Like Fire

"This 'Divine Blade Catcher,' Di Ruhuo, really does linger like a ghost that won't disperse..."

Yang Xiao's expression turned somewhat ugly.

"Hmm?"

In the alley outside the courtyard, Di Ruhuo had just ridden up to the gate of the residence when a sudden flash of intuition struck him, and he faintly sensed something was wrong.

"This smell..."

"It's black oil!"

Di Ruhuo sniffed, then abruptly sprang up from horseback. His whole body soared through the air like a great bird as he leaped from outside the courtyard onto the top of the wall.

At that exact moment, on the rear courtyard wall, someone had just vaulted over and was preparing to leave the compound.

Though that person was extremely fast, Di Ruhuo could still roughly make out that it was an old man.

"In broad daylight, beneath clear skies and an honest heaven, you old thief—where do you think you're running!"

Every inch of Di Ruhuo's skin flushed scarlet in an instant, like burning coals brought to a boil.

On the other side of the compound.

Yang Xiao landed after flipping over the wall, but through the Spirit Cicada Transformation, he "saw" Di Ruhuo turn into a streak of blazing fire. In only an instant, he had already charged to the dried-up well in the rear courtyard.

"This... is he even human?"

Yang Xiao's face changed drastically. Just as he was about to lift his foot and flee, he suddenly realized it was too late.

Whoosh~

Accompanied by a scorching gale, a towering figure wreathed in raging fire leaped out from within the compound and drifted lightly down to the ground.

"Where is he?"

The flames around Di Ruhuo's body withdrew, and his skin returned to normal again. After raising his eyes and looking all around, he immediately furrowed his brow.

In the alley, a young nobleman in brocade clothes was lifting the hem of his robe, his back to Di Ruhuo, preparing to take a piss.

Seeing someone arrive, the brocade-clad young master froze, then flew into a rage. "What're you staring at? Keep staring, and see if this young master doesn't dig out your eyeballs!"

"That old man actually disappeared?" Di Ruhuo ignored the brocade-clad young master, looking around in puzzlement as he walked and observed, finding it impossible to understand.

"Damn your mud, this young master is talking to you. You don't understand? Do you know who this young master is?"

Seeing Di Ruhuo ignore him and actually turn to leave, the brocade-clad young master immediately erupted in fury.

"This official would like to know exactly who you are—and who your father might be."

Di Ruhuo was already burning with frustration, and seeing this brocade-clad young master act so arrogant and unruly, anger instantly flared in his heart. His tone was extremely cold.

This time, Di Ruhuo had been summoned back to the capital by Emperor Ming. Though his post was not high—only a sesame-seed minor official of the Ninth Rank, not even worth mentioning.

But his name had shaken the world, and he had solved countless cases. Back then, he had even ignored the late emperor's hints and nearly dragged a certain imperial prince down from his horse.

Even after twenty years, Di Ruhuo still maintained his original heart. How could he fear a mere wastrel son of privilege?

"You're just a lousy constable—damn it, what kind of look is that?"

"Listen well. This young master is Wang Yulang. My father is the 'Marquis of Champions,' Wang Fenglie!"

"If you know what's good for you, kneel in front of this young master right now, otherwise... damn it, this young master isn't finished talking. Why are you leaving already? If you've got guts, state your name!"

The brocade-clad young master was still speaking when he discovered that Di Ruhuo still paid him no attention, instead striding off grandly. The brocade-clad young master immediately cursed in anger.

"This official is Di Ruhuo, chief constable of the Inner City Magistrate Office!"

Without even turning his head, Di Ruhuo tossed out those words indifferently, then vanished in a cloud of dust.

"A mere piece of trash of the Subordinate Ninth Rank dares ignore this young master?"

"Di Ruhuo, is it? This young master will find people later. First I'll kill your family, then think up a reason to kill you. I'll make you ignore this young master!"

The brocade-clad young master cursed and muttered under his breath, then left in a fury.

What the brocade-clad young master did not know was that every bit of his muttering had been heard, without a single word missed, by the formidable Di Ruhuo.

Di Ruhuo's gaze instantly darkened. In his heart, he placed "Wang Yulang" on his next list of targets to investigate, then casually took out the bamboo tube at his waist and opened the lid.

Boom!

In an instant, a signal flare shot straight into the sky.

"Chief Constable!"

Very soon, a dozen constables hurried over, stood in a row, and saluted Di Ruhuo in perfect unison.

Behind them, over a hundred soldiers advanced in formation, escorting a general mounted on a tall steed as they arrived in a grand, surging procession.

"Lord Di, why did you suddenly fire a signal flare?"

"Don't tell me you don't know that unless rebels are attacking the capital, or some heaven-overturning, earth-shaking upheaval has occurred—"

"Otherwise, if you rashly mobilize the troops of my East City Garrison, that is the crime of deceiving the emperor!"

On horseback, the city patrol captain, "Captain Ma," immediately became somewhat incensed.

Captain Ma had been drinking at Red Sleeve Pavilion and was just about to commune with a beauty when he suddenly saw the signal flare. He hurriedly pulled up his trousers and rushed over.

He was a dignified Subordinate Seventh Rank, yet he had to be ordered around at short notice by a Subordinate Ninth Rank. If he did not get a satisfactory answer, Captain Ma would naturally fly into a rage!

"Captain Ma, you need not use His Highness to pressure me. Since this official summoned your East City Garrison here, there is naturally a surprise in this place. Have your men search it, and you will know."

Di Ruhuo spoke calmly.

"Search!"

At Captain Ma's command, hundreds of soldiers swarmed into the great residence.

After a bout of rummaging through chests and overturning cabinets, digging three feet into the ground...

Staring at the mountain-like pile of crossbows and heavy armor in the courtyard, sweat broke out across Captain Ma's forehead, and he could not help swallowing.

The martial spirit of the Great Yan Dynasty flourished, and the court did not ban weapons. Martial artists walked through bustling streets wearing sabers and carrying swords; as long as they did not act recklessly, no one would interfere.

But crossbows and heavy armor—these were all contraband!

Aside from the imperial court, only rebels would dare possess them!

Moreover, aside from these things, there was actually a large quantity of black oil hidden here!

The Vermilion Bird Tower grandmaster debate was imminent. Heroes and tyrants from across the realm had all gathered in the inner city, scholars had also come in great numbers, and famous figures and wealthy gentry from every region were hurrying over to join the excitement.

At this critical juncture, someone had actually hidden so much contraband in the inner city. How could this be allowed?

"Damn it, just whose estate is this?"

"Investigate. Investigate it to the damn end!"

The more Captain Ma thought about it, the more his heart shuddered with fear, and he could not help letting out a furious roar.

As for the dry well in the rear courtyard, because the flames were soaring into the sky and could not be extinguished at all, no one dared go near it.

Even Di Ruhuo did not dare go near!

At this moment, Di Ruhuo picked up a charcoal pencil and a wooden board. After pondering for a moment, relying partly on guesses and partly on deductions, he began drawing the wanted criminal's portrait.

Soon, a portrait of an ugly old man resembling Uncle Mute appeared under Di Ruhuo's brush.

But Yang Xiao, who had already fled far away, knew nothing about any of this.

In truth, the person Yang Xiao had impersonated just now was Song Que, and only his appearance bore some resemblance; it could not fool an acquaintance.

But using it to briefly hoodwink Di Ruhuo was not too much of a problem.

However, Yang Xiao also knew that Di Ruhuo solved cases like a god, and would discover the truth sooner or later.

But it did not matter.

In any case, that had merely been simulated by the Thousand Illusion Dagger. No matter how formidable Di Ruhuo was, he absolutely could not trace it back to Yang Xiao.

Still, to be safe, Yang Xiao transformed in a flash. He still did not use his true appearance, but turned into Boss Zhao and continued walking toward Vermilion Bird Tower.

Only after he had left the East District and reached a deserted alley not far from Vermilion Bird Tower...

Boss Zhao's figure blurred for a moment, then transformed once again into Yang Xiao's original appearance.

Hm?

Just as he reached the shop attendants' dormitory at Vermilion Bird Tower, Yang Xiao had only just changed into the shop attendant's "work uniform" when his entire body suddenly shook, his eyes filled with disbelief.

At this moment, inside Yang Xiao's dantian...

That miniature phantom of the giant beast abruptly opened its eyes...