost, if the Beihai Gang were eradicated, who would provide the monthly 200 taels of silver stipend that Li Mingqi received? Chen Yuan himself couldn¡¯t afford it, as he had made a military pledge with Li Mingqi that Beihai Gang would be dealt with by the next day. Thus, from the beginning, Chen Yuan¡¯s goal was to wear down Zhu Sihai¡¯s sharpness, to better negotiate terms and settle accounts with Wang Meng from before. Of course, if Zhu Sihai really failed to recognize the situation, Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t hesitate to finish him off. He could simply trouble Tie Qinghua or someone else to fully take over the Beihai Gang¡¯s territory. But if so, the northern part of Ping¡¯an County wouldn¡¯t settle down quickly, and County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng would likely interfere, leading to potential problems, and Li Mingqi¡¯s evaluation of him would considerably worsen. Wang Ping was already starving, and upon Chen Yuan¡¯s signal, he eagerly tucked into the dishes, admiring Brother Yuan immensely in his heart for ensuring they got to enjoy such a good meal as promised. Unlike Wang Ping, who was wolfing down his food, Chen Yuan¡¯s interest seemed lacking. He wasn¡¯t going to risk big for small. If there was something in the food, it would be a loss. Of course, that was unlikely. Zhu Sihai wouldn¡¯t be so foolish. Zhu Sihai, noticing Chen Yuan¡¯s lack of interest, lightly clapped his hands and said: ¡°Officer Chen, try the next two dishes, they¡¯ll surely whet your appetite.¡± No sooner had he spoken than an old man wearing a white hat came through the door, carrying a small basin and laughing: ¡°Haha, the chicken soup is here¡­¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª Thanks to book friend Red Dust Yi Ze for the reward of 1500 point coins. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Black and White! Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Black and White! Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, focusing on the chicken soup, a fragrance quickly filling the entire room. ¡°This person is¡­¡± Chen Yuan turned to the elder. Zhu Sihai smiled and said: ¡°This is a top chef from the finest restaurant in Prefecture City, whose chicken soup is incomparably tender and fresh. Even the Magistrate has praised Shanbo¡¯s skills. Aside from women, my greatest pleasure is this chicken soup. I had planned to invite Officer Chen to a feast in a few days, but today turned out to be a lucky coincidence¡­¡± ¡°Oh? This elder has such culinary skills that even the Magistrate couldn¡¯t stop praising them. Did he discover them himself, or are they a family tradition?¡± Chen Yuan asked in surprise, looking at the ordinary-looking old man. ¡°This lord jests. It¡¯s not as extraordinary as the rumors suggest, but the taste is still quite good. The ingredients are nothing out of the ordinary; all the flavor lies in the chicken itself.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Chen Yuan asked calmly. ¡°These hens have been raised for exactly two and a half years, neither a month more nor a month less. Only then can they be considered the finest among chickens, at their freshest¡­¡± The old uncle elaborated. Chen Yuan chuckled inwardly. When the old man mentioned the two and a half years, he had thought what followed would involve singing and dancing. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 ¡°Shanbo, bring the next dish,¡± Zhu Sihai waved his hand and then gestured for Chen Yuan to try some chicken soup. Although Chen Yuan ladled some soup, he didn¡¯t drink it, knowing Chen Yuan¡¯s extreme caution. Zhu Sihai stepped forward, ladled a bowl for himself, and brought a spoonful to his mouth. ¡°Officer Chen, although chicken soup is common, you can¡¯t find such freshness outside.¡± Chen Yuan smiled and tasted a small sip. The flavor was really good. Although it lacked the variety of seasonings from his former life, it had a unique taste. No wonder Zhu Sihai favored it so much. ¡°The flavor is indeed good, Gang Leader Zhu is quite fortunate.¡± ¡°Haha, the best is yet to come¡­¡± Zhu Sihai laughed a few times. The previously departed Shanbo came back in, carrying a white porcelain plate. The plate held about a dozen dark objects, resembling black cucumbers, covered with rice-like spikes. Shanbo set the plate in front of Chen Yuan and then walked out. Zhu Sihai pointed to the items on the plate: ¡°Officer Chen, do you know what these are?¡± Chen Yuan glanced at it, already understanding, but pretended ignorance: ¡°Gang Leader Zhu, stop playing coy.¡± ¡°Haha, forgive me, Officer Chen. This item is extraordinary. I went through a lot of trouble to get some from Prefecture City. Originally, I was planning to present it to the Huang¡­¡± Zhu Sihai suddenly hesitated but quickly pretended as if nothing had happened and continued: ¡°This item reportedly comes from the East Sea, a treasured nourishing item known as the sea cucumber, regarded as the ginseng of the sea.¡± ¡°Sea products are indeed rare.¡± Chen Yuan knew. Qingzhou was far from the East Sea, and news from there was rarely heard. Zhu Sihai must have some connections to have acquired such an item. ¡°Officer Chen, please taste and see if it suits your palate.¡± Chen Yuan waved his hand and took another sip of chicken soup: ¡°Chen is not fond¡­ Chen doesn¡¯t like sea products.¡± Zhu Sihai sighed: ¡°Well, then I will have to taste it myself.¡± After a few tentative sips, Chen Yuan set down his chopsticks and spoke solemnly: ¡°Gang Leader Zhu.¡± Zhu Sihai revealed a bitter smile: ¡°Officer Chen, I swear, the Beihai Gang has absolutely no ties with the demons of the No-Life Sect.¡± He did not say anything like ¡®you may search as you wish,¡¯ because that would mean no compromise, and Chen Yuan could easily find so-called ¡®evidence.¡¯ Chen Yuan raised a finger and gently waved it: ¡°That¡¯s not important.¡± Zhu Sihai fixed Chen Yuan with a tight gaze. ¡°The arrest officer says if Beihai Gang is involved, it¡¯s involved; if the arrest officer claims it¡¯s not, then it¡¯s not. With the official seal endorsing both inferences, does Gang Leader Zhu, after dealing with Officer Huang for so long, still not understand?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression changed to a calm one as he cast a sidelong glance at him. ¡°Would you step out first?¡± After a moment of silence, Zhu Sihai instructed the Hall Master beside him and then shifted his gaze towards Wang Ping by Chen Yuan¡¯s side, the implication was clear. ¡°You should also go out and walk it off¡­¡± Chen Yuan murmured softly. Wang Ping nodded and paused briefly to look at Zhu Sihai before he turned and left with the man from Beihai Gang. In an instant, only Chen Yuan and Zhu Sihai remained in the room, the atmosphere growing somewhat tense. Eventually, Zhu Sihai broke the silence: ¡°Officer Chen, just state any conditions you have directly. As long as it¡¯s feasible, old Zhu will not shirk it.¡± Chen Yuan: ¡°It¡¯s not that I have any conditions, but that the higher-ups have their demands. It was not easy for me to reach my position; how could I possibly stir up trouble unnecessarily?¡± ¡°Gang Leader Zhu, it¡¯s beyond my control.¡± Zhu Sihai did not speak, nor did he believe Chen Yuan¡¯s nonsense for a moment¡ªconsidering his authoritative stance earlier, was it really just luck that he had attained his position? ¡°Four hundred Silver Taels every month. Just meet this amount and Beihai Gang can henceforth rest easy,¡± Chen Yuan stretched out four fingers. Zhu Sihai¡¯s expression changed: ¡°Impossible, even if you wiped out Beihai Gang, you still wouldn¡¯t be able to produce that amount. That¡¯s just too much to ask¡­¡± Even the Huang Family only took just under two hundred Silver Taels a month. To start with four hundred Silver Taels, they really regarded money as nothing! He felt a surge of anger, and if it weren¡¯t for Chen Yuan¡¯s status, he would have turned hostile already, perhaps even finding a new backer! ¡°Gang Leader Zhu, do not rush; the money is not for me but from someone else whom I am merely conveying for.¡± Zhu Sihai took a deep breath: ¡°Please inform Magistrate Li that four hundred Silver Taels is absolutely impossible; Beihai Gang can¡¯t produce that amount.¡± ¡°Beihai Gang is the number one faction in North City, how could it not produce a mere four hundred Taels?¡± ¡°As Officer Chen also said, while Beihai Gang is the first faction, it isn¡¯t the only one. There are nearly a hundred disciples in the gang, and the Silver Tael spent each month isn¡¯t small.¡± Chen Yuan leaned in closer, lowering his voice: ¡°What if Beihai Gang becomes the sole faction in North City?¡± Zhu Sihai¡¯s heart stirred, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light: ¡°What do you mean by that, Officer Chen?¡± ¡°Exactly what it sounds like. I will help Beihai Gang clear all rival forces to dominate North City alone. Would Gang Leader Zhu then be willing to contribute four hundred Silver Taels a month?¡± Zhu Sihai was silent for a long time, seemingly weighing something, his gaze fixed on Chen Yuan: ¡°Beihai Gang is already the top faction in North City; even if we eliminated the other powers, we could only muster up to three hundred Taels a month at most.¡± Chen Yuan stood up, raising his right palm: ¡°Alright, then three hundred Taels it is!¡± The two men clapped hands as a pledge, exchanging glances, then simultaneously revealing a smile. Chen Yuan patted Zhu Sihai¡¯s broad shoulder, whispering: ¡°From now on in Ping¡¯an City, in the light, I rule; in the shadows, you rule!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Many thanks to the generous Da Lao Mei Ying Bing Xin for the reward of ten thousand point coins! Thanks to Sword Immortal fellow reader for the reward of one hundred point coins. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58, three days Chapter 58: Chapter 58, three days Cao County. Liu Family. Liu Shuanghe, clad in a green robe, sat solemnly at the head seat, his brow furrowed tightly as he emotionlessly listened to the news of Liu Changzhi and Liu Ruqing¡¯s incident in Ping¡¯an County. This was a critical juncture for the Liu Family, and yet, such a troublesome affair had unexpectedly arisen, truly enough to make one¡¯s head spin. The elder standing respectfully before Liu Shuanghe also wore a very grave expression. ¡°What is the background of this Chen Yuan?¡± After a moment of silence, Liu Shuanghe asked coldly. ¡°According to the information we gathered, Chen Yuan doesn¡¯t have any notable background, and his strength is not particularly extraordinary. The reason he could become the arrest officer of Ping¡¯an County is entirely due to Li Mingqi¡¯s support.¡± ¡°Li Mingqi¡­¡± Liu Shuanghe¡¯s gaze turned shadowy and uncertain. Cao County and Ping¡¯an County were not far apart; having had dealings with this County Magistrate, he knew that Li Mingqi¡¯s roots were in the Prefecture City, and he was not a trivial character. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the Huang Family fell so quickly; otherwise, with the Huang Family around, Qing¡¯er and Changzhi wouldn¡¯t be in danger.¡± Liu Shuanghe sighed deeply. ¡°Master, the young master¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Before the elder could finish, a beautiful woman dressed in red gauze rushed in from outside, her face showing a hint of urgency as she asked: ¡°Master, what happened to Qing¡¯er?¡± Liu Shuanghe¡¯s brow furrowed: ¡°How do you know about it?¡± ¡°You still have the mind to care how I know. I¡¯m asking you, did something happen to Qing¡¯er in Ping¡¯an County?¡± The woman¡¯s brow creased as she raised her voice. ¡°Yes, Qing¡¯er and Changzhi have been taken into the County Government of Ping¡¯an County,¡± Liu Shuanghe said gravely. ¡°What? County Government?¡± The woman suddenly exclaimed urgently. ¡°Who, who dares to take Qing¡¯er!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Liu Shuanghe knitted his brows and rebuked sharply. ¡°Liu Shuanghe, you¡­ you¡¯re not going to save Qing¡¯er, and now you¡¯re shouting at me? Don¡¯t you realize what kind of place the government office is? If anything happens to Qing¡¯er, I¡­¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Liu Shuanghe slapped the woman, his voice severe: ¡°It¡¯s all because of the arrogant daughter you raised. She had the audacity to falsely accuse an arrest officer in broad daylight. It¡¯s absolutely lawless!¡± The woman fell to the ground, her gaze vacant, as if dazed by Liu Shuanghe¡¯s slap. Only after a moment did she come to her senses: ¡°Master, you must save Qing¡¯er.¡± Liu Shuanghe exhaled deeply, ignoring the woman on the ground, and said to the elder in front of him: ¡°Uncle Yun, please send a visiting card to Li Mingqi, saying that I wish to visit him personally¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡­ ¡­ On the second day after Chen Yuan had taken over Zhu Sihai, the Beihai Gang began to make their move. Due to the lack of interference from the government, within just a day, they had wiped out two significant gang forces, taking over most of the territory in the north of the city under the Beihai Gang¡¯s influence. Chen Yuan also briefly reported the matter to Li Mingqi, who after a long silence, did not object. After all, Chen Yuan had indeed handled the situation beautifully, solving the issue with the Beihai Gang without much ado. The monthly tribute of two hundred silver was no less than what the Huang Family used to give. So, they had tacitly agreed to Chen Yuan¡¯s decision for the Beihai Gang to completely dominate North City. For this reason, County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng even made a special trip to Li Mingqi, warning him to pay attention to balancing powers and to prevent the gang¡¯s influence from overpowering that of the government. Previously, the reason why the Beihai Gang had not completely monopolized North City was due to County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng¡¯s obstruction. Beyond that, within the County Government, there were other forces eager to get a piece of the action. No one knew that Chen Yuan himself had also taken a hefty share from the dealings with the Beihai Gang, as middlemen like him were usually necessary in such interactions. If a government official colluding with a Jianghu force for mutual benefit was exposed with evidence, it wouldn¡¯t be a trivial matter; it would result in the loss of one¡¯s official hat¡ªa severe punishment. In the blink of an eye, three days quietly passed, and Chen Yuan had exchanged the silver given as compensation by Zhu Sihai for the Wang Meng incident for six Tiger Bone Pills from the County Government, swiftly completing his fourth Blood Refining. His strength once again soared. When Chen Yuan pricked his skin with a silver needle, one could closely observe a strand of golden light hidden within his blood. Nine Blood Refinings, and Chen Yuan had completed half of them in just one month¡ªa claim no one would believe if it were made public. Having become an arrest officer just a few days ago, he was able to exchange for six Tiger Bone Pills and even allowed Wang Ping, who had joined the County Government for just over a year, to pick out a Saber Technique, which also led to criticisms of Chen Yuan¡¯s reputation within the County Government. But¡­ Chen Yuan didn¡¯t care. So what if he had pursued personal gain or profited from his position? With Li Mingqi around, Chen Yuan was fearless. The monthly tribute of two hundred taels of silver did not come for free; Li Mingqi had to protect him. Appreciation alone was not enough; interests bound them together. During those three days, other than refining his blood, Chen Yuan devoted himself to the cultivation of the Six Harmonies Saber Technique. With a few days of exploration and Zhao Nanshan¡¯s previous explanations, Chen Yuan basically achieved a thorough understanding. The Zhao family¡¯s Six Harmonies Saber was divided into the External Three Harmonies and the Internal Three Harmonies. The Internal Three Harmonies, where the heart aligns with intention, intention with Qi, and Qi with strength, allowed for saber strikes as fierce as a tiger, with a powerful and compelling momentum. The External Three Harmonies were simpler¡ªhand aligns with foot, elbow with knee, shoulder with hip¡ªrelying on hands, eyes, and body movements. With Chen Yuan¡¯s solid saber skills, he basically got the hang of it after a few practices. However, the true essence of the Six Harmonies Saber lay in the Internal Three Harmonies, and that could not be mastered in just a few days. Chen Yuan had previously promised Zhao Nanshan to preserve the Sanhe Boxing Club in three days, and naturally, he could not go back on his word. Actually, Chen Yuan also knew in his heart that even if he didn¡¯t go, the Sanhe Boxing Club wouldn¡¯t suffer much. After all, Zhao Nanshan had once been a master of the Gang Condensation Realm, but as the saying goes, even a thin camel is larger than a horse. So even though he was almost broken, dealing with one or two Bone Refining Martial Artists would not be an issue. Chen Yuan, accompanied by a group of Government Officials, headed straight for City East. Along the way, Chen Yuan passed by the ruins of the Huang Family and gazed at it for a moment¡ªthe Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl he had obtained had significantly aided him. He had also learned after becoming an arrest officer and reading the County Government¡¯s archives that consuming too many elixirs not only led to drug resistance but also to the accumulation of elixir toxins in the body, which would eventually bring disaster. Yet, Chen Yuan needed the aid of elixirs to rapidly boost his cultivation in a short period. Therefore, he was very fortunate. The Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl not only purified his body once, expelling impurities, but to this day had not completely dissolved, emitting a faint sense of coolness, ridding his body of elixir toxins. Thus, Chen Yuan dared to take elixirs without restraint, unafraid of damaging his foundation. In that moment. Inside the Sanhe Boxing Club, a martial arts competition was taking place. Even though the three martial arts halls in the city intended to ostracize the Sanhe Boxing Club, they did not want to be too obvious about it, as that too could lead to criticism. Their method was through martial contests. The martial masters from the halls would compete, and the weakest would leave Ping¡¯an County. ¡°Master Ye, try to attack his center line!¡± A spectator who was a martial master shouted. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C Thank you to book friend Mu Siyu for the generous reward of five hundred point coins! Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Arriving in Time Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Arriving in Time ¡°` The martial arts competition in the field involved Zhao Nanshan¡¯s top disciple, Guo Xu, with Blood Refining Cultivation. His opponent, surnamed Ye, was a strong martial master from the largest martial arts hall in Ping¡¯an County, Changming Boxing Hall. Employing the Changming Fist, he forced Guo Xu into constant retreat, stumbling in his steps, only able to defend but not capable of launching a counterattack. The disciples of the Sanhe Boxing Club watched with intense nervousness, their eyes glued to Guo Xu, dreading his defeat. They had already lost three matches in a row, and another loss would likely mean that Sanhe Boxing Club would have to leave Ping¡¯an County for good! However, in contrast to the disciples¡¯ tension, the true owner of the boxing club, Zhao Nanshan, was leisurely sipping Spiritual Tea as if the outcome of the fight was of no consequence. Sitting next to Zhao Nanshan were three individuals: an elderly man in white robes and two middle-aged strong men with smiling faces. They were the leaders of the other three major martial arts halls in Ping¡¯an County. ¡°Brother Zhao, it¡¯s not that we are unkind, but Ping¡¯an County is just too small to accommodate four martial arts halls¡­¡± The elder in white stroked his gray beard, chuckling lightly. The two strong men next to him chimed in: ¡°Indeed, if it were past years, it might have been different, but now with the drought in Qingzhou worsening, our martial arts halls can hardly recruit any new disciples.¡± Zhao Nanshan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he set down his teacup: ¡°I can understand your points. The weak are prey to the strong; it¡¯s simply the natural order. It is right for Sanhe Boxing Club to give way if it cannot withstand the others, but¡­ Although that¡¯s said, I can¡¯t help but feel unwilling to concede.¡± ¡°Oh? So, Elder Zhao, what would you have us do?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï The tone of the strong man beside him carried a hint of mockery, particularly on the word ¡®elder¡¯. As soon as his words fell, a muffled grunt exploded. The martial master surnamed Ye landed a punch squarely in Guo Xu¡¯s chest, the powerful force directly sending him staggering back several steps. Before Guo Xu could recover, the martial master advanced once more, leveraging his momentum to leap forward and kick, sending Guo Xu flying several meters before tumbling on the ground. And with that, he was knocked outside the designated white circle, meaning, Guo Xu had lost. Sanhe Boxing Club, four battles, four defeats! ¡°Big Brother.¡± ¡°Brother Guo¡­¡± The disciples of Sanhe Boxing Club rushed forward to help Guo Xu to his feet. Guo Xu glanced at Zhao Nanshan, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and with a sense of shame, he bowed his head. Meanwhile, the victorious Master Ye from Changming Boxing Hall smugly made a gesture of respect to the surrounding onlookers. ¡°Thanks for letting me win.¡± Next, Master Ye¡¯s gaze fell on Guo Xu, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he said, ¡°You¡­¡± A disciple beside Guo Xu wanted to rush forward but was firmly held back by Guo Xu. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to disrupt matters any further now; all depends on master now,¡± Guo Xu whispered. He had joined the Sanhe Boxing Club because he had been inspired by Zhao Nanshan¡¯s skills, but at the same time, he knew that the master was getting old, and in the world of martial arts, the young and strong prevail. He had, in truth, already lost most of his confidence. He was, after all, only trying to console his junior brothers. ¡°Elder Zhao, with Sanhe Boxing Club having lost four battles in a row, you are the last one left. Do you wish to continue the competition?¡± One of the strong men in a yellow robe looked intently at Zhao Nanshan. ¡°Elder Zhao is advanced in years; if you concede, we won¡¯t press you too hard. You just need to leave Ping¡¯an County within seven days,¡± another person added. ¡°Brother Zhao, what are your thoughts?¡± the elder in white inquired. Zhao Nanshan chuckled lightly: ¡°This old body of mine hasn¡¯t seen action in over a decade. If I were to leave just like this, this martial arts hall would struggle to remain open. Well then, let this old man have the pleasure of experiencing your esteemed moves.¡± He stood up, and the aura around him began to change gradually. Internally though, he cursed Chen Yuan for not keeping his word and for the useless waste of his family¡¯s Six Harmonies Saber Technique. If there¡¯s a chance, he¡¯d make sure to backstab that youngster. The strong man in the yellow gown stood up, took off his clothes, revealing a robust and muscular body, and said in a low voice: ¡°` ¡°Good, since Elder Zhao seems so inclined, I shall test Elder Zhao¡¯s skills first.¡± ¡°Brother Sun, Elder Zhao is advanced in age, you should show some restraint. It¡¯d be troublesome if someone loses their life¡­¡± another middle-aged man shouted. ¡°There¡¯s no trouble, we¡¯ve all signed the life-and-death agreement anyway!¡± Zhao Nanshan, expressionless, stepped forward with hands behind his back. One could hardly notice that his stooped back had straightened a bit. ¡°Gathering so many people, what, planning a rebellion?¡± Suddenly, a faint voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. The disciples of the surrounding martial arts halls looked back and then¡­ saw dozens of Government Officials, calm and collected, following behind a young-faced man. He exuded a faint killing aura, and the disciples unconsciously made way for him. Chen Yuan, with an indifferent expression and saber at his waist, stepped into the circle marked by a white line, glanced at Zhao Nanshan, and said: ¡°Elder Zhao, I¡¯m a bit late.¡± ¡°Just in time, not late¡­¡± Zhao Nanshan nodded, and thought to himself: ¡°This young man is trustworthy, a promising seed. Perhaps one day, the grievances of the Dragon Tiger Sect will indeed fall upon him.¡± He had completely forgotten how he had previously criticized Chen Yuan for lacking credibility. Seeing that the person in front of them seemed well-acquainted with Zhao Nanshan, the white-clothed elder and the other two leaders exchanged glances, revealing a trace of seriousness in their eyes. They scrutinized Chen Yuan from head to toe but couldn¡¯t recognize who he was. But to bring so many Government Officials, he must be extraordinary, and moreover, he was not dressed in the usual attire of a Government Official. Suddenly, one of the burly men¡¯s pupils shrank as if he realized something and cupped his hands towards Chen Yuan, asking: ¡°Is this lord surnamed Chen?¡± ¡°Indeed, I am surnamed Chen,¡± Chen Yuan replied with a slight nod. He continued to ask, ¡°Are you the newly appointed arrest officer Chen Yuan?¡± Chen Yuan arched his eyebrows slightly: ¡°You¡¯ve heard of my story?¡± ¡°The great name of Officer Chen has long been known throughout Ping¡¯an County; naturally, I have heard of it,¡± ¡°Is that so? If you hadn¡¯t mentioned it, I wouldn¡¯t have known I was that impressive,¡± Chen Yuan said with a sideways glance. The burly man chuckled awkwardly, then continued: ¡°May I ask the purpose of Officer Chen¡¯s visit?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I¡¯m here to stand up for Sanhe Boxing Club.¡± ¡°Officer Chen, this is a private matter between our four martial arts halls, and we¡¯ve already signed the life-and-death agreement. Even the Government cannot intervene¡­¡± another burly man in a yellow robe muttered from beside the white-clothed elder. ¡°Who do you think you are, daring to speak out of turn while I am speaking!¡± Chen Yuan glared coldly at the burly man. ¡°You¡­¡± The burly man¡¯s heart flared up, and he clenched his fists so tightly that they cracked, but after taking a deep breath, he ultimately repressed his anger. Attacking a County Government arrest officer in broad daylight was no petty crime! ¡°Officer Chen, I, Xu Changming, am also somewhat known in Ping¡¯an County, may I be permitted to speak a word?¡± The white-clothed elder stepped forward. _____ Vote for Monthly Ticket! Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60: One Cut! Chapter 60: Chapter 60: One Cut! ¡°Chen has always respected the elderly and cherished the young, if Mr. Xu has any last¡­ any words to say, just speak them.¡± Chen Yuan stood two zhang in front of Xu Changming, his long sword propped on the ground. His expression seemed rather unconcerned. Xu Changming¡¯s face turned dark as he spoke softly, ¡°It has always been the case that martial arts halls compete in matches without interference from the government. The court has its rules, and the Jianghu has its own. It would be best if Magistrate Chen did not insist on standing out. Otherwise, if County Governor Zhao were to find out, I¡¯m afraid he would say that Magistrate Chen is being naive¡­¡± Xu Changming subtly threatened by bringing up the County Governor. ¡°Is Mr. Xu threatening this arrest officer?¡± Chen Yuan asked sternly, but he wasn¡¯t surprised by Xu Changming having backers. The relationships within Ping¡¯an County had always been complex. Anyone who had made a name for themselves either possessed great personal strength or¡­ had someone supporting them from behind. But the eighth-ranked civil official Zhao Shuping couldn¡¯t intimidate Chen Yuan. Although he was third in rank within the County Government, his influence was not that significant. He essentially had to rely on the County Magistrate and was barely involved with the other departments. ¡°It¡¯s not a threat, but an admonishment. Magistrate Chen is so young to have been promoted to the position of arrest officer; the future is boundless. Why would you want to make an enemy of us for the sake of Sanhe Boxing Club?¡± Chen Yuan sneered, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°There¡¯s a saying that goes ¡®an old man who will not die is a scoundrel.¡¯ Fine then, the government will not interfere.¡± ¡°Such would be¡­¡± Xu Changming nodded, but before he could finish his speech, he heard another sentence from Chen Yuan: ¡°Since Chen has learned things from the Sanhe Boxing Club, representing myself surely won¡¯t break these rotten rules, right?¡± With that, Chen Yuan picked up his sword and walked to the center of the ring, looking directly at the three people represented by Xu Changming and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this supposed to be a contest? Who¡¯s first?¡± ¡°Magistrate Chen really wants to intervene?¡± Xu Changming asked in a serious tone. ¡°Do we need to continue with the nonsense?¡± ¡°Fine, since Arrest Officer Chen is so confident, then Sun will test out Arrest Officer Chen¡¯s skills.¡± The burly man in a yellow robe slowly took off his clothes, revealing his muscular torso. His chest heaved slightly, betraying his extraordinary blood and Qi. Sun Xiong glanced at Chen Yuan with a hint of coldness in his heart. The time for retribution for the earlier rebuke had come, and although he took Chen Yuan¡¯s strength seriously, he was not overly anxious. In the end, Chen Yuan was just a Blood Refining Martial Artist, while he himself had undergone Blood Refining three times and was only a step away from the Bone Refining Realm. Sun Xiong raised his hand, and a long spear was thrown by his disciple, landing perfectly in his hand. ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, please.¡± Sun Xiong saluted with a cupped fist, flicked his spear to perform a flourish, took a step forward, and lunged directly at Chen Yuan¡¯s chest with the spear. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze sharpened, and the Qi around his body surged instantly. As Sun Xiong¡¯s spear thrust towards him, Chen Yuan tilted his head to dodge and immediately gripped the handle of his sword and pulled fiercely. White light flashed. ¡°Pu.¡± Half of Sun Xiong¡¯s face was sheared off, the blood spurting half a meter high. ¡°Bang!¡± Soon, his stalwart body thudded to the ground with a muffled groan. The onlookers were silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Chen Yuan wiped his bloodstained sword on Sun Xiong¡¯s body before sheathing it, saying softly, ¡°What were you showing off for?¡± His gaze swept over the crowd as Chen Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm, as if he had merely killed a small chick, and he called out loudly, ¡°Who else?¡± Silence. Everyone watching seemed to be frozen in place. Sun Xiong, a Martial Artist of strong Blood Refining Level, capable of resisting a Bone Refining expert for a short time, had been slain by this newly appointed arrest officer Chen with a single strike. Now lying on the ground like a dead dog, the half of his face that had fallen off was covered in bright red blood, eyes wide open even in death! A hint of surprise flashed across Zhao Nanshan¡¯s eyes. He had guessed that Chen Yuan¡¯s position as an arrest officer meant his strength was certainly not weak, but he never imagined it would be this formidable. With the power he displayed now, he could probably even compete with a master of the Bone Refining Realm. He was definitely not far from reaching the Bone Refining Realm himself. In fact, it was indeed so; if one could not easily eliminate a martial artist who had refined their blood three times after refining their own blood four times with a top-level Body Refining Divine Skill, then it didn¡¯t deserve to be known as one of the most premier Body Refining Divine Skills in Jianghu. Plus, with the instant explosive power of the Sword Drawing Skill, achieving this was not surprising. But the shock it gave the crowd was incomparable. The government officials who came with Chen Yuan saw their arrest officer demonstrating such terrifying strength and their previous complaints began to be replaced by reverence. Martial Artists, as a matter of course, worship the strong. Wang Ping¡¯s mouth curved into a proud smile, as if he was more proud than Chen Yuan, the person directly involved. Seeing no one else speak up, Chen Yuan turned his gaze to Xu Changming, who was dressed in white: ¡°Elder Xu, how about we have a match?,¡± Xu Changming¡¯s face was full of solemnity as he clasped his hands and said: ¡°I am old and my strength has diminished significantly, so naturally, I am no match for Lord Chen. I admit defeat.¡± Xu Changming conceded without hesitation, not minding the loss of face in surrendering to a junior. Sun Xiong¡¯s body was lying there at the moment, and being of advanced age, he did not want to end up in the same predicament. If he died, what would become of the few concubines at his home? ¡°What about you?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted to another brawny man. The man quickly waved his hand and laughed: ¡°Lord Chen possesses astonishing strength, a majestic presence I cannot hope to compare with. I will take my leave¡­¡± As he spoke, he bowed to Zhao Nanshan quickly and, without giving Xu Changming another glance, hurriedly led a group of disciples from the martial arts hall, eager to leave the Sanhe Boxing Club. ¡°I¡­ I will also take my leave.¡± Xu Changming cursed silently at the speed of the man¡¯s departure but was not about to be outdone. ¡°Wait¡­¡± Chen Yuan said. Xu Changming and the other brawny man froze on the spot, then asked with a beaming smile: ¡°Does Lord Chen have any further instructions?¡± ¡°This arrest officer does not wish to see any more disputes arising from the Sanhe Martial Arts Hall in the future, otherwise¡­¡± Chen Yuan walked over to a tree in the courtyard as thick as a bowl. Golden Paint spread instantly beneath the sleeve of his right arm, as Chen Yuan gathered his strength and threw a punch. ¡°Boom!¡± The tree was directly shattered by the punch! Chen Yuan slowly turned around, casting a cool glance at Xu Changming and the brawny man. ¡°Lord Chen speaks truly, from this day forward, our three martial arts halls will certainly support one another,¡± Xu Changming said with a forced smile, bowing before turning to leave. The brawny man followed closely behind, not far behind. Only after they had left some distance did the brawny man look back with lingering fear and sighed: ¡°Brother Sun was truly unlucky to become a stepping stone for Chen Yuan.¡± ¡°Elder Xu, why didn¡¯t you suppress that lad¡¯s arrogance? With your strength, you could have done it, no?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not have this old frame of mine taken apart, even if I won, death would not be far away. Besides, with one martial arts hall already gone, why bother flaunting a Martial Artist¡¯s courage?¡± Xu Changming recalled the scene of Sun Xiong¡¯s death and the power of that punch, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes. ¡°Do you think I could have withstood him?¡± ¡°That punch was at least equal to twenty years of my power. Do you think you could withstand it?¡± ¡ª¡ª¨C Please try not to raise (keep) books if you can avoid it, lest the pigeons beneath starve to death! Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Qi Fortune Reemerges! Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Qi Fortune Reemerges! Sanhe Boxing Club. After everyone had cleared out, Chen Yuan was invited by Zhao Nanshan to the backyard. ¡°Come, taste this tea.¡± Zhao Nanshan brewed a cup of tea and placed it before Chen Yuan. Without any hesitation, Chen Yuan picked up the tea cup, took a light sip, and maintained a calm demeanor. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°Quite bitter¡­¡± Chen Yuan answered truthfully. Zhao Nanshan shook his head, glanced at Chen Yuan, and then took a sip of his tea: ¡°You lack experience, this tea is top-quality.¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡± Chen Yuan chuckled lightly without saying anything; he wasn¡¯t very interested in tea. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°This time, I thought you wouldn¡¯t come.¡± ¡°When it comes to doing things, I am quite reliable.¡± ¡°However, if Chen had not come, would Elder Zhao have been prepared to take action himself?¡± Chen Yuan observed very clearly that in such a situation, Zhao Nanshan would certainly have shown a move or two. ¡°This old skeleton doesn¡¯t have much strength left, the more I fight, the sooner I¡¯d die.¡± ¡°But you are a master of the Gang Condensation Realm, it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult for you to deal with them.¡± ¡°That was then, now¡­¡± Zhao Nanshan shook his head. Chen Yuan smiled, not believing Zhao Nanshan¡¯s words for a second; it was clear he was playing dumb, but Chen Yuan didn¡¯t delve deeper. Instead, he suddenly lowered his voice and asked: ¡°Having been in Ping¡¯an County for so many years, do you have any understanding of the No-Life Sect?¡± Chen Yuan had been in office for several days now, but whether it was before or now, the County Government couldn¡¯t find any trace of the No-Life Sect¡¯s rogues. With Li Mingqi pressing from his end, Chen Yuan could only try to ask Zhao Nanshan. Previously, Chen Yuan had deduced from footprints that there was a lame individual among the No-Life Sect¡¯s rogues, but with Ping¡¯an County being so large, searching it through was like looking for a needle in the ocean. Especially outside the county in small towns¡ªsurely a carpet search wasn¡¯t feasible? Inside Ping¡¯an County Government, they didn¡¯t have so many Government Officials to deploy at his disposal. Hearing Chen Yuan¡¯s recount, Zhao Nanshan frowned and fell silent for a long while: ¡°Investigating the No-Life Sect is not a simple matter.¡± ¡°There are orders from above; what can those below do?¡± To be frank, as the No-Life Sect hadn¡¯t touched his interests, he wasn¡¯t too keen on pursuing them to the death. If they could stymie the efforts of that Heavenly Patrol Bureau official, it proved the No-Life Sect definitely had experts among them. ¡°If Elder Zhao knows anything, please don¡¯t hesitate to tell Chen.¡± Zhao Nanshan gazed at Chen Yuan for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: ¡°The old man only has some suspicions¡­¡± ¡°Please speak your mind, Elder Zhao.¡± ¡°Cien Temple.¡± ¡°Cien Temple!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s pupils contracted and his gaze flickered. He was naturally aware of that name; it even felt familiar. Before his uncle passed away, he often went to burn incense and pray there. After Chen Yuan had transmigrated into this world, his first opportunity came from Cien Temple¡¯s Scripture Pavilion! Earlier, he had also learned from the mouth of Li Mingqi that Cien Temple was not so straightforward. It was said to have a master of the Gang Condensation Realm stationed within, and now¡­ Zhao Nanshan was intimating that Cien Temple was related to the No-Life Sect¡­ Even he couldn¡¯t help but sigh at how fated he was with this Cien Temple. ¡°This is just the old man¡¯s guess. You should not probe lightly; Cien Temple is not that simple¡­¡± Fear flashed through Zhao Nanshan¡¯s eyes. ¡°There is a master of the Gang Condensation Realm stationed there, right?¡± ¡°You know? Right¡­ Since Li Mingqi mentioned me to you, he couldn¡¯t have failed to mention Cien Temple.¡± Chen Yuan gave a slight nod: ¡°Thank you.¡± Wang Ping hurried over to Chen Yuan, bent down slightly, and whispered: ¡°Brother Yuan, someone from the County Government has arrived. The County Magistrate asks that you return to the Government office as soon as possible.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s brows furrowed: ¡°What has happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet, but the County Magistrate had a message for you¡­¡± After hearing the message, Chen Yuan¡¯s brows knitted together. He waved his hand to dismiss Wang Ping and then stood up, cupping his fist towards Zhao Nanshan as he said: ¡°Elder Zhao, the County Government still has matters to attend to, so I won¡¯t disturb you any longer.¡± ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Zhao Nanshan slowly rose to his feet. ¡°Elder Zhao, is there something else you wish to say?¡± ¡°Just wait¡­¡± Zhao Nanshan, with his hands clasped behind his back, walked into the room. Moments later, he returned holding a wooden box and handed it to Chen Yuan. ¡°What is this?¡± Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Inside are a few Blood Essence Pills, I give them to you¡­¡± Zhao Nanshan waved his hand dismissively. Chen Yuan¡¯s heart leaped with joy as he hastily opened the box to find ten Blood Essence Pills lying inside, deeply red and emitting a strange aroma, indistinguishable from those he had taken before. These things were even more suitable for a Blood Refining Martial Artist than the Tiger Bone Pills and quite valuable, rarely seen in the county town. Chen Yuan hadn¡¯t expected Zhao Nanshan to have them in stock. At this realization, a gleam of covetousness flashed across Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Elder Zhao¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother asking, I only have these in stock. The Blood Essence Pills help me manage my injuries,¡± Zhao Nanshan said. ¡°Thank you, Elder. Chen takes his leave,¡± Chen Yuan smiled, no longer inquiring, and turned to leave. He estimated that if he had not kept his word and failed to show up, Zhao Nanshan certainly would not have given him the Blood Essence Pills. Perhaps it was truly because he had given him hope for revenge, that Zhao Nanshan was willing to invest in him. Watching Chen Yuan depart, Zhao Nanshan returned to the room with his hands behind his back, walked to the bed, and lifted another wooden plank, underneath which lay three wooden boxes identical to the one he had given Chen Yuan. ¡­ ¡­ Ping¡¯an County, County Government. County Magistrate Li Mingqi was conversing with a middle-aged man in a green robe, which bore no facial hair, who was none other than the Family Head of the Liu Family from Cao County, Liu Shuanghe, accompanied by an elderly man. ¡°Brother Liu, try this tea and see how it tastes,¡± Li Mingqi offered with a gesture of his hand. Liu Shuanghe picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and his eyes lit up: ¡°Excellent tea, excellent tea, a bitter start followed by a sweet aftertaste, the flavor is endless.¡± ¡°Since Brother Liu likes it, you might as well take some with you later.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare decline such an offer.¡± ¡°So, the purpose of Brother Liu¡¯s visit is¡­?¡± Li Mingqi feigned ignorance. Liu Shuanghe, knowing full well what was happening, smiled: ¡°A few days ago, my daughter offended the County Government¡¯s arrest officer Chen. I have come here specifically to take her back.¡± ¡°Oh? Such a thing happened?¡± ¡°May I know where this arrest officer Chen is now? Liu is anxious about his daughter¡­¡± Li Mingqi narrowed his eyes, about to respond, when a Government Official walked in and bowed to Li Mingqi, saying: ¡°Sir, arrest officer Chen requests an audience.¡± ¡°Let him in.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Shortly after, Chen Yuan entered the room with a calm expression, paused for a moment on Liu Shuanghe, subconsciously activated his Heavenly Eye, and in the next instant, a blue light shone before his eyes. Qi Fortune! To avoid revealing anything, Chen Yuan did not linger on the sight and turned to face Li Mingqi with a bow: ¡°Sir, did you call for me?¡± ¡°I did have some matters to instruct you on, but as it happens, Brother Liu here also seeks you for some business,¡± Li Mingqi said. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted slightly as he bowed politely: ¡°May I ask what matter you have with Chen?¡± Liu Shuanghe¡¯s expression remained unchanged, as he had already seen that Li Mingqi and Chen Yuan were clearly aware of his affairs. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Chen Never Fears Threats Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Chen Never Fears Threats ¡°I come from the Liu Family of Cao County, Arrest Officer Chen must have already guessed the purpose of my visit?¡± Liu Shuanghe said with a calm expression. Chen Yuan smiled, and under the signal of Li Mingqi, he sat down at the lower seat of the two, saying with a frown: ¡°Chen isn¡¯t a god, how could he possibly guess the intention of the Family Head Liu?¡± The elder beside Liu Shuanghe, upon hearing Chen Yuan¡¯s words, frowned slightly and scrutinized Chen Yuan carefully. Liu Shuanghe, however, remained very calm: ¡°Since Arrest Officer Chen can¡¯t guess, then I shall speak plainly.¡± ¡°But of course.¡± ¡°My daughter, Liu Ruqing, and my second son, Liu Changzhi, have they been taken into the prison by Arrest Officer Chen?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, not denying: ¡°Indeed, they have.¡± ¡°Are they safe now?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s fingers tapped the table: Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°They should be safe¡­¡± ¡°Should be?¡± A dangerous aura enveloped Liu Shuanghe. Unfazed, Chen Yuan nodded: ¡°After I had them locked in prison, I didn¡¯t oversee them. How would I know their current situation?¡± ¡°Does Arrest Officer Chen not know they are descendants of the Liu Family?¡± ¡°What, can descendants of the Liu Family openly slander government officials? The Liu Family is truly formidable!¡± Chen Yuan huffed lightly. Li Mingqi took a light sip of his tea, watching the scene with a composed expression. Liu Shuanghe¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, not expecting this Blood Refining Level arrest officer to be so unyielding. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°My daughter has been spoiled since she was young; she was only joking with Arrest Officer Chen.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t like that joke.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. The threat in Liu Shuanghe¡¯s words was heavy, and Chen Yuan equally disliked it. ¡°Then what does Arrest Officer Chen want to do? Are you planning to make an enemy of the Liu Family?¡± Liu Shuanghe said in a deep voice. ¡°Family Head Liu is being too serious. It seems as if I am the one deliberately causing trouble.¡± Liu Shuanghe wanted to say, isn¡¯t that the case? But considering Li Mingqi, he ultimately did not speak. Instead, he said softly: ¡°Please state your condition, Arrest Officer Chen. I came here today to take my daughter home¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you can take them back. Liu Ruqing and Liu Changzhi are suspected of being involved with the No-Life Sect villains. Until the investigation is clear, no one can take them away!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°Is that so?¡± Li Mingqi sat up straight, asking in a serious tone. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare deceive my superior; indeed, we have received a secret message.¡± Liu Shuanghe suddenly stood up, gazing directly at Chen Yuan: ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, don¡¯t speak without evidence.¡± ¡°How does Family Head Liu know I don¡¯t have evidence?¡± Chen Yuan raised his head, not backing down. ¡°If there is evidence, bring it out, and I will leave immediately without another word¡­¡± Chen Yuan: ¡°The evidence is not yet conclusive. How could I easily reveal it? Since the siblings both carry the surname Liu, I even suspect that the Liu Family, like the Huang Family, is secretly in league with the demon people of the No-Life Sect.¡± The elder beside Liu Shuanghe spoke in a low voice: ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, you can eat messy, but you can¡¯t talk messy.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s just a suspicion of mine¡­¡± Chen Yuan smiled. ¡°Today, does Arrest Officer Chen have no intention of releasing them?¡± Liu Shuanghe¡¯s expression turned grim, his voice carrying a chill. ¡°Once the investigation is clear, the government will release the person. I, the arrest officer, will neither wrong a good person nor let an evil one go free!¡± Chen Yuan declared with an air of self-righteousness. ¡°Good, good, the court is fortunate to have an officer like Chen Yuan. Truly a blessing for the people¡­¡± Liu Shuanghe sneered a few times. ¡°I¡¯ve resolved to be a good official, to plead on behalf of the people, and swear to never share the sky with evil!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s mouth curled into a smile. ¡°I hear Chen Yuan is only twenty-one and has already become a county arrest officer. Truly young and talented. Liu would hate to see someone like you die young¡­¡± ¡°No wonder Liu Ruqing dares to slander government officials out of thin air. It¡¯s all rooted here. You dare to threaten me so brazenly, aren¡¯t you planning to assassinate me next?¡± ¡°Sir, if I should meet with an untimely death, it would surely be the work of the Liu Family!¡± Chen Yuan stood up and said to Li Mingqi earnestly. Liu Shuanghe snorted coldly and said to Li Mingqi with a bow: ¡°My earlier remarks were but a joke, Lord Li. I will take my leave now. Uncle Yun, let¡¯s go.¡± After saying this, Liu Shuanghe left with a dark expression. ¡°Brother Liu, I shall not see you out,¡± said Li Mingqi. ¡°There¡¯s no need for Lord Li to send me off.¡± Liu Shuanghe¡¯s figure gradually disappeared into the distance. ¡°My lord, you¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted. The words that Wang Ping had whispered in his ear were actually from Li Mingqi, telling him not to compromise with Liu Shuanghe and to firmly refuse her. Although this was initially Chen Yuan¡¯s plan, having Li Mingqi¡¯s support was certainly better. ¡°Some want to act against the Liu Family. There was a message yesterday asking me for a favor¡­¡± Li Mingqi said quietly. ¡°If they want to act, why don¡¯t they do it themselves?¡± Li Mingqi glanced at Chen Yuan and said: ¡°Although the eldest son of the Liu Family has gone missing, there¡¯s no confirmed news yet. Those people are wary of the Qingyun Sword Sect and only dare to probe.¡± Chen Yuan frowned: ¡°By probing, isn¡¯t this¡­ putting me in danger? If Liu Shuanghe isn¡¯t a fool, he will surely make an example out of me.¡± Li Mingqi said, ¡°You are indeed in some danger, but presently, you are the only one who has a grievance with the Liu Family; there is no better choice. Rest assured, it¡¯s unlikely that Liu Shuanghe will act against you personally. With your strength and the support of the government officials, a Bone Refining Martial Artist would not be able to harm you.¡± ¡°The Liu Family holds grudges. You¡¯ve already thrown Liu Shuanghe¡¯s children into prison. Even if you were to give in, they would seek revenge later. It¡¯s better to tear off the pretense and avoid having to tiptoe around them,¡± and save the empty gestures.¡± Chen Yuan lowered his head, sneering inwardly, but his expression was resolute: ¡°Lord, you are correct. It was I who thought too much. Besides, it was you who promoted me. If you command it, I will do my utmost to comply.¡± As if seeing through Chen Yuan¡¯s thoughts, Li Mingqi stood up and encouraged him, ¡°Your merits are always on my mind. Be at ease.¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord!¡± ¡­ ¡­ After leaving the County Government, Liu Shuanghe mounted his horse and left Ping¡¯an City at great speed. After galloping for a while, he stopped by a small river, looking exceptionally solemn. ¡°Family Head, the matter just now, I¡¯m afraid Li Mingqi was also involved,¡± Uncle Yun approached Liu Shuanghe and whispered. ¡°Of course, I know that. Otherwise, why would a mere arrest officer dare to treat me this way? Now, I even suspect that Qing¡¯er was captured because of their schemes!¡± ¡°A bunch of lowlifes! Back when Kong¡¯er joined the Qingyun Sword Sect, they couldn¡¯t wait to ingratiate themselves. But now that Kong¡¯er has disappeared without a trace, these vermin have started to jump around, wanting to gulp down the Liu Family¡¯s foundation in one go!¡± ¡°So, what should we do now about the young mistress and young master¡­¡± Liu Changzhi¡¯s gaze turned frosty: ¡°Uncle Yun, go to Han Feihu personally and tell him, as long as he kills Chen Yuan, our Liu Family will provide a channel for their cultivation resources in the future!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Dear big shots, please don¡¯t nurture books to death! Don¡¯t let them die off! Thanks to the book friend named ¡®Flying Up With a Single Sword¡¯ for the reward of one hundred point coins Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Kidnapped! Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Kidnapped! Master Yun nodded: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Just a lowly ninth-rank arrest officer with mere Blood Refining cultivation, yet he dares to stand up against us, the Liu Family. We¡¯ll make sure he has no grave to be buried in. Let those people see, those who wish to swallow up the Liu Family will break their teeth in the process!¡± Liu Shuanghe said with a cold voice. ¡­ ¡­ Leaving the County Government, Chen Yuan wandered aimlessly through the town with Wang Ping, his mind deep in thought about the Qi Fortune he had noticed on Liu Shuanghe earlier. If he hadn¡¯t been aware of it before, from the moment he saw Liu Shuanghe, Chen Yuan had begun to draw some connections. Those who bore Qi Fortune seemed somehow mysteriously tied to his past. Or, it might be better to describe it as a mutual attraction. The hostility with Liu Ruoqing, leading to the emergence of someone like Liu Shuanghe who bore Qi Fortune¡ªit couldn¡¯t be unrelated. There were no such coincidences in the world. Now thinking about it, the killing of Tie Shou, venturing to Ping¡¯an Town to find Chen Ping¡¯an, seemed to have been driven by an unseen force, bringing him into encounters with those who were recipients of Qi Fortune in various ways! Chen Yuan wondered, was it because of the Qi Fortune Altar, or did he himself also carry Qi Fortune? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï If it was indeed Qi Fortune that he had, was it brought by his transmigration, or did ¡®Chen Yuan¡¯ himself possess it? Seeing Chen Yuan seemed somewhat distracted, Wang Ping moved closer and asked: ¡°Brother Yuan, what are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Nothing much¡­¡± Chen Yuan shook his head. The question of the Qi Fortune Altar, he couldn¡¯t figure it out for now, but it was certain that with opportunity came danger, like with Liu Shuanghe. Chen Yuan knew he carried Qi Fortune, but what could he do about it now? As a Gang Condensation powerhouse, with his current strength, he was far from a match, let alone hoping to obtain Qi Fortune from him unless he sought help from an expert of the same realm. ¡°No, wait¡­ Brother Yuan, are you thinking about women?¡± joked Wang Ping with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows. When there were no outsiders around, the relationship between Wang Ping and Chen Yuan wasn¡¯t so formal. Chen Yuan didn¡¯t want to be tense all the time, and having someone like Wang Ping to lighten the mood felt comfortable. Within the whole of Ping¡¯an County, if Chen Yuan felt closest to anyone, it was undoubtedly Wang Ping. ¡°Don¡¯t make me out to be like you, with nothing but women on my mind!¡± Chen Yuan muttered, glancing at Wang Ping. ¡°If a man isn¡¯t thinking about women, surely he shouldn¡¯t be thinking about men, right?¡± Wang Ping retorted, pursing his lips. ¡°You sure have a lot of twisted reasons¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not twisted reasoning. Besides¡­ Brother Yuan, you didn¡¯t use to be like this. Just a couple of months back, the two of us still¡­¡± Wang Ping said. ¡°That was in the past. I don¡¯t have much interest in brothels anymore.¡± Right now, Chen Yuan only thought about how to increase his strength and how to find more people endowed with Qi Fortune. ¡°So, Brother Yuan, what are you interested in?¡± ¡°Strength, power, wealth!¡± He was just an ordinary man who yearned for greater strength, a higher status, and more wealth. ¡°Strength, power¡­¡± Wang Ping looked at him and saw determination in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to possess the County Magistrate¡¯s position? Don¡¯t you envy it?¡± Chen Yuan asked in return. ¡°I do envy it¡­¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the use of just envying? You need to take action!¡± Chen Yuan said with a serious tone. After a long silence, Wang Ping spoke softly: ¡°As long as you can do it, Brother Yuan, that¡¯s enough for me. I¡¯ve decided to stick with you.¡± Chen Yuan looked at Wang Ping: ¡°Sometimes, perhaps contentment is a kind of happiness.¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite content. In a few years, I¡¯ll marry a beautiful wife and have a few children. That would be all I could ask for in life¡­¡± Wang Ping said with a simple-minded smile, stroking his head. Chen Yuan shook his head; he didn¡¯t quite agree with Wang Ping¡¯s idea. A poor man shouldn¡¯t marry a beauty, or he might end up like the next Wu Dalang. ¡°What about you, Brother Yuan? Even if you pursue martial arts and power, you can¡¯t possibly never marry, right?¡± Wang Ping actually wanted to persuade Chen Yuan a bit; Xiao Fang was really quite good¡ªhonest and not bad-looking, a virtuous wife indeed. ¡°I¡¯m not too fond of all that lovey-dovey stuff¡­¡± Chen Yuan said, his gaze turning a bit retrospective. The reason he had remained a bachelor for so many years in his previous life wasn¡¯t that he lacked money, but because he had ceased to believe in love a long time ago. It all started when a friend set him up with a match, sending him a WeChat contact. Chen Yuan didn¡¯t think much of it at the time and just added her. The first thing he said was, ¡°Hello, introduced by a mutual acquaintance.¡± Pretty normal, right? Then, she replied with, ¡°Mutual acquaintance, eight hundred.¡± From then on, Chen Yuan was transformed! Wang Ping looked at Chen Yuan and felt puzzled. How had Brother Yuan changed so much after just lying at home for a while? Not only his mindset but even his strength had improved by leaps and bounds to a level he couldn¡¯t even hope to reach. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Chen Yuan paused for a moment, exhaling a breath of turbid air, strolled around Ping¡¯an County with Wang Ping for a while, and then returned home to prepare for cultivation. His current target was Liu Shuanghe, which meant he must possess matching strength. Although the gap was still vast, gaps were meant to be closed gradually. With a total of ten Blood Essence Pills, Chen Yuan spent four hours refining most of them, using seven Blood Essence Pills as the price to complete the fifth Blood Refining. Of course, with such a rapid increase in strength, Chen Yuan also endured great agony. Since the last time, the process of Marrow Cleansing had begun to bring a slight pain. This time, with such a fast improvement, the pain was even more intense. But Chen Yuan bore it all with an unchanged expression. To gain strength, one must have the endurance to withstand such pain. Stripping off his drenched clothes, Chen Yuan changed into a set of black attire and put on a mask; he was going to head to the Tie Family¡¯s residence under the cover of night. While strolling around the county with Wang Ping earlier, Chen Yuan had spotted the previously agreed-upon secret signal. ¡­ ¡­ Tie Family. Tie Qinghua sat calmly inside the room, with the door wide open. She took a sip from the teacup on the table and quietly awaited Chen Yuan¡¯s arrival. As moonlight spilled in front of the door and a cool breeze blew, Chen Yuan¡¯s footsteps approached lightly, and with a ¡®creak,¡¯ the room door closed. ¡°What brought about this sudden message, has the elixir arrived?¡± Tie Qinghua shook her head, speaking softly, ¡°The elixir was robbed!¡± Chen Yuan furrowed his brows, giving Tie Qinghua a scrutinizing look, ¡°What did you say? The elixir was robbed?¡± ¡°Not just the elixir, some other goods of the Tie Family were also taken. The entire caravan was slaughtered. If I hadn¡¯t felt something was amiss yesterday and sent people to investigate, I might still be in the dark¡­¡± A trace of self-mockery appeared on Tie Qinghua¡¯s face. ¡°Who did it?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression was grim under the mask. Anyone who dared to rob his things was truly courting death! Taking a deep breath, Tie Qinghua said, ¡°The crime scene was covered with horseshoe prints; if nothing unexpected, it should be the doing of horse bandits.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª- Seeking Monthly Tickets Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Identity Revealed! Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Identity Revealed! ¡°Horse bandits?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed. In his memory, there seemed to be no horse bandits around Ping¡¯an County, just some mountain bandits, but even they wouldn¡¯t dare to brazenly enter the county town. They were merely a minor annoyance, like wild grass in spring, cropping up again as soon as they were cut down. ¡°They came from another state¡­¡± Tie Qinghua said in a heavy voice. ¡°You know about them?¡± Chen Yuan looked at Tie Qinghua with surprise, thinking he would need to investigate further, but it seemed Tie Qinghua already knew something. A hint of sadness flashed in Tie Qinghua¡¯s eyes: ¡°When my elder brother was still alive, he mentioned once that a nest of horse bandits had appeared near Ping¡¯an County. It seemed they had a bounty on their heads in another prefecture city, so they came to the vicinity of Ping¡¯an County.¡± ¡°But they have not committed murder, so¡­ the County Government turned a blind eye¡­¡± Chen Yuan was speechless, wondering how Tie Qinghua seemed more like a government official than he was? However, it did seem plausible, after all, he had only been in his position for a few days and had been busy with his cultivation, without sufficient time to inquire into these miscellaneous affairs. ¡°Do you know their exact situation?¡± Chen Yuan asked in a grave voice. He was not someone who suffered losses lightly, whatever was taken from him had to be returned tenfold, a hundredfold! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 ¡°I do not know¡­¡± Tie Qinghua shook her head, but then added in a low voice: ¡°Besides my Tie Family, several caravans in the city were also robbed, and moreover¡­¡± ¡°Moreover what?¡± ¡°Moreover, I suspect that there must be other powers tipping off the bandits about the caravans¡­¡± Tie Qinghua¡¯s gaze sharpened, showing a hint of hatred. ¡°Oh? Who might that be?¡± ¡°The Wang Family in South City¡­¡± ¡°If I remember correctly, the Wang Family has always had a good relationship with your Tie Family,¡± Chen Yuan said, looking straight at Tie Qinghua, his eyes flickering, considering something. ¡°That was in the past. Ever since my elder brother passed away, the Wang Family has repeatedly tested us. Two of my gambling houses have been taken by them¡­ They want the foundations of the Tie Family!¡± Tie Qinghua took a deep breath, her words seemingly repressing anger. ¡°So¡­ what you mean is?¡± ¡°Destroy the Wang Family, and Brother Yuan will not only gain a sum of silver but also establish authority¡­¡± Tie Qinghua whispered. ¡°Establish authority?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes beneath the mask flashed with a glimmer of murderous intent; Tie Qinghua, it seemed, had discovered his identity! Tie Qinghua¡¯s gaze stalled, realizing she had unintentionally spoken out of turn. She remained silent, her eyes darting to the ground, thinking about how to explain herself. But Chen Yuan did not choose to feign ignorance. Instead, he sat down beside Tie Qinghua and said indifferently: ¡°It appears you have already discovered my identity.¡± Chen Yuan lightly touched his wrist, where a hidden crossbow was primed and ready. If he could discern from Tie Qinghua¡¯s words that she had guessed Tie Xuan¡¯s death was his doing, then¡­ he could not leave her alive today. He would not leave any loose ends for himself. Sensing the veiled murderous intent behind Chen Yuan¡¯s mask, Tie Qinghua lifted her head to look at him and said: ¡°Yuan Chen, Chen Yuan¡­ Brother Yuan, you¡¯ve concealed yourself so deeply¡­¡± Chen Yuan inwardly cursed himself for still not being cautious enough and said in a low voice, ¡°Is it that simple for you to deduce my true identity?¡± ¡°Of course not, elder brother once taught me to see the essence through the phenomena, who stands to gain the most from the Huang Family¡¯s annihilation? The one who benefits most is likely the one manipulating everything from behind.¡± ¡°The recently famous Chen Yuan, the arrest officer, is of the Blood Refining Realm, and Brother Yuan is also of the Blood Refining Realm. And then, think about Brother Yuan informing me of the Huang Family¡¯s entanglement with the Demon Dao villains of the No-Life Sect, is it hard to guess?¡± Tie Qinghua said so. It was only after she heard the news about Chen Yuan that she started piecing all this together. It seemed a bit too coincidental. Originally, she planned to feign ignorance, but Chen Yuan arrived before her thoughts had shifted, resulting in her unintended slip of the tongue. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered uncertainly, and he thought to himself, indeed one should not underestimate anyone; the connection between him and Yuan Chen, once carefully considered, was indeed profound. To see the essence through the phenomena, Tie Xuan was truly talented! ¡°You are a clever person.¡± Chen Yuan slowly took off the black iron mask from his face, revealing a handsome visage. Tie Qinghua looked at Chen Yuan and chuckled self-mockingly, ¡°It¡¯s the arrest officer Chen Yuan who is truly clever, playing everyone into clapping their hands. And yet, with only Blood Refining Cultivation, he has ascended to the position of arrest officer of a county, commanding nearly a hundred government officials.¡± Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, surprised by how far Tie Qinghua¡¯s conjectures had gone. Heaven knows, his original purpose was only to obtain the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl; he had never coveted the position of arrest officer. His promotion was due not only to his strength but also to a fortunate coincidence. If among Li Mingqi¡¯s men there had been another Bone Refining expert, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to sit in this position. However, Chen Yuan had no intention of explaining. The more Tie Qinghua conjectured, the better¡ªprovided, of course, she didn¡¯t guess that he was the one who had killed Tie Xuan. Otherwise¡­ ¡°My original plan was to reveal my identity to Brother Tie after taking the position of arrest officer, so that together, we could handle anyone in the Ping¡¯an County Government, aside from the County Magistrate and the County Magistrate. What a pity¡­¡± Chen Yuan sighed lightly, but his eyes were roaming up and down Tie Qinghua¡¯s body, watching her every subtle move. Tie Qinghua let out a breath and suddenly stood up, kneeling on one knee towards Chen Yuan, and said in a low voice, ¡°Only after becoming the head of a family have I realized how heavy this burden is. Qinghua hopes to submit to arrest officer Chen Yuan from now on, the Tie Family will pay a monthly tribute of fifty silver taels for your protection!¡± Tie Qinghua did not connect Chen Yuan with Tie Xuan¡¯s death, because there was no conflict of interest between them. Even if Chen Yuan killed Tie Xuan, he would not benefit; as now, someone else had taken the jailer¡¯s position. Moreover, Tie Qinghua was very confident in Tie Xuan¡¯s abilities; she believed that Chen Yuan¡¯s Blood Refining Realm cultivation would find it difficult to match her elder brother, attributing it to bad luck that he encountered the demon from the No-Life Sect. Of course, the most important reason was that the Tie Family now needed a backer, otherwise, she really couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. From within and without, they were all coveting the Tie Family¡¯s foundation. Her own strength was not outstanding, how could she protect it all? Chen Yuan indeed had exploited Tie Xuan to eradicate the Huang Family; his elder brother¡¯s death was somewhat connected to him, but she no longer wanted to make any more enemies. The incident at the Sanhe Boxing Club had already spread throughout Ping¡¯an County. The new arrest officer Chen Yuan killed Sun Xiong with a single strike and scared off Xu Changming, a highly respected Bone Refining expert, proving his strength was not inferior to that of a Bone Refining expert. How could she dare to consider such an existence her enemy? Her true enemies were the Demon Dao fiends from the No-Life Sect who had killed her brother! Not Chen Yuan! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª It is said that those who love to give Monthly Tickets are very enduring, is that so? Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Annihilate the Bandits! Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Annihilate the Bandits! Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted slightly, his fingers gently tapping on the tabletop, as he watched Tie Qinghua kneeling on the ground, seeking protection. But in his mind, he wondered if she had guessed that Tie Xuan¡¯s death was related to him. In his thoughts, he linked the details of the past and present. On the surface, there were indeed no grudges or financial disputes between him and Tie Xuan. So¡­ Chen Yuan stood up and helped Tie Qinghua to her feet, speaking softly, ¡°For the sake of Brother Tie, I shall protect the Tie Family!¡± ¡°Thank you, my lord¡­¡± Tie Qinghua revealed a slight, relieved smile. With the protection of Arrest Officer Chen, the Tie Family would certainly have nothing to worry about. She could finally take a breath of relief. ¡°However, fifty taels of silver is too little, make it one hundred.¡± Chen Yuan extended one finger. Tie Qinghua hesitated. One hundred taels of silver was indeed beyond her budget, and with the current situation of the Tie Family, it was impossible to afford such an amount every month for Chen Yuan. But seeing the uncompromising look on Chen Yuan¡¯s face, Tie Qinghua did not dare to retort and merely nodded, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 ¡°If my lord says one hundred taels, then it shall be one hundred taels!¡± Yet in her mind, she thought about how to expand the Tie Family¡¯s business. She had seen some of Chen Yuan¡¯s character; he was definitely a rather cold-hearted person, not to be defied. Chen Yuan, with one hand behind his back, slightly curved the corners of his mouth, ¡°Rest assured, with me here, while the Tie Family might not dominate South City, they will definitely hold a significant share. That Wang Family you mentioned is not bad, their foundation will be under your control from now on.¡± He did not have time to deal with these matters; he just needed to sit and await his tribute. Thus, he would truly hold significant power in Ping¡¯an County from then on. His monthly income from silver would be no less than that of Li Mingqi, of course, unless Li Mingqi had other sources of income. Tie Qinghua was astounded for a moment, but quickly responded. It seemed that Arrest Officer Chen was likely set to make an example of the Wang Family to establish his authority. She clasped her hands and bowed slightly, ¡°Thank you, my lord. Qinghua will ensure these businesses are well managed for my lord.¡± ¡­ ¡­ The next day, early morning. As Chen Yuan anticipated, indeed, several local forces united and came to the County Government, hoping it would advocate for them. Their goods had been robbed within the territory of Ping¡¯an County, so they naturally rushed to report to the Government. Otherwise, their annual tributes would have been given in vain. If it were just one family, perhaps the Government would have ignored it, but with six merchant convoys involved, valued at nearly a thousand taels, no one could afford to overlook it. Some families might even decline due to this single incident of raiding. Both the County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng and County Magistrate Li Mingqi summoned Chen Yuan, who was responsible for apprehending the thieves, to the County Government at once. As Chen Yuan walked in with a calm demeanor, the heads of the six families scrutinized him, doubting whether such a young arrest officer could eliminate those ruthless bandits. Tie Qinghua looked straight ahead, shifting her gaze immediately after it met Chen Yuan¡¯s. Without Chen Yuan¡¯s permission, she truly did not have the courage to expose herself. ¡°This humble officer greets the esteemed Magistrates.¡± Looking up at the seated County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng and County Magistrate Li Mingqi, Chen Yuan met their gaze and bowed slightly. ¡°Chen Yuan, how do you fulfill your duties as an arrest officer? Such atrocities have occurred within the county, and you¡¯re entirely unaware?¡± Wu Qingfeng spoke with a somewhat cold tone. He did not start with a rebuke, as that would seem unbecoming of his status. ¡°Replying to your honor, I have just taken office and indeed am not very familiar with the county¡­¡± said Chen Yuan in a low voice. ¡°What have you been doing these past few days?¡± Wu Qingfeng stared at Chen Yuan, a cold smile playing on his lips. ¡°I was ordered to investigate the whereabouts of the No-Life Sect criminals.¡± Chen Yuan said so. ¡°Under whose orders?¡± Li Mingqi furrowed his brows and coughed lightly: ¡°By the order of this official, arrest officer Chen has been investigating tirelessly these past few days, without even a moment¡¯s rest. How could he know about the incident that happened outside the town the day before yesterday?¡± ¡°County Magistrate Wu, do not be too harsh.¡± Wu Qingfeng squinted with a smile: ¡°I see, so arrest officer Chen has been so tirelessly investigating; he must have found something.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression did not change; he nodded directly: ¡°Indeed, there have been some traces, but it is not yet certain.¡± Wu Qingfeng¡¯s gaze stiffened, then he continued: ¡°Since that is the case, this official will wait to hear the good news from arrest officer Chen.¡± Li Mingqi coughed lightly twice: ¡°County Magistrate Wu, today is not the time to discuss the demon folk of the No-Life Sect.¡± ¡°Everyone, just inform arrest officer Chen of the situation in detail. The County Government will certainly do its utmost to track down those bandits¡­¡± Wu Qingfeng, unconcerned, smiled and looked at the several people sitting below. He then stood up, leaving the hall with his several scribes, leaving only Li Mingqi to hold the fort. The remaining Li Mingqi watched Wu Qingfeng¡¯s departing figure and hummed softly for a few moments, knowing well what game Wu Qingfeng was playing, leaving all these burdens to him while he himself had nothing to deal with. But he could not say much because, according to his duties, as the County Magistrate, it was indeed his responsibility. Chen Yuan raised his head, his gaze shifting slightly, revealing a trace of a smile, then he walked over to Li Mingqi and whispered a few words in his ear, making the corners of Li Mingqi¡¯s mouth twitch imperceptibly. He thought to himself that Chen Yuan was truly talented. The remaining Family Heads looked at each other, completely clueless about what Chen Yuan and the others were discussing, only feeling a somewhat ominous premonition. ¡°Gentlemen, please, let arrest officer Chen hear it,¡± Li Mingqi said indifferently. As his voice faded, a portly middle-aged man stood up and bowed to Chen Yuan: ¡°Arrest officer Chen, we¡­¡± After hearing the statement, Chen Yuan expressed a slight surprise: ¡°Do you all believe it was the bandits roaming near Ping¡¯an County who did it?¡± ¡°Aside from them, I fear no one else would dare touch our goods¡­¡± someone chimed in. ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve heard that these bandits are capable of all evils and have come from other states. It was thought they were merely passing through, yet they dared to make a move!¡± ¡°Arrest officer Chen, we hope that the government acts swiftly to exterminate these thieves and return peace to Ping¡¯an County,¡± someone said loudly. Chen Yuan glanced at him: ¡°Do you know where they are now? There are many mountains within Ping¡¯an County, and these bandits could hide anywhere. They¡¯re not so easily found.¡± The man fell silent in response. ¡°Arrest officer Chen, these are not our concerns. They should be the concerns of the government. I am only concerned about when my goods might return,¡± another person said sternly. ¡°I see, well then, you shall return and wait for the notification. Once they are eradicated, we will certainly inform you,¡± Chen Yuan said. Chen Yuan exhaled a lazy breath, seemingly tired, but more dismissive. ¡°Arrest officer Chen, what do you mean by this?¡± ¡°Is this how the County Government deals with bandits?¡± Seeing this scene, some grew angry. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze sharpened, and he picked up the long sword in his hand. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Horse Bandits Must Be Wiped Out! Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Horse Bandits Must Be Wiped Out! ¡°Swoosh!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s footsteps moved in an instant, a flash of white light from his blade passing by as he held the gleaming knife to the man¡¯s throat, his voice cold, ¡°Who are you to speak to a constable like that?¡± ¡°Since when does the County Government need to report its bandit extermination plans to you?¡± ¡°Chen¡­arrest officer Chen, why make such a big fuss out of nothing?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t, please don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Constable Chen, please, calm your anger.¡± Feeling the chill from the blade¡¯s edge, the middle-aged man who had the knife pressed against his neck broke out in cold sweat, which immediately began dripping from his forehead as he swallowed hard and said in a low voice: ¡°Constable Chen, please don¡¯t be rash; I indeed spoke too loudly just now¡­ Please don¡¯t lower yourself to my level.¡± Li Mingqi watched Chen Yuan¡¯s performance with a smile hooked on the corner of his mouth, quite intrigued. He was growing more and more satisfied with Chen Yuan, seeing him as a promising talent. It was a pity that he didn¡¯t have an eligible daughter, otherwise¡­ Chen Yuan glanced at him, then patted his shoulder, saying: ¡°Family Head Chen, I was just joking. Don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Of course, of course¡­¡± The man called Family Head Chen grinned stiffly. Just now, he had truly sensed a hint of killing aura. Seeing that Chen Yuan was no longer on the offensive, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn¡¯t that they were afraid, but that their goal wasn¡¯t to create conflict with the government. They wanted to find a way to retrieve their goods through official channels, and starting a conflict wouldn¡¯t be easy. This Chen Yuan was young and impulsive, quick to draw his sword at the slightest disagreement. Picking a fight with such a person was unwise! Chen Yuan looked at the several Family Heads stunned into silence and hooked his lips slightly, then declared loudly: ¡°The horse bandits must be exterminated!¡± ¡°You all have a profound understanding that these horse bandits do not blink an eye when killing people. They are indeed a great scourge to Ping¡¯an County. With these villains around, how can we be at peace?¡± ¡°I fear, you wouldn¡¯t even dare to leave the city on most days.¡± ¡°But¡­ to be frank with all of you, the County Government would like to take action, but we lack the silver to reward and compensate. Tell me, without silver, how can constables and government officials dare to risk their lives?¡± ¡°Then¡­ what do you propose, arrest officer Chen?¡± Someone asked with a frown. Chen Yuan glanced at Li Mingqi, who sat at the head of the table without showing any reaction, and said with a smile: ¡°My meaning is quite simple. If you want to exterminate bandits, you¡¯ll need to provide some silver. With that, the constables and officials under me will fight the horse bandits to the end!¡± The seated crowd looked at one another, understanding Chen Yuan¡¯s intention even if they were not the brightest. They could proceed with the bandit extermination, but they¡¯d need to provide silver, otherwise, who would risk their lives for them? ¡°Arrest officer Chen, we have always paid our monthly dues without fail, how is it that now¡­¡± someone said in a low voice, somewhat displeased. The amount of silver they provided yearly was not insignificant. Now, when there was actually something to be done, they were still being asked for money. There wasn¡¯t a single decent person among the officials! Chen Yuan¡¯s eyelids drooped as he said slowly: ¡°I have never seen that silver. How about this: whoever you gave your silver to, let them take care of exterminating the horse bandits for you.¡± Although taking bribes in secret was common, there were few who dared to be so blunt about it. Chen Yuan wanted to see if they would dare to name who they had been paying. ¡°Arrest officer Chen, how much are you asking for?¡± A portly middle-aged man stood up, silencing the others. He was very clear that the arrest officer Chen Yuan would not make a move until he saw benefit, and even if some influential figures pressured the constables of the County Government to go after the bandits, what could he do if they dragged their feet? His goods were what mattered most, and if there were delays, the compensation wouldn¡¯t be a small figure. ¡°Sir, how much do you think is appropriate for exterminating the bandits?¡± Chen Yuan did not make the decision himself but turned his gaze to Li Mingqi at the head of the table. Li Mingqi gave a knowing smile as if to say ¡®you¡¯re quite sensible,¡¯ and said indifferently: ¡°Exterminating bandits is indeed the County Government¡¯s duty. However, just like arrest officer Chen said, without sufficient rewards and compensations, the arrest officers in the government will not give it their all¡­ Each family should contribute fifty taels of silver, and the County Government will surely eradicate this scourge of horse bandits, returning a just and peaceful order to Ping¡¯an County!¡± Chen Yuan sneered inwardly. Li Mingqi truly was the County Magistrate, delivering such grand and lofty statements so impressively! The few Family Heads sitting down seemed hesitant, their gazes wandering. Fifty taels from each family was not a trivial amount; together, it added up to two hundred and fifty taels of silver. ¡°` It was almost a quarter of the value of that batch of goods. ¡°How is it, gentlemen, are you unwilling?¡± Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes as he scanned over them one by one. ¡°Fine, fifty taels it is!¡± The portly middle-aged man appeared to be quite authoritative, and after he made the decision, there were no further objections from the others. ¡°As soon as the silver arrives, the County Government will immediately begin suppressing the bandits!¡± Chen Yuan said in a firm voice. ¡°Good, Arrest Officer Chen is a forthright man, and I shall not be vague either. Before the darkness falls today, the Yang Family¡¯s silver will surely be delivered into your hands, Arrest Officer Chen!¡± The portly middle-aged man was very hearty. ¡°That is very good indeed!¡± Chen Yuan nodded slightly. After negotiating the silver, the remaining matters were very straightforward, merely a few more pleasantries in fact, and it wasn¡¯t long before the representatives of the several families left the County Government. Before leaving, Chen Yuan and Tie Qinghua exchanged a smile discreetly. ¡­ ¡­ ¡°My Lord, once they deliver the silver, I, your humble official, will have Wang Ping deliver it all to your residence,¡± Chen Yuan said with a smile after everyone had left. ¡°There¡¯s no need for such clever tricks, keep one hundred fifty taels for yourself, and bring only one hundred taels¡­¡± Li Mingqi said indifferently. ¡°Thank you, my Lord.¡± Chen Yuan promptly showed some respect. Li Mingqi gave Chen Yuan a penetrating look: ¡°Without the silver, it wouldn¡¯t matter if you couldn¡¯t suppress the bandits, but once you accept the silver, it becomes more complicated. They will surely find a way to report this to the higher authorities.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t my Lord here for that?¡± Chen Yuan spoke softly. Yet in his heart, he was scheming, taking half right off the bat, they couldn¡¯t possibly let this pass without even a fart, could they? ¡°Tell me, what are your plans?¡± Li Mingqi looked straight at Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan immediately replied: ¡°To be honest with my Lord, your humble official has already acquired some clues.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Li Mingqi was startled, Chen Yuan had clues already when these people had just come to file the report today? Even a divine detective couldn¡¯t do much better, could he? Instinctively, Li Mingqi was somewhat disbelieving. Chen Yuan took a deep breath and said: ¡°My Lord, do you know who that woman dressed in green among those five people was just now?¡± ¡°I naturally recognize Tie Xuan¡¯s sister,¡± Li Mingqi spoke softly. ¡°Right, it¡¯s the sister of the Head of the Tie Prison. With Tie Xuan¡¯s death, the Tie Family has faced a lot of exclusion, and many forces want to swallow up the Tie Family¡¯s foundation. And last night, Tie Qinghua found me, hoping I could protect her.¡± ¡°It was from her that I learned about this bandits¡¯ matter and also received some clues,¡± Chen Yuan said, carefully watching Li Mingqi¡¯s expression, after all, he and the late Tie Xuan were not on the same side before. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The follow-up has dropped quite a bit, brothers, don¡¯t nurture the book! ¡°` Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Lend You a Hand Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Lend You a Hand ¡°` If Li Mingqi was strongly opposed, Chen Yuan could only reluctantly give up the Tie Family¡¯s one hundred silver taels. After all, his swagger in Ping¡¯an County relied on the County Magistrate, Li Mingqi. He hadn¡¯t thought about hiding it because such matters couldn¡¯t be kept secret; sooner or later, Tie Qinghua would certainly use his name to establish a foothold in Ping¡¯an County. If Li Mingqi learned of it only then, it wouldn¡¯t be so simple. Of course, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t think that someone of Li Mingqi¡¯s stature would care about such a trivial matter. After Tie Xuan¡¯s death, the Tie Family no longer caught Li Mingqi¡¯s eye. A County Magistrate held high authority; in Ping¡¯an County, he was a supreme existence. Bothering with a minor force like the Tie Family was beneath his dignity. ¡°Tie Qinghua seeks your protection¡­¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s gaze shifted suddenly, and he let out a light chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Tie Qinghua¡¯s husband died a while ago, and now she¡¯s a widow. You wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Chen Yuan gave an embarrassed smile: ¡°You jest, my lord. I have no such intentions.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t matter if you did, she¡¯s just a woman after all.¡± Li Mingqi waved his hand, unconcerned. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï In this patriarchal world, a man¡¯s status indeed wasn¡¯t something a woman could compare with. ¡°What have you learned from Tie Qinghua¡¯s mouth?¡± Li Mingqi asked in a low voice. ¡°The Wang Family in South City might be colluding with those horse bandits.¡± ¡°The South City Wang Family?¡± Li Mingqi frowned; he hadn¡¯t heard of this family. ¡°It¡¯s just a small family; they¡¯ve always cooperated with the Tie Family. But since Tie Xuan¡¯s death, they¡¯ve essentially turned hostile, even seizing two of the Tie Family¡¯s gambling houses.¡± ¡°Tie Qinghua has an insider in the Wang Family; these pieces of information are all from the insider¡­¡± Chen Yuan lowered his voice a bit. ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t be sure yet, we can only say the likelihood is relatively high.¡± ¡°So what you¡¯re suggesting is¡­¡± ¡°Expropriate their property, execute the family, harsh interrogation and torture!¡± ¡°What if the Wang Family hasn¡¯t been in private communication with the horse bandits?¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s heart stirred, suddenly realizing that Chen Yuan was extremely ruthless, ready to annihilate families at the drop of a hat. ¡°If my lord says they¡¯ve communicated, then they have¡­¡± Chen Yuan smiled. The insider¡¯s matter wasn¡¯t false; the Tie Family and the Wang Family were deeply connected. Tie Qinghua indeed had someone inside the Wang Family, but the insider wasn¡¯t high ranking and didn¡¯t have access to many secrets. It was only a possibility. But it wasn¡¯t without credibility ¡ª several merchant caravans had been robbed within the city, yet the Wang Family had been unscathed. Alone, this fact was enough to arouse suspicion. Therefore, at the beginning, Tie Qinghua wanted to use Chen Yuan¡¯s power to eliminate the Wang Family. ¡°Chen Yuan, remember this: the County Government will never let an evil person go, but we absolutely cannot wrong a good person!¡± Li Mingqi said very earnestly. Chen Yuan: ¡°I will certainly heed my lord¡¯s instruction¡­¡± ¡°This Wang Family has dared to collude with horse bandits; it¡¯s a crime deserving of having their property confiscated. I leave it to you to handle¡­¡± ¡°Yes, my lord, your command shall be obeyed!¡± ¡­ ¡­ South City. Wang Family. The Wang Family Head paced back and forth in the room, frowning deeply, his face showing both worry and anger. He spoke in a low voice: ¡°These damned horse bandits, how dare they rob all those merchant caravans!¡± If only the Tie Family¡¯s caravans had been robbed, it wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal. After all, the Tie Family didn¡¯t have much strength now and would suffer a major blow, but robbing the other families as well was no small matter. They would surely report it to the authorities, and the Government might very well trace it back to the Wang Family! ¡°Father, what should we do now?¡± ¡°` A young man with an ordinary countenance listened to his father¡¯s words, and asked with some distress. ¡°What should we do?¡± The Wang Family head¡¯s gaze flickered slightly, and after a long silence, a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes as he whispered, ¡°Xuan¡¯er, have someone quickly set up a batch of fake goods and make it look like they were raided by horse bandits. No matter what, we cannot let the government officials trace it back to us.¡± The only plan for now was to muddy the waters, hoping that those powers and the government would not associate this with the Wang Family. ¡°Father, I¡¯ll go at once!¡± Wang Xuan nodded his head and turned to leave, but as soon as he reached the door, a protector from the household rushed in hurriedly, shouting, ¡°Family Head, disaster has struck, the place is surrounded by constables from the government!¡± Upon hearing this, the Wang Family head¡¯s skin crawled, and he collapsed onto the chair, letting out a long breath: ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over!¡± The strength of the Wang Family was meager, the strongest among them being him, with only Blood Refining Level cultivation. How could he possibly withstand the fierce and fiendish constables of the government? At this moment, the Wang Family head felt some regret. He should have reported to the authorities immediately after being held up by the horse bandits and returning to the County Government, instead of dreaming about using these bandits to make the Wang Family prosper and grow. Who could have foreseen that the bandits would not follow the plan and would capture all those powers in one fell swoop? Regret for the past! ¡­ Not far from the entrance of the Wang Family, inside a tavern, Chen Yuan sat leisurely drinking wine, quietly listening to the sounds of killing coming from within the Wang Family, while the young servant at his side trembled slightly. He looked at Chen Yuan with awe in his eyes. He clearly remembered that just a moment ago, at the young man¡¯s command, scores of government officials drew their swords and killed their way into the Wang Family, which held considerable strength in South City. Just one word determined life and death! The people of the Wang Family were regulars of this tavern, and even part of the tavern was owned by the Wang Family. He had seen how arrogant and overbearing they were. This contrasted starkly with the cries for mercy that echoed over now. ¡°Pour the wine¡­¡± Chen Yuan said indifferently. The servant dared not delay, holding the wine pot steadily with both hands, filling up the cup for this distinguished young official. ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Chen Yuan glanced at the servant. ¡°No¡­ not at all.¡± ¡°How is the Wang Family¡¯s behavior on ordinary days?¡± ¡°Arrogant and overbearing, bullying others with their power¡­¡± the servant quickly replied. ¡°Have you read books?¡± Chen Yuan asked, somewhat surprised. ¡°Heard it from a storyteller.¡± ¡°Not bad, very fitting. The Wang Family has done many evils; I¡¯m here today to seek justice for the common people.¡± Chen Yuan felt no psychological pressure. He did not enjoy oppressing the good; it was pointless. Since his arrival in this world, he had not killed a single good person; whether it was Tie Shou, Chen Ping¡¯an, that fellow from the Beihai Gang, or Tie Xuan. Their hands were stained with blood; not one of them was a good person, and their deaths were of no consequence. Chen Yuan did not want to play the hero, did not care for their way of doing things, but he was certainly not an evil person without a shred of conscience, unless a ¡®good person¡¯ gave him an undeniable reason to kill. He wasn¡¯t trying to flaunt anything; he was just giving himself some comfort. ¡°Sir, you are truly a paragon of justice in our times¡­¡± the servant said, swallowing his saliva in flattery. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, you really wield great authority now,¡± Wang Ping said with a chuckle. ¡°Work hard at your cultivation, and you can have a day like this too.¡± Wang Ping: ¡°I¡¯m too accustomed to being lax; Yuan¡¯er, you have to support me in the future.¡± ¡°I can only support you once at most¡­¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thanks to the likes of Lord Xuan, Hello Book Friends, Life in Confusion, and a few other book friends for their rewards and support. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Trading Locations Chapter 68: Chapter 68 Trading Locations Wang Ping was startled, then chuckled lightly, ¡°Chen Yuan, with the relationship the two of us have, you can¡¯t just help me out once, right¡­?¡± Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping and said, ¡°Wang Ping, remember, those who can give you a hand are brothers.¡± Wang Ping: ¡°And what about those who help me a lot?¡± ¡°They¡¯re women!¡± Wang Ping: ¡°???¡± He was confused. Why could Chen Yuan always say strange things that somehow made sense upon reflection? He was supposed to have attended more private schools than Chen Yuan. Watching Wang Ping standing there dumbfounded, Chen Yuan smiled but didn¡¯t explain, after all, Wang Ping had not received nine years of compulsory education. Naturally, he couldn¡¯t be as excellent as him. ¡°Alright, the Wang Family should now be powerless to resist. Let¡¯s see how this utterly heartless fellow has been colluding with the horse bandits.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk. Daring to steal from him was really asking for trouble! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡­ ¡­ ¡°You are the Family Head of the Wang Family?¡± Chen Yuan sat at the top of the hall, and below him knelt two people, their bodies bound by ropes, with traces of blood seeping from beneath their clothes. Wang Qian took a deep breath and squeezed out a sycophantic smile: ¡°Lord Chen, I am indeed the Family Head of the Wang Family, Wang Qian.¡± ¡°Now tell me, how have you been colluding with the horse bandits?¡± Chen Yuan was not surprised that Wang Qian could recognize him. Times had changed, and after a few days of developments, most of the forces in Ping¡¯an County had already gotten a rough understanding of him. Internally, Wang Qian became anxious. As expected, but he feigned ignorance: ¡°Lord Chen, what do you mean? Colluding with horse bandits? Heaven and earth are my witness, how could I possibly commit such a vile act? I hope you investigate thoroughly!¡± ¡°Do you think you can hide the evidence just because you won¡¯t confess?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression remained unaltered. ¡°Lord¡­I¡­¡± ¡°Since I dared to order a house search, it means I already have concrete evidence. Now, I am giving you a chance to live. Confess quickly or else¡­¡± ¡°Lord, the Wang Family really hasn¡¯t colluded with horse bandits, I am willing to swear¡­¡± ¡°Swearings are the least valuable thing. Are you really not going to speak?¡± Chen Yuan stared at Wang Qian with cold eyes. ¡°I really don¡¯t know where to begin, Lord, the Wang Family is truly being framed.¡± Chen Yuan nodded, glancing at Wang Ping: ¡°I heard that Young Master Wang once abducted a civilian girl, Wang Ping, castrate him!¡± Wang Ping chuckled, stepped forward, and with a kick, knocked down Wang Qian¡¯s son, Wang Xuan, to the ground, then assured Chen Yuan, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Chen Yuan, we¡¯ll definitely let the young master enjoy it thoroughly¡­¡± As he spoke, he directed two White Servants to lift Wang Xuan and were about to carry him out of the room. ¡°Dad¡­Dad, save me!¡± Seeing that they were serious, Wang Xuan panicked instantly. In the face of such an ordeal, no one could remain indifferent; to die would be preferable to being castrated, for what would be the point of living as a man then? Wang Qian¡¯s expression tightened as he looked toward Chen Yuan: ¡°Lord Chen, are you trying to force a confession by torture?¡± ¡°Yes, so what?¡± Chen Yuan nodded seriously. ¡°You¡­¡± Wang Qian choked on his words, finding Chen Yuan¡¯s blunt response unexpected, as if there was nothing wrong with it at all. ¡°Arrest officer Chen, forcing a confession is against the law, how can you knowingly break the law? Are you not afraid of repercussions reaching the higher-ups?¡± Wang Qian took a deep breath. Wang Ping dragged Wang Xuan into the courtyard and instructed his men to pull down his pants. ¡°This one¡­this Lord, live castration?¡± Wang Xuan¡¯s face was ashen, his legs trembling, his eyes filled with terror. Wang Ping covered his nose and mouth, gave a few careful looks, and said, ¡°You two, rummage around and see where that thing was hidden.¡± The two White Servants stifled their laughter, not particularly harmful but immensely insulting. Chen Yuan approached closer and with one kick flipped Wang Qian over, pressing his foot on his face, he whispered: ¡°In Ping¡¯an County, I am the law!¡± ¡°You have three breaths¡¯ time, and after the third breath, you will have one less son and one more daughter¡­¡± Chen Yuan extended a finger: ¡°One breath!¡± ¡°Two breaths!¡± Wang Qian¡¯s face on the ground flickered uncertainly as he opened his eyes: ¡°Lord Chen, I have spoken, please spare Xuan.¡± ¡°Of course, I, as an arrest officer, promise you.¡± ¡°Good, I trust you.¡± Wang Qian said very seriously. The main reason was that he had no other choice, knowing the arrest officer Chen Yuan¡¯s ruthless style and complete disregard for any bad consequences. In broad daylight, he dared to command men to force their way into homes and even have his only son castrated. He felt, even if he chose to die rather than speak, disregarding Xuan¡¯s safety, the Wang Family would basically be ruined, and what awaited him next would definitely be torture. ¡°Speak¡­¡± Chen Yuan settled back into the chair, his gaze fixed on Wang Qian. ¡°Seven days ago¡­¡± After hearing Wang Qian¡¯s story, Chen Yuan¡¯s expression flickered uncertainly; it turned out that five days ago, the Wang Family¡¯s caravan had already encountered a group of bandits who had drifted into the vicinity of Ping¡¯an County. Originally, Wang Qian thought he would certainly die, but unexpectedly, the leader of the bandits did not kill him but wanted to collaborate with him to establish a foothold inside Ping¡¯an County. The Wang Family worked inside and out with the bandits, secretly passing on various intelligence channels discovered by the Wang Family to the bandits, who also wanted to buy some cultivation resources through the Wang Family. Unfortunately, the Wang Family did not have the capacity to access these resources yet. Having escaped death, Wang Qian carefully weighed his options and decided to gamble; while the bandits wanted to use the Wang Family, he similarly hoped to leverage the power of the bandits to make the Wang Family the leading clan in Ping¡¯an County. But, he had not expected that during their first collaboration, an issue would arise; the bandits did not stick to the agreement to attack only the Tie Family¡¯s caravans but took advantage of the situation and captured several other clans¡¯ caravans as well. They left no survivors. Those bandits had double-crossed the Wang Family! ¡°Do you know the location of those bandits?¡± Chen Yuan tapped his finger on the table. After a moment of thought, Wang Qian cupped his hands and said: ¡°Those bandits come and go without a trace and didn¡¯t reveal their actual foothold.¡± ¡°How did you relay information to them then?¡± ¡°My people had to go to a location they designated.¡± ¡°What location?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s brow furrowed tightly; these bandits were quite cautious, never revealing their base of operations. ¡°Near a forest close to Cien Temple, that was the meeting place agreed upon last time.¡± ¡°And the next time?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Ping¡¯an Town.¡± ¡°Ping¡¯an Town?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze intensified. ¡°Yes, the place agreed upon after the last meeting is Ping¡¯an Town.¡± Chen Yuan let out a heavy sigh; the distance between these two places wasn¡¯t short, making it impossible to investigate them one by one. Moreover, since those bandits had betrayed the Wang Family this time, it was highly unlikely they would stick to the agreement for the next transaction. This was proving to be quite troublesome! Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes slightly moved. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69 is not about horse bandits Chapter 69: Chapter 69 is not about horse bandits Chen Yuan furrowed his brow, pacing back and forth in the room, his thoughts whirring madly as he tried to deduce the bandits¡¯ hideout. The map of Ping¡¯an County and the county annals were laid out together. Chen Yuan clearly remembered that when he had perused the county annals, he had noted the general terrain of Ping¡¯an County. Suddenly, Chen Yuan stopped in his tracks, turning his head sharply towards Wang Qian: ¡°How many bandits did you see in total?¡± Wang Qian recalled for a moment, then replied: ¡°About thirty or more.¡± ¡°Was there any kind of distinguishing mark on them?¡± Wang Qian¡¯s brow knitted tightly: ¡°Their clothes were very disheveled, it was hard to make out any markings, but the weapons they held were well-ordered, standard cavalry sabers.¡± ¡°Standard cavalry sabers¡­¡± Vaguely, Chen Yuan felt he was on to something and hastily asked: ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°The leader of the bandits wore a mask, making it impossible to see his face¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À0.§ã¦Ï Wang Qian did not dare to hide anything and told Chen Yuan everything he knew. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is!¡± A gleam of realization flashed across Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Take the family head of the Wang family and the young master of the Wang family to the prison, waiting for disposition!¡± Chen Yuan fixed his gaze on Wang Qian for a moment. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Zhao Ning.¡± Chen Yuan called out. ¡°At your service,¡± Zhao Ning, who had previously accompanied Chen Yuan to Ping¡¯an Town, stepped forward. Chen Yuan waved him over, and Zhao Ning bowed and walked up to Chen Yuan. ¡°Go to the County Government, find the county magistrate, and tell him¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I am on my way immediately.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze slowly swept over the crowd: ¡°Everyone, follow me!¡± He pieced together Wang Qian¡¯s words and his recollection of Ping¡¯an County¡¯s terrain, and made a judgment; those people were very likely not just bandits but military bandits! Moreover, they were not intending to establish a foothold in Ping¡¯an County but rather to pass through Ping¡¯an County to reach other regions. If they wanted to establish a foothold, they definitely would not conduct a one-time deceitful deal that would doom the Wang family. ¡­ ¡­ Night fell, and all was silent. In Ping¡¯an County, ten miles west of the city. Dozens of riders traveled down the sole path, cloths of various colors tied around the horses¡¯ legs to dampen the sound of their hooves, with only a few torches lit. The person in the lead wore a mask, his eyes fierce as he surveyed his surroundings as if on guard. ¡°Sir.¡± One of the bandits urged his horse a bit closer. The masked man scolded: ¡°How many times have I told you, my current identity is the bandit Han Feihu, if there¡¯s a next time, it¡¯s twenty lashes!¡± The bandit hastily replied: ¡°Yes, big¡­big brother, I will remember.¡± Han Feihu snorted coldly: ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Someone has already scouted ahead, and nothing unusual was found.¡± Han Feihu nodded, and the eyes beneath his mask looked in the direction of the county seat, his lips slightly curling into a cold sneer. Chen Yuan guessed correctly; he wasn¡¯t really Han Feihu but a centurion from the frontier, who, due to his underestimation, led to the death of most of his soldiers. He dared not return to his post, for returning was tantamount to death. After much deliberation, he decided to leave the frontier and flee to a highly chaotic area in the heart of the Central Plains, seeking refuge with a brother with whom he had once worked. As for the real ¡°Han Feihu,¡± he had long been killed by his hand; to avoid the government, he had disguised himself as Han Feihu. He hadn¡¯t intended to cause trouble when passing through Ping¡¯an County this time. However, his cultivation resources and other living supplies had been completely exhausted; he could only risk passing through the Wang Family¡¯s territory to acquire several influential merchant routes and plunder their resources to sustain his own and his subordinates¡¯ cultivation. As for the Liu Family, he had unexpectedly interacted with Liu Shuanghe once before and had to yield due to fearing his strength. Yet, Liu Shuanghe shamelessly thought of winning him over with just two of his children. If it weren¡¯t for fearing that Liu Shuanghe might go mad, Han Feihu would have killed those two long ago, especially that girl called Ruoqing. The momentary disdain in her eyes made Han Feihu wish she could experience the fear of death. Just two days ago, they had even sent someone to order him to kill the arrest officer of Ping¡¯an County, which was utterly nonsensical. Did they really think that with the channels for cultivation resources, they could treat him as their hired thug? He wasn¡¯t that foolish! What he sought was to safely leave Ping¡¯an County, not to recklessly engage in combat. Military law is as weighty as a mountain; his desertion had certainly triggered a manhunt by the court. If revealed, his life would be in grave danger. With his mere peak Bone Refining strength, he couldn¡¯t possibly withstand the pursuit of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau. ¡°Ping¡¯an County, what a good name; I hope it truly can keep me safe¡­¡± Han Feihu murmured. The reason he chose to leave at night was also that the path to the next county could only be accessed through this narrow road; otherwise, he would have to take a detour that would take nearly ten more days. Using the Wang Family as a pawn to mislead others was also part of Han Feihu¡¯s plotting. Otherwise, the goods he had plundered from the Wang Family that first time would not have escaped. Han Feihu continued leading his horse team, and after a while, his brow furrowed; the surrounding area was unusually silent, devoid of any insect chirps or bird calls. You should know, it was now summer. Being very cautious, Han Feihu raised his right hand, and the horse team behind him immediately reined in their horses to a stop. ¡°Big brother.. what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ve already scouted ahead?¡± Han Feihu asked with a stern tone. ¡°I¡¯ve really already checked.¡± Han Feihu¡¯s gaze flickered uncertainly, and he said in a low voice: ¡°Go and scout ahead one more time, something feels off, it¡¯s too quiet here.¡± For some reason, a deep unease lingered in his heart. He had experienced this feeling during his previous underestimate and recklessness. Han Feihu reassured himself, perhaps it was just an overthought. All along his journey, he intentionally spread some news that he was going to settle in Ping¡¯an County; he even rested nearby the county for several days. No one could possibly guess his real intention was simply to pass through as a feint. Thus, not only would the officials of Ping¡¯an County search for him within the county, but also the potential court experts who might pursue him would stay in Ping¡¯an County for a while. The vast expanse of Ping¡¯an County territory was enough to exhaust their efforts to search, and he, after plundering those cultivation resources, wouldn¡¯t need to stop for rest mid-way and could directly reach his destination. ¡°Yes.¡± The bandit dismounted and, holding a torch in his hand, slowly approached the dense forest ahead. And within the forest, about forty steps away from them, lay numerous government officials, breathing quietly and daring not to make a sound. The bandit stepped closer to the forest with each step, the torch illuminating a few yards around him. Though his heart felt hairy, he dared not defy Han Feihu¡¯s command. The bandit who had previously defied him was already dead. ¡°Big brother, there¡¯s nothing here¡­¡± The bandit quickly scanned the area and shouted back loudly. But before he could finish his sentence, he looked up and saw a flash of Qing light. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Secret Realm! Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Secret Realm! Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes shimmered with green light, his heart filled with joy¡ªanother individual blessed with Qi Fortune had appeared! Liu Shuanghe was currently beyond his strength to contend with, but these horse bandits were manageable. ¡°Pfft.¡± A bright flash of a blade in the darkness was extraordinarily conspicuous, instantly severing the head of the loud-mouthed bandit! Chen Yuan leapt down from the tree, shouting loudly: ¡°Take action!¡± Upon Chen Yuan¡¯s command, all the hidden Government Officials stood up. ¡°Swoosh swoosh swoosh!!!¡± A barrage of crossbow arrows, primed and ready, shot forth. When Han Feihu heard that scream, he instantly knew there was an ambush nearby, but before he could issue a warning, a dense volley of crossbow arrows came shooting from the front and side. ¡°Be on guard!¡± ¡°Dismount!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Han Feihu stepped on the horseback to leverage himself, rolling several times in the air, dodging the first wave of crossbow arrows. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Save me¡­¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Han Feihu wasn¡¯t much harmed, but his horse bandits, unprepared for the attack, were shot down in an instant, leaving only a dozen or so lying on the ground using horse corpses as shields. After a round of crossbow arrows, dozens of torches ignited amidst the forest ahead, illuminating the surroundings. ¡°May I know who is ahead? Has Han ever offended your esteemed self?¡± Han Feihu bellowed. The crossbow mechanisms were too slow to rearm. Chen Yuan raised his hand, and all the Government Officials discarded their crossbows on the ground, drew their standard-issue long swords, and the crisp sound of blades being unsheathed rang out. ¡°Kill!¡± Chen Yuan issued a commanding cry, and all the Government Officials charged forward courageously. Before the ambush, Chen Yuan had increased the rewards¡ªkilling one bandit would be rewarded with one piece of Silver, and he didn¡¯t intend to embezzle any of the one hundred and fifty pieces of suppression Silver. He didn¡¯t have much to begin with, so he might as well use it to win hearts. Indeed, Chen Yuan¡¯s idea was correct. With the promise of Silver rewards, all the Government Officials and constables fought fearlessly. Chen Yuan had assured them that if anyone died in battle, they would receive an additional ten pieces of Silver, in addition to the portion from the County Government. Of course, there were penalties for rewards. Anyone who held back or deliberately shirked would be held accountable afterward. After Chen Yuan¡¯s previous feats of killing Sun Xiong with a single stroke and annihilating the Wang Family, his authority had essentially been established. A distance of forty steps was very short; the horse bandits hadn¡¯t the time to mount and charge. Han Feihu cursed under his breath and roared: ¡°Brothers, slaughter these bastards for me!¡± The bandits, daring not to disobey, drew their sabers and charged on foot! Han Feihu¡¯s gaze condensed, flickering for a moment, and with a few strides, his figure vanished into the night. Even though the forty-some Government Officials and constables were individually weaker than the bandits, they had the advantage in numbers. Several surrounding one, the bandits were almost instantly at a severe disadvantage in the combat. Chen Yuan opened his Heavenly Eye, his eyes emitting green light, staring intently at the luminous individual nearby. Seeing him attempt to flee, the corner of his mouth curled up. In the dark night, the Qi Fortune glowing with green light was like a beacon, impossible to hide. Glancing at the situation in the field and seeing the bandits being overwhelmed, with victory only a matter of time, Chen Yuan stopped bothering with them and immediately pursued the fleeing ¡®Qi Fortune.¡¯ Previously, Chen Yuan had sent Zhao Ning to find Li Mingqi, to call upon the crossbow mechanisms from within the County Government¡¯s armory. He was facing horse bandits, who gained immense strength and speed when aided by their mounts. If they were allowed to charge¡­ Most of the men Chen Yuan had brought would die. Now, however, it was different. After a round of crossbow arrow fire, these horse bandits were essentially disabled. Off their horses, they were like lambs to the slaughter. ¡­ ¡­ In the dense forest, Chen Yuan¡¯s hand gripped the hilt of his blade tightly, standing still. The corner of his mouth slightly curled up, then, rapidly covered by Golden Paint beneath his clothes. ¡°Swoosh!¡± The long sword flashed out of its scabbard, dazzlingly bright. Chen Yuan, using the leverage, leapt up abruptly, slashing towards a dark figure in the tree. ¡°Clang.¡± With a more focused gaze, Han Feihu¡¯s hand-held horse saber clashed with the long sword in Chen Yuan¡¯s hand, emitting a sound of metal striking metal, and in an instant, he dropped from the trunk to the ground. ¡°May I ask who you are?¡± Han Feihu stepped back immediately after striking, his gaze warily fixed on Chen Yuan. A sense of unease was creeping into his heart; he hadn¡¯t expected that, despite his superb skills in disguise, he couldn¡¯t deceive the young man before him in the darkness of night. It truly surprised him. What he didn¡¯t know was that someone with Qi Fortune, like Chen Yuan, was as clear as a beacon in his eyes. ¡°Chen Yuan!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s long sword pointed directly at Han Feihu, his heart equally on alert. With his burst of surprise attack, even a Bone Refining expert should not have been able to dodge, yet this horse bandit was so incredibly strong. Chen Yuan felt that his strength was even on par with that of Tie Xuan. ¡°Are you the new arrest officer of Ping¡¯an County, the honorable Chen Yuan?¡± Han Feihu¡¯s eyes flashed with astonishment. From the Liu Family¡¯s words, the man before him should have only been at the Blood Refining level. How could he be so strong? ¡°You know me?¡± Chen Yuan was slightly surprised; he had been in office for just a few days, and this horse bandit seemed to know something about him, which was definitely odd. ¡°Liu Shuanghe sent someone to find me a few days ago, hoping that I would kill arrest officer Chen for him. It was from him that I learned something about arrest officer Chen.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Chen Yuan shifted his stance slightly, not surprised to hear the name Liu Shuanghe¡ªit was indeed him who wanted to kill him. ¡°However, Han really doesn¡¯t wish to be enemies with the government, so I refused.¡± ¡°So I should thank you?¡± Han Feihu narrowed his eyes, carefully watching Chen Yuan¡¯s movements, and said with a smile: ¡°No need for that. Han and arrest officer Chen have no prior acquaintance, nor any grudges. Why should we fight here to a mutual defeat, to the death of one and the survival of the other?¡± Chen Yuan: ¡°What does Brother Han suggest?¡± ¡°Let me leave. The horse bandits are enough for arrest officer Chen to close the case. From then on, you and I can be friends.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered, seemingly weighing something. Han Feihu immediately struck while the iron was hot: ¡°If arrest officer Chen is willing to let me leave, I am willing to tell you a secret, a huge one.¡± ¡°What secret?¡± Han Feihu said with a very serious face: ¡°Han once came across a memoir which vaguely contains references to an entrance to a Secret Realm in Blood State, a place filled with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re interested, arrest officer Chen, perhaps we could team up to enter the Secret Realm and share the Spiritual Objects equally.¡± Chen Yuan chuckled lightly: ¡°Does Brother Han customarily write memoirs?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Do you think what¡¯s written down could be true?¡± Han Feihu remained silent, seemingly pondering how to extricate himself. ¡°Ha ha, Brother Han, your strength is astonishing, and Chen cannot take you down. Alright, you may leave¡­¡± Chen Yuan stepped aside, clearing the path. Han Feihu¡¯s face brightened with joy, he shifted his feet and bowed to Chen Yuan, saying: ¡°Then I truly thank arrest officer Chen. In the future¡­¡± But when he drew within five steps of Chen Yuan, Han Feihu suddenly threw a handful of lime and swung his horse saber straight at Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan promptly retreated a step and fired a miniature crossbow arrow from his wrist. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Cien Temple Blood Evil Saber! Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Cien Temple Blood Evil Saber! The two men erupted into action nearly simultaneously. Chen Yuan closed his eyes to avoid the lime, and in the moment he fired the crossbow arrow, Han Feihu also felt a cold gust of wind and instinctively dodged to the side. But the crossbow arrow still grazed Han Feihu¡¯s cheek. ¡°Heh, resorting to sneak attacks, Arrest Officer Chen? That¡¯s hardly the conduct of a gentleman!¡± Han Feihu wiped the blood from his face, snorted coldly, and took several steps forward, slashing at Chen Yuan. ¡°Cling.¡± The saber in Han Feihu¡¯s hand was swept aside by Chen Yuan¡¯s sword. Then, supporting himself against a tree trunk behind him with his right leg, he drew back, gathered his strength, and thrust his long sword directly at Han Feihu¡¯s chest. ¡°Is throwing lime the act of a gentleman?¡± Chen Yuan scoffed coldly, his long sword slashing continuously. Employing the fiercely aggressive Six Harmonies Saber Technique bolstered by his own formidable strength, Chen Yuan actually forced Han Feihu, who was at the peak of Bone Refining Cultivation, back several steps. The two battled, blades flashing within several yards, cutting down the nearby grass and trees cleanly. ¡°You are at the Bone Refining Cultivation level!¡± Han Feihu retreated several steps, his face darkening and his arm growing numb. Chen Yuan did not reply but continued to press forward, leaving Han Feihu to think whatever he wanted. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Chen Yuan¡¯s long sword swept horizontally, aiming for Han Feihu¡¯s head. He somersaulted and landed on a large rock, leaping into the air, his right leg kicking toward Chen Yuan¡¯s chest. ¡°Get lost!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s left fist clenched, bursting with a golden glow under the cover of night, colliding with Han Feihu¡¯s right leg. ¡°Bang!¡± The terrifying force directly sent Han Feihu flying, stumbling backward several steps on the ground before he could stabilize himself. With his right leg trembling slightly, Han Feihu reached down to hold it, his expression dark and unstable. Suddenly, a piercing pain surged from his cheek, and he fearfully reached up to touch it. The skin that had been punctured by the crossbow arrow was now festering¡­ ¡°The arrow was poisoned!¡± Han Feihu roared. Chen Yuan sneered and ignored Han Feihu¡¯s words. Why would he equip a miniature crossbow on his arm if not to use poison? Its killing power was not significant on its own. Taking a step forward, Chen Yuan held the sword in both hands, focusing all his will on the blade and slashing out. ¡°Boom!¡± Han Feihu¡¯s saber used for blocking shattered directly. Chen Yuan¡¯s long sword slashed across his chest, ripping through his clothes and embedding deeply into his flesh. Chen Yuan tried to withdraw the sword but found it stuck fast, Han Feihu, enduring the pain, grinned with a cruel smile. He gripped the blade with his left hand and with his broken saber in his right, he fiercely thrust upward. He was ready to trade life for life! Having survived numerous close encounters during years of frontier battles, Han Feihu¡¯s tenacity stemmed from his fearlessness of death. ¡°Tear!¡± With the broken saber in Han Feihu¡¯s hand moving from bottom to top, Chen Yuan¡¯s clothes were torn, but before he could feel pleased, he saw a very alarming sight. Chen Yuan¡¯s body emitted a faint dark golden light, quite conspicuous under the moonlight. The cut made by Han Feihu left only a white mark on him. Chen Yuan clenched his right fist and seized the moment to throw a punch at Han Feihu¡¯s head. ¡°Boom!¡± Blood splattered; with one punch, Han Feihu¡¯s head shattered like a watermelon, mixing blood and brains together, the stench assaulting the senses. A faint, cool breeze flowed into Chen Yuan¡¯s mind, and in his haze, he seemed to see that somewhat damaged, mysterious altar absorbing that Qi Fortune. A stream of information flooded into his mind. Cien Temple, Blood Evil Saber! Chen Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm as he took a deep breath, wiped the blood stains off his body with his outer garments, and squatting down, he whispered, ¡°It¡¯s either you die or I live!¡± However, this time it was indeed a bit perilous had Han Feihu not wielded a broken saber and had Chen Yuan not cultivated the Vajra Glaze Body, that strike would have severely injured Chen Yuan. But the broken saber was too short, the force behind Han Feihu¡¯s strike was insufficient, and only a minor effect was felt by Chen Yuan coupled with the extremely strong protective ability of the Vajra Glaze Body. Thus, it merely left a white mark from the strike. Chen Yuan closed his eyes, recalling the perilous moment, his spirit exceedingly serene. Han Feihu¡¯s strength had definitely reached the level of Tie Xuan, and his success in killing him meant that Chen Yuan¡¯s strength was now almost second to none among any Bone Refining expert in Ping¡¯an County. After summarizing the event, Chen Yuan began to focus on the information from the Qi Fortune Altar just received. Cien Temple, Blood Evil Saber! Again Cien Temple, Chen Yuan¡¯s first opportunity had come from obtaining the incomplete manuscripts of the Vajra Glaze Body within Cien Temple, and previously Zhao Nanshan had also told him that Cien Temple might be somehow related to the demon-like beings of the No-Life Sect. Chen Yuan had intended to investigate again after stepping into the Bone Refining Level, but unexpectedly, the information from the Qi Fortune Altar now pointed again towards Cien Temple. The Blood Evil Saber, just by the name, doesn¡¯t sound like an ordinary weapon; Chen Yuan guessed it might possibly be a Demon Blade. But¡­ He still wanted to possess it. ¡­ ¡­ Chen Yuan, with his upper body bare, returned to the site of the earlier ambush when the battle had completely concluded. Most of the bandits had been killed, leaving only one survivor. The only regret was, they only caught three horses; the others either died from the chaos of flying arrows or vanished into the night startled. Throwing Han Feihu¡¯s mangled body on the ground, a government official immediately came forward, holding his nose, and picked up the corpse. His gaze swept over everyone, and Chen Yuan said solemnly, ¡°After returning, you divide those one hundred and twenty taels of reward silver, and the remaining thirty taels give to the wounded.¡± Chen Yuan had no interest in coveting those trifles. The elixir found on Han Feihu was already very valuable. There were also those three strong warhorses, each worth a few dozen taels of silver, especially with the new directions obtained from the Qi Fortune Altar, this time, it was worth it! ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± ¡°Thank you, sir!¡± Upon hearing Chen Yuan¡¯s words, the assembly of government officials immediately shouted out, their respect for Chen Yuan greatly increased. The one hundred and fifty taels of silver divided among them meant that each person got at least two taels, and the wounded constables could even get ten taels. More than their monthly salary, and of course, the older government officials received substantially more silver than the younger ones, with the White Servants getting the least. And Chen Yuan, as the arrest officer, did not take a single tael for himself. They all knew under the deliberate promotion by Wang Ping about a total of two hundred and fifty taels of silver, with one hundred taels taken by those higher up and only one hundred and fifty taels left. As to who took it at the top, they were also basically clear. Chen Yuan nodded slightly watching everyone¡¯s excited demeanor. Averaging the distribution was not advisable, as the older government officials were stronger and faced greater pressure. If they received the same amount as the younger officials, there would inevitably be dissatisfaction. Not only would it fail to win people¡¯s hearts, but it would also stir up their discontent. ¡°Cut off the heads of everyone and bring them back to the County Government with those goods. We will discuss merits and reward tomorrow!¡± Chen Yuan waved, speaking loudly. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª No need to nurture books, just get up from my seat! Brothers who read books, come and comment when you have nothing else to say, if you really don¡¯t have anything to say, just praise the author¡¯s endurance! Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 72: The 6th Blood Refining Chapter 72: Chapter 72: The 6th Blood Refining ¡°` The following day. After completing a night of cultivation, Chen Yuan awoke from his meditative state, a sharp glint in his eyes as he exhaled a turbid breath. Having refined all of the Blood Essence Pills and eight Tiger Bone Pills over the course of the night, Chen Yuan had completed his sixth Blood Refining. His strength had increased yet again, but the amplification was not as formidable as before. Even the top-tier Body Refining Divine Skills have their limits; it is not possible for each session of Blood Refining to yield an explosive increase in strength. In fact, as the number of Blood Refining sessions increased, the effect would gradually diminish. However, the gold color in his blood had become richer. Even with the reduced effect, it was still many times stronger than those ordinary cultivation techniques that allowed for only three Blood Refining sessions. Chen Yuan stood up and twisted his neck slightly, causing a series of cracking sounds. He had now completed the majority of the nine Blood Refining sessions he planned. He estimated that the Tiger Bone Pills he possessed would be enough to support him through one more refinement. Just from Han Feihu alone, Chen Yuan had found ten Tiger Bone Pills and several Blood Essence Pills, and the combined total from the remaining bandits was only about ten. All these items had fallen into Chen Yuan¡¯s hands. The Government Officials merely pretended not to see, after all, Chen Yuan had been generous enough to them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï As for where all the cultivation resources of the merchant caravan had gone? Of course, they had been used up by those bandits! Chen Yuan put on his arrest officer¡¯s official attire, hanging on the wall, feeling refreshed. A night of cultivation was more comforting than a whole night¡¯s sleep. ¡°Screech¡­¡± Wang Ping pushed open the door and entered Chen Yuan¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Brother Yuan¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Chen Yuan finished dressing and stepped out of his room to look at Wang Ping. ¡°Shall we go to the County Government together?¡± Chen Yuan nodded and scooped up some cool water from the basin in front of him to wash his face: ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°By the way, Brother Yuan, the Wang father and son are still locked up in the prison. What should be done with them?¡± Wang Ping asked casually, hurrying to follow behind Chen Yuan. ¡°I promised them their lives would be spared.¡± ¡°Understood¡­¡± Wang Ping nodded. ¡°What do you understand? I made the promise, not you,¡± Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping. Wang Ping¡¯s expression became momentarily blank, and then he laughed softly: ¡°Understood.¡± After buying some breakfast from Zhou¡¯s Steamed Bun Shop, Chen Yuan and Wang Ping ate as they walked, soon arriving at the County Government where all the Government Officials came up to greet them. Their eyes were filled with awe when they looked at Chen Yuan. ¡°My Lord¡­¡± Zhao Ning hurried over to Chen Yuan with dark circles under his eyes. ¡°How did the interrogation go?¡± Chen Yuan asked. Having left a survivor from the previous day, Chen Yuan wanted to clarify their origins. He had his suspicions that these bandits were impostors, but he lacked evidence. ¡°It has been found out. Most of them are deserters from Liangzhou, and the leader is not Han Feihu, but Song Ming, a Centurion, because¡­¡± Zhao Ning reported everything about the interrogation to Chen Yuan without daring to conceal any details. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered, and he nodded, confirming his suspicions. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard tonight. Have someone parade the bandits¡¯ heads through the streets, and then take a couple of days to rest at home.¡± ¡°Thank you, my Lord.¡± ¡°By the way, don¡¯t let the true identities of these bandits leak out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°` ¡­ ¡°I didn¡¯t expect these guys to actually be escaped soldiers from Liangzhou¡­¡± After listening to Chen Yuan¡¯s words, Li Mingqi tapped his fingers gently on the table and glanced at Chen Yuan a few times with a roving gaze. ¡°Sir, should we report this news?¡± ¡°Of course, capturing these escaped soldiers isn¡¯t the County Government¡¯s responsibility. Even if the higher-ups don¡¯t mention rewards, they should still acknowledge your merit,¡± Li Mingqi nodded. ¡°That¡¯s all thanks to your credit, sir. I am merely following your orders,¡± Chen Yuan replied. ¡°I hear all the recovered goods, including the cultivation resources, are gone?¡± ¡°Everything has been assimilated by those horse bandits,¡± Chen Yuan said with a smile. ¡°Hm, those horse bandits are indeed loathsome.¡± Li Mingqi and Chen Yuan exchanged knowing smiles, all was understood without words. Chen Yuan hadn¡¯t embezzled the one hundred and fifty taels of reward silver, so naturally, he had to compensate himself in other ways; Li Mingqi wouldn¡¯t be heartless. After all, Chen Yuan had done an excellent job. If it were a day later, those bandits would have secretly left Ping¡¯an County, resulting not only in Chen Yuan facing punishment but also a loss of face for Li Mingqi himself. With such an efficient subordinate, Li Mingqi wasn¡¯t going to nitpick over minor issues. Who is free from fault, apart from the saints? ¡°Sir, there is another matter I need to report,¡± Chen Yuan said softly. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°From the mouths of those bandits, I learned that Liu Shuanghe had sent people to find them, tasking them to ambush and kill me,¡± Chen Yuan revealed, his eyes fixed intently on Li Mingqi. ¡°Is that so?¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Do you have proof in hand?¡± Chen Yuan shook his head slightly: ¡°There isn¡¯t any.¡± ¡°I see. Don¡¯t worry, with me around, Liu Shuanghe can¡¯t touch you¡­¡± Chen Yuan glanced at the floor and said with a smile: ¡°That¡¯s a given. With the sir here, Liu Shuanghe dares only play petty tricks.¡± Yet, inwardly he was mocking¡ªanyone who trusted Li Mingqi was truly ignorant of how they would die. One cannot place all hope on the government, for how can a thief guard against another thief every day? After leaving the County Government, Chen Yuan sat alone in his study for an hour. ¡°Yuan brother, were you looking for me?¡± Wang Ping pushed the door open, sized him up, then sat down opposite Chen Yuan. ¡°You go to Liu Family in Cao County for me,¡± Chen Yuan cut to the chase without any pleasantries. Seeing Chen Yuan¡¯s serious demeanor, Wang Ping didn¡¯t ask why, but simply nodded in agreement: ¡°Alright.¡± Chen Yuan took a letter from behind him and handed it to Wang Ping, then instructed him to take one token each from Liu Ruqing and Liu Changzhi, and to deliver them along with the letter to Liu Shuanghe¡¯s residence. Wang Ping, not daring to delay, took the letter and left the room. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered uncertainly, a hint of murderous intent passing through his eyes. The matter of Liu Shuanghe hiring people to kill him was something he couldn¡¯t let go, but at the moment his power was insufficient. Besides the situation at Cien Temple, Chen Yuan couldn¡¯t spare the effort to seek retribution. He had to feign ignorance and bide his time to stabilize the situation. In the letter, Chen Yuan subtly mentioned Han Feihu¡¯s death as a warning to Liu Shuanghe that similar incidents would seal Liu Changzhi¡¯s fate, and Liu Ruqing would be thrown into the cell of death row inmates for disposal. After the warning, he indirectly told Liu Shuanghe that he didn¡¯t wish to be enemies with the Liu Family; the arrest of Liu Ruqing was all Shangguan¡¯s orders, and he was merely executing them. Moreover, he made it clear that as long as he himself was unharmed, Liu Ruqing and Liu Changzhi would be completely safe. He hoped Liu Shuanghe wouldn¡¯t do anything unwise. They had no grudge and there was no need for a fight to the death; the real enemy of the Liu Family wasn¡¯t him! Whether the letter would be useful or not, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t know, but it should at least buy him some time. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Urgency Chapter 73: Chapter 73 Urgency Now, the most pressing matter for Chen Yuan was to complete nine cycles of Blood Refining and step into the Bone Refining Level. With the strength of his nine completed Blood Refinings, he was definitely stronger than most of the Bone Refining experts. Only then would Chen Yuan possess a sliver of self-protection in Ping¡¯an County. At that point, if no Gang Condensation experts intervened, Chen Yuan would not fear anyone! He could also take some risks to investigate the demon from the No-Life Sect at Cien Temple and the Blood Evil Saber indicated by the Qi Fortune Altar. After sitting in silence for a long time in his room, Chen Yuan stood up and gazed towards North City. ¡­ Cao County, Liu Family. Liu Shuanghe¡¯s face was gloomy and unsettled as he held the letter in his hand, his right fist clenched tight, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. Master Yun arched an eyebrow and asked in a low voice, ¡°Family Head, is there something wrong with the letter sent by Chen Yuan¡¯s messenger?¡± Liu Shuanghe handed the letter to Master Yun and said coldly, ¡°Han Feihu is dead, killed by Chen Yuan. He also learned from Han Feihu that our Liu Family sought out Han Feihu to assassinate him and has warned us, hoping there will not be a next time.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? ¡°Otherwise, Qing¡¯er and Changzhi won¡¯t make it out of the County Government alive.¡± After skimming through the letter in a glance, Master Yun placed it on the table, ¡°Chen Yuan¡¯s strength is so formidable; even Han Feihu failed to take him down.¡± ¡°The intelligence was inaccurate; Chen Yuan¡¯s strength is definitely at the Bone Refining level. Indeed, one should never underestimate him. It¡¯s a pity. If it weren¡¯t for the matter with Qing¡¯er, befriending him wouldn¡¯t have been a bad idea.¡± Liu Shuanghe¡¯s gaze turned slightly cold. ¡°So we continue to deal with him or not?¡± Liu Shuanghe looked ahead, ¡°However, Chen Yuan is also right; he¡¯s not our enemy as long as Qing¡¯er and Changzhi are unharmed. This period is a good time to temper Qing¡¯er¡¯s temperament.¡± ¡°The most important thing is to preserve the foundation of the Liu Family. As for Chen Yuan, let him live a while longer. We¡¯ll leave him for Qing¡¯er to deal with in the future!¡± ¡°This servant understands.¡± ¡­ North City, Beihai Gang. ¡°Gang Leader Chen, please.¡± Zhu Sihai stood at the entrance of the great hall and beckoned with a smile. Ever since the Beihai Gang annexed several smaller factions, it had been prospering day by day. The number of gang members had increased significantly, with two new branches added. The government turned a blind eye to the Beihai Gang¡¯s expansion, pretended not to see. Everyone knew who was backing Zhu Sihai. If before some were still eager to compete with the Beihai Gang, now, especially after today¡¯s public display of decapitated bandits¡¯ heads by the government, nearly everybody had given up on that thought. Many had reached a consensus that the newly appointed Chen Yuan was genuinely ruthless, daring to annihilate bandits; what would he do to them? Therefore, Zhu Sihai¡¯s attitude was very humble, nearly comparable to how he had treated Huang Xing previously. Chen Yuan did not stand on ceremony and, flanked by Beihai Gang disciples, followed Zhu Sihai into the grand hall. ¡°Have them step back first.¡± Chen Yuan gestured. Zhu Sihai, seeing that Chen Yuan had matters to discuss, did not object and asked the Hall Masters to leave. In a blink, only he and Chen Yuan were left. Chen Yuan walked to the head seat and sat down with a calm expression. Zhu Sihai chuckled and poured a cup of fine tea for Chen Yuan. ¡°What brings Gang Leader Chen to visit the Beihai Gang today?¡± Zhu Sihai asked with a smile. ¡°Why, can¡¯t I come?¡± Chen Yuan glanced at Zhu Sihai. ¡°No, no, no, Gang Leader can come anytime¡­¡± Zhu Sihai replied with a sycophantic smile. ¡°` ¡°After swallowing up the other forces, Gang Leader Zhu must be at the height of his power now, right?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it all thanks to Lord Chen¡¯s secret support? Hehe¡­¡± ¡°I have two matters to entrust to you this time,¡± Chen Yuan said in a low voice. ¡°Just give the order, my lord, and old Zhu will definitely get it done!¡± Zhu Sihai said, pounding his chest. Chen Yuan ignored Zhu Sihai¡¯s display and extended a finger: ¡°The first matter, within three days, I need you to gather forty Tiger Bone Pills or Blood Essence Pills.¡± Zhu Sihai was taken aback, cursed inwardly that he spoke too soon, and asked in a low voice: ¡°Lord Chen, may I ask what you need so many elixirs for?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern, I¡¯m only asking if you can do it!¡± Chen Yuan said emphatically. ¡°Three days is too short, at least give me seven days!¡± ¡°No, you have three days. Gang Leader Zhu, having controlled the Beihai Gang for so many years, with all the channels and relationships at your disposal, it¡¯s impossible that you can¡¯t even get forty Tiger Bone Pills.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t, use the resources of the Beihai Gang to cover it.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s tone brooked no argument. He didn¡¯t have much time. Not to mention Cien Temple, Liu Shuanghe was a significant threat, and Chen Yuan couldn¡¯t be sure that his letter would definitely buy them time. It was also possible that upon seeing his threat, Liu Shuanghe would take the initiative to strike. Hearing Chen Yuan¡¯s firm words, Zhu Sihai fell silent for a moment and then said: ¡°Fine, three days it is, as long as there is silver¡­¡± ¡°There is no silver.¡± ¡°Lord Chen must be joking. Without silver, where would old Zhu get Tiger Bone Pills?¡± Zhu Sihai said in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯m currently short on funds and can¡¯t provide silver. However, if Gang Leader Zhu can get those forty Tiger Bone Pills for me, you¡¯ll only need to pay two hundred taels instead of the usual three hundred in tribute for the next year,¡± ¡°Whatever I manage to scrounge up, I¡¯ll cover the remaining hundred taels for you. How about that?¡± Chen Yuan couldn¡¯t worry about Zhu Sihai guessing anything now; even if he did, what of it? Would he dare not deliver? If it came to that¡­ The Ping¡¯an County constables, led by arrest officer Chen, would unleash a campaign to sweep away prostitution and crime in North City. Zhu Sihai¡¯s gaze wavered with hesitation, realizing that coming up with nearly five hundred taels in cash on such short notice was impossible, even for him, and other assets would need to be mortgaged. But given Chen Yuan¡¯s determination, should he defy him¡­ Thinking of the fate that befell the group of bandits today, Zhu Sihai took a deep breath and said: ¡°Alright, since arrest officer Chen has spoken, old Zhu trusts you. The Tiger Bone Pills will be gathered within three days!¡± ¡°Gang Leader Zhu, you¡¯ve made a most wise decision.¡± A sly smile curled at Chen Yuan¡¯s lips. Forty Tiger Bone Pills, plus the ones he already had, were enough to allow him to complete nine Blood Refining processes and enter the Bone Refining Level in an extremely short amount of time. It¡¯s a pity that such frequent refinement of elixirs for Body Refinement would certainly accumulate elixir toxicity in the body, and while the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl could continue to cleanse it, it would still cause some damage to the foundation. But Chen Yuan could no longer care about that now. The Cien Temple, No-Life Sect, Blood Evil Saber, Liu Family¡­ Chen Yuan was indeed facing a multitude of problems. Even County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng disliked him because of Li Mingqi. He needed to advance to Bone Refining as quickly as possible to gain some ability to protect himself. As for his foundation¡­ He would have to slowly repair it, fortunately having the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl to slowly remove the elixir toxicity. If not for the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl, Chen Yuan would never dare to gamble with the foundation of his Martial Arts. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thanks to the old book friend, the ¡®Wandering Salty Fish¡¯, for the reward of five thousand point coins. Thanks to the book friend ¡®Sky Extreme v¡¯ for the reward support! Below is the link to the book friend group, welcome to come in and chat! ¡°` Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Yanyu Building Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Yanyu Building ¡°I wonder what the second matter Arrest Officer Chen is referring to?¡± Zhu Sihai¡¯s gaze was tightly fixed on Chen Yuan. If it was another difficult task, Zhu Sihai would definitely refuse. ¡°The second matter is very simple, I need you to help me investigate something¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered with an enigmatic meaning. ¡°What matter?¡± Relieved upon hearing that it was an investigation, Zhu Sihai let out a slow breath. As long as it wasn¡¯t about spending money. ¡°Check on how many people in North City have died or gone missing in the past two years,¡± Chen Yuan said in a low voice. Zhu Sihai frowned: ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for the government to investigate these matters?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for you to worry about, just help me look into it.¡± If the County Government¡¯s household registration could be easily reviewed and understood, Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t have had the Beihai Gang start the investigation; the County Government official responsible for such duties was the County Governor. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? And the County Governor was Wu Qingfeng¡¯s confidant, so how could he possibly let him read it easily? Moreover, due to the previous incident with the Sanhe Boxing Club, Chen Yuan had some fallings out with Zhao Shuping, and Chen Yuan wasn¡¯t about to embarrass himself now. It might even end up alerting the enemy. In fact, ever since the Liu Family massacre, Chen Yuan had already had vague suspicions, but he had never had the time to investigate seriously. And with the guidance of Zhao Nanshan and the Qi Fortune Altar, Chen Yuan felt that the No-Life Sect might have been secretly killing people all along, only very covertly, unknown to anyone. When Chen Yuan fought with Chen Ping¡¯an, he had obtained some information from him. The No-Life Sect was not on the run from the Prefecture City, as Li Mingqi had claimed, but had been rooted in Ping¡¯an County all along. Cien Temple might just be where those No-Life Sect scoundrels were hiding. Of course, everything at this point was just Chen Yuan¡¯s speculation, with not a shred of evidence. Li Mingqi wouldn¡¯t turn hostile against Cien Temple just because of Chen Yuan¡¯s baseless guess. In the temple, there were Gang Condensation experts in residence! ¡°Alright, I will make sure to instruct my men to carry out Lord Chen¡¯s orders thoroughly,¡± Zhu Sihai promised. ¡­ ¡­ The next day, at the County Government. ¡°How did it go?¡± Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping and asked. From yesterday till now, Wang Ping had ridden hard, taking shortcuts and had made the round trip in a very short amount of time. If he had taken a carriage, it would have taken at least twice as long. ¡°The Family Head of the Liu Family met with me personally. After receiving the letter, he didn¡¯t say much, so I took my leave¡­¡± Wang Ping replied truthfully. Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered as he nodded: ¡°No matter, you worked hard on this trip.¡± ¡°Working for Brother Yuan is no trouble at all¡­¡± Wang Ping chuckled with a grin. Having such a high status now, Brother Yuan was still willing to support him, and frankly, Wang Ping was very moved inside. However, with his own strength indeed quite minimal, he could only help Brother Yuan with such errand tasks. ¡°Here¡¯s the reward silver from before, take it, and don¡¯t go giving it to the girls at Yanyu Building again¡­¡± Chen Yuan tossed a small cloth bag to Wang Ping. Wang Ping weighed it with his hand, his face lighting up with joy. Inside, there were at least ten taels of silver! For a young Government Official like him to receive so much, it was clear that Brother Yuan was looking out for him. ¡°Brothers spend the silver earned by brothers, sisters spend the silver earned by sisters, that¡¯s only natural,¡± Wang Ping joked. ¡°You sure have plenty of crooked arguments,¡± said Chen Yuan with a laugh. But life was not so bad for someone like Wang Ping, who had no great ambitions and only wanted to live a stable life. Everyone had their own pursuits. Chen Yuan wouldn¡¯t force Wang Ping to practice martial arts either. His talent was indeed quite average, and the upper limit of his life might just be Blood Refining, at most reaching the Bone Refining Level. It was enough to get by within the County City. ¡°Brother Yuan, after experiencing a battle, why not go relax a bit?¡± ¡°How can a man living between heaven and earth¡­¡± ¡°Just relax by listening to some music.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, then he stood up and said: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go and have a look then.¡± After hearing Wang Ping talk so many times about how beautiful Xiao Yue was, Chen Yuan had become quite curious himself. Could she possibly compare to the beauties from his past life¡¯s hard drive? Chen Yuan didn¡¯t want to have any entanglements with women, but he couldn¡¯t possibly be a eunuch either. Furthermore, his body was no longer that of a virgin. Of course, what was most important was that he had heard this name so many times, Chen Yuan suspected that this girl Xiao Yue might possess Qi Fortune. He had previously guessed that those who carried Qi Fortune would meet him through various coincidences. ¡°That¡¯s the Yuan I know¡­¡± Wang Ping muttered under his breath. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Nothing much, just saying that Miss Xiao Yue is indeed very beautiful, maybe she¡¯ll catch your eye, Brother Yuan.¡± Chen Yuan shook his head: ¡°I don¡¯t like walking on overly trodden paths.¡± ¡°What paths?¡± Wang Ping was taken aback. ¡­ South City, Yanyu Building. This was Chen Yuan¡¯s first visit since crossing over, and he had to admit that compared to other brothels, it was a lot quieter, and there weren¡¯t any women yelling to attract customers on the upper floors. It seemed like a higher-end establishment. Of course, correspondingly, the expenses were a lot higher too. Despite what Wang Ping muttered about Miss Xiao Yue, in truth, he had only been here once himself; after all, his silver didn¡¯t allow it. ¡°Dad, what brings you here?¡± Just as Chen Yuan and Wang Ping reached the entrance of Yanyu Building, Wang Ping suddenly called out. Chen Yuan sized up the man and indeed, it was Wang Ping¡¯s father, Wang Dafu. ¡°I¡­ cough cough, I have some business.¡± Wang Dafu unconsciously touched his nose. ¡°Uncle Wang.¡± Chen Yuan greeted him. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s¡­ Arrest Officer Chen.¡± Almost instinctively, Wang Dafu was about to call out ¡®Little Chen¡¯, but remembering that Chen Yuan had risen in status to become an arrest officer, he didn¡¯t dare to act too familiar. Putting aside Chen Yuan¡¯s current status, his own son was under Chen Yuan¡¯s command, so how could he afford not to show some respect? Even though Wang Ping said Chen Yuan hadn¡¯t changed, Wang Dafu, with many years of business experience, knew better than to take someone¡¯s word at face value; otherwise, one might end up dead without knowing how it happened. He had cautioned Wang Ping about this several times. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so formal, Uncle Wang, we¡¯re all family here,¡± Chen Yuan said with a smile. ¡°What are you guys¡­?¡± Wang Dafu¡¯s gaze flickered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the girls at Yanyu Building were good, Dad? I¡¯m bringing Brother Yuan to see for himself¡­¡± Wang Ping interjected. Wang Dafu, with a slightly embarrassed expression, said in a low voice: ¡°Indeed, they are exceptional. You guys go ahead, I¡¯m heading back.¡± ¡°Heading back so soon? You didn¡¯t come home last night, did you Dad?¡± ¡°I did, I did, just left something here, alright, I¡¯m off now.¡± Wang Dafu waved his hand and quickly left. ¡°Uncle Wang still has his old charm.¡± Chen Yuan chuckled. It seemed like a case of ¡®like father, like son¡¯ with the Wang family. ¡°Forget it, forget it, let¡¯s go in, Brother Yuan¡­¡± Wang Ping said as he stepped into Yanyu Building. As soon as Chen Yuan entered, he was greeted by the sound of flute music filling his ears, a melodious tune quite different from that of other pleasure quarters. Chen Yuan paused, then smiled and said: ¡°As expected of brothel women, they¡¯re quite skilled at ¡®playing the flute¡¯.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Don¡¯t raise books!!! Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Black Lotus Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Black Lotus ¡°We have seen the two Lords.¡± As soon as Chen Yuan and Wang Ping entered the Yanyu Building, a young serving boy who had been waiting attentively greeted them. Organized constables and government officials, even in the vast Ping¡¯an County, could be considered to have some status, certainly stronger than some of the petty merchants, so naturally, the serving boy did not dare to neglect them. ¡°Bring us two pots of your best wine,¡± Wang Ping said very adeptly as he tossed a piece of Broken Silver. ¡°Right away, Lords. Please find a seat at your leisure, the wine will be brought to you shortly. Xiaoyue will be performing a dance soon, you¡¯ve come at just the right time.¡± The serving boy caught the silver and chuckled. Wang Ping nodded slightly, exchanged a glance with Chen Yuan, and casually found a secluded corner to sit down. His eyes swept around, restless in his heart, seeming to be full of anticipation for Xiaoyue¡¯s appearance. ¡°Haven¡¯t you already met that Xiaoyue? Why are you still so impatient¡­¡± Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping, who, in his mind, although lecherous, was definitely not the kind of man who couldn¡¯t move his feet at the sight of a woman. Could it be that an Oiran eliminated from the Prefecture City was really that captivating? Instinctively, Chen Yuan felt something was amiss. If she were really that captivating, she couldn¡¯t possibly have ended up in such a small county as Ping¡¯an. That would be a step backwards. Wang Ping smiled awkwardly: Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve only seen her dance from a distance, I¡¯ve never actually spoken to her.¡± ¡°And yet you said she¡¯s very gentle?¡± Chen Yuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°I feel she¡¯s very gentle¡­¡± ¡°Wang Ping.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°A simp never comes to a good end!¡± ¡°???¡± Although Wang Ping didn¡¯t understand what the ¡®simp¡¯ Chen Yuan mentioned was, he was sure it wasn¡¯t a compliment, and he felt quite certain about that. However, he didn¡¯t argue because he felt that the statement was quite correct. But for some reason, as soon as he stepped into the Yanyu Building, he was filled with an inexplicable urge. Chen Yuan and Wang Ping¡¯s entry into the Yanyu Building didn¡¯t cause any stir, with at most only the few people nearby taking notice of them. The rest of the patrons were whispering to each other, wondering why Xiaoyue had not yet come out. Unobtrusively, Chen Yuan activated his Heavenly Eye, a streak of Qing light flashed, and he surveyed the Yanyu Building from top to bottom, but against his expectations, there were no anomalies. Not a trace of Qi Fortune. This puzzled him; could it be that he was overthinking? Following the clich¨¦s of novels and TV dramas, there should be intentional provocations, or he himself might discover something unusual. Chen Yuan remained silent, feeling as if he might be suffering from some sort of persecution complex. In reality, ever since he had been transported to this world, apart from yearning for its Martial Arts, he had always been deeply uneasy, because this society was far from harmonious. It was a terrifying world where Martial Arts reigned supreme and life was as cheap as grass. Soon, the serving boy who had taken the silver brought a pot of wine. Wang Ping poured Chen Yuan a full cup, whispering, ¡°Try this, Brother Yuan. This wine is good. You get what you pay for.¡± Chen Yuan lifted the cup to his nose, took a light sniff, and indeed, a sweet fragrance wafted over, then he gently sipped a mouthful. ¡°Not bad.¡± Wang Ping cracked a smile and downed his cup in one gulp. As time passed, more and more people entered the Yanyu Building, some without finding a seat just stood to the side, their eyes brimming with expectation. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Xiaoyue come out yet?¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting impatient waiting¡­¡± Gradually, some began to voice their impatience loudly. Chen Yuan watched with a cold eye, as if he were an outsider. ¡°Zing¡­¡± Suddenly, a deep and melodious sound of a zither emanated from the second floor of the Yanyu Building. ¡°Brother Yuan, Xiaoyue is about to come out¡­¡± Wang Ping¡¯s gaze was fixed intently in one direction, his eyes unblinking, he even held his breath. He was not alone. At this moment, the audience seated below, whether they were high-ranking officials or scholarly merchants, wore much the same expression. Immediately following, the sound of a flute melded with that of an ancient zither. ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± ¡°Swoosh¡­¡± Three red silks shot out from the second floor, winding around two pillars in the great hall. The next moment, a long-haired woman clad in red leapt from the second floor, amid a flurry of flower petals. With delicate spins, she danced lightly atop the red silks. The melodious tones and drifting petals seemed to become one with the woman. Her graceful figure twirled in the void, supported by red silks, like a fairy. Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes, his attention fixed on the woman¡¯s movement technique¡ªit was fluid and effortless. This woman must have cultivate martial arts abilities. Only after extensive training could one achieve such an effect. No wonder the people of Ping¡¯an County were astounded, but she didn¡¯t captivate Chen Yuan as much. ¡°Excellent.¡± ¡°Miss Xiaoyue is so beautiful¡­¡± Shouts rose from below. Then, a scroll descended from above. The woman in red tugged on the red silks, unfurling the scroll as a fair young lady poured down a pot of ink. Afterwards, the woman in red danced wildly with her sleeves, picking up ink, gently flicking it onto the white paper scroll, her skirt whirling as if lotuses blossomed at her feet. Her willowy waist swayed lightly, ensnaring souls and sending secret glances¡ªtruly a spectacle of strings and silks dancing chaotically. Before long, the music of the flute ceased, and the woman in red completed her final stroke. It was an ink painting of a lotus, lifelike and spirited. The woman in red glanced back, sweeping her gaze over everyone present, before slowly descending to the ground, pulling on the red silks. Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes. This Xiaoyue was indeed extraordinary, with white skin and a melodious figure, her eyes conveying a certain seductiveness, and fine lines at the corners. Indeed, she was of a certain age, but that only added to her allure. ¡°Gentlemen, as per the usual, whoever composes a poem that satisfies Miss Xiaoyue will enjoy a spring night with her.¡± An opulently dressed madam announced loudly, her body twisting. ¡°On what theme shall the poem be based?¡± A young nobleman dressed in plain Qing attire closed his fan with a snap, smiling as he inquired. ¡°Pedant.¡± Wang Ping huffed dismissively. Chen Yuan gave Wang Ping a sidelong glance and whispered: ¡°And what if one cannot compose a satisfactory poem?¡± ¡°The highest offer gets her. I heard someone bid thirty silver taels the other day to spend a spring night with Miss Xiaoyue,¡± Wang Ping¡¯s eyes gleamed with envy. Chen Yuan shook his head. That was sheer bid inflation¡ªthirty silver taels, do you understand the concept? The salary of a constable for two years. Could buy three Tiger Bone Pills. Of course, when in high spirits, the value did not matter. ¡°Let the theme be the lotus in this painting.¡± The madam pointed to the hanging scroll above and announced. ¡°Yanyu Building, Lou Yuyan. Miss Xiaoyue resembles a Black Lotus. If you ask what¡¯s inside the lotus. Just pry it open and look!¡± A burly man with a bearded face suddenly recited in a loud voice. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Thank you to book friend ¡®Wandering in the Cold Night¡¯ for the 1500 point coins support! Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Listen to Music! Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Listen to Music! The poem no sooner had been uttered than silence descended on Yanyu Building. It was as if time had stopped. Then, the next moment, peals of laughter filled the hall. The burly man stood with his neck stiff, unconcerned. Instead, he boomed out loud: ¡°Miss Xiaoyue, does my poem catch your eye?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disgrace yourself with such crude language.¡± Just now, the scholar snorted lightly. ¡°Boy, what did you say?¡± ¡°Obviously, your poem is so poorly crafted that it doesn¡¯t merit the name.¡± ¡°Then you try.¡± The muscular man stared intently at the scholar. The scholar took a deep breath, fan in hand. He paced, shaking his head and recited aloud: The land is rich with a hundred flowers vying in fragrance, Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 And the muted scent fills the deep aquamarine ponds. They do not compete with peach and plum for the spring breeze, July¡¯s shooting stars bring a refreshing coolness.¡± Chen Yuan nodded silently. Compared to the previous one, this indeed qualified as a poem, but the scholar¡¯s arrogance was rather off-putting. ¡°I dedicate this poem to Miss Xiaoyue.¡± The scholar¡¯s gaze slowly swept over the crowd, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. ¡°Brother Yuan, can you also come up with an impromptu poem to eclipse this young man¡¯s limelight?¡± Wang Ping snorted softly and spoke in an undertone. ¡°I haven¡¯t read as many books as you, how could I possibly write poetry?¡± Chen Yuan glanced at Wang Ping. He could copy a few poems, but there was no point in getting jealous over a courtesan. Although the lady was beautiful, Chen Yuan was not the kind of man who lost his path upon seeing a woman. And there was no benefit worth him making a move, so why should he intervene? His reason for coming here was to investigate whether Xiaoyue was somehow connected to Qi Fortune. Since she wasn¡¯t, Chen Yuan did not wish to stir up trouble. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Wang Ping muttered to himself. It was mainly because he was still dazzled by some of Chen Yuan¡¯s previous remarks, subconsciously assuming Brother Yuan was knowledgeable. ¡°Is there anyone else here who can produce a better poem than this gentleman?¡± The madam called out. Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes moved subtly, seduction flowing through them as she scanned the crowd, ultimately resting her gaze on Chen Yuan, contemplating something. ¡°I am willing to compete with all the gentlemen present.¡± The scholar smiled lightly, looking down at the assorted crowd with a touch of contempt in his eyes. Having studied poetry extensively for years, and having copied this poem from a friend recently, how could he lose in this mere county town? ¡°Boy, don¡¯t get too arrogant.¡± The burly man from before threatened. ¡°What, under the bright sky, are you planning to commit violence?¡± The scholar in green surveyed the crowd, fixing his gaze on Chen Yuan and Wang Ping, and called out loudly: ¡°You two constables, this man intends to be violent, can you not arrest him?¡± Chen Yuan gave him a glance: ¡°This constable¡¯s eyesight isn¡¯t good; I can¡¯t see anyone being violent.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± The scholar¡¯s voice faltered. ¡°Ha ha, brother, you speak to my taste. If you ever run into trouble in City East, just mention my name, Ma Dayuan.¡± The burly man stood up and laughed heartily. ¡°Sure.¡± Chen Yuan smiled and nodded. ¡°Hang on, wait a second. Brother, is your surname Chen?¡± When Ma Dayuan caught sight of the official uniform on Chen Yuan, which was different from the one Wang Ping wore, he suddenly gasped. He began to realize something. ¡°Hmm, Brother Ma, you recognize me?¡± Chen Yuan picked up his cup and took a sip without a change in expression. ¡°Could it be Chen Yuan, Lord Chen?¡± Ma Dayuan stared intently at the patterns on Chen Yuan¡¯s clothing. ¡°Indeed, this is the new arrest officer of the County Government.¡± Wang Ping announced loudly, throwing a glance at the youth in green robes who had spoken earlier. ¡°Ah, it turns out to be Lord Chen¡­truly, truly a case of not recognizing a great man, I was offensive in my words just now, I hope you can forgive me.¡± Ma Dayuan picked up his cup and walked quickly to Chen Yuan. His expression was somewhat ingratiating. ¡°There¡¯s no offense taken, Gang Leader Ma is too serious.¡± Chen Yuan had heard of the name Ma Dayuan. He held some power in City East, had dozens of followers, and had never caused any trouble. It was said his connections were not weak either. ¡°Officer Chen is indeed as forthright as the rumors suggest. Today, it was I, Old Ma, who didn¡¯t recognize a great man. How about I offer Xiaoyue as compensation for my offense?¡± he said, then turned to the madam loudly: ¡°Tonight¡¯s company with Xiaoyue, be it thirty or fifty taels, I¡¯ll accept it. Name your price.¡± The madam was tempted, looking at the youth in green robes and then at Xiaoyue not far off, unsure of what to do. ¡°You¡­how vulgar, how can Xiaoyue be measured by silver? This is a matter of elegant pleasures, you¡­¡± the youth in green robes said anxiously. ¡°You little wretch, still dreaming of romantic delights? Believe it or not, I can make it so you can¡¯t leave the Yanyu Building?¡± Ma Dayuan¡¯s eyes grew cold, and a dangerous aura enveloped him. ¡°You¡­you¡­¡± the youth in green robes was somewhat flustered. This burly man looked like he really could prevent him from leaving the Yanyu Building, and besides, next to him was the county arrest officer; if he were to die, no one would claim his body. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, then get lost.¡± Ma Dayuan rebuked him coldly. The youth in green robes looked at his fierce appearance, felt a surge of fear, snorted softly, and hurriedly covered his face as he retreated, eliciting a chorus of boos. ¡°How about it?¡± Ma Dayuan turned his gaze back to the madam. Xiaoyue smiled, draped in a red gauze, and walked slowly forward: ¡°I had long heard that the newly appointed Officer Chen is a young talent, and many a wealthy young lady in the city has secretly given her heart to him. How could Xiaoyue possibly accept silver with Officer Chen gracing the establishment today?¡± As she spoke, coy glances were softly thrown his way. Chen Yuan remained unfazed, smiling: ¡°How is it that I¡¯m unaware of so many having secretly given their hearts to me? Xiaoyue is jesting. Just now, it was merely Brother Ma¡¯s playful words; I only came to listen to a tune, with no other intentions.¡± Xiaoyue tried to gauge from Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze whether he was feigning or serious, but after a few breaths, Chen Yuan¡¯s expression did not change at all. She whispered: ¡°Does Officer Chen think of me as a wilting willow unworthy of his attention?¡± ¡°Although Xiaoyue may no longer be a young woman, her charm remains. However¡­due to my cultivation practice, I must refrain from the company of women, it¡¯s not a matter of disdain,¡± Chen Yuan replied with a detached look in his eyes. For some reason, Chen Yuan felt particularly uncomfortable when this woman approached him, so he was reluctant to get too close and risk other complications. From the moment the Red Silk danced earlier, Chen Yuan had already determined that Xiaoyue was no ordinary character. And he had no interest in dealing with such a person, wealthy household or not. As he spoke, Chen Yuan glanced at the area three inches below Xiaoyue¡¯s abdomen. Wang Ping was somewhat stunned on the side; such a great opportunity and Brother Yuan was unmoved? Could it be that he truly had no interest in feminine allure anymore? Xiaoyue covered her mouth and chuckled lightly: ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. Then would Officer Chen care to visit my boudoir to listen to a tune played by me?¡± Chen Yuan gave Xiaoyue a quick assessment, pondering something, then after a moment he smiled and said: ¡°Very well.¡± Wang Ping smiled knowingly. This was the Brother Yuan he knew well. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77 is very smooth Chapter 77: Chapter 77 is very smooth Xiaoyue covered her face with a smile, her gaze enchantingly sweeping over Chen Yuan¡¯s form, as if she could captivate one¡¯s soul. Chen Yuan, although inexplicably feeling a dry mouth and a restless tongue, managed to maintain his composure fundamentally. ¡°Ha ha ha, scholar and beauty, scholar and beauty¡­¡± Ma Dayuan laughed loudly a few times, not quite knowing where this scholar had come from. ¡°Lord Chen, please.¡± Xiaoyue¡¯s light gauze swayed as she slowly ascended the stairs to the second floor. Chen Yuan stood up, smiled at Ma Dayuan and Wang Ping, and followed Xiaoyue¡¯s footsteps. The old madam, although somewhat regretful of not receiving any silver, dared not scold anyone and watched as Chen Yuan and Xiaoyue went upstairs. Chen Yuan looked back and saw that everyone¡¯s eyes were on him, and he tossed a piece of silver to the old madam: ¡°What are you all looking at me for?¡± ¡°Continue the music, continue the dance!¡± ¡­ Xiaoyue¡¯s boudoir was called Shuiyue Pavilion. As soon as Chen Yuan entered, he felt a faint fragrance invade his mind, involuntarily relaxing his body and spirit. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°My family name is Su¡­¡± Su Xiaoyue, holding a Jade Flute, walked out from the inner room, her face adorned with a light smile. ¡°Miss Su.¡± Chen Yuan nodded, casually found a stool to sit on, and looked around the boudoir. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect this place to be quite serene. Miss Su has put in some effort.¡± A trace of sadness flashed across Su Xiaoyue¡¯s face: ¡°This was the room my mother arranged for me when I was young and before we fell into hard times. I have always remembered it.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, cooperating very well, he said: ¡°Miss Su has indeed led a hard life. May I listen to your story?¡± Tears welled up in Su Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes, and she raised her hand to gently wipe them away, forcing a smile: ¡°The past isn¡¯t worth mentioning. Lord Chen came here to listen to music, not to hear my sad tales.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Then play me a tune.¡± Chen Yuan nodded, fully agreeing. Su Xiaoyue: ¡°???¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Su Xiaoyue picked up the Jade Flute and placed it to her lips. Chen Yuan listened calmly to Su Xiaoyue¡¯s flute playing, which was indeed enchanting. However, his attention wasn¡¯t on it. He had expected that there might be some unexpected situation after entering. Perhaps a request for help, or even an attack against him. But it turned out to be genuinely listening to music, and of the proper sort too. After a long time. The music stopped, and Su Xiaoyue put down the Jade Flute from her lips. Her seductive eyes slowly roved over Chen Yuan¡¯s body, and she chuckled softly: ¡°Lord Chen, how was my flute playing?¡± ¡°Not bad at all. With such skill, Miss Su could be considered unrivaled.¡± ¡°What a pity, it¡¯s of no use. They value only skin-deep beauty, unlike Lord Chen, who seems quite indifferent to me¡­¡± Su Xiaoyue¡¯s slender and fair fingers gently propped up her chin. With a flick of her lips, she looked straight at Chen Yuan. ¡°You are mistaken, I value skin-deep beauty even more¡­¡± ¡°Does it mean that I still do not catch Lord Chen¡¯s eye?¡± ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Chen Yuan chuckled lightly. It wasn¡¯t like that. In his previous life, accustomed to washing feet and often wearing Essence-Spirit-Qing boots on muddy roads, but, in this world, before having the strength to protect himself, Chen Yuan did not want to become engrossed in pleasures of the flesh. ¡°It is not so, as I have already mentioned, due to my spiritual cultivation, if there is an opportunity in the future, I will naturally engage in a deeper exchange with Miss Xiaoyue.¡± After saying this, Chen Yuan stood up, ignoring the flirtatious look in Su Xiaoyue¡¯s eyes, and slowly pushed the door open, walking out. Su Xiaoyue watched Chen Yuan¡¯s retreating back, her eyes narrowed slightly, and a streak of interest flashed across her gaze, her lips curved into a faint smile. ¡­ In front of Yanyu Building. Chen Yuan, accompanied by Wang Ping, left the building. Since there was nothing of interest to him inside Yanyu Building, there was no need to linger. It was better to return home and continue cultivating. Even if he suspected that Su Xiaoyue was not that simple, Chen Yuan was not very interested. As long as she did not provoke him, all was well. But if she really sought to use him for something without knowing better, Chen Yuan would not show mercy; he did not discriminate between genders with his blade! ¡°Yuan-ge, how was it?¡± Wang Ping asked with a sly grin, glancing in the direction of Yanyu Building. In his view, Yuan-ge must have been up to no good on the second floor. Chen Yuan took a deep breath and chuckled lightly, ¡°Very smooth!¡± Ignoring Wang Ping¡¯s surprise, Chen Yuan turned and walked towards the County Government building. As soon as they approached, they saw Xiaofang and her father hesitating at the door, peering inside occasionally but seeming too intimidated to get closer. The majesty of the Government was still quite imposing to ordinary citizens. ¡°Uncle Zhou, what is the matter?¡± Chen Yuan approached and inquired. ¡°Yuan-ge¡­¡± Xiaofang suddenly turned her head, and upon seeing it was Chen Yuan, she finally relaxed, patting her chest. ¡°Chen¡­ Chen Yuan, we have something to discuss with you,¡± Zhou Zhong began somewhat hesitantly. Zhou Zhong had heard about Chen Yuan becoming an arrest officer and knew his status was no longer the same. Xiaofang was no match for him now, and apart from occasionally passing by for breakfast and exchanging greetings, he generally had no contact with their family. Only Xiaofang was still naively fantasizing that her childhood friend would marry her. ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside,¡± Chen Yuan nodded and led Zhou Zhong and his daughter into the County Government. People greeted Chen Yuan with clasped hands or bowing, their faces filled with respect, which shocked Zhou Zhong and made him even more cautious. ¡°Uncle Zhou, Xiaofang, please sit down, don¡¯t be nervous, we¡¯re all friends here,¡± Chen Yuan said with a smile. In his mind, Zhou Zhong¡¯s family was quite respectable. Since they came to him, he presumed they must be in some kind of difficulty, so he directly asked: ¡°Uncle Zhou, what brings you to me?¡± ¡°Yuan-ge, we have come to report a case,¡± Xiaofang answered from the side. Chen Yuan frowned: ¡°A case? Is someone troubling you?¡± He had previously warned Zhu Sihai that people from the Beihai Gang were not to harass the neighbors near his home. He couldn¡¯t concern himself with other matters and had no interest in doing so, but the nearby residents were old acquaintances of his family. They usually had no conflicts, and some had even helped his family when he was young. If it was within his power, Chen Yuan would not be ungracious. ¡°No¡­ no, the people from Beihai Gang haven¡¯t even come to collect the protection money recently,¡± Zhou Zhong replied quickly. ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this, yesterday Old Wu said there was a big hole on Cheng¡¯er¡¯s grave, so I decided to relocate him. But when I opened the coffin today, I discovered that Cheng¡¯er¡¯s corpse was gone.¡± ¡°I suspect someone stole the body, so I thought to report it to the authorities¡­¡± Zhou Zhong recounted the events in detail. The Cheng¡¯er that Zhou Zhong mentioned, Chen Yuan had some recollection of. He was the son Zhou Zhong had late in life, nearly forty, and was treasured immensely. But he passed away due to a strange illness a year ago, and Chen Yuan had even helped with the burial. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Let¡¯s get back to reading, enduring men! Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Huang Xing is Dead! Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Huang Xing is Dead! Suddenly, Chen Yuan¡¯s brow furrowed as he thought of another matter. At the time the Liu Family was annihilated, he had noticed a detail: the only action the Liu Family had taken before their destruction was to relocate a grave. Chen Yuan had once reported this suspicion to Huang Xing, but was scolded for it. Still harboring doubts, Chen Yuan eventually went secretly to the Liu Family¡¯s ancestral tomb to investigate, but found no clues and gradually dismissed the suspicion. He then shifted his focus primarily to the Huang Family, covertly stirred up trouble and successfully toppled them, obtaining what he wanted, and indeed the Huang Family was colluding with the No-Life Sect. However, Chen Yuan overlooked an important reason, which was why Huang Xing, who had once appreciated him, would develop a murderous intent towards him? At this moment, after listening to Zhou Zhong¡¯s narrative, Chen Yuan faintly linked everything together. He guessed that the reason Huang Xing developed a murderous intent might have been because he noticed the anomaly at the Liu Family¡¯s ancestral grave, which interfered with their plans. Upon this realization, Chen Yuan suddenly stood up, taking a deep breath. This startled Zhou Zhong and Zhou Fang, who looked at Chen Yuan uncertainly. Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered. The direction he had asked Zhu Sihai to investigate was probably right. The No-Life Sect might have been killing people in secret all along but were extremely good at disguising it, and with Huang Xing erasing all traces, no one had noticed this abnormality. The more he thought about it, the more Chen Yuan believed this possibility was significant, and it even connected the logic together. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°Brother Yuan, you¡­¡± Zhou Fang started to speak and then stopped. The moment Chen Yuan stood up, his entire demeanor had changed, giving her a very strange feeling. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ I will investigate this matter thoroughly. For now, keep it to yourselves,¡± Chen Yuan instructed earnestly. If it was as he suspected, once Zhou Family¡¯s father and daughter inadvertently informed others, and the demon folk of the No-Life Sect got wind of it, they would surely kill them to prevent this affair from leaking out. ¡°Okay¡­okay¡­¡± Zhou Zhong nodded repeatedly. ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Brother Yuan, why are we going to the prison?¡± Wang Ping was puzzled. They had barely settled in the county government office, why was Brother Yuan so eager, had his cultivation improved, benefiting him in that respect? ¡°To ask Huang Xing about something.¡± Chen Yuan said gravely. Previously, because of the grudge between County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng and Li Mingqi, Chen Yuan had deliberately ignored Huang Xing, thinking he was of no use to him now. But now, Chen Yuan wanted to get some information about the No-Life Sect from him. Admittedly, they would surely torture him severely in the prison, and so far, no information had come forth, he must be very tough, denying everything to death. But having already obtained some leads, Chen Yuan still expected to get help from his words. Some words have to be heard inversely, while others need to be judged from a few keywords or even from facial expressions and emotions. ¡°The prison is off-limits, no entry allowed!¡± As Chen Yuan and Wang Ping approached, the guarding government official sternly stepped forward to say. ¡°How dare you, this is Catcher Chen, how dare you be so rude?¡± Wang Ping immediately rebuked. ¡°Catcher Chen?¡± The guarded official¡¯s expression changed in surprise, assessed Chen Yuan for a few moments, and bowed, ¡°Please forgive me, Catcher Chen, it was my poor eyesight.¡± ¡°No matter, open the door,¡± Chen Yuan waved his hand, unconcerned. It was the government officials¡¯ duty, so no blame could be laid on them. The official hesitated, ¡°Catcher Chen, the head jailer has ordered that no one can enter, unless he commands it.¡± ¡°There was no such rule before¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°This¡­this¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I came to the prison to interrogate Huang Xing by order of both the Magistrate and the County Magistrate. Surely his order cannot override the Magistrate¡¯s, can it?¡± Chen Yuan had come to investigate the demon members of the No-Life Sect. Indeed, he was following the orders of Wu Qingfeng and Li Mingqi since he had previously stated that Chen Yuan needed to produce the evidence as soon as possible. ¡°Interrogate Huang Xing¡­¡± the Government Official hesitated slightly. ¡°What, is there a problem?¡± Chen Yuan frowned. ¡°No¡­ no¡­ but Huang Xing died a few days ago.¡± ¡°Died?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What about the Huang Family¡¯s head, Huang Shengnian?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze grew intense. ¡°He also took his own life out of fear of his crimes.¡± ¡°Took his own life out of fear of his crimes¡­.¡± A glint shone in Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the news been spread?¡± ¡°The head jailer instructed that it is a disgraceful matter within the County Government, and Shangguan commanded that it must not be spread as a rumor,¡± the Government Official said truthfully. ¡°Which Shangguan gave that order?¡± ¡°This, I truly do not know,¡± the official replied. Chen Yuan took a deep breath and whispered: ¡°When did Huang Xing and the others die?¡± ¡°Three days ago.¡± Chen Yuan squinted his eyes. Three days ago was exactly when the bandits were causing trouble, the attention of the County Government was mostly on them; it was indeed the perfect time to stage Huang Xing¡¯s fear-driven suicide. Wait¡­ Even if the news didn¡¯t get out, as the County Magistrate, it was impossible for Li Mingqi to be completely unaware. So why didn¡¯t he inform him? It wasn¡¯t plausible. Even if the No-Life Sect was formidable, they couldn¡¯t have controlled the entire County Government. ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± Chen Yuan nodded, then turned and left with Wang Ping. Since Huang Xing was dead, there was no need to visit the prison now. Even if they could prove Huang Xing didn¡¯t kill himself, so what? He was concerned with the results, not the process. Through this incident, Chen Yuan was certain that within the County Government, there definitely were secret lines of the demon members of the No-Life Sect. Huang Xing was in the light, and he was in the dark! Or even¡­ they were in the dark! Now that Zhu Sihai¡¯s promised Tiger Bone Pill hadn¡¯t yet been delivered, it was best not to create more troubles. Wang Ping looked at Chen Yuan¡¯s grim face and seemed to realize something as well, quietly following next to Chen Yuan. He couldn¡¯t help much, but he wouldn¡¯t add trouble to his brother¡¯s troubles due to recklessness. Inside the County Government, Chen Yuan wrote down several names on a piece of paper: Li Mingqi, Wu Qingfeng, Huang Xing, Zhao Shuping, head jailer Yu Li, Cien Temple¡­ After staring quietly for a long time, Chen Yuan lit his fire stick, and set the paper ablaze. A wisp of flame burned in front of Chen Yuan, casting a somber shadow across his face. ¡°No-Life Sect, it really isn¡¯t that simple¡­¡± Chen Yuan murmured. Now, any more speculation was useless, and he couldn¡¯t possibly investigate each possibility. Most importantly, he even started to have some doubts about Li Mingqi himself. Without the support of a Gang Condensation master, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t dare to provoke Cien Temple. What lay before Chen Yuan as the most important task now was to use the Tiger Bone Pill from Zhu Sihai to step into the Bone Refining Level and gain some power to protect himself. That¡¯s when it would be time to investigate. What a pity. If it weren¡¯t for the Blood Evil Saber directed by the Qi Fortune Altar, perhaps Chen Yuan really might have given up on the investigation. Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Just as Expected! Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Just as Expected! At noon, Inside a room in the Chen Family¡¯s small courtyard. A streak of sunlight shone through the window, reflecting off Chen Yuan¡¯s body. He was bare-chested, his body covered in dark golden Golden Paint, with prominent blue veins under his golden skin, which were quite conspicuous. If one looked closely, they would see Chen Yuan¡¯s face alternating between shades of blue and red. Blood Refining. Chen Yuan was undergoing his seventh Blood Refining! On the floor, there was a small porcelain bottle, the container that Chen Yuan had used earlier for the Tiger Bone Pill. Pain! As he entered his seventh Blood Refining, Chen Yuan felt a pain piercing into his bone marrow as if it was cleansing the deepest impurities entirely! Even, Chen Yuan felt that during the process of Blood Refining, even the bones around his body were being cleansed. After a long time. Chen Yuan slowly opened his eyes, his face serene. He showed no sign of joy after completing the seventh Blood Refining, his expression instead grew even more solemn. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 This was only the first step on the path of Martial Arts, and it was so difficult. It was evident how many dangers and pains Chen Yuan would have to face in the future. But¡­ It was all worth it! Chen Yuan raised his right arm, clenched his fist, and the dark golden light shone, radiating a sense of powerful beauty. This seemingly frail body contained a formidable strength. Chen Yuan seemed to have realized something. The practice of Martial Arts was about returning power to oneself! ¡­ Beihai Gang. Chen Yuan, as usual, was welcomed by Zhu Sihai into the inner hall, who then ordered the attendants around to leave, leaving only Chen Yuan and Zhu Sihai in the room. There was also a rosewood box placed on the table. Chen Yuan sat down calmly and said to Zhu Sihai, ¡°Are these the Tiger Bone Pills?¡± Zhu Sihai nodded, then opened the rosewood box, which quietly contained four white porcelain bottles: ¡°Lord Chen, these are the Tiger Bone Pills that Old Zhu struggled to obtain. As for the Blood Essence Pills¡­ they are too scarce in Ping¡¯an County, so¡­¡± ¡°No matter, this is enough. Gang Leader Zhu, rest assured, since I have promised, I will definitely fulfill it. From today onwards for the next year, you will only need to bring out two hundred taels of silver each month,¡± Chen Yuan said in a low voice. Upon hearing this, Zhu Sihai¡¯s smile spread ear to ear, and he laughed: ¡°Lord Chen is a straightforward man, Old Zhu trusts you!¡± ¡°How is the investigation on that matter Gang Leader Zhu was looking into?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s tone shifted as he asked softly. Zhu Sihai¡¯s expression tightened, and he glanced at the door subconsciously before moving closer to Chen Yuan and whispering: ¡°Not hiding anything from Lord Chen, Old Zhu¡¯s men did indeed find some anomalies.¡± ¡°Tell me¡­¡± Chen Yuan had already formed a decision in his heart, his fingers lightly tapping on the table. ¡°In the North City, the number of deaths in the past two years has been several times higher than in previous years, and moreover, many of the families had members who died of diseases, but what diseases they died from, no one knows.¡± ¡°Could it be¡­¡± Zhu Sihai¡¯s eyes flickered uncertainly. ¡°Died from diseases¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze sharpened as he narrowed his eyes. ¡°Right, died from diseases. Old Zhu¡¯s clever subordinate discreetly questioned the nearby medical clinics, but they are also helpless.¡± ¡°However, the disease is not contagious, and not many people have died¡­¡± Zhu Sihai continued. ¡°Not many? Just in North City alone, the number of deaths has multiplied several times compared to the previous years, what about City East, West City, South City¡­¡± Chen Yuan glanced at Zhu Sihai and sneered inwardly. However, he didn¡¯t want to reveal too much to Zhu Sihai. ¡°These past two years, the drought has been getting worse. A few deaths are not unusual, perhaps I¡¯m overthinking it¡­¡± Chen Yuan sighed and then stood up. ¡°Gang Leader Zhu.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Zhu Sihai hurriedly responded. ¡°Let¡¯s leave this matter as it is, stop the investigation,¡± Chen Yuan said in a low voice. ¡°Rest assured, Lord Chen, I have no interest in this matter, naturally, I won¡¯t bother to look into it,¡± Zhu Sihai said obsequiously, his chubby cheeks quivering slightly with his smile. ¡°That¡¯s best.¡± Chen Yuan picked up the rosewood box on the table, turned around, and raised his hand: ¡°Well, I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave now, Gang Leader Zhu, no need to see me out.¡± ¡­ Inside the Chen family¡¯s small courtyard. Chen Yuan placed forty Tiger Bone Pills properly, and went before the spirit tablets of his eldest uncle and parents, his expression somber. In the innate memories he received upon arrival, his uncle had died of illness more than a year ago, shortly after he had entered the county government, and he hadn¡¯t taken it too much to heart, either then or before. After all, death is a common affair. But¡­ What Zhu Sihai had just said made Chen Yuan immediately think of his elder uncle¡¯s death, which might also be connected with the miscreants of the No-Life Sect, because it indeed seemed too much of a coincidence. And coincidences in this world are often man-made. Chen Yuan stood silently before the spirit tablets until it grew dark, then turned and left the courtyard, heading towards his uncle¡¯s grave. He wanted to dig it up to see if there was a ghost. Although Chen Yuan had transmigrated and was endowed with a different soul, after absorbing a flurry of memories, he had practically skimmed through Chen Yuan¡¯s entire life in a very short time. Having internalized some of it, he would naturally be angry about such matters! Soon, Chen Yuan arrived at a clearing in a forest. There were three grave mounds there, belonging to his parents and his uncle. Weeds had already overgrown the surface. After paying his respects by kowtowing several times before the three graves, Chen Yuan took a deep breath and began digging the slightly larger, new grave to his right using tools, leaving the other two undisturbed. In his memory, the original person¡¯s parents had died very early on. It had been over a dozen years by now, and the No-Life Sect probably hadn¡¯t even arrived in Ping¡¯an County at that time. Quickly, Chen Yuan dug up a large hole, exposing the somewhat decayed coffin inside. Using a long knife to remove the nails one by one, Chen Yuan slammed his palm on the coffin lid, taking it off. The sliding lid was indeed easy to remove. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze sharpened, a cold light flashed in his eyes, and a faint killing aura lingered around him. The coffin was empty! Chen Yuan¡¯s uncle¡¯s corpse had vanished! After a moment of silence, Chen Yuan steadied his breath and replaced the coffin lid. He had possibly guessed this outcome before coming, he was just here to confirm it. As it turned out, he was right. His uncle¡¯s death was undoubtedly connected with the demon folk of the No-Life Sect. Chen Yuan¡¯s uncle had been a frequent incense burner at Cien Temple, a very devout believer, and Cien Temple was not as simple as it appeared on the surface. All the evidence at hand indicated that Cien Temple was the foothold of the demon folk of the No-Life Sect in Ping¡¯an County! After restoring the grave soil, Chen Yuan returned to the small courtyard with a calm expression. The Tiger Bone Pills had arrived, and his most pressing task was to continue his cultivation. To advance into the Bone Refining Level as quickly as possible! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Brothers, neglecting books will do no good, only by keeping up with books daily can one maintain a good mood every day! Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Bureaucrat! Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Bureaucrat! County Government. ¡°You wish to take a seven-day leave?¡± Li Mingqi¡¯s brows twitched slightly as his gaze measured Chen Yuan up and down. ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Yuan nodded. This time he planned to seclude himself for seven days, to fully assimilate all forty Tiger Bone Pills, and complete the ninth Blood Refining cycle, stepping into Bone Refining without any outside disturbance. ¡°For what reason?¡± Li Mingqi spun the iron ring on his finger. ¡°I have discovered some clues regarding the No-Life Sect¡¯s villains and wish to investigate covertly,¡± Chen Yuan said, without shifting his gaze. Of course, the truth was not something he could disclose. ¡°Clues¡­¡± Li Mingqi gave Chen Yuan a deep look and after a moment of silence, he said: ¡°Did you go to the arrest room the day before yesterday?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Chen Yuan nodded, not denying it. He did not want the news of his visit to the arrest room to leak, but clearly, it wasn¡¯t up to him, as the County Magistrate must have informants everywhere within the County Government. ¡°It was to interrogate Huang Xing, right?¡± Li Mingqi was straightforward, not bothering to hide it. ¡°Yes, I wanted to inquire about the No-Life Sect¡¯s demon¡¯s clues.¡± ¡°Then, you discovered that Huang Xing had actually committed suicide a few days before¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you think there¡¯s a problem with his death?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered, scanning the ground, before he finally spoke after a long silence: ¡°Anyone who is not a fool could see that there are doubts surrounding Huang Xing¡¯s death.¡± ¡°Indeed, anyone who is not a fool could see that there¡¯s a problem with his death. How could I not know? Do you understand why both I and Wu Qingfeng chose to suppress the news?¡± Li Mingqi said lightly. ¡°I hope you can enlighten me¡­¡± Chen Yuan bowed slightly, glancing at Li Mingqi¡¯s composed face. ¡°The No-Life Sect wields a very powerful influence within Ping¡¯an County. Not to mention that Huang Xing did not confess, even if he had, how much do you think he could have known?¡± ¡°While in the arrest room, Huang Xing had ten toes and one arm severed, yet he never confessed; Huang Shengnian¡¯s eyes were gouged out, and still he remained defiant.¡± ¡°To be honest, I also do not understand why they were so unyielding.¡± Chen Yuan silently endured Li Mingqi¡¯s nonsense; a whole lot was said, none of it hitting the point. ¡°Thus, Wu Qingfeng came to me and suggested that since no information could be extracted, it might be better to just kill them and wait for the No-Life Sect in Ping¡¯an County to slip up again.¡± ¡°Otherwise, with Huang Xing alive, the No-Life Sect¡¯s people are likely to stay hidden for a very long time.¡± After Li Mingqi finished speaking, he gently sipped his tea and watched Chen Yuan in silence. Huang Xing and Huang Shengnian were murdered by them! Chen Yuan was shocked. As for what Li Mingqi had said, it hardly made sense; killing those in the know, and then calmly waiting for the No-Life Sect¡¯s demons to reveal themselves wasn¡¯t something someone without a brain thrombosis could do. But¡­ Were Wu Qingfeng, the County Magistrate, and another County Government power-holder, Li Mingqi, really fools? Not necessarily! From what Li Mingqi said, Chen Yuan faintly discerned their true intentions. They simply did not want to deal with the mess, fearing chain reactions that could cost them their official hats or even their lives. One could see from the Huang Family affair that the No-Life Sect¡¯s roots ran deep in Ping¡¯an County. Moreover¡­ The term of County Magistrate Wu Qingfeng appeared to be coming to an end, and Li Mingqi¡¯s term wasn¡¯t that far away either. They did not wish to uncover the lid during their tenure, and even preferred to help cover it up. Whether Huang Xing was subjected to severe torture was still unknown to Chen Yuan. Li Mingqi and Wu Qingfeng¡¯s intentions were clear with just one phrase. ¡°After I leave, what do I care if there¡¯s a flood?¡± Bureaucrats! This is what bureaucrats in this world are like. Skilled at making money, but reluctant to do any real work. Looking back, Wu Qingfeng¡¯s request for Chen Yuan to quickly trace the whereabouts of the No-Life Sect demon seemed to be made without believing he could succeed, while the County Government was also unwilling to put in much effort. It was merely to silence the gossip. Otherwise, with so many experts inside the County Government, how could they have possibly put all their hopes on him alone? If he failed to find them, it would be Chen Yuan¡¯s fault; if he succeeded, it was their credit! Hehe¡­ Chen Yuan didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with their approach. If there was nothing he wanted inside Cien Temple and if his uncle¡¯s death was not related to the No-Life Sect, he wouldn¡¯t have wanted to provoke such an enemy either. Unfortunately, there are no ifs! Fortune favors the bold; he would definitely go to Cien Temple, and he would also definitely obtain the Blood Evil Saber. But, he couldn¡¯t say that now. ¡°Listening to the Magistrate¡¯s words is like gaining the wisdom of ten years of study. The Magistrate is wise; thinking about it now, it seems that I was too impatient¡­¡± said Chen Yuan, bowing with hands clasped. A hint of amusement flashed in Li Mingqi¡¯s eyes as he nodded: ¡°To have such resolve is indeed rare,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve always remembered the Magistrate¡¯s orders and thought about contributing my modest efforts to the Magistrate and the imperial court,¡± Chen Yuan said in haste. ¡°I¡¯ve granted your leave. You should investigate these cancers thoroughly!¡± Li Mingqi said righteously. ¡°I understand!¡± Chen Yuan replied. ¡­ ¡­ ¡°Brother Yuan, are you going on leave for seven days?¡± Wang Ping was slightly startled when he heard the news from Chen Yuan. Seven days off was not a short period, typically, a leave was only for one day unless there were other circumstances. Moreover, officials such as arrest officers rarely took leave, as they usually had ample time. Could it be¡­ Brother Yuan, did you injure yourself at Yanyu Building? ¡°I have some matters to attend to,¡± Chen Yuan nodded. ¡°Then¡­ what about the Arrest Room?¡± Wang Ping quickly asked. He knew Brother Yuan had only recently taken up the position and it wouldn¡¯t be suitable for him to take such a long leave. ¡°Business as usual. Moreover, the County Magistrate is there, a few days won¡¯t stir any waves¡­¡± Chen Yuan said. Wang Ping nodded and spoke no more. Brother Yuan must have his reasons for doing so. ¡°During the seven days of my leave, be cautious. Don¡¯t interfere with the matters of the No-Life Sect demon; just patrol daily. Even if something major happens, do not disturb me. Understand?¡± Chen Yuan solemnly instructed. ¡°Brother Yuan, rest assured.¡± ¡°By the way, if Uncle Zhou and the others look for me, you must also cover for me. Just say I¡¯m temporarily not in the County Government and am out investigating a case¡­¡± Wang Ping gazed at Chen Yuan for a moment, then nodded seriously: ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Furthermore¡­¡± Chen Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice: ¡°Also advise Uncle Wang that it would be best not to go to Yanyu Building; things there are not so simple.¡± Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81, 7 Days of Bone Refining! Chapter 81: Chapter 81, 7 Days of Bone Refining! Wang Ping was momentarily stunned, not quite understanding why Brother Yuan thought that Yanyu Building was not so simple, but since Brother Yuan said so, there must be his reasons. He quickly expressed his understanding and decided to advise his father to choose a different brothel in the coming days. Chen Yuan nodded. He had given his warnings duly. If Wang Ping didn¡¯t listen, there was nothing he could do to help. Of course, he had some understanding of Wang Ping¡¯s personality and knew he was not someone who disregarded advice foolishly. If that were the case, Chen Yuan would not have associated with him at all. After advising Wang Ping, Chen Yuan used the authority of the arrest officer to summon all the government officials within the Arrest Room of the County Government, informing them that he would be taking a seven-day leave. Everything should proceed as usual, and if any unexpected events occurred, they were to report immediately to the County Magistrate. After saying this, he paid no heed to everyone¡¯s speculations, sat upright in the Arrest Room for an hour, and then left the County Government alone. In the courtyard, Chen Yuan cleaned up the house and arranged some inconspicuous mechanisms at the doorway. They were not lethal, but they could leave some traces. Later, as the sky grew dim, Chen Yuan, dressed in ordinary robes, quietly left the county town. ¡­ ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï About seven or eight miles south of Ping¡¯an City, the spot Chen Yuan chose for his breakthrough was here, a deep and quiet forest, serene and uninhabitated. He would not choose a place within Ping¡¯an County, especially not his own home, for his breakthrough. That would be prone to accidents. This time, his goal was to enter the Bone Refining Level, and what might happen during the process was unknown, but choosing a secluded and uninhabited place was certainly the right decision. It was a series of low hills, not high, but hiding a person was definitely no problem. Under the bright moonlight, Chen Yuan held a torch that clearly illuminated the path ahead. He walked uphill, erasing any traces he had left as much as possible. Soon, Chen Yuan reached the summit and looked out in the distance; he could faintly make out the outline of some of the county town. Finally, Chen Yuan found a large bluestone, about several feet wide, with a relatively flat surface. After carefully cleaning it, he surveyed the surrounding area within a hundred meters. After confirming there were no problems, Chen Yuan took out several bells he had made in advance and placed them in concealed spots. Being cautious never did any harm. And he, Chen Yuan, had always been rather cautious. After all, one had only one life, and once it was gone, it was truly gone. After completing all the arrangements, Chen Yuan inserted the torch into a pile of earth, laid aside his change of clothes, jumped up, and seated himself cross-legged on the massive bluestone. Chen Yuan exhaled a long breath of turbid air and then slowly closed his eyes. Without any incidents throughout the night, Chen Yuan circulated the Qi and blood in his body. From the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl in his chest, a cool sensation seeped out, spreading to his limbs and bones. Chen Yuan could feel that his body seemed lighter. Of course, he knew this was an illusion. In reality, it was the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl cleansing the elixir toxins accumulated in his body. The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight appeared at the horizon, Chen Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and pushed up with his arms. ¡°Rip!¡± The clothes on his upper body instantly tore apart, exposing Chen Yuan¡¯s muscular torso. The muscles, tinged with an ancient bronze color, were clearly defined and streamlined without an ounce of excess fat, showcasing a robust beauty. Chen Yuan stood up and assumed a bizarre pose that would be difficult for an average person to achieve. Soon, a dark golden light radiated from his body, shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight. Nearly three hours later, Chen Yuan shook his arm, flipped over on the bluestone, and resumed his cross-legged posture, his body dotted with sweat beads, having already soaked most of the giant bluestone. ¡°Crack.¡± Chen Yuan stretched out his hand to open the redwood box in front of him, revealing four porcelain bottles inside. ¡­ On the first day, Chen Yuan swallowed and refined eighteen Tiger Bone Pills, completing his eighth Blood Refining. If one could pierce Chen Yuan¡¯s skin, they would see his blood transforming towards a golden hue. The typical cultivation technique would suffice with three Blood Refinings to start advancing to the Bone Refining Level, but that wouldn¡¯t fully unleash the body¡¯s potential, setting a limit despite the swift progress. Naturally, this path is suitable for most people. The resources needed for nine Blood Refinings are too extensive; ordinary people can¡¯t afford it, and the imperial court wouldn¡¯t waste so much money to train Martial Artists on such a large scale. Take Chen Yuan, for example: for nine Blood Refinings, the Tiger Bone Pills and Blood Essence Pills he refined added up to nearly a hundred, costing thousands of silver. Not to mention that ordinary people can¡¯t obtain Cultivation Elixirs even if they could, how many could afford such expenses? If it weren¡¯t for his desire to have a solid foundation, Chen Yuan would have already entered Bone Refining. After completing the eighth Blood Refining, Chen Yuan meditated overnight on the giant bluestone, doing nothing but eating and drinking, followed by two continuous days under the scorching sun practicing the Vajra Glaze Body. He utilized the energy of the sun to enhance the cultivation technique and the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl inside his body to minimize the expulsion of accumulated elixir toxicity as much as possible. On the fourth day, Chen Yuan swallowed all the remaining Tiger Bone Pills and refined them, completing his ninth and final Blood Refining while the Qi and Blood Power surged within him. Chen Yuan tested his strength, throwing a punch that caused a sound in the empty space. The power it contained had reached an astonishing level. The golden paint on Chen Yuan¡¯s body became denser, and the dark golden light covered his entire body, undoubtedly highlighting the beauty of power. Afterward, Chen Yuan continued practicing his cultivation techniques and spent another two days expelling the elixir toxicity. At this moment, some black, foul-smelling sludge had reappeared on his skin. Chen Yuan, unfazed, frequently wiped it off with a rag by his side. In the blink of an eye, six days had passed. On the seventh day, Chen Yuan adjusted himself to peak condition. His pectoral muscles pulsed slowly, displaying his abundant life force; he looked like a golden statue. Except for his hair, there was nothing that wasn¡¯t in a dark golden state. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Chen Yuan let out a long breath and glanced at the sun high in the sky. Then he closed his eyes tightly, while mobilizing the Qi and Blood Power inside his body, he operated the Vajra Glaze Body Bone Refining Level cultivation technique and began practicing! Through his flesh, the faint golden blood transformed by practicing the Vajra Glaze Body began to mysteriously attract, gradually infiltrating towards the bones of the flesh. It seemed as if he was transforming all his bones into a light golden state as well. After two continuous hours of steady practice, Chen Yuan calmly opened his eyes. He looked down at his arms and could clearly feel the immense power contained within. Bone Refining! After seven days of practice, he had finally entered the Bone Refining Level! Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Return to the City! Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Return to the City! Chen Yuan had been transported to this world precisely two months ago, advancing from the Skin Refining Level straight to Bone Refining¡ªa process that was far from simple. Throughout these two months, Chen Yuan almost never rested, but it was worth it. Because, Chen Yuan finally had a semblance of self-preservation. After all, Bone Refining experts rarely exceeded a handful in the entire Ping¡¯an County. With Chen Yuan¡¯s strength entering Bone Refining, he was exceptionally strong, if not invincible in his realm. In Ping¡¯an County, only those at the Gang Condensation level could likely pose a threat to Chen Yuan. But how many Gang Condensation experts were there in the entire Ping¡¯an County? Standing up, Chen Yuan leaped down from the blue boulder, quickly got dressed with the clothes prepared on the ground, and gently twisted his neck. A series of cracking sounds ensued. Then, Chen Yuan approached a rather sturdy tree, stepped foot, gathered his vital energy at one point, and suddenly launched a punch with his right fist. ¡°Bang!¡± The tree was instantly shattered by the powerful impact. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï A smirk formed on Chen Yuan¡¯s lips, his physical strength had indeed surged tremendously since beginning Bone Refining. This was the joy of cultivation, progressing from an insignificant existence to becoming increasingly strong. Isn¡¯t this more joyful than sex? Chen Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly fixed in the direction of North City, where Cien Temple was located, and the supposed hiding place of the No-Life Sect, as he had guessed. Now, it was finally time to act. ¡°Blood Evil Saber¡­ ¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s lips slightly curled up, his expression very interested. A superior blade could significantly enhance one¡¯s battle strength, and judging by the character of the Qi Fortune Altar, this item¡¯s value was definitely not inferior to the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl and Vajra Glaze Body. He was looking forward to it. Of course, Chen Yuan wasn¡¯t foolish enough to directly force his way in, as that would be akin to suicide. He might have a bit of self-preservation ability, but it was just a bit, and he was still inadequate facing a Gang Condensation expert. Only a Gang Condensation expert could deal with another Gang Condensation expert! If Li Mingqi and Wu Qingfeng were unwilling to lift the lid off, then he would take the initiative. Chen Yuan had already witnessed the attitude of Officer Zhang from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau towards the No-Life Sect¡ªabsolutely zero tolerance! This also provided him with an opportunity. He decided to first investigate Cien Temple, and after confirming the facts, he would personally go to the Heavenly Patrol Bureau in Nanling Prefecture City to meet with Officer Zhang. He would let the Heavenly Patrol Bureau handle the demons from the No-Life Sect. And he would hide as much as possible behind the scenes. Of course, maybe because of the intervention of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, Chen Yuan might not obtain the Blood Evil Saber, but that was the only plan he had for now. Risking his life by barging into Cien Temple was not an option. If he were captured and turned into a blood slave, drained of blood daily to make Blood Pills, no one would come to save him. Whether the Heavenly Patrol Bureau would take action was another issue; if it didn¡¯t go as he hoped, he would have to think of other methods gradually. After a long silence on the mountaintop, Chen Yuan descended alone. ¡­ ¡­ Upon returning to Ping¡¯an County, Chen Yuan didn¡¯t immediately head to the County Government; instead, he first returned to his small courtyard in North City. Scrutinizing the entrance carefully, Chen Yuan maintained a calm expression; no one had trespassed this place, at least, no trace was left behind. After being away for seven days, Chen Yuan cleaned and tidied up the small courtyard. Afterwards, he went to a nearby tavern for a satisfying meal, compensating for the bland taste of the past few days. Chen Yuan had brought food for seven days, but it wasn¡¯t lavish and just barely filled his stomach; he had been craving meat for days. In the Foundation Establishment Realm, meat was an indispensable supplement. ¡°Brother Yuan, Brother Yuan!¡± As he was enjoying the meat and about to quench his thirst with a drink, Wang Ping¡¯s voice approached from a distance, followed by the sounds of rapid footsteps. Wang Ping took a deep breath and sat directly across from Chen Yuan, grabbing the teapot and pouring water into his mouth. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why the rush?¡± Chen Yuan furrowed his brows. Could something unexpected have arisen at the Cien Temple during the few days of his closed-door breakthrough? Could it really be such a coincidence¡­ ¡°The¡­ County Magistrate is looking for you,¡± Wang Ping let out a breath of relief. ¡°Looking for me? What for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure, but I heard it¡¯s about those bandits from before¡­¡± Wang Ping hurriedly relayed the information he knew to Chen Yuan. ¡°Bandits¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered. He subconsciously speculated about the bandits¡¯ true identities, otherwise, Li Mingqi wouldn¡¯t have been so eager to find him. ¡°They have been looking since yesterday, but since you said not to let anyone disturb you, I managed to postpone it until today, and I¡¯ve been hovering around your house all day.¡± ¡°Just now, when A Fang said she saw you heading this way, I quickly followed.¡± Chen Yuan nodded slightly, since Wang Ping was able to hold them off, it probably wasn¡¯t anything particularly urgent. ¡°Nothing troublesome has happened in the county these past few days, right?¡± Chen Yuan picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and asked unhurriedly. Wang Ping shook his head: ¡°No big issues, but, a few children drowned by the river outside North City.¡± ¡°Their bodies haven¡¯t been found, have they¡­¡± Chen Yuan asked. A flicker of confusion crossed Wang Ping¡¯s eyes: ¡°Brother Yuan, you knew?¡± ¡°Just guessed.¡± It must have been the work of the No-Life Sect, but Chen Yuan did not reveal this to Wang Ping. ¡°Brother Yuan, you¡¯re really something to have guessed that.¡± Wang Ping scratched the back of his neck. After draining the cup of wine, Chen Yuan stood up: ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s visit the County Government and see what the County Magistrate wants.¡± ¡­ Ping¡¯an County Government. Chen Yuan, with a calm demeanor, walked into the Arrest Room, where several government officials promptly stepped forward to report the situations of the past few days, which were overall quite stable, except for those few children¡­ For now, it could only be regarded as a disappearance, not a homicide. The constables in the Government weren¡¯t too concerned about pursuing it, given the children came from rather ordinary families. After dealing with some leftover trivial matters from the past few days in the Arrest Room, Chen Yuan headed to the office of County Magistrate Li Mingqi. ¡°Your subordinate pays respects to your honor.¡± After being greeted by a government official, Chen Yuan immediately saw the calm-faced Li Mingqi sitting at the head and promptly saluted with his hands. ¡°Sit.¡± Li Mingqi pointed to the chair in front of Chen Yuan. ¡°I heard from Wang Ping that your honor was looking for your subordinate yesterday about something?¡± Chen Yuan got straight to the point. ¡°Have you been away from home these past few days?¡± Chen Yuan shook his head: ¡°I¡¯ve been tracking the traces of the demon people from the No-Life Sect.¡± ¡°Any trace discovered?¡± The color of Chen Yuan¡¯s face flashed with a hint of dejection: ¡°Those demon people are hidden too deeply, your subordinate¡­¡± ¡°If it¡¯s difficult to investigate, let it go for now, the duty of an arrest officer is still to arrest and maintain public security¡­¡± Li Mingqi said softly. ¡°Your honor is right, your subordinate understands.¡± ¡°Yesterday, I was looking for you because people from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau in the prefecture city came asking about those deserters,¡± Li Mingqi continued. ¡ª¡ª¡ª- The introduction mentions a group, welcome to chat! Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Yue Shan Appears Again! Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Yue Shan Appears Again! Chen Yuan inwardly exclaimed, ¡®Just as I thought.¡¯ It must be about the deserters that had drawn the attention of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, as this was indeed their responsibility. ¡°The Heavenly Patrol Bureau specially sent someone to come here? Should I perhaps¡­¡± Chen Yuan spoke softly. Li Mingqi glanced at Chen Yuan: ¡°It¡¯s merely an inquiry, nothing serious, no need to worry about it, as long as you hand over the heads of those horse bandits to them, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°We did a job for them; there won¡¯t be just some verbal commendation, right?¡± Chen Yuan chuckled. ¡°Anyway, I haven¡¯t seen any indication that they intend to give anything, but the fellow from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau is still in town if you want to try your luck.¡± ¡°My lord jests, the people from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau always think too highly of themselves, they¡¯re not easy to talk to, I don¡¯t have the ability to get them to give any rewards specifically¡­¡± As he spoke, Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. If the person from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau had not left yet, then¡­ there was no need to make another trip to the Prefecture City; he could definitely try to probe. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 ¡°There may not be any substantial reward, but the government has still recorded a merit for you. Once you step into the Bone Refining Level, that official position will justifiably be yours.¡± ¡°With both merit and strength, even if someone speaks ill of you, it won¡¯t affect the overall situation.¡± Li Mingqi picked up his teacup and took a light sip. ¡°With my lord here, I have never worried about anything,¡± Chen Yuan said with a smile. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Then I shall take my leave first,¡± Chen Yuan stood up. Li Mingqi¡¯s gaze fixed on the water in the teacup, gently blew twice on it, and then nodded slightly. ¡­ After returning to the Arrest Room, Chen Yuan immediately summoned Wang Ping and several Government Officials, instructing them to find out where the guy from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau was. With the Arrest Room in action, it took less than an hour for news to come. That person was currently in the Yanyu Building! After arranging everything in the Government Office in an orderly fashion, Chen Yuan set off for the Yanyu Building with Wang Ping. ¡°Brother Yuan, you said before that there¡¯s more to the Yanyu Building than meets the eye. Is there some sort of trickery there?¡± Wang Ping whispered to Chen Yuan after they left the Government Office. In the past few days, he had taken Chen Yuan¡¯s words to heart, warning his father not to go to the Yanyu Building, and had been pondering it in his mind, but he couldn¡¯t figure it out no matter how hard he tried. What could be wrong with a place full of fireworks and women? ¡°It¡¯s not that the Yanyu Building is unusual, it¡¯s that Miss Xiaoyue is no ordinary person¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered. As for the specifics, Chen Yuan did not say, because he was also not very clear, it was just intuition, an instinctual feeling that Miss Xiaoyue was not simple, Her looks could only be considered top-notch, definitely not devastatingly beautiful. How could she possibly make so many people infatuated? And keep Wang Ping thinking about her day and night for who knows how long. In a short while, Chen Yuan and Wang Ping arrived at the Yanyu Building. The familiar sound of a flute was heard as soon as they approached. Chen Yuan entered with an unchanged expression, and a young servant immediately came forward with a smile. Ignoring the servant, Chen Yuan surveyed the inside of the hall and ultimately fixed his gaze on a secluded corner, where a burly man clad in brown clothing, with armor draped over his shoulders, sat. With a square face and a sturdy build, one could feel a sense of oppression from a distance. No one dared to sit near him, preferring to stand rather than to get close. The burly man, however, seemed unconcerned, holding a cup of wine in his hand and watching the women in front dance with Red Silk, occasionally taking a sip. Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, he remembered this burly man, who had made a move when the Government Office surrounded the Huang Family, tremendously fierce with a Heavy Blade. In their first clash, Huang Xing had been forced into a disadvantage. Afterwards, he hurriedly left to pursue the Demon of the No-Life Sect, and before leaving, he had even made an appearance with Master Zhang. With a smile on his face, Chen Yuan approached slowly and said with a clasped fist: ¡°Would this gentleman mind if I take a seat here?¡± Yue Shan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he turned his head slowly to size Chen Yuan up and down: ¡°It¡¯s you, take a seat.¡± ¡°You still recognize me, brother?¡± Chen Yuan slightly raised an eyebrow. ¡°I remember you, your strength was quite good, it¡¯s just the realm¡­ huh? You¡¯ve become an arrest officer now?¡± Yue Shan was slightly taken aback when he saw the distinctive markings on Chen Yuan¡¯s uniform that differed from those of an ordinary government official. ¡°Thanks to the favor of others, I¡¯ve taken this position.¡± Chen Yuan said with a smile. ¡°So you¡¯ve already reached the Bone Refining Level?¡± Yue Shan squinted his eyes. To have such progress in just over a month, even if he were in the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, that would be extraordinary. What a pity to have become an arrest officer. ¡°I luckily had a breakthrough the other day.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as luck in the path of cultivation,¡± Yue Shan turned his head, looking at a dancing girl and spoke softly. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± ¡°Did you come looking for me specifically?¡± Yue Shan asked as though he were merely stating a fact. Chen Yuan did not conceal his intentions, stating directly: ¡°Yes, finding you did take some effort on my part.¡± ¡°Stop with the ¡®sir¡¯ this and ¡®sir¡¯ that, my surname is Yue, given name Shan.¡± ¡°Brother Yue.¡± Chen Yuan did not act arrogantly. With the strength that this robust man had shown before, he was definitely one of the very strong existences within the Bone Refining Level¡ªeven though Chen Yuan himself had already entered Bone Refining. He didn¡¯t have much confidence he could defeat him. ¡°What did you want to see me for?¡± Yue Shan asked casually. ¡°The County Magistrate told me that Brother Yue has come to investigate the matter concerning those bandits? To tell you the truth, those bandits were eliminated by myself. If Brother Yue has any questions, just ask and I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± ¡°Yuan will certainly leave nothing unsaid.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s face remained smiling. ¡°Chen Yuan¡­¡± Yue Shan mumbled under his breath, then chuckled and said: ¡°I won¡¯t hide it from you, investigating those bandits is just a cover story. I¡¯m merely taking a few days to rest. Those deserters are already dead, so they¡¯re no longer of any value.¡± ¡°Ping¡¯an County is not exactly a peaceful place to rest, though.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted, focusing along with Yue Shan on what was in front of them. ¡°You seem to be hinting at something.¡± Yue Shan said indifferently. ¡°I would like to ask what the Heavenly Patrol Bureau¡¯s stance is towards the demon folk of the No-Life Sect?¡± Chen Yuan fell silent for a moment, foregoing any probing and asked directly instead. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s to eradicate them all!¡± A flash of killing aura passed through Yue Shan¡¯s eyes. Hearing such a definitive answer, Chen Yuan fell silent for a moment and then said: ¡°This is not the place to talk. Tomorrow Chen Yuan will take the liberty of inviting Brother Yue for a private chat. As for tonight, Brother Yue, pick whichever girl or girls you like, and all expenses will be on me.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± There was a hint of amusement in Yue Shan¡¯s eyes. Watching the women dancing seductively on the high platform, trying to please the men below, Chen Yuan sighed softly: ¡°Life is not easy for these girls. If I can lend a hand, I won¡¯t be stingy.¡± ¡°Moreover, serving Brother Yue would be their honor!¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Keeping up with your reading lately is important, brothers, hang in there! Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 84 is done! Chapter 84: Chapter 84 is done! ¡°To live in the cracks, to make a living under the sticks¡­ Arrest Officer Chen is a remarkable man, and he has perfectly captured their hardships¡­¡± Yue Shan laughed heartily, and his interest in Chen Yuan grew stronger. ¡°How so?¡± Chen Yuan and Yue Shan exchanged glances. Yue Shan gently shook his head: ¡°It¡¯s just that Yue Shan has little interest in the fair sex, and the cultivation technique I practice cannot break the body before the Gang Condensation Realm.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyebrows raised, somewhat incredulous. No interest in women, yet visiting the brothel for no reason? As if seeing through Chen Yuan¡¯s thoughts, Yue Shan continued: ¡°Yue Shan was guided by Mr. Zhang to come here to strengthen his resolve through practice.¡± ¡°To practice resolve at the brothel¡­¡± The idea seemed absurd, but upon reflection, it wasn¡¯t entirely without reason. ¡°However, since you wish to talk with Yue Shan, why pick another day? Let¡¯s make it today, Yue Shan is curious to see what motivated you to reach out to me.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Yue Shan did not hide his intentions and then stood up and walked towards the door. Chen Yuan watched Yue Shan¡¯s retreating figure and narrowed his eyes, following him. On the second floor, Su Xiaoyue, draped in red gauze, watched their departing figures, her gaze flickering, pondering something. ¡­ South City, Inside a certain tavern. Yue Shan was escorted to the best private room, and without needing to say much, once Chen Yuan revealed his identity, the shopkeeper was very insightful in preparing everything. After a meal and drink to their fill. Chen Yuan looked at the mess on the table and smiled. Yue Shan certainly lived up to his robust frame, having consumed at least twenty pounds of meat. And he still seemed not to have eaten his fill. ¡°Wang Ping, you go out first,¡± Chen Yuan waved his hand indicating. Wang Ping nodded in understanding, then picked up the official long sword set aside, walked out of the private room, and stood guard by the door without sideways glances. Yue Shan swallowed a big bowl of liquor, sighed in relief, placed his chopsticks into the bowl, and wiped his mouth: ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, speak frankly about what you wish to discuss. Yue Shan will help as much as possible, but if it¡¯s beyond me, don¡¯t blame Yue Shan for not exerting effort.¡± In Yue Shan¡¯s view, Chen Yuan¡¯s intention in building a connection with him must stem from a need. That¡¯s the only reason Chen Yuan appealed to him; otherwise, Yue Shan wouldn¡¯t have given him the time of day in the Yanyu Building. In the county town, as an arrest officer and ninth-rank official, he¡¯s quite an influential figure to the common people, but to those in the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, he¡¯s nothing much. Not to mention himself, even the county magistrates, if they didn¡¯t want to show respect, would not give much. The Heavenly Patrol Bureau always conducts its affairs quite arrogantly. ¡°Brother Yue misunderstands. Chen isn¡¯t asking for help, rather, he¡¯s here to offer Brother Yue a chance for merit,¡± Chen Yuan said calmly, tapping his fingers on the tabletop. ¡°A chance for merit?¡± Yue Shan frowned, not quite understanding what Chen Yuan was hinting at. Suddenly, an idea struck him, remembering the previous mention by Chen Yuan of the demon people of the No-Life Sect, he looked intently at Chen Yuan and said: ¡°You¡¯re not talking about something related to the demon people of the No-Life Sect, are you?¡± Chen Yuan nodded: ¡°Brother Yue is right, it¡¯s indeed about the demon people of the No-Life Sect.¡± ¡°Do you know their whereabouts?¡± Yue Shan instinctively was somewhat skeptical. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare say for sure, but I¡¯m seventy percent confident¡­¡± Chen Yuan said with a calm demeanor. ¡°You¡¯re not fooling old Yue, are you? Matters involving the No-Life Sect should not be spoken lightly, otherwise¡­¡± Yue Shan¡¯s expression was very grave. Chen Yuan smiled faintly and retorted, ¡°Does Brother Yue think Chen is the type to jest?¡± ¡°You truly know?¡± Yue Shan¡¯s gaze was fixed on Chen Yuan. ¡°Absolutely certain!¡± Chen Yuan did not back down. ¡°With such news, why haven¡¯t you reported it? Instead, you come to me?¡± Although Yue Shan was a burly man, he wasn¡¯t dim-witted, just a bit slow, and he easily sensed something amiss in Chen Yuan¡¯s words. ¡°Report it, huh¡­¡± A hint of cold laughter shone in Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes as he said self-mockingly, ¡°Is reporting it useful? The last time the lord from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau investigated the Demon¡¯s traces of the No-Life Sect, they let them escape. What does that signify? It signifies that within Ping¡¯an County, there definitely are demons from the No-Life Sect lurking, and what did the government do? They put me, a mere Martial Artist at the Blood Refining Level, in the position of arrest officer to chase after those demons, while they remained indifferent! Each one neglectful of their duties, treating human lives as grass. Have I not reported before? No, I have spoken, but the higher-ups told me not to continue the investigation. The duty of an arrest officer is to catch criminals, to maintain public order.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Chen Yuan slammed his palm on the table, stood up, and proclaimed righteously, ¡°What can I, a mere arrest officer, decide? Their goal is stability, to have peace until the end of their term, not to lift the lid off the No-Life Sect!¡± ¡°Brother Yue, there are probably many such officials within the Heavenly Patrol Bureau as well.¡± Yue Shan¡¯s face darkened, and he coldly snorted, ¡°These guys are a disgrace, allowing the No-Life Sect¡¯s demons to run amok!¡± ¡°Yes, they are all disgraces, but I am not. I am determined to eradicate the demons of the No-Life Sect. You may not believe I am selfless, and in fact, I am not, but I bear a blood feud with them!¡± ¡°In my family, elders died at the hands of the No-Life Sect¡¯s demons. Since then, I, Chen Yuan, vowed an irreconcilable enmity with them!¡± Chen Yuan took a deep breath, narrowed his eyes, his face full of determination. His gaze slowly swept over Yue Shan, a slight smile appearing unintentionally at the corner of his mouth. He was playing on emotions, and his goal, aside from building rapport, was to make that Lord Zhang lower his guard a bit. In this world, there are no fools. Chen Yuan eagerly revealing the traces of the No-Life Sect¡¯s demons would make anyone suspect an ulterior motive. And Chen Yuan didn¡¯t want to be too conspicuous. Yue Shan was silent for a long while: ¡°Not to hide from you, my entire family also died at the hands of the No-Life Sect, which is why I joined the Heavenly Patrol Bureau ¨C for revenge!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve said so much, after I go back, I will report to Lord Zhang, mobilize the experts of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, and eradicate the No-Life Sect!¡± ¡°Brother Yue, thank you. Turning to you was Chen¡¯s last resort.¡± Chen Yuan sighed. ¡°You are very much to my liking, don¡¯t worry, this will definitely succeed.¡± Chen Yuan nodded gravely: ¡°Good.¡± This time, Chen Yuan indeed used Yue Shan, but whether for him or for Chen Yuan, it was a good choice, saving Chen Yuan the trouble of going to Prefecture City to try and convince Lord Zhang. ¡°Arrest Officer Chen, previously I, old Yue, doubted you with a villain¡¯s heart, thinking you were approaching me because you wanted something. Unexpectedly¡­¡± Yue Shan¡¯s face showed some embarrassment. ¡°Brother Yue, Yuan¡¯s actions are not only for our personal vendettas but also for the hundreds of thousands in Ping¡¯an County, to spare them from the torment of the No-Life Sect¡¯s demons!¡± ¡°No more words, it¡¯s all in the wine.¡± Yue Shan picked up a bowl of wine and drained it in one gulp. Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 85: The Bizarre Happenings Inside the Cien Temple Chapter 85: Chapter 85: The Bizarre Happenings Inside the Cien Temple Outside Ping¡¯an County, watching Yue Shan¡¯s retreating figure, Chen Yuan stood in place and chuckled softly. Now, the preliminary preparations were finally complete, and next, it was time to make another visit to Cien Temple for confirmation. Facing Chapter Official Li Mingqi, even someone like Li Mingqi exercised caution; Chen Yuan dared not take things lightly, let alone deceive with reckless claims¡ªif he did, the consequences would be severe. Yue Shan had promised that within three days at the latest, either the Chapter Official would come, or he would prepare a letter in advance to inform them. At that time, if the Chapter Official truly came in person, ¡°guessing¡± would no longer be an option. He had to come up with something somewhat convincing to say. ¡°Wang Ping.¡± ¡°Brother Yuan.¡± Wang Ping glanced at Chen Yuan and responded. ¡°Come with me to Cien Temple. Look more, speak less.¡± ¡°Rest assured, Brother Yuan!¡± ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡­ North City. Cien Temple. Chen Yuan surveyed the surroundings of the temple for a while, then calmly dismounted and walked into the temple. To this place, Chen Yuan felt both familiar and unfamiliar. In his memory, every year his uncle would take him here several times to burn incense and worship Buddha, and after his transmigration, he also came here to obtain his first opportunity: the Vajra Glaze Body. But Chen Yuan still felt unfamiliar; unfamiliar with how Cien Temple, a place meant for saving the world and ferrying people, had become the potential nest of demon-like individuals from the No-Life Sect. It also concealed something as ominously named as the Blood Evil Saber. ¡°There are a lot fewer people here than usual.¡± Wang Ping looked around and said in a low voice next to Chen Yuan. Here, Wang Ping had also been before, but at those times, Cien Temple was bustling, with an endless stream of believers coming to burn incense and worship Buddha. But now¡­ It had become quite sparse. ¡°With consecutive years of drought, the harvests have been poor, and naturally, people don¡¯t have much spare money for tribute or burning incense.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true¡­¡± Wang Ping nodded in agreement, emphatically. It was evident from his father¡¯s business that the drought in Qingzhou these past years was quite severe; in some places, the ground was said to be cracked open. ¡°Who might the two of you be?¡± As Chen Yuan and Wang Ping had just entered, a young, bald monk came forward, hands clasped in greeting and watching them with a somewhat vigilant gaze. ¡°We¡¯ve come to burn incense and pray.¡± Chen Yuan smiled. The young monk hesitated for a moment, then quickly smiled, saying: ¡°The main hall is right ahead; the two benefactors can go straight there.¡± Hearing they had come to burn incense, the monk even changed the way he addressed them. ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± Chen Yuan nodded with a smile. Before coming, he and Wang Ping had already changed their clothes to avoid being noticed. The young monk gave a slight nod, then turned to attend to other visitors. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡± Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly and began to wander around Cien Temple with Wang Ping. His gaze scanned up and down, contemplating where Cien Temple might hide its tricks. Cien Temple was a small temple, but it still had many rooms and halls, and within the temple, a heavy scent of incense pervaded, which made Wang Ping involuntarily exclaim how lavish the temple was, still burning so much incense even in such times. After hearing this, Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered, but he didn¡¯t say much. If one grew suspicious of a place, then no matter what that place was, inconsistencies could always be found. Before long, Chen Yuan and Wang Ping passed through two gates and arrived before the main hall. A dozen or so men and women, old and young, were prostrating before the hall, their foreheads touching the ground, their palms facing up in silence. Chen Yuan squinted his eyes, this was the ritual within the Buddhist community, the receiving and handling of courtesy. A cold sneer crept into his heart, Buddhism preaches the equality of all beings, but could this ritual be considered equal to the believers? ¡°Brother Yuan, I recognize these people.¡± Wang Ping lowered his voice. ¡°Who are they?¡± Chen Yuan asked. ¡°Brother Yuan, do you still remember those missing children I told you about yesterday? These people are their parents¡­¡± Wang Ping said softly. ¡°Children go missing, and praying to gods and Buddha can bring them back?¡± Chen Yuan shook his head slightly. He left unsaid that their children might have gone missing because of someone within Cien Temple. ¡°Entrance to the hall, two silver taels.¡± A middle-aged, chubby monk with several scars on his head approached Chen Yuan and spoke in a calm tone. ¡°Why has the price gone up? Wasn¡¯t it just a hundred wen when I visited last time?¡± Chen Yuan asked with a firm voice. To avoid suspicion, Chen Yuan needed to make himself appear as a true believer. ¡°The abbot wishes to repair the Buddha¡¯s Golden Body.¡± The middle-aged monk said with a light smile. After giving him a long look, Chen Yuan handed over two silver taels: ¡°So it¡¯s for the repair of the Buddha¡¯s Golden Body, then indeed the price should go up a bit.¡± ¡°It¡¯s donors like you who keep the Buddha in mind, these donors¡­¡± The middle-aged monk looked over at the men and women, young and old, kneeling in the distance and shook his head with a hint of disdain in his eyes. ¡°Seeking Buddha does not depend on silver, as long as the sincerity is there.¡± The middle-aged monk smiled and said no more. Chen Yuan and Wang Ping took two sticks of incense from the hands of the middle-aged monk and stepped into the main hall. In the center, a towering golden Buddha sat several meters tall on a lotus pedestal, coldly and indifferently looking down upon every entering believer. Chen Yuan activated his Heavenly Eye, a faint and hard-to-detect Qing light emerged within his eyes as he surveyed the hall, but alas, there was no movement. His gaze returned to normal, and Chen Yuan calmly approached, placing the lit incense in the censer ahead without kneeling down. Whether in his past life or this one, Chen Yuan had never believed in gods or Buddha. In the practice of martial arts, one cultivates oneself. Wang Ping, imitating Chen Yuan¡¯s actions, placed his incense stick and then followed Chen Yuan out of the main hall. In front of the gate, that group of people continued to bow devoutly, but Chen Yuan passed by without a glance. After leaving the main hall, Chen Yuan purposefully headed towards the place where Cien Temple displayed its scriptures. Outside the Scripture Pavilion. A Qing-robed monk was sweeping the floor. Chen Yuan took a good look and recognized him. Last time, it was this monk who had provided him with the Vajra Glaze Body technique. ¡°Master.¡± Chen Yuan greeted with his hand placed respectfully across his chest. The Qing-robed monk slowly lifted his head, his face lined with the wear of time, and upon seeing Chen Yuan, he looked slightly surprised: ¡°Ah, Donor Chen, what brings you to offer incense today?¡± ¡°Recent times have been unfavorable, and I wished to burn some incense to seek the Buddha¡¯s blessing,¡± Chen Yuan replied with a light smile. ¡°Buddha is in the heart, as long as one keeps him in mind at all times.¡± The Qing-robed monk smiled back. ¡°Master is truly enlightened, even casual remarks contain Buddhist truths.¡± ¡°Donor Chen flatters me. I¡¯ve heard that you have now taken up the position of an arrest officer?¡± ¡°Perhaps it is the fortune from burning those Diamond Sutras for my uncle before that allowed me this lucky opportunity,¡± Chen Yuan was not surprised, as many people in Ping¡¯an County knew he¡¯d become an arrest officer. Not to mention this monk, with whom he was comparatively well acquainted. ¡°Donor Chen is a man of good fortune.¡± ¡°Master, I¡¯d like to ask you a question.¡± The Qing-robed monk smiled, saying nothing. With no change in expression, Chen Yuan passed over a silver tael. ¡°Donor Chen, please ask,¡± the Qing-robed monk smiled faintly and discreetly tucked the silver into his sleeve. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 86: The Limping Fat Man! Chapter 86: Chapter 86: The Limping Fat Man! ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen the abbot, I wonder where he is at this moment?¡± Chen Yuan said, his gaze intently fixed on the figure of the monk in the blue robe, observing his complexion and subtle movements. ¡°The abbot¡­¡± The monk in the blue robe paused for a moment before whispering: ¡°The abbot is currently comprehending the principles of Buddhism and has not left his seclusion for over a year.¡± ¡°Seclusion¡­¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered: ¡°May I ask where he is in seclusion? Isn¡¯t it odd that no one has gone to look for him during such a lengthy period?¡± ¡°The abbot is in seclusion on the back mountain. Nowadays, all the affairs of the temple are managed by Monitor Jie Nan Uncle, and we have no authority to inquire¡­¡± said the monk in the blue robe softly. ¡°The back mountain¡­¡± Chen Yuan murmured to himself, yet his heart stirred. No wonder he had wandered around the temple grounds for so long without finding anything; there was still a back mountain! Perhaps, the true secrets were hidden there. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï ¡°Master, may I ask where the back mountain is located?¡± Since Cien Temple was not situated on a mountain, naturally there would not be an actual back mountain. Chen Yuan thought that ¡®back mountain¡¯ might just be a name. The monk in the blue robe stated frankly: ¡°Benefactor Chen, this is a secret of our temple, please forgive this humble monk¡­¡± Chen Yuan handed over a piece of silver. ¡°This¡­¡± The face of the monk in the blue robe showed hesitation, as if he wanted to take the silver, but seemed to be wary of something. Seeing the monk¡¯s struggle, Chen Yuan smiled and took out another two pieces of silver and handed them over. The monk in the blue robe gritted his teeth, quickly pocketed the silver, and pointed towards the direction of the main hall: ¡°There is a small temple next to the main hall, and within it, there is a door. Pushing open the door, you will find the road that leads to the back mountain. The back mountain was named by the first abbot; it is actually used to discipline monks who violate the rules of the temple, and also¡­¡± ¡°Also, for seclusion and cultivation.¡± Chen Yuan nodded, placing one hand over his chest: ¡°Thank you for the information, Master. I am deeply grateful to you.¡± The monk in the blue robe bowed his head again and resumed sweeping the floor: ¡°As long as Benefactor Chen does not reveal that it was this humble monk who told you of the back mountain, I would be most thankful.¡± ¡°Naturally.¡± Chen Yuan nodded and then turned around, with Wang Ping preparing to return to the main hall once more. After Chen Yuan and Wang Ping were completely out of sight, the monk in the blue robe raised his head and whispered: ¡°This filthy place is finally about to disappear.¡± ¡­ When they returned to the main hall, the men, women, old, and young who had been praying before had left, and a new group of devotees replaced them. The monk who had been collecting the silver stood indifferently to one side, watching the kneeling worshippers without an ounce of compassion on his face. Not a trace of mercy showed on his face. Chen Yuan gestured with his eyes, and Wang Ping nodded imperceptibly. He stepped towards the monk while Chen Yuan discreetly approached a small temple next to the main hall. The door of the small temple was open. There were no Arhats or Bodhisattvas enshrined within, and it did not resemble a structure belonging to the temple, but rather looked like a run-down little house. Chen Yuan walked in, glanced around, and then focused his attention on a ragged curtain that hung awkwardly on the wall, clashing with the otherwise bare surroundings. ¡°Swish.¡± Chen Yuan pulled back the curtain, his pupils contracted. Before him lay a winding path obscured by dense vegetation, and after hesitating for a moment, Chen Yuan chose not to enter. His eyes shimmered with a green light as the Heavenly Eye opened. Chen Yuan furrowed his brow; nothing special caught his eye, unlike the time when the Marrow Cleansing Spirit Pearl had emitted a glow that he had noticed. ¡°Could it be too far away?¡± A thought struck Chen Yuan; perhaps that was the reason. But even so, Chen Yuan still chose not to enter and investigate. He let out a sigh of relief, Chen Yuan let down the curtain, suddenly, a movement at the corner of his ear, uneven footsteps reached his ears. ¡°What are you doing here? Why do you want to come in?¡± A dull voice came from behind him. Without changing his expression, Chen Yuan turned around and said, ¡°I saw this small temple and thought to come burn some incense.¡± As he turned around, a somewhat plump, bald monk with a scar from a precept-branding on his head and a deep knife-scrape near the corner of his eye appeared before Chen Yuan. He looked somewhat fierce and threatening. ¡°Burn incense at the main hall, those who are not from this temple are not allowed inside,¡± the plump monk said in a low voice. ¡°Thank you for letting me know.¡± Chen Yuan smiled and walked past the plump monk. The plump monk watched Chen Yuan leave, locked the door, and limped away in a direction with one leg hobbling. ¡°Lame leg! Fatso!¡± A light flashed in Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes. If it were anywhere else it might have been fine, but it just so happened to be in Cien Temple; this made Chen Yuan think of the body shape of the murderer he had inferred from footprints after the Liu Family¡¯s annihilation case. He finally understood why he hadn¡¯t found the culprit despite a long search in the city, the man had been hiding in Cien Temple all along, disguised as a monk! There might be coincidences in this world, but definitely not this many! With just this guess, Chen Yuan was one hundred percent certain, Cien Temple was the No-Life Sect¡¯s stronghold in Ping¡¯an County! Even if that Mister Zhang arrived, Chen Yuan could report with confidence. After discovering the lame man, Chen Yuan did not continue to stay inside Cien Temple, but quickly left with Wang Ping to avoid raising the alert of certain individuals. Now was a critical moment; Chen Yuan did not wish for any complications! ¡­ ¡­ The next day, City East. Sanhe Boxing Club, back yard. Having confirmed something fishy about Cien Temple, Chen Yuan no longer made any deliberate observations; all that was needed was to wait for Mister Zhang to arrive, and then it would be time to act. Chen Yuan didn¡¯t know the strength of the No-Life Sect in Ping¡¯an County, but he suspected it was definitely not weak. After all, being able to directly control a force with a Gang Condensation strongman in charge and not letting outsiders notice, one could only imagine its strength. A Gang Condensation strongman was surely possessed; it was just unknown how many, and there would likely be even more Martial Artists below the Gang Condensation level. For Chen Yuan in his current state to provoke them would be like throwing an egg against a rock. He would not do such a foolish thing. ¡°Mister Zhao, please.¡± Chen Yuan personally poured a cup of tea for Zhao Nanshan. Zhao Nanshan accepted the tea with a smile, took a light sip, and said, ¡°I had to invite Mister Chen over hastily, as those guys come to bother me every three to five days. I hope Mister Chen is not annoyed.¡± Chen Yuan laughed, ¡°What Mister Zhao said is too serious. They need my protection, and they also bring me Silver, how could I be annoyed?¡± ¡°In this world, who would quarrel with Silver?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s visit to Sanhe Boxing Club that day was due to several rather powerful individuals from City East wanting to make his acquaintance, yet they themselves had no channel to do so. By accident, they heard that Sanhe Boxing Club was under Chen Yuan¡¯s protection. Thus, they visited multiple times, agitating Zhao Nanshan. Consequently, he sent someone to the Government to find Chen Yuan and explain the situation, after which Chen Yuan decided to come. ¡°That¡¯s good¡­¡± Zhao Nanshan pointed to the door and continued, ¡°If so, shall we let them in?¡± Chen Yuan nodded slightly, and with a smile, he said to Wang Ping beside him, ¡°Open the door, let the outside bad air blow in.¡±