Point System

Kong Wu did not need to know what method had been used in this locked-room murder, or whether any clues had been left behind.

All he needed to do was check everyone's Attribute Panel and identify the culprit through their first impression of him.

As for evidence and clues, once the culprit was confirmed, casting the Great Memory Restoration Technique would naturally reveal everything he needed.

A year ago, shortly after crossing into this world, Kong Wu discovered his cheat.

In his eyes, everyone's attributes were displayed in the form of a panel.

Lifespan represented how many years that person had left to live.

Strength represented a combination of that person's power, speed, physical toughness, and other factors—in other words, their approximate combat strength.

As for the Technique attribute, Kong Wu judged that only cultivators or demons possessed it. So far, he had yet to encounter a person or demon with a Technique.

The final attribute was what had helped Kong Wu establish a foothold in this world.

By relying on others' first impressions of him, Kong Wu had solved several major cases. That was why the county magistrate had promoted him exceptionally to constable, granting him a secure government position.

"Ugh, another wasted trip."

Kong Wu had thought he might truly run into a demon this time, but after discovering that the case had been caused by humans, he could not help feeling disappointed.

He sighed and lowered his head to look at his hands.

Kong Wu Lifespan: 102 Strength: 7 Technique: None

Besides displaying the Attribute Panel, the system had another important function.

By killing powerful enemies, he could obtain attribute points.

Earlier, when suppressing bandits in the mountains, Kong Wu had encountered a huge tiger.

Just as he was riding on the tiger's head and beating it senseless with his innate strength, the tiger had suddenly begun speaking human language, giving Kong Wu quite a fright.

That was how he confirmed that demons truly existed in this world.

After Kong Wu killed the tiger, a cold voice echoed through his mind.

"Congratulations. You have killed the 'juvenile tiger demon' and obtained 2 Strength attribute points!"

Thus, Kong Wu's physical constitution improved further, and his attributes became what they were now.

Since demons, ghosts, and monsters existed in the world, humanity naturally had to possess methods of cultivation as well. The stories he had once heard about immortal masters subduing demons and monsters before departing on flying swords were no longer idle tales.

Having lived a second life, once he learned that cultivation truly existed, Kong Wu was no longer willing to remain ordinary.

Kong Wu did not know where to find the immortal sects and Daoist traditions, but he now knew one way to become stronger.

A way to become stronger that belonged solely to him.

After that, he began actively searching for demons, ghosts, and monsters, but to this day, he had gained only a little.

Kong Wu swaggered down the street, made a round of inspection, and returned to the county office.

Just as he was about to enter, a figure suddenly came running out and slammed into him.

Kong Wu did not budge in the slightest. The thin, small figure, however, bounced away as if he had hit a wall and fell to the ground.

"Ow, I... Constable Kong!"

Kong Wu lowered his head and asked in confusion, "Skinny Monkey, why are you rushing around like that? What happened?"

The young constable known by the nickname Skinny Monkey got to his feet and said, "Constable Kong, there's been a murder. Master Bai from the north side of the city was found dead at home. Brother Erhu couldn't handle it, so he sent me to ask you to come."

Kong Wu gave an oh. The earlier case had yielded no trace of a demon, leaving him listless, so he said casually, "The north side is Captain Li's responsibility, isn't it? Be careful, then. I'm going inside first."

Skinny Monkey shook his head and said cautiously, "Captain Li took people out of the city. He said something major happened at White Cloud Temple outside the city... Constable Kong, why don't you make the trip?"

Qingshan County was a small county and did not even have a deputy magistrate. There were only three constables.

One constable had accompanied the county magistrate to the prefectural capital.

Another, Captain Li, had gone outside the city, leaving Kong Wu as the only constable stationed at the county office.

For an ordinary case, a regular constable could usually handle it alone.

But Master Bai was a major figure in Qingshan County. He controlled nearly seventy percent of the cloth trade throughout the county.

That was why ordinary constables were clearly not up to the task.

Kong Wu yawned, removed the long saber from his back, and casually tossed it to Skinny Monkey. Somewhat helplessly, he said, "Then I'll make the trip."

Skinny Monkey caught the saber, staggered, and nearly fell. Once he had steadied himself, he hurried after Kong Wu.

By the time Kong Wu leisurely arrived at the crime scene, it was almost noon.

He had just stepped into the alley when a shrill wail rang out.

"Master! Master, how could you have died so horribly? Sob, sob..."

A young woman knelt on the ground, crying incessantly toward the large residence surrounded by constables.

"She's the new concubine Master Bai recently took," Skinny Monkey whispered from the side.

Kong Wu frowned and asked as he walked, "Where is everyone else?"

"They all ran off. The scene... is a little strange."

Skinny Monkey finished speaking with lingering fear, only to see Kong Wu's eyes light up as he strode over.

"Raise your head!"

Hearing the imposing voice, the concubine instinctively looked up. She saw a burly figure standing before her.

Kong Wu only glanced at her before shaking his head and turning to enter the small courtyard.

Qianqian Lifespan: 60 Strength: 0.5 Technique: None First Impression of You: Confusion

Looking at Kong Wu's terrifying back, the concubine felt considerably more at ease instead.

"Sir... please, you must find the culprit. My master... sob, sob..."

She shouted toward Kong Wu's back, receiving only a steady "Mm!" in response.

Kong Wu had told her to raise her head merely to confirm whether the concubine was a suspect. Her utterly ordinary Attribute Panel dispelled his suspicions.

When he entered the small courtyard, Kong Wu finally understood what Skinny Monkey had meant by saying the scene was strange.

Master Bai was "sitting" in the main hall.

Only, his posture was somewhat undignified.

His entire body had been turned upside down. His hands and feet had been chopped off and reattached backward onto the body.

A thin iron rod pierced through his forehead, impaling his head onto his buttocks.

His hollow eye sockets stared straight toward the doorway. Even though Kong Wu had grown accustomed to all kinds of gruesome cases over the past year, he could not help drawing a sharp breath.

What kind of deep hatred would drive someone to create this sort of grotesque art?

Around him, a group of constables stood pale-faced. Judging by their appearance, they had already vomited earlier.

"Constable Kong! Following your instructions, none of our people have gone near the corpse."

Kong Wu nodded and forced down his nausea as he stepped forward to examine it.

The stench of blood in the main hall was overpowering, and blood had sprayed everywhere.

Kong Wu looked around and found the tables and chairs perfectly orderly, with no signs of a struggle.

He examined the corpse and immediately knitted his brows tightly.

At first, he had thought someone had severed the limbs with a sharp blade. But after looking carefully, he discovered that the wounds at the ends of the corpse's limbs were highly irregular, curling outward like petals.

It was almost as if... someone had torn them off with brute force.