Bloody Case Shakes the Four Directions

[life source +6%]

[life source +5.5%]

[life source +6.3%]...

Wisps of life source energy surged into his body, but Qin Meng frowned slightly. He had accumulated enough, yet that feeling of "origin strengthening" had not appeared again.

The forest temporarily returned to silence. Of the dozen or so ferocious giant wolves, save for five or six that had luckily escaped into the depths of the dense woods, the rest lay dead here.

From deeper within the forest, faint wolf howls echoed in response!

Qin Meng shook the wolf blood off his blade. His expression remained unchanged, as if he had just warmed up. He looked up at the three people still standing dazed in the tree.

"Seen enough? Come down, let's go, quickly."

Wang Tieniu was the first to react. He scrambled down the tree, rushed over to Qin Meng, and was so excited he became incoherent: "Brother Meng, is it really you? That was amazing! The blade, and the arrows—so ruthless and fast..."

Li Tiezhu helped the weak Qin Xiaoshan down from the tree, his legs still soft as they touched the ground.

He looked at the wolf corpses covering the ground, then at Qin Meng, and said with lingering fear and gratitude: "Qin Meng... this time, it's all thanks to you. Otherwise, the three of us would have been buried in the wolves' bellies today. Great kindness needs no thanks; I, Li Tiezhu, will keep it in my heart!"

Qin Xiaoshan cast a grateful look at Qin Meng, his lips moving, but he lacked the strength to make a sound.

Qin Meng waved his hand, his gaze landing on Qin Xiaoshan's leg: "Can you walk?"

Li Tiezhu smiled bitterly: "He lost too much blood and was terrified. I'm afraid he can't handle the mountain path right now."

Qin Meng nodded and said to Li Tiezhu: "Apply medicine first, then bandage it to stop the bleeding. I have a sled hidden up ahead; we'll drag him out of the mountains."

Li Tiezhu and Wang Tieniu were both stunned.

Wang Tieniu asked curiously: "Brother Meng, did you bag some prey too? Is it big?"

Qin Meng ignored him and signaled for Li Tiezhu to help.

He took out the clean cloth strips he carried with him and re-bandaged Qin Xiaoshan's leg wound. His movements were skilled and experienced, the pressure just right—tight enough to stop the bleeding without cutting off circulation.

Once the bandaging was finished, Qin Meng stood up: "Let's leave this place first. The smell of blood is too strong; I'm afraid it will attract other things. Pack up these wolf corpses."

Wang Tieniu was exceptionally obedient now. Together with Li Tiezhu, he used branches and vines to make a makeshift sled, loading up the two spotted deer and the wolf corpses. The weight was significant; it took both of them working together to drag it.

Qin Meng took Qin Xiaoshan, and the four of them quickly arrived at the spot where the prey was hidden.

When Qin Meng pulled back the concealing branches and leaves, revealing the two hideous, massive iron-armored salamander demon corpses on the sled—

"Hiss!"

Li Tiezhu and the other two collectively gasped, their eyes wide with shock.

The pitch-black scales covering its entire body still shimmered with a cold, metallic luster. Its thick limbs and hook-like claws, especially the mouthful of fangs, exuded a heart-stopping aura of malice even in death.

"Th-this is..." Li Tiezhu's voice trembled. He had done his fair share of hunting, but he had never seen anything so terrifying. That aura... it was definitely not from an ordinary beast.

Wang Tieniu was completely dumbfounded. He circled the sled twice, his speech stuttering, "M-Mengzi, is this a demon beast?"

"Th-this is what you hunted? By yourself?" Qin Xiaoshan had even forgotten the pain in his leg, staring blankly at the two demon beast carcasses with a dazed expression.

"Just happened to run into them." Qin Meng was concise. He began organizing his own sled, clearing a space and laying down soft branches. "Get him to sit here."

Li Tiezhu helped Qin Xiaoshan onto the sled.

Qin Meng retied the ropes, securing the carcasses of the iron-armored salamander demons more firmly.

He tilted his head to listen. The faint wolf howls from deep within the forest seemed to be growing more frequent.

"Zhuzi, Tieniu, move fast." Qin Meng grabbed the rope at the front of his sled, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable sense of urgency.

"With so many wolves dead, the scent of blood is spreading. A larger pack could arrive at any moment."

Li Tiezhu felt a chill run through him. "Right, let's go!"

Qin Meng said no more. He pulled the rope with one hand, dragging the heavy sled in the lead.

Li Tiezhu and Wang Tieniu exchanged a look, suppressing the turbulent waves of shock in their hearts. They joined forces to pull the sled laden with prey, following closely behind.

This time, although the group's pace was slow, they encountered no accidents and safely exited the forest. They headed straight for Linshan Town to sell the goods, as they had discussed on the way.

Heishui City, the seat of Tieling County, was located on the northern frontier of the Yanhan Dynasty. It was one of the vital border cities guarding the provincial capital. Controlling the pass of Duanlong Gorge, it served as the first checkpoint for caravans returning from beyond the border to the south, making its location strategically critical.

Though its scale did not match the prosperous metropolises of the interior and its population was only a few hundred thousand, the city was quite bustling due to the heavy military presence and its proximity to the canal. The river water reflected the city walls as ink-black, hence the name "Heishui" (Black Water).

In the afternoon, Qin Lai followed his elder brother, Qin Wang, out of the side gate of County Magistrate Cheng's residence, unable to hide the joy on his face.

Just moments ago, through his brother's introduction and a heavy bribe, they had successfully opened a path to the county magistrate's financial secretary.

The suppression of Qin Meng was now a foregone conclusion:

They only needed to pin the label of "insubordinate" on him to have him removed from the militia recruitment, and they could block him from entering the military registry in the future. For a commoner with no foundation, Qin Lai had plenty of ways to make him "accidentally" disappear.

He was just about to play host and invite his brother to a restaurant to celebrate when a yamen runner dressed in the uniform of a squad leader hurried over. Upon seeing Qin Wang, he immediately saluted.

"Oh! Squad Leader Qin!"

Qin Wang recognized him as Squad Leader Li from the cavalry fast squad and asked, "Brother Li, why the rush?"

Seeing that there were no outsiders, Squad Leader Li lowered his voice: "Something happened in Linshan Town."

"What?" Qin Lai's heart tightened, and he cut in to ask, "What happened?"

Squad leader li glanced at him, his expression displeased.

Qin wang hurriedly offered a fawning smile: "This is my younger brother, he just arrived from linshan town."

Only then did squad leader li say: "Hongyun gambling house was slaughtered last night. The owner, lin hai, and everyone in his residence were killed, not a single survivor."

"Leiming martial hall also lost a martial artist in the body forging realm."

"The killer left behind the name 'song jiang of liangshan marsh'. The methods were ruthless and incredibly arrogant. The county magistrate has already been alerted. I am acting under orders to notify county magistrate cheng."

"Enough talk, see you later."

With that, he cupped his hands and hurried into the manor.

Qin wang frowned and said sternly to qin lai: "With the end of the year approaching, the town is a mix of good and bad people. Once you go back, don't go out unless necessary."

Qin lai's face turned pale, and he gave a vague response.

Hongyun gambling house... shopkeeper lin...

Who was that "song jiang"? Could it be related to that matter? A shadow fell over his heart.

Seeing his unusual expression, qin wang added: "Brother, since your business is finished, why not stay in the city for a few more days? When I have time, I will accompany you back."

"No need to trouble yourself, brother." Qin lai forced a laugh. "I know what I'm doing."

News from linshan town swept through luming fort like the wind.

"Have you heard? Hongyun gambling house was washed in blood!"

"Serves them right! That black-hearted den drove so many people to their deaths!"

"Retribution! They specialized in deeds that would leave them without descendants!"

The fort residents gathered by the wells, under the eaves, and in the fields. Most of the discussion was filled with satisfaction.

The gambling house was notorious, and to the simple villagers, its current fate was simply the cycle of heaven.

Amidst the talk, someone remembered the few ruffians in the fort.

"Haven't seen liu san or wang laizi for a couple of days, have you?"

"Those two pests, cheating, swindling, and stealing—sooner or later they'll meet their retribution too!"

"Exactly, the fort is much more peaceful without those pests around."

Shen qiuyue was picking vegetables in the garden. Her hands never stopped, but her ears caught every word clearly—phrases like "town gambling house massacre," "liangshan hero," and "owner died a violent death."

Her face remained as calm as usual, but a stormy sea had already risen in her heart.

Lin Hai... that gambling den owner...

And Liu San, Wang Laizi, who had suddenly vanished without a trace...

She couldn't help but recall the faint scent of blood on her husband when he returned that night, as well as the medicinal pills, herbs, and silver he had brought back.

He hadn't said much at the time, but thinking back on it now...

Shen Qiuyue picked up her vegetable basket and walked home. After closing the courtyard gate, she leaned her back against the wooden planks and took several deep breaths, only then managing to suppress the anxiety in her heart.

She did not panic. Instead, she went about her routine, changing into a set of practical, short-sleeved clothes and beginning the basic physical training exercises that Qin Meng had taught her in the yard.

Every bend, every stretch—her form was impeccable.

Soon, sweat soaked her hair at the temples.

Yet, she continued to increase the intensity, her heart tethered uncontrollably to Qin Meng, praying that his hunt on the mountain would go smoothly and that he would return safe and sound.