Organization

Zhu Hanjiang took the Scarlet Valorous Guard to the dark alley in West City to inspect the scene, and Lu Chen followed to learn what had happened.

It was already getting dark.

The streets of Gaolin County lit up one lamp at a time, but the usually bustling West City now felt unusually oppressive. The shops along the street had closed half their doors early. Occasionally, someone would poke their head out for a look, but upon seeing the County Government Office's Martial Guards hurrying past, they immediately shut the door again.

The dark alley in West City lay behind a cluster of old residences.

The alley entrance had already been surrounded by yamen runners. Several patrolling runners held torches and blocked the increasingly large crowd outside.

The firelight swayed, making the walls flicker between light and shadow.

Deep in the alley, a corpse lay face-down on the ground, a dark-red pool of blood congealed beneath it.

"Everyone, move aside!"

With a low shout, Cao Zhen forced his burly frame through the crowd.

When the onlookers saw the Scarlet Valorous Guard arrive, they all retreated, but their murmurs could not be suppressed.

"It's Lord Fei..."

"It's really Lord Fei Tong."

"He was a Skin-Tempering Realm expert. How did he die too?"

"Several Martial Guards have died these past few days, haven't they?"

"Who exactly is the killer? Has the County Government Office found anything?"

Someone's voice trembled. "Could that evil cult have done it?"

Fear spread through the crowd like a cold wind.

An old man went pale and muttered, "If the evil cult has infiltrated the city, is there any hope of survival for ordinary folk like us?"

Zhu Hanjiang's expression darkened as his gaze swept over the crowd.

"All unrelated persons, retreat thirty feet."

"Anyone who approaches the