Black-Faced Little Constable

"Everyone says there are immortals, but no one has ever seen one."

Old Yang was once a martial artist; his knowledge couldn't compare to the wealthy gentry of the city, but it was certainly better than that of the average commoner.

He smacked his lips, his expression full of envy. "But some people have ancestors whose graves smoke with good fortune. If they accidentally come into contact with a treasure related to an immortal, even if they only comprehend a single move or half a stance, they can transform overnight and become an esteemed cultivator."

At this point, the cripple suddenly froze.

He stole a glance at Lin Shu.

The other man's recent behavior was exactly like the kind of person he had just described.

"Are there many such treasures?" Lin Shu became interested.

"Not many, but ordinary commoners can stumble upon them if they are lucky."

Old Yang had once seen a poor boy from the South Suburb who, relying on a broken bowl from his home, successfully settled down in West City.

He sighed. "But if you want to go looking for them specifically, that's not something money can solve."

"Moreover, even if most people manage to comprehend an immortal technique, once the immortal fate on them is exhausted, they won't be able to use it again for the rest of their lives."

"..."

Lin Shu nodded thoughtfully.

The "immortal fate" the cripple spoke of was, in all likelihood, the mist within his own body—what the woman surnamed Yan called spiritual power.

That didn't sound right.

This hardly seemed like a legitimate path of cultivation.

It sounded more like most people were just lucky amateurs practicing wild, unrefined methods.

"Those who comprehended immortal techniques, didn't they pass them down?" Lin Shu frowned, sensing the crux of the issue.

"It's not that easy. An epiphany consumes the spiritual radiance of an immortal treasure, turning it into an ordinary object. If one hasn't personally felt the aura of an immortal, how could they possibly learn their techniques?"

Old Yang gave a sheepish smile.

The questions Lin Shu raised were things every commoner who grew up in Blackwater City had likely pondered.

After all, who wouldn't want to be a high and mighty cultivator?

That was why he had said earlier that this was common knowledge.

"Hiss."

Lin Shu pondered for a moment, his brows slowly knitting together.

The situation seemed much more complex than he had imagined.

Such rare treasures, even if they still existed, were not things a fox could obtain.

As for relying on luck...

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

He looked down at the dark alleyway.

It seemed he needed to make a name for himself faster; only by standing higher would he have the opportunity to come into contact with those things.

"Uh."

Old Yang stared at the young man's back, feeling somewhat dazed.

The other party wasn't worried about retaliation from the Good Fortune Martial Hall at all; instead, he seemed more concerned with these ethereal rumors.

"Alright, keep an eye on this place for me. If anything happens, send someone to call me."

Lin Shu stretched his body and turned to head out the door.

The night was deep, and the alley was empty.

The prostitutes were also preparing to pack up and rest, so there shouldn't be any more trouble.

Lin Shu truly disliked the atmosphere of this brothel, let alone living in it.

"Go—where should I call you?" Old Yang scratched the back of his head.

"At that young widow's house."

Lin Shu waved his hand.

The white fur cloak was still at her place; retrieving it could fetch some silver.

His clothes were stained with blood, so he could change into a new set while he was at it.

He would make do for two hours and find a new place to stay once dawn broke.

He wasn't exactly flush with cash right now, so he had to save where he could.

Lost in thought, he reached the ground floor.

The exhausted girls were huddled together, whispering about the day's patrons.

Seeing Lin Shu's figure, they all fell silent at once.

The strange looks in everyone's eyes had vanished, replaced by a touch of gratitude.

"Master Lin, thank you for your hard work," Jin Gui whispered, bowing to the young man.

Seeing this, the other girls also waved their handkerchiefs in succession. "Thank you for your hard work, Master. Take care on your way."

"..."

Lin Shu had just stepped out of Magpie Nest when he heard the synchronized, soft calls of over a dozen people behind him.

His eyelids twitched involuntarily.

It was fortunate that no one else was around; otherwise, people might have misunderstood what was going on.

I didn't work hard at all. I didn't do anything, Lin Shu muttered to himself.

He walked slowly through the silent, long alley, where only two tattered lanterns swayed, illuminating the alley entrance.

Just as he was about to step out of Green Willow Alley, Lin Shu's gaze flickered. He stopped quietly, black mist coiling between his five fingers.

Following his movement, a cold shout soon came from ahead.

"Stop!"

As the voice fell, a sturdy figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

He wore a tight-fitting tunic with a long saber strapped to his waist, and he reached out to toss a corpse onto the ground.

Under the dim light of the lanterns, even with his cold and stern expression, he could not hide the youthful traces around his eyes and brows.

He was clearly just a lad of fifteen or sixteen.

Moreover, his skin was dark, making him look like a piece of charcoal.

"Officer, is there something you need?"

Lin Shu relaxed his palm, dissipating the mist. He even let out a yawn.

He had seen this uniform on the bailiffs earlier; the only difference was that this person had a purple dragon embroidered on his lapel. It likely signified a higher rank.

"Don't play dumb with me."

Chang Yi's brows furrowed tightly. He had already investigated this man; he was a fox transferred over from the Blackwater Gang. Although he hadn't been in office long, he had already learned how to deal with these foxes under the tutelage of his seniors.

Clang!

The long saber suddenly left its sheath, held horizontally straight in front of Lin Shu.

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

According to Chang Yi's usual experience, the purple dragon on his lapel already announced his strength to others. Once he drew his blade, most foxes would realize the gravity of the situation and drop their oily, glib demeanor.

However, what happened next exceeded his expectations.

Lin Shu did not change his expression, instead examining the long saber before him with a serious look.

A moment later, he curled his lips upward and flicked his finger against the blade.

Clang—

The ringing sound was even crisper in the dead of night.

"A nice blade, though it's a bit of a pity," Lin Shu sighed.

"Pity for what?"

Chang Yi felt deeply offended and was about to flare up, but he paused upon hearing the inexplicable remark. He hesitated, not rushing to strike.

Lin Shu glanced at him sideways with an amused smile, though his eyes remained exceptionally calm. "It's a pity that the two girls in my establishment who were toyed with until they died never got the chance to see the Officer's precious blade."

"You!"

Chang Yi froze for a second, instinctively gritting his teeth. His hand gripping the saber trembled slightly. He knew exactly what the other man was talking about; after all, Zhang Ci's foul reputation hadn't been built in a day.

"I intended to arrest him at the time, but my colleagues arrived under orders to take him away..."

Chang Yi didn't even realize that he had absolutely no need to explain himself to a fox. Under Lin Shu's gaze, he felt inexplicably guilty, his speech even becoming stuttered. "Later, the people from Magpie Nest came to explain, saying it was... saying it was a family matter..."

Chang Yi's voice grew lower and lower.

He certainly knew those girls were coerced, but as a constable who had just donned this uniform, he was completely powerless to change anything.

"Since it was a family matter back then."

Lin Shu's gaze was calm; his five fingers pressed down on the constable's trembling hand, unhurriedly guiding the long blade back into its scabbard.

"Then it is a family matter now, too."

He patted the other man's shoulder casually, stepped over Zhang Ci's corpse, and strolled slowly into the distance.

"..."

Chang Yi stood dazed for a long time before suddenly turning around, gripping his scabbard tightly, and shouting in anger, "The Good Fortune Martial Hall will never let this go! If you come back with me to stand trial, there might still be a chance to save your life!"

He stared fixedly at that lean back.

Yet, he saw the other man couldn't even be bothered to turn his head, his voice filled with mockery, "That won't require your concern, Officer."

Not until Lin Shu's figure had completely vanished from sight.

Chang Yi took two heavy breaths, startled to find beads of sweat already seeping from his forehead.

"That old fox!"

He flung his hand out in frustration. Although the man looked young, barely older than himself.

He was clearly a veteran who had been lurking in the Blackwater Gang for years.

To think he could suppress a constable like him with his presence the entire time!

Chang Yi retracted his gaze sullenly. No matter how seasoned one's experience was, what use could it be in the face of a vendetta for a son? Those brutes at the martial hall wouldn't waste their breath on words.

When the time came, wouldn't they still have to rely on a constable like him to control the situation!

"Sigh."

Chang Yi had a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent. After a moment's thought, he lowered his head and spat fiercely at the corpse.

You dog, you deserved to die!