Jade Faced Fox (1)

The moment Li Chen Zhou returned to the Pacification Office, he immediately dispatched men to investigate the disaster relief silver.

Seated before his desk, his fingertips lightly tapped the tabletop as he said to Bookworm beside him, "Go back and release Gu Wen."

Hearing this, Bookworm set down the case files in his hands, somewhat hesitant. "My lord, shall we not interrogate him further?"

Li Chen Zhou sneered, a glint of sharpness flashing through his eyes. "No need. Only by casting a long line can one catch a big fish. This time, I will nail Heavenly Desire Palace firmly to the stake of the demonic sect, leaving it unable to rise again for all eternity."

His fingers slowly clenched, his knuckles turning white, as though he had already seized the enemy by the throat.

Li Chen Zhou loathed this sort of profiteering from disaster to the bone.

Thinking of this, Li Chen Zhou asked in a deep voice, "When will the disaster relief convoy depart?" They had to make arrangements according to the actual circumstances.

White Cat immediately stepped forward behind him and cupped his fists in report. "Reporting to my lord, the drought in Qing Province has only begun to show itself. It will take at least another month for the disaster to fully erupt. In this subordinate's judgment, the court will certainly make a move within half a month."

"Time is pressing." Li Chen Zhou narrowed his eyes, and the tapping of his fingertips abruptly stopped. "Send two sharp brothers to keep a close watch on Nangong Manor. Report back immediately at the slightest stir of wind or rustle of grass."

Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

A Brocade Guard strode in, dropped to one knee, and cupped his fists. "My lord, urgent news!"

"Banner Officer Li, the Centurion requests that you make a trip to the Wang Family in the Capital City."

"The Wang Family?" Li Chen Zhou's hand paused slightly as he wiped the Blood Demon Blade, its edge reflecting his cold, stern brows and eyes.

Seeing his displeased expression, the reporting Brocade Guard hurriedly explained, "It is the Vice Minister of War's ancestral family. The Centurion specifically instructed that you handle it personally."

"Heh, the Vice Minister of War's niece has been targeted by a Flower Plucking Thief?" Li Chen Zhou sneered, the crimson blade reflecting a dangerous gleam. "Since when did the family affairs of court officials require the labor of the Brocade Guard?"

"Reporting to my lord, it is said that this Flower Plucking Thief has quite a background, and he has already..."

Ding—Detected a government official's family member threatened by a martial world expert—Mission triggered. Mission progress one: capture the Flower Plucking Thief, Jade Faced Fox. Reward: ten years of internal cultivation.

A sharp gleam flashed through Li Chen Zhou's eyes. It seemed he would not need to sit idle. "Bookworm, muster a squad. Come with me."

By the time the Brocade Guard arrived, the entire residence had already been surrounded layer upon layer by the city guard. Yang Kun, the Capital City Prefect, was pacing in frantic circles. The sight of Li Chen Zhou was like the sight of a savior.

"Lord Li! You have finally come!"

This baleful star had sent Prince Rong into the great prison; now, his fierce reputation resounded throughout the Capital City's officialdom.

"Tell me the situation." Li Chen Zhou went straight to the point.

"It is the Flower Plucking Thief, Jade Faced Fox." Yang Kun wiped away cold sweat. "This time, he actually dared to lay hands on Miss Wang, the Vice Minister of War's niece..."

"Interesting." Li Chen Zhou toyed with his scabbard. "A petty thief even Six Doors cannot handle?"

Yang Kun looked troubled. "To be honest, this criminal has committed numerous offenses, but his previous victims were all daughters of merchants... To preserve their reputations, each family handled the matter privately. Now he actually dares to target the family of a court official. This humble official truly..."

Li Chen Zhou suddenly stepped closer. "Lord Yang, surely you are not thinking of borrowing the Brocade Guard's blade to clean up your mess?"

"This humble official would not dare!" Cold sweat beaded on Yang Kun's forehead. "It is merely that this thief's lightness skill is exceptional, and Six Doors' four great constables are all absent..."

"Enough." Li Chen Zhou waved a hand. "I will personally stand watch tonight. Your men may withdraw."

"This... should we leave behind some manpower..." Yang Kun asked tentatively, terrified of offending Li Chen Zhou by accident.

"What?" Li Chen Zhou smiled without smiling. "Does Lord Yang think my Brocade Guard cannot take down a mere Flower Plucking Thief?"

The Blood Demon Blade let out a timely hum. Yang Kun immediately fell silent as a cicada in winter. "Everything shall rely on Lord Li!"

There was no helping it—when asking someone to do something, one had to show the proper attitude. In a place like the Capital City, the most important thing was that excessive courtesy offended no one.

"Mm." Li Chen Zhou nodded indifferently and watched Yang Kun lead his men away. Then Li Chen Zhou began considering how to arrange the trap.

Wang Ying, the Vice Minister of War's younger brother, hurriedly chased after them. Seeing Six Doors withdraw, he immediately panicked. "Lord Yang, why has everyone left? That thief is coming tonight!"

Yang Kun lowered his voice. "Brother Wang, rest assured. This Lord Li is the one who sent Prince Rong into the great prison. With him here, he is more useful than ten Six Doors."

Looking at the young man before him, Wang Ying felt slightly doubtful. "Lord Li?" He froze, then saw the Flying Fish Uniform on Li Chen Zhou and quickly stepped forward, cupping his fists. "I will have to trouble you, Lord Li!"

Li Chen Zhou could not be bothered with nonsense and went straight to the point.

His gaze was like a blade as it swept over Wang Ying. "Where is your daughter? I must see her personally."

Wang Ying looked troubled. "This..."

"Not convenient?" Li Chen Zhou lightly stroked the Blood Demon Blade with his fingertips. Scarlet blood mist rose from its body, condensing into the ferocious visage of a ghost in the twilight.

Cold sweat beaded on Wang Ying's forehead. "No, it is not that... Lord Li, please follow me."

When they reached the outside of Miss Wang's chamber, two maidservants stood quietly before the door.

Ding—Please note, Host.

Traces of the "Thousand Faces Disguise Technique" detected.

Suspicious target: maidservant on the left (abnormal heartbeat rate).

Just as Wang Ying was about to speak, Li Chen Zhou suddenly pressed a hand onto his shoulder. "I will do it."

"Ah?" Before Wang Ying could react, Li Chen Zhou gave his blood blade a shake and said chillingly, "Lord Wang, do you know that some rats simply love burrowing into lamp oil?"

The maidservant on the left, at whom the blade pointed, suddenly sprang up! Three poison-coated silver needles shot through the air. Li Chen Zhou flipped his wrist, and the blood mist transformed into the visage of a Rakshasa. Before the poison needles could approach him, they melted into molten iron.

"Jade Faced Fox, how much longer do you intend to keep up the act?"

The thief disguised as a maid tore off his human-skin mask, revealing a face so handsome it was nearly wicked. Beneath sword-like brows slanting into his temples, a pair of amorous phoenix eyes shimmered with dangerous light, while his thin lips curled into a carefree, cynical arc. He casually brushed the loose strands of black hair behind his ear. What should have been a seductive gesture carried, when he did it, a sharp elegance.

"I have long heard that the Young Duke of Duke Zhen's Estate possesses eyes like blazing torches," the man said, his voice low and rich like aged wine as his fingertips caressed the jade flute at his waist. "I only wonder... can those eyes be faster than my 'Soul Chasing Eighteen Flutes'?"