Su Yuan Returned Again

After making inquiries, he learned that Vein Splitting Martial Warriors had actually clashed last night.

It had been the master of Cloud-Striding Martial Hall and Shan Family's Second Master, Shan Lie, facing each other head-on.

These two bitter enemies had crossed blades again after more than a month of silence.

Su Yuan immediately realized it was a trap!

Had he gone yesterday, he would surely have fallen into the Shan Family's poisonous hands.

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He had not expected them to deploy even Vein Splitting Martial Warriors.

Good thing I didn't go. But how am I supposed to get past the military now?

Su Yuan and the others went to North City Barracks to receive their punishment.

"Su Yuan, you neglected your duties. What crime should that be?" Wei Xian looked at him coldly.

Unhurried, Su Yuan replied, "Captain Wei, I belong to the Chai Family. Our original agreement stipulated that Chai Family affairs took priority. I was indeed tied down by urgent matters yesterday and could not get away. Besides, even if I had gone, I would not have been able to resolve that situation."

He was the Chai Family's test subject for medicine, and his coming to the military had involved an exchange of interests between both sides to begin with.

Since Chai Nian had already spoken up for him yesterday, he had gained a little more confidence.

Wei Xian naturally understood. Their original intention had been to make Su Yuan an example, and under his jurisdiction, some of South City's streets and alleys had indeed gradually become more orderly.

But after last night's monster incident, the people's hearts had begun to stir once more.

Still, as a military officer, he truly disliked Su Yuan's lazy, evasive manner.

He was merely a puppet elevated through the support of the Liang People. Had they really let him climb onto their noses and faces?

No matter what, he had to give the Chai Family a proper knock, to teach this man to recognize his place.

"Su Yuan, you had better recognize your identity. Everything you have was bestowed by us. With a single word, your first-class Liang registration and all your resources can be taken back in an instant!" Wei Xian grabbed Su Yuan by the collar and flung him heavily to the ground.

Su Yuan rose while clutching his chest. A chill flashed through his eyes, but he put on a frightened expression. "This lowly one knows his mistake and is willing to accept punishment."

Wei Xian said coldly, "I will discuss this matter with Chai Nian myself. But you defied military orders, and punishment is unavoidable. You are fined four months' pay and ordered to hunt down the remaining Xingyun fugitives who escaped yesterday, redeeming your crimes through merit."

"Yes, yes." Su Yuan nodded repeatedly.

At the side, Wei Che could barely suppress the smile on his face.

"Su Yuan, so you have this day too! You loved putting on airs? Can't even tell which king outranks which now?"

After Su Yuan left, Wei Che sidled up to Wei Xian. "Cousin, well done! A wild dog like that deserves a harsh lesson. Otherwise, he'll forget who his master is and even dare bite back."

"Enough. You should leave as well." Wei Xian waved a hand.

As Wei Che's cousin, in the face of his repeated complaints, Wei Xian had to put on a show at least.

"Huh? We're not dismissing Su Yuan from his post?" Wei Che was still dissatisfied.

"This is one link in the transaction with the Chai Family. We cannot touch him for now."

"Then can you transfer me away?"

"You need to stay and keep an eye on him." Wei Xian's tone was flat.

His original purpose in placing Wei Che in that squad had been to temper his arrogant nature while also keeping Su Yuan under watch.

After everyone dispersed, Wei Xian headed for the Chai Family.

Now that the Jiguang Society was gaining momentum, it was time to prepare for the martial contest between the two nations.

He sneered inwardly. If Great Jing's martial arts were truly stronger than Great Liang's, then why had Ji City fallen?

They were nothing but clowns hopping about on the stage.

Su Yuan left the barracks carrying a bloodstained piece of cloth.

"These Liang Dogs stopped pretending after only a month." Anger simmered in his heart as he considered how to retaliate.

Regarding last night's affair, Great Liang insisted that the Jiguang Society had stolen the monsters and released them to harm people, while the Eighth Patrol Squad had failed in its duty as guards.

The Jiguang Society, meanwhile, claimed that Great Liang had deliberately released the monsters to devour people.

Su Yuan did not need to think to know that Wei Che had pushed for what happened today. He even suspected Wei Che might have been the one who released the demon wolf.

He touched the mask in his robes. It had been a long time since he had started killing.

Wei Xian was not easy to touch, so he would take Wei Che's life first.

Then he lowered his head and sniffed the cloth in his hand.

Beneath the heavy stench of blood lingered an extremely faint fragrance, one that seemed familiar.

This scent somewhat resembled Yun Xu's. It seemed her injuries were quite serious.

Su Yuan led the remaining squad members to the site of the incident in South City.

The scene was a complete mess. Blood and filth covered the ground, while severed limbs had yet to be cleared away. Soldiers surrounded the area and preserved it as it was.

Most of Su Yuan's daytime duties consisted of such work: examining scenes and distinguishing the lingering traces of aura.

Under the watch of the other soldiers, he had no choice but to put on a convincing performance.

The broken sobs of the victims' families drifted over.

In the teahouse by the street, discussion rose again.

"Su Yuan came back again. The monster was released by the Eighth Squad, wasn't it? He must have had something to do with it."

"Really? Wasn't it said to be the Jiguang Society's doing?"

"You actually believe that? I saw Su Yuan release it with my own eyes!" Wei Che mingled among the crowd and lowered his voice.

"Keep it down! What if Su Yuan hears you and comes to settle the score?" someone else hurriedly stopped him.

Whispers gradually spread through the crowd.

Seeing this, Wei Che quietly slipped away in satisfaction.

As Su Yuan inspected the scene, a sudden chill ran down his spine. He whipped around.

Shan Xiongqing and Shan Lie!

The two were staring at him fixedly, their gazes like blades.

Su Yuan immediately pressed closer to the other soldiers beside him, using their bodies as cover in case the pair suddenly attacked.

"Second Uncle, can we kill him on the spot?" Shan Xiongqing muttered through gritted teeth.

It had to be said that Su Yuan was slippery as an eel. Even the Savage Strength Martial Warriors sent after him before had been unable to do anything to him.

This time, he had finally waited until his second uncle had time to act, intending to casually lay a killing trap and get rid of Su Yuan, yet that bastard had escaped again.

Shan Lie shook his head. "Xiongqing, our Shan Family is weak in Ji City right now. Su Yuan also bears the title of Chief. If we openly touch him now, we will only hand others a handle and give them an excuse to suppress our Shan Family. Even if he dies without clear cause, they will certainly pin it on us and tear another chunk of flesh from us. Why bother squabbling with such an insignificant insect? Hold steady. The Lineage must come first in all things."

Shan Xiongqing gritted his teeth. His enemy was right before his eyes, yet he could not kill him. The feeling was truly agonizing.

He changed the subject. "Isn't the city holding a martial contest between the two nations to suppress the Jing People's arrogance? Let him participate then. I'll personally enter and cripple him! Second Uncle, think of a way during the drafting of the contest rules so that I can fight him fairly with my Savage Strength cultivation."

He did not merely want to fight Su Yuan. He wanted to crush him with his realm, leaving him no chance at all to turn the tables.

Shan Lie nodded. "This can be arranged. When the detailed rules are drafted, I will propose it."

Su Yuan did not know what the two were plotting. He merely remained cautiously mixed among the crowd while carefully discerning the scent.

"They don't seem to have fled far?" Doubt arose in Su Yuan's heart.

He sniffed carefully, only to discover that the direction indicated by that faint fragrance led to his own home.

"They hid inside my house!" He reached a startling conclusion.

Then he hesitated. Should he make contact with them?

There was a Vein Splitting Martial Warrior in their group.

But when he thought of what had happened before, Su Yuan found it unbearable. Gao Mian had already been trapped for a month. How much longer could she wait?

Since Yun Xu and the others had chosen to hide there rather than flee, they must have been too badly injured to travel far.

After pondering for a moment, he still returned to the Patrol Office first, pretending to comfort the wounded before feigning a return to the Inner City.

Wei Che watched from the side until his teeth itched. "This bastard still hasn't suffered enough? He still dares loaf around! Tomorrow, I'll definitely report him again!"

The sky gradually darkened.

Su Yuan melted into the night.

He had already tested it. With the power of [Shadow Concealment], even Savage Strength Martial Warriors would struggle to detect him at close range if he hid in the shadows.

He placed the icy mask over his face again.

"Su Yuan has returned."

He murmured to himself, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold arc. "Green Ghost, it is time to come online."

He silently infiltrated the Patrol Office, hiding deep within the shadows as he waited for the right moment.

Even at night, personnel continued to come and go on patrol.

Since he was going to make a move, he intended to thoroughly overturn this Patrol Office.

Naturally, the fewer people there were, the easier it would be to act.

When the time was right, Su Yuan slipped inside like a ghost and headed straight for the Eighth Patrol Squad's quarters.

At that moment, Wei Che was drinking and making merry with Gu Yi and the others, his spit flying as he described Su Yuan's miserable state during the day. "I'm telling you, that little bastard Su Yuan was pinned to the ground by my cousin today and didn't dare let out even a fart..."

Gu Yi also sighed. "Sigh, Su Yuan won't let us make money. Deep down, he still has that slave mentality of the Jing People, always thinking of protecting them. He only got where he is today because us Liang People elevated him, yet he bites the hand that feeds him..."

"Exactly, exactly!" The others were flushed with drink and all chimed in, angrily condemning all the ways Su Yuan had suppressed them over the past month.

"Ah, I'm drunk. I'm going to sleep first. Come give me a hand..." Wei Che swayed as he stood.

"Then go to sleep." A hoarse voice suddenly sounded beside his ear, making everyone jolt from head to toe.

Yet before they could see who had come, several soft cracks sounded. One after another, they collapsed limply, completely drunk—the kind that would never wake again.

Su Yuan turned and left the Eighth Squad's quarters, taking out a fire starter and setting the room alight.

Tongues of flame shot up abruptly and spread with rapid speed. Before long, the entire Patrol Office was thrown into the chaotic glow of fire.

"Fire! Enemy attack—!"

Amid shocked cries and furious roars, Wei Han flew into a rage and rushed over.

But Su Yuan had already appeared behind him like a ghostly shadow, silently driving a palm toward the center of his back.

Wei Han was a Savage Strength Martial Warrior after all. Force surged behind him, and a warning rose in his heart. At the critical moment, he twisted aside to evade, but the palm wind still grazed him, sending him stumbling forward.

His heart shook violently. He had already recognized the palm technique—it was precisely the Cloud-Striding Palm that the military had recently been studying.

Feeling the heavy, fierce force within that palm, Wei Han did not dare underestimate his enemy and shouted urgently:

"Xingyun remnants are here! Come quickly and assist!"