Rumble—
Lead-gray clouds hung heavy over Heaven Capital City. Thunder rumbled faintly within them, and swallows skimmed diagonally over the rooftops. The air was thick with the earthy tang of rain.
"It's going to rain!"
Street vendors hurriedly propped up their awnings.
Children crouched by the roadside to watch ants carry their eggs, only to be dragged home by their ears. The streets and alleys were filled with clamor and bustle.
Drunken Moon Pavilion.
In the middle of the hall, a musician plucked at her strings, the music of silk and bamboo sweet and melodious.
Shangguan Yunfei sat by a second-floor window, watching the white-clad woman in martial attire drink alone. Frowning, he said, "Constable Lin, drinking while on duty isn't quite appropriate, is it?"
The woman drained her cup, her cheeks flushing pink. She replied carelessly, "Then go report me. My salary's already been docked through the end of next year. At worst, I'll forgo the year after that too."
"..."
Shangguan Yunfei looked helpless.
There was simply nothing he could do about this troublesome woman.
Lin Jingzhu, one of the Four Great Constables of the Six Gates.
Since joining the service, she had received her salary only during her first month. After that, it had all been withheld as punishment. She had even paid more than a hundred taels in fines, earning her the title of the Six Gates' first constable to pay the government instead of receiving a salary.
She had naturally earned her place among the Four Great Constables through her ability. The cases Lin Jingzhu handled had a high clearance rate, but the casualty rate was shockingly high too—
When criminals fell into her hands, they were often dead or crippled before they ever made it to prison. Just last month, she had broken a flower thief's third leg...
The complaints piled up in the government office like a small mountain. Most came from suspects' families, accusing her of abusing her authority to torture suspects and treating human life like dirt.
If she hadn't come from a powerful family and had some ability to back it up, she would have been dismissed long ago.
"An incident in which a member of the Demon Race killed someone in Heaven Capital City is no small matter. The government office ordered us to assist with the investigation. Are you planning to defy the order?" Shangguan Yunfei asked with a frown.
Lin Jingzhu curled her lip. "Don't try to use the government office to pressure me. There isn't a single clue in this case. Where are we supposed to start? All we can do is wait for that member of the Demon Race to strike again."
"Rather than blunder around like headless flies, I'd rather enjoy a little wine and listen to some music... Tsk, beautifully played!"
She flicked a silver ingot down.
The musician rose and gave an elegant bow, smiling as she tucked the silver into her sleeve.
Shangguan Yunfei shook his head. She was a noble young lady from the capital, yet she always acted like the head of some martial world gang...
"By the way, is that Chen Mo really that impressive?" Lin Jingzhu set down her wine cup and asked.
Shangguan Yunfei nodded. "He really does have a few tricks up his sleeve. The Mystic Jade couldn't detect any demonic aura, but he took one look and determined that the Demon Race was responsible. His eye for detail is frightening. No wonder even Qin Wuxiang fell into his hands."
Lin Jingzhu's willow brows lifted slightly.
Hunting down the Ten Heavenly Demons had always been her dearest wish, but Chen Mo had gotten there first.
She wasn't exactly jealous. She was just curious—and a little unconvinced.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—
"Ah!"
Suddenly, the sound of hooves rang out beyond the window, accompanied by a flurry of startled cries.
They both turned to look. A burly man came charging down the street on horseback, waving his whip and roaring, "Get the hell out of my way!"
Pedestrians scrambled to dodge. Some weren't quick enough and stumbled into nearby stalls, sending goods scattering across the ground. In an instant, the entire street was thrown into chaos.
A little girl had just bought a sugar figurine and was skipping along the street. Before she could react, the galloping horse was already upon her.
"Nannan!"
A woman nearby let out a heart-wrenching scream.
"Damn it, you're asking for it!"
Killing someone underfoot in full view of the crowd was no small matter.
The burly man didn't want to invite trouble either. He yanked on the reins. The horse whinnied and reared up, stopping just in front of the girl by the narrowest margin.
Seeing the little girl frozen in terror, the burly man scowled and raised his hand to lash her with his whip!
The whip tore through the air with a sharp whistle. Its force was so fierce that a single touch would split skin and flesh!
"How dare you!"
At the sight, Lin Jingzhu's willow brows shot up. She stood and leapt out the window.
But she was already too late. Just as the whip was about to strike the little girl's face, a dark figure flashed into view, scooping the girl up with one arm and catching the whip firmly with the other.
"Hmm?"
The burly man frowned and looked over. A tall, straight-backed man stood before him, dressed in black robes, his hair bound with a jade hair clasp and a jade pendant hanging from his waist. He was handsome and dashing, with a refined air.
He looked like some wealthy young master.
"Riding recklessly through a crowded street carries a penalty of fifty strokes with the cane. Go to the government office and accept your punishment," Chen Mo said calmly.
The burly man gave a mocking sneer. "Who the hell do you think you are, ordering me around? Get out of the way. If you make me late, you'll be the one to answer for it!"
He tried to yank his whip back, but no matter how hard he pulled, it stayed taut and absolutely still.
Chen Mo gave it a light tug. A surging force came through, and the burly man's vision blurred as he hit the ground with a heavy thud.
"You son of a—"
He had only just tried to get up when a foot planted itself on his chest. His meridians were sealed in an instant, and he couldn't even lift a finger.
Knowing he had met someone formidable, the burly man frowned. "Six Gates? Or the Heavenly Qilin Guard?"
Chen Mo shook his head. "Just a concerned citizen."
"..."
This was the emperor's own city. Toss a brick, and it could hit a whole crowd of nobles and high officials.
The man was young, imposing, and clearly stronger than him. He was obviously not someone to trifle with.
The burly man tamped down his anger and forced a smile. "I really was in a hurry. I lost my head for a moment, and I'll accept the punishment. So please, brother, show me some mercy."
Chen Mo said nothing more. He had merely happened to be passing by and couldn't be bothered to waste time arguing with the man.
He lifted his foot and released the burly man, then handed the little girl in his arms to the pale-faced woman nearby.
The woman thanked him repeatedly, but didn't dare even glance at the burly man.
Ordinary people without powerful connections could only swallow their anger. As long as no one had been hurt, they were already lucky. How could they dare hold the man responsible?
"Remember to go to the government office and take your punishment," Chen Mo reminded him.
"Of course."
The burly man nodded, but his eyes were full of disdain.
It was just a verbal promise, after all. What could anyone do if he didn't go?
"Damn it, what lousy luck, running into some busybody..."
Just as he was about to swing himself back onto his horse, a chilly voice came from behind him. "You don't need to go to the government office. I'll beat you right here."
"Huh?"
The burly man had only just begun to turn when a fierce gust of wind came from behind.
Thud!
He was sent flying outright!
A woman in white strode toward them, carrying a long black staff. She rotated her wrist, and the staff whistled through the air.
"Forty-nine more."
She licked her lips, swung the staff in a wide arc, and brought it crashing down!
"Pfft!"
The burly man spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying again.
Before he even hit the ground, the woman flashed behind him and smashed him into the street with a blow, pulverizing the bricks beneath him!
Her staff whirled through the air, blow after blow crashing into his body!
"Forty-seven, forty-six, forty-five..."
The woman's blows were fierce, yet she kept counting steadily.
"Stop! Do you even know who I am, you bitch?"
The burly man was helpless beneath the relentless barrage of blows. Enduring the agony, he roared at her.
"Thirty-seven, thirty-six... I know. You're a criminal. Don't interrupt me, or I'll lose count... What was I up to? Forget it, thirty-seven..."
Thud! Thud! Thump!
"Bitch... Ah!"
The street fell deathly silent, echoing only with the Black Staff striking flesh and the burly man's piercing screams.
Chen Mo's lips twitched.
What kind of she-tiger was this? How was she even scarier than Li Yuan?
Before you continue