Why Can't He Be Killed?

Just as expected.

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

He had already made arrangements.

He ordered Constable Chen Qingzhi to give Zhao Zhi an assignment.

Capture the bandits of Flying Cloud Stronghold.

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

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

Two other constables were assigned to act alongside Zhao Zhi.

Qi D aqu and Liu Guang.

The two of them belonged entirely to the county magistrate's faction and had close ties with County Magistrate Lu Guangyi.

Lu Guangyi's intentions in having them act with him were self-evident.

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

Liu Guang was a lean man with an extremely 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 Flying Cloud Stronghold bandits 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?

Seal off the Fifth Chief of Flying Cloud Stronghold?

Or seal off Zhao Zhi?

Zhao Zhi sneered inwardly.

The Fifth Chief of Flying Cloud Stronghold was no kind man. He was an exceptionally ferocious martial artist, and even seven or eight constables could not get close to him.

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

Since County Magistrate Lu Guangyi could not make a move against him directly, he was having 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 reported to the imperial court and received funds to suppress the bandits.

Yet every time, the results were lackluster, and Flying Cloud Stronghold could not be taken down at all.

Instead, both sides suffered some casualties, and the matter was eventually dropped.

It seemed.

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

However.

With his current abilities, it was still difficult 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 smacked his lips. "Is this kid resigned to his fate, or is he just stupid enough to go looking for Wu Jiu alone?"

Qi D aqu rested his hand on the hilt of his saber and said coldly, "Who cares what he's thinking? Keep an eye on him. Don't let him get out of Copper Mountain Ward."

"Got it."

One-Li Street.

A small tavern.

There was only one guest in the tavern, a sturdily built man with thick limbs.

He wore a gray short outfit that exposed his thick, dark arms. His broad hand lifted the wine jug, and he swallowed more than half of it in one gulp.

The proprietor and waiter hid at a distance, trembling in fear.

Tap.

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

He had recognized him from outside the tavern.

The Fifth Chief of Flying Cloud Stronghold, Wu Jiu.

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

Wu Jiu paused, then cast Zhao Zhi a sidelong glance. "You're that 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, his fingers were seized by a powerful hand, unable to move.

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

Crack.

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

"Ah!"

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

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

Clang.

His saber rang as it left its sheath, blocking before him.

Clang.

The blades crossed, ringing out with a sharp metallic crash.

Zhao Zhi twisted his wrist, swiftly seized Wu Jiu's left hand, and lifted with force, hoisting his entire body before hurling him heavily to one side.

At the same time.

The constable's saber cleaved down like splitting Mount Hua.

Splash.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

A huge wound instantly opened across Wu Jiu's chest, exposing flesh and making for a savage, horrifying sight.

With a bang.

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

A book as thick as one finger fell from his torn clothes.

Innate Unity Qi Technique

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

It appeared to be a martial arts manual.

Some martial artists carried martial arts manuals on them for cultivation and studied them day and night. That was perfectly normal.

How was he so strong?

That strength was surely Postnatal Perfection.

Wu Jiu was horrified.

The information he had received was 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 were in collusion, and Flying Cloud 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 it.

But how was this an ordinary constable?

He was practically on par with a chief constable.

I'll die.

Run!

Thoughts surged through Wu Jiu's mind, and he quickly settled on a plan.

"Wait."

Wu Jiu struggled to his feet. Blood still hung from the corner of his mouth, while blood flowed from the wound on his chest and dyed a broad patch red, making him look terrifyingly miserable.

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

He moved beside a table.

The next instant.

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

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

He raised his arm, and his saber swept across.

Slash.

The thick wooden table split in two and crashed down to either side with dull thuds.

Zhao Zhi swept his gaze over the room, glanced at the escaping Wu Jiu, then flicked the corner of his eye toward the bloodstained martial arts manual on the ground.

Run!

Run!

Run!

Wu Jiu ignored his injuries. Blood continued to flow from him, making his body faintly grow 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 a few more benefits out of him.

Hm?

Wu Jiu looked up and saw someone familiar before him.

Constable Qi D aqu.

Joy flashed across his face.

He had escaped death.

Suddenly.

He saw Qi D aqu's expression change drastically as he shouted loudly.

"Zhao Zhi, stop! You can't kill him!"

Zhao Zhi?

Wu Jiu only heard a piercing shriek tearing through the air. Turning his head, he saw a constable's saber streaking toward him like lightning.

Slash.

The saber tip pierced through his clothes and skin, entered his heart, and passed through, with a portion of the blade emerging from his chest.

Tap, tap, tap.

Carried by momentum, Wu Jiu staggered another few steps forward, ending up only a step away from Qi D aqu.

He looked at Qi D aqu.

Unwillingness, terror, and a trace of resentment filled Wu Jiu's eyes, before all of it finally turned vacant. He collapsed before Qi D aqu as scarlet blood continuously flowed out beneath him.

[You prevented an evil man from continuing his evil deeds. Merit +30]

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