The Criminal Defense Division

A few breaths of silence followed.

"Call it four paths."

The calm voice came from inside. Fang Xiao felt his mind buzz.

Four paths!

Not twelve!

In other words, he hadn't improved the entire Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique.

But the young master had already condensed four strands of Qi and Blood Power. He was a martial artist at the minor mastery stage of the Blood Activation Realm!

Even so, the answer left him deeply shaken.

The dry midday wind swept into the courtyard, sending dead leaves drifting across the ground.

Fang Xiao looked at the tightly shut door. After a brief moment of shock, he slowly calmed down.

"In just over twenty days, the young master has condensed four strands of Qi and Blood. Such talent is utterly astonishing. A tree that towers above the forest..."

"It's a bad thing, but also a good thing. At least the Chu Family won't be able to choke him by the throat anymore."

"However..." His gaze sharpened. He turned and walked into the courtyard. "A martial artist at the minor mastery stage of the Blood Activation Realm still isn't enough to stand against the Chu Family. The young master is about to begin studying at Baiyuan Academy, and this matter definitely won't stay hidden for long. I need to think of something..."

Chu Ming sat upright at the desk, his gaze lowered to Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy.

"Finally, some peace and quiet."

He picked up his brush and ink, then took out several sheets of slightly yellowed paper.

"First, I'll write out the improved Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique. Steward Fang once condensed ten strands of Qi and Blood Power and reached the great mastery stage of the Blood Activation Realm. Now he's old, his qi and blood have declined, and his strength has fallen back to minor mastery. He can probably still call upon six or seven strands."

"But if he practices the new Body Forging Technique, there's a good chance he can condense his qi and blood anew and slow its decline."

As he thought this, he had already begun writing.

The old steward had treated him well. To buy him medicinal soup, he'd gone to the Catching Yamen even at his age. Chu Ming couldn't forget that kindness.

After half a day's work, he had written the entire new Body Forging Technique on paper.

"Back to reading."

Chu Ming waited for the ink to dry, set the papers aside, and returned to Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy.

"At my current pace, it'll take about fifteen days to finish Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy. I'll fully condense the fourth strand of Qi and Blood Power tomorrow, then move on to the fifth..."

The more books he read, the more streams flowed into the lake in his mind that belonged to the Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique, and the more water gathered there.

Without deliberate practice, his progress in the Body Forging Technique still increased.

Of course, he wouldn't rely solely on reading to advance the technique. He combined reading and martial practice: when he tired of Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy, he trained; when his body grew tired, he continued reading.

Keeping to this rhythm for several more days, Chu Ming successfully condensed a complete fifth strand of Qi and Blood Power.

Judging by the thickness and density of his qi and blood, his current strength was now comparable to that of a martial artist with ten strands of Qi and Blood Power, at the great mastery stage of the Blood Activation Realm!

Besides, after using Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense for some time, its progress had increased considerably as well.

On the panel.

[Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense]

[Progress (Minor Mastery) 11/100]

[Evaluation: Gained through reading a variety of travelogues. Perception has improved. When actively activated, it consumes mental energy and can be used to inspect one's own body or observe the surrounding environment in minute detail.]

Early that morning, at the Catching Yamen.

"Brother Fang, we're in deep trouble. The Criminal Defense Division of Baiyuan County is sending people to investigate the Bone-Burial Alley murder case in person. You and I will definitely be punished for failing in our duties!" Hou Ping paced back and forth in the yamen hall, his face tense with worry.

Fang Xiao looked relatively calm. He sighed and said, "Brother Hou, this is my fault. If I hadn't insisted on investigating the case, the Criminal Defense Division wouldn't have taken notice of this place."

"Alas..." Hou Ping stopped and shook his head. "Brother Fang, don't say that. I wanted a chance to earn merit too. Otherwise, why would I have reported the case? Who could've known the Bone-Burial Alley murders wouldn't be solved and would keep happening? We really picked up a stone just to drop it on our own feet!"

Silence fell over the yamen hall.

The few junior constables guarding the doorway curled their lips, their eyes full of resentment.

The two constables had been greedy for credit, dragging all of them down with them.

The Criminal Defense Division's people wouldn't just thoroughly investigate the case and punish the two constables. Not one of the junior constables would escape punishment either.

"Brother Hou, I'll go check Bone-Burial Alley again."

After a moment's thought, Fang Xiao rose and rested a hand on his saber, deciding to search for clues once more.

"It's the only thing we can do."

The two constables led several junior constables at a hurried pace back into the deep alley they'd entered more than thirty times this month.

Yet after half a day of searching, they still came up empty-handed.

Just as they were preparing to leave, figures shifted at the mouth of the alley. Three men dressed in black Flying Fish Robes entered, each with a long saber at his waist and a stern expression.

"The Criminal Defense Division of Baiyuan County is investigating a case. All unrelated persons, leave at once." One of them stepped forward expressionlessly, drew his saber halfway, and spoke in a frigid voice.

Fang Xiao and Hou Ping were startled. They hurriedly cupped their hands in greeting.

"Constable from Willow Town, Hou Ping."

"Constable from Willow Town, Fang Xiao."

"So you're the two useless fools." Hearing them introduce themselves, the man who had spoken raised his chin slightly, his face full of contempt.

"One's old, and the other's weak. No wonder you haven't solved the case after all this time!"

The "old" one was Fang Xiao.

The "weak" one was Hou Ping.

With the case making no progress, Hou Ping, the top constable of Willow Town's Catching Yamen, had been so anxious these past few days that he couldn't sleep. On top of that, his wife... He looked haggard, and even his steps were a little unsteady.

Hou Ping lowered his head, clasped his hands in front of him, and said quietly, "Officer Zhang, I..."

The official notice from Baiyuan County listed information about the three men. This one's surname was Zhang, and his given name was Yi.

But before he could finish, the man cut him off impatiently. "You failed to solve the case and now you're trying to make excuses. That only adds to your offense!"

"..." Hou Ping's face turned deathly pale, and he fell silent.

Fang Xiao looked at the three men, letting his gaze linger on the one at the front for a moment. Then he spoke helplessly. "Constable Shao."

At that, the man turned his gaze to Fang Xiao and examined him from head to toe. Confusion flickered across his face.

Only after a long while did he force a strange smile. "So it really is Instructor Fang. The men under me said a new constable named Fang Xiao had come to Willow Town. I thought he was just a namesake."

"But how did the famous Instructor Fang of the Criminal Defense Division end up as a constable in a tiny place like Willow Town?"

Shao Pengshu narrowed his eyes and lightly brushed dust from his Flying Fish Robe.

"Oh, now I remember. Instructor Fang left for a woman, and there was also a... little young master?"

Fang Xiao clenched his fist in secret. He drew a breath before finally suppressing his anger. "Constable Shao, the Wheat Valley Alley murder case is full of suspicious points. Chief Constable Hou has been investigating it for more than twenty days, doing his duty to the letter. If you could consider our past—"

"Instructor Fang!"

Before he could finish, Shao Pengshu suddenly stepped forward and stared coldly at Fang Xiao. "Since when does a small-town constable get to lecture me on how I do things? Do you think you're still an instructor at the Criminal Defense Division?"

At that, Zhang Yi stepped forward with a look of disdain. "The Willow Town Catching Yamen failed to handle the case properly. Hou Ping and Fang Xiao, have three months' pay docked. The other constables will have one month's pay docked."

The other man, Tan Hong, followed up. "The Criminal Defense Division has ordered us to investigate this matter thoroughly. If we find that anyone colluded in the Wheat Valley Alley murder case, heh..."

Hm?

Hou Ping jerked his head up. "What do you three officers mean?"

He'd expected to have three months' pay docked, but the three men from the Criminal Defense Division were clearly implying something more.

"What do we mean?" Shao Pengshu drew his saber and swept a hostile gaze over Hou Ping and Fang Xiao. "Come on, tell the two little constables what we mean."

Zhang Yi pointed toward the deep Wheat Valley Alley. "Eight murders in less than a month, all in the same place. Are you really going to claim you didn't take bribes?"

Tan Hong cleared his throat and continued, "If you've been lining your own pockets, confess now. You may still have a chance to atone for your crimes by earning merit."

"Officers, we've been wronged!" The junior constables were so frightened that they dropped to their knees and begged for mercy.