Chapter Nine: Traces and Clues

"Hmm?" Bai Li Feihong was surprised to discover that his skill points had increased by one.

"Wait, I think I've figured out how to gain skill points!"

A trace of sorrow flickered through his heart, but quickly dissipated. When the Book of Skills awakened, Bai Li Feihong had just been attacked by a demon, and at that moment, the demon was killed by the Guardian. Now, with the death of the white-robed female ghost, the Book of Skills had gained another point. It was impossible for Bai Li Feihong to believe there was no connection between the two events.

"If I kill another demon—or rather, if someone else kills a demon while I am nearby—will I gain another skill point?" Bai Li Feihong's eyes shone with excitement. Not even Columbus, upon discovering the New World, could compare to the thrill Bai Li Feihong felt at this moment.

"This is promising. Joining the Demon Suppression Division is now my unwavering ambition."

His gaze fell again upon the treasure left behind by Ji Xiaoqian.

She had drowned herself, carrying her chest of riches into the river!

It seemed this was the wealth Ji Xiaoqian had accumulated during her lifetime.

Thinking about how this money had been amassed, Bai Li Feihong blushed slightly. He had always considered himself a man of some dignity, and couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

"I avenged you and took on the risk of the River Transport Gang tracking me down. Consider this my relocation fee," he reasoned to himself, and so, at last, accepted the fortune with peace of mind.

He dug a pit and buried the money underground.

Deposit it at a money house?

The city’s money houses had complicated, powerful owners—depositing the fortune there would certainly be risky. Bai Li Feihong couldn’t possibly explain the origin of such wealth.

Still, with this money, he had finally solved the problem of his next meal.

Suzaku Street, riverside villa.

By this time, the villa had already been sealed off by the constables. In addition to the constables, Zhang Fu’s guards were stationed outside.

Zhang Fu was a stout, round-faced man, resembling a living, smiling Buddha. Indeed, he was often called the Smiling Buddha. In the past, he was always beaming, gentle and approachable. But today, his authority was palpable, and many of the constables could not withstand the pressure he exuded.

Zhang Fu said nothing, only dismissing the others so he could dress Fu Xiang’s body. The two of them had joined together for their respective goals. Like-minded, they had found no better partners—each reminded and aided the other.

As for Fu Xiang’s escapades outside, Zhang Fu chose to turn a blind eye.

After all, she was a woman who had come from the brothel. Her ability to tolerate Zhang Fu marrying one young woman after another was the best compensation she could offer him.

Zhang Fu remained silent, picked up Fu Xiang’s corpse, and left the villa.

By the time Inspector Zhang Jingzhong arrived, the River Transport Gang had already departed.

"Useless—absolutely useless! Not even the body of Lady Zhang could be left behind. Zhang Fu, you bastard!"

Zhang Jingzhong erupted in rage. The River Transport Gang was powerful, but so was he; after all, everyone knew he was a man of Demon Suppression Division’s Zheng Yishan. In this city, you might disregard the magistrate, but never those from the Demon Suppression Division. Otherwise, a single charge of harboring demons, and you’d be doomed ten times over.

Now, the victim’s body had been removed and the scene destroyed—tracking down the true culprit would be exceedingly difficult.

With a dark face, Zhang Jingzhong berated the others before beginning his investigation, hoping to find some clues from the remaining bodies.

"A head-on clash—a sword strike from the female victim was blocked. A first-blood level martial artist, yet the murderer’s cultivation is very high, likely around third-blood level."

Upon receiving this information, Zhang Jingzhong’s brow furrowed. The Demon Suppression Division recruited demon suppressors under twenty-five years old, with third-blood level as the minimum requirement.

No event happens in isolation; there are always causes linking one thing to another. Fu Xiang had enemies everywhere, and her practice of keeping a lover in secret was no great secret. Anyone willing to look could easily uncover her trail and ambush her.

"The killer is meticulous, must have conducted extensive investigation beforehand, and is very familiar with the River Transport Gang."

"This will be difficult to handle. If it’s an old martial artist, that’s one thing, but if it’s a young genius who joins the Demon Suppression Division, our Constabulary wouldn’t dare investigate further."

Now, Zhang Jingzhong’s head ached even more than his back. The biggest news in Dongbin City recently was that Lady Gongyang Yan, the Guardian of the Demon Suppression Division, was widely recruiting talent to expand their ranks and strengthen their influence.

The Demon Suppression Division held a unique status in Dongbin City. With Lady Gongyang Yan’s initiative, all factions in the city were watching closely.

Yet for all her youth, Lady Gongyang Yan had few equals in Dongbin City. Her family, the Gongyang Clan, traced their lineage to the great Saber Saint of the Yuan Dynasty, canonized across three reigns. There were few who could truly reach the pinnacle of martial arts, and the patriarch of the Gongyang family was one. Lady Gongyang Yan was the clan’s most outstanding woman in generations, her fame widespread.

With her arrival, Zhang Jingzhong keenly sensed that his own patron, Zheng Yishan, was in a precarious position. If Zheng Yishan fell, his own fortunes would suffer as well.

"Wait a moment…" he murmured, examining the corpse. "The chest is caved in—the martial art practiced by the killer must involve an internal technique that hardens the body."

"There are quite a few schools in this city teaching internal skills with this effect," he mused, certain that Zhang Fu would notice this detail too.

The second maid had died in an ambush.

"A short sword, thrown and piercing the throat, with force enough to penetrate a wooden door and lodge in the wall beyond."

"The victims on the bed didn’t hear a thing—meaning the killer’s control over his strength was near perfect. A true expert, at least fourth-blood level, and must have mastered a martial art to its peak."

That was a potential lead.

"One strike, two lives—pierced two hearts at once. The killer entered the study and found a pair of lovers lost in passion," Zhang Jingzhong said in anger, though inwardly he was filled with bitter envy.

He had long been obsessed with Fu Xiang, fantasizing countless times about climbing into her bed and becoming her secret lover.

If only he’d arrived sooner, he might have witnessed a scene of rare beauty.

Alas, it was not to be.

It was all Zhang Fu’s fault, that scoundrel, using the River Transport Gang to destroy the crime scene.

At this thought, he shot a fierce glare at the assembled constables. They had all seen it.

"Lu Jingxian," he called.

"Inspector, sir!" came the reply.

"Go investigate the martial arts schools in the city. First, make a list of all that teach skills which, when mastered, grant fourth-blood level strength and harden the body. Second, find out if any have young disciples at that level."

Lu Jingxian raised his head in confusion. "Why young martial artists?"

Zhang Jingzhong picked up an erotic painting. "The position is wrong. Moreover, the killer lingered at the bedside for quite some time before striking. An old, seasoned martial artist wouldn’t have just watched—he’d have acted for himself."

A bizarre, heated scene flashed through Lu Jingxian’s mind. Lady Zhang’s beauty was famous in Dongbin City. If he’d been the killer, perhaps even he would have been tempted.

It seemed, then, that this young martial artist had yet to spill his vital essence.