"But... but earlier, you told Lu Xiaofeng..."
In his panic, Luo Ma even began to stammer.
Zhu Ting said, "Let me explain that! When I first saw the counterfeit banknotes, I was greatly shocked. In this world, apart from me, only my senior brother could make such counterfeit banknotes. But my senior brother was already dead, and it could not have been me either. That was why I found it so strange.
Later, we reported the case. The ones from Six Doors assigned to handle it were Jiang Long and Luo Ma. I knew that seven years ago, when my senior brother died of the plague, Luo Ma had been the one to handle that case. Then seven years later, when the Counterfeit Banknote Case arose, you, Luo Ma, took it over again...
Was that truly a coincidence? I wanted to ask: among all the Gold-Clad Constables of Six Doors, why were the two of you assigned to it?"
Luo Ma snorted. "What is so surprising about that? Six Doors has many Gold-Clad Constables, but there are even more cases in the world. The two of us simply happened to be free."
"All right, perhaps you are telling the truth, but... I do not believe you!"
Zhu Ting said, "That was why I was unwilling to provide any clues at Six Doors, and insisted that Lu Xiaofeng take over the case. At the same time, to test you, I deliberately worked with Lu Xiaofeng to prepare a lie!"
Lu Xiaofeng continued, "It was the matter concerning Yue Qing's daughter. I told you she belonged to the Luban Divine Axe Sect, and that she bore the Luban Divine Axe Sect's mark on her chest. It was all a lie. No such person existed.
Yet after I entered Jile Tower, such a person truly appeared before me... Constable Luo, tell me, was that a coincidence as well?
That day at Six Doors, the only people who heard that lie were the two constables, Zhou Ming, Hua Manlou, and me!
Tell me, who turned that lie into reality?"
"You!"
Luo Ma had never expected that he had fallen into their trap on the very first day.
He hurriedly said, "Even so, it cannot prove that I am the mastermind behind it! Jiang Long is also a possibility!"
"Luo Ma! You!" Jiang Long was equally stunned.
He had never imagined that the partner at his side had secretly committed such a shocking crime.
And now Luo Ma was even trying to drag him down with him!
How had he failed to see this man's true face all these years?
Were his eyes truly blind?!
Luo Ma inwardly realized things were bad. He had been too hasty just now, and quickly said, "I also heard that Young Master Hua personally investigated this case, and that Young Master Zhou had made a wager with you, using this case as the subject of the contest. Perhaps one of their subordinates accidentally leaked the information..."
"Heh..."
Lu Xiaofeng sneered. "You really are eloquent! Then how will you explain this next piece of evidence?
Everyone, please come with me!"
He immediately took the lead and headed in one direction, while the others surrounded Luo Ma from behind.
Luo Ma snorted and followed, though his eyes continually swept the surroundings, seemingly searching for a chance to escape.
But everyone around him was an expert. How could they possibly give him such an opportunity?
Left with no choice, Luo Ma could only follow Lu Xiaofeng to a corner of the temple, before three houses.
Hua Manlou said in surprise, "This is... Miss Xia'er... Could it be..."
Lu Xiaofeng glanced at him and nodded, then called out loudly, "Miss Xia'er, would you come out and meet us?"
Xia'er had not yet gone to sleep. Hearing the voice, she looked out through the window and saw a group of constables outside, holding torches.
Her heart jolted in alarm.
Lu Xiaofeng said, "Miss Xia'er, do not worry. Boss Qian is dead, and you are safe now. Please come out without fear."
Hua Manlou added, "Miss Xia'er, you... you have suffered greatly... But all of this will pass!"
Hearing their words, Xia'er already had a guess. She could not help becoming excited.
"Young Master Hua, I believe you!"
Yue Qing had not actually been asleep either. The commotion outside startled him as well.
He peered out the window for a few moments, gritted his teeth, and rushed out of his room.
"Junior brother! Junior brother!"
Zhu Ting was stunned. "Senior brother?! You truly were not dead!"
Only then did Xia'er emerge from her room, overwhelmed with emotion. "Young Master Lu... Young Master Hua!"
Hua Manlou said, "Miss Xia'er, Boss Qian is dead. As for Luo Ma, he is now merely waiting for the two of you to identify him. You are safe now!"
"We are safe..."
Xia'er repeated those words, her voice choking. Then she threw herself into Hua Manlou's arms and burst into loud sobs.
Hua Manlou was immediately at a loss, but he did not push the woman in his arms away. He merely comforted her in a low voice.
Lu Xiaofeng turned to look at Luo Ma. "You surely never expected that your partner, Boss Qian, was also an ambitious man.
When you wanted to burn the bridge after crossing the river and kill Yue Qing and his daughter, he saved the two of them, intending to keep them under his own control. And that is the most fatal evidence against you!"
Luo Ma gritted his teeth, his face twisted like that of an evil ghost. "Boss Qian! You! You actually died so easily!"
At this point, the true mastermind behind everything had been completely exposed.
Jiang Long shouted, "Luo Ma, as a Gold-Clad Constable of Six Doors, you secretly committed such evil deeds! Surrender at once and return with me to Six Doors to confess your crimes!"
"In your dreams!"
Luo Ma suddenly threw down a smoke bomb. It exploded at his feet, and smoke immediately billowed everywhere.
But Luo Ma knew that such a petty trick could only delay them briefly, not for long.
Most importantly, among this group was a master of qinggong renowned throughout the land.
Lu Xiaofeng!
When Boss Qian had fled for his life earlier, he too had used concealed weapons to buy himself a moment, only for Lu Xiaofeng to catch up with him using even more superb qinggong.
Luo Ma seized the opportunity at once, grabbed Wuyan, then flung her toward Lu Xiaofeng with a sweep of his arm.
Wuyan screamed.
Seeing this, Lu Xiaofeng swiftly leaped into the air, caught Wuyan, cushioned the impact with his inner force, and brought her safely to the ground.
Luo Ma took that chance to flee using qinggong.
Jiang Long immediately gave chase.
After the two had left, Lu Xiaofeng set Wuyan down and chased after them as well.
Of those remaining, Zhu Ting's martial arts were not particularly strong, Yue Qing was even weaker than Zhu Ting, and Hua Manlou was held back by Xia'er.
As for Zhou Ming, he had no intention of giving chase at all.
Since he did not move, the four maidservants responsible for protecting him naturally did not move either.
Jiang Long's qinggong was superior to Luo Ma's, but in terms of fighting ability, he was no match for him.
Furthermore, having partnered for many years, Luo Ma had long since become thoroughly familiar with his partner's martial arts style.
Thus, after Jiang Long caught up to Luo Ma, they exchanged only two or three moves before Luo Ma wounded Jiang Long's leg with a flash of sword light. He did not linger, turning at once to flee.
Jiang Long pursued despite his injured leg, but he could no longer fully employ his qinggong and could only watch helplessly as Luo Ma disappeared into the distance.
Just then, Lu Xiaofeng came racing after them. His white-clad figure seemed almost to become a streak of white light in the vast darkness of night.
"Constable Luo, do not waste your strength! Do you truly think you can outrun me?"
Lu Xiaofeng quickly caught up with Luo Ma and blocked his path.
Luo Ma's expression darkened as he snarled, "Lu Xiaofeng! Do you really think that just because that young master praised you a few times in his storybook, you have become invincible beneath the heavens?
Telepathic Finger?
It may not be a match for my Breaking Horse Thorn!"
His sword left its sheath. Beneath the moonlight, its bright blade seemed to transform into countless sword shadows, every one of them flying toward Lu Xiaofeng!
This was the very move he had used earlier to kill the master of Jile Tower. Yet at that time, the master of Jile Tower had barely resisted at all—he could even be said to have willingly sought death—so less than one percent of the move's power had likely been unleashed.
Now, at this moment of life and death, Luo Ma naturally brought every ounce of his ability into play!
Countless sword shadows stabbed toward him, dazzling the eye and carrying a terrifying chill.
The Breaking Horse Thorn truly lived up to its name!
Before you continue