The Dark-Skinned Young Constable

"They say Immortals exist, but no one has ever seen one."

Old Yang had once practiced martial arts. He couldn't match the knowledge of the city's wealthy gentry, but he certainly knew more than ordinary folk.

He smacked his lips, his face full of envy. "But some people have smoke rising from their ancestors' graves. They happen to come across a treasure connected to an Immortal, and even if they only comprehend a move or two, they can transform overnight into mighty cultivators."

At that, Cripple suddenly froze.

He stole a glance at Lin Shu.

The other man's recent performance had been exactly like the sort of person he'd just described.

"Are there many treasures like that?" Lin Shu asked, intrigued.

"Not many, but ordinary folk can stumble across them if they're lucky."

Old Yang had once seen a poor lad from South Suburb settle down in West City, all thanks to a chipped bowl his family owned.

He sighed. "But if you go looking for one on purpose, that's not something money can solve."

"Besides, even if most people comprehend an Immortal Method, once the Immortal's blessing in their bodies runs out, they can forget about using it again for the rest of their lives."

"..."

Lin Shu nodded thoughtfully.

The Immortal's blessing Cripple mentioned was most likely the mist within him. The woman surnamed Yan had called it Spiritual Power.

That didn't sound right.

How was that anything like a proper path of cultivation?

So most people were just practicing some wild, fox-spirit trick they'd stumbled into by chance.

"Don't those who comprehend an Immortal Method pass it down?" Lin Shu frowned, realizing where the problem lay.

"How could it be that easy? Comprehension consumes the spiritual light on an Immortal Family's treasure, turning it into an ordinary object. If you haven't personally experienced an Immortal's aura, how could you possibly learn their Immortal Method?"

Old Yang gave an awkward smile.

Every ordinary person raised in Blackwater City had probably pondered the questions Lin Shu had asked.

After all, who didn't want to become a lofty cultivator?

That was why he'd said earlier that everyone knew about this.

"Hiss."

Lin Shu thought for a moment, then slowly furrowed his brow.

Things seemed far more complicated than he'd imagined.

Even if any of these exceedingly rare treasures remained, there was no way a fox could get its paws on one.

As for relying on luck...

Lin Shu rose from the bed and stood by the window.

He looked down over the dark alley.

It seemed he'd have to make a name for himself faster. Only by climbing higher could he get a chance to come into contact with those things.

"Uh..."

Old Yang stared at the young man's back, bewildered.

The other man didn't seem worried at all about Good Fortune Martial Hall's retaliation. Instead, he seemed more interested in these vague, far-fetched rumors.

"Enough. Keep an eye on things here for me. If anything happens, send someone to fetch me."

Lin Shu stretched, then turned and headed for the door.

It was already late, and the alley was deserted.

The brothel girls were getting ready to tidy up and rest. There shouldn't be any more trouble.

Lin Shu truly disliked the atmosphere in this brothel, let alone the thought of staying there.

"W-where should I send someone to find you?" Old Yang scratched the back of his head.

"At Little Widow's place."

Lin Shu waved a hand.

That white fur cloak was still at her place. He could get a little silver for it if he took it back.

His clothes were stained with blood, so he might as well change into a fresh set.

He'd make do for a couple of hours, then find somewhere new to stay after daybreak.

Money was tight right now, so he had to save wherever he could.

As he thought, he made his way downstairs.

The exhausted girls had gathered in a group, quietly discussing the clients they'd entertained that day.

The moment they saw Lin Shu, they all fell silent.

The strange looks they'd given him earlier were gone. In their eyes, there was now a hint of gratitude.

"Master Lin, thank you for your efforts," Jin Gui said softly, bowing to the young man.

Seeing this, the other girls waved their handkerchiefs. "Thank you for your efforts, sir. Take care on your way."

"..."

Lin Shu had just stepped out of Magpie Nest when he heard a dozen women call out in unison behind him.

His eyelid twitched.

It was a good thing no one else was around. Anyone who didn't know better might think something had happened.

He hadn't gone to any trouble. He hadn't done a thing.

Lin Shu grumbled to himself.

He walked slowly down the silent alley. Only two battered lanterns swayed as they lit the alley's entrance.

Just as he was about to leave Green Willow Alley,

Lin Shu's eyes flickered. He quietly stopped, black mist curling between his fingers.

At his movement, a sharp rebuke rang out ahead.

"Stop!"

A sturdy figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

He wore a close-fitting shirt and carried a long saber at his waist. Reaching out, he tossed a corpse onto the ground.

In the faint lantern light,

even the cold expression on his face couldn't hide the youth in his features.

He was plainly a boy of fifteen or sixteen.

His skin was dark as charcoal.

"Officer, what is it?"

Lin Shu opened his hand and let the mist disperse.

He even yawned.

He'd seen this uniform on the constables earlier. The only difference was the Purple Flood Dragon embroidered on this man's lapel.

It probably meant he held a higher rank.

"Don't play dumb with me."

Chang Yi furrowed his brows. He'd already looked into the man: a fox transferred here from the Blackwater Gang.

Though he hadn't been on the job long, his seniors had taught him how to deal with this bunch of foxes.

Clang!

His long saber sprang from its sheath and pointed straight at Lin Shu.

"Green Willow Alley is under my jurisdiction. Since you're the one who killed him, you're coming with me."

By Chang Yi's usual understanding, the Purple Flood Dragon on his lapel had already announced his strength to anyone who saw it.

All he had to do was draw his saber. Most foxes would understand how serious things were and drop their smooth-talking act.

But what happened next was entirely unexpected.

Lin Shu's expression didn't change. He carefully examined the long saber in front of him.

A moment later, the corner of his mouth lifted. He flicked the blade with a finger.

Clang—

Its ringing was all the clearer in the dead of night.

"Not a bad saber. A shame, though," Lin Shu said with a sigh.

"What's a shame?"

Chang Yi felt deeply insulted and was about to fly into a rage when he heard the other man's baffling remark.

He paused, not striking at once.

Lin Shu glanced at him sideways, his smile playful, though his gaze remained calm. "A shame the two girls in my brothel who were toyed with to death never got the chance to see an officer's Precious Saber."

"You!"

Chang Yi froze for a moment, then instinctively clenched his teeth.

But the hand gripping his saber trembled.

Of course he knew what the other man meant. Zhang Ci's foul reputation was no secret.

"I was going to arrest him, but a colleague came with orders and took him away..."

Even Chang Yi himself didn't realize there was no need to explain himself to a fox.

Under Lin Shu's gaze, he inexplicably felt guilty. Even his words came out haltingly. "After that, someone from Magpie Nest came to explain. They said it was... they said it was a family matter..."

Chang Yi's voice grew quieter and quieter.

Of course he knew those girls had been forced. But as a constable who'd only just put on this uniform, there was nothing he could do to change anything.

"Since it was a family matter back then,"

Lin Shu said calmly. He placed five fingers on the constable's trembling hand and slowly pressed the long saber back into its sheath.

"Then it's a family matter now, too."

He patted the other man's shoulder and stepped over Zhang Ci's corpse, strolling leisurely away.

"..."

Chang Yi stood stunned for a long time, then abruptly turned and seized his scabbard, shouting angrily, "Good Fortune Martial Hall won't let this go! Come back with me and stand trial. You might still have a chance to save your life!"

He stared hard at that thin figure.

But the other man didn't even bother to turn around. His voice was full of mockery. "Then there's no need to trouble yourself, officer."

Only after Lin Shu had vanished completely from sight

did Chang Yi let out a couple of ragged breaths and realize that sweat had already beaded on his forehead.

"That old fox!"

He flung out a hand in frustration. The man looked young, no older than him by much.

But he was clearly a seasoned hand who'd spent years in the Blackwater Gang.

He'd managed to keep a constable like Chang Yi under his thumb the entire time!

Chang Yi sulkily looked away. No matter how seasoned he was, what good would that experience do against the murder of a son? The louts in the martial hall wouldn't waste their breath arguing with anyone.

In the end, it would be up to him, the constable, to keep things under control!

"Ugh."

Chang Yi had nowhere to vent his frustration. After thinking it over, he lowered his head and spat hard on the corpse.

You filthy cur. Good riddance!