Blood Pill

A three-day holiday passed by in a flash.

On the morning of the fourth day, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Gu Chang'an was already up. He bustled about in front of the stove, steam rising from the pot, while the aroma of rice porridge and side dishes drifted through the house.

Wang Xiaojuan woke up early as well, and after washing up, sat down at the table.

"Big Brother Gu, are you still going to the Martial Guard Division today?"

Gu Chang'an placed a plate of scrambled eggs on the table, smiling as he nodded.

"Mm, the holiday is over, I have to go back to patrol."

Wang Xiaojuan nibbled on a warm steamed bun, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance.

"I thought you'd stay and practice fist techniques with me for a bit today."

"Another time, I'll definitely make time," Gu Chang'an ruffled her head. "Today, you just practice properly at the martial hall and don't slack off."

"I won't!" Wang Xiaojuan pouted, though her eyes shone brightly as she nodded earnestly.

She now cherished everything she currently had, and seemed to have no thoughts of slacking off.

Right now, her biggest aspiration was to become someone like Li Hongye, someone capable of helping Big Brother Gu.

After the meal, Gu Chang'an escorted her to Sky Wind Martial Hall, and after exchanging a greeting with Xie Lanzhi, he hurried off toward the Martial Guard Division official yamen.

Morning mist still lingered over the Martial Guard Division.

Just as Gu Chang'an reached the entrance, he saw Song Zong leaning against the steps smoking a dry tobacco pipe, lazily letting out a yawn.

"Oh, Brother Gu, so early? Didn't you still have a few days of leave, why not rest a bit longer?"

Gu Chang'an smiled and waved a hand. "I've rested enough, being idle is uncomfortable."

Song Zong clicked his tongue. "You really are a freak."

At that moment, Liu Wei and Zhou Yue also emerged from the back hall, Liu Wei pulling at his sleeve as he asked, "How are Commander Li's injuries?"

Gu Chang'an smiled faintly. "She's fine, a few days of rest and she'll be right as rain. It's just... her spirit is certainly full of vigor."

Zhou Yue sidled over, an ambiguous look on his face. "Then why didn't you take the opportunity to spend more time keeping her company?"

Gu Chang'an sighed. "I wanted to, but she chased me back."

Right now, his relationship with Li Hongye was one of more than friends, but not quite lovers.

Perhaps they were just lacking that final push.

Yet the timing still wasn't right.

Shortly after, the few of them formed up and set out, beginning their patrol duties for the day.

The weather was clear, the streets were tidy, vagrants were scarce, and the city presented an air of complete tranquility.

They traveled all the way from the east city to the west, their steps steady and their patrols meticulous.

As they turned into the west city, they saw a short distance away a squad of Flowing Gold Gang disciples walking past from the street corner, dressed in uniform black clothes and neatly armed with sabers, looking much more disciplined than the previous Black Sand Gang.

Gu Chang'an frowned slightly, speaking in a low voice, "The Flowing Gold Gang has really reined themselves in a lot these past few days."

"It's probably due to a warning from above," Liu Wei said in a low voice. "Before, the perverse and tyrannical actions of the Black Sand Gang already enraged the officials of Nanning County. If the Flowing Gold Gang wants to establish a long-term footing, they don't dare not bow their heads."

Song Zong smacked his lips. "That's quite unexpected, I thought they'd take the chance to stir up trouble."

Gu Chang'an pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What about the Firewood Gang? They've been way too quiet this period of time."

Liu Wei shook his head. "I find it puzzling too. Those people from the Firewood Gang were quite arrogant before, especially the ones from the Black Wood Hall, but now they're suddenly keeping completely silent... Something's not right."

"It's like they're brewing something," Zhou Yue frowned.

The few of them exchanged glances, each sensing an inexplicable unease.

Right at that moment, the sound of footsteps suddenly drifted over from the street corner. Zheng Zhen in dark blue martial attire walked out from a narrow alley, his expression stern, his gaze sharp like blades as he swept a cold glance over them.

Gu Chang'an lifted his brows slightly, his pace remaining steady as he walked past with composure.

At his side, Zhou Yue spoke in a low voice, "This fellow... has been eyeing you for quite a while now, watch yourself."

"I know," Gu Chang'an replied indifferently, a flicker of alertness growing within his gaze.

At the noon hour, the sun gradually grew fierce, casting mottled shadows down upon the weathered walls of the old quarters in the west city.

Gu Chang'an and his party patrolled along the street until they reached a long-abandoned workshop. His pace paused slightly, his gaze sharpening and his brows lifting in unison as he faintly sensed an unusual aura in the air.

"What is it?" Liu Wei asked in a low voice.

Gu Chang'an did not answer, merely raising a hand to signal everyone to hold their breath and quiet down. Then he slowly turned sideways, pressing himself against the door wall as he brought his ear lightly against the wooden door.

A moment later, his expression grew stern. His figure flickered, skimming low across the ground like a gliding snake as he swiftly skirted around to the side of the door. Suddenly, he slammed a palm against the leaf of the door, tipped off his toes, and rushed in like lightning!

His saber was half-sheathed, cold light bursting forth as it pointed straight into the room!

"Ah—"

A startled cry rang out abruptly inside the room, its tone laced with panic.

"Don't—don't move!"

Gu Chang'an's blade stance halted instantly, leaving merely an inch of distance suspended right before a man's throat.

That was a middle-aged constabulary runner, his face pale and cold sweat streaming down. His official robe was draped slantwise, faintly revealing bloodstains as if he had been injured, and he was currently curled up in the corner with disordered breathing.

Beside him stood another man clad in ordinary cloth garments, carrying a bundle. His expression was vigilant yet puzzled, and his body was already pressed flat against the wall, not daring to move.

"Who are you?" Liu Wei arrived shortly after, his gaze turning cold and his tone carrying a trace of vigilance.

Seeing this, the middle-aged runner hurriedly cupped his fists and lowered his voice.

"This humble subordinate is Chen Qi from the West City Ward constabulary. This person is an old acquaintance of mine, and today he is assisting me in secretly investigating matters regarding the Firewood Gang's smuggling."

Song Zong stepped forward to inspect the waist tally hanging at the man's hip. Confirming it was indeed a genuine official seal, he sheathed his saber back and nodded slightly.

"Since you're fellow colleagues, why are you hiding out in a place like this?"

Chen Qi's expression turned heavy as he spoke in a low voice.

"We just intercepted a batch of smuggled goods belonging to the Firewood Gang. Before we could report it, we were targeted. This place is remote, so we're just temporarily hiding here. Take a look at this thing quickly."

With that, he took the bundle from the cloth-clad man and carefully unfolded it.

Inside the bundle lay startlingly a blood-red pill. The pill body was glossy and moist, resembling congealed fresh blood, and it trembled slightly as if it were breathing.

An icy aura immediately diffused outward, feeling as though it penetrated straight into the marrow of one's bones.

"This is... a Blood Pill?" Liu Wei's expression changed abruptly.

"Correct," Chen Qi's face was grim. "And it's not an ordinary Blood Pill. This is an evil pill refined from the vital essence and blood of living people; only crooked, demonic paths would manufacture such a thing."

Gu Chang'an narrowed his eyes, his voice turning somewhat colder. "How did you discover this?"

"I've been secretly investigating this matter for a month," Chen Qi sighed. "At first, I heard rumors that the Firewood Gang had set up a secret medicine-refining ground in the western outskirts, using the smuggling of herbs as a cover while refining unknown pills behind the scenes. I didn't believe it either, until today—"

His tone paused, a flash of hatred surfacing within his eyes. "I intercepted a batch of cargo and discovered this Blood Pill. Although this pill can stimulate Qi and blood, arouse potential, and even explosively boost strength for a short time, it burns away one's soul and lifespan. After using it three times at most, a person will go mad and die."

"This is demonic sorcery, it cannot be left to exist."

Gu Chang'an's face was calm as water. "The location of the pill refining, do you know it?"

Chen Qi fell silent for a long while before finally nodding.

"I only recently managed to touch upon a slight clue, it's just that... this matter is of grave importance, and if there's the slightest misstep, it means the calamity of being silenced."