Why Couldn't He Be Killed?

Just as expected.

County Magistrate Lu Guangyi had not gone to the yamen at this hour. He was probably on top of one of his concubines.

He had already made arrangements.

He had Constable Chen Qingzhi assign Zhao Zhi a task.

Capture the bandits of Flying Cloud Stronghold.

Flying Cloud Stronghold was the largest bandit force near Qingfeng County. It was located atop the strategically treacherous Cloudflight Mountain, easy to defend and hard to assault.

Zhao Zhi's father had died on the road to suppressing the bandits of Flying Cloud Stronghold.

Two other constables were assigned to act alongside Zhao Zhi.

Qi D aqu and Liu Guang.

Those two were wholly from the county magistrate's faction and had close ties with County Magistrate Lu Guangyi.

Lu Guangyi's intentions in sending them along with him were as plain as day.

The three of them made their way to Copper Mountain Ward.

Liu Guang was a thin man with a very high hairline. He glanced at Zhao Zhi and said, "According to the information we received, the Fifth Chief of Flying Cloud Stronghold is on One-Li Street in Copper Mountain Ward."

Qi D aqu smiled. "Zhao Zhi, the bandits of Flying Cloud Stronghold killed your father. We'll leave him to you. Of course, we'll seal off One-Li Street so he can't escape."

Seal it off?

Were they sealing off the Fifth Chief of Flying Cloud Stronghold?

Or were they sealing off Zhao Zhi?

Zhao Zhi sneered inwardly.

The Fifth Chief of Flying Cloud Stronghold was no kind man. He was an exceedingly fierce martial artist; even seven or eight constables could not get near him.

Making Zhao Zhi, an ordinary constable, face the Fifth Chief of Flying Cloud Stronghold alone was no different from sending him to his death.

Since County Magistrate Lu Guangyi could not move against him directly, he was letting the Fifth Chief of Flying Cloud Stronghold do it instead.

As his thoughts turned.

Zhao Zhi thought of something else.

The bandit suppression campaigns.

Every year, Lu Guangyi would report to the imperial court and receive funds to suppress the bandits.

Yet every time, the results were mediocre. They could not take down Flying Cloud Stronghold at all.

Instead, both sides would suffer some casualties before the matter was left unresolved.

It seemed.

There was some kind of agreement between Lu Guangyi and Flying Cloud Stronghold.

However.

With his current ability, it was still not easy for him to deal directly with the county magistrate and Flying Cloud Stronghold.

"Fine."

Zhao Zhi answered coldly and headed straight toward One-Li Street.

Qi D aqu and Liu Guang remained where they were, watching Zhao Zhi leave.

Liu Guang clicked his tongue. "Has this kid accepted his fate, or is he just stupid enough to go looking for Wu Jiu alone?"

Qi D aqu rested a hand on the hilt of his saber and said coldly, "Whatever he is thinking, keep an eye on him. Don't let him leave Copper Mountain Ward."

"Got it."

One-Li Street.

A small tavern.

There was only one guest inside the tavern, a powerfully built man with thick limbs.

He wore gray short garments that exposed his thick, dark arms. His broad hand lifted the wine jug, and he gulped down more than half of it in one breath.

The shopkeeper and waiter hid in the distance, trembling like leaves.

Tap.

Zhao Zhi stepped inside, his expression calm as he walked to the sturdy man's side.

He had recognized him from outside the tavern.

Wu Jiu, the Fifth Chief of Flying Cloud Stronghold.

"Wu Jiu." Zhao Zhi stood beside him and said bluntly, "Come with me."

Wu Jiu stopped moving and glanced sideways at Zhao Zhi. "So you're Zhao Zhi. You really are young. What a pity."

The words had barely fallen.

Wu Jiu brought the five fingers of his left hand together and struck fiercely at Zhao Zhi's chest, his palm carrying the force of wind and thunder.

Smack.

Before the palm force could land on Zhao Zhi's chest, Wu Jiu's fingers were seized by a strong, powerful hand, unable to move.

Zhao Zhi looked at Wu Jiu indifferently. With the Seizing Hand in motion, his fingers became like eagle claws as he suddenly exerted force.

Crack.

Wu Jiu's fingers were instantly broken. Bone pierced through the skin, and bright red blood flowed from the wounds, staining his palm.

"Argh!"

Wu Jiu let out a scream and swiftly reached for the broadsword on the table. The blade flashed past, fierce and savage.

Zhao Zhi remained expressionless, as though he had long anticipated Wu Jiu's move. His hand brushed over the saber at his waist.

Clang.

His saber left its sheath with a cry, blocking before him.

Clang!

The blades crossed, ringing out with a resounding clash.

Zhao Zhi turned his wrist and swiftly grabbed Wu Jiu's left hand. With a lift of strength, he hoisted Wu Jiu's entire body into the air and hurled him heavily aside.

At the same time.

The constable's saber split down like Mount Hua cleaved in two.

Splash!

Blood sprayed.

A huge wound immediately opened across Wu Jiu's chest, exposing flesh and making for a gruesome, terrifying sight.

Bang!

He crashed to the ground. Sweetness surged in his throat, and he spat out another great mouthful of blood, dyeing the floor red.

From his torn clothing, a book as thick as a finger fell out.

Innate Unity Qi Technique

Zhao Zhi's gaze fell upon the book, and he paused slightly.

It seemed to be a martial arts manual.

It was normal enough for some martial artists to carry martial arts manuals with them, studying them day and night.

How was he so strong?

That level of strength was surely Postnatal Perfection.

Wu Jiu was horrified.

The information he had received said that Zhao Zhi was merely an ordinary constable from the yamen.

He only needed to kill that constable.

Flying Cloud Stronghold and County Magistrate Lu Guangyi were in collusion, and the stronghold had secretly handled quite a few matters for him.

Wu Jiu happened to be in Qingfeng County these past few days, so he had casually agreed to the task.

But how was this an ordinary constable?

He was practically on par with a chief constable.

He would die.

Run!

Thoughts surged through Wu Jiu's mind, and he swiftly formed a plan.

"Wait."

Wu Jiu struggled to his feet. Blood still hung from the corner of his mouth, while blood streamed from the wound in his chest, staining a large patch crimson and making him look terrifyingly miserable.

"I'm willing to go back with you."

He walked over to a table.

The next instant.

He grabbed the table and hurled it heavily toward Zhao Zhi, the air whistling around it.

Zhao Zhi watched the table hurtle toward him, utterly composed and without the slightest hint of panic.

He raised his arm and swept his saber through the air.

Slash.

The thick wooden table was cleaved in two, crashing down to either side with dull thuds.

Zhao Zhi swept his gaze over the room, catching sight of Wu Jiu fleeing from the tavern. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at the bloodstained martial arts manual on the ground.

Run!

Run!

Run!

Wu Jiu ignored his injuries as blood flowed continuously from him, making his body faintly cold.

If this continued.

He might bleed to death.

But.

If he stopped, that constable might kill him.

Damn Lu Guangyi.

Once he escaped and returned, he would make Lu Guangyi pay. He would squeeze far more benefits from him.

Hm?

Wu Jiu looked up and saw a familiar figure before him.

Constable Qi D aqu.

Joy appeared on his face.

He had escaped death.

Suddenly.

He saw Qi D aqu's expression change drastically as he shouted, "Zhao Zhi, stop! You can't kill him!"

Zhao Zhi?

Wu Jiu heard only a sharp whistle tearing through the air. Turning back, he saw a constable's saber speeding toward him like lightning.

Slash.

The blade pierced through his clothes and skin, entered his heart, and passed through, its tip protruding slightly from his chest.

Step, step, step.

Driven by inertia, Wu Jiu staggered forward several more steps until he stood only one step away from Qi D aqu.

He looked at Qi D aqu.

Unwillingness, fear, and a trace of resentment surged into Wu Jiu's eyes. In the end, they all faded into lifelessness. He collapsed before Qi D aqu as scarlet blood continuously flowed out from beneath his body.

[You prevented an evil man from continuing to commit evil. Merit +30]

Zhao Zhi walked over, slowly pulled his saber from Wu Jiu's body, and lowered his eyes at Qi D aqu. "Why couldn't he be killed?"