Qi-Replenishing Pill

The two followed a side path to a room.

"Chief Constable Liu, the people from White Cloud Martial Hall are here," the yamen soldier reported.

"Alright, come in."

A deep, resonant voice came from inside the room.

Jiang Che entered and saw several constables standing within, every one of them a Qi-Blood Martial Artist.

Besides them, there were more than a dozen young men and women who appeared to be disciples from other martial arts halls.

At their head, a constable was speaking to everyone.

The man looked to be around forty. He had a round face and a kindly expression that naturally inspired a sense of closeness.

He looked less like a constable than an innkeeper.

Yet beneath his constable's robes, his broad shoulders and back were obvious, and his Qi-Blood was a cut above the others'.

Even standing off to the side, Jiang Che could feel an oppressive force that stung his skin.

At least an Iron Skin Realm Martial Artist!

Jiang Che's heart tightened.

"You must be Jiang Che? I've heard your master mention you. You truly are a fine-looking talent! I'm Liu Hai, the chief constable here. When it comes time to catch the man, we'll be relying on you all!"

Though the man wore a smile as he spoke, Jiang Che felt as if he were facing a ferocious beast!

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jiang Che took his place among the crowd.

Once everyone had arrived, Liu Hai began explaining the target of this operation.

It turned out they were after a Flower-Plucking Thief who had drifted in from elsewhere.

This man specifically preyed on unmarried young women from wealthy households.

In the span of a month, he had ruined the chastity of more than a dozen women in succession. Fortunately, he had not taken their lives.

It was said that he possessed Stone Skin Realm strength and was skilled in lightness kung fu.

They had nearly caught him several times, but he had always slipped away, forcing them to widen the search.

What Liu Hai did not mention was this.

At the beginning, the County Magistrate had not taken the matter seriously.

After all, these wealthy households had money, but they were not Martial Artists, nor were they Inner City noble families. Their influence was limited.

That was until a few days ago, when the Flower-Plucking Thief harmed someone from the Chen Family, one of the Five Great Families of the Inner City.

The County Magistrate had been summoned by the Chen Family and given a dressing-down.

After returning, he berated every chief constable and runner in the entire yamen.

Thus, the yamen had organized men overnight to capture the thief, even calling in quite a few martial arts hall disciples.

"Furthermore, according to our intelligence, this man is also skilled in a Bewitching Art. It is said that once a woman lays eyes on him, she loses her senses."

Liu Hai added another piece of information.

"There's such a bewitching art?"

Jiang Che recalled all sorts of rumors from his previous life—how people at train stations and similar places would pat someone once, and the victim would know nothing afterward before transferring them money or the like.

Later, investigations showed that nearly all of it was false.

Many people had simply been blinded by greed and cheated out of their money, or had spent it themselves and could not explain where it went, so they made up excuses.

But this world could not be judged by common sense. Perhaps bewitching arts truly existed here.

Liu Hai then took out a portrait.

"According to the victims, he may look like this."

Jiang Che looked over. The man in the portrait wore a jade-inlaid headband, had handsome features, and held a folding fan. He was every inch the graceful young gentleman.

Jiang Che secretly shook his head. It was truly a waste for someone with that appearance to be a Flower-Plucking Thief. In his previous life, if he had entered a talent show, he would have debuted by a landslide.

A female disciple beside him, dressed in a blue long skirt, saw the portrait and her eyes lit up. She could not help letting out a "Wow."

Liu Hai coughed lightly, then said in a grave voice:

"Do not be deceived by his appearance. This man is sinister, cunning, and extremely dangerous!

"The reason we gathered you here is mainly so that you can assist in the search. If you discover any trace of him, do not approach him on your own. Please notify us immediately!"

The martial arts hall disciples all nodded. They knew their own limits.

A Stone Skin Realm expert skilled in lightness kung fu, who even knew a Bewitching Art, was naturally not someone they could handle.

Liu Hai then brought out a box of bamboo tubes.

"Also, if the situation is urgent and there is no time to send word, pull this. It will fire a firework into the sky. Once we see it, we will rush over at once."

Everyone stepped forward to collect one.

Jiang Che took one as well. After examining it carefully, he found it was a device made of a firework and flint.

When the cord was pulled, the flint struck sparks and ignited the firework. The principle was simple, but it was practical enough.

"Of course, the yamen is not asking you to help for free. Whether or not the thief is caught, each of you will receive ten taels of silver.

"Furthermore, anyone who provides reliable information will receive fifty taels of silver. And if you not only provide information but also help us capture the thief, you will receive one Qi-Replenishing Pill on top of that!"

As Liu Hai spoke, he took a small box from his robes. Upon opening it, they saw a date-red pill the size of a lychee inside.

"A Qi-Replenishing Pill!"

The crowd immediately stirred.

Jiang Che, however, was completely baffled.

"What is a Qi-Replenishing Pill?"

The female disciple in the blue long skirt beside him glanced at him, seeming to say, Where did this country bumpkin come from?

She was dressed exquisitely, clearly born into a wealthy household. She was cute, with a little baby fat on her cheeks. Even her disdainful expression was hard to dislike.

Seeing this, an honest-looking male disciple beside them spoke up.

"A Qi-Replenishing Pill is the best medicine for replenishing Qi-Blood for those at the Ox-Hide Realm. Even someone with terribly weak Qi-Blood can be forcibly raised to the late Ox-Hide Realm!

"You can't buy it in medicinal shops outside at all. It is said that only the Five Great Families possess it. I never expected the yamen to produce one. It must have been given by the Chen Family—what a lavish gesture!"

"So that's how it is. Thank you for clearing that up, brother." Jiang Che cupped his fists.

His heart immediately grew hot.

His only weakness right now was insufficient Qi-Blood!

If he could obtain this Qi-Replenishing Pill, perhaps he could break through to the Stone Skin Realm in one go!

Even if he could not, it would greatly speed up his progress.

Naturally, everyone present stared intently at that Qi-Replenishing Pill.

After all, even if they did not use it themselves, they could still sell it for a high price!

"Next, you will form pairs. Each group will search a different area."

Liu Hai took out a sheet of paper and began reading.

He read out several pairs in succession, assigning them to places such as the Vegetable Market, West Market Street, and City God Temple.

By the end, only two people remained.

They were Jiang Che and the woman in the blue skirt beside him.

"Yin Yingying, Jiang Che. You two will be responsible for Fireworks Street in the Inner City."

Yin Yingying frowned. "Chief Constable Liu, can I switch partners? I don't want to be in a group with him."

Seeing that Jiang Che knew nothing and had insufficient Qi-Blood, she knew that being paired with him meant she would have no chance at the Qi-Replenishing Pill.

"Oh? And why is that?" Liu Hai looked at Yin Yingying with a smiling face.

"He's too... too..."

Yin Yingying had wanted to say that he was too weak, but she suddenly felt as though she were choking. Not a sound could come out!

Though Chief Constable Liu Hai before her was smiling pleasantly.

Yin Yingying felt that his face was savage, like a ferocious beast poised to devour its prey!

She could not help shuddering.

She suddenly recalled that when they had set out from the martial arts hall, her master had warned her not to contradict Chief Constable Liu if possible. This man was far from simple.

"He's too outstanding. I might hold him back..." Yin Yingying's voice grew quieter and quieter.

Once she finished speaking, she suddenly felt the pressure lessen sharply.

Liu Hai nodded and smiled.

"Do not belittle yourselves. You are both quite capable; neither of you will hold the other back! Since there are no objections, it is settled!"