Chapter 82: Suspicion
Chapter 82: Suspicion
The sun had risen high in the sky, casting its warm glow over the land. Despite the cold wind, the snow remained unmelted, freezing the countless bodies that lay scattered across the ground, preserving the scene from the previous night.
A large number of patrol officers had surrounded the headquarters of the Evildoers Gang, with many enforcers in blue uniforms and even some in dark green guard uniforms, including the Chief Magistrate himself.
They had come from the Western District Guard Headquarters.
Following the trail of bodies, several hundred meters westward, lay the corpse of the Evildoers Gang leader, Zhang Lang, sprawled on the roadside.
Standing beside the body was a man in a white guard uniform, accompanied by several others in dark green guard uniforms. The man in white was He Guangzong, the Chief Magistrate of the Western District Guard Headquarters, and a third-generation member of the He family, belonging to the 'Guang' generation. His status was higher than that of He Mingxuan's 'Ming' generation.
However, at this moment, despite his superior authority and position, He Guangzong's expression was one of deep solemnity.
"A single sword strike, a fatal blow..."
He Guangzong bent down to examine the only wound on Zhang Lang's body, then surveyed the surrounding area, his eyes filled with deep concern.
This sword strike was undoubtedly a display of the power of the Intention Realm, and judging by the wound, it should be attributed to the 'Thousand Wind Intention' lineage of the Heaven-Earth Five Elements.
But the question is, who could it be?
In all of Yu City, only a handful of people have mastered the Thousand Wind Intention, and most of them have no connection to Zhang Lang. It's hard to imagine any of them having a reason to kill him.
But if it wasn't one of those individuals, then who could it be?
He Guangzong pondered this mystery for a long time without finding a solution. Finally, he shook his head and said, "Dispose of the bodies."
"Sir, but the murderer..."
"That's enough. There's no need to investigate further."
He Guangzong waved his hand dismissively.
An existence who had mastered the Intention Realm had killed Zhang Lang. Whether it was an accidental offense or some other reason, there was no need to continue the investigation. A mere Zhang Lang wasn't worth such a major conflict.
...
Central District.
Inside a certain tavern in the central district.
Chen Mu sat face-to-face with a man, drinking wine. The man had white hair at his temples and was much older. He was none other than the former Patrol Commander of Willow Grove, Xu Feng.
"Sir Chen, you possess the talent of a pillar. When I heard that the Chief Magistrate wanted you to take over Willow Grove, I was concerned that the mess there might hinder your progress. I never imagined that in just a few months, you would transform Willow Grove into a brand-new state. I, as an old man, feel ashamed."
Xu Feng raised his wine cup and offered a toast to Chen Mu.
Chen Mu responded with a calm expression, "Sir Xu, you flatter me. Back then, I was just a commoner, and even if I managed a territory, I wouldn't have achieved much. Now, I am merely in the right place at the right time, doing what's required of my position."
The day before, news of Chen Mu's manipulation of the six families and the elimination of Sha Xiangtian had spread. Today, at noon, Xu Feng, the former Patrol Commander, had taken the initiative to invite Chen Mu for a drink.
Since Chen Mu took over as the Patrol Commander, Xu Feng had arranged everything and instructed his men accordingly. Apart from that, they hadn't met again, perhaps because Xu Feng still had reservations about Chen Mu's young age. But as they were both under Xu Hongyu's command, Xu Feng still followed Chen Mu's instructions.
It wasn't until a few days after Chen Mu took over that he struck like thunder, eliminating the Zheng family. It was then that Xu Feng changed his view of Chen Mu, the new Patrol Commander. He realized that Chen Mu wasn't an ordinary young man forced into the position by Xu Hongyu but rather a capable and influential figure with a firm hand.
Then, yesterday, the six families were subdued, Sha Xiangtian was eliminated, and the Nan family proactively offered silver for disaster relief. All these developments made Xu Feng completely convinced of Chen Mu's abilities as the new Patrol Commander. So, he took the initiative to invite Chen Mu for a banquet, both to befriend him and to apologize for his previous doubts.
Chen Mu didn't hold any grudges against Xu Feng. After all, Xu Feng might have had some reservations about Chen Mu's appointment as Patrol Commander initially, but he didn't create any obstacles during the transition and fully cooperated with Chen Mu. This was why, on the first day, Sha Xiangtian and the other enforcers immediately followed Chen Mu's lead.
"Sir Chen, there's no need for modesty. The order and discipline in Willow Grove are evident to all."
Xu Feng smiled and spoke, then lowered his voice, "But be cautious of the He family... With Lady Xu away hunting demons, it's inevitable that some incidents will occur during this period."
"Thank you for the reminder, Sir Xu. I'll be vigilant."
Chen Mu thanked Xu Feng.
With Lady Xu away, it was indeed a suitable time for the He family to stir up trouble. However, there hadn't been any movement recently due to the prolonged disaster. But Chen Mu wasn't afraid of the He family's secret schemes. Anyone daring to make a move on him should prepare to have their claws cut off.
Xu Feng nodded, "If anything happens, I can still lend a hand. Although I'm no longer in office, I can still wield a blade a few times."
At this point, he paused and suddenly remembered something, "Speaking of which, I heard that the He family is dealing with matters in the Western District. I heard that last night, the Evildoers Gang's Zhang Lang, along with several deputy gang leaders and over a hundred gang members, all died unexpectedly. It seems they offended someone powerful, leaving only a few survivors..."
Chen Mu listened to Xu Feng's words, his expression calm as he raised his wine cup and took a sip.
Xu Feng spoke with a shake of his head, "Although the Evildoers Gang isn't directly under the He family's control, they're basically under the thumb of the He family in the west. Every year, they offer a substantial amount of silver to the He family. Now, they've offended some powerful figure and collapsed overnight, leaving a mess that will take time to clean up."
Xu Feng couldn't help but sigh at this thought.
The Evildoers Gang was no ordinary force. They had a stronghold in the west and were even bold enough to encroach across borders, challenging Xu Hongyu. Although they eventually retreated, Xu Hongyu couldn't do much to them.
Yet, they had silently vanished overnight. It was undeniable that even a notorious figure like Zhang Ge, the Evil Blade, would be like an ant, easily crushed by the true powerhouses within the Outer City. While the identity of the person who eliminated the Evildoers Gang and Zhang Ge remained unknown, it was undoubtedly one of the major figures from the Inner City.
"The Evildoers Gang runs gambling dens and brothels, and they're notorious for their strong-arm tactics. Now, during this time of disaster, they're trying to drive up prices and exploit the people. They deserve their fate."
Chen Mu spoke calmly.
"Indeed," Xu Feng agreed with a smile. "The Evildoers Gang deserves to be eliminated. Let's drink to that."
After a few rounds of drinks, Xu Feng, under the influence of alcohol, began to chat casually. He mentioned that Chen Mu hadn't married yet and suggested that he had a distant niece who was graceful and attractive, and she could become Chen Mu's concubine.
Chen Mu, having already entered the Sinew Transformation Realm in his martial arts cultivation, didn't have many taboos. However, with his increasing strength and status, his perspective had also changed. He had encountered countless attempts at currying favor, most of which he had politely declined.
Just as he was about to say something, a familiar voice interrupted their conversation in the private room.
"What are you two discussing?"
Chen Mu and Xu Feng's expressions shifted slightly as they turned to see a charming figure entering the room with a faint smile.
Xu Feng was slightly surprised but quickly cupped his hands in greeting, "Miss Ning, what brings you here?"
It was none other than Xiao He.
However, Xu Feng's address to Xiao He was much more respectful. On one hand, Xiao He was Xu Hongyu's personal attendant, and on the other, Xiao He had also entered the Sinew Transformation Realm, elevating her status from the past.
"I just happened to pass by," Xiao He said as she walked over with light steps. "How have you been, Elder Xu?"
Xu Feng bowed slightly, "Thanks to Lord Xu's blessings, I've been taking good care of myself since retiring. The accumulated hidden injuries have all subsided, but I'm no longer fit for intense competition."
Xiao He nodded, "Elder Xu, after years of hard work, it's time to take a well-deserved rest in the Southern District. You don't need to worry about Willow Grove anymore."
Xu Feng smiled, "Knowing that Sir Chen could handle it, I should have retired earlier... Is Miss Ning here on official business? In that case, I'll take my leave, and I'll await Miss Ning's visit another day."
With that, Xu Feng exited, leaving Chen Mu and Xiao He alone.
Chen Mu looked at Xiao He with a hint of suspicion. Although they were close to the City Guard Headquarters, it was quite a coincidence that she happened to pass by.
"Have you been here for a while?"
"Yes, I had some free time, and I heard you were here with Xu Feng, so I came to see you."
Xiao He blinked, "Miss mentioned that she wanted to take you to see Yu Ru's sister. How about we ask Miss to propose on your behalf when she returns?"
"Not bad," Chen Mu said as he took a sip from his cup. "Yu Ru and Yue Er are practicing martial arts in the inner courtyard. They're still so young."
Yu Ru was slightly younger than Chen Yue, and while she was indeed charming and adorable, she was still young in many ways. Moreover, her Qi and blood condition could significantly impact her ability to surpass the Sinew Transformation threshold. If she wanted to achieve success in martial arts, it would be best to focus on conditioning her body before attempting the transformation.
As Xiao He listened to Chen Mu's words, her heart skipped a beat.
She looked at Chen Mu intently and suddenly said, "The Evil Blade, Zhang Ge, from the Evildoers Gang in the west, died last night. Did you hear about it?"
"Mhm, he got what he deserved," Chen Mu replied casually.
Xiao He looked at Chen Mu with a hint of suspicion and continued, "I heard he died under the Thousand Wind Intention, killed with a single strike."
"Mhm, impressive," Chen Mu said, taking a sip from his cup.
Xiao He tilted her head as she looked at Chen Mu, "The Evildoers Gang's collapse, although in the west, is close enough to cause some ripples. Just handle it as you normally would."
"Alright," Chen Mu nodded.
After discussing a few more matters related to the disaster, Chen Mu stood up and left with Xiao He. They parted ways at a street alley.
Xiao He watched Chen Mu leave, and a hint of suspicion reappeared in her eyes.
Could it be him? It wasn't that she was being fanciful, but Zhang Ge's sudden and abrupt death, especially by the Thousand Wind Intention, was puzzling. In all of Yu City, only a few people possessed such a skill, and none of them seemed to fit the description.
In the end, Xiao He shook her head. Although she had a strange feeling, the idea of Chen Mu having mastered the Thousand Wind Intention seemed too far-fetched.
After all, Chen Mu probably hadn't even come into contact with the Gale Wind Intention's Fundamental Diagram yet, so how could he have spontaneously comprehended it?
(End of Chapter)
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