Criminal Defense Division

After the words fell, there was a silence of several breaths.

"I suppose four strands."

The calm voice drifted from within, and Fang Xiao felt his brain buzz.

Four strands!

Not twelve!

In other words, he had not improved the entire Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique.

But for the young master to have already condensed four strands of blood-energy, making him a martial artist at the minor completion stage of the Blood Activation Realm!

This answer still sent a shock through his heart.

The dry afternoon wind blew into the courtyard, causing the fallen leaves on the ground to drift.

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

"In just over twenty days, the young master has condensed four strands of blood-energy. Such talent is too shocking; a tree that stands above the forest..."

"It is a bad thing, but also a good thing. At least he will no longer be held by the throat by the Chu Family."

"However..." His gaze sharpened as he turned and walked into the courtyard. "A martial artist at the minor completion of the Blood Activation Realm is not enough to contend with the Chu Family. The young master is about to enter Baiyuan Academy to study; this matter cannot be hidden for long. I must think of a way..."

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

"Finally, some peace."

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

"Let me first write down the optimized Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique. Steward Fang was once a martial artist at the great completion of the Blood Activation Realm who had condensed ten strands of blood-energy. Now that he is old and his blood-energy has decayed, his strength has regressed to the minor completion stage, and the blood-energy he can mobilize is only around six or seven strands."

"But if he practices this new body-forging technique, there is a high probability he can re-condense his blood-energy and slow the rate of its decay."

Thinking this, he began to write.

This old steward had been good to him; in order to buy him medicinal soups, he still went to the Catching Yamen at his age. This kindness could not be forgotten.

It took half a day to write the brand-new body-forging technique onto the paper.

"Time to continue reading."

Chu Ming waited for the ink to dry, put the papers away, and threw himself back into Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy.

"At my current speed, it will take about fifteen days to finish Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy. The fourth strand of blood-energy will be fully condensed tomorrow, and then I will condense the fifth..."

As he read more books, the lake in his mind belonging to the Tiger Python Body-Forging Technique grew, and the more streams that connected to it, the more water gathered in the lake.

He did not need to deliberately practice; the progress of the body-forging technique grew on its own.

Of course, he would not rely solely on reading to increase his progress. He combined reading with martial arts; when he grew tired of Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy, he would practice martial arts, and when his body grew tired, he would go back to reading.

Maintaining this rhythm, after a few more days, Chu Ming successfully condensed the complete fifth strand of blood-energy.

Judging by the thickness and richness of his blood-energy, his current strength could rival a martial artist at the great completion of the Blood Activation Realm with ten strands of blood-energy!

Additionally, the progress of the Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense had also risen significantly after this period of use.

[Sword Gourd Spiritual Sense]

[Progress (Minor Completion) 11/100]

[Evaluation: Comprehended through the extensive reading of various travelogues. Sensory ability enhanced. When actively triggered, it consumes mental energy and allows for internal self-observation or micro-observation of the surrounding environment.]

Early morning, at the Catching Yamen.

"Brother Fang, we are in big trouble. The Criminal Defense Division of Baiyuan County is sending people to personally investigate the Bone-Burial Alley murder case. You and I will certainly be punished for our incompetence!" Hou Ping's face was taut as he paced back and forth in the yamen hall, anxious.

Fang Xiao's face looked relatively calm as he sighed and said, "Brother Hou, this matter is my fault. If I hadn't insisted on investigating this, the Criminal Defense Division wouldn't have turned their attention here."

"Sigh..." Hou Ping stopped and shook his head. "What are you saying, Brother Fang? I also wanted to seize this opportunity to earn merit, otherwise, why would I have reported it? Who could have guessed that not only would the Bone-Burial Alley murder case remain unsolved, but it would continue to happen? It's truly like lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet!"

The yamen hall fell into silence.

The few minor bailiffs guarding the door curled their lips, their eyes filled with resentment.

The two head bailiffs were greedy for merit, and now they, the small fry, were going to suffer along with them.

When the people from the Criminal Defense Division arrived, they would not only thoroughly investigate the case and punish the two head bailiffs, but none of the minor bailiffs would be able to escape either.

"Brother Hou, I will go to Bone-Burial Alley again."

Fang Xiao thought for a moment, then stood up with his hand on his blade, deciding to look for clues once more.

"That is all we can do."

The two head bailiffs, accompanied by a few minor bailiffs, hurried along and entered the deep, dark alley that they had already visited no fewer than thirty times this month.

However, after half a day of searching, the group still came up empty-handed.

Just as they were preparing to leave, figures flickered at the mouth of the alley, and three men dressed in black Flying Fish Suits entered, long blades tucked at their waists, their expressions stern.

"The Criminal Defense Division of Baiyuan County is conducting an investigation. All bystanders, leave at once." One of them stepped forward expressionlessly, drawing his long blade out by half an inch, his tone icy.

Fang Xiao and Hou Ping were startled, hurriedly cupping their hands in a bow.

"Willow Town Constable, Hou Ping."

"Willow Town Constable, Fang Xiao."

"So you are those two pieces of trash." The man who spoke earlier heard them identify themselves, lifted his chin slightly, and wore a look of contempt.

"One is old, one is weak; no wonder you haven't been able to solve the case for so long!"

The "old" one referred to Fang Xiao.

The "weak" one was Hou Ping.

Because the case had failed to make any progress, Hou Ping, the top man of the Willow Town Catching Yamen, had been unable to sleep for days, and coupled with his wife... he looked quite weathered, his footsteps somewhat unsteady.

Hou Ping lowered his head, hands clasped in front of him, and said in a low voice, "Lord Zhang, I..."

The official notice issued by Baiyuan County contained the information of the three men; this man's surname was Zhang, and his given name was Yi.

But before he could finish his sentence, he was impatiently interrupted, "Failing to solve the case and attempting to make excuses—that is a crime compounded!"

"..." Hou Ping's face turned deathly pale, and he said no more.

Fang Xiao looked at the three men, his gaze lingering for a moment on the leader, before he spoke helplessly: "Constable Captain Shao."

As the words fell, the man opposite shifted his gaze, focusing on Fang Xiao, looking him up and down several times with a flash of confusion on his face.

After a long while, he squeezed out a strange smile: "It really is Instructor Fang. I heard from my subordinates that a new constable named Fang Xiao had arrived in Willow Town, but I assumed it was just a coincidence of names."

"However, how could the once-renowned Instructor Fang of the Criminal Defense Division fall to the level of a constable in this tiny Willow Town?"

Shao Pengshu narrowed his eyes, his left hand lightly brushing off his Flying Fish Suit.

"Oh, I remember now. Instructor Fang did it for a woman, and also for a... little young master?"

Fang Xiao secretly clenched his fists, taking a breath to suppress the rage in his heart: "Constable Captain Shao, the Wheat Valley Alley murder case is full of suspicious points. Chief Constable Hou has been investigating for over twenty days, fulfilling his duties diligently. If Constable Captain Shao could look at our past..."

"Instructor Fang!"

Before he could finish, Shao Pengshu suddenly stepped forward, his eyes staring coldly at Fang Xiao: "Does a small-town constable have the right to teach me how to do my job? Do you still think you are an instructor of the Criminal Defense Division?"

As the words fell, Zhang Yi stepped forward, saying with a look of disdain: "The Willow Town Catching Yamen has failed in its duties. Hou Ping and Fang Xiao, three months of salary deducted; all other runners, one month of salary deducted."

The other man, Tan Hong, continued: "The Criminal Defense Division has ordered us to thoroughly investigate this matter. If we find that the Wheat Valley Alley murder case involves collusion, hmph..."

Hm?

Hou Ping looked up abruptly: "What do you three lords mean by that?"

He had expected the salary deduction, but the three men from the Criminal Defense Division were clearly implying something else.

"What do I mean?" Shao Pengshu drew his long blade, his gaze sweeping unkindly over Hou Ping and Fang Xiao. "Come, tell our two little constables what we mean."

Zhang Yi pointed toward the deep, dark Wheat Valley Alley: "In less than a month, eight murders in the same place. Do you dare to say you haven't taken bribes?"

Tan Hong cleared his throat and continued: "If you have lined your own pockets, confess now, and you might still have a chance to redeem yourselves through meritorious service."

"My lords, we are wronged!" Hearing this, several runners were so terrified they immediately knelt to beg for mercy.