Finding a Way In

Finding a Way In

Finding a Way In

"This portrait... it can be done like this? The ones who died were that bunch of hooligans who ran with Zhao Wu? Even Zhao Wu's death was lumped in with theirs!"

Having just arrived at the County Yamen notice board, Lin Mo had not walked far before he heard the streets buzzing with talk of a gang of hooligans dying violent deaths. He immediately went to the yamen's public notice board.

The moment he heard of Zhao Wu's death, his heart tightened. Looking more closely, he discovered even more clues.

Zhao Wu had clearly been strangled to death in the reed marsh. Who would have thought his death would be counted together with those hooligans'? As for whether it would lead back to Lin Mo...

Looking at descriptions such as "eight feet tall," "Baleful Intent in his brows and eyes," and "temples cut like blades," along with that portrait, it could not be called merely unlike him—it had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Although his fate had already become [Healthy and Strong], changes to one's build still required long-term nutritional support. If his fate changed and his physique transformed overnight, that would have been far too outrageous.

At present, Lin Mo could only say he was no longer especially frail. At best, he had a little flesh on his bones when he took off his clothes.

"This portrait is worlds apart from me. For now, Zhao Wu's death probably won't lead them to me. But why does this look so much like silencing witnesses by murder?"

Lin Mo let out a long breath, countless thoughts churning in his mind.

Though he was not at risk of exposure for the moment, he needed to make preparations early. Killing Zhao Wu this time had ultimately ruined the grain store's plans.

If an expert followed even the faintest thread of evidence here, relying solely on his current cat-in-three-legs fist-and-kick skills, he feared he would have a hard time dealing with it.

Ever since practicing the latter two forms of the stance exercise yesterday, he had progressed rather quickly. He estimated that once he used the two Qi and Blood Pills, he would be able to sense qi and blood within the week.

"I heard that martial arts schools only teach newly promoted disciples some simple fist-and-kick techniques. And with several factions within the school, if I don't understand them, I may end up standing in the wrong camp and offending the wrong people."

"Whether it's this matter with Zhao Wu or what comes after becoming a disciple, I not only need strength of my own—I also need a backer strong enough to stand firm..."

Lin Mo felt he was overthinking things, but there was never anything wrong with considering one's escape routes a little more carefully.

Watching Huang Shanqing handle the many townsfolk's questions before the notice board as smoothly as a fish in water, an idea arose in Lin Mo's heart. Perhaps he could seek him out and ask about the way in.

Within the martial arts school, the only person he knew at all was Senior Brother Xu. But apart from morning practice, he had heard that Senior Brother Xu was usually attached in name to some trading house, working for others. Not being able to find him was a common occurrence.

"Well, if it isn't Master Huang? How about honoring me with a meal?"

Lin Mo did not know many people. If he wanted someone with connections who was also convenient to ask, he certainly could not seek out some slippery old hand.

The newly appointed constable, Huang Shanqing, was undoubtedly a fine choice.

Lin Mo ordered a tableful of food and wine: braised pork knuckle, poached chicken—both rich, greasy dishes.

With an arm around Huang Shanqing, he half-pushed and half-coaxed him to the table.

"Brother, you..."

"My surname is Lin."

"Brother Lin, this is..."

Huang Shanqing looked at the table full of dishes before him and swallowed hard. Though he had taken up the post of constable, only seasoned hands could squeeze enough oil and water from such work.

For a half-baked greenhorn like him, all he had was that meager salary.

His old father had retired at home. That salary was enough to fill their stomachs, but eating well was far beyond their means...

"No need to stand on ceremony with me. Brother Huang, eat first."

Lin Mo waved his hand, displaying all the boldness of a host.

Even so, Huang Shanqing did not dare pick up his chopsticks freely at first. He understood the saying: when you eat someone's food, your mouth grows soft; when you take someone's things, your hand grows short.

"Brother Lin, shall we speak plainly?"

"This younger brother has recently become an apprentice at the martial arts school. I'm unfamiliar with the place and don't understand its workings. I hope Brother Huang can enlighten me."

"Just this little matter? Brother Lin, don't worry. I'll explain it to you bit by bit..."

Huang Shanqing did not hesitate in the slightest. He picked up a chunk of pork knuckle with his chopsticks and began wolfing it down with loud slurps, not forgetting to lift his head and explain as he ate.

"Brother, let me tell you, Changhe Martial Arts School has a great many twists and turns within it. It's a tangled web..."

"As for the finest martial arts teacher, none can compare to Old Master Yang. If you are fortunate enough to become his disciple, he'll treat you like his own son..."

After listening for quite some time, Lin Mo roughly came to understand the school's internal divisions. Three families managed it, led by the three martial arts teachers Li, Wang, and Yang.

Ordinary people who entered the martial arts school, if they possessed the talent in sinews and bones to sense qi and blood, mostly joined the Li or Wang factions. As for Old Master Yang...

From what he heard from Huang Shanqing, Old Master Yang—Old Master Yang Yun, whom he had met once before—had been born poor, yet he accepted very few disciples, only three to five.

More was not necessarily better. The fewer disciples Old Master Yang had, the greater Lin Mo's chance of being valued.

He slowly sipped his wine, pondering in secret.

The Li and Wang factions might be easier to enter, but it would ultimately be difficult to obtain their true teachings. As for Old Master Yang's side, there was no need to think about it—the requirements must be extremely strict.

"Has Brother Lin decided which family to join?"

"How could that be for me to decide? I haven't sensed qi and blood yet. If I'm fortunate enough to become a disciple, any family willing to take me would already be a wonderful thing..." Lin Mo wore a smile and answered vaguely.

"I can see righteous energy all over your face, Brother. In the future, you'll surely be a hero among heroes! Like that chivalrous man who wiped out a whole gang of hooligans today..."

Had someone discovered me?!

At those words, every hair on Lin Mo's body stood on end. His gaze swept toward Huang Shanqing, only to see a flush on the man's face.

It turned out that after several cups of wine, Huang Shanqing had already become drowsy and muddled.

Lin Mo let out a long breath of stale air. Lowering his eyes, he raised his cup again and again, probing indirectly.

"I wonder what sort of person this hero is? Brother Huang seems to hold him in very high regard."

"You don't know?" Huang Shanqing's eyes suddenly widened. Then he muttered to himself, "That's right, the notice was only just posted. You surely don't know the details..."

He lowered his voice and leaned close to Lin Mo's ear. "That good man wiped out Zhao Wu's gang of hooligans all by himself... Dozens of wild dogs. It truly makes the heart feel good!"

"Wiped them all out?"

It was true that Zhao Wu had died by Lin Mo's hand, but someone had really muddied the waters and mixed him in with that gang of thugs?

Lin Mo frowned. Just as he was puzzled, Huang Shanqing confirmed it again. "Not a single hooligan was left alive. Apart from Zhao Wu, every one of them had his throat sealed by a single blade!"

"And Zhao Wu?" Lin Mo asked in return.

"His death was strange indeed. He looked as though he'd been soaked in a river and drowned for an entire night, and there were strangulation marks on his neck..."

"What a strange death!" Lin Mo interrupted before Huang Shanqing could finish, advising, "Let's drink and eat. This isn't a suitable topic for the dinner table!"

After listening for so long and probing for information, he found the whole affair increasingly strange. How could it be that he had only just killed Zhao Wu, yet not only had the corpse been recovered, someone had even taken the blame?

Someone truly was trying to silence witnesses by murder...

As expected, the next target would be whoever had killed Zhao Wu.

"I hope I didn't leave behind any flaws. But the Zhao Family Grain Store raising water ghosts—can they truly go this far? Isn't that condemning all the nearby fishermen to death..."

Lin Mo sighed deeply. Though he wanted to resolve the matter, he lacked the ability and could only protect himself.

His only path was to sense qi and blood as soon as possible, break through and become a martial artist, then enter the martial arts school and strengthen himself.