This Night, Everyone Has a Bright Future

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

The City God Temple in the southern part of the city, a place even rats would shun on normal days, was unusually lively today.

"Quick! Seal off the scene!"

"Civilians, clear out!"

A large number of constables in dark uniforms, along with a squad of grim-faced Punishment Department Captains, had the entire City God Temple surrounded tightly.

Leading them was a man in a silver flying fish robe, his face stern, a Spring Embroidered Saber hanging from his waist.

He was Lei Heng, a Hundred Households of the White Tiger Hall in the Punishment Department.

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

In a single night, an entire squadron had been wiped out.

This was a heinous crime that hadn't occurred in the Divine Capital for a long time.

"Sir, the scene has been surveyed,"

A person dressed as a coroner ran out from the backyard and reported with a bow.

"There are signs of a fierce struggle at the bottom of the well, along with many poison needles and hidden weapons left behind."

"The bodies of six brothers were all found in the well."

"Except for the third brother, who was shot by a poison needle, the others have stab wounds and blunt force trauma."

"Especially Captain Gu..."

The coroner paused, lowering his voice slightly.

"He had multiple fractures, his neck was broken, as if he was struck with immense force... beaten to death."

Lei Heng's brows furrowed into a deep '川' shape.

"Immense force?"

"Could it be that an expert intervened?"

"What about that batch of contraband?"

The coroner shook his head.

"It wasn't found. There was a hidden compartment at the bottom of the well, and it's been forced open. It's empty."

Lei Heng took a deep breath, suppressing the rage within him.

"And the jailer who led the way?"

"Found him!"

A shout came from not far away.

Two Captains dragged over a young man, covered in dirt and mud, looking disheveled.

The young man seemed to be still in shock, his eyes vacant, muttering incessantly, "Murder! Murder! So scary!"

It was our "movie star," Fang Mo.

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

"Fang Mo?"

Fang Mo trembled all over, like a startled rabbit, and suddenly looked up.

Seeing Lei Heng's flying fish robe, he looked as if he had found a relative. He fell to his knees with a plop and burst into tears.

"Sir! Sir, save me!"

"I was so scared! It was terrifying!"

"Those people suddenly rushed out and attacked anyone they saw!"

Lei Heng frowned and snapped, "Silence! Speak properly!"

"Tell me, what exactly happened last night?"

Fang Mo sobbed and, intermittently, recounted the story he had already prepared.

Something about how the esteemed Captain Gu, wise and mighty, discovered the stolen goods, how a group of masked assailants suddenly appeared, and how both sides fought a bloody battle...

In essence, the core message was:

Captain Gu was a martyr, I am useless, I fainted from fear as soon as the fight started, and I didn't see anything.

Although this explanation had some flaws, under the circumstances, it was the most plausible one.

After all, who would believe that a newly recruited jailer could take down the fully armed elites of the Punishment Department?

Moreover, the coroner had already examined him. Fang Mo showed no signs of possessing any high-level martial arts skills. He had long suppressed his Qi and Blood fluctuations using the Record of Punishing Crimes, appearing like an ordinary rookie in the early Qi and Blood Realm.

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

Fang Mo met his gaze calmly, his eyes reflecting only the clear-headed foolishness and fear of a college student.

After a long pause.

Lei Heng withdrew his gaze.

"Trash."

He cursed, a hint of disdain in his tone, but the killing intent had dissipated.

"Take him back, get a confession. If there are no issues, let him go."

"As for this matter..."

Lei Heng looked at the dry well, a shadow flashing in his eyes.

"To dare lay hands on someone from our Punishment Department, we'll settle this score slowly."

Noon.

Fang Mo walked out of the gates of the Punishment Department.

Sunlight streamed down, warm and comforting.

He stretched, feeling utterly refreshed.

Although he'd been interrogated all morning, it was no big deal.

Most importantly, he was alive and had completely cleared his name.

Even more importantly...

Fang Mo touched his dantian.

A vast, sea-like Qi and Blood force was slowly circulating within.

Three Blood Spirit Pills.

Though their effects were ferocious and almost blew him apart.

He had managed to endure it thanks to the powerful physique granted by his [Iron Bones] talent.

He was now...

At the peak of the Qi and Blood Realm!

Just one step away from entering the Bone Forging Realm.

Moreover, although his advancement was forcefully achieved through external means, his foundation was not unstable. Instead, it had become even more solid under the guidance of the [Record of Punishing Crimes].

"This was a huge profit."

A smile curved Fang Mo's lips.

He didn't go home immediately, but turned and headed towards the heavenly prison.

The act had to be complete.

Although Old Fatty Wang Youan probably already knew he was in trouble, he still had to report back safe and sound, and also...

Fang Mo's gaze fell upon the imposing black gates of the heavenly prison.

The gains from last night had whetted his appetite.

A mere Iron Bone Liu had yielded such generous rewards.

What about all those great treasures locked away in the heavenly prison?

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

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

Fang Mo licked his lips.

He felt like a small tiger that had just tasted blood, eyes gleaming green as it surveyed a mountain of sheep.