Killing Intent

2024-07-31

Killing Intent

Houli Street, San Hutong, Song Residence.

The thick layer of fallen leaves that had once piled up in the courtyard had already been swept clean.

Stone Slabs lay neatly paved across the ground. Two old locust trees stood at the edges, having remained tall and healthy for years despite no one tending them.

Beyond that, after a round of repairs, the courtyard walls, doors, pillars, shaded corridor, and all the cracked wood had been completely renewed.

The old, dilapidated atmosphere had faded considerably as well.

Although the renovations had cost more money, Song Changming was quite satisfied overall.

Altogether, he had spent nearly a hundred silver taels to obtain such a large residence. It was a bargain.

That day, Song Changming placed a huge water vat beneath a locust tree in the courtyard. He filled it with water, then deliberately mixed in river water scooped from the city moat, turning the water in the vat murky.

"What is this for?" Father Song asked in puzzlement as he looked at the enormous vat, large enough for children to swim in.

"I'm preparing to try raising Water Silkworms." After checking the water quality and deciding it was about right, Song Changming smiled.

He also told his father about the Azure Water Silkworm Rearing Method he had obtained some time ago.

Father Song listened with great interest.

"This is rather like when I raised bugs for fun in the village as a child. The bugs I raised were big and fierce. Whenever the other children in the village held bug fights, none of them could beat your father."

Father Song recounted the amusing tale of how he had earned the title of king of the children back then.

"Then when I'm not around, Father, please help keep an eye on them," Song Changming suggested when he saw his father's interest.

Father Song happily agreed and asked for the rearing method, intending to study it carefully.

Now that he no longer had to worry about money or food at home, finding something to pass the time in his later years was not a bad thing.

That evening, Song Changming did not slack off. He practiced his saber alone in the courtyard, striving to make another breakthrough as soon as possible.

The saber technique he possessed at the Minor Accomplishment stage was indeed quite outstanding among the patrol guards, but compared with the several Patrol Captains, it no longer held the slightest advantage.

Even Lu Gang and the other deputies generally possessed saber techniques at the Minor Accomplishment stage.

Therefore, if he wanted to stand out from the crowd, improving his saber technique was something he had to do.

[Soul Severing Saber: Minor Accomplishment (222/2000)]

"After beginning Body Refinement, the time I can spend practicing the saber each day has been reduced. My efficiency has inevitably slowed as well..."

Song Changming looked at the saber technique experience bar, which had only just passed one-tenth, but he was in no hurry. As long as the bar could keep growing steadily and he improved every day, that was enough.

Wanting to further improve a saber technique at the Minor Accomplishment stage was already an exceedingly difficult matter. Rushing would not help.

At his current saber-practice efficiency, by this time next year, he would have accumulated enough saber technique experience to break through another major bottleneck.

To other martial artists, that was already progress as swift as flight.

By comparison, his Body Refinement progress was what truly felt slow.

[Great Strength Bull Demon Art: One Ox's Strength (6/200)]

Even after practicing for three or four nights in a row, it might not rise by a single point. Though the two hundred Body Refinement experience points did not seem like much, by his estimate, it would take two or three years of repeated tempering and grinding before he could achieve success and break through.

The reason it was so slow was, on one hand, that this was simply the nature of Body Refinement.

Breaking through one's limits and shedding one's mortal shell—he was attempting to evolve from an ordinary human body into a superhuman physique. Thinking about it, it was no easy feat.

On the other hand, the Body Refinement resources he could currently provide for himself were insufficient, which greatly affected his Body Refinement efficiency.

For now, he could only hope that the next Annual Reward would still grant martial arts experience, which could speed up his Body Refinement progress.

Early the next morning, Song Changming went to work at the Patrol Guard Headquarters as usual. Now that he lived on Houli Street, his home was not too far from the Patrol Guard Headquarters. At last, he no longer had to rise before dawn and return after dark just to travel for over an hour each way, saving him quite a bit of time.

Sometimes, when he got up especially early, he could even practice the saber for a while before leaving.

"Something huge has happened!" The moment Song Changming entered the Patrol Guard Headquarters that day, he saw Lu Gang wearing a grim expression.

"What happened?" Song Changming asked. His gaze swept around, and he found that the other patrol guards also looked unusual.

"Sun Wenyen is dead!" Lu Gang said in a low voice, not beating around the bush.

Song Changming was startled. One of the Patrol Captains, Sun Wenyen, had suddenly died. This was indeed a major incident for the Patrol Guard Headquarters.

"How did he die?" Song Changming was puzzled. He had seen the man full of life just yesterday. How had he suddenly dropped dead today?

"The body was found in an alley outside Spring Breeze Garden last night. Apparently, after drinking with courtesans, he came out and was hacked to death by a mob. As for exactly what happened, we'll need further investigation before we know," Lu Gang said, shaking his head.

Although Sun Wenyen had never gotten along with their Captain Liang, he was still a Patrol Captain of the Patrol Guard Headquarters.

To be killed so inexplicably was simply too vile in nature.

If the culprit dared to kill a Patrol Captain tonight, then killing patrol guards like them in the future would be even less worth mentioning.

That was enough to leave all of them shocked and enraged.

"This will likely reach the higher-ups. We'll have plenty to keep us busy next," Lu Gang said based on past experience.

And indeed, that was exactly what happened.

Very soon, word came down that the Director of the Houli Street Patrol Guard Headquarters was furious. Patrol guards were dispatched in droves, swearing to apprehend the vicious criminal.

For a time, the entire Houli Street district was filled with the rustle of wind and the cries of cranes, everyone on edge.

Spring Breeze Garden, in particular, became the target of a thorough investigation.

With a saber at his waist, Song Changming stood behind Liang Chuanshan and looked at the rows of lovely women standing before them.

This was his first time entering such a place of romance, yet he had not expected to come in this way.

"Lord Liang, whatever it is, you can investigate it slowly. Why be in such a rush?" Mama Liu of the establishment pinched a handkerchief between her fingers. Her shrill voice wound and curled as she greeted Liang Chuanshan, who stood at the front.

From her tone, she not only knew Liang Chuanshan, but knew him very well.

Liang Chuanshan gave a light cough, put on a stern face again, and said, "We're here on official business today, Mama Liu. Be serious."

By the end, he had leaned close to Mama Liu's ear and whispered a few words.

Mama Liu's expression changed drastically. Only then did she put away her manner of soliciting customers and call over all the staff in the building to cooperate.

"Lord Liang, Captain Sun's death truly has nothing to do with us women. Spring Breeze Garden has operated for so many years—don't you know our background?" Mama Liu said in a fluster, her voice sounding as though she were weeping and pleading.

"You need only tell me everything you know. Those uninvolved will naturally not be falsely accused," Liang Chuanshan said sternly.

"Yes, yes." Mama Liu immediately agreed.

If it had merely been an ordinary death, she had weathered enough storms that she would not have turned pale with fright.

But this time, the one who had died was a Patrol Captain from the Patrol Guard Headquarters. The nature of the matter was completely different.

And Spring Breeze Garden had been dragged into it as well, so how could she not worry?

If they were careless, having Spring Breeze Garden shut down would be a minor matter. If she were arrested and thrown into prison, that would be the true end of everything.

With her old arms and legs, she feared she would not last more than a few days in prison.

(End of Chapter)