What if I kill you? Kneel before me!

BOOM--

The rain outside the window grew heavier, as if the Milky Way were pouring down. Lightning snakes writhed across the gloomy sky, illuminating the slightly stunned face of Chu Zhuo.

Chen Mo?

Why was he here too?

Beside him, Chu Chen pointed at Chen Mo and shouted angrily, "Father, he is in league with that woman! He had a hand in what happened just now!"

He still harbored a grudge over that kick, and now was the perfect time to settle the score!

Chu Zhuo's expression darkened. "Chen Mo, you laid hands on them too?"

Chen Mo held his wine cup, his tone indifferent. "What, does Lord Chu intend to arrest me as well?"

"In broad daylight, you beat someone into a serious injury. You owe this old man an explanation!" Chu Zhuo's voice was cold and sharp.

Before Chen Mo could speak, Lin Jingzhu interjected:

"I was the one who beat him. Riding a horse through a crowded market warrants fifty lashes; that is the explanation I give you."

"As for your son beating someone into injury just now, according to the law, that warrants eighty strokes of the cane..."

She glanced at Chu Chen, the corners of her mouth curling up to reveal white teeth. "You still owe me eighty strokes."

Chu Chen felt a chill down his spine and instinctively retreated.

Suddenly remembering he had backup, he stopped and straightened his back. "Even if I violated the law, the punishment should be meted out by the yamen. What right do you have to strike me?"

CLANG!

Lin Jingzhu pulled an iron plaque from her robes and tossed it onto the table.

"As an Investigator, when a criminal brandishes a weapon to resist arrest, this official is authorized to determine the punishment. Do you have an objection?"

Seeing the character "Arrest" engraved on the plaque, Chu Chen froze.

This woman acted like a wanderer, drinking and listening to music in broad daylight—how was she a captain of the Six Gates?

And she had started fighting the moment she arrived; when had she ever given him a chance to resist arrest?

Shangguan Yunfei shook his head.

Lin Jingzhu was a "habitual offender." She knew the Great Yuan Six Laws, the Martial Virtue Penal Code, and the Yuan Code Commentary by heart. She could argue her way through even the most unreasonable situations, and when she actually had the law on her side, she was practically invincible.

Even if this matter were taken to the yamen, at most she would be fined two months' salary—a mere scratch for her.

Chu Zhuo furrowed his brows. The Heavenly Qilin Guard operated independently of the Six Ministries; he truly did not hold a mere captain in high regard.

However, Chen Mo was also involved. This man had been in the limelight lately and held the same rank of Hundred-Household as him. Things were becoming difficult... He couldn't quite make up his mind.

At this moment, the guard in purple standing behind him said impatiently, "Lord Chu, resolve this quickly. Do not delay our important business."

These words served as a reminder to Chu Zhuo.

Young Master Zhou had sent people to follow him to test his capabilities. If he couldn't even handle such a trivial matter, how could he be entrusted with important tasks?

Since the feud with Chen Mo was already set in stone, he didn't care about offending him further. Only by clinging to the Zhou family would he have a chance to rise in the future!

Thinking of this, Chu Zhuo's gaze turned cold. He decided to make an example of this little captain first!

He raised his hand, and crimson True Essence condensed in the air, forming a giant palm that struck down at Lin Jingzhu from a distance!

Lin Jingzhu showed no fear. Her long staff shimmered with dark light as she slammed it upward to meet the giant hand!

BOOM!

The collision between the staff and the palm sent a surging wave of air that blew the window frames away!

Lin Jingzhu's robes billowed, but she remained motionless. Holding the staff with one hand, she held the giant palm firmly at bay!

A flash of surprise crossed Chu Zhuo's eyes.

"A Sixth-Rank martial artist?"

"No wonder you are so confident, but you have provoked the wrong person!"

"Today, this old man will let you know the vast gap between the Sixth Rank and the Fifth Rank!"

As he pressed his palm down, the crimson giant hand descended like a blood-colored cloud. The black-gold staff remained straight and unyielding, yet Lin Jingzhu's body was being pressed down inch by inch.

CRACK, CRACK--

Her bones emitted strange sounds, and her body trembled slightly, as if she had reached her limit.

"Brother Shangguan, your colleague seems unable to hold on much longer," Chen Mo reminded him.

Shangguan Yunfei's expression remained calm. He shook his head and said, "Rest assured, this is only the beginning. A disciple of Martial Chief Xue does not lose so easily."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Jingzhu took a deep breath, and frost condensed within the air she exhaled.

A wisp of ghostly light spread across her body, and black, solid ice covered her from head to toe, forming a suit of armor. The beast Yazi was engraved on her chest, Chiwen beast-heads sat on her shoulders, and sharp spikes protruded from her elbows and knees. She looked like a ferocious, man-made weapon!

The eyes visible through the armor glowed like ghost fire, staring coldly at Chu Zhuo.

Seeing this, even Chu Zhuo felt a jolt of alarm, but he immediately sneered, "A flashy display of nothing!"

The giant palm hung in the air and struck down with ferocious force!

Lin Jingzhu did not stand there to be beaten; her figure flashed like a bolt of lightning into mid-air. With a flick of the black-gold staff in her hands, crescent blades sprang from both ends, instantly transforming the staff into a double-headed halberd that whistled toward Chu Zhuo's neck!

Chu Zhuo swung his massive palm, batting her away as if swatting a fly.

However, he struck only an afterimage. Lin Jingzhu ducked low, slammed into his chest, and drove her knee upward, a sharp ice spike piercing toward his heart!

Sshhh—

The spike sank an inch into his flesh before his muscles clamped down on it, a trickle of blood dripping from the ice onto the floor.

Chu Zhuo's expression turned incredibly grim. Although he hadn't used his full strength, he had actually been wounded by a sixth-grade girl?

"You court death!"

BOOM!

Chu Zhuo's white hair whipped about as a wave of crimson energy swirled around him, and with a single punch, he sent Lin Jingzhu flying!

In mid-air, Lin Jingzhu twisted her body, frost erupting from beneath her feet as she launched herself back at Chu Zhuo like a falling star!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two tangled together, their movements as fast as lightning; it was impossible to track them, only a blur of crimson flame and black ice intertwined.

True Qi surged and clashed, causing walls to collapse and tables and chairs to shatter until the entire second floor was reduced to ruins.

The longer they fought, the more alarmed Chu Zhuo became. The girl's combat instincts were terrifyingly sharp, and she held her own in close-quarters combat. Furthermore, that black ice armor was exceptionally durable, making it impossible to break through in a short time. The two were locked in a dead heat.

"The Six Gates actually has a prodigy like this?"

Chu Zhuo was truly incensed now. He pulled back, crimson flames condensing in his palms as two strangely shaped red scimitars manifested out of thin air.

"To force this old man to use his Martial Soul, you should be proud."

Chu Zhuo slashed his twin blades diagonally, crimson flames surging forth.

Lin Jingzhu tried to parry with her black staff, but she was a split second too slow. The flaming scimitar struck her left arm, melting the ice armor and leaving a deep, bone-reaching gash on her fair skin!

The blade strikes were as dense as rain, shards of ice flying everywhere. The black ice armor dissolved rapidly, and the air filled with thick water vapor.

A fifth-grade expert was, after all, a fifth-grade expert. Once he unleashed his Martial Soul, Lin Jingzhu immediately fell into a disadvantage.

Though she struggled to hold on, her defeat was only a matter of time.

Amidst the ruins, only the table in front of Chen Mo remained intact.

He poured himself a cup of wine and said, "Brother Shangguan, it seems we are truly going to lose this time."

Shangguan Yunfei nodded. "The opponent is a veteran fifth-grade expert, after all. To hold out this long is already quite impressive. It looks like she can last at most another stick of incense."

Chen Mo asked in confusion, "Then why don't you go and help?"

Shangguan Yunfei spread his hands. "I can't even beat Lin Jingzhu, so wouldn't going up there be suicide? Besides, with Lord Chen here, it's not my place to step in."

Chen Mo frowned. "What does this have to do with me?"

Shangguan Yunfei said with a straight face, "Lord Chen was involved in the brawl on the street, and this old man is one of your Heavenly Qilin Guard, so how could it not have anything to do with you?"

"As the official in charge, if Head Constable Lin is beaten into a critical state before the case is even solved... when Her Majesty the Empress comes to assign blame, it certainly won't fall on my head."

Chen Mo: "..."

He looked Shangguan Yunfei up and down. "You look like such an honest man..."

Shangguan Yunfei smiled brightly. "Your Lordship has a keen eye; I am known for being an honest man."

Chen Mo couldn't be bothered to deal with this scoundrel and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

BANG!

Chu Zhuo kicked Lin Jingzhu, sending her flying.

Lin Jingzhu plowed two furrows into the floor with her feet, barely steadying herself. Her black ice armor was in tatters, revealing delicate skin on her arms and calves marked with streaks of blood.

Her eyes remained as calm as a lake.

The Nine-Turn Ice Soul Technique was in full effect; even in the face of death, it ensured absolute composure.

Even if I use that technique, it might not turn the tide. The Pure Yang Realm Martial Soul is too troublesome...

Chu Zhuo didn't intend to give her a chance to breathe. He flashed forward, his scimitars hacking down from the air!

ROAR!

A deafening, beastly roar shook the room!

Chu Zhuo's mind trembled, his movements freezing involuntarily. A shadow flickered past the corner of his eye—it seemed to have deer antlers, snake scales, and eagle claws...

Before he could see what it was, a sharp pain struck him. His entire body crashed through the wall and flew backward, slamming into the vast, rainy night!

THUD!

Chu Zhuo landed on the street, a massive gash carved into his waist, exposing white bone. Blood gushed out, pooling into the cracks of the bricks before being quickly washed away by the rain.

He looked up in a daze to see Chen Mo standing tall, a wine flask in his left hand and a long blade in his right. The blade, forged like jade, was covered in fractured ice patterns and hummed with a rhythmic, metallic ring.

His black hair danced in the wind and rain, exuding an indescribable sense of wild abandon!

"What kind of blade technique is this?"

Chu Zhuo could not believe his eyes.

The power of that single strike filled him with a palpitating dread, as if he were about to be severed at the waist!

A sixth-grade martial artist was actually threatening his life!

"Insolent!"

Clang—

Clang—

Seeing that the situation had turned, the two purple-robed guards turned cold, drew the long blades at their waists, and lunged forward.

Azure Dragon in Sleeve compresses true essence and unleashes it in a full burst; an ordinary sixth-grade martial artist would likely have their true essence drained after a single strike.

But my true essence is nearly inexhaustible. If I were to integrate the Azure Dragon blade intent into the Blazing Flame Eight Slashes, stacking the blade momentum layer upon layer to push the power to its absolute limit... what would happen then?

Chen Mo shifted his feet, pondering as he parried, a faint sense of enlightenment lingering in his heart.

Merging two martial arts was not as simple as he had imagined.

The circulation paths of their true essence differed; it was like two rivers colliding, tearing his meridians apart instantly, only for them to be rapidly repaired by his vital essence.

Through trial after error, he seemed to have found a viable path...

The two purple-robed guards felt something was strange.

This man's blade technique was chaotic and disorganized, his true essence scattered, as if he had barely ever touched a blade before.

"He probably only knows that one move, and now that his true essence is drained, he can't keep it up."

"End this quickly!"

The two exchanged a glance; one aimed for the neck, the other for the waist, their blade winds biting and frigid!

Yet, what greeted them was a blade light of extreme brilliance!

ROAR!

Against the backdrop of the gloomy sky, a massive azure dragon whistled toward them, black flames surging through the gaps in its scales, instantly swallowing the two of them whole!

Not far away, inside a black sedan chair, two men sat facing each other.

A small stove sat on the table between them, and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of tea.

"Young Prince, is a mere centurion of the Heavenly Qilin Guard worth you going to such great lengths?"

The young nobleman, dressed in pale blue brocade, held a white jade teapot and poured tea into a cup.

Chu Heng leaned back in his soft chair, his narrow eyes slightly squinted. "Chu Zhuo has little utility; he is old and lacks ability. I expect he will be retired in a few years... but he is sufficient for temporary use."

"It is inconvenient for me to show my face. You keep him on a tight leash, and you may offer him some benefits as appropriate."

The Demon Race murder case had now reached the Eastern Palace, and the Empress had personally appointed Chen Mo to lead the investigation.

This gave Chu Heng an inexplicable sense of crisis.

To keep track of Chen Mo's movements, he had to plant eyes within the Heavenly Qilin Guard, and since Chu Zhuo had a hostile relationship with Chen Mo and lacked any significant background, he was the best target for recruitment.

"How is the matter with the mine proceeding?"

Chu Heng rubbed the jade cup with his fingers and asked.

Zhou Jing'an replied, "Seventy percent has already been excavated; we expect to finish by the end of the month."

Chu Heng nodded. "The wind has been blowing hard lately, so be cautious... This Chen Mo is very troublesome; we must not leave any traces."

"Understood."

Zhou Jing'an acknowledged.

After waiting for a long while, Chu Zhuo and the others had yet to return.

Zhou Jing'an frowned slightly. "It's been nearly half an hour. They can't even handle such a small matter? This Chu Zhuo really is a piece of..."

Before the word "trash" could leave his lips, a sudden, thunderous boom erupted.

The two lifted the sedan curtain to look, and were instantly stunned.

They saw that the second-floor wall of the Drunken Moon Pavilion had been smashed open, and Chu Zhuo was lying in the middle of the street, his body drenched in blood, nearly severed at the waist!

Chu Zhuo was a fifth-grade martial artist, after all; how could he be beaten into such a state?

Before they could recover, two more figures flew out.

Bang! Bang!

The two landed on the ground, their purple robes stained black with blood, gasping their final breaths.

Zhou Jing'an could no longer sit still; these were the personal guards of the Yu Prince Mansion!

Seeing the gloomy expression on Chu Heng's face, he knew this was a precursor to a fit of rage. He hurriedly stood up and said, "Young Prince, please wait a moment; I will go see what is happening."

Zhou Jing'an stepped down from his sedan chair and led a group of guards to stand before Chu Zhuo.

"What is going on?"

"Young Master Zhou..."

Chu Zhuo struggled to his feet, his aged face flushed with a mix of shame and fury. "A constable from the Six Gates is rather troublesome, and then there is Chen Mo. He—he has no sense of martial honor! He ambushed this old man!"

"Chen Mo? He is here too?"

Zhou Jing'an's brows twitched.

"Young Master, my son is still inside; he may be in danger..." Chu Zhuo whispered.

"Let's go, let's go inside and see."

Zhou Jing'an led his men into the tavern.

The entire Drunken Moon Pavilion was already deserted, and the group stomped their way up to the second floor.

Amidst the ruins, three people were drinking heartily. The collapsed walls and the gloomy, rain-swept sky added a touch of heroism to the scene.

Chu Chen was huddled in a corner, clutching his head, his face deathly pale as he trembled.

"Lord Chen, what was that blade technique you just used? Even a fifth-rank expert couldn't withstand it," Shangguan Yunfei exclaimed in awe.

Chen Mo glanced at him. "Do you want to try it too?"

"...That won't be necessary." Shangguan Yunfei knew he was in a foul mood and dared not court disaster.

Lin Jingzhu's clothes were torn, and her body was crisscrossed with bloody lacerations, yet she didn't seem to care in the least.

With one foot propped on a stool and a wine cup in her hand, her clear eyes were fixed on Chen Mo.

"Lord Chen, a toast to you!"

"Mm."

The two clinked glasses and downed their drinks in one gulp.

A flush of crimson appeared on Lin Jingzhu's fair, delicate face, like morning clouds reflecting on snow, and her lips were glistening and rosy. "That blade of yours is quite good. May I borrow it to take a look?"

Chen Mo raised his hand and tossed it over.

Lin Jingzhu caught it with a backhand motion, her fingers lightly stroking the edge. The peerless, sharp aura made her fingertips ache slightly.

"A fine blade! It is at least a mid-grade Heaven-tier treasure! It doesn't seem to be recorded on the Weapon Rankings..."

"It was a gift. This blade is called Peace in Pieces."

"Peace in Pieces? What a strange name..."

"Chen Mo, you have some nerve!"

At this moment, a cold voice rang out.

Zhou Jing'an strode forward, and the guards behind him quickly stepped up, surrounding the group.

Seeing the young man in brocade robes, a flicker of surprise crossed Chen Mo's eyes. He then looked at Chu Zhuo following behind and seemed to understand something, a strange smile curling the corners of his lips.

Better to arrive at the right time than the right place...

"Young Master Zhou, it's them!"

"Assaulting imperial officials, treating human lives like grass, acting with total lawlessness—they are guilty of heinous crimes!"

Chu Zhuo clutched his lower back and shouted angrily.

Seeing that reinforcements had arrived, Chu Chen's spine stiffened. He stood up and looked at the group with a smug expression.

Zhou Jing'an's voice was cold and stern. "Chen Mo, do you know what you are doing? Committing murder in the middle of the street—even Lord Chen cannot protect you now!"

Chen Mo glanced at him. "And what if I did kill them?"

Zhou Jing'an's eyes narrowed. "You are drunk. Shall I send you to the Ministry of Justice prison to sober up?"

Chen Mo toyed with his wine cup and said indifferently, "I am indeed drunk, but it is you who needs to sober up."

As he spoke, he pulled an object from his robes and tossed it over.

Zhou Jing'an caught it by reflex. He looked down, and his pupils instantly shrank to the size of needle points!

It was a golden token, engraved with a phoenix spreading its wings and a rising sun!

"You see the Flying Phoenix Token and do not kneel? Zhou Jing'an, you have some nerve!" Chen Mo looked at him with a mocking gaze.

BOOM!

It was as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt!

Zhou Jing'an's body shuddered violently!