Zhanhong Martial Arts Academy

Zhanhong Martial Arts Academy.

While Cui Hao was buying medicine, the atmosphere in the front courtyard was somewhat different from usual.

Six constables in dark red uniforms, regulation iron swords at their waists, entered the academy under the lead of a middle-aged man whose presence was as weighty as a mountain and whose gaze was sharp as an eagle's.

The constable at their head was, astonishingly, a Clear Force master at the Great Completion stage!

The Da'an Dynasty used a system of both conscripted soldiers and paid service. The government hired people for all kinds of positions, including constables.

Martial artists took on different duties and received corresponding salaries according to their realms.

As it happened, the Clear Force Great Completion constable leading them—Feng Xi—was a disciple who had come out of Zhanhong Martial Arts Academy. He was, in a sense, everyone's senior brother.

"Junior Brother Feng! What wind blew you here? It's been ages!" Xu Liqing, as the eldest senior sister, was the first to greet him, a perfectly measured smile on her face.

Halan Sheng, Gao Feng, Sun Cheng, Tu Yan, and the other Clear Force disciples also stepped forward to salute.

"Senior Brother Feng!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Feng!"

At that moment, whether they knew him or not, nearly every disciple in the martial arts academy turned their attention to this imposing constable.

A Clear Force master at Great Completion could already be considered an expert in Qingyuan City, all the more so when he was an officer of the government.

Feng Xi returned their salute with clasped fists and got straight to the point. "Junior brothers and sisters, it's been a long time. I've come today on official business. I need to find someone."

Xu Liqing was perceptive. Her smile faded slightly, and she asked seriously, "Who are you looking for, Junior Brother Feng? And what for?"

Feng Xi's gaze swept across the people in the courtyard. His voice rang out clearly. "May I ask which of you is Cui Hao, Junior Brother Cui?"

"Cui Hao?" Xu Liqing paused, the confusion in her eyes deepening. "Why are you looking for him, Junior Brother Feng? Is he involved in some kind of trouble?"

Feng Xi's expression turned grave. "Last night, a murder took place beside the main road outside Willow Tree Village, less than a hundred paces away."

"Three men were killed. Their faces had been mutilated, but they were still identified. All three were at the Lesser Completion stage of Mortal Martial Arts, and were accustomed to fighting for their lives."

"Based on the scene investigation and our preliminary inquiries, Junior Brother Cui Hao is a major suspect. I need to take him back for questioning."

"Cui Hao? He killed three men at the Lesser Completion stage of Mortal Martial Arts?"

As Feng Xi finished speaking, the entire front courtyard fell into a brief, deathly silence. You could have heard a pin drop.

Then—

"Pfft!" A clear snicker broke the silence. It came from Xiao Li, who was surrounded by several disciples. The corner of his mouth curled into an undisguised sneer, as if he'd just heard the biggest joke in the world.

More laughter rippled through the courtyard.

Li He shook his head with a laugh, and several disciples friendly with Xiao Li joined in. Someone even bent over theatrically, as if they'd heard the funniest joke of the year.

Tu Yan covered her lips with one hand, her eyes curving with a laugh full of contempt. "Senior Brother Feng, there must be some misunderstanding. Cui Hao—he was only just confirmed by Junior Brother Sun to have reached the Lesser Completion stage of Mortal Martial Arts."

"Besides, his talent is mediocre, and he's always been an unremarkable presence at the academy. Forgive my bluntness, but it's simply impossible. I'd stake the Tu Family's reputation on it."

Sun Cheng hurried forward as well, speaking with conviction in Cui Hao's defense. "Senior Brother Feng, Junior Brother Cui is quiet and steady, even a little too honest. He usually keeps his head down and trains. He never argues with anyone, let alone makes enemies with such a deadly grudge. To say he killed someone—three skilled fighters of the same realm, no less—this... this is simply hard to believe."

Gao Feng folded his arms and watched coolly. Now he, too, spoke up. "Senior Brother Feng, you're mistaken this time."

Seeing that everyone was against the accusation, Xiao Li stepped forward, his tone brimming with the confidence and pride of a gifted disciple. "Senior Brother Feng, you say Cui Hao is a suspect. May I ask what makes you suspect him?"

Feng Xi furrowed his brows. Faced with everyone's united denial and veiled doubts, he didn't get angry; instead, he calmly explained, "There are two reasons for the suspicion."

"First, the crime scene is very close to his village, and the timing matches."

"Second, when I visited Willow Tree Village this morning, I found that not a single person there knew Cui Hao practiced martial arts at the academy. A young martial artist who conceals his training so thoroughly must either have done so deliberately or be a deeply calculating person."

"Junior Brother Feng..." Xu Liqing asked, puzzled, "if the people of Willow Tree Village didn't know Cui Hao practiced martial arts, how do you know?"

"I happened to overhear some people chatting at Yuexiang Tower in the city, and learned of it there."

"I see."

"Senior Brother Feng, people in the countryside can be complicated," Li He chimed in. "If someone from a poor family suddenly makes something of himself, he can easily become the target of jealousy, people trying to latch on to him, or even extortion."

"Keeping his martial arts training secret is a sensible way to protect himself. It has nothing to do with being calculating. Many of our brothers from humble backgrounds have similar concerns."

Li He spoke cleverly, winning nods from many of the disciples of ordinary backgrounds.

Halan Sheng, the biggest man there, added in a deep, rumbling voice, "Junior Brother Lin is from Willow Tree Village too. He can vouch for him."

Lin Da, who had been standing at the edge of the crowd, hurried forward and respectfully saluted Feng Xi. His words were earnest. "Lord Feng, I'm Lin Da, and Brother Hao and I grew up together in the same village."

"We kept our martial arts training secret because there are some local ruffians and... relatives who look down on us. We were afraid they'd pester us endlessly. We meant nothing by it. Brother Hao is an honest man. He'd never be a murderer."

"Exactly," Li He added lightly. "Senior Brother Feng, why not investigate elsewhere? Everyone at our martial arts academy can vouch for Cui Hao."

"We can all vouch for him!" the disciples echoed one after another.

Looking at the academy disciples, all of them singing the same tune, Feng Xi's doubts vanished. "Let's put Junior Brother Cui's matter aside."

Then he changed the subject. "There's another important matter I'd like to discuss with you."

Xu Liqing replied courteously, "Go ahead."

"Since before and after the New Year, many refugees have come to Qingyuan City, and numerous gangs have sprung up."

"For example, the River Gang in East City, the Blade Gang in the south, and the Thief Gang in the west. These three gangs have grown so numerous, and have so many experts, that they've become a serious menace. They must be eliminated."

"Therefore, the city guard wishes to recruit capable fighters to join in the campaign against the gangs."

Unlike Feng Xi, who was a contract constable, the city guard was a high-ranking official who had passed the martial arts examinations and held an official post. In the city, his status was on a par with the City Governor's.

The only difference was that the City Governor was rarely seen.

The city guard had five hundred contract soldiers under his command. They often visited the brothels and restaurants in the city, making them rather approachable.

"Four taels of silver and two packets of Qi and Blood Powder for those below the Lesser Completion stage of Mortal Martial Arts," Feng Xi explained, outlining the benefits of joining the campaign. "Eight taels of silver and four packets of Qi and Blood Powder for those above it."

Xiao Li felt a pang of regret. He was at the Lesser Completion stage of Mortal Martial Arts, so he qualified only for the lowest pay.

Feng Xi continued, "Clear Force experts will receive twenty taels of silver and three Qi and Blood Pills."

"The city guard himself will lead this campaign, and the three great families have also been ordered to send three Clear Force masters at Great Completion."

"What do you think?"

The announcement caused an uproar in the courtyard. An ordinary Mortal Martial Arts job paid only two or three taels of silver a month, and this came with cultivation resources too.

There was no need to worry about safety. The city guard had passed the martial arts examinations and was an expert in his own right.

With three Clear Force masters at Great Completion from the three great families backing them up, it was practically foolproof.

Quite a few disciples were eager to volunteer, but Xu Dian's sudden arrival cut them off.

Feng Xi saluted with clasped fists. "Master."

Xu Dian nodded. "You go on back. I'll explain the risks of this campaign to them again."

Feng Xi acknowledged him and turned to leave.

Cui Hao returned from the medicine shop and came across six constables at the academy entrance. They didn't exchange a word, simply passing one another.

As he stepped over the academy threshold, he happened to hear Master Xu Dian speaking to everyone.

"This isn't like practicing in this courtyard. Fighting the gangs could leave you injured, or dead. Think it through carefully. Once you've decided, sign up with Liu Yan."

Xiao Li was the first to step forward. "Senior Sister Liu, I'll go."

"Junior Brother Xiao," Liu Yan cautioned, "you should think it over. There's no harm in deciding tomorrow."

"No need to think it over. Martial arts can't be mastered by training behind closed doors," Xiao Li declared. "To practice martial arts, you need to fight!"

Everyone looked at Xiao Li, their faces filled with admiration and respect.

It was hard to imagine that before entering the martial arts academy, Xiao Li and his elder brother had been dung collectors.

After that, quite a few disciples volunteered as well.

Sun Cheng saw Cui Hao. "Junior Brother Cui, are you joining the campaign against the gangs?"

"Junior Brother's skills are ordinary," Cui Hao replied, saluting with clasped fists. "I'll sit this one out."

Join the campaign against the gangs? Don't be stupid.

Among the many who had fled from the west, there were hidden dragons and crouching tigers. If he ran into an unparalleled expert, he could die a terrible death.

Or there could be some backstabber among the gang members. Either way, it was risky.

Practicing his stances was still the safest bet. Going back and leafing through the Compendium of Materia Medica was the most reliable choice.

Tu Yan could barely be bothered to look at Cui Hao anymore. She'd known he wouldn't volunteer. He was not only dull, but timid too.

Senior Brother Feng had actually suspected Cui Hao of killing three martial artists at the same realm. Even if a salted fish turned over, there was no way Cui Hao could do that.

Wang Nian, who trained alongside Cui Hao, also thought he was being too timid. He caught up with him and urged him, "Junior Brother Cui, while you were away..."

After hearing Wang Nian recount what had happened, Cui Hao was slightly stunned.

The other disciples' impression of him as "mediocre in talent and quiet by nature" had led them to vouch for him from the bottom of their hearts. That had, in objective terms, helped clear him of suspicion—far more convincingly than anything he could have said himself.