Extermination? Ruffian Dies Violently

Chapter 5: Ruthless Extermination? The Ruffian's Demise

Chapter 5: Ruthless Extermination? The Ruffian's Demise

"Top-grade Blood Qi Powder, just two taels of silver for a small bag, sir, please take a look."

"Stops bleeding, promotes tissue regeneration, loosens muscles and invigorates joints, improves blood circulation..."

"Of course, sir, if you're not satisfied, we also have Qi and Blood Pills. Don't be fooled by just the name change, these are Human Grade Low Grade pills, and their efficacy is worlds apart..."

At Guo's Pharmacy, a pharmacy apprentice led Lin Mo around the shop. Each apprentice was knowledgeable and skilled, as if reciting from memory.

From the moment Lin Mo entered, despite his coarse linen clothes, none of them showed any prejudice. Instead, they addressed him warmly as "Young Master."

This address lifted Lin Mo's spirits considerably. He wasn't in a hurry and listened carefully to the introductions.

Blood Qi Powder?

It could be used, certainly, but most powders weren't ranked, and their efficacy was just so-so. Lin Mo preferred pills with stronger effects.

If he could sense Qi and Blood within a short time and pass the assessment, he wouldn't necessarily be highly valued within the Martial Arts School, but at least senior disciples like Xu Changfeng would offer him some care.

"How much are the Qi and Blood Pills?"

"Three pills per bottle, just three taels of silver. Sir, you can open it and take a look."

The pharmacy apprentice took a bottle from the shelf and carefully poured the pills into his palm. They were thumb-sized and blood-red, gleaming with a luster.

Since obtaining that silver last night, Lin Mo was no longer the laborer who had to meticulously count every meal. Before buying medicine, he had taken enough silver and specifically came here to purchase top-quality medicine.

"Then I'll take one bottle."

"Certainly, sir, please come this way..."

After noon, the dirt ground was once again filled with many youths training.

At a glance, most of them were from impoverished families, with their entire families relying on sensing Qi and Blood to become disciples of the Martial Arts School and earn enough silver for a better life.

As the saying goes, "Poverty breeds scholars, wealth breeds warriors," and there was truth to it.

Without the supplement of medicinal ingredients, just relying on sheer passion and relentless practice often led to unsatisfactory results, damaging their foundations and ruining their futures.

Lin Mo, having taken the Qi and Blood Pill alone, hurried to the training ground before its effects fully manifested, choosing two Plum Blossom Stances to practice.

He gathered his energy and leaped up, his movements much more agile. Once his footing was steady, he began to meticulously perform the White Ape Stance Training on the stances.

His hands reached out in circles, his fists struck out, his steps shifted, and his body, accompanied by crackling sounds, gradually stretched.

After completing the first three forms, in the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Lin Mo already felt hot sweat trickling down his back.

Before he could feel tired or weary, a surge of warmth rushed from the soles of his feet to every part of his body. He felt a pleasant warmth all over.

"The first three forms of the stance training are almost complete; all that's left is to familiarize myself with them. While the Qi and Blood Pill's effects are still active, I might as well try the last two forms and fully master the White Ape Stance Training..."

Lin Mo's memory was quite good. Although the stance training was quite complex, there were only five forms in total, and he remembered the last two clearly.

Following his memory, he slowly moved his hands, stepped forward, and loosened his waist. Just as his movements were about to take shape, he felt an inexplicable twisting pain in his waist.

If not for the nourishing warmth of the Qi and Blood Pill, he would likely have collapsed on the ground within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

As Lin Mo practiced, he took the opportunity to glance at the others. Some who had started earlier were already attempting the fourth and fifth forms.

They all gritted their teeth, their faces flushed, and occasionally gasped in pain.

"Heaven knows how these people endure it, but if they can do it, why can't I?!"

Lin Mo gritted his teeth and focused entirely on his own practice, starting from the details and slowly imitating.

Only when his muscles and bones ached intensely did he lie down on the communal bed with the help of the other young men. Within a few breaths, he had fallen asleep with his eyes closed.

The third watch of the night arrived, the darkness as thick as ink.

In the Zhao family mansion, in the master's bedroom, firelight reflected, casting two figures on the window lattice.

"Zhao Wu is dead? How did he die? Where did he die?"

"The body floated down the lower reaches of the Changhe River. Fishermen found it ashore. There were ligature marks on his neck. I don't know who he offended."

The Zhao family master was both shocked and suspicious. He was playing with a jade thumb ring and unconsciously increased his grip. He tentatively asked, "So, are those water ghost lairs in disarray?"

"My subordinates handled it properly; most of them are still there."

"That's good. Then the people I have under my command..."

"They've all been dealt with. We've gone all the way. Even if that person knows about the water ghosts, what use is it? There's no proof of death!"

A young man in a parrot-green martial robe chuckled, feigning a hearty laugh to reassure him, "Why be so nervous? I have people in the yamen and the Martial Arts School."

Crack!

The Zhao family master's grip tightened, and the jade thumb ring shattered into several pieces. However, he still managed a smile, "Young Master Zhou is absolutely right... Then I'll have to rely on you for what happens next..."

As the dawn broke, the sky turned a pale white.

In the streets and alleys, vendors set up their stalls, people bought and sold goods, and the usual lively scene resumed.

"Look here, come and see, top-quality rouge and powder~"

"Take a look, come and take a look, delicate sachets and purses~"

"Look here, come and see... dead... dead people!"

The vendor's voice hoarsely hawked, the alley entrance echoing with his energetic tone, but as he shouted, the tune went awry...

In less than a moment, the news of the dead spread through the streets and alleys. However, the common folk were not as panicked as before, and many had smiles on their faces.

"Who died?"

"It wasn't just one, but over a dozen vicious dogs!"

As someone asked, a nearby vendor chimed in with a jest, causing everyone to laugh and joke.

"Tell me, why is the weather so nice today..."

"Exactly, it's perfect for a stroll to clear one's mind."

"Bad luck, why did a bunch of dog legs show up..."

Two women chatting on the street saw several constables in official uniforms rushing towards them from the side of the road. They quickly closed their doors, afraid of being tainted by bad luck.

Seven or eight constables in a row, all with normal expressions. At the end of the line, a new face was visible, his oversized uniform swallowing half his body.

"Here comes a new dog leg, do you think these vicious dogs will ever die out?"

"Humans give birth to humans, dogs give birth to dogs, it's endless..."

"What truly base creatures..."

The vendors at the roadside stalls whispered in disgust, their faces showing undisguised aversion. The new face could only grip his constable's knife, his face blushing as he lowered his head.

As the group stepped into the small courtyard where the dead lay, sounds of amazement and wonder came from within the ranks, clearly indicating they were all old hands who had seen plenty of dead bodies.

"Wow, it really is a Yama, all ten-plus people wiped out!"

Constable Captain Wang Tianxiong led the constables into the courtyard, a strong smell of blood hitting them. He glanced at the main hall and clicked his tongue.

Even though he was accustomed to seeing corpses, he was still startled by the sight of over a dozen people piled up like sacks, with bloody stains splattered everywhere.

"Search everywhere, look around."

Wang Tianxiong gave the order, kicked aside a corpse blocking the threshold, and sat down on a stool with his legs spread wide to rest. Soon, a constable presented a note.

"Boss, take a look at this, it seems to be left by the killer."

He glanced at the note, "Tsk tsk, what a little lesson, over a dozen lives gone just like that, truly audacious."

Although he said to search everywhere and look around, none of them actually looked at the corpses. They all went into the rooms to look for any "grease" to skim.

In less than a moment, several constables came out with gloomy expressions. "Damn it, living in such a nice courtyard, and it's cleaner than a beggar's pocket!"

"Alright, then let's wrap this up quickly!"

Wang Tianxiong slapped the table and called out, "Huang Gouzi, get your ink and brush ready, and listen to me."

"But we haven't investigated anything yet..."

"Investigate? Only a fool would investigate. The fewer troubles, the better. There's a lot going on behind the scenes!"

The newly arrived constable, Huang Shanqing, also known as Huang Gouzi, had taken over his father's position and nickname. Fortunately, he possessed a skill for lifelike drawing, which allowed him to secure a stable job in the yamen.

Huang Shanqing, hearing the command, reluctantly sat down and listened to the other old constables embellish the story with their own additions.

"If you ask me, this person must have been strong and tall, otherwise how could he have killed so many?"

"And leaving a note, haha, well, he's quite the chivalrous hero, a rare sight in Changhe County!"