Return to the Scene of the Crime?

West City Street.

Several sheets of white cloth lay spread across the ground.

Beneath the white cloth were the corpses of Li Yan and the others.

Near these white cloths, a few men discussed in low voices; they were all from the Town Martial Division and the Government Office.

"I just checked—four in a row, all killed with a single blow. The one who did it is definitely an expert, and a vicious one at that."

"Not only that, these are all disciples of the Great Fortune Martial Arts Hall. One of them is even Master Li's personal disciple—Li Yan, who reached the Body Refining Realm at a young age. For them to die together, I'd guess it has to be related to Master Li."

"Could be..."

Just as the discussion grew heated, He An and the others walked over.

"Brother Sun!"

Everyone called out.

Clearly, among the group of minor officials, Sun Wangxian held no low status.

Sun Wangxian waved his hand, crouched down, and lifted the white cloth. At a glance, he saw Li Yan's terrified face, and a faint stench wafted out.

He frowned.

"All killed with a single blow?"

"That's right!"

Someone answered, then recounted the conclusions they'd just reached.

Sun Wangxian lifted each white cloth one by one, muttering to himself, "With strength like this, at least a Bone Forging Realm martial artist, and one who has studied a blade-type Martial Art."

"Such a person isn't common in all of Fangcheng. Just check them one by one."

"Also, remember to ask Master Li if he's offended anyone recently. A person like this couldn't have been provoked by these few."

Listening to Sun Wangxian's earnest analysis, the corner of He An's mouth twitched.

The next second.

Sun Wangxian suddenly asked, "Brother He, what do you think?"

"Ah!"

He An was a bit surprised, but quickly recovered. "Brother Sun, if we want to understand the cause of this, shouldn't we figure out another thing first?"

"Why were these people here at night?"

Sun Wangxian nodded and smiled. "You're right. We should indeed clarify that first, but it's still too early now. The investigator hasn't returned yet."

"Once he comes back, the truth might come out."

Before long.

Two men in Government Office uniforms walked over.

The one in front cupped his fists. "Captain Sun, the matter has been investigated. These people were here at night because they had just returned from the Black Market."

Then.

The man recounted what had happened the day before.

"So, this incident should be a revenge killing? Li Yan and his men bullied others and snatched their Spirit Medicine, and the victim held a grudge, leading to all their deaths?"

"That should be it."

Li Yan sighed, glanced regretfully at Li Yan and the others, and warned everyone, "See that? In the future, avoid friction with others and don't stir up trouble."

"Otherwise, you never know if the person you provoke might be a vicious thug."

He An nodded.

"By the way, has that person's identity been found out?" Sun Wangxian asked.

"No."

Hearing this, Sun Wangxian looked a bit disappointed.

"In that case, carry the bodies back. Put this matter aside for now. Once the Government Office identifies that person, our Town Martial Division will step in to make the arrest."

"That's... that's it?"

He An was dumbfounded. He hadn't even done anything, and the matter was already over. Even Wu Wenming looked confused.

"What else?"

Sun Wangxian explained, "In truth, making an arrest is the easiest part. But tracking down the culprit requires a huge amount of manpower and resources."

"And that process doesn't need our Town Martial Division to handle. The Government Office investigates on their own."

"Once they find some Clues, then our Town Martial Division makes the arrest. Of course, if it's a major case like before, the Government Office will help with the arrest too."

"I see."

Then.

Just as the group was about to head back.

A burly figure strode over.

Seeing the newcomer, Sun Wangxian's face turned cold: "Master Li, this matter hasn't been fully investigated yet. What brings you here in person?"

Master Li said angrily: "My disciple is dead. You tell me why I'm here. Instead, you, the Town Martial Division—have you found out who killed my disciple or not?"

He An stood to the side.

Watching Sun Wangxian's attitude, he understood the reason well.

At a time when the Wu and Meng Families had torn off all pretense, and with the Wu Family Young Master standing right there, no matter how stupid Sun Wangxian was, he wouldn't show Li Anbang even a shred of courtesy.

This was a matter of principle.

To waver between two sides at a moment like this would only lead to a dead end.

"Just go back and wait."

Sun Wangxian said calmly: "No matter how capable we are, we can't possibly investigate the full story and find the killer in such a short time."

"As for you, Master Li, if you hadn't failed to teach your disciples properly, they wouldn't have met with misfortune for no reason."

"Go back and give your other disciples a good warning."

"Otherwise, if another similar case occurs, you'll only be causing trouble for our Town Martial Division and the Government Office!"

"You..."

Master Li was so furious he wanted to vomit blood.

His disciple was dead, and he was wrong for asking a few questions?

Seeing the tense atmosphere and the real possibility of a fight breaking out, a government official standing nearby gave Master Li a rough rundown of the situation.

Meanwhile.

Wu Wenming was giving He An a crash course.

"Brother He, from now on, you must be very careful around this Master Li. He's the kind of person who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. That's exactly why the Meng Family took a liking to him."

"What makes you say that?"

"Do you know who killed his parents?" Wu Wenming asked slowly.

"How would I know that?"

He An answered instinctively, then swallowed hard, hardly believing it: "Are you saying he killed his own parents?"

"That's right!"

Wu Wenming continued: "And do you know how the Great Fortune Martial Arts Hall grew to its current scale?"

"With the Meng Family's help?"

"Sort of. The Great Fortune Martial Arts Hall couldn't have developed to where it is without the Meng Family's support, but it also has a lot to do with this Master Li."

Wu Wenming explained: "More than ten years ago, not all the martial arts schools in Fangcheng belonged to the Meng Family. The Great Fortune Martial Arts Hall was just an extremely ordinary little school."

"After he took over the Great Fortune Martial Arts Hall, with the Meng Family's backing."

"He began expanding the school aggressively. The first thing he did was squeeze out and absorb the surrounding martial arts schools. Anyone who dared to refuse was targeted by him."

"The number of dead and injured was countless."

"What's worse, he didn't even spare their entire families."

"His Mad Sand Gang handled all such murder cases for him. Because of the Meng Family's influence and the lack of solid evidence, the Government Office and the Town Martial Division could do nothing about him."

"Through these methods, the Great Fortune Martial Arts Hall developed rapidly and became one of the Three Top Martial Arts Schools of Fangcheng."

"Besides him, the masters of the other two schools are no pushovers either."

He warned:

"Brother He, from what I know, these men are all on very good terms with Clerk Meng."

"With Zhang Yongda dead and Clerk Meng lacking suitable men, there's a high chance he'll seek help from these people."

"So no matter what, you must be very careful around them!"