The County Office Is Alarmed—Chief Constable Chen Shi Arrives!

The wailing rang out for a full half hour, until at last, there was no sound left at all.

Zhang Heng did not stop. He then picked up the cleaver and slit the throats of the young man's four guards as well, each with a single stroke—without the slightest hesitation or delay!

Because Zhang Heng had already noticed many figures appearing nearby. They merely dared not approach because of the miserable screams.

"Daughter, did you see that? Your father killed this little beast with his own hands!"

"Your father is coming to keep you company now!"

After saying that, a trace of resolve flashed through Zhang Heng's eyes. Gathering all his strength into his right hand, he decisively struck his own chest.

The terrifying force instantly shattered his heart meridians, and Zhang Heng promptly fell to the ground dead.

Within the County Town stood a grand and imposing estate, its walls built from massive blocks of bluestone.

Two stone lions stood symmetrically on either side of the entrance, majestic and solemn, seemingly weathered by the passage of years.

Azure Cloud County Office!

This was where Azure Cloud County's government office was located.

By then, the sky had already begun to darken, yet the County Office was brightly lit with candles, figures moving everywhere within.

Inside the County Office, more than a dozen people sat in a spacious, brightly lit room. At the head seat sat a man who appeared to be in his forties or fifties.

He was none other than Chen Shi, the Chief Constable of Azure Cloud County Town—the publicly acknowledged strongest expert in the County Town, at Bone Refining Realm Completion!

The other dozen or so people in the room were constables from the County Office, responsible for leading Yamen Runners in the various districts of the County Town.

Among those constables was someone Lu Xuan knew—Liang Cheng.

All of them wore grave, earnest expressions as they reported the day's happenings in the County Town to Chen Shi.

Just then, a Yamen Runner rushed in and said to Chen Shi in a panic, "Something terrible has happened, Chief Constable! There's been a murder in the County Town!"

Chen Shi looked up. The Yamen Runner appeared terrified, as though deeply frightened.

A murder?

Wasn't that perfectly normal?

As Yamen Runners of the County Office, how could they look so pathetic at the sight of a murder case?

Though somewhat displeased, Chen Shi calmly looked at the Yamen Runner who had rushed in and asked, "Where did the murder occur?"

"In the eastern part of town, not far from our County Office!"

"The victims are Huang Xuanjie of the Huang Family, along with his four guards!"

One stone stirred a thousand waves!

The moment the Yamen Runner finished speaking, Chen Shi and the dozen or so constables in the room all stared at him.

Chen Shi even rose to his feet, suspecting that he had misheard. "What did you say? Huang Xuanjie of the Huang Family is dead?"

The Huang Family!

There was only one Huang Family in the entire County Town—the estate of the County Magistrate, the most powerful figure in town aside from the County Magistrate Sir.

Huang Xuanjie was this County Magistrate's nephew. Now that he was dead, this was no small matter!

Chen Shi's expression changed drastically in particular, clearly finding the matter extremely troublesome.

Because he knew Huang Xuanjie's true identity. The Huang Family publicly claimed that Huang Xuanjie was the County Magistrate's nephew.

But the truth was that Huang Xuanjie was the County Magistrate's biological son, born to him and his younger brother's wife.

The Chief Constable felt his head throb at the thought. He was not afraid that the County Magistrate would make trouble for him; he feared even more that the man would descend into madness and drag the innocent into it.

Yet while Chief Constable Chen Shi was troubled, someone else did not see it that way.

Upon hearing the news, Liang Cheng, standing nearby, first froze. Then joy welled up in his heart!

"What? There's actually such a good thing? He died well! That beast should have died long ago! Damn it, I've long since—"

Chen Shi frowned and looked at Liang Cheng, who was openly gloating. He barked, "Liang Cheng, shut your mouth!"

Although Huang Xuanjie truly deserved to die, speaking like that would make it easy for the County Magistrate to set his sights on Liang Cheng.

Faced with Chief Constable Chen Shi's rebuke, Liang Cheng could only helplessly spread his hands. "Uncle Chen, what's there to fear? That bastard deserved to die."

Chen Shi and Liang Cheng's father were close friends, which was why Liang Cheng dared to speak so bluntly.

Liang Cheng had long found Huang Xuanjie an eyesore. Every time he patrolled, he would see the man oppressing the common people with complete impunity.

If not for the fact that the beast always had many guards at his side, relying on strength in numbers, Liang Cheng would have thrown him into prison long ago.

"Enough. All of you may leave. I'll handle this case personally. Liang Cheng, come with me to the scene."

With things having reached this point, Chen Shi could only dismiss the constables and choose to deal with the murder case himself.

The Huang Family had received news of Huang Xuanjie's death even earlier than the County Office.

The County Magistrate, the Huang Family's Family Head, was not among those who came, because he happened to be in seclusion these past few days.

Upon receiving the news, Huang Xuanjie's birth mother collapsed and fainted on the spot.

Leading the Huang Family's people was the Huang Family Head Butler, an old man who appeared to be around sixty.

He looked utterly horrified as he stared at the heap of red-and-white mush on the ground.

The Huang Family Head Butler's body began to tremble uncontrollably. He could already imagine what it would look like when his Master emerged from seclusion.

"Young Master!"

"It's over. Everything is over! That damned bastard—someone, drag him away and chop him into pieces! Feed him to the dogs!"

The Huang Family Head Butler flew into a helpless rage, pointing at Zhang Heng's corpse in the distance as he shouted.

Just as the Huang Family's people were about to move Zhang Heng's corpse, the Yamen Runners from the County Office arrived as well.

Chief Constable Chen Shi led them, followed by Liang Cheng and more than a dozen Yamen Runners.

For a time, dozens of slowly burning torches gathered together, illuminating the surrounding darkness as brightly as day.

Seeing the Huang Family's people about to touch Zhang Heng's corpse, Liang Cheng strode forward and kicked away the nearest Huang Family member.

"Hmph!"

"I'd like to see who dares! This is County Office business. All unrelated parties, leave!"

"You insolent thing! You dare oppose the Huang Family!"

Whoosh!

With a sharp rush of wind, the Huang Family Head Butler suddenly sprang into action, shooting toward Liang Cheng in an attempt to catch him off guard.

At that moment, a large hand reached out from behind Liang Cheng and tightly seized the Huang Family Head Butler's hand.

Chen Shi stepped forward from behind and looked coldly at the Huang Family Head Butler. "If there is a next time, you will be executed without mercy!"

Looking at the Huang Family Head Butler, who stood only a step away from him, Liang Cheng suddenly felt a chill run down his back.

Damn it, this old bastard actually dared to ambush me.

Damn it! This old bastard has no martial virtue!

"You old bastard—"

Just as Liang Cheng was about to launch into a torrent of curses at the Huang Family Head Butler, Chen Shi grabbed and pulled him back.

"Enough. All unrelated parties are to withdraw before this Chief Constable. Liang Cheng, take them and bring all the corpses on the ground back to the County Office!"

With Chief Constable Chen Shi speaking, the Huang Family's people no longer dared to make another move. They could only watch as the County Office's men took away the corpses on the ground.

After all, everyone in the County Town knew Chief Constable Chen Shi's name—the strongest expert in the County Town, a Bone Refining Realm Completion martial artist.

Liang Cheng also recognized Zhang Heng, and his heart jolted.

It's that crazed fellow!

I never expected him to truly take revenge and wash away his hatred in blood.

No, I need to think of a way to settle this first, so he doesn't drag Xuan-ge and me into it.