"What? Zheng Zhenwu is dead?"
Tian Fuliang was utterly shocked when he heard the news.
He knew Zheng Zhenwu all too well. Setting aside everything else, his Martial Dao strength was exceptionally solid.
He wasnât some flashy martial artist who had a high Martial Arts Realm but no real combat experience. He was a true Qi Blood Bone Forging Realm expert who had fought his way out of countless bloody battles.
In all of Nanquan Lane, besides Inspector Shen and himself, Zheng Zhenwu was the strongest.
And now, a man like that was dead?
"Take me to see him at once!"
...
Compared to Tian Fuliangâs astonishment, Shen Shikangâs expression was much calmer when he received the news.
However, he was thinking of far more. His first thought was that the Ten Thousand Demons Sect might have made a comeback and secretly infiltrated the area.
The affair with the Ten Thousand Demons Sectâs Grand Steward, Wu Haihua, wasnât even resolved yet, and now this had happened?
...
It wasnât just the two Inspectorate heads in Nanquan Lane. Several Constables from the Garrison Commandantâs Office and numerous constables had also learned of Constable Zhengâs death. And besides Constable Zheng, another person had died: Zheng Shiyong.
The two names together sparked a great deal of speculation.
Both Zheng Zhenwu and Zheng Shiyong had a grudge against Chen Pingâan!
Now that they were both dead, could it have something to do with Chen Pingâan?
This wasnât just a thought among some of the lower-ranking constables; even a few of the Constables couldnât help but wonder the same thing.
However, given Zheng Zhenwuâs Martial Arts Realm, no one truly believed Chen Pingâan could have done it.
The death of a Constable, and such a mysterious one at that, was a monumental event in Nanquan Lane.
Even the South Town Garrison Command was alarmed.
The South Town Garrison Command even dispatched a Special Envoy to investigate the matter personally.
As the investigation progressed, the events leading up to Zheng Zhenwuâs death were uncovered bit by bit.
As the last person known to have contact with Zheng Zhenwu before his death, Chen Pingâan was naturally listed as a suspect.
The Special Envoy from the South Town Garrison Command was a serious-looking, middle-aged man with a beard. His surname was Han, and by rank, he was a Constable-level official. However, others addressed him as Han Li.
"So, youâre saying Constable Zheng invited you for a meal and drinks to make amends?"
Inside the head constableâs office at the Garrison Commandantâs Office, Han Li was questioning Chen Pingâan about the situation.
"Thatâs right. Constable Zheng and I had some unpleasantness between us before. So he specifically invited me to a meal to smooth things over. He even gave me thirty taels of gold during dinner."
Chen Pingâan stated calmly.
"Unpleasantness? When was this?" Han Li seized on the key point.
"Not long ago. Back then, I wasnât a Constable, not even a Preparatory Constable, just an ordinary constable. Everyone knows about it. Youâll find out as soon as you ask around, Han Li."
Han Li nodded slightly. He had, in fact, already questioned several constables about this and was aware of the situation.
"If you two had issues, why would Constable Zheng take the initiative to smooth things over with you? Logically, you are both Constables, equals. There was no need for him to make amends. Furthermore, given his seniority, if anyone was going to reconcile, it should have been you!"
Han Li raised a reasonable doubt.
Chen Pingâan looked at Han Li and spread his hands helplessly. "Youâd have to ask Constable Zheng that. I donât know why either."
At these words, Han Li stared at Chen Pingâan for a long time without speaking.
Chen Pingâan met his gaze with a smile, showing no trace of discomfort.
"Whatâs the matter? Surely you donât suspect me of killing Constable Zheng, do you, Han Li?"
Chen Pingâan couldnât help but laugh.
"My Martial Arts Realm is nowhere near Constable Zhengâs!"
Indeed, judging from the wound on Constable Zheng, he was killed by a single, clean strike. Let alone Chen Pingâan, with his Martial Arts Realm of Qi Blood Second Realm Perfection, even if he had reached the Qi Blood Fourth Level Bone Forging Realm, he couldnât have performed such a clean and decisive blow.
It was just...
Han Li looked up at the composed young man before him. He saw an excessive ease and calmness about him.
Normally, when people were targeted by him for interrogation, even if they were innocent, they couldnât avoid being nervous and unnatural. How could this man be so relaxed?
Looking at Chen Pingâan, he couldnât shake the feeling that something was wrong.
After a few more questions yielded no valuable information, Han Li took his leave.
As he left, several questions lingered in his mind.
âWhy did Constable Zheng bow his head and take the initiative to mend his relationship with Chen Pingâan?â
âAlso, according to the witnesses at Spring Rain Tower, Constable Zheng was supposed to have spent the night there. So why did he appear in that small alley and die there?â
âAnd another thing, from what I understand, the place where Constable Zheng died is on the very path Chen Pingâan would take to get home from Spring Rain Tower!â
All of these points were riddled with problems.
He needed to sort through them one by one and get everything straight.
Of course, this was just one lead in the investigation. He had other leads to pursue.
For instance, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect!
Watching Han Li leave, the smile on Chen Pingâanâs face didnât waver.
âAs long as he canât find any concrete evidence, Han Li is no threat to me!â
He believed that after Han Li questioned a few more people, he would understand why Constable Zheng had taken the initiative to mend their relationship.
âI wonder if Han Li will continue investigating me then.â
Amused by the thought, Chen Pingâan let out a soft laugh.
"Time to train! Time to train!"
He had a lot of free time during the day, perfect for practicing the Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training.
His practice was becoming more and more proficient, and his speed had increased considerably. At this rate, it wouldnât be long before his Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training reached Minor Achievement.
...
For the next two days, Han Li continued to investigate Constable Zhengâs case. After two days of digging, he finally understood why Constable Zheng, despite his more powerful position in Nanquan Lane, had taken the initiative to mend his relationship with Chen Pingâan.
Chen Pingâan belonged to the Chief of the Patrol Office!
Han Li had never imagined that Chen Pingâan had such a connection!
Whether influenced by this factor or genuinely considering the disparity in their Martial Arts Realms, the focus of Han Liâs investigation gradually shifted away from Chen Pingâan and onto the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.
Constable Zheng was a Martial Dao expert who had reached the Qi Blood Fourth Level Bone Forging Realm, and one hardened by real combat at that. To kill him so cleanly, the assailant had to be at least a Qi Blood Fifth Layer Refining Organ Realm expert proficient in Saber Skills!
Regardless of how Han Liâs investigation proceeded, Chen Pingâan didnât pay it much mind.
Early this morning, a familiar experience symbol floated before his eyes.
âThe experience for Public Door Thirteen Sabers is fully accumulated!â
WHOOSH~
Starlight Entering the Body! Countless insights and experiences related to the cultivation of the Public Door Thirteen Sabers, its moves, and its applications, flooded Chen Pingâanâs mind, as if he himself had practiced diligently day and night for an eternity.
At the same time, his Qi Blood surged, gradually rushing toward his five vital organs.
Without any obstruction, with a loud BOOM, he broke through the Great Pass of Qi Blood.
Qi Blood Fifth Layer, Blood Force Refining the Organs!
Name: Chen Pingâan
Realm: Qi Blood Fifth Layer
Martial Arts: Iron Cloth Shirt Perfection, Flying Locust Stone Perfection, Public Door Thirteen Sabers Perfection, Thirteen Grand Protectorsâ Horizontal Training Entry Level (25/30)
...
"Qi Blood Fifth Layer, Iâve made it!"
A joyful expression appeared on Chen Pingâanâs face.