Divine Soldier

"This!"

Staring at the dagger before him, blazing with golden light and dazzling like the great sun, Yang Xiao's face instantly filled with shock.

Gray mist meant First Blood; white radiance meant Second Blood!

Then what was this golden radiance?

Yang Xiao's heart thudded wildly.

Only now did he realize just what a precious object the dagger he had accidentally obtained from "Zhao Hu" truly was.

"I can use the Qi-Observing Stealing Technique. The stronger the martial artist I encounter, and the longer I observe them, the more clearly I can 'see.' The same principle applies to the martial techniques in the Scripture Pavilion."

"So it turns out weapons are the same for me!"

The more Yang Xiao thought about it, the more excited he became, but he did not rush. Instead, he tucked the dagger into his chest and pretended to stay calm as he continued drinking.

It was not that Yang Xiao did not want to observe the dagger, but that there were too many eyes and ears here, making it far from convenient.

If something went wrong while he was observing the dagger's qi, causing Yang Xiao to faint or be injured, would that not simply benefit someone else?

Calm down!

He had to stay calm!

Yang Xiao drank by the window, appearing to take in the street scene outside, while in truth he was carefully sorting through every memory in his mind concerning "Zhao Hu."

Though these memories were extremely jumbled, after Yang Xiao carefully organized them, then added analysis and deduction, he still restored most of the truth.

It turned out that this fake "Zhao Hu," just like the real Zhao Hu from yesterday, had been one of a pair of twin brothers born of the same mother. He was the elder brother, while the real Zhao Hu was the second.

The two brothers' height, build, and bearing were, from the outside, almost cut from the same mold.

However, Boss Zhao had always kept a low profile. He was Song Que's confidant, and on ordinary days he disguised himself whenever he went out to handle affairs. Aside from Song Que and the second Zhao brother, no third person knew his identity.

In order to kill and seize the wealth before Zhang Long could, the second Zhao brother had gone ahead last night to kill Yang Xiao. Boss Zhao had known about this as well, and had tried to advise the second Zhao brother against it.

The second Zhao brother had been dead set on killing Yang Xiao and would not listen to any dissuasion. Boss Zhao had been rather angry about this, but he had not taken it to heart.

An ordinary person with inferior aptitude and bones—if he was killed, then he was killed. As long as it was handled cleanly, how big a matter could it be?

Yet early this morning, while Boss Zhao was wiping a table in Song Que's study, he unexpectedly sensed through the Shadow Feather Talisman that something had happened to the second Zhao brother.

Boss Zhao flew into a towering rage. With no time to report to Song Que, he casually picked up the dagger on the table.

Boss Zhao impersonated the second Zhao brother and hurried to the Vermilion Bird Tower, intending to kill everyone he suspected.

Whether Yang Xiao or Zhang Long, both were targets of Boss Zhao's suspicion!

It was just that Zhang Long was about to undergo blood exchange and was not easy to kill, so Boss Zhao could only settle for the next best thing and planned to kill Yang Xiao first.

"Just because he suspected I had something to do with the second Zhao brother's death, even knowing I didn't know martial arts, Boss Zhao still wanted to kill me to eliminate any future trouble?"

A trace of anger flashed through Yang Xiao's eyes.

However, only at the moment of his death had Boss Zhao finally understood that the soft persimmon was not Yang Xiao, but Zhang Long.

Unfortunately, Yang Xiao had been far too sly and low-key. Boss Zhao could only die stifled and aggrieved, with eyes that would not close!

"So this dagger belonged to Song Que. Boss Zhao was Song Que's trusted aide, and this morning he just happened to be cleaning Song Que's study, so he conveniently took the dagger away."

"As for why this dagger was incomparably sharp in Boss Zhao's hands, it seems even Boss Zhao didn't know?"

After Yang Xiao thoroughly understood everything, he immediately felt an urge both to laugh and cry.

But this was also a good thing.

In this way, even if Song Que lost the dagger, he would not know who had taken it.

Not far from the Drunken Immortal Inn.

The "Golden Blade Divine Catcher," Di Ruhuo, sat astride his horse, standing still as he expressionlessly looked at the empty alley.

More than a dozen constables all felt their scalps go numb, cold sweat appearing on their foreheads.

These constables were all ordinary constables from the inner-city yamen, assigned by the county yamen to serve under Di Ruhuo.

Today, the constables had respectfully welcomed Di Ruhuo into the inner city from outside the city, fantasizing about relying on him to rise in rank and make a fortune. Every one of them had been incomparably excited.

But now?

"My lord, the criminals were truly hateful. They smoothed away every trace of battle, so we simply cannot find even the slightest clue."

"We do not even know what exactly happened here."

"We beg my lord to forgive our offense!"

A quick-witted young constable braced himself and walked out, giving a bitter smile as he cupped his fists in salute.

"We beg my lord to forgive our offense!"

Whoosh—

More than a dozen constables bent in salute in perfect unison, each of their hearts filled with unease.

Disappointment flashed through Di Ruhuo's eyes and vanished. He swung down from his horse and began to investigate carefully.

A moment later.

Di Ruhuo swung back onto his horse, closed his eyes, and said calmly, "Flatten every residence on both sides of this alley for me. Somewhere nearby, there must be a cellar or secret chamber privately storing lime, tung oil, and bits of plant ash. And that residence is where the killer is."

At those words, every constable trembled, sudden understanding dawning on them.

No wonder that when they had entered the alley, they had kept sensing a faint, strange smell.

So that was it!

A short while later.

The cellar where Yang Xiao had stolen the lime and tung oil was dug out by the constables.

"The killer should be an old man, about sixty years of age, under five feet tall, and very likely a menial worker who disposes of swill. His target should be a nearby restaurant or eatery."

"What must be noted is that the killer is very likely concealing his identity. Nine times out of ten, he is a vicious criminal, and his martial arts are absolutely not weak."

"Someone, take my waist token and go to the East City Garrison. Have the city patrol commandant immediately lead troops to seal off the east city and search for the culprit according to this portrait!"

Di Ruhuo quickly drew a portrait of an old man on a wooden board with a charcoal pencil, then casually removed the command token from his waist and handed it together with the portrait to that sharp young constable.

"Yes, sir!"

The young constable left in a hurry, his face full of excitement.

Half an hour later.

Yang Xiao was drinking alone in a private room.

Bang!

The door to the private room was suddenly kicked open from outside with brutal force.

Two yamen runners swaggered in.

One of them opened the portrait, swept Yang Xiao a sidelong glance, and suddenly shouted, "This man is a wanted criminal! Take him away!"

The other, carrying a broadsword, walked toward Yang Xiao with a savage grin, but he did not make a move. Instead, he silently rubbed his fingers together.

"..."

Yang Xiao was quite speechless, but still fished out two taels of broken silver from his sleeve.

"So it was sand in my eyes. For a moment my vision was blurred, and I saw wrong."

"This man is not the killer. Let's go!"

The two yamen runners nimbly put away the broken silver, their movements practiced. They turned and left without a single unnecessary word, even thoughtfully closing the door for Yang Xiao.

"The Drunken Immortal Inn is located in the golden district of the capital's inner city. Though it cannot compare to Vermilion Bird Tower, it is still a mid-to-high-end restaurant."

"And yet these lowest-level yamen runners still have such ugly appetites, using the pretext of a manhunt to rake in money so brazenly under the bright sun, without even bothering to hide it?"

"If such a rotten dynasty does not fall, where is the justice of Heaven!"

Yang Xiao could not help cursing aloud, mainly because his heart ached for those two taels of broken silver.

"Impudent!"

The door to the private room was kicked open from outside, and a man strode in with great, sweeping steps.

Above this man's head, that dazzling white radiance fully nine inches tall swayed so brightly that Yang Xiao's mouth went dry, and his expression changed drastically in an instant.