This Night, Everyone Had a Bright Future

The first rays of dawn pierced the thin mist hanging over the Divine Capital.

The City God Temple in South City, a place so neglected that even the rats usually gave it a wide berth, was unusually lively today.

"Quick! Seal off the scene!"

"Bystanders, stand back!"

A large force of constables in black uniforms, along with a squad of solemn-faced captains from the Punishment Department, had completely surrounded the City God Temple.

At their head was a man in a silver Flying Fish Robe, his features stern and a Spring Embroidered Saber hanging at his waist.

Lei Heng, Hundred Households of the Punishment Department's White Tiger Hall.

At that moment, his expression was colder than this late autumn morning.

An entire Junior Officer squad had been wiped out overnight.

It was a vicious crime the Divine Capital hadn't seen in a long time.

"My lord, we've examined the scene."

A coroner came hurrying out of the rear courtyard and bowed as he reported.

"There are signs of a fierce struggle at the bottom of the well, along with a large number of poison needles and traces of hidden weapons."

"We found the bodies of all six brothers in the well."

"Third Brother was killed by a poison needle. The others all had knife wounds and marks from blunt-force blows."

"Captain Gu in particular..."

The coroner paused, lowering his voice.

"He had multiple broken bones, and his neck was broken. It looks like someone hit him hard... beat him to death."

Lei Heng's brows knitted together.

"Hit him hard?"

"Could an expert have intercepted them?"

"What about the Red Goods?"

The coroner shook his head.

"We didn't find them. There was a hidden compartment at the bottom of the well. It had already been forced open, and it was empty."

Lei Heng took a deep breath, tamping down his anger.

"What about the prison guard who led the way?"

"Found him!"

A shout came from nearby.

Two captains came over, supporting a young man caked in dust and covered in mud.

The young man seemed dazed, his eyes vacant as he kept muttering, "Murder! Murder! How terrifying!"

He was none other than our very own master actor, Fang Mo.

Lei Heng walked up to Fang Mo and looked down at him.

"Fang Mo?"

Fang Mo shuddered all over like a startled rabbit and jerked his head up.

When he saw Lei Heng's Flying Fish Robe, it was as if he'd found family. He dropped to his knees with a thud and burst into tears.

"My lord! My lord, save me!"

"I was terrified! It was horrible!"

"Those people suddenly rushed out and started hacking at everyone!"

Lei Heng frowned and barked, "Quiet! Speak properly!"

"Tell me, what exactly happened last night?"

Sobbing, Fang Mo recounted the story he'd prepared long ago, haltingly and in fragments.

How Lord Gu had been wise and brave enough to discover the stolen goods, how a band of masked assailants had suddenly charged out, how the two sides had fought a bloody battle...

The whole story boiled down to one thing:

Lord Gu was a martyr, I'm a useless coward, I passed out as soon as the fighting started, and I saw nothing.

His account had a few holes in it, but under the circumstances, it was also the most reasonable explanation.

After all, who would believe that a new prison guard could take down the fully armed elites of the Punishment Department?

Besides, the coroner had examined Fang Mo too. He showed no signs of being a skilled martial artist. He'd already used the [Record of Punishing Crimes] to suppress the fluctuations in his Qi and Blood, making himself look like an ordinary Qi and Blood Realm novice.

Lei Heng stared at Fang Mo for a long moment, his scrutinizing gaze seeming to pierce straight through to his soul.

Fang Mo met his gaze calmly. In his eyes was nothing but the clear, stupid innocence and fear of a college student.

After a long while,

Lei Heng looked away.

"Useless."

He spat the word with a hint of disdain, but the killing intent had faded.

"Take him back and record his statement. If there's nothing wrong, let him go."

"As for this matter..."

Lei Heng looked toward the dry well, a shadow passing over his eyes.

"Anyone who dares touch one of our people in the Punishment Department will pay for it. We'll settle this score in time."

Around noon,

Fang Mo walked out of the Punishment Department's gate.

Sunlight fell on him, warm and gentle.

He stretched, feeling refreshed from head to toe.

They'd questioned him all morning, but that was nothing.

The most important thing was that he'd walked out alive, with every suspicion neatly cleared away.

More importantly...

Fang Mo touched his Dantian.

There, a vast ocean of Qi and Blood slowly surged.

Three Blood Spirit Pills.

Their effects had been ferocious, and they'd nearly burst him apart.

But with his powerful physique bolstered by the [Iron Bone] talent, he'd managed to endure it.

Now,

he had reached the peak of the Qi and Blood Realm!

He was only one step away from entering the Bone Forging Realm.

And although he'd relied on an external force to advance so quickly, his foundation hadn't become unstable. On the contrary, after being refined by the [Record of Punishing Crimes], it had grown even sturdier.

"This was a hell of a haul."

A smile curled Fang Mo's lips.

He didn't head straight home. Instead, he turned toward the Heavenly Prison.

He had to see the act through to the end.

Wang Youan, that old fatty, had probably already heard that something had happened to him. Still, he had to go back and report that he was safe, and while he was at it...

Fang Mo's gaze settled on the Heavenly Prison's imposing Black Gate.

Last night's haul had given him a taste for it.

A mere Iron Bone Liu had earned him such a generous reward.

So what about all the other treasures locked up in the Heavenly Prison?

"Director Zhao, I wonder if you have any sins you'd like me to help settle?"

"And those neighbors I haven't had a chance to meet yet..."

Fang Mo licked his lips.

He felt like a little tiger that had just tasted blood, staring at a mountainside full of sheep, his eyes glowing green.